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whycamillle's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. The girl was completely relatable and just really really normal, I mean, as normal as she can get. Can't wait to get my hands on the next book and see where that plot arch with the necklace goes.
amberinpieces's review against another edition
5.0
Cole and her sister Kat are in London for spring break since their father has business there. They practically just arrived in London, but to Cole it feels like she has come home even though she has never been to London before. The feeling intensifies the longer she is there and when she and Kat visit the Tower and its grounds, Cole is suddenly overcome by a realistic vision of a young woman about to be executed. The vision overwhelms her so much that she finds herself on the ground and helped up by a handsome young man named Griffon.
Back in San Francisco, Cole’s visions become stronger and seem to vary between Tudor England and late nineteenth century San Francisco. Along with her flashbacks, she cannot get Griffon out of her head. To her astonishment, it turns out that Griffon lives not too far from her, just over in Berkeley. She soon learns that she is becoming like Griffon - Ahket, a reincarnated soul aware of all past lives. Most Ahket use their lives to further the well-being of the world, but there are some with less honorable goals, including one who wants revenge on Cole for something that happened in a past life that she cannot fully recall.
I had been so excited about C.J. Omololu’s Transcendence for awhile, ever since I read the synopsis and had key words and phrases such as “Tower of London”, “beheading”, and “past lives” pop out at me. That could span hundreds of years of English history, but of course being me, I immediately thought Tudor England and Anne Boleyn. I was right about one! I kept wanting Cole to have been a queen from those times and her Tudor identity was obviously something that greatly intrigued and interested me about the book, but the bits and pieces she remembered throughout the novel were still very interesting.
In addition to the Tudor teaser flashbacks, I enjoyed pretty much everything about Transcendence. Both Cole and Griffon were great. Individually they both had great personalities and together I enjoyed their blossoming romance, even though at times it was awkward when Griffon’s past lives came into play.
As for the Ahket mythology, it really amazed me how intricate it was and how perfectly it could fit into the real world. The whole backstory was really Omololu’s strength. Everyone was reincarnated but only the Ahket are aware of reincarnation and all of their past lives (not counting a few people like Cole’s best friend, her mom, and their psychic who all believe in reincarnation…one even knows a bit more). I actually enjoyed it more than a certain other reincarnation novel because Transcendence really could apply to the real world and I would not mind if all of this stuff were true. I mean, some parts will truly blow your mind.
I loved Cole’s flashbacks as well as Omololu’s reincarnation theory with its cool, thought-provoking intricacies. Oh and the ending was sick (you know, in the good way)! It really gives me hope that Cole’s past life in Tudor England will be explored more in the next book. Transcendence is the perfect mixture of history and fantasy that will make you wish it was all real.
Recommended for those sixteen and older. I believe there were some intimate scenes that got pretty heated but not graphic. There was also some minor violence. Read if you like Incarnate but want to experience a real world feel to the whole reincarnation theory. Read if you have any inkling that you might like it because it is awesome!
Read this review in its original format here.
Back in San Francisco, Cole’s visions become stronger and seem to vary between Tudor England and late nineteenth century San Francisco. Along with her flashbacks, she cannot get Griffon out of her head. To her astonishment, it turns out that Griffon lives not too far from her, just over in Berkeley. She soon learns that she is becoming like Griffon - Ahket, a reincarnated soul aware of all past lives. Most Ahket use their lives to further the well-being of the world, but there are some with less honorable goals, including one who wants revenge on Cole for something that happened in a past life that she cannot fully recall.
I had been so excited about C.J. Omololu’s Transcendence for awhile, ever since I read the synopsis and had key words and phrases such as “Tower of London”, “beheading”, and “past lives” pop out at me. That could span hundreds of years of English history, but of course being me, I immediately thought Tudor England and Anne Boleyn. I was right about one! I kept wanting Cole to have been a queen from those times and her Tudor identity was obviously something that greatly intrigued and interested me about the book, but the bits and pieces she remembered throughout the novel were still very interesting.
In addition to the Tudor teaser flashbacks, I enjoyed pretty much everything about Transcendence. Both Cole and Griffon were great. Individually they both had great personalities and together I enjoyed their blossoming romance, even though at times it was awkward when Griffon’s past lives came into play.
As for the Ahket mythology, it really amazed me how intricate it was and how perfectly it could fit into the real world. The whole backstory was really Omololu’s strength. Everyone was reincarnated but only the Ahket are aware of reincarnation and all of their past lives (not counting a few people like Cole’s best friend, her mom, and their psychic who all believe in reincarnation…one even knows a bit more). I actually enjoyed it more than a certain other reincarnation novel because Transcendence really could apply to the real world and I would not mind if all of this stuff were true. I mean, some parts will truly blow your mind.
I loved Cole’s flashbacks as well as Omololu’s reincarnation theory with its cool, thought-provoking intricacies. Oh and the ending was sick (you know, in the good way)! It really gives me hope that Cole’s past life in Tudor England will be explored more in the next book. Transcendence is the perfect mixture of history and fantasy that will make you wish it was all real.
Recommended for those sixteen and older. I believe there were some intimate scenes that got pretty heated but not graphic. There was also some minor violence. Read if you like Incarnate but want to experience a real world feel to the whole reincarnation theory. Read if you have any inkling that you might like it because it is awesome!
Read this review in its original format here.
unluckyprimes's review against another edition
3.0
Listen. I have a thing for reincarnation stories. It's an affliction. I don't even know what to tell you, man.
3 stars is probably too generous for this, and realistically it's more like 2.5 stars, but even that is probably skewed because I'm trash.
Though I will say that I called one of the two major plot twists in this and was supremely pleased with myself because of it.
But can't stop won't stop. Though it doesn't look like my library has book 2... and it also looks like book 2 turns into a weird love triangle. So nope.
Anyway, you probably shouldn't read this. Unless you're cursed with the same affliction as I am.
3 stars is probably too generous for this, and realistically it's more like 2.5 stars, but even that is probably skewed because I'm trash.
Though I will say that I called one of the two major plot twists in this and was supremely pleased with myself because of it.
But can't stop won't stop. Though it doesn't look like my library has book 2... and it also looks like book 2 turns into a weird love triangle. So nope.
Anyway, you probably shouldn't read this. Unless you're cursed with the same affliction as I am.
angelas_library's review against another edition
3.0
I try to avoid blanket rejections of entire subgenres, but stories about people finding out they’ve lived multiple lifetimes have never really resonated with me. With that in mind, I wasn’t certain Transcendence was the right book for me, but I figured I’d at least give it a chance. I now have to applaud C. J. Omololu for being the first author to write a book about reincarnation that I actually liked.
What separates Omololu from the pack is that she doesn’t automatically package “reincarnation” with “destiny” and “soul mates.” I have a hard time buying into the concept of two people who are somehow drawn together through space and time, find one another against overwhelming odds and fall head-over-heels in love after simply locking eyes.
Transcendence is a refreshing departure from this trope. There's definitely an element of romance in the story, but it doesn’t require every couple to be soul mates in the sense that the person you fall in love with in one lifetime remains the person you are in love with for all eternity. It is much more complex than that. In Transcendence, not everyone who dies is born into a new body immediately after their death; it may take years before they come back as someone else. This means that one partner might be born into a new life in a small town in Canada, while the other partner might not return for another 50 years, and then possibly on a different continent or even as a different gender. Meanwhile, the first person may have fallen in love with someone new, married them, and had children with them. The second partner may do the same as well. If the former lovers do have the opportunity to reconnect, the relationship may not work out in this lifetime.
Think about the implications of this for a moment. Imagine falling blissfully, irrevocably in love with someone and knowing that after you die you may never see them again. Imagine knowing that if you do see them, centuries later, they will likely be unavailable. Even if they are available, you will know that each of you have loved someone else, been intimate with someone else, maybe married someone else and loved them deeply. You’ll both have lived entire lifetimes in which the other had no place, created memories that neither of you will possibly be able to share. The idea of this is heartbreaking, and even though this theme of changing relationships is only tangential to Transcendence, not central, it was one of my favorite things about the book. The author deserves a lot of credit for looking beyond the old “our love will be enough for all eternity” cliché.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
What separates Omololu from the pack is that she doesn’t automatically package “reincarnation” with “destiny” and “soul mates.” I have a hard time buying into the concept of two people who are somehow drawn together through space and time, find one another against overwhelming odds and fall head-over-heels in love after simply locking eyes.
Transcendence is a refreshing departure from this trope. There's definitely an element of romance in the story, but it doesn’t require every couple to be soul mates in the sense that the person you fall in love with in one lifetime remains the person you are in love with for all eternity. It is much more complex than that. In Transcendence, not everyone who dies is born into a new body immediately after their death; it may take years before they come back as someone else. This means that one partner might be born into a new life in a small town in Canada, while the other partner might not return for another 50 years, and then possibly on a different continent or even as a different gender. Meanwhile, the first person may have fallen in love with someone new, married them, and had children with them. The second partner may do the same as well. If the former lovers do have the opportunity to reconnect, the relationship may not work out in this lifetime.
Think about the implications of this for a moment. Imagine falling blissfully, irrevocably in love with someone and knowing that after you die you may never see them again. Imagine knowing that if you do see them, centuries later, they will likely be unavailable. Even if they are available, you will know that each of you have loved someone else, been intimate with someone else, maybe married someone else and loved them deeply. You’ll both have lived entire lifetimes in which the other had no place, created memories that neither of you will possibly be able to share. The idea of this is heartbreaking, and even though this theme of changing relationships is only tangential to Transcendence, not central, it was one of my favorite things about the book. The author deserves a lot of credit for looking beyond the old “our love will be enough for all eternity” cliché.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
piperclover's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
rosepetals1984's review against another edition
4.0
Initial reaction: "Transcendence" had many elements that intrigued me - mystery, suspense, romance, loose ties to Egyptian lore, a decent time travel story, and nice characterization. It does start a little sluggish with setting the pieces and people in the story in place, but once the story finds its stride, it doesn't let go. I really enjoyed the relationship between Cole and Griffon.
Full review:
"Transcendence" is one of the stronger YA fantasy/time-travel stories I've read in a while. Granted, it's not a pitch-perfect story - it has a fair share of times where it stumbles along with its toggle between the past and present. Yet, I think what makes this story so appealing are the characters, the loose parallels of Egyptian lore, and the overall intrigue of how the mysteries established come together.
Nicole (Cole) is a young woman who travels to London with her elder sister Kat and begins to have distinct visions of a past which feels familiar, but out of reach. During one of the spells she takes while watching a frightening scenario of the past, Cole's helped by Griffon, a boy who seems friendly but seems to suspect Cole of her ability.
As luck would have it, the two meet again in Cole's hometown and things become more complex the more that Cole sees Griffon. The visions become more vivid/frequent, and Griffon seems to be the only one with the answers that Cole needs. The two become close as they learn about each other and discover that Cole's visions are of the past - of her reincarnated past as an Akhet. Those visions are pieces of a greater puzzle that will lead Cole looking for the answers, because they may be a stand against the danger that's facing both Cole and Griffon - to their relationship and their lives.
I think the biggest aspect I enjoyed about this novel were the characters and how they interacted. Well done to Omololu for creating a racially diverse cast of characters that are rounded and realistic for what the story shows. Cole's a good protagonist to follow - she's inquisitive and while she does tend to stumble a bit in her pursuits, I think overall she stands well in telling her story and not being a "damsel in distress" like a lot of YA heroines tend to be. Griffon is very sweet, a friend to and coming to the defense of Cole, though he carries some heavy secrets of his own. I liked him a lot. Cole and Griffon's developing relationship is genuine and natural in its progression.
It is a fun journey to see some of what the Akhet's roles are and what their abilities lend. It's lightly drawn, but the worldbuilding/lore is enough to provide intrigue for the realm it establishes.
I think it took a little while for the story to build up to the point where it hit the ground running and steamrolled to the end. Some might find the historical flashbacks jarring at first because of the particular characters and shifting, but it evens out as the story goes along, and makes sense as the pieces are put together in the Akhet's lives. I didn't see one significant twist coming towards the end and that I thought was well portrayed for what it was. The tension towards the end was well played, and brought to a satisfying conclusion that manages to tie the major threads the story establishes, though admittedly there were a few things I would've liked to see evened out and perhaps had a little more connection to the characters that were shown in the flashbacks.
Overall, "Transcendence" is a refreshing YA fantasy/time travel story with elements of mystery, suspense, and romance that's an engrossing read. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the author takes the sequel when it comes out next year (2013).
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bloomsbury/Walker Books for Young Readers.
Full review:
"Transcendence" is one of the stronger YA fantasy/time-travel stories I've read in a while. Granted, it's not a pitch-perfect story - it has a fair share of times where it stumbles along with its toggle between the past and present. Yet, I think what makes this story so appealing are the characters, the loose parallels of Egyptian lore, and the overall intrigue of how the mysteries established come together.
Nicole (Cole) is a young woman who travels to London with her elder sister Kat and begins to have distinct visions of a past which feels familiar, but out of reach. During one of the spells she takes while watching a frightening scenario of the past, Cole's helped by Griffon, a boy who seems friendly but seems to suspect Cole of her ability.
As luck would have it, the two meet again in Cole's hometown and things become more complex the more that Cole sees Griffon. The visions become more vivid/frequent, and Griffon seems to be the only one with the answers that Cole needs. The two become close as they learn about each other and discover that Cole's visions are of the past - of her reincarnated past as an Akhet. Those visions are pieces of a greater puzzle that will lead Cole looking for the answers, because they may be a stand against the danger that's facing both Cole and Griffon - to their relationship and their lives.
I think the biggest aspect I enjoyed about this novel were the characters and how they interacted. Well done to Omololu for creating a racially diverse cast of characters that are rounded and realistic for what the story shows. Cole's a good protagonist to follow - she's inquisitive and while she does tend to stumble a bit in her pursuits, I think overall she stands well in telling her story and not being a "damsel in distress" like a lot of YA heroines tend to be. Griffon is very sweet, a friend to and coming to the defense of Cole, though he carries some heavy secrets of his own. I liked him a lot. Cole and Griffon's developing relationship is genuine and natural in its progression.
It is a fun journey to see some of what the Akhet's roles are and what their abilities lend. It's lightly drawn, but the worldbuilding/lore is enough to provide intrigue for the realm it establishes.
I think it took a little while for the story to build up to the point where it hit the ground running and steamrolled to the end. Some might find the historical flashbacks jarring at first because of the particular characters and shifting, but it evens out as the story goes along, and makes sense as the pieces are put together in the Akhet's lives. I didn't see one significant twist coming towards the end and that I thought was well portrayed for what it was. The tension towards the end was well played, and brought to a satisfying conclusion that manages to tie the major threads the story establishes, though admittedly there were a few things I would've liked to see evened out and perhaps had a little more connection to the characters that were shown in the flashbacks.
Overall, "Transcendence" is a refreshing YA fantasy/time travel story with elements of mystery, suspense, and romance that's an engrossing read. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the author takes the sequel when it comes out next year (2013).
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bloomsbury/Walker Books for Young Readers.
saragrochowski's review against another edition
4.0
C.J. Omololu's sophomore novel, Transcendence, has very little in common with her debut Dirty Little Secrets... except for the fact that they're both captivating reads.
Omololu's debut is about a girl dealing with her mother's uncontrollable urge to hoard - think along the lines of the A&E's Hoarders - and is very much a contemporary YA titles. In comparison, Transcendence is, at times, a contemporary novel and, at others, historically set. Some of the novel deals with very real issues, like crushes and familial relationships, while other scenes deal with the idea of reincarnation and a collection of people that can remember the past lives they've lived. In short, Omololu's sophomore novel brings many different elements to the table.
Transcendence took awhile to fully capture my attention. It wasn't until Cole and Griffon started interacting more regularly and Cole finally understood the reason for her visions that I felt fully invested in the novel's events. Even then, there were times when I wasn't sure what direction the novel was taking. I found the Akhet and the idea of reincarnation really interesting, but I didn't really know what the novel was supposed to accomplish. Eventually, it was established that a villain was somewhere in the mix and things sped up.
I sometimes took issue with Cole's behavior. I understand that she was expected to accept a pretty big idea in a relatively short amount of time, but I wanted more from her at times... There is a point in the book where Cole refuses to speak to Griffon and acts like a complete child. In the end, Cole's reaction is what set some other necessary events into motion, but I wish that Omololu could have achieved this another way. Griffon's maturity and Cole's immaturity just felt odd to me... Most of the time, I accepted that Griffon was falling for Cole, but, at times like this, it almost felt wrong... Like he was a man and she was just a child. Awkward...
Still, most of my issues with Transcendence took place near the middle of the novel and I was well-hooked by the end. In fact, after how this first book ended, I'm really looking forward to the next installment. I'm really interested to see what other things Cole will uncover about her past lives (has she ever been a parent or has she always died young??) and to see what other characters are Akhet... and if their lives have overlapped with Cole's in the past as well!
Omololu's debut is about a girl dealing with her mother's uncontrollable urge to hoard - think along the lines of the A&E's Hoarders - and is very much a contemporary YA titles. In comparison, Transcendence is, at times, a contemporary novel and, at others, historically set. Some of the novel deals with very real issues, like crushes and familial relationships, while other scenes deal with the idea of reincarnation and a collection of people that can remember the past lives they've lived. In short, Omololu's sophomore novel brings many different elements to the table.
Transcendence took awhile to fully capture my attention. It wasn't until Cole and Griffon started interacting more regularly and Cole finally understood the reason for her visions that I felt fully invested in the novel's events. Even then, there were times when I wasn't sure what direction the novel was taking. I found the Akhet and the idea of reincarnation really interesting, but I didn't really know what the novel was supposed to accomplish. Eventually, it was established that a villain was somewhere in the mix and things sped up.
I sometimes took issue with Cole's behavior. I understand that she was expected to accept a pretty big idea in a relatively short amount of time, but I wanted more from her at times... There is a point in the book where Cole refuses to speak to Griffon and acts like a complete child. In the end, Cole's reaction is what set some other necessary events into motion, but I wish that Omololu could have achieved this another way. Griffon's maturity and Cole's immaturity just felt odd to me... Most of the time, I accepted that Griffon was falling for Cole, but, at times like this, it almost felt wrong... Like he was a man and she was just a child. Awkward...
Still, most of my issues with Transcendence took place near the middle of the novel and I was well-hooked by the end. In fact, after how this first book ended, I'm really looking forward to the next installment. I'm really interested to see what other things Cole will uncover about her past lives (has she ever been a parent or has she always died young??) and to see what other characters are Akhet... and if their lives have overlapped with Cole's in the past as well!
kimbayya's review against another edition
5.0
So i won this book for free through the giveaways here on goodreads. I had never heard of the author before so I had not idea what to expect. But boy i wasnt disappointed!
The plot of the story was wonderful. The way it was played out made sense but also kept you wondering and interested. The romance between Cole and Griffon was beautiful, how they just seemed to click. It was a different type of story, fresh and new, which is what I liked so much about it. I think that in some parts it should have elaborated more on the snipets of past lives that Cole was seeing just to give us more of a look into what was happening. I am also very curious to see where this whole thing with Drew goes too. I hope that it gets elaborated on and we get to see the story behind it!
Besides Griffon and Cole (who I loved.) One of my favorite characters was Rayne. She was quirky, different and funny. Shows that it is always nice to have a friend that actually understands (or at least pretends to.)
Now Cole she was a very gifted Cellist, but always wondered why it seemed to natural to her. Why she was seeing these things all a sudden. She thought she was going crazy. But through everything she tried to keep a level head and do it on her own. A very good female lead.
Then Griffon comes along, all strong, smart, knowing how to help and falling in love with her. He was a sweet character. By reading you could somehow feel how much he cared for her. He was also very protective and just wanted them both to be safe.
Over all I loved the book. I personally can not wait until the sequel comes out, as I will for sure be buying it!
The plot of the story was wonderful. The way it was played out made sense but also kept you wondering and interested. The romance between Cole and Griffon was beautiful, how they just seemed to click. It was a different type of story, fresh and new, which is what I liked so much about it. I think that in some parts it should have elaborated more on the snipets of past lives that Cole was seeing just to give us more of a look into what was happening. I am also very curious to see where this whole thing with Drew goes too. I hope that it gets elaborated on and we get to see the story behind it!
Besides Griffon and Cole (who I loved.) One of my favorite characters was Rayne. She was quirky, different and funny. Shows that it is always nice to have a friend that actually understands (or at least pretends to.)
Now Cole she was a very gifted Cellist, but always wondered why it seemed to natural to her. Why she was seeing these things all a sudden. She thought she was going crazy. But through everything she tried to keep a level head and do it on her own. A very good female lead.
Then Griffon comes along, all strong, smart, knowing how to help and falling in love with her. He was a sweet character. By reading you could somehow feel how much he cared for her. He was also very protective and just wanted them both to be safe.
Over all I loved the book. I personally can not wait until the sequel comes out, as I will for sure be buying it!
super_librarian's review
4.0
This title first caught my eye at the library when I saw that awesome cover. Then I read the description, and I knew I had to read it! Lately I've been drawn to paranormal stories with a London setting. This story started out in London but quickly transitioned to San Francisco, which is another city I enjoy reading about. Other settings also came to life on the page as Cole regained memories of past lives in various places and times.
This story has interesting characters and a blend of mystery, action, and romance. Cole didn't know who to trust while she unravelled the secrets of her past lives and sensed connections with Griffon and Veronique. As she grew closer to learning the truth, she found herself in increasingly dangerous situations. Meanwhile, her relationship with Griffon grew more intense (and steamy!).
In the end, the major conflict was resolved, but there are still questions that haven't been answered and mysterious characters who make you wonder what they're hiding. Transcendence was a great start to a paranormal YA series!
This story has interesting characters and a blend of mystery, action, and romance. Cole didn't know who to trust while she unravelled the secrets of her past lives and sensed connections with Griffon and Veronique. As she grew closer to learning the truth, she found herself in increasingly dangerous situations. Meanwhile, her relationship with Griffon grew more intense (and steamy!).
In the end, the major conflict was resolved, but there are still questions that haven't been answered and mysterious characters who make you wonder what they're hiding. Transcendence was a great start to a paranormal YA series!