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Tour, Book Review & Guest Post: The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson




Title: The Wolves of Winter

Author: Tyrell Johnson

Published: January 2nd, 2018 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Rating: ★★★★

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this ARC by the publisher, reviewing it as an impartial review. This does not sway my opinion of the book. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.


Station Eleven meets The Hunger Games in this ruthless, captivating story of a young woman’s survival in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon after the rest of the world has collapsed.
As the old world dies, we all must choose to become predators. Or become prey.
The old world has been ravaged by war and disease, and as far as Lynn McBride is concerned, her family could be the last one left on earth. For seven years, the McBrides have eked out a meagre existence in the still, white wilderness of the Yukon. But this is not living. This is survival on the brink.
Into this fragile community walk new threats, including the enigmatic fugitive, Jax, who holds secrets about the past and, possibly, keys to a better future. And then there’s Immunity, the pre‑war organization that was supposed to save humankind from the flu. They’re still out there, enforcing order and conducting experiments—but is their work for the good of humankind or is something much more sinister at play? In the face of almost certain extinction, Lynn and her family must learn to hunt as a pack or die alone in the cold.
Breakout debut novelist Tyrell Johnson weaves a captivating tale of humanity stretched far beyond its breaking point, of family and the bonds of love forged when everything else is lost. Reminiscent of Station Eleven and The Hunger Games, this is a classic and enthralling post‑apocalyptic adventure and a celebration of the human spirit.

First Thoughts…

I was really keen on looking for something that would kick-start a little bit of “Winter” feels on my blog, and when The Wolves of Winter came into my life with thanks to Nina (PR extraordinaire) I was over the moon! It’s totally up my street for genre types and with that gritty kind of dystopian edge, I just knew I had to read it.

My Review…

In the world that The Wolves of Winter takes place in, it’s truly and utterly grim. The old world has died, bringing a savage and unnerving spin on a dystopian landscape. The old world was destroyed by “the flu” and the war of disease, bringing civilization to a standstill of localized panic and shadow existence. Lynn is worried that her family, the McBrides, could possibly be the last ones left on Earth. They’re alone in the whited-out wilderness in Yukon, surviving, not truly living. 
But then Jax arrives. He’s injected into their small community, a fugitive with secrets close to his chest. He knows things that Lynn finds buried into the past and their future civilization as they know it, like how there is still humankind out there controlling the world with a sly hand, supposed to be saving the people from extinction. The organisation was supposed to save them all, but still, they’re trapped. Fighting every day through more discoveries, like wolves, hunting or becoming the hunted by dying in the coldest way.
This story just entirely blew me away with a bitter frost that swept me into a whirlwind gripping novel about identity, a strong female lead and a dystopian land so uniquely built that it never failed to surprise me with the turns it took. Tyrell has written something so brilliantly gritty-meets-gleaming, alike The Hunger Games type of feels, but if it were a frozen tundra. 
Overall, I loved The Wolves of Winter. Although sometimes I got lost in the history and trying to remember the vast detail of the world, it was still one of the most incredible dystopia’s I’ve read in such a long time. It’s almost made me want to dive into more (if it were a series) and get stuck into loving another dystopian series like Divergent and CO. It swept me away, and I just *know* so many people are going to devour this book like me. Amazing four star read!
My name is Tyrell Johnson and I am a writer and editor. I received my MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California Riverside where I studied fiction and poetry. I’m passionate about the outdoors and can often be found on the mountain with my Siberian Husky, or on my mother-in-law’s ranch feeding her horses and a donkey named Jim. Originally from Bellingham Washington, I now live in Kelowna, BC, with my family. The Wolves of Winter is my debut novel.



WHY THE WORLD NEEDS MORE HEROINES
Before writing my novel, The Wolves of Winter, I remember going to the dog park to walk my dog with my then-3-year-old daughter, Finnley. The park is a nice open area: there’s a big field for the dogs to run and a path that takes you down a small embankment right beside the lake. We had just gone down the hill, my dog, a Siberian husky, was splashing in the freezing fall waters when I looked up at the clear sky. It was late morning, but above us was the moon, full as ever.
“Finnley,” I said, pointing. “Look at the moon.”
She lifted her blonde little head, smiled wide, and immediately started running away from the path, into the bushes.
“Come on, Dad!” she yelled.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
And with the excitement only a child can have, she replied: “The moon!”
Every child’s imagination is a wondrous thing that needs to be carefully fostered and encouraged, and reading is one of the best outlets for it. While this is true for both boys and girls, the male hero has dominated literature for the past, I dunno, forever years. And with all that’s going on in our political/social environment today, it’s prime time for the heroine to dominate the spotlight. Here’s a few reasons why:
  1. EMPOWERMENT
Little girls need to know that they can do anything. From an early age, there’s a belief that the world is a large, magnificent thing full of wonder and possibility. As we get older, real life, responsibility, and societal pressures tend to shrink the world into orderly tasks. We lose that sense of immeasurable opportunity. In our history, this is especially true for young women, who’ve had to learn very quickly that their place was either in the kitchen or at the receptionist’s desk, working for men, who, by some God-given right, were smarter and more powerful than them. Obviously, this is both untrue and a horrible mistake. Thankfully, much of the world has realized that. In the developing world, we’ve seen the stats proving that when women are educated, whole families, whole communities thrive. In essence, when women succeed, everyone succeeds! Therefore, more little girls need to find themselves in the books they’re reading. They need to see heroines doing heroic deeds and know that the whole wide world is open to them.
  1. BOYS TOO!
While it’s crucial for girls to see heroines taking charge in fiction, it’s vital for boys as well. Boys should grow up viewing women as just as heroic, just as capable as themselves. From an early age, we need to put men and women on an even playing field so that neither learn to think they’re better than the other. Basically, it comes down to this: if we’re going to change the way women are viewed and respected in our culture, we need to change the way our young boys view our young girls.
  1. THE TIME IS RIGHT!
While we’ve made large strides in the past years, our world is still largely run by men—in business and politics—and women are often still praised for their beauty rather than their capability. But with the world taking notice of the power of women, now, more than ever, we need to create more heroines in our fiction in order to foster our girls’ imaginations and show them that anything is possible. There’s never been a better time than now!
In the end, it was for these reasons that I wrote my own female protagonist in my novel, The Wolves of Winter. I wanted my son to grow up seeing men and women on an even playing field. I wanted my daughter to have more women to root for in fiction. I wanted her to find herself in a book and know that she is strong, powerful, and can do absolutely anything—even fly to the moon.



You can buy THE WOLVES OF WINTER here:

Amazon | Book Depository 


Have you read The Wolves of Winter? Are you into Winter-scape reads?


Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Book Review: Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad #1) by Scott Reintgen (Spoiler-Free)

THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER FREE.


Title: Nyxia

Author: Scott Reintgen

Published: September 21st, 2017

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I was sent this book for review. As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Every life has a price in Scott Reintgen pulse-pounding new sci-fi adventure, Nyxia, as a group of teens are taken to the far reaches of the universe and forced to decide what they’re willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune.


Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.


Forever.


Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden-a planet that Babel has kept hidden-where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe.


But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human.

First Thoughts

Nyxia has been on my radar for a long time. It’s genre has increasingly become more frequent on my bookshelves and with my huge love for the 100, this looked like it could fill that void in my bookish heart after finishing the series so far. When I was given the oppertunity to read NYXIA (thank you, Beth!), I jumped at it, obviously. And I even have a code for you guys to use for money off Little Wren UK – an Etsy store with the cutest designs! Check out the bottom of this post for all the info you’ll need for that!


My Review

Emmett Atwater is given the chance he could only dream of in this near-future dystopian masterpiece. Along with nine others, he’s given the opportunity by the Babel Corporation to compete against each other to get to Eden – a new Planet; a place that only eight of them can make it through to. But Emmett knows that something about it doesn’t feel right and doesn’t sit well with him. The other recruits aren’t wealthy, either, and they want this just as much. Still, he knows that if he doesn’t win, his life won’t improve. He wants to save his Mother’s life and get back on the right track. But as he becomes close to the other recruits and feelings get tethered, along with suspicions about Babel, Emmett isn’t so certain anymore. 

One thing is for certain with NYXIA, and that is that it’s life changing. It’s got this certain thing that just makes it so likeable and I couldn’t put it down. There’s the huge diversity which is a huge plus for me because it’s about time that there was. Another, is that all the characters had functional and meaningful places in the novel and they didn’t just feel like secondary characters. I could bond with them, and Emmett, in the same way that you like to when reading a book. 

Overall, NYXIA is a must-read for fans of the 100, The Hunger Games, and Science-Fiction lovers. I cannot wait for the next novel, Scott. It was unpredictable (in the best way), brilliantly paced, had characters that were flawed (and showed their true strengths and weaknesses) and made me turn pages fast and root for them. It had me totally fixated on the inner workings of the bigger picture, also. I dare you to not be a fan of Nyxia by the time you’re finished. Huge five stars!

Rating & Recs

For fans of Dystopia, Science-Fiction and Fantasy!




DISCOUNT TIME

Pretty Little Memoirs readers and NYXIA fans! The discount code for Little Wren is: LWNYXIA10. and it’s  valid for 10% off everything in the shop with orders over £10 and it’s valid till the end of October. Perfect to pick up a few new things for yourself or for someone you love for Christmas!


Have you read Nyxia?


Let me know what you thought in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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Book Review & Giveaway: “Mind Games” by Teri Terry (Closed)

*NO SPOILERS REVIEW*


Title: Mind Games

Author: Teri Terry

Published: March 5th, 2015

Publisher: Orchard Books (Hachette)

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this for review from Hachette Children’s Books for review. As always, my reviews are fair and un-bias.


Luna is a no-hoper with a secret: in a world of illusion, she can see what is real. But can she see the truth before it is too late?

Luna has always been able to exist in virtual and real worlds at the same time, a secret she is warned to keep. She hides her ability by being a Refuser: excluded by choice from the virtual spheres others inhabit. But when she is singled out for testing, she can’t hide any longer.

The safest thing to do would be to fail, to go back to a dead-end life, no future. But Luna is starting to hope for something better, and hope is a dangerous thing.

Teri Terry’s known for her multi award winning series Slated (that is waiting on my shelf to be read ASAP!) that sucked me right in with a synopsis of a girl called Kyla who’s memory has been erased as well as her personality and past memories, basically being “Slated” and started fresh. So I had high expectations that whatever Teri came up with next would be a huge hit with me. 
Luna, our main character, is a Refuser – someone who refuses to be virtual and wants to live life the “old school” way. In the world she exists in, she can live in virtual worlds and real worlds at the same time, something similar to the others who can live in a virtual world, although they would be existing in one at a time and on a life support type of device whilst they were. Virtually, they could potentially live forever if they wanted to. Because Luna is different, she has to hide her secret. I found this was a little like Divergent when Tris found out she could control the simulations. Although it wasn’t exactly the same, this drew me in a little further because I loved Divergent and the whole “fantasy” within Dystopia and worlds that exist virtually or in our minds. 
But then Luna is singled out. They want her for testing and suddenly she can’t hide behind being a Refuser anymore. She’s thrown into the spotlight and her secret of knowing what is real in a world built with delusions is on the verge of being tested. My favourite part of Mind Games were the actual mind games. The things about the story-world and characters that threw me and made me want to explore more into the inquisitive and brilliant world Teri had built. I loved the character of Luna and how her development throughout the book grew into a clear favourite of mine. Surprise villains, races against the clock and games, games, games, Mind Games will make you question what’s real and isn’t, throw you into a world of utter magnificence and creativity and you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the end in hope – and hope is a dangerous thing for Luna. 
Mind Games is one of the best books I’ve read this year and if the synopsis alone doesn’t make you want to run out and read it then I don’t know what will. If you loved Divergent and The Murder Complex, you’ll love Mind Games without a doubt.
     

Like I said above, fans of Divergent will read this like there’s no tomorrow. 


Teri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England at more addresses than she can count, acquiring three degrees, a selection of passports and a silly name along the way. 
Past careers have included scientist, lawyer, optometrist, and, in England, various jobs in schools, libraries and an audiobook charity. 
The footpaths and canal ways of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns where she now lives inspired much of the setting of Slated. She hates broccoli, likes cats, and has finally worked out what she wants to do when she grows up.

To celebrate the release of MIND GAMES, one lucky Pretty Little Memoirs blog reader will win the very book I’ve just read (and loved) for themselves thanks to bookswithbite.co.uk!
UK residents, this giveaway is for you! (Sorry rest-of-the-world, but I have some awesome giveaways coming up for you soon.)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 What did you think of Mind Games?

Is Slated on your TBR or have you read more of Teri’s books?

Let me know in the comments!

happy reading!
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Book Review: “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown

Title: Red Rising

Author: Pierce Brown 
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopia/Fantasy
Release Date: September 25th, 2014
Published by: Hodder & Stoughton 


I received this from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. 

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. 

 Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. 
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow– and Reds like him– are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’ s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’ s ruling class. 
There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

This book definitely intrigued me right from it’s synopsis. I’m a HUGE dystopian fan, so I’m always looking out for new ones in the genre – and Red Rising looked like it fitted everything I look for in my dystopia literature.
Dystopian books seem to be literally everywhere at the moment with all the success of YA books turned-to-film like Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and Divergent, and I won’t be the only one to say how I would immediately go and see Red Rising on the big screen. 
Darrow, our main character, is a Red, a helldiver – an extremely dangerous type of miner on Mars, unlike the Golds, who are better than them in the society. He married his childhood sweetheart at sixteen and like all the Reds around him, he works everyday, making the surface of Mars ready for the future population to live on. He does this because ultimately, he knows it will someday benefit his future children and not just his future family, but others. It’s not long before he finds out that everything he knows – and everyone around him – has been a massive lie. Mars is already habitable and has been for a very long time. Now, he is thrust into being the one to save the Reds – he must become the best Gold he can, whilst pervading their system. He has to be the best he can be – better than all the rest – to attack them from the inside of their own region. But the Golds are lethal, treacherous people, who kill or be killed.
Red Rising is a thrilling ride of dark, gritty and remarkable characters and plot. Pierce Brown has created a dystopian world full of phenomenal twists and a roller-coaster of betrayal and a mystic, enigmatic tale. He created a magnificent hero of Darrow, a character that just joined my top favourites in a series – competition for Katniss and Tris!
Overall, Red Rising is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner – they would join the already growing fans of the series and tear them from the shelves. This is definitely going to be the next big thing in YA literature!



The quote that stuck with me was definitely:

“Love and war are two different battlefields.” 

Fans of YA and Adult dystopia and fantasy. If you’ve finished The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner, PICK THIS UP! 

Have you read Red Rising?


What did you think?


Tell me in the comments, on twitter or by using the hashtag #RedRising

happy reading!

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Book Review: “Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi {a.k.a. one of the best books EVER.}


Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Author: Tahereh Mafi 
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopia
Release Date: November 15th, 2011
Other Books by Author: Unravel Me, Destroy Me, Ignite Me 
Published by: Harper 
Purchase at: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

I bought this book myself! As always, my reviews and opinions are completely my own and not bias in any way.


Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

As soon as I finished the Divergent series in October/November time, I was looking for a new Dystopian series to sink my teeth into. I heard literally so many amazing things about Shatter Me on Instagram and Twitter, where the series had a huge following, so I picked it up easily, knowing it was quite clearly loved everywhere. 

There are so many pretty incredible things about Shatter Me that would take up pages and pages of writing and adoration complete amazement for the characters and I won’t even be able to describe how much I loved Tahereh’s writing style, so I thought that I would sum them up with a three main things that I loved about the plot, to start; 
Juliette and Adam – I love how Tahereh made their relationship based on a previous meeting in their earlier childhoods, because when they reconnected and when they talked, I could really tell that they really knew each other like an old friend. Not to mention how protective they both are of each other. Juliette is such a gentle, caring person, but when it comes to Adam, she will fight to the death. She broke through a wall to save him, because she loves him and that really did show.
Juliette and Warner – Okay, I’m not even sure why they worked, but they just did. From early on, I could tell in little flickers of information that Warner held a candle for Juliette, but as soon as I knew she could touch him, like Adam, I was like; I knew it! They weren’t “right” for each other. Juliette was kept in an Asylum that Warner was kind of in charge of, and instead of letting her go or even caring more, he kept her and wanted to use her as a weapon, and still, when that incident happened near the end of the book with Warner and Juliette, for a moment, they were “right” for each other. And then, if you read the book, YOU know what happened to him. 
And Omega Point – this place baffles me so much. I was so glad that a place like that existed, but never in my wildest dreams of reading this book did I imagine what happened within those Rebel walls that it contained people with those sorts of abilities. So, that element was a HUGE surprise for me. 

Juliette was such a strong person on the inside (and out), that her narration, even when she was feeling vulnerable and weak, lit up the pages like fireflies. I couldn’t really compare Juliette’s narration to anything I’ve read before, but she had a very bold personality alike Tris (from Divergent), that ultimately made me hooked and commanded to continue reading constantly. 
Adam, who I was certain I might hate after the first few chapters in the Asylum with Juliette, turned out to be my second favourite character of the book. I’m definitely hoping that him and Juliette do get a chance at things in book two (no spoilers please!) because they did have something I just can’t explain that was just, to put it simply; beautiful. 
As for Warner, he was in my opinion, a broken person. I think that he had been through a lot that we haven’t maybe seen yet and that he did have some sort of fascination with Juliette that came across in two different ways in alternate chapters; strange and adoring. It was nice getting to have a peak into his imagination in the back of Shatter Me with the journal/log entries. I do really want to see his character explored a little more and yes, even though I am team Juliette/Adam for now, I want to see how things with him and Juliette would’ve played out. 
Kenji! He was quite the character. He reminded me a lot of Patch from Hush, Hush, just because of his charisma and how I can imagine him making a joke of everything, not forgetting that he hit on Juliette multiple times with Adam around, and would risk her deadly touch. He was just a real fun character to have as a sort-of sidekick and the ending chapters for me when a secret of his was revealed, I was totally taken aback! In a really good way. 

I can’t put into words how brilliant enchantingly phenomenal Shatter Me truly is. I can’t wait to start Unravel Me as soon as I can, but will say that even after that last page was closed, I’m still thinking about it! Tahereh really does know how to write a story to get hooked on. Time to join the fandom for this one, I guess! Big fan. 




Have you read Shatter Me?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!

happy reading!
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Book Review: “The Only Boy” by Jordan Locke




Title: The Only Boy

Author: Jordan Locke
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian
Release Date: December 17th, 2013
Published by: CreateSpace 



With thanks to Jordan for the copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.



Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. 
She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch’s senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out. 
Taylor’s got a dangerous secret: he’s a boy. His compound’s been destroyed, and he’s been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he’ll be exiled. Maybe even executed.

Mary’s never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn’t suspect Taylor’s secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. 

Then again, she might be frightened to death of him.

Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound’s boundaries.

 

 I’m actually so happy that Jordan contacted me about The Only Boy, because it is exactly what I was needing. I hadn’t heard of The Only Boy before I read it, but there were a few reviews (highly praising) so I went in with a good image of what I thought it would be like. And I love the cover. It looks very fitting to the dystopian image. 


 The premise of The Only Boy was pretty explanatory. We did delve into the storyline right away, but by the middle I was absorbed until the end in just one weekend of reading. I felt that I could understand how it would feel that Mary and Taylor were watched by the Matriarch all the time with every move they made. It was definitely spot-on for a dystopian world and the society was a very original idea that I loved. 


 Immediately, we are thrown into the mix of the story in the alternate POV’s of Mary and Taylor. Personally, I felt more compatible reading Mary’s point of view, maybe because her voice just sounded better in my head than Taylor’s, or maybe because I resonated with her as a girl. But nevertheless, with the alternative POV’s weaving quick from one to the other, sometimes I felt a little lost because of that quick-moving point of view, but because it was passed faster than usual, I did like that I didn’t miss out on any of the action. 


 Mary, our lead female role, is stuck in Section One, surrounded by hundreds of women in a hospital, but being cooped up didn’t stop her mind from drifting. I would describe her state of mind as very “wanderer” as in she was very interested in the times that had passed and liked to think of a time when things weren’t so strict and controlled by the Matriarch. Whereas Taylor holds a very harmful secret that could get him exiled, even killed, that he was a boy in a compound where they aren’t permitted. And after having a connection with Mary, risking breaking the rules would mean being away from her. So does his other choice; running. So there are a lot of reasons why nothing goes smooth sailing for them.
Together, I thought they were pretty much right for each other. By the Epilogue, I was so captivated by their amazing journey and story. I was happy and sad; happy that things were good for them being with each other, but sad that the story was over. It was a bittersweet feeling.  


I was pleasantly surprised and caught up in the twists and turns that The Only Boy took me on. It was unique in it’s society and rules, engrossing in it’s words and throughout; amazing. For fans of Dystopia and Post Apocalyptic books, this would be a perfect fit. 



Have you read “The Only Boy“?


What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading!
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Book Review: “Pawn” (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimée Carter



Title: Pawn  (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1)

Author: Aimée Carter
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian
Release Date: January 3rd, 2014

Other Books by Author: The Goddess Test (The Goddess Test #1),  Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test #2)

Published by: Mira Ink


With thanks to Mira Ink for the eBook galley copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

Are you more than the number on the back of your neck? 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There’s only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered. The same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. 
Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that’s not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she’s only beginning to understand.

I have been dying to get my hands on Pawn for quite some time. Dystopian novels are very rarely dull for me, and I get on with them like a house on fire. So I was super happy when I got a Galley from Mira Ink to read Pawn and all it’s enthralling enticements!

Pawn will always be a favourite of mine – the first book I read of 2014, too! Not to mention in just a few days I read it all (and insomnia-fueled nights…). 

I was surprised with every new turn of events and it wasn’t at all predictable or similar to anything out there…

It’s so clear to me that my favourite thing about Pawn is it’s unique telling of Dystopia at it’s best. The futuristic United States was so believable and well-detailed that it truly seemed like that could actually exist. As with all Dystopian novels, there is something that makes that world different to our own present day one, and Aimée Carter’s novel focuses more on the Society and Political aspects, where you’re given a number from a test on your 17th birthday. 5 or over is really good, 2 and 3 are ordinary, and 1 is…well, one. 
Kitty, our narrator, get’s offered a seven, which means that she would have to become a different person all together. She would be Masked. She would become Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece who died suspiciously. Kitty would have everything rich and famous, not to mention loved and above all, she would be at the top of Society and not looked down on by the higher ranks as a three. 
I was drawn into Pawn and couldn’t take my eyes away. I’ve read many Dystopian novels over this past year (and the rest, ha ha) but this one was special. Not only did it make me envious that this wasn’t my book, but it made me think about the plot and mystery even when I had put the book down and the last pages were read. 
That’s what I call a five-star read. A game changer. 

Kitty was the lead character and of course I liked her best. She was smart, wise and headstrong, all the best things we like in our lead heroines. Even when she was Lila, she was still the Kitty we loved at heart. Seeing her personality stay the same was one of my favourite parts of the transformation between Kitty and Lila. How often can you actually get to walk in someone else’s shoes? It’s such an original plot. 
Aside from being newly rich and loved, Kitty still had a boyfriend; Benji. He was sweet and so loyal to her. Even when she had to let him go and leave him behind, they were reunited soon after and I was pleasantly surprised that the romance in the book was very subtle and didn’t divide the Dystopian setting. Just a hint of romance. 
Though, Lila had a fiancé, which meant Kitty now had a fiancé. And his name was Knox. There was some unmissable chemistry between him and Kitty, that I wasn’t sure would possibly develop into something else…but I’m hoping for Kitty and Benji, because they were the sweetest. I can’t wait to see what happens with these characters and the rest when the series continues! Definitely one to watch. 

This is an unmissable, stunning dystopian novel with the unique and unpredictable aspects that everyone loves.  In a league of it’s own, truly.

Recommendations: for anyone who loves YA Dystopia or Post-Apocalyptic novels will love this. If you’re looking for your first dystopian read, then Pawn is also a great starting point and will set a huge bar that so many can’t beat. If you’re a fan of Aimée’s other novels and love her writing style, then you’ll definitely want this one on your shelf!


Have you read “Pawn“?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading!
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Review: “Allegiant” by Veronica Roth {SPOILER VERSION}

*Spoiler Version – to see the spoiler-free version, click here. *





Title: Allegiant (Divergent, #3)
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian
Release Date: October 22nd, 2013

Other Books by Author: Divergent, Insurgent, Free Four, The Initiate, The Transfer, The Traitor 

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books (USA) Harper Collins, (UK)


I bought this book myself. As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.




The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. 

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

 I’ve loved Divergent and Insurgent and so reading Allegiant was ultimately always going to happen. I started reading this a few weeks after it’s release date (*it was spoiler-central everywhere in October and most of November*) because I wanted to wait until everything online had died down. And also because I was reading a few things at that time, so when I finally picked it up…there were a lot of thoughts to process!

*Another warning: this WILL be a spoiler version! If you haven’t read Allegiant, please click > here < to read the non-spoiler version*


I had read a few spoilers online but didn’t take anything into consideration when I started reading Allegiant. I wanted to read it for myself and not take anyone else’s word for it, although I did see that Veronica had to explain the ending because of some really bad reactions to the conclusion, so I ultimately knew something bad had upset some of the fans at the ending of the series. That being said, this is Veronica’s series and I’m 100% sure she wouldn’t just be reckless with characters for effect unless it was her initial plan all along, so I didn’t take that to heart, even though it maybe would come as a shock if a favourite character of mine had died or something. 

 My favourite book from the series (even after reading all three, now) would be Divergent. It was the book that made me fall for the series, so it will always be my number one. And although Insurgent packed a punch with it’s action-packed plot and discoveries, Allegiant will be my second favourite. I was so excited when they left the confinement of Chicago and went to the Fringe. It wasn’t just exciting for the characters, but because this was a revelation; they had no idea that the world just didn’t work like that. Seeing the characters also out of their comfort zone was intriguing, like Tris on the aeroplane or Christina and Uriah’s new found friendship. 
I was so intrigued in the concept of Natalie, Tris’s mother, having come from the Fringe and been sent into the city posing as a Dauntless to save Divergent’s lives, because the system was stopping them from living. Then she quit her mission, sort of, by stopping full communication with the outsiders, because she fell in love with Tris’s father. But she never stopped fighting for the lives of the Divergent. She was brave, too.
Tobias’s mother, Evelyn, was initially the enemy, but I’m glad that when things wrapped up, that that relationship could be repaired. Mended, you could say. I’m also so happy that Tris forgave Caleb. I know all the things he did in Insurgent and betraying her in Divergent, were really terrible, but knowing that she would die for him, *which she…did* meant so much for their brother/sister bond. 
Then there was Tobias being lead astray by Nita. I knew right away that she wasn’t a very reliable character when she asked him to hide things from Tris. And what happened with the explosion and trauma at the Fringe was just to prove all the trouble she had roped Tobias into. It not only put Uriah into a coma, but it destroyed Tris and Tobias’s relationship for the most of the middle of the novel. I was really pleased that they patched things up and were stronger than ever at the end, because of the inevitable. 
But the highlight of the novel for me would always be how Tris changed Chicago, and more, with her legacy. She helped the Divergent. She stopped wars. In her sixteen years, she did so much to help others and risked her life for them every time she took her bravery to the next level. She will always be one of the best characters I’ve ever read about and it was truly amazing to have read her story.

 Tris was…herself. Brave, selfless, hasty and curious. She had changed a little from Insurgent, because I think seeing outside of Chicago had changed her. She could see growing up somewhere else, and a new beginning. But she put all that aside to save the people she loved, most importantly Tobias, and her brother Caleb. I was distraught when she died toward the end. Seeing the way Tobias, Caleb and Christina were afterwards was so heartbreaking. Tobias had lost the last person he could trust and the love of his life, Caleb had betrayed a sister that he loved and just barely got his forgiveness, and Christina had lost her last best friend. But what came of this was a new-found friendship for Tobias and Christina, and that was really amazing to see. 
Having the split point-of-view’s was interesting. There was a slight distinction between the two voices but I can understand how some people say they sound alike. But Tris and Tobias were a lot alike, so that’s how I understood it. It was definitely great to see how Tris through someone else’s eyes. One of my favourite quotes that Tobias said about Tris was in a short chapter towards the end about when he first saw her jump first in Divergent. About how her eyes were so stern, so insistent. Beautiful. THAT was a tear-worthy chapter. 
I was so sad to see Tori die so early on, even after her brother wasn’t dead after all, and he was safe inside the Fringe. It was devastating, alike Uriah dying and seeing Zeke and Hana say goodbye to him. The, well, I guess it was a sort of farewell to Tris, on the zip-line when Tobias faces his fear to spread her ashes…that was *beautiful*. 
And when Tris is dying, that moment when she sees her Mom…I was just so happy and sad, simultaneously. She had finally finished what her mother had started, saved so many lives and the city. She had been the bravest, most selfless of all.  Another cry-worthy scene. 


This finale to the Divergent series was incredible. I cried, I laughed, I smiled. There was so much going on and a lot to take in inside one book, but it was entirely worth the ending for Tris to have this massive legacy and to have read this journey. Of course, everyone would say if they could change the deaths of the characters, they would, but I think they made the book what it is. You can’t have all these brave people risking their lives in a city in ruins and not have any of them die. It’s unrealistic. So, thank you; Veronica. For making this book real, amazing and without a doubt the book of the year. 
*See below to check out what I listened to when I read Allegiant!*



Have you read Allegiant?

What did you think? 

Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading…and BE BRAVE.
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Waiting on Wednesday: “The Wicked We Have Done” (Chaos Theory #1) by Sarah Harian

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that shines a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. 





Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice.

If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent.


Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random.


She doesn’t plan on making friends.


She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either.

Expected publication: March 18th 2014 by Penguin/InterMix Books

How amazing does this sound?! It’s got that dystopia element that I love, a touch of romance and what looks like a hectic mix of adventure and thrills to rope me in. 

Count me in for waiting on this one!


Are you waiting on “The Wicked We Have Done”, like me?


If not, what are YOU waiting on? Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on Twitter!

 

happy reading!

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Book Review: “Aberrant” by Ruth Silver

  

Title: Aberrant (#1)

Author: Ruth Silver
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian
Release Date:  September 23rd 2013
Published by: Patchwork Press
With thanks to Patchwork Press for the eBook galley copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.


AUTHOR SITE | TWITTER  | GOODREADS

In the future dystopian
society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers
its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for
everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question,
including the government’s match in marriage and “The Day of the
Chosen”, a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children
as natural means hasn’t existed in generations. Following her eighteenth
birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood
best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment
and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she’s arrested and
thrown in prison. 
The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is
unlike the rest of the world born not from “The Day of the Chosen.” The
truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one
simple fact would destroy the perfect system.

With Joshua’s
help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together
they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and
new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they
reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in
order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large
expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts
an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a
world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

Unique dystopian premises always catch my eye and Aberrant sounded like mix between The Hunger Games and maybe with a dash of Divergent in there somewhere with the whole “perfect system” element, so I was super eager to read this.

 The world that Ruth Silver created in Aberrant had me hooked instantly. 
The beginning was a very light and steady introduction to the dystopian world, the characters; Olivia; the main character and Joshua; her childhood best friend and future “match” to be married to when she turned eighteen. But unknown to her, Olivia isn’t like the others and is quickly thrown in jail for being brought into the world differently to everyone else and not from the Day of the Chosen. Joshua soon helps her escape and together they go on the run for answers and seek refuge in a new beginning together. 
The rules in each town, like Haven and Cabal alike, are very different. So when Olivia and Joshua reach the town of Haven, the system is quite different to get used to and to stay, they have to adapt to this new way. But they are forced to stay knowing that the government is plotting to destroy her and then her secret and Olivia will be gone forever, so you’ll see just why Aberrant is so addictive once you know how these surprising elements keep creeping up and mixing up the appeal with every new unveiling.

I can’t imagine living in a world where everything is selected for me; like absolutely everything–things that make us individuals. It was believable and unpredictable, fast-paced and enthralling in addition. There was strength in the core of the plot, with it’s captivating premise and overall package of promise and connectivity to the characters was great, too.

 Olivia was the main character in Aberrant, and although the story is very much about her and how this secret of who she truly is being released into the public knowledge, I couldn’t connect with her fully. I was still mesmerized by the plot and it’s structure, and although Olivia was a perplex and interesting character, on a level of 1 to 10 I probably connected with her around a 6, which is still understanding her to some level. Nevertheless, her and Joshua were a great team of characters that I felt is quite rare to read of in a book.

 Overall, Aberrant is a quick-paced and surprising novel for fans of all the best Dystopia out there at the moment, including Ally Condie and Suzanne Collins. I was very impressed and loved reading Aberrant. It was one of those books that is just really easy to get into and leaves you with a feeling that you’ve read an amazing story at the end. 
Loved it.

 

Have you read Aberrant?

What did you think? 
Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading!
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Book Review: “Insurgent” by Veronica Roth

 

Title: Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult – Dystopian
Release Date:  May 1st, 2012
Published by: Katherine Tegen for Harper Collins Children’s

With thanks to HarperCollins Children’s books for the eBook copy of this novel! As always, my reviews are non-bias and fair.

AUTHOR SITE | TWITTER  | GOODREADS

 

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.
The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.
I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.
Tris
has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has
paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever
more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.
Yet if
Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger
than ever…because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.
 If you read my review for Divergent, then you’ll know I said; “Veronica Roth is a genius, and has created a storyworld that I would stay in forever” which is what I did, returning with Insurgent for some more dystopian Chicago time in one of the most iconic YA series I’ve ever read, and is still everywhere I go, meaning it’s not just me who knows this series isn’t going to quit it’s incredible twists and turns, gripping plots and daredevil characters. 



Do you know what Insurgent means? There’s this quote in the book that says Insurgent is; A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as a belligerent. 
 Isn’t that Tris in a sentence? 
Insurgent picks up pretty much where Divergent left off, where everything is still sort of hanging in the balance of craziness. The group of characters, including Tris and Tobias, are bewildered and confused by the events happening in their factions and wounded, they struggle to piece together some of the facts they know. One thing that was apparent was how not only a shift in the balance of how they thought about the factions, but about each other as well. Tris and Tobias’s relationship was if anything stronger for what they had been through together in the beginning, but other relationships were on the rocks or already plummeting to the ground at a steady speed. Tris and Caleb weren’t on the best terms considering his actions, and Marcus and Tobias were as always, never going to be close as some of the other fathers and sons. 
They are seeking safety for the most part in the beginning, and find that with the most peaceful of factions; Amity. It’s there though, that quite a lot of un-peaceful events happen. Although we do get a more detailed gaze into the Amity way of things, and how very different they are to Dauntless. We also see a lot of the Candor headquarters, the honest faction. That’s where everything starts to crumble and one of Tris’s painfully kept secrets comes to light.
One of my favourite things that had progressed since Divergent was how we learn more about the characters that we always thought we knew fairly well. Tobias’s past wasn’t always crystal clear, and at times it still isn’t because it’s part of that mystery behind the years Tris didn’t know him. Though we get a peak behind the curtains at some closeted secrets that get dug up toward the middle of the book that startles Tris at the honesty she thought they shared. But as always, Tris and Tobias are a lot alike, and where one has a secret, the other has one to match. Even though they’re not really on “bad” terms by the end of the book, they are far from perfect which is ultimately what makes them seem so real. They are always a work in progress, but one thing that’s always been clear is that they’re meant for each other.
As for the book as a whole, it was unbelievably addictive and I couldn’t put it down. I always had to find out what was in the next chapter and found it matched my high expectations following Divergent and in some places, exceeded by miles. The plot was so fast paced, full of everything that made me love the series in the first place, reminding me just how talented Veronica is. She made me fall in love with the world, the characters and connect with them on a level that not every author can with such an action-packed, suspenseful plot. 
Tris shows me once again how naturally fearless she is. She may still have those fears, but she is still that impulsive, protective and smart girl from Divergent. She would do anything to save the people remaining that she loves, including sacrifice everything she is and herself. That’s overall what makes her such a unique, iconic character. Maybe my favourite of all time.
Every last remaining non-Dauntless traitor, and even other factions involved alike, aren’t willing to put faith and trust in each other since the events that have unturned in Insurgent, including that FIRECRACKER of an ending! 
I am in such high anticipations to read Allegiant, and although there are spoilers pretty much *everywhere*, I’m still going into it with an open mind about what lies ahead and how things will wrap up after they are unturned.
 The Divergent series is one of those that make you forget the world around you and find yourself a first-row seat in the epic, dystopian-Chicago and love it with each new chapter and revelation.
5 stars+ for another powerful, magnificent book by Veronica Roth!

Have you read Insurgent?

What did you think? 
Tell me in the comments or at @LittleMemoirs on twitter!
happy reading!
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Book Blitz: “Damselfly” by Jennie Bates Bozic + Giveaway!

Damselfly (Damselfly #1)
by Jennie
Bates Bozic
Release Date: 11/11/13

Summary from Goodreads:
In 2065,
the Lilliput Project created Lina – the first six-inch-tall winged girl – as
the solution to a worldwide energy and food crisis. Isolated in a compound
amidst the forests of Denmark, Lina has grown up aware of only one purpose:
learn how to survive in a world filled with hawks, bumblebees, and loneliness.
However, on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she discovers that she’s not the
only teenager her size. Six ‘Toms’ were created shortly after Lina, and now her
creators need to prove to the world that tiny people are the next logical step
in human evolution. In other words, they need to prove that reproduction is
possible.

Um. No thanks. Lina’s already fallen in love with a boy she met online named
Jack. Only he has no idea that thumbelina1847 could literally fit inside his
heart.

When her creators threaten to hurt Jack unless she chooses a husband from among
the ‘Toms’, Lina agrees to star in a reality TV series. Once the episodes begin
to air, the secret of her size is out. Cut off from any contact with the
outside world, Lina assumes Jack is no longer interested. After all, what guy
would want to date a girl he can’t even kiss?

Slowly, very slowly, she befriends the six young men who see her as their only
ticket to happiness. Perhaps she can make just one guy’s dream of love and
companionship come true. But her creators have a few more twists in store for
her that she never thought possible.

She’s not the only one playing to the cameras.

Available from:
photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg  photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg  photo smashwordsicon_zps931b0409.jpg

Prequel
(linked to Goodreads)

Now FREE on Smashwords!



About the Author
I’m a visual effects artist for film and television by day,
and at night I don my author cape and pen stories for the YA crowd. I love a
good fairy tale, especially if there’s a creepy twist, so that’s what I write.

I met my husband in the World of Warcraft and we live in Los Angeles with our
cat. We spend our time playing video games, reading, hiking, sweeping up cat
hair, and cursing the terrible traffic.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Religion and Philosophy from Hillsdale College,
and some of my past jobs have included: swimming lessons teacher, lifeguard,
furniture salesperson, barista, and loan officer. I was especially terrible at
the loan officer bit and that’s what prompted me to make a major change and go
off to Canada to get a diploma in 3D Animation and Visual Effects. After that,
I moved to Los Angeles by myself and roomed with two crazy sisters I found on
Craigslist. But that’s another tale. 


Author Links:
photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png

***GIVEAWAY***
1-$50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
1-Damselfly Necklace (US only)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

happy reading!

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