Tag Archives: YA

Allegiant by Veronica Roth – a Review

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Allegiant by Veronica Roth – a Review

Allegiant Oct 2013Links to order Allegiant: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

 

Review:
Allegiant is the 3rd and final book for Veronica Roth’s Divergent series.  I loved the first two books of this series.  They were great; wonderful exciting stories, and some awesome characters, especially Tris and Tobias.  I could not wait for this final book, and to see how Roth was going to end it all.  I discussed this with a few friends, who read this series based on my recommendation. 

Allegiant to me was a major disappointment.  It just wasn’t the same, with the book being very slow early on, as well as the constant redundancy.  I also did not like the POV’s that Roth decided to add into this book, which made it so different then the others.  It was almost like a different writer.

What drew me to this series were the young protagonists we met, as well as the exciting action throughout.  All of this was missing for the most part.  As much as I loved Tobias, the main character for this series, the one who we followed through it all, was Tris.  She was a fantastic character, strong, smart, tough,, and would make a fearless leader. In fact, in this book, I thought Tobias was no where near as strong as Tris.  The best part of the book, despite its climatic ending, was the epilogue.  Roth wrote this well….a nice tribute.

I have never done this before, but after reading this final book of the series, I feel I have to express myself.

An open message to Veronica Roth    SPOILERS ……SPOILERS…..SPOILERS
(Do not go past this point if you have not read this book, unless you want to be spoiled)

 

 

 

I have been a big fan of this series, and loved your writing.  But after reading Allegiant, and this is solely my opinion….I was sadly disappointed, as I did not feel this was the same author who wowed us in the first  two books.

Sure it’s your book, your imagination, your story, your heroes.  But you made us deeply invested into your characters.  We loved Tris and Tobias.  We get it…it’s a war. People have to die.  It’s reality.  But this is fiction; we read and imagine with you the excitement of the battles, the love, the friendships…….the ending game.

I totally understand that sacrifices have to be made in a story like this.  You did make them all throughout.  But to take a main character, and sacrifice that character is not what we invested in.  I wasn’t totally thrilled with the ending of the Hunger Games, but Katniss would eventually rebuild her life with someone who loved her.  She made her sacrifices, and paid the price, but she survived.

Was it necessary to kill Tris off, especially when she survived the serum? What was the point of risking her life (to save a brother who betrayed her), suffering, surviving, and then killing her needlessly, other then to shock us all?  She deserved more, as in real life how many people would offer their lives?

Again, this is my opinion. Divergent was great, more then great.  Insurgent was very good, though a tad less then the first book.  Allegiant had so much promise and to me it was a major disappointment, paling badly to the first two fantastic books.

Reviewed by Barb

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Songs From the Phenomenal Nothing by Steven Luna

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Songs From the Phenomenal Nothing by Steven Luna

songs from the phenomenal nothingLinks to order Songs From the Phenomenal Nothing:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Description:
It’s just me and him. Him and me. A man I can’t comprehend, designated by the universe as my father but someone I prefer to call Tom, and a kid he can’t relate to but calls son anyway because he’s determined to try. I really wish he’d just call me Tyler.

He probably wishes I’d call him Dad.

But I’m not comfortable with that at this point.

Our differences and our lack of mutual understanding are the only things we seem to agree on. And even those get heated sometimes.

Seriously, it’s a miracle that we haven’t hurt each other yet.

I’m not sure how much longer we can hold out.
***
Seventeen year-old guitar prodigy Tyler Mills has become lost in the aftermath of his mother’s death. Disconnected more and more from his father, he takes refuge from it all in two things: his music and his girlfriend. But everything changes with the chance discovery of his mother’s journal—and the long-held family secret within that could alter his life forever

 

Review:

Songs From The Phenomenal Nothing is the first work in the YA genre for author Steven Luna.  Seventeen year old Tyler Thomas Mills is struggling.  Struggling with the life he has been dealt.  Tyler lost his mother six months ago to cancer, and the world as he knew it ended.  The one person that he believed completely understood him has been “uncreated”. Leaving him with the man he calls Tom.  He can no longer call him Dad.  Tyler is a tall, lanky, blue-eyed musician who everyone considers “pretty.”  Tom is a hard-working, short, not so handsome auto mechanic.  They couldn’t be more opposite if they tried.   

On punishment for a mistake that he makes, Tyler is stuck cleaning out the garage.  There he finds a box that contains journals belonging to his mother.  Missing her and needing a connection with her he decides to delve into reading them.  He is mesmerized by his mother’s writings, they are beautiful, poetic and magical.  Yet they open doors to secrets of her past.  Secrets that Tyler isn’t quite sure he should be reading.  He becomes obsessed with the journals, while his relationship with Tom becomes more and more strained. 

What a wonderful coming of age story!  This book touched me on several levels.  The struggle of coming of age, becoming the adult you want to be, the conflict that teens often encounter with their parents and the search for their own identity!   At first I found Tyler a tad self-absorbed – yet realistic for a seventeen year old. I believe I connected him with my own twenty year old son and the struggles he is facing becoming his own man!  Searching for his own identity.  Yet Tyler has the added struggle of losing the one person he thought understood him.  This story also examines the legacy that secrets leave behind.  Those that others may find and misunderstand, or not fully understand, and those that forever change lives.   The story had many twists and turns, which at times were emotionally wrenching.  The ending left me in tears – in a wonderfully good way! 

 

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Author

 

 

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Evanescent by Andria Buchanan – a Review

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Evanescent by Andria Buchanan – a Review

 

Evanescent
Links to order Evanescent: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Trapped in the deadly land of Nerissette, Allie has all but given up on any return to the mortal realm. Unless she can find the two elusive artifacts that have the power to get her and her friends back home. But she’s got even bigger problems as the newly crowned queen of Nerissette: she must unite her people in the midst of a civil war and capture the Fate Maker—the evil puppet master responsible for the conflict—before he can find another army willing to return him to power. On top of it all, Allie is just a normal teenager. Her feelings are growing for the guy she’s certain is her true love, and balancing her personal life while being the queen isn’t as easy as it sounds. Allie must learn the true meaning of bravery, love, and kinship, regardless of the world—and danger—around her.

 

Review:

EVANESCENT is Book Two in the Chronicles of Nerissette by Andria Buchanan.  Some books can stand alone for your reading enjoyment, but, I would encourage you readers to start at the beginning.  Did I follow my own advice? Alas no!  I read out of order and I feel that I needed a stronger connection to these teenagers for EVANESCENT to flow. 

This 2nd installment starts a few months after EVERLAST ends.  Queen Allie and her gang of friends have crossed from the World that Is (the Mortal Realm) to the World of Dreams and some of the teens still want to return home!  Her swoon-worthy Consort is the boy from across the street who is really a Black Dragon.  Best friend Mercedes can talk to trees and control nature.  Things have certainly changed!  

They are on the brink of another Civil War with the Fate Maker and Queen Allie must reunite her kingdom and defeat this evil for good.  Allie is surrounded with fun and loyal characters:  her Chief of Staff is a goblin.  The Mermaid Queen is an ally and then, there are the Dragons!  Lots and lots of Dragons, including her new friend, Kitsuna who cannot change forms, but she can fight like a true Dragon. Allie and her group of friends must decide if they are going to stay in this magical world, or if they can return to the World That Is.   Also, they must find the elusive Dragon Tear, a relic they need to defeat evil. 

The book has battles, betrayals, secrets that are revealed and ends with another cliffhanger!  The conclusion to this series is sure to be exciting!!  

Reviewed by Jules

Copy provided by Publisher

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Made of Stars by Kelley York – a Review

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Made of Stars by Kelley York – a Review

Made of StarsLinks to order Made of Stars: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance’s quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then Chance’s mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent…they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

Review:

Made of Stars by Kelley York is a surprising different type of story that I have read in the YA genre.  This is not dystopian, but a simple warm and heart wrenching story of three young adults, whom we meet when they were children, with the focus of most of the story taking place when they were 18.  Made of Stars was my first book by York, and it was so well written. It kept my attention from the start, even when the story changed a bit, and you saw where it was heading, York just kept me turning the pages. 

Our protagonists are a threesome, Hunter and Ashlin, who are half siblings, as they share the same father, but each live with their mother. Each summer they would stay with their father, and enjoying their time together.  York made them both so great, as their closeness, and loyalty to each other was sweet, and you loved them both.  Into this mix, was Chance, a local boy who became their trusted and adored friend.  Chance spent more time with Hunter and Ashlin, then he did at home; being young, neither would wonder why.  Chance, was sort of their leader, and he reminded me a bit of Peter Pan, fun loving, playful, daring and fearless.  All three of them were very close, each looking forward to the time they spent with each other.  Due to an injury to Hunter & Ashlin’s father, two years pass before they come back to spend the winter with their father.  They are now 18, planning their lives to go to college.  Hunter has a girlfriend, Rachel, who will spend part of the winter with them. 

But now that they are older, things have changed somewhat.  Both Hunter and Ashlin are excited to see Chance again, and privately each have strong feelings for Chance.  But when Rachel is with them, she notices how Chance looks at Hunter, & suspects the feelings might be the same.  Ashlin, who begins to realize that Chance loves Hunter, tries to talk to Hunter. But he refuses to acknowledge that Chance is anything more then a very close adored friend.  Even though this is an important part of the story, the main focus changes to a deep concern for Chance. Hunter and Ashlin begin to find out the Chance has been lying about his life at home, and when they see bruises on him, they suspect the worst. 

The emotional revelations change everything, as the story heads to an exciting and tragic climax.  The close bond of the threesome is pushed to the limit, as they face the terrible truths, which will change everything.   Throughout the story, you sensed not all was as it seemed about Chance, and the future for the threesome was headed toward something very dark. What happens?  You will need to read to find out.

I do have to say that Kelley York has impressed me with her wonderful writing, in this different story. I loved her characters, and the closeness of the siblings, as well as how all of them felt for Chance.  This was a wonderful story, and even though this is considered YA, Made of Stars can be read by everyone. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Becoming A Legend/Winning The Legend by B.Kristin McMichael-a review

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Becoming A Legend/Winning The Legend by B. Kristin McMichael-a review

 The Blue eyes trilogy

Becoming a Legend June 2013Becoming A Legend
The Blue Eyes Trilogy #2 (YA)
by B. Kristin McMichael

ABOUT THE BOOK: June 14, 2013

Arianna Grace is about to turn seventeen and her life has been very complicated lately. She is the leader of four clans of night humans: dearg-dul, baku, tengu, and lycan. While the four clans seem to get along better with each other, there is internal conflict on both sides of her family, not to mention the three boys vying for her attention.

Edward Lucan is making a chase for the power to lead the baku clans and is playing his cards by using his nephew Andrew to lure Arianna into a trap. Unfortunately for Lucan, Andrew has his own plans. He has spent the last year waiting for Arianna to see him as more than a friend, and he now finds it necessary to make a move for her affection, despite his uncle.

In the dearg-dul estate, Arianna discovers that the ambitious Lord Seeger has been laying his own strategies for power and is slowly poisoning her. After getting away with her grandfather’s murder, he is setting his sights on her. Luckily for Arianna, her team is on to all of the plans and is making some plans of their own. Will it be enough to keep Arianna safe? Several people close to Arianna have been keeping secrets. If Arianna is to take power and control of the night, she will need to know the truth. Will someone finally tell her what it truly means to become the legend everyone is waiting for, before it is too late to turn back?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:   When we last visited with Arianna, everyone wanted a piece of her. Current status: EVERYONE STILL WANTS HER…even if it means going to war! Let’s step back into the world of day and night humans in the sequel, Becoming a Legend, by B. Kristen McMichael.

Arianna has now spent a year in this world, primarily under the guidance and tutelage of her Great Uncle, Gabriel (Baku from her father’s side), and Devin, the sole day human who represents Arianna’s now deceased maternal grandfather, Lord Randolph (Dearg-dul). Together, they protect her from those clans wishing to claim her (to produce offspring — yikes, she’s only 17!) and prepare her for adhering to the rules of the legend. Problem is? No one quite knows the legend! Every clan (13 in all) knows bits and pieces, each a piece of the larger puzzle if you will, but only Lord Randolph knew how to compile the facts and enact it: The legend stated she must have a keeper of each race to gain power over all the clans. Problem is (and there are many), Lord Randolph never intended for Arianna to embrace the legend. But the disarray following his death (and the fact that it’s a year later and the clans agree Arianna is far from completing the prophecy), their thirst for power, and how can they get it from Ari, overrides their patience. As a consequence of her refusal to marry (again, she’s only 17!), the clans collectively unite against Ari and declare war. In an effort to placate them, Ari agrees to a Tournament of Champions as a compromise. Each clan will send a representative to fight for her hand.

Now it was time for her to fight to be free to live her own life. Arianna had one month to prepare to meet her fate. She would either save the night human world or destroy it.

Aside from the unreasonableness of the competing clans, Ari has to contend with her own keepers (those who will supply blood for her sustenance and become irreversibly connected to her), the emotional intensity of those relationships, sabotage, physical and mental training, and her own maturity with developing powers. I liked Ari more in the sequel because I believe she is a gentle person who is trying to survive in a world of contention. The attachments aren’t a YA-love triangle convention that bore us to death. Becoming a Legend delves deeper into the WHY of it all and allowed me to feel empathy for Arianna. I couldn’t help but compare her plight to that of Merida from Brave and even to mild-mannered Jean Grey who transforms into the Dark Phoenix when her powers are released. Awesome women, right? There is so much world building HERE; you really must read from the beginning of the series to understand the terminology, but you’ll be glad you did.

_____________________________________

Winning the LegendWinning the Legend
The Blue Eyes Trilogy #3 (YA)
by B. Kristin McMichael

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2013

Arianna has gathered the outside clans to decide her fate in marriage. A tournament will be held, and she is the prize, whether she wants to be or not. The only thing she can do is watch men fight over her, or is that all she can do? Thanks to her team’s well-made plans Arianna has other strategies in place, and hopefully one just might get her freedom.

As the men gather and she learns more about the night human world, there are new allies to keep close and more enemies to keep even closer. Some even hold more secrets to her legend and possibly the actual reason to her existence. Now Arianna must decide what to do with the fate she has been dealt. Time has come to step out of the shadows of the men who protect her, and into her own power. The time is now for Arianna to take control, and fight for the destiny she wants to live

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:  In keeping with my visceral reactions, book 3, Winning the Legend, translated to Hunger Games meets X-MEN! The tournament to compete for Arianna (aka the ultimate prize) is on, but fluctuations of many sorts are changing the course for all involved. The fabled legend may not be so idyllic. Ari is either to become an unrivaled peacemaker…or the harbinger of death!

She didn’t want to have the contest, but it was her choice to go through with it to protect everyone she loved. By having this competition, her clans avoided all-out war.

And so the contestants entered her estate to begin the process of elimination (by ranking lost matches). The competition takes center stage for this book, but I have to admit that my complaint was the competition manipulation. While some clans hid nefarious plots to win (regardless of rules), most of the participants were intent on winning Arianna’s affections. At the end of Becoming a Legend, Ari complies with part of the legend’s promise (I didn’t want to spoil it, but it’s necessary for this to make sense): Ari drank the blood of her keepers to fortify her strengths and prevent disease. Arianna trained during the 1 month lapse in time for the tournament, but she really threw her own name into the ring (remember the Merida reference?) because of the effect/potency of drinking the blood. I’d say that’s advantageous. But it didn’t end there. A few select members of her guard joined the competition as well. Needless to say, they collaborated to minimize the competitors’ chances. The Sidhe king became a major player in the challenge, but also the main proponent to win Arianna by any means necessary. I understand that each clan had its own agenda, but Arianna was just as duplicitous…and that left a bad taste in my mouth.

I admired Arianna’s tenacity and willingness to defend and unite her clans, but there were too many fundamental inequities that prevented fair play. Arianna MATED to one of her keepers! Not disclosing that knowledge…well…let me move on. Not all results are perfect, however. Arianna becomes the veritable guinea pig (picture Rogue from X-MEN) at the recommendation of an uneasy alliance when plans go astray. Catastrophes are avoided, but Ms. McMichael does provide a healthy dose of pain and loss. Love is tested, loyalty is questioned, and suspicions become a necessary warning system.

I’ve indulged in several YA stories, but this series is designed for a genuinely young audience. My lack of patience doesn’t care much for “hand-holding” writing (where I’m being directly led/told rather than follow/assume a natural progression of storyline). On the other hand, there were explanations or issues that could have used more detail or another pair of eyes to minimize inaccuracies. I’m convinced there were a few contradictions.

Arianna is thrust into an incomprehensible world at the age of 16, but quickly realizes her role cannot be taken lightly and demands her active participation. The journey is not an easy one; she has to adapt to a new environment as a leader (pretty heady responsibility!), but she’s surrounded by a devoted cast of characters who figure it out alongside her. Discover the sights and sounds (and a diet that thankfully got easier!) of this supernatural world. Hear Arianna roar as she gains confidence! I wasn’t jumping-for-joy happy with the culmination of the story, as I so favored one character in particular, but Ms. McMichael treated us to some insight at the end of Winning the Legend: Stay tuned for a spin-off!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copies supplied by the author.

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Sidelined by Kendra C. Highley-a review

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SIDELINED by Kendra C Highley-a review

Sidelined

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2013

After being pushed to excel her entire life, high school basketball star Genna Pierce is finally where she wants to be. University scouts are taking notice, her team is on its way to the state tourney, and Jake Butler, the hot boy she’s daydreamed about since ninth grade, is showing some definite interest. When he asks her out and their relationship takes off, Genna believes things can’t get better.

Then, it’s over.

A freak accident ends her career before it’s even begun. Her parents are fighting more than ever, her friends don’t understand what she’s going through, and she’s not sure who she is without basketball. And while he tries to be there for her, Genna doesn’t understand how Jake could ever want the broken version of the girl he fell for.

Her life in a tailspin, Genna turns to the only solace that eases her pain: Vicodin.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: SIDELINED is a young adult (YA) contemporary storyline that tackles some issues of addiction and dependency, the break up of a family but also looks at the push to succeed at all costs.

Genna Pierce is a talented and scouted high school basketball player who is on the verge of making it big. But a reckless play and a career ending injury would force Genna to the sidelines-a place where neither she nor her mother wanted her to be.

The storyline follows Genna as the boy she has crushed on for years, finally takes notice, just as Genna’s star power begins to fall. And to complicate matters, Genna’s injury required major surgery that has left her with lingering pain and an addiction to Vicodin that spirals out of control rather quickly.

The reader watches as Genna’s life, family and career hit rock bottom and her relationship with Jake turns ugly. Genna’s character and personality deteriorate over the weeks and months, and her addiction and loss of control are only the beginning.

I did question some of the premise as it pertained to the legal problems and the quick turn around and action of the DEA. In reality there would be a longer time frame and a bigger case to build before some of the plot information and details surfaced.

The character of Genna is difficult to like although she does endure some harrowing pain and suffering. Her attitude prior to the injury was aggressive and not very flattering and afterwards it was amplified by her addiction, embarrassment and perceived humiliation. Genna’s loss of control and power over her career and her life manifested into anger against those that she loved the most.

This is also a story about a family that is slowly pulled apart by the actions of their own. Betrayal and heartache only scratch the surface of dysfunctional family dynamics and the devastating injury to their star child is the final straw that breaks the proverbial back.

Kendra C. Highley has written a story that will be all too familiar to many families and young athletes hoping to make it to the professional leagues. The push to win at all costs; the drive to succeed; and the harrowing loss of control when an injury sidelines not only the athlete but the family as well.

Copy supplied by the publisher-Entangled Teen.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine-Saying Goodbye to the Series-giveaway

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Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine-Saying Good bye to the Series-giveaway

Morganville Vampires Banner

GIVEAWAY RUNS: October 4 to October 11, 2013

November 5, 2013 release of DAYLIGHTERS marks the end of Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampires series and the beginning of her new project PRINCE OF SHADOWS.

To celebrate, PENGUIN Group is offering a giveaway to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

ONE winner will receive a paper copy of MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Vol 1 which includes the first two storylines in Rachel Caine’s series-Glass Houses and The Dead Girl’s Dance

___________________________

Daylighters
Morganville Vampires #15
by Rachel Caine
Genre: YA, paranormal
Release Date: November 5, 2013

 

Daylighters

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

While Morganville, Texas, is often a troubled town, Claire Danvers and her friends are looking forward to coming home. But the Morganville they return to isn’t the one they know; it’s become a different place—a deadly one…

Something drastic has happened in Morganville while Claire and her friends were away. The town looks cleaner and happier than they’ve ever seen it before, but when their incoming group is arrested and separated—vampires from humans—they realize that the changes definitely aren’t for the better.

It seems that an organization called the Daylight Foundation has offered the population of Morganville something they’ve never had: hope of a vampire-free future. And while it sounds like salvation—even for the vampires themselves—the truth is far more sinister and deadly.

Now, Claire, Shane and Eve need to find a way to break their friends out of Daylighter custody, before the vampires of Morganville meet their untimely end…

Link to the Morganville Vampires website.

Giveaway

ONE winner will receive a paper copy of MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES Vol 1 which includes the first two storylines in Rachel Caine’s series-Glass Houses and The Dead Girl’s Dance

Morganville Vampires Vol 11. If you have not registered at The Reading Cafe, please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please comment telling us to enter you into the giveaway-just say-ENTER ME INTO THE GIVEAWAY !

4. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

5. Giveaway runs from October 4 to October 11, 2013

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Frozen by Melissa Dela Cruz & Michael Johnston – a Review

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Frozen by Melissa Dela Cruz & Michael Johnston – a Review

FrozenLinks to order Frozen: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
Release Date: September 17,2013

Description:

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she’s heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

 

Review:

Frozen by Melissa Dela Cruz & Michael Johnston is the first book in their Heart of Dread series.  This is another YA Dystopian story, but very different then what we have been reading lately, as it has some paranormal & fantasy element in it.  Frozen takes place in a world that was destroyed, with some cities around the world livable, but barely.  Our story takes place in New Vegas (old Las Vegas), which is totally covered in ice; food is hard to come by; and yet it is still the place for those to flock to for fun or gambling.

At the start we meet our heroine Natasha Kestal, who is locked up in a special place for those considered ‘marked’.  The marked have special powers, each having different abilities, with those found kept locked up by the government running the prison to use their powers to their advantage.  There are also slavers who hunt the marked, to sell them to the highest bidders.  Nat wears contact lenses to hide her odd colored eyes, which is a giveaway to what she is. Living in fear, she manages to escape, with the help of the voices she constantly hears. 

We pick up a short time later, with Nat now working as a blackjack dealer in New Vegas, hiding that she is one of the marked, and biding her time to find a better life.  She has heard about the fabled ‘Blue’, a land that is beautiful and is not covered in ice…a new beginning.  Nat manages to ‘win’ some money, and hires Ryan (Wes) Weston, a mercenary, to help her find ‘Blue’.

Wes is our hero in this book, and he is an awesome one at that.  He has a makeshift crew, consisting of all young rough tough teenagers, who love adventure.  The original plan is to take Nat to find the fabled paradise, but since they do not believe it exists, take her money and leave her.  

What follows is an exciting adventure of danger, non-stop action, excitement, betrayal and a romance that was slowly built.  Nat and Wes were an awesome couple, whom at first did not trust one another. With so many things against this relationship, you had no idea if they would even survive.  What I loved about this romance was that it was not a major part of the story, yet it such a nice and important part of it. 

I thought that Dela Cruz & Johnston duo did a fabulous job creating these wonderful characters.  Aside from Nat and Wes, the secondary characters were all excellent, including the bad ones. 

This is an intense adventure that has you on the edge of your seat throughout.  So many surprises and twists that had you worried about those you came to care for.  Discovering other ‘marked’ was fun, especially to see their powers, as well as to see what Nat can do.  With a blend of dystopian, paranormal, fantasy, as well as an action packed roller coaster of an adventure, you need to read this book.  The topper is when Nat discovers who she really is, and this is totally awesome.   Frozen is a must read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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