Alienated - Review

	Title Alienated (Alienated #1) Author Melissa Landers Genre YA SyFy, Romance, Fantasy Publisher  Disney Hyperion Publishing Date February 4th, 2014 How I Got This Book NetGalley Paperback 352 Pages Stand alone or Series Alienated #1    My Average 39 pg/day    Reading Difficulty 2 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
Integration of the Third Kind

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
 
Amazing new take on a real world issue. I fell for alien love & was sad to see the novel end. I guess I'll just have to twiddle my fingers until INVADED comes out.

So I was totally reminded of a movie from my youth when I was reading this novel, The Color of Friendship. This Disney movie was all about an exchange program between America and South Africa. At the time of the exchange, South Africa was going through it's apartheid, and it was quite a culture shock for both girls. The big difference, the crazy hordes are larger and scarier in Alienated, there's romance, and it's not really the characters who are having race issues, it's everyone else around.


Woohoo!:
So yeah, I am so happy I was blessed to read yet another (back-to-back) novel with real issues nestled within the plot of the fantasy novel. This novel had an interesting take on Racial Integration, or should I say Species Integration. As I read this novel, I imagined myself thrown into a school during the 60s, when schools began integrating. How scary that was. The author did a phenomenal job of painting an image that could have been in the 60s instead of a fictional future.

How can you fight an angry mob of scared humans? You can't. All you can do is run. Find a safe distance and try to persuade them to open their minds. That's why I gave the "villain" in this novel top rated. Unstoppable. Unpredictable.

Meeh:
The character development felt a little one-sided. Cara went above and beyond a good host. She tried everything to make Aelyx feel at home, while Aelyx seemed to snub Cara. Aelyx relationship with Cara grew from tolerable to couldn't-live-without. Great growth for Aelyx, but Cara didn't really seam to grow much.

(blush) I really wanted that steamy scene. I was hoping for it at the end of the novel but was cut short. Sigh. I'm thinking that's not something that we will see in any of the proceeding novels, though one can dream & hope.

There were times that I felt like I needed to be reminded of what Cara and the other humans looked like. Excellent description of Aelyx, though. I understand the need to continuously remind us of what Aelyx looks like. He sounds mostly human on paper, so the author needs to remind us that he isn't. At times though, I forgot what the other characters looked like.  

Rating:A

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About the Author
Melissa Landers

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati and writes adult contemporary romance as Macy Beckett.

The Selection - Review

	Title The Selection Author Kiera Cass Genre YA Fantasy, Science Fiction Publisher  Keary Taylor Books Publishing Date March 5, 2013 How I Got This Book NetGally Paperback 327 pages Stand alone or Series The Selection #1    My Average 82 pg/day    Reading Difficulty 2 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
Bachelor for the Dystopian Era

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

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

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


Woohoo!:
Emotions! Yeah. I love characters, and hate others. My heart twists when Aspin comes back into America's life, and it aches for America to see that she actually loves Maxon. I want to stab a fork into Celeste's eye because she's such a bitch.

I can't not talk about the cover. Swoon. My eye caught this cover before the book was published. Immediately I thought, I want to read that. The title logo says it all, and the beautiful dress with that breath-taking color duplicated in the background only enhanses this cover. There's something to be said about monochromatic covers. They really seem to catch people's eyes.

I loved the fast pace. There wasn't a slow moment in this entire book. Every bit of necessary information for the story and it's history was given eloquently and with out overwhelming the reader. Actually, there were times I begged for more.

Lastly, I MUST read the next book. This is a life or death feeling. I will not be able to take another breath until I can begin reading book 2. Books get bonus points in my grading scale if I want to read the next book in the sequel. They also get bonus points for me wanting to refer the book to a friend. My mother in this case is the first person who I am going to push the book off onto.

Meeh:
There were a couple of times I found myself rewording Cass's sentences. I just don't like passive verbs. The word "being" in particular really bothers me. I remove it from sentences as much as possible. It just destroys the readers thought process.

There were only a few parts of my grading scale that didn't get top scores. The first sentence wasn't super exciting. It did however start the story of properly, and I loved the interaction with the main character and her mother on the first page, it really sets up America's personality. There just wasn't any zing to the first sentence.

There isn't really a slapps-you-in-your-face goal. There are several smaller goals within the plot. America wants to stay as long as she can so her family can continue to receive checks in her absence. America wants to stay as long as she can because she can't stand to see Aspin any time soon...

The only thing that really bothered me throughout the novel was the state of the dystopia. I couldn't  wrap my brain around the things the society had or didn't have. I wanted this book to be in the Elizabethen era. No TV's, not phones, planes... and for the most part, it really felt like that. It wasn't until the use of a plane, phone, refrigerator or camera that I felt off balance. I guess I just couldn't wrap my brain around an archaic cast system with all of the 20th century technology perks. 

Rating: A

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see review	see review

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Author
Kiera Cass

I was born and raised in South Carolina, a proud child of the 80's. Also, my dad is Puerto Rican, and my mom is super white. I have neither a Hispanic or Southern accent. No clue why. Growing up, I was awkward. I didn't understand fashion at all (not that I do now) and was never into what was cool while it was actually popular.  But I didn't mind it so much because I had a few really great friends and wonderful outlets. By high school, I was a seasoned dancer, diehard theater buff, and in a chamber choir that at one point was tied for third in the nation competitively.
 

My great ambition when I graduated high school was theatre. I wanted to be a performer in the WORST WAY! I took a semester off, did a bunch of local shows, taught at a theater camp, and went to Coastal Carolina University in the spring majoring in Musical Theatre.

After making a fantastic mistake and essentially following a boy to a different school (and state) I went to Radford University and switched my major to Music. Then Communication. Then History. Maybe a year into college, I was over theatre (though I still love performing) and decided that what I would really like to do was go on staff with the campus church and just be helpful to students. I settled on History because I could finish it on time after switching so much, and because I liked listening to the stories. 

Then, those plans were thwarted, too. I met a guy who I kept rejecting but whose heart was set on me. He somehow talked me into moving to Blacksburg, marrying him, and having babies together. I'm still not sure how he did this... well played, Mr. Cass. After that, my main hope was to be a good homemaker and stay at home with our kids when we had them.

In 2007, my world was shaken by a local tragedy, and I took it pretty hard. Over the course of the following year, I tried a lot of things to get myself together resulting in me sitting down to write a story where my character had to deal with my problems so I wouldn't have to. The distance from my head to the page helped me step back a bit and cope with all the things I was feeling. I ended up not finishing that story because I woke up from a nap with the idea that would become The Siren and HAD to get that written. After I got into the habit of writing, lots of ideas came, including The Selection and handful of others that are waiting their turn.

Once I started writing, I felt like an idiot. How had I not known I loved this all along? Seriously. Dancing, singing, acting, history... it's all just story telling. And I love it.

I self-published The Siren in 2009 (while I was five months pregnant) after not having a lot of success querying it but aching to give it to the handful of followers I had. Their support was a lot of what made me want to continue to try and share my stories with people.

In early 2010 (when my son was just two months old), I started querying The Selection and was lucky enough to find a wonderful agent in Elana Roth. Sometimes I still can't believe she took a chance on me. After a few months, Erica Sussman at HarperTeen snapped up The Selection, and it came out in the spring of 2012 (while I was six months pregnant with my daughter). Now I'm a New York Times bestselling author, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to share my stories with the world.

I currently live in Blacksburg, VA with my hubby and two kids and spend my free time playing on YouTube and twitter and eating cake.

The Bane - Review

First off, check me out on Facebook! I just created the page this week. 
Okay, now on to the review. 

	Title The Bane Author Keary Taylor Genre YA Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia Publisher  Keary Taylor Books Publishing Date March 5, 2013 How I Got This Book NetGally Paperback 352 pages Stand alone or Series The Eden Trilogy #1    My Average 27 pages/day    Reading Difficulty 2 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
We Are The Bane. Resistance is Futile.

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and rereleased as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy.


This electrifying novel will have you on the edge of your seat, blazing through it's pages like a forest fire.

First off: Noooooooooo! She chose the wrong man. The wrong man! Dammit to hell. I'm through with this poppy cock. No, no. I kid. I kept reading. Still the wrong man. Uugh! Okay, I'm done ranting. To the review.

Woohoo!:
This novel had an incredible pace. I couldn't manage to put the book down, and in the end, isn't that what we all want? Something to grab us by the throat and drag us into the story? To forget about the real world as we sink deeper into fantasy.

I found myself pining over ONE (I won't tell you who since I ranted about it above) of the love interests. My heart ached every time he touched Eve and all of those feelings blossomed within her. The author did an excellent job of portraying the blossoming love the character was feeling. Almost Nora Roberts-esk.

Look, look! I made my own animated image.... yeah!

Fantastic Cover art.

Mind blowing idea. Well... people have done it before, but never quite like this. I'm a huge SciFy nerd. Grew up in a family of scientists. Immediately when I cracked this book open, I thought 'Wow,  it's like if The Borg from Star Trek had a baby with a zombie' and thus, (Pow!) my mind was blown. Zombies would probably suck more, simply because they're eating you ALIVE. If I had to choose, I would prefer to become a Bane over a Zombie. What an idea, science fiction meets fantasy. Humans create technology that takes over (The Borg, Terminator, Battlestar Galactica...) but then it has the ability to 'reproduce' with a simple touch. Amazing.

Okay, last nerdy comment: If The Bane = The Borg, then Eve = Data.


Meeh:
On to the parts that I didn't care for as much. Even though this novel got an excellent score, there were several issues I had with it.

At times, the story line got a little unrealistic. With this book, too many things fell into the main character's lap. Someone from her past shows up, wakes up a part of her she never knew possible, reminded her of a past she had no memories of. A book shows up with detailed instructions on a mechanism that will destroy the Bane... Everything seemed too easy. Nothing was out of reach for the characters.

The main character becomes this sort of super human the instant she realizes what she is. All of a sudden, she can't be killed, can't be harmed. She needed more flaws than just the inability to decipher emotions. An Achilles heal. Something that will shut her down in an instant. Something to make the reader squirm in their seat the moment someone gets even a foot from that Achilles heal.

Also, there was a lac of location and description. Since this novel happens not to far in the future, we really needed to know where they are. Many of the characters make treks into the Bain-infested city of ??. Then they journey from a forested area through a desert to LA. Woohoo, we finally have a pin the the US map.

Why don't we know where they're living before this? Also, there is little description of the bane. Do they all look different? Do they look like The Borg from Star Trek? That's what I imagined at least. How can you tell someone is a Bane from 50 yards away? There's got to be something that gives them away. A gleaming metallic eye piece maybe?

It's also hard to see the age range of all of the characters. Avin is around 30, Eve and West are 20-ish, some of the other characters are 40 and 50. You don't see this. They all sound alike. Their mannerisms are so similar that the age difference escaped me.


Rating: A

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Author
Keary Taylor

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night.

Keary’s books have landed on numerous Amazon top 100 lists. Her novel BRANDED was the number one bestselling fantasy Kindle book. In addition she has been listed on Amazon’s 100 most popular fantasy authors. She was listed in The Wall Street Journal in December of 2011 as a “Self-published Big Seller” alongside Amanda Hocking and John Locke. Her novel EDEN (republished as THE BANE in 2013) has been optioned for a major motion picture by Mark Morgan (The TWILIGHT saga) and Kami Garcia (BEAUTIFUL CREATURES).

The Nightmare Affair - Review & Giveaway

	Title The Nightmare Affair Author Mindee Arnett Genre Young Adult, Urban Fantasy Publisher  Tor Teen Publishing Date March 5th, 2013 How I Got This Book NetGally Hardback 367 pages Stand alone or Series The Arkwell Academy #1    My Average 10 pages/day    Reading Difficulty 2 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
Dreams Aren't Always What They Seem

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.



Woohoo!:
This book had an excellent opening chapter. You are instantly drawn into the book with the first sentence.

 "Breaking and entering wasn't as easy as it looked in the movies." 

This sentence not only draws you into the book, but also foreshadows what's to come later in the novel, and it only highlights the fast, exciting pace of this novel.

What a great idea for a novel. It had the feel of an older Harry Potter audience for supernaturals that are not only witches/wizards but demons, and mythological creatures like Sirens. It's fun to read about all of the different magic types and how they interact in a "normal" high school setting. I love the idea that the super-human powers of the main character is to feed off of dreams, and to predict the future in one specific person's dream.

The cover art, though not as flashy as most YA novels out there, is eye catching and mysterious. It definitely gives off a YA detective feel.

The dialogue is entertaining and realistic. I really like the chemistry Arnett has created between Dusty and Eli, and I can't get enough of their interactions.

Lastly, there are some amazing plot twists and back-stab's. Some shocking things happen. 


Meeh:
There was very little that I didn't like in this novel. The only thing I really had a hard time with were the amount of characters you had to keep track of. It was to the point that it took me several pages to realize who the killer was, even though his/her name was mentioned as soon as he/she revealed themselves. Maybe the author could have set that up a little better. Spent more time interacting with that character in the earlier parts of the book.

Some of the POV word choices are a little off from the character's personality. For some reason, I feel like this kick-ass, don't-give-a-shit personality would not use the word tummy. It really bothered me.

Rating: A

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About the Author
Mindee Arnett
@mindeearnett


Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.

Horseback riding is my therapy. I’ve ridden all my life, and am now preparing for my first 3-Day Event.

I have a BA and MA in English Literature from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
I believe in ghosts, aliens, angels, demons, God…and the Winchester Brothers.

Whedonite and Whovian.

I once was in training to be an amatuer boxer until I broke my nose sparring. Twice. Yeouch.
My license plate holder reads: Leaf on the Wind, Wash is my Co-Pilot (and if you know what this means, you and I can definitely be friends.)

Apparently, I’m the world’s most comfortable animal sofa.
In high school, I sometimes did Civil War Reenacting, which might make me the biggest geek ever. But, come on, hoop skirts, ballroom dancing? What’s not to love about that?

Shadows - Review

	Title Shadows Author Ilsa Bick Genre YA fantasy, horror, dystopian Publisher EgmontUSA Publishing Date September 25, 2012 How I Got This Book Bought it Hardback 528 pages Stand alone or Series Ashes Trilogy #2    My Average 8 pages/day    Reading Difficulty 3 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
Oh Crap! Strategic Zombies.

The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love.
But she was wrong.

Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.

Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.

“Now she knew why Wolf had used snow to scrub blood from the flap of her skin. He was looking for a good tattoo. The Changed were wearing... people.”

I try not to review too many sequels because I know if it were me, I wouldn't really care what you think about the second book, because I haven't read the first book. That being said, I do review sequels when I am in love with book 1. This series is no different. Ilsa Bick knocks zombie books out just in time for the next YA wave - Zombies.

See Ashes (book 1) review here.


Quick review:
I was thrown for a loop at the beginning of this book. I am positive the first book only followed Alex. Book 2 follows several characters. It actually reminded me of many of the Dean Koontz books where he circles around a handful of characters who finally meet up in the end. It felt a little unrealistic that all of the characters find each other in the middle of a tech blackout. They all gravitate to each other for a final blow out... I just couldn't wrap my brain around that, especially since one of the characters started the novel in a different state.

Also, there is less gore in book two than one. I really loved the gore in the first book and hoped for the same or more.

There are a lot of characters in this novel - some old, some new. For the number of characters, I really didn't have too hard of a time figuring out who was who. The only part of the character that slipped past me was the age. Some of the older characters act and talk like the younger "normal" people.

Lastly, I hated this book cover. Well, hate is a strong word. I really didn't like the direction the publisher went with this cover. The first book's cover is amazing. Creepy & intriguing all at the same time. I don't know, maybe it's because my copy is an ebook... but the blue text with a shadowy figure reads amateur to me, and this book is anything but amateur. And what's with the headstones in the background? Where in the book do any of the characters visit a grave? If your reading this EgmontUSA, please reevaluate your cover art.

This cover doesn't seem to be the prominent cover, but I like it better than the above one. Still not as good as Book 1's cover.

Rating: B+

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A Shimmer of Angels - Review & Giveaway

	Title A Shimmer of Angels    Author Lisa M. Basso    Genre YA Fantasy    Publisher Month9books    Publication Date January 29th, 2013    How I Got This Book Netgalley    Hardback 321    Stand alone or series Angel Sight #1      My Average 15 pg/day      Reading Difficulty 2 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
A winged fight for the Schizophrenic

Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?


Woohoo!:
Holy catchphrase Batman, that cover! As I have said in the past, I am a cover snob. If it's pretty, sparkle, wow's me, I will pick it up and read the blurb. This book was no exception.

I love sarcastic humor, and there is certainly an abundance of it in this novel. I found myself highlighting and sharing several quotes.

My heartstrings were constantly tugged while reading this novel. It's a fresh breath of air to actually feel something for a character, and the secondary characters.My heart broke several times while reading this novel though I didn't cry (I rarely do) I wanted to punch Ray's family in the face. I also wanted to pluck Cam's feathers... because I imagine punching him in the face wouldn't do anything.

Lastly, the villain was superior in this novel. It's always exciting when the villain is someone/something you can't see. It's lurking in the shadows or scratching on the inside of your skull. An unstoppable force that this ordinary, or at least schizophrenic, girl is supposed to help stop.


Meeh:
I will agree with some of the reviews out there saying that there are some unrealistic scenes. It's fantasy, so we expect to see strange things. What people are talking about is the written design of the SS Crazy. We don't treat mental patients the way Basso portrays it. Maybe if we stepped back a few decades or if the main character was in the looney been because of attempted suicide, or the possibility of it anyway. For me, that screwy tidbit didn't falter the flow of the book. I really didn't stop to think about it until after I read the book.

I'm also not sure about the ending. First off, it was just a little too long. It could have ended five pages earlier. There was a little too much close-up for my taste. I like for my novels to end with a surprise. Something to drag me back into the next novel (ie freaking Robert Jordon's Wheel of Time series. Just when I think I'm going to give up on the series, he ends a book with a twist and I'm sucked back in.) Also, the plausibility of Ray's new home is a little sketchy to me. I won't go into details, for fear of spoiling the novel.

Though I haven't read an enormous amount of angel novels, the few I have remind me of this novel. It's not an uncommon idea, and maybe that's why Basso is agent-less at this time. Not because of her writing skills, but because all the agents already have a novel they're pushing that's like this one.

I guess everyone is into the idea of falling in love with an angel, though I don't see the point if they're supposed to be hard and cold. That's why I'm team Kade, screw Cam. Kade can choose to love. It was actually hinted that he did, and that's why he fell. A little strange that he loved Ray's mother, but I can get past that.



All in all, I loved reading this novel. The blossoming romance made my heart skitter. I can't wait to see what happens next now that Ray has pissed off some pretty high up there people, or down low people... and her new sparkly edition also intrigues me. I have so many questions about them.

Rating: A

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About the Author

Lisa M. Basso

She was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a lover of books, video games, animals, and baking (not baking with animals though). As a child she would crawl into worlds of her own creation and get lost for hours. Her love for YA fiction started with a simple school reading assignment: S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. When not reading or writing she can usually be found at home with The Best Boyfriend that Ever Lived ™ and her two darling (and sometimes evil) cats, Kitties A and B. A SHIMMER OF ANGELS is her first novel.She is currently agent-less, for all of you agents out there.

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The Giver

	Title The Giver    Author Lois Lowry    Genre Young Adult, Dystopian    Publisher Random House (Soon to be Random Penguin or whatever...)    Publication Date 1993    How I Got This Book Half.com    Hardback 179    Stand alone or series #1 of Giver Series      My Average No Idea      Reading Difficulty 1 (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
One of the Original Dystopian novels (according to me)

For the small percentage of people out there who haven't read this novel before (this is my second time through):

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.


My Thoughts:
I vaguely remember reading this novel in elementary or middle school. It is an easy read, and recommended for any age. The beauty of this novel is that it is a shining example of why we need to remember the bad with the good. Feel everything. Why we can't just push our problems off on someone else. And why it is important to be your own person, to think for yourself.

Though this isn't my favorite dystopian novel, I hold that place for Anthem, by Ayn Rand, this is one of my top (just below Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451). Actually, as I was reading this novel, I was thinking about Anthem, and how similar the two are. I kept waiting for Jonas to find a log cabin in the wintery abyss.

Rating: B+

If you like this novel, you might also like Anthem, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451 & The House of Scorpion.

What were your thoughts on this book when you read it in elementary school, middle school or high school? 

Ironskin (Book #1)

	Title Ironskin    Author Tina Connolly    Genre Paranormal Fantasy, borderline YA    Publisher Tor Books    Publication Date 10/2/2012    How I Got This Book NetGalley    Hardback 304    Stand alone or series Ironskin, #1      My Average I'm embarrassed to say.      Reading Difficulty 3      (on a scale of 1-5 5 = dictionary vernacular)
The Little Governess That Could

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a “delicate situation”—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her scars and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of a new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

"It Occurred to Jane that she and Dorie were circling each other like two wounded creatures wanting to drink from the same stream, each wary of the other's intentions, each unwilling to either strike or run away."

Hit The Mark:
Characterization -- all of the secondary characters had such unique personalities. They fit in perfectly for a war rotted plantation. That's how I saw it. Walls falling off on some ends. rotten floorboards. Even Jane's sister felt like a perfect character.

Cover -- Yes, I judge a book by it's cover. If the cover looks half-assed. or is shartly drawn, I won't even pick it up to read the back. As I have said in the past, your cover is your first line of defense for readers. It needs to stand out above the rest. Like a crazy wine label. Though the colors of this cover were a little drab, it complimented the plot. The mask and flowie dress draw you in and remind me of the evil that lurks inside the book's pages.

What I really liked: The last 10%. The final battle was just that. Enthralling and fast-pace, I couldn't put the book down once I finally got to the fight.

Needs Improvement: (note: I barley gave these a bad score)
Pace -- It took a little too long to get into the story. I really wished that the last ten percent of the this book were more like that last half. I really enjoyed the party and the facelifts. It seemed like the little girl was an intricate part of the novel in the beginning, but quickly took a bake seat.

Antagonist -- The villain intrigued me, but I wish we could have seen just a glimpse more of it, instead of fairytale of it for more than half of the book. Hopefully, there will be more interaction with the antagonists in the second book. 

Protagonist -- In my scoring chart, the protagonist got a 2 out of 5 because she felt a little wishy-washy. Yes, she was defiantly stubborn throughout the novel, but I didn't see the strength of a war hardened woman, as she is described in the end of the book. Her personality seems to change immensely, so much so that it feels like a different character all together. 

What I really didn't like: as I said above, there wasn't much I didn't like. I just wished the book was a little faster pace. It took me way too long to read it (not completely the book's fault) and there was a lot of lost information because of it.

Rating: B

If you like Storm Dancer, Darkfever, Glimerglass, The Iron King & Artemis Fowl, you might like this novel.

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About the Author

Tina Connolly

Tina Connolly lives in Portland with her husband, son, cat in an old house with a dragon mural in the basement and blackberry vines in the attic. Not only does she write, but since moving to Portland, she's been working as a face painter at local festivals and fairs. For a long time I performed in theatre, though in the last few years I've been too busy. However, I frequently narrate stories for Escape Pod and Podcastle, and I'm working on a full-length play with some friends of mine at The Pulp Stage. (Also, check out my (now-Parsec winning!) 2012 flash podcast project, Toasted Cake!)