Review: Vortex by Julie Cross

     
    

Title: Vortex
Author: Julie Cross

Series: Tempest #2
Pages: 435

Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: 3rd January 2013
Source: For review
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #11

Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, all that changes when Holly—the girl he altered history to save—re-enters his life. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents find themselves under attack and on the run.

I really enjoyed Tempest, the first book, and whilst I feel Vortex wasn't quite as good I did still really enjoy it.

Vortex deals with the aftermath of Jackson's sacrifice to protect Holly. It was really heartbreaking to read about, especially as Holly is reintroduced into the plot. Cross convincingly dealt with Jackson's mixed emotions and conflict Jackson felt towards Holly, toying between doing what he thought was right and what he really wanted. As the story progressed the line between right and wrong merged.

There were lots of shocking revelation in Vortex that I wasn't expecting. I was definitely surprised by the plot twists and I don't think I saw any of them coming. It was really refreshing to be surprised in a book instead of being able to see the plot twist from a mile away.

The same issues I had with Tempest were present in Vortex. Vortex is a 435 page book which I have no problem with (I've read books with higher page counts) but you can really feel it. It does feel very dense and heavy and I struggled reading it for a long time. It is definitely YA but it has a very adult feel to it in its heaviness. The heaviness is also probably in connection with the confusion I feel when reading the series. The time travel aspect gets fairly convoluted and I do struggle to follow. At time I do just skim over the details, only focusing on the essential aspects to the time travel.

Despite a few negative I do enjoy this series and if you like sci-fi and time travel with a fairly contemporary feel that I would recommend this series.

Reading Resolutions

I am a bit late doing this but I really wanted to share my reading and blogging resolutions with you.

Reading Resolutions

1. Read 75 books. I am hoping I will be able to read 100 but I will be happy with 75 this year.
2. Get my TBR pile at home down to 250 books. I'm at about 300 so I would like to read or get rid of at least 50 books.
3. Not buying any books this year. My TBR, as you can see, is far too huge and I feel awful for neglecting my books I bought. 
4.I will only read review books and books that I own so no borrowing books!
5. A slight exception the rule above. My boyfriend and I are at different universities at the moment so we thought it would be fun to choose a book a month to both read and then talk about it. I will probably be borrowing a few books for this as we don't have massively similar tastes in books.

Blogging Resolutions

1. Blog twice a week. I will be posting mostly reviews as my time is limited and these are what I would prefer to post.
2. Write reviews of books fairly shortly after I read them, within a few days.
3. Connect more with people on twitter and blogs. I have really missed the book community!

So these are my resolutions. What are yours for 2013?

Review: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

     

    

Title: Level 2
Author: Lenore Appelhans

Series: The Memory Chronicles #1
Pages: 320

Publisher: Usborne
Release Date: 15th January 2013
Source: For review
Rating: 3.5 stars
100 Book challenge: #4

"I pause to look around the hive – all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories… I’ve wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me." 

Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in Level 2, the waiting room between Earth and Heaven, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend…and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her…

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing in Level 2, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves. A choice that will change everything…

Level 2 is a really interesting, unique look at the afterlife and religion in general which I really enjoyed.

Right from the get go, Level 2 is extremely fast paced. It completely sucks you in and I was flying through it. I felt the pace lagged a little for about 50 pages at the 60% mark but it definitely picked up again at the end.

I liked how Felicia is such a flawed character. She is by no means perfect and despite disagreeing with some of her actions you could see her remorse which still allowed me to connect with her. Through the use of flashbacks (which I loved! It was done so well here) you could see her past mistakes and as she reflected on them you could see such growth.

The love triangle didn't feel too much like a love triangle for me. Julian didn't even feel like a contestant in the game as it didn't even seem like Felicia had conflicting feelings over who she liked. It was clear it was Neil that she loved and through that he was the one I was rooting for. He is a bit sickly sweet but I felt he was extremely sweet and likeable. Julian, though I didn't find him to be a huge part in the love triangle, was an enjoyable character to read about and I did really like him.

The religious aspect was really thought-provoking. Neil is very religious which is where some of the religion in the book comes in but the whole idea of Level 2 being the middle ground between Heaven and Earth brought about some interesting ideas.

The reason for docking off half a star is the pacing in the middle. The fact that there was a lag and I did struggle to make it through a chapter in one sitting meant that it wasn't quite four stars for me.

If you are looking for something unique and interesting then I would recommend Level 2. It is an intriuging look at the afterlife, religion and death.

I'm Back...

Hello :) Long time no see. This is just a quick hello to let you know I am still alive and I'm still blogging, I just needed a break and there will be a post up on Monday so look out for that!

Happy reading!!!

Review: Breathe

      

    

Title: Breathe
Author: Sarah Crossan

Series: Breathe #1
Pages: 384

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: Released
Source: For review
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #92

When oxygen levels plunge in a treeless world, a state lottery decides which lucky few will live inside the Pod. Everyone else will slowly suffocate. Years after the Switch, life inside the Pod has moved on. A poor Auxiliary class cannot afford the oxygen tax which supplies extra air for running, dancing and sports. The rich Premiums, by contrast, are healthy and strong. Anyone who opposes the regime is labelled a terrorist and ejected from the Pod to die. Sixteen-year-old Alina is part of the secret resistance, but when a mission goes wrong she is forced to escape from the Pod. With only two days of oxygen in her tank, she too faces the terrifying prospect of death by suffocation. Her only hope is to find the mythical Grove, a small enclave of trees protected by a hardcore band of rebels. Does it even exist, and if so, what or who are they protecting the trees from? A dystopian thriller about courage and freedom, with a love story at its heart.

Breathe is a really interesting concept that doesn't feel quite so far away as it should. I read Crossan's debut novel, written in verse, which I really enjoyed but I had hesitations about how a novel written in such a different format to her first would resonate with me. I needn't have worried as I ended up really enjoying Breathe.

The novel is narrated by three characters; Bea, Alina and Quinn. All the voices were distinct and I found it easy to recognise the narrator by the style of their chapter. It really allowed the story to have greater depth. Bea was, and still is, my favourite character but I grew to love the three protagonists as well as the secondary characters.

I thought the world building was well described and allowed a good visualisation of the desolate expanse that surrounded the domes. Crossan also thoroughly explored the reasons behind this dystopian world opposed to the reader having to just accept that this is the way things are.

Ultimately Breathe is a good dystopian that may not rise above all other dystopians but it certainly stands it own and shouldn't be dismissed. If dystopian is something you enjoy please give this a read.

Review: Frostbite

      

    

Title: Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy #2
Pages: 327

Publisher: Razorbill Penguin
Release Date: Released
Source: Bought
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #89

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose... 

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. 

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

*There may be spoilers of the first novel in the Vampire Academy series*

The first book in the Vampire Academy series involves a lot of world building to set the scene for the rest of the series and the pace definitely picks up in Frostbite. It feels a lot darker but still has all the fun that was in the first book.

I really really liked Rose in 'Frostbite'. She went through a lot of character development and matures but still doesn't lose those moments of reckless and immaturity that naturally comes with being a teenager. There is also an introduction to new characters, the most prominent being Adrian and Rose's mother. It was really interesting to see Rose's relationship with her mother and see how it developed throughout the book. Adrian...hmm. Not a fan. I think he's a bit creepy.

The plot is super fast-paced and really draws you into the story. The story starts with a Strigoi attack and that really sets the tone for the rest of the novel. The novel definitely is a lot more serious and less light-hearted than the first novel but it feels like a natural progression and there are lighter moments to provide relief.

A wonderful addition the series and I cannot wait to continue.

Review: How To Save a Life

    
    

Title: How To Save a Life
Author: Sara Zarr

Series: None
Pages: 411

Publisher: Usborne
Release Date: September 1st 2012 (UK)
Source: Bought
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #90

Jill's life lost all meaning when her dad died. Friends, boyfriend, college – nothing matters any more. Then her mom drops a bombshell: she's going to adopt a baby.

Mandy is desperate for her life to change. Seventeen, pregnant and leaving home, she is sure of only one thing – her baby must never have a life like hers, whatever it takes.

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn both how to hold on and how to let go, finding that nothing is as easy - or as difficult - as it seems.

'How to Save a Life' and I got off on a rocky start. I liked Jill well enough but Mandy just seemed like an absolute psycho. She is awkward and inappropriate when talking to people and I just had a feeling I wouldn't get on with the book because of that. However, as the book goes on I began to fall harder for it and ended up being really moved by it.

It is not a plot driven novel by any stretch of the imagination. It is about growth, change and acceptance. It is about moving forward. Zarr crafts her characters beautifully, all of them feeling unqiue, realistic and purposeful. No character seemed like they were there simply to be there. It was characters that inched the plot forward and it was really beautiful to watch.

The characters are the true heroes of this novel. They were all beautifully flawed and beautifully vulnerable. Ravi and Dylan, two secondary characters, played a huge part in the novel and neither were perfect yet because of this, they were. I left the novel feeling like I knew these characters and wanted to know them more.

The writing is very poetic and flows very nicely. It is definitely easy to read which, when a novel isn't driven by plot, is very important. There is such a softness in this novel which I can't describe in any other way. It feels delicate, like it needs to be handled carefully.

The outcome of the novel didn't truly surprise me but it was still very interesting to watch unfold and see the progression up to that point. If you enjoy novels about characters and growth and moving forward then this is something you will probably enjoy. It really touched me.