Review: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror by Robert Louis Stevenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a surprisingly quick read; while the writing style was somewhat 'wordy' and a little heavy, I found it very compelling and read the whole thing in a couple of days as part of my PhD research on the Victorians' fear of primitiveness and devolution.

Going into the story, I already knew the rough plot, given it's a book that's talked about a lot. But I was still engrossed, and it's actually made me want to seek out some of the film and TV adaptations.

The language that Stevenson uses in this book was of particular interest to me. I was fascinated by the way that Hyde's personality and criminality is inscribed on his body, via his 'inherently malign and villainous' appearance due to his 'impression of deformity without any nameable malformation' and 'his displeasing smile'. He's described as unfeeling, 'a man of stone' whose 'every act and thought centred on self', in great contrast to Dr. Jekyl's caring nature. We get two very different personalities here, as Stevenson is one of the first--if not the first--author to look at the idea of split personalities, but does so in the context of nineteenth century anxieties around primitiveness, evilness, appearance, and monstrosity.

Physiognomy is at play largely in this text, as we are told that Hyde's 'black secrets, by the look of him' are visible to everyone as his 'particularly wicked-looking' countenance represents the evil inside him. There is never any doubt presented to characters or readers that Hyde is the bad guy, the killer, because this is a cruel man 'at once so callous and violent' that it has physically distorted his appearance. He is also described with primitive language and is likened to 'a monkey', tying into contextual anxieties surrounding repression and return of primitive nature. Hyde represents the uncontrollable, the evil, and the monstrous, and while Dr. Jekyll does initially manage to control him to some degree, Jekyll's death can be seen to represent a death of civilisation and goodness. Instead, all that's left is evil and reversion to what Victorians considered primitive and murderous states of being.

Yet, looking at Hyde's death--when Dr. Jekyll is trapped in Hyde's form--and he takes his own life, we can see an attempt at being the saviour, at keeping the evil at bay. While Dr Jekyll has solved the problem of the killer being at large--a problem which only came about due to his own obsession with making a drug that separates the two sides of one's personality--we also lose the 'goodness' that is Dr. Jekyll. Stevenson therefore somewhat suggests that evil runs amok when there is no goodness there to ground it.



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Review: THE 100 by Kass Morgan

The 100 by Kass Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Hunger Games meets Lost in this spectacular new series. Now a major TV series on E4.

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries - until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents - considered expendable by society - are being sent on a dangerous mission: to re-colonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves - but will she ever forgive him Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope. 

--

I decided to read this book after watching the first season of the TV series. Immediately I was hooked—mainly because I realised the book was so different. We’ve got new characters in this book (including main character Glass) and new storylines.

The narrative is split between four POV characters: Wells, Clarke, Bellamy, and Glass. And I guess because I read this after having watched the series, I can’t help but compare it. I soon realised that characters who’d died in the TV series early on weren’t going to die in the book—instead, we get to know a lot more about them. And these four characters are really well written. They’ve got flaws. Though I have to admit that with the exception of Bellamy, their narrative voices sounded a little similar.

While these four characters are extremely well written, I found many of the secondary and minor characters a little flat. I’d have liked to see Luke and Thalia especially fleshed out a bit more. Octavia’s characterisation seemed a little stronger, but again, not as strong as the POV characters.

So I loved the worldbuilding in this book. Perhaps more than in the tv series, though it is of course similar. But the book feels a lot more realistic. The science is more explained--and it seems like their technology has taken a more natural progression than in the books. An example of this is the cornea slips that many of the main characters have on the spaceship, which don't appear in the TV series.

Talking of the spaceship--it's a lot more structured in the book. And there are clearer divisions. So you've got different sections of the ship, such as Phoenix, and each has a different class-status and we see the conflict between these classes and how some are seen as dispensable. I thought this provided a great way to look at modern societies and how elitist some people can be.

The narrative is told through a mixture of present day action for all four POV characters and their flashbacks. And the flashbacks are what really held the book together. They made everything so much more cohesive; they also really helped me understand the lead-up to the book’s set up. Reading the final flashbacks at the end was an “aha” moment as it made me truly understand what had been happening at the beginning. Not to say that there hadn’t been enough info provided at the start—there had, but the ending just gave it all that little bit of extra meaning.

So this book is shorter than I was expecting it to be. And although Glass had a clear arc in her narrative, there wasn’t so much a complete arc for Clarke, Wells, or Bellamy. Instead, the final few pages introduces another element—the other people who have survivor on earth. This clearly sets up for the next book, and because of this, for me, the book’s written more like a TV series than a novel series. I thought that was especially interesting.

And I do just want to say that although Clarke has two love interests--Wells and Bellamy--it's not really a typical love triangle, which I really appreciated. We see her with both of them at different times in the book, but the romance is definitely not a huge drive-force of the book, which I really appreciated.

The writing is so addictive though, and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended if you want a YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic/science fiction read.

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Blog Tour: STARBOUND by S.E. Anderson - Exclusive Interview!

Hey everyone!

I am so excited today to be taking part in the blog tour for S.E. Anderson's next book! Starbound is the fifth book in the Starstruck Saga, and honestly, I can't wait to read this one! (Especially after the cliffhanger Celestial left us on!)

I'm lucky enough to be great friends with S.E. Anderson, and she's agreed to do an exclusive interview with me, all about Starbound!

But first, let's look at this gorgeous promo image!

Aren't the colours just stunning?

This book is published by Bolide Publishing, and S.E. Anderson also designs her own covers for this series (aside from being an amazing writer and scientist, she also works as a cover designer!). I just love looking at her work, and I can only imagine how much more special it makes her books for her, knowing she also designed the covers and truly captured her vision.

Anyway, onto the interview!

What’s your favourite scene in Starbound?

Not to give any spoilers, but the villain of the novel gives Sally an impossible choice to make; I cried when writing the scene. It’s the strongest Sally has ever been and I wish I could have that strength myself. What can we expect to see from Sally and Zander in this book?

Sally and Zander’s relationship is the ultimate long distance- when you have light years between you, it’s going to be tough to know what’s going on. Both need to grow a little on their own before we can reach the moment readers have been begging me for since book one.
I heard it’s the first book of the series with multiple narrators. Why did you decide to do this and how did you find writing different perspectives?

Since Sally and Zander are separated so dramatically, I thought it was essential we still see his side of the story. For our perspective, Zander fell into Sally’s life; but Zander has led a full, mildly-infinite life on his end before the two of them met. Through his perspective, I could finally explore the mysteries of his past... and have a little fun showing Blayde and Zander’s usual dynamic without Sally in the picture!
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in writing the next instalment of the Starstruck Saga?

Starbound was by far the hardest book I ever had to write. Mostly I had to overcome myself; I didn’t think would be able to write it. It scared me. There was so much I wanted to say but I didn’t know if I had the words to say them. But Sally’s growth was already there, and she, at least, was ready for this adventure. So all I had to do was follow her!

Starbound releases on August 20th! I've already got my pre-order in and can't wait to read book 5 of this amazing sci-fi comedy series!

Review: BOOK OF FIRE by Michelle Kenney

My rating: 5 stars

About Book Of Fire: 


Life outside the domes is not possible. At least that’s what Insiders are told.
Twins Eli and Talia shouldn’t exist. They’re Outsiders.

Their home is a secret. Their lives are a secret. Arafel is a secret.

An unexpected forest raid forces Talia into a desperate mission to rescue her family while protecting the sacred Book of Arafel from those who would use it as a weapon. As Talia and her life long friend Max enter the dome, she makes some unexpected discoveries, and allies, in the form of rugged Insider August, that will change the course of her life forever.

She’ll stop at nothing to save her family but will she sacrifice her heart in the process?

The Fire Sermon meets Gladiator in this brilliant YA debut.

--

Firstly, huge thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley, for providing me with a review copy of this book. 

So, I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, and the first thing that struck me was the language. It's so lyrical and beautiful, and there's something almost haunting about the imagery and tone. The language itself reminded me a lot of the style employed in both The Clan of the Cave Bear and The Walls Around Us. They both have the immersive, lyrical quality that Book of Fire has. Yet Michelle Kenney's novel also has the high stakes of The Hunger Games (I'm always doubtful when I see that one used as a comp title due to how huge it is, but here it really works). 

I'll confess, it did take me a little while to get used to this writing style that is lyrical and beauitful but that covers a lot of action. It felt a little slower at first than other YA novels I'm used to, but once I was used to Michelle Kenney's voice, I could not read fast enough. I just had to know what happens. 

Both Eli and Talia are fully fleshed characters and very well written. I must admit, I love stories with twins--that was one of the reasons I requested a review copy of this book in particular--and the bond these two share is really well written. I also really liked that Eli is Deaf, and yet he's still treated as a valuable member of society for his way with animal and wild creatures. So often, disabled characters are often treated as a burden in fiction, but I really appreciated this representation. 

The other characters are well-written too, and I especially loved the grandfather. Each character has strengths and flaws. 

I really liked the worldbuilding. It's refreshing and new, and gives a lovely twist on your standard fantasy and sci-fi stories. There's also a touch of dystopian in there too, which I adored. The world itself is hugely imaginative and everything is layered nicely, and I loved how we're given the history of this world too, yet there's not really any sections that are heavy in backstory. Instead, everything is woven in pretty seamlessly. And normally, when I've read Dome stories, the MC has been one who lives on the inside--Talia lives on the outside, and it's the insiders who are the threat, and that just felt so new.  A couple of times, I'd forgotten what the 'terminology' in this book referred to, but this wasn't a problem, as Kenney defly weaves clues in to remind you who's who--it was mainly the Sweepers who I kept getting confused about. 

(Also, Exeter is mentioned, and as a local, I loved that!)

I really liked the contrast of the insiders and the outsiders. It was well-thought out and incredibly well executed, the old 'natural' ways vs technology. 

Overall, Book Of Fire is a tightly plotted fantasy story of deception vs truth, and loyalty vs betrayal, with incredibly well written characters and a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Blog Tour: An Excerpt from CELESTIAL by S.E. Anderson

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited to be taking part in the blog tour for CELESTIAL by S.E. Anderson! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and I can't believe that it releases next week. If you haven't already, please check out my review here. 

S.E. Anderson kindly gave me the chance of choosing the excerpt for today's stop on her blog tour, and immediately, I knew which scene I wanted to excerpt. This is one of the lighter moments of the book, and it provides a great contrast with the life-and-death decisions that main character Sally has to make in this book.

The other reason I love this scene is because it reveals SO MUCH about the main characters, Sally, Blayde, and Zander. I love their interactions with one another.

Anyway, onto the excerpt:

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Answers to Prayers Aren’t Always That Good

This morning, I woke up with spoons.

Maybe I should clarify: I was the small spoon. There were arms around me, holding me close against a perfect chest, and as I awoke, the most perfect sense of well-being flowed through me. I wanted to curl in away from the bright light that shone directly in my eyes and just lie here, fully content, fully happy.

Then I remember there wasn't anyone I should have been spooning and, poof, good feeling gone.

I rolled away from the arms, out from under the blankets, and into the cold of the morning. Instantly, I pulled back the blanket as the chill brought goosebumps to the surface. There was no memory of where I was, who was with me, or who was supposed to be with me. I tried to open my eyes, but the light burned, making everything look fuzzy. I reached out a hand, thwacking something soft. I had the dreadful feeling that it might have been a face.

"Stop that," came a mutter of muffled annoyance next to me.

"What the?" I stammered as I watched Blayde slowly wake up beside me. She opened her eyes and smiled at me, one of her twisted grins that showed too many teeth.

"Morning sunshine." She grinned, and I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Oh damn, Blayde," I said, "did we ...?"

"Did we what?" She pushed herself up on her elbows. "I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep with you. Why? If that something you see happening?"

"It's just, well, you were spooning me?"

"Because you asked me to."

"When?"

"Last night."

"When, last night?"

She dropped her elbows and collapsed back on the bed. "When you got back, all sandy and gross, from wherever you and my brother were off to," she said, shuffling her shoulders in what I guess could have been a shrug. "A few harsh words were exchanged a propos of this bed. Mainly, me not wanting to move or share. I got here first, why should I move?"

"So … what happened last night?"

"You mean after the two of you stumbled in, you threatened to kill me again, and told me that if I wasn't going to move, the least I could do was spoon you?"

"Yeah?"

"Nothing." Blayde grinned. "You just slept."

"And why is Zander in the bed?" I asked, glancing one person over and seeing Zander sprawled beside his sister. His gravity-defying hair must have been as exhausted as he was because it fell on his face, shading his eyes from sunlight. His face twitched; our voices must have woken him.

"He was tired?"

"And why is Nim here?" I asked, seeing the teen down the lineup. Somehow, the four of us had managed to squeeze into the only bed. Exhaustion does silly things to people.

"He was here first." Blayde shrugged again.

"I thought you said you were here first?"

"No, I was first compared to you. And you felt bad about kicking the kid out."

"Don't call me that," grumbled Nim, proving once and for all that he was awake.

"You're fifteen, and I've lost track. You're all kids to me."

"Sally's not that much older than me," he mumbled. "I think?"

"Stop it, please." Zander sat up, taking the blankets with him. "We're supposed to be putting a plan in place today to save thousands of people ... I think. I'm not quite awake yet. I need coffee."

About CELESTIAL:

She wanted a holiday. They needed a chosen one.

Sally, Zander, and Blayde, accompanied by their new friend Nim, have only one request: no more bizarre distractions on their hunt for Earth.

But before their cells can complete a single jump, the team is shoved off course and crash into a dreary old temple. Worse yet, there seems to be some confusion over Sally’s face, as it looks exactly like that the local deity, Selena, goddess of the moon and omniscient absentee. Sally’s ticking every box on the ancient prophecies checklist.

Fresh off of her meds and riding the withdrawal, and Sally must choose between embracing the role of Goddess so as to protect the planet from mysterious Sky People, or being thrown in a Volcano. Not the best way to start a tropical vacation. It’s not going to be easy uniting warring factions, dealing with excitable whispering forests, or fighting both literal and figurative demons. Not to mention keeping up the appearance of divinity when all Sally wants is a nap.

Armed only with some high school improv’ classes and a basic knowledge of foreign pop songs, Sally must save the planet – before everything goes up in flames. 

Don't forget to pre-order CELESTIAL now!

Review: CELESTIAL by S.E. Anderson

Celestial by S.E. Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ever since I read S.E. Anderson's debut, STARSTRUCK, I've been hooked on her books. These are fun sci-fi adventures like no others I've read, and I was lucky enough to get an advance reader copy of the fourth in the series, CELESTIAL.

And let me tell you this: With phenomenal character development, huge plot twists, and worldbuilding that gives us something new in the Starstruck world, CELESTIAL is an entertaining adventure and an emotional story that really makes you think about what's right and wrong.

The main thing about this book is it's so different to the others. We see a whole new side to Sally as her mental health is explored further, and as she jumps into the role of Goddess for a group of people she's only just meant. She becomes almost harder-faced and harsher, and some of her decisions surprised me, but I really liked how we saw her confidence grow. She felt like she'd grown into her role within the space-traveling-trio and she owned it--she's far from a tag-along now. She spoke her own mind, and although at times I didn't agree with her or her actions, I appreciated that she felt strong.

The other thing that's really different is the worldbuiling. There's less science-fiction in this book compared to the others in the series, and it's more fantasy-based, more spiritual. I really liked that and the new setting allowed us to see new sides to all the characters (not just Sally). I especially liked how we see much more of Blayde and understand her more.

The plot itself reminded me a lot of The Road to El Dorado, but it had a serious tone underlying it too.
The tension's high in this book, and there are many twists. Sort of a spoiler: there was also one death that made me cry.

And the ending...! Wow. I did not see that coming and evoked some VERY strong emotions. I can't wait for book five now.

Review: ALLEGIANT by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So it’s been about five or six years since I first read the Divergent trilogy, and I’ve recently been doing research into the structure of the final book of a YA dystopian trilogy or series, and so I’ve just finished reading Allegiant again.

I didn’t re-read books one and two again, but rather dived straight into book three in my analysis, and I definitely think that this time round, I have different thoughts on Allegiant. I don’t know whether this is because I’m coming to it in a more analytical way this time, rather than as just a reader.

So, the majority of this book is fast-paced and the writing pulls you in. I was particularly enthralled by the imagery and how less says more in a lot of places—particularly as we’re shown Tris’s emotions.

Bringing Tobias’s POV into this trilogy with the final book is still something that bothers me a little. On the one hand, it’s great for his character development—he felt like he had real depth and I loved getting to know him more. But, on the other hand, it changed the tone of the trilogy, and its direction. One thing I remember loving about Divergent and Insurgent is how connected I felt to Tris as a narrator. Her voice really shone through the prose, and it feels like that connection was lost with book three as it’s told through two points of view.

But this new narrative structure also works—and it paves the way for the ending. I’m trying to be spoiler-free in this review, but let’s just say it’s clear the ending wouldn’t have worked if we didn’t have Tobias’s POV too.

The other thing I briefly want to mention here is that, while I liked learning more about Tobias, I found it harder to relate to him in many ways in this book because of his name change. For so long, he was known by his nickname (Four) to Tris and us, yet for the majority of this book he’s called Tobias by Tris, and in his own chapters too. This did feel a little jarring to me. I understand this is probably a personal preference though as other books where a character’s real name has been revealed at a late point has also bothered me.

This book definitely has a bigger-picture feel to it (which makes sense given the ending for book two and how Tris and co leave the city and head for the Bureau). The new worldbuilding is impressive, and it definitely puts a new spin on everything in the first two books, but at times, for me, it felt a bit too much. Like things had changed a little too quickly.

But this bigger-picture feeling led to many characters taking on bigger, more dominant roles in this book’s plot than the previous books. It wasn’t just a boy and a girl trying to save the world—it was organised and involved the work of several of the lesser characters too, and I really liked this. It showed a group of people coming together to fight where each plays an important role.

This book also throws up a lot of questions regarding the ethics of science, experiments, and genetics, and questions how much people are responsible for their own actions. I found this discourse very interesting in the way it was integrated into the story, but it did change the tone quite a bit—this book seems more political than the previous instalments of the trilogy which could arguably be thought of as more entertaining reads.

The relationship between Tris and Tobias is well-written in this book and is one of the most realistic romantic relationships I’ve come across in YA literature. They fall out, nearly break up, and it shows the true ups and downs. I especially liked how insecurity was a theme. It felt authentic and a natural build up of the events in the last two books.

And the ending? I remember the first time when I read it I was super shocked. I both hated it and loved it. This time, going in with the knowledge of the ending led to a different experience as I discovered just how much foreshadowing there is in place and the inevitability of that event. Yet it also made the pacing at the end seem slower in the final chapters—something that, on my second read, seemed to upset the balance of the book a little.

Overall, Allegiant is an emotionally charged and powerful story, but it differs in tone and theme greatly from books one and two in its series, almost becoming something very different and unexpected.


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Review: WHISPER by Lynette Noni

Whisper by Lynette Noni

“Lengard is a secret government facility for extraordinary people,” they told me.

I believed them. That was my mistake.

There isn’t anyone else in the world like me.

 I’m different. I’m an anomaly. I’m a monster.

 For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four — ‘Jane Doe’ — has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word. As Jane’s resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new — and unexpectedly kind — evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard’s mysterious ‘program’, discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot … and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world.

—-

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t what I’d hoped it to be and it’s currently a DNF. Over the last couple of months, I’ve picked it up several times, but each time I just couldn’t get into the story much past the 60% mark and so it FELT like reading and I just wasn’t as absorbed in the story as I wanted to be.

Don’t get me wrong; the beginning was brilliant. Jane’s situation sucked me in right from the start and I was so curious. I devoured the opening.

But then the pacing just seemed a little off. I don’t know, it just seemed a bit too flat at times and way too tense at others—to me, the reveals and twists didn’t quite meant sense. I felt there were a lot of contradictions, especially regarding the supernatural abilities.

Ward was by far my favourite character and I loved the romance building and how he gave Jane a nickname.

But unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me at the moment.

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Cover Reveal: CELESTIAL by S.E. Anderson

S.E. Anderson has fast become my go-to author for light sci-fi. Whenever I want an engaging read about space-travel with just the right amount of humour, or to read about the jolly (and not-so-jolly) antics of a (human) young woman and two time-travelling immortals, I pick up her books.

And, today, I'm delighted to be revealing the cover for CELESTIAL, book four in the Starstruck Saga. I'm currently reading an ARC of this book, and let me tell you this, it's truly amazing. We see a new side to Sally (the main character) as she finds herself promptly stepping into the role of Goddess for a society she's just met and trying to remain alive. But, anyway, review to come later!

For now, check out the gorgeous cover!

Isn't it just beautiful?

I love it so much!

You can find S.E. Anderson's books on Amazon.

Review: TRAVELER by S.E. Anderson

Traveler by S.E. Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sally’s search for Earth isn’t off to a good start: chased out of her hotel room and into the broom closet of a spaceship, she’s accidentally become a stowaway on the Alliance Flagship, Traveler.

But when sabotage and murder show the crew’s true colors, Zander and Blayde are forced to stay and help them out of their mess. Lies, drama, and deceit lead them light years away to a mysterious planet on the edge of the galaxy, where the crew must band together just to stay alive. Which would be much easier if they didn’t have to deal with a diva first-mate, a droid with a religious obsession, and Blayde’s Ex whose brain is a spaceship.

Finding Earth has to be put on the back burner, as Sally’s stuck tending alien boo-boos - and she still has no idea what she’s doing. And she might not live long enough to get off the planet in one piece.

Traveler is the third book in S.E. Anderson’s Starstruck Saga and I think it might just be my favourite yet. It follows the usual crew—Sally, Zander, and Blayde—as they become stuck on a broken spaceship...only to discover everything is not as it seems and there are definite bad guys hanging among them.

This book has so many twists! I was actually speechless with the one early on involving the ship’s crew! And equally, the one at the 75% mark involving Kork surprised me too. I totally did not see that coming.

And Kork—okay, I loved him. He’s definitely my favourite character now. (Sorry, Zander!)

The last quarter of this book was what really made it an absolutely fantastic read for me. Everything came together and I loved how it reminded us of things in the first two books, pulling on strands of those plots and incorporating them into the end of book three—yet doing this in a way that still leaves an unanswered question for the next book. Because of this amalgamation of different plot elements, Traveler has a ‘wider’ feel than the other two books, and Sally also seems more mature and we see more character growth from her.

The other thing I loved about this book was the Star Trek references! Adding this contemporary angle to a book which takes place in the near future and involves space travel and alien adventures made it more relatable—plus, hearing that Sally is a big Star Trek fan too also helps make her personally more relatable and allows her to call out elements that seem too much like “plot points in a film” in the scenarios that happen to her on the spaceship. That was a really nice touch.

All in all, this is a fast-paced, wild space adventure with diverse characters, humour, and just the right amount of action.

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Review: The Butterfly Code by Sue Wyshynski

The Butterfly Code by Sue Wyshynski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My name is Aeris Thorne. I am a genetically modified human. 

PAINFUL SECRETS.
STARTLING TRUTHS.
UNDENIABLE LOVE.

All it took was a chance meeting--one tingling glance across a darkened street to change my life.

I'd been searching for my two best friends in the crowded Zenith Club, which was a really bad idea because I'm totally claustrophobic. 

I burst outside, and that's when I came face-to-face with the incredibly gorgeous Hunter Cayman. Dark-haired, tall, and leaning against an insane sports car, my pulse went haywire. Maybe things weren't so bad after all. The young doctor had his long muscular arms crossed over his leather jacket clad chest, and all his six-foot something would make any girl's knees turn weak. But then, if what Ella said was true, Hunter was the kind of guy who left behind a trail of broken hearts. And heartache was the last thing I needed right now.

Yet there's something strange, something almost superhuman about Hunter. It's more than that infuriatingly knowing grin. I'm trying to stop thinking about him, and I get the feeling he's avoiding me, too. Yet Deep Cove is a tiny town and every time we run into each other the tension literally crackles, sparking around us. It just figures that when suddenly I'm in danger, he's there to save me.

In truth, I should be dead. By all the logic in this world, I should be shattered to pieces. How fast was I going on that ATV when I smashed into those iron gates? Ninety? A hundred? And the men who were chasing me, where did they go?

Somehow I'm whole.

Maybe better than whole. 

There's no one I can talk to, not even my best friend, Gage. Gage hates Hunter. He wants Hunter's laboratory to be shut down. He thinks Hunter's a monster. And yet, if that's true, if Hunter's a monster...than what am I? I'm not sure what terrifies me more, the metamorphosis taking place inside me, or the intensely powerful connection with a guy whose heart and soul has become linked with mine.

Wow, what a book.

Right from the start, we’re thrown into the action. I loved the narrative style so much, particularly the way the narrator questions everything. And I particularly enjoyed the who is he? what’s he doing here? intro for Dr Hunter Cayman.

This new adult paranormal thriller/suspense is so beautifully written, and it really was a delight to read. I loved Aeris, the main character. She felt real, and the way her character changes and progresses also felt believable. The little details we’re given about Aeris’s life and her past add so much authenticity too. And, as this book’s written in first person, she had a real voice. Her way of thinking constantly oozed through the writing, and at times was enough to make me forget I was actually reading a book.

One thing that struck me about the plot were the futuristic/SF elements. I hadn’t been expecting them as we’d already been given the paranormal/mystery/thriller elements, and they were a nice surprise, particularly as I LOVE LOVE LOVE speculative fiction.

And, I also love symbolism too–particularly in names. And there was a lot of this to keep me happy. A lot of work has obviously gone into this book, and I’m determined to reread it soon so I can spot all the foreshadowing–I noticed a few instances in my first reading, which were carefully incorporated, but I’m sure there’s more!

There’s just the right amount of action, suspense and tension in this book, and it kept me turning the pages. I particularly loved the relationship between Aeris and Gage, possibly more than that between Aeris and Hunter. It felt realistic, and that’s what I particularly loved about it.

But Hunter himself was such an interesting character. Right from the start, I was drawn to him–in much the same way that our main character seems to be. I was intrigued about this man who’s apparently dangerous and dark… and I was so, so curious. And there was just something so enigmatic and mysterious about him. He’s the perfect love interest! I really hope there’s a sequel to THE BUTTERFLY CODE.

I’ll definitely be looking for more books by this author!

(I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review).

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Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Note: this review is from 2013.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother-or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. 

Wow. So I LOVED this book. It's been ages since I read a good science fiction story, and this was so well executed. At first, when I started reading it, I didn't really like it; Yancey has a unique writing style and it took me a while to get used to it. But I am SO glad I pursued and finished it. Because, seriously, this is one of those books that I just can't stop thinking about.

It was a fantastic read.

The characters were realistic and they had flaws--hugely important. The main character, Cassie, was one of my favourites. She was honest and just seemed so real. She made mistakes, got embarrassed and, yeah, seemed real.

I really loved Evan, despite how creepily he was portrayed in places. And the big secret about him... although part of me suspected it was coming, I was still blown over when it was revealed.

The other main characters, Sammy and Ben, were great too. And I loved how the book was told from all of their perspectives.

And there was humour too. Admittedly, most of it was saracastic and dry humour, but the part about the pet log literally had me in tears. This humour provided a very much needed lighter edge to this dark, gritty story.

The detail in this book was brilliant too! Absolutely fantastic. I could easily see that Rick Yancey had done lots of research for this story, to get its details correct. This made it more authentic in several places, adding to the overall reading experience.

One thing I will say, is that I wasn't too happy with the ending, mainly because it was a cliff-hanger, and I want to know what happened next NOW. But I am SO glad that there's going to be another book to follow The 5th Wave!

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