Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston

Genre:  YA Fantasy Dystopian

Heart of Dread Series, Book 1

Melissa de la Cruz' website

Expected publication date:  September 17, 2013

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Melissa de la Cruz' website):

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she’s heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

So, has anyone seen Waterworld?  Anyone?  This book made me think of that movie even though they're in different worlds, but both deal with a voyage by boat.  And they both have some fantasy aspects.  So, it might not be the best comparison, but it's the one I'm going to make.

We watch Nat escape the all-encompassing government who is trying to take out people with 'abilities'.  And Nat has an ability although not even she really understands it.  With a voice in her head helping her and lucky circumstances, Nat meets Wes, a shipper who needs a job.  So, he and his crew decide to help her find the mystical 'Blue.'  And through this journey, we get to see the fantasy that exists and the destruction the world has faced, a frozen world.

Does this book have a good story?  Absolutely.  I read this book in two days, so I was definitely into it.  But...  It didn't really seem like anything new to me.  Which is bizarre because we're in a frozen world with fantasy!  Who else has done this?  I don't know.  I guess the fantasy parts weren't explained enough.  So, yes, I loved the story, the voyage, the ride.  But I'm not sure if I clicked immediately with the characters.

Do I plan on continuing this series?  Yes because I've read Melissa de la Cruz' other books, and her series tend to just bet better and better.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it spotlights upcoming books that we as readers are anxiously awaiting...

Tandem by Anna Jarzab
Genre:  YA Science Fiction
Anna Jarzeb's website
Expected publication date:  October 8, 2013
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Anna Jarzeb's website):

Everything repeats.
You. Your best friend. Every person you know.
Many worlds. Many lives–infinite possibilities.
Welcome to the multiverse.

Sixteen-year-old Sasha Lawson has only ever known one small, ordinary life. When she was young, she loved her grandfather’s stories of parallel worlds inhabited by girls who looked like her but led totally different lives. Sasha never believed such worlds were real–until now, when she finds herself thrust into one against her will.

To prevent imminent war, Sasha must slip into the life of an alternate version of herself, a princess who has vanished on the eve of her arranged marriage. If Sasha succeeds in fooling everyone, she will be returned home; if she fails, she’ll be trapped in another girl’s life forever. As time runs out, Sasha finds herself torn between two worlds, two lives, and two young men vying for her love–one who knows her secret, and one who thinks she’s someone she’s not.

This one sounds interesting.  While I'm not crazy about the cover, the description's caught my attention...

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Genre:  YA Dystopian Romance

Shatter Me Series, Book 2

Tahereh Mafi's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

tickticktickticktickit's almosttime for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

The very first thing I have to say about this series is the writing style is definitely unique.  If seeing one-worded paragraphs without punctuation bothers you, you'll either find it's very easy to lose that pet peeve or you just won't get into the book.  Me?  Yes, the no commas and no periods make it hard for me to make sense of the jumbled mess of words.  But there's a secret part of me that's rebelling and telling me to shut up and read faster.

After escaping The Reestablishment, Juliette is trying to uncover her powers and fit in at Omega Point, a safe haven for those with abilities.  However, the more Juliette fears herself and tries to cover up her dangerous tendencies, the harder time she has at discovering her abilities and making friends.  Honestly, in the beginning, I wanted to slap Juliette and tell her to get over herself.  Which is probably why I love Kenji.  Because he does exactly that (minus the slapping part).

We also get to see a little more of Adam and Juliette's romance.  In fact, that's where the book opens.  But with every good and honest couple, we get some honest secrets that tear each other apart.  And with books I love, there happens to be a bad guy that helps with the secrets part.  Have I mentioned Warner yet?  I think I'm in love (even though I shouldn't be).

From the rational part of me, my rating makes no sense.  This book had very little world-building, it was very much stuck on Juliette's viewpoint, and it was pure romance.  But the romantic part of me?  Woah, I need a fan or something (and Warner will do).  I'd also like the next book now please...

Challenges:  Dystopia Reading Challenge

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Genre:  YA Mystery Paranormal

Virals Series, Book 1

Kathy Reichs' website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Kathy Reichs' website):

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage “sci-philes” who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot-if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer’s scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends- they’re a pack. They are Virals.

I was highly anticipating this novel and Kathy Reichs'  Temperance Brennan series.  But after finishing this, I think I'm oaky going without reading the series and just sticking to Bones.  Writing this review makes me want to tear a little because I can't say I loved the book like I was hoping to.

Tory Brennan is a 14-year-old teen who lives with her long lost father after her mother passes away.  She lives on a secluded island that other university scientists/workers live on.  She's a smart little cookie who's trying to keep busy on an island that doesn't have much to do.  She and her friends end up unearthing a dog tag which leads them on an adventure to find the truth.  Along the way, they discover an illegal experiment and rescue a wolfdog.  But this kind of makes them become the experiment as they become Virals.

What I really liked: the story.  It was the only thing that kept me reading, that whole who-done-it detective work.  But I didn't like Tory and couldn't connect with the people in her life.  I guess they all felt one-dimensional.  And the background setup wasn't complete enough for me.  Or maybe I'm just too nosey for this book.  Or stuff gets answered later on in the series.  All I can say is the story was good, the execution wasn't.

I wish I could say I plan on reading the next one, but I don't plan on checking it out.  I really wanted to like this book, but I didn't.  Maybe it's meant for a younger audience (this coming from a twenty-something adult who reads young adult on a regular basis)...

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge and TBR Reading Challenge

If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Genre:  YA Paranormal Fantasy
Soul Screamers Series, Book 5

Rachel Vincent's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Note:  This is your only warning that continuing on with this review will ruin the books for you if you aren't up to date with this series.  Consider yourself forewarned...

Description (taken from Rachel Vincent's website):

NO ONE WANTS TO BE THIS TEACHER’S PET . . .

Everyone else is talking about Eastlake High’s gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck, but Kaylee Cavanaugh has bigger things on her mind. Kaylee’s a banshee—her scream is a portent of death.

But the next scream might hit too close to home. Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline has almost run out.

Yeah—it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself from her own problems, Kaylee is determined to defend her school against the latest supernatural threat. That hot new teacher is really an incubus, who feeds from the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend’s delinquent ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human either.

But Kaylee’s running out of time, and those who love her will do anything to save her life.

ANYTHING.

Oh boy, I can't imagine how readers who read this right after it was published were feeling.  They were probably freaking out.  The only thing that kept me from sobbing was the fact that there's another book in this series.  So we don't really lose Kaylee.  Even though I had some pieces of the plot ruined (because I'm one of those people who has to read book descriptions of later books in a series before I read the one I'm on), I was still slightly melting inside while reading the ending.  I couldn't handle it, but I couldn't put it down either.

So the paranormal parts of this world kind of take a slight back-burner role in this book.  This book is all about the characters, and where they stand with each other.  Kaylee and Nash.  There's a lot of hurt, betrayal, and distrust in this relationship.  And as much as they try to patch things up, can they really act like everything's fine for them?  And Sabine's only counting down the days until she gets Nash to herself and can be there to console him when Kaylee dies.  And Tod?  Well, he's Tod.  Only gorgeous Tod who wants to save Kaylee just as much as the next reaper (oh wait, that made no sense).

Rachel Vincent does a really good job at making you like a certain character.  And then she can immediately make you wad up all those good feelings for that character and throw them away.  And even though you have renounced all feelings for said-character, you bawl like a baby when this character gets hurt.  (Why yes, this is an insight to my mind - scary, isn't it?)

Love the series, must place hold at the library for the next one.  And then I found out that the series has ended.  At least I have two more books to keep me occupied, right?

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge