The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials: The Collector's Edition

Title: The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials: The Collector's Edition

Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: April 14, 2015
Goodreads

Get lost in the thrilling action and twisting plotlines of James Dashner’s #1 New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series. Read the first two books—The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials—discover lost files from the offices of WICKED, and learn forgotten Glader memories in this collectible edition.

The Maze Runner is now a major motion picture from Twentieth Century Fox. Don’t miss the sequel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, coming to theaters on September 18, 2015, with Dylan O’Brien as Thomas, Kaya Scodelario as Teresa, Will Poulter as Gally, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt, Rosa Salazar as Brenda, Giancarlo Esposito as Jorge, and Aidan Gillen as the Rat Man.

Remember. Survive. Run.

THE FIRST TWO NOVELS IN JAMES DASHNER’S #1 NEW YORK TIMES

BESTSELLING MAZE RUNNER SERIES, NOW AVAILABLE IN ONE VOLUME IN

THE MAZE RUNNER AND THE SCORCH TRIALS: THE COLLECTOR’S EDITION

Edition Carries a First Printing of 150,000 and Includes Exclusive Bonus Content

 

Delacorte Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE MAZE RUNNER AND THE SCORCH TRIALS: THE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (on sale April 14, 2015 / $19.99), which brings the first two books in James Dashner’s bestselling series together in one edition for fans and new readers to enjoy. Featuring exclusive bonus content within its 816 pages and carrying a first printing of 150,000, the collector’s edition will prepare fans and moviegoers for the second film in the franchise, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which will be released September 18, 2015 and stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, and Giancarlo Esposito. EntertainmentWeekly.com has described The Maze Runner as a “mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost.”

Over 10 million copies of the Maze Runner series have been sold in all formats, and Dashner fans continue to multiply as they are introduced to his heart-pounding stories, which appeal to readers of all ages. In addition to the original novels, this edition includes “The Maze Runner Files,” which was originally published as an eBook short. Now accessible to all readers in print format, “The Maze Runner Files” features top-secret information, overheard conversations, emails between WICKED employees, memos meant to be destroyed after reading, and a selection of the Gladers’ suppressed memories, all of which help fans unlock some of the mysteries behind the Maze, the Gladers, and the people who put them there. This edition also includes an exclusive fan sticker.

The year 2015 will be another exciting one for Dashner fans, with multiple books being published. The movie tie-in edition of The Scorch Trials will be released on August 4, 2015, along with a hardcover box set of all four novels in the series (The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and The Kill Order) on the same date. The film adaptation of The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials) will release on September 18, 2015, and the final novel in the Mortality Doctrine series, The Game of Lives, will be published on November 17, 2015. All titles are supported by a major marketing and publicity campaign that includes an author tour in November. Follow James Dashner on Twitter (@JamesDashner), Facebook, and Instagram, and visit his website at JamesDashner.com.

James Dashner is a New York Times bestselling author and the winner of numerous awards for his novels. In addition to the critically acclaimed Maze Runner series, Dashner is the author of the Mortality Doctrine series, the Thirteenth Reality series, and two books in the Infinity Ring series. He lives in Utah with his family.

[Blog Tour: Review + Q&A] Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen Trilogy #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February, 10 2015
Goodreads | Read the first seven chapters

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard’s sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king’s palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood–those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard–a growing Red rebellion–even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

THOUGHTS:

Beautiful cover? Check. Intriguing blurb that piques your curiosity? Check. Hype? Check. Friends left and right recommending that you read this book? Check.

See, like almost everyone on the blogosphere, I've been wanting to read Red Queen for months now, and this is mainly because of the monstrous hype surrounding it.. Almost a year before its release, there were already talk about how it was going to be YA's next big thing. I remember downloading it off edelweiss on the existence of my friends and fellow bloggers (*waves at Kai and Leslie*), and the when I finally had the time to sit down and start reading, I was instantly hooked. Like, let me finish reading instead of sleeping because who really needs sleep anyway hooked. So yes, I bet you guys can just imagine how excited I was when I was asked to be part of the blog tour!

The main premise of Red Queen explores the relationship of the red-blooded - those deemed of low status and without magical capabilities - and the silver blooded who can do magic and are considered the most important members of society. Simply put, who you are and what you do in life is decided by the color of your blood. The Reds serve the Silvers, and while there is unrest at how unjustly the Reds are often treated, no one can really do anything about it because of the silvers' powers. All this changes, however, once seventeen-year-old Mare discovers that she has magic of her own... despite being red-blooded. To avoid political mayhem, the king and queen decide that Mare is to pretend to be a Silver, and is subsequently engaged to Prince Maven, second-in-line to the throne.

Those who know me know that I don't usually like fantasy and that dystopia is most often a miss rather than a hit for me, but what I really liked about Red Queen is that it straddles the line between the two genres. As a result, no aspect about each genre is too heavy - there aren't too many headache-inducing concepts, and since the book didn't just focus on the government and political unrest, it was easier as a whole to just.. go with the story, if you get what I mean. There were no moments wherein I had to turn back a page a or two because I could not for the life of me understand what was going on - instead, we have a book that is easy to lose yourself into.

Moreover, Mare, our heroine, is undoubtedly one of the best aspects of Red Queen. I love her determination, her sense of justice, her undying desire to right all the wrong she sees, and her unwavering love for her family. Things were never easy for Mare, but never did I get the sense that she was close to giving up and throwing all her dreams away. She knew that she was her people's only shot for a peaceful life without servitude, and that's something that was in the forefront of her mind with every decision that she made. She fought tooth and nail (and damn she fought hard) to achieve all that she she had set out to do. Mare's grit and persistence remained constant throughout the book, and that's something I really like. As a matter of fact, some of my favorite parts in Red Queen were the parts wherein she was being taught how to harness her magic properly, and how to be a fighter, simply because it was here where Mare's strength and firm resolve were showcased excessively.

I also loved seeing the story unfold through Mare's eyes. Here we have Mare, while possessing a secret that has the potential to topple the current political standing thrust into this world of power struggles and deceit. I loved how were privy to Mare's innnermost thoughts while she danced around the members of the royal household and all the elite families, attempting to find just who it is who she can trust. It was also a treat to see how Mare's relationships with Prince Maven, her betrothed, and Prince Cal, heir apparent and someone who has saved Mare in the past, evolved. Who can she trust between the two brothers - strong Cal who is already more than capable to lead the country, or kind Maven, who has always been in the shadow of his older brother?

Full of action and with its fair share of lies, deceit, and betrayal, Red Queen is a tale that will keep you guessing until the very end. There will be points in the book wherein you will think that you know the characters and what they're capable of, but trust me when I say that you don't. All in all an engrossing read that will make you want more, I can't recommend Red Queen enough!

Rating: 5 Stars

Here's an exclusive Q&A with Victoria for all of you as well!

[Blog Tour: Review] Revolution by Jenna Black

Title: Revolution (Replica #3)
Author: Jenna Black
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Goodreads | Tour Stops

Dorothy Hayes claims to be the secret daughter of the recently assassinated Chairman. She also claims that Nate Hayes, the true heir and her supposed brother, was the one who murdered their father.

Nate and his best friend, Nadia Lake, are the only ones who know the truth about what really happened to the Chairman, and more importantly, the truth about Dorothy.

But with Dorothy in power, Nate and Nadia know their days are numbered. They have nowhere to run except the Basement, Paxco's perilous and lawless slums. But Dorothy is far from content with drivine her enemies into hiding.

She wants them dead.

THOUGHTS:

I know that the Replica series is science fiction for the most part, but so many aspects of it fall under the dystopian genre as well. That's why for the most part, I've considered this series as a science fiction - dystopian hybrid. With that being said, I've read (and disliked) a lot of dystopian series over the years, and my main gripe with them is that they never seem to have endings that are both realistic and can provide even a semblance of closure for the characters we've come to know and love. I know that writing 'happy endings' isn't always possible with dystopian series usually focus on wars and revolts, but I just want to know that these characters who've suffered so much - these characters that I've been with every step of the way - are at least on the path to happiness. Not a lot of dystopian novels have been able to pull this off, and truth be told, this is the biggest reason as to why I didn't have that highest of expectations for Revolution. I just wanted a 'good' ending - an ending that wouldn't make me want to scream in frustration, and and ending that would make me glad that I picked up this series.

Well... let me tell you - Revolution wasn't just a book with a good enough ending. It was a book that shattered all my expectations of it, and it had an enrichingly satisfying (albeit incredibly heartbreaking) finish. It was everything I wanted and more.

From the first to the last page, Revolution was just an intense read. It picks up right where Resistance left off - Nadia and Nate, and along with them Kurt, Dante, and Agnes, are now wanted by the government headed by Dorothy, and they have nowhere else to hide but the Basement. From the get go, living in a less than ideal situation - with dirty surroundings and barely enough food to survive is incredibly tough for everyone, but all the more so for Nate, Nadia, and Agnes, all of whom who grew up in affluent lifestyles. Despite their desperation to bring down Dorothy, and for Nate to claim his position as the rightful executive Paxco, everyone has no choice but to hide. After a few choice encounters, and with their meager supplies running out, Kurt decided that they have no choice but to hide out with the Red Death, one of the most powerful gangs in the Basement. Things slow down for a while, but that all changes when Dorothy decides to withhold all resources from the Basement to flush Nate and Nadia out. When this doesn't work, Dorothy ups her game... and decides to bomb the Basement.

Something I really like about Revolution is how Nate, Nadia, Agnes, Kurt, and Dante had to rely on their own wits, their strengths, their plans, and their ideas from beginning to end. This was their battle, and they intended to finish it no matter what. I also appreciated that the book was realistic in the sense that the group never had it easy - there wasn't any political group backing them or anything like that. They weren't the faces of any revolution. Simply put, they knew the truth, and they wanted the world to know it not just so their lives can go back to the normal, but because they want Paxco to be a better place. That was the aim from day one. I also like how our main characters learned to rely on each other. There was never any love lost between Nate and Dante, Nadia and Kurt, and even Nate and Agnes, but they all knew that there was no way that they were going to win this war if they didn't put aside their differences and stand together.

What I like the most about Revolution, and the Replica series as a whole is how thorough the character development is, and with that, how meticulously developed all the relationships are. We were introduced to Nate who was obnoxious and thought the world of himself, and as someone who never took other people into consideration. By Revolution, Nate shows just how able of an Executive he can be - thoughtful and caring. Nadia, at the beginning, thought too much of what other people thought of her, but now, she can let loose and actually do the things not because they are what are expected of her, but because she actually wants to. Agnes is not as sheltered as she was - she's grown into her own skin, she is much more confident, and she's not afraid to say what she thinks. Dante and Kurt even, initially stoic and seemingly cold, learn to rely on other people as well.

I can go on and on about how much I love Nadia (which I'm pretty sure I did in my reviews of Replica and Resistance), but right now, let me take the time to talk about Agnes. I adore Agnes and everything she's brought to the group - she sees things with a different perspective, and there's even a number of times wherein it was her quick-thinking and bravery that saved the others. I love how Agnes slowly and surely blossoms into a confident woman who is not afraid to fight for what's right. Initially, I had no idea why the author would introduce another main character in the middle of the series, but now, I feel so stupid for even questioning her! Agnes has brought so much to the series - she grows so much in such a short span of time, and I admire just how strong of a character she is!

As I've mentioned earlier, the action doesn't let up in Revolution. From the beginning, I was on the edge of my seat, desperate to find out if there's a chance that all the main characters will survive, and whether they can take down Dorothy. There's no moment wherein Black stops peeling back the layers of her characters either - I don't know how she did it, but other than several instances of character growth, we also have action-packed scenes, a properly-paced overall plot, and just the right amount of twists and turns in this book! Believe me when I say that there's nothing missing!

Oh god, and now, let's talk about the ending. I'm not going to lie and say that it's one of those endings that would make you grin non-stop - rather, it's a bittersweet ending... but ultimately, it's still a wonderful ending. A part of you will simply close your eyes at the unfairness of it all, but at the end of the day, the way everything ended seemed inevitable. All important loose ends are tied up, and we get a peek of Paxco post-chaos. We also get a glimpse of the current fates of our main characters. Just writing these words is enough to get me teary-eyed (and it's pretty much known that I bawled big time after finishing Revolution - apparently I'm not done crying yet!) - and while a part of me is sad that the ending wasn't all rainbows and unicorns, I'm glad that is still satisfied me as a reader for the most part. All in all, I can't recommend the Replica series enough.

Rating: 5 Stars

Resistance by Jenna Black

Title: Resistance (Replica #2)
Author: Jenna Black
Source: Review Copy from the Publisher
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Nate Hayes is a Replica.

The real Nate was viciously murdered, but thanks to Paxco’s groundbreaking human replication technology, a duplicate was created that holds all of the personality and the memories of the original. Or...almost all. Nate’s backup didn't extend to the days preceding his murder, leaving him searching for answers about who would kill him, and why. Now, after weeks spent attempting to solve his own murder with the help of his best friend and betrothed, Nadia Lake, Nate has found the answers he was seeking...and he doesn’t like what he’s discovered.

The original Nate was killed because he knew a secret that could change everything. Thanks to Nadia’s quick thinking, the two of them hold the cards now—or think they do.

Unfortunately, neither of them fully understands just how deep the conspiracy runs.

THOUGHTS: 

I didn't think it possible, but Resistance blew Replica COMPLETELY out of the water. (This should already be a good enough of a reason for you to read Resistance, but if you're not fully convinced yet, continue reading!) Replica was already one heck of an amazing start to what promised to be an incredible trilogy, and because of that, I already knew that this was one series that I was going to finish no matter what. However, let me be honest here - I was fully prepared for the sequel to lose a bit of steam (because that's usually what happens to the in-between books in trilogies) but wow, that did not happen. AT ALL. Seriously. I don't even have words for how amazing and just jam-packed Resistance (and this series, in general) is! (If it isn't obvious enough with all the caps lock and the incoherent blabbing, let me say it one more time - this series is mindblowingly awesome!) It usually takes me such a long time to read both sci-fi and dystopia (and this series is a little bit of both), and I just breezed through both Replica and Resistance! As a matter of fact, I can't help hating myself for taking so long to pick up this sequel! I should have read it ages ago!

Before the blabbing and the freaking out takes over this post, let me go ahead just what made me like Resistance so much:

I love how multidimensional the characters are. There's so much more to Nate and Nadia than just your average 'we need to take the government or higher-powers down' goal we see in every single dystopia out there. They're not your cookie-cutter perfect hero and heroines - they're like every teenager you know. They're scared, confused, they make a lot of mistakes, and while they do want to bring down the bad guys, there's always this feeling you get that these characters just want to make it out of all this mess alive. I believe that all these are what make Nate and Nadia are relateable, simply because they're not glorified as heroes who can do absolutely anything. Rather, they're realistically portrayed as two teenagers who are just doing their best to make sense of the mess that fell on their laps, and at the end of the day, hopefully do what's right.

Also, like I mentioned, while the big picture remains to be ultimately righting all the wrongs Chairman Hayes has done, Nate and Nadia have their own problems to face. Nadia, now deemed a social pariah by both society and her parents, is forced to live in solitude in a retreat house with no contact to the outside world. Not only does Nadia feel the crushing loneliness at being alone most of the time, she also has the safety of her family to think of. Nate's father might have promised a truce, but Nadia knows perfectly well that she can never fully trust someone who wants her dead. You can't help but feel for Nadia in this book - she faces so much adversity, and what's most terrible is that she has no one to talk to and lean on for support. Yet despite all these, Nadia keeps her calm and never loses her focus. I don't even know how she does it! Also, it should be pointed out that while Nadia already showed just how strong she is in Replica, here in Resistance, she transcends to all sorts of jaw-dropping badassery. Not rooting for her is simply impossible.

Nate, meanwhile, is not the same character we met in Replica. I still don't consider myself his biggest fan, but I can't deny how Black fleshed out his character. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that Nate has the most character growth is this series so far. Gone is the boy who always acts before he thinks, and who never stops to ponder the consequences. Instead, we have this character who takes time to think through his decisions and to think of how they will affect other people. As I have mentioned earlier, while Nate is most certainly not my favorite character in this series, that doesn't mean that I don't like reading about him, and that I do not want him to be the best guy that he can be. I'm excited to see just how much more he will develop as a character in the final book!

What I love the most about Resistance is that Jenna Black somehow managed to do it all - there's character development, world building, proper plot pacing, and even romance! Not one page of this book bored me, I tell you. Black expertly explores the fragile yet at the same time unwavering friendship between Nate and Nadia, the budding romance between Nadia and Dante, and the constant love of Nate and Kurt. She took her time in establishing all these different relationships between our characters, but at the same time, I never felt that romance preceded the other facets of the book - all aspects of the book are equally important, and that's something that I really like.

All in all, Resistance is one book that you HAVE to read - this is sci-fi and dystopia at its finest. I had the highest of expectations for it, and it most definitely did not disappoint. I am counting down the days until I can read the final book in the series!

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Wings by Elizabeth Richards

 

(Check out the tour schedule HERE!)

 

Title: Wings (Black City #3)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: June 12, 2014

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Goodreads

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

THOUGHTS:

In all honesty, I've come to dread the final installment of all book series that I love, and it's mainly for two reasons. One, simply because the series is wrapping up, and coming to an end. It's so difficult to say goodbye to a series that has been a part of your life for a few years a least, and while I've always looked forward to finding out how  the story will finish, I hate the feeling of realizing that I will never read about this particular world, and its characters, ever again. Second, I hate to say this, but over the past two years, I've encountered so many series with terrible endings - endings so jaw-droppingly horrible that I can't help but wish that I've never invested in these books in the first place. Now, I bet you guys can just imagine my trepidation when I cracked open Wings. I was chanting "please be an awesome book, please be an awesome book" in my head so many times while I tried to find a comfortable position to read!

And... it was. It really was.

Now that I've finished reading Wings, and thus effectively ending my part in Ash and Natalie's tumultuous journey to secure peace for everyone, I feel a bit... broken. A part of me still can't believe that everything's over. I loved the ending, don't get me wrong, but this book was so difficult to get through, simply because the two main characters have been through so much! I'm amazed at how strong and how focused in their goals both Ash and Natalie are. Throughout the series, they've faced so many obstacles, but the concept of giving up never even crossed their minds. Their incessant determination is just astounding!

I also can't help but marvel at just how much both Ash and Natalie grew as characters, and I have to laud Richards for making them relateable. While yes, they were trying to save the world, but that doesn't excuse them from your average, same old problems that every single person faces. We have them encountering filial-related problems; of course, a little jealousy here and there couldn't be avoided as well, and despite everything they have accomplished, they were also times wherein they let their insecurities get the best of themselves. While not necessarily main plot devices, it was so refreshing to find characters in dystopians facing the same problems that I do, and ultimately being characters that I can actually see myself in.

Richards outdid herself with the plot and story of Wings. While a majority of the book dealt with the rebellion deciding on how best to take down Purian Rose (and this means a lot of talking and confrontations), everything was still paced properly in the sense that I never felt bored while reading it. I've come to find that the last books of dystopian series tend to be a bit on the boring side, simply because it deals with politics and rebellions, but I'm happy to note that Wings goes on a different path entirely. Wings is jam-packed with action scenes, beautiful moments wherein you can't even think of denying Ash and Natalie's love for each other, and mind-boggling revelations. Just when you thought that you knew all the characters, their backgrounds, and you knew what to expect of them, you learn the hard way that you never did after all. (And let me stop myself here because if not I will end up spewing out spoilers!) Books that keep me on my toes have a special place in my heart, and suffice to say that Wings is one of those books!

There is one particular scene in the book that had me screeching like a banshee, and that had me screaming "Why Elizabeth, Why!?", and ultimately this is the scene that made me decide to give Wings five stars instead of four. It's also the scene that stuck with me, simply because I did not question just why a character decided to do what he or she (check me out - I'm trying my hardest to avoid giving out spoilers!) did. This character's decision made sense, and it fit with how Richards developed said character. This scene was also highly emotional, and because it happened in a part of the book where you didn't think it could possibly occur at, the element of surprise will definitely envelope you when you read it.

All in all, I don't think I have any words to explain just how much I loved Wings, and how much I enjoyed the Black City trilogy. Most of my fellow bloggers as well as my blog's readers are most probably aware of just how much I tend to side-eye and ignore dystopian novels, but I'm really glad I gave Black City a shot. Thank you so much to Elizabeth Richards for these characters whom I will remember forever, and for writing a beautiful trilogy that has ultimately had me wanting to read dystopia again!

Rating: 5 Stars

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[Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway] Wings by Elizabeth Richards

 

(Check out the tour schedule HERE!)

 

Title: Wings (Black City #3)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: June 12, 2014

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Goodreads

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

EXCERPT:

EDMUND

“Mrs. Hope, it’s Edmund,” I say, my voice cracking a little.

All the lights in the cottage are off, apart from a single candle that illuminates the hallway. Rows of medical books line one side of the wall. A clock ticks at the far end.

There’s a creak of floorboards from the room overhead.

I walk up the rickety staircase, gun raised. Every instinct screams at me to run, by a strange tugging sensation compels me forward, like someone is pulling on a gossamer thread woven to my chest, drawing me farther up the stairs.

I lick my dry lips. “Whoever’s here, I’ve got a gun, so you’d best leave now!”

A dull pain begins to ball up inside my rib cage as I softly tread toward the bedroom.

I open the door.

“Mrs. Ho—” My words get lost in my throat. The old lady is in front of the window, floating several feet above the ground, her long white nightdress billowing in the breeze. A pale arm is hooked around her waist—someone is lifting her out of the window! I take a step toward them, and pain explodes in my chest. I fall to my knees, dropping the gun.

“Help me!” Mrs. Hope cries.

I struggle to my feet and stagger over to the old woman just as she’s dragged out of the window. She stretches out her hand, our fingertips touch, and then—

She’s gone.

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Replica by Jenna Black

Title: Replica
Author: Jenna Black
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Source: Review copy from publisher
Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Nadia Lake comes from a high-class Executive family in the Corporate States. Her marriage has been arranged with the most powerful family in her state, which means she lives a life of privilege but also of public scrutiny, followed everywhere by photographers, every detail of her private life tabloid fodder. But her future is assured, as long as she can maintain her flawless public image — no easy feat when your betrothed is a notorious playboy.

Nathan Hayes is the heir of Paxco — controller of the former state of New York, and creator of human replication technology, science that every state and every country in the world would kill to have. Though Nadia and Nate aren’t in love, they’ve grown up close, and they (and the world) are happy enough with their match.

Until Nate turns up dead, and as far as everyone knows, Nadia was the last person to see him alive.

When the new Nate wakes up in the replication tanks, he knows he must have died, but with a memory that only reaches to his last memory backup, he doesn’t know what killed him. Together, Nadia and Nate must discover what really happened without revealing the secrets that those who run their world would kill to protect.

THOUGHTS:

So... how on earth am I going to do justice to this book with my review? I honestly have no idea how - and I probably won't be able to do, because you can only add so much 'awesome' and 'amazing' in your reviews before your readers roll their eyes and move on to the next blog, and I want other people to read this review because I want them to know the mind-blowing awesomeness that is Replica! (Oh god just writing this incredibly long sentence masquerading as a paragraph makes me want to groan.)

Replica introduces us to Nate and Nadia, children of very powerful families, and soon to be engaged to be married and the pair that would rule Paxco in the not-so-distant future. From the first chapter alone, a lot of things about this society they live in, as well as Nate and Nadia's relationship was obvious. While very progressive, Paxco still adheres to age-old rules of how people must act in front of those high up in society, as not to tarnish their reputations. Also, it was apparent that all rules and regulations are to be followed, else repercussions (as well as endless gossip) will befall you. In line with this, while Nate and Nadia are in all technicalities engaged, Nadia is still very careful in how they act around other people. (So yes, no PDA or anything like that.)

Black also managed to successfully convey that though Nate and Nadia cared for each other, they didn't exactly love each other per se. As a matter of fact, Nate's taste lies elsewhere, and he's also in love with somebody else. Nadia is resigned to the fact that she will be marrying someone who will never be faithful to her, and she's supportive of Nate's choices. The creeping sadness that she won't be married to someone who loves her is there, of course, but Nadia chooses to ignore this line of thinking for the meantime. (At this point I thought Nadia would be a doormat of a character, but let me talk about that later.) Things get messy when Nate is murdered, and the last people to see him alive are Nadia and his boyfriend, Kurt. Nate is brought back to life through a replica - replica Nate is essentially the same person as murdered Nate... except that his memories only date back to two weeks before the murder. Since Kurt disappeared after the murder, Nadia must face the line of fire alone - only she has a semblance of information of what happened that night. Needless to say I was pulled in pretty early on in the novel.

This is how a dystopian novel is supposed to be written, folks. I'm trying to look back and think if I have any misgivings with the writing, but nope, nothing comes to mind. The world-building was present - I got to learn everything I needed to know, yet nothing was shoved down my throat. There were no pages upon pages of info dump or long winded-explanations. This novel was written in such a way that every aspect of this new world, this Corporate States, is not the least bit difficult to understand. The concept of replicas was easy to grasp as well. My eternal complaint against dystopia as a genre as whole always has to do with the writing - sometimes it feels like I'm reading a very thorough encyclopedia instead of fast-paced Young Adult novel, and I didn't get that feeling while reading Replica. AT ALL.

Black did a great job with her characters - they were quite complex and in no way one-dimensional. Sure, there were a lot of times wherein their actions made me want to bang my head against wall, but hey, it's so much better to feel this way than to just roll my eyes and fervently hope that the characters just go ahead and vanish without warning. I wasn't exactly pleased with Nate in the beginning - I found him selfish and too reckless in his ways. Of course I understood his desire to find Kurt, but I hated how he treated Nadia so callously as a result. He knew how deep in trouble Nadia was after the murder, but Nate only thought of himself and no one else. Nate did win me over with his undying love for Kurt, and when he finally FINALLY realized that the world didn't revolve around him.

I have previously mentioned that I thought that Nadia was a weak character and wow - I couldn't be more wrong! The lengths Nadia went through to protect her family were just immense, and she never ever put her welfare first. Nadia's family meant the world to her and she was willing to do anything to save them... even if that meant betraying the one other person she loves most in the world - Nate. The guilt that Nadia suffers through as a result, as well as her strong character, were enough to make me sympathize with her and all the life-changing decisions she had to make. I also laud how she finally stood up to Nate, who hasn't been treating her like she deserves to be treated. Nadia's character has so much depth, has so many layers and facets, and she just grows a lot in this book - I love how Black wrote about such a strong, calm and level-headed heroine!

No part of the novel bored me - the mystery of Nate's murder intrigued me from start to finish, and the growth of both Nate and Nadia's characters captivated me. Moreover, I usually try to predict plot twists and the like but this book surprised me at every turn, so again, Black was amazing on that front. Also, Replica was written in dual POVs, and this setting allowed the readers to connect with Nate and Nadia and for Black to explore both characters thoroughly as well. I'm serious in saying that I loved every aspect of this novel - the plot, the characters, the writing, and even the fact that this book is first in a series! This is a world that I would love to read more about, and these are characters whom I've grown to care for - all in all, an amazing read!

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu

 
Title: Shutdown

Author: Heather Anastasiu
Release Date: July 2, 2013

The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution.

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands.

THOUGHTS:

Well wow. Just wow. While I didn't exactly dislike Glitch, it certainly left more to be desired. I found it to be an intriguing start to a series, but it wasn't exactly something that made me feel invested. Override, much to my surprise, was leaps and bounds better than the previous book, and set up the final novel of the trilogy perfectly. Shutdown blew me away, and I in now way exaggerate when I say that it is also blew its previous two novels out of the water. Anastasiu ought to pat herself in the back - not only did she give us such fascinating insight to her two main characters (because wow - did she peel off so many layers off both Zoe and Adrien) she also made sure that we'd be rabidly tearing through the pages, eagerly anticipating what else she has in store for us.

I loved Zoe. Though we are in no way similar (come on, she's one of the leaders of a rebellion), I had no problem empathizing with her character. I've come to found out that most authors of dystopian novels have a difficult time making their characters relateable given that they live in a different time and a different world, but I never encountered that problem with Zoe. Anastasiu thoroughly fleshed out her complex character - from her despair of losing the Adrien she knew and loved, to her guilt of inadvertently causing countless deaths, and to her unflinching desire of saving her people and ridding everyone of the controlling government, and as a result, I had no problem connecting with her. I also loved how realistic Zoe's pain was - everything was heartfelt, and it was in no way overdone. Honestly, I actually found it difficult NOT to sympathize with her.

I was also impressed with how Anastasiu explored Adrien's character development after he was unceremoniously lobotomized. The serious conversations between Zoe and Adrien - those concerning past Adrien versus current Adrien - were especially genius. Initially I was just frustrated at how Adrien was all robotic and seemingly had no feelings, but all that changed when he finally had the chance to convey everything that he wanted to say to Zoe. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and the same time, I found myself being able to relate to him. Just how often is it do we find ourselves being forced to be someone else because that's what other people expect us to be?

I have never been a great fan of any dystopian series (yes, even the Hunger Games lost me as a fan after I read Mockingjay), but the Glitch trilogy is actually something that I will enjoy reading and something that I will recommend to my peers. Yes, it did have its eye-rolling inducing moments; yes, the first novel was pretty meh, but the sheer perfection of both Override and Shutdown allowed me to ignore the fact that I didn't really enjoy Glitch. So if you ever felt like giving up on this series because of Glitch - don't. DON'T. Trust me - you'll regret it.

In summary (if you got tired of my endless gushing in the paragraphs above), I loved Shutdown. Anastasiu impressed me with her descriptive yet straight-to-the-point writing, her brilliant characterization, the action-paced plot, and most especially, I loved the ending. LOVED.

Rating: 5 Stars

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[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Title: Phoenix (Black City #2)

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Release Date: June 4, 2013

Published by: Putnam Juvenile

Goodreads

Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s Law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

When Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings, her fate is sealed. Enter Elijah Theroux, the handsome Bastet boy Natalie once saved from her mother’s labs, where he’d been experimented on and tortured. It was his venom the Sentry used to create the lethal Golden Haze, the heart of the government conspiracy that led to Black City’s uprising and Ash’s rebirth as the Phoenix, the face of the rebellion. Elijah is back and Ash doesn’t like him; it’s clear he’s taken with Natalie, and Ash fears she may have feelings for him as well.

But Elijah also may have the answer to taking down Purian Rose for good—a powerful weapon called the Ora. Ash, Natalie and Elijah just have to escape Black City undetected to find it. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon (if it even exists) are easier said than done, and the quest could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.

THOUGHTS:

After reading this book, I have a lot of... feelings. Feelings that won't stop haunting me before I go to sleep; feelings that make me want to curl myself up in a fetal position in the corner; and feelings that just make want to... scream. Ash and Natalie haven't had the easiest of relationships, and just when you thought things were finally about to look up for him... they don't.

Phoenix picks up where Black City left off - Ash is now a hero to the rebellion, and there are now more humans and darklings alike who are devoted to the fight for equality between all beings. Purian Rose is frustrated with the rapid growth of the rebellion, and he is willing to do anything to ensure the continuance of his regime. Moreover, he has found a way to hurt Ash where it would devastate him the most, when he makes him choose between Natalie's life or the cause he has dedicated himself to. Ash, of course, is heartbroken, and rightly so. How exactly can he denounce his cause, yet at the same time, how on earth can he just let Natalie die?

Right off the bat, I felt bad for Ash and Natalie. They're supposed to get married, to live happily ever after, but that simply won't happen anytime soon. They just cannot get a break! However, one thing is for certain - I can't help but admire their love for each other. It's just so strong and magnificent, and just apparent throughout the course of the novel. Despite all the nonstop difficulties the two of them encounter - be it about Purian Rose or their relationship - you really cannot deny just how much they care for each other. I truly loved reading about how Natalie and Ash display their deep affections for one another. Some part of me truly believed that their love can trump all. I particularly felt emotional when Natalie herself encouraged Ash to choose the lives of the darklings instead of hers. Not a lot of people can do something that selfless.

I'm going to admit, however, that I did kind of want to smack both Natalie and Ash a few times while reading Phoenix. Though I understand perfectly their reasons for doing so, it pained me to see them not communicating with each other. It hurt to see them think the worst of each other. I'm going to laud Richards' writing on these parts, simply because while I was frustrated with both characters, I still felt for them, and I knew where they were coming from. That's not exactly an easy balance to strike, and Richards did so with no problem whatsoever.

Most sequels usually suffer from the "second book syndrome" (okay I may just have made that term up), but Elizabeth Richards' Phoenix doesn't. The action picked up; the romance sub-plot made for an entertaining read; and both main characters experienced apparent character growth. Natalie's discovery did break my heart, but hey, what's to remember about a book that didn't make you tear up, right?

Rating: 4 Stars
 
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The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

 

Title: The Elite (The Selection #2)

Author: Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 23, 2013

Published by: HarperTeen
Source: An ARC was sent by the publisher in exchange of an honest review

Goodreads

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

THOUGHTS:

What made me a fan of The Selection was the fact that it was a book that I wasn't to take too seriously. It didn't set out to be the next ground-breaking literary work, but it promised an entertaining read, and that it delivered. At least half of it focused on a contest similar to The Bachelor, with thirty-five ladies competing for a prince's heart, and being the reality show maven that I am, I immediately selected my favorite girls, and fervently wishing that those I dislike to be sent packing. America, while not exactly a heroine I immediately connected to, made for a rather enjoyable MC, and while I did roll my eyes at her thoughts and antics sometimes, I still rooted for her to find her own happy ending. So really, can you blame me for expecting The Elite to be along these lines?

So yes, let me spit it out - The Elite isn't what I would consider a breezy read. As a matter of fact, I actually had to put it down a few times because it was starting to get a little too emotional while reading it. There were times wherein I found myself wanting to chuck my copy at the nearest wall because I was thoroughly exasperated with America's indecisiveness, yet at the same time, there were also many instances wherein my heart ached for America and I just wished that I could give her my shoulder to cry on. She's not an easy character to read about, and I honestly can't blame people if they find America's constant flip-flopping between Maxon and Aspen grating, but what stood out to me was America's desire to be loved for who she is, and that just tugged at my heartstrings. I wouldn't exactly say that America's character developed by leaps and bounds in this novel, but she did take some necessary steps into discovering just who she is as a person, and that's enough to make me continue to believe in her.

I was originally a huge Maxon fan, but after reading The Elite, I realized that there is so little that I know about his character. In fact, I would even go as far to say that I ended up disliking him severely in several parts of the book. I had a difficult time gauging his honesty and sincerity, and there were moments wherein his decisions left me both confused and disappointed. In The Selection, I loved how apparent it was that Maxon had America's best interests in heart, but I couldn't see that in this book. He kept on pushing her to choose between him and Aspen (though he still has no idea that Aspen was the other guy in the picture), and when he couldn't force America to make a decision, he immediately sought out the company of the other girls who make up The Elite. In contrary, we have Aspen who's been nothing but patient and respectful, and can't help but compare both guys.

I know, I know, America isn't exactly a saint either, given that her affection switches rapidly between Maxon and Aspen, but America's confusion always proved to be genuine to be me. She honestly had no idea who would be the better fit for her. Maxon, meanwhile, never seemed like he truly cared about the other girls - he simply needed a distraction from the emotional whirlwind that is America, and that's why he started spending more time with them. Also, he clearly liked messing around, and I hated reading about that. Although I have to say that I did like how Maxon dealt with the Marlee situation, so that gets him points in my book.

It was an emotionally exhausting task to read this book, and even writing this review is emotionally draining. I hated up hating most characters at one point or another; I wanted to stab myself every single time America skirts around finally making a decision; my throat actually clogged up whenever I felt America's frustration at Maxon's complete 180, but you know what? I still had a grand time reading this novel, and I enjoyed every bit of it. The drama was enough to keep me hooked, but I also loved how Cass revealed some important details about both the origin of Illea and the royal family. Best of all, I loved reading about America's journey (but what a long, treacherous road it was, and it's not even remotely close to being over) of self-discovery.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Published by: HarperCollins

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

THOUGHTS:

Honestly, I hate myself for taking so long to buy myself a copy of this book. Once I finally did, I then let it sit on my shelf for how many weeks before I even picked it up. So why did I do just that, you may ask? Simple.. Bloggers have been positively raving about Shatter Me since I started blogging (that was six months ago!) and it had somehow become engrained in my brain that books that are hyped aren't good. Crazy analogy, huh? (This is the reason why it took me forever to pick up The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer as well.) Too hyped - it can't possibly live up to the hype!, I couldn't help but think. And if it's not adamantly obvious by the very first statement of this review, Shatter Me lived up to the hype surrounding it. In fact, I'm going to go one step further and state no-holds-barred that this novel blew me away.

First and foremost, I loved how Mafi didn't try to make her dystopian world so utterly complicated. Plenty of authors make that mistake - they suddenly throw out all of these names and terms that make no sense to first-time readers on the first few pages - no background whatsover, I might add - and they don't realize that most often than not, they lose these readers due to the fact that their worlds are too perplexing to grasp. I love how this world portrayed in Shatter Me is so simple, yet Mafi made sure that we had enough background to know just why the world we live in came to be the world she built. I found it easy to lose myself in this particular fabricated world - every single detail about it was absorbing, and I honestly couldn't read about it enough.

I loved the writing. I loved how unconventional it was, and it fit Juliette's personality to a T. I know that some people found it to be a bit too exaggerated, but that wasn't the case to me. It perfectly showcased Juliette's loneliness, desperation, and self-hatred. Labelled a murderer because of her fatal touch, Juliette is deemed too dangerous to be amongst other people, and she was thrown into isolation. Via the writing, you see how 264 days in isolation affected her - she had no one to talk to but herself all those days, and Juliette merely had a pen and notebook to keep herself company. Furthermore, we were also privy to the difference between how Juliette herself wants to think, and how she was taught to think by those around her. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, Juliette is a step or two away from complete and total insanity, all because of what she went through in life. After such a long time living in her cell by herself, Juliette is thrown into a loop when she is suddenly joined by another prisoner by the name of Adam.

I think it couldn't be more obvious that a relationship, a connection, would develop between Juliette and Adam. What else could you expect between two people locked together in confinement? What I was interested in was how Mafi would write about this said relationship - how exactly would she develop it? I'm not going to lie - I was expecting insta-love, but that couldn't be further from how Mafi portrayed Juliette and Adam's budding relationship. A lot more things are at play between the two. Well, sure, there is a bit of insta-love from Juliette's side of things, but hey, can you blame her? How long has she been without another person beside her? However, just because Juliette is attracted to Adam, that doesn't change the fact that she's almost forgotten how to act around another person, and that she is wary of other people, simply put. Their initial interactions were minimal at best. That of course changes as time goes by, but you get my drift. I appreciate that Mafi's writing was true to Juliette's character and background through and through.

Okay - this review would be in no way complete if I don't talk about Warner. Warner, Warner, Warner. Pretty much all my friends who have read Shatter Me are gaga over Warner and want him to end up with Juliette, but I really can't say the same. It's not that Warner isn't an intriguing and fascinating character (because he IS, and I want to learn everything I can learn about him), but I just don't think he's a good match for Juliette.Warner is TOO infatuated with Juliette, and this infatuation seemingly stemmed from merely his admiration of her power, and I do not like that (of course, I could be wrong, given that I haven't read the sequel). He's practically obsessed! Besides, Juliette is (for the lack of a better word) broken. In my opinion, a guy like Warner - power-hungry, domineering, sly and dangerous, amongst others - can't possibly help Juliette love herself more in the long run.

All in all, I LOVED this novel. (And I just love Tahereh!) I can't wait to see how Juliette will continue to grow as a character, and I'm positively excited to know more about both Adam and Warner. I don't usually like dystopia, but this one sets itself apart from other books from its genre. I'm definitely following this series to the end!

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review] Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

 

Title: Article 5 (Article 5 #1)

Author: Kristen Simmons
Release Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

Source: A copy was sent by the publisher for a blog tour

Goodreads

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

THOUGHTS:

I'm not usually fond of Dystopian novels - other than the usual suspects (Hunger Games, Divergent, Delirium series), I think I've only read a few. I guess it has something to do with the world-building (or lack thereof) - to elaborate, whether or not the worlds presented by the authors are the least bit believable. When I read dystopian novels, it's a plus when I actually I see this world being the one where we live in in a few decades or so - do you guys get what I mean? And for me to think that, at least some facets of the created world must be plausible. Also, I think you guys ought to know by now just how much I hate info-overload when it occurs during the first few chapters of a particular novel. Anyway, the point is simple, really - if the world-building is off, there's just no way I can like the dystopian novel in question.

Given that I'm very picky when it comes to dystopians (is that even a word?), you guys should believe me when I say that Article 5 is GOOD, and that you all should read it. It usually takes me a LONG time to read dystopian novels (I usually can't stand reading them in one sitting because all the unnecessary details get on my nerves), but it took me only a few hours to read Article 5. And I finished it in one sitting, so there's that!

I'm not going to say that Article 5  is without faults, but I found those faults easy to overlook, and I don't think they'll bother anyone too much. (I think most people's complaints center around the main character, but I'll get to that later.) My biggest gripe probably is the lack of a more detailed back story. While I had no problem when it comes to how believable and how realistic the word created is (I truly can envision our would being rather similar to the world depicted in Article 5 if wars and such became more prevalent) I would have appreciated a more broad and encompassing approach while painting just how this said world came to be - just how exactly did everything become so horrible? Just what prompted the Bill of Rights to be deemed null and void?

What I liked the best about Article 5 is how fast-paced the plot is. There isn't any boring part in the novel - it's jaw-dropping action all the way, and I thoroughly enjoyed how I was on the edge of my seat while tearing through the pages as fast as humanely possible. I also enjoyed reading about the characters - yes, even Ember, our beloved MC. Truth be told, I loved how stubborn Ember was - I loved how she knew what she wanted, and that she was willing to do absolutely anything to get it. She wasn't easily derailed from her goals, and though she made illogical decision upon another, I can't help but admire her bravery to do the unthinkable. I don't think I have ever met a more determined character! It would have been so easy for her to do what she's told, but she's not easily distracted nor sidetracked from what she wants the most - to be reunited with her mother.

Never once did I think that the romance in this novel was forced, or that it just suddenly blew up in my face with no warning whatsoever. It was always there - you knew it was going to make itself known in one way or another. I liked how Chase calmed Ember down and slowly earned back her trust; and I love how it took a while for Ember to trust Chase, because he was one of the soldiers who took away her mom, after all. It wasn't just blind love and adoration for these two - they were initially wary of each other, but that slowly goes away as they spent more time together and talked. The flashbacks also gave a lot of depth to Ember and Chase's relationship, and I particularly enjoyed reading those parts.

As I have previously mentioned (a gazillion times, it seems), I don't usually enjoy dystopia as a genre, but I loved Article 5. I most definitely will be with Ember and Chase as they continue their journey, and I can't wait to dive into the sequel, Breaking Point! (I might just do that in 3, 2, 1...)

Rating: 4 Stars