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. 

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

Feed

Feed
by M. T. Anderson


In a future world where internet connections feed directly into the consumer’s brain, thought is supplemented by advertising banners, and language has gone into a steep decline, a little love story unfolds. Titus, an average kid on a weekend trip to the moon, meets Violet, a brainy girl who has decided to try to fight the feed. Assaulted by a hacker who interrupts their connection, they struggle to understand what has happened to them – and to everyone around them. -Back o' the Book

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this book. I've read it more times than I can remember and just thinking about it makes me want to read it again. It takes some time to get used to the jargon used in the futuristic setting but after a while it starts to make sense.

This book is all about consumerism and the degradation of language and writing (most kids growing up don't know how to write with their hands, thanks to their feed they are connected to). I found this book to be a warning sign for the direction we as a nation and as a species are heading to. Very powerful stuff if you stop to think about it and not just read the words. I've forced my sister to read this and now she is in love with it too and rereads it occasionally.

The one downside to it is the amount of foul language ridden throughout the book, although it's just another example of the degradation of society that takes place.

-Highly Recommended

Ashes

Ashes
by Ilsa J. Bick

     An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
     Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP. 
     For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human. -Back o' the Book

     This book had me gripped from the first page. I seriously did not want to put this one down. I was careful to try and not read it right before bed because it is a little creepy. I wasn't totally sold on the book description but once I realized what it was all about, I knew this was my kind of book!
     The main character was someone I could relate to and I liked the fact that she can really take care of herself (especially since her cop father taught her all the right things about guns and how to handle them). This is the first in a trilogy which I thought strange because most post-apocalyptic book don't have sequels for obvious reasons. I can say that I can't wait for the next book to come out in a few months because I really became emotionally invested in the characters and their story. One of my favorites!

-Recommended

Delirium

Delirium
by Lauren Oliver

     Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
     But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. - Back o' the Book

     I had heard a lot of hoopla about this book before I finally gave in an bought it. It's definitely a love story but it has a some interesting underlying messages. The fact that love was a disease was an interesting concept but the world she created seemed a little flimsy, but that may just be me. The main character, Lena, was very interesting. She seemed to be flat lining on the character dynamic level and then all of a sudden, she shot up as soon as she falls in love.
     I liked the second half of the book best, before she was kind of a weenie. The concept was cool, there were some interesting characters and plot twists so it was a good attention holder. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good book, and I know I will be purchasing the next in the series as soon as it is released. Now, off to the next book!

-Recommended                  

Eve

Eve
by Anna Carey

     Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
     Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life. - Back o' the Book

     You may have noticed a trend in my book reviews: post apocalyptic and dystopian societies. I'm not sure why I'm attracted to these but I just can't get enough. Eve is the first book in what I am assuming is a trilogy and the ending of the first book definitely leads one to think so. To be honest, I was slightly disappointed. The synopsis of the book led me to think it would head in a different direction and I wasn't very attached to any of the characters. I'm not sure if this will be the case where they mature and grow in the following books but at the moment, I was emotionally un-invested in any of the characters and had little or no sympathy for them. It's a quick, easy read and definitely has an interesting premise, I just wasn't thrilled with the execution.

-Recommended (for younger teens)

The Reapers Are The Angels

The Reapers Are The Angels
by Alden Bell

     For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead.  Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart.  She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption.  Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks. - Back o' the Book
     If you're not really into zombies, don't worry, it's not super focused on them and if you are really into zombies, it has enough action to keep you interested. It's been described as a "Southern Gothic". I must say, I almost returned this to the library due to her slight southern accent (yes, that sometimes annoys me) but I stuck with it and I loved it! Temple is an interesting character, she has the body of a 16 year old but a mind that is mature beyond her years. She never knew a world before the dead walked the earth so she grows up focused on survival and going with the flow of life. She has very interesting perspectives on nature, God, and even the zombies that plague the earth.
     It has a little bit of mature content so I wouldn't suggest it to young folks, but this book is on my list of favorites. I wont ruin the ending, but I'll just say I loved it! This comes highly recommended.

-Recommended

Divergent

Divergent 
by Veronica Roth
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. - Back o' the Book

     To begin, I'd like to say this makes it onto my Top Favorites list! This booked sucked me in from page one and I had a very hard time putting it down. I spent a couple nights into the wee hours of the morning pouring through this but it was well worth the baggy eyes.
     The main character, Beatrice, starts out as this seemingly young, lost, indecisive character with tons of room to grow. I had a hard time creating what she looked like in my brain but then again, there was a whole lot more to be engrossed by. Beatrice makes a choice that changes her whole life and puts her through difficulties she could only imagine.
     My most favorite aspect about this book is the fact that the character makes a complete change. The girl she was in the beginning grows and blossoms in such a unique way. I'm usually pretty good about guessing the outcome of a character before the end of the book, but Beatrice took off in an unsuspected was and does not stop growing and surprising you till the very last page.
    This book is great for both girls and guys and the age group can be from young adult on up. I would categorize it as an "Action Adventure" type story with plenty of violence, humor, rising tension and just a tad bit of romance. Definitely, I recommend this to anyone looking for a great read!

-Recommended