Pure - Julianna Baggott

Pure (Pure #1) - Julianna Baggott
Grade: YA
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost--how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked: Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss--maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again. (Description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~

I didn't know much about this book and series before I started reading it, other than a work mate loved and that the tagline said fans of The Hunger Games would enjoy the series. I'm always nervous about recommendations like that, with strong comparisons to BIG book franchises; but I LOVED this book! It wasn't perfect, but it was an addictive, on-the-edge-of-my-seat, action-packed story. One of the best dystopian/sci-fi novels I've read in a while.

We start the story with an introduction to the changed world Pure is set in. An atomic explosion has rocked the world, causing surviving humans to fuse with living and inanimate objects - dolls, birds, other humans, cars - anything they were connected to at the time of the explosion. These changes alone would have made for an interesting storyline, but not all humans faced the Detonations. Some were saving in a Dome structure set to regulate air and sustain human life. These people were protected from fusing to objects and are known as The Pure - not a single defect on them. There was so much potential drama between these two settings that my heart was soaring. Rebellion? War? Forbidden love? I couldn't decide which one I was hoping to see. In the end, rebellion and war were the one's that won out for me, especially because my chosen relationship occurred outside the Dome and Pure sphere.

This book was a perfect example of when third person stories work so well. Out two main characters - Pressia (a girl from outside the Dome) and Partridge (a boy 'lucky' enough to be saved by the Dome) - both have equal POV page time, showing life on the outside, the twisted system inside the Dome and the clash of worlds when these two meet. There are a couple of other POV changes throughout the story, which at times weren't really necessary, but it all worked out ok for me. I loved having these two voices and views - they were strong, detailed and made it easy to fall into their world. And what I loved more was that there was not even a speck of romance hinted between them. I'll admit, I worried at the start that there might be, especially when I decided - long before there was any obvious chemistry and before Pressia and Partridge me - that I wanted Pressia to end up with the courageous, intelligent and loyal Bradwell, another boy from outside the Dome with birds fused into his back.

But relationships aside - because they were actually a minor part of the story - I loved the action in Pure. We're introduced to the idea of a militia group on the outside, intent on recruiting any 16 year old kid and turning them into soldiers to fight against the Pure. But a twist midway through the book turns everything on it's head and we find out not everything about the Dome is quite what Pressia or Partridge have been led to believe. And now it's time to fight against the Dome - there was just so much action!

My only complaints were that some of the plot-points popped up out of nowhere. We're not told exactly what time the story is set in. You assume it's a bit in the future, because Children were being chipped with tracking devices and biotechnology developments were a lot bigger than I expect they're at now (not that I would really know). It was all a bit uncertain where the story was placed in terms of our own timeline. Pressia, Bradwell and Partridge were also very quick to figure out important changes for the story. They would have no clue what their next move should be, but someone would say one word and suddenly all doors were open again - and everything was explained like it was obvious, even though it was completely unknown 2 sentences ago. But this didn't stop me from loving the book.

I'm so happy the third book was just been released, because it means I can get my hands on books 2 and 3 as soon as I can. Looking forward to it!

4.5/5 stars

Kim
(Also posted on Goodreads)

Allegiant - Veronica Roth

Allegiant (Divergent #3) - Veronica Roth
Grade: YA
Rating: 3/5 stars

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. (Description from Goodreads)
~ * ~ * ~

I have mixed feelings about this book. I’m happy that Veronica Roth told the story she wanted to tell. As a big believer that the author should tell their own story, this one shows that very well. It has a very intense and tricky storyline, full of big twists and turns. The writing is as addictive as the previous books have been, in that it flows so well that you don’t realise you’ve made it through so many pages until you look down and they’re just gone. But as a fan, and a reader, I just didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, mainly because of the direction the plot went in and the main characters.

I felt like Allegiant was wiping the slate clean. We were almost immediately thrown out of a city we’ve spent two books exploring and pushed into an outside world where things like aeroplanes and non-faction populations exist, and the issues we all want to see resolved, mostly involving the city are just forgotten. Instead we start focusing of genetic issues on the outside, sort of brushing over the Divergent again and finding yet another controlling governing body to overthrow. I was expecting a journey outside city limits, I really was, but I sort of thought it would all tie in together with resolving faction issues back home. Instead it just seemed to make things more complicated and at the same time, city-life made irrelevant.

My other big issue was Tris and Four (I still refuse to call him Tobias – it’s not his chosen name). I had problems with these two in Insurgent; all the lying, secrets and trust issues – they weren’t the power couple I’d fallen in love with in Divergent. I figured their issues would have stopped after the end of book 2, but it felt like they spent the whole book going backwards. Fighting, keeping secrets, twisting each other words. I’ve always loved Four, so I found myself in his corner more than Tris’. I just kept getting frustrated that it didn’t seem to matter what Four did, it was always somehow wrong; while ‘perfect’ Tris managed to have incredibly spot-on instincts all the time, made all the right decisions and saved the day over and over again like she could do no wrong. The distance that kept growing between them was ridiculous and I couldn’t help thinking there wasn’t much hope for them as a couple.

Despite these issues, there were some parts of the book I really enjoyed. I loved the split POV between Tris and Four; not only because with my issues with Tris it meant I wasn’t only inside her head, but because Four and Tris were apart a lot, we got to see both sides of the story. I really enjoyed Four’s voice, seeing his struggle to fit into a world outside of the one he knew – struggling more than most – and just getting a glimpse at his thought processes. I definitely enjoyed that more than anything else.

Allegiant has an incredibly powerful ending and I can understand why readers may have had issues with it. As readers, we want to feel satisfied that our excitement and investment in characters hasn’t been all for nothing; and it’s not a secret that the majority of us have certain expectations when a series is ending. I thought the actual climax for the book, the crucial turning points and problem solving, epic Let’s-Save-the-Day! moments were a bit short. There was a lot of build-up to these final scenes and with the way the city and factions were almost forgotten for most of the book, to have their issues resolved so fast, it wasn’t what I was expecting – a whole book of lead-up to end within 2 or 3 chapters, it was fast. And because of that, I felt one of the ways all the problems came to a close was rushed. I probably shouldn’t be writing this review so soon after finishing, because I’m still processing it all, but at the same time; if I don’t get it out now I think I’d avoid finishing it.

I thought Veronica Roth was brave, to do something that’s not done often in YA books; but I feel a little crushed and empty with the result.

3/5 stars


Kim
(Also posted on Goodreads)

Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) - Tahereh Mafi
Grade: YA
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Our lips touch and I know I'm going to split at the seams. He kisses me softly then strongly like he's lost me and he's found me and I'm slipping away and he's never going to let me go.

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

She's finally free from the Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

Haunted by her past, terrified of her future, Juliette knows that in her present, she will have to make some life-changing choices.
Choices that may include choosing between her heart - and Adam's life. (Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

After the incredible success of Shatter Me, the amazing emotions of Destroy Me and the endless talk from my closest book friends, it's not hard to believe that I was desperate to get my hands on Unravel Me. Aussie cover disappointment aside - I really enjoyed this book, even with a few hiccups, it was a good sequel; which was great considering the YA world has had a few sequels that miss the mark a bit.

We start the book two weeks after Juliette, Adam, Kenji and James are accepted into the life of Omega Point. The high of finding other talented people is starting to wear off and Juliette is left wandering how she can begin to control her power - or if she even wants to. I found these moments to be very slow. Not a lot of information was given to Juliette about the Omega Point lifestyle and she spent way too much time hiding and trying to escape the idea of using her gift to help - and hurt - people. I did feel sorry for her. She's been thrown into many different situations and just expected to go along with the bigger plan: Used by the Reestablishment as a weapon or used by Omega Point at the big power that's going to stop the Reestablishment - but either way she's being used. I felt like she hasn't been given the chance to make up her own mind and I kept hoping she'd stand up for herself more.

I was sad at the pace for the first half of the novel. I just kept wanting more. We do get a few twists and turns, but not enough to make the wait for the next step more bearable. I kept wishing for something major to pop up to turn the book around. The biggest save for the novel came in the form of Warner, but he doesn't feature much in the first half. Fortunately, I got my wish through someone else. The person that saved the beginning of the novel was Kenji. He was loud and enjoyable in the first book and even more so in Unravel Me, even if there were a few moments when I wanted to shake him for things he said.

I really enjoyed the potential for destruction in this book, with Omega Point and the Reestablishment preparing to wipe each other out. It was so uncertain, there was no way of knowing which side was going to come out on top. Juliette doesn't really get caught up in the thick of the fighting, but we do get to see the danger through her eyes. I'm looking forward to seeing how it's all resolved in the final book.

Unravel Me is very much a book of weaknesses. Unfortunately that was true of both discovering many characters' vulnerabilities, as well as people just being weak - the main three being Adam, Castle (the leader of Omega Point) and sadly Juliette. I hate when I don't love a main character as much as I want to, but it's hard to enjoy the story when Juliette won't stop feeling sorry for herself. All the crying and st-stuttering was drying me mental. Add to that Adam, who was pretty useless all book and Castle, whose dedication to making Omega Point a refuge sometimes clouded his judgement - I just couldn't stop shaking my head. The exception to this was Warner.

Warner. Warner. Warner. I did go into this book with massive expectations for Warner's role, so my opinions might be swayed, but he brought out so much emotion and so many reactions for me. Oh, I just adore him! He's one of those characters you can't help being intrigued by, and while not everyone might love him, we all want to know more about him. I was crushed, broken and beaten emotionally by Warner's openness and actions. I wanted to hold him and never let him go. We did discover a few of his weaknesses in this book, but that just make me love him more. He's no longer this twisted ruler - he's so much more than that. With a few interesting twists and a mass of secrets being revealed around him, Warner helped raise my opinions of Unravel Me!

Like Shatter Me, the ending leaves you wanting more. Not so much a cliffhanger, but a game changing moment. I have absolutely not idea how this series is going to end, but I'm excited.

4.5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)
                                                             - Kat Zhang
Grade: YA
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
~ * ~ * ~

‘What’s Left of Me’ was an exciting and dangerous novel. I don’t know what I’d been expecting from this book, a sad story about how Eva, a soul trapped inside her shared body, would be forever stuck without a way to gain control – but it was so much more than that.

We are told at the start of the novel that, at birth, there are there are two souls – two consciousnesses – within a single body; existing without trouble. But two souls can’t exist together forever; one soul will dominate and the other will fade away. A sad way to start life, growing attached to two people, two personalities, only to lose one over time. But not everyone seems to fit into this system. This is where the plot gets exciting almost instantly; we’re introduced to the term ‘Hybrids’ – people who keep their two souls. I loved this. We’re told they are dangerous; spreading destruction and promoting anarchy in a world that is controlled and structured. They are a danger to society. Our main characters, Eva and Addie, struggle with the knowledge that hybrids walk throughout the world, but they hide their own hybrid secret at the same time.

Addie and Eva are the same, and yet completely different. They share the same body and memories, but Eva was never meant to survive. After years of tests and hospital visits, Eva and Addie decided to keep Eva’s existence a secret so they could attempt to live a normal life. I loved seeing the story told from Eva’s POV, even though she rarely had control of their body, with Addie being the dominant soul. It was like watching the story from the outside, while still being involved and experiencing everything – just minus some of the control. I loved the mix of first person – “I” – to show Eva’s voice, combined with a focus on the shared aspect of the body – “Our arms” “We hurt” “They were looking at us” – it made the story an incredibly interesting way to be told.

I really liked Eva. For someone who had been shut up inside her mind, and had been forgotten by her parents and society, she had such a strong presence and personality: determined, emotional and understanding. After finding out there was a way to move again, she put so much hope and effort into taking control, despite the dangers; learning to talk, walk and even love. I couldn’t help cheering every time Eva got control of their body. Addie, on the other hand, was harder to love. She wasn’t a bad character, she had a hesitant nature that you can’t really blame her for; but it was tricky to like. She’d been so used to Eva as a background person, so used to having control and being dominant, that when Eva finally pushes through for a few seconds, Addie can’t let go. I had mixed feelings about this. There’s no way to understand what it’d be like to be in your body, but to have no control and to watch someone else live your life. But at the same time, I found Addie to be selfish sometimes. She didn’t want Eva to fade, but didn’t want her getting equal body control, even after witnessing that the body could be shared by souls.

The story is not just dangerous because Eva and Addie are keeping their dual-soul secret, but because of Clinics being set up all over the country for “hybrid kids” – kids who still have two consciousnesses and need to be “fixed.” The fear of being accused of hybridity within society is very real; of being removed from your family for being different, illegal. I was shocked by the lengths taken to destroy the extra soul in a hybrid. But it definitely made the story edgy.

My only issue with the book was the lack of explanation on their history. We hear about how the Americas are eliminating hybrids, and how there are hybrids on foreign shores; but there’s no information on how or why the hybrid nature started. When did it begin? How did two souls in one body become the norm from birth, or has it always been this way? I wanted more background information for all my questions.

‘What’s left of Me’ is an exciting book that makes you think. I’m definitely getting the sequel as soon as I can.

4.5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally Posted on Goodreads)

Through the Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky 

#2) - Veronica Rossi

Grade: YA

Rating: 5/5 stars

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable. (Description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~

‘Under the Never Sky’ was a book I was dying to read, put off for so long, and fell in love instantly; so when I was given the chance to read ‘Through the Ever Night’ I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was desperate to jump back into Perry and Aria’s world. After the way the first book ended, I needed to know if they’d get together. The action, excitement and emotional rollercoaster we’re sent on met all my expectations and more. I loved every single moment of this book.

‘Through the Ever Night’ begins almost exactly where the previous book ended with Aria and Perry meeting up for the first time since they parted ways - we actually get to hear the words Aria had been waiting for from Perry. But their reunion is short-lived because of Perry’s new duties as the Blood Lord of the Tides and Aria’s task to find the Still Blue in order to save Talon from Reverie. It definitely sets the scene for the book. While both Perry and Aria want nothing more than to be alone with each, they’re pushed away by the separate responsibilities tasked to them. To say these responsibilities left me frustrated at times is an understatement. I just wanted to see Aria and Perry happy together. But their tasks meant not always following what I wanted them to do, and focused more on seeing the Outsider world in completely new ways, especially when it came to running and trading with different tribes.

The biggest problem for Aria and Perry in this book is the strength of the Aether and the storms that are causing more harm than they ever had before. The Aether - a piece of the natural world, always present since a solar flare 300 years ago changed the way the world survived; and always dangerous. But the funnels - the electric fire power that attack the ground below without mercy – is a threat to everyone. There’s no escape from the destruction caused by an Aether storm. The Outsider tribes are losing food and shelter; not even the pods in Reverie can survive an attack from the Aether. The only hope is finding the Still Blue. The Aether has always interested me. I really enjoyed seeing this natural disaster problem; this powerful element destroying the world without hope of ever being fixed. I like that this is the push that makes the population want to fight for a new world. There’s no government pulling them down, no rules that need to be followed; just the natural world out to destroy. Yes, there are other people who are hoping to stand in their way of finding the Still Blue, but no-one owns them; the fight is always to stay alive first and hope for a better world second.

I was glad to be thrown into the familiar switching POVs – the same as how they were in ‘Under the Never Sky’ – changing between Aria and Perry, but different in that a lot of the novel happens when they’re apart from each other. Countless times I almost went mental, when one chapter would end with a shock, only to be thrown into the other character’s chapter that would also end with a surprising twist and I’d be torn in multiple directions emotionally; desperate to find out the consequences of Aria’s last ending, but not ready to let go of the twist from Perry’s. All the while dying for them to be together again. It was an incredibly emotional journey for me. A big part of why I love this series so much is the romance we get to see between Perry and Aria. It wasn’t quite as physical as ‘Under the Never Sky’ but the emotions were all still there. I love how strongly Aria and Perry feel for each other. Even though there were a few moments of uncertainty, I loved knowing what they felt for each other was so powerful and true. They’ve jumped up my list of favourite YA couples.

One of my favourite parts of this story was getting to see some of the side characters. While Aria and Perry are constantly thinking about each other, their separation gave us a chance to explore the people they relied on most to help them through. Aria forms a bond with Roar as they cross the country side in search of Liv and news of the Still Blue. I love Roar. He’s funny, charming and protective. You might think that if a female YA character is thrown into situation where she spends so much time alone with a guy she wasn’t originally in love with that there might be ‘love-triangle’ warnings flashing through your head. Never fear, Aria’s only got eyes for Perry and nothing could keep Roar from loving Liv. As for Perry, the group of warriors he stumbles upon in the end of ‘Under the Never Sky’ become his closest advisors; they keep him safe and in control, following him wherever he might lead – and as a struggling Blood Lord, he really needed the support. You don’t instantly think of these characters as the “main characters” but they are every bit as important to the story and I’m just as attached to them as I am Perry and Aria.

I was so sad when the book came to an end. It almost felt like I was missing more pages, even though I knew I had come to the perfect end for the book. Questions about what will happen next are still running through my mind and the wait for book #3 is probably going to kill me. I see a lot of re-reading in my future to get me through the wait.

5/5 stars

Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1)

 - Veronica Rossi

Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

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

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

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

It occurred to me while reading an early copy of ‘Through the Ever Night’ that I’d never actually finished my review of ‘Under the Never Sky.’ I love the book so much, that I found it hard to put into words exactly why I wanted everyone to read it and what stood out for me as the bits and pieces I loved and wanted to share with everyone. But I can’t escape the idea of spreading that love – so here is my late review, and I hope it shows how much I loved the book then; as well as now.

‘Under the Never Sky’ is a dystopia set in a world where only a tiny part of the population is controlled by a governing body under the pretence that it’s for their own protection. This part of the population live in many domed Pods all over the land, but we focus on Reverie. The Pods keeps the citizens safe from the destructive atmosphere outside, a lifestyle they’ve been cut off from for so long and they can no-longer live beyond their manufactured walls and worlds without dying. But there is a population on the outside and they have evolved throughout the 300 years since the world collapsed. I loved these split worlds. We get introduced to both through the main characters, Aria and Perry. You see the tension, lies and stories told to the Dwellers in Reverie and to the Outsiders, and you get to see how they look at each other – and then get to see those stereotypes and tensions drop...at least for some.

For me, Aria and Perry are perfect main characters. We get to see their emotions and thoughts through the spilt third person point-of-view. I love that we’re almost instantly introduced to both main characters at the same time; despite the fact that both characters come from different parts of the world and haven’t actually met yet. The tension, anger and emotion that is present while they’re learning to be around each other is incredible. I love that both main characters have situations and emotions that they have to fight to beat. I hate seeing weak main characters; I want my interest to be pulled in by their determination to never give up – and Perry and Aria are exactly like that; struggling to come to terms with their own problems, but always pushing themselves to get through their issues. Aria must try to overcome her fear of the outside world, as well as attempting to draw on hidden strengths to reach her mother in an outlying Pod, Bliss. While Perry struggles to accept that not everything he does will end in disaster and that befriending a Dweller might not be as bad an idea as he originally though. There is hardly any waiting to get the story rolling with these two and you fall into their separate views of the world so well. And obviously, a little of that tension between the two of them moves onto more than just friendship. They’ve become one of my favourite YA couples. I just love these two.

I usually think of dystopian novels as worlds where the government or a rebel body takes over complete control of everything; where the population is limited to only what that government wants them to do. But that’s not always the case, and ‘Under the Never Sky’ really shows there’s more to dystopias than just their oppressive governments with gadgets and invented organisations that trap all citizens. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed seeing this other side. While we do get to see inside the controlling world at the beginning, what we really get to see is the life outside the walls of the Dweller Pods, and there is so much going on. I mentioned that the outside world had evolved, well in a way they have and haven’t. Their lifestyles have moved backwards – small tribes and villages that struggle to find enough food and resources to make life worth living – but for some they have gained extra abilities from living in the outside world: heightened senses – sight, hearing, smell – that are sometimes all that stands between you and certain death. At first you read it thinking this has to be some sort of magic, a supernatural element to the story, but it isn’t; they really are just sense they are stronger than the average human’s.

But every dystopian world needs its weakness – the thing that needs to be overcome in order for everyone to live safely. And for ‘Under the Never Sky’ this is the Aether. The new sky patterns – sort of like super intense lightning funnelling towards the ground in intense storms and strikes – that can cause more destruction in a few minutes than anything before, and if big enough, these Aether storms can last a lot longer than a few minutes! We get hints and rumours of a land without Aether called the Still Blue. But it’s just a mystery place – a myth. The Aether is an interesting addition to the story. Unlike a controlling government or tribes that need to be fought, the Aether is unpredictable. The danger that comes from avoiding the Aether lifts up the excitement in the story and you just know it’s going to be a problem you can’t push aside for long.

What I adored about this book was the action. And it has got a lot of it. I can’t get enough of well written books that also have a bit of fighting and adventure. I love sword fights and treks across troubled lands. There are tribes that chase and attempt to kill Perry and Aria and the only way to escape them is to fight back. Aria must learn to defend herself and there are a few cute knife fighting lessons thrown into the mix. But what I love more is that Perry’s weapon of choice is the bow and arrow. Oh, a man after my own heart. I do like a good archer using his Outsider skills to hunt, fight and kill.

An amazing book full of adventure, excitement and the unknown. Just wait until you read, ‘Through the Ever Night’ – equally as incredible. I can’t get enough of this series.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)
                                              - Julie Kagawa
Grade: YA
Rating: 4/5 stars

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for. (Description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~


I'd been putting off reading 'The Immortal Rules' for a quite some time. While I'd heard amazing things about the book and love YA vampires stories, something was holding me back. When I started the book I was a little disappointed. It seemed my unknown stalling was justified, but the book does pick up and I was really invested in the story by the end. A different type of vampire story than I'm used to.

The book is broken up into 4 sections, each outlining a different time in Allie's life. Allison Sekemoto is introduced to us as a human living on the outskirts of a Vampire City struggling to survive in a lifestyle where you're either the pets (or food source) for vampires or you're an unregistered human who barely makes it through their teen lives. But Allie's life changes when she's turned into a vampire. I'm not giving anything away here - all that information can be found in the blurb. My disappointment came from this same blurb. It was interesting, and exciting and really helped to dragged you in...but I felt like it was too detailed. It told you too much of what was going to happen. I thought the events in the blurb would take up a couple of chapters and then we'd dive into the main storyline, but when it covered over a third of the book I started to get pretty frustrated. There's only so much of the plot you want to know before starting a book and when you spend most of the beginning waiting for new information, it's hard to enjoy. I'll admit, the second section of Allie's life - which detailed the transition from human to vampire, and showed her efforts to fit into her new existence, was a lot more interesting than her human life before. But there didn't seem to be anything new. If you'd read the blurb, you knew what was coming next. Fortunately we hit a point in the story where we were now covering new ground - the third section of the book, when Allie joins a group of humans outside of the vampire city limits. I enjoyed this part of the story so much more because it gave the story a purpose. The action, adventure, danger and excitement is what made the story pick-up for me. That's what kept me reading.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the world it was set it. Vampires are out in the open and they've taken charge of the destroyed world that is the setting for the story. Sometime in the past, the world was struck by a deadly virus. Believing vampires were the cure for this virus experiments were made to help save the human race - the only sustainable food source for the vampire society. But the experiments went wrong and a mutated being was created instead: rabids. A bite from a rabid is deadly. I loved it. It gave the story a dark edge. The vampires were these "all powerful" rulers, evil in their decisions and actions; but at the same time there was a creature out there more dangerous than them. I love the twisted nature of it all. You were never sure when the next rabid would pop up or what damage they were going to cause - Who would fight? Who would survive? Was anyone safe? It all helped to keep you on the edge of your seat and definitely made up for the disappointing beginning.

There is a fair bit of action - the story doesn't lack in excitement once it gets past the first third of the book, what with rabids popping up all over the place, it's hard to avoid. What I love is the main character's approach to it all. After Allie becomes a vampire, she's introduced to my favourite book-action weapon: the Katana and she gets to use it a lot. She may have got extra cool points just by carrying it around on her adventures. I do like a good story that involves sword/katana fights!

And what would any story be without a little romance. I'm sure we can all guess what was going to happen. Allie, the new vampire hiding in a group of humans, becomes pretty close with the good looking human boy, Zeke. Tension builds between the two of them as she struggles with the fact that his blood speaks to her vampire side. And then there's the whole vampire-human relationships...they never work out. It was a cute little side to the story that broke up the danger and disaster nicely.

The ending left me with a few questions, which I'll be waiting patiently to find answers to. I'm hoping book #2 will jump straight into the action. Can't wait.

4/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

The Forsaken - Lisa M. Stasse

The Forsaken (The Forsaken #1)-Lisa M. Stasse
Grade: YA
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway. (Description from Goodreads)
~ * ~ * ~

Dystopian novels have had a lot of press lately – there are a lot more YA books popping up on the market and each one tires to be fiercer than the next, to gain the upper hand. ‘The Forsaken’ is no different, mixing action and near-death escapes to bring about an interesting start to a new series.

Alenna Shawcross has had a tough life – she grew up in a state orphanage all because her parents were deemed criminals and taken into custody – not the best way to end your childhood. But when she finally reaches the age of 16 and must take the nation-wide criminal test and fails; her life takes another dive. I had mixed feelings about Alenna, mostly because of cover expectations. The Australian cover is so powerful; you imagine Alenna is a super fierce and active young woman; that she's pretty skilled with a bow - that nothing can stand in her way, but in actual fact she took quite a while to get to that stage. After failing the criminal test and being sent to Alpha Island One (where all teens are sent for failing), Alenna struggles to adapt to the “survivor” lifestyle; she can’t fight, but doesn’t want to be a pacifist like some of the other islanders. I didn’t like that Alenna took so long to find her feet. For a book that’s all about surviving and fighting, I really wanted her to harden-up faster. But she did get there, and it was fun to see her stand up for what she wanted and believed in by the end.

I really liked the way the island was broken up into three sections; although not equal sections. The blue – Alenna’s section – which is full of villagers who are trying to survive as best they can; the orange sections, where the “drones” live - mindless teens who blindly follow the orders of “The Monk” as though he is their god; and the grey section, a cold and uncharted section that seems to hold answers to the teens’ escape. I really liked this dynamic – the way, despite being randomly sent to the island for not following the same order back home, those exiled still attempted to form their own type of civilisation – it was all very ‘Lord of the Flies’: stranded teens running amuck on an island!

I thought the world itself was pretty interesting. The countries we know had been restructured, but names were still similar and old living situations were still known; so it wasn’t set too far into the future. Government control is strong in the US-equivalent state, with all members of society trained to think the same; any deviation was a sign of free thinkers and often led to criminal test failure. I would have liked to see and experience more of this world, but since we were following Alenna’s path and she was unaware of the government’s internal structure, we missed out on that insight. But maybe we’ll see more in future books.

The end of the book picked up the action and movement that was missing from the start. The search for an escape takes over everyone’s thoughts and Alenna is given the chance to show off her fierce side. I’ll be interested to see where the story goes next.

3.5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Slated - Teri Terry

Slated (Slated #1) - Teri Terry
Grade: YA
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth? (Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

I always feel extremely satisfied when I come across an amazing dystopia. When the world and society are so well developed that you feel that everything is real; it is incredibly hard not to fall in love. Teri Terry has created the perfect world for Kyla’s story. A dark, mysterious lifestyle, where no-one can be trusted, memories are not always yours to keep and emotions become public records to keep track of the Slated.

Have you ever done something wrong and hoped you could forget it and start all over again? Well that’s what it’s like to be Slated, to get a clean slate and have all your memories wiped...only it’s not always by choice. The government claims terrorists and criminals make up the Slated population, giving them a chance to re-enter society peacefully and without the trouble of their past. This is what happens to Kyla Davis - she has been Slated. She doesn’t know how she came to be one of the many who have been reintegrated into the community, having no idea what her life was like before. All she knows is that she has spent the last 9 months learning how to walk, speak and act all over again, is now part of a new family with a mother, father and sister she knows nothing about, and must keep control of her feelings by relying on her Levo – a watch-like object attached to Slateds that records their level of emotions.

I loved the Slated idea; it made everything slightly creepy, to have all these teenagers walking around minus their old memories and trying to fit into a society that is so tense around them. There was this sense of the unknown hanging over everyone’s heads, with the population trying to guess who the Slated people were before their new lives and shunning them for no longer being natural. Are they Criminals? Terrorists? Government Spies? ‘Slated’ is a book of questions, and with every new answer there are more questions, especially when it comes to Kyla.

The moment I started the book, I knew I adored Kyla. Her voice captured my attention immediately and fit so well for the dark and mysterious world. As a Slated teen, her grasp on life is fragile. She becomes child-like, not knowing what a cat is and why it purrs, or why you should not hold the sharp end of a knife; yet she understands so much more than she should just 9 months after her initial slating. And she seems to be remembering things from her life before. It is crazy insane and so intriguing. You can’t help wanting to know more about Kyla; being desperate to find out what she remembers and who she was before she became ‘Kyla Davis’.

Part of what made the book so edgy and dark was the issue of trust; who to trust, but more importantly who not to trust. The nice ones might be hiding something more than you can see; and the mean ones are just trying to protect themselves and the people they love. Like all good books there are many secrets and hidden thoughts, both of which drove me mental trying to piece everything together. This was especially true towards the end of the novel when a few pieces of the puzzle dropped into existence. I’m going to struggle to stay sane waiting for book 2.

An amazing start to what I’m sure will be an equally amazing series. I can’t wait to see what Kyla uncovers next.

4.5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) - Lauren Oliver

Grade: YA

Rating: 4/5 stars

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite. (description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~

There’s something about the way Lauren Oliver writes that makes my heart pump like I’ve been running a marathon (it could be the use of short sentences, but I’m not to sure). Whatever it is, I like it.

I was warned about this book before reading it. I was warned that I would find it sad. The warning was right, I did. I found it sad, heart wrenching, frustrating and numerous other things.

As I sit here, I find myself struggling to write a review. There are a couple of reasons for this. One, the blurb gives nothing away, so no matter what I say it could be considered a spoiler. The second reason is that though I liked the book- it was very well written, it kept me entertained, the world was dark and dangerous; just how a good dystopia is meant to be- I felt like it was missing “something”. Delirium had that “something” (yes I’m using “something” instead of telling what it is), and it made Delirium AMAZING! Instead I felt, well, kind of sad and disappointed.

Pandemonium starts with the present (using the term “Now” as the chapter heading), and the following chapter changes to the past (“Then”). It continues to flip throughout the novel, until the end, where the past links back to where they are in the present. At the start it was a little confusing but I soon fell into the pattern.
The past begins where Delirium left off; Lena running in the Wilds alone and afraid. She’s injured and believes that Alex is dead. She is saved by a group of Invalids, and that it where the story of Pandemonium really begins. This novel is full of new characters, some I really liked and others not so much. But I’ve never read a series where in the second novel we get a whole new set of characters. To be honest, the reason why I didn’t give this 5 stars was because I liked the characters in Delirium better. And even though Lena is in the Wilds now, I was hoping we would still see the old characters again.

Saying all this, I did like Pandemonium, but I guess it wasn’t what I was expecting. I also can not believe how this book ended. What are authors doing to us with these incredibly mean endings? I can’t wait for book 3 but I’m also terrified of it. I can only hope its going to end the way I want.

Kerrie

(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Insurgent - Veronica Roth

Insurgent (Divergent #2) - Veronica Roth

Grade: YA

Rating: 5/5 stars

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. (Description from Goodreads)

~ *~ *~

Insurgent was one of my most anticipated reads of 2012 and it did not disappoint.

Insurgent is a well paced, well written sequel to the mind blowing Divergent. It begins right where Divergent left off with Tris, Tobias (aka Four), Peter, Caleb and Marcus on the train leaving the Dauntless compound and the events behind them, and heading to the Amity compound. What follows next is a non-stop, heart pounding novel. Tris’s enemies won’t stop until their goals are realised, and it’s up to Tris to try and out smart them if they have any hope in winning.

This book is a lot darker than Divergent. Tris is trying to overcome her grief and guilt over all the events in the past. I love the character growth of Tris. She was so lost, lost in grief and guilt, at the start but by the end she has become this amazing strong person. She stands up for her beliefs and makes tough decisions, even knowing what the consequences to herself will be. She finally knows who she is and what she wants, and isn’t afraid to stand up for both.

Thrilling action, heartache, betrayal; it had it all. Insurgent had me in its grips from the first page and did not let me go.

Watch out for the ending. I did NOT see that coming and I have NO idea what’s in store for book 3.

Kerrie

(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Fever - Lauren DeStefano

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
                                             - Lauren DeStefano
Grade: YA
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever. (Description from Goodreads)
~ * ~ * ~ *

I feel a little lost after finishing ‘Fever’. The book had so much potential to explore the dangerous world that Lauren DeStefano has created and I feel like it fell flat a little bit. I was a little disappointed with the pace and order of plot; it didn’t grab me at the start of the book, took quite a while to move anywhere and little progress was actually made. If it wasn’t for the last 50 or so pages, ‘Fever’ wouldn’t have impressed me much.

We were presented with an alternative life in ‘Wither’ – a luxury lifestyle that started with kidnapping and forces marriage and ended with lazy days in a mansion; all while being teased with Rhine’s memories of the outside world. In ‘Fever’ we get a taste of that life, many times over. Scarlet Districts, selling your body in tented communities; First Generation families that have lost hope due to lost children; destroyed towns that are nothing like the freedom Rhine described. This book is like looking through a mirror – we’re seeing everything we ever wondered about Rhine’s world. It’s a confronting world and described so well. You can’t help cringing at the lifestyles people are put through and feel emotionally drained imagining living that way yourself. But unfortunately it didn’t hold my interest as much as I wanted it to.

The book had a slow start. I feel like the order of events happens at the wrong times. It’s not that the plot points and revelations were bad, but where they were placed in the story meant there was such a big gap between interesting and shocking moments that made you want to keep reading and discovering the outside world, that I found myself struggling to want to keep reading. There is one such scene that happens mid-way through the book, which I believe would have made a better start. It would have turned the book upside-down and made me desperate to find out what happens next that I would have sat through a tap endlessly dripping for hours just to see where it leads. But, and there’s always a ‘but’; it came too little too late. By the time we had our Shock-Horror revelation it didn’t lead us anywhere.

Part of my biggest problem with this book was Rhine. She fought so hard in ‘Wither’ to escape the confines of being a Sister Bride and then, thrown into equally horrible situations outside of the mansion, she decides to just go with the flow. There’s no spark, no urgency to get out of trouble. I expected her need to find Rowan would make her struggle and fight, but instead we’re taken on a long journey before Rowan really becomes the main focus and a lot of what we see doesn’t go very far. It’s very flat.

I’m a person who really likes a bit of romance in a story. It’s not necessary for me to enjoy a book, but I do like to smile when the girl falls for the guy. But I feel really detached from the potential partners in this story. Linden was missing for most of the book, so you can’t build off the relationship that was present in the first book, and despite both Gabriel and Rhine claiming they want each other, to me, there was little evidence of their connection. I felt more of a connection with Silas, a side character who was “living in the moment” with girls in the back shed because he actually had a bit of a personality and was aware of what was going on with Rhine. Gabriel and Linden both seem sort of oblivious to her thoughts and emotions.

The end of the book did have its interesting moments and I will say it’s the saviour of the story. Vaughn and his evil scientist ways play a big part in the end and I would have loved to have seen more of his plans and experiments; but what we’re given definitely satisfies my need for secretive and mysterious plot twists.

Despite my issues with the book, I’m glad I read it and I do want to see what happens to Rhine and the rest of the gang, but I probably won’t rush out to buy book #3 for release day.

3.5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

The Pledge - Kimberly Derting

The Pledge (The Pledge #1) - Kimberly Derting
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime. (Description from Goodreads)


~ * ~ * ~

'The Pledge' lived up to my expectations and more. While I hadn't read any reviews before reading the book, I had been told about a mixed response to the story. I'm glad I didn't have my opinions influences too much. I loved this book. It had everything I would want in a YA book: mystery, magic, romance (especially in the form of a protective male) and an action packed ending that makes me desperate to find out what happens in the next book.

'The Pledge' is set in Ludania; a country ruled, like all others in the world, by a Queen, Queen Sabara. Unfortunately the Queen is dying, with no female heir to take over, because no-one these days would risk having a King rule their country. To add to these troubles, enemies are approaching, destroying towns and causing the citizens of the city to panic. The war with neighbour countries is not resolved at the end of the book; I'm interested in seeing where, or if, the war will continues. I was a little confused at times about the attacks that were made, I might have to reread those parts to wrap my head around them. Aside from the confusion, the idea of war spices things up a bit and provides the action that I crave in novels.

Charlaina "Charlie" Hart has a secret. Despite class divisions that have been created in Ludania, - despite the law stating each class has its own language, only to be taught and spoken in that one class - Charlie has the ability to understand (and speak) all languages, even ones she's never heard of before. If her ability was discovered, she would likely be killed. Charlie struggles to keep her gift unknown. I'm impressed that her parents are able to keep a normal life, there's a big risk letting Charlie out, not that she goes around breaking the law with her gift, but one slip could cause a lot of trouble. You spend most of the book wondering why Charlie has her abilities; waiting to find out what they mean.

I really like the way 'The Pledge' is set out. There is a mix of POVs and styles. We see Charlie's scenes in first person, and she has the most page time, which is good because it is her story and it's better to see more of her and her thoughts. But with first person stories, I'm always left wondering what happens when the main character is not around. Kimberly Derting resolves this issues but switching to third person to follow three of the other main characters: The Queen, ruler of Ludania, searching for the last remaining female heir to take her place on the throne; Xander, club owner with an unknown background; and mysterious Max, with his steely eyes and who pops up around Charlie at unexpected times. I like seeing these other POVs, it makes me feel like we're looking behind the main story; being privy to hidden moments, and the things that get revealed during these scenes leave you desperate for more.

Loved it. Waiting (im)patiently for the sequel.

5/5 stars


Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi
Grade: YA
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (Description from Goodreads)

~ * ~ * ~

Wow. Once again I am blown away by such a fantastic novel. Tahereh Mafi has captured my attention from start to finish. It was very hard to put 'Shatter Me' down, if I hadn't been so tired I would have read it through the night.

Juliette has been cut off from the world for many years. While she's only been locked up for 264 days, her life has never been smooth and she hasn't had a chance to interact with other people for such a long time. All because of her touch; a curse, a gift...a power. Juliette must learn to understand the reasons behind her power and to discover if she can live beyond the limitations it places on her.

It's a bit strange, but I love the settings of dystopias; the destructive nature of them all and how worlds are so different (and yet not so different) from our own. It's not so hard to believe in a structure were the military rules all and fear dictates the actions of civilians. Juliette's world is just like this; being ruled over by the Reestablishment, who use the fear of contaminated lands and dying animals to control the population, and all in a way that makes them appear to be helping 'reestablish' a liveable environment. Like any good dystopia, there's the hint of rebellion which I hope we'll see more of in the next book, because I love resistance in the ranks!

There's a very strong romance in 'Shatter Me' which I adore. You can't help but smile when it pops up in the story, and there's always room for romance in a good book. I was worried there was going to be a difficult love triangle at first, because two guys show their interest in Juliette early in the novel. I'm not sure we can relax yet on the love triangle issue, but I will say I was Team I'm-Not-Sure at the start, but I'm Team Adam now.

My only issue with the book was in the way it was written. There are a lot of literary techniques used to show Juliette's feeling and thoughts that I haven't come across much in the past, the two most obvious ones being strike-through text and repetitive words and lines (often without commas between them). I understand why both techniques are used; the strike-through text helps us to see what Juliette is thinking or wants to say but can't make herself actually voice and I found that technique really interesting; sort of like reading the narrator's thoughts written in italics, only these ones are hidden or forbidden. The repetitive words I didn't like as much. They were a good way of expressing Juliette's feelings but I felt they slowed down the flow of the book. I kept rushing over them, especially if they were used in the middle of a dramatic action scene, and sometimes forgot to read the triple words and had to go back to make sure I was reading it the way it was intended. Not a huge issue, but I felt it wasn't always necessary and it did interrupt a few scenes.

Techniques aside, 'Shatter Me' is a fabulous and addictive book and I can't wait to see what happens next!
4.5/5 stars


Kim
Originally posted on Goodreads

Wither - Lauren DeStefano

Wither- Lauren DeStefano

Grade: YA

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she trusts, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left (Description from Goodreads)

I had pretty high expectations for 'Wither' and I'm happy to say they were met.

DeStefano writes of a world destroyed through medical advances. While the human race no longer fears cancer, they now fear a virus that kills women when they turn 20 and men at 25. Despite the medical advances they seemed to have gain over the years, there is no cure for this life robbing virus. To make matters worse, because of the limited time people have, there is a habit of kidnapping women of all ages to be married off to wealthy men in order to bring about heirs. Rhine Ellery, our leading lady, is one of these brides; sold into wealthy captivity in order to ease the broken heart of her new husband.

I found 'Wither' to be a really confronting novel. Forced polygamy, kidnapping and captivity (and believing that freedom can be pushed aside if you're comfortable in captivity), a 13 year old girl having sex with a 21 year old man (with only Rhine questioning the morality of it) and the unconditional trust given to parents. For me, the hardest part to deal with was the 3 wives.

Linden seemed like a nice enough person, a little weak and unobservant at times, but I had trouble accepting his willingness to have 3 wives. While it wasn't uncommon in his society to take more than one wife, he was content with only one wife while Rose was alive, and yet moved comfortably into the role of husband to 3 more girls while Rose is lying in bed dying from the virus. He floats between Rhine, Jenna and Cecily like they're 3 faces of the same woman. One the listen to and comfort him; one to entertain him; and one to bear his children. I know we were supposed to feel this way, to understand why Rhine was uncomfortable and to hope for her chance to escape, but it was still hard to take in. I was amazed at her ability to resist Linden for so long.

I loved the theme of freedom. Rhine showed so much strength by holding onto the hope of escape and I loved her for not just accepting the role she was placed into because it was the easy way out. I like that the idea of freedom wasn't just about leaving Florida, but also freedom within the house, freedom to talk to whoever she wanted, freedom to love (*cough*Gabriel*cough*).

I love the voice DeStefano has given Rhine. She never comes across as completely happy, even when she's with Gabriel, and it fits so well with the twisted and depressing scenes we're given throughout the book. Rhine doesn't want to be a bride, never wanted to be a bride and is going to do anything she can to be free of this life once again.

I wish there'd been more scenes with Gabriel. I know the role he had towards the end of the book was important in the scheme of things, and the time they had together was enough to show that Gabriel was the one Rhine wanted holding and loving her. But it would have been nice to see more of that develop.

Fabulous book, can't wait for the next one. Hope they find a cure.
4.5/5 stars.

Kim

Originally posted on Goodreads. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/157593978 

Delirium - Lauren Oliver

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5


Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
(Description from Goodreads)






When society tells you that without 'the cure' you will be 'diseased' by love, would you believe them? It's hard to imagine growing up without the chance to love, but Lauren Oliver's 'Delirium' shows just that, to be cured means no longer being ruled by unpredictable emotions like Love. 

Lena Haloway has had a rough childhood: a mother who cannot be cured, a dead father and a sister who was momentarily diseased before being successfully cured. And now, living with her aunt and uncle, Lena is desperate for her 18th birthday when she will finally be cured and safe from love. But all that changes when she meets Alex. 

As with most dystopias, I’m amazed at how constricting society is. Walls are placed up everywhere, and it’s strange to see how the majority of the population just accepts that they’re in place for a reason. It’s only a few who question things like why there is an electric fence to keep out the “non-existent Invalids” from the Wilds (the uncured parts of the US); how illegal music sites are managing to pop up online; and why you are forced to pick your future partner from a list of 4 candidates. 

Fear is a main factor for sticking to the rules, and I love how Lauren Oliver uses Lena’s fear to show the transition from a sheltered 17 year old, who wants only to live by the rules of the cured, into someone who wants to fight the cure at all cost. Fear is always present, yet it changes as Lena’s understanding of her world changes; the fear of love becomes the fear of not being able to love. 

I love how much Lena and Alex relax when they're together, like nothing else matters in the world. They're able to let go of all their troubles in each other's arms. It was this connection between Alex and Lena that made me love them so much; being together and admitting they love each other, despite society’s attempts to break them apart with the cure, arranged marriages and segregation from the Wilds. And yet, their relationship was always fragile. You get the feeling that it can’t last forever; that something will happen to tear them apart.

A fantastic story about love, freedom and the right to choose your own life. 'Delirium' is an addictive read, you can't help but fall in love with Lena and Alex and their struggle to overcome society's restrictions on relationships.




Kim


Review first posted on Goodreads. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/167235166