Monday #Review - Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray #YALit #SyFy (Space Opera)

Series: Defy the Stars # 2
Format: Hardcover, 480 pages
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Source: Library
Genre: YA / Science Fiction / Space Opera

This is the thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars from the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Lost Stars and Bloodline.

An outcast from her home -- Shunned after a trip through the galaxy with Abel, the most advanced cybernetic man ever created, Noemi Vidal dreams of traveling through the stars one more time. And when a deadly plague arrives on Genesis, Noemi gets her chance. As the only soldier to have ever left the planet, it will be up to her to save its people...if only she wasn't flying straight into a trap.

A fugitive from his fate -- On the run to avoid his depraved creator's clutches, Abel believes he's said good-bye to Noemi for the last time. After all, the entire universe stands between them...or so he thinks. When word reaches him of Noemi's capture by the very person he's trying to escape, Abel knows he must go to her, no matter the cost.

But capturing Noemi was only part of Burton Mansfield's master plan. In a race against time, Abel and Noemi will come together once more to discover a secret that could save the known worlds, or destroy them all.

In this thrilling and romantic sequel to Defy the Stars, bestselling author Claudia Gray asks us all to consider where--and with whom--we truly belong.

Defy the Worlds is the second installment in author Claudia Gray's Defy the Stars trilogy. The author alternates third person narratives between Lieutenant Noemi Vidal from Genesis who is dealing with the fall-out of her journey around the loop, and Abel, the most advanced cybernetic person ever created. So advanced, that he is currently hiding out among Vagabonds trying to stay away from his creator who wants to erase him. It has been, according to the story, 5-6 months since Noemi left Abel behind and made her way back to Genesis.

When she arrived, it wasn't to a heroes welcome. It was to a lukewarm reception from her peers and the Elder Council. Her previous journey allowed her to become the first human to step foot on every single inhabited planet (Kismet, Cray, Stronghold, and Earth). Her journey led her to meeting new people like Virginia Redbird, Riko Watanabe, and Ephram Dunaway. Noemi needs to figure things out for herself. She can't rely on anyone supporting her, not even her own Captain Baz who keeps her away from the Gate patrol. Who is she fighting? Is she fighting for Genesis? Is she fighting for herself?

But, before that journey gets fully involved, Genesis is hit by a modified version of Cobweb which Noemi knows all about. Noemi is ordered on yet another dangerous journey at the behest of the Elder Council to Earth. This one may be her most important one yet since her planet may not survive until she gets back. A journey which begins with her capture by the man who created Abel, and ends with a shocking, and puzzling ending. I think it is fair to say that a huge dark cloud hangs over Noemi this entire book. Was it done on purpose to ensure that readers are paying attention? No clue. More later...

Abel has changed his ships name to Persephone. His crew includes Vagabond's Harriet and Zayan who have no clue that he is a wanted man, or the most advanced mech ever created. They accept him because he's a good Captain and yes, their friend. Abel is forced to find motivation after he receives word of Noemi's capture from his maker and his daughter Gillian Shearer. His maker has never once given up on hope that Abel will just submit to his whims. Abel has shown more humility than most humans have in this story, including the numerous villians that show up at one point or the other.

Abel's journey includes Virginia Redbird from Cray. Virginia showed up in the previous installment, and I adore the fact that she has a return engagement to help Abel with his search for Noemi. While Abel and Noemi spend more than 1/2 the book separated by things out of their control, it is the last part of the book that is the most entertaining and worth reading. It is also, I think, the part where Abel and Noemi really understand that they have feelings for each other despite who they are. I have said this before, Abel and Noemi each experience enough prejudices to fill their own books. 

Abel is a wonderful character who I have nothing but good things to say about. However, with his so called higher intelligence, he misses some really important clues. I dare say that he should have seen the ending coming! Noemi's loyalty to Genesis really needs to be thought out. They haven't exactly rolled out the red carpet for her after what she's been through. She continues to put Genesis ahead of her own happiness which, I suppose, is to be expected from a highly trained soldier. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Noemi is one of those characters who has a heroine complex. It if means sacrificing to save others, well, she is all in. 

We do get a new setting for this story which I won't spoil. We also have a pretty curious gathering of forces you would have never thought would come together for one purpose. I have to say that my rating is totally based on the final chapters of this book. It is based on what happens to both Abel and Noemi, mostly Noemi and why I feel that the situation didn't need to happen. Yes, I saw it coming from a mile away. Apparently, lots of readers did as well. I even made a comment that I wouldn't be liking the ending because I knew what the author was about to do. I hate when that happens.

Authors, in my opinion, are free to do what they choose with their characters. Authors do what Gray did because of either shock value, to make the story more believable, or to ensure that readers will come back to the final installment to see what happens next. Can we also say it's part laziness? I can't fully embrace the thought process or the apparent direction that Gray has apparently decided to take. Abel's exploration of what it means to be human is curious. What isn't is the fact that he has a tendency of ignoring his mech side. Can someone like Abel really be thought of as human, and not Mech? Can he be accepted by those who have felt pain and suffering by other mech versions? The romance between Abel and Noemi works because they both understand how it feels to be outsiders. There are a whole lot of moral and ethical issues that are bandied about in this story.     

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#Stacking the Shelves # 282 (Week Ending 05/05/2018)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Thanks for Stopping by!

A little bit of everything this week!

Have a great weekend!

Shelley

This Weeks Reviews: 

 Monday - Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young (YA, Fantasy)

Tuesday - True Storm by L.E. Sterling (YA, Dystopian)

Wednesday - Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau (YA, Suspense)

Thursday - Wilde Fire by Jenn Stark (UF)

 Friday - Owl & The Tiger Thieves by Kristi Cherish (UF)

Saturday - Bayou Born by Hailey Edwards (UF)

*REC'D VIA Edelweiss & NetGalley & Library

Saturday #Review - Bayou Born by Hailey Edwards (Urban Fantasy)

Series: The Foundling Series # 1
Format: Kindle, 336 pages
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Publisher: Platkus
Source: Amazon
Genre: Fantasy / Urban

Her beginning may be our end...

Deep in the humid swamps of the Mississippi bayou, a mysterious, half-wild child is dragged just in time from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in strange markings, the meaning of which no one is able to decipher. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Luce Boudrou follows him into the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious.

However, there's more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one - including Luce herself - could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny...

Brand new urban fantasy series by Hailey Edwards, bestselling author of the Gemini and Black Dog series. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Estep, Darynda Jones and Ilona Andrews. 

Bayou Born is the first installment in author Hailey Edwards Founding series. 25-year old Luce Boudreau is protagonist of this series. Luce is a 25 year old woman with a 15 year old identity. Weird right? Not so weird when you start to understand that Luce was discovered in the swamps of Mississippi by a police officer named Edward Boudreau who ended up adopting the "wild child" as his daughter. The same wild child who choose to become a police officer for Canton, Mississippi PD and has been in the spotlight ever since. 

Lucy has curious concentric mental circles made up of an unclassified alloy on her body which can't be removed. Trust me, it's been tried and that's led Luce to hate being in any hospital for any amount of time. On her "found day," she receives mysterious calls through a phone that shouldn't work from an entity called Ezra. Nope, I have no clue who Ezra is, and that is the beauty of having this particular character in the background. It is apparent that Lucy and Ezra have some connection, but the author is keeping that particular revelation close to her chest.

Things really pick up when Luce and her partner, Detective John Rixton, hear of a body being found in the bayou. Could it be their missing teen Angel Claremont? On discovery,

Lucy realizes it is not Angel, but an adult woman with the same markings on her body as Luce. Then, a strange group of men from White Horse Security shows up. Apparently, they were hired by Angel's family to track down their daughter. They end up helping Luce rescue the mysterious woman found in the swamp in the same manner Luce was found. Then her best friend Maggie disappears and Lucy finds herself working with Cole Heaton.

Cole is an in your face character who doesn't believe Lucy's excuses of having dissociative amnesia and memory loss from her time before she was found in the swamp. What makes Cole so mysterious is that his ringtone is the same as the one that Ezra uses to call Lucy. Ooooohhhh, creepy! Cole also seems to be a wealth of information regarding where Luce came from and what the marks on her body mean. With the arrival of Cole and his crew, Lucy has a chance to find out about her past, and more about the mysterious Ezra who apparently gives Lucy a boost every year. 

I admit there was really good mystery that was slowly revealed some interesting twists. I admit I loved the fact that there was a lack of romance between Lucy and any character. I loved Edward Boudreau, as well as Harold Trudeau and her partner Detective John Ricton. I enjoyed that there's a lack of shifters, or vampires, or werewolves, but intriguing enough to admit that when Lucy's past is revealed, I was actually stunned silly. Yes, that is possible.  Apparently, the sequel is up on NetGalley to be requested by those who live in Australia only. So, disappointing. 

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ARC #Review - Owl and the Tiger Thieves by Kristi Charish #Fantasy #Urban

Series: The Owl Series # 4
Format: E-Galley, 432 pages
Release Date: May 8, 2018
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Edelweiss/Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Urban

In this fourth Owl novel, Kristi Charish (The Voodoo Killings) melds sparkling fantasy with the grit of urban underbelly—with a detour through the world’s most spectacular cities. This is perfect for fans of Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Jennifer Estep, Jenn Bennett, and fantasy lovers everywhere.

Through no fault of her own, Alix has found herself essential to the fate of the world as we know it. She didn’t mean for this to happen—she was quite happy being merely the notorious antiquities thief, and ex-archeologist, known as Owl.

However, years ago, Owl reluctantly entered the secret world of the supernatural. Her goals: complete one job, escape one bounty on her head, continue her thieving in peace.

Fast forward to today. Now, she has become a key player in a brutal paranormal civil war that is rapidly getting out of hand. The leader of one of these factions—a lethal opponent called the Electric Samurai—grows more powerful by the second. To stop him, Owl sets out to find the long-lost, legendary group known as the Tiger Thieves.

But will it be too little too late? One thing Owl misses about “normal” archaeology: there are few emergencies with thousand-year-old relics. 

Owl and the Tiger Thieves is the fourth installment in author Kristi Charish's The Adventures of Owl. Alix Hiboux is the Owl, a modern day Indiana Jane who handles supernatural monsters, temperamental dragons, angry Nagas, and slippery ninjas as she races to stop a brewing supernatural war between her employer and a supernatural faction that wants to come out into the open. Oh, and an Electric Samurai who may turn the world on its head if he succeeds. As the story opens, our train wreck of the archaeological world, Owl, has gotten herself in a bit of trouble in an ancient pirate jail known as St. Albinus of Angers.

Needless to say Owl's rules of never being caught, knowing where the treasure is before breaking in, having an escape route planned out before you start, goes out the window quickly and continually. Haven't read Owl and the Electric Samurai yet? Do so now! Everything that happened in the third installment drives Owl's actions in this book. You need to really understand Alix and what she is experiencing since coming back from Shangri La. You need to understand that she's become somewhat of a liability with the IAA constantly on her back, and the fact that she tends to leave a trail of destruction behind wherever she goes.

You have to understand that she stopped caring whether she lived or died which makes her dangerous. She blames herself for what happened in Shangri La, but she has to refocus her efforts to find a way to defeat the Electric Samurai. The Silk Road was once an ancient trade route paved with fortunes and tears in equal measure. The tears part mostly due to the distinct chance of being gutted by an opportunistic supernatural lying in wait. Somewhere among the trade cities lost to the ages, the Tiger Thieves, assassins who once guarded the Silk Road against the supernatural monsters that preyed on ancient caravans—still hide. Shame no one has seen one of them in over five hundred years, since they’re the only ones who might be able to help Owl stop the reign of the Electric Samurai and the descent of the world into supernatural chaos in all its eviscerating glory. 

From a Peruvian jail to Venice to Timbuktu, to meeting Leonardo Da Vinci, Owl searches for the Tiger Thieves in the hopes of convincing them to help her—all while fetching artifacts and weapons for Mr. Kurosawa’s brewing supernatural war. Considering diplomatic negotiations aren’t exactly Owl’s strong suit, she has her work cut out for her. Not to mention that her sidekick on this adventure, Artemis, leaves a lot to be desired and little to trust. Poking a tiger is never a good idea, and tangling with the ancient assassins will take everything Owl has. Eventually, she’ll have to decide whether she’s a wayward archaeologist or just another cold-hearted thief.

Every goddamned time, they had to raise violent dead things. Why, oh why, couldn't we aim for anything else? Like an army of harmless bunnies?

This story has everything from pirate ghouls, to the monsters who voted to come out of the closet, to the Electric Samurai and his growing army of humans and supernaturals, to a very curious Leonardo Da Vinci and his inventions, to Wisps who consume victims warmth, to Medusa and her mermaids, to skinwalkers, all of whom make Alix's journey even more action packed and dangerous. The supporting cast of Nadya and Oricho is mostly off screen for the entirety of the story. Only Artemis being with Alix gives her any chance of fulfilling her mission. Even a brief encounter with Lady Siyu and her desire to kill Alix show the levity of how dangerous her life really is. 

"Madness is defined by some as repeating the same action over and over, expecting to get a different result." 

I have to say that this series, and this author is underrated. I think if more readers found the time to read this series, it could be an series that reaches every single age group. Who doesn't love Indiana Jones, or Lara Croft, or Benjamin Gates? There is plenty of hijinks, plenty of Captain, the Mau cat who loves to play with vampires, and plenty of action to keep even the most jaded reader impressed with how fast paced this story really is. Yes, there is some romance, but it's most left on the side lines in this installment and for good reason. I'm also going to say that it is with my fervent hope, especially with the twisted ending the author leaves us, that a fifth installment is in store soon. I see an whole new avenue for Owl developing. 

"Sometimes magic waits until the most inopportune moment to wreak havoc. It leans towards chaos, a bit of a bitch like that and not unlike supernaturals."

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Thursday #Review - Wilde Fire (Immortal Vegas, #10) by Jenn Stark #Fantasy

Series: Immortal Vegas # 10
Format: Kindle, 353 pages
Release Date: April 18, 2018
Publisher: Elewyn Publishing
Source: Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

It's the end of the world as we know it... 

The war on magic is here, and Mistress of the House of Swords Sara Wilde has done everything she can to prepare. The Arcana Council has recalled its most powerful members to hold the line, and the Houses of Magic are frantically strengthening their defenses. Then the first volley hits: a plague of demons freed to ravage the earth. Scrambling, Sara discovers that the war will be fought not on one front, but three--while new threats emerge at a breakneck pace.

All the magic in the world may not be enough to save it.

From an ancient coven in Chicago to the sunbaked streets of Vegas to the frozen ice fields of Antarctica, Sara rallies her closest friends and fiercest enemies to protect the earth from the gods and monsters raining down from the dark side of the veil. To succeed, Sara must confront the truths she's been avoiding her whole life, and take on forces that have kept the Connecteds powerless for far too long. But is she willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?

When it comes to Armageddon, where there's smoke there's always Wilde Fire

Wilde Fire is the tenth installment in author Jenn Stark's Immortal Vegas series. Sara Wilde, Mistress of the House of Swords, purveyor of lost artifacts, and tarot card reader extraordinaire, has her hands filled in this story. The war on magic is in full swing, the Gods, including her own mother and Llyr are trying to break through the veil to earth, and Sara must finally accept that she can no longer stand back and be an observer. 

She has to put together an alliance of not only the four human Houses, but the Arcane Council, the Connecteds, and others like Danae, the Chicago witch and her coven of Deathwalkers who we've seen before in this series. While in Chicago, a kerfuffle happens that allows denizens of demons to escape and nearly allows the most dangerous God, Llyr to also escape as well. This is only a tip of the iceberg of things to come. One of the things that has been the focal point of this series since Sara returned from Hell, is her growing powers and her connection to the Magician. 

Her powers, along with others, will be key to preventing the apocalypse from going forward. Sara knows that she is at the forefront of understanding where her future will take her. She can't trust the discombobulated Council who seems to be in chaos and fighting among themselves. Her safety net, The Magician, is having is own issues and is taking Sara down a twisted road. There are key players, like Death, and The Devil, who finally step up and prove they are worthy of being Sara's allies. Same can be said for Nikki, and Detective Brody. 

Wilde Fire is the final installment in the Immortal Vegas series, but never fear. The author intends to continue Sara's story in what the author is calling Wilde Justice. My rating reflects the fact that the ending never really solves anything to the level I have come to expect from the author. It's almost as though she said, welp, this is the end of the road for this series, but hey, I have another one I'm writing soon! Not fair. 

So not fair that we don't get a resolution of the war on magic after 10 books. There is a curious ending which I will not spoil, as well as some emotional moments. There are even new players introduced into the mix. We'll see if they return or whether they were just a bump in the road for Sara. If you've read the book, you already know the surprise that I've seen coming for awhile now. It was heartwarming to read about how Nikki and Brody's feelings about Sara and what she has accomplished since she was Sariah. Even Sariah has become an integral part of Sara's world. 

Obviously, I will be continuing Sara's journey when the author decides to release the next installment. There's some interesting ideas that lay ahead, and I don't think we've see the last of Sara's fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

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ARC #Review - Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau #YALIT #Contemporary

Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Thrillers & Suspense

Seven students trapped in their school after a bomb goes off must fight to survive while also discovering who among them is the bomber in this provocative new thriller from the author of the New York Times bestselling Testing Trilogy. Perfect for fans of This Is Where It Ends. 

A congressman's daughter who has to be perfect. A star quarterback with a secret. A guy who's tired of being ignored. A clarinet player who's done trying to fit in. An orphaned rebel who wants to teach someone a lesson. A guy who wants people to see him, not his religion.

They couldn't be more different, but before the morning's over, they'll all be trapped in a school that's been rocked by a bombing. When they hear that someone inside is the bomber, they'll also be looking to one another for answers. 

Told from multiple perspectives, Time Bomb will keep readers guessing about who the bomber could be—and what motivated such drastic action.

Joelle's Charbonneau's Time Bomb is a standalone, young adult, thriller & suspense novel featuring a variety of characters, and a variety of narratives. It is 9 days until the start of the new school year. As a bomb goes off in the school, it is possible to say that every one of these characters could be the one responsible. For 7 teens, their lives are about to be changed forever. 

16-year old Diana Sanford is the daughter of a congressman,  past homecoming queen, and on the yearbook committee. She's been told that she has to be perfect all the time. That means close to perfect grades, and not wearing hand me down clothes. Her father's bill has divided people, and put her in the spotlight. Diana seemingly knows every action the rescuers will make since she is the most noticeable and known character in the school. 

Hallwood H.S. Junior Frankie Ochoa is the schools star quarterback and captain. Frankie is a prankster. It is his turn to prank the new kids as they prepare to enter a new school year. Little does he know that he will soon be at the center of a major incident that will forever change his life.

Tad is a star receiver on the football team. Even though he has come out to his family, nobody else knows he's gay. He's  tired of being ignored by the boy he thought had feelings for him. Tad is told to stay away from the school by Frankie, but ignores him. Tad finds that being angry all the time instead of listening may be deadly to his health.   

Cas (Cassandra) Armon is a clarinet player who's done trying to gain people's approval. Things were supposed to be different. The school was supposed to be different. Nothing is different. People have judged her, and bullied her because she is overweight. She's had enough. Then bombs start going off in the school, and Cas finds herself trapped with 6 others. 

The mysterious Z recently lost his mother to cancer. He is labeled a troublemaker by teachers. Teachers who think they can judge him without actually knowing what he's been through. He wants to teach someone a lesson they won't soon forget. His only real friend is Kaitlin O'Malley who he continues to push away to keep her from being stained with his troublemaker label. 

Rashid Farsoun is a guy who wants people to see him, and not that he is a Muslim. He believes that the best life has balance. After shaving off his beard, he believes that he will no longer be called names, or thought of in a bad way. Then tragedy strikes the school and guess who is the first person to be blamed for the bombs going off?

There is a lot that has been said about the timing of the book, so I won't. Besides, an author doesn't have control over world events. They can't control when a publisher schedules a book to be released. They can't control what will happen before their book is released to the public. There is a very diverse cast in this book. You have a Muslim teen who deals with teasing and racial stereotypes, an overweight girl who continually gets bullied, and a mixed race teen who is gay and a football player.  

There is also a political message that the author is sending out as well. But, until we, as a society, can shut our mouths, and open our ears, we will never come together to solve the countries biggest issues. The synopsis mentions that there are 7 characters in this book. However, Kaitlin isn't one of the main characters who is introduced in the book. She is a character who genuinely cares about Z, and ends up in the worst possible place. This is a story that will keep you guessing as to who the bomber is, and why this person chose to do something so drastic. In fact, the entire cast has a whole lot of issues to resolve before they judge others. The hero of this book, for me, is Rashad. The weakest characters are Diana and Cas. 

1:51 P.M.

“DON’T FIGHT,” CAS SAID from the doorway that Frankie and Z had just disappeared through. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Can we turn the radio back on? Maybe they’ll tell us help is finally coming.”
Rashid clicked on the radio before heading over to help Tad. There was the buzz of static, then the announcer telling everyone that the firefighters were making progress. The fire was contained to the west side, and they hoped to have it out soon.
“With one person of interest being questioned, authorities are now working to find another individual they have confirmed is involved in this terrible bombing. A source confirms that the individual is one of the students trapped on the second floor of the school. With four bombs having already gone off, there appears to be one explosive device still inside the school that could detonate at any time.”
Another bomb was ready to go off, and the bomber was one of them.

Earlier That Day . . .
8:35 A.M.

Diana
— Chapter 1 —

ALL YOU HAD TO DO was smile and wear the right clothes, and everyone would think you were special. If you appeared successful, people would automatically assume you were successful. Her parents believed that. Her father had built a career on it. They wanted her to believe it.
Diana hated that she did.
“Perception is everything, Diana,” her stepmother said so often that Diana wanted to scream. But screaming wasn’t presentable. And, boy, did it make the wrong impression. This made screaming at the top of her lungs very tempting.
“Always take care to make the correct choice, Diana,” her stepmother said over and over again. “Everything you do is important and reflects on your father and the positions he takes. And think about what your father’s opponents would claim if you don’t do well in school or become a leader in the activities you’re in. They’ll wonder how serious your father is about education if his own daughter doesn’t do well in school. The other side is always looking for a reason to point fingers and show that your father isn’t worthy of his position. That we aren’t worthy. So you can’t allow your grades or your attention to detail to slide, or you’ll hurt your father and, worse, you’ll hurt the work he’s trying to do.”
Diana looked down at the clothes she’d chosen for the day. After sixteen years, she knew exactly what details would be noticed and what people would think when they saw her.
Stylish white jeans. A tasteful pink top. But nothing too expensive, because that made people jealous. Nothing too tight, because that gave people the wrong idea. And no wrinkles. Wrinkles made people think you were lazy. No one trusts a person who is lazy. To get what you wanted in life, you must inspire trust—even if you intended to break it.
Her father inspired trust with his perfectly tailored suits that were made less stuffy because he never wore a tie and always left the collar open.
Folksy. Friendly. Everyone’s idea of the perfect dad and former army-communications specialist who always puts his family and country first. At least that’s what people must have thought, because he got elected. He was working hard to make sure he got to keep his job for another term, and it was their family’s job—Diana’s job—to make sure she didn’t do anything wrong that could make voters question whether they wanted him back in office.
No pressure there.
“Katherine?” she yelled, knowing how much her stepmother hated raised voices. No response. She must have already gone downstairs. Dad would be in meetings already. Diana bit her lip as she reached for the gold studs Katherine gave her for her sixteenth birthday, then added the gold-cross necklace that had technically been from her father. She’d pretended not to notice when one of his aides handed him the box that he’d clearly been unaware of up until that moment.
“Little touches make all the difference,” Katherine insisted. “People notice the details.”
Yes, they did, Diana thought as she reached into her jewelry box and pulled out the ratty friendship bracelet she’d made for herself years ago, wishing she’d had someone to give it to and to get one in return from. No one ever assumed the popular girl needed to be given a gift. No one thought about whether the popular girl was lonely when she went home. Everyone assumed the popular girl had a million friends and a family who supported her.
Diana walked to her mirror and checked her makeup. Just enough to make her blue eyes look bigger. Nothing more, or people might question whether she was a good girl. And she was supposed to be a good girl. She ticked off her stepmother’s checklist one by one.
Good shoes.
A nice home.
Top grades.
Smart, respectable family tree.
Perfect manners.
All signs of a strong, well-brought-up girl. A girl everyone claimed to know from school. One parents and teachers pointed to as an example to others. One who had been taught to calculate her appearance and demeanor down to the plain red color of her cell-phone case. One who was determined to use it all to show everyone that it was foolish to trust what someone wanted you to see.
Perfect.
And if she didn’t want to ruin her perfect image, Diana would have to get moving. Tardiness was not acceptable for a girl who was supposed to be without flaws. Tardiness implied a lack of respect for other people’s time.
Glancing at her watch, she shook her head and hurried downstairs to find her stepmother so she could get a ride to school for the yearbook meeting.
“Katherine?” she called.
No answer. Huh. Well, Katherine was probably in the backyard making sure the staff had polished the patio furniture to a shine so that guests could be invited back to the house after the event tonight.
“Katherine?”
“Your mother went out.”
“What?” She turned and spotted her father standing next to the porch swing with his cell phone pressed to his ear. Since there was no point in correcting him about Katherine’s relationship to her, she simply asked, “Where?”
He put up a hand to quiet her. “Yes, I’m here, and yes, I understand there’s been some pushback, but I can’t step back from the bill, or I’ll get hammered. The press will smell blood and it’ll be over, and we all know I’m right on this. I just need one thing to tip in my favor. You have to trust me on this.”
Diana started to speak again, but before she could get a word out, her father turned his back and nodded. She would have to get in line for his attention.
“Yes. I’ll make that distinction tonight, and don’t worry. The event will be the perfect place to highlight the positive points in the bill and to take charge of the conversation. If you have other things you want to talk about, I’ll be at the office in a half-hour. Good speaking with you, too, Tim. I appreciate your dedication. We’re going to turn things around.” Finally he hung up and turned toward her.
He was wearing perfectly pressed khakis and a red polo shirt under a deep blue sports coat—relaxed authority was what her stepmother called the look. But despite the clothes, Diana didn’t think her father appeared relaxed.
“That was Tim?”
Her father nodded. “He’s worried about the negative press my Safety Through Education bill is getting.”
Tim hadn’t been on her father’s staff as long as the others, but he was smart and perceptive, which is why her father’s chief of staff hired him right out of graduate school. And even though he was younger than the rest of the staff, Diana knew Tim was right to be worried about her father’s bill. The press was calling it an invasion of privacy. The law would require that students and teachers inform the administration if they thought someone in the school might be interested in doing harm to students, teachers, or school property. Any students reported would then have to hand over their passwords to social media and email accounts or face suspension and a potential investigation by federal authorities. Those who didn’t report suspicions before a harmful event could be charged with aiding and abetting.
Her father believed the law would turn everything in the country around and would finally do what no other laws had been able to do—make things safer. Any students interested in causing trouble would think twice about it if they knew their friends and teachers were watching them and ready to act on any suspicious activity. And by catching and circumventing threatening behavior early, there was a good chance of diverting those students toward a more positive path. Her father was certain that taking action in the schools and the education system was the best way of changing the escalating pattern of violence in the country.
“Was there another bad story in the press?” Diana asked. Not everyone agreed with her father’s thoughts on how to keep the country safe. Since the unveiling of the bill, there had been phone calls and mail and huge editorials about invasion of privacy and people’s differing definitions of what a “threat” to society actually was. Diana had even gotten hate mail for her father’s idea. When she had tried to talk to her father about it, he had just told her to give the mail to Tim and ignore it. That everything would work out. But when Tim had sat with her and listened to her talk about the threats she’d gotten and how people made a point of telling her they were going to vote her father out of office, Tim had admitted the backlash was concerning. If the tide of bad press and angry editorials about the potential law continued, they both agreed that it would be sunk before it ever had a chance to be tested. And her father’s career—one she had been told was necessary to make the world better—would be sunk along with it.
Was it any wonder Tim wanted to pull out all the stops to make sure her father’s event tonight got the press’s attention, or that she was willing to do whatever it took to help? It was nice to have someone finally realize that she was capable of helping, and to finally listen to her when she had an idea. And Tim had said he was glad he could run ideas by someone without having to worry about her telling the senator that his ideas were too radical or that he wasn’t up to the job.
Her father shrugged and gave her his own practiced smile. “Some of my co-sponsors are wondering if we should shelve the idea for more study, but Tim has some polling that says retreating might do more harm than good. I’m not worried. Tim and the others have a plan to make this all come together.”
“If you need me—”
Her father held up his hand as the phone rang. The phone was always ringing. “I’ll catch this on my way to the office.” He looked at Diana and gave her a tense smile. “Your mother left a note for you on the counter. You can help by making sure you’re ready when she comes to pick you up. I need everything to be perfect if we’re going to turn this around.” Then, before she could say anything, her father put the phone to his ear and said, “Larry, I’m glad you called . . .” as he disappeared into the house.
Diana hurried after him, but he didn’t bother to look back. A minute later, Diana heard the front door slam behind him as he left before she could remind him that she needed a ride. And when she read her stepmother’s note, she knew she wasn’t going to get one from her, either.

Diana dear,
I’ll be home to pick you up at four. Wear the blue satin dress hanging in your closet and leave your hair down. Please be on time. Tonight is very important to all of us.
Katherine

She stared at the letter.
Be on time.
Leave your hair down.
Tonight is important.
But, clearly, driving Diana to school today was not.
She turned the bracelet on her arm again, looked at her stepmother’s words one more time, hearing each of them ringing in her head along with all the other things she’d said over the years.
“Keep your opinions to yourself, Diana.” Because they might differ from what she was supposed to think. And that wasn’t allowed.
“Remember that we’re counting on you.”
Yes. They were.
Diana headed back upstairs to the antique toy chest in the corner of her room. Quickly, she dumped the decorative pillows and extra blanket stacked on top onto the floor, then lifted the lid. She pulled out two bags. In the side pocket of one of the bags, she found the list she’d made for herself a few weeks ago and put it in her pocket.
A quick glance at the clock told her she’d better get going or she’d be late for the yearbook meeting. Yesterday she’d moved the meeting to two hours earlier than originally scheduled. She doubted anyone would be thrilled that she’d asked them to change their plans simply to make them wait.
Diana turned, took one last look in the mirror and saw what her family wanted her to be. What she had tried so hard to pretend to be.
Perfect. Someone everyone expected to do the right thing and no one would ever suspect of doing something wrong.
Good.
Booting up her computer, she sent a quick message to Tim, telling him that she was going to school now. Then Diana carefully picked up her bags and headed downstairs and out the door. Her father thought the only contribution he needed from her was for her to nod and smile and look flawless—like their family was supposed to be. She was determined to prove him wrong.

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ARC #Review - True Storm by L.E. Sterling #YALit #Dystopian

Series: True Born (#3)
Format: E-Book, 352 pages
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopian

The highly anticipated conclusion to a high-concept sci-fi series perfect for fans of Moira Young, Alexandra Bracken, or Marie Lu.

If you can’t beat them, change them.

Lucy’s twin sister, Margot, may be safely back with her—but all is not well in Plague-ravaged Dominion City. The Watchers have come out of hiding, spreading chaos and death throughout the city, and suddenly Lucy finds herself under pressure to choose her future: does it lie with her handsome new friend Alastair; her guardian, the enigmatic True Born leader Nolan Storm; or the man who makes her heart trip, her savage True Born bodyguard Jared Price? But while Lucy ponders her path, fate has other plans. Betrayal is a cruel lesson, and the Fox sisters can hardly believe who is behind the plot against them. To survive this deadly game of politics, Lucy is forced to agree to a marriage of convenience. But is the DNA of her will stronger than the forces opposing her? Can she turn the tide against the oncoming storm?

As they say in Dominion, can rogue genes ever have a happy ending?

True Storm is the third and final installment in author L.E. Sterling's True Born Trilogy. As a summary of how we got here, a plague descended upon the world killing off a good portion of the population. Those that are left are divided into three groups, the Lasters, the Splicers and the True Born. Lasters are those who are beyond saving and on the last of their life, Splicers are those rich enough to keep up with procedures to prolong their life, and the True Born are a bit of genetic mutation that are immune to the plague and carry properties of certain animals that have adapted to survive this world. 

The story once again returns to the city of Dominion where things are not as clear as one might believe. After returning with her twin sister Margot, Lucy Fox has once again been put in the forefront by her guardian Nolan Storm. She must attend parties, and gather information from the Upper Circle which may help Storm who is trying to gain more power over Dominion. He also must deal with a major uprising with the Lasters, and a powerful segment of the population that isn't done playing all their cards just yet.

Margot and Lucy are stuck in the middle of almost everything that happens in this book, and this series. You know that Margot and Lucy were born conjoined twins and we've discovered that after they were separated, their separation scars resemble a lock and key. This is one of those cases where I actually would have preferred that the author alternative narratives between the sisters. I don't think we get a clear view of what is happening to Margot, and why she seems so forlorn and not as perky as she once was. 

If you've read the first two books, you know that there are some really important questions you need to ask yourselves. What makes the twins so special? Why does everyone, and I mean everyone, want to get their hands on the twins? Why do people think that Margot and Lucy may be the saviors of the world who can cure the plague? And, the most important question, who is the person that is behind what the twins have experienced since the failed revelation party and everything since? 

::sigh:: Do I have to speak of the love triangle? So, Lucy is enamored with True Born Jared Price who, when they are together, they can't keep their hands off each other. Lucy's relationship with Jared was the most frustrating part of this entire trilogy. Their banter back and forth sometimes drove me crazy to the point of pulling my hair out. There were

plenty of issues that plagued this relationship. Both are easily the most self-absorbed couple. Neither will give an inch in order to actually admit that they have feelings for the other. Alastair returns with some interesting news and a curious revelation. He is also a factor in the Lucy sweepstakes which didn't make much sense considering nobody really knows all that much about Ali.

Then, of course, there is Nolan Storm who admits that his interest in Lucy is purely political capital. Is there romance there? Nope. After all the twists, after all the questions that are answered about Margot and Lucy, after a righteous battle in the streets of Dominion, the author really twists the ending in a curious manner that I actually loved. I don't believe the book needed to go any further than where it ended. I am happy with the overall choices that Lucy makes in the end. Throughout the entire series she's had to battle for everything. Nothing comes easily for her and I completely admire her development that leads to a courageous choice.

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