Review: Provex City (Lorne Family Vault Series Book1) by Michael Pierce

Hello,

      While participating in a blog hop some weeks ago, i've discovered a new author blog and some emails later, i've got the privilege to review his first book. At the moment only the kindle version is available but in one or 2months the print edition should be available. 

Also, because that's important , i'm posting this review today so you can enjoy the book yourself thanks to a great opportunity. Starting tomorrow ( the 16 of March) and until the 18th, for amazon members, you can get the book for FREE so if you enjoy this review or just want to make your own opinion hurry and get it.

All the best,

author : Michael Pierce

Publication :  March 2012

ISBN/ ASIN  B007HHO0K0

Genre: YA, Mystery, Fantasy
Violence: mild
Langage: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: PDF from the author in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodread :

 Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls?

Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: "When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls." And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.

My opinion:

          Strange is the first thought I got with this book. The prologue got me confused a bit and doubting my mind. That’s a first. Now it’s true the story can seem very complicated at the beginning, even overwhelming. However, when you enter more and more in the universe it starts to make sense and you make some guesses about what is happening.  You have to keep reading even when you get the feeling that’s a bit too much, really after page 200 all become crystal clear. That’s about the plot itself. Like the characters you have to think about a new world of possibilities.

Now the characters, Oliver is a young boy not sure of himself at all, and being bullied isn’t helping. He envies his brother without really knowing him because they are different. Jeremy is popular and confident. He is a bit bothered by his brother but when it’s needed he also can be a protective older brother. This duality will be explained but that’s sure that at the beginning like Desiree I didn’t appreciate him.

Desiree is a girl that seems to be always happy and welcoming but when you see past the appearances you can see she is also fragile, hurt and has secrets. I liked her even if I had some difficulties to understand how she acts with her boyfriend Eli. And they are some mysteries as why is she as good as Oliver with the “other reality” things.

Anna, it’s not that I dislike her but I absolutely hated how she acted with Oliver and at the shopping mall.

So the beginning of the book is more mystery than fantasy for me but the plot is interesting when you get over the confusing part. I will be waiting for book 2 because the end is a small cliff-hanger and you want the answers to “why”. At the end of the book, you understand the base of the story but it’s really a series and not a stand alone. Many questions are left unanswered. Now that we have some knowledge about the universe, it will be easier to immerse ourselves in it I think. So i want more^^.

I loved this book but I admit that I had to go past my first impression; it’s really in the end that you enjoy it the most. It’s an interesting and intriguing first book. A good book to recommend to the ones who like: science fiction, fantasy and of course YA.

A warning: there are mentions of adolescent’s suicide and abuses of alcohol.

Score:  3,5/5

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon (in the futur in other ebookstores too)

( rappel: free until the 18of March)

You can find more informations on the serie and Michael Pierce on his Blog

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.

Challenge:

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge