Review: Glitch (Lost in Time #1) by Brenda Pandos

Glitch 
Author: Brenda Pandos 
Series: Lost in Time
Pages: 300 
Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing 
Amazon 
Release date: 31st January 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads) Perfect world. Lies. Blue eyes. When a mysterious guy from the forbidden zone sneaks an illegal slip of paper to a beautiful young girl from Brighton, she must decide if she should turn him in or follow what the note says. Eighteen-year-old Abigail has no trouble following Brighton’s rules. For one, she’s OCD about checking her Date of Death clock latched to her wrist, making sure her decisions never shorten her timeline, and two, she enjoys the peace Brighton has to offer. In no way would she bring on another attack that destroyed earth’s inhabitants. But when her best friend returns from her Advice Meeting--a glimpse into the future--shocked and won’t tell Abby what’s happened, Abby is worried what awaits her glimpse. The stranger with blue eyes knows something, but does Abby dare enter the forbidden zone to get answers? Or is she doomed to live the life set in her glimpse?

Review: 2 out of 5 stars

Glitch is the first book in the Lost in Time series and started off promising, I was intrigued by the unique concept but unfortunately it failed to wow me in the end.

Eighteen year-old Abigail lives in Brighton, behind a wall where the threat of the undead lives; she was to meet her Complement – her future self but received a strange note from a stranger warning her not to attend, the mystery had me curious from the onset but the moment Abby left Brighton and was taken to the forbidden zone everything went downhill, the biggest reason = a severe case of insta-love, she literally fell for Kaden, her kidnapper from the get go.

Abby prior to Kaden was obsessive about checking her date of death watch, she was flirtatious with her best friends brother and she lived by the rules but it all went out the door the moment she fell for Kaden, despite also having feelings initially for his brother Memphis who I did find quite appealing. She was one of those girls who attracted all the boys attention and acted before she thought things through, it was too much.

I think this book could have been amazing but the execution was a let-down; the time travel aspect was jumpy and the lack of details when it came to the complex world Brenda Pandos was trying to build was missing, I was completely baffled by how Abby ‘who was special’ was jumping from one time sequence to the next as well as the background on the sasquatches, glitches and zombies, it didn’t come together smoothly for me at all and I think the Oracle aspect needed further explanation.

This book just wasn’t for me unfortunately, from characters who I didn’t like to a disjointed plot and confusing world-building, it is a series I won’t be continuing with.

Overall, it pains me to rate this book 2 stars as it has received a number of 5 star Goodreads reviews, I think I'm getting a little fussy with dystopians these days after reading so many amazing series.

Thank you to Obsidian Mountain Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Glitch by Brenda Pandos.

About the author: Author Brenda Pandos lives in California with her husband, two energetic boys, orange cat and eight chickens. She writes YA Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy and Post Zombie Apocalypse Dystopian books. Other than writing, she’s most likely trying some crazy thing she spotted on Pinterest. More than anything, she loves to hear from readers, so feel free to email or write on her facebook wall. Visit her at www.brendapandos.com. Join the newsletter and be entered to win $25 monthly: tinyurl.com/mge8zvn Join her fan page:www.Facebook.com/brendapandos Follow her on Twitter:www.Twitter.com/brendapandos

Review: Dust (Silo #3) by Hugh Howey

Dust

Author: Hugh Howey 

Series: Silo

Pages: 464

Publisher: Random House

Amazon

Release date: 24^th October 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

In a time when secrets and lies were the foundations of life, someone has discovered the truth. And they are going to tell.

Jules knows what her predecessors created. She knows they are the reason life has to be lived in this way.

And she won't stand for it.

But Jules no longer has supporters. And there is far more to fear than the toxic world beyond her walls.

A poison is growing from within Silo 18.

One that cannot be stopped.

Unless Silo 1 step in.

Review: 3 ½ stars out of 5 stars

Contains possible spoilers from the previous books.

Dust by Hugh Howey is the final installment in the Silo series and one I have been eagerly anticipating.

I have really appreciated this series to date and have enjoyed learning the secrets and revelations as they unfolded about the Silos. The inhabitants have now discovered the truth about silo 1 and in Dust we finally see if they are able to go outside without being consumed by toxic air but there were many obstacles and complications along the way.

The bleak world Hugh Howey has written is fascinating and extremely creative and really makes you think, his writing grips you as we learn more about the toxic air, the silos, investigations and the politics within as well as the characters, some good but no one who really stood out amongst the others.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I still have a number of lingering questions that have risen over the course of the series that have been left unresolved; maybe I have just missed little tidbits along the way but I felt the ending was a little bittersweet and I wasn’t as hooked as I have been in the previous books. The MC’s Donald and Juliette I also found to be lacklustre, there was no one person I completely sympathised with or liked unfortunately which would have to be my biggest gripe, I haven’t felt this with Wool or Shift; everyone seemed overly manipulative, whiny and emotionless which didn’t leave me able to connect with them on any level.

Overall, The Silo series is an extraordinary story of survival and despite a few minor issues this series is still a unique, suspense filled and extremely well-written. It has been optioned for film by 20^th Century Fox and is one I’ll definitely be watching.

Thank-you kindly to Random House for the opportunity to read and review Dust.

 

About the author: I'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.

A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.

ARC Review: Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan

Uninvited

Author: Sophie Jordan

Series: Uninvited

Pages: 384

Release date: 28^th January 2014

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: HarperTeen

Amazon

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

I recently read Sophie Jordan’s New Adult title Foreplay and thoroughly enjoyed her style of writing so I was more than eager to start on Uninvited which is the first book in the Uninvited duology.

Our main protagonist is seventeen year old music prodigy Davina ‘Davy’ Hamilton who had a promising future ahead of her at Juilliard but when her results for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome ‘HTS’ show that she is positive for the kill gene her life is instantaneously changed - her parents fear her, she has lost her boyfriend and friends and her future career is gone all over the possibility that one day she would kill.

Davy was an interesting character, strong when she needed to be but also showed innocence at other times; she was a character I completely sympathised with and felt for, her whole life had pretty much been ripped away from her but she adapted as well as she could despite the grim future she now had.

People who have HTS are feared, hated and separated from the rest of society, treated as criminals before they have committed a crime – Davy is uninvited from her prestigious school and sent to a public school, still isolated from the other students and placed in a cage with other carriers, it is here where she most notices Sean, a carrier himself and marked with a tattoo to show he is a criminal.

I don’t feel we truly got to know Sean fully but what we do learn I liked. He was a mystery and despite his tough exterior he was really quite sweet. I can't wait to learn more about him.

Sophie Jordan has included the perfect blend of action, violence, death and gritty details that kept the pacing flowing well but there seemed to be little follow through on occasion which gave me many more questions and not enough answers. I feel that the world-building was lacking in the depth required with this sort of book, background details about the virus wasn’t freely given but in saying that the concept was simplistic and easy to grasp. The plot itself was enjoyable and with more and more people showing positive for the virus and being sent off to detention camps, the future for carriers is looking bleak. It is a promising start to the series and with the way things ended I am definitely eager to read the sequel.

The romance wasn’t strong or at the forefront of the story but I did find myself liking their slow to build relationship and the way Sean protected Davy and gave her hope; the ending showed how close they had become; it started off with Davy being quite wary and her fear of Sean but she came to trust him and the feeling was mutual which was sweet, nothing was rushed.

Overall, Uninvited is a wonderful start to the series and is a captivating and engrossing read; with a fascinating concept, wonderful writing and likeable characters it is a great addition to the dystopian genre.

About the author:

Pseudonym: Sharie Kohler

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel,Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List. 

Review: Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

ALLEGIANT

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent

Pages: 526

Publisher/Source: Harper Collins Australia

Amazon

Release date: 22^nd October 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Review: Not rated.

Contains possible spoilers

Ok, I admit upfront my opinion about the events which took place may change once I let it all sink in but at this moment all I feel for this series is sadness so this review may be incoherent and all over the place. Allegiant is one of my most anticipated reads of 2013, I was literally counting down the days and to say I am disappointed by the conclusion of the Divergent trilogy would be an understatement.

I don’t want to spoil it for anyone as it was spoiled for me so I will keep this review relatively brief. Insurgent left us with a big ahhhh moment and the possibility of people residing past the city boundaries; we also saw betrayal and hope and what I thought would turn into a journey of self-discovery for Tris and progress for the factions to merge but the whole plotline seemed to veer off course as we find out the secrets that have been kept by the government to their guinea pigs - the factions; it certainly wasn’t what I had expected.

We also get both Tris and Four’s POV and out of all honesty, as much as I was excited for this it didn’t work but I understand why it had to be done, Ms. Roth had a reason for this – Four to me has always been a bit of a mystery, broody yet protective but in this instalment and reading from his perspective he came across as weak, vulnerable and lacklustre; the romance also wasn’t as amazing and swoony as what is has been.

There is a lot of new conflicts with little resolution, over the top oh no moments, and death and destruction; you can’t fault the author for writing a brutal, non-typical conclusion but do it without sacrificing what has already worked and without an ending that I feel didn’t, the MC was self-sacrificing but it sort of defeated what she had achieved and worked for up until that point, it failed to serve a purpose.

Allegiant left me feeling as I did at the end of Mockingjay (The Hunger Games 3) & The Sookie Stackhouse series, deflated and emotionally drained. I have adored this series up until now, it is one of my all time favourites but this was one big let-down and I am saddened by the direction Veronica Roth took the story and I won’t even mention the shattering ending which I am still shaking my head about, I have been anticipating the upcoming movie but I will now not be watching it knowing how it will all end (I sound stubborn but it is still fresh).

Veronica Roth’s writing is flawless but I felt the plot and world-building faltered once the characters left the city limits, it was all downhill for me from there despite my excitement, it was extremely inconsistent and I felt like it didn’t belong to the first two amazing books, the characters also didn’t progress which I feel was needed.

Overall, I’m sure some people are going to adore Veronica Roth’s bravery but for me it was inadequate after the awesome build-up we have had to get to this point. One thing this book did convey was a lot of emotion, from me – loss, heartache, betrayal.

Thank-you kindly to Harper Collins Australia for the opportunity to read and review Allegiant.

About the author: 

Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011) and INSURGENT (May 2012). The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, ALLEGIANT, will come out on October 22, 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.

Review: Resist (Breathe #2) by Sarah Crossan

Resist

Author: Sarah Crossan

Series: Breathe

Pages: 400

Genre: Young Adult

Release date: 8^th October 2013

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Amazon

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

The sequel—and conclusion—to Sarah Crossan's Breathe. Three teen outlaws must survive on their own in a world without air, exiled outside the glass dome that protects what's left of human civilization. Gripping action, provocative ideas, and shocking revelations in a dystopian novel that fans of Patrick Ness and Veronica Roth will devour.

Bea, Alina, and Quinn are on the run. They started a rebellion and were thrown out of the pod, the only place where there's enough oxygen to breathe. Bea has lost her family. Alina has lost her home. And Quinn has lost his privileged life. Can they survive in the perilous Outlands? Can they finish the revolution they began? Especially when a young operative from the pod's Special Forces is sent after them. Their only chance is to stand together, even when terrible circumstances force them apart. When the future of human society is in danger, these four teens must decide where their allegiances lie. Sarah Crossan has created a dangerous, and shattered society in this wrenching, thought-provoking, and unforgettable post-apocalyptic novel.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Resist is the final book in the Breathe series, and it certainly ended in a way that left me wanting more, the action sequences were breathtaking and the characters each truly wonderful, I’m saddened it has come to an end.

Resist follows the journey of Alina, Quinn and Bea now exiled from the glass dome and in search of the last known safe haven, Sequoia, with them on the trip are other survivors from The Grove each trying to survive in a world now devoid of air.

The plot is complicated with many shock revelations and threats, The Ministry was brutal but Sequoia brings many surprises and loyalties come to be tested, it certainly wasn’t as I had expected and forced the characters to fight for themselves and their own survival.

There is so much character development in this book, Alina is a fabulous character who has had to endure so much but she is resilient and has faith in the Resistence. I adored Quinn who has really matured and I enjoyed his interactions and the way he protected Bea but I did find myself expecting more from the romance. Bea is such a sweet, smart character but there is hardness about her now, she doesn’t appear as weak as what she did in the first book. It was also nice to see things from Ronan, the son of the mister of the Pod’s perspective, I came to really appreciate him as a character.

Resist brings us four POV’s which I admit I'm not a big fan of but it worked quite well & the transition between each character was flawless. There were many twists and turns and events which I wouldn’t have expected but it made for a fast paced read and the edgy humour and romance balanced it all out perfectly.

Resist showed us the desperation, courage, hope and survival, it is written extremely well, it is simplistic and has you gripping the pages hoping for a satisfactory ending but unfortunately that was also my biggest gripe, it didn’t leave me content, I was hoping for complete closure but it was bittersweet and I found myself wanting more answers.

Overall, Resist is a thought provoking sequel that is entertaining and well written. I’m definitely more than eager to read more books by Sarah Crossan.

Thank-you kindly to Greenwillow Books for the opportunity to read and review Resist.

 

About the author: Sarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Literature before training as an English and Drama teacher at Cambridge University and worked to promote creative writing in schools before leaving teaching to write full time. 

She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing.

She currently lives in NYC. 

ARC Review: Inhuman (Fetch #1) by Kat Falls)

Inhuman

Author: Kat Falls

Series: Fetch

Pages: 384

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic

Amazon pre-order

Release date: 24^th September 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.

America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.

Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.

Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal” mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

You can read the first three chapters here

I have been curious about Inhuman by Kat Falls since I first glimpsed the amazing cover, and I'm pleased to say this was a fascinating, compelling read that has left me eager to read the next installment.

Inhuman follows the story of sixteen year-old Delaney ‘Lane’ Park McEvoy who recently found out her father had been travelling to the forbidden feral zone as a ‘fetch’, someone who retrieves valuables from war ravaged areas; a job both dangerous as it is rewarding. Lane has no idea this is what her father does until she is blackmailed into travelling there herself to recover a lost item or her father will be punished.

Delaney was a great character, naïve initially as she has always been protected in her sterile environment but finding out what she was up against didn’t make her squirm or falter, she was gun ho and ready to save her dad which I thought was great and even after a few traumatic experiences she was still determined to succeed, she was kind and compassionate to everyone she came across.

The concept was extremely interesting, the world Kat Falls created showed us what had happened after a biological disaster caused by a high profile company turned millions of people into genetic freaks by spreading a ferae naturea virus which resulted in human/animal hybrids causing in some cases a loss of intelligence and humanity, they are now separated and guarded by a large wall which keeps the infected separated. The plot was fast-paced and flowed well with a number of dramatic scenes showing the element of danger the characters had to face.

Along the way Lane got to meet many intriguing characters, Rafe who was orphaned as a child and knows Lane’s father extremely well lives in the feral zone himself and knows what Lane is up against and is willing to help out of loyalty to her father. Everson is a committed soldier who has also been quite sheltered in his life and is determined to help find a cure, I'm not sure how I feel about him at this stage, he was just ok for me – we also get to meet many manimals, which were quite odd but I was curious about each of them. The villain was twisted and creepy and left me feeling horrified by his actions.

With two smexy male leads we unfortunately also have what seemed to be a love triangle although it wasn’t over the top at all; I was a little bummed about the cliff-hanger ending and who Lane appeared to choose so I’m hoping the sequel gives me the HEA and the answers I am hoping for.

The setting and descriptions are vivid and detailed which drew me into the story; I had a clear image in my mind about what was going on and what the manimals, characters and location were like. The world-building is strong and Kat Falls writing is engaging and crisp and despite it being predictable at times, it was also a mesmerising read.

Overall, Inhuman was an unexpected surprise but you do need to go in with suspension of belief; filled with action, intrigue and fabulous characters I am definitely excited for the sequel.

Thank-you to Scholastic/Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Inhuman.

About the author: Kat Falls lives in Evanston, Illinois with her husband, theater director Robert Falls, their three children and a whole slew of pets. She grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an undergrad and went on to receive an MFA in screenwriting from Northwestern University.

Kat came up with the idea for her debut novel, Dark Life (Scholastic Press, May 2010), during a writing exercise. Knowing that her 11-year-old son loved reading about the ocean, Wild West pioneers and, of course, the X-Men, she combined his interests and created a story premise that kept her up nights plotting and world-building.

Today, Dark Life has deals in eighteen international markets and is in development at Disney with the Gotham Group producing. Named an ABC New Voices pick for outstanding debuts of 2010, Dark Life was featured on The Today Show in July 2010 when it was selected by Al Roker for "Al's Book Club for Kids.” Dark Life has been nominated for eight state book awards and in 2011, Kat was awarded a Juvenile Literary Award by The Friends of American Writers'.

The sequel, Rip Tide, was released by Scholastic Press in August, 2011. Each book has been designated as "A Junior Library Guild Selection."

Currently, Kat is working on a YA scifi-adventure trilogy, Inhuman, acquired by Scholastic Press for publication beginning in September 2013.

  

Received as part of Waiting to Catch Fire promotional galley which also has chapters from The Darkest Path by Jeff Hirsch and The Bar Code by Suzanne Weyn.