Blog Tour: Colonization Review

Colonization (Paradise Reclaimed #1) by Aubrie Dionne
★★★★☆
Release Date: 2012
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Age: YA
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Space, Futuristic
Format: ebook
Source: Inkspell Publishing
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Inkspell

Finding a new home has never been so dangerous.
Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer

assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.
But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius's ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to protect her new home. What she didn't expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

Colonization's cover was what completely drew me in to wanting to read this book, I did a cover reveal  for Inkspell back at the end of July (found here) and when I saw that there would be a blog tour for the book I was ecstatic!

Aubrie takes the best of both worlds when she creates a space book that scifi geeks like me will love, and crosses it with an adventure/finding oneself story that everyone in between will love (and I'm not even mentioning the love story that we all enjoy!). Set in deep space aboard a vessel heading for a new planet the story features a young set of characters growing up and taking control over their lives.

The romance in the story is very much a Hunger Games love triangle. You know exactly what I'm talking about. There's the best friend who you know would be more than that if it were possible and then there's this new flame that you feel guilty about rooting for then he happens to take over your heart. Yeah. It was pretty great. I have to say I'm still kind of team A but I'm learning to love team B (for both this book and THG). Aubrie creates just enough frustration and just enough long glances to satisfy but not over do it. Really enjoyed this aspect of the book and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

Our main character is Annie and she is pretty freaking cool. She begins as this against it all girl who in the beginning doesn't try real hard but ends up growing into the heroine of our story. Which is filled with some suspense and danger but she takes the risks and thinks of others before herself.

When the book started I immediately thought back to Across the Universe by Beth Revis. They talk about the generations aboard the ship, their jobs, the living quarters. It is all so cool, and I would absolutely love to get to be part of something like that, remember my previous comment; PURE SCIFI GEEK HERE FOLKS.

It's a great story and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

Giveaway

Inkspell has a fabulous giveaway for Colonization, find it here!

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The White Lilac Review

The White Lilac by Christina J. Adams
★★★★★
Release Date: February 2012
Age: YA
Genre: Dystopian, Futuristic, Adventure, Mystery, Science Fiction
Format: ebook
Source: Author
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Fifteen year old Caryn Tobin is willing to sacrifice her life to save the world, and to atone for her part in the death of a friend. Kai Garrett will risk everything to discover his past and why he was abandon. When their paths join, they form an unlikely friendship that could change everything. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

From the very beginning I knew I found a new favorite!

In this book, that made me think back to The Hunger Games but has a completely original premise and feel, Christina J. Adams kept me entranced and unbelievably hooked to a new story line and excellent plot! Sometimes science fiction books can be hard to reach, not this one! From the very beginning I knew I was going to love The White Lilac and I did. It was such an exciting and hard to put down read, I am very impressed with Christina and can't wait to read more from her!

The book alternates between Kai and Caryn's story, until they eventually cross paths. Both teenagers know what it's like to look out for themselves and grow up on their own. Their similarities end there; where Caryn is quite sheltered Kai knows what the world is like and has to live in it (and on its' streets). My favorite aspect of the book was wondering how these two completely different teenagers were linked, and that information shocked me.

Caryn has been genetically altered to be the best at what she does, and this earns her the title of The White Lilac when she enters a competition with others who are great. After the competition she is given a brief vacation before having to fulfill her duties as The White Lilac, which happens to completely open her eyes to the world around her; and she ultimately is then left to save the world she lives in (even if it means risking her own life). On her hiatus she learns valuable information, which causes her to question a lot of what she's always believed. She is left with a huge decision one that could change everything.

Caryn is a strong and able character, I absolutely loved reading about her. She personifies humanity and growth. I loved her fragile yet completely capable personality. She's thoughtful and different; a great heroine for such an extraordinary character well beyond her 15 years. I found hoping for a better outcome for her as she lived life to the fullest and took in new opportunities with bright eyes.

Kai was my favorite character from the book. He's a street urchin shrouded in mystery with an illusive and hidden past; Kai has been taking care of himself and knows nothing of his early years. When his life changes and he meets a dangerous man I felt bad for him. He has this amazing and quite sarcastic attitude that was such a contrast with the rest of the book. I found myself laughing and smiling more than once when he was on the page. But, then his luck changes and things look better for him after her meets Caryn. Their relationship begins as a companionship and is innocent enough until he finds himself worrying about her and gets involved in her future without even realizing it. Caryn and Kai have a friendship that builds throughout the book, it's fun and not at all forced. As they grow together their personalities really show. It's not a mushy love story but a beautiful one.

I was pleasantly surprised with the political aspects of the story. What began with an amazing beginning only got better as the book was revealed. It takes a sharp turn when Caryn is given the chance of a lifetime and an opportunity she never thought she'd have. But, that opportunity was just a set up; you have to read the book to find out more.

So, I loved the The White Lilac it is an excellent excellent read. It's unforgettable, original, intense, and will have you asking a million questions like, "What would you do?". The author creates a fantastic future world and worlds that are very imaginative and unbelievable. I love where she takes this story and the twists and turns and new information we learn throughout. Nothing is as it seems and I honestly can't complain about that or any part of the book (except maybe the cover, but that is just my opinion and does not in anyway reflect on the author; I just tend to judge a book by its' cover and all I'm saying is with this book don't!). I went into this story curious and by the end was completely satisfied! Make sure to check it out!

About the Author

Christina J. Adams finds inspiration in the green rolling hills and farmland surrounding her home in Maryland. She loves writing and reading books for children and teens and gets more excited about a new book coming out, from one of many favorite authors, that it’s probably not good for her health. She didn’t think being a writer was a serious profession until after high school, but has since decided it is the best career ever.

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer Review

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
★★★★★
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan: Feiwel & Friends
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction, Futuristic, Dystopian, Fantasy, Cyborgs
Format: e-book
Source: publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | B&N

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

I feel obligated to begin this review with one comment: Holy epic series starter. This book has been hyped up in the blogging community, and beyond, for a few months now and I'm excited to share my thoughts. Before I began reading Cinder I had seen various 5 star reviews and sometimes when there's this huge bubble surrounding a new book and author I end up being disappointed, Cinder proved that theory wrong. I will never look at a hyped up book the same way again, I will welcome it whole heartedly.

Cinderella is one of those stories that almost everyone knows. A version or retelling exists in most cultures, I know because I did a paper on it in college, and we all know how the story goes. That said, I think it's best to throw everything else you know about the old story away when you dive into this one, it is its own book filled with new and exciting characters that I absolutely adored. Cinder with her low self esteem, dreams, and hope for the future is a character a lot of people will fall in love with. And, I am happy to say that our story does have our prince charming, or more of a charming prince, but you have to read it to find out more about the other fantastic characters Marissa Meyer has dreamed up, including the wicked witch ;)

The very human story about the prejudices and injustices found on all levels of society, worked so well in this book. Judging, ridiculing, and looking down on others for various reasons is a topic that can be worked into so many daily lessons for not only kids but adults as well. I think Cinder would be an excellent book group book, there is so much between the pages to analyze, dissect and discuss. As a teacher I really appreciate a book that will make you think about things in a new way, and from a different angle, and this book is just an overall prime example of fluid discussion worthy text.

Marissa Meyer is my new hero, this woman (and her exquisite team at MacMillan) weaves a wonderful web of a story (it must be late, I'm resorting to alliteration). But, in all seriousness, it's true. This book flows beautifully and captures such intense subject matters such as plague, war, and death like no other author I've read.

The setting and very presence of this light retelling is captivating. I'd describe it as dark and damp with streams of light filtering in, a little thing I like to call hope, especially when times are rough. I loved everything about this book, and will could rave about it all night. This beginning to what is sure to be an amazing series will no doubt be something everyone will be talking about soon enough, and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

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