Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor Blog Tour: Review and Favorite Quotes

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

Title: Tarnished Are the Stars Written by: Rosiee Thor Published: October 15, 2019 by Scholastic Press (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The Lunar Chronicles meets Rook in this queer #OwnVoices science-fantasy novel, perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer and Sharon Cameron.  A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws.  Nathaniel Fremont, the Commissioner's son, has never had to fear the law. Determined to earn his father's respect, Nathaniel sets out to capture the Technician. But the more he learns about the outlaw, the more he questions whether his father's elusive affection is worth chasing at all.  Their game of cat and mouse takes an abrupt turn when Eliza, a skilled assassin and spy, arrives. Her mission is to learn the Commissioner's secrets at any cost -- even if it means betraying her own heart.   When these uneasy allies discover the most dangerous secret of all, they must work together despite their differences and put an end to a deadly epidemic -- before the Commissioner ends them first.

There needs to be more standalone science fiction novels and I was really excited to read this one. It seemed like it was totally up my alley so I was glad to be a part of the blog tour for it. It was an engaging story with great characters and an interesting world.

My favorite thing about this book was the characters and character development. This is one of those books which alternates perspectives. Those can be incredibly tricky because often I like one character more than others, and feel like the multiple narrators make things complex. But that was not the case with Tarnished Are The Stars. Each character added to the story and offered a unique perspective. I never felt like a section was unnecessary or that I wanted to go back to someone else. However, I did have a favorite character. While I liked Anna and Nathaniel, it was Eliza who I loved. She was a kickass female who is trying and often succeeding at being the smartest person in the room. I found myself rooting for her and loved her development throughout the book as she discovered who she wanted to be and then became that person. But that was the case for each of the characters. They were all easy to root for and had great development.

One of the other things I liked about these characters was the LGBTQIA representation. Because seriously, this book is super queer. Not only is there a good f/f relationship that develops throughout the book but we also had asexual and aromantic representation. I firmly believe there needs to be more ark and ace rep in books. I’m constantly feeling like a romance is unnecessary and having a character who states on the page that they are not only not interested in a relationship but not even attracted to anyone was so amazing. Having Nathaniel come to terms with his own identity was part of what I liked about him and the book.

I also liked the world of this book. It is one of those books that reminds you that dystopia is a subgenre of science fiction. It had subtle sci-if vibes with the use of technology to impact the lives of the people, but it also had dystopia feels with a new planet being colonized because of the fact that earth was negatively affected years ago. There was also that ever present shady government adding to the drama and a disease impacting the you people like our main characters. However, as interesting as the world was, I did feel like we weren’t given a lot of information about it. I felt like some of the big reveals were not as impactful as they could have been because there was so much going on and the pacing was so fast. If it had scaled back a little bit and given more information I think I would have liked the world even more.

But my biggest frustration with this book was with the fact that it was so fast paced. I usually like a quick read that moves quickly from element to elements but here it was just jarring. I had no sense of how much time had passed and things just moved on with or without me. Instead of what I assumed was the desired effect of keeping me connected to the story, it actually pulled me out. I kept wondering to myself how much time had passed and whether they had actually spent time making this plan or if they were just winging it. And it even affected the character development at times because I was asking myself how they had gone from enemies to friends so quickly. This is about average length for a YA novel but I honestly wish it had been a little bit longer and was fleshed out a bit more. It was a very engaging story with tons of twists and turns but that was negatively impacted by the breakneck speed.

On the whole, Tarnished Are the Stars was an interesting read and a good debut novel. It had great characters, an interesting world, a fat-paced plot. But I wish the story had been fleshed out a little more.

I give Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor 7 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are looking for a standalone dystopia with queer characters and a fast-paced plot then I would suggest checking this one out.

Have you read Tarnished Are the Stars?  What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stooping by and HAPPY READING!

FAVORITE QUOTES

"A good weapon, she found, needn't draw blood to be effective. A controlled target was better than a dead one."

"Murder comes in many shapes... You don't always have to look someone in the eye and watch them die to be their killer."

"But that was the thing about loss: Death could rip love from life, but those memories stayed behind, burning a hole through the heart."

"I don't give much credence to regret. I can't go back and change what's done. All I can do is take what I learned and do better next time."

"It matters because this is who you are - but it is not all you are. It does not make you weak, nor does it make you strong. You make yourself one or the other through the choices that you make."

"Power is not the same as strength... Some days strength is control, and some days strength is release. Perhaps today strength is understanding that being like your father isn't inherently bad, and two men can be alike and still make different choices."

BOOK LINKS 

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Google Books

AUTHOR INFORMATION 

Rosiee Thor began her career as a storyteller by demanding that her mother listen as Rosiee told bedtime stories instead of the other way around. She lives in Oregon with a dog, two cats, and four complete sets of Harry Potter, which she loves so much, she once moved her mattress into the closet and slept there until she came out as queer.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

TOUR SCHEDULE:

https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/08/tour-schedule-tarnished-are-stars-by.html 

GIVEAWAY Prize: Win a signed hardcopy of TARNISHED ARE THE STARS by Rosiee Thor (US Only) Stars: 15th October 2019 Ends: 29th October 2019

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Aurora Rising Series: The Aurora Cycle #1 Written by: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: May 7, 2019 by Delacorte Press (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.  The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…  A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm  A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates  A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder  An alien warrior with anger management issues  A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering   And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.  They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.

Wow! This book was fantastic. I mean, I am not surprised because both Amie and Jay are fantastic science fiction writers and I have loved all their books (both together and apart).

 The squad was completely amazing. My favorites were probably Scarlett and Fin. Scarlett gave me some amazing Nina Zenik vibes, Nina is space kicking ass and being fabulous. Fin was the comic relief for sure but he also is a big old softie. But honestly, every character was fantastic and likable. I didn’t even mind the multiple perspectives because I enjoyed each character so much. Although, I listened to the audiobook which definitely helped with that. Each character had a different narrator, including some of my favorites, which I enjoyed.

The world was also really fantastic. It’s a complex and engaging science fiction world with a deep history that I think we are only just beginning to scratch the surface on. This is one of those books where when it was all over I’m theory crafting about what it all means and what the big reveals are going to be for the next book. Honestly, that usually only happens in a fantasy so the fact that it is happening in a science fiction says something.

My favorite thing however was the plot. One of the best things is that it has classic space opera vibes but goes even deeper than that. Because you guys... this is a heist novel. That’s right... SPACE HEIST! I’m a huge fan of heist novels. The world definitely needs more of them. But they have to be done right. They need to hit the right emotional notes, the reveals need to be slow and steady, and there needs to be big surprises. This book did all of that. It was an emotional roller coaster full of surprises and I loved every minute of it.

 I really needed a book like this right now. I have been going through a pretty serious reading and blogging slump and this book pulled me out of it I think. It might be the catalyst to get me going again. But even if it isn’t, it was a fantastic read and an a great start to what I am sure will be an amazing new series.

I give Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I definitely recommend this book. I read a fair amount of YA science fiction and these two are masters of the genre. If you like science fiction or want something with found family or unlikely teams definitely check this one out.

Have you read Aurora Rising? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Title: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing  Series: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing #1 Written by: Hank Green Published: September 25, 2018 by Dutton (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In his much-anticipated debut novel, Hank Green—co-creator of Crash Course, Vlogbrothers, and SciShow—spins a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she's part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined.  The Carls just appeared.  Roaming through New York City at three a.m., twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship—like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor—April and her friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world—from Beijing to Buenos Aires—and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight.  Seizing the opportunity to make her mark on the world, April now has to deal with the consequences her new particular brand of fame has on her relationships, her safety, and her own identity. And all eyes are on April to figure out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.  Compulsively entertaining and powerfully relevant, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing grapples with big themes, including how the social internet is changing fame, rhetoric, and radicalization; how our culture deals with fear and uncertainty; and how vilification and adoration spring for the same dehumanization that follows a life in the public eye. The beginning of an exciting fiction career, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a bold and insightful novel of now.

Not really what I was expecting but an enjoyable read. I enjoy Hank Green’s YouTube videos and I find him a thoughtful and intelligent person so I was interested to read a book he wrote. It turned out to be a compelling story.

I listened to the audiobook and it was the perfect format. This is one of those books with such a distinct voice that you can fall into the character’s world and personality while you are listening to the audio. The narrator did a great job with developing April May and bringing here to life.

This book also had some really interesting themes that are incredibly topical, but it told them through an interesting lens. Part of this book is about internet fame and how a person can get so wrapped up in their persona and portraying something to and for their audience. I really enjoyed this theme and I wish the book had went into a little more depth on the concept, allowing for more character growth throughout the story. It was one of the more interesting and complex parts of the book for me, but it was almost just taken at face value and I wish it went deeper.

But instead of delving deeper into this theme, instead it explored the fear and fervor that people can whip others into on the internet. It became as much about 24 hour news cycle, political pundits and how they can create this divide amongst people who see the people who disagree with them as the enemy. But again, Hank did this in a subtle way through the lens of these robots. The “Carls” could be an allegory for any number of current political events because of the way they made people respond was so honest and realistic that the social commentary was evident and interesting.

Speaking of the Carls, that was the aspect of the story I wasn’t really expecting. This book was much of a science fiction story than I was expecting. It had definite Ready Player One vibes not only because of it’s discussion of the online world. No, there was also the mystery and race to reveal the secrets of the dream that felt very reminiscent of that book. And while I really enjoyed this aspect of the story as well, I found it kind of lacking. I think however that was because I thought this was a stand-alone. I wanted answers to my questions and this book didn’t give those to me. But there is a sequel coming so hopefully I will get some answers then.

All in all this was an engaging and compulsively readable book. I flew through it and really enjoyed not only the science fiction plot but the complex themes about the internet and society. It wasn’t perfect but it was an engaging debut.

I give An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend you pick this up from the library if you enjoy Hank Green or are looking for a fast and unique read.

Have you read An Absolutely Remarkable Thing? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

January Wrap Up and February TBR

Read in January: Science Fiction

I have been going through a pretty serious blogging slump lately and it has made me super behind on basically everything including reviews and my monthly wrap up. But I wanted to start the year off with a little bit more accountability and responsibility. Plus, I wanted to brag a little bit because I have not been going through a reading slump this month. December was rough but I am definitely back on track. Because, you guys, I read 16 books this month. SIX-TEEN! And only a quarter of them were comics. I am completely back on track with my reading and hoping to continue that in February.

For challenges, this year I'm low key doing challenges. The only one I am legit doing is how many books in a year. I set a Goodreads goal of reading 150 books in a year. My original goal last year was 150 but I had to lower it so I want to make that happen this year.  For the rest of the challenges I only low key set them. I want to read 20 debuts this year and I read 2 this month which is on track for the year. I haven't really been reading e-books lately but I did get approved for a good amount on Netgalley so I need to hold myself accountable. I want to read 15 books this year. I read two this month so I might be able to do better with this in 2019. I also want to read 20 backlist books. This month I read 3 backlist books which means that I am on track for this one as well.

The Books

1.) Runaways Vol. 2: Best Friends Forever by Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka 
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
2.) Ski Weekend by R.L. Stine Rating: 6 out of 10 [Podcast Review]
3.)  White Stag by Kara Barbieri Rating: 7 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers Rating: 9 out of 10 [Review to Come]
5.) In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [My Review]
6.) The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi Rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars [My Review]
7.) Saga Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Rating: 9.5 out of 10
8.) From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) Giant Days: Early Registration by John Allison Rating: 8.5 out of 10
10.) Sage Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Rating: 9.5 out of 10
11.) Skyward by Brandon Sanderson Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
12.) Saga Vol. 7 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Rating: 9 out of 10
13.) Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [My Review]
 14.) The Girl King by Mimi Yu Rating: 8 out of 10 [Review to Come]
15.) Double Date by R.L. Stine Rating 5 out of 10 [Podcast Website]
16.) Space Opera by Cathrynne M. Valente Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [Review to Come]

To Be Read in February: Historical Fiction/FRANCE!

And here is hoping that I can continue the strong reading month. A ton of really great books are coming our this month, including a few I have been waiting on for years. I am hoping to read at least a dozen books this month. And I am also bringing back the monthly themes. I looked at the books I read last month and I basically did a sci-fi month and then realized I was planning on reading mostly historical fiction and even a few set in France.

Books for Review

Dark of the West by Joanna Hathway - Add to Goodreads
I received an advance copy of this from the publisher and I started reading it but put it down because King of Scars came out and I'm sorry all other books, Nikolai comes first. But I do want to finish it.

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers - Add to Goodreads
I read the first book in this series ages ago because I heard good things and I was not disappointed. But I didn't complete the series until last month in preparation for this book.

Enchantee by Gita Trelease - Add to Goodreads
I am so excited that Paris is having a moment in YA literature because I have been wanting more Parisian historical fiction for years now. And this is a magical version of the French Revolution. GIMME!

Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok - Add to Goodreads
Another historical Paris, this time the Belle Epoque and a murder mystery with a magical element. Like seriously, it's the most Cassi book.

Immoral Code by Lilian Clark - Add to Goodreads
In case I need a break from the historical fantasy and high fantasy, I have this YA mystery/thriller to break up the monotony.

The Fever King by Victoria Lee - Add to Goodreads

This is technically a March release but it is one of the Kindle First Reads this month and there is almost never one of those I want to read so when I saw this I snatched it up.

New Releases

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - Add to Goodreads

New Grishverse book... THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I got this book last week when I went to Leigh's signing in Boston and I have been reading it all weekend!

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas - Add to Goodreads
I plan to listen to this audiobook (it's narrated by Bahni Turpin who is amazing and narrated The Hate U Give). It comes out tomorrow and I plan to get it then.

Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard - Add to Goodreads
I have been waiting for this book to come out for two years and it is almost here! Susan is coming t Boston in a few weeks and I am planning on being at here event to meet her and get all my books signed.

Backlist Books

Blood Water Paint by Jody McCullough - Add to Goodreads

I have wanted to read this book for awhile but then I heard it is a novel in verse and lost some interest. But I saw the audiobook from the library and decided to take a chance. I'm glad I did because I am actually enjoying it.

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry - Add to Goodreads
This is another book I have been wanting to read for ages and even tried once but I never did. But I want to make a concerted effort this month.

There you have it. Some of the books I hope to read in January. As always, these are subject to change. I may read all of these or I may only read a few and then read a bunch of different ones. But honestly I think this list I can stick to. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: Undying Series: Unearthed #1 Written by: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: January 22, 2019 by Disney Hyperion (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Trapped aboard the Undying's ancient spaceship and reeling from what they've learned there, scavenger Mia and academic Jules are plunged into a desperate race to warn their home planet of the danger humanity's greed has unleashed. From the mountains of Spain to the streets of Prague, the sequel to Unearthed is a white-knuckle ride that will send readers hurtling back to earth, and leave them breathless until the last page.   The earth's fate rests in Mia and Jules's hands in the epic conclusion to New York Times best-selling authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner's tomb-raiding sci-fi duology.

From their very first book together I have been in love with Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner's science fiction reads. When I was read Unearthed last winter I was instantly obsessed. It was creative and enthralling. I couldn't wait for the sequel so I grabbed this audiobook the same day it came out to find out what happened. And I was not disappointed.

With every book I am becoming even more impressed with the plot development of these authors. This book had a very different feel to it. It was more of a classic save the world kind of science fiction story, but it was no less exciting. It took what happened in the first book and raised the stakes in a way that had me on the edge of my seat and worried about what would be happening next. And while there wasn't much of a mystery here, there were some great elements from first book that came back in a big way in this one. The ending particular had me incredibly stressed. The last few chapters were a roller coaster ride of emotions that had me shocked, excited, angry, and so entertained.

However, the plot wasn't perfect. While I love the fact that this was a duology, I almost think it would have worked a little better as a trilogy. There were two concepts in this book that I don't think got their dues because this story needed to resolve everything. With two books they would have had some more breathing room.

That being said, I loved the world of this book. Amie and Megan do a great job creating science fiction worlds, combing science with fantastical ideas of the future. There is so much detail and depth to this world. I don't want to give too much away from the first book in the series but if you read it you know how this book ended and why learning more about the world of this book is so fascinating. I loved being able to learn more about The Undying, like who they are and where they came from. But the cool thing about this book too is that we are brought to earth. We get to see what things are like back on our planet and explore the political dynamics there are as well. Like the plot there was more to learn that we weren't able to get to because everything wrapped up, but what we did have was great.

What surprised me most about this book was the characters. In this one we have the two perspectives of Mia and Jules again. In the first book in the series I wasn't super impressed by either of them and I didn't love the romance. However in this book I did actually connect with them a lot more. Being back on Earth you were really able to feel their motivation and therefore their actions made more sense and had more weight. And because their personal relationship had more time it worked better for me. Plus I like the fact that Mia doubted it and wondered whether or not their romance had longevity, which is something I always think about so this helped me respect it more. Plus I think some additional secondary characters added a needed layer to the book. Dex and Atlanta were great complex antagonists which I appreciated. And the addition of Neil, Jules' cousin, was a much needed addition for both comic relief and as a foil for Jules. 

The thing that probably helped the most with me enjoying the characters, however, was the fact that I listened to the audiobook. This was such a fantastic audiobook. The thrilling plot and engaging world translated really well to an audio format, which already had me interested. Then you add the fact that each perspective had a different narrator which is something I am definitely a fan of. Plus, Jules was narrated by Steve West who is one of my all-time favorite narrator. I can't help but fall in love with a character who is narrated by Steve West, it's just not possible.

While I don't think Undying was as good as the first book in this series it was a great read. And lately I have been totally loving science fiction so this was the perfect book to read to satisfy that desire.

I give Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you read and liked the first book in this series you should definitely check out the newest book. It's a great science fiction series and amazing audiobook that is worth a listen for fans.

Have you read Undying? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Skyward Series: Skyward #1 Written by: Brandon Sanderson Published: November 6, 2018 by Delacorte Press (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Spensa's world has been under attack for decades. Now pilots are the heroes of what's left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with that of her father's—a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa the daughter of a coward, her chances of attending Flight School slim to none.  No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.

Many of you probably know that I am a huge Brandon Sanderson fan. I was late to the game with him but when I fell, I fell hard. He's one of my favorite authors and he is a total auto-buy for me. So when I heard he was coming out with a new YA science fiction I had to read it. But surprisingly I didn't read it as soon as it came out. And honestly, I wish I had because this book was amazing.

For one thing this book had that classic Brandon Sanderson plot development. He's such a master at crafting a story that pulls you in and takes you for a ride and this book was no exception. For the word go this book was a thrilling adventure. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily a very creative story. The character with something to prove because of their parents so they go to a school to learn to be a pilot is a pretty common trope but in Brandon Sanderson's hands it was a non-stop thrill ride. I'm usually good at solving twists but with his books I am proven wrong time and time again. With this book, I thought I had everything all figured out and he threw another surprise at me. A surprise that has me excited for the next book in the series.

The other thing I love about Brandon Sanderson is the worlds he creates. Seeing his take on hard sci-fi was honestly amazing. I know he can write science fiction and this book certainly proved that. It had a classic science fiction feel to it. There was a colonized planet with people who had established their own civilization, technology, alien races you didn't know much about, and artificial intelligence. And it all worked together to craft an engaging world that I think we are only just learning about. Sanderson always puts a lot of details into his worlds and because of that they really come to life.

However, I think my favorite thing about this book was the characters. I instantly connected with Spensa. She's such an incredible sasspants. She's the kind of character who goes from zero to super dark and intimidating at the drop of a hat. But her taunts were so poetic I just couldn't help but love them and her. The thing with Spensa though is that you wanted her to succeed. You wanted her to overcome adversity and get the opportunity to prove herself. You rooted for her, at least I did. Plus she had really incredible development. The Spensa at the end of the book was much smarter but just as badass. And the secondary characters were just as good. The best is definitely M-Bot. I love a sentient AI with a sense of humor and he's up there with AIDAN.

Plus, there were some really great relationships in this book. So much of this book is about friendship, teamwork, and family. Spensa had a really interesting family dynamic. She idealized her father who was deemed a traitor by her community which made her and her mother an outcast. She doesn't have the best relationship with her mother but you can tell they love each other. But I think the most interesting dynamics were with her team of pilots. Being an outcast she is definitely trying to get them to accept her and treat her like one of them but at the same time she has to navigate the societal dynamics of their world. There is definitely a haves and havenots society here and Brandon did not shy away from showing that. He really explored the idea of privilege and what that means in the face of war. Which made the team coming together in the end all the more interesting. And I loved so many members of her team. Seeing the camaraderie that they establish was one of the best parts of this book. And I love that they gave their flight leader Jorgin aka Jerkface a lot of crap and he definitely deserved it. He and Spensa's dynamic was one of my favorites. I particularly loved it because he didn't feel the need to make it romantic. That's right you guys! This book didn't have any romance. It totally could have and maybe book two will but here all we had was some good old-fashioned teamwork and budding friendships.

Everything about this book made me so happy. It was a completely amazing read with a thrilling plot, fascinating world, and likable characters. It had everything I expect from a Brandon Sanderson book and everything that I look for in science fiction. I wish I had read it way sooner because it was so freaking good. I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite books of the year.

I give Skyward by Brandon Sanderson 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you like science fiction or are looking for a fascinating new read full of action and adventure definitely check this one out. It's another great read by one of my all-time favorite authors.

Have you read Skyward? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Title: Vengeful Series: Villians #2 Written by: V.E. Schwab Published: June 6, 2018 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Eli Ever and Victor Vale were only medical students when their mutual discovery that near-death experiences can, under the right conditions, manifest extraordinary abilities.  They were best friends, and rivals, and then enemies. They were dead, then alive, and then---Eli killed Victor, once and for all.  Or so he thought---but Sydney Clarke felt otherwise, and used her own superpower to tip the scales. Now, a trio hides in the shadows, while another takes advantages of post-death life to take over the city of Merit.  If there can be life after death—will there be calm after vengeance, or will chaos rule?

Another amazing Victoria Schwab book. Vicious will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first book by Victoria I read. So when I heard she was writing a sequel I was over the moon and she did not disappoint.

One of the things that I love about Victoria’s books are the characters. She has a real knack for writing morally grey characters who you still root for and that is absolutely evident in Vengeful. On Wednesday I saw Victoria in Boston and she mentioned how she always makes sure we know why the character is doing the awful thing and that’s why I think her characters are so good. They are not good people. They are basically terrible people doing terrible things and yet you still want them to achieve their goals. Most of that is because they are so sympathetic and likable. They are complex and fully-fledged characters who emerge off the page fully-formed and so engaging.

In Vicious the main focus of the book was on Victor and Eli. It was great to catch back up with those two and to see the consequences of their actions in the first book. I know Victoria said she was going to make us sympathize with Eli in this book and holy crap did she do it. I felt so much for Eli and it was so unexpected. He was always the characters doing the right things for the wrong reasons while Victor was doing the wrong things for the right reasons but here they seemed to flip and that was so interesting to see. But the real highlights of this book are the female characters. There is a lot of female rage in this book and it’s great to see. I think a lot of people are really going to love Marcella. She is fierce and badass and has so many amazing one-liners that I know people will connect with because I did. But I think the more interesting character is June. She is one of the most complex and intriguing characters I have read about in a long time. And like Marcella she is incredibly tough and you root for her to get her vengeance. But I really think we’ve only scratched the surface with June. I really hope Victoria writes another book because I want to know more about her.

As you can tell by the number of main characters here, this is a super complex plot. Like Vicious it interweaves flashbacks with the present timeline as we learn about the characters and how they got to where they are today. Not to mention all the perspectives intertwining. It would have been very easy for this book to get confusing and muddled but it didn’t. The stakes were high, the plot was action-packed and it all worked together to create one completely thrilling climax that had me totally enthralled. I listened to the audiobook for this and it only took me a few days to read it because I was that invested. And I listened to it on 1.0x speed. Usually I listen at 1.25x but her I wanted to take it all in.

Because seriously, this book is so immersive. The world Victoria has created is so fantastic. She is such a master when it comes to building a fantasy world. What I love about this one is that it actually feels grounded in reality. The rules are so clear and specific that it honestly seems possible. Seriously, a book about people with superpowers seems realistic. But that just goes to show you how good Victoria is at this. And let me tell you, these powers are amazing. We get a host of new powered people in this book and I loved seeing their powers in action but it was even cooler learning more about how Eli and Sydney’s powers work. I love stories about superheroes where they explore the morality and responsibilities that comes with powers and I think this series does it in a way that is so dark which makes it even better. It’s one of the best superpower based worlds I have ever read about.

All in all, this was a completely amazing read. I loved being able to return to the world of Vicious and to catch back up with the amazing characters but the new characters and the thrilling. Plot made this book just as good of not better.

I give Vengeful by V.E. Schwab 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Definitely buy this book. It's amazing and and fantastic. If you liked Vicious you definitely need to read this book. It's a great sequel. And you haven't read that book, start there and experience one of the best books about superpowers and anti-heroes that exists.

Have you read Vengeful? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Replica by Lauren Oliver

Title: Replica Series: Replica #1 Written by: Lauren Oliver Published: October 4, 2016 by HarperCollins (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Two girls, two stories, one epic novel  From Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, comes an epic, masterful novel that explores issues of individuality, identity, and humanity. Replica is a “flip book" that contains two narratives in one, and it is the first in a duology. Turn the book one way and read Lyra's story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma's story. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey. Even the innovative book jacket mirrors and extends the reading experience.  Lyra's story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.  Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family's past and discovers her father's mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.  While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Replica is an ambitious, thought-provoking masterwork.

I have been putting off reading this book for a very long time and I don’t entirely know why because it is definitely an interesting and engaging read. Lauren Oliver’s books tend to be hit or miss for me and this one was a hit.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the concept. And I mean that in multiple ways. For one things, this is a very uniquely written book. Multiple perspectives in YA books is nothing new, but it’s not very often that you read one person’s story and then the other. And that’s how this book was set up. I’ve heard you can read it one of two ways. You can read one perspective then the other, or you can alternate. I experienced it the first way because I listened to the audiobook and that’s how they had it. But honestly I think that’s what I would recommend. You are able to connect with one person, then they interact and you are able to seamlessly switch. And the audiobook was really good and helped the whole thing work together.

But the other cool thing about the concept here was the world that Oliver has created. I don’t want to give too much away because I enjoyed not knowing much about it before going into the book. What I will say is it was like a near-future, science fiction, dystopian kind of vibe. Oliver did a great job with unfolding things in a slow and steady way so that it pulled you into the book and into the world. Even with switching perspectives there was still a lot to learn and explore which I liked.

As far as the characters, multiple perspectives is hard for me sometimes because I typically connect with the one I meet first and then am not very interested in the next person. But here because you got more time in the head of each person it worked. Lyra was definitely a good character. She’s curious and inquisitive which works well with her storyline. She definitely doesn’t have an easy life which always makes it easy to root for her. Gemma too was easy to root for. She’s more relatable and kind of feels like the audience stand-in at first. But she’s also really complex. Both characters have amazing development and there are really cool surprises when it comes to their characters which I am curious to explore in the second book in the series.

The only thing I didn’t totally love about this book was the plot development. If you take each perspective as their own story I think the plot was fine. It was interesting and kept me wondering from beginning to end with surprises and some thrills along the way. But as a cohesive story it wasn’t perfect. There was some overlap and storylines that felt like they weren’t connected to the larger story. I liked the way it unfolded and I definitely think it was interesting but it could have been tighter for me as a plot driven reader.

This was definitely an cool and unique story. The concept is very interesting, the world is engaging, the characters are likable, and the plot is full of surprises if a little muddled.

I give Replica by Lauren Oliver 8.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. I really liked this one and would recommend it if you are a fan of near future dystopias with subtle sci-fi elements then I would definitely check this out. If you have a copy you've been holding onto, read it.

Have you read Replica? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Mirage by Somaiya Daud Blog Tour: ARC Review

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

Title: Mirage Series: Mirage #1 Written by: Somaiya Daud Published: August 28, 2018 by Flatiron Books (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.  But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.  As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.

MY REVIEW

I wanted to get a copy of this book at ALA but I did not get one for some reason. But I had seen some really good really good reviews of this one so I was really glad to be a part of the blog tour through Fantastic Flying Book Club. This definitely sounded like a good and interesting science fiction read and while I enjoyed some aspects of the book, it didn't completely blow me away.

Lately I have been reading so many books with very cool and creative worlds, and Mirage was no exception. Probably one of the most unique things about this book is that it is a science fiction book with a Middle Eastern inspiration. Desert landscapes are common in science fiction but one that was so grounded in the setting and culture of the people of the desert and Middle East is not something I think I have read before. It was definitely cool and I really enjoyed being able to experience the culture. Especially because it's a book which has it's own history and mythology and you know I love that. And the author did a really good job of showing the reader the world instead of telling them. In fact, she may have done too good a job. I felt like I wanted to learn so much more about the science fiction aspect of the book and we didn't get that.

The other thing that I liked about this book was the characters, especially the female characters. Amani was a really good main character. She is the kind of female character that I love in that she is not your typical kickass femme fatale. She's vulnerable and a reluctant hero who is forced into a terrible position and has to show a lot of inner strength to make it through. She's easy to get behind in that way because you are in her head and can completely sympathize. But there were other really interesting and complex characters. One of the ones I liked best was Maram, the princess who Amani becomes the body double for. Maram could have easily become a total cliche bad girl, but she was super complex and had really great development throughout the book. I wish her father Mathias had a little more development and screen time because he was really interesting and could have gone very dark but he wasn't around much.

If you read this book then you may have noticed that I didn't mention Idris as a character that I liked, and believe me there is a reason for that. It's not that I didn't like Idris, who by the way is the love interest. He was a fine character. I just really hated the romance here. This is probably no surprise to most of you, I don't like a lot of romance. But here it was really tough because the romance was so much a part of this book and I really wish it wasn't. This had all the hallmarks of romances I don't enjoy. The character fell hard and fell fast after what was definitely insta-love. And she made so many of her decisions based on her feelings for this guy. I felt like the romance kind of took over the plot of the book in portions, which is something a lot of people love but I am not one of those people.

Which, brings me to the portion of the book I wish was different, the plot. There was a lot of promise to this book when it came to the plot but it just didn't deliver for me. There was a good amount of political intrigue here. I love books that combine fish out of water stories along with court politics and that's what this book had. For me, it was at it's best when it was focusing on the rebellion and the relationship between the rulers and the people they ruler. There were some really good scenes where it explored these aspects of the story. But I wish there were more of them. It got there in the end and I think the next book in the series is going in a really great direction, but in this one it just felt like it had a little bit of first book syndrome. 

I liked this book but I feel like I'm a bit of a black sheep here. Maybe it was the hype monster, maybe it was first book syndrome, or maybe this just wasn't my kind of read. However, it did have some great things like a really good world and complex characters.

I give Mirage by Somaiya Daud 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. I don't know that I would recommend this book to fans of hard science fiction, but if you like romances especially fantasy and sci-fi with a strong romance plot. And I am intrigued to see where this series goes.

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32768520-mirage
 Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NJ4rMT
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mirage-somaiya-daud/1124880923#/
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Mirage-Somaiya-Daud/9781250126429
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mirage-80
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250126429
 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mirage/id1339181554?mt=11

TOUR SCHEDULE 

https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2018/08/tour-schedule-mirage-by-somaiya-daud.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Somaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master’s de-gree she doubled as a bookseller at Politics and Prose in their children’s department. De-termined to remain in school for as long as possible, she packed her bags in 2014 and moved the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she’s preparing to write a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment. Mirage is her debut, and is due from Flatiron Books in 8/28/2018.

Website: http://www.somaiyabooks.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/somaiyadaud
Tumblr: http://somaiyaonline.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theravendesk/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/somaiiiya
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somaiyadaudauthor/

GIVEAWAY 

Prize: One finished copy of Mirage by Somaiya Daud (USA only) 

 Starts: 8/22/18 

 Ends: 8/30/18 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway