The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1) by Samantha Shannon

Title: The Bone Season: A Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopia/Paranormal
Format: Hardcover; 480 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; First Edition/First Printing edition (August 20, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1620401398
ISBN-13: 978-1620401392

Author's Website: http://samantha-shannon.blogspot.com/

Notes: I own this one.

"Almost two centuries had passed since Scion arrived. It was established in response to a perceived threat to the empire. The epidemic, they called it—an epidemic of clairvoyance. The official date was 1901, when they pinned five terrible murders on Edward VII. They claimed the Bloody King had opened a door that could never be shut, that he’d brought the plague of clairvoyance upon the world, and that his followers were everywhere, breeding and killing, drawing their power from a source of great evil.

What followed was Scion, a republic built to destroy the sickness. Over the next fifty years it had become a voyant-hunting machine, with every major policy based around unnaturals. Murders were always committed by unnaturals. Random violence, theft, rape, arson—they all happened because of unnaturals. Over the years, the voyant syndicate had developed in the citadel, formed an organized underworld, and offered a haven for clairvoyants. Since then Scion had worked even harder to root us out."

While something happened nearly two hundred years ago, the truth of the matter has never been released to the general population. Paige Mahoney, a clairvoyant, has been working for the past three years for the Jaxon Hall, one of the mime lords of the syndicate. She's managed, with the help of the seven seals, as Jaxon's group of clairvoyants have come to be known, to avoid capture and detection. Unfortunately her luck has just run out and she's about to learn what is truly going on in the world. 

Because something did indeed happen nearly two hundred years ago--they came and began to carve out a place in our world for themselves...The Rephaim

This is the first book in what is rumored to be a seven part series. Ms. Shannon did an extraordinary job of creating a world that is unique yet easy to relate to and picture. The characters are believable had have a lot of depth to them. It's set in the future of an alternate version of our world. If anyone tells you this book is like any other, they're really grasping at threads. It's unique unto itself.

Reminiscent of the the witch hunts of old, clairvoyants are being hunted, but not killed. Every ten years, clairvoyants are harvested from the general population and sent to the Tower where they're held in inhumane conditions until the day of the next Bone Season comes. Not every clairvoyant survives their capture.
       “Why are they called Bone Seasons?” 
       He smiled. “Don’t know if you know, but bone used to mean ‘good,’ or ‘prosperous.’ From the French, bonne. You might still hear it on the streets. That’s why they named it: the Good Season, the Season of Prospect. They see it as collecting their reward, the great condition of their bargain with Scion. Of course, the humans see it differently. To them, bone just means that: bones. Starvation. Death. That’s why they call us bone-grubbers. Because we help lead people to their deaths.”

In the world Ms. Shannon has created there are seven known types of clairvoyants (aka voyants). There are soothsayers, mediums, sensors, augurs, guardians, furies and jumpers. Jaxon Hall,  Paige's mime-lord (think voyant crime lord), has a goal of having at least one of each of the different varieties of clairvoyants. Each of the voyants he employs has a rare talent which is unusual. No other mime-lord or mime-queen has such vastly gifted crew. The group Jaxon has assembled is known to all as the seven seals and rule the I-4 section known as Seven Dials. They make their money doing mime-crime which includes anything that can produce money from dealing directly with the spirits of the dead. Whether that be obtaining intelligence about someone, letting the dead spirit of a painter enter into someone to produce a masterpiece, or any of the shadier dealings you might imagine. Mollishers, as those who work for a mime-lord are called, are bound by contract to their mime-lord and in exchange for their loyalty and usefulness, they receive protection. But as Paige states, "Mime-lords expect payment for protection." Life outside the syndicate/mime-lords for a voyant isn't easy if not impossible. A clairvoyant's best chance for survival is to hook up with one.

Jaxon is not only unique among mime-lords for his talented crew, but also for his interest in the talents/gifts of clairvoyants. He even created a pamphlet called On the Merits of Unnaturalness which lists every major voyant type according to his research. (FYI--The author created a copy of the pamphlet for your perusing pleasure at the beginning of the book.) It's this slightly obsessive tendency that makes him stand out and the fact we don't learn a whole lot about him in this book makes me very curious about him. 

Paige is smart, loyal, and more kind hearted than most voyants. Perhaps it is because she joined the syndicate fresh out of school and hadn't had to struggle for a position that she never harden herself against the world. She is one of the rarest of clairvoyant, she's a dream-walker. She can walk the aether and detect people's auras surrounding her for quite a distance out. This allows her to sometimes identify who and what type of clairvoyant is around. As far as anyone knows, she's the only dream-walker in existence and that makes her extremely valuable. She has yet to learn the extent of her talent and what all she can do. When she disappears after accidentally killing two Underguards with her powers, Jaxon and the rest of the seven seals launch a major search for Paige. Paige meanwhile, finds out what is really going on behind the scene's of the Scion and learns the real reason clairvoyants are hunted and it isn't pretty.

The Scion, are the security of the amaurotics. Amaurotics, aka normal people, "were said by voyants to be afflicted with amaurosis, just as they said we were afflicted with clairvoyance." The security is divided into two divisions, the NVD--Nighttime Vigilance Division and the SVD--the Sunlight Vigilance Division. NVD sleeps during the day which is when SVD takes over. The NVD employs voyances who sign a 30 year contract with them. Upon completion of their contracts they are euthanized. NVD is allowed to be more brutal in their take-downs than their day time counterparts as the general public is less likely to see the darker side of their dealings at night. SVD, by the way, only employs amaurotics. While there is more to Scion than what is stated, the rest is kept secret from all who don't need to know.

The Rephaim are said to be human like beings from another world originally separated from ours by the aether. The frightening thing about them is not much is known about them. They have powers similar to those of voyants, but are perhaps more powerful. They descended upon our world nearly two hundred years ago with plans to take it over. They are behind the voyant round ups. After Paige's capture, she is transferred to Sheol I, the Rephaim's headquarters which is located in present day Oxford. That is where she is indoctrinated into the world of the Rephaim. The voyants are used to do their bidding and the Rephaim feed off their auras. If they're lucky, they'll reach the status of red jacket and their job will be to bring in more voyants. If they're not so lucky, they'll become performers or killed. One thing is clear, humans are seen as only slightly more intelligent than animals and are expected to perform in one way or another. Paige's future looks bleak as she becomes the property of a Rephaim who's never laid claim on a human before. Warden, as she is to call him, will be her keeper and her life is about to change as is her perception of the world.

I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. It was fast paced with a lot of information packed in and a lot more to be learned and revealed in the next book. While I didn't feel like I'd been info dumped upon, a lot isn't explained until later in the book. This might throw some off and is the reason I explained so much in my review. If you have yet to read the book, be aware there is a Glossary of terms at the end, so if you're reading an eBook version you may wish to bookmark it before you start. I fell quickly into the story and became completely immersed. The characters were easy to identify with and become attached to. The world was masterfully crafted and easy to envision. It ended in a cliffhanger that makes me want the next book now. This is actually my second time reading this one and, if you know me, I don't normally do rereads. I have too really like a book to do so and when this came up as one of Nothing but Reading Challenges' book of the months, I decided to read it again and finally write a review.

While I have many questions about things in the book which will undoubtedly be answered in future books, I have one I wish someone could answer now. What does "Off the cot" mean? It was used several times and I'm guessing it is a fairly common expression in the UK, but I don't know what the translation is and neither did anyone else I asked.  Other than that this was a great book that I highly recommend. It is not like Hunger Games, Divergent, or any other of the books that have come out. My status last week on Goodreads read, "Please stop saying a book is like The Hunger Games because it contains a strong female lead. Please stop saying a book is like Harry Potter because it contains a magical element. Please stop saying a book is like The Passage because it contains beings that take over individuals. Please just stop. Enough with all the lies. The links are too weak." This is one of the books that inspired that statement. 

Some pictures of Seven Dials (Yes, I'ts a real place):

Pictures of Oxford:
Carfax Tower: Tom Tower:
 

Trafalgar Square pictures :

*** Please note: The above photos were found on Photobucket in the shared pictures area. They are not mine.

Notes to keep you in the know:

Rephaim (according to the Bible Hub) are " the shades or spirits of the departed, dwelling in Sheol or Hades, generally rendered in our version, "the dead" ("dead things," Job 26:5); Psalm 88:10; Proverbs 2:18; 21:16, etc." (Information found at http://biblehub.com/topical/r/rephaim.htm )

Youngs Literal Bible is the only version of the bible for which I could find any references to Rephaim. Reference in Psalm 88:10: 

"To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah."

Reference in Proverbs 21:16

"A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth."

There is also mention of them with bible verses quoted in Jewish Views of the Afterlife by Simcha Paull Raphael on page 55.

Sheol "She'ol (/ˈʃiːoʊl/ shee-ohl or /ˈʃiːəl/ shee-əl; Hebrew שְׁאוֹל Šʾôl), translated as "grave", "pit", or "abode of the dead", is the underworld of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. It is a place of darkness to which all the dead go, both the righteous and the unrighteous, regardless of the moral choices made in life, a place of stillness and darkness cut off from God.[1]

The inhabitants of Sheol were the "shades" (rephaim), entities without personality or strength.[2] Under some circumstances they could be contacted by the living, as the Witch of Endor contacts the shade of Samuel for Saul, but such practices are forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10).[3] While the Old Testament writings describe Sheol as the permanent place of the dead, in the Second Temple period (roughly 500 BCE-70 CE) a more diverse set of ideas developed: in some texts, Sheol is the home of both the righteous and the wicked, separated into respective compartments; in others, it was a place of punishment, meant for the wicked dead alone.[4] When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek in ancient Alexandria around 200 BC the word "Hades" (the Greek underworld) was substituted for Sheol, and this is reflected in the New Testament where Hades is both the underworld of the dead and the personification of the evil it represents.[5]" (Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheol )

L'Inconnue de la Seine was mentioned  in the book and is a piece of artwork (if you can call it that) that made its way into homes in the 1900s. Rumored to be the death mask created by a pathologist who was intrigued by a young woman who was pulled out of Seine, he decided to immortalize her profile.     Here is a picture of it . The picture was found in wikipedia commons and is reportedly no longer under copyright: 
 

Wonder where idea the cover came from?

FYI, the Rephaim symbol, created for the fictional beings, was inspired, according to Sammantha Shannon on Pinterest, "by an ancient Nigerian language system called Nsibidi. The glyph which provided the basis for the anchor, 'ójȯ', conveys fear." Here's a link to see more of her posts on the book, http://www.pinterest.com/sshannonauthor/the-bone-season/

The One (The Selection, #3) by Kiera Cass

Title: The One (The Selection)
Classification: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Series: The Selection (Book 3)
Format: Hardcover; 336 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (May 6, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0062059998
ISBN-13: 978-0062059994
Notes: I bought this one.


It is the tradition in the kingdom of Illea for the prince, who will succeed his father as king, to marry a woman from his homeland. It is the duty of the princesses, on the other hand, to be married off and form alliances with other countries. When a prince comes of age, a Selection is held where all eligible unmarried females in the kingdom may submit their name for consideration for marrying the Prince. A year ago Prince Maxon Calix Schreave came of age and the Selection process began.

Many of those who submit their names do so in the hopes of bettering their family's status, gaining the prestige associated with being one of the selected, and the fame and notoriety that comes with the whole process. America Singer did not submit her name for any of those reasons. She entered the Selection in the hope of making her parents happy and getting them off her back. Never in a million years would she have ever thought she'd be among the chosen, let alone make it to the final four.

As American has come to know the young prince, he's gained her admiration and respect and now she's in it to win it. The only problem is she's afraid she'll lose her heart. Being in the selection is not easy. Watching someone you care about go off on a date with someone else is painful. Seeing them kiss another is heartbreaking. The fear that what they've told you in private is just the same line they've fed every other girl in the Selection is maddening. The knowledge that you, or one of the girls you're competing against, may have a hand in the running of the country is overwhelming. The stakes are high. The future may depend upon who will be the One.

Alliances will be made 

Favors called in

And a kingdom will be united

This was a fun trilogy, and I'm sad it's over. If you haven't read the previous books, you'll be sorry you didn't. Could the author create a spin-off? Perhaps, but it's doubtful. Throughout the series America has made discoveries about herself, the kingdom, and now she is about to discover one of her family's dirty little secrets. Little being an understatement. This is something big.

As things finally come to a close with the Selection, the political climate within the kingdom heightens. The Rebels are getting more daring and have vowed to slowly kill their way down the caste system of the girls still left in the Selection. Throughout the Selection, America has been making a name for herself. She's not trying to defy the King, she's just doing what she feels is right which unfortunately usually goes against her potential father-in-law's wishes. To all watching it's obvious that if America is chosen, the kingdom will be run very differently with Prince Maxon and America at the helm. The tension between father and son is undeniable as Maxon's affection towards America stay strong and he refuses to send her home. There is no doubt that the King deeply regrets the very process he set into motion months ago, and I, for one, wish we knew exactly how each of the Selection's candidate's were picked.

I gave this one 4 out 5 roses. This was a great finale to a fun trilogy, but be warned, not everyone survives. There were some nice twists and turns I didn't see coming. I loved how America didn't try to compromise her values to gain the Prince's favor. Maxon, on the other hand, did not gain my love or loyalty. There was a lot more political action and explanations in this one than the previous books which I wish could have been more evenly divided between this book and the last. We had quite a bit of info dumping going on in the form of revelations. Overall, however, I felt Ms. Cass wrapped the trilogy up nicely, which was a relief after witnessing several disappointing endings to trilogies and series recently. I can't wait to read whatever Kiera Cass writes next. I have to say I would never want to be part of a Selection process.

Order of the series:

Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

• Title: Prodigy: A Legend Novel
• Classification: Young Adult (12 and up) 
• Genre: Dystopia
• Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 29, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 0399256768
• ISBN-13: 978-0399256769
• Author's Website:  http://marielu.org/

What a difference a Day makes....

June Iparis was the Republic's prodigy, their darling. She was the best of the brightest and the apple of their eye. She was a slightly rebellious teen whom everyone loved and strived to be like. She broke records and sometimes rules all in the name of helping her country. She loved her country and looked forward to serving it. A more patriotic person could not be found. That is until the day she learned the truth about her parent's deaths and that of her brother's. That was the day she decided to help the Republic's most wanted criminal escape his execution. That was the day she lost her faith in her country. That was the day she decided to join forces with Day, a boy falsely accused of her brother's murder. A murder the Republic itself orchestrated. 

Times they are a changing and Day and June are right in the middle. They will be the catalysts that will start it all. 

Prodigy picks up shortly after Legend leaves off. While the Patriots, a rebel force bent on reuniting the Republic with the Colonies, helped save Day and June and they quickly abandoned them to their own devices. Hired by June with the money she received ironically for capturing Day, once they'd done the job June paid for they took off. While Day and June would definitely be resources for the Patriots, they were not willing to lose any more members then the job required. Especially not for two individuals who have never shown an interest in joining them even if the two are the Republic's most celebrated individuals. Prodigy starts off with Day and June trying to make their way to the Patriots headquarters hoping they'll find a place among the rebels. Both will be asked to play important rolls in the rebellion's plan to overthrow the Elector Primo. 

What I really like about this series is the way Day and June are in effect mirror images, almost like twins separated at birth. Both scored perfect scores at their Trials, but because of somebody altering Day's Trial scores they've led very different lives. I can't help but believe had Day been given his due, he would have been as loyal to the Republic as June and perhaps the two wouldn't have been attracted to one another. They'd have been too similar. The pair kind of remind me of that old Billy Joel song, Uptown Girl, where a boy falls in love for a girl who is from the other side of the tracks.

In Prodigy, we get our first look at the Colonies and it's not at all like Day or June had imagined. We also get a little bit more background as to how the Colonies and Republic split came to be. Also, a new character steps to the forefront, Anden, who we met briefly in Legend. He takes over his father's position as the Elector Primo upon his father's death. Is he just a younger version of his father or will he be different? June and Day will have their job cut out for them to distinguish lie from truth, ally from enemy, and determine who they will give their allegiance to. They can change the destiny of their country. They are the ones the people will follow. They can make all the difference. 

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. It starts out a touch slow but things quickly pick up as we reach the midway point. Be warned, there is a cliffhanger at the end which will make you question if all is as we were led to believe. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Lu will do in Champion. I already have it on pre-order.

Order of the series:

Release Day Review of Frozen (Heart of Dread 1) by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston

Title: Frozen: Heart of Dread, Book One
Series: HEART OF DREAD (Book 1)
Classification: Young Adult (12 and up)
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy
Format: Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (September 17, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0399257543
ISBN-13: 978-0399257544

Notes: I got an ARC at BEA.

People referred to what happened as 'The Big Freeze'. The gypsies proclaimed it was "The end of the beginning. The beginning of the end."  Suggesting 'others' would come from the ice. Other people had been born, as to whether or not any came from the ice, that was left up for debate. The marked, the sylphs, the smallmen, the Enchanters and the Drau all now inhabit the earth and walk among the population. Earth has been devastated. It is frozen over. Its oceans have been poisoned. Its vegetation all but destroyed. Its human and animal populations drastically reduced. Meat is a rarity as is fresh water. Cancer, now referred to as the big 'C', is widespread and the cause of many a premature death. The life expectancy of the average person drastically reduced. A person living to the age of 50 is almost unheard of.

Natasha 'Nat' Kestal is marked. After 'The Big Freeze', dark hair and dark eyes became standard. Babies who were born with eyes of other colors contained marks and displayed a supernatural talent of one kind or another. Gifts of prophecy, telekinesis, etc. are not unheard of. No one knows why the change occurred only that it had, and the marked, when found, are either killed or taken to the labs to be experimented upon. Nat is currently on the run and is hiding in plain sight working as a black jack dealer in one of New Vegas' largest casinos. With the help of special contact lenses, she has been able to hide her unnatural blue eyes, but she knows her days are numbered. There is only one hope that she can survive and live to a decent age. There are rumors of a land, perhaps another world, which is an oasis in this world of  ice which is lush with life of all kinds. Many have attempted to find it. Many have died trying. Many believe it does not exist. Desperate times, however, call for desperate measures and Nat is about to make the journey of her lifetime to find it. Whether or not it will be her last and final decision remains to be seen. She'll follow the voice inside her that tells her it's real, and risk everything to gain her freedom or die trying.

This was one of the most original books I've read in a while. It's a dystopian fantasy set in a future with the world experiencing a second ice age. It has a feel of the old mixing with the new. Like the world had taken one step forward and three giant leaps back. With resources limited and most scientists dead, the majority of the world has regressed while some parts are still advancing technologically although at a snails pace. The government has a longer and stronger grip than ever before, and secrets and corruption run rampant.

Natasha is a smart, cautious, and resourceful young woman determined  to outwit those who would thwart her. She's managed to find a map to the oasis nicknamed the Blue and will hire a runner to take her. Choosing the right person to take her on her journey is critical because many would sooner sell you out to the government than actually do the job you hire them to. People aren't allowed to roam freely and some places are off limits. Where Nat needs to travel is in the restricted zone so whomever she hires has to have an idea of where they're going and be able to do battle if need be. Choosing the right runner can mean the difference between life and death.

Ryan Wessen is a good looking and has a reputation for being one of the best runners around. Said to have the fastest ship and be able to get people to where they want to go, it's not surprising he'd be Nat's choice. Strangely, when Nat meets him she gets the feeling she knows him from somewhere. While their first encounter makes Nat leery of him, as the two get to know one another, they find themselves attracted to one another. A situation complicated by the fact Nat is hiding her true identity. If he finds she's marked will he betray her as many others would?

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I enjoyed it, but so much happened at the end that it left me with more questions than were answered, so I don't feel I can give it a full 5 rose rating. The next book will be a better determiner of how I truly feel about the series. Right now I'm eagerly anticipating the next book and crossing my fingers that it will come out sooner than a year from now.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Title:When She Woke: A Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Dystopia
Publisher: Algonquin Books; Reprint edition (September 18, 2012)
Format: Hardcover; 368 pages
ISBN-10: 1616201932
ISBN-13: 978-1616201937
Notes: Borrowed from the library.

"Hannah Elizabeth Payne, having been found guilty of the crime of murder in the second degree, I hereby sentence you to undergo melachroming by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, to spend thirty days in the Chrome ward of the Crawford State Prison and to remain a Red for a period of sixteen years."

Hannah Payne has been convicted of murder. Her family and friends are shocked. A devoted member of her church, it seemed unfathomable that she could have aborted her own child. Years ago, the world was struck by a pandemic known as the Great Scourge that left the females who contracted a super strain of the clap sterile. As a result, the number of births reached an all time low. Nations around the world started instigating rules to ensure the survival of the human race. During this time in the United States, Roe Vs. Wade was reversed and as a result, having an abortion became a crime. A woman's right to choose no longer existed. Sanctity of Life (SOL) laws were established, and the division between church and state began to crumble as the two started working together to bring about more births. Woman were encouraged and pressured to have children. So aborting one was unthinkable. They were precious.

For her crime, Hannah has been sentenced to a new form of punishment--Melachroming. Melachroming is the process in which a virus is injected into a person which results in the pigment of his or her skin being altered to reflect the desired color. Those who are convicted of misdemeanours are colored yellow, those who convicted of murder are colored red, and those who are convicted of child molestation are colored blue. This stimulated a public type of humiliation as only part of their sentences were spent in incarceration. Once their sentence is complete, the process is reversed. The life expectancy of female Red on the outside is usually much shorter than their sentence. Most don't survive and are killed either by their own hand or the hand of others in a short period of time. Abandoned by family, friends, and the man that she loved, this is Hannah's story of survival.

*****Be forewarned this review contains some spoilers*****

This book won awards and many accolades, but I personally found it somewhat lacking. The author openly admits that the book is a sort of modernized versions of the Scarlet Letter, but that is only part of it. I felt like the author picked bits and pieces of other books and stories she liked and attempted to mesh them all together in this one, and I found it rather distracting. Hannah's escape to a safer place, reminded me of stories of the underground railroad. The discrimination we see as she tries to make her way in society reminded me of what was experienced by black people back when the Jim Crow laws were still in effect, although no such laws existed in the world Ms. Jordan created.  Still, in another part of the book she again openly admits to taking a page from another book--Watership Down. Additionally, at one point, I had to wonder if perhaps the author got a little confused between her character Hannah and Nathaniel Hawthorne's character Hester Prynne. Hannah was convicted of murder whereas Hester was convicted of adultery. Yet for some reason the male characters in the book weren't scared by that fact. If anything it seemed to spur them on to think she was fair game for any and all sexual advances. I just didn't get it. Perhaps the author was trying to show how backwards society had become in regards to woman, but I was a little confused.

While I found the mishmash of ideas a little distracting, my real problem with the book came towards the end where I felt the whole story just sort of fell apart. People are helping Hannah escape to somewhere safe, putting their own lives at risk,  and she has the gall to check her email? She's been told she needs to cut communication with her family and friends and she checks her email? Are you kidding me? Can you say dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb?  If this society can monitor your moves with some nice footage via satellite trackers, I can't imagine they wouldn't monitor a convicted felon's emails especially if she is still serving out a portion of that sentence. All rights to privacy seem to have been forfeited, so I seriously doubt their emails wouldn't be monitored. And if that isn't bad enough, she stops for a quickie with her ex. This after having a lesbian love scene which came completely out of left field. Perhaps she was trying to make up for lost time while she was incarcerated? I don't know.

What I do know is that if I was a lesbian, I think I'd be a little upset at the portrayal of the only legitimate lesbian in the book who by all accounts was quite a smart young woman. One night with Hannah and she loses all perspective of what she's doing, and the woman who is very secretive, resourceful, and trusts practically no one lets her guard totally down, breaking her own rules which were set in place for a reason? Well, she used poor judgement where Hannah's concerned as the woman betrays that trust.  

Overall, I'm giving this one a 1 out of 5 roses. While the beginning of the book was strong, and I thought the melachroming was an original and interesting idea, I didn't bond with the main character and the ending seemed to be created for pure sensationalism. At first I suspected Hannah had been victimized by the man whom she'd had the affair with, but we later find the woman has no shame or regrets for having an affair with a married man. She even at one point claims the affair must have been part of god's plan. Please. She's just a self centered person who puts herself first and foremost. That was reaffirmed throughout the story. When she had the chance to send a message to her father to let him know she was okay, he was the only one who stood by her throughout everything, she chose not to in favor of contacting her married lover. When she could have told someone about the abuse her sister was suffering, she told no one. The fact she recklessly got in touch with her ex so she could have a quickie was beyond selfish. She jeopardized the welfare of many. It left me with a feeling that the main character hadn't learned anything from her whole experience and while the world she lived in was extremely messed up, so was she. The story had potential, but for me it fell short. While I didn't hate the story, I definitely didn't like it either, hence the single rose rating.

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver

•    Title: Delirium
•    Classification: Young Adult Fiction
•    Genre: Dystopia
•    Format: Paperback; 480 pages
•    Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (February 7, 2012)
•    ISBN-10: 0061726834
•    ISBN-13: 978-0061726835

   Author's Website: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/

'The most dangerous sicknesses are those that make us believe we are well.'

--Proverb 42, The Book of Shhh

L-O-V-E

Four little letters which mean so much and can be so powerful. People have written songs about it. Wars have been fought for it. People have killed for it. But what if an entire society decided to reject it? What if instead of seeing it as a rare and beautiful thing to grasp hold of, they saw it as something to be gotten rid of--a disease to be cured? What if they felt love was the root of all evil? 

Welcome to Lena's world. Where at the age of 18 all members of her society are required to have an operation to rid them of the possibility of ever falling in love. The thing Lena fears most is catching amor deliria nervosa. Unfortunately for her, her days of a disease free existence are numbered. Lena Haloway is about to fall undeniably head first in love. May God help her.

“Love: a single word, a wispy thing, a word no bigger or longer than an edge. That's what it is: an edge; a razor. It draws up through the center of your life, cutting everything in two. Before and after. The rest of the world falls away on either side.”

LOVE

"The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don’t."

If you think about the topic of this book too much you may find yourself chuckling or smirking. It is a hard premise/pill to swallow. Love as a disease? Just try to imagine yourself trying to describe this book to someone who hasn't read it. It isn't easy. I wonder how Ms. Oliver managed to sell a publisher on the idea? The story truly sounds far fetched. Ms. Oliver, however, dives head first into the society with her main character Magdalena "Lena" Haloway. She expertly skirts exactly how an entire society came to hate love, but gives us hints and clues as to how, at least through the eyes of the current government, it happened by seeding the story with bits and pieces of information at the heading of each chapter. In my humble opinion, only a master at the craft of writing could weave a tale such as this and make readers buy into it. After reading the series, I have no doubt that is exactly what Ms. Oliver is.

Lena is 17 years old and just months away from being cured. Her mother was never cured despite several operations to rid her of the awful disease. Lena has many fond memories of her mother, and it's obvious her death dramatically impacted her. I believe a part of her fears that, like mother like daughter, she too will be unable to be cured. I also think one of the main reasons Lena wants to be cured so badly is to rid herself of the pain and hurt she's felt all these years from the loss of her mother. The procedure is said to numb one's sense of feelings, such as love, and cleanse and clear the mind.

Hana, is Lena's best friend. In some ways the two are polar opposites. Hana is rich, while Lena comes from a poor family. Hana is popular, while Lena is popular only by her association with Hana. Hana is outgoing and gutsy while Lena is more likely to stay on the straight and narrow path. Hana is beautiful and, while I very much doubt this and guess it is due to being a teen and playing second fiddle to a best friend who everyone seems to view as perfect could make a gal feel this way, Lena believes she is not. Despite their differences the two get along famously and are almost as close as sisters. 

The society that Lena and Hana live in is touted as being perfect, but as the story unfolds, we start to see some cracks in it's supposedly flawless veneer and a darker side to this loveless society starts to emerge. The kind of cracks that a person might not notice if they aren't looking too closely. A side that is hidden away from the general populace. In the midst of it all Lena meets Alex. An older boy who has been cured and is, therefore, supposed to be safe. Alex, however, has a secret of his own and before Lena knows it, she finds herself in the midst of the one things she so desperately wished to avoid--amor deliria nervosa.

As I always say, the brilliance of a book is often hidden within the little details. An example would be the book of Shhh which stands for The Safety, Health, and Happiness Handbook and is a prime example of political propaganda. It's such a fun name for a handbook. Throughout the book below the chapter numbers, we are given bits and pieces of the liturgy of the handbook. Parts of it consist of reworked stories from the bible, altered to fit the society's ideals. Other sections deal with the symptoms and stages of the disease and how to protect yourself from the condition. Yet other sections consists of things to inspire and contain prayers. It's basically a handbook and bible all wrapped up in one book. 

Some, but not all, of my favorite quotes:

- 'I know that life isn't life if you just float through it. I know that the whole point- the only point- is to find the things that matter and hold onto them and fight for them and refuse to let them go.'

- “Everyone is asleep. They've all been asleep for years. You seemed ... awake." Alex is whispering now. He closes his eyes, opens them again. "I'm tired of sleeping.”

- 'Sometimes I feel as though there are two me's, one coasting directly on top of the other: the superficial me, who nods when she's supposed to nod and says what she's supposed to say, and some other, deeper part, the part that worries and dreams... Most of the time they move along in sync and I hardly notice the split, but sometimes it feels as though I'm two whole different people and I could rip apart at any second.'

- 'We stand there for one more moment, looking at each other, and in that instant I feel our connection so strongly it's as though it achieves physical existence, becomes a hand all around us, cupping us together, protecting us. This is what people are always talking about when they talk about God: this feeling, of being held and understood and protected. Feeling this way seems about as close to saying a prayer as you could get'

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Ms Oliver has a beautiful and poetic type of writing style that I just adore. Her writing paints a picture with words and wraps you within her world. I absolutely adored the book and HIGHLY recommend it. I am presently kicking myself for not reading it sooner as I've owned the book since the book first came out. What was I thinking waiting so long? lol 

Order of the series:

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

• Title: The Selection
• Classification: Young Adult Fiction
• Genre: Dystopia/Fairy Tale Remake
• Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (April 24, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0062059939
• ISBN-13: 978-0062059932
• Author's Website: http://www.kieracass.com/

The letter read...

The recent census has confirmed that a single woman between the ages of sixteen and twenty currently resides in your home. We would like to make you aware of an upcoming opportunity to honor the great nation of Illea. 

Our beloved prince, Maxon Schreave, is coming of age this month. As he ventures into this new part of his life, he hopes to move forward with a partner, to marry a true Daughter of Illea. If your eligible daughter, sister, or charge is interested in possibly becoming the bride of Prince Maxon and the adored princess of Illea, pleas fill out the enclosed form and return it to your local Province Services Office. One woman from each province will be drawn at random to meet the prince.

Participants will be housed at the lovely Illea Palace in Angeles for the duration of their stay. The families of each participants will be generously compensated for their service to the royal family.

She didn't want to enter.

She was already in love.

The odds were not in her favor.
 Yet she was one of the selected.

The Selection could change your future.

The Selection could change your fate.

The Selection could change your fortune.

The Selection could change everything.

So I really enjoyed this book. I would describe it as Cinderella meets the Bachelor minus the wicked step mother. She's been replaced by a wicked competitor.

America Singer is from one of the lower caste families in the Kingdom. She's a very talented entertainer who can speak 3 different languages fluently and play several different musical instruments. When news starts to spread that the prince was looking to find his match among all the eligible single woman in the Kingdom ,she is encouraged to apply. The only problem is she has a boyfriend she is madly in love with. When he also encourages her to apply, she decides to humor everyone thinking her chances of being one of the handful of girls selected are slim. The upcoming Selection, however, brings home just how different America and her boyfriend, Aspen, are. She is of a higher class and a relationship between the two is forbidden. The strain caused by their two different castes soon begins to wear on their relationship, eventually leading to their break up. America is devastated. 

Upon the heels of their break-up,  it is announced she is among those who were selected. Everything changes, and she's soon whisked away to a competition which could change not only her life but that of her family's. If she becomes the Prince's chosen wife, she and her entire family will rise to the highest caste in the kingdom. But how's she supposed to compete for his affections when her heart has been smashed to pieces? Plus, as she starts to fill out some of the final paperwork  for the final phase of the competition, it appears there is a dark side that no one on the outside knows about...

"One more thing. This isn't exactly a rule, but if would be unwise of you to ignore it When you are invited to do something with Prince Maxon, you do not refuse. No matter what it is. Dinner, outings, kisses--more than kisses--anything . Do not turn him down."  

Prince Maxon was a delightful surprise. Handsome and smart his parent's managed to raise their son not to look down his nose at those of a lower caste. He's led a fairly isolated life thus far and the Selection is the only real means he has of meeting woman. Despite everything, he seems down to earth and to truly care about the Kingdom. When those around him talk, he listens. America soon comes to admire him and realize he'll make an excellent king. Her initial fears of what he'd be like quickly vanish, and she finds she truly likes him. Maybe more so than she ever thought possible. 

I loved how America manages to remain true to herself throughout the competition. I liked how she was up front with the prince and how she slowly starts to come to know him in the most bizarre of circumstances. I like how she makes him see and understand how parts of the kingdom work, parts that someone in his privileged position wouldn't usually see or know about. There is a twist later in the book that I wish she would have handled differently, but she was caught between a rock and a hard place. Not knowing how things would be handled if she divulged it to the prince. I can't help but wonder if keeping this information from him will cause things to end badly in Elite. 

Overall, I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to see how things progress in Elite and already have it on pre-order. I may have to fight my daughter to read it first. She also enjoyed the book.

My visions of the castle (Photos found on photobucket):

Order of the Series: