[Review: Glory O'Brien's History Of The Future]

"Glory O'Brien's History of the Future"
Author: A.S. King
Series: None
Pages: 308
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Magical Realism
Date Published: October 14th, 2014
Publisher: Little Brown Book for Young Readers
Format Read: Hardback from the library

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Summary:

In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last--a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities--but not for Glory, who has no plan for what's next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she's never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way...until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person's infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions--and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying: A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women's rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she'll do anything to make sure this one doesn't come to pass.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Glory O'Brien's History Of The Future,

You're weird. Like really really weird, but in a way that made me like you a lot. I guess the better word might even be strange. Because that's also what you were. You're about a lot of things all at once. Dealing with death, dealing with coming to terms with your life, and drinking bats so that you accidentally see the future. Thing is, I got you, and I'm glad that I did.

-The White Unicorn

This is my first A.S. King read, and I have to say that I dug it. I have heard that her other stuff is really different, but I have yet to see that for myself. This novel was strange, quirky, and just a straight up trip. King decides to take on regular life issues, but then adds in the fact that her main character drinks the dust of a dead bat in warm beer, and then can see the future. Yerp, it's just as weird as it sounds, but in this case, that's a good thing. 

The fact is that two stories are going on at once. On one hand we have the story of Glory and her life. Her weird relationship with her hippie, commune living, best friend. Who she doesn't really like. The fact that she and her father are still dealing with her mother's suicide, and the fact that she likes to document everything, but doesn't have a life plan of her own. On the other hand we see what Glory sees after she drinks her dead bat. All the sudden we're seeing a contemporary tale, and Glory's dystopian future at the same time. It's a mind trip, but it was a good one. 

Glory is the reason that this book really worked for me. I didn't love the other characters very much, but I think that she made up for it. As she learns about her past, and her future at once, it turns her into a different person. She goes from being a loner feminist, to a girl with a mission. She knows things that no one else does. While her friend sees the cuteness of the world through the bat's eye, Glory sees all the gory details. All of them. 

This is one of those books that you could try to describe for days, but it's so layered and detailed that you have to read it for yourself to understand what's really going on. 

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect! 

[Review: Gates If Thread And Stone by Lori M. Lee]

"Gates of Thread and Stone"
Author: Lori M. Lee
Series: Gates of Thread and Stone #1
Pages: 335
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Mythology
Date Published: August 5th, 2014
Publisher: Skyscape
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power. 

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Gates Of Thread And Stone,

You were action packed, fast paced, and full of adventure. So basically, you were just what I was looking for. I'm still wondering why it took me so long to actually read you? It's a valid question. Kai was an unknown badass, and Avan was something else as well. Between the fun plot, and the cool characters, I liked you a lot!

-The White Unicorn

It's been awhile since I've read a dystopian novel, and I'm really glad that this is the one I ended up picking up. Gates of Thread and Stone is just what I wanted it to be. Lee not only gives us an exciting story, she also gives us some really interesting characters. 

Honestly, even though I like the plot, I have to say that it is pretty basic. There are little twists and turns, but it's kind of your typical Dystopian. The part where Lee differs is the fact that she adds mythology into everything. Along with little dashes of magic. So while Lee's plot is simple, her world building is really well thought out and layered. It makes for a plesent reading experience. 

Lee also does the same thing with her characters. They might seem familiar at first, but she adds these details that make them come alive. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am really impressed by Lee's ability to take all these basic elements and make them sparkle in a way that you haven't seen before. 

Kai is strong. She's a fighter, she knows what she has to do, and she does it. She doesn't second guess herself. On the other hand, she has no idea what she's doing, and she knows it. I really liked her. Her loyalty to her family and the people in her life was intense, and I dug it! 

Avan was really cool. He's layered, and he's not your typical love interest. Lee decided to make him bi-sexual, and I think it was the perfect choice. You don't see it very often, and it made the romance really interesting! 

Speaking of romance, Lee has a really good handle on creating the slow burn. Some writers have it, and it's clear that she is one of them. I found myself shipping Kai and Avan before they even realized that they liked each other. I think I was yelling at them to "just kiss already" more than once while reading. 

So, if you're looking for a book full of adventure, interesting characters, and a ship that will leave you shipping for days, here it is!

Rating:

 

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard]

"Red Queen"
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series: Red Queen Trilogy #1
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Date Published: February 10th, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Red Queen,

You book, are pure crack. I know that you weren't perfect and yet I can't help but love you. I want to tell everyone to read you, cause when you let go and don't look for the weirdness that pops up in you, it's the greatest adventure ever. You seem a bit like other books we've seen before and yet you feel really new at the same time. What can I say: you're crack and I need the next book now.

-The White Unicorn

Everyone read this book. The beginning is messy, but as it goes on it gets so good! Aveyard has built a world, that once you get over a few inconsistencies (that might change in the finished copy) that's full of interesting people and places. Even though Red Queen is the background book of the trilogy, it never slows down. We get handed high action from the very beginning and it only gets more intense as the novel continues on. Aveyard has mastered the twists and turns of novel writing and it's written all over this book. She pulls some plot twists that you can see coming from a mile away, but she uses those things to hide the real plot surprises within them. To be honest, my jaw hit the floor more than once.

The names are weird, but as soon as you get used to the thought that every name is weird, it seems a bit more normal. Our lead Mare is delightful. Well technically she's not, but I found myself relating to her on so many levels that I didn't mind that she wasn't supposed to be likeable. She sees the world for what it is and in the end that doesn't always end up being the best thing for her. 

This book also features a triangle of love (because I'm tired of saying the words love triangle). One girl and two princes. Their doesn't seem to be a clear winner or one that Mare should pick over the other, but lets just say that I picked right for most of the book. Maven and Cal both have issues and good features and I like the fact that Mare acknowledges those things.

The factions of blood were also really interesting. I felt like the novel was part x-men and part royalty. How can you go wrong with that. I'm excited to see what Aveyard does with the blood details and her class divide in the rest of the books. I had a few issues and felt like there were a few holes in her world building on that front, but I'm hoping that they disappear as the series continues.

Yes, this book wasn't the best or most well written book in the world, but I adored it with every fiber of my being and I know that I'll read anything else from Aveyard in the future. 

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect (crack book)

[Review: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin]

"The Walled City"
Author: Ryan Graudin
Series: None
Pages: 432
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Alternate History
Date Published: November 4th, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

730. That's how many days I've been trapped.
18. That's how many days I have left to find a way out.

DAI, trying to escape a haunting past, traffics drugs for the most ruthless kingpin in the Walled City. But in order to find the key to his freedom, he needs help from someone with the power to be invisible....

JIN hides under the radar, afraid the wild street gangs will discover her biggest secret: Jin passes as a boy to stay safe. Still, every chance she gets, she searches for her lost sister....

MEI YEE has been trapped in a brothel for the past two years, dreaming of getting out while watching the girls who try fail one by one. She's about to give up, when one day she sees an unexpected face at her window.....

In this innovative and adrenaline-fueled novel, they all come together in a desperate attempt to escape a lawless labyrinth before the clock runs out.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Walled City,

Talk about gritty, that's what you are. You made my skin crawl and even though I'm not claustrophobic you made me feel like I might be. The city inside of you was like a character in and of itself and I enjoyed it--a lot. The fact that you are loosely based on a real place that once existed, makes me feel pretty disturbed, but at the same time you're a book that makes life seem a little bit more amazing and you show that no matter how bad it get's there is always a beauty to life.

-The White Unicorn

There are those books that make you feel tired when you read them and The Walled City was one of those for me. I don't think that that's a bad thing, it means that things are happening, that the pacing keeps you on your toes and that you're not sure what is going to happen next. Graudin has plotted this novel to exhausting perfection. Every page is full of something that will shock you and make you root for all of the characters.

Though The Walled City is a fictional place, it's based on the Kowloon Walled City that was around not too long ago in Hong Kong. The fact that the inspiration for Graudin's Walled City was real place puts a whole new weight to the book. These fictional kids could have been real people, dealing with things that, hopefully, none of us ever have to deal with. 

The story is told through the eyes of three different characters. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of multiple POV, but this book made me like it. Graudin used three pairs of eyes in a way that made the story flow well and gave us more of the story than we would have gotten with one POV. None of the main characters or their POV's felt like dead weight and each of their eyes were needed in telling this story.

Dai, Jin and Mei Yee are all connected in a way that is really special. Graudin could have so easily turned this into a love triangle and yet she doesn't. The book benefits from this on so many fronts. It gives the story room for romance and, more importantly, friendship. It takes three teens and gives them all a common goal. It does what so many other books refuse to do and I'm glad that that's the approach that Graudin chose to take. 

The book is filled with every dark theme you can think of. Prostitution, drugs, murder, domestic violence, gangs and more. It's intense, but it's a story that is more than those things. The focus on family lightens the load and shines a light on things that might be a bit much for the normal reader. It's something that really makes the power of family stand on it's own feet and that might just be my favorite thing about the book in general!

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch]

"Perfected"
Author: Kate Jarvik Birch
Series: Perfected #1
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Date Published: July 1st, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format Read: Purchased eBook

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Summary:

Perfection comes at a price.

As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.

Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows…and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.

But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she’s faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn’s family is leaving…and if she’s unsuccessful, she’ll face a fate far worse than death.

For fans of Kiera Cass’ Selection series and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous—and dangerous—bow.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Perfected,

Hello there, you diabolically, twisted, messed up, book! I love that you had me inwardly and outwardly cringing as I read your pages. The things inside of you are screwed up on so many levels, but you also use them in a way that reminds us of what it means to be a person. You're unsettling and I like you even more for it all...

-The White Unicorn

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Birch has a way with writing stories that set you on edge as you read them. She's not afraid to tell a story with uncomfortable story devices. This time around she's telling a story of humanity through the eyes of a girl who's been genetically created to be something like a pet to people. The creepy factor is that Ella has emotions and feelings and is in all actuality a person. A person who is forced to be treated like a pampered poodle. It's a disgusting thought, but Birch gives us strong story building and characters that you will love.

While reading this book, I was left with a creepy feeling. The fact that people were out there creating other people for their own pleasure makes me sick inside. These girls are being created in kennels to be the perfect doormats, but Birch reminds us that you can't take humanity out of someone, so things don't always go as planned. Going in to the book I had no idea that it was set in an dystopian future. I'm not sure what I thought it was going to be, but I'm glad that this was the case. It made it even more unsettling, knowing that the technology might be out there to do something like this.

Ella doesn't even have a name while she's in the kennel. It isn't until she ends up at the congressman's house that they decide on her name. I can't even imagine what it's like to go 16 years without a name and only a number to your person. She shows up, get's a name, a necklace with a dog tag on it and a world full of luxury. She's clueless. She's been raised to listen and that's about it. Well, they also taught her how to play the piano as a way of entertaining her owners, but that wasn't originally for her, though she loves it with everything inside of herself. She doesn't know how to read, or cook, or do much of anything but sit around and look pretty. This could have been terrible for her as a character, but it actually makes the world that Birch created even more vivid. It makes Ella someone that you can root for as she starts to see things as they really. As she starts to see that she has options in the world, options that she never thought she'd have. 

She starts to gain a personality as the book progresses, so even though she seems like a weak character to begin with, you see that she's made of so much more as the book moves along. She starts to realize that she wants things and that she's been cheated out of the human experience and when she starts fighting for it, you'll want to cheer her on too. 

Perfected happens to be fueled by a romance. In this case it works and I think that it also softens the blow of all the intense things that are happening to Ella. How was she supposed to know that she'd fall for her owners son? I enjoyed Penn. He's what Ella needs. That being said, I felt like he was the weakest part of the book. For some reason I just didn't love his voice. I liked him, but every time he opened his mouth, it was like his words didn't match up with his personality for me. I can't put my foot on what was off, but this little thing didn't mess with my enjoyment of the story, because in the end, the book is about so much more than the love story, even if that is used to move the plot along.

Birch manages to slowly peel back the layers on what is actually going on with the pets and as more and more comes to light, the more you want to rip the pets out of the pages of the books and free them from the hell that Birch has created for them. I have to admit that I saw a few of the twists coming, because they weren't very hidden, but a few things still snuck up on me.

If you want to read a book that's going to set you on edge and make you feel like every person on this earth counts, this is the book for you. It's got so many blood boiling moments in it that will make you happy that Birch's world isn't a reality.

Rating:

   4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: In A Handful Of Dust by Mindy McGinnis]

"In a Handful of Dust"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: Not a Drop to Drink #2
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Date Published: September 23rd
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.

Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To In a Handful of Dust,

It's odd that a book will pull on my heart strings and make me want to vomit, but that's what you're able to do. The characters that you house have become some of my favorites. Lynn and Lucy have this thing about them that makes you like them even though you know that they're not all that loveable. Thanks for being such a good home for them and for bringing them to life once again.

-The White Unicorn

Not a Drop to Drink was easily one of my favorite reads from last year and so when I found out that McGinnis was writing a companion novel, I was elated. McGinnis is a master story teller and I couldn't wait to dive back into the morally conflicted world that she's able to create. Let's just say that I was not disappointed by what I just read. McGinnis is back and better than ever.

This book doesn't pick up where Not a Drop left off, in fact McGinnis drops us into the future. Lucy is no longer a little kid and Lynn isn't a teenager anymore. I was so glad that we got to catch up with both characters in this book, because God knows there was a chance that Lynn could have already been dead, even though this book is only 10 years ahead of where the last one left off. Of course the happenings at the end of book one have had an emotional effect on both of the characters and McGinnis doesn't let you forget the crazy shit that's already gone down. 

It was interesting to see Lucy as a teen. She's looking for herself out in the world and trying to walk the fine line between what her mother was and what Lynn is. The beginnings of the book seem like they could go the route of a love story, but quickly that fades away. Lucy and Lynn are forced to build their bond and survive in some insanely hard situations. I love that McGinnis doesn't take it easy on her characters. It means that her characters are pig headed, little beasts, but you love them anyway. 

Lynn isn't much different from the teen we met in Drop. In fact, if anything, she's harder then that girl. She's tough in a way that could make her really unlikeable, but I still find myself connecting with her and rooting for her. It was also interesting to see her playing a mothering role this time around. We got glimpses of it in the first book, but it's one of the main things she's worried about this time around.

The book heavily features Lynn and Lucy, and though there are other characters, they don't get much page time. I think this was a great call. It was wonderful to watch them interact with each other. One is on a mission to protect and the other is searching for what it means to be yourself. Their relationship is unlike anything I've ever read. They love each other in such a unique way and their ups and downs are huge because of the world that they live in.

As always McGinnis adds in tons of blood and treachery and vomit inducing gross bits. Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but she knows where to put things in her books that make you wonder what it would be like to crawl inside her brain as she writes. This book is just as brutal as the first and I couldn't have been happier. 

So, in the end, I say that you need to read these books. McGinnis has a way with her characters and events that will leave you reeling and wanting to read, even when you should be sleeping.

Rating:

    5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: The Jewel by Amy Ewing]

"The Jewel"
Author: Amy Ewing
Series: The Lone City #1
Pages: 358
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Fantasy
Date Published: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Jewel,

I thought we were going to be friends, instead, we're kind of like awkward acquaintances. We met that one time and we didn't really like each other that much. Or maybe you were more like a bad blind date? You started out fine, but once I dug into your soul I wasn't all that impressed with what I was seeing. And then when it all ended I was actually slightly interested again. Seriously, if all the middle bits were as entertaining and non repetitive as your middle bits, you would have been a favorite. Oh well, I guess we can't win them all...

-The White Unicorn

This book guys, it started out so well. I was engrossed with the world building and terrified by the fact that everything is surrounded by water. Violet and her life in the holding facility as well as the moments with her family actually stirred my emotions and I thought I had a book I was going to love in my hands. That's when the middle happened. The middle with the most awkward romance I've ever experienced, and the repetitive motions of Violet's days, and the bitchy females. There was promise lurking in the depths of mediocrity, which kept me reading, but sometimes i just didn't want to.

Honestly, if Ewing had kept the Violet from the beginning of the book as the character that led the story, I think it would have worked so much better. There were glimpses of her, but for some reason she started to act like a fool. Nothing really happened to progress her emotions and when they did, it was too late. Ewing leaned on a forbidden inst-romance to progress her personality instead and it just didn't work for me. I do have to say that Ewing using a male "companion" as our virginal surrogate's love interest was a brilliant plan, but the romance itself was so poorly executed, that I ended up just not caring at all. I honestly think this book would have benefited from not having a strong romance angle at all. I much preferred Violet as a steadfast friend then a fool headed lover.

Speaking of Ash, I didn't like him, at all. I actually thought that Garnet (Why is a man named that? Just why?) would have been much more fun to see more of in the book. He could have been utilized so much more than he was and I was curious about him, but then I got locked in a room with this Ash fellow and the inst-love/awkward romance started happening and I had no time for that business.

I do, however have to say that I loved so many of the other characters in the book. The ones that weren't the leads. Annabelle was amazing and Raven was awesome and Lucian was a bit of Cinna, but I loved him anyway. And like I said, I was entranced by the moments when Garnet actually got screen time.

The ending was almost as good as the beginning of the book, and not just because it was over. Ewing created a delightful cliffhanger and gave me some things that might make me pick up the next book. The ending did seem a bit fast and slightly out of place, but I think it's due to the middle of the book being so boring. 

World building is a big thing for me and even though the imagery in the pages was great, I felt like Ewing mentioned so many interesting things and then didn't tell us anything about them. Sure, she wanted to go for the element of surprise in some cases, but I wanted to know more about the wall and the different parts of The Lone City. It was on the tip of being amazing, but it was just too bare boned for me, and truth be told I love bare boned world building, so that's saying something.

In the end I have to say that I enjoyed The Jewel. It might not sound like it, but it did keep my interest and I have this sneaky suspicion that I'll read the rest of the books. This one just suffers from inconsistencies that weren't my favorite.

Rating:

  2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something just didn't work for me!

[Review: The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings]

"The Murder Complex"
Author: Lindsay Cummings
Series: The Murder Complex #1
Pages: 400
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Date Published: June 10th, 2014
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Murder Complex,

Well, flux this! Book, you came at me and let me know that I have pet peeves when it comes to reading that I would have never known of otherwise. You allowed yourself to "fake swear" all over the place and I couldn't stop complaining about it. So, thank you? Luck for you I did enjoy your story and all the gore held inside of you, so that helped. You're kind of a mess for me, but I don't dislike you, even if I'm not your biggest fan. 

-The White Unicorn

Okay, let's start out with the good. Cummings has created a really fast paced, gory, twisted dystopian mystery. It's got a lot going for it and the pacing that she chooses to use is perfect. Parts of this book didn't work for me at all, but Cummings' writing style kept me interested. She knows how to weave a story and she's not afraid to write about murder, which is convenient, looking at the title of this book. Her story and the plot where a total delight. I didn't realize that the book was 400 pages as I was reading it, which I think is good thing when you're reading a longer novel.

Now things just get confusing. I have a big bag of mixed feelings about all of the characters. At times they are some of the strongest that I've read in awhile and then just like that a switch flips and they seem very wishy-washy to me. 

Meadow is a total badass, and there is nothing better then that. She knows how to kill, she doesn't fear anything, she's hard and doesn't know what love is like. And then on the other hand she's unsure, she's worried about what people think and she's not the smartest. She becomes a muddle of inconsistency and it bummed me out. 

  

Zephyr had the same issues. I don't want to spoil what happens, but at one point he seems like he doesn't want to deal anymore and he does something not so brilliant that affects a lot of people. But then as you get to know him you're supposed to see him as this caring guy who puts others before himself, even though he contemplates making that same mistake again. He's all over the place.

Which leads me to whatever was happening between the two of them. It seems like insta-love, it looks like insta-love, it feels like insta-love, but I still can't tell you if it's really insta-love or not. They have this weird "connection", that's for sure. There is love happening and it comes on quick. It makes what they have seem fake, and I just didn't buy them as more then friends. I think Zephyr had way better chemistry with Talen, which says a lot.

I also didn't feel like I could really get a grasp on what was happening emotionally in this book. There are a lot of complex emotions happening, but they fall flat. I think this could have been an issue because of my confusion about the characters in general. But it was an issue for me.

This leads to my least favorite thing about the novel. The "wooden swearing". I'm not sure why Cummings made up swear words for this book. Every time I read Flux, or Skitz, or Stars, or Chumhead it pulled me out of the story. It didn't feel authentic, it felt weird. You'd be reading and all the sudden one of these words would pop up and it would get weird. I guess I prefer that characters cuss like pros, or that they don't cuss at all before I read anymore made up swear words. I think I commented on this about a million times as I was reading. I wish it wasn't a thing.

When I get down to the bones of my feelings about this book. I liked it? See I'm still not entirely sure. But I know that I'll be reading the other books in the series, because even though there was so much I didn't like, I kinda of love Cummings' main story and need to find out what happens.

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!

[Review: Rebel by Amy Tintera]

"Rebel"
Author: Amy Tintera
Series: Reboot #2
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Zombies
Date Published: May 13th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The sequel to the action-packed Reboot is a can't-miss thrill ride, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Veronica Roth, and Marie Lu.

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Rebel,

Firstly, thanks for being the 2nd and final book to a series. It's so weird for there to only be 2 books, but it really worked for you and you made me a fan of duologies.  So thanks for that. Also, you were a really awesome book. I'm not really a fan of duel perspectives and even though I wish this book was all from Wren's POV, is was cool to get into Callum's head. He turned into a badass in his own right. I'm a fan of that. Overall, you're just a really awesome book and series finisher.

-The White Unicorn

After reading Reboot and Rebel back to back I can clearly say that I'm a huge fan of Tintera's work. She crafts a story in a way that makes you pay attention. She has a lot to say with her books and wraps it all up in an exciting story and dynamic characters. Rebel brings new cast members into play, as well as giving us a different storytelling vehicle.

This time around Tintera hits us with duel POVs. We not only get to see inside of Wren's head, but also Callum's. It made things interesting and kept you on your toes as a reader. I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of the idea and even though I like Callum a lot, I enjoy Wren's voice more. Oddly enough by the time I finished the book I saw the reasoning behind Tintera's choice. It turned from something I didn't love into an inside track as I watched Callum become a total boss! When he was left in charge of things I started to see the guy that Wren had fallen in love with all along. I think she always knew he had it in him.

In contrast we got to see the softer side of Wren. And by softer, I don't mean Charmin Ultra soft, she's still really rough around the edges, but she's learning to embrace her humanity. Even if she is dead. It's awesome to see her come out of her hardened shell and save people, come to some deep realizations and let herself fall in love.  

I liked that the idea that good and evil exist in all forms got played with in this book. Wren and Callum thought that had found a safe-haven in the reservation, but Micah proves them wrong. It finally dawns on them that there is a whole level of gray that they've never thought existed. Speaking of Micah, I hated his stinking guts. He's the perfect anti-hero. God knows I love a good anti-hero and he's on the top of my list.

I also loved that Tintera toyed with the relationships between reboots and humans. We get to know Addie and Beth and Riley so much better, and Issac as well. They add so much to the reboot side of things. And we get to see more of Tony and Desmond and Gabe and David. They're interesting humans and even though the book isn't fully about them, their really well fleshed out when we do get to see them. (I think I just made a zombie pun)

I could go on and on about this series, but I'll stop myself right there and tell you that you need to read it. You need to read all of it. NOW!

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!   

[Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera]

"Reboot"
Author: Amy Tintera
Series: Reboot #1
Pages: 365
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Zombies
Date Published: May 7th, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: Purchased eBook

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Summary:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Reboot,

Well you're a cool zombie book, aren't you? I loved that you didn't fall into normal "zombie book" tropes. Good job! You gave us characters that were more human then flesh eating monster, even though their still technically dead. You also gave me one of my new favorite love stories. And let's talk about Wren for a second. She's a total badass with a heart of gold. What's not to love about that? And the action, the action was legit! Thanks for being so cool.

-The White Unicorn

Reboot is one of those books that's had a lot of hype behind it and sometimes those don't work so well for me. Luckily, this book was just as good as all of the hype led me to believe. Tintera managed to find a way to flip zombies on their head without making them any less deadly. Instead of making these rebooted kids into flesh eating monsters, she made then into child soldiers and it did wonders for the zombie genre. In my humble opinion. In a way she humanizes these dead kids in a way that makes you forget that they aren't alive. 

Wren is a wonderful character. She died for 178 minutes and is technically an emotionless shell. Or so it seems. She's interesting because part of her emotionless has been conditioned into her even though she definitely has a hard time tapping into them because of the minutes that she spent dead. There is a lot more to her then meets the eye. She's fierce, she a little mean, but she's loyal to the max. It takes her roommate Ever and her new trainee Callum to show off her softer side, but it's there, under all the dead layers of skin.

And then we have Callum. He's a 22 and practically human. His humanity is still pretty intact and he has a lot of issues with what HARC is all about. He also happens to have the hots for Wren. I loved their dynamic. He's the sweetest. Literally the sweetest. He stands for something so different then the soldier he's supposed to become. But when push comes to shove he'll beat the living day lights out of you if it needs to happen.

Tintera gives us a ton of high action. In fact I don't think that you really get a moment to breath when you're reading this book. People are fighting, people are dying, people are conspiring, basically people are doing all the things. She also creates a mystery and  a whole bunch of intrigue. Nothing is as it seems and it keeps you on your toes.

I can't say enough about this one. It's got so many great things going for it. It looks at humanity in a way that keeps you interested and gives you a lot to think about on top of all the badassery and action. This ones definitely worth all the hype!

Rating:

    4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Deliver Me by Kate Jarvik Birch]

"Deliver Me"
Author: Kate Jarvik Birch
Series: None
Pages: 250
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Date Published: April 29th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

One People. One Union. One Future.

Wynne’s entire life is dictated by the Union: the clothes she wears, the books she reads, even the genes she inherited. And like every other girl in the Union, Wynne dreams of being chosen as a Carrier on her 16th birthday—one of the elite selected to carry the future generation within her womb. Wynne and her best friend Odessa are certain they will both make the cut, but when Odessa is chosen and whisked off to a life of privilege, Wynne is left behind to work as an assistant, delivering perfectly planned babies for the Union.

As Odessa slips deeper and deeper into the role of Carrier, Wynne begins to see the Union for what it really is: a society that criminalizes the notion of love, and forbids words like mother and family.

For the first time in her life, Wynne is faced with a choice: submit to the will of the Union, or find a way to escape and save Odessa before she is lost forever.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Deliver Me,

I didn't go into reading you thinking that you were going to be a book that swept me off my feet, in fact I didn't give it much thought, but now I can't stop thinking about you.  You posed so many questions about the human condition and the quiet strength that we all have inside of us.  You made me bawl my eyes out at one point and that doesn't happen very often.  You gave me this terrifying world and these characters that I adored.  You gave me feminine, yet strong girl power and you touched on feminist issues without being obnoxious.  You book, are going to be something I'll be thinking about for awhile.

-The White Unicorn

Okay, so this book blew my mind.  Birch has a writing style that will pull you right into the world that she's created.  Her characters are ridiculously strong and well written.  You feel like they are people that you've known forever, which makes the reality of the things that are happening to them even more heart wrenching.  Deliver Me isn't a sweet book by any means.  It's brutal and it's dark and it's full of human conditioning.  That being said, Birch manages to give us the story through the eyes of people who still hang on to hope.  People who bend the status quo and see just how far they can push it.  This book is harrowing.

Birch gives us this dystopian world that will remind readers of the Nazi concentration camps.  The men and women are separated and placed into their own barracks.  They have numbers tattooed onto their arms.  Love and families aren't something you are supposed to know about.  And a few select girls seem like they get the best deal when they are chosen to be Carriers (baby making machines).  It's not pretty and it's actually pretty darn terrible.  It'll leave you cringing at times, but it will also make you want to cheer for human resilience.  

The story is fundamentally about friendship.  Wynne does have a moment where she meets a man, but this book isn't drenched in a typical love story, in fact it barely even dips its toes in.  Instead it's a story about Wynne and Odessa.  They share this sisterly love that is huge and they've planned their lives out together as Carriers, but that doesn't go as planned.  Once the girls are separated, Wynne builds strong and lasting relationships with most of the other women that come into her path.  The relationships that Birch builds are wonderful and full of warmth, even though the circumstances surrounding them are harsh.

Wynne is one tough cookie.  The things that she sees and experience are intense, but she still manages to stay grounded.  She's continually questioning everything that's happening around her, while everyone else is just going about their lives the way they were taught to.  She asks the questions that most people wouldn't want to know the answers to and it makes her one of the most interesting heroines that I've read in a really long time.  She stands up for what is right even though she's been conditioned from birth not to doubt anything that she's told by those who are in charge.  Of course this also brings loads of trouble knocking on her front door.

I do have one little qualm with this wonderful book.  It's a slight, little thing, but it's still there.  The world building, though it's really well developed, also isn't.  Sure we see the world that Wynne lives in and it's extremely detailed, but the wide scope world building could have been fleshed out a bit more.  Though it could have detracted from the characterization and God knows I prefer that to overly detailed outside information.  Like I said, it's a little thing.

I highly suggest that this book go on your "to be read" lists.  It snuck up on me and made me take notice of all the awesome that it had to offer.

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis]

"Not a Drop to Drink" 
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: None
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
Date Published: September 24th, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

This book has easily snagged a spot in my top 5 books of the year.  I honestly couldn't get enough of the raw, gritty, unflinching story that McGinnis has brought to life on these thin sheets of paper.  Sure, this book is fiction, but it had a sense of realism that both terrified and enthralled me.  It's a survival story to it's core.  There are bits of fun and a romance that, even though the romance is small, it still packs a punch.  In a way Not a Drop to Drink reminded me of both The Walking Dead and Red Dawn (without the zombies and Soviets of course).  It had that intensity and that underlining thing that makes you wonder if there is any fact in the fiction.  

The descriptions that filled this book sometimes left my stomach reeling.  It's told so subtly and simply, but still McGinnis finds ways to describe Lynn and her mother's life in a way that shows the true horrors that you face when you're just trying to stay alive in a world short on the only thing that can keep you kickin and that's water.  This one is not for the faint of heart, that much is for sure.  

It's amazing to me how McGinnis is able to pull you into such a simplistic story, where in reality the scenery doesn't change much.  Three spots are featured and one is used more than the others, but still you're pulled in.  It's atmospheric story telling at its best.  Lynn, her mother and Stebbs don't know more than that the water is going dry and people will do anything to get it.  All they know is that to survive you must have water and that to keep your water you sometimes have to do things that are horrible.  

Lynn was one of those characters that will stick with you.  She grows a lot in the pages of this book.  She has her simple, survivalist life turned upside down and she has to decide if living the way her mother has taught her to (pretty much, shoot first, take their shoes later) is how she really wants to live, or if there are other ways to do it.  She's hard and though book smart (thanks to her mom), she doesn't really understand how to coexist with other people.  It's just been the two of them for so long.  She's a tough egg to crack and yet you can't help but love her and want to give her a big hug.  (Which she'd probably kick you in the shins for.)

The secondary characters were all amazing as well.  Each one of them has their place in helping Lynn along in her journey of survival and self discovery.  Stebbs is the neighbor who she's never really know.  I love the almost Santa Claus vibe he had going on.  He just seemed like that all around nice older man, even if he did have a wicked sense of humor.  Lucy, Eli and Neva all have a special place inside my heart as well.  Little Lucy was the bright light in all of the madness and tough as nails for a little girl.  Her mother Neva on the other hand, showed us the other darker side of things.

Eli, oh Eli.  He provided a much needed, but none distracting love story element.  Seriously, he was the sweetest.  I loved watching him and Lynn interact.  I ship these two.  I ship them so hard!  What they had was so perfect to the story.  It was unknown and honest and will grab onto your heartstrings, even after the book is over.

Even the ending was perfect for the story.  Lynn had to make some big decisions and everything got tied up perfectly in a big cluster bomb of chaos.  It was a messy, ugly, spot on ending to the book.  We even got a few surprises thrown at us and McGinnis has no fear in her story telling.  Anything goes and I love an author who will do whatever the story needs to get a story right!

I was blown away by Not a Drop to Drink, so much so that Mindy McGinnis goes straight to my instant buy list.  This being her first novel, I can't wait to see what other things she has up her sleeves in the future!          

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this one now!

[Review: The Ward by Jordana Frankel]

"The Ward"
Author: Jordana Frankel
Series: The Ward #1
Pages: 480
Genre: YA Dystopian
Date Published: April 30th, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest reviw

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Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.

However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.

Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

I have so many feelings about this book.  I honestly didn't know what it was about going into it.  I had heard a few good things floating around about it and the cover grabbed my attention, but I still had almost no clue when I opened the book about what I was going to read.  But I loved what I got.

Jordana Frankel has created a new and interesting world for her dystopian novel.  Taking a place that many people know (New York) and flooding it so that the Chrysler Building is no more than 7 stories tall.  The people of Manhattan now occupy the non flooded levels of it's streets an have built on top of some of the now small sky scrappers.  In most ways it's an underwater city.  I thought that Frankel's bare boned descriptions of The Ward (formerly New York) were awesome.  She gave you just enough to let your mind run as wild as you wanted with it, but still managed to create what she wanted to.  I think that selfishly I was also glad because I have a fear of aquariums and if she would have over described things it would have made me feel more claustrophobic than I already did.  The scenes in The Tank kinda freaked me out guys.

I felt like Ren was an extremely strong heroine and I loved getting to know her.  She seemed hard at first and even though it was definitely one of her stand out personality traits, there was more to her than first meets the eyes.  I could totally get behind her wanting to be one of the guys and even more behind her relationship with her sister.  Both of those things showed us different sides of Ren.  And then on top of it all she was a racer with mad skills and a ton of guts and a secret identity.  She had a lot going on and yet somehow still managed to stay grounded.  I also loved that she had a strong attachment to her footwear and those darn pennies!

The men in the novel were all written really well.  Frankel wrote them realistically.  Showing us their different personalities through their interactions with Ren.  Sometimes the differences were slight, but they impacted the story and the forward movement of the plot.  For instance when Ren hugs Ter and Callum there is a large difference.  With Ter it is strictly a brother sister type thing, but there is sexual tension when she hugs Callum.  Only a very gifted writer can create that feeling so seamlessly.  Benny, Ter, Kent and the rest of the guys were awesome to get to know, even if I didn't like all of them.

Now for the other spotlight characters.  I have to admit that I didn't really Derek after I was done reading the book.  While I was reading I totally got why Ren would dig him, but after stepping back from it all, I saw that he managed to pull a fast one on me as well.  In the end he's just a guy with million excuses as to why he "has" to do what he "has" to do.  So, I like him for the fact that he made me like him even when I truly don't.  He's a snake in the grass and if he doesn't get his stuff together in book two, I don't see myself falling into his charm again.

I don't know if there is actually something between Callum and Ren, but I really hope that there will be!  I adore Callum to pieces and I think he's a great addition to the main plot.  The guy has guts and smarts and fully trust Ren and everything that she is able to pull off.  He never doubts her.  I don't know if there will be a need for teams, but if so Callum gets my vote 100%.

And behind all the baddassery  lies the main fact that this story is about what one sister will do for the other.  It's got heart on top of all the epicness.

I have to give it to Jordana for also adding an element to the story that made if feel more like an Indiana Jones adventure than a dystopian novel at times!  The magical things that start to transpire were a brilliant touch that I wasn't expecting!

All in all I have to say that I am a fan of Jordana Frankel's debut novel.  It's full of mystery, adventure, romance, great family dynamics and real relationships all buried underwater.  I can't wait to see what happens in book two.  Grab this one on the 30th if this sounds like the book for you!

Rating:

    5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this one now! (or in this case on the 30th)