Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me #2)
Publication: February 5, 2013 (Harper Teen)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Swoon-worthy

___

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Memorable Quote 

And it's like he sees what I'm thinking, like he can feel the change happening in my head, because suddenly he's different.  His energy slows down, his eyes are deep, troubled, tender; his lips are soft, still slightly parted, and now the air in this room is too tight, too full of cotton, and I feel the blood rushing around in my head, crashing into every rational region of my brain.

I wish someone would remind me how to breathe.

___

I feel his hands on my arms, I feel his skin against my skin, and I'm holding my breath.  I don't move an inch.  I don't say a word as his hands drop to my waist, to the thin material making a poor attempt to cover my body.  His fingers graze the soft skin of my lower back, right underneath the hem of my shirt, and I'm losing count of the number of times my heart skips a beat.

I'm struggling to get oxygen in my lungs. 

My Review

Picking up shortly after where Shatter Me left off, Unravel Me jolts the reader right back into the world of the Reestablishment, and into the mind of one of the most unique protagonists I've ever had the pleasure to read about.  Juliette is trying to find a place to belong at Omega Point, but doing so is more difficult than she thought.  Immediately as I sank into Tareheh Mafi's second novel, any faint worries I had about a sophomore slump vanished; by the end of Unravel Me, I could say with certainty: it is better than Shatter Me.  The stakes are higher.  The danger is more prevalent.  The decisions Juliette has to make are more wrenching.  The romance is swoon-ier. 

Everything is heightened in Unravel Me.  Juliette's hope is palpable - something I felt keenly thought the novel, mixed in with her despair.  Though her narration is more reliable, we still see the dying world through her eyes, and her voice, while strong, is still that of a lost girl.  However through Tahereh's story, Juliette grows so much, and learns to own her actions, and becomes less of a victim, which I was proud to see.  If possible, this made me like her even more.

The pacing was superb - one of those books where, despite the fact that not much time passed, everything that happened within that time felt realistic and necessary.  There's almost a timeless feel to Unravel Me, as though everything is suspended outside of reality - though there's enough going on in the broader plot to remind us of the dangers that the Reestablishment face.  There's the threat of war looming, and the question of if the Reestablishment - Juliette included - will be prepared.  And then there are the love interests.

There's not much I can say without spoiling key points, but I will say that as much as I loved Juliette and Adam in Shatter Me, Unravel Me adds new depth to their interactions, bringing the development I craved.  We gain a great deal of insight into many characters in this book - Adam included.  Some questions are answered, while others are posed.  Which brings me to Warner.  *sighs*  Oh Warner.  I do this thing where I want to fix all the broken characters, and the same is true here, but in Unravel Me, despite the odds against it, Warner begins to genuinely seek, if not atonement, at least redemption.  And it.  Was.  Beautiful.  I don't want to say too much, again - spoilers - on the emerging love triangle, but I will say something happened here that rarely does: I switched sides, and I stand 1000% behind my choice.

Unravel Me is a spellbinding addition to the Shatter Me series that will leave readers breathless.  I was moved to the point of tears several times, and wanted to shout my frustration at others. I read this book in one sitting, in a matter of mere hours; it was impossible to look away once I began reading.  I'm on the edge of my seat for the final installment!


Other books by this author:

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Destroy Me (Shatter Me 1.5)
Untitled (Shatter Me #3 - Fall 2013 Harper Teen)

You're sure to fall for:


Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

About Tahereh

She’s 24. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Orange County, California, where she drinks too much caffeine and finds the weather to be just a little too perfect for her taste. When unable to find a book, she can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts. SHATTER ME is her first novel.


Visit Tahereh online at: her blog | her website | her Twitter

Shop for Unravel Me at: Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Review: Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum

Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum
Publication: January 8, 2013 (Harper Teen)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy

___

Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed.

  

 Memorable Quote

And when the bombs rained down, and then legions of bot foot soldiers marched into the ruins, killing any humans who resisted, and dragging away the rest of us, we finally called it what it was: revolution.  - Prologue

My Review

When I first read the synopsis for Revolution 19, I knew I wanted to read this book; it reminded me of Battlestar Galactica, which I loved, but for some reason, don't talk about a great deal.  I'm continually drawn to science fiction, and Gregg Rosenblum's novel is a good mix of dystopian and sci-fi.  I think it's an example of a lower level YA, better for readers transitioning out of MG and into YA, because although it does explore some serious themes, and introduces a great group of characters, it didn't blow me away or make me think as much as I expected.  

One of the plot devices I have a love/hate relationship with is dual point of view perspectives.  Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't.  To me, it's one of those devices that authors over-use.  Not EVERY story needs a million voices narrating, and I don't think it was necessary in Revolution 19.  I enjoyed getting to know the main characters: Nick, Kevin, and Cass, but it was a bit disorientating for this particular story trying to follow them all, and I think that held things back in some ways, for me at least.  I also liked several of the secondary characters, like Lexi, and definitely want to get to know them better!  

That said, a lot happens in a short amount of time in Revolution 19, and there is a good foundation laid for the sequels, as this is the first in a trilogy.  One thing that I want to applaud is, although Rosenblum leaves us wanting more, enough is resolved in Revolution 19 that I wouldn't call the ending a cliffhanger - finally!  I also really liked the importance of family in this, and the world-building was well done.  In fact, I can't wait to find out more about the bots, their masters, etc.  

Revolution 19 is not a perfect novel, but it is a novel with a lot of potential, and I look forward to seeing how the author and characters grow in the sequels! 

You're sure to fall for:

Partials by Dan Wells



 

About Gregg

Gregg Rosenblum works at Harvard, where he wages epic battles against technology as an editor/webmaster/communications/quasi-IT guy. He graduated from UC San Diego and has an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. He lives in Boston with his wife and daughter. 

Visit Gregg at: his Twitter 

Shop for Revolution 19 at: Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble  

Review + Giveaway: Renegade by J.A. Souders

Renegade by J.A. Souders
Published: November 13, 2012
Source: Finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: Beam-worthy

___

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Memorable Quote

He pulls back and I'm sure I'm in for another lecture, but then his mouth crushes down on mine, his hands traveling over every available space on my body.  I'm so shocked I don't do anything.  This kiss is different from our others.  Way different.  My heart thunders in my ears and kicks in my chest.  My breath turns ragged.  My head spins but this time there's no panic.  Only surprise.  And pleasure.  - Page 253

My Review

Renegade is the debut offering from author J.A. Souders, and although I was frustrated at times with several examples of immaturity throughout this story, ultimately I was intrigued enough to follow it through to the end. With this underwater dystopian, our heroine faces realizing nothing is true about her life, and does so with emerging strength, which I found inspiring.

The world building is a source of conflict for me. While I thought choosing to set Renegade in an underwater utopia was a brilliant move for this premise, I was confused at the need for guards, and the shadowy, brutal Enforcers. There were several aspects of the society that I found really compelling and hope to learn more about.  However, despite the fact that characters reference modern day technology, (video games, horror movies,) the world outside Elysium seems to be set in older times, (Gavin references a hunter-gatherer society with an antiquated government). I wish there was more clarification on that point and can only assume the sequel will provide this. There was a great deal of telling via info dump in Souders' book, which I disliked.

The characters in Renegade were another source of frustration.  Evelyn, or Evie, is an extremely unreliable narrator, which adds another level of creepy to an already uneasy read. At times naive and lost, Evie made some very questionable - and downright stupid - decisions, but I felt sorry for her, and wanted to follow her story to see if she grew any. Alas, that's another reason to read the sequel - she does show strength, but I was hoping for more maturity from her.. However I can say that the secondary characters were fascinating, especially Gavin. I really enjoyed him, and thought his voice was refreshing.  I'm looking forward to watching his romance with Evie mature, since it, like so many in YA books, happened almost instantly, and relied on circumstance rather than moments of substance, to build their feelings.  The Mother character was terrifying, and I'll likely have nightmares about her, her actions, and what she allowed to happen in Renegade.  She was a truly scary villain, and I applaud J.A. Souders for her creativity.

While a frustrating book, Renegade does offer a great deal of important questions about sense of self, family, and free will.  The love story, while very fast, is still sweet at times. And despite a few circular moments, and immaturity in the writing, I will probably read the sequel/s.  (Especially after THAT ending!) I think this author will grow and mature along with her characters, and I'm curious to see how that goes!  It wasn't a perfect read for me, but it was a book with potential, so I'd definitely recommend you read it for yourself!
 
You're sure to love:

 Breathe by Sarah Crossan

About J.A.

J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble.

Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing. She now lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, SFWA, YARWA and SCBWI. 

Visit J.A. online at: her website | her twitter

Shop online for Renegade at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

 Thanks to Tor Teen, I have TWO finished copies of Renegade up for grabs!

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Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Black City by Elizabeth Richards
Published: November 13th 2012 by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Source: ATW ARC Tours
Rating: Beam-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Website | Blog | Twitter

___

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war. In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable--they fall in love. 

Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash's long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they're caught, they'll be executed--but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

My Review

When I began reading Black City, I was struck by one thing: the world building.  I notice it when authors take time to develop their setting and the atmosphere of their books, and I'm happy that Elizabeth Richards did just that.   This is not a light story - it's a tale of war, and two species divided, and it's also a story about courage.  Told in dual narrative from the two main characters, Black City had a lot of elements going for it that I liked, but ultimately, I failed to connect emotionally with the story being told.  I feel like Richard's debut novel has a great deal of potential!

I did love the mythos of Black City.  I fell in love with the idea of the Darklings, and there were times where MY heart felt like it wasn't beating, worried over Ash.  The Darklings have been hunted and persecuted for years, and Ash, as a twin blood - one parent is human, one a Darkling - is at a special risk. I can't wait to find out more about them and their culture, as well as one or two of the more secondary characters that are introduced in Ash's "family."  

I thought Ash was the more interesting character of the two main ones, and I looked forward to his point of view more.  I could never get invested in Natalie's character.  I feel like Richards could have given Natalie more spark as a character; instead, she felt really flat to me.  

Another aspect of Black City that I wasn't taken with was the love story.  From the synopsis, I was expecting something epic...a star-crossed pairing that I wouldn't be able to resist.  What I got was something different.  There was just something MISSING for me in the Ash/Natalie coupling.  They had all the conflict a couple needs to be angsty enough for my taste - everything was against them - but I couldn't connect with them. 

Overall, Black City isn't a bad debut!  It has a great deal of action and danger, as well as an extremely creepy villain called Puritan Rose, who I found myself shuddering over.  You definitely get the sense that the stakes were high for Ash and Natalie, but I think what I'm most looking forward to is seeing where Elizabeth Richards takes this world and these characters in the sequel.  My fingers are crossed for some character growth out of the main characters, and that Richards more deeply explores the world she's built!

You're sure to fall for:

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Review: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me 1.5)

Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me 1.5)
Published: October 2, 2012 (Harper Teen)
Source: Bought from B&N online
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon
Connect with the author: Twitter

 ___

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

My Review

  
Truth: I love villains; the ones I really love aren't the "let-me-show-you-how-evil-I-am" Big Bads though, but rather the quietly hate-able ones who, even as they're plotting your demise, still show a sliver of humanity, making you want to redeem them.   And that is exactly what happened when I read Shatter Me - I met Warner, and lost my heart to him.  So when I heard about Unravel Me, I was all fluttery and excited, but worried: would a novella from Warner's point of view change my mind about him?  And it did, but in the best way: I now firmly adore this broken man.  

With Destroy Me, we see inside Warner's thoughts and motivations, and I have to say, so much about him became clear: why he makes the choices he makes, and why he is the way he is.  A lot of fans of this series seemed to worry that Tahereh would try to make him too sympathetic, but I feel that she straddled the line between hinting that he can be redeemed, and still making me rage-y over his actions at times.  To say that Warner is a complex guy is an understatement; Warner is layered, and definitely a swoon-worthy alpha male, but also very damaged, and misunderstood.  

I am even more excited now for Unravel Me, to see what happens next to these amazing characters.  Destroy Me gives us just enough of a peek into Warner's plans to make me nervous, yet also hopeful.  I lost my heart to Warner, while aching to see more of Juliette and Adam.  And while Adam is probably better for Juliette, I have to say, for the first time, I see the possibilities of Warner/Juliette, which breaks my heart in so many ways.

In short: pick up this book if you're, like me, anxiously awaiting Unravel Me.  It's short, and it's NOT expensive, so you don't have to feel guilty about splurging.  It's still told in Tahereh's magical writing style, and I promise you're going to want Destroy Me in your collection!

Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Breathe by Sarah Crossan
Published: October 2, 2012
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

 ___

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe... The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina: has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn: should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea: wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

My Review

Breathe is the debut novel by author Sarah Crossan, and I have to say, I have extremely mixed emotions when it comes to the story within.  This book is the first in a dystopian series or trilogy, and while ultimately, I will read the books to come, I'm still somewhat disappointed in some aspects of Breathe.  

With a fascinating premise - a dying world, no air, and a domed civilization where any source of air that isn't controlled is illegal - I expected to dive right into Crossan's book.  Instead, I struggled through the first half of Breathe.  I think it's a lot to do with the flawed characters.  Quinn is a sheltered, rich boy, and doesn't evolve beyond that for almost the entire book.  Bea is, to be honest, a very weak character, the type I have trouble sympathizing with.  Alina by far was my favorite character - she showed strength and determination, even in the most terrifying circumstances.  I kept expecting more from these characters, but they never lived up to my hopes, and sadly, most of their actions and personalities felt like stereotypes.  

However, the last third or so of Breathe is much better.  The plot came together and various character's motivations became clearer, even as new questions and foundations were laid for the sequel.  I wish the entire novel read as clearly as the final portion did!  I'm excited enough to read the sequel, because I want to see what's in store for Alina (who again, I have to say, is my favorite), Quinn, and Bea.  The latter two characters are still somewhat immature though, so I hope that they grow in the coming book/s.  

You're sure to fall for:

Renegade by J.A. Souders

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Published: October 16, 2012 (Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR)
Source: Won in Armchair BEA
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

___

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.  That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

My Review

Crewel was on my radar for some time before I was lucky enough to win an ARC, and even now that I've finished it, it's one of those rare books that I wish I had the time to re-read once everything has settled a bit after reading the final page.  Crewel is a richly woven tapestry - a story of hope, obedience, fear, secrets, and revolution.  As a reader, I clung eagerly to every bit of information I could get my hands on, and was happy to wait for my answers - instead of the classic and unfortunate info-dump, Albin reveals things over time.  Between the underlying struggles between the male dominated society, and the females who want power, mixed in with the science-fiction elements, and the beautiful, if fleeting romance that develops, there is something for everyone in Gennifer Albin's debut novel.

Led by a fantastically self-aware heroine, Adelice, Crewl isn't like anything I've ever read before.   Living in a segregated community, Adelice was taught to carefully hide her abilities, and it's led to her becoming sheltered.  But there's also a LOT of strength in this girl, strength and grit that she shows throughout Crewel.  I applauded when Adelice stood up for herself, and I for one cannot wait to see who she becomes in the sequel.  In a cast of ruthless characters, like power-hungry Maela and Ambassador Cormac Patton, everyone has their own agenda, but Adelice holds her own.  

Her innocence is definitely stripped away, but in the wake of that, we see a lovely romance burgeoning between Adelice and one of my other favorite characters.  And no, I won't tell you who - but trust me, you will WANT to find out for yourself because although there was a small hint of a love triangle, it was SO clear to me who Adelice belongs with.  Both of the guys that come to care for Adelice are perfectly swoon-worthy in different ways, but the particular one I fell for really swept me off my feet.  He and Adelice moved a little too fast for my taste, but found their own unique way to spend a good deal of time together getting closer. 

Crewel touched me on many levels.  I found reasons to laugh and reasons to cry.  The actual premise is only barely touched on in the synopsis - there's a great deal more going on that I discovered as I read.  Gennifer Albin brings several layers to the story, beyond the surface description of what the Spinsters do.  We learned along with Adelice, and discovered the various agendas and politics behind the scenes - and that not everyone called to serve lives a glamorous life.  Albin cleverly reveals just enough to spin my head around as I feverishly turned the pages, needing MORE - more answers, more of these characters.  Concepts of weaving, ripping, and cleansing had me begging for more explanations!  By the time I finished Crewel, I realized the wait for the sequel is going to be an extremely long one, during which I'll probably need to buy my own copy of Crewel to re-read to pass the time!  If you're going to read Crewel, I'd advise you to set aside a whole day of un-interrupted reading, and be prepared to have your mind blown!

You're sure to fall for:

There's nothing else like this book so dudes, just READ IT! 

 

Review: Once by Anna Carey (Eve #2)

Once by Anna Carey
Pages: 320
Expected publication: July 3, 2012 (Harper Collins)
Source: Borrowed from Anna @ Literary Exploration
Series or Stand-alone: Eve (2)
Rating: Beam-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website

 
Sixteen years have passed since a deadly virus wiped out most of the Earth’s population. After learning of the terrifying part she and her classmates were fated to play in the rebuilding of New America, eighteen-year-old Eve fled to the wilds and Califia, a haven for women determined to live outside the oppressive rule of the king of New America. 

However, her freedom came at a price: she was forced to leave Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. Eve quickly learns that Califia may not be as safe as it seems and soon finds herself in the City of Sand and the palace of the king. There she uncovers the real reason he was so intent on her capture, and the unbelievable role he intends her to fill. When she is finally reunited with Caleb, they will enact a plan as daring as it is dangerous. 

But will Eve once again risk everything—her freedom, her life—for love? 

 My Review

With the second book in the Eve trilogy, Anna Carey adds several fascinating layers to the mythos and world-building already established; Once picks up a few months after Eve's arrival in Califia - though I felt like I'd barely caught my breath before Eve was leaving Califia and on to the next, harrowing stage of her journey.  And for me, that was the biggest flaw in Once.  The writing is as fantastic as always, and the characters are well-developed and compelling, as is the larger story being told.  But as I progressed further into Once, I never felt like I had a chance to really absorb any of the information being revealed before it was time for Eve to run again, or another revelation.  Once is so fast-paced that it didn't really hit me until the end how much truly HAD happened, and really, in such a short amount of time. The same could be said for the new characters - it all went by in such a blur that I didn't feel like we really got to know any of them, or delve past their surfaces.  There also wasn't nearly enough for me of the familiar characters I love. 

Plot-wise, Anna Carey ramps up the stakes with Once, bringing Eve into the lair of the villainous King of the City of Sand, where she sees how much re-building is being done, and realizes how vastly different these people's lives are from the sheltered one she lived back at school, and from the hand-to-mouth existence the boys in the dug-out eked out while she stayed there.  There is a disgusting opulence in the City of Sand compared to those on the fringes, on the run, and that's not all that Eve discovers.  She also finds out the truly startling reason the King was so intent on drawing her to his city, and what plans he has for her, and has to struggle to come to terms with all of that - which is the last thing the maturing Eve wants to do.  While she still made some questionable decisions in Once, Eve impressed me with the growth she has shown since she fled her school in the first book - but I think she still has a long way to go.  

Mingled in with all the action and danger is a good dose of romance between Eve and Caleb, and even the possibility of one between Eve and one of the young, rising stars in the City of Sand, though it's clear where Eve's affections lie. Once further develops Eve and Caleb's relationship in a way that is tender and genuine, and is possibly the biggest draw to the series for me.  (I won't lie, I've swooned over Caleb a time or five.)  My biggest complaint there is that Once ends up falling back on a few devices from the first book, and it was frustrating for me that I felt like when it came to Eve and Caleb, they were playing out the same roles they had in Eve.  I kept waiting for more, for that moment that would set Once apart from other books, and ultimately, I never found it in the pages of this book - but after the way Once ended, I do have high hopes for the third and final book.  There is a huge cliffhanger which is sort of cruel in a way, when you put it in the context of how long we'll have to wait for that next book.

It's hard for me to review Once, because I didn't hate it.  I liked Once.  But I didn't love it.  I'm still not truly connected emotionally with Eve - instead of my heart pounding in fear for her, I feel detached as I read about her, and because of that, I'm not as "into" the books as I wish I was.  The writing is fresh and great as usual, but there's just that spark missing to really draw me in.   If you, like me, saw a lot of potential in Eve, I would recommend reading Once, as it has definitely set up the final book to be fairly epic, but if you also had trouble connecting with Eve, or if you didn't truly LOVE the first book, I would caution you to go into this one warily, else it might disappoint.  Once fell a bit flat for me - it just didn't pack the emotional punch I was wanting, or sweep me off my feet, though that's not to say it isn't still a good book, and I hope readers will enjoy it.

Further Thoughts

Have you read EVE or ONCE?  If so, what did you think?  What would you like to see in the RISE, the third and final novel in the trilogy? 

Book Trailer - Eve 

Review: The Glimpse by Claire Merle

The Glimpse by Claire Merle
Pages: 432
Published: June 7, 2012 (Faber & Faber)
Source: E-ARC from Net Galley
Rating: Shrug-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Twitter | Website

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In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taurell.

Jasper is from a rich and influential family and despite Ana’s condition, wants to be with her. The authorities grant Ana a tentative reprieve. If she is joined to Jasper before her 18th birthday, she may stay in the Community until her illness manifests. But if Jasper changes his mind, she will be cast out among the Crazies. As Ana’s joining ceremony and her birthday loom closer, she dares to hope she will be saved from the horror of the City and live a ‘normal’ life. But then Jasper disappears.

Led to believe Jasper has been taken by a strange sect the authorities will not intefere with, Ana sneaks out of her well-guarded Community to find him herself. Her search takes her through the underbelly of society, and as she delves deeper into the mystery of Jasper’s abduction she uncovers some devastating truths that destroy everything she has grown up to believe.

My Review

 The Glimpse is one of those novels that I anticipated for so long, downloaded the moment I got the approval email from NetGalley, and dove into headfirst...then something somewhere went off the rails.  I struggled through the first 50 pages, and feeling that something was just off somehow, put aside this book in search of another on my review list.  When I came back to Claire Merle's debut book, I finished it in one night.  I've waited to write my review, hoping to pinpoint just what it was about this novel - with such a fantastic premise - that nevertheless left me utterly cold.

Merle offers readers a new type of dystopian world that is certainly unique in a now-popular genre.  The world building is fairly meticulous, and the characters are, for the most part well-developed.  I still am not sure if I went into this book with too-high expectations, or if there was something else just off.  I'm going to depart from my normal review structure and talk about purely what I liked, and what I didn't like.

What I liked:

• Cole.  He pretty much saved The Glimpse for me.  Ana meets Cole about a third of the way through the story, and he really captivated me from the beginning.  Cole is a musician, and he's also fiercely loyal to his family.  I loved learning more about him and his eccentric clan.  I found myself wanting to know more about him and his sister, Lila, as well as several of the other secondary characters.  Something about their hardscrabble life mixed with their clear love for one another, and the thought of them all struggling to get by, but still being a family just appealed to me. 
• The end.  This is NOT meant to be sarcastic.  I genuinely loved the last few sentences of this book, because Claire Merle has set up the sequel to, I think, be quite awesome. 
• The writing style.  Merle's writing is really fluid and easy to read.  I read The Glimpse really quickly, because despite my issues with it, I did get wrapped up in the story being told.

What I didn't like: 

• Ana.  I'm predisposed to like the name Anna/Ana.  It's just a thing with me.  But I HATED this Ana.  Time after time she made ridiculous choices that left me shaking my head, stunned, at how she managed to survive this book.  I kept wanting to like her, then wanting her to do something to somehow redeem herself.  But she never did. Even though I liked other parts of The Glimpse, Ana ruined the story for me. 
• The love interests.  For me, Jasper - Ana's intended - was a totally flat character.  There was a LOT of potential there on his part, and I fully expected Claire Merle to follow through, but she didn't.  I needed more backstory and interaction between him and Ana to fully support their joining.  And then there was Cole, who by himself was fine, but with Ana, he completely lost any sense of identity and became just part of ColeandAna.  I mean, Cole was amazing but we didn't get to SEE anything between him and Ana.  Once again we have a pairing in a YA novel that we're just supposed to accept is "meant to be," because it's meant to be. 
• The point of view.  It jumped around seemingly at random.  Maybe this is just in the ARC version I read and in the finished copy this doesn't happen.  I hope not, because it jarred me out of The Glimpse every time it happened. 
• This whole "Pure" vs "Crazies" deal.  While the mental illness aspect and the thought of "Sleepers" (people who carried the gene to develop some sort of mental disorder and might, but might never) was oddly, morbidly fascinating, it was also really offensive and cruel, the way the city was literally divided between the Pures and the not-Pures. 

Overall I can't recommend The Glimpse since I didn't care for it, but I WILL, as always, advise to read it for yourself to decide if it's the book for you.  There is a sequel due out next year that I will likely read, since I did make it through this book and I DO want to know what happens to Ana and Cole. 

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

 The Selection by Kiera Cass
Pages: 327
Published: April 24, 2012 (HarperTeen)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Series or stand-alone: The Selection (1)
Rating: Beam-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website
 
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review

In The Selection, debut author Kiera Cass delivers an unexpectedly heart-warming story that will leave you wanting more.  Even though I had a major crush on the cover from the first time I saw it, and the premise sounded rather interesting, I went into this book with some trepidation.  I'm not an avid watcher or fan of shows like The Bachelor/The Bachelorette - generally I tend to doubt that two people can truly fall in love on national television.  But there was just something about The Selection that called to me, and so I was also somewhat curious and eager when I started reading.  And luckily, I quickly fell in love with the main character, America Singer, and with the world Cass has developed.  I categorized The Selection as dystopian, and although the stakes are high in some aspects, the vast amount of comparisons to The Hunger Games are misdirected.   

The Selection is in some ways a less sinister dystopian than The Hunger Games, Pandemonium, or Shatter Me.  That's NOT to say in any way that is makes less of an impact; I know as a reader, even after I finished it a few months ago, I was still thinking about the characters weeks after I closed the book.  Kiera Cass has concentrated less on government control as a theme and more of a highly developed, interesting and unfair caste system that I found fascinating.  I wasn't expecting such a focus, but it's a new twist on the "have's vs have-not's" age old dilemma.  America knows the limitations of her caste as well as her place - and the unfairness of that, considering it means she shouldn't marry Aspen, the boy she loves...Aspen, who is a caste below her.  When America is chosen to be in the Selection, her family is over-joyed.  If she wins, she'll marry Prince Maxon, and even if she simply competes, her family will be elevated in status and taken care of, but for America - loyal, with a huge heart - it means leaving behind everything she's ever known, all to become involved in something she doesn't even want.  

Yet just like America, I found myself getting caught up in the atmosphere of life in the castle.  The King and Queen weren't what I expected, and neither were a few of the other girls.  Cass takes care to flesh out her secondary characters, which I really enjoyed.  A few of them fell flat, but for the most part, they were all more than just names on the page.  I also really liked how real everything seemed, through America's eyes.  She was so not dazzled by being in the Selection, and I think that made everything have more of an impact - the sense of danger from rebels was more heightened, as were the feelings she started to have and explore for Maxon.  

The romance in The Selection was sweet and definitely tugged at my heart-strings, but once again, I realized I was reading yet another book with a love triangle.  I will say this: I really believed Aspen and America.  Kiera Cass wrote in a lot of moments between them that showed, rather than told, their love.  So it was a real struggle for me to realize that, and then of course to see America drawn, despite her will, to Maxon.  The prince isn't anything like America thought he would be, and I really DID love their interactions, their friendship, their easy back-and-forth.  I think I'm just over-tired of love triangles.  

The Selection has a lot of elements that I like, but there were several things I thought could have been improved on.  The threat to the people's safety from rebels felt almost thrown in, and I would have liked for that to have been treated better.  The ending was very rushed, including the handling of the love triangle.  And I really found myself hoping this would be a stand-alone.  I think with another hundred pages (or the same amount of pages but events playing out differently) this could have been a satisfying stand-alone; however, I will likely read the next two books in the trilogy. 

Book Trailer

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Starters by Lissa Price
Expected publication: March 13th, 2012 (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Pages: 368
Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Series or stand-alone: Starters (1)
Rating: Squee-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website


HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

My Review

In Starters, debut author Lissa Price catapults the reader head-first into the dangerous post-Spore Wars world, where for Callie Woodland, every day is a roll of the dice.  Callie and her younger brother, Tyler are on their own other than a single friend, Michael - squatting in abandoned buildings, hoping not to be noticed by Enders (the older generation left untouched by the mysterious War.)  When Tyler gets sicker, Callie makes a desperate decision, to turn herself over to Prime Destinations, and Lissa Price wastes no time fluffing the pages with unnecessary road blocks.  What I loved about Starters was that Lissa brings the action right away, infusing the book with Callie's sense of urgency to save her brother, then throws in the twist of Callie waking up, still in her renter's body.  This is where Starters really takes off, as we see the resourceful Callie trying to make sense of what has happened, along with dealing with black-outs as her renter, Helena, surges to the surface again, and trying to decipher Helena's puzzling messages.  

There's never a dull moment in Starters, as Callie races to halt the plan Helena has developed.  I loved all the suspense that Lissa Price created.  Callie only knows bits and pieces, but it's enough to terrify her, considering Helena is in HER body, and if the plan goes south, it will be Callie who's to blame.  Along with that fear is the added complication of Blake, the grandson of a powerful senator (who may or may not be connected to Helena's plan), and Callie's mixed emotions when it comes to the time she's spending with the charming Blake.  And then there is the looming possibility that Prime Destinations doesn't just want renters - they're looking for teens who are willing to let Enders become owners of their bodies, effectively giving up their lives.  Callie frantically searches to figure out who the real villain is - the Senator, the Old Man, or someone else entirely?  I thought the Old Man (someone who we never TRULY see) was a very ambiguous and awesome Big Bad and I definitely hope we see more of him in the sequel!

I did have a few issues, regrettably with Starters.  For instance, although there are several mentions of the Spore War, we only ever get the barest details.  There's so much that isn't ever explained!  I had so many questions about the War, the dangerous Spores, where they came from, who the countries were that were involved in the War, what led to it all, and so forth.  In Starters, Prime Destinations has the ability to not just "make over" people - they make them flawless.  And it's mentioned that humans have been living longer, or were before the War, so I'm also a little fuzzy on exactly what led to and why the age range is 20 - 60 post-War.  And I was unhappy with some of the decisions the other characters made, as well as that the "romance" between Callie and  Blake felt too fast.  It's explained later in the book, and I was both mad and happy at how it all turned out (yes I'm being vague!)  And I was really disappointed with how Helena's ARC turned out - I felt almost like that was just a convenient manner of dealing with her.  And there was a weird point near the end where I felt like Lissa Price took the plot in a totally unnecessary direction. 

Overall, despite some flaws, Starters has a Dollhouse-esque feel to it, with its notions of slipping effortlessly into someone else's body, and someone else's life.  Heart-pounding at times, Starters is a glossy thrill-ride that skims over the top of deeply moral questions that I hope will be further addressed in Enders, the forthcoming sequel.

Further Thoughts

Have you read Starters?  If so, what did you think?  Do we agree, or disagree?  And given that this is set in a hypothetical future, what do you think about the idea of renting out your body so that an Elder can re-experience being young?  

Note: Starters is included in a box of ARCs I am giving away in my ongoing Blog-o-versary giveaway!  Check it out here!

Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Partials by Dan Wells
Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by Harper Teen
Pages: 472
Source: e-ARC from NetGalley
Series or stand-alone: Partials (1)
Rating: Squee-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website


The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

My Review

Partials is a unique book, and one that, despite feeling that it is sometimes fuzzy on details I would like more clarification on, for the most part, author Dan Wells draws the reader immediately into his book.  Partials catapults the reader smack-dab in the middle of the action, where we learn instantly the effects RM - the mysterious virus unleashed by the Partials eleven years ago - has on infants: they never live long.  The youngest human left in the decimated population is fourteen years old, and with no surviving children to carry the next generation forward, conditions are strained.  The Hope Act mandates pregnancy at 18 years old, and Kira Walker feels hopeless, in the midst of it all.  I liked and felt for Kira immediately.  She is strong and opinionated, with a huge heart, and she is not happy with her lot in life, or with her government's attempts at an answer to all the problems.  Kira wants to do something other than watch new babies die, and I definitely sympathized with her.  Being in that situation - and worse, working in the maternity ward - is bad enough, worse is knowing there's nothing you can do - or is there?  

What I liked most about Partials were the characters.  All of them were strong, yet with their own flaws, so that they all seemed real, like people you might get to know.  Kira wasn't happy being a bystander - she wanted to reach out and fix something, anything.  Her adoptive sisters each had their own reasons for being unhappy, for wanting to do more, be more.  Marcus, Kira's friend and sometimes boyfriend, was fiercely devoted to her, yet sometimes unable to understand her actions and motivations.  Several of the secondary characters are like Kira in that they are determined to change their present, in order so that there is a future, while others, including some of her adopted family, are hesitant to rock the boat.  The plan Kira develops is risky and thrilling - I was at once supportive and afraid, as Dan Wells propels the reader right along on Kira's journey.  Though several months pass in Partials, the pacing is steady, and never really falters or detracts from the story being told. 

Plot wise, Partials is a very strong story, which throws several twists into the narrative so that when I read the last page, I was definitely wishing it was time for Failsafe (the sequel) to be published.  There is a huge shocker that, thankfully, I didn't see coming, because it really added to my enjoyment of Partials.  I do have a gripe though - while the world-building is well done, I wanted to know more about what led to the present state of things.  There is a war mentioned - the Isolation War - and then the war with the Partials, and although we are told in brief what happened, I'm a back-story kind of girl, so I still wanted more, and in that sense, I didn't enjoy Partials as much as I thought I would.  A few of the plot elements kept making me think of a television show I adored a few years back - I'm not going to say which one - and that was both off-putting and awesome.  The question at the end of Partials remains:  just because you are told someone is the enemy, are they really so different?  And as it so far-fetched to think that something could be learned from someone's nemesis?

 

Partials is a fast-paced book that will no doubt leave readers breathless.  The characters are well-developed and the chances they take to save their race and their world are daring and admirable.  I would have liked more explanation, but I look forward to that in the sequel, as I am sure that author Dan Wells will produce yet another can't-miss dystopian! 

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.  

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Pages: 384
Published: January 3, 2012 (HarperCollins)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Series or stand-alone: Under the Never Sky (1) 
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Find the author online: Twitter | Website


Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

My Review 

I wanted Under the Never Sky from the moment I saw the cover and read the synopsis.  I coveted it almost more than any other book I've read recently.  The synopsis was electrifying and until it arrived in the mail, this book had an unshakeable hold on my heart.  I waited to read it so that it would count for the 2012 debut author challenge, and in the time between receiving it and beginning to read Under the Never Sky, I'd forgotten just how much it appealed to me - yet I quickly remembered once I was about three chapters into it.  Although I was confused at first, since Veronica Ross propells the reader right into the action, not really giving anyone a chance to catch their breath, I quickly acclimated to both Aria and Perry's worlds, and leaving those worlds for any amount of time was frustrating, almost painful - because I was so involved with both of them, and their journies - together and as individuals.  

Over the course of Under the Never Sky, we become well acquainted with both Aria and Perry, two people who couldn't be more different - or so they think.   I adored both of them, in different ways.  Veronica Rossi shares both of their narratives with us in alternating chapters, which usually is very off-putting for me, but here, it worked.  In fact, I truly cannot imagine the story being told any other way now, having read it.  The dual points of view work perfectly, by showing us the foils that Aria and Perry are to one another both through their different ways of life and their ideals on - and prejudices about - one another, so that it means so much more when they do finally start working together to achieve not just their individual goals, but at times, the same goals.  Their antagonism toward one another is peeled back slowly, gradually, so that the friendship and, in time, affection that builds between them is done in beautiful layers.  It's never too much, never overpowering, but always gorgeously developed.  

Aria and Perry are so believable together because they are both such heart-felt characters, who experience poignant growth during Under the Never Sky.  When we first meet Aria, she is sheltered and untested, and largely unprepared for the reality of being alone in "the Death Shop."  Peregrine or Perry (I'm not sure which I prefer) considers all Reverie Dwellers "Moles" and is filled with rage at his brother's leadership of their tribe, as well as awash in the abilities he possesses.  While Perry softens in some ways, yet never loses his edge, Aria becomes tougher, maturing into a survivor, but never hardens.  The two grow to perfectly compliment one another; through various encounters and experiences that they share, Veronica Rossi masterfully brings them together.  

Both the plot of Under the Never Sky and the secondary characters are equally riveting.   The story itself spins out differently than I would have expected from the synopsis, and while I am still unclear on some things such as the Unity, what happened to the world as we know it, and how much time passed between then and the time that the book is set in, and although that was distracting at times, having so many questions, I have faith that Veronica Rossi will answer them in the books to come.  Between the lush world-building of both Reverie and the Outsider lands, the secrets that are revealed throughout Under the Never Sky, and the way the first book leaves off, I have no doubt that the sequels will be just as thrilling and heart-stopping.  

I've tried and tried to describe the plot of Under the Never Sky to various friends, but it's such an amazing blend of dystopia and sci-fi that I never really know where to begin.  I never knew what to expect, starting a new chapter, but for me, the underlying, thrumming emotion of Under the Never Sky is truly what kept me reading.  Whether it was Aria and Perry discovering one another, Aria's love for her mother, Lumina, or Perry's for his nephew, Talon, the emotion was there, real, and strong.  There were scenes between Perry and Talon, or Aria and Perry that felt so private and precious, it was like Veronia Rossi was lifting the veil on a moment that was really happening, allowing the reader a peek.  I adored Perry's bonds with the ones he loved, and his intentions to be a better, stronger leader than his brother - for his faults, Peregrine is a true hero, and with him, Aria becomes a true heroine.  

Under the Never Sky has it all - mystery, drama, intrigue, romance, a bit of fantasy, but underneath it all, the lynchpin that holds the story together and makes it so unforgettable is the heartbeat that Veronica Ross has infused her novel with, ensuring anyone who reads Under the Never Sky will be thinking about it long after reading the last page.

Disclaimer

In accordance with FTC guidelines, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  No money or compensation of any sort exchanged hands.   I review books with no intention of monetary gain; rather, I review books out of my love of reading.