"Luminary" by Krista McGee {book review}

 

| Music listened to while writing this post:

Falcons (Sidelmann Remix) - Sam Simmon

All For You - Haerts

Wings - Haerts

Houdini (RAC Remix) - Foster The People + RAC

Exit Calypsan - Falling Up

Into Darkness - Thomas Bergerson

Wings - Birdy

End of the World - Ingrid Michaelson

Overdose - Little Daylight |

 

 

Thalli thought escaping to the surface would mean freedom. But is she any less of an anomaly aboveground?

 

After escaping an underground annihilation chamber, Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John find themselves fleeing across the former United States, aboveground for the first time. As the defectors cross the for gotten landscape, the three youths see things the y had only read about on screens: horses, rain, real books—and a colony of unsanctioned survivors living the ancient way in a town called New Hope.

When the citizens of New Hope reveal the truth of what happened years ago, Thalli is left unsettled and skeptical of everything she’s ever been told. Can she trust anything from the State, including her own feelings for Berk? When she volunteers for a peace mission to New Hope’s violent neighbor, Athens, her confusion mounts as the supposedly ruthless Prince Ale x turns out to be kind and charming. Although everyone in New Hope warned her not to, she can’t help but fall for him.

Meanwhile, John’s unwavering faith in the goodness of the Designer begins to make its mark on Thalli’s heart. But can Thalli really come to trust in a generous, protective Designer who rules over all things? Would that not be setting herself up for another betrayal?

The time for her to decide is now . . . because the State is closing in.

--

 

So I was pretty excited to get to read and review the anticipated sequel to Anomaly. Even though I felt like Anomaly took me on more of an emotional rollercoaster than Luminary, it still was a great read. I found myself flying through the pages, eager to keep reading, and if you like a fast-paced dystopian thriller I'm sure you will too. (Although you definitely need to read Anomaly first.)

 

 

Plot:

Although slow starting out for the first five chapters, it quickly shapes into something you can't take your attention from.

Thalli is frustrated. With herself, God, and her friends. Especially Berk. She's worried that he's fallen for Rhen and no longer loves her as he used to. She's constantly taken by fear that the Scientists will find them as they explore the desolate remains of the world above - earth.

And then, boom. Suddenly the little group of pioneers discovers that they're not alone. They stumble upon a charming little settlement and soon are attempting to make themselves at home.

Next thing, Thalli's being doted on by a light-haired 'prince' and....I'll stop there.

 

Throughout the whole book the Berk drama continues. It's a little annoying at times because it feels somewhat overdone. I mean, yes, we all know Thalli's super emotional and that contributes to the problem, but hey. I get the melodramatic deal. I'm a drama queen myself - one of the big reasons I can relate to Thalli so well. That being said, her issues with Berk were probably my least favorite element of the plot.

 

The plot in general stayed pretty predictable (with a few exceptions) in comparison to that of Anomaly.  There were some details concerning the Scientists and Athens which were pretty amazing and break-through, however.

 

Something very, very sad happened. *sniffff* Somebody....dies. I was expecting it, yes. But that didn't make it any less tragic. I won't say anything more.

 

 

Genre:

Refer to my review of Anomaly as obviously the genre didn't change here. My thoughts remain the same.

 

 

Characters:

Man, what a cast of characters in this one. I could give a note of reference to all the new ones but that would take a while so I'm only mentioning two - the ones that stood out most, of all the 'newbies'.

 

Alex. He's pretty amazing, really. I love the multi-fold layers/aspects of his personality. Personally, as much as a Berk/Thalli relationship is cute and kind of the default option, I can totally ship Alex and Thalli.

Alex reminds me of a prince from Atlantis or something. I don't know why. Maybe it's his long, messy blond hair. He's fiery, fierce and thoroughly unpredictable. Deep down, he strives for justice and peace. He's fed up with his murderous, evil father.

 

Speaking of which. King Jason, Alex's father. I hate him. I just.....yeah. He infuriated me. If you want a blatantly wicked antagonist there's one for ya.

 

 

Setting:

I thought it was interesting that the settlement of Athens was vaguely modeled after the real Athens. Athens in general is a fascinating place. Everything is painted black to collect solar energy - which makes it feel ominous and yet grandiose in a way.

I loved the contrast of the simplicity in New Hope compared to the peculiar wonders in Athens. Also, good vibrant imagery just in general of both locations.

 

 

Underlying Theme(s):

Refer back to my review of Anomaly. Pretty much the same theme - Thalli seeking God's presence and learning who she really is.  Also, her learning to trust Him in adversity.

 

 

(On a 1 - 10 basis, 1 being the most mild and 10 the most extreme:) WARNING - SPOILERS!

 

Violence: 7  Even though there was little actual bloodshed it was amplified by its setting and context. There were no medical experimentations and neurosurgeries taking place. There is however, a scene where mutant wolves attack Thalli, Rhen, Berk and John before they get to New Hope. Berk is injured severely. And more disturbing, there's King Jason's sadistic schemes. He uses gas to keep the citizens of Athens under his subjection. He gasses Thalli to make her cooperate, and it's revealed that he murdered his own wife and would just as easily murder his children. (In fact, Thalli discovers he even planned to have her assassinated, for political reasons.) King Jason uses public torture and execution as a means to scare his people into submission, and overall it seems he just has a lust for bloodshed. His kills his daughter, accusing Thalli for it to instigate hatred between the Athenians and New Hope people.

 

Sexual context: 1 Nothing explicit occurs. Dallas comments that Rhen and Thalli are the nicest looking girls he's ever seen.

 

 

Overall:

I think Anomaly is still my favorite of this series. However, I still greatly enjoyed this volume. It was encouraging to see Thalli learn to place her trust in God instead of leaning on her own strength. It was devastating to see the wickedness that one man could spawn. It was traumatic, the romantic relationships morass. Berk or Alex? Alex or Berk? If I've learned one thing so far about this series, it's that you can't trust anything for very long. Just when you think a certain character is so wonderful, the truth is revealed - or that character dies. People are not what they seem, and reading Luminary, I felt as confused and contemplative as the protagonist herself. I was captivated by the cultures displayed in Athens and New Hope. I was elated at yet more musical references. I was on the edge of my seat for the good last half of the book.

I was sucked into a thrilling world with a tremendously heartbreaking backstory. I was left in inner turmoil over what could possibly happen next.

 

In conclusion? I was left hungry for more.

 

 

Krista McGee's Official Website | Buy on Amazon



"Embassy" by S. Alex Martin {book review}

 

| Music listened to while writing this post:

Sweet Revenge - Phantom Power Music

Stand Tall - Epic Score

Purgatory - Brand X Music

You Were Born for This - Epic Score

Jewel of Africa - West One Music

Chrome Standard - Trevor DeMaere

Palladio Rebuilt - Kerry Muzzey 

Tyven - Seven Lions |

 

First of all, I helped critique this book/was a beta reader during its editing/writing process so naturally it feels more personal to me.  It feels like I've gotten to know it and its characters a lot deeper, since I was a part of its work-in-progress journey. 

 

Normally, I don't read much sci-fi. In fact, I'm not a sci-fi fan at all. Therefore, I wasn't expecting to be drawn in by this book. I was going to beta read just to help a fellow writer friend out, you know?

But it turned into something so much more.

I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book, and eager to find out what happened next. Embassy took me on an incredible ride, one full of adventure-filled settings, colorful characters and charismatic events.

 

So yeah. If I can say this about a book from a genre I'm not usually fond of, then you know it has to be decent.

 

The back cover reads:  

 

"When Arman Lance fell in love with Ladia Purnell, he made it his life's goal to find her after she left his planet. But amid tragedy and his obsession for Ladia, Arman struggles to fight the mental isolation he has built around him. He sees joining the galaxy's Embassy Program only as one step on his journey to Ladia, nothing more.
Now Arman explores the Embassy, flies a Molter, and competes in the fast-action Hologis tournament. At last, Arman embarks on the expedition that will take him across the stars to Ladia, but the journey might change him ways he would have never dared to imagine."

 

 

Plot:

Embassy may not seem to be a coming-of-age story, but deep down, it kind of is.

Arman's journey is more an emotional one than physical. Embassy may be full of thrilling space voyages and daunting physical obstacles to be overcome, but at heart it's a novel about one young man's journey to understanding who he truly is.

 

Concerning plot twists and the like, I'll admit, I didn't encounter a whole lot of unpredictable in this book. Nonetheless, one particular event in the very beginning threw me. Gahhh, feels! 

 

Throughout the entire story, the plot development was rich and the climaxes were gripping. If you want a book with solid plot ascension, and events that arrive in forceful splendor, you'll be sure to like Embassy.

 

Genre:

As I made clear before, sci-fi is not my thing. Yeah, I've always been a Trekkie, but that's about it. I've read very little science fiction. Space itself is intriguing to me, because I love astronomy; but stories involving people in space? Nahhhh.

So instinctively I don't think I would've picked up Embassy for its genre alone. 

 

Characters:

I'll cut to the chase here - my favorite thing about Embassy is its characters. In the beginning I thought Glacia was a jerk, but the more I saw the story progress, and got to know her, I decided she was awesome. I love her witty, charming personality and how she's constantly smiling, but not in a fake, insincere way. I love that she's so blunt.

Arman is honestly quite a sourpuss for most of the book. But he redeems himself later on. He's arguably the most moody of everyone and is a real drama-king. Of course, considering that he lost a very dear loved one I can see where part of that would come from.

 I love the interchanges between Glacia and Arman. I shipped them from the very beginning and was constantly amused by their conversations and times spent together.

 

Sometimes it's hard to empathize with certain characters, but overall I feel that their author did a fine job getting us acquainted with them. The prove to be colorful and entertaining.

 

 

Setting:

Wow. What to even say here? So much spectacular imagery was painted in Embassy.

Part of the story is set in the sun-baked, desert wasteland of planet Undil. I could practically feel the heat scorching my skin, and the dry, sandy air clinging to my mouth. Undil is a place deprived of water, greenery and life in essence. Artificial grass covers the playgrounds and parks, replicating what had been wiped out years a priori. Mesas emerge from the barren ground, stretching endlessly.  into the distance. In short, Undil is a hot, boring world. The Embassy, where Arman goes to train for his voyage across the stars, buzzes with futuristic cosmopolitan activity.

 

One of my all-time favorite scenes is where Glacia takes Arman out to the edge of the city and they look at the stars - she tries to teach him some constellations so he can impress Ladia. This was so beautifully orchestrated, and I could picture it all so clearly as if I were there myself.

 

Of course the space scenes are also awesome. And once Arman arrives on Belvun, Ladia's home planet, the book's atmosphere and ambience changes dramatically. It takes on a whole new flavor, with the new planet which is teeming with intrigue, fascinating aromas and memorable tastes.

Overall, this book's array of settings and imagery is nothing short of vivid.

 

Underlying Theme(s):

The most obvious theme in Embassy is one of self-exploration/discovery.

Arman learns to truly appreciate life for all that it is. It may carry a whole lot of pain and suffering, but amid the dark moments there is also potential for great joy and peace. If only Arman were to know where that peace and joy comes from ultimately - Jesus Christ. Because even though one can find momentary happiness without Him in his/her life, it will never compare to the lasting serenity that faith in Him provides.

 

(On a 1 - 10 basis, 1 being the most mild and 10 the most extreme:)

WARNING - SPOILERS!

Violence: 3 One of the most emotionally gripping scenes in Embassy is where Arman and his father get into a car accident, and Arman's father dies. I was so close to tearing up during that segment, just because it happened so fast and I wasn't expecting it. Concerning gore, there was a moderate amount of blood in this scene. I mean, come on, a car accident, what else do you expect?

Throughout the rest of the story it's inferred that people are killed when they reach a certain age or their children are old enough to bear offspring of their own; for "population control" purposes.

 

Sexual Content: 2 Nothing explicit is shown. However, it's obvious that Arman and Ladia share an intimate relationship and do intimate things. The most we actually see is kissing and embracing. Later on, Arman realizes that he's developed feelings for Glacia over Ladia and one of the final scenes shows him waking up with her in bed with him. (The author made clear that their relationship is not a sexual one, but still this scene immediately made me think otherwise when I first read it.)

 

 

Overall:

If a non sci-fi fan can go through a book like this and really enjoy it, that has to say something doesn't it?! 

Some of the descriptions of things like machinery/technology got a little dry at times, but overall my describing words for Embassy are: vibrant, vivacious, memorable. This is not a book I will soon forget. I felt reading it was an immersive 3-D experience in full color.  I give it a thumbs-up!

 

Embassy surprised me with its charisma and personality. It's dramatic, intense and...you should read it for yourself because obviously that's the only way you'll be able to get the full picture of everything it offers!

 

In short? Definitely my favorite sci-fi book yet.

 

 

Goodreads | Buy on Amazon | Alex's Official Website

 

"Anomaly" by Krista McGee {book review}

 

| Music listened to while writing this post:

Millennium - Audiomachine

Solar Sailor - Daft Punk

This Is Our Legacy - Zack Hemsey

Mind Heist - Zack Hemsey

Brian Boru's March - Celtic Moods

Great Deceiver - Danny Cocke

Tyven - Seven Lions  |

 

When I first saw the cover of Anomaly by Krista McGee, I was instantly intrigued. For one, the very title alone hooked me. "Anomaly" is a fabulous word and holds a steady place in my day-to-day vocabulary. I've always felt like an anomaly, in my own way.

 So I guess instinctively this fact made me feel drawn to the premise of this YA novel.

 

Not to mention, while we're on the topic of the cover, it is a gorgeous one. I love the subtle, femininely muted colors and then the bright pop of green in the girl's eyes.  It's stunning.

 

Question. Feel. Believe.

 

The back-cover blurb reads:

 

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli’s birth, the world was decimated by a nuclear war. But life continued deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. There they created genetically engineered human beings who are free of emotions in the hope that war won’t threaten the world again.

Thalli is an anomaly, born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far by hiding her differences. But then her secret is discovered when she’s overwhelmed by the emotion of an ancient piece of music.

The Ten quickly schedule her annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk—a scientist being groomed by The Ten—convinces them to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the Scientists’ Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance.

As her life ticks a way, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer—someone even more powerful than The Ten. What’s more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she’s been looking for all along.

Thalli must sort out what to believe and who to trust, before her time runs out.

 

-

Man, is that the beginnings of a thriller, or is it?!

 

On one hand, the whole "controlling government/higher power/leaders" thing is so predominant these days that the plot of Anomaly initially sounded a bit unoriginal. In some ways it can be compared closely to Aquifer, by Jonathan Friesen. Both books deal with a society that frowns on emotion and punishes those who have/indulge it. Both books have a set of domineering world-leaders referred to as a number - The Ten, etc.

Both books deal with fallen, corrupted future earths.

And fact is, just about every other book these days is written in first person, present tense.

 

But despite all this, Anomaly still held its own. It holds a distinct presence amid the ever-popular genre of dystopian YA fiction.  I flew through the pages and drank it all up as if it were a cup of chocolate milk - I love chocolate milk.

 

 

Plot:

The entire story of Anomaly revolves around Thalli learning who she truly is. At core, it's about her learning how to discern reality from fabrications/simulations; truth from lies. Ultimately, Anomaly is a story about a girl being subtly drawn to the knowledge of the Savior and Creator.

Yes, the initial draw is about a teen girl who's been doomed to a soon-approaching death sentence, and all because she can feel what 99% of everyone else can't. But deep down, the further you go, you realize it's about so much more.

 

There were a few mind-blowing plot twists, which, even though they wrecked havoc on ze feels, were quite ingenious. Thalli is constantly having to reevaluate her surroundings and the events taking place in her life because it's so hard to know what's real and what's not. This difficulty to perceive reality is equally hard for the reader. It's only made trickier by the plot twists.  As you all know, I soak up plot twists like a sponge. I loooove them.

 

 

Genre:

I've said this time and time again, so I'll spare you all and merely give a brief recap.

Dystopian YA fiction is super popular these days, and that means that a lot of stuff will be really unoriginal - Therefore, I personally will be less likely to want to read it. HOWEVER. For some reason I seem to gravitate toward post-apocalyptic stories like this. Perhaps because they make me appreciate the reality I'm living in now. They present stark contrasts, and a daunting idea of what man can become without God. They make me grateful that I live in 2014 and not 3014.

 

 

Characters:

Thalli is a very endearing personality, and I instantly felt a connection to her character.

For one, she's a musician. A musician. Need I say any more?! What got her in trouble was letting her emotions pour into a classical piano piece. For real, I can so relate with this. Give me a fictional character who is obsessed with playing the piano and instantly I'll love you - and the character. Thalli's obsession with asking questions also made me like her better. Questions are wonderful things, and there's nothing more boring than a person - or character, in this case - who doesn't ask them.

Okay, I'll admit I was frustrated when (SPOILERS) a certain character named Stone was never even real to begin with. That hurt. He seemed really cute and sweet. And his family, too. Of course, then again it seemed too good to be true at the time. And you know how stuff like that usually is.

 

I really liked John, an older man who'd been labeled insane. His strong Christian values and character really made me feel for his struggle and endurance. I loved the conversations he and Thalli had concerning God, love and marriage in particular.

 

 

Setting:

Thalli's world is a overly-sanitized underground place with dwellings called "pods". I have a difficulty imagining whether these things look like house-sized ball-structures as their name suggests, or if they look more like squarely-shaped, cement-block type buildings. There is however, grass. Fake grass, but still, at least they tried to replicate what they lost, right? It's implied that the world aboveground is desolate and toxic. (It's also implied that the world is actually still livable, if you have the guts and determination.) Inside the pods, Thalli and her friends (and enemies) abide within bleach-white walls with no furnishings or color. It's the classic, completely-hygienic dystopian nightmare.

 

 

Underlying Theme(s):

I love how blatantly the author speaks of God and His existence. It's such a refreshing thing in dystopian fiction, where most of the time all is so dark and bleak. It makes the story full of hope, even when terror, trauma and disaster are at the door. I don't like to call books, music or movies "Christian" because it's such a generic term and is so misused in such things already. But I do think Anomaly would appeal greatly to the Christ-following audience. I also hope that non-believers read it. It has some awesome spiritual discussions and some sequences are truly heart-rending. This is my favorite aspect of the book.

 

(On a 1 - 10 basis, 1 being the most mild and 10 the most extreme:)WARNING - SPOILERS!

Violence: 5. This isn't your shoot-em'-up deal where rebel alliances or guerilla warriors are fighting back against the government with physical force. It's 'hospital-violence,' which can be arguably far more disturbing. Characters are injected with all manner of drug and who-knows-what-else, made to go through simulations which are scarily real-looking, and countless are euthanized in a very subtle, hygienic manner. Thalli is operated on and doctors poke around in her brain. Basically, it's a classic nightmare. The reason I give it a five, is because to me "hospital violence" is a lot more perturbing than blatant cops-and-robbers violence. Nothing scares me more than brain surgeries involving the erasing of ones' memory. (Yes, I warned you already there were spoilers in this section.)

 

Sexual Content: 1. Berk and Thalli share romantic feelings, but thankfully we don't witness anything too intimate between them, other than a kiss, holding hands, etc. Thalli for a brief time becomes attached to a guy named Stone, and is conflicted about her feelings between him and Berk. And then it's revealed he never existed. Boom. (I sure hope you're not reading this if you haven't read the book yet.)

 

 

Overall:

Get yourself a copy and read Anomaly. Just do it, okay? Because there is so much you're missing out on if you don't.  So much drama, beautiful moments, suspense and times when you almost want to cry. The feeeeels, people. THE FEELS!

 

Anomaly is written in a simple, breathable manner. The word choices are raw and organic in feeling, which makes for a rich reading experience. Thalli is a masterfully-crafted character, and her emotions and experiences are told in a way that makes you feel like you're right there inside her head, living what she's living. The twisting labyrinth of a plotline is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, and each event that unfolds sinks in deep, pulls on your heartstrings. In short, you will experience emotional traumatization.

 

Overall, I give it my seal of approval, even though I don't officially have...er...a literal seal of approval. Anyway, I really enjoyed this volume and I'm sure you will too. So read it. And then tell me so we can talk about all the spoilers together!

 

Krista McGee's Official Website | Buy Anomaly on Amazon

 

Note: I was provided a copy of Anomaly in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl Blog Tour & Book Review

(All images provided by Lydia Howe)

 

Hola amigos! Today we have something different! A guest post from Lydia Howe, author of Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl! And later, I'll be doing a review of her book!

 

First off, here's a little background info to get you acquainted with both book and author.

 

About the Book:

 

Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl: Traveling with her parents brings Lydia, daughter of explorer and singer Buddy Davis, plenty of adventure and mystery - from hidden clues in bookstores to cave paintings deep underground. 

About the Author: Whether she’s building life-sized models of dinosaurs with her adopted family, trying her hand at cooking at a private retreat, or living in a barn, author Aidyl Ewoh (aka Lydia Howe) seems to have adventures follow her wherever she goes. Check out her book, Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl and find out more about her at her Blog, Facebook, and Twitter. 

 

 

Now, on with the guest post! *hands post over to Lydia*

_____

 

Answer to the last True or False Question:  False. I actually don't mind bats at all. ;) 

 

Why Creation? 

 

Hey, y’all! I want to tell you all a little about my book, and why I wrote it. You see, I’m extremely interested in Christian apologetics - which is kinda funny for me to say, because although it’s so true, I don’t think most people would guess that about me unless I brought up the subject first. Which I do, whenever I can. ;)

 

One thing I’ve learned about creation is that the ‘little things’ are so important because they lead up to the bigger issues. To some, the whole idea of how we got here doesn't seem like a big deal, I mean, at least we're here, right? And does a person have to believe in a literal six-day creation to be a Christian? No, they don't.

 

 So why does all of this even matter, you might ask? Well, lots of people - including Christians - believe in evolution and millions of years. God could have used evolution, right? Of course! He’s God, after all. But the point is that God told us in the Bible how He created the world, and evolution was not His tool. When we start taking man’s word and putting it above God’s Word, we are ultimately undermining what He says by saying that man knows better. It is so, so important to trust God’s word over man’s, after all, God has always been there and He's perfect. 

 

 And that, my friends, brings me to my book. Another thing I've learned is that many people have no idea how to deal with this stuff. I wanted to write a kids book about creation so they would have a fun and entertaining way to learn answers for the problems that stump many Christians. The answers are out there, peoples! The publisher for my book, Answers in Genesis, is one of my very favorite sites, they do an amazing job of researching the science behind all this.

 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15 

 

There are so many amazing proofs for a literal-six-day creation, it’s mind boggling! I could share a dozen proofs with you right now, but in an effort to save space, I’ll just send y’all to Answers in Genesis and of course you can get my book, Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl! ;) So why don't you check it out and let me know what y'all think! :)

 

 

To get the answer to the True or False question and find out more about my

adopted parents, Check out this blog tomorrow! 

To find out how you can get entered into a cool giveaway just by leaving a comment or sharing this post with others, click here!

 

 

Okay, it's me Leah again. I was sent a copy of this book, and closing up today's post, I'm going to give a review of CSotP!

Note: Since this is a little different than my typical fiction reviews, I'm going to write it a little differently, and use some different catagories. 

Anyway, let's get to it!

 

Plot:

This is a youth fiction piece, but it almost seems like nonfiction. It feels so real! It has two different plots. One, is Buddy Davis and two of his friends/partners and a caving adventure of theirs. This was quite fascinating, and towards the end in particular I was intrigued to find out what happened next!

The other of the two plots was Lydia and her family trying to solve a bookstore mystery. I enjoyed this one because it reminded me a little of my own siblings and I and our mysteries we try to solve sometimes. Only, this one had some amazing findings/results...and ours are usually more on the less than extraordinary side. xP

 

Genre:

This particular read actually reminded me of the reports I used to write for my family members. I like CSotP because it implements scientific fact and Creation into it, making it both informative and fun. 

 

Age Range/Targeted Audience:

With the simple, easy to read sentence structures and style of this book, I'd say it's a read best for kids/older kids and those in their early teens. My targeted age range? 9-13, roughly. I usually will go through heavier reads and prefer a heftier vocab use, but simplicity is still good, especially if the book is aimed at a younger audience., which this one is.

 

Setting:

Part of this book is set in a cave. How much more thrilling/fascinating can that get? The descriptions were bright and vivid, and I could almost feel the cold cave water and damp underground air.

 

Overall:

I enjoyed this book! It's a small volume, so a quick and easy read. It was really cool getting to learn more about the Davis family, and Lydia's life being their adopted daughter. Lydia has a straight-forward, bright writing style.  I would certainly recommend this book. Especially since it's produced by one of my favorite organizations, Answers in Genesis. For all you Creation Science loving people, you should check this out! Got some younger siblings interested in Creation Science/caves/adventure and mystery? This would be perfect for them! It even has a few charming illustrations.

Find the link to purchase it above!

 

Well that's it for today! Make sure you check out Lydia's blog and of course, Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl!

"Aquifer" by Jonathan Friesen {book review}

 

| Music listened to while writing this post:

The Fire in Her Eyes - TSFH/Michal Cielecki

Aeterna - TSFH/Michal Cielecki

Stronger Than You Think - Fireflight

Rising Force - Morabito-Guo Music |

 

Only He Can Bring What They Need to Survive.
 

In 2250, water is scarce, and those who control it, control everything. They'll do anything to maintain their power---deceiving, dividing families, banning love ... killing those who oppose them. Above all, they seek to control knowledge and communication---ensuring the truth that will bring their downfall will never be known. But one person verges on discovering it all.

Sixteen-year-old Luca becomes the Deliverer, the one chosen to make the yearly pilgrimage: He must descend to the domain of the hideous 'Water Rats,' creatures who mine the essential water and pump it to the desperate 'Toppers,' in exchange for light. But when Luca meets a Water Rat who captures his heart and leads him to secrets---secrets about a vast conspiracy, and about himself---the net around him tightens.

Luca and those around him must uncover and share the truth needed to overthrow tyranny---even as they fight for their lives.
-

This, people, would be the back cover snippet of the hot-off-the-press dystopian YA novel Aquifer.

I had the privilege of being sent a pre-release advanced reading copy, and I'll be honest - ever since I first read the plot of this story I was hooked. It reminded me vaguely of City of Ember, and I had really enjoyed that story.

Also, I've always been drawn to plots involving an expedition deep within the earth's core.
The science-geek side of me has always been fascinated with the earth's inner layers and makeup. While neather City of Ember or Aquifer are *scientific* books, I enjoyed both greatly.
In City of Ember, the MCs leave their underground dwelling place in exchange for one above the earth's surface. In Aquifer, the MCs leave their aboveground world for something down below.
I thought that was a neat contrast.

Anyway. I guess that was a random observation.

Let's get down to business.

This was one of those books that you read, and the thought goes through your head "You know, this would make an epic film. I guarantee anything that somebody will come along and recreate this on screen."

I don't say that about every book I read.


Plot:
Woah. As I said earlier, I could totally imagine this book in film form. Now in order or me to state that, the plot would have to be pretty amazing, because I'm very particular when it comes to plots and movies. So yeah. The plot was amazing. I will say that the ending could have been a bit stronger, considering the labyrinth of plot twists and surprises along the way, but I wasn't upset with it.
The ending was probably the worst part in the book honestly.
Now, considering that the rest of the book's plotting was epic, this isn't saying it was a horrible ending. As I mentioned a priori, it just could've been a bit more forceful. I found it pretty vague, and even though I understood it to be an open ending, (those I'm actually very fond of, both in my own WIPs and other peoples') it still was terribly hazy.

 I almost suspect a sequel.

That being said, Friesen employs so many plot twists it's hard to keep track of them all. And many I'll admit are unforeseen and enter the story quite smoothly. I do love a good plot twist or two! (in this case, make that dozens!)


Genre:
Let's just be honest. There are way too many dystopian books out there today. It feels like we've seen an influx of futuristic fiction in just the last several years. 2013 has been bombarded by the stuff.
Now, don't hate me for saying that... It's just what I observe. Dystopian is obviously quite a popular genre right now. And there's nothing wrong with that. But fact is, it's getting harder and harder to find a unique, distinguishable plot among the dystopian deluge of today.

I'm pleased to say, that Aquifer held its own.

 It is indeed a dystopian fiction involving a overly-powerful 'government'/dictator-like leaders,(a very common element employed today) and there are elements which do remind me of other works in the genre. For example, emotion is considered an illegal thing in Luca's world aboveground. The government cronies use devices called dials to determine if a person is manifesting/experiencing a 'unnaturally high' amount of emotion. And in the event that this happens, consequences occur.

I've seen similar details used in other apocalyptic works.
You could argue that the whole plot of a 'redeemer traveling beneath the surface' is unoriginal as well. But the truth is, there's nothing new under the sun.

Honestly? For a dystopian book of 2013, this is, in my opinion, very unique in its many aspects. There may be some elements which are common in today's dystopian book world, but overall?
Aquifer still stands as one unto itself.


Characters:
Ah, the characters. This is always fun to discuss in book reviews.
Luca, first off, is an interesting fellow. He's presented as being nothing more than a scrawny kid in his mid-teens, but as the story progresses this seems to wear off and he emerges as something quite more masculine. His development is fascinating to observe; however, the transition between his immaturity and later maturity is a bit rocky.

His desire to express the rage of emotion within really touched me, because it's something I myself too often feel. While we in our everyday lives learn to hide some emotion vent it out later, can you imagine being forbidden to display any sort of emotive feeling at all? Considering this is what Luca must deal with on a day to day basis, I have a ton of empathy for him.

Luca's father, Massa, is an intriguing man. He is mostly seen as a man robbed of his memory (another doing of the power-hungry 'government cronies', or Amongus.) His development was also interesting to see.

I'll have to say my favorite character was probably Seward. I won't go into detail on his account because there's an awful lot of surprise twists concerning him, but he's a rough old pirate that drew my attention immediately, and soon after, my empathy. 

For the most part, the cast of characters was well developed. I thought Talya was a bit stereotypical, but with time she was sweet in her own way.


Setting:
The world in which Luca dwells is not unlike that of many other dystopian tales. A dried up, spent earth with little resources left to spare for humanity's sustainment.
Luca lives in what is presumably a futuristic version of Australia - I found this tidbit pretty cool.
Friesen did a good job of describing the scenery and topography, of both the world beneath the surface and the world above. Vivid pictures formed in my head on both levels.


Underlying Theme(s):
I wasn't expecting to pick up a novel with Christian undertones, when I decided to review Aquifer.
But that's what I found myself reading. In the beginning, these underlying resonances were vague and easily interpreted in ways beyond a Biblical frame of mind. But as the story progressed, they became a bit more clear. The ending in particular sort of seals the deal, so to speak.
I've never seen Amazing Grace sung in a dystopian novel before. That is, until now.
The Bible was vaguely referenced in several places, and it's implied that it was a book most feared by the government cronies. At least, that's what I got from it.

Now, this being said, I wouldn't call Aquifer a distinctly 'Christian' book. Fact is, the Biblical references are so vague for the most part, that one could easily pass over many of them and not even notice.

I did appreciate their added nuances though. It enriched  the book in a subtly profound way.

Something else I appreciated among the underlying themes was the sanctity of human life. I always, always love to read books which push this. In this case, I believe a focus was clear on 'racial differences'. (Let it be known I never use the word 'racial', I consider it a very evolutionistic word, but I will make an exception here because it addresses the matter most clearly.) I definitely was approving of that emphasis, since racism has always infuriated me!

(On a 1 - 10 basis, 1 being the most mild and 10 the most extreme:)
WARNING - SPOILERS!

Violence:  6. There is quite a lot of shooting and killing. Buckets of blood. Some scenes are more graphic than others but there continues to exist - especially toward the tail end of the book - a ton of fighting and death. People are shot down with arrows, a character is stoned to death, and people are executed by means of being handcuffed and thrown into the ocean.
Sexual Content: 2.  Any type of romance is virtually nonexistent until later in the book when Luca meets Talya. Nothing sexually explicit occurs in the book, overall.  Luca and Talya embrace often, in one such instance Luca describes feeling a "warm tingling in places he shouldn't." (paraphrased)


Overall:
Overall? I flew through this novel because it was just that good. I read it in one day, and could've done so even quicker if it hadn't been that I was on vacation at the beach and wanted to get some time in with the family out in the sand and surf!

I would say this book ranks up alongside my favorite dystopian book this year, Mirriam Neal's "Monster". It's not quite on that level of epicness but it's *right* behind it!

Definitely a favorite in the dystopian genre in general. The writing is well-crafted and easy to read, without being too simplistic. Plotlines carry enough twists and surprise to trump The Hunger Games series (although I'll admit I didn't cry like I did reading those books), which I'd say is notorious for fateful twists and plot shocks. Characters are unique and well-developed for the most part, and the story's events pack a punch.

Overall? Reading this book was a thrilling experience and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

In my opinion, Aquifer has major potential. I won't be surprised when it becomes the next big dystopian thriller of the year, or when it's made into a major motion picture that sells out across the country. (And if that happens, they just sure better get it right. Because if they don't...well, that would be very painful....for them.)

Oh and didn't anybody notice the uh-mazing cover of this book? Isn't it beautiful?

I think I'll attempt honing my fangirling of this thing into some drawings of the characters. *grins impishly*

Jonathan Friesen's Official Website | Buy Aquifer on Amazon

Note: I was provided an advanced-reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone, and I never employ flattery or falsehoods in my reviews.

 

"Paradox" by Brian McBride {book review}

 

| Music listened to while writing this post:

Bullet Soul - Switchfoot

Under My Thumb - La Roux

Hurricane - Natalie Grant

Stompa - Serena Ryder

Brave - Sara Bareilles | 

 

So, I was given the privilege of getting to read and review an awesome Christian fantasy volume, created by a teen writer friend of mine, Brian McBride.

 

First of all, let me give you a little snippet of what this thing is about.

 

Paradox is a self-published Christian fantasy novel aimed at the young adult audience (14-18).

 

 

    Here is the premise/back cover description: Four troubled teens, two worlds, one God, one goal: to defeat the Darkness before it's too late. When David, his twin sister Alicia, and their two best friends, Jake and Hannah, stumble through a portal and into another world, Paragon, they discover that they are not who they thought they were... they are descendants of an ancient race known as Starcrafters, and they've been endowed with God-given abilities - impossible abilities.

    They train and learn to harness their abilities. Now, they are ready to take on the Dark Prince.

    Their attack on the prince is interrupted, however, when they are taken by a group known as the Renegades who are after universal domination by means of an artifact known as the Paradox Stone.

    They must escape the Renegades, retrieve the stone, and defeat the Darkness; all while learning to trust one another and work as a team, and to put their faith in the one true God.

 

 

Okay. So let's get something straight before we go any further.

 

I. adore. the. title. of. this.

 

Paradox.

 

Isn't that just the most epic title you've ever seen?

I'm totally serious. Paradox is one of my most utter favorite words ever and so therefore you can imagine my ecstasy to see it being utilized as the title of an awesome YA fantasy novel!

 

 I haven't read a whole lot of fantasy lately, and in general, my reading list stays pretty much to the bare essentials - school-related stuff, Bible, etc. I just don't generally have much time for anything else these days.

So therefore Paradox was probably the first full-fledged fantasy that I have read for a while. And let me say, I will never ever tire of fantasy. Ever. As much as I love historical fiction, and reality-based stuff, there is nothing like stories involving griffins, dragons and knights in shining armor!

 

If you're in the mood for a read like this, then you won't be disappointed with Paradox.

 

While I was unable to devote an entire day to reading it, like I would've liked to, (once I get going on a good book I just can't put it down!) it definitely held my attention.

 

As I've said before, I am always really interested to read the works of other teen authors - especially when they're Christians! So, from the beginning, I was anticipating this read even for that reason alone.

 

Now, unto the review!

 

Plot:

I liked it. Sometimes it was a little hard to follow, but overall it was good. Definitely a strong, medieval-fantasy plot and nothing short of a thriller!

 

 

Genre:

As stated previously, it's a Christian medieval-fantasy. I mean, are any words further necessary?

I think that's just about as epic a genre as they come. In Paradox, you get all the details about medieval fantasy which make it so fun, and at the same time it is all tied together by solid Biblical foundations and allegorical references to Scriptural truths.

 

 

Characters:

My favorite character in Paradox was Jarush. I loved his strong, leader-like position in the story and group of other characters. Being random here, I'll also note Shael - simply because, being obsessed with cool names and such, well, I love his name.

As for the four teens, the main characters, I had some trouble relating to them and therefore found their emotions hard to empathize with. It was slightly difficult to follow their inner conflicts and thoughts since the story flitted back and forth from their perspectives so frequently.

However, it was refreshing to see their characters develop as the story progressed. Especially with David and Alicia, who had a terrible relationship in the beginning of the book. I was really touched by how they grew in maturity and even a relationship with God as time went on.

 

 

Setting:

 I was hardly left to my own imagination when it came to picturing the setting in which the story took place. Brian has painted a very detailed, vivid picture of the world which Paradox unfolds in. I'll add, since we're already on the topic, that detail was one of the greatest strong points in this book. Excellent mental imagery and exposition, all around.

 

 

Underlying theme(s):

This is one of my favorite things about Paradox. The underlying theme. As said previously, Paradox is full-to-the-brim with Scriptural references and analogies, very blatantly so.

I love this. It's great to read a fantasy novel so unabashedly promoting the truths of God's Word.

Of the different allegories and references, my favorite was the continuing theme of humility and complete, 100% giving-yourself-to-God and being willing to do whatever He wills. Even if it means jumping off a cliff into a seemingly endless abyss. The emphasis on totally-devoted faith was excellent.

 

 

Overall:

Overall? It was a great volume! I enjoyed reading it, and it certainly had me flying through the pages! I loved the bright contrast of good and evil. When I finished, it made me want to write in my own medieval novel, honestly. There is just so much in this book. So many immensely creative characters, places and concepts - It's inspiring!

 

Yes, I would definitely recommend it. It's an awesome book, I lie not.

 

{Get your own copy of Paradox here here.}

 

 Brian's Facebook page | Brian's blog

(Come on, you know you wanna check them out!)

 

 

Note: I was provided an E-copy of Paradox in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone and I never employ flattery or falsehood in my reviews.