A Heart Wrenching Dystopian Read

Night of the Purple Moon (The Toucan Trilogy #1) by Scott Cramer

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. 

Summary: Abby Leigh is looking forward to watching the moon turn purple, unaware that deadly bacteria from a passing comet will soon kill off older teens and adults. The lightning-fast epidemic sweeps across the planet when the germs attack the hormones produced during puberty.

On a small island off the coast of Maine, Abby must help her brother and baby sister survive in this new world, but all the while she has a ticking time bomb inside of her -- adolescence.

Review: A dystopian novel with a slightly unbelievable plot, but heart wrenching ending.

I would personally call this a science fiction novel with dystopian elements since the world Abby finds herself in after the comet is more of an apocalyptic one. I can see the world quickly becoming a dystopian world. Of course, this is all just nitpicking with genres. I found it a bit silly that an epidemic from a comment only attacks people who have reached puberty. There is a decent explanation for it, but it still was a bit odd. This book reminded me of the Gone series since all the adults are gone although Night of the Purple covers more time and manages to fit it all in one book and not two or three or four.

I did find it a little hard to believe that the kids on the island could work together well enough to create a farm, ration food, create work schedules, etc, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt. The disease itself was rather nasty, especially the rash. It was painful to watch as the kids died. It was heartbreaking to read about Abby and Jordan's journey near the end of the novel.

Rating:






Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy young adult dystopian fiction.

Ads in your Head

Ephemera by Jeffery M. Anderson

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. 

Summary: Ephemera is not a 1984, knock off, dystopian novel. It is dark, gritty and satirical future fiction, performed by an off-beat cast of unforgettable characters. This is future fiction in the hands of a talented literary writer.

Nester Cab, a second rate magazine writer, goes about his mundane life, disenfranchised and hiding from the roaring city he lives in. But, a mysterious note left in his office awakens his ravenous curiosity and sets him on a journey to find a missing soldier. In his travels, he becomes entangled with a clandestine anti-government organization, witnesses a delusional and violent American society and stumbles ever deeper into unfathomable government conspiracies.

Taking inspiration from internet conspiracy theorists, talk radio and the media, Anderson has created an edgy and frightening world where no one and nothing are as they appear. It is a world where the extreme is the every day, where the preoccupation with the meaningless novelty has consumed society. Meanwhile, the government conducts its business behind the curtain, with ominous intentions, All of it will feel uncomfortably familiar to the modern reader. Darkly humorous and palpably real, Ephemera is an epic journey that will have you believing even the most outrageous conspiracies just might happen.

Review: A rather depressing dystopian like read with a silly yet utterly tragic ending.

Ephemera had some elements of a dystopian novel in it. I personally considered it more of a “what could happen” in the near future science fiction sort of story. And it is depressing. Advertising has taken over everyone’s lives and no one really seems to mind. I do agree with a number of the sentiments in this book, mainly how genius creates new inventions that makes our lives easier and oftentimes, makes us lazier as well. Our lives are speeding up and people are trying to cram more and more into what time we do have.

Ephemera did start off slowly. There were a lot of disparate elements that had to be brought together. It took a while to bring everything together, but it was worth the wait. I wasn’t sure exactly what the novel was building up to, but I must admit to being surprised by the ending. I was certainly not expecting that. Stillman and his group reminded me of the paranoia that people have that a group of a few people are running the world. I personally don’t believe that theory, but Ephemera does a good job of making it seem all too likely.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this to those that enjoy dystopian novels or near future science fiction stories.

First Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

The First Tour

First (Book 1 of Live Once Trilogy) by Chanda Stafford

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Mira works on a farm in the ruins of Texas, along with all of the other descendants of the defeated rebels. Though she’s given her heart to Tanner, their lives are not their own.

When Socrates, a powerful First, chooses Mira as his Second, she is thrust into the bewildering world of the rich and influential. Will, a servant assigned to assist her, whispers of rebellion, love, and of a darker fate than she’s ever imagined.

With time running out, Mira must decide whether to run to the boy she left behind, the boy who wants her to live, or the man who wants her dead.

Add the book on Goodreads. 

Buy the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. 

Excerpt:                                                        

“Don’t say a word.”

Adrian

The room smells musty, unused. Kind of like the back storage buildings on the farm, or the old cellar the Chesanings don’t use any more where we explore and play games. Shafts of sunlight slant through the cracks in the heavy, dark red curtains, and when I take a step, more puffs of dust cloud the air. Chairs covered in white blankets line the walls and tower over me in stacks almost as high as the ceiling. 

“What do you think they’re doing out there?” I whisper, but it’s so quiet, I could be shouting.

My servant, Will, shushes me. “If you listen closely, I bet you can hear your First talking.”

I creep over to the door and press my ear against it. Nothing. As if no one’s on the other side. “Isn’t this the Release Ceremony? Shouldn’t I be out there with him?”

Will nods, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms in front of him. “That’s normally how it happens. This is… odd.”

“Did I do something wrong? Did I make Thoreau mad?” I bite my lip to keep it from trembling. Grow up, Adrian. Stop acting like a baby.

“No, of course not.” He flashes me a quick grin, but I can tell he’s nervous.

“Are you sure?” I hate it when my voice is all shaky like a little baby’s.

“Definitely. I would know if there was a problem.” He shrugs, and a bar of light illuminates his carefree smile. “I bet it’s to save you from having to sit out there for the whole ceremony. Some of them can get pretty long.”

On the other side of the door, I hear clapping. An old man’s voice rises up as the applause dies.

“There, you see?” Will says. “Nothing to worry about.” I turn away and tune him out so I can listen to Thoreau.

“Thank you, my friends, for this most welcome reception. As a First, I’ve lived for hundreds of years, influenced this country in ways the average person can’t even begin to comprehend. With your continued support, and that of Princeton, I will use your gift to change the future and create a better tomorrow. Thank you.”

A dull roar follows his words, and I fidget in my seat, watching the door. My eyes dart to Will.

“This doesn’t make any sense, Will. I should be out there.”

“I’m sure they’ll call you shortly, Adrian. Maybe the usual waiting room was unavailable and—”

A loud boom shakes the room, and I almost fall down. The chairs weave back and forth in their towers, and millions of dust particles rain down. Will shoves me away from the wall and pushes me toward the back of the room.

“Move, now!” he shouts, but my ears are ringing, and I cough from the dust. He looks behind us at the door and forces me to move faster.

“Murderer! Child killer! Free the Second!” a loud, mechanical voice shouts from the other room. “Free the Second! Free the Second!”

There’s more yelling, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. Another, quieter boom. Will pushes me to a narrow closet.

“In here,” he hisses and shoves me inside. We stay like that for what feels like a couple hours before the door to our main room bangs open, and I hear the heavy clomping of boots.

“You in here with the Second, boy?” Will stays silent. There is a general grumbling outside, some swearing my mother would never approve of, then the deep, gravelly voice speaks again. “Alpha Code One, this is Underground Robin. Is the cargo safe and accounted for? I repeat, is the cargo safe and accounted for?”

Apparently these are magic words for Will because relief washes over his features.

“Who wants to know?”

“Papa bird.” The men march over to our closet and slide open the door. “Good spot, boy.” The head guard, an older man with a pinched face and a permanent frown sheaths his Artos. The other guards keep theirs out. Why? Is it still dangerous?

“What’s going on out there?” Will asks.

“Nothing we didn’t expect. Stupid rebels, always doing things half-assed.” He grins. “Let’s go.” One of them reaches out for me, but I jerk away.

Will touches my shoulder, reassuring me. “It’s okay, Adrian. We’re safe now.”

I shake my head and step back. “Where are we going?”

“Someplace safe.” The head guard takes my arm roughly in his. “Don’t worry. We won’t let anything happen to you.” One of the other guards laughs, as if that’s somehow funny.

“Is… my First all right?”

“He’s fine, boy.” He drags me from the closet. “Now let’s go.”

“Where?” My feet skitter, trying to find purchase as the guard forces me to follow him. The other men glance at each other, at me, then away again. Even Will won’t meet my eyes. Fear freezes me, and I dig my shoes into the thick carpeting. “Will? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he answers too quickly. “Just a trip down to the medical center, to make sure you’re all right.” He tries to give me another smile, but he’s lying about something. I can feel it.

“But I’m fine,” I protest as the guard pulls me to the side of the room, behind the curtains where, instead of a window, there is another door. “Can’t you just tell them that? I’m fine. I just want to go back to my room.”

Will shakes his head, sadly. “I’m sorry, Adrian, I really am.”

“What’s going on? Why are you sorry? Will?”

“Let’s go,” one of the other guards growls from the rear of our group. “We don’t have all day. Some of us have work to do.”

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. 

Review: A very realistic portrayal of a very dismal and depressing future.

Unlike many of the young adult dystopian novels I have read recently, First’s dystopian setting is one that I actually believe and find completely plausible, which makes it quite scary. Along with Mira, the reader slowly discovers what Seconds actually do for their Firsts. The history of the world that First takes place in is something I would to love more about. I know that Texas rebelled, but apparently not any other places in the country. There are mentions of the wilderness of the border. What happened to Mexico?

Mira was a strong, sympathetic character whom I rather liked. I also liked Socrates despite what he did to a number of children over hundreds of years. I am not sure what it was about Mira, the rebels, or his wife or some combination of them all that made him make the decision he eventually did in the end. I saw it coming, but was glad Socrates made that decision. I really do wonder what will happen to Mira in the future. Though I thought her love for Will developed too fast, I do hope that she will be able to be with him.

About the Author: Chanda Stafford teaches middle and high school English. She loves traveling and currently lives in Michigan with her husband and a menagerie of rescued dogs and cats.

When she’s not reading or writing, Chanda enjoys old zombie movies, authentic Italian food, and comic books.

Visit her blog. 

Giveaway:

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The Not So Brave, Not So Far Future

The Erased by Grant Piercy

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. 

Summary: You’ve been imprisoned by a shadowy government project and your identity has been erased; the only question is why. Welcome Home.

In a dystopian society where severe laws are in place to regulate the media you’re allowed to view, anyone and anything can be erased. Most people get their information and entertainment from the Knowledgebase -- a computer network dubbed the “sum total of human knowledge.” But forces are at work to edit and shape the Knowledgebase as they see fit -- suppressing dissident thoughts and behaviors. Their clear target: a group of rebels who hide in plain sight and call themselves the Transhumans -- people who remote into androids illegally, and whose goal is to eventually transplant a human consciousness into an android.

In the middle of this stands 77, a prisoner who’s been asked to repair a broken android for his captors. Once he solves the mystery of this android, he may find the truth behind the Transhumans, the elusive Knowledgebase architects, and the erased.

The Erased presents a near-future parable for the media age, where the march toward merging with technology comes at a terrible price.

Review: A science fiction story set in the near future with a good deal of dystopian elements.

Since this book is told through many viewpoints, it is hard at first to get a handle on what is happening in the story. Luckily, the characters are quick to tell us their stories and I was able to get an idea of what is going on. From what I gathered, the characters are in a 1984 sort of world where information is controlled and the past is slowly being erased. Then they are the androids and gynoids. The idea of Transhumanism is especially scary since it is something that could easily become a reality in a number of years.

It was a bit hard keeping track of all the characters at first. Most of the characters are kept in the dark as to why they are in the Home and so is the reader. Even those in the know, revel very little. I understand that this book is supposed to be a commentary on society, the government, and technology. It was a good commentary as far as that goes. As for the plot, while I enjoyed it, I found myself very confused by the end of the book. I know what happened, but I don’t know how it’s supposed to fit into the larger world or will it even have any effect on the larger world.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this to those that enjoy science fiction with dystopian elements.

Catching Mediocrity

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

Summary: Katniss is the spark to a revolution, and the Capitol wants revenge. She won the Hunger Games and returns alive with District 12 Tribute partner Peeta. But he and longtime friend Gale both reject her. On their Victory Tour of all the districts, locals riot but the winning duo must appear lost in their love.

Review: A somewhat mediocre sequel to The Hunger Games.

It’s been a while since I’ve read The Hunger Games so I don’t remember all the details, but I do remember that there was a good deal of action and the book was decently good at showing how murdering innocent human beings affects people.
Catching Fire was a bit of a letdown in the action department. While there is some action in this story, it doesn’t happen until later in the story and lacks the punch as did the Hunger Games in the first novel.

In The Hunger Games, Katniss had been willing to sacrifice herself for her sister. In Catching Fire, she seems quite happy to merely go along with what people are telling her to do. I get that she want to be left alone and seems to believe that going along with what President Snow wants will allow her some peace. I can’t understand that Katniss would believe anything President Snow said, especially when it comes to give up any possible future with Gale. True wuv is not going to stop rebellion. Plus, it felt like a way to force Katniss and Peeta together. I am intrigued by District 13 and do want to see how the rebellion works out.

Rating:






Recommendation: I would recommend this to those that have read the first and I would recommend the series to those that enjoy young adult dystopian fiction.

Please Take the Red Pill

Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Summary: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Review: Another unbelievable young adult dystopian novel with a love triangle. 

I will be glad when young adult dystopian novels aren't the rage anymore. It seems like every time a genre gets popular, people grab hold of the genre and churn out young adult novels that are marginally related to the genre and merely serve as backdrops for the inevitable love triangle. I know I shouldn't complain too much since I will read those young adult novels even though they may have love triangles and will probably range from good to bad. I just want something new, something original, something unique, something that hasn't been done before and no love triangles. 

The world that Cassia lives in is unbelievable. I don't remember too many details about the Society, but it felt so poorly put together. The dystopian setting feels like it is only there to provide conflict and an excuse for the idiotic love triangle. The setting adds nothing to the story. Xander was a glorified carpet and was still helping Cassia out even when she was in love with Ky. Why did she fall in love with Ky? I'm not really sure. There were woods and words and forbidden knowledge and ever changing eyes and not much else.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to people that enjoy young adult dystopian novels with love triangles. 

Alice in Whatland?

Alice in Deadland (Alice in Deadland #1) by Mainak Dhar

Summary: Civilization as we know it ended more than fifteen years ago, leaving as it's legacy barren wastelands called the Deadland and a new terror for the humans who survived — hordes of undead Biters. 

Fifteen year-old Alice has spent her entire life in the Deadland, her education consisting of how best to use guns and knives in the ongoing war for survival against the Biters. One day, Alice spots a Biter disappearing into a hole in the ground and follows it, in search of fabled underground Biter bases. 

What Alice discovers there propels her into an action-packed adventure that changes her life and that of all humans in the Deadland forever. An adventure where she learns the terrible conspiracy behind the ruin of humanity, the truth behind the origin of the Biters, and the prophecy the mysterious Biter Queen believes Alice is destined to fulfill. 

A prophecy based on the charred remains of the last book in the Deadland — a book called Alice in Wonderland.

Review: A very loose retelling of Alice in Wonderland with plenty of zombies. 

This was a free read on Amazon and I snagged it since I really enjoy retellings. Alice in Wonderland is already a very strange and weird story and zombies would only add to the weirdness. This book starts off like Alice in Wonderland with a zombie (aka biter) wearing rabbit ears and Alice following him down a hole. Rabbit Ears almost eats her until he discovers that she looks like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Then Alice goes to meet the queen. There are a few other characters from the original story in there as well. 

It soon diverges from the original story and turns into a fight with the humans and the zombies against Zeus, the evil baddies. The queen is convinced that Alice is part of a prophecy and other people soon start to view Alice as some incredible hero. I honestly didn't believe how incredible Alice's fighting skills were nor how skillful she was with a gun. I know she had to learn how to fight from a young age, but experience does count for something. So war commences and there is plenty of tragedy and I don't remember the ending. 

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those who enjoy retellings, Alice in Wonderland, or end of the world stories with zomibes. 

Inside the Needle

The Annihilation of Foreverland by Tony Bertauski

Summary: When kids awake on an island, they’re told there was an accident. Before they can go home, they will visit Foreverland, an alternate reality that will heal their minds. Reed dreams of a girl that tells him to resist Foreverland. He doesn’t remember her name, but knows he once loved her. He’ll have to endure great suffering and trust his dream. And trust he’s not insane. Danny Boy, the new arrival, meets Reed’s dream girl inside Foreverland. She’s stuck in the fantasy land that no kid can resist. Where every heart’s desire is satisfied. Why should anyone care how Foreverland works? Together, they discover what it’s really doing to them.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review.

Review: An incredible young adult dystopian read that slowly and tantalizingly reveals the truth behind the island and Foreverland.  

This book really was a nail biter. It's a short read, but packs a lot of punch and I found myself wanting to read more and more so I can finally get to the truth. The reader is just as lost as Danny Boy is at the beginning and as he gains more knowledge, so does the reader. I guessed the big secret before it was revealed, but it still was unpleasant to be proven right since it was such a horrible situation. Paradise always has a dark side. Paradise will not please everyone. 

I liked Reed the best. He didn't blindly believe what everyone else had been told and wasn't ready to given in. Reed had a lot of strength, both physical and mental. He was the most tragic character and while I am sad at what happened to him, it still turned out all right in the end. I would like to think that Foreverland would never be allowed to happen, but I suppose that it could happen with enough money and power and that is it the most horrifying aspect of this book. 

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy young adult dystopian fiction or dystopian fiction in general. 

You Break Far Too Often

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Summary: 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.

Review: A traumatized girl, the obligatory extremely attractive boy, true wuv, and special powers. 

I am getting sick of true wuv between the girl who doesn't find herself attractive and the super attractive boy. It's lust, pure and simple. The girl always manages to convince herself she loves the boy even though they know barely anything about each other. It always manages to be about looks. Two people tell Juliette how beautiful she is. As another person has mentioned, considered her level of malnutrition and inability to take more than short two minutes showers, logically, she would have to look very unpleasant with pale skin, sunken in features, and lank hair. But no! She's beautiful. 

Juliette annoyed me. I know she had been traumatized, but either you survive or you thrive. Juliette is even worse than a mere survivor. She has no spine and is always so quick to collapse, either emotionally or physically. I feel that if it wasn't for Adam, she would have never tried anything damn thing and would have stayed right where she was. The times she did try to stand up for herself or fight back felt false and unbelievable. The setting was a pathetic excuse for a dystopian setting. I don't mind the X-Men like feel, but I worry that it will borrow too heavily from the universe in future books. 

Rating:






Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy young adult romance with a dystopian setting. 

Above Ground Tour: Excerpt and Review

Above Ground by A. M. Harte

Summary: The first glimpse of sun may be her last.

When Lilith Gray goes above ground for the first time, she hardly expects to stay there — much less be trapped on the surface with no way home.

Hunted by trackers and threatened by the infected, Lilith is on the run, desperate to return underground. Her only hope for survival lies with a taciturn werewolf with a dark agenda of his own.

Lilith’s old carefree life has been reduced to one choice:

Adapt. Or die trying.

About the Author: A.M. Harte writes twisted speculative fiction, such as the post-apocalyptic Above Ground and the zombie love anthology Hungry For You. She is excellent at missing deadlines, has long forgotten what ‘free time’ means, and is utterly addicted to chocolate. She lives in London, a city not half as foggy as some seem to think.

Buy the Book: Amazon (US) and Amazon (UK).

Excerpt: 

Emma sank onto one of the cots, her line of questioning derailed by King’s casual comment. Lilith had been above ground for two hours. Who knew what had happened in that time? Who knew how many people had died?

“The theatre has been secured,” King continued, “and all vampires exterminated.”

Emma bit on her tongue—bit hard—using the pain to push through her emotions. There was no time for shock or disbelief; she shoved the feelings into the smallest corner of her mind and focused on what truly mattered: uncovering the truth.

She swallowed, forced her voice to remain even. “Who do you work for? Precision Horizons, the DEI, or both?”

“You should rest,” he said. “It’s been a long afternoon.”

His avoidance of the question only made her more determined. Emma crossed her arms. “You have the DEI uniform and the PH logo. I’m thinking you work for both, which leads me to believe that PH isn’t quite the innocent technology company it pretends to be.”

He shrugged. “There are many conspiracy theorists who would share that opinion.”

“And what is the truth?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes!” She stood, the adrenaline making her legs tremble. “You may not care but I do, Mr King. I’m in prison and my best friend’s in danger. Of course it matters!”

This time he looked at her—properly looked—and seemed to finally see her as something more than a schoolgirl. “King,” he said, abrupt. “Just King.”

But Emma wasn't done. “Speaking of Lilith, why are you so interested in her? She wasn’t even supposed to come to the theatre because her mother forbade—”

The dawning realisation was a bitter taste at the back of Emma’s throat. The special ops, the surveillance room, the tracking device they’d implanted in Lilith....“You knew,” she accused. “You didn’t just think the attack would happen, you knew it would.”

King’s face grew cold. He stood still, back straight, head tilted to one side. He had enviable cheekbones, a delicate nose and generous lips, but the hard edge in his blue eyes belied the femininity of his features. His was an alien, frightening beauty, and Emma could not help but shrink away.

“You’re jumping to conclusions,” he said slowly, eyes flat as he appraised her. “I thought you were cleverer than that.”

Review: Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. 

An intriguing book that combines myth and science, magic and technology, and fantasy and dystopia.

The world Harte has created is fascinating. She does an incredible job of creating a fascinating world where technology, science, and a dystopian world exists underground and magic, supernatural beings and a fantasy world exists above ground. Each world would be fine on its own, but Harte combines the two. It brings up a lot of questions and I very eager for the answers. I personally feel more partial to the underground world because I am a big fan of dystopian fiction. The connection between the affected and those who live underground is a tantalizing one. 

I must admit to being wary of Silver and Lilith's relationship at first because of the bond that forms between them. I dislike reading most fiction about werewolves since I don't like the idea of soul mates and that occurs too often when werewolves are involved. Luckily, they are both wary of the bond and even dislike it at times like logical beings. I was not expecting the ending, but it's always nice when the author doesn't take the easy way out. I hope to see more of Emma, Liam, and the underground world in the next book.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy werewolves, fantasy, dystopia, or any combination of the aforementioned items.

Giveaway:

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The Faction of I Don't Care

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Summary: 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.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Review: A hard to believe dystopian world with an unsympathetic main character and a romance. 

I just can't. I just can't buy this world. Why five factions? And where is there even a choice to join another faction than the one the person grew up in? The factions appear to be very good at segregation and keeping everyone separate  It seems like it just causes a lot of problems by allowing people to choose their faction. And how would they manage to keep people from being divergent since I cannot believe almost everyone seem to have no other strong personality types except the one of the faction they grew up in. 

Beatrice was a character who I quickly grew to dislike. She was somewhat sympathetic at the beginning of the book, but once her initiation began, I found her to be cruel and heartless. The initiation into Dauntless took why too long and of course there was the obligatory romance. Beatrice mentioned a few times that she found Four scary, but still became attracted to him. She has the body of a pre-pubescent child and was an asshole. So why the romance? Then there was so melodrama at the end of the book. I'll probably read the second book eventually, but it will take a while. 

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that are fans of young adult dystopian novels. 

A Mish Mash of Ideas

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Summary: Anderson Lake is a company man, AgriGen's Calorie Man in Thailand. Under cover as a factory manager, Anderson combs Bangkok's street markets in search of foodstuffs thought to be extinct, hoping to reap the bounty of history's lost calories. There, he encounters Emiko... 

Emiko is the Windup Girl, a strange and beautiful creature. One of the New People, Emiko is not human; instead, she is an engineered being, creche-grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in a chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe. 

What Happens when calories become currency? What happens when bio-terrorism becomes a tool for corporate profits, when said bio-terrorism's genetic drift forces mankind to the cusp of post-human evolution? Award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers one of the most highly acclaimed science fiction novels of the twenty-first century.

Review: A disappointing attempt at a dystopian novel that seems like it's trying too hard.

Biopunk, which is defined by Wikipedia as: a subgenre of cyberpunk fiction that focuses on the near-future unintended consequences of the biotechnology revolution following the discovery of recombinant DNA. Biopunk stories explore the struggles of individuals or groups, often the product of human experimentation, against a backdrop of totalitarian governments and megacorporations which misuse biotechnologies as means of social control and profiteering. That sounds totally awesome to me and something I would love to read. It also describes The Windup Girl exactly. Unfortunately, the book falls short of being enjoyable. 

It felt like the author was trying to squeeze too much into one novel. Also, while I admit that I do not know Asia, it felt like the east in the book was not an accurate representation of the country, culture, or the people. It was interesting to see how the world was after gas became rare and how people dealt with those challenges, including finding alternate energy sources. I can understand the reason for developing the New People, but I can't fathom a reason for making them with stutter-stop motion, as its described, unless it was a way to make them easily identifiable.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this to big fans of biopunk and those that really enjoyed dystopian fiction. 

Interview with Terry Persun - Author of Cathedral of Dreams

Below is my interview with Terry Persun, author of Cathedral of Dreams, a dystopian science fiction novel that was recently named a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award in the Science Fiction category at the American Library Association Conference.

Interview: 

Why did you become a writer?

I don’t believe that people become something. I believe they are something, but have to be willing to continually follow what they are before it is realized by others. Too many people have settled for a job that really doesn’t suit them. Or they continually look for something they can do where they can make money. Often, that is something that looks easy (the easy million). But we all know that if it were that easy to make a million everyone would do it. So, to get to your point: I am a writer. I’ve always been one, since I was in grade school. I started writing short stories in fifth grade, but had already made up super heroes and drawn comics by then. I just needed to learn how to write, which I started seriously while in the Air Force.

What is your favorite genre/type of story to write?

I don’t really have a favorite. Like my kids, each has its own plusses and minuses. I write essays and articles (technical and literary), poetry, short stories, novels, nonfiction books, and in about every genre there is except western and romance (well, not like most romance novel at least). I love research, so technical articles can be really fun, and they can lead to ideas for sci-fi novels. My general life, my family, my neighbors all feed my literary work with emotional challenges. I’ve written about a young man who doesn’t know who his father is, a man dying of cancer, someone who goes on a vision quest… I also use magical realism in some novels (stories, poems) and not in others. I write. And now that I’ve said I don’t write westerns or romances, watch them show up.

What is your least favorite?

So far, having said that I write almost anything that comes to me, I’d have to say that westerns (until now) have not come to me. The same with legal thrillers. I wouldn’t tackle one of those until I knew more about law. So, maybe the answer to these two questions about genre has more to do with where my knowledge base lies combined with where my interest and research is headed. That’s a round-about answer, but I think it explains how I write what I write.

Where do you do your writing? Do you have a favorite place to write?

I have a potting shed that I turned into an office. I work there. That includes my day job (as a public relations agency), and my writing. Sometimes I’ll work on a poem while sitting in the living room with my coffee in the morning. And sometimes I edit while sitting on the couch or at the kitchen table, but mostly I’m in the potting shed.

What are your favorite book(s)?

I actually answered the next question first, because it’s about authors not books for me. Nonetheless, I’ll try to pull a few books out of my hat: A Sport and a Pastime (literary), The Shadow of Sirius (poetry), Alphanauts (science fiction), and many more.

Who is your favorite author?

Favorite authors: Robert Penn Warren, Steve Yarbrough, James Salter for literary works, but I’ve read a lot of other great books in that genre. I like the older science fiction authors like Robert Silverberg and Phillip K. Dick. Lately I’ve enjoyed Lily Tuck, James Rollins, Rick Mofina, Bharti Kirchner. Favorite poets would include James Wright, William Stafford, and Ted Kooser, W.S. Merwin. I love to read, so I could go on for pages.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I keep a small box of ideas in my office. After burning some incense and chanting for a few minutes, I shake a Cherokee rattle over the box. Magic happens. Or, as my friend C.C. Humphreys says, “Magic happens to those who believe in magic.”

Tell us about your new novel.

My latest published novel is Cathedral of Dreams, which is about a utopian city that uses electrochemical devices to control peak emotions so that crime is eliminated. The device also muddles thinking somewhat and makes it difficult to dream. Keith, the protagonist, escapes from the utopian city and finds that not only is he able to think more clearly, but all his physical senses are enhanced. The struggle for him is that a group of dissidents want to destroy the city, but with his newfound self, he sees both sides and only wishes for people to be able to make their own choices—something he was not allowed to do.

My upcoming novel, Revision 7: DNA, is another science fiction novel. Neil was the result of an experiment his parents did (and went to jail for) where his brain was split. He has full functionality from both sides of his brain. As a detective, this really helps him to stay on task. When three robots steal a time machine, Neil is called in to help find it. But he doesn’t believe in time machines or the robots…until his wife is taken hostage. His emotional connection to the case means that he’s pulled from the job, but that doesn’t stop him from searching on his own.

About Cathedral of Dreams:

In Newcity, everyone is content. Bad feelings are not allowed, because your monitoring chip will alert the police to bring you in for treatment. Getting better is mandatory. Unchecked emotions made the world outside Newcity dangerous, unruly, and violent. At least that’s the official story in Newcity.

Keith knows something is wrong. Strange visions lead him to become one of the few who escapes Newcity. He fi nds freedom and companionship outside, but pressure building to revolt against the city’s insidious regime of social control. Leadership is thrust upon him, with only his visions for guidance, only a small band of friends for support—and the fates of both Newcity and the outside world at stake.

Cathedral of Dreams is a compelling tale of a dystopian future and personal heroism.  

About the Author:

Terry Persun writes in many genres, including historical fiction, mainstream, literary, and science fiction/fantasy. His latest novel, Cathedral of Dreams is a ForeWord magazine Book of the Year finalist in the Science Fiction category. His novel Sweet Song just won a Silver IPPY Award, too. Terry’s website is: www.TerryPersun.com or you can find him on Amazon at: http://amzn.to/gpWf3L. Email Terry directly if you’d like to be alerted when Revision 7: DNA comes out.

Kingdom Tour: Review and Giveaway

Note From The Author:

Now, about the tour itself: Running through July 3rd, the Kingdom blog tour will feature reviews, interviews, guest posts, giveaways, and a few other surprises—including an international contest to win a Kindle Fire.

The blog tour is being conduced to promote Kingdom, a dystopian, biopunk-thriller, and the first part of the Tiber City Trilogy.

Most people are familiar with the term “cyberpunk,” but “biopunk” is harder to nail down. In many ways, biopunk is similar to the cyberpunk genre, and shares many of the same themes and archetypes: the dystopian future; the overreliance on technology; mega-corporations; a constant and overwhelming flow of data; the anti-hero—these elements are integral parts of both genres. And both genres are fueled, to some extent, by the sense of rebellion and desire for individual freedom expressed by the original punk rock revolution. But the main difference—the most important difference—is that while cyberpunk focuses on invasive technological modification of the human body, biopunk explores the dehumanizing consequences of biological modification, of re-arranging our DNA in the pursuit of perfection.

And it’s these consequences that fuel the action in Kingdom.

Here’s a brief introduction to Kingdom:

In a secret laboratory hidden under the desert, a covert bioengineering project—codename “Exodus”—has discovered the gene responsible for the human soul.

Somewhere in the neon sprawl outside the nation’s collapsing economic core, a group of renegade monks are on the verge of uncovering a secret that has eluded mankind for centuries.

In a glittering tower high above the urban decay, an ascendant U.S. Senator is found dead—an apparent, yet inexplicable, suicide.

And in the streets below, a young man races through an ultra modern metropolis on the verge of a violent revolution...closing in on the terrible truth behind Exodus—and one man’s dark vision for the future of mankind.

Welcome to Tiber City.

If you’re intrigued, you can grab a copy of Kingdom (paperback or Kindle format) over at Amazon. Or, if you’re still on the fence, check out the first four chapters at my website, Tiber City Noir.

And, if you’re interested in entering the Tiber City Kindle Fire Giveaway, you can enter the contest through the widget on the sites hosting this tour.

Thanks again for checking out the Kingdom blog tour.

Cheers,

Anderson

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for a review. 

Review: An incredible dystopian read with a philosophical twist.

The world Anderson paints is downright depressing. The worst part is how realistic it is. It is not too far in the future and although I doubt that our world will become like that world in three years, it does paint a realistic portrayal of what could have happened or what still could happen. There is so much we don't know about our genes although our knowledge is slowly gaining. The Exodus project achieves so much yet creates monsters and agony. Morrison is pure evil and I shudder to see what he does in the next two books. 

What adds a unique twist to this book is the philosophical aspect. What is a soul? The Omega gene provides a connection to the divine, something beyond the human self. It provides a perfect (book) explanation for why people turn to drugs, alcohol, and other addictions to try to replicate that connection to the divine. The Order of Neshamah comes to the same conclusion through religious means. There is a sharp contrast between Morrison and the Order. We may gain technology, but at what cost? Dylan is caught in the middle. Will he make it out sane or even alive?

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy dystopian fiction, science fiction with a technological bent, or biopunk. 

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Beautifully Lyrical

Green Witch by Alice Hoffman

Summary: From bestselling author Alice Hoffman, a resonant tale of overcoming grief and tragedy, as only she could tell it.

In this powerful, lovely sequel to GREEN ANGEL, Green must learn the stories of a number of "witches" and free her true soul mate from a prison as she grapples with life, love, and loss in a post-disaster world.

Review: An incredible read that amazes with the beautiful words.

This book is quite short (133 pages and has large font) and does not have much in the way of standard plot, but it still is an incredible read. I have not read the first book (I had meant to pick the first book up at the library, but this was all I could find), but this book does a very good job of catching you up. I would have liked to learn more about the world (the first book might have more information), especially about the Horde. This book is very light on dystopian and I felt that Green was lucky, too lucky perhaps, with how easily she escaped any ills of the Horde. 

Despite being light on story, this book shines in its words. This is a book of feelings and ripe with symbolism. The beauty of the words is what really stands out. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a poem. This book really resonated on a deep level with me. It is an emotional read. Love plays a huge part in the story and I was glad that Green was able to find happiness. 

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to fans of young adult fantasy or dystopian fiction or those that enjoy lyrical fiction.