ARC Review: The Body Electric by Beth Revis

Title: The Body Electric
Author: Beth Revis
Release Date: 6th October 2014
Publisher: Scripturient Books
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: The future world is at peace.

Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

So who can she trust?

Detailed Review: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

I'm not new to Beth Revis's writing, but I'm not familiar with it either.

Reading The Body Electric felt like a very different experience to reading Across The Universe, although I suspect that it may be because it's been two years since I read her debut. Still, I could sense the difference between both books. Yes, they were both science fiction. But the writing style seemed different.

Across The Universe was more...detailed whereas The Body Electric was simple and straightforward, something I ask for in a book because if there is too much info dumped in one part, all you're going to give readers are headaches. Huge ones. I don't want to remember how deep the lake it. I don't want to know the population of the whole planet. No thank you. 

I'm not saying there should be no details at all. I'm saying not to go overboard. Do you realise that 'overboard' rhymes with the word 'bored'? You get what I mean. There should be a minimal amount of describing to give you a feel for the place and the characters, enough that you feel comfortable with them.

It was what I exactly got from The Body Electric. I was so in tune with the book that I felt what Ella was feeling, saw what she was seeing, there wasn't any question if I would get bored.

Another bonus was that the chapters were quite short so I managed to whisk through the book without even slowing down. It makes for a light sci-fi read if you're looking for one. (AND, it's a standalone)

Plot twists are in abundance in this book. Let me repeat. Plot twist are IN ABUNDANCE in this book. You're practically stepping foot on a minefield. Your body will be bruised and battered at the end but you survived!!! (You really should celebrate.)

The characters were quite well-rounded and definitely had promising character developments. Ella was what a heroine needed to be, not those whiny characters that just go 'I can't do this I can't do that.' Jack was of course, the hot love interest and the leader of a rebel group (cliché, I know, but I couldn't resist his charms). Even Jadis, Ella's godmother had been perfectly written as it revealed her ulterior motives and true nature.

But what upset me the most was the focus on minor characters, or the lack thereof. I really wished the rest of the Zunzana (the rebel group) would have gotten more parts in the book, especially in the ending. I felt like they didn't get any credit AT ALL for what they did. I would be so pissed if I were them. No kidding.

That is one thing The Body Electric will never match Across the Universe for.

And like I said, the ending wasn't satisfying enough, but luckily it did not lead to a book hangover (if you read my last post, you'd know).

Oh yeah, my number one frustration was the author's fascination with bumblebees. I get that it's related to the Zunzana (since it's another language for bumblebee), but is it really necessary?

Brief Review: I did not plan on devouring The Body Electric like I did. With a well-executed plot and well-written main characters, it provided the fuel to keep the book going. Overall, I enjoyed the book but I hope in the future, more character-driven books can be seen from this author! 

Final Rating: 4/5 'Really Liked It!'

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Title: Stitching Snow
Author: R.C. Lewis
Release Date: 4th October 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

Detailed Review: I received an e-ARC copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was slightly apprehensive before I started Stitching Snow.

After all, I have heard that fairytale re-tellings can be either good or bad, depending on how the author chooses to write the story, who the villain is, etc.

This re-telling of Snow White is the former of the two.

There was so much action and emotion at the same time. How the author incorporated these two elements so well, I have no idea. But let me tell you, wherever there's action, there will be some emotional moment awaiting you, whether tragic, happy or full of humour.

I haven't read many re-tellings. So I don't know what exactly makes them good. However, I know a good book when I read one, and Stitching Snow was one of those cases.

Re-tellings can be hard to pull off, because you have to follow the storyline and make it your own.

I would think it requires lots of time and revising, compared to writing based on an original idea. I wouldn't even know what to keep the same and what to add and change.

As usual, there is the princess, the prince, the evil queen and the seven dwarfs. These are what will make our minds think, Snow White.

Originality is also key. Reminder- it also needs to be yours. Otherwise, it's plagiarism. In Stitching Snow, advanced technology is an important element for Essie's story as she is an inventor. Her bloodline is also another key original idea that probably made the story shine with a different vibrance from the fairytale itself. I believe it added much-needed mystery and action, not to mention some twists as well.

Moving on, there wasn't much I didn't like about Stitching Snow. I thought the characters were pretty well-rounded and seemed real enough. Dimwit was one of my favourite characters in the book; actually, all of the drones were my favourite characters in the book because they captured the spirits of the seven dwarves so well. The plot, the twists, even the romance were oddly satisfying in the way you like something you didn't even think you'd like.

Brief Review: Mystery and intrigue, together with advanced technology, lures the reader into this newly imagined fairytale that is both famous and well-known. Characters as good as Essie and Dane wouldn't have been found in a fairytale, but in this retelling they shine and flourish. I look forward to more re-tellings from this author, if there are any!

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: Floating Boy and The Girl Who Couldn't Fly by P.T. Jones

Title: Floating Boy and The Girl Who Couldn't Fly
Authors: Stephen Graham Jones & Paul Tremblay
Release Date: 11th November 2014
Publisher: Chizine Publications
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Mary's life is going fine. Except for being a freshman in high school. And having anxiety attacks. And her dad having no job. So, introduce one boy who can fly, kidnap the little brother she's supposed to be babysitting, and drop a military quarantine on her town and that should make her anxiety completely disappear, right? Wrong!

Detailed Review: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

This is possibly the most negative review I've ever written. Frankly, it's the first bad review I've written so far in my blogging career.

Everything in this book ticked me off. Especially the main character, Mary. I get that she has anxiety, a mental disorder which I understand can be really bad plus the anxiety attacks. But, was it really necessary to bring it up all the time throughout the book? This just served to make me think that the writers wanted to make us think Mary was weak. I understand that anxiety can make you feel weak or helpless at times but I was hoping that maybe the obstacles that Mary had to go through could change something in her, somehow. The authors' attempt at depicting anxiety didn't go quite well.

Mary did possess some heroine in her at times, but those times were rare and I still didn't like her.

The rest of the characters were just a blur, like static in the background and I didn't even focus of them. It was just all over the place.

And the storytelling was just. I can't even describe it. There wasn't even a proper climax. There were some plot twists, but they didn't really do much to alter the course of the story. They weren't life-changing.

In the current YA industry, non life-altering plot twists simply wouldn't do it for many. When you've read lots of good books, your expectations will be higher, which is unfortunate for books like this.

All I could think was that two authors had this brilliant idea they thought could be used in a story and that was all. They seemed to give no thought to climaxes and resolutions or build-ups.

Don't get me wrong. Part of the reason why I requested this book on NetGalley was that I liked the idea as it seemed original and would be a really good and light break from all the heavy reading I'd done. But no matter how good the idea is, it's success also depends on the story telling and characters.

The authors didn't pull the story-telling and characters off quite well as they did with the original idea. Their writing style also dragged the story endlessly at times and this made me wonder at the point of continuing to read it, but I was persistent. Their attempt at using some humourous adjectives didn't go unnoticed but they were very much unappreciated. More straightforward writing would have done the trick. Sometimes simplicity is the key. I did almost DNF this book a few times, mind you.

There actually is romance, but to me it was pretty non-existent because like the characters, there was no development and lacked depth. It was exactly like all those romances that happen suddenly with no background and things building up to THAT moment. I know the authors really tried to make the romance seem more real, but I think the romance was unneccesary. A close friendship between Mary and Floating Boy would be so much more believable.

NOTE: I'm not saying you shouldn't read this book because opinions can vary and I'd like to hear your opinion if you've read it!

Brief Review: This book was mainly a disappointment. Originality was present in this book, but good storytelling skills and characters were sadly not, thus making it rather dull and plain. I did understand that the book was about a girl who didn't fit in with the rest and teaches us about standing out in a world where everyone was the same, but the authors really overdid it. Simplicity would have done it for Floating Boy and The Girl Who Couldn't Fly.


Final Rating: 2/5 'It was OK...'

QUOTE: 

This would be my advice to Mary,

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them---Maya Angelou

Your Reviewer:

Book Update + Review: Bad Blood by Nicky Peacock

Some of you might have remembered that I've already posted a review for Bad Blood. The reason why I'm reposting it again is because the author's book was put off sale. Fortunately, Nicky managed to locate another publishing house so there's a new book cover to for the book. Also, enjoy the excerpt at the end of the post. That's personally one of my favourite parts!!!

Title: Bad Blood (Battle of the Undead #1)
Author: Nicky Peacock
Release Date: 10th May 2013
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: “I am Britannia. I am your protector. I will fend off the hungry hordes of undead hands that reach toward you. I am your steadfast defender. I will stand between you and the zombie masses as they try to taste your flesh. I am strong, unyielding, and dedicated to your survival. All I ask from you… is your blood.”

A five-hundred-year-old bloody game of vengeance will need to be put on hold if vampires are to survive the zombie uprising. Britannia and Nicholas, bitter enemies and the only two surviving vampires left in London,have to work together to save un-infected humans and deliver them safely to a vampire stronghold in the Scottish Highlands. Unable to drink the zombie"bad blood," the remaining vampires need the humans to stay alive.But will the vampires tell the survivors who they are and what they want from them? Will Britannia be able to hold back her vengeance for the greater good?Is survivor Josh the reincarnation of Britannia's murdered true love? And can she bring herself to deliver him to the "safe" hold?

Survival instincts run deep, but bad blood can run deeper.

Detailed Review: Now, the main reason I loved this book so much was the action. Every word describes action. Every page has action. I also really love the author's selection of different species of the book and the contrast between the two: the vampires and the zombies.

In this book, it is explained that vampires are made by magic and zombies through science. The zombie apocalypse has arrived. Humans have been transformed into zombies after a science experiment gone wrong. It is Britannia's duty, together with two other vampires- Phillipe and Nicholas- to rescue the remaining uninfected humans so they can stock up their blood supply (yes I said blood supply, if not how will the vampires survive?)

One thing I'd like to add though, is that Nicky really writes to surprise. When things begin to become dull, she adds a little bit more action and at the same time a well-written twist to liven things up. 

As for the characters, I loved Britannia so much because of her sarcasm and wit and the fact that underneath her violent and unfeeling facade is another kinder person. I think writing Nicholas as the antagonist pairs off with Britannia really well. I really love the arguments they have. The humans who appear briefly in the book are also ones I like, too. All the characters were obviously planned and written thoroughly. 

To end this, let me gift you a quote from the book, which really inspired me.

'Be strong. Be fast. Be deadly.'

Brief Review: So much action you'll find yourself panting from just reading the book. This is an amazing book that will make you heart pound like crazy and sweat like a pig (it is possible, give it a try). I admire the author's ability to excite readers in such a short period of time.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE:

To Britannia, who I think should stop avenging Langdon,

There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness---Josh Billings

So please forgive Nicholas...

Your Reviewer:

Buy Links:

Amazon 

US

 Evernight Teen

About the Author: 

I guess I’ve always been a storyteller, not in a ‘liar liar pants on fire’ kind of way, although I do work in advertising! When I was little, kids would crowd around me in the playground and I’d tell them tales of blood soaked horror filled with vampires, werewolves, ghosts and more. Yes, most would consider me a disturbed child, but my playmates couldn’t help themselves, they’d huddle around me every break time like an ancient tribe feeding off the fear; and that’s how I learned that horror stories hold a certain power, no matter what some might say, everyone is addicted to a good scare, especially if it is somewhat rooted safely in unrealistic beings... or are they unrealistic?

Writing was really a natural progression. Right now I’m obsessed with writing: a YA Urban Fantasy novel, a Paranormal Romance novella series, and several short horror stories! So I’m currently living in a functional fiction coma – and loving it!

I’ve so far been published in 5 countries: USA, UK, Australia, Ireland and Canada and had short stories included in 40 anthologies with over 17 publishers.

Author Links:

Blog: http://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickyp_author
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NickyPeacockYaBooks
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Nicky- Peacock/e/B007UH2ACW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_4
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4958833.Nicky_Peacock
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nickypauthor/
Tumblr: http://nickypeacock.tumblr.com/

Excerpt:

We ran to the hospital. On the way, we encountered hardly anyone, alive or dead. Where were they all? When we arrived at the hospital car park, I understood. Zombies were pack animals. A massive crowd of them were crammed in and around the main building like they were waiting for a concert to start, all barely paying attention to their surroundings and seemingly swaying against the force of gravity. The other thing was the smell. When watching horror films filled with shuffling zombies, the horror came from their ghastly looks—the reminder that death has a tight grip on us all, well, most of us. But what the filmmakers should focus on—if they could—was the acidic rank odor zombies gave off. They had been dead barely twenty-four hours. It took a normal human body at least thirty- six hours to really start to smell, and that was with a vampire’s heightened senses. These guys smelled like they’d been out in the sun for three weeks covered in rubbish and besieged by wily maggots. They were mostly intact, though. Maybe this hospital had been Zombie Ground Zero. Most had turned so quickly their comrades hadn’t had time to feed.

“Maybe we should try a less populated target.” Nicholas twitched his nose and turned away from me to dry retch.
“Maybe you should grow a pair.”

“Maybe you should act like a lady.” He now had his hands on his hips, squaring up for yet another argument.

“Acting like a lady isn’t going to help now, is it? What do you want me to do? Drop my handkerchief in front of the zombies and watch them fight one another to scoop it up for me? Moron!”

“Always to the ‘nth degree with you, isn’t it?”

“Shut up. Look, the doors are holding, and they’re outside, not inside, which means there must be some people left in there alive to have barricaded this place so tight.”

“Or maybe there are just more zombies in there.”

“Well, there’s definitely a blood bank in there, and that’ll help matters no end!”

Nicholas looked thoughtful then nodded. He of course didn’t want to actually say aloud that I’d had a good idea. “So, how do we get past them?"

I assumed it was a rhetorical question, so I started down to the car park entrance, where most of the zombies were mobbing. I opened the outer door as quietly as possible.

“Ladies first,” Nicholas whispered in my ear.

“I thought we’d agreed I wasn’t a lady.” And with that, I shoved him as hard as I could into the throbbing throng of zombies.

Review: Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick

Title: Waiting for Dusk

Author: Nancy Pennick

Release Date: 27th November 2012

Publisher: Melange Books

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Read a book.

Fall asleep.
Meet a boy.
Is it real or just a dream?
Katie’s everyday life suddenly turns exciting when she travels back in time and meets the boy of her dreams. Thinking of nothing else, willing to leave the real world behind, she’s determined to find out if it’s all a dream or not. Returning again and again, Katie almost has her answers until one day her precious book goes missing.

Detailed Review: I wasn't sure what to think when I finished the book. In a way I thought it was good, but there were several factors that didn't make it as good as it could have been.

So I thought that I would start by listing what I liked about the book, and what I didn't like about the book.

But first, maybe a little spoiler... If you don't mind. It's about time travelling.

What I liked: 

1. The concept of time-travelling is very old, though still frequently used. But it's the methods that usually vary. The most common one is usually via a machine but in Waiting for Dusk, a book is needed. Not just any book, but a special one. I liked that there were no clichés regarding this part.

2. The setting of the story is in Oberlin, a small town. It's pretty unimpressive. But it's the place where Katie time travels to that seems beautiful to me. Arizona, The Grand Canyon... *has dreamy look on face* The best place for romance to bloom right? *wink*

3. The characters were well thought-out. I liked how they each had their own quirks. It made it easier to connect with the characters. At first, I thought there wasn't much to the characters, but when I reached the last few chapters, I realised that I had grown to love them and it just pains me to know if one of them is suffering, especially Kate. :(

4. THE TWIST. Yes! There is only one twist in this book. The one and only. Instead of deciding to have several tiny little twists throughout the book, Nancy decided to save the best for last and put it in the last few chapters. There is a great risk of getting a heart attack when you read that exquisite twist. All I can tell you is, it's heartbreaking.

What I didn't like:

1. The romance was love at first sight, something I totally dislike because it just doesn't seem natural. It somehow destroys part of the purpose of having romance at all, since we all know that romances take time to develop, although there are a few exceptional cases. But the love at first sight part was the only thing I disliked. I loved the part where their love for each other grows stronger that it withstands the power of time. 

2. The writing style didn't really suit the story. It made the story dragged on in some parts and has a very likely chance of boring the reader. What I want is fast paced writing with sudden stops to create surprises.

So to sum it all up, I think the book's good points actually balanced out the bad points and made them seem more acceptable. 

Brief Review: Even though there seemed to be some faults in the book which annoyed me, I felt that Nancy actually put in all her efforts to write this book. And I think it has paid off. This is a great debut written by a promising author!

Final Rating: 3.5/5 'Quite Liked'

QUOTE: I think this quote best describes the love stories in Waiting for Dusk:

Love knows not what time is--- Unknown

Your Reviewer:

ARC Review: From The Indie Side by ...

Title: From The Indie Side

Author(s): Michael Bunker, Sara Foster, Hugh Howey, Peter Cawdron, Jason Gurley, Ernie Lindsey, Kate Danley, Mel Hearse, Susan May, Anne Frasier, Kev Heritage and Brian Spangler

Release Date: 1st February 2014

Publisher: From The Indie Side Publishing

Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: "From the Indie Side" is an exciting global anthology of short stories from award-winning independent authors. Including a wonderful story and foreword by HUGH HOWEY, New York Times bestselling author of Wool.

"When I read indie fiction, authenticity oozes from the page. Sample some unique and talented voices... sit back and enjoy the ride." Hugh Howey

"...it is a great book. It is one that you will want laying in the stack next to your bed or chair or sofa or desk - wherever you read - because you will want to read it over and over throughout the years." Michael Bunker, bestselling Amazon author of Wick and Kindle Worlds bestsellers.

Love, Loss, Courage, Hubris, REBELLION.

A man who remembers the future and a veteran haunted by his past. A witch ignorant of her powers and a vampire achingly aware of his emptiness. An unmaimed man, a cursed queen, a troubled marriage, a family just trying to survive. 

From an abandoned convent to a Martian classroom, an open-mic reading to a New Mexico mountaintop, these fantastical and imaginative tales will take you on a journey through impossible worlds, all-too-possible futures, and disquieting glimpses into the other side of reality.

Detailed Review: < ARC review received from the author(s) themselves >

I think the book was newly established form factor and I would say it would intrigue, inspire and puzzle many people who has read these stories. It's very interesting because I have read quite a few books similar to this type of form. Therefore I find this book and its stories are quite exciting. 

THE WINTER LANDS by Jason Gurley; A story about great courage and commitment. It's about a man who is called Jonathan Froestt; he lives a simple life in a small retirement apartment and he owns a small bookstore that is about to be demolished. During his lifetime, he has dedicated all his resources into developing a book. 

Jason Gurley (the author) has written such a significant and touching story that made me feel puzzled. It's probably because of the story within the story; a simple paradox that was effective enough to get me thinking. 

However the saddest part that I found while reading this book was that in the end of the story, he never gets to publish the book and gets driven in a ambulance. Well, you could only guess what happens next...

GOING GRAY by Brian Spangler; I found the second story intriguing and it showed me we can't control nature. The story is kinda plain however it developed a show of emotions and created an atmosphere about how technology can destroy or save us. 

Brian Spangler (author)'s style of writing is very in-depth and mysterious. It makes the readers wonder what comes next. I like how in the end they left a character called Emily and her brother in the shopping mall and leaving a cliffhanger. It definitely creates this situation about a sudden pause between the story and its writer. 

QUEEN JOANNA by Kate Danley; The style of Kate Danley's (author's) story was written with this dark and murky kind of atmosphere. The era of the story is set during the historical time of englishmen and their suits. The story mentioned about Bloody Queen Mary where she returns as a spirit to haunt Joanna. 

The story was quite dark and had this fearful atmosphere here and there. It made me think about the characters as demented souls. They were created deeply in thought. Completely devoid of love and fearful of death, Danley (author) actually had me interested with the cunning story. 

MOUTH BREATHERS by Hugh Howey; The scene is set where there is boy named Cort and he is from earth. One day he had to go to mars to live there. There is no explanation why he had to go there and it starts from some random day. However on that random day he meets a girl who i suspect he now likes.

Hugh Howey has written this in such a boring manner (SORRY) it basically talks about this boy in a school in mars that falls for this girl while he was playing with robots? Then he is in a car where he is talking to his mother that constantly checks on him throughout the day. I'm very sorry but this story had no purpose and lead to nowhere. It's interesting in the fact that it was set on mars and he explained how he had to breath but if it was set on theoretical earth it would just be any other day. Needs improvement. 

THE MAN WITH TWO LEGS by Ernie Lindsey; The Man With Two Legs was by far the most action-packed story and one of the most interesting story in this book. I've read this short story twice- because sometimes I didn't get where the story was going but it was one of the best page turners in my case. It made me think; this story, how being whole and perfect makes people with less envy. There was one major part of the story that made absolutely no sense and was not explained:

Why did this government take away a leg? For every single citizen?

Other than that everything was very good, I liked how the daughter of the head of security would destroy and plant a bomb in the main building and when Rowan turned sides; that really surprised me in every imaginable way because I saw Rowan as that saviour, the man who was the guardian angel of the chosen one or something of the sort. Overall in the end when the daughter (Meredith) of the head of security went to visit Cray (Main Character) and showed him her scars, it felt weird i didn't know if she wither hated the real world or loved it. She got scars and a destroyed ear yet she seemed so calm. Thats what i loved about this story. It leaves the wondering to you.

CIPHER by Sara Foster; Cipher is an amazing story about courage, innocence and stupidity. I loved it. Even if it somewhat made no sense that there was some random ex-military guy who had access to a bomb large and destructive enough to cause an EMP attack. A bomb that large is on the scale of a nuclear bomb. Thats the only thing that was weird about this story, but putting aside that fact, the story might have been somewhat possible. Everything explained itself and everything came up to par with my standards. When she traveled to her dad's house though and she couldn't find her way back? That was really dumb of her. But it is a story and as a story, i loved it. simply not possible but as a story, one of the best. 

MADE OF STARS by Anne Fraiser; This is the most beautiful short-story I have ever read in my entire life. Stories like this have been attempted before but this is by far the best I've read, never has such a story been incorporated into such a short story. Most stories that go along these lines usually are in books a thousand pages long. The fall, the chase, the heartache. How she describes what happens is so touching, it made me tear up. It talks about an immortal who has alove story with a mortal. I rarely like these kind of stories but this story really made me wonder whether in real life, is it possible? Everyday in our lives we past strangers who we feel we know and we sometimes feel what Lila has felt. A story like this can change a person, show them an insight into such a deep and meaningful subject. 

The story is so fragile yet it can create a sense of pity for the immortal how he tries to love her but cannot, watch how she grows old and such. I don't want to destroy the story or spoil it. Pick up the book and read it. It may break you or make you.

GYRE ~ WITCHERY by Kev Heritage; This story will intrigue you. At first i thought it was going to be some common story about the future and blah bla bla, but instead what i got was something much more different. I got a story that talked about what if the human race evolved into something so much more, something that alienated humankind and changed us. People usually associate the future to be full of technical advances,  a perfect society that overpopulates and cannot sustain itself. Well, This story fits the fact that it is really over populated until they take over other galaxies. However it seems as if technology has maybe moved backwards for humans. Interesting.  find his writing extremely effective and definitely good. The story is good and you should pick up the book to read this short story yourself. I don't think my words could describe the originality of this piece. So common but yet the way he wrote it made it uncommon. Something more special.

THE WAR VETERAN by Susan May; She never explained whether it was real. It was so unbelievably cool the way she described it. Susan May of course. She's one of the best writers in this book. Not the best but one of them. I loved this story, it made me feel that people can have courage, that cowards can change, even i can change. Never have i ever felt such an experience of war but this story was so immersive, i could feel the main character talking to me, it was an unrealistically amazing moment. The exhilaration and the emotions. The ending. All of it came toghether so well when the veteran sees the person and finally is able to hear what he really said. This story could be one of the best in the book. Just with the emotional wreckage war can display.

THE GREATER GOOD by Mel Hearse; This story is extremely hard to describe using my own words. Its so good, I don't really know how to explain it. The piece should be judged as you, as the reader should well, read it for yourself because reading this story will decide and help you understand. It's something that can't be told but can be read and experienced for yourself. 

I guess the story had felt fundamentally fulfilling that you gotta read it for yourself! 

REDOUBT by Michael Bunker; This was a short story, straight to the point but effective in english. I actually found this a tad bit boring, honestly I kept feeling like something was supposed to happen but nothing really did. It was a page turner, no doubt but i feel there was too much suspense until it felt saturized, by the end when they parted, I didn't feel much for this story.

THE MAN WHO REMEMBERED TODAY by Peter Cawdron; When people say "let's save the best for last" I do believe that phrase works here. This was the best short story in the book, hands down. I loved it so much I read it a countless amount of times hoping for it never to stop. This is the ultimate story I've ever read. Never missing out and providing the reader the amount of excitement he needs. THIS CANNOT BE REVIEWED. It's honestly one of the best short stories out there.

Brief Review: Pick the book up! It has the most diverse collection of short indie stories! It's a collection about beauty, love, darkness and destruction that combines into a anthology of priceless pieces. 

Final Rating: 4/5    "Liked it!"

QUOTE: 

'It is only in the world of objects that we have time and space and selves.' 

~ T. S. Elliot

Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: These Broken Stars
Authors: Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
Release Date: 10th December 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Find on: Goodreads, Amazon

Quick Review: It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

--

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

Detailed Review: This book was completely new to me. The writing style, the characters, the setting- which was in hyperspace, seemed foreign to me. 

But strangely, I still liked it. Loved it even. I think it's the setting itself that intrigued me and also the story. The storyline seemed simple, with a rich girl who was the daughter of the owner of a spaceship falling in love with a war hero, which is basically like the high school equivalent of popular girl falling in love with a musically talented guy. BUT... Yeah I know it's alot of buts BUT this book guarantees that I must use this connective.

The circumstances which the duo were cast into were very interesting. VERY, very interesting. They're stranded on a planet after crashing on it and find it to be uninhabited by anybody other than them. 

And the people whose whispers belong to. It starts with the whispers, then the hallucinations. At first, only Lilac hears and sees them. Then Tarver. 

I liked this love story because of its naturality and loved to see how the circumstances shaped their relationship. The love wasn't the typical love at first sight, but it took time to develop. 

The characters were great too. Lilac may be slightly proud and stubborn, but I think it's these traits that helped her survive on the planet with Tarver. She's got some hidden talents too. Tarver may seem hard on the outside, but he's a caring and kind person on the inside. When you put these two together, there's bound to be some sparks flying. *wink*

There were some very interesting developments and twists that's bound to provoke these reactions:

Crying

Laughing

Being scared

Staring into blank space with your mouth open

And the ending was nice. It's not the type that you would cry your heart out over, but nonetheless it's still a great ending. 

I just wished that I would still get to see Tarver and Lilac in the second book. *goes off to cry in a corner*

P.S. These Broken Stars are going to be made into a TV show!!! I'm so excited for it's release!!!

Brief Review: I honestly think both the authors did a great job with the story and the characters. It's impossible to say how many times this book had me almost in tears. Oh THE TWISTS!!! If you're looking for science fiction with romance and mystery in it, These Broken Stars is my pick! 

My Rating: 4.5/5 Really Liked It!

QUOTE:

This quote reminds me so much about These Broken Stars,

It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.---William Shakespeare

Your Reviewer: 

ARC Review: Blue Into The Rip by Kev Heritage

Title: Blue Into The Rip
Author: Kev Heritage
Buy Link: 

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Length: 76,000 words
Release Date: 5th November 2013

Quick Review: 

Blue didn’t want to be in the future 

...they didn’t want him there either.

A Rip in the fabric of time, a far-flung globally warmed future, a flooded Earth and the only remainder of civilisation - a militaristic organisation living underneath ‘Desert Amazon’…

Getting back home to rescue his little sister Annie was the only thing that mattered to messed up, mixed race teenager, Blue (named after his stupid, googly blue eyes) - and that was the problem – home was over four hundred years in the past.

Ripped forwards in time from his odd hippy parents, their peculiar house and his lonely school life, Blue had only one thing on his mind: return. But how does a lowly cadet in a militaristic Academy living in a globally warmed post-apocalyptic future achieve such a goal, especially with the distractions of girls, pilot training, spacewalks and his almost constant unpopularity?

The more Blue found out about this flooded, gung-ho annoying future, about himself - who and what he was (was he even human?) - and the equally disturbing and shocking truth about his ‘parents’ - the more he realised getting home was the only solution. Wasn’t it?

If Blue knew one thing, it was that he would at least try.

Detailed Review: << review copy received from the author himself >>

I really LOVE this book! 

It was an amazing read and Kev Heritage's writing is superb and unique. When I read this book, I was totally blown away from the first line till the end. The story is about a boy called John"Blue"Smith who is a gangly, big blue-eyed teen who has hippy-terrorist parents and a cute little sister called Annie, who gets pulled into a time rip where he ends up in the future. There he learns about militarism and the meaning of true friendship.

I really enjoyed this book. Heritage's writing is full of potential and notable and I really love the characters' sarcasm. The story was really funny and so were the characters, however there were times when the story became quite serious but there's always this sarcastic atmosphere oozing from the plot.

I guess, that's why it kept me reading and on the edge of my seat whenever a new chapter arrives on the next page. There were these twists which kept me confused too! Since the story was written in different peoples' POVs (though most of the time it's Blue) I was pulled here and there through the story because sometimes the story went back to the past, then the future and then to the present so it kinda went here and there. 

But...

What can I say? Heritage's style of writing is inventive and original, I feel that if you ever read this or give it a chance, you'll not regret it! 

BLUE; personally, I think he's such a stuck up kid sometimes and other times he's a total nice guy. But other times? He worries too much but he has a hilarious personality and yet an attitude you may find annoying (you'll get over it soon, eventually). 

I definitely recommend this book to sci-fi adventure readers!!! It's a book you don't want to miss :)

Don't forget to check out the second instalment, BLUE INTO THE PLANET!

Brief Review: Blue Into The Rip is a futuristic dystopian world set in the future with creatures from space, a militarised setting and a boy who just wants to go home, that will start an adventure of a lifetime. Kev Heritage's writing is detailed and competent as well as exciting. This will definitely catch the attention of sci-fi fanatic readers! 

My Rating: 5/5   "Totally Amazing!"

Your Reviewer: 

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