Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in October 2016
The Illuminae Files #2

"Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.  Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands."  -- From Goodreads

Will you like it?
This series is amazing.  I love how it incorporates so many different documents, which kept me engaged as a reader.  Fans of science fiction will definitely love this story, especially when they talk about Gemina (I don't want to spoil anything!).  I was actually worried when I found out the second story wouldn't take place entirely with the first characters, but Kaufman & Kristoff do very well in tying the first book into the second  without any problems.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library.

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
Published by Feiwel & Friends in February 2016.
Lunar Chronicles #4.5

"The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles."

Will you like it?
Honestly, if you like the Lunar Chronicles, you're going to love this collection of short stories.  The stories give background on all of the characters, plus some additional content!  Not going to lie, but the last story totally made me sniffle.  I love these characters so much, and it's really hard to say goodbye.

Disclosure: I borrowed the audiobook from my local library.

The Crown by Kiera Cass

The Crown by Kiera Cass
Published by HarperTeen in May 2016.
The Selection #5

"When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined."

Will you like it?
The ending of The Heir really made me mad.  It was such a HUGE cliffhanger, and I expected that The Crown would start strong and really keep me on the edge of my seat until the end.  NOPE.  The cliffhanger at the end of book 4 is resolved within a few chapters.  Then it was a bunch of fluffy stuff until she has to make a really "hard" decision.  I liked this book.  I liked everyone except for Eadlyn, and I'm glad that this was the end of this series.

Disclosure: I bought my own copy of this book.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Illuminae Files #1
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in October 2015

"The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again."  -- From Goodreads

Will you like it?
Fans of science fiction will love this book.  The book takes place in space, involves elements of artificial intelligence, and throws in elements of espionage.  I was also a huge fan of how the writers incorporated different documents- emails, schematics, military files, IMs, and more.  It made me a more engaged reader, because I was able to look at pencil drawings of the space ships and imagine the story easier.

News about the book:

• Brad Pitt's production company and Warner Bros have teamed up to adapt Illuminae into a movie.  Fingers crossed that they make it half as good as the book!

Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction.  I'm also going to try to get the boyfriend to read it as well (he is super picky, but he loved the document style).

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from my local library.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

The Heir by Kiera Cass
The Selection #4
Published by HarperTeen on May 5, 2015

Summary: "Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought." --From Goodreads

I can't complain about this addition to the Selection series (even though I think it should have been its own separate series with three books, but that's just my opinion).  Eadlyn is a Princess, and has yet to be in love.  I honestly think she's afraid of getting hurt, so she keeps everyone (except her family) away from her.

Now, with provinces on the verge of rebellion (everyone is very unhappy) Eadlyn must go through a selection to distract everyone.  Only, she didn't expect to start liking some of the boys...

I have some favorites from the selection.  They all are different, and it will be interesting to see who Eadlyn ends up choosing.  And by the way??  The ending sucks!  HUGE cliffhanger.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from my local library.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen Trilogy #1
Published by Orion on February 10, 2015

Summary: "The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?"  --From Goodreads

I really loved this book.  There is so much detail in the world building.  The scene that comes to mind is when Mare rides the boat back to the main palace.  The differences that she sees in the pockets of civilization from the boat are entirely different.

The ending also surprised the heck out of me.  I didn't see it coming.  I am really looking forward to the second book in this series.  Unfortunately, now I have to wait an entire year.

Disclosure: I picked this book up from my local library.

Unchanged by Jessica Brody

Unchanged by Jessica Brody
Unremembered #3
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on February 24, 2015

Summary: "After returning to the Diotech compound and receiving a successful memory transplant, Seraphina is now living a happy life with another synthetically engineered human like herself, with whom she is deeply in love. She has no recollection of Zen. But the nagging feeling that something is missing from her life continues to plague her. Diotech's newest product is about to be revealed—a line of genetic modifications that will allow people to live longer, fight disease, and change any unfavorable physical attribute they desire.

As more secrets are revealed, more enemies are uncovered, and the reality of a Diotech-controlled world grows closer every day, Sera and Zen must find a way to destroy the company that created her, or they’ll be separated forever."  --From Goodreads

What a stunning conclusion to this series!  I marathoned books 2 & 3, and I'm still in shock about the ending.  I loved Sera, and how she transformed from being this numb robot into becoming something more.  A person with her own memories and feelings.  I thought that the story behind her "birth" was sad and perfect all at the same time.  

Overall, this series is a series that I'm going to recommend to anyone who really likes science fiction.  Time travel is a large part of this series, along with genetic modification.  

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Unforgotten by Jessica Brody

Unforgotten by Jessica Brody
Unremembered #2
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on February 25, 2014

Summary: "After a daring escape from the scientists at Diotech who created her, Seraphina believes she is finally safe from the horrors of her past. But new threats await Sera and her boyfriend, Zen, at every turn as Zen falls prey to a mysterious illness and Sera’s extraordinary abilities make it more and more difficult to stay hidden. Meanwhile, Diotech has developed a dangerous new weapon designed to apprehend her. A weapon that even Sera will be powerless to stop. Her only hope of saving Zen’s life and defeating the company that made her is a secret buried deep within her mind. A secret that Diotech will kill to protect. And it won’t stay forgotten for long." --From Goodreads

It took me a bit to get back into this series.  When Sera and Zen were in 1609, it was more problematic to keep Sera's abilities hidden.  I felt that the story was slow during this time, mirroring Sera's problems to keep hidden.  She needed to become human, and that meant moving slower.  After Sera and Zen travel back to the future, that's when things move into high gear.

I was really disappointed when Sera met Kaelin.  I was really hoping to get through a series without another love triangle.  We'll see how their relationship develops in the third book.  The ending was sad, but I have a feeling that we'll see Zen again in the third book.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from my library.

Vivian Apple at the End of the World by Katie Coyle

Vivian Apple at the End of the World by Katie Coyle
Vivian Apple #1
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 6, 2015

Summary: "Seventeen-year-old Vivian Apple never believed in the evangelical Church of America, unlike her recently devout parents. But when Vivian returns home the night after the supposed "Rapture," all that’s left of her parents are two holes in the roof. Suddenly, she doesn't know who or what to believe. With her best friend Harp and a mysterious ally, Peter, Vivian embarks on a desperate cross-country road trip through a paranoid and panic-stricken America to find answers. Because at the end of the world, Vivan Apple isn't looking for a savior. She's looking for the truth."  --From Goodreads

Vivian Apple at the End of the World didn't draw me into its pages right at the beginning.  I started (and finished) another book while reading this one.  Vivian was very ho hum at the start of the book.  She wasn't a believer, thought that the Rapture was just another fad.  But!  Lo and behold, her parents actually disappear!  Vivian goes on a road trip with her best friend to find out what happened to her parents.  They (of course) have really weird things happen to them, and they meet a few different (and weird) people on their way to find out the truth.  

Vivian grew into being a strong, confident woman.  She began to make her own decisions and not depend on others for opinions.  One major theme throughout the book is the question, "What do you believe?".  Over time, she does learn how to answer that question for herself.

I gave this book three stars because of how boring the plot was.  There was very little conflict between the people left behind from the Rapture.  There were a few stories about looting, but the main characters did not experience any of these things firsthand.  I'll read the sequel if they ever publish it in the United States.  There were a few things that weren't tied up at the ending, so I hope she addresses those concerns in the sequel.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.