Review: The Ward by Jordana Frankel

The Ward by Jordana Frankel

The Ward #1

Release Date: April 30^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 480

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Edelweiss

GR – Amazon – BD – Indigo

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.  

However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.  

Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre. 

The Ward was one of those books I find so hard to review. It is the kind of book that simply didn’t impress me. I was so excited to get my hands on this book, as I loved dystopian novels. Yet, it failed to impress me. I was just looking for more out of this book, and I found the book to be missing out a little something to really get me hooked. The premise sounded really interesting, but I felt let down by the lack of world building. In dystopian, world building is kind of a big deal for me. If that part doesn’t work out in a book, then the book itself falls flat for me. Then there is the fact that there seems to be a little too much going on, making the book more than simply dystopian.

Characterwise, I’m a little torn. Ren was interesting, but there were some aspect of her personality that really put me of. I liked her relationship with Aven, and found her to be a strong character when it came down to the races and everything related to that. Yet, her feelings for Derek put me off a little. The way she reacted to his friend-who-happen-to-be-a-girl made me roll my eyes a few times. Despite those moments, I did root for her, and I did like her. And yes, I did want her to end up with Derek, because I did like him. I found him to be a really interesting character, and I wanted to see him even more.

Overall, The Ward simply didn’t impress me enough to love it. I felt a little let down by this book. The story failed to really captivate me. I do have to give props to Jordana Frankel for managing to give the readers a few really great twits I had not expected. I will still probably give the sequel a shot (if only because the ending made me curious), but it won’t be at the top of my reading pile.

About the Author

From GoodReads

Jordana Frankel is a Jersey native.

She's been a camp counselor, a salesperson of diamonds, a hostess at a southwestern grill, an archivist of rare books, a yoga instructor, and a reading teacher, but her shining moment was when she got to hang out in Walmart for 12 hours a day as the AXE girl.

She received her B.A. in English from Goucher College, graduated and then went to live in Italy for a year. Afterwards she then went for her MFA in Poetry at Hollins University.

But then she graduated and she moved back to NYC.

She got her first job at The Literary Group International as a literary agency, where she'd started as an intern reading queries and then assisted editorially. At Linn Prentis Literary, also a literary agency, she handled foreign sales, picked up gems from unsolicited mail, and helped authors through the publishing process. And then it was onto The Book Report Network where she handled ads and promos for features on Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, and GraphicNovelReporter.com.

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Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reboot #1

Release Date: May 7^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 352

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Edelweiss

GR – Amazon – BD - Indigo

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).  

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.  

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

I think what made me want to read Reboot was the fact that it sounded so action packed. I mean, teenagers coming back to life as kick ass soldiers? Count me in! Amy Tintera created an addicting novel and a really interesting world, and the world building was nicely done. Tintera gives us enough to understand and follow the story, but she doesn’t dump the info that much to the readers. This was certainly the kind of book I did not want to put down. You can easily read it in one sitting, and you certainly won’t see time fly by.

When it comes down to the characters, I really liked both Wren and Callum. I wasn’t that interested in there romance, mostly because I found the idea the reboot kid more interesting than to see the romance bloom between those two. I’m a huge fan of strong and kick ass female main character, and Wren is one of those. She can really kick people’s ass. I liked seeing her grow through the book, to see her get part of her humanity back.

Yet, the fact that she changes so much through the novel made me unsure about her romance with Callum. I could enjoy the changes from not feeling anything to a more human person, but I found it a little too much to see her go from feeling nothing to falling in love with Callum. I would have prefer to see them develop a deep friendship in this book, and then maybe see a romance between those two. The love was simply to fast to bloom between them.

I did like Callum. He was the voice of humanity in a feeling-free zone. How can you not enjoy reading about Callum? He is full of life, and even if I wasn’t a fan of his romance with Wren, I like seeing them together. They do have great chemistry in the end.

Overall, Reboot was a great debut, and this book was the start of an interesting series. I’m curious to see where Amy Tintera will be taking the story next. Despite the few flaws this book had, Reboot was a strong book that will please many readers.

About the Author:

From her Website

“Hi! I’m Amy Tintera, and I write novels for young adults. I grew up in Austin, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism. After receiving a masters in film at Emerson College I moved to Los Angeles, where I promptly discovered I didn’t enjoy working in the film industry, and went back to my first love, writing.”

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Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5^th Wave by Rick Yancey

The Fifth Wave #1

Release Date: May 7^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 480

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Source: Penguin Canada

GR – Amazon – BD – Chapters

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.  

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.  

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

I’m not sure where to start with this book. The 5^th Wave was one of the books I knew I had to read this year, since I only heard good things about it. You can be sure that it made its way to the top of my to be read pile, and I started it as soon as I was done with my current read. Starting a book with expectations as high as mine were can be risky. After all, I wanted it to be amazing. I needed it to be amazing. Luckily, this book does live up to its expectations. The 5^th Wave is definitely a book you need to check out this year. Forget about the Zombie Apocalypse, it’s the aliens you need to worry about.

I’m not even sure where to start with this book. There were so many things that made me love this novel. One of the things I really enjoy, even though it sometimes annoys me, is the multiple points of view. In The 5^th Wave, those points of view does not make the story confusing, but it instead creates a richer world. We see the different situations the survivors could end up in, and we can see how the world now works. The most predominant character in the story is certainly Cassie, I girl I definitely would want on my side if the alien apocalypse came to happen. She is a strong and powerful character that is driven by her loyalty to those she loves. You definitely end up rooting for her.

Other narrators do come out strong in this novel, but Cassie is the one that stood out to me. She is the one that drove the novel forward. This didn’t stop me from enjoying every points of view to a certain level. Every character kept me hooked.

Now, romance lovers will be happy to know that there is a little romance in this book. It is not a major part of the book, but it is still there and I couldn’t help but squeal a few times thanks to the great love interest we get to meet. And, of course, I can’t forget about the few twits this book has, twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If there is one book you must read this year, it is The 5^th Wave. I feel like I keep you talking about this book forever, but I will let you discover the awesomeness that is hidden in its pages. One thing is for sure; The 5^th Wave is the kind of book that you will have trouble putting down. I’m definitely dying to read the sequel.

About the Author:

From Goodreads

Rick is a native Floridian and a graduate of Roosevelt University in Chicago. He earned a B.A. in English which he put to use as a field officer for the Internal Revenue Service. Inspired and encouraged by his wife, he decided his degree might also be useful in writing books and in 2004 he began writing full-time.

Since then he has launched two critically acclaimed series: The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, for young readers, and The Highly Effective Detective, for adults. Both books are set in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Rick lived for ten years before returning to Florida.

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Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Mind Games #1

Release Date: February 19^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 237

Publisher: Harper Teen

Source: Bought

GR - Amazon - BD - Indigo

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.
  

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.  

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

I was so excited to read Mind Games, and I guess that left me with really high expectations. I had read and really enjoyed her other work, and I was expecting to enjoy this one as much. Sadly, I ended up being disappointed by this book. When I heard about Mind Games, I thought the premise sounded really interesting. The thing is, I felt like this book was all over the place. Mind Games had two points of view, Annie and Fia. On top of that, we also get flashbacks, and that’s where I got confused. I could understand that the flashbacks helped us understand who Fia and Annie really are, and the reason why they are where they are. Still, considering how short the book, I felt it was too much.

One of the reasons why I really wanted to read this book was the fact that I heard there was a really great sister bond between Fia and Annie, and I was excited to see how it would be portrayed. Yet, I didn’t get what I wanted, because we don’t get to see those two together that often. Besides wanting to protect each other, nothing really stood out in their relationship.

Annie is an interesting character, but I felt like she had more potential than what was shown. She is a little in the background for most of the story, even if we get to see her point of view. After all, she might be blind, but she can also see the future. Yet, she is stuck in her room for most of the novel. Now, when it comes down to Fia, she was a kickass character, and I mean that literally. I think I could have liked her a lot more than I did, if her narration hadn’t been all over the place, as I felt it was. I still enjoyed reading about her, seeing her question her orders and everything, but I was expecting more.

Overall, I was a little disappointed by this book. Maybe my expectations were too high. Mind Games simply ended up being all over the place for me, which made the story a little confusing by moments. It was also lacking the little something that made me really enjoy Paranormalcy and its sequels. I’m still curious enough that I will probably pick up the sequel.

About the Author:

From Goodreads

“I'm the New York Times best-selling author of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally. I also give the most awkward hugs in the world. You should probably opt for one of my books over one of my hugs, but then again, maybe you like awkward hugs.

As for me, I like writing flirting scenes, and fighting scenes, and sometimes I write scenes that fall somewhere in between the two, but only if I can't avoid it.”

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Review: White Lines by Jennifer Banash

White Lines by Jennifer Banash

Release Date: April 4^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 304

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Source: NetGalley

GR - Amazon - BD - Chapters

A gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City.  

Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream: she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control.   

Both poignant and raw, White Lines is a gripping tale and the reader won’t want to look away.

I was really excited to get my hands on White Lines by Jennifer Banash, and I simply couldn’t wait to read it. I was curious to see how the settings would be affecting the story. Sadly, the story, even though it had potential to be really interesting, failed to really impress. I felt like the story being set in the ‘80’s didn’t really affect the plot that much, and that really disappointed me. The time period was one of the reasons I really wanted to read it, and it didn’t wow me.

More than that, there were other little things that made it hard for me to really enjoy this novel. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked excitement. White Lines should have been a heavy and emotional story, but I felt like many part of the book were superficial.  I felt no connection to the story and narration, which gave me the feeling of reading the story as seen by someone from afar. It lacked emotions, and White Lines seemed like the kind of book that should have been able to really touch the reader deeply. After all, Cat’s story is full of drug, abuse, and heartbreak.

White Lines is the kind of novel in which the main character takes an important part in liking this book. I might have felt pity for some parts of Cat’s past, but I simply couldn’t find it in me to really find her story interesting. Cat was a little all over the place as a character, and there were things about her that didn’t work for me. Also, Cat’s drug use, or rather the consequences of her drug use, felt wrong to me. She doesn’t really appear to have consequences on her that much, other than leaving her tired from all the partying. Shouldn’t cocaine leave her some more effects than only the dark circles under her eyes? Well, I’m not an expert on cocaine, but it felt weird.

Overall, White Lines by Jennifer Banash simply wasn’t really working for me. I had high expectations for this novel, and they were far from met. I know this book will please many readers, but it didn’t include me. I might give Jennifer Banash’s other novels a chance, but this book simply charmed me.

About the Author:

From GoodReads

Jennifer Banash was born and raised in New York City. She now lives in Southern California with her beagle, Sigmund, and her vast collection of designer shoes.

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Review: Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Fire and Thorns #1

Release Date: September 20^th, 2011

Number of Pages: 423

Publisher: Greenwillow

Source: Bought

GR - Amazon - BD - Chapters

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.Elisa is the chosen one.
  

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.
  

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.  

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.  

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.  

Most of the chosen do.

Girl of Fire and Thorns has been on my wishlist for a while, but I never got around to actually read it until this week. I have to say, I’m not sure if I should be mad at myself for waiting so long to read it, or if I should be mad for having read it before the release of The Bitter Kingdom. It took me about five minutes after having finished this book to buy the sequel on audible. Rae Carson simply created a world so additing and original, and I fell in love with it. The more I read high fantasy, the more I love it. Rae Carson took us on an epic ride. Girl of Fire and Thorns is a real page-turner, and I ended up devouring this book in one afternoon.

When it comes down to the main character, I had mix feelings about Elisa. One thing is for sure, Elisa grows up a lot through the course of the novel. She gains confidence through all she has to face, and I love seeing her become stronger and stronger. The main reason I had mix feelings about her wasthe importance given to her weight, both by her and those around her. I got the message Rae Carson wanted to give us, but it bothered me in the first half of the novel.

There were so many strong and interesting characters in the novel, some of which I will refrain from mentioning to avoid spoilers. There’s King Alejandro, the new husband of Elisa. I couldn’t help wanting to love him, wanting him to be the amazing husband I wanted her to have. Then, there’s Humberto. He was so sweet, so charming, and I could understand why she would feel for him the way she does.

Rae Carson created an amazing world and story. I found the idea of Godstone really interesting. The writing kept me hooked, and I am now completely in love with this story and Rae Carson’s world. I believe fans of high fantasy should really give this series a chance. She created a world you will want to go back to as soon as you leave it.  As I’m writing this review, I’m already half way through the sequel, Crown of Embers, and I know I will be dying for the final book as soon as I will be done.

About the Author:

From GoodReads

“I write books about teens who must do brave things. I'm originally from California, but I moved to Ohio to marry my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. We live in Columbus with my teenaged stepsons, who are awesome. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about questions I don't know the answers to.”

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Review: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

The Archived #1

Release Date: January 22^nd, 2013

Number of Pages: 328

Publisher: Hyperion

Source: Bought

GR - Amazon - BD - Chapters 

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.  

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.  

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.  

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.  

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

I fell in love with Victoria Schwab’s writing in her first book The Near Witch. I’m glad to say that I was far from disappointed with her second novel, The Archived. It was different, but some of the aspects of her book that made me love it are still present in this. What really got me excited for this book was the premise. Dead people stacked on shelves like books? That got me interested. Victoria Schwab created an original story get set in an old hotel now turned into an apartment building, creating a strange atmosphere. I really like the idea of the Library and the Keepers, and I found it to be presented in a really interesting way.

The story follows Mackenzie, a sixteen-years-old keeper who took over her Da’s job after his death four years ago. As a narrator, Mac was interesting to follow, and her voice made it easy for me to get into her story. One of the things I liked about Mac was to see her interact with her family. Her relationship with her parents might be strained thanks to her lies and her brother’s death, but there was something realistic to it.  The flashbacks also gave us an insight on her relationship with her Da, which was really useful to understand how Mac became a Keeper.

There were some really interesting secondary characters in this book. I really liked Roland, one of the Librarians. I love how he acted like some kind of mentor to her. Then, there are the romantic interests, which surprised me a little. I thought there would only be one love interest, but there were two, but it didn’t really give us a love triangle. I knew of Wesley (guyliner!!), and I was disappointed to see her fall for another guy. After all, I could I not swoon over Wesley. He is totally addicting, with his sweet and fun personality. He was just an amazing character.

Overall, The Archived was a novel that really pleased me. The fast-paced story kept me hooked. Victoria Schwab’s writing made me love that book. She created an eerie atmosphere I cannot wait to go back to with the upcoming sequel. Victoria Schwab secured herself a spot on my favorite author’s list with her sophomore novel.

About the Author

From GoodReads

Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes," "like," and "y'all."

She also tells stories.

She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.

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Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

The Infernal Devices #3

Release Date: March 19^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 568

Publisher: Margareth K. McElderry Books

Source: Bought

GR - Amazon - BD - Chapters

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy 

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? 

Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. 

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

I was terrified to read Clockwork Princess, as I knew I was bound to cry (I did.) I didn’t really want to leave these characters behind, leave this story behind, especially since I knew many characters would get their heart broken. Cassandra Clare can sure take her characters (and readers) on an emotional rollercoaster, and she is not afraid to break her readers heart. Be warned, you should probably keep a box of tissue at our side, especially as you approach the end. And you should probably finish it at home. I was happy I was, since I was crying like a baby by the epilogue.

One of the reasons I couldn’t help getting emotional while reading Clockwork Princess were the characters. Tessa, Jem and Will are three characters you can’t help but love, each to a different level. Will’s sense of humor charmed me form bok one, and his strong love for Jem made me love him even more. Jem was the synonym of kindness and strength, and you can’t help but feel for him as he is slowly dying because of the drug. And then there is Tessa. I think Clockwork Princess really shows the extremes she would be ready to go to for those she cares about, both Jem and Will. The love those three characters share is the reason why you can’t help but be heartbroken over what they have to face.

Clockwork Princess does have a few predictable moments, but there were many surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what would happen next. As the final book in the series, I found it more than satisfying. Cassandra Clare ties the loose ends left from the main story, but leaves us an opening large enough to wonder if we will see Tessa again in Cassandra Clare’s other series. Overall, I was more than pleased with this ending. Clockwork Princess will leave you with your emotions all over the place, but it will give enough to leave both the Team Will and Team Jem satisfied to a certain extend. Now I simply need to find someone who has read it to talk about all the spoilery stuff I can’t really share here. I may be sad over seeing this series come to an end, but I’m happy with the way things ended for Tessa.

About the Author

From GoodReads

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

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The Trailer

Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Across the Universe #3

Release Date: January 15^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 369

Publisher: Razorbill

Source: Bought

GR - Amazon - BD - Chapters

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.  

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.  

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.  

FUELED BY LIES.RULED BY CHAOS.ALMOST HOME.

After finishing A Million Suns, I simply couldn’t wait to read what would happen next to Amy and Elder. The story picks up right where we left up in A Million Suns. In Shades of Earth, we are making our way to the new Earth, but things aren’t exactly as expected. A traitor is on the loose, and no one seems to be safe. Beth Revis sure isn’t afraid to kill off some of her characters, so be prepared. The third book in the Across the Universe series will give you many of the answers of the questions still left unanswered from the first two books. The story ties up the plot twists and the loose ends. This book is a little more mature than the first two books, partly because of all the characters’ death. The novel is definitely easy to read in one sitting, as the pacing will keep you hooked into the story.

We get to see in this book another side of Amy. With the appearance of her parents, she doesn’t act the same way she used to on Godspeed. She’s used to be on her own, and her parents aren’t letting her do what she wants, especially since her father doesn’t trust the people of Godspeed. Her father takes the role of leader, which doesn’t sit well with Elder. I could understand why Elder would be a little angry about it, as he wanted to protect and lead his people. Yet, he is still young and inexperienced. I was a little disappointed not to see step up and fight for his people a little more. He is mostly brooding in the back, until he does step up in the end, proving what he can do to protect his people. We also meet a few new characters, and they bring another side of the world the story takes place, and the world they come from.

Beth Revis gave us a satisfying ending to an excellent series. The ending will make you feel so many things, and it will answer most of the questions you might have left. Beth Revis wrote an amazing trilogy, and I cannot wait to read what she will write next. The world needs more great YA Sci-Fi series like this one.

About the Author:

From GoodReads

Beth Revis wrote her first books as a student in classrooms, when the professors did not hold her interest and she jotted down stories instead of taking notes. Beth writes science fiction and fantasy novels for teens.

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Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly #3

Release Date: January 22^nd, 2013

Number of Pages: 438

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Bought

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The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life. 

 Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
 

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal. 

 In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

There is always this bittersweet feeling when you start reading the final book in a series you’ve loved. Letting go isn’t easy. After all, there isn’t a next book coming next for you to pine after. I had enjoyed both Unearthly and Hallowed, and it left me a little terrified to see where Cynthia Hand would be taking us next with this final installment. Would she break my heart? Boundless brought me so many feelings, and yes heartbreak was one of them. It is hard to feel nothing when the characters you met and learned to love are torn.

Clara’s life isn’t any easier than it was before. She still has many things to face, and she is still broken over her feelings for Tucker. She is pushed into doing so many dangerous situations to save those she cares about. She can’t see to catch a break. Despite being a little tires of the whole love triangle thing, I could understand why she feeling the way she was. Even if I wasn’t a big fan of Tucker, I could get why she liked him, and why she couldn’t move on. Even if he was sometimes a jerk, he can still be a really good guy with her.

Christian was certainly my favorite, and I felt so bad for the way Clara treated him, as he could see how broken she was over Tucker. Yet, he was always there for her, even if it sometimes kills him. Angela is still, in a way, by Clara’s side, but she has her own things to think about. She has her own story going on, and she has her bigger part to play I this book. I was so happy to see more of her, since I find her to be a really interesting character.

Boundless was a heartbreaking, but satisfying ending. There were a few twits that will keep you hooked into the story. Of course, this book also comes with the knowledge of who Clara will finally end up with, and I think that most will be satisfy on a certain level, even if Clara doesn’t end up with your favorite.

About the Author:

From GoodReads

Cynthia Hand grew up in southeast Idaho (very near the Wyoming border). Currently she lives in southern California with her husband and two small children. She teaches courses in creative writing at Pepperdine University. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Unearthly series with HarperTeen: UNEARTHLY, published in 2011, HALLOWED published January 17, 2012, and BOUNDLESS, due out in January 2013.

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Review: 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

Release Date: March 21^st, 2013

Number of Pages: 354

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Source: NetGalley

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Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.  

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost. 

When I read Invisible Girls by Nova Ren Suma, I wasn’t the biggest fan. With her newest book, she did manage to charm me to a certain extend, but she didn’t wow me. If there is one thing I really loved about this book, it is the creepy atmosphere. I did enjoy the psychological side of the story, and I did enjoy the writing, but I did not love this book. 17 & Gone is a character-driven novel, and this may be part of why I didn’t love this novel. I simply had trouble loving her story as much as I wished I could.

Lauren is a 17-years-old, who suddenly starts to be haunted by the ghosts of 17-years-old missing girls. The thing is, her story is also laced by the stories of all the missing girls, and this leaves us with only some superficial knowledge of who Lauren really is. She is so obsessed with the girls that we don’t learn that much about who she really is. We do get some knowledge of who she was through the few peeks we get into her past, her life before her visions. I did like learning to know about all those girls, but I needed to know more about the main character. At the same time, it was heartbreaking to see Lauren lose herself because of her visions and her obsession. She loses herself, she loses her boyfriend Jamie, and she loses her relationship with her mother to a certain extant. There is one of the missing girls we do get to learn a lot about, Fiona, and I found myself really enjoying learning about her. Lauren knew Fiona before she went missing. She was a really interesting character, and I found myself wishing I could get to know more about her.

Overall, 17 & Gone was a great read. It won’t make it to my favorites list, but I did enjoy it. Those who enjoyed Invisible Girls will likely enjoy this book, as those two books do share many qualities. The writing and the atmosphere were two of this novel’s greatest strength.

About the Author:

From GoodReads

Nova grew up in small towns across the Hudson Valley and can currently be found in New York City and online at her blog distraction no. 99.

Nova Ren Suma has an MFA in fiction from Columbia University and a BA in writing & photography from Antioch College, and has been awarded fiction fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the Corporation of Yaddo, and, twice, from the MacDowell Colony. She has published short stories for adults in literary journals including Gulf Coast, LIT, Small Spiral Notebook, and more, and is the author of the tween novel Dani Noir (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, 2009).

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