Review: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This Shattered World (Starbound #2)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Release Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Nahomi
    

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

5 stars out of 5 stars

      What happens when a soldier and a rebel cross paths? I’ll tell you what, This Shattered World is what happens! I really really really enjoyed reading this story!! I couldn’t read fast enough to satisfy my need to find out what would happened next. This story has so many elements that I would like to talk about that some I will mention briefly and others I will expound on. So, today's review will be in list/paragraph format. Lets begin with the elements I loved that I would like to mention briefly:

~There is more action through out the entire story.
~The mystery of LaRoux industry continues, yet left me wanting more.
~Avon is a complex world full of great three-dimensional characters.
~The story is fast paced.
~Lilac and Tarver appear briefly and I got to see how they are doing!

       This Shattered World really highlights our resilience, and the intricacy of our relationships with one another. It focuses on the ability we as humans have to survive and do what is right regardless of the consequences to ourselves. Both Jubilee and Flynn demonstrate that through their character and actions. Although, they are from different sides of the fight they have a common goal; to keep their people safe. Flynn is such a great character. He is strong in a non-conventional way. I love that he would prefer to try and resolve issues in a peaceful manner rather than resorting to violence. Jubilee is strong, really just a force to be reckoned with. I love that although she can drop a person in a number of ways she only resorts to violence when it's absolutely necessary.

     I love the complicated relationship that Lee and Flynn have. There is a hint of romance throughout the story but it isn’t the main focus. It is refreshing that both characters are aware that the circumstances under which they met are less than ideal, and that they would need to get to know each other under different circumstances to see if their relationship will actually work.

     The story line is more complicated than in These Broken Stars. There are a lot of different factors that are in play in this novel which make it such a suspenseful story. I can't wait to start reading Their Fractured Light!! I'm dying to know how this story will unfold.

Book Spotlight and Excerpt: Perception by Lee Strauss

Morning lovelies,

Today,  I am spotlighting author Lee Strauss's new novel, Perception.

It was recently released on September 1, 2012. Here's the blurb:

Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP- a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. 

Her brother Liam is missing.

Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protest against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they've created between those who have and those who don't. He doesn't like girls like Zoe and he has good reasons not to like her specifically.

Zoe's carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She's in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only who can help her.

Perception is a (SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not too distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions - both financially and philosophically. It explores the class between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there's room to fall in love.

This is the first book in a planned three book series.

Does this sounds awesome, or what?!

Ms. Strauss was kind enough to let us preview the first chapter of Perception. Check it out:

Review: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Expected publication: August 7th, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

*I received this early copy thanks to St. Martin's Press through NetGalley*

From Goodreads: "In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. 
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they're caught and deactivated, or worse."

Now, I just loved the premise of this book, dystopian/futuristic/robot-like with a twist? I'm interested. Especially with that cover, I just loved the cover.

     When first meet Zoel, or as she prefers to be called Zoe, right as she is experiencing a "glitch" and hot it works, I was intrigued. I liked Zoe. Although at times I felt like she was a goody-goody, letting people make decisions for her and blaming everything on herself. I can understand and sympathize that she went from not feeling any sort of emotions and individual thoughts to being able to do just that. However, I felt like she let Adrien and Max make all the decisions, while she just sat there being pulled in different directions. But when she needed to take control of the situation and of herself, she rose to the challenge. I feel like she redeems herself, to an extent, in my eyes.

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

My Rating: 4 out of 5

From Goodreads: "Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland, —known as The Death Shop—, are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’'s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild—, a savage, —and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile, —everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky."

I was going to a book signing for Tahereh Mafi's and Veronica Rossi's Spring Into The Future book tour and I felt horrible that I had only read Tahereh's Shatter Me and didn't know anything about Veronica's Under the Never Sky. I wanted to know, come the discussions, what everyone was talking about and not feeling like I was getting spoilers. So, off to read I went.