Review: Essence by Lisa Ann O'Kane

Essence
by Lisa Ann O'Kane

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia
Publisher: Angry Robot Ltd
Publication Date: June 2014
Page Count: 243
Format: E-Book
Source: Netgalley (thank you!)

Goodreads Synopsis: Autumn escaped a cult, but now she realizes she's fallen into another.

Growing up in San Francisco’s Centrist Movement, sixteen year-old Autumn Grace has always believed emotions—adrenaline, endorphins, even happiness—drain your Essence and lead to an early death. But her younger brother’s passing and a run-in with a group of Outsiders casts her faith into question.

Ryder Stone, the sexy, rebellious leader of the Outsiders, claims Essence drain is nothing more than a Centrist scare tactic -- and he can prove it.

Autumn follows Ryder to his Community of adrenaline junkies and free spirits in Yosemite National Park, and they introduce her to a life of adventure, romance, sex, drugs and freedom. But as she discovers dark secrets beneath the Community’s perfect exterior, she realizes the more she risks in search of the perfect rush, the further she has to fall.

GOODREADS . AMAZON

Review: I had hoped to get this review posted much earlier in the day, but better late than never, right? I am all about sticking to my April review goal though, which means I needed to finish writing it out before I allow myself to go to bed, so that's what I'm going to do! I have had this book on Netgalley for awhile now, and I should have gotten to it much sooner (story of my life, I guess). While I was definitely interested in the synopsis when I first requested it, it made me a little hesitant once I was accepted and could actually read it. Sure, dystopians are one of my favorite genres, but this one seemed quite a bit different than the others I have read thus far. Turns out, it was pretty different, though I do not think that it was a bad thing at all. 

Essence was incredibly realistic, which was one of the biggest changes for me. A lot of the dystopians I have read seem pretty impossible when you think about it compared to how we live currently. This book was not the same, though. It takes place in the not-so-distant future, seeing people rebuild after a serious of earthquakes have destroyed much of what they have known. Out of this disaster comes to distinct groups or cults, the Centrist Movement and the Community.

It was very interesting to see the drastic difference between these two groups. We don't get as much detail about the Centrist Movement as Autumn decides to leave them, but we are given enough information to realize why she would not be happy to stay there. They believe that adrenaline and showing any sort of emotion, happiness included, will lead to a much shorter life. I cannot say that I would want to live in a place with people that had those beliefs, either! The Community believes the exact opposite. They believe that having emotions and being adventurous will lead to a much longer life. Ultimately, Autumn has to decide what she believes. 

I do think that this book had a lot of exciting parts to it since a lot of it took place at Yosemite National Park. It was fun getting so much description about where they were and what they were doing. I do think that the writing was very nice as well. O'Kane gives a lot of great details that kept me interested and grateful to know the information. She had a style of writing that had me want to continue reading without putting the book down. 

The only thing I did not love about the book was the love triangle. Don't get me wrong, all of the characters were fantastic. I loved Autumn as a main character, and the author did a wonderful job of describing the minor characters as well, so it was quite easy to like them, too. Love triangles can be pretty hit or miss for me though, and this one made it quite obvious who she was going to pick pretty quickly. This is not always necessarily a bad thing, but it was not my favorite in this book. That is just a minor detail though, and certainly not something that made me dislike the book.

I would highly recommend this book to any other dystopian fans out there. It has a lot of unique, different situations to offer than what we have seen in the popular dystopians lately, and I think that makes it even more enjoyable to read.

Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Review: Broken Worlds by Anitha Robinson

Broken Worlds

by Anitha Robinson 

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: CBaY Books
Publication Date: June 2014
Edition: E-Book
Page Count: 200
Source: Netgalley (thank you!)

Goodreads Synopsis: When a brutal attack leaves her barely conscious, Kalli thinks that the young man carrying her away is an angel sent to ferry her to Heaven. After all of the abuse and months of homelessness, Kalli welcomes the relief that Heaven would bring. Handsome Ellis, though, turns out to be just as mortal as she is. A kind stranger, Ellis saves her life by taking her to a local clinic to be healed. Once better, Kalli finds herself staying with her unusual rescuer while being monitored constantly by his mysterious family. It s not an ideal situation, but it beats the streets. Now that she s safe and warm and appears to have found someone who cares for her, Kalli assumes the worst is behind her. She couldn t be more wrong. Broken Worlds was the very first Young Adult Winner in the Yummy but Brainy Writing Contest presented by CBAY Books."


GOODREADS

Review: If I am being honest, I clicked to request this book when I was in my Netgalley phase when every book listed sounded good, and I was requesting far more than I needed to. When I went back, I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book, though. I am a pretty big science fiction fan, and reading on Goodreads have me some more information about the book as well. While I was worried the book might take a paranormal twist that I would not enjoy, I was wrong about that. While I'm not the biggest fan of vampires and werewolves in books, I will definitely take some aliens in my books, thank you very much. 

What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was not all about the unrealistic parts (sorry, not the biggest believer in aliens, oops!). One of the main focuses was actually on the abuse that Kalli had to endure before running away from home. Abuse, especially domestic abuse and sexual abuse, are serious issues affecting our world and I feel like they are often sugar-coated when they are put in books; especially young adult novels. However, I feel that Robinson did a wonderful job of showing things how they really are. 

Another thing I enjoyed about this book is how I could not guess what was going to happen next. The best books are the ones that leave you guessing, and this book certainly did just that. I could not put the book down simply because I needed to know what happened next to the characters, and because of this I finished the book in one sitting. While it was a quick read, there were some flaws that bothered me throughout the text. 

The romance was a little unbelievable for me. I am a huge fan of romance, but this one seemed unlikely. Not that it could not have happened eventually, but it happened far too fast. After everything that Kalli went through, it seemed unlikely that she would fall in love so soon and trust someone so easily, especially someone who was obviously hiding things and lying to her. The dialogue also seemed a bit childish and naive for a young adult novel, something that was a turn off for me. 

While I do love some of the other concepts and issues that were developed and talked about in the book, I do feel like the plot was very slow moving at parts. We got to the end of the book and all of these new, big things were revealed, but there was not enough time to go in depth about these things that were obviously pretty important. I do believe that this is only book one in a series, so I do hope that eventually all of these things will be extended and revealed. I did enjoy this book, but it certainly could have used some improvements. 

Rating: 3.0 / 5.0 

Review: Shattered Veil by Tracy E. Banghart

Shattered Veil

by Tracy E. Banghart 

(The Diatous Wars #1)
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction - Dystopia        
Publication Date: February 28, 2014  
Edition: Ebook
Source: Via Mark my Words Book Publicity

Goodreads Synopsis: **WINNER** 2014 IndieReader Discovery Awards: 2nd Place, Fiction

When everything that defines you is stripped away, who do you become?

War has invaded Atalanta’s quiet villages and lush woodlands, igniting whispered worries in its glittering capitol. Far from the front lines, 18-year-old Aris Haan, a talented wingjet flyer, has little cause for concern. Until her beloved Calix is thrust into the fray, and a stranger makes her an impossible offer: the chance to join a secret army of women embedded within the all-male military.

Aris’s choice to follow Calix to war will do more than put her in physical danger; it will make her question everything she believes about herself. When she and her enigmatic commander uncover a deadly conspiracy, her expert flying may be the only hope for her dominion’s survival…and her own.

It’s Mulan meets Battlestar Galactica, with a heroine who is strong enough to save a nation…but only if she’s willing to sacrifice everything, even the one promise she swore she’d never break.

Review: Before reading this book, I had not read anything by Tracy Banghart. Based on the other reviews I have read, this clearly means that I am behind and missing out on some other great books. I intend to fix that in the very near future. I was very excited about the chance to read and review this book, though. It was one that I saw on Netgalley and was strongly thinking about requesting, but then I received the email from Mark my Words Book Publicity, and I jumped on the opportunity. 

I was thrilled to be reading young adult dystopian again, as it is one of my favorite genres, right behind contemporary. I was also thrilled when I realized that it was going to be a series, as that is one of my favorite things as well. Going into this book, I was a little worried that I had my hopes too high for it because of these things, but I was thrilled to find that it did not disappoint at all. It had everything I look for in a good dystopian novel; a new world, new technology, and people that are at war with one another.  

Another thing I really liked about this book was how it reminded me of Mulan, at least a little bit. We are introduced to our main character, Aris, who is one of the best fliers around, though she is a young girl. She is sure that she has everything planned out, that she and her boyfriend Calix will go through the Selection and be together, but things do not work out how they planned. While Calix becomes what he had hoped for, he ends up having to go into the military, a place that Aris is not allowed to follow him as they do not accept women. 

Of course, that does not stop our female character, and she decides to disguise herself as a man in order to follow Calix into the military. At first, I was incredibly annoyed with Aris' reasons for doing this. Sure, I can understand that she is young and sure she is in love, but it is a lot to do just to make sure she can see a guy. Throughout the story, after learning some pretty shocking things, I am glad that the whole thing becomes far more than that. We get to see Aris grow from a young girl into a young woman, even as she is pretending to be a boy. 

I really loved that this book was not all about the romance. Sure, I love to have some romance and a good love story in most of the books I read, but I do not think that they should always be the main focus. I appreciate that Banghart can put some romance into the book without making it the main focus, or A main focus at all. It was set on the back burner, and I appreciated that. I was also thankful that we were not thrown another love triangle in this book. While I don't hate them, it's nice to have a change. 

Overall, I was very impressed with the writing style of Banghart. I feel like she did a wonderful job with her world building and the development of characters. She created a main character that I cheered for; one that I wanted to succeed, and I believe that is very important. I look forward to continuing this series in the future, and I hope to delve into some more of Banghart's writing before then as well. I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 

Bound by M.J. Stevens Blog Tour + Review

Bound by M.J. Stevens
(The Guardians #1)
Publication date: January 21st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

‘No good deed ever goes unpunished, Mellea…’

Mellea Wendorn hasn’t exactly had a normal life. Misfortune seems to follow her, and her family, wherever she goes.
However, when Mellea stops to assist a mysterious young man suddenly her prior hardships seem trivial.

His name is Leo. He is a Successor, a child of the Guardians of Selestia.

He is royalty.
He is handsome.
And he wants Mellea completely to himself.

Unable to escape the Guardian's laws, Mellea must learn the ways of the royals. She is convinced her life can’t get much worse. But when a timeworn Guardian enemy arises from the shadows, Mellea must make a choice that will change her destiny forever.

GOODREADS . AMAZON

Review: As I was reading through other reviews on Goodreads for Bound, I could not help but to be a little bit annoyed. I am not sure when a negative stereotype began for self published authors, but it is frustrating for me. I am here to tell you, books can be pretty darn good when they are self published, too. I do not feel like this is something that should even come into play when we are deciding how we like books. Also, it should not matter if the book is a debut or not. Sure, everyone improves with practice and experience, but some debut books are amazing, much like Bound by M.J. Stevens. 

Alright, rant over. 

I say all of that just to state that I really did enjoy this book very much. I am a big science fiction fan, at least when it comes to Young Adult novels. It always fun to see the technology and adaptions that authors create when it comes to writing in this genre. I love that there was also romance in this book, too. Sure, I would always love a bit more romance, but I can understand why it was not the main focus of this specific book. There were so many other things going on, and I can understand not exactly being thrilled when you're forced into a marriage to someone you don't know, and have been told bad things about all through childhood. 

Mellea is a wonderful lead character; she says what is on her mind and is very likeable, though she is vulnerable as well; just like your average teenage girl. She is a bit innocent, having been so heavily protected by her parents growing up. She is also thrown into a situation that is unlike one she would ever want to be. Her father has been telling her horrible things about the Guardians growing, and now that she is surrounded by them, she has to decide what is true. Of course, it is never that simple; black and white. Throughout the novel Mellea learns a lot of secrets that she then has to figure out how to believe and deal with. It's certainly not an easy situation for a young girl. 

Leo was a bit difficult to like at first, but I do believe that he was meant to be that way. He has never really fit in completely with his family, but he can also be a pain in the butt. Still, when we begin to see past those things, he becomes a very likeable character, and I do like the connection that the two main characters have with one another. After all, sometimes love is difficult to explain and everyone says that opposites attract. Ultimately, the two are dealing with their own issues of self discovery and love throughout the book. 

I say bravo to M.J. Stevens for writing a very enjoyable book for young adults and adults a like. I believe that it is a wonderful read for anyone that enjoys science fiction with some romance thrown into the mix. I certainly enjoyed it very much and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Rating:  4.0/5.0

M.J. Stevens is a true storyteller.

For a long time, words were never her best friend. However she has always had a creative spirit and writing became the lead way that she could share her ideas with the world. Today, it is her number one passion in life.

“I wish I could say that I was one of those kids that read insane amounts of books and that’s why I was inspired to write, like a lot of authors. But I actually found the joy on people’s faces [when they talk about stories they love] more inspiring and wanted to create something of my own that will give young readers that same excited expression.”

Author Links:

http://boundtotheguardians.com/

https://twitter.com/MelanieJStevens

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7686588.M_J_Stevens

https://www.facebook.com/boundtotheguardians?ref=hl

GIVEAWAY:

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Creators by Tiffany Truitt Blog Tour + Review

Creators by Tiffany Truitt
(The Lost Souls #3)
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction - Dystopia
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: April 28, 2014
Book One: Chosen Ones
Book Two: Naturals

Heartbroken but more determined than ever after a tense showdown in the woods, sixteen-year-old Tess once again returns to the safety of her community of Isolationists. Bolstered by new alliances and desperate to protect those she loves, this time she knows she can return stronger and more powerful than ever to take back what is hers.

As she trains in combat and grows more confident, Tess receives beautiful letters penned by her forbidden love, the chosen one James, from his prison in Templeton. He is now serving as a bodyguard to the creators—the team of scientists who created artificial life in the first place. And what he has discovered about the true origin of the illness that halted natural life could change everything. Enemy will become ally and death will bring new hope in this stunning conclusion to Tiffany Truitt’s epic Lost Souls trilogy.

AMAZON. B&N. GOODREADS 

Review: I was THRILLED when I received the email about this blog tour. (Yeah, I know that I say that a lot, but I was SUPER excited about this one!). Sure, I was a little worried since this was the last book in the trilogy and I had yet to actually begin the series, so I was not sure I would be accepted to do the review for the tour. Not only was I accepted though, but I was given all three books to read and review, and I could not have been more thankful and excited! I love dystopians, and this one seemed like it was going to be very promising. I am very happy to say that it did not disappoint. Not. One. Bit. 

I really do not want to give too much away, as I feel like everyone should read the books for themselves and experience the pure amazement that is this trilogy. Therefore, I am going to be very careful about what I share here, but also give enough information for you lovely readers to realize that you need to go on Amazon or B&N and buy the ebooks right away so you can start reading them NOW. (Even though I have the ebooks, I have every intention of buying the books in paperback, too. I need them sitting on my shelf). 

The beginning of the series starts out quite sad. Tessa, our main character, has to watch her sister die. You see, the Naturals are not supposed to have children, and if they attempt to, it will kill them. Her sister fell in love, though, and made the mistake of becoming pregnant. After watching her sister die, Tessa must take the position as eldest daughter in their family. She is branded and sent to work at Templeton where the Chosen Ones are bred and live until someone decides to take them for whatever job they need doing. When she begins working there, she runs into James. While he is a Chosen One, it is obvious from the beginning that he is not just like the rest of them, something that both intrigues and frightens Tessa. Honestly, I loved the two of them from the very beginning. 

Naturally, in dystopians where the government (the council here) is trying to have full control, things do not go right or well. There are a lot of secrets and shady things going on, and Tess realizes that there are some really bad things going on, which leads into the second book where she manages to get out of Templeton, but then has to deal with a new group of people. Honestly, I read the whole series within about two days, so things did begin to run together, so I am having a little trouble remembering what specific thing happened in each book. It doesn't matter though, the series was amazing, and that's what is important! 

Truitt did a beautiful job creating the world that the story takes place in. Every single bit of it was believable, which is the most important thing to me when it comes to dystopian novels. Of course, I felt horrible for Tessa as she went through so many things, and wish I could have been there to tell her things were going to be okay (does anyone else ever talk to the characters?). So many amazing, crazy, complicated, upsetting things happened in this series, and I cannot even begin to explain them all. While the ending was heartbreaking (and secretly what I hoped would not happen), I applaud Truitt for doing what made sense for the story. I will always respect that over taking the easy way out, just because it is what your readers probably want to happen. Like I said, this series is amazing, and everyone should go out and purchase it right this moment! 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Book One: Chosen Ones (The Lost Souls #1)

Life is bleak but uncomplicated for sixteen-year-old Tess, living in a not-too-distant future where the government, faced with humanity's extinction, created the Chosen Ones, artificial beings who are extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

When Tess begins work at Templeton, a Chosen Ones training facility, she meets James, and the attraction is immediate in its intensity, overwhelming in its danger. But there is more to Templeton than Tess ever knew. Can she stand against her oppressors, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

Book Two: Naturals (The Lost Souls #2) 

 Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.

Tiffany Truitt received her MA in literature from Old Dominion University. Her debut　Chosen Ones,　first in the　Lost Souls　trilogy, is a searing look at what it means to be other and how we define humanity, as well as a celebration of the dangerously wonderful feeling of falling in love. www.tiffanytruitt.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiffany-Truitt/205025266243934  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tiffanytruitt  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5252348.Tiffany_Truitt?from_search=true

Giveaway: 
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Trapped by Ella James - Release Day Blitz

Purchase on Amazon    Purchase on B&N

Contains mild spoilers if you haven’t read Here, the first book in the trilogy.

When Milo Mitchell falls for the beautiful, tuxedo-clad guy she found wandering her family’s rural Colorado property, she never dreamed he was a scout from another galaxy, or that their relationship would leave him with an impossible choice: eradicating humankind, or initiating the end of his own people.

Nick’s job is finding the elements his people need to power their elaborate interweb of minds. Being a scout means he is capable of traveling to other planets on his own. It also means that, unlike The Rest, he has access to primitive feelings and individual desires. For eons, he was part of the whole, but when he encountered Milo, his obsession with her changed everything.

Nick’s partner, Vera, is capable of independent thought, but not compelled by it. She is satisfied with her existence as one of The Rest, and she won’t agree that humans are worth sparing; not when their planet has a precious cache of the gold her people need so badly.

While Vera tries to force Nick into endorsing an Earth invasion, working behind the scenes to tie his hands, and the Department of Defense lays a trap for them with Milo’s mom as bait, Nick and Milo are waging their own war – against a primal desire that can only lead to one thing: heartbreak.

About Ella James

Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

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Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in the Science Fiction Genre

Happy Tuesday! I'm linking up today for Top Ten Tuesday over at The Broke and the Bookish. I am really enjoying this link up already, so I know that it is something that I am going to try to keep up with as time progresses. This weeks prompt is the Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in the X Genre (choose the genre). I decided on Science Fiction, which might be cheating a little since so many books fall into the category. None the less, it is one of my favorite genres, so it just made sense to choose it.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
J.K. Rowling 
I know that everyone says that the Harry Potter books got better with each one, and I do believe that is true - that the writing got better. Everyone gets stronger the more that they write. However, the third book has always been one of my favorites in the series. I know it has a lot to do with Sirius Black coming into the picture, as he is one of my favorite characters throughout the whole series. I just like everything that happens in this one. Hermione using time to her advantage, punching Draco, all of that fun stuff.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling 
Come on, you didn't think only one HP book would make the list, did you? I am way too much of a Potterhead to allow that to happen. I do love the last book in the series, and I think it is difficult not to. Sure, a lot of people are upset about all of the death that happens, but I just applaud Rowling for going through with it; doing what she needed to in order to make the story believable. After all, seven books later things could not just end without anyone getting hurt, right?

3. Divergent 
Veronica Roth 
While I liked the whole series, the first book in the series was definitely my favorite. There was just something about meeting all of the characters for the first time, watching Tobias and Tris come together, that makes the book so enjoyable. It had the right amount of action, suspense, romance. I really enjoyed it, and I know that it is a book that I could probably re-read several times without getting tired of it.

4. Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins 
When it comes to this series, I cannot say that I liked the first book at all. For awhile I thought something was wrong with me; everyone else seemed to love the series, and I could not even get through the first book. I don't know if it was just too slow moving for me or what, but I didn't enjoy it. However, after watching the second movie I decided to continue with the series and enjoyed Catching Fire very much. It was the only book of the trilogy that I actually enjoyed reading. It just seemed more fast paced and believable for me.

5. Endless
Amanda Gray
I just read this book within the last week, but it has already become one of my favorites. I never really thought about reading a book about time travel, at least not one in the YA genre, but I am SO glad that I found this one on NetGalley. I really enjoyed having the flashbacks to a past time, and it was interesting learning about her ability to see things, the pain of others, just from touching someone else. Science Fiction at its best, people!

6. Here
Ella James
Aliens? Yes, please! I don't know about you guys, but I have grown to be a fan of aliens. My husband is a huge believer and will occasionally have shows on the television that I end up watching bits and pieces of. I find them intriguing, and it is not any different when I meet Nick or Gabe in this book. It's definitely an interesting twist on your typically fantasy story.

7. Deadly Little Secret
Laurie Faria Stolarz
Honestly, it has been awhile since I have read this book, but I remember that I absolutely loved it. I also remember it having some really cool paranormal things that came into play, outside of your normal vampires and werewolves (I can only read so many books about those, if I'm being honest). Man, now I really need to go back and re-read this one again.

8. The Lovely Bones
Alice Sebold 
I know that this book is pretty contemporary, but I also feel that it strongly falls into Fantasy as well. There is a lot of time spent in the in-between, and in places that people could not realistically travel to and then continue to tell their story. I know that there are very mixed reviews about this book, but it has been one of my favorites for a very long time, even if it is completely haunting. (This one is more fantasy, but I still wanted it on the list!)

9. Cinder
Marissa Meyer
Eee, I cannot believe that I almost forgot about Cinder! I was going through my "Read" shelf on Goodreads, deciding what to include, and I almost skipped right about it! Cinder is one of my favorite books of right now, though I guess I could say that about almost every book that I read this week. Still, it is incredible. I love the twist on the retelling of Cinderella.

10. I Am Number Four
Pittacus Lore 
Honestly, this is the only book that I have read in this series. I enjoyed it a lot, more alien types, what's not to like, right? However, then I went to the theater and saw the movie, and it just kind of ruined the whole thing for me. I also heard the books following weren't nearly as good as the first, so I have stayed away from them so far. Still, I feel like this one was very good on its own, and I would recommend it to others.

There we have it. Are any of these on your list?