Ashfall by Mike Mullin Review

Title: Ashfall (Ashfall #1)

Author: Mike Mullin

Genre: Young Adult, Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic

Page Count: 466 pages

Publish Date: October 11, 2011

Book Type: Kindle galley from Netgalley 

Publisher: Tanglewood Press

ISBN: 9781933718552

 

From Goodreads: Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

My Review: Oh I really enjoyed this book. One thing is for certain, if I was in Alex’s situation, I would totally be dead. What he went through was absolutely awful. I cannot imagine having to go through any of that. While this was a long book, the pacing was done very well, so it never felt like a long book--if that makes sense.

I was amazed, but I guess not that surprised, at how quickly the society crumbled. In Ashfall, there were the people who completely fell apart, the people who thrived, and then everyone else who were sort of in between. It was very interesting to see how the people a greater distance away from the supervolcano were handling it. I don’t want to say too much, because I think this is one that you should read for yourself, but the character development was pretty exceptional.  

One of my favorite aspects of this book was that I felt like I was really learning some survival skills while reading. I could definitely tell that Mike Mullin did his research, so I can’t wait to see what new skills Alex and the gang learn throughout the rest of the series. [Does anyone know if this is a planned trilogy? More? Just two?]

I’m so glad I have Ashen Winter waiting for me on my Kindle - I’m not sure I could wait until fall to read it!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver Review

Title: Delirium (Delirium #1)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Page Count: 480 pages

Publish Date: January 1, 2011

Book Type: Kindle Special Edition

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 9780061726828

ASIN: B00526ZKYS

From Goodreads:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My Review: I think I can pretty much say that I adore Lauren Oliver’s writing. First, Before I Fall and now Delirium. I need to read the sequel like yesterday. To me, Oliver has a very poetic style of writing. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it flows so well and it is somewhat elegant. Plus, both of her books that I have read were emotionally heavy. They sat with me for a very long time.

I also enjoy that Oliver really tries to have all of her characters have flaws. It can get kind of tiring reading about perfect characters, but you won’t really find that in Delirium... and it’s awesome. I am really anxious to see what some of my favorite characters are up to in Pandemonium. I should say anxious/scared. You’ll understand what I’m saying once you finish it. 


I feel like this review is super short, but I'm finding it really hard to say much without giving everything away. I'll leave it at awesome character development, fabulous world building, and beautiful writing.

I probably don’t need to tell you this, but you should read this book now. Warning: The ending is KILLER.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa Review

Title: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa @Jkagawa

Genre: Young Adult, Vampire, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic

Page Count: 480 pages

Publish Date: April 24, 2012

Book Type: Kindle galley from Netgalley, Signed Hardcover

Publisher: Harlequin Teen @HarlequinTeen

ISBN: 9780373210510

From Goodreads: In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.        Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die or become one of the monsters. Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad. Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike. But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

My Review: The cover model isn’t exactly how I pictured Allison Sekemoto to look, but I like how it’s essentially black and white with only the red accent. Plus, I read this book in two days--which for a 480 page book is pretty good for me. It was a pretty hard book to put down!

Julie Kagawa did something really smart here. She combined two of the most popular Young Adult genres: dystopian and vampires. This may seem like overkill, but it actually worked really well. I was starting to get sick of vampire books because they all seem to have a very similar Twilight-esque formula. This is why I absolutely adored the addition of the dystopian society.

The registered and unregistered humans in The Immortal Rules reminded me a lot of my favorite Young Adult vampire series, The Morganville Vampires, by Rachel Caine. This made me really excited and added an extra element of danger to the world Kagawa created. Kagawa is an amazing world builder and a master of character development. In all of her books, I can picture everything vividly. It makes the reading experience that much more enjoyable.

I really enjoyed the characters in The Immortal Rules. Allie was an excellent protagonist and pretty badass. Zeke was a complex character who made some very interesting choices. I want to get to know Kanin more because of his extremely rich history. I have a feeling we will get to know more about him in future books and that makes me so excited. The rabids in the book were pretty genuinely terrifying. I definitely wouldn’t want to face them.  

Overall, this is one of the best Young Adult vampire novels I have read in a long time. I’m impatiently waiting for the sequel!

Side note: The excerpt from the next Iron Fey novel was kind of awesome! 

Thanks to Harlequin Teen, NetGalley, and Julie Kagawa for this review copy. Also, a special thanks to Harlequin Teen and Julie Kagawa for the signed copy and Immortal Rules hoodie I won on Twitter! 

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter Review

Title: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)

Author: Aimee Carter @aimee_carter

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal

Page Count: 296 pages

Publish Date: March 27, 2012

Book Type: Kindle Galley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210459

From Goodreads: KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. 

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. 

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My Review: I am not quite as fond of this cover as I was of the first, but it is still fun. The tagline, “What if immortality isn’t forever?” is pretty intriguing. The tagline on The Goddess Test was “Become immortal or die trying,” so the contrast between Book 1 and Book 2 is pretty strong. In Book 1, everything was about becoming immortal and the journey there, while Book 2 seems to suggest that immortality might not be everything Kate had expected.

I loved how we got to know more of the characters throughout Goddess Interrupted. Persephone actually played a fairly large role which created some delicious tension between Henry and Kate. It was nice to be able to see the familial interactions between Kate, Persephone, and their mother as well.

Henry and Kate drove me nuts throughout much of the book, however, it didn’t detract from the story. There was tension between the two of them, but it was a good kind of tension. I’m telling you... sometimes I just wanted to shake them. If they would just talk about the issues they are having, half of the problems wouldn’t exist!  

The ending will leave you yearning for the next book in the series. Talk about an epic cliffhanger. Jeeze. Actually, there were a few moments throughout the book where I found my jaw dropping. Aimee Carter really stepped it up with the plot twists. 

Books based on Greek mythology get a big thumbs up from me!

Thanks to Aimee Carter, NetGalley, and Harlequin Teen for this e-galley!

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross Review

Title: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2)

Author: Kady Cross

Genre: Young Adult, Steampunk

Page Count: 416 pages

Publish Date: May 22, 2012

Book Type: Kindle Galley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 978-0373210534

From Goodreads: In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

My Review: Love this cover! That necklace/collar is crazy looking. Imagine having that thing strapped to you. The colors are also amazing.

I really enjoyed The Girl in the Steel Corset last year and was excited to enter the wonderful steampunk world again in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. This time, the gang traveled to New York City to try to save their friend Jasper after he was arrested at the end of Book 1. Naturally, nothing goes as planned and Finley, Griffin, Jasper, Sam, and Emily find themselves in the middle of trouble.

One of my complaints from Book 1 was that I felt the characters weren’t developed enough. This all changed in this book and I got to know them much more. Finley and Jasper were the two characters that the readers will really get to know. Some new characters were also introduced and I hope we get to see a few of them again. Although mentioned quite a few times, Jack Dandy wasn’t in the book. Maybe he will be in the next one.

The relationships were fleshed out some--although Finley and Griffin still drive me crazy. Just make it work, you two crazy kids. I had wished there was more Sam and Emily, but the moments that were there were completely precious. 

While I was able to predict the answers to some of the mysteries, the very end was actually pretty surprising. I didn’t see that one coming--you’ll have to let me know if you do. Hopefully some of the consequences will play out in the next book.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar was packed with action and adventure. It was really exciting and I had a hard time putting the book down. 

This sequel really solidified my love for steampunk and I cannot wait for the next book to come out! I’ll be glad for the trip back to London, even though I enjoyed them crossing the pond for a bit.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kady Cross and Harlequin Teen for this review copy!

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore Review

Title: The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2)

Author: Pittacus Lore, James Frey, Jobie Hughes

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Page Count: 406 pages

Publish Date: August 23, 2011

Book Type: Library Hardback

Publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 9780061974557

From Goodreads: I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

My Review: Like I Am Number Four, this one has a pretty cool cover. Very sci-fi. However, it did throw me because I assumed this book would be mainly about Six. I guess I didn’t read the description. Hah. Good one.

I’ll start by saying that I actually enjoyed this a lot more than the first in the series. I didn’t not enjoy the first one... I was just middling on it. This one I was actually pleasantly pleased with. Some of the aspects in the first that were a bit confusing made much more sense in this one and I found that I remembered many more details than I thought I would. I loved how this one had a lot more action and mystery. 

I also loved how the characters were fleshed out more, while we were still introduced to some new ones. I really like Six and I’m glad she was heavily featured. Sam will always be one of my favorite characters. He’s human and basically amazing. Four is such a flawed character, which is nice to see in a main character. He makes some really dumb decisions, but they are decisions I can kind of understand. Four, Six, and Sam make a pretty amazing trio. I’m kind of glad Sarah wasn’t around. Her relationship with Four is kind of mediocre to me. 

The Power of Six is told in alternating points of view--John (Number Four) and Marina (Number Seven). The writing style was very effective for this book. Just when something major would happen, the points of view would shift so the reader is left wondering what is going on with the other character. It kept me reading late into the night!

Overall, this is a pretty action packed book. There are numerous battles, adventures, and even deaths. Now I’m looking forward to the next one!

P.S. Bernie Kosar is still awesome. :)

What do you think of this series?

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe Review

Title: Happy Birthday to Me (Birthday Trilogy #1)

Author: Brian Rowe

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Humor

Page Count: 322 pages

Publish Date: April 11, 2011

Book Type: Kindle book provided for review

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781461071792

ASIN: B004VF69C8

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day! 

High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect. 

All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...

My Review: This cover just really makes me want cake. Mmm.

I really liked the main character, Cameron. He was, by no means, perfect, which is what made him so likable to me. It’s always fun to read books with a male protagonist--especially ones written by a male author. Different perspectives! 

I wish some of the supporting characters had been developed a bit more, but they were fun too! Sometimes it’s hard to really get to know secondary characters when a book is in first person. I found myself becoming attached to quite a few of the characters. I’m excited to revisit them in the next book, Happy Birthday to Me Again.

Happy Birthday to Me is really a classic story, but told in a fresh way. Aging was a new tool to bring about change in the main character, which was entertaining to read. Throughout the book, the story reminded me of Beastly quite a bit and I enjoyed that. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be the same kind of deal, but I liked the similarities. 

What would you do if you started aging a year each day? It would surely be terrifying.

Thanks to Brian Rowe for this review copy!

Hobin Luckyfeller's Fieldguide: Demoni Vankil by Jaime Buckley Review

Title: Hobin Luckyfeller’s Fieldguide: Demoni Vankil

Author: Jaime Buckley

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Page Count: 86 pages, 198 KB

Publish Date: September 21, 2011

Book Type: Ebook provided for review

Publisher: On the Fly Publications

ISBN: 9781614630067

ASIN: B005ONI5B4

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: An ancient puzzle box. 

Fourteen mysterious letters. 

A Council of Whispers. 

…and a clerk. 

Discover the 700 year old secret millions died to protect.

My Review: I love the font used for “Demoni Vankil.” It looks like it is scratched into the book. I also like how it looks like a leather bound book. Am I the only one who wishes that books were still made that way--with the fancy ribbon bookmark? Yeah? Probably.

I read Prelude to a Hero back in June and was very happy to be brought back into the world with Hobin Luckyfeller’s Fieldguide: Demoni Vankil. Although the characters were different, they were just as charming and I connected with them instantly. This book is set after Prelude to a Hero and is looking back on the events that happened before, during and after.  

Hobin Luckyfeller discovered a series of 14 letters that date back 700 years. During those 700 years, the accuracy of the events have gotten a little muddy and Hobin is delighted to be able to get a glimpse into the past (as was I).

Hobin was a great lead character. I loved trying to figure out the mystery and going through Eamon’s letters with him. After reading each letter, Hobin would share his thoughts and questions--I was pleased to see that I shared a lot of those thoughts and questions with him! 

I loved how each of the characters had distinct personalities. I felt like I really got to know Eamon through his letters and was racing through the book to see how his story ended. I’m fairly certain that I read this in one sitting if that is telling you anything.

This book has all of the qualities of a great mystery and a great fantasy molded together into a wonderful story. As a mystery and fantasy junkie, I couldn’t be more thrilled that those genres were combined!

Also, be sure to check out the website. A great resource for information on the series!

Thanks to Jaime Buckley for this review copy--I can’t wait to venture into this world again!

Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler Review and Tour

Title: Two Moons of Sera

Author: Pavarti K. Tyler

Genre: Young Adult/Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Size: 162 KB

Publish Date: October 11, 2011

Book Type: ARC provided for review

Publisher: Fighting Monkey Press

ISBN: 9780983876922

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one? 

All the Fun of YA written for Adults 

Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance and will be released in a serial format. The first volume is just shy of 20,000 words and will be priced at $0.99. Anyone who purchases it will receive all future volumes for free. However if you wait to get it until later, the price will go up with each addition.

My Review: The cover definitely fits the story--love that she’s underwater and I love the colors.

This is a short book, but Pavarti K. Tyler has decided to take the route of manga and comic books and distribute her story in sections. It’s actually pretty interesting. 

I love the Sera is a hybrid of the land-dwelling people and the water people. Like many teenagers, she isn’t quite sure where she fits in. She is also the result of cruel experiments. This aspect of the story kind of reminded me of The Hunted of 2060 (another fun, sci-fi book!).

Not too long into the story, Sera meets another person who is the result of experiments. It was nice to see Sera with someone who had similar qualities to her. She has been isolated with her mother for so long (her mother’s people abandoned her because of Sera being a hybrid) that she has been feeling a bit lonely.

I really enjoyed Tyler’s writing style. While reading, I could tell Tyler thoroughly enjoyed the world she created. The character building was strong, which could have been difficult with the novella. 

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the next stage of the story!

________________________________________________

A note from the author:
Order Your Copy Now

As a thank you to all of my amazing readers and supporters, I am hosting a month long rafflecopter giveaway on my blog!  Enter for your chance to win:

• A Gift Bag full of fun-tastic swag
• A $15 itunes gift card
• Ebook basket including:
• Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler
• The Dome by Nova Sparks
• Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
• The Mumbo Jumbo Circus by Jane George
• 10,000 word critique of your manuscript
• An Advanced Readers Copy of my upcoming novel Shadow on the Wall

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand Review and Tour

Title: Farsighted

Author: Emlyn Chand

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Page Count: 218 pages

Publish Date: October 24, 2011

Book Type: ebook provided for review

Publisher: Blue Crown Press

ISBN: 9780615524689

From Goodreads: Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all. 

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

My Review: The cover definitely depicts what is going on in the story, which is always a plus. I like that Alex has his “cool kid glasses” on! He would probably scoff at me using that term now, but I couldn’t help myself.

It was refreshing to get a different kind of main character here. 1. Alex is a boy, which is sometimes lacking in YA fiction. 2. Alex is blind, which is definitely lacking in YA fiction. I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard of another YA book with a blind protagonist. Correct me if I’m wrong, please.

Another interesting aspect of this book was that the author included a rune and corresponding prophecy at the beginning of each chapter. They acted as kind of a teaser for what was to come and it was fun to try to figure them out. For a minute, I felt like Hermione deciphering the runes in The Tales of Beedle the Bard during Deathly Hallows. 

I like how Alex comes into his gifts. It’s sort of a build up and it was fun to see him make the decisions about what to do with the things he saw. I also appreciated that romance wasn’t the main aspect of this book. Sure, it was in there, but it wasn’t the focus. Maybe this has something to do with the main character being male. Thinking back on my other YA reads with male protagonists, I don’t think their main focus is romance either. I’ll have to find more of these.

I really applaud Emlyn Chand for choosing to have a blind character. It could have been really awkward to read about, but Chand knew all of the right descriptive words to use. I’m excited for the next one!

Have you read this one? Does it sound like something you might want to read?

_________________________________________________

THE BOOK:  Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t.  When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author’s birthday). 

THE CASH PRIZES:  Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that. 


THE GIVEAWAYS:  Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.


THE AUTHOR:  Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky! 

MORE FUN: There's more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!