Imposter by Susanne Winnacker

Pages: 288

Genre: Thriller/Sci-fi

Series: Variants #1

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

Damn, Imposter, I really didn't expect you or what happened.

Okay, so I absolutely loved the plot. While it wasn't very dark as a thriller, it was still a great mystery that absolutely hooked me. The first line? It starts with "The straitjacket corseted(...)" Umm, hello? Even before we're told about our mission, things are interesting. After? Oh God, everything just speeds up and has me flipping through excitedly (and a bit anxiously). It was absolutely kickass and I loved every second. Remember expect the unexpected? Well the unexpected is the expected...which could be the unexpected. And yes, I'm being confusing on purpose. But know that I could not guess who our killer was. At all. 

And oh, I loved the romance! We have Tess, our main character. We have Alec, our love interest. And we had Kat, the girlfriend. Things get...interesting. But the romantic tension between Tess and Alec? It made everything the better! I loved them the entire time and I really wanted to push Alec towards Tess! They were just too adorable with each other and, though we don't focus on the romance, you just can't help but love them. Even if Alec was a...tad overprotective.

Okay, so a bit more than a tad. He sometimes got a bit annoying, and I still don't understand why he's with Kate (thought I'm sure we'll find out in the sequel! There seems to be...something behind it.) but when he was with Tessa...you just can't help but love him a little more.
And oh Tessa. She was such a dynamic character and I absolutely loved her. But...it was so sad and a bit horrible to see how much she changed, from this bubbly and half carefree person to someone who was so hard on herself who was, while stronger, a bit colder and weighed down. It was a beautifully terrible transformation, but hopefully Alec warms her up...eventually. I loved how while she was a bit in the dark about some things, she wasn't naive or ignorant and she did whatever she could to help and was logical about it. That's sort of rare in these books, you know!

I do wish we'd delved into the Variants more, discovering why they were, why there were so many of them, how their powers developed, etc. And it did get a bit typical when we learned of the "rebellion" of Variants, though I'm hoping the sequel will be much more interesting than the cliches!

Imposter was a book that I didn't want to finish, for the sake of not having it end. But when it did, it left me absolutely astonished! I loved the originality, I loved how ended, I loved pretty much everything. I can not wait to get my hands on the sequel and to discover more about Tessa, Alec, and every secret that the government seems to be hiding (oh those governments. You know how they are.) Definitely pick this up for a fun read that's light on the sci-fi but heavy on the action! 

---

---

Nil by Lynne Matson

Pages: 384

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Henry Holt

Release Date: March 4, 2014

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die.
Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field.
Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly.

Ever since I first heard of Lynne Matson and Nil, I've been absolutely dying to read this story! Teens with only a year to live? To escape? Talk about fascinating!

The number one thing that I have to comment on (besides the hot guys, of course) is the amount of science that Lynne Matson manages to include. The clues that are scattered about the island, that our characters manage to piece together are unbelievably scientific and precise, and it was thrilling to see how they all fit together! The worldbuilding of the island is so thoroughly well built, I'm probably going to be paranoid of all noons and heat waves forever.

I absolutely loved the characters in Nil too! There were so many, but each was so individual, had such a range of personalities, it was hard not to fall in love with them. Each character, main or supporting, managed to wiggle into your heart--all the more heartbreaking for when Matson rips them away from you (and oh, she does this quite a lot.)

Plot wise, Nil is pretty much perfect--it's fast paced and as we learn more and more about this sinister island, things get more and more intense until suddenly twists are thrown at you left and right. I honestly, no matter how often you hear this, put it down. I got home from school, sat down, and read for two hours straight. With little explosions of caps and exclamation marks on twitter.
Especially the end. The ending was absolutely heartbreaking and heartwarming and I could not believe it whatsoever. It's really a perfect ending that I really loved and actually made me tear up!

My only slight complaint was the rushed romance and insta love in the beginning, but once you get used to it, it's a really sweet romance that made me love Thad and Charley all the more. The romance is adorable and in all honesty, sometimes I squealed at certain scenes. Except one in the end. That one made me cry.

Anyways.

Nil is definitely a book to check out when it releases with it's fantastic pacing, gorgeous writing, a cut throat island, and sci-fi elements that'll enrapture you the entire read! And who can forget about all the amazing characters that'll simply make you fall in love with the, no matter how...short...you know them?

---

---

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Pages: 368

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: All Our Yesterdays #1

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: Sep 3, 2013

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

My reaction when I first finished--
"OH MY FUCKING GOD
WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL
I CAN'T 
WHY
I REFUSE
WHAT"

and the like. 

But let's explain what I mean, shall we. Because the ending is the absolute best parts of the book. It's so complicatedly simple. It's so confusing. It's so perfect. It's so heartbreaking. 

The ending is one I never could've expected in my life, it's one that keeps shaking me to the core, every time I read it. It breaks my heart, and it lingers in my mind for days after I read it. There's just something about it. Something that's just 

So

Absolutely

Perfect.

I'm really not sure where to start after that, but let's go for the plot because it was just so...thrilling. It killed me every time I had to put it down, and I just wanted to drop everything and continue reading. It's literally a race against time, and things never get slow. I was always edgy and I ended up snapping at anyone who interrupted me while I read. It's spine-tingling and I just couldn't shake the feeling off after I read even one sentence. 

There were twists. So many twists. The way Terrill writes is magical, giving us hints after hints, and letting us fit the pieces together ourselves. It's truly amazing. 

Characters. Oh my gosh. It's really surprising how contrast the future versions are compared to the "present" ones. Em and Marina couldn't be more different. Em was toughened, hardened by years of betrayal and torture, living in her cell. She was fierce and broken, but you could still see a bit of Marina in her--compassionate, carefree, happy. Em was my favorite of the two, being more mature than her younger, whinier, and spoiled self, but seeing Marina grow as a character--seeing Em remember how she felt, how she was, it hurt. I ached. And I loved it. 

The side characters were just as well written--especially Finn! We didn't really concentrate on the romance much, but I can say that what is there gives your heart a little zap. And makes the ending so much more painful. 

The worldbuilding, the science behind it, is simple. And complicated. I honestly didn't understand it much, but it was decidedly more simple than some of the other time travels I've read. It's well thought out though, and brilliantly told, making it decently understandable! But it does sound plausible and the fact that it was so well researched makes the book infinitely times better. 

This is, by far, the best time travel book I've read in my life, and you can be sure I've read a lot. It talks about how a vision can turn you into a monster, how twisted someone can become, but it's also about second chances, and it's about hope. And all wrapped up in a beautiful packaged with spectacular writing, gorgeous characters we learn to love, and an ending that will rip out our hearts. 

I honestly don't care if you're a sci-fi fan or not--All Our Yesterdays is one you have to read, squeal over, cry over, and scream over. 

***UPDATE*** It seems All Our Yesterdays has a sequel? The ending seemed filled with closure, but I still can't wait to read it! Can I handle the pain though?

---

---

BOOKCEPTION

BOOKCEPTION. THE NOVEL. 

This is not a review because I did not read the entire thing. I read about 35%. I didn't DNF it because it was horrible. You'll see. I just wanted to share my reaction to this book. Also, this was before the official synopsis came out. So.

(CLICK TO EMBIGGEN ALL GRAPHICS)

Guys. I have no words. White Space was confusing in a way that you could still sort of understand, but just confused you when you read it and still confuses you. That makes no sense does it. Or does it? 

^That's basically what the book was like. 

Did I like it? Did I not? I have no idea. It was just...it was just. I have no clue how Ilsa J. Bick managed to write such a complicated thing, but guys, it must've taken her ages to plot. And worldbuild. And everything else. 

If there was one word to describe this book, it would be BOOKCEPTION. Because. It really was bookception. I even made a schmancy graphic of the first 35% of the book for you. Yes. Only the first 35%. 

(Click to enlarge)

Yeah. Basically. At least, that's how I read it. Maybe I read something wrong...? Maybe I didn't. But that. That is basically the general idea of the entire story. It was definitely interesting. And confusing. So...what?

I have no idea whether I would recommend this or not. Because I just can't even. I mean, it was definitely interesting, but my brain hurt a bit, but at the same time I wanted to know what the hell was going on. 

I never did find out because like I said. I lost the ability to think. So I decided to not finish it. 

HOWEVER. White Space was pretty creepy. So horror fans, you guys will love this. I think a few hardcore sci-fi may too. People who are easily confused and lose their will quickly? I'd skip this one. 

But dear God it was fascinating. 

Pages: 560

Genre: I don't even know

Series: Dark Passages #1

Publisher: Egmont USA

Release Date: Feb 11, 2013

Rating: EVERYTHING

I'm so disgruntled, I'm using my old format.

---

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Pages: 344
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: Alienated #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: Feb 4, 2013

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

This is officially the first alien book I've read that I liked. At first, I was a bit wary because, honestly, I haven't had the best luck with these. But Alienated was WONDERFUL. Absolutely, wonderfully, amazing.

I loved, especially, the sci-fi part. The worldbuilding for L'eihr was fascinating and I loved learning about this planet. While we didn't get to see it, we did learn a lot about it, and I was scrambling for every morsel. (Did you know their plants don't have photosynthesis? Instead, they draw nutrients from the air, making the plants grey-ish instead of bright green. FASCINATING ISN'T IT.) Everything was so well thought out and it wasn't as cheesy or as geeky as some. Not that I have a problem with geekery, but it tends to lean towards the unbelievable, while Alienated presented a very believable world. I also loved the words and the names that were only slightly different! Love for the world. So much love.

In the beginning, I was a bit irritated by Cara. She was such an opportunist and I didn't really like her attitude. After the first impression, though, I fell in love with her character. She was a loyal person who stood for what she believed was right and wouldn't abandon Aelyx and believed in him till the very end. And that definitely took some guts, considering everything.

Aelyx was such a swoony character! He was so stoic throughout most of the book, but reading things from his POV definitely shed some light on his feelings. I loved how slowly he evolved from a held off kind of character to such a...well, human, one. Seeing him interact with Cara was adorable. Plus, hilarious. For example, his "compliment": "Hips of that width are likely to pass live offspring without complications." BAHAHAHA. THE TEARS. THE LAUGHTER. It was hilarious. So, so, so hilarious.

The romance. Ummm, wow. I've never seen a couple so reluctant to fall in love! (I think) They fell in love so slowly it was barely noticeable sometimes, but the tension between them was just so adorable. They were so easy with each other, at least for an alien-human pairing. They had so many hilarious moments that I reread over and over, laughing again and again. And then the kissing scene. Oh my gosh. Cara may not have gotten cardiac arrest, but I definitely did. 

The plot was definitely a high point for me as well. So many things happened that made my head spin. The HALO (Human Against L'eihr Occupation) members were so cruel and just horrible to Cara, Aelyx, and anyone associated to them. The entire town ignored her family, shunned them, and did everything they could to make their lives a living hell. It was terrible and I wanted to cuddle our characters. They were so strong throughout the ordeal and I just can't stop loving them enough for staying loyal, especially Cara. 

Alienated is an original, one of a kind book that was an amazing read! I loved it and I can not wait for the sequel! I definitely recommend it to all sci-fi fans and to those that want a...different sort of Romeo and Juliet. Except, without the dying. Maybe.

Get it, read it, love it! 

---

---

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Pages: 400

Genre: Dystopian/Post-apocalyptic

Series: Under the Never Sky #3

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Jan 28, 2014

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.
The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.
Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.
Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

M'kay, this is a pretty hard review to write, as all sequels are for me, but oh gosh. This just...

I was torn between being excited for this book and absolutely wary. The wrap up of a series has to be absolutely perfect for me, or it just sort of ruins the rest of the books for me and with Under the Never Sky being one of my favorite series...well.
But honestly, I had nothing to worry about. I absolutely loved Into the Still Blue and I just...I loved the wrap up of this trilogy! Aaahhh!

Seeing all the characters together after all the chapters they were separated in was heartwarming and wonderful, but that feeling doesn't last long. Book three was the most action packed of the series, and throughout the story our characters are either hurt, lost, or betrayed, and it was just heartbreaking. All the open plot holes are finally wrapped up with a neat little bow and I honestly think Veronica Rossi did an absolute fantastic job with it! Even with two books with as many twists as characters, Into the Still Blue still managed to shock me with a new and surprising turn that I should've expected but just didn't.
The only thing I do wish was that the ending had been a little less rushed. Almost done with only about 20-40 pages left, I was worried how the ending would play out, and while I found it satisfying, it was...sudden.

I honestly don't think I need to say anything about our wonderful cast of characters, except that a new major player is added, and that Roar's attitude was heartbreaking in the least.
Speaking of Roar, his and Aria's friendship was...beautiful. They depended on each other to keep each other sane and they had a special sort of bond that I loved, especially since it wasn't romantic in any way, shape or form. They had a familial air around each other and their light teasing provided a bit of comic relief when needed.
Perry and Aria's romance wasn't that focused on, but their stolen moments in between the ongoing war was sweet and just made me fall all over again with the both of them!

Into the Still Blue is an amazing wrap up of a brilliant series, and I have to say, I had a few heart attacks throughout the story. Definitely a way to end the series with a bang!

---

---

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Pages: 384

Genre: Dystopian/Sci-fi

Series: Uninvited #1

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Jan 28, 2014

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.
Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

I loved the Firelight trilogy, so hearing about Sophie Jordan's new series, and about serial killers with a sci-fi twist? Oh my gosh, yes! And it didn't disappoint.

The thing Uninvited, I think, is that if you'd replaced the HTS with something like LGBT or color, and taken away the dystopian bits, Uninvited would've been a completely real contemporary. The way that Jordan writes the prejudice in the story is heartbreaking and feels real. It's "punish and ask questions later" and it just got to me, how they treated those with HTS genes with fear and suspicion and hate--sound familiar?

Either way, I loved seeing Davy grow as a character. In the beginning, she's sheltered, protected, and it doesn't feel like a dystopian story at all--until Davy is told she has the HTS gene. That's when things slowly start to spiral down for her (but up for us, because the story just turned even more amazing.) She's not a decidedly strong character in the typical sense, but she had a strong will and she wasn't one of those characters that just automatically learned to be the best. She was...well, not relatable, but she was a character I could sympathize and love with all her flaws.

Obviously, a book like Uninvited is going to be action packed, and it, while it wasn't all fights and rebellion, was just as captivating. I was absolutely caught up in Davy's story as she became accustomed to HTS life and how things were at her...reformation camp? Uninvited was filled with twists and fighting, though I do wish Davy herself had beaten someone in a fistfight. The story is thrilling and completely enraptured me from start to finish--which made me anxious for the sequel. Seriously--need.

Romance is a background element in the story, but I absolutely adored it. Sean seems, at first, like the brooding bad boy in the story, and maybe he was, but I loved him nevertheless. Their relationship, at first, seems a bit insta-lovey (or insta-likey?) since Sean seems to take just a sudden liking to Davy and, while that irritated me at first, it grew on me as Sean and Davy stayed friends through most of the story. Although, c'mon, there's always some romance, and by the end, they did kiss (and thank God! I was getting tired of mentally pushing their faces together, no matter how much I liked their platonic relationship.)

As for the sci-fi aspect, it was pretty light, and I do wish that they'd talked more about how the kill gene was discovered, how they find it in genes, etc, but it didn't really bother me when I was reading and didn't take away from the fun of the book!

Uninvited is an amazing read that I'll definitely recommend, especially to people who are looking for a book light on dystopian and sci-fi or any fans of Firelight (though Uninvited, in my opinion, is a much better read, if not just as heart pounding!)

---

---

Control by Lydia Kang

Pages: 400

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Control # 

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Dec 26, 2014

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

I discovered Control way, way before the cover was released (the first one? The first cover that showed up on Goodreads was actually this white background with red blood cells, I remember!), when it had a completely different synopsis on Goodreads, and when there were only a few adds. I pretty much immediately needed it and once I got my hands on a copy, I dropped everything and started reading.

Control is a rather fascinating book. It feels like it doesn’t happen too much in the future, but enough so that there’s a lot of new technology and secret scientific projects at work (although who knows, those may be going on today!)

The biggest thing about this book is how much of the plot relies on the science of the characters’…abilities? Genes? A lot of it is explained to the reader and I’m thoroughly impressed with the level of research and gene/DNA knowledge in the story—having a brainy main character can be hard, especially in sci-fi, but Lydia Kang does a masterful job pulling it off enough so that, while I didn’t get lost in the explanation, it sounded legit and completely real. If, you know, it was genetically possible.

The characters were amazing, though maybe a bit cliché.

Zelia was a wonderful main character who was smart when it came to lab work, but was a bit less so when it came to real life application, but more on that later! I loved how grounded she was, how much passion she had for experimenting, and how absolutely loyal she was. Zelia didn’t get overly emotional at the worst times like some characters, and she tended to look everything straight on, winning me over with her logic and passion.

There was Dyl, the prettier, younger sister, and I sort of hated her. Dyl was naïve, impulsive, and seemed completely reckless to me, although we didn’t get to see her often throughout the story. (Also, I hated how she started drooling over a boy immediately after finding out her dad was dead. What?)

Cy was the resident bad boy with a sweet side and I absolutely loved him. He was just as passionate about his work as Zelia and they made an amazing team. He was as loyal as Zelia and a bit arrogant besides. I suppose he is the typical bad boy of a story, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with him, especially when he was with Ana.

The romance was absolutely swoon worthy and I was practically at the point where I wanted to smash Zelia and Cy’s faces together and force them to kiss, before they kissed. Their relationship was a slow buildup that I loved reading (talk about sexual tension!) and watching their animosity turned into romance was absolutely thrilling! And the things Cy did for Zelia were just so adorable and sweet.

The twists, the shocking revelations, the secrets! There were so many in Control, it’s a bit hard to keep track of, but each of them just shocked me to the core. I loved the pacing of the book, especially near the end when everything pretty much exploded! (And holy crap that ending.)

The only thing I was bothered by was that, in the beginning, Zelia trusted Micah even though it was evident that he was the enemy and she trusted him more than she trusted her new family, who had only tried to help and protect her.  It made our heroine seem impulsive and naïve and it bugged me throughout the entire story that she trusted him. Eventually, we learn the truth, but she still trusted him to keep his promise? Even though he’d broken his promises a thousand times before?

Control was a thrilling start to a new series with a heart racing plot and a killer ending. Lydia Kang’s debut is a sci-fi that’ll capture your attention and make you fall in love with most of the characters while breaking your heart a little bit throughout the story.  Betrayals, mutations, secret organizations, familial love, and a hot love interest? What more can you ask for?

---

---

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Pages: 320

Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller

Series: Fire & Flood #1

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: Feb 25, 2014

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Fire and Flood was one of my more anticipated reads of 2014, so getting a review copy was a dream come true. And after loving The Collector so much, well, my expectations were pretty high (especially after hearing how amazing Pandoras were.)

Tella was quirky. That's the best way to describe her at first. She had that certain quality to her that reminded me of Scott's former heroine, Charlie, something that made you love her and all her awkward faults--which slowly start to fade the longer she's in the Brimstone Bleed. Tella hardens, strengthens, but still manages to maintain that compassion and kindness that made you love her throughout the race. Her sheer will made her even more endearing.

I got completely attached to all the characters--Victoria Scott just somehow manages to make us fall in love with them (every single one of them), despite their sheer numbers. All of them had their own personalities and quirks (though none quite like Tella) and I adored all of them. In the end, they were all there, risking their lives to save someone they loved. Even the antagonist who was amazingly well written in the most evil, disgusting, and twisted way was fighting for someone (I'm assuming) and it made me a bit more sympathetic towards them. A bit.

There was romance in Fire and Flood but it was pretty slight and a bit rushed in my opinion--or, not rushed, but pretty sudden. I loved it though, especially because I had no idea that our love interest was the love interest and because, well, he was pretty badass. He was pretty awesome and swoony, if not hardened and a little...aloof.

The storyline was absolutely thrilling and exciting and I was always wincing whenever I felt like our characters were in trouble. Or, you know, were going to die. The author is pretty ruthless with readers' feelings and I felt like I died several deaths. There were a lot of unexpected twists that broke my heart or made me cheer and what I found amazing was that the Brimstone Bleed...well, it wasn't over. And now I can't say anything or else I'm going to squeal all over this review and spoil everything.

The Brimstone Bleed was a seriously original plot line/setting and I loved the story and the history behind it that made everything all the more interesting and cutthroat. It was a bit predictable, I guess, but it's truly original.
My favorite part of the whole story was definitely the Pandoras and I have an unnatural love of foxes now. The Pandoras were as diverse as the characters and I loved how all their talents pushed the plot along. Talk about creativity!

Fire and Flood was a brilliant read that was exciting, amazing, and is definitely one of a kind. It's, dare I say, a better version of The Hunger Games and I absolutely adored it. So the question of "Is it worth the read?" Answer: Yes. 

P.S. THE PANDORAS!!!

---

---

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Pages: 368

Genre: Gothic Literature/Sci-fi

Series: Madman's Daughter #2

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Jan 28, 2014

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

After the rather terrible (read: heartbreaking) ending in The Madman's Daughter, I was unbelievably anxious to read Her Dark Curiosity so I was ecstatic when I managed to get my grubby hands on an ARC! And then I started reading. And I was a bit disappointed.

My main issue was Juliet herself. She seemed absolutely ridiculous throughout the story and seemed...well, mad. And I suppose that may have been the point, but I just felt like it made her an annoying character rather than an interesting one. She kept repeating over and over and over that she wasn't like her father, would never be like her father, and then immediately turn and do something that's so obviously cruel and terrible, just like her father. (Spoiler at the end of the review) That and she made some obviously-not-right choices that made me twitch in agitation.

More than that, the romance. Unfortunately, our love triangle isn't completely finished (or, it is in the way that Juliet has chosen who she loved. But that doesn't stop a certain someone from pursuing her or her from kissing and other activities with said someone.) I hated how Juliet just seemed to go back and forth, despite her claim of love for Montgomery, and how she justified Edward's actions. Sure, he didn't deserve to die, but she didn't seem to think that much about the harm he's done besides one or two pages.

But despite all that, Her Dark Curiosity was a fascinating read, most especially because of Shepherd's talent with atmosphere and Gothic lit. And a 1800-1900s London? It's the perfect place to set a story of madness, murder, and mayhem! The drizzly ghostly city was creepy with everything that was going on and you have to hand it to Shepherd--she's a genius with her words, if not her characters.

The plot was absolutely spectacular with twists sprinkled throughout the story (the first less than 70 pages in!) and I found myself gaping at the book sometimes, just eager to discover what would happen next. And, like always, Megan Shepherd manages to leave us with a cliffhanger and clamoring for the third book, even if our character isn't how we hoped!

Gothic literature is one of my favorite kinds of stories, and the dark and haunting setting and atmosphere was beyond impressive and I had chills throughout most of the book, especially with murderers and secret, dark science cults.

***SPOILER: She freaking creates her own "creature" and unleashes it on her enemies, scientists, and murders every one of them in cold blood. Then hunts down the survivor and kills him. And she thinks that's justified?

---

---

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Pages: 432

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Avalon #1

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Jan 2, 2014

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

I'll admit, going into this, I was just a bit unsure. I'm not one for alien/otherworldly sci-fi, but Mindee Arnett? Galactic thieves and mercenaries? I was willing to risk it--and I am so glad I did.

Avalon is one of those stories that starts off with a bang and just keeps climbing up. The plot was one of those that doesn't let you rest, doesn't give you any worry-free time, and just intrigues more and more. Excluding all the plot twists (which were more than shocking) what surprised me was that what I thought was going to be the main conflict was resolved in only a few pages. Curiouser and curiouser, right?
Either way, it was what happened after that made everything even more interesting and even more cutthroat.

I will say that there was a twist I did predict from the first half of the book, but it was how I was right that made me gape. You have to hand it to Arnett--she sure knows how to keep you hanging and coming back for more! I read maybe a chapter of Avalon and then read the rest in one sitting. Because who can resist something like this book (that felt like an intergalactic horror story for a few chapters!)

And then the worldbuilding! I'm just blown away by all the science and every meticulous detail and research that probably went into this book. From dimensions to spaceships to lost planets and genetics, Avalon pretty much covers all your sci-fi needs! It's really just a gorgeous book.

There's a rather large cast of characters, but you just fall in love with each and every one of them (them being the good guys, I mean!) It was amazing how the team operated and how well they worked together and laughed together, more family than just some random teens stuck together. What I loved so much though, was how different each character was from one another. Some were more somber, most always joking, but each of them had their own quirks and habits that just made them stand out a bit and just make you love them, especially Jeth.
I don't read many male POVs, but props to Arnett for making a pretty believable voice and a protagonist you couldn't help but cheer for! Jeth was a rather complex character who had his faults and strengths and, like I already said--you can't help but fall in love with him!

Speaking of falling in love, the romance was the only thing I wasn't so sure on. While I did love the fact that romance took a back seat on this one, with only a kiss or two at most, I still felt a bit irritated by it in the beginning, especially considering that there's a bit of insta love when they first met, Jeth remarking on how beautiful Sierra, our love interest was, or something like that. I also felt a bit awkward because of a certain other character I felt like (almost wished) had feelings for Jeth. Then again, I'd probably have an issue with love triangles, so maybe not?

Avalon is an absolute must read for fans of hardcore (or not!) fans of sci-fi. I can almost guarantee you'll love this book with it's unbelievable twists and jaw dropping turns! I really just loved this read because honestly. Intergalactic thieves. 

---

---

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Pages: 374

Genre: Sci-fi/Romance

Series: Starbound #3

Publisher:Disney Hyperion

Release Date: Dec 10, 2013

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever? Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

I got These Broken Stars a little after release, and by then people were fawning over it, talking about how much they loved it, how amazing it was so suffice to say, I had high expectations. Very high expectations. So high I screwed studyimg for finals and read it instead.

And you know what? I loved it. Right from the start I loved it and it broke my slump of starting 8 books and finishing none of them. That's how amazing These Broken Stars was. Plus, that cover! 

So I actually have no idea how to start this review. It's always hardest to write about a book you loved, I guess? But let's start with characters. 
I adored Lilac as a character. She was brilliant character who was completely amazing throughout the entire book. She was smart, witty, and was willing to do what she could. She pretended to be the flighty heiress everything thought she'd be, but her reasons for doing so was heartbreaking and I actually felt heartbroken by page twenty. She was a character I could sympathize with and it's amazing that Lilac went through some character growth without losing my admiration. 
Tarver was swoony. Can I leave it at that? Fine. He was sweet and swoony and amazing and swoony and I loved him and his swooniness. In all seriousness though, Tarver was just as brilliant as Lilac, though more street smart than book smart, and it showed. I loved how caring he was towards Lilac and how badass he was, though not without his vulnerability. 

The romance was swoon worthy, but I think I've already used that word too much. I'm always a fan of hate/love relationship which is definitely how their relationship seemed when they crashed. I adored how they first met though, although it did seem a bit insta lovey, but the romance after that was entirely amazing. And I actually loved the insta love part of it too, surprisingly. I'm pretty sure there's a meme that's like "True love is when you take care of each other even if you're angry." or something like that and it definitely applies to the book. Also? Let me just say that I couldn't contain my squeals (and screams) at all. 

The worldbuilding and the vivid descriptions were a giant part of the novel and the science part was...mind blowing and just...brilliant. It was amazing, the things behind the whispers, behind the mysterious terraformed planet and it's definitely a creative, if not somewhat original, idea. 

These Broken Stars is, at it's core, a survival story and I loved that. I never knew watching people walk could be so fascinating. Of course, that's not all that happens. There was a mystery on the edges of the book and you couldn't help but get enraptured, wondering, dying to know what was happening, what was causing this or that, whether they were going crazy, or if there really was something...other.
What I think I loved the most was that our characters reached the conclusion before we did, which is actually pretty hard to do. And it wasn't just some wild leap, there was actually evidence to back it up and it was...interesting, seeing where we'd be taken next.

These Broken Stars is, perhaps, one of my favorite sci-fi books out there and I can't wait to read book two, which I'm hoping will at least have a Lilac or Tarver cameo! (It has to guys, it has to.) Heartbreaking and awe inspiring, These Broken Stars is just one that'll have to  make it to the top of your TBR, no matter how towering it already is!

---

---

Severed Tower by J. Barton Mitchell

Goodreads Blurb

Holt, Mira, and Max have fled Midnight City with Zoey after watching her repel an entire Assembly army. Zoey's powers are unlocked, but who and what she is remains a mystery. All she knows is that she must reach the Severed Tower, an infamous location in the middle of the world's most dangerous landscape: The Strange Lands, a place where the laws of physics have completely broken down. But the closer they get to the Tower, the more precarious things become. The Assembly has pursued Zoey into the Strange Lands. Among them is a new group, their walkers and machines strangely bereft of any color, stripped to bare metal, and whose agenda seems to differ from the rest. To make matters worse, the group hunting Holt are here, too, led by a dangerous and beautiful pirate named Ravan. So is Mira's first love, Benjamin Aubertine, whose singular ambition to reach the Tower threatens to get them all killed.

Then there's the Strange Lands themselves. They have inexplicably begun to grow, spreading outwards, becoming more powerful. Somehow, it all seems tied to Zoey herself, and the closer she gets to the Tower, the weaker she becomes.

It's been a while since I read Midnight City, but I remember being so absolutely in love with the story and the characters! And guys, after reading the sequel, I can not recommend this series enough to sci-fi and dystopian/apocalyptic fans.

Yeah yeah, moan all you want about how alien invasion books are becoming typical and the norm for YA. This series, the worldbuilding, the plot, its all so original! I can't get over it at all.
So something that wasn't quite in the last book is that this series is seriously sci-fi. You don't see as much as you usually would in the first half of the book, but towards the end, the sci-fi makes a definite appearance. I'm still unsure exactly what happened, but I'm pretty sure Mitchell managed to weave together parallel universes, dark matter, and a whole bunch of other things I can't think about. (ALSO. There was totally a Doctor Who moment in this.)

I'm so in love with our wide range of characters too. They were all quirky, flawed, and absolutely badass, in their own ways. We're introduced to so many new characters, Ravan, Avril, Ben, Gideon, and the White Helex and Menagerie crews. Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to remember all of them and their roles, and I couldn't help but love all these new characters as much as I loved Holt, Mira, and Zoey. Because they were unbelievably unpredictable and unbelievably scarred in some way. They were all brave, in different ways, and it's just impossible not to be touched by some of their sacrifices.
Also the White Helix? I love them. Is creepy, but is cool.

Surprisingly, even with a ton of POV's and in third person, I didn't mind it. Which, guys, that's an Anomaly (Pun intended.)

The plot was as unexpected as the characters. Because holy crap. I didn't expect any of that at all. Explosions are more than a few and with all the Anomalies and Artifacts, things are sure to be...mind blowing (My punny side has revealed itself.) The ending especially! I just couldn't believe it and I can honestly say that it's one of the better endings I've ever read.

Ah the romance. Honestly, there's not too much to write because the romance honestly didn't show itself, despite there being to exes brought back into the picture. Like I'd hoped, romance was kept to a bare minimum, though you could clearly see Holt and Mira's, Mira and Ben's, and Holt and Raven's dynamics. All three pairings made brilliant teams and, to be frank, I think I was more in love with Ben than Holt. For me, I feel like Ben sacrificed the most for Mira, despite his misgivings.

A sequel to die for (Oh hey, hello pun), The Severed Tower surpasses the first, which already blew my socks off! I'll definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good sci-fi and a story where our narrator's not the only player in a game we don't understand. Yet.

Pages: 400

Genre: Post Apocaylptic

Series: Conquered Earth #2

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Release Date: November 19, 2013
Rating: 4.5 Stars