Review: Persistence of Vision by Liesel K. Hill

Title: Persistence of Vision
Author: Liesel K. Hill
Release Date: 29th January 2012
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: In a world where collective hives are enslaving the population and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper, and independent 21st Century woman, must find the strength to preserve the freedom of the future, but without the aid of her memories.

After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can't explain. When she's attacked by a creep with a spider's web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she's never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.

In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.

If Maggie can't fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away...

Detailed Review: I like to think that there are two groups of authors in this world:

a) Authors who can make a fantastic story using the most ordinary circumstances and mythology. 

b) Authors who use their imagination to create stories that are just as good as the first group's.

This author certainly lands in group B. Why? This is just totally AMAZING. Let me tell you 5 reasons why:

1. Original. Ah. I feel like I'm sitting and exercising in the park, feeling the cool air on my face. 
2. Amazing plot. I must give it to this author. She's is atrociously GOOD. In a good way.
3. Not much romance. Just action.
4. Cool characters. Just cool.
5. Unexpected twists likely to land you in your bed crying or sobbing or gasping. You choose.

The plot? Well, there is a prophecy to fulfill to overthrow a group called the collectives. And the main character Maggie has to fulfill her role as the Executioner. Now don't think too far ahead. It's not executing people. The rest of the roles are Concealer, Protector, Healer, Witness and Deceiver. They're all individuals. And Maggie has had an unexpected memory loss, one year's worth of memories gone. She doesn't remember what happen in that one year.

But she has flashes from her memory. Which is not nice actually. 

As for the twists, I'm not telling you.

You've got to read it for more. ;)

Brief Review: This author has been overlooked by many authors. Her debut is something worth reading for me. It was a great reading experience since it was a New Adult book, something new for me.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing'




Your Reviewer:

Waiting on Wednesday: Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Let The Sky Fall
Author: Shannon Messenger
Release Date: 5th March 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

A broken past and a divided future can’t stop the electric connection of two teens in this “charged and romantic” (Becca Fitzpatrick), lush novel.

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

YAY!!! Another debut author that I'm eager to read! Gorgeous cover, original plot and awesome name, this book has it all! I want it now! 

Short review: It's fantastic! (Even though I haven't read it yet :))

TGIF - Feature & Follow #133

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

What is the last book that kept you awake late into the night just to finish it? 

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel. How ironic - it had to be zombies. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Wild Awake
Author: Hilary T. Smith
Release Date: 28th May 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

I love the cover! That crazy splash and hair totally sets me off too! And the title is just so beautiful! The description was what really got to me though. It's really hmm... mysterious and you have that feeling that you want to know what really happens. I like contemporaries like this, which coordinate teenage problems and romance all into once.

Review: The Foundlings by R.M. Garcia

Title: The Foundlings
Author: R.M. Garcia
Publisher: Createspace
Released Date: June 23rd 2011
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: After the worst year of his life, all Donnie wanted was happiness, and when he met Abbie, he was sure he had found it. But their happiness together is placed in jeopardy after a chilling a encounter. They are dragged in to the world of Vampires. Orphaned, now they must fight to survive, fight to live and fight to keep their love alive. They find themselves outcasts in this world, the world of the Foundlings. 

In the vampire world of Foundlings, their kind is hunted mercilessly. Donnie and Abbie meet Espee and Nox, who along with other Foundlings stand to protect their members. As the leader of the den, Espee teaches them to survive, to hide, and to avoid detection from the formal Bloodlines. 

You see every vampire originated from a Bloodline Source, and each Bloodline could only birth a certain number of vampires from its Source. As it turned out, Foundlings complicated the formal Bloodlines’ plans and their possible numbers. For every risen Foundling, there would be one less vampire available to the corresponding Bloodline. Every formal Bloodline down the line, from the Reich all the way to the Old Ones, cared little for Foundlings. The reason for their hatred was unknown to every Foundling. To every Bloodlines, these bastard offspring, these “accidents,” were simply intolerable.

Can Donnie and Abbie's love survive? Can Espee figure out a way to protect her kind? She sees something in Donnie, something she has never seen in any other Foundling. Will he be the key?

Detailed Review: [ Review copy received from Juniper Grove ]

I found The Foundlings to be a really awesome story about Vampires. Well for one, the story kicks off immediately with a strong prologue that caught me off guard! With a boy called Donato "Donnie" Guerrero who is basically a normal American Indian human who can talk to Spirits and they give messages or sometimes once in a while his parents see him in a 'spirit form'. I thought this book was really, really good! 

Normally I would have turned down a Vampire novel (thanks to Twilight, no doubt) but after the first page of reading this spiritual, paranormal hunt of Foundlings, I was impressed with the author's quality writing of actual Vampires (not sparkly ones, I daresay)!

Exhilarating, fun and heart-stopping I really loved R.M. Garcia (author)'s writing. He has written quite a fascinating, interesting story. The Vampires in The Foundlings are split up into Bloodlines where each Bloodline has a different ability like, telepathy, telekinesis or even flight! 

Hard to believe?  

Well, you'll have to read it the complete text. 

DONNIE; a hot-headed, impulsive yet sweet to the max - I think Donnie was written quite well as well  descriptions about him and his amazing fighting skills that impressed me, I LOVED this character! With abilities that can match no normal Vampire, Donnie is guy that will do anything for his wife/girlfriend, Abbie. 

ABBIE; over the top at times, bad-ass the next and typically sweet - who knows what will happen next with this girl around? Abbie's strength and determination has served her well in The Foundlings including those feelings of Donnie and the next is ultimate marriage in Canada! Can her love exceed any further? 

ESPEE; Vampire that is wayyy old, generous and is wise - She rules over dens with an iron fist but at times Espee has a typically grandmother-like stance and heart where she will save her dens, her Foundlings and anything she cares without a second thought! This woman has total determination but what is her weak point then? 

The story was very creative, using history and the paranormal to team with each other - Garcia has outdone himself with combining the two together! 

If you love books that have heart-stopping actions, paranormal romance and new world with Vampires, Spirits and creatures called Sources? Well, you better read this book because this is pretty darn good book that has won it's place on my bookshelf of Most Loved Books :)

You will be mystified in the end (hope you do) I can't wait till I can get my hands on the second book! 

I would definitely recommend this book! If you haven't read it, I suggest you should. 

*The second book, The Beasts Within is out NOW!* 

Find out more here!

Buy it here!

Brief Review: The Foundlings is definitely a book worth reading! I couldn't stop reading it non-stop with action, romance and the supernatural all packed in one! R.M. Garcia has written a fast-paced novel that has outdone itself, literally! 

My Rating: 5/5   "Totally Amazing!"

Your Reviewer: 

TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #132

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Who is your favourite villain from a book? 

I don't have a favourite villain but... I picked The DARKLING from Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo. I don't know why but somehow he's the first thing that popped up in my mind when I saw "villain" in the question - which is absolutely the first thing when I racked my brain :) 

Review: American Ghoul by Walt Morton

Title: American Ghoul

Author: Walt Morton

Publisher: Walt Morton

Release Date: November 28th 2012

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Seventeen-year-old Howard Pickman has some unusual problems: He comes from a family of ghouls with a long history of digging up corpses, and he’s just moved to a new school filled with kids that are scarier than he is. American Ghoul is the story of an exceptionally odd teenager trying to survive the most terrible time anybody has to go through -- senior year at high school.

Detailed Review: <<ARC received by the author>>

This book changed my view of the 70's. It really did. Trust me.

Howard Pickman has a secret. A secret that burned his parents to death and caused him to be homeless.

He's a ghoul. If you're wondering, no he's not a GHOST. There's a difference between those two. Ghouls are grave robbers that feast on the meat on the newly dead. He can't stop doing it even though he wants to so guys quit your 'ewws' and your views of the EVIL of it. He'll get sick and all those stuff and he'll look very ugly too. He really wants to be normal, but no matter how much he tries, he still tries to fit in with his friends.

Pulled into high school, accompanied with his grandmother's hopes for him to become a mortician, he is plunged into a world of bullies, drugs and most importantly punk rock. His new friends form a band called the Corpsemen (courtesy of Gerald) and there is irony in it. Don't get it? Never mind.

A girl called Marie Ramos has been paying attention to Howard ever since he joined Photography classes and he is in the same state with her. Together they engage in a relationship that is both uncertain and feared by Howard.

With the memories of his grandfather's letters and grandmother guiding him, he learns how to survive in a world where his kind are seen as monsters.

Emotional, horrible, mysterious and thrilling, this book has completely gripped me in its claws without any intention of letting go.

Brief Review: With a slight resemblance to The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, this book brings us to understand what the word 'growing up' really means. And how what you are affects your future and everyone around you. An impressive debut.

My Rating: 4/5 "Really Liked It"



Your Reviewer: 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, which highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: The Madman's Daughter

Author: Megan Shepherd

Release Date: 29th January 2013

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect

.

I seldom engage in YA historical fiction so this book sort of attracted me when I was checking out some books in Goodreads. AND to base a book on a classic, this sure is going to be one unique book. Another book that has been inspired by classics which I can recall is For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion. You shouldn't miss it! 

Review: Shadowhunters and Downworlders by Cassandra Clare and many other authors

Title: Shadowhunters and Downworlders

Author: Cassandra Clare ( and many others)

Release Date: 29th January 2013

Publisher: SmartPop

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, epic urban fantasy set in a richly imagined world of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and more, has captured the imaginations and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of YA readers. Originally a trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass), the series has extended to six titles, plus a prequel trilogy, the Infernal Devices, and a planned sequel series, the Dark Artifices. A feature film is planned for 2013.

Shadowhunters and Downworlders, edited by Clare (who provides an introduction to the book and to each piece), is a collection of YA authors writing about the series and its world.
Authors Who Contributed:
Holly Black / Kendare Blake / Gwenda Bond / Sarah Rees Brennan / Rachel Caine / Sarah Cross / Kami Garcia / Michelle Hodkin / Kelly Link / Kate Milford / Diana Peterfreund / Sara Ryan / Scott Tracey / Robin Wasserman

Detailed Review: BEWARE OF SARCASM AND BLUNT THOUGHTS IN THIS BOOK

This is the warning I'd give to people before they read the book. The authors' are really being blunt here. They just talk about everything that goes on in their head but it's of course a personal enjoyment for me to see authors' so different from when they write their books. 

Here are some personal favourites:

The Art of War by Sarah Cross: The author shows that the hero is not always the person with fighting skills, but the girl with the artistic skills, which in this case is Clary.

Sharper Than a Seraph Blade by Diana Peterfreund: Sarcasm is sharper than a seraph blade or any other weapon, don't you think? Jace clearly shows that.

Simon Lewis: Jewish, Vampire, Hero by Michelle Hodkin: Team Simon, don't despair! Michelle does a great job with plenty of evidence pointing out that Simon is possibly one of the best heroes ever!

Why The Best Friend Never Gets the Girl by Kami Garcia: Kami really proves this theory with interesting case studies and created the term "Duckie Effect".

Asking For a Friend by Gwenda Bond: Besides romantic love, there is one more type of love: friendship. Gwenda gives you her thoughts on what true friends should be like.

Villains, Valentine and Virtue by Scott Tracey: This author sure loves Valentine Morgenstern very much but he explains how this villain had the right thoughts but the wrong ways.

Immortality and Its Discontent by Kelly Link and Holly Black: A debate on the pros and cons of immortality, with some interruptions from the author herself.

What Does that Deviant Wench Think She's Doing? Or Shadowhunters Gone Wild by Sarah Rees Brennan: This author comments on the dirty side of Shadowhunting and the Nephillim's dirty and sexy side. Includes some Sarah-production scenes that will make you laugh till you cry.

(Not) For Illustration Purposes Only by Rachel Caine: Thinking of getting a tattoo? Rachel sets off with the history of tattoos and how they're not just done just for show, as in the case of the Nephillim.

And I'm done with the list. If  you don't want to miss out those stories on top (I suggest you don't), read this book. It's unputdownable. And not boring, if that's what you're worried about these types of books. It's pure fun.

Brief Review: This book is suitable for The Mortal Instruments fans who want to know more about the series' behind the scenes. Authors show off their true colours which are not always evident in the books they write! A solid example of course is Sarah Rees Brennan!

Final Rating: 5/5 "Totally Amazing"

Your Reviewer:

Special Thanks to:

 

TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #131

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

If you could choose one supernatural being/creature to really exists what would it be and why? Ex. Fae {submitted by @seeingnight }

I don't know really... All of them seem really dangerous and risky. Imagine: 

Option A : Vampires

I don't think these creatures would be the supernatural being I would like well for one, they practically feed off humans 100%, no question and they'll be possibly 'snacking' us every few hours. I don't think I want the human population to die! So, no. 

Option B : Werewolves
We've already got enough trouble with vampires so I'm also guessing no. Why? Well, werewolves are supposedly 'repulsive' creatures that got a thing for meat and flesh. Yuck! Plus changing humans into more werewolves is going to be wayyy troubling. I mean, imagine the fights that would break out?!? 

Option C : Faeries
I think I'm going for faeries. Seem safe plus I would love faeries like Tinkerbell which are much better than the others unless you have faeries that are from Lament or Ballad by Maggie Stiefavter (Luke!) - definitely NOT those kinda fae but Tinkerbell. Much calmer, no? 

An Interview with Dan Wells

Cup of Chocolate & Bookaholic

We just had to find out what was on the best-selling author of the John Cleaver series Dan Wells after we read Partials. which was  one of the best science fiction books we've read so far! So we just emailed him and said hi and just asked him if he would do an interview with us. He said yes and so here it is to fans of Dan Wells and his books. (We got some really interesting and funny answers!)

Us: Did you base the Isolation war on past wars in history? 

Dan: It's not based on any specific war, no, but I did draw a lot of inspiration from some of the specific city-based battles of the 20th century, particularly World War 2 and Vietnam. I liked the idea that the technology of warfare had progressed to such an amazing degree that the old had become new again--that our tech and their tech were so powerful, and so evenly matched, that they kind of canceled each other out and left us with an old-school attrition war between soldiers on the ground pulling triggers.

Us: Is the world that Kira is currently living in now something that you have in mind of an event with similar circumstances in the ‘real’ world after an apocalypse? 

Dan: Kira's apocalypse was very specific: because it was a plague, it hit the world's people without hurting any of those people's stuff, and it did it so fast that we didn't really have time to destroy our own stuff on our way out the door. Most of the apocalypses we could realistically face would cause far, far more collateral damage, and leave our world in a much bigger mess. 

Us: Do you think that Kira can be compared to other heroines such as Katniss from the Hunger Games or Tris from Divergent? 

Dan: One of my favorite stories about this comes from my sister, who's daughter is an avid reader. The daughter read Twilight and because very sullen and angsty, kind of mirroring Bella's personality and convinced that nobody liked her and the world was terrible. Then she read The Hunger Games and started mirroring Katniss, becoming much more active, but also more paranoid and angry about everything that happened. Finally she read Partials, and when she started mirroring Kira she became eager to help, passionate about learning, and started thinking of ways to make the world better. My sister was very happy to have her emulating Kira :)

Us: Was it hard for you to write the part when Kira was examining Samm, which were full of scientific explanations? 

Dan: That was of my favorite parts to write! I loved digging into the details of Partial biology, and especially loved finding ways to blend it with the story. After all, what's the point of science fiction without science?

Us: What was your first major inspiration for Partials? 

Dan: There were two, and they were both variations on the central theme of "Dan is inspired by other fiction and wants to put his own stamp on it." First, I had just finished watching Battlestar: Galactica, and loved it, but there were a lot of little details that bugged me. I thought "I could do that a different way, and it would be awesome!" And then I thought, "I'm a writer, what am I waiting for? I should just do it!" The other big inspiration for the book were my daughters: I wanted to write something for them, something with a strong female lead, as smart and as capable as Hermione but who didn't have to play second fiddle to Harry Potter. Combine those two ideas together, and you get Partials.

Us: Did the story change after the original planning of this book? 

Dan: Holy crap yes. The book was intended to focus almost exclusively on Kira's search for a cure, and to end when she brought one back, but meanwhile, as I wrote it, the Senate kept coming up with better and better ideas of their own about how to save the world in a completely different way--after all, that was kind of their job, and they weren't about to just sit back and let the world fall apart. So they devised the Hope Act, and suddenly there was a massive conflict in East Meadow, and it kept escalating and getting bigger, and by the time we got to the third draft Kira's triumphant return with a cure was practically an armed invasion into hostile territory. It's a far better book than the one I intended, but it was a wild ride getting there.

Us: Do you care to give us any hints as to what type of Partial Kira is? (This will definitely excite your readers!) 

Dan: Fragments gives some very interesting hints about that, but of course you've already read that. For the rest of the audience, let me think...what can I say that will be awesome, but won't give it all away? How about this maddening hint: if you've read all the books and supplemental materials thus far, you already know what kind of Partial she is, you just don't know that you know it.

Us: Which character was the hardest to write or describe about in the story? 

Dan: In Partials or Fragments? The hardest in Partials was Samm--I actually had to go back through and rewrite almost every line of dialogue he had to make him less human. Partials think and perceive and communicate in a completely different way than humans, not just emotionally but physically, and getting that right was pretty hard. Similarly, the hardest character to get right in Fragments was Heron, because her motivations are a mystery, and I needed to walk a very careful balance.

Us: Will there ever or might be a movie on Partials? If so, who would you want Kira and Samm to be played by? 

Dan: Man, I sure hope so. I'm horrible at the casting game, though, mostly because nobody I can think of is young enough. For Kira I'd probably pick a teenage Freida Pinto, and for Samm...a teenage Ben Foster? 

Us: If you could be any character in Partials, who would it be? And, why? 

Dan: After much, MUCH soul searching, I think maybe Heron. She doesn't take crap from anybody, and always does her own thing, and in a world full of that much crap, personal freedom might be one of the only good things left. I definitely wouldn't make the same choices Heron does, but in terms of ability and personality, yeah. I'd be Heron.

Find him on:

Twitter
His Website
His Blog

And also his e-mail: dan@thedanwells.com

Review: Eve & Adam by Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate

Title: Eve & Adam
Author: Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: October 2nd 2012
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: 

And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

Detailed Review: Like every other sci-fi story, it consisted of machines and such - I really loved the setting and the characters in the story that has erupted into a book! In the start of the book, we learn that Eve was in an accident and was recently moved to a nearby hospital. She was then visited urgently by her mother to transport her daughter to her own research facility. 

She was then moved to the facility called Spiker Biopharmaceuticals. At the same time she meets Solo. During this part I was practically disappointed in Solo. Why? Read on. 

'I sit with my elbow on my knees, trying to hunch my shoulders forward a little. I have good shoulders, might as well reveal them, I know she's checking me out. Fair enough, because I'm checking her out.
"Ah ahhh ahhhh!"
Eve cries out suddenly. She's in pain. Bad pain. So it's possible she's not really checking me out.'

I wanted to scream at Solo. I mean, the girl is in pain! Obviously she wasn't checking him out. If this was sarcasm, I didn't laugh cause hey, who's checking who out. 

Definitely bad sarcasm. 

EVE; girl with super powers (yeah, you heard me! Super powers) who's no better than test subjects being injected with chemicals daily by her own mother. Her whole life with a power to regenerate any part of her body that's broken, bled, pierced - she's almost invincible! With her hands and mind, she creates the perfect boy - only it's not that hard. Is it? 

SOLO; boy with amazing blue eyes, issues and sarcasm (hopefully putting a stop to that), he's the person Eve wants. Even with a sad past and a personality that needs to be checked every few minutes, he's still wants what he can't have - Eve or can he? 

ADAM; supposedly beautiful, intelligent and perfect - (except bravery) he's a creation by Evening Spiker, daughter of a research facility which built him - is there really something he wants or is he just plain ignorant when he starts to fall for Eve's bestfriend, Aislin. 

Michael Grant's and Katherine Applegate's writing were both a very unique and easy-going. The cover looks great (sucker, here!) I thought the plot was overall OK. Could have been better if more pages suddenly appeared. To me the book ended so abruptly that the ending didn't really feel like the ending. 

Adam was really funny in the last chapter but it was definitely better than Solo mooning over Eve at the  back of an ambulance. 

'I saw a bit of gore when I was at the hospital, so I'm a little less squeamish than I used to be. Still, seeing brains on the floor isn't easy. 
Adam takes one look and practically swoons. Aislin holds him up and gives me a look. 
"Yeah, well, I didn't focus on physical bravery all that much,"I admit. "But he'll be kind and nice and gentle." 
"Could be worse," Aislin says.' 

Yeah, could be worse. If you guys didn't think this was funny. Don't think me crazy or anything but imagine Adam passed out every time he sees blood or a bit of something gory. I wasn't very keen on the other part -brains?- totally. 

So, for the time being - I'm sticking with 3 stars on this one. If a sequel comes out, I'll still buy it! But there won't be, so I'm kinda not pleased or happy with the ending. 

Brief Review: Eve & Adam was an interesting sci-fi story that twisted the logic of life and death. Grant's and Applegate's writing was very straight-on, easy to read but it could have been better as the plot ravaged on with Eve, Solo and Adam! 

My Rating: 3/5   "Quite Liked" 

Your Reviewer: 

Waiting on Wednesday: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly          anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Etiquette & Espionage

Author: Gail Carriger
Release Date: 5th February 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Find on: Goodreads, Amazon

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

First in a four book YA series set 25 years before the Parasol Protectorate but in the same universe.

Intereeeeeeesting... I mean it's just so cool going to school to learn how to fight, not just dance and dress and all those boring stuff young ladies learn all the time. 

The cover is unique too. Effective purple background and ooh... is that the principal on the cover? She has a scissors too. Does she want to kill someone with that? Nice typography for the title too...

Gosh i just love everything about this book! Enrol me into this academy please!