Bookworm for Kids: YA Sci-Fi

Showing posts with label YA Sci-Fi. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Review: Project Prometheus by Aden Polydoros with Giveaway

PROJECT PROMETHEUS

An Assassin Fall, Book Two

by Aden Polydoros

Entangled Teen

YA Science Fiction

300 pages

The Academy stole everything from Hades, their perfect assassin. Angry and leaving bodies in his wake, he finds two other ex-assassins doing the exact same thing.

Tyler and Shannon once killed for The Academy. Now they’re tracking and hunting down its scientists. So why is The Academy only after Hades?

Shannon will do whatever it takes to protect Tyler, even if it means teaming up with a former rival. While she seeks answers to her past, Tyler wants to learn the truth about the mysterious white room, which no one has ever seen except him.

As for Hades? He simply wants revenge.

They all need answers, even if it means returning to the organization where it all started.

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Purchase Links: https://entangledpublishing.com/project-prometheus.html

MY TIDBITS

While the first book was already action packed, this second one in the series succeeds in heightening the tension a notch more.

After their escape, the kids from the project, where they were trained to be assassins and committed terrible crimes without their knowledge, decide to fight back. Told from alternating points of view, the kids must get behind the real intentions and gain proof against the Academy...before they are stopped.

I enjoyed this book even more than the first. The emotions run high as the characters hunt down the proof they need to let the world know what the Academy did to them. There are layers of intrigue as well as many surprises along the way. And, of course, they are up against clever and very dangerous foes.

Each chapter is told from a different characters point of view with the character's name at the beginning of the chapter to keep confusion at bay. The switch from one to the other runs very smoothly and offers important insights at just the right time. The reader gets to know each character extremely well, making certain moments of the book hit hard. The feelings are raw and the determination high, which makes it a great read.

PROJECT PANDORA

An Assassin Fall, Book One

by Aden Polydoros

Entangled Teen

YA Science Fiction

372 pags

Tyler Bennett trusts no one. Just another foster kid bounced from home to home, he’s learned that lesson the hard way. Cue world’s tiniest violin. But when strange things start happening—waking up with bloody knuckles and no memory of the night before or the burner phone he can’t let out of his sight— Tyler starts to wonder if he can even trust himself.

Even stranger, the girl he’s falling for has a burner phone just like his. Finding out what’s really happening only leads to more questions…questions that could get them both killed. It’s not like someone’s kidnapping teens lost in the system and brainwashing them to be assassins or anything, right? And what happens to rogue assets who defy control?

In a race against the clock, they’ll have to uncover the truth behind Project Pandora and take it down—before they’re reactivated. Good thing the program spent millions training them to kick ass...

Project Pandora (Assassin Fall #1) on Goodreads

MY TIDBITS

Extremely fast-paced, this book hits a bit of scifi, a little bit of romance and tons of action.

Tyler has moved from foster home to foster home all of his life. He doesn't have any friends, but much of this—unknown to him—is thanks to his 'side job' as an assassin. He's unaware of his activities himself until he starts hearing voice and soon learns that he's not the only one involved in this situation.

The book starts out with a bang—a tension packed assassination which sinks its hooks deep and grabs the reader's attention. While this is a great beginning in so many ways, unfortunately the story is too fast. There is so much going on that the action speeds along and leaves, at times, other factors behind such as character development. But action junkies will definitely get their fill.

The story is told from the main four character's points of view and switches between them, Tyler remaining the strongest character. While the change from points of view is well done, other factors make the characters confusing at first. The characters tend to have more than one name, which, being assassins in a secret program, isn't surprising. However, this flip-flop between identities takes a bit to shift into place mentally and left me a little confused during the first part of the book. Add the fact that even numbers are thrown in to identify the characters a time or two, and it took a bit to slip everyone into their correct file. But after this was sorted out, the story was very gripping and intriguing.

Not only is the idea of a secret organization with assassins, who don't even know what they are doing, extremely interesting, but there's a pinch of science fiction thrown in. Secret experiments and test tube babies add wonderful food for thought.

I can't wait to read book two since to promises to be an exciting read.

And here he is...

Aden Polydoros grew up in Long Grove, Illinois, and now lives in Arizona. He is a writer of young adult fiction. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading and going on hikes in the mountains. Aden Polydoros is a 2015 Gold Medalist in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and has published two short stories in Best Arizona Teen Writing of 2015. PROJECT PANDORA (Entangled, 2017) is his debut novel.

Author Links:

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Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Cover Reveal: Rival by Arwen Paris with Giveaway

RIVAL

Fate of the Stars, #2

by Arwen Paris

YA Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

COMING. . .

NOVEMBER 1st, 2018!!!

It’s a role she didn’t want…
One deadly week has passed since seventeen year old Allison Delaney realized she must save Earth from the parasitic race of Ma’tiok. But the task is even more complicated than Allison feared, and she’s being set up to fail. Blamed for a fatal blow to the Alliance fleet that killed dozens of soldiers, Allison must face judgment for their deaths. The High Priestess Kiobaan is Allison’s only hope. Kiobaan sees the warrior spirit in Allison, along with her potential both politically and physically and agrees to train her.
And a game she can’t afford to lose.
Meanwhile, though Allison is the human host of Eenoki, protector of life, she’s not yet ready to harness their combined energy. Their bond is unpredictable at best—volatile at worst. Time is running out for Eenoki and Allison to trust each other—all or nothing—or she’ll never gain the power she needs to defeat the Ma’tiok and save Earth. When Allison is marked for death by an unknown enemy, the High Priestess Kiobaan must step-up and fight. But in return Kiobaan extracts a pledge from Allison, one that will compromise her new status and make her a target.

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SNEAK PEEK

Staring out of the tinted bulletproof windows of the limo, I can’t tell for sure how gray the clouds are that gather above us. I hope it doesn’t rain again. It’s unsettling to come back here. To see the complete destruction of the California ocean side town that I once called home—Avilene Beach. It’s a ghost-like cemetery of charred, crumbling homes and palm trees turned askew and broken apart. Just like me.
This is the direct result of my decisions.
Wind skitters across the surface of black puddles racing by, reminding me of the oily blood of the Ma’tiok. It’s been just one week since my old life, my human life, ended and this new one exploded into existence. Acid rises in the back of my throat, burning hot, and I crush my jaw together hard until my lips press into a thin line. Why did Eenoki pick me?
“Priestess, do you understand what I said?”
Katok’s sharp telepathic tone startles me out of my immersive guilt. “Stick to the speech the High Priestess provided. Yes. I got it.” I swallow hard against the rising bile being pressed there by the trembling in my gut. What if this press conference makes things worse?
“Allison, don’t worry so much. You’ll be safe.” Stephen reaches out to me and Katok snatches his hand midair, crushing it in his huge taloned palm.
“Ow! Dammit, Katok!” Stephen clutches his wounded limb.
I swear, that’s almost a smirk on the massive Vongjar commander’s leopard-like face. Katok’s lips curl back menacingly to reveal his white fangs and piercing resolve. Stephen knows better than to try and touch me.
I sigh, and can’t help but glare at Stephen who sits across from me. His dark muscular arms are crossed hard against his white Navy button up shirt. Even with the blotchy purple and yellow bruises healing across his tense neck and face, he’s still handsome. But his haircut, shaved in military style, makes me miss his longer tawny surfer hair.
“Stephen, if I can’t be the bridge between the Alliance and Earth, our world won’t survive the Ma’tiok. You understand that, right?”
His angry blue eyes lock on me, softening, and he smiles.
I look away and clench my fists on the cold, empty, black leather seats beside me. We can never make it work. He’ll never understand what I am, or what I have to do. I have to serve the Alliance to have any chance of getting them to fight the Ma’tiok on the ground, instead of glassing the Earth like they have so many other infected worlds.
The blue tint to the air thickens as we get closer to our destination. What if I had just gone with Z’iram and left Earth behind? Maybe he would have spared those who died here.
No. If we left, there would be no hope of the Alliance helping this world fight back. Any other choice would have meant the total destruction of Earth without any chance of survival.
I know Eenoki is right, but the truth still hurts.
The High Priestess will arrive soon, aboard the planet killer Star Fire, to judge and test me. This speech is another test, one that I can’t afford to mess up. If Kiobaan doesn’t publicly declare me a Priestess, of Earth, then there will be no ambassador to the Alliance or protection for our world.
I take a deep breath and straighten the pale gown Tarem made me wear, irritated at how ridiculous I look. Not that I own any clothes besides what the Alliance has provided me. Before we left, my reflection shocked me. The way they pinned up my long auburn waves under a small crystalline hairpiece that stands a few inches high, reminded me of my vision of Aakina. The memory Eenoki shared with me from her last day alive, before she and her world were wiped out by the Ma’tiok.
“How much longer Katok, until there are too many Ma’tiok for your troops to handle”
His golden eyes widen. “They multiply too quick. The ground troops struggle to do more than contain them. Our current calculations project ten Earth days at most. We need Alliance support to do any more.” Katok shakes his head.
Ten days left? It’s only been twenty one since the Ma’tiok arrived!
Stephen leans closer. “He’s not telling you the whole story. Admiral Hurst says that there are over ten thousand Ma’tiok and infected humans on the ground, and that combined kills between Katok’s troops and the US military don’t even equal the rate that they’re multiplying at. We are losing every day.”

And here she is...

Arwen Paris is the author of young adult fiction. Her debut YA Sci-fi Urban Fantasy novel FATE OF THE STARS releases September 1, 2017. The actions packed pages of her novels are filled with characters that are forced to face fears they never expected. When she's not writing, you can see posts of her (too many) vacations that keep her sane. Arwen lives in Washington, has a big crazy family & after the day job, she writes Fiction For the Fearless - #F3Fanatic

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Sneak Peek: Spectacle by SJ Pierce with Giveaway

SPECTACLE

The Captivated Series, Book One

by S.J. Pierce

June 4, 2018

YA Science Fiction / Dystopian

Avatar meets Gladiator in this spellbinding Young Adult, Science-Fiction seriesby bestselling author S.J. Pierce.
Two hundred years after the Great Disaster, the day earthquakes ravaged Earth’s landscapes, humanity has finally regrouped and is working toward a better future. But in New America – one of three remaining landmasses – overpopulation makes a better future seem bleaker by the year.
Mira (Mirabella) Foster and her parents are citizens of New America, and with the threat of starvation and disease looming on the horizon, a discovery threatens to push everyone to the brink of chaos:blue markings develop on people’s skin. Markings that allow them to camouflage,but also make them feared, and eventually, targets of violence.
Mira’s dad is one of them.
Spectacle, Part One is the beginning of a three-part series. Suitable for ages fourteen and up.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

On sale for 99¢ for a limited time!

—

Spectacle has made it to my TOP TEN LIST OF DYSTOPIAN BOOKS to read. ★★★★★

This book is totally ADDICTIVE, FAST-PACED and SUSPENSEFUL, with great lead characters and complex world building. ★★★★★

HUNGER GAMES meets AVATAR in this spellbinding Young Adult, Science-Fiction series by bestselling author S.J. Pierce.

SNEAK PEEK

When Luxxe and I make it into the crowd, they part for us, their cheers and attentions trained on him – the camp’s hunting trainer and star of our monthly hunting expeditions. In other words, their well-respected (and sometimes feared) hero. I’ve seen him hunt enough to know why too. He’s precise and brutal. No holds barred. It’s safe to say he’s the best one here, and I have to admit, though anything violent makes my stomach turn (even for the purpose of food), to see him in his element is like witnessing the athleticism of an Olympian god. This is what he was made for – to kill.
His arm slips from my shoulder as he turns to hug his best friend and training assistant, Cole – another mountain of a teenage boy. He wears his dreads shorter, and his eyes are the color of liquid metal. His markings have harsh angles like bolts of lightning and cover his arms and half his torso. They’ve multiplied since I last saw him.
The cheers around us ebb as they wait for Luxxe to finish his greetings and lead us into the forest; this is the part where I have to fend for myself. Then we’ll part ways into smaller groups and kill whatever we can carry. Our group is usually me, Luxxe, Taylor, and Cole.
While I stand with my hands clasped and looking at the ground, the lonely snowflake in a frenzied bed of coal, I feel some of their eyes on me but pretend not to notice. I know they wonder about me – the blonde, pale girl with no markings who hardly ever comes around; the girl Luxxe is close with even though he has a very committed girlfriend, not that it’s any of their business; the daughter of the former head liaison who met with the President all those years ago. Though most believe my dad is innocent, I think some blame him for starting the war that placed us here, though they don’t say it. At least not to me. I’ve overheard rumblings in the market a time or two about how he went ‘mad’ or ‘rogue’ and secretly planned to take the President out but was taken out instead. And it might be my imagination, but I feel their resentment when they look at me, still fresh after all this time. Like I was somehow in on whatever they assume he did.
Oh, well. Screw them. He was innocent.

And here she is. . .

Multiple Award Nominated and Bestselling Author Susan James Pierce has a degree in Marketing Management, works for a Fortune 500 company in Atlanta, Georgia, and devotes her precious, spare time to writing Paranormal, Sci-fi, and Contemporary Romance novels.

Please visit www.sjpiercebooks.com and sign up for her mailing list or subscribe to her blog if you'd like to hear when new books come out!

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Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Sneak Peek: Shift by M.A. George with Giveaway!

Review: A Girl Named Blue by Cecilia Randell with Giveaway!

A Girl Named Blue: The Adventure Begins

The Adventures of

Blue Faust #1

by Cecilia Randell

July 15th 2017

YA/NA Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction

Blue Faust considers herself an ordinary girl. A little shy, maybe, and a smidge isolated. But she’s got a plan for that, and a list.
When she and her mother move to a new city, she implements it. This will be The Year of New Things, and there will be adventures. Little does she know just how right she is.
While out hiking one day with new friends, she finds herself in a strange world. She is confronted with kidnappers, stubborn beast-mounts and killer crystals. Throw in an assortment of hooligans, mercenaries and clansmen, and Blue has all New she can handle.
New List:
Learn to ride a horse-like thing
Find friends
Stop kidnappers
Get home
Easy, right?
*** Please note that this is the first book in a slow burn reverse harem series, there are no sexy times till a few books down***
**Also, there is violence and some swearing, so, yeah.**

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

MY TIDBITS

This is a book with stumbles, oddities, a parade of beginning glimpses into certain characters, and yet, it grabbed me to the point where I couldn't put it down.

Blue Faust is still battling with the loss of her father and trying to find footing along with her mother to jump start their lives again. After a move, she's about to enter a new school and has a list of ways to go beyond her boundaries and attack life head-on—a way to honor her father's memory. When a hiking trip with her new found friends lands them on a different world, they find themselves caught up in the middle of a huge, 'alien' conspiracy. Blue's idea of finding new adventures in life now takes a spin which isn't only beyond her wildest dreams but is simply dangerous.

Blue is a strange girl and was hard to connect to at first. She supposedly has switched schools many times in her life. . .so should be a fairly normal teen but with issues. Instead, she comes across as extremely naive, socially challenged (at best), and almost as if she as no idea how life in high school normally functions. Still, there's something about her which was intriguing, and as the story continues, she grows and matures. Not completely but enough to make it hard not to cheer for her.

This is a reverse harem romance and a very slow burner at that (something I appreciate). From the guys' side, it's love at first sight. Always. Instantly. Without question. Which made me wonder if there is/will be some sort of alien power about her later on. . .or maybe not. In any case, despite her lack of any special traits (except blue hair and being relatively small), guys can't resist her. That is something some readers will be okay with and others not. However, from Blue's side, there is little to no interest during this first book. Another thing I appreciated. She has her hands full, completely. She's dealing with her father's death, finally connecting to her mother, figuring out where her life should go, caught up in an alien world, thrown into deadly dangers. . .yep, she has enough on her plate without heading into romantic tug-a-wars too.

While the first chapters hit teenage drama in a high school setting, the exciting, sci-fi action starts a little later on. And it works. The author takes the time to let Blue and the 'normal' earthlings gain a sure footing before fantasy sets in. And when the other worlds unfold, it's no problem to sink right into them. The settings are well described and the logic founded enough to make it pretty easy to follow along. As the layers of conspiracy and intrigue later start to unravel, it does get more complicated, and there are enough levels left to hit off to the rest of the series. One that promises to be interesting, especially when taking into account the extreme corners Blue's future harem of men seem to be coming from. It will be interesting to see how all of this somehow pulls together.

And here she is. . .

Cecilia Randell is the pseudonym for a lady author that has not quite worked up the courage to give you all her real name. She loves a good story, and often finds herself thinking “what if…”, so decided to put some of her ‘what ifs’ down in words for others to, hopefully, enjoy.

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Monday, April 30, 2018

Review: Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope

SONG OF BLOOD & STONE

Earthsinger Chronicles, Book One

by L. Penelope

St. Martin's Press

YA Fantasy / Science Fiction / Romance

COMING TOMORROW. . .

MAY 1st, 2018!!!

L. Penelope's Song of Blood & Stone is a treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers.

Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive--an injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.

Jack's mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagrimar is about to fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and its people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda's Earthsong to do it. They escape their vicious captors and together embark on a perilous journey to save the land and to uncover the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps.

Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.

The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.

MY TIDBITS

Warning for parents: While marked as YA (intended for the Young Adult audience, ages 14 to 18), this book holds very explicit, graphic, intimate scenes.

Set in a wonderfully vivid world, this is a story full of fantasy, discrimination, fighting against the odds, and finding oneself.

Jasminda leads a solitary life. Her family has disappeared or is dead, leaving her alone with a lovely small farm in a country she's apart of but will never feel at home in. Not only does her skin color set her apart, but she harbors magical powers and comes from the nation over the mountains—one the people in her one land greatly fear. When she finds an injured man on the roadside who claims he's being hunted by enemy soldiers, she's sure he's delirious. But not only her world, but those of both countries are about to be turned upside down. Her solitary life disappears leaving her at the center of a war and so much more.

I love the world building in this one. The author brings the small town and Jasminda's farm to life, making it easy to soak in the sights and sounds. It's peaceful (at first) and clashes so well will the harsh prejudice Jasminda faces. Within a few pages, the author weaves in Jasminda's problems and gains immediate empathy for the character. Jasminda is a lovely girl, inside and out, and it's hard not to love her from the very first page.

The magic in this book was layered and complex. There's a little bit of background given, which unfolds more and more through Jasminda's visions and the people she meets. Still, I found this aspect a bit confusing at times, especially during the first half of the book. Still, the magic flows well and has a nice natural side, which fits well with Jasminda.

Fast-paced describes most of the read. The secrets and danger mount constantly as Jasminda's world and situation fluctuate constantly. It's hard to guess what will happen next. The evil is delightfully horrible, and the world around Jasminda is so uncertain that it's impossible for anything to settle into the realm of boring. She has so much to face, externally and inwardly. It's hard to put this book down.

The romance is strong and a vital part of the story. Unfortunately, being sold as a YA, it's too strong and, in my opinion, should be classified as a NA (over 18). The intimate scenes are very explicit and parents need to be aware of this. There is also a near rape scene which is also graphic. Other than this, the romance was a bit too quick for my taste and missed the necessary build-up and chemistry before diving into bed.

All in all, this is a nice read. The writing is beautiful, the tension kept high and Jasminda is an amazing character to root for until the end. It's a wonderful beginning to what appears to be a great series.

And here she is. . .

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of new adult, fantasy, and paranormal romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents: an eighty-pound lap dog and an aspiring feral cat.

Book Buzz. . .

"Wonderful characters, unique setting, and an engaging romance set against the backdrop of ancient magic. I can't wait to see what L. Penelope will do next."—Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Prepare to be hooked. SONG OF BLOOD & STONE is brimming with captivating lore, unique magic, and plot-turns you never saw coming. L. Penelope has written your next fantasy obsession." —Elise Kova, USA Today bestselling author of The Loom Saga

"Set against a backdrop of myth and magic, SONG OF BLOOD & STONE is a sweeping tale of love, duty and destiny that feels as urgent as it does timeless.” —Rebecca Roanhorse, author of TRAIL OF LIGHTNING

“SONG OF BLOOD & STONE is an enchanting journey through a world more relevant than ever. Wars between Gods, romance, action—it’s everything I love all at once.” —K Arsenault Rivera, author of THE TIGER’S DAUGHTER

"SONG OF BLOOD & STONE is a sweeping journey of magic, romance, sacrifice, and self-discovery. These heartwarming characters, their trials and adventures, and their love for each other will stay with you long after the book ends." —Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles

"SONG OF BLOOD & STONE is a thrilling and complex journey through a beautifully rendered world that is imaginative, magical, and eerily similar to our own. A terrific read!" —Daniel Jose Older, New York Times bestselling author

"Great characters, beautiful writing, incredible world building." —Ann Aguirre, New York Times bestselling author

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Review: Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan

IGNITE THE STARS

by Maura Milan

Albert Whitman & Company

YA Science Fiction

400 pages

COMING. . .

SEPTEMBER 4th, 2018!!!

Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia Cocha is a seventeen-year-old girl.

A criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her and her true identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity: by forcing her to serve them, they will prove that no one is beyond their control.

Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?

In this exhilarating edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure—perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles—debut author Maura Milan introduces our world to a thrilling new heroine.

MY TIDBITS

This is a space adventure packed with action, tension, mystery, intrigue and a main character who packs a huge punch. In other words, this was a thrill to read!

Ia Coche is the most feared name in the galaxy, one everyone knows and fears. When Ia Coche is finally captured, no one can believe the most dangerous rebel is a seventeen-year-old girl. The Commonwealth gives her two options: life-long sentence in a hellish prison or enrollment at the highly elicit Military Academy. When she walks into the academy, no one is ready for her, but then, she isn't there to deal with any of them. Determined to escape, she starts to work on a plan, but as the layers of intrigue behind her capture, and the real reason she's been enrolled into the school unfold, everything she ever believed comes into question. Still, she is Ia Coche, and all who stand against her will learn the real meaning of fear.

This book captures and shoots off with pure adventure into the stars. Ia Coche is a true space rogue and adventurer. She is tough and will not let anyone get in her way. Her past is violent, and she has tons of blood on her hands. But even in the first chapter it's clear, she's fighting a war for those who can't fight on their own. This lone hero against all odds makes her very easy to cheer for and like, although her personality definitely has its fill of rough edges.

While this story centers around Ia Coche, the other characters have their own personal tales, challenges, desires and obstacles. The books is written from several points of view, allowing each of these subplots to mold and develop as they carefully weave with Ia Coche's. There are characters to love, some to hate, and some who rock back and forth. It gives the story richness and depth, making each character grow on the reader along the way.

Action is key followed closely by intrigue. Ia Coche is a teenager placed in an academy, but this is not the average teenage drama tale. There are friendships, a very light dusting of something which might be considered romance, and rivalries, but this only helps to make the academy scene more realistic. Ia Coche's battle to discover her true enemies and uncover a web of intrigue, while fighting for her freedom remain at the center of the tale—bright and clear. There are emotional moments, ones which get under the skin and make Ia Coche and the others more realistic, but they perfectly balance with high tension and exciting scenes. There is never a boring or slow moment in these pages.

Summed up, this is a fantastic science fiction read with a heroine to root for. Friends of space adventure, tension, political intrigue, evil plots and a heroine to take on all of them, are going to enjoy this one from beginning to end.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Review: Ignite The Stars by Maura Milan

IGNITE THE STARS

by Maura Milan

Albert Whitman & Company

YA Science Fiction

400 pages

MY TIDBITS

Friday, March 23, 2018

Review: The Unsound Theory by Emilia Zeeland

THE UNSOUND THEORY

Star Academy, Book 1

by Emilia Zeeland

YA Science Fiction

251 pages

Yalena Russo, your STAR Academy invitation has arrived.

Unlike other teenagers across the near worlds, Yalena isn't space-crazed. But a surprise invitation to join the exclusive STAR Academy opens a window to her unknown origins, making her ponder… What if space is where she belongs?

Mystified by the leadership trio known as the O'Donnells, as well as the reason they brought her on board, Yalena stumbles onto an alarming secret. Pulled deeper into the mystery by the commander's son, she will find that some riddles can be hard to walk away from—especially if she is the one holding the answers.

Take a plunge into the not-so-near future, where travel is interplanetary, competition is a rush, and even the elite don't always play by the rules.

MY TIDBITS

This is a space adventure perfect for YA fans, who love a tough heroine, a little bit of drama, a touch of romance and a pinch of mystery and sense of rebellion.

Yalena has lived as the adopted daughter of an undercover cop, and thus, under the radar for most of her life. The story behind her original parents and why she was found alone in space, remains a mystery. When the most prestigious academy in the solar system chooses her to be in their next elite class of students, she's skeptical but takes the chance. Not only must she compete against the best, and most already much further than her, but she discovers that her entrance might not be so unexpected after all. When the commander's son drags her into a mystery bordering on conspiracy, life at the academy takes a drastic turn.

I picked this one up thanks to the intriguing blurb, and the book was even better than I thought. Yalena is a character with spunk but heart, a little uncertainty and a lot of determination. Her mysterious beginnings set a great stage for the plot and launch into space. But it isn't just Yalena which makes this such a grabbing tale.

The sub-characters are as necessary to this tale as Yalena. Each person has their own personality, talents, dark sides and personal issues. . .and each one is original and distinct. It was easy not only to care about Yalena, but for all of those around her. Or, in some cases, grow suspicious at their real motives. There's a bit of a high school drama feel, which fits the academy setting wonderfully, and it weaves around the much more serious problems and mystery without overpowering it. The relationships came across naturally, not always perfect and played the emotions to make sure this book wasn't easy to put down.

The first chapters set the scene and lay out the background information in a way that covers a lot of ground but still allows Yalena to grow into her new place in space. Although these first chapters weren't as gripping as the rest of the book tension wise, they were by no means overly slow or mundane and allowed the reader to to get to fall into the characters and world. When Yalena stumbles step by step into the problem, the tension, questions and decisions mount. Yalena is faced with some tough choices, ones which force her to go beyond her own comfort-zone if she wants to reach her goals. There's also a lot in the area of dealing with others, and balancing friendships along the way. Romance filters in here too, but it never competes with the main theme and rides more as a balance on the side.

The only problem I had with this book was toward the ending. Several explanations and thoughts were shoved together too fast in one 'solutions' scene, making it feel rushed. Also, a big revelation hit me as anything but convincing and the emotional reactions to it, because of this, also askew. If it hadn't been for this, this book would have gotten full points from me. It's an exciting read, easy to sink into, has characters to love or hate and pulls in with a great space adventure.

YA science fiction fans who love a little drama aren't going to want to miss this one.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Happy Book Birthday, First Life by Rose Garcia with Giveaway

FIRST LIFE

by Rose Garcia

YA Sci-Fi/Paranormal

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Dominique has survived the final attempt on her life only to discover that someone connected to her future will suffer her same fate. Determined to spare this innocent loved one from being hunted for lifetimes, Dominique and her remaining allies travel to first life with a mission to alter destiny. When Dominique and her companions arrive in the past, they are confronted with a reality they didn’t expect, and are shocked by a turn of events that threaten to change everything they know.

A continuation of the Final Life Series that starts where Final Death leaves off, First Life delivers heart-stopping action and gut-wrenching emotional turmoil. Be sure to read Final Life, Final Stand, and Final Death before delving into the unpredictable world of First Life.

Rose Garcia is a lawyer turned writer who’s always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, she often had her nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently she’s been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by her imagination, she created The Final Life Series—a Young Adult science fiction/fantasy series about people who have the ability to control the energy in and around them. Rose is known for bringing richly diverse characters to life as she draws from her own cultural experiences. Rose lives in Houston, Texas with her awesome husband and two amazing kids.
You can visit Rose at www.rosegarciabooks.com.