Jenn's Review: The Queen of the Tearling

Author: Erika Johansen
Series: The Queen of the Tearling, #1
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: Harper
Pages: 448
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  NA Fantasy, Dystopian
Rating: 3.25
Bottom Line: A stumbling novel that could have been brilliant with more editing
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Library

Blurb:  Her throne awaits . . . if she can live long enough to take it.

It was on her nineteenth birthday that the soldiers came for Kelsea Glynn. They’d come to escort her back to the place of her birth – and to ensure she survives long enough to be able to take possession of what is rightfully hers.

But like many nineteen-year-olds, Kelsea is unruly, has high principles and believes she knows better than her elders. Unlike many nineteen-year-olds, she is about to inherit a kingdom that is on its knees – corrupt, debauched and dangerous.

Kelsea will either become the most fearsome ruler the kingdom has ever known . . . or be dead within the week.

Combining thrilling adventure and action, dark magic, mystery and romance, The Queen of the Tearling is the debut of a born storyteller blessed with a startling imagination.


Review:  Most reviewers either loved or hated this book and I am on the fence.  I don't read many dystopian novels because they usually fail to capture my interest in the premise.  Although this caught my eye, establishing the world took so many chapters my interest began to wain.  In fact, I attempted to read this book several times and failed miserably... however listening to it worked wonders, so welcome to my first audio book review.

The first few chapters are very detailed in the setup (I remember a particularly long passage about a door)   and also switched points of view several times which disrupted the continuity. Once I got beyond the first third of the book, I found it was intriguing.  The story is modernistic Arthurian with a compelling though somewhat familiar in premise.  However for all of the plot exposition I felt that there wasn't a clear definition of the time period the book is set in.  Had you not read the blurb you would never have known it was set in the future until midway through the book.

This is definitely and Adult or New Adult Fantasy -which I rarely read because I find the adult themes distracting to the magic of the fantasy.  There are lots of mature themes in the book, rape, sex, murder, child slavery... and while I will be the first to admit some of it helped with the world building and were necessary to the plot, a lot of it felt gratuitous and existed only for shock value.  None of it was overly graphic but I was particularly bothered by the fleeting treatment of the victims and the glossing over of the aftermath.  If you are going to deal with these topics, take them on in their entirety or just edit them out.  

Kelsea's naivetee leads to some cringeworthy moments.  I still have no idea who or what the Red Queen is besides a sex-crazed sorceress.  However, there are plenty of interesting characters, perhaps a few too many to keep track of at first but they all sort themselves out eventually. I want to know more about all of them and in the murk of this novel, that is Erika Johansen's shining success.  By the time I was two thirds of the way through, I found myself involved in the story.  Things start to get rolling and the novel comes to a close.

Will I read the second one?  Yes, at least I'll try (I may have to listen to it).  I can't help feeling that somewhere underneath it all is a decent series -- with different editing, it may even have been a fantastic series.

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Julie's Review: A Better World

Author: Marcus Sakey
Series: Brilliance Saga #2
Publication Date: June 17, 2014
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pages: 390
Obtained: Amazon Vine
Genre:  Dystopian, Science Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Much love for this series that is out of my normal genres
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab!

Summary: The brilliants changed everything. Since 1980, 1% of the world has been born with gifts we’d only dreamed of. The ability to sense a person’s most intimate secrets, or predict the stock market, or move virtually unseen. For thirty years the world has struggled with a growing divide between the exceptional...and the rest of us. Now a terrorist network led by brilliants has crippled three cities. Supermarket shelves stand empty. 911 calls go unanswered. Fanatics are burning people alive. Nick Cooper has always fought to make the world better for his children. As both a brilliant and an advisor to the president of the United States, he’s against everything the terrorists represent. But as America slides toward a devastating civil war, Cooper is forced to play a game he dares not lose—because his opponents have their own vision of a better world. And to reach it, they’re willing to burn this one down. ~amazon.com

Review: Some people are power hungry and will do anything to ensure that they way they see things comes to fruition. Unfortunately in A Better World, these people work in influential positions. We continue with the story presented in the first book Brilliance and a lot of the players are the same with some new ones. Nick Cooper is the hero of the series. He's a brilliant who used to work for DAR before it was dismantled. Out of work or on leave, he is approached by the new President of the United States to serve in an advisory category.

While this is just as action filled as the first one, it is not without a lot of thinking. I often paused to think about what was being said and what that said about humanity. What does is say about us that we are willing to go to war, to fight because people have extraordinary abilities and some don't? It says to me that we will find something to disagree with, something to not like about someone and focus on the differences, instead of the similarities.

Mr. Sakey has intricately woven a story that is plausible if not totally probable. The characters are relatable and you root for them. You want Nick to succeed. You want him to be the hero he is desperate to be. Not only to his kids but for the rest of the citizens of the U.S. You want him to figure out the pieces of the puzzle and to put it all together in time.

What I love about this series is that it could happen. It's not so futuristic that you don't believe it. It is also very scary. It is scary how far people are willing to go to show how right they are. How they are power hungry. How they can't see straight because of their own mission. It is worry-some.

If you haven't picked up Marcus Sakey's Brilliance Saga, then you are missing out. These books have something for everyone. Believe me, these are not my usual reads and I can't wait for the next one to come out.


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Julie's Review: Above

Author: Isla Morley
Series: None
Publication Date: 
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 372
Obtained: Publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction,Dystopian
Rating: 4.25/5
Bottom Line: An intriguing look at what captivity is and what freedom really is
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

Summary: I am a secret no one is able to tell. Blythe Hallowell is sixteen when she is abducted by a survivalist and locked away in an aban­doned missile silo in Eudora, Kansas. At first, she focuses frantically on finding a way out, until the harrowing truth of her new existence settles in—the crushing loneliness, the terrifying madness of a captor who believes he is saving her from the end of the world, and the persistent temptation to give up. But nothing prepares Blythe for the burden of raising a child in confinement. Deter­mined to give the boy everything she has lost, she pushes aside the truth about a world he may never see for a myth that just might give mean­ing to their lives below ground. Years later, their lives are ambushed by an event at once promis­ing and devastating. As Blythe’s dream of going home hangs in the balance, she faces the ultimate choice—between survival and freedom. Above is a riveting tale of resilience in which “stunning” (Daily Beast) new literary voice Isla Morley compels us to imagine what we would do if everything we had ever known was taken away. Like the bestselling authors of Room and The Lovely Bones before her, Morley explores the unthinkable with haunting detail and tenderly depicts our boundless capacity for hope. ~powells.com

Review: Above is a harrowing story of survival and what it means to be a survivor. Blythe is kidnapped when she was 16 and is held captive for the better part of her young adult life. She is taken for the purposes of recreating the world after it ends.

Above is the kind of book that you don't want to put down because you want to find out what happens to Blythe. You want to know that she gets her Freedom. Like Blythe you imagine what her freedom will look like; tears of joy, people lined up to see her, hugs and kisses from her parents. What she gets isn't what her fantasies have been during her captivity.

Ms. Morley does a fantastic job of pulling you in and never letting you go. She makes Blythe's plight harrowing, heartbreaking and painful to read about. Just when you think this is about a kidnapping, survival and freedom, she turns the whole story on a dime. I honestly had no idea that the story was going to go that route and if I had known, I might not have picked it up.

Having said that, I would have missed out on a truly wonderful book. The setting of the novel in rural Kansas only adds to the desperation her escape and freedom. I wish that some of the plot lines had been more flushed out. There are things that I wished I would have learned more about towards the end of the book but I understand why she only included so much. Some of the them could have their own book.

This book will draw comparisons to Room but Above is so much more than that one. Other than being a book about being in captivity and having young protagonists,  Above moves a step past that and examines a world that I hope we never come to know.

For fans of a good, edge of your seat book with wonderful characterization, then go grab Above.

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Julie's Review: Mockingjay

Summary:Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. ~powells.com  

Review: While I wouldn't say that I'm a huge fan of the ending Mockingjay , that's not really the true focus of the novel. For me it was more of Katniss' fight within herself and the fight with the Capital. Not only that but she was trying to figure out her role with the Rebels. It is in the beginning of the book where I wanted to smack Katniss because she just couldn't see things for what they were. She couldn't see that she did have a role to play but that she was also being used. This is when I remind myself that she's still 16/17 because it is easy to forget at times. I loved the young woman that Katniss turned into. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't have made it through the series. She is a wonderful heroine for young women to read about, she's complex, caring and sometimes naive.

 I loved that Peeta changed. That isn't to say that I grew to like him, but it does mean that I respected his struggle more than previously. I always appreciate when a character grows and has some kind of change. I loved the build up to the final confrontation between Katniss and President Snow. It is what Katniss has been waiting for, it is her time to exact revenge for all her pain and suffering. I loved seeing Gale and Katniss grow closer and just in their trust of each other. For me, I feel that Gale knows her best. I loved seeing Prim blossom into a bright, young woman. I enjoyed seeing Finnick become part of the inner circle. Haymitch is who he is and even though he changes for a brief period of time, he's seen too much in life to be able to take it sober.

Ms. Collins does an excellent job of creating Panem but she also does an excellent job destroying and repairing it. She shows the good side and bad side of humanity. She portrays both Coin and Snow as the power hungry people they are. It is not easy to look at the dark side of humanity but Katniss and her crew remind us that even in the dark there is light. 

Overall Mockingjay was the perfect end to a series that I definitely enjoyed. I wouldn't necessarily classify this as YA either. I think it starts off that way but the themes and subject matter that wind through it are not light or for the younger age groups.

Final Take: 4.75/5

Alice's Review

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Julie's Review: Catching Fire

Summary: Suzanne Collins continues the amazing story of Katniss Everdeen in the phenomenal Hunger Games trilogy. Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. ~powells.com

Review: When I read The Hunger Games earlier this year, I wasn't so impressed but I loved the movie. I wasn't sure what to expect with Catching Fire. Needless to say, I loved it. I loved the plot, the pacing and the character development.

Katniss seems more like a teenage girl in this novel. She's confused, weary and torn between being loyal and being a leader. She had no idea how pretending to be in love with Peeta and saving both of their lives would be seen as an act of rebellion by the Capitol. It also gave the Districts  the fire they need to form rebellions.

I loved how Cinna had a bigger role in this novel. How he centered Katniss. He was her rock in a lot of ways; her father figure.Katniss and Peeta's relationship gets even more complicated as they try to figure out how to survive the Quell. Katniss is unsure of her feelings for both Peeta and Gale. She obviously cares deeply for both but I'm not sure she's in love with either of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed how they teamed up with other victors during the Quell even if it doesn't quite end up like they expected. It was nice to see Katniss learn to work in a team instead of always relying on herself. I even grew to like Peeta more. He wasn't such a wimp in this book, in fact, I can see the shaping of a leader in him.

I know I'm late to the Hunger Games party but it's always good to be fashionable. I am definitely looking forward to the movie in the fall.

Final Take: 4.75/5

Alice's Review

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Julie's Reviews: The Hunger Games

Summary: Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

Review: To be fair, I saw the movie before I even considered reading the books, so that being said it heavily influenced my enjoyment of the novel. Which is to say, that I did enjoy the novel but since I remembered most of the movie, I just wanted it to fill in the details that were missed.

I remember hearing a lot of rumbling that they didn't emphasize Katniss and Rue's bond but I felt it came across on film as one of the more powerful moments. Again if I had read the books first, I probably would have cried but I pretty much knew the writing was on the wall with that alliance.

I felt that Katniss' complex feelings for both Gale and Peeta. She doesn't understand where her longing for Gale is coming from when they've been nothing more than friends and partners. I can understand her complex feelings for Peeta because they are mixed in with the complexity of the games. They have to play a role, which is a role for her but a real thing for him. Did she exploit his feelings for her? Probably to some degree but Katniss is a survivor. It's all she knows. She doesn't understand emotion because she's doesn't have the luxury of thinking about other things other than basics.

Peeta still drives me nuts. I'm not sure what it is about him that bothers me but there is something. I don't think he's a wimp, I think he's a little wussy. Maybe I'll change my mind in future books or maybe my thoughts will be confirmed.

My favorite character besides Katniss is Cinna. Can I have my own Cinna, please?! He just seems real and true among all the fakes in the Capitol.

I will be reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay as a part of my YA Challenge. I'm actually looking forward to reading the books when I don't have a movie influencing me.

Final Take: 3.75/5

Alice and Jenn's Review

Alice's Reviews: Mockingjay

Summary: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. ~amazon.com

Review: I can’t find the words to express how sad I am this series has come to an end. Yes, I loved it. Yes, I believe Mockingjay was best in the series. Yes, Suzanne Collins wrote a brilliant trilogy. And Mockingjay is the very best kind of novel.

There are many things I can gush about. I loved Katniss in this installment. Although she remained true to character, in Mockingjay Katniss blossomed into a wonderfully complex woman. Suzanne Collins did a brilliant job of showing her vulnerability, which is such a stark contrast to the strong fearless leader we have seen in the Hunger Games stadium.

I love Peeta’s dark side. I love how steadfast and faithful Haymitch remains to Katniss. I love that we finally spent some time getting to know Primrose. I’m happy Ms. Collins developed her as a real character. I felt that in the past she existed only for Katniss and not for the rest of us. I loved Prim. I loved that like Prim, we got to know Gale more. I have a new appreciation for him that I didn’t have before. In the first two novels, I couldn’t separate him from his desire for Katniss. Mockingjay was the first time I saw him as a man with his own plan.

Ms. Collins throws plot twists in with such ease, I never saw them coming. And the ending! Oh, I thoroughly enjoy how believable and realistic it was. I think that is what impressed me the most. For a dystopian society, I could see it happening exactly as written.

There isn’t much else I can say without ruining the entire novel. If you have read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Mockingjay is a must. And yes, you should read all three.

Final Take: 5/5

Alice's Review: Catching Fire

Summary: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Review:  I have had Catching Fire sitting in my TBR pile since I received it for Christmas nearly 2 years ago.  I read the The Hunger Games and loved it so much I couldn't wait to get to the next one.  Yet once I got it in my hands I just let it lay among its paper friends.  After watching the movie for the 3rd time, I couldn't wait anymore to find what happens next.  Man, this novel blew my mind.

I loved it, loved it.  I didn't know what to expect since I am pretty good at staying away from literary spoilers.  Every page was one shock after another.  I thought it was better than the first, full of unexpected twists and turns.  Ms. Collins took what made The Hunger Games a great success and didn't change it at all. Why fix what isn't broken?

There were so many great things about this novel.  I'm a Peeta fan, so I loved watching how Katniss and Peeta grow closer.  I really don't understand the Katniss/Gale thing.  It's pretty obvious to me they have more of a brother/sister thing.  This novel cements it even more for me.  I love how Katniss matures, how Peeta makes her more vulnerable.

My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed, almost as if Ms. Collins had the ending of the series in mind and glossed over the details in order to get onto the third and final novel.

This time no grass grew under my feet before I picking up Mockingjay , the final novel in the series.  I don't want to wait another 2 years before I learn what is the fate of Katniss and my beloved Peeta.

Final Take:  5/5

Group Review: Children of Paranoia

Summary: ALL WARS HAVE RULES


Rule Number One: No killing innocent bystanders.


Rule Number Two: No killing anyone under the age of eighteen.


BREAK THE RULES, BECOME THE TARGET


Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn't fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides-one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away. Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he's one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he's sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named MariaY, and for the first time in his life his single-minded, bloody purpose fades away. Before Maria, Joseph's only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world. As Children of Paranoia reaches its heart-in-throat climax, Joseph will learn that only one rule remains immutable: the only thing more dangerous than fighting the War...is leaving it. ~amazon.com


Julie's Review: Two words...Adrenaline Rush. This books starts and never, ever lets up. It is such a roller coaster ride from the first page. It is unlike any other book I have read or at least one that I can recall right now.


Children of Paranoia is a high-voltage take on war, the effects of war on family and a person's psyche. You see, you don't get brought into the war, you are born into it. When you turn 16, you start your right of passage. Once you turn 18, you are full on in. Joseph is a foot soldier in this ancient war and he's good at it. He believes in the war & he believes that his side is good and the other is evil. He's been a soldier for 10 years but you sense early on that it's wearing on him. He's not sloppy but his head isn't in it. He needs a change of pace. After his latest job he meets up with his two friends for a bit of R&R. This is where things go terribly wrong, but it's only the beginning.


For me, Joseph was a likable character and I rooted for him during the entire novel. He believes in the cause, he believes that he is good and the opposition is evil because if that's not the case, then he's the bad guy. He never questioned it before now. Now he's questioning everything. As a reader, I always love characters who have a great arc & Joseph has that. He grows up, learns to think for himself and decide what he wants out of life. Of course, this happens because of love. He didn't plan it but it turns his world upside down.


Mr. Shane is a talented author, who made me feel that I was right beside Joseph as he went through his experiences. There were times during this novel when I got the chills. Fear is palpable while reading this book and at times I was terrified.


The ending had me crying and vying for more. I want the next installment of the series...now!


There were a lot of thoughts being thrown about in my mind while I read this, but the ones that I kept coming back to are: How do we know who is right and wrong in war? Is anyone ever right? What happens when no one really knows what the reason are any more for the war? Is hate perpetuated through history via family? If so, is there ever any way out of it? How do we stop the cycle?


While Children of Paranoia is a thriller; it has a heart, it makes you stop and think about the world around us. It is a well executed novel.


It seems like I'm telling you lately telling you to go buy books, well this one is no different. If you love an roller coaster of a ride, then run and get this novel. It will leave you wanting more.


Final Take: 5/5


Jenn's Review: Unlike Julie, I had a hard time getting into this book from the first brutal murder in the opening pages. At first I thought maybe it was because it was from an assassin's point of view, but I've read other books with that point of view. Then it hit me. It's urban dystopian - this isn't life in the aftermath of a disaster, it's a disaster in the middle of everyday life. If you follow our blog, you are probably aware that I am not a fan of dystopian novels. The world can be an ugly enough place, I don't need to imagine it as more ugly.


Also, unlike Julie, Maria was the only character I liked. Although even Maria was difficult to comprehend. As much as I tried, I never could warm up to Joseph.  When he almost kills an innocent bystander, he nearly goes to pieces -he kills on a regular basis, but only because they're targets -he's that programmed. I know I should have felt empathy, but I just couldn't. Maybe it's because the first time we meet him he's killing a mother a wall's-space away from her children, but I was turned off towards him early on. I realize this is done for effect, that the shock factor is part of the dystopian theme, but that is what keeps me at bay with dystopian novels. Did Joseph reedeem himself by the end? Perhaps, or perhaps it was too little too late.


Julie and I discussed a bit about how the book relates to the psychological trauma of war, and I think it's a valid point. But I think there is a more primitive connection than that -it's gang violence and organized crime on a whole new level. The fact that it's that close to reality on that level is rather frightening. However, the involvement of law, or lack there of, is astounding. The fact that this has been going on for generations and has been covered up or inconclusively investigated was incredulous; it went beyond my ability to suspend my belief. I love a good conspiracy, but this was over the top for me.


I kept thinking, it had to be a sick twisted joke on the part of the masterminds of this war game. If that had been the case, perhaps I could have withstood it all, but as soon as it became apparent that there were two sides playing war games, I was completely turned off.  Though several theories are put in play by the characters, the true source of the dispute is never revealed.  Maybe Trevor Shane will venture into the actual origins of "The War" in the sequel.


Obviously, I couldn't get past the dystopian under currents to appreciate this novel as a thriller. However, if that mix of genres is appealing to you, you will love this book. Julie did.


Final Take: 3.0/5


Stayed tuned tomorrow for a giveaway of Children of Paranoia and an interview with the author Trevor Shane!!


This will be released on 9/8/2011 by Dutton Books.


Thanks to the publisher for both of our copies of the novel.

Group Review - The Hunger Games

Summary:  Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place. 

Alice's Review: I have been on a kick of sorts for Young Adult novels lately. I remember reading all the hoopla when Mockingjay was released a few months back and during a recent trip to my neighborhood Walmart, I picked up Hunger Games in paperback. It was mostly on a whim and I am glad I did. Even with all the press, I wasn’t familiar at all with what the series is about. I’m not a big fan of futuristic novels and I’m really glad I was able to ignore my literary prejudices and read this book. This is by far one of the best books I read this year. It reminds me of one of my favorite books growing up, The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson. I think it is so important to empower the younger generation, especially young women with characters they can look up to. Katniss Everdeen is that character.

I believe I enjoyed this novel so much because I am a fan of Ayn Rand. It’s not so much as agreeing with her philosophies as with her way of expressing them. This novel could have been written by her. I love the idea of a government without morals or cares for the people in its kingdom. I love how Katniss, a virtual no one from the lowliest district was able to give the game masters a run for their money. I love the fierce loyalty Katniss feels for her people in District 12, how she would do anything to protect her sister Prim even signing up for a certain death by taking her place in the Games.

This novel is fast paced, well written, humorous, violent, and heartbreaking. I could not put it down and when I had to stop reading, I kept thinking about it. I was glad a government like that exists only in the mind of the author and not in real life. Even with this being the first in a trilogy, I was pleased with the solid ending. There was definite resolution while successively fueling my anticipation for what comes next in District 12.

Final Take: 4/5

Jenn's Review:  All of my bibliophilic friends in the blogosphere told me I had to read Hunger Games.  There's a reason I don't read contemporary fiction.  I think there's enough ugliness and drama in the world.  I don't want to read about it too.  So, even though I'm not a fan of Dystopian themes, I picked it up.  I'm still not sure what all the fuss is about.

I found the premise appalling.  I know, I know, that's the whole point of Dystopian themes, the shock value.  Still, reading it made me feel uncomfortable (again, I know that's the point), but it made it hard for me to engage with the book. So it's not my genre.  Even if I couldn't appreciate the theme, I strove to appreciate it other ways.

However, the plot was rather predictable.  I knew how it was going to end (and not because I was spoiled), it was just a matter of how Suzanne Collins would take the reader from point A to point B. For me, it was straight forward and without surprises.  It was the love story, or pseudo-love story, that finally made the read accessible to me.  Once I found a likable, character, and for me it wasn't Katniss, it did become a somewhat compelling read.  (Although, I think it was more of an 'I want to keep reading so I can be done with it,' than an 'I want to keep reading.') I didn't find Katniss to be a remarkable female character.  Yes, she volunteered to die in place of her sister, but in the end, it was her hunting skills and her comprehension of game theory that saved the day ...and she listened to her advisor.

It was well written. Though some of the negative reviews I've seen cast aspersions on Collins' writing style, I don't agree with any of them.  I don't fault the writing, I just don't appreciate the plot.

While I will continue to press on in the series, I don't think I'm the target audience.  If I want to read about atrocities, I'll read the non-fiction accounts, not waste my imagination on more horrifying ones.

Final Take: 3.5/5.0