[Book Tour] Review: Astral Tide (Otherborn #2) by Anna Silver + Excerpt

Astral Tide by Anna Silver
Series: Otherborn #2
Published by Sapphire Star Publishing on February 28th 2014
Genres: Aliens, Dystopia, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author
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London and her friends are fugitives in a reprocessed world where anything New is illegal. But as Otherborn, they’re different. They can dream and create, which hasn’t gone unnoticed. After fleeing Capital City with an assassin on their heels, the Otherborn found nothing went according to plan. Now, they are down by two and on the run in the Outroads, but the Tycoons keep mysteriously gaining on them. And seven months later, London is no closer to her promise to go back for Rye, if there is anything left to go back for. But Zen is teaching London that there may be more to her heart than the pieces she left behind, and London can’t help but feel guilty about not looking back since they fled New Eden. Should she hold on to hope that Rye is more than just a memory, or embrace a new life and love with Zen?

In their race to outrun their enemies, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: they can only run for so long. Eventually, they’ll have to face what waits when the road runs out. Eventually, their fates will catch up to them.

My Review

Seven months have passed, and London and her friends aren’t any closer to rescuing Rye or getting the answers they so desperately need to defeat the Tycoons. Everywhere they go, the Tycoons seem to be a half step behind them, catching up and keeping them on their toes so they can barely think straight. Add to that, London’s guilt that she hasn’t looked back and is slowly falling for Zen, and emotions are running high. Can they find the answers they need on the Astral Plane, or will their emotions keep them from growing and learning with their Others?

Astral Tide jumps in after a bit of a time skip from Otherborn. Roughly seven months have past since the conclusion of the last book, and we find out that our group have been traveling from camp to camp trying to gather what they need to move forward with their plans. Relationships are evolving, emotions are growing, and the dreaming is spreading.

The story is simple really. They are on the run from the Tycoons, and somehow always getting caught. They are wearing out their welcome everywhere they go, because they are basically a plague on the world. Everyone who lets them in, gets hurt in the process. London is filled with guilt because it’s been seven months and they are still no closer to freeing Rye, and she is starting to fall for Zen despite herself.

Which brings us to the only reason this didn’t get another star. A love triangle. It will be the death of me. I foresee it! There is a part where London and another are told about a choice in the end that could end in their deaths. I just.. I froze when I saw the words on the page. It won’t happen until the next book, I am certain of that, and if it happens the way I think it will, I will cry forever. I hate love triangles where you root for the obvious loser instead of the one you are supposed to. I just, don’t see my favorite winning this one. That leaves me horribly disappointed. I get too invested into the romance in a story, and this is going to be a heart-wrenching one for me. I am falling too much in love with London, and by extension, the other characters. It just cannot end pretty. It won’t go my way. I am beyond depressed.

Speaking of the characters, you get to see a lot more Zen and Kim, and even Tora in this book than you did in the last one. I was really happy to see that. Kim remains a side character. The really endearing thing about him is his extreme loyalty. It is unshakable and I adore him for it. I loved seeing more and more about Zen. He is such a nice character and I just want to snuggle him forever. The story was very character driven, and because of it, they are learning more and more about what they need to do.

There were times where things seemed to lag, but only for them to get rocked immediately. The lags are barely noticable. I would find myself starting to wonder when the story was going to pick up, just for it to toss me back into the squall, and I would realize, I had never left, the wind had just given me a chance to catch my breath. Second novels are usually so difficult to like because they are bridges, nothing more. They bridge the way to the third installment. That is how trilogies work. Book one is for world building and character introduction/development, book two is the bridge for preparing and build up to the final conflict, and book three is the end to all ends. Because of it, most of the bridge books end up being horrible and boring. While, I feel there might not have been enough progress made towards their final goal, this bridge was not boring in the least and is a regular tome of knowledge, giving us a lot of answers about the Astral that we were left with from the first book. I can’t fathom how it will go from here, and the semi-cliffhanger ending was confusing and a bit frustrating because I can’t see the direction like I feel I should be able to. I am horribly excited for the third installment. This series has hooked me in a way most dystopians can’t seem to do.

Astral Tide – Excerpt

Want a sample? Here is an excerpt for your reading pleasure!

Astral Tides (Otherborn #2) by Anna Silver Excerpt.