Book Review: Firstlife by Gena Showalter

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Firstlife
Everlife #1
Author: Estelle Laure
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: February 23rd 2016
Review Source: Harlequin Teen

ONE CHOICE.

TWO REALMS.

NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

What is more frustrating than having your main character not make any choices? Her being stubborn! However, with Tenley, aka Ten, having her not decide is a strength. SHE WILL NOT SURRENDER! I really liked Ten, she is super funny. Her stubbornness is kind of admiring. I love how she doesn't give in, even if she is being tortured. That's right, torture. You know what's worst? Her parents put her in this misery! Another reason why YOU should admire her.

Okay, so Ten is stuck in this in-between-world-ish. She doesn't know which realm she is going to pick. Either Troika or Myriad, the good or the bad. Yet both sides are at war, so really, they both have their pro and cons. Both side are doing everything to get Ten, because she's a super cool person. However, we really do not know why she's special. All we know is that both realm want her and have recruited an individual from each realm to help Ten pick a side.

Firstlife has an interesting concept. Really, it does. Yet you get at a point in which you want Ten to pick a side. To end her misery. Also, to know the reason why she doesn't want to pick a side. Please, just tell us. Another thing that gets me is the fact that we really don't find out why she is so special. Why both realms are on the edge of doing anything to "recruit" her.

Overall, this is a good story to read. However, for the story to be long, there should be more answers, more explanations. But the crazy things happening to Ten makes the story more bearable. Although, it sucks for her.