Waiting on Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine where we can spotlight upcoming book releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week I wanted to show off Eve by Anna Carey. I seem to be reading a lot of dystopian novels lately, but still this one looks particularly good. It's not published until October- but it's on my radar and one that I will definitely look to be getting later in the year.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.



Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow- that was the first thought that went through my mind when I finished this book. This was after a rollercoaster of emotions in a read that took us from quiet, comfortable Cassia to rebellious think-for-yourself Cassia. I found it horrifying to imagine a futuristic world where absolutely everything is controlled, and you have no freedom to determine your life at all. Your hobbies are restricted to a list of a few select choices and only at pre-set hours of the day. All your food intake is controlled, even the music you listen to is restricted to approved songs and certain times of the day. Cassia is pleased to discover at her matching ceremony (where a person's future partner is revealed to them) that her match won't be stranger in another city but one of her existing friends. Then another possible match- Ky- is revealed to her, and as she and Ky get to spend time together, and share the secret words of a long-lost poem, Cassia starts to realise the extent of control the Society has over her and her choices. People may live for longer and live healthier, but at what price? Rebelling in small ways at first Cassia begins to try to push the boundaries of the Society, and comes to the realisation that the only thing that they can't control is her thoughts.


Cassia's relationships, with her parents and with her friends feel like the only real things in Cassia's life at first, but I absolutely loved her growing friendship with Ky, and their connection and ease in being able to confide forbidden secrets to each other. It is also Cassia's closeness with her Grandfather which encourages her newfound questioning- she can understand his wanting to die under his own terms and not under the complete control of the Society. The only life Cassia has ever known and always accepted seems suddenly so suffocating. Punishments for any misdemeanours are often subtle.


There are still so many unanswered questions at the end of this book and I can only assume that the author didn't want to overload us with all the world-building in one book, which I liked because the focus was mostly on the characters and the story. Hopefully these wider questions will be answered in the next book, when Cassia really starts to rebel against the Society, and I eagerly look forward to the continuation of this story.




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Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really loved everything about The Body Finder, the characters, the writing and the story, and it had me riveted right from the beginning.


The whole plot of this book is based around Violet's ability to sense echoes of the dead- either a sound like bells, a scent, or lights (each echo is unique) and this echo is also imprinted on the murderer of that victim. For most of Violet's life this has only been from dead animals that her cat brings to her, but when a serial killer starts preying on local girls, Violet's abilities to track the body (and the killer), are suddenly very useful- and dangerous to her. The story is told mostly focusing on Violet, but with some chapters eerily showing you the murderers perspective (I had chills, it was so creepy!)


Early on in the story I thought that I had already cleverly worked out who the murderer was from a few clues in what he says, but it didn't stop me from wondering every single time a new male character was introduced "oh, maybe he's the murderer!" I loved the build-up and the slow reveal, and the whole drama/mystery of it. (And I'm glad I got it completely wrong). The tension builds up nearer the end as you get to the reveal and the explosive ending, heart in mouth. It is also a love story *yay!* with Violet having a massive crush on her very sweet childhood best friend Jay. This story is so well-paced and well described with a really unique concept and great characters- a win!




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In My Mailbox 1st May 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, where we can show off which books we have received this week.

This week I got the the following books:

Bought:

• The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. I've wanted this for ages and finally couldn't resist buying it! I've seen so many positive reviews on blogs and am really looking forward to reading it. A love story with Greek myths, and 7 tasks.

Audiobook:

• Desires of the Dead by Kimberley Derting. This is the sequel to The Body Finder, (which I also got on audiobook) and finished recently and loved.

I use Audible membership for this (a company linked to Amazon) and download the audio to my kindle to listen to.

http://www.audible.co.uk/




From Swapping:

• Rockoholic by C.J Skuse. This looks like such a fun, sweet read, and I'm really looking forward to reading it. I think it was a review on Jess's blog Jess Hearts Books that persuaded me that I really wanted to read it. About a girl who meets her rock idol, accidentally manages to kidnap him, and helps him with a drug addiction.

Uk website- http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/





For Review:

• Everything We Ever Wanted  by Sara Shepherd. Thanks to Netgalley/ HarperCollins. This looks like an emotionally charged book, published in October. I got this to read on my kindle.

From the Library:

• All The Things We Didn't Say by Sara Shepherd. I saw this in the library and wondered if the book that I had been given for review was a sequel because the titles are so similar (but it's not). This looks like an excellent book as well though. (It was published under the title The Visibles in the US).

That's what I got this week- what did you get in your mailbox?

Review: As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Viola is desperate to get back that sense of belonging she had when she was with her boyfriend Lawrence. Although they have stayed good friends after their break-up Viola now feels that she is only on the fringes of her high school group, and hating feeling like "invisible girl" Viola inadvertently summons a genie who will grant her 3 wishes. But Viola is determined not to waste her wishes and stalls wishing until she is positive that she knows exactly what will make her happy- leading to one frustrated and impatient genie! Genies age while they are on earth and every minute that Viola wastes stalling Jinn can feel himself aging and hates it.

This was such a fun, sweet story. Even though I could guess exactly what would happen at the end of the book by the time I was 20 pages in- it didn't matter- I liked that feeling of knowing what to expect and seeing the funny trail of events that got them there. I also loved the shifting persepective from Viola to Jinn's point of view which let us see what both of them were thinking and feeling in different situations, and showed us how their friendship developed.

What happens when you get what you wish for and it turns out that it isn't what you want? If you want a cutesy funny love story that does exactly what it says on the tin- this book is for you.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—for someone to love her again and, most important, to belong again—until her wishes inadvertently summon a genie named Jinn out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.