Erased by Jennifer Rush

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 288 Pages
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown
Books for Young Readers
Narration: First Person: Anna
Genre: Dystopian/Science Fiction

The Altered Series
Book .5: Forged
Book One: Altered
Book Two: Erased
Book Three: Reborn

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Author's
Goodreads  Website  Twitter  Facebook

Goodreads Synopsis:

They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.

Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?

Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling sequel to Altered in a novel packed with mysteries, lies, and surprises that are sure to keep readers guessing until the last age is turned

My Review:

Good, but not great.

Erased was disappointing, especially when compared to Altered. The content wasn't boring by any means, but I definitely didn't find it as entertaining or thrilling as I found the happenings in Altered. The plot, to me, wasn't much of a plot at all. It's hard to put in words. 

At times, I thought Anna was a capable heroine. Despite her lack of training when compared to the boys', she could hold her own in battle. She made the best of what she had, and for that, I respected her. No damsel in distress shenanigans here. Although, she did get herself in a pickle more than a few times. My point is, she tried to defend herself rather than rely on the boys to always take care of her. However, that's not to say that she didn't have her TSTL moments. She jumped head-first into danger multiple times, heedless of the safety of her and those around her. I understand her motives, but I wish she thought of some stealthier way of doing it, using her intelligence instead of relying on brute force to save her. Physical strength is definitely a great thing for a heroine to have; however mental finesse is just as important, perhaps even more so. Another thing that I found quite disturbing was her reaction to traumatizing events. Can't go much deeper than that without giving away spoilers. However, if you've already read the book, feel free to read my rant. :D

*************************SPOILER: READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.*********************

When Anna killed Dani, I was like...."What?" To be honest, it didn't even sink in until I got through the next few pages, because it was so shocking. Even though Dani did some unsavory things, she did all of those things for one purpose only. To protect her little sister. And what does Anna do? Stab her in the chest. GAH! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? If she had to rough her sister up a bit to get to the boys, ok, whatever. But to kill her? Couldn't you just have, I don't know, knocked her out or something? Luckily, I wasn't too attached to Dani, because I hadn't really known her very well..but still. Anna basically killed her entire family, with little remorse. She was saddened and shellshocked for a short period of time, but not long after, she seemed as good as new. Creepy, much?

*************************************END SPOILER*********************************

The other guys were cool. However, I am a bit wary of how this love triangle is going to pan out. Not much of it in Erased, but I'm guessing it'll be one of the main focus points in the last novel. As for the characters, Cas is my favorite of them all. He always brightens the atmosphere with his witty banter and brings much needed humor into dark situations. 

The action didn't have me clinging to the edge of my seat. It was enough to keep me interested, but not enough to capture my full, undivided attention.

In conclusion, Erased was so-so. Although Anna was a strong protagonist at times, I still questioned her actions and reactions to certain situations. Sometimes I felt like her emotions drove her to make reckless decisions while at other times I felt like she didn't show emotion enough. The boys were interesting to read about, but I wasn't dying to know more about them. Will I be reading the sequel? Probably. Just won't be as excited to read it.

Heroine- 3.5/5
Romance- 3/5 Meh
Action- 3/5
Writing- 4/5
Overall- 3.5/5

Fragments by Dan Wells

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 564 Pages
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Narration: Third Person: Kira & Marcus
Genre: Sci Fi/Dystopian
Challenge: Dystopian

Partials Sequence Series
Book One: Partials
Book Two: Fragments
Book Three: Untitled

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Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means--and even more important, a reason--for our survival.

My Review:

After reading Partials, an action packed, seat gripping novel that had me constantly repeating the mantra, "Holy shit, that did not just happen." I was a bit disappointed at the pace Dan set for his wildly anticipated sequel. Well at least for the first 15-20%. Although I did find Marcus's character to be hilarious, I was really more interested in finding out what was happening to Kira and am ashamed to admit that I skimmed some pages when the point of view was focused solely on him. Even when it was Kira's turn to take the reins and steer the story, I was still bored. 

Of course, I admired the way Kira handled herself in the wilderness of Manhattan, including the split second decisions she was forced to make as well as mapping out all the possible outcomes, both good and bad, while making them. But without any other characters to interact with her, the story seemed bland and monotonous. So I sluggishly continued on, wondering if I should just give up for the night when BAM! I was suddenly clinging onto every single word, staring wide eyed at all the revelations being so suddenly revealed. I seriously shouldn't have started this novel so late at night because once I really got into the story, my fingers had a mind of their own, and no matter what I did my body wouldn't allow me to stop reading until I finally crashed out of exhaustion at 5 A.M. in the morning. Curse you, Daylight Savings Time! I really needed that extra hour. >.<

Kira has definitely made it to my top favorite heroines of all time. I didn't even grasp the fact that she was written by a male author until I had an epiphany and realized, "Hey, Dan isn't a female name......" Slow, I know, but I was so completely wrapped up in the story that I didn't even have the mind to notice anything else. Even though difficulties and obstacles were constantly being thrown at Kira this way and that, she still tried her best to keep a upbeat and positive outlook on life. She believed that they could complete their mission and ultimately discover a cure to both RM and the Partial's Expiration as well as find out what she really was and why she was made in the first place. Where any normal, sane person would've thrown in the towel and gave up, she kept going, determined to face everything head on while gripping tenaciously to her sarcastic attitude the whole time. 

Like any other teenage girl, she did have her doubts about whether or not there even was a way to synthesize a cure or a way to fix the Partial's looming expiration date. While also fearing that Partials and Humans wouldn't be able to let go of their prejudices and coexist peacefully with one another even if they did find solutions to both problems. Dan also created a depth in Kira that I rarely see in other YA heroines. She felt like someone I could reach out and physically touch, someone who could be mistaken as a best friend or older sibling, especially when she gave the horses names according to their varying personalities. Something that I would definitely do. xD

Then we have the rest of the team. Heron, a Partial who had broken off from Dr. Morgan's faction in order to find a solution for her inevitable demise, was both similar to Kira as well as completely different at the same time. Both females are strong willed, stubborn, sarcastic at the most inappropriate times, and intelligent, which causes them to butt heads more often than not. However, the similarities end there. They have a completely different outlook on life. Kira believes that there is hope for both humanity and Partials alike, that sometime in the future they'll let go of their past, forget their differences, and work together in order to save the last of both species. Heron on the other hand doesn't wish for the overall demise of the human population, but doesn't really care whether they die or not. However, I'm questioning whether she really believes what she claims, because her actions near the end of the novel say otherwise.....

Afa was a very interesting character, definitely one we don't see often. Bluntly put, it's pretty obvious he's mentally disabled, from issues at birth or just from isolation, we don't know, but he literally acted like a huge kid. He was intriguing to read about, because at times he seemed to be completely lucid and brilliant, but in others he was lost in his own world, not completely comprehending what was occurring around him. 

And last but not least, we have one of our main love interests, Samm, a Partial who sacrificed everything in order to save Kira from a life of probing and observing. Not because he was hopelessly in love with her, but because it was the right thing to do. Which is probably one of the most interesting aspects of this novel. Although Samm does fall in love with Kira along the way, that wasn't the sole purpose of his mission. He did it to save both his world as well as humanity, despite the fact that 99% of the human population wouldn't hesitate to kill him if it meant their own survival.

The characters definitely weren't the only part I loved about Fragments. Dan described this apocalyptic world so well, that he actually had me believing it was real. So much of everything he described before the Break sounds exactly like what's happening in the world present day. I actually woke up in the middle of the night, because I had nightmares of this story becoming reality. 

The slightest rustle of sound, every creak of a loose floorboard, had me believing that a Partial in cahoots with Dr. Morgan was going to kidnap me from my bed in order to do some sort of sadistic biological experiment. Which means that even though I'll be wildly anticipating the final conclusion of this epic series, I'll wait until broad daylight to read it. And if the government ever decides to start building enhanced soldiers for some war against China, I'll be stocking up on nonperishable supplies, holed up in Costco getting ready to survive on nothing but purified water and stale beef jerky. xD

Overall, if the first 20% of the novel hadn't moved so slow, Fragments would've gotten a solid 5 stars from me. Dan Wells is obviously a talented author who knows what he's doing!  If your looking for a healthy dose of sarcasm and enjoy stories with top notch world building, foretelling the ominous upcoming Apocalypse, you might want to check out what this thought provoking series has to offer.

Heroine- 6/5
Romance- 4.5/5
Action- 3/5 First 20% was slow, but after that it was amazing.
Comedy- 5/5 One Word. Hilarious.
World Building- 6/5
Writing- 5/5
Overall 4.5/5

Click to Watch Book Trailer

Blog Tour + Excerpt: Terra by Gretchen Powell

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 286 Pages
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Narration: First Person: Terra
Genre: Dystopian / Sci Fi
Source: CBL Book Tours

Terrestrials Series
Book One: Terra

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                               Kindle
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Nook

Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two. The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon makes her living as a scav, scouting the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. While on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Fueled by curiosity, her search for the truth ultimately leads her to Adam--a beguiling boy with a secret that has the power to change humanity's existence forever.

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis, I didn't think that Terra would be anything special. Let's face it. After The Hunger Games went viral, the majority of YA authors followed in Suzanne's footsteps in hopes of becoming the next big thing. And sooner rather than later, a whole plethora of Dystopian novels, with admittedly slight variations, were born. After reading so many copycats of the original dystopian novel that kickstarted it all, I wasn't expecting anything unique or innovative. I was so wrong! Although there were a couple of similarities between Terra and The Hunger Games in the beginning, Terra soon took a completely different path altogether! I immediately fell in love with the dangerous and desperate world Gretchen created, as well as all the characters surrounding it. 

As soon as we crack open the novel, we meet Terra Rhodon, a eighteen year old girl who scavenges for things such as recyclable plastic and metal parts for a living, in order to make enough credit to buy food, if you can even call what they eat food, for herself and her younger fourteen year old brother Mica. I have to say, the whole scavenging concept was the main reason why I enjoyed this novel. Although there are many people who think that this idea was stolen from The Hunger Games, I really don't see the connection whatsoever. Maybe I need to reread it, but from what I remember of The Hunger Games, the only part that was even remotely close to scavenging was when Katniss was searching for items in the arena. Anyways, so yeah, the whole idea was fascinating to me! After reading the first page, I knew that my butt was going to stay glued to my chair until I finished it. 

Although there were a few points in the novel when I got upset with Terra's actions or thought process, these moments were scarce, and the majority of the time I found Terra to be a very likable character. She was a strong, independent young girl, forced to grow up at a young age due to her mother's death and her father's incompetence to take care of his children. After she met Adam, the blue eyed love interest, she did some....questionable things. I understood why she took those certain actions, but at the same time I wanted to reprimand her for it. In the end, I finally concluded that although I wouldn't do what she did in the exact same way, her heart was in the right place, because she was thinking about the wellbeing of her brother rather than her own needs.

Adam was absolutely adorable. Even though Terra was snappy and feisty when they first met, he was nothing but polite and understanding. The romance they both kindled veered towards the sweet and cute side rather than the hot and steamy, which I'm totally fine with! Both types are great to read about, and since most YA novels curve towards the steamy side, it's refreshing to see a delightfully awkward yet undeniably sweet romance for once. There was this one particular scene when Terra was in the shower and Adam....well for those of you who read the novel, you'll know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't, you'll have to get the book yourself, because I'm not too keen on giving away spoilers. xD Anyways, just the way that Gretchen described how it happened induced a "Awwwww" moment from me. xD However, that one....secret that was revealed near the end of the book about Adam, was a bit out of place. I wish Gretchen kept up with the whole Dystopian theme instead of bringing Sci Fi into this.

The action was well paced, because as I stated several times before, I was interested with the whole idea of scavenging for a living. I never once felt bored, and since this book only spanned about 250 pages, it was a quick and easy read for me. The thorough descriptions and details Gretchen used made the novel more enjoyable to read and didn't detract from the pace at all!

Overall, if your looking for a intriguing dystopian to breeze through, Terra is a worthy contender. It's perfect for anyone who wants to be able to finish a book in a short period of time. Although I wasn't all too happy with the Sci Fi twist that was incorporated into Terra, I'm still interested in reading the sequel to see what happens next.

Cover- 5/5
Heroine- 4/5
Romance- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3.5/5
Theme- 3/5
Overall- 4/5


About The Author: 

Gretchen Powell grew up in far-off places. She is 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters.

By day, she types and types (and types and types) for personal, professional, and cathartic purposes.

By night, she binges on episodes of Doctor Who and sleeps fitfully.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, she writes a blog, called "Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!" about food, fitness, and her life.

She loves words. And Harry Potter. And especially the words IN Harry Potter.

 Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

Excerpt:

 

The crunch of multiple footsteps sounds in my ears, and I know the unseen speaker is not alone. With achingly slow speed, I bend my knees to pick up my bag and pivot in the direction of the voice.

 

Three huge men stand about a yard in front of me, lined up in a row. All three of them sport shaved heads, making them almost indistinguishable from one another, save for their differing skin tones. Their long brown coats hang open, revealing bare chests covered with tattoos that creep from below their waistlines all the way up to their chins.

 

Raiders.

 

The man in the middle has a chain of thick golden links hanging around his throat. As I watch it bounce against his dark chest, I realize I’ve never actually seen raiders up close before. All that time spent thinking about Lee’s final moments, what his murderers had looked like. Turns out I had it pictured all wrong.

 

How did I not hear them coming? I always hear them coming.
 

Sample Chapters

 

Enter This Giveaway

Blog Tour: Review + Guest Post: Persistence Of Vision by Liesel K. Hill

Reading Level: Ages 13 and up

Paperback: 386 Pages

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Narration: Third Person: Maggie,

Marcus, Other Minor Characters

Genre: New Adult/Sci Fi

 

Interchron Series:

Book One: Persistence Of Vision

Book Two: Unknown

Book Three: Unknown

 

Order On Amazon: Paperback

                                Kindle

Order On Barnes and Noble:

Paperback and Nook

 

Author's

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

In a world where collective hives are enslaving the population and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper, and independent 21st Century woman, must find the strength to preserve the freedom of the future, but without the aid of her memories.

After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can't explain. When she's attacked by a creep with a spider's web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she's never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.

In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.

If Maggie can't fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away...

 

My Review:

 

Wooot! First Blog Tour Ever! Huge thank you to Liesel Hill for inviting me to be a part of her tour and providing me a copy of her debut novel, Persistence of Vision! :D

 

*Does Happy Dance*

 

 

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, let's move onto the actual book, shall we? Persistence of Vision was definitely something I have never encountered before! I'm usually a pretty eclectic reader when it comes to books, but the Sci Fi/Time Travel genre has never been of interest to me. I've tried reading books like Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (which is related to the Time Traveling theme if you don't know), but throughout most of that book, my reactions and thoughts basically equated to, "Uhhhh what the heck just happened?" All of the sciencey terms and equations they used had my head reeling! Although there were certain points in Persistence of Vision when I was confused as to how something worked or how something came to be, unlike Unraveling, those moments weren't very often and the majority of the explanations were very straightforward.

 

In this story, we follow Maggie and her journey into discovering who she truly is and where she really came from. Ever since she and her brother lost 12 hours of time and woke up confused in a locked hotel room, Maggie has always felt like something was missing. Even when her brother, Jonah, moved on and wrote off the incident as a freak accident, Maggie could never get it off her mind. She always felt out of it, as if she didn't belong where she currently resided. She constantly had the same flashes of random events but never understood their meaning. When a stranger drops by her doorstep one afternoon, everything she ever knows changes within a blink of an eye. Maggie soon finds herself caught between two life changing choices: To either leave with a complete stranger who seems to know things about her that she hasn't even admitted to herself.....or ignore his warnings and stay at home...even with the possibility that someone's coming for her. Someone who means to kill her. Or Worse. 

 

Maggie was a great character most of the time! She wouldn't hesitate to risk her life in order to save someone she didn't even know. She was compassionate towards others and was an admirable character to read about. Generally, she made realistic decisions. Like when she was questioning Marcus and Doc about who they were and what their purpose really was. She asked the exact same questions I would've asked if I was in her position. Also, when she was told that she and Marcus were romantically involved, she didn't immediately swoon over him. Her reactions were sensible and although their conversations flowed easily when they had a topic to talk about, she felt awkward because she didn't remember anything about their love for one another. Which is understandable. However, there were also times when I felt like she trusted others a little too easily and ignored VERY important LIFE CHANGING revelations.

 

Marcus was a great character as well! Although he wasn't swoonworthy, he was sweet, thoughtful, and kind. Even though he remembered everything about Maggie and the romance they once kindled, he didn't push her to remember him or try to force a relationship upon her. He gave her space to breathe, and if things got to uncomfortable between them, he would find a way to excuse himself in order to not cause her any discomfort. Marcus did whatever it took to protect her even if it meant sacrificing his life in the process.

 

Since Persistence of Vision wasn't in the Young Adult category but instead was classified as a New Adult novel, I feared that there would be some....inappropriate material not suited for people under the age of 18. xD But rest assured! The romance was as clean as can be and the most that ever happened were a few kisses here and there. Actually, to be honest, it was cleaner than most YA novels. There was a slight love triangle, but since the two main characters were around 20, there wasn't as much teenage angst. So for those of you who flinch at the very mention of love triangles, be warned, but I don't think you'll have any issues with it.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there were barely any grammatical errors at all! If you've read my previous reviews, you would know that I am grammatically challenged, but from what I could see, there were only a few slight problems with missing words here like "the" or "a". However, even though there were a few minor errors here and there, you could still clearly see what the author was trying to say. The other grammar/spelling mistakes I did find were tiny and didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.

 

The pacing was slow in the beginning. I was bored, but not to the point where I was flipping pages in order to find something better on the next page. However, when I hit around the 35% mark I think it was? It started to get a lot more interesting, and I was soon sucked into the world Liesel weaved! :D

 

Overall, the premise of a futuristic world when people are being absorbed into "Collectives" and controlled by higher beings is super unique! I've never read any book with a theme remotely close to this, but since I'm not usually into the whole Sci Fi theme, I don't know if my word means much. xD The characters were very likable, and I really connected with them, despite the fact that they were slightly older than I'm used to. If you enjoy stories related to mind control, Sci Fi, and superpowers, you'll definitely want to see what Persistence of Vision has to offer!

 

Heroine- 4/5

Romance- 4.5/5

Action- 3/5 Little slow in the beginning, but it picked up near the middle.

Comedy- N/A There were a couple of funny moments but not enough to rate.

Overall- 4/5

Guest Post by Liesel K. Hill on

                   Books and Technology:

 

 

As all things in our world go digital, and the age of Star Trekkian technology bounds toward us, there’s a lot of debate about digital books versus physical books.

 

There are those that embrace the digital age whole-heartedly and those who refuse to go digital on principal. Most people are a hybrid of the two. They still buy hard copy books, but also own a digital reader.

 

I’ve found digital readers can be much more convenient at times, especially when the need to travel arises. Of course, I still have shelves full of books I don’t intend to dispose of anytime soon.

 

So what’s my advice? Don’t be afraid of technology. At the rate digital technology is growing, it can only help the spread of great books. Besides, technology isn’t disappearing anytime soon. If you refuse to get on the bandwagon, chances are you’ll be left behind.

 

Did you know that things like Star Trek’s replicator and cloaking devices have, for all intents and purposes, already been invented? It’s true! The technology simply isn’t in a place yet where it can be widely used and distributed. They’re well on their way to inventing the medical tri-corder as well.

 

According to the Google Execute Chairman, “From the very beginning of time until the year 2003, humankind created five exabytes of digital information. An Exabyte is one billion gigabytes—or a 1 with eighteen zeroes after it. Right now, in the year 2010, the human race is generating five exabytes of information every two days. By the year 2013, the number will be five exabytes produced every ten minutes.”

(Source: Peter Diamandis, Abundance)

 

So, if you want to read and write and keep up with the world, I suggest you jump on the bandwagon of technology. There’s no better way for writers to spread their stories, readers to access them, and book lovers to share their passion.

 

Happy reading, Everyone, in whatever format you choose. :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed my review and Liesel's intriguing guest post!

Thanks for dropping by! :)

Gravity by Melissa West

Reading Level: Ages 16 and up
Paperback: 400 Pages
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Aliens/Sci Fi

The Taking
Book One: Gravity
Book Two: Hover (8/6/13)
Book Three: Unknown (2014)

Order On Amazon: Paperback
                                Kindle
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Paperback

Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter ! Facebook )

Amazon Review:

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

My Review:

The first thing I noticed about Gravity, was the motto, "Don't. Ever. Peek." It was probably supposed to aspire curiosity out of the reader, but in my opinion it sounded sorta cheesy. However, after reading the summary, I couldn't resist the temptation to open the book anyways. I was so happy I made that decision.

Gravity takes place in a futuristic America, during the year 2040. At this time, the world was in ruins because of the devastation left by World War IV, a war filled with nuclear bombs and weapons. Without food, humans could not survive, so they turned to the Ancients, an alien race with special powers, and asked them to help rebuild Earth. The Ancients, at that time, also needed certain nutrients that they could only find in humans, so a treaty was made. In exchange for there help, Ancients were assigned to a specific human, and every night the Ancients came at midnight to collect the nutrients needed for them to survive. There was only one rule that all humans were supposed to abide by. One rule that could never be broken. One rule, that if broken would cause dire consequences. "Dont. Ever. Peek."

Ari Alexander, broke that rule.

The night of the Taking, Ari couldn't find her patch. The patch was a device that was specifically designed so that a human would not be able to feel or see what was happening around them. She knew that she didn't have long until her assigned Ancient arrived, but she searched to no avail. Ari finally accepted the fact that she would just have to close her eyes and deal with it, and that's what she did. However, when her Ancient arrived and started the Taking, she couldn't help but open her eyes. Surprise, surprise, the Ancient that was assigned to her was none other than Jackson Locke, one of the hottest guys at school and her biggest competition.

Jackson explained to her that if she didn't help him, then life as they knew it would change. War was coming, and it was up to them to stop it. Will they stop the war before it's to late?

This is probably only the third Alien novel I have ever enjoyed. When I think of aliens I usually think of green martiany dudes with big black eyes that say, "Take me to your leader." Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout and I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore totally changed my perspective! I mean let's face it, with Alex Pettyfer as Number Four and Daemon with his infuriating good looks, Aliens are rather hot nowadays. Jackson Locke is no exception. The romance between him and Ari was believable and not one of those stupid Insta Love connections! I'm so happy about that! I think I can speak for all of us when I say that instant connections between the main characters are overused and very very annoying. Ari didn't immediately fall for Jackson's swoonworthy good looks. She started off rather skeptical about his intentions and wondered what he really wanted from her. She asked herself if what she was doing was right and if she was being played or not. Every single one of her reactions were believable and I feel like the author really captured the voice of a teenage girl. She was compassionate and hated death, but knew that it was neccesary in order to survive. Ari never ceased to amaze me with her bravery and kindness.

Jackson was a great character as well. I expected him to be some kind of arrogant ass that loved getting under Ari's skin, but he wasn't. Yeah he had his cocky moments but deep down he was a big softie. Jackson always thought about the well being of Ari first, and understood her in a level that no one else did.

The action and worldbuilding were amazing as well. It was fast paced and had my pulse racing at times. I was constantly entranced by the twists and turns of the story, and nothing ever fell flat. I ended up talking to myself alot, trying to figure out who the good and bad guys were. The worldbuilding was descriptive, but at the same time didn't bore you with overzealous details. If you enjoy hot aliens, believable romance, heart racing action, and two very stubborn and badass characters, you should definitely check out Gravity today!

Heroine- 5/5
Romance- 5/5
Comedy- 4/5
Action- 5/5
Writing- 5/5
Overall- 5/5

False Memory by Dan Krokos

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 336 pages
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Genre: Science Fiction/Futuristic

Book One: False Memory
Book Two: Untitled (August 2013)

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Barnes and Noble Summary:

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter...when there may not be a future.

Dan Krokos' debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series.

My Review:

False Memory, like the last novel I read, had a unique and never before seen storyline. I mean how many novels do you see about a girl who can trigger pure terror into everyone around her? When I picked up this book, I had no idea what to expect. One thing I found interesting was that the author was male, while the protagonist was female. Alot of male authors try and fail to understand the female mind and how it reacts to certain situations. In Dan's case, he succeeded!

The protagonist Miranda, who even though was strong, fierce, and stubborn was also vulnerable at the same time. When Miranda wakes up in a mall all by herself with no memories of her past, she starts to panic. I mean how would you feel if you woke up one day with no memories of what happened and how you got there? In her panic, she accidentally lets go of this physic energy that incites pure terror into everyone around her. Things go nuts. People start running around and trampling each other and even jumping off of balconies. Through it all, only one boy remains calm and undisturbed by the disaster happening around them.

Enter Peter. Peter is a black haired blue eyed stranger that Miranda has never seen before. But even though Miranda doesn't know him, Peter knows her. She learns that she is what they call a Rose and that Peter is just like her. Together, they set out on a journey with the rest of her team to find out the truth of who they are and what they were meant to do.

This novel is absolutely packed with action! Most of the time I was on the edge of my seat flipping page after page to see what happens next! The romance in this book, like many YA novels, was a love triangle. The two love interests were complete opposites of each other. One was calm, cool, and collected, while the other was cocky, witty, and arrogant. The romance kind of reminded me of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She loved him. He loved someone else. She didn't love him back sort of thing.

Near the end of the book, things get a little hectic. Half of the time I had no idea what was going on but after rereading it again slowly, it finally clicked. False Memory is the kind of story that has a very intricate and complicated storyline, so that if you miss something the rest doesn't make sense. I recommend False Memory to all Sci Fi fans and to anyone with a love of fast paced action and heart racing suspense.

Heroine- 5/5
Romance- 4/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3/5
Overall- 4/5

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