Release Day Blitz–Isaura by Ruth Silver

Written By: Kellie - Dec• 05•13

isaura 3d whiteTitle: Isaura

Author: Ruth Silver

Publisher: Patchwork Press/Lazy Day Publishing

Published On: December 4th, 2013

Cover Art: Erica Crouch (paperback), Lazy Day Publishing (eBook)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Synopsis: With Joshua’s recent disappearance, Olivia has little choice but to head into the dangerous Gravelands as the new government wrestles with fixing the damage to society. Joining forces with her estranged father and a girl from Haven, they go on a search-and-rescue mission to find Joshua and bring him back alive. If traveling through outlaw territory isn’t frightening enough, Olivia learns she has exposed her secret and is hunted by her allies.

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Available for purchase:

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eBook: Kindle | Nook

Excerpt: “I’m fine!” I pushed harder on the gas. “They can’t be that far ahead of us.” I just hoped we were headed in the right direction.

We drove another twenty minutes north as I moved off the dirt road and onto grass. I glanced back at Rane. “Do you think Craynor could have found a place in Haven to keep Joshua?”

“I don’t know. Not much was left. There could have been a cellar or basement abandoned that didn’t get struck. That’s how I survived,” Rane admitted.

It at least gave me hope. As we drove north, the rain stopped and the clouds parted. Cresting a hill, I slammed the brakes as we jolted to an abrupt halt.

“What the hell?” Gavin’s voice echoed as the seatbelt restrained him and his arm shot up on the dashboard to steady himself. A few feet away, I saw outlaws with weapons pointed in our direction. “Hurry up!” His voice threatened in my ear as I slammed on the gas, but our car wasn’t going anywhere: the tires had blown from spikes in the road.

Locking the doors hadn’t helped. They busted the car window and flipped the lock, opening the door, dragging all three of us out.

 

isaura banner

Every Writer Should Be Reading

by Ruth Silver

So I feel it should go without saying, every writer should be reading their genre. Or at the very least reading. I was shocked to find that when I went to an Author Fair, I met an author that doesn’t read anything. “I don’t have time to read.” My mouth hit the floor. How can an author not having time to read? How can you know your craft, if you don’t read other books of the same genre?

Better yet, if you’re not reading, what are you doing to better yourself as a writer? You can’t write your book, publish, and then expect it to magically sell itself, unless, you’re J.K. Rowling.

My point is, if you’re a writer you better be reading something. The art of dialogue, plot, story-telling – it’s all learned from reading. The more you read, the more you realize what you like and what you don’t in a story.

Don’t just stop at reading, write a critical review. That doesn’t mean be negative, it means provide constructive criticism. The more reviews you write, the more you’ll learn what you liked and didn’t. You’ll also be able to have a more constructive eye for your own writing.



Blog Tour: Entice by Erica Crouch

Written By: Kellie - Nov• 29•13

Entice Banner

I’ve got something special for you today! Something verrryyy special. My good friend and critique partner, Erica Crouch has a new release, and you’re definitely going to want ot hear about this one. Entice is book #1.5 in the Ignite series and tells the story of Pen and Azael in Eden. That’s right, Eden! Like the Eden! Seriously, this is an awesome story. It’s also a prequel, so you don’t need to have read Ignite in order to enjoy Entice.

entice

With the aftertaste of Heaven still strong, Pen and Azael cloak themselves in their new demonic destinies, fighting for Lucifer against the angels. Pen, warring against former friends turned vengeful enemies, still struggles with defecting to Hell. But in one short battle, they go from forgotten to famous, thrust into the spotlight where she has no room for uncertainty.

Suddenly top-tiered demons, they’re tasked with seeing through hell’s new agenda: corrupting man. But tarnishing Eden isn’t as simple as they thought it would be, especially when they’re forced to work with another team of demons who are trying to claw their way up the ladder of power.

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Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Written By: Kellie - Nov• 27•13

pawn

Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1
Publisher:  Harlequin TEEN
Publish Date: November 26th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating 4/5 – This story takes a bunch of standard dystopian tropes, but turns it into something very cool.

About the book: YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There’s only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that’s not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she’s only beginning to understand. – Goodreads

Thoughts: One day I will be sick of dystopian novels.  Today is not that day! I really enjoyed Pawn! This is the first book in The Blackcoat Rebellion series, and I’ll be sticking around to see what happens next. The story follows Kitty who is born into poverty and is essentially a ward of the state because her parents chose not to pay the tax needed to have another child. Her life looks like it’s going to take a turn toward something pretty grim when she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime. Kitty has the same eyes as Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, a fact that the most powerful family in the country is willing to use to their advantage. Kitty then goes under the knife to be ‘masked’ to look exactly like Lila who was killed by her own family for stirring the seeds of rebellion.

There are a lot of elements to this story that you’ll have seen before. A caste system of sorts, tattoos, a corrupt goverment, wealth and rebellion, but Aimee Carter brings them all together really nicely. Kitty is a great main character, and the supporting cast all works really well together to tell the story. The romance was lacking a bit from what you usually see in YA, but it didn’t take away from the story at all. Kitty is already in a relationship with Benjy, so there isn’t as much focus on their story, he’s simply her motivation for surviving. I suspect there story might get a little more complicated in the next books in this series, but only time will tell at this point. For now, the lack of love triangle was extremely refreshing.

The plot was jam packed with action from beginning to end–not like fight scenes, explosions levels of action, but there was always soemthing happening. And there were definitely some WHOA moments that I didn’t see coming. Overall, Pawn does a great job of shaking up a somewhat stagnant genre. Highly recommended!

 

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Review: The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond

Written By: Kellie - Nov• 13•13

the woken gods

Publisher:  Strange Chemistry
Publish Date: September 3rd, 2013
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – A great standalone, but my favorite element was absolutely the worldbuilding.

About the book: The more things change…

Five years ago, the gods of ancient mythology awoke all around the world.

The more things stay the same…

This morning, Kyra Locke is late for school because of an argument with her father.

Seventeen-year-old Kyra lives in a transformed Washington, D.C., dominated by the embassies of divine pantheons and watched over by the mysterious Society of the Sun that governs mankind’s relations with the gods. But when rebellious Kyra encounters two trickster gods on her way home, one offering a threat and the other a warning, it turns out her life isn’t what it seems. She escapes with the aid of Osborne “Oz” Spencer, a young Society field operative, only to discover that her scholar father has disappeared with a dangerous Egyptian relic. The Society needs the item back, and they aren’t interested in her protests that she knows nothing about it or her father’s secrets.

Now Kyra must depend on her wits and the suspect help of scary Sumerian gods, her estranged oracle mother, and, of course, Oz–whose first allegiance is to the Society. She has no choice if she’s going to recover the missing relic and save her father. And if she doesn’t? Well, that may just mean the end of the world as she knows it. From the author of Blackwood comes a fresh, thrilling urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman, Cassandra Clare, and Rick Riordan. -Goodreads

Thoughts: I love Strange Chemistry books so much. Seriously, I just want to collect them all and build myself a fort of storytelling excellence.

Anyways, on to The Woken Gods, a what-if story set in a version of our world where all of the ancient gods have reawoken, creating a fantastical fantasy world with intriguing political elements. Kyra Locke doesn’t realize that she’s right in the middle of all this insanity, and it’s so much fun to explore this world with her.

While I definitely loved both Kyra and Oz (name swoon), what really stood out for me in terms of characterization was the secondary characters–specifically the friendship that Kyra has with her best friends. Way more genuine and true to life than most YA friendships. All of these characters also had active relationship with their parents that while far from perfect, were present, which was a nice change as well.

There were a few points where the action seemed to drag a bit, but the worldbuilding managed to keep me interested until things started to pick up again. There are thousands and thousands of gods in this version of our world, and even the characters dont try and keep track of them. The gods that are featured definitely aren’t the ones we see so much of in these kinds of stories (namely the Greek pantheon) and I did kind of miss their presence, but mostly it was just interesting to get to see a broader view of world mythology.

The Woken Gods is a must read for any YA mythology buffs out there.

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Review: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (audiobook)

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 30•13

the bone season

Series: The Bone Season, #1
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publish Date: August 20th, 2013
Source: ARC provided by Audible
Audible

Rating: 4.5/5 – This is the beginning of a beautiful bookish obsession.

About the book: It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.

But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army.

Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

The Bone Season introduces a compelling heroine—a young woman learning to harness her powers in a world where everything has been taken from her. It also introduces an extraordinary young writer, with huge ambition and a teeming imagination. Samantha Shannon has created a bold new reality in this riveting debut. – Goodreads

Thoughts: Well, for once I’ve read a BIG BUZZ book before the series is already halfway over. A lot of people have been talking about Samantha Shannon’s novel The Bone Season, and after listening to this fantastic story, I can see why.

The story takes place in an alternate-history version of London. Paige is an Irish immigrant who must keep her clairvoyant abilities hidden from the government if she wants to stay alive–or so she thinks. Once Paige is caught and arressted, a whole new world is opened up to both her and the reader. There are a lot of very cool elements in play with this series: alternate dimensions, supernatural gangs, zombie like creatures. It’s a something for everyone kind of read.

The plot was kind of slow in some points, but there was a lot of world building going on so it wasn’t difficult to stay interested. Plus, I hear this is supposed to be a large series (seven books?) so I can see why the writer might want to take the time to thoroughly lay the groundwork for future books. For example, we don’t directly see Paige’s friends, but we do get to know them through flashbacks (and I usually hate flashbacks), which will keep the continuity of the series flowing with book two, when those same characters will likely be playing a much larger role.

Characters… Well, I really liked Paige, and some of the other voyants she interacted with along the way. It took me a while to figure out who I was supposed to be rooting for her with romantically, but don’t worry, that plot will show up near the end of the book. Or maybe I just missed all the clues earlier on. That’s entirely possible.

Now for the audiobook elements. The Bone Season is only the second audiobook I’ve ever listened to, but I’m officially hooked. This was narrated by Alana Kerr, and the narration was fantastic. As someone who grew up around a whole lot of Irish people, and lived in Ireland for a while myself, I always LOVE listening to an Irish accent. Love, love, love. And I thought Alana Kerr as Paige was dead on. So perfect! She also did a great job of bringing the other characters to live, including the ones who aren’t human. I will definitely be listening to this entire series in audiobook format if she keeps narrating them!

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Blog Tour: The Rising by Terra Harmony

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 26•13

 

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I couldn’t be more excited to share details about today’s blog tour feature with you guys. I worked with The Rising‘s author, Terra Harmony to bring this book into the world, and it’s absolutely one you’re all going to want to read. Mixing mermaids with werewolves and then throwing in an enviormental element, I guarentee this is a book like nothing you’ve ever read before. And have you seen that stunning cover?!

the rising

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Fifteen-year-old Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity of the ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once thriving underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it is an outside force that most threatens their dwindling population. Werewolves, who once served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of the Undine, now seek to eliminate all who dwell in the ocean—and Serena is about to find herself right in the middle of the deadly conflict.

Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down.  As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.

terra-0022About Terra Harmony

Terra is author of the eco-fantasy novels in the Akasha Series, ‘Water’, ‘Air’, ‘Fire’ and ‘Earth’, as well as the Painted Maidens Trilogy. Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia.  Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.

Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of 14 years and three children.

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DUALITY COVER REVEAL

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 24•13

I’ve got a very exciting cover reveal for ya today! It’s for one of mine. DUALITY is the second (and as far as I know right now) final book in The Hitchhiker Strain series. The first book MORTALITY came out back in march. So, without further ado, the cover, designed by the one and only Annette Marie.

Duality Cover

About the book: The end of everything came quickly, but the road back is endless and full of heartbreak.

After months of only death and loss, Veritas may be the answer everyone has been searching for—a cure. Savannah wants nothing more than to begin rebuilding, but with both the Initiative and the United Militia vying for power, there are no easy answers. Ending the threat for good could mean becoming something far worse than the monsters she is fighting against.

The infected will not go quietly. For Chelsea, the choice to step back into the world of the living is anything but simple. No miracle can erase the memories of the things she saw or the people she killed. While the girl she was struggles against the beast she became, Chelsea must make a choice—succumb or fight.

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Review: Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 16•13

across a star-swept sea

Series: For Darkness Shows the Stars, #2
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
Publish Date: October 15th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 Stars – A fantastic continuation of this wonderfully imagined future-Earth.

About the book: Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine. -Goodreads

Review: Guys, I have become SUCH a Diana Peterfreund nerd. This series has rocked my world not one time, but twice now. This is the only series I’ve read by this fantastic author, but I think it’s about time I try out something else, because there is absolutely no question that she is capable of writing books that are impossible to put down. I have recommended For Darkness Shows the Stars to anyone who will listen, and I’m sure Across a Star-Swept Sea will be forced onto just as many of my friends and family.

Admittedly, it took me a little longer to get into Across a Star-Swept Sea and figure out what was going on, which is why this one got a lower star rating, but in the end I just really, really loved this book. Persis and Co.’s story takes place elsewhere from Elliott and Kai’s, in New Pacifica where the Reduction was cured two generations ago, but things aren’t exactly stable. Class issues are still running rampant, and one of the two nations featured in this book is hell-bent on revenge. Anyone “aristo” born is a potential target for a drug that can strip you of your mind–essentially reducing them, though the effects are a lot more severe (I’m guessing this makes a lot more sense if you’ve read book one).

The book follows Persis/The Wild Poppy, a high-born girl who is also the most notorious spy in both Albion and Galatea. And as great as the plot and world building are (and seriously… so good)  it’s Persis who makes this book. The other POV characters are kick-ass females as well (plus Justen, who is also fantastic), but Persis was definitely my favorite. She’s been pretending to be a flakey socialite version of herself so that no one will suspect what she does in her spare time, and she plays both roles SO well. But I don’t want to give too much away.

If you haven’t read For Darkness Shows the Stars yet, not to worry. Both stories stand completely on their own, and there are benefits to reading this one first (though it does give away the ending to FDStS) but book one will blow your mind, so if you haven’t read it yet… get on that!

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Giveaway Hop: 4th Annual Spooktacular Hop

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 13•13

Spooktacular2013It’s that time again… time for the Spooktacular giveaway hop. I haven’t been doing a lot of hops recently, but I love this one way too much to pass up on it!

The Prizes

1 Paperback copy of my debut novel, Mortality (ebook copy if outside the U.S.)

mortalityAbout the book: After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death. 

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore. 

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

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3 Patchwork Press ebooks

ignitePenemuel (Pen) fell from grace over a millennium ago, yet there are still times she questions her decision to follow her twin brother, Azael, to Hell. Now that the archangel Michael has returned, threatening Lucifer’s vie for the throne, she begins questioning everything she has always believed.

As Hell prepares for war – spreading a demonic virus and pilfering innocent souls to build an army – the lines separating the worlds blur. Fates erase and the future is left unwritten. Azael is determined that he and his sister will continue to serve as demons together, but for the first time in her life, Pen is not ruled by destiny. She has the freedom of choice.

With choice comes sacrifice, and Pen must decide which side she’s willing to risk everything fighting for: the light, or the dark.

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a grimm legacy

The woods of Elorium appear ordinary, at least until elves appear and the birds start talking. Four teenagers, whisked out of their own world, find themselves as the reluctant guests of the strange and secretive millionaire, Mr. Jackson—a man who knows the secrets of their families’ histories as well as the way back home. But nothing comes without a price.

Mr. Jackson’s mother is dying and the only cure is in the hands of a giant barricaded on a floating island. Unable to retrieve it himself, Mr. Jackson strikes a deal with the teens: steal the antidote and in return receive the key back to their world.

Caught in Grimm’s fairy tales with characters short on whimsy and bent towards treachery, the teens begin a race against time. Without any other way home, they are forced into fairy tale roles that may not lead to a happily ever after.

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the risingFifteen-year-old Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity of the ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once thriving underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it is an outside force that most threatens their dwindling population. Werewolves, who once served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of the Undine, now seek to eliminate all who dwell in the ocean — and Serena is about to find herself right in the middle of the deadly conflict.

Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down. As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.

Book bloggers can sign up at: www.patchwork-press.com/the-rising-by-terra-harmony-cover-reveal-blog-tour-signup to participate in the cover reveal, the blog tour, or to receive an ARC.

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Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Written By: Kellie - Oct• 02•13

13574417Series: Alienated, #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publish Date: February 4th, 2014
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – Really cool sci-fi book that was an awesome mix of politics and teenage angsty goodness!

About the book: Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. – Goodreads

Thoughts: I usually try not to review books so far ahead of when they’re being published, but when I got the chance for an early peak at this book from a librarian friend… well, I couldn’t resist. I read it, I loved it, and now I just really have to talk about it! Plus, this book definitely deserves five months of buzz building!

In Melissa Lander’s version of earth, we are definitely not alone. Two years ago we made contact with the L’eihrs, aliens who share a whole lot of DNA with us, but not a lot of culture. Since then, things have definitely been kind of tense. In an attempt to smooth things over and form an aliance, Cara’s family is chosen to host a L’eihr teen (who is of course both male and gorgeous). While Cara is a smart, open minded MC, there are a lot of people who definitely don’t want to get any closer to our intergalactic neighbors, and even swoon-worthy Aelyx has some alterior motives.

So when I say the political situation is tense, I definitely mean it. I’m sure we can all imagine that no matter how like us or enlightened an alien race seems… well, we don’t all handle change and/or newcomers very well. Melissa Landers did a great job of crafting the situation and encorporating a variety of different viewpoints and levels of acceptance. Angry mobs, protests, and lots of misdirected hatred. It’s awful, but it all felt very real. This was not an easy book to put down.

The writing was sharp, I loved the political elements and this was just a really great sci-fi read. While I love dystopias, it was a lot of fun to read something with more traditional science fiction elements to it. The book took place on earth, and there were only a handful of non-human characters but that could definitely change for book two, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Highly recommended! And I have no idea how I’m going to survive waiting for book two!

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