Invaded

Today's post is on Invaded by Melissa Landers. It is book two in her Alienated series. It is 356 pages long and is published by Hyperion. The cover has Cara on bottom looking at Aelyx who is upside down on top of the book. The intended reader is someone who has read the first book, likes science fiction, and romance. There is no sex, mild language, and mild violence in this book. The story is told in third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.
Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.
The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

Review- Not a bad book but I was very annoyed with the L'eihrs, including Aelyx, all the way through the book again. Cara is not too bad but I was just so over the whole L'eihrs culture that I could not really enjoy her. The aliens that the blurb talk about are not in the book. The real drama is all about what the side characters can really do and why. The L'eihrs at all levels are unpleasant from the leaders who are lying and hiding to the young ones that Cara has to interact with, who just want to make everything unpleasant from Cara's day to the plot in general. And because of her position, Cara cannot really call any of them on it. So I was really annoyed with this book. I hope the next is better.

I give this book a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library. 

Ouran High School Host Club volume 18

Today's post is on Ouran High School Host Club volume 18 by Bisco Hatori. It is 224 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the last in the series you  need to have read the first seventeen to understand the story. The cover has all the cast on it with Tamaki and Haruhi in the center looking happy. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The intended reader is someone who likes cute love stories, over-the-top comedy, and good art. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Tamaki wants to ask Haruhi out, but he's quickly overwhelmed trying to plan the best first date in the universe. The members of the Host Club volunteer to assist Tamaki in his endeavor, but can they save their foolish king from himself?

Review- A very sweet and satisfying end to a favorite series. Haruhi and Tamaki end up together and it is so sweet. The first date could have been a normal Tamaki disaster but everyone saves the day until they realize that Haruhi just wants to spend time with Tamaki and does not care what they do. It is so sweet my teeth hurt. Then they go off to America to study aboard together. At least until the rest of the Host Club comes too. Haruhi's face when she opens the door and sees everyone else on the other side was golden. I have enjoyed this series so much. I highly recommend it.

I give this volume and series a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this series with my own money.

The Girl from the Well

Today's post is on The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco. It is the first in her The Girl from the Well series. It is 265 pages long and is published by Sourcebooks. The cover is blue with black birds around the title. The intended reader is someone who likes horror, Japanese culture, and good writing. There is talk of rape, violence, and language in this book. The story is told very uniquely but the voice is mostly Okiku. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- I am where dead children go. Okiku is a lonely soul. She has wandered the world for centuries, freeing the spirits of the murdered dead. Once a victim herself, she now takes the lives of killers with the vengeance they're due but releasing innocent ghosts from their ethereal tethers does not bring Okiku peace. Still she drifts on.
Such is her existence, until she meets Tark. Evil writhes beneath the moody teen's skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. While the neighbors fear him, Okiku knows the boy is not a monster. Tark needs to be freed from the male valance that clings to him. There's just one problem: the demon dies, so does its host.

Review- I think a lot about this book. I really enjoyed it. The plot was good and if you are a fan of Asian mythology and lore you will love this. But I have also seen this movie, watched this anime, and read this manga. Only once I let that go I was able to really enjoy this book. Because I really like Asian lore. Asian horror is very different from Western horror. There is less emphasis on sex with the scary stuff.  In fact there is no sex at all in this book and that made me very happy. I hate how horrorized sex and sexuality is in western horror. The characters were interesting and I like how religion played a part in the plot. The evil was evil and it was scary. But so was Okiku. She is scary too when as you empathize with her. I think that Tark is the weak part of the story but I can forgive that because he is just the vessel for the story to be told.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Terrans: First Salik War

Today's post is on The Terrans: First Salik War by Jean Johnson. It is 464 pages long and is published by Ace. The cover has the main character in a shapeship being very cool. It is the first in Johnson's First Salik War trilogy. The intended reader is someone who likes science fiction, very cool female main characters, and interesting plots. There is some mild language, talk of sex, and some violence in this book. The story is told from the third person close perspective of two of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Jean Johnson's first novel in an explosive new science fiction trilogy set in the world of the national bestselling Theirs Not to Reason Why series—set two-hundred years earlier, at the dawn of the First Salik War…
Born into a political family and gifted with psychic abilities, Jacaranda MacKenzie has served as a border-watcher and even spent time as a representative on the United Planets Council. Now she just wants to spend her days in peace and quiet as a translator—but the universe has other plans
Humans have long known that they would encounter more alien species, and while those with precognitive abilities agree a terrible war is coming, they do not agree on who will save humanity—a psychic soldier or a politician.
But Jackie is both.
After she is pressured into rejoining the Space Force to forestall the impending calamity, Jackie makes an unsettling discovery. Their new enemy, the Salik, seem to be rather familiar with fighting Humans—as if their war against humanity had already begun…

Review- It took me a little whole to get into this book but when I did, this is a great story. The heavy world building and all the science explanations do slow things down but the characters and fascinating plot make up for that. The main character Jackie is great. She is a very intelligent, honest, and interesting main character. She has to try get everyone to work together, to make First Contact go well, and learn everything that she can about the V'Dans. Johnson does a great job at making this world believable and interesting. There is so much about this book that I liked, making this very difficult to write a good review for. Johnson has done a really good job with this book and I am excited to read the next in the series.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I was given this book to read by Ace/ROC publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Ouran High School Host Club volume 17

Today's post is on Ouran High School Host Club volume 17 by Bisco Hatori. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Tamaki on it looking sweet. As it is the seventeenth in the long running series you need to have read the first sixteen to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes over-the-top humor, good characters, and long plots. There is no language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The is mostly told from Haruhi's perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Tamaki's father and grandmother, the heads of the powerful Souh Corp., are behind the Host Club's suspension and the plan for Haruhi to be shipped off abroad. Now the Host Club members must pull out all the stops to save their beloved leader from his family's infighting.

Review- Lots happen in this volume to start ending the series. Tamaki and his grandmother at last reach a place of peace and maybe even love. Tamaki gets to see his mother again. Kyoya yells at people, which was fun. And Haruhi confesses to Tamaki in the last panel.  Good times all around. I feel that Tamaki's family problems have been handled very well and that he got some good character time and growth. I was very glad that Kyoya yelled at Tamaki's father because he was not a good father in this volume. In addition we get to know what Kyoya plans to do with his future and how he is going to become the head of the Ohtori family. Poor Haruhi has some anxious feelings about telling Tamaki how she feels about him and it a very funny and welcome plot moment. Only one more volume left.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Eve

Today's post is on Eve by Anna Carey. It is the first in her Eve Trilogy. It is 318 pages long and is published by Harper. The cover is blue with the main character running across a bridge. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult, dystopian stories, and easy reading. The story is told from the first person perspective of Eve. There is mild language, talk of rape, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

Review- This is a retelling of Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale for this generation and Carey does a good job at it. Eve believes that the world is being reborn and she will get help it be reborn. What she does not know it is that young women are the ones doing the birthing by force. This is a very dark dystopian, as it should be since it is a retelling of a very dark story, but Carey handles it well. Eve is a little dumb and at one point I wanted to slap her but in the end I like the character. The world is very gritty without getting overwhelmingly dark. The plot is a little scary but I am adult and the thought of young women being forced to have children after children, because they are carrying more than one baby at a time, is very disturbing. But Carey does not let the reader get too involved with that part of the story but I am hoping that she does go back and address it in the next two books.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I have given this series as a gift.

The Winner's Crime

Today's post is on The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski. It is the second her Winner's trilogy. It is 402 pages long and is published by Farrar Satraus Giroux Books. The cover is deep blue with the main character on it holding a sword. The intended reader is young adult, has read the first one, and likes good writing. There is no sex, no language, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.


From the dust jacket- Following your heart can be a crime.
A royal wedding means one celebration after another: balls, fireworks, and revelry until dawn. But to Krestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement: that she agreed to marry the crown prince in exchange for Arin's freedom. But can Krestrel trust Arin? Can she even trust herself?
Kestrel is becoming very good at deception. She's working as a spy in the court. If caught, she'll be exposed as a traitor to her country. Yet she can't help searching for a way to change her ruthless world... and she is close to uncovering a shocking secret.
This dazzling follow-up to The Winner's Curse reveals the high price of dangerous lies and untrustworthy alliances. The truth will come out, and when it does, Krestrel and Arin will learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Review- This was a very solid second book but I do have some problems with it. Arin is just dumb for the whole book. The plot was slow but it is going places and getting everything ready for the last act. Krestrel is doing the best she can but Arin just does not want to see. He is all hurt about the stuff from the first book and so he is not thinking. And he spends the whole book not thinking. As the end I had hope that maybe he was going to finally see what Krestrel was doing but he ruined it by continuing to not listen to her. At this point I hope that Krestrel ends up either with the prince, who is very nice, or on her own. Arin is just too stupid. That said that was my only real problem with the book. Everything else was good.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.