Prodigy (Legend #2)
by Marie Lu

Summary
Picking up nine days after Legend left off, we find June and Day fleeing from the chaos created in the wake of their escape from the Republic. With no other options available, they head to the Colonies and turn to the Patriots for shelter. In exchange for the medical help Day so desperately needs, Day and June agree to work with the Patriots and assist them on their next mission. But the plan requires them to be separated, and as new information comes to light, both Day and June strive to uncover the truth and do the right thing before it’s too late to go back.

Review
Prodigy starts out slower than Legend, providing a lot of background info. on the war before the action really kicks off about half-way through the novel. Once again, Lu does a wonderful job of world-building, creating two distinct and believable societies in the Republic and the Colonies. As we learn more about each faction, it becomes difficult to discern if the military severity of the Republic is really so much worse than the corporate control of the Colonies. The lines between good and evil are blurred even further when it comes to the leaders of both sides. What originally seemed so black and white in the first book is thrown into question as both main characters struggle to determine who really has the best intentions.

While the story focused more on Day in the first book, June is really given the chance to shine in this installment as she attempts to work her way back into the Republic. As she becomes more deeply entrenched in her old life while still trying to remain true to Day, I found myself growing more and more sympathetic to her plight.  The secondary characters also change and grow considerably in Prodigy. Tess who was so supportive and sweet becomes bitter and distrusting, while Anden who originally seemed little more than a shallow pawn develops into one of the more interesting players on either side. An unpredictable ending steers the story towards a new and exciting direction for the final installment in the trilogy.

Verdict
While not quite as gripping and action packed as Legend, Prodigy answers many questions and progresses the story to an exciting new place. I look forward to the conclusion of Day and June’s story in the third book (which is rumoured to be titled Champion).

See my review of Legend the outstanding first book in the trilogy here.

I received this book for review from the Publisher.

I completed my goal of 50 books read in 2012 a month early! Yay me! I feel a little guilty counting the short stories as books, so I’m happy to say that I’m already far enough past my goal that the shorts don’t even need to be counted. (Not that they weren’t great!)

I actually enjoyed both the short stories I read this month quite a bit, but the best book I read in November (and possibly all year) was Legend by a landslide.

November Reading List

47. Hunted  (House of Night #5) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (Nov 1) *e
The gang is back together now and it’s nice to have everyone working together to fight Neferet and her evil demon. I enjoy these characters (or most of them) but the story was pretty weak in this installment.

48. Treachery (Nightshade 2.5) by Andrea Cremer (Nov 3) *e
This short story falls between books 2-3 of the Nightshade trilogy and gives Ansel’s perspective on the tragic events that befell him in book 2. I loved seeing things from his p.o.v. and learning what we missed while he was captive. A must read for fans of the series.

49. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (Nov 12)
The book is darker than the movie and tends to ramble at times, but it’s still a charming read with a magical touch.

50. Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu (Nov 17) – See Full Review Here

51. The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan (Nov 29) *e
Not quite as gripping as the first two Heroes of Olympus stories, but it definitely set up the next two books for what is sure to be an impressive climax to the series. Also, I really like having Percy back in the mix!

52. Hana (Delirium 1.5) by Lauren Oliver (Nov 30) *e
This short story fills in some of the things we didn’t see while the girls weren’t talking, and provides an interesting look at Hana’s side of their falling out. While it’s not crucial to the series, an important reveal at the end makes this a worthwhile read.

(An *e at the end of a title indicates an e-book.)

Legend  (Legend #1)
by Marie Lu 

Summary
What was once the United States of America is no longer. Now the partially flooded state of California is ruled by the Republic and they’re at war with the neighboring Colonies. 15 year old Day has been secretly surviving on the streets ever since he failed his Trail. But stealing from the rich to help the poor has made Day an enemy of the Republic and it’s getting harder to stay under the radar. June is a prodigy who scored prefect marks on her Trial, and is now on the fast-track to a prominent position in the Republic army. When fate forces their paths to cross Day and June end up in a battle of wits as they unknowingly attempt to thwart one another. But the truth changes everything, and now the stakes are so much higher than either of them originally thought.

Review
I was really in need of a great “can’t put it down” book and Legend absolutely delivered! Even among the sea of popular dystopian fiction, the plot is original and unpredictable and a few surprise twists left me stunned. I found Lu’s vision of society in the future to be much more believable than those in other dystopian novels because it wasn’t so drastically different from what we know today. More time spent on character building than world description means that the characters in Legend are fully fleshed out with both good and bad traits and distinct personalities. The story switches back and forth between Day and June’s point of view, and the strong voice of each character makes this is one of the most effective uses of this technique I’ve seen.  It’s so refreshing to find a YA novel that doesn’t overwhelm the story with sappy, all-consuming love, but still finds a way to bring a touch of romance to the story.

Verdict
One of the best books I’ve read this year, Legend had me flipping pages well into the night.  I can’t wait for Prodigy (book 2) to come out in January.

September was a pretty average reading month, I read 4 books which has helped keep me ahead of  my reading goal. At my current pace I should successfully finish 50 books this year.

September Reading List

37. The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber (Sept 3) – See Full Review Here

38. Living With the Dead (Women of the Otherworld #9) by Kelley Armstrong (Sept 13)
I somehow skipped this one as I read the Women of the Otherworld series, but because the books switch narrators, reading them out of order isn’t as much of an issue as it is with some other series. I personally prefer the books that focus on the werewolf pack as opposed to the demon women, but this Hope story was a good page turner, with a mystery that I didn’t figure out.

39. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion (Southern Vampire 10.5) by Charlaine Harris (Sept 16)
The Sookie short story is only OK, but the Companion portion of the book is outstanding! It includes excellent recaps of the previous books along with a helpful timeline. And the character bios are fantastic. A great reference for any fan of the series.

40. The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner (Sept 29) *e
I wasn’t sure what to think about this one at first… It’s like the YA book version of LOST. It starts off with the protagonist (and the reader!) in a very confusing place, and the lack of information was frustrating at times. But with plenty of action, interesting characters and lots of intrigue, I was hooked by the end of the story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

(An *e at the end of a title indicates an e-book.)

Whoops! I forgot to post the Round-up last month, so I’ll do both April & May this time around. Although May was a pretty slow reading month, I’m still on track for my 50 book goal in 2012.

April Reading List

14. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins (Apr 1) *e
This still stands as one of my very favourite books. After seeing the movie, I spent so much time discussing the book/movie differences with my friends and co-workers, that I finally had to just read the book again. And I loved it just as much the second time around.

15. Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano (Apr 4)
I loved this book! I can’t seem to get enough dystopian fiction these days, and even though some of the world-building was rather implausible, I still devoured this book. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

16. Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz (Apr 23)
I was so excited to read this new fantasy series about witches that was actually aimed at adults. Especially after meeting the author and finding her to be completely awesome! Unfortunately the book just didn’t live up to expectations. Stereotypical characters, choppy dialogue and unconnected plot points made it a struggle to get through.

17. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Apr 28 )
Another wonderful John Green story. He never fails to make me laugh, cry and fall in love with his characters. Be forewarned though – this book will make you sad. Thankfully I went to a party right after I finished reading it, because my friends brought me out of my deep TFIOS depression!

18. Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth (Apr 30)
I loved this book the first time around, and when its follow-up Insurgent came out there was so much going on that I had to go back and re-read the first book in the series. I loved it even more the second time! If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games and are looking for some really good dystopian fiction, I highly suggest giving Divergent a try!

May Reading List

19. Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth (May 5) – Full review here

20. Under My Skin (Wildlings #1) by Charles de Lint (May 22) – Full review here

21. Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic #6) by Sophie Kinsella (May 28)
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Shopoholic book, and I was looking forward to revisiting Becky and her crazy antics. At first I found myself annoyed with the fact that Becky has learned NOTHING after all this time, but once the story gets going I found myself really enjoying my visit back to the Shopaholic world.

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth

Summary
After the horrifying events that occurred on Initiation Day, Tris and Four are joined by some unlikely allies as they make their way to the Amity compound in hopes of finding a safe haven. But before Tris can be much help to the growing group of dissatisfied faction members, she must find a way to overcome the grief and guilt that are threatening to overwhelm her. While trying to move forward and determine what comes next, Tris realizes that uncovering the secrets that started the war between the factions may be the key to their next move.  Will she be able to deal with her issues and uncover the truth before it’s too late? And can she make the right choices without having to loose any more people she cares about?

Review
Picking up right where Divergent left off, Insurgent makes for a gripping and action packed second installment in the series. Roth continues to delve deeper into the characters’ history and mindset, creating layered and complex individuals that are rarely matched in YA fiction.  The world-building in this novel is also excellent. We learn more about the other factions than expected, and combined with (minimal) knowledge of current-day Chicago, I found it easy to visualize the city as it is in this dystopian future.  Despite the time spent on character development and world-building, the plot does not suffer. The story moves quickly and is rarely predictable. A surprising ending with a huge impact on the future of the series makes for a satisfying stopping point in the current story, but still leaves the reader wanting more.

Verdict
Insurgent is an excellent follow-up to Divergent that builds on the first novel and moves the story forward beautifully. I can’t wait for more!

*I won this book in a contest. Thanks @HarperCollinsCa!

Crossed  (Matched #2)
by Ally Condie

*This review contains spoilers for Matched, book 1 in the series.

Summary
After they came and took Ky away, Cassia wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew she had to find him. Now she’s been working in the outer Provinces for months in hopes of somehow finding a way to connect with him. Fearful that she’s running out of time before she must return to her work assignment in the Society, Cassia sneaks onto an airship transporting workers to a village in the border provinces. Once there, she hears word that someone who fits Ky’s description has recently been in the area. Along with Indie, her one friend from the work camps, Cassia plans an escape and embarks on a journey to find Ky and with any luck, others who want to rebel against the Society as well. While she searches for Ky and the Rising, Cassia must stay alive, avoid capture or discovery and decide where an with whom her future lies.

Review
Now that Cassia has ventured away from her comfortable life in the Society, the sterile and pristine world we were introduced to in Matched has been replaced by rugged wilderness and harsh terrain giving Crossed a very different feel than the first book in the series. Along with the Society, Cassia’s family, and to an extent Xander have also disappeared from this second installment. I found myself missing the characters from the first novel, but did enjoy the new characters that were introduced in book 2.

Each chapter in Crossed switches back in forth between Cassia and Ky’s points of view. While I enjoyed getting to better know Ky in this manner, I found the flip-flopping confusing at times and often had to check back to see who was speaking.  While the story isn’t quite as gripping as Matched, Crossed does set up the next book in the series wonderfully. I’m eager to see how things work out in book 3!

Verdict
An enjoyable read, Crossed felt a little more like a bridge between the fist and third books in the series rather than a complete novel on its own. Fans of Matched will want to read this one, but don’t expect the same book you read in the first installment in the trilogy.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1)
by Patrick Ness

Summary
Life in Prentisstown is tough. Being the last settlement in the New World, and having lost all their women to the terrible Noise Virus, life can seem very isolated for the men (and one boy) who remain. Except that no one is ever really alone when everyone else can hear your every thought.  And that is the curse that the men of Prentisstown bear – their “Noise” is always out there for everyone to hear. Todd is the last boy left in Prentisstown, but less than a month remains until he will finally be a man. He’s sure things will be better once he can be counted among the men in town, but when he discovers a strange silent spot amongst the Noise in the swamp, suddenly everything Todd knows is thrown into question. His family sends him away, telling him to run for his life and never look back. Angry and confused, Todd has no choice but to flee the only life he believes exists. As he makes his way into the unknown, he discovers that everything he once thought to be true was a lie. Now he must uncover the truth, and hold onto hope in a world where there seems to be none.

Review
The premise of The Knife of Never Letting Go is fantastic! The idea of being able to hear the thoughts of everyone around you is original and unique. There’s plenty of non-stop action to keep the reader flipping pages. The characters are believable, well developed, and grow throughout the course of the novel. And once you get used to the strange grammar and horrific spelling, the dialogue is interesting. So really, it’s got all the factors that make up a great book right? Right. Except that I hated it. I mean I read the whole book and have no complaints about the quality of the writing, but everything that happens to the characters throughout the course of the story is AWFUL. There might be one or two brief moments of happiness, but that’s it. I almost stopped reading 2/3 of the way through because something so terrible happens that I didn’t think I could take any more. I managed to soldier on, but there was definitely no happy reward for my efforts. And don’t even get me started on that ending – or rather complete lack of an ending. I’m all for a well-done cliff-hanger, but this book just stops (at yet another horrible thing) a few pages short of an actual ending. I actually wondered if my digital copy was missing some bits the ending was so abrupt.

Verdict
If you’re OK with a really dark and unhappy story, then The Knife of Never Letting Go is a great read. If you want to feel a little bit good while reading, then skip this one.

Matched
by Ally Condie

Summary
Cassia is pretty happy with her life. She has a good family, good friends, and she’s finally on her way to her matching ceremony where her real future will begin! She’s confident that the Society knows what’s best. Her parent’s long and happy marriage is proof of the success of the matching system, so when the Society gives Cassia her match, she knows that she’s been paired with the right person.  But when a tiny flaw in system makes Cassia aware of other options, her belief in the Society and everything they stand for slowly starts to crumble.  Now Cassia is faced with a difficult decision between the easy life she’s always known, or risking everything to follow her heart.

Review
Matched is set in a well-crafted and intriguing dystopian society, that strips away the pleasures and privileges we have become so accustomed to in today’s high-tech, possession-driven world.  The three main characters in the story are unique and well developed, though I found the secondary characters lacked depth. The intricate differences between Xander and Ky made for an enjoyable love triangle (and I’m often not fond of the love triangle).  There is very little in the way of action in Matched, but the trials and tribulations of the people under the Society’s control will keep readers engaged.

I’m a relatively new reader to dystopian fiction, but I couldn’t help comparing Matched to The Hunger Games as I was reading. And while I thoroughly enjoyed Matched, in this comparison it falls a little short.

Verdict
If you’re able to let go of comparisons and enjoy it for what it is, Matched is a fascinating story and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Shades of Grey
by Jasper Fforde

Synopsis
I’ve yet to find a quick and concise description of this book. Consider that your first warning. The world of Shades of Grey appears to be our own, far into the dystopian future after Something that Happened where everyone is divided into color classes. Not relating to the color of their skin but to their ability to see color. Purples rule the roost while the Greys are basically slaves to all the Colors. The book follows Eddie Russett, a Red, as he accompanies his father on a temporary assignment in East Carmine. It’s there he meets a Grey, Jane, whose cute little nose has him reconsidering his future. It’s not long before his journey sets him on a path to the one place he never expected: the truth.

Review
I’m a huge fan of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series. HUGE fan.
And even though I never connected with his Nursery Crime books, I was pretty excited when I heard about Shades of Grey. That was until I downloaded the sample pages available for the Kindle and struggled my way through a few of them. I quickly decided this was a book I wouldn’t be buying. But then it was a table at my library a few weeks ago and I decided I’d give it another shot.

I’d like to say it was easier this time around but I can’t. The first half of the book feels, at times, like reading a foreign language. Even when you recognize words that you know, their meaning escapes you. It’s pretty frustrating. If it hadn’t been this author, I’d have given up on the book within the first 100 pages. But then the story finally picks up and I was really drawn in by it.

It’s possible I would have enjoyed the book if so much of the satire wasn’t lost on me. There were a few things that drew chuckles from me but, for the most part, I was too busy trying to grasp the world Fforde was showing me to catch on to the ways it poking fun at ours.

Verdict
The number of people giving this book five star reviews astound me. It feels a bit like the Emperor’s Clothes. Not that I think the book is without any genius, I just don’t think it deserves the accolades I’m reading. Though it answers the initial questions it set up, what the book really does is leave you wanting to know what happens next. It ends just as we finally get to the real story and that’s where I think its true potential lies. Not such a bad thing for the first book in a trilogy. But then again I’m afraid most stalwart of Fforde fans will even get that far. Because, man oh man, getting through the first half is rough.