Thursday, October 16, 2014

Review: Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little

DEAR READERS: Originally, I gave this book a three-star rating, because of the ending, and the lack of information provided about whether this book was a standalone or part of a series. But, as you can see in the comments, the author has brought to my attention the fact that this book is book one of a series. 

That being said, this book will receive four stars - it's unfair for me to rate a book so low when I know now that my biggest problem with the book may be resolved later in the series (because this book is in fact, part of a series). I hope this makes sense to everyone. I hope no one thinks that I am finicky and indecisive. This doesn't happen often. But I always welcome new information that may change my opinion on a book. If I EVER have the wrong idea about something, or lack information about something, someone please let me know!

- Alyssa, The Eater of Books!, October 17th, 3:51 pm EST



Forbidden by Kimberly Griffiths Little
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart. 

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying. 

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

What I Liked:

This book should have gotten five stars from me. It was well on its way to doing so, trust me. I had been waiting for this book for months, and then I won an ARC from the author, and then eARCs were uploaded on Edelweiss for bloggers to access and basically, I've been dying to read this one (even though I've had a copy for quite some time now). One thing pissed me off and broke my heart, and that one thing is why this book gets three stars, instead of five. Because it deserved five... until that one thing that happened.

Jayden has been betrothed to Horeb since they were children. When his older brother is killed, Horeb is now the heir to this one tribe, making him like the "crown prince". Jayden will marry him, and the two tribes will be joined. But Jayden doesn't love him, or even like him. She falls in love with a mysterious boy of secrets, who appears in the desert when the tribes are leaving that area of the desert to go to another. But Jayden's tribe is in trouble, as her father is poor, and Jayden must marry Horeb.

I really love the setting of this book. I have a seriously religious background, and I know the Bible very well. I'm not saying you have to be religious to know the places and names and whatnot, but it helped me. This is historical fiction, as it is set in Mesopotamia, 1759 BC. I LOVE this time period. I also LOVE desert-setting novels. Sarah Beth Durst's Vessel is a really great example of awesome desert fantasy.

I really felt for Jayden. At many points in this book, she feels - and is - helpless. She is just a girl, just a female desert-dweller. She has no power over her upcoming marriage, no control over her life. Her father is poor and needs the connections and wealth that will come with the union. Yet Jayden stays strong throughout the novel - through death, despair, growing love, threats, abuse, etc. She is an amazing protagonist, and a strong character.

The story itself was very interesting - I found that I could not put the book down. I love the rich setting, the culture, the world-building, but I especially loved the story Little crafted. It's not just about Jayden's betrothal to Horeb, or her growing feelings for Kadesh. So much more is at stake - cities falling, tribes splintering, Jayden searching for one sister while losing another... this story is definitely engrossing and heartbreaking and fabulous.

The romance. Oh, how I love the romance. No love triangle. I love the romance... up until the end (see the next section). It's breathtaking and lovely and passionate, and I fell right along with Kadesh and Jayden. I love that they fell in love so smoothly, but it's forbidden, but it's like, deliciously forbidden. Love! But, funny how my favorite part of this book (the romance) is also what I hated the most. See next section. 

What I Did Not Like:

The ending is brutal. The ending just isn't fair, for a standalone - but I know now that this book is the first of a series. The ending is so, so heartbreaking, unjust, depressing, and I am not a fan of the ending... but it helps to know that the story will continue.


Originally, I docked two stars for the ending - BEFORE I realized that this book was not a standalone. There is no information available on Goodreads or Edelweiss that says that this book is part of a series, so I assumed it was a standalone. However, I am more than happy to be told that this book is part of a series, so I changed my rating. That is fair to me.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes, I would. I LOVED this book - up until the last fifty pages. So, yes, I would totally recommend this book for the first 350 pages! Once you get to the ending, just be assured that the series will continue. It will be okay. Hopefully.

Rating:

4 stars. I'm upset about the ending - it's not only that it was heartbreaking, but it was so unfair. I'm not okay with it.  It was too cruel - and then too open-ended - for my tastes. However, knowing that this book will be part of a series has definitely lightened my heart - and changed my opinion and rating.


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

22 comments:

  1. Great review Alyssa. Such a shame though that the ending was so disappointing. I've read a few books like that. Hopefully your next read will be more enjoyable.

    Marilyn @ Marilyn's Mystery Blog

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    1. Right?! It ruined the book for me, sort of. Thank you!

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  2. Oh it sucks when the ending just doesn't fit well with the reader! It happened to me in Allegiant (talk about a big series disappointment!) I enjoyed your review... Looking forward to more by you :)
    Book Maniac Reviews

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    1. Haha for sure - I know what you mean. Allegiant, good lord.

      And thank you! I post reviews days a week...

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  3. Alyssa, I've chatted with the author through email and it is indeed a series! I haven't read the book yet, but I know how it ends, and I'm hoping that what the MC believe could be true is in fact true...
    Otherwise - glad you loved the rest of this! I can't wait to read it myself. The romance sounds amazing.

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    1. I'll definitely be hitting up that sequel! However, knowing this doesn't change my opinion. The ending. Is. Awful. Haha.

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  4. Aw :( I'm so so sorry that you had issues with this book sweetie :( but I'm glad you loved most of it. <3 I.. read 30? pages of it months ago, and quit :p but I now have a print ARC, and will try again soon. Hopefully. I just worry that I will hate it.. hmph. The ending. I think I remember how it ended. But I'm not fully sure. I always thought it was a series? HUH. It better be!! Anyway. Love your review. <3

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    1. It is a series, as per the author's comment below! That makes me feel a lot better. I know now... but I won't be changing my review or rating.

      Hope you love the book when you read it, Carina!

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  5. I read about halfway through your review because I do intend to read this one anyway. As you know, I cannot resist fantasy and even less with this cover. Sorry you didn't like it, I'm sure I'll understand why once I read it :)

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    1. You'll definitely understand! But it's a series. *breathes* I hope you enjoy the book when you read it, Liza!

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  6. Oh, Alyssa! There is a sequel - and it's a trilogyl!!! Harpercollins hasn't put that info out there yet - and didn't name the trilogy - and it's not on Goodreads yet. (Maybe I should put it up there?)

    I'm actually doing revisions with my editor right now for Book 2: BANISHED. (You guys are the first to know the title!) Early critiques are saying that Book 2 is even better than Book 1 - which totally surprised me.

    And, as a history buff and knowing the Bible, you may be interested to see the finished book because there is an Author's Note as well.

    I hope this helps you not feel so devastated. There is SO MUCH MORE coming in this series!!! What happened to Kadesh . . . powerful goddesses in the frankincense Southern Lands . . . etc. :-) Okay, I'm such a tease - sorry!

    Hopefully you can feel like this reviewer at I Heart YA Fiction: "My one issue is the ending. It left a big question technically unanswered (though there was hope for it going a certain way) . . . However . . . it had so much hope, strength, and determination in it, and it wrapped up the main character's development in one of the best ways I've seen. So, it's still a favorite for me, even though I grumbled a bit at that. ;)"

    Please don't hate me! Sometimes authors have no say in certain things . . . xoxo :-)

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    1. Okay this clarifies SO MUCH. Thank you, Kimberley! I'm now seeing your comment.

      Had I known BEFORE reading this book that it was book one of a series, I might have rated the book differently - it probably would have gotten four stars from me. I wouldn't have taken so much issue with the ending, because I would have known, in the back of my mind, that the story was not truly over. I didn't know this though! I checked Goodreads and Edelweiss, but found no information on a series! The ARC said nothing as well.

      I'll definitely be reading the sequel - I truly LOVED this book, except the ending. Like I said, it was on its way to a (rare) five-star rating from me. So I will definitely be reading it!

      Thank you, Kimberley! I really appreciate that you took the time to clarify this. I'm slightly embarrassed that you read my review... but thank you. I definitely do NOT hate you at all! Never!! <3 <3 <3

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  7. I really want to read this one! I'm terrified now about the ending O.O I requested this one but haven't gotten a copy and if I don't I might wait to find out if it'll have a follow-up before I start. Great review!

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    1. I hope you get a copy, Kristen! That ending... but, per Kimberley's comment, it is book one of a series... so that's a good sign! It can't end there, haha.

      Thank you so much!

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  8. No, no, no, don't think a thing about me seeing your review - it's ALL GOOD. It's a GREAT review in fact, I love it! I just wish that Harper had put up info about the series so I could have gotten your coveted 5 star review. Honestly, I've been really surprised there is no mention on the book itself. *shakes head*

    And now I'm wondering if I can bribe you for a 4-star review with brownies or something . . . mwah, ha, ha.

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    1. Kimberley - I thought about this last night, and I've decided to alter my rating of the book. It's so not fair, in my opinion, to have this new information about the series, and not change the rating, since my problem was really with the way this book ended (when I thought it was a standalone).

      I came to this decision before seeing your comment, but seeing this comment affirmed my decision. I've made the changes on this blog review and Goodreads. I can't change my Edelweiss review (I submitted it early yesterday, before you commented), because there is no way to edit reviews on Edelweiss, but I emailed the publicists, so hopefully they'll understand what I'm doing.

      No need to bribe me haha, I'm a big believer in fairness, and it wouldn't have been fair to leave my review with a three-star rating. I look forward to reading Banished! :)

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  9. Alyssa, You Are Awesome! Thanks bunches! You're very kind to email the publicists, too. That is very generous. And if we ever meet I'm treating you to muffins - or cake - or a chocolate-filled beignet! :-)

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    1. Of course! You're so welcome! I wanted to make sure that they wouldn't be confused by my contradictory reviews! Hopefully they understand what I explained :D And omg I have quite the sweet tooth so bring it onnnn!!

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  10. At the risk of repeating myself on Twitter or elsewhere . . . did you ever see FORBIDDEN'S book trailer, Alyssa? Filmed "on location" (of sorts!) I think you'd be interested because of the historical aspect and the belly dance costumes (and some of the pictures come straight from the country of Jordan - taken by moi!)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3ncXetDyG8

    And if you live in Maryland . . . Martina Boone and I (and Wendy Higgins and Jessica Spotswood) are going to be in Bethseda Maryland at Politics & Prose at 7:00 p.m. See the whole tour line-up here: http://kimberleygriffithslittle.blogspot.com/2014/09/announcing-compelling-reads-tour-11.html

    I'm bringing an etched Damascus sword. :-)

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    1. I absolutely love the trailer! And yep, I'm all about that history and culture :) I do indeed live in MD - I will try to make it to this event (it's an hour from me, but many other MD bloggers will be going)! I would love to meet you and Martina, two of my favorite debut authors of this year :D

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  11. I finished this today and LOL the ending was so cruel but I didn't believed it. It couldn't be. The author will find a way :) ... I agree how Jayden is such a strong protagonist! She's been through so much and I applaud her for standing on her feet. Horeb was such a horrible person! I can't believe he would do tragic things just to gain power. I thought it was a standalone too, but now I'm excited to read the rest of the books in the series.

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    1. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this one as well, Leigh! I hope we enjoy the sequel.

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