Review: Mind Games

Mind Games (Mind Games #1)
by Kiersten White
Published February 19th 2013
by HarperTeen
ARC from Edelweiss

Summary from Goodreads:

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

Thoughts:
I just love Kiersten's previous Paranormalcy series because of Evie; the funny and quirky heroine with a pink taser which she uses to tag and bag several paranormals before becoming their ultimate saviour. So when I found out that she's coming out with a new series this year, I was super super excited!

Mind Games is certainly not Paranormalcy. There is a big difference in the tone and the theme of both books. While the main protagonist in Paranormalcy; Evie is always upbeat and cheerful even when facing danger, Sofia is dark, dark, dark all the way. I know of some readers who were quite turned off by Sofia or Fia, but I can't help but root for her impulsive and sometimes maniacal actions. Her devotion to her blind sister; Annie is certainly heartbreaking to read. And her decision to keep Annie safe will ultimately hurt her physically and mentally and almost drove her insane.

I hated Annie at first for being so helpless and naive and putting through her sister through hell without knowing the truth behind the school's real motive. The conflicts and betrayals certainly makes this story unique and I can't wait to read more about both sisters since the ending definitely left me hanging.

In my Fantasy & Books in a Series Reading Challenge
Verdict: 5 stars.
Available on: Amazon 

Waiting on Wednesday #13: In The After

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

In the After
by Demitria Lunetta
Expected publication: June 25th 2013
by Harper Teen

Summary from Goodreads: 

They hear the most silent of footsteps.

They are faster than anything you've ever seen.

And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Babble:
So many scary dystopians are coming out this year! Instead of kids killing each other we have aliens intent on destroying each and every human being on earth. This might be a cross between Starship Troopers and Aliens.

Review: Level 2

Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles #1)
by Lenore Appelhans
Published January 15th 2013
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:

Three levels. Two loves. One choice. Debut novelist, Lenore Appelhans has written a thrilling otherworldly young adult novel about a place that exists between our world (Level 1) and what comes after life (Level 2).

'I pause to look around the hive - all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories ... I've wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me. There has to be more to death than this.'

Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in a stark white afterlife limbo, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend ... and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her.

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between heaven and earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves. 

Thoughts:
I was excited when I found out that a fellow blogger wrote this. I mean what are the odds for someone like me nabbing a book deal by a major publisher and getting her book out there for everyone to read? Plus, it has an interesting cover and a unique concept where the world between life and death is known as Level 2.

Interesting? Yes, at first. Exciting? No. I'm sorry to say that although I was intrigued when I started reading it, my interest quickly dissipate by the first five chapters. It is so disheartening to read a book that feels like a long winding maze where you really couldn't make heads or tails of it.

One moment we have Felicia cruising through her life memories with her two best friends in the afterlife and then a strange boy actually appeared out of nowhere. And the change of POV from past flashbacks to the sterile and creepy Level 2 just add to the confusion. I did finish the book but I'm just not sure whether I'll be recommending this to anyone. I don't really understand the story and how best to describe it. I'm just thinking that the author should really decide what she wants it to be. A motivational book where you re-assess your life? Or a YA dystopian? Combining these two elements just seemed overwhelming.

In my Debut Author, Fantasy & Books in a Series Reading Challenge
Verdict: 1 star.
Available on: Amazon 

Book of the Month: January

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month.

So my book of the month is (cue drum roll please..)

Shades of Earth

by Beth Revis

My review

The Across the Universe series goes off with a bang! I practically hated the first book and didn't even read the second. But the third just take my breath away!This is how sci-fi supposed to be.