Unwind

Unwind
by Neal Shutterman

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them. Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away. -Back 'o the Book

This book was really easy for me to get into. With quick chapters that jumped around from multiple points of view, it was fast and engrossing. There was a whole world created that seems like it could be in the not too distant future. The characters were all real but I wish they had developed them a little more.

Sure it sounds kind of dark and it is a bit angsty, but wouldn't you be if your parents didn't want you anymore? I think a lot of people would love this story. I was particularly fascinated by the concept of unwinding and there is a very powerful scene where is describes the process of unwinding and the thoughts going through the kid's mind. Fantastic read. Can't wait for the next one!

-Recommended 

Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies
by Issac Marion

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. -Back o' the Book

When I saw what this was about I got it as fast as possible and I loved it! R was lovable  in a dead sort of way. In pop culture there are tons of zombie books/movies/comics etc. that show them as incurable and mindless. This story has a fantastic twist to it while still being a zombie book (which I love). It's not very often that we get to hear the inner thoughts of a zombie.

While this book is more existential inner thought and less mindless killing, there is enough action to keep you satisfied. The book moves very quickly and can easily be read in one day, if you've got the time. There is also a movie coming out fairly soon but we all know the book will be better, so you should read it before it comes out!

*Warning* Lots of language and some sexual content.

-Highly Recommended

Angelfall

Angelfall
by Susan Ee


It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again. - Back o' the Book

I had heard a lot of hype about this book and it seemed to be on a lot of best sellers lists so I decided to give it a try. The blurb on the back was interesting enough. Although I did like the story line and the concept was awesome, there seemed to be something wrong with how it was executed. I think what turned me off was the last of detail in the surroundings and in transitions between places. It seemed like the story was moving forward with a white background and only dialogue and inner thought to give you a sense of where you are. I felt lost while I was reading it. 

I'm not saying it was a bad book. I did enjoy the intrigue and the slight romance but then again, the characters seemed very flat to me. The main character, Penryn (which is an awkward name to say aloud) din't seem to grow at all during the whole book. I knew exactly what she would do from start to finish and she seemed too much like a fiction character. The main guy, Raffe, was also flat to me. He didn't have much to say and his actions seemed bored and apathetic most of the time, like a hollow shell of the cliche "YA bad boy" persona. Even other characters in the book that came by only for a scene or two seemed very fake and empty.

I feel a little bad for being so critical but I wasn't as insanely impressed as I thought I would be and I could tell by page 1. However, I don't regret reading it. It was quick to get through and kept me interested the whole way through. I can say it was never boring. I know that the author is planning another few books in the same series and I'm willing to get the next one and see if she develops her characters more. Not super great but not a bad read either. Just my opinion anyway. 

Shadows

Shadows
by Ilsa J. Bick

Out of the ashes, a new world emerges
A world stalked by the flesh-eating Changed – young, armed and hungry
A world ruled by the Elders, willing to kill to survive
A world in which no one is safe, and humans might be the worst of monsters
Alex and Tom, un-Changed, face unthinkable horror in their desperate struggle to find each other.
But the biggest terror of all is the monster within. Because no-one yet knows which young people Change, or why.
And no-one knows who will be next …-Back o' the Book

So I've been waiting so very (im)patiently for the second book of the Ashes Trilogy to come out and I nabbed it as soon as I could pre-order it. The first one was fantastic and the second was even better! It's fast paced the whole way through, I never felt any drag. The author does an amazing job of leaving you hanging at the end of every single chapter.

My only minor complain, or warning, would be the characters names are hard to keep track of if you read the last one a while ago like I did. I had to look up a quick summary to refresh my mind on all the names of the characters.

I can say I really don't want  to wait for the third book to come out (probably another year) but I am so very excited! I love this series!

-Recommended (Warning for graphic description/gore)

Insurgent

Insurgent
by Veronica Roth


One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. -Back o' the Book

This is book 2 (and I believe it's the last of the series) for the novel Divergent. I really enjoyed the first book but was kind of unimpressed by the main character although I did see much room for personal growth. In Insurgent, I was not disappointed. The stakes were much higher, the plot deeper, and the characters more complex, especially Tris, our heroine. I enjoyed watching her develop a personality and how bad things seemed to pile up on her. Her rise to the call of bravery was also invigorating to watch. 

I thought the ending left a lot of questions but gave you enough to satisfy (if this really is the end). I think anyone who likes dystopian novels would appreciate this series as much as I did. It even has a tad bit of romance in it although it's not riddled with it.

-Recommended

Crack Up To Be

Cracked Up To Be
by Courtney Summers

Perfect Parker Fadley isn't so perfect anymore.  She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school.  Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn't something she can say out loud.  It isn't even something she can say to herself.  A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault.  If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her. -Back o' the Book

I was initially drawn to this story because I never liked the cheerleading, popular in school thing (I was a band/drama/art nerd) and I wanted to see why she left her in crowd. I was also curious as to what her big secret was. I had a hard time grasping onto her personality during the first chapter or so because what she was doing was kind of opposite of what she was thinking. After I got a hold of her, I really enjoyed her sarcasm but got frustrated when she continually pushed people further and further away.

The book was riddled with language, but then again, so was High School. It was a quick and engrossing read that had me curious the whole way through because the author did a great job giving you little tid bits of information that you slowly piece together until the final puzzle is revealed.

Hunting Lila

Hunting Lila
by Sarah Alderson

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she’s prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she’s been in love with her brother’s best friend, Alex, since forever.

After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust – her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they’ve found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone – there are others out there just like her – people with special powers -and her mother’s killer is one of them…-Back o' the Book

I found this book that was recommend on a blog site I follow and I think overall it was pretty good. To be honest I thought the beginning of the book went by rather slow, but it did pick up towards the end where I didn't really want to stop reading till I found out what happened.

The main character was a little young for me and a little boy crazy, but I'm hoping she will develop and mature in the next book because with her powers, she has a lot of potential to be a strong character. I would say this is a good book for teens to young adults who like some of the sci-fi mixed in (like I do) and I think I'm going to give the sequel of this book a chance and see if it delivers. It has tons of potential to do so.