Lovin' los libros

A book blog dedicated to young adult and new adult novels

Review: The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney

By 10:28 AM , , , ,

The Brokenhearted
   by: Amelia Kahaney

Publication Date: Oct. 8, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2/5 stars


A teenage girl is transformed into a reluctant superhero and must balance her old life with the dark secret of who she has become.

Prima ballerina Anthem Fleet is closely guarded by her parents in their penthouse apartment. But when she meets the handsome Gavin at a party on the wrong side of town, she is immediately drawn into his dangerous world. Then, in a tragic accident, Anthem falls to her death. She awakes in an underground lab, with a bionic heart ticking in her chest. As she navigates her new life, she uncovers the sinister truth behind those she trusted the most, and the chilling secret of her family lineage…and her duty to uphold it.

The Dark Knight meets Cinder in this gripping and cinematic story of heartbreak and revenge. From Alloy Entertainment, this inventive new superhero story is sure to captivate any reader.
 
 

When I first read the synopsis to this and saw the "Dark Knight meets Cinder" line, I was all like, 'Oh, yeah. I've GOT to read this one!' Unfortunately, as exciting as the blurb makes this book sound, it really fell flat for me and didn't do the blurb justice. I think this book had a lot of potential, but it really didn't deliver with its execution.

Kahaney does a good job of setting up her futuristic, crime-laden world- and I was really intrigued in the beginning. However, I found it wasn't very consistent. I needed more world-building- I wanted to know so much more about how Bedlam City became what it was. How did there come to be a Crime Line that divided the rich and powerful from the South Side, full of criminals and people less fortunate? How did The Hope (a famous vigilante) come to be? We are introduced to a lot of ideas but never received any kind of resolution for them.  The biggest issue I had was the end. It was pretty predictable as to who 'The Boss' was, but how that all worked out is a mystery. There are no details as to how its possible for this person to be 'The Boss' and it was really a 'it is what it is' moment and you have to move on. I wanted details! Tell me how this came to be! I also felt there was more to Regina's story (her dead sister) than was given to us. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but the way she was alluded to made me think that before her death she was part of something big (a potential rebellion?)

Anthem Fleet, is our main character, and I felt no real attachment to her. She is the daughter of Harris and Helene Fleet, and lives in Fleet Tower. They attend charity balls and care about appearances. They believe Anthem and her boyfriend Will are the perfect match (probably because Will's dad is the D.A.) and are focused on their daughter being the epitome of perfection. Anthem feigns illness and gets out of attending a social gala, opting to head to a party with her wild friend Zahra instead. It is here she meets Gavin, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. I honestly didn't expect this story to take such a turn in the romance department, but it did. Gavin and Anthem's relationship is very West Side Story and even though Anthem knows she shouldn't be playing with this kind of fire, she can't help herself. She falls for Gavin WAY too fast and the night she gives herself to him, he ends up being kidnapped by the deadly Syndicate- a well known criminal organization. I couldn't really get on board with Anthem and Gavin's relationship. It was underdeveloped and short-lived and after only knowing this boy for a short amount of time- the lengths she will go to in order to save him seemed really extreme. I get that she feels responsible since his kidnappers demanded ransom before they would release him, but still.

The book takes a sudden turn when Anthem ends up falling to her 'death'. However, she doesn't die- instead she receives a bionic heart and discovers she is faster than ever, has sharper hearing, and has all of these abilities she can do. I don't know- I suppose this was a cool twist? It seemed a bit strange is all. We go from seeing the rich, prima ballerina to a girl with a bionic heart who is determined to get Gavin back. She enlists the help of Ford, the man she was running from when she ended up falling into the river, but who also saved her life by getting her help. Ford is a former boxer, who got tangled up with the higher ups in the Syndicate. I never expected Kahaney to take Ford's character where she did. It seemed kind of sudden and I didn't see the development of the situation coming at all. Ford ends up becoming Anthem's go-to person (aside from Serge, their family's driver). He is the one who convinces her to keep going, even though Anthem's world has fallen apart around her. He is also the person whose help Anthem enlists to train her how to use her newfound gifts. Her goal is to find Rosie, the lead woman who took Gavin, and make her pay for what she's done.

Anthem makes such a transformation in this book. We watch her go from the rich, prima ballerina girl with the 'perfect' boyfriend, to a girl who, after getting tangled up with a boy from the South Side, ends up becoming a machine bent on taking down the people who destroyed Gavin. She becomes relentless, exposing Syndicate thugs working for Rosie and 'The Boss', earning her vigilante status.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me due to the inconsistencies and endless questions I still had. I also feel this kind of novel needed more world building behind it to make it more believable.

You Might Also Like

20 comments

  1. Aw man, what a bummer when a highly anticipated book fails to win you over. Thanks for the honest, helpful review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andrea! It was definitely a disappointment, but ah well.

      Delete
  2. I agree with you, I would definitely have picked this up based on the synopsis. However, I don't think I would like it either based on your review. I definitely need world building in a futuristic novel and it sounds like this one fell short on that. Also, I need to connect with the characters. Great Review Chica!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Chelsea. It had potential to be really cool- but when you're missing those two vital things? There's just no way!

      Delete
  3. Aw, when I saw Prima Ballerina and The Dark Knight meets Cinder , I was all excited. Pity it all feel so flat. Great review though and thanks for helping me to avoid this one. I often auto buy when I see the word ballet and lately it hasn't been ending well at all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I saw Dark Knight meets Cinder and I was like, YES! I need this! Oh, well! We can't win them all I suppose!

      Delete
  4. I hate when you get excited about a book, and then it just falls flat! I also hate when I get a book, and know it could of been so much better than it was! But loved your honest review!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes to both of those things Magen! I hate when that happens!

      Delete
  5. I saw this book the other day and I think I had added it. Sorry you didn't like it totally hate when that happens, Just had a book this month I couldn't finish.

    Also good for you for getting approved on Edelweiss I have yet to get a book from them. Drives me crazy cause I don't know what they want me to say to get the books LOL. Netgalley I am fine with it's actually become dangerous :)

    Awesome Honest Review!!!
    Michelle
    Because reading is better than real life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Michelle- yeah, I was definitely sad this one didn't meet my expectations. Edelweiss and NG are both dangerous! LOL. I need to stay FAR away!

      Delete
  6. I LOVE the look of this book. Shame it didn't quite work for you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. OHMIGOSH I SAW A PIN FOR THIS ON PINTEREST TODAY <3 Too bad you didn't like it as much as anticipated D:
    Better luck next time!
    Jackie

    http://nobentspines.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was definitely disappointed! Oh, well! You're right- better luck next one!

      Delete
  8. I have never even see this one around until today. Honestly, from your review it seems like this book is all over the place. I am like you, I need a lot of detail when it comes to world building so, the lack of would probably frustrate me. Great review :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks chica. I saw this on EW and per usual- I couldn't say no. Sadly, the Fall Harper books have been pretty meh for me.

      Delete
  9. Ohhh booo! This book just sounds like there is too much going on. Plus the whole bionic heart thing just sounds weird to me. Thanks for the honest review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Sometimes authors can rock a lot of different threads, but this just felt so forced.

      Delete
  10. I hate when the blurb makes comparisons that just don't deliver! This sounds amazing so that sucks it fell flat. I am ALL about world building, the more the better so it would totally frustrate me to be left wanting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I hate those too! I was really excited for this one too. :(

      Delete

Leave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!

My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.

Search This Blog

Powered by Blogger.