{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Review} Body Electric: Beth Revis

Rating: 85%
Series: None
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: Scripturient Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2014
Page Count: 482
Format: eBook
Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Nobles

Synopsis:The future world is at peace.

Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

About the Author: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 
Beth Revis is the NY Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series. The complete trilogy is now available in more than 20 languages. A native of North Carolina, Beth’s most recent book is The Body Electric, which tells the story of what was happening on Earth while the characters of Across the Universe were in space.

What YOU Could Win!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received this book from Expresso Book Tours in exchange for honest review. 

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of Exhilarating Science Fiction/Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic novels  with Strong Focuses on Science and Moral Reasoning such as Across the Universe (Beth Revis), Legend (Marie Lu), Partials (Dan Wells), Madman's Daughter (Megan Shepherd), Unwind (Neal Shusterman),  

Background & Backstory

I have a confession to make. I disliked Across the Universe, Beth's debut novel because I felt it was poorly paced, a tad confusing, and I disliked it because I dislike novels about space in general. Looking back, I can see that was a bit harsh, and I signed up for this tour to see if the book could redeem my opinion of Beth Revis. I am so happy to have read this novel and I see Beth Revis and her writing in an entirely new light now.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

What the frick just happened?

Warning: Whatever you do, do NOT have this book spoiled for you. It relies so much on the plot twists and mind-blowing revelations that it will not be half as enjoyable if it's spoiled. I am trying my best to be vague in this review, but there are so many little pieces of the puzzle that CANNOT be spoiled.

Science Fiction: A common misconception about Dystopian novels are that they are ALL under the umbrella known as Science Fiction. The Body Electric could be classified as a Dystopian novel, but more accurately.... it's Science Fiction. And may I just say.... this was a YA science fiction done right. I've seen Dystopian, Science-Fiction wannabes add a lot of cool technology and try to pass itself off as Science Fiction. On the other hand, books like Ender's Game are obviously Science Fiction with such complex worlds/conflicts, they can hardly be considered Young Adult. 

The Body Electric is a perfect combination of a thrilling, fast-paced world and intricate science fiction. The plot is NEVER slowed, but actually hastened by descriptions of new technology and concepts because they're answers to the mind-fudge that just took place. There were so many questions asked about what it means to be human (an oldie, but a goodie). And about the human brain and what it can do (always fascinating). And so many others that would make me want to live there if the government wasn't corrupt.

Romance: There wasn't a LEGITIMATE romance, in this novel... but there was a guy who insisted that he and the protagonist had been together for a long time. I felt so sorry for Jack because of how much he cared about Ella and her reactions to his feelings. At the same time, it was a wise decision to exclude romance because the plot was captivating enough without it, but the hints of it made the story even better. 

Praise Hafsah & Her Cover Design: I remember reading the "Journey to a Cover" post in September and was fascinated with the entire process. Of course, you won't recognize the significance of the cover until you read the book, but for a few minutes after finishing, all I could do was stare and revel in how perfectly it encapsulated the story. The bees and circuit boards hadn't made any sense, but they do now.... and the silhouette is perfect. 

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By Beth Revis?

I probably won't pick up A Million Suns or Shades of Earth, but I will definitely put Beth's next book on my TBR because of how much I loved this one.

Conclusion: A brilliantly fast-paced novel with a captivating plot influenced by a future that could be ours.

{Book Review} A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1): Claudia Gray

Rating: 87%
Series: Firebird Trilogy
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Page Count: 357
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Nobles

Goodreads Synopsis: Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black in this epic dimension-bending trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray about a girl who must chase her father's killer through multiple dimensions. Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You, the first book in the Firebird trilogy, explores an amazingly intricate multiverse where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc (P.K. Hezro) & Dissonance (Erica O'Rouke) & Pivot Point   (Kasie West)

Background & Backstory

I heard about this book about a month before it came out, read it (mostly) because of the gorgeous cover, and read it. Not that much of a back story.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

Tons of buildup.... but not explosive ending.

Make It A Sequel Or a Standalone? 95% of the time, I agree wholeheartedly with the author's choice to make a book a standalone or leave it open ended for a sequel. (There is the case, of course, where I want to author to write more books, but you get my point) However, with A Thousand Pieces of You, I don't think there should be a sequel with the way Gray set things up. I feel like it would have been easier to add an extra 50 pages and call it a day. There is definitely set-up for a sequel, I just felt that I wasn't convinced that I immediately NEED the sequel. All of the action and suspense 

Premise | 100%: I'm not sure this book's premise could have gotten any better. It was about a girl chasing down her father's murderer through various parallel universes. That just sounds like the "it" book of premise AND cover. Parallel Universes as well as Time Travel are two incredibly difficult concepts for scientists, let alone everyday people to grasp. Yet, fiction gives people the chance to invent their own answers and theories and no one can LEGITIMATELY challenge an author on their scientific integrity because it's assumed there is none. With that said, the way Claudia Gray both explained and sculpted the parallel universes was so easy to understand and mind boggling at the same time. 

Different Universes | 60%: The universes were extremely interesting because each one was created if something happened/some choice was made in the past that effects the current time when the traveler jumps between universes. The ones Marguerite spent the most time in were the most developed. Especially the Russian one where she was royalty (for an image of that universe, look at the bottom half of the ATPOY cover). There was also one where she and her family lived in an underwater colony (which was an extremely interesting concept). Besides that, they were all extremely similar and I felt there wasn't enough differentiation between them to make a comment. Although the VERY first one she jumps through is featured on the top half of the cover and looks so futuristic-ey and cool.

Romance | 70%: It was hard for me to differentiate my feelings for the romance and characters because in each universe, although the same person, the person has been effected in different ways.... and is therefore different in mannerisms and characteristics, such as hobbies. For example, Marguerite is a drawer in one world, a painter in another. Therefore, her relationship with both Theo and Paul is different. Without spoiling things, I would like to say that Marguerite and Paul's relationship in Russia makes me want to swoon.

Originality | 90%: There has never been a popularized, Young Adult book with Parallel Universes that isn't an extremely complicated Science-Fiction. It's hard to answer, "What books can I read that are like A Thousand Pieces of You?" because there are literally no other ones like ATPOY. The premise is completely original and the plot is a basic murder mystery with the added bonus of different personalities and conditions in different universes. No biggie, right?

Cover | 100%: A Thousand Pieces of You won with a landslide in the Book Shimmy Awards for the Cover Lust award with over HALF of the votes. It's gorgeous online and even better in person. (Although the texture could be better) On top of that, the font is one that I haven't seen before that looks incredible against the dark purple naked book.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read The Sequel?

40%

Like I JUST said, I thought it would have been good as a standalone because the build-up for the next book isn't very large. I'm not dying to know what will happen, but if I have the time, I will definitely get around to it.... eventually.

Conclusion: A completely original premise with a gorgeous cover to match and a sizzling romance people are sure to enjoy.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Review} Induction Day (Butterman Travel #2): P.K. Hrezo

Tour Page & Schedule

Rating: 75%
Series: Butterman Travel #2

Ages: 16+

Pages Count: 247
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Time Travel, New Adult, Young Adult, Fiction,
Publisher: Create Space
Publication Date: July 29, 2014
Format: eBook
Source: Candace's Book Blog Promotions

The year 2069 is coming to a close, and eighteen-year-old Bianca Butterman's time-craft license is finally official. She's ready for the Induction Day she’s waited for since she was a kid—the one that will secure her name on the Butterman family tree of time travelers. But ever since the media discovered Bianca is pop superstar Tristan Helms’ latest new honey, everything Bianca does or says becomes a target of criticism. Having her professional credibility topping the gossip sites across social media is an open invitation for the government to step in and regulate Bianca’s Induction. Now she will have to ask herself if saving 1500 people from drowning is worth losing everything she’s ever worked for, including the Butterman family biz.

Welcome to Butterman Travel, Incorporated; a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. We’re a family owned and operated business with one hundred years of experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.

Anxious to attend some special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?

You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply

Use our Web conferencing to contact our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, who will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.

We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Goodreads | YouTube

  Information on Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc 

Synopsis: Welcome to Butterman Travel, IncorporatedWe are a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. Family-owned and operated, we offer clients one hundred years of time travel experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.Anxious to attend a special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do applyConference us directly from our Website. Our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

 Goodreads |  Amazon Kindle  | B&N   

About the author:

PK Hrezo is a native Floridian rarely found without her flip flops on. She shares her home with her firefighter husband, their two children, and big dog named Ripley. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.

Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

Giveaway:

To be entered into a special giveaway, copy one of these ready-made posts and share it. Make sure PK’s name is tagged so she can see it and enter your name into a giveaway. The more you share, the more entries you receive. Five winners will receive a time traveler’s book thong:

TWEETS: Induction Day by @PKHrezo is a #timetravel #mustread. Retweet this to be entered into a special #giveaway. Add it to #AmazonCart here.

FACE BOOK: Induction Day is here! A taut, fast-paced, engrossing read by PKHrezo. Find it on Amazon here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9ADV2O

GOOGLE PLUS: Induction Day by #PKHrezo is a #timetravel #mustread. Retweet this to be entered into a special #giveaway. A taut, fast-paced, engrossing read. Find it on Amazon here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9ADV2O

Share this post for an entry into a special giveaway.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Candaces Book Blog Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

Background &Backstory

I was planning, somewhere on my lengthy TBR, to read this book, after all, I had sincerely enjoyed Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc back in January and wanted to know what happened next. I just hadn't planned on reading it as soon as I did in November. Yet, sometime in October, Candace's Book Blog Promotions when they inquired about me wanting to participate in the Induction Day blog tour. I thought, "What the hey?" I liked the first book, I already wanted to read the second, I love supporting authors I have previously worked with. I'll do the tour.

What Was My Reaction After I Finished This Book?

That was.... somewhat confusing, sequel PLEASE

Pro | Solidity/Deliverance: In terms of self/independently-published books I have read for promotional events, Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc is on my top three list. The first book had an extremely strong plot, interesting take on time travel, a swoon worthy romance, and well-developed characters. I am so happy to say that the sequel, Induction Day, was just as strong and solid of a sequel, delivering on my expectations after reading Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. Sophomore Slumps are a common occurrence amongst all authors and I was so appreciative for Induction Day carrying out my wishes as a reader (I don't sound entitled at all :p). 

Con | The Feeling of Wanting More Well-Roundedness : In Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. The story's setting and focus had a lot more variety. So, while Induction Day was satisfying to me in terms of reading enjoyment, it was not nearly as diverse in terms of where, what, how, why, when everything was taking place. Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. was a big bucket of crazy (of the good variety). Yet, Induction Day was centered in only Alaska and the Titanic versus the multiple locations of Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. I had just wanted a wider scope of vision in Bianca's world and didn't receive it. What I will point out is the fact that this novel did serve as an excellent foundation for the next book.

Pro | Characters & Romance: Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc allowed us to see into the minds, form opinions, and get to know Bianca and Tristan, our leading man and lady. Induction Day put our preconceived ideas of the two of them to the test. The raw, grittiness of Tristan's smoking hot character was upheld with all of the recent issues with his drug addiction. Bianca's Butterman's choice of judgement and intelligence was challenged with her Induction Day, and I respected her so much as a character because of it. On top of that, even though this novel is classified as New Adult (by default with the protagonist's ages), but the two of them have not been to the intimate level so many teenaged book character get to by at least the second book. I commend Hrezo so much for making Bianca hold so strongly to her moral beliefs about her virginity. The couple's relationship was also put to the test. They argued, yet as any reader/author duo knows, that is what makes the story stronger and more believable.

Con | Confusion With Time Travel: Time Travel has always been an extremely confuzzling concept for our inapt human minds to handle. Therefore we are bound to not understand. Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. did not have me confused with this concept, but because Induction Day built on what I had already learned in Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. everything was just multiplied in terms of complexity. P.K. Hrezo did a brilliant job of going into detail with this concept and designing her own rules for this peculiar concept. Therefore it is a personal thing only, with the matter of my finding this book a tad confusing when it came to the time travel aspects.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read The Sequel To This Book?

40%
Since beginning to book blog/vlog, I have needed to prioritize my TBR and make sure that my bookish needs were satisfied above anything else. (Yes, I am aware about how selfish that sounds) I try my best to only read books that I truly want to read. Therefore, I probably won't obtain this book purely on my own want for a sequel, but most definitely, if the opportunity to promote/support the next book comes up, I will take it.

Conclusion: A solid, satisfying, fast-paced sequel that delivered everything I expected.

{Book Review} The Madman's Daughter #1: Megan Shepherd

Rating: 7/10
Series: The Madman's Daughter #1
Genre: Gothic, Thriller, Romance, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction,
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 29, 2014
Recommended For:
Page Count: 420
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

Goodreads Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Would I Buy It? While I immensely enjoyed The Madman's Daughter, I wasn't head-over-heels in love, and probably couldn't justify buying it unless it was in hardcover and I got it for a bargain price.

Reaction After Finishing Gaaah! Why did I read all of this to end up with this thing? (My finishing reactions are oh so eloquent) There was so much build-up for the end of the book, and I kind of think it was almost the cheaters way out. While I didn't guess it, it was also kind of predictable.

Genre????? What I would like to ask to anybody who has ever read this novel is, "How the heck do you contain ALL that this book is into a neat little genre?" If you look at what I listed for the genres, as well as what other Goodreads users have said, we have categorized The Madman's Daughter as "Historical Fiction," "Science Fiction," "Horror," "Fantasy,""Mystery," and "Romance." If you didn't know, those are A LOT of genres, and even books with weird premises and complex premises don't normally have THAT many genres. 

Mystery and Horror? So, I haven't read much horror, and I'm not the biggest "blood and gore" kind of girl. Nevertheless, I agree that this book should be categorized as horror, not because of ghosts, goblins, or other supernatural creatures.... but because of how horrifying it was at times. The synopsis The Madman's Daughter purposefully does not goes into detail about the various creatures and creations Juliet's father has brewed up in his laboratory.

In the beginning of the book, we find out that Juliet and her now deceased mother had been cast off by society because of a scandal surrounding her once revered father for "butchering." *Haymitch Abernathy voice* Butchering doesn't even cover the half of it sweethearts. If you have a squeemish stomach, or strong ethics when it comes to animal cruelty, The Madman's Daughter is SO not for you.

I'm not even going to try to get into what Juliet's father does. The gist of it is that he is a mad man who is trying to create the perfect human (and of course, has a tragic backstory  about how humanity is cynical and jaded), and operates on animals so they look, think, act, and speak like humans, but still retain animal-like innocence. This (of course) backfires, which is what drives a lot of the plot.

Ughhh, an Annoying Love Triangle *flips hair* The love triangle and the annoying characters nearly ruined this novel for me and is what took off that star. The best comparison I can make is to the Selection Trilogy. Juliet is like America Singer. Montgomery is like Aspen. Edward is like  Maxon. I can tolerate A LOT from love triangles. In fact, I even like them when they add a kick to the story (Shatter Me), but I cannot stand them when the narrator is indecisive and can't make up her mind. Also, it's one thing when I concretely know who I want the girl to end up with (Shatter Me), it's another when I'm torn between them (Legend), and it is a whole other freaking ball game where I don't give a crap who she ends up with as long as she chooses one and stays with her decision. At one point, on page 309, I even said in my Goodreads Updates, "This is getting a bit ridiculous." I feel that I didn't get to know the characters enough to care or sympathize with them, and so many of their actions/dialogue seemed like cardboard, like something from a Disney Channel sitcom. 

Juliet COMPLETELY flipped out when she thought for one sliver of a moment that her relationship with Montgomery was threatened by a girl who A. was 5 years younger than him B. more of a little sister/family for reasons later unveiled C. not in the slightest bit competition. 

While the love triangle added to the story, it seemed a lot more like a plot device than something added for the reader's enjoyment. I love a little romance, but it would have made the story a lot shorter and faster if almost all of the love triangle was cut out. The characters, however were necessary for certain "OMG" moments and turns in the plot.

Every time Juliet changed her mind like a girl changes clothes (she did both quite frequently)

Historical, Scientifical, and Fantastical.... Four words: Mad Scientist In London.

When you categorize a book as "Science Fiction," you automatically think of books set in the future with some crazy thing that has happened/gone wrong in society because of science. Yet that isn't the case, there can be scientific aspects in a story, that are just a wee bit too much to fathom, which is what turns the story into fiction. The work that Juliet's father does is drawn from basic scientific principles, but (I'm pretty sure) they can't happen/wouldn't actually work. 

When you categorize a book as "Fantasy" all you are saying is that it is an idea removed from normal reality [thank you Merriam Webster]. This particular definition is synonymous to the word "fiction," so fantasy can technically just refer to something unrealistic, such as the different creatures Juliet's father (he was never given a name) had created which is what adds the larger-than-life fantastical element to it.

When you categorize a book as "Historical," you're simply stating that it took place in the past. And of course, whenever you think of London in a novel, the story always takes place a long time ago sometime before the 1950s. I mean, a novel set in present day London? Hogwash! Unless you're reading The Kane Chronicles with Sadie Kane. Anyways, it doesn't state the exact time or year The Madman's Daughter it takes place in, but it seems to take place during the turn of the century at the very beginning of the industrial revolution, and before women were regarded as nothing other than delicate creatures made to play instruments, do needlepoint, and make babies. 

What happens when all three genres are tossed into the Nutri-Bullet blender of awesomeness? 

A Gothic Thriller.

Now, I had never heard of this specific genre before, but that is exactly what The Madman's Daughter was. "relating to a style of writing that describes strange or frightening events that take place in mysterious places" BAM! That is exactly what this book is. I mean, the Webster dictionary couldn't have described it better. The strange and frightening experiments taking place on the mysterious island. What else can you say about it? 

Thriller means "work of fiction designed to hold the interest by the use of a high degree of intrigue, adventure, or suspense" and The Madman's Daughter was definitely that. I read some reviews that said it was slow paced, and I honestly haven't got a clue what those people are talking about. The feels were being stimulated nearly every moment of the novel, and in reality television like format, revelation, after exclamation, after explanation unfolded around me. It was as if a ball of yarn had been tangled, and every section that was untangled was a new and exciting part of the story.

Quotes 7.75/10:

"Not handsome in the classic way like Montgomery, but more subtle, deeper, as if his true handsomeness lay in a story behind those bruises and the crumpled photograph. Something to be discovered, slowly, if one was clever enough to decipher it." --- 91

This phrase is how Juliet describes Edward to us in the beginning. And am I the only one who thought "and you're going to make darn well sure that you're going to be the one to decipher his story." Even in you haven't read the book? Do you feel it was her dying wish to uncover the mysteries behind Edward? *spoiler alert* She did.

"The interior doors have a safeguard. Only five-fingers can open them." --- 126 Juliet's Father

And for those of you who haven't read the book, "How well do you think that worked out for everybody?"

"Thous shalt not drink spirits! Thous shalt not eat flesh of living creatures! Thous shalt not roam at night! Thus shalt not kill other men! This is the word of your god!"

This is the list of commandments that Juliet's father created in order to keep his creations in check and tame. Let's just say that when regression (aka when everything goes to hell) happens, his creations don't obey them.

Conclusion: The Madman's Daughter was a breath of fresh air, and in a genre I haven't picked up before. Despite annoying characters and romance, the premise of the book was horrific and intriguing with non-stop action, and shocking turns of events. This book will challenge your sense of right and wrong and will leave you one burning question, "What does it mean to be human?"

If you have read the book.... I want to know what your opinions were, if you loved it or hated it.
Were you shocked at the ending?
Who do you ship with Juliet?
Has your point of view on human versus animal changed?

If you haven't read the book.... Do you now want to, even though the love triangle annoyed me to no end?
Have you ever read a Gothic Thriller, or anything like it?
What do you think of the premise? Are you immediately repulsed, or intrigued?

  

{Book Review} Shatter Me #1: Tahereh Mafi

Rating: 8/10
Series: Shatter Me #1
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Dystopian, Young Adult, Fiction,
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Page Count: 338
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

Goodreads Synopsis:
I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

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

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

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

While this wasn't the BEST book I have ever read (*applauds* Congrats Sofia for having such a positive first sentence), it certainly is one of the most exhilarating, romance-filled, yet fast paced novels I have ever read. My first, pre-first point is that Shatter Me has had a lot on controversy surrounding it and people who have read it have either loved or hated the book. Personally, I was one of the ones that loved it.

Backstory Time:  It's past midnight on Monday, the 14th of July. Sofia (yes, it's third person time) has already finished two books in the time she has been awake that day. And instead of going to bed, what does Sofia do? She starts a new book which happens to be Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. *Fun Fact* Sofia had been wanting to read Shatter Me for a while now, and had borrowed it from the library, but she was not intending to start this specific book. Yet, she literally reached down to the floor (where the pile of books are *flips hair* obviously), and picked it up on a semi-whim. So then Sofia reads until almost 4 am and would have liked to keep reading, but was too tired to continue doing so, and promptly leaves off at 238 pages so she will have an even 100 more. The very next thing she does later that day (because it was past midnight) is pick up the book, and continues reading until completion at approximately 11:30 am. 

Writing Style: This is unlike any book I have ever read before. The text itself was crossed out in certain places for either a word, or a sentence, or even an entire page. I have only ever seen striked through text in Every You, Every Me by David Levithan, and the same rules applied in Shatter Me. Crossed out text is what the narrator truthfully thinks/wants to say versus what is actually said and done. On top of that, the phrases and quotes were beautifully lyrical, and the writing just flowed and almost gave off a whimsical feel.

Romance: There are two things most people in the bookish community hate. Number One - Instalove. Number Two - Love Triangles. Shatter Me.... had both of them. Yet, I personally think they made the story better. The romance played a huge part in the novel, and was one of the factors that drove the plot without Shatter Me being A. annoying or B. over-bearing. There are two love interests, Warner and Adam. Warner is the over-bearing obsessive and possessive 19 year old leader of Section 45. Adam, on the other hand, is the secretly rebellious soldier who works for Warner and has an instant connection with Juliette because of his connection with her because of her somewhat tragic past.  
Warner: As Sofia, 95% of the time, I gravitate towards the main character, and more commonly if the MC is a girl. Yet, that is not the case with Shatter Me. My favorite character in the book, as well as one of my favorite male characters of all time (he's seriously up there with Peeta, Day, Percy, etc). Don't ask me why I like him so much either. He is actually an extremely psychotic person, who is borderline creepy at times. If I were to try and compare him, I would say he was a much rougher and gruff Anden from the Legend if Anden were in the head of the military instead of the head of a country. *Sidenote: I do not count being a pilot as part of the military* Warner is a very.... twisted person that is twisted in an almost stalker-ish way. Then again, you really have to read the book in order to see his appeal, because the way I'm describing him to you.... is making him seem like the LAST character you want to read about.

World-Building: I am aware from some reviews that people had the impression that the world-building was poorly done. I loved the world that Tahereh has created. While it was a standard dystopian premise, I appreciated all of the details she gave us, and the intricate background. Occasionally, it felt like there was info-dumping, but I still enjoyed hearing about the rich structure and everything that had gone to hell.

 

Pace: In my personal reading experience, Shatter Me was one of those books where you open page one, and all of a sudden you look down and see that you are on page 67. I know that some might say it was too romance driven, or not enough political intrigue, and a number of other complaints, but something about Shatter Me made me feel like I was on an insane rollercoaster that was going 100 miles an hour (yet I didn't throw up which can be a huge downer). There just seemed to be event after revelation after plot twist after intense making out session.

Continuation 90%: I have already reserved the other two books in the trilogy and cannot wait to dig into them. I have heard that the series just gets better and better and that Ignite Me is one of the most explosive finales some people have ever read.

Conclusion: Shatter Me is a gorgeous novel with beautiful prose, detailed world-building, breakneck pace, and swoon worthy protagonists.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway} Hive Queen Saga (#1 & 2): Janine A. Southard

Series: Hive Queen Saga #1 & 2

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction 

Publisher #1: Self Published

Publisher #2: Martian Cantina

Publication Date #1: March 13, 2013

Publication Date #2: April 29, 2014

Page Count #1: 250

Page Count #2: 306  

Book One: Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Nobles

Book Two: Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Nobles

Book One Synopsis: **WINNER 2013 IPPY AWARD -- Silver Medal for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror E-Book**

On a world where high school test scores determine your future, six students rebel. They’ll outrun society as fast as their questionably obtained spaceship will take them.

Rhiannon doesn’t technically cheat the Test. She’s smarter than the computers that administer it, and she uses that to her advantage. She emerges from Test Day with the most prestigious future career possible: Hive Queen.

Gwyn & Victor are madly in love, but their Test results will tear them apart. Good thing Rhiannon is Gwyn’s best friend. Rhiannon can fix this. Queens can do anything.

Gavin is the wild card. Raised off-planet, he can’t wait to leave again... and he’s heard of an empty ship in orbit. The Ceridwen’s Cauldron.

Both Luciano and Alan fit in the system. They don’t need to leave. Only their devotion to Rhiannon spurs them to join the Cauldron’s crew.

Spaceships. Blackmail. Anywhere but here.

Book Two Synopsis: Queen Rhiannon and her Hive have found safety on John Wayne Station, but with no way to pay their docking fees or Victor’s medical bills, their debts are racking up quickly. Thankfully, Gavin gets a job with American Space Ranger M3L-15-A, who’s hot on the trail of dangerous criminals.

The teens move in with their Ranger benefactor, but when they revisit their ship to pick up personal belongings, they realize their Alcubierre tensor jet has been stolen!

If Rhiannon and her Hivemates ever hope to leave, they must find and steal back what’s theirs. But far from home and among strangers, who can they trust? Will they be stuck on John Wayne for the rest of their lives?

About the Author: Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website
Janine A. Southard writes and edits speculative fiction in between working on videogame projects. She’s attended more than the average number of universities, which she claims is a FEATURE. (“Oxford educated, but Californian at heart.”) She’s also lived and traveled in Europe, the United States, and Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle with a husband (and a cat) and sings with a Celtic band.




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Excerpt

Steal back their ship’s engine... or be stuck on this foreign station forever!

Keeping her tone hushed in case a local wandered too close, Rhiannon outlined her plan. “We have seven days till we take back what is ours,” she said. 

There was a small cheer. This, this was what she was made for. She could strategize; she could organize; she could direct her people along the optimal paths.

“Gavin.” Her voice was sure, commanding, and he straightened to a near-military posture. “You’ll have the theatre’s production vehicle, so I’ll need you to be the getaway driver.”

He coughed. “Ah, but, the sheep?”

“You’ll bring the lorry to me after you drop off the sheep, so be sure to pick them up early and to take Gwyn with you. She’ll keep the lambs quiet.”

Next. “Alan.” 

He acknowledged her with a mumbled my lady, overbright excitement turning his hazel eyes almost entirely green. 

“You’ll go along with Gavin and Gwyn to make sure we get all the parts. If the jet’s been dismantled or damaged, determine what to take and what to leave behind. Put the jet in the truck as soon as you have it.”

Trust. “Luciano.” He fixed her with grave, dark eyes. She, the center of his attention. “You’ll keep in touch with everyone. I trust you to be my eyes and ears.”

Luciano went to his knees before her, pressing his forehead to the back of her hand. “I am honored, my lady.”

Soon all four Devoted were on the floor, each bending one knee. “My lady,” they said in eerie unison. 

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Review} Fury (Book 1: Cure): Charlotte McConaghy

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Fury: Book 1 of The Cure by Charlotte McConaghy
Page Count: 348 

Publication Date: March 25, 2014 

Publisher: Momentum Books, Pan Macmillan

In the tradition of Divergent comes a novel about a world where negative emotions are stolen ... and only those with fury can stand up and fight.

Eighteen-year-old Josephine Luquet wakes naked and covered in blood that is not hers on the same day every year—when the blood moon is full. Josi has not responded to the "Cure"—an immunization against anger mandated by the government—and believes herself to be a threat to others.

Then she meets Luke. Luke has had the Cure but seems different to the other "drones"—and he's dead set on helping Josi discover the truth about herself before the next blood moon.

But time is running out. Is Luke willing to risk his life to be near her? Does he truly understand what violence she is capable of?

Raw and full of passion, Fury is a story of love in a dystopian world, and how much we are willing to forgive in the struggle to remember our humanity.

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author:

Charlotte started writing her children’s fantasy series ‘The Strangers of Paragor’ as a teenager and has since gone on to publish five novels. After a Masters degree in Screenwriting she wrote ‘Avery’, the first in her adult fantasy series ‘The Chronicles of Kaya’, published by Random House. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, and has just released a new dystopian sci-fi novel called ‘Fury – Book One of The Cure’, published by Momentum.

Connect with the author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

   

Giveaway:

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Disclaimer: I received this book from CBB Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review. 

"I am a flame of fury. The last flickering flame in a world long since burned out. I have rage threaded through my skin, whispering against my ears, tied tightly around each of my bones. My eyes, one brown and one blue, leak with it. 

Most of the time this frightens me.

But sometimes I like it."

--- 1% September 11, 2065 Josephine

Can I just say that I loved this book? Oh well, too late, I said it. This quote encompasses and explains what I can't say about it. Not only is this one of the best beginnings of a book that I have ever read, but it displays Charlotte McConaghy's excellent writing, as well as portrays exactly who the main character -Josephine- is.

Premise: Fury was such an interesting novel to read because of how it dealed with emotions, a subject I am very interested in. I suppose that's what I enjoyed most about the novel as well. Even with the cookie cutter dystopian plot line, an author has to come up with some sort of selling point. A world where anger is eradicated, simply fascinates me. When I told my mom about the book I was reading (for the umpteenth time I might add), she thought it was great that anger had been eradicated.... until I told her what the effects of this were.  An example the author gave was when she said that wives whose husbands had cheated on them, didn't react, and a family who was being burglarized just sat there and laughed while their possessions were stolen. 

Romance: So the romance in Fury was a bit of an insta love situation, something deeply despised by 99% of the blogging community. I actually am not usually effected by instalove, but in this particular situation, I was. There is some background that would spoil things that would explain why it isn't so creepy that Luke picks up Josephine and takes her home after just meeting her, but it still doesn't compensate for the instant connection the two of them had. 

On the other hand, no self respecting teenage girl can deny the swoonworthiness of Luke. I mean, WHHHHHY does he have to be so old? Not in general, but for me at least. Even though we learn that his motives weren't exactly pure 100% of the time, he was still so charming, and attractive, and charismatic, and all the other adjectives that I can't think of at the moment.   

Points of View: We all know that I gotta have my good narrators, and Fury does not disappoint. I think the best way it can be described is if it were to be compared to All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. All Our Yesterdays is a book set in two separate times, before and after a horrific event, and told in in two points of views from different times.... so basically four points of view, even though there are only two people narrating. It is the same way with Fury, but better with three different narrators. Present and Past Joesphine and Luke, as well as present Anthony. McConaghy does this in such an amazing way, making each person (even if they're the same) have their own voice, and making it 100% understandable. Fury could have been confusing when it jumped from one time period to the other, and the narrators could have all sounded the same. 

Characters: 

"Perhaps you're right.... I did imagine them. Sometimes I think I must have, I don't know how something so wild could exist within a world like this, one that is so unforgivably void of life." 

I don't tell her what's on the tip of my tongue: that this is exactly what I see when I look at her.

--- 29% September 13, 2065 Anthony 

I simply fell in love with the characters of Fury, both their past and present selves. Anthony, is one of the many in this world thas has been given the Cure, yet there is still emotion left in him, and a lot of times throughout the story, that emotion is love for Josephine. While his thoughts about making Josephine love him, despite Luke, were malicious to say the least, you could still feel empathy because you knew where that desire came from. He was a very puny character at times, kind of like Nathan in All Our Yesterdays, in that he was a geek when it came to some of his different talents. 

Josephine was also a little spitball of fire, as she was not given the Cure, and still feels anger and other emotions. She was an independent, strong female character that could take care of things by herself, and didn't want to accept help from anybody, but realized that she still needed it, like Josephine March from Little Women.

"Music," he says, but not to me. "Blue and white."

Music starts to play from speakers, something I've never heard that's fun and lovely. "Blue and White?" I ask, assuming this must be the name of the band.

"I'm synesthetic," he explains. "Means I remember things in color and shape and texture. Blue and white music for me is upbeat, something with a lot of bass, stuff that makes you want to danc. I programmed my sound system to understand color cues."

--- 17% September 20, 2063 Josephine

Not only is this a unique character trait for Luke, but I just had to share it with you because it sounds insanely cool, similar to Josephine's eidetic (remembers EVERYTHING) memory, but without all of those nasty repercussions and side effects.

Cover: Oh my god! Somebody give me a hard copy of this novel so I can stroke and caress it to death. I don't know where McConaghy got the image, or even what the image is, but it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. It appears to be the Earth surrounded by a ring of fire, and manages to express everything this novel is about.

Plot: What did make me stumble at times during Fury were certain events, as well as chains of events that I didn't understand because I didn't understand what triggered that chain. I will definitely be rereading Fury, so I will be able to catch more of the subtle nuances and explanations, but it was definitely confusing at times. The whole situation between the Bloods and the Greys and the Reds and the Blues was difficult to understand at times, and I would totally explain what each of those are.... if I could comprehend them myself.

Writing Style: Need I say more than the quotes below? I have now concluded that Charlotte McConaghy is the goddess of setting the scene in stories. She offers so much description to her readers without it being tedious, or boring.

Ending: What I was disappointed in, was the ending of Fury. It's not as if it let me down, trust me it was freaking EPIC. What I mean is that it seemed too predictable after the roller coaster of thoughts, emotions, and relevations that had just unfolded. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's along the lines of Reboot (Amy Tintera) and Uglies (Scott Westerfeld). That's all I'm going to say.

Continuation 85%: If CBB Book Premotions does another tour for the sequel, somebody reserve me a prime spot on it this very moment. I loved Fury so much and am extremely interested to see what Charlotte McConaghy does to capture her readers.

Conclusion:  I will definitely be recommending Fury because it was a fabulously written novel, in terms of narration and characters, as breath of fresh air concept wise.