Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

"Tumbling down a deep rabbit hole - fast and uncontrollable - that's how I felt reading The Darkest Mind."

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: December 2012
Pages: 496
Series: #1
Format: ARC
Acquisition: received at BEA 2012

Synopsis:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

(from Goodreads)

Overall Feelings:
A little underwhelmed by the details but very satisfied with the results.

My Thoughts:
Something is happening to the world's children. Something that causes the adult population to react in pretty terrifying ways. It was this dramatic and extreme reaction that I had a problem with at first. Without having a firm background on what exactly was happening, it seemed really out of place.

The world in which Ruby finds herself in is in chaos and if I understand things correctly, it all has to do with the breakdown of our government due to a lack of funding. So, in 5 or 6 years time, almost all of America's children are either dead, in camps, or roaming the decaying urban landscape of what was once a fully functioning society. This dystopian aspect didn't quite fit together as neatly as I would have liked with what I knew about Ruby and her background.

Tumbling down a deep rabbit hole - fast and uncontrollable - that's how I felt reading The Darkest Mind. It was hard telling which way was up and there was nothing to hold on to. Everything in this world is unpredictable. It's a harsh and crewel and Ruby is right in the middle of it all.

Have to say though, I found myself routing for Ruby from the very start. The world she lives in, I did have a few issues with, but I was on her side 100%. Wanting to know what happened to her was a strong driving force that very much helped move the story along.

Will I continue the series?:
Yes! There is too much left unanswered and I really want to know what happens to Ruby.

Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

The Darkest Minds Series:
#1 The Darkest Minds
#2 Untitled (2013)
#3 Untitled (2014)

Book Review: Altered by Jennifer Rush

**2013 Debut Author**

"I knew Altered was going to be different right from the start"

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: January 2013
Pages: 336
Series: #1
Format: ARC
Acquisition: received a copy at BEA 2012

Summary:

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

(from Goodreads)

Overall Feelings:
Satisfied - no overwhelming feelings but extremely happy with everything overall.

My Thoughts:
Might be lame but if I had to put a label on Altered I would have to say it was well rounded. Not in a boring way mind you but more in a I got everything I was looking for kind of way.

Told from the perspective of Anna, a 18 year old who lives a very secluded life with her father in rural NY, I knew Altered was going to be different right from the start. The fact that Anna as 4 extremely hot and possibly dangerous boys hidden away in a secret lab in her basement was my first clue. Didn't really need any more after that :)

What transpires for Anna is a somewhat unbelievable and at times terrifying adventure. Honestly, if you really wanted to nit pick, the beyond belief overwhelms the thrills but I think Jennifer found really interesting ways to bring it all together.

Anna herself wasn't a character I warmed up to easily. A little too much swooning and Sam, in my opinion wasn't really worth it but again - her actions and personality match up so even if I couldn't really connect with her I understood why she did and said the things she did.

So really, overall? A pretty enjoyable read.

Will I Continue the Series?:
Yes.
Although I think Altered works really well as a stand a lone, I'm interested in where Jennifer will take her characters next. I will for sure be picking up the next book.

Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Book Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos

***2012 Debut Author*** "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

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound

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