Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi [Review]

Title: Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins (2012)

Pages: 340

Format: Paperback

Source: Bought

Description:

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

Review:

This is one kick-ass book and I still have no idea why the hell it took me all this long to read it!

Most of the times, and primarily as a reader, I don’t agree with the marketing/editorial decision of changing the cover of a book—especially if it happens mid-series—, being that due to lack of sales or simply for some aesthetic reason, but I must admit that this change, in particular, was for the best. Yes, the first cover of Shatter Me is beautiful—if I’m not mistaken it actually sort of sparkles—however, this second option has a much more hypnotic, visually appealing look to it. The eye with the flying bird (talk about details!), the metallic mixture of colours, and the overall design are drop-dead-gorgeous and even though I don’t like confessing that I often purchase books because of their cover, I must recognise that I did buy Shatter Me precisely for that reason. Still, the most incredible and pleasing feature of this book is the fact that the inside matches perfectly with the outside.

I have to say that I didn’t know exactly what to expect from this reading as I usually don’t read many reviews prior to acquiring a book, but I did research a little bit about Shatter Me and the one thing I ended up understanding was that you either love it or hate it—there’s no middle ground with this one, no shades of grey. I believe that’s a pretty common trait in YA Dystopias as it is not a genre for every reader but what tends to happen with me is that all those little details people state as being the reasons why they disliked the book are the elements I end up liking the most. And, again, it happened.  

Tahereh Mafi’s writing style is absolutely breathtaking and so, so deep. During my reading I constantly felt like I was inside Juliette’s head, like I was Juliette. I could sense her fears, feel her tension and her desires as my own, and it’s utterly amazing how she grows so much and adjusts herself to her surroundings, to what seems to be her present and her future, in her private self—which means, in Mafi’s writing. This is a sort of stream of consciousness approach to the story that allows the reader to genuinely connect with the main character, with lots of strikethrough sentences in the beginning and repetitions throughout the narrative­—to me those elements were of great beauty. I finished Shatter Me feeling like I knew Juliette as a human being and as a ‘supernatural creature’, and that’s all I can ask from a first book in a series—that sense of acknowledgement towards the characters, towards their next actions, that will keep me eagerly waiting for the next instalment in the series/trilogy.

Juliette is a remarkable figure but she is not alone, names like Warner, Adam and Kenji equally stand out. Warner has a sense of evilness that is purely delicious. I’ve been craving for a twisted character like this one for such a long time! It seems like, lately, all the bad guys from YA aren’t wicked enough so whenever I compare the ones I know with Warner they look like children—that’s how malicious and cruel he (Warner) is, and I love it (plus, it's always interesting to witness his interactions with Juliette). As for Adam, he has a really cool sense of tenderness. He is a sweet, protective type of male character that easily appeals to readers, and he is a great match for Juliette. Yet, there’s something off about him and I can only hope he brightens up a little bit in the next book. Kenji, on the other hand, is a box full of surprises. He often represents the comic, funny side of this story, as his laid-back attitude occasionally softens the intensity of the plot.

Regarding the story, I feel like I can’t say much without getting into spoilers. This is a fast-paced book, with lots of action, lots of surprises and passionate, severe moments. The only thing I did not totally like was the ending and the direction that the author decided to take. It was great while Juliette was the ‘only one’, but as soon as you come across the enormity of what’s really going on and of what’s out there, the novelty of this book sort of gets lost a little bit. Still, I’m immensely curious with the following book, Unravel Me, which I hope to read soon. Despite the ending, I’m almost certain of this debut's presence on my top 2014 readings—yep, it’s that good.

Pawn, Aimée Carter [Review]

Title: Pawn

Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1

Author: Aimée Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 296

Format: Paperback

Source: ARC Provided by Publisher

Description:

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister’s niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There’s only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered. The same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that’s not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she’s only beginning to understand.

Review:

Pawn was my very first Aimée Carter book—why it took me all this time to try this author is still something unknown to me—and despite my immense curiosity towards the story it is a fact that I didn’t really know what to expect… and what a great, shockingly good surprise this one turned out to be!

Dystopian novels have been growing on me for the past few months becoming one of my all-time favourite genres to read, and whenever I see a new release coming out I can’t quite resist the urge of at least taking a look. Pawn was one of those tempting cases—a gorgeous cover, an interesting storyline and the promise of a grand adventure were more than enough to catch my full attention.

Kitty Doe is an Extra—which means she’s a burden—and regardless of the possibilities that might reach her way once she takes the test that will determine her place in the society, she knows she’ll never be able to get a good enough score to grant her the stability and decent sense of living needed to build a safe future with Bengy, the boy she loves. So when the opportunity of going up a few numbers in the rank takes place, she’d be a fool not to accept it—the only problem relies on what she’ll have to give up in return in order to become part of the most powerful family in the country.

Oh dear goodness in heaven, this book still gives me the chills! There are simply no sufficient words to express how incredibly mesmerizing, and exhilarating, and refreshing this book truly is. Carter created a fabulous world of false hope and mischievous secrets, little imperfections that gradually start coming up during Kitty’s self discoveries. She is in deep, deep trouble, and it is quite amazing and exciting to ‘watch’ how Carter draws her main character’s lines of life through the dangerous fate of becoming a Hart. This story is twisted in so many and unimaginable ways that even for me is extremely complicated to put into words how fascinating this narrative can be to a dystopia’s fan. 

So many are the details that give life to Pawn—even the title is a key aspect of what this story hopes to portray. The society itself is interesting as Carter was seriously intelligent in the way she developed and structured the world building, but also the characters are a feature of great importance. Kitty is witty, and courageous, and fragile all at the same time, and that gives her the necessary depth for the reader to connect. The things she has to go through in order to conquer a very wanted freedom are unbelievable and the way she reacts to things, to the situations she is pushed to only make her even more special. In addition, even the secondary cast is graciously terrifying and often cruel. Figures like Knox, Daxton and Bengy shape what’s good and what’s bad in this thrilling narrative and it’s impossible not to care for them, even for the perverted, sick ones.

With no obvious love triangle­—which counts as a bonus for me—, no romantic relationship taking over the plot and a brutal and merciless place called Elsewhere in the horizon, Pawn is, without a doubt, a great read to dive right into. After turning the last page, I can only imagine the secrets and surprises kept in Captive, the second instalment in this trilogy. Uh, I can’t wait!

UK Cover

(Mira Ink)

My Soul to Save, Rachel Vincent [Review]

Author: Rachel Vincent

Publisher: Mira Ink (2011)

Pages: 362

Format: Paperback

Description:

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies. So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld--a consequence they can't possibly understand.

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....

Review:

Since the moment I turned the very first page of this book that I’ve been asking myself why it took me this long to catch up on this series. I absolutely loved My Soul to Take (that I read back in the beginning of 2012), and despite having the need of taking some time between readings of the same author or series, I can’t seem to find a good enough reason for why I ‘needed’ almost two years to go back to Kaylee’s world of crazy. One thing I now know for sure: I refuse to take another two-year break until I devour the third instalment of the Soul Screamers series, entitled My Soul to Keep.

In addition to a drop-dead-gorgeous cover, My Soul to Save also embraces a strong plot with a fare share of unexpected twists and turns that maintain the reader in an absolute and exhilarating agony while waiting, wishing even, for the possible solutions to many of the problems encountered, effortless way-outs that could easily save such an adoring group of characters, but also knowing, at the same time, that those will never happen—all due to the particularity that this is not a simple, obvious story. Vincent created an incredible world of bean sidhes, and reapers, and all kinds of terrifying monsters that go perfectly together with the type of characters that populate it. Kaylee is unbelievably charismatic and engaging by the fact that she’s still discovering a lot of what her heritage stands for and that allows the reader to connect with her on a different, deeper level seeing that he/she is also learning along side her. This means that every single problematic circumstance that comes in the way represents a novelty for both main character and reader—and that sensation of forever being on the edge of the seat is undoubtedly priceless in a book like this.

The big surprise in this second book, though, is Tod. The narrative itself might be of great quality—as a matter-of-factly is—, but Tod gives it an extra touch of enigmatic, mysterious and utterly sarcastic vibe. He is such a charming figure, with so many cool ‘powers’ that it is impossible not to feel impressed by him, and when you add an additional dose of personal feelings and worries (actually towards a girl that is alive—well, sort of), he gains a whole new level of sympathy and care. I, for instance, really like the way Vincent has been developing his personality and plan of action, and can’t wait to read more of him.

At last, another aspect that must be mentioned is the Netherworld. It is clear as water that this is a dangerous and cruel world, but I never imagined how much until I actually read this book. Vincent reveals bits of the ‘hows’ and the ‘whos’ of this particular place and I couldn’t be more captivated by it. A creepy, creepy place that I hope to get to know more about in the near future.

Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake [Review]

Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Orchard Books (2011)

Pages: 373

Format: Paperback

Description:

Cas Lowood, armed with his late father's athame knife, kills ghosts. In Thunder Bay, Anna, forever 16, drips blood on her white dress from throat slit in 1958, and rips apart anyone who enters her house - except Cas. He makes new friends - high school queen Carmel, jock Will, admiring nerd Thomas and Tom's voodoo grandpa Morfran - to fight this demon.

Review:

I remember falling deeply in love with the cover of Anna Dressed in Blood quite a long time ago. And I still love it unconditionally, only now I absolutely love its story too. The girl dressed in a gown made of blood, with her black hair twirling in the wind, standing in front of what it seems to be a haunted house… everything combines perfectly in this picture and since this is, in fact, an undoubtedly beautiful cover, maybe the reason why it took me all this time to get into the story was precisely that—I was scared that the inside wouldn’t match the outside. And it doesn’t—yes, the inside is even more overpowering!

The story of this book is surprisingly good and captivating. I don’t recall reading many novels where the centrepiece, in terms of characters, is a ghost and a ghost hunter, so this turned out to be quite an interesting surprise and approach to the YA genre. And despite being categorized as a horror tale, I don’t necessarily agree with that. Yes, it has a lot of blood and creepy descriptions, with spells and voodoo involved, but the essence of the book is not that scary and the photograph that Kendare Blake takes of it isn’t that overwhelming frightening either—yes, you might feel the occasional need to turn on the lights, and you sure will sense many chills running down your spine… and don’t forget the unconscious necessity you’ll have to look at your cat just to see to what he/she is looking at, but the plot itself is so well created and imagined, the characters are so damn fascinating and the action is non-stop and incredibly mind-blowing that no supernatural happening will be strong and terrifying enough to make you stop reading this book. For sure that Anna Dressed in Blood is a novelty in its genre, and I can’t wait to read more of it in the sequel Girl of Nightmares—that is already waiting its turn.

Uh, I feel like I could say so much more about this book but I’m so terribly nervous of spilling out something that will ruin the surprise of actually reading the story. I think any reader will be astonished by the twisted turn at the end, and will also feel excited with reading the sequel, but the thing that will amaze him/her the most will be Anna. Anna is such an incredible yet believable character and after a while you can’t stop to wonder about her past and feel sort of sympathetic by her condition and her inability to be happy. Yes, she is definitely a scary little ghost dressed in a gown of blood, but there is so much more in her as a fictional character, so much despair, and suffering, and determination, and regret that I’m sure no reader will forget her anytime soon. I know I won’t.

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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones — Shadowhunter’s Guide, Mimi O'Connor [Review]

Author: Mimi O’Connor

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2013)

Pages: 128

Format: Paperback

Description:

This is the ultimate guide to the dark, seductive New York City of the Shadowhunters, based on The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones feature film.

This comprehensive compendium includes:

* Full-colour photographic portraits and profiles of characters like Clary Fray, Jace Wayland and Valentine Morgenstern.

* Detailed information on the rest of the Shadowhunters, Downworlders and demons, as well as the various weaponry and runes.

* Quotes from the movie script and more!

Review:

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones — Shadowhunter’s Guide is a cool add-up to any The Mortal Instruments’ fan book collection. Despite focusing more on the movie aspect of this recent franchise, it still shows an interesting approach to this amazing world building. With great illustrations and a really good summary of the film as a whole, this Guide brings you back to the dark and mysterious atmosphere that Clare created in her series, with the plus of giving you tiny bits of information that you might not yet know—especially in what comes to the runes, both design and meaning.

With a major in Film and a future master’s degree in Publishing, to me, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones —Shadowhunter’s Guide is the perfect example of a successful marriage between book and movie. Even though I read it in just a couple of minutes—besides being quite the small book, the visual component is also extremely strong, vibrant—I felt both satisfied and pleased.

Of course, after this one and as you all may imagine, I’m more than excited to grab and devour The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones — The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. Expect a review soon…

The Transfer: A Divergent Story, Veronica Roth [Review]

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Harper Collins (2013)

Pages: 50

Format: eBook

Description:

"The Transfer," is the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory and relationships.

Review:

I absolutely love short stories—I find them to be quite helpful and interesting when it comes to getting to know more about a certain character or a specific narrative moment. Too bad I don’t get to read them more often… but this one, this particular piece, I can assure you I was dying to put my hands on it.

The Transfer is the first of four stories about one of the most beloved male characters in all dystopian worlds—Tobias Eaton or, as many know him by, Four. Instead of giving us, readers, a little bit more of the inside, of the amazing and unbelievably surprising world building that Roth created, the author decides to show us a different side of Four, a less mature one but still very damaged. In a way, we get to know the how and the why of all, something we weren’t totally aware, and that is the best part of The Transfer.

To actually read in Four’s perspective not only gives us a sense of comfort and familiarity, of curiosity, as it also swipes away any doubts or possible uncertainties that might have occurred during previous readings­—plus, it sort of prepares us for what’s coming, in Allegiant, as we’ll have both Tris and Four’s POVs.

He is, in lack of better words, an utterly strong and outstanding “kid”. The kind of relationship he has with his father, all the things he simply has to endure and the continuous feeling of wanting, of needing, to escape is so powerful and intense that I, myself, felt like all those horrific pressures, and words, and gestures were being done to me. Roth as the amazing talent of making her reader feel everything her characters are feeling, and with Four, in this novella, she did an amazing job.

The only thing left to say, now, is: this is a must-read to all Divergent fans. You need to know what motivates Four, what made him the person he is, and what is it that he holds against his father, against the society and against himself. You’ll love it, I promise.

Speechless, Hannah Harrington [Review]

Author: Hannah Harrington

Publisher: Harlequin Teen (2012)

Pages: 288

Format: eBook

Description:

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

Review:

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity of taking a vow of silence as an experience. In honour of this same book, Speechless, I remained silent for a day, using only signs, a piece of paper and a pen as means of communication (if you’d like to read more about this personal journey of mine, you can check here). I can now say, with absolute sure—and I guess back then, too—, that I learned a lot, not solely about myself but about others as well, and, in a twisted kind of way, I believe I understand Chelsea’s actions and thinking a little bit better than the “average” reader.

Chelsea Knot made a mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake. She should have kept it to herself, she should have held quiet, but something inside of her forced her to spill it all out. Everyone got to know what he is. And he, Noah Beckett, almost lost his life because of it.

For someone who is used to be the core of every gossip, every rumour, to actually not spread something this big is highly complicated. I’m not going to tell you what the secret is, you must read the book to find out, but looking back and after truly analyzing what was said and what was done, I can only think that our society still has a long way to go towards equality and respect. I don’t really blame Chelsea for what she did, it was in her nature, it was who she was, who she portrayed to be, but I do censure her friends, or the ones she thought were her friends—Kristen for being a self-centred hypocrite, Warren and Joey for not accepting differences, and all the others for the way they treated her after the incident—because, in the end, she did redeemed herself, she did become a new and improved person, she did found happiness and real, true friendship, while the rest of the “popular group” simply didn’t.

I wish I could say that this book swept me off my feet, that the author’s creativity, boldness and writing style impressed me extremely, but unfortunately it wasn’t the case. I love that she picked a theme like this one, that she gave it a fun and uncommon twist—with the whole vow of silence situation—and that she, somehow, found a way of showing that people can, in fact, change and that sometimes all they need is a little push. Still, I wasn’t able to relate with any character in particular and after reading such an incredible and unforgettable book like Hopeless, it had to be a really special, exceptional and dazzling story if I was going to go crazy about it—for a second plot in a row.

Nevertheless, Speechless is the kind of story that you read out of curiosity because you seriously want to know when Chelsea is going to speak again—and, specially, due to what—, when is Sam going to kiss her, when is Andy going to forgive her, how is Noah going to be and, even more than all of this, how is she, Chelsea, going to handle every day to day without the possibility of using spoken speech. It was a good, unique read after all, just not an outstanding one. At least not to me.

Quotes:

«For once in my life, I wish everyone would just forget about me.»

«Not talking leaves me a lot of time alone with my thoughts and ever-growing paranoia. I've never been like this. So inside my own head.»

«I know now. You can be surrounded by people and still be lonely. You can be the most popular person in school, envied by every girl and wanted by every boy, and still feel completely worthless. The world can be laid at your feet and you can still not know what you want from it.»

«Not every chapter of my life is going to have a happy ending, but they all do need endings, regardless.»

«Hate is easy, but love takes courage.»

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Hopeless, Colleen Hoover [Review]

Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: CreateSpace (2013)
Pages: 486
Format: eBook

Description:

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…
That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Review:

*This review contains some spoilers*

Best. Book. Ever.

There is really no other way to start this review than by stating that Hopeless is the best book, in the romance category, that I ever read in all this time as an avid reader. So many loving and passionate stories have passed through my hands throughout the years but not one, not a single one, affected me with the same intensity that Hoover’s did. I can’t totally explain how wonderfully disturbing this novel is since I’m still lacking on words, but what I do know is that everyone should read this book… because it is everything but hopeless—this story is so hanging on hope, hope for a better day to come, hope for that someone to fill our life with meaning, hope for that guilt to go away, that I’m sure it will speak to all kinds of readers, of all ages. Plus, it couldn’t have a better, strong and important message to portray, kind of camouflaged in a simple and super cute beginning, but with an intense yet gradual growth in significance and density.

Gosh, this was such an emotional ride! I laughed, I smiled, I blushed, but I also cried, and felt angry, and lost… Yes, this is a work of fiction; nevertheless, I can only imagine what it feels like for the real Skys and Lesslies in the world who have to learn, by themselves, how to cope with the repellent and tormenting situation they are in, betrayed by the ones they loved and trusted the most. Stll, thankfully, the majority of this book is about a certain feeling, shared between two people, that is capable of surviving everything. Love, that is, is a powerful weapon, the deadliest of them all, and when is mutual and equal in “quantity” it’s the most beautiful thing we, humans, have in life.

Sky was an amazing book friend, and I’m absolutely still in love with her. Her sense of humour is brilliant and her straightforward personality immediately captivated me. I really, really enjoyed watching her grow in this book, from this little naïve girl who would feel nothing while kissing boys, to this young woman who has learned how to ask questions despite her wanting to hear the answers or not. Plus, she’s incredibly brave and bold while dealing with all the consequences from her past, making difficult decisions by herself and having the right will to survive. To me, Sky is a remarkable example for girls who have gone or are going through something like she went, for more fictional that she might be.

Holder, on the other hand, was everything I could ask for, that Sky could ask for, and more. I swear he is the best book boyfriend I ever encountered, with all the goodness he has in him even though the troubling things that have been happening in his life, and all the comfort and support he gives to Sky, constantly being there for her, even when she says she doesn’t want him to. I admit I’m extremely curious to know more about his inside, his mind and endless thinking, as this story is more focused on Sky and her personal development.

Six and Brecking were so unbelievably awesome! Their corkiness and easy attitude transform them in the stunning and special people they are, and I only feel sorry for not having the chance to read more of Six’s unique text messages—they were so much fun and I missed them already.

Besides the overwhelming read that Hopeless is, and all the current and imperative themes that the book centres on—such as sexual and mental abuse during childhood, grieve beyond bearing, great loss and self-guilt, child kidnapping and gay stigma—this story is made of details, little elements that make all the difference. Sky’s bracelet, Sky’s ceiling stars, Holder’s tattoo and a somewhat large amount of decisive moments like when Holder cooks Sky some dinner, or when he takes her to watch the stars, or when he rips all the post-its off her locker, or, better yet, every time they join pinkies and he tells her all those amazing thoughtful words… everything counts, everything is important, and everything is so damn beautiful. Can’t wait to read Losing Hope—I think I might cry and laugh some more. 

Quotes:

«"Fuck all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers."»

«I hurt everywhere. In my head, in my gut, in my chest, in my heart, in my soul. Before, I felt his kiss could cure me. Now his kiss feels like it's creating a terminal heartache deep within me.»

«"I live you, Sky," he says against my lips. "I live you so much"»

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Portrait of a Starter: An Unhidden Story, Lissa Price [Review]

Author: Lissa Price

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (2012)

Pages: 15

Format: eBook

Description:

See how it all starts for Callie and Michael in Portrait of a Starter, an exclusive digital short story by debut author Lissa Price. PORTRAIT OF A STARTER is a perfect entryway into the world of STARTERS, and a must-read for fans who've already read the novel. STARTERS received rave reviews, including this from the Los Angeles Times: “The only thing better than a terrific concept is one that is as well executed as Starters. Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games will find it here. Dystopian sci-fi at its best, Starters is a terrific series kickoff with a didn't-see-that-coming conclusion that will leave readers on the edges of their seats . . .”

Review:

Oh, another crazy, fast-paced, incredibly awesome novella! I love a good dystopian book and this sure looks like one. It’s true that we don’t get to know much about Michael’s world and about what’s really going on between Starters and Enders—or even about what Starters and Enders truly represent—but the little information given through narration was so suspiciously curious that I, personally, can not wait to seriously start reading and discovering this book.

Price was clever by presenting this novella in the perspective of a male character, an important character, especially because the real action in it is endured by Callie, the protagonist, and the girl with whom he seems to share everything. I believe that, this way, we get to understand Michael a little bit more and, by watching his reactions and fears regarding what Callie is secretly doing, we also have the chance to better acknowledge his feelings for her. There’s a tiny hint of a love interest simply due to a certain jealousy he shows towards the person Callie meets with, and an evident despair by what she does without telling him a thing.

I really enjoyed how the places and the people were described, as a reader I want to feel like I can visualize everything I’m reading, and that happened for sure. The memory situation left me hanging on, thirsty for answers. The relationships and animosities between Starters and Enders also made me question a lot of things, and seek for more information. Overall, this novella was the perfect entryway to a complete different world that I can’t wait to know more about, and to two characters that seem to have much, much more to show. Thumbs up for this one!

Quote:

«I hate being a Starter. Hate being sixteen. Hate being hungry. I wish we were allowed to work.»