Book Reveiw: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Series: #1 in the Chemical Garden Trilogy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Released: March 22, 2011

Website: http://www.laurendestefano.com/

Book Summary:

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

It's interesting trying to write a review on a book I read nearly 6 months ago. Often 6 months after reading a book I can't remember many details or confuse it with other books. I will say one thing about this book portions of it were unforgettable.

Wither was a good book, I didn't love it but I did like it. It was a very original story so if you are looking for something different in the YA dystopian genre try this one. There were portions of it that bothered me while reading, specifically the issue of being forced in to a polygamous marriage and a few of the discussions between the three wives. There were characters I loathed, others I felt sorry for and a couple I really liked.

Wither does have a great ending and I will read the sequel.

Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good book

Content: Lots of things are discussed but nothing is graphic.  For older teens.

Source: Audible download

Book Review: Outside In by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Outside In
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Series: #2 of 2 Insiders Series
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: March 1, 2011
Website: http://mariavsnyder.com/

Book Summary:

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

I wouldn't go so far as to say I was disappointed with this sequel because I did like it.  I just didn't love it like I hoped I would.  Being such a fan of Maria's Study Series I had high expectations for this book and this sequel didn't quite live up to those high expectations.

Outside In was full of action and adventure and plot twists.  There was a lot going on in this story but I finished the book not really understanding exactly how everything had played out.  It seemed like there could have been a little less going on and little more detail and back story filled in.  The first book Inside Out was a clean read while Outside In had content I wish wasn't included.

I did like watching Trella grow and change especially in her relationship with her mother and Riley.  She makes some stupid decisions at times but learns from her mistakes.  I did like this book and don't regret reading it.

I'm going to start on Maria's Glass & Healer series soon to see if they better capture the magic I felt while reading the Study Series.

Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book

Content: Some language and sexual content, no sex scene but clothes were off

Source: Download from Audible.com

Also by Maria V. Snyder:


Inside Out - Book #1 in the Insiders Series


Study Series (One of my favorites - although this is adult not YA)


Glass Series


Touch of Power

Book Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Inside Out
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Series: #1 of 2 in the Insider Duet
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Released: April 1, 2010
Website: http://mariavsnyder.com

Book Summary:

Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Maria Snyder's Study Series has been one of my long time favorites so I was excited to finally get around to reading Inside Out. This book ended up being far different from the Study series but I still enjoyed it.

It's hard to say much about this one that isn't a spoiler.  Inside Out is a dystopian story with a science fiction twist. There were many things that were similar to several other dystopian books I've read recently, it helped to remind myself that this one was written prior to those books.

Maria Snyder proves once again that she is a great writer.  Great characters and lots of twists and turns made for a fun read. There was romance in this book but it wasn't the main focus, more of a side story.

Although I definitely enjoyed the Study series more than this one I can't complain because this was a great young adult book.  As soon as I finished I started in on the sequel.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Content: Clean - there may have been a mild swear word or two but I can't remember anything else

Source: Download from Audible.com

Also by Maria Snyder:

Outside In - Sequel to Inside Out


Study Series (One of my favorites - although this is adult not YA)


Glass Series


Touch of Power

Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Book #1
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Released: January 11, 2011
Website: http://acrosstheuniversebook.com/
Author Website: http://www.bethrevis.com/


Book Summary:

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.

Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Mystery, Adventure... There's a little bit of everything mixed into this debut novel by author Beth Revis.

Across the Universe is told by two narrators Amy & Elder. The book begins with Amy about to be frozen in cryogenic sleep for a 300 year journey on the ship Godspeed. Our second narrator is Elder, the future leader of the ship Amy's frozen body is traveling on.

This was a fast paced book full of twists and turns, lies and deceptions.  I had a hunch fairly early on who the murder was but there were other story elements that took me by surprise. There is a great cast of characters who are all flawed but likable.  As is the case with most first books in a series the ending left many unanswered questions that I'm assuming will be addressed in future books.

Fans of young adult dystopian books are likely to enjoy this one. I found it to be a unique, entertaining story and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.

Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend to older teens & adults

Content: just a couple instances of mild language and then some substitute swear words similar to what was done in the Maze Runner. Some sexual content including an attempted rape scene and some animalistic type mating practices that occur during "The Season".  Not overly graphic but I wouldn't let a young teen read it.

Source: Download from Audible.com



The Sequel A Million Suns was released today January 10, 2012.

The 3rd book Shades of Earth will be released in January of 2013.

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Book #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Author's Website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/


Book Summary:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Phenomenal!  Seriously this was a fabulous book to start off the year.  I loved it, seriously loved it!  When I polled my blog readers for their favorite read of 2011 Divergent was the unquestionable winner and I hadn't read it.  So I remedied that by making it my first read of 2012.

I rarely read book summaries or reviews anymore and was especially glad I didn't read this book's summary or any reviews on it before reading it.  I had no idea what to expect other than knowing that there has been a lot of hype about this book.  Divergent currently has a 4.41 rating on goodreads which is the highest rating I found on any of the 2011 young adult debut novels.  I had high expectations when starting this book and I'm happy to report that for me this book lived up to the hype!

Amazingly there was no love triangle.  Don't get me wrong, many (actually most) of my favorite books have love triangles but it's so refreshing to not have one. No picking side in this one just Team Four all around, how can you not love the guy.

Overall this was a fairly clean book. Kudos to Veronica for writing something I will let my teenagers read. There was no language that I remember, no sex and it was fairly mild on the innuendo although it was violent. If I had to choose I would say that I much prefer violence over language or sex in books, it doesn't bother me nearly as much. The Dauntless are heartless fighters so there are several scenes that are quite violent.

What else to say without spoiling the book?  It's fabulously written with characters I love.  The four month wait for the sequel Insurgent is going to be a long one.

Divergent is the kind of book I enjoy reading.  Young adult, dystopian, fairly clean - Yep that's right up my alley.  Seems like I'm the last person to read this book so I'm probably preaching to the choir but if you haven't yet read this I highly recommend it.  I loved it!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it!

Source: Download from Audible.com

Content: No sex, no language that I remember, overall I'd say it was clean but violent.  I'd let my teenagers read it.

Insurgent is definitely on my most wanted list! I cannot wait!


Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Book Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Pandemonium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium Book #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/

Book Summary:

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

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

WOW! I really love this series. Although there is not much I can write that won't be a spoiler.

 Pandemonium is not told chronologically but rather jumps back and forth between THEN - starting when Delirium ended and NOW which is about a year later. We are introduced to a whole new set of characters who I couldn't help but love even though I started the book missing Alex.

I predicted the main things that were going to happen in this book but Lauren Oliver took me on quite a ride getting from point A to B. The Wild was nothing like I imagined it would be. Pandemonium focuses much more on the Resistance and has more violence in it then Delirium did.  As I predicted it was another cliffhanger ending.  It will be a long wait for Requiem to be released in 2013!

This is a INCREDIBLE book that I loved!  This is one series I wouldn't mind having extended to more than 3 books.  I'm not sure I will have had enough with just one more book.

If you have not yet read Delirium I highly recommend you do before Pandemonium is released at the end of February.

Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it!

Source: From Publisher for Review

Content: Language including a couple uses of the F word, clothes off but no sex, quite a bit of violence.

Other Books by Lauren Oliver

Delirium


Hana: A Delirium Short Story


Before I Fall


Liesl & Po


Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium Book 1 of 3
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 1, 2011

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Lauren Oliver is a new author for me. Her book Before I Fall has been on my to read list for a while but I have not found the time to read it yet. I received an ARC of Pandemonium so I decided it was past time to give her books a try.  Since Pandemonium is the second book in the series I obviously had to start with Delirium.

I loved Delirium! Despite this being a very busy time of year I devoured this book in just a couple days.  I loved the premise of this dystopian story... love is a disease that must be feared and cured.  Well written with great characters I could relate to - this was a book I didn't want to put down.

To be fair I must warn you....this book ends with a huge cliffhanger.  I'm glad I had a copy of Pandemonium that I could start as soon as this book ended. With an ending like this one had I am sure Pandemonium will leave me hanging as well but that's not stopping me for reading it!

Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it!

Source: Download from Audible.com

Content: some language including 2 uses of the F word. No sex but talk of taking off clothing.

Book Review: Crossed by Ally Condie

Title: Crossed
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched book 2 of 3
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Released: November 1, 2011

The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy.

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series (Matched) and have been looking forward to reading this sequel. I was not disappointed with Crossed but I do think Matched was better. I've read really mixed reviews on this sequel and I can see why. Personally I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

Crossed was definitely more character driven instead of plot driven. The writing is very poetic and beautiful but that also makes it slow in places. There just really is not a lot that happens in this story. My husband asked me about one of the books I read recently and there was no way I could have even begun to summarize it unless he has 10 or 15 minutes to listen to me. By contrast I could sum up what happened in this book in about a minute. Yes I'd be leave out a lot of back-story and details about characters but as far as plot-line for this book there just isn't much that happens. That said I really did enjoyed this book. I liked learning more about the characters and the society.

Usually in a book that has a love triangle I have a strong opinion on who the main characters should end up with. I don't have that with this book. I'm open to Cassia ending up with either Ky or Xander.

I really think the third book has potential to be the best in the series. My fingers are crossed.

Content: Clean

Rating: 4 Stars - Great Book

Source: I bought a copy but I ended up listening to the audio version which I downloaded from Audible.com

Blog Tour: Book Review - The Third by Abel Keogh

When Ransom Lawe, a recycler in the Pacific Northwest, finds out his wife is pregnant with their third—and therefore illegal—child, he’s forced to choose between the government who proclaims a desire to save the planet and his hope for a place where his family can live in freedom. But with the Census Bureau Sentinels closing in on his wife and unborn child, Ransom’s choice will either save his family or tear them apart forever.


Abel Keogh offers a stark and haunting look at a not-so-distant future in this chilling new novel. Crossing lines between good and evil, freedom and oppression, and political and environmental responsibility, The Third is a gut-wrenching tale of intense loyalty and unconditional love.

The premise of this book reminded me of the book Among the Hidden which we recently read as a family.   The Third is a dystopian novel set 50 years in the future.  Population controls are in effect and nearly every aspect of life is controlled by the government.  Despite all that is currently wrong with our country this book made me realize how much worse it could get and how good we have things.

This book was well written and I was engaged throughout.  I connected with and cared for the characters.  A good mix of drama and adventure that I would recommend to those looking for a clean dystopian book.  One that makes you think about life, freedom and the choice we are sometimes forced to make.



Content: Clean

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Source: From author as part of a blog tour

Book Review: Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

The only one who escaped . . . And the one who could destroy them all.


Incarceron, the living prison, has lost one of its inmates to the outside world: Finn’s escaped, only to find that Outside is not at all what he expected. Used to the technologically advanced, if violently harsh, conditions of the prison, Finn is now forced to obey the rules of Protocol, which require all people to live without technology. To Finn, Outside is just a prison of another kind, especially when Claudia, the daughter of the prison’s warden, declares Finn the lost heir to the throne. When another claimant emerges, both Finn’s and Claudia’s very lives hang on Finn convincing the Court of something that even he doesn’t fully believe.


Meanwhile, Finn’s oathbrother Keiro and his friend Attia are still trapped inside Incarceron. They are searching for a magical glove, which legend says Sapphique used to escape. To find it, they must battle the prison itself, because Incarceron wants the glove too.

Catherine Fisher has created an intriguing world with her Incarceron series. I'm still not sure if Sapphique is the final book or if it is a trilogy. It could easily go either way. I was satisfied with the ending of Sapphique but would read another book if there is going to be one.

The first book Incarceron was narrated by Finn and Claudia. In Sapphique we get multiple narrators so the story jumps all over the place with lots going on. This is a well written book but it is not a light read. At times I found myself confused at what was happening and had to go back and read portions again.

If you enjoyed Incarceron then this is a must read. Sapphique held my interest and was full or twists and turns. The ending was not what I expected but it's nice to be surprised once in a while instead of knowing the ending from the first chapter.



Content: Some mild language

Rating: 4 Stars

Source: Download from Overdrive

Book Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.
Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.
Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Incarceron has a great plot and great characters. Told from the perspective of Finn, a prisoner in Incarceron, and Claudia, the prison warden's daughter who is being forced into an arranged marriage with a prince. The beginning of the book left me slightly confused at times because we aren't given many details but rather jumped right into the story. Multiple storyline from both the past and the present made it a little hard to follow and I had to go back and re-listen several times because I was lost.  Ultimately I'm glad I stuck with it.  Once I had the characters figured out a wonderful dystopian, fantasy story unfolded that held my attention to the end.

Catherine Fisher has created an intriguing, mysterious world with her book Incarceron. Looking forward to the sequel Sapphique which is already downloaded and ready for me to listen.

Rating: 4 Stars

Content: some mild language

Source: Audio download from Overdrive

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.


The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

There was a lot of hype about Ally Condie's newest book Matched.  I'm always a little worried when I start a book that has a lot of hype because I hate to be disappointed. Thankfully for me this book lived up to the hype.  I really enjoyed reading it. By the time the book ended I was left completely wanting more. 

This book made me think.  I'm a little rebellious by nature.  Tell me I can't do something and I'm not a happy camper.  I like to make my own choices and do not like to be forced to do anything.  The people in the book Matched seemed happy enough but honestly I think they would all be miserable.  Being told who to marry, having your career chosen for you and having no choice on what you eat doesn't sound that appealing to me.  In theory everyone is happy because everything is calculated to be what is best for you, in reality not having any choice would be a miserable way to live.

I loved the charcters that Ally created.  I read the majority of this book in one sitting.  I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel Crossed which doesn't come out until the end of next year. 

Content: Totally clean

Rating: 5 Stars

Source: ARC Tour

Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

I finally read the final book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I procrastinated after reading mixed reviews. I wanted to love Mockingjay and was afraid I wouldn't so I just didn't read it. I had accidentally ran across a few spoilers.  I had a email from a friend and in the first line it said I'm so glad ______ and ______ ended up together.  Grrr!

I was ready for what was coming when I did finally read this book. I knew it was not going to be happily ever after, I knew it was going to be violent, I knew it would be a wild ride. Mockingjay is a book about war, the reality of war, war is not pretty. I can see why some people were disappointed in this book.  War changes people and that was not glossed over in this book.

As for me I was engrossed in the story the entire time.  I probably would have loved it if I'd read it when it came out but I'm glad I waited a few months to read it.  I enjoyed Suzanne Collin's Gregor series and love the Hunger Games.  Can't wait to see what she comes up with next.


Rating: 5 Stars
Content: To me this was a clean read no sex or language however to many it wouldn't be considered clean because there was plenty of violence.

Source: Audio Download from Overdrive