Mini-Reviews: Dystopian Sequels

One of my goals this year is to finish off some series because I'm in the middle of too many. Here are three series enders I've read so far.

IN THE AGE OF LOVE AND CHOCOLATE by Gabrielle Zevin is the third book in the series that began with ALL THESE THINGS I HAVE DONE (my review) and continued with BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD (my review).

I've mentioned in past reviews that Anya feels like an old friend, and I genuinely enjoyed catching up with her life. This is quite a dramatic end to the series too, with an arranged wedding, a near assassination, some well-deserved revenge, and the sweetest/most romantic scene yet between Anya and Win. One of my favorite reads of the year!

IN THE AGE OF LOVE AND CHOCOLATE is available now.

FTC disclosure: Bought

REBEL by Amy Tintera. Sequel to REBOOT (my review)

REBOOT is an action novel with a intriguing character arc involving Wren attempting to reboot her humanity. That process continues in REBEL, a sequel even more action packed than its predecessor. The stand-out moments for me, though, were the quiet ones of reflection where Wren has to consider what it means to be human in a post-human world.

The driver of the plot is book two is Micah, the (superbad) leader of reboot reservation, a stronghold for the reboots that's successfully managed to repel HARC. Wren feels safe and understood for the first time since her violent death, but Callum senses trouble. This leads them into territory well worn by other books in the dystopian genre and though I didn't find it as engaging as book one, it's getting rave reviews from goodreads users.

REBEL is available now. 

FTC disclosure: Review copy via Edelweiss

DIVIDED by Elsie Chapman is the sequel to DUALED (my discussion review part 1 / part 2).

Despite its comparisons to THE HUNGER GAMES, DUALED turned out to be one of the more unique dystopians I've read, and DIVIDED continues in that vein. The world Chapman creates is very brutal, a place where kids killing kids is commonplace and accepted, and our heroine, West, would do anything to survive. In the sequel, West is thriving, and she's offered a chance to secure her future with Chord as well.

In the first book, West struggled with her own self worth, and in the second, she's questioning the society more. We get answers to many of the world building questions that lingered as well as quite a few very well executed major twists. We see how cunning a fighter West is via clever action set pieces (I especially loved the hall of mirrors), and some smoking hot scenes with Chord. Don't pass this one up!

DIVIDED is available now. 

FTC disclosure: Review copy via Netgalley

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

BEA Recap Part 1: The Books

Book Expo America is a book lover's dream, and this year I was lucky enough to be able to attend my 5th BEA since 2009. And this year, I was not only there as press, I was also there as an author signing copies of THE MEMORY OF AFTER in the signing area (dream come true, for reals!).

Like most attendees, I had a list of "must get" books, but what I love most about BEA is the serendipity of discovering new titles. There were so many great finds this year that I ended up bringing back 37 titles with me (not including books I bought at the many bookstores I visited in the city) that I'm excited to read and cover on the blog in the months to come.  Today I'm going to spotlight some of my favorites. (NOTE: I was approved for some of the big BEA titles - such as Jandy Nelson's I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN and Scott Westerfeld's AFTERWORLDS - on Netgally and Edelweiss and so I skipped getting physical copies to save space)

Top 10 "must get" books that I snagged:

GLORY O'BRIEN'S HISTORY OF THE FUTURE by AS King (Oct 14, 2014, Little Brown) - Luckily I was invited to Little Brown's Brunch Preview where I unapologetically grabbed a copy of this before BEA even started. It's no secret I'm an AS King fangirl, so I'm super excited about GLORY.

SINNER by Maggie Stiefvater (July 1, 2014, Scholastic) - My very favorite thing about LINGER and FOREVER? Cole St. Clair. I've been saying for years that Cole needs his own novel, so when I heard about SINNER, I was struck with major book lust. I braved the galley drop at the Scholastic booth to get my hands on this pretty. I also got to chat with Maggie briefly at the Scholastic breakfast before BookCon (delicious smoothies!)

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins (August 2014, Penguin) - this wasn't really at BEA, but it was part of a raffle of all three Stephanie Perkins books at the #YAparty. Amazingly, I won the raffle and instantly became the most hated/envied person in the room. Naturally, I couldn't wait long to read this. My teasers for you? a) It's HOT. Isla and Josh's chemistry is through the roof. b) It's my favorite of the trilogy. c) I can't wait to discuss the ending with you -- squee!

STITCHING SNOW by RC Lewis (Oct 14, 2014, Disney-Hyperion) - A sci-fi fairytale retelling? Sign me up! This debut has been on my radar for some time, and when I heard (thanks Debby!) there were stacks of it sitting in a secret room in the bowels of the Javits (in reality, left over from Book Blogger Con), I dashed over to stash this in my tote.

THE BONE CLOCKS by David Mitchell (Sept 2, 2014, Random House) - Okay, so David Mitchell was signing his newest novel at 2 pm Friday after my own 1 pm signing, so I knew I'd never make it to his line and I was pretty devastated about it. But David also had a panel as part of Book Con on Saturday, and so I went about an hour early to line up for it (making me about #50 in line). A RH publicist gave everyone at the front of the line tickets to pick up galleys at the RH booth after the panel and we trembled with excitement. (Seriously, so much trembling in that line).

The panel between David and his editor was glorious. I loved his advice to "shoplift" from the best writers and his anecdotes about his writing process. And then. After the panel, I made my way to the podium to say hi. I told David it was my birthday (it was) and he gave me a birthday handshake. Here's hoping a tiny bit of his genius rubbed off on me.

ROOMS by Lauren Oliver (Sept 23, 2014, Ecco) - I acquired Lauren's adult debut thanks to our shared agent on a visit to the agency the week before BEA and thus was able to avoid one of her monster lines (I did stand in line for PANIC, however, which turned out to be quite a fun line thanks to Marlon).

MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton (available now, Tor) - I stood in a line to get the hardcover of this signed. It's an adult speculative fiction title about (possible) parallel lives, which is one of my favorite topics right now.

SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Oct 14, 2014, Candlewick) - I had the pleasure of meeting Mac at the Irma Black ceremony and lunch at Bankstreet College the week before BEA (more about that in a later post), and then I stood in line to meet Jon and get an F&G of their newest collaboration. First of all, Jon is super adorable and took the time to show me a video of his cat lounging while signing my book. (!!!) And the book is adorable too. Both Daniel and I love it and the vaguely sci-fi ending.

I'M MY OWN DOG by David Ezra Stein (August 5, 2014, Candlewick) - David Ezra Stein's INTERRUPTING CHICKEN is one of my top 10 picture book favorites of all time, so I was bummed that his signing was directly after mine and I'd never make his line. But, as luck would have it, we ran into each other in the author green room after my signing, and his lovely editor gave me a front of the line pass for his signing. #authorperks! I'M MY OWN DOG is super cute and funny, too.

THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES by BJ Novak (Sept 30, 2014, Penguin) - Yep, I was more than an hour early and the third person in line for this (behind the YA book twins), the only celebrity signing line that I attempted. Since it was at the Penguin booth, we weren't really allowed to line up early, so we just sort of hovered. I haven't actually read this yet (because only words, no pictures, ha!), but I'll report back when I do.

Top 5 serendipitous finds:

WE ALL LOOKED UP by Tommy Wallach (March 31, 2015, S&S) - Tommy and I share an editor at S&S and that editor gifted me an early copy of Tommy's debut. Then, at the #YAparty, Tommy was playing piano (he's a singer/songwriter too - check out his forthcoming album "I Meant it to be Sweet"), and we got to chat. That weekend, I went up to Bushwick where he took me to a block party. Fun! The novel looks incredibly intriguing, and I can't wait to dig in.

THE ART OF SECRETS by James Klise (available now, Algonquin) - I stopped by the Algonquin booth on Saturday and since it was so quiet, I got to chat with Editor Elise Howard for quite some time. I told her I only had room for one more book, so she pitched me several and I was won over by her pitch for this. Really all she had to say was "twists" and I was sold.

BAILEY BOAT CAT by Louise Kennedy (Sept 2, 2014, Bloomsbury) - This might have been my favorite random find at BEA. There was a small giveaway stack at the Bloomsbury booth and I was instantly smitten by this cat on a boat. Full color photos throughout of Bailey cuteness.

ONE DEATH, NINE STORIES, short story anthology (August 2014, Candlewick) - This was a booth giveaway and I was instantly attracted by the list of contributors, including AS King, Ellen Hopkins and Rita Williams-Garcia. All 9 stories are linked by the death of one 19 year old named Kevin.

EVEN IN PARADISE by Chelsey Philpot (October 14, 2014, HarperTeen) - Chelsey and I share an agent and since he has such great taste, I must read this! I got to meet her in the author green room after our signings (we were signing at the same time -- rivals!!).



If you want to see my entire book haul, check out my instagram.

Bookanista Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Cady Sinclair Eastman spends every summer on her family's private island, but this summer feels different, and it's because of something that happened last summer that Cady can't quite remember. Her grandfather and mother try their best to shield her from the truth, but long-simmering secrets have a way of surfacing...

So if you've heard of this novel (and you probably have, as it is a well-deserved hyped buzz book), then you know it has a huge twist ending. That's certainly what I picked it up for, because I love my twists.

Twists being much more fun when you have no clue, I'm not going to tell you much about the plot of WE WERE LIARS, but I do want to talk about craft.

Let's say you want to study subtext. Read this book. Gawk at the twist you probably didn't see coming, and recover from the sucker punch right to your heart. Then read this book again. Marvel at the way Lockhart expertly employs subtext, really giving you all the clues you need to solve the mystery (and for Cady to solve it) but disguising them so cleverly that you don't give them a second thought upon your first read.  That's impressive and I'm in awe. *claps*

(Incidentally, if you're studying subtext, you must absolutely watch Breaking Bad, especially the conversations between Walter and Hank. Master class right there.)

Check out the WE WERE LIARS tumblr for more quotes and teasers.

WE WERE LIARS comes out next week! I have pre-ordered a signed copy here.

FTC disclosure: Netgalley

What the other Bookanistas are loving this week:

Tracy Banghart lights up for STREETLIGHTS LIKE FIREWORKS, by David Pandolfe
Jessica Love is on fire for CAMELOT BURNING by Kathryn Rose
Tracey Neithercott sings the praises of STOLEN SONGBIRD by Danielle L. Jensen
Katy Upperman adores OPEN ROAD SUMMER by Emery Lord

Blog Tour: The Fearless by Emma Pass (A Day in the Life of a Writer)

In the mood for some action-packed post-apocalyptic intrigue that's also a standalone? Then you've come to the right place!

The world changed when Cass was ten years old. A cure developed for soldiers' PTSD turned them into highly functioning zombies who took over the world in a matter of weeks. Cass's family had connections, so she was whisked away to the safety of an island community called Hope. Seven years later, the real world comes calling in the form of a fearless girl who kidnaps her younger brother Jori.

Told from three perspectives to get the most wide-ranging perspectives on this frightening new reality, THE FEARLESS leads you on a harrowing journey where not everyone is who they seem to be.

Find out more about THE FEARLESS. Out now in the UK, coming in early 2015 to the US.

I'm thrilled to welcome Emma to the blog today to talk about what her dream writing day looks vs her actual writing day. 



The Dream

I begin the day with some yoga or a gentle run – it's a well-known fact that getting the endorphins flowing boosts creativity. After that, I eat breakfast and drink a cup of green tea before disappearing into my study. And it's still only 6am!

I love my study. Spacious and lined with bookshelves, it's flooded with natural light and has a view over fields and woods. I boot up my computer and, with soft classical music playing over the speakers, I dive back into the story I'm writing. The words flow like water. This is my best book yet – my editor is going to love it. With 2K written before lunch, there's time to go for another run. Then it's back to it. By the end of the day, I have 4K written and the end is in sight. Perfect! Now for a light, healthy dinner, and perhaps a movie – I've earned it!

The Reality

Peel open an eyelid. Crap. It's 9am already. Why did I stay up so late last night watching TV? Better get up. G-Dog needs feeding. And I need coffee. COFFEE.

Stumble downstairs. Start to spoon coffee into dog bowl before realizing mistake. Somehow get dog fed and self caffeinated. Stumble into living room (I don't have a study; my office is the sofa). Better switch on the computer and start writing, seeing as my deadline is, like, a week away. But I need to check my emails. And Facebook. And Twitter. And my emails again. And look, there's a funny story about cats on The Poke…

Argh! 11am already. Right. Time to do some work. Oh, wait, G-Dog needs a walk. Better take him or he'll start barking at me and running circuits round the living room.

12pm. TIME TO START WORK. Actually, I'm a bit hungry. What's for lunch?

1pm. Come on, brain. 1K words today or else. Ugh, look at the dust under the armchairs! I need to clean this house now.

3pm. OK. House is clean. That's much better. I can think now. Time to – Wait, I have 10 new emails? Better check them. They might be important.

Dammit, they're all from Amazon. OK. I really must stop messing about and WORK. If only I wasn't so stuck with this chapter. Why the hell did I leave my heroine adrift in a hot air balloon? Maybe I should just delete this bit and start again.

4.30pm. I've written 200 words! That deserves a Facebook break, surely.

6pm. Argh, is it that time already? G-Dog needs feeding again. And there's no time to cook. Thank goodness the local Chinese delivers. It's a bit embarrassing that they know me by name, but never mind…

9pm. 500 words. Hooray! I'd better take G-Dog for another walk – he's giving me The Look. And then I'm going to get an early night. No, really…

Thank you Emma! My writing day looks pretty similar to the latter, substituting cats for the dog...

Follow the entire tour:

FTC disclosure: Book provided by author

Book Review: Enders by Lissa Price

You might recall how much I enjoyed STARTERS, and ENDERS is just as entertaining, fast-paced and twisty.

ENDERS focuses on the Starters who joined up with Prime Destinations and got the chip in their heads. They are now called Metals (probably a more apt title for this installment than Enders, if you ask me), and the head of the now destroyed Prime Destinations is rounding them up and controlling them remotely.

Callie is especially prized because she is the only one of the Metals who has overcome her no-kill programming, and she's also a talented sharp-shooter. She hears the icky voice of the Old Man in her head and he threatens to kill her younger brother if she doesn't cooperate with him. But just as she surrenders herself, a competitor to the old man rescues her as thus begins an epic battle of technology and wills.

What I especially loved about ENDERS was how unpredictable it was. I had no idea where the plot was going and I was genuinely shocked by many of the developments and reveals. The end was satisfying, but made me wish that there were going to be more books in this series.

ENDERS is available in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Bought. The author is a personal friend. 

Bookanista Review: The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman

I love fairy tales, and this one is deliciously dark.

A great, hungry evil has awoken in the mountain forest near Rowan's home of Nag's End. But Rowan is not superstitious like those in her village, so at first, despite some horrific deaths, she goes about life pretty much as usual. For her that means working on her translations and hanging out with her best friend Tom. But then more strange things happen: her cousin shows up and her father forbids her to speak to her, a blue witch summons her for a talk, and a relative of the queen comes to stay at her house. Soon Rowan is not only going to have to believe in the supernatural, she's going to have to get involved to try and stop it from destroying everything she loves.

The resulting story is enticing, compelling fairy tale horror. I got goosebumps reading this, but I couldn't look away. I especially liked how smart and plucky Rowan was and the way the fantastical events of the story evolved her relationships with her family and friends. Oh and the love/hate relationship with Jude was a highlight as well. 

THE GLASS CASKET is available in hardcover now. Find out more about the book at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Vine

What the other Bookanistas are raving about this week:

Jessica Love is captivated by LIV, FOREVER by Amy Talkington

Kimberly Sabatini loves LADY THIEF by A. C. Gaughen

Katy Upperman praises PANIC by Lauren Oliver

Christine Fonseca applauds DANGEROUS by Shannon Hale

Reviews on a Theme: The Multiverse

This year on the YA scene there was a mini-boom of multiverse books. These came in two main types: 1) multiverse novels in which characters travel to actual physical universes other than ours a la the the TV show SLIDERS and 2) multiverse novels in which the main character experiences diverse versions of her own life a la the movie SLIDING DOORS.

Before reading on, you should be aware that for some of these books, their very appearance on the list constitutes a spoiler.

I read four novels this year where the characters travel to other dimensions. In each case there was a physical portal or object that allowed movement between two or more worlds. Also, there is at least one character who is able to explain the science behind what's going on in logical terms.

In TANDEM by Anna Jarzab, Sasha has long had dreams of another world in which she is a princess. On prom night, she's forced to go there by her date (who turns out to be her doppelganger's bodyguard) in order to impersonate the runaway princess. A "anchor"(which looks like a silver bracelet) keeps her in this strange new world where the US is split and war is imminent. TANDEM is full of intrigue and fun parallel Earth worldbuilding in which a simple potato might be your undoing. (FTC disclosure: Borrowed)

In 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil it's a mirror that shows Josie a one minute long glimpse (twice a day at 3:59 am and pm) into a world where her doppelganger, Jo, seems to have a much better life than she does. When Jo offers to trade for a day, Josie agrees, hoping to spend just a little more time with her ex-boyfriend Nick and parents who aren't going through a messy divorce. But once in the parallel universe, Josie discovers Jo's world is far from perfect and that Jo has trapped her there.
Thanks to Josie's aptitude for science, she's able to work out a plan to help her get back to her own world - before she's ripped apart by monsters that only come out at night. Along the way there are some awesome reveals and genuine scares though some may be put off by the insta-romance and a climax that relies on supposedly smart people doing stupid (and illegal) things. (FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy)

In RELATIVITY by Cristin Bishara, Ruby is unhappy in her own reality and longs to know the mother who died when Ruby was young. When Ruby enters a magical oak tree, she discovers it hides a wormhole that allows her to visit nine parallel worlds and she decides to explore each until she finds the perfect one. The concept and the themes explored (making the best of what you have, being careful what you wish for, the unpredictability of the universe) are top-notch. Ruby is intelligent and resourceful on her journey and the various scenarios she encounters are well drawn. This short novel aims to find a satisfying balance between exploring a meaningful breadth of worlds and doing so with true depth, and though it doesn't quite attain the latter, it is, nevertheless, a bold and impressive work. (FTC disclosure: Requested review copy from publisher)

In UNDERCURRENT by Paul Blackwell, Callum goes over a waterfall in his town and ends up in an alternate version of his world where one decision changed everything. It takes Callum most of the book to figure out that this is case, but the reader knows much, much earlier. Callum would rather believe he's the one that's gone crazy, because the existence of a multiverse is even crazier, isn't it? Blackwell has crafted a creepy thriller which explores how choices shape identity - sometimes in major ways. (FTC disclosure: Netgalley)

Other books to check out in this category:
THROUGH TO YOU by Emily Hainsworth
UNRAVELLING by Elizabeth Norris
WHEN THE WORLD WAS FLAT (AND WE WERE IN LOVE) by Ingrid Jonach
OTHERBOUND by Corinne Duyvis - coming 2014

I read three novels this year in which the main character lives out split realities. In each, the split realities diverge from a choice the character makes.

In PARALLEL by Lauren Miller, Abby has a grand plan, but due to the collision of parallel universes, she finds herself living out a reality she didn't choose for herself. Her split path hinges on something minor - what class she takes in school. I found PARALLEL to be more of a "head" book than a "heart" book. I absolutely loved the symmetry of the dueling realities and the clever way everything fit together. My inner nerd was totally into the logical sounding scientific theories explaining what was going on, and Abby's character arc is stellar. I would have liked to feel more of Abby's love for Josh + Michael though. Intellectually, I understood why she fell for them, but their connections failed to move me emotionally. Despite that, I found this to be an immersive and impressive novel with great ruminations on living in the moment and accepting that you can't plan every little thing about your life. (FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy)

In PIVOT POINT by Kasie West, Addie has the power of "searching", that is, she can see the results of a choice before she makes it so that she can make the most informed decision. When her parents announce they will divorce and her father will move to another town, Addie "lives" through both choosing to stay with her mother and leaving with her father. In both "lives" she ends up dating a boy and soon it becomes clear which she prefers, but what if staying with the boy she loves means the death of someone else she loves? By adding people with superpowers, PIVOT POINT adds a fresh twist to the split realities concept. Plus, there's a high stakes murder mystery and lots of witty dialogue. The ending let me down a bit because I wasn't aware there's a sequel coming.  (FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy)

In JUST LIKE FATE by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young, Caroline can either stay at her dying grandmother's bedside or she can go to a party. What she chooses will determine her fate. I was solidly team “Stay” throughout the entire novel. Caroline’s arc here felt very authentic, and I admired her choice to remain by her dying grandmother’s bedside. Joel, Simone and Natalie were adequately fleshed out. I really wasn’t crazy about the “Go” Caroline, and the whole escape plotline including the new school/mean girl subplot never endeared her to me. But,  I LOVED the way everything came together and the philosophical nature of the ending. (FTC disclosure: Netgalley)

Other books to check out in this category:
THE POST BIRTHDAY WORLD by Lionel Shriver (adult)
MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton (adult) - coming 2014

Any other multiverse novels you'd recommend? Let me know in the comments!

Bookanista Review: All You Never Wanted by Adele Griffin

ALL YOU NEVER WANTED is a story of sisters in crisis.  Alex is the older sister, prettier and more popular, but hiding an embarrassing secret that is making her withdraw from life.  Thea has always wanted to be like Alex, and as Alex diminishes, Thea sees her chance to take over, spinning wild lies in her quest for world domination.

It's also a "poor little rich girl" story, in a way, because Alex and Thea's problems are magnified by their new wealth.  Their mother has remarried, to a fabulously rich man who lives in a mansion the girls call Camelot, and while the money can buy lots of things, it has also effectively removed their mother from their life, as she now travels with her new husband instead of taking care of her children.

I absolutely loved how real both sisters came off.  They aren't best book friend material by any means - Alex is very withdrawn, prickly and "ice queen"-ish while Thea is overdramatic, a compulsive liar and could give Hedda Gabler a run for her money in the soul-sucking department - but their struggles are relatable and their motivations fully understandable.

Alex's story unfolds in third person, fitting for a girl who has distanced herself from her own life. Her secret shame came as a direct result of a rich guy power play by her step-father, so she's especially bitter. She's also developing an eating disorder, and no one wants to call her on it - not her drug-dealer boyfriend, her friends or her sister - all for their own underhanded reasons. But fortunately for her, Xander is in her life. And he might just offer the lifeline she needs. (LOVE Xander!)

Thea's story is first person all the way, and we get front row seats to the way she deceives everyone - even herself.

Highly recommended, especially to those readers who value excellent character development. I'd also suggest Bennett Madison's THE BLONDE OF THE JOKE as a read-alike. Thea reminded me a lot of Val, especially in the way she spectacularly self-destructs.

Find out more about ALL YOU NEVER WANTED at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Bought

Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!

Shari Arnold loves SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL by Trish Doller

Tracy Banghart embraces IMPOSTOR by Susanne Winnacker

Shelli Johannes-Wells delights in Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER and HOMELAND

Nikki Katz gets the shivers for 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Stasia Ward Kehoe, Carolina Valdez Miller & Debra Driza sing out for the cover of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO

Jessica Love raves about ROAD TO TATER HILL by Edith M. Hemingway

Katy Upperman celebrates THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Katja Millay – with giveaway!

Book Review: Every Day by David Levithan

A inhabits a different body every day. It's always been like this, and A has always gone with the flow. Until now. Because A has fallen in love with a girl, and A wants the girl to really know who A really is.

I read EVERY DAY this summer and fell deeply in love with it, so I didn't want the year to end without posting a review.

First, I love the QUANTUM LEAP-esque premise. It's high concept and the perfect vehicle to get across some universal truths about human nature while at the same time telling a thrilling story.

Levithan's prose is deceptively simple.  He makes statements that immediately sound like aphorisms, like something we should have always known is true, we just never realized it before.  That makes the book immensely quotable.  Some examples:

"We all contain mysteries, especially when seen from the inside."
"Beneath every peripheral girl is a central truth."
"We will happily settle for okay, because most of the time, okay is enough."
"It's as simple as that. Simple and complicated, as most true things are."
"I only have a day to give - so why can't it be a good one?"
"The moment you fall in love feels like it has centuries behind it, generations - all of them rearranging themselves so that this precise, remarkable intersection can happen."

And these are all just from the first chapter.

I also loved the bittersweet romance with Rhiannon - that agony of wanting something you can never truly have but reaching out for it anyway. And I thought it was brilliant the way Levithan used the Nathan character to give the plot urgency.

EVERY DAY is an all-time favorite. Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Bought

Mini-Reviews: Three YA Thrillers

Are thrillers the next big thing in YA? I know I can't get enough of them! Here are a few I've read lately.

THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW by Robin Wasserman

Pitched as THE DA VINCI CODE for teens, this novel features Nora, a normal girl who gets caught up in a centuries old battle between rival religious factions who all want to get their hands on a device said to allow one to communicate directly with God. Because of their superior Latin skills, Nora and her friend Chris are asked to help with a translation project. Nora is given the less important task of translating a pack of letters from the daughter of the subject of interest, but soon uncovers some startling secrets that set in motion a chain of events that result in Chris's death and the disappearance of her boyfriend Max.

Nora is one of those unlikely book heroines who is a whiz at cracking puzzles and putting together the most obscure of clues - but is also terrible at reading people and their intentions. Nora's nature is what drives the plot and many of the twists and turns of the narrative, an interesting thing to ponder since one of the themes is guilt and taking responsibility for your actions.  In any case, THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW was an exciting read - one of those few that I stayed up late to finish because I HAD to know how it all played out.

FTC disclosure: Bought

ADAPTATION by Malinda Lo

ADAPTATION has a legit creepy opening: Reece, her debate partner (and longtime crush) David and their teacher are waiting for their plane when they get the news that all air travel is grounded because of a rash of bird strikes that have caused crashes around the nation. They end up renting a car and after a bird strike drives them off the road, Reece wakes up in a locked-down military hospital - one month later.

Once she gets home, the world has changed in subtle ways, but most alarming are the vivid dreams Reece is having.  She confesses these both to David and to the manic-pixie-dreamgirl (Amber) she crashes into on the street one day. The middle section of the book concentrates on Reece's growing alienation to her ho-hum life and attraction to all things Amber. And then ... things get really weird, really fast culminating in a jaw-dropping climax that opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the next book.

FTC disclosure: NetGalley

PERCEPTION by Kim Harrington

The sequel to CLARITY, PERCEPTION brings back psychic teen Clarity in a new mystery.  Clarity is getting secret admirer letters - are they from her ex-boyfriend Justin, from estranged crush Gabriel or are they of a more sinister nature altogether? When a girl from Clarity's school disappears, Clarity starts to suspect it must be the latter.

One thing that surprised me in CLARITY was Clarity's lack of female friends (see my review). Well, in this installment, Clarity is not only courted by the popular girls (who hope to exploit her psychic ability) but also gains a (slightly creepy/unhinged) new BFF.  Her sassy voice continues to shine here, the new mystery is properly compelling, and the on-again/off-again romance with Gabriel provides some great swoon.

FTC disclosure: Unsolicited review copy

What others thrillers should I move to the top of my reading pile? Any suggestions?

Apocalypsies Love! Book Review: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Apocalypsies Love is all about me telling you what I loved about a 2012 debut book written by one of the amazing Apocalypsies. I also chat with the author to gain insight into their very favorite parts of their creation.

Today I am talking about MEANT TO BE a YA contemporary about a girl who goes on a class trip to London and finds romance in unexpected places.

Let me begin with a story: JUST A LITTLE BIT LOST is a book which has really stuck with me since my childhood.  In it, the main character gets lost on a school trip with the popular boy she has a crush on and once they have the chance to really get to know each other, they fall in love.  Perfect teen fantasy, right?

MEANT TO BE has a similar vibe. At the beginning of her trip, responsible, studious Julia (nicknamed "book licker") is not interested in Jason.  He's too irresponsible - and most importantly, he's not her MTB ("meant to be"), a designation she's given another boy who didn't come to London.

But -- Julia's teacher puts the two of them together as travel buddies, forcing them to interact regularly. Jason convinces Julia to go to a party with him, she meets a bunch of hot guys and ends up with a texting flirt over the next few days.  Jason offers to help. But is it really Jason that Julia should end up with?

There are so many fun scenes throughout the novel as Julia opens herself up to new experiences off the beaten path. And obviously I adore books about foreign travel and think there should be more of them.

And now, let's chat with Lauren!

What is your favorite scene in the book?
I love the initial interactions between Julia and Jason, particularly when he's inviting Julia to the party. I love their banter.

What is your favorite line in the book?
There's a joke about Czechoslovakia (actually in that same scene from the last question) that is awesomely nerdy, and I was so jazzed that it made it into the final manuscript.

What setting was most fun to write?
Writing all the locations in London was so fun, but I enjoyed writing the scene in The Tate Modern the most. I had a good time virtually exploring and learning about various pieces as research.

Who is your favorite supporting character - one you could see getting a spin-off book - and why?
Sarah Finder is a great character, because there's so much more to her than meets the eye. I can't say much more without giving away spoilers, but I think she'd make a sassy narrator in another book.

What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?
Seeing my cover for the first time was the best. Heather, the designer at Random House, truly hit it out of the park. It's really eye catching and unlike anything else that's out there. I couldn't be happier with it. I wish I could pass on even half the compliments I've received. THANKS HEATHER!!!

Thank you Lauren!

MEANT TO BE is out in hardcover now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Netgalley

Apocalypsies Love! Book Review: Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Apocalypsies Love is all about me telling you what I loved about a 2012 debut book written by one of the amazing Apocalypsies. I also chat with the author to gain insight into their very favorite parts of their creation.

Today I'm featuring VELVETEEN, a YA afterlife thriller set in purgatory.

So this is a really, really twisted vision of the afterlife, just as I expected! See, Velvet was murdered by a sadist named Bonesaw, and she slips through the cracks of purgatory back to Earth to try to take her revenge.  She's also the head of a crew responsible for tracking down trapped souls - and one day, this leads her to Nick.

Marks' vision of purgatory is crazy fun and the world-buidling details he includes are so imaginative. My favorite part of the novel, though, was the chemistry between Velvet and Nick.  Velvet is understandably pissed at the world and isn't the easiest girl to love. She's withholding, sarcastic, and obsessed with vengeance.  But Nick brings out a softer side in her, and their scenes crackle with sexual tension.

If you're like me and are intrigued by books set in the great beyond - you need to check this one out!

And now, let's hear from the author himself! Welcome Daniel Marks!

What is your favorite scene in the book?
Hmm. Tricky. I’m really partial to Velvet and Nick’s racy banter. I think their relationship is really fun and quite complex, as it’s not built on love (in my eyes) but rather blossoms from a complete and utter mistake. The moments following that “mistake” are some of my favorites. Also, I tend to read those scenes back to back at author events. Spoiler: there’s kissing and…other stuff.

What is your favorite line in the book?
“She walks a tightrope between psycho and smokin’.” It’s a snippet of conversation Velvet overhears and it really does summarize her pretty well. Plus, I think it’s pretty badass. I’d forgotten it, until a blogger friend, Pam from Bookalicious, brought it up to me. Now, I use it for my promo materials.

What setting was most fun to write?
Purgatory. Every time. I love the rundown nature of a place that’s built entirely of things we living folk wouldn’t necessarily miss if it was stolen in the night. I was absolutely fixated on paper with this book, from the intricacy of Mr. Fassbinder’s origami, to the effigies, to the pressed bricks of the buildings, I couldn’t cram enough of the stuff into the world. I actually took an origami class while I was working on the world, but the best I could fold was a lop-sided box. Sad.

Who is your favorite supporting character - one you could see getting a spin-off book - and why?
Logan. For sure. To paint your readers a—not-so-pretty—picture, Logan is a 12-year old gas-huffing card shark with violent tendencies. He also happens to be trapped in a Grover costume when he’s his ghost self. I love him, he’s brash and ballsy and has a way with a bear trap on a chain.

As far as spinning him off, I’m not really interested in spin-offs. Writing series are actually a stretch for me. I much prefer standalone books and worlds and the challenge of creating something new each time.

What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?

Definitely meeting so many awesome people who are as enthusiastic about books, reading and writing as I am. Before I started writing eight years ago, I was a pretty solitary reader—never joined a book club or online forum and didn’t really discuss what I was reading with others. After I decided to give this a go, a whole other level of social interaction opened up for me. It’s funny because I’d never considered myself to be particularly introverted, but the engagement I’ve found with people I’ve met at conferences, readers and other authors/publishing folk have made me understand that I was more closed off than I’d let myself believe. I’m much happier, now. I wish the actual business end of writing had that same effect.

Thanks Daniel! VELVETEEN is available now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: NetGalley

Author Interview: Brandon Sanderson previews Steelheart

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interview authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13. These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works. Enjoy!

Today I have MISTBORN Author Brandon Sanderson here to talk about STEELHEART his new YA due from Delacorte (Random House) in August 2013.

The summary:

There are no heroes.

Every single person who manifested powers—we call them Epics—turned out to be evil.

Here, in the city once known as Chicago, an extraordinarily powerful Epic declared himself Emperor. Steelheart has the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, no explosion can burn him. He is invincible.

It has been ten years. We live our lives as best we can. Nobody fights back . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans who spend their lives studying powerful Epics, finding their weaknesses, then assassinating them.

My name is David Charleston. I'm not one of the Reckoners, but I intend to join them. I have something they need. Something precious, something incredible. Not an object, but an experience. I know his secret.

I've seen Steelheart bleed.

The interview:

Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?
One of the reasons that we read is for the sense of catharsis we get from seeing something go terribly wrong and watching people deal with it. It's just one of our basic needs where stories are concerned. From the beginning we have liked dark stories, starting with the oldest fairy tales and even earlier. They do serve a cautionary role, but there's also a fascination to them. What would we do if we were in those terrible circumstances? What will these characters do? In some ways dark stories are optimistic, because we get to see people struggling to deal with terrible situations and then hopefully coming out for the better.

What fictional character from another book would your main character chose as his/her best friend and why?
I think I would say Peter Parker. In Steelheart, David lives in a world where people gain super powers but only evil people have them. It would be one of his dreams to find people who were super-powered, yet were also good. Plus David's kind of a nerd in his own way—he's a nerd about super powers. He doesn't consider himself one, but he's studied super powers for most of his life to try to figure out how they work and how to defeat them. So I think he and Peter Parker would get along well.

What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why?
These are in no particular order. 1984 has to be on the list; it was the first big dystopian book that I read, and it has shaped this genre, in a way. I would put up there The Giver as well, which most people count as dystopian; it's kind of an interesting blend of dystopian and other sub genres, but I enjoy it. Among more recent fiction, I would say Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and The Maze Runner by James Dashner, for something very recent. Finally, another good classic—probably my favorite of all time is Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut.

What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends?
Finish all these darn books I want to write. I have around two dozen that need to get done before the world ends, so I'd better get cracking.

How does your novel stand out from others in the genre?
That's an excellent question. This is a somewhat crowded genre recently. Of course, dystopian fiction has always been popular in the SF/fantasy field, but lately it's had quite a boom. I am the only one that I know of doing a superhero apocalypse. I wrote the book because one day I was driving down the road and someone cut me off in traffic, and I thought, "It's a good thing I'm not a supervillain, because I would totally blow up your car." The what-if for me on that was—what if someone could just blow up your car if you cut them off in traffic? How would that change the world? What would we do if people started getting super powers and just started taking whatever they wanted? Would we be able to stop them? What would happen if the government just declared them forces of nature, acts of God, something that can't be changed. It was an interesting enough premise that I wrote a book based around it, and that's where Steelheart came from. It's a premise that I haven't seen done before.

Thank you Brandon!

Visit Brandon's website

Visit Brandon's Facebook

Follow Brandon on Twitter @BrandSanderson

Add STEELHEART to your Goodreads wishlist

Author Interview: Peggy Eddleman previews Through the Bomb's Breath

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interview authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13. These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works. Enjoy!

Peggy Eddleman is here today to preview her debut middle grade novel THROUGH THE BOMB'S BREATH, due from Random House in Fall 2013.

The summary:

Twelve-year-old Hope Toriella lives in a town of inventors struggling to recover from the green bombs of WWIII that wiped out nearly all the earth’s population. Inventing has made life possible in White Rock, and it’s how the town views a person’s worth. But Hope would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath— the deadly band of compressed air that covers their valley— than fail at yet another invention. 

When bandits find a way into their protected valley, they invade. With a two day deadline to hand over their medicine that cures the deadly Shadel’s Sickness that has run rampant since the bombs, the town is left to choose whether to die from Shadel’s over the next year, or die fighting the bandits now. Inventing won’t save them, but the daring and recklessness that usually gets Hope into trouble just might.

And the interview:

Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?
Because they make us stronger. A lot of times, the things that happen in “dark” stories are much worse than we’ll run into in real life. When we experience hard things in a book, we go through them emotionally, and as we deal with them, it makes us emotionally stronger. It helps us deal with the darkness in our own lives better. Plus, we like to know see people overcoming huge things. We like rooting for the underdog! We like to know that when things get really tough, we can come out on top, too.


If your book had a theme song, what would it be and why?
I’m going to go with Change by Taylor Swift because the song is all about being outnumbered and the fight not being fair, but finding your strengths and using them. And not walking away. That even when history seems to always repeat itself, you can still change it. That even when everything seems against you, you can find a way to win.


What fictional character from another book would your main character chose as his/her best friend and why?
Probably Cammie Morgan from the Gallagher Girls books. Her and my main character, Hope, are both resourceful and daring. Plus they both like to sneak out to do dangerous (but ultimately helpful!) things. They’d probably find themselves in a lot of trouble if they were friends. (But chances are, they’d also be able to find a way out of trouble, too. They’re cool like that.)


What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why?

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth
I love Divergent for the sheer genius of the factions. Plus, we get to live in what is arguably the most action packed faction of them all. I’m a sucker for a daring MC.

SURRENDER by Elana Johnson
Because I love the sci-fi elements, and the alternating narrating characters are so good! And I love that everything isn’t wrapped up nice and neat with a bow on top in the end.

MISTBORN by Brandon Sanderson
Okay, so this is a fantasy, but it has such strong dystopian elements! Controlling government: check. Oppressed people: check. Someone to rise above and be strong enough to take on said controlling government: check. Plus, the inventiveness BLEW ME AWAY. I’m kind of in love with this book.

SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi
Because I wanted to drink in all the words. So beautiful! And such fabulous character development.

THE THIEF by Megan Whalen Turner
This book (and series!) will always remain in my top five of all time. I love its subtlety, its heart, the richness of the world, and the complex character relationships.


What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends?
To travel! My hubby and I have especially wanted to see the castles of Scotland. And we really want to go while our kids are still living at home. I’m not about to go somewhere I’ve been dying to see, and just wish my kids were there to see it with me the whole time! We’d definitely go as a family.

How does your novel stand out from others in the genre?
It doesn’t have a controlling, oppressive government— one of the main problems is that there’s a lack of government. (Which, I guess is to be expected when there aren’t very many people left on the Earth!) But the lack of government means that bandits are a huge problem. Another thing that makes my novel stand out is that my main character does not come from a dysfunctional family. Her parents are genuinely good people, which is kind of a rarity in kidlit. And of course there’s the Bomb’s Breath— a band of deadly, pressurized air hovering over the land, and my MC realized she can sneak off and cliff dive into it. The Bomb’s Breath is one of the funnest things I’ve ever written.

Thanks Peggy!

Links:

Visit Peggy's blog: http://peggyeddleman.blogspot.com/
Follow Peggy on Twitter: @PeggyEddleman

Add Through the Bomb's Breath to your Goodreads wishlist

Author Interview: Amy Christine Parker previews The Silo

For my spotlight on upcoming dystopian/post apocalyptic fiction series, I interview authors with novels coming out in the genre in 2012/13. These are exclusive first looks at exciting new works. Enjoy!

Today I have Debut Author Amy Christine Parker on the blog to talk about THE SILO, coming from Random House in Fall 2013. Now technically it's not dystopian or post-apocalyptic, but it is about a doomsday cult, so I thought you all would want to know about it. 

Here's the summary:

Seventeen year old Lyla has grown up inside a deceptively suburban cult compound. She has always been a peace maker by nature, but lately she’s finding it increasingly difficult to stay true to her inner lamb. According to her cult’s leader, Pioneer, the end of the world is a mere three months away. He wants Lyla to “lion up” and help defend the Silo, their elaborate underground shelter, from outsiders looking to survive at all costs. Then she must seal herself inside the Silo along with the rest of the cult for who knows how long while the remainder of humanity perishes and the earth rights itself again. While underground, she will be expected to marry Will, the boy Pioneer’s chosen for her, so she can help with repopulation. Pioneer demands her obedience. Questioning him will only bring swift and harsh punishment. But when the local Sheriff and his son, Cody, show up at the compound’s gate to have a look around, Lyla feels drawn to Cody and to his assurances that the world isn’t really on the brink of destruction. Unfortunately, the closer she gets to Cody, the more she raises the Sheriff’s suspicions about Pioneer, making a confrontation between the two men inevitable. Now Lyla must decide who to believe and how much she’s willing to give up to survive.

And the interview:

Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?
I don’t know if I can speak for everyone, but I know why I’m drawn to them. I’m fascinated with flawed characters, whether they’re the protagonists, the antagonists, or the supporting cast. I think on some level whenever I’m reading dark stories or writing them, I’m trying to figure out how that darkness grows in people, where it comes from and what triggers it. I also like to see how characters will react under the worst of circumstances. Maybe it also has something to do with facing my worst fears in a safe place, between the pages of a book where the dark can’t actually reach me.

If your book had a theme song, what would it be and why?
It would be Linkin’ Park’s “Waiting for the End to Come”. That song is basically my main character’s thoughts set to music. It gave me chills when I first heard it because it was so much what Lyla was feeling.

What fictional character from another book would your main character chose as his/her best friend and why?
Lyla would probably have to choose Tris from Divergent because on the surface at least she’s much braver than Lyla and has mad Dauntless skills that would totally come in handy when Lyla goes up against the leader of her cult community, Pioneer. Plus she’s had to defy family in order to figure out where she belongs just like Lyla has to.

What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why?
I have to start out by saying that my top dystopian picks are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Divergent by Veronica Roth, but I’m not putting them on my list because you’d have to be living under a rock not to know about them at this point, so with that in mind here’s my adjusted list (you’ll also see that many of the books I’ve chosen could technically be called post-apocalyptic instead of purely dystopian, but here goes anyway):

The Passage by Justin Cronin: Technically an adult fiction choice, but I was never the kind of teenager (or young adult writer) who only reads young adult. I love the scope of this book and the writing is brilliant.

Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacicalupi: I’m a Florida girl, so I loved that it takes place along the Gulf and is so well thought out and imagined. The world of this book is intriguing and highly believable, a dystopian that feels absolutely like it could happen.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: Her writing is completely beautiful which is saying something when you’re writing about zombies.

Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix: It’s been around awhile and is more middle grade than young adult, but I still love this book. I used to read it to my class every year when I taught. It has population police, a love story, and a rebellion. What more could a dystopia lover want?

Matched by Ally Condy: She’s up there with Carrie Ryan for me when it comes to her lovely writing. So well written from the first page to the last with another highly developed world that just sucked me in.

What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends?
At the very top: getting a bug out bag full of supplies and an underground shelter somewhere strategic ‘cause right now I’m basically gonna die if the end of the world comes anytime soon. I’m so not prepared for it. BUT I’ve been watching Doomsday Preppers recently so I’m feeling a tiny bit better. At least now I know how to start a fire with steel wool and a battery. After that it’s to see my book on shelves! I have this fear that now that my biggest dream is coming true I’ll accidentally walk off the curb right into an oncoming car(disturbing, I know) or something equally disastrous and people will shake their heads and say, “Poor dear, her first book was due out next year and now this.” Of course it might actually make my book more popular, but I’m just not willing to die for a pity spot on the New York Times Best Seller list, ya know?

How does your novel stand out from others in the genre?
Well, mainly it stands out because technically speaking it isn’t a dystopian in the truest sense. It takes place in the here and now, not in the future, but I’d argue that because of the way the community in the book runs and the way that the members of it are isolated from the rest of the world, It feels very dystopic as does the main character’s struggle to figure out what she believes in and whether or not she’s ready to fight for the right to those beliefs.

Thanks Amy!

Add THE SILO to your Goodreads wishlist

Find Amy in the following places:

 www.amychristineparker.com
www.amychristineparker.blogspot.com
www.fictionfemmefatale.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/#!/amychristinepar

Joint Review Discussion: Dualed by Elsie Chapman

For the third month in a row, Michelle of Galleysmith and I are doing joint review discussions. These are more in-depth than my usual reviews and discuss plot points in a (mostly) non-spoilery way. We've posted about a different book every Thursday, and our last book this month is DUALED.

Publisher summary:

Would you live through the ultimate test of survival? 

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life. 

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her. 

Elsie Chapman’s suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.

Michelle and I decided to discuss four topics: Genre classification, Unsympathetic main character, Romance, and Worldbuilding. The first two we discuss below, the second two we discuss over at Galleysmith.

Genre classification

Lenore:
The city of Kersh may be the last stronghold in a world broken down by the effects of a universal cold vaccine that caused irreversible sterility. Kersh’s board artificially creates two of every child (known as alts) and gives them to separate families. Sometime between 10-20 years of age, the alts are turned active - meaning they have 31 days to kill the other or self-destruct. It is survival of the fittest in its most brutal form. The kids killing kids angle is very reminiscent of THE HUNGER GAMES, though the purpose here is to raise of city of killers ready and willing to fight for Kersh should the unwashed masses dare to storm the gates.

But in this first installment at least, the focus is not really on the evils of this society but more on 15 year old West’s questioning her own worth. Is she the best version of herself? Is she the one who deserves to keep living? It’s a fascinating and thought provoking question.

Michelle:
Yea, it definitely fits into the dystopia/post-apocalyptic classification for me. More so than some of the other books we’ve read thus far. Like you, I definitely got THE HUNGER GAMES vibe as well. It didn’t really compare from the suspense/drama angle but the kids killing kids scenario was comparable. It did make me wonder if the book was inspired by Collins and if that was a purposeful relationship.

Lenore:
It’s definitely a “read-alike” in that I do think it will appeal to some of the same audience. And I think any writer writing a dystopia today admires THE HUNGER GAMES and what it has achieved. In addition to the basic kids killing kids scenario, there are some other big similarities (which we discuss later) but I think DUALED does enough differently to mark its own territory outside the HG box.

Michelle:
For sure, I don’t see the comparison as a negative just that it was pretty apparent. The execution was different enough for me and has much potential for more unique qualities in the following book.

Unsympathetic main character

Lenore:
Ok, so if the central question is if West deserves to keep living more than her alt does, then it does make sense that the reader should be asking themselves that very question. Let me do a quick comparison with THE HUNGER GAMES’ Katniss, because both West and Katniss are forced by their society to become killers lest they be killed - and they both have pretty abrasive personalities. But where Katniss immediately wins the reader’s sympathy with her nobility and passion, West can be downright unlikeable in comparison. She wallows in self-pity, pushes away all offers of help from a very patient (and hot) Chord and becomes a hired assassin on the black market for no apparent reason. (Note: much later on in the novel West explains her motivations for becoming a striker to Chord in a really heartbreaking scene) I felt utter revulsion for some of West’s actions (which I suspect is how the author wanted me to feel) and I know this could be a problem for readers who insist on sympathetic characters.

Michelle:
Hmmmm, I didn’t find her wholly unsympathetic as much as just pathetic. I would hazard to say that when comparing any number of female lead characters with Katniss the other would come up FAR short on the awesome scale. It’s almost like comparing apples to oranges really.
But, I’ll take a stab at my thoughts on the issues you raise. I agree the similarity in the girls circumstances (forced killing) is there. Unlike you, I did feel sympathy for West pretty early on. She’s lost all of her family and drifting a bit as a result. I viewed that wallowing in self-pity as realistic. Having said that, it got annoying because it went on too long. The pushing Chord away issue was overbearing. I didn’t need to be hit over the head with the idea that she wasn’t safe or good enough for so long.

Unlike you, I got why she became an assassin. I do think that this part of the story could have been structured differently to allow for better understanding and a smoother flow. It made sense from the preparedness angle as well as the self-loathing angle.

I’m curious to know which actions revolted you.

Lenore:

The preparedness angle works at first, but once she’s activated herself, why does she keep taking assassin jobs and avoiding her own alt? That could be where the self-loathing angle comes into play because the killing of other people’s alts is pretty despicable and she knows it. I hated how she killed her first assignment - an innocent girl who just happened to have the misfortune of having an alt who could afford to hire an assassin and who didn’t mind breaking the law (and the Kersh code of honor - however twisted the society is, it is still more honorable to face up to the task yourself than to get someone else to do your dirty work).

And in regard to Katniss, I’m only making the comparison because both West and Katniss kill children - which the vast majority of heroines do not have to do, even in this genre.

Michelle:
The argument could be made she kept the assassin job in order be better prepared but in the end all of the physical and tactical training she gained as a result of her assignments went to some waste as she avoided her own Alt. It felt somewhat contrived, a reason to keep she and Chord apart, and unnecessary given all the other elements of the story that could have been explored as an alternative. I do think in the end it helped West in achieving her goal versus her Alt. I’ll add I’m not sure why a teacher would encourage that route of preparedness.

Lenore: 

I wonder if the teacher is playing a more sinister role here. We do get the sense that the striker system is a form of rebellion against the government of Kersh, and if the teacher is encouraging her participation … I think we’ll be seeing more of this play out as the series goes on.

Don't miss the rest of the discussion over at Galleysmith!

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DUALED comes out in hardcover on February 26, 2013. Visit the author's website for more information.

See index of all dystopian reviews at Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: NetGalley