When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government ?rehabilitation camp.? She might have survived the mysterious disease that?s killed most of America?s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she?s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her?East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can?t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Fun tidbit: This was a book club pick. We chatted with the author during book club, and she mentioned that the titles of the books were going to be a complete sentence. I find that uber cool!

This book made me immediately think of the show Heroes. It was very reminiscent of the tragic experiences those characters endured because of their uniqueness. I think this book would make an excellent action-packed movie and I think Hollywood needs to jump on it. The world is dark, adults have lost their damn minds, and as usual, take extreme measures. Apparently, some crazy disease called Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration, was wreaking havoc on the youth of the world. Many died and the ones that were left behind were becoming…different. The world quickly became frightened of these leftover children and their new abilities, so they did what humans ALWAYS do when they are scared or don’t understand something: they locked up the kids in concentration camps or prisons. The children were grouped into colors based on their abilities. Some were able to control elements or objects. The more dangerous children could control minds. These Oranges were sought out via strategic testing and killed due to their lethality.

Ruby is more than what we see on the surface, and when it comes time for her test, she does what any scared, lonely child would: she lies and manipulates her way to safety. After a nerve-racking escape attempt, Ruby finds herself on the outside. She is with people she does not know and is unsure who to trust. She endures a dangerous journey with a group of kids she meets, kids just like her who are searching for the man who can lead them to a safe haven. I liked Ruby’s voice. She was easy to connect with and believe, as she was going through many of the motions that teenagers experience. And she had such innocence and fragility, especially when it came to her powers and how they have tragically affected her own personal life.

Liam stood out to me. In fact, I adore him and his intelligence, tenderness, protectiveness and the way he says darlin’. His care and concern for young, lonely, lost Suzume made my heart soar with happiness and joy. He did not have to help her. She likely slowed him down at times, and she had her own uncontrollable power to deal with. But he helped her. He cared for and nurtured her. I cannot forget that. And then he lets Ruby in. Their relationship develops slowly and under the radar, but there are moments that made me sigh. Like page 312. THAT SCENE. ? He is so swoon-worthy. *sigh*

The banter between Chubs and Liam is epic. Holy crap, I love these two boys something fierce and they should never, ever be apart. They are so loyal and dedicated. Chubs doesn’t let Ruby in easily, and is pretty damn loud and clear about his feelings regarding her intrusion in their lives. However, Chubs being who he is, eventually breaks when he realizes Ruby is the real deal. All Chubs wants is to keep his people safe, at any cost. By the end of the story, Chubs was probably the most incredible character. And Suzume, who will grab your heart in her adorable little rubber-gloved hands and squeeze the love right out of you. What a freakin sweet, scared, wanting nothing more than to be loved and protected, child. I can haz one?

The ending broke my heart. I was totally freaking out and I pray that things get better in the next book. I NEED THINGS TO GET BETTER, plzkthx.

Favorite Quote

 ?Let’s carpe the hell out of this diem.?

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

In the third installment of the Seven Realms series, Han finds himself fighting for the life of his love interest, Raisa, who remains under disguise from him. He races back to Marianna Pines Camp and their healers, and nearly dies during the journey.

?Will you give the girl to me?” she said. “Will you let me try?”

He nodded, dizzy with relief. “Please, Willo. Please. Save her. It doesn’t matter…what happens to me.?

Of course, the camp knows exactly who Raisa is, and that moment that I was so desperately terrified to experience…happened. It was heartbreaking. Utterly and horribly painful to read. Han’s reaction…no words, people. *sniff*

Han and Raisa become connected in another, more formal fashion. The tension was high but they both remained professional throughout their interactions. It was so obvious that their intense feelings still boiled in their hearts, but duty called and they answered it with dignity and grace. Of course, Han is in a position he never would have expected someone of his background to be in, and he is doing what Han does best: manipulate and squirm his way towards his own personal goals. I love how damn smart and effective this young man! He gets shit done and is halfway down the mountain before you realize you’ve been duped. Love. Him!

Amon and Raisa’s relationship is also heartbreaking in this installment. Their connection remains fierce and loyal, but the last vestiges of any romance between them fly out the window. It’s hard for them to fully come to terms with, but as most of the characters in this world, they do it with grace. I love Amon. He is an incredibly loyal, protective and generous soul, and he is so very dedicated to the royal line and his role in protecting it.

Raisa remains as strong and eloquent as ever. This chic has an iron will and can slap the biggest dude around with her words. She’s admirable, generous and so very dedicated to her people. She is responsible and does not run away from her duties, even though numerous people would like nothing more than to see her dead and gone. Kudos to this chic and her steadfast, determined soul!

We learn who Crow is in this installment. I was flabbergasted. It was an awesome reveal. Maybe others will guess, but I never catch on to that kind of stuff while reading. I love how his character is being woven into the story, and how he and Han are scheming together. I am unsure if I still trust him, because he has a serious vendetta, but if Han is as smart as I think he is, hopefully he can use Crow to his full advantage. I’m rooting for you, Han! Oh! Cat is a prominent character in this installment, and this chic just rocks! She is wicked fun, full of spunk and can gut you before you realize your intestines are making nice with the pavement. My kinda chic!

This series keeps getting better and better! I mean, there has been NO lull in excitement. No second-book syndrome, no fillers. None of that shit, yo. Cinda Williams Chima is a master plotter and has really laid out the details for this series well. Not only that, but she has kept the characters and scenery as alive as the plot. And the world continues to expand! I mean, it’s glorious. Just glorious…

Favorite Quote

A moment later, Cat hurtled back into the room as if chased by demons. She stationed herself in front of Raisa, a knife in either hand, all of her genteel patina swept away. “Cuffs! Look sharp! It’s him, the whey-faced, gutter-swiving, prig-napping bastard! He’s here!”

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

Book Two in the Seven Realms series demanded my attention from start to finish. When the book opened up, I was nervous and scared for Raisa’s situation. Halfway through the book, I was giddy and happy with developments between two characters. At the end of the book, I was back to being freaked out. There was no down time and the author kept me totally engrossed the entire ride. Han’s world has turned upside down, and he is now on a journey to discover his past and future. Raisa is in exile until she can figure out how to deal with the treacherous magicians at court. And Amon is in tow, because he would never let Raisa face this alone. All three characters end up at Oden’s Ford for educational purposes. Raisa is under disguise and things get interesting…

I LOVED the expansion of the world. In this installment, we get Aediion, an alternate world of sorts, that only magicians can visit. The magician has to have visited the exact spot in the real world in order to visit it in Aediion. They are able to alter their appearance while there, however, which can be fun and quite useful. And, if their amulet runs out of juice while they are there…well, bad stuff happens. A certain character, who I will not name because it’s a spoiler for the first book, visits Aediion and meets someone who goes by the name of Crow. Crow, a mysterious figure, urges this character to work with him to bring down the magical Bayar family. There is obviously some bad blood there. Can Crow be trusted? I’m still on the fence.

Princess Raisa is a character than can definitely hold her own, though I don’t see her getting very far without her personal guard and friend, Amon, by her side. Those two make a fierce team and I love their loyalty and dedication to one another. Of course, deeper feelings reside in their hearts that can never be acted upon, given their stations in life. Boo on that rule, I say! As expected, Raisa, makes a love connection with Han during her exile, though it is under devious circumstances, seeing as she needs to remain anonymous and all. I was completely wrapped up in this romantic connection. Some of the scenes made my sappy heart pitter patter, and I sighed a time or five.

?I can’t play this game if my heart’s not in it. That’s me personally. I’m not judging anyone else.?

?I see,? he said. He tightened his arms around her, brushing his fingers along her collarbone, setting her nerves tingling. ?What’s your heart saying now??

She wanted to be honest with him, even though she’d probably pay for it. ?I’m in trouble,? she whispered.?

Of course, seeing as how Raisa is in disguise, I don’t foresee her relationship with Han ending well. It makes my heart hurt thinking about his reaction. *whines* By the end of the book, Raisa’s anonymity is no more and the magical shit hits the fan! The next book is called The Gray Wolf Throne, which makes me wonder about Raisa’s royal future!

I was so completely enthralled by this book. And I feel strongly about the characters, both the ones I love and the ones I abhor. One of my comments in my review journal is “Micah is a dirty, rotten arsewipe.” I guess I get a British accent when I’m angry. :Þ

Favorite Quote

And, like a fool, she kissed him back. Kissed him a way that would leave no doubt about the way she felt about him. Kissed him because she knew the chances were slim she’d have very many kisses like that in her lifetime.

Which is a sad thing when you’re only seventeen.

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom?a young soldier?and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it?s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling post-apocalyptic novel about a world that could become ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

This book has been on my radar since its release.  I’m really glad I experienced the book via audio. The narrator, Katherine Kellgren, was annoying in the beginning. Her voice has a strange pitch to it and I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to deal. However, it didn’t take her long to prove to me that she does her job well. She did so fantastic with the different voices and personalities that we meet throughout this story. Most of all, her intensity during action scenes was off the charts. I think she almost gave me a heart attack a few times. I was literally on the edge of my seat. Or, since I mainly listened to it while doing cardio, I was on the edge of the crossramp, eliptical, treadmill, *insert crappy cardio machine here*. That could’ve resulted in injury on my part, but lucky for me, I was gripping the machines tightly during those scenes.

The prologue completely confused me, but it made sense as the story progressed and I learned more about Alex, our 17-year-old protagonist. The world was interesting to discover. After the electromagnetic pulse that kills off much of the population, human and otherwise, occurs in the beginning of the book, Alex finds herself confronting the end of days. The people who are spared from meeting the grim reaper are either struggling to survive or devouring the living. The zombie piece of the book was not huge, and the zombies are different from your typical walking, hungry meat sack. The appear to posses some intelligence, and can either adapt or learn. Not a great scenario for the living.

Alex has had a traumatic life. She is very mature for her age, due to her personal experiences, and it shows throughout the story. Carrying around sorrow, grief and guilt, she sets off on a cathartic mountain adventure that turns ugly. I felt for her situation immediately, and wanted to hug her and offer my friendship. She is a little abrasive in the beginning, but I understood why she remained so cutoff from other people. When she finally begins to open her heart, it was really beautiful to experience. She may have  a hard time getting close and intimate with people, but when she lets you in, she loves you hard. She’s very perceptive and intuitive, easily picking up on things that others seem to ignore.

Ellie is an 8-year old girl who just so happens to find her way into Alex’s life after the EMP goes off. Ellie has also had a traumatic life and does not warm up to Alex for some time. She was an absolute brat, one that you want to shake repeatedly, but her behavior was easy to connect to her experiences. She was in the same boat as Alex, and Ellie was testing her to ensure she would stick around. Both ladies endured major losses even before the EMP, so their bond grows strong as they let each other in. Tom comes into the picture later, and I immediately loved him. He is strong, level-headed and loyal. He protects Alex and Ellie and welcomes them into his life with abandon. A slow burning romance develops between Tom and Alex, and then it is ripped away by an event that changed everything about this story. He is a character I pray to see more of in the second book!

The first half of the book unites Alex, Ellie and Tom. This trio becomes very close and endure a lot of WTFckery. However, a certain event changes the entire story! Alex finds herself alone and ventures into a small town that reminds me of the Governor’s township in The Walking Dead. It appears all “let’s rebuild and save humanity” on the outside, but there has to be something more sinister happening behind closed doors. As we know with post-apocalyptic scenarios, humans are at their worst and often pose more of a threat than the monsters chasing you. It is no different with this story, though the cliffhanger at the ending was not one I was expecting.

The story loses a lot of momentum once the plot changes from the trio on the run to Alex living in this township. And, it was just plain weird! It was really jarring and completely broke down the awesome pace and story line. I did not mind the township arc, but it just did not match where it felt the first half of the story was headed. It felt like the author got derailed or lost focus. That being said, I still enjoyed the book, though I did lose my enthusiasm halfway through.

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

Ok, so I’ll get to Roar in a moment, but just know he was the highlight of this book. Hell, of this series! Now, on to the meat and potatoes of the plot. This installment was a serious emotional ride, on all levels, with all characters. Aria and Perry are reunited after months apart. She is anything but welcome into the Tides, and it proves difficult for her and Perry’s relationship. Perry does his best to see she is treated fairly, but only he can do so much, and he is not in all places at all times. An ugly event occurs that sends Aria and Roar off into the wilderness. Of course, their journey is not aimless. They are headed toward the Rim to seek out the Blood Lord, Sable, and find Liv! If you haven’t been paying attention, Liv is Roar’s past and he wants her to be his future, too. Unlucky for him, Liv was promised to Sable by her older brother, Vale, in exchange for food and supplies for the Tides, who struggle to survive through the seasons. Quite the predicament, you see? Also, Aria is on a mission to find the location of the Still Blue, the mysterious promised land, free of Aether storms and full of life and prosperity. Ahhh…one can dream….

PERRY! I cannot express the emotions I felt when he was struggling with his new-found responsibilities. He is confident one minute, and then his confidence is torn to shreds the next.  He constantly struggles with being the leader his people expect and protecting them at all costs. He makes quick decisions based on emotion, throwing rationality out the window. But…that’s Perry! It’s ingrained in his nature to protect first and deal with the consequences later. His people want him to be rational and realize he is more important alive, but Perry is all about jumping in head first without thinking the risks through. There is a scene in the book where Perry is brought to his knees by overwhelming emotion, and I was brought to mine, too. Well, I was laying in my bed, but I was on my knees in spirit. (Get your minds out of the gutter!)

Moving on. ARIA! And PERRY! Squee! Sob! Smile! Cry! And many more !!! These two are so off-the-charts special. Fate brought them together, they struggled to understand and even like the other, and their destinies are enmeshed to hell. Throughout their struggles, an intense romance has bloomed and they are now fighting to save the lives of their people and each other. I mean, they have not had a chance to breath since their first meeting, let alone find the time to fall in love. Yet they still manage to FEEL and SHOW their love and affection, even in the smallest of ways. It’s like… all beautiful and shit.

?Do you ever miss anything?’

Perry smiled. ‘You, all the time.?

Now, collectively…”awwwwwwwwwww!” You know you said it, or thought it. Don’t try to lie about it. You feel the same sappy, cheesy feels I do.  Now I get to talk about THE MAN OF THE HOUR. Or Book. Or Series, really. Roar, aka Made of Awesome. Aka, My Favorite Secondary Character in YA. As swoon-worthy as this guy is, I don’t even have romantic feelings towards him. Yes, we readers have romantic feelings towards our swoony characters. Don’t judge. Or else.

Back to THE MAN. Roar. Dear Heavens, this poor guy was put through the ringer in this book, and thus, so was I! Lots of SADS. Lots of cries and whimpers and HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO US, ROSSI! *first of dooms* Roar…it’s hard to put into words my thoughts about this character. The ease at which Aria connected with him in book one because of his simple, carefree, love life attitude, the passion and compassion that he possesses that allows him to throw himself into situations, safe or otherwise, with such abandon…the overwhelming feelings I FEEL when I think about what he experienced in this book, and how I would MOVE MOUNTAINS to see this guy happy. He is just one of those people, those rare, rare people, that are almost perfect. Yet, he isn’t, and his vulnerability and blind passion are what make him worth loving and fighting for. SO MUCH LOVE.

The world-building expanded, especially near the end, when Cinder become a serious piece of the story! Holy firecracker, Batman! This kid surprised me, not only with his actions, but with his purpose in the overall plot. Into the Still Blue is bound to be a traumatic and treacherous journey for the Tides, and this kid is at the center of it all. Freaking out!

Favorite Quote

Love was like the waves in the sea, gentle and good sometimes, rough and terrible at others, but that it was endless and stronger than the sky and earth and everything in between.

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

***I think this synopsis is spoilery!

Rebel armies are getting closer and the fate of The New America rests with Eve. Trapped in the City of Sand and married to a man of her fathers choosing, Eve can't forget her love for Caleb-or her passion for the rebel cause. Then tragedy strikes, and Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save and who to fight in this final battle for freedom.

In the last book of the Eve trilogy, the world shifts between life in the City of Sand and out in the wilderness. We get a lot of information about the rebels and their plan of attack. We also see Pip and Ruby again, Eve’s friends from School. A lot happens as the rebels try to overthrow the King. Of course, Eve is involved in this plot, and she encounters many complications. However, she never backs down from the fights and surprises me with her bravery.

Caleb is one of those characters you will not easily forget.  He is the biggest reason I continued reading this series. He is a fantastic combination of all the qualities I love in YA boys, and he belongs on my favorites list. Caleb’s role in this book is to propel Eve along on her mission to bring peace and free-will back to humanity. He is constantly in her thoughts and is the driving force behind all of her actions. He makes Eve a better person and is truly the reason for her incredible metamorphosis throughout this series.

The ending, for me, was emotional. It brought a tear or 20 to my eyes. I had hoped for more of a certain piece of the story, but in the end, IT WAS OK. The very, very last page made it all ok. Some people may not enjoy that the author choose to write the ending this way, but it kept my hope up the entire time. Hope is all we have to get us through the hard times. Since it is an abrupt ending,others may [strongly] disagree, but that is ok, too. If you feel strongly about it, then it means you probably loved these characters. And that is pretty much what it’s all about.

I truly loved this YA Dystopian series! I was extremely happy to be provided an ARC in advance so that I could enjoy the story all the way through with no interruptions. I inhaled it and was completely engrossed with the setting, characters and plot. If you are a fan of the series, I hope they you enjoy the final installment as much as I do. Rise is being released on April 2nd!

P.S. Anna Carey posted a teaser!

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews Rise by Anna Carey appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital?and more brutal?than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Oh my. I cannot state the love I feel for Roar in words. It just ain’t possible, peeps. I loved him something fierce in Under the Never Sky, but he became something so much more in this novella. Larger than life, he leaped into my sappy heart and nestled in for the long haul. He is full of life and love and vulnerable at all the right times. He’s a great friend, a dedicated partner and an incredible man. I honestly don’t think I’ve swooned so hard over a secondary character in well, ever. I pretty much want an entire series from Roar’s POV. Make it happen, Rossi! :Þ

I was so very interested in his personal story with Liv. This snippet into their relationship MOVED me. It was thoughtful and emotional and made me FEEL lots of emotions. Seeing life through Roar’s eyes was like being home. It felt right, it felt warm and safe, and most of all, it felt full of love. That Liv, she’s a lucky soul and I pray that they have a happy ending!

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Saturday Shorts: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Note: I am using the new Ultimate Book Blogger Plug-in that Tara posted about. It makes things easier but also takes away from my personalized review format. I think I’m ok with it. Apparently, all the links send you to archived lists and stuff. I especially like that when you click on a series, it will take you to all the reviews in that series. However, I have to do this for all the old reviews first! Is it worth it? *sigh*

—

I have to brace myself for the crazy that is about to spout from these fingers. I guess you should brace yourself too…

I need to first mention the narrator, Khristine Hvam, and her frakin phenomenal talent. I don’t know why you people have been holding out on me about this shining star, but the cat is out of the bag now. Bazinga! I’m tempted to listen to any audio book she has ever narrated, even if it’s about fossilized dinosaur poop. Her inflections, incredible accents and all-around tone and speech were sooooooooooooo fantastic. Damn, now I want to make a fan page…

The world-building makes me FLAILY. *flails* Jelly arms all over the place. I flailed while I was driving, which I don’t suggest or condone, but I couldn’t help it, yo. I was so super impressed by the imagination behind this book, and it reinforced that there is still original and unique storytelling to be had. Well, I hadz it, and I wantz more. I do not want to give away any of the incredible creativity that went into the creation of this world, so just hear me out: This world is FULL OF WIN.

[Original Image from Flickr: billfromesm]

Our leading lady, Karou, sports blue hair, has a serious knack for drawing, and has a fab personality, full of spunk, loyalty and bravery. She leads a double life. Her seemingly normal life is in Prague where she attends art school with her best friend, Zuzana. Zuzana! Best. Secondary. Character. EVAR. Well, close to the best. I still hold Jenks in first place, but Zuzana was such a freakin highlight in this book. I smiled every single time she got page time,and the narrator’s depiction of her was so damn perfect. Experiencing her in audio made her personality jump out of the speakers. In fact, I really wish she would materialize. I want her for a friend. I demand her spunk and dedication and snark and loyalty. Gimme gimme.

?So violent. You want to mug and tase enerybody these days.”
“I do,” Zuzana agreed. “I swear I hate more poeple every day. Everyone annoys me. If I’m like this now, what am I going to be like when I’m old?”
“You’ll be the mean old biddy who fires a BB gun at kids from her balcony.”
“Nah. BBs just rile ‘em up. More like a crossbow. Or a bazooka.?

Karou’s other life is one that is full of mystery, magic and mayhem. Karou is pretty uninformed about her own personal history…until she meets Akiva. Akiva captivated me from the minute he entered the story, and with his character’s introduction comes some serious information. All is revealed, and just when you think you know where the story is headed, the world unfolds and becomes much, much more. How the story is presented to us is captivating, horrendous, and above all, heartbreaking. I think a piece of me died on that bridge.

This is, NO DOUBT, one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve ever come across. The story that takes place unfolds at a great pace, and I never felt lost or confused. It was an incredible journey, the writing was rich and vivid, the characters jumped off the pages, the world was unique with beautiful detail and imagination, and the romance was one that my heart will not soon forget. I am so nervous to see where the story takes us in Days of Blood and Starlight!

Favorite Quote

?I don’t know many rules to live by,’ he’d said. ‘But here’s one. It’s simple. Don’t put anything unnecessary into yourself. No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles–drug or tattoo–and…no inessential penises either.’

‘Inessential penises?’ Karou had repeated, delighted with the phrase in spite of her grief. ‘Is there any such thing as an essential one?’

‘When an essential one comes along, you’ll know,’ he’d replied.?

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

Amanda and Cassie rock for bringing this read-along to us. It is going to be fun and engaging, and we get to read about a wicked dystopian world! Yay on all accounts!  Here is the schedule from On A Book Bender:

• March 1st: sign up to participate, Never Sky questions
• March 15th: Never Sky answers, Ever Night P1 questions
• March 22nd: Ever Night P1 answers, Ever Night P2 questions
• March 29th: Ever Night P2 answers, wrap up

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think of Aria?s adjustment to living outside the Realms?

I think she starts off in a really poor place, but she adjusts really well, in my opinion. She is initially in shock, and freaking out about all the unknown, but she pulls herself together. By the end of the book, I was damn impressed about her progress. Aria is an admirable young lady!

2. These two worlds are so different from each other, which would you want to be in?

Yea, as much as I love technology, I don’t want to live in a fake world. I need to use my senses, and would be devastated if I developed Degenerative Limbic Syndrome. I found that little nugget of this world so cool!  I honestly think it would happen if humans were put in that situation, so make sure you do not vote for that virtual reality bill whenever it hits the ballot. Also, while I love science and the progress we have made as humans, genetic alteration of humans is just not something I’m ok with. I’m not a very religious person, but that is getting too close to super powers for my taste. I’m not sure if I actually answered the question, but there you have itt.

3.  If you had a Smart-Eye, what would you do? Where would you go?

I would certainly visit the Mythology realms, hang out with some Greek gods, hunt down Acheron. Oh wait, wrong series. Damn…I would also visit a flying realm since, you know, flying would be super fun! And maybe a roller coaster realm, minus the fake sick feeling after I’ve ridden the 50th one that day. And I could eat all the cotton candy I want, too. Win! OH! An underwater realm would rule. I could swim with dolphins for hours and not drown. Another win! Dang, maybe this virtual reality stuff really is worth the vote…heh.

4. Who was your favorite character and why?

This is hard. Aria and Perry both have beautiful qualities, but I think Roar stole the show. I tend to be drawn to secondary characters a lot, so this is not a surprise to me. His initial interactions with Aria are what sold me. He was so accepting and normal and non-confronting. I really enjoyed his character in this book. I read the novella, Roar & Liv, and my heart died a little…

5. Make a few predictions about what you think will happen in Through the Ever Night.

I am not good at this, but I assume Aria and Perry will blow the roof off the secret DLS situation. And then find paradise.

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Under the Ever Night Read-Along: Under the Never Sky answers appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

I’ve been wanting to read this series since I met Veronica Rossi last year in Miami. Seeing her again just recently, I was reminded that this book is soooo up my alley, in terms of genre and world- building. And then Amanda and Cassie decided to do a read-along, and well, it was destiny. I went into it expecting fantastic characters, intense world-building and a simmering, intense romance. I got that and so much more!

The world-building in this book was so great! The world has been burned and mutilated by Aether storms. Aether is some sort of fire/lightning combo that is wild in the sky, uncontrollable and lethal. Humanity built pods to house the populations in, and with that came some interesting and creative uses of technology to keep humans from going stir crazy. SmartEyes whisk people away to virtual reality Realms, and since they are connected to your brain via your…wait for it….eye, they are able to take over your senses and trick your mind into believing that you are truly experiencing whatever you are currently doing. Everything, apparently…

Roar leaned across the table and smiled at her seductively, his dark hair falling into his eyes. “When you say everything happens in the Realms, do you mean everything?’

Aria laughed nervously.”Yes. Especially that.There are no risks in the Realms.”

Roar’s smile widened. “You simply think it and it happens? And it actually feels real?”

“Why are we talking about this?”

“I need a Smarteye,” he said.

I think the SmartEyes are hella cool, but as with any crazy futuristic setting where technology is overused, I strongly feel like we can easily lose ourselves to it and eventually, lose our personal connections. Nobody really knows anyone, nobody touches or feels or smells anything real because it does not exist in the pods. So, when Aria finds herself on the outside for the first time ever,  her senses are overwhelmed. It makes for an intense and horrifying experience as she  struggles to survive in harsh terrain. As with many heroines in these stories, however, Aria gets her shit together eventually and surprises the characters and reader alike. I ended up loving the hell out of this girl by the end of the book.

Peregrine (because I do not like the name Perry) is a beautiful specimen, both inside and out. He encompasses many of the qualities that I look for in a male lead. He has to overcome great odds, he loves with all of his heart and he is a fierce opponent. Growing up on the outside in harsh conditions, Peregrine’s life has been anything but easy. He has constantly struggled to feed himself, has an intense connection to his nephew and challenge’s his brother’s authority at every turn. His honest, protective, vulnerable soul set my heart ablaze. I love this guy! I also absolutely adored his friend, Roar. There I go loving the secondary characters to pieces again! He brightened the pages with his presence. ?

I loved the world-building, but I think the best part about this book is the connection between Aria and Peregrine. They are enemies, at first, hostile, prejudiced and unwelcoming towards one another. I think most of it stemmed from fear of the unknown, and plain ole ignorance. Aria has been in the dark about reality her entire life, and Peregrine has intense feelings about Dwellers and how they view and treat Outsiders. As with any biases and stereotypes, they can be broken down if the people are open to the idea. I don’t think either character was consciously open to it, but curiosity got the best of them, not to mention all the incredible things they learned from one another. The attraction, respect and dignity that grew out of their time together was a beautiful thing to watch unfold, and I am rooting for these two 110%.

Favorite Quote

“Perry. I want to see your back.”

Another surprise, but he nodded and turned away. Dropped his head forward and took the moment to try and calm his breath. He jerked when she traced the shape of the wings on his skin, a groan sliding out of him. Perry silently cursed himself. He couldn’t have sounded more savage if he’d tried.

“Sorry,” she whispered…
“He’s magnificent. Like you,” she added softly.

That was what did it.

© 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.

The post Smash reviews Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi appeared first on Smash Attack Reads.