E-ARC Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

E-ARC Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 4-star, Aimei Carter, Dystopian, E-ARC, review,

Author: Aimee Carter

Release date: November 26th 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion # 1

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository 

Add to your library: Goodreads

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand. (via Goodreads)

I received an e-copy of this from Harlequin TEEN through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever read a book wherein you felt like you were watching some thriller series? Well, this one's for me. I've read a lot of books but none ever made me feel like that. Pawn, however, totally made me feel as if it was one. I don't really know why. Maybe it was because of the characters, their choices and the way things turned out in Pawn. Somehow, it really is like a series. That's why I wasn't that much surprised with the twists and turns.

Pawn's premise was scary, stressful and exciting. Is it even right to bring those words together? Whether it is or it isn't, that's how Pawn is for me. It was scary because seriously? You live in a world wherein your future depends on your luck. Your lucky if you're the child of some hot shot public figure. You have bad luck otherwise. But that doesn't mean you don't get a chance. You're going to undergo a test at the age of 17 and your score will determine your future already. No do-overs. Just once. What are you gonna do if you scored the lowest? And you're just 17! Tell me if that isn't scary. It was stressful since the leaders of your country are so greedy. Especially when you're at the bottom of the social ladder, you can feel how much the officials are power-tripping. You can totally feel how much they practically own you. The worst thing is, you can't do a single damn thing about it. Despite the fact that it's both scary and stressful, Pawn was exciting when the MC, Kitty, was taken by the Harts to take over the role of Lila, the granddaugther who died. Honestly, if I were Kitty, I'd be excited that I'm an instant Hart. The Harts own the country. They control the people, their food, their jobs and just everything about it. But of course, power comes with a great responsibility. And Kitty was not only to take over Lila's role. She literally had to be her. Considering how she hate the Harts, she can't do anything about it since she's going to die and the people she loves. She really had no choice about it. The exciting part is that Kitty was actually doing other things than just the ones given to her by the family's head. She was supposed to stop the rebellion that Lila started but the hard thing for her was, it was also the things she believed in.

Kitty was a fun heroine to read about. She was assertive about a lot of things. I did feel how she was that determined to change the system. Even if there were hard choices to choose about, she chose the ones she  thought were the best. I actually agreed with her choices even if some were actually stupid. Still, no matter how much she hated the system and the people behind it, she was no killer. I admire that about her because she didn't let her hatred blind her judgment.

The thing I loved about Pawn is the way the characters practically turned into each other. One minute, they were allies, the next minute, they're enemies. They were enemies about one thing but they still have a common ground to be together. It was like watching a series really wherein the characters were so flexible. And I loved how I saw the good even in the evil characters and vice versa. It was nice to see their characters in such a way. I got to understand why they're doing this and that.

As I have said earlier, I wasn't surprised with the twists and turns. It wasn't the jaw-dropping kind anyway. It was pretty obvious and somehow expected but that doesn't mean it made my reading experience any less better. I really enjoyed it still.

Pawn is a great dystopia novel wherein one have to fight for his/her future. It's about standing up for your own life and what you believe is right. You'll actually be amazed as to how Kitty literaly took over Lila's role. Pretty much unique.

About the Author

I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures (a fancy way of saying I was forced to watch a lot of old movies) with a subconcentration in Screenwriting. I write. I watch a lot of new movies. Read a lot of books. Tweet too much. Love dogs and have two spoiled Papillons.

I'm represented by the magical Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio, and on very rare occasions I blog over at WordPress. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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Runners Blog Tour: Blurb & Giveaway

Runners Blog Tour: Blurb & Giveaway

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in blog tour, Dystopian, Fiction Addiction Book Tours, Giveaway, review, Sharon Sant, YA,

Welcome to my stop for Runners blog tour!

Author: Sharon Sant

Release date: June 8th 2013

Publisher: Immanion Press

Series: N/A

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Dystopia

Tour organized by: Fiction Addiction Book Tours

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Add to your library: Goodreads

Blurb:

Elijah is nothing special. He’s just a skinny kid doing his best to stay one step ahead of starvation and the people who would have him locked away in a labour camp – just another Runner. But what he stumbles upon in a forest in Hampshire shows him that the harsh world he knows will become an even more sinister place, unless he can stop it. As past and present and parallel dimensions collide, freedom becomes the last thing on his mind as he is suddenly faced with a battle to save his world from extinction. But before Elijah can find the courage to be the hero the world needs, he must banish his own demons and learn to trust his friends. And all the while, the sinister figure of Maxwell Braithwaite looms, his path inextricably bound to Elijah’s by a long dead physicist, and hell bent on stopping Elijah, whatever the cost. (via Goodreads)

About the Author

Sharon Sant was born in Dorset but now lives in Stoke-on-Trent. She graduated from Staffordshire University in 2009 with a degree in English and creative writing. She currently works part time as a freelance editor and continues to write her own stories. An avid reader with eclectic tastes across many genres, when not busy trying in vain to be a domestic goddess, she can often be found lurking in local coffee shops with her head in a book. Sometimes she pretends to be clever but really loves nothing more than watching geeky TV and eating Pringles. She is the author of a string of YA novels including Runners and the Sky Song trilogy.

 Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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Cover Reveal: Steel Lily

Cover Reveal: Steel Lily

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in cover reveal, Dystopian, Megan Curd, romance, YA,

    

Title: Steel Lily

Author: Megan Curd

Expected release date: Fall 2013

Genre: Dystopian w/ hints of Steampunk

Age Group: Young Adult

Cover Designed by: Mae I Design

  AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs. She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Three: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life. Or so she thinks. That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Three. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued. But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better. …Which means digging deeper. When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, it may make her wonder if she was better off being a government tool than searching for freedom. Some secrets are better left concealed, but humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.   

  About the Author 

 Megan began her journey into writing as a college junior during winter finals at the encouragement of a friend. What resulted was Bridger, Megan's first full-length novel. Since then she has written the second book in the series, Traitor, and a stand-alone novel (which will hopefully become a series!) called The Guardian Chronicles: Forbidden. When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and Great Dane, aptly named Dozer. She enjoys snowboarding, playing xBox, and crocheting. Music is a huge part of her life and drives her writing. Her favorite bands are Muse, Bon Iver, Florence + the Machine, and The Civil Wars. Megan resides in Kentucky, near two of her writerly tweeps Hope Collier and Beth Isaacs, and swears it's Hope's fault she's living in the land of the banjos, but wouldn't have it any other way.

Twitter |Facebook | Steel Lily Website

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Review: The Program

Review: The Program

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 3-star, Dystopian, Program, review, Suzanne Young,

Author: Suzanne Young
Release date: April 30th 2013

Publisher:  Simon Pulse 
Series: Program #1

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Add to your library: Goodreads

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them. (via Goodreads)

How can we even say that a novel is really of Dystopian genre? Will we just depend on the synopsis? Will we just try to think it's Dystopian because we're supposed to? Or should we actually dissect the novel?

The Program seriously reminds me of Delirium. It's sort of the same but then it is not. This one shows that Suicide is an epidemic and that Depression is its main symptom. While Delirium for me was able to cleared out its Dystopian boundaries, The Program failed to do so. It said that The Program was only done years ago. And that, not everyone will actually undergo it. Only those showing the symptoms and below the age of 18. Also, only some countries were having it. So where does the rest of the world lie upon that? While some have The Program, some are still normal countries? Even if it said that countries are beginning to adapt The Program, there's still a little blur for me. So think about this, it's like only The Program is actually Dystopian not the whole country or place for that matter. Well, maybe that'll change on the sequel. 

Another thing I notice is the fact that Depression and Suicide were used as what? Dystopian factors? These two are psychological factors. And while I appreciate Suzanne's attempt to address these factors, I just don't totally buy it. These are only two of the strongest problems we have and I think Suzanne was trying to do the easy way out. Like use it in a Dystopian novel so we'll get rid of it. But no, I just don't really buy it. Sorry, I'm studying Psychology so I just don't. I just don't. Maybe I'm bias. But I just don't feel like everything fit in, you know.   Although Behavioral Contagion is really a fact and was only mentioned a few times. The theory that it is a factor for Suicide being an epidemic wasn't even discussed pretty well. It was only mentioned, end of discussion. 

For all I know everyone loved this and consider this a Dystopian novel. But I didn't feel like it was totally Dystopian. I felt like it was more of a contemporary romance with some touch of Sci-fi because teenagers are being put in this facility wherein they're drugged to forget their memories. But not their pain. That's one of the loopholes that I've found pretty irritating. The thing is, depression doesn't just come from memories. Sure, memories are like stimulants for depression. But then, even if one's memories are washed away, the pain will still be there because pain is more of a feeling. So The Program erased memories but not pain leaving returners the chance to feel more confused. I know patients were even given some drugs for emotions but the thing is, it doesn't work. Emotions far by are so interchanging. 

Even if I was rambling for awhile, I actually enjoyed this but it didn't meet my high expectations. It didn't led me to believe that this is a total Dystopian! Dystopian nowadays are getting so cliche too! I enjoyed James and Sloane's love life. And! I'm rooting for James so I'm going to figure out what will happen on the sequel.

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Review: Requiem

Review: Requiem

Posted by Nina L. on 8:17 PM in 5-star, cry-worthy, Delirium series, Dystopian, favorite, Lauren Oliver, review, YA,

Author: Lauren Oliver

Release date: March 5th 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Format: Hardcover, 391 pages

Purchase: The Book Depository | Amazon

Add to your library: Goodreads

 They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge. (via Goodreads)

*Spoiler-free!*

Honestly speaking, I don't know what to say about Requiem. Just that, it's the ending of a great series. So for the most part, forgive me if I won't make any sense.

Requiem story is told both by Lena's and Hana's POVs. It's funny how these girls are so opposite and yet so alike. Funnier that in Delirium, they were the girls who were so intact despite what other people say. It's just so sad as to how things turned out for them, for their friendship. But even if they grew apart, somehow they grew together separately. I felt that when their POVs have met at one point. You can feel that after everything that happened between the two of them, there is still that little hope and a tiny chance that their friendship was never broken and that somehow, it can still be saved. 

Lena together with her people were out in the Wilds and live as best as they can. There were deaths that made me cry, threat that made me shiver and of course, love that didn't make me swoon. Hahaha! I hope you get why. Of course, both Alex and Julian were there too. Seriously, there were times when I just want to throw my book because I want to slap Lena for doing what she was doing. She was so unstable when it comes to who she loves. She can't even choose for herself. But then, deep inside, she knows her choice. And I know we all do! She just can't say it because someone's going to get hurt. And despite her confusion in her romantic life, she was in no way confused in her plans. Of the resistance. After all, this wasn't just a story about love. It is a story for love.

Huh, I won't end this review without talking about Alex. What Alex did at the near end was so selfless. He obviously is the sole representation of the love that they were fighting for. Hello, there won't be Delirium if Alex didn't fall in love with Lena and vice versa. I just hope that after that last page, Alex is in such a fine place. And oh, if you get the first print edition, you'll read Alex's story there. But it's just short. Still. Must. Read.

Ugh, I forgot to mention The Book of Shhh. It was one of the many things I love about this series. I don't know but maybe because it will be a guilty pleasure to have read it when you live in a world like them. I mean, I bet every one of you would want a peek of that if we live in their world. And it's just so scary you know? But I guess it tells us a lot of more truths than the ones told in our real world. 

I'll never forget this series. Ever. From Delirium till Requiem, we have seen how their world is and it became clearer to me as to how it really is, we have seen how the characters grow for better or for worse, and of course, we have seen how the story was twisted in all places that made it even more appealing (well, to me). 

Ending the Delirium series made me cry. A. Lot. That's how much I love this. I know most people didn't like the way it ended. But I do. I know, weird taste! Haha! But two people never read the same book right? I loved how Lauren Oliver wrote that ending. It was so hopeful and promising. Most authors do not do that because they always give us that concrete ending of what happened. That's a good thing. Since it's an ending of a series. But then, I love it when authors give us a chance to think and somehow make us decipher their last words. It's like, they're giving us a power to believe in what we really do and a chance for us to continue the story we love.

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