Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Science-Fiction
Hardcover : 468 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release date: January 17th, 2017

Series: Carve the Mark #1

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.

The Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

Carve the Mark is Veronica Roth's stunning portrayal of the power of friendship — and love — in a galaxy filled with unexpected gifts.

This highly anticipated new series starter from Veronica Roth is NOT Divergent (nor should it be). Even when reading blurbs I still didn't know what to expect as there have been a lot of conflicting reviews. Add to that the allegations of racism for poor Miss Roth, and we've got quite a bit of dissension. However, I hope I can shed some light on this book for everyone, since I took a different approach than my fellow reviewer Stéphanie who talks more about the main characters, though I might be proven wrong in subsequent books. This is my interpretation and I encourage everyone to have their own!

First, most readers are going to be expecting another Divergent in this series which it's not. Divergent was fast-paced, relied heavily on action, and used more of the character's reactions to certain events as a plot device. Instead, Carve the Mark is very introspective, and I would argue, very adult in its slower pace and buildup. The main characters sort of force much of the action in Carve the Mark because of the inner battles they are facing-an inward to outward shift of character that is complete opposite to Tris who made a lot of decisions outwardly and then came to understand them inwardly much later in the series. It's going to be hard to get a reluctant reader into this series (very unlike Divergent!) and might even be better off for older teen/young adult (college) or adult readers since it deals with this coming-of-age theme in a much more mature, thought-provoking way.

Second, I think the racism allegations are kind of missing a few key ideas. The Thuvhe live at the extreme north of the planet, where everything is cold and ice etc. Let's try and re-cast them into a modern idea, one that might be the first impression...

• Picture the modern Icelandic people--they are Norse ("nordic" is derived from the word "northern") and have predominantly light colored eyes and blond or brown hair and fair skin (white or red tones). "Icelandic culture has been shaped by isolation and the extreme forces of nature. These conditions have created a resilient people, where family ties are close, the sense of tradition is strong, and the bond with nature is tight. While strongly rooted in customs and traditions, today's Icelandic society is both modern and progressive. A small country by most measures, Iceland has a high standard of living, extensive political freedom, and has taken an active role in sustainable development and commitment to the environment."  In history, the Nords were conquerors (think of the Vikings), but today Iceland is known for being one of the most peaceful countries in the world and one of the most progressive among human rights.

The Shotet by contrast are a little more hard to understand and picture. Under the Noavek's rule, they are considered brutal, bloodthirsty, violent and fierce, leading raids and dead in their wake. Most Shotet are described as brown skinned or golden. The first idea of them might resemble...

• People from the Mediterranean (think Spain, parts of Italy, Greece and upper Africa) and the idea of the Gypsy or Romani people in history or Native Americans. They have a bit darker skin and hair with more variations in hair, skin, and eye color. Some Native American culture and Romani culture place emphasis on being nomadic and moving from place to place. Both have a high regard for religion and made use of things others would discard. Both have a strong history of oppression and have been described in some instances as violent (or perhaps take violence in more acceptable form - passion).

Let's also note that it is well known that geography and relation to the sun has resulted in the variety of color and skin tones we see in the world today. How should that be no different for the ice-loving Thuvhe and the once-nomadic Shotet?

However, according to Roth's specific writings which she covers in this blog post, the Shotet and the Thuvhesit are much closer than they may appear to be at first glance, which some readers have painted as racist and black vs. white, brutal vs. enlightened, etc. Because of each side's extreme attitude toward the other, they don't have any reference for how they might have commonalities among their cultures. There is light and dark in both Thuvhe and Shotet which Akos himself represents as having a "Shotet name" belonging to a Shotet religious leader and can naturally speak Shotet yet he is fair skinned (and no mention of his parents being anything other than typically Thuvhe). This is the version I've read as Cyra herself describes her brother Ryzek having "skin so pale he looked almost like a corpse [in bluish light]".

As for the Thuvhesit considering the Shotet violent, this is automatically understandable as Ryzek, like his father and grandmother before him, is a power-crazed dictator not unlike Hitler, so their reputation is gained from their leader and his orders, much the way Germany's was in WWII. However, the history of the Shotet that Cyra relates to us is not violent but reverent of the currentstream and following it on a religious pilgrimage every year and using other cultures' castoffs to find use or beauty. This book does not make the idea as generalized as black vs. white, Nordic/European vs. African/Native American etc., barbarian vs. enlightened, but more about two halves of a bloodline that is messy yet prejudiced against the other [I can oversimplify here and say the bloodline of Ishmael or Arabic/Palestinian vs. Isaac or Hebrew/Israeli--not intending to offend people with this oversimplification, but just trying to draw some generic parallels that have occurred in history]. The Shotet and Thuvhesit are very mixed and quite hard to generalize if one pays close attention to the descriptions, the history, and the fact that both cultures misunderstand the other.

As for the ableist remarks, Cyra's currentgift manifesting as chronic pain and use as a weapon and how anyone possessing a disability or having chronic pain and calling it a gift is actually not a gift, one should also be reminded that Roth herself suffers from chronic pain [she revealed this after the book was published and allegations were raised, and we also know that Roth has had certain anxieties from social interactions and her fame, so it's no wonder this didn't come out before! She likes to be super private!], knows others in chronic pain, and her character Cyra does not think of this as a gift no matter that others seek to use it to their own ends. Instead, Cyra is part of the very rare few (currently we do not know of any others but there may be) whose currentgift, which is the current's manifestation of personality, harms herself and harms others. She did nothing to deserve it, does not seek to use it for her own selfish reasons, and doesn't understand it. Neither do any doctors/scholars they seek understand it or how to help her be rid or helped with it. It's true that the terminology makes the ableist accusations problematic, but currentgift is used synonymously with ability. Everyone has abilities and disabilities. Everyone has a currentgift. Most everyone's currentgift (that we know of) is an ability. However, Cyra's is most definitely a disability as it limits her mental and physical functionality. Yet once again, she doesn't think of it as a gift or skill or something to be favored or used, so I would argue that she is a main character with a disability who everyone judges, shuns, uses, or limits/labels her based upon her disability. Thereby, she is a main character exposing the ableism present in her society, but not advocating for ableism. Instead, this illustrates Cyra's powerfulness as a heroine--she suffers from chronic pain and is abused by her brother for her pain, and yet she constantly seeks to function past it--to live, survive, make her own choices--even when she is forced to use it against others.

Nevertheless, like any book with a lot of controversy, the reader should be free to judge for oneself. 

Lastly, Carve the Mark seems more like a (pardon me for oversimplifying again) version of Romeo and Juliet without the level of tragedy and star-crossed romance as two sides who hate each other have two teens who are bridging that gap to change their world. I found it to be really inspiring, thought-provoking, harder to jump into than most YA, but still a great story. Read-a-likes for this title could be other space fiction like Star Wars, Illuminae, the Red Rising series and Starflight.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Carve the Mark, HarperCollins, Katherine Tegen Books, Library, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, space fiction, Veronica Roth, young adult  1 Person left their mark

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi (Review Tour)

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Science-Fiction
Paperback ARC:  336 pages
Publisher: Tor Books
Release date: March 21, 2017

Series:  The Interdependency

Source: For review

Reviewed by:  Stéphanie

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

The first novel of a new space-opera sequence set in an all-new universe by the Hugo Award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Redshirts and Old Man's War.

Our universe is ruled by physics and faster than light travel is not possible -- until the discovery of The Flow, an extra-dimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transport us to other worlds, around other stars.

Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It’s a hedge against interstellar war -- and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.

The Flow is eternal -- but it is not static. Just as a river changes course, The Flow changes as well, cutting off worlds from the rest of humanity. When it’s discovered that The Flow is moving, possibly cutting off all human worlds from faster than light travel forever, three individuals -- a scientist, a starship captain and the Empress of the Interdependency -- are in a race against time to discover what, if anything, can be salvaged from an interstellar empire on the brink of collapse.

The Collapsing Empire is the first book in a new series by Hugo Award winner and New York Times bestselling author, John Scalzi. Personally, I've only read a couple of his books, but he's gained at least one new fan with this most recent novel. This novel will certainly be creating waves in the coming months because it's something completely new, accessible and despite being science fiction, it actually has some relevant present day themes.

When it comes to interstellar travel, the author doesn't try to go into too much scientific detail. Actually, he states in the beginning of his novel that most people wouldn't even understand it. In short, something called the Flow allows a ship to ride a "stream" from one location to another without the need for light-speed travel, something that still doesn't exist, even in this post-Earth civilization. Some streams take months to travel, and they aren't always the shortest or most logical routes.

Streams are also one way, like the only one leaving the planet End. The planet is called End because many streams lead to it, but there's only one that leaves it to go back to Hub, the seat of the Interdependency because most streams lead back to it. Curious enough, End is the only planet humanity has discovered that is suitable for human life, all other planets needing special habitats or rotating space stations for survival. However, End is not a very desirable place to settle because it's so far away from everything else. It isn't called End for no apparent reason. Personally, I love this concept of space travel because even though it's fiction, it's still believable. There's still a lot we don't know about our universe and John Scalzi makes it easy to believe in the Flow.

The author also introduces us to a wide range of interesting characters, including a physicist named Marce Claremont who believes something drastic is about to happen to the Flow, and actually, already happening. Many of his peers believe the Flow is something stable, however, Marce and his father have studied the Flow extensively and data shows what can only be called the collapse of the Flow. Since trade and the economy depend heavily on Flow routes, business and political tensions arise in forms of rebellions, piracy and political trickery. The newly crowned emperox of the Interdependency, Cardenia, now Grayland II, has to deal with feuding business families, assassination attempts and news about the shifting Flow.

Funny enough, the author mentions in his afterward that the plot line is not based on the current american situation, that in fact, the book was plotted and written before the 2016 american election. However, one can see how anything as unpredictable can create tension, fear and violence. Many businesses and families capitalize on this fear and I think the author demonstrates very well how some people crave power and money, and will do just about anything to have both.

As a relative newbie to John Scalzi's work, I'll definitely have to read his previous books to see how this new series compares to career building series, Old Man's War. The Collapsing Empire deserve much attention and is one of my new favourites of the genre. It's an epic and grand introduction to a new sci-fi universe and I'm really looking forward to what happens next.

------

JOHN SCALZI is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His massively successful debut, Old Man’s War, won him science fiction’s John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony; Fuzzy Nation; Redshirts, which won 2013’s Hugo Award for Best Novel; and Lock In. Material from his widely read blog, Whatever, has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.

Follow the rest of the blog tour:

March 14: Bookwraiths

March 15: Just A World Away

March 16: Bookworm Everlasting

March 17: It's All About Books

March 21: Books Bones & Buffy

March 22: Ageless Pages Reviews

March 23: Lynn's Books

March 24: Culturess

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Posted by Tynga at 03:55

 John Scalzi, Publisher, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, The Collapsing Empire, Tor  3 People left their mark

Wires and Nerves, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer

Wires and Nerves, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Science-Fiction
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Macmillan
Release date: January 31st, 2017

Series:  Wires and Nerves #1

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

In her first graphic novel, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller Marissa Meyer follows Iko, the beloved android from the Lunar Chronicles, on a dangerous and romantic new adventure -- with a little help from Cinder and the Lunar team.

In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.

I don't read many graphic novels, so when I do, it's bound to be something special. Wires and Nerves follows the story of Iko, the loyal and lovable droid from Marissa Meyer's bestselling series, The Lunar Chronicles. Iko is a wonderful character that probably didn't get enough credit in the book series so I'm really glad her story is finally being told in graphic novel form.

For someone that's accustomed to novels, reading graphic novels seems like cheating, like I'm speed reading through the story. So I think it's unfair when I say that the story felt too short because I know graphic novels take more time and space. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this graphic novel and it's a great extension to the series.

One thing I really appreciated is that all main character from the four Lunar Chronicle books are represented in this story. Obviously Iko shines and is the narrator too, but I think it was important to include everyone. Iko, a droid with a human-like body, is charged with the task of searching and arresting all the wolf-hybrid soldiers deployed on Earth by the ex-Queen of Luna, that have been hurting and killing people all over the world. So far, Iko's record is pretty good but some have resisted, unaware that they are being brought back to Luna for a fair trial, not as slaves to the new Queen.

^{Source: Amazon Preview}

Searching and fighting are things Iko knows how to do, however love and feelings might not be part of her programming. She is a hopeless romantic, fawning over princes and bad boys, but as a service droid, she has always thought love as something unobtainable. So it will be fun to follow her romantic storyline in sequel since the creators leave us on a pretty steep cliffhanger.

The art is very well done however a little bit simple. It's easy to follow and very well organized. Obviously, it would have been better in colour, and at that price point, you kind of expected it to be coloured. However, the grey tone kind of fits the lunar theme so it might have been a deliberate choice. I highly recommend Wires and Nerves to any fans of The Lunar Chronicles but for those of you who haven't read the books, you might not appreciate it as much and might be a little lost in the story.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 androids, Droid, Feiwel amp; Friends, Graphic Novel, Macmillan, Marissa Meyer, Purchased, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, werewolf, Wires and Nerves  78 People left their mark

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

There's been a lot of speculation whether Veronica Roth's new series would match or surpass her Divergent series. Personally, I really enjoyed this new book and although it's still early in the series, it's definitely on the right path. Roth created a rich new world that is out of this world, completely new and very bold. Her characters may be flawed, however, they have strong redeeming qualities that will captivate you.

In a galaxy where the current flows through everything and every living thing, people develop unique abilities once they reach a certain maturity. When this current-gift will develop, no one can predict, however some may say the oracles could certainly take a guess. Three oracles per planet exist, and their ability allows them to see possible futures. They also see fates, the eventual futures of a lucky few. Every citizen has a future, but only a select few are graced with a fate. These select few are considered special, for a reason I can't quite understand. Personally, I would find it restrictive, to live a life based on a certain and unwavering fact.

Cyra and Akos are two of these fate-marked young adults, however, their upbringing could not be more different. Cyra is the sister of a mad tyrant who controls the Shotet people through fear and divisiveness. Akos grew up in a peaceful and loving family. Part of his Thuvhe culture honours the oracles, and his mother just happens to be one. Their two societies couldn't be anymore different and it's from the lack of knowledge and understanding that their two societies have been at war for ages.

The Thuvhe are considered the rightful and controlling nation of the planet, so when the Shotet kidnap Akos and his brother, killing their father in the process, I'm kind of surprised nothing was done about it. For years, Akos was raised by the Shotet, separated from his brother, and the rest of his family, never to be rescued by his people. My only guess is that the Thuvhe are such peaceful race they have no clue how to infiltrate the Shotet to rescue a couple of their fate-marked. Now, as a young adult, Akos is given to Cyra to be her servant, in order to help her control her current-gift. The more time they spend together, the more they learn about each other's culture. Together, the form an unlikely alliance in hopes to overthrow Cyra's brother.

My first impression of Akos is that he's weak. To help and serve Cyra without question, isn't heroic, but I quickly realized that it was all part of a scheme. He's intelligent yet his downfall is that he cares too much. On the contrary, Cyra care about no one, especially her brother, Ryzek, who's taken advantage of her current-gift, ever since their father died. Her father wasn't a better leader, he was just less mad than Ryzek. Cyra's current gift makes her feel pain 24/7 while Akos neutralizes that pain with simply his touch. His gift for brewing tonics also helps control Cyra's constant pain. It seems that their gifts were made for one another, however, it just seems to good to be true.

Divergent fans will love this book because it does have some recurring themes. Carve the Mark isn't necessarily dystopian, but it does revolve around a broken leadership. The characters are in a dire situation yet they work together, and their hope for a better future brings them even closer together. Another similarity is Akos being taken away from his family and trained by another society to become a soldier (however, in this case it's involuntarily). Death, combat and rage are also other themes that mirror Divergent. It's hard not to compare, yet despite their similarities, trust me when I say they are two very distinct stories.

What makes this book so complete is definitely Akos and Cyra. Character building seems to be Veronica Roth's forte and she doesn't disappoint with these two main characters. The world building was also brilliant since she added so much detail to the world, the cultures and the different planets. It's really hard to mention everything, so instead, I urge you to discover it for yourself. Carve the Mark really deserves to be read slowly, since it does have a slow build-up, but it's so worth it in the end. The author was able to blend my two favourite genres, fantasy and science fiction, magnificently and even though it's still early in the year, there's a strong possibility it will end up at the top of my favourites of the year.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Carve the Mark, Harper Collins, Katherine Tegen Books, Purchased, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Space, Veronica Roth, young adult  2 People left their mark

Trident's Forge by Patrick S. Tomlinson

**Book 1 spoilers included in this review**

Like the first book in the series, this sequel blew me away. I'm always afraid of the sequel slump, but in this case, there's nothing to worry about. It's as if the author introduced us to a completely different world, and in a way, he did. In the first book, The Ark, we travel along with the last of the human race on a large ship, headed for a new planet. In this sequel, the human race has begun colonizing a new planet and making first contact with the native sentient beings.

Trident's Forge is a novel about making first contact with a new species. The Atlantians, as humans are calling this native race, also known as the G'tel are strange amphibian-like beings that are relatively new from an evolutionary stand point. They live in small tribal-like communities with very little in terms of technology, and have developed a faith system that worships a trio of deities. This trinity is really important to them and is a recurring theme in the book.

Oddly enough, this race doesn't really have genders, but it actually takes three beings to procreate; a pair of mates and a breeder. I had a hard time understanding their concept of gender, or lack thereof. The Atlantians don't really have genders. Instead of saying he or she, they say ze. And instead of saying him or her, they say zer. It's very confusing at first, especially when reading from the alien point of view, but the more you read through it, the easier it is to follow. I thought it was a very original approach and I applaud the author for taking the risk.

The hero of the first book, Bryan Benson, is still the main character in this novel. However, instead of being police chief and detective, his official role is as the director of athletic preparedness and recreation. He's also a coach for the new football league, a sport that hasn't been played in over 200 years. However, because of his success in risky and deadly situations and his strong investigative skills, he gets volun-told to be a member of the group that will make first contact with the aliens.

When a welcoming ceremony between humans and atlantians is disrupted by an attack that leads to multiple deaths, blame and fear erases the newly develop trust between the races. Benson and Kexx, an atlantian, are committed to investigating this attack. Kexx, the truth-digger of his tribe is responsible for investigating or finding the truth about anything threatening his tribe. His (or I should really say zer) vast knowledge, and zer ability to stay neutral makes zer an important advisor to the elders and the chief of zer tribe. Benson, as a retired detective, feels like he's obligated to help find the culprits who would wish war between the two races.

Benson and Kexx are similar in many ways and they form an easy friendship. Their respect for one another only grows as they work and fight together. Kexx is envious but hesitant of all the new technology the human race brings. As for Benson, he gains a strong appreciation for the connection the aliens have with their land. This simple friendship is a symbol of a strong future.

I'm really happy Benson and Theresa are still together, and now married instead of having a secret relationship. I guess there was no need for secrecy anymore since Benson retired from the force. Oddly enough, they are separated for most of the book. While Benson is investigating the attack, Theresa, as chief constable, is trying to control the rising tension and protests in the human city after the death of some of their own in the alien attack.

I really enjoyed the way the author combined everything together. It's obviously a sci-fi novel, but it also has mystery, adventure, and action. The author is also very good at keeping things light with humour and camaraderie between characters. I highly recommend this book. Even if it can be read as a stand-alone, it would be a good idea to read the first book. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Apparently, it will be set 15 years in the future and I really hope to read more about Benson, his wife Theresa and obviously his new atlantian friends.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

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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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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 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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Posted by Tynga at 03:52

 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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Posted by Tynga at 03:30

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

The Claiming by Jayne Faith and Christine Castle

I was quite disappointed with this fourth and final book of the Sapient Salvation series. What started off as a good story in book one and two, turned into a mediocre and predictable ending. I felt rushed throughout the book and like I was being led nowhere.

The characters, while we see emotions control most of their actions, never mature or evolve. Maya remains the innocent and timid girl we met in the beginning. While the authors would have us believe she has grown into a fierce woman with her interest in BDSM, it all seems fake and forced. Maya's interest in whips and floggers are simply to please Lord Toric and I just can't see it. Maya is too much of a submissive herself to dominate Lord Toric, the way he needs to be dominated. If the roles were reverse, I think I would believe that so much more, but as it stands, it just doesn't feel authentic. We never really see much in terms of bed play since the book is aimed more for the young adult and new adult crowds, but in my opinion, what's the point in brining up BDSM if you shy away from vanilla sex?

The whole series has been about the Calistan return to Earthenfell. The prophecy says that the time is near, however, as Lord Toric begins the steps for the return, the High Priestess is suddenly against him. For someone who truly believes in the prophecy, Lord Toric is quick to dismiss the leader of his faith, the one who is supposed to guide him through the process. For an alien race who is so advanced technologically and intellectually, you would think faith would be secondary instead of ruling their actions and emotions. In Lord Toric's case, his love for Maya is more important than his faith and while he still follows the steps of the prophecy, he is quick to dismiss everything else about his faith. For a leader to reject almost everything in the divine books, you have to wonder how his subjects will react to this. Personally, I'm not a religious or spiritual person, but the way everything played out with the prophecy and the Calistan faith, it's not right. You can't pick and choose what you like and ignore what you don't like.

I'm glad the characters did get their happily ever after. Lord Toric and Maya love each other, and even though they seem like the oddest couple, it's nice that love can triumph through difficult times. As I said, I was disappointed with the conclusion of this series. I think I was expecting something bigger and grander but it's almost as if the authors simply took the easy way out. My expectations were too high, but I'm glad I got to finish the series and that everything ends positively.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Christine Castle, Faith, Fantasy amp; Magic, Jayne Faith, Prophecy, Purchased, Review, Sapient Salvation #4, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published  Leave your mark

Hunted by Evangeline Anderson

I'm quite obsessed with this series. Honestly, it isn't great literary fiction but it is fun and entertaining to read when you're looking for a good romance book. Sci-fi romance is a guilty pleasure of mine and this second book of the series definitely delivers.

This book tell the story of Sophia and Sylvan. In this alternate reality, Earth is threatened by the Scourge, and evil alien race. Enter the Kindred, a warrior alien race that have sworn to protect Earth's inhabitants. On one condition: the Kindred females are very rare and so, the Kindred warriors need human brides in order to guarantee the survival of their race. This genetic exchange is mandatory for all unmated human females. For some, it's a dream come true. For Sophia, it's a nightmare.

Sophia has been scared to get close to anyone ever since she was attacked on her prom night. That horrible ordeal has followed her through adulthood, along with her fear of needles and pointy things. The worse possible thing for her would be to be claimed by a Blood Kindred. She probably wouldn't mind the Beast Kindred or the Twin Kindred, but luck has her being attracked to Sylvan, a Blood Kindred. A vampire-like sub-bread of the Kindred, Sylvan feels the urge to bite and bond Sophia to him forever. However, he knows Sophia is very afraid of him and his fangs so their relationship is a complicated one. Even more, Sophia is being hunted by the Scourge for some bizarre reason and Sylvan has sworn to protect her personally. That keeps them in close proximity for flames to burn and attraction to deepen. But still, they fight the bond between themselves, Sophia out of fear, and Sylvan out of honour.

Sylvan is your typical Alpha male hero and you couldn't ask for a better leading man. As for Sophia, she really got under my skin. Quite frankly, she's pathetic. Her fears are founded, but quite honestly, by now you would think she would have out-grown and tried to get over them. In my opinion, she's too weak, too sensitive and too tortured to be considered a good heroine.

This book is quite erotic at times but also has a good storyline. We're almost guaranteed a happily-ever-after but bumps along the way makes you doubt a good ending. If you can get over the tortured and teary-eyed heroine, this is a fantastic sci-fi romance. It has action, and evil antagonist and steamy love scenes. Great for the guilty pleasure shelf, however, not so great for feminism.

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Posted by Tynga at 04:35

 aliens, Brides of the Kindred, Evangeline Anderson, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, Review, Romance, sci-fi, Self Published  Leave your mark

The Hunt by Megan Shepherd

What a thrilling ride! I really enjoyed the first book of the series, but personally, I think this sequel is even better. I was in the mood for a good sci-fi novel and this book definitely delivered. It's entertaining, fast paced and intelligent.

After failing to escape The Cage in book one, Cora and her friends are scattered throughout a space station, where they're being held as prisoners. Mali, Lucky and Cora are prisoners of The Hunt, a safari and bar where some of the Kindred come to be entertained, while Rolf and expectant mother Nok are playing house while being scientifically scrutinized as part of an alien study. Leon could be considered the lucky one, still prisoner of the space station, but free to roam the ducts and working as a black market agent for Bonebreak, a Mosca. This unlikely band of humans was originally placed together in a cage, but now, despite being separated, they still form a strong bond. I think it shows the importance of solidarity and of human connection when it comes to surviving.

Despite the story being told from multiple views, Cora remains the main character, like she was in the first book. She's being trained by Cassian, a Kindred, in order to enter The Gauntlet, a series of tests that allow subjects to prove their race's intelligence. So far, there are only four intelligent species: Kindred, Mosca, Axion and Gatherers. Cassian, and a few other Kindreds, strongly believe in the Fifth of Five initiative; they strongly believe humans are the fifth intelligent race and he has made it his duty to help Cora pass the Gauntlet. If she succeeds, only then will humans be set free and no longer be slaves. In order to survive the Gauntlet, Cora must train her telekinesis abilities, but with such little time to get ready, she believes the only way to pass is by cheating.

The relationship between Cora and Cassian is a very interesting one. The Kindred are known to be a very cold race, rarely showing emotions, even when "uncloaked." Cassian has studied Cora for a while now, both on Earth and in the cage and it seems like he has developed some strong feelings for his research subject. Originally, Cora and Lucky were abducted as a mating pair, but a strong bond has formed between the alien and Cora. Some people might scream Stockholm syndrome, but I really believe there's something more to it. Cora seems to be using Cassian's feelings to take advantage of the situation, and even now, I have no clue what her true feelings are for her "captor." She probably has no clue how she feels either.

Lucky's story is a sad one. He truly believes he has a duty to protect and save the animals of the safari. He sees them as prisoners too, caged like he and his friends. They're all being used for entertainment or for research, and as fellow beings of Earth, he forms a strong bond with the animals under his care. While Cora might be the leader and the heart of the group, Lucky is the moral one. I wish Cora and Lucky could have discussed and planned more together, to avoid all the trouble they seem to be accumulating.

Ultimately, The Hunt, like The Cage, is a game of survival and human perseverance. The flow of the story is great, the characters are wonderful and I really like the direction the story is heading. I strongly recommend this book to any lover of YA science fiction books. I will definitely be looking out for book 3 next year!

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Posted by Tynga at 04:24

 Alien, Balzer amp; Bray, Harper Collins, megan shepherd, Purchased, Review, sci-fi, slave, The Cage  Leave your mark

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

This book is absolutely amazing. The world, the characters, the story, the writing... Everything about it is noteworthy. I thought the first book in the series was great, but somehow Golden Son was able to surpass it. In this sequel, the series heads for space and continues Darrow's mission to ultimately crumble the current society's hierarchy.

Now that the Institute is over, Darrow and his friends are thrown into real life situations and conflicts. The Institute may have been viewed as a "game" to some, but the characters soon realized that the Institute wasn't a game and enforced no rules. If the Institute taught them one thing is that life has no rules and only the resilient survive. Darrow may be fresh out of the Institute, but he's as intelligent and analytical as his superiors. He never imagined working under his arch nemesis's banner, but he figures it's probably the best way to play out his mission.

I'm not a big fan of violence in real life but I've gotten used to Pierce Brown's writing. It's brutally honest, and he while I'm sure he thinks twice about killing off important characters, no one's really safe. Death seems to follow Darrow, but his mission demands sacrifices, even if that means putting his friends and allies at risk. Darrow is a born leader. There's a quality in him that inspires people and makes them want to follow him, even if it's foolish. Eo saw this in him, even before everything started. She saw the potential he had, that he was born to be more than a Red miner, although I doubt she had this in mind for his future. In the end, she knew she had to sacrifice herself in order to motivate him, to inspire revenge and vengeance. Darrow's feelings for his murdered wife never seems to fade, and I find it very touching how much he still cares for her, despite the fact that she came from a very different world.

I love a good space novel for all the science and navigation details, but this series doesn't really need all the minor details of space travel and battles. The story is more about the characters and their own development. Darrow's inner dialogue is the root of the story and makes us understand his reason for persevering and suffering through the pain. I also really appreciate his continuously evolving relationship with Mustang. He definitely hesitates when it comes to Mustang, probably because he feels like he's cheating Eo's memory by getting close to someone else. Mustang has proven herself to him time and time again, and despite her family's reputation, would probably understand Darrow's situation. I kind of want the two of them to end up together, but then again, as a loner, Darrow could probably accomplish so much more.

Sevro is probably my favorite character. Darrow's most trusted advisor and ally, I consider them friends. Although, Sevro would probably hate the term friends. He leads the Howlers who are the unlikeliest but most cunning graduates of the Institute. It's Sevro's loyalty that I admire the most, and despite learning some of Darrow's most damaging secrets,  he still follows him. With Sevro, Darrow's goal to overturn society might just be possible. Darrow hopes to eliminate the coloured classes and free the bottom colours from slavery. I find it ironic how this coloured hierarchal society shuns demokracy despite being inspired by greek mythology and philosophy. As most of us know, ancient Greece is the birthplace of democracy which makes their system is so hypocritical and wrong.

Pierce Brown is a pure genius with words and storytelling. I'm sure the last book of the trilogy will be as thrilling and brutal as the first two. In a way, I'm glad it took me this long to discover this amazing series because this way, I've been able to read them back to back and avoid suffering the cliffhangers. If you want my opinion, this is the one series you have to read and finish this year. It's brilliant, brutally honest, and doesn't shy away from the truth.

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Posted by Tynga at 04:01

 Del Rey, Dystopian, Epic, Pierce Brown, Purchased, Random House, Red Rising, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Space  1 Person left their mark

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Red Rising is brilliant. I have no clue why I didn't read this book sooner because it's right up my alley. It's a science fiction and a dystopian book at the same time, but it feels like so much more than that. It's also about how deceitful humanity can be, the lies and the control leaders can have over their people if they don't know any better. The book is also about rebellion and the struggle for power, and how a simple dream can become reality, if only one works hard enough and believes enough.

Darrow was raised in a mining society where he knew he would always end up mining for Helium-3, a substance necessary to terraform Mars. His whole life, he was told he was a pioneer, helping shape Mars into a habitable planet once the terraforming process was done. The conditions of this mining society are unacceptable, but for Darrow and his family, it's all they know. With very little food and even less hygiene and medical products, these mining societies are expected to live out their short lives as slaves. Most of them don't realize that they're slaves. They truly believe they're pioneers, simply living in harsh conditions because they can't have any better. Darrow's wife, Eo, may not have known the whole truth, but she knew how they were living wasn't right.

Strangely enough, I personally live in a mining town where miners actually make a very decent living. Upper-middle class, if not better. They do hard work underground and are rewarded accordingly, so it's a little bit hard for me to associate mining to the low class. Darrow and the rest of the mining society are classified as Red, the colour of Mars, the lowest colour of in the societal hierarchy. Your colour is imbedded in your genetic code and switching colour is unheard of. So when Darrow's wife is taken from him and he's given the mission of infiltrating the Golds, the highest colour there is, he realizes through sweat and pain that switching colours might actually be possible. And this is how Darrow's slow rebellion again society and the Golds begin. After transforming his body and his mind, Darrow  is integrated into Gold society by being accepted in their Institute, where only the best and the brightest of Golds are accepted.

Between the Reds and the Golds, there are multiple colours, like Whites (Law), Greys (soldiers), Pinks (pleasure), Yellows (medicine and science), and so many more. As soon as society is separated into classes such as these, at some point or another there's bound to be a rebellion or a revolution. We've seen it countless times in dystopian books, but for some reason, the way it's done in this book feels original and unique.

I really like the fact that language and lingo was an integral part of this book. Language evolves with any society and I especially liked the fact that different lingo is used by different colours. For Darrow, he has to learn to say prime instead of righto, and gorydamn instead of bloodydamn. Also, weapons and technology are important and are given different names. People's names are also different, such as Darrow's assumed identity, Darrow au Andromedus.

As I said before, this book is brilliant. The author was able to give us an amazing story along with hard lessons and cold truths about humanity. The struggle for power is obvious through the different the colours but the author also shows us the fight for power within individual colours. The story is full of emotions and themes, whether it's love, anger, friendship, duty, and so many more. And everything is so authentic, everything feels real. Red Rising has been compared to many books like The Hunger Games and Divergent but I think it surpasses them all. Honestly, it's the best book I've read in a long time.

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Posted by Tynga at 04:00

 Del Rey, Dystopian, mars, Pierce Brown, Purchased, Random House, Red Rising, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction  Leave your mark

Starflight by Melissa Landers

I absolutely loved this book. It has everything a good sci-fi needs: a derelict ship with a group of outcasts for a crew, a space government conspiracy, space pirates and two young adults running away from the government and those space pirates. Fans of the TV show Firefly will love this book, and while it has many similarities, the actual story is very different.

The protagonist of the book, Solara Brooks, will do pretty much anything to get on board a ship that will bring her to one of the new colonies, on the outskirts of space. And that includes becoming a servant for Doran Spaulding, her high school bully and nemesis. Their servant/master relationship doesn't last very long as Solara cons her way out of it, in a very genius way. Solara is very clever and mechanically proficient, so fans of Firefly will compare her to Kaylee. As an orphan, she really didn't have many chances in life, and when she was just about to graduate from high school, she got into trouble and convicted for crimes she helped commit. In this world, every felon gets tattoos on their hands, advertising their crime and making it very difficult to find a job or be trusted. Solara hides her hands out of shame but the crew members of the Banshee slowly start to trust her, despite their knowledge of her shady past.

Solara is a survivor and a fighter. She will do just about anything to succeed in life, and she's not afraid to take chances. Doran Spaulding was born into an easy life. His father owns a very wealthy oil company and he's always taken advantage of his status to get what he wants. Solara turns his life upside down, and honestly, it's probably the best thing that's ever happened to him. Especially now that he's wanted by the government, Solara's street smarts come in handy quite a few times. Solara and Doran are the most unconventional pair, but for some reason, they work well together. They started off as enemies, became "cohorts" (their word, not mine) and then developed strong romantic feelings.

Honestly, the world the author created isn't crazy original. There are no alien life-forms--just humans traveling in space. However, the way it was executed was genius. Her story, the action and her amazing characters make Starflight stand out from the crowd. I really enjoyed the slow build and the fact the details were only revealed when they were absolutely necessary.

Fans of science-fiction will surely enjoy this one. It's an easy novel to read and it has just enough romance, action and science to make it a well rounded novel. The author will surely explore her universe a little bit more since she left quite a few questions unanswered. In the few hours that I spent reading Starflight, I fell in love with these characters so I definitely want to know what happens next.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:58

 Disney-Hyperion, Library, Melissa Landers, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Starflight, young adult  1 Person left their mark

The Awakening by Jayne Faith and Christine Castle

Jayne Faith and Christine Castle hooked me with their first book in this series. I think it's the cross between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor that makes things really exciting. I'm a big fan of The Hunger Games, but quite honestly, I hate the flakiness of The Bachelor. I think it's the terrifying idea of losing your life if you don't win the competition that makes things way more compelling than the fake TV show. In my experience, self-published books can be pretty hit and miss, but in this case, I really think the authors are on to something.

This book is so much more than a game of survival and a love story between the two main characters. It's also a story about two races coming together, despite their very different cultural views, and fighting for Earthfell's freedom. Maya is from Earthenfell and she is one of the Obligates fighting in the Tournament of the Offered. Toric is the Lord of Calisto and the Sacred Texts say that no Calistan can step foot on Earthenfell until the prophecy says so. The whole idea behind the Sacred Texts and the Calistan religion is a little bit confusing. I hope more is revealed in the upcoming book so that things may be clearer and complete. The authors may be holding back purposely, but either way, I'm sure more is to come.

The attraction between Toric and Maya is really sweet. I really hope we see their relationship grow, despite their differences. Toric's dark past and sexual needs shocked Maya but she's not that innocent anymore. The Tournament has hardened her and she's now ready to fight for her life, even if that means taking advantage of Toric's obvious infatuation with her. The newest challenge in the Tournament will be difficult for Maya, and I honestly didn't see this twist coming. I hate the fact the authors announced what the new challenge will be and ended the book on a cliffhanger. Since the next book might be coming out next month, I'm not too annoyed, but I'll still be waiting impatiently.

The rest of the characters add a lot of antagonism and mystery to the story. Akantha, the Mistress of Tournament, is a ruthless and jealous woman. Engaged to Lord Toric's brother, Jeric, she's jealous of Maya who seems to have enthralled both brothers. She's out to get Maya, and is willing to do whatever it takes for her to fail. Jeric is confused, and doesn't know his place anymore. As Toric's younger brother, he was once named heir when Toric was considered dead after being kidnapped for years. Now that Toric is back, he seems wandering without a path. I kind of feel sorry for him, even though I don't agree with some of the things he's done or said to Maya. Toric's mother is another player in the political game. We don't know much about her, and she hasn't really had a prominent role in the story yet, but I anticipate her having a bigger role in the coming book.

Overall, I think this was a decent sequel. I hate the cliffhanger we were left with, and quite honestly the book could have been a little longer. Many questions were answered, yet many more have arose. The series so many different genres, including romance, young adult, science fiction and paranormal that I'm sure it will please many reader. As a fan of all these genres, I think the authors have created a wonderful mix.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Alien, Christine Castle, future, Jayne Faith, Purchased, Review, Sapient Salvation, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published, young adult  2 People left their mark

Winter by Marissa Meyer

 

WINTER is here!

What an amazing conclusion to an epic series! WINTER is the book I've been waiting for all year and it didn't disappoint. With over 800 pages, it did take me a few weeks to complete, but it was definitely worth it. With The Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer has created a wonderful futuristic world and each novel is a reimagining of a well known fairytale. WINTER is slightly based off Snow White but this is definitely not the typical Disney fairy tale. It has spaceships, a revolution, an epic battle scene, a deadly plague and so much more. Of course it does have princesses, a king and a queen, and you can expect some romance but it's definitely not  your grandmother's fairy tales.

Marissa Meyer's futuristic and sci-fi world couldn't be more perfect, in my opinion. I think the main reason why her series is such a success is because of her attention to detail while creating this world and her characters. While Winter isn't my favourite character, her craziness does add something interesting to the story. Raised on Luna, a colony on the Moon that is lead by a less than desirable queen, Winter is hated by her stepmother, Queen Levana. Winter's natural beauty is admired by all, and Queen Levana could only hope to be admired that way. Queen Levana's scarred face has lead her to fool every one on Luna with her glamour and never shows her true face. Levana is outright jealous of Winter and she has done everything in her power to make life miserable for her stepdaughter. Winter's refusal to use her glamour has made her a little crazy, which doesn't really help her case. However, the people of Luna still adore Winter and that makes Levana even more furious.

While the other three books of the series tell the story of one character in particular, all storylines converge into one, in WINTER. Cinder has come to Luna to gain her rightful place on Luna's throne, while Scarlet and Cress are dedicated to their friend, and helping in anyway to achieve her goal. Levana's tyrannical rule has caused pain not only on Luna but has also threatened planet Earth's survival. With the Lunar plague still a threat to everyone, Cinder has to find a way to not only overthrow Levana, but also find a way to cure the plague that has killed so many people back on Earth.

And who could forget the four girls' love interests... Kai, Wolf, Thorne and Jacin all play a major roles in the series, but I love how the author made sure the girls are always the real heroes. Sure, the boys help a lot in fighting Levana's tyrannical rule, but they are able to win every little battles because of the girls' courage. One of my favourite characters actually remains Iko, Cinder's android and best friend. The comic relief the android provides is balanced just right with everything else that happens in the series. Also, the relationship Cinder has with Iko proves how Cinder cares for each and every personality, whether human or mechanical. In my opinion, that trait is a desirable one for any Queen to have, which gives us all the more reasons to believe in Cinder.

The epic battle scene near the end of the book is the beginning to the end. It's the cumulation of every event in this series and all characters have a particular role to play. So many fans have been waiting a long time to see what happens to these characters, and personally I wasn't disappointed. Marisa Meyer has succeeded in concluding her epic series in the most epic of ways. I'm very satisfied with this series and it's a must read for anyone who enjoys YA or sci-fi in general.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:45

 Feiwel amp; Friends, glamour, Macmillan, Marissa Meyer, Purchased, Retelling, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, spaceships, The Lunar Chronicles, werewolves, young adult  Leave your mark

Accidental Abduction by Eve Langlais

I wasn't sure if I should review this book for the blog or not, but honestly, since I got hooked in the first few minutes, I decided it might be worth sharing. For a sci-fi romance, it's highly entertaining and has so many laugh out loud moments. The characters are very enjoyable with their intense chemistry and snappy conversations.

It all begins with Megan about to drown in the open water, who was left there by her boyfriend, planning to kill her for her money. At first, she thought the bright light was heaven calling her, but then she quickly realized that she was being abducted by an alien ship, along with many fish and marine life. Actually, Megan doesn't seem too worried about being abducted. In her place, I guess I wouldn't be either since the only other option would be death. But to her benefit, her open mind and accepting personality, helps her survive something that could have been really traumatic for someone else. I love her initial description of her captor as "Han Solo on crack" and her multiple one-liners.

It wasn't Tren's intention to abduct the "barbaric female" from planet Earth. As an ex-mercenary turned acquisition specialist, his intention was to acquire some of Earth's marine life since the planet's barbarians were killing off some of their species with their destructive ways. At first, he decides to sell her off in the first available auction but her snarky mouth and curvy body makes him want to keep her all for himself.

Their sexual chemistry is definitely palatable. Tren might have purple skin and a few different body parts but he and Megan prove that their species are completely compatible. Both physically and emotionally. It doesn't take time for Tren to sample what Megan has to offer (it's not his fault since she's the one always bringing it up). Apparently all it takes is a few sips of a very potent wine to get things started.

It's only when Megan is abducted by someone else that Tren realizes he truly has some feelings for his barbaric human. Despite their differences, they do fit as a couple. Their intense chemistry and entertaining banter only proves their compatibility. Even though the story is primarily an erotic romance, it still has enough sci-fi elements and a good storyline to satisfy my need for a good story to go along with the rest. Literary wise, it's nothing amazing but overall, the novella length story was so  entertaining, I started reading the second book of the series immediately. Eve Langlais is definitely on to something with her purple aliens because they are definitely sexy and skilled (as warriors and lovers).

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Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 abudction, Alien Abduction, aliens, erotic, Eve Langlais, Purchased, Review, Romance, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Self Published  4 People left their mark

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

 

This book is brilliant. I was a little hesitant at first because of its unconventional format but once you get the hang of it, it's amazing. ILLUMINAE is a very original take on space exploration, especially since it's a story that's not told in prose, but in a collection of transcripts, reports, messages and various visual aids. You would think the plot would be difficult to follow, but on the contrary, it's actually very easy to read. The authors must have thought long and hard about how to play out certain scenes, and while some were a little more confusing than others, it's all very cohesive.

I was a huge fan of the TV show Battlestar Galactica and I'm assuming these authors were too. Although they are similar in genres, they are completely different stories. ILLUMINAE sheds light on the destruction of Kerenza, a mining world, by a competing mining company called BeiTech. The survivors were evacuated by three spacecrafts, helping them flee from the BeiTech spacecraft. However, BeiTech isn't the only enemy they have to survive. They also have to deal with a crazy Artificial Intelligence controlling the main battleship and find a way to survive a deadly and mutating pathogen that makes the infected go insane. Through all this, Kady and Ezra find a way to connect, even if they are on different ships. Although Kady had broken up with Ezra the morning of the bombing of Kerenza, they soon realize that working together may be the only way to help each other--and the rest of the fleet.

Although Kady and Ezra are physically separated throughout the book, that doesn't seem to bother them too much. It's almost as if their relationship on Kerenza was doomed, but now, as they're thrown into wartime and separated by a deadly vacuum, their relationship only grows stronger. Their short conversations through hacked communication lines are full of banter and teasing. You can really see how these two care deeply for one another. It might just be because their relationship is the only normal thing they have left to hang on to, or it's the only way they can cope with everything they lost, but somehow, they manage to stick and work together to save as many people as they can.

The pathogen that's a threat to the whole fleet is a little bit to far fetched for me. Scientifically, I don't think it's really possible, but who knows, since the book is set more than five centuries into the future, maybe viruses and bacteria have evolved into super(supersuper)bugs. I guess it doesn't help that some scientists are suspected to have had a hand in creating this superbug, which gained the ability to mutate very fast.

This book isn't for the faint of heart. So many people die, and personally, I think they authors killed off to many characters for my taste. As soon as I started to enjoy reading about a certain character, they were killed off. Gone! Some descriptions are also quite bloody and gory and I'm thankful I only had to read it and not see it.

This book was published as a young adult novel, probably because the two main characters are teenagers. However, I honestly think anyone who's a fan of the genre will enjoy this book. Sure the swearing is censored out (and there's a lot of censoring) but anyone who can fill in the blank can use their imagination to read it as if it wasn't censored. The format is pure genius, and the book is deceptively big with its 600 pages. Despite the large page count, it actually reads really fast. If you're going to read this book, I honestly believe only a physical copy will do it justice. I'm a huge fan of e-readers and tablets but I really think this book deserves to be enjoyed visually, and a paper copy is the only way you can appreciate it to its fullest. Whatever copy you end up with, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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Posted by Tynga at 00:01

 Amie Kaufman, epidemic, Jay Kristoff, Knopf Books for Young Readers, military, Purchased, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Space, The Illuminae Files, young adult  5 People left their mark

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

This book is definitely original. I guess when you combine a master of Fantasy with a master of Sci-fi you're bound to get something amazing. True enough, I've never read anything by Baxter so this was a good way to introduce me to his work. I've read one book by Pratchett, which happens to be another collaboration with one of my favourite authors, Neil Gaiman. In my opinion, Baxter plus Pratchett equals creative genius. That being said, I don't know how to categorize this book because it combines the two genres so effortlessly, that it can be placed in either one.

I really didn't know what I was getting into when I first started reading The Long Earth. Put simply, the book is primarily about a young man called Joshua who is travelling thousands and millions of parallel earths along with an artificial intelligence human called Lobsang. The ability to travel between the different Earths more or less became a worldwide phenomenon on Step Day, the day kids built steppers (the apparatus that allows most people to travel between Earths) and disappeared. For most, stepping between worlds is a nauseating ordeal but for Joshua, it's done effortlessly and even without a stepper. I guess you could say no to world is alike, some very similar, others completely different. New species of animals are being discovered, along with "new" hominid species that also have the ability to step. Some worlds are dangerous, while other are boring.

The main storyline is definitely Joshua's but you also get to read the point of view of many other characters. Personally, I'm never a fan of multiple point of views and this book is no exception. The various point of views makes it difficult to really get hooked by the book, but in this case, definitely important to understand how stepping has affected various people. However, once Joshua's story is established, the book is really hard to put down. I mean, who could put it down when you have two explorers travelling in an airship across the earth and through parallel universes at the same time?

I'm afraid true fantasy and sci-fi fans won't be able to fully appreciate this book. Personally, I really enjoyed it and I think it's the beginning of a great series. I think The Long Earth is simply an introduction, and things haven't really started yet. All series must start somewhere and this book is definitely a great introduction.

Personally, I think this collaboration is mind-blowing. The idea of parallel universes is obviously something that has been done before, but besides that, the rest of the book is by far one of the most original books I've read in a long time. The creativity behind every little detail is astounding and I'll be reading the next books as soon as possible.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:12

 evolution, Fantasy, Library, parallel universes, parallels, Random House, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett, The Long Earth, Transworld  Leave your mark

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

This book is quite out there but I was hooked right from the start. Alien abduction isn't an original concept but the ideas in this book are far fetched enough to be innovative and entertaining. From the writer of The Madman's Daughter trilogy (which I still haven't read), The Cage is Megan Shepherd's  first book of a new trilogy about alien abductions, love, deceit and survival.

The introduction to the characters and their new habitat is perfect because we're as confused as they are about their situation. Abducted from Earth, five strangers are place in a fake environment, expected to follow the rules set by their captor, who calls himself Caretaker. Caretaker, who's name is actually Cassian, is definitely not human, but has a human shape and some human features. For some odd reason, Cora is mildly attracted to her captor, even though she would never admit it to her fellow prisoners. At first, the five humans learn to live together in their fake and experimental setting but Cora never gets comfortable enough to ignore the black windows which are placed everywhere for surveillance and evaluation.

The whole concept of holding humans in a (rather large) cage, like we would animals in a zoo, is quite frightening. Personally, I've never been able to watch Big Brother because I find it almost barbaric. I don't care if the Caretaker says it's to save and protect the human race. Cassian is part of the Kindred, a race they believe are more "intelligent" than humans because of their psychic and telepathic abilities. The Kindred's goal with the experiment is obviously not just to protect Cora and her new friends. They must have a secondary agenda and Cora is determined to escape, no matter what it may be.

The book has multiple point of views so we really get to see this world through every captive's eyes. Cora, however, is the main point of view and main character and she's in fact the most rebellious prisoner. She defies the rules set for "their own good" and tries to reason with the other prisoners who eventually seem to surrender. At first, she thinks Lucky, a boy she forms a bond with, might be willing to help her, but his lies and hidden knowledge about her Earth life makes things a little awkward. Even more so, her Stockholm Syndrome attraction to Cassian makes things even more awkward between Cora and Lucky.

The weird relationship between Cora and Cassian is interesting to follow. At first, I didn't really know what to make of it. Cassian seems genuinely interested in Cora's safety, but it's obvious he has deeper motives. The Stockholm Syndrome thing is a little cliché, but entertaining none the less. Oddly enough, I didn't know whether to care about Cassian who seems actually really nice, or be disgusted by the whole affair.

My one concern with the rules of their captivity is that the prisoners are expected to copulate in order to keep the human race alive. Honestly, a little bit too much for a YA novel, in my opinion. Some characters cave into the pressure, more out of attraction than duty, but still, I hated seeing them forced together for some larger purpose. Teens are pressured enough in this day and age that they don't need to be forced to have sex in order to survive. A real scientific experiment would have let things take a more natural course.

The Cage is dark and twisted enough to be really interesting. I love a good sci-fi, especially when it's heavily influence by science. In this case, this human social experiment is a little extreme but I love it none the less. The characters are tested mentally, physically and intellectually. Their reactions in this experiment are actually quite realistic and I would hate to see if tested for real, would human really be that deceitful when it comes to surviving. Megan Shepherd may have experimented with a new genre and in my opinion, she succeeded in taping into the sci-fi genre. I can't wait for the sequel!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:43

 Abduction, aliens, Balzer amp; Bray, Harper Collins, megan shepherd, Purchased, Review, sci-fi, Science Fiction, Space, The Cage, young adult  9 People left their mark