Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) 
by Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill/PenguinTeen
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Buy: Amazon | IndieBound

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship. (Goodreads)

A Million Suns starts off right where Across the Universe ends, and I was quickly immersed back in the world Beth Revis has created. I swear, thanks to Revis’ descriptions, I can picture Godspeed inside and out – all its different levels, features, and new nooks and crannies we learn about in this book! I love when I can imagine a story’s world so completely without feeling bogged down with details, and I think Revis has found a perfect balance with this series.

In A Million Suns, the pace gradually builds until about halfway through when it becomes a roller coaster of a ride! Seriously, there were so many unexpected plot twists and turns that I never saw coming. At one point I actually exclaimed “Holy Crap” out loud while I was up late reading, which my sleeping husband wasn’t thrilled about. You can’t help but feel a sense of urgency while reading this, because the ship is in chaos. The people are on the brink of mutiny, while Elder, in his new role of leadership struggles to maintain control. Godspeed is truly another character in the story with its own secrets that Elder and Amy must figure out, while also trying to figure out who is responsible for the murders.

I think what I enjoyed most about this installment was watching Elder grow as a character. I was fascinated with how he handled each new situation as issues/problems were thrown at him in rapid fire. I do have to admit, that I wanted more romance… I kept waiting, and waiting. This series is most definitely science fiction and mystery, with very little romance. I’m not sure why I feel so insistent that it should be there. I think I got the idea of the series being a sci-fi romance stuck in my head before reading Across the Universe, and I’m just having a hard time letting it go.

This is a must-read for fans of Across the Universe; it will leave you reeling and desperate for book 3, Shades of Earth! I highly recommend this series to fans of mystery, and to anyone curious about sci-fi. You don’t need to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this series!

Author Links: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads | tumblr

Book Links: Across the Universe Website - Ship Navigation | ATU Facts Tumblr

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Across the Universe by Beth Revis, read by Lauren Ambrose and Carlos Santos

Publisher: Penguin Audio
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Format:  Audiobook
Source: Library
Age Level: Young Adult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Buy: Amazon | IndieBound

Goodreads Synopsis: 

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. 

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

First I just have to say, that I absolutely love this cover! Love it! It’s gorgeous. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed by the romance being secondary to the main story. Like other readers, for whatever reason I was expecting an epic romance. That being said, I really enjoyed the science fiction aspect and the mystery. It was different, and a refreshing change to the paranormal and romance novels I’ve been engrossed with recently.

I do have to say that I was really surprised by how disturbing this book was! I mean really disturbing, in a fascinating way that makes you think. I don't want to say much, because I hate it when reviews give too much away. I want you to learn about things as the mystery unfolds, just like you should! This is a murder mystery with some creepy futuristic scenarios that make you think if our society could ever end up that way.

I loved how the chapters alternated between Amy and Elder’s perspectives, and how the audiobook used a female and male narrator respectively. For me, it adds another dimension to the story. I felt the narrators - Lauren Ambrose and Carlos Santos did a great job, though I wasn’t a big fan of Santos' female voice. I thought Ambrose was perfect for Amy, especially in the beginning when she was frozen. Though I enjoyed this audiobook, I do want to warn listeners, especially those new to audiobooks that this was a bit complicated to listen to... I had to pause and re-listen to some scenes if I was at all distracted (at least in the beginning), and I found it difficult to visualize the ship, Godspeed at first. Early on in the story, I went to the book's website which has a great map of the ship and a description of each level and section's function. I highly recommend checking out the map while reading this book in any format!

This is a great debut by Beth Revis, and I am looking forward to A Million Suns, the next book in the series!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought
Age Level: Young Adult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. 
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Just... WOW. This is a brilliant debut by Veronica Roth. Intense. 

I've been working on this review for days. Days trying to come up with something coherent to say about this book. When I write reviews right away about books I LOVE, I tend to get a bit gushy. Ah, I simply loved this book - from the plot to characters to the setting. 

Divergent takes place in post apocalypse Chicago, where the government has split society into five factions dividing citizens by personality traits. The factions are Abnegation ( the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), and Erudite (the intelligent). The traits are taken to the extreme in each faction and there is rivalry and tension between some of them. Divergent follows the story of Beatrice (a 16 year old girl) as she decides which faction to join and goes through the initiation process. I won't go into too much detail because I think the synopses give too much away already. 

I have to say, I have mixed feelings about Beatrice, the protagonist. Though I was constantly rooting for her, at times I despised her. I could understand why she did what she did though, and in the end I think I can say I liked her. I fell in love with Four, he basically "stole the show" for me. From the time Four walks onto the page I was fascinated and wanted to learn more about him. About 2/3 of the way through this book I wished that I could read from his POV. Funny enough, I read somewhere (sorry can't remember where) that Roth had initially wrote the story from his perspective, but got stuck early on and changed to Beatrice. I really hope that she will release some Four POV goodies, or ideally release a book in the series told from his POV. What I also loved about the characterization is the diversity - thank you Roth! Seriously, fantastic. There are characters of all shapes, colors, sizes, fashion, demeanors, and forms of self expression. 

I'm trying, but I just can't think of any criticism for this book! The action was intense, there were times that I  caught myself with my jaw hanging open, clutching my book. I would love to get inside Roth's head and learn where these some of these scenes came from!

I can't say enough good things about this book. It is EXCELLENT. If you haven't picked this up already, do so now!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Publisher:  Dial Books
Release Date:  January 26, 2010
Age Level:  Young Adult
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped. 

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.             

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know. 

Because Incarceron is alive. (Goodreads)

I'm hesitant to post this review... but it's important to me to be honest and to not filter my posts.

I was so excited to read this book. The cover is just beautiful! It was nominated as a book club read so I immediately voted for it, and I was giddy when it won. Unfortunately, it just did not live up to my expectations. I almost gave up and returned it to the library twice, and I rarely, if ever give up on books. I struggled through the first 1/3 of the book. I was unable to picture Incareron - the prison - in my mind. At about 120 pages I finally started getting into the story, and it did get much better. However, for me this book fell short in so many ways. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and I didn't understand the relationship between Finn and Keiro. Also, some scenes seemed disconnected to me, and far fetched. Yes, this is a fantasy but at times it seemed disjointed and I had a hard time going with the story. I do have to say that the concept of Incarceron is fascinating, and that alone kept me reading. Also, that Incarceron is a prison, really, inside a prison itself made me feel sorry for them all.

I know there are so many people that loved this book. I really wanted to fall in love this series, but it just didn't happen for me *running from all the rotten tomatoes being thrown at me*.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Note: This was originally posted on New Shade of Green (my other blog). I know this isn't a YA novel, but I wanted to share this with you all.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Format: Audiobook, narrated by Kate Reading

Age Group: Adult

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Here is the Goodreads blurb:

"Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time."

I have to agree with other reviewers when they say this is Stephenie Meyer's real masterpiece. The Host is nothing like the Twilight Series (which I loved) and is better written, so people that didn't like Twilight may really like The Host. I'll be honest and say that the first 1/4 of the book bored me silly, but I do think most of it was necessary to set up the rest of the book. It was nothing like I expected, and I was surprised (like I was with Twilight) that I really enjoyed a book about aliens! There's not too much sci-fi, so you don't need to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this book.