The Chaos of Stars: By Kiersten White

THE CHAOS OF STARS

SUMMARY

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

REVIEW

First off I’m a sucker for a book with myths and gods in it. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse, you name it. I don’t know why but I tend to have a soft spot for them. That’s not saying I will automatically love books that use these myths as building blocks or its gods as characters, all it’s saying is I usually am attracted to them and give them a little bit more patience when deciding if I liked them or not.

In this case I didn’t need the extra patience.

The Chaos of Stars is a great YA book. It’s much less a book about the gods and mystic abilities, as it is a story about the changes in family life when a newborn is on the way. The story centers on Isadora’s feelings of being shoved out of the family with the arrival of a new baby. On top of that are Isadora’s conflicting feelings of wanting to rebel from her mothers wishes and missing home. There is also a love story element that readers will enjoy and that helps move the story along, but the crux of the emotions being played out are ones of a typical teenager. What makes The Chaos of Stars interesting and different though are White’s creative background to the story, the fact that Isadora’s parents are not accountants and teachers but are instead actual Egyptian gods, Isis and Osiris, and that the reason they continue to have children is to continue there very existence, as their power and survival is based on belief in them. On top of that White has a fantastic writing style that will suck readers in from the first pages and keep them glued there until the last word.

All in all, White is fantastic at taking imaginative and intriguing worlds and telling a story based on normal teenager emotions that readers will relate to. She did a fantastic job in her Paranormalcy series and she again does a fantastic job of it here in the Chaos of Stars. If you’re looking for a book where you’ll relate to the characters and the emotions, yet want a bit of magic in the story, then this is the book for you

INFO

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: September 10, 2013

Price: $17.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Stars-Kiersten-White/dp/0062135929/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378906616&sr=1-1&keywords=the+chaos+of+stars

The Exodus Towers: By Jason Hough

THE EXODUS TOWERS

SUMMARY

The sudden appearance of a second space elevator in Brazil only deepens the mystery about the aliens who provided it: the Builders. Scavenger crew captain Skyler Luiken and brilliant scientist Dr. Tania Sharma have formed a colony around the new Elevator’s base, utilizing mobile towers to protect humans from the Builders’ plague. But they are soon under attack from a roving band of plague-immune soldiers. Cut off from the colony, Skyler must wage a one-man war against the new threat as well as murderous subhumans and thugs from Darwin—all while trying to solve the puzzle of the Builders’ master plan . . . before it’s too late for the last vestiges of humanity.

REVIEW

I think this could be one of my favorite new science fiction series.

The Exodus Towers takes place after the events of the Darwin Elevator and it doesn’t miss a beat before the action sets in. Between Tania dealing with the quickly shrinking supply of fresh air and water, Skyler barely avoiding getting killed by a psychotic group of immunes, to Sam having to survive and reorganize the Darwin underworld because a religious crime lord wants to make a power play and is holding her and Kelly hostage, Hough does a fantastic job of keeping the suspense and action going, no matter what part of the story readers are in.

And to top it all off these tense situations all the characters are in are only the starting points in this second installment of the Dire Earth series. Hough pushes the story along at a brisk pace, never allowing readers to get bored.

On top of that Hough has created a fantastic group of characters that readers will love. Skyler, Tania, Sam’s characters continue to get flushed out and get the limelight, even as new and surprising characters enter the story, including new immunes, old enemies, and shocking new friends.

All in all I loved The Exodus Towers. Between the nonstop action, the fantastic characters, and the heart stopping ending, not only will readers not be able to put this book down, but if this were the Dire Earth, then this series would be the thing people would pay through their teeth to get.

INFO

Publisher: Del Rey

Published: August 27, 2013

Price: $9.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Exodus-Towers-Dire-Earth-Cycle/dp/0345537149/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377588450&sr=1-1&keywords=the+exodus+towers

Chosen: By Benedict Jacka

CHOSEN

SUMMARY

Alex Verus is a diviner who can see probable futures—a talent that’s gotten him out of many a tough scrape. But this time, he may be in over his head. Alex was once apprenticed to a Dark mage, and in his service he did a lot of things he isn’t proud of.

As rumors swirl that his old master is coming back, Alex comes face to face with his misdeeds in the form of a young adept whose only goal is to get revenge. Alex has changed his life for the better, but he’s afraid of what his friends—including his apprentice, Luna—will think of his past. But if they’re going to put themselves at risk, they need to know exactly what kind of man they’re fighting for…

REVIEW

I really liked the first three books in the Alex Verus series. I thought they were full of action, had a great protagonist, and most importantly entertaining. But I have to say compared with this newest installment in the series, Chosen, the rest of the series were all flat and dull by comparison.

I don’t mean that to be an insult to the first three books, as I mentioned I really liked the Fated, Cursed, and Taken. What I mean by this is that that Chosen was just that good.

First off, Chosen has nonstop action going for it. We get to see Alex in action in what felt like every third chapter. On top of that we get to see Luna final strut her new magical skills and kick butt, heck even Sonder got into the fray a bit.

But what I found most impressive about Chosen was how well Benedict Jacka tied many of the events together from the previous three books and really started the larger story arc going. To get the larger story arc going Jacka introduces readers to Alex’s past. Readers are given the dirt on Alex’s dark roots as the events from his past come back to haunt him as a group of adepts attempt to hunt him down for the crimes he committed when he was younger. But most interesting about Alex’s roots are not that he has them, but in how his friends and others react to his past.

Of course on top of that Jacka also does a fantastic job of confounding the distinctions of dark mages and light mages as you get in the heads of some young dark mages (I wont say who because that would give it away) and you can see the reason they behave the way they do, as well as the corruption of the light mages through the Council.

All in all, I loved Chosen. It had action, a fantastic protagonist, was fast paced, and started a larger story arc going that left me craving more of the series. If you like urban fantasy or books that leave you eagerly awaiting the next in the series, then definitely check out Chosen.

INFO

Publisher: Ace

Published: August, 27, 2013

Price: $4.79

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Alex-Verus-Benedict-Jacka/dp/0425264920/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1377588063&sr=8-7&keywords=chosen

Terminated: By Rachel Caine

TERMINATED

SUMMARY

Already addicted to the pharmaceutical drug that keeps her body from decomposing, Bryn has to stop a secretive group of rich and powerful investors from eliminating the existing Returné addicts altogether. To ensure their plan to launch a new, military-grade strain of nanotech, the investors’ undead assassin—who just happens to be the ex-wife of Bryn’s lover Patrick—is on the hunt for anyone that stands in their way.

And while Bryn’s allies aren’t about to go down without a fight, the secret she’s been keeping threatens to put those closest to her in even more danger. Poised to become a monster that her own side—and her own lover—will have to trap and kill, Bryn needs to find the cure to have any hope of preserving the lives of her friends, and her own dwindling humanity…

REVIEW

When author Rachel Caine decides to do something, she does it with gusto. And that’s exactly what she’s done with her zombie series, The Revivalist.

In the first book in the series, Working Stiff, Caine introduced readers to her spin on the zombie novel. The premise: a pharmaceutical company created a drug that can bring people back from the dead… as long as the dead get their daily shots of the nanotech drug. The protagonist Bryn is infected (after she’s killed) and is forced to work for the company in order to get the nanotech drugs to keep her …undead. In the second book in the series, Two Weeks Notice, Bryn discovered the plot to use the drugs goes even further, including making a military version of the drug that supercharges the nanotech, allowing its users to become weapons that can’t be stopped or killed. Unfortunately this militarized version of the nanotech has a few side effects, including requiring high levels of meat on a pretty often basis, and the nanotech isn’t doesn’t discriminate where it’s from, even when it comes from humans, dead or alive. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, Bryn is infected with it.

Now, in Terminated Caine finishes her revivalist trilogy with a bang.

In Terminated Caine takes her already action packed series and ratchets it up a few dozen notches. Because Bryn is virtually unkillable, Caine tries to kill her in quite a few new and disturbing ways. Bryn is shot, burned, hit by a truck, beaten, and forced to dig through her own intestines. So if you’re the queasy sort, this book might be a bit much for you. But if you enjoy non-stop action and well placed tension, then I’d fully recommend this series.

Of course, Caine doesn’t just offer up blind action without also giving the readers some truly fascinating psychological drama as well. As Bryn’s condition continues to change, making her a threat to others, including her friends and lover, readers are given the chance to see inside Bryn’s head. Bryn’s inner struggle with what she is becoming and what she has done is really well done. Not only that but it is constantly shifting, and with the ever increasing timeline for the release of her nanotech, Caine does a fantastic job flushing it out.

All in all, I really liked this series and felt Caine did a great job with its ending. It’s very hard for authors to nail an ending, but Caine has done a fantastic job creating an ending that truly surprised me, while at the same time left me satisfied. If you’re looking for an interesting take on the zombie novel that has more action than you can shake a stick at, then look no further than Caine’s newest completed series, The Revivalist Series.

INFO

Publisher: Roc

Published: August 6, 2013

Price: $7.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Terminated-Revivalist-Novel-Rachel-Caine/dp/0451465156/ref=la_B001ILHJEA_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375891024&sr=1-9

Kill City Blues: By Richard Kadrey

KILL CITY BLUES

SUMMARY

Another day, another apocalypse.

James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, has managed to get out of Hell, renounce his title as the new Lucifer, and settle back into life in L.A. But he also lost the Qomrama Om Ya, an all-powerful weapon from the banished older gods. Older gods who are returning and searching for their lost power.

The hunt leads Stark to an abandoned shopping mall—a global shopping paradise infested with Lurkers and wretched bottom-feeding Sub Rosa families, squatters who have formed tight tribes to guard their tiny patches of retail wasteland. Somewhere in this kill zone is a dead man with the answers Stark needs. All Stark has to do is find the dead man, recover the artifact, and outwit and outrun the angry old gods—and natural-born killers—on his tail.

But not even Sandman Slim is infallible, and any mistakes will cost him dearly.

REVIEW

If you liked the previous Sandman Slim Books then you'll love Kill City Blues, it's as simple as that. 

Kill City Blues is dark, funny, and chalk full of kick butt action. Stark has a new mission in this installment in the series, find the Qomrama Om Ya and use it to stop the old gods from coming back and killing everyone and everything. This mission breaths new life into the series and revitalizes the energy of the story.

On top of that, readers will be pulled in from the first page and wont be able to put it down until the last. Kadrey writes some of the most disturbing and excellent action scenes out there and to say Kill City Blues is full of them is an understatement. 

Readers will enjoy seeing characters of all sorts from the previous books in the series make an appearance, and will be especially delighted to see Vidocq not have a sizable role again but also see him in action.

Really all that you need to know is that Kill City Blues is dark, disturbing, and full of action. This book is not for everyone but if you've read and liked the previous books in the series then this is definitely the book for you.

INFO

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Published: July 30, 2013

Price: $24.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Kill-City-Blues-Sandman-Novel/dp/0062094599/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1375200487&sr=8-1

The Darwin Elevator: By Jason Hough

THE DARWIN ELEVATOR

SUMMARY

In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet’s refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator—created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders—emits a plague-suppressing aura.

Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by an international crew of fellow “immunes,” he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura’s edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is tapped—along with the brilliant scientist, Dr. Tania Sharma—to solve the mystery of the failing alien technology and save the ragged remnants of humanity.

REVIEW

The Darwin Elevator is fantastic and Jason Hough is a talent to watch.

Does that have your attention? Well it should.

The Darwin Elevator is just plain fantastic. Not only is it filled with nonstop pulse pounding action, but Hough truly shocked me in some of the decisions he chose to pursue in the book. These decisions end up affecting the entire series in a very dramatic way, promising to leave readers in a constant state or excitement and anticipation.

Of course, not only is The Darwin Elevator filled with twists and surprises that will astonish and entrance readers, Hough also created a set of characters that are absolutely amazing. Obviously readers will love Skyler and Tania, as they’re strong protagonists who are just trying to make the best of a terrible situation. But Neal and Blackfield are also so wonderfully complex. They each have done enormous things, (some terrible, all with lasting effects) but each feels completely justified in their actions. And those are only the main characters. Sam, Kelly, Prumble and the rest of the crew are also fantastic, they are all three dimensional, unique, likable, and a lot of fun to read about.

As for the pacing, Hough does a fantastic job switching between story lines, perfectly timing it so that readers are constantly left on the edge of their seats.

All in all The Darwin Elevator is a fantastic book and Jason Hough has really outdone himself with his debut novel.  With plenty of shootouts, backstabbing, and explosions The Darwin Elevator is perfect for readers of science fiction, dystopian societies, or just someone looking for a really good action and adventure book.

INFO

Publisher: Del Rey

Published: July 30, 2013

Price: $9.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Darwin-Elevator-ebook/dp/B00BABT9VY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375196166&sr=1-1&keywords=the+darwin+elevator

Ex-Communication: By Peter Clines

EX-COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

In the years since the wave of living death swept the globe, St George and his fellow heroes haven’t just kept Los Angeles’ last humans alive—they’ve created a real community, a bustling town that’s spreading beyond its original walls and swelling with new refugees.

But now one of the heroes, perhaps the most powerful among them, seems to be losing his mind.  The implacable enemy known as Legion has found terrifying new ways of using zombies as pawns in his attacks.  And outside the Mount, something ancient and monstrous is hell-bent on revenge.

As Peter Clines weaves these elements together in yet another masterful, shocking climax, St. George, Stealth, Captain Freedom, and the rest of the heroes find that even in a city overrun by millions of ex-humans...

…there’s more than one way to come back from the dead.

REVIEW

So I don't usually like zombie books. I'll read them every now and then but usually I just find them off putting. 

That said, I loved Ex-Communications and the other Ex books in the series.

The author, Peter Clines, has taken a wonderful blend of superheroes put into an impossible situation (the end of the world), added in social elements for this situation (such as new religions that pop up and the problem of getting the people you're protecting to do what's best for them without being a dictator), and a touch of humor and funny pop references. 

But besides finding a truly fantastic recipe for a plot, he's also stuffed each of the Ex books (and especially Ex-Communications) with nonstop action and fantastic characters. In fact, these are not just one off books in which good guy battles zombie/monster, saves world, everyone's happy. These are complex characters who are at their core humans who are just trying to survive and adapt, whether that be from the problems outside (zombies and demons) or from their own internal turmoil from the decisions they have made and the people they have lost because of those decisions. Because of this each book in the series is somewhat different, with the characters building off of the ramifications of the previous books and shaping their characters. Personally I love this, I think it adds another dimension to the characters and to the book overall, allowing readers to become more invested with the characters with every page they read.

All in all I loved Ex-Communications. It's fast paced, full of action and battles, and has just enough humor to make you crack a smile. If you're looking for a book that will suck you in from page one and not let go until its over then look no further.

INFO

Publisher: Broadway Books

Published: July 9, 2013

Price: $14.00

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Ex-Communication-Novel-Peter-Clines/dp/0385346824/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373436678&sr=1-1&keywords=ex+communication