Author: Michele Poague
Series: Healing Crystal #3
Publisher: iUniverse.com
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 8, 2013
Source: Gifted to me from BetteRose Ryan
Rating: 4 Stars
Add to Goodreads
Buy the Book
***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***
Synopsis
from Goodreads:
As
The Healing Crystal Trilogy comes to a close, spring has finally come to the
high mountains. As winter releases its grip, the small band of Survin refugees
is violently divided. When three unique worlds collide, cultures change
forever, as traditions and rituals are swept aside. While faith crumbles for
one, another's is renewed. The gulf between these worlds may prove
insurmountable.
Young Kinter, lost in the shadow of her sister, fights for her own power. As she maneuvers to seize the crystal and displace Kairma as the heir, Kinter's future hangs by a thread. Collin, Kairma's lifelong friend, discovers he may be forever barred from Kairma by the evil carried in her blood unless the power of the Crystal can be realized. Bearing the weight of the most powerful object known to mankind, Kairma has an impossible choice to make: return to Survin in ignorance or dare to trust these powerful strangers.
Young Kinter, lost in the shadow of her sister, fights for her own power. As she maneuvers to seize the crystal and displace Kairma as the heir, Kinter's future hangs by a thread. Collin, Kairma's lifelong friend, discovers he may be forever barred from Kairma by the evil carried in her blood unless the power of the Crystal can be realized. Bearing the weight of the most powerful object known to mankind, Kairma has an impossible choice to make: return to Survin in ignorance or dare to trust these powerful strangers.
When
freedom fighter Rand Solis allies himself with young Kairma, they discover that
in order to heal the world, both must make sacrifices-friends, religious
beliefs, and political philosophies. Great knowledge comes at great cost to the
pair as they learn that a political philosophy may be perfect in a given moment…
but such moments are fleeting.
The Healing Crystal Trilogy presents a science fiction epic about lost technology, the morality of power, and the creation of religious and political philosophy.
My Review:
I
am so happy to be able to be a part of the Ransom
blog tour! There is a LOT going on in this book. I know I said that about
the first two books, but this one even more so. In the final installment of the
Healing Crystal trilogy we see from the perspectives of the people in Survin,
Kairma’s group heading south, the people of Peireson Landing, and the people
that reside in the mountain in the south. That’s a lot of different
perspectives, more than we’ve seen in either of the two previous books. I think
at times it got confusing just because there was so much going on and I think
that this one was a little information heavy. It is a hard science fiction
though, so it’s supposed to be information heavy. But I found myself wondering
if certain things were really necessary to the story.
This
book actually starts a couple months back from where Fall of Eden ended. The reason for this was so that we could see
what was happening in the mountain with the new group of people. I liked being
able to see their perspectives and appreciated that Michele Poague gave us some
background. But we also see a repeat of what happened to Kairma’s group as they
were traveling, through a different character’s eyes, but still. This section
was a bit longer than I think was necessary and I just wanted to get to the new
stuff.
I
don’t want to give away any spoilers, but basically Kairma’s group is traveling
to use the crystal for its originally intended use. They are truly fulfilling
their mission, their destiny in this book. It was so fun to learn about the
people in the mountain. Their way of life and how they came to be was so
interesting. There were some awesome new characters introduced including
Commander Yeates and Rand. Yeates was awesome, head of security for the mountain
people, she was a badass. I loved her character. And Rand was really
interesting. He truly was the one who set things in motion with his “radical”
thinking and willingness to take risks.
Even
though we discovered the devastation the world has faced in the last book, it
still hit me just as hard in this book. The reason that the world is the way it
is was heartbreaking. One of the things that made it so devastating was how
realistic it was. I can definitely see something awful like this happening to
our world at the rate we’re going which both saddens and scares me.
There
are a lot of great debate topics in this book including political debate over
which government is best to implement in the new world if any at all. Many pros
and cons of different governments are discussed and the conversations were truly
insightful. There was also the ages old weapons debate over whether people were
safer being armed or if it was safer to ban weapons entirely.
Kairma
has grown so much throughout this series. She has gone from an unsure girl who
didn’t want any of the responsibilities that came with being a leader to a girl
who knows her place in the world and is willing to fulfill her destiny. She
stands up for herself, her people, and the rest of the world. I really have
grown quite attached to her character and am sad that we are now parting ways.
Her relationship with Collin grew even more in this book and I absolutely
adored the dynamic between the two.
Michele
Poague has done a great job of world-building in this series. Any questions or
doubts I had while reading were answered by the end of the book. Everything was
tied up nicely and I loved seeing the beginnings of the new world. This series
was so good. Great characters and an interesting and realistic plot. This book
wasn't about space. It wasn't about religion. It wasn't about science. (Ok, it
was a little...) But what this book really examined was humanity and if it
could ever really change. Could humans be trusted with the information of their
ancestors who destroyed everything? I don't know if they can, but I think that
Kairma and the generations to follow will try. This was a beautiful story that
I loved reading. A fantastic science fiction that truly begs the question,
can humanity change? Happy reading all!
And don't forget to enter the raffle!
a Rafflecopter giveawayMake sure to stop by the other tour stops for more chances to win!
October 21 A Book A Day Reviews
October 25 Tickets to the Rabbit Hole
October 28 Chapter Break
October 30 Beth’s Book Reviews
November 1 Cynthia Shepp
November 4 Boricuan Bookworms
November 7 Ryans’ Retake
November 13 Book Fr3ak
November 14 A Daily Dose of R&R
About the Author: Michele Poague
Born Michele Rae
Jeffryes in Newman Grove, Nebraska, Michele Poague has spent most of her life
in Colorado, South Dakota and Nevada, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, since
1984. When she is not writing novels, researching a story, traveling, or
working at her full time job as a nightclub manager, Michele volunteers her time
as an advocate for the Libertarian Party.
For more information
and to connect with Michele Poague please visit any or all of the following sites
and networks:
Blog: michelesmusings
Facebook: healingcrystaltrilogy
Pinterest: michelepoague
Glad you ended up enjoying this series and that the last book tied everything up (I admit, I skimmed it because I didn't want to spoil anything since I haven't read the first two yet). ~Pam
ReplyDeleteI understand. I tried to keep it as spoiler free as possible, but it's hard not to reveal some stuff when you're writing a review for the third book in the series. Let me know if you try the series out. I would love to hear your thoughts! :)
DeleteI particularly loved the way Isontra started her journal in the prolog of book one and the use of the same line by Kairma in the epilog of book 3. It kind of gave me chills. I know that, for a book to feel real and the sacrifice to seem real, good people have to die. But I was so broken up over the man (no spoilers right?) who died in Kinter's arms. Big, fat tears came pouring down and when I read it a second time, I still cried. Maybe I just get to invested...
ReplyDeleteI don't even remember how Isontra started her journal. I will definitely have to go back and reread them! That's really cool. I love when books make connections like that. Yes, I was so devastated over his death. But I also applaud authors who aren't afraid to kill off their characters. It definitely makes the book more realistic. And I think that he got to a great point in the novel where he was ready for it, ya know what I mean?
Delete