Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Published January 29th, 2013
Putnam Juvenile
371 pages (Hardcover)

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Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games? (From Goodreads)

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Prodigy didn't do it for me.  I get the love for it, but it just didn't quite work for me.

My biggest concern with Legend was the characters.  I can't say Prodigy really solved those concerns for me.  I still didn't buy in to either Day or June.  I still felt like the characters were older than the writing suggested they were.  It's a difficult thing to explain, but neither character felt *real*.  I didn't feel a connection with either. 

The romance did improve slightly.  I'm still not digging the insta-love, but there is at least some tension now.  The tension comes in the form of a love triangle (Rectangle?  Quadrangle?), which isn't fantastic but at least it added some tension.  Seriously, these two are just a pair of horny teenagers and their insta-love makes no sense to me.  Hookup?  I get it.  Undying love?  I need some serious convincing.

The world-building was all over the place.  You thought you knew what was happening, then you didn't and then we're on another track.  It worked though.  The society here is complex and each country and group has a different perspective on the situation.  I found it a little confusing, but it definitely worked.  Similarly with the plot, it was back and forth.  One minute the Elector is to be hated, then loved, and back and forth until I just gave up trying to figure out where the story was going.

And I was *sooo* bored for a good half of the book.  Nothing was happening and I just wanted some action or something.  I am shocked that I actually finished the book.  I was a good two/thirds through the book before I got interested whatsoever, and you know what got me interested?  ACTION and RELATIONSHIP TENSION.  Serious.  If it weren't for the "oh-no-he-didn't" moment at the very end, I'd likely give up on the series here.

Prodigy didn't work for me.  There was a brief chunk that I did really enjoy, and it was mostly because shit was hitting the fan.  Fans of Legend will likely enjoy the sequel.  As for me, I am going to give Champion a shot, if only for the events of the last couple of chapters in Prodigy.

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Published November 29th, 2011
Putnam Juvenile
320 pages (Hardcover)

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What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. 

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.  (From Goodreads)

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Legend was an interesting dystopian read that I'm surprised I didn't pick up earlier.  I wouldn't call it a favourite, but Legend made for an enjoyable read.

I think the characters were the problem for me.  Did anyone else get the sense that June and Day were a lot older than 15?  Their attitudes and actions and words made me think that they were a lot older.  I was picturing them as 17/18/19 year olds.  I can't quite pinpoint what it was, but the characters just did not mesh for me.  Day was supposed to be a badass criminal type, but he was injured for a large portion of the book.  June was obnoxiously smart in a way that seemed unrealistic.  The relationship in this book seemed way too insta-love for my liking.  Overall, the characters just didn't do anything for me.

The world-building was good.  It is a well constructed dystopian society with an oppressive and controlling government.  Aspects of it have a realistic quality.  The trials, climate change, influence of disease and application of eugenics all worked together and felt like something that could actually happen.  I'm excited to see more in future novels.

The story started good, then slowed down quite a bit.  I found myself a little bored for a while and wishing that something would happen.  I get that there were plot twists developing, but I was getting a little impatient.  The ending picked up again because ACTION.  There was enough action at the end to leave me wanting more.

Overall, I enjoyed Legend.  Fans of the dystopian genre should definitely give this book a try.  That being said, I expected a little something more from the characters.  I'm hoping with some more character development, future books in the series will impress me more.

Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Published October 22nd, 2013
HarperCollins
526 pages (Hardcover)

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One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. (From Goodreads)

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This review is spoiler-free.  I will also be posting a discussion filled with spoilers soon (after more people have a chance to read).

To be quite honest, I was a little disappointed.  Allegiant didn't quite reach the caliber that the last two did for me.  That being said, I thought the ending was perfect.

Allegiant continues shortly after the end of Insurgent.  Their world has been completely uprooted and everything they knew was a lie.  That leave a lot of place where the book could be headed.  And the direction it went in was okay, but it felt like there was too much info-dumping going on.  By book three of a trilogy, I want action and resolution.  I got that, but there was so much mush in between that I want so badly to skim over.  Ultimately, I think the world made less sense after all of this than before.

And that's where Allegiant lost me.  I couldn't find the wow-factor that made the book impossible to put down.  Divergent and Insurgent both had it.  Allegiant did not.  I never felt that urgency to keep reading.  What kept me going was the suspicion that I had figured out the ending (which I had).

The ending is what bumped my opinion of Allegiant up.  I'm going to talk about this more in my spoiler-y discussion post, but I thought the ending was perfect.  It wrapped the story up nicely and left me satisfied as a reader.  I feel completely satisfied, and not left with wide-open question.  To me, his was a great ending for the trilogy.

In addition to the ending, the characters remain great.  The emotions covered in this book alone are spectacular, and, again, I was left satisfied with what became of them.  In particular, I loved the addition of Tobias' perspective.  His narration felt so different from Tris and being inside his head was a treat.

Overall, the ending is what made the book for me.  I had my issues, but I would still recommend this trilogy to anyone.

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Published May 7th, 2013
Putnam Juvenile
457 pages (Hardcover)

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After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. (From Goodreads)

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Overall, while The 5th Wave did not meet my expectations, it was a great book with an admirable originality.

This is a fresh take on aliens.  There is so much room to go when writing about aliens, but minus a couple of exceptions, I've never really gotten into alien stories.  The originality here is awesome though.  It keeps you guessing about these aliens until the very end, and that definitely draws the reader into the story.  The integration of the alien apocalypse adds another dimension to this complex story.  

I really enjoyed the alternating POVs used in this story.  Here's yet another dimension to the story.  Each character had an interesting way at looking at this world around them, and, frankly, the story is way to complex to not have multiple perspectives.  I think Ben's was my favourite perspective to read.  I found myself excited to get back to his story.  Plus, Ben is 50% action, 50% deep emotional turmoil.  I likes this.

So, why did The 5th Wave not meet my expectations?  I think this is an example of how too much hype can be a bad thing.  There was so much hype surrounding this book that I expected to completely love it.  There are slow parts though, and that discouraged me a bit.  It's a solid book, but the pace dragged it down a bit on me.

Ultimately, The 5th Wave is a great book that has the makings of being the next epic series.  If you haven't already done so, I suggest giving The 5th Wave a try!

Review: Fragments by Dan Wells

Published February 26th, 2013
Balzer + Bray
564 pages (Hardcover)

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Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means--and even more important, a reason--for our survival. (From Goodreads)

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To sum it up, this book had problems, but still managed to break my heart, throw me for a loop, and invest me even further into the series.  I should mention that I also threw my book at one point, which is the way you know that I'm into the story.

This book did start slow.  It took me a while to get back into the story and remember the complexity of this world.  As far as world-building goes, it only gets more complicated and confusing, so be warned of that.  However, that complexity was balanced by being interesting.  It became a mystery.

Not a lot of character development happened here.  Kira still sees her world as very black-and-white, refusing to accept any middle ground on anything.  Marcus becomes more of a secondary character.  The complete lack of emotion between the two was kind of sad, which leaves me with hope for my favourite character, good ol' supersoldier Samm.  We actually do see development in him, with the gradual increase in emotions and whatnot.  I loved him before, and I love him even more now.

After that slow start, the plot picked up with lots of twist and turns.  Some were expected, some weren't, and they ultimately set up for what should be a great third book.  The ending was my favourite part, and I really enjoyed the last about 100 pages.  This was the point when shit really hit the fan and my emotions got screwed with.  The ending will leave you pissed off and wanting more.

Fragments is a great sequel to Partials (review), and I can't wait for book three, Ruins.  I fully recommend this series, but will say this: a reread will likely be needed before Ruins comes out, simply as a reminder of the crazy science Wells has brought to life.

Much love, Samantha

"Waiting On" Deception

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week I am excited for...

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.  (From Goodreads)

I had extremely mixed feelings about Defiance (see my review here!).  I loved parts and hated others, but the series did have potential.  I'm interested in giving Deception a read, which will hopefully throw me of the fence!  Deception is out on August 27th, 2013.  Plus, I still like the covers.

Much love, Samantha

"Waiting On" Allegiant

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week I am excited for...

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent. (From Goodreads)

Normally I like to chose a book with an actual synopsis for this meme.  However, I'm running short on time this week (got to love when your coworker quits and you have to cover her hours plus your own and your summer class...), so I'm picking the obvious!  I am pumped for this one.  Insurgent had an ending that was part cliffhanger, part meh and I really want to see how this series plays out.  The long, and I mean looong wait is over on October 22nd, 2013.

What are you waiting on?

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Icons by Margaret Stohl

Published May 7th, 2013
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
448 pages (Hardcover)

Your heart beats only with their permission.
Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future. (From Goodreads)

The idea behind Icons is fantastic.  Aliens have taken control of Earth.  Great, I love dystopian.  I like aliens.  We're all set.  Unfortunately, I don't feel that that fantastic idea panned out.

The world that was created was very confusing.  Some parts were explained thoroughly  while others weren't.  Events were mentioned without any explanation whatsoever, yet it still felt like a ton of the book was dedicated to world-building.  It got confusing and frustrating trying to make sense of everything.

Dol wasn't my favourite characters ever.  In fact, she might be one of my least favourite characters ever.  She was scatterbrained and confusing and didn't make me want to read the book.  The rest of the characters were fine.  I actually really enjoyed Ro, Lucas and Tima.  I also enjoyed the "superpower" aspect of the story, and the way that was ingrained with their personalities.

World-building was this book's downfall.  There were just too many question and too few answers.  Maybe future books will remedy this, but for now, I am left unsatisfied.

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published February 5th, 2013
HarperCollins
469 pages (International Paperback)

Juliette's world is beginning to unravel.
Everything is falling apart changing.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point-the headquarters of the rebel resistance. There she discovers other people with abilities. Abilities they have learned to control. And for the first time in her life, Juliette has hope. Hope that she can have a life with Adam. Hope that her touch can be used to save instead of destroy.

But Juliette is only just beginning to understand the depth of her power, and she's struggling to fight the desire to use it. She's still haunted by her past, terrified by her future, and too tempted by Warner, who still wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart-and Adam's life. (From Goodreads)

I must start by saying that I am 100% Team Adam.  Yes, you read that right.

I must also say that I did not read Destroy Me, the novella set between Shatter Me and Unravel Me, but intend to do so soon.

But holy crap, Tahereh Mafi writes a good book.   Non-stop action and a love triangle that didn't irritate the crap out of me!

When I say non-stop action, I mean it.  There was always some sort of drama going on, which made it impossible to set this book down.  The story would calm down and take off again right away.

At one point, Kenji (who is pure awesome) criticizes Juliette for living in her land of perpetual self-pity, which is pretty much what I kept thinking up to that point and through to the end.  It does start to get a little old, even though it's essential to her character.  The spin at the end suggest that we may get a little less of this with book three.

As far as all our other characters go, I have no complaints.  There are some good twists that I didn't see coming.  Like I said, I much prefer Adam and his self-brooding.  Warner hasn't won me over yet, but I like the contrast to Adam.

For a series I though I was going to dislike when I read Shatter Me last year, I'm hooked.  This dystopian setting is simple, yet complex, while being different from the rest of the pack.  Add Mafi's lyrical writing, and you've got a winner!

Much love, Samantha

Top Ten Tuesday: Best of Dystopian

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful ladies over at

The Broke And The Bookish!

This week, the topic is...
Top Ten Favourite Dystopian Authors

Dystopian is one of my favourite genres, and all that likely stems from when I read 1984 by George Orwell in the 11th grade.  Since then, I have read some great dystopian, and some not-so-great dystopian.

So let's start with the great.  Suzanne Collins has set the standard for modern day dystopian with The Hunger Games.  Veronica Roth's Divergent series is great, mostly because I love a boy who can handle a gun.  That statement can extend to David Macinnis Gill's Black Hole Sun.  Veronica Rossi seemed to know exactly what I like when she wrote Through the Never Sky.  Moira Young must have done something right to have me drooling so badly in anticipation for Rebel Heart.

Then there are the authors who are awesome, but I need to read more of before they reach the above caliber.  Kimberly Derting's The Pledge was great, but I honestly have not read anything else by her.  Lauren Oliver and Tahereh Mafi similarly wrote great books, but I just need a little something more.

Then there is Beth Revis.  Does her Across The Universe series actually count in dystopian, or just sci-fi?  Regardless, she made the list.  She's that good.

As an honourable mention, I'm including Ally Condie.  Personally, I really, really did not enjoy Matched, but I seem to be in the minority.  Therefore, she must be doing something right.

So, there is my top ten.  What do you think?   Anyone you disagree with, or would have added?

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Published November 1st, 2010
Dutton Juvenile
366 pages (Hardcover)

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. (From Goodreads)

 I'll start with about the only positive thing I have to say here... I really like the cover.

I didn't hate this book, but I did not enjoy it.  I forced myself to finish Matched, despite having no interest whatsoever.

For a dystopian novel, it really wasn't exciting.  In my eye, action is a requirement for good dystopian.  The whole point is the battle against oppression, and I wasn't feeling it.  At all.

The setting and story line felt like a rehash of every dystopian ever.  The characters weren't dynamic.  The "love triangle" held no drama.  It's been a while since I have had to struggle so much to get through a book.

To be fair, this was written before many of the dystopian-style novels that I love, so my vision may be a bit jaded.  However, my point stands.  Good dystopian should be able to stand the test of time (think 1984).  Matched will likely end up as a series I will never finish, and I am okay with not knowing what happens to Cassia, Ky and Xander.

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published November 1st, 2011
Allen & Unwin
338 pages (Paperback)

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. (From Goodreads) 

From what I had heard, I really wasn't expecting to enjoy this book nearly as much as I did.  Shatter Me offered an interesting, yet simple, take on a dystopian society, and left me craving more.

Shatter Me has a very lyrical/poetic feel to the writing.  A lot of detail when into descriptions of settings, feelings, etc.  Personally, I prefer the writing to be more blunt and to the point.  That being said, I completely understand why the book is written in this manner, and will admit that it suits the book.  This is exactly how Juliette would have narrated a book.

It took a  long time for me to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked.  I actually didn't want to put it down.  The ending left me very curious to know what would happen next, and what was next for Juliette.

Book two, Unravel Me, is due out February 2013.

Much love, Samantha
P.S. I much prefer the new cover design.

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

April 24th, 2012
HarperTeen
327 pages (Hardcover)

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. (From GoodReads)

I wasn't going to read this.  Then I did.  I can't decide whether I hate or adore this book.

The Bad
Let me start on the names, which is likely my biggest problem with this book.  America is a stupid name.  It's that simple.  Yeah, symbolism and blah, blah, blah.  If I liked symbolism, I would be an English Literature major right now.  But I'm a Nursing major.  So, I stand by the fact that America is dumb name.  Maxon, while not as bad, is still a bad name choice.  Aspen is a tolerable choice, but is this honestly the best Kiera Cass could come up with?  And, somehow, all the other girls end up with reasonable names?  I just don't get it.

Next problem: we have rebels but no action.  Seriously, we're going to get attacked by these rebels and have zero action involving ANY of the characters?  I just don't understand this.  Even if we're setting up for future books, why was the best action in this book when some chick slapped Celeste?  Again, I just don't get it.

More problems: the whole background of how this society developed is flawed, I don't get the whole princess thing and kept picturing the girls lounging in sweatpants, and America's character as a whole was kind of unrealistic and stupid.

The Good
Yet, despite all my problems with this book, I got so wrapped up in the story that I flew through it!  I legitimately wanted to know what was going to happen next.  Which is probably what confuses me most, because I have no idea why?!?!

I did like the character of Maxon.  Yes, he was also rather stupid (what future king just doesn't know that half his people are starving), but he had his moments where I was like "Hmm, I want a friend like him."

And what kind of ending was that?  I don't know what to say that won't spoil the ending but I couldn't decide if I was happy (Team Maxon) or 100% pissed.

*sigh* There is my rather long review, but I had a lot of feelings about this book.  And after writing this out, I still don't know whether I love or hate it.  Let me know what you thought of The Selection!

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

February 1st, 2011
HarperTeen
480 pages (Hardcover)

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.

 What took me so long to pick up this freakin' book?!?!

Instantly I related to Lena.  She felt mediocre next to Hana, but was afraid to step out of line.  She had been taught to be one way, and was scared to embrace another way of life.  And I do not blame her.  I would have been that same.  I need that extra push to step out of my comfort zone.

And Alex!  Oh god, that romance was almost disgustingly cute.  Ah, first loves, not that I would actually know...

Overall, I really liked it.  Medicalization is one of my favourite topics.  It amazes me how anything can be turned into a disease.  So you say you feel sad today?  Here's some anti-depressants.  It's part of the reason I want to get into the pharmaceutical industry.  I hate how there is big money in medicating life.

Anyways, good thing I have Pandemonium right here.  Expect that review to be up soon!

Much love, Samantha

Book Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Published February 7th, 2012 by Atom
376 pages (Hardcover)

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.
DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. 

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. 

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. 

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers. (From GoodReads)

Let me start by saying that this book definitely lived up to all the hype.  Like seriously.

It started out a bit complicated and difficult for me to grasp, but once it got going, I don't think I put it down!

I loved Perry from the second he was introduced as wearing leather pants and no shirt.  It's like Veronica Rossi knew exactly what I like in men.  Aria grew on me through the novel.  I really wanted to like her, but it took me a while to get there.  Attachment to the characters is really important to me.  I enjoyed how the chapters flipped between our two main characters.  It's great to see the perspective from both sides, especially when they come form such different backgrounds and lifestyles.  It helps the reading understand the world so much better!

In the end, whether you like dystopian novels or not, you gotta read this book.

Much love, Samantha