*Book Review* Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

Series: Gates of Thread & Stone # 1
Published by Skyscape
Format: E-Book, 335 pages
Released: August 5, 2014
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.
Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

So, I'm a bit conflicted by Gates of Thread and Stone. While I liked the story, I didn't fall in love with it to the point of doing somersaults across the lawn. But, I didn't totally hate it either, thus the 3 star rating. I enjoyed the world building. I enjoyed the mythology of the Infinite's. I loved that the main character had enough good in her heart not to walk away when things got bad. But, I still don't understand where the Stone part of the title comes from.

The story's main protagonist is 17-year old Kai. Kai can feel the threads of time, and manipulate it. What we do know. Kai and her "brother" Reev live in what's called the Labyrinth, or the poor section of town, while the high and mighty live behind the walls of the White Court. The time they live in is called post-Rebirth. Now, before you ask me what the hell Rebirth is, let me just say that if I read the story correctly, it was a time after war between magic and technology ended up tearing the world apart, and when Ninurta was created.

Like I said, Kai is a character who really does have a good heart, and isn't driven by snark, or anger, or a desire to reign fire down on anyone's heads. She has an ability that she truly doesn't understand and has been warned not to use it openly. She doesn't know who her parents were, but refuses to give up hope of finding them. We also know that she has a crush on her friend Avan Drivas who sneaks her free food. She also desires to make enough credits to move out of the Labyrinth to a better section of the city.

What we don't know is why she was found by her "brother" Reev when she was 8 years old? Why doesn't she have any memories of the time before Reev found her and adopted her as his sister? If she has these time warping abilities, where did they come from? Why does Reev wear an unusual tattoo on his neck? Are there any others like Kai, and if so, where are they?

Then there is the presumed love interest Avan, best friend, sex machine, and person who also wears a strange tattoo that he refuses to explain what it means. It is obvious that Avan cares a whole lot about Kai, but feels a bit on the outside looking in because of Kai's connection to Reev. When Reev goes missing, and Kai starts down a very dangerous road, it is Avan who follows Kai into the Void to seek out answers. Yet, trying to understand why Avan would get his nose bent out of shape because of Kai and Reev's relationship, is befuddling.

I would have liked that Kai used her abilities a bit more to get an understanding at the range of what she could actually do. I would have loved to see more than 2 weeks of training in order to get ready for a Tournament that's basically to the death. I do like Mason, or G-10 as he's called. I liked that there wasn't any romantic triangle between the characters. I didn't agree with the ending. Sometimes it is better to just let go of what you had planned, and come back in the sequel and do better.

Gates of Thread and Stone is an entertaining book once it gets going and you understand the secondary characters intentions towards Kai. There is a whole lot of potential of telling a kick ass story that I hope Lee follows through with in the sequel. I will say that I wasn't bored, nor put out by requesting or reading this book. I like stories that are different, and this is by far, very creative in its creation.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book called The Infinite.

**I received this book for free from (Skyscape ) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review**

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*Book Review* Wings by Elizabeth Richards

Series: Black City # 3
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: June 12, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

*Book Blurb*

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.   Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.  A pulse-racing end to an exciting series. 

*My Thoughts* 

"It's easy to hate. The true test of our hearts is to forgive."

Wings ends the Black City trilogy tying up loose ends, introducing a key figure's background and his diabolical plans, while bringing an end to Natalie Buchanan and Ash Fisher journey that all started in Black City. When last we left the Black City series, Natalie was taken away from Ash by Garrick, along with Elijah, and brought to a Sentry Rebellion Headquarters where she got a shocking surprise.

The surprise just happens to be that her father, General Jonathan Buchanan, who she told was dead, is actually very much alive. Yet another surprise is that her mother, Emissary Siobhán Buchanan, is alongside, and helping the Rebellion. Natalie is also recovering from her exposure to the Wrath virus, and being told that finding Ash is not a priority. Like that will stop true love from being together. Silly adults.

Meanwhile, Ash, Ace, Marcel and captive Sebastian, linger in Black City hiding away from Purian Rose's Sentries while trying to find a weapon, Ora, said to be able to defeat Rose. Ash's desire to end the war, while finding his missing aunt, and toppling Rose once and for-all, leads him to the territory called the Tenth, and even more shocking and devastating revelations. But, on the plus side, Natalie, Beetle, Day, Roach and Elijah reunite with Ash and learn the truth behind Rose's plans.

I think what Wings did well, was let readers in on what made a key figure grow into the megalomaniac he is today. Right from the start, Richards lays out a character named Edmund's background, his struggles to hide his uniqueness, and the reason why he is a total lunatic. She intermixes his struggles from 30 years ago, with first person narratives by both Natalie and Ash. Honestly, I don't think anyone will walk away from his narrative and not feel a bit emotional for what he went through, and the losses he suffered.

I will say this without spoiling anything, I would not have been shocked or surprised had Richards killed off a major character. Knowing full well the challenges that both Ash and Natalie face, especially with finding a cure for her condition and living through their showdown with Rose, could have gone either way. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last that an author, Veronica Roth, chose to subdue her character instead of giving them a HEA.

In this day and age, you should expect more than just a HEA for your favorite characters. You should expect a bit of letdown, and unhappiness because that is what life is. I think that Roth showed that you can eliminate a main character, even though some readers ended up burning her book in effigy. But, I do like the fact that Richards didn't put anyone between the love that Ash truly had for Natalie. I loved that nobody could stand in the way of them being together and finding happiness, not even Natalie's parents.

Lots of new and returning characters in Wings, along with a devastating betrayal I honestly should have saw coming. My only regret is that I would have liked to see Natalie kill a few more people, especially Sebastian for what he did to her sister, but I can live with the ending. I can almost forgive her parents who lied and hid secrets from her and tried to separate her from Ash. But, I also think that Natalie's mom Siobhán Buchannan has a whole lot of things to make up for.

I can forgive Evangeline who really did a 180 in how her character stood out and did a very unselfish thing when things looked bleak for the rebellion. I'll even respect the authors choice of love interest. I love Day and Beetle and Roach and even Elijah who is just a kitty cat. Day has been one of my favorites right from the very beginning, and in this episode, she rises to the occasion more than a few times. I loved Elijah because even though Natalie was in love with Ash, he didn't run away and act the fool. He stood by her side through the good times and bad.

Wings is possibly my favorite story of the trilogy because we finally see an end game, some real thrilling action scenes, and perhaps a glimmer of a hopeful future to come without humans, darklings, Lupine and others at each others throats all the time. It is often times hard for me to write a review for a final book in a series, because more times than naught, I have been left disappointed and dissatisfied at how things are wrapped up. Like I said, I am satisfied at how Richards wrapped up this trilogy.

Review - Shadows by Ilsa J Bick

I encourage everyone even thinking about reading Shadows, to read Ashes first. I am saying this with nothing but affection for those who may read my reviews and comment on them. I am saying this because Bick doesn’t do a good job of going back and reminding her readers what happened in Ashes to the world and the characters, and why Alex, Tom, et al are the main characters of this book and not someone else who ends up getting lots of exposure in Shadows.

As Shadows begins, Tom is healing from being shot in the leg while Alex has found herself in a pickle of a situation. Having left the Village of the Damned aka Rule, she abruptly finds herself in the middle of the Changed as a prisoner of their every whim. For some reason, she is picked out to survive, instead of being eaten like the rest of the humans that are sent out to be cannon fodder for the Changed. Alex’s ability to survive at all costs is severely tested time and time again, especially in the end where we are left wondering what the hell just happened.

As for Tom, he faces his own challenges and difficulties in trying to make his way back to Alex. He has no idea what she’s been through since he has been relatively safe with an elderly couple who took him in and helped him heal. In the end, Tom has made a fateful decision that will tear him apart and leave you wondering what will happen next.

As for the Changed, we find out that they are evolving and working together in packs. We also get a brief glimpse into what they were prior to the EMP detonation going off. The main culprits are Wolf, Leopard, and Spider. It seems that Wolf has taken a shine to Alex and therefore when it’s time to eat human casserole, Alex is safe.

The ending of Shadows leaves almost every single character in limbo or on death's doorstep. The story is told not only from Alex's POV, but Tom, Chris, Lena and Peter’s as well. There are TONS of other characters introduced as well who play important or not so important roles in the lives of the main characters. Trust me when I say you might need to get out a pad of paper and pen in order to keep track of the massive amounts of characters that are introduced.

“Shadows” is an extremely gory story with some gratuitous sex scenes between the Changed thrown in for good measure. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone under the age of 16, but, that’s just me. This book probably fits in the New Young Adult category. Parts of the book did get bogged down with too much information and character introductions. Yet, the story does flow in a decent groove even for a book with 518 pages.

Questions I'm dying to learn the answers to: What happened to Alex? Will she survive, till the end of the trilogy? Why are the changed suddenly working in packs like wolves and arming themselves like militias? Will the town of Rule survive an all-out assault until the end of this series? Are all the survivors actually Changing like their brethren? Who will ultimately survive until the last page is written?

*ARC Recvd 08/13/2012 via NetGalley* Expected publication: September 25th 2012 by EgmontUSA

Author - Ilsa J Bick
Title - Shadows
Publisher - EdmontUSA
Releases - September 25, 2012

Early Review - Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

"History isn't all fact - it's just the story the victors tell to keep themselves in power. The more time passes, the easier it becomes to reinvent the past.""

I'm truly having a hard time deciding how to write a review for this book, so bear with me while I attempt to put into words my thoughts about this book. While at times the story was interesting enough that I didn't abandon it, it just wasn't appealing to my senses.

The main character was truly awful and it wasn't until the end that I even cared what happened to her or those around her. Could it be that it's not intended for a person of my age? Could be.

The sub-characters like Adrien and Max were just as bad, if not worse because of their actions or in some cases, their non-action. I'm not sure what the point of using words like Shuntin' hell! or "Godlam'd" was. If you were going to have a character using cuss words, use cuss words.

Under most circumstances, I love Dystopian novels. I enjoy reading about the world building and that is what holds the story together when all else fails. In this story the world came to an abrupt end, after nuclear bombs were dropped on the cities. (Or were they?) The survivors were forced to live under ground to avoid the nuclear winter and fallout.

Each survivor lives a bland life at the determination of the so called Community. All except those in what's called the Uppers who can pretty much eat, and drink and do whatever they want to do. Think of the community as big brother telling you what you can say, what you can eat, and how you can live while being monitored for anomalies 24 hours a day. (Kind of like life in a communist country.) The only feeling the survivors are allowed to maintain is fear because that keeps them safe and away from harm.

The year is 2287 and all humans except uppers are required to have a V-chip installed in their heads. These are installed at birth, and then replaced over the course of one's lifetime until they reach adulthood. They are also required to undergo constant quality checks of their hardware, like robots, to ensure that they are not glitching.

Our main protagonist is Zoel Q-24 a 17 year old teenager who is Glitching, or experiencing anomalies in her connection to the Link. She also has the power of telekinesis which makes her a rarity among those experiencing glitches.

For Zoel (Zoe), things change once she saves a little girl from being run over by a train by using her telekinesis. Shortly thereafter, she meets the foul mouthed Adrien who is more than he seems. It appears he has access to the outside world and is a member of the so called resistance.

Naturally, with a YA novel, you have the notoriously awful 3 way love triangle which is truly not what it seems. Thankfully, Zoe comes to the same conclusion that I did and even though Adrien has some serious issues, he's a lot better than the alternative.

As for Zoe, I found her bland and Mary Sue-ish. She has this really awesome power of telekinesis that only unfolds when all the chips are down, and she is put into an situation where people will die if she chooses wrong. She does, however, seem to genuinely care about what happens to her younger brother. Of course, there are other secrets that we learn along the way which tells the reader exactly why she feels that way.

Anyway, long story short, I am not sure if I will continue reading this series. I know there are a bunch of unanswered questions that will hopefully be revealed in the subsequent sequels. One can only hope that Zoe will be given broader character range so that I don't fall asleep at the helm.

*ARC* recvd 04/27/2012 via Netgalley for St. Martin's Press

Author - Heather Anastasiu
Title - Glitch
Publisher - St. Martin's Press
Releases - August 7, 2012

Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt (The Lost Souls # 1)

*Review based on the ARC*

"You must face your fears in order to conquer them."

An interesting story with such a dark premise that it makes books like the Hunger Games seem tame in comparison. Here you have a society that has all but destroyed itself in an East vs West Civil War and a so called Fourth World War between nations that killed millions via nuclear bombs. The US survivors have all but given up their freedom and are living in so called compounds because there are those out there who want to do them harm. Or, so they are told.

In a rush to avoid further killing of human on human, they created the Chosen Ones who were meant to protect and guide humanity (naturals) after women stopped having the ability to breed. The Chosen are genetically engineered super-humans capable of incredible strength, durability, and speed. Some of them express hatred for humans by arbitrarily raping and killing them, especially the women.

"Emotional entanglements only led to physical trespasses. We, humans, were weak. We couldn't be trusted with our emotions."

According to the Council, humans were too weak and can't be trusted with their own safety or emotions. Each human is branded a number, in this case Tess, our main protagonist is 258915. (sounds like Nazi Germany to me.) In this society, books and music are banned. Every family is required to offer up their eldest daughter as a servant for 3 years starting at age 16. Many young women are sterilized at the first sign of menstruation.

For Tess, things change, or fall apart, when her eldest sister Emma dies during childbirth. A childbirth she was warned against having for fear that she would die in the midst of it. Thanks to Emma's demise, Tess is sent to work at Templeton the place where the chosen are created and taught how humanity destroyed itself with weakness and unwillingness to fight their own battles.

In the process, Tess meets James, a chosen who is beautiful as he is unique in his love of music and books. At first, Tess is as emotionless as you will find in any character. She seems almost nonchalant in her ability to interact with others. She's even a cold fish when it comes to dealing with her younger sister. This is, afterall, a society that scorns emotions of any sort as weakness.

"He had saved my life twice, and beyond that, he's made me realize that I had a heart and soul that still lived inside me. He showed me that love existed in a world full of darkness, something I long thought was impossible."

Then, things start to change when her relationship with James, a Chosen, starts to heat up and they find a connection among the banned books and music of their forefathers. Eventually, this leads to Tess being labeled as a troublemaker, and designated for death. Her only safe haven seems to be in the letters her own father left for her before he disappeared 10 years before.

This book will catch your attention right from the first chapter when Tess is branded on the back of her neck and then ends up at Templeton as a slave. Her emotional rollercoaster will not turn readers off, nor will her relationship with James sway anyone from continuing to read the entire book.

"I am alone and miserable; man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create."

Readers will definitely find themselves wondering what happens next, and when will the next book in the series come out! Overall the world building is amazing and disturbing all at the same time. For a first time writer, Chosen One's has hooked my attention and now I patiently await the second installment of this series.

ARC recvd 04/08/2012 from Entangled Publishing. Expected publication: June 12th 2012 by Entangled Publishing, LLC        

Title: Chosen Ones (The Lost Souls # 1)
Author: Tiffany Truitt
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release date: June 12, 2012

J.A. London's Darkness Before Dawn - Pre-release Review

J.A. London’s Darkness before Dawn is the first novel in a promising new series that features a world where vampires have won the 30 year war against humans and now live by an agreement called the Vamp-Hu Treaty. In accordance with the treaty, humans are required to provide blood to the vampires and in return, the vampires agreed not to attack any of the remaining US cities. Not all humans are agreeable to the treaty which leads to complications. The one positive that came out of the Vamp-Hu treaty is that vampires cannot turn humans against their will.


The story itself takes place in Denver, Colorado where the city is walled in and armed with hunters called Night Watchmen. The Night Watchmen are responsible for killing any rogue vampires that try to make their way into the city.


17 year old Dawn Montgomery is the story’s main protagonist and the official delegate between the humans and vampires. She is required to meet with the most powerful vampire in the world, Lord Valentine, on a regular basis on all matters of concern. Valentine forces her to wear Victorian clothing when meeting with him and he picked her above all others to be the Human representative.

Dawn was chosen for the job after her parents were killed by vampires mysteriously. The reason behind their attack and the secrets that they took to their grave, are hanging like a chad during a presidential election in Florida. There is something about Dawn that is considered special and intriguing but has yet to be revealed.

Michael Colt is Dawn’s best friend, love interest, as well as training to become one of the elite Night Watchmen. He and Dawn do everything together and it's hoped that they would be together forever. Later, Dawn meets vampire Victor Valentine who saves her and her best friend Tegan Romano from a vampire attack. This leads to more complications since Dawn sincerely respects Michael and what he stands for. I normally complain LOUDLY about love triangles but in this case, it was actually done in a way that left me open to Dawn being with either character.


Because this is the first book in the series, there are plenty of comparisons to Julie Kagawa’s The Immortal Rules which I actually read AFTER this book. If you want to compare the characters, we can do that.


Both Allison and Dawn are strong willed. They are both willing to do whatever it takes in order to survive in a hostile environment where vampires rule the roost. They both lost their parents under circumstances that created a hardship for both characters. One difference is that Dawn actually has a guardian, Rachel Goodwin, to look after her needs. Allison helps herself. They both have series of events that pushes them in a certain direction and their choices are not the best at times.


What is best left unsaid is that this book ends with tragedy and a cliffhanger that will hopefully be remedied in the next book called Blood Kissed Sky. The book on one hand is also predictable when it comes to the villain. When this person is introduced, warning bells should have been ringing loudly. Instead, a certain character falls head over heels for him and ends up in an unknown predicament.

I was actually surprised when this book came in the mail. I’m not sure who sent it to me from HarperCollins or who to thank personally. But, I am appreciative and hope that they will continue to share these ARC’s with me in the future.

Author: JA London
Title: Darkness Before Dawn
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: May 29, 2012

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

*Genre* YA Dystopian
*Rating* 5 Star Seal of Approval

*Review*

When last we saw Benny Imura, his older brother Tom, Lilah, the so called lost girl, and Nix Riley, they had just witnessed a jet flying overhead and then heading back towards the east where nobody is supposed to be alive. Thus why it is called Rot & Ruin. This has been a puzzle that has been on everyone’s mind since.

Now, seven months later, Tom has started an intensive training routine to get them ready for anything, including his own desire to leave Mountainside behind and find out where in the world the jet came from. Tom isn’t the only one who wants to leave, Benny and Nix feel they need to find out where the jet originated from. Nix’s desire is based on the fact that she is basically alone now that her mother is dead.

Tom has become disheartened by the lack of what he believes is the town’s inaction when it comes to defending itself from those on the outside. Tom wanted a militia to be formed so that he has more time to explore and teach Benny all there is to know about “quieting” zombies. He, like Benny, also believes that the survivors should attempt to retake the land lost to the zombies.

"Sometimes it’s harder to tell which side of the fence the dead are on.”

Dust and Decay cuts to the chase this time around, and doesn’t waste time with the whole re-exploring or explaining what happened to the world to cause the zombie apocalypse. We know already that there were several factors that played in the rise of the zombies, but not one thing can be fully explained.

There are more characters introduced, like bounty hunter friends of Tom as well as a villain who is pure evil, who end up playing crucial roles at the most opportune of times for characters like Benny, Chong, Lilah, and Nix.

One of the underlying stories is the newly formed Gameland, which has been destroyed by Tom time and time again, and the fact that children are once again being taken and brought to fight the zombies to the death. There is also the fact that there is a major bounty on the heads of Tom, Benny, Nix, and Lilah for their participation in the death of Charlie Pink Eye in Rot & Ruin.

Some of the newer characters are fun, while others are out of their ever living minds! Take for instance the surfer dude bounty hunters:

“Far out,” said Dr. Skillz. “Benjamin Imura and Phoenix Riley. Wassssabi?”
Dr. Skillz nodded. “Seriously, brah, and Jessie’s daughter’s gone all aliham.”
“Babelini!” agreed J-Dog, though he was smiling, not leering, when he said it. The surfers gave Benny the thumbs-up. “Good call, dude.”
“Huh?” asked Benny.

Yeah, that was what I was asking myself as well!

Something extremely interesting is also happening in this new world Benny and crew live in. The dead are actually staying dead, and not reanimating like on First Night and the last 15 years since. Does this mean whatever caused the First Night in the first place has started to fade away? Or is another new challenge awaiting our characters fate?

I love Tom, I really do. His character has a wide range of abilities as well as some surprises that we learn along the way. Tom also has some nicknames that Benny discovers after being split up from his brother: Tom the Swordsman, Tom of the woods, Fast Tommy and Tom the Killer.

We also get a look at Lilah and realize what she has truly lost along the way to being basically by herself for many, many years. We see that she really does have emotions and can fall in love like everyone else, as well as being one hell of a fighter.

The villain? Nastiest piece of work you will ever read about.

Preacher Jack shrugged. ”This world may be paradise for the Children of Lazarus (zombies), but to snot-nosed little sinners like you…this world is hell. How’s that for a cosmic paradox? Heaven and Hell coexisting out here in the Rot and Ruin, and the two of them forming a brand-new Eden. The towns-why, you might consider them limbo, where souls are just waiting for judgment. As for Gameland….now it would be God’s own truth to say that Gameland is purgatory. It’s where you have a chance to expunge your sins.”

The ending is a classic tear jerker and heart breaker. All I am going to say is that a hero falls, long live the hero. Oh, and I meant what I said about if you can make it to the very end without grabbing for a Kleenex, you are a much stronger person than I.

I love the world Maberry has created. I love the fact that there really is a mystery surrounding the events of First Night when the zombies first appeared and forever changed the course of the world and now things appear to be changing and not necessary for the good.

Benny’s character has also come a very long way from the snot nosed little twerp I wanted to smother in Rot & Ruin, to someone who now must pick up the mantle and carry on into discovering the truth about the jet they say 7 months prior.

If you love zombies, you are going to love this story. There are literally thousands upon thousands of zombies who appear out of nowhere to wreak havoc as well as test our characters to their limits.

Cannot wait until September 11, 2012 for the third installment called Flesh & Bone.

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

Sloane Price really wants to die. She even carries a suicide note addressed to her sister Lily in her pocket so others will understand why. The main reason for wanting to end her life is that she has been physically abused by her father for so long, that she can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel where the beatings stop and threats go away and life gets better.

On top of all this, her older sister Lily pretty much abandons her by leaving her behind to her father’s abuse after promising Sloane they would runaway together. I can seriously relate to and empathize with Sloane on so many different levels in regards to the abusive parental unit.

Sloane could be considered the medical professionals post script example of what an abuse victim looks like. She is severely depressed and willing to expose herself to the zombies in order to die. She doesn’t allow herself to get close to anyone until later in the story.

Shortly thereafter, the zombie end of day’s starts and Sloane finds herself holed up at her high school with five other survivors after braving the zombie hoards for nearly a week. The survivors end up banding together, and making a decent enough fort to hold off any zombies who attempt to break into the school. They have plenty of water, and food, and can raid lockers to find clean enough clothing to wear.

If you are looking forward to a novel filled with blood and guts and lots and lots of bodies piling up; look elsewhere. Yes, there is blood. Yes, there are plenty of bodies, and yes, people do end up dying. It would be silly to expect everyone to survive a so called zombie novel.

If you are like me, and want to know what truly happened to make the zombies rise up and start killing in the first place; stand behind me in the “I want to know more line of questions” for Ms. Summers.

Even though the story itself is supposed to be about the zombie end of days, it ends up being the story of survival, determination, and figuring a way to actually continue to live versus giving up on one’s desires to end one’s life.

I’m giving this a 4, and that’s because of the opening and closing chapters of this book as well as the simplistic nature of Summer’s world building were well worth my reading the novel.

Yet, the ending gets points taken away because it abruptly ends without any sort of resolution to Sloane or her fellow survivor.

Received via NetGalley on 01/23/2012...releases April 2012

Lissa Price's Starters

*Rating* 3.0 stars

*Review*

Starters, by Lissa Price, is a dystopian story about 16-year old Callie Woodland and her fight to make a better life for herself and that of 7 year old brother Tyler.

The Spore Wars destroyed the population between the ages of twenty and sixty because they weren’t vaccinated by a clueless government. This left the population divided into two camps: Starters (up to age 19), and Enders (who can be up to 200 years old).

Callie and Tyler, who experiences a rare lung disease, are Starters who have been living off the streets since losing their parents to the spores. Callie decides that she has had enough of living on the streets of Los Angeles (Beverly Hills) where renegade kids steal everything from the clothes you wear, to the food you scavenge, to the place where you lay your heads to sleep at night.

Callie's only hope of finding help for Tyler and getting off the streets permanently seems to be a place called Prime Destinations. Prime Destination hires teens who supposedly have no families (unclaimed) to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again.

Callie undergoes several surgeries that enhance her looks, as well has having an electronic tracking device planted into her brain. This is also a mechanism that is supposed to keep the Enders from killing anyone and laying blame on the Starters.

After two successful “trips” by Enders, Callie later wakes up and she finds herself in the home of Helena Winterhill, the Ender who paid good money to rent her body. Helena, however, wants to use Callie for nefarious activities after losing her only granddaughter to mysterious circumstances.

*Thoughts*

While the first part of the story dragged, and was more or less an information dump to set up the next book in the series--the ending left me screaming in agony because of a surprise revelation that will leave readers stunned. Dare I say that I truly hate cliffhangers?

Callie is definitely not a wallflower who hides behind anybody including her friend Michael. She goes out, takes charge, and fights back against not only Helena’s agenda, but Prime Destinations as well. I like how protective she is of Tyler, and is willing to give her body away in order for a future off the streets.

The problem I have with a singular POV, at times, is that the other characters in the story aren’t given a chance to shine. In this case, Michael and Tyler, as well as a few other important players, are tossed aside like so much trash after they are introduced. Sure, they have the joy of meeting and interacting with Callie and some even play a large role in how the story ends. But, we know almost nothing about them.

So, I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories. Not everyone will enjoy this book. I had a hard time with the plot at times, and the ending of course could have stopped a few pages before.

As I was writing this review, I was reminded of Bruce Willis in the movie called Surrogates which was just on TV. It’s the same basic principle except the Surrogates are teenagers, and not artificial people.

Enders releases sometime during the winter of 2012.

*Recvd via Netgalley for review 01/26/2012*

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry’s Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura, #1) is a post-apocalyptic story told in the first POV by 15 year old Benny Imura. 14 years ago Benny’s parents ended up part of the zombie apocalypse on what is called First Night.

6 billion people died over the course of short period of time. Those lucky enough to survive made their way to various communities like Mountainside where when you turn 15, you are required to have a job or your rations will be cut in half.

According to Benny, nobody knows that really happened that caused the zombies to be created. Was it a virus mutated from radiation from outer space? Or, was it created by the Chinese like the Avian Flu that caused people to turn into zombies?

At the beginning, I really truly didn't care for Benny and his seemingly hatred towards his older brother Tom or his refusal to join the family business of quieting zombies when we’re first introduced.

Instead of turning to Tom and asking him for help in learning the family trade, he instead tried a plethora of jobs that he didn’t last long at and let misinformation guide the way he treats his only alive relative. He was more interested in hanging around with his buddies Morgie, Chong, and Nix than doing anything productive with his life.

Benny’s anger towards Tom goes back 14 years to when Tom took Benny and ran away from their parents after they were infected and turned into zoms. All Benny understood at the time was that Tom was a coward who ran away, and he doesn’t deserve his respect. Later, after the real truth comes about what Tom does, and how he goes about quieting zombies, Benny actually learns to respect his older brother and ends up bonding in a real emotional way.

Tom was the character I most wanted to know about. Tom was 20 on First Night and in the police academy about ready to graduate. Tom spends his time in what is called the Rot and Ruin where you basically take your life in your hands when you travel outside the gates of Mountainside to hunt down zombies. Tom’s job is simple; find a family member who has been turned into a zombie, and quiet him/her with respect.

Tom has secrets as well. Nobody really knows what he does when he is in the Rot and Ruin. The plus for Tom is that he has awesome fighting abilities with his samurai sword and a code of ethics that makes him above the rest of the so called bounty hunters scum like Charlie and the Hammer.

It is Tom who not only protects and ensures Benny is taken care of, but Nix Riley and her mother Jenny as well.
By the end of the book, Benny had come a long way and grew up really fast after events forced his hands, and he was forced into running from several bounty hunters he had once respected. He also goes above the call of duty when his friend Nix is taken away by Charlie and the Hammer.

Nix Riley is another character that was really truly interesting to learn more about her and what happens when she is forced to deal with the loss of her mother and the doom of fighting for her life against zoms in an arena setting.

The last character that was really strange, yet likable was the Lost Girl named Lilah. Lilah has lived alone in the Rot & Run and is one of those characters that you know you just want to know more about. You want to know how in the hell a girl her age was able to survive alone without any help for so long.

Definitely a different take on the whole zombie apocalypse and one that I absolutely recommend to my friends, and followers alike.

Part # 2 Dust & Decay released August 30, 2011
Part # 3 Flesh & Bone will be released September 11, 2012 

Title: Rot & Ruin
Author: Jonathan Mallory
Release Date: September 14, 2011
Genres:  YA Dystopian & Post-Apocalyptic

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly, Departed, by Lisa Habel, is a post-apocalyptic steampunk zombie romance novel set in the year 2195. 150 years ago the poles of the earth disappeared beneath deadly mantles of ice, and winters had become long and hard for an increasing number of nations. Humanity was forced to migrate in massive waves toward the new temperate zones along the equator. (Call it South and Central America) Entire countries were wiped off the face of the earth by catastrophic storms. Cuba, Indonesia, England, Japan are all gone.

The American nation suffered the most after refugees from Canada brought a new strain of influenza long with them. It killed one out of four people. The survivors were then forced to live through the second American Civil war and its nuclear destruction it brought with it. The United States as a nation ceased to be. If that weren’t enough destruction and mayhem, an eruption of a super volcano under Yellowstone finally emptied the US of anyone left behind.

Society, as the survivors knew it, changed drastically. There was a separation into two distinct camps called Victorians, and Punks. The Punk Movement rejected the new aristocracy, anti-technology, anti-government of the Victorians and formed their own country in the area known as Brazil and Bolivia.

Although they are technologically advanced like the Punks, the Victorians have embraced the ideals of a past era and modeled their society on Victorian England. And much like the actual Victorian era, the civilized veneer of society is masking lots of unpleasant things.

Main Characters:

Bram Griswold (Punk) is a 16-year old who became one of the undead after the Gray, or zombies, killed him. Due to advent of a disease called the Lazarus syndrome, people don’t stay dead for very long. They reanimate within a six hour time frame. Some become walking zombies with no memories of who they once were; while others, like Bram, retain their memories and abilities which made them human. Bram is a member of a zombie army that fights the Gray (those who are truly the walking dead) and is supposed to protect the human population from their attacks.

Nora Dearly (Victorian) is also 16-years of age and has been in mourning for a year and a day since her father died. She goes to school at a prominent institution due to her father’s actions in saving the Prime Ministers life. Nora lives in Elysian Fields with her overbearing Aunt who wants to marry Nora off to some wealthy boy so that she can start living the high life once again. Nora is extremely short tempered, impetuous, and has serious issues with keeping her mouth shut but also seems sure of herself when it comes to guns, and fighting those who want to harm her. She is also fascinated by the Punk society and watches past movies as her father did before her. She too easily accepts the Lazarus virus after being nearly being capture by the Gray, and rescued by Bram’s group of misfits.

The story is told from multiple points of view which can sometimes be quite annoying. But, after you read the book in its entirety, and take a moment time to think about it, they are definitely necessary to the overall telling of the story.

Most of the major chapters are narrated by either Nora Dearly or Bram Griswold. There are other chapters told from other characters' points of view like Pamela Roe (Nora’s best friend who is described as being a lower caste member of the Victorian society who was lucky enough to have Nora as a friend). Dr. Victor Dearly is Nora’s father and is blamed for creating the Lazarus virus that changes people into zombies, and the walking undead.) Captain Wolfe is a human who leads a reanimated army like Bram against the Gray. He has an agenda  

The romance between Bram and Nora isn’t pushed on the reader, but built up slowly from being scared out of her mind, to slowly coming to terms with her new reality, then to the realization that Bram is a somewhat changed and a different human being and not the walking brain sucking zombie the Gray are.

Bram is a character that you can actually feel sorry for, and cheer for at the same time. He didn’t exactly choose his current state of existence, but is doing the best he can under trying circumstances. He was forced to leave his mother and sisters behind after becoming one of the walking, talking undead. Bram and Nora couldn’t be more different. He is a tall and lanky and a Punk who loves to sing 20^th century songs by legends, while Nora is a petite, short tempered, who doesn’t care who she goes up against.

This book is a young adult steampunk, zombie, apocalyptic romance novel which hits on all four genre’s with fluid motion. It also contains, what I believe to be, the writers personal political views on global warming, and racism especially with the different castes, and then the good versus evil zombies.

Dislike: The Epilogue. Please, Ms. Habel, this was a pretty decent story right up until you threw in the Epilogue. After everything that happened over the course of the story, why was this necessary?

Title: Dearly, Departed
Author: Lia Habel
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Genres: YA Dystopian

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

15/16 year old Alex Halprin watches as his mother, father and younger sister Rebecca drive off to visit his uncle’s farm in Warren, Iowa 140 miles away leaving him behind for what he believes will be a carefree weekend.
Shortly after, a super volcano erupts from Yellowstone National Park spewing Ash, as well as causing major earthquakes to occur across the US.

Alex’s house is devastated and he is lucky to make it out alive while ending up at his neighbors’ home. This is followed by a constant barrage of explosions that leave people wondering if the world is about ready to end while darkness befalls the town of Cedar Falls.

This is the day that Alex’s whole world changes in a blink of an eye from a care free World of Witchcraft player and Taekwondo specialist who chirps back at his mother and could care less about his sister’s moods; to a survivor who must brave not only the ash and the darkness it leaves behind, but the health dangers that it brings as well as survivors who believe they have the right to rape, kill, and take from others without any consequences.

Alex must face several life or death obstacles just to make it through the first several days, let alone weeks of the aftermath of the super volcano eruption that leaves citizens fighting for their very right to live. When Alex comes across a felon who wants his stuff, he digs deep into his martial arts training, and fights back. It’s not the first, nor the last time that Alex will have to use his training to help him out of jams. Even though he survives, it’s not without a price. Luckily, he happens upon a mother and daughter that save his life.

One of the best quotes the book has to offer, and yes, I am so stealing the idea from another reviewer! “For the first time ever, I felt ashamed of my species. The volcano had taken our homes, our food, our automobiles, and our airplanes, but it hadn’t taken our humanity. No, we’d given that up on our own.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Humanity is its own worst enemy in every way possible, and Mullin does an excellent job of describing them from Alex’s POV. Humanity either finds ways to survive and deal head on with its problems while helping others out during their time of need, or it creates even more disturbing situations that cause even deadlier consequences for the survivors, including a basic lack of food, water, the ability to communicate, and the ability to find shelter.

This book should be a learning lesson to everyone to STOCK up on basic needs like canned goods, water and learn what you would do if you suddenly found yourself in a similar situation. Because, you just don’t know when a natural disaster is going to hit where you live. Just look at recent events in our country, as well as others around the world.

For those who love dystopian novels, you will definitely enjoy this one, and I’m highly recommending it. You won’t find zombies eating human brains, but you will find several funny references with strawberry milkshakes and brains.
 
Although Alex is the storyteller, he is not the only likable character Mullin writes into his story. No, actually I found 18 year old Darla Edmunds to be much more charismatic, and mechanically inclined to come up with numerous ways how to survive and thrive during hard times. It is Darla who ends up saving Alex’s life more than once when he gets into deep kimchee with not only other survivors, but with the elements as well.

It is also Darla who figures out ways how to build unique contraptions that allow for the production of food that can last until the devastation is finally over with. Yes, readers of my reviews, you will also come to appreciate how fast Alex grows up and discovers not only love, but a way how to survive and move towards his goal of reaching his uncles farm. You will also find a romance that is not thrown in your face, but gradually built up from pure hatred, and resentment, to something deeper and hopefully more substantial in the end.

This isn’t exactly a happy story. It is a dark tale about survival and the way Alex and Darla end up working together to end up at their final destination; Alex’s uncle’s farm more than 100 miles away. There is a situation of rape, murder, cannibalism, torture, and putting survivors into death camps because of low food rations in the affected areas.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin is an ARC provided by NetGalley.com and Tanglewood Press and will be released October 11, 2011. ARC recvd 08/08/2011 via Netgalley and Tanglewood.

Title: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Genres: YA Dystopian