Review Witch & Wizard

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
Publisher:Litle, Brown & Company 2010
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Source: Bought
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 About this title from goodreads:
The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?

I had the opportunity to listen to an excerpt from the audiobook of Witch & Wizard prior to reading the book. The first thing that piqued my interest was that the female voice was done by a woman and the male by a man. The audios I have listened to in the past ,use only one narrator for all the characters which sometimes I have to say, bothers me. Something I absolutely loved was the use of sounds to emphasize a situation on a scene. It makes the events more intense. Scenes are enhanced by climatic music and I simply loved that level of attention in the creation of this audio.

The narration is done by Spencer Locke and Elijah Wood. I greatly enjoyed Wood’s narration style because he simply takes you into Wit’s journey by making it more tangible. Spencer Locke sounded bratty and it was difficult to listen to her parts in the beginning. Nevertheless, for Wit's side of the story sake I picked the book.

Wisty and Wit live normal lives until their world is torn apart by a change in politic regimen. The New Order provided the foundations for a dystopian story. This New Order or NO for its acronym, wants to make perfection of everything they touch in society. They take people by surprise and accuse them of all sort of things but in the Allgood’s case, magic practitioners. These kids are separated from all they know and that’s when they begin to discover what they are and what they can do.

They story shows a dystopian world where kids are the door to freedom. No music, no books and no individuality are permitted by the NO regimen. Wisty and Wit are crucial to change things and they will understand it with the progression of the story. Here kids have to procure their own safety and freedom. This particular idea reminded me of Gone by author Michael Grant. In Gone, kids find themselves alone having to take care of each other while learning to survive.

I can’t help but wonder if this book was meant to be two books instead of one. It is too long. I recommend this book for young adult readers. Have in mind that sometimes this book is a little more juvenile than what we usually found in the market labeled as young adult. If you like dystopias grab this book. I consider this a good audio selection for the entertaining level this audio offers. The paperback is a good option too, but I think you should select the audio to have a more complete and interactive experience.

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Review Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Published: HarperCollins, Jan 2012

Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Bought 

Look for this at Amazon / BD / Goodreads

A little about this book from goodreads:

I am officially infatuated with this world.  On top of that, I cannot stop thinking how superb this book is.  Could say I'm in love with this book and its characters.  This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for months, kept postponing reading it and now it is what populates my brain.  It has been a long time since I have read something like this, so intoxicating.  While writing this review I picture perfectly this setting, its fantastic plot and tantalizing ending.  It brings me to ask:  why are you doing this Veronica Rossi?  That ending was so awesome, clearly the beginning of a new journey.  And now I'm totally fixated in knowing what comes next.  Getting the second book has become a priority.  As Rachel at Fiktshun had mentioned in one interesting challenge post for reading that last book of a series, there are series you don't want to read the last book because you don't want to see the story end,don't want to say goodbye.  I think right know I don't want to think about an ending for Perry and Aria's story.

The story is fluid.  Never got tired of reading.  On the contrary, Rossi's style makes reading during long hours completely easy.  Even when distractions surround you, you never get sidetracked from the story.  The events are surprising.  The reading is exciting.  Under The Never Sky kept surprising me constantly.  One of my favorite aspects of a book is its potential to keep me guessing.   This title grabbed me and still have me on its electrifying cloud of Aether (Read me!!!)  The last 14 pages are so incredible and fulminating at the same time.  Incredible by its content but fulminating to me because right now I cannot help but kick myself for not getting the next book.  Well, it happens...

The dystopian element in this has various conflicting elements.

• Population cannot live life freely. True freedom doesn't exist on the pods.
• An artificial world mainly computerized has been created to maintain contentment and safety.
• Genome have been manipulated to a point where population is easily affected by environment.

Now about the characters. At first, I didn't know how to picture Perry.  He seemed a wild thing.  Then the events guide you into his journey and you get to know his true self.  He is more organic and follows his gut filling, something Aria is not used to.  Aria is an interesting heroine.  She becomes a complex character while traveling with Perry.  I liked she changing into something entirely new.  Plus, I like their names, really suit them.

Always thinking about covers, I liked the covers for this book.  My edition's  cover is gorgeous.  It takes into consideration the setting.  Aria is on the cover and it seems she is walking in an Aether storm.  The colors look fantastic.

Overall, this book is a 5.  I recommend this to YA readers, NA readers, dystopian lovers and well readers in general who just want to read something new strong in unique creative story building. Oh and if you are into Sci Fi grab this book.

Here is a task for you, after you read this listen to A White Demon's Love Song by The Killers. I would use this song  to tell Aria and Perry's journey.  This is officially one of my favorite books.  Would love to see this into a movie.

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Blood of Eden #1
Published: Harlequin Teen, April 2012
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Goodreads Amazon Book Depository Author

I have to let you know that I simply love this book. I have read other vampire books but this one has been so different to what I have read so far. I'll let you know a little about the story.
Allison was born inside a vampire city. Human population has a cattle status and registered citizens has to provide the nutritional needs of the vamps. Until now she had survived by her street smarts and audacity. She is part of a gang of kids who no longer know a home and who have found shelter on a deteriorated school. Everyday her gang survives by their scavenger ways, stealing food and looking for anything they might use. Allison takes care of herself and Stick. Stick is a kid from the gang. His efforts to help out the gang are bearly visible and Allison has become his provider. This is why Allison ventures by herself one day to find food behind the wall sorrounding the city. Looking on the ruins she finds a cellar full of food and everything that could help them get through the winter. Could you imaging to find such resources in times of scarcity? She decides to let her gang know about such bounty and in that precise moment is when everything begins to go wrong in Allison's life.What will become of these kids? What will become of Allison?
Inevitably, Allie will change. Her love for reading will be the only thing that will be accompanying her on a journey where new characters will make an impact on her way to see to world.

The author takes time building the story and its characters of this post-apocalyptic dystopian book. This made possible for me to understand the world she wanted to portray. A world order where vampires dominate sounds scary and Allison has to survive on this world. She is strong and determined. She represents revolution and change. Definitely a complete character and I have no doubt on my mind, she will be a catalyst on that society. Stick is the other character that stood out to me. I despise Stick in every dimension of his literary persona. Always portraying himself as a victim and certainly Allison is the one who enables his dependency by providing for him. I see this character as a perfect example for cowardice, he is the antihero of this story.

Finally, don't miss this book. Julie Kagawa wrote a page turner with The Immortal Rules. Whether you are looking for a new vampire book or looking for your first vampire book; this first part of Blood of Eden is your book.

Review copy was provided by Harlequin via Netgalley. This book has been reviewed according to its merits.

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Review: Revealing Eden (Save The Pearls Part One) by Victoria Foyt

Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Source: Received from Bookmasters and Sand Dollar Press Inc. via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

The dystopian novel is one of the most popular subgenres in YA literature. I recently had the opportunity to read the novel Revealing Eden written by author Victoria Foyt. This book was an unexpected surprise, given the variety of issues that emerge during the reading.

Eden is a pearl in a world where the coals are the ruling class. Pearl and Coal are racial epithets used by people in this society. She lives in a society where human beings are valued according to their phenotype and how pigmentation makes them fit to survive the environmental conditions. In this society where Eden lives, each individual seeks a mate to ensure the survival of the species. When people are knowing each other, before asking questions like what is your favorite music? or What colors you like? they prefer to know their genetic analysis and if they possess features that could improve an offspring.

Eden is a pearl, a person with caucasian pigmentation. A caucasian can hardly survive the onslaught of the sun on their skin and the temperatures. The pearls are kept sheltered in a facility without receiving contact with sunlight. For their 18 birthday they must have a partner chosen to procreate and continue the species, so they can continue receiving those things that need to continue living. Eden is close to its 18 years, and although she is brilliant, his genetic analysis gives her only 15% of aptitude as a mate. She is yet to found a partner that complements her. She has only received interest from a young coal who works in charge of security at the site where Eden and his father, a scientist, works. Blinded by this opportunity and desire to find a mate, Eden reveals her father’s work without even realizing it, detonating a drastic change in their lives.

Eden was forced to leave her life behind and start learning to survive in another environment and other circumstances. Her life is going to be impacted by a quasi-supernatural and fantastic creature, born of a genius scientist, who will redefine her preconceptions about herself, about her feelings and about about what is beauty.

About the book
The cover of this book is interesting and intriguing, gives a clue to the theme of the story, but never gives it away. The image in front is striking and captures the reader's interest. The plot developed in this post-apocalyptic totalitarian society book is characterized by interesting plot twists, and the discussion of a variety of issues.

The novel provokes reflection on several issues of current importance: 

• A caste society- individuals are classified into groups according to their value in society. This value is assigned according to the pigmentation of the person and how fit they are in order to survive. These groups are named based on racial slang. 
• Racial equality - society is governed by rules that seek to maintain order subjecting the less fit for survival in obedience by developing low self-esteem in people. 
• Ethics in science: Genetic manipulation - To what extent might be acceptable or even necessary genetic manipulation? Or is it unacceptable? 
• Resource conservation- conservation of resources to provide adequately for a population of individuals who prove to be useful in that society. The utility in this case lies in reproductive potential to produce individuals capable of surviving. 
• Environmental impact- damage to the environment /atmosphere caused social change.
  
  The world where these characters interact is one that clearly shows a racial divide. The beads have lived for generations indoctrinated to think that they are less than the ruling class, the coals. For much part of the book, Eden sees herself as ugly and worthless. Only when she abandons society, she begins to know herself and show others her genuine self.
  
  What do I think about Eden?
  Eden initially underestimates herself. She is brilliant, but in turn, completely naive. Only wanting to find a partner to survive and not be released outside and die because of the temperature. True her ordeals she finds herself.
  
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The Host: Thursday is for oldies but goodies

This is not so old, but I want to share a book I read in 2009 and reviewed at goodreads. The book is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I loved reading this novel and I can't hardly wait for a series of books from this title. There are going to be two more books: The Soul & The Seeker but haven't heard anything yet. Also a movie is suppose to be release during 2013, with Saoirse Ronan as Wanderer. Hope you take interest on The Host and have some thoughts to share about it.


The Host by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When I began to read The Host, there were multiple times when I almost threw it aside for been a little bit tedious. It's great I decided to continue with my reading. Now is one of my favorite books.

Definitely, a beautiful book and what an incredible character is Wanderer. I really admire her willingness to give, to help and to love. It's amazing how she transforms herself and how her relationship with her host is transformed.

We could say their parasitic relationship was changed to a symbiotic relation the moment Melanie and Wanderer began to care for each other.



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If you have some oldies but goodies you want to share, leave a message here with a link to your post. Also you can leave a comment here with your answer if you don't have a blog.