Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Enders (Starters #2)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2014

My Enders (#2) Pre-Reading
My Starters (#1) Review
My Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Paul's Enders (#2) Review
Paul's Enders (#2) Pre-Reading
Paul's Starters (#1) Review
Paul's Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Someone is after Starters like Callie and Michael—teens with chips in their brains. They want to experiment on anyone left over from Prime Destinations—Starters who can be controlled and manipulated. With the body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders.

But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save her life—but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too . . . and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body?

No one is ever who they appear to be, not even the Old Man. Determined to find out who he really is and grasping at the hope of a normal life for herself and her younger brother, Callie is ready to fight for the truth. Even if it kills her.

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Review: I really enjoyed Starters. The world is really interesting, the characters were well-developed and relateable, and the story was excellent. And even though Starters was great, I think I enjoyed Enders even more! 

Enders was definitely darker and more complicated than Starters was. There are so many secrets that are revealed, and some of them are secrets within secrets. I saw a few things coming, but one of the main reveals took me by surprise! I was so willing to accept things the way they were originally explained that I didn't even think that things might be way more complicated than the simple solution. Enders held me complete attention and I found myself not being able to put it down because I just HAD to know what was going to happen next! I did think a few things were very convenient and probably a little far-fetched, but it didn't bother me too much since it helped move the plot along.

There are some old favorites in this book, although we don't really see as much of them as I would have liked. There's still so much about Michael that I don't know and want to know, since he's kind of tossed in the background again. I mean, he does have his moments, but this is definitely Callie's series. The new characters were really interesting too though, and most of them were actually very well developed. Hyden was my favorite, mostly because I just could not figure him out. He's so sketchy but seems to genuinely care about the Starters and Callie... I still am not sure if I should trust him or not. 

Although I do have some minor questions left, I think this series ended very nicely. Pretty much all of the loose ends are tied up, but there's still some work left to do. Callie still has to figure out relationships of all kinds - familial, friendships, and romantic interests - but she's still got some growing up to do, so that's understandable. I'm very glad that this was only a duology, because I think anything longer would have been too much and anything shorter would not have been enough. 

 I would definitely recommend Enders to anyone who has read Starters. I would also recommend the series to anyone looking for something dystopian with a little sci-fi thrown in. I really think fans of Divergent and The Maze Runner would like this series. I even think the younger crowd would enjoy this series; there's not too much violence or anything, and there are no inappropriate situations. Having said that though, I still think it's enjoyable for the older YA fans as well. A 4/5!


--Ashley

Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Enders (Starters #2)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2014

My Starters (#1) Review
My Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Paul's Enders (#2) Review
Paul's Enders (#2) Pre-Reading
Paul's Starters (#1) Review
Paul's Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Someone is after Starters like Callie and Michael—teens with chips in their brains. They want to experiment on anyone left over from Prime Destinations—Starters who can be controlled and manipulated. With the body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. 

But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save her life—but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too . . . and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body?

No one is ever who they appear to be, not even the Old Man. Determined to find out who he really is and grasping at the hope of a normal life for herself and her younger brother, Callie is ready to fight for the truth. Even if it kills her.

Why?: I enjoyed Starters, and I want to know how Callie's story ends! Does she defeat the Old Man? Do we ever get to find out who he is? I have so many unanswered questions, and I'm hoping that Enders will answer all of them (or at least the majority of them!).

Expectations: I expect this book to be much faster paced than Starters, especially since Callie is on the run for her life. I also expect it to be more answers than questions, since this is the conclusion to the series. Maybe more science-y, since Callie has to find out who is real and who isn't and she still has to understand the chip? 

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is really similar to the new cover for Starters, so I like that. I think the girl on the cover of YA books is kind of overdone, but I also think that the colors on this one make it stand out from the rest. The orange and pink and yellow are a different color scheme than most YA books have, so that's nice. I'd probably pick it up just because of the bold color choices, but I don't think it's very special past that.


--Ashley

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Starters (Starters #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2012

My Starters Pre-Reading

Paul's Enders Review

Paul's Enders Pre-Reading

Paul's Starters Review

Paul's Starters Pre-Reading

Synopsis: In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old.

With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as Enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life ... until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan....

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Review: Going into this book, I was really looking forward to something like Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. I really liked the show, and Starters sounded like a very close counterpart to it. And you know what? It was pretty close. People selling their bodies so that they can be used as vessels for other personae/people. A malfunctioning "doll." A heroine who tries to save the day while trying to avoid an evil organization. But luckily, this book was different enough from the show that it seemed like a whole new story! 

In Callie's world,  there are only young children & teenagers, and the elderly. Everyone else was killed during the Spore wars. I can't imagine living in a place where kids are forced to fend for themselves but aren't allowed to work. Or to do much more than rot away in prisons simply because they are "unclaimed." It sounds like such an awful world, and I was really impressed with how well it was constructed. We aren't flooded with details, and we're shown more than we're told.  I felt like the book started a little slow pacing-wise, but the world building is done very well, and I was simultaneously pleasantly surprised and terrified that this future doesn't sound like something that's too far off.

It seems like strong female characters are a common trope in YA dystopian novels, but Callie has so many other attributes that make her stand out from your typical YA heroine. She tries to be strong, but she's scared - for herself, for her brother, for her friends, for her fellow teens. She wants to save the world, but she doesn't know how. She doesn't know who to trust, but she sometimes puts her trust in the wrong person/people. Callie is such a complex character, and I totally felt for her every time something went wrong and celebrated with her when her plans went as expected. 

I also thought that the minor characters were very well developed. All of them had their own personalities and had more than one side to them. They were dynamic and ever changing. I thought the relationship with Blake started a little quickly, but then progressed at a more reasonable rate. I enjoyed reading about the time they spent together, although I almost wish Callie was a little more conflicted over which boy to pick. I want to know more about Michael and about their history together. I'm hoping for more of that in Enders! 

If you enjoyed books like Divergent or The Hunger Games, I think this would be a good read for you. I also think fans of Dollhouse would enjoy this book, although it is different and stands on its own. I can't wait to read Enders next and see how Callie's story plays out! 4/5.

--Ashley

Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Enders (Starters #2)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2014

Paul's Starters PRE-READING
Paul's Starters REVIEW

Paul's Enders PRE-READING

Synopsis: With the Prime Destinations body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save Callie's life - but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too ...and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body? This is the thrilling sequel to "Starters".

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Review: This second book in a sci-fi dystopian YA series continues with another fun, easy read. Although still a simple story with big reveals towards the end, I enjoyed this book more than Starters.

I think many readers, especially younger readers, will enjoy this series, but I didn't find myself invested in these characters. There are many convenient occurrences, but some have reasons later explained. Maybe some of the things I found too convenient will be revealed later in the series. I also wanted more consequences for certain characters' actions.

The romance in this series is awkward to me. I think it's supposed to be though, considering the circumstances of how they met.

Although there were many surprises and reveals in this book, I never really felt the chills of an amazing reveal.

I wasn't expecting this review to sound so negative. I did really enjoy this book, but it just wasn't as epic as I wanted it to be. I do recommend this book to younger readers. This series is one of those series that might be labeled as YA, but it could definitely pass as a Middle Grade. I give this book a 3.5/5.

--PAUL

Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price - Paul's PRE-READING

*I received this book as an eARC from on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Enders (Starters #2)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2014

Synopsis: With the Prime Destinations body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save Callie's life - but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too ...and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body? This is the thrilling sequel to "Starters".

Why?: I enjoyed Starters. I didn't get that emotionally invested in it, but I liked the story and the world is really interesting.

Expectations:  It seems like this book is going to focus on people getting into Callie's head. I'm excited to see more of this postwar country. I'm still hoping for a few people we think are dead to be alive.

Judging a book by its cover: I don't understand this cover. It's just a woman's face.

--PAUL

Starters by Lissa Price - Paul's REVIEW

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Starters
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2012

Paul's PRE-READING

Synopsis: Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

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Review: This is a fun dystopian YA book, following the trend of recent years. An evil organization with a mysterious leader. An unusual government situation. A strong heroine. There are many ideas that are becoming cliche, but they are done different enough in this book. 

The country contains only Starters, the young mostly under 18, and Enders, the elderly some of which are over 150. Callie is one of these unclaimed Starters. I liked the way these two social groups are portrayed. I was confused as to why the Enders of the future have the same interests as the elderly now. Why would they like cribbage and crochet? Wouldn't they have grown up with technology? I don't think it's ever specifically said what the year is, but that was one thing that irked me. 

Although the story seems simple enough, there are many things that turn out to be more complex. A lot is revealed in the last few chapters. 

The technology in this book reminds me of Joss Whedon's tv series Dollhouse. There are many similar issues dealt with as the end of that series, but this book has a younger audience. This is just a personal qualm, but I didn't like the way the author used the word geek. 

If you can't get enough of sci-fi dystopian YA, you should pick this one up as well. It is a fun, easy read. I give this book a 3/5. I'm excited to read the sequel.

--PAUL

Starters by Lissa Price - Paul's PRE-READING

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Starters
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

Why?: Before this book was even released, I won some merch for this book. The cover has now changed, but I am finally reading it! And just in time for the sequel!

Expectations:  I'm expecting a fun sci-fi dystopian YA. It seems like there's going to be some really interesting technology in this book.

Judging a book by its cover: I like how eerie the original cover is for this book. The face is not quite human and the background has computer chips. The new cover just has a woman's face on it. It doesn't seem that special. 

--PAUL

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Starters (Starters #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old.

With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as Enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life ... until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan....

Why?: This book sounds kind of like Dollhouse, one of those brilliant Joss Whedon shows that got cancelled after only two seasons. I'm interested in how Lissa tackles the concept, and in the world that she creates in this book. It seems like there will be a lot of sci-fi, and I'm always looking for the next great sci-fi book. 

Expectations: I've heard pretty excellent things about this book, so my expectations are pretty high. I've also watched all of the Dollhouse episodes, so I've got a feeling I'm going to have to try not to compare the two and just appreciate this book on its own.

Judging a book by its cover: I love the colors on this cover, but it's just a very stereotypical cover for a YA book with a female protagonist. I would probably pick it up based on the colors alone, but it's not really anything incredibly unique that would catch my eye because of its uniqueness. 


--Ashley