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My Pre Reading
Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Year Published: 2013
Synopsis: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?
In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.
Review: These books blend so many genres and it is done so well. This book takes place in a future where the world has been divided by environmental factors. Some live inside individually contained ecosystems while the survivors struggle to live in the wild. These sci-fi and fantasy elements are brought together seamlessly with even and addition of certain people that have super senses.
This book has a lot of characters. I found it difficult in the beginning to follow and remember all of them, but by the end so many of the background characters developed. Some of them I liked and wanted to learn about even more than some of the main characters. I always love books that do this. Roar and Cinder were two off my favorite side characters.
The relationship between Perry and Aria is very "middle book", but it develops very naturally.
One of the most interesting parts of the first book, I thought, was The Realms. The Realms are a virtual world that can be accessed via an eye piece. I liked how it was used in this sequel.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to the sequel and I am hoping for a little sea travel. I give this second book in the trilogy a 4/5.
-PAUL
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Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Year Published: 2013
Synopsis: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?
In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.
Why?: I really liked the first book, Through the Ever Night. It is a futuristic dystopian novel, but it also has the feel of a fantasy adventure. I love this combination. Rossi pulled it off really well. The world created is so rich and vast. I want to explore it more.
Expectations: I expect Rossi to do another excellent job at merging sci-fi and fantasy into an amazing adventure story. I am looking forward to the relationship between Aria and Perry to grow and change. I also want to learn more about the many side characters.
Judging a book by its cover: The cover is very similar to Under the Never Sky's, except this time there's a guy instead of a girl.
-PAUL
***I received an ecopy of this book from Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
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Title: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Defenders of the Lost Temple
Author: Justin Aclin
Illustrator: Ben Bates
Year Published: 2013
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Synopsis: On a mission with a Jedi general, one clone trooper contemplates his own worth as a copy of a great Mandalorian warrior. He has never been the best soldier, and as he learns about the Jedi and the power of the Force, he begins to feel that perhaps what has been setting him apart from the other clones is his own connection to the Force. As the investigation progresses through a booby-trapped, abandoned Jedi Temple, this one clone will discover who he is and also see where he came from when the Mandalorian Death Watch suddenly appears.
Review: Unfortunately, this graphic novel did not live up to my standard of Star Wars comics. Maybe it is just for a younger audience than the Star Wars graphic novels I usually read. The characters are unknowns and they don't feel very Star Warsy to me. One clone thinks he might be force sensitive and it plays out in an unusual way. The artwork was reminiscent of the current Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, but more colorful and cartoony.
The story is very Indiana Jones, in that they are searching though a temple for a lost artifact. Some of the booby traps just didn't feel like Star Wars to me.
Although this may be a good graphic novel for a younger audience interested in all things Star Wars, I would recommend you find another Star Wars comic. I give this novel a 2.5/5.
-PAUL
Ashley's Review
My Scarlet Review
READ IT NOW: TOR.COM
Title: The Queen's Army (Lunar Chronicles 1.5)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2013
Synopsis: It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.
Review: I read this short story after Scarlet. I was already familiar with the characters introduced here. I think this short story adds to the characters of Ze'ev and Ran whether you have read Scarlet yet or not. Seeing Ze'ev's perspective adds to his actions throughout Scarlet.
It's always great to get a behind-the-scenes kind of story from a book series you love. This short story does not disappoint. I hope Meyer decided to write more!
I liked that we got to see the moon. I'm guessing we will get a better look at it in Cress or Winter, though. I like seeing things from the Lunar perspective.
I give this short story and recommend it to anyone who has already read Cinder and is planning on or has already read Scarlet. I give it a 5/5.
-PAUL
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Title: Roar and Liv
Author: Veronica Rossi
Year Published: 2012
Synopsis: Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.
After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union.
Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital—and more brutal—than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.
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When I read Under the Never Sky, I was really fascinated by Roar and his experiences with the girl he loves, Liv. While we see quite a bit of Roar though, we never really see Liv, and we just hear about her from Perry and Roar. This story really helps to get a good understand of Liv, which was really nice. Plus, we get to learn more about the world and how hard it is to survive in a place where Aether can destroy everything you know and love in a single heart beat. Rossi's world building in Under the Never Sky was absolutely fantastic, and it just keeps getting better.
I really love when authors write the short stories about minor characters, because you really get to see how they feel about the main characters and the situations and everything, and Rossi did an excellent job with introducing and developing Perry's friends and family. For example, although Vale is still a minor character in this story, I feel like I know him better and kind of understand why he did what he did. I still don't like him, but that's besides the point.
As I was awaiting Through the Ever Night, I saw in several places that reading Roar and Liv before Through the Ever Night was recommended. So I figured that I might as well give it a shot. And man, were all those people right. This story really gave depth to Roar and Liv, and it explains so much about why they are how they are in Through the Ever Night. I hope we get to see more short stories set in this world! 5/5, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys this series!
--Ashley
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My Review of VOLUME ONE
Title: Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths, Volume 2
Authors: Brian Froud, Joshua Dysart, Alex Sheikman, and Lizzy John
Year Published: 2013
Synopsis: Part two of a three-part graphic novel prequel series delving into the origins of the Skeksis, Mystics, Gelflings, the world of Thra and the Dark Crystal itself. Spanning a time period from thousands of years ago to right up to the start of the original film, this graphic novel epic will tell the definitive origin of Dark Crystal, under the supervision of The Jim Henson Company and The Dark Crystal concept designer Brian Froud.
In this volume, readers will see the story behind the cracking of the crystal.
Review: This is the second volume in the three part graphic novel trilogy of Creation Myths set in the world of The dark Crystal. I really enjoyed the first one and this one matched my interest. There are more connections to the original movie in this one. The Skeksis and Mystics were always so cool in the movie and now more information on their origin is revealed.
This graphic novel continues this trilogy very nicely. If you have not read the first one and you are a Jim Henson fan, go get it now! I give this volume a 4/5.
-PAUL
My Pre-Reading
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I'm not usually a fan of romance novels, and I was really hoping that this one be more magic and mystery and pending apocalypse than romance. Sadly, I was mistaken. Although as far as romances go, at least this one was manageable!
I think I was a little disappointed in this book because it was so much romance. Girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, girl and boy can't be together, etc. Kaliel is kind of annoying, and I really didn't connect with her on any level. She comes across as worthless unless Krishani is around, and it was disappointing that she had no other character development until the last couple of chapters. Her character has so much potential! I mean, she's one of nine apocalyptic weapons for crying out loud.
Which was another gripe I had about this book. I still have no idea what the Flames are, or why they're being hunted, or how they can be used apocalyptic weapons. At least I know what the Ferryman does... but at the same time, I have no idea why Krishani is chosen to be the Ferryman. Is he born into that responsibility? Is he randomly chosen? A lot of the world building/background is really missing from this book, and that made me very sad.
For being a romance novel though, this book did at least keep my attention. I wanted to finish it to find out if Kaliel and Krishani ended up together. And I also wanted to find out more about the Flames and the Ferryman, but you already know my thoughts on that subject. The romance was a little forced (I'm not a huge fan of "love at first sight" plot lines), but I think it ended up working out in the end. Well... as much as their story could work out. I hope there's more to it though, because that ending was definitely a tear-jerker. I am glad she went with the ending she did instead of the alternate one though, because the alternate ending was just terrible.
I'm not really sure how there will be a sequel to this book, or even a whole series, but I want the sequel to be better. I want Paille to delve deeper into the fantasy side of this world and to stay away from the romance. I want to know more about the Flames and the Ferryman and what happened to Kaliel, and how Krishani will deal with his newfound career! Oh, and more about the world. Please give us more world-building!
Since most of my issues with this book were because it was a romance, and I didn't really dislike it except for that, I would rate this book as a 3/5. People who enjoy the romance genre and want a little bit of magic and such thrown in would probably like this book. But don't go into it thinking it's going to be fantasy with a side of romance - you'll be sorely disappointed. I would suggest giving it a try anyway though, because you never know. Maybe you'll fall in love with Kaliel and Krishani and their world!
--Ashley
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Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2013
Synopsis: The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Why?: Cinder was my favorite book of 2012, so I've been anxiously awaiting this sequel since last January. I love fairytale retellings, and Marissa Meyer did such a good job with her retelling and re-imagining of Cinderella that I can't wait to find out how she tells Little Red Riding Hood's story. Plus, I'm really curious as to how Scarlet and Cinder end up together.
Expectations: I expect and epic sci-fi/fantasy retelling of another classic fairy tale. Lots of mystery, adventure, and a little bit of romance thrown in. Plus, there's the bit about Cinder being the most wanted fugitive in the entire Commonwealth, so I'm expecting a huge manhunt and a pretty angry Lunar Queen. Cinder set my expectations super high though, so I'm really hoping Scarlet lives up to them.
Judging a book by its cover: This cover looks a little more cartoon-y than the cover for Cinder, but I still love it. I would most likely pick this up in a bookstore or library, especially because I'm drawn to anything that looks like it might be based on a classic fairy tale.
--Ashley
Read it free here: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/11/the-queens-army
Title: The Queen's Army
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2012
Synopsis: It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen’s army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen -- and to himself -- that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.
I'm so glad that I read this before I read Scarlet. It was really nice to find out about some of the characters in Scarlet before they make an appearance, and to find out why they act the way they do. Plus, it's also a little bit of a continuation from Cinder - we know Levena is up to something and is creating an army of genetically modified soldiers, but we have no idea why or what they are.
I really loved seeing the way Ze'ev interacted with his "pack" and how he develops over the course of the story. He's smarter than he pretends to be, and a better fighter than he lets on, but he doesn't want to be the Alpha. I think it's fairly important to learn about Z before we see him in Scarlet, because it certainly helps explain a little bit about his mentally and why he does the things he does.
Marissa Meyers' short stories do not disappoint, and I would strongly recommend this to fans of her Lunar Chronicles series. Especially if you haven't read Scarlet yet! And even if you have, I think this is still an excellent read and will really open your eyes a little bit more. 5/5, and I hope there are more short stories to go along with Cress and Winter!
--Ashley
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Title: Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths, Volume 1
Authors: Brian Froud, Brian Holguin, Alex Sheikman, and Lizzy John
Year Published: 2012
Synopsis: Part one of a three-part graphic novel series delving into the origins of the Skeksis, Mystics, Gelflings, the world of Thra and the Dark Crystal itself. Spanning a time period from thousands of years ago to right up to the start of the original film, this graphic novel epic will tell the definitive origin of Dark Crystal, under the supervision of The Jim Henson Company and The Dark Crystal concept designer Brian Froud.
Review: One of my favorite movies as a child was The Dark Crystal. I loved the fantasy of it. The puppetry was done beautifully and the the world created was so amazing. Not only that, but the story was so compelling. The polars of good and evil were shown as being two sides of the same being. The mythology of the movie was just so interesting.
These graphic novels are all about the mythology of the world seen in The Dark Crystal. The first volume starts with a creation myth and continues from there. Characters and creatures from the movie make appearances, revealing more of their true identities. Aughra was always a mystery in the film and her story is explained within this volume.
The stories are told by a traveler gathered around a campfire at night. The first volume encompasses the stories he told the first night, before the suns rose again. Some of the myths are delivered in visual comic book form, while others are short two-page stories. I read the whole volume in one sitting, but I imagine it would be a nice read each night before bed.
I give this graphic novel a 4/5. I highly recommend it to any fan of The Dark Crystal. This would make a perfect gift for any Jim Henson enthusiast. I am excited to read the second volume.
-PAUL
***I received an ecopy of this book from Diamond Book Distributors via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
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Title: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Hive
Author: Brannon Braga
Year Published: 2013
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Synopsis: In the distant future the entire galaxy has been completely assimilated by Borg and its king... Locutus! The only hope lies in the past, in the hands of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise - as Picard faces off against the Borg collective in one final, terrifying, and definitive encounter!
Review: I was only provided with the first 3 issues of this comic series, so bear this in mind as I continue my review.
This comic just did not pull me in. I enjoyed the references to the Star Trek Expanded Universe, such as Riker on the Titan with Tuvok. I enjoyed some characters from the television series reappearing. But, there was nothing new with the story. The Borg has been so overplayed. The aliens in this comic are very similar to Species 8472 from Star Trek: Voyager. I didn't really like how they magically brought Data back. Too much was happening that didn't make sense to me.
I do realize I didn't get to the end of this comic and I'm sure the ending will be interesting as all the pieces of the story come together, but I didn't enjoy it enough to go out and purchase the fourth volume immediately. Maybe if I notice it at the comic book store.
I will give what I read of this graphic novel a 2.5/5.
-PAUL
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Title: The Walking Dead: Compendium 1
Author: Robert Kirkman
Year Published: 2009
Synopsis: In a world ruled by the dead, we are finally forced to finally start living. With The Walking Dead #1-48, this compendium features more than one thousand pages chronicling the start of Robert Kirkman's Eisner Award-winning story of zombie horror, from Rick Grimes waking up alone in a hospital, his band of survivors seeking refuge on an isolated farm and the controversial introduction of Woodbury despot, The Governor.
Why?: I've been watching the TV show based on the comics, and it's one of the most well done dramas on television right now. So, I wanted to see where it all started. I know the comics are different from the show, as it is with all shows and movies based on books, but I think both will be excellent in their own way.
Expectations: I expect zombies! And an excellent plot that's similar to the show but also different, with some characters that didn't quite make it to the show. Also, a lot of controversy, mystery, and guns.
Judging a book by its cover: People, who I assume are the main characters, are along the top, while zombie versions of them line the bottom. I would most likely pick this up in a bookstore or a library, because who doesn't love zombies?
--Ashley
Title: As They Slip Away
Author: Beth Revis
Published: 2013
Synopsis: Taking place on the spaceship Godspeed before Amy Martin wakes up and Elder takes leadership, this novella describes life at the Hospital during Eldest's reign. Focusing primarily on background characters, readers will see fan-favorite characters Harley, Orion, Victria, and more.
Selene is a singer on a spaceship that only values people who can provide important skills that enhance survival. As her friends--fellow "loons" in the Hospital--start to join apprenticeships to turn their skills into valuable labor, Selene is sent with a handful of other students to learn about the importance of art from the Recorder, Orion. The assignment pairs her with a young sculptor, Luthor, and their dangerous romance proves just how terrifying living trapped on a spaceship under the rule of a heartless dictator could be.
This tragic tale explores the background of a previously unknown character, linking the history of the ship and its residents to Amy and Elder, giving depth to the world of Godspeed.
Available for free here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/119788927/As-They-Slip-Away
I love when authors are able to write short stories as companions to their series. Especially when it uses known characters to introduce new ones and gives more depth to minor characters. Revis does an exceptional job of introducing a new character, Selene, and growing the world of the Across the Universe series without giving away too much. Plus, we get to see Kayleigh before she dies, which is really cool. I've always thought she would have been an interesting character in life, and I really enjoyed seeing her and Harley interacting.
Selene might be one of my favorite characters in the series, and I was so sad that she isn't in any of the other books. She's different from the rest of the people on the Godspeed in that she's artistic, but she's also different from the other "loons" in the Hospital. Whereas her friends have useful talents, like painting and sculpting, all Selene can do is sing. I love when music is incorporated into stories, and it's done so well here.
I also loved that we got to see more of the minor characters. Although most of them help Amy and Elder in their quest to solve the mysteries aboard the Godspeed, it's so hard to get to know them through their short interactions. But now, after reading this, it's so much easier to imagine what they all would have been like and why they are all so willing to help Elder and Amy. Plus, it answers some of the minor mysteries and questions surrounding the Hospital that I had completely forgotten I had.
I almost wish that this had been a whole prequel novel instead of a novella, but Selene's story is so beautifully told in such a limited space that I really can't complain. I would definitely recommend this to fans of the Across the Universe series. A fantastic novella! 5/5. Plus, it's free!
--Ashley
My Pre-Reading
The Maze Runner series is probably one of my favorite dystopian YA series out there. Everything about it was just fantastic, and I was so excited to find out that Dashner had written a prequel novel for the series. I had so many questions about the world, and the Flare, and WICKED that were still unanswered by the end of The Death Cure, and I was hoping that The Kill Order would be able to answer most if not all of them.
I really was no disappointed. Although The Kill Order has a completely new cast of characters, and the world is a little different (people are still trying to figure out what in the world has happened rather than trying to figure out how to cure it or how to live with it), but it still managed to give insight into the world of The Maze Runner. The characters are still just as interesting, and my heart still broke for them whenever something didn't go their way or something went wrong within their little group.
I really enjoyed that the story was presented almost like a flashback - you start out meeting Thomas, and you end with Thomas and Teresa, but neither Thomas nor Teresa are anywhere to be found within the bulk of the story. This time, we're focused on Mark and Trina and Deedee and all of their friends, in their attempt to find out what is happening with this disease is that's been shot down on them and why anyone would want to infect other people with it.
Although there were times when I didn't really like Mark (the story pretty much follows him and his thoughts), I thought it was really interesting the way we were able to see into his dreams/memories of when the sun flares first destroyed the Earth, and to take this journey with him to locate his friends and try to save them. Dashner did an excellent job portraying Mark's emotions, as well as creating dynamic, round supporting characters.
The plot was fast-paced and very much like that in the other Maze Runner books, so it was nice to have that consistency even though we had to become adjusted to characters we had never seen before. Most of my questions were answered over the course of the book, although some were still left open-ended and The Kill Order raised even more. But it was still a very satisfying read.
I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of the Maze Runner trilogy, as well as to fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and other dystopian YA series. 4/5 to The Kill Order, and I hope you go pick up this series soon if you haven't already!
--Ashley
