Review: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

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Fiquei muito surpresa com o tanto que gostei deste livro. Esse não é o tipo de coisa que prefiro ler, com temas futurísticos, de naves e tudo o mais, mas realmente foi cativante e envolvente. Depois que terminei, tive que sair na rua gritando para todo mundo comprar e ler, de tão bom e impressionante que achei! (Ok, eu forcei meus amigos a me escutarem falando sobre o livro por meia hora, e meio que os ameacei a lê-lo, mas não foi na rua e tals.) Adorei os temas feministas e bem atuais na nossa sociedade. Eu simplesmente amo distopia, e foi por isso que este livro foi direto para a minha estante de favoritos. 

Atualização: Já consegui fazer/forçar duas amigas e a minha mãe lerem Glow/Brilho, e elas amaram. Mais gente precisa ler. ;) É muito mais do que a sinopse descreve.

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16-year-old Kieran was the first child to be born abord the Empyrean (closely followed by Waverly, his probable wife-to-be), and was highly celebrated by a crew that went through so many hardships trying to find a way to cure the fertility problems they started to suffer in their journey to a new planet. That is why everyone assumes he'll be the next Captain. But his chance to prove himself worthy comes way sooner, and in a much more difficult package than he could ever have predicted.

The spaceship New Horizon should have been years ahead of the Empyrean, but for weeks now they have been getting closer and closer. The crew is alight with curiosity, but the Captain seems quite nervous. And with no lack of reason. The New Horizon is preparing to invade his ship and kidnap all the girls. And kill everyone that gets in their way (some of them more than deserved it -especially the MEN-, but it wasn't really the way to settle things, I guess). When it finally happens, all that are left are the boys, along with a handful of seriously injured adults. 

The kidnapping ship is filled with religious fanatics under the control of Reverend Mather, a woman with understandable reasons, but certainly not deserving of pity. Anne Mather is totally cuckoo. She wants the girls in order to harvest their eggs to impregnate the brainwashed women in her ship. Aaaand she wants to keep the 'egg factories' close by. For now, that is. (evil laugh). Until Waverly finds a way to take off with all the girls in search of their own ship. 

When the girls get there they are surprised (and THAT's putting it mildly) to discover that there were no adults in charge, and that the older boys (Kieran and -hottie-though-slightly-crazy- Seth) had fought a LOT for the power, with Kieran 'winning' in the end. Kieran struggled to find a way to keep the morale of many hopeless newly-made orphans in what was starting to look like a sinking (watch out for the pun!) ship, until he finally found a way to bring them together and restore their hope. With, ta-da! RELIGION. O.o

Waverly's head almost blows up (I could totally picture it) when she sees her beloved almost fiancee and last hope on Earth (uh, ship?) slowly becoming her worst nightmare: another Anne Mather. And Kieran is heart-broken when Waverly doesn't automatically 'digs' his newly found power of 'being the vessel of god and carrier of his will' and all that.

The book ends in a way that was sure to give me a few white hairs and now I can't write much more because I REALLY need to get my hands on a couple of Sparks, like pronto.

P.S.: I noticed tons of people did not like this book, but I particularly found it BRILLIANT. The author was just amazing and found a great way of introducing serious matters (rape, excess of male empowerment and female DISempowerment in a enclosed society -inside a freaking ship lost in the middle of space-, along with excessive religious views, power struggle, and sabotage) to young and mature audiences alike. Sure, maybe this wouldn't be perfect for 13 year-olds, but from 14 up it's one hell of a great book. 

Teens need to know there is evil in the world, and it's usually closer than you think. Power figures, people that should protect and take care of you CAN, in fact, turn out to be the enemy. DUH! Watch out, girls. Men aren't always trustworthy and you should learn it as soon as you can. Oh, and old ladies that look all nice and comfy? Well, they can turn out to be crazy religious bitches who will 'surgically' rape to steal your eggs and shoot you if you try to run from them, but she still totally loves you and wants you safe. In her crutches, but safe. O.o Okay, maybe not the second part (you never know, tho), but the first is a fair warning. 

Remember Red Riding Hood? Now imagine the wolf is a member of your family or your neighbor. Keep your eyes open, don't show weaknesses. They might be a predator. Aaaand enough with this, jeez. This was supposed to be a book review, not a speech on rape awareness. But I do ADMIRE Amy a hell of a lot for putting the word out there in a more constructive way than usual.

This book is amazing, don't let the low ratings fool you. Give it a try and let me know. ;)

Review: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

Before I Go To Sleep
by S.J. Watson


Published June 14th 2011 by Harper

'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

Genre: Adult, Mystery

Publication Date: July 1st 2011

Publisher: Random House

Format: Pocket book, 428 pages 

Series: no

Source: bought

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My Review

Christine wakes up every single day not knowing where she is nor who the man lying beside her is. Neither does she know why she is much older than she remembers being.

Everyday her husband needs to introduce himself and explain to her that she is 47 years old, that she's had an accident many years ago, an accident that causes daily memory losses. She can maintain new memories for only 24 hours. As soon as she sleeps, it all becomes lost to her. And Christine has to take his word, this stranger man who calls himself her husband, for it. 

She's impossibly confused, so when a man calls her saying he is her doctor and that they have been meeting for weeks concerning a new treatment for her memory loss, and that she needs to trust him and not tell her husband about it, she's not sure she should trust him. But this man knows to tell her to look into a shoe box hidden inside her closet to find a diary. A diary, he says, she herself has been keeping. A diary that tells very different things from what her husband and, sometimes, even said doctor, tells her.

Now Christine has to decide who to believe in. The mysterious doctor? The loving, but confusing husband? Or the woman who writes in her diary everyday? Can she believe in all she has been writing? Who can you trust in when you can't even trust yourself?

I was so caught up in reading this book that my whole afternoon just flew by. It was like I blinked and the 384 pages were over. 

Christine was felt scared, confused, mad, distrustful, aroused, guilty, anxious, in pain... and I felt all those things right along with her.

I can't very well explain how... how... SATISFIED and GLAD and FURIOUS and INDIGNANT I was when it finally hit me. (I can't say what it is that 'hit me', otherwise the mystery will no longer be a mystery. But I CAN say it was awesome).

It's not that the ending was especially creative or unexpected or anything (and can anything even really be 100% creative nowadays?). It was just very well-thought-of. And simply splendidly delivered. (I'm all adjective and adverb-y today. Must be Dash's fault. ;P).

The whole book was super intense and intriguing. Staggering. Startling. And... okay, enough with the adjective attack. If you didn't get it by now... then don't even bother reading. No,  no. Read it anyway. It's that good. 

And there you have it. It's the (almost) perfect love crime. Go read it. Right now.

Review: Living Proof by Kira Peikoff

Living Proof
by Kira Peikoff

Published February 28th 2012 by Tor Books

In 2027, destroying an embryo is considered first-degree murder. Fertility clinics still exist, giving hope and new life to thousands of infertile families, but they have to pass rigorous inspections by the United States Department of Embryo Preservation. Fail an inspection, and you will be prosecuted.

Brilliant young doctor Arianna Drake seems to be thriving in the spotlight: her small clinic surpasses every government requirement, and its popularity has spiked—a sudden, rapid growth that leaves the DEP chief mystified. When he discovers Arianna’s radical past as a supporter of an infamous scientist, he sends undercover agent Trent Rowe to investigate her for possible illegal activity.

As Trent is pulled into Arianna’s enigmatic world, his own begins to unravel. The secret he finally uncovers will deeply move him—and jeopardize them both. With the clock ticking her life away, he finds himself questioning everything he knows to be true, and then must summon the courage to take the greatest risk of all. Nothing less than human life—and a major scientific breakthrough—hang in the balance.

A thought-provoking thriller by debut author Kira Peikoff, Living Proof is a celebration of love and life that cuts to the core of a major cultural debate of our time.

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Publication Date: February 28th 2012

Publisher: Tor Books

Format: eARC, 368 pages 

Series: no

Source: Netgalley


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My Review

It's the year of 2027 and the line separating the Church and the State is growing very thin. 

Dr. Arianna Drake owns a private clinic in Manhattan. A clinic she makes sure never stands out from the others. Why? Because she's doing highly illegal business inside. She buys eggs from donors, fertilizes them and uses the embryos for stem cell research.

She longs to find a cure for many diseases, but especially MS (multiple sclerosis), a disorder that slowly ends thousands of people's lives. However, if her actions are ever discovered, she will ahve to deal with more than just a fine or a bad reputation. She can be accused of manslaughter. Charged with genocide, or worse. What she's doing can be considered the "21st century version of Hitler's ovens.". But she and all of her peers don't see it quite like that.

Trent Rowe, 37, is an inspector at the New York Department of Embryo Preservation (DEP). All DEP inspectors are allowed entrance to any fertility clinic at any time they want, to "ensure that all clinics are preserving the souls of embryos". The DEP considers every single extrauterine embryo as an unborn child. That means that no embryo can ever go missing or, God forbid, be destroyed. If they do, there'll be very serious consequences to the criminals. To avoid that, every single egg and sperm combination is be documented, checked and rechecked every month. Or, depending, every week.

Trent wants to do well o his job and impress his superiors, so when he finds an unusual spike in popularity at Arianna's clinic from his routine reports, he knows it might be his last chance to do so.

Arianna and her fellow doctors see embryos as bundles of cells that can bring cure and change lives. The Church sees them as unborn babies, pure and innocent. Who is right? And to what point?

I've always enjoyed a good controversial subject, so when I saw this book I knew right away I had to read it. And it was fantastic!

The author knew perfectly well how to portray both sides of Science and religion. Their very different and polemic opinions, their strong beliefs and the reasons that propelled them into choosing that side.

Like everybody else, I have my own opinion, but I could very well understand where the other side got theirs. I'm not saying I agreed with them, but I... well, I got to respect their view of things.

I really liked Arianna and Trent. I felt sorry for them and found myself cheering for both (even with them having opposing views and purposes in life).

Trent's religious confusion was fascination to read about. How mad, guilty and safe the church made him feel all the time. Sometimes at the same time. And how disappointed he was with certain things involving religious people. He was such a complex and contradictory character!! I think many catholics would be able to see a bit of themselves in him.

Kira Peikoff delivers an excellent thriller that makes us see how dangerously close reality is getting to fiction.

* I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Early Review: The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

The Prophet (Graveyard Queen #3)
by Amanda Stevens

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by Mira

My name is Amelia Gray.I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

Genre: Adult, Paranormal

Publication Date: April 24th 2012

Publisher: Mira

Format: eARC, 352 pages 

Series: yes

Source: Netgalley

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My Review

In this exciting new stallment of the thrilling paranormal series, our Graveyard Queen, Amelia Gray, returns to Charleston, home of her love, John Devlin and all of his ghosts. 

The ghost of Shani, Devlin's daughter continues to follow Amelia around, like she started in the last book, but this time more insistently, begging to be found and to be helped.... but every time Amelia comes even a bit close to finding answers, Mariama's ghost pushes her away. And now Darius, a master of the dark arts and Mariama's cousin, is also in the picture, ready to terrorize  and confuse Amelia.

But his time the ghost Prophet needs her help as well. Robert Fremont, a murdered cop and an old friend of Devlin's, wants Amelia to find his killer. Except that with his memory loss and erratic prophetic powers in the way, the investigation promises to be not only difficult, but very dangerous.

Amelia has broken all of her father's rules. Rules she's been raised with, created to keep her safe from the darkness and evil creatures that walk between worlds. Now she's being followed by something. Something very strong and very dark. And this murder investigation involves much more than she first thought it would. Dark magic, blackmail, betrayal and even more murders threaten to be unveiled...

Surrounded and bothered by ghosts most of the time, Amelia sometimes forget that the living can be just as frightening as the dead... and she's just about to discover that when they work together, things can get very, very ugly.

I can't believe I forgot how mysterious and exciting Amanda Stevens' writing can be! She drives us crazy with curiosity over every small detail that is slowly unearthed throughout the story, tempting us to join in the investigating process, making us writhe with the urge to discover everything that is going on as quickly as possible. Nothing is as simple as we first thought, nobody is completely innocent and everything is somehow interconnected. Really, this author has the gift of writing the best thrillers! With such a thick cloud of mystery over every case, it should become a tiring, even repetitive read, but it's not! It's always powerful, provoking and stimulating tales! She surprises us at every page. With this one you can be sure you'll NEVER guess the ending before you should. And that is such a relief, let me tell you.

It probably sounds a bit like over-gushing, but this series deserve every praise. As soon as we finish one volume we start to think that there's no way the next one will be as good... but then the author comes and hits us over the head with the awesomeness that is her new story. Every single one turns out even better than the next. I have no idea how she does it, but I'm glad her already fantastic writing always manages to improve!

Amelia is such a smart, gifted, independent character. I just love her. And her feelings for Devlin? Gods, they are almost palpable! Their awareness is so strong, their physical link so intense that you almost expect them to slip off the pages. It's almost unsettling, stirring and compelling, all at the same time. I especially like this romance because it didn't just spring up from nowhere. It slowly built up. It was violently ended. It built up again, was denied, tried to be ignored... but they still can't stay away from each other! Even when everything and everyone seems to be against them. Pretty much themselves included, most of the time. That is real, powerful love. Not the instant, fleeting, weak thing that wants to be called real that we get from most books these days.

But, obviously, the book is not all about romance. It is just a part of it, a very important part, sure, but the story is so much more complex than just that. You get horrified over the haunting ghosts and creepy entities and their actions, you get intrigued over the clues and old secrets that are slowly discovered, you get suspicious over new odd characters we are introduced to and very surprised over the actions of old characters you thought you knew. There is never a boring moment with Amelia, that's for sure. That ending was supposed to make us readers feel better, to have some sort of completion... but it only managed to make us even more distressed and desperate to read the next volume! LOL. Way to go, Miss Stevens.

If you like surprises, a romantic and mysterious thriller with a fast pace and very creepy moments, then you'll go insane over this series. I know I did.


* I was lucky enough to receive an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Hushed by Kelley York

Hushed

by Kelley York

Published November 30th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.
Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.
But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

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My Review:

Great cover, right? Kind of gives you the shivers and really makes you want to start reading, huh? Yes. Those were my first thoughts when I saw it. Now that I have read it, all I can think is:

Wow.

That was intense. I just couldn't put it down! XD

Archer Pond has been friends with Vivian since they were kids. After he witnessed his best friend being gang-raped and couldn't do anything to help, he promised himself to always be there for her, to help her in any way he could. And so he has been.

Anytime she calls, he's there. Anything she asks, he does. Anyone hurts her, he ends them.

Always hoping, deep inside, that one day she'll open her eyes and see him.

The book starts with Archer forcing all the guys that hurt Vivian to kill themselves, always making it look like a suicide or an accident. All in order to make the world a better place for her.

Then along comes Evan. The new guy, who keeps trying to get through Archer's defenses, who ignores all the 'keep-out' signs. Evan, who, for some reason, just wants to be close to him. To talk to and spend time with him, wanting nothing in return but his time and attention. The guy who slips into Archer's mind when he least expects it, whose voice calms and reassures him, who, for once, makes him think of himself first, and not of Vivian. The one he ends up falling for.

But Vivian is a very selfish, self-centered b***h, if you'll pardon my french.

She can't take it when her doormat won't let her walk all over him anymore. She cannot believe Archer is happy (especially) with someone who is not her. She can't take it that he's not always there anymore when she's lonely, when she wants to whine or cry or go shopping or needs to feel beautiful or has been beaten by another boyfriend Archer was against her being with or she needs a ride or has broken a nail.... uff! >.>

Well, in a nutshell: when he (finally) doesn't want her anymore, she suddenly HAS to have him.

This book really blew my mind. Deep inside I knew I shouldn't like Archer because, well, he was a murderer... but he was so sad, so pitiful, and really deserved being happy, I couldn't help myself!

And even though I hated Vivian from the start, I actually felt a bit sorry for her at first, for what happened to her, but ended up hating her more and more as she kept showing a darker and darker heart.

Evan was a good guy from the very beginning, all cute, thoughful, honest and kind... but even he showed a bit of darkness when needed. A bit shocking, but completely believable.

This story really makes you think of human nature. How we all have the capacity for both good and bad, we need only choose which will rule us.

I know it may bother some people so... about the homosexuality in this book, it was SO well dealt with, it almost brought tears to my eyes. There was no room for fear, shame, confusion or worries. Only for love, caring, calmness and comfort. Gender was the least important thing in their relationship. It so pure, so tasteful, it was almost poetic. *-*

Archer simply loved Evan as Evan loved him. He never worried about what people would see or think about them, the only thing that mattered was how safe, tranquil and happy he was when they were together, the exact opposity as what he felt when Vivian was around.

Kelley York really knows how to ensnare us and keep us wanting more. Her characters were so real I kept thinking maybe it based on a true story or something. LOL

I'm particularly happy with the way the book ended. I was afraid it would disappoint me somehow (Sometimes, when I love a book this much, I usually hate something about how it ends), but it was even better than I could have ever expected.

I have read almost 160 books this year (this is number 159), but Hushed has got to be my favorite.

If I were you, I'd read it right away. If I were not, I'd read it anyway. You'll be missing out on a VERY good read if you don't.

*I received an e-copy of HUSHED from the publisher by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.*

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz - Review

Deadly Little Secretby Laurie Faria Stolarz

Kindle Edition, 272 pages
Published October 7th 2009 by Disney Hyperion
Some secrets shouldn't be kept...
Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.


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My Review:





Camelia is saved form certain death in a car accident by a very cute guy. The thing is, freaks out when he touches her stomach and pretty much runs away from her, before she can even ask his name or utter a 'thank you'.

Three months later, he's still on her mind. And surprise, surprise, in her school. He's the new guy everyone's talking about. Ben Carter. The Killer. The guy who strangled his girlfriend and then pushed her over a cliff.

But Camelia is set upon thanking him, weird rumors or not. But Ben insists hewasn't the one to save her, and starts to avoid her.

What I liked was that, every few pages the POV would change from Camelia's to a guy's, and this guy turns out to be a very freaky stalker. It was interesting to see what was on his mind. Creepy, but interesting nonetheless.

What I didn't like was that Camelia was WAY too much like Bella for my taste. Very 'Mary Sue' like.
I mean, it was as if EVERY single boy out there wants her, and she couldn't care less about them, because she wanted the rude, dark one. Her boss wanted her, her ex wanted her, the cute jock, too...

Not to mention the car accident and the lab scene. Totally 'Twilight' material. Even the 'touchy-feely' thing with Ben, which was getting annoying... until we finally found out the reason for it.

To me, her friends were the ones who really stole scene. Kimmie and Matt were my favorite characters, no doubt. (at least at first, mind you).They were funny and they felt real. More than the main characters ever did.

The ending was like 'wow', even if I sort of was expecting it, but I kept changing my mind all the time. That dramatic second-guessing thing was great too. I just didn't care much for the heroine and the Twilight-ish stuff.

All in all, this is a fun, mysterious, quick YA read.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Recovery by Alexandrea Weis - Review

Recovery

by Alexandrea Weis

Paperback, first, 296 pages
Published March 7th 2011 by CreateSpace (first published March 1st 2011)


A killer is lurking among the ruins of Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.
A killer she knows.
Still devastated two years after the mysterious murder of her beloved David Alexander, Nicci Beauvoir surprises everyone in the Big Easy by returning to her hometown with a new admirer: the cool and contentious Dallas August. But the attractive stranger is asking a lot of questions about David’s death, making Nicci’s family and friends speculate about his true intentions. Only Nicci knows that Dallas, a high-priced corporate spy, has come to New Orleans to flush out David Alexander’s killer. Playing the part of her lover, Dallas escorts Nicci around town hoping to get closer to his possible suspects. But hiding amid the city’s elite is a jealous maniac waiting to make Nicci suffer. As the days pass and the danger grows, Nicci’s relationship with the handsome spy turns from adversarial to amorous. Desperate to unearth the identity of David’s murderer, Nicci and Dallas decide to lure the killer out of the city for one final showdown. It is a deadly decision that could cost Nicci everything. But it may be her only chance for… Recovery.

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My Review:

I won a signed copy of this book in a giveaway, so here's my honest review:

I really, really liked it!

The book is set on a post-Katrina New Orleans and the scenes of the French Quarter are heart-breaking.

The main character, Nicci, has just lost her lover, David. She's called by his old boss to meet Dallas, David's old friend and co-worker. The duo then start to investigate their dear one's murder under the disguise of a couple traveling for the holidays.

The web of mystery involving David's death seems to only grow... until it reaches a complex, though not entirely unexpected, ending.

The characters in this book were very special, funny and complex. They would make you laugh, would make you sad and then smile again.

This is the second book in the "Nicci Beauvoir series", but it works really well as a stand-alone (I should know, 'cause I started with this one, LOl), because the author does explain a lot about past events, but there are some gaps only those who have read the first book would understand.

It has everything! Great tension, romance, strong and problematic heroine and hero, and a great murder mystery. I loved all the great second characters! (Nicci's family will crack you up!). I'll look for book 1 and book 3, that's for sure.