Delirium by Lauren Oliver Book Review

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: January 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Delirium #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 441
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“He who leaps for the sky may fall, it's true. But he may also fly.” 
― Lauren Oliver, Delirium

Synopsis
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I finally read Delirium. Yes, another dystopia. I have read so many dystopian YA books this past summer. Last spring, I had read only The Hunger Games and a few others. Now, I've read countless. Dystopias have developed as a trend. 

Delirium shared many similarities with other dystopian reads, but it had that nice twist of love being forbidden. In Lena's world, no one says I love you or they're considered diseased. The uncured wait till their 18th birthdays to have a procedure that will prevent them from feeling any love or compassion for others. The indifference of the cured was truly haunting. When it came to parenting, maternal love or any devotion to offspring was absent. Spouses procreated simply for the continuation of humanity. Love was missing from the equation, but everybody still swore by the procedure. They claimed happiness in their indifference, and anyone who thought different was labeled as a sympathizer and was executed or left to rot in a cell. It was terrifying for me to even imagine a world without love. Where a mother is apathetic towards her crying child. Or a husband and wife go through life feeling nothing for each other though they sleep next to each other in the same bed every night. 

What really appealed to me about Delirium was that romantic love wasn't the sole focus. I expected the entire book to concentrate on the forbidden romance between Alex and Lena, but I was pleasantly surprised. While Lena and Alex's growing interest in each other is certainly a main point, we also witness the love Lena feels for her best friend Hana and the love she feels for her family, such as her cousin Gracie and her mother. We're able to see all different sorts of love, and the complexity of Lena's feelings. How easily anger, hurt, and fear can overlap with love. I found Lena's connections to her loved ones so touching and endearing, and I loved Hana, Alex, and Gracie (even though she doesn't speak). 

I had some difficulty accepting how quickly Lena shifts from being a steadfast believer in the cure to an outright rebel. I loved how Lena started off as an unquestioning follower of her society, allowing us to see her full progression into rebellion. But for someone who was so excited to be cured, Lena changes so rapidly, and I didn't completely buy it. Even if Alex and Lena were madly in love, Lena was raised with certain beliefs that she cherished, but yet she drops them so quickly. 

While I loved the dark twist of love being outlawed, I had trouble immersing myself into the story. There were no slow parts, but I was never completely invested in this book. Maybe the dystopia just wasn't authentic enough? I found it difficult to believe in this world without knowing the background behind the cure and the labeling of love as a disease. While it's fascinating, I needed more context and I couldn't help wanting more to this world than some groups of regulators walking around with flashlights and bullhorns. That image did not have me quaking in fear. Oliver writes beautifully - her writing style could almost be called poetic - and I loved the inclusion of poetry and classical literature (Romeo and Juliet!) as always, but I just didn't connect with what I was reading. 

I have to say that while there were differences, Delirium resembled Uglies in so many ways. The Smoke versus The Wilds. The procedure and the main character who goes from supporter to rogue. Not to mention the best friend who participates in rebellious behavior? Did anyone see this as well? It didn't bother me, but it just struck me as really similar. Random thought, I know. Though I enjoyed this book more because I could not stand Tally Youngblood. 

I will read Pandemonium, but I'm in no hurry. I'm anxious to see how this series unfolds, but I hope the sequel interests me more. 

Happy Reading,

Courtney

Waiting on Wednesday (7) - Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine where you post a book that you can't wait to read once it's released.

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Expected Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away. 

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting I'm drawn to books with assassins. And books where assassins can't kill their targets. It's inevitable then that I would be interested in this book. I just love this cover and the premise. The idea of being nobody. It's so devastating and fascinating all at the same time. Plus, I've been more and more attracted to science-fiction books lately, and this looks like one I would definitely enjoy. Can't wait! 

What's your WoW? 

Happy reading,

Courtney

Cinder by Marissa Meyer Book Review

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction, Retelling
Pages: 390
Source: Library
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“I'm sure I'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.” 
― Marissa Meyer, Cinder

Synopsis
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. (Goodreads)

It's been taking me longer than usual to read books because I'm still recovering from one of my notorious migraines. So all I've been doing is drinking caffeine and resting. I hate reading when I'm not feeling well because it's always harder to keep interest, but I couldn't resist. I hope everyone is feeling well because I heard something is going around! Anywho, on with the book.

My Thoughts
I'm not a huge fan of the Cinderella fairy tale, but I might be biased, seeing as how I never really liked the Disney version. I was more of a Beauty and the Beast girl. I always thought the Cinderella in the movie was so domesticated, and she needed a man to get away from her evil stepmother. Plus, the prince and her fell in love in like two seconds. And she loses her shoe, and the prince's brillant idea is to go around and try to find a girl whose foot fits perfectly into the shoe. Because of course he wouldn't recognize the girl he fell in love with once she has her hair down and is covered in ashes. And there are no two girls with the same size shoe (obviously sarcasm). I hope I didn't ruin anybody's love for this fairy tale. I did love Ever After though. One of my favorite movies. Though A Cinderella Story? Not so much.

So you can imagine that I was very surprised when I found myself loving Cinder despite all of my bias and negative expectations. How couldn't I love this book? It's the most imaginative retelling of Cinderella that I have ever seen or read! Not only is Cinder a cyborg, but the story takes place in the distant future. Cinder is a flipping Asian cyborg! Instead of talking, singing mice, we have her robot friend Iko. Instead of a pumpkin turning into a carriage, we have a yellow-orange car which is considered ancient when hovers are the new form of transportation. And the dashing prince is the destined emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth (what Asia is now called). Is that not genius?

In Cinder, Earth is divided into six kingdoms after World War IV left the world in ruins and nuclear/chemical warfare destroyed many natural resources. A plague, letumosis, kills hundreds and even thousands of Earthen citizens, and doctors can't find the cause or a cure. Prejudice is shown towards cyborgs, and the cyborg draft is initiated to find guinea pigs for antidote research. As Earth is left vulnerable by the plague and a suffering economy, the Lunar queen seizes this opportunity to make negotiations with the soon-to-be emperor Prince Kai. The Lunars have mysterious powers to influence what others feel, see, or even do. Queen Levena is a cruel queen and a threat to all of Earth because of her hunger for power. When Cinder's stepsister Peony is infected with the plague, Cinder is entered against her will into the cyborg draft by her stepmother. Cinder finds out she might just be the only hope for her sister, New Beijing, and maybe all of Earth.

This book was such a thrilling, fun read! While I never thought I'd be a huge fan of science-fiction, I loved the technology and futuristic New Beijing. Cinder was a mechanic, and Meyer did an excellent job of describing Cinder's work and repairs. Meyer's attention to detail made the world of New Beijing all the more authentic, and I loved hearing about the portscreens, netscreens, and hovers. The city, with its skyscrapers and crammed apartment complexes, came to life for me through Meyer's in-depth description. The beautiful descriptions of New Beijing's palace and gardens were also not lacking in detail. New Beijing culture was a perfect mix of futuristic and traditional Asian elements. 

Cinder was such an awesome heroine! She was just full of spunk! I loved how Meyer made Cinder a mechanic famous for her skill instead of a maid, placing less focus on domesticity. While Cinder was dependent on her evil stepmother Adri, she still stood up for herself and found ways to rebel. She even beat up some androids and she was far from being a submissive, docile maid. She also had a kinder, loving side because she cared for her android Iko and her younger stepsister Peony. And of course Kai though she tried to deny it. It was difficult for her being a cyborg, and I loved seeing her fight past her insecurities and become a stronger individual because of it. 

I didn't like Kai as much as other romantic interests. He grew on me, but I couldn't help finding him a little annoying at times. It seemed like he expected special treatment because he was a prince, and I was overjoyed when Cinder didn't respond to his advances as he expected. I was sick of hearing about what a heartthrob he was and having girls swoon over him (basically the Asian Bieber). Though I'm being a little hypocritical seeing as how I fangirl over Jensen Ackles and Ian Somerhalder from time to time. I did love that while the romance was sweet, it was put on a back burner in favor of the plot. And Kai was charming at times, and understanding and adorable. 

My one major complaint was the cliffhanger ending. I'm not a fan of cliffhangers. Who is? I see cliffhangers as just an author's attempt to persuade readers to read the next book. Unfortunately, this tends to be a generally effective method. If the sequel was immediately available, I wouldn't be as upset, but it isn't. I just like my books to have an ending. Even if there are still questions and other books, having somewhat of an ending is always better than a cliffhanger. There were a couple of other minor annoyances. Characters say Oh my stars a lot. And Iko was a little unrobotic. But Meyer explains the personality chip as being the cause. 

I'm so excited for Scarlet! I want to hear more about this world and the Lunars. Such as, why are they even on the moon? 2013 seems years away! I'm loving how each book will introduce new fairy tale characters. Obviously, Scarlet will bring Little Red Riding Hood into the mix. Apparently, Cress will take place on the moon and Rapunzel will be a main character. And then the fourth installment, Winter, will feature Snow White and will take place in the Sahara Desert. Yet Cinder will remain a main character in all four books. Fascinating! I cannot wait!

Happy reading,

Courtney

Beautiful Blogger Award!

You cannot believe how ecstatic I was when I found out I'd received my first blog award nomination! A nomination for the Beautiful Blogger Award!

And I owe it all to the lovely Aa'Ishah from Reading Under the Stars! She was the amazing blogger who nominated me, and I am so grateful to her! This just made my week! You should really check out her blog because it's stunning and she writes awesome reviews! Plus, that name is so beautiful. It makes me want to go outside and literally read under the stars!

So, the rules are as follows:

1. Write something about the Book Blogger who nominated you as I've done above. 

2. Share 7 things about yourself. 

7 things about moi:

1. I'm such a romantic. Seriously, I'm one of the sappiest people you will ever find, but I try to hide it. This is the reason I love YA books so much. Because they always seem to have romance. 

2. My family has two dogs, four cats, and at least 20 fish. I want a ferret, but I'm not allowed. When I have my own place, this will happen. 

3. I'm a horror movie addict. As in, I love scaring myself to death and having trouble sleeping that night. Why? Because I must hate myself or something. 

4. I fear fire so much I've never lit a match. Or a lighter. No joke. I cannot convince myself to do it. Sparklers even terrify me. But I can stand by a bonfire. At a safe distance. It makes no sense to me either.

5. I sing in the car like nobody's business. As in, I blare the music and scream. This is why my windows remain up. I also dance, and one time I looked to the left, and an elderly couple was dancing with me. 

6. My favorite show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have watched those seasons way too much. I was a vampire fan before Edward ever sparkled.

7. I still catch fireflies and it always makes me sad watching them fly away. Like I said, complete emotional sap.

My nominees!!!! I couldn't ever just pick one! 

1. Late Nights with Good Books

2. Raindrop Reads

3. The Bookshelf

4. Adina's Book Blog

These book blogs are awesome! You should check them out immediately! And thanks again to Aa'Ishah for the nomination! 

Happy reading, 

Courtney

In My Mailbox (2)

I wasn't going to do In My Mailbox this week because I'm waiting on books that have yet to come! :( But I decided to anyway. And next week's will be so much more awesome because my mailbox will be singing like on Blue's Clues. Well, not many books will be arriving but they will be GREAT books!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted over at The Story Siren where you post all the books and goodies you received, borrowed, traded your soul for, etc. during the past week.

E-books (bought from Amazon)
The Child Thief by Brom
Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) by Bethany Griffin
Partials (Partials #1) by Dan Wells
Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer Armentrout

The first three were Kindle deals. I've been wanting to buy The Child Thief for a long time. So I have to thank Amanda for letting me know it was on sale for only 2.99! Obsidian was just because.

E-book (for review from author for book blog tour)
The Violet Fox (The Violet Fox #1) by Clare Marshall
I'm so excited for my first book blog tour! Can't wait to read this book! It sounds awesome!

What's your IMM?

Happy reading,

Courtney

Interview: Shanae Branham, Author of DiSemblance

For today's post, I'd like to welcome Shanae Branham, author of YA techno-thriller DiSemblance. She has graciously agreed to an interview!  After reading and enjoying her debut novel, I was excited to pick her brain and find out the inspirations behind this book.

DiSemblance
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Website

Jason Tanner’s life has always been different from the ordinary citizen’s. It started when he was an infant and his parents were only teenagers. A computer science prodigy, Lloyd attended MIT but left a pariah in the eyes of the school’s dean—but a computer physics genius in the eyes of his primary investor. Then his theories and ideas created a holographic machine and their world shrunk as contact with the outside world became less and less frequent. A computer prodigy now himself, Jason is about to learn that the world never waits for you if you have the ability to change it: it will come for you.

Detective Bruce Durante has been handed the case of the Comfort Killer, a serial killer so named because he appears to abduct terminally ill patients before returning their corpses to their families in refrigerated coffins. When he picks up the trail, it leads straight to the home of Lloyd Tanner.

Jason has been living life through the world of Lloyd’s invention and wishing he could carry on a relationship with Boston, the beautiful girl next door. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, he is brought back to reality in a hurry. He is forced to destroy all of the planted evidence—and finds he is being targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. But the secrets of his father’s invention run deep and Jason, his brother Isaac,Boston, the Comfort Killer, and Detective Durante hurtle towards one another on a deadly collision course that leaves everyone’s life hanging in the balance. (Goodreads)

I had lots of questions for Shanae, but I managed to pick out a few that I really wanted answered.

How did you come up with the premise for DiSemblance?

As a mother of six children, my concern about the negative effects too much television and video and computer games can have on young people led me to choose digital reality as the subject of my first young adult techno-thriller novel. I wanted to play with the idea that there can be a point where digital reality can seem so real that you lose track of where you are – thus the name DiSemblance, which means the state of being disguised or concealed behind a false appearance.

Why did you decide to write young adult?

I chose to write young adult because I am surrounded by teenagers. The ages of my six children range from 11 to 21. At the current time, I have two children in college, three teens at home and a preteen who acts more like a teenager than a child. At times when my kids have their friends over, the number of teenagers in my home easily ranges from four to 14 – CRAZY!

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Sheffield Roads.  Although Sheffield is not a major character, I like him because of his Western style and the way he supports his brother, Bruce.

What authors have inspired you?

Suzanne Collins, Dean Koontz, Kate Wilhelm, Nicholas Sparks, and James Patterson

Here's a little bit about Shanae:

"I am a professional writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a minor in grammar. I have also attended several years of classes and workshops in screenplay writing at the Los Angeles Screenplay writer’s Expo. I love suspense, adventure, fantasy, and some romance. I am also a master at plot who happens to enjoy stories with happy endings."

Thank you Shanae for stopping by and answering my questions! Also thank you for giving me a chance to read your debut novel! And don't forget to check out my review of DiSemblance.

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna Book Review

Title: The Lost Girl 
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Published: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Pages: 432
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“But maybe that's what the dead do. They stay. They linger. Benign and sweet and painful. They don't need us. They echo all by themselves.” 
― Sangu Mandanna, The Lost Girl

Synopsis
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
The Lost Girl had me hook, line and seeker from the very first page. It was such a wonderful read, I found it difficult to put down when I needed to. I loved everything about it. From the character development to the setting to the refreshing premise. When I first read the plot synopsis, I was blown away by how wild and creative it was. Echoes of living people? Weavers that stitch people to life? And all of this inspired by Shelley's Frankenstein? I'm jealous of Mandanna's imagination. It's one of those books you read and wish you had written yourself because it's that amazing. 

First off, as I've mentioned before, I'm a big fan of YA books that manage to intricately weave (haha weave as in Weavers) classic literature into the plot. It's becoming a regular occurrence, and I'm thrilled. The connection between Frankenstein and the Weavers' creations in The Lost Girl really strengthened the plot and increased my interest because I LOVE Frankenstein. I love me some dark and gloomy books. It added meaning to the book by questioning the relationship between the creator and the created. It also reconsiders the definitions of monstrosity and human. The Shakespeare, Sense and Sensibility, and Wuthering Heights references were also a huge bonus. 

The characters were so developed, I almost expected them to step out of the pages as living, breathing people. I loved Eva. She was such a strong heroine. Throughout the book, she learned how to love and  trust others, and to really develop as a person while some people just considered her Amarra's duplicate. While she was a fierce character to be reckoned with, she had her insecurities, making her all the more real to me. Sean was one of the best romantic interests ever! I loved him, and I would pick him over Ray anytime. Not only was he British, but he also saw Eva as a human being and not just an echo. I was happy the romance wasn't the central focus, and it was touching and sweet and far from instalove. 

The secondary characters in The Lost Girl really stood out and were also well-developed. Even if I didn't love every character (which of course I didn't and I'm not supposed to), every one of them was fascinating. I adored the guardians. Ophelia and Erik and Mina Ma. I could not get enough of Mina Ma. Lekha was one of my favorite characters; she reminded me of Luna Lovegood: all weirdness and warm-hearted. Nikhil and Sasha were adorable. Even Ray intrigued me. He seemed endlessly torn between the memory of Amarra and her echo Eva. I couldn't help wondering if he was only interested in Eva because she looked exactly like his dead girlfriend. Matthew was probably the most complex, and then Adrian, though we don't see him as much. They were both a mystery to unravel. Definitely some memorable characters here! 

I love how The Lost Girl takes place in England and then India. Mandanna described the setting in vivid detail, making me wish I could be beside the lake in Windermere or in the crowded streets of Bangalore. I never lost my interest and there was even some action, with hunters on the loose and seekers that work for the Weavers. The Weavers seemed to be a constant presence, even if they were just in Eva's thoughts. 

I want the sequel now! Right this minute! I know I'm demanding, but I want to learn more about the Weavers and how the Loom started! The suspense is killing me! I also want to read more about Frankenstein and how it connects to the Weavers. Why were the echoes forbidden to read it? I can't wait to find out! My conclusion: read this book immediately!

Happy reading,

Courtney

Waiting on Wednesday (6) - Days of Blood & Starlight and Rebel Heart

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you post a book you are eagerly anticipating. One you just can't wait to be released!

This week, I'm kind of cheating by posting two, but both are sequels to amazing books and I wanted to post them together!

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Expected Publication Date: November 6, 2012
528 pages, Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living – one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel – a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
I fell in love with Daughter of Smoke and Bone! It just blew me away! So I'm hoping this book will be just as amazing or even better! Can't wait!

Rebel Heart by Moira Young
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Expected Publication Date: October 30, 2012
432 pages, Dust Lands #2
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
Blood Red Road was another fantastic read and I hope the sequel won't disappoint! I honestly have to stop reading amazing series because then I have to buy more and more books. But these two series are definitely being continued by moi. 

What's your WoW?

Happy reading,

Courtney

Top Ten Books On Your Fall TBR List (5)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where you post a top ten list based off of a bookish prompt. This week's Top Ten Tuesday is:

Top Ten Books On Your Fall TBR List

I am loving this Top Ten because there are so many books I'm excited to read this fall! It was hard to narrow my list down to ten, but I managed.

1. Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout - This book's release date is September 18th. I have yet to read anything by Armentrout, including her Lux series, but I intend to read Obsidian sometime soon. But I'm most excited for the release of Cursed. Something about this book just draws me in even though it's a bit like Shatter Me with the whole ability to touch someone and kill them. But something really appeals to me about this book.

2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - I've had this on my TBR pile for the longest time, and now I even own it. I can't wait to finally read it! I know I'll love it, and I've read so many glowing reviews! I mean, water horses? That's amazing!

3. The Twelve (The Passage #2) by Justin Cronin - I loved the first one, The Passage, so much! I cannot wait for the sequel coming October 16th! There are so many burning questions I want answered, and I love Cronin's writing. It's terrifying and so gripping!

4. Skylark (Skylark #1) by Meagan Spooner - I intend to get my hands on this book and read it ASAP. I love the premise and the cover! Definitely on the top of my TBR pile.

5. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen - I love that this is a Robin Hood retelling and that there's romance! It sounds amazing! I bought it on my Kindle app at a discount, and I've put off reading it long enough. I'll be reading this very soon.

6. If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman - I just bought this, and I've been wanting to read it for awhile. This is another book I've heard so many great things about, and I'm anxious to read it. I've actually heard it compared to The Lovely Bones (a favorite book of mine). Is it scary that this book supposedly explores some serious themes? Oh yeah! But I'm ready to take it on!

7. The Stand by Stephen King - Stephen King is, hands down, my favorite author, and it's a crime that I have yet to read one of his most famous books. I've read A LOT by him, and I really have to take long breaks between his books because they can be very unsettling and heavy. Which isn't a bad thing, but when you read a Stephen King book, you don't finish it unaffected. But it's now time to read The Stand. I've waited too long. It's just so big, which is intimidating even though I read fast. And I want to be able to just sit down and speed through it because I know I'll be hooked. But I've read other books by him that were insanely long (not Under the Dome as of yet) so I'm prepared. He never disappoints!

8. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - There was a time when I refused to read this book. But now I NEED to read this book. How did things change? I don't know. Like I said before, I get feelings about books, and there is a magnetic pull here. A very strong one. I requested it from the library so I figure it's only a matter of time before I have it. I may be taking a risk, but this might be a new favorite. We'll see how it goes. I'm excited and nervous!

9. Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton - I also requested this one from the library. This book has immortals and an underworld? That's all I need to hear. Plus, my favorite Greek myth is the one involving Persephone and Hades, where Hades kidnaps Persephone, his niece (these gods are messed up), and takes her into the underworld against her will to be his wife. Everneath is obviously inspired by that myth, so I need to read this immediately.

10. Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan - This is probably the millionth time I've mentioned this book, but I can't help it. It just sounds awesome! Seriously. I will be grabbing this book as soon as it comes out. No ands, ifs, or buts. I wish I had it now!








That's my Top Ten. I would make it a Top Twenty, but that would be cheating and unnaturally long. What's your Top Ten?

Happy reading,

Courtney

Defiance by C.J. Redwine Book Review

Title: Defiance 
Author: C.J. Redwine
Published: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Series: Courier's Daughter #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 403
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
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“It’s probably my job to tell you life isn’t fair, but I figure you already know that. So instead, I’ll tell you that hope is precious, and you’re right not to give up.” 
― C.J. Redwine, Defiance

Synopsis
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. (Goodreads) 

My Thought
I've been eagerly awaiting Defiance for months. From the first time I saw it, I have been counting down the days till it hit bookstores. I can't seem to articulate why I was so excited for this book. I just knew I'd love it, and it was worth the wait! 

I loved every single page of Defiance! I devoured this book as I would any other wonderful read. The world-building leaves nothing to be desired. We're given detailed descriptions of Baalboden and the Wasteland, and I could almost picture North Hub and South Edge and Logan's little cottage in my head. I loved the names of the different parts of the citystate, and while there was a lot of suffering within Baalboden's walls, it possessed a dark beauty that appealed to me. 

The premise was fascinating. Decades ago, businessmen had teams dig into the earth for oil, and they awakened a terrifying race of beasts that lived deep beneath the surface. These beasts resemble wingless dragons, and they destroyed every densely populated area with their massive size and ability to breathe flame. Kind of reminded me of the Balrog the dwarves awakened while mining in The Lord of the Rings. Baalboden is terrorized by one of these beasts, The Cursed One, and the citizens must remain within the protection of Baalboden's walls. This premise really applies to the present day, where we're drilling for oil all over the place. Except, I hope there are no beasts living deep underground in our world. That would suck (understatement). 

The Cursed One was terrifying, but the true villain is the Commander. Even though the citizens are safe from the Cursed One inside their citystate, they are victims to the Commander's brutal authority. The Commander was a convincing villain. He was merciless, and I couldn't help hating his abuse of women. This dystopia was a legit dystopia. There was the constant threat of the Cursed One and the Commander's heavy punishment if the law was broken, but there were also bands of highwaymen and other citystates' battalions wandering the Wasteland. I was bothered by the treatment of women, as they were raised to be submissive and they couldn't go anywhere without their Protector, but my anger at their laws did not decrease my enjoyment at all. In fact, the darker elements only strengthened the world building. 

Rachel is one of my favorite heroines of all time. She was feisty, strong, and devoted to her loved ones. She was the opposite of every other woman in Baalboden. She was raised by her father to be independent, and I couldn't help admiring her courage and the fire inside of her. Even when she was scared or grief-stricken, she still fought and wouldn't allow her feelings to consume her. Logan. I loved Logan so much. He was a bit of nerd, and I couldn't help finding his awkwardness and his love for his inventions adorable. But when it came to Rachel, he would suddenly fight like a mad animal, revealing how he had stayed alive as an orphan on the streets during his childhood. Their romance was so sweet, and it was developed wonderfully. No instalove. Redwine shifted between their POVs smoothly, and I enjoyed hearing from both of them. I just loved Rachel and Logan. And also Willow and Quinn and Sylph and Oliver. They were all amazing characters and they were developed so well! 

I can't wait for the sequel! I hope we learn more about some characters and I'd like to know why women needed Protectors to begin with. Plus, there are some questions I can't wait to have answered! The suspense is killing me. Defiance is definitely a new favorite, as shown by this long review of gushing. 

Happy reading, 

Courtney