Review Of: A Thousand Pieces Of You

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

Recommended For:

People who like their romance with a side of sci-fi and adventure.

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I must admit I didn't start out liking A Thousand Pieces Of You.   In fact, I started it several months ago only to put it back on the shelf.  I'm so glad I gave it another chance, it was well worth it.  

I feel like I should point out the fact that I don't like sci-fi....I mean cut and dry sci-fi.  It bores me. So what bothered others about this book didn't bother me.  Some readers were expecting more sci-fi and scientific explanations.  Whereas I was looking for a romance with a sci-fi feel.  I don't need explanations on how things work, if the author tells me the characters can fly then I believe them and I don't ask why or how.

The whole idea of dimensional travel is unique to me, so much so that I had to remind myself that they weren't just traveling back in forth in time but different realities.  At the same time it was relatively easy to follow along with so I didn't have to spend a whole lot of time thinking about it. 

It is my duty to warn you that there is a love triangle...of sorts...you'll see what I mean. However none of the love is instant, the characters have grown up, in a way, with each other so they have plenty of background to fall on.

While there were plenty of twists and turns that I had no idea were coming there was one fact that I guessed from the beginning and I'm so glad I was right!  Nonetheless it was a nerve wracking journey to the end, and the end was just the beginning!

Review: Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

STITCHING SNOW

Author: R.C. Lewis

Publication Date: 10/04/2014

Audience: YA

Genre: Retelling, Science Fiction

Pivot Point by Kasie West

PIVOT POINT PIVOT POINT #1 Author: Kasie West (LOVE her!) Publication Date: 02/12/2013 Audience: Young Adult Genre: Science Fiction, Romance  

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

  Pictures and Summary from Goodreads     REVIEW  

Okay Kasie West is officially on the "I need every book ever written by this person" list. This is my second time reading one of West's books and each one was full of great feels and heart racing moments. I'm actually disappointed in myself over how long it took me to pick this book up and read it! I think the reason I was so stand off-ish was because I couldn't comprehend how West would be able to weave this story of alternate realities without losing my focus. I shouldn't have worried. West eff...more Okay Kasie West is officially on the "I need every book ever written by this person" list. This is my second time reading one of West's books and each one was full of great feels and heart racing moments. I'm actually disappointed in myself over how long it took me to pick this book up and read it! I think the reason I was so stand off-ish was because I couldn't comprehend how West would be able to weave this story of alternate realities without losing my focus. I shouldn't have worried. West effortlessly switches the two realities every chapter, this actually ups the suspense level in my opinion. It was amazingly simple to follow and I became instantly attached to both worlds, so much so I feared how it was all going to work out. The writing is perfectly paced and it only took me sitting down to read it twice before I finished it, I couldn't stand to put it down. When the ending came about I was shocked at how it turned out, I really didn't see it coming. Now I am dying for the sequel. I highly recommend this book! ~ Goodreads ~

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

THE HERE AND NOW Author: Ann Brashares Publication Date: 04/08/2014 Audience: Young Adult Genre: Science Fiction

 

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

    Picture and Summary from Goodreads     REVIEW  

Ok, so this book!? Wow! The whole thing seemed so realistic (okay obviously time travel doesn't seem realistic but maybe someday?). The way the world fell apart seems very similar to the road we are heading down so that really upped my anxiety level. Also, mosquitos...that's all I'm sayin!

Aside from that The Here and Now was a quick paced, suspenseful read. It starts off with a prologue from the POV of Ethan but the rest of the book is told from Prenna's view. I've heard some describe the romance to be a touch of insta-love but I felt like it wasn't. The characters have had a couple of years to grow together that we don't witness so I feel like the relationship developed slowly but came to a head while we were reading. I really loved the relationship between Ethan and Prenna, I liked that they didn't rely on each other to do anything but that together they seemed to be stronger. There wasn't a whole lot of secondary character development but I'm okay with that because in my opinion the story didn't require it. While some of the story reads like any other dystopia-ish book (people in charge aren't necessarily looking out for the good of everyone) it still had its way of keeping me fully committed and interested.

The ending killed me! I read somewhere that this is a stand alone but  I'm really hoping that isn't the case! Because while I loved the book the ending has left me feeling empty and needing more answers!

   

 

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Nil by Lynn Matson

NIL Author: Lynn Matson Publication Date: 03/04/2014 Audience: Young Adult Genre: Science Fiction

 

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.

  Picture and Summary from Goodreads     REVIEW

 

Oh my goodness!! This book!!! What a ride! The suspense, the mystery, the romance...I just couldn't get enough. From the get go you are caught up in the question "What is NIL?" and you feel like you're in a whirlwind until the very end.

The writing was very well done, I could feel the sun on my skin through the author's descriptions and the characters brought the book to life. I became invested in their outcomes and found myself cheering them on.

If I am disappointed at all it is because I'm left wondering what happens to the rest of the cast but since this is mainly Charley and Thad's story I knew to expect an open/closed ending. The story is told from both the POV's of Thad and Charley but it was soo well done that I actually enjoyed them, which is a big thing for me to say!!

 

 

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer

CINDER THE LUNAR CHRONICLES #1 Author: Marissa Meyer Publication Date: 01/03/2012 Audience: Young Adult Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia  

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

  Picture and Summary from Goodreads       REVIEW  

A lot of people are going to hate me for this but remember it is just my opinion, just because something didn't work for me doesn't mean it isn't good.

 

I feel like I missed something. The reviews for this book were sooo good that I knew I would just love it. Having now finished it I'm left wondering what the big deal was.  I was expecting some kind of wow factor but it really is just a cinderella story with a cyborg twist.  Maybe I'm not into the cyborg part of it and that's why I wasn't blown away?  I think it also had to do with my being detached from the characters. I hate bouncing around between different POVs, maybe I have character ADD.  The story itself was good and had obviously a unique twist to it and I really did like Cinders character, but overall the story just fell flat for me.

 

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The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

THE DARKEST MINDS The Darkest Minds #1 Author: Alexandra Bracken Publication Date: 12/18/2012 Audience: Young Adult Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian  

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

  Picture and Summary from Goodreads       REVIEW

 

So this book was all sorts of awesome! From page one I was sucked into the mystery behind the whole Psi organization and rehabilitation camps. The idea of kids either dying at the age of ten or mutating with abilities is crazy!

I really loved Ruby as a MC, while she has the power inside of her to take a lot of people down yet she hesitates to accept it as a part of her, afraid that it will make her into a monster. I'm pretty pleased with how Ruby grows over the timespan of the book. She becomes stronger and more sure of herself But she still has a long way to go. I seriously love the little group that Ruby, Chubs, Liam, and Zum make. They are perfect for each other and I really grew attached to them as a whole, especially as we learn more about their pasts. And can I just say that I am SO Team Liam! He is just the nicest guy and the most perfect fit for Ruby!

The whole book was one twist after another after exciting event after gut wrenching suspense. But the end! Ugh the end! It has me left dying to know what is going to happen, I seriously can't take it! I really thank the author for leaving me a tiny sliver of hope though!

The Darkest Minds is an excellent dystopian set in a realistic future world. It was a thrill ride that I didn't dare step off of until the end. I highly recommend!

 

 

 

 

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The Bane by Keary Taylor

THE BANE

EDEN #1

Author: Keary Taylor

Publication Date: 03/06/2011

Publisher: Keary Taylor Books

Audience: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia

 

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

 

Picture and Summary from Goodreads

 

 

REVIEW

Oh my goodness this book!  I was so confused when searching for this book on Goodreads because it's actually under the name "Eden" evidently it's been revamped into a series since everyone loved it.  I don't know if that means the author wrote more or if it was originally longer and she just split it up.  Also I love the cover of this edition better, very badass!

 

The MC, Eve, is so badass and tough and all "I can take care of myself", I really love a strong female lead.  The only problem I had with her was her confusion over who she loved and really the only reason it bugged me was because I was sure she would choose the wrong one!  I also loved the idea behind the story.  That in our quest for immortality humans built something that ended up taking us over and destroying our world.  This is actually a real fear of mine or really any dystopian setting.  I need to stop reading dystopians...or start doomsday prepping.  The story is told from Eve's POV so we follow her along as she struggles to keep the small community of people who she considers family alive.  Not long after the start of the book three new people stumble upon Eden (the name of the community) one of them being West who has his own secrets, one of which will make Eve rethink her entire being. 

 

The book is full of action, never feeling dull or slow and as I've already stated the romantic tension of "whose she going to choose" really had me turning the pages.  Overall I feel this book was good both for it's action and for it's romance though I feel that it's a little on the heavier side of Romance but I'm okay with that.  I'm pretty excited to pick up the next book!

 

 

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THE AUTHOR

 

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of THE EDEN TRILOGY, the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY.

 

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Impostor by Susanne Winnacker

IMPOSTOR
VARIANTS #1

Author: Susanne Winnacker

Publication Date: 05/28/2013

Publisher: Razorbill

Audience: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller

 

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

 

Picture and Summary from Goodreads

 

**I received this as an eARC through Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  In no way does that effect the thoughts and opinions expressed here.  I did not get reimbursed in any way for writing this review.**

 

REVIEW

 

We have another winner folks!  I could not stop reading this book I just had to keep going till I knew what would happen!  I also love how the cover totally reflects the book! Win!

Tessa is the MC, she is a variant which is someone who has some sort of evolved power, her ability is to turn into anyone she wants.  Her body captures DNA from the people she touches and holds onto it until she needs it.  She lives in the FEA compound where she has been working and training for the past two years to become a super spy.  The book revolves around her going on her first real mission in which she becomes Madison (who has been murdered) to hunt down a possible variant serial killer.

This book captured me from page one.  I instantly forged a connection with Tessa whose own parents didn't want her after finding out about her variance.  She fills that hole with Alec and Holly along with a handful of other characters who make up her circle of friends. Tessa's BFF Holly makes for a great partner in crime but I was disappointed that she didn't have a bigger part in the book but it's understandable since Tessa doesn't spend much time at the compound.  Hopefully in the next one we can see more interactions between Tessa and her FEA friends.  The people Tessa meets while she is impersonating Madison make her wish she were just a normal girl, you can feel her longing for a family to love her and I found myself wishing she could be Madison forever.

Alec is her best guy friend but it's obvious right away that she has more than just friendly feelings for him.  Their relationship is dripping with sexual tension which is only made worse by the fact that for some reason their relationship seems like it is forbidden.  There is some secret there that I still haven't figured out.  Now I am all Team Alec but Devon (Madison's Twin Brother) could quickly become more than just a runner up if Alec doesn't change his tune.

By the final chapters I had no idea who the killer was going to be and how we found out was an intense situation.  The final wrap up of the book was well done, while it didn't leave me recovering from a cliff hanger, it gave me just enough info to be able to highly anticipate the next book!  Seriously! When does the next one come out?!

Bottom Line:  Impostor is a thrill ride filled with excitement, suspense, and emotional tension.  It keeps you guessing until the end and leaves you wanting more!

 

 

 

~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~

 

 

THE AUTHOR

 

Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She lives with her husband, a dog and three bunnies in Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals.

When she isn't writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen, experimenting with new vegan dishes.

Her YA thriller IMPOSTOR will be published on May 28, 2013. It has been optioned for TV by Warner Brothers!

 

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The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard

THE ALMOST GIRL

Author: Amalie Howard

Publication Date: 01/07/2014

Published By: Strange Chemistry

Audience: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

 

Seventeen-year-old Riven is as tough as they come. Coming from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, she has to be. There’s no room for softness, no room for emotion, no room for mistakes. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes, a parallel universe to Earth. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Riven isn’t prepared for the beauty of a world that is unlike her own in so many ways. Nor is she prepared to feel something more than indifference for the very target she seeks. Caden is nothing like Cale, but he makes something in her come alive, igniting a spark deep down that goes against every cell in her body. For the first time in her life, Riven isn’t sure about her purpose, about her calling. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether Caden is simply a target or whether he is something more.

Faced with hideous reanimated Vector soldiers from her own world with agendas of their own, as well as an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to Neospes. But things aren’t always as they seem, and Riven will have to search for truth. Family betrayals and royal coups are only the tip of the iceberg. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

 

Picture and Summary From Goodreads

 

**I received this as an eARC through Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  In no way does that effect the thoughts and opinions expressed here.  I did not get reimbursed in any way for writing this review.**

 

 

 

REVIEW

 

I feel like the summary of the book gives you a lot to work with in terms of what the book is about so I'm just going to give you my thoughts without the work up.

 

Riven is amazing.  She is kick ass and tough and has a no emotional ties philosophy.  She does pretty well with that even with Caden falling at her feet in insta-love worship.  In fact when the romance does build between the two of them I accept it because Riven has made Caden work so hard for it.  She has a lot going on and you can tell she's loyal to a fault.  I definitely loved her from the get go.

 

Caden on the other hand...yes he was super adorable and an all around good guy EXCEPT for the fact that he is a cheater (which isn't even mentioned really) and that he is like a love sick puppy for no reason.  He doesn't even really know Riven when he spouts off how he knows she can't be that bad and is totally interested in getting to know her.  Other than those two things he is an okay love interest.  But in comparison to Riven's badassery he seems pretty weak and I really don't like my guys to be weak although in hindsight it all kind of makes sense that he really had no chance in comparison to Riven.

 

The action and suspense throughout the book really kept me moving and I was constantly wondering if things were how Riven thought they were.  The twist and turns totally took me by surprise.  I will say I didn't get too emotionally attached.  There were parts that could of had me bawling like a baby but didn't even produce a sniffle.  Maybe it's because of Riven's cold demeanor.  Since she refused to let things get her down maybe it helped me stay detached, not that not crying in a book is a bad thing. 

 

The end almost left me with a sense of satisfaction.  I was totally cool with where it was going but then it ended kind of open, which I suppose gives the author a chance to do a follow up book.  But I really think this would have worked well as a stand alone if the author had added on just a few more chapters.  Either way the book was a great read and if there is a second book I will most definitely read it!

 

Overall my thoughts on Almost Girl? A pretty awesome, parallel universe, action packed story. 

 

 

 

 

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THE AUTHOR

 

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive. In between writing novels and indulging her love of reading, Amalie is also a books review editor for TheLoopNY, and blogs at amaliehoward.com. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency.

Her debut novel, BLOODSPELL, was selected as a Seventeen Magazine Summer Club Read. She is also the author of The AQUARATHI series from Harlequin TEEN (WATERFELL Nov 2013 and OCEANBORN Aug 2014), THE ALMOST GIRL from Strange Chemistry Jan 2014, and ALPHA GODDESS from Skyhorse/Sky Pony Press Mar 2014.

 

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Unearthed by Rebecca Bloomer

UNEARTHED

Author: Rebecca Bloomer

Publication Date: 07/02/2012

Published By: Odyssey Books

Audience: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction

 

If you’re going to colonise a planet, you’d better be willing to fight for it.

Within Anphobos, there grows a new race. The first generation of humans never to set foot on Earth. They are pale skinned, large eyed and worship no god but science. They possess technological skills and processes Earth has refused to acknowledge. Until now…

“We are Martian. Your religion isn’t ours. Our god is Mars. Our religion is science. Anything we do in the service of Mars, is good. Make no mistake, Earth girl, we are both right and good.”

Fresh off Earth, Jodi Scarfield doesn’t really care for Mars or its politics. Still, accusations of treason will get a girl’s attention...

**I received this as an eARC through Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  In no way does that effect the thoughts and opinions expressed here.  I did not get compensated in any way for this review.**

REVIEW

 

My thoughts are a jumbled mess when it comes to thinking about Unearthed, much like the book itself was. For being such a short read (right around 100 pages) it took me THREE days to finish it!   There were some ideas that I liked; life on Mars, along with space travel, Jodi's hacker skills and the technology spoken about were all pretty fascinating but that's where my interest ended.  I feel like those ideas along with the governmental issues should have been explored more in depth. The characters felt flat and I was constantly wondering why Jodi felt a pull to her new "friends" Astrid and Jules.  What led up to the ending was the only excitement I felt during the book but even those events came out of nowhere.  I'm left feeling like there was no plot and I'm asking myself what the point of the story was.

One thing that drove me absolutely NUTS was Jodi's nail biting/chewing/picking habit.  It's so gross and every time she mentioned tearing a sliver of a nail off I wanted to hit her upside the head.  Ok so you want your character to have a nervous habit?  Fine.  Mention it once or twice, maybe three times but constantly describing it through the whole book is really too much.

Overall I feel like if the book had been a little longer we would have had a chance to get more details and character development.  The story has a ton of potential it just needs...more.

 

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THE AUTHOR

 

I'm an adventure junkie who likes to write. I collect pretty things - baubles, phrases, people - and write them into stories so others can adventure with me.

I have never, to my knowledge, used the word 'boring' (unless it pertained to what small animals were doing to my woodwork) and hope I never will.

 

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Renegade by J.A. Souders

RENEGADE

THE ELYSIUM CHRONICLES

Author: J.A. Souders

Publication Date: 11/13/2012

Published By: Tor Teen

Audience: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

 

 

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

 

 

Picture and Summary from Goodreads.

 

 

 

 

REVIEW

 

Okay straight up warning, this book has insta-love.  However the reasoning for the insta-love makes sense to me so I'm okay with it.  And how GORGEOUS is that cover?!

 

The world of Elysium is an eden located under the sea, which I actually love the idea of but after reading the book I don't think I could survive in a compound under the sea.  Can you say claustorphobia?  Mother, the governess of Elysium, is responsible for the creation of Elysium and claims it was her idea that sparked the creation of the perfect human specimen.  It kind of blew my mind how similar her views and Hitler's views are.  Basically Mother is a crazy dictator and like most dictatorships the people who follow her are too scared to question her truths and reasonings.  The more I read the more I realized how twisted she was.

 

Evelyn, or Evie as she likes to be called, is our MC.  She has been brought up by Mother to become the Daughter of the People.  At first I feel sorry for her, she seems pretty clueless and ditzy, but it's not long into the book that I realize there is no need to pity her, the girl has a badass side hidden deep down.  Evie is the one to help Gavin, a dirty "surface dweller", escape from the clutches of Mother.  Her plan is pretty ingenious, until it fails.  I'm pretty sure Gavin is pissed deep down that the plan didn't work out since it included some hanky panky happening but it's tough times.  The rest of the book is spent following Evie and Gavin as they try to find a safe way out of Elysium and the secrets they discover along the way.

 

There are these Elite Soldiers called Enforcers.  Basically they are Mother's own personal mercenaries.  I just want to say I think they are pretty scary but at the same time fascinating.  Only girls can be an enforcer and if they are chosen to be one their "training" starts at the young age of 5.  I like the idea that only girls are good enough for Enforcer status, it's not often you see that, but hate the idea of child soldiers.

 

There is a lot of action and a lot of mystery swirled together in Renegade.  Nothing is as it seems and the truth has terrifying components to it.  The characters are well developed and while Gavin and Evie find themselves in insta-love I have hopes for their future.

 

I have to admit I'm excited for the next book, I'm hoping it will tell us more about the surface.  Is it really as bad as Mother says or are the "surface dwellers" the actual good guys?  Not to mention what will be in store for Gavin and Evie...

 

 

 

 

 

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THE AUTHOR

(Picture and Bio From Goodreads Profile)

 

J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble.

Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing. She now lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, SFWA, YARWA and SCBWI.

She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency and her debut novel, RENEGADE, will be released Fall 2012.

 

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