Running is pretty much that epic novel that we would all like to read but have yet to find, only in this case I have found it. The journey across the...moreRunning is pretty much that epic novel that we would all like to read but have yet to find, only in this case I have found it. The journey across the what used to be the UK is pretty amazing (England, Scotland and Wales are classed as Europe now) and it never lets up. There's fights, spies, a few who-dunnits to puzzle through and a few OMG moments that will leave you a bit stunned.
The setting itself is incredible and there's enough conspiracy theory involving tracing and following to keep any conspiracy fan entertained and thoroughly freaked out. I have to admit, the idea of being able to be traced and governments having enough power to close off whole roads and cities, to be truly terrifying. What I also found scary was the bad-guys ability to track Hilary and Scott using a tiny pebble sized tracker without them realising. The fact that they were never safe just added a whole lot of tension to the mix.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing though was seeing America as the outcast country which is unusual in books. As someone who reads a lot of books by American authors I'm used to everything being set there, so it made a change to have the book set, not only in the UK, but to have the main character American, and living in UK, unable to return to a country being blamed for something it may or may not have done. The affects of this situation were far reaching and although as the reader I never got to see the situation in the states, it would have been fascinating to do so.
Needless to say for the most part the mystery is solved in the end and wow is it a twist. Nothing is what it first appears to be and that's what I like in a book and as for the actual ending, I honestly didn't see that little twist coming at all. There are a few loose ends, and I wouldn't mind a sequel of some sort just to see how things turn out. Fingers crossed!(less)
I read this a while ago, and it paints a rather negative view of the future, should we find a way to live forever. Lets face it, a lot of people find t...moreI read this a while ago, and it paints a rather negative view of the future, should we find a way to live forever. Lets face it, a lot of people find the subject of death rather daunting, and so it follows therefore that someone would invent a way to stop it, and this is the main premise of this book.
The way in which the 'Surplus' children are treated in diabolical to say the least and i'd like to think that things would never come to that. The idea behind the story is that if you choose not to have children then you can take the drug that stops you dying, indoing so you have to sign the decleration. Any parents that do have children whilst taking the longevity drug is arrested and the child locked up with the other surplus children.
Anna, the main character is one of these and at the beginning she believes all the lies she's been told, but her mind starts to change when a new boy turns up and starts telling her some rather frightening truths...
All in all this is a fantastic read which can be rather hauting at times if you seriously consider the consequences of a world where no one dies. The one message that is sent again and again (in different ways) is that people are not meant to be immortal, things do come to an end and that ultimately life will go on, it sounds very tacky, but really it isn't. This is a powerful and emotional read.(less)
Wow, this is going to be so difficult. There is so much i can say about this book, least of all that it swept me up into an emotional whirlwind and wo...moreWow, this is going to be so difficult. There is so much i can say about this book, least of all that it swept me up into an emotional whirlwind and wouldn't let me go. As usual though i'll start with a brief summary.
Mockingjay continues a little while after the end of Catching Fire. Katniss is still recovering both physically and emotionally from the fallout of the most recent games, her rescue from the arena and losing Peeta to the enemies forces. The rebels are now in open war with the districts and the only one left to convert is district two and then the plan to finally invade and destroy the capitol begins...
I have to admit this book is totally amazing but not in a happy way. Infact, if you can read this without feeling emotionally drained and like your heart has been wrenched out and twisted then your much stronger than i am. I was exhausted after reading this, there were so many twists and unexpected turns of events i was left stunned (and that's putting it mildly)
I haven't read about so many deaths in a single book before and i have to admit, Collins took some serious risks with this book, she is certainly not afraid to sacrifice main characters in this book, yet i have to admit that all of it was necessary, however, very heartbreaking. Just when i thought Katniss had endured enough hardship she gets put through hell another time and by the end i just wanted something good to happen to her. She loses so much and is left a completely different person by the end, changed by the atrocities she's witnessed.
The character development is profound in this and it was interesting to see some of the less seen characters in the other books develop and become somewhat stronger. Prim was a standout for me, i loved her growing maturity and selflessness and how she became someone for Katniss to lean on and talk to, rather than simply protect, although this all became bitterly twisted and ironic by the end of the book and i got the impression there relationship had come full circle.
The relationship Katniss has with Gale and Peeta takes it's twists and turns as well and i wasn't really surprised with who Katniss choses in the end, i really wasn't. She chose the person who would complete her and save her from herself ultimately, and it truly was a beautifully bittersweet conclusion.
Finally, i'll finish by saying that the final few chapters and epilogue had me in floods. Reading about Katniss coming to terms with everything, moving on and the events after the war is over were some of the most emotional events i have ever read about (The epilogue especially so two pages of tears for me). This is one of the most moving, meaningful and utterly compelling reads of this century. If you haven't read this trilogy yet then give it a try. Admittedly it won't be for everyone but whether you enjoy it or not, it really is unforgettable and will change how you view the world and how we treat one another.
Inside Out grabbed my attention on so many levels, not just because of the insanely unique storyline, but also because of the way it made me feel by r...moreInside Out grabbed my attention on so many levels, not just because of the insanely unique storyline, but also because of the way it made me feel by reading it. Now usually, i'll say a book made me feel happy, sad, or made me laugh, or something along those lines. In this case, the imagery and the events are so well written, i felt claustrophobic! Just the thought of being stuck in Inside had me shudder, mainly because i hate small spaces, but regardless of that this book is so descriptive I easily imagined the world Trella was living in and nothing could have prepared me for the revelations at the end.
Trella is a Scrub, one of many people living in the lower levels of inside and brought up to do manual labour, waste, cleaning and other such tasks. Like all the other scrubs, she does her job and keeps to herself, not caring much about anyone. Or at least she tries to, that is until a prophet claims to know how to get Outside and her friend Cogon gets her to listen to him. One small trip to prove the prophet wrong leads Trella into a dangerous series of events and starts a rebellion so huge it has the power to change Inside forever, as she tries to find a way to Outside.
If I had to pick only one thing to praise any of Maria's books it's the quality of world building and the characters. Very few authors can describe a world so well that you can almost imagine the rigid shape of Inside, the smell of the air and imagine the way in which the lower levels are treated like cattle. I could easily picture Trella climbing through pipes and ducts and I loved the sense of excitement and tension as the story progressed and she relied more and more on her hidey holes and escape routes, the feeling of being cornered and trapped a huge theme in this novel. And it wasn't just the themes and surroundings, it was the actual world. Sex is only for producing children, babies snatched from their parents, ridiculous punishments for silly mistakes and very cruel pop cops. To say i was left horrified in some instances was an understatement. Yet don't let that depress you, there is a lot of uplifting moments, friendships and loyalty throughout to balance out the more saddening parts of the novel.
As for the characters, the most amazing thing is that all of the characters in this book are flawed to some extent. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with perfect people, but since people aren't perfect I prefer characters to be at least a little flawed. Trella, despite being a wonderful hero makes mistakes and messes up frequently, yet this did not take away anything from her character. To me it was a wonderful reminder that those who make a big difference are often imperfect. It's a comforting thought. With regards to the other characters, I have to admit I have never seen such a varied and colourful cast as I have in this book. Whether it's the bad guys or the good guys, there's no doubt that a lot of thought went in to each and every one of them. Cogon was a personal favourite of mine and I loved his positive attitude and his willingness not to give up, he was a big force behind Trella whenever she nearly gave up, and more than often he sacrificed a lot to keep her safe, the ultimate mark of a true friend. The two Tech-No's Logan and Jade-Anne were wonderful as well and i absolutely loved there rebellion among the recycling, it takes re-using broken goods to a whole new level and some of the things they invented were completely awesome and really made me wish I could have them. Broken Man was a character that, at times, drove me nuts. He could be so helpful at times but at others just annoying and making stupid mistakes (such as hacking things before he's supposed to!) Ultimately though he was a great guy, even if he did make rather annoying demands at times (maybe I just have a problem with bossy people). My other favourite character was Riley. Confident, loving and open minded, he was definitely the Ying to Trella's Yang, and she would never have been able to do what she did without his help. And the romance between himself and Trella was beautifully written and utterly believable. And I will never think of sheep in the same way again, because whenever I do I think of Sheepy :-)
Overall I have to admit I loved this novel and I will most definitely be reading the sequel; Outside In. If I were to sum up this book in a five words I would describe it as exciting, inspirational, romantic, pulse-racing and utterly fantastic. Maria has once again written a truly amazing and awe inspiring work of fiction.(less)
Lauren Oliver's books have been on my to-read list for ages, but I had such a backlog that I had to let my younger sister read this first. I'm nice li...moreLauren Oliver's books have been on my to-read list for ages, but I had such a backlog that I had to let my younger sister read this first. I'm nice like that :-)
Lena is a 17-year-old girl living in Portland, America. She has an older sister, a best friend, a home and a family. The one major difference between her world and this one? She lives in a world where love is forbidden. Now only 95 days from the procedure that will make her to unable to love, she does the last thing she imagined she'd do, she falls in love.
One of the things I really really liked about this book was Lena herself. She was so refreshingly normal; she screamed, she cried, she raged, she felt and most importantly she loved and this made the book all the more human and believable. No one about to undergo such a traumatic procedure and to suffer what she suffered would just breeze through life. That's not how life works, and too many authors have fearless heroine's and it drives me nuts! Lauren is not guilty of this, simply put, she's a very clever and very emotional writer.
The story itself was really good for the most part and the world building was fantastic. It did slow down a little at times and I found myself sort of drifting a little, but this is a minor complaint, as with any first novel in a series there is quite a bit of description of both characters and back story. To me it was the concept itself that really dragged me in and I could feel the closed in feeling eminating from Lena, Alex and Hana. The relationship between Lena and Alex reminded me a little of Romeo and Juliet; the forbidden meetings and hiding how they felt, were very reminiscent of Shakespeare's tragedy. Other than that slight similarity in the relationship though, everything else is completely different, and very beautiful. I really felt for Lena, I couldn't help it, the frustration of having the people who should be closest to you treating you like an almost stranger must be incredibly painful and very difficult to deal with.
On a more personal basis, the idea of being devoid of love just seems empty to me, and this book really brought the concept home. No matter how much heartache I might suffer in my life, I would never wish to be without emotions, the idea wouldn't even compute in my brain, so to read this felt like experiencing a nightmare. Im slightly claustrophobic and this book really made me feel it, whether your trapped physically or emotionally, it is a devastating thing to feel.
Anyway, I'll stop my babbling and just say, this is an amazing novel with some truly frightening ideas, a beautiful love story, some thrilling action and a lesson in love that I will never forget. I can't wait for the next in the series.(less)
Steampunk meets Faerie! I never thought I'd see the day, so of course, I simply had to read this and it was amazing! To top it off, just look at the s...moreSteampunk meets Faerie! I never thought I'd see the day, so of course, I simply had to read this and it was amazing! To top it off, just look at the stunning cover, I mean really look at it, it's beautiful! Anyway, moving on to my thoughts...
It's been a while since I got so completely lost in a complex and beautifully built world and though at times Lovecraft and the other places in this novel were pretty freaky, I still had the bizarre desire to explore this incredible fictional city and that amazing Grayson mansion.
The idea of the Necrovirus was truly terrifying, not knowing on a day to day basis if you're going to wake up crazy is something no one would like to face, especially if all the evidence tells you that eventually you will. As for the ghouls and other creepy things, I would not like to go out walking after dark in this world as it just sounds too terrifying to contemplate. Even the Fae in this book are darker and scarier than in anything else I've read and I wanted to punch a certain Fae character in the face multiple times, and though I spent a portion of the book silently yelling at Aoife (pronounced Ee-fah, for those who are wondering. I looked it up, it's an old Gaelic name by origin) not to do certain things, I have to admit that girl has guts when dealing with the Fae.
This book isn't short on romance either and lets just say the love interest is one amazing guy. He isn't some over the top 'I can't live without you' sort, but his and Aoifa's relationship is genuine, develops slowly, is a bit funny and is pretty heart-warming and wow, is he a bit of an enigma. The ending took me by surprise and I don't just mean the literal ending, I mean several events leading up to it too including some pretty shocking revelations and a bit of a cliffhanger finish that has made me really want to read the next book. It should be arriving soon in the post, and my wait will be over! Awesome.(less)
After waiting quite a while, Outside In finally appeared in the UK bookstores so I snatched it while I could. Was it as good as it's prequel? NO! It w...moreAfter waiting quite a while, Outside In finally appeared in the UK bookstores so I snatched it while I could. Was it as good as it's prequel? NO! It was much BETTER!!! I don't know what it was, but despite the fact the first book was very tense, this was even more so. There were so many twists and turns and accusations thrown around by the characters that I didn't know which way to look next!
Outside In is set a little while after Inside Out. Trella is part of a committee along with several others, but Inside is still restless and a lot of the citizens still see themselves as uppers and scrubs. As unexplained incidents continue to happen, and Trella gets caught up in the middle of it all, it soon becomes clear that there is an outside force at work, and they want to come in.
I loved the tension in this book and it kept me so strung out that I couldn't put it down and with so many different things happening I found it impossible to judge what was happening next, who was causing what problem and who were the good guys and bad guys. At one point I even thought Riley might have been up to something! Maria's writing ability is second to none and she is an incredible story teller. So few authors have had me so all over the place when reading a novel and yet I still had no desire to flick to the back and find out the what happened in the end. In some books this may have been a bad move and have caused a loss of interest, but in 'Outside In' it just creates more tension and pulls you deeper into the story. I lost count of how many times I guessed wrongly who was behind the sabotage (much to my annoyance because I love to guess right!)
The characters stayed very true to form in this novel, but having said that there was still some development. I got to see Trella making changes, bad guys doing good things and apparent good guys being bad guys (I won't say who since I pride myself on being spoiler free!) I also managed to go from hating Dr Lamont to loving her which is odd for me; I'm a pretty stubborn person and to do a complete opinion change on a character take a lot of persuasion, but having said that, she does redeem herself pretty well. Trella and Riley also face challenges and I found it fascinating to watch how they both changed by the end of the novel, both for the better and I'd definitely consider the ending amazing. Whether it's happy or not, well I'll leave that for you to decide, but I loved it.
If you like science-fiction, romance, exploring tunnels, being sneaky and a great thrill-ride of a novel then give this a go, but make sure you read 'Inside Out' first or it won't make sense!(less)
OMG, this book had me laughing, crying and a bit inbetween, but a lot of the time I was just terrified and utterly fascinated by the world that Miss D...moreOMG, this book had me laughing, crying and a bit inbetween, but a lot of the time I was just terrified and utterly fascinated by the world that Miss DeStefano has created, and it isn't one I would personally like to live in. Some people who have already read this may disagree with me, but I think I value my freedom too highly.
Set in a world where genetic engineering has gone wrong, in which men only live to aged 25 and women to aged 20 before they die of a horrible virus. Terrified that the human race will die out, young girls are taken as brides or are kidnapped for the sole purpose of marriage and children. Rhine is 16 when she is kidnapped and married to a wealthy man named Linden and although he treats her kindly she longs to be free to find her brother; Rowan. Can she really escape the mansion that has become her prison and be with the servant Gabriel, who she has feelings for before time runs out?
As I've previously mentioned, I had so many mixed emotions about this book and I remember clearly in one chapter that begins with: 'Jenna was right...' I was in floods of tears (though I won't post spoilers by saying why!) In contrast, some instances left me laughing, including the fact that of all the things an 18 year old girl would ask for, she asks for a trampoline...awesome. On a more serious note, I found the setting of the novel to be very claustrophobic and I really felt for Rhine (who at one point wasn't even allowed a window open). I could never live in a house where I wasn't allowed to walk where I wanted, choose what I wanted to wear or even breath in the night air through an open window.
I've read a lot of reviews about this book and a few people have said that they would be content with the pampered lifestyle. After reading this, I can safely say I wouldn't be, in fact, I think I'd go crazy and fling myself through the closed window and onto the previously mentioned trampoline :-) I totally empathise with Rhine and throughout the novel I was routing for her to escape both Linden and his father (who I hate by the way). I think the other thing that creeped me out was the 'experiments' carried out by Linden's father. I still don't know exactly what these entail and part of me is dreading the day I find out, although maybe the truth isn't as bad as my imagination.
Relationship wise, I loved the bond that Rhine slowly developed with her Sister Wives and the sense of kinship was rather wonderful towards the rear end of the novel. To me though, I saw them only as sisters rather than sister wives, simply because of how close they were. Jenna was probably my favourite simply because of how matter of fact she was and yet she was still there for Rhine when she needed her. Cecily, on the other hand, is a prime example of why 13-year-old's are too young for marriage and children and I shall say no more in-case I spoil something. The relationship between Rhine and Linden was a bit strange, but I still liked it to a certain extent, but not as much as her relationship with Gabriel. I did like the forbidden love aspect between Gabriel and Rhine and how they were willing risk so much for freedom and to be together; being a romantic, I loved how their story developed.
I could go on forever, but if I do I know I will end up posting spoilers so I'm going to stop there. This is an emotive, thought provoking and slightly terrifying novel that will, at times, chill you to the core and yet at other times really warm your heart. (less)
First of all I'd like to thank Heidi for allowing me to review her book for her and for asking me to do an honest review :-) I'll start, as usual, by g...moreFirst of all I'd like to thank Heidi for allowing me to review her book for her and for asking me to do an honest review :-) I'll start, as usual, by giving a brief synopsis of the general story: Sara Mendoza lives in a world where feelings and especially love is seen as an emotional fallacy and people are encouraged to have multiple partners in order to have more children. Infertility is seen as the ultimate shame, a caste system rules everyone and those who can't bear children are often encouraged to commit 'honorable suicide'. Having grown up with these beliefs Sara knows no different until she is captured and tortured and ends up caught up in events that she never could have imagined happening.
I was a bit torn about this novel and there are a few reasons why, so bear with me while I explain my reasoning for my rating. First of all I will say that the world building and the sheer imagination that went into this is incredible. It's been a long time since I've read about such a vastly detailed and completely different world in a sci-fi novel and I was fascinated by it. However, I felt there were a lot of new terms and ideas used in a short space of time and I felt slightly overwhelmed and a bit lost whilst reading it. I'm aware that other readers did not have this problem though, so I guess that this is more down to the individual reading it.
Secondly, because of the sheer amount of new terms, places and concepts, I found a little difficult to follow the plot at times, especially with some of the chapters jumping to a different place and focusing on a different character. It would make me stop and have to think about what had just happened and what was now happening. Having said this, it was different reading about so many unique places, people and ideas and I found myself torn between wonder and outrage at some of the things that happen throughout the novel.
Some of the concepts for example, having multiple partners, I found really weird and I don't think I could live in a world like that, I mean I'd get insanely jealous if my partner had another 3 wives. But that's what is done well in this book, because you can tell that to most of the characters this is perfectly normal and for a lot of people there are no emotions involved in that sense.
The characters themselves are incredibly vivid though my opinion on them is once again divided as I found that I'd meet a character and not see them for a while despite having learned quite a bit about them and this threw me off a little bit or a character would be mentioned lots then hardly seen. On the other hand, the attention to character detail is fantastic and I feel like I know Sara and Sean like best friends because of how descriptive Miller is in this book. I loved Sean and Sara, they were fantastic and one of the best duo's I've read about in a while, although I flinched at some of the things they both had to go through and felt myself disgusted at what happens to Sara part way through the novel. As for the bad guys? Well I'm not going to spoil anything so I will just say that they're very evil and I was hard pressed to decide who I hated more; Faya or Simon as both gave new definition to the term 'bad guy' in so many different ways.
I will summarise by saying that although I had a few issues with a few areas this is a great example of sci-fi that will give anyone's imagination a run for their money. The writing quality is brilliant, characters are vivid and if you're looking for a bit of sci-fi escapism, yet still with a hint of realism and a healthy dose of romance, then most definitely give this book a read. (less)
This is the third in the Numbers series and yet this installment is as original and as enthralling as the other two! I have tried several times to rig...moreThis is the third in the Numbers series and yet this installment is as original and as enthralling as the other two! I have tried several times to right my own synopsis but I keep failing to sum it up so for once I'm going to use the synopsis on Goodreads to avoid any spoilers:
"Post-Chaos 2029. Adam, Sarah and Mia are living together, struggling with the fame of seeing numbers - the dates when people will die. But something is about to tear them apart. During The Chaos Mia swapped her number for another. Suddenly her powerful new ability makes her a terrifying target. Everyone wants to live for ever."
So that's the story in a nutshell but there is so much more to it than that and it's going to be difficult to review without spoiling anything. It almost makes me wish I could go back to the days when I did post spoilers and put a warning on the post, but I don't want to do that with this because I think everyone should be able to read this. So...what can I tell you? Two years have passed since The Chaos and things in the UK still haven't picked up, most of the cities have emptied and civilians are living in tents in the country and some people are law unto themselves and I found this terrifying especially considering what then happens to Mia, Sarah and Adam and what they go through in this book.
As with the other books I was stunned the issues that Miss Ward manages to tackle in here while still being sensitive. In the last book we saw Child abuse and rape among other things. In this we see some truly horrifying and sensitive topics handled very carefully and yet in such a way that they are still able to shock and stun the reader without being overbearing. For some people these issues may be too hard to handle, but for me it highlighted some seriously twisted aspects of human nature that are more common than most of us would care to admit or see even when faced with them. You may be reading this thinking: 'Why would I read this?' Simply because this is a fantastic story and in the end this is a story of Good Vs Evil and despite the horrifying and gut wrenching parts you will feel so warmed by the ending.
If I were to generalise this novel I would say it's a thriller set in a dystopian world, but in fairness there is much more to this than meets the eye. This isn't just a thriller, it's a story of desperation, human nature, survival but also love, hope and family something that becomes all the more important in the world in which this is set. The characters are fantastic, especially Adam, Mia and Sarah and we see some new ones too (not all of which are good) including Saul, Daniel and a rather irritating and evil man named Newsome and they all play their parts in the events that occur.
All in all this is a powerful and emotive read which will have your heart racing at a ridiculous speed. It has an amazing ending, one death scene you will never forget and a heart wrenching twist that will shock you to the core. Amazing novel and full marks! (less)
I wasn't sure what to think of this at first and since I don't have as much time now, all my reviews will be pretty short. But I don't think I need a...moreI wasn't sure what to think of this at first and since I don't have as much time now, all my reviews will be pretty short. But I don't think I need a lot of words for this to be honest.
Sitting here nearly two months later I honestly can't say I remember much of what happened. So anyone reading this needn't fear the wrath of spoilers. Honestly, If I remember correctly there was one major revelation and then nothing and I felt like I was reading a lot of stuff that I found irrelevant.
I'm really sorry to sum this book up into one word, because god I loved Matched, but I found this book, well, boring. It wasn't all doom and gloom and the writing was well done and the characters portrayed brilliantly but it lacked a lot of depth, action and development of plot.
Will I read Reached? Of course I will. I have high hopes for it and I really want to know how this trilogy ends so yes I'm hoping really badly that Miss Condie can pull off an epic third book.(less)
I loved this book though it was with a sad heart that I said goodbye to a much loved series. I first started reading the Inheritance Cycle when it was...moreI loved this book though it was with a sad heart that I said goodbye to a much loved series. I first started reading the Inheritance Cycle when it was originally going to be a trilogy and it was well over five years ago I first picked up Eragon while looking for something new to read. Like the other books in the series, this is not a light read and at 860 pages this is the longest in the series by far and there is a lot of description to read through in-between the events. I personally think it could have been cut down a little and it wouldn't have suffered, but this is just Paolini's style (a bit like JRR Tolkein's) and it doesn't detract from the reading enjoyment.
All the loose ends are pretty much tied up in this and although I personally found the ending bitter sweet, I have to admit it was an incredible ending. All the favourite characters are back and in my opinion Eragon and Saphira are even better than ever in this instalment, especially considering what they've been through. There are twists and turns throughout the novel and I was very impressed with the plot and the way it all came together in the end. Was Galbatorix defeated? I won't spoil that for you, but what I will say is to expect the unexpected. This is a heart-wrenching adventure with imaginative scope so wide I'm still wondering how Mr Paolini thought of it all. This is easily one of the most epic books of 2011.(less)
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