Review: Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu

Champion by Marie Lu

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.
But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.
With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

Publishes in US: November 5th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile
Genre: ya dystopia
Source: library
Series? Yes. Legend #3
 my review of Legend #1, Legend #2

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    I wanted to read this one because I am invested in the series, and June and Day. They doubted each other and made hard decisions about their future together, their own obligations, and what they would do in order for the government to be rebuilt and reshaped from the corruption. 

    I really enjoy it when I have time to read a series and all of the books have already released. Yes, some of the anticipation of waiting for the next book is fun, but sometimes its just nice to not have to wait for the next and binge read. 

   This one picked up months after Prodigy, but unfortunately Day and June are still cities apart, and their romance is left in the last place we found it. So I was sad that they were apart, because I know why Day wanted to stay away, and I understand June's desire to guide the nation into a new peace and in a different direction than it was under the last Elector. 

   Day is with Eden finally, and for this I was glad, but the republic really wasn't done with Eden because the plague has hit the colonies and it is threatening the peace that they were working towards. And with a new and young elector in place and the colonies scared, they are at a very vital and tough position. But that isn't the only thing that Day has to worry about. He is having the issues with his health that stemmed from the experiments done to him under the last elector.

   Champion is fast paced and engaging just like the previous two. There were a lot of high risk situations that put both main characters in danger. They have to make hard decisions and a lot is hanging in the balance. 

    It was bittersweet to say goodbye to Day, June and the other secondary characters like Tess and Eden. It was wrapped up pretty well, and had a lot of hope for the future for both the leaders, the military and for the common people. The epilogue was nice, and I am glad that it gave that hope as well, but I do wish for a more solid sense of knowing how they would be. 

Bottom Line: Good ending for the series.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you think you could hide a serious illness from someone you love?

It's Not You, It's Me: Inherit the Stars by Tessa Elwood

Inherit the Stars by Tessa Elwood 

Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.
Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.
But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?
Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.

Publishes in US: December 8th 2015 by Running Press Kids
Genre: ya scifi
Source: earc via netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? no

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     I have done this several times on my blog. Books that just don't work for me. I know my reading style pretty well, and I can tell whether I will like the book or not accurately about 80-90% of the time. If I finish a book, then there are aspects of that book that I enjoyed. I never talk about the author in a negative way, I only say what doesn't work for me. Normally if I finish a book, I give it at least 3 stars, meaning that I liked it.

   Stopped at 12%

I like simple scifi... and this one threw too many terms at me all at once and it was hard to deal with that and figure out what was going on. I need to connect with the main character quickly and although I knew that asa loved her sister and / was trying to do the best for the people, I was thrown into the middle of a crisis.
I thought that this would work for me because of the synopsis claim that it was an epic romance, but at 12% I still haven't seen a hint of the romantic interest.

  That isn't to say that the writing is poor or the characters are poorly constructed, it's personal on my end.

Positive Reviews:
Sarah Elizabeth's  Bookshelf
BOOKED J's
La Romantique

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you travel in time if you had the ability?

Review: Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

Publishes in US: January 29th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile
Genre: ya dystopia
Source: library
Series? yes, Legend #2 (rest of series is already published)
 my review of Legend #1

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    I wanted to read Prodigy because I really enjoyed the characters of Day and June in Legend as well as their romance. They were dealing with a dystopian government and even though June had been their golden girl, the death and truths surrounding her brother has made her question everything she though she knew. 

   I was submersed in the story that begins right where Legend ends. Seeing them have to make hard decisions and deal with a government that is unstable and changing day to day. They join up with the Patriots even though they didn't want to at first, but they buy into some of their goals.

   Lots happens in Prodigy and it kept me guessing and trying to figure out who I should be trusting. It was action packed and full of surprises. Not only from plot twists, but also people that it turned out are trust worthy and sincere and who is a traitor. 

   It was hard to read at times because Day and June are separated some, and they have to make decisions and judgement calls. Some of their actions cause the other to doubt them. It brings out their fears about themselves and each other, and it makes those against their relationship sound like they might actually know what they are talking about. 

    I liked this one and will def be reading the last one. This was just missing some of the romance of the first and I think that is why its not rated similarly.

Bottom Line: Good sequel, lots of action. A bit sad about them second guessing each other, and as a result not as much romance as first.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Can you see yourself being a military golden girl or a street rebel?

Review: Return Once More by Trisha Leigh

Return Once More (The Historians #1) by Trisha Leigh

If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?
Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.
If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?
Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.
Or would you have the strength to watch him die?
But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.

Publishes in US: October 20th 2015 by Bloomsbury Spark
Genre: ya time travel
Source: Bloomsbury via Netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? The Historians #1

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    I wanted to read this one because I really enjoyed the idea of knowing your true love, and the appeal of the forbidden romance aspect. I have no idea what I would do when faced with a choice of saving one man that is meant for me and the huge and unknown consequences that could come from altering the course of history. I mean without that aspect even the time travel would have appealed to me. The people from the future exploring the past in order to learn from it is intriguing. 

   I liked Kaia, she likes her job, but she wants to do it differently. She is going back in the past to learn from the big events that shaped history. Kaia instead pays more attention to the love and hope rather than the tragic events. Even though she knows they are important, she also believes that those things are important. 

   I wasn't sure how I would feel about the historical aspect, but it worked okay for me since it also had the futuristic aspect and it wasn't completely rooted in the ancient times to start with, it was back and forth exploring the past then back to Kaia's present (future to us though.) It explored her friendships and her family. 

   I liked the twists in this one and there was always a lot to keep my attention. Kaia found out that her True was a man in ancient times, and she couldn't resist going to meet him. I loved their connections and interactions. It was cool how time didn't seem to matter to them, nor different cultural perspectives, just their connection and attraction. 

   The theme of friendship was good in this one, and I liked that Kaia tried to protect her friends when she was doing something that she shouldn't. But I also liked how she did decide to ask for help eventually and let people in. 

   Family is different on Genesis-- where they are living now. Kaia doesn't live with her parents, instead she and the other kids live in sort of boarding school aspect. They stay in dorms and the teachers and leaders of their schools help govern. But I do like that Kaia felt so close to her brother, even though he was an outlaw. The love didn't go away, and neither did the love and support with her parents even though its not a traditional family unit. 

   Kaia realized that another student was also in the past, and she felt responsible to figure out what he was doing. She was just going back to get to know her True, but she was still breaking laws and regulations, and could effect the future. But the other student, the things he was messing with, besides seeing him chose to change the past in ways that could make a big difference. 

   I liked how it ended, and I will definitely be continuing this series. It wrapped up certain plots, and then blew up some questions and I can't wait to see how the new will play out. 

Bottom Line: Great premise, and loved Kaia and the romance.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you chance altering the past in order to help the man you were destined to love?

Review: Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano

Burning Kingdoms (The Internment Chronicles #2) by Lauren DeStefano

Danger descends in the second book of The Internment Chronicles, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Chemical Garden trilogy.
After escaping Internment, Morgan and her fellow fugitives land on the ground to finally learn about the world beneath their floating island home.
The ground is a strange place where water falls from the sky as snow, and people watch moving pictures and visit speakeasies. A place where families can have as many children as they want, their dead are buried in vast gardens of bodies, and Internment is the feature of an amusement park.
It is also a land at war.
Everyone who fled Internment had their own reasons to escape their corrupt haven, but now they’re caught under the watchful eye of another king who wants to dominate his world. They may have made it to the ground, but have they dragged Internment with them?

Publishes in US: March 10th 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: ya dystopia
Source: library
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? The Internment Chronicles #2
  The Heir Apparent (Internment Chronicles, #2.5) already published
 Broken Crowns (Internment Chronicles, #3) Expected publication: March 22nd 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
my review of #1 Perfect Ruin

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I wanted to read Burning Kingdoms because I enjoyed the characters in the first book and wanted to know what happened to them. 

Karen at For What It's Worth and Mary at The Book Swarm occasionally post twitter-style reviews. Karen calls hers Short and Tweet, and I am going to borrow that review style here.

Tweet Review:

Slow at times, but still featured the characters I love and introduces new ones. Will be continuing.

Review: The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.
Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Precepture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive.
Enter Elián Palnik, the Precepture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Precepture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages.
What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?

Publishes in US: September 22nd 2015 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: ya dystopia
Source: mail from simon and schuster
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.

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    I was glad to get this in the mail because the idea of holding royalty/leadership's kids hostage to prevent war is a pretty compelling premise. I wanted to find out the general of how a society could end up there, and how this group of up and coming leaders bonded, but also were always on the brink of death. 

   I liked Greta, the main character. She is a good blend of smart, cautious, funny, sympathetic and tough. She's accepted the way of life, caring for animals and basically farm work along with lessons, all controlled by robots/AI (artificial intelligence). She has bonded with the group of royalty that is at the school/Precepture with her, but she's never gotten too close or involved with the guys. But when spirited, defiant, and different Elian shows up, things begin to change, and she begins listening and pondering some of the issues he talks about and how he bucks the authority of the AI even when it causes him physical harm. 

   I was so immersed in the story. Even though it dealt a lot with politics which usually goes right over my head, it mostly was a lot of character development. Greta realized so much about herself and the others she grew up with. She has really hard choices to make as well, dealing with the AI, the things she knows, and whether to help and protect Elian. 

   

    I was shocked more than once at the plot twists. There was one thing that I didn't really see coming, and I am not sure how I feel about it. Things were wrapped up with the immediate plot but I hope that there is another one, because I am not sure what the choices mean for the future, and for her as a person who meant so much to the others. The things that I have read though indicate it is a stand alone so that takes my rating down because I was left confused about a few things, like the layers, as well as what peace might exist or not.

   The romance also surprised me, I thought that it was going one way but went another, so it wasn't precisely a triangle, it just wasn't going with the obvious at first option at least to me. 

   There were some humorous moments, and I liked the theme of loyalty, friendship and duty. Talis, the writer of the prologue and the one who set up the current political situation with the hostages, actually amused me rather than feeling villianesque. I understand why could be hated, but its an AI, and he accomplished his purpose. 

Bottom Line: Liked the characters and friendship the ending wasn't the best for me though.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you start war for water if it meant hostages would die.

Review: Nil Unlocked (Nil #2) by Lynne Matson

Nil Unlocked (Nil #2) by Lynne Matson

On the island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die. Rives is now the undisputed Leader of Nil City, but keeping the City united is tougher than ever.
Raiders have grown bolder, supplies are dwindling, and non-human inhabitants have taken a turn toward the deadly. New arrivals cause rifts within the City, putting the Search system at risk, and calling everything Rives knows into question. Desperate for answers, he teams up with the only other person searching for them: Skye, a new arrival with a mysterious past of her own. Soon the duo find themselves locked in a desperate race to save all the residents of Nil—and possibly destroy the island forever. But at what cost? And who will pay the price?

Publishes in US: May 12th 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Genre: ya scifi
Source: library
Series? yes
my review of 1st Nil 

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    I wanted to read Nil Unlocked because I liked the world building and plot for the first, and wanted to get inside the heads of others on the island. For the first I do remember the thing that bothered me was figuring out how the island came to exist, how the kids get there, and who choses. I lost myself in the story, and I understand that the kids wouldn't know anything, but I just kept thinking, where on earth is this, and how does it work. This didn't really take away much from my enjoyment, I was immersed in Charley and Thad, their chemistry and their fight to survive.

    It was nice to get the perspective of Rives. He is the leader now, and he is more driven than ever to find answers. He is one of the ones who thinks of Nil as sentient and that Nil is calculating. He meets what seems to be a native of Nil and he has even more questions than ever. He is taking risks, following leads, and still trying to keep order in the City. 

    Skye is the other new character and she is actually on the outside, Her dad has been researching Nil for the longest time, based on the journals of his brother who has since passed, but was on Nil and then deemed crazy when he tells about the island. Skye has been training for the longest time, because her dad wants her to be prepared in case she is taken, and when he shows her her uncle's journals she is skeptical, but more and more begins to believe that its a real place and her dad is on to something. 

    This was as addictive as the first, and fast paced. I didn't want to put it down and couldn't wait to find out more about the island, and hope for the best for the characters I grow to care about who are in danger on this island with a 365 day time limit to get off or face certain death. 

   The build up and addition to what we know about Nil is greatly improved by Rives' nearly manic desire to find answers and push the boundaries to get those answers. Skye is hard core and the chemistry not only physical but mental compatibility and how they challenged one another and gave a new perspective to what the other has been reaching for. 

    Like the first encounter with Nil, we are left with hearts pounding, and the bittersweet victory dampened by the huge amount of grief for the ones who didn't make it. It's also clear that Nil's story no matter how it may have seemed to the characters, isn't over. I will def read the third book and can't wait until its out. 

Bottom Line: Fast paced delving back into this beautiful but dangerous island.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you think you could survive an island with no electricity or modern conveniences?

Review: I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell

I Remember You by Cathleen Davitt Bell

For fans of THE FUTURE OF US comes an engrossing story of two teens, whose love for each other is tested by time and fate.
Lucas and Juliet couldn’t be more different from each other. But from the moment Lucas sees Juliet, he swears he remembers their first kiss. Their first dance. Their first fight. He even knows what’s going to happen between them—not because he can predict the future, but because he claims to have already lived it.
Juliet doesn’t know whether to be afraid for herself or for Lucas. As Lucas’s memories occur more frequently, they also grow more ominous. All Juliet wants is to keep Lucas safe with her. But how do you hold on to someone you love in the present when they’ve begun slipping away from you in the future?

Publishes in US: February 10th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: romantic lighter scifi (time travel elements)
Source: bought
Series? no

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    Loved the premise. Not sure if time travel, parallel universe or what but the fact that Lucas feels he is remembering their relationship even though she has none of the same memories made me but it. I also do mention above that its lighter because there is never really any explanation of why he can see the future/remember the past. Why its just him, etc. I didn't mind, but some readers might.

    It also draws a bit on the forbidden love aspect. She is brainy and has goals for going tho law school. Lucas is from other side of town, he is a jock. A hockey player which I love since only sport I follow. But he is from a long line of marines and that is his goal as well.

    The instant attraction and connection didn't bother me especially with Lucas seeming to have already loved it and fell in love once before. And she doesn't completely buy it, she wonders at his sanity, if he's had one to many concussions, and at times considers what he is saying is somehow possible.

    I couldn't help but fall with her. Lucas is attentive, smart in his own ways, handsome, and confident. He loves his family and has a sense of loyalty and duty.

    I also liked how close she and her mom were. Of course things changed when she started lying about where she was going and such. But they had an openness in other ways. Her mom is single and works hard for them, her dad is a Dr and she seems him two weeks a year in the summer.

    Friendship is also a good theme in this one. Her and rosemary weren't perfect to one another but what set of friends are. Boys came between them at times but they had a closeness that I did value.

    It was a beautiful and wonderfully paced book that I read in one sitting. I loved the themes of fluidity of time, importance of choice as well as first loves, and second chances.

Bottom Line: Romantic, read in one sitting, love the premise.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever felt like you've met someone before?