Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Review & Giveaway: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead 
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble
In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense

My Thoughts:
Mead has created possibly one of the most complicated worlds I have ever read.  In the beginning this was a very very bad thing and it felt like she was trying a little to hard to make the jump into the adult genre, but after I hit the middle part of the book I was totally engrossed and knew what was going on.  It kinda felt like in the middle she dropped some of the confusing elements and just finally went with the story which she has always been amazing at creating.

Don't get me wrong I ended up really liking the world but man was it hard to grasp. There is so much that went into this, Gods, sci-fi elements, romance, backstories and that is just the stuff I can put into words.  I probably should have taken notes because I know that when I pick up the sequel I am going to be oh so lost, but I will definitely pick it up nonetheless.  I did end up really enjoying what Mead has created and I am totally enthralled with this new series.  She has created something so unique and different and if you can get past the difficultness of it then I think most will fall in love with this series as well.

I loved Mae.  She is the kick arse heroine that Rose with just kicked up a notch if you can believe it.  I always love the girls that can hold there own and she can with the best of them.  I am very excited to see her relationship with Justin grow as well.  These two definitely have some hurdles to overcome and Mead is a mastermind at creating tension among couples so I know I am in for a bumpy ride, especially given all that was revealed at the end.  Justin was a little harder to warm up to.  I like that he is super smart at what he does but his sleeping around has to stop.  I am not a fan of this type of behavior so I really hope he tames that down in the next installment.  Mae deserves better even if she had a few side distractions as well.  Those also need to stop.

The one part that truly bothered me was Tess and wasn't her character it is just the fact that she is as involved as she is.  When I picked this up I knew it was adult so I assumed every character would be over the age of 18 and while I don't mind having younger characters in adult books I don't like them having chapters in their POV's unless they are needed.  Tess wasn't needed.  I am not sure if Mead just wanted to have that YA element in it so she felt more at home or if it is for her readers so that they feel more at home with the story, but it didn't work for me.  I wanted to stay in the adult world and every time Tess took over I felt myself slipping into YA territory.  I am hoping that Tess will play a larger part in the gran scheme of things since Mead made her such a relevant character and since I know she isn't going anywhere.  I don't want her to be an empty character.

If you are a fan of Meads other 2 series' then I hope you pick this up.  Yes it is complicated and yes you will have a headache while reading it, but I promise the last 1/3 of the book is worth the headache and aggravation.  I promise you won't want to miss this!

4 Snowflakes

 We are giving away our ARC copy to one lucky follower!  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!
Good luck!
   

Giveaway Policy: No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age and older to enter. Open to US and Canada residents. The Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher and not available for resale. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners will be selected after June 25, 2013 randomly by Rafflecopter. Entries will be reviewed for accuracy. WinterHaven Books is not responsible for lost or damaged items received through mail. This giveaway is sponsored by WinterHaven Books and will be shipped out by us. If the items are not claimed via email within 24 hours of receiving notification, the item will be forfeited with no winner or an alternate winner may be selected at blog’s discretion with email verification by June 28, 2013. WinterHaven Books has the right to obtain and publicize the winner's name and likeness. Void where prohibited by law.


121 comments:

  1. When I went to one of her events, she mentioned how it is definitely one of those worlds where you're just dropped in and kind of have to figure things out as you go along. Also, she mentioned that there's a lot of Norse mythology involved in the book, so I think if you looked up basic Norse myths, things might make a little more sense (for example, the two ravens that talk to Justin are Huginn and Muninn, thought and memory, who in the mythology belong to Odin and fly over the earth to tell him of the goings-on in the earthen realm). I know, too much information, but it might be a bit of an eye-opener! I know I'm excited to read this and see how many parallels I can find between the book and Norse mythology.

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  2. I haven't read her books yet, but have heard great things. They have been on my list forever and I'm told I will really like them since I like JLA's Covenant series. I really want to try and get to them this summer!

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  3. I LOVE Richelle Mead. I even got one of her quotes as a tattoo :D My favorite book is Blood Bound!!

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  4. I love all of Richelle Mead's books! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  5. My favorite book of Richelle Mead is Blood Promise. Though all ALL Richelle Mead books, but that's probably my favorite. And I REALLY want to read Gameboard of the gods. Thanks for this AMAZING Giveaway! :-)

    My Rafflecopter Name is different then my comment name: Vannah Batista

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  6. I loved the Iron Swan series even though I didn't like the series end :) Thanks for sharing!

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  7. I haven't' read anything by Richelle Mead, but this book sounds really great!

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  8. ;-; I have never gotten to read a Richelle Mead book yet.

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  9. I haven't read any yet, but this book sounds great!

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  10. I havent read any of her books,yet.. i have a few vampire academys and bloodlines-1 & 2 but they are waiting on me to read.. thanks for the giveaway!!

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  11. I haven't been lucky enought to read anything from Richelle Mead but Game Board of the Gods sounds so amazing! I also want to read the Vampire Acadamy series!!

    Thanks so much for an awesome giveaway!

    My email: mrsjtucker2012[at]gmail[dot]com

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  12. I think I want to read this book more, now, if possible. Thx for your review. :-D And the giveaway! My fav is Bloodlines so far. I love the VA series, for sure, but Bloodlines totally rocked.

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  13. I love her Vampire Academy series. I read it sometime ago but I want to re-read it and start fresh :) I love the series and highly recommend it!

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  14. Vampire Academy all the way! I loved those books so much! :)

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  15. Vampire Academy! Any one of them, including Bloodlines!

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  16. I haven't read any, but I would like to!

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  17. Blood Promise! Definitely! I have read everything but The Indigo Spell and Gameboard of The Gods!

    Love Richelle Mead! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  18. I'd probably go with Bloodlines! Thanks!

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  19. Loving the Bloodlines series.

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  20. I love her Vampire Academy series! :)
    Lacey T

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  21. I have never read any of her books, but I have been wanting to read the Vampire Academy and Bloodline series for years! Just never got around to it.

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  22. My favorite Richelle Mead books are her VA series. VA as a series. So hard to choose just one. I can't.

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  23. I have read just the first book in the VA series and would definitely like to read more.

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  24. My favorite is Vampire Academy. (:

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  25. I actually haven't read any of her books yet, but this one really interests me. Thanks for the chance to win :D

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  26. Thank you for the giveaway! I actually started reading the Vampire Academy books this year - I've read the first five, and my favorite is Shadow Kiss :)

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  27. I actually haven't read any yet (ashamed!!), but I plan to finally read the Vampire Academy books this summer (they've only been on my TBR for like 5 years now! lol) :D

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  28. I actually just bought the first vampire academy book I plan to start it soon! Yeah, I know, I am sooo behind on YA series books! I have devoted 2013 to catching up on that!

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  29. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I have been wanting to read Gameboard of the Gods so bad since I saw it on Goodreads! I also have the Vampire Academy books on my to-read shelf :)

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  30. Gameboard of the Gods! I read an ebook arc of it and LOVED it sooo much I'd totally read and re read it :)
    Danielle @ Coffee and Characters
    http://www.daniellecromero.blogspot.com

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  31. I haven't read any of hers yet. Bad YA blogger, I know. I was hoping to get approved for this one, since it sounded more in line with my preferences, but I didn't.

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  32. Can I say everything she has ever written? ;) Rachel Mead is beyond awesome!!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    - Beckie

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  33. Both the VA and Bloodlines series are on my TBR list, but haven't got around to reading any yet. Gameboard sounds very intriguing, so I can't wait to read it.

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  34. I've read the VA series but my favorite Richelle Mead book would have to be The Indigo Spell but I love her entire Bloodlines series so far. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  35. I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series!! Every book in that series is amazing! The movie Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters is coming out next year!! I am sooo exited!! Love that series!
    Thanks for a chance!!

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