Review: Riders by Veronica Rossi

Riders (Riders #1) by Veronica Rossi

Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.
They fail.
Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.
But will anyone believe him?

GR
Publishes in US: February 16th 2016 by Tor Teen
Genre: YA fantasy
Source: library
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? Riders #1
Seeker (Riders, #2) Expected publication: 2017 by Tor

My reviews of 
Under the Never Sky
Through the Ever Night
Into the Still Blue 

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    I wanted to read riders because I like Rossi previous book series a whole lot the romance and action and pretty much does everything about it so I definitely wanted to give her new series a try. I liked the fact we have male narrator because that is pretty rare, and I also had a lot of respect for the fact that he was following in his father's footsteps and not just joining the Army, but training for the elite unit.

   First chapter starts after getting in had died and I guess already done some of the apocalypse horse rider stuff because he was being interrogated and he was frantic to get out and do something about the chaos outside of those walls. And I think again to tell the story to the people questioning him we go back in time a little bit and get to see him as he's just joining the Army and trying to get into the elite Rangers unit.

   But man was this book SLOW for me. There were several times I thought about putting it down because it was a back and forth timeline, there were a LOT of characters, and we start out even more confused than Gideon. But I wanted to love it, and I thought the premise was good. It just wasn't what I expected.

   One of the most important character development or story arcs I think was when Gideon was really struggling with himself with the question of "am I good?"
he was the horseman war and war generally brings about suffering and death and just the name of the four horsemen is death famine and conquest. it really doesn't paint a pretty picture if you think about it. but Gideon had some things in his past already that made him wonder would I have heard this person more if I haven't stopped or wrestling with scenarios like that.

   Glad I got through this one, but will not continue. 

Bottom Line: Too slow, but wanted to enjoy.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Which horseman would you pick?

Review: Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings
The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.
Alexandra Coutts's TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world.

Publishes in US: September 17th 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) MacMillan
Genre: YA
Source: MacMillan
Series? No.

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   Overall this is a good story, and I love the premise of a week until the end of the world, and what these characters will do with their time. 

   Lots of things worked really well, I liked the presence and theme of family in this one. Given there are some really dysfunctional ones between the characters, but when it comes down to the end of the world, I like to see who is surrounding and left standing by your side. I also really connected with Sienna and her depression. It is something that I battle with myself and I think it was portrayed pretty well and I def. understood where she was coming from. We get off to a sad and gripping start with her, and she was my favorite of the three. 

    I also thought that Zan's loss of Leo, her boyfriend was a powerful motivator in the story, and I just wish that it was written in first person, because I think that I would have been more invested in the characters than I already was. 

    With the beginnings of new love, questioning things you thought were certain, love whether romantic, friendship or familial, healing and grief are all pushed to the max when you try to cram everything that's important into the last week with the end of the world staring you in the face. 

     There was some insta-love, but I guess given the circumstances, anything the characters felt would be amped up, so I guess I can excuse it. And I will go back to the third person as another reason that I didn't fully feel Sienna and Owen together. I wanted to really root for them and be invested in their blossoming relationship but I just didn't quite as much as I wanted to. 

    What I really loved though was seeing what was important--finding truth, forgiveness, and being around those you love--all showed itself in different ways in the characters. They all seem so disconnected when the story started, but I liked seeing everything coming together. Seeing how they all handled the last week, their feelings, and their lives so differently, but there are still similarities that seemed to be universal. 

    I also was a little disappointed that Zan and Sienna's voices weren't more distinct, and again I will go back to my preference for 1st person, because I think that would have given them a greater chance to have their own personalities and for their voices to shine through. But as it was, I didn't have the smoothest transitions as it switched back and forth between their stories because I was getting details confused. 

    Tumble and Fall really caught me at the beginning, though it did slow some for me in the middle it was still enough to keep it going. But I thought the ending was spectacular. I think that all of the elements worked together so well, and I couldn't imagine it all turning out so fitting for the story. 

Bottom Line: Things working both for and against it, but I couldn't put it down.

My question to you, my lovely readers:

Where would you want to spend your last 5 days?

Review: Gated by Amy Christine Parker Blog Tour Stop

Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?
In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:
Pioneer is her leader.
Will is her Intended.
The end of the world is near.
Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.
Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

Publishes in US: August 27th 2013 by Random House Childrens 
Genre: YA Dystopia/Apocalyptic
Source: Random House via Netgalley
Series?

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    Gated starts out right away by showing the main character Lyla is different. In the world of Silo, the community in this book, they are having target practice with cardboard cutouts and Lyla doesn't want to go for kill shots head or chest, but she can't even do that, she sees them as real people. She is also questioning the Brethren or who they believe are their creators and the world is about to end, and only a select few, The Chosen, in Silo will survive. Their leader, Pioneer is charismatic and you can see why people would believe and follow him. He seems so caring and concerned, and the words he uses will get right to your heart. 

     Her friends Will, Brian and Marie all really buy into it, and Lyla tries to because she really cares for them, and it is obvious they care about her, they just don't understand her hesitations. 

     I just never expected all of the twists and turns, and especially how heart heart changes and the bravery that she ultimately grows. I read this for the character development I saw in Lyla, the fiestiness beneath the surface, and the friendship between Lyla and Marie. 

    While there is action, it is a mostly character driven story, struggling with past losses, current shortcomings, and wrestling with what being told to them is a lie, because they are contradictory.

    The world building was done really well. Mandrogage Meadows felt like a real place to me, with its society and way of life differing from my own, but I could picture it. I could sympathize with what the residences thought to be true and how they fought for their way of life. With that said, I wish that somehow we got a glimpse into Pioneer's past. I want to know what made him how he is and more of how he actually convinced them he was the real deal.  

    The ending took my breath away and I was on the edge of my seat watching it all play out. It was so well done and put such a blast of hope into the story and Lyla's life. 

Bottom Line: Chilling book with a well developed and questioning main character.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you think you could take shelter with your friends and family knowing the rest of the world will die?

Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.
ALINA
has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.
QUINN
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.
BEA
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.
And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Publishes in US: Oct 2nd 2012
1st in Breathe series, 2nd releases in 2013
Source: author/Greenwillow (HarperCollins)




     In short: This is a fast and action packed story with an awesome premise, and characters that I wanted to succeed.
     At first the three perspectives confused me, especially the two girls, but I quickly got a hang of their voices and style as well as their backgrounds. I think at first I would've wanted to be in their heads a little longer, but I also think that the positive side is that we get to see how things connect. I was drawn in by the premise and by the characters especially when I got a feel for where they were coming from and a sense of their personalities.
      I quickly grew to love seeing the world from these three separate perspectives. Quinn is a premium (read: privileged and rich) and through fascination with Alina, a beautiful mysterious girl, learns that his world is not as it seems, and finds the longing for freedom. I really appreciated watching him grow and realize who his true feelings are for.
     Alina is passionate and strong. Seeing things from her perspective, as the one working for the resistance in the beginning, and watching her soften towards her traveling companions was quite a journey. It was easy to sympathize with her, the guilt she carries and the responsibility she all too acutely carries on her shoulders.
    Bea is kind-hearted and has such empathy for others, when she could easily feel so sorry for herself growing up as a lesser citizen, not being able to run or do anything that requires extra oxygen which costs money. I think that her personality and ways of thinking is closest to my own, and I connected the most personally with her. I could also totally feel for her unrequited love for Quinn at the beginning.
     This is such a chilling dystopian society. I can't imagine having to think about every breath. I also can't imagine being manipulated and lied to so much by the government.
    The resistance group is so easy to relate to and root for, and I loved watching them get stronger and as the new members realize the extent of Breathe (the government in the Pod)'s deception.
    I tore through this book, due to the great writing and superb pacing. There was always something going on, action as well as internal character struggles and growth. There were moments when I wanted to cry for the characters, others I wanted to cheer for them, and then others where I felt anger for them because of Breathe's actions.
    While the storyline of this book was tied up pretty well, it still left me yearning for the sequel. I wanted to know what would happen next, and what becomes of the characters I'd come to care for.

Video review:

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To pre-order 'Breathe' in the US click here. For a UK purchase, click here. Alternatively, visit your local bookshop where a smiling bookseller will be happy to help you!
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Sarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated from Warwick University in 1999 with a degree in Philosophy and Literature.
She went on to train as an English and Drama teacher at Cambridge University and since then has been working to promote creative writing in schools. She currently teaches high school English at a small private school in Hoboken, New Jersey.
As well as teaching, Sarah has worked as a freelance magazine writer and book reviewer and educational writer. She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at The University of Warwick in 2003 and at this time began to write fiction seriously.
In 2010 she was the recipient of an Edward Albee Fellowship and spent the summer in Montauk, New York, working to complete THE WEIGHT OF WATER.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you leave only guaranteed to survive two days?

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Review: Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.
Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

Publishes in US: 11/1/11

Source: Publisher for review

Series? Yes I think

My Review:

   Dark Inside is probably one of the darkest books that I have ever read. I usually write my reviews right after finishing, but this time, I just couldn't. I still can't really decide how I feel about this book. Most parts of me could not put it down, but I just couldn't let myself, I had to know how the characters fared and I couldn't stop until I finished. 

   The last chapter really confused me and I wish that it wasn't there, because everything I thought I understood kinda disappeared, and I would have been fine stopping just before. But the "nothing" chapters didn't really do much for me, so maybe that is why. 

   The fear is really palpable, and the characters all are truly survivors, regardless. I have to admire and hold onto hope with them, no matter what keeps happening around them. The only complaint I have is with the multiple perspectives, I didn't feel like I was in the characters heads long enough to completely keep straight what happened to who, and I had to flip on more than one occasion to their previous chapter to remind myself. 

   This is definitely for mature teens and those who can handle dark themes and some gore. 

I'd love to hear what you think of the book and/or my review.