The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe

The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 288
Series: Fallen World #3
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

The virus has taken away Kaelyn’s friends, her family, her home.

And now a deadly enemy threatens to take the one hope she has left: THE CURE.

When Kaelyn and her friends reached Toronto with a vaccine for the virus that has ravaged the population, they thought their journey was over. But now they're being tracked by the Wardens, a band of survivors as lethal as the virus who are intent on stealing the vaccine no matter what the cost.

Forced onto the road again, Kaelyn and her companions discover the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is their best hope for finding scientists who can reproduce the vaccine. But with the virus already spreading among them, the Wardens hot on their trail, and hundreds of miles to cross, Kaelyn finds herself compromising her morals to keep her group alive. Her conscience seems a small price to pay if protects them and their precious cargo. Unless even that is not enough...

In the final installment in Megan Crewe’s captivating the Fallen World trilogy, Kaelyn is on the run from her biggest adversaries yet. While she continues to face horrific loss, her resolve is still strong. But to survive this shattered world, will she have to sacrifice all that's left of the girl she was?

My Thoughts:
The Worlds We Make, the conclusion to the Fallen World trilogy, is a book filled with tough decisions, harsh realities, and heartbreaking situations. But don’t let that scare you away, because this book, out of the three, definitely has the most hopeful tone, despite its dark edges.

Kaelyn is a character who I definitely admire. She always seems to find the determination to go on, no matter how difficult her situation is. I really love her strength and how she cares for other people. Kaelyn is an intelligent and empathetic young woman, someone who has had to make tough decisions and do things that aren't pretty, but who ultimately wants to do right by people. She always sticks to her goal of ending the virus by getting her late father’s vaccine to the right people. This requires making huge choices, but I so loved seeing Kaelyn realize that she has the power to shape the world into a place where she wants to live.

Megan Crewe is a very powerful writer. You can really feel the frustrations and hopes and all of the things that the characters are feeling and experiencing. This book, like the others, really looks into the nuances of human behaviour, examining the type of things you'll do to survive. There’s also heart pounding action alongside these philosophical musings, as this book focuses on Kaelyn and her group trying to avoid those who aim to hurt them.

At the end of the book I felt like some things were a tad open ended, but the way the trilogy ended still felt very right. There was definitely enough closure and a “happy for now” type of ending, or at least “at peace for now”. This is such an interesting and thought provoking trilogy, and I'd definitely recommend it to all YA fans.

The Cover:
Like it.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Three by Kristen Simmons

Three by Kristen Simmons
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 384
Series: Article 5 #3
Review Source: eARC from publisher through Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

At fighting back.

My Thoughts:
Kristen Simmons concludes her fabulous Article 5 trilogy with a book full of incredibly high stakes. It seems like there’s danger and risk for the main characters at every turn, which made for an awesome, but nerve wracking, read.

Ember has come so far from the first book. There’s a real transformation in her character that is documented throughout the series. She’s brave and strong, but she also questions who she is: the person she was versus who she's become. Ember struggles a bit, not feeling entirely comfortable with the things that she's done personally and the things that she's accepted because of the situations they’ve been in.

I absolutely loved the interactions between Ember and Chase, the fact that they stayed strong and recognized how they're so much better together, but that there were still moments of tension between them. Chase is such an interesting character, and I adore him as a love interest. He’s a great guy, but he’s not that “perfect” character. Chase struggles sometimes, and he doesn’t always like sharing about his problems. Chase is this completely tough macho soldier type, but he’s also so much more than that. He has panic attacks, and he doesn’t like fighting, even though that’s what he’s good at. He’s strong and desirable, but he has a tough time dealing emotionally with the things that he’s done.

The beginning of Three is a teensy bit slow. It’s not that I found it boring at all, but I wanted more action and less sitting around and talking about what to do. Very quickly this changed and the book became extremely exciting, with crazy reveals and hold your breath type of action. Overall I thought this was a completely perfect end to the trilogy. It didn’t wrap everything in a bow with a magical solution, but neither did it leave you hanging with some far off hope like how another certain dystopian trilogy did. The end of Three leaves off with the main characters in a good place, giving the reader even more hope for the greater political situation. This was such a great book, and I really can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough.

The Cover:
Not my favourite, but I like how the three books look together.

Rating:
[5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (Review + Giveaway)

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 368
Series: All Our Yesterdays #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

My Thoughts:
This book is SO GOOD! Seriously, I’m finding it difficult to remember a comparable book where I found it so engaging right from the very beginning. I empathized immediately with the characters, and I was so curious to try and figure out their situation.

This book is full of twisty turny time travel, where the main characters are trying to prevent a horrible future from occurring. After trying so many other options, someone they know needs to be killed in the past, to save the future of the world (not a spoiler, as the synopsis tells you all about it). To kill someone before they’ve committed evil acts brings up all kinds of issues, both ethical and scientific.

‘All Our Yesterdays’ features a lot of gasp-worthy moments and tons of action. It’s also heartbreaking as you see the Marina, James, and Finn from the past and compare them with their future selves. You see what they're trying to prevent, but like Em you can't help but want to believe the best about people and hope for something better.

This book is incredibly emotional as you become tangled up in the well being of the characters. It’s a book where you’re never sure exactly how it will all turn out, as there are super high stakes and so many different options as to what might occur. I really loved this book! It was exciting, interesting, and intricately plotted. ‘All Our Yesterdays’ features an ending that is perfectly bittersweet, but still happy to a degree. This book works so well as a standalone that I didn’t even know when I read it that there would be a sequel. I love how the story is wrapped up, but I’m also really excited to see where things go in the second book. Highly recommended.

The Cover:
Love!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

About Cristin:
Cristin Terrill is a young adult author and aspiring grown-up. She grew up semi-nomadic and graduated from Vassar College with a degree in drama. After getting her masters in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, she lived in London, Austin, Boston, and Washington, DC while working as a theatrical stage manager. Now she writes and leads creative writing workshops for DC-area kids and teens. All Our Yesterdays is her first novel.

Where to find Cristin:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

1 copy of All Our Yesterdays, US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE
Running August 20 - September 20, featuring reviews,
guest posts, interviews, and giveaways.

Cristin will also be participating in a Twitter Chat on September 17 (next Tuesday) at 6 pm EDT. Also taking part in the chat are YA authors Amalie Howard, Cheryl Rainfield, and Brian D. Anderson. All details can be found HERE.

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Snarky Books
Pages: 271
Series: The Hitchhiker Strain #1
Review Source: eBook from author for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

My Thoughts:
Are you in withdrawal from 'The Walking Dead' and looking for your next zombie fix? If so, 'Mortality' may be the book for you. It features awesome action and two heroines who are incredibly strong and capable. I love how the reader is brought into the action almost right away, and I really enjoyed the dual narration from Savannah and Zarah. It was interesting to see from two very different perspectives, and from different times (Zarah’s narration starts back when the infection first hit, whereas Savannah’s is the present).

I did have a couple of questions about the book. I wasn’t sure why Savannah’s group hadn’t been targeted by the militia if getting able bodied fighters was such a huge goal, or why Savannah and her people were so out of the loop with the current state of the world. That being said, these questions didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I loved the action and excitement from dodging Zs and militia groups, and I enjoyed the quieter moments as well.

Where Kellie Sheridan really excels is character building. I felt she did an excellent job with this, where even the minor characters felt real. This contributes to how powerful the ending of ‘Mortality’ is. It actually broke my heart a little. It takes a lot for me to be moved to tears, but I definitely was in this case.

If you’re a fan of zombie novels, or if you’re looking to break into the genre, ‘Mortality’ is not a book to miss.

The Cover:
Like!

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Mortality by Kellie Sheridan on Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon.ca, & Barnes & Noble.

P.S. Kellie is a fellow Canadian (and Ontarian) blogger. You can find her at Snarky Books (formerly reawrite.com). You may also know her as Joan of ARCs for Spencer Hill Press. =)

Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 400
Series: Article 5 #2
Review Source: eARC from Tor Teen via Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
The second installment in Kristen Simmons's fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series.

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

My Thoughts:
Goodreads calls this series fast-paced and gripping, and that is no exaggeration. These books are epic! Something about the characters and the action is just so awesome and addicting. I really loved ‘Article 5’, and in my review I mentioned how it sticks out from other dystopians because of its characters and its heart. This continues to be true in ‘Breaking Point’, where we get to know new characters from the rebellion, and fall even more in love with characters from the first novel.

As you can tell, the characters, and the relationships between those characters, is one main reason why I love this series so much. In ‘Article 5’ Ember was naive and pretty sheltered, but in ‘Breaking Point’ we get to know a whole new Ember. She’s been through so much and seen so many things that she can’t help but be changed in certain ways. Even though it took some horrible events for this stronger Ember to emerge I really loved how she stepped up to the plate and was so brave in situations where it would have been easier to just hide away. And then there’s Chase. I’ve described Chase as “the best type of boy, fiercely loyal to and in love with Ember,” and this, of course, remains the same. Chase has also been through some incredibly tough times, but he stays strong when it's needed, especially when it comes to taking care of Ember. These two together are one of my favourite YA couples: they take care of each other, always stick together, and they have years and years of history between them. They seem to understand and “get” each other, which makes them a perfect fit.

The other main reason why I love this series so much is the action. Holy moly, the action! No second book syndrome here, not at all. Sometimes in books, especially dystopians where the characters have to physically journey somewhere, it can take forever for characters to complete their mission. I’m so grateful that this isn’t the case here. Even when different circumstances pop up, the characters are always still aware of their original goal. There are different journeys that get completed throughout the book, but the characters are never sidetracked from Sean and Ember’s plan to rescue Rebecca.

What else can I say about this book and this series?! Fabulous characters, incredible action, and just so many awesome aspects in general. I loved how we got to know more about the resistance and about how the present government came to be. I loved how there were hints about the centre of the resistance movement, which I suspect will be a big part of the third book. I also loved how even when there was success, nothing came easily for the main characters. There’s nothing worse than when characters skip easily from task to task, getting by on technicalities that seem completely fake. These books feel like they have real danger and real consequences, and I really appreciate that about them.

Basically: do yourself a favour and check out ‘Breaking Point’, or pick up ‘Article 5’ if you haven’t already.

The Cover:
Not my fave, but I like it... probably better in person, too.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Series: The Arcana Chronicles #1
Review Source: ARC from S&S Canada

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

My Thoughts:
‘Poison Princess’ was very strange from the beginning, and it doesn’t help that none of the main characters were very likeable. The main character, Evie, was really bland, and despite all her freak outs I never really felt the depth of her emotions. Meanwhile, Jack, the “love interest”, is a lecherous drunk who talks about himself in the third person. There are some tiny hints of goodness in him, but he’s never really a reformed bad boy - he’s just plain bad. He supposedly cared for Evie, but really all I could see in him was crudeness as he constantly tried to have sex with her, and repeatedly mentioned how she was his only option (super charming, right?).

Beyond my huge distaste for the “romance” element I just found the whole concept of the book to be bizarre. I was actually intrigued by the “tarot card characters come to life” gimmick, but I don’t think it was explained well enough in the novel, and definitely not enough to base a whole apocalyptic plot on it. Somehow I ended up reading this book in one afternoon, so I guess readability is one thing that it has going for it, though I think I stuck with it more in a “WTF is going on here?!” kind of way, rather than genuine interest. You guys know that I'm all about being fair in reviews and acknowledging the subjectivity of reading, but in this case I really can't see why there are so many 5 star reviews on Goodreads for this one.

The Cover:
I know Jack is supposed to look older, but why do those models look 30?! I like the title treatment, though.

Rating:
[1.5/5]

Find Poison Princess by Kresley Cole on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts

Release Date: September 4, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Pages: 384
Series: Dark Inside #2
Review Source: ARC from S&S Canada

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
In this apocalyptic sequel to Dark Inside’s “well-balanced, realistic suspense” (Kirkus Reviews), four teens continue the struggle for survival as they face a world gone mad. Aries, Clementine, Michael, and Mason have survived the first wave of the apocalypse that wiped out most of the world’s population and turned many of the rest into murderous Baggers. Now they’re hiding out in an abandoned house in Vancouver with a ragtag group of fellow teen survivors, trying to figure out their next move.

Aries is trying to lead, but it’s hard to be a leader when there are no easy answers and every move feels wrong. Clementine is desperate to find her brother Heath, but it’s impossible to know where he’d be, assuming he’s alive. Michael is haunted by the memories of his actions during his harrowing struggle to survive. And Mason is struggling with something far worse: the fear that he may be a danger to his friends.

As the Baggers begin to create a new world order, these four teens will have to trust and rely on each other in order to survive.

My Thoughts:
Even though I enjoyed 'Rage Within' from the start I do wish I had time to re-read ‘Dark Inside’ before starting this second book. Jeyn Roberts does a fabulous job with her four main narrators, but I found it difficult to keep track of the large cast of characters at first. Once my memory was jogged I found myself enjoying the book even more, especially because all of our main characters are together in one location now.

This book deals with the takeover of the Baggers, and, as you’d expect, it has a creepy and suspenseful vibe to it. You see the characters trying to survive under the radar, and there’s danger at every turn. The narrator ‘Nothing’ also continues on from the book before, and even when you have guesses as to who this is you can never be completely sure who to trust and who not to trust.

I loved the overall themes and subplots of ‘Rage Within’. You have the growing relationships between certain characters, with each person trying to fit into a role. Along with this you have questions about what makes a good leader, and who should really be in charge of the group. There’s definitely a lot of loss and hardship in the book, leading into questions about humanity and what potential for darkness might be within all of us.

If you enjoyed ‘Dark Inside’ you’ll definitely want to pick up ‘Rage Within’. It’s a fabulous second book that looks deeper into what caused the Bagger attacks to begin with. I loved how there was a parallel between this fictional world and our own, leading readers to think about how we treat the earth and its resources. If you like apocalyptic books with a deliciously creepy vibe to them then look no further than 'Rage Within'.

The Cover:
It's SO CREEPY and sinister, which basically makes it perfect for this book. ;)

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Find Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.