Broken [Paperback]

Emma is destroyed after her boyfriend dies, and the only way she feels better is visiting the local graveyard which was hers and Daniel's favourite hangout. But when Alex Franks moves to her school, she is instantly drawn to him and something is familiar about him. But as she grows closer to him Emma finds that something is seriously wrong with the Franks family.

Broken is a modern retelling of Frankenstein set in an American high school. One problem with this book is that if you read the blurb you find out about three quarters of the story.

I liked Emma a lot as reminded me a bit of Bella in the beginning of New Moon but with backbone, because while it is perfectly natural for Emma to be grieving for her boyfriend, she still lives a semi normal life. Also she is not afraid to stand up for herself, and when she finds out stuff in this book, she acts like most people would. I also liked Alex as he is a tortured soul who is as confused about everything as Emma is.

I feel that the story lets the book down as for almost all the story it is just teen angst and high school drama, however, thankfully it picks up about two thirds of the way through and you wanted to find out want happened next. The best thing about Broken is how chilling it is, I won't tell you how as it might spoil some of the story, but Rought does a brilliant job creeping you out.

I would recommend this to people who like YA paranormal romance like Twilight or Dearly Departed by Lia Habel.

Told in first person narrative from Emma's point of view, overcome with grief at her boyfriend, Daniel's death she is barely making it through each day. You can feel Emma's loss emanating from the narrative, from the very beginning the story tugs on your heart strings, the grief Emma feels is so realistic you can't help but be pulled into the emotions, such a moving portrayal of grief.

When Emma feels an inexplicable connection to the new boy at school, Alex, she can't help but compare him to Daniel. Apart from some physical resemblance between the two there is the same mannerisms and gestures. The connection between Alex and Emma is intense, something is compelling them to be together. The idea of a soul-mate connection between them immediately comes to mind which in turn leads to a multitude of questions regarding the origin of these feelings Alex has for Emma when he has only just met her.

As the plot unfolds so do the corresponding questions regarding things like:
How much of a person do organs retain if they are transplanted? Is a persons soul a part of their body or a separate entity? How far would you go if you could for the person you love? What would you be willing to do to keep the person you love? Where do you draw the line between love and the quest for power?

Alex is a wonderful, utterly swoon-worthy character. Although he has undergone so much trauma and altered his lifestyle according to his compulsion to be with Emma he is without regret and doesn't question if his feelings are real. As a reader you can't help but wonder if Alex should really be so willing to give into these intense emotions. Alex makes the point that he has never been happier, that his life before Emma was controlled and planned out but not by him. Making you question whether everything happens for a reason even if we don't initially understand what that reason is.

The imagery generated is utterly amazing, if at points a bit gross lol. I especially liked the use of Emma's cat being able to sense spirits. Triggering the parallel with Egyptian Mythology's belief that cats were the guardians of the dead, a subtle yet dynamic addition to the plot.

This book had me swooning and sobbing in equal measure. I have a soft spot for the idea of soul-mates add to that the belief that love can survive death and I was completely hooked.

Broken has a fast-paced, gripping story-line that while being an emotional roller-coaster is incredibly thought provoking. A brilliant and addictive piece of writing.

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Wow! Can I use just one word to describe this book? I am utterly gobsmacked by this author's talents. This modern interpretation of the classic tale of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is overflowing with atmosphere which is extremely chilling at times. It may be a retelling of sorts, but it oozes originality. The descriptive language used sends a chill down your spine as Emma goes in search of the truth. I don't think the author liked her characters much because she put them through hell. Although I have been told that is a sign of a fantastic story and in this case that is most certainly the truth.
This book is super creepy and doesn't hide from the nastiness of life. There are scenes that will stay with you long after you have finished reading the book. Rather gory but extremely compelling. The use of metaphors and similes really adds to the foreboding and I dreaded how the story would end. I loved the way the author linked her descriptions to medical terms such as the description below.
'Outside the mall is boring, makes no structural sense, with stores sticking out like cancerous growths from a bone white lump.'
Poor, poor Emma, how she has suffered. Still struggling with the guilt at losing her boyfriend and then discovering something extremely familiar about him within Alex Franks. As you read on, it becomes obvious why she is so entranced by him and you can't help but agree with her, so I was more than happy with the instant love scenario going on between them. Yet as the book progresses, you watch as she puts her life in danger, and you find yourself holding your breath every time she encounters danger. I loved how quickly their relationship evolved. It was full of passion and need and felt exactly as it was supposed to be.
Dr Franks was really rather scary. His remoteness and all encompassing passion to keep things alive makes his a formidable creature. Not someone you would want to sit down for a cosy chat with.
The ending was fast paced and explosive and actually turned out differently to how I had expected it to end. I was convinced that certain elements of modern medicine would have been used and I am now thinking there is another story out there waiting to be told.
You can't talk about this book without mentioning the cover because it is utterly stunning. I fell in love with it at first site. Now having read the book, I am not so sure the beautiful cover matches the story as the cover gives off a feeling of a historical tale where as the actual story is very modern.It is definitely more of a thriller than I had anticipated.
This is an amazing debut novel which I really enjoyed, even if it did scare me at times. Brilliantly written and extremely well paced. It actually made me want to read the original which I have never really been interested in doing before now.