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Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R7: Team #5 ~ Five Flippin' Pages

My whole issue with dystopian is that it's YA heavy and I try and try but can't stand YA. I need to read just like a really good one that will change my mind. I read the Hunger Games Trilogy and loved it. I liked Twilight but couldn't make it very far into New Moon.
And this book I'm reading now has everything I hate about YA. I'll finish my rant in my review :)

Book: Darkness Falls
Rating: 2/5 stars
Review:
So, this book was a mess and it gets two stars because it wasn't a hot mess. There is a lot of potential here but it is very much unrealized. I will not continue this series.
The Good:
This is dystopian which is fun to read and see how an author envisions an effed up future. So in this case, our author has created a future where vampires are like zombies - rotting corpses that thirst for blood.
The Bad:
Nothing really happened in this book. It was completely and utterly world-building. I'm left with way more questions than answers but since I could care less about this series I'm more so left with a "huh?" feeling.
The Ugly:
A lot of false suspense. Page after page of: Do you trust me? I'll tell you if you come with me. I want to tell you but the time isn't right. If I tell you now, you won't understand. She asks a question and the answer is "you'll find out soon enough", "you'll see", "let's hope you never find out".
So overall I'm not satisfied with this read.

I haven't actually started my dystopian yet, got distracted by an audiobook Industrial Magic. Maybe if I'm lucky, it'll be on the dystopian shelf lol. This might be the first time I've started a series not from the beginning. I'm enjoying the narration a lot and don't feel lost at all. Have you guys noticed I tend to talk about non-bingo books more than bingo ones? Sorry. I'll start the other book and come back and talk about it too haha :)


Noughts & Crosses
Shelf: dystopian
Rating: 3/5 stars
Brief Review:
Finished this one last night and told my husband the ending. He said that I deserved to win a bingo spot just for reading the ending *laugh* My husband's weird.
This book was dystopian in that it focused on race relations and unfair treatment of a classification of people. It reminded me a lot of reading about the Civil Rights Momvement in the 1950s-1960s in history class with the desegregation of schools in the South. It did take place in a modern setting, and the race relations were switched from a historical perspective.
The author had many interesting substitutions for hateful terms that were very clever in my mind. For example, the noughts have no skin color and the derogatory term for them is BLANKERS. The crosses are seen as 'closer to god' in their superiority, and the derogatory term for them is DAGGERS.
It was a little weird at terms to see some British-isms thrown into the mix, but I believe the author is British.

Book: Nightfall
Rating: 4 stars

Review:
The cover made me think it was a bodice-ripper and the synopsis seemed more urban fantasy than dystopian. It's been on my shelf at home FOREVER.
I really liked this book. It basically chronicles the start of the Dark Age where all technology fails and horrible beasts hunt the survivors. We follow one of these groups of survivors as they try to survive the change and adapt to the new world.
This book is dark and gritty with very little levity but it never felt heavy and oppressive. There was some romance and some sex but not nearly as much as I imagined from the cover.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and being a fly on the wall in this world.
I'll be seeking the next two in the near future if nothing else to see what becomes of Penny and Tru.




Daughters of Terra
Shelf: aliens
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Brief Review:
Well, I was hoping that I would like this one as I have read other alien-adoption for purposes of fertility before, but I'm afraid that I found this one to be boring.
It was a ménage book and there was lots of sex in it, but it seemed that was the sole focus. Not that I mind erotica-sex themed books, but in this genre I have read *MUCH* better. As an example, I much preferred the kidnapping/breeding sci-fi book by Tymber Dalton, Acquainted with the Night. That one had enough plot that I was even moved to tears.


How is the Goldie Locks book? I got it as a freebie but it's lost in the pile with the rest of them.




It's been 8 days since we've heard from you. Is everything alright?


I've been there



Book:

Finished: July 15th
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: There is a little town called Hellip, which is part of King Ibis's empire. He is a cruel and hateful man. His time on the thrown seems endless.
In this town is a little girl, an orphan named Tucker. Who works as a bakers apprentice, she survives with the help of the other orphans and by stealing things from her work when the baker isn't looking. Her and her fellow orphans sometime pass the time telling stories, a popular one being about the missing daughter of the king and wondering what happened to her.
So dare you sing the rebels tune
For his daughters rising soon
We dare you sing the rebels tune
If his daughters rising soon.
One day while working a mysterious woman, Vivian leaves a gift for Tucker and from then on her life as she knew it to be changes.
I REALLY liked this book. There where moments that really didn't surprise me but then there where moments where I went wow this story is just great. I was a little disappointed with the ending, I won't lie I kind of wished there was more so now I will just have to sit and patently wait for book 2, twiddling my thumbs as I do so.
Dum de dum, is it out yet?
A wonderful debut novel by author Emory Sharplin. I have a feeling this will be a great young adult fantasy series.

Book: Extinction Point
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Review:
At first, this book kinda reminded of a story that I started writing for NaNoWriMo a few years ago. What happens when the entire earth’s population dies? Birds, bugs, dogs, people... One survivor, searching for others.
My story, never finished, is just sitting unused on a zip drive. And there are no aliens.
This one is better. We have the usual worries. Food, water, first aid, how long will the power last...
Our MC, is a reporter in NYC when the “blood rain” falls. The strange precipitation kills every sentient creature it comes in contact with. We don’t even see any aliens until after the halfway point, and then they aren’t what you expect. There is a lot of alone time for our character, and not much conversation, being as this is a global event.
I admit that its not perfect. Its self published so there are a few things that could certainly be polished by a good editor but there was nothing so wrong with it that I was ever drawn out of the story. I’m definitely interested in reading the next book.

Book: Claimed
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
Aliens are not my thing. Sexy aliens even less. It might have been this book. But really it was the heroine and her unhealthy codependent relationship that she shared with her sister which dominated the story and led her to fight against her attraction up until about 75% of the book. I hate story lines like that. I mean yeah okay fight it cause you are mad initially, and I mean if you really don't like the guy then okay fight with all your might. But don't be hot and cold. I can't stand wishy/washy characters. I mean she fought the relationship tooth and nail until the end. And the twin sister... she is really annoying. "She even cried from sad commercials" Really? REALLY? Grow a pair girl. Anyways, it was alright and I would consider reading the second book but not anytime soon.


I'll tear up here and there but this chick was on the verge of tears every time she was referenced. She got on my nerves.

Book: Claimed
Rating: 2 stars
Review:
Aliens are not my thing. Sexy aliens even less."
:/ Shame you didn't like it. At least you can remove it from the freebie TBR pile now

They are on my "automatic buy" list. I'm certain its not for everyone but I dig sexy alien warrior guys. :)
You know what they say, different strokes for different folks.


just saying

Book: Feral Sins
Rating: 5/5
Review (this is the one I just wrote on the book's page so excuse the length):
Oh my god... I'm not going to review with words... just gifs!
Taryn:

I loved Taryn. Her wit, her sarcasm, her fight for dominance without being a pain in the ass. She is now one of my favorite heroines. I think other than her interactions with Tray, she and Greta's diss tournaments have to be one of my favorite sets of banter of all time. "Seeing as how there was a man building an ark when you were alive" LOL. It was great!
Tray:

Whew LAWD HAVE MERCY ON MY SINFUL SOUL! Suzanne Wright knows how to write an Alpha. Not just any Alpha but an ALPHA. This man gave me impure thoughts! I mean this fictional character gave me some ideas. At some points, I had to pause the book and look around to see if I was projecting them. I was at work and hoping and praying that my headphones didn't come out by accident. Cause LAWD if they did...hmmmmm mmmmm mmmmm.

The story:
I love that so much of story was focused on the couple learning and being around one another and not overshadowed by the mystery/sub plots that were taking place. I would say 70% of this book focused on Taryn and Tray. I would also add that when we saw side characters, we received characters that added greatly to the story. Whether it was humor or tension, it was well done.
I'm buying the next in the series as soon as I press SAVE on this review. Damn good work Suzanne Wright. Damn good!

Hmmm... I have to travel for work this week, and I am not sure which book I'm going to pick yet.
I'm trying to decide between the audiobook for Second Grave on the Left, the ebook for The Gravedigger's Brawl, or my paperback for Burn (one of my favorite authors).
I've read and enjoyed books by all 3 of those authors, so I will just say that I will read one of those three and will surprise with my choice when I post my review :)




deleted scene
BTW, still haven't read either of the last two books. Sorry, been distracted by life.
Going to listen to




Getting into my dystopia and paranormals books. They should both be done later this week.

Book: Feral Sins
Rating: 5/5
Review (this is the one I just wrote on the book's page so excuse the length):
Oh my god... I'm not going to review with words... just gifs!
Taryn:..."
I love your review, btw. :D

Book: Feral Sins
Rating: 5/5
Review (this is the one I just wrote on the book's page so excuse the length):
Oh my god... I'm not going to rev..."
lol thanks!

Paranormal mix, free space, book boyfriends, and aliens! That's exciting :)


Date finished: 7/23
Rating: 2.5 stars
This book had so much promise. We're in a post-Cataclysm dystopian world where only the minority are able to read the written language, marriage is considered an archaic belief, and a rebel faction has decided to pull our MC Riana into the fight. Adding a supernatural element, there are "soul breathers" who are able to see into your thoughts and feelings with a touch.
I was intrigued and really interested in the first few chapters but my enthusiasm died down throughout the book. There was no background on why the world is the way it is, there are references to marriage being an outdated notion but no explanation. People don't learn to read or write anymore but there is an office of Readers to look at text for suspicious activities. Where is all this text coming from if people can't write?
There is a lot of romantic build-up between Riana and the Soul Breather, conversations about trust, knowing each other's true selves, self-sacrifice for each other but I didn't really buy in to the relationship. The multiple POVs didn't really work for me here.
Some of the side characters are fascinating and glimpses into their lives had me curious to read more, but overall, the book was just okay.

Paranormal mix, free space, book boyfriends, and aliens! That's exciting :)"
WHOO HOO!

5/5 - Stamp Requested
Danielle :
Vivian :
Flib :
Carrie :
Cristina :





Reviews for Dystopian found here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Tate Hallaway (other topics)Nalini Singh (other topics)
Kiersten White (other topics)
Jocelynn Drake (other topics)
Jennifer Estep (other topics)
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I have several of ya'lls selections on my TBR, and I seriously considered:
before I finally decided on: