Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 398
Format: Paperback
Published March 3, 2011 by Razorbill
Originally published January 11, 2011
Goodreads // Amazon UK

AMY
has left the life she loves
for a world 300 years away.

Trapped in space and frozen in time, Amy is bound for a new planet. But fifty years before she's due to arrive, she is violently woken, the victim of an attempted murder. Now Amy's lost on board and nothing makes sense - she's never felt so alone.

Yet someone is waiting for her.
He wants to protect her -
and more if she'll let him

But who can she trust amidst the secrets and lies?
A killer is out there - and Amy has nowhere to hide...

Across the Universe is a truly fast-paced and mysterious science fiction romance with elaborate world building. Does that sound like too much to you? Well, I too was surprised at how much was craftily woven into this fantastic novel. Beth Revis even managed to pull off (fantastically, I might add) alternating point of views between Amy and Elder, the boy destined to become the ship leader's successor.

If I had to pick my one favourite aspect of this novel, it would have to be the world building. Life on the ship was so skilfully peppered with a seriously original setting aboard an enormous spaceship headed for another earth-like planet. Food is grown to the book and population is controlled through calculated hormonal urges. There are a lot of creative ways the ship inhabitants have to survive without knowing about the frozen people in the levels below. I cannot praise it enough! 

The characters of this book were really well suited to each other. Amy stuck out like a sore thumb not only with her red hair and pale skin while everyone else had brown hair and olive skin, but she awoke on the ship with the thoughts of someone from the old earth. Having been woken up too early, she is the only one who remembers life on earth and isn't afraid to tell people how life should be. Elder is a genuinely sweet yet defiant character. With Amy's influence, he's able to see the wrong in the status quo aboard this ship and will stop at just about nothing to correct it. Their romance was slow and sweet and truly believable.

What kept me from giving the book five stars was the murderer. As the mystery of the frozen people murders was such an instrumental part of the book, I was disappointed with the murderer. I felt like it was obvious the whole time who was doing it, but I was still intrigued as I felt we were still kept in the dark about why the murders were happening in the first place.

This book is a definite must read to anyone into science fiction. I think it would even suit those put-off by other science fiction books before, as it does have a strong dystopian aspect and romance. I can't wait to get a copy of A Million Suns, the second book in this series!

Review: A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 346
Format: Paperback
Published January 5, 2012 by Hodder Children's Books
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

I picked up A Witch in Winter not expecting much from it and merely hoping for a mildly entertaining read on the bus. What I got once I started reading it was something else! This book was simply great. A seriously fast paced plot with a magical air about it. Another expectation blown!

Winter is a very eerie and damp sort of village that Ruth Warburton does a fantastic job of describing. The main character, Anna, is the clash having come to Winter straight from London when her dad moves her out there. If I hadn't been living in the UK for 18 months now, I think I'd have a bit of trouble understanding a lot of the British terms, especially in Anna's school setting. From an American perspective where the UK is something of a novelty, this book won't disappoint! You just might need to look up what an aga is.

The world building is formed around the town and a traditional witch-world of covens and spells. It's the right amount of keeping up with paranormal traditions while adding in some originality. I adored the house Anna's dad bought. It's creepy and old with a lot of mystery about it. Overall, Ruth Warburton blended in her world building seamlessly into the plot without making the whole book about it. Sometimes it's hard to find a book that does that.

The way Ruth Warburton wrote the characters was one of the main reasons I enjoyed this book. From the start when Anna cast a spell on Seth, you could watch the transformation of their relationship from beginning to end. From farcical love spell to a sincerely sweet romance. Seth was one of the sweetest and self-sacrificing love interests I've had the pleasure to read and Anna really grew on me.

I didn't find the book perfect. There were some flaws I found in the antagonists (mainly I just didn't find them all that threatening and a little hokey), but it was an extremely enjoyable read and I will definitely pick up the second book, A Witch in Love when it comes out this summer. Tehre are still plenty of questions to be answered, chiefly what kind of powers Anna has and if her mother had anything to do with the witch world. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who likes the traditional grimoire-coven witch world.

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 245
Format: e-book
Published April 10, 2012 by Delacorte Books 
First Published March 13, 2012
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

There are so many dystopian books out there for Young Adult readers, and some of them leave me feeling empty. Sometimes the point of dystopian books are for the author to showcase their world building skills. I always enjoy a book more when there's a healthy dose of world building. Starters doesn't disappoint with that. Since reading Divergent, I've been on the hunt for a good world building book and I think I've found it in this debut author novel. While the world building of Starters isn't perfect (I'll get to that in a second), I'm simply happy to see it at all. It really isn't done halfway.


I've read quite a few reviews for this book, and many people have a lot of gripes with the world building. I didn't see needing to know why the Spore Wars happened in the first place as being an issue. The book was written from the perspective of someone who would have been a preteen when the war broke out, so of course she wouldn't know the details. The only beef I have, like a lot of people, were the ages chosen for the spore vaccine. To combat the spore attacks, only the vulnerable populations were able to get vaccinated. For this society, that meant under 20 and over 60. But in a world where people can live up to 200 I'd think that 60 would be the new 30. The age choices didn't make sense to me. Mini-rant over.

That being said, let's get onto the good stuff. I couldn't keep myself away from this book! Even at work, I was itching for my lunch break to read it. It's a total page turner. Price fills the book with mystery, suspense, and some pretty darn good action. I think I'd recommend this book to fans of Stephenie Meyer's The Host. It's got the same amount of world building and suspense. And people inhabiting someone else's body. I can't wait to read the second and final instalment, Enders. It's expected to be out in December this year. Eight months!

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 272
Format: e-book
Published February 7, 2012 by Penguin Group
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

I didn't know much about this book before I picked it up, other than it was a witchy historical fiction novel, but I still had high hopes for it because of the great reviews I read. After having read it, I wish I'd had more things to say about this book. The setting is a very alternate turn of the 19th century New England. I didn't dislike the setting, in fact, I feel as though it was one of the book's redeeming qualities to have such an original historical setting. It wasn't just historical fiction with witches, this New England had a completely different history and political set up. When it came to the beginning of this book, that's where my praise sort of stops.

The first half of the book I was not that engaged in it. All I read was "blah blah blah the Brotherhood is bad". Not a whole lot happened until Cate learned about the prophecy. Then it got interesting. After I read about why the Cahil sisters were in danger I couldn't put the book down! The world of secrets and witches finally comes to life. I think it was very clear by the end of the novel that this is just a foundation book. This book laid out the history and world of witches, while the other books in the series will hold all the action (I hope).

I really liked the characters and character building. I felt as though the relationships between the three girls were very believable and an accurate glimpse at siblinghood. The only character I got annoyed with was Cate. I don't know how to describe her other than by calling her a party-pooper. She's probably the most uptight character I've read in a really long time, though necessarily so. She has to be the responsible one, since no other witch appears to be. The only time she lets her hair down is around Finn. Oh, Finn! I was incredibly excited to see such a nerdy and adorable guy be a love interest in a book. He just really did it for me! Finn and Cate's forbidden fling was the best part of reading through Cate's point of view. They're probably my new favourite fictional couple in a long time.

I didn't give this book four stars because of the beginning. In my opinion, it was slow and took too long for anything much to happen. I did, however, enjoy the rest of the book immensely so I'm giving it three stars. I wish it was more. I'd say read this book if you like corsets and magic. You won't be disappointed if you don't want much more out of this book!

Review: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: e-book
Published March 1, 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire
Goodreads // Amazon UK

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

I've had some pretty lame experiences with angel books, though lately my feelings have changed! Embrace is an original take on the world of angels and humans with a decently fresh heroine. As I was reading it, I completely forgot that this was a debut novel. That's a really good sign in my book. Or in Jessica Shirvington's book.

The story itself was pretty good. Violet is thrown into the world of the Grigori and hunted by exiled angels. The mythology and background information was extremely interesting. I was constantly wanting to know more and it kept me turning the pages. I've always been fascinated by angels and heaven and their darker counterparts. This book doesn't disappoint in that department. I felt Violet's frustration of having her world change around her and being told she's special for a Grigori and not getting any answers. I want answers!

The characters were where it became mediocre to me. Not that they were badly written, it's just that I thought they were really predictable. Violet is a very resolute and strong character, it just annoyed me that she thought she could go to a night club without running into trouble when she knew she was being followed and she had been warned. Goodness. Now for the love interests, Lincoln and Phoenix. Lincoln was written as nearly perfect, so he never did any wrong except in Violet's eyes. Phoenix was just really creepy. He's manipulative and obsessed with Violet. Because of this, I couldn't get myself to care about him- I just wanted him to go away.

Embrace isn't perfect, but it was a seriously interesting page turner so I gave it four stars. Overall, I think it is a really great debut for a lot of readers. Read it if you've been spurned by angel fiction before or read it if you're really into mythology and angel hierarchy. I'll read the next instalment, as Embrace left me with so many questions.

Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pages: 248

Genre: Dystopian, Romance
Format: e-book
Published February 28, 2012 by HarperCollins
Goodreads // Amazon

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

This book was an amazing follow up to Delirium! I ended up completely falling for this book and devouring two thirds of it in one sitting. The summaries of the book I've found have all been very vague, but I think that's to avoid spoiling the end of Delirium. You can read my review of that book here.

The book transitions between two story lines- Lena's past and Lena's present. When I'd read other reviews mentioning this part of the book I was a little annoyed. Fortunately, upon reading this I can say that I was proven wrong! The alternating chapters were done extremely well and it really added something special to the story. The reader gets a glimpse at how far Lena has come since the end of Delirium. This just adds to the emotional rollercoaster that Lauren Oliver masterfully creates.

I really liked Lena in this book. While Delirium focuses on Lena growing up and finding out what love is all about, Pandemonium is about emotional healing and maturing. Even after all that happened to her she just becomes one of the strongest characters I've read in a long time. She ends up going from the rescued to the rescuer and that's due to a couple new characters. I ended up really liking Raven. She takes Lena under her wing and she knows the meaning of tough love and she does it with so much complexity. I constantly want to know more about her and the other characters Lena comes to meet. I feel like I can't discuss them without giving away a lot of the plot. After the ending of Delirium, I was expecting an emotional ride with some new characters introduced. We got that, but the rest of the story was just so different from my expectations. I wasn't prepared for a new love interest to be introduced and I wasn't prepared for me to not like him. The majority of the scenes he was in I felt like Lena was babysitting him. I can't wait to see what happens in Requiem.

Everything aside, the writing in this book is just absolutely fantastic. I love how the story unfolds before us in an even better way than Delirium. I have nothing but great things to say about Lauren Oliver as an author. The books of the Delirium trilogy have absolutely lived up to their hype

As per Lauren Oliver's style (so it seems), this book ended with a serious cliffhanger. I can't wait for the third instalment to answer all of the many questions that ending gave me! I'd definitely recommend this series to someone who is hesitant to get into dystopian literature. This one is a very plausible (for a dystopian) story, made real by the raw emotion of the main character.

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Pages: 435

Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Format: Paperback (UK)
Published by Egmont Books
Originally Published January 4, 2011 by HarperTeen
Goodreads // Amazon

In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

This book was an adventurous ride! I can't believe I didn't pick it up before. I wasn't so sure about angel teen romance, but this book has me convinced unlike Hush, Hush. Because the point of view was from Clara, the teen angel-blood, we learned a lot about her world and why she was motivated to act the way she did. I think this makes it more believable this way around

I was enraptured by the romance in this book. It seemed so natural rather than the usual high school paranormal romance with their BAM, I love yous. Clara becomes entangled with Christian because he's the boy in her visions to the point where she doesn't notice Tucker, the slow flame. Two genuinely nice guys with something different to offer Clara. Usually, love triangles sort of annoy me, but somehow this one is done really nicely. I truly feel Clara's heart tugged back and forth as she battles her thoughts on where her destiny (literally, not just teenage drama) and her heart lie.

The characters were original and well done. I enjoyed Clara's two good friends Wendy and Angela. She can get help with her human and angelic problems from them. I also thought Clara's mom Meg and brother Jeffrey were great additions. Sometimes in teen novels, family just becomes a plot device, but these two each had a purpose and actually added something to the story.

Even though Clara is part angel, I still could tell that she was just a teenage girl. Her problems seemed real and she seemed vulnerable and complex at the same time. I enjoyed reading from her perspective. She's really witty and funny and written like a real teenager. She reacted to situations in ways I feel I would have. Having a purpose in life is daunting when you're only 16 or 17!

I definitely recommend this book to someone who feels that there's often something missing in teen paranormal romance. Whatever you've been missing, you'll find it here. I wouldn't say this novel was ground-breaking, but it is something seriously enjoyable like a great guilty pleasure. I'll definitely be reading the next novel and novel to come!

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadow

Pages: 234
Format: e-book
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Published January 31, 2012 by Harper Collins
Goodreads // Amazon

New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

The beginning of this book was rather confusing to me, and to be honest, I didn't enjoy it so much. I didn't understand why Sam would just take Ana in for weeks without question. I kept wondering what was in it for him because in the beginning Ana had some real self-worth problems and was rather doom and gloom. He quickly becomes rather possessive over her because she's something new and interesting. For some reason, I couldn't help thinking that he acted rather like Edward Cullen. He even wrote her own song for her on the piano.

Halfway through the book, after Ana accepts herself, the book actually gets interesting! I'm still rather dubious about Sam and his motivation for falling head over heels so quickly for her, but I start to accept that they have a relationship. Things get exciting once it becomes clear that Ana is in danger, as many people think she is an omen of the end of reincarnation. We learn quite a bit more and the ending had me turning the pages enraptured. There were dragon attacks! That was so awesome!

Jodi Meadows isn't a perfect writer. Some of the plot had technical issues for me, but I have to give her credit for being so original! Also, that girl used tons of words that I had assumed were quite advanced for Young Adult books and she made the descriptions in her book so intelligent rather than average. Kudos for that.

It's really up in the air whether I'll read more of the series, though it does somehow leave me wanting more. How does a book that I feel so hot and cold over do that to me? Overall, if you like the twilight-esque romance (or obsession) that seems to develop rather too quickly, this book is for you! Also, I can't ignore the fact that if someone finds the premise of souls reincarnating fascinating then this book will actually be as interesting as it promises. It will be.

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Pages: 455

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format: Paperback
Published by Scholastic
First Published August 24, 2010 by Scholastic Press

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

This book, simply put, was a spectacular finish to the Hunger Games trilogy. Throughout the book, I truly felt the pressure and responsibility placed on Katniss's shoulders. There is pressure from the Capitol and President Snow who want to snuff out the hope stirred by the Mockingjay. There's pressure to perform well and act as a beacon of hope for the other districts starting to fight. And of course, there's pressure from District 13 and Katniss must act like their puppet in order to ensure the safety of those she cares about.

Mockingjay is filled with so much angst from so many directions I felt as though I might explode! This complexity of a sort is absolutely brilliant. Collins writes the finale in a way that makes the reader become emotionally invested in all the characters and the rebellion itself. The plot became numbing when Katniss herself was emotionally numbed and it became thrilling when Katniss was a daredevil. It definitely became an emotional roller coaster right off the bat.

To be honest, I wasn't too into this book until halfway through when the action picked up. That was when it became apparent that many people were going to be sacrificed for the sake of the rebellion. Some of the deaths really tore me up, while others I had predicted as I knew how they would affect Katniss. These are characters that you've emotionally vested yourself with and they perform brilliantly and your heart breaks with theirs. I truly felt like this story was a broken bone that had to be re-broken just to heal properly. So much damage has to be done before Panem can heal.

While this book was certainly more emotional that the previous two, I just didn't like it as much. The characters had truly grown past their witty and marginally happy selves (if you can believe that) and had significantly changed with the rebellion dangling in their face. This is completely justified, however, as anyone would change with such a daunting task; I simply enjoyed the atmosphere of the first two books.

Despite my small nitpickings of this book, this is a truly smashing hit of a finale to a terrific series. I would recommend it to anyone who may have thought the first two books were not death-ridden enough!

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Pages: 393
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Published by Hodder
Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

Lena Haloway is content in her safe, government-managed society. She feels (mostly) relaxed about the future in which her husband and career will be decided, and looks forward to turning 18, when she’ll be cured of deliria, a.k.a. love. She tries not to think about her mother’s suicide (her last words to Lena were a forbidden “I love you”) or the supposed “Invalid” community made up of the uncured just beyond her Portland, Maine, border. There’s no real point—she believes her government knows how to best protect its people, and should do so at any cost. But 95 days before her cure, Lena meets Alex, a confident and mysterious young man who makes her heart flutter and her skin turn red-hot. As their romance blossoms, Lena begins to doubt the intentions of those in power, and fears that her world will turn gray should she submit to the procedure. In this powerful and beautifully written novel, Lauren Oliver, the bestselling author of Before I Fall, throws readers into a tightly controlled society where options don’t exist, and shows not only the lengths one will go for a chance at freedom, but also the true meaning of sacrifice. --Jessica Schein

Delirium is the kind of book that plays with your mind long after you've put it down. It's a very emotional and chilling tale that puts you right in Lena, the main character's, mind. It's somehow becomes an amazing addition to the YA dystopian trend while remaining different at the same time. This isn't an extremely action-riddled story nor are there aggressive science fiction additions to this dystopian world. It's actually a romance. And an ridiculously well-written one at that.

I absolutely gobbled this book up, immediately immersing myself in Lena's life because she's just so darn likeable. There's nothing remarkably special about this girl other than her curiosity and I feel that most readers would actually relate to her. Everything she does is believable and I think that's what sucks you in. She isn't a kick-ass fighter or a tough chick of any kind, she's simply Lena. She's very easy to get wrapped up in. And Alex, oh Alex! He's mysterious in a non-hokey way and just so darn understanding of Lena's reluctance to break from the status quo. Get excited, because that's exactly what she does in this book!

The plot really picks up in the last third of this book. I only put the book down for the necessary breaks that human beings need and devoured the ending. The very end of this book is an amazing cliffhanger of the worst kind! Gah! This means that I'll have to pick up Pandemonium, the second book when I can.

Lauren Oliver is just a simply amazing author. The plot line is somehow this perfect medium of complexity and simplicity and her writing is just beautiful. There is this sense of a quiet before a storm. I would seriously recommend this book to any reader, especially someone who is an avid YA Contemporary reader looking to dabble in some dystopian fiction.

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Pages: 391
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format: Paperback
Published by Scholastic
Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

This book was a spectacular follow up to The Hunger Games. The end of The Hunger Games washed a sense of relief over me as I got the ending I was hoping for all along. The action picked up rather quickly after a brief setting of the scene. Every sliver of relief is very soon thrown aside as Katniss and Peeta are plunged back into the horror exponentially worse than the first book. Katniss and Peeta are called back into the Hunger Games by a twist of events. President Snow does not like Katniss and every reader can tell! The contempt seeps through the pages. The 75th Hunger Games is a special anniversary called a Quarter Quell and the entertainment is supposed to be far greater for those watching the games.

I could not put down this book. At. All. The characters introduced in this book are just fabulous and Katniss does not know who to trust or who to kill. Finnick quickly becomes my favourite as his charm is funny and endearing and his past makes him extremely likeable. Whispers of rebellion trickle through the Districts and Peeta and Katniss' refusal to give in inspires the readers as well as the fictional hopeful rebels. However, this ain't no fairytale. The plot begins raging out of control (in a fabulous way) as Katniss feels the rebellion creeping up on her heels watching every move she makes. Whatever sense of responsibility Katniss felt for the hope of the Districts is proven to be far greater than she expected.

Peeta makes me like him even more. His emotional strength and love for Katniss has absolutely no bounds in this book. I admire his determination and wrinkle my nose at Katniss' inability to see how much he loves her. Yes, Gale quickly becomes a stronger suitor in this second instalment than in the first, but I can tell you that I'm definitely a Team Peeta supporter!

This book is nonstop action and absolultely brilliant. I don't think this book is as jaw-droppingly fantastic as the first, but the cliffhanger ending will leave every reader begging for the third book and proclaiming this series as fantastic.

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Pages: 374

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian

Format: Paperback
Published by Scholastic

Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.  - from Goodreads.com

After finishing all three books of this series, I still am baffled! How did I pass these books by? I know I had reservations, mainly due to the hype, but let's be honest, The Hunger Games have never been hyped up like they are in these short weeks before the movie release. You can read a bit on why I didn't pick these books up until the last minute over at this post.

I loved everything about this book. The dystopian world, the concept of the Hunger Games themselves, the characters, the pacing, the plot. I could go on and on! Collins has definitely created an unputdownable masterpiece of YA reading. The bleakness of Panem and District 12 was done perfectly and set the tone for the entire book series. As a reader, you feel the suffering and injustice before you even read about the terribleness of the Hunger Games. Even now, two days after putting the last book down, I am amazed at how the feeling of destruction, yet hope of the series lingers in your brain.

The characters were so original. I especially admired Katniss for her incessant determination and brashness. I love characters with gumption and who don't sit back and whine. However, Katniss wasn't completely cold. She has a vulnerability in her love for others, especially her mother and sister, and in her home District 12. Her best friend (possibly more then friend?) Gale is the reflection of her rebelliousness and her partner in crime, taking risks to feed each others' family by hunting in the forest beyond their fenced in town. Peeta is the vulnerable, yet selfless character in the book. When chosen to be District 12's male tribute in the Hunger Games, he quickly realises that Katniss has a better chance at succeeding and devises a secret plan to help her. Haymitch (another of my favorites!) is a former tribute of the Games from District 12. He won his game decades ago and is tasked with being the mentor to Katniss and Peeta when they're taken to the Capitol. He represents the aftermath and self-destruction that could face Katniss or Peeta if they survive the Games, as he's a raging, lonely alcoholic.

The pacing of this book was incredible. It was so quick, slowing down only when Katniss did, and I ate up every single word. I also was blown away by how gruesome some of the scenes were. Let's face it, if 24 kids go into the arena and one 1 comes out, you've got to anticipate many deaths. The gore wasn't too overdone, but it Collins didn't try to baby us by censoring everything. For a giant death-match, it was actually tasteful.

Simply put, if you love dystopian worlds or action in your novels, you will enjoy this book. I don't often think books are 10 out of 10 stunners. Don't let the hype put you off! Go pick it up!

Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Pages: 288
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Paperback
Published by HarperTeen
Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

First of all, it’s been a while since I’ve read an entire book in one day. A couple weeks ago, I was ill and alone in the house while my man was at work and I read Firelight in about two sittings. It isn’t the longest book in the world; in fact, it’s a pretty quick read. But a decent read. It was something I took a little risk on, as the premise of dragon humans seemed a little silly to me.


The draki are human descendents of dragons that can take on a weird sort of dragon form. The dragon forms come with different abilities like water dragons, earth dragons, and so on and so forth. Jacinda has been coveted in her clan of draki for her rare dragon ability as a fire breather. She’s the only one and she is expected to marry the future alpha of their pride to have babies in the hope of bringing up more fire breathers. Jacinda always pushes the limits because she knows that people will still adore her even if she nearly gives away the pride. So, one morning, she goes for a bit of flying and encounters a group of draki hunters, nearly getting caught and revealing the draki’s best kept secret: that they can also take human form. Her pride gets very angry at her and that night, Jacinda’s mother and twin sister drag her away from the misty mountains where the draki live and throw her into life living in the desert.


Jacinda is, for the lack of better words, pissed. She thinks that her mother and sister are being unfair by drying her out and hoping that her draki form dies out. It is a tad unfair, as her mother lost the use of her dragon form and her twin sister has never been able to turn. All of a sudden, Jacinda is a pouty and broody teenager forced to go to a normal high school. The high school soon becomes dangerous as she meets one of the hunters from the beginning of the book and all of his fellow hunter cousins that attend the same school. This is where it turns a bit hokey for me.


While I surprised myself in liking the culture and ways of the draki, I did not like the majority of the book that takes place in a high school. I don’t think I was expecting it to be set in a school. As far as the writing and style itself, I was very surprised. (Apparently, I was surprised a lot with this book!) Sophie Jordan has a pretty good knack at creating a believable romance and a believable enemy in the hunters. I just wish that there was more draki in this book, though I think that it was the point to get away from it. The second book in the series will have more draki as Jacinda returns to the pride to run away from the hunters. Hopefully, Jacinda grows up a little because I’m a bit tired of how self-centered she is. Unfortunately, I will probably have to wait a long time to read the second book, Vanish, as I’m finding it a bit difficult to get a paperback version in the UK and the library doesn't have it. I don’t really want to resort to an E-book version just yet.


Overall, I do recommend this book for loyal Young Adult readers. It’s a nice change from the paranormal high school books, but those who are fans will get into this book!

Review: Crossed by Ally Condie

Pages: 367
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format: Paperback
Published by RazorBill
Goodreads // Amazon

Rules Are Different Outside The Society

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky--taken by the Society to his sure death--only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of a rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices every thing to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.

Narrated from both Cassia's and Ky's point of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever.

After the events that ended the first book, Matched, Cassia is now determined to set a plan into action. She sets up an elaborate plan that allows her to find her way into the Outer Provinces, where she knows the boy she's in love with, Ky, has been sent. She has to find him before the conditions in the Outer Provinces kill him. Ky escapes into the wild before he knows of Cassia's plans to reunite them and Cassia is forced to follow him into the Carving, a huge canyon, leaving clues of her presence wherever she goes.

Cassia and Ky each have new companions and between them, since the story's point of view alternates between the two, you learn more about the Society's fight to keep a hold on the people from the Outer Provinces and of a rebellion fighting far off in the horizon. They stumble upon the Society's dirty laundry out in the Carving and learn that people have been surviving out on the fringes without the help or control of the Society. Once Cassia and Ky are reunited, the debate begins on whether to continue to stay out in the wild or to find the rebellion.

This book, from the very beginning, didn't seem to have a purpose. I knew right off that it was going to be a bridge between the first novel and the third. That being said, I do however feel that the information stumbled upon by the characters was worth reading the book for. The book dragged a bit in some places and through most of it, I felt that the book was just telling me about some long hiking trip through a canyon. Let's face it, that's basically what it was about.

My biggest gripe outside of the story line was the alternating between narrators. I was happy to find out a lot more about Ky since after the first book I was indifferent towards him, but I couldn't stand the alternating. I realise that if the two main characters are separated, then it does make sense to write the story in this way, but I just quickly became irritated. I didn't find that the mood of the story or that the way the characters acted to be all that different from each other.

I am, however still glad I read this novel, since the ending, while not exciting at all, set the scene for the next book. And the next book shows a lot of promise. Oh please, oh please don't disappoint me! I'm looking forward to the whole thing kicking off in the third book, now that we know of a rebellion. Overall, I say to pick up this book if you really enjoyed Matched, since it does bridge the gap between the first and promising third book. If you weren't all that interested in the first book, you won't like the second!

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Pages: 496

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian

Format: Paperback
Published by Katherine Tegen Books
Goodreads 

In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Following the wake of dystopian fiction made popular by the hype of The Hunger Games, Divergent is set in a world with a controlling authority. The status quo is set there to ensure safety and provide for the citizens’ needs. This is where Veronica Roth does it with a bang. What really grabbed my attention before picking up this book was the government and its division into factions. It’s refreshingly creative and I think it makes it stand out from books that may have ended up with too many similarities. The Factions split up society into different groups in order to keep the peace and productivity of society. The five factions are Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the fearless), Erudite (the scholars), Amity (the peaceful), and Candor (the honest). You can read a bit more about them here. In terms of the factions, I really do get it, Ms. Roth. If you separate people of vastly differing personality types, you just may cut out confrontation all together. It’s an interesting idea, and too bad for the government it ends up backfiring in the most exciting of ways!

The story follows a sixteen year old named Beatrice. She has spent her whole life trying to fit into the Abnegation faction that she has grown up in. She doesn’t want to disappoint her family by leaving them for another faction when she gets to decide at a public ceremony, but she can’t help but feel the gentle nagging of an identity crisis. When the time comes to take a virtual simulation test to determine her true character her results are inconclusive and end up giving her three possible faction choices. She is quickly told that this is very dangerous and that she needs to keep this a secret. She doesn’t know why this is dangerous, and she won’t find out until nearly the end, but the reader can definitely venture a guess. This is the only part of the book I find to be a tad predictable.

When the time comes for her to choose a faction, Beatrice chooses another faction (Dauntless) and separates herself from her family. The rest of the book is about her taking on her new identity by renaming herself Tris and transforming into a legitimate badass. In order to become a full member of the Dauntless, Tris has to survive training and the cuts amongst the ranks to fight for one of only ten slots of new initiates. And on top of that, she has to deal with the fact that other factions are dangerously criticizing Abnegation, her old faction, and hoping it doesn’t lead to an overthrow that could lead to endangering her parents’ lives.

My Review:

This book is intense, but I end up absolutely loving Tris as she becomes a girl who doesn’t shy away from the punches thrown at her. She’s a badass with good morals and a serious drive to become initiated. Because she has to deal with no one really liking Abnegation members or taking Abnegation transfers seriously, she really has to prove herself. On the flipside, I do love that she has some soft spots, namely a soft spot for one of her instructors, Four.

This book was set at a very satisfying pace. I felt that it was fast enough to flow right, carry some action, and do justice to the character transformation of Tris. The characters were very well developed and every single one of them had flaws as well as redeeming qualities. They seemed very detailed and believable. The setting was described in such a way that you feel as though you are there and that the factions have always been the way. I do get quite irritated with books that tell you what society is like rather than showing you. More authors should take note of Roth’s style, as I think she’s really got some. I also immensely enjoy that there is a romance in this book BUT that it takes a back seat to the important plot. Nothing can get annoying like too much YA romance.

Overall, this book is tremendous and I cannot sing its praises enough! You can bet that I will be out there on May 1, 2012 to get my copy of the second installment, Insurgent. Thank goodness it’s a trilogy!

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Pages: 384

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback
Published by RazorBill

Goodreads // Amazon

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her match. The Society dictates that he is her perfect partner for life, except he's not.

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love.
How many children they have.
Where they work.
When they die.

But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy,
she is determined to make some choices of her own.

And that's when her whole world
begins to unravel...

Matched is set some time in the future after the dissolution of our contemporary society and the simplifying of culture. The characters of this book live in a dystopian society that provides everything they could need while simultaneously controlling their life. The main character, Cassia Reyes, is a rule-abiding and ordinary citizen of the Society who is eagerly awaiting the next step of her life: her Match. Earning a Match by being a compliant citizen, the Society chooses for you who you should marry based on a number of compatibilities. Unusually, Cassia is Matched with her best friend rather than someone she’s never met before. But when she is handed a microchip with more information on her Match, another boy’s face appears on the screen and she can’t get him out of her head.

The story of Matched became fairly suspenseful in the latter half of the book when Cassia realizes just how little of her life she controls and she fights to hold onto that miniscule piece. I just wanted her to fight harder. At the end of the book, I got the feeling that Cassia began to play along with Society in the hopes of being able to be with Ky. And to be honest, I didn’t understand why she wanted to be with Ky so much. He was the handsome and silent type that gave her pieces of his story drawn on napkins. Perhaps the second book will reveal their actual relationship rather than Cassia’s longing of something she can’t have?

This book got such a high rating from myself because of how well Ally Condie writes and introduces a new world. Though some may say that the descriptive parts of the book explaining why Society works the way it does are slow and non-eventful, I have to disagree. These parts are highly interesting from the perspective of someone interested in world building and are completely necessary to books of the Fantasy and Science Fiction persuasion. The Society, though a fascinating concept and fruitful addition to dystopian fiction, left me wanting more from Condie. Perhaps I base too much of my experience with dystopian fiction on the likes of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, a book which delves deep into the inner workings and emotions associated with the oppression of citizens.

Condie has an amazing talent with the English language and writes with such an ease and intelligence that it makes me want to read more. Usually, I’m not a fan of the first person present tense, but this is easily forgotten. Though I have yet to finish the book, I think Condie’s Society is built up rather well, though not to the extent of something like Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Cassia, though at first apprehensive and understandably so, is a character of great strength yet vulnerability.

After having finished the book, I can honestly say that I was left thinking about the finer details of the book and Cassia’s emotions. The book really is a good read for anyone who enjoys forbidden romance and maybe some societal oppression. Thankfully, there will be two more books in the series! The next on the list is Crossed.