Review: Word and Breath By: Susannah Noel

     

 

Riana has learned how to stay out of trouble. She spends her days studying written texts in the government’s Office of Readers, and she spends her nights taking care of her sick sister. She always—always—follows the rules. Despite her low profile, she has mysteriously become a target. Someone has kidnapped her sister. Someone else is trying to kill her. And someone has sent a Soul-Breather to beguile her out of her secrets.

Her help comes from the mythic leader of an underground rebel movement. A man who used to be her friend. A man who has silently loved her for years. He disappeared from her life without a word, and now he expects her to trust him again.

Then there’s the Soul-Breather, a man who can taste her spirit with only a touch. He makes her feel things she’s never experienced before, but she doesn’t know if the feelings are real. Hired to deceive and betray her, he offers to help her instead.

Without both men, she can’t rescue her sister. And she can’t discover the world-changing knowledge—buried in her memory—that has made her a target in the first place.

 

My Review:

 

If your a Ray Bradbury fan then this is definitely a book for you!!  In the beginning, when describing the scenes laid out after the devastation of society after the fall, my mind would constantly flash into that book.  I can't help but think what a terrible place this world would be without books.  Reading and visiting other author's creation through my imagination has kept emotion free-flowing through me, even on my darkest day.  In this re-created world, only a small percentage of the population can read, and even less can read Old English.  Riana, is one who can do both.  Taught by her grandfather when she was very young, Riana inherited his love of the written word and pursued a career as a Reader.  Everything was going as planned.  She had a very normal, no drama, no problems, and no excitements.  Her existence bordered on boring, but that was the way she wanted it.  But one little thing happens and knocks her little organized space out of whack.  Will she ever make sense of what is truly happening?

 

I liked the book.  It had plenty of plot twists and turns that maintained my attention right through to the end.  It had an interesting story-line and a creative character cast.  It doesn't sound like a world I would be to into, but it was fun to read about.  The author left a LOT of unresolved things in this book!  I hope that means a second one is sure to follow!!  Riana is quite an interesting and enjoyable character and I would love to read more about her!!  Great Read!!