Book Review: Origin by Jessica Khoury

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Expected Publication: September 4, 2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Age Demographic: YA Sci-Fi Fantasy

Pages: 393

ARC: Provided for review by ATW ARC Tours

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost

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Beautifully lush and mysteriously intriguing, Origin brings to life the age old clash between science and nature. Set in the vividly imaginative jungle surrounded by gorgeous landscape, exotic terrains and animals, it's filled with breath-taking romance and incredible dangerous peril. Jessica Khoury sets out to tell an amazing action filled suspenseful shocking adventure sure to engage and captivate readers. Wonderfully bold and deliciously original, Origin is a story that will answer questions with more questions and pique interests that will stay with readers long after the last page has been turned. Evockative and thrilling, Jessica Khoury weaves together a tale that explores the moral delimma's of science versus mankind and spiritual faith, while adding in a hint of the paranormal element so delicately.

Origin's pages are filled with bravery, intrigue, and heartbreaking action filled romance sure to titilate any sci-fi paranormal fan. Khoury brings to life a wonderfully written and developed herione, sure to grab any reader's attention. Pia is an extraordinary character that is likable, easy to connect with, and interesting. It's a wonderful reading experience getting to embark on the journey of self-discovery with her, as the story unfolds revealing dark secrets that have been kept from her and a chance at possible freedom from being so incredibly sheltered for seventeen years of her life. The passion that she exuberates for what she believes is right and wrong, is just as confusing as all of the dark secrets of her true identity and origin that have been kept from her, and yet it's beautifully written and dripping with insurmountable emotion that is just as real and palpable as the air she breathes.

Jessica Khoury explores a dark and terrifying outlook on the manipulation of science to further mankind's lifespan, that is so realistic that at times, parts of the novel was gruesome and extremely dismal. She pens a powerfully stunning story that evokes as much confusion and mystery, that reader's simply won't be able to put it down. The romance is such a wonderful element that helps to lighten the darkness and to push Pia head first into freedom, forcing her to make a decision between what she believes is right and wrong. It's beautiful and wildly imaginative and dripping with suspense. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys well thought out plot driven novels, that explore science versus humanity, and delivers a strong female herione and exciting sub-character's who come with their own stories to tell.

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Jessica Khoury is 22 years old and was born and raised in Georgia. She attended public school followed by homeschooling, and earned her bachelor's degree in English from Toccoa Falls College. She lives in Toccoa, Georgia with her husband Benjamin, two terrible dogs, and an abundance of books, shoes, and sweet tea. When not writing, she's usually directing stageplays or coaching soccer. Origin is her first novel.

Book Review: Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Mila 2.0
Author: Debra Driza
Published: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 480
Age Demographic: YA
Genre: Sci-Fi
ARC Received for Review from: ATW ARC Tours

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

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Mila 2.0 is an incredible rollercoaster ride of excitment and adventure! Debra Driza doesn't hesitate to bring the awesome. Fast paced and filled with electrifying twists and turns, Mila 2.0 will leave readers breathless and aching with anticipation of what's to come next. Possibly one of the year's best debut young adult sci-fi novels, you can't go wrong picking this one if you're a fan for sure. It is definitely a must have!

Completely unputdownable and filled with so much intrigue and mystery, Driza brings the action to a culmination full force, that will knock your socks off literally. Mila is such a fantastically written and developed character, with definite unique appeal and likable qualities. It's incredibly easy to fall in love with her and to sympathize with what's going on in her life and to connect with her emotionally on many levels. She's fiercely strong and amazingly complex, and quite possibly more human than one would realize despite the fact that she really isn't at all. The way, in which Driza, approaches the fact that Mila is an android and writes it in such a compassionate and compelling way, adds extra flare and great dynamic to the book making it more enjoyable to read.

Humanity versus articial intelligence has always been an intriguing subject and Debra Driza explores it in her own wonderfully written, brilliantly unique, and intriguing debut young adult novel. Her writing style and attention to detail, are what carries so much powerful weight making the story she's telling much more believable and real. It's powerfully emotional and beautifully riveting. The emotion that's poured into these characters is simply off the charts and adds for so much development and intense heart pounding action and drama.

Wonderfully character driven and uniquely written in such an intensesly compassionate style, Mila 2.0 is a book that fans of sci-fi will absolutely fall in love with. It has everything that an amazing new debut novel should have, the right amount of intrigue and suspense, mystery and heart throbbing action, that will keep readers thumbing through the pages. The ending packs an incredible punch to the gut with an intense twist that you definitely won't see coming. It is truly worth reading!

About The Author

Debra Driza is a wife, a mom, a dog lover, a writer, a physical therapist, and the owner of the messiest purses on the planet. No, really. Sometimes she worries that she'll reach inside for her keys and lose a hand in the process. Her YA thriller series debuts in Fall 2012 with Katherine Tegen Books/Harper Collins. Oh, and when she grow up, she want to be Veronica Mars.

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Book Review: The Rift by Andrea Cremer

The Rift by Andrea Cremer

Expected Publication: August 7, 2012

Publisher: Philomel

Age Demographic: YA Paranormal Fantasy

Pages: 464

ARC: Provided for review by ATW ARC Tours

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

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The Rift is a tantalizing ball of epic adventure, scintillating romance, and magic sure to wow fans of Andrea Cremer's previous Nightshade series. A beautiful discovery of magic and dark forces at work, The Rift tells the story of love, life, freedom, and the choices one makes. Ember is an exceptionally likable heroine to discover. She's wonderfully intelligent, fiercely loyal to her beliefs and to those she cares a great deal about, and incredibly fearless. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.

Barrow is an equally written and wonderfully entertaining hero, who is incredibly swoon-worthy handsome, dark, and full of mystery. Andrea Cremer does a great job of writing him in such a way, that he's an intelligent, thoughtful, and understanding gentleman. He isn't over-affectionate, yet he is kind and caring and will do anything to protect Ember. He's just the perfect amount of badass that will have reader's falling in love with him. All of the character's add their own flare, personality, and depth to the main arc. Cremer does a wonderful job of blending them into the storyline flawlessly and giving them their own place to fit in.

If reader's are looking for fast-paced adventure, action, and dark intrigue then they need look any further. This novel packs all of that and so much more, with a powerful punch. There is enough mystery, suspense, drama, and fantastic character growth and development to keep them engaged and on the edge of their seats. Cremer's writing is just as poingnantly beautiful and fluid as it always is. With The Rift, she has managed to surpass the standards she set with her Nightshade trilogy.

The Rift is a truly magnificent story that will definitely have reader's craving more. This book will leave them stunned with amazement and breathless with anticipation. This is a paranornmal novel that is full of so much intrigue and amazement that it hits hard and fast with an emotional punch and a cliffhanger that will have reader's dangling from the edge of their seats. It is a book that is incredibly unputdownable and should definitely not be missed out on. Fans of Kelly Armstrong, Richelle Mead, or Maggie Stiefvater will definitely want to get their hands on this fantastic book!

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Andrea Cremer is a New York Times and international bestselling author. She spent her childhood daydreaming while roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She now lives in Manhattan, but at heart she will always be a small-town girl.

Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but it took a horse and a broken foot to prompt her to finally write the novel she'd always dreamed of writing. Prior to becoming a full-time novelist, Andrea resided in the academic world where she taught early modern history.

When she's not writing, Andrea tries to master difficult yoga poses, wanders through Central Park, and hunts for new music to provide the soundtracks to her novels.

#07 Wishful Wednesday's: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Wishful Wednesday was inspired by Waiting on Wednesday and Desperately Wanting Wednesday by Breaking The Spine and Parajunkee.

Wishful Wesnesday is my own little version of "Waiting On Wednesday". Every two weeks or so, I'll pick a topic or genre and list a few upcoming books (or book) that I'm anticipating the release for. This week, that book is going to be The Distance Between Us by the super fiece and amazingly talented Kasie West. I just finished reading an ARC of her debut novel, Pivot Point that's coming out on the 12th, I believe. Seriously, you guys are going to LOVE this book to pieces. It is one of the best books I've read so far this year. So, stay tuned because the review will be coming up on the blog next month!

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Expected Publication: July 2, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Demographic: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 320

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

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I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My debut novel, PIVOT POINT, will be published by HarperTeen on February 12, 2013, followed by its sequel in 2014. I also have a contemporary, The Distance Between Us, coming out in the Fall of 2013 with HarperTeen. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Have a WoW or Desperately Wanting Wednesday list?! Share the link with me in the comments.