The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

If you do not know the backstory, read my review for The Hunt, the first book in the series.

The Prey (The Hunt #2)

by Andrew Fukuda

Synopsis

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast... and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.

When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilisation begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behaviour is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other... if they can only stay alive.

Review

Against all odds, Gene and Sissy successfully led the boys from the Dome to the Mission, a safe haven filled with normal people, or more commonly known as hepers. And they were finally able to have a good life, enjoying luxurious meals and treated as honour guests. 

Gene and Sissy were told to embark on a train that leads to The Civilization, a place where more humans are waiting to welcome their arrival but Sissy, the female leader of the pack, was still on guard. Her sixth sense tells her something was not quite right, but the boys were oblivious. Or was it just her being overtly cautious?

This book had me guessing, guessing and guessing. I was kept in a constant shroud of mystery. I wanted to believe that they were finally safe and sound, with their own kind, but Sissy's insistence grated on my senses too. I felt scared, hopeful and worried for the characters before desperation sinks in as a possible outcome presents itself.

In this book, I both liked and hated Sissy. I really appreciate her intuitiveness, but I hated how she can be so unselfish towards those who wronged her and selfish towards those who loved her. 

Gene's story was more of a slow discovery of his father and his backstory, while Ashley June's complements Gene's story and provided us a glimpse into her early life and how she came to be who she is now. Sissy's origins were not disclosed in such detail as Gene's and Ashley June's except that her parents, now deceased, were part of the Mission too.

My conclusion is, this is a book not to be missed! In fact, the whole series is brilliant! As a reader of 7 years I don't expect myself to not predict the main arches of the story, but Andrew Fukuda outsmarted me. 

Rating:  

Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Dualed (Dualed, #1)  by Elsie Chapman 

Two of you exist. Only one will survive. The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life. Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her

Review

The storyline was pretty much boring. Not much character nor plot development. I was expecting the heroine to question the reason of such a system (killing your genetically-created twin) but she did not. She just went ahead with the flow and tried to kill her twin. And on the way, she decided to be an assassin because it would help with her skills and reflexes. They were supposed to be an underground society, and the assassin is marked on the wrists for identification purposes. BUT what is she doing killing people in plain-sight and having audiences? Like that wasn't going to attract the Board's attention which is going to lead back to the assassin group. A little nonsensical and weird, and for the most part emotionless and bland.

Savage Drift

Book 1: Monument 14

Book 2: Sky on Fire

Savage Drift

The survivors of the Monument 14 have finally made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Dean and Alex are cautiously starting to hope that a happy ending might be possible.
But for Josie, separated from the group and trapped in a brutal prison camp for exposed Type Os, things have gone from bad to worse. Traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue or safety. Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid (with her two protectors, Dean and Jake in tow) joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with his lost love Josie.

SPOILER ALERT!

Niko, at first devastated over Josie's possible death, now embarks on a mission to save Josie after seeing her photo in the newspaper. Meanwhile, Astrid is getting suspicious that the government intends to experiment on pregnant women when she discovers that a fellow pregnant lady went missing from the refugee camp.

In this book, I enjoyed reading Josie's side of the story more, because it was portrayed as a hell on Earth. I love how Josie had become so strong, yet she keeps her power and rage in check at most times, exploding only when she is pushed to her limits (when someone messes with her new family in the prison).

The ending, though action-packed as usual, is lacking of its usual persuasiveness. Josie ended up in the USAMRIID testing laboratories, and after a deal with the Dr which allows her to see Niko, she signs the consent form allowing them to extract her spinal fluid for further testing (to which the nurse had warned her against). However, in the end, she was not tested on and was released, along with Astrid who was rushed into the same center for a C-section to deliver her huge baby. The baby was not experimented upon as well.

It is not logical that the government, with all the kidnapping of pregnant ladies for experiment earlier, would actually release these two mighty valuable lab rats without much hesitation, even though the Dr learned that they were actually all related to his now dead son Brayden in Monument 14.

Perhaps the author just wants them to unite with one another no matter what?

Happy as I was on their reunion, I had hoped that Laybourne would explore the possibilities of MORS following a testing done on Josie and Astrid's baby. But all in all, this is a real good series, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Dystopian novels and appreciate a good, quick read!

Rating: 

Sky on Fire

Book 1: Monument 14

Sky on Fire

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope. Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . . Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .

SPOILERS ALERT!

This is by far the best book in the series. It is raw, action-packed, and full of tears, heartbreak and kinship. 

Niko is someone you can count on, but below the tough-man appearance he has a loving heart. He cares for his young ones, and never complains. I feel that he's just the right guy for Josie and vouched for him from the beginning. However, he is able to put aside his love for Josie temporarily to lead the kids to safety. 

Josie is a type O without herself realizing it, but she is different from the other mindless killers as she can control herself from harming the ones she love. Love for a family without blood ties can go beyond value for one's life, as demonstrated by Josie who voluntarily ripped off her gas mask and turned O to save the lives of the ones she love. Now Josie is lost, but Niko swears to bring the rest of the family to safety. 

Back in the warehouse, where Dean, Astrid, Chloe (the 3 other O's who were left behind for fear of turning into killers) and the twins were situated, things were not that good with Alex (technical wizard) gone, Jake abandoning them for good, and Astrid pregnant with Jake's child. Dean still loves Astrid, but Astrid seems to have reservations of her feelings towards Dean.

Now the government plans to drop bombs in Monument in order to wipe out MORS-contaminated areas. Will Niko arrive at DIA in time to save the others left behind in Greenway supermarket? 

Sky on Fire is just brilliant. I finished it in one sitting. 

Rating: 

Monument 14

Monument 14

Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

In Emmy Laybourne's action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world-as they know it-apart.

Woah. This book just blew my hats off. The plot is so eventful and packed with suspense and fear of what lies ahead. While there are 14 different people trapped in Greenway (the superstore in Monument, Colarado), they all have different personalities which I grew to love and appreciate, even though some of the characters are douche-bags or spoiled/angsty brats. 

The main focus in this book is how the kids strategize to stay alive for as long as possible under the leadership of Niko, who used to be a Boy Scout and had the survival instinct and knowledge drilled in him. He made a good leader, but he was terrible at socializing and expressing his thoughts. 

Meanwhile, Dean has been in love with Astrid, the swim team goddess for quite some time, but Astrid seems to be attached to Jake, who is sometimes a good person, sometimes a bully. 

I find the most lovable part of the story was the presence of the 7 kids who each has a different personality. I love Max with his wild stories, Ulysses with his limited English and pot belly, Henry and Caroline the sweet-natured and docile twins and Batiste with his ultra-religious behaviour. They are quirky but simply adorable. Sahalia desperately wants to be an adult despite being 13 years old, and Chloe who is 10 is just a rotten brat, but I appreciate their presence throughout the book anyway.

And we found out about the MORS biological weapon which was leaked during the earthquake, sending people into a frenzy amidst a cacophony of disasters. MORS attack people based on blood groups, type A blisters up and die from tissue failure, type AB undergoes hallucination and paranoia, type O turns into raging monsters and type B becomes sterile. 

The author gives you a raw chunk of what is happening without any sugar-coating, which gives a real touch to the story, highlighting how bad it is outside. The way the children actually made a temporary safe haven out of the supermarket is actually quite impressive, despite the horrors ongoing in the outside world. 

Go ahead and read it, you'll like it!

Rating: 

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

SYNOPSIS

Against all odds, 17-year-old Gene has survived in a world where humans have been eaten to near extinction by the general population. Every decade there is a government sponsored hunt. When Gene is selected to be one of the combatants he must learn the art of the hunt but also elude his fellow competitors.

REVIEW

For once things are different - in The Hunt, humans are now known as hepers are close to extinction and are hunted down or bred as food. And the others, the ones who dominate the world, are those nocturnal human-like cannibals who somehow exhibit vampiric features. It's certainly a fresh twist, and a horrific, heart-gripping one at that.

Blending in with the predators has been how Gene kept himself alive for the past 17 years. He still remembers the warning his father gave him: don't exhibit any facial expressions, use some special formula to cover your body odour, and whatever you do, don't stand out of the crowd. 

A fellow predator girl with flaming red hair - Ashley June, caught his eyes. He controls himself, though. Distances himself from her. No good can come if your girlfriend eats you up for breakfast, right? But there's more to Ashley June than meets the eye.

When both are selected for the Heper Hunt, Gene must overcome all odds to stay alive. And that proves to be a more challenging task than he ever thought.

This pacing of this novel is quite good, given that most of the events are focused on the days before the Heper Hunt. I really appreciate the author's unique storytelling that keeps me seated until I finally finished the story. 

Somehow I loved this novel. Though some parts of it are illogical, put in mind that this is a fantasy young adult novel, so do not expect everything to be explained rationally. Nonetheless, I hope the author will give a layout of the history/background of how the cannibals came to be in the next two books. 

Fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent will most likely to enjoy this novel.

RATING  

Book Review : Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Published January 3rd 2012 by HarperCollins

International Edition, Paperback

New copy available on:
The Book Depository (Worldwide) $9.75 USD 
Boomerang Books (Australia) $22.49 AUD

Like new second-hand copy available on:
Shop ♥ Books (Malaysia) RM 29.00

Synopsis

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. 

Review

I've been meaning to read this book for a while - ever since I saw the glowing reviews it bagged from the book-blogging community. It seems everyone is in love with this book - which makes me even excited to read it. In fact, I was already anticipating an unusual greatness even before I started reading it. 

In a way, it is good - the plot is quite fresh and the characters are likeable. I would love to see Perry in real life. I wonder what his glow-in-the-dark eyes look like. However, the concept of the Reverie (the virtual place where Aria lived in) was rather confusing. Somehow I couldn't grasp the idea of most of the things described in that place. And the futuristic terms used by the author did more to distract me rather than lure me into the story.

As opposed to the safe live in the Reverie, danger looms everywhere in the Death Shop - the place where Outsiders live. Aether storms destroy lives and things, cannibals roam the jungles, a constant lacking of food supplies... the list goes on and on. But there is one thing that it has and the Reverie doesn't: a sense of naturalism.

The story drags at certain parts, but most of the time it was interesting enough to keep me reading. I think the best part of the story would be discovering Cinder's secret ability. It was totally cool. Long story short, there are things I love about this book, but there are also certain things I wish the author had changed. However, personal feelings aside, Under The Never Sky is a pretty solid debut, and I'd certainly recommend it to fans of dystopian novels, particularly those who loved Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Rating:

About The Author 

Veronica Rossi's debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, will be published in over twenty international markets, starting on January 3rd 2012 in the United States. Film rights to the trilogy have been optioned by Warner Bros.

When not writing, she chases after her boys, who make her laugh every day, and who teach her about love that's "a million gazillion times bigger than the ocean." 

Book Review: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

Hardcover, 485 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Available on The Book Depository / Amazon

In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity. Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked- and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend- a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isnt easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what- and who- is worth dying for.

Vampires= Sparkles+Romantic+Baseball? Read this book and tell me how you'd like to date a vampire. :)

THE IMMORTAL RULES? EPIC!! Let me tell you this: This book is not just any vampire or dystopian novel. NO! This is a book with the kind of story that will keep you reading all night with the lights on. If there’s a limit to how many times a heart could beat, I’m probably already dead ‘cause this book got me worrying that my heart’s beating way too fast. Even listening to Swift’s Safe and Sound couldn’t calm me down.

First of all, I love how Julie creates the world that is both unique and terrifying at the same time. It’s very well written and the Asian girl,- Allison Sekemoto- as the protagonist, PERFECT!  The actions and choices the cast seems genuine if you’d ask me, and it’s as if the characters are real.

When I read this book, I pictured Daybreakers and the rabids? Oh, that sooo Descent’s creepy creatures. As unpredictable how the story goes as it is, I was glued to my bed, unable to stop reading. I started to love the book right after Allie got attacked by the rabids and were given the choice to either die or become one of the vamps. WOAH!

Last but not least, Julie, finish the second book ASAP alright? ‘Cause I can’t wait to get my hands on it. *Thumbs up*

 - 4.5 stars

Almost perfect!

Extras

Note of Thanks

Thank you Thank you Thank you Mira Ink for the copy of The Immortal Rules!

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn�t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.

Check her out at http://juliekagawa.blogspot.co.uk/

Book Review : The Girl Who Was on Fire edited by Leah Wilson

The Girl Who Was on Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games Trilogy edited by Leah Wilson

Paperback, 280 pages

Published January 17th 2012 by BenBella Books, Inc.
Available on Amazon | BenBella Books | Boomerang Books | The Book Depository

Synopsis

Katniss Everdeen's adventures may have come to an end, but her story continues--especially with the highly anticipated March release of the film version of "The Hunger Games," starring Jennifer Lawrence. Here, 13 YA authors take fans back to Panem with moving, dark, and funny pieces on Katniss, the Games, Gale and Peeta, reality TV, survival, and more.

Review

It took me longer than usual to finish this book, not because it's flat or dull, but because it has too much information to absorb fully in a short time. The Girl Who Was on Fire is a wonderful collection of essays from some of the most popular authors in the YA community on the various aspects of The Hunger Games. These authors share their individual insights and perspectives on the book and/or the series - their topics ranging from the characters, the fashion, the scientific aspects, to the mentality of the Games itself.

'Love' plays an important role in Mary Borsellino's Your Heart Is a Weapon the Size of Your Fist. In her essay, she states that love can be your greatest strength, but it can also be your greatest weakness. Elizabeth M. Rees' Smoke and Mirrors discusses the ways the Capitol uses to trick and deceive, and how these tactics work. On the other hand, Bent, Shattered, and Mended by Blythe Woolston tells us about the impact of the Games on the surviving tributes, how the horror of it all affects their lives as an aftermath of the Games.

Reading The Girl Who Was on Fire was a great experience for me. The essays are thought-provoking and deep in meaning. They made me think about many things, and I felt enlightened more than once while reading the book.

Are you a fan of The Hunger Games? If yes, then I'm sure you'd enjoy these essays immensely. Even if you're not a fan of the series, this book will prove to be a valuable source of knowledge. What we can be sure of is that The Girl Who Was on Fire is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. So, what are you waiting for?

Rating:

Extras for Readers

You can read the excerpts of the essays HERE. Also, by signing up the book mailing list, you can also download a free full essay. Just click HERE, and scrol down to where it says, “Sign Up For Free Chapters & Book Updates” View the official page on Smart Pop Books

And just out of the spirit of sharing... here's a map of Panem:

Note of Thanks

Thanks to Heather from Smart Pop | BenBella Books for providing me with a copy of this book for reviewing purposes!

ARC Review : Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published March 13th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

SYNOPSIS

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . .

REVIEW

Wow. Talk about residing / mentally controlling a body that's not yours. Or letting someone else control your body as if its their own. Downright creepy, isn't it?

STARTERS is a book that will make you addicted to it from the first page onwards. The concept of the story itself is original and captivating (with the body renting and all), and the story is fast-paced, and all in all, brilliant.

Callie is a likeable heroine. She is portrayed as a clever teenager who remains strong in adversity and loves her brother a great deal. In fact, most of her actions in the beginning of the novel are spurred by her love and worry for her sickly brother. However, her motives changes slightly when she discovers that Prime Destinations is involved in a sinister plot that may endanger many homeless teenagers' lives, including herself.

While some parts of the book come across me as slightly unrealistic (such as how Callie managed to lie so smoothly while having a conversation with a bunch of seemingly-young renters, why Callie's father would insist on not using his connections to get a vaccination for his wife and himself when their children's lives are at stake, and how easily Madison decides to support Callie's cause when she is also a renter), *HIGHLIGHT WHITE AREA IF YOU WANT TO READ THE SPOILER* this doesn't keep me from devouring the book. Plot twists are littered here and there, and you'd never know what to expect. At the end of the story, Lissa threw me a bomb which literally sucked my breath out. I felt like fainting.

Undeniably, Lissa Price has done a fantastic job on her debut, and I will heartily congratulate her for her great work. Hopefully her next book ENDERS will surpass STARTERS in all ways possible!

STARTERS is a fresh breath in the YA industry, and I really loved it!

Rating:

NOTE OF THANKS
Many thanks to Random House for this ARC!

LIKE THIS, LIKE THAT:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The classic dystopian series)
2. Dark Life by Kat Falls (A book that I initially thought was not my cup, but I ended up loving it)
   
3. Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith (Amazing dystopian story. It's pretty scary, you might end up having nightmares)
4. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (This is not dystopia and has more to do with magic, but it's one of my favourite books ever)
   
5. Shift by Em Bailey (Not dystopia either, but it's a great YA psychological thriller)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Starters is Lissa Price's debut novel, published by Random House Children's Books, due out March, 2012. The rights have already been sold to over 20 countries. In Germany, Starters launches a brand-new YA imprint of the established Piper Verlag publisher called IVI. Audiobooks have been recorded in English and German.

The official website is www.StartersBooks.com where the book trailer can be seen.

Book Review : Lockdown (Escape From Furnace #1) by Alexander Gordon Smith

Lockdown (Escape From Furnace #1) by Alexander Gordon Smith

Paperback, 273 pages

Published August 3rd 2010 by Square Fish

Available Online:
Amazon $8.99 USD
B & N $8.99 USD
The Book Depository $8.41 USD
Boomerang Books $11.66 AUD

Synopsis

Beneath Heaven is Hell. Beneath Hell is Furnace.

Furnace Penitentiary: An underground hellhole. A place of pure evil with walls soaked in blood. Murderous gangs and vicious guards rule the darkness. Horrific creatures steal people away in the dead of night. And the impossible - escape - is the only hope.

Review

I usually don't say this, but...
.
.
.
.
.

Lockdown. Is. Amazing!!! *inserts hardcore-fan squeal*

Being super engrossing and totally un-put-down-able, I couldn't stop reading this book, and ended up finishing it by 4 o'clock in the morning, only then did I close the book with a satisfied smile on my face and went to bed dreaming about Alex's Escape.

What I love about this book:

1. A hero with a complex personality. Alex Sawyer is a school bully, a thief and a burgular --- but never a killer. After he is accused of murdering his partner in crime Toby, he is sentenced to a life behind bars in Furnace Penitentiary, a prison of criminal teens which is located deep beneath the Earth. Alex arrives along with two other inmates, Zee and Monty, both wrongly accused of crimes they never did. When Alex sees Monty being bullied by the Skulls, he couldn't restrain his temper and lashed out to save the poor kid. He does this partly because of his guilt --- he remembered the way he used to terrorize his classmates and saw the monster which was once himself. Alex is not someone you would like at the beginning, but by the end of the novel, you will find yourself taking his side.

2. The plot was entirely unpredictable. Quoting Donovan's own words on Furnace: You'll never know what will happen until it happens. I had a great experience of exploring Furnace, with its intimidating structure, scary proprietors, gory history and horrible inmates. Never once did this book disappoint me in any way. I was literally sucked into the gruesome yet fascinating world of the Furnace where the air is hot and scarce, the atmosphere creepy and frightening and the crushing weight of freedom comes down upon you.

3. The world-building is amazing! From his capture to his developing Furnace-survival-skills to his planned prison break, Alex displays his growth both mentally and emotionally. We also observe how his mind is capable of thinking and creating ideas out of nothing. He did not plan of escape from the first moment he set foot in Furnace, but an idea started to hatch in his mind when certain possibilities open up to him.

4. The literary devices are brilliant! Let me tell you, the author is very skilled in descriptive writing - he uses figures of speech such as metaphors and personifications with an unusual grace. Through his words, I had a　vivid image of Furnace in my mind's eye - I felt like I was in Alex's mind, seeing events unfolding through a glass.

5. True friendship comes unexpectedly. Alex found his best friend in Donovan, a kid who was sentenced to life imprisonment because of accidentally killing his mom's abusive boyfriend. Alex became good friends with one of the inmates who arrived on the same day with him - a boy called Zee. I really liked how the author wrote their friendship - it felt real and genuine. They always stick up for each other although things went awry. It makes me realize that true friendship is indeed precious.

Bottomline:
Exciting, thrilling and gripping, Escape from Furnace: Lockdown will leave you with nightmares / thinking about it days after you've read it. I'm glad to announce that this book just made its way into my 2012 best books list! Can't wait for book #2!

Rating:

Note of Thanks
My deepest gratitude goes to Alexander for sending me a copy of this book for this review!

About The Author

Alexander Gordon Smith, 32, is best known as the author of the Escape From Furnace Series, made up of Lockdown, Solitary, Death Sentence, Fugitives and Execution.

He also wrote The Inventors – which was runner-up in the national Wow Factor Award – and The Inventors and the City of Stolen Souls, both of which were co-authored by his eleven-year-old brother Jamie. The first novel in his third series, The Fury, will be published in 2012, alongside an as yet untitled book for younger readers. He is the author of two creative writing handbooks, Inspired Creative Writing and Writing Bestselling Children’s Books, a number of screenplays that are currently in development, several non-fiction books and hundreds of short stories and articles.

Book Review : Article 5 (Article 5, #1) by Kristen Simmons

Article 5 (Article 5, #1) by Kristen Simmons

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published January 31st 2012 by Tor Teen

Available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Synopsis

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.

Review

Kristen Simmons’ debut novel, Article 5, a dystopian novel set in a post-War America, chronicles Ember Miller’s journey to save her mother from a false accusation that may result in her imprisonment, or worse, death. Unfolding before our eyes is the condition of the country after the War - the government enforcing military administration, seemingly just but actually unfair Moral Statutes, streets filled with abandoned buildings, and people afraid to voice out their thoughts for fear of their lives. The government's oppressive rule have, in a way, made life almost unbearable for the citizens.

Our heroine Ember Miller has perfected the skills of keeping a low profile since she was a kid. But she can never predict the terrible fate that will tear her life apart. When her mother is accused of violating Article 5 (which states that children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife), she is shocked, furious then devastated. She tries fighting back but her attempts prove to be futile against the guns of the military guards and the country's iron vise law. What angers and saddens her most is the fact that her former sweetheart, Chase Jennings, is one of the guards who captures her mother.

Shortly after her mother's capture, Ember is sent to a Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centre which looks more like a jail with all the guards, huge locked gate and a heartless headmistress who starves her and cane her in public until her knuckles bleed. Ember is determined to escape, but there is no way out except the front gate, which is always guarded. At the reform school, she meets a new room mate, Rebecca Lansing. Even though Rebecca always sounds cheery, she actually despises the place. But then, who can blame her? Being as helpful as possible is probably her best way of survival.

A huge part of the novel focuses on Ember and Chase escaping the Federal Bureau of Reformation, dubbed the Moral Militia. On their journey towards safety, they encountered several problems, but luckily they managed to solve them, albeit with some difficulties. Deep in her heart, Ember still loves Chase, but she finds his betrayal hard to accept, and thus keeps on distancing herself from him and treats him coldly. Chase seems to keep secrets from Ember, and though I understand that he does this for her sake, it is still quite frustrating. Ember is not sure whether she can trust him, but under the dire circumstances, she has no other choice but to follow him.

Simmons avoids falling into stock characterization — the highly-skilled, kick-ass protagonist who overcomes great odds to achieve success — by emphasizing the distress and anguish Ember feels when she is forced to separate with her mother and is sent to the Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centre. The author also highlights how Ember grows physically and mentally into a tougher person after the various gut-wrenching incidents she endured. Ember and Chase’s success is not guaranteed. In fact, as the novel progresses, it seems quite unlikely, with the MM hot on their heels and the fact that their news is made known to the public.

Ember and Chase's romance is quite plausible under the circumstances; it is the sort of deep-heart love laced with hurt, mistrust and pain. Chase loves Ember more than he loves himself and vows to protect her at all costs. However, Ember remains doubtful of "the soldier" Chase has become. She wants to trust him but she cannot bring herself to believe him all the way. She is repelled by Chase's wanting to kill a man who threatens her life, but I know that he does that only because he is concerned of her safety. But after some time together, they find the courage to confess to each other their true feelings, and I am glad for that. No love should remain buried in our hearts.

“It was you," I say softly. "It's always you I think about."

The intensity in his gaze took my breath away. I could feel him. Every part of him. His soul was sewn to mine. His heated blood flowed through my veins. I'd thought that I had been close to my mother, and I was, but not like this. Chase and I barely touched- our hands, mouths, knees- but there was no part of me that was not his.

--- Ember, in Article 5

In the end, Article 5 is less about Ember's mission to save her mother. This is the story of a girl who becomes conscious of how wrong and despicable it is for the government to rule its citizens by force, and ultimately understands of the true value of freedom and justice. There finally comes a point, when even the most innocent girl realizes that this just isn't the way it should be. A paradigm shift must be done - soon.

It's them Miller. Not us. It's the FBR that should be sorry. --- Sean, in Article 5

Rating:

A Note of Thanks

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Alexis S. at Tor Teen for providing me a copy of Article 5 for this review.

About The Author

Kristen Simmons has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health. She loves Jazzercise, her husband, and her precious greyhound, Rudy. Also chocolate. She currently lives in Tampa, Florida. For more updates on Kristen and her writing, check out her blog.

Book Review : Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

Hardcover, 487 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Finally, I've read Divergent. After hearing so much about it, and even seeing bloggers comparing it to The Hunger Games, you can guess how anticipated I was. The story was interesting, and the author's writing is perfect, but I did not love it.

The Good:

• A new, refreshing concept of various Factions, though I think it's a bit overrated. But it seems a little similar to the 13 districts in The Hunger Games, where people are grouped according to the main economic activity in the respective districts.

• Divergent offers a hard-to-resist premise. When you see the slogan One Choice Can Transform You on the front cover and after you've read the synopsis, you're most probably going to pick up this book.

• In some parts of the story, we observe Tris' cleverness and courage. The action is always there, but only towards the end of the novel does it reaches a crescendo. This guarantees a constant attention towards the story.
  

The Bad:

• Most of the characters seems flat and one-dimensional. I couldn't really relate to Tris and Four, though I'm betting for their lives.

• Loopholes are a big problem in this novel. The author probably never thought much about it, but logical readers will sense the mistakes at a glance. I'll not point out what are the loopholes, just in case you haven't read the book.
  

• Divergent does not grip my emotions so forcefully like The Hunger Games. Sorry I'm doing this comparison again, but I just can't think of any other book that garnered so much praise as Divergent.

• Pointless violence. Dauntless initiatives are instructed to punch each other as hard as they can to get into the top 10 rankings. These are real bloody fights, man. No compassion and all virulence. What's the point of that, seriously?

• What looks like an attempted murder doesn't get any attention from the big bosses. When one of the initiates (the top scorer) is physically harmed by the jealous second-place scorer, no action is taken. The top scorer, who is mercilessly stabbed in the eye in the middle of the night, is evacuated to the factionless group, which, according to the story is worse than dying, and the evil second-place scorer gets moved up a notch to claim his throne. Well, that's plain ridiculous.

In A Nutshell:

Divergent is good, but not great. It is interesting, but not amazing. You might love it, like it or hate it. It's all up to you - one choice can transform you.

Rating:

Malaysian readers: If you're interested in buying my lightly read copy of Divergent (US Hardcover version), it is available at my Books For Sale album HERE.

Veronica Roth is only 23, so her bio will be short. She’s from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011). The second book in The Divergent Trilogy, INSURGENT, will come out in May 2012. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)