I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I stumbled upon KA Emmons from youtube. I follow both her and her sister.. I have now read all of her books and I am obsessed. She is one of the most amazing story tellers I have read in years.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

Very well written with characters i cared about, has made me curious to check out the actual trilogy (as this is a novella that is a prequel to it).
Tempted to give it four stars, but not quite there.
Ion needs a hug. Its tough being a foster child.

The book was interesting but unfortunately not for me.

I would recommend this to fantasy fans.

#NetGalley

Anomaly is a prequel novella for the Blood Race series by K.A. Emmons. I haven't read the main series but the premise of this book caught my eye. I'm sorry to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. I should have been more wary, because YA isn't my typical go-to genre (though I have had the chance to read a few great books).

The most noticeable thing that didn't work for me was the writing. Not all the time, thankfully. But a lot of descriptions and metaphors were extremely awkward and clattered with too many weird images or details. Especially when these metaphors were related to the narrator's voice or body parts. Here are two examples: "my voice bracing in my throat, refusing to make its entrance" or "Something that could numb me thoroughly and stop my mind from hissing out through my ears like steam." Ehhh, does anyone know what having their mind hissing through their ears feels like? Cos I have never experienced it (thankfully!).


When I started writing this review, I also realized that I felt absolutely nothing for the characters. True, I was moved and sad for what happened to Ion, the main protagonist and narrator, in his foster family and the ones before it. But I would have felt exactly the same for any other kid going through these ordeals, regardless of their personalities. No kid should ever go through abandoning or neglect or bullying. No kid should feel like they're worth nothing and that the world is better off without them. Children are precious. They are the future and they are gifts that should be treasured as such. Bullying a child makes me rage inside, even if the child in question is a fictional character (may be even more so because I can't do a damn thing about it). 

Having all that in mind however and taking it into consideration in my assessment of Ion's personality, I just couldn't bring myself to like him. I felt sorry for him, sure. I understood his dilemma too. To speak about his budding powers would make him take the risk of being abandoned again. To keep silent meant lying to the person that showed him acceptance and a measure of love. His powers meant he would become even stranger than he thinks he is. But never once did he stop to think they could make him special. The way he kept rejecting them and pretending they weren't real made me roll my eyes after a while. And the way he acted toward the only person who showed him kindness and actually listened and tried to help severed the last thread of sympathy I felt toward him. 

Gosh, I'm really sad I didn't enjoy this story more. The ideas were really good and hinted at a much bigger character development in the sequels. I truly believe it would have been much, much better for me to read the main series first to get to know the MC and possibly like him. And then read this novella as a bonus, to discover how he came into his powers.

Trigger warning: the casual mentions of suicide were disturbing, since this book targets a younger audience and should be mentioned.

***Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and K.A. Emmons!!***

This was an enjoyable litte novella. It introduced me to the world of Ion quite well. I assume that the first book in the series picks up where this left off, with Ion trying to figure out his powers. It was nice to get a sense of the things he is able to do. Obviously he can control things with his thoughts. But it isn’t fleshed out to a great extent since I assume that is the plot of the first book.

Ion was an enjoyable narrator. He felt genuine as a 14 year old boy who has spent his entire life in the foster care system. His anger and despair at being abandoned by his parents and then shuffled from home to home was poignant. I feel like this series was written for a middle grade, early high school audience and I think that’s the right audience for it. At an age when bullying and despair at not fitting in are common, Ion would be a relatable companion.

While this novella doesn’t get too deep into the world or the characters it did interest me enough to want to check out the series. So, it did just what it was intended to do.

The story was interesting. Characters were somewhat relatable. The plot was solid. I wish the story had more...more adventure. I needed more. I needed more emotion.

Anomaly is the prequel novella for the Blood Race series by K.A. Emmons. Released 7th April 2020, it's 150 pages and available in ebook format. Worth noting that the ebook has a handy interactive table of contents. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Anomaly is currently free to download and read.

This is a YA paranormal fantasy. Although released chronologically after the other books which make up the trilogy, this one is a prequel and backstory for one of the main characters, Ion. It works very well as a standalone, and was the first work I'd read by the author.

I will start by saying I am emphatically not the target audience (tween/teens). Some of the angst and fighting and *unfairness-of-it-all* got to me after a while. It's relentlessly dark with physical and psychological abuse, themes of suicide and self harm, and failure of *every* adult in the book. From the blurbs and reviews of the other books in the series, I gather it all works out in the end, but this prequel is pretty grim. The father figure in the book is an alcoholic, abusive, bullying horror. I shudder to *think* what the child services is like in their city, because I can't imagine this family passing even the most cursory home visit.

I would recommend this one to current fans of the series who want some backstory for Ion. Three stars (again, I'm not the target audience - I can certainly see this being optioned as a movie with a tragic heartthrob actor making a generation of tween moviegoers swoon. I suspect I'm in the definite minority with the *meh* rating). The author's style is capable and direct, just not to my taste.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

First off let me say that I haven't read any previous books by this author and I have not read the trilogy. So from the perspective of someone who is reading this as book one, I really enjoyed the book. It's a short read, can read it in a day easily, but it crams quite a lot in. The main character is a relatable character and I would be happy to read more about him. The author has a nice writing style, it's simple I. Some respects but she has a knack for imagery. I will definitely try the next book in the series.

Anomaly is a prequel to the popular Blood Race series and focuses on the young Ion Jacobs discovering his powers for the first time.

I have to confess that I haven’t actually read this series but, after the taster of this world in Anomaly, I will certainly be picking them up for a read because I enjoyed this very much.

The action here is fast paced and throws you straight into the action which is a very good trait for a book in this genre.

The reader certainly feels the fear and confusion that Ion is experiencing as things start happening to him that he does not understand and I really found myself sympathising with him.The character of the old man is mysterious and I can’t help but feel that I would understand his position in this world more if I had already read the original series.

The descriptions are, at times, beautiful. There is a particular moment where Ion describes feeling like he is caught in a hurricane, and it was a really effective moment in the text that stood out to me for the power of the description.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read regardless of whether you have read the original series or not.

Ion Jacobs is tossed around between foster families. Strange things start happening to Ion when he turns 14. This was a really good book and I look forward to more by K.A. Emmons!!! Read and enjoy!!!

I'm not entirely sure how Anomaly by K.A. Emmons originally came to my attention.    Part of it is definitely because I gravitate toward certain types of YA fiction but I also remember  being intrigued by the description.   Unfortunately, I  somehow missed (or overlooked) the fact that Anomaly was the Prequel to the Blood Race Trilogy.   Of course that's my bad because I'm not really in the market for a new trilogy right now and it doesn't really work that well as a stand alone.    That said, so far as being a prequel is concerned, I think it was a good introduction to the series.    It ended with a bit of intrigue and had shown readers a brief glimpse into the emerging supernatural powers Ion, the young protagonist, has recently discovered.    As yet we're not really privy to the how or why but I think if I were a young adult I would have been eager to get my hands on the first in the Trilogy to find out.   As a character he'd had the cards stacked against him for most of his life yet he seemed likeable.   I'll confess to reading the blurbs of the first two in the series to see if I could get sme of my answers and to see if his fortunes may have taken an about face.

My thanks to the author K.A. Emmons and  NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO K. A. Emmons!

I rarely read prequels, but this was definitely one I would recommend. If you are a fan of the Blood Race trilogy and love Ion (Icarus), the main character, this is definitely worth the read. Heart wrenching, touching, resonant, and magical, it's a glimpse into the life of young Ion. It's full of feels and full of conflict, and will certainly pull you through.

Applause to the author. 4/5 stars, because it's a novella.

Anomaly is the prequel to The Blood Race trilogy that the author has put out already. It seems to be toeing the line of science fiction and paranormal urban fantasy, and it follows the story of Ion Jacobs- who seems to be a main character in the The Blood Race series- and we get to see him coming into his powers and learning to accept them.

Ion is a foster kid who has been passed around the system a lot and he feels... well, a lot of things. He feels alone, because he’s never really felt like he has anyone. He feels angry, because the world has been unfair to him, over and over. He feels lost, because he doesn’t really know where he comes from. He feels abandoned, he feels too empty, too full, too..much and not enough. All at once. This chapter in his life begins when one day, after some pretty standard bullying at the hands of his foster family, something inside him shifts. He scrambles to finish his homework, only to find that he isn’t able to concentrate, the pencil sliding from his fingers to hover midair, suspended without strings, a puppet in his hands. As this novella unfolds, Ion finds that his powers are strong and out of control and he struggles to come to terms with himself and his powers.

The author tries to address Ion’s state with the help of a mysterious old man who finds Ion at his lowest and tries to guide him with his cryptic philosophical wisdoms. Those were some fun conversations, honestly, and if I had known Ion better, I would’ve loved them more!

The writing, the pacing and the characters were all just absolutely fine in this novella. They weren’t mindblowing or anything, but they were perfectly good and they did their job pretty well. For a novella that is connected to a larger piece of work, Anomaly stands pretty well on its own! While I do think that I would definitely have enjoyed it more had I been familiar with Ion and the magic system in this world better, I still found myself immersed and intrigued by the story! I want to pick up the rest of the series soon if I can, because I can totally see myself marathoning the trilogy and thoroughly enjoying it!

A sort story (prequel) about a teenage boy in foster care who finds himself getting into deep trouble with the family he lives with. He is badly treated by the father and teenage boy in the house, although he is a decent misunderstood boy. He begins to experience strange feelings which lead to physical manifestations which cannot be explained.
An interesting premise, it would be interesting to see how the next book unfolds
thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

3.5- 4! I loved this book! This little short novella will grab your attention and you cannot help but devour it in one sitting! This is my first introduction to the author and at first I was bit sceptical on reading the prequel without reading the series will help, and it does and I am glad because now I can go and binge through the series! It's really really goood!

Ion, living with his new foster family discovers he has some supernatural powers. As he struggles to fit in and understand who he is and where he came from, he makes an unusual friend. Can he keep his powers a secret and protect those he cares about?

This was a deep book and rough to read in spots. Ion is a tough kid, he’s been through a lot and the brother and father of his foster family are pretty harsh to him. Ion feels alone in a world that calls him a freak and he wants to die. It’s gut-wrenching. Through everything, he has a big heart and I loved that we got to see that side of him. I know this is a prequel but Ion’s powers are pretty cool, I wish we could’ve had a bigger taste of what he can do. The writing was sincere, powerful, and the pace of the book was spot on. This is the first book I’ve read and I’m reading the Prequel first but I would love to continue on in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This novella is a prequel to a trilogy about a teenager named Ion with supernatural abilities. This was a very quick read at only 150 pages, and I find i t pretty intriguing.

Ion is only 14 and living in a foster home. His life there is okay, although the husband and his son loathe Ion because they can sense he's different. I was interested in Ion's abilities and how he would react to them. This series seems to be geared toward a younger audience, less YA and more high school and middle-grade; I expected more violence.

Overall, this was a nice, easy story to read during the quarantine. For someone who loves reading about young kids with supernatural abilities, this story is a great beginner novel.

ANOMALY by K.A. Emmons is the prequel to THE BLOOD RACE series, it's a relatively short book, but it does pack a punch. The main character is well crafted and likeable so much so it's extremely easy to become very attached to them and invested in the emotional turmoil they go through as the story progresses. This a great read which is perfect for fans of The Blood Race Series but also easily equally as thrilling for those who may have not yet read the series.

ANOMALY by K.A. Emmons is the prequel to THE BLOOD RACE series. It is also my first book by this author. It has a fantasy / paranormal aspect to it and could be targeted to teens and the young adult market, but older readers will get a lot out of this prequel.

Ion Jacobs is a 14-year-old boy living with a new foster family for about three months. He feels like he doesn’t fit in and then one day odd things begin to happen starting with a pencil he drops that floats rather than dropping to the floor. As tensions rise within his foster home, Ion finds he has other powers. How can he keep them a secret? Who can he talk to about his situations? Besides the paranormal aspect of this story, there are several themes that run through this prequel including dynamics with a foster family, feelings of isolation, how different family members treat a foster child differently, false accusations and the harm they can do, bullying, and much more.

Ion was a compelling character and someone you could root for. His distinct voice, situation, bewilderment and feeling of isolation drew me into the story and kept me engaged throughout the story. The secondary characters seemed believable and provided the appropriate emotions. The internal and external conflicts were well defined and believable arising out of characterization and circumstance. The scenes progressed in a realistic and compelling manner and had effective transitions.

The prose was well-written, absorbing, compelling and compulsively readable. The plot was engrossing, heartfelt, moving, thought-provoking, enlightening. The ending was heart-wrenching, but is a great set-up for the first novel in the series.

Overall, this was a book that made me pause, reflect and contemplate Ion’s situation. I definitely recommend that others check out this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thanks to K.A. Emmons for a complimentary ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Ion is a struggling foster kid just trying to get along with some family members who do not want him there. On top of that, changes start happening. His pencils begin to levitate, his backpack flies up to the ceiling, and he discovers healing powers.

Ion meets an old man on the beach who he can talk to as things start unraveling in his foster home. With the man’s guidance, Ion begins to face the facts that he has no idea who he is or why he can do the things he can do.

This short story is a prequel to the Blood Race series. I had never read the series before, but I immediately purchased the first book., The Blood Race. This prequel is actually a really good place to start the series as it begins when Ion is 14 and just discovering his powers..

K. A. Emmons’ writing is superb and conveys powerful emotion. You can feel the hurt of a foster kid who just wants a family, as well as the bewilderment anyone would feel when discovering supernatural powers.

If you enjoy books about the supernatural or just want to read a damn fine story, this book is for you.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. My review is voluntary.