Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris

Goodreads
479 pages, YA Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Unraveling #1
My rating: 5 stars

Synopsis

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?(

My 2 cents

This was an amazing sequel to Unraveling. I loved the first book, and I am thrilled to say this book might be even better than the first! Elizabeth Norris, please keep writing about Janelle and Ben!

While Unraveling had more of a dystopian vibe to it, Unbreakable is more of a sci-fi adventure. Ben is wanted for a conspiracy with a human trafficking ring. The conspiracy goes up into the IA headquarters, and possible the governement. Barclay is the only one who knows the Ben may be innocent, but Ben has disappeared. Janelle joins Barclay in an almost suicide mission to clear Ben's name. 

The first half of the novel is mostly just Barclay and Janelle jumping from universe to universe and doing some investigative work. The second half of the book is crazy, and involves things like escaping and rescuing witnesses from a maxiumum security prison, jumping in front of trains, scaling down buildings, and getting shot at constantly. Ben and Elijah join in the action about halfway through, and that's when the story really takes off.

I could not put this book down. Even with all this action, there are some very emotional moments for Janelle, as she copes with the fact that Ben may have moved on without her, and the fact she may lose everything in this conspiracy. The ending was amazing, and the action really doesn't stop until the very end. Things are pretty much tied up by the end, and I was happy with the ending. (view spoiler)

This is a great YA Sci-Fi action adventure, and I really hope I get to read more from Elizabeth Norris!

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Goodreads
454 pages, YA Paranormal (Werewolves)
Nightshade #1
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

Calla is the alpha female of a shape-shifting wolf pack. She is destined to marry Ren Laroche, the pack's alpha male. Together, they would rule their pack together, guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But then, Calla saves a beautiful human boy, who captures her heart. Calla begins to question everything - her fate, her existence, and her world and the orders the Keepers have asked her to follow. She will have to make a choice. But will she follow her heart if it means losing everything, including her own life?

My 2 cents

This is the first full fledged "werewolf" book that I have read. I've read other paranormal books that had werewolves in them, but not as the whole subject. I wasn't sure if it would be my thing, but I ending up really liking it! And it really had nothing to do with the werewolves, it was more about the characters for me!

Some of the ideas and traditions in this werewolf society were quite strange, and made me cringe at times. The story had almost a dystopian theme at times, as Calla starts to figure out that her pack has no freedom. Calla was an amazing MC, tough and strong. When other alpha males were threatening her and she couldn't do a lot about it, that is when it hit me the hardest.

I also loved Shay, the human boy that starts to tear her world apart. He sees her life as the reader does, and makes her question things. She also feels an instant attraction with him, and he gets her into trouble numerous times. There is also the question the entire story--who is this guy, and why is he running around with werewolf packs?

The rest of the characters were not quite as developed, with exception to some of the Bane tyrants. But they were all interesting, and I loved the scenes were we got to see the pack intermingle, and its dynamic. 

I had pretty much guessed the big twist by the end, but there are still a lot of questions left for the next book!

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E Pearson

Goodreads
304 pages, YA Dystopian & Sci-Fi
The Jenna Fox Chronicles #2
My rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox.

My 2 cents

This book takes place 260 years in the future from the first book in the series. Locke and Kara's minds have been in storage this entire time, and a crazy scientist/doctor has finally created bodies for them. They figure out pretty quickly that this "Doctor" is doing very illegal things, so they plan an escape to find their friend, Jenna Fox.

The story is told from the POV of Locke, and I do think he's my favorite character in the series to date. He just wants to find his old friend, Jenna--he has missed her for a long time. Kara, however, seems to be losing it, and blames their entire existence in a box on Jenna.

I didn't like this story as much as the first one. It still had a suspenseful vibe to it, but it did lose a lot of that mystery element like the first one. This story also had more of a dystopian vibe, since it takes place so far in the future, and the country has divided into two. 

I did like the ending much better in this one, and it looks like we will be following Locke in the third book as well. I'm kind of hooked on this series because even though I thought I knew exactly what was going on, there still seem to be some questions. I have no idea what will happen in the third book, but I hope it continues the dystopian vibe!

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

Goodreads
320 pages, YA Contemporary
Standalone
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

My 2 cents

First of all, this book was not was I was expecting at all. I was expecting more of a contemporary feel, with maybe a little romance and self discovery. I got all those things, plus more! This had a good mystery at the center of it, and I can't resist a good mystery!

"Sissy" and her family have been in hiding with the Witness Protection Program for over a year. Its Sissy (real name Anna) and her little sister "Teeny", her strong and capable dad, and her recent alcoholic mother. They have moved around way more than is normal, and the book starts with them at small new town in Louisana. Her given identity in this town is "Meg" and her sister is "Mary."

Meg has no idea why they are in Witness Protection. Her parents won't tell her anything, so she assumes her dad got mixed up in something bad. She's tired of getting yanked from town to town just when she is making friends, so she's decided this time she is not making any friends, and she is going to find out the truth about her dad.

Things don't go well from the start--Meg meets Ethan, who sees right through her. Even though she vows she's not going to fall for him, he pretty much calls her bluff. I loved Ethan, and he was definitely the bright spots in the story for me. The dynamic between him and Meg was perfect.

The mystery element of it had me turning the pages (or "flipping" the pages on my Nook) without stopping. The suspense is really well done, with the author giving us just enough to have us worried, but not enough to know what's really going on. Loved that!

I loved reading this story, but after I finished, and started to really think on it, I realized how unrealistic a lot of things were in the book. I left my rating at 4 stars, though, because I really enjoyed the read!

The Bane by Keary Taylor

Goodreads
352 pages, YA Dystopian
The Eden Trilogy #1
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and rereleased as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy.

My 2 cents

I really enjoyed this dystopian read! Its has a sci-fi theme to it, and it made me think a little of Partials by Dan Wells or The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa just in some of the world building parallels. 

The Bane are part machine, part human. The way the book describes the cyborgs, it almost made me think of The Terminator. Humanity is almost beat at the time the novel opens. Eve is part of "Eden", a settlement of about 35 humans that have banded together over the last 4 years for survival. She has no memory before the end of the world. Avian and Gabriel, the village leaders, found her at age 14 naked and bloody, and adopted her. All she could remember was her name.

She has proven her worth, being one of the strongest and quickest members of the group. Avian and his sister Sarah are her best friends. Things go on, as normal as possible, until the Bane start getting more ruthless on their attacks. And then West and few others stumble into their camp and join their group.

Eve doesn't trust West at all, but she is drawn to him. He claims to know her from before the apocalypse. But is seems he might be hiding some pretty big secrets of his own. 

There is a love triangle in the story between Eve, West, and Avian, but it actually in a strange way makes sense, just because of who Eve really is. So it worked for me, and I was pleased that the triangle was wrapped up before the end of the story, and doesn't seem like its going to drag on through the whole trilogy.

The concept on this one isn't all that original, but the world building is still really well done. The characters were also well done, and I got to know each one of them well. There are a few unbelievable moments, especially in the beginning. There were a few times where I was confused, but I plowed through and I eventually got up to speed. This is the first in a trilogy, and I can't wait for "Human" which will be released this summer!

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Goodreads
451 pages, YA Paranormal (Magic)
The Castor Chronicles #4
My rating: 5 stars

Synopsis

Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.(

My 2 cents

It took me awhile to get up the courage to read the final installment in this series. I loved the first two books, but was a little disappointed in the third, "Beautiful Chaos," so I was a little nervous that I wouldn't like the final book.

I shouldn't have worried. I loved the final installment! It was completely different from the rest of the series, but I was totally engaged with the story, the characters, and one of the most beautiful endings I've read in a series!

This time, Lena and Ethan are separated on different planes of existence. Ethan is trying to find his way back to the living--he's dead, but not really--he hasn't moved on yet, a lot like his mom. He is now with her, which makes him happy, but he knows he has to get back to Lena. The first third of the book is in his POV, as he struggles to let Lena know he's still around...and he needs her help. He needs "The Book of Moons" to barter his way back to the living.

The middle part of the book is then from Lena's POV as she tries to get him the book. The adventure really takes off here, with all the Casters joining forces. I loved this part of the book, because it was awesome to see Lena's family from her eyes. 

The last part of the book we are back to Ethan as he tries to complete his final tests, and these are not easy as he is going against strong Casters to win. I was happy we got to finish the story with his POV, because I just love Ethan. 

The ending, like I said, is beautiful. Its a very bittersweet ending, and not your typical HEA, but I loved how it tied everything up in a way that makes sense. The last page of the book is an actual "The End" type of page, which gave me goosebumps. I was sad to see this series end, but happy with the journey!

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

Goodreads
320 pages, YA Contemporary
Standalone
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home.

My 2 cents

I absolutely love it when an current author uses inspiration from the classics. Armistead uses "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau in this coming of age story about a boy who has went through tragedy and is trying to find his way back.

So "Hank", as he calls himself, wakes up at Penn Station with no idea who he is. All he has in his possession is $10 and a tattered copy of "Walden". He goes through all types of adventures, a lot of them scary, before he decides to head to Walden Pond. He feels almost a call to the area.

This was a very suspenseful read, because I really wanted to find out what exactly had happened to Hank. There isn't a dull moment, as Hank tries to be inconspicuous and trying to survive in this small town of Concord, MA. The pacing was great, and my heart was pounding at several different moments in the story!

The assortment of characters also helped make the story. There isn't a lot of character development on our MC until really the end, being as he doesn't know anything about himself. We do get to know his friend, Thomas, fairly well. Thomas is really Hank's angel in this case, he takes him in and helps him try to find his identity. The rest of the characters are pretty flat, but they serve their purpose for Hank.

My favorite part of this book was all the "Walden" quotes and references. This totally made the book for me, and it was a constant presence from beginning to end of the story. The ending was beautiful, and had me tearing up.