Addicted (Outlaws #2)
   by: Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Dystopian Erotic Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: ARC provided via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 368 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

From the New York Times bestselling author of Claimed comes the second enticingly erotic novel set in a world on the brink of chaos.

Lennox used to live in a paradise on earth with his best friend Jamie, in a place where visitors came and went, allowing their desires to run free. But everything changes when a deadly attack forces them to take up with Connor Mackenzie’s band of Outlaws. Lennox knows Jamie is hung up on someone else, but he’s always believed he’s the man for her—and won’t let her go without a fight.

Even though Jamie is well aware that Lennox is one hot specimen of a man, she refuses to let sex ruin the most important relationship in her life. But when the object of her interest spurns her, she indulges in a little pleasure-filled revenge with her very magnetic, very willing best friend. One thrilling night with Lennox is enough to awaken Jamie’s unexpected desires for him. And now that she’s had a taste, she’s not sure she can ever give him up...

 

 

I can't even begin to tell you guys how much I love this series. I love the fact that it's also dystopian. A very, very SEXY dystopian at that. At first, I was a little unsure of how I would handle the non-traditional sex scenes, but Kennedy handles it so well. They completely work and feel natural in this type of environment. We have a group of Outlaws living on the fringe of 'society' and they make their own rules. They aren't ashamed of how they live their lives and they aren't afraid to be themselves. I quite admire that mindset.

 

This book picks up where Claimed left off, with Connor sending assistance to Reese's camp. Lennox, Pike, Rylan, Jamie, and Kade all head to Foxworth to help get Reese's people more battle ready. At the start, Jamie is lusting over Rylan (and who wouldn't?!) but you can tell the tension is simmering under the surface between her and Lennox. I absolutely love that they have been together and best friends for so long. There is already so much history there, so seeing them make that transition from friends to lovers was quite sexy and fun. However, they do have to learn how to navigate this new relationship. As much as they both want to maintain their friendship and keep things the same, it's an impossible feat, especially now that intimacy is involved.

 

Jamie was such an awesome character. She is tough as nails, but she hasn't lost all hope at a future. I loved that balance. A heroine who longs for things like love and a family, but isn't afraid to call out her best friend on his crap. In a very alpha male dominated setting, she is a fiery one that demands they be partners and equals. I loved every second of that. Kennedy has written some seriously strong females in this series amidst these alpha males and it's awesome to see them bring those males to their knees.

 

Lennox was a great character too. He is a tough guy, but he has a soft spot for his best friend. They have been together for so long and he feels it's his responsibility to take care of her and protect her. (Which gets him in trouble several times) He is tired of pretending he doesn't want his best friend like he does, but he is also terrified of losing her. I love that Kennedy has him feel this way, but doesn't create a story filled with that frustrating push and pull effect.

 

Reese and her people at Foxworth are living in a precarious situation with their unstable alliance with the Enforcers. We really see this firsthand and are reminded of how gritty and dangerous this world really is. You'll experience a myriad of emotions with the one folks- humor, love, heartache, happiness, and sadness.... but the fierceness and loyalty of these characters will penetrate your soul and leave you desperate for more! I am SO excited for the next book in the series, Ruled. It's going to be a game changer, I can already tell.

 

Tarnished (Perfected #2)
   by: Kate Jarvik Birch

Publication Date: Dec. 1, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Dystopian
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 219 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Freedom comes at a cost...

Ella was genetically engineered to be the perfect pet—graceful, demure...and kept. In a daring move, she escaped her captivity and took refuge in Canada. But while she can think and act as she pleases, the life of a liberated pet is just as confining as the Congressman’s gilded cage. Her escape triggered a backlash, and now no one's safe, least of all the other pets. But she's trapped, unable to get back
to Penn—the boy she loves—or help the girls who need her.

Back in the United States, pets are turning up dead. With help from a very unexpected source, Ella slips deep into the dangerous black market, posing as a tarnished pet available to buy or sell. If she's lucky, she'll be able to rescue Penn and expose the truth about the breeding program. If she fails, Ella will pay not only with her life, but the lives of everyone she's tried to save...

 

 

After that monster cliffhanger at the end of Perfected, I was hoping Birch would write another book in the series. Naturally, when I saw Tarnished appear for review, I jumped at the chance to return to the seriously disturbing world where human girls are kept as pets. My heart ached for Ella, as she has been separated from the boy she loves and is now on her own.

 

While Ella is pretty obsessed with being reunited with Penn, her eyes are opened to the true horrors of NuPet and what they are doing, as well as how the black market operates. While finding Penn is still the most important thing to her, she can't pull the wool over her eyes and pretend none of this other stuff isn't happening. I commend her for taking a stand and fighting for what's right, even as naïve as she is.

 

One character from the first book makes a surprising appearance and I have to say I did not expect them at all, considering what happened previously. The friendship that develops between them really worked though and I was glad for it.

 

I loved Penn just as much as I did in the first one and I'm glad he also dared to be defiant and make the decisions he did. He respects Ella and the fact that she is going to make her own decisions from here on out. They are a team and I enjoyed seeing them in that capacity.

 

We do get quite a bit of action and adventure in this book, as well as some suspense. I thought it would be a dualogy, but Birch definitely left the ending open for another book, as well as raised some pretty important questions. Ella's story is definitely not resolved, so I am hoping we will see another book in this series!

The Revolution of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #2)
    by: Amy Engel

Publication Date: Nov. 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Dystopia
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Ivy Westfall is beyond the fence and she is alone. Abandoned by her family and separated from Bishop Lattimer, Ivy must find a way to survive on her own in a land filled with countless dangers, both human and natural. She has traded a more civilized type of cruelty--forced marriages and murder plots--for the bare-knuckled brutality required to survive outside Westfall's borders.

But there is hope beyond the fence, as well. And when Bishop reappears in Ivy's life, she must decide if returning to Westfall to take a final stand for what she believes is right is worth losing everything she's fought for.

  

 

 

This duology has everything I could have ever wanted in a young adult dystopian- action, adventure, romance, and sorrow. It hasn't been an easy journey for Ivy and Bishop, but seeing them fight for what they love, for one another, and themselves is just so powerful. I cannot recommend these books enough.

 

After everything that happened at the end of the previous book, we knew things for Ivy would not be easy. She has to go into survival mode pretty quickly and my heart ached for her at how alone she was. She doesn't have time to be scared or break down. She knows she has to find water and that is priority number one. She has to compartmentalize her emotions which is easier said than done, as she knows she won't be able to move on otherwise. She was sent to kill her husband, but ended up falling in love with him and his gentle, kind heart. She has never really been shown love in her life, growing up with her father and older sister, who both believe in taking back what's rightfully theirs- control of Westfall. Bishop is the first person to come along and really see Ivy. He sees into her soul and Ivy can't help but appreciate that he never once tried to control her or force her into anything. Losing that was crushing to her, so it's hard for her to let go of him so easily.

 

Thankfully, Ivy does end up befriending some others, Caleb and Ash, both of whom I really liked. They were such important characters in this novel and their friendship is not one to be taken for granted. They are the perfect example of how family is not just those related to you by blood.

 

I obviously have to talk about Bishop more. Just when I thought I couldn't love him any more than I already did! His patience with Ivy knows no bounds and I just wanted to squeeze him for having so much love in his heart for her. Ivy was not the easiest person to deal with at times because of her walls that she's constructed, but he refuses to stop wearing them down and get her to communicate with him. Their scenes together are so wonderful and I loved how a simple spark could turn into an inferno when it came to their passion for one another. I love how Ivy puts it all out there with him.

 

While I loved the romance and my heart swooned like crazy, this book was gritty and raw. Engel does an amazing job of describing the dangers these characters faced and how brutal survival could be. They are forced to do what is necessary to survive and while some may not like that- it's realistic. It felt like a true dystopian novel and while I am sad to say goodbye to these characters, I felt Engel did them and their story justice and that epilogue was everything I could want in an ending.

 

Claimed (Outlaws #1)
    by: Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: Oct. 6, 2015
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Dystopian Erotic Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 368 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

The bestselling author of the Killer Instincts novels “knows how to write scorching sexual tension” (USA Today). Now she really sets it on fire in a new series about men and women living on the edge of violence, sex, and life and death.

After a devastating war decimated most of the world, Hudson Lane has only known the oppressive life under her own father’s tyranny. She finally escapes, branding herself an outlaw and hunted by the Enforcers. Her best chance at survival is Connor Mackenzie, an aggressively sensual fugitive who opens her eyes to the wicked possibilities of a world without rules.

As the leader of a band of outlaw fighters, Connor can’t resist the beautiful stranger who asks for his protection. Despite his reservations, he agrees to introduce her to a whole new way of life. But when Connor discovers Hudson’s connection to the enemies of liberty, he wonders how far he can trust the woman who has abandoned all inhibitions to challenge every forbidden desire.

 

 

I don't even know where to start with my review. This book was scorching hot and I honestly could have kept reading about these characters for hours on end. Not to mention, I LOVED that it was dystopian! I am so excited about this new series.

 

I was really interested in the set up. People are grouped into Enforcers, Citizens, Outlaws, and Bandits. Citizens are those who live in the cities and Enforcers are the ones who keep control in cities (and even have bases of operation outside to keep Outlaws and Bandits in check). Outlaws are those who have decided to live their lives completely separate from the laws of the Global Council. Many of them such as Connor and his band of men don't agree with how GC runs things and would rather do things their own way. Bandits are wilder than Outlaws, more desperate and can be quite dangerous. Connor, Rylan, Pike, Xander, and Kade are our sexy Outlaws and I have to say I fell for all of them. Connor is the leader of the group, even though he never asked to be. He is good at being in control and the others recognized that inherent leadership in him. Rylan is probably the closest to Connor and I ended up really liking their friendship. Rylan is more fun-loving and easy going, where Connor is serious and gruff. I will say Kennedy definitely created a rather.... interesting dynamic to their friendship, especially where our heroine Hudson was involved. Pike was the most stoic one and definitely didn't warm up to Hudson like the others did. I wasn't sure if I would like him, but sure enough Kennedy had him win me over. Xander and Kade were also good guys, though we didn't get as much of them as the others.

 

I really liked Hudson. She may be from the City and on the run, but she is not weak. She can hold her own, but she isn't immune to fear. She's realistic and I liked that because she was a heroine we could actually buy into. Having run into Connor and his group at a bar, she isn't too proud to admit she needs help. Connor is pretty against the idea, even though he's seriously attracted to her. He doesn't let outsiders in because they are liabilities. Once you find out his past, you can't really blame the guy for being the way he is. Connor and Hudson have sexy as hell chemistry and their scenes are five degree burn hot. Kennedy knows her way around a good sex scene and she isn't afraid to push the boundaries either. Sex is very open and freeing among the Outlaws. They aren't ashamed of it and they certainly aren't afraid of a little voyeurism.

 

Seeing Hudson and Connor progress to more definitely made me happy though. Their feelings ran too deep to be blasé about their sexual experiences so I definitely enjoyed seeing them become more intimate together. Hudson is keeping a pretty big secret from Connor though and you know that it's not going to end well, considering Con's nature. I really hope we get more about Hudson's brother in the future. I don't think his story is finished yet. We met so many other intriguing secondary characters and out of all of them I hope we meet Reese in future books. She is the leader of a nearby community and she is one of the very few that can resist Rylan's charms, so naturally I would love for the next book to feature those two. 

 

I really can't wait for the next book in the series. I am definitely hooked and I am already excited to see the group again. We still have some incredibly sexy Outlaws to learn more about....

 

Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2)
   by: Victoria Scott

Publication Date: Feb. 24, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Dystopia
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 320 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

 

 

Upon finishing Fire & Flood, I couldn't wait to get my hands on its sequel! I loved the premise behind this series and how Scott has created such a believable, realistic heroine in Tella. That's not to say she doesn't have her flaws. However, I was able to look past those and really focus on the action packed, intense story it was.

 

Tella was a bit frustrating for me in the beginning with her constant worrying about whether or not she's depending too much on Guy. She wants to keep him close because she cares for him, but at the same time she feels like she has something to prove. She really dwells on this more than she should and then there were times that I felt she was rebelling just to prove she could. She did get better as the book went on, though. Where Guy felt more the leader in the previous book, Tella really takes the reigns in this one. She is not perfect though. She makes mistakes and she constantly wonders if her decision was the right one or if she should have heeded Guy's advice instead. However, it is her big heart that really endears her to me. She cares for her companions, as well as the Pandoras. Seeing her interact with them was absolutely my favorite part of this one.

 

The more I read, the more I feared for what was to come. I didn't want anything bad to come to Tella, her friends, or their Pandoras. However, they are in a brutal race of survival. Everyone there has someone to lose if they don't succeed, so the fact they banded together was nice to see. We do have a few new character additions and I was really wary of them. I was afraid they would upset the balance and cause problems for Tella's team. Things weren't perfect between them and there were times I was confused by some of their actions, but overall they were a team and they respected one another.

 

As frustrated as I could get with Guy in this one, I did still love him. He really does care for Tella and he is afraid of showing her just how much. Scott does a great job with their tension and there were so many moments you could feel him desperately wanting to express himself and when he doesn't, I just wanted to scream! Tella definitely tests him in this book and the swoony moments are few and far between, but they are definitely worth the wait and the frustration!

 

There were a few twists in this one that I didn't expect and I was both desperate and afraid to turn the pages, knowing that my heart might not be able to take what was to come! I am really anxious for the next book and am hoping that Scott maintains her fast paced, action packed world (with more Guy and Tella romantic moments) as well as gives us plenty more with those adorable Pandoras we all love!

 

Perfected
   by: Kate Jarvik Birch

Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Dystopian
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Perfection comes at a price.

As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.

Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows…and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.

But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she’s faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn’s family is leaving…and if she’s unsuccessful, she’ll face a fate far worse than death.

For fans of Keira Cass’s Selection series and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous—and dangerous—bow.

 

 

Is there a sequel? For the love of God, someone tell me if there's going to be a sequel! I NEED A FREAKING SEQUEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *composes self* Ok, I'm good. But for real. I'm gonna need more because that ending was NOT okay with me! I mean it was, but.... but..... sigh. The ending was imperfectly perfect. Does that even make sense?

 

I really enjoyed this book. I do wish there was a bit more world building, as I would have liked to find out more about how this whole 'owning girls as pets' came into being, or how the law was passed, etc. I think a bit more backstory would have made this even more compelling and frightening. This book both fascinated and sickened me. I thought the premise was a really neat one, but when you think how some owners used these girls as pets.... it is very upsetting.

 

Pacing: I felt the story flowed really well. I was hooked from the start and I was curious to see how Ella would do as a pet, as she is constantly worrying about whether or not she's doing or saying the appropriate thing. Most of all, I liked seeing Ella's transformation from a pet to a girl. With Penn and even Ruby, she started to feel more comfortable and acted more like a girl than a toy to be played with. I like that she didn't always censor her thoughts, especially with Penn. She's confused as to what she's feeling for him, and knows she shouldn't, but she's never felt these feelings for someone else before and wants to explore them.

 

Storyline: Imagine a world where human girls are bred to perfection and poise. Now imagine those same girls being bred in what are called 'kennels' and sold as pets to the elite. However, not all pets are purchased JUST for their children to enjoy...  I'll let you read between the lines. Yeah, NOT OKAY. Luckily, there are those in this world who feel as you and I do and they want to help these girls earn their freedom and flee such an environment. And then there are those who would chain their pets up for running away and wrongdoing. As appalling as it is to read about this, it is equally interesting to see how Ella is treated in the Congressman's home she was sold to. She was sold to entertain their 10 year old daughter, Ruby, but that may not be her sole purpose... It is evident the Congressman's wife and 16-year-old son do not care for Ella and do not want her there. There are several references to the family's previous pet, but we do not find out what happened to her until much later in the book. One can deduct their disdain stems from that previous girl and that is why they are resistant to accepting Ella.

 

Characters: Ella is a very naïve girl. She doesn't know any different- she was raised to believe she is only there for others' enjoyment and that her happiness is irrelevant. She lives with the constant fear of being sent back to the kennel and being put down for displeasing her masters. With her new family, she is very unsure of how she should act and is always wary she won't say or do the right thing. I felt so much sadness and agony for her. Not only does she have to worry about those things, but she has to worry about her feelings as a girl and what that could mean for her. She is drawn to Penn and I like that Birch explored that relationship, as it shows just how human Ella is and how young she is.

 

I really liked Penn. He starts off wary and a bit dismissive of Ella, but he has his reasons and after finding them out I can't say I blame him. As he starts to get to know Ella and see that she's not just this perfect little pet, he starts to empathize with her and even show her compassion, which eventually leads to more. He sees her passion for music and the love for it she desperately tries to keep hidden. He doesn't like that his father whisks her away to show off for his other elite friends and the two really butt heads on Penn's future. I have to say Penn really surprised me towards the end and it made me want to squeeze him so tight and not let him go.

 

Ruby was a great character too. Being 10 years old, Ella is more than just a pet- she becomes a friend, someone to spend time with. I liked seeing them together and their relationship was very sweet.

 

There are some surprises with the Congressman and his wife and I wish I could discuss their characters a bit more, but I don't want to spoil anything. Let's just say some of their actions were not what I was expecting at all.

 

Final Thoughts: I definitely agree with the blurb in saying that if you enjoyed Kiera Cass's The Selection, you will probably enjoy this one too. I do think we needed more world building and I would have liked to find out more about those opposed to girls being owned as pets and that resistance. I am also curious about other pets like Missy, who have been jaded and see this whole debacle for what it really is. And I need a sequel. Like WHOA.

 

Unleashed (Uninvited #2)

by: Sophie Jordan

Young Adult Science Fiction/Dystopian

Expected Release: Feb. 24, 2015

 

What if the worst thing you ever did was unforgivable?

Davy’s world fell apart after she tested positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. She was expelled from her school, dumped by her boyfriend, abandoned by friends, and shipped off to a camp that turns HTS carriers into soldiers. Davy may have escaped, but the damage has already been done. The unthinkable has happened. Now, even worse than having everyone else see her as a monster is the knowledge that they may have been right about her all along. Because Davy has killed.

On the run from government agents, Davy is rescued by Caden, the charismatic leader of an underground group of rebels. Despite Caden’s assurances that the Resistance is made up of carriers like her, Davy isn’t sure she can trust them. Then again, she doesn’t even know if she can trust herself . . . or her growing feelings for Caden. But if she doesn’t belong with Caden and his followers, is there anywhere she can call home?

 

 

I thought being labeled a killer and losing everything—my future, family, boyfriend, friends—was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. It’s not. Finding out they were right. Finding out that’s exactly what I am?

That’s worse.

The Treatment (The Program #2)
   by: Suzanne Young

Publication Date: Apr. 29, 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Dystopian
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 352 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

 

 

After reading and loving The Program, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel The Treatment! Young has taken such a tragic and difficult topic and weaved it into a dystopian novel in a way that will both break your heart and fill you with hope at the same time. I loved Sloane and James in the first book, so I was heartsick for them, as we watched them enter The Program and are basically brainwashed to forget their memories and who they once were. Sloane and James, however, have found their way back to one another and while it hasn't been an easy journey, it does goes to show you that love can overcome the most challenging of obstacles.

 

Pacing: The Treatment is a bit slower paced than The Program. It did pick up more towards the middle and sailed into the end. Sloane and James may be together again, but the danger is far from over. On the run from the Program and in possession of one orange pill that could change everything, the two end up joining up with a band of rebels to figure out their next move.

 

Storyline: Being a duology, I had to wonder how Young was going to wrap everything up in the span of one book. Sloane and James want to be free of the Program and live a normal life without the fear of being sent back, or worse, erased completely. The pair face new challenges with the rebels, as well as the re-emergence of Michael Realm, who played a large role in Sloane's life in the first novel. The entire foundation of Sloane and James' world is fragile, not knowing who can be trusted and emotions run high in this novel as the ever-present threat of depression hangs heavy over all our characters' heads. Being in possession of the treatment is very dangerous for all involved, especially if it falls in the wrong hands.

 

Characters: I love that Young shows us the strong and weak moments our characters have. There are moments where they don't know how to control their emotions and feel like they are being suffocated by their sadness and pain. It was hard to watch them feel that way, but I love that Sloane and James grounded one another. Their relationship is seriously tested in this novel- not just by Realm and his love for Sloane, but by knowledge of the past. Knowledge is power but it can also destroy. I like that Sloane decides to live for the here and now and not dwell on the past. She is afraid to take the orange pill Realm gave her, as there are so many unknowns about it. Maybe getting her memory back will be more painful than helpful, and she is already in such a fragile state of mind. Yet, when new information about her and James's relationship comes to light, she is forced to question their feelings for one another.

 

We do have a bit of a love square in this one. One of the new characters introduced, Dallas, isn't afraid to show her interest in James. She is rough and tough around the edges, but deep down she's a vulnerable girl who is hurting. Her time in The Program was not a pleasant one and her relationship with Realm is complicated at best.

 

Ah, Realm. I can't say I really like the guy. Mainly because I'm all for Sloane and James and he just seems to get in the way. I don't like the way he treats Dallas and after finding out more about how the two are connected, I really disliked him.  I do believe he genuinely cares for her though, but he is so blinded by his affection for Sloane, that he doesn't think about his actions and their consequences.

 

Final Thoughts: I was really happy with the conclusion of this series. We get closure on what happens with the Program, as well as with Sloane, James, and friends. I really loved the uniqueness of this duology and the emotions it evoked. It was difficult to read at times because of their struggle to move forward with life without their memories. I can't say I enjoyed this one more than the first, but I did feel satisfied upon finishing.

 

So this year Readers Live A Thousand Lives, Corrie The Book Crazed Girl, and Lovin' Los Libros have teamed up to host the Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge! For this challenge, the goal is to mix up the genres/categories we read. We have all had those times when we have gotten stuck in the genre/category we are currently reading and read nothing else for a while. The goal here is to mix that up! Each month we will feature a different genre/category and the goal is to read and review one book or more in that genre/category during that month. This month we are focusing on Dystopian. If you want to find out more and join in, go sign up here.

I read a lot of different types of dystopias: science-fiction, fantasy, etc. These are just a few of my favorites:

 

 

For the challenge this month I plan to read The Treatment by Suzanne Young. This is the second book in her duology and I'm really excited to see what happens!

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3)
   by: Julie Kagawa

Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Dystopia/Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 416 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

 

 

I've really enjoyed this series by Julie Kagawa. When I first read The Immortal Rules, I loved how unique the premise was. A dystopian world controlled by vampires? Heck yeah! It was cool to see a world where humans were inferior to vampires and were forced to live and obey by THEIR rules. We have watched Allie transform in front of our very eyes from a girl living on the edge of society to a really kickass vampire who is determined to fight the monster within and not let it strip her of her humanity. The events from the end of The Eternity Cure really set quite a bit in motion for Allie and she'll have to figure out how far she'll go to seek revenge or if she'll lose herself in the process....

 

Pacing: Part One was really slow going for me. I had trouble concentrating, as there just wasn't much going on. After that I found I had no trouble reading the book, even with its predictability.

 

Storyline: I obviously won't reveal too much here, as this is the final book in the series. Allie is really struggling with her identity, as the events at the end of The Eternity Cure have really changed everything for her. Watching her lose sight of everything she has worked to gain and what Kanin has taught her was really hard, as she fought so hard to not succumb to the monster within. I felt a lot of things that occurred in this final book were pretty predictable and I won't lie. I was relieved at some of that predictability because otherwise I would've been a hot mess over this book. Kagawa did still deliver a few heart-stopping moments that really made me cringe in fear of what direction she would go. I do feel Kagawa did a good job of wrapping up her series and tied up all loose ends and questions I may have previously had.

 

Characters: As I said, we see a very different Allie at the start of this book. It's a bit hard to swallow considering how much time Kanin and Zeke spent guiding and teaching her. She is really a shell of who she used to be and is determined to end Sarren and make him pay. Kanin is still as stoic as ever. He has such a powerful, quiet presence. He is disappointed that Allie is choosing to give in to the monster and not fight it. But when you have nothing left to fight for.... I've always liked Kanin's character, even though he is harder to read. He feels so much guilt and shame for the past and it's something that weighs heavily on him everyday. He does not want to see Sarren succeed in ridding the world of the human race and so he will push forward to make things right.

 

Jackal is also back in this book and I have to say, I really love his character. He's a lot of fun and really does a great job of providing comedic relief. His back and forth jabs at Allie are great and had me chuckling. Jackal has not proven to be the most trustworthy of allies, and we still spend a lot of time wondering what his ulterior motives are and whether or not he will betray his kin at the last moment.

 

There are other characters that I can't really discuss without spoilers, so I won't, but I will say at 70% I had a huge grin on my face and all felt right in the world, considering the odds of survival were NOT in their favor.

 

Final Thoughts: I think fans of this series will be quite satisfied with the way it ended, and I felt the events that transpired HAD to happen and I had a feeling they were coming, as much as I didn't want them to. I really like that Kagawa did not hold back either. The world is a barren, ravaged wasteland where rabids are running rampant and it really is all about survival. There are some pretty gruesome, grotesque parts and I really commend her for staying true to the darker nature of this novel.

 

 

Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1)
   by: Victoria Scott

Publication Date: Feb. 25, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Dystopia
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

 

 

I will start my review off by saying: I WANT A PANDORA! Preferably Tella's, since I'm in love with foxes.

 

Ok, in all seriousness. I really enjoyed this book! Not that I thought I wouldn't because come on. It's Victoria Scott and she's a rockstar. I love how she has created this fast-paced, descriptive story about the lengths people would go to in order to save someone they loved. Most of these characters show heart and spirit and I loved getting to know them and see them interact with one another.

 

Let's start with Tella. She is such an interesting character! She is not your typical kick butt heroine that can defy all the odds and succeed. Tella is unique and definitely quirky, which I loved. Some of her internal dialogue comes across as a bit superficial and you can't help but laugh at her for thinking such thoughts. She definitely has some spunk and sass and I really loved that about her. However, I admired Tella's strength most of all. She is determined to find a cure for her brother and she enters into a world where she is alone and completely self-sufficient. She has no idea what's going on or what to do. The rules are simple: get to the base camp in 2 weeks. How she does that is completely up to her- there's no manual to lead her.

 

"I fear isolation more than the jungle itself."

 

I love how realistic Tella is. Katniss is great and all, but not every heroine can be a total badass or quick on their feet. Even though the race is harsh, Tella is sensitive. She feels for the Pandoras and cares for her own like she would a pet. Her companions that she meets up with and ends up traveling with think she's crazy for her treatment of the Pandora, but she doesn't care. She is compassionate and we see that compassion so much throughout the story. There are people in this story that would use this information as a weapon, however, but Tella doesn't think in those terms. That is not to say she's too trusting of people, because she's not. She is wary of Titus, especially, as he leers at her and makes her uncomfortable and something about him doesn't sit right with her.

 

Knowing there can only be one winner of the race, one would think the Contenders would try to kill each other off, and that may have happened elsewhere, but not with Tella and her companions. Instead, they work together for a common goal, taking it one day at a time. Scott has truly created a great set of characters and I connected with all of them: Harper, Caroline, Dink, Ransom, Levi, Jaxon, Olivia, and Guy. She also finds some unexpected allies along the way, which definitely intrigued me.

 

Let's talk about Guy. Obviously, he's my favorite. I love the way he acts stoic and tough, but he has a soft spot for Tella. We see that from the very beginning of the novel and we watch it grow into more as the novel progresses. He becomes such a source of comfort for her and it's clear these two have real feelings for one another. The romance isn't a huge part of this story, but it's incorporated just enough that I swooned like crazy.

 

I am all about plot twists, and I felt Scott handled the ones she gave us quite nicely. There were a few moments where I was definitely blind-sided and had no idea as to what would happen. The Pandoras were such a big part of this novel and I loved them so much. Tella and Madox (her Pandora) have such an incredible bond and where most of her friends thought their Pandoras only served to protect them, Tella was protective of her own, always conscious of where he was and what he was doing.

 

As the novel progressed, I found myself unable to put it down. Scott definitely upped the tension and the action and I was on pins and needles by the end. I've heard people comparing this to Hunger Games and while they have a similar premise, both are novels all their own. If you are a dystopian fan, you will definitely enjoy this one and I highly recommend it! I am really looking forward to book two, as some revelations are revealed by the end of this novel and Tella and her friends are only getting started!

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)
   by: Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: Jan. 28, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

 

 

 

I am always so nervous about ending a series I love, as I am never sure of what direction the author will take. After becoming so invested in the characters and their storylines, us readers can only hope that the author ties up all loose ends, answer all our questions, and give us the ending the characters deserve. It is such a tricky thing, as you know you cannot please everyone. However, I have to say: I am very satisfied with Rossi's ending to her Under the Never Sky series.

 

In the first book, Under the Never Sky, we are introduced to both the Dweller and the Outsider worlds as they come crashing together in the form of a girl named Aria. Aria has evolved so much from when we first met her and I absolutely loved her strength in this final book. After everything she has gone through, she has really earned her place in Perry's world. She's not the sheltered Dweller she once was. Instead, she has known hardships and loss and has had to fight to survive. She has been forced to make the difficult decisions to help the ones she loves. After not seeing Perry and Aria together much in the previous novel Through the Ever Night, I was so happy to see them together as a unit again. They balance each other so perfectly and I love how they are both driven to do what is right. Aria is really put in the middle between two people she cares about dearly for the majority of the book, but I felt she handled that with grace and worked to bridge the gap instead of widen it.

 

Perry has also come a long way from when we first met him. He has accepted his responsibility as a leader and that he must do what is best for his tribe as a whole, even when the greater good comes at a dear price. I obviously don't want to spoil anything but there was a scene towards the last 1/4 of the book where I felt such pride and despair for Perry. If you ever doubted that he was a good man, that scene will completely make you reevaluate those doubts. I loved watching him and Aria together- he is completely in love with her and just the way they interact with one another is really precious.

 

ROAR. ROAR. ROAR. Oh gods. All I can really say here is that we see a very different Roar in this book than we did in Under the Never Sky. However, I absolutely adore his and Aria's friendship. These two are beautiful together. I can't recall a book where the female love interest had such a strong relationship with the male lead's best friend. Roar does not open up to many people and I love his easy acceptance of Aria. When Perry was being too thick headed, Roar was the balance and the calm to the storm. I hate that we don't see this for a good portion of this book. Roar is being suffocated by his grief and unfortunately, instead of leaning on his oldest friend, the rift between the two is absolutely heartbreaking.

 

Rossi does an amazing job of continuing her world building and while my heart was certainly broken at times, she managed to leave me quite satisfied with her ending. I really liked seeing the shift in alliances as well as watching the Dwellers and the Outsiders come together to seek out a better life for themselves. I am never ready for a series to end, so I have to say I selfishly wish Rossi would write a final novella, from either Roar, Brooke, or even Soren's POV just to check in with our characters and see how they're doing.

 

Into the Still Blue is the perfect conclusion to the Under the Never Sky trilogy and it has earned its place as one of my favorite conclusions to a YA series. Props Ms. Rossi. You brought so much life to this series, its characters, and I loved seeing all of the development and growth throughout.