You Are Mine

Title: You Are Mine (Mine #1)

Author: Janeal Falor

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Release Date: May 6, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥

Serena knows a few simple things.  She will always be owned by a warlock.  She will never have freedom.  She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is.  And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished.  Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

 Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country.  With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules.  When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world.  The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach.  Serena longs for both.  But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Thank you to Janeal Falor for providing me with an electronic copy of You Are Mine!

Serena has always been owned.  From her conception to her seventeenth birthday, her father, Councilman Stephen, has abused her as if she was a material object.  But this is how life for all women in Chardonia has been since she can remember.  Eat.  Sleep.  Obey.
But all that changes the minute she meets Zade.  Foreign and aloof, he pikes Serena's interest against her better judgment.  Zade opens Serena's eyes to a life and love she never could have imagined.

What I Liked:
The whole concept of a dystopia where men rule over women like humans over dogs is quite interesting.  Falor didn't disappoint in bringing out Serena's emotions when it came to how she was treated.  I was so enraged in some parts and crying in others and, ugh, my emotions were completely haywire!
Zade.  I loved Zade!  He was sweet, compassionate, caring, but he was a little bipolar....  But other than that, he was a perfect match for Serena.
The setting.  It was a little difficult to judge the century, but I'd have to guess 19th century, maybe?  Gowns, as in royal palace gowns, were what women wore in the book, so I think it's an accurate estimate.
The writing was a mixture of formal and informal.  A little odd, but you'd have to read the book to understand.  I kind of liked it....
Serena and Zade's relationship.  Serena is the damsel in distress and Zade is the knight who saves her from an oppressive lifestyle.  Got to love him.

What I Didn't Like:
The pace.  There was too much of Serena wandering around the town and doing nothing.  I wanted more action!  Maybe some more quirky characters.  Anything to fill up the blank parts in the book.
There wasn't enough romance.  I mean, there were a couple of kisses, but it wasn't enough!  I didn't feel Serena and Zade's chemistry throughout the book.  More interaction!

Are you going to read the second book?
~Yessss!

Overall, I'm giving You Are Mine  4/5 because I loved the unique story, but I need more chemistry between Serena and Zade.