Sash: Catalyst by S.J. Kincaid – BOOK REVIEW

spacer Catalyst by S.J. Kincaid
Release Date: October 8th, 2014
Katherine Tegen Books, 432 Pages
Sub-genre: Science Fiction
Source: eARC from Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!)
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Insignia #3
Follow up to: Vortex

Tom Raines and his friends are eager to return to the Pentagonal Spire to continue training for the elite Intrasolar Forces, but they soon discover troubling changes: strict new regulations and the revelation that the Spire is under new military control. What begins as an irritating adjustment soon reveals a dangerous shift in reality. Those now in control are aligned with corporate sponsors and their ruthless agendas. And when the military academy begins welcoming new cadets with suspicious neural processors, the first step in a plan with horrifying worldwide ramifications, Tom is desperate to stop it, even if that means keeping secrets from his closest allies.

Then a mysterious figure, the other ghost in the machine, begins fighting against the corporations, but with methods even Tom finds shocking. And when the enemy comes for Tom, how much can Tom endure in the battle to save himself? He must decide if he can still fight when the odds of success seem to be sliding from his grip.

It’s a rare thing to have a series of books that are not only 5 stars individually, but build on each other and get better and better as they go – the Insignia series has accomplished that feat.

I can’t even express how much I enjoyed this final book (and the series as a whole). And while it is definitely a Science Fiction book, the characters are really what made me love it. Tom has come such a long way since Insignia and Vortex, and so have the friendships that he has made at the Pentagonal Spire.

Catalyst gave more insight in the mind workings of Vengerov and Blackburn, and felt less plot driven than the other books, but it was still a wild ride that matched the thrill of the previous 2 books. There are many loose ends tied up and secondary characters who really get their moments to shine. Overall, a fantastic way to end the series and I just wish there were more adventures for Tom & Company!

Filed in:Book Reviews | Favorites | Sash | Sash's Reviews | Science Fiction | Young Adult Book ReviewsTagged in: Books about Friendship | Books with Action and Adventure | HarperTeen | Insignia Series Reviews | Katherine Tegen Books | October 2014 YA Book Releases | S.J. Kincaid | Sash and Em | Sash and Em Blog | YA Book Boy POV | YA Books for Boys | Young Adult Science Fiction
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Em: Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios – BOOK REVIEW

spacer Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
Release Date: October 7th, 2014
Balzer + Bray, 480 Pages
Sub-genre: Paranormal
Source: eARC from Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!)
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Dark Caravan Cycle #1

Forced to obey her master.
Compelled to help her enemy.
Determined to free herself.

Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she’s now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters’ every command. She’d give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle.

Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna’s revolution and Nalia’s sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia’s not sure she can trust him, but Raif’s her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more perilous than ever for Nalia. There’s just one catch: for Raif’s unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of her bottle…and convince the dangerously persuasive Malek that she truly loves him. Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia soon realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay: but how far is she willing to go for it?

I thoroughly enjoyed Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios. The beautiful writing, imagery, storyline, and premise are a few of the aspects with which I was really impressed.

Our main character Nalia was a wonderful female protagonist with conviction and honor that surpasses many I’ve read about recently. A jinn imprisoned by a cruel master is not the type of supernatural being you want to cross…that’s for sure.

The story follows Nalia as she deals with the atrocities committed in her homeland, Arjinna, in the past and the present day nightmare of being trapped by her current master, while trying to protect her race from being sold in a blackmarket slave trade on earth.

I loved the action and storyline from beginning to end. The book seemed really long, but not in a way that I dreaded picking it up…more of a way that I was enjoying savoring everything about it. I really looked forward to picking this book up day after day, and I was so sad when it was over. The next book in this series cannot come out fast enough! I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next with Nalia’s (and her new allies’) story!

Filed in:Book Reviews | Em | Em's Reviews | Fantasy | Young Adult Book ReviewsTagged in: Exquisite Captive | HarperTeen | Heather Demetrios | October 2014 YA Book Releases | Sash and Em | Sash and Em Blog | Young Adult Fantasy
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Em: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner – BOOK REVIEW

spacer These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Release Date: November 20th, 2013
Disney-Hyperion, 374 Pages
Sub-genre: Science Fiction
Source: ARC from Publisher via BEA 2013
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Starbound #1

It’s a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner was such a wild ride. The authors painted an incredible scene on board the Icarus (aptly named) and a vivid, terrifying new planet that seems uninhabited. The level of description the authors used to convey emotions, scenery, action [chaos], and terror was astounding. I was hooked by the first chapter, absorbed by the second, and enraptured throughout the rest of the book.

The main characters could not be more different in their background, upbringing, social class, and personalities. I loved getting to know Lilac and Tarver. The way their relationship develops is tumultuous and wonderful to watch.

The suspense and roller-coaster moments in this story was almost non-stop. Many times throughout the story, I had to remind myself that I was reading sci-fi and not a ghost story! The storyline is haunting and wonderfully creepy…and the ending is totally worth the wild ride! Who is the “bad guy” here? Do Tarver and Lilac end up being able to get along and survive? Do they ever get home? Why was this planet created, but never colonized? So many questions were running through my head while I was reading.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loved Beth Revis’s Across the Universe. (Not to mention it made me want to go watch Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century…Don’t judge!)

Filed in:Book Reviews | Em | Em's Reviews | Science Fiction | Young Adult Book ReviewsTagged in: Amie Kaufman | Books from BEA 2013 | Disney-Hyperion | Meagan Spooner | November 2013 YA Book Releases | Sash and Em | Sash and Em Blog | These Broken Stars | Young Adult Book Review | Young Adult Science Fiction
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