Review: For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Title: For Darkness Shows The Stars
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult/Sci Fi
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Caution: May contain spoilers

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It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's "Persuasion", "For Darkness Shows the Stars" is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

This one I was surely in eager anticipation for from the very instant my eyes caught sight of that gorgeous cover. I know one should not judge a book by it, but you cannot help but lust for this cover. Finding out it was inspired by Persuasion, my favorite Jane Austen story and one of my top three favorite movies of all time? That certainly fixed this one in the ‘must get my hands on’ category. I got my hands on it, and could hardly step away from it without getting sad because I wanted to keep reading.

The characters in this novel didn’t waver from their inspiration. Elliot was a heroine to root for, and Kai was a love to pine for. We find out bits and pieces of their past through letters they sent to each other. There was this knothole in the barn they would hide them in. Seeing as they were from different ranks in society, her being a Luddite and him being a Post, their friendship wasn’t favorably looked upon. It was their rankings that lead to him leaving and her staying four years ago. The Kai from her childhood is now completely indifferent to her. Which is a devastating blow to Elliot, who still cares for him.

Following this story was very easy for me since I am familiar with the original (having read the book last year, and seen the movie many times). It flowed nicely from one moment to the next. There’s just something about the character Elliot North (and Anne Elliot alike) that you cannot help but love. The character of Ro, she felt real. Not like the whole characters leap off the page and it feels real, but just that she was REAL, she was more than just a secondary character.

For Darkness Shows The Stars lived and breathed Jane Austen… and in just the right way. It wasn’t forced or exact or stiff. And while there were numerous similarities to the original novel, it still had a lot of unique scenes. Although the author had to exclude a few things from Persuasion, it was still an astonishing work. You guys know how I’m not a fan of reading in the third person, but with this story it worked. Diana Peterfreund’s writing was gorgeous. SIMPLY GORGEOUS. This book I know for a fact I will read again and again and again.

My Rating:

Exceptional: Stay up until at least 1 AM

Review: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Title: Glitch
Author: Heather Anastasiu
Source: NetGalley ARC
Genre: Science Fiction
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Caution: May contain spoilers

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In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

My initial thoughts on the synopsis were YAY for more dystopias! Then as I was reading it, I wasn’t too sure what to make of it. It started out slightly boring, Zoe was a bit dull, but it might have been just because she was confused at what was happening to her with the glitching. Then it suddenly picked up and I got sucked in trying to understand the composition of this society and the cracks in its walls.

The point where it picks up, it seems to go a little bit fast, almost too fast. Zoe meets Adrien and HELLO insta-love. As much as I wanted to hate it, I couldn’t. Why? Because I’m a hopeless romantic and sometimes you just want to see it happen. And this time, when I saw it, I was pleased (even if it was too soon).

After all that jazz, then things head into a new direction due to a slight change of plans. Zoe finds herself without the short term memory of Adrien and back at square one. I found myself more intrigued, wanting to see if she can find her way back to him, despite the obstacles in her way, including a fellow friend and glitcher, Max. They all work on orchestrating a way to safely escape, since time is short before their society, the Community, discovers the glitching.

When I reached the end of the book, I have to say I was surprised at how much I liked it, considering the boring start. Glitch was worth it to me. I grew to love the characters (or love to hate them), and I still stand by liking the insta-love. And the kissing? Magnificent, simply magnificent. The journey throughout made me captivated enough to want more. I’m not really sure in which direction the next book will go, but I am interested in where Heather Anastasiu plans on taking me next.

My Rating:

Very Good: Stay up late

Review: Portal by Imogen Rose

Title: Portal
Author: Imogen Rose
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction
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Caution: May contain spoilers

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Come Find Me Two Years Ago...

Six words that propelled ice hockey playing tomboy, Arizona, into an alternate dimension.

She suddenly found herself in the past. In one moment she went from being an ice hockey playing teenager in New Jersey to a glamorous cheerleader in California. She found herself transported from a happy life with her dad, Dillard, to a new, strange one living with her mother whom she hates. Apparently it's a life she's always lived in.

Everyone knows her as Arizona Darley, but she isn't. She is Arizona Stevens.

As she struggles to find answers she is certain of one thing- that her mother Olivia, a brilliant physicist, is somehow responsible. .

PORTAL is the story of the repercussions of Olivia Darley's attempt at creating a perfect world for herself and her children. Arizona's quest for answers threatens to undermine the seemingly perfect world that her mother has so carefully constructed.

PORTAL is the first book of the Portal Chronicles. Fans of time travel, romance, and the supernatural will enjoy Arizona's quest for answers.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The entire premise of this story almost guarantees a thrilling adventure. There’s a mystery, Arizona trying to understand what is happening to her. She’s suddenly thrust into this alternate life without any memory of how things got to be this way. Her life is completely different--her location, her school, her hair, the parent she lives with. She has a brother, Harry, that she never knew, a boy named Kellan she supposedly grew up with, and instead of being a hockey player that hangs out with the boys--she’s a cheerleader with blonde hair and fake nails.

Arizona pieces together what she gathers from the people around her. Even though she knows she has a different persona to keep in place, she decides to sign up for hockey. Harry and Kellan are both on the team, so this proves to be quite a task--especially when something seems to be drawing her to Kellan. It feels natural despite not knowing who he is. When she least expects it, she is cornered and beaten up by someone she used to know. Arizona knows that they know she’s on to what’s going on.  But what is going on? Why is she here and not with her father? Why can’t she find her father or any trace of the life she used to live?

I really liked Arizona. She’s not the typical girl, she is tough. She tries very hard to stay true to herself without giving herself away. Harry was a sweet and protective brother, and Kellan was a pretty good guy. Arizona’s mom wasn’t someone I wanted to root for. There was something hidden and you always knew she had something to do with it.

I liked the whole confusion aspect, and the way relationships developed and were handled by Arizona. I was a little irritated with the in between chapters told in the third person to get details on how things became the way they are. I get it, some things can’t be completely understood just from Arizona’s point of view. To me, it kind of took away from the mystery of the story. Here Arizona doesn’t know what’s going on, but the reader knows all the details. It would have been nice to learn this information at the same time Arizona finds out at the end.

I have to admit that as much as this should be fairly easy to take in, I found myself confused in several spots. Sure, I understood the basics. But since it went back and forth and dragged out in a couple spots, I got lost. It’s almost like when you watch The Lake House and try to understand it but it takes a few views before things make sense. With all the confusion, Arizona’s choices were strange but seemed to make sense in the end. The very end concluded oddly and trailed off to keep someone interested in the sequel.

Portal was a decent read. It was intriguing, but took so long to get there. I’m not saying I hated it. I give it an A+ for being interesting. The story was just one of those stories that for some people can be hard to follow. It’s not among the genre I normally flock to, it has science fiction elements in it that I’m not used to. There was so much to take in, and I think the cup got so full it spilled over and I couldn’t take in much more. Imogen Rose does a good job keeping the mystery alive as seen in Arizona’s eyes. I am undecided as to whether I’ll read the next books in the series or not. I suppose it will come down to my own curiosity more than anything else.

My Rating:

Pretty Good: Stay up until your bedtime