Review: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Series: Lorien Legacies #2
Genre: Science Fiction, Action
Format: Paperback, Published August 23, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Rating: 2/5 Stars

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight.

My Review

This second book in the trilogy shifts its focus away from John, or Number Four, who was the main character from the first book. The Power of Six introduces us to a new point of view, Marina. She's Number Seven and hiding out in a convent in Spain. I didn't like the new characters as much as the first book, and I started to dislike characters that I really enjoyed in I Am Number Four. To me, this book was kind of a let down.

As I read this book, I truly did not understand why Marina’s story was alternating in and out of this book until the very, very end when the two storylines collide. I felt like skimming through her chapters about being an undertrained alien living in a convent. It’s as exciting as it sounds (which is not at all). 

John, Sam, and Six are pretty much on the run this entire book. For people who don’t want to get caught, they do some pretty stupid things. Only when they use Six's power to turn invisible do they actually accomplish things when the plot needs to move on. I cringed every time they did something brash. I won't give anything away, but I seriously wanted to smack John upside the head on several occasions. I really think he's changed since the first book and I’m gonna say it. I hated the love ‘square’. John loves Sarah, but has a big fat one for Six even though he knows Sam likes her. And Six conveniently has crushes on both John and Sam. Can I pull my hair out?

I give it two stars because, for some miracle, I actually finished. And I quite liked the end. It was the action and intelligent problem solving that I read the book for. Unfortunately it was the last few pages of the book, and I just don’t think it’s enough for me to read the Rise of Nine. I wish more worldbuilding was invested into this second installment. I wanted to learn more about the Lorien than we did in the first book. At least we find out what’s in the chests, but it’s not enough to have me continue the series.

Find Pittacus Lore:

Website | Goodreads Author Page

Find The Power of Six: 

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Book Depository

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux #1

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Format: ebook, Published May 8, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Rating: 4/5 stars

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is. - Summary from Goodreads

My Review

This book is a whole lotta snarky dialogue and spiffy sci fi. It's like I Am Number Four and Twilight had a baby and it is far more attractive than its parents. Katy is a normal girl, a book blogger, and high school student who moves in next door to aliens. Just being around their extra-terrestrial powers marks her and makes her visible to their rival aliens who would use her to get to Daemon and his sister Dee. Not to mention, humans who find out about the aliens often end up disappearing.

The characters in this book are its bread and butter. My favourite character is most definitely Dee. She's such a loveable and bubbly person, but you know she's a lot more complicated than that. The main character, Katy, is also one of the most relatable characters I've read in awhile. It's refreshing to read a main character and not think 'No, dummy! What are you doing!?'. Daemon is something different all together. He reminds me of that boy on the playground who is so mean because he's got a big fat crush on you. His sass and angst doesn't really bother me like it does some people, in fact I think it adds fuel to the fire in a really good way. 

The world building in this book was pretty darn spot-on. I can't wait to read more about these Luxen aliens made of light. I really enjoyed the writing in this book. This may be my first Jennifer Armentrout book, but it won't be my last. This book was so entertaining and easy to read! I didn't give it five stars because most of the main plot was rather predictable after a while. That being said, it didn't stop me from wanting to keep reading it! If you're looking for a saucy YA romance book, this is definitely one for you! Highly recommended.

Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Format: E-book
Released: June 12, 2012 by Balzer + Bray
More about the author: Website // Twitter // Bio
Find the book: Goodreads // Amazon UK

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's "Persuasion", "For Darkness Shows the Stars" is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it. - Summary from Goodreads

With this book, for some reason, I had a preconceived idea of what this book was about. Upon hearing it was a Science Fiction/Post Apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, I thought I was sure I knew what I was getting into. I was initially caught off guard by a mood and setting of the book I wasn't expecting to read. This at first had me reading this book much slower than it ought to have been read until I gave it a second chance. I'm glad I did! This book is a gorgeous Post Apocalyptic, yet refined retelling of a story you thought you knew.

I was initially not excited about the Austen-era propriety in the book, as I don't usually associate it with Science Fiction. By the midway point I decided that it fit tone of the story and provided a really great contrast between technology and the ways of the stingy Luddites who want nothing to do with the technology that previously destroyed the human population. The world itself was absolutely gorgeous. Diana Peterfreund just has a way of describing the setting and setting up the mood of a story!

The characters of this book were so deeply written and rather heart-wrenching at times. The relationship of Elliot and Kai was written really well. It wasn't too lovey-dovey, but rather thoughtful and powerful, crossing the boundaries of their society. The social boundaries in this book are much deeper than upper and lower class. The Reduction was an event in the book's past where humans experiments with genetic enhancement went horribly wrong and all who survived became 'Reduced' to the mental capacity of a young child. I loved this controversial subject and I think it's horrifyingly believable!

I would recommend this book to people who have a taste for unique worlds and love the artful language. It's definitely a unique but well-executed contribution to the post apocalyptic genre. I'm now intrigued and want to read more from this author who has published other YA books. After doing a bit of digging, I still haven't firmly established this but I believe For Darkness Shows the Stars is a stand alone book.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format: E-galley provided via NetGalley by publisher for review
To be published August 7, 2012 by St. Martin's Press
Find the author: Website // Twitter
Find the book: Goodreads // Amazon UK
Rating: 3/5 stars

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.
In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy. - Summary from Goodreads

This science fiction and dystopian premise got my attention pretty quickly and I knew I had to read it, the pretty cover aside. The premise of people having software and programming to control them just seems perfectly creepy and intriguing. If some of the faults are overlooked, the world building is executed with some satisfaction and acceptable writing, but the characters seemed a tad hallow.

I wasn't disappointed with the world building per se, I just saw quite a few things that needed a firmer place. One of the interesting things that go along with glitchers (those who aren't controlled by the system) are there special powers. I wish this was explored more and that the protagonist knew what she was doing with them for most of the book, rather than coming on at the most convenient moment ever in the climax.

Zoe as a protagonist didn't work for me as the story moved on. I felt that she relied on the two main males in the story to progress the plot, as they always reported back to her the goings-on and she rarely took matters into her own hands. While not every story has to have a bad-ass heroine, I feel that protagonists should move the plot along rather than sit on the sidelines. That being said, I will note that there actually was quite a bit of action in the book, it just was brought to Zoe rather than her seeking it out. 

Protagonists aside, Glitch turned out to be an okay read, but I didn't get into it like I wanted to. I wish I had more to say about the writing, but it wasn't anything remarkably good or bad. I'd recommend it to readers who would like to dabble in Science Fiction, but perhaps not for dedicated readers of the genre who would drive themselves mad with some of the holes in the world. This book is meant to be the first in a trilogy and I'm undecided whether I'll continue the series.

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Genre: Science Fiction

Format: Paperback
Published April 5, 2012 by Puffin
More about the author: Website // Twitter
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Trapped on board the spaceship Godspeed, Amy trusts no-one.

The ship's ruler is dead and a rebellion threatens. Amy wants to help Elder as he tries to take charge, but she's torn between her feelings for him and the chaos that's pulling everything apart. As more harrowing discoveries are made about Godspeed, Amy is caught in a desperate race to unravel its secrets. Only one thing is certain.

They have to get off this ship.

The heart-stopping sequel to Across the Universe: a story of love, murder and madness - set in space. - Summary from Goodreads

This second instalment of the Across the Universe series takes everything great about the first book and hugely amplifies it in A Million Suns. Picking up from where the first book left off, the ship is tiptoeing the edge of a cliff that is anarchy. There are so many more secrets to be discovered about Godspeed and her progress to Centari Earth, thrusting at readers a greatly suspenseful and mysterious plot shuffling back and forth between searching for clues and trying to quell rebellion through Amy and Elder's eyes (respectively). There is nothing more that says fantastic than mystery, spaceship, and romance and this book gives you all of those things!

Both Amy and Elder have matured from the events in the first book. They are amazing characters to read. Amy uses her intuition and intelligence trying to put together clues left specifically for her while Elder puts his authority to the test and tries to gain the ship's citizens' trust. Amidst all the goings-on, their relationship is set on the back burner while they try to discover themselves, though I promise you won't be left without some steamy scenes! I just found them to be incredibly mature and believable. So very refreshing to read I might add.

Beth Revis has some pretty magical words to keep me barrelling through the pages, wanting more. The short chapters and alternating views will suck you in and not let you go. If you're new to the genre of Science Fiction, this might be a great series to start out in if you already enjoy some suspense and YA romance. You won't be disappointed by this fantastic series! Can't wait for the next one because, yes you guessed it, there's a seriously nail biting ending!

Review: Outside In by Maria V Snyder

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format: Paperback, 326 pages
Published March 1, 2011 by Mira Ink
First published by HarlequinTeen
More about the author: Website // Blog
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

This book, I think, was a pretty good follow up to the first in the series, Inside Out. It picks up several weeks from where the first book left off. After a society-shaking rebellion, the people of Inside are starting to break apart again. Trella, her friends, and the Committee are losing control and they have to figure out who they're losing it to.

The action of the book starts fairly quickly, as events began to happen that I can only describe as mini terrorist attacks. As Trella and her friends start to lost control of entire networks and processes, they begin to suspect the people responsible for the oppression the last time. It was super exciting and action packed to read them solving the mysteries of the ship. As the reader already had the arduous task of learning how the world of Inside works in the first book, those who had trouble with the world building previously will be pleased to see how quickly this book gets going in comparison.

The majority of the characters are just as likeable in this book as the first, though I wish we got to see more of Riley. Though when we do read about Riley we're rewarded with some steamy scenes! I find the only character I didn't like as much was Trella herself. The first part (nearly half) of the book I think she's got an attitude problem. I think the notoriety she received had gotten to her head. In the end, though, when she snapped out of it and became her good old self, I think that that attitude change actually made the book realistic. She wasn't expecting to become a leader again and she was one reluctantly.

Overall, this book was a fast-paced and extremely satisfying conclusion to Maria V Snyder's two part series of Inside. In the end, I think I preferred the first one. It just comes down to Trella's character in this book. I'd highly recommend this book to SciFi fans who like a bit of dystopia.

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: 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: Partials by Dan Wells

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 338
Format: e-book
Published February 28, 2012 by HarperCollins
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.
When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.
Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

This book turned out to be different from my expectations- in a really good way. It's a fantastic addition to the dystopian genre, while still maintaining its reputation as a great Science Fiction novel. The plot wasn't as action packed as I would have liked for the length of this book, but the dialogue was so good that I didn't mind. Kira is forced to go into abandoned New York to seek out a Partial (a genetically engineered cyborg thing), since all humans know about the disease that killed over 99 percent of the human population is that it originated from the Partials. Her only hope is to bring one back and study it to try and come up with a cure.

Kira Walker is a character whom I think is actually really mature for a Young Adult book. She's obviously very intelligent, working in the medical field as a teenager, but she knows when to have a good time. This book definitely didn't come off as a strictly YA book and I found myself forgetting that Kira wasn't in her 20s. To those of us who aren't all that interested in diseases or the medical field, you may find this book difficult to swallow. Since Kira is working on a cure to save humanity, there is a lot of technical jargon, though nothing I don't think you couldn't handle! I haven't studied biology in seven years and I was perfectly fine. Many of the supporting characters were hilarious and I laughed out-loud multiple times! I also enjoyed a romance different from 99 percent of the YA books out there. Kira is already in love with her childhood sweetheart and they often act like an old married couple, with the romance taking a back seat.

This book turned out to be much more political than I would have thought. At the core of this book is the debate on whether to lower the age of mandatory pregnancy to 16. The government treats each woman as a walking uterus to create more babies in hope for one that is immune to the disease.There's a lot of political debate between the characters as to level of power a government has in its fight to protect humanity as a whole and the rights of the individual. If you hate that kind of stuff, you many not like this book!

While I was reading this book, I thought about how it this is just a perfect YA Science Fiction book! It's got all the controversy, science, action, and hot robots (partials) you would possibly need. It was one of my favourite reads of 2012 so far. Very very nicely done. I can't wait to read the next one after that cliffhanger ending!

Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2)
by James Dashner
Pages: 321

Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: e-book
Published October 12, 2010 by Random House Children's Books
Goodreads // Amazon UK

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.
In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.
The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

I really enjoyed The Maze Runner. I think this series is quite different than many series out there, even though it has recently been advertised as similar to The Hunger Games. After reading the second instalment of James Dashner's dystopian series, I really see that this is not the case. The brutal world of disease Dashner creates is a post-apocalyptic nightmare, where the boys (and girl) from the maze are dropped off in the wasteland to survive the Scorch Trials. I'm just not sure how I feel about The Scorch Trials. I liked it, I just wasn't thrilled with it.

I didn't feel that there was much character development outside of Thomas and Teresa. The supporting characters remained the same from the first book. Minho and Newt were just there, even though they were some of my favourites in the previous novel. I also wasn't crazy about the addition of Brenda. Don't get me wrong, James Dashner is such an incredible writer to really make the reader think that she's about to come off her hinges from the Flare, I just thought she was really unpredictable (even if she was a key plot advancer).

This book was a mediocre middle novel in a trilogy that functioned only as a bridge between the first and last. I felt like the boys were just walking the desert for the whole book, while Thomas magically knew what to do and passed out at the end of nearly every chapter. I'm genuinely invested in trying to figure out what WICKED is doing with the Gladers, so I will probably read the final instalment, The Death Cure. I hope it doesn't let me down and lives up to the mystery of the first novel.

Review: Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Pages: 315
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format: Paperback (UK)
Published 2011 by Mira Ink
Originally Published April 1, 2010 by Harlequin 
Goodreads // Amazon

Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution...

This book blew my expectations away. I've read several of Snyder's books before and I've always been fairly impressed, but Inside Out kept me on my toes. I was also really drawn to the world of Inside, even as I read it in the warm sun.

Some readers may not like the setting. It's dark, drab, and dreary as there is never the smallest hint of natural light. In fact, this society is beyond having normal days (probably from the lack of sun) and citizens live their lives within 100 hour long weeks. At first it was difficult to grasp this time concept. I still don't understand it when someone's age is prattled off. Only once does Trella tell the reader her age is 17.3 years according to old dating systems. My advice is to take the beginning of this book slowly to understand the world and time system she lives in. It's odd, but worth it. I imagine Inside as being a giant rubik's cube, though my mind always hearkened back to Battlleship every time she'd say something like G4 (or is it 4G?).

Despite the awkward-at-first society that Trella lives in, this book picks up the pace and soon Trella is weaving in and out of pipes and air-ducts to try to find Gateway, what others believe to be the way out of Inside. What stopped me from giving this book 5 stars was my lack of attachment to most of the minor characters. I did end up liking Riley, Trella's eventual love interest. I was pleased that it was a very minor piece of the story. However, I only ended up caring for some of the minor characters' fates and I don't think that's how it should be. They each had their own sense of humour for living in their state, but Snyder didn't make me feel any huge concern for them. Although, to be fair, she did a fantastic job in getting me to loathe the villain of the story, Karla Trava (Hate this woman!). Trella herself was a fantastic character. At first she was hesitant to go against the status quo but it didn't take long to get her gumption and kick some serious butt. I loved how strategic and snarky she was.

The ending has left me with such a cliffhanger. My mind was just about blown to bits when we discover just why the Insiders are living in Inside. I'm not sure who I'd recommend this book to, as it's very different from those I've read before. I'd say it was fairly close to the Uglies series, but it has a lot more mystery. Definitely go pick this up if you like your dystopian novels more on the grungy side.

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Pages: 375
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Format: Paperback (UK)
Published February 7, 2012 by Atom
First Published January 3, 2012 by Harper Collins 
Goodreads // Amazon

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

This book had one of the best premises I'd seen in a really long time. Fortunately, my expectations were not just met, but completely blown away! First of all, and this is just my opinion, but I don't see this book as dystopian. I know other reviewers have called it that, but to me it's just a bit like post-apocalyptic science fiction since I didn't see the Dwellers as having the ultimate rule of the land. Yes, there is a difference between science fiction and dystopian!

The plot was fantastic. It moved at a perfect pace and I was really happy with the subplots. The clash of the two worlds was done in a simply superb way. Both the Dwellers and the Outsiders had their shortfalls, but I could see why each group of people lived the way they did. They're simply adaptations for survival from the Aether storms. Talking about Aether storms, they were actually a tad frightening and became a legitimate roadblock when one was needed in the plot. I was surprised to see some fantasy in this book as well. The Outsiders have some hidden talents sprinkled amongst their ranks. At first I thought super senses were a little hokey, especially the ability Perry has. Super Scent (of all the possible senses) just seemed a little lame at first, but I was definitely proven wrong.

The characters were just awesome. I loved Aria's endearing ignorance and Perry's frustrations. They were both quite complex and carried out their clearcut motivations through the entire novel without wavering. Well done there, Veronica. Not once did I think someone did something out of character. The book alternates between the two main characters' point of view and for once, I don't have a single gripe about that. That usually irritates me, but I thought it was very well executed. Also, the supporting characters were very entertaining, especially Roar, whom I grew a soft spot for. Well, to sum it up, the characters were very strong and I think one of the best parts about this novel.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the romance was just so right. I could see the evolution of Aria and Perry's love for each other right before my eyes. I was practically cheering when I realised that this wouldn't be a novel where the characters decide (for reasons unknown to the reader) that they have a thing for each other and I just couldn't be more glad. The romance between them was slow and sweet which I find to be a rarity in this YA genre. It definitely makes it all the more believable.

Overall, this novel is just a stunner in my book. I can't wait to get my hands on more writing from Veronica Rossi. This is her first book! I can't believe it. I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone trying apprehensive about sinking their teeth into some science fiction, as it does have a hearty amount of romance and fantasy as well.

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Pages: 371
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Published by Chicken House
First Published October 6, 2009 by Delacorte Press
Take a look: Goodreads // Amazon

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

James Dashner does a little bit of amazing with this book. He uses a whole lot of trickery, in the best of ways, to keep the reader reading. You know those books with the impossibly short chapters that leave you saying "just one more, it's short"? This is one of those books! The chapters are so quick, I found myself reading on and on until I was halfway through the book. How very sneaky, Mr Dashner.

The book itself is nothing short of awesome. In the beginning, the reader knows just as much of what's going on as the main character, Thomas, does. Thomas wakes up with his memory wiped and has to learn how to survive. I truly enjoyed learning about the Glade and the Maze where these boys live through the eyes of Thomas who also is figuring out why he's there. The characters are very likeable because they seem real. Every single one of them has a flaw and complexity to them even if they don't have any memories outside of the Maze.  The setting is superb! The Maze feels so eerie and dangerous while the Glade feels like home.

The beginning of this book may seem slow to readers who like to completely immerse themselves straight from the first page. As Thomas knows nothing, it does take a long time for him and the readers to catch their bearings. I personally found this experience intriguing, but I understand that it's not for everyone.

Readers may compare the book to The Hunger Games, but I don't see that many similarities. Sure, there are a bunch of teenagers, but they're trying to solve a maze, not kill each other for someone else's amusement. I feel like there is a complexity and mystery about it that the Hunger Games doesn't have, as the maze is a giant puzzle. Nonetheless, it still is a great read for fans of the Hunger Games who enjoyed the action of the arena.

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!