Becoming (Daughters of Saraqael Book One) [Kindle Edition]

Raine Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Every three years, Amber Hopkins explodes. Okay, not a blown-to-smithereens explosion, but whatever it is always hurts like hell and leaves her life a shambles. She’s already worked her way through five foster placements, and she’s doing whatever she can to avoid getting blasted into a sixth.

As her eighteenth birthday approaches and she feels the strange and powerful energy building, disaster looms. When the inevitable explosion occurs, her life gets its biggest shakeup yet. She’ll not only learn how her fellow foster and best friend, Gabriel, really feels about her, but she’ll discover that she isn’t really without family.

To top it all off, she’ll finally find out why she’s having the power surges: she isn’t entirely human.

Amber must Become, transitioning to another plane of existence and risking the loss of the most important relationship she’s ever had. Her choice will impact the future of an entire race of beings, and will pit her against an enemy that will prey upon her doubt to try and take her very life.

Kind of makes the explosions now seem like a cakewalk.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...great potential to do something amazing in the young adult market."
-The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Move over Edward, Jacob, Peeta and Gale, there's a new hottie in town."
-Unreality Book Blog

"Here's a book that will rock your world, make you smile, and keep you guessing."
-Chelsea Fine, bestselling author

Product Details

• File Size: 382 KB
• Print Length: 261 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983831831
• Publisher: Iambe Books (July 24, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005EDLOTY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,201 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book!! July 27, 2011

By Whiskey Reader

Format:Kindle Edition

What a book! I mean, WOW! I read the entire book in three days (who needs sleep, right?). Raine does a tremendous job of hooking you from the begining and then developing the characters from there. The relationship between Amber and Gabriel is complex, but grows into something that we all search for. It was a delightful blend of mystery, adventure, sci-fi, action, romance...all rolled into one. There is such a surprise twist at the end, i just cant wait to get to the second book.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Obsession....must read July 27, 2011

By sjune

Format:Kindle Edition

I discovered the author of Becoming, Raine Thomas, on twitter. After checking out her website, I was drawn to the beautiful cover of this book. I'd be lying if I said the cover didn't get me interested. I am a sucker for YA books that deal with mythology, so I kept checking twitter and the author's site for news of when the books would be released.

Luckily, I happened to be on Twitter when I noticed Raine's tweets about her books being processed to be published just a couple days ago. I'm pretty sure that within about 10-15 minutes of Becoming being published, I bought it.

The book starts out with a little action and then you are introduced to Amber, one of the sisters and main character. Amber has been in many foster homes, which seems to happen about every three years, though that reason is explained throughout the book. Amber likes to fly under the radar and hates to stand out, but when her guardian (Mrs. B), the longest one she has had, tells her that she is taking her for a haircut as her graduation present, she can't say no and risk hurting the closest thing she has had to a mother.

The seemingly simple haircut sparks a change in a relationship with her best friend. I immediately fell for the story between Amber and Gabriel, though I knew it couldn't be simple. While on her long awaited graduation trip to Alaska, Amber discovers that she has sisters. The seemingly strange story of her heritage helps bring a dream she has been having into perspective.

Meeting the sisters and seeing their story unfold pulled me along as I wanted to see how things would turn out for them. There is action in pieces throughout the book leading up to a larger sequence.... I really enjoyed the characters and how they interacted and handled some of the surprises along the way. I do wish there was more description about what the new plane looked like, but I feel this will be developed more in the other books since they take place in the Estilorian plane. There is just enough of the antagonist in the book to spark interest, knowing that this was not the last time we will hear about these characters.

If you are looking for a book with characters that are interesting, with a little mythology and angles thrown in, then I think you will enjoy this book. I had a hard time putting this book down, as my "just one more chapter" would turn into reading 5-10 more chapters. Becoming is the first in a trilogy that I can't wait to finish. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well paced and a fun read, very clever new world to explore. July 30, 2011

By Tarrin Lupo

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This novel had great pace and was fun to read. Dare I say it was almost two novels in one. The main characters are funny and likable. The book has a heavy love and romance vein in it that weaves itself very well to the plot line. The love story is not forced or tacked on like an after thought, as many books in this genre do. The author did an excellent job at keeping it balanced and not letting it overtake the storyline. The book majorly shifts in the last 1/3 and it is almost like reading an entire new novel. This is normally a very risky move for an author to make but Mrs. Thomas pulls it off and does an excellent job blending story lines. The Estilorian world she creates is well thought out and beautifully described. I think it is a wonderful arena she created which is begging for more stories. The ending defiantly cries sequel, which I see is already published, Yea! If you love YA novels with some romance and a side of supernatural you will want to buy this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sassy and Enjoyable Read January 30, 2013

By Susan Ricci

Format:Kindle Edition

I thought Becoming was awesome. SO awesome, I bought the sequel today, called Central. And the sequel proves to be a beauty as well!

If paranormal romance is your thing, download this right now!

Easy reading, clear prose, and (can I say it?) a damn good story. This author has a very vivid imagination and creates worlds we can only hope to conquer in our dreams.

This story takes you to a 'plane' you wouldn't know existed, thanks to Ms. Thomas' story telling abilities. I applaud her characters and their journey from one plane to the next. I'm so looking forward to reading the second in her series, and then onto the third. But wait! Ms Thomas has more in store for us after this trilogy, just so you know!

Raine Thomas is definitely an author to investigate, and if you don't believe me, check out her work on Amazon, along with her rankings! Kudos to you, Raine!

The only reason I don't delve into a more detailed synopsis of the story is because I never read and tell. I'm hoping that my 5* review will encourage any readers looking for a paranormal romance with a great penchant for an out of this world experience mid-way thru the book will trust me on it!

Totally enjoyable!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! January 6, 2012

By Michelle C. Jordan

Format:Paperback

The reviews I have seen for this book range from addictive to alluring. This is an understatement.

The writing has a lyrical quality, with the feel I received when first breaking open another of my most fav series Twilight! That same poetic tone resides in the pages of this tale.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the type of story I like my daughters to read - No (unfaithful) love triangles December 2, 2011

By The Book Runner TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this story so much, when I was done, I immediately downloaded the next two installments and $2.99 each just so I could start reading right away. In some ways this reminded me of another book I really enjoyed recently called Whirl (Ondine Quartet Book 1) by Emma Raveling. Both contained a lot of new terms which were hard to get straight, but also had fantastic characters that were easy to like. The love story was similar to that in Significance (A Significance Novel) by Shelly crane which I also loved.

Spoilers

Amber and Gabriel discover a love for each other and then find out they are both from another world. Amber has been created to help bridge the gap in information that Gabriel's people have with emotions. They are unable to love or reproduce and require the transfer of souls from certain humans who are dying in order to keep their species populated. Amber's father loved a human and was unable to save her from dying but was able to impregnate her with three daughters before her death and his own. Amber is one of the daughters and the other two tell their story in the next books.

What I really liked about this love story is that it was NOT a triangle. Both Gabriel and Amber loved each other faithfully and continually. It is unusual for a YA story not to include some form of unfaithfulness with the romance and heartache just to make the story "interesting". The love story was beautiful and Gabriel's protection of her body and mind is what I would want form myself and my daughters. I can't wait to see how the other two girls fall in love....

I highly recommend this story and am off to read the next in the series.

Would I/Did I buy it? Yes (2.99)
Would I read it again? Oh Yeah!
Would I recommend it to friends? Yes Read more ›

More About the Author

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of best-selling YA and NA fiction. She followed her life-long passion for all things literary and earned her bachelor's degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing from Georgia State University, then her master's degree in Humanities from Central Michigan University. Having grown up in places such as Chicago, Atlanta and Orlando, much of her writing reflects these settings.

Raine is a hopeless romantic with a background in the fields of mental health and wedding planning...two areas that intersect far more than one would think. Her years working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges inspired her to create young protagonists who overcome their own conflicts. When she isn't writing or glued to e-mail or social networking sites, Raine can usually be found vacationing with her husband and daughter on one of Florida's beautiful beaches or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#99 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Contemporary

#99 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Contemporary