Category Archives: science-fiction

2014, adventure, Book Review, mystery, mythology, romance, science-fiction, series, steampunk, YA

[Review] Chasing the Star Garden – Melanie Karsak

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Book Title:                    Chasing The Star Garden
(The Airship Racing Chronicles Series #01)
Author:                           Melanie Karsak chasing the star garden cover
Number of pages:    325

Synopsis:

An opium-addicted beauty.
An infamous poet living in self-imposed exile.
An ancient treasure about to fall into the wrong hands.

Melanie Karsak’s Chasing the Star Garden takes readers on a thrilling adventure from the gritty opium dens of gaslamp London to the gem-colored waters of the ancient world. Lily Stargazer, a loveable but reckless airship racer with a famous lover and shattered past, reluctantly plunges into a centuries-old mystery in a romantic adventure best described as Dan Brown meets Mary Shelley.

It all begins on one of the worst days of Lily’s life. She just lost the London leg of the 1823 Airship Grand Prix. To top it off, a harlequin fleeing from constables shoved a kaleidoscope down her pants, told her to fly to Venice, then threw himself from her airship tower. What’s a girl to do? For Lily, the answer is easy: drink absinthe and smoke opium.

Lily’s lover, Lord Byron, encourages her to make the trip to Venice. Lily soon finds herself at the heart of an ancient mystery which has her running from her past and chasing true love and the stars along the way.

(re: Goodreads @ Chasing The Star Garden by Melanie Karsak)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • It’s like the Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones – a treasure-hunt of sorts on both tangible/intangible extremes.
  • Fancy steampunk? World building is superb and this is a fast-paced read that might fit your bill.
  • Anti-heroine is fleshed out well. She also inhales drugs and alcohol like oxygen. So that’s cool.
Initial Thoughts:

I don’t really understand the hype of steampunk or the vintage feel of steam-powered technology. I mean, I guess I can visualise the appeal others might have…but it just never did it for me. And then I was graced with this read; which I will say kind of changed my perception of steampunk. Not by much, but it’s a step in the right direction in discovering new things.

Let me throw down some concrete thoughts:

Disclaimer: Potential spoilers inherent to this review from here onward.

Continue reading [Review] Chasing the Star Garden – Melanie Karsak →

2013, action, Book Review, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, standalone, YA

[Review] Until We End – Frankie Brown

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Book Title:                       Until We End (Standalone)
Author:                               Frankie Brownbookcover-until-we-end-frankie-brown
Number of pages:       277

Synopsis:

It’s been nine months since the virus hit, killing almost everyone it touched. Seventeen-year-old Cora and her little brother, Coby, haven’t left home since. Not after the power cut out; not even after sirens faded in the distance and the world outside their backyard fence fell silent. But when a blistering drought forces Cora to go in search of water, she discovers that the post-apocalyptic world isn’t as deserted as she thought when she meets Brooks, a drop-dead sexy army deserter.It’s been nine months since the

Fighting their way back home, Cora finds her house ransacked and Coby missing – kidnapped by the military for dangerous medical experiments in the name of finding a cure. Brooks knows exactly where Cora can find her brother, except he says it’s a suicide mission. Cora doesn’t care. But Brooks can’t let her go…

(re: Goodreads @ Until We End by Frankie Brown)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • Biological warfare? Probably in the near future.
  • There is finesse in the world building in tight and expansive areas.
  • Easily relatable heroine who delivers a palpable sense of urgency in plotting.
  • Interactions between characters are lighthearted but rooted in seriousness.
Initial Thoughts:

Not a social butterfly? Not a problem! For a simple fee of a widespread virus, you too can stay at home for nine months post-outbreak and live off of canned rations and decaying greenhouse produce.

This was another quick read selected due to its similarity with The Fifth Wave (you can read about my review for it here). I wasn’t particularly crazy about the cover design but the first bit of the synopsis hit the mark for me – can’t help but enjoy a quick, post-apocalyptic read.

But if there is a lesson that I’m reminded of during this read, it’s that skepticism in literary comprehension will go a long way in the enjoyment of the outcome. For better or worse, you decide.

Let’s (out)break into the review.

Disclaimer: Potential spoilers inherent to this review from here onward.

Continue reading [Review] Until We End – Frankie Brown →

2013, action, Book Review, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, romance, science-fiction, series, YA

[Review] Sunset Rising – S.M. McEachern

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Book Title:                      Sunset Rising (Sunset Rising Series #01)
Author:                             S.M. McEachern
Number of pages:      325

Synopsis:

s.m. mceachern - sunset rising (cover)

February 2024: Desperate to find refuge from the nuclear storm, a group of civilians discover a secret government bio-dome. Greeted by a hail of bullets and told to turn back, the frantic refugees stand their ground and are grudgingly permitted entry. But the price of admission is high.

283 years later… Sunny O’Donnell is a seventeen-year-old slave who has never seen the sun. She was born in the Pit, a subterranean extension of the bio-dome. Though life had never been easy, lately it had become a nightmare. Her mom was killed in the annual Cull, and her dad thought it was a good time to give up on life. Reyes Crowe, her long-time boyfriend, was pressuring her to get married, even though it would mean abandoning her father.

She didn’t think things could get any worse until she was forced upstairs to the Dome to be a servant-girl at a bachelor party. That’s where she met Leisel Holt, the president’s daughter, and her fiancé, Jack Kenner.

Now Sunny is wanted for treason. If they catch her, she’ll be executed.

She thought Leisel’s betrayal was the end. But it was just the beginning.

(re: Goodreads @ Sunset Rising by S.M. McEachern)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • A fast-paced action filled read based on tyranny versus revolution.
  • Strong heroine/protagonist and charming/witty male lead; prototypical YA romance.
  • Typical, mundane tasks made interesting and given life.
  • Interesting world building that’s seemingly larger than what it seems.
Initial Thoughts:

I finished this in about a half day so I guess you could say I couldn’t put this book down. It wasn’t a mind blowing or intensely thought provoking experience, and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting that. I was looking for an action driven dystopian narrative with a respectable plot and I think I got just that.

And like many books within this particular subgenre, it really is best to go in with an open mind and not make comparisons to its existing predecessors. But if you’re one to judge like that then consider this: if you’re to take elements from currently trending YA dystopian series (I won’t name them, but you can take a guess) and they all created a love child then this would be one of their offspring. But hey, remember a lot of formula goes into writing narratives within this subgenre as well so it’s not all too surprising.

The cover is nice and the synopsis does enough to bring you into the book. I’ll tangent further into this in the review itself.

Disclaimer: Potential spoilers inherent to this review from here onward.

Continue reading [Review] Sunset Rising – S.M. McEachern →