SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R7: Team #12 ~ Naughty Nooners
I'm going to change my dystopian book to
, I've already finished reading it and I'll have my review up soon.
JD Robb is dystopian?? o_OI'll update the changes when I get home tonight.
As for my status -- should finish Darker than Midnight today. The review for Embrace the Night Eternal is still waiting for me to finish it. Haven't had the energy to work on it. Friday is my furlough day. lf I don't get to it before then, I'll work on both reveiws on Friday.
I read a few pages of Nalini Singh's Nocturne, Lord of the Abyss. It's for another challenge and I'm torn. I want to jump right in, but I also want to hold off until the shelf is called, just in case. :-|
Correction --- DEEPER than Midnight. Chase's book is DARKER. I keep mixing them up.
Christina (AKA Babbling) wrote: "JD Robb is dystopian?? o_OI'll update the changes when I get home tonight.
As for my status -- should finish Darker than Midnight today. The review for Embrace the Night Eternal is still waitin..."
I was surprised as well Christina but there's quite a few of her in death books on there. On another note I finally got my copy of Heart of Obsidian, I was hoping to hold off until the next shelf gets called but I just couldn't wait and finished reading it today and I absolutely loved it.
That's always hard, Christina. Maybe hold off if it's on a bunch of the bingo shelves, if not, I say go for it and enjoy. :)My review is coming up. I hope to work on it & post today.
Gravity by Melissa West
Series: The Taking #1
Shelf: Aliens
Read: 16 July
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
Gravity grabbed me from the start and wouldn't let go. I read this baby in one sitting.
The year is 2133 ...
❉ A human and alien treaty is in place
From that moment on {the signing of the treaty}, we were no longer just human beings - we were hosts. We provide them with antibodies through the Taking so they can survive on Earth, which is the only reason we're alive. Had their bodies responded to Earth as they had hoped, we would all be gone. Genocide of the human species. Instead, they needed us - and we needed them. Our planet was destroyed, and they alone possessed the ability to terraform Earth back to health.❉ At age 10, children are given their Patch and told about the Taking
{Because of the patch} ... our bodies don't feel the Ancients receiving our antibodies ... our daily supplements guarantee we have plenty ... our assigned Ancient will come into our room at midnight ... the Ancient will Take for thirty minutes before returning to Loge, their planet ...When we first meet Ari Alexander, she's 10 and about to receive her patch. After we learn a little about the Patch, the Taking and the events following World War IV, the story jumps ahead seven years. Ari is peering out of her window, in hopes of spotting her Ancient (alien), when she realizes her Patch is missing. Fearing punishment, execution or a dose of a 24-hr memory serum, she does everything she can to prepare herself for her patchless Taking. What happens next makes Ari question everything she's been taught and believed about the world she lives in.
Other than what felt like an overuse of the word composite throughout the book, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was hard, at first, to remember that these kids are growing up in a world where certain things are taken as a given and not to be questioned. Later, when they finally did begin to question things, we really get to know more about what's going on behind the scenes and the intensity of the story picks up. Ari has a big decision to make - continue on and do what she's always been told is right or trust her instincts and do what she knows is right?
Some readers may be turned off by the insta-love factor, but I was not. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and, for me, their relationships felt real and understandable considering the world they live in.
It's like gravity disappears when he's around and I'm lost, no longer sure of anything.Certain realizations will be clear to the reader before they become clear to Ari, but not unrealistically so. She is a strong, fierce and courageous. I am glad that I waited to read this book because I have little time to wait for the next book, Hover due out in Aug, which takes us Loge.
It's as though chaos and perfection slammed into each other and he's the result.
Steph wrote: "That's always hard, Christina. Maybe hold off if it's on a bunch of the bingo shelves, if not, I say go for it and enjoy. :)"~ At first I thought, nah...probably not on that many shelves.
Well, I checked. Shifters, wishlist, vampires, urban fantasy, supernatural, keepers, speculative fiction, and time travel. Add the Reader's Choice option. A "-1 person" shelved it on maybe; and it's on a shelf called "ghosts-and-spirits", which I wasn't sure if that was the correct shelf for the card.
I'll probably end up reading it. I'll need something to read between now and the next shelf announcement. I'd have to choose something else if I don't. :D
Nikita wrote: "I was surprised as well Christina but there's quite a few of her in death books on there. On another note I finally got my copy of Heart of Obsidian, I was hoping to hold off until the next shelf gets called but I just couldn't wait and finished reading it today and I absolutely loved it. ..."
~ :D Glad you enjoy HoO. It was a good book. Looking forward to the next one.
Kari wrote: "Ok Christina - Finally figured out my Strong Heroines book. I'm reading The Immortal Rules right now. I'm more than halfway done so it should go quick. I will also be reading The Selection for my ..."
~ Got it. :)
I finished my Strong Heroines book. Book: The Immortal Rules
Rated: 4 stars
Review:
I like Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series which is what drew me to the Immortal Rules in the first place.
Allie is an Orphan living in the fringe of a vampire city trying to scrape a living as an UnRegistered citizen. This means she avoided having to go in and donate blood to the vampire rulers on a regular basis, but was then ineligible to receive food from them. Life was tough but she gathered a group of scavengers that she helped keep alive. One day while the group was out scavenging, they are attacked by a group of rabids and Allie's life is changed forever. She enters the world of the vampires and must learn the ins and outs of society fast. Eventually things go bad and the vampires come for her, so she goes on the run. She joins up with a group of humans traveling through the forest towards a legendary safe haven, Eden. Along the way she must keep her emotions and her fangs away from the humans so she doesn't become to attached to a potential food source. Unfortunately, Zeke, the local eye candy her age, makes that extremely difficult.
Overall I did like this book. Considering the plethora of vampire books out there I was not expecting much innovation towards the genre. While a lot of the stuff Allie struggled with was typical for this age (fighting the "demon" to retain humanity) I did like the added dystopian feel the book had with the plague and rabids. It had a very Forest of Hands and Teeth feel due to the added danger of the rabids that could attack at any time in the forest. In the end, this book was good and I will continue to read the series however it isn't earth shattering in terms of what it contributes to an already vampire saturated young adult field.
:) Hope you enjoy it, Christina. Yay, Kari! Good review. I love that series and cannot wait for the final book!
Kari you review makes me want to read the book.
STAMP REQUESTWEEK 3 - B5: Strong Heroines - STAMPED - TBD
✔ StephB - Outpost - ★★★★ - Review
✔ Jackie M - Storm - ★★★ - Review
✔ Nikita - Twice Tempted - ★★★★ - Review
✔ Christina - Primal Bonds - ★★★ - Review
✔ Kari - The Immortal Rules - ★★★★ - Review
Shelf: Dystopian
by J.D. RobbFinished: 14 July 2013
Rating:★★★★
Review:
Vengeance in death is the sixth book in the series and this time we have a serial killer who is targeting people who Roarke once knew when he lived in Ireland. It was nice to learn a bit more about Roarke and where he came from. There was also a scene with Roarke and a little boy where Roarke buys him food and finds him a loving family to be adopted that I loved and shows that he would be a great father.
I usually get the in death books in audio but I ended up reading this one. I have to say I enjoy the series much more on audio even though it does take longer to get through.
G17: Dystopian - Embrace the Night Eternal - ★★★★ - 13 Jul 13
The Envy Chronicles is another of those series I started and never got around to continuing.
The series is about a group of men who were spelunking (cave-exploring), along with their guides, when something strange happened. Though they didn't know it at the time, they emerged fifty years later -- along with another man who had been hiding in the caves. Natural disasters and other strange occurrences has changed the world and several of the men (if not all) have gain special talents. The second book is about Simon Japp, the man who chose to hide in the caves on that fateful June day.
In 2010, Simon was running from his boss, a mobster named Mancusi. Simon was his bodyguard and the person Mancusi trusted to "take care of things" when needed. Simon no longer wanted that life. Unfortunately, it's not a life you can just walk away from. But all that is in the past. Simon is taking this miraculous chance to start fresh. He uses his old skills, and new talent, to protect his friends and the citizens of Envy from the zombie-like creatures and the Strangers when needed. But Simon doesn't want to become that man again, so he's careful was well. Even so, he doesn't believe he is worthy of someone like Sage Corrigan.
Sage Corrigan came to Envy years ago as a child. She's smart, pretty, a bit absent-mined, and a klutz. She's also shy and spends much of her time underground in a secret computer lab. Sage is the protege of the Waxnicki brothers -- Lou and Theo -- Envy's resident computer gurus. Lou and Theo have cobbled together a static version of the Internet. The information, compiled from the hard drives and caches of personal computers and major servers, can be searched by a program they dubbed "Yahoogle". Her work on this project and the help she provides Theo in setting up his "network access points" makes her Envy's only "techie" born post-Change.
Simon is drawn to her, despite the fact he believes she'd run from him if she knew the truth of his past. To make things even more complicated for him, Simon realizes something she doesn't: Theo is in love with her.
A tip concerning the mysterious Remington Truth leads them to Falling Creek, the settlement where Sage came from. Theo sees it as a chance to also set up one of his access points, but Lou nixes his plans for going with Sage. Simon ends up accompanying her, posing as her husband. Sage learns more about Remington Truth, including where to look for him next, and Simon discovers more about the Strangers from the one who "protects" Falling Creek.
Comment: I've enjoyed, so far, the post-apocalyptic world the author has created. It's not as bleak as other series. The over-arching plot is to discover the who, how, why of the Change and how the mysterious Remington Truth fits into the whole thing.
There were some nitpicks. One is tied to the world building. Envy has electricity, which is fine because it is explained. Having it allows Theo and Lou to power their computers and have the ability to work on re-establishing technology. . .including the ability to print off pictures of Remington Truth so Sage can show them to people. And that made me wonder. . .where did she get the paper and ink from? I'm guessing Theo and Lou must have stock piled those supplies over the years, and keep them safe and dry as possible.
The other is a plot point. I questioned Theo's belief that Falling Creek would make a good place for an access point. Falling Creek has a computer -- they maintain their breeding program records on it. However, Sage goes there undercover, with no intention of telling them about the access point. If the purpose of a network is to establish a means of communicating with other communities, why set up a access point in a location where you don't intend to tell anyone about it? If it's just to boost the signal and be a relay point, what would happen if it was discovered or stopped working for some reason? It's hidden and someone would have to sneak into the community to fix it.
I am looking forward to the next book. Quent and Zoe have been attracted to each other, and been acting on it, since the first book. I like the fact that there has been build up for this relationship.
Dystopian novel done! I couldn't put it down. Book:
Rated: 4 Stars
Review: Cinderella meets Next Top Model meets Hunger Games. That's kind of what this book ended up being for me.
America Singer is a young girl living as a middle class citizen in a future dystopian version of the United States. From our current country there were 2 more world wars and invasions from both China and Russia that broke the United States. Now it is a country called Illea that is broken up into 35 provinces, and each provinces has a caste system in place to keep it's citizens in line. Castes are numbered from 1 to 8, and the lower your number, the higher you are in the social hierarchy. America is a 5, which means she is an artist. She sings and plays music for 2s and 3s. The local government is a monarchy, and the Prince must meet several girls in the kingdom (not all like Cinderella) to pick his future bride. One girl from each province is picked to go to his palace and participate in a courting scheme that lets him get to know each girl and find his potential mate. America is picked to represent her province and heads to the palace to participate in the most ruthless debutante-like pageant the realm has. The girls alternate between putting themselves on show, bonding with each other in a stressful situation, and taking each other down to try to secure the crown for themselves. Through all this America must try to retain both her sense of self and her heart as she pines for Aspen, her love back home, and wrestles with feelings for a Prince that is not quite what she expected, while keeping safe from groups of rebels who attack the palace regularly in unrest.
I had a feeling from chapter one of this book that it would turn into a love triangle. I seriously considered putting this book down right then and there because I really detest love triangles. I think they are the most over-used plot device in young adult literature. However the writing in this story drew me in so I continued on reading. I actually finished it in a very short amount of time because I did enjoy the story. The beginning of the book made me pretty sad because the love Aspen and America shared was tainted by them being in different castes. America is higher than Aspen so she would be looked down upon for marrying down. It all just seemed so very hopeless. Aspen's disengagement that leads her to enter her name into the Selection made sense to me.
Once America was selected and taken to the palace everything reminded me very much of those reality shows on TV like America's Next Top Model or all the chef cooking shows that eliminate people. I'm sure that was an inspiration for writing this book. I had expected a lot of back stabbing and drama from the girls and I was surprised that America was able to make friends and develop relationships that were significant with some of the less catty girls. Of course there were also just the ruthless crown hunters who were out to take everyone else down. We couldn't do without a little drama.
The love triangle is a little annoying at the end, but at least I can understand why the guys in this book are fighting over America. She is pretty, but also real. She seems like the kind of girl that a lot of decent men would really like because she is honest and down to earth. The kind of girl who would be awesome to hang out with, not just some nobody who isn't special at all that all these guys suddenly take unwarranted interest in. It's refreshing to have a heroine that I could legitimately see the male interest in. I am looking forward to starting the next book!
Jackie M wrote: "Kari you review makes me want to read the book."I just got the 2nd book in the series, I'm hoping it is just as good! I will keep you updated. I really like Julie Kagawa's writing so far I'm definitely keeping an eye on her stuff :)
Yay, Team!! :DSTAMP REQUEST
WEEK 6 - G17: Dystopian - STAMPED - TBD
✔ StephB - Taking on the Dead - ★★★ - Review
✔ Jackie M - Hollowland - ★★★ - Review
✔ Nikita - Vengeance in Death - ★★★★ - Review
✔ Christina - Embrace the Night Eternal - ★★★★ - Review
✔ Kari - The Selection - ★★★★ - Review
I7: Aliens - Deeper Than Midnight - ★★★★ - 17 Jul 13
This is going to be short and sweet.
Even though this was Corrine and Hunter's book, it was also about Chase, setting the stage for his story and bringing us closer to the end of the Dragos story arc. I'm looking forward to his demise.
I've enjoyed this series very much and I'm glad I'm almost caught up.
Great work, team!! :D Other than the remaining reviews for the Aliens shelf, we only need Nikita's review of her Angel & Demons book in order to request that stamp.Next week, I will not be home and I'm not sure what type of computer access I'll have, so if the reviews are posted, will someone please request the stamp(s)?
I don't leave until Sunday, so I will be able to post the next shelf. Hopefully, it's one that doesn't give anyone a potential 5 in a row.
I really excited about this trip. I'm going to Fort Benning, Georgia to be inducted as an honorary member of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Just in case you don't know who or what they are -- or a little fuzzy about it -- here are a few books -- because this is, after all, a website about books ;)
Also, Medal of Honor recipient SFC Leroy Petry
So, how did this come about? Well, I've been the Ranger assignment manager since 2004 (Note to Steph -- the Marines would call me an assignment monitor and the Navy would call me a detailer). Basically, I put Soldiers on assignment. It's an all-volunteer unit, so these Soldiers WANT to be there. I love my job! I would have moved on years ago, if I didn't -- because as much as I love them, they do drive me nuts. It's like dealing with crazy (yet lovable) family members. And because of this dedication, they nominated me. :D
Congrats Christina!! That's awesome :) have a great trip and we will try to hold ourselves together until our fearless leader returns
Kari wrote: "Congrats Christina!! That's awesome :) have a great trip and we will try to hold ourselves together until our fearless leader returns"Thanks! :D
I'll be checking in on my phone.
New shelf is up....
Christina (AKA Babbling) wrote: "Great work, team!! :D Other than the remaining reviews for the Aliens shelf, we only need Nikita's review of her Angel & Demons book in order to request that stamp.Next week, I will not be home ..."
Congratulations Christina!! and have a fun trip.
New ShelfThis week is a little different.
Paranormal Mix
OR
Paranormals
Per Judithe, on the announcement thread:
"Revised figures: 7 pages; 323 books
As you can see, the actual shelf is much smaller than it originally appears, so we have a second shelf for you as well. A book from either of these shelves can be used for the 'paranormal mix' shelf!"
StephB
Jackie M - Pretty When She Kills
Nikita - Storm's Heart
Christina - Archangel's Kiss
Kari - The Darkest Whisper
Congrats Christina!!! That's totally OTT!!!!!Have a great time ;)
Nikita wrote: "Congratulations Christina!! and have a fun trip...."Thank you! :D
Nikita wrote: "I'll be reading
"I hope you enjoy it! I really liked Tricks and Tiago. :D
Sandra wrote: "Congrats Christina!!! That's totally OTT!!!!!Have a great time ;)"
Thanks! My parents are coming down from Virginia for the ceremony. I haven't seen them since 2011 (I think -- time is flying by).
That's fantastic, Christina!!! Almost better than being a Ranger. LOL.
Congrats Christina! I will be reading
I will probably read
. That's not totally set in stone yet though, I'm kind of dying to read the sequels to The Selection and Immortal Rules... so I'm trying to balance reading something else and just giving in to my impulses while working like crazy before vacation next weekend. :/ life is rough haha
Jackie M wrote: "Congrats Christina! "Thanks! :)
--------------
I still need to read a Nalini Singh book for the Feature Author Challenge over at RRR, so I'm going to read
Kari wrote: "I will probably read . That's not totally set in stone yet though, I'm kind of dying to read the sequels to The Selection and Immortal Rules... so I'm trying..."I'll add it, for now. :)
Great reviews, ladies! I'll get our stamps done tomorrow when I'm back on my computer. Yay team!!WTG, Christina! That is wicked cool! Congratulations! Have a safe trip and a wonderful time.
I'm reading DEAD SPOTS for this week's shelf.
I am done with my aliens book, but as usual my kids have taken over the computer so I'll post my review tomorrow.
Yay, Jackie! I'm really enjoying my book for this week's shelf. Instead of just being immune to magic, like some other nulls I've read, Scarlett affects supernaturals differently - Vampires regain their humanity; Shifters turn human and their wolf is calmed. Very cool. :)
CONGRATULATIONS, Naughty Nooners!We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'strong heroines' and 'dystopian'.
[Our updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Woohoo!! :D
Congrats Nooners!
Thanks! :) WTG, Team!I finished
and will post my review soon. Hope everyone's enjoying their reads!
Ceremony was awesome. Regiment will probably post pictures on their Facebook page. Haven't read much since I got here.
Yay!!!!! You'll have to post a link Christina ;)
Yay! Congrats! :D
Christina (AKA Babbling) wrote: "Ceremony was awesome. Regiment will probably post pictures on their Facebook page. Haven't read much since I got here."Yay Christina! Would love to see pictures of the ceremony.
Definitely! Pictures :D
Dead Spots by Melissa F. Olson
Series: Scarlett Bernard #1
Shelf: Paranormal Mix
Read: 23 July
Rating: 4 stars
Review:
With Dead Spots, Melissa has created a closed world where supernaturals, those with Old World magic (vampires, werewolves and witches), do what they can to keep their existence hidden from humans. LA is one of the rare cities where the Old World creatures share territory more or less in peace ... where Dashiell, cardinal vampire, is in charge. But, the weres take care of their own while the witches do the same. Dash takes charge if/when things overlap.
Scarlett Bernard is a null - a "dead spot in the supernatural world". If any supernatural enters her "little circle of peace", which ranges about ten feet around her, "... they lose whatever was supernatural about them." Most of the wolves don't mind because when they're around her, their wolf calms and they are at peace. The vampires are another matter. They regain their humanity around Scarlett; they must breathe and they can be harmed. So, it makes sense that not all of them would willingly enter her field. She keeps her distance, whenever possible, to be respectful of this. There is one vampire, however, Molly who was turned young and wishes to age. She spends as much time as possible with Scarlett and enjoys being human while she can.
As a null, Scarlett works for Dash, Will (the werewolf leader) and Kirsten (the witch leader) as a cleaner. She cleans sites of supernatural traces before the police become involved. At least, that's the plan. But, in the case of this particular crime scene, Scarlett arrives too late and is spotted by Officer Jesse Cruz before she can do any cleaning. Thankfully, for Scarlett, a werewolf bounds into her field and is instantly returned to his human form, which shocks Jesse long enough for her to get away.
It doesn't take him much time to track her down and start asking questions. Scarlett, given permission to read him in on Old World issues, does what she can to help him understand what happened. He's struggling with her job and the consequences of knowing about the supernatural. He wants justice, human justice, for the crime that has been committed, but he quickly learns that may not be possible.
"We sort of have our own justice system. And in the system, everyone can tell if you're lying, and smell where you've been, or do a spell that recreates the whole scene. Physical evidence just isn't important. For that, the only thing that matters is getting rid of it before it draws attention in your {human} world."I really enjoyed Dead Spots . Melissa has done a fantastic job on her debut and I look forward to reading more about Scarlett and gang. It's clear that Scarlett has a lot to learn about a null's abilities. I look forward to learning along with her.
The only downside for me ... a budding love triangle, which I dread. Especially when, much like these three, I like all of the characters involved.
I'm in a cab on my way home from th airport. I' ll post the link soon.
This is the group photo from the induction ceremony and it's the only photo from that event that is (currently) on their FB page.My mother did NOT take any pictures of the ceremony.
Thought the small version isn't so bad, I did not like how I look in the picture. I must not have realized the official photographer was already taking pictures (there was a group of friends/family lined up along side the photographer, all taking pictures at the same time). I'm not smiling, though I remember doing so at some point. I'm guessing this must have been the best version of the group photo that the official photographer took, if they posted it.
I'm also including a link to the event on the FB page, just in case someone has trouble seeing the photo here. Induction Ceremony Group photo
Excellent Christina!! Very well done! Hope you talked to your mother about why no photos!!
I will be reading
.I will post my review soon, work has been real crazy lately and I've been working some weird shifts.
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Kiss of Midnight (other topics)The Darkest Craving (other topics)
The Darkest Touch (other topics)
Lord of the Abyss (other topics)
The Darkest Craving (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
J.D. Robb (other topics)Samantha Young (other topics)
Philippa Carr (other topics)
Jeaniene Frost (other topics)
Nalini Singh (other topics)
More...
Hope everyone's enjoying their book(s). :D