Out Of The Easy

Out of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys. 

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It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

Thoughts: After reading Ruta Sepetys's Shades Of Gray I knew she was a great author. This book only helped me rediscover that. The first book shocked me, encouraged me to learn my history, and taught me a lot. This book was a bit quieter and less stunning in the "in your face this really happened in the past can you believe things were that bad?" way. When I picked up this book I was definitely excited to read it. And I was expecting a good bit.
Josie has a mother who is a prostitute. When she was old enough to she moved away and started living and working part time in a bookstore. But she kept cleaning the brothel that her mother lived in. For Willie, who runs the place. Willie believes in Josie much more than her mother ever does. And her mother's drama just won't leave her alone. she's sometimes abusive and always awful, blaming Josie sometimes for being born and taking away her beauty. But the worst part is that this gangster type guy called Cincinnati is back in town. Her mother loves him or thinks she does and he hits her. Last time Josie and Willie drove him away. With guns and such. But now he's back and threatening Josie. Set in the 50s in New Orleans Josie is a girl who has been looked down on her whole life because of her mother. All she wants to do is go somewhere else and escape all that. Go to college in the east or something. But start something new.

Pros: The writing, the story, the plot, the characters, and the ending. Just about everything! This is such a lovely book that makes me think I'm living in that world. it actually felt a lot like 30s though...with all the gangster stuff :P However this isn't all "downtown" (I think that's the right term) there is also some visits to the upper class just a bit. Basically this book is super interesting and very historical. I felt like I learned a lot of the feel for the time period. And the whole 30s thing? Possibly just because New Orleans is a bit out of time, from what I've read of this author she is very well researched so I couldn't believe she got the feel wrong. It felt amazingly right. The characters were very well done. I loved Josie and how determined and confident she was. She is pretty crazy and strong and very well rounded in like, everything :P She's the type that knows how to do everything and is hard to surprise. Which kinda expresses Willie as well. Only more so, she's like the ultimate version who is also harder and older. In some ways she's like a huge mentor to Josie and other times she held her back or was the voice of reason. They were both great characters. Jesse I was always a fan of, he's the perfect picture of a car fixing, sweet guy who is a little reckless. But trust-worthy. Patrick I hadn't been much of a fan for him, but I still was sympathetic to his position and all. Those were the main characters really although there were others, like Cokie and Sadie, Charlie, and Sam (I think?) too. The plot was really interesting and it all starts out with a murder and Cincinnati coming back into town. There are many other secrets that Josie knows or is trying to figure out as well as the cleaning for the brothel and keeping all that stuff under wraps (police and stuff apparently). The ending was really lovely and I didn't want it to be over!

Cons:Content wise there are a lot of mentions of the brothel, the work (not in detail at all), men coming up to Josie and wanting to know if she was "working" yet, Josie thinks about and even tries to get some money for doing her mother's work but in the end just can't do it and pulls a gun on him :P Some violence including murdering, shooting, also stealing and really cruel stuff that happens to Josie from her mom :/ Mention of drinking and possibly/probably smoking. Language was 28 words. (possibly more, but that's all I can think of) There are maybe 3-4 kisses. Apart from the content I had no problems, I just loved the writing and the plot and all!
Overall, I really, really liked this book although I didn't approve of all the content it was "real" and wasn't that big of a deal. I really loved the setting and characters. I would recommend to teen girls (16+ or so) who enjoy historical fiction and are looking for some good writing. 
Rating:4 stars.

Love, Sierra

TBR Thursday: Vortex

 

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The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.

Encouraged to betray his ideals and friendships for the sake of his country, Tom is convinced there must be another way. And the more aware he becomes of the corruption surrounding him, the more determined he becomes to fight it, even if he sabotages his own future in the process.

Drawn into a power struggle more dramatic than he has ever faced before, Tom stays a hyperintelligent step ahead of everyone, like the exceptional gamer he is—or so he believes. But when he learns that he and his friends have unwittingly made the most grievous error imaginable, Tom must find a way to outwit an enemy so nefarious that victory seems hopeless. Will his idealism and bravado cost him everything—and everyone that matters to him?

Filled with action and intelligence, camaraderie and humor, the second book in S.J. Kincaid’s futuristic World War III Insignia trilogy continues to explore fascinating and timely questions about power, politics, technology, loyalty, and friendship.

Why I'm looking forward to this book:Well there are several reasons. The main conclusion of them being that the first book (Insignia) was amazing. Breaking it down, the writing was inciting and the story extremely fun and interesting and developed. I liked the characters and was on the edge of my seat while reading it. I have been waiting for at least a year for a sequel. I can't believe that it is almost here! It will be released July 2nd and I am so super excited!! This series has so far been a great dystopian science fiction series :)

TBR Tuesday:The Wells Bequest

 

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Leo never imagined that time travel might really be possible, or that the objects in H. G. Wells’ science fiction novels might actually exist. And when a miniature time machine appears in Leo’s bedroom, he has no idea who the tiny, beautiful girl is riding it. But in the few moments before it vanishes, returning to wherever—and whenever—it came from, he recognizes the other tiny rider: himself!

His search for the time machine, the girl, and his fate leads him to the New-York Circulating Material Repository, a magical library that lends out objects instead of books. Hidden away in the Repository basement is the Wells Bequest, a secret collection of powerful objects straight out of classic science fiction novels: robots, rockets, submarines, a shrink ray—and one very famous time machine. And when Leo’s adventure of a lifetime suddenly turns deadly, he must attempt a journey to 1895 to warn real-life scientist Nikola Tesla about a dangerous invention. A race for time is on!

In this grand time-travel adventure full of paradoxes and humor, Polly Shulman gives readers a taste of how fascinating science can be, deftly blending classic science fiction elements with the contemporary fantasy world readers fell in love with in The Grimm Legacy.

Why I'm looking forward to this book: I really enjoyed The Grimm Legacy. It was so original and imaginative. I felt like I took a trip to  another fun, beautiful, new world :D A grand adventure. I'm so excited to see what will happen in this book! Also the cover is amazing and the author is pretty talented :) It'll be a YA/MG (because it is very hard to tell) book to pick up! I'm anticipating a wonderful read!

The Eternity Cure

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa. The second book in the Blood Of Eden series.

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Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Thoughts:*note* There are some spoilers to those who haven't read the first book yet*
After reading and seriously enjoying the first book (The Immortal Rules) in this series, Blood of Eden, I was looking forward to this sequel very, very much. Plus all the reviews I had read said it was great, amazing and scary good ending with a cliffhanger. The Immortal Rules was technically my first vampire book. I had read others with vampires but none solely about vampires. And this series really isn't a very vampire-y series. It's dystopian, romance, and vampires. And it's very good.
Allie has seen the group of humans looking for Eden safely there. Some people said it didn't exist, a safe haven for humans with no vampires. Which is why Allie had to leave. She proved herself to that little group by rescuing them from Jackal, her half brother, who was determined that the leader of the group knew the cure for Red Lung. She helped the others escape and tried to rescue the leader (whose name escapes me) from Jackal. In some ways she fails in some ways she wins. Either way the rest of the humans are at Eden. Safe. Now Allie travels to find her Sire. She had been having dreams or visions of him being tortured by a sadistic vampire who wants to make her Sire pay. Because he gave birth to the mutated version of Red Lung after sacrificing vampires to be tested upon. He technically created the Rabids. And a lot of other problems. But he's a good vampire...and Allie wants to rescue him before he fades away from the pain. Kanin saved her from death by turning her into a vampire. The least she can do is save him. Along the way friends pop-up and fade away. Old and new. And Allie still struggles to hold the monster side of her vampire nature inside. Because she might be a vampire but she still has a choice.

Pros:The overall picture I got from this book was a gray vampire city with danger around every corner. This would make a great movie! The characters...wow I loved them! Allie was still growing and becoming a non-monster vampire. Or still trying to not become a monster. She cared and was a strong character as well as a kick-butt heroine :D Zeke grew up some and was still as charming and wonderful as ever. His turning up was a great surprise and there were some great tense moments. Jackal was someone I actually found myself liking a bit because of his attitude. It was annoying and he was a jerk, but you could still laugh at him. And he does have a good side...sorta. Kanin is a great vampire, kinda a picture of the "good" vampires. Not that there are sides, but he's less of a monster than others. He's honorable and really feels sorry for what he has done. The plot kept me guessing and the ending is quite evil. Seriously making me die for the next book! The author is really talented and has given these books the ideal vampire setting for me. Dystopian/vampire. It totally works :) She keeps me flipping pages and I am so excited to see what happens next. I would definitely reread both this book and the first book. So basically I loved the characters, setting, and plot :D

Cons:There was some content. There was of course the whole vampire thing and several scenes with drinking human blood or killing humans (Allie doesn't kill anyone other than criminals). Violence otherwise included injuries, being tortured brutally, gory descriptions of injuries and illness, and killing. There were a couple kisses and Allie and Zeke sleep side-by-side when Allie is super tired and Zeke is pretty sick. There are also a couple times when they imply something about sex. Language wise there were 116 cuss words (3 were f). Apart from the content which didn't really distract or bother me, I had no complaints. All the scenes were great along with the plot that kept me guessing. The ending is really evil and hurts... But otherwise everything worked out and made sense.
Overall, I loved this book and I'm dying for the next one. The cliffhanger is evil and I'm dying. Seriously dying because I have to know, but at the same time I don't. It'll hurt and be shocking and be emotionally scarring I'm sure...but I want it so bad! I would recommend to teen girls (14-15+) who enjoy supernatural romance with great leading characters and a wonderful plot line. 
Rating:5 stars

Love, Sierra

Enthralled:Paranormal Diversions

Enthralled:Paranormal Diversions by various authors.

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 A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.
Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.
Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.
 
 (it'll work like this, title of the short story with the author's name. Then the content and brief description. Then what I thought about it. There might be a couple spoilers but I've tried to keep it mostly spoiler free)

Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray-2 cuss words and ghosts as well as supernatural powers.  Ravenna and Cairo are twins who discover they have physic powers on a trip to Rome and encounter a ghost. 
Such a sweet story! I really liked it and I want MORE! It drew me in and made me smile.

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan- One cuss word. A bit of violence. Mention of sleeping together on a couch, very brief mention. Sally and Margie are living in a cabin at the top of a mountain. A change happened and the world is bloody and dangerous. A boy shows up and says he came because he was lonely. But can they trust him to not betray them? 
This one was okay, a bit violent. I liked it okay and it was definitely interesting.  

Red Run by Kami Garcia- Two cuss words. Ghosts and mention of drinking and drugs. Murdering. Edie is out to get the ghost that killed her brother and five (or four?) other teens. She knows how, she just has to catch it...on red run road, where it makes all of its murders. Only things aren't like they seems sometimes. 
A nice story about trust and mistakes. Creepy and scientific with a surprise ending that I really liked. 

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce-Genies, magic, and a gay character. One cuss word. Lawrence's best friend in love with a genie and he knows about it. So he gets ifrit guards to make sure he doesn't tell. This latest one wants to know about love though, really, like a project! Why? 
I liked it okay, enough. The whole true love thing was sweet but the girl genie was a little awkward and annoying :/

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent-20 cuss words, one was an f. Harpies, an oracle, mention netherworld. Crude implications. Sabine is a Mara, a supernaturl creatures sorta like nightmares. She wants to find out if the guy she loved will be given back to her. So she visits the town and asks an oracle guarded by harpies. However thing don't go quite as planned...
I liked this one okay, I really like mythology...but this one was a bit weird though.

Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr- Mention of sleeping together and making out. Keenan is now a mortal and wants to try and become a winter fey. He gave up his crown and the summer court to save Donia. And now he wants to be with her forever. A critical and slightly odd vacation decides what will happen about Keenan chancing the try of becoming fey again..  
A lovely time to revisit Donia and Keenan. I think I may have spoiled something in the coming books...but oh well. They are really sweet :) I love it when authors write a short story about their actual books in a collection like this.

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong- One cuss words, supernatural powers, a werewolf, a witch, ghosts.  Chloe is enveloped with a secret and guilts. Her life is kinda crazy, she's dating a werewolf and all her friends have weird powers if can call them friends. One of them, Tori, runs away from bad news and Chloe followers her. Only she's tricked by someone out for revenge before she can find Tori.
 Lovely tale. I liked learning and understanding more about the b list characters from The Rising. Again, I love short stories from an author's other books :) A touching and chilling story.

Let's get this undead show on the road by Sarah Rees Brennan-1 cuss word and mention of sex used as an analogy and not really described. A crude joke or two and vampires. Chris is a part of a band. And he's a vampire. He can't stand his band and feels like he is all alone. He doesn't know what he is supposed to do and his family doesn't want or trust him anymore. Can touring really create some bonds? 
Cute, sweet story with good characters and was pretty exciting. :) This author is very creative and is unique her writing...very funny :D

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready-14 cuss words with 2 fs. Ghosts and suicide. Story about a ghost wanting to give peace to his brother. 
Kinda confusing and written kinda like a poem. Bit weird but whatever. It was confusing partly because for over half of the tale I thought it was a girl, it's really first person....or something...the perspective is a guy.

Skin Contact by Kimberly derting-2 f and 12 cuss words. Murder and violence. Making out. Rafe goes out searching for his girlfriend after a dream he had about her bring her and in danger. Only he doesn't know if his powers was right or not, he hopes they aren't. But what if? And what will he find? 
A bit short and a bit odd. Not a favorite because it was sad :(

Leaving by Ally Condie- The world is split open and people look back to the time when there were beautiful that healed things. Sora's father left and went outside to see them. Or try to find them. And he was gone. She was untouchable for two weeks and still is because of social stuff etc. She's sick of it all, enough to leave. 
An interesting a new world perhaps? Allie Condie writes so beautifully and although there were a couple confusing parts, this was just the same beauty found in her Matched series.

At the late night, double, picture show by Jessica Verday-17 cuss words? Vampires, a demon, some gruesome scenes and a crude joke or mention. Jane is from a family of supernatural hunters each who have a supernatural power to aid them. She doesn't have one and is typically the bait. So she goes out to prove herself and ends up having an adventure and what just might have been the most exciting night of her life! 
I liked it okay. A little creepy and gross, but Jane was so cool!

IV League by Margaret Stohl- 2 cuss words. Vampires. Hopper and Lola are trying to escape their boring, deadbeat southern town and go to a college a whole new world for them. And yeah, there are problems because they are vampires.
Meh. A little confusing and the characters weren't the best. :(

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson- Gargouilles, they are simply winged humans with some myths. Crude implication? Giselle is a gargouille and she's been captured. Her wings have been cut off, because of that her memories will soon fade. Her true love, her match visits her but cannot free her. Sadly, she will soon forget him along with her past very soon. Her life is falling apart and she won't even know it! 
I like d it okay. It was pretty good. Just a little sad :(

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes-1 cuss word and killing someone. Angel/demon stuff and some weird pulsing power. Jess's sister Kissy wakes her up in the middle of the night saying that they need to go to San Antonio...now! So they do because Kissy's "pulses" saved their lives last time. And this time their trip is no less exciting. After a death attempt and some astonishing news the sisters finally get some answers. Interesting and I liked it okay. Definitely would be interested in a book more about this ^^

Automatic by Rachel Caine. No notes. Can't remember. Mind is blank :( 

So overall for this collection of short stories...it was interesting and very paranormal :) Loved getting snippets from other series (little extras) and just reading some short stories that some of my favorite author have written. I would recommend to teen girls who like the supernatural/paranormal genre.
Rating:3 stars

Love, Sierra

The Reluctant Assassin

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer. The first book in the W.A.R.P. series.

 

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Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims' dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI's Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick.

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist's knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie's possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.

Thoughts:Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series is one of my favorites in the same category as the Percy Jackson series. Both wonderful tween/teen series with great characters and fun story lines. So I was obviously excited for a new series from Colfer after he ended Artemis Fowl *sniffs*
In this book new series seventeen year old Chevron "Chevie" Savano has been reassigned to a more or less dead end job after an incident that happened while she was undercover...that kinda blew her cover. She was trained by the FBI and is a partial agent. Not old enough yet of course, but that's all she really wants to be. Skilled in combat, firearms, and other such spy-like abilities she hates her new job. It's boring. Until a dead man and teenaged boy pop out of the pod she is watching. Riley is an orphan. His master, Albert Garrick, is an assassin/magician mix who is sly and someone you don't want to meet on the streets at night. Garrick told Riley that he found him about to be eaten by cannibals and saved him. So from then on Riley lived and trained with him. Only on the night of his first assassin something strange happens. The man they are sent to kill posses some sort of magic! It transports Riley and the dying man to a strange place which he soon learns is the future! Garrick wants this magic however and he won't stop until he gets it. Can Riley and Chevie stop Garrick and escape safely?

Pros:This was a very interesting yet easy to understand time travel book. I loved the settings, the section of the book spent back in time, and some of the jokes and ideas surrounding time travelers and what they encountered were great! This is a great adventure book that starts off a little slow after some excitement, but then picks right off and doesn't stop!  Chevron and Riley are constantly on the run, discovering secrets, escaping or being captured. There really aren't many slow moments and those are filled with interesting dialogue and some special discoveries. While I liked Artemis Fowl a good deal better I did like Riley a lot too. Chevron could easily be pictured as a spin-off of Holly and seeing that makes me wonder if the author meant it that way. *shrugs* Either way they are both nice, new characters.

Cons:This isn't necessarily a con con, it's more like something I was disappointed in. I didn't connect to the writing and characters like I did with Artemis Fowl. I shouldn't have really expected to, but I did. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this book and the writing was good...just different feeling. There were also a couple of terms or references that I didn't understand.
There were 10-15 cuss words, some violence in the form of murder and injuries. Brief mention of drinking.
Overall, when this book stands alone it's a great one full of interesting places and characters with a wonderful adventure. When compared to Artemis Fowl it dims a bit, but still is likeable. I liked it pretty well and I'm excited to see where the author will go with this series. I would recommend to teens and tweens looking for some adventures :)
Rating: 3.5 stars.

Love, Sierra

Unbreakable

Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris. The second book in the Unraveling series.

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Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Thoughts: While the first book had me annoyed and a bit disappointed (okay a lot disappointed :P) this book has totally made up for it! I was wary after the first book to pick this one up. Even dreading it a little. But I was encouraged by some reviews and just told myself to buck up and read it. And I am so glad that I did!
Janelle is still thinking about Ben four months after he left to return to his own universe. She misses him. But she has bigger problems, her universe is still recovering from the almost collision they had. There was massive destruction everywhere and they aren't even beginning to pick up the pieces. People are scattered everywhere and disaster hit every city and town. There is no help coming. They keep together and have the army with them, but nothing seems to be getting better. The worst of it is, people keep disappearing. When Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up Janelle finds out just how serious it is. There is some sort of multiverse trafficking group that is kidnapping people from different universes. And Ben has been named as the main suspect. Taylor convinces Janelle to come with him as he hatches a plan to clear Ben's name and stop the disappearances.

Pros:This book was so super exciting! There wasn't a dull moment and this book could just as easily been a movie or a TV show. It's full FBI type stuff and bad agents and the ending was such a shocker and wow. It was exciting and scary and totally a nail biter. I didn't want to put this book down and finished it very quickly! Janelle, I liked her a lot better this time around. She's strong, confident and not afraid to stand up to Taylor and put her opinion out there. She's determined to clear Ben's name. Ben was still sweet but he wasn't a huge part of the story, I thought. He didn't come in until later on in the story and was off for a good bit. The book definitely focused on Taylor and Janelle, which I liked. I thought they made a really, really great team :) I loved them both, a lot! The plot was definitely interesting. It starts off pretty fast and then you keep learning things and adding them to your arsenal. Taylor kept coming up with plans and there were some great enterings and escapes :D The action was fun and interesting. It felt very spy-like. Only more multi-verse-y. Definitely a great science fiction book with a great team up and lots of action and adventure.

Cons: The main problem I had with the first book was that I had expected it to be about superheroes not science fiction and FBI. Don't know why I did, but my expectations threw me off. Plus there was a good bit of cussing. There was still some in this book and the count of the f word was pretty high. Luckily the guy who kept saying didn't come in until half way through :P The writing style I loved and the characters were great as well, I didn't have any problems there. Although it didn't bother me that much there is a good bit of fighting and violence in this book. Janelle does kill a man and it haunts her. There are also shoot-outs and killing and the whole selling people as slaves and "who knows what they've done to them!" stuff. Also content wise there was brief romance but not that much. A couple kisses...and there is some drama with another version of Janelle.  Language wise there was roughly 110 or so words. About 30-40 of them were the f word. The cussing didn't bother me that much, definitely rolling the eyes but not really bothered. Mention of drinking and drugs. Possibly a couple other things.
Overall, I enjoyed this book much, much better than the first book and just loved Janelle! The plot and excitement where great and kept me reading, I would definitely recommend so long as the language and violence wouldn't bother that person. This is a great science fiction book and I would recommend to girls and guys 15+ who enjoy that genre as well as action and a dystopian type feel. 
Rating: 4.5

Love, Sierra

The Obsidian Mirror

The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher. The first book in the Chronoptika series.

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 Jake's father disappears while working on mysterious experiments with the obsessive, reclusive Oberon Venn. Jake is convinced Venn has murdered him. But the truth he finds at the snow-bound Wintercombe Abbey is far stranger ... The experiments concerned a black mirror, which is a portal to both the past and the future. Venn is not alone in wanting to use its powers. Strangers begin gathering in and around Venn's estate: Sarah - a runaway, who appears out of nowhere and is clearly not what she says, Maskelyne - who claims the mirror was stolen from him in some past century. There are others, a product of the mirror's power to twist time. And a tribe of elemental beings surround this isolated estate, fey, cold, untrustworthy, and filled with hate for humans. But of them all, Jake is hell-bent on using the mirror to get to the truth. Whatever the cost, he must learn what really happened to his father.

Thoughts: Catherine Fisher is a pretty good author. I've read Incarceron and I have Sapphique (haven't read it yet) as well as her other series, Relic Master. I had liked Incarceron pretty well and the Relic Master series was interesting. However this book has proved to be my favorite yet!
Jake is convinced that his godfather (who shipped him off to a school in Switzerland) killed his father. Thus he gets himself expelled and sent home. Unfortunately a drama teacher accompanies him. When they arrive to the remote town where Wintercombe Abbey, Oberon Venn's home, is they find they are not entirely welcome and many secrets and mysteries are hidden in the Abbey.  Sarah has just arrived and she's being chased by a replicant and his wolf. She takes refuge in the abbey and is only allowed to stay if she helps Oberon with his experiments. By being the test subject to go through the mirror. But she already knows all about the mirror. That's why she's here. A tale of adventure, mystery and magic, these characters don't know all of what they're in for!

Pros:This book didn't slow down pretty much ever! There were maybe two spots but that was it. The rest was non-stop surprises, discoveries, and secrets. As well attacks, eavesdropping and such :D The first chapter certainly got me interested and the ending was really exciting as well. It makes me wish I had the next book...right now! The characters I all liked mostly well, there were some more and less than others. While they were good they weren't stunning, but I still liked them. This is a wonderful adventure from magic and fey to time travel and replicants from to much time travel being the hunters of time. The writing is really good, it kept me interested and as far as I can remember I thought everything was pretty clear and I don't think I got confused, although there were some complex things going on. As I said, my favorite from this author so far!

Cons:There were a few parts that were a bit confusing or slow but otherwise I didn't really have any problems. The characters weren't super good, but they were good enough. There was a bit of violence, time travel, fey, and language wise there were 21 curse words.
Overall, this was a really exciting and enjoyable book! I would recommend to teens who like fantasy, time travel and adventures. 
Rating: 4 stars

Love, Sierra

TBR Thursday:PODs & Starbounders

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Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

Not really super sure about how good this book will be, but it certainly looks interesting!!!! I love dystopian and this one sounds like a great one. Maybe even a little science fiction-y too.

 

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STAR WARS meets PERCY JACKSON in this action-packed sci-fi adventure from the authors of The Familiars series.

Zachary Night is finally headed to Indigo 8, a top secret training center where future Starbounders gain skills to protect the galaxy. But being a Starbounder is no walk on the moon. No sooner has Zachary mastered the warp glove basics than a mission into space goes wrong and a plot to destroy Indigo 8 comes to light. Suddenly Zachary and his new friends are right in the line of fire!
With the "winning combination of action and humor" (SLJ, starred review) that earned The Familiars an Indie Next List Pick and ten state-award nominations, Starbounders is an outerverse adventure full of unforgettable aliens, richly imagined planets, and the kind of strong friendship that Earth kids will know well.

The first couple words convinced me. It looks like an interesting middle grade adventure that I hope will turn out well :) Plus I won a copy from Goodreads and so I can't wait to start reading it!

Love, Sierra