Rebel by Amy Tintera [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Rebel (Reboot #2)
AUTHOR: Amy Tintera
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins / HarperTeen
PUB DATE: May 13, 2014

The sequel to the action-packed Reboot is a can't-miss thrill ride, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Veronica Roth, and Marie Lu.

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

- Source: Goodreads

Rating:

---

“I sort of liked the sound of bones breaking. It was like home.”

Wren is back and even more badass than ever!

I adored Wren’s character in Reboot. The once shell with only a smidge of humanity was an interesting aspect I eagerly read through. I revered watching her slowly grasp back on human emotions after finding herself falling for a low-numbered reboot named Callum. Watching her grow and develop into someone with more empathy, and still remain as a tough and unwavering heroine was exhilarating.

One of the best things I liked about Reboot was the fast pace and smooth storytelling Amy Tintera provided her readers. I expected nonetheless for Rebel. Well, that is before I reached the reboot “sanctuary” chapter, I have to admit I was kind of starting to doubt that thought. When I did finally reach Micah’s territory, things quickly picked up from there. Only then was I assured that Amy Tintera would definitely be delivering one epic story.

If you loved Wren’s fighting energy as I did, wait till you see Callum! My goodness! I didn’t expect him to be just as badass as Wren. Although he remains his non-killing morals, and he may be a bit of a goody-two shoes, I love that he has learned to fight back and defend what he believes is right.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth [REVIEW]

TITLE: Allegiant (Divergent #3)
AUTHOR: Veronica Roth
PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books
PUB DATE: Oct 22 2013

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Source: Goodreads

Rating:

“I fell in love with him. But I don’t just stay with him by default as if there’s no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other, I choose him over and over again... and he chooses me.”

That sweet little piece from Allegiant is probably the only thing I found to my liking when I read this book. I’ve been procrastinating about writing a review for this because I thought maybe I’d change my mind about how I feel. Meh! It only made me more disappointed than I already was.

I have been tense throughout reading this. Aside from the constant angry comments and text messages I’ve been receiving from Maria @ Reading is the Ultimate Aphrodisiac (we were buddy reading), there was this gut feeling that all of this was going to end bad.

I like Tris here, she’s the brave girl I once saw in Divergent and not the annoying b*tch she has become in Insurgent. I love the moments with Tobias; his sweetness and selflessness, and all the gushy moments with Tris. Too bad I couldn’t find it in me to savour them. He suddenly turns into someone I don’t even recognize. He used to be a consistent character during the previous books and then I see him with so much negativity. This is not the Four I used to know. Is this a plot to make Tris a more endearing character that would make her sacrifice a lot more dramatic and justified? It didn’t work, just so you know.

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Never Fade
(The Darkest Minds #2)
AUTHOR: Alexandra Bracken
PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion
PUB DATE: Oct 15 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?"

Rating:

Be wary, this would contain spoilers from the events that occurred in the first book, The Darkest Minds.

“I love you... I love you every second of every day, and I don’t understand why, or how to make it stop–”

In the events that follow The Darkest Minds, readers find Ruby in Never Fade as a member of the Children’s League, one of the groups she has been desperately trying to run away from after escaping the camp. Narrowly dodging being captured and brought back to the camps after finding the Slip Kid, Clancy, then getting separated from her friends, and having to deal with Liam so the League would leave him at peace, Ruby is just trying to keep it together... long enough for her to get the chance to escape and to hopefully find her friends. But having one of the most powerful abilities among the gifted kids, she is assigned “Leader” to her specific group, and one mission puts a halt to her plans and changes everything...

I was stunned to find Ruby in such a different state of character from how I met her. The once scared and despondent girl from The Darkest Minds has turned into one badass chic. Although she still has that fear over being corrupted by her powers, she is a lot more confident than before. I like the change. It goes to show how much she had to grow up to survive at such desperate times.

I may love the grace of independence I witnessed grow into her character, but I was still longing to see Ruby reunited with Liam. The result of the reunion? So. Many. FEELS!!! It was messy, confusing and gushy, and although heartbreaking, was also swoon-worthy all at the same time!

Reboot by Amy Tintera [REVIEW]

TITLE: Reboot (Reboot #1)
AUTHOR: Amy Tintera
PUBLISHER: HarperTeen
PUB DATE: May 7 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

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

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

The perfect soldier is done taking orders."

Rating:

“Humans had a brightness to them, a glow that only death extinguished.”

This is a zombie book…but not at all what it may seem. As all zombie stories begin, it starts with a virus. This virus turns humans, not into brain-eating undead creatures, but into the ultimate weapons of destruction they call reboots. They are killing machines, and they are the perfect set of soldiers to do our bidding. That sounds just as awesome as how Rebo0t turned out to be.

In the world of our protagonist, Wren, once the virus takes place in a human’s body, your time is right about up. But once you die, you come back to, uhm, well not life, but human bodies become reanimated. The longer you stay dead, the stronger of a reboot you become. Now, reboots pretty much look like your average human, the only difference is (aside from the undead factor) they’re faster, stronger and are able to heal themselves in a manner of seconds that no ordinary human is capable of. Our small but terrible heroine took 178 minutes before she woke up from death, making her one of the most lethal reboots to have existed. But here’s the catch, the greater the number, the less a reboot is likely to possess human emotion.

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: All Our Yesterdays
(Cassandra Chronicles #1)
AUTHOR: Cristin Terrill
PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury Childrens
PUB DATE: Aug 1 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"A brilliantly brain-warping thriller and a love story that leaps back and forth in time - All Our Yesterdays is an amazing first novel, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games.

Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn't happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture - being kept apart, overhearing each other's anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There's no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It's from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that's about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future."

Rating:

“The truth is, the world is a f*cked up place sometimes.”

This book is pretty much as effed up [in a good way] as well. Wow! I am still overwhelmed. Let me get my bearings here... *breathes in deeply*

All Our Yesterday is a time-travel story told in the eyes of Em and Marina. Em is from the future. She travels back in time, with Finn, to save the world from the catastrophic environment it has ended up at. Marina is a girl from the present time that Em and Finn have traveled back to. This is probably one of the trickiest kinds of alternating points-of-view I have read. But damn, was it awesome!

I have to admit that the first 20% of the book was confusing. Information overload! There were so many things I had to sink my brain into: who Em and Finn were, who is this doctor and why is he torturing Em, what secret does Em hold that makes him so intent on getting it, what does Marina and James have to do with what was going on in the future, what/who the heck is Cassandra? I am telling you, it was a lot to take in. I was constantly asking myself, “What the hell is going on?” It was that crazy, and I always like books that get me into deep thinking. So as puzzling as it was, I could not stop myself from reading through.

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Lost Girl
AUTHOR: Sangu Mandanna
PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray
PUB DATE: Aug 28 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

"Eva's life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. She was made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her "other," if she ever died. Eva spends every day studying that girl from far away, learning what Amarra does, what she eats, what it's like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But sixteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything and everyone she's ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she's forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself."

Rating:

“Amarra used to read books about battles. Great heroic battles. Swords and shields and knights and honor. Battles like that don't happen anymore, yet I feel like I am caught in one. Once I may have hoped to fight for my life with all those things: swords and shields and knights and honor. But I don't have a sword. My shield is broken. I don't know what is and isn't honorable anymore. And now I've sent my knight away.”

I was wary about reading this book when I first saw it. It didn’t seem like something I would enjoy considering the plot wasn’t like the ones I’m accustomed to reading. And yet, surprise, surprise! I was an emotional wreck after reading The Lost Girl. Never thought I’d find myself clinging to a paranormal story this much!

While I have read stories where characters have the ability to jump their souls from one body to another, it was uncommon to find one such as The Lost Girl, where clones are weaved to replace their dead human counterparts. These clones are called Echoes.

Eva didn’t strike me as an astonishing character at first. I didn’t see anything special about her, not until much later when she came to replace Amarra. I think that was one of the hardest lives I had to read through emotionally. It’s not enough that teens have to struggle to fit in anywhere, but being and Echo too… well, that was just heartbreaking.

The Island by Jen Minkman [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Island
AUTHOR: Jen Minkman
PUBLISHER: CreateSpace
PUB DATE: Jun 1 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

'I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.

Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.

If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall. Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.
I have never seen one.'

"Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.

But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?"

(Please note: this novella contains a few references to the famous sci-fi movie Star Wars which are pivotal to the plot. None of the characters in The Island are in any way related to the characters in the movie. Leia is named after one of the ancient heroes of her culture/religion.)

Rating:

“In the darkness of the night, it’s like I hear their names for the first time, as if the story sprouts wings and takes flight again. It makes our forefathers all the more courageous and strong. And it makes us privileged.”

I found The Island a very weird story when I started. The whole Star Wars ideology was kind of creepy; foolish even that I thought it was such a ridiculous notion. Who in their right mind would believe in such a thing? Then I came to realize, the Book was the only significant object they have of their ancestors? Hey, people tend to worship all sorts of things, so what the heck?

It would have been fun though if say, someone was actually able to harness the Force (or fake it, in some way). Maybe it would help give off the illusion that what they believe in was true. It would make a strong sentiment and basis, wouldn’t it? Just my idea, but I get why that’s not possible anyway.

For a short story, The Island was pretty eventful. Although, it’s just a little hard to feel the anticipation towards what’s next to come for the characters since the pacing was too fast to allow feeling like you want to squirm in your seat over anxiously waiting to find out how it would all turn out.

The Island may be brief but it weighs out one very important factor to consider when growing up. Guidance. It is one of the foundations of who a person would become in the future. One person’s actions will always reflect on their upbringing, and this is why I’ve come to appreciate this story in the end.

Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Shutdown (Glitch #3)
AUTHOR: Heather Anastasiu
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Griffin
PUB DATE: Jul 2 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution.

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands.

Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults.

The thrilling conclusion to an action-packed sci-fi trilogy"

Rating:

Warning: If you have not read Glitch and Override, this review might contain spoilers from these books.

The Glitch Trilogy is a series of books that I haven’t given much thought of when I read them. I didn’t have any expectations about them. That’s probably a good thing, considering that it let me keep an open mind about whatever was in store for me.

Shutdown, the third and final instalment to the Glitch trilogy, gave off a very promising introduction during its first few chapters. Although I knew that Zoe’s world is on a brink of war, I did not expect the mayhem that went about in between all the planning and preparing to overthrow the Chancellor. While some wars and campaigns during the medieval times were done with honor and proper decorum (although still brutal), this war between the Resistance and the Chancellor is ruthless and vicious, and without show of mercy and sparing of the innocents.

I thought of Zoe to be nothing but a simple protag during Glitch, then I came to respect her in Override, and now I just adore her in Shutdown. I’ve always thought that the weight of being seen as beacon of revolution and the one to lead all to freedom was a really tough image to carry. It’s not only pressuring but also hovers the feeling of guilt and fear that she might lead them only to fail.

I feel sorry for her for not only does she bear such a big burden, she has Adrien to worry about. I understand her inclination to wanting the Adrien she knew before to finally be back. And yet I cannot deny I feel sorry even more for Adrien. I see it’s not easy for him to try and be the person everyone expects him to be when he doesn’t even know who he once was. I understand his need to be known for who he is now than to be expected to go back to whom they once knew. Did I make sense? LOL. Let’s just say, it’s just a topsy-turvy situation.

Acid by Emma Pass [REVIEW]

TITLE: Acid
AUTHOR: Emma Pass
PUBLISHER: Corgi Children's Books,
  Random House Children's Publishing
PUB DATE: Apr 25 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"2113. In Jenna Strong’s world, ACID – the most brutal, controlling police force in history – rule supreme. No throwaway comment or muttered dissent goes unnoticed – or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a bloody crime she struggles to remember.

The only female inmate in a violent high-security prison, Jenna has learned to survive by any means necessary. And when a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID – and to uncover the truth about what really happened on that dark night two years ago."

Rating:

Acid is a story told of a world a hundred years from now. This future world is controlled by the brutal, dictatorial ACID, which stands for Agency for Crime Investigation and Defense. Here, we meet Jenna Strong, the only female inmate in an all-male high security prison for a crime she can barely remember doing. She is given a chance for freedom when a group of rebels decided to break her out of prison. Now, she must learn to fight this oppressive government and eventually learn the truth behind the darkest days of her past.

The plot was very well laid out and I really liked the world building. Also, the fact that although this was a hundred years in the future, the author managed to make the sci-fi terms very simple and easy to settle in.

I also think the news clips, letters, feed updates, etc made excellent side stories and fill-ins between events that occurred in the book. It was a creative note from the usual way of having the protagonist tell the story through his/her point-of-view.

What I admire most was seeing a rebellion against a domineering government try to fight for their rights in a less aggressive way. They would go through the formal process, though it may be a slow progress, even though ACID had the upper hand. It’s nice to find a story that shows there are other ways to fight off cruelty without resulting to violence themselves.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Darkest Minds
            (The Darkest Minds #1)
AUTHOR: Alexandra Bracken
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
PUB DATE: Dec 18 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living."

Rating:

I’ve read Bracken’s first book, Brightly Woven, and I just adored the story. It’s been a while since I read her first book so I was ecstatic to find The Darkest Minds. Even better is finding that this was going to be a series. Hooray! I just knew from the synopsis that I was going to enjoy reading The Darkest Minds.

“The government was never scared of the kids who might die, or the empty spaces they would leave behind... they were afraid of us – the ones who lived”

What a line! It actually gave me goose bumps when I stumbled upon it. If that doesn’t get you intrigued, I don’t know what will.

I was already impressed by Bracken’s world building skills and writing style from her debut novel, and she did not fail to impress me the second time with The Darkest Minds. While Brightly Woven was a simple sweet fantasy story, this book was dark and downright crazy. A world where our heroes befall misfortunes, being hunted by every possible villain, and find that there are no good guys to side with – that has got to be tough!

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: The Eternity Cure
            (Blood of Eden #2)
AUTHOR: Julie Kagawa
PUBLISHER: Harlequin
PUB DATE: Apr 30 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make."

Rating:

The Eternity Cure opens readers to Allison Sekemoto’s next adventure. After leading the company of humans to Eden from The Immortal Rules, Allie is now set on finding her sire, Kanin, who has fallen into the hands of a psychotic vampire named Sarren. As blood calls to blood, Kanin isn’t the only person she can sense. Through her journey, she finds herself connected to the last person she wishes to be. Becoming unlikely allied to this vampire; they go off in search of Kanin in pursuit of a common cause...

I’m a solid Julie Kagawa fan ever since the Iron King. When I read The Immortal Rules, the first book from the Blood of Eden series, my love for her just grew even more. I was so glad she did not fail me. So imagine my excitement over the release of The Eternity Cure. I barely kept myself calm enough to read through it. And might I say, it was quite a longer journey than I expected...

Dualed by Elsie Chapman [REVIEW]

TITLE: Dualed (Dualed #1)
AUTHOR: Elsie Chapman
PUBLISHER: Random House
PUB DATE: Feb 26 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"You or your Alt? Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better."

Rating:

It sure is hard to find a good dystopian story these days... Dualed was one of my most anticipated debut novels to read for this year. Sadly, I just couldn’t find it in me to appreciate anything about it.

When I first read the summary of Dualed on Goodreads, I was ecstatic. A world where having a twin is mandatory, an Alternate as they call it. Citizens must prove themselves worthy to live on Kersh by eliminating their Alts within a month of being “activated”. If not, both Alts would self destruct. Kersh may be a safe haven from the war outside its borders but here, only the strong survive and the weak must be purged...

I don’t get the logic behind killing your Alt. West says: “All for peace... fighting ourselves in here, so we don’t have to fight the world out there...” I feel that it wasn’t a good enough reason, but I let that go. Eliminating ones Alt gives the victor the chance to live a life of luxury and privilege. Okay, I guess that’s a good bout. Then I came upon the purpose behind eliminating the weak. I forgot the exact words but this is pretty much the idea: when in case the war does break through they have soldiers prepared to send out. WTF? (Correct me if I’m wrong, but there’s a part in this book that talked about this and this is how I understood it). It would have been a viable, albeit wrong and unjust, explanation but with how vague it was described and how messy it was laid out just didn’t suffice.

Requiem by Lauren Oliver [REVIEW]

TITLE: Requiem (Delirium #3)
AUTHOR: Lauren Oliver
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUB DATE: Mar 5 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past. But we are still here. And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings. Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it. But we have chosen a different road. And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose. We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge."

Rating:

No!!! Please, no! That it so not the end of this series!

Golly, come to think of it, I’ve more or less started all my reviews from Lauren Oliver’s Delirium series with a “no” (see Delirium and Pandemonium reviews). I’m starting to think whether this is because I have an arguable explanation for saying so or it’s just my refusal to accept what’s at hand every time the books reach their endings... yeah, both.

[Be warned, this will contain spoilers from the first two books...and a bit from book three too. Okay maybe a lot. Sorry. I have to vent out some things.]

Let’s do a little recap... (I’ll make it quick, don’t worry)

We follow Lena’s story first through Delirium, where she is set on getting the cure for deliria, but then she meets a boy named Alex who shows her what love feels like. Falling in love with Alex made Lena decide not to take the cure anymore and instead run away with Alex into the Wilds, which first she thought was dangerous. In their attempt to flee Portland, Alex ends up being shot and left behind while Lena escapes into the Wilds.

This then follows on to Pandemonium where Lena is now living in the Wilds along with other un-cureds/Invalids. She thinks that Alex is dead. On the effort of trying to move on with her life, she takes on a mission for the movement against the DFA. Through her mission, she meets Julian, the role model of young individuals of the society, typically telling all the people that being cured is the right – and only – choice. So Lena, although grieving over Alex’s supposed death, manages to fall in love with Julian, which then leads to them running off to the Wilds together, that is after Lena rescues Julian and all that. I know... vague details. You’ll all get it once you read both books (if you haven’t yet that is). So anyway, although Lena is now happy having Julian with her, surprise, surprise – Alex is alive and has found his way back to her... and so here is where Requiem takes the lead...

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi [REVIEW]

TITLE: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
AUTHOR: Tahereh Mafi
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUB DATE: Feb 5 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life."

Rating:

Well... that was one intense book!

I honestly don’t know what to make of Unravel Me. I loved it and hated all at the same time.

I love Adam from Shatter Me and I’m solidly rooting for him but I hated seeing him all broken and confused here. I feel like he took a step back from the strong, favourable character that he was before. It’s sad.

I loved seeing a different side of Warner; it’s a little uncomfortable for me to think that it makes me see him worthy of Juliette. As much as I hate to admit it, but getting to know this side of Warner made me understand why he too has just as much fan-girls as Adam. He’s still creepy and psychotic though, but still...

Sheesh! This love triangle is probably the most intense part of this book. It’s a little exhausting even. I wish Juliette would make up her mind sooner, but I understand that given all that she’s been through, she is bound to be struggling on her decision.

See, that’s another thing I find troubling here - Juliette was constantly in hot water. She lost all the confidence she’s come to develop during the end of Shatter Me. She’s back to feeling sorry for herself and at some point it got a little annoying. And yet there are times that I can’t help but empathize with her. Then I got to see her voice this out: “What I really want to say is who the hell do you think you are to tell me that it's awesome to be able to kill a living thing, that it's interesting to be able to ensnare another soul, that it's fair to choose a victim simply because I'm capable of killing without a gun..” And that just made me admire her.

Prodigy by Marie Lu [REVIEW]

TITLE: Prodigy (Legend #2)
AUTHOR: Marie Lu
PUBLISHER: Putnam Juvenile
PUB DATE: Jan 29 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action."

Rating:

I’ve been delaying myself from writing this review. Why? Well, every time I see, hear or think of Prodigy, my heart aches and breaks into a thousand pieces! Damn that ending!

I have been hooked to the story of June and Day from page one of Legend, the first book from this series. I loved every minute of reading it. It was fun, fresh and exciting. My experience with Prodigy is quite similar, that is until Marie Lu crushed my heart and soul over that awful cliffhanger. Why must protagonists always suffer?! *Bawls*

When I met June in book one, she was every bit the strong, soldierly girl that I look for in a true kick ass heroine, exactly the image of the Republic deems as its prodigy. I love how June didn’t stray off of this persona even after being on the run, and considered a wanted criminal. I love that June’s ever-observant self does not falter no matter the circumstances. It was cute!

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans [REVIEW]

TITLE: Level 2
           (The Memory Chronicles #1)
AUTHOR: Lenore Appelhans
PUBLISHER: Usborne Publishing
PUB DATE: Jan 15 2013

 Summary from Goodreads:

"I pause to look around the hive – all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories… I’ve wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me."

"Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in Level 2, the waiting room between Earth and Heaven, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend…and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her…

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing in Level 2, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves. A choice that will change everything…

THREE LEVELS - TWO LOVES - ONE CHOICE"

Rating:

Weird and messy… That’s about what sums up how I feel after reading Level 2. And my review might probably be just as well since my thoughts are all over the place right now. My mind is barraging me with one complain after another. Thought you ought to know.

I was rather intrigued by the sci-fi twist on heaven, earth and the after life setting. I think it was kind of cool. The writing and storyline was easy enough to read through and I even find myself engrossed over the journey and adventure. But I had difficulty finding it appreciative.

For a moment I thought that the after-life thing was just a hoax and they all weren’t really dead, and Level 2 was actually a secret laboratory or something and all the people there were actually test subjects brainwashed and made to believe they were dead. It turns out that’s not really the case here. Yeah, I got a vivid imagination sometimes. Haha!

Override by Heather Anastasiu [ARC REVIEW]

TITLE: Override (Glitch #2)
AUTHOR: Heather Anastasiu
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Griffin
PUB DATE: Feb 12 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"Zoe is free. She has escaped the enslavement of the Community, disconnected from the hardware that had controlled her every thought and emotion, and evaded capture by the Chancellor intent on killing her. She is finally free, but she is far from safe.

Zoe and Adrien hide themselves from detection at the Foundation, an academy that trains teen glitchers to fight in the Resistance movement. Together, Zoe and her new team of superhuman fighters must risk their lives to rescue other glitchers and humans from the Chancellor's control. Challenges abound at every turn, and Adrien, who has become silent, distant, and tormented by his visions of the future, only adds to the growing certainty of defeat. But worst of all, as Zoe's team fights against impossible odds, distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation.

Full of high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Heather Anastasiu's Override is an exciting continuation of this popular young adult trilogy."

Rating:

On my review of Glitch last year, I have probably done a lot of belittling over that book, to a point that I wasn’t really expecting myself to read the rest of the series. But seeing an advance copy of book two made me think otherwise. Right now, after reading Override, I think I’m just about to eat my words. I even imagine Heather Anastasiu going: “Ha! In your face, bitch!” She didn’t really say that of course, but I’d take it if she did. Haha!

Anyway, Override was the kind of book I least expected to love and enjoy. For one thing, I found Zoe typical in the first book, so the changes she went through in book two was admirable. From being someone once so powerful then having no control at all, and to be able to harness it once again, well Zoe I really got to give it to you. As struggling as you felt at first, nice job! Not to mention being told that she was supposed to lead an army of rebels, without her having any idea about how to do that was really pressuring, and I couldn’t help but feel compassion towards her.

With Glitch, I wasn’t completely sold on the love triangle going on between Zoe, Adrien and Max. I thought it was simply a ploy to spice things up. But... wow! Turns out Max really has a significant role in all this. That scene where Zoe found out he intruded the rebel facility – I think my mind just blew to bits! Even though I hate Max, I have to admit that was one hell of a tactic!

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi [REVIEW]

TITLE: Through the Ever Night
           (Under the Never Sky #2)
AUTHOR: Veronica Rossi
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUB DATE: Jan 8 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

"It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable."

Rating:

Review will contain minor spoilers, just a tad I swear, but spoilers nonetheless. So be warned.

Through the Ever Night is one my most anticipated reads for this year. So I guess it’s not much of a surprise that I started leafing through the pages the moment I paid for it at the bookstore. I finished nearly half of the book while having my nails done at the nail salon shortly after my trip to the bookstore. I was that excited!

So what has become of our heroes?

From the ending of Under the Never Sky, I knew that Perry and Aria had finally seen each other after months of being separated. It was heartbreaking for me to see them be forced to part ways just too soon so that they could get things done that’ll save countless lives.

I witnessed a whirlwind of surprises with this book.

The Selection by Kiera Cass [REVIEW]

TITLE: The Selection (The Selection #1)
AUTHOR: Kiera Cass
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUB DATE: Apr 24 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

"Thirty-five beautiful girls. Thirty-five beautiful rivals…

It’s the chance of a lifetime and 17-year-old America Singer should feel lucky. She has been chosen for The Selection, a reality TV lottery in which the special few compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's love.

Swept up in a world of elaborate gowns, glittering jewels and decadent feasts, America is living a new and glamorous life. And the prince takes a special interest in her, much to the outrage of the others.

Rivalry within The Selection is fierce and not all of the girls are prepared to play by the rules. But what they don’t know is that America has a secret — one which could throw the whole competition… and change her life forever."

Rating:

I was drawn to The Selection’s cover the minute I saw it on Goodreads, as many readers have mentioned, it is quite captivating. But the big question is, is the story just as captivating?

If you ask me, the synopsis didn’t really give me the urge to read it. Probably because, I know there weren’t any ass-kicking to occur (really it’s not that kind of book). I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I do not normally read slow paced books, but with the promise of a dystopian world encased in The Selection, I thought to give it a go. Although I did start on it thinking it was just another book to pass the time, and not expect too much from.

So the reading begins... My initial thought after reading the first few chapters was: “Is this going to be like that reality show, The Bachelor?” which I am not exactly a fan of. But knowing how that show went, it really did sound freakishly similar: The prince of Ilea is to choose his bride from amongst the 35 girls sorted from hundreds, even thousands who wishfully wanted to be part of the Selection. Yup, definitely The Bachelor.

Readers are introduced to the harsh life of America Singer, who well, sings for a living. That’s quite a pun by the way. While many girls want to get into the Selection, and get the chance to change their lives, America wants nothing more than to stay where she is and be with the boy she loves, Aspen. But fate is cruel and decides to let her become a part of the one world she does not wish to be at. After being left heartbroken by the one person she least expected to hurt her, she falls into giving the Selection a shot. As it turns out, the Prince isn’t as bad as she thought he would be...

Once by Anna Carey [REVIEW]

     TITLE: Once (Eve #2)
     AUTHOR: Anna Carey
     PUBLISHER: Harper
     PUB DATE: July 3 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

"In the second book of this thrilling dystopian adventure, Eve will come face to face with the king who has been ruthlessly hunting her and learn the shocking truth about who she really is.

Having managed to evade the soldiers hunting her, Eve finally reached Califia, a haven for women determined to live outside the oppressive rule of the King of New America. However, Eve's freedom came at a price: she was forced to leave Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve learns that Califia may not be as safe as it seems she sets out once again in the hopes of being with Caleb only to fall into a trap that sends her to the City of Sand and directly into the hands of the King. 

Once at the stronghold of the King, Eve will uncover the real reason he was so intent on her capture, and the unbelievable role he intends her to fill. When she is finally reunited with Caleb inside the city walls, Eve will risk everything to be with him."

Rating:

In the events that follow Eve, the first book of the series: Eve has been living in Califia, a sanctuary for women who chose to live outside the rules imposed by the King of the New America. Since men are not allowed within Califia, Eve had to leave Caleb behind to enter in order to avoid being captured by the King’s men.

But when word got to her that Caleb is in trouble, Eve is determined to help him out, only to find out that this was a trap. Suddenly, Eve finds herself in the last place she expected to be. The one place she has been fighting off to be held in, the City of Sand; the king’s very home.

What shocks her is finding out the real reason behind the King’s determination to locate her and what role she must play in the rebirth of the country. And when she finally sees Caleb, a wanted criminal within the city walls, she would do anything to be with him once and for all...

What started out as a simple love story with a mix of dystopia from Eve, developed into a deeper kind of story through Once.