Cover Reveal: ONCE WE WERE by Kat Zhang

Last year, What's Left of Me, Kat Zhang's debut novel, hit the shelves and marked the beginning of The Hybrid Chronicles.  It is about Hybrids - two souls living in one body.  One soul is dominant and the other is recessive.  The recessive soul is supposed to disappear by their 5th birthday but Eva, the recessive soul in this series, is determined to live.  This is dangerous, and Addie, the dominant soul, knows it.  For the past three years, Addie has known that Eva is still there.  Hybrids are considered a threat to society.  Nevertheless, they find a way to make Eva move again, but they have to be careful to not get caught.

Once We Were is the continuation of the series.  Last week, the cover image was revealed:

The graphics of this cover are very aligned to the first book.  Here they are side-by-side:

Synopsis for Once We Were:

Eva was never supposed to have survived this long. As the recessive soul, she should have faded away years ago. Instead, she lingers in the body she shares with her sister soul, Addie. When the government discovered the truth, they tried to “cure” the girls, but Eva and Addie escaped before the doctors could strip Eva’s soul away.

Now fugitives, Eva and Addie find shelter with a group of hybrids who run an underground resistance. Surrounded by others like them, the girls learn how to temporarily disappear to give each soul some much-needed privacy. Eva is thrilled at the chance to be alone with Ryan, the boy she’s falling for, but troubled by the growing chasm between her and Addie. Despite clashes over their shared body, both girls are eager to join the rebellion.

Yet as they are drawn deeper into the escalating violence, they start to wonder: How far are they willing to go to fight for hybrid freedom? Faced with uncertainty and incredible danger, their answers may tear them apart forever.

What do ya'll think about the cover?

- Mariela

Once We Were by Kat Zhang

Expected publication: September 17th 2013 by HarperCollins

Book Review: ALTERED by Jennifer Rush

4.5 out of 5 hearts

Lately, I have been trying to keep up with the books that are mentioned all over the web.  This is one of those.  Let me just tell you, I didn't even have a chance to change my "currently reading" image on my blog because I read this so fast.  We're talking a day and a half.  

Anna's dad, Arthur, is a doctor/scientist that is working on a group of young men that are locked up in his secret lab in the basement.  These young men's biological compositions have been altered to create the next generation of super soldiers by the Branch, at the expense of their freedom and memories - all of them had their memories wiped clean.  Anna discovered them a few years ago, but until 8 months ago, was forbidden entrance to the lab.  Now, she helps her Dad with this studies and has developed feelings for them, especially for the leader Sam.  Unexpectedly, the Branch decides it is time to take the boys away and Sam is able to escape, liberating the other three boys and forcing Anna to escape with them.

Since their minds are wiped clean, none of the boys can remember life outside of the lab.  But Sam has left clues to his past, including markings on his body.  Together, they are on the run form the Branch and in a race against time to find the truth behind their alterations and Sam's past.  However, they discover that Anna is connected to them in more ways than their time in the lab.  She find out that her life was all a fraud and the Branch wants her, needs her.

I had no expectations for this book.  Really, I didn't know what it was about before I started to read it.  Like I stated, I read it because it was all over the web.  Rush came through and blew me away.  In the beginning, I assumed it was going to take a while to get into it, but no.  Rush made things happen immediately   I was clinging to the pages and flipped through them at the speed of light.  A lot happened, but the connections and transitions were extremely clear and carefully planned out of Rush.  

It truly was like watching an action movie on paper.  Rush even included some thrilling surprises.  And the romance is believably great.

Ready, set, GO!

-Mariela

"I'd always cared for him, loved him even, but risking your life for someone changes things.  It wasn't just love.  It was a million other things all woven together.  Emotions I couldn't even name." - Jennifer Rush, Altered

Altered by Jennifer Rush

Hardcover, First Edition, 323 pages
Published January 1st 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN 0316197084 (ISBN13: 9780316197083)

Book Review: CINDER by Marissa Meyer

3 out of 5 hearts

Another blogosphere find.  Well actually, I heard all about Scarlet, the book that follows this one in the series and figured I'd give the Lunar Chronicles a try.

Cinder Linh is an adopted cyborg and lives in New Beijing after World War IV.  She is the Cinderella of the future, a helpless girl living under the care of a ruthless stepmother.  Her only friends in the world are the android Iko and her stepsister Peony.  She spends her days as New Beijing's best mechanic and is forced to give all her earnings to her stepmother.  Her reputation as mechanic earns her a mysterious visit from New Beijing's own Prince Kai.  He is more handsome in the flesh.  But, Cinder has bigger fish to fry.  Her beloved sister Peony becomes infected with the plague, a plague that is taking thousands of lives by the minute.  To make things worse, Cinder's stepmother blames her for Peony's illness and sends her off to become a medical test subject.  There, she discovers the secret of her past and her role in an intergalactic feud.  She is the key to humanity's survival.  What can she do?

For me, this book was very predictable.  The entire time I was reading it, I knew what was going to happen. Not to say that I knew the entire story line within the first few pages but I was able to assume the entire storyline after I was a third in.  However, Meyer has a way of writing that makes you want to keep reading.  Even though I already knew how things were going to play out, I wanted things to get better for Cinder and Prince Kai.  I was cheering for her, so I kept reading.  Plus, I hated the villainous Queen Levana and wanted Cinder to bring her down.

Even though I could say this book was mediocre, I have a feeling that the series as a whole will be worth the read.  So, I already checked Scarlet out from my library.

-Mariela

“Imagine there was a cure, but finding it would cost you everything. It would completely ruin your life. What would you do?” ― Marissa Meyer, Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Hardcover, 1st Edition, 387 pages
Published January 3rd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
ISBN 0312641893 (ISBN13: 9780312641894)
Edition language:  English

Book Watch: UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody

UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody is the first installment of The Unremembered Trilogy.  It releases in the U.S. on March 5, 2013, less than a month away.

I will admit I have not read any of Brody's other books.  From her book list, she seems to write mostly chic lit, which is not my thing.  However, UNREMEMBERED is right up my alley.  It is a suspenseful sci-fi trilogy.

The reason I want to ready it?  I want to know what happened to Seraphina!  Plain and simple.  Sure Brody throws in the love story normally included in chic lit, but UNREMEMBERED looks like it has an action filled plot à la THE HUNGER GAMES.

Here's the official synopsis:

 The only thing worse than forgetting her past . . . is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn't on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world. 

Crippled by a world she doesn't know, plagued by abilities she doesn't understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them. 

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget? 

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

The first five chapters are available to download for FREE!  (Yea buddy!)

Nook

Kindle

Google Play

Kobo Books

After it is released, I will be reviewing this book and I keep you posted.

-Mariela

   

Book Review: THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer

5 out of 5 hearts

This is one of the most creative stories I have read in a while.  I wonder, how did Farmer came up with the idea?  The best way for me to describe it in one sentence is that it is a science fiction-ish Mexican soap opera.  It has the sci-fi aspects, drama, love & hate, good & evil, & turning points that will have you on an edge.

Let me start with the back story.  Mateo Alacran (Matthew Scorpion in English) is an evil and powerful drug lord that rules over the country Opium, which is in between the US and Mexico border.  Drug trafficking had become such a problem, that Mateo (AKA "El Patron", which is The Boss in English) builds a partnership with the USA and Atzlan (current day Mexico) to attain the land at the border with the promise of keeping illegals out of both countries.  This led to the establishment of the country Opium, which excels in the grown and exportation of opium.

El Patron has lived 8 lives; he is almost 140 years old.  He has prolonged his life by harvesting his clones for their organs.  If one of his organs fails, he acquires the organ of one of his clones.  Due to international law restrictions, the brains of clones are purposely damaged upon birth because clones are classified as livestock, just like cattle and horses.  In one instance, the brain of one clone is spared and awards the clone the opportunity to grow up to be a healthy boy.  This clone's name is Matt.

Matt is the clone of Mateo Alacran , and this book focuses on his journey to self acceptance.  From the beginning of his life to the age of 6, Matt lives in seclusion in a little cottage nestled among the poppy fields of opium plants; he never leaves the house in daylight.  He is cared for by Celia, one of El Patron's housemaids, and she loves him like her own son.  Some children from El Patron's mansion discover Matt one day and he gets injured, forcing the children to take Matt into the mansion.  At that point, Matt discovers that he is a clone and is treated like an animal.  However, once El Patron finds out about this treatment, he forces all in the mansion to treat Matt with respect and takes him under his wing, even providing Matt with his personal bodyguard, Tim Lin.  Despite living a materialistically comfortable life, Matt finds it difficult to accept his humanity as everyone else around him is revolted by his existence.  He is astounded when he meets the few people that love him and treat him with kindness.

The day finally comes.  Matt is 14.  Subconsciously, he knew the day could come, but he loved El Patron for treating him like a human child and refused to believe it.  Memories flash back and he untangles secret messages that were told to him, containing clues that this day would come.  El Patron's heart is failing and it is time Matt's existence is put to work.  However love spurts courage and turns a new page in Matt's future.  Matt is put to the ultimate test of survival, relying only his memories of Celia and Tim Lin, whether it is about edible plants of the desert or a motivational comment.  Ironically, being a clone has its perks.  Ultimately, everything has an end - the fight, the journey, the lives, the evil, the rejection.

Okay, so that's a lengthy summary.  But a lot happens in its 380 pages.  This is page turner.  It is one of those books that you know what is going to happen at the end, but you have no idea how.  And when those "hows" are presented, you are left gasping because you didn't NOT see that coming.  Believe me.  This is an award winning book and you need to find out why.

-Mariela

"No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human.  That's because there isn't any difference.  The idea of clones being inferior is a filthy lie." - Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Paperback, Alternate Cover Edition for ISBN 0689852231, 380 pages
Published by Simon Pulse (first published January 1st 2002)
Edition language:  English