Book Review: Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson

January 14, 2013 by 3 Comments

Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson Quicksilver by R.J. Anderson
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Source: Netgalley
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.

Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual… talents.

Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.

She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free. – Goodreads

Review:
When I found out that R.J. Anderson’s Ultraviolet was getting a sequel, I was pretty pumped because Ultraviolet had left my head buzzing with possibilities of what was ahead. Then, when I found out that it would be told in Tori’s POV, I have to admit I was a little bummed because I had really enjoyed Alison’s narrative, thought her ability was really cool, and there were still loose ends in her story. As it turned out, R.J. Anderson was able to make Tori’s story equally gripping and tie both books together seamlessly.

With Tori and her family on the run, and them having changed their identities (Tori is now Niki), one could anticipate a thrilling, intense read. Tori is constantly having to watch over her shoulder and think every move carefully so that her past doesn’t catch up with her. But then it does in the form of Sebastian Faraday and it all goes to crap. I don’t want to get too into depth about what danger Tori is in, but I held my breath through so many scenes and felt a rush whenever Tori was able to find a way out.

Tori is so different from Alison and I loved how R.J. Anderson was able to transition into her voice effortlessly. Her passion for engineering came across as authentic and I enjoyed that it played a major role in the book. I also have to give R.J. Anderson two thumbs up for having Tori’s identity be so unique from what I’ve found in other YA books. That’s super vague, but if you read the book, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

As crazy thrilling as Quicksilver was, the highlight of the book was Tori’s friendship with Milo. It was so genuine and I kind of want to go spazzy over how well they fit together. More friendships like these, please, authors!

Quicksilver had my blood pumping and had me feeling like a ticking time bomb with its fast pace. If you’re looking for an engaging sci-fi read, look no further than Ultraviolet and Quicksilver.

Related Posts

Filed Under: 2013, Book Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

December 17, 2012 by 8 Comments

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: BEA 2012
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

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

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

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

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

Review:
Haunting. Bleak. Devastating. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve grown too used to a lot of the lighter “dystopian” books out there because I was unprepared for the heartbreak contained inside the pages of Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds. In this world, children either die from a mysterious disease, or they survive but evolve with unexplainable abilities. The unexplainable is always accompanied by fear and, in this case, the children are rounded up and locked up in “rehabilitation” camps. From the first page, Alexandra Bracken offered a tense — and often draining — reading experience but I must say it was a welcome departure from a lot of the fluffier dystopian fare I’ve read.

Just as her world was richly detailed, Alexandra Bracken’s characters were also layered and multidimensional. It would have been so easy to make Ruby such a miserable character to read about, but instead she grew throughout the course of the novel. She endured a lot, struggled with herself and what she could do (and did do), but she was also admirably resilient. Liam, Chubs, and Suzume are the three other core characters and it was so interesting to learn their backstories and abilities. I must say that the bond that Ruby forms with them was the highlight of The Darkest Minds for me. It was so organic, from the initial mistrust to the gradual acceptance, and I loved the heavy focus on their dynamic.

As I reached the conclusion for the book I was pretty much this in real life, no joke. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS, ALEXANDRA BRACKEN?! The sequel is now easily one of my most anticipated titles for the new year. The Darkest Minds will make you sad and break your heart, but it’s so perfectly paced and you will grow so attached to the Black Betty gang. This is definitely a book worth your time.

Related Posts

Filed Under: 2012, Book Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

October 23, 2012 by 4 Comments

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: ARC borrowed from Linda
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? – Goodreads

Review:
WHAT WHAT WHAT.

If you’ve read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer you know exactly how twisty Michelle Hodkin can turn a story. In the first book there were deaths, hallucinations, a lot of paranoia, and plenty of moments where Mara (and us as readers, really) had to freak out and wonder, “What’s real?! What isn’t?!” If you were into the thrilling ride that was the first book, worry not, Michelle Hodkin takes it up a notch in The Evolution of Mara Dyer.

There’s a lot that I could highlight, but I feel that I could get pretty spoilery so here are a few general points:
• Michelle Hodkin develops Mara’s character beautifully. She continues to go through plenty of terrifying events, and Mara does doubt herself, but she’s also very strong through it all. As the book title states, she’s evolving and it’s going to be an amazing third book with her.
• I loved the family dynamic in the first book and Michelle Hodkin was able to continue with that in this book with the genuine worry, dedication, and love that Mara and her family feel for each other. Obviously Mara’s family doesn’t know everything she’s gone through, as they only have select information about her situation, but I love the support they had for her, even though they did have to make some very difficult decisions.
• Of course, there’s Noah. Would it be sufficient to leave this little section full of exclamation points? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Their closeness grew closer because of their trust in one another and it’s so, so good.
• For a lack of a better word, I described The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer as a “mindfuck” in my review. And, yup, that is the case in the sequel, too. Like its predecessor, this book messed with my mind and gave me the scary type of chills. The anticipation built throughout the book and it was so easy to be consumed.

Michelle Hodkin absolutely delivered with The Evolution of Mara Dyer and will no doubt succeed in making your heart race if you loved the first book.

Related Posts

Filed Under: 2012, Book Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review: The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

October 10, 2012 by 4 Comments

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone’s power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy. – Goodreads

Review:
As you might remember, Rae Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns was a perfect fantasy read for me. I screamed, I squeed, I cried, I fangirled…I was pretty much the physical embodiment of exclamation points over it. Yes, it WAS that good and The Crown of Embers immediately became one of my most anticipated titles of 2012. Friends and I tried to track it down at BEA, I missed it at ALA by a day, and then, when I actually got the book in my hands on release day, work and real life got in the way so I didn’t get the chance to read it until recently, TWO WEEKS later. Agony, let me tell you! Anyway, enough personal anecdotes, The Crown of Embers was astonishing and, hello, yes, much gushing ahead!

First off, Rae Carson’s pacing was so energetic and intense. A LOT happens in The Crown of Embers, and it was easy to see that the stakes were much higher from the first chapter. From there on out, it was a complete adventure with Elisa, Hector, and everyone else and, HOLY CRAP, things got crazy! There were twists and turns, political drama, and so much danger. I was glued to the pages and only stepped away from the book when absolutely forced to. Needless to say, The Crown of Embers had my heart racing with every page turn.

Next is Elisa. MY QUEEN. I am so, so proud of her growth. She has so much weight on her shoulders, and it would be so easy for her to crumble under it, but instead she grows and matures. She demonstrated so much determination and courage, both in standing up for herself and her kingdom, and I continue to look forward to cheering her on. Trust me, Elisa is a character to admire.

And then, of course, there’s the romance. I won’t say a lot about it, but excuse this outburst here and now: OHMYGODOHMYGOD, SUCH PERFECTION. No, really, Rae Carson knows how to build a relationship based on mutual respect and admiration and I was completely crazy over it. I held my breath during their scenes because their chemistry was so palpable and, gah, more of this in my reads, por favor.

Basically, The Crown of Embers is such a quality read and I wish I could put this series into the hands of everyone I know. If you haven’t read it yet, please do so that I can have more people to gush with. Filled with great writing, adventure, romance, and a fierce heroine, this is one fantasy series that I cannot recommend enough.

Related Posts

Filed Under: 2012, Book Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Book Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

October 2, 2012 by 9 Comments

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Aladdin
Source: BEA 2012
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first. – Goodreads

Review:
I wish I had read more books like Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities when I was younger, but I’m so glad to be able to read this now. This book is a winning combination of excellent characters and an exciting adventure, all while also being very heartfelt and touching.

To start off with, Sophie is the best type of main character. She was so interesting (she’s twelve, but in high school…WHAT) and I really enjoyed her journey of self-discovery in Keeper of the Lost Cities. Yeah, she does find out about this amazing world where things are so far from the norm, and she deals with it all so well, but ultimately she’s just a girl who cares about her family and friends above all else.

The rest of the characters were so great, too, and I was especially taken by surprise by how much I grew to love Grady and Edaline. Shannon Messenger had a strong focus on family and MY HEART GREW ABOUT TEN TIMES because of them. I love how she developed these relationships and how she explored the ups and downs of their situation. The three main boys in this book also had me grinning from ear to ear because they are all so adorable. I do have my favorite, but I’m eager to get to know them all further in the upcoming books.

Shannon Messenger’s world in Keeper of the Lost Cities had me going, HELLO WHEN CAN I VISIT? It’s so richly detailed, full of quirks and interesting things, and it was so much fun discovering every new aspect. Really, even if you hated the rest of the book (IMPOSSIBLE), Shannon Messenger’s worldbuilding is good stuff.

Keeper of the Lost Cities was such a delightful read and I’m eager for more adventures with Sophie. I hope you all pick this up and love it as much as I do!

Related Posts

Filed Under: 2012, Book Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
«Older Posts
Newer Posts»