annieice's Reviews (791)

Wow, just wow, I'm still shocked by this book. Like I read a lot of books, but not all of them make me feel as much as this one. I was so drawn into it I finished it in two school days (as in I actually only read it while at school on my phone, while trying not to be caught, lol.) It was just so well written and the characters were very likable. Lilia, Jace, her adopted dad, I loved them all. The plot was so intriguing and really different. Like I never read anything remotely close to this, so it was a breath of fresh air! In the beginning, I felt like I can't do this, as Willow was having quite a hard time with her newborn, and the strange things that kept happening, but then I just got hooked. Let's just say the basic story a little shall we?

Well, Lilia is a newborn baby to teenage girl Willow and then she and her mom abandon her near the fire station and want to go away and start a new life. But they disappear and no one knows anything.

The new fire station guy finds her and brings her home to his wife, who really loves her and they adopt her. You see, Lilia has epilepsy and she has frequent seizures that make strange things happen around, so she gets on meds to be stable. But her adopted mom dies after ten months and she grows up only with Stanley who is a very carrying but kinda overprotective (with reasons). And then when she's 16 she finds out the truth about her condition and wants to go and find her birth mom, and that's where her self-discovery journey (if we can call that) begins.

It's not really fantasy, nor a thriller, it's not an adventure much either, it's just soo different. Like the book at first half is one chapter present, one past and then those connect with each other. All the chapters have apples in the top, some half, some bitten, some rotten, and last full. It's just such a sweet metaphor. This has a lot to do with grief, time, letting go, getting justice, father-daughter bond, and also Lilia+Jace (Jace is just so caring, it's sweet)

I just loved this, and it's shocking as I don't tend to get attached to YA books much. I highly recommend it to those wanting a book of fresh air, that will touch you in the feels and have you hooked until the end. And I really like that it is a stand-alone (series aren't for me, sorry).

I dont know what to think about this book, it was a fast read though. It's a first on a sci-fi series that touches global warming, species extinction and even religion and politics…

As a MG it kinda goes deep in science, historical and cultural facts… The main characters aren't just the kids but their parents too. And this is where things go weird… as it's told by many perspectives, and people don't act like actual humans. Like they don't have feelings and stuff, just thoughts… it felt weird. It was nice that they were from diverse backgrounds and words of different languages were used like Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish and I think also some native American language (sorry I don't know which, I don't think it was specified…)

At the first half it was all the kids just talking and talking, then the adults too, and there wasn't much action. Then later the chosen one is seen, and there are some ot twists, fun pterodactyl rides… weird. The kids didn't ever act like kids and the idea to put down this oil refinery came out of nowhere. They kept saying they're up to save the world from extinction, and that was basically it, they were just smart and wanted to be heroes… No personalities or character development there. The character I liked most was Amir as he was a more sassy one, the others were all meh especially the chosen one…

I guess it missed the action, feelings and personal issues, everyone was very up to supporting the chosen one, no questions asked even if it sounded very, very weird… They never second-guessed themselves at all. Then the bad guys were even worse… and the country's presidents were all so passive. The ending wasn't as satisfying as expected, and I get that it was supposed to set the series, but like I have no interest in continuing it at all, no curiosity here…

I did like that there were more chances to learn and do research on our own (the author did seem to have done a lot themselves). But the timing was also kinda off… sorry.

Over all it was an easy and fast read, I liked the cover and the diversity of the characters, and the idea of focusing the world from climate change was a good one (I already am big on saving the planet myself…) Anyways, I think tweens may find this fun and learn and maybe even get motivated to try and help in any way they can… Thanks for reading my long review, see ya!