The Rules (Project Paper Doll, #1)

Apr 09, 2013 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-publication, hyperion, sci-fi-or-futuristic, read-2013, aliens, paranormal-general, young-adult, male-pov

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3.5 stars In a season crowded with all kinds of YA sci fi thrillers, The Rules offers an unusual heroine: Ariane Tucker, a alien-human hybrid girl who must hide among humans in order to avoid capture.

*waits a beat*

Oh come on, you're going to have to just roll with this idea! If you can accept the premise and a story that focuses more on the characters than complex worldbuilding or non-stop action, this is a fun, enjoyable science fiction thriller that reads v...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

[Insert Random Political Name Here] Eats Babies

3.25 stars. Just a hunch on my part, but it would appear that this author has an axe to grind with conservatives after reading some of the snide commentary in The Rules. Hey, I'm all for everyone having the right to agree/disagree with whatever's going on out in the "real world," but I'd rather not read about what's distasteful to an author in my books. For a moment, I thought I was in the middle of campaign season and watching one of those "Camp...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, science-fiction, romance

3.5 stars

The Rules caught me by surprise. Despite being far less science fiction than teenage drama – think high school revenge, the resident mean girl, all the usual clichés – it captured my interest from the very start and refused to let go. Oddly, and maybe even a little begrudgingly, I quite liked it.

Our main character, Ariane Tucker, is an alien-human hybrid whose life is firmly moulded by a set of inflexible rules. These are rules that dictate her social standing, that force her to be as i...more 3.5 stars

The Rules caught me by surprise. Despite being far less science fiction than teenage drama – think high school revenge, the resident mean girl, all the usual clichés – it captured my interest from the very start and refused to let go. Oddly, and maybe even a little begrudgingly, I quite liked it.

Our main character, Ariane Tucker, is an alien-human hybrid whose life is firmly moulded by a set of inflexible rules. These are rules that dictate her social standing, that force her to be as invisible as possible, that warn her against falling in love. But, as is the custom in such situations, rules are made to be inevitably broken. Her telekinetic and telepathic abilities make blending in a challenge, as does the gradual interest Zane Bradshaw begins to show in her. Despite the intriguing flashbacks we are treated to of Ariane’s stay at GenTex Labs, and the brief and flitting mentions of her extra-terrestrial roots, this book is, essentially, more of a contemporary tale than anything else. We have school fairs, the popular in-crowd, a house party and more. It’s easy to enjoy, however, despite being shades away from the sci-fi thriller that might be expected.

That’s not to say there isn’t appropriate tension and action eventually. Towards the end, although not outstandingly thrilling, the storyline takes far more of an exciting turn and is preceded by a surprising twist or two. The rest is entertaining – or, at least, engaging – and the writing and interesting characters help. The story is narrated by both Zane and Ariane, with the alternating perspectives flowing seamlessly enough. Admittedly, at first, Zane sounds a little more female than he does male (or what I consider male!), but this isn’t a huge issue after a while. Kade has a simple but effective writing style that is wonderfully easy to follow. There is a touch of subtle wit to it that works very well, making her characters a little more accessible.

Although I wouldn’t call Ariane the most riveting protagonist ever, she is adequately likable. The same can be said for Zane. The two fulfil quite stereotypical roles, it must be said, but do so in a way that is not nearly as aggravating as one might assume. Zane is the popular jock and love interest whose attention on the ordinary, nothing-special girl is something that we have seen countless times before. Despite that, the romance is generally well-paced and not unpleasant. Both characters have experienced emotional pain first-hand, and their connection to each other as a result, for the most part, feels genuine. The woe-is-me-ing is kept to a splendid minimum, thankfully. The Rules is perhaps even a little more character-driven than it is plot, but this suits it perfectly. We get an appropriate handful of smile-inducing scenes that I’m certain the majority of romance enthusiasts will enjoy.

There isn’t much else to say about this book. It’s a good start to the Project Paper Doll series, if nothing more, but those who are after something distinctly sci-fi with plenty of accompanying action will be better off looking elsewhere. In the meantime, I’ll make it my mission to read Stacey Kade’s well-received debut, The Ghost and the Goth.

(This review also appears on my blog)
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Apr 21, 2013 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, science-fiction

Meet Ariane: the alien hybrid that shares a similarity with my dear beloved friend, Carrie (yes, the evil one!). This is one heck of a fun book. Having been raised in a lab her whole life, Ariane now has to live among humans… in high school--how horrifying! Instead of concentrating on the alien conspiracies or sci-fi aspect, The Rules involves mostly a lot of high school drama where Ariane is trying hard to stay invisible, but a certain… she person… is making this incredibly hard. After digestin...more Meet Ariane: the alien hybrid that shares a similarity with my dear beloved friend, Carrie (yes, the evil one!). This is one heck of a fun book. Having been raised in a lab her whole life, Ariane now has to live among humans… in high school--how horrifying! Instead of concentrating on the alien conspiracies or sci-fi aspect, The Rules involves mostly a lot of high school drama where Ariane is trying hard to stay invisible, but a certain… she person… is making this incredibly hard. After digesting this book I think it will all depend on what you're expecting from it. Some of the Goodreads tags at the moment include Sci-fi, Dystopian, Fantasy, Alien, Romance. At once it's all, and none, of those things. If I had to tag it, I'd say it's best described as a high school paranormal novel. No matter, here is what you will be getting from reading it:

-- A mostly character oriented plot that does not really have that much sci-fi to it. Sure she's an alien hybrid and we do begin the novel in the lab she's being held in, learning where she was raised and what they made her do, but other than that we're thrown into a high school bully story where Ariane is simply trying to stay off the radar--but the high school Queen B gets in the way.This worked for me because, for one, I wasn't really expecting anything when I went into this book, and for another, high school mean-girl type stories are kind of a guilty pleasure of mine. Who doesn't enjoy seeing a bitch get what she deserves?

-- A semi-strong romantic subplot that is sweet and substantial. Ariane is not supposed to fall in love, nor trust anybody, so we do get a bit of the forbidden fruit kind of romance which I always find engaging. It may not be the most swoon worthy romance I've ever read but it does involve believable emotions, a likeable love interest, and a pacing that makes it possible to see their connection grow.

-- We're treated to two perspectives in this novel: Ariane and Zane. While it remains Ariane's story, it's fun to be able to experience and understand both sides. Zane is an interesting character that surprised me quite a bit by being very different from the type I was expecting. He's genuine and well-intentioned; I appreciated that about him. As for Ariane, overall, she is sweet-natured. She wants to do what's best and protect her friend, but because of her sticky situation she often has to put herself first. It's good to have someone who is loyal, but not all about self-sacrifice--because really that's just realistic. I also liked how she was smart enough to realize that this so-called friend is really not a friend at all.

-- Fast paced, fun, entertaining, but not particularly impressive as far as the complexity of the plot. The issues I did have with this book is not what we do get--the characters are fun, the plot is interesting, and the pacing is just right--it's what we don't get--intel on these aliens, history or world building, believable science, shocking plot happenings (though we do get one fairly good twist). I wanted to know a lot more about the aliens, especially. If you're going to introduce such an intriguing concept, it requires something to back it up: where they came from or the science behind it all for starters. As for the evil corporation behind it all, I was never really intimidated by them, to be honest. What they're trying to accomplish is unclear and I think this decreases their threat. Constantly mentioning a powerful, scary entity doesn't make one so.

The Rules may be technically a sci-fi novel, but its primary focus is on the entertaining factor of a high school contemporary with mild paranormal elements. Nevertheless, It's fast paced and easy to fly through, making it a good read if you're expecting the right story.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Dec 31, 2012 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not exactly what I had been expecting, but I was sucked into the story - mainly because it kept me guessing from the beginning to end.

So why four stars? Well, if you were looking something of the sci-fi/dystopian genres, this wasn't exactly that. Because the concept pretty much disappeared for a good chunk of this book. Actually, let me back up…

My first thought after reading the prologue was, "Oh crap, this sounds a lot like Beta." A non-human was created to replace a dead girl. But then I reali...more Not exactly what I had been expecting, but I was sucked into the story - mainly because it kept me guessing from the beginning to end.

So why four stars? Well, if you were looking something of the sci-fi/dystopian genres, this wasn't exactly that. Because the concept pretty much disappeared for a good chunk of this book. Actually, let me back up…

My first thought after reading the prologue was, "Oh crap, this sounds a lot like Beta." A non-human was created to replace a dead girl. But then I realized that wasn't what the book was about.

As the story continued, I had an opportunity to learn more about Ariane - who she was, what she had to go through, who she is supposed to be now, and how she learns there is so much to the life of a typical teenager when you're not always trying to blend in.

For a while, I started feeling that Kade lost her way when the story strayed into this vindictive plot that involved ultimate high school drama. But despite the different direction the story started taking, I still felt really intrigued by the book. For some reason, I just thought of the He's So/She's So series, I guess because I read the last book around the same time I read the last book in Kade's The Ghost and the Goth series.

But then, Kade returned to the plot - as expected as the foreboding bad feeling kept looming over the situation - but the turn of events totally caught me by surprise. Kade got me so comfortable with expecting the expected that I was so unprepared to find out what had really happened.

Sorry, I can't really say more about it or analyze the characters or the plot because I don't want to ruin the story. (Muhahaha! A spoiler-free review! You know who you are.)

And I also liked the way the book ended. Kade didn't stop right at that "OMG! What just happened!" moment like how many, many other writers tried to leave readers with the cliffhanger. No, she threw in yet a few more surprises before wrapping it up, yet still in a way that makes you craving for the next book.

So my initial response was, "I'm so excited I got this ARC! I like Stacey Kade's silly stories, but this one doesn't seem too silly." Was it what I had expected? No, although I think some will hold that against this book. But did the book disappoint? Not at all.(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Mitch rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mitch by: Katy

A lot of the time, reading a book is all expectations - and it goes both ways. In this case, I really liked The Rules, but probably not for the reasons you'd expect, so as a word of warning, I think anyone picking this up expecting a science fiction thriller will be sorely disappointed because it's actually mostly a high school revenge plot. That said, I recently wrote in another review that I'd pay good money to an author who can genuinely surprise me, and well, Stacey Kade surprised me. So bec...more A lot of the time, reading a book is all expectations - and it goes both ways. In this case, I really liked The Rules, but probably not for the reasons you'd expect, so as a word of warning, I think anyone picking this up expecting a science fiction thriller will be sorely disappointed because it's actually mostly a high school revenge plot. That said, I recently wrote in another review that I'd pay good money to an author who can genuinely surprise me, and well, Stacey Kade surprised me. So because I'd like to think I'm a big enough person to be able to eat crow when that happens, well done Ms. Kade.

My expectations were pretty low after the first couple of chapters though, because I really mean it when I say most of the book is a high school revenge plot reminiscent of Steven King's Carrie (which is even referenced in the book!!). We have Ariane Tucker, your average unassuming girl, well, except for the fact that's she's a half human half alien hybrid, her best friend Jenna, your insecure best friend who secretly cares more about being part of the cool crowd than being Ariane's friend, Rachel Jacobs, your everyday spoiled resident mean girl, and Zane Bradshaw, your standard jock who starts in the mean girl's circle but starts finding the unassuming girl more and more interesting as he starts exiting the mean girl's orbit. It's all standard romantic comedy material, and the only thing that really differentiated The Rules from an actual romantic comedy is Ariane living in constant fear of being dragged back to the lab she escaped from, all the Rules set out by her 'father' Mark Tucker she has to follow as a result, and occasional glimpses into her character and past about what exactly happened to her at the lab.

But for some reason, I just had to keep reading, because even though the characters were stereotypes, even if back stories like Zane dealing with his overbearing and unappreciative father or Ariane being sick and tired of hiding all the time powerless to do anything about Rachel’s clique are plots I’ve seen plenty of times before, there’s just something about Kade’s writing that had me sticking around. It’s a kind of wry humor that’s not laugh out loud funny, but no groan worthy either, so yeah, the writing kept me occupied and I probably would’ve liked this book anyway because there’s nothing distasteful, unlikable, or particularly bad about any of it, even if it’s not exactly original. After all, Ariane and Zane (who actually sounds like a guy) are likable enough, and their alternating points of view actually worked in this case, unlike in many other multiple point of view books. And ok, maybe a little part of me was still expecting a train wreck, like, how can all this high school drama possibly end well?

Except then, Kade surprised, I mean really surprised me. Just when I thought there’d be nothing to the story except high school drama, she brought back the alien hybrid on the lam plot hinted at in the summary. But not only that, she did it in a way that not only makes sense and fits with the high school revenge plot, but in a way that actually made that entire plot, heck with all the rules Ariane has to learn and all the faux fitting in she had to do, actually very relevant with the actual premise of the book - Ariane being in hiding from the people who want her back - and I don’t just mean because Rachel’s the granddaughter of Dr. Jacobs, the lead researcher of the project that created her. So amazingly, no, all that Ariane versus Rachel drama that spans most of the book wasn’t filler, it wasn’t a distraction, it was all important, it all made sense. Better yet, the climax didn’t drag at all, like despite how much Ariane was agonizing over whether her relationship with Zane would endanger him, that didn’t really come up much at all like I dreaded it would. And Kade still left enough wide open for a sequel. (view spoiler)

I wouldn’t exactly say The Rules is a case of me having very low expectations that the book easily exceeded, because even the revenge plot wasn’t terrible, it’s more of a case of a good enough book being great because it turned out to be exactly what I wanted it to be when at first I didn’t think it would be. I’m definitely eagerly awaiting to see what the sequel has in store.(less)

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May 20, 2013 Josheka rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: really-excited, above-average, 3-and-a-half-stars, e-book, arc-galley, liked-the-characters, something-new, supernatural, ya-romance, wanted-to-strangle-the-heroine

More of my reviews @ Reading 24x7

Okay,I'll be honest. I had some major expectations from this book, and maybe that's why I didn't find it as awesome as I hoped I would. However, I loved the concept. The Roswell incident has always been something I've been curious and intrigued about, so imagine my surprise when this book turned out to be based on that only. That was one reason I got immediately attracted to this book.

The concept was compelling and the way the story started off was awesome. I cou...more More of my reviews @ Reading 24x7

Okay,I'll be honest. I had some major expectations from this book, and maybe that's why I didn't find it as awesome as I hoped I would. However, I loved the concept. The Roswell incident has always been something I've been curious and intrigued about, so imagine my surprise when this book turned out to be based on that only. That was one reason I got immediately attracted to this book.

The concept was compelling and the way the story started off was awesome. I could feel myself connecting with the female protagonist, Ariane and it broke my heart to see her leading such a sad and lonely life to protect herself. Her character was sweet, helpful and protective of people she cared about and I really liked her for that. However, somewhere in the middle, it was like she suddenly started jumping into explosive situations. The risk that she was taking was always on her mind, no doubt but nonetheless, it made the story a little less believable when she spent more than half of her life hiding so carefully and suddenly becoming so....daring. I get the fact that paranormal fiction isn't exactly written for being believable but still.

The middle part of the book became boring after a while. There was too much mental banter from Ariane and the story just wasn't moving forward. And then, when Ariane started with her I-will-put-Rachel-in-her-place mode, it was clear this wasn't gonna go well and I just wanted to scream and throttle her for being so stupid. Some of the things she did just didn't match up with her initial personality and that made my interest waver a bit from the story.

The last part of the book, however, made my breath hitch. Ms. Kade executed the final part brilliantly and flawlessly. It was a total OMG moment because I seriously didn't expect that THIS was how she was gonna go down. I actually cried after reading the betrayal. It was too damn sad. Just for that awesome ending, I'm giving an extra star to this book.

Zane's POV was always interesting to read. For some reason, I found him more captivating than Ariane as he spent less time thinking of the past and actually seemed to live in the present more. Ariane, on the other hand, kept going back to her past and sometimes it was super annoying to read her continuous mental banter. Not that I blame her. Someone going through that kind of torture and actually coming back with their humanity intact is something to be admired.
Still, I think Zane was my favourite character in the story. He was non-judgmental and accepted Ariane like she was from the beginning. He was totally adorable throughout the story and very, very charming.

Overall, the concept was intriguing and the story was good but I can't say the same about the execution. It kept fluctuating between interesting and boring. But the good thing is, the interesting parts were amazing. Like, can't-stop-reading amazing. I'm pretty sure I would've liked this book more if I already didn't have so many expectations from it, but oh, well. I'm still gonna continue with the series because I'm super curious about what happens next! (less)

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Apr 05, 2013 Ashley (Nose Graze) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: requested, arc, physical-arc

BookNook — Young Adult book reviews

4.5 Stars

The Rules reads surprisingly like a contemporary book, and that's one of the things that made me love it so much. Although it does have sci-fi elements, they don't dominate the story at all. It's more about evil corporations, first loves, tender and hesitant romance, high school drama, and bullies, all with a small sci-fi twist.

The story is told from alternating points of view: Ariane's and Zane's. I didn't expect to get a glimpse into both characters...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Amber Argyle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Hunger Games meets The Host.

Review posted on www.amberargyle.blogspot.com

The Rules by Stacey Kade captured me so completely, so perfectly, that I responded in the only way possible: turn back to the beginning and start again.

Readers read because they love it. There's a journey, an adventure waiting for us between the pages of a book. Simply put, some adventures are better then others. But for those of us who read a lot, it becomes harder and harder to find something truly great. Something that...more

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Apr 08, 2013 ABookVacation rated it 4 of 5 stars

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

This is one of those stories where I liked it enough, it kept my interest, but I didn’t feel any real love for it for quite some time. But then, in a matter of unforgettable moments, that all changed, and I found my heart suddenly beating rapidly as I read faster and faster to find out what would happen next. Granted, this didn’t occur until I was about 3/4 of the way through, but the fact that it did happen made me really giddy with...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, sci-fi, arc-galley, paranormal, recommended

"Pretending to feel something you don't can often lead you to the real thing, in some form."

The Rules was surprisingly awesome. It went beyond my expectation and was really enjoyable. Most sci-fi stories happened in the future or are post-apocalyptic but this one is different. It happened at present time, where aliens are still considered freaks and mean girls in high school is still a trend.

The first time you read it, you might say that this is just another high school story--unpopular girl...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Giveaway on my blog! Ends 4/21 - http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2013/04/re...

There are NO spoilers for The Rules in this review but I do refer to a few things that are already in the summary that may be spoilery if you do not read book summaries.

Ariane, an alien/human hybrid, needs to lay low in order to stay safe. Following her adoptive father's rules has always protected her from discovery but she can't stand to watch her one and only friend subjected to the cruel pranks of the resident high schoo...more Giveaway on my blog! Ends 4/21 - http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2013/04/re...

There are NO spoilers for The Rules in this review but I do refer to a few things that are already in the summary that may be spoilery if you do not read book summaries.

Ariane, an alien/human hybrid, needs to lay low in order to stay safe. Following her adoptive father's rules has always protected her from discovery but she can't stand to watch her one and only friend subjected to the cruel pranks of the resident high school mean girl, Rachel.

But her act of defiance puts her on the radar of GTX, the genetics lab she was raised in and escaped from. They will stop at nothing to find her and bring her back in. It also puts her in the path of Zane, the police chiefs son and Rachel's friend.

Ariane is a wonderful character. She's both shy and innocent but fierce in her loyalty to her friends and family. She may not understand the subtitles of human behavior but she does know right from wrong and isn't afraid to stand up and fight. After meeting Zane, she starts to long for a normal life and you want that for her. Ariane is a girl that you would want as your BFF.

There is quite a surprising amount of high school drama but IMHO no one writes high school drama better than Stacey Kade.

The Rules is The Breakfast Club ( the classic 1985 movie by John Hughes) meets Sci-fi/Paranormal.

Kade manages to have all the required high school character stereotypes - the mean girl, the outcast, the hot boy and infuse them with layers and complexity. You may not always love each character but you do understand their motivations which keeps the story from becoming a cliche. If you've read Stacey's fabulous Ghost and the Goth series, you'll know that all of her characters are on a journey. They evolve with each book and I can't wait to see where Ariane, Zane and even bad girl, Rachel end up. Even the adults are present and fleshed out.

The Rules was kind of sci-fi light. We got a glimpse of Ariane's origins, potential and what she's been through (it isn't pretty) but this installment has a more contemporary/paranormal vibe. If you're a hardcore sci-fi fan and that’s what you were expecting that might bother you but this book was a lot of fun with plenty of drama, action and shocking twists. The romance is slow, sweet and 100% believable.

Final thoughts: There have been quite a few alien hybrid stories released recently. I've read several but The Rules was my favorite. Ariane makes a very relatable and likable heroine. Zane is a brave, intelligent hero. A little more contemporary/paranormal than sci-fi. The pacing is excellent, the romance pitch perfect and there are plenty of twists to keep you on your toes.
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Apr 29, 2013 Annabelle Marie Veronica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-books-in-the-world, books-that-made-me-cry, aliens, arcs, i-love-a-guy-in-this-book, paranormal, cliffhangers, favorites, gorgeous-cover, romance, sci-fi, sci-fi-i-actually-like

*****FINAL RATING: 4.75 STARS*****

CATCHALL
I really enjoyed Stacey Kade's The Ghost and the Goth series, so when I heard about her new series I knew that I had to get my hands on it. And don't get me wrong, I really loved her G&G series. But that is literally nothing compared to how much I loved this book. I honestly adored this book so much I don't even know what to do with myself. It was gorgeous, a little bit heartbreaking, and so passionate with feelings and painful choices that it drew...more

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May 16, 2013 SARIT rated it 4 of 5 stars

Trough Ariane I had an opportunity to learn that there is so much to the life of a typical teenager when you're not always trying to blend in.
Well this is not a classical sci fi story and tend more to be in the same eye level with the age of its readers - YA. In this age you have a lot of confusing question about yourself and your identity, your place in the society, your place among those of same age like you, you and the the adults, your feelings and your romantic feelings.... and also other m...more

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May 14, 2013 Khanh rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: aliens, ya, mystery, high-school

More high-school teen drama than the anticipated bad-ass alien sci-fi I was expecting.

Ariane was created in a lab, with a combination of human and alien DNA. Her father is one of the scientists, and after a crisis of conscience, kidnaps and rescues Ariane where she was being kept as a lab rat. They lead a quiet existence, doing the blending-in thing quite well compared to some of the other books I've read (like the idiotic aliens in Lux, honestly...). Ariane doesn't look like a normal human bein...more More high-school teen drama than the anticipated bad-ass alien sci-fi I was expecting.

Ariane was created in a lab, with a combination of human and alien DNA. Her father is one of the scientists, and after a crisis of conscience, kidnaps and rescues Ariane where she was being kept as a lab rat. They lead a quiet existence, doing the blending-in thing quite well compared to some of the other books I've read (like the idiotic aliens in Lux, honestly...). Ariane doesn't look like a normal human being, but her appearance is not too far off that it can't be disguised. With the help of some makeup and contact lenses, and flat iron to cover up her grayish skin, outlandishly dark eyes, and oddly textured hair, she's good to go. She is described as average-looking, on the thin side, and quite short. She does everything she can to try not to stand out, including getting solid Bs in school as to not attract undue attention, negative or positive.

Against her will, Ariane accidentally causes a scene at school that places her on the mean girls' target list. Zach is the underachieving son of the alpha-male town sheriff, who is recruited to humiliate Ariane. The book revolves around their two voices, alternately telling the story, and it does get confusing.

I found Ariane's character sympathetic. She just wants a life, but understands that she has to blend in. I like her little ways of rebellion, such as her love of designer jeans alongside of her typical Target wardrobe...understandable, and fitting, since it's hard to distinguish a $200 pair of Diesel when you are wearing a $15 top. I like her intelligence and instincts. She likes Zach, but knows something is wrong when he starts noticing her. She doesn't let her heart rule over her head, she has common sense, and I'm glad for that.

I didn't understand Zach or his motive; I still don't. His narrative voice is confusing and doesn't add much to the story. I knkow he is meant to be a sympathetic character, having a difficult father like that, but I just couldn't relate to him. His own motive for asking Ariane out was questionable, and unclear. I still didn't know whether he was pursuing his own method of exacting Rachel's (mean girl) revenge or whether he was really trying to rebel against her influence. His narrative felt very deceitful to me, and I didn't enjoy his part in the story.

The summary made the book bigger than it actually was. Much of the book dealt with high-school drama, of the mean queen bee versus her target variety. There were more about teen dating and Ariane's encounters with romance than there was actual heart-pounding sci-fi and survivalism like I had anticipated.

The major plot in the book was easy to figure out; I knew what was going to happen and who was involved before the first half of the book. The ending felt rushed the choices made were questionable. This is the first in a series, but I'm not sure I want to read the second.(less)

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May 09, 2013 kari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ya

Meh.
That fairly sums up my feelings and I am sad to say that. I loved Kade's Ghost and Goth series. Tight plotting, great characters, etc. I just didn't get that here. It probably isn't fair of me to compare that series to this one, even if it is the same author, because the subject is different, but I did expect to have a plot that would pull me in and this didn't meet my expectations in any way. Mostly, I have to admit, I was bored. Perhaps it takes place too much in Ariane's head, her memory...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Sebrina Parker rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think it's kind of funny that Hyperion is releasing two books with similar titles that both feature girls in hiding back to back to each other. That being said The Rules is quite unique in it's premise as a book. I think it is perfectly targeted to readers from my generation who were big fans of the teen drama Roswell and the younger generation who watched Kyle XY.
I loved the alternating POV's and do not think the story could have been told the same without that. It was fun to see how Ariane...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book surprised me. Actually, I would give it 4 1/2 stars. The plot is very similar to a number of other new works on the market, but it had what is important to me, which would be excellent character development. A few logical inconsistencies, but not enough to stop you in your tracks when you are reading. Hate it when that happens. Well written, with a plot involved enough to keep your interest, regardless of your age. Works well as a straight forward novel, not just a another young adult...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Kyleigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've loved Stacey Kade's books since she first put out the Ghost and the Goth, so naturally I jumped at the chance to read this. I definitely was not disappointed. Kade's really branched out from her kind of peppy genre with sassy characters. The Rules definitely had a more serious tone, and I absolutely loved it.

Ariane's one goal in life is to blend in. To hide her almost white hair, her small frame, her unusually sharp cheekbones, and her near pitch black eyes. The Rules help her do just that...more I've loved Stacey Kade's books since she first put out the Ghost and the Goth, so naturally I jumped at the chance to read this. I definitely was not disappointed. Kade's really branched out from her kind of peppy genre with sassy characters. The Rules definitely had a more serious tone, and I absolutely loved it.

Ariane's one goal in life is to blend in. To hide her almost white hair, her small frame, her unusually sharp cheekbones, and her near pitch black eyes. The Rules help her do just that. She stays inconspicuous, out of the lime light. She only has one friend and even that's hard to maintain, because what's truly important is to not slip up. Ariane is hiding in plain sight and her life is a charade, because she's not entirely human. Ariane has lived by the rules for ten years. Ten years of managing to slip under the radar, right under the noses of those who want her captured. That is until the day that Ariane can't reign in her feelings any longer. Daring to stand up to the most popular and intimidating girl at school in defense of her friend, Ariane isn't so invisible any more. She comes to the attention of Zane, part of the popular crowd, and despite how hard she tries, she can't help but relish in the attention he is suddenly giving her.

I really loved Ariane. She may play the meek and quiet girl, but in reality she is a fierce individual who will not stand for people picking on others who are weaker than them. She's quick witted, stubborn, and truly a fiery personality. She just doesn't take bull shit and calls others out on it. What truly made me love Ariane was her willingness to take a chance and open herself up to others. She was kept in a lab until she was six years old, basically poked and prodded like a lab rat every single day. She tends to shy away from people because of it, and avoids physical contact at all costs. And yet when she and Zane start their rocky friendship, she opens herself up and trusts him to not hurt her. She's gone through incredible trauma, but she doesn't let it dictate her life. That really made her a strong character in my eyes.

I really loved Zane as well. Both Zane and Ariane are broken to some degree, hurt by people in their lives that should have protected them. While Zane used to sit back and let his friends mock and tease others, he's changed. He's sickened by their childish actions and really starts to stand up for himself. He can't help but be fascinated with Ariane, the only person who has ever dared stand up to his friend Rachel. Soon curiosity turns into outright infatuation, and Zane isn't the only one who's falling fast. He really was a great guy, and I enjoyed his narrative just as much as Ariane's.

I really enjoyed the plot for this as well. It definitely threw me for some loops. While a few things caught me off guard, I got back on my feet quickly. One in particular was pretty devastating to think of the implications. Both Zane and Ariane received some nasty surprises, but in the end things worked out for the better. It was well paced and the length was just right in my opinion. The story happens in a relatively short amount of time, but I wasn't left dying for more pages. Perfectly paced.

I'm really excited to see where this series goes. I really enjoy Kade's writing, and I've pretty much fallen in love with Ariane and her story. I'm sure the sequels will be just as fantastic. (less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-bridget

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Awesome story with romance, action, and it kept me guessing the whole way through.

Opening Sentence: So there are Rules that come along with my being Ariane.

The Review:

Ariane Tucker has followed the rules set by her father her whole life. When she was 6 years old the man she calls her father rescued her from GTX, a facility that specializes in many different things. She was one of their experiments, where they mixed human and alien DNA. She w...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Melodie rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Rules is a solid entry in the alien-among-us fiction category. Ariane is a lab experiment, grown in a petrie dish from part-alien and part-human cells. For the first several years of life, she lived in a small room and endured increasing horrors from the scientists who designed her. Until the day she's freed...

Fast forward ten years and Ariane is now a high school junior. Her father has carefully indoctrinated The Rules into her head - stay quiet, don't get involved, don't draw attention, do...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I casually read the first five to ten pages of a lot of books while my students are doing their daily opening reading. It helps me get to know a little bit about a lot of books fast, but this one I had to finish.

The premise is great, but I found my self engaged mostly because of the way the author gets into the character's heads. Actions are big in this book, but motivations matter even more. The way we see the characters thoughts reminded me of what it felt like to be in Katniss's head in The H...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, teen-fiction, ebooks, website

Ariane Tucker is not like ordinary girls. She has a secret that she and her father work very hard to conceal. Ariane isn't quite human. She was born in a lab at GTX and spent the first six years of her life as a guinea pig. Her adopted father broke her out of the lab and has been raising her ever since. He has given Ariane a set of rules to live by, which basically means she has to be average and not stick out. That works just fine until she and her one friend Jenna become the target of mean gir...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever since Ariane was helped to escape from the genetics lab that created her from human and alien DNA and was training her to use her alien gifts to kill, she has been following a set of rules. Don't trust anyone, don't get involved, keep your head down, remember they are always looking for you, and, lastly, don't fall in love. She has been doing really well, too, until Zane Bradshaw notices her.

Ariane's only friend is a social climbing phony who will do anything to get into the social group le...more Ever since Ariane was helped to escape from the genetics lab that created her from human and alien DNA and was training her to use her alien gifts to kill, she has been following a set of rules. Don't trust anyone, don't get involved, keep your head down, remember they are always looking for you, and, lastly, don't fall in love. She has been doing really well, too, until Zane Bradshaw notices her.

Ariane's only friend is a social climbing phony who will do anything to get into the social group led by Rachel Jacobs who happens to be the granddaughter of the scientist who created, tested, and tortured Ariane before her escape. When Rachel decides to humiliate Ariane's friend Jenna, Ariane needs to become more noticeable to protect her friend. Zane is in Rachel's social group but is not a whole-hearted member. When Rachel decides to get back at Ariane for defending her friend and, thus, making Rachel look bad, Zane steps in to be the one who is supposed to lure Ariane into a humiliating situation.

Zane's attraction to Ariane leads him to work with her to find some way to turn the tables on Rachel. Ariane is willing to go along because she hates Rachel for her bullying tactics. All of a sudden, the "don't fall in love" rule is getting harder and harder to follow.

While I liked a lot of the story and really liked both Ariane and Zane, I was unhappy with the way the adults were portrayed. Zane's father was a bully who was constantly belittling him and comparing him to his perfect older brother. He was obsessed with what the town thought of him and was determined to get some kind of on in with GTX--Dr. Jacobs' company. Zane's mother had left the family after his brother graduated from high school and on Zane's birthday leaving him with his father. Zane feels a strong sense of abandonment.

Dr. Jacobs is an evil scientist who is willing to go to any length and use anyone or anything to get his precious government contracts. He spent years torturing and abusing Ariane to try to turn her into a killing machine. Even the man Ariane has considered her father for ten years--Mark Tucker--seems to betray her. He is the one who established the rules that Ariane has been living by which keep her isolated and unconnected to other people.

Fans of science fiction will enjoy this exciting story about hiding in plain sight and will enjoy Ariane's conflicted nature between her human and alien self. The romance was nicely done too.(less)

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May 20, 2013 Rachel Webb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ariane Tucker is a half human/half alien being created in a lab and trained to be a killing machine. At the age of 6, she was taken from the lab and raised by the head of the lab's security as a human girl who went to school, but has to follow 5 rules that include, not falling in love and keeping your head down because GTX is always searching for her. When Ariane's friend Jenna is targeted by mean girl Rachel Jacobs (grandaughter of GTX's lead scientist), Ariane exposes herself to stand up for h...more

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May 12, 2013 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, library

Just when you start to think the high school drama parts of this book's plot are starting to resemble something out of one of those awesome teen movies from the nineties, *bam* we find out that our intrepid loner girl heroine is actually a human-alien hybrid who has escaped a nefarious genetics laboratory intent on turning her into an assassin for the government.

Just roll with this seemingly far-fetched plot, because otherwise you'll miss out on the awesomeness that is Ariane. And Zane. Mustn't...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Go Flash Go! rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aliens, kick-ass-heroines, paranormal, paranormal-romance, science-fiction, young-adult, arc-galley

This review and others are posted at Read, Rinse, Repeat.

The Rules has pretty much everything this sci-fi fan could want. A human/extra-terrestrial hybrid? Check. The hybrid, named Ariane, was locked in a top-secret government laboratory and subjected to inhumane experiments? Check. Ariane breaks out and now must attempt to blend into society to avoid detection and capture? Check.

Ariane's attempt at a normal life begins at home with the laboratory's security guard who helped her escape. He pose...more This review and others are posted at Read, Rinse, Repeat.

The Rules has pretty much everything this sci-fi fan could want. A human/extra-terrestrial hybrid? Check. The hybrid, named Ariane, was locked in a top-secret government laboratory and subjected to inhumane experiments? Check. Ariane breaks out and now must attempt to blend into society to avoid detection and capture? Check.

Ariane's attempt at a normal life begins at home with the laboratory's security guard who helped her escape. He poses as her father (his own daughter died of an illness, a fact he has kept hidden) and instructs her in The Rules that Ariane must follow to protect both of their lives. She must blend in, especially at school; never over-achieve, never under -achieve; don't be early, but don't be late. In short, she can never draw attention to herself. This becomes increasingly difficult when Rachel, the malicious bully at school sets her sights on Ariane and Ariane's only friend, Jenna. Ariane has supernatural abilities, courtesy of her alien DNA, and she struggles, not always successfully, to not use them to retaliate against Rachel's tormenting.

Ariane's origin is touched on very briefly. Too briefly for me. I'm hoping that this will be explored in much greater detail in the sequel, in part because I'm a total geek for this stuff, but also because I'm imagining how the still-mysterious parts of her origin may come into play. So many possibilities!

As a narrator, Ariane is sharp and funny, pointing out oddities of humans, like how frequently we discuss the weather. While locked up in the lab, Ariane's knowledge of the outside world came from the movies and television shows she was permitted to watch. She doesn't wish to be human, but she has a certain level of resentment for the relative ease with which most of us live our lives. She knows her "father" cares for her, but she also knows she can never truly replace his real daughter in his heart. While he tends to her needs, he maintains a safe emotional distance.

So far, I've only discussed Ariane, but the book actually splits POV's with Ariane and Zane, one of the popular guys at school and a part of Rachel's crowd. He knows how detestable Rachel can be, and he attempts to stand up to her, but I wondered why such a nice guy is a part of this crowd. He's intrigued by Ariane, and Rachel is less than thrilled by this. Zane, as likable as he is, was just not as exciting as a narrator. Then again, how can anyone compete with an alien hybrid? Stacey Kade writes very well from the male POV, but when his chapters started, I found myself looking forward to getting back to Ariane. Near the end of the book, however, Zane's narration became much more exciting as we headed towards the conclusion that completely took me by surprise. That twist...I did NOT see it coming. I'm hoping to hear from other readers on this point in the comments, but just be careful to prominently note if your comment contains a spoiler!

The Rules ends on a perfect cliff-hanger. It successfully wrapped up the previous events and conflicts, and it sets the stage for a complete change of pace in the sequel. I was a bit distressed that Goodreads did not list the sequel, but Kade wrote on Twitter that she is revising it now.

Note - I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for review.(less)

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Apr 12, 2013 The Cover Contessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-arc-review-books, 2013-reads, arcs-and-r-r, science-fiction, add-to-sites

I want to thank the publisher, Disney Hyperion, for supplying me with an ARC of this book to read and review. Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterr...more I want to thank the publisher, Disney Hyperion, for supplying me with an ARC of this book to read and review. Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”
But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

I'll be honest and say, like most books, the first thing that interested me about this one was the cover. How interesting that the girl on the cover had two different eye colors. I just had to find out what that was all about. And the title itself is quite intriguing: Project Paper Doll. What could it mean? Well, I have to say that I understand "The Rules" part, but I'm still confused as to the "Project Paper Doll" as it wasn't mentioned at all during the book. But I was ok with that because the story itself was good and kept me wanting to read on.

Ariane is a great character. Because of her circumstances, being not fully human, she has always kept to herself. She remains aloof and secretive because her "father", a man who adopted her, has told her these are necessary for her survival. So she only has one friend, Jenna, who she allows to have any kind of glimpse into her life. And even then she keeps mostly to herself. I enjoyed this character very much. It was easy to connect with her fear of being "found out" and to understand why she was so distant to others. But I also felt badly for her because she wasn't getting to experience any of the things real teenagers experience: boyfriends, best friends, parties, going out, etc. From her description, it seems like she's different looking, but not enough that she can't blend in with the other full blooded humans and make it work. And I like the fact that she's not the typical beauty that is "hiding in the wings" as you see in so many other YA books. She attractive, but she's not beautiful. But her personality and forced shyness set her apart from others and certainly make her an easy target for jokes and bullying.
Of course this all changes when she connects with Zane. First of all, I love this name. You don't see it often, so it's different and I immediately got an image of a home town boy. But Zane has his issues as well: a not so perfect home life with his police chief father who only wants Zane to be more like his older brother. Big shoes to fill and a hard act to follow from what we find out of the brother's past. I was also able to connect well with Zane. And of course he's somewhat swoon worthy: tall, handsome, athletic. And it's easy to watch him change and grow during this book, into his own person able to stand up for himself and the things he believes in (as hard as it might be).
The secondary characters are well placed. Rachel, the stuck up and bullying rich girl who has a trail of croonies following her wherever she goes. She is mean and unrelenting, and always gets what she wants. People would rather be on her side than her bad side, because you certainly don't want to get that side of the coin. Jenna, the best friend who turns out to be something other than what we thought she would be. And, while Ariane continues to harbor a soft spot for her, Jenna is much too quick to turn her back on Ariane when she needs her the most. And the doctor, well, he's a great villain. He very much believes that what he is doing is the right thing, and no one can change his mind, or wants to try because of the power he holds over them.

I like that the author chose to tell this story from both points of view, Zane and Ariane, because I really felt like you got so much more of the big picture through both of their eyes. It was also nice to see how each of the characters viewed the other, watching them slowly get to know each other and become more comfortable in each other's presence. And, for me, I enjoyed that it was not really insta-love. While Zane had always found Ariane interesting and intriguing, and Ariane had always found Zane to be attractive, they slowly connected through their mutual prank. They had an easy banter between them. And there wasn't tons of mushy scenes where the characters were all over each other. It was a subtle "liking" and growth into the relationship. The most interesting part was how they each wanted to protect the other, without either of them realizing this is what was going on.

There were many instances when this book had me biting my nails wondering what was going to happen. Kade was certainly able to incorporate a good amount of action and tension. And, while it was too easy at times for the characters to escape situations which really seemed like they should have been beyond their control, I still felt myself turning the pages and wanted to know the end. Kade has a nice way with her world building, giving the right amount of information at just the right time so that you slowly start to understand the reasoning beyond the "project." And she artfully incorporates the science fiction aspect of the story, although I did find it a little hard to believe that this big company like Gen Tex, that dominated the town, was able to keep their secrets so well. I also wished that there was a little more of the science fiction part, maybe more about the experiments Ariane endured (although we do see some of this through her flashbacks). And I also found it odd that she could be living right there, under their noses and no one ever questioned it. Why would her father have stayed around with her? It wasn't until the end that I understood the answer to this question. But it still made for a bit of an unbelievable part of the plot.

All in all this a fast paced and easy read. Definitely likeable for those who enjoy science fiction with some romance thrown in. And the ending leaves you with the understanding that there will definitely be more, but you're not left hanging and chomping at the bit for it. I recommend this book for people who have read other books such as MILA 2.0, Jennifer Armentrout's Lux Series and even Skinned by Robinl Wasserman.

3.5/5 stars.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Julie Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, ya-awesome

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion. Huge THANK YOU to both. The Rules was amazing. I have to admit it, I’m a sucker for a good alien on Earth story. It dates back to my Clark Kent obsession and that hunk from Smallville, what can I say? I’ve even tried my hand at writing a story like this. To say I’m a fan is such a disgraceful understatement of my love. I will move on.

So, I got on the treadmill and opened the Kindle file. I’m always looking for some way to help...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Katrina Tinnon rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5

The premise of this book intrigued me. I love me some sci-fi, and this heads right up that alley without feeling too far out there. It's perfect for those that are just getting into sci-fi.

Ariane is a sweet girl. She has to follow the Rules so she won't be noticed. She tries not to care about people, but finds it hard when she's not allowed to get close. She's very intelligent, and doesn't know what to say at times. She's constantly thinking situations through so that she doesn't make a mist...more 3.5

The premise of this book intrigued me. I love me some sci-fi, and this heads right up that alley without feeling too far out there. It's perfect for those that are just getting into sci-fi.

Ariane is a sweet girl. She has to follow the Rules so she won't be noticed. She tries not to care about people, but finds it hard when she's not allowed to get close. She's very intelligent, and doesn't know what to say at times. She's constantly thinking situations through so that she doesn't make a mistake with how she words things. She tries to be strong enough not to break those rules, but a certain boy makes that very hard. Zane is a great character. At first he seems like a jerk, but he has many layers beneath him. He has a troubled home life, but doesn't want his friends to know. He is a follower until he reaches a breaking point. He's a good guy, with good intentions. He just has crappy friends. Rachel is the perfect example of the mean girl. She's cruel, and only does things that will make her happy, or bring pain/humiliation to others. She doesn't like to be laughed at, and is a complete B.

The plot moved along quickly. You begin wondering how close the lab is to finding Ariane. You want to cheer for her the whole time, even knowing she's breaking the Rules. This girl deserves a normal life. She doesn't really get to "live" since she's always in hiding. Ariane decides that her little bit of freedom when it comes to Zane is worth it. As much as Ariane tries to avoid confrontation, it seems to follow her. There tends to be many people around when it hits the fan. Each time something happens, brings her former captors closer to finding her. And oh my wow the twist. There's one event that I did not see coming at all. I was heartbroken for Ariane, and wanted to comfort her any way possible.

Overall this is a fast paced read. You aren't bored, and want to know just how far Ariane is going to get without attracting attention. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here. (less)

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The Rules Discussion Thread SPOILERS	1	14	Feb 27, 2013 05:07am
This book deserves a movie!	2	7	Feb 26, 2013 05:29am

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The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1)

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