First book in the Farm trilogy, I will try to get my hands on the other three books. One of the three books is a novella that took place before this first book did. If I can't get the others to read, I will carry on reading what ever I happen to pick up as usual. The last book was published in 2014 and from reading a few things I think it might be safe to say that it is the last book. McKay does have a number of other books published and this trilogy looks to be her first go at YA novels.
In the Before life was completely different. There weren't any holding pens for young people, there weren't any blood thirsty monsters called Ticks devouring humans. The world was as normal as it could get. Then the Ticks came everything changed, now twins Lily and Mel are stuck at the Farm. Mel is autistic and it comes in handy quite a bit. Mel noticed that there is a portion of the electrical fence that is off every night. Lily takes this as their ticket out, though it won't be easy it is the only chance they have. Or so they think. Carter is a classmate of Lily's from the Before, and he has managed to stay alive this whole time. He has very valuable knowledge about life outside the Farm. Much like everyone else he has his own agenda, he also knows that there is a driving force behind the Ticks and it is a dangerous one.
I very much like how McKay had this apocalypse come about, it is a concept that I don't dismiss readily. The Ticks reminded me a little of The Strain but there are "normal" vampires running around too. I do like the idea of how things may end up going back in favor for the humans (possibly) because of the abductura and their special abilities with the Ticks. I really enjoyed that McKay didn't make Carter and Lily get together in this first book. It was nice not having the main characters all over each other constantly because they are together. Plus it saves me from going on a tangent that this leads to the cliché of the second book being the break up of the relationship. I loved that the action was pretty much nonstop from the beginning, it really kept the pace of the book up. When things did calm a bit I would catch myself wondering what was going to happen next and what was coming. I wasn't drawn to Carter and Lily, but Mel and Sebastian actually. I really wanted to see more interactions from them but obviously it was more about Lily and Carter in this book. I do believe that the next books might have more of Mel and Sebastian in them which I look forward too.
I did have a couple of problems with The Farm. It was a very good book, well written, very descriptive, and I didn't want to stop reading. There was action throughout the book, but when it came to the end and the "big action" that was being built up to, I felt that it lacked very much. Everything was literally over within a couple of pages. I know I shouldn't be too harsh but it bugs me when this big event for the end of the book just flops. I also didn't like how I can tell what relationships are going to ensue throughout the series. For example Carter and Lily, Sebastian and Mel. I wouldn't be surprised to see McKay switch them up too. I still have high hopes for the trilogy, I just hope this isn't going to be a let down in the end like another trilogy I finished up with not too long ago.
The Farm wasn't a complete disappointment, but I was hoping for more when it came to the end. I can see "adults" liking this book, along with young adults. I don't see a problem with a younger reader having at this either. There is talk of sex and subtle hints of rape but it's nothing compared to some other books out there. I definitely don't see the younger readers being traumatized over The Farm. Owning this book would be nice but I would most likely read the rest of the books before I make a definite decision on it. I can see myself reread this a couple of times though they would be spaced out quite a bit. As usual what I did happen to mention is not everything that happened. If you think you may like to read this book, I say go for it.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Page Count: 420 pages (paperback)
Price: $9.99
Next Book: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
Showing posts with label dystopian world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dystopian world. Show all posts
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Second book in the Lunar Chronicles, I do have the first book Cinder reviewed and it is linked as well. Like the last book, Scarlet is a spinoff, only this time of Little Red Riding Hood. The next book is Cress. The fourth book Winter comes out late this year. There is a short story that goes along with this series, called Glitches. You can get free on Amazon for your Kindle. There are a few other books and short stories that go along with the series, one other is also free.
Cinder has returned for the second book. She's trying to escape from prison and if she succeeds she will become the most wanted person in Commonwealth. Then halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother has gone missing. She meets Wolf, a street fighter, who may or may not have information about her grandmother. As much as Scarlet doesn't want to trust him, she is drawn to him and he to her. The two of them begin to decipher a mystery, and they come up against yet another when they meet up with Cinder. Together they must try and stay one step ahead of Queen Levana. The one who rules Lunar and is meaner than mean and will do anything to get Prince Kai to become her prisoner....I mean king...
For a YA novel I really think adults and "older" people could enjoy this read. I'm really glad that Cinder was still a main character in this book, along with Scarlet and a few others. So far my list of people that I like is growing, most of the new characters introduced in Scarlet I came to enjoy. Captain Thorne is the comic relief that we need from time to time with his whit and I like that about him. I found Wolf to be very endearing, because I knew he wanted to do good but just had a rough start to life. Along with a few things that where out of his control, but he didn't let that deter him, especially after he met Scarlet. I wasn't too sure how both Cinder and Scarlet where going to be able to coexist in this book together, but their plot lines came together nicely. Meyer did a great job with the two. I didn't have one problem with the action in this book, it started earlier and lasted long enough for me. I find it fascinating that in just a short amount of time I read two separate books both with a bad guy named Jael. I wonder if I will find a book where he is the hero of sorts? Once again as in Cinder, you can see the parallels between Little Red Riding Hood and Scarlet. I am wondering how Cinder and Kai's relationship is going to pan out though, or if it does. I also liked that Levana's character is continuing to be unraveled slowly and in a way that is keeping me interested. Along with that we as a reader are learning some very interesting things that are going on on Lunar. I hope that Meyer will divulge more on what is going on on Lunar.
Honestly, I don't have anything to rant about that I didn't like. As I said before whereas I have had problems with when the action starts in a book, I didn't have it for Scarlet. The spoiler that is marked ahead, if you have read Scarlet, then it shouldn't be a spoil for you. *SPOILER-ALERT* I have seen a theme from the first book to the second one, where someone dies. In the first book it was Peony, and then there is grandmother in this one. And quite possibly a second yet to be confirmed or revealed as a hoax. I wonder who is next, I wonder if someone will perish in Cress? *SPOILER-ENDED*
As of now, I recommend this book and the previous to anyone and everyone. Not just young adults. I would even say that an advanced reader in middle school could conquer this book. There isn't anything that I would say is something that a parent may take offense with. Even with the bloodier descriptions, they could have been a lot worse, and I guarantee that you see worse in movies. I hope I continue to be happy with this series and if I am not you will know. I would reread this book and I do want to own it. If you haven't read these books yet, I say go for it!
Page Count: 454 pages (hardcover)
Price: $17.99
Next Book: Trinity-The Prophecy by Kylie Price
Cinder has returned for the second book. She's trying to escape from prison and if she succeeds she will become the most wanted person in Commonwealth. Then halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother has gone missing. She meets Wolf, a street fighter, who may or may not have information about her grandmother. As much as Scarlet doesn't want to trust him, she is drawn to him and he to her. The two of them begin to decipher a mystery, and they come up against yet another when they meet up with Cinder. Together they must try and stay one step ahead of Queen Levana. The one who rules Lunar and is meaner than mean and will do anything to get Prince Kai to become her prisoner....I mean king...
For a YA novel I really think adults and "older" people could enjoy this read. I'm really glad that Cinder was still a main character in this book, along with Scarlet and a few others. So far my list of people that I like is growing, most of the new characters introduced in Scarlet I came to enjoy. Captain Thorne is the comic relief that we need from time to time with his whit and I like that about him. I found Wolf to be very endearing, because I knew he wanted to do good but just had a rough start to life. Along with a few things that where out of his control, but he didn't let that deter him, especially after he met Scarlet. I wasn't too sure how both Cinder and Scarlet where going to be able to coexist in this book together, but their plot lines came together nicely. Meyer did a great job with the two. I didn't have one problem with the action in this book, it started earlier and lasted long enough for me. I find it fascinating that in just a short amount of time I read two separate books both with a bad guy named Jael. I wonder if I will find a book where he is the hero of sorts? Once again as in Cinder, you can see the parallels between Little Red Riding Hood and Scarlet. I am wondering how Cinder and Kai's relationship is going to pan out though, or if it does. I also liked that Levana's character is continuing to be unraveled slowly and in a way that is keeping me interested. Along with that we as a reader are learning some very interesting things that are going on on Lunar. I hope that Meyer will divulge more on what is going on on Lunar.
Honestly, I don't have anything to rant about that I didn't like. As I said before whereas I have had problems with when the action starts in a book, I didn't have it for Scarlet. The spoiler that is marked ahead, if you have read Scarlet, then it shouldn't be a spoil for you. *SPOILER-ALERT* I have seen a theme from the first book to the second one, where someone dies. In the first book it was Peony, and then there is grandmother in this one. And quite possibly a second yet to be confirmed or revealed as a hoax. I wonder who is next, I wonder if someone will perish in Cress? *SPOILER-ENDED*
As of now, I recommend this book and the previous to anyone and everyone. Not just young adults. I would even say that an advanced reader in middle school could conquer this book. There isn't anything that I would say is something that a parent may take offense with. Even with the bloodier descriptions, they could have been a lot worse, and I guarantee that you see worse in movies. I hope I continue to be happy with this series and if I am not you will know. I would reread this book and I do want to own it. If you haven't read these books yet, I say go for it!
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 454 pages (hardcover)
Price: $17.99
Next Book: Trinity-The Prophecy by Kylie Price
Thank you for reading and I hope that everyone has a great 2015!
~Jade
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
First book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder is a spin off of Cinderella. I will try my best to review the next three books but it took forever for me to get Cinder and actually read it from my library. I am really glad that I have finally jumped on this train because I like where it is going, even if I am really late on the train as always!
Cinder is not your normal sixteen-year-old. She is deemed the bane of her stepmothers existence, and society doesn't perceive her more than a technological mistake. Though being part cyborg has it's lighter side, Cinder can fix anything and in New Beijing, she is the best mechanic. With a reputation like that people still come to her to have their things fixed. Even Prince Kai himself. He visits her booth requesting that she fixes his android before the annual ball. He plays the android off to be nothing more than a sentimental machine to him, but Cinder knows better. Wanting to please the Prince Cinder doesn't get far when the only person who has been nice to her comes down with the plague. Earth is no longer what it once was, and there is more to Cinder than anyone actually knows.
It seems I am on a roll with books that I have absolutely loved. To continue, Cinder definitely makes the 5 star list. From beginning to end I was enraptured by Cinder and what things have fallen to after a chemical war. For a spinoff of Cinderella I didn't know if I was going to enjoy this, because most of the time there isn't enough of the spin part and lots of the actual fairy tale. Cinder crosses enough of the tale and throws lots of spins into the plot that I ended up loving the plot within a few pages of starting the book. This is going to be a huge spoiler for those who have not read the book and I do not recommend reading this particular one. *SPOILER-ALERT* I was expecting for the ending to be all happy and hunky-dory. It wasn't. Even with the love that's between Kai and Cinder, they don't end up together at the end of the story. Maybe in one of the future books they will be hinted toward being together. *SPOILER-ENDED* I also love how other fairy tales are brought in, you almost know what the next books are about in terms of other fairy tales.
There really wasn't anything I had a problem with in Cinder. I did run into a few passages where I had to reread it a few times to fully understand what was going on, but that could have just been me. I loved the cyborg and dystopian style of this book, Meyer made it flow very nicely together. There were a few sad parts in it, but I almost would have been let down if things were just happy and good all the time.
Yet another good book read, and I totally recommend this book to everyone who has looked at it. I really loved Cinder and I think the series is going to be amazing. I would love to one day own this book. I'm sorry that these last few reviews have been a little weird in terms of length, but when I have nothing to say, I have nothing to say. Nevertheless, I still hope you enjoyed the reviews, I have more on the way as usual.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 390 pages (hardcover).
Price: $17.99
Next: June Book Haul
Thanks for reading!
~Jade
Cinder is not your normal sixteen-year-old. She is deemed the bane of her stepmothers existence, and society doesn't perceive her more than a technological mistake. Though being part cyborg has it's lighter side, Cinder can fix anything and in New Beijing, she is the best mechanic. With a reputation like that people still come to her to have their things fixed. Even Prince Kai himself. He visits her booth requesting that she fixes his android before the annual ball. He plays the android off to be nothing more than a sentimental machine to him, but Cinder knows better. Wanting to please the Prince Cinder doesn't get far when the only person who has been nice to her comes down with the plague. Earth is no longer what it once was, and there is more to Cinder than anyone actually knows.
It seems I am on a roll with books that I have absolutely loved. To continue, Cinder definitely makes the 5 star list. From beginning to end I was enraptured by Cinder and what things have fallen to after a chemical war. For a spinoff of Cinderella I didn't know if I was going to enjoy this, because most of the time there isn't enough of the spin part and lots of the actual fairy tale. Cinder crosses enough of the tale and throws lots of spins into the plot that I ended up loving the plot within a few pages of starting the book. This is going to be a huge spoiler for those who have not read the book and I do not recommend reading this particular one. *SPOILER-ALERT* I was expecting for the ending to be all happy and hunky-dory. It wasn't. Even with the love that's between Kai and Cinder, they don't end up together at the end of the story. Maybe in one of the future books they will be hinted toward being together. *SPOILER-ENDED* I also love how other fairy tales are brought in, you almost know what the next books are about in terms of other fairy tales.
There really wasn't anything I had a problem with in Cinder. I did run into a few passages where I had to reread it a few times to fully understand what was going on, but that could have just been me. I loved the cyborg and dystopian style of this book, Meyer made it flow very nicely together. There were a few sad parts in it, but I almost would have been let down if things were just happy and good all the time.
Yet another good book read, and I totally recommend this book to everyone who has looked at it. I really loved Cinder and I think the series is going to be amazing. I would love to one day own this book. I'm sorry that these last few reviews have been a little weird in terms of length, but when I have nothing to say, I have nothing to say. Nevertheless, I still hope you enjoyed the reviews, I have more on the way as usual.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 390 pages (hardcover).
Price: $17.99
Next: June Book Haul
Thanks for reading!
~Jade
Monday, June 23, 2014
Arclight by Josin L. McQuein
First book in the Arclight series, there is a second book to come out this month called Meridian. It could quite possibly already be out by time you read this. I will do my best to get my hands on the second book and review it. This is McQuein's first book, and for it being her first I think she did very well. McQuein does have another book out that does not go along with Arclight called Premeditated.
In this dystopian world three things make up your little world. The Arclight, the Grey, and the Dark. The Arclight means safety and survival, the Grey is between the Arclight and the Dark. The Dark is filled with the Fade. No one goes into the Grey, but a girl was found there. How did she get there? How did she survive? More importantly, is she safe? No one comes back from the Dark or the Grey. No one.
If I thought I devoured Beautiful Creatures, I really inhaled Arclight. Once I began I couldn't stop reading. I had to read the next page, then the next chapter, and then I found myself done. McQuein did an amazing job drawing me in and holding on to my attention. I didn't find wordy parts, which I was so thankful for. I haven't read too many dystopian based books but I really enjoyed Arclight. Marina and Tobin from the start captivated me and I had to know what happened with them. I am in love with the idea of the Fade, what they are and how they came to be. There were a lot of little twists that, if reading too quickly you might pass up and not see coming. There is a bit of romance in the air, but nothing can really happen when the fate of what little humans are left on Earth, are at stake because of the Fade. I laughed in a few spots and I didn't think I would with this being a slightly more serious book. I love the backstory to just about everything, and I can't wait to read the next book.
Arclight was incredibly fast paced, there was almost no time to stop and think over what had just happened to Marina or some of the other characters. This was not something I enjoyed too much because it just didn't seem to work with the story (for me). I would have liked some down time, not too much, but a little. Something that confused me was that I wasn't sure if the Arclight was a simple multi-floored building, or a series of buildings put together. I could have easily skipped where it was defined, because I did read this book really quickly.
Though I did have a few discrepancies with Arclight I overall enjoyed it a lot. I really hope a few of my confusions will be cleared up in the next book. Once again for being a 'teen' book I really think that adults could enjoy Arclight. I recommend it to everyone and I hope to one day have this book on one of my bookshelves. I can honestly see myself rereading this book a number of times because it is that good.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 403 pages (hardcover).
Price: ???
Next Book: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
In this dystopian world three things make up your little world. The Arclight, the Grey, and the Dark. The Arclight means safety and survival, the Grey is between the Arclight and the Dark. The Dark is filled with the Fade. No one goes into the Grey, but a girl was found there. How did she get there? How did she survive? More importantly, is she safe? No one comes back from the Dark or the Grey. No one.
If I thought I devoured Beautiful Creatures, I really inhaled Arclight. Once I began I couldn't stop reading. I had to read the next page, then the next chapter, and then I found myself done. McQuein did an amazing job drawing me in and holding on to my attention. I didn't find wordy parts, which I was so thankful for. I haven't read too many dystopian based books but I really enjoyed Arclight. Marina and Tobin from the start captivated me and I had to know what happened with them. I am in love with the idea of the Fade, what they are and how they came to be. There were a lot of little twists that, if reading too quickly you might pass up and not see coming. There is a bit of romance in the air, but nothing can really happen when the fate of what little humans are left on Earth, are at stake because of the Fade. I laughed in a few spots and I didn't think I would with this being a slightly more serious book. I love the backstory to just about everything, and I can't wait to read the next book.
Arclight was incredibly fast paced, there was almost no time to stop and think over what had just happened to Marina or some of the other characters. This was not something I enjoyed too much because it just didn't seem to work with the story (for me). I would have liked some down time, not too much, but a little. Something that confused me was that I wasn't sure if the Arclight was a simple multi-floored building, or a series of buildings put together. I could have easily skipped where it was defined, because I did read this book really quickly.
Though I did have a few discrepancies with Arclight I overall enjoyed it a lot. I really hope a few of my confusions will be cleared up in the next book. Once again for being a 'teen' book I really think that adults could enjoy Arclight. I recommend it to everyone and I hope to one day have this book on one of my bookshelves. I can honestly see myself rereading this book a number of times because it is that good.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 403 pages (hardcover).
Price: ???
Next Book: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Thank you for reading!
~Jade
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