dystopia

Review: The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

August 11, 2014 by Sana

LCTMC

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
young adult science fiction dystopia published by Greenwillow Books on June 10th, 2014
first book in The Murder Complex series

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

December 23, 2013 by Sana

ACP

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pawn by Aimee Carter
young adult dystopia published by HarlequinTeen on November 26th, 2013
first book in The Blackcoat Rebellion series

You can be a VII. If you give up everything.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There’s only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that’s not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she’s only beginning to understand.

Review: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

December 2, 2013 by Sana

ABOUT THE BOOK

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
young adult dystopia published by HarperCollins on 24 September 2013
first book in the Not a Drop to Drink companion duology

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn’t leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

THE RATING

THE REVIEW

We are living in the age where global water shortage is a very, very real possibility. As an environmental science student, I am aware of the numbers and they are nothing short of alarming. It is during these times I’m thankful about one thing that has been instilled in me since childhood: not to waste. That idea is only reinforced in Lynn’s world. It is not pretty, it is not exaggerated. Instead, it is a harsh truth and it will make you think. Even more so when in such a world, the first instinct is to kill any living creature on sight. The lines of humanity are blurred. Yet, it isn’t that simple. Not at all.

We all have measures of worth with which we regard the world, the people and their lives. But in the world Lynn lives, measures are not based on that. Not anymore. If you cannot bring yourself to protect what’s yours, you are as good as dead. It’s a dog-eat-dog world and a very unadulterated one at that.

Living in the basement of her home with her mother, Lynn has always followed a specific way of life. There is only one thing of the utmost importance: survival. They own a pond but it is an endless struggle just to get its water purified enough to drink. Cutting woods is another ordeal. But all of that is nothing when Lynn watches her Mother shoot anyone who’s close enough to drink from their pond. Lynn is indifferent because that’s the life she has always known. She doesn’t know right from left. She doesn’t know what a conscience is and for the time being, that is okay. Better even.

However, time demands many things from Lynn. Her shooting skills. Her watching skills. Her humanity. Life is a constant chip on her shoulder, something she has to look out for. There is no technology, there is no media and there is no electricity. The dangers are measured in the days that the smoke doesn’t billow to the south. Are they gone or are the coming for us? For our pond? These are the thoughts that occupy Lynn’s mind in a world where water is scarce.

Circumstances change and Lynn ends up in an unchartered territory where she learns humanity, conscience and compassion. One never thinks about these things unless someone gets hurt. But if Lynn can do it in a dog-eat-dog world, can’t we? Yes. But only if we stop to see, to think and to care. After all, we’re all trying to survive in all the different ways we can. Read Not a Drop to Drink and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

THE QUOTES

‘Why do you always quote poetry at me when all I want is a straight answer?’

‘I’m so sorry to be doing this last one alone,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry it’s yours.’

Review: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu Blog Tour + Giveaway

August 16, 2012 by Sana

Click the banner for the tour schedule.

Title: Glitch (Glitch, #1)
Author: Heather Anastasiu
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: 7 August 2012
Pages: 308 (eARC)

Synopsis

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

My Rating

* *

The Review

“Order first. Order always.”

A world where order, logic and peace is above all else. A world which is an interminable gray. Zoel Q-24’s world where people are stripped off of every emotion to the extent of being called subjects. It seems like a perfect world because there is no fear, no anger, no hate and no greed; emotions that were the cause of the downfall of Old Earth. The Community is the be all and end all. Perfection.

But technology can only go so far and humans are evolutionary creatures. Subjects are sometimes able to feel emotions and see colors. To glitch. Zoe has been glitching and while she cannot control her glitches, she works hard to keep them under control. To clear herself of any emotions.

An ideal situation calls for a diagnostic to fix the V-chip so that the subject can be fixed. Glitching is an anamolous behavior in the Community. More anamolies mean the subject are useless, to broken to fix. Deactivation is the logical solution to such subjects unable to contribute to the community.

But Zoe doesn’t want to let go of the glitches because then, instead of the retina display of the Link News, she can access her thoughts, feel and see. She also has a Gift. A Gift that she is afraid of because it will cause her immediate deactivation. So she goes on, pretending.

However, there is a boy whose glance lingered on Zoe for more than a split second. The one with the aquamarines eyes. Is he a Monitor or someone she can trust herself with? It is hard to believe that anyone else could also glitch and be a cause of destruction in the Community. But Adrien helps her and tells her about the lies the community has fed about themselves and about the Old Earth. Adrien’s Gift makes it easier for Zoe to trust him.

Then there is Max. Max with a Gift which makes her afraid for him, the risks he is willing to take. But he is reckless and seem to be hiding something. Almost unable to deal with emotions. It makes Zoe question things. But being in the dark about human emotions for so long, it’s quite easy for her to be in the dark about uncertain emotions.

The Regulators and Monitors watch the subjects for any anomalous behavior and the Officials do the rest of the work. It all seems perfect. Too perfect. Glitch is a fast-paced dystopian novel about a perfect world of technology where nothing could go wrong as long as there are V-chips, memory erasers and deactivation.

Glitch offers characters unable to think, unaware and linked together as moving, breathing robots. It is a very intriguing concept where technology fails to deliver perfectly. Zoe is caught between her obligation to the community and the taste of diversified beauty the world has to offer her. Where will her decisions finally take her? I must admit I am only slightly curious how Zoe’s story will move forward in Override.

Best Quotes:

“Pain was one thing we were still able to feel, because it was necessary to safety; otherwise alloy workers would burn their fingers off by touching a hot kiln and not feeling it.”

“I could breathe again. I felt myself expand in the same moment, color and sound and sense flooding back in, overwhelming me with a rush of smells and sounds.”

About the Author

Heather Anastasiu grew up in Texas and recently moved to Minneapolis with her family. When she’s not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café or daydreaming about getting a new tattoo.

Glitch is her first novel.

Heather Anastasiu can be found at

Buy Glitch (Glitch, #1)

| Amazon | Amazon (Kindle) | B&N | iBookStore | IndieBound |

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and Shane for providing me a copy of Glitch for review.

Review: Frost by Kate Avery Ellison Blog Tour + Giveaway

July 27, 2012 by Sana

Click the banner for the tour schedule.

Title: Frost (The Frost Chronicles, #1)
Author: Kate Avery Ellison
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 18 April 2012
Pages: 206 (eARC)

Synopsis

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

My Rating

* * * *

The Review

Frost. The word alone conjures up images of snow storms, icy winds, frozen water and barren, shrivelled up trees. Survival is not just a word with three syllables; it’s a way of life. For Lia and the people of the Frost. But that’s not the worst part. Watchers prowl the forest surrounding the village during the darkest moments of the night and they attack. The only solace are the snow blossoms which somehow keep them away. Lately however, Watchers are evidently crossing the path of snow blossoms.

Living in the village of Iceliss is a day to day chore and to get the weekly supplies of salt, sugar and grain, all of the villagers contribute towards increasing the overall productivity. Lia’s family spin yarn and it has been difficult to meet the quota ever since their parents were killed by the merciless Watchers. With a crippled brother, John and a younger sister, Ivy, who likes to wander on her own; Lia now has to shoulder all the responsibility.

Lia fears for her and her siblings’ life every waking moment, unable to sleep at times because the Watchers might be close. Their farm is located at the outskirts of Iceliss, near the forest and the Watchers. So it doesn’t really help when Ivy insists on helping a wounded and dying Farther.

Farthers are the other enemies of the people of the Frost who live in the village of Aeralis, a far more advanced society than the Frost. But there the soldiers roam freely, killing the innocents mercilessly on the slightest of disobediences. Wrongly accused as a fugitive, the Farther Gabe, was rescued by a member of the Thorns. Thorns are a secret group who help the Farthers escape the wrath of the soldiers.

Will Lia’s family be caught or will Gabe escape safely? And what is it that Lia feels when Gabe is near that she doesn’t feel with Cole? Why does Adam Brewer seems to be staring at her hard forcing her to recognize something? Is Anna, her best friend and the daughter of the Mayor, hiding something? Lia is beginning to wonder what is real anymore.

Frost drew me in and I loved every second of it. I was pulled into the story from the first sentence. As a lover of winter, the world building of the Frost is done brilliantly by Kate. The secondary characters had depth and a story to tell of their own. I liked Gabe’s tenacious will and found Lia to be a very admirable character; strong-willed yet humble. I would highly recommend Frost to the readers of young adult dystopia.

Best Quote:

“There could be no weakness here in the Frost, where we clung to life between the mountains as desperately as a drowning man clings to a stone.”

About the Author

When I’m not writing, I enjoy watching TV, playing video games, and eating ice cream cake. I don’t normally wear purple bows on my head in public, but I drew one on this author photo so you guys would recognize me. While it’s true that I’m currently working on a zombie novel, don’t let that fool you. I am decidedly TEAM UNICORN.