Be prepared to suspend belief...then enjoy this romp through a futuristic city as courier Kris Ballard is sent for her last delivery of the day and wiBe prepared to suspend belief...then enjoy this romp through a futuristic city as courier Kris Ballard is sent for her last delivery of the day and witnesses a terrifying murder. Delivery incomplete, she flees the scene through the multi-leveled city, chased by many different parties, all with an interest in the package.
The Courier was fun to read, especially all of the chase scenes. I loved the concept of the futuristic city divided into different levels. I found the main character Kris quite likable and remarkably bad ass (and very lucky) especially when evading the bad guys.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a review copy of this book....more
Whoa....didn't expect to finish this book in one sitting.
Let me just start with - this book is intended for adult audiences 18+. There be sex in this Whoa....didn't expect to finish this book in one sitting.
Let me just start with - this book is intended for adult audiences 18+. There be sex in this book - all kinds and combinations - and toys.
Beyond Shame is set in the future where the wealthy live puritanical lives in Eden. Everything is readily available in Eden as long as rules are followed. Noelle is cast out of Eden to sector 4, where she meets Jasper, a member of the O'Kane gang. She is taken under the wing of Lexie, Dallas O'Kane's girlfriend.
Noelle sets out to experiment with her sexuality under the guidance of Lexie, who teaches Noelle to not feel shame. Noelle is both shocked and aroused by this new lifestyle and this group of people who are not ashamed of their sexuality.
I enjoyed the writing style and I loved the dystopian world. I'll be looking for the next book in the series.
About 3.5 stars. In a way, this book kind of reminded me of Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series but instead of vampires, we have zombies and people whAbout 3.5 stars. In a way, this book kind of reminded me of Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series but instead of vampires, we have zombies and people who have tested positive for the zombie virus. Positive is a new spin on the zombie apocalypse story. In Positive, the zombie apocalypse occurred about 20 years earlier. People live in the relative safety of walled cities. Our hero hails from Manhattan, where the subways are flooded and provide some fishing for our hero Finn and his buddy Ike. The zombie virus is also a different take on the old zombie story. Now it can take anywhere from exposure to 20 years for the zombie virus to manifest and turn a person into a snarling flesh-eating killer. When Finn's mother goes zombie, the whole family is tested and Finn is sent to a medical camp in Ohio. He doesn't get there right away because his ride is killed by a very scary lady.
Finn begins his voyage across the US looking for that medical center where all will be good. On his way he learns about the world outside Manhattan. This is a journey story and each step along the way builds Finn's character. From what he sees of the world, he knows what kind of man he doesn't want to become.
I liked Finn's character. For someone with so little life experience, he was a quick learner and even quicker to react to situations. I loved how he treated his "family" and wanted to keep the girls safe, especially Kylie. Kylie was a strong character as well considering what she had gone through with Adare.
Positive kept me reading way into the night. The last part of the book was intense and I couldn't put the book down. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for a review copy of this book. ...more
Update 12/7/15 - The Deep was one of my Top 10 Picks of 2015. See what other books made my list on Badass Book Reviews.
Initial Thoughts: This has Update 12/7/15 - The Deep was one of my Top 10 Picks of 2015. See what other books made my list on Badass Book Reviews.
Initial Thoughts: This has got to be one of the scariest books I've read in a long time. It takes all of your fears, sticks them in the periphery of your vision, and taunts you. And worst of all, it takes place 8 miles below sea level in an undersea lab where nothing is what it seems. The Deep is a thrilling psychological horror which would appeal to fans of Stephen King.
The Review: The Deep takes terror to a whole new level. The author takes our biggest fears and places them just in the periphery of our sight. It's the shadows, the darkness, and the unknown that are the scariest. That, combined with an isolated (and rescue-free) setting 8 miles below sea level add to the claustrophobic feeling that further triggers terror. The fear is all encompassing: all around you AND inside your head. There is no refuge.
The Deep plays on the characters' real-life experiences and finds those things that terrified them in childhood. It then takes those fears and amplifies them. Fear of bugs - check. Fear of overbearing parents - check. Fear of clowns - check. Fear of the monster under the bed - check. It's not the monster that scares us - it's the very thought of that monster that gives us the willies.
As I read The Deep, I found myself Googling various aspects of this book. Is it possible to dive 8 miles below sea level? Yes. Were the laboratory dogs really named after Russian space dogs? Yes. Is there such a thing as a Tickle Trunk? (Canadians of a certain age know that one). The research for the book was impeccable.
As for the writing, see how you feel after you read this quote:
"This place repulses.
There is nothing to nourish the soul.
Nothing but man made angle and inert materials. Nothing is cut from nature, holding the supple appeal of objects that God has touched. God's finger doesn't reach down this far."
The Deep is a MUST READ for horror lovers. Nick Cutter has become a favorite author and an auto-buy choice for me. I'm so excited that a new book is planned for May 2015 - The Acolyte. I can't wait!
Recommended for fans of Stephen King books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a review copy of this book.
Update - 1/13/15 - CBC Radio show Q interviews Nick Cutter. Not sure if this is available outside of Canada, if not check NPR for Q. Here's the link to CBC interview.
Initial Thoughts: 3.0-3.5 stars. It's kind of unfortunate that I kept thinking that this is a Hunger Games clone. There just seems to be a lot of thatInitial Thoughts: 3.0-3.5 stars. It's kind of unfortunate that I kept thinking that this is a Hunger Games clone. There just seems to be a lot of that around, and understandably so. The book's strong point is the character development. Evalyn is a character placed in an unfortunate circumstance, yet she manages to shine despite adversity. For me, her voice saved the novel and kept me reading.
The Review: OK, I settled on 3 stars for this book because it did have that Hunger Games vibe to it. I did like the concept of the Compass Room, however, it wasn't clear as to how it worked. In The Wicked We Have Done, teen offenders who have been sentenced to death are offered a way to redeem themselves and prove their innocence.
CRs are designed to terminate the morally corrupt. Think of them as the ultimate lie-detector test.
The story is told in Evalyn's point of view with flashbacks to her past. As the game progresses, what is real and what is illusion seems to merge together. Thing happen that trigger a "test." As each character is "tested," the character fights for their life. This part of the book is intense, leaving the reader at the edge of their seat.
I enjoyed the interaction between the characters, especially Evalyn, who seemed to keep her wits about her throughout most of the time she spent in the Compass Room. The Wicked We Have Done is the first book in The Chaos Theory series. The second book, A Vault of Sins is due out in September of this year. I'm looking forward to reading that book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Intermix Books for a review copy of this book....more
5 stars for the series and 5 stars for this installment.
Epic. Jam-packed full of action. Fantastic battles. Cool weapons. Could give Star Wars a run 5 stars for the series and 5 stars for this installment.
Epic. Jam-packed full of action. Fantastic battles. Cool weapons. Could give Star Wars a run for its money one day (a girl could dream...)
Morning Star exceeded my expectations. I experienced a wild roller coaster ride of emotions. In a way, I am sad that the series is finished. I will miss Darrow and all of his friends.
(stands for a moment of silence to all the characters Pierce Brown killed....)
What sets this series as one of the best I've read is that the main character Darrow is far from perfect. He is an unlikely hero, a young man who would have been happy with the status quo, had he been allowed to live undisturbed. But then it would be a very different novel, right?
And Darrow grows and matures way beyond his years. He has a great circle of friends around him and their support, along with Darrow's ability to influence others makes this book a must read for every science fiction fan.
When I first read Red Rising, I compared it to The Hunger Games on speed. This book is way more.
If you haven't started the series, go for it!
Highly recommended.
(pre-reading thoughts) OK - Golden Son is not even out yet and I am so excited to see that this book has a name! Can't get enough of Darrow and his pals.
Initial Thoughts: Kind of reminded me a little of The Hunger Games with a few twists. This book should appeal to the young adult reader looking for anInitial Thoughts: Kind of reminded me a little of The Hunger Games with a few twists. This book should appeal to the young adult reader looking for an action packed thrilling read. 3.5 stars. Full review to come......more
Initial Thoughts: The first book was OK and I was curious as to how the events would unforld. Now, I'm on the fence about this series. It's kind of liInitial Thoughts: The first book was OK and I was curious as to how the events would unforld. Now, I'm on the fence about this series. It's kind of like a Hunger Games meets Junior Survivor with the end game - a university education. These poor kids are thrown an impossible bunch of tests to see if they are suitable to continue their studies. Failure is not an option as it leads to Redirection (most likely death). Not sure that I could buy into this any more. What kind of society would take its brightest potentials and kill them off at the slightest mistake? Not sure if I will continue this series.
The Review: 2.5 stars Book 2 of The Testing series finds our main character Cia attending university having made the cut in the previous book. The tests are not over and as our university students write their examinations for their fields of study, Cia is surprised to find out that she has been assigned to Government, rather than her first choice – Engineering.
The exams don’t end there. The first week of classes the new students undergo further examinations with almost impossible tasks to complete. Failure is never an option. Failure is cause for Redirection. Redirection is fatal.
I’m having a hard time with this series. I enjoyed the first book and was looking forward to this installment in the series. Is it trying too hard to be a Hunger Games clone? Maybe. I can’t see why a world ravaged by warfare, environmental disasters and the like would sacrifice their best and brightest hopes for the future. Why would you cull any student?
The whole rebellion side was a little iffy for me as well. Why bother rebelling when you live in the relative comfort of Tosu city?
The writing was OK. I did find the pacing slower than the first book and at times a little boring. This book felt like a filler book, moving our main character from point A to point B in the overall plot.
I’m not sure that I will be continuing this series. On the one hand, I am curious to see what happens. On the other hand, I am not sure that I will have patience for it.
Initial Thoughts: Wow. Just an amazing thrill ride. This is like the Hunger Games on speed.
The Review:
Red Rising is easily my favorite book of 2014 –Initial Thoughts: Wow. Just an amazing thrill ride. This is like the Hunger Games on speed.
The Review:
Red Rising is easily my favorite book of 2014 – and we’re only in January.
Red Rising is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It starts off slowly and then takes off in a rush of adrenalin. The opening line sets the tone:
”I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war."
And so begins an amazing thrill ride…
I think I Red Rising because of many factors. The world building was fascinating and highly detailed. Red Rising is set on Mars in the future. Mars has been colonized by humans who live both above and below the surface. Those who live below the surface are the Reds – the lowest caste, the miners. They’ve been led to believe that their work is to mine the material needed to make Mars habitable. On the opposite end are the most privileged, the Golds, the top of the castes. Other color coded castes populate the planet, each color specializing in a certain specialty such as science, medicine, service, policing, etc.
Red Rising has one of the more interesting teenage characters I’ve met in years. Darrow is only 16 years old and a Red, a child of miners and a miner himself since he was 13 years old. He’s a Helldiver, a particularly dangerous type of miner and he’s one of the best in his region. Darrow is happily married to the love of his life Eo and they are literally head over heels in love with each other. Darrow’s happiness is cut short when Eo is executed for inciting rebellion. Darrow’s grief is overwhelming and in an act of compassion, he buries his wife and gets sentenced to death.
The story takes off from here. Up to this time, there have been only whispers that all is not well in this world. It is forbidden to even sing a simple song, as it is the song of the rebels. Darrow finds himself resuscitated and whisked away by the members of the rebellion. He is surprised to find that there are cities on the surface of the planet. Darrow agrees to infiltrate the Golds and become one of them which is not an easy feat as he undergoes numerous surgical procedures, pain, coaching, and even learning how to read, all so that he could pass as a Gold and enter their Institute.
When we finally see what it is that the Golds do to train their leaders, it is shocking and appalling. This is Game of Thrones meets The Hunger GamesandLord of the Flies on speed. Kill or be killed. Fight or become a slave. It’s not really individuals against individuals – it’s house versus house. Some of the houses have advantages either in location, equipment, food, or soldiers. Several characters stand out in this part, notably Sevro, who at first glance, did not seem like much but his fierce and wolf-like behavior were a real asset for Darrow. Mustang was a good ally as well, and surprisingly tough when necessary. Then there was the fearsome Jackal, the one adversary that all the houses were afraid of.
The game has no rules and no time frame. The winner is the person who controls all 12 houses. Darrow has a unique insight into the game. He has nothing to lose. Once he learns that the game is rigged, he “breaks” the rules himself. Darrow is also remarkably civilized. When he hears that a girl has been raped, he punishes the offender with 20 lashes, earning the respect of others.
The writing is powerful, evoking the senses, the emotions, and the atmosphere. I loved how Darrow was portrayed. He kind of was 16 going on 30, which may not be a good thing in most young adult books, but his life experiences added to his maturity. Even though Eo only appeared in the first few chapters, her presence was greatly felt throughout the novel as Darrow was constantly living for her and grieving her loss.
Red Rising was an amazing read. I want to read the next book now, now, now!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Del Rey Spectra for a review copy of this book.
Initial Thoughts: Wow. Absolutely loved this book. Maybe it's because one of my favorite cities is the capital, but I digress. What an interesting comInitial Thoughts: Wow. Absolutely loved this book. Maybe it's because one of my favorite cities is the capital, but I digress. What an interesting combination of a futuristic society struggling with spiritual beliefs and the existence of all sorts of gods from various mythologies. Well done.
The Review: Christal and I discuss The Immortal Crown on Badass Book Reviews as part of the monthly Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge.
AH: The world building in this series is fabulous, full of details and back story. The author takes the time to meticulously build a world based on Roman politics complete with plebeians, praetorians, servitors, patricians, and senators. She adds in the mythology of various cultures and has those gods jockeying for power over the people. Then, she adds in all sorts of magic as well. It’s perfect! Juxtaposed with the ancient gods is a technologically advanced population that has embedded chips, data streams, and genetic manipulation. I love that this series is set in one of my favorite cities – Vancouver. My only beef is that it never seems to rain in this world. Who knows? Perhaps in the future it rains less in Vancouver.
Christal: I completely agree; the world building in this series is fantastic! I loved our introduction to the RUNA and EA in the first book, but The Immortal Crown just added so much more! Arcadia is not a place that I would ever want to live in, but it made for a fascinating story. Returning character Lucian, the crafty senator, sure pulled a fast one on Mae and Justin in convincing them to travel to Arcadia. Mae with her strong, direct military bearing and lovely patrician features certainly stood out and not always in a good way, but Justin was a fish out of water as well with his practical, straightforward, dare I say a little tactless at times, way of thinking.
AH: I like the fact that Justin is a little unconventional and irreverent. He claims that he studies religion so that he can protect his country. He can be an asshole and he is a bit of an arrogant playboy. Justin has two ravens in his head as spirit guides – Horatio and Magnus – who have very astute observations of the world around him. Justin has been chosen by the god Odin to be his priest but he does not wish to be in Odin’s service forever, so he refuses (and refuses to consummate his relationship with Mae).
Christal: The tension between Justin and Mae was oh so tangible in this book. They are super attracted to each other and I think they’ve come to complement one another very well, but they are also extremely independent. Justin is actually doing a good thing for himself and Mae by keeping his distance, but he went about establishing that distance in a terrible way. I enjoy his character; he’s very intelligent and find him quite humorous at times but Mae really makes these books for me. Though she is still new to the world of the gods and the elect, she won’t let herself be blindly led. She knows what she wants and she can kick any butt necessary to get it.
AH: I love this Amazon of a woman. Strong, fierce, fearless – there’s something special about Mae. Her role on the mission to Arcadia was amazing, as was her rescue mission of the Gemman girls. Tessa is another female character coming into her own now and she takes on more importance.
Christal: I agree, Tessa was a much better character in this book. I actually found her to be a little boring in the first book but it was nice to see her have more of a separate plot line in The Immortal Crown. She is another smart cookie and it was interesting to see her taking on new roles that will shape her future and the person she is becoming. Thought Tessa still feels out-of-place some time because of coming from Panama, I feel like the differences between her homeland and the RUNA were almost negated by the differences we saw in this book between Arcadia and the RUNA.
AH: Ok, I know that Arcadia is supposed to be the Bible Belt and places southeast however in my mind I kept thinking Taliban and Afghanistan. Or maybe one of those Mormon compounds that pop up now and then to sensationalize the news. The women are kept covered up, dressed in drab colors, a group of older men get all the women, there is polygamy and violence towards women, women are bought/sold like property. The younger males are sexually repressed because of the lack of brides available. The rescue mission and Mae’s return to RUNA reminded me of some of the military checkpoints you see in the news.
Christal: I can completely get on board with the comparisons to some middle eastern countries. I was also thinking that it seemed like the South back in the old, bad times before slavery was outlawed. It was an interesting setting for the story, but it did make me uncomfortable from time to time, especially with how the women were treated. I got flashes of Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaiden’s Tale. I’m sure that was the point and I was glad to see how Mae’s role and mission in the story turned out. Her relationship with this new deity is much different from the Morrigan and I think it will be amazing when we see everything played out.
AH: I was fascinated by how Mead incorporated the magic with the various mythologies that she draws upon. I found that I had to read this book very carefully. I had to pay attention to the small details; something that seems innocuous or obscure may pop into the narrative and shock you as you connect the dots.
Christal: I liked that very much as well. We know that there is a bigger plot going on in the background of this series and Justin and Mae are dealing with being part of the elect and their different deities, while still continuing on investigations for the IS and RUNA. Richelle Mead is able to take all of these plots plus the tiny little nuances you don’t think will be important and weave them together to form a bigger picture. I’m so ready for the next book already and am just hoping that she can keep up the momentum these first two books have established.
AH: I am loving this series and I find that it really is like no other series out there. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Dutton Adult for a review copy of this book....more
This is a short 45 page prequel to The Testing. It also includes the first three chapters of the book. Once again, I'm really not sure if this prequelThis is a short 45 page prequel to The Testing. It also includes the first three chapters of the book. Once again, I'm really not sure if this prequel would make me want to go out and purchase the book. The Testing Guide gives a basic backdrop to a world destroyed by war, earthquakes, and bad weather. Resources are limited. Graduates of school compete to get a place in the capital city for the Testing which upon successful completion ensures a spot in university.
It kind of has The Hunger Games feel to it, but it's kind of early to make that assumption.
As I received a copy of The Testing for review, I think I will continue reading, just to satisfy my curiosity.
Initial thoughts: I think I liked the first book better than this one, but I liked Matt way more than hisSequel to The House of the Scorpion. YaY!
Initial thoughts: I think I liked the first book better than this one, but I liked Matt way more than his predecessor. It's a pretty depressing world and it is really hard to believe that a 15 year old has the power to change things.
The Review: I was very excited to get an advance copy of The Lord of Opium. I had read The House of the Scorpion and loved it and I wanted to see what happens to Matt. The Lord of Opium continues the story of Matteo Alacran who now finds himself the new El Patron of the Land of Opium when the original El Patron dies.
The Lord of Opium touches upon many themes and can be read on many levels making it suitable for middle grade readers and higher. For younger readers, The Lord of Opium is a coming of age (and power) story of a young man born into a strange circumstance. Older readers will appreciate the ethical issues raised by this book. The book also deals with ecological and environmental issues and shows what happens when a population relies upon one crop and rapidly depletes resources. The Lord of Opium also has a very dark side to it, the control of others through microchips, creating “eejits” or zombie-like humans capable of doing only one task. Then there’s the use of cloning for the purpose of organ transplant. As most of the book is set in a world where drug warlords produce their product, there is also the constant threat of violence. It is a scary world.
The Lord of Opium was not an easy book to read for me. The original El Patron was a megalomaniac, a truly evil and villainous character with little regard for the value of human life. El Patron condoned human slavery and the abhorrent condition of his workers was disgusting. Eejits were barely fed, and many “expired” prematurely. One thing did that did astound me was the amazing technological advances of this society some 100 years into the future. Not sure that I would like these advances, but they did help cement El Patron’s place in his world.
What made this book a fantastic read for me was Matt. Matt was essentially created to be spare parts for El Patron and in a strange twist of fate (and some very wily friends), Matt is thrown into the role of El Patron. He takes this opportunity to change his world for the better. This is no easy task. The remaining employees are suspect of a 14 year old boss. The land is polluted, the “eejits” are incapable of thought, the surviving warlords want his territory, and let’s face it, Matt has a huge drug empire to manage. The task is daunting, but Matt still has a little of the Old Man’s savvy in his head (which in itself, is quite scary).
Matt surrounds himself with some supportive characters (interestingly enough, many are microchipped and cannot go against his wishes without pain). Eligio Cienfuego, the head of the dreaded Farm Patrol was his closest supporter. I loved Celia, who took care of Matt as a young child and made sure that he would survive. Matt took an interest in curing the “eejits” and the “eejit” Waitress was his favorite. He renamed her Mirasol and treated her like a human. Then there’s the opinionated seven year old Listen, named for her original, an African drug lord’s wife. Matt also brings some boys in from the plankton factories. Matt also has a love interest, Maria who is in Aztlan with her mother Esperanza.
Overall, The Lord of Opium was a compelling read. The book brings up many interesting and current issues and it has an appeal for many different kinds of readers. Be sure to read The House of the Scorpionbefore you read The Lord of Opium.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for a review copy of this book.
I was quite excited to get an advance copy of The Taken. Right away, I was swept into a strange world, a world where time seemed to have stood still. I was quite excited to get an advance copy of The Taken. Right away, I was swept into a strange world, a world where time seemed to have stood still. The town of Claysoot was an odd place. There are no adult males in this town. At the age of 18, the men of Claysoot vanish. The area surrounding Claysoot is walled and no one has ever survived an escape beyond the wall.
The Taken is the story of Gray Weathersby and his friend Emma. Upon discovering a secret from his past, Gray decides to attempt an escape and find out what is beyond the walls of Claysoot. Emma follows him and the story takes an interesting turn.
I had a lot of fun reading this book and I enjoyed speculating about how the boys vanished during The Heist (I was wrong). The Taken is the story of an incredible journey fraught with danger and the truth surprised me.
For love triangle haters, there is one and it was kind of annoying. I just kept wishing Gray would make up his mind already.
Why only 3 stars? After a promising beginning, I just felt that I’d read something similar before. Perhaps it's because I've read quite a lot of dystopian books lately, not really sure. There’s a lot of young adult dystopian books out there right now and it reminds me of other books in this genre. Overall, this was an entertaining read, full of action and plot twists.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for a review copy of this book
Gameboard of the Gods is something entirely different from author Richelle Mead. No vampires, no succubi, no fae. Instead, the reader is treated to a Gameboard of the Gods is something entirely different from author Richelle Mead. No vampires, no succubi, no fae. Instead, the reader is treated to a fast-paced mystery thriller with some supernatural elements.
The world is intriguing: a sort of post-apocalyptic world devastated by a virus that wiped out half the population. The remaining survivors suffer from all sorts of genetic woes: poor fertility, asthma, damaged hair and skin. In this world, organized religion is banned. Only state approved religion and churches are allowed to exist. The state is the higher authority.
On a more sinister side, genetic manipulations have been made in order to counteract the effects of the virus. Each citizen is given a genetic rating based upon their genetic background. The higher the number, the more likely that person could reproduce a genetically healthy offspring.
The story focuses upon two characters. Mae is a Praetorian, an elite soldier with a special implant that gives her speed and strength. Mae does have a dark side to her, and it is quite scary. Justin is a Servitor who has lived in exile in the south. Justin has a few demons of his own, and he hears the voices of two ravens in his head. (loved them!) Mae and Justin are assigned to solve a serial murder that appears to be ritualistic and occurs every full moon.
I really enjoyed this story, probably because Vancouver was the capital of the Republic of North America. It’s so much fun to see my hometown in books! I found the world absolutely fascinating, especially how the state tried to thwart religion and replace it with its own authority. I loved how the author incorporated folklore about the gods into the narrative.
Gameboard of the Gods is a solid start to an original series. Fans of Richelle Mead’s adult books would enjoy this book. My only criticism and it is minor – I was left wanting more! I can’t wait for the next book which does not yet have a publication date.
Check out the author’s webpage for more information on Gameboard of the Gods. She has a glossary of terms, and all sorts of background information here.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Dutton for a review copy of this book.
Initial Thoughts: 3.0-3.5 stars. Loved the first book Ashfall, enjoyed the second book Ashen Winter. This book caused me to go through a few too many Initial Thoughts: 3.0-3.5 stars. Loved the first book Ashfall, enjoyed the second book Ashen Winter. This book caused me to go through a few too many mood swings. There was a point where I almost put the book down for good - I was just so angry with the direction the story was taking. I took a few hours to compose myself and read a light romance and then went back to this book. The second half of the book went by a lot quicker and this is why I feel the book should be at about 3.5 stars.
The Review It’s been about 11 months since the eruption of the Yellowstone super volcano. Entire swaths of the United States lie in ruin. The devastation is inconceivable. It’s cold outside; there’s very little sunshine. The US government seems to have collapsed. The Midwest is in complete chaos. The roads are impassible and towns wage war on each other for very limited resources.
I’d have to say that reading this book brought about a whole mess of emotions in me. This is such a depressing world – full of anarchy, guns, violence, crazy people with guns, and the like. It literally seems to be a hopeless world. Instead of working together, the majority choose to battle it out. The brutality is alarming. I really had trouble reading this aspect of this world and I did have a moment where I would have flung the physical book across the room had it not been my precious e-reader. You see, I hate gratuitous violence. I’m a pacifist at heart and I believe that I would probably not survive this post-apocalyptic world.
After a short break, I dove back into this book. After all, I had invested a lot of time reading this series and I absolutely HAD to know what would happen next. This series will make you think. It will make you think about your own disaster preparedness plans and what items would be must haves and what items you could do without. It will make you think about hope, cooperation, rebuilding a society, and leadership. Despite all of the darkness and gray surroundings, there was a glimmer of hope. That’s what I hung on to, and that’s what kept me reading.
This hope was to be found in the youth of this series. Young characters like Alex and Darla, who were barely grown up as the book began but were forced to grow up quickly and improvise. Alex and Darla took on leadership roles despite their youth. They saw the need to rebuild an entire society – and this is the theme that stuck with me: the rebuilding and rebirth.
I was a little surprised by Alex. At the beginning of Ashfall, he was just a petulant teenager. In this book, adults defer to him for leadership. Surprisingly enough, Alex rises to the task. The amount of responsibility placed on Alex is daunting. Again – why would the adults abdicate their responsibilities to a teenager barely old enough to drive a car? (not that there are any around, but you get the picture).
I think that what makes this society work is the incredible teamwork. Alex is surrounded by some very capable people, most of whom are barely older than he is. Ben, who is autistic, made an excellent military tactician which enabled the settlement to be placed in a highly defensible position. Darla, the MacGyver of all things mechanical was able to get some turbines going to power up the settlement. Now that was an amazing accomplishment. Another member of the team assigned work tasks to the newcomers, and so on. Such teamwork enabled this settlement to function very well.
Of course, this world is far from perfect and our main characters encounter many obstacles. Probably the most annoying was Alex’s mother and how she treated Darla. Outside the settlement, others conspire to steal food and the limited technology on hand.
Sunrise was a satisfying conclusion to the Ashfall series. Even though it wasn’t my favorite book in the series, I’d recommend the series to readers in middle school and up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tanglewood books for a review copy of this book.
Young adult dystopian novels are all the rage right now. Go to any bookstore and there will be a huge display of these books. While they are a refreshYoung adult dystopian novels are all the rage right now. Go to any bookstore and there will be a huge display of these books. While they are a refreshing change from all the young adult vampire books of a few years ago, I’m not sure that this trend is one I’d like to see continued. I find that dystopian books depress me. I’m saddened to see society devolve to such lows. I find that a lot of these books lack hope.
For example, the world of Resist is a world where breathable oxygen is seriously lacking. People live in pods where oxygen is pumped in and depending on one’s social status, some people get more than others. Premiums get enough air for everyday activity. The Auxiliaries, or others, do not. I can’t imagine having to restrict activity to such an extent where simple daily activities must be restricted. The world outside the pods is dangerous. There are drifters who attack anyone who escapes the pods. That, combined with the lack of oxygen makes life outside the pods quite deadly.
Resist picks up right where the first novel Breathe left off. The Pod Ministry is out to get all of The Resistance and has destroyed their stronghold. The survivors head to Sequoia, another Rebel settlement. Meanwhile, Ronin is sent to look for the Rebels. Of course, nothing is what it seems and Sequoia is certainly no haven…
Somehow, the whole futility of fighting the Resistance became rapidly apparent. They were living on their own, minding their own business, and gardening. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the battle against the Resistance, except to protect the status quo.
While the premise of this story was intriguing, I found it difficult to follow because the story was told in multiple first person points of view. I don’t mind one or two first person points of view, however many different points of view can get confusing. I found myself flipping back and forth just to remember who the speaker was on several occasions.
Despite its flaws, I did enjoy Resist. The last half of the book was action packed, filled with some really hairy moments. A lot of crazy stuff happens. I’d recommend this book for young adult readers who enjoy dystopian books.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Greenwillow Books for a review copy of this book.
Really cool world, strong heroine, a pseudo love triangle, and a cliffhanger ending. 4 stars.
All of her life Adelice has been taught to hide her “giftReally cool world, strong heroine, a pseudo love triangle, and a cliffhanger ending. 4 stars.
All of her life Adelice has been taught to hide her “gift.” In Adelice’s world, all young women are tested to see if they have the ability to become a Spinster, a woman who is able to weave the fabric of life.
The whole premise of this book is intriguing. Imagine a room full of Spinsters operating special looms and creating life, weather, everything. Occasionally, “mistakes” are discovered and they are ripped out, vanishing without a trace.
Spinsters lead very privileged lives. They are “retrieved” from the general population, taken to Coventry for further testing and training, and lead exciting lives full of parties, pretty dresses, and make up. So why wouldn’t a girl want to join their ranks?
I adored the voice of Adelice the narrator. Rarely do you see a 16 year old with such maturity and determination. Adelice’s family is taken away from her; her parents killed on the day of her retrieval. Her sister Amie is reassigned to another family and no longer has any memory of Adelice and her former life. Amie’s safety and an escape from Coventry becomes a priority for Adelice. Crewel is set in the world of Arras, a planet similar to Earth. It is a strange place with very strict societal rules. Everything is regulated from birth to death. The sexes are segregated with families with female children living apart from families with male children. Purity laws are enforced and it is rare for males and females to mix. Population is regulated with the state deciding how many children a family may have. When a family member becomes too sick or old, they are ripped from the fabric of life and cease to exist.
There were a few little things that annoyed me in the book. There was a lot of emphasis on makeup and its application. Spinsters had a team of aestheticians devoted to their makeup. For a world with such extreme purity laws, evening gowns that bared a lot of skin seemed out of place.
Crewel is a pleasure to read. Once I started reading it, I did not want to put it down. I will warn you, there is a cliffhanger ending and wow, what a way to end a book. I kept trying to page forward, hoping that there was more to read.
Crewel is a fantastic debut read. I can’t wait to read more books by Ms. Albin.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group for a review copy of this book.
Imagine a world where oxygen is lacking. Instead of the usual amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, the levels of oxygen plummet, resulting in the need Imagine a world where oxygen is lacking. Instead of the usual amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, the levels of oxygen plummet, resulting in the need for breathing masks and cumbersome oxygen tanks. This is the world of Breathe, a novel by Sarah Crossan.
Sometime in the not so distant future, an event called The Switch caused oxygen levels to decrease. Mankind found a short term solution care of a company called Breathe. People moved to large glass pods and breathed air manufactured by Breathe.
Breathe is narrated by three alternating points of view. Each narrator is a teen living in this world and each brings a different perspective to the story. Quinn is a teenage boy lucky enough to belong to a Premium family. The Premiums have a lot of advantages and opportunities in this world. Only Premiums can afford the costly air for daily life activities such as work, exercise, and even sex. Bea is an Auxiliary. Auxiliaries do not have the same opportunities as Premiums: their homes are not as nice, they work more hours, and they do not have the same educational opportunities. Bea is very intelligent but her background ensures that she will not progress unless she manages to marry into the Premiums. The third narrator Alina is a member of the Resistance. Alina is fierce and strong and fully committed to her cause.
The three narrators’ lives collide at a chance meeting at the border. Quinn and Bea are going on a weekend camping trip and Alina is escaping for her life. Quinn inadvertently smuggles Alina out of the pod and he and Bea accompany her in her search for the Resistance base. As they journey through the ruins, Quinn and Bea realize that their life in the pod is a lie.
I loved the main characters. Quinn had everything going for him, a good life, a great future, and the adoration of Bea. Bea was smart and hopeful. She was kind-hearted and her crush on Quinn was so cute. Alina was idealistic, carrying her seedlings over great distances.
The world of Breathe was fascinating. While I had difficulty in believing a scenario where the Earth’s oxygen levels would be so depleted (personally, I could believe polluted more than depleted), the author sets up the world nicely. I found the author’s explanation for The Switch intriguing. Adding in a conspiracy element based on the production of oxygen was a nice touch.
For me, the best part of this book was that there was a possibility of hope, a possibility that the environment could be repaired. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Resist. Breathe is recommended for young adult audiences ages 12 and up.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for a review copy of this book.
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