65. Legend

65. Legend. (Legend #1) Marie Lu. 2011. 318 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopia, YA Fiction, YA Romance] [5 Stars]

First sentence: My mother thinks I'm dead. Obviously I'm not dead, but it's safer for her to think so. At least twice a month, I see my Wanted poster flashed on the JumboTrons scattered throughout downtown Los Angeles. It looks out of place up there. Most of the pictures on the screens are of happy things: smiling children standing under a bright blue sky, tourists posting before the Golden Gate Ruins, Republic commercials in neon colors. There's also anti-Colonies propaganda. "The colonies want our land," the ads declare. "They want what they don't have. Don't let them conquer your homes! Support the cause!"

Premise/plot:  Legend is YA dystopia. The novel has two narrators: a guy named Day (Daniel) and a girl named June. Both underwent the "trials" at age 10. June received a perfect, perfect score earning her not only the right to higher education (high school and college) but the right to the best education possible, the kind of education that will prepare her for serving the Republic. Day, well, he didn't pass his trials. And like all other low-scoring 10 year olds, he was sent away to labor camp. Once a 10 year old is sent to labor camp, they're never ever heard from again.

When the novel opens, both teens are about 15. Day is a wanted criminal, an outlaw. He doesn't legally exist in the Republic database, in the Republic records. The authorities don't even know what he looks like--what race or ethnicity he may be. So their wanted posters change quite often allowing for every possibility. (It's the occasional finger print on the crime scene that links Day to particular crimes.) Day is in Los Angeles spying on his family. His older brother, John, is the only one in the neighborhood who still knows he's alive. And it is to John he delivers gifts--food, clothes, medicine, money, etc.  Day becomes worried when his family's home is marked with a red X--a symbol that someone within the home has the plague. This is very bad news indeed.

June, on the other hand, is at the top of her class. Though she's just fifteen, she's almost finished with her training, her education. June is anxious to start working for the Republic, to start serving in the military, to start tracking down criminals like Day. Her wish comes true--but not in the way she expected. She wanted to start working with her older brother, Metias. Instead, she takes his place after he is murdered. And it appears that Day is the one responsible for his stabbing. Metias was trying to stop Day from escaping from the hospital after a break in. (Day was hoping to find plague cures for his family.) June is on a mission, and it is personal. She'll track down Day and bring him to justice no matter what.

 My thoughts: The chapters alternate in narrators, and for once I think this is a great idea. Usually, I'm not a big fan of this in novels, but in this case, it not only works, it works well! I was able to care about Day and June--almost from the start!

Legend is action-packed. It's an intense read. But an enjoyable one! I'd definitely recommend it!!! 

I first read this one in June of 2011. I reread it in August of 2024. 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

63. Mockingjay

63. Mockingjay. Suzanne Collins. 2010. Scholastic. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopia] [4 stars]

First sentence: I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather. This is where the bed I shared with my sister, Prim, stood. Over there was the kitchen table. The bricks of the chimney, which collapsed in a charred heap, provide a point of reference for the rest of the house. How else could I orient myself in this sea of gray? Almost nothing remains of District 12.

Katniss has made it through her second Hunger Games--just barely. She was "rescued" just in time. Unfortunately, Peeta, her on-screen romance was not. While Katniss is trying to adapt to her new home in District Thirteen, while Katniss is trying to decide whether or not to become the rebellion's "Mockingjay", he is President Snow's prisoner. And knowing that Peeta is in danger--that he is being tortured--is torture for her.

Is Katniss's reunion with Gale a good thing? You be the judge of that. He does bring out Katniss's anger, her aggression. And not always in the right way. For Katniss finds him infuriating to be around at times. Does Gale make a good soldier for the rebellion? Definitely. But just because he's in favor with the rebellion, with President Coin, doesn't mean that he's a good friend--a good partner--for Katniss.

Katniss is still trying to find herself. She's still having people try to shape her, mold her, conform her, define her, limit her. In many ways, President Coin is just as bad as President Snow in trying to "make" Katniss into something she's not. Coin wants her to be "the face" of the war. In a very artificial way--at least at first. Under the circumstances, Katniss has never had the time--the opportunity--to decide anything for herself. She's forced into everything--either directly or indirectly. Is it any wonder she's so confused? (But Katniss does get her moment in Mockingjay.)


Mockingjay is very much focused on war and politics. And with both sides so committed to war, to destruction, to "winning" it shouldn't be much of a surprise that this one is so violent, so bloody, so ugly.


I liked this one. I thought it was compelling--very intense. It is an emotional book--the subject matter makes it so.

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

49. The Kill Factor

The Kill Factor. Ben Oliver. 2024. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Emerson Ness had not been scared in a very long time. Now she was terrified.

Premise/plot: YA dystopia is not as prevalent [abundant] as it used to be ten years ago. The Kill Factor IS YA dystopia with a unique premise. Fifty contestants for a brand new television game show that are facing varying sentences for crimes they've committed. They will face challenges from the Producer [the powers that be] and one another. The winner will essentially be acquitted and have the charges dropped. The losers, well, the losers will face life-time sentences. Signing the contract to participate in the game show has huge risks and low odds of success. Yet for those who feel helpless and hopeless, a little hope is better than none. Emerson Ness, the narrator, has been charged with arson and murder. (I'm not certain at all what degree for the murder charge. I don't think the judicial process had gotten far enough along for official charges to have been made.) Her social-media obsessed dad is at first pushing for her to compete. Her fame could lead to his fame. She is conflicted. But ultimately she chooses to be a contestant so the book would be longer than two chapters.

The book is action-packed with definitely more emphasis on premise and plot than characterization. But Emerson Ness definitely is developed as a character.

My thoughts: I found this a compelling read. I was a big fan of the YA dystopia trend. I'd be happy to see a few published each year. This one definitely has some similarities to The Hunger Games, but also a little darker.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

54. The Island

The Island. Natasha Preston. 2023. [February] 336 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: I uploaded my latest trailer to TikTok advertising my new YouTube video, Killer in the Family, and I sit back. Within seconds the numbers under the little heart start climbing as if Jeff Bezos were watching a livestream of his bank balance. He's building rockets. Malcolm Wyatt, a rich dude who invited me to his amusement park, is building islands.

Premise/plot: Six [teen] social media influencers are invited to preview a new [gothic themed] amusement park on a private island. Will any survive the weekend? 

I'm tempted to stop the summary right then and there. That's the premise--pure and simple. Paisley (our protagonist) is joining up with five other influencers--Liam, James, Will, Ava, and Harper. There will be minimum--skeletal--staff on the island running the hotel and amusement park. Malcolm himself, the owner, will be on the island "overseeing" things from a distance. 

Paisley has thoughts and opinions on her fellow influencers. They are all very different, have different genres, sub-genres, fan bases. Paisley's is true crime. 

She makes plans with another influencer, Will, to meet up after midnight to sneak out of the hotel and view the island at night. She thinks this 'bonus' footage might be something. (They are technically not supposed to be running around unsupervised AT NIGHT on the island.) But Will never shows. He's a no-show the next day as well. Her mind immediately thinks MURDER. And though the other guests laugh at her worst-case scenario, she convinces the staff to check his hotel room. Will body is the first but not the last in this HEAVY BODY COUNT thriller.

My thoughts: There's no fooling around with this one. If readers are looking for a thriller with LOT of victims, lots of bodies stacking up, then this one delivers. Perhaps only Shakespeare can compete with this kind of body count with some of his tragedies. Readers should always *trust* their own instinct on to read or not to read. It is BLOODY and gory. It is packed with thrills--make that kills--for the last two-thirds of the novel. 

It won't be for everyone. But it doesn't hide what it is. What you see is what you get.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

53. The Winter Soldier: Cold Front

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front. Mackenzi Lee. 2023. [February] 416 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence from prologue: When you wake, the only thing you remember is dying.
First sentence from chapter one: The agent flinches when Rostova rips the hood from his head.

Premise/plot: Dual timelines of 1954 and 1941--both star the same man. (Well, "same" may be relative.) In 1941, Bucky Barnes is eager to join the war effort, but he's only sixteen. When he's offered an opportunity by the British SOE, he accepts despite protests from his guardian. His time in Britain will bring him into contact with an unforgettably-forgettable-unforgettable young woman who has burdens of her own. In 1954, the Winter Soldier is an Agent for who-knows-who. He's built--constructed--to do missions, to follow orders precisely and exactly. He's not built to ask questions, to show mercy, to bend the rules. So when someone (or two someones) recognizes him as Bucky, this is one confused Agent. Can he piece together who he is and how he came to be there...before it's too late???

My thoughts: Don't expect Bucky Barnes to be *the* Bucky Barnes from the Marvel Universe FILM franchise. The history you know from the Captain America movies (etc.) is not *this* Bucky Barnes. When I began to realize this, I sought out reviews from GoodReads. I came to the conclusion that this Bucky Barnes is more strongly influenced by the comic book version. (I'm not sure that there is one definitive story line. Perhaps Bucky Barnes is a character that keeps re-inventing in the comic books? I know some do. (Like Batman)). I have not sought out more on the comic strip version(s) of Winter Soldier and/or Bucky Barnes. So I decided just to read it as if it was my very first and only introduction to the character. 

Bucky is YOUNG and idealistic, in some ways. I don't know that he has a full grasp on the horrors/terrors of war. (Does any young soldier?) He is thrilled that he may qualify for a super-top-secret program designed for young people around his own age. He can still serve "the good guys" (aka Allies) while being part of a super-secret-exclusive group. In some ways, this might be "even better" since not everyone is qualified and/or chosen. But he finds that "good guys" and "bad guys" are not as black and white as he might have first thought. There are some that would win at any cost--no matter the means, no matter the consequences. 

Bucky meets a young woman, Imogen "Gimlet" Fleming. He will fall hard and fast for her. But she's layered, complex. (As he soon will be as the Winter Soldier). There is some romance. This romance gets a little heated. (Nothing above and beyond what you'd find in Marvel movies in general). But it is not a clean read. 

The book is ultimately and predictably tragic. Because most readers will know that the Winter Soldier does not have a happily ever after ending....in 1954.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

42. Remember Me Gone

Remember Me Gone. Stacy Stokes. 2022. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: People come from everywhere to forget.

Premise/plot: Remember Me Gone is a mystery (of sorts) set in Tumble Tree, Texas. Lucy Miller, our heroine, is excited to join the family business. Her father has a unique gift--he can remove people's unwanted memories. Sadness. Grief. Pain. Suffering. Regret. (etc.) Those visiting Memory House are encouraged to remove all physical traces of those connected with the memories they are having erased. Otherwise, 'echoes' might lead to confusion and disorientation. Most of those who arrive at Memory House, however, are new patients (if you will). Lucy, only sixteen, hasn't yet learned how to remove memories. But she's eager to try...

But as 99.99% of readers can predict, all is not as it seems with her father, the Memory House, and the town of Tumble Tree itself. Lucy's own memories have been altered. She has quite a mystery on her hands to solve...

My thoughts: I felt this was an almost all the way through. It was a good solid almost. I think the premise is interesting enough to have potential. I am curious in the world Stokes has created. I'm more curious about how the Memory House came to be. How did her family discover they have this talent? How did they come to settle in Tumble Tree? Is there something special about this one location? Why not set up a Memory House in a more populated place? What is the state of the world? Has something catastrophic unsettled society at large? The glimpses of the wider world we see--very few and far between--things don't seem to be particularly well. I'm curious if there could be post-apocalyptic undertones going on. Or if I was just in a weird mood when I set down with this one. But most of the questions I have about this world are not answered. And perhaps rightly so. 

The focus of the story is on Lucy's "coming of age" and how she discovers that HER personal memories have been erased--perhaps dozens of times--and how knowing that her father has manipulated her--and that she is not alone in this experience. There are powers that be at work in this town that are harming everyone. It is more than personal. 

The premise, as I mentioned, is interesting. I just found the storytelling to be "almost" instead of fully engaging. I didn't really connect with the characters. This could be just my personal reaction (obviously). But for me it was so premise-driven that it lost any character-driven angles it might have had.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

92. Hatch

Hatch. (The Overthrow #2) Kenneth Oppel. 2020. [September] 384 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: This wasn't normal rain.

Premise/plot: Hatch is the sequel to Kenneth Oppel's Bloom. In the first book, readers met three teens who seemed to be completely immune to the alien invasion--of plants. Now in the second book, these three are joined by many others who are half human and half alien. There are three types of aliens: those that live on land, on water, and in the air--jumpers, swimmers, and flyers. As their bodies continue to undergo strange and 'alien' transformations, these teens--including our three Anaya, Petra, and Seth--are kept under lock and key by the government who wants to use them for tests and experiments.

My thoughts: I found the first book, Bloom, to be action-packed and full of thrills and chills. It was exciting, intense, scary. This second book has a much slower pace, perhaps as slow as molasses. The focus for the first half seems to be the mundane, trivial moments of life as a captive of the government. I have no doubt that plenty of exciting, intense, terrifying things are happening outside. But we don't get to see that. Nope, we're stuck in the cafeteria chatty-chatting with others. The second half does seem to offer more excitement to readers. But this one is definitely unevenly paced.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

90. Bloom

Bloom (The Overthrow #1) Kenneth Oppel. 2020. [March] 320 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Anaya woke up blind.

Premise/plot: Anaya Riggs, Seth Robertson, and Petra Sumner had a couple of things in common before the rain came. After the rain, well, one thing stood out: they are all somehow immune to the alien plant--three distinct forms, all black, all terrifying--that bloomed from the seeds the rain brought. The plant seems impossible to destroy or kill. And if it isn't stopped...well...it's not looking good for the survival of the human race. Many fear that the plants are just the first step of the invasion...

Bloom is an action-packed horror novel with an alien theme.

My thoughts: I had REALLY bad timing. When I started reading this one, I had no idea that the weather would be RAINY for several days in a row. The book itself is intense and suspenseful. Everything you could ask for in speculative fiction: mystery, suspense, action, action, more action, and tons of world building. Not a love triangle in sight.

There are two more books in the series. I'll be reading them soon!

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

67. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Suzanne Collins. 2020. [May] 439 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Coriolanus released the fistful of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and swore that one day it would never pass his lips again.

Premise/plot: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel (of sorts) to Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. The protagonist (he is not a hero) is a young (very young) Coriolanus Snow. He comes from a previously wealthy (high class) family that has fallen (hard and fast) on hard times. His only hope of a better life--a more prosperous future--is a scholarship to university. And that may be completely out of his control. Twenty-four students will become mentors to the twenty-four tributes coming to the Capital for this year's Hunger Games. (It's the TENTH hunger games.) The victor's mentor will receive a scholarship. The Hunger Games are still relatively new. Those viewing (and participating) still remember the hard, bitter, horrifying, traumatic times of actual war. Capital's economy certainly hasn't recovered from the actual war. (There is nothing lavish and luxurious as readers (and viewers) may remember from the original trilogy of books.) The Hunger Games are still in their infancy, still being shaped and formed by master minds. (People like Dr. Gaul...and her students...)

Coriolanus's tribute is from district twelve. Her name is Lucy Gray Baird. She's a singer with charisma, a bit of star quality. She has a little something special that makes her stand out from others. He sees this as her greatest strength. Perhaps the two of them can manipulate things along--here and there--and with a little luck she may win it all. Hooray for his bright future....

But things don't always go according to plan...even when they seem to... It seems there's always someone watching just a smidge cleverer.

Readers also meet his classmates. In particular Sejanus Plinth who is essentially "new money." His family has the funds but they are new to Capital. Sejanus still thinks of himself as belonging to District 2 and being one of the people. Which makes things super tricky when he has to participate (as a mentor) in the Hunger Games. He feels one with the tributes--whether they see him as one of them or not. He cannot accept that these tributes are animals, monsters, incapable of thought and feeling. There is no "us" and "them."

Throughout the book, Coriolanus struggles with his ambitions and his conscience. You might think of the old imagery of an angel on one side and a devil on the other. 

My thoughts: I don't feel like my time has been completely wasted. It hasn't. I just wish the book had been shorter. I really don't understand *why* the part after the conclusion of the Hunger Games had to go on so long. The first half of the novel was compelling enough. It was interesting to see the great contrast between these primitive earlier Hunger Games and the later Games which are depicted in the trilogy. Worlds of difference between Capital then and now, between the Games then and now. I liked how Coriolanus and Sejanus both--in their own ways--disapproved of how the tributes were being treated. There are moments when Snow comes across as well--human.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S

I almost wish that Lucy Gray had lost in the games OR been murdered by the powers that be soon after. I really HATED how that story resolved. I think Snow could still have turned all dark side and evil as a result of someone else killing Lucy (the supposed love of his life). Their scenes together reminded me of the DARK and DEPRESSING scenes of Oliver Twist. (The murder of Nancy).

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

133. The Rules Have Changed

The Rules Have Changed. Lesley Choyce. 2021. [January] 120 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:  “The rules have changed.” That’s the first thing I was told when I showed up on my first day back at school. What rules? I wanted to ask. What kind of changes? But I decided to say nothing and keep my mouth shut. Why? Well, because everything about the school freaked me out. The uniforms. The kids staring at those slim metallic phones. The look on everyone’s faces. I can’t quite explain it. Let’s just say they looked stern and serious.

 Premise/plot: Blake and his family are in for a shock when they return from an extended boating trip--three whole years disconnected from society and world events. Blake has trouble fitting in and conforming with the new rules and expectations. His parents have trouble finding jobs. Life is unpleasant--but is it also dangerous?

My thoughts: This was a quick read written for young adults. I would say it's more action-driven or premise-driven than character-driven. That isn't a bad thing--just a thing. I'll also add that it doesn't really have an ending in the traditional sense--more a cliffhanger of sorts? It is a dystopian-in-the-making.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

69. Hunting November

Hunting November. (Killing November #2) Adriana Mather. 2020. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: When I was a little kid and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I gave them all sorts of wild answers. I told a teacher I wanted to be a couch potato so I could spend my days snuggled up under blankets in the living room. I told my best friend Emily’s mom I wanted to be a cookie taste-tester because that’s what Emily wanted to be. And I told my dad I wanted to be a knife so I could cut my grilled cheese sandwiches in two perfect triangles instead of the four dinky squares he always prepared. Of course this answer earned me raised eyebrows and an explanation about how a girl is a living, breathing thing that can be cut; and a knife is a sharp piece of steel that does the cutting. But now that I’ve discovered most of my childhood was a lie, I’m starting to think my younger self was onto something with the knife answer. Because in the past few weeks at Academy Absconditi, I’ve come as close to being a knife, or being stabbed by one, as anyone can get.

Premise/plot: Hunting November is the second book in the series. (Will there be a third? Or did this second one end tied up with a pretty bow? I haven't decided if there's a *need* for further adventures in this world...or not.)

November Adley has left the boarding school and has teamed up with Ash, her not-really-official boyfriend. Other former classmates may make an appearance as their quest--yes, QUEST continues. They are looking to find her father and get some answers. What they find...well...that's something else indeed.

There are plenty of twists in turns in term of plot. If by twists and turns you mean the characters are always on the move and finding themselves in intense situations. I don't know that readers will be on the edge of their seats. I'm not sure that "twists and turns" equal complete and total surprises for the reader.

My thoughts: I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. I wasn't bored. I wasn't thrilled. I read this one in one or two days. That's something, right?! It wasn't so much that I HAD to keep reading because I just had to know what happened next. But I was determined to read it since I'd just finished the first book in the series. It's so rare that I pick up a second book and actually actually remember all the characters and exactly what is going on. I wasn't going to let that opportunity pass me by.

I could see this type of book being adapted into a television series for the CW. I could. Especially if the focus is on the boarding school aspect of it. I think that is where this series shines best. But I didn't regret the wider, global setting.

My biggest issue with the books are the flashback scenes. They are convenient for info dump, no doubt about that. But they feel a bit off from the actual action. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

56. Killing November

Killing November. Adriana Mather. 2019. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy] [YA Fiction; YA Action; YA Mystery]

First sentence: My name is November Adley and I was born in August. The way my dad tells it, the Connecticut nights were unusually cool that summer, and the day I arrived our maple burst with color reminiscent of late fall—hence my name. He claims the leaves shone so brightly in the morning sun that it looked like our front lawn was on fire. Dad also says that’s part of the reason I’m obsessed with the woods.

Premise/plot: November Adley finds herself in a new and spooky environment. It turns out her father has sent her to boarding school--but not just any boarding school. This one specializes in secrets, mayhem, and perhaps a little murder. Will November live long enough to discover all the secrets?!

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this action-packed YA thriller. November, our heroine, is naive but super-skilled. She teams up with her roommate, Layla, and Ash (Layla's brother). There are many mysteries to solve, but not much time to piece everything together. Every day is packed with dangers and intrigues.

I did enjoy the world-building. I thought that worked nicely. It definitely has a YA feel to it. It's fun.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

52. The Warrior's Curse

The Warrior's Curse. (The Traitor's Game #3) Jennifer A. Nielsen. Scholastic. 359 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Winter had come, bringing harsh winds that cut like knives through my cloak, the land frozen beneath my feet each morning and continuing to chill, even when the sun rose. Not that we saw much sun in such a forsaken place.

Premise/plot: This one is the third and probably final book in the series. Books one and two are The Traitor’s Curse and The Deceiver’s Heart. Kestra is our heroine; Simon is our hero. These two love each other truly, madly, deeply but there are obstacles, oh so many obstacles.

At the start of this one, Kestra has been kidnapped and is being held against her will by Loelle in the All Spirits Forest. Simon is recovering and continuing to search for Kestra. Did she leave him by choice?! Or was she kidnapped?! Should he pursue a rescue mission against the advice of his political and military advisers? Should he let her go and marry Harlyn?!

My thoughts: In a perfect world I would have reread the previous books in the series. But with the library closed due to Covid 19, you do what you can do. This book was the last book I checked out—little knowing that the world would change within a week.

I thought it might be difficult to follow because it’s been a while since I read the previous books. But within a few chapters, I was immersed in the story and enjoying it very much!!!

I love Nielsen’s books. She’s a tried and true author who has proven herself worthy time and time again.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

We Set the Dark on Fire

We Set the Dark on Fire. Tehlor Kay Mejia. 2019. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: In the beginning, there were two brother-gods: the God of Salt and the God of Sun.

Premise/plot: The book is set in the fictional island-world of Medio. In this culture, every man--or at least every man of rank--has two wives.

Dani, our heroine, has spent years training to be a Primera--a first wife. She won't be her husband's only wife, but she will be his equal, his helpmate. She'll manage his household, and keep things running smoothly. When she graduates she'll be fulfilling her parents' dream and making all their sacrifices worth it. But is it what she really wants? Maybe, maybe not. Dani's country is just as unsettled and out of sorts as her heart and mind. Political unrest has been growing and building--mainly concerning the nation's borders and those seeking to cross. Dani's would-be husband is a wealthy politician--the son of a wealthy politician. She'll take her husband's status and shed forever hers--which is for the best, right? But if it's right, why does it feel so wrong?

On the day she marries Mateo Garcia, he marries his Segunda (second wife) as well. Her name is Carmen. The two young women have been training at the same school for years. Segundas have an entirely different role within the family. They are for heart, passion, and childbearing. Dani worries that Carmen--who has sometimes bullied her in the past--will make life difficult for her.

She enters into the marriage uneasy...and her intuition is correct...there will be nothing predictable about it.

My thoughts: The prologue was beautifully written. It made it sound like there would be at least some mythological substance, some spirituality to the world-building. In the first few chapters, Dani alludes to the fact that her gods--the gods of her family--are not those of Medio. But this thread tends to not go anywhere or serve a purpose. Though the prologue makes you think its about gods in conflict with one another--sibling rivalry--the book isn't really.

I was drawn into this one from the prologue and the first chapter or two. Dani, our narrator, has a tough decision to make. Will she continue living a lie just because her parents want her to have a better life? Will she continue living that lie out of self-preservation? Will her secret come out? (The secret is about where she was born--what side of the border she was born on and the sacrifices her parents made to falsify her documents.) How does she feel about the border? about the racism? about the violence? about politics?

Medio. The culture isn't really explored as fully as I had hoped. The more I read, the shallower it felt to me. It just felt undeveloped.

It is definitely action-driven and not character-driven. I felt most of the characters--with the exception of Carmen and Dani--were incredibly flat and insubstantial. The action wasn't particularly satisfying--to me. The book seemed to digress from being a political thriller with SPIES to being about two women who make out a lot.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe. Ally Condie. 2019. 328 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Call tells me he sees a star and that makes me laugh.

Premise/plot: The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe is a dystopian young adult novel. Poe loves Call. Call loves Poe. In a perfect, perfect world these two would find a way to run away together and get a chance at a happily ever after. But this isn't a perfect, perfect world--it's a dystopian novel. Call, Poe's true love, is killed in the prologue thus inspiring Poe's lust for revenge. This lust suits the Admiral just fine. In fact he considers Poe a great weapon against 'the enemy.' 

Gold. The Admiral wants/needs it--badly. There are ships that dredge the river in pursuit of gold. Call and Poe are on such a ship in the prologue. And Poe spends the rest of the novel as Captain of another mining ship. This ship has been armed with a weapon of her own design--one that will keep the river raiders from boarding, from slaughtering, from stealing. It was a raider who murdered Call. But is living for revenge really living? There are many secrets to be discovered--it would be a shock and disappointment if there weren't secrets galore.

My thoughts: Action-packed. The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe is packed cover to cover with action. But is it equally packed with heart and soul? Is there much substance or depth to the world Condie has created for teens? I would say no and no. Don't get me wrong. The action alone may keep you reading. (I read this one in two days.) There's nothing wrong with a book using action, violence, and suspense to keep you turning pages. A book can be a great escape.

This is definitely an action-driven novel. Dystopians can be premise-driven, action-driven, or character-driven. Perhaps the best of the best of the genre combine all three. I prefer premise-driven or character-driven dystopians. Novels that make me think or rethink the world. Novels that feature characters that I won't be forgetting any time soon. I definitely thought the character development suffered a bit in this one.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Refugee

Refugee. Alan Gratz. 2017. Scholastic. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Crack! Bang!

Premise/plot: Refugee has three narrators and three settings. Josef Landau's story takes place in Germany and at sea in 1939; Isabel Fernandez's story takes place in Cuba and at sea in 1994; Mahmoud Bishara's story takes place in Syria and surrounding regions in 2015. Refugee is about three families who had no choice but to flee their countries.

There are many stories about Jews trying to escape Hitler. Josef Landau and his family make it aboard a ship bound for Cuba. You would think that they'd feel safe and secure; confident that at last they've managed to escape Hitler. But Josef's father's time in a camp has made it impossible for him to trust. Josef wants to believe the best....

Isabel and her family have wanted to leave Cuba for years--probably as long as Isabel has been alive. But when protests take an ugly turn and Castro relents and 'allows' people to leave the island, her family jumps at the chance. (It may be her father's ONLY chance to survive. To return to Cuba would at the very least mean imprisonment if not death since he was an active participant in the violent protests.) But they know they are not safe until they've literally walked on dry land in the States. To be "rescued" at sea would be a cruel punishment.

Mahmoud's family is desperate to leave Syria. Many--if not most are. They have no choice but to leave everything behind and set out on a long journey to an uncertain future. Their goal is Europe--the European Union. So few countries in the world are accepting refugees...

These three stories share a common theme.

My thoughts: Refugee is an intense, compelling, engaging read. I read it one sitting; the book would not let me put it down. The situations are dramatic and tense. The characters are well drawn. You can't help getting emotionally involved in their lives and stories. Within a few chapters, how could anyone fail to be drawn into the story?

Refugee is a story that you know is intentionally written to get you to think or rethink where you stand on important issues of immigration and refugees. One could make the argument that it is an issue-driven novel, a "problem" novel.

Refugee is a story whose characters live and breathe. How could it be anything other than a character-driven novel? Or, for that matter how can it be anything other than a plot-driven novel? I mean the ACTION is packed into this one. Each story is a matter of life-and-death. Each chapter pushes you closer and closer. WILL THE FAMILIES FIND SAFETY? Will these characters that you've come to love SURVIVE?



© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride. William Goldman. 1973/2003. 398 pages. [Source: Bought] 

First sentence: THE YEAR that Buttercup was born, the most beautiful woman in the world was a French scullery maid named Annette.

 

 Premise/plot: William Goldman sets out to abridge S. Morgenstern's classic novel The Princess Bride. (Or so he'd have you believe.) One narrative throughout is William Goldman speaking directly to the reader about the reading, writing, editing, abridging, publishing process. He also slips in some family stories. The other narrative--perhaps the better narrative--is the novel itself starring Buttercup, Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik. Goldman promises readers the "good bits" version, and he delivers. This fantasy novel has action, adventure, drama, and romance. 

My thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this one. Though I'd started this one a few times in the past, this was my first time to complete it. I have of course seen the movie dozens of times. I think the two are equally satisfying.  

Quotes:

The horse’s name was “Horse” (Buttercup was never long on imagination) and it came when she called it, went where she steered it, did what she told it.

 The farm boy did what she told him too. “Farm Boy, fetch me this”; “Get me that, Farm Boy—quickly, lazy thing, trot now or I’ll tell Father.” “As you wish.” That was all he ever answered. “As you wish.” Fetch that, Farm Boy. “As you wish.”

 Buttercup’s mother hesitated, then put her stew spoon down. (This was after stew, but so is everything. When the first man first clambered from the slime and made his first home on land, what he had for supper that first night was stew.)

“Did you forget to pay your taxes?” (This was after taxes. But everything is after taxes. Taxes were here even before stew.)

 Clearly, the magic is in Westley’s feeding. Show me how you do it, would you, Westley?” “Feed the cows for you, Countess?” “Bright lad.” “When?” “Now will be soon enough,” and she held out her arm to him. “Lead me, Westley.” Westley had no choice but to take her arm.

“Strange things are happening,” Buttercup’s parents said, and off they went too, bringing up the rear of the cow-feeding trip, watching the Count, who was watching their daughter, who was watching the Countess. Who was watching Westley.

“Terrible things can happen when you’re overtired. I was overtired the night your father proposed.”

The girls in the village followed the farm boy around a lot, whenever he was making deliveries, but they were idiots, they followed anything.

I thought an hour ago that I loved you more than any woman has ever loved a man, but a half hour after that I knew that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then.

Every time you said ‘Farm Boy do this’ you thought I was answering ‘As you wish’ but that’s only because you were hearing wrong. ‘I love you’ was what it was, but you never heard, and you never heard.”

“I hear you now, and I promise you this: I will never love anyone else. Only Westley. Until I die.” 

THERE HAVE BEEN five great kisses since 1642 B.C., when Saul and Delilah Korn’s inadvertent discovery swept across Western civilization. (Before then couples hooked thumbs.)

 But from a narrative point of view, in 105 pages nothing happens. Except this: ‘What with one thing and another, three years passed.’

“People are always thinking I’m so stupid because I’m big and strong and sometimes drool a little when I get excited.”

 “The reason people think you’re so stupid,” the Sicilian said, “is because you are so stupid. It has nothing to do with your drooling.”

 “He’ll never catch up!” the Sicilian cried. “Inconceivable!” “You keep using that word!” the Spaniard snapped. “I don’t think it means what you think it does.”

Love is many things, none of them logical.

“Life is pain,” his mother said. “Anybody that says different is selling something.”

“Why do you wear a mask and hood?” Fezzik asked. “I think everybody will in the near future” was the man in black’s reply. “They’re terribly comfortable.”

“Guess?” Vizzini cried. “I don’t guess. I think. I ponder. I deduce. Then I decide. But I never guess.”

The past has a way of being past.

“Then let’s look on the bright side: we’re having an adventure, Fezzik, and most people live and die without being as lucky as we are.”

“I’m retired,” Max said, “anyway, you wouldn’t want someone the King got rid of, would you? I might kill whoever you want me to miracle.”  “He’s already dead,” the skinny guy said. “He is, huh?” Max said, a little interest in his voice now. He opened the door a peek’s worth again. “I’m good at dead.”

“You see,” Max explained as he pumped, “there’s different kinds of dead: there’s sort of dead, mostly dead, and all dead. 

 “WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT? WHAT’S HERE WORTH COMING BACK FOR? WHAT YOU GOT WAITING FOR YOU?”

'True love,’ he said,” Inigo cried. “You heard him—true love is what he wants to come back for. That’s certainly worthwhile.”

"True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. Everybody knows that.”

 “Hello,” he said. “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

 

 

 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083

Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083. Andrea White. 2005. 448 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence (from the Prologue): What chance did Stephen Michael have of winning his Toss? In the year 2080 there were so many fourteen-year-old kids and so few scholarships. And if he lost--he hated to think about his choices then. Sweat poured down Steve's face as he stared at the poster on the wall in front of him: WELCOME TO THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EDU-DICE TOSS, SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERTAINMENT.

Premise/plot: For readers who love both historical fiction and science fiction, have I got a book for you. Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 is set in the future--a bleak future where the department of education has been replaced with the department of entertainment. Schools are no more, every child is "taught" by the television. Most of the time these "educational programs" are reality TV shows starring adults. But there's something new in the works--a reality TV show--history-based--starring children. The producers are looking to recreate the Antarctic mission of Robert Scott in 1912.

Andrew Morton, Polly Pritchard, Robert Johnson, Billy Kanalski, Grace Untoka--these are the "lucky" kids who've won the opportunity to win big--really BIG. Of course this opportunity for a better future comes at a price--a mostly hidden price. They will be risking their lives; the producers--the powers that be--only care about ratings and not their well-being...

My thoughts: I first read and reviewed this one in October 2006--my very first year of blogging. I loved, loved, loved it. I've been meaning to reread it for ages now. So when I spotted a discarded library copy I knew I had to have it. (Part of me was sad that it would no longer be at the public library--it's a GREAT BOOK. The other part of me was happy because now it would be MINE forever and ever.) I was not disappointed with my reread. It had just been long enough that I was fuzzy on the details. So it was almost like rediscovering the book for the first time.

This one is premise-driven, I won't lie. But the characterization is surprisingly strong for a premise-or-plot-driven action/adventure novel. I cared about all of the characters.

Original audience born circa 1990 to 1995.



© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Thunderhead

Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe #2) Neal Shusterman. 2018. 5014 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Peach velvet with embroidered baby-blue trim. Honorable Scythe Braums loved his robe. True, the velvet became uncomfortably hot in the summer months, but it was something he had grown accustomed to in his sixty-three years as a scythe.

Premise/plot: Thunderhead is the sequel to Scythe. If you haven't read Scythe yet, you should. What should you know about the series? Well...it's set in the future. Many advancements have been made. Immortality is the norm--for most. Gone are the days where you could die of disease or old age. Most people who die can be revived. Dead has become deadish. But a small percentage of the population is gleaned each year. That is the role of the Scythes. Readers meet many scythes in the first novel in the series. Two of the main characters in the first book were Rowan and Citra. Both characters are back in the sequel. Rowan has adopted the name "Scythe Lucifer" and is on a mission of his own. Citra has adopted the name "Scythe Anastasia." Two main characters that take prominence in Thunderhead are the THUNDERHEAD and Greyson Tolliver.

The Scythes are finding themselves divided into two factions: the 'old' guard that believe that the role of scythe is honorable but heavy with responsibility and the 'new order' which believe that killing is an exhilarating joy. They don't work with heavy hearts and solemnity. No, they approach the job as a pleasure. Scythe Anastasia and Scythe Curie are of the old guard faction.

There are some truly EVIL characters in Thunderhead.

My thoughts: I'm not sure I have words. The ending left me crushed and broken. (I can only compare it perhaps to listening to the whole Hamilton soundtrack.) I think the book is well written and well plotted. It almost goes without saying that it is incredibly compelling--intense and dramatic.

I do recommend the series. Read them back to back if you can. I did not reread the first book. If there is a third book, I will try to make a point to reread all the books.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Reign the Earth

Reign the Earth. (The Elementae #1) A.C. Gaughen. 2018. Bloomsbury. 448 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: There was a scorpion in my tent.

Premise/plot: The novel begins on the eve of Shalia's arranged marriage. Her marriage could bring peace between two warring kingdoms. Could being the key word. Still, Shalia is a brave, resilient, hopeful sort who truly wants peace. Because she's lost so much already. Because she knows that ongoing war will cost her everything. Her marriage will cost her as well--separation from her family and community, from the only life she's ever known. What does she know about her future husband? Well, he's a king (named Calix). He has a brother (named Galen) and a sister (named Danae). And, yeah, one little thing--he thinks he's god incarnate. She comes to learn much, much more about them all. For better or worse.

My thoughts: Reign the Earth is solid fantasy. The world building is strong. The magical elements are nearly at the heart of this one. Nearly because to me, at least, this remains a character driven novel. There is plenty of action and suspense as well. It is a long novel, but it didn't feel as long as it was. It was well-paced.

Will it please everyone? Probably not. Why? Because no one novel can. This one has a love triangle. And it's not just any love triangle. It's a love triangle with brothers. This isn't unheard of in romance novels or soap operas. Some readers have a low tolerance for love triangles. For me, it depends on the book. In this case, I didn't mind--probably because the characters were actually developed and the circumstances made sense to me. This one does feature mature scenes and topics.

One of the big topics in this one is abuse: physical, mental, emotional abuse. Shalia is not a character easily shattered or broken. She's made of strong stuff, but is she strong enough? If reading about abuse in relationships is disturbing to you, that's because it should be. Books shouldn't be about staying in comfort zones and closing our eyes to real world problems. This novel may be fantasy but romantic relationships can be dangerously unhealthy. This novel goes there and the heroine is a champion.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews