Title: Grasping at Eternity
Author: Karen Amanda Hooper
First published May 21, 2012
328 pages, ebook
Rating: 4.06
Overview
Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper is an epic love story that transcends time and space. Maryah erased her past memories before entering her current life, unaware that her adoptive family has known her for centuries.
They are a supernatural family with the ability to reincarnate perpetually. Nathan, Maryah’s soulmate, is determined to help spark her memory, but his efforts seem hopeless.
Despite spending countless lifetimes together, Maryah is still clueless about their history, and it tears Nathan apart. The evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their previous life is still after her, and Nathan must act like a stalker to keep her safe.
As Maryah’s hunter inches closer, they both hide secrets that tear them apart. Maryah must believe in the magic within her, and Nathan must have faith in the power of their love.
Will they grasp the truth before they lose each other forever and discover the loneliness of eternity?
Editoral Review
Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper: An Enchanting Tale of Love and Destiny
Karen Amanda Hooper’s Grasping at Eternity, first published in 2012, is a captivating Young Adult (YA) novel that weaves together the themes of love, destiny, and the supernatural. Told from the perspective of main protagonist Maryah, who discovers that she’s a reincarnated lover of an immortal spirit, the novel explores the plight of two souls destined to find each other across time and space.
Hooper’s writing style is poetically evocative and emotionally charged, creating a vivid sense of atmosphere and place that draws the reader into the enchanted realms of the story. The book’s setting is a blend of contemporary and fantastical elements, taking place in a world where the miraculous is woven into everyday life.
The plot of the novel is expertly crafted, with a steady pace and a series of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. The book’s central conflict stems from Maryah’s struggle to reconcile her seemingly ordinary life with the supernatural destiny that awaits her.
Along the way, she encounters a host of fantastical beings, including mermaids and vampires, who pose both threats and opportunities for her. The characters in the novel are richly drawn, with complex motivations and personalities that make them relatable and compelling.
Maryah, in particular, undergoes a significant transformation throughout the novel, evolving from a confused and uncertain young woman to a confident and powerful warrior, ready to face the challenges of her destiny. One of the strengths of Grasping at Eternity is Hooper’s ability to seamlessly blend fantastical and real-world elements, creating a vibrant and believable world that readers can fully immerse themselves in.
The book also explores themes of identity, love, and destiny in a way that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. However, there are some flaws in the book’s execution, notably some pacing issues in the middle section, where the action slows down somewhat.
Additionally, some readers may find the depiction of supernatural creatures, such as mermaids, to be somewhat stereotypical, drawing too heavily on popular culture tropes. Overall, Grasping at Eternity is a beautifully crafted novel that will enrapture fans of YA fantasy and romance.
While not without its flaws, Hooper’s storytelling skills and imaginative world-building make for a dazzling and emotionally satisfying read. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.