REVIEW: The Dazzling Heights by Katharine McGee

The Dazzling Heights is the second book in this futuristic YA series fill of romance, angst, mystery a la Gossip Girl. 

New York City, 2118. Manhattan is home to a thousand-story supertower, a breathtaking marvel that touches the sky. But amid high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, five teenagers are keeping dangerous secrets…

Leda is haunted by memories of what happened on the worst night of her life. She’ll do anything to make sure the truth stays hidden—even if it means trusting her enemy. She redeems herself and became, at least for me, a tad bit more likeable but she's not perfect by a long shot.

Watt just wants to put everything behind him…until Leda forces him to start hacking again. Will he do what it takes to be free of her for good? Still one of the most interesting characters for me but I have a feeling that the whole 'Nadia' deal is going to explode soon.

When Rylin wins a scholarship to an upper-floor school, her life transforms overnight. But being there also means seeing the boy whose heart she broke, and who broke hers in return. I feel bad for Rylin because she's got great potential but still keeps getting swept up into less than desirable circumstances.

Avery is tormented by her love for the one person in the world she can never have. She’s desperate to be with him…no matter the cost. I am SUPER over Avery and her tumultuous, forbidden relationship.  She comes across as immature and too annoying for me to connect with her.

And then there’s Calliope, the mysterious, bohemian beauty who arrives in New York determined to cause a stir. And she knows exactly where to begin. The introduction of Calliope was an interesting twist. She's bound to keep causing trouble.

Overall, I was really satisfied with this book. It is engaging and had a superb cliffhanger of an ending. I can't help thinking that this would be a fun television series!

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee

A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. Everyone there wants something…and everyone has something to lose...

Leda Cole - whose flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

Eris Dodd-Radson - whose beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

Rylin Myers - whose job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will this new life cost Rylin her old one?

Watt Bakradi - a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy for an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.

 Avery Fuller - the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

Amid breathtaking advancement and high-tech luxury, five teenagers struggle to find their place at the top of the world. Unfortunately, once at the top, the only way to go is down.  The Thousandth Floor is a futuristic Gossip Girl with a hefty dose of underage drinking, drug use, profanity, some domestic abuse, sexual promiscuity and allusion to a rape.  

Beautiful, eye catching cover.  

I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. The characters were interesting with enough of a well woven narrative full of good conflict, if a tad predictable. As expected, the superficiality of a few characters makes them difficult to stomach in large doses but work with the overall story. I enjoyed the world building of this all inclusive high rise and the idea of a class system beholden to the floor you live upon. 

The structure and cliff hanger of the ending remind me a lot of Big Little Lies. I'm intrigued enough to read book two: The Dazzling Heights.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

*Thank you to Netgalley and Imprint for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

The only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty, Rhee has spent her life training to destroy the people who killed her family. Now, on the eve of her coronation, the time has finally come for Rhee to claim her throne - and her revenge.

Alyosha is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Despite his popularity, Aly struggles with anti-Wraetan prejudices and the pressure of being perfect in the public eye.

Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder.

The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot.

Empress of a Thousand Skies will appeal to readers who've enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles as well as the space-adventure/romance trend of the Starbound trilogy, Starflight and the Illuminae files.  This is a fast paced adventure with just enough romance. I enjoyed the alternative POV. The characters have layers and kept me interested. I did find some of the plot a bit predictable, but I'm not always the average readers since I do so much.

Certain points reminded me a lot of Cinder, but that's okay because that is one of my favorites. Rebecca Soler reads the audio--she does the Lunar Chronicles too!  Excellent job!

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Stars Above is the short story collection of the Lunar Chronicles including 9 stories,  5 of which have never before been published. For fans of the series, this is a delightful companion and well constructed anthology where we revisit beloved characters, gain insight into backstories and fall in love with the series all over again.

"The Keeper" - this is Michelle Benoit's story and how she became Princess Selene's "keeper." I really enjoyed this since it is a perspective we didn't know much about. I loved adolescent Scarlet. She was just a fiery as I knew she would be.

"Glitches" - this details Cinder's first memories and meeting her adoptive family.  We see Audri's animosity and witness Cinder's uncertainly as well as glimpse the devastation associated with the plague.  Plus, we meet Iko for the first time!  I read this  when Cinder was released. It was interesting to go back now that I've finished the series and know all those interconnected details. I still really enjoy this short story.

"The Queen's Army" - this chronicles Ze'ev aka Wolf's story having been taken from his family, genetically modified and trained as one of Queen Levana's super soldiers. I love Wolf and this insight into his past . It seems so long ago that I read this for this first time with little clue Z would be Scarlet's Wolf.

"Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky" - (swoon) I'm a Carswell fangirl forever. Even as a teen he's charismatic, confident and planning his next big success even if things don't always go as planned. Readers get some insight into his character and that infamous Kate Fallow story which makes Cress swoon. Carswell is always a sucker for a damsel in distress.

"After Sunshine Passes By" - readers learn how 9 year old Cress ended up alone on the satellite.  Get ready to have your heart ripped out. This one is so sad! Seriously, my heart still hurts :(

"The Princess & the Guard" - this sets up good relationship backstory for Winter and Jacin as well as what a heartless witch Queen Levana is. I like the explanation as to why Winter chooses not to use her Lunar gift of manipulation.

"The Little Android" - a rift on the Little Mermaid tale and probably my least favorite of all the short stories. I like the glimpse of Cinder and the themes represented but it isn't as memorable for me.

"The Mechanic" - Prince Kai's first meeting with Cinder from his perspective. I liked this sweet story and how it takes us back to the beginning.

"Something Old, Something New" - this is the story of a wedding! I hesitate to say whose but it is delightful and gets the gang together again two years after the ending of Winter. It will make you laugh and feel all the feels!!!!

P.S. The first two chapter of Heartless are AMAZING!!!!!!!

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @marissa_meyer


#StarsAbove #LunarChronicles #twistedfairtales #romance #shortstories #YAlit #teen

REVIEW: The Drafter by Kim Harrison

The Drafter isnhe first in an all new series by author, Kim Harrison, best know for her Hollows series. Peri Reed is a drafter, a gifted individual who has the ability to "draft" and alter time. But with every gift there is a price.  She is destined to forget both the history she changed and the history she rewrote.  Enter her anchor, Jack, tasked with piecing together her fragmented memories.  Set in 2030 Detroit, Peri is a formidable agent for government agency, Opti.  Together they uncover a list of corrupt operatives, but when Peri learns that her name is on the list, she quickly realizes that all she knows is a lie including her relationship with Jack.

Time alteration is always dicey.  The Drafter weaves a complicated web for not only Peri but its readers.  We discover that Peri is a sleeper agent, working for the Alliance to bring down Opti and that the plan was hatched some five years before. Unfortunately, she's been scrubbed so many times it is unclear where the truth lies. Enter key players from Peri's past, Silas and Allen, who each claim to have her best interest in mind but equally different ways of achieving these goals.

I cannot recommend enough that readers should start with "Sideswiped", the prequel story that provides an introduction to these characters and a profound insight into why Silas in the way he is.  I enjoyed the book but do not think I would have as much if I hadn't read this story first.  Knowing what I know about Silas now better informed me as to his actions, his relationship with others and the revelations at the end of this novel.

One criticism is the somewhat fragmented feel to the storytelling. However, given that this is the same feeling for Peri, the writing style and pacing makes sense.  I'm intrigued by the characters and want to explore how the series develops over time.  At this point, I don't love it as much as the Hollows and I certainly miss Rachel, Ivy and Jenks but there is potential here and I like that it is a departure from what Harrison has previously written.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @BurningBunnies


#audiobook #futuristic #PeriReedChronicles #TheDrafter #thriller #mystery #books

REVIEW: Born of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Born of Betrayal is almost a companion book to Born of Defiance. Readers finally get Fain Hauk's story and this misunderstood, wounded warrior gets his own chance at redemption and love in Kenyon's traditional style.  Fain hasn't been all that lucky in love following his ill-fated romance with Galene as well as shamefully marrying a human (something just not done in Andarian social circles).  Needless to say Fain's life--like that of Galene and their now adult son, Talyn, hasn't been full of sunshine and rainbows. He too is a social outcast and has faced tortuous harships, even slavery.

Fain, Galene, and Talyn reuinite at a time of military and political crisis.  There is obvious tension and animosity but this dissipates. Learning the truth that he has a son, Fain attempts to connect with Talyn and eventually reunites with Galene. All in all, the plot and character development follow the expected format.

What as interesting about this book was the set up for the next phase of League books including political tensions and the introduction of new characters. This particular book felt very choppy and could have benefited from better editing to help with the flow of the story. I'm still a fan but this isn't the strongest entry to the series.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars



#BornOfBetrayal #SherrilynKenyon #League #romance #futuristic #bookreview