Okay, let me state that I am a loyal die-hard Lauren Kate fan. Am I her #1 fan? No. Why?
Well because realistically, I’m sure her husband, her mother, her father, any
of her siblings, her dearest friends that close to her, and (in the future I’m
sure) her daughter are all slotted for that #1 position. However, I would like to think that I am a
friend of Lauren’s as well as a big contender for the Lauren Kate fan club
President, if one should be created.
That being said, I wasn't entirely sure about Teardrop. Not going to lie, I had to end
up talking myself into pre-ordering it. But over time though with the release
of the cover, blurb and prologue, my opinion changed and I was salivating to
get my hands on this book. I know the
chances of getting one’s hands on an Advance Reader’s Copy are pretty slim, and
I really didn't want to beg Lauren
for one, so I was fully prepared to wait till October 22. So you could probably imagine my surprise
when Lauren Zurchin, the coolest photographer you could ever meet, brought me a
gift. And inside, one of the last of Lauren Kate’s personal ARC copies. I was...speechless, completely so too. And there might
have been few tears too.
This is probably by far my favorite of Lauren
Kate’s works. As I was reading it, I was
reminded exactly why I feel in love with her in the first place. In a purely Lauren Kate way, it was like
falling in love all over again.
Everything that you enjoy about Lauren and her works—whether it is the
emotions invoked, the imagery that is detailed, the mystery that is so captivating
or the fantasy that you’d wish you could live in—are all present in this epic novel. There is sass, irony, betrayal, heartache, tears. There is even some
foreshadowing (at least I saw some foreshadowing, but then again that might be me seeing
things.)
Rating: 5 out of 5
The following four things I loved about Teardrop:
Rating: 5 out of 5
The following four things I loved about Teardrop:
1. The Characters
Teardrop mainly is
about the tale of a seventeen year old Louisiana native, Eureka Boudreaux. In the prologue, we know that Eureka survives
a rogue wave that was sent to murder her and yet only kills her mother. Her psyche is delicate after this tragedy and
she is majorly depressed that she nearly dies from a suicide attempt. What she doesn't know, and what readers will
find out, is that she has a power that could change the entire world. I was only five or so chapters into Teardrop and already I felt connected
more to Eureka than I could with any other character. It might be because I have been in her shoes
when I was fifteen, feeling the ugly darkness of depression and complete
unworthiness and uncertainty it can bring.
I also have a few traits of Eureka that she does or has, which a few
times, I wondered if I was Eureka herself.
Eureka’s love interest is Ander. We meet him up front in person in the prologue and know more about him Eureka does, though not the reasons for or why. He is a stalker, of sorts, if you want to put it like that. Where ever Eureka is, he is there too. He knows traits and habits and memories of Eureka. And he informs her that she is in danger. Besides this, he is a complete mystery and leaves Eureka, and readers, wanting more scenes that contain him in them. He wants Eureka’s trust, a trust that isn't easily earned nor easily kept once it has been broken. We will learn over the course of time more about his background that is slightly mentioned in the prologue, though maybe not everything. After all Lauren would want to keep a few things hidden for future books and just for herself.
You will also meet two of Eureka’s dearest friends. Noah Brooks, simply known as Brooks, is sweetheart
and someone who is there for Eureka to hold onto during her depression. Yet
over the course of the four-hundred plus pages, Brooks becomes something darker. In the last few pages and, especially, in the
Epilogue, we’ll get a unique insight into his character and the troubles that
plague him.
The other best friend is Cat Estes. And my God, Cat is HILARIOUS. Lauren was correct in describing Cat as a “horn-dog.”
She is flirtatious, always talking about guys.
She is comfortable in her own skin and doesn't mind flaunting it. She also loves a good juicy romance too. But don’t
let this all distract you from the fact that Cat is brilliantly smart.
There are a few other characters, like Eureka’s family and a
Madame Blavatsky, that play a role in Eureka’s life. And what story isn't complete without those darn
pesky antagonists? Who are they, I can’t say because that would spoil your
desire to read this grand story.
Note: If you are
a huge Fallen fan (like me) who would
love to see one of your favorite character crossover into the world of Teardrop, they sadly aren't seen. However, there are traits of your belong
characters that you can see in the world that is Teardrop. For example, if you love the eccentric Arriane then you’ll
love Cat. If you love the mystery of our
beloved Daniel that captivated Luce and us, then you’ll see the similar mystery
cloak Ander.
2. Location,
Location, Location
There is something about the South that you can agree on is
just magical. And it’s the prime
location for Teardrop. The way that Lauren describes Louisiana is
glorious. Limbs of oak trees that “embrace”
Eureka, sugarcane mazes and the sound they make when they are ready for harvesting,
and the way the air smelled of salt. I
could almost see myself standing in the bayou that Eureka loves. The murky swamplands are picturesque and are
just ideal for what goes down in this novel.
Needless to say, that doesn't mean that the rest of Eureka’s story will
take place in Louisiana. Just like in the Fallen
saga, which originally takes place in Georgia before we went to California and
then the rest of the world, past and present.
3. The Mystery and
The Inheritance
Besides the mystery that is Ander, Eureka has another
mystery after she inherits four items from her mother after her death: a book,
a locket, an odd stone, and a handwritten letter. The letter is a typical letter that one might
assume one would get after the passing of a love one. Not to be sad and in pain, to live life full
of love and purpose, and that she was always there, just not in the physical
form to guide her. The letter’s tone and
message leave Eureka confused, and even more so the other three items. The stone is very powerful and will come to
save a few lives. How? You’ll have to wait and read to find out. The locket refuses to open without a special
touch, which makes Eureka wonder why was it closed shut for? But more
importantly the book. The book is writing
in a language so dead that only a small handful of people could read it. It’s a book worth being killed for and tells
the tale of a woman whose broken heart and tears bring an entire kingdom to its
death.
The question now is are how are these items tied to Ander?
4. More Adventures
to Come!
If you want more details about Teardrop and be able to read the Prologue, click here.
To order from Barnes & Nobles or Amazon.
To order from Barnes & Nobles or Amazon.
Many hugs! And happy reading!
~Nollie ♥