Blog Tour-Review and Giveaway: Phoebe Pope and the Year of the Four

Phoebe Pope and the Year of the Four by Nya Jade

355 Pages - Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy 

October 30, 2012 - Dreamwell Publishing 

http://www.nyajade.com/

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Twitter: @TheNyaJade

Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Purpose: For Review
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this title, free, in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Goodreads Summary : The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above. As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth. Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive.

My Thoughts:

                Oh, Ms. Jade. What are you doing to me? I love this world! I want more right now! Honestly, I have to admit that I was totally biased from the beginning. I saw the cover and knew that the story was going to be amazing. Yes, this is one of those books that would have totally pissed me off if it turned out to be a dud. I am so excited to say that this is far from a dud.  Well played, Jade, well played.

                The introduction to shapers and vigos was done so effectively, you were given enough information to visualize and understand how they all work without getting bogged down with the details.  The characters were engaging and distinct. It was believable and I could see how a world like this would work and fly under the radar of the humans. Oooh the mix of shapers and humans! I guess it would be tricky putting humans alongside a species that was not quite human, but it didn’t seem to be a problem with Above and Below. I love the fact that a lot of characters had distinct physical characteristics (Lewis and his dreads, Phoebe and the streak in her hair, Hayley and her “Clark Kent” glasses). I love that they also had skills that had nothing to do with their shaper secret – soccer, baking and photography.  But what I absolutely positively loved was the diversity of the characters. (Shameless plug if I was an agent I would so try to get this book into the hands of someone with Tu Books, a publishing company that seeks out diversity and science fiction).

                The illustrations were beautiful and I so wanted more of them! Yes give me more!!! Okay, I guess you’re wondering about the story…. I was captivated throughout the entire book! I was trying to figure who it was, whether or not Phoebe would figure it out, what was up with Chase? All of it, all of the questions, all of the action kept me neatly tucked in my chair flipping pages. Did I see it coming? Did it all work together in the end? Oh wouldn’t you like to know? Normally, I would tell you my opinion of the ending.  I would say whether or not it worked for the entire story as a whole---my opinion of course. But I had so much fun getting there, that I think you should too. Pick up a copy and find out for yourself!

5 stars *****
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Always Shine,

Starr K