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Book Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

May 24 |16:44

If it was up to Wren, Amy Tintera’s Reboot would literally kick you in the face…and other places.

Book Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

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Title & Author: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Genre: YA Fantasy – Dystopia

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Series: Reboot #1

Publisher: HarperTeen

How I Got the Book: Bought

Description:

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

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

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.”

There’s a lot to like about Reboot. Although I really enjoyed this science fiction-y dystopia, it wasn’t my favorite debut for a few reasons I’ll go into later. I really wanted to LOVE this book, but I just didn’t connect with the characters like I have in other books.

First off, the concept behind Reboot is really interesting: there’s a rampant disease that once contracted can “bring you back to life,” provided you don’t actually die from the disease itself.

People who “wake up” after they’ve died are called Reboots and are not actually human anymore. They feel fewer emotions and have lightening fast reflexes. They’re also drafted to be soldiers in a world that is clearly divided by either being poor or being rich.

The storyline of Reboot is what initially hooked me. I liked Wren, a Reboot who’s considered to be the most robot like of all the Reboots because she took 178 minutes to wake up after dying. She’s the strongest character of the novel, and she grows the most throughout the book.

I know we’ve all read about tough heroines, but Wren puts them all to shame. She is used to having her bones broken and being shot at. She can push the pain away as easily as swatting at a fly. This girl is NOT JOKING around.

So, with a powerhouse character and a super interesting world, shouldn’t Reboot be a homerun? For me, not exactly.

For me, the whole story was very predictable. I’m not even talking about when a twist would present itself in the book and me being able to tell what would happen. I’m talking about the entire novel. From the moment that 22 (Callum) was introduced to the story, I could see exactly how things would progress.

With a book full of fighting, brutality and kill missions, I was sometimes bored and uninterested. I wanted to be really into the story but it didn’t happen naturally, I had to force it.

OVERALL:

I think many young adult dystopia and science fiction fans will really enjoy this book. I had a few problems with the predictability and lack of tension, but I think Reboot had a great originality to it, and I think Wren is a fantastic and brutal heroine.

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Jan 17 |08:45

With Scarlet, I almost had the exact opposite experience to Cinder. Because Cinder helped open my mind to cyborgs and crazy science fiction, I was worried about Scarlet.

Would it live up to my expectations? Would it be everything I hoped (and maybe more)? The answer is yes and yes!

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

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Title & Author: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA – Science Fiction, Retelling

Release Date: February, 2012

Series: Lunar Chronicles #2

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

How I Got the Book: ARC from Publisher

Description:

“Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.”

Warning! Potential spoilers for Cinder are in this review!

What Big Eyes You Have

Scarlet starts off by picking up where Cinder left off – in the royal jail. Only she doesn’t stay there for long…

As I was wondering when and where Cinder would meet Scarlet, the new character of the book, whose story is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, the point of view switched. With occasionally switching POVs, Scarlet is really the heroine of this book.

Although that isn’t what I was expecting, it was a nice change and a fresh start to Scarlet. She’s not a cyborg like Cinder, but Scarlet has just as many problems (if not more) than our beloved royal rebel.

Just like with Cinder, Scarlet gives subtle nods to the original Little Red Riding Hood story: Scarlet wears a red hoodie and meets a dark, mysterious boy named Wolf.

Omg, Wolf! I’ll go into more about him later.

And, Scarlet’s grandmother is missing. The police have stopped investigating, so naturally Scarlet decides to find her grandmother herself. And the crazy times begin.

And Your Teeth Are So Big!

So far, a pattern I see in Cinder and Scarlet is the slow reveal of super huge secrets. And, what’s genius about this is that Scarlet and Cinder are connected, which is shown throughout the second book. It’s not just one-off stories; they’re intertwined.

Cinder and Scarlet are part of an epic space opera that has two more installments – Cress in 2013 and Winter in 2014. I have no idea how shizz is going to go down in those books, but I honestly can’t wait.

Back to romance (like I needed an excuse). There was no instalove and there are no love triangles. Phew.

The tension between Scarlet and Wolf is a mutual feeling of “can I trust this person?” Scarlet thinks Wolf has a wounded past, which he carefully avoids talking about, and Wolf continues to protect Scarlet, even though he knows he shouldn’t get involved.

A-mazing.

A few other things about Cinder’s story in Scarlet: I think Iko is just the cutest thing ever. She’s an android who is super girly and very impractical. A walking, talking R2D2.

Sticking with the Star Wars theme, there’s a new character who totally reminds me of Han Solo. Fifty points to you if you can tell me who it is.

There are glimpses of Kai and the Lunar Queen, too, and I’m hating her more and more. Yuck

OVERALL

The strong writing, interestingly intertwined storylines and the strength and courage of the Lunar Chronicle heroines has me hooked. I loved this second installment of the series! Read Scarlet – you won’t be disappointed.

Book Review: Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Jan 11 |08:50

Although I bit thrown off at first, I couldn’t believe how quickly I read through Cinders and Sapphires! It’s proclaimed as a “delicious” read…well, this taste-tester APPROVES!

Book Review: Cinders and Sapphires

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Title & Author: Cinders & Sapphires (At Somerton) by Leila Rasheed

Genre: YA – Historical, Period

Release Date: January 22, 2012

Series: At Somerton #1

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

How I Got the Book: ARC from Publisher

Description:

“One house, two worlds…

Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.”

Diamond in the Rough

When I peeled back the cover of Cinders and Sapphires, I was under the impression I was getting the same if not a very similar story to Downton Abbey (now playing in the U.S.!!!!).

So, I was really surprised and a bit thrown off when the story of affluent Ada Westlake and her maid Rose Cliffe appeared in front of me.

It is NOT a similar storyline to Downton Abbey AT ALL. This isn’t a bad thing, but it was confusing because the whole back cover promotes it as a YA version of our fave British TV drama.

I did recover quickly, and let me tell YOU, the one thing Downton and Cinders and Sapphires has in common is DRAMA!!

Ada’s calm family life quickly turns upside down when her father, Lord Westlake, gets remarried to a much younger woman…who happens to have three grown children. One of Fiona Templeton’s children is Charlotte, who it should come as no surprise is a total B.

What you can expect from this book: aforementioned DRAMA, forbidden romances (so many!), convincing servants and scheming socialites. HECK YES!

Like I said, after giving this book the ole’ side squinty eye, I ended up loving it. It’s like watching ~~scripted~~ reality TV, only in England during the pre-World War era.

Delicious with a Side of Beef

My teensiest, tiniest beef with this book involves people with good hearts. I realize that there are the designated “bad” characters, who scheme and plot and are generally miserable human beings, but everyone else seemed too good.

One example is that Rose has the opportunity to expose a HUGE secret of Ada’s. It would save herself and her mother’s positions at Somerton but would place Ada in a very uncomfortable spot. Although I loved and appreciated Rose’s loyalty to Ada, it was almost too perfect of a reaction.

Maybe because it was YA that it lacked some of the hard, cold-bloodied actions in Downton. I mean HELLO, O’Brien would CUT YOU in a heartbeat.

Exhibit A:

downton abbey o'brien cinders and sapphires

See what I mean?

Anywho, my other side dish of beef is simply that Cinders and Sapphires is also like reality TV in that it could rot your brain. Well, not rot it, but….soften it. It won’t make you think (hard) or push your boundaries, but it is a WHOLE lot of fun.

OVERALL

Please pick up this late January release. It is seriously SO GOOD! Leave your preconceived ideas from Downton Abbey at home, and start fresh with this YA take on the TV series. Cinders and Sapphires is fun, startling and scandalous.

Revolution 19 Blog Tour: Q&A With Gregg Rosenblum

Jan 10 |07:30

After reading the description of Revolution 19, I started wondering if I’d ever read a book about robots. If I don’t count cyborgs, then I’d have to say no.

Gregg Rosenblum’s new sci-fi fantasy thriller sounds like something I could really sink into. See what Gregg has to say about his book, dystopias and raging robots!

Revolution 19 Blog Tour

Goodreads | Amazon

Description:

“Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed.”

Q&A With Gregg Rosenblum

How do you think dystopias and post-apocalyptic novels have remained popular in YA fiction for so long?

GR: A good dystopian/post-apocalypic novel is going to reflect the current world in some way…it holds a mirror to our world today and says “if we keep going this way, we could end up HERE…” So in that sense, the genre is always current, always topical. And I think it works well for YA because it validates the sense that many young adults have that the adults in charge are screwing things up pretty badly. And most importantly, these books, even though they can be pretty dark, are FUN. They’re full of vivid, imaginative settings that are just crying out for lots of action.

What can readers expect from the robots in Revolution 19? Are they similar to the robots in I, Robot, or something different entirely?

GR: In a sense, yes, there’s a similarity, in that my bots believe that the horrors they’ve inflicted upon mankind are actually for humanity’s greater good. (Of course many of the humans in the book would disagree). Physically, many of the bots in Revolution 19 are coming from military design, so they’re efficient and powerful and brutal fighters. The Peteys are the primary ground troops…they’re humanoid, but BIG and STRONG and perhaps the most “Terminatorish” of the bunch. Then there are also small sphere bots, which are mostly scouts…but my favorites are the Lecturers. They run the Reeducation centers, where captured humans are taken to be broken down and assimilated into the City culture. They’re quite good at torture and brainwashing.

Do you read a lot of science fiction? If so, what science fiction books influenced you the most?

GR: Certainly. I devoured sci fi and fantasy as a kid, and I continue to read the genres, although not at quite the same breakneck pace. For sci fi, some influential books that come to mind (in no particular order) are Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot and Foundation Series, Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Series, Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, Julian May’s Pliocene Exile Series, Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five, Philip K. Dick’s The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch and A Scanner Darkly…I could go on and on…

What can readers look forward to in your next books?

GR: Revolution 19 is book 1 of a planned trilogy, so there’ll be two more books following the struggles of Nick, Kevin, and Cass vs. the bots…I plan to put ‘em through hell (in a fair way) and see what they, and their world, are like when they (hopefully) come out the other side. I’m also hoping, along the way, to find out more about the motivations of the bots…delve deeper into why they revolted, what they want, and the question of whether artificial intelligence can be “alive.”

Thanks Gregg for stopping by and talking about your exciting new dystopia, Revolution 19!

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Jan 6 |11:58

I avoided reading Cinder for so long. I read the description and decided it wasn’t for me. I’m not above saying…I WAS SO WRONG! This book is awesome and amazing and surprising.

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Goodreads | Amazon | Author Website

Title & Author: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA – Science Fiction, Retelling

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Series: #1 in Lunar Chronicles

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

How I Got the Book: Bought

Description:

“Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.”

Cinderella as a Cyborg

My first thoughts after reading the book description for Cinder were “This is not for me.” Looking back, I tried to figure out why I felt that way. I think it had a lot to do with the terms “cyborg,” “android” and “lunar.” What the heck is this book about?! How can Cinder have anything to do with this?!

I’m here to tell you how WRONG I was and how amazing Cinder is. If you’re like me and read a light science fantasy (ish) type book every once and awhile (like Unravel Me or Pretties), then trust me, you can handle this book.

What makes Cinder fantastic is that it takes the basic elements of the Cinderella story – evil stepmother, working as a laborer, ball at midnight – and gives it new life. Cinder was adopted into the Linh family when she was a child. She was in a terrible hovercraft accident and survived because of the new, metal parts she was given (like her whole leg).

After she meets Prince Kai, her daily routine is shaken up. As the top mechanic in New Beijing, Cinder is asked to fix a royal android who has stopped working.

There are so many new threads in Cinder that I didn’t feel like I’d heard this story over and over. The city of New Beijing is a monarchy in the new world formed after additional world wars (after World War II). Add to that, there’s a deadly plague spreading across what’s left of the world, and there’s no known cure.

THEN add that unraveling history of Cinder’s childhood and background that she’s only just discovering.

Phew. It’s a wild ride.

The Glass Slipper The Metal Foot

Cinder is a wholly unique and untold tale. Which is just masterful, as the nuances to the original fairytale are subtly present.

Let’s talk about romance in Cinder. I was a fan. It wasn’t overly swoon-ish, BUT it wasnt’ instalove. Thank you!

In fact, it was only really in slight touches and side glances that you could really see anything going on, BUT Meyer has me guessing. I hate it when I know for sure what’s going to happen in the romance department. It’s exciting but not really surprising.

I think Meyer is going to totally shock me. Dunno, guys, dunno.

OVERALL

I was so pleasantly surprised with Cinder. I took a “risk” by reading a book outside of what I normally read, and it seriously paid off. I highly recommend Cinder, and think it makes a great addition to the YA science fiction scene.

Posts Tagged ‘Book Review’

Book Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Book Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer