The Ark by Patrick S. Tomlinson

This novel is brilliant! I hardly ever use exclamation points in reviews but I really believe this book has earned it. Rarely can I pick up a sci-fi novel and be completely absorbed in its story, but there's something very special about The Ark. The mystery, the military conspiracy and the human interactions are just a few things that make this story so gripping. I also think it's the subtle way the author was able to illustrate the fragility and the resilience of the human race

The book feels very similar to Robert J. Sawyer's Red Planet Blues, but it still manages to retain its originality. Like Sawyer's novel, it's a mystery/thriller that just happens to be set in space. In The Ark, we follow Chief Bryan Benson as he investigates the murder of Edmond Laraby, an important geneticist for the survival of the human race. His suspect list is 50 000 long, so basically anyone on board the ark, the ship that hold the last of the human race. The ark is on a two centuries old voyage to a new planet since Earth has probably been destroyed by a black hole called Nibiru. Some believe it was an act of God, others think it's a message to the human race to take better care of its resources. Benson has his theories and his hunches, but being led on a wild goose chase leads him nowhere near the real killer.

Benson has no real experience dealing with murder investigations. What he knows is limited to old Earth movies. His duties are usually limited to enforcing conservations codes, codes that are written to help ensure human survival with its limited resources. Since the ship is fast approaching its final destination, Tau Ceti G, Benson needs to solve this mystery before the Flip, less than two weeks away. His hunches are telling him that something else is about to happen that might put the whole ship at risk. Unfortunately, terrorism isn't something that died with Earth. A small faction of terrorists seem to have emerged from the depth of the ship, and Benson has no proof and no leads to tracking them down. He really believes there's a link between the Laraby murder and the possible terrorist threat, however, he has no way to prove it.

While the author took the time to describe who is on the ship and what it's general mission is, the writing could be a little bit more refined, especially when it comes to describing the ship and its hierarchy. Some scenes were a little bit rough, but as the series moves on, and the author gains more experience, I anticipate better quality in the future. The character building was also quite limited and I would have liked more background information on the main characters. I do appreciate the little details such as the food available on the ship, and some of the technology described. I'm also really glad the author uses the metric system, despite the fact the book was published in the USA. And as a big sports fan, I'm delighted the author took the time to develop a sport that can be played in space. I mean, two centuries is a long time and humanity does need entertainment to stay sane.

As a whole, I definitely recommend this book, not just for this series debut, but for the possibility of what's to come. There's so much more to be told, especially since so many secrets and lies were exposed in the last few pages of the book. Also, the ship hasn't even arrived to its final destination, and already you can feel the anticipation about landing on a new planet. The Ark and Patrick S. Tomlinson certainly deserve more recognition and I strongly urge you to become their next supporter.



 

 

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 30, 2016

 Angry Robot, BEA, Black Holes, Children of a Dead Earth, Patrick S. Tomlinson, Race to the End, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Space, space travel, terrorism, We're Not Alone  Leave your mark

✎

Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs

Future Shock is a time-travelling book that will keep you on your toes. Its quick pace and clear narration makes it easy and fun to read. As the narrator, Elena feels authentic and although she may have had a rough upbringing, her struggles with life and finding a job are very realistic. The prejudice and the hopelessness felt at the beginning of the story feels very honest. You can’t help but want to know more about this seemingly unbreakable character.

When it comes to time-travelling books, so many things can go wrong, but in Future Shock, the author kept things uncomplicated. She didn’t go into too much detail about how the time-travelling actually works which in all honesty, isn’t a bad thing. One thing I thought was very original is the repercussion time-travelling has on the mind. For adults, travelling in time is dangerous, because they return with memory loss, paranoia and confusion. The scientists coined the condition future shock. From some of the initial voyages, the scientists noticed that the younger travellers seemed to have less symptoms which led them to recruit young adults for their next experiment.

Elena, with her eidetic memory, is one of the five recruited by the company Aether for the voyage, and she accepts mainly for monetary reasons. As a 17 year-old living in foster care, she can’t refuse the generous offer. The payout would help her considerably after leaving foster care. It would help her pay for college and live comfortably, something she thought would be impossible for a young mexican girl living on her own in L.A. Three other teens seem to be in similar positions, all three coming from foster care. Adam is the only odd one out but to Elena, he seems as desperate as the rest of them.

Right from the start, things go terribly wrong. They were only supposed to go ten years forward but instead they ended up going 30 years into the future. They were warned not to look into their future selves but as curious young adults, the situation leads them to investigate. Early into their 24 hour trip they realize that among them, only Adam still lives after 30 years, the four others apparently dead shortly after their return to the present. Elena suspects she might be the reason for their deaths. She always knew she had a violent streak but she never thought she would capable of murder. As time unfolds in the future, their investigation into their own murders lead them on a wild chase through futuristic L.A.

Full of corporate intrigue, romance, suspense, murder and futuristic technology, I couldn’t put it down. However, the end left me wanting. It ended so suddenly that I’m sure there’s more to Elena and Adam’s story.

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by Tynga at Monday, October 17, 2016

 Albert Whitman amp; Company, BEA, Elizabeth Briggs, Future Shock, Review, sci-fi, time travel, time travelling, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Replica by Lauren Oliver

In my opinion, Lauren Oliver’s Replica is going to be a very popular and sought out YA book this fall. The format is incredibly original, the writing is very intelligent and the story is gripping and addictive.

Replica is the story about two very different girls, Lyra and Gemma, who tell a similar story from two very different point of views. Lauren Oliver made the very bold decision and separated these two point of views. Each story starts from one end of the book and meet towards the middle. This spring, when I briefly met the author, I asked her what was the proper way to read her book and she told me there is no right way. You read it however you like. You can read Lyra’s story straight through and then move on to Gemma’s. Or you can do the opposite. Personally, I chose to read one chapter from each story, flipping back and forth between the two. Timeline wise, the chapters line up very well so I really enjoyed reading it this way. There is some repetition when the two main characters are together, but for the most part, the two point of views offer different information and insight.

Between Lyra and Gemma, I don’t really have a favourite story. I enjoyed reading them equally. They both have very distinct and interesting voices and most often, I couldn’t wait to continue reading the same POV once I was done with a chapter instead of flipping over to the other side. Gemma is a sheltered teen who’s current goal is to go on a simple road trip to Florida with her best friend. But when a trivial event threatens her family, her father prevents her from leaving. Despite being very obedient, Gemma defies her parents and makes her way to Florida a few days after her best friend left. What she discovers in Florida opens her eyes to a whole new side of her father and his history with the pharmaceutical company he helped found. Gemma ends up breaking so many rules, that she can barely recognize herself after only a few short days.

All Lyra has ever known is a life full of medical and cognitive testing on an island off the Florida coast. She is a replica, or a clone, with a sole purpose, which isn’t very clear at first. She was raised in this medical facility called Haven with hundreds of different replicas. She considers herself one of the lucky ones since many subjects died at a very young age, and others don’t have the mental capacities to clean or feed themselves. The female and male replicas have always been kept apart and she has had very limited interaction with boys, except for the doctors and the scientists. Interestingly enough, both Lyra and Gemma have lived very sheltered and different lives but both of them have had very limited interactions with boys. So when Lyra hears about a boy, replica 72, who ran away, she’s intrigued by what led him to that decision. Eventually, she’s forced to work with 72 in order to find a way off the island. Lyra may be very naive but her capacity to learn allows her to mature very quickly as her world comes crumbling down.

The science experimentation going on at Haven might not be so far fetched, which makes the book very chilling and thought provoking. Lauren Oliver may have concentrated on the human developments in her story but the science aspect is also described very well. Fans of the TV shows Orphan Black and Dark Angel will love this new take on clones. Personally, I enjoyed Replica more than Oliver’s Delirium series. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

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by Tynga at Monday, October 03, 2016

 BEA, clones, Harper, Harper Collins, Lauren Oliver, Replica, Review, sci-fi, Science, Science Fiction, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

The Thousandth Floor by Katherine McGee

One hundred years in the future, an engineering marvel in the middle of New York City is where everyone wants to live. The tower has a thousand floors and a person could truly live their whole life without leaving the building. Social status is determined by the floor you live on, but of course, "The higher you are, the farther you fall." The author's imagination stretches sky high as she delves into the secret lives of New York's new elite.

This debut novel features multiple characters, giving us a glimpse of teen lives in this new New York's social scene. The top floors, where the social elite live, is full of glamour, money and sophistication. Avery and her family live on floor 1000, their penthouse apartment the envy of everyone in the building. Avery is supposed to be the perfect human, her DNA engineered with the best her two parents had to offer. She's beautiful, sweet and intelligent, but Avery feels less than perfect. In love with a boy she could never have, her junior year of high school isn't turning out the way she wanted. She and her best friend Leda are drifting further and further apart because of their attraction to the same boy and because of secrets Leda refuses to reveal.

Leda's addiction to stimulant drugs sent her to rehab during the summer and it's a situation she doesn't want to share with anyone. I think she's strong enough to admit that she has a problem, but she would never admit to anyone that it's affecting her life. Pressure at school, parties and alcohol are constant reminders of her stint with drugs especially since money and connections is all you need to get your hands on your next fix. And Leda definitely has access to both.

Leda's problems seem small when compared to other teens. Rylin lives on the 32nd floor with just her sister. After losing their mother, she had to drop out of school in order to support herself and her sister. She's barely scrapping by with a minimum wage job and the lack of money and health care debts are constant reminders that she could be ejected from her apartment any day. So when her mom's old employer, an orphaned teen living in one of the top floor apartments, calls her when he needs her help to serve and clean at his party, she jumps at the chance for easy and fast money. But when her one-time gig turns into something more, Rylin can't help but develop strong feelings for Cord, a boy way above her social status.

These are just quick glimpses into the world of some of these teens. There are so many point of views that it made it really hard to get into the book, but once every story is established, it becomes easier to read. We also follow the story of Eris, a girl that used to live on floor 985 and now lives on 103. Watt also lives on the lower floors but his hacking abilities has given him a glimpse into the lives of the elite teens, which makes him curious enough to try to rub shoulders with them. Atlas, Avery's older brother, "disappeared" for over a year, only checking in with his family from time to time to let them know that he was still alive. Now that he's back, living in the tower, he's dealing with the secrets and feelings he ran away from in the first place.

I liked the novel quite a bit but it was far from my favourites. I loved the technological advances and the architecture behind the tower. The idea is complete fiction since I highly doubt Central Park could ever be considered for the location of such a building. Also, the tallest building in our present time has 154 floors so 1000 is far from reality. I've never really been a fan of Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, and The Thousandth Floor definitely feels like those books/TV series. The elite social scene, the glamour of New York, drugs/alcohol/parties make for interesting stories but personally, it was to much "teen drama" for me. I hope the characters mature in the next books because I might have to give up on this series like I did with Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.

On a side note, I'm glad the cover was redesigned. The original one (left) was nice, but I think the new one (middle), represents the glamour of the tower a lot better. The UK version (right) is very attractive but similar to so many other YA covers. How many covers with a girl in a dress will we have to go through before this fad is over? The middle one remains my favourite and it's definitely gender neutral. Which one is your favourite?

        

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by Tynga at Monday, August 29, 2016

 BEA, Futuristic, Harper Collins, HarperTeen, Katherine McGee, new york, Review, Science Fiction, social elite, The Thousandth Floor, tower, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎

Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine

Arabella of Mars is clearly an original take on sci-fi. I was blown away by the details of the story, despite the fact that everything about space travel was fictional and unrealistic. David D. Levine was able to merge science fiction, fantasy and steampunk effortlessly in this epic space adventure.

I'm usually a stickler for facts when it comes to space and science in novels, but in this case, because everything was done purposely, I really don't mind the way the author reinvented space travel. The ships that fly between Earth and Mars are very similar to the airships often seen in steampunk. Clearly the author thought long and hard about space travel and I love how much detail was included in the novel. The native inhabitants of Mars, with their insect-like lifeforms, are obviously fictional, but the way they're described and their detailed culture makes them almost believable. The tension between the Mars natives and humans is one of the many conflicts in the book, despite years of a somewhat peaceful co-existance.

Arabella is a wonderful character. In my opinion, she's the perfect new settler of Mars. She adventurous, inquisitive and obviously has tremendous respect for the Mars natives.  She's also a tomboy, and her mother blames this on her being raised on Mars. To make sure Arabella grows up to be a proper Englishwoman, her mother forces Arabella to move to a completely different world: London, England. She clearly isn't cut out for Regency England. As soon as she realizes that her brother, back on Mars, might be in trouble, she leaves everything behind and joins an airship crew under the guise of a boy in order to head back to her home planet. With no experience as an airman she quickly learns her way around the ship.

When the captain of the ship, Captain Singh, discovers her aptitude for automatons and navigation, he takes her under his wing and teaches her how to use the navigation automaton. The relationship that develops between Arabella and Captain Singh, is at first a professional one, but slowly, Arabella starts to develop strong romantic feelings for her Captain, especially while caring for him during a coma. When it comes to romance, the book was clearly written by a man because it felt really awkward and inexperienced. The two of them make a great pair, and despite the clumsy almost non-existant romantic scenes, I still love the direction in which the two characters are heading

This book is a blend of many genres, including steampunk, science-fiction and fantasy. It has pirates, automatons, space battles, a mutinous coup, a siege on Mars, a little bit of romance and so many other great things. Arabella of Mars can definitely be read as a stand-alone but I really hope to see more of Arabella and Captain Singh in the future. They make a great pair and I think their story has only just begun. A must read!

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by Tynga at Sunday, August 07, 2016

 airships, automatons, BEA, David D. Levine, Fantasy, Macmillan, mars, Review, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Space, steampunk, Tor Books  2 People left their mark

✎

Aberrant by Ruth Silver

I have mixed feelings about this book. I usually like all dystopian books I read, but lately I've been disappointed. Aberrant is similar to The Hunger Games, A Brave New World and Divergent, but at least it's different enough to make it original. Early in the book, we learn that the main character Olivia is different from everyone else, being the first and only baby to be conceived naturally in generations. In a world where fertility is non-existent, all babies are created in labs, and the government controls who and when you can get pregnant.

Usually, I really enjoy fast paced books but in this case, I think it was the book's downfall. It lacked detail and description, which made everything feel rushed. As a reader, you're left in a haze of confusion, wondering what is real and what is a lie. With every new place Olivia and Joshua visit, you would think we could learn more about this dystopian world, but on the contrary, we're left with more questions. Everywhere they go, there seems to be someone in charge but ultimately, we still have no clue who runs the "government" and what their endgame is.

Except for the possibility of fertility, Olivia isn't very special. She isn't especially strong or intelligent, and she doesn't inspire much confidence. She is loyal to Joshua, and their friendship could possibly lead to something more, however both are slow to make a move. As for Joshua, there's nothing memorable about his character. Even his loyalty to Olivia is questioned at some point when he pushes her away to spend time with strangers. Also, when he learns that his mother has lived a double life for most of his life, he doesn't really react to the news. He acknowledges it without question or emotion.

What I enjoyed the most about the book is the premise of infertility caused by medical science. I'm definitely pro-vaccination and I alway will be, but I'm also a strong believer in the scientific method. To use an untested vaccine globally is bound to cause some problems and while I have no clue whether infertility is a probable repercussion for vaccines, it's still a very interesting premise. While we did get this small bit of information, the story lacks so much more information about the history of society, the structure of the isolated cities and the government.

The ending was also very confusing. The author threw in some paranormal elements near the end but it wasn't great timing. Overall, I do think the idea behind the book is great but the book itself lacked detail and good editing, which doesn't inspire much confidence in the rest of the series.

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by Tynga at Monday, July 18, 2016

 Aberrant, BEA, bea16, Dystopian, Lazy Day Publishing, Review, Ruth Silver, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Unmarked by Kami Garcia

I was a bit hesitant to read Unmarked because I wasn't a huge of the 1st book in the Legion Series, Unbreakable. I'm extremely relieved to say that Unmarked is worlds better than it's predecessor and it delivered an incredible story and romance. Kami Garcia really upped the stakes in this one and everything is just bigger and better in Unbreakable.

Kennedy Waters is recovering from her adventures with the Legion in a boarding school before the team comes back to rescue her. Marbas is still on the loose and the only ones who can defeat him is the Legion, but it will take a lot more than a few salt rounds and spells. Kennedy Waters's family history is shrouded in mystery and it could unlock the key to defeating Marbas.

I eagerly devoured Unmarked from the start and Garcia really knows how to hook readers in with suspense and romance. I was intrigued by the skeletons that laid hidden in the Waters's family and I really wanted to find out why her father had left her family. This novel is more focused than Unbreakable was and there is a lot less running around trying to defeat paranormal spirits.

I definitely think the fact that this novel is rooted around the Waters's secrets allowed readers to see a much more complex, developed Kennedy. For better or worse, Kennedy's adventures with Legion have changed her and she's no longer the scared, helpless girl she once was. Kennedy has grown into a powerful, brave character who will look evil straight in the eye if it means saving the ones she loves and I admired Kennedy for really stepping it up.

The romance in this novel is so freaking addicting and I couldn't get enough of Kennedy and Lukas's relationship. Unmarked really pushes this couple's relationships to the limit and makes them go through countless hoops to be together. I was obsessed with this couple and I loved scenes in which Kennedy and Lukas explored their relationship. I always loved the romance in the Caster Chronicles and it's no surprise to me that I was such a huge fan of Unbreakable's signature couple.

Between possessions, exorcisms, a murder of crows and graveyards, Unmarked taps into so much creepiness and really makes good use of its horror elements. Kami Garcia really explores demonology in more depth in this one and I definitely think that this aspect of the novel was well-researched. It was really interesting to me how Garcia tied in the Revolutionary War to Kennedy's family to classical demon history and Unmarked is extremely well-plotted. This is the perfect horror novel to read around Halloween, but I'd probably suggest reading it with the lights on and during the day.

Unmarked is a lot of fun to read and is definitely a must-read for fans of the CW and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I'm so glad that I gave this series another chance because I really loved Unmarked. I definitely will be continuing this series and the 3rd book in this series is at the top of my anticipated books list. Unmarked is an excellent paranormal thriller and Kami Garcia truly blew me away with this sequel.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, September 24, 2014

 BEA, Brown Books for Young Readers, ghosts, Kami Garcia, Little, Paranormal, Publisher, Review, The Legion, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

A Sudden Light by Garth Stein

A Sudden Light is not just a ghost story, it's a multi-layered epic about the power of redemption and how the past influences our lives in more ways than we can imagine. This is a novel that I carefully read, devouring each and every word and description; A Sudden Light is a slow-paced, but brilliantly told novel with a story that spans generations and is so expansive in scope. This is such a rare coming-of-age novel with an ingenious mystery that's full of surprises,  Garth Stein has written  a splendid follow-up to The Art Of Racing In The Rain.

Trevor's life is on the rocks with his parents splitting up and he sees moving back with his dad to the family mansion as an opportunity to fix up his parent's marriage. Little does Trevor know that Riddell House is occupied by a ghost and is filled to the brim with hushed up family secrets. The ghost has very different wishes for the House than his Aunt Serena who is looking to make a pretty buck off of it.

A Sudden Light is at heart a coming-of-age tale about a boy coming to terms with his sexuality, manhood and the ugly past. Trevor undergoes a major transition from the beginning of this novel to the bitter end and his character makes a huge leap in maturity. Suddenly Trevor is forced to grow up and though he doesn't always handle this well, he makes the best of his crappy situation and becomes the best person he can be.  Trevor doesn't have to take on the trouble of the past, yet he takes on the burden of his ancestors and tries to fix their heaps of errors.

This is a character-oriented novel and so, Trevor's family is put under a microscope for much of this novel. Between the characters who are alive and those that live on in the past, each family member is a hot mess and provide so much entertainment and drama for the reader. If you think you're family is a disaster, wait until you meet the Riddells who just might be the most messed up literary family ever.

A Sudden Light is a stunning literary work that will haunt readers long after finish and leave them with chills. Stein has written a beautifully written novel and this one has the potential to be one of the biggest books of the year.  Those looking for a perfect book club pick or just something truly spectacular should definitely pick up A Sudden Light.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, September 10, 2014

 BEA, Fantasy, Garth Stein, ghost, Mystery, Review, Simon and Schuster  3 People left their mark

✎

MARY: The Summoning by Hillary Monahan

As a child, I played the legendary game of Bloody Mary and I still remember standing by the mirror with the lights off, frightened for my life. Bloody Mary is such a cultural cornerstone and Hillary Monahan brings her to life in such a wonderfully, grotesque form. Mary: The Summoning was a surprisingly scary novel, this is just what readers will want to read to get goosebumps down their spine. Few YA horror novels are as great as Monahan's debut and I'd love to see more novels like Mary: The Summoning on the market.

This is a novel about 4 friends who summon Mary and are forced to face the consequences of their action. Readers will be brought back to their childhood years when they had played Bloody Mary and will revisit this chilling game. This novel takes the famous game and makes it extremely terrifying for the YA audience, I'd be quite surprised if younger readers would even attempt to play the game after reading The Summoning.

Something that bothered me was how Monahan completely warped the story I had heard as a child, I remember Bloody Mary being Queen Mary I, not a troubled American child. I'm aware that Monahan wanted this novel to take place in America, but I feel like this story lost something in translation when Bloody Mary became an American legend. It didn't feel like the Bloody Mary I grew up with because she was American; I did enjoy the inventive, epislatory backstory on Bloody Mary, but the alteration of her story  just didn't sit well with me.

In typical horror movie fashion, The Summoning is quite brutal to its characters and there isn't much character development. Most of the novel is spent on thrills and spooky moments to the point where I felt like I didn't know anything substantial about any of the characters and I couldn't really sense the history that the characters shared because their relationships weren't clearly defined. I wanted to know more about each character, especially about Mary and Jess who the novel didn't concentrate on enough.

I'm not exactly sure why this novel was expanded into a series because this would've worked much better as a stand-alone. Though readers do gets answers, I didn't really feel like this novel had a satisfying ending and I felt like I was left hanging unnecessarily. There wasn't a real need for further books about Mary and the fact that Monahan didn't give readers the answers they deserved, in order to stretch the story out really bothered me.

MARY: The Summoning is a perfect Halloween read and this is the type of that will best be enjoyed under the cover with a flash-light in that classic, spooky way. I will still continue reading about Mary, despite the fact that I feel that this book should've been a stand-alone. I really enjoyed reading Mary: The Summoning and I have a feeling that book will appeal to horror fans who aren't quite ready for Stephen King.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, August 06, 2014

 BEA, Disney-Hyperion, Hillary Monahan, Paranormal, Review, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎

The Merciless by Danielle Vega

I'm always looking for a good YA horror novel because sadly there are so few of these types of novels out there. The majority of YA books that are classified as horror are far from being frightening and so, The Merciless had tough shoes to fill. Much to my delight,  The Merciless is one of the best horror novels I've ever read and it is easily one of my favorites books of the year so far. With a plot that screams Stephen King meets Mean Girls, what's not to love?

Sofia really got in with the wrong crowd, she never expected to get involved with an exorcism. At first she thought Riley and her friends wanted to help Brooklyn, but things quickly escalate when Riley traps Brooklyn in a house with the rest of the girls. If Sofia can't figure out how to save Brooklyn from Riley and herself, there will more than a few drops of blood shed.

The Merciless starts off like so many novels with the new girl trying to fit in with the popular kids, expect this time around there's a lot more blood, baptisms, and exorcisms. The girls spy on Brooklyn and everything is pretty innocent at first, giving The Merciless a Mean Girls. Vega even references the infamous burn book and she perfectly captures the atmosphere of high school in the opening chapters.

Readers who enjoy the opening chapters might not enjoy the rest of the novel because the rest of the novel is much darker in tone. Gone is the light atmosphere and Vega definitely means business in the rest of this novel because she never holds back. The rest of  The Merciless is gloriously twisted and messed up, providing readers with some of the creepiest imagery I've seen in a novel recently. You won't want to read this one in the dark because Vega's prose will get under your skin and give you chills.

The Merciless moves at an incredibly quick pace and getting through this novel was an easy feat. I was extremely engaged by the ominous, strange aura that this novel gave off and once I started The Merciless, this novel became the center of my attention. I'm a reader who lacks the ability to give a book my undivided attention because I easily get distracted, but The Merciless was able to capture from the start. This whole novel is bizarre and it's unlike anything I've ever read, which isn't something I throw IMF the law. around lightly.

Considering it's the 1st book in a series, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Vega ends this on a cliffhanger. This is the type of cliffhanger that will infuriate you and make you so curious about book 2. Vega did an excellent job at setting up this conclusion and for managing to surprise readers until the very end.

The Merciless isn't for everyone, but those who have twisted, dark minds will absolutely love it. If you're looking to read this book, Prepare yourself one of the most horrifying book you've read in ages!

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by Tynga at Wednesday, June 11, 2014

 BEA, Danielle Vega, Demon, horror, Paranormal, Penguin, Razorbill, Review, Social Issues, The Merciless, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Hereafter by Kate Brian

In order not to spoil the amazingly awesome ending of book one, this review will be rather short to avoid spoilers. I didn't love book one as much as I was hoping, but it got much better near the end, so I had my fingers crossed for book two. Unfortunately, I didn't think book two was any better for a variety of reasons.

I will admit that this was an incredibly fast read, though. Despite my lack of interest, it was very easy to get through because of the fast writing style and lack of info-dumping. This book pretty much takes place right where book one leaves off. The difference between the two books is that there was quite a number of time indicators in this book. Oddly enough, this served to make me rather mad. This is a trilogy and we are two books in. The first two books take place in less than two weeks. The declarations of love and mad jealousy about being a couple takes place in less than two weeks. This reasonable girl who thought logically and focused on science in school was reduced to an overemotional school girl that's really hard to tolerate in less than two weeks. This book doesn't even span a week. The speed at which everything moved was utterly unbelievable which led to frustration and anger on my part. The insta-love was so saccharine that it aggravated me even more because of the fact that things moved so unbelievably fast. I just couldn't handle it.

I also found our main characters to be rather frustrating. I don't want to explain why, but they're supposed to be rather mature because of the professions that they all have (which is explained in this book). Instead, I often found myself disliking the main character because she's impulsive and overemotional. Some side characters were easily forgettable or were obviously overly-dramatized in order to stand out so that they won't be forgettable. I really only found myself liking Fisher because he was an overall decent individual and Joaquin because he was concerned and he had a good head on his shoulders. Seemed to be the only trustworthy one in the bunch. Also, he opened up in this book, which was very interesting.

Like book one, there's random chapters dispersed throughout this book with a villainous undertone. Also like book one, these chapters are the only thing that kept me reading. In book one, these chapters were obviously told from the serial killer's perspective. That changes in this book. I had absolutely no idea whose voice I was reading and I'm still not entirely sure whose perspective this was because it was never outright clarified. There was a discovery of the bad people and it's clear we were in one of their heads (I have my suspicions about who it is) but we were never told outright. I'm hoping this will be explained in book three instead of being left open to interpretation. Speaking of the evil people, their identities were so obvious that I wanted to scream in the character's faces. If they used their common sense a lot of villainous behavior would have been halted. I hate it when characters are oblivious in comparison to the reader.

All in all, I will probably continue to book three out of sheer curiosity and because I want confirmation about certain characters. It's an interesting story, but the storytelling is flawed and doesn't hold my attention as much as I hoped it would. However, it's a very quick read and it's enough to keep me wanting to continue despite my qualms. I will admit that I think book one was better because Nell's perspective was incredibly creepy and unique. I'm hoping the shivers he induced in me in book one will return in book three so that this series can be salvaged. If you want something unique and creepy and quick to read, I do recommend giving book one a chance. Then again, you may like the entire series. I tend to be one of the few who didn't like this one.

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by Tynga at Thursday, January 02, 2014

 BEA, Disney Hyperion, Hyperion, Kate Brian, Paranormal, Review, Shadowlands, young adult  2 People left their mark

✎

Fractured by Sarah Fine

If you remember, SANCTUM by Sarah Fine was one of my favorite books ever of last year. Really, when it came to dark stories with a slow burn romance, it was number one. So, you can imagine my shock and extreme happiness when I learned that my name--little ole me--is in the acknowledgements section of book two, FRACTURED. This was an insane privilege that left me with happy tears in my eyes because it was completely unexpected. However, it made book two an even bigger challenge then I initially anticipated. See, my name's in this book. It made me simultaneously nervous and anxious to read it. And while I love Sarah Fine's ability to tell an amazing story, I knew that this book was going to have some plot twists that is really going to make or break this series for some readers. I didn't want to have such a sincere dedication in a book that I didn't love as much as book one.

...But I am so happy to report that I feel honored to have my name in this book. Not only does it avoid suffering from the dreaded sequel syndrome, but the novel is taken places that your average young adult read is not. To put it simply, this novel is ballsy, but it also makes it incredibly polarizing. There are going to be people like me who adored every second of the novel despite the heartbreak because it's taken in such unique directions, and then there are going to be people who feel like this novel was not at all what they expected and they won't be the happiest campers out there. Hell, I can understand that perspective, it'll be a lie if I told you that my heart isn't currently lying on the floor in two separate pieces, but I believe this is in large part due to Fine's ability to tell an amazing story. To elicit such intense emotions in a reader is an enviable trait, and while I'd rather be experiencing other emotions then my intense grief, my hesitancy to write a proper review because of my crazy emotions is a testament to her ability as an author.

My favorite aspect of this novel was Lela's character growth. She is one tough cookie and that makes me love her so much. She's never been in such an extreme leadership position before, so her journey to gaining self-confidence and figuring everything out--including the unfortunate bumps along the way--was very well done. She also learned more about herself as a person because of the new relationships she explored in her high school. Fine made sure that most of her characters were three-dimensional instead of your usual stereotypical young adult cliches. Malachi, as always, was delicious and self-sacrificing, putting everyone before himself. It's impossible to hate him for this. There was also two new Guards named Jim and Henry that I adored entirely. While they're not the easiest to work with at times, they further showcase Fine's ability to take a broken character and set him or her forth on their path to redemption. It seems that everyone has some type of powerful back-story in this one.

The exploration of relationships in this novel deserves a small mention, too. Book one was the process of Lela and Malachi getting together. Now, we get to watch their relationship progress. They're getting more serious, so they have to learn how to conquer and overcome trials and tribulations. To make matters worse, they've got your usual relationship drama on top of creepy Mazikin drama. These two just can't catch a break, can they? Their story is heartbreaking and real, funny and series. These two are just so passionate and powerful--I love them so much. Aside from that, Fine puts a huge emphasis on the simplicity and importance of friendship because it is such a powerful bond. I really appreciated this and often found myself smiling whenever I sensed this underlying theme.

As amazing as this book was, I want to point out that it does have some drama in it. However, this is the way drama should be explored. It's not overpowering of the plot and our characters are so strong that they try to avoid it, though their occasional break-downs just add to the realism. As the synopsis suggests, the main setting is a modern day Rhode Island high school. There's bound to be some catty drama, relationship drama, school-wide drama, etc. It's an inevitability that Fine handled beautifully. This part of the novel initially worried me because it's no secret that I despise drama as a whole, but I never felt like any of their real-life experiences distracted me from the plot and instead I felt as if they made the story realistic. Plus, Malachi's inability to understand the current world and some verbal cues was absolutely hilarious.

Which brings me to the part of this review that I was hoping to avoid...the ending. It's been days since I have completed this book and I still can't think about it. It gets my heart beating fast and my emotions are swirling around me in a tornado. It's terrible and brilliant. It's terribly brilliant! It leaves me literally begging for book three ten times more than I wanted book two. It promises even more triumph and tribulations, character growth and fighting, love and hate, and a final showdown that just got incredibly personal. I'm literally shaking in anticipation and a desire to be inside Lela's head once more. I need this book like a baby needs candy, and I won't rest until I get it.

Sarah Fine has cemented herself as one of my favorite authors ever. Everything that she pens is brilliant. I highly recommend this series to those interested in a unique twist on the afterlife. Perfect for fans of dark stories with amazing romances, I cannot stress how much I love this series.

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by Tynga at Thursday, October 24, 2013

 Amazon Children's Publishing, BEA, Fantasy, Guards of the Shadowlands, Review, Sarah Fine, young adult  Leave your mark

✎