Book Review: Crashland by Sean Williams

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Crashland
Author: Sean Williams
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science fiction
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Review Source: Balzer + Bray

Where is Q?

Clair and Jesse have barely been reunited when the world is plunged into its biggest crisis since the Water Wars. The d-mat network is broken. The world has ground to a halt. People are trapped, injured, dying. It’s the end of the world as Clair knows it—and it’s partly her fault.

“The girl who killed d-mat” is enlisted to track down her missing friend Q—the rogue AI who repeatedly saved Clair’s life. Q is the key to fixing the system, but she isn’t responding to calls for help, and even if she did...can she be trusted?

Targeted by dupes, abandoned by her friends, caught in a web of lies that strike at the very essence of who she is, Clair finds powerful allies in RADICAL, secretive activists who are the polar opposite of anti-d-mat terrorist group WHOLE. However, if she helps them find Q, will she be inadvertently trapping her friend in a life of servitude—or worse, sending her to an early death by erasure?

Caught between pro- and anti-d-mat philosophies, in a world on the brink of all-out war, Clair must decide where she stands—and who she stands with, at the end.

A TwinMaker Novel, Crashland is book 2 in the series. Unfortunately, I did not read book one of the series, so I was a little lost in the beginning, but I soon caught on to the main storyline of the story. I must say that when a book reads at a slow pace for me, I usually stop, due to my reading schedule and start the next one in line. But a little voice told me to push forward and see what Q, Clair, and Jesse have to offer. They did not disappoint There are some touches of romance here in there, but nothing huge. This book is all about Science Fiction, actions and details. Stopping at the first few chapters would of made me miss out on the action.

On a mission to find Q, in a world that is nolonger the world she once knew, Clair is determined to overcome. With so many obstacles in the way there were moments in the story when I was a bit confused. There really is a lot to soak in. The highlight for me was the ending. Cliff hangers are always great when you know there is more to come. Overall, the writing of the novel does exhibit a well planned and thought out storyline. Fans of Sean Williams will truly enjoy this novel and look forward to book 3 in the series.

#YALLFEST: Interview with Sean Williams

Today we are excited to share with you an interview with one of this year's YALLFEST authors. 

YALLFest will be happening this November in Charleston, SC. It’s one of the biggest gatherings of Young Adult and Middle Grade Author’s in the South. This years Keynote Speakers are Rae Carson and Veronica Roth. Event will take place Saturday, November 9th 2013.

Sean Williams

Every week – they are releasing interviews with authors, and today’s interview is with Sean Williams. Here’s what the author had to say…

Q: What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A: The right music. And chocolate as a reward when I finish.

Q: Describe your book in 5 words

A: Jump meets Uglies. But different.

Q: What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A: The first line is often the hardest to write, but I like a good challenge. The line I like writing the least is the last because it means I have a whole load of rewriting ahead of me.

Q: Best writing tip you ever received?

A: Give up. If you can do that, you’ll be happier and probably better off as a result. If you can’t, then you know writing is exactly the right thing for you!

Q: Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

1. I live in Adelaide, South Australia, a place that’s home to about a million other people but somehow feels like a small town, which is why I love it. 
2. I still think music from the 1980s is cool. 
3. My stepson has situs invertus, which means his heart is on the wrong side of his body. That’s not really about me, but it is pretty random. 
4. I’m a huge fan of Doctor Who. 
5. I’m minding a pair of green tree frogs, Skipper and Jumpy, for a young friend while she’s overseas with her family. You can see pictures of them on my Facebook page.

Q: Where's your favorite place to write?

A: In my study, a lovely upstairs nook containing all my favorite book-related things, but I’ve trained myself to write anywhere as long as I have my headphones and some music. I quite like writing in hotels, probably because someone else does all the household chores.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Crashland, the sequel to Twinmaker.

Check out Sean Williams' recent books:

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For more information on YALLFest, visit their website – yallfest.org

Waiting on Wednesday: Twinmaker by Sean William

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Twinmaker

Author: Sean Williams

Release Date: November 5th 2013

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) High-stakes action combines with issues of friendship and body image in this timely and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of technology and identity.

You can be Improved....

In a near-future world in which technology can transport you anywhere instantly, can a coded note enable you to change your body-to become taller, stronger, more beautiful? Clair is pretty sure the offer is too good to be true. But her best friend, Libby, is determined to give it a try, longing for a new, improved version of herself.

What starts as Libby's dream turns into Clair's nightmare when Libby falls foul of a deadly trap. With the help of Jesse, the school freak, and a mysterious-but powerful-stranger called Q, Clair's attempt to protect Libby leads her to an unimagined world of conspiracies and cover-ups. Soon her own life is at risk, and Clair is chased across the world in a desperate race against time.

Action and danger fuel Sean Williams's tale of technology, identity, and the lengths to which one girl will go to save her best friend.