Storm - A Review

Published - November 2016, Revell Books
Series - Stone Braide Chronicles Book 3
Author - Bonnie S. Calhoun
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book (from Amazon):
Now that Glade, Selah's protecting force, is gone, the hunt is on to capture her. Selah has survived the forces of both man and nature to reunite her family. But her happiness is short-lived as they are forced into a barren world of volcanic ash that conceals the storm boiling beneath. The clock is ticking and Selah's abilities are growing--along with the list of those out for her blood. Selah feels unworthy of her status as a novarium and is tortured by the knowledge of lives lost to protect her. Her physical and mental abilities will tempt her to be reckless, but she must learn to wield such power responsibly. Time is running out as more lives are tragically cut short and the search for the Third Protocol takes Selah into lands that have fallen into legend. Can Selah follow the trail of ancient artifacts and finish the quest? Or have she and her companions pinned their hopes on nothing more than a fanciful story?

My Thoughts:
I read book 1 when it came out. Then somehow forgot about book 2. So when book 3 showed up as a title I could select to review, I jumped at it. Though I knew I needed to read book 2 first.

After renting the second book from the library and finishing it, I dived into this one. This one picked right up where the second one left off. I liked Selah from the beginning of the series. One of the best things was watching her grow and develop in this one. She's learned to control her powers. I also loved how she learned to trust others. Her journey isn't easy, and she needs all of the assistance that she can get.

I still don't have a clear understanding of Landers and what makes them so unique. That could be because I read this one so quickly that I may have missed something.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher as part of the Revell Reads blogging program. I was asked only to share my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of dystopian fiction, young adult

Rating - 4 stars

Seeker - A Review

Published - February, 2015, Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Author - Arwen Elys Dayton
Title - Seeker
Format - hardcover, audio, ebook
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Quin Kincaid has trained her entire life to be a Seeker. While she doesn't entirely know what that entails, she knows it is her destiny. The night that she and one of the other apprentices take their Oaths, she discovers the truth her father kept hidden from her. Vowing to be a different Seeker than her father, Quin soon finds herself in a battle for her life that leads her to question everything she'd been taught or told about her family, the boy she loves, and even herself.

This is the first book I've ever read by this author. And while there are comparisons to the Divergent Series or to Hunger Games listed on the back from various review sources, I found that comparing this book to those series is probably not the best thing. The only comparison to those series would be that this is in fact a dystopian novel. And that the main character is a girl. But that's where the similarities end.

I'll admit that the description of this book intrigued me. It really did make me want to read it. Picking it up, I had questions. And as the story unfolded, my questions didn't fully get answered. Even after finishing it, I still don't have a clear understanding of exactly what a Seeker is or the purpose of the Dreads. But I can live with unanswered questions because I know that there will be a sequel due out next year.

The story is told through the points of view of Quin, John, Shinobu, and Maud. It also takes the reader from Scotland to Hong Kong and back again. The various points of view didn't really bother me. I'm used to reading things with multiple points of view. The jumping from location to location didn't bother me too much either because I'm used to that. What did bother me though was that the "interludes" were back story into the characters that would probably have been useful to have earlier in the book.

As far as the characters go, my favorite was the Young Dread, Maud. I thought she was the best developed. John, Shinobu, and Quin all could have used some deeper development. And the whole love triangle thing drove me crazy. To me, the choice as to which of the boys Quin would ultimately end up with was obvious from the beginning. And while one of the two boys is made out to be a villain, I found that the author didn't do the best job in driving that point across. I actually thought that he was more misunderstood than anything else, and that his determination to reclaim what he considered rightfully his family's property had him heading down a path that could very well have been wrong. But was he a true villain? No, not in my opinion.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the book. It's probably not a favorite. But is was a fairly quick read. I'll look for the sequel when it comes out next year so I can see if my questions are answered.

I received a Kindle copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.

Recommended to fans of young adult fiction, dystopian fiction

Rating - 3.5 stars - I liked it. I didn't love it. It's a little beyond just ok. Amazon/Goodreads rating will be 3 stars.

Review to be posted on Amazon on the book's release date February 10, 2015.

Cress - A Review

Published - February 2014, Feiwel & Friends
Series - Lunar Chronicles Book 3
Author - Marissa Meyer
Title - Cress
Format - ebook, audio, hardcover, paper
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Cinder and Thorne have eluded the authorities once again. This time when they escaped from Queen Levanna's forces, they brought along Scarlet and Wolf. Wolf vows to help Cinder master her Lunar abilities. Cinder's plan at this point to contact Cress, the mysterious hacker who first sent her the message warning that Kai was in danger. Cress has spent the past several years aboard an isolated satellite that circles the Earth. She is the Queen's best hacker. Yet she wants to escape. When a rescue attempt falls apart, Cinder's group becomes separated. Cress finds herself falling to Earth in the satellite with Thorne. Scarlet has been captured. And Cinder's faced with one of the queen's guards, a critically wounded Wolf, and no other option but to go to Africa in search of the doctor who first told her of her identity. With only weeks remaining to stop Kai's wedding to Levanna, Cinder and her friends must figure out how to accomplish such a feat when they are scattered. Will they succeed or will Levanna's rule on Earth begin?

With each volume of the Lunar Chronicles, I'm more and more fascinated with the characters and the intrinsic plot. This one literally had about four different plotlines. Some of them merged. Others are still left open. This one ended on a cliffhanger that has me wishing it were next year already so I could read Winter!

I think that while Cress is an interesting character, she isn't my favorite heroine. I'm thinking that Scarlet still holds that spot. But still, Cress's points of view were very fun to read, partially because of Thorne being in the majority of them.

The various twists and turns of the plot have me very engrossed in the outcomes of these characters. I felt so bad for Wolf when Scarlet was captured. I literally cannot wait to see how the series ends in Winter.

This book is loosely based one the story of Rapunzel.

I rented this book from the library and read it for pure pleasure. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of fairy tales, dystopian ficiton, Hunger Games, Divergent

Rating - 5 stars

Scarlet - A Review

Published - February 2013, Fiewel & Friends
Series - Lunar Chronicles Book 2
Author - Marissa Meyer
Title - Scarlet
Format - ebook, hardcover, paper, audio
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Cinder has escaped from prison and is on the run with Captain Carswell Thorne. They are heading to France to find Michelle Benoit, a woman who may have information about Cinder's past. Scarlet Benoit is frustrated. Her grandmother disappeared a few weeks ago and the police aren't doing anything to try to find her. She soon finds herself being chased by the same ones who kidnapped her grandmother. Scarlet must put her trust in Wolf, the wild man who saves her. Yet there is more to Wolf than Scarlet knows. When she finds out his secrets, will she be able to overcome this betrayal? And what'll happen when she meets up with Cinder?

For some strange reason, it took me a while to get to reading this series. Yet now that I have, I've found that I really am enjoying these fairy tale retellings.

Scarlet is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. I loved the interactions between Wolf and Scarlet. I loved their dynamics. They are such fun. It was also nice to get glimpses into Kai and how he is adjusting to being Emperor with an evil queen wanting any reason to go to war against Earth. And to see Cinder learning more and more of how to use her gifts. I'll admit that I felt bad for Wolf and all he's been through, but I think that made him all the more interesting.

I rented this book from the library to read for pure pleasure. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of fairy tales, dystopian, young adult, Twilight, Hunger Games

Rating - 5 stars

Tremors & Thunder - Two Reviews

This post will be set up a little differently than most of my book review posts. The reason for that is that I've got one novella prequel and the actual book. Since they go together, I'm putting them in the same post.

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Tremors - A Review

Published - August 2014, Revell Books a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - Stone Braide Chronicles 0.5
Author - Bonnie S. Calhoun
Title - Tremors: A Stone Braide Chronicles Story
Format - ebook
Find on Amazon - this is currently FREE!

Selah Rishon Chavez is just days from her 18th Birth Remembrance and finally being able to join her father and brothers as a hunter. Yet she soon discovers that there are secrets her family is hiding. And why are her brothers asked to keep an eye on her?

This prequel novella was a very fast read. It quickly introduced the heroine of the full novel and the reader gets to understand a little more of her family life. Yet it's not necessary to read the novella in order to enjoy the book. I did, but I didn't need to. Once I finished this, I was eager to get to the book.

The novella is currently free and I read this to enrich my reading experience of the full length. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Divergent Series, Hunger Games, Anomaly Series, dystopian, young adult

Rating - 4 stars

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Thunder - A Review

Published October, 2014 Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Series - Stone Braide Chronicles Book 1

Author - Bonnie S. Calhoun

Title - Thunder

Format - hardcover, ebook

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One hundred fifty years have passed since the Sorrows, and Selah Rishon Chavez is hunting. She's hunting rabbits that her father and brothers refuse to eat due to mutations caused from the fallout of the Sorrows and which she and her mother enjoy. But she's really hunting Landers, the mysterious people that arrive on the shore in small boats and have distinctive markings on their faces. Selah knows that if a Lander keeps the mark, then the bounty is worth more. On this day before her 18th Birth Remembrance, she has disobeyed her mother by being on the beach. But Selah hopes to capture a Lander. When she does, and he ends up saving her life, her brothers steal her catch. But the damage has been done. She awakens the next morning to discover that the Lander's distinctive marking has appeared on her own flesh. Now hunted instead of being the hunter, Selah is forced to run, with the secrets her mother has held for several years. Her only hope lies in  seeking  the help of the Lander her brothers stole from her - Bodhi Locke. 

With debut authors or for authors debuting in a different genre, I'm never really sure what to expect. So I  always try to read an author's debut with a little more leeway than I would give an established author. The genre of speculative fiction or dystopian societies is really popular right now ever since the Hunger Games came on the scene a few years ago. Adding a Christian element to this dystopian fiction is also touch and go. Some books I've read from Christian authors did an excellent job. Others not so much. For me at least, Thunder falls in the first category.

I was drawn into the story immediately. And I had questions as things were uncovered. Questions like what exactly is a Lander? What makes them so different? Why do some of them see their marks disappear? Part of those questions were answered to an extent as the book progressed. But I still don't know exactly what  Lander is. But that's ok. I'm sure it'll be revealed more fully as the series progresses. 

I'll admit to be completely engrossed in one particular story line then Wham! the chapter ends on a cliffhanger and the next chapter is a different plot line. So I'd have to wait. But that's a good thing. It means it held my interest and forced me to keep reading. I've read some authors who switch from point of view to point of view, but those switches are clearly noted by either the chapter icon (I'm thinking Wheel of Time here) of the character's name across the top (Song of Ice and Fire, Heroes of Olympus and a couple of others) so I can easily skip to the chapter with the same character's point of view just to find out what happened with that cliffhanger. But in this book, I was kept interested and guessing.

While the book did start off slowly, once the momentum was picked up, it was like a hang on to the edge of your seat kind of speed. When that happened and I knew I needed to be someplace a little later that evening, I very reluctantly put it down until I got home where I found myself staying up entirely too late to finish despite having to wake up early for work the next morning. But I was determined to finish. I wouldn't be able to sleep until I'd finished. So I stayed up. And finish it I did! In the early hours of the morning, but even that left me with a hunger for the next one.

Now onto a little more specifics in this review. :) First, while Bodhi came across a little selfish at first, my heart went out to him too. Here he is, a stranger in a strange land trying to find others like him. And him discovering Selah and figuring out their connection was fun to watch. In some ways, his character reminded me a little of Brennen Caldwell from the Firebird books by Kathy Tyers. I wanted to see him accept his fate. By far my favorite character is the little girl that basically adopts Selah and Bodhi. I found her to be delightful and so resourceful.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of dystopian fiction, Hunger Games, Divergent Series, Lunar Chronicles, Anomaly Series, young adult.

Rating - 5 stars

Revolutionary - A Review

Published - July 2014, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Series - Anomaly Book 3
Author - Krista McGee
Title - Revolutionary
Format - ebook, paper
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Thalli and her friends are back in the State. After having escaped and enjoyed the freedom of New Hope, they find themselves once again at the mercy of the Scientists, particularly Dr. Loudin. Determined to find a way to stop Loudin from destroying the world for a second time, Thalli learns that she must depend upon the Designer in ways she'd not thought possible especially in light of some very startling discoveries. But as she struggles to come to grips with this new information, she is faced with  a choice - to be the one to stop it all or to allow death to come to all she loves. How can she choose?

I have real mixed feelings about this book, and series in general. I enjoyed the first book, got bored with the second so didn't finish it, and this one didn't make me fall in love with it. I know that several of my blogging friends have loved this series and this book in particular, but I'm not one of them. I'm not really sure why that is either. I found the book very easy to get into, but I also kept putting it down for several days at a time. I wasn't that into it. But when I did pick it up, I enjoyed it.

Thalli has changed a lot since we first met her in Anomaly. While some of the changes are good, the fact that she still remains somewhat childish bother me in this book. I'll admit that I was tired of her "woe is me attitude." What totally and completely surprised me in this one, was the reveal of her parentage. I truly didn't see it coming. But looking back, it does make sense. For me, the choice between the two young men was very obvious. And I'm glad I wasn't disappointed in who she ultimately chose.

I loved Rhen. I didn't care too much for her in book one, and don't remember her much in two as I didn't finish it, but in this one, she really shines. Her logical mind has come to accept the Designer and will work hard to convince others of that fact.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite by this author. Don't get me wrong. The series is good. I was just rather bored with this book. I didn't see it as riveting as others have claimed.

I received this book for free from the Booklook Blogger Program for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Divergent, Hunger Games, dystopian fiction, young adult, Krista McGee

Rating - 3 stars

Anomaly - A Review

Years in the future, a Nuclear War has destroyed life on Earth. Yet there is a community of Scientists, known as the Ten, who have genetically engineered humans to be free of emotions in the hopes that another war can be prevented. Thalli is different than the others. She feels and reacts to emotions. So far she has managed to keep her feelings hidden from the Scientists. But when she reacts to an ancient piece of music she's asked to play, she suddenly finds herself facing annihilation. At the urging of a young Scientist and friend of Thalli's, she is granted a chance to live - if only to be studied. But as the experiments and simulations start to take place on her, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous and forbidden alliance. Thalli also discovers a Designer who may be even more powerful than the Scientists. Will Thalli's emotional outbursts put all of those she loves in danger including herself, or will there be an escape?

Having read Krista McGee's other books and enjoyed them, I was curious to see what this book would be about. It's VERY different than her other series. But I really enjoyed it. As I was reading it, I felt that it was an almost Hunger Games type of novel. And I saw the similarities between them immediately. The biggest difference, aside from the fact that this is a Christian fiction book, is that the characters are not in a competition for their lives. This had a society that has genetically altered humans to have no feelings. Any sicknesses (common colds, etc) are causes for immediate removal and Thalli is considered an anomaly because she doesn't accept the way that things are.

What I loved the best about this book was the relationships between Thalli and John and Thalli and Berk. I did not like that those who were different were removed from the society. I felt that that was too close to what Hitler tried to do during WWII. Don't get me wrong. Those removal scenes were in fact necessary for the reader to understand that the Scientists were manipulating the society and that there was something else out there for Thalli to believe in.

I did enjoy this book. I look forward to the next one in this series.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of the Hunger Games, Dystopian fiction, Krista McGee, Jenny B. Jones, young adult books

Rating - 4 stars

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