Day 21 by Kass Morgan

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Title: Day 21 (The Hundred #2)

Author: Kass Morgan

Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Release Date: September 16, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)

Read: September 2014

GoodReads

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.It's been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries...or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can -- together. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

***This is part of a series. There could be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.*** 

My Rating:

The Story:

Overall, I still found the storyline to be interesting. And it was a pretty quick read for me. I found the pacing to be good.

This story picks up close to where the first book left off. The juveniles have been on Earth for twenty-one days now and  there still doesn't seem to be a sign that any of the Colonists are coming down to join them. They must figure out how to survive, when there are others that want them gone. 

I feel like there was a lot more drama in this book than in the first. And there were a few things that I saw coming. But it didn't stop me from reading the story. Because even though there were a few plot points that I guessed before they happened, some were still able to surprise me. 

But I felt like I have more questions than answers so far. 

I really liked that they were able to explore Earth a bit more. And that they were able to learn some things about the plants and things around them. I am really intrigued by the Earthers and want to get to know more about them.

I did enjoy the book enough to want to find out what happens next. 

The Characters:

I like that the main characters all have flaws. Most of them each have past decisions that haunt them. Yet they don't regret what they have done because they did the thing they thought was best. 

Clarke: She is struggling with what she did up on the ship before getting confinement. I like that after everything that she has been through she still has hope. She can be stubborn and determined. I like that she wants to figure things out on Earth and will do whatever she can do complete this. I was a bit frustrated with her character a couple times due to the romantic drama. But overall, I am interested to find out what will happen to her next.

Wells: I feel that he is doing what he can to protect the group and help them at the same time. He still shows that he is a natural leader. 

Bellamy: I found Bellamy to be a bit of a jerk. There were moments where I really like his character, then others when I am not sure if I like him that much. I think I understand why he reacted the way he did to a certain situation. But I struggle a little bit with how he handled it. 

Glass: I was really interested in her storyline. I really like being able to still know some of the stuff that is happening on the ship through her character. She does have a little bit of drama happen with her character. And I might not like her past decision, but I feel that I have an understanding of why she did what she did. I feel bad for her. And I really want to find out what is going to happen to her character next. 

My Recommendation:

I think if you loved/liked the first book, then you might enjoy this continuation. Although at times the drama frustrated me, I am left wondering what will happen next. Which means I will probably read the next book. 

The 100 by Kass Morgan

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Title: The 100 (The Hundred #1)

Author: Kass Morgan

Length: 323 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Release Date: September 3, 2013

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)

Read: September 2014

GoodReads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating:

I was pretty excited to see this title on NetGalley as a Read Now option. I have been wanting to read it for a while. 
I have seen about two episodes of the TV show. I decided I didn't want to watch more until I read the book, since I usually like to read the book before watching TV shows or movies based off of them.

The Story:

As far as the Colony has known, Earth hasn't been habitable for a very long time. As things start falling apart on the ship and resources dwindle, the Colony leaders decide it is time to send some people down to Earth to see if they can go back and live there.
To do this, they pick 100 juvenile "criminals" to travel down to Earth and see if there is any chance of survival.

I really like the plot of the story. The description instantly grabbed my attention and made me interested in the story line.

I didn't dislike the book but I didn't fall in love with it either.
Overall, I found the plot of the story to be interesting. And I liked that it was a quick read for me. I was interested in what was happening and where the story was going and the story held my attention for the entire time I was reading it.

I especially loved the way the author described things on Earth. It really did feel like the characters were seeing and experiencing these things for the first time. The descriptions were full of detail and were beautifully written. 

This story alternates between the points of view of four different characters.
There were some times during the story that I felt like there were a lot of characters that I needed to remember about. And sometimes it was hard to remember which character's point of view I was reading from. But I still enjoyed getting to see different aspects of the situation from different characters.

Not only are we reading about what is currently happening in this world, but there are also flashbacks that these four characters remember each chapter. I personally like the flashbacks. It made me feel like I knew the characters and their motives better. I really enjoyed getting these pieces of their back story.

There were a couple of things that I thought were a little hard for me to believe. They seemed to adapt to Earth rather quickly with very little problems. And one character is able to shoot with a bow and arrows, hunting, rather quickly. This character must have just been a natural.
But all of these things are little things that I was able to not really get hung up on and have them take away from my liking of the story.

The Characters:

Clarke: I feel that her character is full of anger. She has been through so much in her past and seems to have a hard time accepting what has happened. She holds onto her anger and keeps to herself. I understand why she is mad and hurt. I liked most of her character development as the story progressed, especially that she becomes able to come to terms with some things. I do feel like she has a lot of drama when it comes to boys.

Wells: I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with this character. I felt like he was selfish. But I do understand why he does the things that he does. He is a natural leader and cares about those around him. And he is dealing with some inner challenges based on the things he has done in his past. I liked that his character grew and even though he felt bad about his past actions, he didn't really seem to regret what he did. I feel that he stands by his difficult choices.

Bellamy: At the beginning of the story, I really thought I would end up not liking his character at all. But over the course of the story, he really grew on me. I was very invested in his story and what was going to happen to him. He is a bit cocky and can be a jerk, but he is also loyal.

Glass: I was really interested in this character. I really liked reading her point of view for what was going on. She has gone through so much and I enjoyed getting to find out pieces of her past and how she has developed as a character.

My Recommendation:

I liked the story enough that I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to find out what else happens. If you are looking for a story that is a quick read and deals with characters trying to survive on a planet they aren't used to, then you could like this book. 

REBOOT by Amy Tintera

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Title: REBOOT (Reboot #1)

Author: Amy Tintera

Length: 365 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Source: e-book (purchased)

Read: May 2014

GoodReads

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation). Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum. The perfect soldier is done taking orders. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

I bought this book for the Kindle because Epic Reads had a Read-along on Twitter and it was on sale. So I decided to give it a read.
And I am so glad that I did. I ended up enjoying this book a lot.

The Story:

I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book. I didn't read the description, I just bought it and started reading.
This book was slam packed full of action. I found some of the events in the book to be intense. Which made me really into the story and wanting to know what would happen next. I had a hard time putting this book down. I think that the concept of this story was really interesting. I don't think it is quite like anything else that I have read.
And I thought that the world that the author created was also really interesting. Coming back as a Reboot after you die...although not everyone does. And the longer you take to reboot the less HUMAN you are! What? So interesting.
And wow...I kept thinking how the Reboots were a little zombie-like. But not actual zombies per-se. Which also added a little bit of creepy into the mix.
This was a quick, fast-paced, interesting read.

The Characters:

I liked the characters a lot. I think they were pretty well developed. There were several characters that I felt sad for. Which made it easier for me to connect with them.
There is a romance in the story. And I like that I felt like it was more insta-lust and not insta-love. She didn't automatically fall head over heels for the male character. Instead she was intrigued by him and curious. And I love that there wasn't a love triangle. (Although love triangles don't bother me as much as it does others, it is still refreshing to read a book without one.)

Wren: I really like her character. And I love her character development throughout the story. I was very invested in what would happen to her next and how she would handle certain situations.
Callum: I really like him. And I felt so bad for him. There were several moments I wanted to jump into the story and give him a hug. I think he is sweet and I like the way he bonds with Wren.

I am really interested to find out what happens to these two, (as well as the other characters) in the next book.

My Recommendation:

I would recommend this book if you like interesting reads that have dystopian future elements. Where some not-quite-so-human teens are like the police force for a disease-stricken world.

The Only Boy by Jordan Locke

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Title: The Only Boy

Author: Jordan Locke

Length: 268 pages

Publisher: Self-published (CreateSpace)

Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Source: Paperback (Won from a giveaway. Thanks again An Alleged Author!)

Read: March 2014

GoodReads

Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch's senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out. Taylor's got a dangerous secret: he's a boy. His compound's been destroyed, and he's been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he'll be exiled. Maybe even executed. Mary's never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn't suspect Taylor's secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. Then again, she might be frightened to death of him. Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound's boundaries. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

(Between a 3.5 & 4)

I really like the cover.

The Story:

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.
I found that it was very fast-paced.
And to me it felt a little rushed. But I think that was due to the fact that I wasn't really aware of how much time was actually passing by. So what I thought was one or two days later turned out to be weeks or a month later. So after figuring this out, it wasn't as rushed as I originally thought. I wish I would have been able to realize a bit more the time frame.
I found the concept of the story really interesting and intriguing.
There were a couple things that happened that did not surprise me at all, but there were a few twists that I didn't see coming.
I think liked the different points of view. I have read other books that have the dual points of view between the female and male character, but those were done by chapter. Where in this book they switch back and forth within the chapter.
I did feel like the revelation of Taylor's secret was early. I thought it would have taken a little longer for Mary to find out.

The Characters:

I found that the characters were likable, but they were also frustrating. At least for me. There were a number of things about Mary that frustrated me.
I did feel like there was a case of Insta-love in this book. And for some reason I had a hard time connecting with their relationship. It felt a little forced for me.
But overall, I was interested in what would happen to Mary and Taylor. And I was interested in Taylor's past.

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Length: 416 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Release Date: February 4, 2014

Source: e-book (purchased)

Read: March 2014

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.” With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her. (From GoodReads)

***This is part of a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.***


My Rating:

(It is between a 4 and a 4.5 so I rounded up.)

1.  I enjoyed reading the book.
2.  I read it quickly: I started and finished this book in 1 night.
3.  There were some surprises that I didn't see coming.
4. The ending felt rushed.

I am not disappointed that I read, but this is not an absolute favorite series. 
Would I read the entire series again someday? Probably. 
But I was not left with an "OMG! I love this series so, so, so, much!" feeling. But I do really like it, and enjoyed reading the trilogy. (And I will probably look into reading the novellas sometime in the future.)

The Story:

Overall, I think the story went along nicely. It pretty much picks up where Unravel Me left off. I felt that this book was face-paced and it kept me really interested in what was going to happy next. 

And oh boy, steamy. Just. Wow. I think that chapter was one of the steamiest scenes I have read in YA. 

But for me, the ending felt rushed. I was expecting this big EPIC finale. But instead we had the build up then the fight was over before I realized. And I was left thinking "That's it?" 

What happens next?

What happens to the characters?

I was left wanting more. 

Which left me a little disappointed. 

Not enough to hate the book or anything, but I wanted some more answers. And I wanted more of a big epic battle at the end.

So either I have to choose in my head the answers to these questions....or maybe Mafi decided to leave it a little unresolved in case she decides to visit the world again in the future. (I doubt this, but never say never...right?)

The Characters:

Juliette: I personally liked her character development. I finally felt like she went from this scared little girl to someone that can stand up for herself. She has become fierce and is on her way to being a leader. She has become more likable (at least for me) and more independent. And I love that she seems to be feeling more at ease with her power. 

Warner: I found Warner's character to be likable in this book. I was pretty surprised that I ended up liking his character as much as I do. I almost feel like I went from  absolute hate, to heart-thawing hate, to liking him in the span of the trilogy. I like how his character developed and shifted. I liked being able to see him in a different light. Maybe it was because Juliette knew more about him as the series moved on so her eyes opened up more to see his true self. I just know that I no longer hate Warner. 

Adam: I don't hate Adam. Not in the least bit. But I also didn't really like him in this book. Continuing on from Unravel Me, Adam just has more hate and bitterness wrapped up in him. Yeah, he has been through a lot. And I understand being mad and frustrated, but goodness, I really hated a lot of the things that he does in this book. And I especially did not like his attitude. He almost feels like a completely different person. Maybe this is the character he was always meant to be, but I was hoping that it was just a rough patch and he could get back to his old self eventually.

Kenji: Oh. My. Goodness. I think it is safe for me to say, I really do think that Kenji is my favorite from this series. He is funny and strong. I just want to hug and hang out with him myself. And I just adore his friendship with Juliette. And I LOVE that is just a simple boy/girl friendship without ANY form of romantic entanglements. 

My Recommendation:

If you liked the other two books, then you would probably like this one too. I feel there was character development, action, romance (steamy), and some resolution. But for me I was left with some desire to know more of what would happen next.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

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Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1)
Author: James Dashner
Length: 329 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (Random House)
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Source: ebook (purchased)
Read: April 2014 *I read this book during a Read-a-long with some fellow blogger friends. Thank you Cassi (My Thoughts...Literally) for hosting!*

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

I really enjoyed reading this book! So much, I can't believe that I put off reading it for so long!

I think this book was full of action, mystery and suspense. One word that keeps coming to mind is INTENSE. I found this book to be very intense.

I can't wait to get the rest of the series and read them. I hope I am able to do so soon!

Title Acrostic: 

(Something new I am adding to some of my reviews, where I will use the title or part of the title of the book to create an acrostic.)

Memorable: I think this story is an unique story and it stands out from others that I have read. Yes, I do think there are some similarities from other stories that I have read, but this book is still different. And it is a book that I will remember.

Amazing: It is an amazing story. It was definitely different from what I was expecting. It grabbed my attention and kept me interested in the story. I think it is well written, full of details and world/character development. It was a fast read, and I was left wanting to continue the story. So for me, the book is amazing.

Zealous: I have found a passion for this story. I am really glad that I read it and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Extreme: This book is intense and extreme. Throughout reading, my leg was shaking. I had to take a few pauses to breathe. This is a book that kept me "on the edge of my seat".


Remarkable: I think this book is definitely worthy of the notice and attention it has received. It is an interestingly intense story that grabs the reader.

Unanswered: There are so many unanswered questions throughout this entire book. And as you find out some answers, more questions form.

Nauseating: There are some nauseating parts in the story. (Not in the sense of making me feel physically sick). Specifically scenes that involve the creepy Grievers!

Nervous: I felt pretty nervous throughout this book. I kept wondering what was going happen.

Emotional: So many emotions throughout reading this book. There were parts where I was frustrated, scared, mad, relieved, and anxious.

Ruthless: There are some things (like the Grievers) and some people in the story that I found to be ruthless.

The Story:
I think the story was well developed. Dashner describes the Maze and the Glade with wonderful detail. I didn't have a problem picturing this area in my head, and I felt that it help bring the story to life. (Sure, I have seen the trailer for the movie, but I think even without it I would have been able to easily picture it.)

And the Grievers. Seriously. Dashner is so creative! I don't think I would have been able to think of such a creature. I found them to be creepy and disturbing. I was/am afraid of them.
I wasn't satisfied with how I pictured them in my head, so I looked them up online. And wow, there are so many awesome drawings that people have made!

Here are some links:
http://acturiesa.deviantart.com/art/Maze-Runner-Griever-and-Beetle-Blade-272308207
http://gubblyn.deviantart.com/art/The-Griever-259820862
http://summerfr0st.deviantart.com/art/The-Maze-Runner-Griever-Colored-291456250


Although there were a few things that I was able to figure out, but overall the book kept me guessing and I didn't know what to expect or what would happen. There were several things that caught me by surprise!

I do understand why some people were frustrated with this book, there is a lack of information. You don't know what is going on and it takes a while to find out pieces of information. This bugged me a little at first, but it didn't bug me enough for me to quit reading or take away from my love of the book. I think it added to the suspense and mystery of what was happening. And I think it helped make the book more intense.


The Characters:

I really liked the characters. I really love that the story has a male main character. And everything is told from his point of view. I liked being able to read from his point of view the entire time.
Thomas is full of emotion and determination. I really like his character. I found him to be realistic and believable.  And I really like his relationship with the other boys in the Glade.
Chuck is a little annoying at first but it doesn't last the entire book (at least it didn't for me). I enjoyed seeing his friendship develop with Thomas.
Newt. I think he was one of my favorite characters in the book. I enjoyed watching his character develop through the story. I found his character to be funny at times too.
Minho. I really liked him too. And I like the friendship between him and Thomas. He is full of determination and strength.
Teresa. She is a character that I feel like I still don't know much about. And I want to know more about her. But I think she is strong and supportive.

I think the characters were well developed. They have their strengths and some weaknesses, that just adds to making them feel "real" to me.

If you haven't read The Maze Runner yet, then I recommend that you give it a go. It isn't for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. It was a fast enjoyable read, full of surprises and twists that kept me wanting more.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Length: 480 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Source: e-book (purchased)
Read: March 2014

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is 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.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life. (From Goodreads)

My Rating:

I had a really hard time rating this book. I kept going back and forth between 4 stars and 4.5 stars. But ultimately I am giving it 4.5 because I read the book quickly and overall enjoyed reading it.

*I do want it to be noted that I have not read either of the novellas for this series.*

***This is the second book in a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the first book, so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.***

I definitely enjoyed reading Shatter Me more. But this book did leave me wanting more. Needing to know what else happens and I immediately started reading Ignite Me upon finishing this one.

I found Juliette to be a little annoying in this book. I don't know why exactly but she bugged me a little. Maybe it was on purpose to give her character a change to grow and change. But she bugged me. I felt that she couldn't make up her mind about what she wanted (yeah, I realize she is a teenager and I as an adult have difficulty making decisions) but for some reason, this time it annoyed me a little bit.
I felt most of the book she spent focusing on Adam, and crying about Adam. But then Warner shows up and it felt like she almost completely forgot about Adam, and what else was going on. She focused more on Warner.

I did find the stuff that was going on with Adam to be interesting. And I was really wanting to know the details and what was happening. I needed to know what was going on with him.

But I didn't really like that his character changed a lot. I felt like he went from being this sweet, loving guy to someone that was kinda mean.

Something that I REALLY loved in this story was more Kenji. I really like his character, and I am glad that we see more Kenji in this book. I also that we see more development with his character and the beginning of a friendship between Juliette and Kenji.

And yes. My fierce HATE for Warner did fade during this book. In fact this is what I posted on Twitter right after finishing the book:

But at the end of Unravel Me I am still #TeamAdam. (At least I think so, but I am not 100% sure like I used to be...)

Unravel Me is a lot like Shatter Me with the writing style. And I know there are people that do not enjoy reading Mafi's purple prose and the use of strike through. But most of the time it doesn't bother me. I quite enjoyed reading a writing style that is different from what I usually read. (It can be good to mix it up.)

I did feel that the beginning of the book 2 is a little slower. And there isn't a lot of action at the beginning. But there were some surprises and shocks that I didn't see coming. And the action picks up.

If you enjoyed reading Shatter Me then I recommend continuing the story. And don't stop if you think the beginning is moving a little slow, it does pick up. And by the end I couldn't wait to start Ignite Me.

Rebel Heart by Moira Young

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Title: Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2)
Author: Moira Young
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Action and Adventure, Science Fiction
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Source: Hardback (purchased)
Read: January 2014

Saba thought her world would return to normal after they defeated the Tonton and rescued her kidnapped brother Lugh. The family head west for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But a formidable enemy is on the rise. What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

***This is the second book in a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the first book, so if you haven't read Blood Red Road and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.***

Overall, I really liked the story. I enjoyed that the action and adventure continued. But I didn't like it as much as I liked reading the first book.

And there were several things that surprised me. Some plot twists that I didn't see coming.

And now there are questions. The ending was a cliffhanger (for me at least)! And now I MUST know what happens.

So I can't wait until the final book comes out in May!

The Characters:
Saba: We get to read about a different side of Saba. In the first book she is determined, strong, and stubborn. But in the beggining of this book, she has been overcome by the emotions of her actions from the last book's ending. She has to get through the guilt and find the strength to accept what she has done and move on. I like that Young wrote Saba this way. I feel that it is more realistic and believable, that our heroine, would be feeling the pain and guilt from what she had to do. We read as Saba finds a way to overcome this pain and move on. We also get to read how she grows as a character, no longer needing to be tethered to Lugh. She becomes ready for being herself without always thinking of how Lugh would react, think, or what he would want her to do.
Lugh: He drove me a bit crazy in this book. I started to not like him as much. I felt that he wasn't very appreciative of everything that Saba had to go through to find him. And at times I felt like he was just bringing her down, instead of trying to help her get through the pain she was in.
Jack: Jack had a very small part in this book. (At least that is how it felt to me.) I definitely wanted some more Jack.
Emmi: Emmi is another character that I feel like I didn't read much about in this book. I like how she did try to help take care of Saba. And I like that their relationship didn't seem to fall apart.

The Story:
I did feel that this story started off a bit slower then the first book did. And it did take a little time for the action and adventure to pick up. But I also felt that all the stuff that Saba had to go through in the beginning (like seeing the spirits of others) was an interesting and important part of the story. It helps make Saba more human and grounded. And it gives her another challenge that she has to overcome.

There were several surprises that I didn't see coming and they added suspense and interest to the story.

But there were some events in the book that frustrated me.

Like the new love triangle.

And the fact that all the guys are now in love with Saba.

The story really picks up when Saba starts to feel better and takes off to find Jack. And from that point on, readers are then swept back into the action and adventure.

I am glad that I read this book, and it is a book that I would read again.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

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Title: Blood Red Road 
(Dust Lands #1)
Author: Moira Young
Length: 466 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Action and Adventure, Science Fiction
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Source: e-book (purchased)

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba's world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. (From Amazon)

My Rating: 






At first I had a hard time getting into this book. I don't know exactly all the reasons why, but one of them was due to the writing style. Specifically the dialect that the book was written in.

But I didn't give up and as I continued reading the story, I started to LOVE the way it was written. The dialect makes sense. They live in a time where they wouldn't be taught the "correct" pronunciation of words. They do not go to school and books aren't that common.
I think the author did an amazing job capturing the type of dialect that we could expect in a future where children are not taught "proper English".

If you have been trying to read this book, but gave up due to this, I strongly urge you to give it another chance. Just keep reading, and hopefully you too will hit that point where it feels normal. It is part of the story. And I think the story wouldn't be the same without it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was one of those that I read pretty quickly and had a hard time putting it down after the first few chapters.

The story focuses on Saba's point of view. She pretty much watches her twin brother get taken away from the very first chapter of the book. Then she goes after him to save him.

I thought the love between siblings was very touching in this story. Saba pretty blantently favors her twin brother Lugh over her little sister, Emmi. But I love how the relationship between Saba and Emmi begins to blossom.

I LOVE how this book is full of action and adventure. There were some surprises and twists that I didn't see coming.

The Characters:
And I definitely began to love these characters.
Saba: At first I had mixed feelings for her. She is the main character and I know that I am supposed to like her, but I didn't really like how she was acting toward her sister. Saba is strong and fierce. She is also stubborn. And her character grew on me. The more she developed the more I loved her.
Lugh:  He is mysterious and you constantly wonder what is happening with him.
Emmi: I loved how Emmi develops through the story.

We come across several other characters, ranging from bad guys to allies. And I must say, I found them all to be pretty interesting.

I love Jack. And the Free Hawks are so cool.

I think the author did an awesome job developing these characters!

The Story:

Full of action and adventure. There were times that I "would be on the edge of my seat". And it was really difficult for me to put the book down to do the others things that I needed to get done.

I will definitely reread this book in the future. It is one of my favorite Dystopia books.

I couldn't wait to start the following book in the series after I finished this one. And now I am really anxious to see how it ends in May.

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

(source)

Title: Into the Still Blue

Author: Veronica Rossi

Length: 400 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Source: E-book (purchased)

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do—and they are just as determined to stay together.

Within the confines of a cave they're using as a makeshift refuge, they struggle to reconcile their people, Dwellers and Outsiders, who are united only in their hatred of their desperate situation. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. Then Roar arrives in a grief-stricken fury, endangering all with his need for revenge.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble an unlikely team for an impossible rescue mission. Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival—he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most. (From Amazon)

My Rating:

**This is the final installment in a trilogy, so this review will involve things that happened in the previous two books, if you haven't read them, then you should stop reading here.**

I hope I will be able to find the words to describe how much I LOVE this book. I think as a book lover, sometimes endings to trilogies and series can leave me unsatisfied. Sometimes it is just because I didn't care for the way that the book ended. Sometimes the main character doesn't end up with the person you want them to. And sometimes you just find the ending abrupt, leaving you with more questions then answers.

I did not feel that way with this book. I did feel like the ending came too soon, not because it was abrupt, but more because I was not ready to leave this world. I wanted more Aria, Perry and Roar. I don't want their story to be over.

And I think that my sadness about the story being over just further proves how much I love this series.

But I accept that it is time for the series to end, and I am glad that I liked the ending.

I think Veronica Rossi is an AMAZING writer! Seriously she is wonderful. For me her writing flows so smoothly that I don't even realize how far I am into the book until I stop and look. Then I usually freak out, thinking "NO!!! It is going to end soon. I want more!"

The Characters:
I love all these characters. They are all so well written!

She created wonderful relationships. Not just lovey-dovey relationships. But also some of the strongest friendships that I have ever read.

And I feel she shows all the sides. The tough times and the best times. Friends fight. Friends can become jealous of one another and even jealous of their other friends' relationship/friendship. But more importantly friends can overcome these obstacles and flourish.

In this book, Perry and Roar's friendship is strained. And Roar is in a bad place all together. I feel so heartbroken for him. Perry and Aria's relationship has some pressure on it too. Perry is upset for what happened in Through the Ever Night. And I also thought that Perry is a bit upset over the really close friendship that Aria and Roar have.

Aria and Roar.. Their friendship is amazing. I LOVE IT! And when I read the first book, Under the Never Sky, I was a little concerned. I was worried that there was going to be a love triangle between Aria, Roar and Perry. And part of me did want there to be...because I really love Roar. But I am glad that there isn't.
Which means I can have Roar, right?

We get to see Perry and Aria work through their relationship and fix things that might have been strained from when Aria took off with Roar without telling Perry.


The Story:
I loved the story. I thought it was an amazing continuation of a story that I have come to really love. The main characters are trying to find a better place to live. They encounter issues and problems along the way. And I loved getting to read about these situations.

I found this book to be full of some surprises that I didn't see coming. There were a few that I was able to guess about, but I didn't think that it took away from the book.

We get to "watch" our loved characters overcome struggles. Aria is struggling with an injury, Perry is struggling with doing what is best for his people, and Roar is struggling with Olivia's death.

I do think there were times where the writing brought some tears to my eyes.

But overall, I am satisfied with the ending. (I do wish that it didn't have to end, but I know that it had to.)

This is easily one of my favorite series, and I am so glad that I read this series. And I will read anything else Veronica Rossi writes because I love her writing and think she is amazing.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

(source)

Title: Steelheart

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Length: 394 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Release Date: September 24, 2013

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.
But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.
Nobody fights the Epics . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

My Rating:

I LOVED this book! It was awesome. FANTASTIC! This is my first Brandon Sanderson book. And I really enjoyed his writing, so I plan on looking into some of his other books and add them to my to read list.

I really loved Sanderson's take on Superheroes. In this world superheroes are really called Epics. And they are not your average superheroes that help the troubled and save lives. No Epics are all about themselves. They definitely don't appear to be running around the cities saving people's lives. No, Epics are the ones with the power and the ones that are running things. Controlling the cities. Some of them even take lives. In this book the ones that we would have called Superheroes (guys and gals with abilities/powers) are actually kinda evil. (Well maybe not all of them.)

And that is where the Reckoners come in. They want to take down the Epics.

This book is packed with action. Fast-paced, heart-pounding, incredible action that made the book hard to put down.

I loved the characters! They are all so interesting! And I felt that I could form connections to these characters.

And I felt that it had some really good plot twists. This book kept me guessing. I only made a couple guesses that I felt confident about, and I only got one of them PARTIALLY right.

I finished this book wanting more. I can't wait until the next book in this series comes out!


SPOILERS AHEAD.



STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BOOK.
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I really loved when David joined the Reckoners. Finding a way to take down Steelheart is pretty much all that David has focused on since his father's death. And I liked that he was able to find a group that he believed that he needed to become a part of.
I think in some ways this book was a bit different then the books that I usually read. With the biggest difference being there is no HUGE EPIC ROMANCE!
In fact several times while reading this book I had to keep reminding myself: "This is not a romance".
I really wanted David to be with Megan. And I think that is because I read a lot of romance books where they end up being together.
And it is obvious that he has some feelings for her!
I wasn't really sure how she felt about him.
So one plot twist that got me- Prof. Prof is an Epic! Oh my goodness. I was so surprised. Him coming and saving Megan and David, it was so great. I found his character to be even more interesting then I had originally thought. I am looking forward to learning more about him.
Okay. So when Megan died, I just had the feeling that she wasn't really dead. I didn't know how or why, but I just kept thinking she must be an Epic or something. She can't really be dead. Plus she couldn't use the tensor.
But I didn't realize that she would be Firelight! Seriously, I think that was the biggest plot twist for me!!! And she seems to be so confused. Like she doesn't know what she should do. After finding out her secret, all I could think was, "makes total sense." All the little things about her added up.
Now that Steelheart is dead, I am interested in the Epic that will take his place. Will it be Firelight? Will Firelight be evil or try and change things?
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END OF SPOILERS!

I am really interested to see what happens next. I am so excited that there will be a book 2. According to GoodReads it is titled Firelight and will be published in 2014. Not sure when exactly. But I am looking forward to it.

Legend by Marie Lu

(source)

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Length: 305 pages

Publisher: Speak (Penguin Group)

Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian

Release Date: November 29, 2011






My Rating:

I LOVE this book. I knew after reading it that this was going on my Favorite Series list/shelf.

I found this book to be action packed and I had a hard time putting it down.

This book is based in a broken America. It is primarily split into two sides, the Republic and the Colonies. There is also a group of people known as the Patriots.
Not to mention there is a plague that is killing people (mostly in the lower sector since the more wealthy can afford shots to protect them from the plague).

The story is told from two different points of view. Day and June.

Day is the Republic's most wanted criminal.
June is a prodigy of the Republic and starts to work for the military.

I liked the plot of the story. Day's brother catches the plague and so Day does pretty much anything he can do to get his hands on the cure to save his brother's life.

I really like Day's character. She is strong, determined and cares for others in his life. He will do anything including risking his life to save/protect those he loves. And I love it! Yes there were parts of his speech that annoyed me a little bit, like how he calls everyone cousin. But it didn't annoy me enough to quit reading or even take away from the overall loveness of this book.

I liked June's character. She is strong and determined too. I think her and Day were quite similar in a lot of ways. But instead of being a criminal, she is part of the top military of the Republic.




Spoilers ahead. Stop reading if you don't want to know what happens during the story. 
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I was surprised when June's brother died.

...probably because I didn't read anything about what happens in the series (not even the information on the book) before picking it up to read. I had seen good reviews and that it was a dystopian, so I knew I would end up liking it so I didn't need to know much about it.

But I was, especially when we read from Day's point of view of him hitting Metias in the shoulder with the knife.

I was also really surprised that Day was able to jump from such a height and not really get hurt. Especially since he already had a bum knee.

Then we have June going to look at her brother's dead body, being told that Day is the one that murdered him.
Which I immediately took note, that I did not believe that Day did it. Because he hit him in the shoulder. I made a note saying "did someone else move the knife and kill Metias?"

But I kept thinking, if Day didn't do it then who did? My mind thought to different soldiers, the captain, or even maybe someone else that had been on the streets. I just didn't think that Day did it. (Maybe I just didn't want to believe that the character I started to like could do something like that...)

June is very smart and she went under cover to find Day.

She didn't really have to look long. She ended up stumbling into the cage match that he had been at to win some money to buy a cure. And she ended up taking the place of Tess (Day's best friend) and fought in the cage match.

She gets stabbed and runs off. Where Day comes to the rescue. She doesn't realize that it is Day at the beginning (which I found easy to believe) and ends up staying with them for a few days.

They kiss.
They both really like it.

Then she figures out that he is Day. She follows him to his family's house and then is able to make a report about it to her superiors.

I was a bit surprised that she still turned him in. I thought there was starting to be something between them, and figured she would probably hold out a little bit longer and maybe find out what happened before turning him in.

Nope, I was wrong. The next morning they came for his family and when he got there he found a trap. All thanks to June turning him in.

Not to mention they killed his Mom, right then and there. Took his brothers into custody and captured Day.
I felt so bad for him.
And I also felt anger towards June.
Maybe because I thought her act of revenge to capture her brother's killer was not really happening. Since I still thought that Day didn't do it. But I was a bit surprised that she went through with it. I thought she might help him or something.

Later on in the story we find out that she finally believes him about not killing her brother. And she finds some interesting information regarding her brother and her parents.

I loved the puzzle that Metias left for June. I thought it was so creative!

Also finding out that Day also scored a perfect on his trials was surprising. I didn't see that coming. I did think a couple times that there had to be some kind of mistake with his score. But I didn't think that it would be him getting a perfect score like June.

Another thing that had taken me by surprise was the fact that Metias loved Thomas. I totally didn't see it coming either. And it really made me sad for June and Metias (about his death) when she found all the information that he had discovered. I wish he didn't die. But I also liked his advice to her. He was a very good big brother.

I found Day's flashbacks to his childhood to be interesting. Especially about his necklace.

And the banquet that they had to celebrate Day's capture. The second we were introduced to Anden there was going to be our LOVE TRIANGLE.

I love June's determination. And her desire to do what is right. After finding out that Day didn't kill her brother, she decides she needs to help him escape. She wanted him captured for justice, but when she learns that he is the wrong guy, she wants to get him out.

I knew when his execution date got pushed up that something was going to go wrong with the escape plan and I was really worried for June's safety as well as Day's.

And then we have one of the biggest surprises of all for me was when June and Day escaped, and John was executed as Day. This really broke my heart. John (Day's older brother) pretended to be Day (since they look similar) and was executed in his place. Which gave Day the chance to get out. To survive.
It made me so SAD. I felt so heartbroken for Day. Between him and June, they both pretty much have lost everyone. Parents. Siblings. At least Day still had Eden (which they weren't able to get to yet).

And the ending made me want to immediately start reading the next book!

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END OF SPOILERS


So I really loved this book! And I recommend it to anyone that likes to read YA dystopians and likes action and adventure.