Origin by Jessica Khoury

Origin by Jessica Khoury 

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home―and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.
Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin―a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Review

Alright, Origin was a little lengthy, but believe me, you are going to relish every page and want more!

Pia is a loveable character, with her innate kindness and ability to care for others. She is also determined and strong, willing to sacrifice herself to protect her loved ones.

Eio bears a striking resemblance to his father, who was a good and brave man in his own right. Khoury's description of Eio is somewhere along the lines of hot jungle boy with sharp nose and blue eyes due to his mixed parentage.

I greatly enjoyed the myth and legend of the immortals, as told by the Kapukiri or wise man of the Ai'oa tribe, somehow I feel fascinated by folklore that is often painted in romantic colours and sometimes hard to be rationalized.

At the core of the story, I think Khoury wanted to highlight that sometimes humans can do unspeakable acts of evil in the name of science and humanity. The idea and realization of it hit at the very core of the reader's being.

Khoury did a fantastic job in creating a superb Amazonian setting with the sounds, smells and feel of the jungle. I also loved how her words flow like a never-ending river, smooth and inviting. The plot and pacing were notably good, and I loved how Khoury peppered the story with so many twists and turns.

Lastly, I just wanna say, this book's a keeper, and you will savour every page of it.

Rating   

Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Sheperd

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Hardcover, 432 pages

Published January 29th 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Review

The Madman’s Daughter is a refreshing take on the YA genre. There are no vamps, demons, fallen angels or mystical beings, but there is something which is far more fascinating and repulsing –strange half-human, half-animal beings created by a scientist/surgeon gone mad.

I knew The Madman’s Daughter is something to watch out for from the very beginning. The story opens with young Juliet scrubbing her youth away at the King’s College of Medical Research. She used to live in the lap of luxury, but that was before her father’s scandal hit home and they lost everything – wealth, relatives, relations and home. Her mother had to become some rich man’s mistress to support Juliet and herself when her father went missing.

Then, by fate’s arrangement, she found Montgomery, a handsome young man who used to be their home servant. Aside the romantic feelings Juliet has for him as a young girl, she also found out that her father is still alive somewhere out there. What would a desperate girl do? Beg Montgomery to bring her to her Father, of course.

However, when she arrived at the island with a castaway they saved in the ocean, her instinct was to hide from her father. And perhaps reunion with her Father was not as exciting and happy as she had imagined.

The story itself is actually a retelling of a Wells’ classic, but new characters and twists in the storyline have made The Madman’s Daughter an enjoyable read. I witnessed the horrors a madman will do to challenge God’s power of creation, even to the extent of considering to use her own daughter as a specimen for an experiment. The story contains a few reference to Christianity, but the story itself is not religious or anything. I would rather say that the reference of religion is to act as a comparative to Dr. Morreau’s horrifying acts.

Read this if you like horror, Sci-fi or YA with a twist.

Rating:

About The Author

Megan Shepherd was "born" into the book world, growing up in her parents' independent bookstore in Western North Carolina. She is the author of THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER trilogy (Balzer+Bray/2013), and THE CAGE trilogy (Balzer+Bray/2015). When Megan is not writing, she can usually be found horseback riding, day dreaming at coffee shops, or hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. She is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.

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/

Brief Review: Book 1 of The Night Angel Trilogy: The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

      The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks

                

   Book 1: The Way of Shadows

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

#1 

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art. And he is the city's most accomplished artist, his talents required from alleyway to courtly boudoir.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned the hard way to judge people quickly- and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassin; world of dangerous politics and strange magics- and cultivate a flair for death.

MY #2

Azoth is always afraid.  Living as an orphan in the Warrens of the Cenaria City, he and his only two best friend, Jarl and Doll Girl, are members of the Black Dragon guild. they are forced to make their living by stealing money and scraps to pay Rat, the Guild Fist as the guild dues. Failing to do so will cause them beatings by Rat. Azoth's first encounter with Durzo would be that one night when he was trying to scrap some coins underneath a local muddy tavern, when he suddenly realizes that Durzo's slaughtering the assassins in that place. Before leaving, Durzo blocks Azoth's escape route and tells him to pretend as if he werent there.

Eversince, he dreams of becoming Durzo's apprentice until one day when Jarl surprises Azoth by giving him a secret stash of coins that he has been saving for years. Jarl then asks Azoth to use that money for his apprenticeship with Durzo. Unfortunately, Durzo does not want any money, he instead makes Azoth an offer; if he's able to kill Rat within one week without any help and brings proof, Durzo will make Azoth his apprentice.

Azoth is in doubt and dilemma, up until he sees the consequences of his hesitation on both Jarl and Doll Girl. Azoth finally manages to gather the courage and motivations he needed to complete the test after Rat mutilates Doll Girl. With Rat's death, Azoth finally becomes Durzo's apprentice under one last condition; Azoth must leave his old life behind, including his relationships with Jarl and Doll Girl, etc. Durzo then fakes Azoth's death and gives him a new identity; Kylar Stern, the young nobleman of a minor family.

Kylar then begins his training with Durzo, which carries on for several years. He learns about fighting with different weapons and styles and how to make poisons, how to conduct the perfect kill, camouflaging, etc. But what frustrates both Kylar and Durzo is the fact that no mater how hard they tried, Kylar could not use his magical Talent, making him only a very skillful assassin, but not truly a wetboy.

Durzo eventually sends Kylar to Count Rimbold Drake, who gives him a new name and life. Staying at Count Rimbold's place, Kylar befriends the strong mountainous Lord Logan Gyre. 

Turns out that leaving behind the past is not as easy as it seemed. He has always cared about Doll Girl which is why he often watches Doll Girl from afar. He loves her...

A proper wetboy should not love. Those who wetboy cares about, can and will be used against them by the enemies. 'Love is a noose'- Durzo Blint

I first saw this book in the Adelaide Airport's bookstore. It was love at first sight and the moment I start reading the first few pages, I found myself unable to stop."Assassins have targets, wetboys have deaders.". 

These coming-of-age stories have always been my favorite kind and frankly speaking, this series beats others, PERIOD. You will find yourself as eager as a grasshopper, waiting for the time when Kylar finally becomes a wetboy. 

I love the characters, how so many of them grows and changes. Each and every one of them were beautifully crafted by Brent. The emotions portrayed     in the stories are.....well.... I literally cried for each of them that has to learn things the hard way.

There are swords, magical artifacts, tragedy, triumph, moody antihero with traumatic past and his hard-bitten mentor, training montages, sadistic swells of sentimental glurge and oh, "the curve yielded to curve with the sweetness that inspired art.", hehe! I mean, even the female characters were written with sensitivity, sarcasms, and a fair doses of badassery. 

What more can you expect from these kind of novels? Because I'm telling you, this book is way way beyond AWESOME! 

P/S : I bought all 3 books in Australia. Studied there for a year, and when I came back to Malaysia, these 3 books were nowhere to be found. But hey, I bought all 3 books back, the #1 from Auckland, #2 from Singapore, and #3 from Malaysia, all of these 3 books of mine are in different sizes. LOL. But you know why I'm willing to do so? Cos it's worth it, and I can't imagine my library without them. DFTBA!

 5.0 stars

Excellent/Fantastic!

Brent Weeks was born and raised in Montana.  After getting his paper keys from Hillsdale College, Brent had brief stints walking the earth like Caine from Kung Fu, tending bar, and corrupting the youth. (Not at the same time.) He started writing on bar napkins, then on lesson plans, then full time. Eventually, someone paid him for it. Brent lives in Oregon with his wife, Kristi. He doesn’t own cats or wear a ponytail.

Book Review : Explorer X - Alpha by L.M. Preston

Explorer X - Alpha by L.M. Preston

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Phenomenal One Press; 1 edition (February 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984198903
• ISBN-13: 978-0984198900
  

For most kids, a trip to space camp is the trip of a lifetime for Aadi it was life altering. After receiving a camp immunization needed for travel to Mars, Aadi finds that the immunization is the catalyst of an insidious experiment. He realizes what is happening too late for a change of fate. The full experiment is set in motion when he and his co-pilot, Eirena, crash in a distant galaxy called Shrenas, where they change and realize the full extent of their power. This turn of events forces him to grow up quickly, accept his change, and to decide to save a world, or to do what he was trained to do dominate it. His power is coveted by the warring leaders of Shrenas, and he is forced to choose sides a decision that may prove just how much humanity he has left.

This book started out quite slowly, but the pacing became faster at the middle of the book. I never though it would be that exciting, and it really surprised me. The author's writing is well-suited for kids below 12 years of age. However, I did not expect the book to end so soon. It left a lot of things unexplained, such as what were the other team members' fates and what is the intention of the company to inject the immunization into the camp participants' body. I had no idea of Aadi and Eirena's ending - whether or not they survive and get back to Earth safely. Explorer X - Alpha will appeal to kids who love sci-fi.

Rating:

L.M. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

Buy it on Barnes & Noble / IndieBound