Feedback by Robison Wells

Series: Variant (bk. 2)

Genera: Sci-fi/dystopian/thriller

Subjects: robots, androids, boarding schools, mystery

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 310 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “Benson Fisher escaped from Maxfield Academy’s deadly rules and brutal gangs.
Or so he thought.
But now Benson is trapped in a different kind of prison: a town filled with hauntingly familiar faces. People from Maxfield he saw die. Friends he was afraid he had killed.
They are all pawns in the school’s twisted experiment, held captive and controlled by an unseen force. As he searches for answers, Benson discovers that Maxfield Academy’s plans are more sinister than anything he imagined—and they may be impossible to stop.
Variant blew readers away with its breakneck pacing, flawless plotting, and impossibly high stakes. It earned starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and VOYA, which described it as “an exciting, edge-of-your-seat read that combines psychological themes from works like Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game in a truly unique way.”
In Feedback, Robison Wells delivers all the answers you’ve been craving—with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very last page.”

My Rating: êêêê

My Review: Not as good as Variant, but not bad at all. Slower and less mysterious, but with more sci-fi. But the ending was epic. I want book 3 now!

 

My review of the first book, what I thought of Variant: “This book was very different and so much better than I expected. It was about the most twisted, crazy boarding school ever. The students were very odd and the whole gang thing was just plain weird. The author did an awesome job of throwing all these elements together and creating a fast paced story that kept me wondering what was going on. Sure, I already knew that there was something about robots in it, but that just intrigued me more. Oh, and there’s a lot of paintball in here. I’m sure that some guys will love this book. Especially if you like the Maze Runner series. This book is almost dystopian. It’s just a very different kind of dystopian, one that’s in the present and set in an experimental environment. The students have to work together to survive. There’s a system based off of points and punishments. The punishments are sometimes extreme. And detention here could possibly mean death. <br/>I highly recommend this. It’s fresh and exciting. I so happy I gave it a chance. I wish there were more different and unique sci-fi books out there like this one.”

 

Now my review of Feedback:

So this book’s first 200 pages were not as fast paced as Variant. Sadly, no more paintball or gangs But after page 200 it picks up, and the last 50 pages or so a mind blowing. Lots of action, and a few freaky discoveries, and unanswered questions that will leave you begging for book 3. I was guessing the androids had something to do with Aliens. It didn’t get answered, so who knows what will happen in book 3?

In this book Benson’s relationship with Becky becomes more apparent. He’s really protective of her since she got injured. And also there’s some more bizarre, futuristic medical technology that can heal wounds faster. There’s some really awesome stuff in here if you look past the boring parts.

So fans of Maze Runner, the Hunger Games, the Gone series, or people who enjoyed Quarentine: The Loners by Lex Thomas, or The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse. If you have not discovered the Variant series, then you are missing out! Terminator fans may also enjoy this. And there’s some other awesome robo-stopians coming out next year like Revolution 19 and Mila 2.0.

A.I, Robots, Androids, Cyborgs. You know they make a thriller awesome.

Cover Art Review: Just as shiny and rainbow as the 1^st book’s cover. Red instead of blue. It’s a good, mysterious cover.

 

~Haley G

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Series: Glitch (bk. 1)

Genera: Dystopian Sci-fi

Subjects: Technology, love, resistance to government

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 320 pgs.

HC/PB: Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: MacMillan (St. Martin’s Griffin)

Summary/ product description: “In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.
In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.”

My Rating: êêêê

My Review: This book did not leave a good first impression. The dialogue was horrible, boringly formal. It wasn’t till Adrien came into the picture that things started to pick up, and then the dropped off when Zoe forgot everything. Despite the bad parts, the good parts made a really great impression that left me excited for the next book. The last 50 pages are the most action packed crazy-awesome ending that I’ve read in maybe months.

Zoe may seem clueless about everything at first. The drone-people world seemed depressingly boring. The lack of emotion really put a damper on the story, but when there was emotion, it was exciting. Sure, the character Max didn’t handle his emotions toward Zoe very well, but Zoe and Adrien’s romance was beautiful. I really liked Adrien’s slag/swears.

I wish they got more into the Resistance’s members and stuff, but that’s probably book 2. To wrap it up: Bad Start, Awesome End. Don’t get discouraged by the first 30-50 or so pages!

Books similar to this book: Possession by Elana Johnson: These books has a ton of stuff in common. Brainwashing, main guy love interest is part of the Resistance, characters with special abilities. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: characters with special abilities in a dystopian world. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid: Technology and programing on the human mind, main character adapts and gets special ability. So many dystopian books out there, there’s bound to be very similar story lines. The whole non-emotion thing also reminded me of The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda.

Cover Art Review: This cover’s awesome. I love the colors. The typography and tech-designs are amazing.

 

~Haley G

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: January 3rd

Publisher: Macmillan: Feiwel and Friends

Series: The Lunar Chronicles bk. 1

Genera: Sci-fi dystopian

Subjects: cyborgs, royalty, princes and princesses, emperors

Length: 387 pgs. (ARC) 400 pgs. (Finished)

HC/PB: Hardcover

Summary/ product description: “Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.”

My Rating: ê ê ê ê ê

My Review: Before I begin, I want to say that as I read in the acknowledgements, the author is a fan of Sailor Moon and it really shows in her story. It’s cyborg Cinderella the mechanic with a side of Princess Serenity aka Sailor Moon. The Lunars are people who’ve lived on the moon and have there own country there. It reminds me of how in the future Sailor Moon is the Queen of the Moon and has her mini moon daughter (Rini in the American version).

This book was so awesome. Especially since I won it (an ARC copy) as well as won it. It as in my prediction game. I’m an amazing guesser…or maybe the book was predictable, but I like to believe I’m psychic so I’ll go with that and not spoil anything to those who haven’t read it yet. The plot was great. Really different from Cinderella, but with some similarities.

The characters were all very interesting. Cinder was definitely a strong character and Kai was very prince like (and I’d like to compare him to Darien/Tuxedo Mask, butcan I really?) and hot. Cinder’s stepsisters were opposites. Peony was nice and Pearl was a mean girl. And Adri, her stepmother/legal guardian was horrible. She and Pearl treated Cinder like she was cyborg trash. And Cinder is an amazing mechanic, so they only liked her for fixing stuff.

I’m so glad I got to read this. I didn’t expect much, but I got a lot. I highly recommend this. It’s a very creative dystopian book. If you read a Long Long Sleep, another Dystopian Fairy Tale Retelling (that one based off Sleeping Beauty), then you’ll like this, and find it even better.

Cover Art Review: I have to say that the finished copy’s cover looks way better than the ARC’s cover. The cyborg leg and the shoe all look well manipulated. The shoe looks like a red glass stiletto. It really says “sci-fi fairy tale.”

~Haley G