Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars

Title For Darkness Shows the Stars
By Diana Peterfreund
Genre YA Scifi/fantasy
Pages 407

First sentence Dear Kai, my name is Elliot and I'm six years old and live in the big house.



Synopsis
Elliot made a choice four years ago to stay on her father's estate instead of going with the love of her life Kai. When Kai suddenly returns well off and successful Elliot has to face the choice she made even if it's breaking her heart. In this post apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, love conquers all.



What it has going for it
I loved the way this one starts out. It's definitely a YA post apocalyptic world but it still stayed pretty true to the original classic Persuasion.

Elliot stays behind and makes the choices she did for a good reason, well, a better reason than in the original and I liked the effect it had on my opinion of her. She has more spunk.

Even though the cover has nothing to do with the book or story I loved it.

What's lacking
I really hated the Reduction idea. Mainly because it wasn't really fleshed out very well. Which wouldn't have been a problem if it wasn't such a huge part of the story but it was. If the preCORS pushed science too far that they caused the Reduction then why were they pushing it again? weren't they worried? I don't know. It just irritated me.

What was with the author choosing to make Elliot's dad a bad guy? That drove me crazy! Having him vain and lazy in Persuasion was good enough. No need to make him evil.

Kai was kind of a jerk.I mean, I get it. He was mad she didn't go with him but sheesh, she actually had a reason to stay behind and choose the estate over him in this version and he was much ruder than Captain Wentworth.

The letter just wasn't as good as the original. No letter will ever be as romantic as Captain Wentworth's letter to Anne. Sigh!

Yea or nay?
It started out OK but just got boring at the end. I prefer the original.

Review: The Maze Runner

Title The Maze Runner (Maze Runner 1)
By James Dashner
Genre YA post apocalyptic
Pages 374
Recommended by Me

First sentence He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.

Synopsis
Thomas arrives in the Glade with no memory of how he got there or anything about his life before. Joining the other Gladers, Thomas begins to discover more about the Glade and the Maze that surrounds it.

What it has going for it
Well, with ridiculously high expectations I put off reading this one forever. But in honor of Utah Book Month I decided to give it a go. See, those high expectations quickly became low, really low and I went into this one thinking I was going to despise it. That always bodes well for a book. ;) It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The mystery held my attention and I wanted to know what would happen next. I like Thomas and Teresa and am interested to see where that goes. The world Dashner created was disturbing and exciting all in one and I found my self really wanting to see this Maze...in the day of course. I'd heard complaints about the ending but it didn't bother me. I thought it wrapped up well enough and then threw a nice little "surprise" at us. I also like (and hated) that Dashner wasn't afraid to kill of some main characters. It was sad but realistic.

What's lacking
Well, who am I to complain about a New York Times bestselling author but I was shocked and disappointed in the writing. The way he created mystery by having the other Gladers tell Thomas to just wait for more info was really annoying and amateur in my opinion. Plus we kept getting hit over the head that Thomas didn't remember anything. Argh! After the millionth time I was gritting my teeth. Oh, and the Grievers...Did not sound scary at all!!! I think I'd just laugh at them while they killed me. I hate when I'm reading a book thinking of how I'd handle the situation the characters were in if it were me and it takes the characters far too long to come to the same conclusion. Just annoying!

Favorite moment
When Thomas realized Teresa could talk to him in his mind.  Just because it was cool.

Yea or Nay?
Well, if you haven't read this one yet...is there anyone left who hasn't?...sure, give it a go. It's exciting at least, if a little confusing.

Review: Life As We Knew It

Title Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors 1)
By Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre YA post apocalyptic
Pages 337
Recommended by Susan Bloggin' 'Bout Books 

First sentence Lisa is pregnant.

Synopsis
It was supposed to be an exciting astrological event. A meteor hitting the moon. But no one predicated it would actually knock the moon out of orbit, knock it closer to the earth causing earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions that coats the sky in ash and blocks out the sun. Miranda journals the whole event and describes how her family survives after the horrifying event.

What it has going for it
First of all, I loved reading a book that was actually taking place DURING an apocalyptic event. Usually it seems these books take place after, sometimes years, after the event. Seeing how it all unfolded was terrifying and fun all at once. I was impressed with Miranda's mother and her quick thinking that definitely saved their lives. The journal style was a great choice for this type of book, as well. It brought you right into the action and made the emotions that much more potent. I'm not sure how scientifically accurate everything was but I never questioned anything and that alone impressed me. I loved how the characters desires, reactions and attitudes were realistic. It made for a very believable story that, if nothing else, entertained.

What's lacking
Miranda was sixteen...around there, anyway, but she came off like a twelve year old. I could relate to her frustration and angst but she just sounded a little younger than sixteen to me. My biggest issue with the book, after some reflection, was there just wasn't a heck of a lot of hope. I get that having any sort of hope in this type of a situation is probably near impossible but it made for a really depressing read. People say it made them want to get some food storage and prepared but it just made me horribly depressed. It didn't help that the end wasn't much of a resolution. I might read the rest of the series just to see if it comes to a happier ending, but I'm not sure I can handle any more of the smothering depression it inflicted.

Favorite moment
I'm not sure why but chocolate chip eating scene was so vivid and scary and funny all at once that it evoked the strangest feelings in me so, yeah, it takes favorite moment.

Yea or Nay?
I would recommend it as it seems to encourage most people to be prepared, but be get ready for a rather depressing read.

Review: Partials

Title Partials (Partials 1)
By Dan Wells
Pages 472
Recommended by Me

First sentence Newborn #485GA18M died on June 30, 2076, at 6:07 in the morning.


Synopsis
I'm going to do something a little different. I HATE book trailers. I could tell you why but it would take too long. However, the book trailer to this book is so freaking awesome I thought I'd use it for the synopsis. Enjoy!

What it has going for it
 I've been so excited for this one and when the awesome Emily let me borrow her ARC I was ecstatic!  I enjoyed Dan Wells' John Cleaver series and I love his writing so you can imagine how high those hopes were.  Because of those high hopes I was also afraid I might be disappointed. Well, I needn't have bothered. I LOVED it!  It was action packed and had me turning pages as fast as I could and holding my breath. I had to keep making myself slow down and concentrate so I wouldn't miss anything. There were lots of twists, some that took me totally by surprise and others I saw coming but not till the perfect moment, like right before the characters.  I love that! Oh, and I totally fell in love with Samm and I can't wait for more of him.

What's lacking
Sigh! I could be wrong, and I REALLY hope I am, but I don't think very many people are going to like this one. See, most people like character driven novels over plot driven ones. Not me, though. I mean, It's important that I like at least one character but the plot is much more important to me. I love when an author can come up with an amazing story that astounds and entertains me and doesn't waste precious time talking about a character's "feelings". Not that this one doesn't have amazing characters (did you hear me mention my new found love for Samm?) but there's hardly any romance or character drama. At least in  my opinion there wasn't. There's also a lot of talk about science that I found fascinating but I can see how it might bore other people.  

Yea or Nay?
Of course I still hope you give it a try, but if you're expecting another romance with a meager plot you might be disappointed.