REVIEW: The One (The Selection #3)

The One (The Selection #3), by Kiera Cass
Published May 6, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: hardback, provided by the publisher
Genre: young adult fantasy/romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium.

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

Series enders have not been kind to me lately. I get it - finales are tricky for both the readers and the author. In all the previous books, dramatic situations, love triangles and bad decisions can all be put aside in our minds because the final book is still ahead, so everything has a chance still to be put to rights. But, once that last book comes out, you realize you're down to only 350 pages to clear everything up. The author has to answer to fans while maintaining their professional integrity. Authors - you are rock stars.

Perhaps this is why there are several series in which I've read all but the last book. I'm simply scared to finish it all up in case things don't go my way. I don't want it to taint the rest of the series, particularly if I've enjoyed all the previous books. So, it was with great trepidation that I cracked the spine on The One. And, when I was done, the main thought in my head was...

THANK YOU, KIERA CASS. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU.

I have to admit - given the state of affairs in the Maxon/America/Aspen love triangle at the end of The Elite, I was nervous. America seemed pretty screwed either way you looked at it. The king was pissed at her. Maxon was pissed at her. The public was pissed at her. And, she couldn't get a minute to talk to Aspen about any of it. The Selection was down to only four girls and rebel attacks were escalating.

I loved that the excitement started pretty much immediately. America is anxious to get back in the game, so she's stepping up her seduction skills, and the claws come out among all four girls still left in it because of it. For Maxon's part, he seems like he does still prefer America, yet it's obvious that he's also still keeping his options open, particularly with Kriss.

Thankfully, America seems to make up her mind what she REALLY wants fairly early on in the book. Where the stress and angst for me came in was when she decided it was a good idea to not tell anyone about it. ARGH! She doesn't even tell her ultimate choice, which was just... ARGH! The fact that America couldn't get outside of her own head for even a short while so that she could think objectively about her situation made me stabby.

The two guys, on the other hand, keep seeking out opportunities to come to a final decision about their feelings for America and to figure out her feelings for them. Her moments with Maxon were so sweet. The sexual tension between the two of them was off the hook, too. America's moments with Aspen were rushed and nostalgic. It was obvious they still cared about each other quite a bit. Both guys love America and would do anything for her. Lucky girl.

"Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway. I'll love you until my very last breath. Every beat of my heart is yours."

Finally we get a lot more information about the two camps of rebels in The One. We've been dancing around their motives and actions through two books, so it was awesome to get more insight into both the northern and the southern rebels, and even meet some of them. In addition to the bride wars going on in the castle, there's quite a bit of subterfuge and military strategy involved in this book. I loved how America threw herself into the thick of things without hesitation. She was really brave and selfless.

And, in the end, there's a final showdown between the Illeans and the rebels, and WOW. It did not disappoint. Characters were injured. Characters died. And yes. There was a wedding. I was so blown away by how everything ended up being tied together - I didn't see a lot of it coming, even though it had been building since book 1.

The One is a perfect example of exactly how a series finale should be done. Not everything goes smoothly. Many aspects of the plot aren't ironed out until the very VERY end. Not every character makes it. But, I can honestly say, it's been a long time until I've felt this satisfied when it was all over.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Branded (Sinners #1)

Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

A Sinners Series

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best. 
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. 

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. 

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. 
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. 
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Excerpt

I turn on the faucet for a long while only to discover ice-cold water rushing out. The water never warms and I begin to understand. The Commander thinks he can wash away my soul by freezing me to death. He thinks he can destroy me by stripping away my possessions. But he can’t and I won’t let him take my memories, my ambition, and my pride.

He thinks I’m so easily broken.

The Commander doesn’t know anything about me, what I grew up with, what I endured—the father I lost, the mother I hate, the brother who walked out of my life, and the stepfather I was forced to accept. He thinks since I was rich, making me poor will cause me to give up. What he doesn’t understand is that, after my father passed away, I grew up behind walls of hatred. I had nothing, but had everything at the same time. I owned expensive clothes, enjoyed good schooling, and lived in a nice home. But my body was just a shell protecting an empty, desperate heart. My life was a colorful façade.

I had so much time to sit and think. I spent the majority of my life between four walls. I was abandoned, neglected, starved, betrayed, and abused. I’ve already been treated like the scum of the earth, so the Hole is nothing new. He wants to erase every sign of my existence on this earth, but I won’t let that happen. He can strip me naked, but he’ll never reach my soul.

It’s personal, completely personal.

Purchase

About Abi and Missy 

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Abi's Goodreads / Missy's Goodreads

My Review

3.5 Stars

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Branded blog tour, organized by Mark My Words Book Publicity. I'm particularly excited for this tour, because the author duo of Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki are from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which is only a half-hour or so away from me. So, these are local girls, and I'm so happy to help them promote Branded!

Branded was an intense, emotional book. Lexi Hamilton was named a sinner of lust by her mother, of all people, and sent to The Hole. In The Hole, she was branded - tattooed around her neck so that everyone knows what her sin is. She is assigned a guard and a job. Right off the bat, we see that Lexi gets preferential treatment from both her guard, Cole, and her boss, Sutton. That treatment keeps her alive, and as time goes on, she learns that things are going on behind the scenes that might change everything for her.

Branded could be divided into two parts. The first part I'd label as "The Hole." It details Lexi's arrival at The Hole, her branding, her meeting Cole and Sutton and her activities at the hospital where she works. It also chronicles her budding forbidden relationship with Cole.

The second part of Branded could be called "The Hole Beneath The Hole." This part would be about the rise of the rebellion looking to take down the Commander and his totalitarian regime.

The Lexi in part 1 was different from the Lexi in part 2. Drastically so. In part 1, she was timid and ashamed. She was afraid to open up and afraid of her own feelings. She forges relationships, though, in unlikely places. She befriends the head surgeon at the hospital, Sutton, as well as a terminally ill little girl. She develops a relationship with Cole and his big dog Zeus. At first, they're civil. Then, they're friends. Finally, they admit their feelings run deeper than that. But, in The Hole, guards can't have relationships with sinners or both will be tortured and killed. It definitely complicates things for both Lexi and Cole.

The Lexi in part 2, I honestly didn't like very much. Yes, she finally reaches deep down and develops some lady balls. But, she seems to sacrifice her softness and kindness in order to do so. She treats Cole like crap, which irked me to no end since he had risked his life over and over again for her. The second someone else from her past shows up, Cole becomes a very quick second choice, even though this other person doesn't always treat her well. I appreciate her wanting to stand on her own two feet, but she shouldn't do it at the detriment of the relationships she had formed to that point.

Cole is an awesome character. He's mean and awful in the beginning, but he softens toward Lexi pretty quickly. His efforts to protect her and take care of her made me melt. And, the way he loved his dog was pretty damn adorable too.

There's a lot of stuff going on underneath the surface. There's a rebellion growing, and its leader and how it got started is somewhat surprising. The Commander is always shrouded in secrecy, and when his identity is finally revealed, it was also surprising. I appreciated the twists and turns in the story and I'm glad the authors didn't draw out the reveal of some of them into the next book. I hate it when that happens!

Branded comes to a satisfying close, although there are enough loose ends still hanging to make me interested in what comes next. I hope the Lexi in the second book is closer to the one I saw in part 1. I liked her much better and I liked her with Cole much more. And, I hope there's much more Cole in book 2. More Cole could never be a bad thing. 

REVIEW: Not a Drop to Drink

Not a Drop to Drink, by Mindy McGinnis
Published September 24, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: young adult post-apocalyptic
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

I must admit - I was sucked in by the cover of Not a Drop to Drink. I mean, look at it. It's gorgeous. It helped that the description was super interesting too. That's always a good thing. 

Lynn lives in future Ohio where water is short and violence is high. She has a pond on her property that she has to protect at all costs. When people run into her path, Lynn needs to decide whether to trust them or blow them away. One family in particular has a profound impact on Lynn and the way she looks at the world at large. 

Mindy McGinnis is a beautiful writer. The words that she strings together were so pretty and so impactful. She made the characters really come to life and made me really wonder what a world like this would be like - what I would be like. 

Lynn was awesome. Talk about living a sheltered life - Lynn was raised by her mom, and the only other person she ever interacted with was their next door neighbor, Stebbs. So when a family from the city, including teen hottie Eli, sets up camp nearby, Lynn doesn't know how to act. I loved her awkwardness and cluelessness. It was endearing and sweet and it softened her hard edges. That was very much needed, because Lynn had A LOT of hard edges. She was tough to love. But, through the course of the book, Lynn came a long way. 

I adored the relationship she developed with Stebbs. He was older, wiser, and actually very sweet. He has a tie to Lynn's past that she eventually finds out about, and that tie means that Stebbs has always watched over Lynn to make sure she was okay. He becomes her closest confidant and friend. 

Although the writing was gorgeous and I loved the characters, there were times when I felt the plot plodded along a bit. There'd be a lot of daily life punctuated by a bit of action here and there - at least until the action-packed last chapter. It was also pretty damn depressing at times, as survival stories usually are. I definitely prefer my books a bit closer to the happy end of the scale. 

I did enjoy Not a Drop to Drink, and look forward to continuing Lynn's story.

COVER REVEAL: Burning Kingdoms (The Internment Chronicles #2)

One of my favorite new series from last year was Lauren DeStefano's PERFECT RUIN (The Internment Chronicles #1). It was exciting and unique and so beautifully written. The second book in the series, BURNING KINGDOMS is set to release on March 10, 2015, and I'm so, so thrilled to share with you the cover! You ready?

Burning Kingdoms (The Internment Chronicles #2), by Lauren DeStefano
To Be Published March 10, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: young adult sci-fi/dystopian

(Synopsis) After escaping through the bottom of Internment, Morgan and her fellow fugitives aboard the great mechanical bird land on the ground to finally learn what has lived beneath their floating island home all these eons.

The ground is a strange place where water falls from the sky as snow, and customers watch moving pictures and visit speakeasies. A place where families can have as many children as they want, their dead are buried in vast gardens of bodies, and Interment is the feature of an amusement park.

It is also a land at war.

Everyone who fled Internment had their own reasons to escape their corrupt haven. But caught under the watchful eye of another king that wants to dominate his world, they wonder if coming to the ground will drag Internment down with them.

But, that's not all! PERFECT RUIN is releasing in paperback format on the same day that BURNING KINGDOMS hits the stands. Want to see what that is going to look like too?

Aren't they gorgeous?! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Don't forget to add BURNING KINGDOMS to your Goodreads TBR, too!

About the Author

Lauren DeStefano is the author of The Internment Chronicles and the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden trilogy, which includes Wither, Fever, and Sever. She earned her BA in English with a concentration in creative writing from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut. Visit her at LaurenDeStefano.com.

REVIEW: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3), by Tahereh Mafi
Published February 4, 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: hardback, purchased
Genre:  YA dystopian romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  2 STARS

(From Goodreads) Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

It took me several days to congeal my thoughts about Ignite Me into something that I could actually put into words. My review that follows is not one I normally would write, in that, it’s rife with spoilers. I do apologize for that. To be honest, the writing of this review is going to be somewhat cathartic for me, and I’m sorry that you who haven’t read it yet, are on the receiving end of my word vomit. 

I will say that Tahereh Mafi is an absolutely beautiful writer. It flows and ebbs like water and she has the ability to elicit real emotion from me without much apparent effort. Her use of symbolism is unmatched. And, something new that I discovered about her – this woman knows how to write romance. Face-fanning, lady-bit tingling, jelly-legged romance. It’s good stuff.

"I will be here every night," he whispers, his words so soft, so tortured, "to keep you warm. I will kiss you until I can't keep my eyes open."

And, seriously, the covers of all her books in the Shatter Me series are orgasms for my eyes. They are the most beautiful series covers I’ve ever seen. 

So, on to the spoilers. If you haven’t read Ignite Me, you will want to stop now. 

Seriously – stop reading if you don’t want to know who Juliette picked. 

Last warning. 


My feelings on whether I “liked” or “did not like” Ignite Me are not wrapped up in whether my team won or lost. It’s not nearly as simplistic as that, although some might dispute that. Certainly, I’ll be the first one to admit that I wish Juliette had chosen the other guy, and that fact does color my overall opinion of the book to some degree. How could it not? 

We, as book fans, become so involved in our favorite characters’ lives that we create Twitter handles and websites dedicated to them. We passionately advocate for our favorite crushes and couples in tournaments and create badges and buttons announcing our allegiances for our blogs and Facebook pages. Of course the outcome of love triangles are going to affect our overall impressions of the books in which they are found, and there is nothing wrong with that. 

I have always said that the worst way out of a love triangle is to kill off one of the choices. And, I realized after finishing Ignite Me that that is exactly what Mafi did here. Granted, both Adam and Warner were physically alive in the end. But, all the qualities that made up the Adam that was introduced to us in Shatter Me died a fiery, horrible death over the course of this 408-page book, and frankly, it makes me more angry than anything else. 

Adam captured my heart from the very beginning. The story of how this boy helped this girl and became her only friend when no one else would dare brought tears to my eyes. Then, after spending years trying to find her, he risks everything to free her from both her physical and mental prison. He loved her practically his whole life, and the greatest gift was when he heard that her love was returned. He naturally wanted to protect her from all the bad scary things (love kinda makes you want to do that), but he also believed that she could be so much more. 

That man was nowhere to be found in Ignite Me.

I appreciate that Juliette wanted to stop hiding and start living. But, didn’t she do that the second she jumped out of her bedroom window with Adam? Wasn’t she standing up for herself when she pointed that gun in Kenji’s face while in Adam’s apartment? Didn’t she take charge of her life when she made the decision to take Adam and James to Omega Point in the first place? And, didn’t Adam support her and go along with it all? 

The Adam that was presented to us in Ignite Me was bitter, cold and hateful. He was indecisive and angry. It was almost as if Mafi was trying to force her choice down my throat. I hate to break it to her, but I could’ve gotten behind her decision to put Juliette with Warner if she had given me a good reason why. But, vilifying and demonizing Adam in order to paint a more radical contrast between he and the now angelic Warner felt so wrong to me. If two characters are going to completely switch personalities over the course of a series, I want a solid reason why, and unrequited love isn’t one. Not for these two guys. 

In the end, I just didn’t believe any of it. 

Sadly, if you put all the relationship drama aside, there isn’t much left in Ignite Me. Whereas Shatter Me and Unravel Me focused a lot on the development of Juliette’s powers and how they might take down the Reestablishment, Ignite Me was all angst and guilt and hormones. There was very little said about Juliette’s, Warner’s and Adam’s powers, and almost nothing about the secondary characters’ powers (so little, in fact, that I forgot what they were until about 85% through). 

All three books were leading up to the final showdown between Juliette and Anderson. We didn’t even see Anderson until the final pages of the book. And, then it was over. Just like that. All the waiting and anticipation was over so fast, and I literally said out loud, “So, that’s it then?”  I wanted so much more! I wanted to know what was beyond Sector 45 and how the destruction of it and Anderson was going to affect the rest of the country. Is there even a country? What does the world look like? The world-building has always been a little weak for my liking, and I was thinking we’d finally fill in those holes in Ignite Me. 

Not so. 

Now that it’s all said and done and I’ve had some time to reflect on my true feelings regarding Ignite Me, I realize that I just feel cheated. What I thought was the whole point (taking down the leader of the regime that has been oppressing people for years) ended up being buried amid the unrealistic destruction of one character loved by many and the unbelievable elevation of another to one who could do absolutely nothing wrong. The shaping of Juliette’s budding abilities and personality was squashed by her constant indecision in the “I love him, I love him not” game.
 
Or, maybe, I missed the point entirely.

REVIEW: Wold After (Penryn And The End Of Days #2)

World After (Penryn and the End of Days #2), by Susan Ee
Published November 19, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Format: e-book, gifted
Genre:  young adult fantasy/post-apocalyptic
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

If someone had told me six months ago that I'd be giving five stars to a book with stuff like man-eating children, insides-liquifying scorpion monsters, and bat-winged agnostic angels, I would've said you were off your bookish rocker. I mean, would you think that a book like that would end up being one of the best of the year? But, trust me. TRUST ME. World After was incredibly, epically awesome. 

World After picks up immediately where Angelfall left off with Raffe hunting for his wings, stolen by the nasty demon Belial, after assuming Penryn was dead and leaving her with the resistance fighters. Penryn, on the other hand, is trying to keep her family together which proves to be a challenge since Paige is now... different. The angels are up to something, and none of it seems good for the human race.

I'm not quite sure what it is about this series by Susan Ee, but I am so caught up in it, I'm counting the months until the third book is released (six!). World After was disturbing, scary, crazy, and completely AWESOME. It built perfectly on the story started in Angelfall and left us hanging at just the right part. 

Penryn is such an amazing heroine. She's so brave and smart and strong. I also love that she has emotional meltdowns and gets pissed when her world is falling down around her. Because no one does the right thing at the right time all the time. She's developed this attachment to someone who is supposed to be her mortal enemy and she still recognizes the wrongness of that. And, yet, Penryn has the ability to cut through the bullshit and see the person underneath to know that Raffe is inherently good and someone to be trusted. I love that about her. 

Speaking of Raffe, he seemed a little different in World After than he was in Angelfall. More... human. He jokes around more with Penryn. He acts a bit like a dork at times. And, he doesn't seem determined to hide his affection from her any longer. Which, of course, made me love him even more, if that's possible. 

This story is a complex one, full of lots of twists and turns and deceptions. To be honest with you, I'm still not a hundred percent sure who the bad guys are. I kind of love that, too. You think the angels are the baddies, but I don't think all of them are. Perhaps demons are influencing them? Something fishy is going on, and I'm still not quite sure what it is. The fact that Susan Ee is able to hide all the details and true motives this far into the story is amazing. 

One thing is for sure. If you read the Penryn series, you'll get a little dystopian, a little horror, and even a little romance. What a combination, right? The characters are uniquely wonderful and the story is scary, gritty and exciting. The mythology that Susan Ee has worked in is awesome too. I seriously loved World After and its predecessor, Angelfall. Please give it a try too.  

REVIEW: Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3), by Veronica Rossi
To Be Published January 28, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: e-galley, obtained from Edelweiss
Genre:  young adult dystopian
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

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

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

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

FINALLY. A series ender that did the story justice.

I don't know about you, but lately it seems as if the final books in series I follow - particularly dystopian series - have not even come close to living up to my expectations. Perhaps my goals are too lofty. I want drama, suspense, intrigue, tons of stress and frustration, but ultimately a satisfying HEA for the main characters and a resolution to the main problem that has plagued them for several books. I didn't think that was too much to ask.

Thankfully, Veronica Rossi and I seem to be of the same mind. Because, this fantastic author gave me my wishlist in Into The Still Blue. Especially the tons of stress and frustration. Oh, I felt those things in spades.

As the title suggests, the entire book is about the two separate factions of people - the Tides and Dwellers led by Perry and the Horns and Dwellers led by the evil duo Sable and Hess - trying to get to the Still Blue where the air and sky are clear and healthy. In order to do that, they need the help of Cinder, the 13-year-old boy that befriended Perry and has been kidnapped by Sable and Hess.

In addition to the plotting, planning, thwarting and executing of said plans, there was a lot of focus on relationships both old and new. Perry's and Roar's friendship seems irreparable since Liv's death. Perry and Aria are now together and resolved to make their relationship work no matter what. And the Tides and Dwellers need to find a way to get past their ingrained differences so they can live together in peace.

My love of Perry, Aria and Roar never wavered. Their choices and actions were in keeping with the characters Rossi has created over the course of two books and two novellas now. They are characters whose traits I admire - the dedication to family and the honor in the face of adversity is inspiring.

Leave it to Veronica Rossi to make me love characters I had previously resolved to hate. Soren, Brooke and Loren most definitely grew on me over the course of Into The Still Blue, until at the end, I was most definitely rooting for them to make it through the final dangerous confrontations.

The pacing was perfect. The action and angst almost non-stop. The character development was amazing. I thank Veronica Rossi for giving us the drama, suspense, stress, and yes, that elusive HEA, in this final book of the Under the Never Sky series. This is, without a doubt, one of the best dystopian series I've ever read.

REVIEW: Perfect Ruin (Internment Chronicles #1)

Perfect Ruin (Internment Chronicles #1), by Lauren DeStefano
Published October 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: young adult fantasy/dystopian
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

Okay, I loooooved Perfect Ruin. I mean, it's about a city in the freaking sky! How is it that this hasn't been done before? Because, that idea is sheer brilliance. And, Lauren DeStefano executes it beautifully. 

Morgan lives on Internment, a city on a hunk of ground floating in the sky. As one would expect from an area the size of a postage stamp, everyone's lives - including, births, marriages and deaths - are very prescribed. It was thought that everyone was happy with things the way they were. Then, a young girl is murdered, which, like, NEVER happens. And, all of a sudden, the thought of escaping to the ground below becomes a thought more frequently occupying not only Morgan's mind. Which is akin to treason. 

This is the first book I've ever read by Lauren DeStefano, and I'm now left wondering why that is. Her writing is so beautiful. The way she describes this floating city and the people who live in it is like poetry. 

"Don't focus on the edge, I tell myself. Stay inside the tracks. Stay in this little place where awful things happen, but where beauty hides in beams of sunlight, in the green grass and the gentle lapping of the lake forming and destroying watery shapes. Ignore the men in uniforms that stand at length, sullying the image. They'll be gone soon. Everything will go back to normal."

Morgan is the girl who tries to be good and conform to her society's standards, but just can't seem to stop imagining what more looks like. Her brother tried to jump over the edge once and was rendered blind because of it. He's sort of become her hero, even though she won't admit it. She's been betrothed to Basil since birth, and as it turns out, she actually doesn't mind. They really do love each other and are so freaking adorable together. 

Morgan starts asking the questions no one else wants to ask, and because of it, the perfect society that has been carefully constructed by the king and the king before him and before him starts to crumble. It goes to prove that sometimes just one or two people - even teenagers - can start a revolution. 

The supporting characters are amazingly drawn. Basil is absolutely wonderful - he's real deal book boyfriend material. He is unwaveringly supportive of Morgan and their commitment to each other. And that makes her love him all the more. 

Pen, the BFF, is quirky and cute. Her betrothed Thomas reminds me of Toraf from the Of Poseidon series by Anna Banks - he is utterly devoted to Pen, and she acts like she can't stand him, yet you know she loves him as much as he does her. 

Then, there's Judas and Amy, the betrothed and sister of the murdered girl. They're angry and sad and totally misunderstood. And, finally, Lex and Alice, Morgan's brother and sister-in-law - they're probably my favorites. Lex was changed after his attempt to jump over the edge, and now he broods and is anti-social and a little mean. Yet, he loves his little sister and his wife so much, he's willing to do whatever it takes to make them safe.

Perfect Ruin is told from Morgan's POV. She really is the main focus of the story, so that makes sense. There is no cliffhanger, but the ending is left WIDE open for the story to continue in the next book. I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens. It's going to be really good. 

REVIEW: Reboot (Reboot #1)

Reboot (Reboot #1), by Amy Tintera
Published May 7, 2013
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Format: e-book - obtained from NetGalley
Genre:  YA dystopian
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(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.

I'm really digging these books about anti-zombies. I mean, REALLY digging them. Some authors have chosen to address the cool paranormal hook of reanimation, but not into something gross that loves to eat flesh and shuffle about moaning and wailing. Into something more... humanized. And, I want to hug and kiss those authors, because it's taking something that's interesting to me and making it more palatable, especially when it comes to forming some sort of romantic attachment.

So, yeah - I want to hug and kiss Amy Tintera. 

In Reboot's version of future America, a disease has decimated the population so that the entirety of it fits into only the state of Texas. This disease either KILLS you kills you, or kills you then reanimates you, or "reboots" you. The longer you stay dead, the stronger you are when you wake up. And the less of your humanity you retain, too. 

Wren was dead 178 minutes - an extremely long time - before she rebooted. She's the strongest, coldest and scariest reboot on staff. And she gets herself assigned to train newbie, Callum, a mere 22. As she trains him to kill, he trains her to get in touch with her humanity again, which she thought had been lost for good. And, her awkward growing affection toward him causes her to do things she never thought she'd do.

There's really two things going on in Reboot. First is Wren's growing discomfort with HARC and how they treat the Reboots. This all starts when she starts seeing strange behavior exhibited in her only friend and roommate, Ever. Ever is as close to a real zombie that you see in Reboot, and it's scary. Her downward spiral at the hands of HARC causes Wren to have real feelings for the first time in awhile. The gradual build-up of the mystery surrounding the strange behavior of the under-60s was perfectly paced. And, it made me feel so bad for these people who have no control over who they are.

The second thing going on is Wren's reawakening of herself. Much of this stems from her involvement with Callum, who asks questions that no reboot has ever asked before - questions that start with "why," "where," and "how." I loved seeing Wren's self-realization at Callum's hands. Callum is almost child-like in his handling of her, and his innocence is endearing and sweet. He is truly on the other end of the spectrum from the cold and calculating Wren.  

And, what's interesting is that, through the course of the book, they meet somewhere in the middle. Callum is not able to escape completely unscathed from his experience as a Reboot. His experiences at the HARC headquarters tarnish his innocence some and leave him a little scarred and not nearly as happy-go-lucky as he was when he arrived. Conversely, Callum's influence on Wren's life melts away some of her coldness and reminds her about what it was like to once feel... well, anything, really. 

I was so happy that Reboot did not end in an epic cliffhanger. All the elements were there for Tintera to do that to us, but she chose not to. Yet another reason for some serious snuggles. It ended in the perfect place - with many loose ends tied up, but a perfect lead-in to the next book. Which, I will now be waiting for with bated breath. 

NEW ADULT MONDAY - AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Intermix Nation

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.   

Intermix Nation, by M.P. Attardo
Published March 5, 2013
Publisher:  self-published
Format: e-book - provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Genre:  new adult, dystopian
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Intermix: to mix together, blend

North America, paragon of diversity, is gone. From its ashes, a new nation has arisen – Renatus – where the government segregates the surviving population into races, forbidding interracial marriage, mating, and love.

Eighteen-year-old Nazirah Nation is a pariah, an intermix, born of people from different races. When her parents are murdered in the name of justice, Nazirah grudgingly joins the growing rebellion fighting against the despotic government.

Overwhelmed with grief, consumed by guilt, Nazirah craves vengeance as a substitute for absolution. But on her journey to find the girl she once was, Nazirah must learn the hard way that nothing … no one … is purely black or white. Like her, every human is intermix, shades and hues of complex emotions. And those who can take everything away are also the ones who can give everything back.

Intermix Nation was a surprise. I'm not talking about a, "Oh, hey. That was good! What do you know?" type of surprise. It was more like a, "Holy crap, where has this author been my whole life?!" kind of surprise. Don't let the fact that M.P. Attardo is not only a first-time author, but a self-published author scare you away from this incredible book. This girl has some mad skillz.
 
In Intermix Nation, Nazirah Nation is having a tough time since her parents were murdered. She's just not passionate about the rebel cause like everyone else is. She's not passionate about anything anymore, really. Yet, when her parents were killed and her devastated face was plastered on news stations around Renatus, she instantly and unwillingly became the face of a movement. And now, her brother - the commander of the rebels - needs her to do a job for him. A job that requires her to work closely with the man who killed her parents and destroyed her world as she knew it. 

Intermix Nation was a really passionate book. And, I'm not talking about the sexy passionate (although, there's some of that too!). It was more the passion you feel when you feel so strongly about something that it spurs you to action. Nazirah goes through a big change through the course of the book. In the beginning, she's actually the opposite of passionate. She's numb. She's been shattered. And now she has to share air with the man who caused those feelings. And, it's like that lights a fire in her. 

Adamek Morgen, the guy - boy, really - who killed Nazirah's parents, is on a journey of his own. He's done horrible things to try and please his awful father, and it's done nothing but bring him pain. So, he is looking for redemption. Salvation. Forgiveness. Even though he doesn't think he's worthy of it. Interestingly, the one he really needs those things from is the one girl who can't stand to be in the same room as him. 

With the backdrop of war, these two sad people have to make conscious, hard decisions in order to continue to put one foot in front of the other one. And, they do. 

I saw a lot of influence from other popular dystopian books such as Divergent and The Hunger Games in Intermix Nation. Through those nods, though, a lot of uniqueness shows through, too. Attardo wrote a gripping, inspiring story about equality, love and forgiveness. 

The romance was a slow-burn, but when it caught fire finally, WHEW! Was it hot! The side characters were alive. The world - Renatus - and all its territories were built up well and felt very solid. My only complaint is that I wished for a bit more at the end. The build up for the big battle was huge. When my Kindle registered 95% done and the battle wasn't here yet, I started to get nervous. But, then it did happen, and it was fast and furious. It would've been nice to see a bit more of that, and a bit more from Adamek and Nazirah at the end. *sigh* Guess that just means that Attardo will have to write a sequel. 

Read on and check out an interview with M.P. Attardo, and then enter a giveaway for an e-copy of Intermix Nation so you can check out this great book for yourself. 

Author Interview

Tell me a little about yourself. Do you have a day job? A pet? A favorite flavor of ice cream? Your biggest pet peeve? 
Wow, this feels like a first date! My name is Mary. I’m twenty-three. I like coffee and long walks on the be…oh wait, wrong site. Basically, all you need to know about me is that I’m a loud New Yorker with even louder ideas. For my “real” job, I do executive search … which is a lot funner than it sounds! My burgeoning list of pet peeves includes people who snap instead of clap, getting tickled, and the word redonkulous. It’s redonkulous.

There’s a lot of messages in INTERMIX NATION – the strive for social equality, the need to give and receive forgiveness, the constant love of family, friends and country. Which issue resonated most with you while you were writing this book? 
Forgiveness, most definitely, forgiveness. 100%. It is the idea that sparked the entire story, that made me even want to write. Everything else was secondary.

If you had to pick one of Renatus’ Territories in which to live, which would it be and why?
Definitely not Zima! Way too cold for me there! If I had to pick … probably Eridies, because I love the beach. But how can I resist the spiciness of the Deathlands? Maybe if I could live at Solomon’s …  

Which of the characters in INTERMIX NATION was your favorite to write?
Writing Nazirah was my catharsis. For months, I ate, slept, breathed her. I almost felt myself turning into her, becoming snarkier, more impatient. I swear, for awhile, I couldn’t tell if I was writing her … or if she was writing me. But my heart, and my favorite character, still resides in Adamek Morgen.

What is your next project? Is there a chance that we’ll be taken back to Renatus to see what happens next with Nazirah, Adamek, Cato and the rest of the rebels (please say yes, please say yes…)?
Well, I definitely won’t say no! Right now, I’m starting to work on a completely different story … it’s just in the beginning stages so I’m being very coy about it at the moment (if only I had more time to write!). I go back and forth about whether or not I should write a sequel to Intermix Nation. I would want to make the follow-up just as strong, if not stronger, than the first book alone … and I’m not quite sure how to do that yet. But, I’m ruling nothing out!

What is the last good book you read?
Clearly, I love dystopias. I just finished re-reading Divergent, by Veronica Roth. That book is so fun!! Before that, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Did you have a particular playlist while writing INTERMIX NATION? If this book would have a theme song, what do you think it would be?
I LOVE this question! If Intermix Nation had a theme song, it would definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, be Bad Romance. I’m borderline obsessed with Lady GaGa! Runner up is Feel Again, OneRepublic.

About the Author

M.P. Attardo is a twenty-something, part-time writer, full-time daydreamer. She has a college degree ... is still trying to figure out what on earth to do with it. She loves amateur baseball commentating, heckling, and overindulging.

M.P. Attardo's Website * Twitter * Facebook

Giveaway

Fill out the Rafflecopter for a chance to win one (1) e-copy of Intermix Nation from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 


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REVIEW: The Elite (The Selection #2)

The Elite (The Selection #2), by Kiera Cass
Published April 23, 2013
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Format: hardback - I own
Genre:  YA dystopian
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

I pre-ordered The Elite a little more than a month ago. I wanted to make sure I had it in my grubby paws the day it came out. So, it's little wonder that it took me less than 24 hours to read it from cover to cover. I finished it only a few hours ago, so the book hangover is still going strong. Perhaps now's not even the best time to write a review with all the feels still so fresh. Then again, maybe it's the perfect time.

The Elite starts just a week or so after the close of The Selection. Things between America and Maxon are good, despite the constant presence of Aspen in the castle. What kind of great book would this be, though, without conflict and drama? It doesn't take long before the proverbial shit hits the fan and America's and Maxon's supposed perfect future is completely thrown for a loop.

There is no "second book syndrome" here. Oh no. On the contrary. Without the burden of backstory and world building, we're thrust into the story immediately. To say that it was gripping was putting it mildly. I started The Elite while I was waiting for my car to be inspected. I was actually irritated when it was done, because I knew that I would actually have to put it down for the 15 minutes it would take me to get home!

The main focus of The Selection was, well, on The Selection. That isn't the case in The Elite. The thrust of the story is on America's seemingly impossible choice between her childhood love and the new feelings blooming for the prince of her world. Truly, America waffles back and forth several times during the course of this book, for, what I thought were very good reasons. I can't imagine it's an easy choice to make, no matter which "team" I'm on (which would be Maxon's, by the way).

Aspen is safe, comfortable and a sure thing. He claims to have never stopped loving America and that he still wants to marry her. He says he supports and understands her continued involvement in The Selection, however, his support seems to have a limit. He has a lot of confidence in his feelings and abilities, but not in America's.

Then there's Maxon. He's the prince, for goodness sake. He's romantic and noble and seems devoted to America, despite having five other girls to entertain as well. But, then, that's the real problem, isn't it? He still has to pretend he's interested in the others, which gives America pause. That and her lack of confidence in her own abilities.

I felt so much frustration as I was reading The Elite. It's that good bookish frustration you get when the characters you love are doing things that are stupid. You can see the disastrous results from their poor choices coming a mile away, yet you're powerless to stop it. All three of our main characters did things like this in The Elite, and it made me nuts! It also made me want to keep reading page after page to see if they were going to be able to right their wrongs.

The only thing that I felt was missing was the lack of new information about the rebels. They weren't mentioned much, and I was hoping for more about them. I have a feeling, though, that their presence will play a key part in the last book.

The ending, although not a cliffhanger, left me wanting so much more! There are so many questions to be answered, new conflicts to be explored, and so many threats to my favorite characters' happiness. Waiting a whole year to find out what happens is going to be so difficult!

Check out my review of The Selection.

REVIEW: The Eternity Cure (The Blood of Eden #2)

The Eternity Cure (The Blood of Eden #2), by Julie Kagawa
To Be Published April 24, 2013
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Format:  e-ARC - supplied by NetGalley
Genre:  YA Paranormal, dystopian

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

I have no words.

Ok - that's not true. That's never true when it comes to books. But, this one blew my mind. 

I hate to say this, but I find myself comparing The Blood of Eden series to the Twilight series. Now, before you get all WTF on me, hear me out. The overarching theme in Twilight is how one self-proclaimed monster can hold on to his humanity or his soul in order to be worthy enough to earn the love of a human being. For those who've read The Immortal Rules, does this sound familiar?

The big difference here is that The Blood of Eden series does it RIGHT.

*There may be some mild spoilers from The Immortal Rules below. You've been warned!*

In The Eternity Cure, Allison is searching for Kanin, trying to save him from all the evil things that the psychotic Sarren is doing to him. She has left Zeke and her other human friends in Eden and, while she misses them (especially Zeke), she takes comfort in knowing that they are safe. Allison is forced to enter an uncomfortable and inconvenient partnership with her enemy, Jackal, as they find themselves heading back to her old stomping grounds to rescue Kanin.

Of course, along the way, Allison does meet up again with Zeke in the most interesting of ways, and he joins in the efforts to go after Kanin. Meanwhile, Sarren, who is the most evil of bad guys that I've seen in a long time, has unleashed a nasty new virus in New Covington that has affected both vampires and humans. So, now, not only do Allison, Zeke and Jackal have to find a way to save Kanin, but they must also save the rest of the city from Sarren's nasty disease.

Once again, Julie Kagawa's outstanding character development and world building take front and center stage. There is no such thing as "blah" or "meh" in this book. Even the supporting characters are painted with such a strong brush that you find yourself genuinely caring whether they live or die. But, Allison - she is the real star of the show.

Allison has been told by so many that the loss of her humanity is a foregone conclusion. And, that makes her even more determined to hold on to it as tightly as she can. Especially after making such a strong connection to Zeke and his group. Despite her immortal condition, she is compelled to try and save the humans around her, rather than simply use them as a food source. It's a hard road for her, and she knows that. But her continued view on the value of things like love, loyalty and loss make her the most reluctant of heroes.

And, Zeke - *sigh*. That is one remarkable boy. He's all you want and more than you expect. Allison has changed his entire outlook on the world. Rather than simply accepting the things he was taught or going the easy route and burying his head in the sand, Zeke faces his questions head-on and puts his life on the line in order to learn more. It makes him a better leader than Jeb ever would have been. He still has his convictions and his line in the sand, but Allison's presence in his life has opened up his eyes and made him see and accept far more than he ever imagined.

I never thought I'd say this, but Jackal was pretty awesome in The Eternity Cure. He was the much-needed comic relief. This book was amazing, but it was pretty dark and generally sad. Jackal added the right dose of humor in the right places. Although I wasn't at first, I became glad for his constant presence.

The ending KILLED me. It does end on a cliffhanger, and a really frustrating one, at that. The worst part about reading ARCs and e-galleys is that you have to wait SO LONG for the next one to come out. And when a book ends like this one does, it's the best kind of torture.

Honestly, even if vampire books aren't really your thing, I hope you will give The Blood of Eden series a try. It will make you think and question things. And really, isn't that the best part about reading??

REVIEW: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1), by Beth Revis
Published January 11, 2011
Publisher:  Razorbill
Format:  Audiobook - borrowed from library
Genre:  YA dystopian/sci-fi

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Across the Universe was one of the more thought-provoking books I've read in a long time. It sparked several conversations around my family's dinner table. What would we do if given the choice that Amy was given - stay among what is comfortable and familiar, but be without your parents? Or, embark on an adventure to an unknown world where the only people you know are your parents? 

Do we agree with the stated "three main causes of discord?" 

I thought Amy was really amazing. I can't even begin to imagine all she went through, and she allowed herself a few opportunities to completely fall apart. But, for the most part, she was strong and resilient and really persistent. Revis made her so real - she was a great character. 

Elder and Eldest were a bit more cardboard, but I think they were supposed to be. I gathered that Elder was drawn to Amy by her extreme physical differences and her aversion to authority. But did he like her so much to want to kiss her so soon? Did he really love her that early? And, was it all enough for him to shun everything he had been raised to accept as reality? It was a little hard to believe. 

But, what a compelling and unique story! Especially for someone who was raised on Star Trek. I've always been a fan of the starship shows, but this was the first book about them that I've ever read. Not only was it a fun story about a crazy trip through the universe, it talked about a lot of issues that were socially and politically charged. Racism, socialism, fascism - it's all addressed in some futuristic, spacey way.

Across the Universe definitely gave me food for thought. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see where Revis takes Amy and Elder and the crew of the Godspeed next. Will they ever reach Centauri Earth? Will the ship be thrown into chaos? I can't wait to find out.

REVIEW: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2), by Tahereh Mafi
Published February 5, 2013
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Format:  Hardback - own
Genre:  YA dystopian

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads)tick

tick

tick

tick

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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.

I have never read a book as captivating as Unravel Me. Mafi's writing is beautiful, poetic, heartbreaking, amazing - she's my new auto-buy author.

I cried so much while reading Unravel Me. While it was an amazing book, Unravel Me had a pall cast upon it from the very beginning. Juliette is questioning her place at Omega Point, her relationship with Adam, her own abilities - she isn't sure of anything. And, her despair is palpable. It's almost something tangible that you can pluck off the pages. And, it made me feel so, so sad. 

Shatter Me was also kind of a sad book. But, the difference between the two was the presence of hope. In Shatter Me, Juliette finds Adam and falls in love with him. He is her hope for a future she never thought she would have. He is a source of joy for her for the first time ever. And, in Unravel Me, Adam's light is diminished. There's stress and pressure and complications. And WARNER. 

Warner is different in this book too. Honestly, he's the most honest character in this book. He says what he wants and he is brutally truthful. He was the antithesis of Juliette. She's keeping secrets, wallowing in self-loathing and insecure. I loved it when Kenji gave her a proverbial bitch slap up alongside her head. 

Unravel Me makes you wonder whether one structured society is better than another. When one falls, there will always be another one poised to take its place. Is it better? Worse? Intentions might be good, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Is Omega Point any better than the Reestablishment? Is Castle better than Anderson? It's hard to say yet. But, questions have been raised in my mind - questions that I know will be answered in the final book. 

There is a love triangle in Unravel Me, but unlike in many YA books, it didn't bother me. In fact, it almost seemed necessary. It was a means to an end, the end being to get Juliette to a place where she can stand on her own two feet. I will endure the silly love triangle if it helps create the bad ass female character that I need in my stories. Ultimately, though, I'm still rooting for Adam. He and Juliette have a shared history that she and Warner will never have. There HAS to be a way around their seemingly impossible problem. I can't wait to see what Mafi has in store for them. 

Unravel Me is a delicious mix of pain and pleasure. Books that make you FEEL are what the experience is all about. Warner's frustration, Juliette's hopelessness, Adam's anger - I felt it all, and the piecing together of words to elicit that reaction is a wonder.