THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY by Laurie Halse Anderson: Early Review

Title: The Impossible Knife Of Memory

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Publish Date: January, 7 2014

Source: Penguin First To Read

Synopsis:

For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

Review:

Laurie Halse Anderson has the most amazing writing ability. I have enjoyed reading many of her books including SPEAK and WINTERGIRLS, and now I can happily add THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY to my favorites list. Anderson's writing has a very literary and almost lyrical feel to it, while always tackling intense and difficult subjects. I think controversial topics can, at times, have the most profound impact on the reader, and Anderson surely accomplishes this with her latest book.

THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY is quite frankly, remarkable. The topic, PTSD, is a very real and profoundly devastating disorder that is becoming more and more common due to the war. This disorder affects not only the bearer but those around them, and Anderson has done an impressive job of capturing these effects on a child. How do you help someone who can't help himself?

The emotion and devastation that Hayley experiences is so real the reader will be completely encompassed by her fear and the weight she bears. The tension in the book and among the characters is palpable. It will at times make your heart race, and at others bring tears to your eyes. The heavy responsibility that this 17 year-old-girl is given for most of her life is something that most people would be terrified of or collapse under. Her strength is admirable, yet the main message with the pages is that these types of issues will never resolve themselves.

THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY is a book that will remain with readers long after they close the cover. The message is one of hope and encouragement. Asking for help is not a weakness. While I am sure that this will once again be a controversial book that makes in on numerous "banned book" lists, it is also a book that can and will inspire. As always with Anderson's books, the heartache, pain, stress and fear will cut readers down to their deepest emotion, but ultimately those cuts will heal into a beautiful story to share and inspire others.

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About the Author:

Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous national and state awards, as well as international recognition. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Laurie was honored with the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award given by YALSA division of the American Library Association for her “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature…”.  Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, twitter.com/halseanderson, and on her website, www.madwomanintheforest.com.

THE ETERNITY CURE by Julie Kagawa ARC Review

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2)

By Julie Kagawa

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: April 30, 2013Source: Digital ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

How do you face the end of eternity?  

In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.  

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence. 

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time. 

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make. 

*****

Review:

I absolutely LOVE Julie Kagawa! She takes a popular and well known genre, and weaves a new and inventive web of paranormal and dystopian awesomeness! The Blood of Eden series completely captivated me from the minute I started The Immortal Rules to the last sentence that left me craving more of Allie and her crazy world. Much like in her Iron Fey series, Julie has developed an amazingly strong and appealing female heroine who makes you proud. Allie is a character full of depth and passion and determination, and The Eternity Cure delves into these characteristics and explores the struggle between her humanity and the monster within.

This sequel took me places I didn’t expect, yet also left me hungry for more of the unexpected. With Julie, I never know what to expect next, but The Eternity Cure took that expectation to the next level. We get to know existing characters better, meet new characters, and even have some surprises that might, if you’re like me, make you want to snap the little mongrel’s neck! And then, of course, there’s a colossal cliff-hanger that left me thinking…. “No! I can’t wait another year to know what’s going to happen!” And left my husband concerned as I covertly, or so I thought, talked through all the things that could possibly happen in book 3 while in the shower. I’m still considering all this as I sit here writing this review too. I know Julie couldn’t possibly let me down. She never has before, and I expect book 3 to completely blow me away just like books 1 and 2.

So, as I patiently (yea right!) wait for book 3, I will consider what could possibly happen to Allie. Or actually, I will most likely try to distract myself and re-read The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure. If you like supernatural, paranormal and/or dystopians, you should definitely pick up the fresh and enticing twist of a series. You won’t be disappointed… in fact, you’ll just hunger for more!

*****

Read my review of The Immortal Rules, book 1 in the Blood of Eden series.

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EARLY Review: DEATH REJOICES by A.J. Aalto

DEATH REJOICES
By: A.J. Aalto
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Source: Digital ARC provided for honest review

Marnie Baranuik is back, and this time, the Great White Shark of psychic investigations has “people skills” and a new assistant who seems to harbor an unhealthy curiosity about Harry, her revenant companion. Together, they’ve got a whole lot of questions that need answering. Is an ancient vampire hunting in Denver? Who is stalking Lord Dreppenstedt? How do you cure a slipper-humping bat, ditch an ogre, or give a demon king the slip? And what the hell was she thinking, swearing off cookies?

Teaming up with her sexual nemesis, Special Agent Mark Batten, and their long-suffering supervisor, Gary Chapel, Marnie discovers that vampire hunters aren’t easy to rescue, secrets don’t stay buried, and zombies sure are a pain in the ass to kill.

*****

REVIEW

OMG! OMG! OMG! So, I was kinda already obsessed with Marnie and Harry and Mark Batten, but now, I am totally and utterly enraptured by this snarky, witty, and at times completely obscene threesome! They all drive me insane, yet I can never seem to pull myself away from them, and DEATH REJOICES was consuming. 

At times, Marnie's responses to events left me belly laughing so hard I was nearly in tears. You just cannot find her humor anywhere else. AJ Aalto has produced such an amazing character in Marnie and I just wish that I could pull her out of the pages and introduce myself. You know, maybe bake some cookies, or well brownies since I'm kind of attached to Batten, and pick her brain. Not in the zombie sense! I really don't want a zombie Marnie, the conversation just wouldn't be the same! Anyhoo... what was I saying? Oh yea, chatting with Marnie would be the most fascinating conversation of my life. While I love her humor and innuendo, I think it's quite obvious she uses it as a shield against her insecurities, and I'm really hoping that eventually someone cracks that nut. 

I'm curious to see where things go in the next book... so I might have to hunt AJ down and threaten her with zombie infection to make sure book 3 gets here sooner rather than later. I'm not sure how long I could possibly wait. There are just sooo many questions I want answers to! I'm kind of demanding that way! I can tell how much fun AJ has writing these books, because I have so much fun reading them. The writing is creative and captivating, and I have to admit that I've never, ever read another book/author that had me so enthralled and invested in the characters. 

AND... while this is an adult novel complete with sex and plenty of sexual innuendo (which I don't mind in the least) the story can complete stand on its own without those elements. It's not all about the sex, although the innuendo and desire is an integral part of Marnie's character, the sexual themes do not drive the story. This is not erotica and I wouldn't even classify it as romance, it's Supernatural, Paranormal, Fantasy, and Mystery with a "lust triangle" build in. A "lust triangle" that I really hope gets explored even more deeply in the future, because I'm extremely interested in the feelings that Marnie appears to be hiding. 

Ok ok, I will quit rambling. But seriously, this is one of my favorite series! And an amazing sequel! I'm so excited to be able to share it with all of you. So, if you've been hiding under a rock or just haven't stumbled on to THE MARNIE BARANUIK FILES yet, please please please pick up a copy of book 1, TOUCHED! Oh, and A.J. assures me that Book 3, titled LAST IMPRESSIONS is in the works and coming soon, complete with new team members! By now, you are all probably aware that I RARELY ramble on this long about a book, so take the hint please and check it out. 

*****

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EARLY REVIEW: THE IMMORTAL RULES by Julie Kagawa

 

The Immortal Rules: Blood of Eden book 1

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: HarlequinTEEN

Publication Date: April 24^th, 2012

Category: YA: Action/Adventure

Source: Netgalley for review

Book summary:
MY VAMPIRE CREATOR TOLD ME THIS:

"Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?"

I didn't then, not really.

I DO NOW.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die…or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

 My thoughts:

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS BOOK!

(Sorry, I had to start off with that)

It is official, Julie Kagawa has done it again! She’s taken the same originality that brought us the Iron Fey series and created a supernatural dystopian world like no other. She’s built a dark and terrifying world in which humans are enslaved by campier masters, both fighting a truly frightening disease that has devastated both species. This is not your typical vampire tale. There is no sparkling, no “living” vampires, no epic love story (although of course there is a crush worthy boy and little love going on). It’s fight or flight. Live or die. Stay dead or become undead. It’s about fearing death, finding yourself, and deciding what defines you: what you are or who you are.

The vampire world Julie has created is not romanticized. It is vicious and cruel. It is well built, and we discover it through Allison, both from her and with her. Her character fascinated me, and I watched her discover herself and realize she’s not who or what she thought she was. Not who she wanted others to think she was.

I never knew what was going to happen next, and I love that about Julie’s writing. Anything’s game. She always writes a story that grabs and keeps my attention and then throws me for a loop because I never could have predicted the turn the story would take. This was a fantastic read I would suggest to fans of Julie’s writing but also to fans of the supernatural genre in general.  If you’re skeptical about vampire stories, I would still suggest giving this one a try. It is different enough with a creative backstory that I feel sets it apart from the flooded vampire market. I expect great things to come from this series in the future, and I definitely look forward to what Julie has in store for her characters and her readers.

About the author:

Julie Kagawa is an up and coming young adult author. Her debut series, The Iron Fey, echoes Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" and was dubbed "the next Twilight" by Teen.com.

With her talent for world-building and making her characters come to life (her readers have an Ash vs. Puck rivalry), Julie's next project, her Blood of Eden series, promises to be just as enticing.

Described as The Hunger Games meets vampires, Kagawa's May 2012 title The Immortal Rules, lets her enter the ranks of dystopian fiction authors, one of 2012's hottest genres.

Born in Sacramento, California, Julie Kagawa moved to Hawaii at the age of nine, where she learned many things. How to bodyboard, that teachers scream when you put centipedes in their desks, and that writing stories in math
class was a fantastic way to kill time. Her teachers were glad to see her graduate.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and a plethora of pets. She still laughs whenever she sees a centipede. She is the author of the bestselling Iron Fey series and can be found at www.juliekagawa.com.

**SNEAK PEAK: To read an exclusive excerpt from the next Iron Fey novel, The Lost Prince (November 2012), claim your copy of The Immortal Rules at your local bookstore or library after April 24th, 2012.

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Early Review: THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW by Robin Wasserman

THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW

AUTHOR: Robin Wasserman
PUBLISHER: Random House Children’s Books
IMPRINT: Alfred A. Knopf BFYR
PUB. DATE: April 10^th, 2012
CATEGORY: Fiction – Juvenile
SOURCE: Netgalley

One girl is determined to find the truth and avenge the dead.

It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

My Thoughts:

This book was incredibly impressive! The storyline, the characters, and the history were impeccable, and I could not put it down. I’m actually having a difficult time putting how I feel about this book into words. I’m trying very hard not to just sit here and gush about it, because I really want to convey how I loved every aspect of THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW.  It’s complicated; every part of it, but in an incredibly good way. So, I’m going to attempt to lay it out without stepping all over myself in excitement. So, here it goes.

The Story:

The attention to detail was amazing, in both the historical and fictional aspects. Everything was so well developed that I felt like I understood everything Nora did and why she didn’t understand some things.  The complexities of some plots often cause confusion for some readers; however, the complexities within The Book of Blood and Shadow, though numerous, were so well developed, explained, and executed, that I found the confusion limited to the things Nora found confusing. The history was intricately and seamlessly woven into the fiction, and the past was fascinating. I’m not usually a history buff, but the Voynich manuscript and the historical locations and events were amazing. The Latin ingrained in the story was intriguing, and the Elizabeth letters, though fictional, were fantastic and well written! The imagination behind the Lumen Dei and the societies associated with it, the Hledacˇi and Fidei Defensor, was incredibly imaginative and the histories behind them were detailed and believable. I would not have been able to separate fact from fiction without the details being provided.** I also loved how part of the story was set in Prague, and there are several historical locations visited. The setting really added to the story and made it memorable.

The Characters:

The characters in The Book of Blood and Shadow are, well, amazing and so are the relationships between them.  Nora, the main character and narrator, is extremely intellectual. She translates Latin texts at a college for fun, and I love that the narration is so in character. The word choices for her reflect her level of education and her interests in Latin. I could clearly see how her past affected her present and how the relationships she had were affected by it as well. So overall, she is an extremely well developed character, and I felt so close to her that I wanted to cry with her even when she wouldn’t allow herself to do so. I felt her every pain, loss, and betrayal, and when she was alone I felt alone. It was truly amazing. After a while, I could even tell when she was lying to herself, and only seeing what she wanted to see. It was heartbreaking and eye-opening at the say time.

There are four other characters of significance (in my opinion). The first two are Nora’s best friends Chris and Adriane. These three have been inseparable since they first met, and their relationships to each other are as complex as the plot while at the same time as simple as can be. I don’t want to give any part of the story away, so I will just leave it at that, but this relationship is an aspect of the plot that was very important. There’s also Max, Chris’s best friend, and Nora’s boyfriend. He’s one of the most complex characters in the story. He’s the group transplant that makes Nora no longer the “3^rd wheel” but he doesn’t exactly fit in seamlessly. And he’s just as vague about his past as Nora is, which seems to suit her just fine. Max’s motivations and actions are a huge source of mystery and unease, and his devotion to Nora is, well interesting.

The fourth character, and perhaps my favorite, is the mysterious Eli. I don’t want to give away his role in the story, but he quickly became my favorite. His diverse skills, questionable family background, and ability to show up at the best and worst of times was surprising. And the relationship he develops with the group and his interactions with minor characters along the way left me, along with Nora, questioning his every move. He seems to play the role of Nora’s protector, but that’s supposed to be Max’s role. The developments among the group dynamics become complex and problematic; relationships are challenged, betrayals are confirmed, and lives are never the same.

Overall:

A creepy tale of murder, betrayal, history and mystery, that will mesmerize and entrance teens and adults alike.

**Details regarding the fictional and historical aspects (including plot and characters) provided by the author in the Afterword of the book.

THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW website

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ROBIN WASSERMAN is the author of the Seven Deadly Sins series, Hacking Harvard, and the Skinned trilogy, which bestselling author Scott Westerfeld called "spellbinding." She has a master's degree in the history of science, and is fascinated by Renaissance philosophy, religion, magic, science, and the interplay among them. She lives in Brooklyn.

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Early Review: THE OBSIDIAN BLADE:The Klaatu Diskos Book 1 by Pete Hautman

The Obsidian Blade: The Klaatu Diskos: Book 1
Author: Pete Hautman
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub. Date: April 10, 2012
Category: Fiction – Juvenile: Action & Adventure/Sci-Fi
Source: Netgalley Digital ARC

Kicking off a riveting sci-fi trilogy, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman plunges us into a world where time is a tool-and the question is, who will control it?

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished-only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear.

Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing-one right on top of the roof-hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he's launched on a time-twisting journey-from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker's actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

My thoughts:

This was an interesting read for me. I feel like I need to let the story continue to sink in. I just closed the “cover” (it was actually an e-ARC through Netgalley) of The Obsidian Blade, and I’m focusing on processing everything I just read. For me, the story changes drastically from the beginning of the book to the end and to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It took some time for the story to really get started. The first half of the book is world and character building, which for me, was a little drawn out. However, the storyline is complex and intricate, and after getting into the second half of the book, I realized that all the build-up was necessary, albeit slightly boring.

Now, you might be thinking, “huh?” Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this book. I would even recommend it, especially for young teen boys. I think it’s an excellent and engaging read for them that would get their minds working. And the idea behind the story is a good one. The main character is a teen guy (13-17), and I think Tucker will appeal to male teen readers.

The second half of the book was much more interesting and engaging. The different “worlds” for lack of a better term, were varied and vastly different, yet had a common thread that intricately wove them together by the end of the book. The time travel and Sci-Fi aspects of the story were creative and original as was the background of the “diskos” and Klaatu, although it was somewhat confusing. But since this is the first book in a series, I would imagine that more information on both of these topics will forthcoming.

In order to tell the story and provide more background information on different aspects of the storyline, the book often jumps to random characters and experiences. This was confusing for me, although it did often provide significant insight into why and how certain events and processes happen in later parts of the book. Also, some of the subject matter, including the crucifixion and religious radicalism caused me some concern. However, I haven’t yet come to a conclusion as to how I feel about the way these subjects are portrayed. I feel like I need more information that will most likely (hopefully) be provided in the later books of the series. As far as re-reading this book goes, if I decided to read further into the series, I think I would definitely re-read The Obsidian Blade. In a re-read, I usually pick up on things I missed during the first read, and I will definitely need to brush up on the confusing storyline so I don’t start out confused in the second book. So a re-read is a possibility.

Overall, I would recommend The Obsidian Blade to Sci-Fi and time travel fans, as well as teen boys, probably not as a first read for reluctant readers though. So I’m giving this one 3.5 stars. It’s not one of my favorites, but it was a good read.

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EARLY REVIEW: SPELLCASTER (SPELLBOUND #2) by Cara Lynn Shultz

Spellcaster (Spellbound book 2)

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: HarlequinTEEN

Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Source: Netgalley

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

Review:

This is a great sequel! For starters, Emma’s strength really shows and develops, and she becomes such a strong female character that I almost have to put her up on a little pedestal.  Sure, she has her flaws and insecurities, but they just make her that much more real. That being said, Brendan finally has to get over his hero complex. Not that it’s a bad thing, but he’s forced to acknowledge and give in to Emma’s strong and valiant nature. Her protectiveness.  And that protectiveness kicks in when Brendan’s past comes back to bite them both in the butt. There were little hints given in Spellbound that really flourish and develop into serious, and again life threatening, issues for the soul mates.

One thing I really liked about Spellcaster was that it was darker than Spellbound. While Anthony’s motivations were hateful and vengeful in Spellbound, the intentions of the new threat are truly evil, and this time, the evil has magic on its side. The dark magic and intensely vengeful witch is one thing Brendan can’t protect Emma from. She has to protect herself. She has to find the strength and power within herself to protect them both. And her witchy powers are finally developing. There’s a lot of spell casting (hence the title), and some interesting results. And since the evil witch has help from someone inside Vince A, Emma needs all the help she can get. With possession, dark magic, evil curses, and knife wielding attackers, the stakes are higher than ever.

As much as I love Brendan and Emma, my favorite character by far is Angelique. And I got a VERY happy surprise in Spellcaster. Two, yep two, sections from Angelique’s POV! This had me very excited, because her personality is so different from Emma’s, and I loved seeing her reaction toward Brendan first hand. The relationship between the two is so interesting, and the scenes that involved just the two of them were intense and revealing. It was definitely one of my favorite, if not the favorite, parts of Spellcaster.

So, overall, an excellent read! If you haven’t read Spellbound yet, you can read my review and find buy links HERE to get ready for Spellcaster’s release on March 27^th.

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EARLY REVIEW: STARTERS by Lissa Price

Title: Starters
Author: Lissa Price
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Imprint: Delacorte BFYR
Publication Date: March 13th, 2012
Hardcover: 352 Pages
Format: E-Galley
Source: Netgalley for review

A major book for spring 2012—Starters is the first in a high-concept, two-book, futuristic thriller teen project by newcomer Lissa Price—a tremendous bestselling author in the making. Every major publisher wanted this book on their list.

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson.

It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

Book trailer

Review:

Wow! I’m so impressed with this one! There are so many dystopian/futuristic novels out there right now, and Starters definitely made an impression. The story was well thought out, creative, and so original in this market inundated with copycat outlines and underdeveloped plots. I was hooked from the very beginning and was astounded by each event.

But most impressive of all was that it was believable. In a world where life expectancy has reached well into the triple digits and “spore” warfare has decimated the population and killed everyone between the ages of 18-60, I never once felt, “Oh, yeah right. That could never happen.”  The story world is so well defined, and I can easily see how our future could become this world. The war, the politics, the division between the rich and the poor, the young and the old; it was so intriguing and captivating to see today’s problems magnified in a future world.

I would highly recommend this book to those of you who enjoy futuristic, dystopian novels, but if you don’t think this sounds like your kind of read, I strongly urge you to give Starters a chance. Its originality, strong characters, and fantastic storyline won’t let you down. I will definitely be purchasing a copy, and I’m already anxiously awaiting the second novel!

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In Stores This Spring
PORTRAIT OF A STARTERan e-original short story
Feb 14, 2012

Starters website
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