Review: The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 16th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best. The language of violence.

While her crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people, even in her small hometown. She relegates herself to the shadows, a girl who goes unseen in plain sight, unremarkable in the high school hallways.

But Jack Fisher sees her. He’s the guy all other guys want to be: the star athlete gunning for valedictorian with the prom queen on his arm. Guilt over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered hasn’t let him forget Alex over the years, and now her green eyes amid a constellation of freckles have his attention. He doesn’t want to only see Alex Craft; he wants to know her.

So does Peekay, the preacher’s kid, a girl whose identity is entangled with her dad’s job, though that does not stop her from knowing the taste of beer or missing the touch of her ex-boyfriend. When Peekay and Alex start working together at the animal shelter, a friendship forms and Alex’s protective nature extends to more than just the dogs and cats they care for.

Circumstances bring Alex, Jack, and Peekay together as their senior year unfolds. While partying one night, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting the teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:
Okay WARNING!  This review will be filled with SPOILERS!  Like BIG SPOILERS!  Like revealing who LIVES or DIES SPOILERS!!  I can't talk about this book without mentioning the ending SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!  SPOILERS!!!!!

Yep I am going to start off with that ending.  With any other book I would've been screaming NOOOOOO, but I think the ending that McGinnis picked had to happen.  There wasn't any other way and I applaud her for making this decision.  I am not a fan of unhappy ever afters especially when I adore the main character, but like I said there was no way for Alex to have the happy ending after her actions.  She was a phenomenal character and probably one of my favorites of all time, but she had to die.  Even though she did bad things for good reasons it still didn't absolve her of her actions and I think Jack knew that.  He loved her, but even in his gut he knew what she did wasn't right.  I think that might even be why he was drawn to Branley even in the end. 

Okay that being aside I really enjoyed this story.  McGinnis has this unique way of writing stories that start out super dark and then even out in the middle, but you can still feel that darkness lurking.  It isn't sinister it's just darkness that kinda closes in by the end and well it's pretty awesome.  The Female of the Species follows this pattern and I could not get enough.  It almost felt like there was someone constantly reading over my shoulder, but when I looked it was just a sunny sky overhead until that sun was blocked.  Mindy McGinnis is definitely in my top 5 favorite authors and I will read ANYTHING she writes!

I also loved the multiple POV's.  I enjoyed being in each characters heads and I thought it was interesting to see how they each saw each other.  I do wish Branley would've had her own POV. She was the character to hate, but she was so broken and I think it would've helped me connect with her a bit more if I could have seen inside her head. 

Alex where do I even start.  She was such a great character and one that I was so intrigued by.  I thought the author did a great job at weaving in her backstory and her dad.  This gave me the understanding for why she is the way she is and even that little scene with her mom was so eye opening.  Alex was broken in so many ways, but I am curious to know if she hadn't died what her fate would have been. Would she have stopped killing?  Would she have lived happy ever after with Jack?  My initial answer is no because well Jack wasn't the greatest boyfriend and I think her instincts would have gotten the better of her.  It would be nice to think that she would've had a HEA, but I just don't think that was in the cards for her dying or not.

The whole romance situation was weird for me.  This is why I have to go with 4.5 stars instead of 5.  I liked Jack and Alex together, I liked that they were both competing to be valedictorian, and I really liked that they understood each other.  What I didn't like was his male mentality.  He kept saying he wanted to be better and a good guy and he was to a point, but he could never stop himself from looking at the nude pictures Branley would send him.  That was just not okay.  Plus in that last scene he almost gave in to Branley because Alex would never have found out.  I mean really??  I wanted him to be completely faithful to Alex because that is what she deserved and even though he never acted on his impulses he wasn't 100% in with Alex.

One last thing I liked Peekay.  She was a unique character and I enjoyed reading her parts especially with her family.  She might have been the preachers kid, but that preacher was the greatest dad ever.  He took the time to talk to her and even though I think her parents should have kept a tighter hold on her I liked the fact that the lines of communication were open. Peekay just needed to use them more.  It was warming to see parents taking an involvement in a YA book.  They weren't perfect because Peekay drank a LOT in this book, but I have to give them credit for at least being aware of their daughter.

All in all this was fantastic!  I loved the darkness of the story and I felt so much throughout.  This story surprised me in so many ways and I have to be honest I thought Jack was going to be the one to die in the end.  With so much emphasis placed on females I thought Branley was going to kill him, but I was wrong and I am sorta glad.  I think it would have been cool for her to kill him and then her and Alex have a somewhat understanding. Strange maybe, but kinda cool in my opinion.  As the ending stands though I thought it was pretty perfect and I am okay with how it all happened.  I am curious to know if Jacks future turned out the way he feared though...

4.5 snowflakes

Review: Shade Me by Jennifer Brown

Shade Me by Jennifer Brown

Publisher- Katherine Tegen Books

Released- Jan 19th 2015

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray. Thanks to a rare phenomenon called synesthesia, Nikki’s senses overlap, in a way that both comforts and overwhelms her.Always an outsider, just one ‘D’ shy of flunking out, Nikki’s life is on the fast track to nowhere until the night a mysterious call lights her phone up bright orange—the color of emergencies. It’s the local hospital. They need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack.The victim is Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from Nikki’s school who Nikki hardly knows. One thing is clear: Someone wants Peyton dead. But why? And why was Nikki’s cell the only number in Peyton’s phone?As she tries to decipher the strange kaleidoscope of clues, Nikki finds herself thrust into the dark, glittering world of the ultra-rich Hollis family, and drawn towards Peyton’s handsome, never-do-well older brother Dru. While Nikki’s colors seem to help her unravel the puzzle, what she can’t see is that she may be falling into a trap. The only truth she can be sure of is that death is a deep, pulsing crimson.

My Thoughts:

Shade Me, was an interesting whodunit mystery that puts a new spin on your typical thriller. And while this may not be a favorite, it was still entertaining from start to finish. 

Nikki Kill has never been able to fit in, her world isn't exactly like everyone else's. See, Nikki has a rare condition called, Synesthesia. Letters, numbers, objects and even people have a  particular color around them and a particular emotion. So, granted, it was a little hard growing up and hard dealing with school and if that wasn't enough, Nikki also lost her mother when she was little and they were never able to solve her murder. So, Nikki isn't exactly miss popular in school, so why did the most popular girl in school, Peyton Hollis, call Nikki an hour before her attack? Why was she the only contact on her phone and what does this have to do with Nikki Kill?

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book. First off, I had the hardest time connecting with Nikki. From minute one you can feel the attitude and snark dripping from the pages. I get that she's had a hard life and that her condition and her mothers death has made her into this bitter, jaded, distrusting and frustrated person, but it wasn't easy to watch her constantly push people way. However, I did admire her dedication and determination to find Peyton's attacker and I loved the fact that she can totally handle her own in a kickass and confident way. I also really missed my dose of romance, even a light one. I get this was a mystery and most of the time love takes a back seat, but I guess I just didn't care for the insta-attraction we got instead. It was way to fast and there wasn't enough time for a connection or spark between the characters besides the purple-violet-pulsing-glow between them.

Now, what I did like about this book was the concept and mystery. I thought Jennifer Brown did a great job of driving her protagonist into finding clues in coloured hints. It made it more fascinating and unique then your typical whodunit mystery. I also thought the twist was smart and very unexpected. I wasn't exactly blown away with the revelations of who the attacker was, but I was impressed with the motives behind it.

All in all, I thought Shade Me was a decent read. It was a lighter mystery but still has great edge, intriguing characters and smart writing. The ending doesn't exactly leave us hanging, but there are a few loose ends that need to be cleared up, so I might just have to pick up the sequel when it comes out.  An entertaining escape!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                3.5 Snowflakes

Review: Push by Eve Silver

Push by Eve Silver
Publisher-Katherine Tegen Books
Released- June 10th 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

It’s either break the rules or die.Miki Jones lives her life by her own strict set of rules, to keep control, to keep the gray fog of grief at bay. Then she’s pulled into the Game, where she—and her team—will die unless she follows a new set of rules: those set by the mysterious Committee.But rules don’t mean answers, and without answers, it’s hard to trust. People are dying. The rules are unraveling. And Miki knows she’s being watched, uncertain if it’s the Drau or someone—something—else. Forced to make impossible choices and battling to save those she loves, Miki begins to see the Committee in a glaring new light.And then the Game crosses a new boundary, pushes harder into Miki’s and her friends’ lives, and there’s nothing in the rules that can save them now.

My Thoughts: 
What an amazing world! I really just love Silver's writing style. From minute one I found myself sucked back into all the emotions and all the action and intrigued this book has to offer. It's absolutely compelling, adding and exhilarating and still every bit the refreshing and unique escape I found in the first book.

While Push may be a little bit tamed down compared to Rush, I still really enjoyed the direction Silver took with this sequel. There isn't anything I love more then  heart pulsing action and characters who can kick some serious ass, but it was really great to be able to relate to Miki on a different level. She literally gets thrown into the games in Rush so fast that I felt I only got to know her in the 'virtual world', but in Push I was able to see her connections between her dad and her friends and what it's like for her in the 'real world'. I also absolutely loved that we got to see the romance develop between Miki and Jackson and that it wasn't pushed aside while the action takes the lead. I believe in a healthy balance in books and Silver give us a great dose of both. Those were probably my favorite moments. The sweet and adorable way Jackson and Miki were together. They give the readers something to hope for and make all the fighting worth fighting for. But never fear, fans of this series shouldn't worry that it was tamed down to much, there is still a helluva lot of action and excitement as we are once again thrown back into the virtual games, but this time Miki, Luka, Jackson and the rest of the team are fighting more then just the Drau who are threatening the world with total disaster. The Committee seems to be  a pretty big question mark at this point and I'm fascinated to see how this all plays out, specially with the last minute twist at the end pertaining to Jackson's sister, Lizzie. Gasping stuff my friends!

I really adored all of these characters. They are warm and witty and have some of the greatest chemistry, on and off the battle field. Miki has always been a fiercely determined and independent character and I feel that I got to know the reasons why better. I love her strength, level headedness and her beautiful heart. But I think it was Jackson who really threw me for a loop here. I'm so use to seeing Jackson in commando-mode. The ever demanding, in control and self-assured leader that he was born to be. But in this book we got to see a more playful and fun loving side to Jackson that was a complete joy and treat. The things he would do and say really made me look at him differently. More like a person with a real life then the solider on missions making sure everyone survives. I also adored Luka and thought he was a major supporting character that I can depend on to make me smile while Carly is the best friend every girl needs.

All in all, Push was such an excellent sequel! I loved the fast-paced-in-your-face rush, the incredible writing that leaps off the pages and the amazing cast of characters that demand you to feel. This still holds the 'most unique' series in my books and I'm really enjoying where Silver is taking things and simply can't wait to see where she takes it next. An addicting read! More!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                4 Snowflakes 

Review: Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis

 Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Publisher: Katherine Tegan books

Expected Publication Date: September 24, 2013

B&N / Amazon / Goodreads

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

My Thoughts:

Not A Drop To Drink is about a mother and daughter who live in the basement of their farm house and by day and night protect their pond from the roof of their home. This survival story is one that touched me and was different from other dystopian novels I have read.

Lynn was a product of her environment. Her mother instilled survival instincts and the intelligence of doing so, but what this young lady lacked was friendship. Companionship was uncommon as Lynn and her mother lived in a desolate area and the only interaction was with wild animals and the occasional rogue. There is one exception, and that was Stebb. He lived off in the distant woods in what looked like a shack. Their interaction was very slim, but when Lynn needed someone the most, is when the reader truly got to know this man.

Their situation wasn’t uncommon, however, with the shortage of fresh water, they did what was necessary to protect the one thing they knew would alter their lives had they not had it; the pond. They had a daily routine of fetching buckets of water, heating it, and storing it for later use. This was sterilized which was important, as there was bacteria that could make them sick, or worse yet, be their demise.

The strength and courage they showcased was admirable. They weathered the roughest conditions and threats. Cutting their own firewood, fighting off ravenous wild animals, growing what food they could, killing those animals for meat, gutting, cleaning and storing of it as well.

These characters were well written and tough cookies. When an accident occurs, Lynn is left with a guilt and an unknown future. And enter Stebbs. Being alone with her mother her whole life, she is timid and unsure of the friendly guy.

The story really picked up when Lynn meets Eli. She develops a personality and it was a nice change of pace from the bland persona I had been used to. Trouble ensues and Lynn is forced to explore new emotions and step outside of the box so to speak.

Throughout the book, Lynn slowly opens up and evolves into a woman. She was no longer under the strict thumb of her mother and the pacing of this was perfection. I was relieved the further the story got and the change that Lynn made.

There were plenty of obstacles and twists thrown in, but some were so touching and heartbreaking I can’t even express. I had tears in my eyes on a couple occasions and I still, after a month ago reading this, can picture those scenes and my heart just throbs thinking of them. The decisions Lynn had to make, was just unfathomable. I think the author did an excellent job pulling the reader into these characters lives and world she created. She didn’t hold back on brutality of these characters lives and what they had to do to survive. I loved that about this story. It didn’t feel contrived, but very real for their situation and I give props to her for “going there.”

I would recommend Not A Drop To Drink to anyone. It was a wonderful story filled with survival, action, emotion, and a little bit of romance (Which was very well done in my opinion).

Review: Rush by Eve Silver

Rush by Eve Silver 

Publisher-Katherine Tegen Books

Release- June 11th 2013

Pre-Order- Amazon / B&N / Chapters

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

My Thoughts:

Well now, how do I go about explaining the crazy-awesomeness that is this book? 

Rush is a such a bold, inventive, exciting story. The moment I read the first chapter I knew that this isn't like my usual reads. In fact, this was probably one of the most unique books I ever had the pleasure of experiencing, it's completely refreshing. There is a lot going on here plot wise and I'd be lying if I said I understood everything in complete details, but I did get the overall general idea. Now, just a heads up, this is a pretty out-there concept my friends. It may be hard to grasp or even wrap your head around it, but if you keep an open mind, I firmly believe that readers will have a real blast with this book!

Miki Jones, first heard a boy whispering her name while sitting around on an average sunny day at Glenbrook High gossiping with her friends, but when she tries to find the source, no one's there.  Still, the voice keeps whispering her name. Then out of no where, Miki sees a little girl in the middle of the street, the voice pushing her to act quickly, she doesn't think twice before she throws herself on the road and pushes the little girl away before the truck ends up hitting her, along with a guy named Luka, who ran after her. 

When Miki wakes up, she's in a grassy clearing covered with trees and boulders, while a guy named Jackson looms over her accessing the damage before activating her Con-bracelet and preparing her for an ultimate battle. (Yup!)

See, Miki is in a live version game, but it's not really a game, it's actually real life and she and her other team mates, gets 'pulled' through space and time from their original reality, gets sent to the lobby, which is like a holding area and awaits mission instruction. They must complete any missions they are assigned, and for this case, they must terminate an evil alien species called the Drau who have been evading earth far greater then anyone knows and threatening humans life as we know it. It's within the teams survival that will ensure the safety of the entire world. After a successful mission is complete each individual team member gets regenerated back to their normal lives. In till the next time....

Pretty cool concept huh? And the writing? Even better! Kudos to Eve Silver, she must know her games cause this was a pretty intricately detailed story-line with highly entertaining fast paced action sequences that make you feel like your in this world. I loved that it's  based on an idea of gaming complete with point systems- hits/bonus/timelines and life-calculation, or health, in this book. The backdrop is a virtual reality setting, or a world within our world, throwing these characters in an ultimate battle zone ready to fight to the death if need be, but tries to avoid it at all cost. No one wants game over. This is seriously smart, sharp and clever writing with an ingenious imagination. But just to warn you, it's also very evasively written, meaning, we only get pockets of information scattered throughout the book. We know when Miki knows and it can get pretty confusing and frustrating for the both of us. 

Now,  despite the 'every man for themselves' rule, Miki, Luka, Jackson and Tyrone make an unbelievable team! I loved their energy, dedication, good-humor and even though distraction can get you killed, they're all willing to to put themselves out there for the next person.

Miki is a fantastic protag! With all things considering, she takes the news that she's dead but not really dead and must fight extraterrestrial's with no real choice, pretty darn well. She freaks out mind you, but at least she doesn't sit around waiting for her life to be pulled, she demands answers and she gets them.

Jackson is one of those irritatingly gorgeous guys who is impossible, overly cryptic, arrogant, complex, maddening and who is keeping a deep dark secret. So, naturally I simply adored him to pieces. The feisty banter and comical zingers and the push and pull dance between Jackson and Miki was priceless and so utterly adorable. I was very surprised to even find a sweet bubbling romance in a story like this. I mean, when you think guns-a-blazin' and guts-a-splatin', it doesn't normally scream love story included. Read me. So I was very pleased with all the sigh-worthy and grin-to-stupid-grin moments we ended up getting.

Bottom line, I had such a blast with this book. It's such a fun experience, it's wildly original, endlessly entertaining with wicked characters and fantastical writing! Sadly it does leave us on a cliffy and an evil one at that, so I can't wait to see where Silver takes these characters next!! I can see this appealing to gamers, teenage boys or if your like me someone who's looking for a new spin on their sci-fi fantasy escape but still wants some heartwarming romance on the side. More! 

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website

                                                                   4.5 snowflakes

Teaser Tuesday, #28

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Teagen Books
Expected Publication: September 24, 2013

Add it on Goodreads





My Teaser's are from book pages 49 & 50...

"Her knees slipped in the blood-soaked mud, and she fell face forward into the muck, where she saw her riffle."

"Bulging swollen flesh puffed out from between the strips that she'd used to bind it."

 

AND....Because I couldn't resist this part...Another Teaser!

Page 214...

 

"So...I'm not used to asking for permission, but I don't want to get shot either."

 

"I'm not going to kiss you like your mother. C'mere."

 

 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

 

Review: Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley

Pretty Girl -13 by Liz Coley
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: March 18, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Reminiscent of the Elizabeth Smart case, Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing and powerful psychological mystery about a girl who must piece together the story of her kidnapping and captivity.

Angie Chapman was thirteen years old when she ventured into the woods alone on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Now she's returned home…only to find that it's three years later and she's sixteen-or at least that's what everyone tells her.

What happened to the past three years of her life?

Angie doesn't know.

But there are people who do — people who could tell Angie every detail of her forgotten time, if only they weren't locked inside her mind. With a tremendous amount of courage, Angie embarks on a journey to discover the fragments of her personality, otherwise known as her "alters." As she unearths more and more about her past, she discovers a terrifying secret and must decide: When you remember things you wish you could forget, do you destroy the parts of yourself that are responsible?

Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery is a disturbing - and ultimately empowering page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.

My Thoughts:
I'm really struggling with my rating for this one.  On one hand I was totally enthralled with the story and the authors writing.  Angie was such a strong character that I immediately felt compassion for and the whole alters storyline that Liz Coley just totally captured me.  It was beyond heartbreaking to see what Angie's mind had to do to cope with the abuse she was subjected to.

Then on the other hand I'm left fuming for justice.  When I read stories that center around abuse as a reader I expect revenge and basically the abusers head on a platter.  This story was very anti climatic on both abuser accounts and in one instance all we are giving is a restraining order.  That's it!  To say I was angry was an understatement.  The reasoning for this is that the horrible person who abused Angie was young and didn't know any better... um excuse me??!  That should never EVER be used as an excuse for somebody over the age of five.  Not to mention the fact that this particular person abused Angie again after she returned home.  He wasn't too young then so I am still baffled why charges were not pressed.  

This situation was actually a small part in the whole overall storyline that I honestly didn't feel was needed.  Angie went through so much during those three years that she was gone that adding in another abusive storyline just felt like overkill.  Now if this certain person would have been the kidnapper then I could have seen the connection and I actually thought that was where the story was going to go.  Unfortunately we aren't given that direction and are left with a random villain who deserved a lot more than was given.  I still want revenge and I had hoped I would have gotten that scene before one of Angie's alters was erased, but sadly it was never revealed.

I also expected more from the scene where Angie finally spills what has been going on.  I guess to sum it up everything was just ho hum.  I kept waiting for the big scene where justice would be served and while we do get Angie fighting back it still wasn't enough for me.

Also I have to say that I was disappointed that the author wove in the Greg line.  He didn't add anything to the story other than to introduce Little Wife and I just felt sorry for Angie.  I kept thinking hasn't this girl been through enough?  I much preferred Abraim and Angie's slow building romance and I really wish that Greg wasn't even in the picture.

So yes I am struggling with this rating. I really enjoyed the authors writing and that last minute twist I never saw coming.  I kinda knew part of it, but not the whole thing and it broke my heart when all was revealed.  Liz Coley is a very talented writer and even though I don't agree with every direction she went in I still have a lot of respect for her writing and the world she created for Angie.

I am going to go with 3 snowflakes as my final rating.  I just can't give this anything less, the writing was too amazing.

3 snowflakes   

Review: The Ward by Jordana Frankel

The Ward by Jordana Frankel
Publisher -Katherine Tegen Books 
Release- April 30th 2013
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.Jordana Frankel’s ambitious debut novel and the first in a two-book series, The Ward is arresting, cinematic, and thrilling—perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld or Ann Aguirre.

My Thoughts:
Well now, this one really impressed me. I went into this book with zero expectations so I was surprised with how much I ended up really enjoying this. Don't you just love it when books do that?

The Ward is a heart-stomping, action packed story centered around a crumbling world in water-logged lower Manhattan. After the great Wash Out struck in 2048, years of pollution contaminated the water supply, riddling the world with a disease called HBNC, or, Blight. The search for a freshwater source may be the only way to find a cure. 16 year old Ren, loves two things in this world. Racing and her sister, Aven. So when she accepts a secret mission that may lead to clean water she has no choice but to do it. Aven is sick and she's her only real reason to live. Only Ren never thought she would trip over so many lies and deception. It's a race to find a cure, and to save Aven's life, but at what price? And who can she really trust? 

This is the kind of book where when you look at the bigger picture, it stretches your heart in all the ways that makes human emotion shine the brightest in a world that is bleak and depressing and filled with so much death. It challenges your humanity and makes you pause in thought. It will demand in hope and in the end make you believe that anything is possible if you live and love hard enough. 

Jordana Frankel's writing is passionate and strong. It's also brilliantly paced and filled with heart pounding moments of pure adrenaline, then slowed down long enough for us to connect with these characters in a more intimate and raw level.  

Ren is such a fierce and passionate character. Someone  you will want to follow till the very end, as well as someone I was incredibly proud of. The way she loves her sister (not by blood) was heartbreaking and inspiring. The lengths in which she would go to get medicine and money for her was so touching. It proves that kindness can melt a numb heart, that dying has nothing to do with loving someone and that even though they live with so much death, you still remember that life still exists and it's worth fighting for.

Aven is such a sweetie. Your heart truly goes out to her. Benny is Ren's mechanic. He's good people, loyal and protective and has always been there for her. Derek is Ren's bookie, but he's also something more. He conflicted me the most throughout this book, but when push comes to shove, I wanted to believe in him just as badly as Ren did. And then there's Callum who I really loved. I love what he stood for and what he was always fighting for.

Then we have the races, which were some of my favorite moments. Soaring from rooftop to rooftop was some pretty wicked stuff and so exciting and imaginatively written. I could totally see this on the big screen, larger then life, awing, thrilling and captivating.

Bottom line, I really enjoyed this book. It's a very intriguing and entertaining dystopia debut with a sci-fi fantasy edge. The story line is moving, touching but it's also calculating and thought provoking. The concept is fresh and the characters are flesh and bone, heart and soul and make you want to hold on till the very last page. The ending doesn't leave on a cliffy, but I can't wait for the sequel! I desperately want to know what happens next! A fantastic debut!

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                                                                  4 Snowflakes