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.

Review: Vampire Academy

    
    

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy #1
Pages: 332

Publisher: Razorbill Penguin
Release Date: Released
Source: Bought
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #88

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I have heard nothing but good things from the Vampire Academy series and I figured 2012 was the time to jump on the band wagon. I have been hesitant due to the vampire subject matter. Paranormal, as many of you may know by now, is not a favourite of mine. However, I have found an area of paranormal that I do enjoy; paranormal novels set in a paranormal world rather than a hot mysterious guy being all "Let me suck your blood". It is much more interesting. Vampire Academy is a intricately created world with a lot of depth. 

I really admired Rose as a protagonist. She was strong, reckless but ultimately selfless. Her dedication to Lissa's safety was so admirable and their friendship was really touching. Despite the hierarchy in society between Moroi and Dhampir, they treat each other with mutual respect and kindness.

And let's get on to the important bit...guys. SWOON! A lot of sexy men about (and a fair share of jerks also). I loved both Dimitri and Christian. And Vampire Academy was a lot steamier than I expected. WIN!

I am so glad that I finally got around to starting the series and I can't wait to finish it. Read it, even if you aren't a huge vampire/ paranormal fan. You shan't regret it!

Review: What's Left of Me

    
    

Title: What's Left of Me
Author: Kat Zhang 

Series: The Hybrid Chronicles #1
Pages: 343

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 27th 2012
Source: For Review
Rating: 4 stars
100 Book challenge: #84

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

What's Left of Me is an extremely original read which is rather rare in the ever expanding dystopian genre. It poses a lot of ethical issues which I found to be very provoking. A refreshing debut novel in the sea of formulaic dystopians.

I thought the narrative from Eva - the trapped soul - was a really intriguing way of narrating the story. The distinct behaviour of Addie and Eva made it so easy to distinguish between the two despite them being in the same body. They has such different personalities and whilst I preferred Evie to begin with I began to understand and ultimately connect with Addie. The relationship between them was really touching and personal.

The actual concept of two souls residing in one body reminded me a lot of conjoined twins and whether it is right to kill off one twin in order to improve the life span of the other. The idea of sacrificing a child in order to prolong the life of an other, if both would result in an early death otherwise, is something that has, does and will happen and I can easily see how a society like this could have been formed. Books that pose such difficult ethical questions really resonate with me and I tend to hold on to them for a long while.

I am really looking forward to see how the series progresses and find out some answers to those many questions revealed in the first instalment.