Ready Player One by Ernest Cline [Joint Review]

2.5 of 5 Robots!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Genre: Fiction
Release: August 16, 2011
Hardcover: 374 Pages
Publisher: Random House
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Julia and Shannon

Book Summary:

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Julia and Shannon's Thoughts:

1. What were your initial thoughts upon finishing?

Julia: When I finished Ready Player One, I was really relieved it was over. The ending is satisfying, but the book really dragged on. 
Shannon:  Yeah, wow, this was a slog for me too.  I had such high hopes because everyone and their dog and their grandmother seems to live this book.  I feel like a total black sheep because I didn't really enjoy it that much.

2. What worked for you?  What didn't?

Julia: The information dumping did not work for me, and I LOVE the 80's and videogames. The plot underneath and the idea of the Oasis, all of that worked for me. Peel away the info dump and you've got some great stuff going on. 
Shannon: I liked the general idea of it.  The plot itself seems like a sci-fi plot from an 80s movie, like WarGames.  I liked Wade and his interactions with his friends. But yeah, wow, the info dumping was hard for me too.  It really took me out of the story.

3. This book features a lot of 80's nostalgia.  Could you relate to any of it?

Julia: Yes, I loved all the name dropping of video games and movies and music.... butttt there was a little too much explaining of all that stuff.
Shannon: I was born in 1981 and grew up on the divide between the late 80s and the early 90s, so I enjoyed a lot of it.  It was fun to recognize a lot of the movies, music, games, etc that I grew up up with! 

4. What did you think of the ending?

Julia: Satisfying. Cute. Not anything that pulled at my heart strings, but fun.

Shannon:  The ending was the best part.  There was some major plot convenience happening, but it was fun.  I was happy the book ending on a high note. 

5. What would you rate this book?  Would you recommend this?

Julia: 2 stars! It could have been so much more... I'm not recommending this to anyone. For someone as into gaming and the 80s as I am, this should have been a home run.
Shannon:  Gah, I guess like 2.5?  I am a total black sheep on this book.  Everyone seems to love it, but it was not the "fun and complusive" read that I was expecting.  But I think if you want to read this book, you should.  Because you will probably love it and not be a book pariah like me.

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong [Joint Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Age of Legends #1
Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy
Release: April 8, 2014
Hardcover: 416 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Julia and Shannon

Book Summary:

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever. 

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Julia and Shannon's Thoughts:

1. What were your thoughts on Sea of Shadows?

Julia: Sea of Shadows is intriguing, then confusing, then thrilling then lacking. It has a lot of potential, but fell flat. 

Shannon: This book was rough for me.  I had a very hard time getting into it and I had a hard time following what was happening.  I also found the writing to be very...blunt.

2. What did you like?  What did you dislike?

Julia: I liked the creepy forest and the adversity they faced there. After they leave the forest, things get murky. The characters constantly interrupt each other and it takes away from the story.

Shannon:  I like the idea of the story.  It had all makings for a story I would really enjoy.  But then there was a lot I disliked.  My main issue is the dry writing.  I felt very removed from everything happening.  

3. Did you find the story compelling?  How about the characters?

Julia: At first I did! But then, the story literally doesn't go anywhere...even when it does. The characters were fine, but didn't have the depth I was looking for.
Shannon: No, not really.  As I mentioned, I felt very disconnected from the story.  I had a very hard time staying in it and following what was happening.  It was a struggle for me to finish.  

4. Will you read the sequel?

Julia: Absolutely not. It was painful getting through the second half of this book. I literally was forcing myself to read it, I don't know why.... The ending isn't very satisfying, at all.
Shannon: Nope.  To be very honest, I didn't care enough about the story or characters to even consider it.

5. How many stars would you rate this and would you recommend it?

Julia: 2.5 stars.... And no, not recommending it. I've seen a lot of reviewers that loved Kelley Armstrong's adult novels dislike it too. SO I am not even recommending it to her fans.
Shannon: Same here, 2.5 for me too.  And I don't think I can recommend it either.  There are lot more interesting books out there.

Other Books in the Series:
1. Sea of Shadow
2. Empire of the Night
3. Forest of Ruin (expected publication 2016)

Disclaimer: We received this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are our own.

The Shadow Prince by Bre Despain [Joint Review!]

  2.5 out of 5 Robots!

The Shadow Prince By Bre Despain

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Into the Dark, #1
Release: March 11, 2014
Hardcover:  512 Pages
Publisher: Egmont
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon & Julia

Book Summary:
Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds. (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Julia & Shannon: Joint Review!

1. The quick and dirty on your first impression of Shadow Prince?

Shannon: Well, to be honest, I went into this book with a little trepidation.  I wasn't sure how I felt about another Hades/Persephone retelling.  But the good news is that I found the retelling part to be the most interesting aspect of this book.  It was everything else that fell a little flat for me.  Namely, it was just too long.   

 

Julia: The Shadow Prince is more enjoyable than I had anticipated, so my initial impression was... Well, okay, I can get into this. But then, it never stopped. It was way too long, but I loved the retelling of Persephone.  

2. How did you like it compared to other Persephone retellings?

Shannon:  I actually liked it.  I liked the twist on mythology.  It was a fairly big leap from previous retellings I've read, but there was a lot there to sink your teeth into.

 

Julia: That part of the story is actually way better than a lot of the current young adult retellings that I've read. If only she would have cut down on all the junk in-between. 

3. Characters.... go!

Shannon:  I really don't have much to say about the characters sadly.  I wish the dual narratives between Haden and Daphne worked a little better.  Haden was definitely my preferred perspective.  But I didn't like that sometimes a scene was retold from each POV.  The other characters were pretty standard YA characters so I don't think they added or detracted from the story...they just were.

 

Julia: The characters are so apathetic and two dimensional that it is sad. I couldn't connect to any of them, especially Daphne. Couldn't wait until her point of view ended so I could read Haden's POV. He is at least entertaining and sweet. I can't even remember any of the characters outside of those two and Haden's dad....

4. And the plot worked, didn't work?

Shannon:  Ehhh...I think it could have worked better.  It took so long to get to the point in the first part of the book and the ending crams too much in.  And I wasn't a fan of enormous amount of exposition it took to explain the plot.

Julia: Uh, well, major eye rolling when her father, who hasn't seen her in over 10 years, shows up with court ordered documents that says he wins full custody? Really? I laughed out loud. And he shows up a good 15min before they *HAVE* to leave. I don't know, merp! I wish the ending would have been spread over the entirety of the book and that the middle wasn't even there. I majorly skimmed until the last 20% and didn't miss a beat. 

5. There will be a sequel. Why aren't you going to read it?

Shannon:  I wasn't enamored enough to continue.  Life is too short!

Julia: Absolutely not. I just don't care what happens to anyone. You have to make me care about your characters!

6. Rating and recommendations?
Shannon:  I would give it 3 stars.  I think there would be some people who like this book, so if it seems like something you like than I say, go for it.

Julia: 2.5 out of 3 stars. But don't turn your back on this one just because I didn't love it. I think there are a lot of people out there that will enjoy the length of this book and the twist on mythology.

After the End by Amy Plum [Joint Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

After the End By Amy Plum
Genre: Young Adult SciFi
Release: May 6, 2014
Hardcover:  352 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon & Julia

Book Summary:

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.
When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

  (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Julia & Shannon: Joint Review!

1. What were your initial feelings about After the End? 

Shannon: Sadly, this book didn't leave much of an impression on me.  I wasn't expecting the twist at the beginning, but the rest of what follows wasn't too interesting.  It wasn't bad by any means.  Just unmemorable.

 

Julia: When I began reading After the End, I thought, hey, this could be good. I'm intrigued... and then it kept going. In a car. With no chemistry or really any interesting secondary characters. I forgot all the characters and the story as soon as I shut off my kindle. Apathetic is probably the best word for it.

2. Does the title suit the book? 

Shannon: Actually, now that you mention it, it doesn't really.  After the End implies something apocalyptic, but that's not really the case here.  This book is more like...a beginning...or an awakening or understanding.

 

Julia: No. Not at all. Maybe this should be the title of the conclusion to the series... just nothing about this book seems to justify the title.  This is Juneau's new beginning, yet her old life isn't exactly coming to an end...

3. Let's talk about Juneau and Miles.... Chemistry? 

Shannon:  I think there is potential, but I didn't really feel it.  I never got a good feel for Miles, even though we got his perspective.  They SAID they liked each other, but I never really SAW a lot of evidence as to why they would.

 

Julia: Ya know how they say actions are louder than words? Yeah, that. They're all lovey on each other, but you'd never know they even liked each other as friends without them saying so. I wasn't feel their connection at all, I'm disappointed about it. I think if they'd had more chemistry, I would have cared more for the story.

4. Were there any other notable characters in After the End? 

Shannon:  Not really.  Everyone else is pretty two dimensional.  Oh!  I do like the raven though.

 

Julia: Juneau's village could have had some interesting characters, but we only spend about five minutes with them. So, I guess not. 

5. How'd you take the ending? 

Shannon:  It was fine?  I don't know.  I honestly don't have much of an opinion about it.

 

Julia: It is a little... well, I rolled my eyes. I felt like it was a cheap way to get me into reading  the sequel, which I won't be doing anyway.

6. What would you rate it? Why?

Shannon: 3 out of 5.  It was written well enough, and I didn't mind it while I was reading it.  But nothing really happens and there is a lot of exposition.  The plot was a little too murky for my taste and the characters needed to be fleshed out.  And mostly...it just wasn't memorable.

Julia: 2 out 5. It isn't terribly written, there just wasn't enough action or character development. I don't think I would recommend this, but it wasn't a total waste of time.

All Fall Down by Ally Carter [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

All Fall Down by Ally Carter
Series: Embassy Row #1
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release: January 20, 2015
Hardcover:  320 Pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

A new series of global proportions -- from master of intrigue, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter. 

This exciting new series from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay--in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

Sigh.  I've heard good things about Ally Carter and so when this book came out, I was excited to get it a try.  Unfortunately I didn't like it.  I just...didn't get it.  

Here is what I liked:
**The twist at the end.  It was unexpected and does open up a lot of possibilities for the future of the series.

**Noah.  He was pretty funny and about the only person I actually liked.

**The writing is snappy and fast paced.  Which was good when I was to the point of wanting to skim.

Here is what I didn't like:
**Grace.  She doesn't really do much than be sassy to people, make rash decisions, act petulant, tell everyone she isn't crazy and that she's "fine".  I really didn't care much for her at all, but everyone seemed to love her.  This is a pet peeve of mine.  I don't expect everyone to be sunshine and rainbows, but give me a reason to care about them.  And don't make an unlikable character and then have all the characters want to help them and be friends with them.  Why would they?  She isn't particularly nice to them.  

**This apparently set in a fictitious country surrounded by real countries.  I had no idea and was seriously doubting my geography skills for awhile.  I thought maybe it was a city I wasn't aware of? This really annoyed me for some reason.  Either make it a real country, or make it more obvious from the get go.  I want an explanation and some framing for what this fake country is and why is it so important to have major embassies situated in there?  A map would be good.  A little exposition. Something.

**The weird thing going on between Alexei and Grace.  He just kind of pops up randomly.  There is no point to it.  There is no chemistry, no connection.  He could have easily been cut out of the book I wouldn't have noticed.

**I felt the first half of the book was so monotonous with Grace acting out and insisting she isn't crazy.  But the last half of the book throws the twist at you and lowers the curtain.  Major cliffhanger alert.   I got so tired of Grace and her antics that I just wanted to skim to the end.

Overall:
Overall, this was not my favorite.  I wanted to like it because who doesn't like a good international mystery?  But none of it really made sense.  The characters felt young and very immature.  Even for 16 year olds.  I just didn't get it.  I won't be reading the rest of the series.  

Between Two Worlds by Katherine Kirkpatrick [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

Between Two Worlds by Katherine Kirkpatrick
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Release: April 8, 2014
Hardcover:  304 Pages
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

On the treeless shores of Itta, Greenland, as far north as humans can settle, sixteen-year-old Inuit Billy Bah spots a ship far out among the icebergs on the bay--a sight both welcome and feared. Explorers have already left their indelible mark on her land and its people, and a ship full of white men can mean trouble.

The ship carries provisions for Robert E. Peary, who is making an expedition to the North Pole. As a child, Billy Bah spent a year in America with Peary's family. When her parents went to America years later, they died in a tragic scandal. Now, Peary's wife, daughter, and crew are in Itta to bring him supplies. Winter comes on fast, and when the ship gets caught in the ice, Billy Bah sets out to find Peary. The journey will imperil her life, and that of the man she loves.

By turns lyrical and gripping, Between Two Worlds is an impassioned coming-of-age novel set in a land of breathtaking beauty and danger, where nature and love are powerful and unpredictable forces.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

I won this book in a reading challenge and while it wasn't my normal read, I was intrigued about the story being told from Billy Bah's perspective and from a culture that I am not extremely familiar with.  And while Kirkpatrick does an admirable job of trying to incorporate Inuit customs into her story, overall the book fell a little flat for me.

The first problem I had was with the narration style.  It read more like a middle reader book than YA, but contained some more grown-up themes like marriage, babies, and sex.  It seem incongruous.  The other issue is that Billy Bah's narration is very much lacking in depth and emotion.  And unfortunately a lot of the storytelling falls into "telling" instead of "showing".  Billy Bah says she feels these emotions, but I never felt them with her.  It read a little too clinical and "history book" for me.

The other, and more dangerous issue, is how the Inuit are presented.  I loved the attempt to explain Inuit life in 1900, but it felt like an outsider perspective looking in.  Because at the end of the day, what did I take away about Inuit life?  I learned they like to eat raw meat, that they weren't very clean by Western standards, that they traded their wives for sex for goods and favors, and that dead ancestors could be reborn as newborns.  Perhaps the most troublesome aspect was how often Billy Bah's husband traded her to other men, especially the white sailors.  Now, this may have been a common practice.  I don't know.  But the book spends a lot of time on it and it leads to an awkward love triangle between Billy Bah, her husband, and a white sailor named Duncan.  I would have much preferred if the story focused more on how Inuit life was changed by Peary.  Or even Billy Bah's trip to America.  I don't feel like I understand Inuit life any better, other than the focus on what is different.  Even though this was told from an Inuit perspective, I feel like the "otherness" and "strangeness" was focused heavily on and it rubbed me the wrong way.

Overall, I felt this book could have been more. It lacked sympathy, emotion and depth.  I felt like I was reading a kid's history book instead of a compelling story about a young Inuit whose life was forever changed when she met Robert Peary and his family.

Salt and Storm by Kendall Kulper [Joint Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

Salt and Storm by Kendall Kulper
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy/Paranormal
Release: September 23, 2014
Hardcover:  398 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Julia and Shannon

Book Summary:

You don't know what you must give up to become a witch.

Avery Roe wants only to claim her birthright as the witch of Prince Island and to make the charms that have kept the island's sailors safe at sea for generations, but instead she is held prisoner by her mother in a magic-free life of proper manners and respectability.

Avery thinks escape is just a matter of time, but when she has a harrowing nightmare, she can see what it means: She will be killed. She will be murdered. And she's never been wrong before.

Desperate to change her future, Avery finds a surprising ally in Tane—a tattooed harpoon boy with magic of his own, who moves her in ways she never expected. But as time runs out to unlock her magic and save herself, Avery discovers that becoming a witch requires unimaginable sacrifice.

Avery walks the knife's edge between choice and destiny in Kendall Kulper's sweeping debut: the story of one girl's fight to survive the rising storm of first love and family secrets.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

1. Sum up your thoughts in a sentence or two?
Julia: Salt and Storm is about an arrogant, spoiled little witch. And while I could have maybe put up with that, it is incredibly boring without the "magical" feel I was hoping for. 
Shannon: I had high hopes for Salt and Storm based on the description, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me.  I loved the setting, but didn't really enjoy the characters.  


2. What did you like?  What did you dislike?  Was there anything that stood out to you?
Julia: I loved the response her grandmother gives her. It shocked me. I disliked her attitude, she's not likable. Nothing stood out to me, per say.
Shannon: I liked the setting a lot.  I thought Kulper did a good job of describing a 19th century small whaling community.  I liked the magic/witchery.  I did not like how long it took to get anywhere with the plot though.  It never really felt like it had any forward movement and it felt long.  The history of the Roe family stood out and I loved learning about the different witches.


3. How did you feel about the characters? 
Julia: The problem is that I didn't feel anything for the characters. Tragedy happens and I'm like... merp. I cant really put my finger on my big issue with this one.
Shannon: Yes.  What Julia said.  This is perhaps my biggest problem with the book.  I did not particularly like Avery, which made it hard for me to care for her and her problems.  I also did not feel any chemistry between Avery and Tane.  I wanted to feel more for the characters but they all felt pretty one dimensional.


4. Did you like the way magic was presented in this book?
Julia: No! There wasn't enough! I mean, I would've liked it if there was more than curses for the entirety.
Shannon: I did like the magic as it was presented.  I liked that it was "small magic" - curses, blessings, etc.  I liked how each Roe witch had their own "specialty".  I liked how intertwined magic was with the islanders' lives.  How much they hated and desired it.  I was a little disappointed that "bigger" magic was hinted at, but not really revealed.  



5. How many stars would you give it? Would you recommend this book?
Julia: Two stars out of five. I couldn't connect with the characters and there isn't enough action or adventure to keep me from just skimming the book. To be fair, the ending does get a little interesting. Not recommending this book...unless you read the summary and think it sounds awesome. Just don't go into it with big expectations.
Shannon: I would give it 3 out 5.  I wish I had connected more with the characters and the story.  I am on the fence on whether to recommend it.  I can certainly see some people liking it, but I wouldn't tell people to read it.  But, YMMV.

Disclosure:  I reviewed a copy free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Release: September 18, 2012
Hardcover:  352 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

There is something I've been struggling with over a course of a few books I've read recently and I found it extremely evident in What's Left of Me and that is "WHY?"  Sure, What's Left of Me, offers a different approach from the bloated dystopian genre with the idea that people are born with two souls in one body until the person "settles" with the dominant soul.  But Addie and Eva never settled and had to keep this secret because of...reasons.  The book started out with some promise, but by half way through, my interest level fizzled.

The Good:
- Interesting concept and a different take on a dystopian genre
- Addie and Eva's stuggle to keep their separate identities
- Great ambiance with a lot of tension and the feeling of wanting to look over my shoulder.

The Not-So-Good:
- Book nosedives into generic Big Bad Government plot complete with Big Bad Institution
- A lot of two-dimensional side characters.  Considering a few of them are supposed to be also be hybrids, I could not distinguish between the two.
- A clunky and bogged down middle.  I did not enjoy Addie's stay at the Big Bad Institution.
- The book felt long.  Really long.

The Bad:
- WHY?!  It is never explained why having two souls is bad.  Why does the government want to eradicate them?  Why are there even two souls in the first place?  Why does the government even care? It made it really hard to care about what was happening when there was no basis for anything.  It felt pointless. I was very disappointed by this.

Overall, I was not one of the many who seem to love this series. I won't be continuing on.  But, as always, YMMV!

Books in this series:
1. What's Left of Me
2. Once We Were
3. Echoes of Us

The Jewel by Amy Ewing [Joint Review!]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

The Jewel by Amy Ewing
Series: The Lone City #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release: September 2, 2014
Hardcover:  358 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
My Copy: Publisher (Edelweiss)
Reviewer: Julia and Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Julia and Shannon's Thoughts:

1. Describe your feeling in one or two sentences. 
Julia: The Jewel could have been interesting, but the writing and direction the plot took made the entire thing fall flat for me. The characters weren't striking and I couldn't find myself rooting for anyone. 
Shannon: I feel like the book did not live up to its premise.  I think it could have been compelling in a silly, brain candy kind of way like The Selection, but there was just too much inconsistency and stupid plot points to make it very enjoyable.
 
2. What did you like?  What did you dislike?  
Julia: I liked the premise. I disliked everything else, I felt like the entire book is socialites, the royals, talking. I didn't like the instalove either. 
Shannon: As I mentioned above, I thought the premise sounded like it could be fun.  The Selection was beyond ridiculous, but fun in a Bachelor-esque, bad reality TV kind of way.  I assumed The Jewel would be similar.  But it just doesn't live up the premise.  There were too many inconsistencies and uninspired characters.  The Jewel borrows heavily from other well known YA series, but doesn't quite know what to do with all of it.  The pieces don't always fit together and nothing is fleshed out enough.  Also...nothing happens!  Until the last few pages and then it ends on a major cliffhanger.  Ugh.
 
3. What did you think about the world-building? 
Julia: The different class system is intriguing, but there wasn't much focus on world building other than that. 
Shannon: Here is an area where I noticed The Jewel really borrowing from other series.  With the different classes/areas and the naming conventions, I couldn't help but be reminded of The Hunger Games.  Instead of districts, we have rings (The Marsh, the Smoke, The Banks, The Jewel).  Each ring plays a part in the society, for example, the Smoke is where all the industry happens, etc. The royal families live in the center, the Jewel.  And like The Hunger Games, their names are based on attributes of where they live, so all the royal families are named after gemstones.  Unfortunately, this leads to one guy being unfortunately named Garnet.  But while I didn't find it a problem in The Hunger Games, I was put off by how overtly obvious everything was in The Jewel. That, and none of it made any damn sense.
 
4. What did you think about the romance? 
Julia: Boring, cliche. I rolled my eyes a lot. I didn't feel that much chemistry between Violet and Ash.
Shannon: Wow, yeah, what the hell was that?!  I mean, if you want a prime example of inst-love, you got it.  I mean, I truly don't understand it.  Violet and Ash don't even meet until literally half way through the book.  And there is no purpose to the romance.  It doesn't add anything to the storyline.  It was almost like it was added as an afterfact.  I think this book would have been so much better if Ash's character didn't exist.

5. How many stars would you give this book? Would you recommend this book? 
Julia: Two out of five stars. I just don't have anything very positive to say about this one, at a loss for words. I think it was just hyped so much that I expected a lot more. The ending is suppose to be a cliff hanger, but... merp.
Shannon: I would give it 2.5 stars and like Julia, I can't recommend it.  I just think there are so many other, better series out there.

Disclosure:  We reviewed a copy free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Torn by Amanda Hocking [Reviews]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

 

Torn by Amanda Hocking

Series: Trylle #2

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Release: February 28, 2012

Hardcover: 318 Pages

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.  (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

The second book starts off right where the first ends.  Wendy has left Foening with Rhys (the boy she replaced) so he can meet Matt (her host brother and Rhys' biological brother).  Of course, Finn comes to find her and the Vittra are still after her.  The Vittra capture her and she meets Loki, with whom she has another instant connection.  She learns more about her parentage and it opens up some interest plotlines.

After I read this book I was wondered why something felt off.  And I think it is because nothing really happens.  Honestly.  There is talk about stuff happening.  But not much does.  They just talk about it constantly.  Every page seems to involve a long, drawn out conversation.  Or an argument with Finn.  Or with Wendy's mother.  (Wendy argues a lot.)  I also found that Hocking is a fan of convenience when it comes to getting her characters out of tricky situations.  On the whole, this second novel sets up a lot for the third book, but doesn't manage to accomplish much of anything itself other than to make one or two reveals and start a love triangle.  

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
1. Switched
2. Torn
3. Ascend

Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

 

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Series: Goddess Test #2
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release: March 27, 2012

Hardcover: 304 Pages

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone. (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

Sigh. I wanted to like this series, I really did. I thought Aimee Carter offered an interesting and different take on the ubiquitous Persephone myth, even if I found a lot of it to be silly.  But, I was able to look past the silliness of the first book, The Goddess Test, and for the most part I enjoyed it.  But something happened with this sequel and I found myself beating my head against a wall in frustration. I think the biggest problem is I really didn't like the protagonist, Kate. I thought she was immature, insecure and self righteous. She definitely had those qualities in the first book, but in this book it got a little out of hand.  Her constant whining really got on my nerves and her constant need to be loved was borderline uncomfortable. 

The other problem I had was that most of the book centers on Henry/Hades and Persephone's past and Kate's insecurity/jealous that Henry/Hades doesn't love her as much as he loved Persephone. It was tiring and distracted from the more interesting parts of the book.  Especially since a large chuck of the first book dealt with the same issue.  I would have liked to see more fighting with the Titans and an a more in-depth look into the Underworld.  I also would have liked to see more development between Kate and Henry.  It seemed like their entire relationship consists of Henry sulking and Kate yelling.  (Kate, sweetie, you can't MAKE someone love you just because you love them and screaming at them is not going to help your cause.)  I know there are a ton of people who like this series and I can see why.  But too much of it rubbed me the wrong way. 

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
1.    The Goddess Test
1.5  The Goddess Hunt

2.    Goddess Interrupted
2.5  The Goddess Legacy
3     The Goddess Inheritance

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Series: The Maze Runner #2
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

Release: October 12, 2010

Hardcover: 360 Pages

Publisher: Delacourte Books for Young Reader

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
The second book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Scorch Trials is a modern classic for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED? (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

Hmmm...where to start?  First of all, I liked The Maze Runner.  I did.  But I wasn't too sure about the ending.  I felt like "Really?  THAT'S what is going on the Maze?".  Well, The Scorch Trials starts right after the conclusion of The Maze Runners and just goes downhill from there.  My biggest problem was that I found the premise to be so weird and so out there that I had a hard time accepting it.  The government hand selected these kids and are now them through all these tests to see if they will survive?  That will save the the world....how, exactly?  Usually I can look past outlandish plots, but this was too preposterous to me.  Secondly, there was a woeful lack of character development.  This was a problem in the first book too, but I was willing to overlook it.  But in the second book I wanted to get to know the characters better.  Especially the protagonist, Thomas. Dashner tends to tell his audience what his characters feel, instead of showing them. By the end of the book, I knew so little about the characters that I didn't really care what happened to them.  I really had high hopes for The Scorch Trials, but ultimately I was left unsatisfied.  I don't think I will continuing with the series. 

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
1. The Maze Runner
2. The Scorch Trials
3. The Death Cure
Prequel - The Kill Order

Ashes by Estevan Vega [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

Ashes By Estevan Vega

Series: Arson, #2
Genre: SciFi Thriller Young Adult

Release: September 24, 2011

Hardcover: 396 Pages

Publisher: Stone Ink Publishing

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
More than three months have passed since Arson and Emery were taken. Taken and then separated.

And experimented on.

Salvation Asylum is more like a prison than a psychiatric facility. Unknowingly, Arson has become a vital instrument in a campaign set to genetically alter mankind. Enraged, confused, trapped, and unable to fully manifest his abilities, he wonders if he will ever see Emery again. His new existence is one crawling with questions. Is Grandma alive? Where does the fire come from? Can he become more than a monster?

In Ashes, book two of the ARSON series, nightmare and reality collide as Arson must embrace what he is and the haunting realization that there may be others out there, others like him

Shannon's Thoughts:

Ashes by Estevan Vega was a hard sell for me.  I read the first book, Arson, and found it to be okay.  It lagged a bit and I found the characters' actions to be confusing.  I had hoped that Ashes would up the ante.  And it did.  In fact, it went all in.  Ashes develops the story of Arson and Emery into a sci-fi psychological thriller.  And there are some truly crazy moments.  It would have been interesting except for a few problems that took away from my enjoyment of the story.

The first problem I had was the ever changing Point Of View.  It switches from Arson to Emery to Emery's parents to the scientists experimenting on the kids.  Constantly.  I found it to be really distracting.  Just when I was starting to get into a storyline, it would change on me!

This leads me to the second problem, which is the characters.  I had a hard time connecting with them, especially the adults. Emery's mom, for example, is hard to swallow.  The only thing she does is pick fights with everyone.  A lot of the characters also spoke in such a manner than no normal person would speak.  For example, what 16 year old runs around screaming that they are a menace?  A menace?  Really? On top of that, there are long passages of excessive exposition that sometimes brings the plot to a grinding halt.

I wish I could say I enjoyed this book more.  I felt the story had potential, but I couldn't get past the issues I mentioned above.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore [Review]

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

I Am Number Four
By Pittacus Lore
Series: Lorien Legacies #1

Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi
Release: August 3, 2010
Hardcover: 440 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
There were nine. Three are dead. I Am Number Four.

Nine teenagers and their guardians are hiding on Earth... protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numeric order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four. And his mortal enemies, the Mogadorian, are hunting him down.

The only way to keep off radar is to keep moving, never staying in one place for long. Finally in the firing line, all he can do is adopt the guise of a student and pray his unusual gifts—his legacies home; Planet Lorien—stay hidden long enough for him to settle into this new community.

But others seem to sense his otherness and when small-town life sucks him into its intrigues, it’s only a matter of time before his true nature is revealed. And that means there’s no space for love, friendship or a future if it means protecting not only himself, but the other five...

Shannon's Thoughts:

Meh.  That is exactly how I felt reading I Am Number Four.  It isn't that it is bad per se, but it is just extremely forgettable.  The story starts out slow and ends with a bang.  I kept hoping I would be more into the book once the excitement starting ramping up, but I still felt pretty apathetic by the end.

The biggest problem is the writing.  It is unimaginative and flat.  The writing is so plain, I felt I was reading a police report.  Also, there is nothing unique about the plot or characters.  There is almost no character building.  This is especially evident when John Smith falls in love with a local high schooler named Sarah.  I can't tell you a single thing about her.  You are never given any idea of her personality.  And because of that, it is really hard to understand the love between her and John.  It is not enough to be told about feeling, readers need to be shown them.

All in all, maybe younger readers would enjoy this book more.  But for most, I think your time would be better spent reading something else.

Books in order they should be read:
1. I am Number Four:  The Lost Files: Six's Legacy (#0.5)
2. I am Number Four (#1)
3. The Power of Six (#2)
4. I am Number Four: The Lost Files: Nine's Legacy (#2.5)