ARC Book Review: Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

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Pestilence
The Four Horsemen #1

Author: Laura Thalassa
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Dystopian
Released: 08/15/2023
Review Source: Review copy | Sourcebooks Bloom Books

They came to earth--Pestilence, War, Famine, Death--four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

When Pestilence comes for Sara Burn’s town, one thing is certain: everyone she knows and loves is marked for death. Unless, of course, the angelic-looking horseman is stopped, which is exactly what Sara has in mind when she shoots the unholy beast off his steed.

Too bad no one told her Pestilence can’t be killed.

Now the horseman, very much alive and very pissed off, has taken her prisoner, and he’s eager to make her suffer. Only, the longer she’s with him, the more uncertain she is about his true feelings towards her … and hers towards him.

And now, well, Sara might still be able to save the world, but in order to do so, she'll have to sacrifice her heart in the process.

Full disclosure: I’d already read this book back in August 2021 before requesting this ARC. I remember really enjoying Pestilence but never reading the rest of the series so I took this as an opportunity to re-read the first book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the re-read just as much as the first read. Pestilence is a unique take on the Four Horseman of the apocalypse. This paranormal romance is an enemies-to-lovers, torn between love and purpose romance which is thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the progression from enemies, to friends (kinda), to lovers.

“No One Knows where the Four Hoursemen came from, only that one day they appeared on their steeds, riding through cities and wildlands alike.”

Pestilence the Conqueror has one job - destroy the habitants of the world. Make sure they all die - one city at a time. His plans are slightly hindered when Sara tries to murder the horseman, but ends up his captive instead.

I read Pestilence in one sitting - the writing was smooth and the progression of their relationship kept me hooked throughout. It was one of those books where you miss the characters after you finish. However, I will say this - I was so disappointed with the ending. Many things are left unanswered and I wanted more of an explanation to some loose ends. Overall, the ending felt unfinished and I felt frustrated, and it dampened my desire to read book two a little.

Book Review: Dark Energy by Robison Wells

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Dark Energy
Author: Robison Wells
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: March 29th 2016
Review Source: HarperTeen

WE ARE NOT ALONE

Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest, killing thousands of people. Since then, nothing–or no one–has come out.

THEY HAVE ARRIVED

If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching all of this on the news from Miami, Florida. Instead, she’s the newest student at a boarding school not far from the crash site–because her dad is the director of special projects for NASA, and if anything’s a special project, it’s this.

AND THERE’S NO GOING BACK

A shell-shocked country is waiting, glued to televisions and computer screens, for a sign of what the future holds. But when the aliens emerge, they’re nothing like what Alice expected. And only one thing is clear: Nothing will ever be the same again.

Dark Energy by Robison Wells centers around a massive UFO that has landed on U.S. soil.  By massive I mean it landed in one state and ended up in another.  Our main character is Alice, who's father works for NASA and moves them up to Minnesota where she's to attend/stay at an elite boarding school.

I LOVED Dark Energy. Alice was super easy to love almost immediately. I actually have no complaints of any of the characters. Robison Wells handled the writing, the story, the plot, and the characters brilliantly. The moment when the UFO opened was super intense. If a UFO were to ever land on the U.S. today of that size so it can't be ignored, I only wish it would happen this way. I really don't want to say too much because I don't want to give away any spoilers. But this book is one I'd recommend to everyone! It's a very fast paced read. You will be hooked from page one and finish it in one sitting.

At one point I say "this is too good to be true." And, well it kind of is but for a completely minor reason. The only thing holding me back from giving Dark Energy a full 5 tree rating, is because the ending was anti-climactic and I desperately wanted more. So, for completely selfish reasons. I am a huge "alien" fan. Anything alien, I research. I watch a ton of Ancient Alien and the ending totally made sense to me in a "this sounds very realistic" way. Of course, realistic in my world. LOL. Oh, Robison Wells will there be more? I want more!

Book News: Tor Books Acquires Two Novels with io9 Cofounder Annalee Newitz

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Here is what Tor Books has shared about this deal:

Tor Books editor Liz Gorinsky has acquired two novels from Annalee Newitz, cofounder of io9, former editor at Gizmodo, and current Tech Culture editor at Ars Technica. The first, Autonomous, is a sci-fi dystopian thriller set in 2144; described by her agent Laurie Fox as “a novel of ideas—about the future of property law,” it explores a future in which robots are granted autonomy after 10 years of service, and humans can own other humans.

Newitz is the author of three books: Scatter, Adapt and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction; She’s Such a Geek: Women Write About Science, Technology, and Other Geeky Stuff; and Pretend We’re Dead: Capitalist Monsters in American Pop Culture. Autonomous will be her first novel.

From Newt's agent Laurie Fox:

Autonomous features a rakish female pharmaceutical pirate named Jack who traverses the world in her own submarine. A notorious anti-patent scientist who has styled herself as a Robin Hood heroine fighting to bring cheap drugs to the poor, Jack’s latest drug is leaving a trail of lethal overdoses across what used to be North America—a drug that compels people to become addicted to their work.

On Jack’s trail are an unlikely pair: an emotionally shut-down military agent and his partner, Paladin, a young military robot, who fall in love against all expectations. Autonomous alternates between the activities of Jack and her co-conspirators, and Joe and Paladin, as they all race to stop a bizarre drug epidemic that is tearing apart lives, causing trains to crash, and flooding New York City.

From Annalee Newitz herself:

All the characters in Autonomous are dealing with a fundamental question: Is freedom possible in a culture where everything, even people, can be owned?

Photo credit: Jonathan Wilkins

Book Review: The Cage by Megan Shepherd

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The Cage
Author: Megan Shepherd
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy | Science Fiction | Dystopian
Release Date: May 26th 2015
Review Source: Balzer + Bray

The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in this gripping new series about teens held captive in a human zoo by an otherworldly race. From Megan Shepherd, the acclaimed author of The Madman's Daughter trilogy.

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage?

The Cage follows the story of six teenagers who have been captured by some sort of highly intelligent alien race. They consist of three boys and three girls and each pair have been marked with corresponding constellations on the side of their neck. They’ve been placed in a habitat that includes all types of environments. There is a town square in the center, and around that are deserts, forests, oceans, and farms. There is also some kind of optical illusion or perceptive technology in the works of this place because no matter how far down and straight you go down one path, you are always led back to your starting point. They’ve also been provided with a caretaker by the name of “Cassian” and he is meant to be there in any case if distress or discomfort. He explains that there are three rules to be followed if they do not wish to be removed from their biome: solve the puzzles in all of the environments, remain healthy, and reproduce.That last one sent a shock to the group. They were all teenagers that have been captured and are expected to adjust according to a deadline and begin reproduction?

There a ton of factors that go into this story. The concept may not seem like anything new, “capture the humans and study them,” but the story is constantly unraveling. One thing that had bothered me about the way this book was written is the third-person point-of-view. Whenever a book is written in that format, I find myself to be distanced from the story. Also, every character’s plot gets given away. Every few chapters, it would emphasize on a character.

I found it to be a cool story, though. You get see how all these different characters interact and respond to captivity and how they all came to be chosen. This is the first in a series, so I was left with a cliffhanger and some questions left unanswered, but that only left me wanting more and very expectant of the next book.

Book Review: Dare to Dream by Carys Jones

Dare to Dream
Author: Carys Jones
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Released: February 15th 2015
Review Source: REUTS Publications

Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths.

It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling.

No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.

Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.

This was my first novel from Carys Jones and it certainly won’t be the last. Dare to Dream included everything which interests me. A dystopian plot, English setting, historical monument which indicated the end of the world, and an unlikely trio fighting for survival. A perfect combination to keep you satisfied throughout.

My favourite part of this novel was the Stonehenge aspect. For those who don’t know of Stonehenge, it’s a pre-historic monument located in England, estimated age is 3100 BC, and was estimated to have took over 30 million hours of construction to build, and it’s also on the book cover! History really interests me so that the author has incorporated in the novel, making it so every time a stone fell from Stonehenge; it was a signal that the world was ticking closer to its end. Seriously, I love how the author did that.

“When the last stone falls, the world will end”

That sentence made my heart pound with anticipation. It made me look forward to the last stone falling, as messed up as that sounds, just because I wanted to know what the world was going to be like after the end. Personally I think the best kinds of dystopian novels are the ones when we get a taste of the normality of their world before the apocalyptic reality sets in. That's what we get here, a good introduction to Maggie and her family life, time for a connection to build with the characters before everything goes upside down.

The transition from normal to ‘oh crap the world is ending right before our eyes’ was done brilliantly. Maggie, she has these dreams and she knew the world was going to end when the last stone falls, yet as the end neared, and she began warning people of what was to come, the cracks in her foundation began to show majorly. The nightmares of the apocalypse kept her from sleep and accepting the end of humanity wasn't something she could do. She was breaking right before our eyes and it wasn't pretty to see. I felt bad for her. Imagine knowing the world was going to end through vicious nightmares and there was nothing you could do? That’s enough to drive anyone to seem a bit nutty.

"The same blood red lightning tore open the sky and scorched the earth. Hungry fires consumed what little now remained of her neighborhood. She could hear the brief cries of people soon silenced by more flashes of red fury"

However, the one good thing going for Maggie was her best friend, Dawn. Though Dawn is crazy different from Maggie, they were best friends and I felt their connection in Dare to Dream. When everyone looked at Maggie like she was insane and delusional, Dawn never once doubted her. I'd love a best friend like that, being able to tell her about messed up dreams and apocalyptic premonitions and having her believe and support me every step of the way. That was Dawn. A loyal friend who never questioned Maggie's sanity.

"I believe you. I believe that your nightmares are real, and that they can hurt you."

From there the novel only gained in excitement. We got a taste of post apocalypse world, of the destruction which came, and the imagery I was able to create in my head only made the book more enjoyable. The trio, Andy, Maggie and Dawn, were an interesting group, all characters I wouldn't have put together in a group, but I wouldn't have it any other way. As they trek to the caves, another thing Maggie dreamed about, however, this time instead of causing destruction, the caves will pose as a safe house; we really get a glimpse of Dawn and Andy's characters. Everything has been set up just right for book two, and I'm so looking forward to it. I mean, come on. Take a look at the closing sentence: 

"Is this the end?"

"No", Julain replied, his voice sincere. "This is just the beginning."

Book Review: Paradigm by Ceri A. Lowe

Paradigm
Paradigm #1
Author: Ceri A. Lowe
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Released: June 13th 2014
Review Source: Bookouture | Netgalley

Alice Davenport awakens from a fever to find her mother gone and the city she lives in ravaged by storms – with few survivors.

When Alice is finally rescued, she is taken to a huge underground bunker owned by the mysterious Paradigm Industries. As the storms worsen, the hatches close.

87 years later, amidst the ruins of London, the survivors of the Storms have reinvented society. The Model maintains a perfect balance – with inhabitants routinely frozen until they are needed by the Industry.

Fifteen-year-old Carter Warren knows his time has come. Awoken from the catacombs as a contender for the role of Controller General, it is his destiny to succeed – where his parents failed.

But Carter soon discovers that the world has changed, in ways that make him begin to question everything that he believes in. As Carter is forced to fight for those he loves and even for his life, it seems that the key to the future lies in the secrets of the past...

What I loved about this book was that the very first sentence of the summary had me intrigued, like there wasn’t an option not to read. “What if the end of the world was just the beginning?” The mysterious What If. Intriguing, right?

Paradigm is a dystopian novel, following the lives of Alice Davenport and Carter Warren, two people who exist 87 years apart. A catastrophic event what they’re calling The Storm shakes Earth to its very core, and the world they once knew is gone, replaced with a depopulated world. Any remaining wandering people are picked up by Paradigm Industry and taken underground until society was established in the “real world” again.

What I liked: Paradigm is told by two people, Alice and Carter, in two different time frames. Alice tells the story of how the world changed, the after effects and the creation of new society. But Carter's, a 15-year-old boy, story is told years later in the present post-apocalyptic world. I thought this was well done and wasn’t confused like I expected to be. It worked well with the book.

Overall, it was a good read. I found it to be slow paced sometimes but I enjoyed it.

Book Review: The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien

The Vault of Dreamers
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction | Dystopia
Released: September 16, 2014
Review Source: Roaring Brook Press

From the author of the Birthmarked trilogy comes a fast-paced, psychologically thrilling novel about what happens when your dreams are not your own.

The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students' lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students' schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What's worse is, she starts to notice that the edges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there.

First, I would like to say that I LOVED O'Brien's trilogy Birthmarked. So when I saw that she had written another book, I was ecstatic! From the front cover, to the blurb on the back, to the first few pages...I was hooked.

The book starts out introducing the character Rosie. She's not like the other students at her school trying to win blip ratings from their adoring fans; she just wants to make good films. You instantly fall in love with her character because she's the underdog and the misfit. She's also a very strong female character, so she is also like other characters I've read before.

You're also introduced to her love interest, Linus. He's the kitchen boy, which I like, because he's not the typical character for someone at this fancy private school to like. But, Rosie isn't your typical character either. So, if you like a little romance with your Science-Fiction, it's here as well.

The book really started to get good towards the last half of the book and I couldn't put it down. My husband was being me to wash clothes and feed the my children, but I couldn't put it down. We ate a lot of pizza during this book. I was so worried about Rosie and even had troubles sleeping at night until I could finish the book. Which is ironic because it's called The Vault of Dreamers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's been awhile since I had a book that I liked this much. I hope they make this into a movie or at least a mini series on TV. I would definitely watch it.

Book Review: World After by Susan Ee

World After
Penryn & the End of Days #2
Author: Susan Ee
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal | Supernatural | Dystopian
Released: November 19th 2013
Review Source: Purchased
 

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

I finally got the chance to read World After since it published and was sitting on my shelf. When your a book reviewer the books you don't get from publishers/Authors tend to stay to the side waiting for that free moment when you can read it. I finally had a small opening in my reading schedule and took advantage to reading the second book in Susan Ee's series. I LOVED Angelfall and just couldn't wait to know what happened next in book 2, especially with such an jaw-dropping ending in Angelfall.

Well I wasn't expecting what I read. World After was not the power-house book that Angelfall was. While Angelfall I read in one sitting, World After took me several nights of reading. It dragged for a while, something I didn't suffer from in Angelfall. The story in World After didn't advance, I felt like we were stuck in the same idea/place for more time that it call for. The lack of Raffe in almost ⅔ of the book, really deflated me. Raffe is just as important in the story as Penryn is, so to be reading along and have him out of the equation didn't sit well with me. World After wasn't bad even though I have said all that. But it wasn't enough to get a 5 star rating. What redeemed the book was when Raffe and Penryn finally sync up again, that felt like a rainy day when the clouds just part open and this beautiful sun and rainbow shine through.

I won't give up on this series, I know that this was the second book in the series that is looking to have a total of 3-5 books in the series. So obviously the author couldn't put everything out on the table when there is so much more to write about in the series. I just ask that Raffe be present most of the time. That's not to much to ask for right? Raffe makes everything better even with his demon wings. Again I did enjoy the book because even with the hiccups I still felt pleased. Ee has a way of balancing the good, bad and the downright gross perfectly. The end definitely takes you back to what you feel in love with in Angelfall.

I will sit patiently again until the release of book 3 in the series. I have a feeling since Penryn and Raffe are back together saving the world, book 3 will explode like Angelfall did.

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You can check my review of ANGELFALL (Penryn & the End of Days #1) HERE.

And if you have yet started on WORLD AFTER, you can read an excerpt of Susan Ee website.

Book Review: The Revealed by Jessica Hickam

The Revealed
The Revealed Book #1
Author: Jessica Hickam
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Released: June 17, 2014
Review Source: Spark Press | Netgalley

Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he’s running to be one of its leaders.

But in the rediscovered peace on Earth, a new enemy has risen. They call themselves the Revealed – a powerful underground organization that has been kidnapping 18 year olds across the globe without reservation. No one knows why they are kidnapping these teens, but it’s clear something is different about these people. They can set fires with a snap of their fingers and create a wind strong enough to barrel over a tree with a flick of their wrist. No one has been able to stop them, and they have targeted Lily as their next victim.

But Lily has waited too long to break free from her father’s shadow to let some rebel organization just ruin everything. Not without a fight.

A war happened that wiped out well over half of the country. As part of the rebuilding process, a new president must be elected. In steps Lily Atwood's father, who's running against old time family friend, now enemy, Roderick Westerfield. Yes, he's creepy. Let's talk about his son, Kai Westerfield, who is probably the number one person responsible for Lily's self-esteem issues. Kai is back from military duties. But, that's the least of Lily's problems because there is a mysterious, and super-powerful group, that kidnaps 18 year olds. Lily keeps receiving alarming notes that indicate she will be taken by them. Once the 18 year olds are taken they are never seen or heard from again.

From page one of The Revealed I began creating different theories in my head of who The Revealed might be, and what they wanted. I was wrong on all counts and for that I praise Jessica Hickam. Chapter after chapter kept you guessing and anticipating what would happen next. The plot twist totally blind sided me, and given that not much surprises me these days that is a HUGE compliment.

Lily Atwood totally irritated me over half of the time. And, I don't consider that a flaw of the book. Not at all. Characters are suppose to make us love them or hate them. In this particular case, Lily was not my favorite. I dislike that her insecurities were based on what a guy thinks. But, hey that's a teenager's real dilemma for ya! The rest of the supporting characters were great. Kai was totally swoon worthy! Her best friend, Rory, was awesome and kick-a.

I really loved how the book ended. Endings are tricky. The cliff hanger can be totally over done, or the happy ending can be anti-climactic. The Revealed ended how I like my books to end, somewhere in between leaving the next book totally open for tons of different options. Hickam is definitely an author you should keep your eye on! Bravo on her debut novel! I am so ready to read the next installment of The Revealed series!

Book Review: The Bees by Laline Paull

The Bees
Author: Laline Paull
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genre: Fantasy | Science Fiction | Dystopia
Released: May 6th 2014
Review Source: HarperCollins Publishers

The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Hunger Games in this brilliantly imagined debut set in an ancient culture where only the queen may breed and deformity means death.

Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, a member of the lowest caste in her orchard hive where work and sacrifice are the highest virtues and worship of the beloved Queen the only religion. But Flora is not like other bees. With circumstances threatening the hive’s survival, her curiosity is regarded as a dangerous flaw but her courage and strength are an asset. She is allowed to feed the newborns in the royal nursery and then to become a forager, flying alone and free to collect pollen. She also finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers mysteries about the hive that are both profound and ominous.

But when Flora breaks the most sacred law of all—daring to challenge the Queen’s fertility—enemies abound, from the fearsome fertility police who enforce the strict social hierarchy to the high priestesses jealously wedded to power. Her deepest instincts to serve and sacrifice are now overshadowed by an even deeper desire, a fierce maternal love that will bring her into conflict with her conscience, her heart, her society—and lead her to unthinkable deeds.

Thrilling, suspenseful and spectacularly imaginative, The Bees gives us a dazzling young heroine and will change forever the way you look at the world outside your window.

I was intrigued by the previews, thinking I was going to find a plot narrated using humans portraying the life of bees. As soon as I started reading, I realized my error, the best part of this book is that the author actually stays away from human characters completely. Everything in the story is narrated at bee level, without making it childish at all. The author was able to accomplish keeping the reader engaged in the story by simply letting the bees be bees. After reading the story, you will grow a greater appreciation for these laborious little animals.

Although a fictional story the honey bee culture was kept dead on character. Even though that the plot of courage and bravery of the underdogs that gives a voice to the minorities has been overused, you will find that the author accomplishes a fresh approach and lots of originality in this case.

This book is imaginative, engaging and extremely different, making it a very good read. Highly recommended, and be ready to look at Bees after reading this story through a different perspective. The novel can be read at any level, young adult to adult. It's great crossover.