Review: Crux

Crux


Author: Julie Reece

Summary:


She should have run. Now, she’ll have to fight.

Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she’s surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host, and she grabs some with the idea she’ll be able to buy dinner that night. 

In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone’s viewfinder. Thugs want to kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich, and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.

Birdie, though, wants nothing to do with any of them, until she realizes fate didn’t bring them all together. 

Her heritage did.

Now, with only twenty-one days left, she’s got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she’s only just met.



Published 9 July 2012

*

Wow, just wow. 

Crux was so action-packed that I was whisked off from one scene to the next in a wave of never-ending surprises and adventure. 

I am catapulted into a startling climax right away in the first chapter. From the moment when Birdie chooses to follow the guy, Jeff, into an alley to pick up the thousands of hundred dollar bills flying in the wind, her life is destined to change-- for the better and for the worse. Armed with cash, Birdie is ready to start living life for herself. And in a lucky turn of events, she bumps into the hot Grey Mathews over and over again. 

Yet, we should know that nothing could ever be normal for Birdie. As she is hounded by greedy thugs, she has to come face to face with her magical legacy. There is a reason why she saw Jeff in the faceless crowds of millions and there is a reason why he handed her his fortune. Mythology and historical elements weave themselves seamlessly into the tale and Crux becomes more than just a full-fledged adventure story. It becomes a coming-of-age tale. 

As Birdie traipses through strange lands in her dreams, she encounters monks who offer boggling riddles and Vikings who harbour hidden vendettas. Can dreams get any stranger than that? Yet, her real life isn't much better. With an amulet in her care, Birdie has to learn to deal with her powers and get accustomed to the fact that her new dog is the ancestor of wolves. But, on her journey to discovering her heritage, Birdie's past gives her doubt and more than once, she pushes Grey away. Grey, the one boy who is willing to listen and understand. 

So along with epic battle scenes, old Latin riddles and some good kissing, Birdie has to come to fully trust herself in order to become the girl she really wants to be. There can really be nothing wrong with this book. 

One star for being thought-provoking. For allowing me to take a look at the life of a homeless girl through the eyes of Birdie, for being a smart enough novel to point out the tragedies of human trafficking, for making me wonder about Shondra-- the poor girl lost in the swarms of commercial child exploitation...

One star for being the most thrilling ride of my life. I'm thoroughly satisfied with the action in Crux-- the gruelling training, the dangerous escapades, the numbing kidnapping and that mind-blowing battle scene of epic proportions at the end of the novel. Simply brilliant. 

One star for the endearing cast of characters. There's Jeff who is really something, especially when his real identity is revealed. Then there's Scud and Kate who offered Birdie their genuine friendship which healed her mistrust of those around her. And finally, Fenris, the dog who always protected Birdie and who is just as commanding and intimidating as a guy. (We should have seen more of him!)

And lastly, one star for Birdie, being the awesome heroine that she is, and Grey, who is in a complete league of his own. Their love made Crux a romantic read that is warm and tingly in all the right places.

So, let's do the Math. I've never been so happy to give out four brilliant stars!

Source: ARC from J. Taylor Publishing for review purposes     

          

xoxo,

Sel