Transcendence by C.J. Omololu

Transcendence by C.J. Omololu
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336

Summary: When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider.
As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both.
Full of danger, romance, and intrigue, Transcendence breathes new life into a perpetually fascinating question: What would you do with another life to live?

My Thoughts: When I first saw this cover for this,  I thought ohhh how pretty. I never really read the description much before starting it. However, it just was okay for me. I’m not really into the whole reading about reincarnation thing, not that I don’t believe in it (I guess to a certain extent I think its possible) but I just don’t enjoy reading much about it as a plot.

We are introduced to Cole (took me a few minutes to realize if she was a boy or girl) who is on vacation with her sister and father in London. She meets a boy named Griffon and spends a little time with him. She goes home thinking she’ll never see him again. But he turns up in her city. How ironic he’s so close to her. He also explains to her why she is having all these flashbacks. They are memories from her past lives creeping back in.  She is an Akhet. They can remember past lives and memories. Cole is a great cellist, she doesn’t have time for stories or for boys.

As Cole gets to know Griffon better, she starts to understand who she is, and that everyone might not have the best intentions towards her.

I did like Cold and Griffon as characters. I also liked all the other characters, like her mother/father/sister and best friend. Griffon’s mom was also pretty interesting.

I also had a hard time with the flashbacks. I just felt myself not really caring about them or really wanting to know what happened her in previous lives.

If you're a fan of reincarnation/romance you’ll probably enjoy this one quite a bit.

Overall: To me, Transcendence just wasn’t the right book for me. I did enjoy it enough to keep reading, but I didn’t love it.  Once I realized it was about reincarnation it kind of turned my feelings and I wasn’t into it as much. Just not my favorite plot.  I have read a few reincarnation novels, and haven’t found one I just love yet. Still looking!

Transcendence was just okay for me. Probably more of a 3.5 cupcake rating.

Cover: Love it! I could see the characters looking like this, and like the coloring. And also the way her hands are around him. Its a nice looking cover.

What I'd Give It: