The Invisible is the second book in The Brokenhearted series by Amelia Kahaney and it picks up where The Brokenhearted ended. Anthem Fleet has been trying to get her life back to normal but it isn’t exactly working out the way she planned. Mostly because she feels her father is hiding a connection to The Syndicate and new group called The Invisible has entered the scene.

The Invisible is led by someone who has a vendetta against the wealthy inhabitants of the North Side. After a number of harmless pranks by the group, their attacks escalate and turn lethal and Anthem’s friends and family are now in danger. As she attempts to find out who is behind the group’s activities, Anthem finds out her secret isn’t so secret anymore thanks to her old friend Will.

While Anthem tries to thwart Invisible’s activities and protect her friends and family, she is also trying to figure out what is going on with Ford. She knew he wasn’t healing well since he almost died so Anthem decides to go to Jax for help. Jax ends up injecting him with a fortified blood which affects Ford in a way that neither of them expected. As Ford struggles with his reactions to things around him due to the different blood flowing in his veins, he decides he needs to step away from Anthem because he is afraid he will hurt her. Ford’s decision really hits Anthem hard but she also can’t focus only on this because The Invisible has stepped things up and now that the leader knows who she is, he is coming after her.

I thought Kahaney did a good job of moving this story forward. I love the idea of a seemingly normal girl becoming “superpowered” via a needed surgical procedure and I thought that this book showed Anthem in more of the superhero role which I found I enjoyed. Kahaney also interjects some chapters that are from the past and are from other characters’ points of view. We get to find out more about Reggie (Anthem’s sister) and her father which I think added an unexpected layer to the story. I have to admit, I was completely taken by surprise when we found out Harris Fleet’s secrets and the impact they had on Anthem were huge.

Eventually Ford comes back to Bedlam City and because of his new blood, Ford is able to easily keep up with Anthem. Knowing this, they are able to work together to defeat Invisible and when they do, they find out all about who he is and why he is out to get the wealthy. Anthem also finds out more about who she is and what that might mean for her future.

So hopefully this review isn’t too vague – I just don’t want to give anything away. If you are looking for a story that has quite a bit of action, a bit of romance, and a science fiction/superhero bend, consider checking this one out. I enjoyed the story and found myself flipping through the pages to find out what was going to happen.

Thank you to Harper Teen for the review copy.

Strange Sweet Song was one of those books that I read the summary and thought it sounded interesting but really had no idea what to expect. I really enjoyed the story that Adi Rule created here and her ability to weave a story within a story was wonderful. The way the opera story was linked to Sing’s story made it that much more interesting and I thought the chapters from The Felix’s point of view added value.

Sing da Navelli is the daughter of two very famous people. Her father is a conductor and her mother was a singer – because of this, she feels quite a bit of pressure to perform and follow in her mother’s footsteps. As Sing enters the Dunhammond Conservatory, she is faced with overcoming people’s perceptions of her based on who her parents are as well as trying to figure out who she really is/wants to be.

On her first day, Sing finds out the Conservatory will be performing her favorite opera, Angelique. This also happens to be the opera Sing’s mother was performing when she died so Sing isn't sure how her father will react when he finds out she is the understudy for the main character, Angelique.

The voice coach assigned to her is Nathan Daysmoor. He is brutally honest with her but also sees her potential. Daysmoor also has a secret and throughout the story we find out how he is connected to the maestro. At first I wasn't really sure about this character but he really did grow on me and seeing how he was when he first came to the maestro and then present day, I was able to see understand the reason behind why he acted the way he did. I also loved seeing the change in him as he and Sing began to connect around the music.

This book has a wide range of characters – some I liked and some I disliked a whole lot. Regardless of my feelings for them, they all added something to the story. I do have to say, at times Sing frustrated me – mostly because she was trying so hard to be like her mother at times and do what she thought her mother would expect instead of what she knew was the right thing to do.

There is definitely more to this story than what I have told you here as I don’t want to give anything away but know that I really enjoyed this one. This story includes mystery, magic, music and a bit of romance. If you like any or all of these, definitely check this book out. I found myself pulled into this one and unable to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy.

I loved the Across The Universe series so when I heard Beth Revis had a new book coming out I immediately added it to my TBR shelf and of course…once it was up on Netgalley I couldn’t help myself – I HAD to have it. I was not disappointed with this story at all and if you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, go get this!

The world building was very well done. The way Revis described and really, designed the world based on real places helped me to visualize just how much would have changed in this future. I was able to imagine Ella jumping from boat to boat in New Venice and the way Revis describes how the cities were constructed after the war created a base for the way the cities were designed. It also speaks to the unity the new government was hoping to achieve.

I also enjoyed the characters. Ella is the daughter of some very smart scientists, both of whom have developed some things that play a critical role in the story. Early on in the story, we find out that Ella’s father was killed in a rebel attack at his lab and her mother is suffering from a disease that is basically incurable. Things haven’t been easy for Ella over the last year or so but she is trying to make things work. I liked Ella – she is smart, tough, and willing to do whatever she has to in order to keep those she loves safe. This is a thread throughout the entire story and as things are revealed, it becomes very clear just how much Ella is willing to do.

There is the political aspect of this story that covers the government and its development but there is also the piece of the story that explores the use of robot/androids and to what extent they can be humanized. The science that Ella’s father was working on ties to this plot and I found it very interesting. The science of the mind is something that I will admit is beyond me but I found that part of the story to be an intriguing plot line. Could someone really get into someone else’s mind to know what they are doing? Who knows…but it definitely added another layer to this book and linked me back to the mystery of what was really going on with these key governmental players.

There is a romance here but the way the story comes out, it doesn’t take center stage – which I appreciated. It was definitely an important piece of the story (which you will understand as things unfold) but not the only thing. The mystery of who really is the “bad guy” here is what moves the story along and I have to admit, I wasn’t necessarily surprised so much about the who as much as I was surprised about the why. Only because it was pretty straightforward and makes me wonder what lengths someone would go to in order to get something they want…in this case, the person thought the ends justified the means and they were willing to put anything or anyone at risk to get what they wanted.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think Revis has made it onto my autobuy list. I love her view of science fiction and the fact that she is able to integrate a bit of the swoony stuff alongside all of the world building and plot, only makes me love her stories more. Definitely check this one out when you can, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!

The first thing that grabbed me with Under Different Stars was the cover. I love the image and after reading the story, it all came together in how it was tied to the book. After reading the summary, I have to admit, I was pretty excited to see it come up on Netgalley.

Kricket has been avoiding foster care case workers for a while now and as she gets closer to her 18th birthday, she is looking forward to leaving the running behind so that she can figure out what is really important to her. Kricket has always been careful who she gets close to and she has also always been an observer – as she is headed home one night, three huge, strange men approach her on the train and that is the night her life changes completely.

I liked Kricket and thought she was the right mix of tough, smart, and growing teenager. As she learned more about who she is and where she comes from, it was hard to not feel sorry for her situation. Because of the rules on Ethar and the situation she is in, Kricket has no idea what she is getting into by leaving Earth with Trey…not that she has any choice. Despite that fact, and perhaps due to how she grew up on Earth, Kricket was able to adapt to her situation.

Trey was an interesting character. As he begins to learn more about Kricket and her upbringing, he starts to get a sense of life on Earth and who Kricket really is. He also begins to realize that she means more to him than just being an assignment and he takes on more responsibility to educate and protect her. I thought the romance between him and Kricket moved at a good pace and while it took him longer to admit his feelings, I thought the reasoning fit with his personality.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this book as well. Of course, the main characters drive the story but I don’t think it would have been the same if we didn’t have Wayra and Jax to add balance and humor. Additionally, the “bad guy” of this story, Kyon, is an interesting character and I will be curious to see where things go with him.

I thought the world building was done well in this story and the transitions from Earth to Ethar were done wonderfully. I loved how Kricket had to adapt and work to survive in a new world where things were not quite the same but still had a bit of similarity. Tied to the world building, I thought Bartol did a wonderful job of explaining the differences in the clans and how they aligned with the structure in Ethar.

As the story moves along, we find out that everyone wants a piece of Kricket because of who she is….that is a mix of two of the clans of Ethar. Her mother’s clan gives Kricket the traits that link her to the priestesses and therefore, make her valuable to the house. As we find out, her gift continues to grow but the thing that impresses everyone is the fact that she is able to use it without any real training. As this is revealed, there is an even greater desire for Kricket to pick a side.

Overall I thought the story was a great introduction to Kricket and the new life she is going to have. There is a great mix of action, world building, and romance in this book which had me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I definitely look forward to the next book in the series and if you enjoy a good Fantasy/Science Fiction series, I think you might enjoy this one – check it out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!

Some Fine Day by Kat Ross was an unexpected find for me and I was unable to put this book down. I loved every minute of it and thought Ross created some interesting characters and an even more interesting world(s) for them to live in.

Jansin is part of a population of people who moved below the surface when the world was overrun by storms called hypercanes. As part of a generation who has only known life underground, Jansin is excited to hear that her parents have booked a trip to the surface as part of her vacation from the academy, a place where she has basically lived (and trained to be in the military) for the last eight years.

When they break the surface Jansin is excited and glad to see the sun and experience the fresh air but things quickly go wrong when their retreat is attacked. As Jansin evaluates the situation, she realizes her boyfriend, Jake, is right in the middle of most of the danger. She quickly decides to help him out and in the effort, things turn south for her. While Jake gets to the mole, where Jansin’s parents are, Jansin is grabbed from behind and hauled away with the group that attacked. As she wakes up on a ship headed to who knows where, Jansin realizes how much danger she is in. As she learns more about what is going on and where the group is headed, Jansin finds that she will have to fight for her right to stay alive and aboard the ship.

Jansin is a great character. She is only sixteen but smart and tough. She has had to basically live on her own for the last eight years and when she is in a dangerous situation she is able to rely on the skills she has developed over the last few years – not just in military training but also those that have helped her survive the academy. The one thing that didn’t really make sense to me was the abrupt change in her feelings for Jake. It seemed like she really liked him when they were on the train headed to her house but the second they got above ground, she changed toward him completely. Although she explained her feelings as the story moved forward, it seemed very unexpected how it came about.

Will was a solid character although I felt like I needed to know more about him. We got glimpses of his background but they felt like bits and pieces. I would have liked to understand more of his story but with that said, I get it – it wasn’t necessarily his story. With that said, Will is smart and he is kind and he tries to do what is right…definitely not a bad guy to have feelings for.

The story itself was interesting and I found the idea of this whole world existing beneath the surface an intriguing one. In addition to that, we learn more about the government and what they are willing to do whether it is torture to get what they want or conducting testing on people to prevent something that may or may not happen. Their “ends justify the means” approach to things was what Jansin opposed most and having recently been on the receiving end of it, she wasn’t willing to stand by and see it happen to anyone else.

In a sea of dystopians out there I would say that this one easily stands out. Ross developed a unique story that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next not only for these characters but also for the world above and below the surface. This book could easily stand alone or be part of a series based on the ending but I admit, I kind of hope Ross continues this story as I would be interested to see what happens next. Definitely check this one out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

When I read the summary for Fury by Charlotte McConaghy I thought it sounded intriguing and while I hadn’t heard anything about it, I decided I wanted to check this one out. I have to say, I opened this up and as soon as I did, I wasn’t able to put it down. The characters and the story pulled me right in and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. Even now I am excited to see when book two will come out.

The world has been changed by the decision to force “the cure” on its citizens. Now, people don’t feel emotions and the intent was that it would eliminate the problems happening due to how people reacted. This decision actually created another level of problems in that people now don’t feel anything and react inappropriately to things going on around them. As Josi calls people, they are a bunch of drones. What I would have like to have known is more about the decision makers and what the catalyst was to figuring this was the right solution. With that said, I though McConaghy did a great job building out the background of the creation of the cure and the goal behind the end result.

The book transitions well from different points of view as well as from the past to current time. Through all of this, I was able to see how things got to be as they are for Josi as well as see things from the other characters perspectives…which added to the story. The story starts out with Josi/Josephine, the main character, interacting with Anthony, her shrink at the asylum she is in and we begin to find out more about why she is there. Because she is telling Anthony her story, the flashbacks give us her past as well as more information about her relationship with Luke, her boyfriend and the person Josi believes will come save her.

Josi has grown up being shuffled around to various foster homes and when she was placed in a house that had a boy who did something horrible to her, she reacts and is turned in as someone with a rage issue. This was the action that changed things completely for Josi as when she is turned in; she is given to the scientists in charge of the cure to be used for testing.

Every year on the same day, Josi loses herself completely. She wakes up naked somewhere random with only brief memories of what happened the night before and it is because of this, she ends up meeting Luke and ultimately ending up in the asylum she is in. As the present time creeps closer and closer to that horrible day, both Josi and Luke are working to figure out how to manage this. They both know that this may be the last chance they have to save Josi from the beast that takes over every year and they are willing to do whatever is needed.

Luke is an interesting character and I really liked him. His story was interesting and I thought the way he and Josi met was great. Additionally, I know he had some secrets but I have to say that I appreciated the fact that he came clean to Josi before the end of this story. He is clearly willing to do whatever he needs to in order to save and protect Josi.

An added layer to this story is the idea that there is a rebellion “out there” somewhere that included other people that were fighting the idea that the cure was the answer to the issues of the world. I hope we get to learn more about them in the next story and where this one left off, I have an idea that we will.

I have only touched the tip of the iceberg with this review and that’s mostly because I don’t want to give anything away. I think McConaghy does a great job of revealing bits and pieces of the story but I do have to say, there is a pretty big cliffhanger at the end of this book. I am really looking forward to the next book of this series and can’t wait to see where McConaghy goes with this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Momentum Books for the review copy.

The Treatment is book two in The Program series by Suzanne Young. This story picks up shortly after The Program left off and Young takes the reader on an action packed ride that includes some great characters, an interesting story, and non-stop action.

Sloane and James are running from The Program and looking for the rebels. At the same time, they have talked about the pill (The Treatment) that Realm left for Sloane and the fact that it could bring back all the memories of whoever takes it. Sloane doesn’t want to take it because she knows she will never be that person again and while James struggles to figure out who he is, he also knows he would never take it without her because he will always want to give her that choice.

When Sloane and James meet Dallas and Cas, the welcome wagon for the rebels, they are definitely unimpressed. I’ll admit it, at first I didn’t like Dallas and I couldn’t really figure her out. She would act friendly but interject comments or innuendo toward James that if I were Sloane, I probably would have decked her. As her story unfolds, I see why she was the way she was and when Realm joins the group, she only gets worse toward Sloane.

While Lacey escaped with Sloane and James, she hasn’t been the same since she found out Kevin didn’t make it to the meeting location. Since getting to the safe house, she has been depressed and acting in a way that has caused Sloane and James to worry. When they return from the Suicide Club to find Lacey gone, they know she is back with The Program and they are compromised.

As the group travels to stay ahead of The Program, Realm finally joins them. Sloane and Realm have an interesting relationship and it causes some problems for Sloane and James. She absolutely loves James but Realm is the person she found while in The Program and developed a friendship/relationship with him prior to finding James again. While she cares about Realm, she knows he is hiding something…she just doesn’t know what and he won’t tell her.

Spoiler

In reality, Realm really never had a chance just because regardless of his feelings for Sloane, she would never forgive him if/when she found out what he did while she was in The Program.

A lot happens in the book and I don’t want to give anything away but I think it is safe to say that things definitely come to a head. Sloane eventually finds out more about the people around her and really doesn’t know who she can trust outside of James. Because of some things that happen, she also finds out what is the final step for those people in The Program that are considered the problems. Clearly The Program can’t eliminate them, but they have other ways of “treating” them and as Sloane realizes what is really at stake for her and Dallas, she is determined to fight and do whatever she can to save them.

As if that isn’t enough, while evading The Program, we learn more about what The Treatment really is as well as how The Program evolved over time. Sloane and James are definitely enemy number one (and two?) for The Program because if their stories get out and the background around The Program, it will definitely create problems. With that in mind, one of the key new characters is Kellan; a reporter who has been trying to break the story and find out more. To do that, he has infiltrated the Suicide Clubs and eventually runs into Sloane which changes everything.

I thought Young did a wonderful job of wrapping up this series and keeping me engaged in the story. There are definitely some interesting new characters and some great returning characters. While it may seem there is a love triangle…it fades quickly as the story progresses. If you enjoyed The Program, definitely check this book out when you can. It continues with its unique plot and Young does a great job integrating some new characters into the continuation of the original story.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse for the review copy.