A Dream Within A Dream: The Final Six Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2018/01/the-final-six-by-alexandra-monir.html

The Final Six
Author: Alexandra Monir
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen

Description:

When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, a science genius from California, are two of the twenty-four teens drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the contestants must endure in this competition.

For Leo, the prospect of traveling to Europa—Jupiter’s moon—to help resettle humankind is just the sense of purpose he’s been yearning for since losing his entire family in the flooding of Rome. Naomi, after learning of a similar space mission that mysteriously failed, suspects the ISTC isn’t being up front with them about what’s at risk.

As the race to the final six advances, the tests get more challenging—even deadly. With pressure mounting, Naomi finds an unexpected friend in Leo, and the two grow closer with each mind-boggling experience they encounter. But it’s only when the finalists become fewer and their destinies grow nearer that the two can fathom the full weight of everything at stake: the world, the stars, and their lives.

Praise for THE FINAL SIX:

“A breathtakingly real look at love, loss, and the dangers of space, THE FINAL SIX skyrockets into twists and turns I never saw coming!” ―Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of Across the Universe series

“I sat down to read a bit before bed and then it was two a.m. and the book was half gone. This is a space competition of epic proportions, loaded with disturbing hidden secrets and intense action. Your eyes will be glued to the page.” ―Kendare Blake, #1 NYT bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns

“Compelling, cinematic, and fascinating. I can’t wait to read what happens next in the mission to Europa!” ―Romina Russell, New York Times bestselling author of the Zodiac series

The Final Six is a fantastic new young adult science fiction novel that will suck readers in from the beginning words until the very end. I personally like the genre, and have read other books by the author - which I also liked - but for some reason I was blown away by how much I loved this book. It was as described, but it ended up being so much more too. I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's the best way I can describe it. I started reading it not quite expecting to be blown away, but I was immediately drawn into the story line and ended up reading the entire novel in one sitting without stopping. The plot might not have been wholly original, but the author put a lot of personalized touches to make it fresh and different than others I've read. The story line had something for everyone - science fiction (obviously), action, mystery, suspense, adventure, and romance.

Two main things about the book stood out for me. First were the characters. The main characters - Leo and Naomi - were well rounded and complex. They both had intricate personalities, histories, and were incredibly realistic. I connected with each of them almost immediately. Being the two main characters, there's bound to be a romantic aspect to the story, which is what happened here. I normally don't like when that happens because it feels like the romance overshadows the actual plot. I didn't feel that way with these two. I loved watching them meet for the first time and then watching their feelings grow throughout the story. It was sweet and actually made the novel better for me instead of detracting from it. The second huge positive was the author choice of writing style. She used the first person point of view, but alternated between Leo and Naomi as narrators. This way, the reader gets to see the story unravel from both perspectives and we get to really know each character on a personal level. That is always a huge bonus for me and this was no exception. I loved learning each of their hopes, dreams, fears, memories, and everything in between. It made them feel all the more realistic to me, which also turns their romance into something more alive and true. Overall, this book went way above any hopes or expectations I had for it and I definitely recommend it for fans of YA, science fiction, contemporary, romance, action/adventure, and space travel.

Iranian-American author and recording artist Alexandra Monir has published five novels for young adults, including her popular debut, Timeless. A Barnes & Noble bestseller and one of Amazon’s “Best Books of the Month,” Timeless and its sequel, Timekeeper, have been featured in numerous media outlets and been published in different countries around the world. She followed the duology with Suspicion and The Girl in the Picture, both standalone YA thrillers. Her upcoming science fiction novel, THE FINAL SIX (March 6, 2018) was acquired by HarperCollins and Sony Pictures on the same week, in two major pre-emptive deals.

Alexandra is also a singer/songwriter who often integrates music into her books’ pages. She wrote and recorded three original songs to accompany Timeless and Timekeeper, which were released as the album The Timeless EP and distributed by Jimmy Buffett's record label, Mailboat Records. She also recorded a song that was released with the publication of Suspicion, and is composing a stage musical geared toward Broadway. Her musical roots are deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, the foremost Iranian opera singer.

Alexandra Monir is a frequent speaker at middle schools and high schools across the country and at major events including fan conventions, women’s leadership conferences, and book festivals. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and newborn son. To learn more about Alexandra, visit her online at www.alexandramonir.com.