Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan-the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

I really enjoyed reading Defiance by C.J. Redwine. The characters and plot were so unique and strong that I was instantly captivated. I especially loved the main character, Rachel. To me, Rachel was a strong, capable women, who is easily comparable to a feminist. She took initiative and didn’t rely on the men that surrounded her like the other women in her world. I easily related to her, and I loved following her throughout her journey.

It was a little difficult for me to read about how domineering the men were in Baalboden. It was especially hard to read about the Commander. I’m very sensitive when it comes to women’s rights and the abuse that many women receive from men, which made certain parts of Defiance difficult for me to read. It was a great experience, though, to witness a woman fighting back and fighting the system. Rachel didn’t consider herself unequal to the men in her life and that’s something that I really enjoyed.

Defiance is told from both Logan and Rachel’s perspectives. Usually, I hate books with multiple perspectives, but I really enjoyed it in Defiance. I felt that it was almost necessary to have Logan’s POV in the story. I needed to know both sides of the story and to see how each was coping with the situation. I needed to see the relationship grow from both sides. I found the multiple perspectives in this book very refreshing!

The whole world of Baalboden was so fascinating to read about. There were times that it felt that the book was placed in the future, but there were also times that it felt as if the book was placed in the past. I really didn’t know what to make of that. I enjoyed all of the characters and how well they worked together. It was such a cool universe. I don’t even know how to explain it. You just have to read Defiance to understand how cool it really is.

I found the ending to be a little predictable, but that didn’t take away from the overall story. I’m really interested to see what will happen next, as I’m not quite sure what direction Redwine is going to take it. I do have to say that I really enjoyed how the story progressed and developed. For example, Rachel’s character at the beginning of the book was so different than her character at the end of the book. I think that this was because of her journey and all that she experienced. I really enjoyed being a part of that experience.

Logan and Rachel’s relationship was one of the most adorable things that I have ever witnessed. I was a huge fan of them and I can’t wait to see more of them as a couple. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It was such an adventure, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to come next.

Pages: 403

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Publication Date: August 28th, 2012

Rating: :

Teaser Quote: “I love how you still think if you tell me to do something, I’ll just check my brain at the door and do it.”

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Deuce has lived in her underground enclave her entire life. She has never seen sunlight or clean air. She’s grown up eating rats and bathing under a tiny trickle of water. She’s also trained her entire life to become a Huntress. And on her naming day, when she changes from an unnamed Brat to Deuce, she becomes exactly that. Now, Deuce is partnered up with the enclave’s outcast, Fade, and must work to protect and provide the enclave with food, as well as ward off all dangers from the terrible beasts that roam the tunnels, something that they call the Freaks.

After an unfortunate turn of events, Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave and banished to Top Side, otherwise known as above ground. Together, as well as with the help of a few friends, they must work to stay alive and find out what has happened to their planet and what made everyone else die or flee to the North.

The first half of Enclave was very strong. It was completely dedicated to Deuce and Fade’s time underground at the enclave. It was so full of emotion, drama, adventure, and even a little terror. I found myself on the edge of my seat, dying to know what happened next.

By the time I reached the second half of Enclave, I started to get a little skeptical. By this point, they had been exiled to Top Side, and it started to get really slow. The characters almost seemed like different people and it seemed like both parts of the book could be separate books themselves. It started to pick up in the last four or five chapters of the book, but a lot of damage had already occured once the second part of the book started.

I was a big fan of the storyline in this book. People living underground? Cool! Freaks who hunt them underground? Even cooler! Being exiled to Top Side when you had never even seen the sun before and thought that rain burned like acid? Bring it on! I was really impressed with the ideas that Ann Aguirre contributed to this book, and I am so pumped up to read the next book in the series, OutPost.

The characters were really cool and interesting. My only complaint, as I mentioned above, is that their personalities changed once the second part of the book began. That didn’t make the book bad, it just made it difficult because I was already so used to one type of personality. It also became difficult because a lot of the second book was dedicated to the characters traveling to find the people who headed North. At times, this made parts of the book and even the characters slightly boring.

I think that Enclave was a good first start in the Razorland series. OutPost is either going to be really good or really boring, which makes me slightly nervous to read it. Hopefully, it will be really good. Fans of Dystopia books will be intriguid with this book. The cover does say “For fans of the Hunger Games.” I have to point out that this series is nothing like The Hunger Games. Since that was the exact reason I bought the book, I feel like that’s something that you all should be aware of. Overall, though, it was a good first start!

Pages: 259

Publication Date: April 12, 2011

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Rating: :

Teaser Quote: “There were different kinds of strength. I knew that now. It didn’t always come from a knife or a willingness to fight. Sometimes it came from endurance, where the well ran deep and quiet. Sometimes it came from compassion and forgiveness.”

This month we are hosting Dark Star, by Bethany Frenette, as our Book of the Month. Dark Star is, by far, my favorite debut book of the year, and I hope every single one of you has a chance to read it. Thanks to Disney, we are able to offer three lucky winners a copy of Dark Star. You can find out more about Bethany Frenette on her website.

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it’s hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she’s lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human-something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.
Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn’t fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers-livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin.
To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person’s memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers’ next move. But Leon, her mother’s bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won’t let Audrey out of his sight.
When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything-and everyone-she loves.

The Nitty Gritty:

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Contest will run from October 7, 2012 to October 31st, 2012

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