The Darkest Minds

TITLE: The Darkest Minds

AUTHOR: Alexandra Bracken

SERIES: The Darkest Minds #1

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins

PAGES: 496 (paperback)

            MORE INFO

Note: An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

It wasn’t so long ago that I read Brightly Woven and absolutely loved it, so I came into The Darkest Minds with high expectations for Alexandra Bracken and her latest novel. Needless to say, this second time author delivered on almost all fronts for me.

In a frightening new world where most of the children die from a deadly and mysterious disease, those that survive are suddenly developing frightening powers; mind control, telepathy, telekinesis…these are only some of the possibilities. Sixteen-year-old Ruby struggles to hide her abnormality from the rehabilitation camp in which she works, yet when the truth comes out she has no choice but to flee for her life and join a group of kids desperate to find their one last chance at safety – a haven called East River.

Bracken has a very noticeable ‘show not tell’ writing style, in The Darkest Minds we are thrown straight in there with little to no backstory to help us. In a way this is very refreshing, as it allows the reader to ease themselves into Ruby’s world and slowly put things together piece by piece of our their accord. Of course this can also be rather disconcerting, and it requires the reader to pay rather close attention to ensure that they understand everything that is going on around them. A few times I found myself not getting a certain reference, and in my confusion I’d have to read backwards in order to comprehend what was happening. This wasn’t, however, a constant problem and I definitely commend Bracken for recognising that her readers do have some modicum of common sense.

In much the same way this idea also applied to Ruby, though the story is told from her point of view it is not until you are fully immersed in the novel that you begin to get fragments of her heart-breaking tale. This ensures that you must be patient to get the full story, and whilst at times it was difficult it definitely pays off in the end. Ruby herself is simultaneously fascinating and confusing, particularly at the beginning when you have no idea of her history or personality. Though occasionally I would find something I didn’t like about her she still didn’t fail to engage my interest, and it was her character coupled with the mysteries and abilities of those she travelled with that really captured my attention during the novel.

In Brightly Woven it was the romance that really melted my heart, yet I’m afraid to say that Ruby and Liam didn’t quite have the same appeal. For me it seemed to appear as if from thin air – the couple going straight from routine, friendly interactions to completely head-over-heels in love. Now, this would have been fine had there been a slow build up beforehand, yet to my eyes it seemed to jump straight from one side of the river to the other without the stepping stones in between. That said, Liam was a likeable love interest and character and the romance certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the novel as a whole.

A wonderful start to a new series, The Darkest Minds is a novel I think most dystopia fans would definitely enjoy. The plot certainly finishes on an interesting point for me, and I can’t wait to see how Alexandra Bracken develops the ideas created here in future novels.

In My Mailbox #17

In My Mailbox is a a meme started by Kristi over at The Story Siren, if you haven't heard of her (you must have been living in a blogging cave!) go rectify your mistake NOW!

Basically, we all share the books we've received over the past week, whether from the library, the store, or for review, and then other people can leave a comment. So, this week i have...

FOR REVIEW

What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang

Something Strange and Deadly - Susan Dennard

Stormdancer - Jay Kristoff

Speechless - Hannah Harrington
The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa

BOUGHT

Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) - Kiersten White

Onyx (Lux #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout (pre-order)

LIBRARY

Sea Glass (Glass #2) - Maria V. Snyder

Scarlet - A.C. Gaughen

The Book of Blood and Shadow - Robin Wasserman

 

 

   

Great haul, huh? I can't wait to start some of thise ARCs!

So what did you guys get this week?

Imo xx

Shadowfell

TITLE: Shadowfell

AUTHOR: Juliet Marillier

SERIES: Shadowfell #1

PUBLISHER: Knopf Books

PAGES: 416

          MORE INFO

Note: An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of Juliet Marillier’s previous novels, I was ridiculously eager to read this first instalment in her new series. Magical, adventurous and romantic – though at times slightly sluggish – Shadowfell is a satisfactory addition to this veteran author’s works.

For me, Marillier is one of the very few authors I have encountered that can create a true fantasy, not the one-layered dribble that often constitutes the genre these days. I love that the magical elements in this novel are the drive behind the plot – not the romance – and how they are most importantly original. Yes, I suppose we have heard quite a lot about the otherworld lately, but Marillier chooses mythology that somehow makes the book feel magical rather than sparkly.

In terms of audience, Shadowfell is perhaps more directed at the younger readers rather than adults, though the writing still retains a tone not dissimilar to her Sevenwaters series, being that it is sometimes dark and deeply rooted in the otherworld legends. The plot in itself contains everything I would have expected of Marillier, though one thing that really let me down was the pacing with which it was executed. In basic terms, it was slow; almost unbearably at times. Instead of devoting perhaps a chapter or two’s summary of Neryn’s solo journey, we are treated to over one hundred pages of her plodding along at a snail’s pace, constantly complaining about her declining health and the emphasis of not being seen. There is a lot of this in the book, and if you detest reading pages and pages of walking and waiting then I highly recommend you do not pick up this book.

On a better note, I found that the quality of the writing and prose certainly made up in part for this problem, as did the randomly interspersed events that hinted at the build-up of something exciting. A highlight for me was the supporting fey characters, particularly the Good Folk and Hollow. The discovery of Neryn’s true abilities and how they are intertwined with the Otherworld was truly fascinating, and I sincerely look forward to seeing how this develops in the sequel.

Unfortunately, this leads me to another fault – Neryn. Whilst she possessed all of the basic ingredients for a young adult heroine, I found she lacked that special something that really sets apart Marillier’s other female protagonists. I have come to expect certain qualities from this author’s characters, namely determination, strength, wisdom and compassion. And though Neryn had sufficient quantities of these things, she was missing a…spark that would have made her a memorable heroine. If anything, she was a bit bland – no real flaws to speak of, yet no discerning traits either. This I why I am hoping that we come to see a new side of her as her magic progresses, and for all I know she could turn into everything that I could hope for.

Perhaps a shade under her usual standard, Shadowfell is an engaging new novel from fantasy author Juliet Marillier. Though I would still pick out this writer over a host of others, I can only hope that the next book in the series will restore her to her rightful reputation in my mind.

Silver

TITLE: Silver

AUTHOR: Talia Vance

SERIES: Bandia #1

PAGES: 384 (Paperback)

PUBLISHER: Flux

FORMAT: ARC








Note: An ARC od this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

An intriguiging debut from Talia Vance, Silver is a novel rich with Irish mythology and unlikely romance. Though it may be slightly different from what I originally imagined, that certainly does not distract from its appeal.

For me, Silver was one of those books where you have to read it all the way through to distinguish whether or not it is enjoyable. I will admit, somewhere around the 60% mark I was sorely tempted to put it down and resume reading another day, however I am glad that I forced myself to keep on reading.

One of the things that really set this novel apart for me was the mythology surrounding it, and after reading countless books about vampires, werewolves and fairies this new branch of Celtic legend was a breath of fresh air in the stiflingly clichéd YA paranormal romance genre.  The plot of this book revolves around the one thousand year old myth of the goddess Danu and her descendants, Bandias, who are graced with inhuman power and beauty. I loved learning about this new world with Brianna, and found the subject matter to be just as interesting as it was mystical.

As for the characters, most of them appeared to be well-formed and convincingly written. Though Brianna falls into the stereotype of the beautiful, talented, until-now unnoticed teenage girl just coming into her powers, what instantly makes her likeable is her quiet courage and her quick brain. Throughout the novel we got constant hints of her kindness and her loyalty, all mixed in with her understandable confusion and mixed feelings towards Blake and her new life.

I will say that I was slightly irritated by Blake’s sudden interest as soon as Brianna became ‘beautiful’, but over the book he did prove that he cared about more than just her looks. Their romance leaned towards sizzling rather than sweet, however it was clear that they harboured deeper feelings than just lust and showed that by protecting each other with a vengeance.  The only thing that brought this down was the looming threat of insta-love, and it didn’t help that after they’d ‘soul-bonded’ barely a third of the way into the novel they could barely control their feelings towards one another. That said, the romance was still enjoyable and I look forward to continuing their story in Gold.

Though I’m not sure how other more experienced reviewers will find this book, it should certainly be praised for its originality and creativity. An entertaining debut novel, this is one series I will be keeping an eye on.

In My Mailbox #16

In My Mailbox is a a meme started by Kristi over at The Story Siren, if you haven't heard of her (you must have been living in a blogging cave!) go rectify you're mistake NOW!

Basically, we all share the books we've received over the past week, whether from the library, the store, or for review, and then other people can leave a comment. So, this week i have...

FOR REVIEW

What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang

Something Strange and Deadly - Susan Dennard

Stormdancer - Jay Kristoff

Speechless - Hannah Harrington

BOUGHT

Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) - Kiersten White

Onyx (Lux #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout (pre-order)

LIBRARY

Sea Glass (Glass #2) - Maria V. Snyder

White Tiger - Kylie Chan

The Book of Blood and Shadow - Robin Wasserman

House of the Scorpion - Nancy Farmer

Great haul, huh? I can't wait to start some of thise ARCs!

So what did you guys get this week?

Imo xx

Throne of Glass

 TITLE: Throne of Glass

AUTHOR: Sarah J. Maas

SERIES: Throne of Glass #1

PAGES: 416 (Hardcover)

PUSBLISHER: Bloomsbury

           MORE INFO

Though I never got to witness the Fiction Press excitement around this book myself, I can see why Throne of Glass gained such a following with its readers. Adventurous, compelling and romantic, this is one debut novel that definitely lives up to my expectations.

Being Adarlan’s most infamous assassin finally caught up with Celaena Sardothien, and after a mysterious betrayal enabled her capture at the hands of the king she was sent to the brutal salt mines in Endovier for over a year. Scarred, starved and overworked, when Crown Prince Dorian presents her with an opportunity for escape she grasps at it with both hands. The catch: she must compete with over twenty men for the title of the king’s champion, though as contestants begin to show up murdered Celaena fears that she may not live long enough to earn the freedom she so desperately craves.

Celaena was not quite what I was expecting when I came into this book. She was strong, deadly and intelligent; but also quite vain and surprisingly witty when bantering with the males in this novel. One thing Maas excels at is the strong representation of not one, but two of her female characters. Whilst Celaena is our main focus it would be hard to forget Nehemia, a rebellious young woman severely underestimated by everyone at court. The friendship that blossomed between the two young women was genuine, and I can only hope that she remains a fixture in the next novel in the series.

When discussing the book with my peers the one thing that seems to attract most people to it is the description, and I will be the first to admit that for me it was exactly the same. In reality the plot almost, almost, lived up to everything I could hope for, yet I found it to be a smidgen on the wrong side of predictable. Though I commend the author’s attempts at cultivating red herrings I am disappointed to say that I’d worked out the mystery killer barely halfway into the book, and found it frustrating when Celaena and Chaol were floundering around on a wild goose chase. However, I should add that I still found the novel very entertaining, and was not tempted to stop reading just because I might have worked a few things out.

Now we come to the real issue, the dreaded Love Triangle of Doom (insert dramatic music here). It wasn’t that I particularly disliked one of the love interests over the other; it was just that there appeared to be only one realistic choice. Dorian and Celaena’s relationship felt over-clichéd and contrived, whereas her interactions with Chaol were deeper and allowed for the building of a true connection. Something that particularly irritated me was that Dorian visited her maybe once every two weeks, yet she was still hopelessly attracted to him and left in a severe state of swoon when they parted. Chaol, however, was reliable and unfailing, and I can only hope that Celaena will come to her senses in future novels.

A well-deserved 4 stars, Throne of Glass is an outstanding debut novel that I recommend to any YA or fantasy lover. I, among many others, cannot wait to read the sequel when it releases, and feel that with a starting book such as this the series can only get better!

Glitch

TITLE: Glitch

AUTHOR: Heather Anastasiu

SERIES: Glitch #1

PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press

FORMAT: ARC

             MORE INFO

Note: An ARC of this novel was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I found Glitch to be a unique, thought provoking novel that explores one possible future for humanity. Heather Anastasiu has taken a genre that has been ripped apart a thousand times and come up with a fresh and exciting idea that I couldn’t wait to get stuck into.

Glitch is set in a dystopic future where everyone has been turned into living cyborgs by an implant in their brain. Our young heroine Zoel, better known as Zoe, has begun glitching (her brain throws off the control of the chip) and discovered that she has a dangerous secret; the power of telekinesis. Trying not to get caught and risk ‘deactivation’, Zoe has to navigate the world of colours and emotions whilst becoming entangled with the Rez, a secret resistance that plots to overthrow the Community.

Zoe was instantly unique in that every new emotion was a complete revelation to her. I wasn’t entirely sure that first person narrative was a good choice for this, but the author did a good job of differentiating between when Zoe was ‘linked’ and when she was glitching, her emotions taking a back seat to the clean, factual presence of the Link. That being said, sometime Zoe’s reactions seemed too bland for one who had never felt emotion before, more like; ‘oh, what’s this? Anger? Rightio.’

However, the idea behind all of this was fascinating. The history of the Community and the Nuclear Holocaust effectively gives a clearer picture of this new society and the motives behind it. Anastasiu has taken lengths to make the plot more believable than other dystopias, and whilst most people wouldn’t have the knowledge to check it certainly sounds very plausible. But, the novel tended to stray away from this key plot material and instead focus of the continual angst that was brewing between Zoe, Adrien, and Max.

Now, I am not a fan of love triangles, no matter who writes them. And for me, this triangle was all wrong. Firstly, Max’s constant exclamations of undying love and passion for Zoe were just…awkward. If anything, it showed how differently both characters reacted to glitching, and I felt slightly sorry for Max, so desperate for something that Zoe clearly did not understand. Maybe this was intentional, but I can only hope that Max manages to tame his raging hormones for the next book.

And Adrien? Yes, he was sweet, selfless, and fighting for the greater good, but he played a role that I’ve read too many times. The classic character of the brooding, dark haired resistance fighter is just too stereotyped, and it didn’t help that Zoe seemed to follow him around like a helpless puppy. There were times when she held a strong value, like her constant declarations of ‘we must free all glitchers!’, but a few words and a vulnerable glance from Adrien and it would be crushed.

However, don’t lose heart, Glitch was a promising start to a new trilogy with several interesting points that I can’t wait to learn more about. There may have been a few bumps in the road, but I can only retain my hope that they will be smoothed out in due course.

Innocent Darkness

TITLE: Innocent Darkness

AUTHOR: Suzanne Lazear

SERIES: Aether Chronicles

PAGES: 408 (Paperback)

FORMAT: ARC

PUBLISHER: Flux (Aug 8th 2012)

Note: An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

For a book that had such an intriguing premise, this barely lived up to my expectations and it got to the point where I put the book down and didn’t pick it up again. As it is, I consider it a valiant effort that I managed to get through three quarters of it, although if you are keen on a quick – if insubstantial – read then you may find this novel much more enjoyable.

Innocent Darkness is the story of Magnolia ‘Noli’ Braddock, a rebellious young woman with a flair for mechanics and rule-breaking. After an accident that could have ended catastrophically she is sent off to a strict boarding school for troubled young women, where she accidentally is transported to the ‘Otherworld’ and taken in by Kevighn, a gorgeous, if a little mysterious, faerie. But Kevighn is actually the Queen’s huntsman, charged with the job of capturing a young girl with the Spark as a sacrifice to save the realm. However, Noli’s best friend Steven, or ‘V’ as she calls him, has a few secrets of his own, and he is determined to save her before it’s too late.

Innocent Darkness desperately needs a few more rounds of edits, and as such feels almost unfinished when reading it. The pages are riddled with spelling errors and grammatical faults, not to mention the jumpy transitions between characters and repeated sentences that were blatantly the same behind the synonyms used. There were also quite a few annoying contradictions that crept up in Noli’s narrative, and I found myself getting frustrated at her flippant nature.

Despite my misgivings I actually felt a dash of empathy for Noli, and at some parts I actually liked her character. She was shrewd, curious and at times would show a confidence that evoked a rush of pride for her. But, there are only so many good qualities you can give a character before they start becoming too perfect.  She had the traits previously mentioned, but she was also extremely beautiful, gifted, and in possession of the largest amount of Spark Kevighn has felt in a long time. As this was revealed Noli began to feel more like a dream than an actual person, and I could myself slowly losing interest in her and her plight.

The plot of this book is almost childish in its ideas and language, yet at times the author seemed to throw in random sentences about opium and ‘soft women’ as if trying to show us that yes, this is a young adult novel. The characters and the world seemed to naïve to have things like this pop up, and rather than appearing to mature the novel it just felt quite desperate made me feel vaguely perturbed.

The romance between Noli and Kevighn was not a strong point in this novel, it came across as quite superficial and almost too…I don’t know, fairy-tale like? Though Kevighn has captured hundreds of girls, all who were beautiful and talented, he can’t help but fall over himself for Noli and allow her break down all his barriers within only a few days. He is relatively underdeveloped, erratically spouting bits of seemingly important yet useless information in between brooding and indulging in his opium and soft women. His motives and purpose seemed very vague, and I can only guess that he is being left deliberately ambiguous for the next book in this series.

A slow read, this book would need a lot more work for me to find it suitable for general consumption in the young adult book market. However, even if it can be saved I think I will be staying away from this author’s work in the near future.

In My Mailbox #15

In My Mailbox is a a meme started by Kristi over at The Story Siren, if you haven't heard of her (you must have been living in a blogging cave!) go rectify you're mistake NOW!

Basically, we all share the books we've received over the past week, whether from the library, the store, or for review, and then other people can leave a comment. So, this week i have...

FOR REVIEW

Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas

The Assassin's Curse - Cassandra Clarke

BOUGHT

Nothing. I'm trying to go book-free for at least a month due to the abysmal failure that is my book budget. Good luck with that.

LIBRARY

The Duff - Kody Keplinger

The Last Echo (Body Finder #3) - Kimberly Deerting

Team Human - Justine Larbalestier

The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) - James Dashner

Fade Out (Morganville #8) - Rachel Caine

Struck - Jennifer Bosworth

Adorkable - Sarah Manning

The Messenger - Marcus Zusak



How awesome is my library? I was practically salivating at the new influx of books this week.

Anyway, what's in your mailbox?

Imo xx

Timepiece

TITLE: Timepiece

AUTHOR: Myra McEntire

SERIES: Hourglass #2

PUBLISHER: Egmont USA

FORMAT: ARC

          MORE INFO








Note: An ARC of thsi novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A bit of a change-up from the first book in this series, Timepiece is the action packed sequel to the popular Hourglass. Though many may lament the loss of Emerson as the narrator, this book is just as romantic and exciting as the first.

The time space continuum is practically a mess after Emerson’s actions in the last book, and the whole Hourglass team are trying to prevent the ramifications from destroying life as they know it. But what they don’t know is that several groups – including Jack Landers – are racing to find a legendary object called the Infinityglass, and if they don’t reach Jack first then they are all in serious trouble.

Building on the foundation provided by the previous book we now begin to get a larger glimpse into the world of time travel. It was fascinating learning about all of the concepts explored in the novel, but at the same time completely mind boggling. Though they appear to make sense at times I found myself having to take a break just to figure everything out, and the complete overload of complex information was just too much for my frazzled brain. This is certainly a book that makes you think, and if that isn’t quite what you’re looking for than maybe I would avoid this novel.

The main contrast between Timepiece and Hourglass is the change in narrator, and whilst Kaleb was certainly an enjoyable character I found myself liking him slightly less than Emerson. However, he was sweet, caring, intelligent and witty, and McEntire could certainly have chosen a worse character to swap with. I especially enjoyed how having his POV meant that we could get a closer look at Lily and her abilities, and also how they played a part in the greater scheme of things.

I couldn’t properly review this novel without mentioning the romance, and what a cute one it is too! Straddling the fine line between love and potent dislike, the exchanges between Kaleb and Lily are always hilarious and filled with tension. One thing that struck me was how very different their relationship was compared to Michael and Emerson’s; a sizzling inferno compared with the epic love of fairy tales. Nevertheless, it was all I expected and was enough to satisfy my inner hopeless romantic.

A thrilling new addition to this most unique of series, Timepiece is definitely one for fans of Ms McEntire. It didn’t bore or disappoint, and I shall undeniably be looking forward to the next book, Infinityglass.

In My Mailbox #14

In My Mailbox is a a meme started by Kristi over at The Story Siren, if you haven't heard of her (you must have been living in a blogging cave!) go rectify you're mistake NOW!

Basically, we all share the books we've received over the past week, whether from the library, the store, or for review, and then other people can leave a comment. So, this week i have...

FOR REVIEW

League of Strays - L.B. Schulman

The Assassin's Curse - Cassandra Rose Clarke

BOUGHT

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) - Richelle Mead
Insurgent (Divergent #2) - Veronica Roth

LIBRARY
The Selection - Kiera Cass
A Storm of Swords (Pt. 2) (ASoIaF #3) - George R.R. Martin
Clarity - Kim Harrington
Destined (Wings #4) - Aprilynne Pike

I'm feeling pretty lucky right now, although unfortunately i requested League of Strays before all this stuff about the controversial content came out. Might have to see how i go with that one.

So, what's in your mailbox?

Imo

Pushing the Limits

TITLE: Pushing the Limits

AUTHOR: Katie McGarry

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen

PAGES: 384 (Hardcover)

FORMAT: ARC

      

           MORE INFO

Note: An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Fresh and compelling, Pushing the Limits is an intense novel from debut author Katie McGarry. An eye-opening look into the lives of two troubled teenagers, this story is one to be read in one sitting.

In essence Noah and Echo are eerily similar yet at the same time completely different; both have dark pasts, yet one still strives to excel and the other has given up completely. The characterisation of Noah was slightly contradicting; snarky and crude on the outside whilst on the inside he was just as emotionally damaged as Echo. Sometimes it felt like the burden he carried was just too much for one teenage boy, but then you come to realise that for many people around the world they have to deal with just as much – or more – every single day.

As for Echo…well, for the most part she seemed split in two. On the one side she was determined to please her father and play the shy, traumatised, insecure girl who desperately needed to be loved. Yet there’s also a side to her that’s willing to look at confidential files and comfort other people, even when their troubles were practically a speck of dust compared to the mountain of her own. It was nice seeing how she was slowly transformed by Noah and their relationship, but while at times it seemed sizzling I just couldn’t help but feel that she wasn’t entirely…there, all the time.

As a rule I am not a fan of dual narrative, I find it can lessen my connection to the characters and make things totally confusing. However, in this case I think I can make an exception. Though I felt that the narrative swapped a bit too quickly for my taste it suited the story and allowed for the fleshing out of other sub-plots, which really added more layers to what could be quite a superficial novel. The problem with Noah’s brothers, for example, allowed me to sympathise more readily with Noah, something which could be a little difficult at times due to the choices he makes.

It was the individual issues linked with both characters that really propelled through the story, whether it was finding out what really happened that night or how it would all work out for Noah and his future. If there’s one thing you can say about this book: it certainly doesn’t lack drama. In fact, it’s dripping with it, and though it could be a tad overwhelming at points that’s what really kept me hooked to the plot.

Though this book was quite sound overall, there were a few things that really didn’t float my boat. Take Grace; she served no conceivable point other than to create sympathy for Echo, and even then I found her to be rather a useless character who is unbelievably selfish and not worth carrying the label of ‘friend’. Luke also appeared to fall into this category, and though I appreciate the fact that he was meant to bring Echo and Noah together all he produced was a load of anger and feminist remarks on my part.

A well-earned 3.5 stars, Pushing the Limits is a promising new novel that was perfect for reading on a rainy day. Only time will tell if McGarry’s next novel, Dare You To, is as much of a success as this one was.

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