Review: Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Specials

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Genre: YA/Dystopia

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Synopsis:

"Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary. And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more. Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

My Thoughts: The ending to the previous book, Pretties, left us with a mega cliff hanger. You can find my review for it here. Luckily, Specials picks up very shortly after where Pretties left off!

As per usual, Tally's world is in a spin of madness and constant change. She presently finds herself exactly where she has never wanted to be. She is now a member of the Specials. Which are like the rest of the pretties, only cruel and hard, and made to be used as weapons. Her and her, now friend again, Shay are members of a special division and are made as a pet project by the ever evil and maniacal Dr. Cable.

So once again, Tally is brainwashed into believing that this is exactly where she wants to be. But she is fortunate enough to have people who are willing to fight to get the real Tally back. Although this time it definitely proves to be the biggest and hardest fight yet. There was a lot of loss and sadness and violence in this book compared to the others. I found it to be darker and more matured and even more harsh than the previous two.

Not much time is spent in Tally's city this time. We spend most of in outside and far away from the borders. Everything is changing, and rapidly thanks to a city that chooses not to uphold the same laws of division and beauty as Tally's. As a member of the specials it is Tally's duty to take out this new threat. And she sets out to do just that, but everything changes once you are out in the wild. Tally encounters many people and events that change her outlook and have her questioning her orders and her choices. But even with these developments it is increasingly hard to get by what she has been programmed to believe.

Things seem to be heading in the direction I was ultimately cheering for, but I am sad about what had to happen for it to go that way. I was surprised by so many things throughout the course of the story. And I have to say that that is one thing I do really love about this series. Is you can never ever predict what is going to happen next. There are so many twists and turns and surprise developments, it keeps you on your toes and keeps the pages turning.

I would recommend this series for sure. Especially to any Dystopia fans, I think you would definitely enjoy it!

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Publication Date: November 30th, 2010

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Genre: YA/Dystopia/Romance

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Synopsis:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Thoughts: This is another one of those books that I wish I hadn't waited so long to read. It's been out for a couple years, and has been sitting on my shelf for about one of those years. I finished a book the other night and I didn't have any review books or library books so I stood in front of my shelves wondering which of my way to many unread books I should read. I am so glad I finally picked this one. It's been waiting far too long, it deserved my attention much sooner.

It's a dystopian much like any others. In a completely government controlled world. Where even what you eat, wear, do with you spare time and even who you date and marry is decided for you and there is literally nothing you can do about it. Kind of like The Giver, or 1984.  But it was still unique in it's design, rules, and plot. I found myself engrossed from the very beginning. It was one of those books that you leave you in one spot for hours because there's just no way you're putting it down. In fact, that thought never even crosses your mind.

Cassia is completely content in her life, and after matching ceremony every thing seems to be perfect. She has been matched with her closest friend and a very handsome young man named Xander. But it's the next day when she is given her chip with all Xander's information that everything changes. Because his face wasn't the only one that appeared. Nothing is the same after she sees Ky's face. And Cassia begins to see that the system is indeed quite flawed and she desperately wants to break free of the prison she didn't even realize she was living in.

Cassia's and Ky's love is of course completely forbidden. And I swear it works almost every time. Give me a forbidden love and I'm just sucked right in. I can't help it, actually, show me someone who isn't suckered in, frantically turning pages to find out how things work out for them. Wanting so badly for them to just be able to be in love.

I loved Cassia and I loved Ky. They were both strong willed, independent, unique minded people. Ready to face the consequences for the merest thing such as poetry. Which may seem small to us, but obviously that would change if only 100 poems were chosen to keep and any thing outside those ones were destroyed. I don't really know how I felt about Xander. I didn't feel his character to be very strong and overly devloped. He seemed more like a prop for a love triangle to me. Although I did feel bad for him because it was obvious he was in love with Cassia and could not have been happier when paired with her. And she does love him back, just not in the electrifying way that she loves Ky. Unrequited love is always painful, so for that I did pity him. But other than that I was pretty much neutral on all issues Xander.

As Cassia and Ky continue with their little rebellions, like learning to write, keeping banned poetry, and just plain being in love. They continue to discover just how terrible their government is. And that maybe they can't even hold their people together.  Not only is it full of holes, but it seems to cracking and falling apart.

The book was compelling, gripping, and captured my heart. I had to go online and buy the second installment, because I wasn't willing to wait around for who knows how long for my next trip into town to the nearest book store. I swear, it's completely unfair that my town has no book store. Luckily we do have a nice library, and all the ladies there know me by name haha. If you are a fan of Dystopians then this is definitely a must read, especially so if you enjoy the tension that comes with love triangles. Wonderfully awesome book! I cannot wait for Crossed to get to me!

Review: This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

This Dark Endeavour
(The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)

Author: Kenneth Oppel

Publication Date: August 22nd, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy

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Synopsis:

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real. They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

My Thoughts: Oh how I love Kenneth Oppel's writing. I haven't read a whole lot by him, but what I have read, I loved. Also, he's a Canadian author, eh? Sorry, had to say it. I'm so guilty of saying it all the time. He is just an awesome author and his words have a way of sucking me into the story. Needless to say, I had heard a lot of great things about this book, so I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed in the least. It was amazing and had me hooked from the beginning.

This Dark Endeavour is about a teenaged Victor Frankenstein and his twin brother, Konrad. It's told from Victor's perspective and Oppel does great showing how he has a little resentment for his brother. He was the second one born, he's always second in everything. Kanrad is just so much more likeable than Victor. Then Konrad falls ill and is close to death, Victor will stop at nothing to save his twin. He finds a recipes for the Elixir of Life and knows that's what he needs to save Konrad. With the help of their friends and an old Alchemist, Victor begins his dabbling with alchemy to save his brother.

I loved Victor as a character, he is a little scary sometimes, but only because he is so passionate about what he wants. He works hard to achieve what comes naturally to Konrad, although when he discovers he has feelings for Elizabeth and that Konrad has beaten him there as well, it becomes too much for Victor. You would think that he wouldn't want to help save Konrad after that, but brotherly love wins out every time for him. Victor has such amazing determination, it's hard not to sympathize with him.

Without giving away any spoilers, I cannot believe how this book ended, it was a hug shock for me and I wasn't expecting it at all!! Needless to say, I will definitely be picking up a copy of Such Wicked Intent as soon as possible to see what happens nexxt, I really need to know!! And yes, there is a bit of a love triangle going on in the series, but I don't think it will prevail ;) I highly recommend giving this series a try if you haven't already. It's a great read!