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Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Published: Balzer + Bray (August 28th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 403 pages
Series: Defiance, #1
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary:
Defiance by C. J. Redwine is rich postapocalyptic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Graceling and Tamora Pierce.

While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan--the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Review:

Rachel Adams is not like the other girls of Baalboden. She isn't interested in pleasing people or learning how to cook or clean. She is much more interested in learning how to fight and take care of herself. The only person Rachel has is her father and they have a strong bond. But then one day he doesn't return from his courier job and Rachel knows something has gone wrong. Since she is still young, she must have a protector. Her father had written that her protector would be Logan, his apprentice. He knew that Logan would be the best person to care for Rachel.

Unfortunately, Rachel and Logan don't have the best of relationships. Rachel had told Logan that she had feelings for him a few years earlier and he shot her down. The last thing Rachel needs, or wants, is to have to live with Logan.

Logan and Rachel are similar in a lot of ways; both strong, passionate, and loyal. This is good but it also leads to quite a few disagreements between the characters. For a while I wondered if they'd even be able to develop a friendship, much less a romance.

In this world, there is a Commander who rules all and has tremendous power. The people of the city depend on him for safety but he is manipulating them all. Beyond the walls no one is safe. The creatures come out randomly, at times, and people know they won't survive. But regardless of that, Rachel is willing to risk her life on several occasions in order to find the truth about her father.

Defiance contains such a complex world and there are still many, many more questions to be answered. I can't wait to delve into Deception and see where this world takes us.

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It's been a while since I've done an IMM. Here are pictures of most of the books I've received over the past 8 weeks or so.

Review
When You Were Mine (ARC) by Rebecca Serle
Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
Last Breath (SIGNED) by Rachel Caine
Wrecked (ARC) by Anna Davies
One Breath Away (ARC) by Heather Gudenkauf
Black Dawn (SIGNED) by Rachel Caine
The Calling by Kelley Armstrong
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Forgiven by Jana Oliver
Pushing the Limits (ARC) by Katie McGarry
Lost Voices by Sara Porter
Such a Rush (SIGNED ARC) by Janenifer Echols
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Slide by Jill Hathaway
The Secret Circle: The Divide by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: Moonsong by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Compelled by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Return by L.J. Smith
Invisible Sun by David Macinnis Gill
Blackwatch (ARC) by Janena Burtenshaw
So Close to You (ARC) by Rachel Carter
Once (ARC) by Anna Carey
Drain You (ARC) by M.B Brown
Insignia (ARC) by S.J. Kincaid
Tiger Lily (ARC) by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Endlessly (ARC) by Kiersten White
Team Human (ARC) by Justine Larbalestier
Destiny (ARC) by Gillian Shields
Defiance (ARC) by C.J. Redwine
Erasing Time (ARC) by C.J. Hill
The Lost Girl (ARC) by Sangu Mandanna
Starling (ARC) by Lesley Livingston
Two or Three Things I Forgot to Tell You (ARC) by Joyce Carol Oates
Over You (ARC) by Emma McLaughlin
Life Happens Next (ARC) by Terry Truman
Don't Turn Around (ARC) by Michelle Gagnon

Purchased (Not Pictured)
How to Ruin My Boyfriend's Reputation by Simone Elkeles
Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowen Boys by Kate Brian
Snitch by Allison van Diepen
Winter's Kiss by Janenifer Echols and Catherine Hapka
The List by Siobhan Vivian
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

"Not only was I unable to put this book down, but I was also unable to shut up about this book!" — Miss Remmers

Amazon.com...

"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge."

This will be a pretty average review as I don't want to give anything away (if there's anyone else in the world who hasn't read "The Hunger Games ") and also because there are so many reviews available online of this book. But I'll do my best.:)

Not only was I unable to put this book down, but I was also unable to shut up about this book! I was telling absolutely everyone who would listen: my mother, my boyfriend, my residents, my students, even one of the Principals before an interview! While I did have to prioritize and (regretfully) lesson plans came before "CF," I took this book with me everywhere despite knowing there was little chance of me actually having time to read it.

I do have to say that "CF" didn't quite reach the epitome of standards that "The Hunger Games" set. But this could be because I was already awed by the society that Suzanne Collins created. I also thought that the actual plot of "CF" wasn't as fast paced as "The Hunger Games" and that the story apart from the beginning politics of the second novel was actually very small. I did love how, I'll be careful to not spoil anything, the "game" played out, a lot of thought went into this and it was done extremely well.

As for Team Peeta or Team Gale — I'm not really sure. I feel like Gale hasn't played a huge part in the books and their whole romance is based on the past. As readers, we are given very little insight into this relationship — it's more of assumed. While Gale may sincerely care for Katniss romantically, as a reader I've been much more exposed to Peeta's feelings for her. Yes, Gale is a great friend — but I think he's forcing the romance. So the more I think about it — the more I've decided that it is time.

This is it — for the first time I'm declaring that I am...

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 9/10
Setting: 4/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 94/100 A

Favorite Quote:
"At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead" (118).

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen (February 28th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 375 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher
Series: Delirium #2
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

Review: SPOILERS!! Pandemonium may be just one of the many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels we have seen recently; however, it will always stick out to me simply because of the complexity of Lauren Oliver's writing.

I admit, it took me a while to get into the groove of this book. The chapters alternate between"now" and"then" and I had a hard time figuring out when was now and what was then. Yes, slightly confusing. About mid-way into the story I felt more comfortable with that structure. It gave us a glimpse of what Lena is doing now, compared to where she was once she first got into the Wilds. Lena"then" was more weak, a bit whiny, and sort of got on my nerves. Then again, she is dealing with the fact that Alex is not with her so I tried to understand her struggles to fit into this foreign world.

If anything, Lena's time in the Wilds showed her exactly what she needed to survive. She learned how people take care of each other and the true dangers of living away from everything she knew.

The"now" part of the story takes place months later with Lena in New York. I won't go into a lot of details of this section because it was part of the surprise of the book. I was fascinated reading what was going on and how Lena was involved. But I will say that this is the part of the story where the love-triangle begins and we meet Julian.

Lena and Julian do have a very unlikely connection and I liked that a lot. I felt Julian was a wonderful character to add to this story; but, I have a difficult time with this particular relationship. Part of the enjoyment of Delirum was the honest, true love story between Lena and Alex. I feel that is a bit tainted now. This made me become irritated towards Lena during the end of this book and question her feelings. Plus, the cliffhanger didn't help. I like to have a book end during a good place where I can feel good about what I just read. I didn't really feel that way at the end of Pandemonium.

Although I didn't like this sequel nearly as much as Delirium, Lauren's writing still continues to amaze me. Each new plot line or setting is beautifully crafted and it really transports the reader into the story.

Recommended: Dystopian/Post-apocalyptic fans. Read Delirium first.

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