Showing posts with label Young Adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Young Adult. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Blog Tour: Book Review, Excerpt and Giveaway of The Reckoning

Reckoning



The Reckoning
The Reckoning

Only One Can Survive The Reckoning

Erin Radkey has always known the day would come when she would have to personally confront the Triad leader of the power-hungry Emporium. But she never thought it would be with a snake in her head that feeds on her energy. Or that she’d be in the company of an uncertain ally who might turn on her at any moment.

The stakes are high as new intel uncovers a startling Emporium plot that will catapult the entire world into war. Erin is determined to save not only the mortals but also her friends—even if it means sacrificing herself and her newfound love for Ritter Langton.

Ritter is just as determined to save Erin and prevent what would usher in the most bloody century the world has ever known, but even he might not recognize the person she becomes.

Every day the enemy grows stronger. There will be no second chance.


Praise for The Reckoning:


I just loved the whole Saga! Well-written, completely addictive, keeps you on the edge, wanting to know what comes next! I really think the author should consider a movie or a TV series for the whole four books! For not being a SF fan, I just can say that this was AWESOME!


The fourth instalment in the Unbounded series definitely lives up to the action packed books preceding it. I love the strength of Erin's character, and the novel made for compelling reading.


The Unbounded world is a fascinating place to visit! I would recommend this series to anyone, women, men, young adults. Not overly complicated yet the author weaves an amazing tail. I can hardly wait to see what is next for the Unbounded!

Excerpt from The Reckoning
I started firing. My third man fell and Mari’s second before the group turned in our direction. Two men at the back dropped from Ritter and Stella’s fire, followed by two more. Nine down. They opened fire. The rat-a-tat-tat of their automatic weapons sliced through the stillness of the night. We had to hurry. Mari crouched behind the car, while I went over the top, using Ritter’s speed. He was already there. I landed on one rotund Hunter while bringing my trangue gun down on another. I rolled as I fell. Another turned his gun in my direction, but I was already diving away, the bullets spraying the short grass. Twisting, I came around, my foot out, kicking the gun from his hand. He slammed his fist at me, but I deflected it with my left arm and jabbed my right hand into his gut. He grunted and leaned forward into my next punch. I looked around as he fell, but I already sensed everyone was down.

“Get them into their van,” Stella said. “It won’t be long before someone comes to investigate those shots.” She grabbed a Hunter and started tugging him across the ground.

I sent my thoughts out wider, finding two more life forces slinking in our direction. They were dimmer than the average life forces, which meant they were shielded. Before I could warn the others, Desoto’s two patrolman emerged from the trees only twenty feet away. I caught a glimpse of automatic rifles before a spotlight blinded me.

“Stop,” said a voice I recognized as belonging to the Unbounded who’d found Walker asleep in the security room. “Put down those weapons.”

Unbounded. Both of them, I told the others. Mari, stay behind the car until I tell you.

Ritter, Stella, and I dropped our tranques and raised our hands as the Unbounded moved closer. I could see a red dot on Ritter’s forehead, and as there wasn’t one on Stella’s, I figured another must be on mine. Though the bullets wouldn’t kill us, we’d be out of commission long enough to lose the information we’d obtained unless Stella had already uploaded it to our servers. Worse, we’d be back in Emporium hands.

I’d rather die a true death.
 


Book #1 The Change is FREE.
Change
“Surprising plot twists” -Publishers Weekly
Grab your FREE copy today!

My Review of The Change
Full of intense action and science fiction elements, The Change is the first book in a series that will not disappoint.  Teyla Branton adds unique elements in this YA novel.  The first book ended in a cliff hanger and I immediately had to pick up the second book.  Although there was some sexual innuendos, the plot was solid and the character development was unreal.

I was given a electronic copy of The Change, and the rest of this series, in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.  The rest of my reviews of this series is coming soon!


teylaAuthor Teyla Rachel Branton

Teyla Rachel Branton grew up avidly reading science fiction and fantasy and watching Star Trek reruns with her large family. They lived on a little farm where she loved to visit the solitary cow and collect (and juggle) the eggs, usually making it back to the house with most of them intact. On that same farm she once owned thirty-three gerbils and eighteen cats, not a good mix, as it turns out. Teyla always had her nose in a book and daydreamed about someday creating her own worlds. She is now married, mostly grown up, and has seven kids, including a two-year-old, so life at her house can be very interesting (and loud), but writing keeps her sane. She thrives on the energy and daily amusement offered by her children, the semi-ordered chaos giving her a constant source of writing material. Grabbing any snatch of free time from her hectic life, Teyla writes novels, often with a child on her lap. She warns her children that if they don’t behave, they just might find themselves in her next book! She’s been known to wear pajamas all day when working on a deadline, and is often distracted enough to burn dinner. (Okay, pretty much 90% of the time.) A sign on her office door reads: DANGER. WRITER AT WORK. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. She loves writing fiction and traveling, and she hopes to write and travel a lot more. She also loves shooting guns, martial arts, and belly dancing. She has worked in the publishing business for over twenty years.




Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/18/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sunday, August 17, 2014

Book Review: Fourmile by Watt Key

Book Title: Fourmile

Author: Watt Key

Publish Date: September 18, 2012

Genre: Middle Grade/YA, Coming of Age












Plot (from Goodreads):  

Twelve-year-old Foster knows in his gut that Dax Ganey, the man dating his widowed mother, is a bad seed. Then a mysterious stranger arrives at their Alabama farm, a former Army Ranger in Iraq rambling across the country, and Foster believes he has found an ally against Dax. The stranger proves a fascinating mentor, full of wisdom and secrets. And Dax soon has reason to resent not just him and Foster but also Foster’s mother. A spurned Dax will be a dangerous enemy, but Foster is increasingly aware that the stranger is just as dangerous, if not more so.

From the author of one of the most highly acclaimed children's survival adventures of the last decade comes this tautly wound new novel reminiscent of classic westerns, about a boy caught in the middle of a clash that may turn out to be his own battle to fight.

Why I Read this Book: My library just got this book and I wanted to check it out.
 

Review


This is a wonderful coming of age novel about a boy dealing with the grief of his deceased father while also dealing with Dax, the wretched man whom his mother is dating.  Foster does not like the way that Dax treats his mother, but his mother is too frightened to get rid of him.  Everything changes when a mysterious man comes to town.

This book was an emotional roller coaster.  I was moved by the troubles that Foster was having in his life.  I was hoping that things would get better for Foster.  The writing style of Fourmile was amazing.  I was gripped by the story and I fell in love with the characters (all except Dax and his friends of course).  The story was realistic and believable.  I cannot wait to read more from Watt Key.
 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for some violence and foul language


Overall Rating: 5/5

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Book Review: The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt

Book Title: the summer i learned to fly

Author: Dana Reinhardt

Publish Date: July 10, 2011

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary












Plot (from Goodreads):  
Drew's a bit of a loner. She has a pet rat, her dead dad's Book of Lists, an encyclopedic knowledge of cheese from working at her mom's cheese shop, and a crush on Nick, the surf bum who works behind the counter. It's the summer before eighth grade and Drew's days seem like business as usual, until one night after closing time, when she meets a strange boy in the alley named Emmett Crane. Who he is, why he's there, where the cut on his cheek came from, and his bottomless knowledge of rats are all mysteries Drew will untangle as they are drawn closer together, and Drew enters into the first true friendship, and adventure, of her life.



Why I Read this Book: I checked out this book from the library.
 

Review


This was a great coming of age novel about a girl who is trying to find where she fits in.  It is a clean novel, perfect for all ages.  The plot progression was a little slow, but this may have helped to build suspense.  This novel is different than a lot of contemporary novels that I have read because the main character is only 13 and Drew is a very unique contemporary character.  She strives to fit in and to survive a summer without her friends.  This is a great novel!  Perfect for a summer read!

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: Any Age


Overall Rating: 4/5

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Graphic Novel Review: Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

Book Title: Friends with Boys

Author: Faith Erin Hicks

Publish Date: February 28, 2012

Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel













Plot (from Goodreads):  
After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting high school. It's pretty terrifying.

Maggie's big brothers are there to watch her back, but ever since Mom left it just hasn't been the same.

Besides her brothers, Maggie's never had any real friends before. Lucy and Alistair don't have lots of friends either. But they eat lunch with her at school and bring her along on their small-town adventures.

Missing mothers...distant brothers...high school...new friends... It's a lot to deal with. But there's just one more thing.

MAGGIE IS HAUNTED.



Why I Read this Book: I checked out this book from the library after it was recommended to me on Goodreads.
 

Review


The morals taught in this graphic novel are great: 
  1. It is always good to forgive others.  
  2. You should not judge others.  
  3. It is okay to be different.  
  4. Ignore stereotypes.  
The writing style was entertaining.  The art was amazing!  This is a wonderful coming of age novel which would be perfect for those going into high school.  With that being said, there are a few cuss words in it.

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for foul language


Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Book Review: Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson

Book Title: Ice Dogs

Author: Terry Lynn Johnson

Publish Date: February 4, 2014

Genre: Young Adult, Survival













Plot (from Goodreads):  

Victoria Secord, a 14-year-old Alaskan dogsled racer, loses her way on a routine outing with her dogs. With food gone and temperatures dropping, her survival, and that of her dogs and the mysterious boy she meets in the woods, is entirely up to her.

Author Terry Lynn Johnson is a musher herself and her crackling writing puts readers at the reins as Victoria and Chris experience setbacks, mistakes, and small triumphs in their wilderness adventure.


Why I Read this Book: I saw this book in the new release section of my library and I thought it looked really interesting.  I have been interested in reading realistic survival stories lately.
 

Review 

This is a great survival story!  The author owns her own sled dog team, so this story seems really accurate to real life situations.  The adventure and the risk of surviving seemed real and kept me reading.  I needed to know what happened to Vicky and if they survived.

I feel in love not only with the human characters in this book, but also with the sled dogs.  I loved the writing style.  This book is marketed as a Children's Fiction novel, but it is written with elevated language and I feel it is more suited to a Young Adult audience.

I think this book would be great for fans of the Hatchet series by Gary Paulsen.  Although I have not read this book in a really long time, Ice Dogs reminds me of this novel.

 

Final Statements


Recommended Reading Age: 16+ for some sexual inuendos


Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Monday, June 9, 2014

Book Review: The Summer I Became a Nerd

Book Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd

Author: Leah Rae Miller

Publish Date: May 7, 2013

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary













Plot (from Goodreads):  

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.


Why I Read this Book: I read this book last summer.  I checked it out from my local library.
 

Review


I read this book last summer, so I do not really remember all of the details, but it has left a lasting impression on me.  I like reading some  clean contemporary novels, but a lot of them seem too girly for my tomboy self.  This book was perfect.  It was filled with all the typical YA contemporary romance, but it also has an extremely nerdy aspect that I could relate to.  In short, this was an amazing book. The characters are so well developed and it is not the typical cliche teenage love novel. I loved all the characters, especially Logan. I believe this is a good novel both for nerds and non-nerds alike.

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: Any Age (clean from my memory)


Overall Rating: 5/5

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Book Review: The Beggar King by Michelle Barker

Book Title: The Beggar King

Author: Michelle Barker

Publish Date: March 15, 2013

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy













Plot (from Goodreads):  
"Everything has an underside, a part that chooses darkness and likes it. In the young adult fantasy, "The Beggar King," Jordan Elliott discovers that magic has an underside, which is known in the lands of Katir-Cir as the undermagic. He also learns that he has an underside, and it is seductive, dangerous, and ultimately threatens to destroy him.

A political coup on Jordan's fifteenth birthday brings the disappearance not only of his mother, but also the Cirran leaders, scholars and other palace workers. Brinnian guards have taken them away and imprisoned them at an unknown location. To make matters worse, the time is coming when Jordan must choose a vocation and take his robes, and not a single talent has revealed itself besides a gift for mischief. On his sixteenth birthday he risks everything in a defiant act punishable by hanging. When the guards spot him, he is doomed. Suddenly he hears a voice say, ?The world is merely wallpaper. Step behind it. Take this gift, and save yourself.? Just like that, he can disappear.

Disappearing is an undermagician's skill. But the undermagic ? a dark and old form of sorcery ? was banished from the world of Katir-Cir long ago. How could it have reappeared? The man who has given Jordan this gift calls himself the Beggar King, a figure from the Cirran old tales akin to ?the bogeyman.? No one believes such a person exists. The Beggar King is a sorcerer who seeks someone to help him bring back the full power of the undermagic. Sensing Jordan's weakness, he makes the boy an offer: if Jordan will help him, the sorcerer will share this power with him so that Jordan can find the Cirran prisoners and save his mother. After that, he will be free of it. He reasons there is little harm in using dark means if the end is good. Jordan figures the undermagic will be easy to give up ? until he begins to use it. All at once he has the power to bend the world to his command.



Why I Read this Book: I received this from Goodreads First Reads for free.  This in no way influenced my review.
 

Review


This book started off slow and was quite boring in the beginning. A little less than half way through, the book picked up pace and it was hard to put down. It is hard to believe that this is Michelle Barker's first book. The book was very well written and her writing style makes it seem like she has been writing books for a while. I cannot wait to read more of her books. The overall theme of the light versus darkness is a nice theme and I am glad how the book panned out. Even though it was not the ending that I had expected, the ending was very good! I am so glad that I was a First Reads winner of a signed copy of this book!

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for intense action scenes


Overall Rating: 4/5

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Novella Mash-Up Reviews: Glitches, The Little Android, and The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles 0.5, 0.6, and 1.5)





I recently read Cinder by Marissa Meyer (see my review here).  It was a wonderful read (4.5/5 stars, my review).  I saw on Goodreads that there are a few free e-novellas that are associated with the series and I decided to read them.  These are my reviews for 3 out of 4 of the currently published e-novellas.  I plan to read Scarlet during next weeks read-a-thon.



Book Title: Glitches

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: December 5, 2011

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (0.5)












Plot (from Goodreads):  

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch...
 

Review


This is a good novella and a great addition to the series. It is good to learn more about Cinder's family.  I loved learning more about Cinder when she was young and about her early relationships with the family.  Although this talks about Cinder's childhood, I think that this book should be read after Cinder is read.

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for some intense scenes


Overall Rating: 4/5

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Book Title: The Little Android

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: January 27, 2014

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (0.6)












Plot (from Goodreads):  

The Little Android is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles by New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

When android Mech6.0, saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her body is destroyed and her mechanics discover a glitch in her programing. Androids aren’t not meant to develop unpractical reasoning or near-emotional responses…let alone fall in love.

 

Review


I felt like this novella added the least amount to the series.  It did show the relationship between humans and cyborgs and androids.  It was nice to have more depth to how the humans felt about the androids and the cyborgs, but it did not add to the main storyline that is in Cinder.  This is a cute and very sad story.  I enjoyed reading it, but I wish that these characters were present in the main story.  In my opinion, this novella can be read before or after reading Cinder.

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: Any age


Overall Rating: 3.5/5


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Book Title: The Queen's Army

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: November 23, 2012

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (1.5)












Plot (from Goodreads):  

It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.
 

Review


Although this is a very short novella,  I really felt connected with the characters.  I felt like this novella really adds to the series.  I cannot wait to read more about Z and his brother.

My only complaint is that I really do not understand how the cover matches the series covers (Cinder, Scarlet, ect.).

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for some violence and intense action scenes


Overall Rating: 5/5

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Book Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: January 3, 2012

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling













Plot (from Goodreads):  

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.


Why I Read this Book: I have been wanting to read this book FOREVER, so I picked it up at my library.
 

Review 

Wow!  This book is fantastic!  It does not stick much to the original Cinderella story, but it does not disappoint!  This mix of fairy tale and science fiction is perfect.  Full of action and intense plot shifts, this book leaves you intrigued and wanting more.  I do not want to spoil the intense action, so I will just leave it at this.

This book is incredibly unique and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the rest of the series.  I already have the second book in the series on hold.

There are only a few negative points about this book.  Firstly, the first 100 pages or so of the book were slow, filled with world and character building.  It was interesting, but difficult to get through.  The last 200+ pages were intense and I would give it a 5.5/5!  Secondly, part of the plot was easily predictable and it was frustrating that the main character did not realize it.  For more on this, check out my Goodreads review where I use the spoiler tag to discuss this more in depth.

 

Final Statements


Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for intense action scenes


Overall Rating: 4.5/5