Blog Tour & Review: Frost by Kate Avery Emerson

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Frost (The Frost Chronicles, #1) by Kate Avery Emerson

Release Date: April 18, 2012

Publisher: CreateSpace
Author Information: Twitter / Blog
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance
Available Formats: Paperback and eBook
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

Review:

Oh, hello to my new guilty pleasure. This book was everything I was hoping for and more. Frost was a beautifully crafted dystopian tale with a light sprinkle of darkness/grittiness that kept things interesting. With the setting being a fantastical ice world comparable to the one found in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I was immediately intrigued by this new, post-apocalyptic land. Emerson did not fail to deliver a captivating read in Frost!

My favorite part about this book was the characters. I respected Lia and her perseverance greatly, and it is always nice to see a girl not bow down to her fears. She cares deeply for her family, she has a strong sense of justice, and she is willing to help a dying fugitive. Add to the fact that she can take care of herself and watch her own back, what more could you possibly need in a female lead? I also appreciated Gabe’s character. He was definitely intriguing, but I really wish we could have gotten more of a feel for who he is. His character is shrouded in mystery from beginning to end, and while that did capture my interest (who doesn’t love them mysterious boys?), I did not really feel like I got to know who he was. Here’s to hoping for more of him in book 2!

I know I already mentioned the setting/world of Frost, but I am going to say it again: I LOVED THE SETTING. Slightly magical and extraordinarily dangerous, I loved figuring out more about this new world. With monsters lurking in the background and never being truly safe, the world is a bleak and dark place. Emerson describes Iceliss and the surrounding areas vividly, and her rich and evocative writing style really helped bring both the world and her characters to life.

Not to be a Debby-downer here, but there was one issue I had with this book: it was too short. I think that all the minor problems I had (such as the rushed ending/romance and lack of background story) can be blamed on the length of the book. I think this book would have benefited greatly from being slightly longer. That is not to say that this book is not enjoyable as it (since it most certainly is a great read!), but I think it really would have been amazing with a few more pages and background story added in.

Overall, Frost was a wonderful read, and I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of dystopian literature or just so happens to be looking for a good book to pick up. I cannot wait to see what Emerson has for us in the next installment, Thorns (especially after that crazy cliffhanger of an ending!).  

A Great Escape

Review: Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Monument 14 (Monument 14, #1) by Emmy Laybourne

Release Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Author Information: Website / Blog / Twitter
Genre: Survival, Dystopian
Available Formats: Hardcover and eBook

My Shelf: Want to Buy
Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.

Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.

But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.

Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

Review:

How can you not be interested in a story where what appears to be a normal, rather mundane day turns into a struggle to survive with the world literally falling apart around you? There are all kinds of crazy things going on in the beginning of this book: deadly, destructive hailstorms, exploding cars, and buses ramming into supermarkets, and I was immediately pulled into the story. Throw into the mix some nuclear disasters and megatsunamis, and I was hooked (yeah, survival of the fittest, baby!). It sounds like a great premise for a survival dystopian novel, right? However, while the book was quite enjoyable and entertaining, it lacked a few things that made it memorable for me.

With the beginning of the story starting out action-heavy and rather dramatic, I expected a similar kind of tone/pacing for the rest of the story. However, once the children get confined to the supermarket, things really decelerate and cool down. Survival for them comes in the form of structure and order, where everyone has chores they need to carry out, such as cooking, sorting supermarket items, and taking stock inventory. While it was impressive to read about how these teenagers and children were able to care for themselves, especially in such trying times, it lacked entertainment value. The only intense moments were intermittent fights over who would be leader of their group or relationship drama between a few of the high schoolers. These moments helped the story progress, but the slow pacing kept me from being fully invested. My favorite moments were when they were able to get information about the outside world, but unfortunately those moments were few and far between. I mean, the world is being destroyed, I want to know what is going on!  Even at the end of the book, I was uncertain of what the current situation was and the ramifications of all the disasters, but hopefully those things will be further explained in the next installment.

I found the characters to be a tad superficial. Dean was a decent male lead, and I like how the story is told from his perspective (yay for male POV!), but I found his overall emotions to be rather dull and listless. There were many times where he would be distressed or tensions would run high, but I never really felt any kind of heightened emotions myself. Also, some of the characters just annoyed and/or disturbed me. Two of the older teenagers, who should be role models for the younger children, spend most of their time either high or drunk, Dean peeps on his crush and her boyfriend getting physical with one another (the boyfriend naming her boobs = super distasteful), and one girl is so desperate for male attention she usually is flashing some kind of feminine body part. While personality flaws like this worked well with creating dramatic moments and establishing character dynamics, they did not make me particularly care for any of the characters. To me, the characters were ordinary and… just there. I had a pretty strong disconnect to almost all of them throughout the novel, and I think they should have been fleshed out a bit more.

One other aspect to the book I want to mention is the writing style. While it did not bother me, I can see how it would grate on others. Laybourne has a very simplistic prose, and she mainly uses basic sentence structures and does not delve too far into emotions and explicit details. This is in no means a bad thing, and I personally attributed her prose style to the fact that the story is told from a teenage male’s perspective, but some people could be very turned off to this kind of writing style.

Overall, while this book is not perfect, I did enjoy it. The ending definitely saved the book for me, and it left room for a lot of potential in the sequel. I liked the idea Laybourne has about children surviving the end of the world (that actually sounds terrible of me to say ><), and while she could have expanded on the story and made it more action-packed/dramatic, Monument 14 is nevertheless an entertaining read and I am excited to see where the second book takes us.   

A Decent Escape

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Swipe by Evan Angler

Interested in this book? Stay tuned for a giveaway!

Swipe by Evan Angler

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Author Information: Website / Twitter / Facebook

Genre: Dystopian, Middle Grade

Available Formats: Paperback and eBook
My Shelf: Own (eBook)

Other Information: Debut Author
Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books-A-Million

Logan Langley is just months away from his thirteenth birthday and the biggest day of his life- the day he will finally be Marked. The Mark lets people get jobs, vote, and even go out to eat or buy concert tickets.

Becoming Marked means becoming free. Or so he is told. Five years ago when Logan's sister went to get her Mark she never came back. Now Logan can't shake the feeling he's being watched...

And then he finds the wire.

Review:

Logan Langley cannot help but be afraid of the dark. While other kids his age might poke fun at him if they knew of his fear, Logan knows that there is something lurking in the shadows, constantly watching him. He does not know who, and he does not know why, but he knows that someone is there. As his 13^th birthday draws closer, he prepares to receive his Mark and make his Pledge, officially becoming an adult. However, his paranoia over the Pledge increases as recalls his sister’s disappearance after leaving to get Marked, and when he finds a wire in his room proving he is being watched, he begins to discover that not all is how it seems and getting Marked might be more dangerous than he initially thought.

Swipe is what I consider a ‘true’ dystopian novel. There has been an inundation of YA dystopian literature recently, but many of the books seem to have hardly any dystopian elements or the future world/people created are rather unrealistic. However, Swipe has abundant dystopian components, and the future reality of the world that Angler provides is so plausible it is scary. In fact, certain characteristics of Swipe remind me of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (which shall forever be one of my favorite books). The world building is fantastic and it is easy to envision how the new world looks and functions. Angler does a brilliant job explaining how everything comes to be and I loved discovering more about this futuristic reality.

The intensity of the book picks up slowly until it is literally non-stop action and plot twists. The beginning was a bit creepy for me (especially since I am a big wimp who is still afraid of the dark at my age. I wish I was kidding *sigh*). When Logan felt like he was being watched and when he found that wire, I was literally shaking in my boots myself. Then the story begins to unfold, discoveries are made, there is plot twist after plot twist, and I found myself completely enraptured.

I liked the two main characters, Logan and Erin. I connected with Logan quickly (and for more reasons other than the fact that we have a mutual fear of the dark). He is a very likeable character who is mature and smart for his age. Even when adults tell him he is wrong or mentally unstable, he is steadfast in his beliefs, and I appreciated that about him. The same can be said for Erin. I loved the interaction between the two of them, and I thought their budding relationship was adorable. I am hoping to see more of them together in the next book!

Overall, this was a great read and one of the better dystopian books out there for teens. Swipe is listed as middle grade, but it actually reads more along the lines of a normal YA book, and I think anyone of any age will enjoy it. If you are looking for an engaging, fast-paced read in a well-crafted dystopian world, look no further!

The Greatest Escape!

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Review: Forsaken Harbor by Laura Kreitzer

Forsaken Harbor (Summer Chronicles, #2) by Laura Kreitzer

Release Date: February 15, 2012

Publisher: Revolution Publishing

Available Formats: Paperback and eBook

My Shelf: Own eBook

Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books-A-Million

The Secret Clock Society has infiltrated every aspect of the government. You can’t hide from them, you can’t out run them—the only choice is to surrender or die fighting. Well, Summer’s found her voice and her confidence. She’ll fight if necessary, but for now she’s on the run. And the only place that can offer her refuge is the one city that’s been devastated with disease and death. Full of savages, Forsaken Harbor holds her life on the edge of a knife. Is there still hope to be found here after all? Or will survival mean savagery?

Review:

Forsaken Harbor picks up almost immediately where Phantom Universe left off. Readers are thrust back into Summer’s story and a future world filled with danger and intrigue. Summer’s life becomes more complex and perilous when Julian enters the mix, and he helps Summer better understand her power and who she is while still trying to escape the clutches of The Secret Clock Society. The story is fast-paced and intense, chocked full of action and emotional turmoil, and one that you should not miss out on.  

A note of warning before you proceed: I hope you are all prepared for a bias review. It is going to be Julian-centric, so please be ready.

I think this book was better than the first one (and no, not just because Julian was in it). There is more action, crazier plot twists, and even more emotional moments. Summer has rediscovered her voice after all these years, and she puts it to good use. She is stronger than before, actually bringing down some enemies herself, and she is also slowly developing her power (courtesy of Julian’s masterful teaching). She is definitely becoming a force to be reckoned with, and I like how she grew stronger, both emotionally and physically. Gage is also present with his flowery words (get it? FLOWER-y? hehe) and love declarations, and he is just as protective and strong as before. Some old and new faces also enter the fray, and the insertion of these awesome characters made me enjoy this book that much more!

And now, for the moment I am sure you were all waiting for. Let’s talk about Julian, shall we? I like to think of myself as a loyal person. In the first book, I liked Gage and thought that his and Summer’s relationship was golden. Even when Julian made an appearance, I never thought that my loyalty to Gage would be called into question! Well, Julian has stolen that loyalty. Wait, forget stolen! He shattered, decimated, completely eradicated all the loyalty I had for Gage. I am 100%+ Team Julian! (Are there teams for Gage and Julian? If not, then they have just been created!) Oh, Julian, you who goes against the grain, what have you done to me? I now find myself unable and unwilling to be content with Gage and Summer’s relationship! Do not get me wrong, I still love Gage, but I would definitely prefer seeing Julian and Summer together.

Alright, now it is time for me to defend myself. Why do I like Julian more than Gage, you ask? Gage is perfect, which is something I liked about him in the beginning. Everything he did was right and just, and everything he said was what everyone wanted to hear. While this is not a problem, necessarily, once Julian was introduced, I realized that Gage was too perfect. Compared to Gage, Julian is a little rougher around the edges, a little more fierce, and a little more warrior like. He could care less what others think or say of him, and he will tell people the truth, regardless of whether they want to hear it or not. Gage treats Summer like she is a porcelain doll, whereas Julian wants her to learn how to fight and use her powers. Summer even admits (multiple times) that Julian lets her be who she is, and he does not hide things from her or treat her like she is delicate, which Gage does. With Summer and Julian having somewhat similar pasts, he is better able to understand her desire for power and strength, and he gives it to her. Again, Gage is not a bad guy from wanting to protect Summer from all bad things, but I like how straight and direct Julian was, believing that Summer could deal with everything. Julian has flaws and weaknesses, and that makes his character seem more real than Gage’s. I will say this one last time: I LIKE Gage, but I LOVE Julian, and I’m completely, inescapably, irrevocably on the side of Team Julian (and my loyalty shall not be broken this time).

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book! With the story being told from both Summer and Julian’s point of view, there is a deeper understanding of more of the characters with even more action and plot twists being thrown in. There will be two more books published to complete the series, and they have already been entitled Burning Falls and Silent Forest, respectively. I am excited to see how this series will progress, and I cannot wait for another (heavy) dose of Julian! 

A Great Escape

The Other Life (The Weepers) by Susanne Winnacker

The Other Life (The Weepers) by Susanne Winnacker

Release Date: February 1, 2012

Publisher: Usborne
Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Formats Available: Paperback and eBook (Hardcover will be published in May with a new cover)

Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world.

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

Review:

Well, this was certainly an enthralling, action-packed read! I was captivated from the very beginning, and all the action had me on the edge of my seat. This was definitely an exciting story from debut author Susanne Winnacker, and while I enjoyed the story immensely, I felt that there was just a little something missing that would have made this good read a spectacular one.

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world. From just those few sentences alone, it is almost impossible not to draw parallels to Shatter Me. Juliet, the MC in Shatter Me, hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days and has been locked up for 264 days with 1 window. 4 walls. 144 square feet of space. Sounds a little similar, no? Add to the fact that both these books are dystopian literature, and even I was expecting The Weepers to be a lot like Shatter Me. However, these books are two completely different types of dystopian fiction. If you picked up this book expecting something like Shatter Me, be prepared for something a little different.

A rabies epidemic has been unleashed, and in order to avoid being contaminated, people moved into basements and bunkers. After spending over 3 years in their bunker, Sherry and her family have run out of food, forcing her and her father to brave the now unknown world awaiting them outside. Their old neighborhood is desolate, and dead bodies litter the streets and sidewalks. During their search for food, Sherry’s father is taken by Weepers, human who have become mutant creatures (or zombies, if you will) from the rabies outbreak. Sherry joins forces with Joshua and his companions to help find her father and figure out the truth behind the Weepers and the rabies spread.

The action in this book was crazy! As soon as Sherry exits the bunker, her life basically becomes a constant fight for survival. Emotions were always heightened, and there were some scary moments that made my heart beat a little faster (but I am a huge baby, so that is no surprise…). However, while the action and intensity of the novel was bar none, there was very little time to introduce a decent plot and really bring the characters to life. I have to say, the premise of this novel definitely drew me to the book, and I was really looking forward to learning more about the world and the rabies infestation/zombie problem. However, there was almost no plot throughout most of the story. There were constantly fights with Weepers for survival with a little romance thrown in intermittently, but the whole plot was introduced in the last couple of pages. Now, the plot was great and really interesting, and the introduction of it all in the end definitely served as a big cliffhanger that left me wanting more, but I really wish there had been more of it throughout the story. It would have been better to have introduced the plot twists pieces at a time instead of exposing everything at once. While the wow factor at the end might not be as great through slow exposure, it definitely would have kept me more invested in the story.

I liked the romance between Joshua and Sherry, but there was little chemistry between them. They are constantly fighting for their lives, and I felt their romance was more a production of the high of surviving after a rough battle instead of two teenagers falling in love in a dystopian world. I really wish I knew what they saw in each other, or even what they felt about one another. And that leads me to my next point: I think the reason I did not really understand their love was because I did not really understand them. The book was told from Sherry’s perspective, but I felt like I really did not know much about her at the end. What did she feel? What did she think? And it is not just Sherry’s character. I felt like I did not really get to know any of the characters. This book was a really quick read, so I think it would have been best to make the book longer and add in emotional or romantic moments to help flesh out the characters more. While the book was good without these added moments, I personally think they would have made this story better.

Do not get me wrong, I loved the action in this book, and it left me riveted and constantly on my toes. However, I just wish there would have been a little more substance to the story. In the end, it just felt as though something was missing. However, this is a good book and a quick read, so you should definitely check it out! I will definitely be reading the sequel, The Life Beyond, to see what happens next, and hopefully we will learn more about the characters and the new world!

A Decent Escape

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Formats Available: Hardcover and eBook

Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books-A-Million

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

Review:

"A world of nevers under a never sky."

Under the Never Sky is the reason I, and so many others, have joined in the new craze for dystopian/dystopian post-apocalyptic fiction. Simply put, this book was enthralling, and I could not put it down. Rossi has certainly made her presence known in the YA book world with this wonderful debut. This was one of the most talked about releases for early 2012, and it does not disappoint. Rossi created an intriguing world, riveting plot, and awesome characters. I thought her writing style was exquisite; her details were descriptive and clear, and her plot and dialogue were well-scripted. I just loved, loved, loved this book.

The world Rossi crafted really fascinated me. Readers are thrust into a new world with little to no explain for how things are, left to their own devices to figure out how things run and piece everything together bit by bit (which is not that difficult, so no worries!). The world has been split into two different regions: there is Reverie, an area composed of pods to protect the Dwellers from the outside world, and the Death Shop/Outside, an area where nature has run rampant and the Outsiders struggle to survive. The Dwellers live in comfort with their vast amount of technology, while the Outsiders brave the elements and fight to live day to day.  The world has been ravished and dominated by a storm/wind-like essence called Aether, making some places completely uninhabitable. As far as Aether is concerned, Rossi took a more-is-less approach to explaining it. The reader learns literally nothing about what it is, where it comes from, or how it works, just that it is bad. I have to say, I am very curious to learn more about Aether, so I hope she talks about it more in the next two books.  

I also liked Rossi’s characters. There is Aria, who has only ever known of life in Reverie, and Perry, an Outsider. The book is told from both of their perspectives, making it easy for the reader to understand and connect with them. Aria, in the beginning, is somewhat weak, unable to protect herself and barely able to survive out in the Death Shop. However, as the story progresses, she becomes stronger and more resilient, willing to fight her own battles. Her character definitely grew on me, and I ended up really liking her. However, my favorite character was Perry (go figure, since I always fall for the guys! ><). Perry, whose real name is Peregrine, is the ultimate survivor and warrior, braving Aether storms to find food and never backing down from a fight. He fights for those he loves and is willing to die to protect himself, his nephew, and his clan. At times, he is cold and standoffish, and sometimes even downright callous, but deep down he is caring and protective. I loved how Perry slowly opened up as the story advanced, and in the end, I just loved him.

When the two of them first meet, Aria sees Perry as a Savage, rude and barbaric with his large canine teeth, while Perry sees Aria as a weak child who knows nothing of the world. When people they care for are taken, their paths merge, and they are forced on a journey through the Death Shop. Their relationship is untrusting at first, despising their predicament and even each other, but very slowly they learn to trust and open up. Their slow developing chemistry (and eventual romance) was prefect, in my opinion. I loved how Rossi did not focus on the romance heavily. It is there, but it takes backburner to the other things occurring in the story and their overall goal. They are on a journey to save their loved ones, and that takes precedence over all else, even their own feelings for each other (as it should).

The side characters are pretty interesting as well. I have developed a slight crush on Roar (sorry, Perry). I loved his sense of humor and how easy going he was. The moments between him and super-serious Perry provided some comic moments/relief. He is pretty awesome, and I cannot wait to get some more of him in the next book. I am also intrigued by Cinder. His little ‘trick’ definitely has me curious, and I hope we find out more about him in the next book as well!

On a side note, one thing I want to mention is the beginning of the book. I honestly think it is the weakest part of the novel. The story starts out slow, and the reader is slightly overwhelmed by all the new words and technical terms. For a while, I had no idea what was going on! But please, please, please do not quit reading. The story picks up, and the world and new turn of phrase start to make more sense. Just keep reading. Trust me, this is not a story you want to miss out on.

Overall, I feel like I cannot gush enough about this book (or swoon over Perry, for that matter). The story is great, the world is great, and the characters are great. This was an excellent debut from Rossi, and I am eager to see what she has for us next. The ending had me craving more, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to read the next book. The second book in the trilogy is entitled Through the Ever Night, and it is scheduled for publication some time in early 2013. It is an understatement when I say I cannot wait to get my hands on that book.

 The Greatest Escape!

Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer

Phantom Universe (Summer Chronicles, #1) by Laura Kreitzer

Release Date: February 15, 2011

Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (Paperback) and Revolution Publishing (eBook)
Genre: Dystopian, Dark, Romance

Available Formats: Paperback and eBook

Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she's lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

Review:

Phantom Universe took my breath away. This book is unique, heart-wrenching, romantic, beautiful, and thought invoking. Laura Kreitzer has created an exquisite world, alluring story, and amazing characters. I was completely immersed in the story from page one, and I did not want it to end.

Tortured and beaten as a child, Summer became mute, learning that silence was the best policy to avoid the lash of a whip. She was sold to a slave ship at a young age, and her life became dominated by seafarers and the roll of the waves. She is able to find a companion on the ship, Landon, who is able to understand her, and they quickly become best freinds. However, they are wrenched apart when the ship is destroyed, and Summer finds herself stranded on an island. She is unknowingly thrust into a future world, a phantom universe. She meets Gage, who is unlike any other man she has even come across, and he helps introduce her to this new, wondrous realm. Just as Summer is adjusting to her new life, she learns that she is highly sought after, and some Secret Clock Society would love nothing more than to see her dead. When their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

This book was a completely new type of story for me. I have never read a story where the main character is mute, nor one where slavery and torture is a major underlying theme. The moments when Summer recalls beatings or trauma are packed with raw emotions and pain, and my heart went out to her. Kreitzer does an amazing job bringing Summer’s emotions to life. I cannot remember the last time I have felt this strongly or deeply for a character. However, the thing that I respect the most about this story is how Kreitzer brings awareness to slavery and child trafficking. It is a very real thing, even today, and most of what Summer endured is not far from the truth. If anything, it is a softer version of what some children are forced to deal with. I really like how light was shed on this very real, albeit horrible, problem that we as people face. Hopefully some awareness can be raised, even if it is awareness derived from a fictional story. Ms. Kreitzer, I commend you. People, especially children, should never be exposed to this kind of treatment. I pray some kind of solution can be found soon.

Another thing I loved about this story was the emotional connection and depth between the characters. It is just beautiful and refreshing. With the main character being mute, things like emotions and thoughts have to be relayed through something other than words. The understanding between the characters is amazing! Landon and Gage can look at Summer and decipher her thoughts and feelings from just an expression, making the emotional connection and understanding between them astonishingly strong. The fact that a whole conversation could be held where one side basically used gestures and facial expressions and the other party could completely understand is simply brilliant, in my opinion. With articulation, who really knows a person this well? This deep level of understanding is hardly seen in books (or even in real life), and I really enjoyed it.

The characters themselves were fantastic. Summer, despite her past, is strong, and even through her moments of weakness, she is resilient. Throughout the book, I got to see her heal and learn to trust others, and I really found myself invested in her story. It was so easy to feel for her and connect to her. Gage is just…swoon. He is a soldier, strong and fierce, and he can deliver orders to subordinates with a cold, commanding voice. However, he becomes gentle and caring around Summer. I love how patient he was with her, and how he showed her it was okay to trust him and open up emotionally. He is romantic and kind, and I loved the chemistry between the two of them. Even the side characters were terrific, and I liked them all, especially Landon.  

Kreitzer has created a beautiful world and awesome characters in Phantom Universe, and I cannot wait to learn more about them and the Secret Clock Society. (I also am eager to learn more about Julian, who was introduced at the very end of the book. He seems like a very intriguing character! Who is that guy??) I was lucky enough to land an ARC of the second book, Forsaken Harbor, which I am currently getting ready to dive into. If you have not read this book yet, you should definitely give it a try. You will not be disappointed!

A Great Escape!

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and it is a weekly event in which readers mention one book they are eager to get their hands on!

For my second WoW post, I have chosen..... [drumroll]

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth


Release Date: May 8, 2012

Summary (taken from Goodreads.com):

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

So this week's choice is another dystopian novel. This dystopian kick of mine continues.... ><

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

This is the very first post for Waiting on Wednesday! YAY! ><

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and it is a weekly event in which readers select an upcoming release they are super eager to get their hands on. 

So for my very first Waiting on Wednesday post, I have chosen....... [drumroll]

The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24, 2011

Summary (taken from Goodreads.com):

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon. 

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. 

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I am super excited to get my hands on this! I have been on a dystopian kick lately, making this choice pretty easy for me. I hope it does not disappoint!  

Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu

Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 305

Format: Hardcover (also available in eBook)

ISBN: 039925675X 

Buy the Book: Amazon

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.


Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Review:

OH. MY. GOD. WOWWWWW. Just WOWWWW. I am not too sure where to start (since all I want to do is gush and fangirl), so let’s begin with a side story that may or may not be relevant in hopes of calming me down and keeping me focused enough to finish this review.

This book has a super-fast pace and there was always some kind of action sequence or plot twist happening that made it impossible for me to stop reading! I started reading this book in the morning, which proved to be a bad decision. During lunch break at the Japanese school I teach at, I ended up reading this book since I could not put it down. My eyes were glued to my computer screen as I read the climax of the story, but with all my attention focused on my computer and the book, it made it kind of hard to shovel rice into my mouth with chopsticks. My Japanese coworkers kept looking over at me like I was dumbest person they’ve ever seen (and also probably wondering why they hired a crazy foreigner as an English teacher) since I ended up spilling more rice on myself than I ate. Some people might be able to multitask like that, but it is obvious to me after today that I most certainly can’t [depressing sigh]. But anyway, on to the actual book review now.

May I just mention how much I love Day and June? Talk about a power couple. In fact, I loved all the characters. They were all well-developed and it was easy to emotionally connect to them. Day, the one boy the government would love to get their hands on, is the perfect male protagonist. He just wants to help save his little brother, Eden, from the Plague, and if it means becoming the dystopian version of Robin Hood? He is all for it. And then there is June, the military prodigy who is super smart and observant and is not afraid to kick someone’s butt if the situation calls for it. She is alone in the world following the death of her brother, yet she still remains resolute and strong, which I find admirable. She stands up to authority and never shies from a challenge. Together, they are awesome and they have some great chemistry. I really liked the growth of their relationship. Nothing about it felt rushed or faked, and there were no cheesy moments, which I really liked. Then there are the side characters, like Tess, Thomas, and Kaede. Even Lu’s side characters are memorable, and they each have a unique personality and overlaying goal in the book, something that I feel is very rare nowadays. It was nice and refreshing and much appreciated.

Something else I really liked was the alternating point of view between Day and June. While alternating POVs do not always work out well (such as in Crossed), Lu does an excellent job keeping June and Day’s voices separate and it made it that much easier to connect to them. Also, by constantly switching the view points, it was as though there was never a dull moment since something was always happening to one of them, so I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was pure awesomeness.

I hope in the next book we get a little more of an idea as to what happened to the world (are all countries besides America “extinct”?) and why the United States are not so united anymore. Please do not tell me he had something to do with it. 

Sorry, Bush. (But in all actuality, this sounds like one of my Japanese students. ><I LOVE THEM.)

This book was on the shorter side- only ~300 pages- and with being packed full of plot and action, it was hard to go into detail about the society and government structure. The reader gets the gist of the new structure: The Republic is the new, controlling government and The Electro Primo is the leader of it, basically a dysfunctional and twisted representation of the President of the United States. The Patriots are the ones fighting The Republic and then there are the vigilantes who refuse to join The Patriots yet oppose The Republic, such as Day. It is simple enough to understand, but I hope Lu delves a little further into why the world is the way it is and what happened to make it that way in the next book.

Overall, this book was an amazing read I would recommend to anyone. (2011 has made me such a fan of dystopian literature!) The second book in the series does not have a release date nor a title yet, but hopefully there will be some info soon. However, on her blog (click here to check it out), Lu said that she has already finished writing the second book, so hopefully the editing and printing process will not take too long! I am anxious to see what happens to Day and June!

A Great Escape!

Crossed (Matched, #2) by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie

Release Date: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Age Group: Young Adult (14+)

Pages: 367

Format: Hardcover (also available in eBook)

ISBN: 0525423656

Buy the Book: Amazon

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.

Review:

I wanted to like this book. I really did. I thought Matched was okay, but I figured this book would make or break the series for me. Well, it broke.

I like Ally Condie’s poetic writing style, but that is about the only good thing I can say. I like her use of poems and I think her descriptions are gorgeous (and poetic). However, beautiful prose cannot make up for weak characters and plot lines. At the end of the book, I thought that almost nothing happened, at least nothing significant. The story did not draw me in and I actually had a hard time staying focused. There was no climax to the plot, no heightened emotions, and no action that would have kept me reading. Never once did I wonder what would happen next, nor did I really care, for that matter. Overall, I found the story’s plot and tone rather weak and dull.

Unfortunately, I thought the characters were also lacking. Condie tells half the story from Ky’s perspective and the other half from Cassia’s. I got a little excited about it the beginning, thinking that I could learn more about Ky and his past, but all this did was show how similar ALL the characters are. Even though the chapters said either “Ky” or “Cassia” in the beginning, it was really hard for me to differentiate between whose POV it was since their voices sounded exactly the same. I kept having to go back to the start of the chapter to remind myself whose chapter it was, and that was really annoying. It was the same with the minor characters. Here is this 12-13 year old boy named Eli who talks and acts just like the mature and emotionally scarred/drained 22 year old named Hunter. Really? There was nothing that stood out about any of the characters and I did not connect to them in the slightest.

The one thing that annoyed me the most was Cassia and her stupidity. To be honest, I do not know if it was so much her stupidity as much as her inability to see the (GLARINGLY) obvious. She spends the whole book traveling with a girl named Indie, who is a rather suspicious character. Indie tries to get Ky to leave Cassia behind to join The Rising, she steals Cassia’s microcard of Xander, and Cassia is constantly wondering if Indie is hiding something. Then why, oh why, does Cassia spend so much time wondering if Indie is her friend??? If someone lies to you, steals from you, and you cannot trust them, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND AND YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER BEING FRIENDS WITH THEM. Cassia also gets determined to join the Rising, even though she has no real idea as to who they are, and that just leads to a stupid fight between her and Ky! I mean, seriously? And no matter how many times Ky and everyone else tell her the blue pills are poison, she refuses to believe it even after she took one and then felt like curling up in a ball and sleeping forever. GRRRRRRR.

FRUSTRATING.

This book also left me with even more questions. Almost nothing was explained! Who is behind The Society? How did The Rising come about and gain inside support when The Society monitors everything so well? Why are some people (such as members of The Rising) immune to the red tablets and others aren’t? Who is The Enemy and what is their motivation for war? Are they fighting The Society or The Rising? There are so many questions and not enough answers and in the end, I was just CONFUSED.

The third book in the series, which is still untitled, is due out November 2012. I may read the last book just to say  that I finished the series, but is it even worth it? I will get no bragging rights, will I? We'll see, we'll see. (Why is Fallen popping into my head right now? Hmmmm. I wonder….)

No Escape :(