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a novel toybox

~ a blog full of my literary playthings.

Tag Archives: dystopian

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[review] Slated by Teri Terry (2013)

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

Tags

book, book review, brainwashing, dystopia, dystopian, future, London, mind control, romance, sci-fi, United Kingdom, young adult, young adult fiction

Slated (2013)
Slated (2013)
by Teri Terry
US Hardcover Edition
Publication Date: January 24th, 2013
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (Imprint of Penguin)
Buy a copy via Amazon.
Synopsis from Goodreads.

Kyla has been Slated—her memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she can’t remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesn’t deserve. It’s also her last chance—because they’ll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.

As Kyla adjusts to her new life, she’s plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she can’t let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?

My Thoughts:
Finally! A book that is actually a dystopian novel in the classic sense of the word (in which society tries to be an utopia, but with a major flaw,) and not another one of those “let’s just call it dystopian and claim its the next Hunger Games while we’re at it” novels. In Slated, children under sixteen that are deemed detrimental to society (e.g. criminals, terrorists, rebels) will be given a second chance by having their memories wiped and living with a new adoptive family. Slaters are then required to wear a Levo, a bracelet that monitors happiness and negativity. When the user drops too low, the bracelet shocks the user before they can harm society. At first it seems that all is good, until more and more citizens disappear for trivial misconduct and citizens fear government is abusing their power.

Slated reminded me of why I love the dystopian genre: its speculative nature is thought-provoking and a great starting point for ethical discussions. However, as much as this futuristic dystopia excited me, the novel as a whole did not. It’s not that Slated by Teri Terry had many faults, but just that it didn’t stand out and felt slightly heavy-handed at times. The slow pace also failed to hold my attention. However, I still think it succeeded in raising important questions like self-identity (without memories, who are you?) and the nature vs. nuture debate.
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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Book Reviews, Grade C, Young Adult

≈ 3 Comments

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[review] Shards & Ashes, Short Story Collection Editted by Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr (2013)

16 Thursday May 2013

Tags

android, apocalypse, apocalyptic, asia, asian culture, book, book review, china, dystopian, romance, sci-fi, technology, young adult, young adult fiction

Shards and Ashes (2013)
Shards and Ashes (2013)
by Melissa Marr (Editor), Kelley Armstrong (Editor), Veronica Roth, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Rachel Caine, Nancy Holder, Beth Revis, Carrie Ryan
Paperback ARC
Publication Date: February 19th, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Buy a copy via Amazon.
Synopsis from Goodreads.

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

My Thoughts:
I’m obsessed with dystopians, so coming across Shard and Ashes was like Christmas for me (despite the weird cover that made me think it was a paranormal anthology instead.) But I find that short stories can be hit or miss for me. On one hand they allow me to explore many different worlds, but on another hand sixty pages is sometimes not enough to develop a world or to make me invested in the characters (which explains why it took me a week to finish this one.) There were also moments were I felt some of these short stories were just leftover scraps, as if they were not fully fleshed out ideas. This made evident in the abrupt way some of these stories ended, as if the author had a host of great ideas, but ran out of steam halfway through. Of course, not ALL of the stories in this collection were like that. And despite the my disappointment in plot, all these different dystopian imaginings kept me turning pages.

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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Book Reviews, Grade C, Young Adult

≈ 2 Comments

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[Guest Post] Dualed Blog Tour, Interview with Elsie Chapman + GIVEAWAY!

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Tags

2013, author, book, books, dystopian, fighting, giveaway, interview, sci-fi, writing, young adult, young adult fiction

Dualed by Elsie Chapman
Dualed (2013)
by Elsie Chapman
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
Goodreads.
Amazon.
Barnes and Noble.
IndieBound.

I’m very excited to be featuring Elsie Chapman today as part of the Dualed Blog Tour!

Two of you exist.
Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Q: Share with us some of the inspiration behind DUALED! How long did it take you to write and sell DUALED? And now that you are a 2013 debut author, how does that effect your writing schedule??

The first draft of DUALED took me five weeks, but revisions and took me much longer. In the end, almost everything evens out, it seems. And I think it took me about three months to sell DUALED.

I couldn’t be happier with how it all worked out! But I’m definitely feeling more of a time crunch now that there’s one book already in the works. Because with follow-up books that you might be drafting or editing, you’re still having to edit or promote your first book at the same time. I’m still struggling with better time management, and I’ve learned it is wholly possible to survive on four hours of sleep a night.

Q: You or your Alt? If you lived in Kersh, who do you think would win the dual? What would you use to fight your Alt (weapons, strategy, fighting skills)?

I hate to say it but I think my Alt would probably kick my butt. Not only do I know my own tendencies and weaknesses, I also couldn’t imagine she’d be any worse. But of course it would still have to come down to a battle, so I think if I stood any chance at all, I’d probably have to rely on doing something sneaky.

Don’t forget to check out the other blog tour stops and enter the tour-wide giveaway for a finished copy of Dualed (open internationally, as long as The Book Depository ships to your country.)

Click here to go to Rafflecopter giveaway!

Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Blog Tour, Giveaway, Guest Post, Interviews, Young Adult

≈ 1 Comment

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[review] Insignia by S.J. Kincaid (2012)

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Tags

book, book review, dystopian, military, sci-fi, war, world war 3, young adult

Insignia by  S.J. Kincaid (2012)
Insignia by S.J. Kincaid (2012)
by S.J. Kincaid
Hardcover Edition
Publication Date: July 10th, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Collins Imprint)
Buy a copy via Amazon.
Synopsis from Goodreads.

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible–a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted–friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters–but what will it cost him?

My Thoughts:
A disappointing, middle-grade version of Ready Player One (which was one of my favorite books of the year,) is the best summary of my reactions to S. J. Kincaid’s Insignia. The problems I found in Insignia reminded me of the ones I found in Wesley King’s The Vindico; both books had an compelling plot, creative ideas, but he execution failed to bring those ideas to life and grazed over heavy-handed issues in exchange for superficial cliches.

My Suspension of Disbelief is Straining, These People Need Anger Management!:
First of all, all these 14-15 year olds are supposed to be the cream of the crop with exceptional intelligence and abilities (Figure Skating Champion, Scholarship winners, etc.) With the aid of a neural processor in their brains they have become even smarter than usual. Actually, their intelligence is optional since they just “download” knowledge instead of learning. Whatever they don’t know their computer brains will look it up for them. They are also given perfect complexions and grow six inches in a week. Yet, despite their intelligence, their priorities only lie in teasing each other with stuff like “girly hands” and “man-hands.” Not sure what the intelligence changed in them. The knowledge certainly hasn’t made them any more empathetic, as they spend most of their time plotting to ruin each other’s lives (and are encouraged to do so!.)

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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Book Reviews, Grade C, Young Adult

≈ 5 Comments

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[review] Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young (2012)

22 Saturday Dec 2012

Tags

book, book review, dystopian, mystery, young adult, young adult fiction

Rebel Heart by Moira Young (2012)
Rebel Heart, Dust Lands #2 (2012)
by Moira Young (twitter.)
Hardcover Edition
Publication Date: October 30th, 2012
Publisher: Margaret K McElderry (Imprint of Simon & Schuster)
Buy a copy via Amazon.
Synopsis from Goodreads.

(Trailer for Blood Red Road. Rebel Heart doesn’t have a trailer)

It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

My Thoughts:
Unlike most readers, although I did enjoy Blood Red Road, I wasn’t impressed (partly because of the “Better than The Hunger Games…” blurb, which made me go in with unreasonably high expectations–obviously, the publisher is milking that blurb for all its worth, evident in its SECOND appearance on Rebel Heart’s cover.) Just like Blood Red Road, Rebel Heart doesn’t quite surpass The Hunger Games in my book–but it is a better attempt. Rebel Heart has more depth and emotional conflict. We see characters develop, especially Saba as she faces guilt and vacillates between family, friends, and love. Fans of Blood Red Road will be sure to ravenously devour Rebel Heart.

Pace, Everyone Decided to Take Weed…Then Cocaine with a Double-shot of Red Bull
For a bulk of the first half or so, we follow Saba at snail pace as she travels across various lands, signaled by the start of a new chapter. To be honest, I didn’t care where she was, they all seemed the same to me. These chapters are where we also explore Saba’s inner conflicts. She has to come to terms with (literally) seeing the ghosts of all the people she’s killed (but all of a sudden, it’s fixed because she visits a mystic?!?) Being impatient, I found myself putting the book down numerous times. Fortunately, the pace does pick up as Saba escapes from various dangers.

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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Book Reviews, Grade C, Young Adult

≈ 4 Comments

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[review] Isolation (Partials 0.5) by Dan Wells (2012)

16 Sunday Dec 2012

Tags

book, book review, dan wells, dystopia, dystopian, ebook, fiction, novella, romance, sci-fi, utopia, YA, young adult

Isolation by Dan Wells (2012)
Isolation (2012)
by Dan Wells (blog.)
Edition Read: E-book (Novella)
Publication Date: August 28th, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
buy a copy via Amazon.
synopsis via Goodreads.

Two decades before the events of Partials, the world was locked in a different battle for survival: a global war for the last remaining oil reserves on the planet. It was for the Isolation War that the American government contracted the ParaGen Corporation to manufacture the Partials—our last hope in reclaiming energy independence from China. And it was on these fields of battle that the seeds of humanity’s eventual destruction were sown.

A powerful take of our world on the brink, Isolation gives readers a glimpse into the history from which Partials was born—as well as clues to where the Partials Sequence is heading next.

My Thoughts:
Isolation is a prequel novella in Dan Well’s Partials series. Although it is technically a prequel and can be read alone, I still recommend reading it after the first book, Partials, because there is a bit of jargon, but more importantly, it’s clearly a supplement to the series and it’s just not very strong story by itself. The story is from the point of view of Heron, an assassin Partial created to infiltrate Chinese headquarters.

I admit I might be a bit biased since this novella is set in China, and me being Chinese is especially keen to how my culture is depicted, especially when they are supposed to be the “enemy.” Which brings me to this:

Why Do All The Chinese People Have Awkward Dialogue That Sounds Like Poor Movie Subtitles?

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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Book Reviews, Grade C, Young Adult

≈ 5 Comments

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2012 END OF YEAR BOOK SURVEY (Because I don’t read enough for a top ten list)

14 Friday Dec 2012

Tags

best of 2012, books, dystopian, literature, recommendations, thriller, YA, young adult


I am joining in on the party that is The 3rd annual End of Year Book Survey! (Hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner) I guess this is kind of my BEST-OF-THE-YEAR-SO-PLEASE-READ-THESE-BOOKS list, but not really.

1. Best Book You Read In 2012?

I thought this survey was supposed to be easy Oh wells, I am going to cheat and break this up into sub categories.

Unexpected Tear-jerker: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
I got teary-eyed twice. TWICE. It’s one of two books that made me tear up this year, and the only to do it twice.

Zombie Book: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Whoever said zombie books can’t have substance? But once I told my friends that it was a zombie book, they had a look of disgust (granted, they TRIED to hide it, but still.)

The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Philosophical, Sci-fi Dystopian: A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Must Read if You’re a Graphic Design Student (plus, it’s hilarious): The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd
I didn’t care for the first “semester” part, nor the last fifty pages. But the second semester? Gold.

Book That Should Have Been Boring, But Somehow Isn’t: The Visible Man by Chuck Klosterman
It’s a book about an invisible guy talking to his shrink about stalking people. The book is comprised of transcripts from his sessions.

I Don’t Even Know What This Is, But I Love It: Survivior by Chuck Palanuik
A guy hijacks a plane and records his story while waiting for his impending death.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang
I was excited for this one to come out for at least six months before its release because I am superficial and get attracted to pretty covers way too easily. Okay, to be fair, I didn’t hate this one. The concept was creative, character development was great (at least for the main character,) AND it was thought-provoking. But I wanted better. I am too greedy for my own good.

Feedback by Robison Wells
I really, really, really enjoyed Variant. I was dying to read Feedback once it came out. I finished it in a day, but that was one very disappointing ending. What kind of ending is that? Wells just took random to a whole new level. I feel cheated.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Don’t hit me! I admit that it is beautifully written, with great characters (and VERY quotable.) But really, that’s it? On the other hand, I just realized people are obsessed with making copies of Charlie’s mixtape on 8tracks (I swear there’s at least ten of them.) Enough people, make your own mixtapes!


I would also say Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff, but I didn’t even last past the first ten pages before the language made me want to hide under a pillow. I admit, reading Jay’s interview only made it worse (Wikipedia for research? really?)–along with the negative reviews. Eventually, I decided I couldn’t continue reading with an objective eye anymore. Maybe I’ll pick it up again next year. But seriously, I WAS SO EXCITED for that one–like, counting-days-before-its-release excited. Plus, its cover is pretty damn badass.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna. I had low expectations for this book, partly because the buzz seemed to die once the book was released. It was one of those I just picked up because…why not? (okay, maybe the cover had something to do with it.) And it blew me away, I loved the complex characters, the thought-provoking issues…my only gripe is that I wish it had more world-building (I always forget that the book was supposed to be in India.) And then I cried for this book. I didn’t even know it was a tear-jerker. I’m glad to have discovered this gem before the end of the year.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Just because I think its one of those fun books that are impossible to hate. I am still in the process of making one of my best friends read it. And he isn’t listening to me.

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
Okay, technically it’s still a standalone and I don’t know if there’s even a series name yet. But I will not pass up any opportunity to pimp this book. Apparently there are other installments in the works (i.e. stuck in the editing phase and hasn’t been bought yet?) Now I’m stuck weeping and hoping the more people I force to read this book, the more people will be Sheehan fans…and then we can form an angry mob and make the sequel come to fruition. Seriously. I have the pitchforks ready.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

No answer, just because I think to be my “favorite author,” I have to love more than one of their books. But this year, I haven’t read more than one book by more than a handful of authors and none of them have quite reached my “favorite” status. I suspect it’s also because I read too many debut books this year. One the other hand, I keep reading Dan Wells even though I wasn’t particular impressed with his books. WHAT IS THIS CURSE?

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
I don’t read much middle-grade. Somehow most of them turn out to be too childish for my taste, with kids doing things way too easily, or villains that are too flat (“WORLD DOMINATION” just doesn’t cut it anymore.) But Wonder was different. The story depicted the feelings of being bullied so well that it touched my heart.


The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
I avoid historical fiction like the plague. But I admit, this book is kinda win. I must take this opportunity to declare: I KNEW THE PLOT TWIST BEFORE IT HAPPENED! LALALALALA.

Oh yes, and the handful of Jane Porter romance novels I read over the summer, because a friend keep telling me about how delicious romances were. Now I know why she likes them so much. It’s addicting stuff!

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Ever heard of intentionally reading slower to savor each word, and then feeling like the apocalypse is coming when you’re at the last 100 pages…that’s was me. I want to be in the OASIS, right now.

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Also Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I decided I would re-read it right after I flipped the last page. I am waiting for the paperback I love the paperback cover to bits!) to be dirt cheap, because I am Chinese and I CAN’T BUY ANYTHING AT FULL PRICE. It’s in my blood.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence
Its shiny, metallic cover lured me in like bees to honey. Then I discovered it wasn’t honey, but that’s not the point.

11. Most memorable character in 2012?


As much as I want to be a hipster, I have to agree with Jamie from Broke & Bookish / The Perpetual Page-Turner and say A from David Levithan’s Every Day. The concept of not having any physical characteristics, gender, or religion to define you is so intriguing. All my best friends that talked to me within a month of me finishing Every Day was forced into a discussion about gender being a social construct…and sex changing.

Tris from Insurgent and Diana from A Discovery of Witches are both memorable as well…I’ve never wanted to throw a book out the window more fervently.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin
While I wasn’t in love this one (the pace was too slow, and I wasn’t interested in the romance,) but the writing blew me away. I’ve loved many quotes from this book, and looking at the cover, I would’ve never guessed this book was filled with so many hidden gems. I usually won’t read the sequel if I am not invested in the story, but in Zevin’s case, I am planning to pick up the sequel, Because It’s In My Blood, just for the beautiful writing.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
I have not suffered from a great loss, so I can’t relate to this book like many others have. But the writing stood out to me as a masterpiece, just BEGGING to be read aloud.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?

The Visible Man by Chuck Klosterman
Yes, that book about an invisible guy talking to his shrink about stalking people. Even though it’s been many months since I’ve finished this book, but it still hasn’t let me go. Basically, this book is about a awkward, insecure guy who wears an invisible suit to hide in strangers’ houses. He purposely picks people that live alone, believing that only then will he be able to observe man as they really are, not the multiple versions of ourselves we portray for others.

Reading that made me think about myself and how being alone changes my behavior. I think of all the things I wouldn’t do if I had a room-mate; I probably wouldn’t jump on my bed and sing along to Taylor Swift, for one. Nor would I talk to myself (I am not crazy, I promise!) Then I wonder about my family members–why haven’t I caught them talking to themselves or jumping on beds before?

This book ended up indirectly inspiring a few art projects. And I’m STILL thinking about it.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I was actually recommended it by a friend who LOVED it wayyyy back when I was in middle school. And it took me seven years to finally get to it. In my defense, I did borrow it from the library once, read one page, left it alone because I wasn’t interested. For whatever reason I thought the protagonist was supposed to be a girl.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?

…lies can sound awfully pretty when a girl is in love with the person telling them.

Gabrielle Zevin, All The Things That I’ve Done

Never fall in love with an idea. They’re whores: if the one you’re with isn’t doing the job, there’s always, always, always another.

Chip Kidd, The Cheese Monkeys

My mantra for creating right there.

And for the typography lover in me:

And that’s the challenge for all of us – to create warmth in a digital world. Not many people can do it. You see a lot of stuff that looks great but simply doesn’t turn you on. It’s like making a song on a synthesizer. To make a drum machine sound good is really difficult – you might as well play real drums

Erik Spiekermann (quote read from Just My Type by Simon Garfield)

I ended up using this quote on a poster I did for Graphic Design. To be honest, I am not sure if the quote is the most suitable. But whatever. I got my A+, I am happy. *brag brag brag*

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?

Longest — A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, 592 pages. Painful stuff, and the length (the font size was SO TINY and so was the line spacing) only made it worse. I conquered it though! *applause*

Shortest — This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers, 32 pages. A children’s book I read a few hours ago because Penguin Teen sent me a copy and THE ILLUSTRATIONS WERE SO BEAUTIFUL that I couldn’t resist reading it right after tearing it from the package. I WAS going to gift it away for Christmas, but now I have to reconsider.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!


The underwater door-opening scene that somehow didn’t cause water to go rushing into the room in Julie Kagawa’s The Immortal Rules. I must have re-read that part several times, hoping it would make sense. Did I miss something?

And someone please tell me what’s the point of Divergent’s Tris climbing that ferris wheel if she couldn’t even climb down.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Pretty much ALL the familial relationships in Sangu Mandanna’s The Lost Girl
All of the characters that matter have so much complexity built into them. All the main characters and the emotional conflicts they carry made The Lost Girl exceptional. The story is about a girl who is born to replace another in the event of an accident. The way her family tells her to leave for her safety despite their hearts breaking…that’s beautiful stuff. While on the other side, we see the family of the dead girl, trying to cope with her lose (albeit, in unhealthy ways.) I didn’t care about Adrian’s familial relationships though, he can disappear for all I care.

Carla and Tucker from Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly
I didn’t care about their one-week love declarations, but I did love how their relationship was built. The way Tucker’s actions echoed “Why won’t you look at me?” made my heart throb. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the plot, so the book isn’t high on my favorites list.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
Once again, The Visible Man. I read his book, Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto before, and liked the first half. I faintly remember it now, it was a collection of essays, and one of them had Sims.

Somehow many of the authors that I’ve read and enjoyed in the past didn’t impress me this year. I’m looking at you, Sophie Kinsella and Danny Wallace.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

SOLELY? That’s a hard question. Usually books are on my TBR list, then I take the plunge when I see a great review of it on a book blog. I would say Shanna Swendson’s Enchanted Inc. recommended to me by Christina over at Reader of Fictions. I was in the middle of reading too many books with ruthless serial killers and zombie apocalypses that I needed something light, Enchanted Inc. was just the thing. Now I need to get to the rest of the series.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. We’ll see. MAYBE I will get to it before the year is over.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?


The Vintage Knopf paperback edition of Paprika by Yasutaka Tsutsui
I enjoyed the movie, and I think the book will only be better–granted the translation isn’t awkward.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Make more friends. PWEASE BE MY FRIEND, I HAVE COOKIES AND STUFF.

Oh yes, and gather an angry mob to bring A Long, Long Sleep #2 into fruition.

Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Best of the Year, Grade A, Stuff A Website Should Have, Young Adult

≈ 37 Comments

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[review] The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (2012)

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Tags

best of the year, book, book review, dystopian, ethics, philosophical, philosophy, recommended, young adult, young adult fiction

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (2012)
The Lost Girl (2012)
by Sangu Mandanna
Hardcover Edition
Publication Date: August 28th 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Imprint of HarperCollins)
Buy a copy via Amazon.
Synopsis from Goodreads.

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination–an echo. She was made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other,” if she ever died. Eva spends every day studying that girl from far away, learning what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But sixteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything and everyone she’s ever known–the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love–to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

My Thoughts:
If you are going to read one young-adult dystopian novel this year, make it Sangu Mandanna’s The Lost Girl. Mandanna has woven an unforgettable masterpiece, complete with a creative, thought-provoking plot, moving, complex characters, a strong heroine, and a tiny bit of romance. I went in with low expectations, but The Lost Girl took my breath (along with a few tears) away, proving itself to be a hidden gem in YA fiction this year–and one I can’t recommend enough.

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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Book Reviews, Grade A, Young Adult

≈ 2 Comments

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[Interview] The Author Behind The Book, Margaret Frazer

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Tags

blog tour, book, dystopian, fiction, futuristic, giveaway, interview, sci-fi, technology, YA, young adult

Circle of Witches by Maragaret Frazer

Circle of Witches (2012)
by Margaret Frazer
Publication Date: May 19th, 2012
purchase a copy via Amazon.
purchase a copy from Smashwords.

Today I’m interviewing Magaret Frazer as part of her Circle of Witches blog tour!

A GOTHIC ROMANCE. MISTY MOORS. ANCIENT SECRETS. FORBIDDEN PASSIONS.

Her mother had always been afraid. That’s what Damaris remembered. From the time she was a little girl until the day her mother died, she had seen the fear in her eyes.

But now she understood. Now she was afraid, too.

Young Damaris wanted more than anything to be happy at Thornoak, the ancient manor owned by her aunt and uncle. Adventuring through the wide, open beauty of the Dale in the company of her rambunctious cousins she rediscovered a joy she had thought lost with the death of her parents. And in the deep, storm-tossed eyes of Lauran Ashbrigg she was surprised to find an entirely new emotion.

But even under the warm and inviting sun, Damaris is chilled by the undeniable fact that the family which claims to welcome and love her is hiding truths from her: The truth of the Lady Stone. The truth of the Old Ways. The truth of moon and star and witchcraft.

The truth of her mother’s death.

Has being a writer changed the way you read? Are you more critical of other’s writing? Or have you become more appreciative of it?

Both. I’m more appreciative of books that I can simply relax and enjoy for their strength and their grace and their storytelling, but I’m also become more critical of people whose storytelling suffers because you can tell that they didn’t put their whole soul into it.

But the main problem I have is that when I read anyone’s book I tend to be editing: There should be a comma there; a semi-colon would have been nice. I’ll find myself saying to myself, “Please stop doing that! Just read the book!” But it can be hard to get out of perpetual galley-proofing.

Who do you envision reading Circle of Witches? What kind of reader do you wish to impact the most with your story?

Well, I hope that anyone who reads it will be impacted and drawn in. I’m not someone who tends to categorize by age. But because it’s more of a gothic romance than anything I’ve written before, I’m hoping that younger readers will come to it. Young adult books are filled now with magic and otherworldly action, and I think Circle of Witches offers a different way of looking at those things. An understanding of magic that’s deeper; that’s rooted in the world around us and the way that people relate to each other.

What book of yours should a casual reader start with?

It’s very hard to say because readers are so different. They take different things away from your books. For example, I’ve previously written two series and, ideally, you’d start those series with the first book. But both of my series got stronger (according to reviews) as they went along and new elements developed in them. Do you want royal intrigues? Then you’d want The Maiden’s Tale or The Bastard’s Tale. Do you want something that goes deep into ordinary medieval life, getting a feel for a different way of life and a different approach to living than is familiar now? That would be The Servant’s Tale or the The Reeve’s Tale. Or if you want to go adventuring with traveling players and spies, then there’s the Joliffe series.

But I think Circle of Witches is also a strong choice for new readers. It’s an exciting story, set in a beautiful part of the world (the Yorkshire dales), centered around a heroine who is desperate not to learn the truth of the lies that have surrounded her for her entire life. And I think readers will find it an intriguing problem – most people go seeking the truth, but this is a character who will challenge them in unexpected ways as things go right and things go wrong in her life.
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Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox | Filed under Blog Tour, Interviews, Young Adult

≈ 2 Comments

[review] What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang (2012)

08 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by Lilian @ A Novel Toybox in Book Reviews, Grade C, Young Adult

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

book, book review, dystopian, mystery, young adult, young adult fiction

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (2012)
What’s Left of Me (2012)
by Kat Zhang
Hardcover Edition
Publication Date: September 18th, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Buy a copy via Amazon.
Synopsis from Goodreads.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else–two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

My Thoughts:
What’s Left of Me is one of the most creative YA dystopians I’ve read–ever. I can usually tell how much I’ll like a book after reading its first chapter–What’s Left of Me was one the few times where I was wrong. The book started out strong, I felt for Eva (the protagonist) and I wanted to know her. She’s such a unique character because she is only a consciousness that resides in a body she does not control–her entire life is a movie. I was interested in analyzing her complex bond with Addie (her “sister” that shares her body.) But as the story went on, the pace dragged and I grew tired of the characters and even hated Eva at times for being selfish.

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