REVIEW: Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Expected publication: July 17, 2018 by Tor Teen

Publishers Summary:
On a hot summer night, a screech of brakes and shattering glass changes two lives forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital, confused when they call her Morgan. She assumes it’s a case of mistaken identity, yet when the bandages come off, it’s not her face in the mirror anymore. It’s her best friend Morgan’s.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life, yet Liv must navigate endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety—and a romance that feels like a betrayal. Torn between the boy she loved as Liv and the boy she’s grown to love as Morgan, Liv still has to survive Morgan’s last request.

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I enjoyed this despite a few shortcomings.  It is a fast-paced, romantic suspense novel that skews more toward New Adult or mature YA with adult reader interest. There is a hint of science fiction but one short coming is a lack of exploration of how/why this occurs. The cause is hinted at a bit, but as a fan of the genre, I expected more.

There is a good love triangle development for Liv as Morgan with great tension and some unexpected revelations.  

One final critique is a lack of narrative follow through as it pertains to some rather big plot details. Those looking for more answers and closure might be disappointed.  Overall, Like Never and Always delivers great suspense and would certainly be a page turning summer read.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

The first in a trilogy, Leviathan explores an alternate, steampunk influenced history of the advent of WWI and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.  Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

Through many trials and tribulations Aleksander and Deryn's paths cross, forcing them to forge an alliance for survival. What follows it an epic, around the world adventure full of amazing machines and spectacular creatures.

Leviathan has been on my "to-read" radar for a long time. I love a good steampunk novel and this is truly a creative spin on a pivotal moment in history.  I am intrigued enough to continue the series; however, I did find it difficult to connect with the characters.

Overall, this is a well written and developed novel for readers interested in the genre or history. I recommend the audiobook narrated by Alan Cumming--he does a fantastic performance.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars