Prelim Review: I'm not even sure where to begin, but I only read about 60 pages before I realized this book was not for me. Which is sad because I really like the cover and while it sounded like a lot of current YA paranormals, the fact one of the characters had purple/silver sparkley hair made me want to love it JUST for that. I mean seriously, who has purple sparkley hair?

I honestly don't get why this book has such a high rating.
I liked the general idea of the premise, but it get too bogged down with the guy stuff to actually focus real earth threatening conflict.
And the ending just felt like the author desperately needed to finish.

The idea was intriguing, but the characters are bland, and I won't be picking up the next one. ( )

I first read this book 9 years ago, not knowing that it was the beginning of discovering my favorite series of all time. I've spent the interviening years calling is that, but this is the first time I've gone back to it. I have to admit, I was nervous. I am not the same person I was 9 year ago. Would I still enjoy it? Would Violet Eden still resonate as a character with me now that I'm in my 40s? Would certain parts be...problematic?

I needent of worried. I cracked Embrace open around noon today and didn't stop until it was finished. I COULDN'T stop. Returning to this world, returning to Violet and Lincoln, it truly felt like coming home. Yes she's 17 and I'm very far removed from that age, but there is an agelessness that Violet Eden carries even before she embraces. She is a hero even before she accepts that's what she needs to be. There are very deep echoes of Buffy Summers in her at the core of her story, and I see that now. I'm not sure I saw that originally. It all connects for me in a way it hadn't when I was freshly out of my 20s.

I leave the below as my original review from 2013 for posterity.

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I have the first book in 4 different series that seem to be all the same thing - Hush, Hush & Embrace & Fallen & Fated. When I finally picked up Embrace, after having read the entire Hush, Hush series, I was sure there would be no way I could like it more.

And I don't. But I kind of do? Oh I am so undecided.

Violet Eden is much stronger, much smarter, and much more self-determined than Nora Grey. Lincoln is way less creepy than Patch (but Phoenix might be more creepy?) The Hush, Hush series seems like the mythology was much LESS fleshed out than in Embrace, and I kind of liked that. But I missed the amusement park. But...but...but...

Okay, maybe it's completely unfair to be comparing the two. Maybe if I would have read this first, it would have changed my perception?

I'm just very distraught that these two stories exist and now they are forever embedded in my brain. And I REALLY DESPERATELY want magical angel tattoos on my arms.

*The preceding has not been a review but a word!vomit. ( )

Vomit-inducing teen cliche. I was unable to finish the book. ( )

I found the book to be totally amazing.

I finished it within a few days and was not ready for it to end.

Embrace was one of my favorite books in this entire series. I love the characters. This was a book that was really hard for me to put down.

Violet and Lincoln for me are just two amazing people. And just TWO of my favorite characters in this series.

If I were to have a fictional boyfriend, I would have a hard time picking between Griffin and Lincoln, but I think I would be leaning more towards Griffin because he is just someone with common sense, good heart & smart. But, his 'gift' would get me into some trouble! lol...

Lincoln, I would want to choose him because he is very much the strong silent type but you knew not to get on his bad side. He makes you want to root for him! He is also very intelligent and a good heart about him but he can also be that kind of person that is hard to understand.

This book for me was just, well, refreshing! ( )