Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Darkest Star (Origin #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: October 30, 2018
Publisher: Tor Teen

Description:

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both new and old.  

 

The Darkest Star is the thrilling first book in a new YA science fiction series that fans of the author and the genre are definitely going to want to get their hands on. Before I start, I want to make a confession: I haven't read the original Lux series. I know, I know. I've heard nothing but amazing things about it, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Since this is kind of a spin-off series, and given how much I adored this book, I know I have to go read them as soon as possible. That being said, I have to break this down into what I loved the most about this book because this is one of those novels where I could ramble on forever about why I loved it so much. Because I did - so, so much.

Characters: I adored Evie as the main character. The story is told from the first person point of view, from Evie's perspective. We really get to know her on a deep level because of this writing style, which I loved. We get to know her innermost thoughts, hopes and fears, dreams and doubts, memories, and so much more. I immediately connected with her from the very beginning of the story. I also have to talk about Luc, the other major character in the novel. He's a bit more complicated for me to explain. Don't get me wrong - I loved him. Definitely book boyfriend material - and I don't usually do that whole thing. Luc is very self-assured, cocky, smug, and can be a bit mean at times. He's got the bad boy thing going all the way. But then there's the other side we get to see - where we learn about his horrible past and the reason why he's so interested in Evie, even though it seems like he doesn't even like her for most of the time. He's the classic bad boy with a heart of gold and I almost never fall for guys like these in books. I never see the appeal. BUT I totally fell for Luc. I don't even know why. It's kind of like with Evie and her feelings for him - he's confusing and annoying and can be a jerk, but there's some pull there that can't be explained or ignored. And I definitely felt that way while reading. I was rooting for them the whole time and was so happy how the story ended. 

Story: The main thing I think I loved about the book was the characters and their relationship, but the story itself was really interesting and I loved learning about the Luxen, their history, their powers, and everything else involving them. As I mentioned, I haven't read the original Lux series, so I wasn't familiar with the Luxen before reading this book. I found them fascinating and I can't wait to learn more about them and about what's coming in the second installment. There's a pretty big surprise in the novel, but I figured it out way before it's revealed. I think it was because there's a lot of hints, clues, and foreshadowing happening - to the point I felt like it was completely obvious. Besides figuring out the big twist, there were other smaller twists that intertwined with the major one that I didn't see coming and made the story all the more interesting. Although they felt small compared to the "big reveal" they made a big impact on the characters and the plot itself. I'm excited to see where all the characters will fit in during the next book.

Series: Another huge thing I love is that this is just the start of a new series. I think I would've cried if this was just a stand alone. I want - no, NEED - more of this story. I need more Luc. I want to get to know him better and get to know Evie and the others better too. I want to watch Luc and Evie's relationship develop and grow into what's possible between them. (Cue a bit of swooning.) Anyways, I'm done rambling because I could keep going forever and not make any sense. If you were a fan of the Lux series - you need this book. If you're a fan of the author's - you need this book. I definitely also recommend it to fans of YA science fiction, fantasy, dystopia, romance, and aliens. READ THIS BOOK NOW. You won't regret it.

*A huge thank you to Bookish First for hosting the giveaway for this book that I was able to win a copy!*

Pacifica Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Pacifica

Author: Kristen Simmons

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: Tor Teen

Description:

Marin is cosario royalty, a pirate like her father and his father before him. Sailing the ocean to chase adventure is in her blood. But these days no one cares that the island town her people call home is named after her grandfather. They have a new leader, one who promises an end to their hunger – and one who thinks that girls are meant for the kitchen or the brothel. Marin knows she's meant for more than that, and with the sudden influx of weapons on the island, and rumors of a pending deal with the enemy oil nation in her wake, she knows a big score to gain the council's favor is the only way to save her people, and herself.

Ross lives a life of privilege. As the president's son he wants for nothing, but he longs for a life of adventure. On a dare, he convinces his best friend Adam to sneak out to the Docks, the site of local race riots between the poor Shorlings and the upper class. But when Adam is arrested along with the other Shorlings, and not even the president is willing to find him, Ross finds himself taking matters into his own hands. He journeys back into the Docks, ready to make deals with anyone, even a beautiful pirate, if it means Adam's safe return.

When Marin and Ross meet in dangerous Shoreling territory he sees a way to get his friend back and she sees her ticket home. The ransom a president’s son would command could feed her people for years and restore her family’s legacy. But somewhere in the middle of the ocean, Marin must decide if her heart can handle handing over the only person who has ever seen her as more than a pirate.

Praise for PACIFICA:

“Simmons (Article 5, 2012; Metaltown, 2016) excels at dystopian fiction, and her admirable latest takes to the sea. …A breathtaking story full of high-seas adventure, power struggles, romance, betrayal, and more... Simmons’ great-grandmother was taken to a Japanese internment camp during WWII, and her experiences influence those of Marin and the pirates. ...Non-stop action and surprises will keep readers enthralled through both rough waters and smooth sailing alike.” ―Booklist, starred

"A harrowing world where overpopulation is rampant and pollution stifling. The characters creep into your heart with raw, familiar issues of love, friendship, and family ties, careening you on a plot fraught with just as many twists as there are pieces of trash in the ocean. Pacifica will have you breathlessly fearing our own future." ―New York Times bestselling author Sara Raasch

Praise for KRISTEN SIMMONS:

"Like The Handmaid's Tale, Simmons's book serves as essential commentary on women's rights." ―Cosmopolitan.com on The Glass Arrow

“I’m clutching my mangled heart and smiling madly, so it’s that kind of book. Such gorgeous heartbreak! Smart, absorbing, and deeply human.” ―New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor on Metaltown

“A compelling, inspiring read. The characters had me rooting for rebels, fights worth fighting, and girls with gumption. By the time it was over, I had my fist in the air.” ―New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake on Metaltown

You can purchase PACIFICA at the following Retailers:

        

Pacifica was another young adult dystopian adventure filled with action, adventure, fantasy, and romance - and is one that all types of readers will enjoy. I've read several of the author's other books and have always enjoyed each one, which is why I didn't even hesitate to add this to my list. If anyone can tackle a dystopian fantasy world with pirate heroines and an unlikely relationship with a politician's son - it's definitely her. And she did a better job than I had hoped for.

One of the very best aspects of this book was the world building. The characters' world was created with such complexity and attention to detail that I was easily able to bring it to life in my mind. The author used vivid imagery and descriptions to bring everything to life and easily creates a world for our characters and their stories to unfold. The characters - both main and secondary - were well rounded and realistic. I really liked Marin - she was fierce, determined, loyal, smart, yet also kind to those she loved and trusted. I connected with her from the beginning and was rooting her on throughout the whole story. The other characters had distinctive personalities and flaws that made them realistic and fit easily into the book. The plot was fascinating on several levels, which I attribute to the blending of several genres into a intricate story line. A lot of things happen and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what's going to happen next. The only thing that I didn't fully enjoy about the book was the author's choice of writing style.  She wrote the novel in the third person point of view - focusing on both Marin and Ross. My personal preference is the first person POV for several reasons. I think that if the story had been written from the first person perspective, it would have been a lot more engaging and I would have been able to get deeper into the story. This was actually a pretty big deal for me and the reason I didn't give the book five stars. These are my own personal opinions and have absolutely nothing to do with the story or the writing itself.  Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of YA, fantasy, action, adventure, dystopian, and pirate fiction.

 

KRISTEN SIMMONS is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and METALTOWN. She has worked with survivors of abuse and trauma as a mental health therapist, taught Jazzercise in five states, and is forever in search of the next best cupcake. Currently she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, where she spends her days supporting the caffeine industry and chasing her delightfully rambunctious son.

    

(2) Winners will receive two sets of Kristen’s books (Article 5, The Glass Arrow and Metaltown) in a TOR Teen Tote.
Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Dark Intercept Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt + Giveaway

The Dark Intercept (The Dark Intercept #1)
Author: Julia Keller
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: Tor Teen

Description:

The State controls your emotions. What would you pay to feel free?

In a radiant world of endless summer, the Intercept keeps the peace. Violet Crowley, the sixteen-year-old daughter of New Earth’s Founding Father, has spent her life in comfort and safety. Her days are easy thanks to the Intercept, a crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew, gets into a dangerous altercation on Old Earth, Violet launches a secret investigation to find out what he's hiding. An investigation that will lead her to question everything she's ever known about Danny, her father, and the power of the Intercept.  

Praise for THE DARK INTERCEPT:

“The Dark Intercept grabbed me from the first page and shook me until the last. A riveting and suspenseful story of love, risk, and betrayal.” —EMMY LAYBOURNE, author of Berserker, Sweet, and the Monument 14 trilogy

“A chilling and thought-provoking look at the power of weaponized emotion.” —MELISSA LANDERS, author of the Alienated trilogy and Starflight

“Both cautionary and hopeful—a rare, literary feat.” —GENNIFER ALBIN, New York Times bestselling author of the Crewel World trilogy

“A stormy, spine-tingling ride in which everything remembered and once felt in your life can be used against you.” —BLUE BALLIETT, author of Chasing Vermeer and The Calder Game

“The Dark Intercept goes straight to the heart of why privacy matters in today's world. Keller has written an accessible coming-of-age adventure where the teenage protagonist comes to understand the consequences of living in a society that monitors everyone's emotions, including her own.” —MICHAEL C. ROBINSON, Chair of the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee's Privacy Subcommittee

“Julia Keller writes so viscerally that she takes the readers with her into the worlds she has created. The Intercept is a fascinating springboard which she uses to explore the importance of feelings, and how they affect our lives and choices.” —BETSY FRASER, Selector, Calgary Public Library (Alberta, Canada), and 2016 YALSA/ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Service to Young Adults Achievement Award-winner 

You can purchase The Dark Intercept at the following Retailers:

        

She watched.

It was her job to watch, but Violet would have watched anyway. She leaned over her keyboard, slinging her body so far forward that her nose almost bumped the screen. Her heart was jumping around in her chest. She could feel the sweat pooling in her palms.

The short, dirty person zipping across the picture on her monitor was named Tommy Tolliver. His nickname was Tin Man.

Violet knew those things because the data showed up in a small square box next to his face on the screen. The information only stayed for a flicker of an instant before it was updated, but that was long enough. In livid orange letters, the box told her that he was sixteen years old and really, really scared.

So scared that he was running as fast as he could through the twisted filigree of streets on Old Earth. So scared that his pulse rate was leaping up and up, and his thoughts were a crazy gray tangle.

The cop who was chasing him was named Danny Mayhew. Violet didn’t need a box next to his face to tell her that. Which was a good thing, because there wasn’t one. The Intercept didn’t track cops. It only kicked in for the bad guys. Not the good guys.

Tin Man was fast. But Danny was also fast. In fact, Danny was a tick faster. Which meant he was catching up.

Violet sucked in a deep breath. She didn’t let it out again right away. She was too focused on the action in that strange and distant place to remember to breathe. When she did remember, the breath came out as a frustrated sigh. She used her thumb to flick impatiently at a triangular slice of dark blond hair that had drifted onto her forehead.

Oh, Danny, she thought. Not again. What are you doing down there, anyway?

Tin Man swerved into a filthy alley. It was always raining on Old Earth. Or at least it seemed to be on those not-very-frequent occasions when Violet was required to look down there. The rain draped the place in a greasy sheen, slickening the bricks.

Tin Man’s luck suddenly left him.

Copyright © 2017 by Julia Keller

The Dark Intercept is a bold and imaginative first book in an exciting YA science fiction series that fans are definitely going to love. The plot of the story was very in depth and original, which is hard to come by anymore. I really liked learning about this future the author created and about both the New Earth and the Old Earth. And then there's the whole Intercept topic, which is a huge part of the story. I loved learning about the Intercept - how it came to be, what it does, what it's supposed to do, and what it can be capable of, among others. It really made me sit back and think about what life would be like if something like this was in our world today. It's a fascinating and horrifying thought and one that can be argued for both the positive and the negative. I'm looking forward to learning more about the Intercept and the world the author has created for the series.

The characters were pretty well rounded with distinctive traits and flaws, which made them realistic. I had a personal issue with the writing style, however. I strongly prefer the first person point of view, and this book is told from the third person. I never seem to connect with the characters as deeply (or barely at all) when the writing isn't done in the first person. It's my own quirk and has nothing to do with the author's writing or the book itself. Just my personal preference. But it always has a pretty big impact on my reading experience, and this was no exception. The plot was full of action, suspense, and tons of questions. Eventually, the answers are given to us - so there really weren't any big cliffhangers (which I'm grateful for). I thought the main plot of Danny and Violet along with their secrets was interesting and I liked watching them work through everything together while watching their relationship grow and change. Overall, I think this was a fantastic start to a promising new series that fans of science fiction and dystopias are going to want to pick up.

 

Julia Keller, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and former cultural critic at the Chicago Tribune, is the author of many books for adults and young readers, including A Killing in the Hills, the first book in the Bell Elkins series and winner of the Barry Award for Best First Novel (2013); Back Home; and The Dark Intercept. Keller has a Ph.D. in English literature from Ohio State and was awarded Harvard University’s Nieman Fellowship. She was born in West Virginia and lives in Ohio.

   

(3) Winners will receive a The Dark Intercept Swag (Tote Bag, Notebook and Copy) by Julia Keller.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last Chance Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Last Chance (Rains #2)
Author: Gregg Hurwitz
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Publisher: Tor Teen

Description:

The Rain brothers fight for the survival of humanity in Last Chance, the thrilling sequel to New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz's YA debut, The Rains.

The New York Times bestselling author of Orphan X, Gregg Hurwitz, returns to Creek's Cause to follow the Rains brothers as they fight an alien threat that has transformed everyone over the age of 18 into ferocious, zombie-like beings, in this thrilling sequel to The Rains.

Battling an enemy not of this earth, Chance and Patrick become humanity’s only hope for salvation.

Praise for LAST CHANCE:

“The Rains is one of those all-too-creepy-and-believable stories that leaves you looking in your backyard for the next strange weed to poke through the ground. Chilling!”—Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author

You can purchase Last Chance at the following Retailers:

        

Last Chance is the second installment in the Rains series - a young adult science fiction series that readers are sure to love. Since this is the second book, I recommend reading the first book in the series, The Rains, beforehand. It's easier to understand what's happening and you'll get a chance to know the main characters. That's just my own opinion though. Right from the very start, this book was filled with non-stop action. There seemed to always be something happening, with no time to even breath. I could almost feel the fear and adrenaline that Chance was experiencing. 

The story is told from Chance's point of view, in an interesting form where each "chapter" was a separate "entry" - like in a journal of sorts. I liked how the author incorporated this writing style and I loved that it was told from the first person POV. By the end of the book, I felt very connected to Chance and even to the other two main characters - Patrick and Alex. All three were well rounded with distinct personalities and traits that made them feel very realistic. They had flaws like everyone does, and I felt that made them all the more accessible to the reader. They all had very close relationships with one another and I liked watching them grow and change as separate characters as well as with one another. 

The plot was hardcore action with lots of fighting and aliens. That normally isn't my cup of tea, but the author did such a fantastic job of bringing it all to life in front of my eyes that I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to find out more about the aliens, their purpose, what they wanted - everything. It was very well written and even though it obviously science fiction, the author managed to make it feel real and I was right beside Chance and the others throughout the whole thing. I definitely recommend this book and series to fans of the genre - especially those who love aliens and loads of action.

 

Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times bestselling author of 18 novels, including HELLBENT (2018). His novels have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 30 languages.
 

He is also a New York Times Bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). Additionally, he’s written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios (including the upcoming THE BOOK OF HENRY), and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. Gregg resides in Los Angeles.

    

(3) Winners will receive a Set Copy of LAST CHANCE Series (2 Books in Total) THE RAINS and LAST CHANCE by Gregg Hurwitz.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway