Early Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Taking
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: The Taking #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 29, 2014
Source: eARC
Find it Here: Amazon, Goodreads

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

My Thoughts:

Kimberly Derting has been one of my favorite authors for a very long time. I’m a huge fan of The Body Finder series and even though The Pledge wasn't that great for me, I was super excited when I found out she was releasing a new series! The Taking was literally the first book that I read this year! I was so excited about my ARC that I couldn't wait to dive right in.

The Taking is about a sixteen year old girl named Kyra who, after a softball game, suddenly disappears without a trace. She wakes up behind the dumpster of her local gas station 5 years later but it feels like the next morning to her. She’s still wearing her softball uniform and hasn't aged a day. Soon, a mysterious stranger starts showing up everywhere she goes and Kyra soon discovers that there is a lot more behind her disappearance than she originally thought.

Even though Kyra is a good main character I didn't feel all that emotionally attached to her. Everything that happens, her disappearance and reappearance, all happens so fast in the very beginning that you don’t really get a chance to become attached to the life that she had before. Most of the story is her struggle with accepting that everyone has moved on without her. We, the readers, don’t get the chance to know the Kyra before, we only know the person that Kyra becomes after she resurfaces.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Kyra and Tyler who incidentally is her “before” boyfriend’s younger brother. Since five years has now passed, Tyler is one year older than Kyra. They become really close throughout the book, both trying to figure out what happened to her. Tyler is really super cute! He always admired his older brother's girlfriend and now here she is, she hasn't aged a day and he has the chance to actually get to know her! I really like that he kind of always held a candle for her!

The plotting and the pacing of the book were a little bit slow at times, especially in the middle but it really kicks up towards the end, making me hopeful that book two will be an action-packed adventure. There was also a bit of a cliffhanger at the end which made me really excited! I don’t generally like cliffhangers but this one made me really anticipate the rest of the series! Oh, and since I wasn't super obvious about it, it’s about aliens which we definitely don’t have enough of in YA right now.

The Taking was a really great book to start the year off with and now in just a couple of weeks everyone can enjoy it as well! Not only was it a great start to a really exciting new series, it can really appeal to those readers who are new to sci-fi!

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 04, 2014
Source: ARC

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.
In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

My thoughts: 

It’s probably coming as no surprise that I’m just going to rave about Cress! Marissa Meyer and her Lunar Chronicles are very popular here in the blogging community and on Goodreads. Not only is she one fantastic writer but she is also so very nice in person! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.

I don’t know how it’s possible but I continually like the next book in the series more than the one before it. And since I thought that Cinder was an amazing re-telling of Cinderella and I gave it five stars, all the rest of the series has subsequently received 5 stars as well because they are epically amazing! I’m not going to go into a lot of details about Cress because I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

1. Characters: So good! Cress continues both Cinder and Scarlet’s story lines and manages to weave Cress into it! I also love Cress and her little romance that she’s got going on with someone I shall not name (even though it’s pretty obvious) and it’s totally the typical damsel in distress theme and it totally works! Cress totally reminds me of Rapunzel from Tangled just a little smarter and a little more naive.

2. Plot: It’s so intriguing! Cress has the story line that continues from Scarlet and now suddenly they run into Cress who is prisoner in a space satellite! The story just flows so seamlessly with the separate storylines, all the characters and a lot of action!

3. Romance: I’m a big fan of the romance in the Lunar Chronicles. No love triangles, no one fighting over each other and no insta-love. These characters get to know each other and find out the goods and the bads before they decide they’re head over heels in love.

So if you love this series so far then you’ll love Cress! It’s almost out! Just be a little more patient and then when it’s released, read it as soon as you can!

Review: Scarlet

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #2
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: Purchased

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My thoughts:

The Lunar Chronicles is genius! Marissa Meyer is a fantastic writer who crafts together a very original world, science fiction, fairy tales, mystery, romance and fascinating characters. It's definitely one of my absolute favorite series that keeps me chomping at the bit for more!

I didn't even know this was possible but I liked Scarlet more than Cinder! I gave Cinder a 5 star raving review because it was awesome but there is something that can be said about an author who can build on the awesomeness of her first book, intertwine two separate stories and create an even bigger mystery that has me on the edge of my seat!

Scarlet is a great new addition to the mystery of the Lunars and the missing princess. The mystery of her family's involvement was very intriguing and what made it even better was the mystery of her origins which is revealed toward the end of the story. The bigger mystery surrounds Wolf and who he really is. Is he good or bad? We don't know and it's so infuriating! I also love that the story takes place in France. And I love that Iko is back! She is one of my favorite characters.

Another home-run for Marissa Meyer and I just can't wait to see what she has in store for the rest of the series!

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Purchased

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

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

My thoughts: 

When I bought this book, Marissa was on her book tour and Cinder and just been released. I knew there was a lot of hype surrounding Cinder but for some really it just didn't appeal to me.  I had never read anything dealing with cyborgs and honestly I thought the was weird-striking-but weird, nonetheless. So I bought the book in April of last year and I'm telling you, it sat on my shelf for a least 6 months and my blogger friends kept asking me if I had read it yet! I pretty sure I read it just so that I could say yes when they asked me again. Even though I wish I had read it earlier and that I hadn't waited so long, I'm glad I read it later because it was really fresh in my mind for when I read Scarlet!

I cannot believe how completely involved I got into Cinder! I loved the futuristic setting, the mystery of the moon colony and the Lunars' powers, the part cyborg people, the cultural Chinese elements mixed in with a heart warming boy meets girl story. Cinder is a very exciting adventure that had me turning pages until the very last chapter!

I can honestly say that I liked, if not loved all the characters. Cinder in very endearing and charming in the way that she is somewhat an airhead and a tomboy with a little sarcastic wit. She is so likable and one of those characters that I wish was a close friend in real life. Kai is definitely the embodiment of prince charming; he is a swoon worthy gentleman! But above all my favorite character is Cinder's bot personality Iko! She was definitely the comic relief and had me rolling with her blunt statements! 

Cinder was a true highlight of 2012 and had me anxiously awaiting the release of Scarlet! It's really a very unique novel in a sea of YA novels that tend to feel the same. If you're reading this review and you STILL haven't read Cinder, read it right now! Right this minute! 

Ghost Planet Blog Tour: Interview with Sharon Lynn Fisher!

Today I have the pleasure of having Sharon Lynn Fisher on the blog for an interview about her new book Ghost Planet! Ghost Planet is so awesome and I think you all should go out and read it!! Scroll down through the entire post to read an excerpt from the book!

A world in peril. A bond deeper than love.

Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world - a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these “ghosts.” She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet.

Reincarnated as a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy - creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone - oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love - Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence.

But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man she loves.

1. How did you come up with the concept of Ghost Planet?

I had been mainly writing fantasy romance up to that point, and decided I wanted to try my hand at sci-fi. The title came to me first, and then I started noodling on what a story with that title would be about. I came up with the concept for the ghost-aliens, and thought it would be cool to have my heroine travel to the planet and discover she was tethered to one. Then I thought no, SHE should be the alien. That’s really what got the story going.

2. What drew you to combine science fiction and psychology?

That’s a great question. It was really a natural direction for this particular story. When I came up with the concept for the ghosts – aliens who are created in the form of dead loved ones, and symbiotically bound to the colonists – I put myself in the colonists’ shoes. I tried to imagine how I would react if I traveled to a newly discovered world, only to meet up with a deceased mother, father, or husband who was actually an alien. And what if it happened not only to me, but also to the thousands of others who had colonized the planet. Chaos, right? Depression, PTSD, suicides, even murder.

And of course that was the reason the hero -- psychologist Grayson Murphy-- was recruited to work on Ardagh 1 (the “ghost planet”), and came up with the Ghost Protocol.

3. Did you read a lot of science fiction when you were a kid?

No, I wouldn't say a lot. But one of my favorite books as an adolescent was A WRINKLE IN TIME, which, like GHOST PLANET, combines sci-fi and romance. I read that book a dozen times. I also read the Star Wars novel SPLINTER OF THE MIND’S EYE (Alan Dean Foster) several times. That story also combines sci-fi and romance.

Beyond that I read mostly fantasy -- Piers Anthony, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien. I loved anything about ghosts, goblins, or fairies.

4. Who are your inspirations as a writer?

All of the above plus Richard Adams, Charlotte Bronte, Anthony Trollope, and Jane Austen.

5. If you lived on Ardagh 1 who would be your ghost?

Interesting question. I've been asked a few times whom I would *choose* as my ghost, but not who would actually BE my ghost.

Following my own world building rules, it would be either my dad or one of my grandparents. Loved them all dearly but I think my gran (my dad’s mom) would be the easiest (and most fun) to live with. She was an Okie, part Cherokee, who told great stories and said things like “God love your meat” while pinching my cheeks. Please don’t ask me what that means because I have no idea.

6. Who was your favorite character to write?

I find this question tough! I enjoyed writing them all, for different reasons. If I translate “favorite” to “most fun,” I think of characters that sprang fully formed from my brain and required very little revision. By that definition: the smart-ass, suicidal, physicist-turned-transport-pilot Garvey.

7. If you had to recommend one book that you think is a must read, what would it be?

I wish everyone would read WATERSHIP DOWN (Richard Adams). I think people are put off by the fact that it’s about rabbits, but that’s like saying THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH is about a church. WATERSHIP is about very human trials and emotions, plus it’s full of adventure, mystery, politics, and even romance.

8. Sum up your book in 140 characters or less.

Psychologist takes a job on an alien world. On day 1, she learns she's: Dead. Reincarnated as an alien. Tethered to a man who must shun her.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and answering a few questions! Your book is fantastic and I can’t wait for the next one!

Wow, thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it! And thank you very much for having me.

Excerpt from Ghost Planet by Sharon Lynn Fisher!

We trotted up half a dozen steps and were passing through the glass doors when Murphy said, “We’ll be scanned by security just inside. I hate them being here, raising people’s anxiety level in a place where we want them to feel safe. But all new arrivals pass through here, and someone decided it was a good idea.”

Thinking about the illicit-substance and weapons scans in all the airports and public buildings back home, I raised my eyebrows. “What’s it for?”

“To get a sort of fingerprint on everyone,” he explained, walking through the doorframe-shaped scanner. “Just to make sure we know who’s who. They can’t do it at the transport terminal because no one has ghosts when they first arrive.”

I followed him through the scanner, and a long beep sounded somewhere off to my left as I joined him inside. Murphy’s head jerked toward the sound. His eyes moved to the glass doors we’d just come through, and slowly back to me. He glanced at the security desk on our right.

“Where is it?” Murphy called to the guard, whose fingers were flying over his keyboard. The guard’s ghost leaned against the wall behind him, little more than a shadow.

The man stopped typing and looked up. “I’m sorry, Dr. Murphy?”

“I heard the alert go off, but I don’t see her. My ghost, Simon,” Murphy added, growing impatient. “Do you see her?”

The guard blinked at him a couple times. Then he cleared his throat. “She’s standing right next to you, Dr. Murphy.”

SHARON LYNN FISHER is the author of GHOST PLANET, coming from Tor Books on Oct. 30. The book -- a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist -- is a sci-fi/romance blend that offers a "fresh and fascinating take on the human-alien problem" (says author Linnea Sinclair). She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she is hard at work on her next novel and battles writerly angst with baked goods, Irish tea, and champagne. You can visit her online at SharonLynnFisher.com.

Review: Through to You

Title: Through to You
Author: Emily Hainsworth
Publisher: Balzar & Bray
Release Date: October 02, 2012
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: ARC from ALA

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn't Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn't the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

My Thoughts:

The concept of the parallel universe has really hit big in the media and pop culture lately. Fringe is a really popular TV show and even though I have somewhat fallen away from, it’s a really great show! The idea that there are parallel universes out there with ourselves living different lives is a very interesting concept and I too wonder how my life would have changed had I made different choices.

Through to You starts off sad when we learn that Cam’s girlfriend Viv has died in a car accident. His whole life is turned upside down and he doesn't seem to know what to do to feel better. I have an easy time relating to characters that have lost someone very important in their lives and I immediately felt attached to him. Every time someone would try to get him to snap out of it, I would get a little upset because I know that everyone grieves differently. I was just so sad for him.

The Viv from Cam’s memories seemed like a really nice person and I could see why he really liked her. They got along well, they had common interests and when Cam because unpopular because he had to quit the football team, Viv supported him and quit cheer leading  They seemed like a really great couple. But when he starts hanging out with the other Viv in the other universe, I could see almost immediately how the two Vivs were different. Cam doesn't quit football in the other universe and it makes all of Viv’s unattractive qualities come out. She selfish, self-centered and jealous of all Cam’s other commitments. She was also very reckless.

The choices and the circumstances surrounding the choices that these characters made turned them into very different people. I’m really glad that Hainsworth was able to make that distinction. And sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side. I give Through to You 3 hearts because Hainsworth did a great job of combining science fiction and contemporary and turning it into a very enjoyable story.

Review- Unwind

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series: Unwind Trilogy #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publisher
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

My thoughts: 

**CAUTION!!! This review contains SPOILERS!!! Read at your own peril!!**

I don’t know any other way to start this review except by saying that Unwind is totally awesome! I read this book in one day and stayed up way past by bed time to finish it. Neal Shusterman is just a fantastic writer and I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve ready by him.

One of the main reasons I barreled through this book is because I had to have confirmation on what it meant to be Unwound. Throughout the whole book the concept of being “unwound” is only implied, saying that life doesn’t technically end because every part of that person is used in some way or another. At first when I started reading it I thought that it was really weird but I didn’t really understand what was going on. As the book progressed it became more and more clear what was really going on. This book takes place sometime in the future where advanced technology and medicine allows doctors to transplant any part of the body onto another person.

Unwind is told through the prospective of a bunch of different characters but mainly through Conor, whose parents chose to have him unwound, Risa, who had become a burden to the state and Lev, whose parents raised him to be a tithe, a sort of sacrifice for the good of the people. The book chronicles their journey of escape and trying to avoid a horrible ending. Because abortion in the womb has become illegal in this world, life cannot be touched until the child is between the ages of 13 and 17. Once they turn 13, their parents can choose to have the child unwound. Even though it’s such a grizzly concept it made for a fantastic book!

The three main characters end up at a “harvesting camp” where they are supposed to be unwound. When one of the other characters is taken to be unwound, the character witnesses the whole thing and it is one of the creepiest scenes I’ve ever read. They don’t put him to sleep (because they’re not allowed), they put each of his limbs on a separate table and as each part of him is removed he sees them taking away the tables. It’s so, so creepy! I thought for sure I was going to have dreams of being unwound.

Unwound is just so full of adventure that I just had to read it in one day! I love the whole futuristic feel with a little bit of science fiction thrown into it. I have to give Unwound 5 hearts because I have not read a book like it!!

Review- The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Series: Jenna Fox Chronicles #1
Publisher: Square Fish
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma--so she's been told--and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it.  But what happened before that?  She's been given home movies chronicling her life, which spark memories to surface.  But are the memories really hers?  And why won't anyone in her family talk about the accident?  Jenna is becoming more curious.  But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.  What happened to Jenna Fox?  And who is she really? 

My thoughts:

I've heard that a lot of people really like the Adoration of Jenna Fox and were also really excited about the next book the Fox Inheritance.  I really wanted to get on board with this series so I bought the Adoration of Jenna Fox so that I would be ready!  But it was difficult for me to get into this book.  I really liked it but I had a really hard time getting accustomed the author's writing style.

As the readers of Jenna Fox's story, we know just as much as Jenna does and we discover new facts and information when Jenna does as well.  She can't remember anything about her life or the accident and it gets weird because her family members won't talk about it and her grandma will hardly even touch her much less look at her.

It's set in the future when medicine has made extreme advancements and they are able to recreate the entire body out of bio-gel.  But it's illegal to recreate more than 10% of the body so that it doesn't get out of control so people can live normal lives.

I enjoyed the whole mystery of the book and I was on her side the entire time hoping that she would find out the truth.  I really enjoyed the ending of the book but since I don't give away spoilers on this blog you're just going to have to read it for yourself!