Waiting on Wednesday: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I've recently been on another dystopian/post-apocalyptic reading kick. I go through these periodically and tend to lose myself in the futuristic "what if" scenarios. This one promises to have the same effect on me. Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes hits shelves on July 2nd, just in time for the holiday!

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.

Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.

When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.

From Goodreads

This book has so many things going for it: a protagonist with a mental disorder, justified defiance, unique time based plot, & a not-so-kind ruling party. I have a feeling that while this summary sounds over the top, that the book will present it logically & at an acceptable pace. How the author handles the disorder & pursuing action will be a first for me because I don't often get to read books that feature such obstacles in their main characters.

Have you heard anything about this book? Are you looking forward to it or something else this week?

Truth (XVI #2) by Julia Karr review

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR XVI!

An exciting dystopian thriller, and sequel to XVI

Nina Oberon's life has changed enormously in the last few months. When her mother was killed, Nina discovered the truth about her father, the leader of the Resistance. And now she sports the same Governing Council ordered tattoo of XVI on her wrist that all sixteen-year-old girls have. The one that announces to the world that she is easy prey to predators. But Nina won't be anyone's stereotype. And when she joins an organization of girls working within the Resistance, she knows that they can put an end to one of the most terrifying secret programs the GC has ever conceived. Because the truth always comes out . . . and the consequences can be deadly.

From Goodreads

Nina is all too familiar with how dangerous the truth can be to anyone & everyone. She has lost almost everyone she holds dear to the truth. After her mother's "accident" left her and her little sister "orphaned" in the eyes of the government, the girls are living with their grandparents; but their worries are far from over. Because of her strong convictions & absolute refusal to bow to how others think she should behave, Nina is her own person and is determined to prove it.

When tragedy strikes her family again, Nina vows to do whatever is in her power to make things right. She wants to expose the all important truth so that everyone is free to do as they please and make up their own minds. Unfortunately that's where even she has trouble. With her family life in taters, naturally her love life will follow suit. Torn between what she thinks she wants & what she's struggling to deny she wants, Nina must make some difficult choices that could have serious ramifications for them all.

This was such a great follow up to XVI. Julia Karr has done a phenomenal job continuing right where she left us. Nina is as determined & strong-willed as ever to ensure that her little sister is protected while trying to find a way to make adequate use of her skills in the Resistance. Unfortunately women are shunned from actual "dangerous" work in order to keep them safe. What I love about Nina is that she is not overly concerned with her safety. She is self-sacrificing in a non-pathetic way. She has no intention of being overlooked simply because of her gender. 

Her friends are also wonderful because they vary so greatly, allowing the reader a wide vantage point of the society at large. There are so many facets to be considered that one could easily get lost among the details, but Julia gives many of those facets names and attitudes that permit us to recognize just who & what they embody.

The writing is top notch. The details are spread out enough that you don't find yourself overwhelmed, but still targeted enough to get the message across. There wasn't an overabundance of fluff. Everything had a purpose that either tied together well or laid out a path that I believe will serve a future purpose.

In short, if you haven't already. you should read this series. If for no other reason than the amusing references to today's pop culture, you really should read & enjoy this series. In theory the final installment is due for release sometime this year.

Outpost (Razorland #2) by Ann Aguirre review

Possible spoilers for Enclave. Read at your own risk! :)

What use does a Huntress have for schooling lessons? That's the question that has been plaguing Deuce since she arrived topside. After being allowed to share their harrowing journey, Stalker, Fade, Deuce & Tegan are assimilated into the town of Salvation. Unfortunately for Deuce that means wearing dresses & attending school as she has not yet reached the age of majority in this topside world. To complicate matters further, Tegan has distanced herself from her comrades because she is desperate to fit in & Deuce finds herself torn between a stand-offish Fade & a needy Stalker.

As if all this emotional drama isn't enough, Deuce can't let go of her Huntress roots. She seeks out any chance she can get to keep an eye on the Freak population & becomes increasingly concerned at the new abilities & traits they are portraying. Fortunately she is able to secure a position on the Summer Patrols with Fade & Stalker. This group of "fighters" is supposed to keep the planters safe while they work to grow enough food to last the town through the winter. But the Freaks have other plans.  

An outstanding follow up to Enclave, I found myself engrossed in Outpost. The story picks up not long as we left our protagonists in their new home of Salvation. This isolated town has been rebuilt & fortified to withstand Freak attacks. The God-fearing townsfolk are pleasant when all is well, but tend to get prickly when anyone rocks the boat. Of course Deuce & Stalker are singled out at trouble makers just because they refuse to completely assimilate. They honestly can't help just how different they are from the easy-living townfolk as they have seen some incredibly disturbing things in their short lives.

So we follow Deuce as she lightly treads on the toes of the locals, while struggling with other people's expectations that she doesn't quite comprehend. Most importantly, we get to explore the more emotional side of the Huntress. As life is a touch easier topside, there is more time to think & feel (not to mention it is actually encouraged) so we watch as Deuce begins to explore her feelings & starts to understand that sometimes a simple action or word can have a deeper meaning.

Ann Aguirre's writing style is such that when I start to read, a canvas appears in front of me. I can clearly picture everything that is going on down to simple hand gestures. There's a cadence to the story that allows the reader to ebb & flow between action & more reflective scenes. A perfect balance of brazen & subdued choices, Outpost sets the wheels in motion for an exciting third installment!
Be sure to pick up your copy at the library or bookstore September 4th, 2012!

Enclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre review

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

From Goodreads

Deuce, formerly known as Girl 15, has earned her place among her people as a Huntress. With her six scars on her forearms she has gained the recognition that she deserves for the job that she does. As a defender & food hunter for the enclave, one of her main duties is keeping her people safe & fed. But when she receives Fade, a veteran hunter with a dark history, as her partner she's not entirely sure what to think. She figures as long as they follow the enclave's strict rules that all will be well. It doesn't take long for this duo to stray quite far from those rules in the name of doing what's right.

The information they learn, that the Freaks (hideous, former humans that have become feral monsters) have overrun the next closest enclave, should shake up their whole existence. Yet the elders seem to pay the duo no mind & continue to punish them. That is when Deuce's unshakable belief is challenged. Do the elders really know what's right anymore? And do they know more than they are telling the people just so they can remain in control?

This was one roller coaster of a dystopian, adventure story. Set in an underground, near-future world Enclave is everything I've been looking for in a book. The characters are dynamic & engaging & the plot moves rather quickly. I felt like every time I started to get a handle on the situation, something else would change & I would have to reevaluate what I'd learned. Such non-stop action allowed me to enjoy the swiftness of the story without making me feel like I was missing critical information by reading so fast.

The funnest part of the whole book was trying to figure out what items the characters were looking at & where the book takes place. There's a time when Deuce & her friends find a wedding invitation & don't know what to make of it. They take it to the Wordkeeper who reads it to them, but does not elaborate on the meaning of the word. Things like that really give a stark contrast from today's world to the one that Deuce inhabits. I had a tough time placing the setting until very late in the story, but I had fun with the puzzle anyway.

For those who want to read a fast-paced, thrilling ride that offers more depth & challenges your sense of "normal standards," this is the book for you. I blew through it in 2 days & have the second one ready to go for this work week's lunchtime read. :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Outpost (Razorland #2) by Ann Aguirre

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I recently finished reading Enclave & I could kick myself for waiting so long to read such a GREAT book. While my review may be going up tomorrow, today I'm featuring its sequel. It's not really spoilery for the first book, so if you haven't checked out the first book you should be okay.

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

From Goodreads

I gotta tell you, I've got this one right now & I want to read it so bad, but I'm being a good blogger & reading another review book first. I absolutely cannot wait to sink my teeth into this continuation of such an amazing story. With such compelling & wide-ranging characters I can't imagine what will happen in this volume.

What are you waiting on this week? 

Unwind by Neal Shusterman review

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

From Goodreads 

I've been going back over some of my favorite books of late (scouring for new Nostalgic Friday ideas) & stumbled upon this gem. Honestly, I thought to myself "I must have already reviewed that since it was so epic." Behold the fog trap that is my memory. Somehow this wondrous book escaped being reviewed in 2010, when I read it. My apologies dearest readers. :) 

Unwind tells a story of a near future world where children can be "unwound" between the ages of 13 & 18. For those 5 years, many children are walking on eggshells, just trying to survive. Connor (a misfit labeled a "troublemaker"), Risa (a ward of the state), & Lev (a tithe ~ a child from a religious family, born to be unwound) find themselves in a fight for survival. Connor & Risa are running voluntarily, while Lev doesn't understand. He's been preparing to be unwound his whole life, it is his purpose & his destiny.

But when these three wind up at the Happy Jack Harvest Camp, a "happy place" where the kids are monitored for health & encouraged to better themselves until their body parts are required by others, they find out that none of what any of them believed is true. Now their real fight begins.

I absolutely adored this book! Neal Shusterman's writing absolutely engulfed me. To stop reading was like resurfacing from being under water. The setting & characterization alone make this book worth reading, but the story it tells is what really makes it memorable. This was one of the first non-apocalyptic dystopian fiction books I ever read. For that fact alone do I give most similar books a chance. I read this on a suggestion from a colleague & when I was done it immediately went into the "recommend to middle schoolers" pile.

For a middle grades book, Unwind deals with some heavy topics in an age appropriate manner. Now that's not to say that the book is censored or that young adults & even adults wouldn't like it, but by making the book's audience more wide open I think the author has given us a great opening for frank discussion. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite as spectacular as watching the audience as I read the passage detailing the Second Civil War over reproductive rights. 

Truly a work of art, Unwind is a book that I will cherish for the rest of my days reading middle grades & young adult books. I would honestly liken it to being today's The Giver. 

Thoughts, comments? Come on, I know you're thinking something... :D

Armchair BEA Day 5: The Future of Book Blogging

Welcome back to Armchair BEA! If you're not sure what it's all about be sure to visit the Armchair BEA headquarters.

The future of book blogging. Does that sound omniscient enough to anyone else? I feel like we're getting ready to hear a graduation speech about how the world is your oyster & the future is what you make of it. While at least that last one is true, I don't honestly know what to say about the future of book blogging. In the three short years I've been blogging I would never have expected it to flourish the way it has. I mean, we have our own convention tied to BEA, that's real y'all!

I don't think we can talk about the future of book blogging without discussing e-books. This nifty little invention has opened up a whole new world not only to blogging, but to the literate population in general. In regards specifically to blogging though it has allowed a wider audience access to books early enough to really get the hype up. With memes, blog tours, & Twitter word spreads like wildfire about books & authors. While I don't think it's a make-you-or-break-you kind of deal, the blogging world does have a hand in success.

Everyone knows that negative things travel faster than positive ones, but I find that in the book blogging world we have a tempered opinion. Books are a very subjective thing, so no one really takes one person's word for it anymore. There are so many people's opinions to ask that there is no way that one person can really lord over all.

What I would like to see in the future of book blogging is more camaraderie. There have been several nasty incidents in recent months that are causing fractures in our community. These pursuits, while for the most part noble, are helping to tear us apart. I think more frank, open discussions & more inclusiveness is a must. There is no way that we can be taken seriously (and there are those who take this seriously, as in it's not just a hobby) with publishers, authors & editors if we are fighting amongst ourselves & behaving irrationally.

I personally see blogging gaining an even stronger foothold in the media field. Provided we can conduct ourselves professionally while still making our community fun & inviting, I think we'll go a long way. For my blog personally I hope to change up my layout, host more author interviews & get back into Nostalgic Fridays. I'm also hoping to look at joining an affiliate network. If there's one thing we've learned during ABEA week it's that none of us can do it all alone. For book blogging to be successful we have to succeed as a community. I look forward to the new relationships I plan to build around that principle.

It has been such a wonderful pleasure meeting A LOT of bloggers this week with Armchair BEA. I have learned so much & found new blogs to follow that I wasn't even aware existed. I want to give a big shout out to committee who brought us this wonderful event. These folks have worked hard to make this a wonderfully exciting & educational experience for those of us unable to attend BEA in NYC. I look forward to next year's event & hope you have a fun & prosperous year!

Matched by Ally Condie review

So apparently I never actually managed to write my review of this one. Not sure how that happened considering I even met Ally Condie at a signing!! I can be such a space cadet sometimes.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

From Goodreads

Cassia has always been a wonderful citizen. Not a rebellious bone in her body, she finds she prefers the ordered life that the Society provides for her to any alternative they might devise. That's why she finds herself utterly shocked when her faith begins to waiver. Despite trying her very best to be and do just as she is supposed to, she can't get over the feeling that Ky is her real match.

Down the spiral she teeters as she dares to do things that are beyond her normal, straight-laced life. Needless to say she's terrified of what it all means, but at the same time thrilled by the experiences she is having outside of the Society's ordered little world. Or is it really outside the Society's plan?

Matched is lush & poetic, but reminiscent of many other books of the same genre. There was (and still kind of is) a huge upswing in dystopic fiction at the time this was written, so I think I may have overloaded myself with this specific type of book. The mise en scene is one that we are very familiar with, you just have to figure out what "rules" belong to this "society" rather than the ones you finally figured out for the other book. As they go, this one was a bit more bland & less harsh than I have become accustomed to expect, which was refreshing.

The love triangle aspect of the book predominately the storyline, while using the setting as a catalyst for change. It was a bit slow at some points, but I felt that the action really picked up towards the end, leading me to believe that the second book with hit the ground running. I think my favorite aspect of this was the character interaction. Not only was the dialogue unique, but the societal parameters & expectations were quirky as well.

All in all this was an alright novel. While it doesn't make my top 10 dystopian novels list, but I think it still does warrant a read for any fan of the genre. How did you find Matched?

Fever by Lauren DeStefano review

Be forewarned, Wither was an incredibly action-packed novel, so this WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS if you haven't read it. Read on at your own risk & be sure to check out my review of Wither if you're curious.

____________________________________________________________________


Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

From Goodreads

As you see in the summary, a lot is going on in this next installment. Rhine only thought her fight was over once she got out of the mansion, when really it was just beginning. And poor Gabriel is shocked that the world of his beloved atlases doesn't exist anymore & the present world is on a shadow of the glory promised by Rhine.

Once they (barely) escape the mansion, these two find themselves in a new nightmare of a scarlet district run by a madwoman with no sense of shame. They make new acquaintances who help them on their beleaguered journey to Manhattan. And if that isn't bad enough, housemaster Vaughn (her nefarious father-in-law) is tracking them like the bloodhound he is. Throughout all of this turmoil though, there is a sense of hope, however fleeting. Rhine begins to understand just how well off she was at the mansion despite all its perils & Gabriel comes to terms with his role outside of the mansion.

Lauren DeStefano has brought us back to a hobbled world where women die at 20 & men die at 25, so there is little in the way of moral order. While society is not exactly in a state of chaos, there is a sense of foreboding in the air & the dread of unknown things to come. I really enjoyed picking up Rhine's familial story arc. We learn more about her deceased parents & her twin brother, all of which give us a glimpse not just into her character, but also into the society as a whole. Even Housemaster Vaughn exemplifies certain characteristics of the rich in this world & how some things (like power & influence) never change.

There is plenty enough action & intrigue to keep you going, but this one didn't have me on the edge of my seat (as the first one did) until the last few chapters. They totally made it worth it! Not a quick read, but definitely a good one, you simply must read Fever!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Another week, another Waiting on Wednesday! This week is a quirky book due out April 24th. The Selection by newbie author Kiera Cass sounds mesmerizing. It's a bit like Matched by Ally Condie, but with a bit of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. There are no fantastical creatures and yet the storylines seem to run parallel. What do you think?

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

From Goodreads

I have a feeling that there is more to this story than meets the eye, otherwise I don't think it would have already been optioned for a tv movie that's already begun shooting. Here's hoping it leaves an impression!

What are you waiting on this week?

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer review

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first 2 books in this series, this summary & review will contain spoilers. My reviews of Life as We Knew It & The Dead and the Gone are live, so be sure to check them out first if you want to read about the 3rd installment.
It's been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. For Miranda Evans life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the landscape is frozen, and food is increasingly scarce.

The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

From Goodreads

Again, we don't pick up where we left off in the last novel, but the terrain is still familiar enough for the reader to be comfortable with what's going on. This time we find ourselves back in Pennsylvania with Miranda & her family. Things are going as well as can be expected given the circumstances until it all changes when her father & stepmother suddenly appear not only with their baby, but 3 more unknown individuals. While Miranda's family is thrilled to be reunited, things become tighter & resources become more scarce.

The best part about the new arrivals though is that there is someone else Miranda's age. Enter Alex Morales (from The Dead and the Gone) & his little sister Julie. While Julie spends her time with Miranda's little brother, she & Alex are free to get to know one another. Love seems to be in the air, but the moon isn't through with them yet. Something big is coming & everyone seems to know it. The other they can do is prepare as best they can & hope that it's good enough.

Miranda & Alex continue to develop strong personalities & really assert their independence from those around them. While they still cling to parental figures for guidance, they are always thinking outside the box & on their own. Stubborn Alex helps Miranda to explore outside her comfort zone while scavenging while she tries to help him see through this picture-perfect image he's got of how his future will unfold.

Pfeffer brings us right back into the chaos & doesn't let up until it's over. There is non-stop movement, but not necessarily action. There is a lot of timeline development & filling in of the background by the new arrivals giving the reader a more complete sense of the nation-wide devastation. The new characters also bring a new dynamic to the interactions. As a society, we have preconceived notions of how typical social interactions will unfold & these folks turn that on its head providing us with a key piece to comprehend just how life-altering this has all been. Naturally we can fathom the emotional & physical toll this experience has taken, but the shift in societal norms & mores might catch you off guard.

A thrilling read with a jaw-dropping ending, This World We Live In hopefully is not the last we hear of Miranda, Alex & the other "Last Survivors". I'm not so sure as I haven't found anything indicating this as the end or just another step in the series. I guess we'll have to wait & find out.

Giveaway & Book Trailer: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Today I'm quite excited to bring you a giveaway & book trailer of Gabrielle Zevin's inventive debut All These Things I've Done. It just sounds so delectable that I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

"In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty.think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family."

Contest is now closed.

Possession by Elana Johnson

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

From Goodreads

So, I couldn't really sum up this book very well, so I just used the summary from Goodreads. I never really got into this story. I read it, but only just to see what happened at the end. I was not a fan of the writing & the characters' actions & behaviors were quite foreseeable. It was a very cookie-cutter style futuristic, sci-fi piece that felt like a flop to me. I never became enamored with the characters & didn't find myself desperate to find out their outcome.

Vi was a decent enough character, a typical rebellious teen, with some side issues that cause her to scrutinize everything for the hidden meaning. Jag had more depth than I expected from his role, but still nothing compelling. I think the best thing he had going for him was the fact that the socio-economy/geographic populace he represents is completely misunderstood & being taken advantage of.

I think the most aggravating thing about this book was that it seemed, considering the lack of sufficient explanation, to expect the reader to already know how & why the things operated the way the did in the book. There wasn't really a lot of world-building or a chronicled chain of events leading to the present society. There was sufficient annotations, just no definitive overview.

I'm hoping this book will be revised before it hits shelves in June, but I'm not so sure. Has anyone else had the same reaction as me? Am I just expecting too much from the story?

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Vera is extremely cautious of the water-wasting boy she sees on the road. It's not normal (or legal) to waste water in such a manner. She approaches the boy & so starts the journey of a lifetime.

Vera and her older brother Will live in what used to be the Mid-West, but is now known as the territory of Illinowa. The Great Panic, due to drastically reducing water supplies, tore the United States & other countries to shreds. Now everyone scrambles to save up ration cards in order to obtain potable water from the government. Many people are sick, and some are even dying, from the lack of water & the illnesses that stem from that situation.

Kai is alone on the main road outside of Vera's home when she sees him wasting water on the road. He is the son of a very important water-seeker, so he doesn't have to go to school & he has all the water he'll ever need. These two form a tredipatious friendship based in after-school snacks & dreaming of far away lands & times in abundance with water. Vera even finds herself wishing to be more than just friends with him over time.

Everything changes though when Kai's bodyguards are murdered & Kai is kidnapped. Vera & Will race off to help him, encountering pirates, fighting environmental terrorists & even rebelling against corrupt government water companies. All in the name of the main life-force on this planet.

The Water Wars was... different. I feel kind of ambivalent about the whole book. There were definitely parts I liked, mostly based in the writing style & descriptions; and there were parts, like the fantastical nature of the story, that just didn't jive with me. I felt like I kept getting glimpses of how this world should be set up, without every really getting the whole picture. All I kept picturing were desert towns instead of a nation that has been through complete and total upheaval. Part of that might have to do with the simple fact that I couldn't tell where we were in relation to today. There were definitely references to today's society & pop culture to identify eras, but no definite knowledge of how long it took the country to devolve so far.

I must say that I really enjoyed the different groups we encounter in this book. The pirates were my favorite because they weren't at all on my radar of expectations. The environmental terrorists were fascinating to delve into simply because the leader was honest that their work isn't always what's best for the planet. I thought that made a real statement about their self-awareness.

Overall the characters were self-containing and quite predictable. I found that reassuring given the unsure footing we were on in relation to the rest of the book. A quirky, unique look at a future society devoid the most precious resource we have, The Water Wars is one to at least give a fair shake.

If you've read it, what did you think?

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Rhine has been taken by the Gatherers. These roving bands of thieves steal their world's most valuable resource: young girls. In a world where men die at 25 and women die at 20, the Gatherers are making a profit off stealing young girls & selling them into prostitution, workhouses, or (potentially one of the worst) into a loveless marriage where they're forced to give birth to the next generation. The latter is what has happened to Rhine & while she is constantly worried about her twin brother & what he's doing, she's determined to get back to him.

Rhine, Jenna, & Cecily were all married to a semi-famous architect named Linden Ashby. While they each have their own room & their own attendant, they are confined to the wife floor of an expansive mansion. Rhine manages to quickly bond with the current wife Rose, who is in the throes of death. Rose warns Rhine not to underestimate Linden's father, he's a ruthless doctor that will protect his work & his son, at any cost. After Rose's death, Rhine inherits her status as the "first wife," a more public role than that of the other wives, and sets about earning Linden's trust so she can make a break for it at the earliest moment.

But Rhine didn't expect to actually grow fond of her sister wives, being to care for her husband & she certainly never expected Gabriel.

This is an attention-grabbing first novel in a new series by a debut author! I must say that I am quite impressed with this book. It manages to be set in a future, semi-apocalyptic world where everyone is dying from an unknown virus & yet seem so currently. I feel like it draws several parallels to present-day situations where young girls are treated like products to be distributed rather than the human being that they are.

Rhine is such an amiable character. Her story really draws you in & also gives you a picture of what's happened in the world. Her memories of her parents really helped flesh out what was going on in the rest of the world while she was stuck under Linden's house arrest. The "sister wife" concept was a first for me outside of a "religious-polygamy" setting, but it fit quite well with the "we need to make lots of babies quickly to find an antidote to what's killing us" scenario. I think it really added depth to the multitude of experiences by young girls in this society.

While I felt the writing was a bit repetitive at times (as in using the same phrase to covey the same emotion/memory), overall it was very metered & perfectly timed. The word choice really made a difference as well. There's not an adequate way to really describe it without giving away certain situations, but suffice it to say that this is a book that you won't want to miss.

On a side note, I must say that this book inspired me to create a playlist to listen to. The words of each song really convey the actions taking place. Listen, enjoy, & let me know what you think!

Waiting on Wednesday: Empty

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Empty by Suzanne Weyn seems to promise to be one of my new favorite dystopian reads. With a landing date of October 1st, I am eagerly awaiting its arrival.

It's the near future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be.

Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Spring Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - just there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a whole society that needs to be rethought.

Teens like Nicki, Tom, and Leila may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again.

From Goodreads

I think the thing that really draws me to this book is, based on the description, its plausibility. I can actually imagine this happening in our future. With gas becoming increasingly expensive, reserves running out, and the demand never ceasing, I can imagine this as a very real possibility. It truly would mean that, even with all our medical and technological advances, that we would be gradually reduced to a more remote way of life. I can't wait to pick this one up in a few weeks. What are you waiting on?