"The Infinite Sea" by Rick Yancey is Action Packed!

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey is the second in the 5^th Wave series and as good as the first!  Planet Earth is being attacked and overtaken by aliens!  A band of young teens are trying to (1) stay alive and (2) put a stop to it if they can.  This book picks up where the first one left off with plenty of action.  I finished it in just two days!  I cannot wait to see how it all plays out! 

(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"In The End" by Demitria Lunetta (We Both Liked This)

In The End by Demitria Lunetta is the sequel to In the After.  Amy has escaped from New Hope and is headed to Fort Black, a safe haven, or is it?  When she finds out that Baby, a girl that she befriended in the first book is in danger, she will stop at nothing to save her.  Like the first book, this too is a real page turner, filled with a ton of action!  Amy is so good!  I really enjoyed this one too!  Loved the ending and liked both of these books a lot.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

In The End by Demitria Lunetta continues from where In the After left off with Amy on her own.  She goes to Fort Black where she finds desperate people who are happy to be there because at least they feel safe from the Floraes--former humans who have become monsters.   She finds out it is the home of many criminals and soon finds romance and danger from those in charge.  She is on a quest to save her sister from Dr. Reynolds.  This book is filled with lots of action and some very exciting parts.  I liked it and it went fast.  The ending is very good! 
(Karen's review, 4 stars because it isn't very believable)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Bird Box--Don't Open Your Eyes" by Josh Malerman

Bird Box--Don't Open Your Eyes by Josh Malerman offers a unique concept.  Everyone boards up their windows and wears blindfolds.  Why you ask?  Wouldn't you like to know?  You will have to read the book to find out the answer to that.  The main story is about Malorie, a mom with a young boy and girl who live in an abandoned house near the river.  Malorie wants to find a better life for them if possible.  The book covers from when the mom was pregnant and about to have the kids to the present. 

I really enjoyed this book which is a real page turner.  The ending is awesome!  Read it, you will be glad you did. 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Lexicon" by Max Berry

Lexicon by Max Barry is about Will and Emily.  They both come to Broken Hill, Australia where there is a disaster in the making.  I liked how the story switched from Will to Emily and the action.  I really enjoyed the ending!
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Elusion" by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam is Very Good!

Imagine if you could escape to a land where you could just relax and enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature.  That is what Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam gives you.   But is there trouble in paradise? 

I loved this book because the lead character is really good and the concept makes it hard to put down.  This is an enjoyable YA science fiction read--just great!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Fire and Flood" by Victoria Scott is Great!

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott is about a young teen girl named Tella.  Her brother is dying and one day Tella gets a package that offers a cure for her brother, but she has to win a race.  This is a great book with plenty of good action and "wow" moments.  I liked Tella right off.  This one is a "must read."  I look forward to book two of this series!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

WOOL by Hugh Howey

WOOL by Hugh Howey is a science fiction novel.  The earth has been ravaged and people must live below ground in silos.  To go outside means certain death, or does it?  All is not well in the silos as good and bad people clash.  It took me a while to get into this, but once I did, I loved it!  There is plenty of action and well worth your time.  I plan on reading the sequel and hear there will be a movie too!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Never Fade" by Alexandra Bracken

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken is the sequel to The Darkest Minds which we both liked a lot.  First off, this book has way too much dirty language which I did not appreciate and took away my enjoyment of the book.  As for the plot, I was totally confused at the start and stayed that way until about page 150.  After that, this book was more like The Darkest Minds with plenty of action and surprises.  I never knew what was coming next!  The ending is very good and left me looking forward to the third book to see how it all plays out.

I give it 4 stars.  I would have given it 5 stars except the dirty language really bothered me.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Brilliance" by Marcus Sakey

In Brilliance by Marcus Sakey, people who have superior intelligence want to take over the country and it is up to Agent Cooper to put a stop to it.  There are good "wow" factors with good action and the book moves along quick.  Great novel!  I look forward to the next book of this series. 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Returned" by Jason Mott Fell Flat

The Returned by Jason Mott has a very interesting concept:  dead people come back to life with loved ones being reunited, but how does the government handle this?  The book really fell flat for me.  It had some good parts, but I never really was into it.  I hear it is going to be a TV series so hoping it works better on TV. 
(Gerard's review, 3 stars) 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Once We Were" by Kat Zhang

Once We Were by Kat Zhang is the sequel to "What's Left of Me," the story of Addie and Eva who share the same body.  The government wants to put a stop to this so they continue to try to escape from the law.  I got into this pretty quick because there is good action which held my attention throughout.  I look forward to reading the third book in this "Hybrid Chronicles" series.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Program" by Suzanne Young (UPDATED)--We Both Liked This One!

In The Program by Suzanne Young, teen suicide is on the rise so the government starts "The Program" designed to help teens, but at what cost?  The story is told by a young teen girl and does it very well.  It had my interest from page 1 all the way to the end.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Updated 10/18/13:
The Program by Suzanne Young is a combination of teen romance and adventure.  The premise is to prevent teen suicide by capturing high risk teens that show signs of depression or loneliness and by using drugs, erase their memories that led to their depression.  They are institutionalized for 6-8 weeks and then released under the watchful eye of handlers. 

I really liked this book because Sloane, the main character, is strong and tries to keep her memories.  It's an interesting novel that I had trouble putting down.  It's a book I was eager to get back to reading. 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Variant" by Robison Wells is Unpredictable!

Variant by Robison Wells is about Benson Fisher, a foster kid, who chooses to enroll in Maxfield Academy, a boarding school.  As soon as he arrives though, it seems more like a prison and finds that very strange things happen there.  It is surrounded by a high fence and wall with cameras everywhere but no teachers or grades!  The student body of only 75 students is split into three gangs:  Variant, Havoc and Society.  The gangs have made a truce and divided up the work contracts.  Benson wants out from the time he gets there and cannot understand the complacency of everyone else!  This is not what he expected!!

This is a page turner that I really liked because of the characters. The plot really doesn't make much sense, but it makes for a fun read and I enjoyed it right up until the very end which I did not like.  The interaction among the characters kept my interest and I especially liked the paintball parts.
(Karen's review, 4 stars--it would have been 5 except for the dumb ending)   

In Variant by Robison Wells, Benson Fisher thinks that his life is on the upswing now that he is going to be enrolled at Maxfield Academy; however, 24 hours later all he can think about is how to escape! Why the change? You will have to read the book to find the answer. There is just enough action to keep me going and the build up to the ending is really good! It has a twist that I did not see coming. Enjoyed it and now am going to start the next book in this series, Feedback.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

NOTE: I read 200 pages of Feedback and thought it was stupid so finally quit on it. Wells should have stopped after his first one!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"In the After" by Demitria Lunetta is Thrilling! (UPDATED)

 In The After by Demitria Lunetta is about how Amy, a teen girl and a toddler she finds survives when people all over the world are pretty much wiped out by very fast green creatures who are attracted to noise and light, and feed on people.  Amy thinks of her normal life with her parents, her friends and school as "before" and the life she lives now in silence and alone, only going out at night to scavenge for food, as the "after."

I enjoyed this book very much, it is a page turner I did not want to put down and when I did, I looked forward to getting back to it! I was completely engrossed in this one, not knowing what was going to happen next!  I highly recommend it to anyone who likes wild science fiction end-of-the-world type books.  I can't wait for the sequel!  This is a new author, give it a try.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)
 

Karen reading IN THE AFTER while waiting in line at Giant Eagle

In The After by Demitria Lunetta is a teen science fiction novel about a young girl home alone when the world changes.  She finds a young baby and becomes its caregiver.  Later on they find more people who have survived and are safe, or are they?  What kind of city are they in now?

This book drew me in right from page 1 with lots of action and a really good ending!  LOVED IT!  I'm looking forward to the sequel!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Humans" by Matt Haig

The Humans by Matt Haig is about an alien being who inhabits the body of a professor who has a wife and a young son. He has a mission, but when he starts to hang around humans he decides the mission may change, or does it? I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It is funny and is quick moving with a nice ending.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Trial of Fallen Angels" by James Kimmel, Jr.

 The Trial of Fallen Angels by James Kimmel, Jr. is about a woman who goes to the afterlife but doesn't remember how she got there.  She meets people who connect her to her past, then she is told that she has to defend lost souls in the final judgment courtroom.  Then her trial comes up and she remembers! 

I enjoyed this book because it was something different with a couple of good twists.  This was a pleasant surprise, a good read that I just found while browsing at the library.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Proxy by Alex London is GREAT Science Fiction

Proxy--Some Debts Cannot Be Repaid by Alex London is great! WOW!! Imagine screwing up and having another person take all the punishment. That is what Syd does for Knox, until one day Syd decides that he had enough and takes off, but runs into Knox! What happens then? Just a real page turner with action galore and the ending is fantastic! The writing is SO good too--LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Prodigy" by Marie Lu (UPDATED 4-16-13)

Starts Slow But Picks Up--Stick With It

Prodigy by Marie Lu is as good as her first book of this series, Legend. This book goes quick because it’s so good! Day and June alternate narrating chapters and the action kept me turning pages. The Republic is on the verge of a revolution and Day and June join forces on the same side, but is it the right side? Who can they trust? Who is telling the truth? Can Day continue to trust June? Tess, developed a major crush on Day and he begins to see her in a different light. The author has a good balance between strong, likeable characters and action and suspense. Prodigy is about friendship, loyalty, trust, and fighting for freedom and social change. I highly recommend this YA read.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Prodigy by Marie Lu is the follow up after Legend.  Legend was fantastic; however, Prodigy started very slow.  I would have liked more action but the second half picked up and I really got into it!  I look forward to reading the last book in this series too! 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

This is the sequel to Legend which we both liked! You should really read that one first.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Revolution 19" by Gregg Rosenblum

Add caption

Robots have taken over in Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum. When a family gets separated, the children enter the city to rescue their parents. I enjoyed this book very much! There is lots of action and I found myself cheering on the kids. It goes fast and there is almost certain to be a sequel which I will definitely want to read.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken (Updated)

If you enjoyed "Hunger Games", "Divergent" and "Starters," then I'm pretty sure you would like The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. The story is about young teens on the run from the U.S. government. It moves along really well and the lead character, a young teen girl is FANTASTIC! There are lots of "wow" factors for me in this book and the last 100 pages or so were page turners to the max! I hope there will be a sequel! LOVED IT! Do yourself a favor and read this one!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

On Gerard's recommendation, I read this one too (Updated 1/30/13):

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken is a page turner that is about loyalty, friendship, isolation, survival and manipulation. This book is about Ruby, Liam, Chubbs and Zu, four friends who try to keep their freedom and remain true to themselves but who have “special” powers of different kinds. The plot was a bit confusing to me at times, but I liked this book because of the characters. Ruby is able to see into people’s minds to not only see their memories but also is able to erase memories and plant thoughts into people’s heads. The only problem is that she can’t control it until she gets lessons from another kid with the same abilities whose practiced his whole life! If you like YA fiction with adventure and fantasy, this is a great book for you! “The darkest minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.” Pg. 456.
(Karen's Review)

O

ne of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompts this week is "What are you reading?" so I linked up. You can too!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!