Compulsive Reader Blog

Bookanista Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

 tháng 8 29, 2013     Bookanistas, Dystopian Fiction, Hyperion     No comments   



Lilac's father is the richest man in the universe. Tarver is a decorated military hero, but from a poor background. Lilac and Tarver would never spend much time together under normal circumstances, but when the spaceship they're traveling on crashes on a mysterious planet, leaving them as the only survivors, they'll have to rely on each other to survive.

THESE BROKEN STARS contains some of my favorite romance tropes - forbidden love, the slow-burn, and what I like to call "stranded together" romance. (An aside: another recent book I read with this last trope was SURVIVE by Alex Morel, where two strangers are the only survivors of a plane crash and must learn to trust each other to find civilization -- there are certain crazy parallels to THESE BROKEN STARS in it, so check it out if you're a fan of the trope too!)

I've seen THESE BROKEN STARS pitched as "Titanic in space" and that's certainly accurate in the beginning scenes, though once on the planet, I'd compare it more to the TV show Lost. In any case, it's super creative and addicting (considering I read it instead of working on my revisions which are due in less than a week) and definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

THESE BROKEN STARS comes out on December 10, 2013. Find out more about it at Amie's website. Also, check out this interview I did with the authors about the whole series and its dystopian elements.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: Gifted (thanks Melody!)

Other Bookanista reviews this week:

Shari Arnold has chills for BY BLOOD, by Tracy E. Banghart
Rebecca Behrens is wondering at WONDER, by R.J. Palacio
Christine Fonseca has all the feels for DARKEST MERCY, by Melissa Marr
Nikki Katz is gushing about BLYTHEWOOD, by Carol Goodman
Stasia Ward Kehoe has taken a shine to GOLDEN, by Jessi Kirby
Jessica Love has fond memories of ALL OUR YESTERDAYS, by Cristin Terrill
Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Bookanista Review: Half Lives by Sara Grant

 tháng 8 22, 2013     Bookanistas, Dystopian Fiction, Little Brown     No comments   



Icie's parents warn her of an imminent biological attack and urge her to find a mountain shelter that built to store nuclear waste but was never approved for that purpose. It may be her only chance for survival. Years in the future, the cult of the Great I AM, led by teenage Beckett has arisen on the mountain. They keep to themselves to avoid the terrorists that live in the nearby ruin of a city.

HALF LIVES is such a fascinating story. On a pure enjoyment level, Icie's story is the one with the high stakes, high emotions and edge-of-your-seat suspense.  But Beckett's story engages for another reason - the careful and imaginative worldbuilding.  It's a micro-culture based on today's Facebook society, and without any of the context, the cult's practices sound like rants of a crazy person.

I had the pleasure of attending a revision workshop with Sara Grant, so reading HALF LIVES was incredibly enriching for me on a craft level.  One of her revision tips was to color code each character's dialogue and revise each separately to make sure they are distinct and consistent. I was very impressed with the character development in HALF LIVES, so her process definitely paid off.

HALF LIVES is available now.  Find out more about it at the author's website.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: Netgalley

What are the other Bookanistas recommending this week?

Shari Arnold gushes about HYSTERIA by Megan Miranda

Shelli Johannes-Wells raves about RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA by Kimberly McCreight

Shannon Messenger adores THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West

Tracey Neithercott is mad for EARTHBOUND by Aprilynne Pike

Kimberly Sabatini dishes about ROSE UNDER FIRE by Elizabeth Wein

Katy Upperman can't get enough of AUDREY, WAIT! by Robin Benway
Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Memory Chronicles News (with obligatory cat photo)

 tháng 8 21, 2013     LEVEL TWO, Pictures of Emmy     No comments   


The Memory of After paperbacks have arrived at my house (!!!) and Lu snagged one for himself already.

The paperback version of Level 2, The Memory of After will available in stores September 3rd.  It includes a cross-section of a Level Two hive as well as a sneak peek of Chasing Before, the sequel due Summer 2014.

I'm running a quick Goodreads giveaway for 4 copies of the autographed paperback  (Lu can't hoard them all) so enter here by August 30th.

Oh - have you ever wondered why there are no celebrities in Level Two? Well, now you can find out the reason at Scott Reads It as part of the Authors are Rockstars Tour!

Also, less than a week until the Chasing Before cover is revealed. I'm so excited for you all to see it -- it fits the story so well and also looks amazing next to The Memory of After cover. :D 
Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Book Review: The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

 tháng 8 20, 2013     Dystopian Fiction, Hyperion     No comments   



Nere has always felt more comfortable in the sea, and one tragic day, she finds out why - she was genetically altered to be able to live under water as part of the Neptune Project. The Neptune Project was a covert experiment with the aim of building a better future away from the pestilence and war on land. Nere's quest for survival has just begun.

I'd classify this one as a middle grade adventure book. Though the main threat is a dystopian government that wants to get their hands on the project kids, the dystopian elements are mainly in the background - i.e. the reason the Neptune Project was started and kids were experimented upon.  For the most part, Nere faces obstacles that have to do with survival in the ocean, such as terrifying sea creatures. And the action in this novel is non-stop thrilling. As soon as Nere escapes one dangerous situation, she's thrust into another. Be warned - there are some deaths.

But at least Nere has super cute dolphins to help her on her journey.  Fortunately, the dolphins came off as strong, wise allies instead of the more annoying type of sidekick role that "talking" animals are usually forced into. (They "talk" via telepathy).

THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is available now. Find out more about the it at the author's website.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: Picked up at ALA


Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Bookanista Review: The Color of Rain by Cori McCarthy

 tháng 8 15, 2013     Bookanistas, Dystopian Fiction, Running Press     No comments   



Rain just wants a better life for her and her sick brother than they can get in Earth City, so when a charming spaceship caption named Johnny offers her passage in return for being "his girl", she readily agrees. Unfortunately, Johnny is not what he seems to be, and Rain is going to have to fight in order to survive his ship of horrors.

First off, let me say that if "new adult" ever includes genre fiction, then THE COLOR OF RAIN would be a good fit. It's quite a bit more mature than most YA (think Ellen Hopkins), but the grounded writing (which earns a Zombie Chicken Merit Badge) never sensationalizes what amounts to sex trafficking in space.

The main stage of THE COLOR OF RAIN is Johnny's spaceship and I admired the careful wordbuilding here in regard to the levels and how colors revealed a girl's status.  There were also some great reveals concerning the real purpose of the ship, tight action scenes, and terrifying "out the airlock" sequences.

It was not difficult to understand Rain's motivations - she acts out of love for family and friends, even when Johnny tries to break her of the habit. I loved her strength.

At first I was resistant to the idea of Ben as a love interest, but he definitely grew on me. I might have even been a tiny bit misty-eyed at the end.

THE COLOR OF RAIN is available in paperback now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Review copy from publisher

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

What are the other Bookanistas loving this week?

Christine Fonseca has chills for UNRAVEL ME, by Taherah Mafi
Kimberly Sabatini is spreading some love for BY BLOOD, by Tracy Banghart
Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Bookanista Review: In the After by Demitria Lunetta

 tháng 8 08, 2013     Bookanistas, Dystopian Fiction, HarperCollins     No comments   

I was in a reading slump earlier this summer, and IN THE AFTER pulled me out of it. I really couldn't put it down. Fast paced and terrifying, IN THE AFTER gets the Zombie Chicken Merit Badge for Action.


So in book math, IN THE AFTER is INTO THE FOREST by Jean Hegland meets THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin meets THE PROGRAM by Suzanne Young. Read it and you'll see what I mean.  Amy is a survivor in this post-alien invasion world and I legit feared for her life.

What else? I loved Amy and Baby's relationship. The only part I wasn't so terribly keen about was the big twist, because I was hoping for something else, but that didn't detract at all from my overall reading experience.

Find out more about IN THE AFTER at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Review copy from the the publisher

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

More Bookanista love:
Jessica Love sees stars for GOLDEN by Jessi Kirby

Tracey Neithercott discusses A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES by Rachel Harris

Katy Upperman gushes about OCD LOVE STORY by Corey Ann Haydu

Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Chick-O-Saurus Rex Trailer Premiere + Photos

 tháng 8 02, 2013     Chick, Picture Books     No comments   

We're super thrilled that our Chick-o-Saurus Rex picture book trailer is now live (many thanks to Vania at VLC productions) - check out the exclusive reveal at Fuse 8 on School Library Journal! Leave us a comment and let us know how you like it.

Last Saturday we had our first event at Watermark Books in Wichita, KS.  Check out this awesome display in the window.



We had fun reading the book aloud and signing for the great crowd that came out.  Lots of chicken fans in Kansas!



Don't forget that we'll be at Hooray for Books in Alexandria, VA tomorrow at 3:30 pm.  Hope to see you there!

Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg

Bookanista Review: Coda by Emma Trevayne

 tháng 8 01, 2013     Bookanistas, Dystopian Fiction, Running Press     No comments   

There won't be much of a Dystopian August this year because I am traveling and in the edit cave at the same time, but I do have a few reviews and features for you, starting with CODA.


CODA is a very cool novel.

Exhibit A: Anthem. Anthem is a rocker who can pull off guyliner, who takes care of his younger twin brother and sister, who is extremely loyal to friends and (maybe) girlfriend Haven, and who is about to give a shock to the system of keeping the populace drugged out on music.

Exhibit B: The writing. Trevanyne knows music, and she knows how to convey that feeling you get when you're lost in the beat and nothing else matters.  The music scenes were some of my favorite in the novel.

Exhibit C: The twists. CODA gets a twists badge because it surprised me multiple times despite the plot being of the typical rebellion against the dystopian government variety.

CODA is out now!

FTC disclosure: I got a signed copy at ALA.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore


See what the other Bookanistas are raving about this week:

Stasia Ward Kehoe admires ALL MEN OF GENIUS by Lev AC Rosen

Jessica Love delves into DIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jennifer Echols

Read More
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg
Bài đăng mới hơn Bài đăng cũ hơn Trang chủ

Popular Posts

  • Review of A Murder by Any Name by Suzanne M. Wolfe, first in an Elizabethan spy mystery series
    London is drenched with atmosphere and deadly intrigue in this debut entry in a new Elizabethan mystery series. The time is the 1570s. The b...
  • Three Mini Reviews
    The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2) by Lori M. Lee Publisher: Skyscape Released: March 10th 2015 My Rating: 3 stars out of 5 Find...
  • The Daughters of Ironbridge by Mollie Walton, a saga of friendship and class differences in 1830s Shropshire
    This is the debut saga from Walton, a successful transition for the author, who also pens historical fiction under her real name, Rebecca Ma...
  • Review: A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab
    A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V. E. Schwab Publisher: Titan Books Released: 21st February 2017 My Rating: 4 stars out of 5...
  • Waiting on Wednesday #80
    Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. ...
  • Review: Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh
    Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh Publisher: Macmillan Children's Released: February 11th 2016 My Rating: 2 stars out of 5 Find it on...
  • Interview with E.M. Powell, author of the medieval mystery The King's Justice - plus giveaway
    E.M. Powell's latest work of historical crime, The King's Justice , takes place in a Yorkshire village in 1176, during Henry II'...
  • Thoughts on Philippa Gregory's new saga of 17th-century England, Tidelands
    Enthusiasts of Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels may call her latest a departure, but the atmospheric Tidelands is more of a return to her fo...
  • Interview with David Blixt (part 2), author of What Girls Are Good For: A Novel of Nellie Bly
    And here's the second half of my interview with David Blixt about his new novel What Girls Are Good For .  If you missed the first part,...
  • Blog Tour: Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff (ARC Review + Giveaway)
    Hello and welcome everyone to official blog tour for  Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by  Liesl Shurtliff! Today I will be sharing wi...

A Long Petal of the Sea, Isabel Allende's epic of the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath

Allende’s fluidly written saga conveys her deep familiarity with the events she depicts, and her intent to illustrate their human impact in ...

Tìm kiếm Blog này

Được tạo bởi Blogger.

Lưu trữ Blog

  • tháng 2 2020 (1)
  • tháng 1 2020 (7)
  • tháng 12 2019 (6)
  • tháng 11 2019 (5)
  • tháng 10 2019 (7)
  • tháng 9 2019 (10)
  • tháng 8 2019 (11)
  • tháng 7 2019 (6)
  • tháng 6 2019 (5)
  • tháng 5 2019 (6)
  • tháng 4 2019 (7)
  • tháng 3 2019 (8)
  • tháng 2 2019 (7)
  • tháng 1 2019 (8)
  • tháng 12 2018 (7)
  • tháng 11 2018 (7)
  • tháng 10 2018 (8)
  • tháng 9 2018 (12)
  • tháng 8 2018 (9)
  • tháng 7 2018 (6)
  • tháng 6 2018 (9)
  • tháng 5 2018 (14)
  • tháng 4 2018 (1)
  • tháng 3 2018 (2)
  • tháng 2 2018 (2)
  • tháng 1 2018 (4)
  • tháng 12 2017 (3)
  • tháng 10 2017 (2)
  • tháng 9 2017 (6)
  • tháng 8 2017 (3)
  • tháng 7 2017 (4)
  • tháng 6 2017 (4)
  • tháng 5 2017 (2)
  • tháng 4 2017 (10)
  • tháng 3 2017 (12)
  • tháng 2 2017 (12)
  • tháng 1 2017 (16)
  • tháng 12 2016 (16)
  • tháng 11 2016 (6)
  • tháng 10 2016 (5)
  • tháng 9 2016 (7)
  • tháng 8 2016 (7)
  • tháng 7 2016 (8)
  • tháng 6 2016 (10)
  • tháng 5 2016 (14)
  • tháng 4 2016 (16)
  • tháng 3 2016 (8)
  • tháng 2 2016 (12)
  • tháng 1 2016 (15)
  • tháng 12 2015 (13)
  • tháng 11 2015 (6)
  • tháng 10 2015 (13)
  • tháng 9 2015 (9)
  • tháng 8 2015 (16)
  • tháng 7 2015 (10)
  • tháng 6 2015 (7)
  • tháng 5 2015 (4)
  • tháng 4 2015 (3)
  • tháng 3 2015 (4)
  • tháng 2 2015 (8)
  • tháng 1 2015 (4)
  • tháng 12 2014 (9)
  • tháng 11 2014 (2)
  • tháng 10 2014 (1)
  • tháng 9 2014 (1)
  • tháng 7 2014 (2)
  • tháng 6 2014 (7)
  • tháng 5 2014 (6)
  • tháng 4 2014 (12)
  • tháng 3 2014 (10)
  • tháng 2 2014 (3)
  • tháng 1 2014 (3)
  • tháng 12 2013 (13)
  • tháng 11 2013 (2)
  • tháng 10 2013 (1)
  • tháng 9 2013 (5)
  • tháng 8 2013 (8)
  • tháng 7 2013 (6)
  • tháng 6 2013 (7)
  • tháng 5 2013 (12)
  • tháng 4 2013 (5)
  • tháng 3 2013 (6)
  • tháng 2 2013 (9)

Nhãn

  • #boutofbooks
  • 18+
  • 2 Stars
  • 2014 book release
  • 2016
  • 2016 book release
  • 2016 has honestly been the worst year
  • 2016 reading challenge
  • 2017
  • 2018 book release
  • 2018 reading challenge
  • 3 Stars
  • 4 and 1/2 Stars
  • 4 stars
  • 5 Stars
  • a-levels
  • adult
  • adult books
  • Adult Fiction
  • Adventure
  • adventure time
  • after all this time? always
  • Afterlife
  • Algonquin
  • all i see is sky for forever
  • Alyxandra Harvey
  • Amazon Gift Card
  • amulet books
  • Amy Tintera
  • apocalypse
  • ARC
  • at least there's the internet
  • Atria Books
  • audiobooks
  • author
  • author interview
  • authors
  • awards
  • bake off
  • Barclay Publicity
  • beauty
  • Beckie
  • best of
  • bibliographies; visual previews
  • Birthday
  • blog tour
  • Bloomsbury
  • book blast
  • Book Blitz
  • book covers
  • book event
  • Book Fair
  • book giveaway
  • book meme
  • book news
  • Book Promo
  • book release
  • book release 2017
  • book review
  • book reviews
  • book spotlight
  • book teaser
  • book to movie
  • Book Trailer
  • Bookanistas
  • bookish
  • Booklist
  • books i got for christmas
  • books I'm looking forward to
  • Boutofbooks
  • Candlewick
  • Carole's Review
  • Character Interview
  • Chick
  • christmas
  • Chronicle Books
  • Colleen Hoover
  • coloring book
  • coloring book review
  • Coming of Age
  • contains spoilers
  • Contemporary
  • contest
  • Contests
  • Cover Reveal
  • covers
  • dear evan hansen
  • Debut
  • demons
  • discussion
  • dissertation
  • diversity
  • does anybody have a map
  • Dream Cast
  • dystopian
  • Dystopian Fiction
  • eARC
  • Egmont
  • Entangled Publishing
  • Entangled Teen
  • Erotica
  • event
  • events
  • Excerpt
  • exciting books
  • faeries
  • fairytale retelling
  • fantasy
  • fantasy. enemies-to-lovers
  • fatalism
  • Favorite Books
  • favourite disney films
  • favourites
  • favourites of 2016
  • february
  • film
  • Flux
  • freebie
  • fringe or bangs?
  • FSG
  • G.P. Putnam's Sons
  • G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
  • Game of Thrones
  • Gena Showalter
  • Ghost
  • GIFs
  • gift guide
  • gilmore girls
  • girl online ghostwritten
  • giveaway
  • Graphic Novel
  • graphic novel/comic book week
  • guest post
  • guest posts
  • hamilton
  • happy new year
  • Harlequin Teen
  • HarlequinHQN
  • HarperCollins
  • harperteen
  • High Fantasy
  • hire me
  • his dark materials
  • Historical Fiction
  • Historical Romance
  • horror
  • hot topics
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • how do people revise properly
  • humor
  • Hyperion
  • i hate law
  • i promise i have transferrable skills
  • i'm going to fail aren't i
  • IMM
  • In My Mailbox
  • industry interview
  • interview
  • interviews
  • is this the real life
  • J. Lynn
  • january
  • Jennifer L. Armentrout
  • Julie Cross
  • Karen Ann Hopkins
  • Katie McGarry
  • Kim's Reviews
  • Kimberley Griffiths Little
  • Kindle
  • last minute gifts
  • LBGTQ
  • least favourites
  • let me tell you what i wish i'd known
  • LEVEL TWO
  • lgbtq+
  • Lisa Renee Jones
  • Little Brown
  • live author event
  • Liz's Lists
  • LOTU
  • lover
  • Lucky13ers
  • Macmillan
  • Magic
  • Marissa Meyer
  • marry me noah centineo
  • meme
  • mermaids
  • michelle Madow
  • middle-grade
  • mini break
  • mini reviews
  • mini-review
  • monthly wrap up
  • monthly wrap-up
  • murder mystery
  • musicals
  • my little box
  • mystery
  • mythology
  • netflix
  • New Adult
  • non-bookish
  • non-fiction
  • novella
  • oh what is life
  • paranormal
  • Paranormal Romance
  • Paranormal Thriller
  • Penguin
  • Penguin USA
  • philip pullman
  • Picture Books
  • Pictures of Emmy
  • pin collection
  • playlist
  • pre-order
  • procrastination
  • promotional event
  • psychological thriller
  • Quirk Books
  • Rachel Vincent
  • ramblings
  • Random House
  • Ransom Riggs
  • Read-A-Thon
  • reading 2017 reading challenge
  • Reading Challenge
  • Realistic Fiction
  • regrets
  • retelling
  • review
  • review copies
  • Roaring Brook Press
  • Romance
  • Ron D. Voigts
  • royal icing
  • Running Press
  • sale
  • Scholastic
  • sci-fi
  • Science Fiction
  • self published
  • Series
  • sherlock
  • signed book
  • Simon and Schuster
  • SimonPulse
  • small press month
  • soho teen
  • sorry not sorry
  • Sourcebooks
  • southern is the worst rail service
  • spoilers
  • sponsored post
  • St. Martin's Press
  • Stacking The Shelves
  • strange chemistry
  • Supernatural
  • suspense
  • Swag
  • taylor swift
  • The Best Things in Death
  • the book of dust
  • the honest guide
  • The Memory of After
  • the princess diaries
  • Theme Reviews
  • there is no war in ba sing se
  • things i'm looking forward to
  • this too shall pass
  • thriller
  • Time Travel
  • to all the boys i've loved before
  • too many flannels
  • top five
  • Top Ten List
  • top ten tuesday
  • Tor
  • Trailer Reveal
  • trouble makes a comeback
  • trying to adult
  • tv
  • tv programmes
  • tv shows
  • Twitter
  • uncertainty
  • university
  • update
  • updates
  • urban fantasy
  • vcfa
  • visual previews
  • Waiting on Wednesday
  • Walker Books
  • we could be roped up tied up dead in a year
  • where can i find a peter kavinsky please
  • who lives who dies who tells your story
  • why am i still awake
  • why can't i ever be serious
  • will happen happening happened
  • will i ever make a sound
  • wishlist
  • witches
  • Would You Rather
  • WOW
  • wrap up
  • wrap-up
  • you realise i am - i mean this is - a joke right
  • you should seriously watch mr student body president
  • you're all getting the titanic reference right
  • Young Adult
  • youth
  • zoe sugg
  • zoella
  • Zombie
  • Zombies

Báo cáo vi phạm

  • Trang chủ

Giới thiệu về tôi

ana012
Xem hồ sơ hoàn chỉnh của tôi

Copyright © Compulsive Reader Blog | Powered by Blogger
Design by Hardeep Asrani | Blogger Theme by NewBloggerThemes.com | Distributed By Gooyaabi Templates