Category Archives: YA

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

[Review] Until We End – Frankie Brown

Leave a comment

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

1 Comment

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 →

2013, Book Review, mystery, science-fiction, standalone, suspense, time travel, YA

[Review] Backward Glass – David Lomax

Leave a comment

Book Title:                       Backward Glass (Standalone)
Author:                              David Lomax
Number of pages:       315

Synopsis:david lomax - backward glass (cover)

Crack your head, knock you dead, then Prince Harming’s hunger’s fed.

It’s 1977, and Kenny Maxwell is dreading the move away from his friends. But then, behind the walls of his family’s new falling-apart Victorian home, he finds something incredible–a mummified baby and a note: “Help me make it not happen, Kenny. Help me stop him.”

Shortly afterwards, a beautiful girl named Luka shows up. She introduces Kenny to the backward glass, a mirror that allows them to travel through time. Meeting other “mirror kids” in the past and future is exciting, but there’s also danger. The urban legend of Prince Harming, who kidnaps and kills children, is true–and he’s hunting them. When Kenny gets stranded in the past, he must find the courage to answer a call for help, change the fate of a baby–and confront his own destiny.

(re: Goodreads @ Backward Glass by David Lomax)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • If time-travelling is your niche, this is a pretty stellar read.
  • A suspenseful, thought-provoking literary piece that will have you trying to fit the pieces of a puzzle.
  • Characters are generally relatable and can be rooted for.
  • Definite information overload (and voids) at times that with persistence will come full circle; hard work pays off.
Initial Thoughts:

What the (expletive goes here) am I reading?

That was me with this book. And by no means is this a bad thing. Nah. I was totally reeling in how intricate all the pieces ended up fitting together in this narrative. Everything was definitely thought through: from the nuances in dialogue to the historical inclusions (c’mon, this dude referenced Star Wars and Nintendo—so many feels, and yes I classify these as historical. Problem?). So for his debut novel (at least I think so) Backward Glass is great for all the right reasons.

Honestly though, I felt like I was reading some sci-fi mystery with tinges of Criminal Minds going on: having to profile the shit out of everyone and everything all for a long deceased baby. But wait, time traveling, changing history; all that good stuff to start the whirlwind of Kenny’s mission and by proxy the plot. So despite many aspects being cryptic and seemingly confusing at times, the journey was quite thought-provoking. But I’d like to think that it was value-added to the story telling so all my grief in note taking was well worth it.

Enough about the overall, let’s start with the basics:

The opening line in the synopsis is so eerie to me; it’s (another expletive goes here) children’s rhyme. That is just dandy. Imagine if you heard that while walking through a porcelain doll shop (in a child’s voice no less). I’d shit myself. The rest of the synopsis presented itself to me like the childhood television show: ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?” which is awesome in its own right. The spook and thrilling factor was enough to get me to pick this book up. And then it begins with a page of (time-travel) rules that provided no context but hit all the marks of intrigue and confusion that essentially pulls you right into this story.

It’s pretty difficult to review this novel without giving away too many spoilers, but I’ll try my best despite not having too many issues with this well crafted novel.

Let me elaborate on all of this:

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

Continue reading [Review] Backward Glass – David Lomax →