Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Goodreads
260 pages, YA Contemporary Romance
Standalone
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors ofNick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

My 2 cents

Dash & Lily is a cute story about two teenagers who suck at love, and are spending a very lonely Christmas by themselves. Lily is sad and dismayed by this, while Dash is thrilled for some alone time. Lily's brother, Langston, finds a way to keep Lily occupied--he creates a dare game using a red moleskin journal and Lily's love for books. She writes a message in it with a bunch of clues for whomever finds the book to follow. If he is the boy of her dreams, the book will lead them to each other--or so the theory goes!

Of course, none of this is realistic, but I was able to suspend reality for a little time and go on this journey with Lily and Dash. This is a dual POV book between our two MCs, so we get to know them quite well. They were both great characters, as were all the supporting characters. The character development was definitely the best part of the story!

Also the comedy! This is a laugh-out-loud funny type of book. Lots of things can happen to a teenager running around New York City during the Christmas holidays, or so it did to Dash and Lily! If you are looking for a light, funny, romantic read, pick up Dash & Lily!

Icons by Margaret Stohl

Goodreads
428 pages, YA Dystopian, Sci-Fi
Icons #1
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

My 2 cents

When I heard that Margaret Stohl had written a new YA dystopian novel, I had to get it right away and read it! I did have high expectations because I love the Beautiful Creatures series so much, and this book didn't quite meet my expectations. It was a good read, but I didn't love it.

Dol (Doloria) and Ro (Furo) have been raised outside of conventional society their whole lives. 16 years ago, "The Day" happened. Aliens took over our planet with high tech. They implanted 13 "Icons" all over the planet that shut down our whole system--it can even stop our hearts from beating. Millions were killed, including Dol's and Ro's parents. The House of Lords (the aliens) are now in control of our planet, and the Embassy (human government that works with the aliens) oversee the cities. 

We learn pretty quickly that Dol and Ro are very different from everyone else. They have these colored dots on their wrists that they keep wrapped up from prying eyes. These dots allow them to feel emotions very strongly. Dol is called "The Weeper" because she feels mostly sorrow, and Ro is "The Rager" because he feels anger. 

They are captured by the Embassy, and there they meet two more "Icon Children" as they are called, Tima and Lucas. Lucas is the son of the head of the Embassy, she's called The Ambassador. Tima is his best friend, but she's essentially a prisoner.

Phew. Now that I've got that all set up for you, I'll talk about the book! 

The writing style in this story is very different, and it took awhile for me to get into. I enjoyed the second half of the story a lot more than the first, mainly because not a lot was explained until halfway in. A lot of it was guesswork, which definitely kept up the suspense, but left me a little confused. 

The characters took a little while to develop as well. I didn't really connect with Dol until the very end of the story. Lucas's character was the most in depth of the four kids. I actually liked his computer "friend", Doc the best of the book! The humorous digital bodyguard was cleverly written. 

The ending was very well done, and was my favorite part of the story. I'm hoping now that we have the story set up, the next book in the series will be even better!

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!