*Book Review* Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

 

Title: Flawed (Flawed #1)

Format: e-Arc

Pages: 400

Published: 24th March 2016

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: Netgalley

Genre: YA Dystopian

Shelfability: Borrow

Buy:  Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depo / Wordery

The stunning YA debut from internationally bestselling author Cecelia Ahern.

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.

But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.

In this stunning novel, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and mistakes are punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.

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*Book Review* The Heir by Kiera Cass

Title: The Heir  (The Selection #4)
Format: Kindle ebook
Pages: 400
Published: 7th May 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Bought
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Shelfability: Acquire
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

**About the Book**

 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.

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*Book Review* The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

Reviewed By: Siobhán

Format: Kindle Ebook

Pages: 323

Published: 5th June 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source:  Bought

Genre:  YA Dystopian

Shelfability:  Covet

Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

Description:

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

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*Book Review* The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

 

Reviewed By: Siobhán

Format: Kindle Ebook

Pages: 326

Published: 23rd April 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: Bought

Genre:  YA Dystopian,

Shelfability:  Covet

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depository

Description:

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

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*Book Review* The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

 

Reviewed By: Siobhán

Format: Kindle Ebook

Pages: 336

Published: 7th June 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source:  Bought/Free/Gift

Genre: YA Dystopian

Shelfability:  Covet

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depository

Description:

In a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels the Selection is the chance of a lifetime: to compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's ear. But for America Singer it means turning her back on her secret love, and leaving home for a prize she doesn't want.

Then America meets Maxon and all her plans start to crumble. Can the life she's always dreamed of compare to a future she never imagined?

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Fever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #2) by Lauren DeStefano

May Contain Spoilers from Book 1

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: Paperback
Pages:  341
Published: 16th Feb 2012 (UK)
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher for Review
Genre: YA Dystopian
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

Description:

For 17-year-old Rhine Ellery, a daring escape from a suffocating polygamous marriage is only the beginning…

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago – surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous – and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion…by any means necessary.

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Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls #1) by Victoria Foyt

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: Hardback
Pages: 302
Published: 10h Jan 2012
Publisher: Sand Dollar Press Inc
Source: Author/Publicist
Genre: YA Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

Description:

Eden Newman must mate before her 18th birthday in six months or she will be left outside to die in a burning world. But who will pick up her mate-option when she's cursed with white skin and a tragically low mate-rate of 15 per cent? In a post-apocalyptic, totalitarian, underground world where class and beauty are defined by resistance to an overheated environment, Eden's colouring brands her as a member of the lowest class, a weak and ugly Pearl. If only she can mate with a dark-skinned Coal from the ruling class, she'll be safe. Just may be one Coal sees the Real Eden and will be her salvation her co-worker Jamal has begun secretly dating her. But when Eden unwittingly compromises her father's secret biological experiment, she finds herself in the eye of a storm and thrown into the last area of rainforest, a strange and dangerous land. Eden must fight to save her father, who may be humanity's last hope, while standing up to a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction. Eden must change to survive but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty and of love, along with a little help from her "adopted aunt" Emily Dickinson.

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Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: Hardback
Pages: 338
Published: 15th Nov 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Gift
Genre: YA Dystopian, Romance
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I TBD Hardback I TBD Paperback

Description:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

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Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: ARC Paperback
Pages: 400
Published: 5th Jan 2012
Publisher: Puffin
Source: Publisher for Review
Genre: YA Retelling, SciFi/Dystopian
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

Description:
A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth's fate hinges on one girl ...CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation. Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future. This is not the fairytale you remember. But it's one you won't forget.

Review:
Cinder is retelling of Cinderella but with a fresh and funky twist. Set in the future in New Beijing, this Cinder is a mechanic, slaving away to support her wicked Stepmother. However, Cinder is your ordinary home girl, she is a Cyborg! And when her stepsister Peony catched the plague, Cinder lifes is turn upside down and secrets from Cinder past are revealed!

Honestly when I first heard about this I was sooooo excited. I had heard nothing but good things about it and when I got a chance to review it I am over the moon. However, I personally found the beginning to be very slow and it didn't grip my imagination straight away but my gut told me to keep reading and when that happens I do it. And boy I am so glad I did. Cinder is like nothing I have ever read before. After the first 100 pages I was completely engrossed in the storyline that I simply couldn't put the book down.

Cinder is such a strong heroine. She is smart, strong, witty and really stands out against some of the YA Protagonist's that are in books just now. I really enjoyed the relationship she had with Iko the family android. It was a really fun and caring relationship and Iko is adorable! lol. When Cinder stepsister, Poeny gets sick she is devastated because Peony is the only one in her family that cares about her and Cinder truely loves Peony. It was heartbreaking reading the aftermath of it. However, being a such a strong character Cinder deals with everything even though she is scared. (So trying not to spoil anything LOL)

Of course being a YA it wouldn't be complete without a romance right? Well there is one kind of with Prince Kai. Now I personally didn't think this was a great part to the story.I get that its Cinderella you need a Prince Charming but Prince Kai just doesn't come across as a "Prince Charming" he lacks personality. But in a way that's good because the romance doesn't take you away from the actual story.

As I said, it was a slow start for me but once I got into it, it was unbelievable. It was truely different to anything that is out there at moment. The storyline was a bit predictable and I knew exactly where it was going but there was no denying that the ride along the way to there was freaking magical, exciting and full of drama that keeped me from the book down.

Marissa Meyer has delivered a fantastic debut novel. If this is how her debut is I am really excited about reading the next book. But I don't think I can wait until 2013 for it. So if you like your fairy tale retelling with a twist I urge you to give this ago!!

Rate: 4/5

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Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 358
Published: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy, Dystopian

Description:

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.

Review:
There are almost no words on where to start with a review for Wither. It is such a unique, refreshing book. The plot is so unlike any book I have ever, ever read. A genetic mutation causes all girls to die at twenty years old and all boys to die at twenty-five years old. Because of this, Rhine Ellery has been abducted by wealthy Linden Ashby's father, unaffected by this mutation, to become one of three sister wives for his son. The population is taking multiple wives at young adulthood in an attempt to re-populate society while scientists and doctors search for an antidote for this virus killing off the masses.

Wow. Just wow. Rhine, Cecily, and Jenna are all married to Linden, and couldn't be more different. I couldn't necessarily connect with any of the girls on a personal level, but I came to really like each one. Rhine is headstrong and determined to save herself from a life of luxurious imprisonment. Cecily is young, naive, eager to please, and oh-so happy to be the wife of a House Governor. Jenna is strong, bitter, and determined to ride out the end of her life getting Linden back for stealing her family.

The plot was amazing. I loved reading the intricacies of the sister wives, the way the luxurious mansion is set up to depict the outside world with holograms, and how Linden's father has created a suspicious, mysterious environment that is just begging to be unraveled.

This was a book I could not put down. It goes beyond the boundaries of normal dystopian fiction and touches on so much more. Three girls are torn from their worlds and are forced into a polygamous marriage - albeit in a luxurious, wealthy mansion they are imprisoned in - but they learn to create a family amongst themselves with their sister wives. I loved watching each of them grow and develop and the plot never grew stale. The suspense and mystery of the mansion's activities kept the pages turning quickly.

I have fallen in love with Lauren DeStefano's writing and am eagerly awaiting the release of Fever!

Rate: 5/5

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Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

Format: Paperback

Pages: 367

Published: 24th Nov 2011

Publisher: Puffin

Source: Publisher for Review

Genre: YA Dystopian

Description:

Rules are different outside the Society.

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky-taken by the Society to his certain death-only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices everything to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again. 

Review:

After reading and really enjoying Matched, I was super excited to start reading Crossed. My expectations were high, thinking it would be better than Matched. However, I found Crossed a disappointing and lacking excitment.

Crossed is set not long after Matched ends. Following the separation between Cassia and Ky. Crossed see our two main characters embarking on difficult journeys in search of each other. Along the way, they sacrifices are made and secrets are reveal. 

I am torn on how to review this book. I am not going to lie. I found the plot very very boring. It starts out very promising and had the potiental to be amazing and thrilling. However, it was slow. Very slow, I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and itdidn’t.And  If it wasn’t for the characters in this book I wouldn’t have been able to finish it. 

I adore the characters. Cassia and Ky are both very strong lead characters and they make the book worthwhile. Crossed is told from both Cassia and Ky POV and usually I am not a big fan of  POV in some cases it works perfectly. Like here. We get to see a completely different side of Ky and learn more about his background and his parents. I sometimes didn’t want to leave him when it changed back to Cassia. Only because we don’t really learn anything new about Cassia but I love her none the less. 

We are also introduced to some new and very interesting characters. Such as Indie. I kinda didn’t know what to think of her. All the way through the book I thought there was something iffy about her but she was always there for Cassia and help her out so that made me like her. 

Overall, I personally found this very slow and the story doesn’t really develop much. However, the ending was actually very good and I adore the characters.  I am very interested to see how the next book is and what’s in store for Cassia and Ky.

Rate: 3/5

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The Mers by Ami Blackwelder

Format: Kindle ebook
Published: October 19, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: YA Fantasy, Dystopian

Description:

The Mers: What lies beneath the surface? One hundred years from now, the world has changed and brought with it, new forms of life. Who are the Mers? Who is Mira? Mira always knew she was different. Growing up with Mers, she never quite fit in. When Mira breaks the rules and takes Niren with heracross the border dividing Ellis Island and New Jersey, the border dividing two vastly different worlds, she thought the journey to find out who she really is would be an easy one. But, as the world in Jersey proves to be a convoluted mix of aristocrats who hate the Mers, pirates who want to sell them, and magi who want to use them...finding her true identity will be a challenge, especially when her best friend Niren is a Mer willing to fight to the death.

Review:

The Mers was a very interesting and exciting novel! It combines two of my very favorite genres and blends them into an enchanting story. Ami Blackwelder writes a mermaid dystopian that is a combination of action and romance that is extremely fast-paced from the very first page and never stops until the end.

I was a little surprised at how Ami Blackwelder described the dystopian world because it seemed so realistic. Often times dystopian worlds can seem a bit far-fetched, but this seemed entirely plausible and her description of how the Mers' appearances evolved was plausible as well. Seeing as how they are not the "traditional" mermaids, this made the story fresh and exciting.

Mira and Nerin are both very strong characters that you really grow to love as you get to know them. Their personalities balance each other perfectly and you want to see them succeed in their adventure so badly! Mira's hunt for her birth parents sends her, Nerin, and his sister Nerissa into the world of Remnantville, a place where Mers are hunted and killed, their bodies used to make products for the Aristos. The three of them must stay safe, unravel the mystery behind Mira's identity, and possibly save the Mers all at the same time.

Ami Blackwelder's writing is very vivid and colorful. She paints a picture with her words that leaves readers with a gorgeous image of the sea and the creatures inside it. The action inside this novel will leave readers turning the pages long into the night. While the story had a good resolution in my opinion, I can definitely see how the next two books will add so much more to the series. This is a brilliant start!!

Rate: 4/5

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Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Format: Kindle
Pages: 384
Published: 2nd Dec 2010
Publisher: Puffin
Genre: YA Dystopian, Romance
Buy: Book Depository I Amazon UKI Amazon US

Description:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow

Review:

I have had this book on my TBR since .... well since forever it seems. I decided it was time to actually read it and now I wonder, why did I leave it so long? I honestly have no idea because I really enjoyed this book, alot more than I thought I would.

Matched is set in the future in a world were everything is controlled by "The Officals". The Society tells you who you are going marry, how many kids you will have and even when you will die. Cassia has always lived by the rules and trust the Society. However, things are all as they seem and soon Cassia is thrown off course in her life and thinking of things she shouldn't be thinking of. Mainly Ky, the boy who ISN'T her Match. (I suck at plot descriptions lol)

I went into reading this book with hardly any expectation. I have read a few mixed reviewed and was unsure. But I was so surprise by just how much I enjoyed this book. I really adored Cassia, our main character. She is very innocent and naive and trusts everything about her Society, she doesn't question them. She is Matched with Xander, her best friend and he is so lovely and is very clear that they have a special bond. However, after a "mistake" by the Society all Cassia thinks about is Ky and seriously those two are adorable. Ky, is a strong silent type who is very swoon worthly.

Matched is a fantastic Dystopian YA novel, the plot is freaking amazing. A world where everything is set by the Society it's got that Big Brother feel to it. It's exciting and thrilling and quite scary because I honestly wouldn't want to know when I was going to die. Death scares me badly and that part of the Society I did not like. I also felt at times it was quite slow is pace and didn't flow as well as I wanted it to. And I think this was mainly because there would be pages and pages where there was no conversation between the characters. I have said this in other reviews, I love conversation in books and alot of it. And even though there was plenty in this book, I don't like having alot pages between each conversation.

That was my only negatives about the book. The rest I adored! Including the heartbreaking ending I felt all the emotions the characters where feeling and I felt like I was there with them.

Dystopian is becoming one of the favourite genres to read. Especially when there is a romance in it. Matched ticked those to boxes for me and I really can't wait to see what happens next in Crossed

Rate: 4/5

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