REVIEW: Becoming by Raine Thomas

Name: Becoming

Author: Raine Thomas

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: July 24, 2011 (US)

Pages: 261, Kindle Edition

Source: For review from author

Rating: 4 Teacups

Every three years, Amber Hopkins explodes. Okay, not a blown-to-smithereens explosion, but whatever it is always hurts like hell and leaves her life a shambles. She’s already worked her way through five foster placements, and she’s doing whatever she can to avoid getting blasted into a sixth.
As her eighteenth birthday approaches and she feels the strange and powerful energy building, disaster looms. When the inevitable explosion occurs, her life gets its biggest shakeup yet. She’ll not only learn how her fellow foster and best friend, Gabriel, really feels about her, but she’ll discover that she isn’t really without family.
To top it all off, she’ll finally find out why she’s having the power surges: she isn’t entirely human.
Amber must Become, transitioning to another plane of existence and risking the loss of the most important relationship she’s ever had. Her choice will impact the future of an entire race of beings, and will pit her against an enemy that will prey upon her doubt to try and take her very life.
Kind of makes the explosions now seem like a cakewalk.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

Becoming is quite the read! I have to say that I'm very satisfied with the way this book turned out. When I first started this book, it read like a contemporary, but towards the middle, as the paranormal elements were involved, I got a little confused. From there, I thought I was going to dislike the book. However, towards the end, it picked up immensely, and I grew to love it. The characters were fabulous the entire time though, bringing up my enjoyment level. Becoming is a unique supernatural romance story that I definitely recommend.

One of my favorite things about Becoming are the characters. Surprisingly enough, it's not the main character Amber that stands out for me (even if she is super sweet and awesome); it's the main character's love interest that catches the reader's attention. Gabriel is Amber's stepbrother, and has always been loving and protective towards Amber. He's always had a secret crush on her since they were tweens, and his undying love for her grows more after they find out about the Estilorian world. He reads like an angel for me, he is so sweet and just perfect. The fact that he is with Amber through the toughest of times is just adorable and it is never obsessive or creepy. Gabriel is a character that really shines in Becoming.

I also have to give tons of credit to Raine Thomas for creating such a different supernatural world! I have never read anything like Becoming, with the different planes and powers that the characters have. It's certainly unique and holds the readers interest easily. I'm thankful for the creativity, because the plot was mediocre in the beginning. I kind of just went along with the story, not thinking much of it. But the ending was very fast-paced and tension-filled! I needed to know what happened immediately.

There aren't many problems in this book at all; in fact, I only had one minor problem: the names of the Estilorian people were so confusing! I could never get their names straight since there were so many of them. Most of them turn out to be minor background characters, but still. I frequently had to go back and remind myself who was who. This problem detracted my enjoyment in the middle of the novel, but the main characters and plot made up for it in the end.

I am still pleased with the way this book turned out. If you're able to see past the confusion factor in Becoming, and you love yourself an extremely precious or tender romance and an incomparable supernatural element plot-line, I highly recommend this book! I have to say that I am surprised that I adored this book so much. The creativity of it all will make readers craving for more!

4 Teacups for Becoming!

*Thanks to Raine Thomas for providing me with a copy for review!*