Book Review: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind

Author: Neal Shusterman

Series/Standalone: Unwind Dystology (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Pages: 337

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2007

Format: Hardcover (Own It)

"Connor, Ris and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I was surprised how this book remained so current. I was surprised that it was written in 2007 and still remained so relevant. The concept, as you first start this book, feels very extreme, but throughout this book, it becomes more and more understandable about how the world got to the point it is. The world-building is excellent. The plot is fast-paced, and the changing perspectives keep readers aware of different opinions and ways the world has perceived these new bills. While uncomfortable, I strongly recommend. The only reason I knocked off one star was the need for "romance" that all dystopians had at this time. I look forward to continuing on in this series.

Thank you for reading.

Sidny 

Book Review: When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey

Title: When We Were Magic

Author: Sarah Gailey

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Magical Realism, Young Adult

Pages: 352

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"A moving, darkly funny novel about six teens whose magic goes wildly awry from Magic Liars author Sarah Gailey, who Chuck Wendig calls an 'author to watch.'

Keeping your magic a secret is hard. Being in love with your best friend is harder.

Alexis has always been able to rely on two things: her best friends, and the magic powers they all share. Their secret is what brought them together, and their love for each other is unshakeable- even when that love is complicated. Complicated by problems like jealousy, or insecurity, or lust. Or love.

That unshakeable, complicated love is one of the only things that doesn't change on prom night.

When accidental magic goes sideways and a boy winds up dead, Alexis and her best friends come together to try to right a terrible wrong. Their first attempt fails- and their second attempt fails even harder. Left with the remains of their failed spells and more consequences than anyone could have predicted, each of them must find a way to live with their part of the story."

My Rating: 4/5

This was a great foray for me into magical realism. I haven't read much from the genre, and what I had read before I found complicated or to lyrical for my own personal taste. But this features a bad-ass group of girls trying to find a way to fix a problem they weren't even sure how they managed to create. I loved the characters and hearing about their magic. I loved how the story wrapped overall. It was a great read, and I look forward to reading much more from the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Title: P.S I Still Love You
Author: Jenny Han
Series/Standalone: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 337
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2015
Format: Audiobook

"Lara Jean didn't expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren't. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean's feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that's part of what makes it so amazing."

My Rating: 4/5

I have somehow managed to avoid spoilers for both this second book as well as the movie. I know I am amazing at climbing under a rock and staying there. I thought that this was quite an interesting change from the first book. I thought that this would be more, happy go lucky, but it was far more dramatic than the first book in the series. I enjoyed the addition of another love interest and the change of scenery in the seniors' homes that Lara Jean volunteers in. I'm looking forward to watching the Netflix movie tonight and forcing my boyfriend to binge-watch both the first and second over a glass of wine and a plate of bagel bites.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Sever by Lauren Destefano

Title: Sever
Author: Lauren Destefano
Series/Standalone: The Chemical Garden (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance
Pages: 371
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers
Year Published: 2013
Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)
First Line: "In the atlas, the river still flows."

"Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughan's worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, through the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine's memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine's side, even if Linden's feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan's growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future- and about the past, her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This is the final instalment in The Chemical Garden series. And I was a bit confused by the plot of this one. I felt as though this instalment went so many directions and I wish it just would have chosen one direction to go on. I was confused by some of the author's choices as I felt they might not have been the original plot but were thrown in upon editing. There is nothing wrong with that it just wasn't the direction I thought that this series was going to take. I will say that I love the characters and the growth they go through. I also enjoyed the plot twists and the world. Some of the twists just seemed to come out of left field for me and I wasn't at all prepared (especially when there were only 100 pages left in the series). 
All this being said, I plan to read more of Lauren Destefano's works. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Fever by Lauren Destefano

Title: Fever
Author: Lauren Destefano
Series/Standalone: The Chemical Gardens Series (Book #2)
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 341
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Year Published: 2012
Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)
First Line: "We run, with water in our shoes and the smell of the ocean clinging to our frozen skin."

"Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans wait for her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago- surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopefulness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine's twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous- and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can't seem to elude Rhine's father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion... by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren Destefano's harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price- now that she has more to lose than ever."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This series just continues to surprise me. It's not following every other formula that I've seen for dystopian books. I was so excited to see where this series would go and it really didn't do the expected. What I expected was that they would find her brother and set up a plot to attack the government or House Vaughan. Spoilers: That's not what happened. At all. We saw so many different aspects of this world and how people were surviving. Also, the changes in government and laws were extremely interesting. I can't wait to see where the story goes after the crazy conclusion.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Wither by Lauren DeStafano

Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series/Standalone: The Chemical Garden Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Pages: 358
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2011
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "I wait."

"By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Genetics are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape-- before her time runs out?

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts toe scape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?"

My Rating: 4/5

This story is so fascinating. I love the idea of the world (and by love I mean I'm terrified, but it's creative). The writing in this book was well paced and well written. The characters were easy to fall in love with and relate too (as much as one can in this scenario). I was super interested throughout and I can't wait to continue the series. The one reason I decided to dock a star off my rating is because I know where the romance in this series is going and I just don't really care for it. To be honest I don't want the main character to fall for anyone, I'd rather there just be a friendship. But it's fairly obvious where the romance is going and why. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before 
Author: Jenny Han
Series/Standalone: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 355
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2014
Format: Audiobook

"To All the Boys I've Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all."

My Rating: 4/5

This story is just overall enjoyable. I think that it's a sweet coming of age story and so cute to read. It does handle interesting matters, as in the idea that girls get shamed for being sexually active as a teen and boys don't have any reprimands for the same thing. Overall I just loved the family aspects in this story. I think the bond between sisters isn't something you can quite understand unless you have one, but the author does a great job of describing it. I also love how awkward Lara Jean is and can relate. I would also like to be at home rather than going to a party. I'm excited to continue on with the series and to force my boyfriend into watching the Netflix adaptation.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Title: Thunderhead
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series/Standalone: Arc of a Scythe (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 504
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "How fortunate am I among the sentient to know my purpose."

"Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid and has been striking out against corrupt scythes- not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk heor now- 'Scythe Lucifer'- a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the 'new order' scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone- or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being 'deadish' so she can communicate with the Thunderhead- the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?"

My Rating: 3.5/5

This is a series that has been talked about a lot in the YA book community. It's an interesting idea and very unique in its presentation. I really do think that the premise of both stories is interesting, but here's why it's not 5 stars for me. They are so long for the content we actually need from them. I just find that the writing style in these books begins to bore me about halfway through and I dread picking it up. That being said the endings are usually magnificent and I usually enjoy them the most. So here is my issue. I really liked the first 1/ of the book, I would say that portion was a four. The middle section was more of a 2 and then the end was a 4.5. So overall I'd say that makes it a 3.5. There are things that I really liked in this story (the suspense of all the different characters during the changes of the scythedom) and other things that I hate (the unnecessary romance). 
This leaves me thinking that I will not continue with the story, but by the time it comes out I might have changed my mind. The fact for sure is that I will not be keeping the series or buying the final instalment (I will just borrow it from a friend or the library). 

Thanks for reading (sorry if this is one of your favourite books),
Sidny

Spoiler: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

This series is so raved about in the book community. And I just don't get it. 
There let that shatter everyone's expectation of what I'd think. A few people told me after I didn't love Scythe that I just had to read Thunderhead and I would be so much more engaged. And I do think that this book was better for me, but I don't think that it was amazing. I enjoyed it overall. I love the idea of there being AI that is governing humans but refuses to kill them an live up to their fear. I also think the idea of different scythe followings is interesting as well. Should Scythes feel burdened by their responsibility or embrace it?
I still think that the romance is unnecessary, the characters could have remained friends and the story would have the same outlook.  I also find the length to be a problem. It's just too long for the content for me. 

Characters:

Scythe Anastasia: I really like her character and the way she chose to glean people. I was just disappointed that she seemed to still think so romantically about Rowan. There is no way that they were that in love. Maybe in friendship but I don't think that their romance is true or good... sorry for anyone who loves it. I do wonder if she will bring around a different belief system whenever her and Rowan are found.

Rowan: I think Scythe Lucifer was badass. I loved the name and the way he took the rules and made them his own. He was breaking the rules but for a good reason. I do wonder what will happen to him when they are found. I'm guessing he'll be sacrificed sooner or later.

Scythe Curie: This part really upset me. To finally have someone who would help the Midmerica Scythedom in charge and then loose her so suddenly it broke my heart. I was proud of her final actions as she stayed true to her beliefs and remained strong for those around her.

Scythe Goddard: This son of a bitch is back and as bad as ever. I do hate him and think that he is pure evil, especially now that he's snatched a new body for himself. I think that he would have thought of this idea for himself although Rand apparently did it herself. Will he take over the Scythedom or will it fall.

Scythe Rand: I think she regretted her choice as soon as he was back. She seemed annoyed with him more than anything throughout his inquest and arrivals. I wonder if she will turn on him.

Greyson: Greyson's character might be my favourite overall. His life before the Thunderhead truly intervened was sad, but he was making his way through the world before unforeseeable actions changed his life. I'm curious how the Thunderhead talking only to him will affect his life. 

Thunderhead: I think that it is a character and that might be debated by some people. I think that it's understanding of the world is always changing and now that Endura has sunk I wonder how it will change its rules and laws for the future. 

Farraday: Almost forgot about his mission and what they might have found I'm so super curious.


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Title: Scythe
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series/Standalone: Arc of a Scythe (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 435
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "We must, by law, keep a record of the innocents we kill."

"Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life- and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe- a role that neither wants. These teens must master the 'art' of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I always thought that I had a similar taste to that of Puruse Project on booktube, but the more I read the more I find that my enjoyment of certain books and her enjoyment of these same books just does not line up. I think that the concept in this novel is interesting and what really holds the story together. The characters are interesting and I'm sure to have a background that we will learn more about in the coming books, that being said, I wasn't a huge fan of some of the plot points in the story. I also found with such a vast world to write in that the characters could have been more diverse (at least in sexuality, if you could live forever you might experiment at least a little). Overall I enjoyed the story, and by the end was reading rather quickly. I plan to continue the series and hope to post more reviews for this author's work soon.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

I've heard so many amazing things about this book on booktube, but I wonder how much of that is due to paid promotion with other publishers. I think that this is definitely for some people but I did have some issues here and there. During the first plot twist, while I was surprised I didn't feel as heartbroken as I think I was supposed to. I also have been getting very annoyed with unnecessary love interests. All that being said, I am still really interested in the world and the way things are run. I also loved the format with the journal entries in between.

Characters:
Citra: I liked her character but I didn't love her. I think that she was stubborn in a good way and willing to stand up for the right thing. I can't wait to see how her granted immunity will work out for Rowan.

Rowan: I think that his experience is important to note. It was shocking to see that someone who was so into "gleaning" had made their way into this society and was in control of such a vast group. It broke my heart to see him lose Volta and those around him.

Scythe Farraday: I liked the way that he gleaned and did it based on past statistics but in some sense that was slightly less compassionate than others.

Scythe Currie: Her method made the most sense to me. After an eternity of living there must be a time where you feel like you are done and ready to move on with your life.

Scythe Goddard: He was a scary reality. That if this happened there might not be a way to weed out the people who are killers and take joy in taking lives. His methods were frightening, to say the least.

Xenocrates: I'm curious about his past, as well as how he chose Goddard as a Scythe and allowed him to be ordained into this world.

Moments to Remember:

Final Line: "The way he once did."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Series/Standalone: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Book #1)
Pages: 359
Genre: Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2012
Format: Audiobook

"Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship- the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book really blew me out of the water. I was expecting a short little contemporary that wasn't overly hard hitting and here I was going out for walks to have an excuse to listen to the audiobook. The characters in this story are incredible and the author touches on so many important topics without having the reader feel that things are getting bogged down. The story is so important for young readers. It asks readers so many questions about who they are and how they want to be. I also think that the fact that this story takes place in the past makes the story that much more lovable. I can't wait to read the companion novel and pick up a physical copy of this book. It seems like a great book to reread every summer..

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

Title: The Diabolic
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Series/Standalone: The Diabolic (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 416
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Physical Hardback (Own It)
First Line: "Everyone believed Diabolics were fearless, but in my earliest years, all I knew was fear."

"Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia.

She must become her.

Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force; the one thing she's been told she doesn't have- humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her Sidonia, and the entire Empire."

My Rating: 3.75/5

I know that I thought I'd never give a funky star rating like this but I've grown as a person. I thought that this book was really interesting. The premise was really interesting to me. The idea of using genetically modified humans for different purposes is something that frightens me but also makes me curious about the future. I think that this author did an interesting thing by starting the story in the "breeding corrals" (I'm shuddering just having to type that). I also enjoyed the political aspect of this story. But in between that this story did a lot of info dumping and I just wasn't enjoying that part of the story. It was a lot to remember and a lot to put into a first book. I also thought that this book did a strange thing with pacing. I felt like no time had passed, but in reality, the book took place over quite a long period of time. So overall I enjoyed the idea and the characters, but the execution just fell a little tiny bit flat for me. That being said, I'm curious about the next book in the series that comes out in October. So if I see it and still remember the majority of the story, I will probably pick it up.

Thanks for reading,
SIdny

Spoiler: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

So this book has taken me a hell of a long time to get into. I read about 10 pages a day for a week before I forced myself to sit down and read today. And overall I enjoyed this book. I think that the author has an interesting concept, a unique setting and wonderful characters. This being said, I think this book did a lot of info dumping. Throughout I just felt like there was so much for me to take in in such a small amount of time. I also didn't appreciate how fast the rebellion seemed to work out. I would have appreciated it spread out just a little bit more. Maybe continuing to the next book.


Characters:
Sidonia: She was naive and sweet, but it makes you wonder what she might have become in a different situation. Would she still be so loving to "creatures"? Or would she be hard and callous like so many around her? I was sad to see her go but didn't grieve her as much the second time to be completely honest with you. 

Nemesis: The author touches on an important topic, what makes us human? And can we change certain things to disturb this humanity? I don't know the answers but I liked how the author tackled this topic with Nemesis. I also enjoyed watching her discover her humanity, along with realizing that fear is sadly natural. I think that she will be more than a little shell shocked in the next book and we'll see how the Empire views people like her in their society.

Tyrus: I don't know how I feel about him, at first I was all in and loved him. Now I'm thinking I should be more cautious. He will make an interesting leader. A cunning one for sure.

The Emperor: He was a sick freak, but none the less a puppet. 

Elantra: She wasn't going to make it far. Let's be honest she was an evil girl, who liked to flaunt what other's didn't have. She reminded me a lot of Evangeline in the Red Queen series

Cygna: So incredibly manipulative. I wonder what else would have happened if she had her way. 


Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "Whatever lay ahead, it would always be the two of us above the rest of the universe, and woe to any who dared step in our path."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny