Red House Books is going through a bit of a update!
I've always had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted this space to be but I've been detoured from my path by...lots and lost of other people's opinions and ways of doing things...
I'm committed to this little chunk of the interweb but I've also branched out into other places so! Now it's time to think of Red House Books as more of a hub of all things me! And Me is a hell of a lot of book love!
Isn't it time you hit the stores and showed your bookshelves a little love?
If you only buy a few books this month,
I HIGHLY recommend these August releases :)
The Wednesday's by Julie Bourbeau Why I love it:
It's fun and quirky and exactly what a book aimed at middle grade readers should be in my opinion. At it's core it's a mystery story and the suspense was fantastic.
Skylark by Meagan Spooner Why I love it:
A dystopian world mixed with magic! The characters are awesome and the story line original. I had a hard time putting this one down as it was so easy to get completed immersed in the story. I seriously didn't want it to end and when it did I was a little shaken - in a good way. A perfect debut!
Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman Why I love it:
A true blow your mind completely away type of story - right up until the very end. The suspense was amazing and the thrill of it all made for a fast paced fantastic read. I have yet to be disappointed by Jessica and I'm eager to get my hands on all her books!
False Memory by Dan Krokos Why I love it:
I believe I've said this book was freaken awesome about a million times now - because it is! It's an out of this world yet right in your backyard type of story with a stellar cast of characters. An ending that leaves so much open to explore yet ties up a lot of loose ends very awesomely. Awesome awesome awesome! :)
"we are privy to seemingly whole chunks of information, only to realize later that they were really just crumbs"
Reading Level: Young Adult Publication Date: August 2012 Publisher: Hyperion Pages: 327 Series: 1st in a series Acquisition: I received a free ARC for review from at BEA 2012
Summary:
Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability.
Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't easy--especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a future.
Dan Krokos' debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series. (from Goodreads)
My thoughts:
Freaken awesome. False Memory is a truly unique story with a very full cast of characters that will leave you with more questions then answers. Reading this book was a full on adventure the likes of which I haven't come across in a very long time.
Nothing is as it seems. Everything is in question and Miranda has only her instinct and gut reactions to lead her through. With so many layers of mystery and deceit I was worried, at times, that the intricate storyline would confuse more then entertain. However, I had no reason to worry.
Krokos knows how to tell a story.
The driving force behind False Memory is it's characters. They live in our world but their lives are nothing like our own. Without a past, Miranda could be anyone. She's determined to find out what is happening to her but at the same time she knows that there is no going back. She has to move forward, making new memories and new decisions along the way.
Final verdict:
An absofreakenlutly fantastic story. I really loved how, as a reader, we are privy to seemingly whole chunks of information, only to realize later that they were really just crumbs.
The ending of this one is intense. There is still a lot Miranda doesn't know and there is a lot of story left to be told. At the same time, the ending was satisfying. While I'm extremely happy there will be a book 2, if there wasn't I wouldn’t be upset.
Having read an ARC, I'm looking forward to buying a finished copy for my shelves. As a debut, False Memory has left a mark and to say Krokos has left an impression on me would be an understatement.
Overall Rating:
5 / 5 Stars
Books in the Series:
#1 False Memory
#2 [Untitled] August 2013
