Vlog Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

Sometimes I like to review books on my vlog, so here is an attempt at a review for The Martian by Andy Weir. I'm so rusty at reviewing, since I haven't done it in awhile. So if you can watch, thanks!

If you're unable to watch, the TLDR is that I love this book and if you haven't read it and decide to, I highly recommend the audiobook!

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave
(The 5th Wave #1)

Author: Rick Yancey

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: G.P. Putnuam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

My Thoughts: I read this one for my monthly book club.  Well, I listened to the whole thing on audiobook rather than physically read it but same difference to me.

At first, I wasn't sure how I would like this book.  I usually tend to stay away from Science Fiction novels and especially alien-type SciFi books - they just aren't my shtick.  I must say that The 5th Wave left me with a pleasant surprise.

I instantly liked Cassie.  She comes of as a paranoid hard-ass most times but I was like: "Yeah, I would be like that too, given the circumstances!"  The book shows her descent from a regular, high school teenager to one of the few survivors of the human race after the "Others" decide that the human race was something that was unnecessary to Earth (to say the least).

Personally though, as a mother, this book really hits you hard and in the heart and gut (the movie too - if you haven't seen it, you should!).  A sister who is willing to do anything to get to her little brother and save him from his fate, the "others" planned use for the human children and everything else in this book is just terrifying and terribly, terribly sad.

The author, Rick Yancey, certainly knows how to weave a tale.  This book was enough to have me paranoid of every character in the book (and I still am, a little bit).  The thought of an alien race making it so that humanity couldn't even trust another human really freaks me out.

All in all, this was a pretty amazing book (even if I hate aliens in general).  I definitely enjoyed the whole story and it had me on the edge of my seat.  I would most definitely recommend this book and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the sequels!

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: February 5th, 2013

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: YA/Romance/ReTelling/Dystopia

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Synopsis:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts: Marissa Meyer has mastered the ReTelling genre! You will not find any others in the genre  that are nearly as unique, imaginative, adventurous, and creative as The Lunar Chronicles. Meyer has breathed the most fresh breath of air possible into stories that we all know so well. She has all but turned these stories on their heads and emptied their pockets and stripped down to their bare essentials. She then rebuilt them in a way only she can, with every page and character becoming something even better and more astounding than it previously was.

I'm sad that it took me so long to read this. I read Cinder last year and I absolutely loved it. You can read my review for Cindre here. It should not have taken me this long to get my hands on the sequel, and if it weren't for my great friend Jenn here passing me on  her copy I would probably still have it on my to read list. So big thanks to Jenn for being so generous and giving me the encouragement I needed to get this book read!

Scarlet is a female heroine we all can't help but love. She has a  fierce loyalty to her loved ones and a determination that never quits. I fell in love with  her just as easily as I fell for Cinder in the first book. Both are female leads you will be rooting for right from the start.

I was especially happy to find that Cinder was in this book. I had assumed that it would be a brand new re-telling with all new characters. This is because I have a habit of not reading the synopsis to sequel books because I just love being surprised too much and I don't want the slightest surprise to be given away. But yes, you can imagine my delight when Cinder was amongst the pages. This delight only intensified to the max as Cinder's and Scarlet's stories intertwined.

The way Meyer has weaved these two fairy tales together is nothing short of incredible. She obviously has a gift for this genre and I would say her books are the yardstick that all others in the genre are measured against. You don't want to miss out on these books. If you have not looked into the Lunar Chronicles yet you seriously need to hop on that train! Pick up these books and prepare to fall in love with the stories you've always known, only this time around, they are revved up, and totally kick ass!

Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Dark Triumph

Author: Robin LaFevers

Publication Date: April, 2013

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction

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Synopsis:

Sybella's duty as Death's assassin in 15th-century France forces her return home to the personal hell that she had finally escaped. Love and romance, history and magic, vengeance and salvation converge in this thrilling sequel to Grave Mercy.

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

My Thoughts: I read Grave Mercy last year and I loved it. I was pretty excited for Dark Triumph and when I received a surprise copy for review I was so happy I did a little dance in the street. Don't judge me. Well I finally got to read it and I loved it even more than Grave Mercy. Dark Triumph follows around Sybella this time and there is less politics and more personal story this time. Which I think is one of the reasons I liked this one so much more.

Sybella had run away from home and gone to the convent to escape her evil father (is he ever evil) and the convent sends her back to his household to be a spy. Who better than family? Someone who will be allowed free reign in the household. Her father doesn't really trust anyone though, he is of course D'Albert. All Sybella wants is to kill him, he's evil and deserves it, but she never sees a marque on him. She begins to lose faith in Mortain, since he is allowing such evil to live and is debating even going against her god to ger her vengeance.

Then there is Beast, the love interest. I can't help but like him. He's a warrior with a soft spot and he make a great team with Sybella when they are travelling. The two of them together are extremely deadly.

Once again, Robin LaFevers writes amazing scenes that you can get lost in, characters that you love, others you hate and takes you on a ride that keeps you wanting more. I just love her writing style so much! This is not a small book, about 400 pages, and I found myself tearing through it. I'm slightly disappointed that I have to wait so long for the next book! This is one of the best series that I've ever read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction, or even anyone looking to try something new.

*A review copy was provided from the publisher for review*

Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods
(Age of X #1)

Author: Richelle Mead

Publication Date: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopia/Adult

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Synopsis:

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills. When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

My Thoughts: So I pretty much had to read this book because it's Richelle Mead. After reading her VA series, how could I not. But I will let you know that this isn't a YA book, it's very adult. There is sex and a lot of sexual scenes and references throughout the book, so it's not appropriate for a younger teen. So why am I reviewing it here when we normally stick to YA? Well, like I said, it's Richelle Mead.

This book is told from a couple different PoV's. Justin, who's a servitor, meaning he investigates religions and makes sure they aren't becoming too powerful. But he's been exiled and we don't know why. What we do know is that he hears voices in his head. Which really confused me for the longest time because the voices were only ever referred to as the ravens and their names, Horatio and Magnus. So for the longest time I was wondering if he just had two giant ravens that followed him around and talked to him telepathically. Regardless, the RUNA needs Justins help, so his exile ends, for the time being.

Then there is Mae, a praetorian, basically a super soldier. She gets in a fight at a funeral and beats someone up, which gets her punished and landed with Justin as his bodyguard. There is some serious sexual tension between the two of them. Tons! Sometimes it was a bit funny to see them struggle not to rip off each others clothes. Other times I was mad at Richelle for stopping things!

Lastly is Tessa, who is a provincial girl. She's a teenager who was born outside of the RUNA, who justin brings back with him on a student visa. She has a lot of adjusting to do since life is very different between the two. But she is a very likeable character with her naivety.

There is a lot going on in this book. Justin and Mae have to solve a bunch of murders that have been happening. All of the signs point to a religious cult doing the murders. But they have to figure out which cult is doing it. Not so easy when just about every god has a following and there are hundreds of gods. So they have to find a pattern before it's too late. They only have a month.

Overall this is a really good read. It was a bit slow at times for me though. I think it was because I had a lot preventing me from reading it when I first started it, but it took me about a week longer than it should have to get through it. Like I said, it is an adult novel, so it's quite a bit longer than your average YA. Plus it's almost 470 pages, so no short adult novel either. Regardless of the length, it is good. Richelle Mead does a great job with her world building and give enough of a background that you know how things came to be the way they are. It could have possibly used a bit more of a history though. I loved that the capital was in Vancouver and all of Canada seemed to be included in the RUNA. You would think that in a dystopian, the government would be bad, but they weren't all bad and I agreed with a lot of their rules. Basically there were extreme gun laws and you had to register your religion. So it was a very peaceful place to live.

Would I recommend this read? Yes, I would. Just not to younger teens ;) Richelle Mead has another series for me to follow now! I'm not sure how she can write this much, but it's a good thing!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy!

Review: Icons by Margaret Stohl

Icons

Author: Margaret Stohl

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopia

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Synopsis:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

My Thoughts: I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book, it sounded really good and I wasn't disappointed. I've had a bit of a thing for dystopia for the past year. Add in science fiction and I'm going to probably read the book. I've also read and enjoyed Beautiful Creatures, so to read something by just Margaret was nice.

The main protagonist is Dol, she was only a baby on The Day, she knows she's different from others, but doesn't know why. She's captured by the Embassy and they study her and the other three teens that are known as Icon Children. All four have strange abilities, but no one will tell them anything. Their world has basically been taken over by a race of aliens that they have never seen. The aliens are very deadly though, as they showed on The Day. Giving a demonstration of their power, instantly killing everyone in an area. The only hope against them might be the teens and their abilities.

Icons is a very amusing read, there were a few places where the story got a bit slow, but I still really enjoyed it. It just took a bit longer to get past those parts. I liked Dol and Ro, how they wanted to help free everyone, even at the cost of their own lives. Tima was a great character, very brave and would do anything for Lucas. Lucas was kind of a jerk though, he was the only one with any sort of privileges. But the characters were likable. The world was easy to imagine, which was good, it helped me get sucked into the story even more.The writing was good, there only being the few slower parts. Overall,  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

*A copy was provided by the publisher for review.*

Review: The Originals by Cat Patrick

The Originals

Author: Cat Patrick

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life... Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

My Thoughts: So after reading Revived by Cat Patrick and loving it, I knew I had to read more of her writing. So when I was The Originals pop up to request for review, I had to request it. There was no way I could pass it up. Especially after reading the synopsis. I hadn't read anything similar to what this plot was promising me before, and it sounded so interesting. Well, I wasn't at all disappointed. Right away, when I started reading it, I knew that things weren't going to be able to last the way they were going. Three girls living one life? Not going to go well, especially since they are all teenagers. They are just about ready for college, so what is going to happen then? Do they continue how they are going? Living one life or what?

The Originals is told from Lizzie's PoV. She is happy to begin with, until their mom changes around their schedule and she meets a boy that she really likes. So they beg their mom to let them start dating and she agrees, but they must all date one boy and it's not the one Lizzie wants. So her life becomes miserable, she wants to be with Sean, but has to pretend she is dating this person she hates but her sister likes. This is just where the trouble starts, when Lizzie begins to realise that her life isn't as good as she had thought, that their mom isn't telling them everything. She wants to find out what's going on and wants to be happy. She wants to be one person.

All I can say is that Cat Patrick did a great job pulling this story off. There were so many ways that it could have gone but she picked a way that I wasn't at all expecting. I think that's one of the things that I really enjoyed about this books, I couldn't predict it. I was the same with Revived and I really like that about her writing. I still need to read Forgotten, it's going to have to go higher on my TBR. I could barely put this book down! It's definitely unique and .. original!

* A copy was provided by the publisher for review*

Review: Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Unremembered
(Unremembered #1)

Author: Jessica Brody

Publication Date: March 5th 2013

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux (BYR)

Genre: Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

My Thoughts: What would you do if you woke up in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by debris and bodies and no memory? Yeah, I don't know what I would do either. I would probably require quite a bit of therapy or something. Then if nobody comes to claim you it's even worse. Not having anyone who knows you when you can't remember anything is awful. Sera feels this way. She doesn't even know that her name is Sera. She feels unwanted and confused and just wants to know who she is.

Jessica Brody writes a pretty awesome story that I was pretty much incapable of putting down. It took only a few hours to read, so it a quick read and keeps you turning page after page. I wanted to know who or what Seraphina was. She should have been dead if she was on the plane that crashed, but she wasn't even hurt. Is she an alien or what? She thought she was in 1609. But isn't. she doesn't have any memories of her life at all. Then a guy shows up who says he knows her, but she doesn't believe him. Though, she might have no choice but to.

Unremembered is fairly fast paced. The whole story takes place in less than a week. People are looking for Sera and she keeps seeing the same guy, over and over. She is a celebrity, even though she doesn't want to be and is constantly harassed by the press and anyone who recognizes her. Considering everything she goes through, Sera is pretty awesome. She's finding out that she has weird abilities and only has a few freak outs. I couldn't help but feel bad for her, since she was all alone.

Zen, is the mystery guy that keeps showing up. I liked him since he seemed to be one of the few characters that was really trying to help Sera. He was just a normalish guy too, who couldn't believe someone like her would give him the time of day. We need more normal guys in YA, just like we need more normal girls. I say he's normalish because there is something that doesn't make him completely normal. But he's close enough. He's a nice guy who will do anything for the girl he loves.

Overall, Unremembered was a great read that I really enjoyed. It's a sci fi in a contemporary setting that is well written. I would definitely recommend this one.

Review: The Office of Mercy: A Novel by Ariel Djanikian

The Office of Mercy: A Novel

Author: Ariel Djanikian

Publication Date: February 21st 2013

Publisher: Viking Adult

Genre: Dystopia / Science Fiction

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Synopsis:

Twenty-four-year-old Natasha Wiley lives in America-Five—a high-tech, underground, utopian settlement where hunger and money do not exist, everyone has a job, and all basic needs are met. But when her mentor and colleague, Jeffrey, selects her to join a special team to venture Outside for the first time, Natasha’s allegiances to home, society, and above all to Jeffrey are tested. She is forced to make a choice that may put the people she loves most in grave danger and change the world as she knows it.

My Thoughts: Sometimes when I read a book I'm left wondering the whole time, who can the MC trust? Especially in dystopians, although normally it's made fairy obvious eventually. I'm still not sure in this case though. Office of Mercy leaves you guessing and trying to figure out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Is it the citizens? Who keep sweeping the tribes, or is it the tribes who are slowly dwindling. Ariel Djanikian does a fairly good job at keeping you guessing. She's also done a great job at the world building, an essential in a dystopia, and I found it very easy to see how the characters lived and what the world had become.

When the book starts out I was confused, since it starts with a tribe that has been swept, but once I figured out what sweeping was, not only was I horrified, but I was angry at the people who did it. In case you're wondering, a sweep is when the citizens end the pain and suffering of a tribe by thoroughly eradicating them. They try to do it in the most humane way possible, and for the most part, the tribes never see it coming and it's pretty instantaneous. There are some cases where this isn't true, but they do their best. I know what you're thinking, they are mass murdering innocent people? I know. I was shocked too at how they would do this. Apparently the citizens (mostly the Alphas/leaders) feel it's for the best though and nothing will change their minds.

Our protagonist in Office of Mercy is Natasha. She is an Epsilon, the youngest group of the citizens, who works in the Office of Mercy, which is the office that tracks and preforms the sweeps. She has only been working for a few years and has not preformed a sweep of her own yet. She feels bad for the tribes that they sweep, wondering if it's right to end their lives like that. She isn't supposed to feel this way, the tribes are wild and suffering, they need to be put out of their misery. But Natasha still has these thoughts.

I like Natasha as a character. She didn't always make the right choices and was easy to trust others, both things that she shouldn't have done, but it made her seem more real. She has flaws and isn't perfect, which makes it easier to relate and connect with her. She dreams of going to the Outside. America-Five is essentially (as I see it) a giant underground complex with a dome coming out of the ground in the center and some metal structure with a few rooms to the sides. Most of the complex is underground though.

Overall, it is quite a good read, a very interesting future to think about. It's a bit slow to start out, but picks up quickly. After Natasha gets her wish to go Outside, things pick up and it gets hard to put down. I'm not really sure if it's completely YA, I think it might be more moving toward NA as there is a mention of sex, but not really any descriptions. It's only mentioned the one time. The whole book I was trying to guess who the "bad people" were. I was really surprised with the ending as it didn't end at all like I thought it would. Reminds me of a few older dystopias that I've read. But that's a good thing, when an author can throw you off like that, sometimes it's nice to break away from the cookie cutters and make something new! I will definitely be recommending this one!

*A review copy was provided from the publisher*

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: February 5th, 2013

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: Science Fiction / Fairy Tale Retelling

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Synopsis:

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts: Wow, just wow. Honestly I don't even know where to start with this review. I guess I will just pick my jaw up from the ground to begin with. So Scarlet, the second instalment of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, I might have liked it even more than Cinder. Crazy I know, since I loved Cinder. But I'm not really sure what happened when I started reading this one. I just couldn't stop. I dragged this book around until it was done. First of all, just look at that cover! I love how it's so similar to Cinder's cover and not at the same time. All you get to see is Little Red's cape and hair. In case you are wondering, no Scarlet doesn't run around in a cape being all super hero-y. She has a red hoodie, much more tactful for fitting in in the future.

So, there are multiple points of view in this one, which made me a very happy person because I quite enjoy the multiple PoV's. Especially, as in Scarlet there is a lot going on and you really need everyone's PoV. It starts off with Scarlet, so we get to meet our new favourite, ass kicking, ginger, farmer girl. All Scarlet wants is to find her grandmother, who has disappeared. She is sure that she was kidnapped but everyone else, including the police, think her grandmother is crazy and ran away. Scarlet is thinking about trying to find her gran herself when Wolf shows up. He is new to town and asks Scarlet for a job on her farm, she doesn't trust him and turns him away (good girl! You can't trust a Wolf!). Unfortunately, she finds out that she needs his help and falls for him hard (Bad girl!). There is huge betrayal, I don't know if it can be forgiven, but that's all I'm going to say on that matter. I really like Scarlet, even with her judgement lapses. I hope there is a bit more with her in the next books!

Cinder is fleeing, with the help of a fellow inmate, she manages to get a hold of a ship and evade capture, for the time being. They realize that they need to find someone from Cinder's past (although she doesn't let "Captain" Thorne in on this). There isn't really a whole lot of character building with Cinder this time since she is mostly trying to not be sent back to prison so her evil aunt won't get a hold of her and try to kill her, again. But she is still awesome! Also, IKO IS BACK!!! I'm not going to tell you how, but Iko is so not impressed right away.

The third point of view is Prince Kai! There's not really a lot from his PoV, since most of it is him trying to track down Cinder so Queen Levana doesn't start a war over all of this. We all know she's just using it as an excuse though. Kai make a very bad decision in this book :( Kai, you make us all sad!

Wolf. I love him, I hate him, I love him, I hate him, I love him. Seriously. He really needs to stop being so nice and then an ass. You can't trust him at all. You want to like him, but he's the big bad wolf, so clearly he's bad, right? Bad and yummy. *sigh*

Yes, I liked Scarlet possibly more than Cinder. I can't get over how Marissa Meyer just writes in a way that I can't physically put a book down. It's crazy. She has an amazing way with words. There was so much going on but it isn't at all confusing. I cannot wait for Cress to come out. Really, I can't. It's going to be a LONG year. In case you haven't figured out if I recommend this or not yet, yes, yes, YES! You have to read this series, it is an amazing retelling! All science fiction-y and such. I loved it! See, there's five owls down there!

Review: Beta by Rachel Cohn

Beta
(Annex #1)

Author: Rachel Cohn

Publication Date: October 16th 2012

Publisher: Hyperion

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopian

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Synopsis:

Elysia's purpose is to serve the inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth. Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. Even the air induces a strange, euphoric high, which only the island's workers--soulless clones like Elysia--are immune to.

At first, Elysia's life is idyllic and pampered. But she soon sees that Demesne's human residents, who should want for nothing, yearn. But for what, exactly? She also comes to realize that beneath the island's flawless exterior, there is an under-current of discontent among Demesne's worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should not care--so why are overpowering sensations cloud-ing Elysia's mind?

If anyone discovers that Elysia isn't the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be, she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When her one chance at happi-ness is ripped away with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she's always had but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive.

My Thoughts: There are a lot of different reviews out there for Beta. I've heard both good and bad things, however, I absolutely loved this book! Maybe it's because it's both science fiction and dystopian, or maybe it was the brilliant writing which kept me up way past when I should have been sleeping, but I can't even think of anything that I disliked in this book. This was actually my first taste of Rachel Cohn's writing, I haven't read anything by her before so had no idea what to expect going in. She hasn't disappointed me, that's for sure. And the cover! It is one that will catch your eye, making you pick up the book. I love the cover, especially the way the tattoo on her face shines!

Elysia is a clone of a girl who died, she doesn't know how her First died, just that she is dead. Clones are made from the bodies of the dead, their soul is removed so that they will be unfeeling. They won't want for anything, which means they will do everything they are told. It doesn't quite work that way for Elysia though. For some reason she has a sense of taste, something she shouldn't have. She has feelings for Tahir, a gorgeous boy who's just recently returned to the island after an accident. She also has memories of another man, in the water, someone from her First's past. If her owners knew of any of this, they would have her Expired for being a Defect. So she has to hide her feelings and sensations. She can't ask anyone about it because there is no one to trust. She's a brave character struggling to find a balance that won't have her killed, but once she meets Tahir, it gets harder for her to hide them.

Cohn does a wonderful job creating a world you can easily envision and get lost in. There were many times when I was reading that I just wasn't able to stop. I carried the book around with me constantly, sneaking in couple of pages whenever I could find the time. I wish I could have just sat and read the whole thing in one sitting, but I don't think my daughter would find that fun. I found the story to be very unique in a time where is seems everything is a dystopian. It is one that will stand out and make you want for more. Especially after the ending! It was so, so cruel! I'm going to be anxiously anticipating the next in the Annex series! This is one that I'm definitely going to be recommending!

Review: Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

Middle Ground
(Awaken #2)

Author: Katie Kacvinsky

Publication Date: November 20th, 2012

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia

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Synopsis:

In this provocative cautionary tale for teens, the sequel to Awaken, seventeen-year-old Maddie’s rebellion against the digital-only life grows dangerous. Maddie is in Los Angeles, trying to stay out of trouble. But one night, a seemingly small act of defiance lands her in the place she fears the most: a detention center. Here, patients are reprogrammed to accept a digital existence. Maddie is now fighting for her mind, her soul, and her very life. Once again, Katie Kacvinsky paints a disturbing picture of our increasingly technology-based society.

My Thoughts: Well it isn't often that I like a second book more than the first in a series, but in this case. Wow. This one just kept me reading even more than the first, and I did like the first, I just liked this one more! Katie Kacvinsky ones again tells a tale that is creepy just from the fact that it could be true. Society could become dependant so much on technology in 50 years that nobody really leaves home any more and it's scary to think of. It's definitely a series that makes you think! Plus it's sci-fi/dystopia, it's a great genre!

One of the things I liked about this book other than how realistic it could be is Maddie. She is unbelievably brave in this book. She is literally tortured mentally and still manages to hold onto herself and not be brainwashed, with the help of her friends of course. She can even escape the detention center, but stays to help others. She struggles with it for sure and nearly breaks more than once. I felt afraid for her more than once! She's just a really strong character who fights for what she believes in. Also, she has great taste in men (even if I wanted to smack him for being stupid sometimes!)

Overall, this is a fairly fast paced story. I had a very hard time putting this one down and am pretty anxious to know what's going to happen next. Kacvinsky really does a great job keeping the reader entertained and making a world that you can easily imagine and place yourself into to connect with the characters. Definitely one I will be recommending!

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
(Lunar Chronicles #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: January 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

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Synopsis:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Thoughts: Sometimes I really do wonder why I wait so long to read certain books. Is it because I don't want to jump on the bandwagon? Or is it because I'm afraid it won't live up to the hype? I'm not sure. All I know is once I finally started reading Cinder, I freaking couldn't put it down! I've never really been huge on the whole Cinderella story (Sorry, I much preferred the Disney movies with the animal main characters), but mix a bit of science fiction and fantasy, even a bit of dystopia and you have something I love! Thank you Marissa Meyer for writing this! I'm very much looking forward to reading Scarlet and continuing this series.

Cinder is quite the character. As a cyborg, she basically has no rights and her stepmother hates that she's been left with her. I'm not really sure why, she at least has someone to work to pay her bills. She takes all of Cinder's money that she earns from working. Luckily, only one of Cinder's stepsisters is evil, except the one she loves gets sick, with a disease that there's no cure for ...yet. Cinder gets "volunteered" for medical research to create a vaccine, since cyborg lives aren't worth anything it seems. Miraculously, she survives and is immune. To say I didn't see the ending coming would be a lie. I quickly figured out who Cinder was and was eagerly awaiting the time she'd find out.

Just like in Cinderella, there's a ball. BUT, the Prince already knows who Cinder is, well he thinks he does. I have to say, when she showed up to the ball, I was laughing quite a bit with the image, I'm not going to ruin it for you though! Then the "glass slipper" thing. Poor Cinder. There really wasn't much she could do.

Again, I can't believe I waited so long to read this one. Marissa Meyer really did a great job writing Cinder and I can only hope the rest of the series is just as good, if not better. There's just something to be said for a great book with sci fi elements. Always a great thing. So, if you are anything like me and have been putting off reading this, please stop missing out and read it! I really had a hard time putting it down! You won't regret it! Luckily, Scarlet will be out soon!

Are Audiobooks more your thing? Well Cinder is available in audio format! Here is a preview of Chapter One for you to listen to now!

Review: Renegade by J.A. Souders

Renegade
(The Elysium Chronicles #1)

Author: J.A. Souders

Publication Date: November 13th, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Thank you MacMillan/Raincoast Books for the review copy!

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia

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Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts: Alright, the cover of Renegade is absolutely gorgeous!! I saw it and read the synopsis and knew it was a book that I couldn't miss out on. First of all, Elysium is a city underwater, isn't that awesome? I don't think I've actually read a book where the setting was underwater that wasn't about mermaids. I was actually very interested in learning more about Elysium, it was just a neat concept. It definitely wasn't disappointing. Souders does a really great job creating a setting and explaining how everything works without going into too much detail. She's a great story teller and I'm very much looking forward to reading more from her. As far as debut novels go, this one is one you might want to check out.

So what makes it so awesome? Well for one there is Evelyn, she is the protagonist and she is basically a spoiled girl. She is loved by everyone, even if they think she's a bit daft. She busies herself in her garden, cross-stitching and playing her violin each day. She is destined to be the future leader of Elysium. Or so she thinks. Her entire world is thrown upside down when Gavin, the Surface Dweller, shows up. Surface Dwellers are savages and not to be trusted, but for some reason, Evelyn feels  connection to Gavin and tries to protect him. She grows quite a bit as a character, throughout the book, she really changes a lot. She can't always remember everything, and her memory seems to get better, yet worse as time goes along. She fights her instincts as hard as she can though, which is pretty hard for her, since she's basically been brainwashed. She's quite a strong character and I really liked her.

As  for Gavin, he's awesome! He doesn't give up on Evelyn and is even willing to die for her. He saves her life more than once (and she his). And he's pretty drool-worthy. He also brings some humour into the story and throws off Evelyn's whole perspective of Surface Dwellers. I loved him!

Overall, Souders has created a wonderful world. Her world building and character building both come together wonderfully and don't take anything away from the story The story itself goes along at a good pace and I never found myself bored while reading. If you're into the dystopia or sci fi genres, you'll want to check this one out!