Review of Pull by Anne Riley
Title: Pull
Author: Anne Riley
Published: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
~ Synopsis ~
Rosie Clayton witnesses a mugging on her first night in London—and then the scene rewinds itself.
She finds herself standing in the same place again, with the mugging happening just like before, except this time a stranger steps in and stops it. There’s no way the same incident can have two outcomes. Rosie thinks she’s losing her mind, until just a few days later, the stranger saves her.
The stranger, Albert, and his band of misfit crime-fighters, have the special ability to Pull, which allows them to rewind just enough time to undo a recent event. Someone is hunting Albert and his crew– and now that Rosie’s been seen with them, she’s a target too. Rosie is left with no choice but to trust Albert to keep her safe.
As Rosie learns more about this unbelievable ability and the people – if you can call them that – who want them dead, she discovers that the group’s desire for her blood might be more than mere coincidence. Each step into this magical side of London introduces Rosie to a family history that she never knew existed, and dangerous forces that could unravel her world in an instant.
Her family may be the reason they’re all being hunted—and she may be the only one who can figure out how to save them. Sure, between the lot of them, they have a few shots to get it right. The thing about Pulling, though, is you have to be alive to do it.
BOOK LINKS
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads
~ Book Review~
I started reading fantasy a year or two ago when I was somehow blackmailed into reading and reviewing a fantasy novel and discovered I loved it. I’ve since been on a hit and miss journey trying to find out why some fantasy novels work for me and some don’t. The concept of Pull definitely attracted me. I love the idea of the world being a normal place, but there being a secret world within our everyday lives where things work differently.
Pull started out too slow for me. There was a lot of background to get through until the reader finally arrives at the first night in the Heath where Rosie experiences her first Pull. Unfortunately, after this event, the reader doesn’t get an explanation of the Pull for a long time. The build-up, although written very well, was too slow for me. I keep urging my Kindle to hurry up. My Kindle didn’t listen. I thought a lot of aspects were too detailed, almost as if the writer was showing off her knowledge of London instead of giving the reader a tour of the city.
That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the story. I most certainly did. It just took me longer than normal to get into it and I have to confess that I probably would not have continued to read had I not promised to review the novel. That’s one of the great things about reviewing books (or being in a book club for that matter) – you force yourself to read books that you normally never would have even considered.
As a middle-aged woman who recently spent the holidays with her shockingly ineloquent teenaged family members, I feel I’m not impartial enough to review the characters in the novel. I’m just going to have to give it the good ‘ol college try. I couldn’t believe how eloquent Rosie, who narrated the novel, was. She was incredibly insightful about her family. In my opinion too insightful for a 17-year-old but that may be the middle-aged woman talking. I also thought it implausible that the entire secret organization consisted of four teenagers living alone in a house in London. Had the group just been a few years older, I may have bought it. Or maybe an explanation for why there are no older members?
Considering the above, I think this novel is best read by teenagers or pre-teens who love the fantasy genre and are maybe a bit enamored with London.
~ About the Author ~
Anne Riley is an author of young adult fiction cleverly disguised as a high school Spanish teacher. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her family.
Anne began writing at the ripe old age of nine, when she penned a literary classic about… well, she doesn’t really remember what it was about, but she’s pretty sure the main characters were ferrets.
These days, she writes stories about teenagers instead of ferrets.
~ Giveaway ~
3 Winners will each receive an ARC of PULL by Anne Riley Must be 13+ To Enter | Ships in US only | See Terms and Conditions for full contest rules and exclusions.
