Book Review: Crash by Eve Silver

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Crash
The Game #3
Author: Eve Silver
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction | Aliens
Released: June 9th 2015
Review Source: Katherine Tegen Books

A thrilling action/suspense novel for fans of The Fifth Wave about contemporary teens pulled in and out of an alternate reality where battling aliens is more than a game—it's life and death.

Miki’s life is falling apart around her. Her dad and best friend are lying in the hospital. The Game is glitching, making missions more frequent and more deadly. And someone close to her is waiting for the right moment to betray her.

Miki feels like she’s hanging on by a thread and the only thing keeping her tethered is Jackson’s hand in hers. Yet telling him how much she needs him, how much she loves him, feels like the biggest challenge of all. And if Miki really wants the missions to end for everyone, she’ll have to let go and be ready to fight when the walls between the Game and reality come crashing down. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that she’s got a whole lot left to lose.

Crash is the pulse-pounding conclusion to the Game trilogy fans won’t want to miss.

If you think the first two books of this series are full of actions, wait until you read Crash. The final conclusion to this trilogy is beyond thrilling. Many secrets are revealed, the game is changed and what can I say, more swooning over Jackson! Crash is the perfect ending to The Game series. I seriously enjoyed this one the most.

Fear not, Crash is fast paced. Miki is as amazing as always, yet a little bit more of a badass than ever. If you read the first two books, then you know the second book did not end on a good term for Miki. Her father and Carly were both in a car crash, which left Miki heartbroken. Never the less, this motivates her to find ways to change or even end the game. (You will have to read to find out). In Crash, she faces more difficult tasks. For starter she comes face-to-face with an important leader, then learns the truth about someone that could help out. Someone with information that can actually help Miki and Jackson change/end the game forever.

Full of suspense, betrayals, lies and twists, Crash’s end is bittersweet. Many of my questions were answered. Miki and Jackson, well what can I say? They are meant to be together. I loved how Jackson shows another side of his on this book – a more vulnerable side. We are so used to his cockiness, it was nice to see that he can also need help once in a while. Which makes him fit perfectly with Miki.

Like I said before, I honestly enjoyed Crash the most. I think Eve ended this trilogy flawlessly. I think everyone will be pleased with this ending.

Book Review: Rush by Eve Silver

Rush
The Game #1
Author: Eve Silver
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction | Dystopia
Released: June 11th 2013
Review Source: Katharine Tegan Books
 

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game — her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos.

In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Imagine this: You’re in a life threatening situation. You’re on the brink of death, nearly tipping over the edge, but, you don’t die. Instead you’re taken to a different realm. You’re there to play a game. Complete that game and you’re taken back to your old life, free to live your life as if you never nearly died...until the next time you’re pulled back into the game to complete another mission. The catch: you die in the game, you die in real life (did that remind anyone else of Freddy Krueger?). They say no good deed goes unpunished, Miki learns this when she was hit by a truck in an attempt to save a girl's life. Now she's stuck in the cycle of Game playing and battling sadistic aliens.

I swear, this book isn't as crazy as it sounds, well, it kind of is but not in a bad way. Rush was fantastically executed. I haven’t read a massive amount of YA science fiction novels but this one was by far the best I've read. I got pulled into the story like the teens get pulled into the game, unexpectedly and without a choice. It was fun, new and intriguing and the fact the author was hesitant to share the answers we all wanted--well, needed--only made the appeal more likable.

Personally, I think Rush should have focused more on the Game side of things more. The romance was a nice touch to the novel, but I feel like it was overpowering sometimes and the sci-fi part should have dominated and been explored more, but I'm only saying that because I loved that aspect of the novel!

It was fast paced, with Miki being half action girl, half normal gal, it was a good balance. The gaming characters were really well developed considering the fast paced nature, but, her friends and father outside the game felt left out. But I’m not worrying, there’s still book 2 for that development.

This does end in a ciffhanger, which is all the more reason to dig into Push straight away!

Favourite quote: 

“Of course. I died today, and now I'm going to fight aliens with a light saber. Maybe after that we can look for mermaids. Or unicorns."
"No," he says. "Just aliens."
Was that the barest hint of humour in his tone?”

Book Review: Push by Eve Silver

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Push
The Game #2
Author: Eve Silver
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction | Aliens
Released: June 10th 2014
Review Source: Katherine Tegen Books

It’s either break the rules or die.

Miki Jones lives her life by her own strict set of rules, to keep control, to keep the gray fog of grief at bay. Then she’s pulled into the Game, where she—and her team—will die unless she follows a new set of rules: those set by the mysterious Committee.

But rules don’t mean answers, and without answers, it’s hard to trust. People are dying. The rules are unraveling. And Miki knows she’s being watched, uncertain if it’s the Drau or someone—something—else. Forced to make impossible choices and battling to save those she loves, Miki begins to see the Committee in a glaring new light.

And then the Game crosses a new boundary, pushes harder into Miki’s and her friends’ lives, and there’s nothing in the rules that can save them now.

Push is the sequel Rush fans will be screaming for.

I have to admit, I am not much of a gamer. And I really do not like reading about something I am not interested in but I am glad I did with this series! Part of my reading goal this year was to pick books I wouldn’t normally read and The Game series is one of them. With the packed action and many twist plots, Push had me on edge.

As I mentioned before, I am not much of a gamer and The Game series is well, about a game. But the world of this game is pretty amazing. Fighting against aliens always involves actions. And Push didn’t disappoint because it’s packed with actions! This is the reason why I am glad I read these books because there is not one page that doesn’t involve action. There is always something going on. Even though I felt like Rush is more packed with action, I felt Push is the book in which we get to understand Mikki. Rush was more an introductory to the game and Push is the one that tells you more about her life. We get to see how Mikki starts learning to comes out of her shell and becomes alive. She starts making impossible choices and at the end this comes rewarding.

As much as I am a fan of actions, I am also a fan of romance. I felt Push had the right amount of romance mixed with this packed action game. And I just love Jackson and his adoring face. This book had me on edge and swooning. Double the fun! But like in every series, there is always a cliffhanger! Push left off on a revelation and I cannot wait to find out more!