Waiting on Wednesday - 147

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for bloggers and readers to see what new books are coming out soon.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. (from GoodReads)

I think Lauren Oliver is a fantastic writer, so of course I'm going to read everything she publishes. It doesn't hurt that this book sounds so interesting! I'm so curious as to what "Panic" is! Panic will be released March 4, 2014.

Top Ten Tuesday - 92

Top Ten Tuesday was started by The Broke and the Bookish for bloggers who like to make lists about books.

Top Ten Words/Topics That Make Me Not Pick Up a Book

1. High Fantasy - I'm really not a big fantasy person, but if it's done right I love it (aka Harry Potter). So the plot has to sound extremely intriguing for me to pick up a book that's set in an alternate world.

2. Poetry/Verse - I don't like poetry that much so when a book is written in verse I definitely shy away from it. I have read some great novels written in this style but it's still something I avoid.

3. Non-Fiction - I just really enjoy reading fiction and have no interest in non-fiction most of the time.

4. Religion - I'm not a religious person so I'm not looking for a book to preach to me. There are books that deal with religion in an intelligent manner that I love (The Opposite of Hallelujah and A Prayer For Owen Meany come to mind) but as a whole I don't like this topic. 

5. Self-Harm - Not really a fan of reading about depressing parts of the human psyche and this one is hard to read about. I just want to help the character!

6. Sexual Abuse - Same as the above, too depressing to read about.

7. For Fans of Twilight - If it's like Twilight then I'm probably not going to like it.

8. Eating Disorders - Another "issue" but this one hits close to home for my family and I so I don't need to read about it too.

9. Drug Abuse - Ok, I ran out of ideas so I'm listing all of the ills in our society. I like my books to be happy!

10. Instant love/connection - I absolutely hate "instalove" and when a relationship is not developed. I'm sorry you don't love this character after seeing them for the first time.

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Summary:
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again. (from GoodReads)

Review:
So obviously everyone (including myself) is going to compare Hysteria with Megan Miranda's first novel, Fracture. They both have similar tones, feature the paranormal, and involve death. It's hard to say which one I liked more because both have their flaws, but I can say that I enjoyed reading Hysteria.

Since the two books are so similar, I have to do a small comparison. My main issue with Fracture (which I really liked), was that there was too much going on and not enough space for all the subplots to be developed and resolved. That problem isn't as prevalent in Hysteria because the author has cut down on the extra subplots. Even so, there are still a few storylines running throughout the novel: the flashbacks to before, during and after the homicide; the person who is following/harassing Mallory; her relationship with Reid; and the conflict between Mallory, Jason and Krista. Hopefully by the next book we can have a story with only one or two subplots! Even with all that was going on, the book was paced pretty evenly and the flashbacks were definitely appropriate. The death of Brian was so mysterious and I really wanted to know more. How could a sixteen-year-old stab someone in her own house? Was that really her only option? I'm still not sure of the answer.

Megan Miranda does a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere in both her books. I can't even imagine living in the house where I killed someone and I got the chills every time the author described the kitchen where the incident occurred. Even when Mallory leaves for boarding school, the feeling that something is watching her continues and Miranda effectively conveys the unease that Mallory frequently experiences. Weird things happen to Mallory, like a bruise on her shoulder in the shape of hand and you don't know if it's real or in her mind.

I seriously couldn't put this down because I wanted to know who was harassing Mallory. Was it Brian's ghost from beyond the grave? Or something more human? I think readers will be satisfied by the answer.

Overall I really enjoyed Hysteria and can't see what other creepy things Megan Miranda is going to write about next.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Walker Childrens/336 pages.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Summary:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I have been waiting so long to read The Selection and I'm glad I finally got the chance to. Seriously, I've wanted to read this since before it was published in April 2012! Now there's another book already out and I think it's been optioned for a tv show? Someone update me!

Anyway, I actually really enjoyed The Selection. If you look on GoodReads, there are a ton of reviews that list the flaws of this book. There are actually quite a few, including the ridiculous names of the characters (Aspen? Maxon? America??) The history behind the creation of Illea wasn't explained very well along with the reasoning behind our country returning to a monarchy. Is it possible to start a monarchy when you have no actual royal family? Wouldn't the royal family want to marry their son to girl from another country for an alliance instead of to a "commoner"?

However, if you suspend your disbelief, you can still be entertained by The Selection. It reminded me a lot of both The Bachelor and The Hunger Games, though it seemed like a ripoff of the latter. They even have all the girls go through interviews with a host who is identical to Caesar Flickerman. Seeing the girls interact with each other and the prince was very interesting, but I especially liked the relationship between Maxon and America. I was rooting for him to pick her obviously.

The conflict in the story is that America is in love with a boy from a caste below her so she can never marry him. Even though she's part of the Selection, she still pines for Aspen so naturally we have a love triangle. I personally prefer America with Maxon, but I can see why some people might like Aspen better.

I had trouble putting this book down because I wanted to see what happened with the contest and if America would ever develop feelings for Maxon. Unfortunately I have to wait until I read The Elite to figure out what happens!

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/HarperTeen/339 pages.

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Summary:
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME. (from GoodReads)

Review:
Ah, another trilogy comes to a close. Luckily for these books, Shades of Earth (the last one) was definitely the best. While I enjoyed the other novels, I was drawn into Shades of Earth in a way that I hadn't before. I think it was the fact that the characters were actually on a new planet and that was very interesting.

Whenever I read books that take place on spaceships (which isn't really that many), I always feel super claustrophobic. No matter what was going on on Earth, I probably wouldn't want to escape it to live in Space. However, in Shades of Earth, the characters land on Centauri-Earth and the feeling of claustrophobia disappears. The new planet is pretty similar to Earth and it has to be so that humans can function but there are different plants and animals. It felt like a ghost town in that there was a human colony there previously and they left behind some buildings. So spooky.

Even moreso than the previous novels, Shades of Earth is a mystery, which I loved. Who is systematically killing off members of the crew? What secrets is Amy's dad keeping? Are there humans or aliens on the new planet? I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know the answers to all these questions. Even so, the twists weren't really that surprising to me - I pretty much guessed all of them, but that usually happens to me.

As always, Elder is the interesting character to read about. Not that I don't love Amy, but as the leader of the ship born people, Elder has a more important role. He has to spar with Amy's dad, who is the military leader of the Cryos and he holds his own as a leader. The relationship between Amy and Elder develops nicely and isn't prone to the instalove that many YA books have.

One thing that annoyed me was Amy saying the first moon landing was in the 1950s. Um, no, it was 1969. Also what happened to the gorgeous colorful covers of the first two books?? I'm seriously disappointed in that change. Regardless, I still enjoyed this trilogy and think Shades of Earth was an amazing conclusion.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2013/Razorbill/369 pages.

Waiting on Wednesday - 146

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine for bloggers and readers to see what new books will be released soon.

Dangerous by Shannon Hale

Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There's no going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and annihilation.

From NY Times bestselling author Shannon Hale comes a novel that asks, How far would you go to save the ones you love? And how far would you go to save everyone else? (from GoodReads)

I absolutely love Shannon Hale and can't wait to see what she does with a thriller! Dangerous will be released April 1, 2014.

Top Ten Tuesday - 91

Top Ten Tuesday was started by The Broke and the Bookish for bloggers who like to make lists about books.

Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition

1. Deb Caletti - She is definitely my favorite YA contemporary author. She has a ton of books but all are fantastic and so thought-provoking. I feel like more people should be reading and talking about Deb Caletti!

2. Leila Sales - Leila only has two books out right now but both are wonderful and hilarious. I could read Mostly Good Girls over and over again. Good thing I own the book!

3. Carrie Ryan - Carrie Ryan introduced me to the zombie genre, which I now love. I'm even a fan of The Walking Dead.

4. Kimberly Derting - Her Body Finder series is seriously creepy and super suspenseful but I still love it!

5. Lois Duncan - Her books are older (70s and 80s) but they are so spooky and great thrillers. My friend has just decided to reread all of them and I kinda want to join her!

6. John Corey Whaley - He probably shouldn't be on the list because he won an award for his first novel Where Things Come Back (an amazing story) but it doesn't seem like many bloggers have read it yet. Get on it people!

7. Anna Jarzab - Her two published books couldn't be more different but both are page-turners.

8. Courtney Allison Moulton - The Angelfire Trilogy is one of my favorites and great mix of fantasy and romance. I can't wait to read more by her!

9. Ally Carter - Ally has a few series but I love Heist Society and think it should be recognized more!

10. Amanda Cockrell - She wrote the book with the best title ever: What We Keep is Not Always What Will Stay. It was a good book too and now I want to reread it!