Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5)

Destroy Me (Shatter Me # 1.5) by Tahereh Mafi

ebook, 103 pages
Published October 2nd 2012 by Harper
ISBN: 0062208195 (ISBN13: 9780062208194)
url: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Destroy-Me-Tahereh-Mafi?isbn=9780062208194

Goodreads Summary

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

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

My Review

Although Destroy Me is a short 42 page novella, I feel we are given a lot of insight into Warner's thoughts and world. Most of what Mafi reveals about Warner comes as no surprise to me, but I was blown away by the way it was written. You can almost feel what Warner feels, almost like you are experience everything with him. 

When I read Shatter Me, I hated Warner, but I also felt that there was more to him that what he portrays. I felt that if we were to have an opportunity to look at Warner's world we may have difficulty hating him. Destroy Me proved my prediction. Although Warner's thoughts and mannerisms all scream psychosis (particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder), when we meet his father, you have no choice but to think "Ahhh, so that's where he gets it." Warner's father makes Warner look wimpy (which is exactly how his father views him).  He's manipulative, cruel, and controlling. For example, when Warner was in bed recovering from his injuries, his father visited him. However, it was not for the reason a normal parent would check on their injured child, to make sure they're okay. His father actually seemed to think Warner was milking his injury. I have to quote some of the text because it's just so well written. 

"Sit up, son. You should be well enough to function now. You were too stupid to rest when you were supposed to, and now you've overcorrected. Three days you've been unconscious, and I arrived twenty-seven hours ago. Now get up. This is ridiculous."

Not an ounce of sympathy to be found. And when he didn't get a response from Warner (which is really the only amount of control Warner can keep), he decided to take the time to point out Warner's failures, and didn't seem to think the timing was inappropriate. 

"It's funny...because I told myself I'd wait to discuss this with you. But somehow, this moment seems so right doesn't it? ...To tell you just how tremendously...disappointed I am. Though I can't say I'm surprised…"

My favorite quote from the novella was when Warner says in reference to his father "torture is not torture when there's any hope of relief". In otherwords, one cannot be truly tortured if there is any chance of escape or physical or emotional relief. Many times, true relief in the face of torture equal death. What makes this quote so powerful is that it describes Warner’s father concisely. Warner's father gets great pleasure out of torturing and intimidating everyone around him, particularly Warner. As much as Warner would hope that his father would give him relief (namely kill him), he knows that will never be the case because it would mean Warner has won. And his father's torturous and controlling ways have caused Warner to be obsessed with having control. 

"I have an extremely low threshold for disorder; it offends my very being. I shower regularly. I eat six small meals a day. I dedicate two hours of each day to training and physical exercise. And I detest being barefoot."

Warner’s biggest obsession is still Juliette. He can’t stop thinking about her. He has dreams of her that feel too real. During patrols he thinks he sees her. The more he learns about her, the more connected he feels to her.  He insists that if given the opportunity she will realize that her proper place is with him and not with Adam Kent because Warner believes that he is the only one who can truly understand her, and vice versa. Like Juliette, Warner has never had a true friend. He hates his father and believes his troops want him dead. The closest thing Warner has to a friend is Delalieu, his servant, who outwardly fears him even though he’s considerable older than Warner. Although Warner finds Delalieu's fear and obedience both amusing and bothersome, Warner still does not feel comfortable confiding in him. It wouldn't be right given his rank. Like Juliette, Warner lives a life of solitude, never truly entrusting or befriending anyone.

With this information, it could be difficult to view Warner as an evil villain in Unravel Me, as I predicted. And we still don’t know why Warner and Adam are the only people who seem to be immune to Juliette’s powers. We learn that Warner’s interest in Juliette is not what it seemed in Shatter Me; but Warner also does not reveal what his true intentions are.  

This novella serves as a great bridge between Shatter Me and Unravel Me. I highly recommend this to Shatter Me fans. Destroy Me also includes two chapters of Unravel Me. After reading those two chapters, I greatly look forward to reading Unravel Me. 

Guardians of the Akasha by Celia Stander

Guardians of the Akasha by Celia Stander

Goodreads Summary

Eighteen-year old Keira Wilde has finished school and is determined to make her own plans for her future, thank you very much. She wants to be a photographer; not go to Oxford, like her parents want, or be a hero, like her aunt wants. But Keira’s plans go flying out of the window when she is attacked on the streets of London and she is forced to use her powers in self-defense.

Unfortunately, her actions attract the attention of a predator intent on using her...or destroying her. Preferring to be neither used nor destroyed, Keira takes charge of her destiny and enters the hidden world of the Guardians of the Akasha.

Fighting side by side with the battle-scarred Marco Santana, they race from London to Argentina and a castle in the forests of the Czech Republic to find the source of all knowledge and prevent the fabric of time from unraveling.

My Review

I read this book as a read & review. When I first agreed to the R&R, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the book. The plot seemed interesting enough, but something I couldn't quite put my finger on left me a bit skeptical. After reading it, I am happy that I gave it a chance and that I had proven myself wrong. 

"Akasha literally means ‘space’…Everything around us, from the smallest atom to the biggest planet is connected through the Akasha."

What is the Akasha? That is the major question throughout this novel. The term itself comes from known religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akasha).  The easiest explanation for it is the quote above. For the basis of the novel, it is not an alternate dimension, but rather an area between dimensions that connects them. Since it connects all dimensions and realities, any manipulation of the Akasha can alter time and dimensions as they are currently known. Hence the need for the Guardians for the Akasha, to guard the Akasha from those intent on misusing it for personal gain. The Guardians are people who are born with the special ability to manipulate space and energy. This ability tends to run in specific families, why some members possess these powers while others don’t is unclear. 

Keira finds out that not only is she one of these special people with these abilities—not the lone weirdo freak that she had believed herself to be all this time—but that her powers are great and that she has a specific destiny within the Guardians. Keira's powers and her destiny are so crucial that Daemon, who wishes to use the Book of Knowledge--which holds all the secrets and history of the Akasha--to manipulate the Akasha to alter time, will stop at nothing to use Keira. 

Keira is a very likable protagonist. Her overall strength is seen from the beginning of the book. She has a rebellious nature and a desire to follow her own path. As she learns more about the Guardians and her destiny, there is a sense of obvious confusion within her, yet she still has the ability to make up her own mind and make her own choices. This puts her and Marco, the commander of the Draaken (warriors who protect the Guardians) who has sworn to Keira’s Aunt Victoria to protect her, at odds with each other constantly.

One thing I liked about this book is the setting. Even though its a fantasy that it includes supernatural powers, magic, and fairy-tale-like locations, its all within real-life locations like London, Argentina, and the Czech Republic. Many fantasy novels (and even some dystopian, apocalyptic ones) include made-up places that can never be located on a map. While the exact location of the castle and the Santana estate probably cannot be specifically pointed to on a map, their countries of origin can. This added a level of realism that I enjoyed. 

One issue that I have to mimic other reviewers on is that there is a lacking in development. Many times we’re taken from one place or situation to another without much explanation as to how we got there. Keira definitely went through a transformation as she learned about the Akasha and her powers, but there really was no development there. One scene she’s a typical human high school graduate, with no real understanding about the Akasha and her powers and the next she seems to understand and know everything and has morphed into the powerful girl. There is very little description or explanation of how she got to this point. As Keira describes it, the whole training felt like only days as opposed to weeks. It could very well be explained by the factor that the dimension she was in time seems to have slowed to almost a standstill, but still more development there would've been helpful. 

Also, there is one instance in particular that seems very much unrealistic. Without giving too much away, basically Keira and the Guardians go from one country to another to intercept a plane that is about to take off. I understand that this is a fantasy novel and in a fantasy novel almost anything is possible, but there still needs to be just at least some realism. This scene in particular seemed way too convenient for my taste. 

Besides Keira, Marco, and the Draaken, little Amber was by far the bravest character in the novel. She is a nine-year-old daughter of the cook and the groundskeeper of the Castle of the Guardians. Don’t let her age  and smalls stature fool you; she has a lot of spunk and courage for a young girl. Even though she's sweet and a bit talkative, she's definitely got a fire within her with flames as red as her hair. I don’t want to give anything way, so I’ll just say that by the end Amber was as much a savior as Keira, Marco, and the Draaken.

There are battle scenes, with the Draaken battling Dameon's forces to protect the castle, the Akasha, and Keira, but they sometimes fall short a little in their length and description. The revelation and resolution in the end is a bit rushed and could use a little more development. The situation with the Book of Knowledge in particular needed more development  It can't be a simple as Keira not knowing or understanding the Book one moment and then instantly knowing everything the next. 

This book was very intriguing, creative and a fun read. The world of the Draaken, the Guardians, and the Akasha was very different than many of the other fantasy YA novels I have read. However, because of its uniqueness, a little more explanation and development would definitely have been helpful. It is not listed on Goodreads or Smashwords as part of a series, but the ending does leave room for a least a sequel. If Celia Stander does come out with a sequel to this book, I would definitely pick it up to see how the abrupt cliffhanger turns out. I definitely recommend this book to YA fantasy lovers. 

The Body Finder (The Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder (The Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting 
Hardcover, 327 pages
Published: March 16th 2010 by Harper Collins Children's Books
ISBN: 0061779814 
ISBN13: 9780061779817
url: http://www.thebodyfinder.com
Literary awards: YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011), Chicago Public Library Best of the Best for Teens (2011)

Goodreads Summary

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

My Review

I absolutely loved this book. I regret not instantly reading it months ago when I first bought the epub version during a sale. It incorporated several genres that I enjoy...romance, paranormal, crime, and mystery. The romantic aspect won me over more than anything. What can I say; I’m a sucker for romance. 

Before I get into all the juicy romantic stuff, let me talk about the main thing that drives this series…Violet’s “ability”.  As mentioned in the summary, Violet has the ability to sense the bodies of murdered people. She doesn't seek them out, they call to her. Each body has its own unique sound that resonates which only she can hear.  She refers to it as an echo or an imprint.  It started when she was a little girl, when she uncovered a dead girl while in the woods with her father. For the majority of her childhood she mostly found dead animals, so many that she created her own pet cemetery in her yard. But she doesn't only hear “echoes” of bodies; she also hears echoes of the bodies on the ones who murdered them.  For example, she can’t around her cat after he has hunted because she can hear the echo of his prey on him. It is also difficult for her to be around some police officers and military men because ending a life is a downside to their profession.  Each echo and imprint is as unique as a fingerprint. Her gift is a complete secret and no one completely understands where it came from or why she’s the only one who seems to have it. The only person who knows about it outside of her parents and her police chief uncle is her best friend Jay. 

Ah Jay! What a character. He’s witty, tall, smart, strong, protective, and as of late, very popular with the girls at their high school. He lives with his mom (I believe she’s a single parent because there isn't much mention of his father), but spends almost every free moment with Violet. Platonically of course! Normally, Violet only looked at Jay as her goofy best friend and wouldn't care about his new popularity with the girls. However, something must have changed about Jay over the summer because, like the girls at school, she’s starting to view him differently too. She actually finds herself becoming jealous at all the new attention he’s getting. But she really shouldn't worry at all; he doesn't appear to be very interested in spending time with any other girl but Violet. But of course, they’re best friends; it’s perfectly normal, right? In the land of romantic YA novels, predictably it isn't so simple.

The murder/kidnapping of the young girls is the contemporary portion of the novel. Especially during the chapters when the predator is the narrator. The way he seeks out and lures in his victims is similar to many real-life news stories we unfortunately hear about often. Yet, when I first read the abductions, I found myself asking the same question many ask when they see some horror/thriller movies…why are these people so stupid? Don’t these girls know not to talk to or accept rides from strangers (a point even the predator wonders, even though it’s to his advantage that they don’t)? Their best defense in this novel is that they’re from a small town where the biggest crime is probably jaywalking, which is why the anxiety level of the town immediately went up after Violet discovered the first body. Be that as it may, the scenes the predator describes and the chase scenes are very active, suspenseful, and have you at the edge of your seat. Unfortunately, since the few secondary characters in this book aren't as defined as Jay and Violet, what few clues that are given do not lead you to any concrete guesses as to who the predator is. It is as big a mystery to us as it is them. If you‘re an avid reader of crime, thriller, mystery books as I am, the conclusion may not be a complete surprise to you. If you’re not, then it most definitely will be. I will say this…for someone who says she’s accustomed to woods and trails in her town, Violet sure does trip and fall a lot. 

The relationship between Jay and Violet is the bright side of the novel. The fact that Jay and Violet were friends first adds to their romantic relationship. They already had a comfort level with each other that was boyfriend/girlfriend-like before they decided to go beyond friendship (i.e., holding hands). Even after they officially get together, they still have those casual, playful buddy moments that are funny and adorable. They know each other so well that they know what the other is thinking without one word being uttered. 

Their hooking up was predictable, as most books like this are. As Jay put it, they were going to get together eventually; it was just a matter of time. Everyone saw it…everyone except Violet, that is. We know about Violet’s changing feelings because she tells us, but Jay’s feelings were just as obvious. It was evident that he was willing to do anything for Violet and only had eyes for her. Even as the line of girls interested in him grew, he only wanted to spend time with Violet and seemed to get a bigger rise out of bragging to her about it than from getting the attention to begin with. He’d be polite to his “fan club”, all the while looking over his shoulder to see where Violet was. 

What wasn't immediately predictable was how electrifying their relationship would be once it finally happened. At first it’s very romantic and sweet and then the temperature between them shot up about 100 degrees two chapters later. And it’s only a nice surprise for us, but for them as well. Fortunately, they still keep their heads about them and are able to reign in the physical activity so that book remains suitable for teens as young as 14. 

I strongly recommend this book and I will definitely be continuing the series. The next book is Desires of the Dead and my copy included and excerpt from it. It promises to be just as good. 

Black Moon (Paige Tailor Series #1) by Jessica McQuay

Black Moon (Paige Tailor Series #1) by Jessica McQuay
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: October 2012 by Cambridge Press
ISBN-10: 1936185741
ISBN-13: 978-1936185740

Goodreads Summary

"Am I losing my mind?"

Paige couldn't help but question her sanity. What other explanation could there be for her hearing a conversation held barely above a whisper in the back of a classroom full of students? What about coming home to find one of those very classmates lying in wait in the darkness of her home, ready to attack her?

Confused, frustrated and feeling every ounce of her social ostracism, Paige confides in the one person she's always been able to count on: her mom. But when her mom reveals a deeply rooted, unbelievable family secret, Paige discovers her world is filled with more than she ever imagined possible. A world where fairytales live alongside nightmares and secrets are the glue that binds them together. Suddenly no one is who they seem and Paige is faced with more questions than answers. Can she survive in a world filled with creatures scarier than anything she could imagine and where deceit runs as thick as blood? Or will the truth send her over the edge?

My Review

I read this book as part of a read and review and I received an ARC copy of the book. The book is a bit slow starting as Paige learns about who (or better yet what) she is, her roots, and her powers. For the most part I enjoyed it. It was nice to join Paige in her journey to learn about herself. Every time Paige thinks she's learned the whole truth, another twist in her family history comes to light. I greatly felt Paige's pain and confusion as her world is turned upside down and the person she trusted the most, her mother, reveals lie after lie (even though they're more lies of omission than anything else).

My feelings towards Paige as a character are kind of bitter sweet. Sometimes I was with her and felt for her, but other times, particularly when she was sarcastic or uncontrollably angry, I just wanted to shake her. She is a strong character, especially towards the end, but her age, immaturity, and social awkwardness shine through quite a bit. She doesn't seem to have any friends at all, not even acquaintances. And she reminds us over and over how she is uncomfortable in social situations and that she isn't the most athletic person. It really makes me wonder how she's gotten this far in life. Not everyone is a socialite, this is very true. However, I've read only a handful novels where the protagonist lacks any companionship. It must be so lonely for Paige to be going through all of these changes and new discoveries without anyone to talk to about it. Well, until she meets Naialah, that is.  

One question I have is how come in these YA novels are children allowed to miss school abruptly and sometimes for long periods, and yet still move on to the next grade? This isn't particular to this one novel; I've seen this in quite a few. In this novel there is at least one consequence to Paige's absence to go to her mother's childhood home, but she was still able to graduate even though I believe she was gone for weeks. I don't think it’s as simple as that in real life. Just saying.

I did have one major problem with this novel and it's a stylistic one. I know some people like a lot of details and I am not totally against it myself (I just speed read through when it gets to be too much). I am a firm believer, however, that there is such a thing as too much detail, especially when it leads to redundancy.

I won't even touch the factor that every little thing that the characters do is described when I feel that at times it could have been expressed in a simpler fashion. For example:

"I grabbed the mouse and double clicked on the internet icon and waited as it loaded onto the screen. I clicked Google and typed in 'Faeries' as the search string."

I feel this is too detailed. It could have been stated much more simply because these are steps that everyone knows. However, this is my personal preference, everyone's style is different. Plus, this was an ARC copy, so maybe this was fixed before publication.

My problem has to do with the instances where Paige expresses her thoughts to us and then says the exact same thing verbatim in the next paragraph. Or at one point where Paige explains to her mother everything that happened one afternoon and we get a whole monologue of information we already know. 

"I told her about trying to make the grass and flowers around me grow and failing and how stupid the whole thing made me feel. The in the middle of my lame attempt at magic, hearing Rachel approach through her thoughts...And how I ran away when I heard the thoughts of the rest of her little entourage, and left her stuck there."

All this information would have been fine, except we just went through the whole thing with her. I feel a simple "I told her everything that happened this afternoon..." would've sufficed. 

Also, many times there are long, speech-like dialogues from characters that sometime either say the same thing several ways or are just too wordy. Sometimes less is more powerful.

I also wonder about the cover. It's nice and all, but I'm not sure if it fits in with the story. Is it a foreshadowing to all the family secrets that are to be revealed?

For those who like action, there is some, but it doesn't come until the last fourth of the book. McQuay does do a good job of making it worth the wait.

For those romantics out there, sorry, there isn't a guy that catches Paige's eye. Actually, it's a  little unclear whether Paige is interested in guys at all. There are hints towards the end, but nothing concrete. I guess Paige is learning about herself all the way around. 

For a first novel, this novel is pretty good. The plot is good, with a lot of buildup and a great climax. Paige is a decent protagonist, but there are instances where she gets a bit annoying. She does gain strength by the end. Stylistically, it was a bit too detailed and wordy for me at times, but if that doesn't bother you, then I definitely recommend it. I would like to read the next book in the series when it comes out because there are still questions that I hope McQuay will answer.

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

  

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1) by Simone Elkeles

Paperback, 359 pages

Published: December 23rd 2008 by Walker Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 0802798225 
ISBN13: 9780802798220

url: http://www.perfectchemistrythebook.com/

literary awards: Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance (2010), An ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers for Top Ten (2010), Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee (2011), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2011)

Goodreads Summary

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

My Review

Out of all the YA novels I have read in the past year, this book was the most contemporary. It is most likely because the majority of YA novels I read are apocalyptic, dystopian, paranormal or supernatural. This is the first book in a long time that involved situations and issues that can, and do, occur in our society; issues of turfs, cliques, gangs, popularity, wealth, poverty, and race. This story could easily be a story of teens in your own city or state. It can be compared to many movies such as West Side Story and Pretty in Pink. It is definitely a modern day Romeo and Juliet. 

This book is another alternating POV story, told through the eyes of the “star-crossed lovers” Brittany and Alex. Brittany is the blond, blue-eyed cheerleader from a wealthy family. On the surface Brittany has the perfect life, but what most don’t know is that her life is far from it. Her 20 year old  sister, Shelley, is mentally and physically disabled and in need of constant care; her mother, unable to handle Shelley’s imperfection, is always concerned about appearances, and criticizes Brittany constantly; and her dad works constantly and is totally disconnected from his family when he is home. Alex is the son of Mexican immigrants, whose father was murdered before his eyes when he was young, and is the man of the house for his mother and two younger brothers. He is a member of the Latin Blood gang, is no stranger to trouble, and has a reputation for being dangerous. Alex is also very smart and is only part of the Blood to protect his family. He actually wants to go to college and have a better life and he tries hard to keep his brothers from becoming members of the Blood. 

The alternating POVs help us see both how different Alex and Brittany’s worlds are and how they are very similar. They both put on an act for everyone and do exactly what is expected of them even though what they really want is to be who they are. Alex wants to have a better life that includes college but feels it’s beyond his reach because of where he comes from. Brittany wants more than anything to be herself and make mistakes without having to feel like she’s letting her parents down by doing it. It is only when they are able to reveal these truths to each other that they fall for each other. Alex is relieved to find out that even though Brittany comes from wealth her family has problems too. Brittany is comforted by the fact that Alex puts on as much of show for everyone as she does and that there is more to him than his gang reputation, particularly that he doesn't want to be in the gang and wants more from his life. Brittany also likes how close Alex’s family is and that his mother cares so much for him. 

Their love for each other comes with consequences. Both Alex and Brittany’s family and friends are against their union. On Alex’s side, they feel that he’s  selling out by dating Brittany and that he will never live up to her expectations because he’s Mexican, member of the Blood, and didn't come from money. Brittany’s friends and family, however, feel that she’s disgracing herself by dating someone so beneath her and fear that she will end up in trouble because of his association with the Blood. What neither side realizes is that they love each other because they learned that there is more too them than outside appearances and stereotypes. 

I loved every second reading this book. It included a good amount of heartwarming and romantic scenes, as well as some action. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read a realistic, contemporary YA novel. It is very well written and incorporates both cultures, especially the use of simple Spanish words. There are two more books within the series, Rule of Attraction and Chain Reaction, which tell similar stories about Alex’s brothers. I plan to read both in the future and will provide a review of them. 

Cover Reveal: Fire Country by David Estes

This is my first cover reveal on this blog and I hope it will lead to others. It is my honor and privilege to announce a new series from David Estes, author of the Evolution series and the Dwellers series. The first book of the sister series to the Dweller series...

Title: Fire Country (Country Saga #1)

Author: David Estes

Publisher: ShareAread

Release Date: February 1st, 2013

Formats:  E-book

Goodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16160701-fire-country

Cover Artist: Regina Wamba

Fire Country

In a changed world where the sky bleeds red, winter is hotter than hell and full of sandstorms, and summer's even hotter with raging fires that roam the desert-like country, the Heaters manage to survive, barely. 
Due to toxic air, life expectancies are so low the only way the tribe can survive is by forcing women to procreate when they turn sixteen and every three years thereafter. It is their duty as Bearers.
Fifteen-year-old Siena is a Youngling, soon to be a Bearer, when she starts hearing rumors of another tribe of all women, called the Wild Ones. They are known to kidnap Youngling girls before the Call, the ceremony in which Bearers are given a husband with whom to bear children. 
As the desert sands run out on her life's hourglass, Siena must uncover the truth about the Wild Ones while untangling the web of lies and deceit her father has masterfully spun.

About the Author

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010. He´s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table

Early praise for David Estes

“David created a world I was excited to learn about and characters I cared about. I'll remember this story for a very long time!”

Alexandria Nicole ~Goodreads

“Estes delivers a winner with confident writing that truly draws you into the story. “

Think ~ Goodreads

“The author, David Estes, has forged his name into writers to be watched and read.”

Marni ~Goodreads

“David is such a fantastic author and he really knows how to pull at the heartstrings.”

Kay ~K-Books

You can follow David at:

Blog

Author Facebook Page

Twitter

Goodreads

Goodreads fan page

Sounds like another winner for David Estes. This is definitely going on my "to-read" list, I hope it will be on yours as well. Happy reading!!!

Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel

Fated

by Alyson Noël

Amazon Summary

Strange things are happening to Daire Santos. Crows mock her, glowing people stalk her, time stops without warning, and a beautiful boy with unearthly blue eyes haunts all her dreams. Fearing for her daughter’s sanity, Daire’s mother sends her to live with the grandmother she’s never met. A woman who recognizes the visions for what they truly are—the call to her destiny as a Soul Seeker—one who can navigate the worlds between the living and dead.

There on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico, Daire sets out to harness her mystical powers. But it’s when she meets Dace, the boy from her dreams, that her whole world is shaken to its core. Now Daire is forced to discover if Dace is the one guy she's meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

My Review

This is not my first experience with Alyson Noël. I was a fan of her Immortals series…well at least until the fantasy and paranormal got too much for my taste (namely Everlasting, the last book in the series). Because of this and the book description, I decided to give Fated a shot.

It is very rare that I don’t see a book through and unfortunately Fated was one of these occasions. Maybe it was because I was reading another book at the same time that grabbed my interest more. Whatever the reason, I didn't make it past chapter 14.

I think what turned me off the most was Daire. As a character, I could not relate or sympathize with her at all. I found her to be a brat. The way she speaks to people, especially her mother I found unbelievable. I understand that she was going through a lot and that she was angry, but come on. She doesn't talk to her mother like a mother; I can’t even describe the relationship between them because it’s not friendship either. There were times where I wanted to reach in and smack her myself. And considering that she’s the narrator and the central character of the novel, it makes seeing the book through very difficult.

I also felt Daire was self-righteous, vain, and conceited, no matter how much she tried to convince us she wasn't  She spends the first chapter talking about what life was like being the daughter of a movie set crew member, going from set to set, city to city, country to country. She particularly describes what it’s like to be around celebrities; mostly men. She tells us what we already know about heartthrob celebrities: that they feel that they can have any woman they want and never get attached. She also says that she isn't like that and is not easily swayed by their names and good looks and “they’re so unused to that, they usually end up pursuing me.” That’s not far-fetched, but then she turns out to be just as bad as they are because she hooks up with them. I feel that if you think that you’re so above them, then act like it and don’t play into their game. I get that she has no intention of getting attached to anyone and she’s just out to having some fun, but if that’s the case, then don’t portray yourself as better than everyone.

The other reason I could not see this book through are the “visions” Daire has and her “destiny” as a Soul Seeker. I just could not wrap my head around it. I couldn't completely grasp the immortality of Damen and Ever and Shadowland in the Immortals series either, but there were enough things going on along with that to keep my interest. This was not the case for me with Fated. Granted, I probably did not read enough of the book to really learn all I needed to, but I just didn't feel that the amount of information provided up until the point where I completely lost interest was enough for me.  It was too obscure and vague for my taste.

I don’t recommend this book. It’s too vague, obscure, slow-paced. The narrator is a brat whom I don’t feel readers can relate to. I do believe that Ms. Noël is a good writer, but to anyone who wishes to read anything of hers, I strongly suggest the Immortals series, particularly Evermore, over this.  

The Moon Dwellers (Book #1 of the Dwellers Saga)

I received a free copy of The Moon Dwellers, the first book in the Dwellers trilogy, by David Estes in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the Hunger Games trilogy, I have become a devout fan of dystopian fiction. I definitely feel that The Mood Dwellers belongs in the same category as the Hunger Games, the Razorland trilogy, and other similar novels. It is an action packed, suspenseful page-turner and I enjoyed every minute reading it.

Here is the situation. After a series of events made the earth’s surface inhabitable, humans were forced to go underground and eventually create the Tri-realms: the Sun Realm, the Moon Realm, and the Star Realm.  Seventeen- year-old Adele Rose is in the Pen as part of a life sentence after her parents were arrested and convicted as traitors. When she turns 18, which will be soon, she will be transferred to the “Max” to serve out the rest of her sentence. Her younger sister, Elsey, is currently at an orphanage and her parents have been taken to parts unknown, possibly dead. With the help of her new friends Tawni and Cole, Adele is determined to break out of the Pen and find her family.

One day, while sitting in the courtyard of the Pen, Adele spots Tristan Nailin as he travels past during his tour of the Mood Realm. Tristan is a Sun Dweller and the eldest son of President Nailin who rules the Tri-Realms. Tristan is a celebrity within the Tri-realms and most girls would do anything just to be in his presence. Adele, however, has never been enticed by his status or his good looks. To her, Tristan is just a spoil Sun dweller that lives a life of luxury in the Sun Realm while the Moon and Star dwellers suffer a life of poverty and hardship. When Tristan and Adele make eye contact, however, they experience intense headaches for reasons unknown. Tristan detests his father, the Sun Realm, and his celebrity status. Curious about his intense attraction to Adele (but, not in the “love-at-first-sight” kind of way) and the intense pain that he experiences in her presence and desperate to get away from his father and the Sun Realm, Tristan decides to go on a journey, with his friend and servant Roc, to the Moon Realm to find Adele.  And to top off everything, a war begins to brew within the Tri-Realms. The story is told in the alternating points of view of Adele and Tristan.

All the characters in this book are three dimensional with strong personalities, especially the main characters Adele and Tristan. There are no shallow characters; actually those types of people are severely frowned upon by Adele, Tristan and their friends. I think my favorite character was Cole. He is a really intense, mysterious man who is quick tempered but just as quickly comical and forgiving. He is also very protective and is a good judge of character. Although he is very curious about her, he seems to trust Adele and want to help her quite quickly. In turn, Cole’s sarcastic nature helps to break the ice that has formed around Adele over her 6 months in the Pen. Adele is quickly drawn to and mirrors Cole’s humor. There are a few interactions between them that had me laughing out loud. As a matter of fact, a good amount of sarcasm and comic relief can be found throughout the book, even within the thoughts of Adele and Tristan.

For the action fans out there, you will definitely not be disappointed with this book. There are plenty of battle scenes that include swords, whips, guns, and Tasers. But the most intriguing one are the old fashioned, hand to hand battles where there is taunting and the participants circle each other before engaging.  And despite the obvious separation of classes (Sun dwellers being the upper class, Moon being the middle and Star being the lower) and the dictatorship society (although, Tristan mentions many times how his father wants to be referred to as President rather than King…you know, to give the illusion of a democracy when there clearly isn't one…classic dystopian), there still remains a sense of fair play in battle, at least on occasion. For example, in the Pen, when a fight breaks out between two prisoners (or “guests” as the guards ironically call them), even if one of the prisoners has a group of friends or is a part of a gang, no one is to interfere with the battle.

I would have to agree with one reviewer who questioned the characters’ ability to heal quickly. I don’t feel it is in the sense that one minute the character is badly injured and the next they’re 100% better. It’s more like at one point the character is injured to the point of needing medical attention and a scene or two later, the injury is kind of an after-thought as the character gets involved in another life threatening situation, performing heroic deeds.   I will take the question even further, however, by asking how in a post-apocalyptic world where people are suffering from poverty can these kids get access to proper medical supplies? For example, not giving too much away, there is a point where Tristan and Roc suffer severe injury in battle and one of the characters (won’t name names to avoid spoilers) is able to hide safely and get food, medical supplies, and mats within a relatively short amount of time. I know this is fiction and the protagonists are supposed to overcome great adversity to accomplish their goals, but most readers would prefer that this be at least somewhat realistic. And this is not to single out Mr. Estes and his writing...this is not the first time I've seen this. It’s not a huge turn off for me, but it is the kind of thing that has my scratching my head a little.

There is one mistake that I found and I wonder if it was purposeful or if I read it wrong (I went back a couple of times to make sure). As I mentioned, the book alternates between the POV of Adele and Tristan and each change in POV is labeled. Not to veer off the topic, but one of the things I loved about this novel is how the POV is changed at just the right moment of suspense. The last time I read such good structuring was in The Help. Anyhow, at one point in the book, Tristan is treading cautiously trying to get past some soldiers. The section ends with Tristan stating “something stabs me in the back.” Again, a good way to end the section before changing to the POV of Adele. However, in the next section, we find out that Tristan was actually hit in the jaw (again, no major spoilers). This left me scratching my head and going back and rereading Tristan’s section again. How can he say something stabbed him in the back, when he was obviously hit in the face? Am I missing something here?

For those romantics out there like myself, there is a bit of romance. Now, I haven’t read too many male authors, at least not many current one, so I can’t speak from vast experience; however, I will admit that I was a little surprised by the romantic angle, even if it is subdued compared to other books I've read in this genre. What surprised me was that it was brought in so early on in the book, kind of giving the impression that this is going to be the central theme that drives the novel. That feeling is immediately squashed, however, as Mr. Estes makes it clear that this isn’t going to be a mushy, lovey-dovey type of romance. Adele and Tristan both state that their pull towards each other is not the “love-at-first-sight” type of attraction, but one that is more obscure and that cannot be clearly labeled.  So if you’re looking for something that is obviously sappy, full of hugs, hand-holding, and kisses, then I suggest looking elsewhere. That type of stuff is not of abundance in the book and I seriously doubt that the rest of the story will be much different. I actually have a couple of theories about Adele and Tristan’s connection, but I can’t go into them without spoilers.

To sum it up, I highly recommend this novel to any fan of dystopian fiction, or even those who just read the description and find themselves curious. I doubt anyone who gives it a chance will be disappointed. I can’t wait to read the last two books in the series to see how things turn out for Adele, Tristan, and the Tri-Realm. I actually enjoyed Mr. Estes’s writing style so much that I purchased the first book of his Evolution trilogy, Angel Evolution ($0.99 on smashword.com) as it seems to be a part of another one of my favorite YA genres, the supernatural. 

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver

It's been exactly a month since the last time I posted something. It definitely was not because I hadn't read anything for I've read three books in that time, it's that time kind of got away from me and to be totally honest, for at least one of the books, I was at a loss as to what to say. But I'm back now and so lets get to it.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver was suggested to me on Borders.com because I read Hunger Games. It is similar to Hunger Games in that it is satirical and it has to do with government control (common terms I keep seeing are "dystopia book" or "dystopia novel"). The difference is that in Hunger Games the oppression is a means of punishment as well as power, while in Delirium the citizens are made to believe that the government is not out to control them, but to protect them. Specifically to protect their health.

Summary

In this society, Love (or as they call it amor deliria nervosa) is considered to be a disease. It is believed to be the cause of all illnesses, misery, war, and turmoil in past generations. At some point in the past, the government came up with a cure (referred to from this point on as "the cure"), an injection that is given to teenagers on their eighteenth birthday (any sooner risks complications). If things go well, you'll be cured of amor delira nervosa, go to college, marry a mate out of a group the Government finds fitting for you, have children and live a happy healthy life. If things don't go well, you're considered an "Invaild" and a risk to society and are sent to "the wilds". All children under 18, or "uncureds", are kept from getting deliria by segregating uncured boys from uncured girls and by enforcing a curfew.

Madelena (Lena) is 95 days away from her procedure and cannot wait. Her mother, who was still an "uncured" after receiving "the cure" several times, committed suicide years ago. Her father was considered a "sympathizer" (one who is against the cure) and ran away when she was really young. Since then she has lived with her aunt and cousins. Lena then meets Alex, a confident, mysterious boy who works for the labs, and she begins to experience the beginning signs of amor deliria nervosa. As Lena and Alex get closer, Lena begins to question the world she's always known and wonders if its really as happy and safe as it is made to seem. When Alex unleashes a bombshell that turns Lena's world upside down, she wonders if the government she was taught to trust has actually been deceiving her and the whole society.

My Review

The main thing that I love about this book, pardon the pun, is the concept. So many books, poems, plays, songs and movies have been created over the centuries trying to explain the complicated concept of love. That despite it's downsides, it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. The ultimate aspiration of man kind. In this novel, Lauren Oliver spends hundreds of pages saying how it isn't great at all and can actually be dangerous. The society Ms. Oliver creates is unfathomable to the majority of readers. How can one go through life without feeling any sort of love? Not just romantic love, but platonic love, unconditional love, the love of a parent to a child, of an owner to their pet (there is a scene with a dog that almost made me cry). Ms. Oliver shows us that it is a very dry, boring, and monotone existence. Where parents can't console their children. Where a person can only manage a small weak smile at something happy or funny. Even a long embrace or a kiss longer than a peck is considered dangerous if you're uncured. I think it is this that makes every encounter, every kiss Lena and Alex share more exciting, because it's more than just taboo, it's forbidden.

One thing the struck me was this society's belief that love is the cause of all illness, misery and war in the world. First of all, with the exception of emotional disorders (i.e., depression, bipolar disorder), the majority of illnesses cannot in any way be linked to love without many degrees of separation. Plus, even with emotional disorders and misery, many times they occur from losing love, not having it. So that believe is easily defeated. Second, the majority of wars stem from the exact opposite of love, which is hate. The argument can still be made that love is still the culprit for without love there is no hate. Thus, if you erase love and there will be no more hate. But as we can see by looking at this society, this does not a utopia make. It may appear to be on the surface, but in the absence of love, life is absent. What is the point of being alive if you can't actual live. I'm as serious as they come and even I know that a part of living is occasionally letting your hair down and having fun and enjoying what life offers.

For those "action" people out there, I will admit that this book is a bit slow in the beginning. But Ms. Oliver's writing is so enticing, even poetic at times, that you cannot help but stick it out. The characters are so developed that they are almost three dimensional.  The reader can feel Lena's confusion and disillusionment as she experiences it. How can she go against everything she's ever known? When the rose colored glasses are removed, however, they're fully removed and you witness the harsh realities right along with Lena.  There are a few twists throughout the story, particularly at the very end, which I must say I wasn't completely thrilled with. However, this is the first book of a trilogy, so there is room for a lot of things to happen.

The Hunger Games...the future of reality tv?

My husband gave me an e-reader for Christmas and ever since I have been reading pretty much non stop. Practically every day in a moment of boredom I have been searching between Sony e-bookstore, Google, and Borders for new things to read. This is how I came across The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I have always been a fan of satirical novels. Some of my favorite classics are The Great Gatsby  by F. Scott Fitzgerald , 1984  and Animal Farm by George Orwell , and Brave New World  by Aldous Huxley . What actually caused me to purchase the book was after reading an excerpt of the first chapter on Google and being reminded of 1984. And as with 1984, many aspects of The Hunger Games  can be seen in society today, even though it is set during some unknown time in the future.

Book info

Hardcover, 374 pages
Published: October 31st 2008 by Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439023483 
ISBN13: 9780439023481
url: http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/
Literary awards: Georgia Peach Book Award (2009), Buxtehuder Bulle (2009), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008), Cybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008), Amelia Bloomer List (2009)
An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2009), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2010), Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011), Red House Children's Book Award for Older Readers & Overall (2010), New York Times Notable Children's Book (2008), Publishers Weekly's Best Books of The Year, South Carolina Book Award for Junior and Young Adult Book Awards (2011), Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award (2010), Teen Buckeye Book Award (2009), Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2010), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2010), ALA Teens' Top Ten (2009), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2010), Sakura Medal for Middle School Book (2010), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award (2009), Florida Teens Read (2009), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (2010), Iowa High School Book Award (2011), Horn Book Fanfare (2008), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2009), Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (2010), The Inky Awards for Silver Inky (2009), Abraham Lincoln Award (2011) 

Summary

Here's the background of the story. At some point in the future, much of the land we call North America was destroyed by a series of events (i.e. floods, storms, fire). What remains is a country called Panem which consists of the Capitol surrounded by 13 districts. At first things are fine until there is an uprising in the districts against the Capitol, which is then after called "the Dark Days". In the end, 12 of the districts are defeated and District 13 is obliterated. A Treaty of Treason is formed by the Capitol providing laws for the remaining 12 districts in order to "keep the peace" (leaving most districts in poverty, starving, and with no rights or freedom) and as a yearly reminder of "the Dark Days" (not to mention the hold the Capitol has over the districts), they have the Hunger Games. The basic rules of the Hunger Games are such: every year two kids between the ages of 12 and 18, one boy and one girl, are chosen from each district in a public drawing (called "the Reaping") to participate in "the Games" with a total number of 24 "tributes". Participation in the Games and attendance at the Reaping are mandatory punishable by death and the only way a "tribute" can get out of participating in "the Games" after his or her name is drawn is if someone else in the district volunteers to take their place (which rarely happens). After all of the tributes are selected, they are then taken to an outdoor arena in a undisclosed location in the Capitol where they are to fight each other to the death. The last tribute standing is the winner and is rewarded with wealth, a new home in the wealthier area of their district, their district is given a supply of food once a month, and they never have to compete in "the Games" again.  "The Games" are a national event that is televised throughout the country and the people have no choice but to watch them (the citizens of the Capitol are the only ones who actually enjoy them). There are a few other aspects to it, but this is the basic premise. 

At the time in which The Hunger Games takes place, our narrator, Katniss Everdeen, is 16 years old citizen of Samen in District 12 and is about to attend her fourth "Reaping". When her 12 year old sister, Primrose (bka Prim), is selected for "the Games", Katniss volunteers to take her place. The male tribute is Peeta Mellark, a 16 year old son of a baker who goes to school with Katniss and to whom Katniss owes an unspoken debt. I will stop here with the overview because I don't wish to give too much away. 

My Review

I really liked this book. It had me hooked within the first few pages. Suzanne lets you know from the beginning that Katniss isn't you're average teenager, that Panem is far from the world as we know it, and this is not going to be a light and airy story. The world in which Katniss resides is a harsh one. Where most girls her age are worrying about social engagements, clothes, and boys, Katniss' thoughts are way beyond that.  From the time her father is killed in a mine explosion, Katniss is left to take care of her mother and her sister. She had to learn to hunt for food and trade in the black market. This alone puts life into perspective. Imagine if you lived in a world where you have no guarantee that you will get a meal each day. Where hunger is a daily occurrence. It makes some of our everyday worries seem superficial in comparison. 

In contrast, you have the citizens of the capitol that are heavily made up and surgically perfected and don't know the meaning of the word hunger. Their lives consists of beautifying themselves and the Hunger Games each year. And you may think that Katiniss and other citizen's of the outer districts would look up to and envy these people. But it's the opposite--they look down on them. Their appearance seem to be almost alien-like and the way they speak is something to be mocked. At one point, Katniss refers to the members of her prep team as her "pets". These people haven't a care in the world and are oblivious to the harsh realities of life that Katniss and the other tributes have to face daily. There is a possibility that Suzanne may have created this contrast as a means to shine a light on the superficiality of the rich, Hollywood, and possibly America as a culture. 

In looking at "the Games" in itself, I couldn't help but think about reality TV, because that's honestly what "the Games" are; reality TV in it's most inhumane and brutal form. The tributes are brought to the Capitol to be "cleaned" and dressed up in costumes to be paraded around for the Capitol to cheer and gawk at. Meanwhile they all know that it is most likely the last time 23 of them will be seen alive for they will be throw into a arena to kill each other while they watch on. Could this possibly become the future of reality TV? Could our need for entertainment come to mean more than human dignity and human life?  I think it's a possibility that we could be heading in that direction. For example, Fear Factor. The contestants are asked to perform dangerous stunts, eat disgusting things, and put in dangerous situations in the hopes of winning a prize at the end while we viewers are entertained by it. Sure they're in a controlled situation and compete by choice, but they are put in danger and at times humiliated for entertainment value much like "the Games". Another example are shows like the Bachelor. These women are brought to compete for the love of these men and the more drama, fighting and humiliation the better. Much like playing the right angle in "the Games" can get the tributes food or supplies. And it's basically degrading. The women are usually young and beautiful and could probably get any man they want. Yet they choose to compete for these men. Its the same with "the Games" except that it's not by choice. These children are young, with families, and have more life ahead of them (albeit not a bright and prosperous one) and they're taken away from their families most likely never to be seen alive again to fight to the death. So thus far we seem to draw the line at killing one another because it constitutes murder and murder is wrong (plus there is fear of legal repercussions). Humiliation, drama, danger, and injury for the sake of entertainment is fine, just as long as no one dies. But I think that if we found some amusement or entertainment value in killing one another (which theoretically we have, but only in the made up stunt reality of movies, dramas, and documentaries), a reality TV show similar to "the Games" could easily become a reality.