Pre Reading
Review: This book was absolutely amazing. I loved every bit of it.
Let's start with the concept. An entity, A, wakes up each morning in a new person's body. A has no gender, race, sexual orientation, or any other common identifiers. Each morning, A wakes up within a few hours of the prior body. Each body is close to the same age as A. A is now a teenager and may have just fallen in love. This concept alone should be a reason to pick this book up!
Each chapter is a new day and thus a new body. David Levithan did an amazing job with the characters A inhabits each chapter. Most are only present for one chapter, yet they have the depth of a main character. Levithan utilizes these chapters so well, bringing up so many different teenage issues. Some of the chapters are very heartfelt. No, most of the chapters are heartfelt. Levithan did such a good job of making the reader feel like they were inhabiting a new person's head each chapter.
I could gush on about this book for many paragraphs, but it would be so much easier for you to just go purchase it and read it for yourself. That way I won't accidentally spoil something. This novel will not disappoint. I look forward to reading more novels from David Levithan. I give this novel a 5/5.
-PAUL
*I received this book as an eARC from Scholastic Press on NetGalley in exchange for a fair review*
Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Year Published: 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Synopsis: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you're his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
Why?: I'm all about creepy books, and this one sounds like it's right up my alley. I've also heard really good things about it, so I've been wanting to read it for quite some time.
Expectations: I expect an adventure story filled with mystery and action. I think Blue will turn out to be a strong heroine, even if she doesn't expect to be. And probably quite a few very creepy scenes involving ghosts and such, especially if the characters are somewhere they aren't supposed to be.
Judging a book by its cover: The cover has a raven that seems to have painted feathers and a glowing chest. While it is striking, I'm not sure that I would pick up this book based solely on the cover. I might, but it would depend on what other books were around.
--Ashley
***eARC provided by Dark Horse Comics on netgalley***
Title: Star Wars: Agent of the Empire Volume One - Iron Eclipse
Author: John Ostrander
Year Published: 2012
***Release Date: October 24, 2012***
Review: Most of the Star Wars comics I have read take place before the Original Trilogy. I really liked the Republic and Clone Wars series. This series takes place between Episodes 3 and 4! There isn't much media from this era, leaving plenty of untold stories. I am still hoping for the live-action Star Wars tv show that has been talked about for years.
The Empire is in control, but this series takes a different perspective. Instead of seeing the evils of the Empire through the Rebels' eyes, our protagonist is employed by the Empire. And his job is pretty much the James Bond of the Star Wars universe. I really enjoyed the way the writer and illustrator played with this secret agent feel. The sex appeal, gun fights, and class are all there.
As you can see from the cover, two of your favorite smugglers also make a cameo. I liked the way they were introduced into the story and look forward to other cameos as the series continues.
Johan Cross, the secret agent I've mentioned, has his own way of doing things. He also has an android with boobs named IN-GA 44. I really liked all the supporting cast, ranging from the sole alien mechanic to the rich Stark heiress. This first volume introduced a really fun vibe. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I give this first volume a 4/5.
-PAUL
Title: Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Author: Edwin A Abbott
Year Published: 1882
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Synopsis: Classic of science (and mathematical) fiction — charmingly illustrated by author — describes the journeys of A. Square and his adventures in Spaceland (three dimensions), Lineland (one dimension) and Pointland (no dimensions). A. Square also entertains thoughts of visiting a land of four dimensions — a revolutionary idea for which he is banished from Spaceland.
Why?: As a math major, I think this will be a really interesting book. I'm curious to see how a two dimensional being would perceive one dimension, three dimensions, and even four dimensions. And to see how one would go about explaining those kinds of things to people/beings/etc. who exist in more or less dimensions.
Expectations: I expect a highly theoretical book. It will probably be very difficult to read at times, and I expect to have to go back and read some passages. I'm sure parts will read like a textbook. But I also think it will be very interesting.
Judging a book by its cover: This particular cover has lines everywhere, and I assume lines will be very important to Flatlandians. I might pick up this book if I saw it on a shelf, but it depends on which of the covers the bookstore/library had in stock.
--Ashley
Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Year Published: 2011
Amazon | Goodreads
Synopsis: By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?
Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?
Review: I have been interested in this series for a while, but it hadn't made its way to the top of my reading list. When I saw it in a used bookstore for only a few dollars, I had to get it.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book. There was just enough to give the reader a good idea of the outside world's situation, while keeping the reader out of the loop with the protagonist. In this world, women die at 20 and men at 25. The first generation of modified humans are now old, so there is a large gap in the middle of the age range. The technology is interesting, including a lot of use of holograms. I am excited for the sequel, to see what else this world has.
Rhine ends up as a wife to a rich man destined to die around when she does. He also marries two other girls at the same time. At first I thought each of these sister wives were cliche, but as the story progressed their personalities really rounded out. It was similar to meeting someone and assuming their traits, only to learn more about them overtime. The reader gets to experience this with Rhine as she gets closer to her sister wives.
I enjoy YA novels where the protagonist is faking or acting. The most well known example right now would be Katniss in The Hunger Games and her confusing relationship with Peeta. I always like when the reader can compare a character's thoughts to actions. It is something that a book does so much better than a movie ever could. This book does it as well, with Rhine putting on an act for her husband and his father.
I enjoyed the minor characters as well. Gabriel and the rest of the staff reminded me of the help in Downton Abbey. Vaughn, Rhine's new father-in-law, is very creepy. Although, I am unsure of his true intentions. It will be interesting to see how his character plays out.
I am excited to read more in this series. The next book is already out and it is called Fever. I give this book a 4/5.
*I received this book as an eARC from NLA Digital Liaison Platform LLC on Netgalley in return for a fair review*
Happy release day to Alternity! In celebration, here's my review of it!
My Pre-Reading
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
I really wish that there were more books in the YA science fiction genre that took an interesting concept and use it to turn everything upside down. Alternity does just that. While Skye thinks she's just a normal teenage girl living in New York City and working for a video game company, she comes to learn that the world is so much bigger than what she thought. People, places, and things are never what they seem, and your whole life could be a total lie.
Without giving too much away, I thought Mancusi did an excellent job creating a post-apocalyptic world with believable attributes and inhabitants. Terra exists completely below the surface, and has different levels for the different classes of people. And of course those in the lower class want to rebel against the upper class. But I thought it was really interesting that they didn't really want to overthrow the government at first - they just want to be able to "Gaze." And then, after several twists and turns, the Eclipsers learn that there is so much more to their fight than they originally thought.
At first, I was not a huge fan of Skye. I mean, I'm sure it's incredibly difficult to be caught between two worlds, and to find out that you're supposedly the long lost leader of an underground rebellion. That would be a shock for anyone. But I don't really think she handles it well. Seriously, if you remember someone you trust telling you to avoid a certain person, you should probably steer clear. Also, when people freak out when you take your "asthma" medication, don't you think you'd like to find out more about it before you take it again? I definitely didn't agree with some of her decisions, but I guess they made sense all things considered.
I did think that the pacing was a little slow near the beginning. It took me a while to get into the story, but after about the halfway point I started to tear through it. I couldn't wait to find out who Skye really is, or to find out what is really happening on Terra - is it really just a dream, or is it an alternate reality? Or even a completely different world? Why are there so many similarities between Earth and Terra? And Mancusi certainly delivered answers, which was very nice.
I think anyone who enjoys YA science fiction novels would enjoy this book. Especially if you're into things like The Matrix or online video games like World of Warcraft or any other online multiplayer video games like that. Although there were things that I thought could have been done better in this book, I really enjoyed it and found it to be a fun, albeit sometimes stressful, read. I would give it a 3/5.
--Ashley
My Pre-Reading
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
"Maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there's a tomorrow. Maybe for you there's one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around it, let it slide like coins through you fingers. So much time you can waste it.
But for some of us there's only today. And the truth is, you never really know." --Lauren Oliver, Before I FallWhen I first heard about this book, I kind of pushed it to the side thinking it really wasn't my kind of book. I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance though, because it was excellent in so many ways. I did not want to put it down, and I definitely didn't want it to end.
At the beginning, I was not Sam's biggest fan. I didn't like her or her friends, but I could definitely see the "popular high school girl" stereotype that Oliver was trying to portray in Sam and her friends. The girls are stuck up, mean, and don't care about anyone other than themselves. And even then, they're not even really good friends to each other.
But then, Sam dies. And she has to relive the same day seven times. And although she's angry and bitter at first, she ends up completely redeeming herself. Even though to everyone else it may seem completely out of character, Sam will always be remembered in a good way. I wasn't looking forward to Sam's last day, but the ending was absolutely satisfying. Not enjoyable, necessarily, but satisfying.
The lessons that she learns over the course of the seven days are things that I wish every high school girl learned. I would even go as far as to say that everyone can learn a little something from Sam - whether it be a reminder of how you should treat others, or what the important things in life are, or to cherish what you have. Especially in these times when bullying and teen suicide has become such a big deal; bullies and the bullied alike would benefit from taking a look through Sam's eyes. Oliver is able to present serious themes like bullying, suicide, death, friendship, sacrifice, and consequences relating to life choices without sounding preach-y or without shoving them down the readers' throats.
If you're willing to wait out the first chapter and give this book and Sam a chance, you will not be disappointed. Before I Fall made me laugh and cry, and made me think about things that most YA books don't. I really think this could be one of those timeless YA novels that can just pass from generation to generation and still manages to inspire or affect people. This book was incredible. So, if you haven't read it yet, go pick it up ASAP. I would most definitely give this book a 5/5 and recommend it to everyone I know.
--Ashley
