Review: The World Without A Future

Title: The World Without a Future
Author: Nazarea Andrews
Publication: 2013
Reviewed by: Stephanie
Rating: 4 stars
Reason for Reviewing: Ebook provided in exchange for an honest review.

She was born the day the world ended…

Nurrin has lived her entire life with zombies—trapped behind walls meant to keep them safe. She’s mostly happy there. But when a zombie horde breach the walls of her Haven, she has to trust her brother, Collin, and his best friend to keep her alive.

He just wants his past to die…

Finn O’Malley has given up on voicing warnings that are ignored. No one cares that the zombies are changing. Now all that matters is keeping Collin and Nurrin safe from what’s outside the walls of a Haven. But when Nurrin’s best friend picks up a contact infection, he agrees to get the medicine needed to save his life. Forced together, relying on each other in a strange Haven, zombies aren’t the most dangerous thing they’re facing.

In their world, only one thing remains true: everything ends in blood.

 

This New Adult Zombie Dystopian story had me at the edge of my seat page after page. There are so many emotions and thoughts running through my mind right now about what I just read. Just wow...where to start? This world that the author, Nazarea Andrews, created is extremely frightening with the infected hordes of zombies taking over most of the world except gated communities called Havens. One by one these Havens get breached by these zombie hordes and humans are either infected or slaughtered. The way these zombies are described, from the way they move and scream, paints such a vivid gruesome picture. Instantly, I was transformed within these pages walking along side the characters and so fearful of what would happen next.

Let’s talk about the two main characters Nurrin aka "Ren" and Finn O’Malley. Nurrin is a beautiful, sassy, tough, young woman who is considered one of the “first” as she was born the day the zombie apocalypse world started. This makes her extremely sought after by the Order which is an organization who believes that sacrificing the first borns as tribute will bring about less zombie attacks. Yeah, a twisted way of thinking, but in this world nothing seems moral anymore. On that note, enter the extremely handsome, cocky, hot tempered Finn O’ Malley. He oozes sex and mystery which is very intriguing especially to Nurrin. These two characters have such great, complicated chemistry with each other. It’s obvious they want to jump each others bones, but they just can’t stand each other. Definitely a lot of teasing going on in this story, lol.

After I read the whole book, I just sat there and let it all truly sink in. I had so many mixed emotions about how the story ended. I kept thinking to myself, hmmm, when will the author start wrapping this book up because I still have so many questions that need answering. The ending leaves you hanging from the cliff...literally! Do keep in mind that this is the first book in the series so answers should be revealed in the following books. *wink* With all that being said, I really enjoyed this page turning fright fest. The steamy sex scenes almost made me forget that flesh eating zombie hordes are hiding in the shadows. In all, a great read if you enjoy zombies, horror, action, drama, sex, and fast cars. I can’t wait for book two! I need book two!!! *already twitching with zombie withdrawals* No pressure Ms. Nazarea Andrews. Haha.

  

Review: Nomad by J.L. Bryan

Title: NOMAD
Author: J.L. Bryan
Publication: July 26, 2013 by J.L. Bryan Books
Reviewed by: Isalys
Reason for Reading: Ebook provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

They took everything: her family, her home, her childhood.

By the age of nineteen, Raven has spent most of her life in the sprawling slums of America, fighting as a rebel against the dictatorship. When the rebellion steals an experimental time-travel device, she travels back five decades to the year 2013. Her plan: assassinate the future dictator when he is still young and vulnerable, long before he comes to power. She must move fast to reshape history, because agents from her own time are on her trail, ready to execute her on sight.

**WARNING: Minor spoiler alert!** 

How's this for an opening line?

"Her hands were red with blood, but the cold rain washed it away. Whose blood? She couldn't remember."

 The year is 2064 and life sucks!  It's a cruel world where people are imprisoned, beaten and murdered.  A world where most live in fear because of one man, an evil dictator known as Secretary-General of the United States.  Technology and weaponry is advanced.  In fact, it's so advanced that the government is on the verge of completing the first working time-travel machine.

Meet Raven.  A 19-year old revolutionary rebel.  Orphaned at a young age, she grew to loathe the government and its sadistic, tyrannical leader.  She helps organize a group of fighters who will steal the time-travel device before the government can use it for its own nefarious purposes, and she succeeds.  She travels to the past where she intends to assassinate the future leader before he comes into power.  One problem, though.  She awakens in the year 2013 with no memory of the future or her mission.  She must now put together the few clues she has to change the course of history!

I love time travel stories, mainly because I desperately wish I could do it, but even I know that time travel is nothing to sneeze at. It's complicated with its loops and paradoxes and many what-ifs.  I am wholly impressed with J.L. Bryan's take on it.  He explained it in such a way where it made sense, as much as it could anyway, without getting overly scientific or tedious.  It was original and plausible.

Raven is the kind of girl that makes a lasting impression.  She's brave, smart, logical, loyal, and not altogether unrealistic.  She knows what she has to do and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty.  Yet she understands that her actions, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, hold the potential to change the future.  I loved being in her mind as she studied the various situations she found herself in and tried to figure out the best course of action.  I also enjoyed getting to know the year 2013 through her eyes and how simplistic it was compared to her own time.  Makes you think that maybe we don't have it so bad, after all?

Logan, our young future dictator is your quintessential rich, preppy college boy.  He's handsome, charming, and all around good at everything.  He's the very antithesis of what he's to become so upon meeting him, Raven has a difficult time of consolidating this innocent, fun-loving guy with the tyrant that he's to become.  She comes up with a plan to ingratiate herself into his life in an attempt to "change" him and in doing so, learns who the real villain is.

There is so much more to this story than I can put into this review, but suffice it to say that J.L. Bryan has done it again!  Taken a fascinating concept, two in the case of Nomad, and melded them to create a complex, thought-provoking, engaging story that will make your head spin (but in a good way!).

Blog Tour: Steel Lily by Megan Curd

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.
 
Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

EXCERPT

The Polatzi woman’s broad body blocked the view of my intended hallway. Her hands were on her hips, and her piercing gaze felt as if it might actually impale me. Do they teach that death stare to every Polatzi, or is this woman particularly nasty?

“Avery Pike?”

I jutted my chin in the air. “Who’s asking?”

“You were off the grid last night.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I pushed past her before she could say more and felt the smooth fabric of her cape slap my legs as I passed. Fiery anger consumed me, but I kept my expression neutral. Damn Polatzi. They gave me nothing but unanswered questions and a lice-ridden bed at an overcapacity orphanage, yet expected me to revere them. Providing steam–being an asset they couldn’t get rid of–gave me immunity to the Polatzi as long as I didn’t do anything stupid.

Like skipping class and going to see Alice during a night of sweeps. Yeah, that would fall under the category of life-threateningly stupid, which was a couple notches above incredibly stupid.

WHERE TO BUY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college.


When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to snowboard and travel to new places, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.
Megan currently resides in Stanton, Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

Website

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Cover Art: Ignite Me (Shatter Me 3) by Tahereh Mafi

Excuse. Me. For. A. Moment!

Omg omg omg!  The title, cover and blurb for the FINAL installment of the Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi is finally here!

Expected Release Date: February 4, 2014 (aka 100 years away!)

Feast your eyes upon this...

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew—about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam—was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was “dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

I won't even lie to you guys and pretend that I am NOT freaking the frak out right now!

*cough* Team Adam *cough*

Thanks to Hollywood Crush for sharing this and Tahereh's little love note with all the fans:

Hi guys!
I'm so so thrilled to be able to share this final cover with you all. The "Shatter Me" series is swiftly coming to a close, and though it's a bittersweet feeling, I'm anxious for everyone to know how the story will end. Also I'm hoping we can still be friends after you finish reading. Ahem.

If you follow me around the internet, you know I've teased you a lot about what may or may not happen in book 3, but the truth is, most of the time I was just messing with you. What actually happens in the third book is probably almost definitely not what you think is going to happen. (Don't let the title fool you! "Ignite" is so much more than it seems.)

Of this final book I can promise you this much, though: Juliette is back. She's pissed. And she's ready to kick some ass. No regrets.

And mom, if you're reading this, I'm sorry I just said ass on the Internet. Twice.

-Tahereh Mafi

Blast: The IXEOS Trilogy by Jennings Wright

The McClellands are enjoying a lazy summer vacation at the beach when they are lured from our world into Ixeos, an alternate Earth. Finding themselves lost in a maze of tunnels under Paris and surrounded by strangers, they discover that they have been brought to Ixeos for one purpose: to take the planet back from humanoid aliens who have claimed it. With the aid of the tunnels and a mysterious man named Landon, the teens travel the world seeking the key that will allow them to free Darian, the long-imprisoned rebel leader. But the aliens aren’t the only problem on Ixeos — the McClellands have to deal with brutal gangs, desperate junkies, and a world without power, where all the technology is owned by the aliens, and where most of the population has been killed or enslaved. The worst part? There’s no way home.

With rebel leader Darian free at last, the humans and outsiders on Ixeos must find a way to join forces and defeat the Firsts. The problem? All slaves are tracked with GPS, the Firsts are the only ones with power, and roving gangs hate the rebels just as much as they hate the aliens. As Darian and the outsiders from Earth travel the globe through the mysterious tunnels in Paris, they learn that the Firsts are preparing to launch another wave of biological warfare. With a transporter that will allow the aliens to target any city, anywhere on the planet, the rebels know they must stop them at all costs. As things get more dangerous on Ixeos, the outsiders find that they’re pushed to their limit. Will they fight for freedom, no matter the price?

 

 WHERE TO BUY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Rockledge, Florida, Jennings spent her early years reading anything she could get her hands on, when she wasn’t spending time in and on the water. She won a prize in the 6th grade for her science fiction stories.

Jennings attended the University of the South and the University of Tampa, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, and almost enough credits for B.A.s in both English and History. She spent time over the years doing various kinds of script doctoring, business writing, editing, and teaching writing, but mostly having and raising her family, homeschooling her children, owning and running a business with her husband, and starting a non-profit to Uganda.

Thanks to a crazy idea called NaNoWriMo Jennings got back into creative writing in 2011 and hasn’t stopped since. She’s written four novels and a screenplay in less than a year, with more ideas on the drawing board. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, also a writer, and two children, and travels extensively.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

 
Ships to US Only | Must be 13+ To Enter

North Face backpack
Phase 10
GIANT jawbreaker
Paracord bracelet
water bottle
Bandana
pocket atlas
tiny flashlight
Fruit stripe gum
A deck of cards called “Don’t Die Out There”
The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science: 50 Experiments
IXEOS
To come (not pictured):
IXEOS: REbellion
IXEOS black long sleeve tee size L

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RAK Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Beverly!

You are the winner of our special RAK giveaway of Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.

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Please email us at booksoulmates @ gmail . com with your mailing address so we can send out your prize! 

Happy reading! 

Jen's Mini Review: Outpost by Ann Aguirre

Title: Outpost (Razorland #2)
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publication: September 4, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
Pages: Hardcover, 320 pages
Reviewed by: Jen D.
Reason for Reading: Because book 1 was amazeballs!

DEUCE'S WHOLE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE READERS FIRST MET HER IN ENCLAVE. 

Now living topside in a community called Salvation, she has a whole new set of problems. Down below, she was considered an adult, and she contributed to the enclave. Now, above ground, she's viewed as a brat in need of training by the people of Salvation. She doesn't fit in with the other girls:  She hates cooking, sewing, and school.  Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance.  Her feelings for Fade haven't changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore.  Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce pursues a chance to serve in the summer patrols–those responsible for making sure the growers and planters can work the fields without danger of Freak attack. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks are smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn the tide.

Hello lovely readers.  For my next mini review I've decided to go with book two in Ann Aguirre's Razorland Series.  Something tells me you're not surprised by this.  *wink*  So before I begin, I just want to state that I'm going to try my best to keep this mini-review spoiler free.  I am not  fan of spoilers because it takes something away from my reading experience so I definitely don't want to spoil anything for you guys.

Anywhoozle, Outpost picks up where Enclave left off.  Our group arrives at Salvation a little worse for wear.  In the safety provided by Salvation's wooden walls, our characters recoup and try to adjust to a new way of life.  You'd think this would make for a slow start, but Ms. Aguirre does an excellent job of bringing to light Deuce's (and to a certain extent the rest of the group's) struggles dealing with small town life and the roles that are defined for men and women (which are much different than the one's Deuce is used to).  Frustrated with her situation, she seeks out a way to contribute to the town.

Luckily, for her and the town, she earns a spot on the summer patrol and puts her special skill set to excellent use.  Certain events happen while Deuce is out in the field that leads to a domino effect of all hell breaking loose.  Essentially what happens is the first half of the book takes you on an emotional and sometimes painful journey of self-discovery while the second half of the book renders you paralyzed from its intensity.  Ann finishes book two with an interesting twist that has me beside myself with anticipation for book three.  If you haven't picked this series up yet, I highly recommend you do it as soon as possible.  You won't be disappointed!

Partials Read-A-Long

Last week, I finished a month long read-a-long and now I'm ready to dive into another one.  This is what happens when you have read-a-longs for awesome books hosted by awesome peeps :)

For the month of August, I'll be participating in the read-a-long for PARTIALS by Dan Wells hosted by the ladies of Books with Cass and Bumbles and Fairy-Tales.

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s 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. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

I've had this book on my shelf since I got it for the last Dark Days Tour and I'm totes excited to read it!

The Schedule:

August 6: Week 1 - Part 1, read pages 1 - 134  

August 13: Week 2 - Part 2, read pages 135 - 239  

August 20: Week 3 - (still Part 2 ) read pages 240 - 349 

August 27: Week 4 - Part 3 read pages 350 - 472