Embody Review

Embody (Insight #2)
By Jamie Magee

From Goodreads:

Not many Scorpio’s are known for their patience, and Willow Haywood is no different. Her only desire is to love Landen Chambers and redeem the lost souls of Esterious, but the path to that desire is long, dark and dangerous...
Before Willow’s life had a chance to balance the sudden revelations and grief she had to endure to get to Chara a disturbing discovery is made. A photo, one that shows Willow blissfully embracing the flawless image of Drake Blakeshire; giving her not only proof that she had lived before, but that she had loved him.
Running away from the memory of Drake’s hypnotizing touch, and the prophecy set before her seemed like the logical thing to do. That is, until a dark dream reignites her passion to save the hopeless dimension of Esterious. Willow struggles to find patience – to learn everything she needs to know before she faces Drake again, but her eagerness is dangerous and one step in the wrong direction takes everything and everyone away from her – the only way to survive this trial is for Willow to remember who she is and what she really wants out of this life. The question is….can she do that?

 My Thoughts :
In order to prepare for this blog tour, I read the first book, Insight, and then Embody.  For me, Embody is the better book.  Insight was mostly about Willow discovering her true identity and Willow and Landen falling in love, and while it's sweet it's also a bit mushy and teenage-dreamish for my tastes- again, I'm 34, the 17 year old me would have downed this like Augustus Gloop in the Chocolate River.  The love fest continues in Embody, but the action is kicked up several notches and Drake emerges as a fully fleshed out character.  In the first book, Drake is clearly the bad dude, in Embody the reasons Willow may have loved him in a past life(lives) becomes clearer.  It's not a true love triangle, which is a welcome relief, because Willow and Landen are true soul mates which everyone seems to know except Drake.  But his obsession with Willow becomes more understandable and just a bit tragic.  Donalt also rises up as the true bad guy, and he will no doubt cause much trouble for Willow and company later in the series.  Hopefully there will be more Drake.  Despite the fact that I don't want Drake with Willow, I'm still Team Drake.

Favorite Bit: When Willow becomes intangled in the lives of Evie and Stella.  I was not expecting that twist and it made for great page-turning (or Kindle clicking) drama.

Embody also gives us a glimpse at some of the other dimensions, and I can't wait for more!  Magee has created a rich and complex alternate reality, a mix of true love, powers, magic, and stars.  If you're a fan of YA paranormal, if you check your horoscope every week, or if your just needing a dose of romance and fantasy, then the Insight series is definitely worth checking out.  Did I mention the awesomely precocious children? And if my review seems a bit all over the place, just keep in mind that I'm a Gemini. ;)

Embody gets a Midnight Book Rating of :

* I did get free copies of both books because of the tour, but I also ended up just buying both so I could read them on my Kindle so I can safely say that my opinion was not swayed by free copies (not saying I can't be swayed, but I'm thinking a European cruise is about the only bribe I'm interested in, just in case anyone is looking to buy my opinion.  Anyone? ... Bueller?)