Sphinx's Princess (Sphinx's Princess #1) by Esther M. Friesner

 

 

Summary:
 

Nefertiti was far more than just a pretty face.

Nefertiti may be the dutiful daughter of a commoner, but her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And she’s the kind of girl who acts first, and apologizes later whenever she witnesses injustice or cruelty. But she is also extraordinarily beautiful. And news of her striking beauty and impulsive behavior attracts the attention of her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who sees Nefertiti as an ideal pawn in her desire for power. Even though Nefertiti is taken from her beloved family and forced into a life filled with courtly intrigue and danger, her spirit and mind will not rest. She continues to challenge herself and the boundaries of ancient Egyptian society.

Esther Friesner offers readers another fresh new look at an iconic figure—blending historical fiction and mythology in a thrilling concoction.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 372 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date:  September 22nd 2009 by Random House Books for Young Readers     

 

Back in March I first borrowed Sphinx's Princess but I wasn't able to get to it in time before it had to go back to the library. Story of my life...however last week I saw it while browsing the shelves at my local library branch and decided to give it another shot and am I ever so glad that I did.

 

Sphinx's Princess was an amazing young adult historical fiction novel written by the ever popular Esther M. Friesner. When I first started the book I wasn't really sure what to expect from it. Though Danica from Taking it One Page at a Time's review of it made me really curious. I thought that maybe it would be a light and fluffy attempt at young adult historical with no substance but I was completely wrong.

 

I have always had a love for Egyptian history and so hat is what initially drew me to this novel and I'm really glad I gave it a try. Like I said before I was a little concerned that the book would be a fluff piece but it really wasn't. From the first page it was evident that the author Esther Friesner had to have done an enormous amount of research to be able to pen this book. She was able to create a wonderful atmosphere for her novel by researching the historical figures that she used in this book as well as researching the day to day life of people in ancient Egypt including customs, religion and how they dressed as well as knowing quite a bit about the politics at the time. I was so pleased with the amount detail that went into the book because it helped me immerse myself in the story and it was as though I was actually there with our protagonist Nefertiti on her journey from a small child to a beautiful young woman with the gift of words.

The way that all of that rich historical detail fit in with the overall story of Nefertiti's change from being a toddler to a young woman called to court by her Aunt Tiye The Great Royal Wife  to marry her son the Crowned Prince Thutmose. It added that extra substance to the story because it made it feel as though the story was playing out right in front of me. I loved the story line of the novel. Nefertiti has always interested me and while this is a fictional account of her early life it is still based upon a lot of fact.

What impressed me the most though was how well written the over all story was and the creation of the characters. I think that Nefertiti is probably one of my favourite bookish heroines of 2012 and one of my favourite heroines over all. She had a lot of spirit and had a lot of inner strength. This becomes especially apparent that this was true when she stands up to her Aunt Tiye and refuses to marry Thutmose until 3 years have passed. However, Aunt Tiye respects her a lot for her decision and outwardly acquiesce to her nieces decision but this doesn't stop her from trying to hasten the marriage along.

While she's dined in the lap of luxury at the royal palace Nefertiti's world begins to unravel as treacherous plots are uncovered, accusations are made and death sentences are passed out like tick tacs and acts of betrayal become common place. Despite these hardships the bright Nefertiti still has friends in high places and just maybe, maybe things will work out for the better. Friesner depicted all of these things incredibly well for a young adult novel where such things may be passed over and not really delved into but she got right in there and even wrote the less favourable extremely well and I think that added a lot more substance to the novel.

Overall, I thought the novel was great. There way the author used historical figures as characters in her novel was great. She aptly depicted the trials and tribulations of daily life in Ancient Egypt and wrote an incredibly well penned novel about the early life of one of the most famous queens in all of history. There was action, romance, mystery, inrigue, betrayal and murder which I think will allow this book to appeal to a wide audience of readers. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction especially if you have a love for ancient Egypt and young adult fiction and want a kick ass heroine. This book is one of my favourite books of 2012 and I can't wait to start the sequel to this book.

Loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

 

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Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie #1) by Ingrid Paulson

 

Summary:

 

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 352 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: October 9th 2012 by HarperTeen

 

FINALLY! A book with Valkyries set in NORWAY! I cannot tell you how happy those two things made me while I read Valkyrie Rising. Seriously. I'm sick of mythological being appearing out of the blue in the U.S.A. I don't know why but it really irks me. So the fact that Ingrid Paulson wrote a young adult novel about the Valkyries that took place in Norway was a huge deal for me. Plus the fact that she made some attempts to talk about places in Norway showed she did a bit of research on the country which I totally appreciated since the book was read for my Around the World Reading Challenge.

 

I've always loved Norse mythology so when I found out about this book months ago I couldn't wait to read it but like always when I got the book from the library I didn't get around to reading it until the night before it's due back...which was last night. However, the book had me hooked from the first page so it worked out remarkably well since the writing was so addictive I could not put the book down at all.

 

Ingrid Paulson brought a fantastic debut novel to the table that has a lot of action, Norse mythology, a wee bit of romance and a kick ass heroine that comes into her own. I absolutely loved Elsa (Ellie)'s character. She started off very unsure of herself and very shy but by the end of the novel she matured, and became a lot stronger sand more self confident which was great to see because I hate characters who are pushovers. I loved how much she cared about not only rescuing her older brother Graham but also rescuing all the other boys Astrid the leader of the Valkyries kidnapped for use in Odin's army.

 

The other characters in the novel were great too. Graham, Ellie's brother was the typical annoying big brother. He was always butting his head into her business and trying to make decisions for her completely ignoring the fact that she is her own person.

 

Tucker was a great love interest for Ellie because of his teasing nature he balanced out her more serious nature and he added a lot of humour to the book which was needed and I thought he was really endearing despite the fact that he was a little annoying in the beginning.

 

Hilda, who is Ellie and Graham's grandmother on their father's side was unlike any grandmother I've ever read about and if you read the book you'll find out why that is. I thought she was a wonderful chsaracter and you csn tell that Ellie gets a lot of her strength from her Grandmother.

 

Overall all other characters were great. I was a little bit worried that there wouldnt be very much attention paid to the side characters but they were wonderfully created and they had just the right amount of depth to make the interesting and to make me want to read more about them in the next book in the series.

 

The plot was also wonderfully written. There was a lot of action that was interwoven with the mythology and romance themes which were not over done or cheesy but were just right. I liked how the story was mainly focused on Ellie's search for her brother and learning about who and what she is as well as a bit of the mythology behind the Valkyries. The romance between her and Tucker thankfully too a backseat for most of the novel and I am so glad that their relationship wasn't another dreaded case of the wretched insta-love fad that's been plaguing young adult novels as of late. The pace of the novel was great and it kept me reading late into the night and I couldn't put it down until I finished it because I couldn't wait to see how it ended. The story will draw you in and you'll be thinking about it long after you finish it.

 

Ingrid Paulson wrote a great debut novel and I highly recommend this novel to everyone especially if you're a fan of young adult novels that deal with mythology especially Norse mythology. I think she's a talented author and I can't wait to read the next book in the series and this is definetly one of the best books I've read in 2012.

 

Loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis

 

Summary:

 

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It’s been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. Everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed.

But there may be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to act on his vision—no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder learns shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a mystery that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier. Their success—or failure—will determine the fate of the 2,298 passengers aboard Godspeed. But with each step, the journey becomes more perilous, the ship more chaotic, and the love between them more impossible to fight.

Beth Revis catapulted readers into the far reaches of space with her New York Times bestselling debut, Across the Universe. In A Million Suns, Beth deepens the mystery with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 386 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: January 10th 2012 by Razorbill

 

Last year I picked up Across the Universe and really loved it and I'd been waiting to finally read the second book A Million Suns for ages before I read it a couple weeks ago.

 

This book picked up 3 months or so after the the ending of Across the Universe which is just where it needed to start off. I thought it was great to get back into the world on the ship Godspeed because to be honest I've really missed the author's writing.

 

Since the first book left off, Amy is trying to adjust to life as she now knows it. She is so different from those on the ship with her and her only ally is Elder, the teenage leader of the ship who took power in the first book.

 

In this book there was a lot more suspense in it than the first one and it was drawn out through the entire novel and I loved that about it. Often in YA fiction the authors do not carry out suspense very well and it ends far too soon and is altogether anti climatic. However, Revis in my opinion did an outstanding job of creating a suspenseful plot.

 

I think that while I enjoyed the first book a lot that the author really did hit her stride with this one. The plot was a lot stronger and better paced than that of the first novel and a lot of the questions I had while I was reading Across the Universe and ones I had after I finished reading it were answered in A Million Suns. However, now I have a whole bunch of questions that I hope the third book will finally answer for me.

 

This book had a lot more violence, intrigue and romance than the first book because now Elder is the leader of the people on Godspeed and the relationship between Amy and he seems to go up and down like a bloody roller coaster. One moment their getting closer and the next events on the ship are tearing them apart turning the book into a bit of an angsty read but I enjoyed that part of it. I'm not a huge fan of "perfect" love stories where everyone gets along and everything is grand and wonderful. The emotions of the book were very real which I think is extremely important.

 

A huge mystery was solved in this book and one would think that that would solve the problems Amy and Elder are facing on the rapidly deteriorating ship Godspeed a whole other can of worms is inevitably opened and it will be very interesting to see where the book goes from here.

 

The only big problem I had with the book was how Elder treated Amy sometimes. It is his fault that she was brought out of cryo-stasis because he thought she was beautiful but in this book he seems to blame her a lot for the discord their relationship causes amongst the people of Godspeed who believe Amy is a freak and he goes so far as to call her one as well. In my opinion he has absolutely no right to be like that with her and if it were me in Amy's place I would have decked him long ago. Instead, I found Amy to be a little to deferential to Elder it was as though the pain he caused her was alright just because he had a lot of responsibility. I felt that Amy had lost a wee bit of the fiery personality that she had in the first book and I hope that she regains that strength in the next book.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed finally reading the second book in this series and I would highly recommend this series to all those who enjoy sci-fi ya romances that aren't too....science fiction-y. If that makes sense. Even if you aren't a fan of the sci-fi genre this series is a great read and if you've read the first one and haven't read A Million Suns yet I highly advise doing so soon. I can't wait to see where the next book leads and I'm glad that book three will be released in January.

 

Really Liked it!
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

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James Herriot's Animal Stories by James Herriot Lesley Holmes (Illustrator), Jim Wight (Introduction)

 

Summary:

 

When you enter the world of James Herriot's Animal Stories, you’ll share his wonder and humor, his adventures and misadventures as he contends with pet owners and landowners; rough-spoken farmers and soft-spoken gentry; orphaned lambs, litters of piglets and puppies, cattle and draught horses; and a miscellany of cats and dogs including, of course, Mrs. Pumphrey’s inimitable Pekinese, Tricki Woo.

Length: 145 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Purchased

Publication Date: August 15th 1997 by St. Martin's Press

 

This was the third book  that I read for my read-a-thon last weekend in the Goodreads group You'll love this one...!! A book club & more and it was by far my favourite read of the read-a-thon. Last year around this time I read my first James Herriot book and I've loved his writing ever since.

 

In this short book James Herriot told some old stories as well as some new ones. I really enjoyed reading the stories I've already read about some of the animals Tricki Woo in particular I think that story is probably one of my favourites of his because it's such a cute story.As for the new stories, it was nice to be introduced to new animals because I think each of the different stories about his 4-legged patients is like a little gift.

 

As always James Herriot's writing was a delight. Every time I pick up one of his books I know I will be entertained. His stories about his experiences as a Yorkshire vet are wonderfully heartwarming and charming and they are definitely books I will always turn too when I need a good old fashioned comfort read.

 

I would recommend this book to everyone young or old. I think that this book would be a great read aloud book that both the reader and audience but most of all I think all animal lovers should give James Herriot's books a try because they'll make you appreciate your pets just a wee bit more. Plus this book and all the others I've read by him are quick reads and in my opinion are meant to be read on a day where snuggling up with a good book, a hot beverage and your pets is the only thing you want to do. I can't wait to read my next James Herriot book. Hopefully I can get to one before Christmas which by the way his books would make the perfect Christmas gift for!

 

Really Liked it!
★ ★ ★ ★

 

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Origin by Jessica Khoury

 

Summary:

 

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 394 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: September 4th 2012 by Razorbill     

 

Here is another book that I waited for for months to read until last month when I finally got my hands on a copy from the library. Then when I brought it home I read a couple iffy reviews so I went into it very hesitantly, expecting the worst but I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed Origin.

 

The story centers around Pia (love the name) who is a genetically enhanced human who has the gift of being immortal. She's raised in a jungle compound where she is heralded in as the future of humanity and expected to be as cold and calculating as those around her and she is almost convinced that she will be until she escapes the compound and meets the boy of her dreams Eio. However a series of events take place and she finds out what kind of sacrifices were made for her to gain the immortality that those around her so value and she has to fight for the life she truly wants.

 

I thought that the book was great. In many ways it reminded me a lot of The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna click here to read my review. Because both novels focus on strong female characters that were somehow made different through scientific advances and there was secrecy and romance in both of these. However, I found that in Origins the author did a much better job at developing the plot a lot more because a lot of the questions I had about how and why Pia was the way she was were answered. I appreciated how well explained the plot was because it created a steady story line.

 

Pia though has to be one of my favourite heroines of the year. She was so strong willed, smart, and kind that there was very little that I couldn't like about her though I do wish she had grown a backbone when it came to certain things a wee bit sooner but it wasn't anything major in terms of effecting the novel. I loved how despite growing up in such a cold atmosphere in the compound where she was raised that she still had a lot of goodness in her.

 

Eio, was a good side character as well I liked how much he showed his love for Pia but it was sadly a week case of the dreaded insta-love that I tend to dislike. However, I didn't mind it as much as I usually would though for me that is the one major draw back in the book.

 

The other side characters were also well developed enough for me to find them interesting enough that I wish I knew more about their side stories as well as Pia's but then the book would have been really long.

 

I really enjoyed learning about how Pia was made/born and the reasons why. I thought the whole immortal flower was a great idea and one that I've only heard about a few times and hopefully it won't be the new thing and other authors start putting them in there novels all of a sudden. I also liked that there was a bit of intrigue and a lot of action in the book as well so that it kept me guessing the whole way through.

 

Overall I thought that this was a great debut by Jessica Khoury who is only a couple months older than I am. In my mind this proves that young authors do have talent and are capable of penning successful novels. With a well developed plot and a great heroine I think this is going on my favourites list of books I've read this year. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone especially those who like YA novels. I hope Jessica has another book in the works because I think she's going to be an author to watch out for in the future.

 

Really Liked it!
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

 

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Twelve Months by Steven Manchester

 

 

Summary:

 

Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 324 pages (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Publication Date: August 14th 2012 by The Story Plant

 

I cannot say enough great things about this book. It's one of those rare novels that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and leave you questioning the big picture. This is a book that will make you think. At least, that's what Twelve Months made me do. It's rather hard not to do such a thing when the main character is diagnosed with cancer and given only 12 months left to live.

 

Steven Manchester wrote a wonderfully heartfelt novel about one man's final twelve months to live after being diagnosed with cancer and his emotional journey of discovery what life well and truly means and how to make time, no matter how little or how much worth living.

 

When I read Twelve Months I was in one of those moods. You know those moods where you just want to read something to make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside? That was me on the day I decide to sit down and read this and you know what it turned out to be the best time to read it.

 

I don't come across books like this all the time but when I do I always end up refreshed and rejuvenated after reading them and Twelve Months was no different. I loved the characters in this story. Don has got to be one of the most well rounded and well thought out characters that I've stumbled upon. I couldn't hep but fee for the man and all that he was going through.

 

What I loved most about Don was that he was so determined to keep living and make the most of the time he had left with his family and friends, earning from them, teaching from them and loving them with all he has in them. His journey was deeply emotional filled with times of sorrow, pain, and anger but most of all what I took away from the book was the amount of warmth there were times that the book had me laughing so loud and times that I had to have a tissue box by my side. It's a talented author that can make their audience feel so many things in the pages of a 320 page novel and I think that this is a fine example of what one of those talented authors can do.

 

So I know this comes as no surprise to anyone but I loved this book. I walked away from reading it feeling lighter and refreshed ready to take on the world much like Don did and I'd like to thank the author for that experience. Sometimes, I think we all forget that life can change for the better or worse in an instant and that we have to live every day as if it were out last.

 

The characters, plot and over all message and feelings this book made me feel is why I'm giving it the rating I am. I strongly recommend that everyone gives this book a chance no matter what age you are or what book genres you like. Books like this are rare so it is best not to miss a chance of reading it. Also, I would like to thank the author Steven Manchester for providing me with a complimentary copy of his novel for review. Thanks so much Steven and I can't wait to see more of your work in the future!

 

* I received a complimentary copy of this book for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed therein are my own and I was not compensated in anyway to provide a favourable review.

 

Awesome, I loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

 

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*[Blog Tour Review] Swamp Monster Massacre by Hunter Shae

 

 

Summary:

 

The swamp belongs to them. Humans are only prey.

Deep in the overgrown swamps of Florida, where humans rarely dare to enter, lives a race of creatures long thought to be only the stuff of legend. They walk upright but are stronger, taller and more brutal than any man. And when a small boat of tourists, held captive by a fleeing criminal, accidentally kills one of the swamp dwellers’ young, the creatures are filled with a terrifyingly human emotion—a merciless lust for vengeance that will paint the trees red with blood.

Summary & Photo provided by Reading Addiction Blog Tours

Length: 139 pages

Source: Review Copy

Publication Date: October 2nd 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.     

 

My oh my did I enjoy myself when I read this book! I mean really this book has Kimberly written all over it. Swamp monsters, death, and horror! This is definitely the kind of book I enjoy reading. It was the perfect book to read since this month is October and Halloween is just around the corner.

 

The book itself isn't all that long but that doesn't mean that the book is any less substantial for that reason in fact for me it was much more like reading a full length novel because of how much I enjoyed it.

 

There was so much this novella length book has to offer. There is crime, blood, gore and all the sorts of things you would associate with monsters. I for one really enjoyed the setting for the book it was actually one of my favourite parts of the writing.

 

When I finally sat down to read Swamp Monster Massacre I couldn't have picked a better night since I decided to read it on a really stormy night and my night table light was actually flickering which added a lot to the whole spooky ambiance of the novel.

 

At first I was a little confused as to what was going on but once I got may 5 percent in the story itself began pick up and gosh was I hooked on the intense and spooky nature of the novella. I loved the characters but I really loved the swamp monsters or Big Foot if you'd prefer to call them. If you've followed my blog for long enough you'll know I have a soft spot for books where there are monsters, dinosaurs or prehistoric beasts and this one truly filled the monster bill.

 

If you're looking for a really spooky read but may or may not have the time to read a full length novel than I highly recommend this especially if you love horror novels and horror novels with monsters. For me this novella has me hooked on Hunter's  writing and I can't wait to read more by him. I'm hoping he keeps writing more and more things like Swamp Monster Massacre because if he does I can guarantee that he'll have a fan for a long time to come.

 

*I received a free copy in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all thoughts and opinions expressed therein are my own.

Loved It!
★ ★ ★★★

 

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Eve & Adam by Katherine Applegate & Michael Grant

 

Summary:

 

And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 291 pages

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: October 2nd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

 

It's taken me awhile to sit down and write this review. As much as I loved the book I just never got around to writing my review before now and I read the book back in July! But, don't let that get you thinking that I didn't enjoy Eve & Adam because I did.

 

I don't know if many of you remember Katherine Applegates's middle grade series (also written with her husband) that was really popular in the early 2000's entitled The Animorph Series. I hope some of you do because those books were among my best of friends when I was 10 til the time I was 12 years old. Katherine Applegate is one of those iconic writers from my childhood so when I saw that she had written a new novel albeit with her husband I had to request it from NetGalley regardless of what it was going to be about I knew I had to have it.

 

Luckily, the publisher granted me approval and the same day I got my ARC I had read and finished the book in a matter of hours. Hours that had me neglecting poor Mr. Turning the Pages. That's right ladies and gents. The book was that good seriously.

 

Right off the bat I was hooked. I love a good book where there are genetically engineered characters. Evening is one of my favourite characters of the year. I loved how smart she was and her take charge personality. Plus I loved that even though she came from money, and had a mother with some major control issues and a type A personality that she was very mellow to a certain extent. Mostly we see this as she interacts with her  best friend  Aislin who has some issues of her own. You can tell that when Evening loves and cares about someone that she loves hard. Even if it means putting herself in danger.

 

What really surprised me about the novel was how well developed the plot was. I liked that the big thing (You have to read the book to find out what it is because I am so not spoiling that for you) didn't happen right away. Even though the book starts off pretty dramatically it didn't really slow down all that much which I loved. The fact that Evening is so smart and she's an artist really endeared her to me because she wasn't the typical cold hearted braniac (We'll reserve that title for her mother who does love her daughter very much in her own way).

 

The book was very action packed and there was a lot of twists and turns and Solo was one of the biggest mysteries until the very end. I really enjoyed that there was some romance between Evening and him but it wasn't over done and it was absolutely not a case of the dreaded insta love.

 

After all the hullabalooh, of the first bit of the book or so we're introduced to Adam whom, in a roundabout way is how the reader starts to learn about the genetic mutations being carried out at Evening's mother's laboratory and the story behing Eve's own existence comes to light as well.

 

When all is said and done this was a fantastic novel, and one of my favourite books of 2012 both in the YA category and the overall category. I really loved it and I highly recommend this one to everyone. It was a great novel and I enjoyed how the authors wrote it and the character development was spot on. I can't wait for the nect book in this series to come out but seeing as how the book was just published I may be in for a longish wait. In that case I think I'll read some of Grant's and Applegate's other books. Go buy this book people!

 

 

* I received a free copy of this book from the published via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

 

Loved It!
★ ★ ★★★

 

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