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webz's review against another edition
3.0
First reaction to finding this book in a bookstore:
Yeah Right! Really?!
And so I bought the book! So for some reason this book just did not seem as good as the first! The "bad guy" in Above World was just so creepy/evil/horrible/sick it made me, well, get really sucked into the book! But this clone, Scorch (bad girl) never made me shiver in fear, even when she's driving her sword through a poor innocent, uh, horse's chest! And I am really, really annoyed that Aluna and Dash won't just say they like each other!. This is my reaction towards the two: 
Sooooo. I couldn't give this 4 stars because I didn't REALLY like it! I mean it obviously wasn't all bad; it just didn't make me feel like I was caught up in the story and living alongside characters. And that's why I can't go on and on about this book like I usually can! Sorry! I don't know maybe I'm getting too old to read most middle grade books. But NO! I won't ever completely give up on those! There's some real gems out there; you just have to find them.
Yeah Right! Really?! And so I bought the book! So for some reason this book just did not seem as good as the first! The "bad guy" in Above World was just so creepy/evil/horrible/sick it made me, well, get really sucked into the book! But this clone, Scorch (bad girl) never made me shiver in fear, even when she's driving her sword through a poor innocent, uh, horse's chest! And I am really, really annoyed that Aluna and Dash won't just say they like each other!
Spoiler
There was NO KISSING! ARGH! Or any sign of affection towards each other except for a HUG! Sooooo. I couldn't give this 4 stars because I didn't REALLY like it! I mean it obviously wasn't all bad; it just didn't make me feel like I was caught up in the story and living alongside characters. And that's why I can't go on and on about this book like I usually can! Sorry! I don't know maybe I'm getting too old to read most middle grade books. But NO! I won't ever completely give up on those! There's some real gems out there; you just have to find them.
brandypainter's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Sequels are scary things. This is why I approached reading Mirage by Jenn Reese with equal parts excitement and trepidation. I LOVED Above World (my thoughts) so much. I wanted to love this one. I needed to love it because I haven't loved many books yet this year. It fulfilled all of that yearning plus some.
Aluna, Hoku, Dash, and Calli-they all have pieces of my heart. These are some truly wonderful characters and Reese took them and grew them in this second volume. Aluna learned so much from her first journey and it is wonderful to see her apply those lessons in this book. She proceeds with more caution and listens more carefully. She still makes some mistakes, but I love that her character has not stagnated and is moving with the story. We learn about Dash and his past in this book and what I discovered only made me love him more. His nobility, honor, and loyalty are great attributes and his charming ways only add to that. It was interesting to watch Calli-still torn between what she knows she must become and what she wants to do. She's so caring and diplomatic, and yet there are times when I'm not as sure of her as I am of the others. Not unsure of her loyalty, but what she'll choose to do with it. It keeps her from being too perfect. And Hoku. GAH! His quiet heroism in this book catapulted him past Dash as my favorite I think. I love how he refuses to back down from his ideals and tries to figure out ways to make them work in the world he lives in. It also has me very afraid for his continued safety. I always say I love it when authors aren't afraid to hurt even their main characters and Reese certainly isn't. It doesn't stop me from not wanting her to.
The friendship these four share is my favorite element of this trilogy. They met and began it in the first book. This book sees it challenged and grow in amazing ways. It is clear too that they are all learning from each other and becoming better people because of each other. There are scenes that actually had me tearing up-and that is not an easy thing to make me do. One particular scene between Dash and Aluna had me actually shed a tear. I love how Reese uses their friendship and interactions to reveal more of their characters too.
In addition to our four intrepid heroes there are a host of new and amazing characters added here. I loved Tal, Rollin, and Nathif especially.
The world building continues to be impressive. In this volume the setting switches to the desert. Here two different types of people dwell-Dash's Equians and the Serpenti (half snake people-and let me say that whole concept is just awesome by itself). The history of these groups is fraught and rich with detail and these were wonderfully incorporated into the fast moving plot. While Karl Strand and his evil plans shadow this book, the story here is less about confronting a nemesis than it is about learning to grow and change. The story focuses on the desert peoples and the workings of their traditions and politics. There is again a lot of food for thought here on honoring tradition and history while not clinging to it to your own detriment. This fits well with the themes of hope, unity, and strength in community that continue into this story from the first. The way Reese is able to do all of this in a plot that never once drags or even slows down is impressive. I also appreciate how she knows how to end a book. Yes, there is more and they are not done with their struggles, but this book ends with a sense of completion. I still really want the next volume while at the same time don't have cliffhanger rage.
Mirage gave me an adrenaline rush and book hangover like I haven't had in quite some time. I love books that can do that to me and am eagerly awaiting the third and final installment of the trilogy.
I received this most joyfully and gratefully from Candlewick via NetGalley. Mirage is available for purchase today, March 12. (I have an 8 year old eagerly awaiting our copy's arrival. She is quite annoyed I already got to read it.)
Sequels are scary things. This is why I approached reading Mirage by Jenn Reese with equal parts excitement and trepidation. I LOVED Above World (my thoughts) so much. I wanted to love this one. I needed to love it because I haven't loved many books yet this year. It fulfilled all of that yearning plus some.
Aluna, Hoku, Dash, and Calli-they all have pieces of my heart. These are some truly wonderful characters and Reese took them and grew them in this second volume. Aluna learned so much from her first journey and it is wonderful to see her apply those lessons in this book. She proceeds with more caution and listens more carefully. She still makes some mistakes, but I love that her character has not stagnated and is moving with the story. We learn about Dash and his past in this book and what I discovered only made me love him more. His nobility, honor, and loyalty are great attributes and his charming ways only add to that. It was interesting to watch Calli-still torn between what she knows she must become and what she wants to do. She's so caring and diplomatic, and yet there are times when I'm not as sure of her as I am of the others. Not unsure of her loyalty, but what she'll choose to do with it. It keeps her from being too perfect. And Hoku. GAH! His quiet heroism in this book catapulted him past Dash as my favorite I think. I love how he refuses to back down from his ideals and tries to figure out ways to make them work in the world he lives in. It also has me very afraid for his continued safety. I always say I love it when authors aren't afraid to hurt even their main characters and Reese certainly isn't. It doesn't stop me from not wanting her to.
The friendship these four share is my favorite element of this trilogy. They met and began it in the first book. This book sees it challenged and grow in amazing ways. It is clear too that they are all learning from each other and becoming better people because of each other. There are scenes that actually had me tearing up-and that is not an easy thing to make me do. One particular scene between Dash and Aluna had me actually shed a tear. I love how Reese uses their friendship and interactions to reveal more of their characters too.
In addition to our four intrepid heroes there are a host of new and amazing characters added here. I loved Tal, Rollin, and Nathif especially.
The world building continues to be impressive. In this volume the setting switches to the desert. Here two different types of people dwell-Dash's Equians and the Serpenti (half snake people-and let me say that whole concept is just awesome by itself). The history of these groups is fraught and rich with detail and these were wonderfully incorporated into the fast moving plot. While Karl Strand and his evil plans shadow this book, the story here is less about confronting a nemesis than it is about learning to grow and change. The story focuses on the desert peoples and the workings of their traditions and politics. There is again a lot of food for thought here on honoring tradition and history while not clinging to it to your own detriment. This fits well with the themes of hope, unity, and strength in community that continue into this story from the first. The way Reese is able to do all of this in a plot that never once drags or even slows down is impressive. I also appreciate how she knows how to end a book. Yes, there is more and they are not done with their struggles, but this book ends with a sense of completion. I still really want the next volume while at the same time don't have cliffhanger rage.
Mirage gave me an adrenaline rush and book hangover like I haven't had in quite some time. I love books that can do that to me and am eagerly awaiting the third and final installment of the trilogy.
I received this most joyfully and gratefully from Candlewick via NetGalley. Mirage is available for purchase today, March 12. (I have an 8 year old eagerly awaiting our copy's arrival. She is quite annoyed I already got to read it.)
ricksilva's review against another edition
5.0
Jenn Reese introduced several different cultures in her postapocalyptic settting for Above World. With the sequel, she is able to slow the pace a bit to concentrate (with the exception of a couple of chapters) on just one: the centaur-like Equians. By deepening, rather than broadening the world, Reese really strengthens the bonds and interactions between the characters as she draws the reader into the internal struggles of the Equian people.
The story also gets a nasty new villain (the level of opposition for the heroes in this book has been, well, upgraded), and some great additions to the cast.
And, as expected, Reese delivers on the action, which is pretty much non-stop as the book reaches its climactic chapter and Aluna gets a pretty epic final fight. The martial arts action is beautifully written and the intensity never lets up.
This was more focused than Above World without losing the charm of the characters, and I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
The story also gets a nasty new villain (the level of opposition for the heroes in this book has been, well, upgraded), and some great additions to the cast.
And, as expected, Reese delivers on the action, which is pretty much non-stop as the book reaches its climactic chapter and Aluna gets a pretty epic final fight. The martial arts action is beautifully written and the intensity never lets up.
This was more focused than Above World without losing the charm of the characters, and I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
elephant's review against another edition
4.0
In this second book in the Above World series, Aluna, a Kampii (mermaid) from the ocean and her best friend Hoku, go with their friend Dash, an Equian (centaur)and Calli (bird/person) to the Equian city in the desert to warn the Equians about the evil Karl Strand. They arrive too late, as Strand's clone daughter Scorch is already there controlling their leader with the promise of bringing water to the desert. Aluna and her friends encounter and deal with the prejudice of the Equians who value their bloodlines and who consider Dash, who was bred to be an Equian (centaur) but has only a human body and Tal, also bred to be Equian but having only a horse body as aldagha, or damaged and therefore not as good as the pure Equians. Together, the friends join with the Serpenti (snake people)and fight Scorch and the prejudice that exists among the Equians.
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