Review: Firstlife by Gena Showalter

Title: Firstlife

Author: Gena Showalter

Series: Everlife

Pages: 480

Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia

Release date: 23^rd February 2016

Synopsis (Goodreads) :

ONE CHOICE.

TWO REALMS.

NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

I had read a few early reviews about Firstlife, the first book in Gena Showalter's new seies Everlife and I have to admit I went in to it with my expectations lowered but in the end I was hooked! I loved the complexity, the characters and the uniqueness of this new series.

Seventeen year-old Tenley “Ten” Lockwood has been placed in Prynne Asylum by her parents who believe she should have decided on her afterlife realm; she has been beaten and treated atrociously but she remained determined to make her own decision. I really liked Ten, yes she was stubborn and indecisive but I thought her strength and determination was awesome! I also enjoyed her obsession with numbers and her logical thought process.

The plot was fast paced and the world-building although complex had me engrossed, There are two realms which is believed where ‘real’ life truly begins, Troika (Structure, study and conformity) & Myriad (autonomy, bliss and indulgence) who have been at war for centuries, fighting to win souls which is why picking a side is so important for humans, we also learn about Many Ends which is where the Unsigned souls end up, Troika considers Ten a Conduit; Myriad considers her an abrogate and to be honest I am still clueless about why she is so important or why they are even at war but both are eager for her to join them and willing to offer her plenty for her loyalty. Troika and Myriad more or less reap souls. I thoroughly enjoyed the background information we are given and despite it being quite intricate, I enjoyed the way it was all explained.

To help Ten in her decision making are Laborers and long-time enemies Killian and Archer. Laborers arrive in a shell, a humanoid outer casing that makes the spirit tangible in the physical world and I quite liked both of these guys for different reasons, they were complete opposites but I enjoyed learning about their pasts. We have a small amount of romance but it definitely wasn’t at the forefront of the story.

I can’t say much about the side characters because the only people who weren’t crazy and mad were Deacon and Sloan, I couldn’t stand Ten’s parents! Her dad wields a massive amount of power and I felt her mother was weak and didn’t protect her at all; it was a sad dynamic. The bad guys in this book were pure evil and I feel everyone is working for their own agenda and can’t be trusted.

I always enjoy Gena Showalter’s writing style and wonderful imagination, Firstlife was entertaining, highly creative and unique. I was very curious about the year this world was set in, it’s been filed by many under dystopia but I can’t quite be certain.

Overall, I enjoyed Firstlife and I am eager to see how everything pans out for Ten and the laborers; filled with action, betrayal and a sweet budding romance I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to Harlequin Teen via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Firstlife.

About the author: 

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”. 

Review: The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3) by Gena Showalter

The Queen of Zombie Hearts

Author: Gena Showalter

Series: White Rabbit Chronicles

Pages: 464

Release date: 30^th September 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Amazon

Synopsis (Goodreads) I have a plan. 

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us. 

Either way, only one of us is walking away. 

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun. 

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

Review: 4/5 Stars

The Queen of Zombie Hearts is the third book in the White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter and begins not long after where Through the Zombie Glass ends. I have never been a huge fan of zombie books at all but this has always been one of my favourite YA series with wonderful plot developments, great world-building, suspense, adventure and some really memorable characters. I did have a few minor problems with the final instalment though.

It is hard to write this review without giving away some pretty big spoilers, this book started off with a bang, the characters couldn’t seem to catch a break, it was go go go and there was action aplenty! but to balance it out we have the romance between Ali and Cole which I have always enjoyed but this did take centre stage in this book and the zombie slaying wasn’t at the forefront which was a tad disappointing, added to that was the drama which I felt was overdone and not needed.

Ali is still snarky and quirky but at times she was a little immature and whiny, she really grated on my nerves on occasion, she was worrying needlessly about petty things rather than focussing on the real problem – Anima Industries and the zombies, there were a few revelations about her which did come as a shock. Cole continues to be a great leader, he progresses as a character and I liked the responsible way he dealt with certain situations.

The storyline continued to keep us guessing, there were many surprise twists and turns I didn’t anticipate, there was death, betrayal and some intense scenes as Ali and the slayers try to bring down Anima – these are the parts I really found myself enjoying and the ending was done extremely well. The secondary characters are memorable and play an important role in the overall story; this book did have a number of deaths, some that were complete shocks.

Gena Showalter is a wonderful story-teller and despite my few issues, I felt this was a satisfying conclusion to the White Rabbit Chronicles.

Favourite quotes:

“Roses are red, violets are blue, I have five fingers, the middle one is for you.”

“I'm usually a big fan of sexual tension, but this is like an X-rated kindergarten class, with two little jerks crushing on each other, both too stupid to admit it out loud.” 

“I know girls want what they can’t have, and they want to be the special exception responsible for taming the boy no one else can, even though they probably won’t be.” 

About the author: Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”. 

REVIEW: Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter

 

Author: Gena Showalter

Series: White Rabbit Chronicles

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 404

Pre-order Amazon: Alice in Zombieland

 Release Date: 25^th September 2012

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter is the first book in the White Rabbit Chronicles and was kindly provided to me by the publisher, Harlequin Teen Australia. It is a book which kept me riveted and wanting more from the very first page.

Alice ‘Ali’ Bell has led a sheltered life with her father believing there were monsters which rose at night, Alice thought he was crazy but she followed his rules, trained as he requested but resented not living as other teens did. On her sister Emma’s 8^th birthday, her only wish was to attend her dance concert and after much pleading to her parents they agreed to go but things went downhill as soon as darkness hit and Alice witnessed horrors beyond belief – she lost her parents and sister that night and began to believe her fathers ramblings.

We are taken on an entertaining journey throughout this book, I honestly felt for Alice and what she had lost but she had strong character and made it through. When she moves in with her grandparents, she starts a new school, makes some friends but has also attracted the attention of the bad boys, the leader in particular Cole Holland.

I thought gorgeous, violet-eyed Cole was wonderful despite his bad boy ways; he had the tough, mean reputation going on but was loyal to his friends and devoted to slaying. I was so curious about the visions which linked him to Ali and I was really surprised by how this came to be, I loved their connection.

I have to admit to not being a fan of zombie books what-so-ever but my opinion has certainly changed since reading this; the world Ms. Showalter has created was brilliant and kept me captivated and wanting to know more, not only about the zombies and slayers but also the cast of amazing characters, secondary included. The intricate plot flowed well and I enjoyed Ali’s plight to avenge her family and fight against evil.

Alice in Zombieland conveyed a lot of emotions, gave us some intense and creepy action scenes and a number of twists and turns to keep it really entertaining and a smexy yet sweet budding romance. I have loved everything I have read by Ms. Showalter, her wonderful writing allows me to become immersed in her storytelling.

Overall, Alice in Zombieland has everything I have come to love in a Young Adult Paranormal; a combination of kick-butt action, a heartfelt romance, perfect characterization and a solid plot which made for a thrilling story. I can’t wait to get hold of the next book in this series, Through the Zombie Glass which has an anticipated 2013 release date.

Thank-you kindly to Harlequin Teen Australia for my review copy of Alice in Zombieland.

REVIEW: Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter

 

Author: Gena Showalter

Series: Angels of the Dark

Pages: 411

Publisher: HQN Books

Source: Katie @ Little Bird Publicity

Amazon: Wicked Nights

Release Date: 26^th June 2012

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless--and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation--or her ultimate damnation?

Review: 3 out of 5 stars

Wicked Nights is the first book in the Angels of the Dark series by Gena Showalter and was kindly provided to me by Little Bird Publicity.

22 year-old Annabelle Miller, a human, has been falsely accused of killing her parents, a crime she didn’t commit and has been imprisoned in an institution for the criminally insane as she claimed it was monsters who had committed the crime; this is where she has spent the past four years.

Warrior angel Zacharel as been ordered by the Deity to lead a group of problematic angels on a mission to the institute where Annabelle is being held, he has been deemed too cold-hearted and his wings are on the line if he doesn’t succeed in his mission, what he didn’t expect was to find a human who needed saving so offers to protect and help her to figure out why she has been targeted and marked by a demon and also find the one responsible for the deaths of her parents.

For one year, he would lead an army of angels, just like him. The ones no one else wanted under their command, the rebellious/tortured ones. His assignment: to teach them the respect that he himself had yet to demonstrate - for the Deity, for the sanctity of human life. He alone would bear the consequences of his warriors' actions - a whipping.

I adored the way Annabelle and Zacharel came to trust one another and were able to work together to solve the demon problem. Zacharel is emotionless, he has become cold, bitter and unfeeling since losing his twin brother, Hadrenial at the hands of demons and his sole purpose in life is revenge. Annabelle on the other hand was strong, snarky and determined yet still had hidden vulnerability, she was rightfully wary but they complimented each other well.

I liked the slow build-up to the romance and despite the attraction and the chemistry between them they took their time and the banter between them I found to be quite humorous.

I enjoyed reading about each of the other Dark angels - Thane, Bjorn, Xerxes, Koldo, and the small bits we saw of Axel and I am eager to read more about them in upcoming books. I liked how their respect for Zacharel grew as the book progressed, their insolence made for a hard task.

Although I found the pacing to be quite slow initially - it was more an introduction in to the complex world and the characters, it definitely picked up in the last third. The plot certainly kept me intrigued; I loved seeing Zacharel change his ways and begin to learn the value of human life as well as continue to fight for what he believed in.

There was a part towards the end (I wont reveal what it was to avoid a spoiler) that I thought was glossed over all too quickly and Zacharel’s decision didn’t match his earlier feelings, maybe I just expected a different outcome to this solution.

Overall, I have never been disappointed with anything I have read by Gena Showalter and Wicked Nights was certainly no exception, it is a story filled with action, sacrifice, humor and a sweet romance that kept me riveted throughout and I couldn’t help but cheer for a HEA for our H/H and a solution to the problems.

 

Waiting on Wednesday (16th May)

 

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this weeks WoW is Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter;

I have to admit I am not a zombie fan at all BUT I am a big Gena Showalter fan so I am quite intrigued by her new series and I think the synopsis is great.

What are you looking forward to?

Author: Gena Showalter

Series: White Rabbit Chronicles

Release Date: 25th September 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Amazon Pre-order: Alice in Zombieland

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.