Book Review: Mind Games by Teri Terry

Teri Terry, we finally meet again. I really need to finish the Slated Trilogy.

In a future world, life is tightly controlled by the all-powerful PareCo. Standing out from the crowd is dangerous so misfit Luna hides her secrets carefully, not realising her own power. Unlike her friends and family, Luna has never been able to plug into Realtime, PareCo's virtual world, where almost everyone now lives their lives. So how do PareCo know about Luna, and why do they want her for their elite think tank?

The truth is hidden in a web of shining silver secrets, and the corrupt authorities would do anything to keep it that way. Can Luna find a way to use her own hidden powers and bring the truth to light before it's too late?

This is another Dystopia from author of Slated (a trilogy that I have still not finished despite really liking it). There is actually a weird reference to it in this book which is fun thing to think about it.

I found this world interesting, if not completely logical. There are hackers in this world that are tattooed, in black clothing and everyone else happily wears the exact the same as everyone else for some reason. Also at the start of the novel, Luna customises her clothes so must have some interest but that little tad bit never comes into play except for slight plot.

The ending while satisfying was, well lacking a bit of emotional. Whilst having this special ability, Luna also seems not to get upset at all. This is a Dystopia so its not really a spoiler to say that terrible things happen in this book and changes in emotional would be expected. Sure, a lot is happening, but it like she never takes it in. It's like "I lost my mum and now I will never feel again". That happen before the book started so not a spoiler.

Though, maybe I'm one lacking emotional as I feel no attachments to characters. They have their parts to play, my favourite is Blood who must have had a very lonely existent because who the hell would want to hang around him and he has the worst hacker ability. I don't care that much about the characters as this is a good plot book and despite what I said there is something to be lost.

Overall, I gave this book 4/5 stars for Swirl Tattoos. I'm petty sure this is a standalone, but I'm not sure because with YA you never know what's going to happen. There could be more with this world and character but it doesn't need another novel. It's interesting addition to books involving virtual world and people hacking it.

I got this book for Review off NetGalley and is being publish by Orchard Books on 5th March 2015 (Tomorrow).

Book Review: Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Ain’t literal titles the best?

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

me. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

This book deals well with lost and shows how destructive a hurricane can be emotionally. The hurricane and the damage were well written.

Doing most the book, people are just terrible to Jersey and all of them experience mood swings. There were points where I really wish that Jersey would stand up for herself. Her stand of action is bit late and redundant. You would find it very hard not to feel sympathy for Jersey at some point in this book considering he repeatedly abandoned throughout the novel in different forms.

I feel that certain characters were very flat and only there to serve their purpose. We get hints at depth but it was elaborate at much as I would have liked.

This book also sends mixed messages about the importance of biology in family. I feel like wanted to say that it doesn’t matter, but in action that’s not what happens at all. The only family tie that isn’t biology dumps her at the first chance.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for numbered cats. It was a nice read but has a few issues. I do plan to read her other books soon.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s being published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on 6^th May 2014.

P.S. I read a proof but there is a really weird thing in that bugged me that it even made into a proof. This more note of something I want to point out. Half-siblings in the book are referred to as step which was confusing as hell. I really do hope that has been changed before the finial proof.

Book Review: The Good Luck of Right Now by Mattrew Quick

I prefer to believe in Karma because then people get what’s coming to them.

Bartholomew Neil is thirty-nine and lost. He's lived his whole life, up till a few weeks ago, with his devoted mum, but now she has died Bartholomew has no idea how to be on his own. His grief counsellor, Wendy, says he needs to find his flock and leave the nest. But how does a man whose whole life has been grounded learn how to fly? So Bartholomew turns to Richard Gere, the man his mum adored from afar, in the hope he can offer some answers. In Bartholomew's letters to Richard Gere he explores philosophy and friendship, alien abduction and the mystery of women. The letters also reveal his heart-breaking need of a family, but when Bartholomew does manage to assemble a motley family of sorts, he seems to have taken on more than he bargained for . . .

This book is a character study so that what going on.

The characters are tad flat for my liking. Most of them feel one-dimensional except for Bartholomew. The other character were just supporting cast and even with Bartholomew he not very memorable.

It also features the teaching Buddhist with the main character being life-long catholic. There other weird stuff such as alien abduction.

This novel is in the format of letters to Richard Gere. This book is meant to be, being adapted into a movie so I’m hoping to they get Richard Gere to play Bartholomew mainly because it would be terrible casting and it would be confusing as hell if they keep the whole Richard Gere side to the book. Back to the point of the letters, this was done quite well as there is some lines of dialogue but Bartholomew (which is a hellish name to keep writing) keeps a note of interesting things that people say so that sort of works.

I’m not sure what I thought of the ending. It seemed a little bit over happy for me.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for preserved body parts. It had issues but would recommend for people who like letter formatted books and character driven books. I enjoyed reading and did like it mainly for the letter format.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s being published by Picador on 10^th April 2014 (also currently known as tomorrow).

Book Review: Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Dutch boys never seem interested in me, mainly because I've never met any.

Funfact: Willem is Blonde.

Twenty-four hours can change your life . . . 

Allyson and Willem share one magical day together in Paris, before chance rips them apart. 

The romantic, emotional companion to Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents life throws at us.

But is one day enough to find your fate?

Basically, this fills out the missing parts of the Just One Day by being in Willem's point of view. Also elaborate on things hinted on in the first book about Willem's past.

 The book is separated into two parts with the same titles as the last one and we join Willem's point of view. We find out about Willem childhood and what he was getting up before Allyson finds him.It answer at lot of questions that left unanswered in the first book and it definitely worth it to read it if you're enjoy the book. I don't think the book would much sense if you haven't read the first book at points.

Some character development going, this is like an instant love book but it the realistic kind where they doubt which I love. Meeting each other causes them both to question their lives and relations with other people. Allyson in the first book and Willem in this one. Willem has lovely friends, but he is sort of arsehole to girls. Though, I actually like Willem a lot better after reading this.

Overall, I give it four out of five stars for clueless girlfriends. It was enjoyable read and a good addition to the story. It leaves you wondering but I think the end is promising enough. If you like the first one then you should definitely read this one.