Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Publish date: April 2014
Source: Conference
Format: ARC
Length: 368 pages
"When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?" (Goodreads)


I went through a bit of a reading slump recently and was trying to find something that would grab my attention to help pull me back into reading. I knew I didn't want fantasy but after a string of contemps, I wanted something with a little more to it, so I decided to try The Taking. I had previously tried reading The Body Finder but gave up a few pages in, so I was a little leery going into another Derting novel. I did end up liking it but didn't love it (as seems to be my theme).

I read a few reviews before starting The Taking and liked that Lisa said it had an X-Files vibe to it. As a fellow X-Files fan, it definitely does, so if that's you, you'll probably like The Taking. Things are mysterious and we, along with Kyra, have no idea what happened to her in that five years. I loved that she hadn't aged at all. Definitely added more intrigue as to what might have happened to her.

Unfortunately, there were some aspects of this book I didn't like. There was major insta-love going on with Kyra and Tyler. I can handle most insta-love, but this kind was almost insane. He was 12 when she disappeared and now she's falling for him when it's only a day later for her? I don't believe that. I also wanted more closure at the end, but I get that this is the first in a trilogy.

If you're a Derting fan already or like your contemps with a splash of paranormal, try The Taking! If you want more than an easy read, though, I'd skip this one.

Review: Salvage by Alexandra Duncan

Publish Date: 2014
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Length: 520 pages
"Ava, a teenage girl living aboard the male-dominated deep space merchant ship Parastrata, faces betrayal, banishment, and death. Taking her fate into her own hands, she flees to the Gyre, a floating continent of garbage and scrap in the Pacific Ocean, in this thrilling, surprising, and thought-provoking debut novel that will appeal to fans of Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, and The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood." (Goodreads)

From the above summary, Salvage sounds amazing! Spaceships, betrayal, floating continent of garbage and scrap, FANS OF ACROSS THE UNIVERSE?? I'm totally there. I think because of all that, my expectations were way too high because I felt totally let down when I finished Salvage.

When you read this, the first thing you notice about the writing is that the language is a bit different aboard Parastrata. It took a while for me to get used to, but eventually I figured out what the different words meant. At first it was a little annoying to deal with it, but it makes sense that language would be different in the future aboard a spaceship.

I really love reading about people living on spaceships, so I was disappointed that only about 1/4 of the book actually takes place in space (maybe even less). I guess when it was compared to Across the Universe, I figured there'd be more time in space, but no. I wasn't a big fan of Gyre or even the storyline there. Honestly, I had a hard time with this book and really wanted to like it so much more than I actually did. I appreciate what Duncan was trying to do, but it just didn't work for me, plus I think it could have easily been 100 pages shorter. 520 pages is a lot!!

I'm not sure who I would recommend this to. I have a hard time comparing it to Beth Revis's work and I don't know if my students would be willing to put in the time on this one, especially since the language makes it hard to get into. I would love to hear other people's thoughts though!

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Publish date: 2012
Source: Classroom library
Format: Hardcover
Length: 352 pages
"Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . ." (Goodreads)

Let me start by saying that this cover is weird! It's creepy and so white and the 2 colored eyes just weird me out. I know they redid the covers for Enders and I don't think they're any better. Just had to get that off my chest!

I read Starters because it's been popular in my classes. One of my students gave a book talk on it and when I asked how many others had read it, a lot of hands went up. Whenever my students really like a book and I haven't read, I always make a point to get to it soon. I read it over a couple days and enjoyed it, although it wasn't my favorite.

In a time with a lot of similar sounding science fiction/futuristic novels, I thought this plot was pretty original. Callie rents her body out to Enders so they can kind of relive their youths in younger bodies. I was entertained throughout most of the book, but felt like the writing started to falter a little toward the end. It was basically just an ok book for me; nothing outstanding but still a fairly fun book. I would say read it if you like the genre!

Review: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Publish date: September 24, 2013
Source: ALA
Format: ARC
Length: 320 pages
"Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it…." (Goodreads)

While attending the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago over the summer, I met the fabulous and amazing Mindy McGinnis, whose debut novel, Not a Drop to Drink, was published in September. I actually met her at a meet-up Friday night (along with Debra Driza!) and then went to her signing at the Harper Collins booth the next day. She is smart and hilarious and you will love her if you get the chance to meet her. I hope I can go to another of her signings someday so I can tell her how much I loved Not a Drop to Drink!

The premise of Not a Drop to Drink is amazing because it is so scarily real. Limited drinking water creating havoc in the future? I can definitely imagine that (and am happy I have a pond at my house...just in case!). Lynn lives with her mom, guarding their pond from people trying to steal water. This is definitely a survival story, so if you are looking for a government conspiracy dystopian, this isn't it. But read this one too!

McGinnis's writing style works perfectly with the events happening in the book. It's concise and straightforward, with no extra words, working perfectly with the tone and mood of the novel. At first I was a little put off by it, until I realized more of what the story was about and then it made perfect sense.

Not a Drop to Drink was my favorite debut I read last year and one of my favorite 2013 reads, period. In my 2013 book survey, I classified it under science-fiction, but I don't even know that it really is. Read it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Review: The Program by Suzanne Young

Publish date: April 2013
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Length: 408 pages
"Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them." (Goodreads)

My student book club picked The Program as one of their summer books, along with The 5th Wave. I would have read it regardless, but maybe not as soon if not for book club. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am really looking forward to reading more from Suzanne Young.

I really love the premise behind this book and think it has huge appeal for teens. Being a teenager can be so hard and I think most go through rough periods, similar to some situations that characters go through in The Program. Teens (and adults) will definitely be able to relate to this and think about what they would do in Sloane's situation. This books raises tons of interesting questions and I can't wait to discuss them with students. The question that stuck with me the most after finishing was: if I could, would I want to erase bad/sad memories? Interesting to think about...

I honestly can't think of anything I didn't like about The Program. I thought the writing was great and it was hard to put the book down. I read it over two days, not wanting to stop. The pacing was good and I was really curious about the characters and who to trust. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel and reading more by Suzanne Young!

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Publish date: 2013
Source: Conference
Format: ARC
Length: 457 pages
"After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up." (Goodreads)

The 5th Wave had TONS of buzz. I personally don't like when a book has a lot of buzz, since I am usually let down by my unrealistic expectations of it. I ended up liking it, but I didn't absolutely love it.

The 5th Wave is a book that made me want to keep reading. I read the majority of it on a flight, and it held my attention for those few hours very well. The chapters are short, which I love in a book, and the narrators changed every so often. In my opinion, short chapters are one of the best ways to hold a reader's attention, and Rick Yancey kept the tension high in this book partly due to that.

I liked the differing narrators, but was disappointed in one of them, finding him to be a bit unrealistic and unbelievable. If you've read The 5th Wave, you probably know who I'm talking about. My student book club chose this for our first summer read, and they felt similarly about the narrator. Some liked the book as a whole, some didn't. All in all, I think it was a good choice for a group read and brought up some great discussion points.

I think I will read the sequel when it comes out (next year?), but I won't be clamoring for it. Please tell me your thoughts in the comments! Has anyone listened to the audiobook?

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Author: Mary Pearson
Publish date: 2008
Source: Classroom library
"Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma - so she's been told - and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She's been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won't anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?" (Goodreads)

Well, here I am again, reading a book I'd never heard of until we got it at work for our classroom libraries. What a rough job, adding more books to my TBR and reading them as soon as I can! Anyway, after I read this book, I was looking up the series on Goodreads and saw the second book is called The Fox Inheritance, which I have actually heard of. After finishing The Adoration of Jenna Fox, I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Based on summary of the book (above and on the back of the paperback), I had no idea that the story takes place in the future when medicine is more advanced. I was expecting more of a contemporary read about a girl recovering from amnesia, but was pleasantly surprised at the story. I really enjoyed the story and can't believe the book isn't more popular...but maybe I am just 3 years late to the party?

Sometimes in "person can't remember past books," it's annoying to learn things along with the main character, but I didn't mind at all only knowing what Jenna knew. In Jennifer Echols's Forget You, for example, you learn things along with Zoey, but I was so annoyed with her by the end! I wasn't annoyed with Jenna and was even scared for her at some points.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox also made me think a lot about medical ethics and family secrets and the implications of both. Basically the book made me think and I enjoyed it, which is win win! It's easily one of my favorites of 2012 and I can't wait to recommend it to my students!

Audiobook review: A Long, Long Sleep

Author: Anna Sheehan; Narrator: Angela Dawe
Publish date: 2011
Source: Library
"It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone-- and her future full of peril.

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose-- hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire-- is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes-- or be left without any future at all." (Goodreads)

I've been meaning to read this book for a while now. I love the concept and am new to loving fairy tale retellings, so I figured this was a win-win. It was pretty good, although I didn't quite love as much as I wanted to.

I really enjoyed the set-up of A Long, Long Sleep and how the reader learned everything about Rose's new world as she did. Life is interesting and different after the Dark Times, and I appreciated the new technology Anna Sheehan created for the future, although I wish there was more. The most often discussed device seemed to be a glorified iPad and the nerd in me would have appreciated something "cooler."

I had a lot of issues with Rose's self-confidence and always calling herself stupid, but by the end, there was an explanation for that, so if that annoys you, keep reading! Some of the dialogue also seemed strange and choppy sometimes, but the story was interesting enough to look past that. I was pretty satisfied by the end and was pleased to read a standalone novel.

Like I said earlier, I liked this one a lot, just didn't absolutely love it. Angela Dawe did a great job, as usual, and I think listening to this was a good choice. I think my students will like the print version, so I'll be on the lookout for one for my classroom!

Review: Origin

Author: Jessica Khoury
Publish date: September 4, 2012
Source: conference (arc)
"Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost." (Goodreads)

I'm in the process of getting everything back on my classroom bookshelves (which takes forever since I tend to read the back of every book) and while I was unpacking a box of books from a conference, Origin caught my eye. I like the cover and the plot sounded really intriguing so obviously I HAD to read it. As usual, here are my mixed feelings.

Origin took me forever to read and I blame 2 things for that: 1) the fact that school started and I am crazy busy and 2) the book just didn't grab me like I thought it would. It was interesting, yes, and pretty original, but not in a "I can't do anything but read" kind of way. I never found myself itching to pick it back up, but I enjoyed it when I was reading it. Does that make sense?

This book has a case of something I typically hate: instalove. I despise instalove, especially when it is between teens. I can see WHY the author chose instalove here, knowing how Pia grew up and everything, but how convenient that the first person she meets outside Little Cam is an attractive boy her age, right? Right?? I don't know. I would have found it more believable if Eio and the rest of the Ai'oans were better developed, I think, and weren't just rather convenient plot devices.

Reading back through my review, it sounds like I didn't like Origin, but I really did! The plot was enough to sustain me despite some character issues and I think this will be a hit in my classroom. Also Jessica Khoury is only 22. Damn.

Review: Hourglass

Author: Myra McEntire
Publish date: 2011
Source: purchased ebook
"For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?" (Goodreads)

I bought Hourglass for my Kindle when it was pretty cheap and read it while I was on vacation recently. By the way, it was my first vacation with the ereader and it was AWESOME. I brought 2 regular books plus my kindle and ended up reading 6 books total. So much easier than bringing 6 books with me! Anyway, I read Hourglass on my Kindle and despite having a shaky start, I enjoyed it.

After finishing Hourglass, I think I liked the actual plot the most. The idea of what/who Emerson can see, time travel, the Hourglass: all are cool and I felt pretty satisfied by the end in terms of wrapping up the plot points. I will admit, I was caught by surprise by the plot twist at the end (I love when that happens!). So all in all, pretty good plot and storyline.

But...but but but the romance. It was. So. Cheesy. I felt like it overtook the story for a while, which I am not a fan of. And how conveeeenient that Michael was assigned to Emerson and was only a little older than her! At least it wasn't really insta!love, which I appreciated. The relationship progressed fairly normally, but was cheesy at times, plus Emerson could be a little whiny. Also? She got away with A LOT for being in high school. Her brother was not very parenty.

Verdict: I liked it, but didn't love it. The plot was enough to keep me engrossed when the romance over-cheesed. Should I read Timepiece?

Review: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publish date: January 2012
Source: Library
"Cinder, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation. 

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future."

Cinder got a lot of attention toward the beginning of the year, as it was released on January 3rd. I only read good reviews and really wanted to read it, so I was pretty pleased when my library ordered it and my hold finally arrived last week. I thought Cinder was great and lived up to the hype!

I think Cinder is one the first fairy tale retellings that I've read and it's really making me want to read more. (Feel free to suggest your favorites!) Obviously I had an inkling about what was going to happen since I know the Cinderella story (and I predicted a huge part of the plot about 20 pages in), but the story itself was a lot of fun. The world of New Beijing and the idea of a moon colony was pretty interesting and I think we'll learn a lot more background in the books to come.

I'll admit, it took me a while to get into the story. I knew the plot was interesting, I knew I wanted to read and learn more, but I wasn't completely sucked in until halfway through. At that point, I was barely able to put it down and stayed up entirely too late on a work night to finish. I am really looking forward to the next three books and hope that more of Marissa Meyer's fascinating science fiction world is explored along with continuing Cinder's story. 

Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go (audio book)

Author: Patrick Ness

Narrator: Nick Podehl

Publish date: 2008
Source: Library
"Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?"

I had never heard of Patrick Ness until I started seeing reviews for A Monster Calls. After doing some research, I discovered The Knife of Never Letting Go and read some rave reviews for the audio book. As a new audio book junkie, I decided to try this one out. HOLY CRAP. It was AMAZING.

Nick Podehl, the narrator, simply blew me away. I couldn't believe how many emotions he could convey with simple changes in his tone or style. The concept of Noise means that there are many different characters and voices throughout the novel and Nick nailed them all. I'm pretty sure his Manchee voice was my favorite, but everything was fantastic. It is now my goal to listen to any/all audio books that Nick Podehl narrates (of which there are many, I have discovered).

I thought Todd's dialect added a whole new dimension to the story. Because of the language, I think the audio book was a great choice, but I've also read that the words in the book are spelled like Todd speaks, which is also a cool technique. Overall, I think Patrick Ness took big risks with this book and to me, he succeeded. I didn't think the language was gimmicky at all. 

The plot was well-paced and I never found myself thinking it was dragging. I was scared for Todd the whole time and was so curious about the truth behind Prentisstown, its people, and the idea of Noise in general. I am definitely going to read the other two books in the series, The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men.

Review: A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2)

Author: Beth Revis
Publish date: January 2012
Source: Purchased
"Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship."

I read the first book in this trilogy, Across the Universe, earlier this month and loved it! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I absolutely devoured it and couldn't wait to read this one, A Million Suns. It just came out on the 10th and I actually bought it, which is big for me. I loved it, as expected!

This book definitely does not suffer from second book syndrome that can sometimes plague trilogies. No filler here, just lots of action and plot twists like Across the Universe. Ms. Revis kept me guessing the whole time and I loved all the new information that kept popping up in each chapter. There was also some code breaking/scavenger hunt stuff, which I always love in books (even though I can never figure the clues out).

I still really liked the characters and one perk of this book is that we can see how everyone has grown since the events of Across the Universe. The setting of Godspeed is such a great place to show psychological changes among the characters and if you've read AtU, you know they are changing A LOT.

Reading over this review, it is very boring, but I don't know what else to say! I loved the book and cannot WAIT until Shades of Earth comes out next year. A Million Suns ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger and I MUST KNOW MORE! Definitely a must read series!

Review: Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis
Publish date: 2011
Source: Library
"Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming."

I think this is one of the first real science fiction books I've read, honestly. I've watched sci-fi TV shows, but this is probably the first book I've delved into since I normally lean toward fantasy. I really liked it and am glad I decided to give it a shot.


Across the Universe is definitely a page turner. It seemed like each chapter held new information about the ship or its inhabitants, plus it was a dual narrated book, so the reader learns new things from both Amy and Elder. Ms. Revis created a pretty interesting world, especially with how the ship ran itself: the Feeders, scientists, frozen people, etc. You know right from the beginning that there is something crazy going on and it was quite a journey to uncover all the secrets. 

The blurb from Goodreads above and on the back over the cover is a little misleading, however. It appears that they try to sell the book as a science fiction/murder mystery/romance combination, but I was pleasantly surprised with the lack of romance. It did not overshadow the larger story at all, which I was afraid of. I'm sure there will be more romance in the next two books, but I thought Ms. Revis balanced everything really well in this one.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (with the exception of Amy referring to her father as "Daddy." Ugh.). I found the world fascinating and character potential intriguing, so I am really looking forward to reading A Million Suns when it comes out next week. I may even buy it for myself instead of waiting for the library, which would be a big step for me since I am usually pretty frugal, but hey, books are pretty necessary, right?