Book Blitz: Nice Girl to Love

Written By: Kellie - Aug• 03•13

NiceGirltoLove_ECover_FINAL_rev2

Nice Girl to Love: The Complete Collection by Violet Duke
Publication date: July 31st 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:

The • Nice • Girl n. 1. female of the species who never does anything or anyone bad: Hands-off, she’s a nice girl. 2. the woman that men take home to meet mom: Find my son a ‘nice girl to love.’ SEE ALSO: a good girl; girl scout; Abby Bartlett

This is the complete Nice Girl to Love serial romance collection, which contains: Resisting the Bad Boy (Book One), Falling for the Good Guy (Book Two), and Choosing the Right Man (Book Three).

THE ONE SHE NEVER THOUGHT SHE COULD KEEP…

Abby Bartlett is the quintessential nice girl. Between teaching, volunteering, completing her PhD, and helping her best friend raise his daughter, Abby never gets the chance to be anything but nice. That is, until the all-wrong-for-her man she’s only ever known from afar starts daring her to simply take that chance for herself. His sage advice? Try something wild and fast.  Preferably him.

An unbridled, hotshot attorney with a not-so-little black book, Connor Sullivan has earned himself quite the bad boy reputation. But in his defense, he’s a very conscientious one. He knows far too well that sometimes in life, love isn’t enough…or worse, not even a factor at all. To avoid that misery–and repel the drama–Connor has a firm ‘nothing over a month’ rule.  Who knew a nice girl would be the one to make him want to break all his rules?

THE ONE SHE NEVER HOPED SHE COULD HAVE…

Abby is well aware that everyone thinks she’s in love with her best friend Brian. He is, after all, the type of man a nice girl should be with—the polar opposite of the bad boy—the kind of guy who didn’t let his wife’s decade-long illness stop him from showering her with a lifetime of love every second until her dying day. But everyone’s wrong; she couldn’t possibly be in love with him.  Because she’s never once allowed herself that option.

It’s taken a while but Brian has finally come to terms with surviving the woman he spent half his life loving, a third of it losing. Truth is though, he wouldn’t have ‘survived’ any of it really had it not been for Abby—sweet, incredible Abby—the woman he’s never once had to picture his life without, never realized he couldn’t truly live without. Until now. Now that he’s finally able to love her the way she deserves, the way he knows she wants to be loved…by his brother.  Who’s giving him exactly one chance to speak now or forever hold his peace.

A DECISION SHE NEVER DREAMED SHE’D HAVE TO MAKE…

And now it’s up to Abby to decide between the bad boy wanting to start a life with her and the good guy fighting for the life they’ve already built.

PURCHASE NICE GIRL TO LOVE @AMAZON

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos | No Comments »

Blog Tour: Pefection by J.L. Spelbring

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 31•13

perfection by j.l. spelbring

Publisher:  Spencer Hill Press
Publish Date: July 16th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – An interesting concept and an action packed pace made for an unforgettable read.

About the book: The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa’s spent her whole life under her creator’s strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic. 
Only Ellyssa isn’t perfect. 
Ellyssa feels emotions–a fact she’s spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities. 
But he does. 
His unspoken words and visions of a place she’s never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection. -Goodreads

Visit J.L. Spelbring’s Website
Visit Spencer Hill Press

Thoughts: I’m alllwwaayyyss excited to read a new title from the Spencer Hill Press family, but Perfection that excitement went above and beyond. The concept was just too interesting to ignore, and I knew I’d be reading this book even if I didn’t get a review copy. I’m actually going to keep this review fairly short as so much of the joy of reading this book was in not knowing what was coming next for Ellyssa. Everytime she was sitting still for a moment, and thought things were finally looking up, there was a perfectly crafted sense of ‘now what?’

Even the first line of the book is rought with action, so you get thrown right into Ellyssa’s world. I had been hoping to see some of the creepy, dystopian world centered around Aryan purity that J.L. Spelbring created, right off the bat, but I ended up liking the route she went even more. It was initially a little hard to follow everything that was going on, but all the characters and plot elements ended up coming together wonderfully.

I really enjoyed Elyssa’s character, and while she needed a swift kick in the butt from time to time, she’s also easy to root for. Seeing her interact with the renegads did a lot to really bring this world to life for me, but of course Rein was a total bonus. I loved him, and I loved them together.

And the ending. Wow, the ending. Aggghhhh! I need the next book pretty much now!

Second Opinions:
@Book Loving Mom
@K-Books
@Reader’s Live 1000 Lives

Posted in Dystopian/ Apocalyptic, Young Adult Books , , , | No Comments »

Cover Reveal: Gideon’s Spear by Darby Karchut

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 29•13

Gideon'sSPearfinalcoverflat (2)

GIDEON’S SPEAR
The sequel to FINN FINNEGAN
By Darby Karchut
Gideon’s Spear
(The Adventures of Finn MacCullen #2)
For Finn MacCullen, it’s time to Irish up.
With a shout, Finn held the spear aloft. “Come along, ye manky beasties,” he yelled, throwing every bit of Gideon-ness he could into his voice. “I’ve a wee point to share with ye!” Gripping the end of the shaft in both hands, he swung it around and around over his head, creating a whistling sound. “Faugh a ballagh!”
“The Spear!” Goblin voices screeched in panic. “The Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan!”
“Yeah, you got that right!” Finn yelled back.
When a power-crazed sorceress and the neighborhood pack of beast-like goblins team up and threaten both his master and his friends, thirteen-year-old Finn (not Finnegan) MacCullen does the only thing an apprentice monster hunter can do: he takes the fight to the enemy.
And woe to the foe he meets along the way.
Praise
for
Finn Finnegan
(Book One of The Adventures of Finn MacCullen)
“Overall, a great choice for adventure-loving readers who prefer their battle scenes with a hefty dose of ancient weaponry, ground-fighting skills, and just a touch of magic.”—School Library Journal
“If Lloyd Alexander had written The Ranger’s Apprentice, the result might have been something like Finn Finnegan. Fantastic!” –Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall and Ashen Winter
 
 
“Finn Finnegan brings classic adventure into a modern day setting for a great read.”
—Dee Garretson, author of Wildfire Run and Wolf Storm
Title: Gideon’s Spear (The sequel to Finn Finnegan)
Author: Darby Karchut
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN:  978-1-937053-94-9
Release Date: 2/4/2014
Formats: Paper, e-book
Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos , , | No Comments »

Review: Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 28•13

suddenly royal

Series: Suddenly, #1
Publish Date: April 23rd, 2013
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – Very cute read that brings back lots of happy memories of the Princess Diaries series.

About the book: Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders. -Goodreads

My thoughts: The Princess Diaries–All grown up. That’s Suddenly Royal in a nutshell. Okay, I’m definitely over simplifying that, as Nichole Chase has definitely put together an escapist story all her own here, but if you were a fan of the Meg Cabot books, there’s no way you won’t like this version of the regular girl turned royality story. Samantha Rousseau is a master’s student (note: this is not a YA book), and a pretty down to earth chick. Then everything changes when she finds out that her (deceased) mother’s family has a pretty interesting history. Long story short, she’s about to be thrown into the royal court of Lilaria.

The transition to her new life is a tough one, but of course there is a handsome prince waiting in the wings to help her through it. Happy sigh. Prince Alex is definitely swoon-worthy, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two characters. Some of their shared interests and such seemed a little forced/too convenient, but it’s easy enough to get past that. And honestly, that’s pretty much the only thing I can think of to nit-pick with this story. Oh. And the ending was super predictable in every possible way, but think of that more as a ‘you get what you pay for’ thing. Suddenly Royal is everything you hope it will be and then some.

Overall, a quick read that will definitely leave you wanting more. The next book in the series follows a secondary character from this one, and I’m already insanely excited to see what happens next.

Purchase Suddenly Royal
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions
@Romance Addict Book Blog
@Dear, Restless Reader
@Book Mom’s Reviews

Posted in Other Books , , , , | No Comments »

Cover Reveal: Suit & Fangs by Marian Tee

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 26•13

Suit and Fangs - Marian Tee - Cover

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Suit & Fangs by Marian Tee
Publication date: July 28th 2013
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Synopsis:
Caros are what vampires used to be.
We are slaves to pleasure, power turns us on, and each and every one of us has a weakness to hide.

All things sparkly and beautiful are 18-year-old Caylie Sonora’s greatest source of pleasure, and no one is more irresistibly gorgeous and seductive in her eyes than the quiet and old-fashioned Luka. All the girls in school want to belong to him, craving both his body and  authority. They say that behind closed doors his coldly charming manners disappear, leaving behind a guy who’d take you so hard you’d be breathless and panting for more. But if Caylie has her way, all she’d take from him is revenge, using her body to break his heart.

The most carnal of passions is the only chink in 19-year-old Luka Georgiades’ armor, but his obsession has only always ever to do with Caylie, whose body he desires to possess, in every imaginable position. The half-human Luka may be his race’s most cunning defender, with murderously precise skills and an even deadlier mind, but even Luka is powerless against fate, which forces him to hurt the girl who’s his everything…again and again.
They are each other’s weakness, and the game of love has never been so destructive.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18214289-suit-fangs

AUTHOR BIO:
Hi! I’m Marian Tee – I write sexy funny romances, emphasis on the funny because most readers tell me my books are a public hazard, often causing them to laugh out loud and get funny looks from other people.
I’m from the Philippines, half Filipino and half Chinese with a love for all things Japanese! Yes, that rhymed.  I love dancing, travelling, watching horror movies and basketball, and reading Archie comics.

Of course I love reading books, too. In fact, if I’m a little too slow in releasing a new book, it’s probably because I’m too busy being a reader and forgot all about being a writer.  Yes, I know, MY BAD!

I am a frustrated MANGAKA, hence why I write novels like Drawn and why I have a Vampire Knight fan fic posted at FanFiction.net (just search for Morteia Chronicles).

Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Posted in Fun Stuff & Promos | 2 Comments »

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 25•13

fangirl

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date: September 10th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 – I’m beyond in love with this book and will procedd to read everything Rainbow Rowell has ever written.

About the book: Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . . But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? -Goodreads

Thoughts: I made a horrible, horrible mistake.

I had many chances to get my hands on an ARC of Fangirl over the past few months, and I passed them all up. The synopsis didn’t really speak to me. Or perhaps, I just wasn’t listening. Last week, I read a gushing recommendation about how great Fangirl is, so I caved and sent in a review request. Three days later, I started reading. A few hours after that, I was done, and totally in love. Fangirl is a fantastic book and absolutely recommended to anyone and everyone.

The main character Cath is a fanfic writer, and a popular one at that. She’s obsessed with Simon Snow–a fictional fantasy series that is basically Harry Potter, although Hogwards exists in this world too–and has spent years writing fanfic in his world, to the point where real life just doesn’t seem that important anymore. Buuut, that barely scratches the surface of Cath’s character, her complicated relationships and the challenges she faces in her first year of university. Despite not being a fanfic writer, and rarely reaching obsessive fangirl status for anything, I could really relate to Cath and some of the social issues she faced in being thrown out of her comfort zone and into the world of booze, parties and people that frequently suck.

“In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can’t google.) Like, where does the line start? What food can you take? Where are you supposed to stand,then where are you supossed to sit? Where do you go when you’re done, why is everyone watching you?…Bah.”

Come on, we’ve all been there.

Bah! I just want to go read this book again.

Despite the social anxiety that drips off the pages of this book, it’s a really hopeful story that will restore a little of your faith in the human race. The romance is heart-flutteringly sweet, the family bonds are complex and genuine and Rainbow Rowell brings all of Cather’s complicated feelings to life in a way that will make you want to reach into the book and start hugging people.

A must read.

Purchase Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Chick Loves Lit
@Writer of Wrongs
@Ticket to Anywhere

Posted in Young Adult Books , , , , | No Comments »

Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 23•13

partials

Series: Partials Sequence, #1
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
Publish Date: February 28th, 2012
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – The pacing was a little up and down but overall this was a great scifi read!

About the book: The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what’s left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival. -Goodreads

Thoughts: Partials was a bit of an unsteady read… I’m still not even sure if the rating I gave it was the right one. Don’t get me wrong, it was a really good read, and I’m glad I picked this book up, it was just somewhat inconsistant. I remember reading the first page and tweeting that I was already sure I was going to love the book. Then I read a few more chapters and promptly lost interest for a few weeks. Once I muddled through the first half of the book, things started to pick up again and once I reached the home stretch, there was no turning back–I had to read until the end!

The dystopian world that Dan Wells created for this book was interesting, but not all that original. People make robots – robots rebel – war devestates life as we know it. There were some areas that can definitely be further developed for the rest of the series, which I think will go a long way toward making this world a memorable one. I did really enjoy the political side of the story and getting a bit of insider information into how the government functions, which is something you don’t see much of despite the slew of dystopian sci-fi options out there. The additional complication of the human’s war with the Partials having left the humans unable to bare children made for an interesting addition to the story, though I never quite felt the urgencry of ‘oh crap, we’re going to die out if we don’t get this sorted’.

I’ll probably be reading book two in this series by the end of the summer as I really am curious to see what happens next to Kira and her friends.

Purchase Partials by Dan Wells
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions
@Book Chick City
@Ink Scratchers
@The Library Canary

Posted in Dystopian/ Apocalyptic, Other Books , , | No Comments »

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 15•13

pivot point

Series: Pivot Point
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publish Date: February 12th, 2013
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – Cool concept, great writing. I can’t wait to read more!

About the book: Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without. -Goodreads

Thoughts: This book had been on my radar since late last year, and I’m really not sure how or why I put off reading it for so long. As soon as you read the concept of this story, you’re interested. The idea of being able to explore how a decision will play out for each choice is just too epic an idea to pass up. The possibilities are endless. Kasie West played it smart and gave real thought to why her main character, Addie, wouldn’t be using this amazing ability all the freakin’ time and it worked really well. Of course, like it says in the blurb… Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier.

Pivot Point explored a major decision for Addie. She could either stay with her mother in the super-power complex or move with her father into the normal world… and of course each option came equipped with a love interest and some pretty high stakes. While a lot of the book read like a fairly light, paranormal love story, things get really intense by the end of the story and Addie’s decision doesn’t end up being about which boy is the right one for her. Definitely suprising, but I’m so glad the Trevor vs. Duke debatw wasn’t the defining feature of this series. I really enjoyed seeing both sides of the coin for Addie, and how someone with special abilities might struggle to fit into our world.

I’m not entirely sure how this series will continue to work as I’m guessing there will be a major decision to be made at the beginning of each book… but that could get really hard to follow as the series progresses. It’ll be hard to push all of the paths not taken to the back of our minds… although that’s a problem Addie has to live with every day. Of course, we don’t have a best-friend who can erase memories, which will probably come in handy. On that note, I should mention that I really enjoyed Laila, Addie’s best friend. Her story wasn’t really in the forefront, but it was still imporant to driving the book forward and keeping the action going.

I would definitely recommend Pivot Point to any and all paranormal or special abilities fans. I can’t wait to see where Kasie West takes these characters next.

Purchase Pivot Point
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions
@Book.Blog.Bake.
@Young Readers at Home
@Cuddle Buggery

Posted in Fantasy Books, Other Books, Young Adult Books , , , , | No Comments »

Review: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 12•13

reboot

Series: Reboot, #1
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publish Date: May 7th, 2013
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – Not quite what I was expecting but still a really fun read!

About the book: Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders. -Goodreads

Thoughts: I had really been looking forward to reading this book–I mean, what’s not to like?! It’s not often you see an interesting new twist on zombies (and I’m saying this as a zombie book author as well as a book nerd), and it’s YA on top of that. Umm… yes! Reboot wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but it was still a fun read and I will absolutely be continuing with the series.

More than anything this was an action book in a futuristic dystopian setting. Wren is a super solider, made so by coming back to life 178 minutes after she died of the plague that ravaged this world. The longer someone is dead before coming back (if they do at all) the better solider they become. Increased reflexes and healing, extra stamina… all the fun stuff. Of course, there is a price as well, and the longer someone is gone, the more of their humanity they lose. So when we meet Wren, she’s detached from the world around her and doesn’t care about much beyond doing her job well. Then she meets Callum, who was only down for 22 minutes and kind of sucks as a Reboot, and everything changes.

The biggest plus about this book for me is the Reboot/Zombie connection. It took me awhile to figure it out, because once you look past the ‘coming back from the dead’ bit, these kids aren’t monsters. It’s all handled really well, and I found myself asking a lot of questions as I went, curious to read more.

I enjoyed both Wren and Callum, although their romance didn’t do much for me. Wren was almost more interesing on her own as I always like reading about character who are not quite human and trying to figure the rest of us lunatics out. Although to be fair, Callum was a nice balance for that and she needed him in order to reengage with everything that was going on around her.

I will absolutely be continuing with this series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Purchase Reboot by Amy Tintera
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Vy’s Blog
@My Friends Are Fiction
@Mundie Moms

Posted in Dystopian/ Apocalyptic , , , | No Comments »

Review: The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Written By: Kellie - Jul• 08•13

the shade of the moon

Series: The Last Survivors, #4
Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: Ausgust 13th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 2.5/5 – I’m still not entirely sure what I thought of this book. Some good, some awful.

About the book: It’s been more than two years since Jon Evans and his family left Pennsylvania, hoping to find a safe place to live, yet Jon remains haunted by the deaths of those he loved. His prowess on a soccer field has guaranteed him a home in a well-protected enclave. But Jon is painfully aware that a missed goal, a careless word, even falling in love, can put his life and the lives of his mother, his sister Miranda, and her husband, Alex, in jeopardy. Can Jon risk doing what is right in a world gone so terribly wrong? -Goodreads

Thoughts: This book hurt my soul. Definitely the biggest letdown of the season. Alright, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but I had such high hopes and they were well and truly crushed. Book one of this series blew my freakin’ mind, but the series has gone progressively downhill since then. So you could still call book two a great book, but by book four you’re forced to wonder what happened to this wonderful series. What struck me about the first book was the bleak realism that went with the Evans’ family survival story, but The Shade of the Moon was difficult to enjoy.

Somewhere between where we left off with book three to the two years further into the timeline where book four picks up, the series has gone from post-apocalyptic to dystopian. Jon lives in the privledged enclave, while most of his family is struggling to make ends meet on the outside. Alright, fine. I can get behind that. Except somehow everyone inside the enclave have forgotten how to be human beings. Not only have their years of stuggle after an astroid hit the moon, but everything that made them decent human beings before that happened have been completely forgotten. These people are awful! And while I can believe these kind of characters in books like The Hunger Games where they have been raised to behave this way, in this context it just didn’t work.

I can appreciate that Susan Beth Pfeffer always goes for the stark reality of the end of the world, but having the privledged few be the rapists and slavers while everyone living in poverty are just good honest folk, trying to survive… well, I’m not buying it. Perhaps I’m naieve in thinking that a barebones society (no longer post-apocalypic mind you) made from people who are living right now in North America, would look like this.

Add to that, Jon fits right in with his new neighbors. This kid is an asshole and I just don’t believe his character growth by the end of the book redeems him, or that his actions are justified simply because his mom worked so hard to keep him alive above all else. It’s as though the first twelve years of his life counted for nothing, and all he took away from two years of struggling to stay alive was that he had a right to survive.

Also… instalove.

All that being said… it’s still an interesting story and really well written. Some of the plot twists were really well done, and I still have the utmost respect for Susan Beth Pfeffer’s writing and storytelling style. This story just went off the rails with plot and characterization. Personally, I’m a little shocked that this book is rater for 12+ as things get pretty gruesome, and there are some less than peaceful character deaths throughout the story.

Anyways, if this series continues, I’m honestly not sure what I’ll do. I wish I hadn’t picked up this book, but the damage is already done and I still love a lot of the surviving characters, so I’d like to see what happens to them. But can we please drop Jon down a large hole between this book and the next. Thanks.

Purchase The Shade of the Moon
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Palmer’s Picks for Reading

Posted in Dystopian/ Apocalyptic, Young Adult Books , , | No Comments »
<<56789>>