Insurgent (Divergent #2)

Summary
After the horrifying events that occurred on Initiation Day, Tris and Four are joined by some unlikely allies as they make their way to the Amity compound in hopes of finding a safe haven. But before Tris can be much help to the growing group of dissatisfied faction members, she must find a way to overcome the grief and guilt that are threatening to overwhelm her. While trying to move forward and determine what comes next, Tris realizes that uncovering the secrets that started the war between the factions may be the key to their next move.  Will she be able to deal with her issues and uncover the truth before it’s too late? And can she make the right choices without having to loose any more people she cares about?

Review
Picking up right where Divergent left off, Insurgent makes for a gripping and action packed second installment in the series. Roth continues to delve deeper into the characters’ history and mindset, creating layered and complex individuals that are rarely matched in YA fiction.  The world-building in this novel is also excellent. We learn more about the other factions than expected, and combined with (minimal) knowledge of current-day Chicago, I found it easy to visualize the city as it is in this dystopian future.  Despite the time spent on character development and world-building, the plot does not suffer. The story moves quickly and is rarely predictable. A surprising ending with a huge impact on the future of the series makes for a satisfying stopping point in the current story, but still leaves the reader wanting more.

Verdict
Insurgent is an excellent follow-up to Divergent that builds on the first novel and moves the story forward beautifully. I can’t wait for more!

*I won this book in a contest. Thanks @HarperCollinsCa!

March Reading List

10. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares (March 3)
It took me a while to get into this one, but Ann Brashares always makes such wonderful characters and compelling relationships, it eventually hooked me.

11. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (March 9)
A fully enjoyable, very cute love story. Somewhat predictable, but filled with really wonderful characters. My one issue with the story is how it glorifies the guy who cheats on his girlfriend, and leads on not one, but TWO of his best friends.

12. Untamed (House of Night #4) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (Mar 23)
Definitely my least favourite of the House of Night books so far. I really love the main characters in this series, but the dialogue can get very repetitive. I’m sure that won’t stop me from eventually coming back and reading the rest of the series though.

13. A Modern Witch by Debora Geary (Mar 28) – Full Review Here

A Modern Witch (Modern Witch # 1)

Summary
Lauren is enjoying the wonders of online shopping when she suddenly finds herself in an online chat room for witches instead of adding ice cream to her grocery cart.  Believing it’s some sort of computer glitch, she decides to humour the “witches” who want to chat with her about her “power”.  As a successful real estate agent, Lauren is quite sure that her powers are good intuition and solid research skills. But the women in the chat room are convinced, and inform Lauren that they’re going to send someone to “scan” her for witching power. Writing them off as nutty but harmless, Lauren returns to her grocery shopping and assumes that will be the last of it. But then a man shows up in the restaurant where she’s eating lunch and levitates some plates, sending Lauren’s whole word into turmoil. When Jamie finally manages to convince her that she has actual power, Lauren must decide whether to embrace this new mystifying world of witches, or run back to the comfort of blissful ignorance and her couch.

Review
A Modern Witch starts off slightly confusing by throwing readers into the middle of a scene without any back-story. But once the characters are established, it becomes a compelling and heart-warming tale that’s hard to put down. The dialogue flows naturally, and the characters are very likeable making it difficult not to root for them. One of my favourite aspects of the book is the refreshing and unexpected romantic twist. I always love it when a story doesn’t do what I expected! The addition of technology is a welcome enhancement to the witch genre, bringing a modern twist to what can sometimes seem dated. While not an action packed tale, the story moves along quickly, holding the readers’ attention right up until the end.

Verdict
A Modern Witch is a fun and entertaining read that mixes fantasy and technology seamlessly. I look forward to reading the next two installments in this series!

*I received this book for review from the  author through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program.

Anything

Summary
Ken & Melissa truly have it all. They each have a rewarding career, live in a nice home and are about to be blissfully married to the love of their life. As their wedding approaches, Ken visits their favourite jewellers to find Melissa the perfect wedding gift. Instead he is offered a rare opportunity to observe Melissa’s life before he knew her. Thinking it’s a hoax, Ken decides to humour the mysterious Stephon and take him up on his offer. The result turns out to be something much more than Ken believed possible. Now he’s faced with an incredibly difficult decision that could change everything he thought he knew.

Review
Michael Baron has a knack for creating wonderfully charismatic characters, and the central character in Anything is no exception. We get to know Ken well as the story is told from his POV, while Melissa remains more of a mystery. The secondary characters play very minimal roles in this book, but Ken manages to carry the story effortlessly on his own. The twists and turns created by Ken’s choices make this very different love story with less angst than your typical romance. While the intrepid ending wasn’t quite what I expected, I still felt it was a fitting conclusion to the narrative.

Verdict
A sweet, touching romance with just a hint of fantasy and mystery thrown in, Anything is another enjoyable story from Michael Baron.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

February Reading List

7. Dead Reckoning (Southern Vampires #11) by Charlaine Harris (Feb. 5)
Normally I love a Sookie story, and am pretty forgiving of some of the series faults. But this book just felt like filler. Not a lot happened, and too much time was spent on mundane activities (Sookie shaves her legs!). But it does seem like things are lining up and the story is working towards a conclusion.

8. Chosen (House of Night #3) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (Feb. 12)
This series is really just fluff, but for some reason I love it. Even when I’m shaking my head as I’m reading, I just can’t put the books down. #3 in the series was no exception.

9. Anything by Michael Baron (Feb. 19) – Full review here

According to GoodReads, I’m still on track for my goal of 50 books in 2012.

The Future of Us

Summary
In 1996 few people had a computer in their home, the internet was a strange new place and Facebook hadn’t even been invented yet. So when Emma Nelson logs onto her AOL account for the first time, she’s understandably confused when a window for Facebook pops up on her screen. As she explores this perplexing website, Emma is shocked to discover that somehow this page seems to be all about HER but 15 years in the future. Unable to deal with this bizarre discovery on her own, Emma confides in her next door neighbour (and once best friend) Josh. Josh is convinced it’s a prank until he gets a look at HIS future self, and really likes what he sees. But the pair soon discovers that even the tiniest action in the present can have a huge effect on the future. Will Emma and Josh be able to manipulate their future to ensure happiness or will they end up destroying everything before they even get there?

Review
With a truly unique and innovative concept, The Future of Us captures the reader quickly and keeps them hooked with a perpetual desire to find out what will happen next.  Emma and Josh are likeable, although slightly selfish characters, which makes them believable teenagers. A collaboration between two authors, each chapter in The Future of Us alternates between the two main characters point of view. While this tactic can often be confusing – especially in this case when the characters have a very similar voice – it was an excellent way to show how different Josh and Emma’s views of the future were. While some potential for greatness was wasted with unexplored plot-lines, The Future of Us is a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good story that moves well, even if it doesn’t overwhelm. The 90’s references were perfect, and the questions raised by the possibility of seeing your future kept me thinking for days after I had finished reading.

Verdict
The Future of Us is a quick, easy read that’s hard to put down. With an original concept and thought-provoking message, Josh and Emma’s story will appeal to readers both young and old.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

2012 seems to have marked a return to reading for me. After a year filled with turmoil, life seems to have settled down and as a result I’m picking up a book more often. Yay! This month I managed to finish 6 books, and I was lucky enough to really enjoy each of them.

1. The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
(Jan. 8 )

I mentioned briefly how much I loved the first book in this spin-off series last summer, and each book just keeps getting better and better!  I’m just sad I have to wait until fall for the next installment.

2. Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan (Jan. 9)

This was a good story… right up until the end. Because the book just STOPS. Basically right in the middle of a scene! There was no ‘ending’, and I was LIVID. If it hadn’t been an eBook I might have thrown the book.  Thankfully the version I read included the beginning of Vanish (the next book in the series), and the first chapter of Vanish makes for an excellent ending to Firelight.

3. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff (Jan. 14) – Full review here

4. Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth (Jan. 18 )

Loved this one! Definitely in the realm of The Huger Games, but it didn’t have quite the impact of Katniss’ story.  I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

5. Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Collins (Jan. 22)

Since I’ve yet to find anything I’ve loved as much as The Hunger Games since I read them, I thought I’d give Suzanne Collins earlier work a try. Gregor the Overlander is the first in a 5 book series that Suzanne wrote prior to The Hunger Games books. While it’s a good story with lots of action and likeable characters, I found it skewed a little younger than I like and I doubt I’ll continue on with the series.

6. The Future of Us by Jay Asher (Jan. 24) – Full Review here

The Space Between

Summary
Daphne, the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith has spent her life in a city made of steel. Unwilling to indulge in the common behaviour of her sisters, she has forgone the pleasures of earth for an eternity of nothingness in Pandemonium. But when Obie – the one person who breaks up the monotony of her existence – goes missing, Daphne sets aside her fears and ventures out into the world to find him. The only clue she has is Truman, the human boy she met when Obie saved him from eternal damnation in Pandemonium. With Truman’s help, she struggles to rescue the one person that matters most before it’s too late. In the process, Daphne discovers her true power and learns that life is full of the unexpected and people can be saved in more ways than one.

Review
The Space Between is a dark and haunting tale, written in wonderfully descriptive prose so that even the bleakest scenery appears vivid and harshly beautiful.  The story is broken up into three parts: Hell, Earth and Heaven. As is to be expected, Pandemonium (hell) is very bleak and as a result the story doesn’t fully come to life until Daphne ventures to earth. Yovanoff has an interesting take on good and evil, breaking out of the norm to allow angels to be harsh and demons to show kindness. Consequently, the characters in The Space Between are unique and original. And it was very refreshing to read a YA fantasy novel with NO love triangle!  The light romance that was in the story was subtle and believable. My one issue with The Space between was the shift between 1^st person and 3^rd person narrative in an attempt to show both Truman and Daphne’s points of view. It was too subtle to be effective and was often confusing. The final battle was somewhat anti-climatic, but the story continues after the final showdown, and I very much enjoyed the unexpected ending.

Verdict
A beautifully written and fresh take on the standard YA fantasy fare, The Space Between is both eerie and yet heart-warming at the same time.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4)

Summary
After the siege of Feinster, Eragon and Saphira continue to travel across Alagaësia with the Varden in an attempt to take control of the land and thwart Galbatorix’s supporters. The further they venture, the more they fear their enemy is too powerful to be defeated.  Eragon trains as hard as he can in hopes of becoming a strong enough fighter to defeat the all powerful Galbatorix, but nothing he does seems to be enough. When unexpected allies join their side, the Varden’s hopes rise, but will it be enough to bring down the most powerful magician in the land? Or will Eragon and the Varden be forced to admit defeat and live under Galbatorix’ rule?

Review
If you’ve come this far in the series then you’re probably already a fan of Paolini’s remarkable characters in the Inheritance series. I love each of the characters and would have a hard time picking my favourite (it’s Saphira). Each of the characters are complex individuals with both strengths and flaws, and their unwavering convictions make it hard to dislike even the most evil players. Rich background stories are woven throughout the four books and Inheritance is no exception, as we finally learn more about the Dragons history and the fall of the Riders.

While the books are sometimes criticized for being too long and drawn out, I for one don’t have a problem with how the story has progressed or its conclusion. While I must admit that Inheritance did drag a bit in the middle, I still enjoyed all the side adventures that brought Eragon and his friends to where they are today.

***SPOLIER IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH***

For those of you expecting a big love scene, you may be disappointed… Eragon’s story has never been a romance, but a tale of growth, strength and overcoming obstacles against all odds. I think Paolini handled the Eragon/Arya situation perfectly in keeping with the true spirit of the novel.

Verdict
It was a long time coming, but Inheritance makes for a satisfactory conclusion to Eragon and Saphira’s story, while still leaving the door open for possible future Rider adventures. This fan is satisfied.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Books are listed in the order they were read. An *e at the end of the title indicates that it was an e-book, books listed in bold were my favourites this year. Links are to reviews and discussions here on WAGB.

If there are any books on this list that you’d like to see reviewed or that you’d like to discuss, please leave  a note in the comments. We’re always happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions, and we always like to talk about books!

Reading List 2011

1.     He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrnardt & Liz Tucco (Jan. 13)

2.     Electric Blue (Jane Kelly #2) by Nancy Bush (Jan. 16)

3.     Sucker Bet (Vegas Vampires #4) by Erin McCarthy (Jan. 21)

4.     The Duff by Kody Keplinger

5.     Sweet Spot (Bakery Sisters #2) by Susan Mallery (Jan. 27) *e

6.     The Death of Joan of Arc (Nicholas Flamel #4.5) by Michael Scott (Jan. 28) *e

7.     Up In Smoke (Silver Dragons, #2) by Katie MacAlister (Feb. 11) *e

8.     Gone (Gone #1) by Michael Grant (Feb. 22) *e

9.     Spinning by Michael Baron (Feb. 27)

10.  The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan (Mar. 8 )

11.  Divine By Mistake (Partholon, #1) by P.C. Cast (Apr. 5) *e

12.  Subject Seven by James A. Moore (Apr. 22)

13.  Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5) by Brandon Mull (May 11)

14.  Eona (Eon #2) by Alison Goodman (June 29)

15.  The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, #1) by Rick Riordan (July 15)

16.  Wolfsbane (Nighstade #2) by Andrea Cremer (July 28)

17.  Sisterhood Everlasting (SHotTP #5) by Ann Brashares (Aug 2)

18.  Smokin’ Seventeen (Plum #17) by Janet Evanovich (Aug 7)

19.  The Final Warning (Maximum Ride, #4) by James Patterson (Aug 10)

20.  Calling for Angels by Alex Smith (Aug 16) *e

21.  Marked (House of Night #1) by PC Cast (Aug 20) *e

22.  Betrayed (House of Night #2) by PC Cast (Aug 22) *e

23.  Death’s Excellent Vacation by Charlaine Harris & Various (Sept. 1) *e, library book

24.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Sept. 3) *e

25.  Where She Went by Gayle Forman (Sept. 4)

26.  Matched by Ally Condie (Sept.11)

27.  The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (Sept. 18) *e

28.  The Summer of Permanent Wants by Jamieson Findlay (Oct. 11)

29.  The Dark City (Relic Master #1) by Catherine Fisher (Oct. 19)

30.  Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Oct. 24) *e, library book

31.  The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Nov. 7) *e, library book

32.  Crossed by Ally Condie (Nov. 15)

33.  Explosive Eighteen (Plum #18) by Janet Evanovich (Nov. 20)

34.  The Warlock (Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott (Dec. 7) *e

35.  Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini (Dec. 30)