Cress

by Marissa Meyer
5/5 stars
Feiwel and Friends, 2014
550 pages
YA Science-Fiction Fairy Tale

Source: Library

Though Cinder did not impress me the way I had hoped it would, Scarlet completely changed the way I felt about this series, bringing me to the point of rabid fandom. Though I knew I wanted to check out third book Cress, I was also nervous. Meyer seemed to be adding new characters in every go-around and I worried it would feel too packed and some would end up overlooked. Happily that was not the case for me because I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment and am eagerly anticipating Winter's release next year.

*SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST TWO BOOKS*

As in the previous books, this one weaves in a new fairy tale, this time "Rapunzel" as you might be able to guess from the cover. Our titular character is Cress, who is an ostracized Lunar girl, raised in captivity and considered valuable for her technological skills. Our intrepid crew of Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, and Thorne have grabbed her attention and despite her mistress's demand to find them, Cress has instead protected them. A chance communication leads to a bungled rescue mission with the five scattered: Cinder and Wolf crash land and reunite with Dr. Erland, Cress and a now blind Thorne crash in the Sahara, and Scarlet is captured by the Lunars. Meanwhile Kai is desperately trying to protect his people as his marriage to the evil Lunar Queen draws near. So basically there's a lot going on.

I really fell for Cress in this book. She's so innocent and naive, a total dreamer and I could fully sympathize with her longing for a hero as she decides Thorne fits the bill. But don't underestimate her! She's got the brains and nerve to play a big role in Cinder's plan to thwart Kai's marriage and I anticipate her being very important in book three. Of course, with the emphasis of Cress we spend a lot less time with the other characters particularly Scarlet who is completely separated from the characters we know. However I continue to be impressed with how Meyer skillfully weaves threads and ties everything together. I look forward to seeing the grand finale in Winter.

On the one hand, this book did seem a little long. Have you seen it in person? It's a veritable doorstop. And I'm not always sure that each scene furthered the main plot. But on the other hand, there are so many character scenes especially between Thorne and Cress that add to the richness of the world. I just want to hang out with them and follow all of their little adventures that contribute to the overarching plot. Did anyway else feel this push and pull while reading?

Overall: You should read this BUT only if you've read the first two books as I'm not sure how much sense it makes otherwise. Then you can join the rest of us in counting down the days until the conclusion arrives!

ARC Review: Avalon

by Mindee Arnett
3.5/5 stars
Balzer + Bray, 2014
432 pages
YA Science-Fiction
Scheduled to release January 21, 2014

Source: Received an e-ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

This book caught my attention after being featured on multiple Waiting on Wednesdays posts and seeing notices that it bore some resemblance to cult classic "Firefly," a show that I personally adore. As a diehard contemporary fan, I don't tend to read much science-fiction so I also thought it would be fun to broaden my reading horizons a bit.

Right away I caught the "Firefly" vibe because our main characters are involved in a bit of thievery with the captain's beloved spaceship laying claim to a huge piece of his heart. This group of teenagers reports to a criminal mastermind and are sent to track down a weapon on a missing ship with the tantalizing promise of being released from service to live in freedom aboard the ship Avalon. But of course nothing so simple can occur for our characters as they discover something far more at stake than any mere weapon with three mysterious survivors hiding their own pieces of the puzzle and complicating the choices available to the crew.

I didn't want to go too in-depth on the plot but it all seemed sufficiently spacey to me. Almost the entire book takes place on board a few ships and travel through space is a critical component. As you get deeper in to the book, questions about who is human and behavioral modifications are further probed, which also meets my criteria for a satisfying science-fiction novel. Unfortunately the plot went a bit further and I found myself increasingly disengaged as it progressed. I think others will roll with the punches better than me though.

Unfortunately I never completely clicked with the characters, meaning that my emotional side was neglected. I did like main character Jeth upon whom the burdens of choice seem to lay on the heaviest. He's the eldest of the group and had to grow up to fast under the care of a drunken uncle after being orphaned; he protects those around him especially his younger sister Lizzie who seems to be growing up all too fast. But the book isn't in first person so while I felt we were getting valuable insight into his mind, it just didn't click the way a first person narrative more often does for me. The secondary characters weren't of much interest to me beyond the psychotic criminal mastermind Hammer and Uncle Milton who seemed to have a much more interesting past than Jeth necessarily knew.

Overall: A novel full of space and lightning fast acts of betrayal that amps up tension skillfully. Though this book wasn't quite for me, I have every confidence that readers more excited by science-fiction will find plenty to love.

ARC Review: These Broken Stars

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
374 pages
YA Science-Fiction Romance
Scheduled to release December 10

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up this book, not having much knowledge about its contents but having seen a lot of hype around it. Most of my blogging friends have been very impressed with the story and this left me optimistic about my experience reading it.

For the most part, that was an accurate assessment. The beginning chapter gave me such a strong Titanic vibe in the best way possible as I have quite the weak spot for rich girl/poor boy fighting against circumstances. Tarver Merendsen has made good, rising from an average background to become a major at the young age of 18. He has endured brutal trainings and postings to make it this far. Lilac LaRoux is the spoiled beloved daughter and only living relation of the richest man in the universe. The two have nothing in common but must learn to work together when they are stranded with only each other for resource.

I guess I've been in a romantic mood lately because the relationship between the two characters is what really resonated for me. Tarver and Lilac have an immediate attraction but it seems destined not to be. Lilac nurses the knowledge that her father sent her first love off to be killed and has resolved not to let anyone get close again. She purposefully pushes Tarver with her acid tongue. Meanwhile he felt something with her but soon assesses her as just a spoiled princess until their time together shows hidden depths for both and allows their love to flourish. Basically I just relaxed in the feels from this couple especially when their relationship gets intense though I can't provide more detail without spoilers.

A surprise for me was how much I enjoyed their trek. I don't think I tend to like books where they fight for survival but either I do or this is an exception. Tarver is the trained soldier so for the most part he handles their survival but Lilac is stubborn, a fast learner, and a mechanical genius so together their skills are complementary and bring out each other's best.

Something I love is that this is the first in a series of companion novels with the characters united against a common enemy. I believe that enemy is introduced in this book and given his relationship to our characters here, it gives me hope that they will pop up in future installments.

In the end, I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this book as others because it seemed to lack that extra spark for me. I thought the writing moved apace and was easy to follow. I especially appreciated the dual narration, one of my favorite techniques, with Tarver and Lilac each having a distinct voice. But there wasn't enough danger early on (beyond a giant cat attacking Lilac) and then the ending didn't feel very concrete and final. Though it's not the end of the series, it is the end of focusing on Lilac and Tarver (to my understanding) and I wanted a bigger bang.

Cover: Love it-pretty dress and fairly accurate though I imagined Lilac's dress slightly less voluminous plus the stars are so gorgeous.

Other Opinions:
Beauty and the Bookshelf
In Bed With Books
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Love is not a triangle
The Flyleaf Review
The Midnight Garden

ARC Review: Proxy

Proxy by Alex London
4/5 stars
Philomel Books, 2013
380 pages
YA Science-Fiction
Scheduled to release June 18

Source: Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was sent to me for possible review by the publisher and I entered it with very little expectations. It hadn't been much on my radar probably because it is darker, more action-packed, and less romantic than my typical read. Regardless I still quite enjoyed myself.

In the future, wealthy Patrons can do whatever they want but someone always pays. That someone is a Proxy, owing a blood debt from childhood that they may never be able to repay. Knox and Sydney have been entwined like that for years. When Knox crashes a car and kills his passenger, he sentences Sydney to a lifetime of servitude. But there are still a few tricks up his sleeve and Sydney ends up taking Knox hostage as they run for their lives, looking for a jubilee, a way to crash the system and forgive all debts, upending the entire system.

First I wanted to mention that Sydney's name is Sydney Carton as Proxies draw their names from old literature. If you've read A Tale of Two Cities, this name is so appropriate and once I made that connection, I pretty much squealed with glee. I'm not really sure how I feel about him-Syd is an okay guy whose brains I admired but who I wasn't as warm and fuzzy about as I have been for other MCs. I do know how I feel about Knox though; I hated him. He is such a selfish jerk. Luckily over the course of the novel, Knox grows up a little and becomes almost tolerable. There are quite a few other characters but I don't want to go in to them for fear of spoilers.

As for the plot, I love the idea of a futuristic story about a whipping boy who could end society as they know it by invoking an event from Old Testament times. That's just such a cool plot line to me. This book was almost non-stop action with every chapter spurring you on to the next one until you finished it. The book ends pretty abruptly but I found it satisfying. This is the beginning of a trilogy so rest assured that your lingering questions should be answered in books to come.

Content: There is a lot of violence and drug use-I don't remember there being any language.

Overall: I liked this one and thought it was pretty cool but I'm not in love with it or anything. Craving more dystopia? Love lots of action? Give this one a try.

Other Opinions:
Forever Young Adult
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
My 5 Monkeys

ARC Review: Gameboard of the Gods

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead
4/5 stars
Dutton Adult, 2013
460 pages
Adult Science-Fiction
Scheduled to release June 4

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although I've seen Richelle Mead's name around a lot, I've never been too tempted to pick up her popular YA vampire series-I'm just not that into vampires. However the mythology mentioned for this book really caught my eye so I decided this would be my introduction to her writing. If this is typical of Mead, it seems like I will need to read Vampire Academy sooner rather than later because I really enjoyed it!

It's totally in alternating third-person perspective switching between Mae, a fierce soldier, and Justin, a discredited servitor being brought back into the fold with Mae serving as bodyguard to discover the truth behind a series of mysterious murders. Justin was thrown out years ago and suffers from a god delusion (or is it?) while Mae is recovering from the death of her lover.

I really liked both of these characters who I found to be filled with personality and are still making me smile a week later. Both have their fair share of snarky comments with other characters getting to chime in as well. I especially liked meeting Justin's protege, Tessa, and the ravens in his head (no comment-the reasons behind this are elaborated on).

However I really struggled with the world-building. There are castals and I believe Mae is one of them but that it's not exactly a great thing to be? Also some of the information around how the world reached this point could have been expanded upon. I'm a reader who tends to like getting a lot of information especially in fantastical settings so that probably helps explain some of my disappointment. I am also using this confusion as the reason why I couldn't unravel the mystery behind the murders....definitely that and not the fact that I'm horrid at solving mysteries.

Overall: A very pleasing introduction to the writing style of Mead-I will certainly be back for the second book!

Other Opinions:
Books Glorious Books
Good Books and Good Wine
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics-with giveaway!

ARC Review: The Rules

The Rules by Stacey Kade
4/5 stars
Hyperion, 2013
410 pages
YA Sci-Fi Paranormal
Scheduled to release April 23

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Above are the rules that have governed Ariane Tucker's life since she was broken out of laboratory and instructed on how to assimilate into human life. The first part of her life was spent in that lab, being trained to harness her special paranormal powers. Now she is enrolled in a high school, keeping under the radar. For the most part, she's been able to handle it but all of a sudden, rule number five is looking tricky as human Zane Bradshaw pokes at her strongest defenses. Zane, for his part, finds himself very intrigued by Ariane, her sense of justice and her commitment to keeping under the radar being some of her unique qualities.

What grabbed me about this book was actually the title of the series: Project Paper Doll. I love paper dolls and though I knew they didn't have anything to do with the story, I was still hooked. This is definitely a plot-driven book, light on science-fiction and with elements of paranormal. Though Ariane and Zane alternate narration, the plot still supersedes the character development. The result of this is that the pages fly by despite the bulk.

I really appreciated that the majority of the story is set primarily in a high school, giving this a strong contemporary vibe (my fave genre!) Popularity and attention are important themes as is appearance. As long as Ariane appears normal and doesn't gain notice from others, she should be fine. But events conspire to bring her out the shadows and, as this is a series, set her up for a long struggle against the scientific corporation that created her. I also liked that this was sci-fi but on the light side; I didn't want to read anything too dark or heavy and this book skirts that.

Overall: Fun, plot-driven novel, written in a very easy to read style.

Other Opinions:
Blkosiner's Book Blog
Can't Find a Bookmark
Good Choice Reading
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

ARC Review: Ender's World

Ender's World edited by Orson Scott Card
4/5 stars
Smart Pop, 2013
282 pages
Non-Fiction Science-Fiction Essays
Scheduled to release April 2

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like many people, I discovered Ender's Game as a child and have returned to it time and time again, always finding something new. I am tentatively anticipating the film version this year (Harrison Ford as Colonel Graff...for some reason I thought he'd be Mazer Rackham.)

As The Girl Who Was on Fire made me want to reread the Hunger Games trilogy, this book made me want to reread Ender's Game as well as explore the other books set in that universe, which I have never read. There are some brief references to the other stories but the main focus is on Ender's Game. Per usual, I will briefly look at each essay, which has made for a long review. Basically if you love Ender's Game, you'll find things to enjoy in this book.

How It Should Have Ended by Eric James Stone: The premise of this essay is one I identified very strongly with. To wit, that Ender's Game should have ended with Ender's victory. Upon my first reading that is what stuck me with the most and the scenes that came after seemed unnecessary and even confusing to me. Like Stone though, further readings gave greater understanding about those moments, adding to the richness of my experience. A great essay to start off the book!

The Monster's Heart by John Brown: Brown brings in some science to accompany his look at some of the most poignant parts of the novel, analyzing how fiction can still inspire very real responses in us humans. He looks at how Card evoked such strong responses and helped us visualize certain moments so vividly without necessarily even describing a lot. I especially appreciated his look at the bugger queen as I'm still wrestling with my response to the buggers.

The Cost of Breaking the Rules by Mary Robinette Kowal: Kowal attended a Literary Boot Camp from Card and learned all some writing rules there. She then proceeded to go through Ender's Game and find the multiple instances where Card broke those same rules. BUT that was as a writer recognizing that there was a cost to those decisions-a worthwhile cost but a cost nonetheless. I was pleased to see Kowal's essay here as I have enjoyed her fiction immensely.

Winning and Losing in Ender's Game by Hilari Bell: Bell looks at the cost of winning and losing in the book, specifically where winning costs more than losing and the toll this takes on Ender especially as he compares himself to Peter.

Parallax Regained: Two Views of Ender's Game by David Lubar and Alison S. Myers: This essay is a father and daughter writing about their experiences with the novel: he as a writer and she as a teacher and how it has impacted their professional and personal lives. It is written as a conversation/debate between the two of them. I especially enjoyed Myers' confession that she probably wouldn't have read it when she was young had her father been the one to suggest it.

Mirror, Mirror by Alethea Kontis: Kontis wrote the fairy-tale retelling Enchanted and looks at a prevalent theme in fairy tales as well as other stories: mirrors (as if you couldn't have guessed that from the title of the essay ;) Not only does the mirror reflect Ender to himself, the book itself reflects each reader to a degree, influencing what we get out of it.

Size Matters by Janis Ian: (sidenote: this woman inspired the name of the character in Mean Girls!) My favorite part of this essay was the observation that perhaps shorter people live longer. I'm 5'4" which is average for an American woman, I believe, but I've always wanted to be 5'10"-this note is helping me reconcile myself to my height. The thrust of the essay though focuses on Ender's size and its importance throughout the story because he really is so small, starting at Battle School younger than most of the other kids and pretty much always being the smallest.

Rethinking the Child Hero by Aaron Johnston: This book compares Ender to a Clint Eastwood character, which didn't really resonate with me as I think I've only seen one or two of his films and haven't had much interest in watching more (I don't care for westerns and that's what I mainly associate him with).

A Teenless World by Mette Ivie Harrison: Harrison looks at children acting in an adult world and speaking in an adult manner. Card makes this utterly believable-although Ender is but six at the start, I never found myself pulled out of the story thinking that no one that age would talk like that.  This book offers kids a chance to imagine themselves in positions of incredible power and responsibility and it's intoxicating.

Ender on Leadership by Colonel Tom Ruby (USAF, Retired): This military man discusses how Ender's Game impacted him and other soldiers with their conceptions of leadership, striving to add that element of extraordinary compassion and feeling that Ender has.

Ender Wiggin, USMC by John F. Schmitt: Schmitt discusses the history of the Marine Corps and its reorganization and philosophy in comparison to the tactics used by Ender in the Battle Room. This chapter also includes a look at Tactical Decision Games, which I immediately wanted to try out as soon as I can gather a group of people to explore it with.

The Price of Our Inheritance by Neal Shusterman: Shusterman looks at the war being fought and how it hinges on the question "How many people would you kill to protect the lives of your  children?" The answer: As many as necessary, which is displayed in the book but how does that impact Ender? At the end of the war, he is condemned by the very people he saved. A very thought-provoking read.

If the Formics Love Their Children by Ken Scholes: Scholes only very recently came to Ender's Game, in fact not reading the book until he was contacted to write an essay for this book. As such, he entered with an adult's mind and prepared to study the book against the background when it was originally published and how that has changed (and what has remained the same) over the years.

Ender's Game: A Guide to Life by Matt Nix: I mostly have to mention this one as the author is the creator of "Burn Notice," one of my mom's favorite shows and beloved by my whole family really. Throughout his life, he has connected with people because of this book and it has served as a guide as he figured out what he wanted to do with his life (eventually settling on creating an excellent action/mystery/thriller/comedic/romantic/all-around awesome show).

As I wrote this review, I realized just how many essays were in this book-there are so many perspectives! I also should mention that interspersed between the essays are some questions and answers from OSC, giving further (fascinating) insight into the writing of Ender's Game.

ARC Review: The DIfferent Girl

The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist
3.5/5 stars
Dutton Books, 2013
230 pages
YA Science-Fiction

Source: Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished reading this and I'm not really sure what to say. This is definitely a more quiet and contemplative novel than what I usually read. That can be a really good thing for a certain kind of reader but I'm not sure I'm that reader. I finished and I have so many questions, which I think is what Dahlquist wanted. But as a reader, I wanted concrete answers and am left unsatisfied.

The book takes place on an island with four nearly identical girls and their two adult caretakers (for lack of a better word). Those four girls look the same except for different hair color and slight personality differences (our narrator seems to be a bit more willful and one of the girls dreams while the others do not). Then one day, while exploring, our narrator Veronika stumbles across a shipwrecked different girl who inadvertently precedes some significant changes. I don't want to share too much because the pleasure of the novel relies on unraveling (some of) these mysteries as you read.

It's a quieter, more contemplative novel than most YA out there, which is good and bad. It is good because it helps distinguish this book in the very crowded category. But it was bad for my experience because I expect more action and more drama in my YA and I felt that this just didn't deliver.  It is also possible that this book leans too heavily in the science-fiction direction, a genre I don't tend to like. I love fairy tales and contemporaries; this is neither.

Another problem for me was the characters, all of whom were kept an arm's length away. When I read, I tend to want to identify with the main character, either because we're both sisters, we're both good students, we're both readers...something in their personality or the anxiety they're feeling. I didn't have that connection here and while I was able to finish the book (it's pretty short), I probably wouldn't have had it been longer.

Overall: A change of pace from my usual reads but not one I'd recommend to people with similar reading taste.

Other Opinions:
Alamosa Books
Good Books and Good Wine
Miss Literati
My Corner of the Universe
The Book Smugglers

Quicksilver

Quicksilver by RJ Anderson
4/5 stars
Carolrhoda LAB, 2013
314 pages
YA Science-Fiction

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Light spoilers for Ultraviolet*

In the stunning first book Ultraviolet, we meet Alison, tortured by synesthesia and suffering under the assumption that she has murdered her classmate only to discover a shocking twist that upends her previous knowledge of life. Now we see the perspective of the missing girl Tori and just how extraordinary she is.

The book opens with Tori and her parents preparing to disappear as police and scientists try to probe more deeply into Tori's leaving and returning. They are sure there is more to the story but how can Tori explain that? So they retain new identities but their woes are not over as Tori remains tied to Alison and their shared misadventure looms large in both of their memories.

Going in to this book, I knew we'd be getting a different narrator and I am mixed on that. I liked Tori a lot, especially because she is so brilliant and cunning. She seems to have a natural knack for reading a situation and responding in the best way in addition to her mathematics and engineering talents. But it was also sad to mostly say good bye to Alison because I liked her a lot too. This is the case where both narrations are strong and effective. Although there is also the introduction of a new cute guy, romance is really in the background of these books and I appreciate that the focus is more on strong characterizations of female characters with all their attendant strengths and weaknesses.

This story also fills in gaps from the first book. Remember how things changed at near the end of Utrlaviolet? Tori gives us a fresh glimpse into those events since she and Alison didn't entirely overlap and our knowledge was lacking. These past events were confusingly interwoven into the main narrative. I would like to pull them out and just read them again with the other scenes of Ultraviolet for best understanding-guess I will need to get print copies of both!

Overall: If you enjoyed the excellent writing and twists and turns of Ultraviolet, then you'll definitely want to check out this companion to complete the story. I wasn't sure a sequel was necessary but now having read it, I feel like it really made everything more whole.

ARC Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
4.5/5 stars
Feiwel and Friends, 2013
452 pages
YA Fantasy Dystopia
Book #2 in the Lunar Chronicles
Scheduled to release February 5

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

-Spoilers for book 1 but no spoilers for Scarlet-

Unlike many bloggers, I didn't love the first book in this series Cinder and I think that was because I was expecting more of a Cinderella retelling, whereas Cinder seemed more intent on developing its own much more expansive world with the huge threat of the Lunar people. Consequently I was disappointed and approached Scarlet somewhat apprehensively. I was also nervous because it was incorporating the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and I've never had any interest in reading a retelling of that.

Yet when my copy came in the mail, I picked it up just a few days later and dove in, emerging breathlessly when I realized I needed to get some sleep. Then I finished it off the next morning. In short, this book was fantastic!

First we meet new characters Scarlet and Wolf, who bear a resemblance to the characters from the fairy tale but who get their own awesome spins. Scarlet is a pilot who works on her grandmother's farm, a grandmother who has been missing for two weeks, leading Scarlet on a quest to find her, aided by the Wolf, a street fighter who manages to earn her trust despite her hesitations. With a name like Scarlet, I expect a certain amount of spunk and I got that from her. She has words and bravado aplenty no matter what awful situation she gets herself into. Wolf has been a very popular figure in the blogosphere; he's not quite to my taste but I can see the appeal with this big tough guy and yet his vulnerability.

Soon we receive a parallel look at Cinder who is breaking out of prison, accompanied by Carswell Thorne (who Jen Ryland originally freaked me out about before calming me down-I love Cinder and Kai, thank you very much!) and set on learning more about her heritage. Cinder is shaken to be so chased but she remains kick-butt and determined to learn about her past instead of running away and curling up in a ball (I would not be able to blame her if she wanted to). Thorne is a more devil-may-care character, extremely charming, drawing comparisons to Han Solo. He's quick with a quip but I didn't really feel that I know him-perhaps he will have a more prominent role in book 3 rescuing Rapunzel from her tower of thorns? (See Heidi for this theory as pointed out to me via Jen Ryland)

Meanwhile back in New Beijing, Emperor Kai struggles with his complicated feelings about Cinder and fends off the intrusions of Lunar Queen, Levana, who continues to be as evil, all-knowing, and powerful as she was in the first book. She is absolutely ruthless and terrifying despite only appearing in a few scenes.

After reading the synopsis for Scarlet, I had been wondering how Scarlet would fit in with Cinder's story. I originally thought it would just be a companion novel set during the same time period. Instead it is more of a sequel, picking up as it does after the events of Cinder, but introducing loads of amazing new characters, settings, and plot points without overwhelming what we already know from Cinder and continuing to deepen our experience with her. Cinder is still very much the main character of the Lunar Chronicles. I thought every element was very well-balanced (except for my one criticism below) and that this was an excellent second book.

A scene I particularly want to shout out is the scene that pays homage to the original fairy tale of Red meeting her grandmother. I don't really have the words to describe how perfect I found this scene but it caught me completely by surprise and made me put the book down just to savor the exquisiteness.

Despite my praise, I didn't give this book a perfect 5/5 stars for two reasons. First I personally wanted a bit more Kai-I still think he's a fantastic guy. He's honorable and devoted to service, just the kind of upstanding hero I like. But he doesn't get to do anything fun and ends the book with an extremely painful decision. The situation is going to get worse before it gets better as we still have two books to make it through. And I also wanted to leave room for the next books Cress and Winter. If they are anything like this, I will be very pleased to award a perfect 5 stars rating. I am a little worried that there will be too many characters but am willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

Cover: While I love this book, I am less enthusiastic about the cover. I preferred the shoe on the cover of Cinder.

Other Opinions:
Good Books and Good Wine
Great Imaginations
Into the Hall of Books
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
So Many Books, So Little Time
YA Book Queen

The Madman's Daughter

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
3/5 stars
Balzer + Bray, 2013
420 pages
YA Historical Thriller Sci-Fiction

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

To start, I thought I had read The Island of Doctor Moreau but about halfway through this book, I looked at the wikipedia page and realized that I had not in fact read the book. That explained why so much seemed unfamiliar. Now that I have read the synopsis I do not expect to ever read it as I do not think I will enjoy it.

What I Liked: I loved the beginning, which is just a straight historical. Juliet Moreau is the daughter of a disgraced now deceased doctor, plunged from genteel life to eking out a living as a maid and fending off advances from predatory males. After stumbling across students attempting to duplicate her father's vivisections, the controversial procedure that led to his downfall, she is shaken but reunites with her family's servant Montgomery who reluctantly agrees to take her to her father's island for it is either that journey or resigning Juliet to a life of prostitution. The historical details were just the kind I liked-painting a vivid description of the dark side of Victorian London. Although there are some creepy moments as Juliet ponders her father's experiments, it is mostly the calm before the storm.

What I Was Neutral About: Once on the island, Juliet has an uneasy reunion with her father and learns more about how he has continued his work, playing God by attempting to turn animals into human-like creatures. She is mostly horrified as she knows polite society would be but she feels that she in part takes after her father and is thus also impressed with his work. This mix of feelings causes her great unease. Despite the measures taken to protect the safety of the island's human inhabitants, the wrongness of the experiments still hangs over and the unrest of the animal-men adds a very scary element to the book.

What I Disliked: or more appropriately perhaps, "What I Loathed": there is a love triangle. Montgomery is one component, having been close to Juliet in her former life and having now grown into a fine young man. The other is Edward Prince, a gentleman and thus closer to Juliet in status, who was shipwrecked and brought to the island due to Juliet's compassion. It's not that I hated either guy (although I didn't really like them); it's that I hated Juliet's feelings about the guys. Oh my, she could not have been more back and forth about them. One sentence she'd talk about how into Montgomery she was and then the very next sentence would be gushy about Edward. It was awful and ever so annoying.

Overall, because of how much time was spent on the back and forth over the two guys, I did not like this book and I think there will be others who hate that same aspect. On a more personal note, I as someone who was creeped out by the very descriptive scenes surrounding Moreau's work in creating his new animal-men-those of us with weaker stomachs will likely be turned off.

Cover: I've read quite a few Waiting on Wednesday posts that gushed over the cover but I don't really like it. I know I love covers with pretty dresses but this dress is not pretty and I find the red type so close to her red ribbon distracting.

Question: Have you read The Island of Doctor Moreau? If you did and if you liked it, can you give me some reasons why I shouldn't just write it off?

Other Opinions
Beauty and the Bookshelf-loved it!
Reading Under the Willow Tree-4/5 stars
The YA Kitten-3/5 stars

Unraveling

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
4.5/5 stars
Balzer + Bray, 2012
445 pages
YA Paranormal Science-Fiction

Source: Library

While I always hope to love the books I read, I know that doesn't always happen. But this book absolutely swept me away and it's for a reason I try to avoid letting take over. See there's this boy...and I try really hard not to let my feelings for a fictional boy sway my overall rating for a book but he gives our main character basically the best first date ever and after that I was hooked on him as well.

Before meeting this unexpected boy, I wasn't sure about the book. The cover and tagline made me think of "Heroes," a show I never watched and had no interest in watching especially after I heard how bad the second season and onward got. But I guess the title stuck in my head so it was one of the first books I picked up when going through my list of 2012 releases I still really wanted to read.

At first, I wasn't too keen on what was going on. I felt a little overwhelmed with all the new information before I settled into a rhythm. In the first few chapters, Janelle is hit by a car, dies, and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels (the aforementioned boy). While everyone marvels at her healing, nobody believes her that she died and this prompts her to seek out Ben. Additional backstory is that her father works for the FBI and she has always spied on him, including seeking out information about his latest case involving a mysterious device that is counting down.

As the book progresses, the plot goes insane and what seems almost like a contemporary turns out to be kind of science-fiction but not too much. Each chapter opens with the new time from that device, going ever forward to who knows what will happen. Consequently, the chapters are tense-are we going to be able to stop the countdown? Plus the chapters are pretty short, the surefire formula, in my opinion, of making a book a fast read.

I really liked Janelle although I had some trouble with her name-not sure why that was the element that threw me. She's very blunt and determined, family-oriented and loyal-some of my favorite qualities in a heroine. The other characters were pretty well fleshed out too. She has her best friend Alex and her younger brother Jared (who I confused several times before remembering that the "J's" are siblings). Then there's Ben and his two best friends Reid and Elijah, all of whom are more than they appear. Additional characters include Janelle's parents, her ex-best friend, an ex-boyfriend, and other people at the school. It felt like a pretty big cast but it focuses on the main ones I mentioned here.

Standout moments: Janelle and Ben flirting in class over a literary prompt; that *perfect* first date.

Content warning: The first few chapters are pretty clean but soon the profanity ramps up (a lot of f-words).

Other Opinions-generally positive
Badass Bookie
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
My Overstuffed Bookshelf
The Readventurer
Teenage Fiction

Once Upon a Time Machine

Once Upon a Time Machine edited by Andrew Carl and produced by Chris Stevens
 4.5/5 stars
Dark Horse Books, 2012
422 pages
Graphic Novel Fairy Tale

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb promised a collection of 24 tales twisting and playing with beloved fairy tales. However I did not realize that it would actually be retellings of familiar stories. I just thought they would be fantastical and fairy-tale-esque. But no, I recognized most of the stories, which allowed me to seat back and enjoy the beautiful drawings and the science-fiction twists placed on most of them.

I'm not going to cover every story as that would take a really long time but I do have four that really worked for me, style of art combining with the story to resonate deeply.

First up would be "Pinocchio or The Stars Are Not Wanted Now" written by Jason Rodriguez , where an inventor makes his creation who struggles with the dual competing directives of being honest and being human. I wasn't entirely sure how this one was going to turn out but it was a bittersweet yet appropriate resolution to me.

Next would be "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", based on that great Kipling story and written by Mike Exner III. I was already a fan and immediately perked up when I saw the title. I also really loved the artwork for this one-I have no idea how to describe it but it fits with my preferences.

Next is "The Five Chinese Brothers" from Justin Hughes, another familiar story that similarly to the Pinocchio one was bittersweet. I believe I am familiar with the story it is based on although I cannot remember what it is called. This story also has an inventor father and his mechanical sons in addition to one flesh and blood one, utilizing the science-fiction aspect well.

The last one I want to mention is "Hansel and Gretel or Bombus and Vespula" by Josh O'Neill. Unfortunately I can't tell you my favorite part of this story as it is the twist within-definitely worth seeking out!

As I flipped through my copy to pick out my favorites, I was reminded about how hard it was to choose. I liked pretty much every story as well as the various styles of art. Another cool bonus is that there are standalone scenes interspersed between the stories (off the top of my head, I remember seeing some princesses represented here like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and the Little Mermaid.)
One last note is that this would probably be better in a hard copy; there were a few stories where it was a little hard to read the font and even when I zoomed in, the resolution wasn't much better. Particularly hard for me were "The Puppet-Show Man or No Strings" and "The Shepherd and the Weaver Girl." Because of that, I don't think I gave these stories their proper attention. When I pick up a hard copy, I will be sure to read them first!

Overall: A really great collection-everyone a winner and something to please all tastes!
 

Yesterday

Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin
3.5/5 stars
Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012
352 pages
YA Science-Fiction

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hmm...this is a difficult review for me to write as I'm pretty neutral about C.K. Kelly Martin's latest offering. I've seen some of her other books around and was thrilled to grab this new one. But while the words tend to flow when I have specific praises or criticisms about a book, they dry up when I have neutral feelings about a book, which is the case here.

I do give Martin props for her writing, which helped lift a middling tale in my opinion. Some elements of the book felt very familiar. For example, the book starts in the future with a rebellious daughter, difficult relationships with parents, and the pending threat of government security. But then there are the more unique elements, like the fact that the girl Freya wakes up in 1985 having received a mind wipe that was unfortunately ineffective. During the parts where Freya can't quite remember, this is a strong realistic fiction offering. Then she sees a guy and realizes that he means something; this remembrance sets them off on an adventurous path to uncover the truth.

Gosh, I even feel lackluster sharing that part of the plot. I think one of my problems is that we are left wondering about the specifics of Freya's remembered life but we already know the basic outlines from the prologue. I wonder if this could have been a stronger entry had the book just opened with Freya in 1985, struggling to remember something that is just not right about her life. Then once she does remember, we have a massive info-dump chapter. I am someone who has a high tolerance for that and I kind of liked having some of my guesses confirmed as well as having Martin's vision for the future elaborated upon but it does freeze the book while all of that information comes out.

Another problem for me was the romance. Freya had feelings for the guy Garren in their future and those feelings are not dormant in 1985. But since I didn't feel much for either character, I didn't care for the romance. I also tend to find it weird that they can focus on that while being hunted and chased but I guess that makes it all the more important to cradle and fight for what really matters.

Overall: Decidedly meh-I cannot recommend this book although maybe you speculative fiction lovers would find more to enjoy.

What Came From the Stars

What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt
3.5/5 stars
Clarion Books, 2012
293 pages
MG Science-Fiction

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine.

After adoring Okay For Now, one of my top reads of 2011, I was excited to see another book from Schmidt and eagerly requested it. I was thrown by a loop to see that it was not a straight contemporary but I wanted to see it through despite the inclusion of fantastical elements. Unfortunately it ended up really not being what I wanted. For my review, I want to divide it into two parts: one for the contemporary and one for the sci-fi sections. The book is also roughly divided into that with italicized chapters detailing another world and regular font for our world although the two increasingly overlap as the book progresses.

Let's start with the contemporary, which I loved. Sixth-grader Tommy lives with his painter father and bubbly younger sister after the death of his mother. Unfortunately the father no longer paints and the sister no longer speaks due to grief even as their house is under assault by a mega-corporation eager to snatch up its land and develop it. Amid this melancholy, Tommy receives a chain from Valorim and soon finds himself speaking its language to the bafflement of his classmates and embarking on its defense. I loved just about everything that was realistic in this book-the sad family attempting to move on without a vital part of itself, the kids at school as well as their teachers and staff, Tommy's battle against the realtor. It was great stuff!

But the fantastical elements were SO hard for me. I dreaded every time I reached a chapter set there (they alternate). There are many made-up words, which are included in a glossary in the back, but they never fully sunk in to my brain so even as I approached the end, I had to keep flipping to check on their meaning. Then there was the fantasy world itself; I understood its basic conflict with evil Lord Mondus using treachery to gain power but I was a little confused on the names of the people around him (were the Valorim and the Ethelim the same people?) I got a very Lord of the Rings vibe from this part with the way names are deployed except that I love LOTR and did not care for this.

Overall: I did not want Schmidt to try something new and was very thrown by the science fiction elements to the point that they distracted me from the overarching themes of the story.

Eve and Adam

Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
3/5 stars
Feiwel & Friends, 2012
291 pages
YA Sci-Fi

Why did I read this? Well just look at the cover. It is simply stunning in my opinion. Plus the synopsis sounded cool and I'm always up for some science fiction. I am also a sucker for alternating narration.

We are introduced immediately to Evening, usually called Ev, beign hit by a car. Then her terrifying mother Terra Spiker, business mogul billionaire, insists on Evening being moved to Spiker's medical facility...and for good reason as it runs out (I'm not going to spoil it here). However this move does not work out quite the way Terra planned as Eve meets Terra's ward Solo (immediately invoking Star Wars for me). Solo is an orphan whose parents died, accidentally in a car accident but also possibly on purpose as they were former business partners who crossed Terra. Thus Solo waits and bides his time until falling for Eve and inviting her into his plot.

For her part, Eve is preoccupied with her friend Aislin who has the worst taste in guys leading to several exciting action scenes in addition to an order from her mother to create the perfect man using experimental technology. Eve creates a guy, suitably dubbed Adam. I thought the sequences around the genetics were fascinating. Although I'm not a science person, I have always had an interest in that branch and enjoyed the brief time spent exploring it.

Due to the alternating perspectives, I thought the book moved quickly through its story with each chapter leaving me wanting more. But the characters really slowed me down toward the end. I liked Eve for the most part although I got pretty mad at her toward the end for her treatment of Aislin who did not deserve that. Unfortunately I was less enamored with Solo which, as I observed in a goodreads status update, made some sections of the book difficult such as his burgeoning feelings for Eve and her reciprocation (I do not get what she sees in him). Also as an "older" reader, I often find myself more sympathetic to the parental figures in a book. This was actually such a case. I thought Terra was being demonized and felt somewhat justified in those feelings as the book reached its conclusion. She's not a great parent by any means but she's not the awful person originally presented.

Takeaway Points:
1. Cool sci-fi concept and discussions
2. Fast paced read kept me turning the pages
3. Villain mother was ultimately more sympathetic to me than so-called hero. This clash of assessments with how the authors' presented them ends up being the main reason for my 3 star rating.

Eve and Adam will be released on October 2, 2012. Click here for more information. This review is for an e-ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.