Review
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Stitch
(Book #1 in the Stitch Trilogy)
Amazon | GoodReads | BN
Author: Samantha Durante
Publisher: Self Published (July 31, 2012)
Genre: YA, Dystopian, 322 pages
ISBN-10: 0985804602
ISBN-13: 978-0985804602
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.
Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.
Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...
The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.
Ana: Welcome fellow bloggers!! Today we’re gonna do this review a bit differently. Neyra @ Darkest Addictions and I-- say hello, Neyra…
Neyra: *waves* hey blogworld ^_^
Ana: So, Neyra & I went ahead and buddy read Stitch for this tour and decided we needed to share our awesome responses together in a buddy review!
Neyra: Mhm ^-^ our reaction was the same, so here we are! I’ll admit though, I first fell in love with the cover... My regular bloggers know I’m such a cover-whore xD Lol
Ana: Yes… She is a BIG A** cover whore.
Neyra: -.-t
Ana: When you first dive into Stitch, you’re introduced to Alessa Khole.
Neyra: Right, the protagonist, a freshman at Eastern State University. After the death of her parents, Alessa struggles to keep focus; and the last thing Alessa expected upon arriving at ESU was to be seeing ghosts. What I loved from the beginning of the story was that there was no going around the matter. We’re diving straight into the heart of the book…but who is this mysterious ghost with the alluring blue eyes? And why is Alessa the only one in a house full of women (Sorority) that can see him?
Ana: Right, this book definitely catches your eye from the beginning. When Alessa is having her nightmare and leaves you hanging, you’re wondering just what the heck is going on. What kind of campus goes above and beyond with security cameras? Hell, my college campus doesn’t have a single camera.
Samantha Durante spins this story right from the beginning. She imagines this college life and you’re thrown right into it, believing that you’re on a college campus and that this “mysterious ghost” is just that, a ghost, a mighty cute ghost with the most amazing blue eyes. (Insert massive fangirling here)
Neyra: Lol well that just shows how much your campus loves you xD I thought so too though, WTH makes a college so skittish as to put THAT many security cameras around? o.O It unnerved me, but it seemed that Alessa was the only one to take notice, which kind of bothered me as well. I did like that Samantha’s writing is able to capture the college life so easily that you’re transported to the world itself, making for a very easy, light and fun read.
Oh you swoony girl! >.< I loved the “ghosts” amazing blue eyes too xD *swoons right along with you* What I was expecting from the character and what we got was totally different. I was thinking Alessa would be interacting w/ the ghost here and there that it’d be THAT kinda ghost love story, but once again Samantha surprised me. Cause and I hope this doesn’t spoil it; there was NO interaction what so ever. And it was frustrating, but at the same time kept me on edge thinking, “Shit, will they- and how- or when will they finally communicate??” :O
Ana: I’m right there with you with the “No interactions” thing between Alessa & the ghost. But, I did like that as you continue to read, the ghost was popping up more (even if it was for a few seconds). Samantha does leave a few hints along the way as the book progresses, but you won’t realize it until you actually read about it and think back and say, “Well, shit… duh.”
Neyra: Exactly. She hints at Alessa and her mysterious ghost’s past throughout the book. So you’re left here thinking, okay, so, they know each other. But the question is, how? He’s a ghost? So then, he’s dead? Wth?? o.O
Ana: Right, at first I thought “okay, is this some kind of reincarnation kinda thing?”
Neyra: I just thought it was a GHOST love story xD LOL
Ana: Lol. Of course you did. Any who, enough of Neyra’s ghost fetish--
Neyra: Hey now, there is nothing wrong w/ my ghost fetish thank you! -.-
Ana: --The characters in this book, I thought, really contributed to making the book what it is. Alessa’s character is naïve and lost but at the same time, she has the other feelings that she doesn’t know where they’re coming from, which I think makes her stronger. She knows that there’s something more, something bigger to this picture than what’s in front of her. Then we have Janie, who is a little bubble of sunshine. I absolutely love Janie, she’s… AWESOME!
Neyra: Lol I liked Janie’s character too. She seemed to keep Alessa grounded, and though she might have thought Alessa was a little crazy because of her ghost, at least she indulged her in going along with it. There was very little interaction w/ any of the others surrounding Alessa though, which I kind of would have liked… A little… Okay sort of…maybe xD
Ana: Yeah, little interactions with the other characters, but what little interaction there was, you can see their personalities shine through. Lizzie? Yeah, I definitely got snobby off of her. Nikhil? Wheeew. I know there’s going to be another book… can he please, please, please have more time in that one, Samantha?
Neyra: Oh, I know right. I didn’t really like Lizzie at all, made me want to slap her around... but I guess Alessa’s not the violent type *shrugs* And Nikhil, I was for sure thinking there’d be a love triangle-- Phew! Glad there isn’t... but I’m hoping he comes back... I would like some more screen time w/ him… err… for character development... uhm... Well, to see him more… uhh… go on Ana, take over….
Ana: Lol. More… screen time, uh huh okay Neyra *winks* xD
Neyra: Hush you!! >.<
Ana: About a little more than half way through the book, Samantha throws you a curve ball and that curve ball throws off your entire thought process with the book. Secrets are revealed and everything just CLICKS and you suddenly realize what’s going on. Samantha definitely had me going and believing the “overprotective” security detail.
Neyra: Oh Right, and that’s when things REALLY get interesting! I was glued to the pages of the book once it started to pick up. That plot twist, I was not expecting. And it definitely had me riveted to my seat. Now, we can’t speak too much on this since it’ll be a spoiler, and really, no one likes a party pooper; just know that it’s disturbing to find out what the “overprotective” campus security really entails. Everything will make sense, we promise, and you’ll love every minute of it ;)
Ana: Spoilers indeed. As the book comes to a close, we learn a little more about who Isaac is and just who Isaac and Alessa are to each other. But then again, more spoilers, so I’ll stop there. Samantha leaves us with a big ol’ cliffhanger in the end. WHYYYYYY, I can’t wait this long for the next book. There’s still so many questions and so much more I want to know.
Neyra: Oh tell me about it >.< *sigh* I want more… but I liked that at least we get to learn about Isaac, and what he and Alessa have had to suffer through. This is definitely a dystopia unlike any other. And I love it! >.< Book two needs to come out tonight!! xD
Ana: This book is definitely worth the read. I agree, the second book needs to come out tonight…or… right now *snaps fingers* shiiiiiiiet… no magic. xD This isn’t my first go-around with Dystopian, but Stitch definitely makes me love Dystopian a little more.
Neyra: I’m glad you liked it. I’ve had a run in with Dystopian novels a time or two myself, and I gotta say, it’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. So, overall Ms. Beach Bum, what are you rating this book? Come on, spill woman :)
Ana: I’m rating this book: 5 black cats ;) I was engrossed from beginning to end. That’s pretty rare for me. What about you Ms. Addictions?
Neyra: I gotta agree, this book is engaging from the start, though it was a slow start for me at first, it was still very appealing, and I loved every minute of it. So... 5 awesomely naughty bunnies for me ;)
Ana: Well, that concludes our buddy review for Stitch by Ms. Durante. I highly recommend this book. Love yourself some Dystopian? Grab this book ASAP! Love a little mind twisting, thought provoking book? Well, Samantha Durante gives that to you with this book! And we’re all lucky enough that it’s a series ^_^
Neyra: Lol Agreed! Thank God it’s not over! The sequel to Stitch, Shudder, should be out soon... I hope... a little help here Ms. Durante!! D: LOL Thanks for having me over Ms. Beach Bum :D
Ana: A pleasure as always, Ms. Addictions. There will always be a hammock for you here at Beach Bum Reads and of course unlimited tropical drinks at your disposal ;)
Neyra: Must you tempt me? LOL. Thanks, Hon, and you know there’s always extra cookies on the Dark Side for ya, and plenty of hawt alpha’s to go around… save for MY SPECIAL HANDS-OFF MEN!! ;]
Ana: *laughs and walks away*
Samantha Durante lives in New York City with her fiancé, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. Stitch is her first novel. Learn more about Samantha at www.samanthadurante.com.
