Double Book Review: Destiny & Power by Robert J. Crane

Title: Destiny
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box book 9
Publisher: Reiknonos Press
Date of Publication:  March 30 2014
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion.  Kindle, 259 pages
Ages: I would say 18 +


Book Synopsis:

NOTE: This is a tightly intertwined series wherein each book builds on previous volumes.
In the aftermath of her confrontation with Sovereign, Sienna Nealon finds herself low on allies. The organization Century continues their genocide of the entire race of metahumans unchecked, working toward an ultimate goal that they have yet to reveal. Sienna must race to find the answers before it's too late, because Century's final attacks are beginning... and if Sienna and her allies fall, there will be no one left to stop them.

My Thoughts: 
I don't think I need to say but I am going to anyway.  If you haven't read any of this series: STOP!  Don't read these reviews because I can promise it will be some type of spoiler.  Instead, go and grab the first three books for free here.

So I have come to rely on Mr. Crane as my go to author when I really want some neck snapping action and intense fight scenes.  When I want a book that is gritty, raw and isn't afraid to take the huge jumps needed to give me what I need and want as a reader, I pick up a Robert J. Crane novel.

See, I have been reading novels by Crane for a few years now and I have come to understand a little bit about him now.  First off, he is an amazing writer.  But he is also one of those writers that loves to dispose of characters we can't help but fall in love with.  Yeah, one of those guys.  He takes away the characters that make us feel and connect to the story in a deeper way.  And we curse him.
But....
Perhaps, that is what makes him an extraordinary storyteller.  He creates such complex and multifaceted characters we can't help but connect with them.  Then, we become so vested in these characters that when something terrible happens to them, we, the readers, experience extreme emotional loss and crushing heartbreak.
Maybe, just maybe, that is the true definition of an excellent writer.


And that is what Destiny does to us: it takes our heart and throws it to the wind.  It's like Reed just ripped it out our chests and played frisbee with it.  I had to really harden myself to finish this series; hell to finish his books, without breaking down into an emotional mess.  But we have to remember this isn't a "black and white world" (thank you Sienna for that sage advice)

You want a black and white world where we can live by the laws?  I'm here to tell you that you're going to drown in the grey.  This isn't law and order and justice for mankind.  This is survival.  This is the law of nature- a pack of wolves who are going to eat you in the dark of night, and you can either shoot them first or get devoured. Your choice.

I love when there is more grey in the stories than it being cut and dry.  It makes for a much more interesting look in to what people are willing to do , and not do when they are being threatened.  Like fatally threatened.  In Destiny we see how far Sienna is willing to go to protect the ones she loves.  Of course,  I think we already knew how far she was willing to go anyways; but it is still funny to see Scott finally coming to terms with it.  
And yay!  We get reconnected with an old friend in Destiny as well.  I am so glad this guy is back.  I really look at him as a father like figure for Sienna, in a good way.  No hidden agenda.

Oh and we see a lot of killing in this book too.  Of course, it wouldn't be a Robert Crane book without it, right?  But, hey look on the bright side- Sienna isn't the one doing all of it this time.

It's actually pretty hard to do a review on a book that is so far into the series (without giving something away) and still be inconspicious about the plot.

Let's just say relationships will be forged and we will lose important people.  People I didn't want to lose but with the loss we are also introduced to new characters.  I have a serious feeling we will see these characters again down the road.  I am usually not into getting new characters so late into a series, but it works for Crane because I know he always has a purpose.
There was one part that was pretty confusing for me, but it might also have to do with the fact that I am not a huge fan of time travel ideas.
But all in all, I loved Destiny.  I also love how Crane went into naming the books.  It's simple.  But at the same time-that one word conveys so much about the story.  I mean it feels like Sienna is fighting her own Destiny.  Everyone's destiny.  Can she overcome what is in store for her and finally make her own fate or will she drown in the imprisonment of her supposed Destiny?
We will definitely find out in the next and last book, Power.

Title: Power
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box Book 10
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion.



Book Synopsis:

The epic conclusion to the Girl in the Box series.
Sienna Nealon seems like a woman beaten. Imprisoned by her enemies, facing the extinction of her entire race, she is up against overwhelming odds. But overwhelming odds have never stopped her before. In the final volume of the epic Girl in the Box Series, Sienna Nealon must face her fears, face her foes, and then go up against the single most powerful man in the world - Sovereign - in order to save her world from complete and total destruction.

My Thoughts:

This was the all time best naming of a book ever?!!!  Sienna definitely comes into her power in every single way possible and I couldn't be more happier for everyone.  She is finally able to pull every piece of herself together to do what has to be done, in a way that I was totally not expecting.  Believe me, you will be re-reading this book a few times.  I did.  And every time was like the first.  I have to say this book was probably my favorite book of all time.  I loved the ending, loved the beginning and middle.
And the action is over the top beautiful and flawlessly graphic; which we love of course.  If you picked up the that first book, Alone, and fell in love with Mr. Crane's writing style and genius then Power will make breathless with adoration.  Everything comes full circle and I enjoyed every freaking minute of how everything falls in place and unfolds the way it does.

I don't know what to say without giving something away.  All I can say is if you have vested your time in any of these books, then you owe it to yourself to finish the series.  Power will blow you away with twists and turns surrounding it.  Sovereign will surprise us but Sienna does too.  And we get a new character, Harper, that I hope we see again in the future.  Please!
But just say the action doesn't get you (are you crazy?) well the humor will definitely grab you.  All the books , except maybe one, has the classic Sienna snarky humor that I love.  Honestly, I think Sienna and Vaste would get long so well in all their snarky goodness.
{Vaste is another character from another series of Crane's I fell in love with first}

I just...really I am speechless.  I loved this book sooooo much and I don't really want to say too much to give it away.  Let's just say that you need to read the book!  Like right now!

I would prefer to give it a million of stars, hearts, anything I can get my hands on; but alas I only go up to five hearts.
I think my Destiny, though, is to own this entire series in paperback as well as digital.  The authors I absolutely adore, like Anne Rice, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, goes in a special bookcase in my home.  Well guess what?  I am getting this series in paperback and it will have its special place there too.
Well done, Mr. Crane.  Well done.

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Grab a copy for yourself at:
Destiny
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Power
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Book Review: Legacy by Robert J Crane {Book 8 in The Girl in the Box series }

Title: Legacy
Series: Girl in the Box
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Reikonos Press
Date of Publication: 2013
Source: received from author/also bought as well


Goodreads Synopsis:

Time is running out for Sienna Nealon. The mysterious organization Century is only weeks from wiping out the entire metahuman race. But just as Sienna has made the decision to fight them, her past catches up to her and she finds herself in the hands of the U.S. Government. Secrets long buried begin to rise, putting Sienna and everyone she cares about directly in the path of Century...and in a desperate search for the identity of their leader, Sovereign, a man who has plans of his own for Sienna.

My Thoughts:

This is one of those moments when you realize the author has really come into his/her own.  They have created the book that really shows you how much they have worked, how much they have grown, and just how damn good they really are.  
Legacy is that book.   I find myself wanting to blubber on and on about how good this book is.  I loved it that much.  It is powerful and brings together some very interesting characters that I think was genius, and inevitably to make them come together for the showdown that is coming. 
I have always been a huge fan of Crane; he is that undiscovered gem in a sea of self publishing stardom.  If you have not given this author a go I sincerely urge you to.  Mr. Crane can craft a story with so much emotion and creativity that you will find yourself being drawn into the plot experiencing every detail with the characters.  
I honestly feel like Legacy was the "holy grail" for me.  I found nothing, absolutely nothing that I disagreed with, and it just came out perfect.  
One of the reasons was how the chapters were set up.  I loved how he did flashbacks and then present day when it was relevant. And the flashback chapters were executed wonderfully.  The plot lines flowed so well and there was never a dull moment.  The action scenes were even better choreographed and I swear Crane pays so much attention to even the smallest detail, like how the guns are aimed correctly to the type of gas mask Sienna used, that helps us really feel like we are there in the room where the fight is going on.
Sure we could say this is a "guy" book from all the action, fighting, and gore that it pertains but it isn't really even that.  It is everyone's book.  There really is something in Legacy that spans different genres to bring many readers to its pages.  Sienna has really come into her own.  And I loved the remorse she shows, as well as someone else who I was hoping would come to their senses eventually.  There are so many emotions that decorate the pages of this book: guilt, forgiveness, understanding, empathy, and of course fear.  
Then to make a great book even better you add humor to the mix.  Even though Sienna has finally grown into a powerful and deadly young woman, she has kept her comedic relief that has really made this story what it is.  Even in the face of danger, Sienna can still crack a joke?  That is guts right there.  

Last flashback chapter is utter mastery.  I think I read it the whole time with my mouth slightly agape.  Loved it so much!  
We do find out some secrets in this book but Legacy really feels like our climatic book.  I don't know if that makes sense, but it just feels like so many things just came together and fit perfectly with the story.  Now is that to say that the book is loads of happy?  No.  And if you are used to Crane's work, you know he will make us cry with someone that had to kick the bucket.  But I think he puts a lot of thought in the decision and it isn't done easily.  I'm sure he is just as attached to these characters as we are, at least I hope so.  

All in all, I really believe that Legacy brings together many characters that have just added perfection to this book.  This was the most thought provoking book in the series for me and I just felt that Crane has achieved pure writing genius with this one.  
Or simply put ......Mastery.  

I had to give Legacy:

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Book Review: Enemies by Robert J. Crane {Girl in the Box, book # 7}

Title: Enemies
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: Girl in the Box 
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: August 17, 2013
Source: received from author for my honest opinion of it


Goodreads Synopsis:

Far from home, having failed in her quest to kill Old Man Winter, Sienna Nealon finds herself in the city of London, working with Omega, her oldest enemies. Surrounded by people she doesn't trust, thrust into events that could mean the extinction of the metahuman race, Sienna will discover that the line between friend and foe is thinner than she ever could have believed - and that her greatest enemies may lie within.

My Thoughts:

This is one of those series that once you read the first words in the first book you are irreparably hooked into something so incredible and breathtaking that the waiting between books is insanely difficult.
But we find a way to manage....

As we travel down this road with Sienna, the book's protagonist, we can't help but see the change that she goes through as she matures and becomes an adult.  Hell, I don't think she really ever got the chance to be a child, in a sense, but we really see her develop more complex thinking that shows us she is ready to become everything she is supposed to be.

All of the situations that Sienna goes through lets us peek into a more darker side that she hosts.  Of course, we could also believe that all of this killing and massacres could be a direct result of having Wolfe inside her brain.   But I am more prone to believe that Wolfe had some to do with it but not completely all of it.  I think there is a dark side to Sienna because I believe every person has a dark side.  The only difference is whether or not someone acts on it-which Sienna does and often.    I actually like the fact that Sienna can represent our society with both polar opposites combined inside warring to get out through her actions.

And honestly, Sienna is interesting as hell!  I know I keep relating this series to the X-Men Series but it rivals it in many ways.  I could honestly see myself going and seeing a movie called Girl in the Box.  Or turning the tv on to DVR the series.  But it should definitely be on Starz or some other paid channel because I wouldn't want it to be watered down at all.

But I get ahead of myself.  {Though, I would like to petition to get it movie rights too eventually}

In Enemies, Sienna is not in a great place still.  She has all these metas in her head and she just really doesn't know, deep down know, where she wants to be right now.  So she gives Janus a try and travels to London.  Yeah! Okay so I personally, like Janus.  I know he is the bad guy but there is just something about him that really pulls me to him.  But hey, he can influence feelings so could that be it?  I kid, I kid.  So I am pretty excited that she is willing to give Janus the time he needs and deep down that she needs too.
Now here is where we see the great research skills of Mr. Crane.  I have never been to London but from his very descriptive writing, I felt the dampness from the weather, and I just felt immersed in all of London society.  I also enjoyed the way we get to experience it with Sienna for the first time.  As she was awed, I was awed as well.  I truly believe that Mr. Crane is on his way to mastering the art of world building because I just fall into his books so easily.

Just as the world building can capture all of our senses, I firmly believe that the action scenes capture our imagination because some of the creative ways Sienna finds to disarm people is beyond me.  But thankfully, for us, Mr. Crane is there to weave some very brutal and highly entertaining fighting.   Okay, so there were many scenes in Enemies that really made me want to jump up out of my seat with excitement and some that made me want to put my hands over my eyes and read through my fingers.  (Like when I watch Saw: hand over face, peeking through fingers ever so often)
The jumping up out of my seat scene?  Towards the end when Sienna and some new found allies help take on some very old trouble makers.
The peering through my fingers scene? When Sienna is introduced to the one in charge.

And the ending?  Okay let's just say I wasn't very happy with the ending.  Not because it was bad but because I was not ready for it to end.  Especially like that!!!??!! Come one Crane - no fair!  But I understand you have to have that one of a kind ending that doesn't repeat itself and Mr. Crane definitely keeps us on our toes with his exceptional cliffhangers.

Overall, Enemies is definitely living up to what I come to expect from Robert Crane.  It has a solid plot with some very emotional threads in it that can bring a tear or two, but will always satisfy my hunger for the fight that I love in my action packed stories.  This is a great installment and I can't wait to get to the next one in Girl in the Box.... Or anything he puts his name on.  I am truly awed by the talent that Mr. Crane exhibits every time I pick up something he has penned.
I give Enemies five stars!

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ARC Review: Broken by Robert J. Crane {The Girl in the Box Series # 6}

Title: Broken
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box # 6
Publisher/Date of Publication: self/ June 2013
Source: received from the author for my honest exchange of this book.  I was in no way compensated for this review and all of these opinions are mine, no matter how "out there" they are.
Links to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
Genres: 17+, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction

From Amazon:

Sienna Nealon is a broken human being. Her lover is dead, her closest friends have deserted her, and her employers have betrayed her. From the ashes of her desperation, she must master the metahuman powers at her command and finally tame the souls that share her body for one ultimate purpose - revenge against the ones who destroyed her life.
Note: This is book six of the series and may not make sense to new readers. Book one is titled Alone, and is presently available for free in ebook formats.

My Thoughts:
As I sit here, sipping my tea, I find myself looking back on all that Sienna has accomplished...as well as all she has lost.  I try to determine if one is higher than the other; or if it is a balance between the two.  Which probably doesn't matter but I feel like to understand this book, we need to really understand why and where all this anger comes from.
And if you haven't read any of the books before this one I compel you to STOP!  HAMMER TIME ....
(No sorry couldn't help myself)
But you really need to pick up the first book in the series so you can see where Sienna is coming from.

So we see that all hell breaks loose in Broken and Sienna is a death dealer in every sense of the word.  Everyone has deserted Sienna, except for a select few, and she has lost those that are the most important in her lives.  But besides this, she has been betrayed by those that she trusted the most.
So we are seeing a completely broken shell of Sienna (hence the name) that is hell bent on revenge no matter the cost to herself or her future.
Even before the event that took Zach away from her, Sienna had been through some tough to deal with crap but she always had that glimmer of hope that things would be better.
Now, I just can't seem to find that glimmer anymore. All I see is pain.  There is hope, but it is my hope that Sienna can rise up like a phoenix after all is said and done and still find something good inside her and this world.
Besides the strong emotional characters that inhabit the pages of Broken; the plot is dark, dark, and just a little more dark.
I mean, you know, it is good writing when every time I pick up my Kindle to jump into Broken, I get this weary dread come over me.  I just know that we are going to be forced into a situation that we can't help but cry or scream about and yet we still seem to can't get enough of it.  I love this feeling even if it is a harrowing heartbreaking time as I read the darkness that has enveloped Sienna as she goes on her rampage.  Sienna does lose herself in this book but I also think she finds another part of her Meta human personality that she can embrace finally.
Yes, this is a really short book compared to the others in the series, but it is a heavy book in terms of emotion, plot, and how it weighs upon the entire story in general.  I wished it were longer but I really do see how we needed this book in order to move on to the books left.  Broken was a way for us the reader, as well as Sienna to get some kind of closure and get her mind right.  Or as much as she can, anyways.
Broken was a very personal book and it feels like we are one of the voices in her head, listening to her as she grieves and tries to come to terms with her life now.  I loved how personal the book is; even if it is a very  dark and twisted sort.
If you are a fan of X Men like fantasy with strong female heroines with some serious demented antagonists and a story that has romance in it but isn't drenched in it then I really think you should grab this series.  It is a breath of fresh air, albeit a tantalizing dark breath of fresh air, in the world of urban fantasy and science fiction.

Connect with the Robert J. Crane:

Robert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.

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ARC Review: Omega by Robert J. Crane {The Girl In The Box Book 5}

Title: Omega
Series: The Girl in the Box book 5
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Reikonos Press
Date of Publication: Feb. 8, 2012
Source: received from author for honest review of it
Get Your Own At: 

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Goodreads Description:

Omega - a shadowy organization that is synonomous with power in the metahuman world. They have hunted Sienna Nealon since the day she first left her house, killed countless Directorate agents and operatives, and now they unveil their greatest plot - Operation Stanchion, a phrase whispered to Sienna by an Omega operative almost too scared to speak the words aloud. Now Sienna must track the pieces Omega has in motion, journeying across the upper midwest to confront the forces that have plagued her since she first stepped into the metahuman world before they can land their final stroke - and bring an end to the Directorate forever.

My Thoughts:

I have read this author's works for a while now and it seems to be that he keeps getting better and better, surprising us with what he is capable of next and how far he is willing to go to write that masterpiece.  

Well, I believe Omega came pretty damn close to it.  It is full of emotion (to the point where my heart literally broke and tears flew out of my eyes in all directions ), action, and this deeper darker mankind that scares the hell out of me but still pulls me in because it is that captivating.  

Mr. Crane has a true talent of putting simple words to paper that have the tendency to pull the reader so far into Sienna Nealon's world, it is hard to come back to reality.  And for some of us, it is sad to leave the crazy world of metahumans, the gods of old, and a really kick ass heroine who is one of the bravest and honest people we could ever get to know.  And yes, she is a literary character.  

My warning to all of those who have not gotten into this series yet is to STOP reading here (this is book 5 so it will definitely have some kind of spoiler in it without it meaning to) and go pick up book one so you can join all of us fans that know The Girl In the Box Series is soon to be a classic along with many others, including Mr. Tolkien and Mr. Lewis.

We are thrown right into the action; which I really do love about Crane's writing style.  He can write a fight scene worthy of the big screen or video game time.  It is epic indeed!  One of the first things I came to notice about our protagonist this time is how mature she is.  Sienna has came a long way since book four and she shows it with her leading the junior M Squad, her calm demeanor with the team, and the more interaction with Old Man Winters.  I actually came very close to liking his character, because he seemed to having a fatherly interest in Sienna; but he still has this aloofness about him that makes me question his loyalty to her.  But time will tell and it does indeed.

Reed is still around and I absolutely love Reed!  I have to say he is my favorite male character in this book, besides Kurt.  Yes, I know Kurt can be a douche but I don't know why-but I feel like Kurt is ......Kurt.  Sorry I can't explain anymore than that; it is just this warm feeling I have toward Kurt.  

And of course, Zack has forgiven Sienna for her failings and they are still working on the relationship between the two of them.  I think the no touching rule bothers Sienna much more than it does Zack and it seems to always be a stresser on their fragile relationship.  But the two seem good together so it works out and we get a little more this time for them.  

I really love the way Crane used the old gods, for example Thor and Odin, to describe the different powers that some people had.  And there was a lot of references to Chris Hemsworth, which totally works for me because I seriously loved him as Thor, and it is good to see Sienna's humor still in tact.  So if I were to label this would it be possible to say mythology too for it?  I would like to think so because of what Omega holds in their hands.  But that is the beauty of this series: it crosses many different genres and has something for everyone in it, whether it be urban fantasy, science fiction, a little bit of mythology, and romance.  Of course there is also action, suspense, and it is most definitely a thriller; so yeah, something for everyone.  

Now, I was warned from the author that this could possibly be a tear jerker, and so I will pass along the same warning for you.  There is so many twists, turns, and complete surprises that it will be very difficult to not have one little tear escape.  Then again, you could be like me and whisper to yourself," I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry!"  Only to find yourself at the end bawling like a baby because the author, Mr. Crane, decided to put something so heartbreaking in our midst that it was impossible not to let our emotions take over.  

And you know what?  I love the author even that much more for it.  He has a plan for our favorite hero and though the road there will be sad, happy, terrible, and joyous, I have a good feeling he will help us see the series to its end.  Now, we may not get there unscathed; whether it be sleepless nights, eyes red from crying long and hard, or our thoughts always drifting to Sienna and her plights, causing us to spill milk we are pouring into the kids' cups (okay, I guess I can't blame that one on the book), but we will make it there.  And I know that I will be loving every minute of the journey.  

I gave Omega five hearts!  

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ARC Review: Family by Robert J. Crane {The Girl In The Box book # 4}

Title: Family
Series: The Girl in the Box book 4
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher/Date of Publication: Reikonos Press/ Nov. 27, 2012
Source: received from author for honest opinion of it
Get you own copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Synopsis:
Just hours after finding Andromeda and crossing paths with her mother, Sienna Nealon finds herself up against a bigger threat than ever before. Omega, the organization that unleashed Wolfe and others upon her, has declared war on the Directorate and the first strikes have already landed. Facing the seemingly unstoppable forces of Omega and Sienna’s own mother, the Directorate seems poised for defeat when a new threat rears its ugly head - a traitor in their midst, one that may mean the destruction of everything Sienna has come to care about.

My Thoughts:

I feel like determining an author that has that "timeless" writing style about them takes more than just how many books they have out there in the market and whether or not they are published by "big name" companies or self.  My determining factor for deciding if a book/author is a classic is the quality of it.  Is this a novel(series) I will go back and read over and over again? Does it have characters that grip me and won't let go even after I have finished the book?
Robert J. Crane has developed a series ( two in fact) that has done just those two things.  The characters in The Girl In The Box Series has taken my world and turned it upside down.  In a good way, though.  I will find myself folding clothes and out of the blue I will consider another option that could happen to Sienna, her mother, or Zach.  I have even had dreams about these stories because I was so engaged in the lives of these people.
And yes, I have read Alone, the first book, a couple of times since I have read it that first time.  There is always another point I can pick up and look at from a different angle.  I love it!
I believe the writing muses have reigned down all of the creative gifts they could think of to help Mr. Crane reach his full potential with these stories; and he has!

From all of that, I just wanted to point out that Family is probably one of my favorite installments of this series so far; and that is saying a lot since I enjoyed all of them!  I do believe these books are timeless and  I believe Crane will be one those classic authors that everyone can enjoy.
Okay enough of my fangirling and swooning but I just needed to get that out of the way.

Family pretty much begins where Soulless left off: they are running for their lives, but now they Andromeda, a very special meta with very special powers.  Sienna is a jumbled mess of emotions in this story and we learn as much about her as she learns about herself.  We delve much deeper into the rocky relationship she has with her mother through flashbacks she has in important and stressful moments.  I enjoy flashbacks-as long as they are used sparingly.  I do not, however, like when every other page is a flashback.  Crane, thankfully, didn't do that here.  He chose to give us a crucial piece of  insight through these flashbacks that were placed carefully in the story.  We were not bombarded with flashbacks like the waves crashing upon the rocky shores.
Also there is a lot of heartbreak in Family.  The kind of heartbreak that can rip out your still beating heart leaving you gasping for breath as tears fall down your face. The pain Sienna goes through in the plot left me so hurt for her as well as some of the pain she caused others, including Zach.  But hey, don't worry it is not just full of tears and grief, because let's not forget that Sienna is a snarky chic!
Even in the most dire circumstances, Sienna finds the time for a little humor- I mean come on, just because you are fighting off these insanely bloodthirsty metas that are trying to tear you apart piece by piece doesn't mean you can't throw sarcasm into the mix.  Observe:

"Succccubus," he hissed, his black hair and red eyes caught in the light of the helo's spotlight.
"Vaaaaaaaampiiiiire," I said, mocking, and I stomped his mewling friend in the face before I took a step away from the protrasted blond fiend.
-55%

 And of course: vampires!  I knew Crane was considering doing a project with vampires, but I love how he worked the concept into this series and made it work with the plot wonderfully.  These vampires are the "bloodhounds" of the meta civilization and are portrayed in a very animalistic way.   I mean think about it; if we have metas that can shoot water out of their body, create a windstorm, are encased in fire, then the vamps aren't that far off.  This keeps us on our toes, so to speak, as to what else Crane will surprise us with in the future.

Family just pretty much took my breath away, made me laugh, made me cry, and shocked the hell out of me with all the secrets that get revealed in this one.  I liked the way it ended, not really as a cliffhanger but more of a declaration.  Of course with secrets being revealed, we have new ones being discovered too.  Crane showed us how his writing has improved through Family, and has also promised us that he can, and will deliver on great story telling no matter the cost.

If you have never been a fan of sci/fi but enjoy urban fantasy or subjects comparable to X-Men, Fantastic Four, or even the Justice League, I urge you to give this series a try.  This is undoubtedly one of the BEST science fiction/UF/action series I have ever had the pleasure of finding.
Seriously, it reads like a movie being played in your mind and I could definitely see its worth on the big screen.
I give Family five hearts.  I wish I could give it a hundred thousand stars, hearts, etc. and I cannot wait till the next book, Omega.

Contact Robert J. Crane:

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Book Review: Soulless by Robert J. Crane {Book 3: The Girl in the Box Series}

Title: Soulless
Series: The Girl in the Box
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: August 23, 2012
My Format: ebook for Kindle
Source: received from author for honest review
Get your copy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary:
After six months of intense training with the Directorate, Sienna Nealon finds herself on her first assignment - tracking a dangerous meta across the upper midwest. With Scott Byerly and Kat Forrest at her side, she'll face new enemies and receive help from unlikely allies as she stumbles across the truth behind the shadowy organization known only as Omega.


My Thoughts:

Let me just tell you how hard it is to do a review on the third book in a series without spoilers...it is darn near impossible!!  I am going to try my best to but just in case.....

WARNING: COULD CONTAIN SPOILERS

Now I feel much better that I put that there.

In Soulless we see a very different side of Sienna.  A more immature side, in my opinion.  I wasn't happy with the way she acted, especially concerning the bar scene.  I just felt like this was something not on par with what I expected of Sienna.  And it of course made me dislike Scott...again.  

The plot in this third book seems to be more focused on love: the emotional as well as the physical aspects.  I thought Sienna was a little too obsessed with the physical components of a relationship, but then again being a succubus, I guess the hormones get even more out of the way for her.  

In this area, it didn't feel like Sienna for me.  I guess I am used to her being in life or death situations so much, it was a little hard to get used to her being a teenager/young adult just trying to cope with family problems, sexual urges, and responsibilities.  

Some parts of the mystery were easily figured out while others I was shaking my head that Crane was able to draw  me in so completely never knowing what was going to happen.  

I love love love the fact that Reed is in this book more than just a couple of pages!!  Do you know how much I adore Reed?  We get to actually learn a little more about Reed and I am secretly rooting for Sienna to open her eyes to his charm. 

And of course in true Crane fashion, we meet some very dark characters that make you shudder in fear, but this time, he disguises the villains so well you will definitely be guessing till the very end.  I know I was.  

The ending was phenomenal; probably Crane's best one yet!  The middle tended to get on my nerves though with the mistakes Sienna made and her experiments with alcohol.  

I have to admit this was the hardest review I have ever had to write.  I loved the characters, love the plot, and jumped up and down in excitement at the ending, but there were parts that just made me really mad about Sienna.  But in a way, that is the qualities of a good writer to show us things about the characters we may not want to believe or see.  It makes the characters seem even more realistic(even if they do have super powers) and easier to relate with, making us look deeper inside ourselves to look at our qualities both good and bad.  

At first, I was afraid I wasn't going to be happy with Soulless, but after all the plot lines come together, I realize this was the best book I read so far, with  a very important message for any young person out there (superhero or not): accept yourself.  

I gave it five hearts!

Book Review: Untouched by Robert J. Crane {Book 2- The Girl in the Box}

Title: Untouched
Series: The Girl in the Box book # 2
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Self Published
Date of Publication: Aug 19, 2012
Format: Kindle Edition
Source: received copy from author for my honest opinion
Get it here: Amazon   / Barnes and Noble


Goodreads Summary:
Still haunted by her last encounter with Wolfe and searching for her mother, Sienna Nealon must put aside her personal struggles when a new threat emerges – Aleksandr Gavrikov, a metahuman so powerful, he could destroy entire cities – and he's focused on bringing the Directorate to its knees.



My Thoughts:

I am a huge fan of this author.  It seems like every story he writes, he puts his heart and soul into it and you get this work of pure creativity with some very hefty world building.  
Ya'll know I do like book covers(even if I am reading it on a digital device) and if one stands out for me I love to point out the reasons why.  
Obviously fire is a pretty metaphorical element in a story.  It is hot, it burns everything around, but it also brings something new from the ashes.  Like a Phoenix if you will.  This is a powerful cover that it really stands out for the symbolism to the plot of the story.

The story is told from Sienna's point of view, which I actually enjoy because we get to see this world through her eyes and she is still learning about everything.  She is weary but still excited to see new things that make her happenstance seem a little less gloomy.  I don't want to give anything away if you haven't read the first book yet, but let's just say Sienna has a lot going on in her head right now, especially where her true loyalties should lie.  
Not only is that going on but she also has found a new power that seems to make her seem even more cut off from the world she so desperately wants to be a part of.  
Sienna is a strong smart kick ass heroine.  She has this attitude with the wittiest comebacks that will keep you laughing your butt off, especially at who is directed at the most.  
But in this book, we will see a softer side to Sienna that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I think Crane hit it on the nail what a 17 year old superhuman would be feeling.  
We also finally get to meet the famous M-Squad, but the only one that really sticks out in my mind is Clary.  He reminded me of the Thing from Fantastic Four but he wasn't as smart.  I do feel like Clary will play an even bigger role in the upcoming book(s).  
There are a lot of other new characters introduced in this book, good and bad, and each has a unique perspective that comes into play.  I loved Dr. Zollers !  He was the one that helped Sienna the most and I am so glad he is here!
The plot lines were very strong in the story as well.  You have so much going on but it doesn't get crowded or confusing, but instead seems to run well among everything else.  We get a huge cliff hanger at the end(that made me want to scream) that throws a whole another WTH moment in this roller coaster ride.
Again, Crane didn't disappoint with these action packed fight scenes.  It's like watching a movie playing inside your head, while you read.  The details aren't very gory but they are graphic, which will make you feel like you are really there, smelling the blood being shed.  
And for those of us that like to have a little romance with our bloodletting, there is a certain love interest for Sienna.  Remember ,though, this isn't a romance, so don't be expecting that to be the main focus.  It isn't, but there is just a few teasing lines to get you excited for what might be in store for these two characters.  

There was certain areas that seemed to become repetitive.  Mostly, it was when Sienna would talk about her past to herself, or the trust issues she has with the Directorate.  It was only during her monologue that it seemed to get repeated a lot.  
I think it is great to have some background info for the readers but you don't need too much.  This is definitely not a stand alone novel, so there is no reason to go over the past history too deeply.  That is the beauty of a series: we get to experience the creativity in stages. 

Overall, Untouched, is a strong solid story that would be a great read for men or women.  It has a super intelligent, strong, and independent female heroine that is trying to come to terms with her new found abilities, her abuse, and who she can trust in this strange and scary world.  And on top of that, it is non-stop action packed with very cool gifted humans (Metas), a few psychotic killers mixed in, and some of the wildest fight scenes written.  These could make even the most hard to impress  guys sit up and take notice.  I love this book and I love this series. I cannot wait to get into the third book, Soulless .
This is definitely an author you should keep your eyes on because his story telling abilities just keep improving with every book he writes. 
I give Untouched five hearts.

Favorite Quote:

Every single bit of the flame that Aleksandr had thrown at him had bounced off, hitting the walls of my dormitory room.  The drywall had begun to blaze in four places and the carpet was beginning to catch fire.

"You're gonna burn the girl's stuff up, Gavrikov!" Clary shouted at him.

I was coughing, but I managed to get out, "I don't own much of anything."

"Well you're gonna burn the girl up, and she's already hot enough without your help!"

63% Untouched (by Robert J. Crane)