Review of DEFIANCE by C. J. Redwine

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

The way I read it ~

This book caught me by surprise.

Good surprise? Bad surprise?

Meh. I'm not even sure.

What I am sure about is NOT A SINGLE THING IN THIS BOOK WENT HOW I WANTED IT TO GO!!!



Suffice it to say, that isn't necessarily a terrible thing or within my reader-realm of control obviously. But dang it! 

There was romance and this chick right here loves the romance. This particular brand of romance was more the 'I love you but you broke my teenage heart followed by awkward degrees of heartache, angst and longing until the day our world changes forever and you realize that you love me too'



What's not no love?

Defiance for me, bordered along the line of love/hate. I hated to love it but I loved to hate it. Confusing right? Exactly! 

My spidey-book sense was all over the place.




There were moments I yelled at the characters, shook my fists and all that, I threw my reader to the side a few times in frustration because NOT A SINGLE THING IN THIS BOOK WENT HOW I WANTED IT TO GO!!!



I was outraged! I was disgusted. I was utterly intrigued. Because I didn't stop reading. It drew me in completely. I was baffled while I was in there for sure, but I didn't hate it. I didn't love it either. Could I love it? Meh. 

Who knows?



I sure don't.

What do I know? 

I'll be reading book 2.

Why? 
Because I am intrigued. 

And also...

RATER BLAND: 2 out of 5 Sugar cubes

Reviewed by Leelo

Review of FRAGMENTS (The Partials Sequence #2) by Dan Wells

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)

After discovering the cure for RM, Kira Walker sets off on a terrifying journey into the ruins of postapocalyptic America and the darkest desires of her heart in order to uncover the means—and a reason—for humanity's survival.












The way I read it ~

Fragments has left me bewildered.

The first book Partials left me so exhilarated that I was anxious to read the continuation. But alas, my exhilaration deflated like a party balloon losing its air slowing. You know eventually all the air's going to be out but yet you wait...



And, you wait some more...



I had high hopes, soaring hopes really. It is very rare that a book trilogy (And I do love me some trilogies) has left me so flabbergasted by the second book. I mean, W-T-H!



I never want to give up on a story. But I tried and Fragments failed miserably. I want to rename it: The never ending journey that wasn't. I totally get the reasons for the travelling. 

But Geewizzmotherofallthingstedious!!! I couldn't take the drawn out, unavoidable travelling!
And the switching back and forth from one set of characters to another set of characters didn't work for me. The main character's journey was overwhelming enough, being reminded constantly of how 'dire' and 'hopeless' her situation was without having to contend with a secondary set of characters being reminded of how 'boring' and 'insignificant' their reason for existing was.



Yeah.... I'm done spewing.

What I did like:

1) The concept of the story. The whole 'artificial race against their human creators' idea was what intrigued me from the beginning.

2) The potential, always hinted at, never actually culminating love story. It was there, lingering. I felt it. I wanted it. I never got it!

3) Heron. This badass Partial/Assassin chick was hilarious. I was quite eager to hear what she'd say next and how else she could piss off Kira. I imagined Actress Stephanie Jacobsen in my head.



With the Australian accent and everything!


Unfortunately......... DNF! @ 60%

RATED  BITTER: 2 out of 5 Sugar Cubes

Reviewed by Leelo

Review of PARTIALS (The Partials Sequence #1) by Dan Wells

(Blurb from Goodreads.com)

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask.

The way I read it ~

I blazed a blistering hot trail with this one.

It caught me off guard really. Had me wondering what the hell is going on, trying to guess where it was going and when I finally got there it blew my mind.



I love being surprised!

This was me for the last couple chapters (when the big shocker was revealed)




Yup! I LOVE BEING SURPRISED!!

RATED SWEET: 4 out of 5 Sugar Cubes

Reviewed by Leelo