Tempest- Julie Cross

(Received in Librarything Early Reviewers program. Thanks!)

I really, really wanted to like this book. YA science fiction brought me into the science fiction fold and prompted me to explore the genre, and this novel even falls into the category of "New Adult" rather than simply "YA," as the main character is nineteen. So as someone who is automatically rooting for New Adult and sci-fi YA, I had my hopes high.

Overall, the plot was interesting, if predictable, with some of the later developments telegraphed pretty dang early in the book. However, even if I didn't quite ever fall for the plot, there were so many aspects of the book that DID work. I really liked that it featured an older, male character and not a brooding 16 year old girl with a stalker love interest, and the main character has more motivation than JUST a girl.

Part of the reason the book really threw me out of the reading experience was because it was set in the past (which was really interesting by the way, because it forces an author to commit to a date and allows them to use pop culture references without a complete fear of dating it, because hey, there's already a date! but....) the character was almost exactly one year younger than me. And some of the references.. didn't quite work. There were things that were either a bit too old to be current, and one thing that from what I remember, didn't really get super popular until a year later. Maybe it will be fixed in the final edition, so I won't mention it in particular. But because the main character actually was my age, I noticed things like awkward dialog and strange references. Which isn't the books fault!

Another aspect of the book that I found extremely refreshing after the glut of sexless teen paranormals I've been reading is that sex just happens. I was slightly squicked by the main character's thought process at one point in the novel (pretty late in it, so I won't be a spoiler sport), but hey, I have met some teenage boys with that kind of attitude.

Overall, a quick and engaging read with some flaws, but a nice change of pace after all the mediocre YA fantasy. Major points for sci-fi, male protagonist, minuses for feeling a bit off in the setting/teen interests and some of the plotting/explanation (spoilers!). (  )

Shattering - Karen Healey

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.

As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

This book could quite possibly have been the YA fantasy I had been waiting for, the reason I continue to read in the genre despite not particularly enjoying it. I really don't want to say more about it, because the less you know going in, the more every little thing will make you so enthusiastic about shoving this book to everyone who says the subgenre is mined dry. Really, it is that good.

Highly, Highly Recommended

Hot Messes

(or, quick reviews of books I for whatever reason did not finish)

Sisters Red: An intriguing concept, but the main characters have infuriating views of just about anyone besides themselves, and there was no real external source of tension driving the narrative forward at least through the part I read. I even sought out spoilers to try to entice myself to read more, but even then, it still didn't succeed in that regard so I abandoned it. What would have made it better? A taught-er narrative with some element of unresolved mystery or drive-- I am sorry, but let's kill all the werewolves and somehow they aren't noticing the massive attrition happening in the middle of nowhere is very mysterious, in a bad way.

Once Dead, Twice Shy: Interesting world building, but the manner in which it was written just confused me. There were instances where I thought I must have missed something on a previous page. An incredibly quick read, but not a particularly interesting one.

All These Things I've Done-- Gabrielle Zevin

All These Things I've Done-- Gabrielle Zevin

Recommended

Several of my friends had commented that they liked the level of worldbuilding and detail in this novel, and as a complete sucker for setting description (ex-historian/current Geographer/computer programmer here, I breathe setting), I had to read this immediately. Just my luck, the library's copy came my way in only a few days, and I devoured it in a few hours.

Literally. This book is about restrictions on caffeine and chocolate, mirroring Prohibition (and also mirroring the far inferior "White Cat" which I had nothing nice to say about so I will say nothing at all!), so of course, I consumed one large coffee beverage and several samplings of Halloween candy while reading it.

Was the world building entirely convincing? Anya Ballantine is struggling to keep her fractured family together as rivalry builds over control of her extended family's black market chocolate empire, and of course falls Romeo and Juliet-style for someone who is just out of reach. From the first few pages, it becomes clear that rules and order are her lifeblood. Cutting across the treacherous reaches of Central Park (which turns out to be disappointingly one of the few times there is a super concrete setting mention, but as someone who has nearly fainted of dehydration in said park, it isn't hard to see things go completely bottoms up with water rationing). But we never really get why...is it climate change? Is it some sort of water rights along the Hudson with territorial encroachment of Canada/etc?...I do of course have a theory, which has to do with the crazy amounts of control the government attempts to exert while still being absolutely corrupt--but that element puts my theory into question, as the government doesn't seem competent or interested enough to fulfill it.

Anyways, I will certainly be reading the next book, if only to find out whether I am right. Overall, it was a far more solid read than most YA science fiction out there, which is not saying much, but really, it was an enjoyable read.