Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Reviews by AimeeKay

Review, Highlight + Giveaway: Cipher (Cipher #1) by Cindi Madsen

Review, Highlight + Giveaway: Cipher (Cipher #1) by Cindi MadsenCipher by Cindi Madsen
Series: Cipher #1
on July 22, 2013
Genres: Paranormal, YA
Pages: 325
Format: eBook
Source: Blog Tour

View on: Goodreads
Grab it: Amazon

Review Score:
About the Book:

Summer Davis sees deaths before they happen. She attempts to live a normal life by focusing on the dance team and her quarterback boyfriend. But then the way-too-cheery Angel of Death shows up and tells her she’s a Cipher—a person chosen to help people who are going to die resolve problems with their loved ones. Ashlyn Moore, one of Summer’s classmates, is going to die, and she needs Summer’s help before that happens.

It’s nearly impossible to get through to Ashlyn, who surrounds herself with chess nerds and geeks and makes it clear she doesn’t want to be friends. Desperate to complete her Cipher task before it’s too late, Summer turns to Troy, the guy who’s always been there for her and one of the few people she can trust. With his help, she makes progress. In fact, the closer she gets to Ashlyn and her friends, the more she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs.

As the clock starts running down on Ashlyn’s life, Summer decides to change her objective. She’s going to save her new friend before it’s too late—even if it means messing with fate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Review Banner
 

OK. I know this is a giant spoiler but I’m giving Cipher a 5 controllers out of 5 Royalty award!  OMG! This book was amazing.  If you don’t read the rest of my review that’s fine, but definitely take my advice on this one and go pick up a copy of this book. Pick up a box of tissues while you’re at it.

 

I have to say when I started this book I struggled at first. Not because of the book itself, but because I’ve been reading A LOT of first person pov lately and this one is written in third person  past tense so it took a minute.  But the perspective issues wore off quickly and Cipher sucked me in completely.
 
First let’s start with the non-spoilery things.  Madsen’s world she has created is awesome!   (It’s also heartbreaking, but more on that later.)  The way she works Summer’s abilities and all into our world is amazing. Not only does it feel realistic, but at one point the main character even gets busted for talking on her cell and driving at the same time. (Don’t think that will spoil too much.)

 

Her characters are also uber-realistic.  From the way Summer reacts to her world around her, the way the mean girls react to pretty much everyone, to how the Misfits are with each other.  It all rang true.  Also her characters are awesomely true to themselves.
 
As for the heartbreaking….tears started leaking before I was even halfway done.  Needless to say by the end I was a hot mess.  Without giving too much spoilerage, I think I started tearing up because I knew one of the characters I was attached to was supposed to die at the end.  By the end I just couldn’t stop.  This author was that good.  I mean I got attached to the characters without even thinking about it.  They were awesome.  Thank goodness the author offered some positive points near the end so it provided some comfort. But, OMG, still I couldn’t stop crying!  The worst (best?) part is that I wasn’t crying because of some sappy stuff, but because the author really had me invested in this book.

 
I am recommending this book to pretty much everybody.  There really aren’t any over PG-13 scenes so I want to get a copy of this one to share with my own girls.  Definitely read it through first if you are thinking of buying it for a younger teen though, since it deals with some REALLY heavy stuff.

 
There is a teaser for the second book in the series at the end which I haven’t started yet. But I plan to, and I plan to try to get my hands on the next book as soon as it becomes available, even though it will probably have me in tears too.
 

Go get this book, read this book, share this book. It is awesome. It is moving.  It has hysterically funny scenes that probably made me cry even harder knowing from the summery how the book would end. But still they were laugh out loud funny.   I hope I haven’t completely ruined the book with this review.  Just go out and get a copy and read it for yourself if you don’t believe me, just have the tissues nearby and don’t say I didn’t warn you about how awesome it is!
 

 

 

 My Rating

 

5 out of 5 Controllers


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Crown Rating


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We Asked banner
Q: Who are you favorite geeks/nerds from books and/or tv?
 

 
Will Tippin from Alias. Yes, Bradley Cooper is smokin’ hot & plays lots of leading roles now, but I loved him when he was the kinda nerdy friend in Alias all those years ago. I also loved Marshall from Alias. I’m a bit obsessed with New Girl. All the characters on there are quirky and they crack me up.

 

 

 

Summer&TroyteaserSM
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Giveaway New Banner
 
 

Cindi is having a giveaway for a $20 iTunes Gift Card and Paramore Bracelet! 

 

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