Unbreathable by Hafsah Laziaf Review

Unbreathable
   Author: Hafsah Laziaf

   Publisher: Hybrid Fiction
   Published: Oct,2013
   Buy Link: http://amzn.to/IuyV34


Synopsis: (Found on GR)

    One hundred and fifty years ago, Earth was destroyed, and the remaining humans fled to the dusty red planet of Jutaire, where the only oxygen is manufactured, food is scarce, and death strikes often. 

When Lissa's father discovers Earth still exists, she accidentally inhales the toxic air of Jutaire, and in one breath, discovers she isn't quite human.

Her father hangs for his discovery, and Lissa knows the Chancellors will come for her, for she saw the Earth that night too. With nothing to lose, she sets out to expose the truth. It isn't long before she meets Julian, a beautiful boy who can breathe the toxic air like she can - and shows her that the Jute, the original inhabitants of the planet, are more tangled in their lives than she knows.

But the Chancellors are only pawns in a greater game - one where the Jute control everything. Worse, the Jute plan to leave Jutaire for Earth, but to get there, they need her. And they'll stop at nothing until Lissa is in their clutches, even if they kill every human in the process. 

The race for Earth has begun.

Review:
    Cover:
 This cover is gorgeous. The colors aren`t super bright but they are intense. Earth looks real and the red of Jutaire is just like the words described it. The only I didnt like at first would be the girl (Lissa) Her legs disspear into the backdrop. The tagline seems too cliche but I have grown to like it. Last but not least the title, both font and name are amazing. Jutaire`s air is toxic for humans so "breath" is a great word to focus in on. Its unique to change fonts in the middle of a title and I think it was a creative breakthrough.

     Characters:

Lissa:

     I loved her more in the middle and end of the book. In the beginning I hated           that she ran away from things that were intimidating. She didn’t question authority or push for answers and that really bugged me. In the middle when things started to pick up Lissa got with the program and started acting like the lead heroine. She uses knowledge that has been ingrained in her by Gage since birth and bends it to her needs.

Julian:

   I feel like Julian was made out to be too easy. He is a great guy but his personality is too open like a book. It isn`t until he tries to save Wren that I understand why he is a likeable character. Julian is on the opposite end of the food chain than Lissa, but still manages in society.

Queen Rhea: Heartless Beyatch is my initial opinion of her. Then about half way through (if you read it you will know the exact part) I had a moment of “She could be nice.” Yep those feelings swapped back in forth. Overall she is interesting and is played to be the ruler that does her job no matter who it hurts.

     Plot:

          Here is gets tricky. I enjoyed the story as a whole because the plot thickens and the detail is fantastic. The side plots were nice but one in particular seemed out of place. Was the Dena/Julian/Lissa love triangle needed along with the Julian/Lissa/Rowan one? Yes it created the initial hatred between Dena and Lissa. There are plenty of other reasons the girls could have disliked one another.

            On to the amazing (That is what you read this for right) Laziaf writes paragraph after paragraph of elegant words. She describes “Love” wonderfully in the beginning when Julian asks Lissa how you would know if you loved someone.

                   “I guess you would know, in your heart. You wouldn`t be able to close your eyes without seeing her face, hearing her voice, and imagining her smile. You wouldn’t be able to leave her no matter how hard you tried.  When you see her smile and laugh and her voice, whispering words just for you, it will feel like the world is at your feet, like nothing could ever go wrong” (pg79).

 I feel like this is one of the best descriptions of love I have ever read. This isn’t the only example of how meaningful Laziaf`s writing can be. Go out and pick up your copy today

     

Rating:
   Cover: 4/5
   Characters: 5/5
    Plot: 4.5/5
    Overall: 4.5/5

TTFN,
Ashley