Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

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Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's (February 21, 2012)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 341
Series: Chemical Garden Trilogy
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9781442409071
Genre: Dystopian
Author: Website | Twitter | Blog
Series Reviews: Book 1 (4★)

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

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This review may contain spoilers for other books in the series.

Overview:

In her sophomore novel, Lauren DeStefano continues the treacherous life of Rhine and Gabriel as they escape the dangers only to fall into a bigger and more convoluted world of survival. With the outlook dreary and maddening, Rhine struggles maintain her grip on reality while Gabriel's love shines for her. The villain of our story is an absent, yet incredibly enveloping presence throughout the book which leaves you feeling the pain and gripping sadness of this devastated world.

Review: 

In a world of devastation, Rhine and Gabriel have journeyed out to face the terrors with no plan and no resources. Danger seems to lurk at every turn while the invisible dangers of starvation, sickness, poverty and more rack our young survivors. This book didn't not fit into the same mold that its predecessor, Wither, had set. Previously, Wither had a very rigid setting and it was a unique approach for a setting of such a desolate world; this book however, was an open world. A world that allowed Rhine and Gabriel complete exploration of its depravity and desolation. 

I went into this book expecting the terrors of the carnival to be a persistent problem. The cover eludes that it will be a significant part of the story and even the synopsis sets up that same expectation. With that in mind, the plot of this book fell a little short; I feel like this may be common in terms of a trilogy's middle read. The creepiness and haunting experience of the carnival was limited and extinguished early and set up for only a few major plot points following its end. It left this book feeling oddly paced and hopeless. 

The characters made up for a wavering experience because in this book we get an intense look at Gabriel and his love for Rhine. Gabriel's love is different from the shallow, naive love that we saw from Linden in the first book and it really grows into major focus and safe harbor for Rhine. Rhine on the other hand doesn't grow and expand in this book the way a hard-knocked survivor would. I think that is accomplished through the overtone this book starts early on with intense yet unintended drug use. It inhibits Rhine from really becoming a thoughtful character that would perhaps have had the opportunity to devise plans and concentrate on truly surviving. 

The villain of this book, House Master Vaughn, is incredibly well crafted and has a haunting and invisible tie that leaves Rhine and the reader increasingly terrified that he is lurking and watching every move she makes. It is a thrilling twist to really understand how twisted and determined he is without the use of common means such as guns and violence; his presence is always surrounding the escapees even if he is not.

Though this book was languid in its pacing and climax, it brought out a lot of characteristics about the characters that pull the reader in and leave us wondering where we will find ourselves and our little heroes in book three.

Rating out of 5:

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One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

More on Divergent: 

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Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

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Publisher: HarperCollins (January 3, 2012)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Paperback): 376
Series: Under the Never Sky (Book 1)
Source: ARC from Publisher
ISBN-13: 9781742666693
Genre: Dystopian
Author: Twitter | Blog

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

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Overview:
 

This is a brilliantly crafted debut from author Veronica Rossi. Featuring a intricate and vivid world, there exists the dichotomy of two types of peoples, the dwellers and the outsiders. When these worlds mix for Aria and Peregrine, not only are we in for a wonderful journey but we join them on their own paths to self identity and growth. Beautiful and strong are perfect words to describe Rossi's story.

Review:

From virtual reality, Aria's life is safe and pseudo. In her attempt to reach out for her mother's safety, she risks it all and loses. It is through her loss, she gains everything. Dwellers are genetically enhanced and exist within the safety of their sanitization and virtual realities. However, the Outsiders are similar to the depiction of the human race in The Time Machine; they have developed ways to survive the aether and the dangers.

This is a strong and bold setup for the factions that are at odds in this trilogy. Each "race" has a deep and solid foundation for its existence in this world and as readers we are given the information in an easy welcome to the world. On the outside, Aria has no idea how to survive and neither do we, it is always an unique experience to be able to learn about the world with the characters. What a fantastic feeling to read a book where absolutely everything is explained.

The pace of this book was interesting; it was neither slow nor extremely well paced. I struggled to stay awake when reading this book nearly every time I opened it but when the book was closed, it was all I could think about. I had to know what was going to happen to Perry and Aria. That isn't to say that it wasn't still brilliantly written. The action was well timed, realistic and even dark at times. It was true and real which is something that tends to get lost in most places when it comes to "good" and "evil".

So much of this book is beautiful but the character creation and development takes the cake. Aria and Perry start as enemies, the dweller versus the outsider are only allies in attempt to reach an end; each of them desperately needing the other but despising that same need. Aria is desperate to survive but through her journey with Perry, she becomes the woman she is meant to be. While she rarely displays fear, by the end of the book she radiates pure strength to overcome the odds. Perry, strong and dedicated to his cause, struggles and waivers with his feelings for Aria but learns truths and finds loyalty to raise to be a hero.

It stands only to reason that the two of them will continue to blossom into bigger and better people in the second book, Through the Ever Night. In a vivid and strong ending, this book has a sense of resolution but also leaves you waiting and wanting for the next step in this journey.

Rating out of 5:

Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Eve by Anna Carey

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Publisher: HarperTeen (October 4, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 3
Series:  The Eve Trilogoy (Book 1)
Source: NetGalley
ISBN-13: 9780062048509
Genre: Dystopia

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

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Overview:

This book takes some digesting; with ideas and realism, the concept of survival is wonderfully crafted. Eve is a wonderful, true heroine and we watch as the whole idea of truth begins to unravel as she experiences the world with us. A great dystopian society set in America in Anna Carey's new novel!

Review:

This book is thick and heavy with realistic ideas and concepts that could face the world's population someday. In a dystopian environment, in a world where the government sets such beautiful imagery, the truth behind such ecstasy is ugly and harsh.

In this world, one of the ugly truths is that children are squandered into the unknowing labor to the King. Eve is one of these bright young girls to whom we travel through this story with. What we see about Eve is that she is unique in this world; her determination, her intelligence, her truth, her cowardice, and her hidden strength. Eve is an amazingly true heroine for teens reading Young Adult literature right now. She is well structured, entirely not prepared, and begins to question the reality of the world and the truths that she has always known.

The pace of this book is steady, even if the idea of staying on the run to merely survive is a little overdone. Books like this, regardless of the expertise in its crafting, can tend to lean the reader towards the hopeless side. The same struggles that cycle repetitiouslyare there and in this way, Eve isn't perfect; she doesn't have all the answers. That is what makes her realistic and true in my eyes.

Anna Carey has set us into a world of chilling truths and suspenseful possibilities. With a character as individually unique is Eve, it will continue to be interesting to see this fight for survival. Will Eve grow into a strong, defined heroine? Will she continue to be a budding but utterly confused by the truth teenager? What will book two in this trilogy hold? I'm interested to find out.

Rating out of 5:

Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

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Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. (September 1, 2009)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 391
Series: The Hunger Games (Book 2)
Source: Bought
ISBN-13: 9780439023498
Genre: Dystopia
Author: Website
Series Reviews: Book 1 (5★)

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol.

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Overview:

The thrill of this book takes a considerable amount of time getting started. Unlike The Hunger Games, this book starts out very slow, with a long setup of the theme for this book. There is the agonizing threat and changes that are beginning to take place in Panem since Katniss and Peeta won the Games. The delicate balance of the love triangle is thrown into a tighter net with the announcement of the Quell. This book has interesting deaths and interesting desire behind it, but was missing something that gripped me like the first book, though I still really enjoyed it.

Review:

While lackluster in comparison to The Hunger Games, this book still has all the rights of being the sequel. The first thing that you notice about the first book is the thrill of action and it maintains that theme throughout the whole book. The first thing you notice about this book is that the beginning is a complete opposite.

With no further creation and depth of characters, we stay on the mainstream plot lines that were established for the characters through and at the end of the first book. We know that Katniss is strong, fierce, and independent but this book doesn't really continue to nurture that side of her; instead it takes her down the path of confusion and unable to bolster the responsibility of her actions. The same lack of definition exists with Peeta and Gale as well. What was once a carefully constructed and fragile love triangle is now a mash up of teenage confusion and anger.

However, once being able to get past the first half of the book and into the action heavy part, we are introduced to thick plot of conspiracy and rebellion all the while we are set in an amazing new arena. While the deaths were not as thrilling or unique, the remaining support characters that we witness were interesting and mysterious which adds a connection to the action.

Overall, this book was considerably slow in the beginning and the characters lacked further growth and depth but we were still thrown into the dystopian world of Suzanne Collins that we grew to love in the first installment. In this book, we got a new concept aside from a misconstrued existence in Panem; we were thrust into the middle of the underground, of the rebellion, of the conspiracy and what an intriguing place it is to be.

Rating out of 5:

Review: XVI by Julia Karr

XVI by Julia Karr

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Publisher: Puffin/Speak (January 6, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Paperback): 325
Series: XVI (Book 1)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9780142417713
Genre: Dystopia

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls, she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

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Overview:

After spending some time reading this book, I was disappointed in the writing style and abandoned the selection. As a dystopian world, I didn't feel like I was being introduced into the world at all and there was a LOT of jargon and situations that left me confused and upset. There are simple things about this world that shouldn't be left to be explained later like the explanation on acronyms like FELS, PAV, AV, or terms like NonCon and verts and why they are so pivotal. I also didn't feel like the book was taking one the unique theme that I was expecting given the concept of XVI and the sex-teen.

Review:

This book is the first in a long time that left me disappointed. The first impression that I got was overwhelming; the world, I assume, had been like this for a while and for Nina to understand everything that was going on, I as a reader had no clue. There was so much that was thrown at me in the very beginning that I didn't understand that I didn't really even feel connected to the world or the characters.

This book had a unique concept and the idea of the exploitation of women is real; it was for this reason that I even picked up the book to begin with. But within the first 60 pages the concept wasn't appropriately executed and was nearly irrevelant to the story. Nina is seemingly afraid of sex, boys, and being a sex-teen. The impression I got from her friend is the opposite; at the mention of a boy, she gets overly excited and can't get sex off the brain.

I understand that each character is an individual but the extremities here made it hard to like either of the girls. The immediate introduction to them puts them at the forefront and to dislike Nina from the beginning means the book have to work even harder.

There may have been a deeper connection to the idea of the sex-teen and the exploitation that was revealed later in the book, but I couldn't sift through the jargon, the unexplained, and the characters to finish. I have chosen to supply this book with a rating because of the reasons I did not finish. It is in the interest of balance that readers get all opinions.

Rating out of 5:

Review: The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

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Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 22, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 407
Series: The Forest of Hands & Teeth (Book 3)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9780385736848
Genre: Dystopia/Survival Horror
Series Reviews: Book 1 (2.5★) Book 2 (5★)

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.
Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again. 

But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

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Overview:

The female protagonist, Annah, did not connect to me at all. I understand her pain and her insecurities but she came across as very shallow from her scars to blaming her sister for her mistakes. I felt that until the very end, the plot volleyed back and forth with the same message over and over that Annah would get in trouble, Catcher would withdraw, she would feel ugly. Then the end of the book just ended. It wasn't a tragic ending like you would expect from this series, but was rushed and simple.

Review:

This series has been a roller coaster of instability; I didn't enjoy the first book, it didn't grasp me and I had no empathy for Mary. But then, the second book suprised me and I loved it. I thought that the series was going to take an upturn and that the remaining book(s) would be just as spectacular. Then I read The Dark and Hollow Places and my book high was over. That isn't to say this book was terrible, in fact I did like it, but it let me down in some ways.

Annah, for one, was not a character that I seemed to have any connection to or empathy for. Regardless of the situation, she found away to turn the emotions negative, therefore dampening the entire idea of hope that Gabry is still trying to instill. Whether it was her twisting Catcher's words and going back to her scars and her brutal looks or she was taking the time to blame Gabry for her mistakes, her thought processes kept reverting to redundant remarks and she never grew past them.

This book hints at betrayal and character assassination, but aside from Annah, I still had a very warm spot in my heart for all of the remaining characters: Gabry, Elias, and Catcher. They were all still very integral to the story in their own way, and I was happy at the continuation between the two books.

The remaining aspects of the book kind of tainted my hopefulness a little bit. In survival horror, the aspect of hope is a very fragile being, and there is hope that these teens can survive and that we won't have to suffer any more tragedy, but the more we find out about the infection (and we find out quite a bit) the less we feel we can believe. But all hope is not lost yet...

If this is the conclusion to the series, it doesn't leave any sense of resolution for a happy ending, tragic, or even just surviving.

Rating out of 5:

Review: The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

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Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2010)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 407
Series: The Forest of Hands & Teeth (Book 2)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9780385736848
Genre: Dystopia/Survival Horror
Series Reviews: Book 1 (2.5★)

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

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Overview:

Unlike the first book in The Forest of Hands and Teeth, this book was astounding. It had a combination of lies, cults, action, mystery, tragedy, danger...it had it ALL! The writing was stronger and the voice behind Gabry was stronger and more resolute, allowing more of a connection to her than Mary. This book also provided enough information on the Infection that I was left wondering but not questioning.

Review:

In a simple comparison, this book is the complete opposite of its companion, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The most profound change is the character construction; all of the characters were created differently in this selection than before. Each character has a better connection, a deeper story, and more intriguing mysteries and destinies.

Gabry's story is intricately woven throughout the entire book. The connections that this book has to the first are so well written and important to who Gabry is; we begin to unravel the secrets of time along with her, and it is an intimate discovery of self. Gabry is such a timid character, a welcome relief from the standard rebel who is strong and can defy odds.

This book has a delicately crafted love triangle but, unlike its companion, doesn't centralize its importance; it is developed and featured as part of her journey as she survives with Elias and Catcher. This book is full of lies, confusion, mysterious cults, secrets, growing up, survival and so much more wrapped securely in the blanket of wonderful writing. Carrie Ryan uses this book to provide more insight into the infection which helps us understand more of the world that Gabry, Mary, and the others are living in. That was something that was absent from the first book, and now we have the opportunity to see and construct the timeline, the world, and its inhabitants.

In a dystopian novel, the why is the most important question and having that answered somewhat was a relief. Then to have that paired with beautiful character creation, this novel opened up with propelling action and ended in the same context. It was an edge-of-the-seat read from start to finish; I recommend having Dark and Hollow Places (Book 3) on standby.

This book didn't leave me with the sense of hopelessness that I was expecting. Unlike Mary, Gabry wasn't fighting for her selfish reasons to find something, she was fighting for others. Fighting the unknown, the mudo, and fighting for her life in the sheer hope that she could save them all...even...Annah.

Rating out of 5:

Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

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Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's (March 22, 2011)
Age Group:Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 358
Series: The Chemical Gardens (Book 1)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9781442409057
Genre: Dystopian
Author: Website | Twitter

What if you knew exactly when you would die? 

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb — males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. 

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape — to find her twin brother and go home.
 
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.
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Overview:

To have such a rigid setting, Lauren DeStefano did a spectacular job at creating the world that exists years into the future. The best Dystopian settings are the ones that are plausible and the perfect test tube baby is a possibility in the future. Her characters are so well defined and the emotional struggles that Rhine undergoes are strong and complex. It is well paced and exciting; however, towards the end though, the story just ended, there was not really a hard climax but a gentle setup for the second book.

Review:

With intelligent and beautiful prose, the reality that DeStefano creates in her debut novel, Wither, is remarkably intense. On the brink of perfection, disaster strikes and now plagues the children of the children of the world and perpetuates the forced action of young girls to become mothers.

The characters, starting with Rhine, are all completely well rounded and very solid. Rhine's strength is something that is immediately demonstrated in the book and her will to survive and be free is a constant theme. DeStefano has created a strong history for Rhine, we are always learning about her parents and her twin brother Rowan. Through her connection to her family, Rhine is caring and open to people that she begins to interact with; Linden, Gabriel, Cecily, and Jenna.

Her sister wives are indivually crafted to be unique. I loved Cecily, it was such a nice turn of events to see a girl, a child in fact, be so willing to partake in the customs or lifestyle that is set before her. Cecily was such a complex support character, her changes through the book were astounding and a central part to Rhine's emotions. Rhine's love of her new family ebbs and flows as she struggles with adapting and craving freedom. She worries and cares for the well being of all of her family, including Linden.

Against most odds, I was "Team Linden", his sincerity towards all of his wives was not fake or covered in chauvinism, he was genuine in his care for all three of the girls and his son. He is not at fault to fall so unknowingly to the cruelty of the world; Rhine can see and understand his naivete, making her only more lost in her emotions. Linden's depth is so profound, he would have given Rhine the world on a silver platter and there are times I thought she would let him.

The story in this book has a rigid setting, taking place almost entirely in the manor, though it doesn't hinder the progression, pace, or entertainment. It is so carefully constructed that there are times the plot doesn't seem linear, that there will the surprise ending. There are clues to the mystery, the confusion of emotion, the devotion amongst wives, etc. All these things are circling one another, turning on top of each other, until the end. There was no way to predict the choices that would be made until the moment of decision.

This book leaves plenty of mysteries to be unravelled in the remaining two books and ends with a gentle setup rather than a cliffhanger. I am very interested in seeing where DeStefano takes the story of Rhine in Fever.

Rating out of 5:

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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Publisher: Scholastic (September 14, 2008)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 374
Series: The Hunger Games (Book 1)
Source: Library/Bought
ISBN-13: 9780439023481
Genre: Dystopia

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

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Overview:

This book was everything that I was hoping it would be. From the moment I read the first page this story, Katniss, had me hooked. I haven't read a book this action packed that from the moment of the reaping to the very end that has a perfect setup for Catching Fire, I was absolutely enthralled in the action and the danger that Katniss faced at every turn; yet, she is a survivalist at her very core and the more we encourage the more she rises to the challenge.

Review:

There is a lot of hype surrounding this book and the movie that is in development; a lot of times, that can deter someone from reading or simply put a lot of unfair expectations on a book. This book lived up to all of its expectations and far surpassed them. From the moment the book begins, we are thrown into the world that Collins has created and I didn't want to leave.

The book picks up on an event called The Reaping where the children/teens are selected to attend the Hunger Games. From the moment it begins, to the moment that it ends this book is action packed and an emotionally packed thrill ride for heroine, Katniss. The plot of the story didn't seem like it would be as riveting as it was but the story is gripping and full of action that is used to develop Katniss as a character.

From other blood-thirsty teenagers to deadly mutations, Katniss faces it all in The Hunger Games; but away from the games, she fights the system. We are introduced to the world of 12 districts, hers being the Slums and scum, and a ruling government body that repeatedly reminds the citizens of its domination. The Games cannot be turned down, watching and attending the Reaping is obligatory, death is required; these are all ways the government beat the people down. It is depressing and maddening to consider life in that world, and yet it is so wonderfully addictive thanks to the work of Collins.

Through all of the negativity, doubt, and hardships we still manage to see Katniss survive. There are times we are afraid for her, there are times we shout her name, there are times we wish to sponsor her, and sometimes, we just give up hope; then, she prevails. She is a strong willed and powerful standing sixteen year old, carefully and expertly created with incredible depth.

The love interest(s) and male protagonist(s) Peeta and Gale form a carefully constructed, yet unique, love triangle. Peeta, the baker, the chosen...the enemy... Gale, the brother, the hunter and the one who got left behind. Katniss struggles in her search for emotion, never trusting the feelings Peeta displays and in turn, never seeing Gale a romantic light. She falls into emotional traps of loving both without realizing she feels for either. This triangle is so carefully connected that the slightest breeze could send it shattering to the gound and that makes it so uniquely intense.

Overall, this book was spectacular. From the characters, to the story, the history, and the emotions it elicited in me were all wonderful to experience; so wonderful in fact, I bought the entire box set days after reading the first book. I cannot wait to continue this series and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian settings or simply phenomenal books.

Rating out of 5:

Review: Divergent by Veroinca Roth

Divergent by Veronia Roth

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Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 3, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 487
Series: Divergent Trilogy Book 1
Source: Gifted to own
ISBN-13: 9780062024022
Genre: Dystopian

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. 

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A lot of times, the excellence that is Divergent, is compared to its 2008 predecessor The Hunger Games. Having never read The Hunger Games, I was able to give Divergent its ability to wow me own its own, with no competition and it set an amazing standard. This book was artfully crafted to give you a fully created Dystopian Chicago setting in a world where true human nature is always prevalent.

In Divergent, Roth has created an immense set of sound and solid characters including the main heroine Tris, the male protagonist Four, and a slew of other support characters. The depth and connection that Roth provides to these characters is miraculous and fine tuned to include a beautiful array of personal and familial details. 

The concept of the Divergent is unique and one that helps round out the idea of the factions that she has created for the founding of the society. The society forces each person to look deep within themselves to fit into a model, a cookie cutter, of their personality and be manipulated into world peace but this book clearly and intelligently illustrates that that is not always possible and adds a realistic feel with the play on humanity.

The plot of this book was riveting; there was actually a point when I could not put it down. I understand a lot of people say that quite often but I say it with the utmost honesty. Once I was thrown into the whole plot of the book and the excitement built towards the climax, my heart was racing for Tris and I could not physically put it down because I had to know what was coming and by the end of the book I was exhausted. I felt like I had been on a nail-biting roller coaster for the thrill this book gave me.

Rating out of 5:

Review: The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 10, 2009)

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages (Hardback): 478

Series: Forest of Hands and Teeth (Book 1)

Source: Library

ISBN-13: 9780385736817

Genre: Dystopia

In Mary's world there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future-between the one she loves and the one who loves her.

And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

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I can't say that I didn't like this book because there were things that made me like it overall but I had to much of a blaze feeling about reading this.Overall, though I did like the story, this book has left me feeling too disconnected to say that I legitimately enjoyed it.

The setting for the book is a world consumed by death, America unknown years into the future, where only the fence protects Mary's village from The Unconsecrated. The survival aspect of this book was considerably well written; if you take but one step too close to the fence, you are forfeit if you are bitten. The religion, The Scripture, upheld by The Sisters is overwhelming in Mary's town; the connotations are that God chose them to be the only humans, to save humanity. The religious weight was just as heavy as trying to survive, The Scripture is all they have ever known for truth; but Mary heard stories that drove her to question these truths.

But even in her not-so-quiet determination to find the world outside the fence, the world untouched by death; I felt so far away from Mary. I thought she was selfish in her determination. Her connections to both Harry and Travis put too much emphasis on love and I felt like this was a romance novel with a terrible setting; it was always about Travis, the one she loved but she couldn't have.

I was also disappointed in the lack of information provided by this book. I am a strong lover of zombies (and vampires!) but my favorite part of it all is learning how they came to be. We find out what happens in some of the favorites like Resident Evil (T-Virus) & I Am Legend (virus but I won't spoil it!) but in The Forest of Hands and Teeth we get nothing except for it was a great Return of the dead. There is no known cause, there is no history of the world before or how this village came to be.

Why were outsiders forbidden? What was the significance of Gabrielle? I had too many questions unanswered even for this to be the first book in the series.

In the end, this book was very well written even though I feel it was undeveloped in terms of content; I will continue to read the rest of the series, in the hopes that I find the answers (as I hope Mary does) that I am looking for.

Enclave Release & Trailer

A new book was released yesterday, April 12, for YA dystopian lovers; a new series, Razorland, starts with Enclave by Ann Aguirre! Check out the trailer and be ready for an experience packed with zombies and action!

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known.

Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon

Find out more: Author's Website