Review: Blood Zero Sky by J. Gabriel Gates

Synopsis:
Unprofitables are banished to work camps to pay off their credit. Other tie-men and women look on apathetically. "Fair is fair. Everyone knows you shouldn't use more credit than you are worth to the Company. "They turn their attention to the next repackaged but highly coveted N-Corp product on the market, creatively advertised on the imager screens that adorn virtually every available flat surface. All the while, their mandatory cross-implants and wrist-worn "ICs" keep them focused on the endless cycle of work and consumption to which they are enslaved.

May Fields the CEO's daughter would like to believe she is above all that. Head of N-Corp's marketing team, the young woman who has almost everything anyone could want spends her days dreaming up ingenious ways to make workers buy more of what they already have and don't need. Even before May discovers that the Company is headed for its first loss in thirty years, she is feeling the stirrings of dissatisfaction with the system that has given her everything she's ever wanted . . . except the freedom to be herself.

When she is kidnapped by a member of the Protectorate a secret order dating back to the American Revolution May is suddenly faced with the frightening truth of what the Company's greed has done to our most basic human rights. Will she embrace who she is and join the battle to restore America's democratic freedom, or put her blinders back on and return to her safe and passionless life?

More prediction than fiction, "Blood Zero Sky "is a riveting, nonstop, and suspenseful gaze into the looking glass, destined to rise with the zeitgeist of our times to become the anthem of a generation.

Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Source: Thanks to the author, Mr. Gates, for providing me with a review copy!

Review:
I hate to admit that I was a bit turned off by the cover of this book, but on the flip side I'm pleased to say that Blood Zero Sky is amazing. Period.  I'm sure I won't be the only one to compare it to George Orwell's 1984 because it shares a lot of those same themes of totalitarianism, psychological control through filtering information and propaganda and an overall sense of helplessness at the all-consuming reach of, in this book, The Company.

What is awesome about this book is that no matter how many comparisons can be made to 1984 it stands completely on its own merit.  The cautionary tale it tells is all the more frightening because the technology we have today isn't far off from that used in the book. And it's not too big a stretch to picture a large powerful entity sneaking its way into monopolizing every industry in the country. It's totally believable.

And I haven't even mentioned the characters yet :) May Fields is the MC, but she's not your typical girl.  The CEO of The Company is her dad, and she's living the high life compared to a lot of people.  She's got everything she could want, but she still feels as if something is missing in her life. May is a strong female character and the fact that she's gay isn't what defines her, nor is it what the book is about.  She does have to hide the fact that she's a lesbian because that doesn't line up with The Company's religious policies. The whole Company controlled religion was another factor that added to the feeling of power un-checked when it comes to how the people live their lives.

I thought this was a great book for a variety of reasons. It definitely makes you think and speaks to a lot of things that are currently going on in our world today. It's also just a plain good read!

SBB Tour Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Synopsis:
Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Steampunk, Dystopian
Source: Thanks so much to Southern Book Bloggers for letting me be a part of this tour :-D


Review:
I had been dying to read this book and was hoping it would be amazing. And IT IS! This is one of those books that grabbed me from the very first paragraph. I got it in the mail and was just going to peruse the first page (as I love to do with books) before going about my business until I had more time to read it (i.e. until my kids were in bed). Well, that turned out to be a torturous decision because I kept laser eyeing that thing from across the room all day :)

I'll try to be a bit more specific as to why I loved it. Right from those first few paragraphs when you are introduced to Araby you instantly feel intrigued by her thoughts and actions. She hides her thoughts and emotions behind a mask of make-up, clothes and drugs. The author chose the perfect point in Araby's life to drop us into because we know about her illicit ways, but we see her changing, looking for more. I loved seeing the mystery of her family and past unfold by increments as I was reading.

The two men in her life, Elliott and Will, didn't quite share the same spotlight for me. I was all about Will. Elliott has these moments where his true essence shines through, but we don't see alot of that, nor does Araby, because he doesn't want to get too close to anybody. Will is one of those heart-on-his-sleeve kind of guys . . .with tattoos. Yum. The look of a bad boy and the heart of a puppy. Seeing him care for his siblings pulled on my heartstrings.

As for the Steampunk element in this book, I was so pleased with how it was done. The crucial necessity of  having to wear masks to keep the ongoing plague at bay was felt throughout the novel. All the world-building was seamlessly done and perfect.

I couldn't have loved this book more. I read it in a matter of hours once I finally got to sit down with it :)      

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance
Source: Thanks to Harper Teen for making this title available at ALA Midwinter! 

Review:
If I'm being honest I was kind of terrified to read this book :) What if I liked it? What if I didn't like it? Turns out it's just a book. And one that I really liked at that.

At first I did see some similarities to The Hunger Games in that the people are labeled by numbers that represent their class in this dystopian world. That's really where the similarities end though. There is a survival element to the novel, but it's fleshed out in a totally different way. Plus, add in the Bachelor-esque (Oh, shut it! You know you watch it too!) element and I had a hard time putting the darn thing down.

America is the main character and I didn't connect with her at the beginning of the story, but by the time she's chosen to participate in The Selection I think her personality and character rise to the surface. She becomes a lot more likeable at that point. The awesome part of the story is that unlike all the other girls in The Selection, she is a reluctant participant. It puts her in a unique position when it comes to vying for the Prince's affection.

That brings me to my next point. I loved how Prince Maxon and America meet for the first time and the way he has such an intense focus on her from that point on. Their relationship centers on friendship and makes for a believable turn towards romance later on. The problem at that point is that America still has feelings for her cheating (supposedly) Ex, Aspen. The end of the book sets up a great scenario for these three to be in a bonafide love triangle. It's my favorite kind too. Nobody is really at fault for it happening . . . circumstances beyond their control and all that :)

Anyway, I'll be looking forward to the next book in this series for sure. I'm glad I finally cracked the pages of this one. And don't forget the killer cover!

'Holy Crap' Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis:
I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Review:
Wow. Just wow. I'm not sure how to even review this one. If you loved Delirium . . . you will die over this one. So great!! My whole review could easily just be me finding new ways to say how awesome it is. I'll try to form a few coherent thoughts though :)

The book is told in flashbacks to 'Then' alternated with the 'Now' things that are currently taking place for Lena. Eventually they merge together and it all just builds and builds for an ending that is hard to beat. Maybe my most 'holy flippin' crap' moment in a book. I'm still in book-shock.

As always, Lauren Oliver's writing is killer. Painfully beautiful and full of meaning. Seriously, I felt like my heart was going to burst from all of the emotions I was simultaneously feeling while reading it. I love this book and will probably badger my friends and family without cease until they read this series.

Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Source: This book was lent to me :)

Early Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Synopsis:
Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

Review
After reading Wither I was dying to see, 'What happens next??!!" So here we go! Fever didn't let me down :) I have to say that it did take me awhile to adjust to the fact that it wasn't taking place in the mansion (obviously, duh. I know.) But there was something so gripping about the juxtaposition of that beautiful, comfortable place riddled with death, corruption and lies.

BUT, truth be told, when Rhine and Gabriel find themselves out in the real world once again, that sour-note-on-the-piano feeling is still there. From the second those two wash up on the beach they find themselves right in the thick of things. I kept thinking that if I were Gabriel I would be so mad at Rhine. And I kept thinking that Rhine might have really made a poor choice in leaving all the comforts of her lovely mansion behind for the 'freedom' she so badly wanted. But I think that's the point! What price would you pay to be free? Or would you settle for chains just because they're comfortable and easy? I'm definitely not as strong as Rhine. That's why I love her character. She might waver in her mind and have uncertainties, but she never falters when it comes right down to it.

Such a great (GREAT) book! The plot was pretty much amazing . . . I won't give a single thing away, but the last quarter of the book is seriously messed up. In a good way. And DeStefano's writing style and descriptions are boss. Absolutely spectacular. It makes me want to describe things and people in my life that way too. I'll keep dreaming on that one ;)


Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, (Awesome)
Source: Thanks to Simon & Schuster Publishing for making this title available at ALA.

Late to the Party Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Synopsis:
Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive.


Review:
I loved this! Loved. It. I know pretty much everybody has already read this one, and now I'm a part of that club. I've had it on my list for awhile and finally got tired of waiting to get to it. I finished it in less than 4 hours...I literally could not put it down. After I was done it felt like I was having to acclimate back into the real world because I had been so immersed in this novel.


This is the best example of a utopian society gone horribly, scarily wrong. It's all totally believable and heartbreaking. I can't think of one thing I didn't like about the book. Rhine is awesome. I love how she makes her decision and sticks with it, despite how difficult it will be. Lots of great characters in this one.


If you also have this on your list, but haven't found the time yet...make the time. You won't regret it. Plus, Fever comes out in February and you need to be ready ;-)

Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Source: My own tower of books

'Late to the Party' Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Synopsis:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.


Review:
Wowzas. This book is utterly amazing and brilliant. I voraciously read it and am looking around for seconds. I'm sad that I'm not still reading about Tris and Four. The initiation is over and a whole crud-load of stuff has gone down. Now I want to see what happens next.

Tris is a bad-ass. I want to be her. As I was reading, she made me feel powerful and strong. I was cheering for her and mentally pumping my fist at her achievements and choices. Her voice is so strong and true throughout the whole book. She made me want to stand up for who I love and what I believe in. This book gave me chills. So great!

Then there's Four. Oh, man. He is so strong and tough, yet not afraid to be caring. The way he is with Tris is true perfection. He pushes her to be her best, even when it's uncomfortable and not what she wants to hear. There were quite a few moments with them that I had to read a few times before moving forward :)

I know I should have read this book ages ago, but better late than never. Can't wait to read the next one!!

Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Source: This was a borrowed book.

Short Novel Review: The Last Three by Almon Chu

Synopsis:
"'Just three more stops,' I thought to myself. I gripped my knife, the handle digging into my flesh. I closed my eyes and tried to think of Eris." A descent down the path of self-destruction, does salvation lie around the corner or is it merely an illusion? The Last Three is a captivating story of a lost soul on the streets of a modern dystopia.

Review:
This story packs a big punch for being novella or short story length. The gritty cover is perfect for what is inside its pages.

I was completely immersed in this sliver of world. It was like I could feel the environment being described. It's a sad tale of betrayal and wasted life. The main character, Jon, is living his entire life based on a lie. A lie that ruins his life, crushes his psyche and destroys whatever else is left of him. It made me very sad for him mostly because he is so fervently loyal and committed to sacrificing for the person he loves. And those very traits are used against him.

I was so engrossed in this book while reading and was sad to see it end. I guess you could even say I was riveted :-) It does have some strong language, but if that doesn't bother you I would suggest checking this little gem out.

Publication Date: October 15, 2011
Genre: Modern Noir, Dystopian, Adult
Source: Thanks so much to the author, Almon Chu, for my review copy!

Review: Expense by Jason Letts

Synopsis:
Spencer Nye thought she had done something to change the world for the better, but she quickly finds out that eliminating one problem often leads to others. The only difference now is that any solution requires the cooperation of everyone on the planet, and no amount of fame will help them all overcome their fear of another looming disaster. Even though Spencer knew that she needed to change the world, in Expense she’ll find out exactly what it cost.

Review:
The second book in The Spencer Nye Trilogy does not disappoint in any way. It stays true to the same gripping and non-stop action that was in the first one. I love futuristic books that show a glimpse of how our world might look if technology continues to evolve as quickly as it currently is. But I truly hope we never have any issues with aliens . . . aliens are bad news.

Expense picks up after the events at the end of Suspense. Spencer believes she has caused an intergalactic war between Humans and the alien Orra. Killing another planet's ambassador can have that effect apparently :-) Spencer is a take-action kind of girl, and she finds herself at a loss when it comes to being a leader and spurring others to action. Especially since most people are murderously angry about losing their sources of food, clothing, etc.

As if trying to get everyone to work together to rebuild their world isn't a hard enough job, the Orra are coming for Spencer. Plus her love life gets even more complicated . . . which I would have found hard to believe until reading Expense. Spencer makes a lot of mistakes and wrong choices, but she never becomes unlikeble. It really just made her more real to me.

A great follow-up novel, it left me really excited to find out how the story will be resolved in the final book.

Publication Date: October 26, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Source: Thanks to the author Jason Letts for my review copy!

Review: Rex Rising by Chrystalla Thoma

Synopsis:
In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life — until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side. Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren’t inclined to sit down and talk, although that’s not the end of Elei’s troubles. The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows. It won’t be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret – a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known – or die trying.

Review:
First off, I want to address the cover of this book. I pretty much love it. It's got a cool looking guy and makes you wonder why he looks that way. Plus, it is one hundred percent perfect for the story and the character it's portraying.

Now, the story in Rex Rising is like nothing else I've read. The idea is that if a person is infected with a parasite it changes how their body functions, and it also changes how they look. Elei grew up on the streets and lived through two of the toughest parasites infecting his body. The two fought and eventually came to a sort of stasis within him. He has lived with them for so long that he wonders if the person he has become is really who he is . . . or if he's only a product of the parasites within.

Elei is caught up in a fight between the ruling (not to mention all female) Gultur and the ones fighting to break free from their increasingly hostile methods of rule. The first we see of him, he is shot, bleeding out and running for his life. He has something the Gultur want, but he has no idea what it is. The pace doesn't slow throughout the entire story as he finds help in unexpected places, but also finds out that not everyone is what they appear.

A cool and unique idea. I can't wait to see where the story takes Elei, and all the rest, in the next book!

Publication Date: August 11, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Sci Fi, Dystopian
Source: Thanks to author Chrystalla Thoma for my review copy!

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Review:
Holy crap! This book slayed my soul. But in a good way. The descriptions are so painfully meaningful and poetically written. After finishing it, I am dumbfounded and it is consuming all my thoughts.

The premise is that love is a disease. Lucky for the whole population, a cure was found and can be administered at the age of 18. Lena has gone through life longing for the cure. After she meets Alex (ahhh . . . Alex) she sees the world in a completely new way. She realizes that the cure is really just a shroud of apathy that helps everybody conform to the lifeless world around them. Love breathes new life into her and she can never be the same.

Alex is so sweet and achingly real. I'm kind of in love with him ;-)

I think I might have died a little when I realized I have to wait until March for the next book. Although sometimes the wait makes it even better, right?

Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance
Source: My own tower of books.

Review: Suspense by Jason Letts

Synopsis:
Spencer Nye can’t control the rage bubbling under her skin over the world around her. The trouble is, by the year 2102, the world has solved most of its great problems. Without hunger, war, greed, or even money, people obsess over the glamour of the Culture Industry and its mega-celebrity Idols, who vie for followers over the social networks of Connect.

But Spencer discovers there is plenty to fix within the Idols’ competition for more popularity. She becomes a diehard and promises to do anything to help her Idol, a dreamy movie star named Cleary Mintz, bring his vision of hope and purpose to the world. When she stumbles onto a threat against his life, she’ll have to fight harder than she ever thought possible or lose the man who means more to her than any other.


Review:
Books like this one are why I wanted to start a book blog in the first place! I had never heard of this author and wasn't sure what to expect. I seriously loved this book! The title, Suspense, really has a double meaning. It's the nickname of the heroine, Spencer Nye, plus the story is full of suspense from beginning to the end.

The plot is amazing. The world the characters live in is one where everyone is constantly connected to their social network by nodes implanted in their heads. It dominates most every part of how they exist. There are machines that create everything from food to clothing, money is unnecessary, everyone is equal, transportation is instantaneous (wouldn't that be nice!). With all the worries of survival taken care of, the population exists for the pursuit of happiness and following the Idol of their choice. Which as it turns out, is more cutthroat than you might think.

I always feel conflicted about technology and social networks because they make it easy to stay connected, but how does being so dependent on them really affect us? Suspense portrays a future that isn't all that unbelievable. How often do you check your social networks in a day? Have you ever been in a room full of people on their smartphones and not one person is speaking to another?

That isn't the only reason I thought it was great though. Spencer Nye is such a likeable, yet flawed, heroine. She doesn't always make the right choices but her heart is in the right place. Plus, I like a character that isn't afraid to stop asking questions and kill the bad guys already! Spencer's romantic interests seem pretty clear cut when you first start reading, but take an unexpected and awesome turn! Original and crazy!

I can't wait to read the next one!


Publication Date: September 3, 2011
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Sci-fi
Source: Thank you so much to the author, Jason Letts, for the review copy.

Review: Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

Synopsis:
A terrible truth has been revealed to one man: the entire human race has been drained of every emotion except one— fear. To bring life back to the world, Rom must embark on a journey that will end either in his own demise or a reawakening of humanity. But to bring love and passion back into existence will also threaten the powers of the world with the revolution and anarchy that had nearly destroyed them previously.

After happening upon a journal through strange circumstance, Rom's world is shattered. He learns that humanity long ago ceased to "live," that it exists today in a living death of emotions. In a terrible risk, Rom exposes himself to the vial of blood folded into the old leather of the journal. His change is fearful and fraught with mind-bending emotion. A once-pious observer of the Order's passionless statues, he is filled with uncontrollable impulses. He is filled with love.

He is undone, terrified, and alone in the desolate world.

Review:
There are two things I know before I ever open up a Ted Dekker book: It will be good and I will be entertained. Written with author Tosca Lee, Forbidden is no exception.

A world devoid of all emotions except fear is the only way of life the population can remember. They have been saved from the Chaos of emotions by the strict principles of Order. Lacking the driving force to even care if what they are told is the truth, everyone believes they are better off.

Enter Rom. Rom's world is turned upside down when a crazy, old man entrusts him with an important package. He accepts without really knowing why he agreed in the first place, and from that point on he is on the run for his life. Through the contents of this package Rom's mind is opened up to the emotions so forbidden by Order. He sees what a shadow of life he was living before and will stop at nothing to help the rest of the world eventually LIVE again.

As you can imagine, a person who has only experienced fear has a lot of catching up to do. Love, anger, joy, jealousy, sorrow, greed, pain, hope, passion. What is love without pain? Hope without despair? Joy without sorrow? Sometimes it's worth the bad to also have the good.

A great story with an ending that really surprised me! Didn't see it coming.

Publication Date: September 13, 2011
Genre: Adult, Dystopian
Source: Thanks to Hachette Book Group/Center Street and Netgalley!

Review: Tankborn by Karen Sandler

Synopsis:
Best friends Kayla and Mishalla know they will be separated when the time comes for their Assignments. They are GENs, Genetically Engineered Non-humans, and in their strict caste system, GENs are at the bottom rung of society. High-status trueborns and working-class lowborns, born naturally of a mother, are free to choose their own lives. But GENs are gestated in a tank, sequestered in slums, and sent to work as slaves as soon as they reach age fifteen.

When Kayla is Assigned to care for Zul Manel, the patriarch of a trueborn family, she finds a host of secrets and surprises—not least of which is her unexpected friendship with Zul's great-grandson. Meanwhile, the children that Mishalla is Assigned to care for are being stolen in the middle of the night. With the help of an intriguing lowborn boy, Mishalla begins to suspect that something horrible is happening to them.

After weeks of toiling in their Assignments, mystifying circumstances enable Kayla and Mishalla to reunite. Together they hatch a plan with their new friends to save the children who are disappearing. Yet can GENs really trust humans? Both girls must put their lives and hearts at risk to crack open a sinister conspiracy, one that may reveal secrets no one is ready to face.

Review:
Tankborn was a breath of fresh air for me to read. So unique, I never thought 'Oh, this is like such and such book'. It was well-written and it sucked me in from the beginning. I also have to give a shout out to the author for doing some awesomely organic world-building! If that makes sense :-) I could tell there was a rich history behind the unique setting but was never bombarded with information. I really liked that although this was a wonderfully created world, there was no learning curve. It was just very natural, seamless and easy to read.

Tankborn takes place in a future where the population has moved to a different planet that is very similar to Earth. As a result of this evacuation, an archaic caste system was set in place to keep the Trueborns at the top and the Lowborns at the bottom. That is until the GENs were created. GENs were grown, not born. And they were grown with certain skills to help them in serving their Trueborn masters.

The story is told by three different characters, one of which is male, and I enjoyed reading all of them. There was never one of those 'Not this one again' moments. No weaknesses there. I loved the quiet strength of the two GEN characters, Kayla and Mishalla. Their sweetly innocent love with two boys that are not GEN is seen as scandalous in their world. Yet they are pulled together despite there differences and prejudices. Both couples' love develops in such a real and pure way that it made me enjoy these two plotlines so much.

Did I mention the seriously cool plot? Well, I can't say much or I'd give it away, but suffice it to say that it's genius.

Publication Date: September 15, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Source: Thanks to Lee and Low Books and Netgalley!