The Darkening by Sunya Mara (The Darkening book 1)

 

“Vesper Vale is the daughter of revolutionaries. Failed revolutionaries. When her mother was caught by the queen's soldiers, they gave her a choice: death by the hangman's axe, or death by the Storm that surrounds the city and curses anyone it touches. She chose the Storm. And when the queen's soldiers--led by a paranoid prince--catch up to Vesper's father after twelve years on the run, Vesper will do whatever it takes to save him from sharing that fate.

Even arm herself with her father's book of dangerous experimental magic.

Even infiltrate the prince's elite squad of soldier-sorcerers.

Even cheat her way into his cold heart.

But when Vesper learns that there's more to the story of her mother's death, she'll have to make a choice if she wants to save her city: trust the devious prince with her family's secrets, or follow her mother's footsteps into the Storm.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a compelling story about a city under siege by a vast storm. Home to beasts, those who survive touching the storm are cursed. The child of failed revolutionaries, Vesper is determined to save her father after he is captured by Prince Dalca. Dalco is the last in a long line of royals who attempt to keep the city safe and believes Vesper’s father is the key to his salvation. The two work together to find a way to save their city, but at what cost?

The conclusion, The Lightstruck, will be out August 29, 2023

Internment by Samira Ahmed

“Rebellions are built on hope.

Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.

With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the camp's Director and his guards.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Not sure what to say about this book. The content is super timely and could realistically happen. The beginning had me sucked in but the middle sort of fell flat for me. I found a few things that I thought seems a little far-fetched. I did push through to finish to see how the story ended but it felt a bit rushed to me without any real closure. 

Visit Samira Ahmed’s website.

Buried Heart by Kate Elliott (Court of Fives book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Court of Fives and Poisoned Blade , Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Choose between your parents.

Choose between your friends.

Choose between your lovers.

Choose who you are.

On the run from the murderous King Nikonos, Jessamy must find a way for her beloved Kalliarkos to take his rightful place on the throne. Only then can he end the oppression of the Commoners by their long time Patron overlords. But Kal's rise to power is fraught with manipulation and shocking decisions that make Jes question everything they promised each other. As their relationship frays and Jes's family and friends beg her for help, will she cast Kal and her Patron heritage aside? Will she finally join—even lead—the rebellion that had been burning among the Commoners for years? - taken from B&N.com

This book was a fantastic ending to the trilogy. Heartbreaking yet hopeful, Jes realizes what role she must play, even if it means betraying Kal. Kal must also decide what path his future will follow. Fans of the Court of Fives trilogy will not be disappointed by this final installment.

Bright Thrones - companion novella

“Bettany has always been an outsider in her family: the angry one, the wild one, the daughter who refused to accept the dominance of her Patron father’s people over her Commoner mother’s. When her family is torn apart by a vengeful lord, Bettany makes a dangerous choice to accompany their household servants being transported to the mines, hoping she can keep them from suffering a fate worse than death. Their only chance lies with a stuffy foreign doctor who may be able to help them escape, but can Bettany trust him? Her instincts tell her there is much more to this man than meets the eye.

Find out what happened to Jessamy’s missing twin sister in this beautifully written Court of Fives companion novella!” - taken from Goodreads.com

I wish that Buried Heart had addressed Bettany more, but this short story does give her version of the events that transpired in Poisoned Blade.

Visit Kate Elliott’s website.

The Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman

Unwind - Book One

Here is the link to one of my very first blog reviews I wrote for Unwind way back in March 2010. At the time, Unwind was a stand alone title. There were no plans at the time to expand the world into the now completed four book series.

UnWholly - Book Two

SPOILER ALERT! Please don’t read any further if you haven’t read the first book in the dystology, Unwind. I wouldn’t want to ruin the story for you.

Since the high profile revolt at the Happy Jack Harvest Camp led by Connor Lassiter, Risa Ward and Lev Calder, unwinding has moved to the forefront of society. It is something that can no longer be ignored. In fact, a ban has been put in place that seventeen-year-olds can no longer be unwound. Body parts are now becoming scarce. Connor is in charge of the Graveyard since the death of the admiral while Risa works medical detail. Things are tough for Conner, always wondering when the Juvenile Authority is going to decide to take over and if the ADR (Anti-Divisional Resistance) will come through with much needed supplies. There is discontent brewing through the Graveyard with the arrival of a new AWOL.

Mason Michael Starkey was storked or abandoned on a doorstep. Never really wanted by his adoptive parents, he has been bullied his entire life. The kids all call him Storky and he stays in trouble. Always knowing the day would probably come, Starkey has always made several plans to escape. The Akron AWOL is his hero. When the juvey-cops come in the middle of the night to take him to be unwound, he eventually makes his escape. Starkey is later found by the Anti-Divisional Resistance and taken to the Graveyard. There, he finally meets face-to-face with the Akron AWOL and Starkey is not impressed by Connor.

Camus Comprix or Cam is literally a superior specimen of the human body and mind. He was literally created using the best parts of unwound teenagers; intelligently designed. Major contributors have spared no expense to see him thrive and be the best of the best. When he is revealed to the world, shock waves ripple through society. To make him seem more “human”, the company behind his creation thinks a girlfriend is in order. Cam has eyes for only one, a wheelchair bound girl.

Miracolina Roselli was conceived for the sole purpose of being a donor for her older brother when he was stricken with leukemia and no match could be found. She has always known that her purpose now is to be tithed. Even on the day she is to go to the harvest camp, her parents regret their decision and attempt to stop it. Miracolina has other plans and happily goes, leaving her family heartbroken. Just before the van she is riding in arrives at the Wood Hollow Harvest Camp, Miracolina is captured by the resistance group, where she meets Lev Calder. She is furious.

Why have the authorities not raided the Graveyard? Who is behind the creation of Cam and why did they do it? How did Lev get involved with the resistance group? Is Starkey to be trusted? Who will be betrayed? And who will uncover the truth behind unwinding?

Once again interspersed with advertisements, newspaper articles and snippets of the law, readers will be thrusted into the debate to unwind or not.  

UnSouled - Book Three

There is no safe place for the AWOLs and the key to ending unwinding may lie back where it all started.

UnDivided - Book Four

The journey to end unwinding comes to the final showdown.

Visit Neal Shusterman’s website.
Visit the Unwind movie site. The movie is currently listed as being in development.

The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Selection and The Elite, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

It all began with 35 girls competing for Prince Maxon’s heart and to become his wife. For America Singer, it meant leaving behind her family and the love of her life, Aspen Ledger. When she first arrived at the palace, her heart was broken but she soon became friends with Prince Maxon. She stayed for the money for her family and to offer Maxon advice. Then, Aspen arrived at the palace as a member of the royal guard. America soon found herself struggling with her feelings as her heart was torn between two boys. As part of the Elite and with only four girls left, America decides to fight for Maxon’s heart, even though King Clarkson is dead set against her.

Who will be The One for America Singer; Prince Maxon or Aspen Ledger?

Fans of the series will be eagerly waiting to see how America’s story ends.

Visit Kiera Cass’ website.

The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Selection, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

“35 girls came to the palace. Only 6 remain.”

There are only six girls left in the Selection. The winner becomes the Princess of Illea and the wife of Prince Maxon. The public opinion polls place America Singer at the bottom of the pile but Maxon wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He is willing to wait until she is over the boy who broke her heart back home in the Carolina province. Unknown to Maxon, that boy, Aspen, is now one of the guards at the palace and therefore helps guard America. He isn’t ready to let her go but will if Maxon is her choice. Aspen only wants what is best for her and will make her happy.

America is torn between two boys but also whether she is capable of being a princess. With the competition heating up, Maxon seriously begins to look for a second choice should America turn him down. As his attentions start to fall elsewhere, America discovers she has a jealous streak when it comes to Maxon. She begins to entertain a future with Aspen when he makes time to be with her. As Celeste continues to push America’s buttons, she continues to make unfavorable statements and disastrous actions. After writing to her father about her perceived lack of leadership qualities, she decides she has what it takes for the job. America decides she needs to step up her game if she has any hope of being Illea‘s princess.

Will America be able to choose between Aspen and Maxon? Can she navigate the political climate of the palace to survive elimination? Will Maxon see through Celeste? What happens when the rebel forces attack the palace? And in the end, will America be The One Maxon chooses?

The Selection trilogy will conclude with The One due out in April 2014.

Visit KieraCass’s website.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

"35 girls. 1 crown. The competition of a lifetime."

In the fairly large, young country of Illéa, the King marries off his daughters to princes of other countries to form alliances. His son however marries a young woman from his country to strengthen its citizenry. Any young woman in Illéa can be Queen. With Prince Maxon Schreave soon coming of age, he is looking for a partner to rule their country. To find his perfect mate, The Selection is utilized. Every single woman between the ages of sixteen and twenty completes an entry form for the chance to compete for the Prince’s hand in marriage. One young woman from each of the thirty-five provinces of Illéa is chosen for the competition of a lifetime. Each family is generously compensated for their service to the royal family.

America Singer and her family are artists. As such, their caste number is a five, only three away from the bottom. Artists are only steadily employed during the three holiday seasons. Times can be tough but America is a beautiful singer and a gorgeous young woman. Her mother is a social climber and hopes America will marry above their caste as her older sister did. Secretly, for the past two years she has been in love with the handsome Aspen Leger. Unfortunately, Aspen is a six, a member of the servant class. Dirt poor, he is struggling to provide for his mother and six younger siblings since his father’s death. In Illéa, it is unheard of for a woman to marry down. With starts in her eyes, America dreams of becoming Aspen’s wife, even if it means downgrading her status and being on the brink of starvation.

When the letter for the Selection arrives, America is adamant about not registering. Her mother sees it as a way for her daughter to better herself and vehemently pushes. She sneaks out of the house later that night after everyone has gone to bed to meet Aspen in a tree house in her backyard. After a heart-to-heart, Aspen begs America to enter the Selection. He doesn’t want her to feel guilty about holding back when she could better herself. She reluctantly agrees. The next morning, her mother wakes her up early and offers her a deal. If America enters her name into the Selection, she promises to let her keep half of her earnings and perform by herself. Since she had already promised Aspen she would, America sees this as an opportunity to begin her nest egg for her life with Aspen.

When America and her mother go to the Province Service Center to turn in her form, a mob is already lined up. The two stand in line with Aspen’s mother and his twin sisters. His mother lets them know that the winners aren’t randomly drawn but individually chosen, hence why some of the girls are dressed to the nines. The conversation soon turns to how suddenly Aspen seems happy and his mother suspects a young woman is the reason. America’s heart pounds as his mother thinks Aspen is considering marriage. When the government takes her application photo, America is smiling radiantly while thinking of Aspen.

The Singer family gathers around the television to watch the Illéa Capital Report for the reveal of the Selection names. After a brief update on the war, the host begins. America isn’t even paying attention when her name is announced. Her family is ecstatic but America is shocked. She never dreamed that she would be chosen. Life abruptly changes in the Singer household as Palace officials descend to ready America for the competition. After going over the rules, she finds out that no matter what happens her status is now a Three. As America is trying to decide what to take, the doorbell rings. Her mother answers the door to Aspen holding a bouquet of flowers from his sisters. As a Six, America tells him she needs his services to clean the mess she made of her room packing. Aspen cannot turn her down and follows. After everything they have been through, America finds it ironic that he is now allowed in her room.

Aspen tells America her photo was beautiful. She lets him know it was for him but he doesn’t understand. She informs Aspen she thought he was going to propose. He lets her know that he was waiting on the outcome of the upcoming draft. Twice a year, all nineteen year old men are chosen at random to join the military until the age of 23. Soldiers become an automatic Two but are not guaranteed to survive their enlistment. Aspen tells her he didn’t want to complicate her life in that way. She understands but soon their conversation gets heated when America pays Aspen for his services. They both know that he needs the money but his pride continues to stand in the way of all their plans. Aspen leaves and America softly cries.

The next morning is the big day. America is leaving to join the other girls for the Selection at the Palace. Her good-bye is bittersweet and soon America finds that nothing is what she expected. Will America survive the competition to become Maxon’s intended? Can she and Aspen ever be together? What dangers does America uncover at the Palace? Will the competition be one huge catfight for Maxon’s attention? Is Maxon at all what America expects? And what happens when America isn’t sure where her heart is leading her?

America’s story will continue with book two in the spring of 2013 followed by book three in 2014.

Visit Kiera Cass’ website.