Hybrid Empire
by: Amanda N Newman
Recommend (11-13 years)
Anika is alone in a new country trying desperately to finish her education and carve a better life for her and her parents. The only problem is that life isn’t easy in this new culture. Friends are hard to come by, and no one seems to understand her. As she starts a brand-new job, she meets Brayden, her new boss and trainer. Like her, he seemed to be different than those around him. She just might find out exactly how different he really is.
Hybrid Empire is the first book in a young adult series revolving around werewolves and vampires. The story is told in first person from Anika’s point of view and takes the reader with her as she discovers that her world is not as black and white as she once thought. Anika is a very interesting protagonist with a lot of heart to give. I found her growth to be very inspiring. She starts as a very timid girl and blooms into a much stronger version of herself. Plus, having the story from Anika’s point of view works really well for this novel. As she delves deeper into the supernatural world, the more we see her grow, change, and excel.
As for the supernatural elements, Newman has really made an interesting world with a lot of new lore on the traditional mythological creatures. I really enjoyed the history she gave to both the creation of vampires and werewolves, and also, the unique creation of hybrids. Each of these groups have a lot of culture that the reader and Anika discover together as she interacts with them. We learn about their opinions on the other supernaturals as well as the limited relationships they have with humans.
I also like Newman’s writing style. It is really smooth and engaging. She is very clear with her descriptions, dialogue, and exposition. She even structures the book with many of the chapters starting with a journal entry that transitions into the storyline excellently. It adds an extra dynamic to the narrative and ties into many events that happen later in the novel. Plus, she incorporated a lot of Anika’s Ukrainian culture very organically which I found really engaging. Overall, this book is a quick and easy read making it accessible for the younger audience it is intended for.
Unfortunately, the ending is not as strong as the start of the novel. As the plot gets more developed and involved in the supernatural elements, I found the sophistication of the plot line dropped. There are many events that seem to work out very easily in favor of Anika or are not as believable as I’d like. Some of the characters that are introduced later in the story don’t have enough development for me to understand or relate to their decisions, feelings, or actions. I would have liked to see more difficulties for Anika and more believable character reactions. Some of the events left me with questions instead of giving me answers.
Overall, I think this book has a lot to offer a young reader. I think it would be good for a reader who is transitioning into a broader range of reading who wants to experience a story with some interesting fantasy elements or creatures. There is, also, some hinting of a possible romance that might develop in future books that could attract those who like paranormal romance.
Pros:
- Interesting mythological lore
- Smooth easily read writing style
- Good main character
- Interesting Ukrainian culture
Cons:
- Weak ending plot line
- Not as sophisticated for adult readers
Recommended for readers who like:
- First person point of view
- Young adult novels
- Vampires and werewolves
- A quick easy read
Book Details:
- Published: June 23, 2019
- Series: Hybrid Empire Saga
- Book Number: 1
- Pages: 322
- Publisher: Lulu.com
If you want to see my rating system Click Here
Amanda N Newman’s Website: Click Here
If you want to see more books by Newman, I have a review on her novel Children of the Outback. Click here to read it.
