Audio Book Review: Specials & Extras by Scott Westerfeld

 

Specials (Uglies #4) narrated by Emily Tremaine
Summary: "Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.

And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.
384 Pages
My Rating: B

Extras (Uglies #5) narrated by Joy Osmanski  
Summary: A few years after rebel Tally Youngblood takes down the Specials regime, a cultural renaissance sweeps the world. “Tech-heads” flaunt their latest gadgets, “kickers” spread gossip and trends, and “surge monkeys” are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. Popularity rules, and everyone craves fame.

Fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse is no exception. But Aya’s face rank is so low, she’s a total nobody. An extra. Her only chance at stardom is to kick a wild and unexpected story. Then she stumbles upon a big secret. Aya knows she is on the cusp of celebrity. But the information she is about to disclose will change both her fate…and that of the brave new world.
417 Pages
My Rating: B+

by Scott Westerfeld
Dystopia/Sci Fi

The Uglies Series is an interesting one. I wasn't sure I would like it when I picked up the first, as the idea of teens thinking themselves ugly hardly seemed revolutionary. But Westerfeld makes it work. The idea of this hyper-controlled world is interesting, and his way of exploring the different ranks of people in this world works very well. And Extras especially does a better job of exploring other cultures than American ones than most US dystopias manage. 

Definitely an enjoyable series if you enjoy dystopias. I do think it needed a bit more explanation of some things, but nothing that was important to the story Westerfeld was telling. I say that if you enjoy books like Hunger Games or the Maze Runner, you will enjoy this one, too. 

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Audio Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games Prequel) by Suszanne Collins, narrated by Santino Fontana  

Sci Fi/Dystopia/YA

Summary: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him.

439 pages

My Rating: A-

Last year was a year of many prequels and sequels, and I, for one, am glad of it. It meant more stories about the characters we know. I've heard a lot of complaints about this one. That it's unnecessary, that Snow is not a sympathetic character to follow, and more. No book is ever necessary unless there's a literal cliffhanger from the previous book. This one? Gives us lots of insight into President Snow, and how he became the unbending man he was. Not sympathetic, no. But it provides a depth to the world that we didn't have before. And I love the insight into how the Games became the high-profile thing it was in Katniss's time. 

The world of the Hunger Games has never been a happy one. But seeing how things came to be so set in stone tells a lot about the way things evolved, which I find fascinating. And the little links between Snow's youth and Katniss's time also shows why he took her especially personally. If he had not, so much could have been avoided. But he'd been trained out of empathy before the end of this prequel, and that explains so much. I would be interested to read this again, and then follow up with the Hunger Games series to notice the other names mentioned in this. There was one in particular who shocked me. I won't name them specifically, but I will say to pay attention to his cousin. I was fascinated by that, because it came out of left field.

In short? A very worthy prequel, but don't expect to feel empathy for what he goes through, or why he ended up where he was. He wasn't a good man, and some of it was definitely his own doing. If you like prequels like that, and characters you might not be able to empathize with or understand, definitely give it a look. It is a very interesting addition to this universe.

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Review: The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher

 

The Empire Striketh Back (William Shakespeare's Star Wars #5) by Ian Doescher

Play/Science Fiction/Romance/Comedy

Summary: Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter.  

172 pages

My Rating: B+

I'm surprised that I didn't enjoy this as much as the first, since this is my favorite of the movies. I think most of it had to do with expectation, and also some with visuals lacking, but overall, still great fun. I love how they translated the action sequences into stage production ideas. That was a lot of fun. I do wonder if somewhere out there, someone will try to do these as actual stage plays, and whether or not that will work.

I plan to read these in the same order I would watch the movies, which is to say next I will read the Phantom Menace, though I have no plans to buy it. I'll probably get it from the library in ebook form, which might actually be more enjoyable. We shall see. For those who want more explanation about the best movie order, for me, the main line movies, I like to do the first two, then go back and watch the prequels once we're given the info that Darth Vader is Luke's father, then go back forward to watch Jedi after Revenge of the Sith, which ends on such a down note. And then go forward with the new movies after Jedi. It makes it a much happier experience then watching them in order might otherwise do. I highly recommend it if you're a fan. 

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Dual Book Review: Winter & Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) 
Summary: Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter claim their happily ever afters by defeating Levana once and for all?

827 Pages

Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles Shorts) narrated by Rebecca Soler  
Summary: The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies? With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.
400 Pages

by Marissa Meyer
Sci Fi/Dystopia/Romance

My Rating: B+

With Stars Above, this is the first series I have completed this year. Winter is a massive book, but it's an excellent end to the series, though you don't get the ultimate ending until the short "Stars Above" in the short stories collection. I read Winter, but I listened to the shorts. I probably should have done it the other way around, but they're both lovely if you are already fans of the series. Definitely worth checking out. I like that all the main couples got their happy endings in one or both books. I also quite like the short story of the Little Android, which I had read before, but it means just a little bit more, even though the ending is a little melancholy.

I'm still debating reading Fairest. I think if I'd tried it before reading Winter, I might have managed, but after Levana's ending in Winter, I'm less inclined to read a story about how she was done wrong. We'll see if time changes that opinion. 

Overall, if you haven't read the Lunar Chronicles, give it a try, because it's an excellent weaving of these well-known fairy tales, but giving them all their own new twists. And if you have read Winter, but never picked up Stars Above, trust me, you want to. The final story in the collection gives the ending that Cinder properly deserves.

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Audio Book Review: Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

 

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard, narrated by Amanda Dolan

Sci Fi/Dystopia/Romance/YA

Summary: If there's one thing Mare Barrow knows, it's that she's different. 

Mare Barrow's blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

464 Pages

My Rating: B

While this wasn't my favorite of the year (or even my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling), I did enjoy it. It's a dark world, and it's not for everyone, definitely, but I love the explorations of the abilities these people have, and I am curious where it will go from where she left it.

I like the characters, even Mare. Though I feel like her prince is a bit milktoast. I'm not sure if that's just from her viewpoint, and he will eventually be allowed to show who he truly is. I want to see Cal come into his own, a man who could become a great leader, instead of the leader his father tried to force him into the box of. I almost feel this is more his story in some ways. Yes, she's the main character, but her change is just learning who she is. He's the one having to make some severe decisions, and that kind of thing would cripple anyone. Hopefully he'll mange to overcome everything that has been thrown at them.

I look forward to seeing where their story will go next. I'm also looking forward to reading the two queens' stories for the prequels, though really, I couldn't care less about Maven and his psychotic mother. Mostly I want to find out more about Cal's mother, and what she went through, despite knowing that her story doesn't end happily.

I say, if you enjoyed the first, this is an excellent follow up. If you didn't, I don't think you'll enjoy this one more than the first. Though this borrows from some of the ideas in Hunger Games, it is not as well-packed as that series, so fans of that one probably won't enjoy this as much.

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Audio Book Review: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

 

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, narrated by Julia Whelan

Sci Fi/Dystopia/Romance/YA

Summary: In the city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra is raised to be a human sacrifice. Her death will ensure her city's vitality. In the desert, a mutant beast named Gem fights to save his people, known as the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that, together, they can return balance to their worlds.

391 Pages

My Rating: B+

This version of Beauty and the Beast definitely has some lovely aspects you don't get with these stories often. For one, the roles are reversed. Instead of "Beauty" (or the girl, if you prefer) being held hostage by the "Beast" (or boy, if you prefer), her people hold him hostage instead. For another, she starts out with a disability, which is something there still isn't enough of in YA these days. Granted, in this case, she is magically cured, so it's not perfect, but I do like that the story started out with her being perfectly capable even without her sight. I'm also very happy to find a sci fi version of this story, though it's very fantasy-based sci fi.

The story of Isra and Gem is a fairly typical story of two groups who hate each other and have done for so long that each no longer sees the other group as fully human. I like how well-woven the story of this world is, though at the beginning, I was certain the roses would have a very different role to play than they actually did. There are a few easy-fix issues in the story (see above about her disability for one), but overall, the story is a fascinating one, and those fixes don't do much to harm the story itself.

Definitely for fans of Beauty and the Beast, but don't expect the Disney version here. If you like sci fi as well as fairy tale retellings, and are a fan of YA, I think this is a good one to read.

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Audio Book Review: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
Sci Fi/Dystopia
Summary: Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago.
382 Pages

My Rating: B+

This one is definitely not for the faint of heart. The universe here is a very dark one that pulls no punches at all. So if dystopias sometimes give you problems, stay away from this one. It will be too much. That said, it's a fascinating story. This is the first book in a duology about a very segmented society where the lowest segment of society doesn't even realize just how low they are.

The universe is very rich, and none of these people are kind or gentle. And as the story goes on, they just get greyer, whether that be darker or lighter. It's a good, rich, complicated story. And I find myself wondering how the second book will go.

As I said, this is not for everyone, but if you like intense dystopias, and don't mind darkness, this one is very interesting. If not, then read either Red Queen (if you're okay with Hunger Games level of dystopian darkness) or Stitching Snow (if you don't mind dystopias, but need something lighter).

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Audio Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen (Red Queen book 1) by Victoria Aveyard, narrated by Amanda Dolan 

Sci Fi/Dystopia/Romance

Summary: Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. 

383 Pages 

My Rating: C+

The basis for this story is Alice Through the Looking Glass. Only barely, though. It's a true YA Dystopia, so if you like those, I definitely think you'll enjoy this. The world is interesting, though so far, there hasn't been a lot of explanation as to how this change in humanity occurred. I think there may be a slight implication of nuclear fallout or toxic pollution, so that may be how this happened. I'm currently listening to the second book, and they're starting to find the others like Mare. I'll be curious to see where this one goes.

This one is for those of us who love the YA Dystopia genre. If you're not fond of those, you may not enjoy this one.

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Audio Book Review: Stitching Snow by RC Lewis, narrated by Mia Barron

Stitching Snow by RC Lewis
Science Fiction/Fairy Tale/Romance/YA
Summary: The tale of a missing princess—and of the ruthless king and queen who will do anything to reclaim her.
338 Pages

My Rating: B+

Since I read the Lunar Chronicles first, and am currently working my way through Winter, the comparison was inevitable for me. I have to say I love the story of Cinder and her friends more, but I absolutely love this version of the tale of Snow White, and definitly prefer her over Winter, who is just a little too weird for my tastes. She and her prince face  such interesting challenges together, and their growth as characters very much pulled me in. I absolutely loved their story, and the end just left me smiling.

If you like fairy tale retellings, I highly recommend this, especially if you enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles. And if you haven't, but love sci fi and fairy tales, I highly recommend checking out both the Lunar Chronicles and Stitching Snow.

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