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erinarkin20
Control is a futuristic dystopian story that includes solid characters, an interesting story and at times had me thinking of the X-men the way the kids in this story dealt with their genetic enhancements/challenges. When Zel and Dyl are suddenly orphaned they find themselves in a world neither of them could have imagined and from the first pages, we are taken on quite a ride.
Carus and Aureus are competing homes for orphaned children that have genetic anomalies. Zel and Dyl were given blood tests as part of their intake and when Aureus finds out that Dyl has an anomaly that makes her valuable, they come and take her away. Unfortunately for them, Zel is determined to get her back. Control is told from Zelia’s point of view and Zel spends her time trying to find her little sister and at the same time, figure out just what her father was really involved in. As she learns more and more, Zel isn’t even sure she knows who her father really was.
When Zel is taken to Carus we are introduced to a number of characters. Marka, Hex, Vera, Wilbert, Ana, and Cy. All of these characters add layers to the story and have an impact on Zel. Each one of these characters has an anomaly that makes them different from the rest of society and the fact that Zel is normal makes her stand out. Some have extra arms and heads while some have abilities that are hidden much easier. As the story progresses, we learn more about each of these individuals and how they fit into the plans Zel has to get Dyl back. Additionally, some of my favorite parts were when they were all together as one unit and interacting as a whole group.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Zel and Cy. It seemed a bit rushed at times but I suppose the timing fit the story. Cy is closed off and angry – mostly at himself and he tries to keep his distance but he is clearly drawn to Zel. At the same time, Zel isn’t afraid of him and forces him to notice her. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about Zel as she seemed like a bit of a pushover. The exception is when she is protecting her sister. Zel is also a loyal person and until she sees the evidence, she believes in her father. As she becomes more confident and understands more about herself, she becomes a stronger character. A big part of this was the way Cy made her see herself – she may have thought she wasn’t anything special but he thought she was and continually reminded her of that fact.
I do wish I had a better understanding of Micah’s motives. I was confused as to why he did what he did and his ultimate goal. Clearly Aureus/Sul/Aj was motivated by the money and value the genetic enhancements could bring to them but Micah didn’t make sense to me. The way things wrapped between Zel , Dyl, and Michah make me wonder what Kang has in store for these three.
I thought Kang did a good job of world building in this first book. There is a futuristic angle and from page one the reader is pulled in. She also created some memorable characters that have me interested in seeing where the rest of this story will go. The science seemed accurate but I have to say I wouldn’t have had any idea if it weren’t. I will definitely pick up the next book when it comes out and am glad I was able to get an early copy of this book.
Thank you to Penguin First to Read and the publisher for the copy.
Carus and Aureus are competing homes for orphaned children that have genetic anomalies. Zel and Dyl were given blood tests as part of their intake and when Aureus finds out that Dyl has an anomaly that makes her valuable, they come and take her away. Unfortunately for them, Zel is determined to get her back. Control is told from Zelia’s point of view and Zel spends her time trying to find her little sister and at the same time, figure out just what her father was really involved in. As she learns more and more, Zel isn’t even sure she knows who her father really was.
When Zel is taken to Carus we are introduced to a number of characters. Marka, Hex, Vera, Wilbert, Ana, and Cy. All of these characters add layers to the story and have an impact on Zel. Each one of these characters has an anomaly that makes them different from the rest of society and the fact that Zel is normal makes her stand out. Some have extra arms and heads while some have abilities that are hidden much easier. As the story progresses, we learn more about each of these individuals and how they fit into the plans Zel has to get Dyl back. Additionally, some of my favorite parts were when they were all together as one unit and interacting as a whole group.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Zel and Cy. It seemed a bit rushed at times but I suppose the timing fit the story. Cy is closed off and angry – mostly at himself and he tries to keep his distance but he is clearly drawn to Zel. At the same time, Zel isn’t afraid of him and forces him to notice her. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about Zel as she seemed like a bit of a pushover. The exception is when she is protecting her sister. Zel is also a loyal person and until she sees the evidence, she believes in her father. As she becomes more confident and understands more about herself, she becomes a stronger character. A big part of this was the way Cy made her see herself – she may have thought she wasn’t anything special but he thought she was and continually reminded her of that fact.
I do wish I had a better understanding of Micah’s motives. I was confused as to why he did what he did and his ultimate goal. Clearly Aureus/Sul/Aj was motivated by the money and value the genetic enhancements could bring to them but Micah didn’t make sense to me. The way things wrapped between Zel , Dyl, and Michah make me wonder what Kang has in store for these three.
I thought Kang did a good job of world building in this first book. There is a futuristic angle and from page one the reader is pulled in. She also created some memorable characters that have me interested in seeing where the rest of this story will go. The science seemed accurate but I have to say I wouldn’t have had any idea if it weren’t. I will definitely pick up the next book when it comes out and am glad I was able to get an early copy of this book.
Thank you to Penguin First to Read and the publisher for the copy.
I love, love,love this series. The glimpse we get into Celaena and Sam's relationship was perfect and I can't wait to read more. I really like reading Celaena's backstory.
Definitely check these out.
Definitely check these out.
I might just need to re-read throne of glass again after these novellas.
In The Assassin and the Desert, Celaena has been punished for her role in messing up the slave trade Arobynn was planning. As part of her punishment, she has been sent to the Mute Master and is tasked with coming back holding a letter of recommendation. If she doesn’t, things could get worse for her. On top of a month long trek across the desert to get there, Celaena has no idea what happened to Sam after her beating.
Celaena takes the month she has with the Silent Assassins to convince the Master to train her and along the way meets Ansel, another girl who is training to be an assassin and they build what Celaena thinks is the beginning of a solid friendship. When things take a turn at the Keep, Celaena has to make a decision that will impact how she interacts with people going forward. It is also one that helps her in the long run. As she ends up saving the Mute Master, he recognizes her strength and provides her with a way to get back her independence/freedom from Arobynn.
Another great peek into Celaena's background.
Celaena takes the month she has with the Silent Assassins to convince the Master to train her and along the way meets Ansel, another girl who is training to be an assassin and they build what Celaena thinks is the beginning of a solid friendship. When things take a turn at the Keep, Celaena has to make a decision that will impact how she interacts with people going forward. It is also one that helps her in the long run. As she ends up saving the Mute Master, he recognizes her strength and provides her with a way to get back her independence/freedom from Arobynn.
Another great peek into Celaena's background.
I have very mixed feelings about Torn by K.A. Robinson. I thought it sounded interesting in the blurb but as soon as I began I felt like this one was falling into the New Adult formula. You know, the one where the main character has faced a ton of challenges in their short life but they have overcome and are better for it. Everyone in this book is gorgeous and smart, there is a love triangle, and the supposed “bad boy” (who has tattoos and piercings by the way) is just misunderstood and Chloe is going to be the one to make him change his ways.
The thing I couldn’t resolve was why everyone loves and wants to be with Chloe? She wasn’t likable at all for me. First she was very wishy washy and when Drake says he can't be with her, she just jumps into bed with Logan….really? On top of that, once she made the decision to be with Logan, she “accidentally” sleeps with Drake and just avoids facing what is really going on. I found her to be annoying and in all honesty, I didn’t really like anything about her.
Chloe’s friendship with Amber and Logan was really only addressed on the surface – they were there for her when her mother was not. I also found that Amber confusing – she was supposed to be Chloe’s best friend but they clearly had secrets and when everything went down, she sided with Logan. I couldn’t see why that was the case as they didn’t really come across as closer friends – unless she was just siding with who she thought was the wronged person.
Drake is the token bad guy and because he has tattoos and piercings, Logan immediately considers him an asshole. He immediately catches the eye of Chloe and they are drawn to each other. Honestly he was just meh for me. He is presented as this man whore who never plans to settle down and mysteriously Chloe is the one that has changed him. I don’t buy it – he apparently had reasons for never wanting things to change but all of a sudden she makes him realize he needs something different…hmmm. I needed to know why and I just didn't get it.
I’m also not a big fan of Logan. Yep, he is the protective BFF and I know he was supposed to be leaning toward jealousy of Chloe’s relationship with Drake but he just comes across as someone who wants to control what she does and who she sees. Between the two guys, I’m not sure I liked either of them and usually one will stand out more to me as the better choice. I think in this case it was more because I wasn’t on the Chloe train.
This was a quick read and although I didn’t love this, I didn’t really hate it either (Now I'm being wishy washy). For me, the characters are what really makes a story stand out and because I didn’t really like any of them, I found myself not really enjoying this story. This may be a case of “It’s not you, it’s me” so if you find yourself enjoying the New Adult genre, you might enjoy this. This is a series and the way Robinson leaves this one, you know some major stuff is going to go down - I might just check it out to see what happens.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
The thing I couldn’t resolve was why everyone loves and wants to be with Chloe? She wasn’t likable at all for me. First she was very wishy washy and when Drake says he can't be with her, she just jumps into bed with Logan….really? On top of that, once she made the decision to be with Logan, she “accidentally” sleeps with Drake and just avoids facing what is really going on. I found her to be annoying and in all honesty, I didn’t really like anything about her.
Chloe’s friendship with Amber and Logan was really only addressed on the surface – they were there for her when her mother was not. I also found that Amber confusing – she was supposed to be Chloe’s best friend but they clearly had secrets and when everything went down, she sided with Logan. I couldn’t see why that was the case as they didn’t really come across as closer friends – unless she was just siding with who she thought was the wronged person.
Drake is the token bad guy and because he has tattoos and piercings, Logan immediately considers him an asshole. He immediately catches the eye of Chloe and they are drawn to each other. Honestly he was just meh for me. He is presented as this man whore who never plans to settle down and mysteriously Chloe is the one that has changed him. I don’t buy it – he apparently had reasons for never wanting things to change but all of a sudden she makes him realize he needs something different…hmmm. I needed to know why and I just didn't get it.
I’m also not a big fan of Logan. Yep, he is the protective BFF and I know he was supposed to be leaning toward jealousy of Chloe’s relationship with Drake but he just comes across as someone who wants to control what she does and who she sees. Between the two guys, I’m not sure I liked either of them and usually one will stand out more to me as the better choice. I think in this case it was more because I wasn’t on the Chloe train.
This was a quick read and although I didn’t love this, I didn’t really hate it either (Now I'm being wishy washy). For me, the characters are what really makes a story stand out and because I didn’t really like any of them, I found myself not really enjoying this story. This may be a case of “It’s not you, it’s me” so if you find yourself enjoying the New Adult genre, you might enjoy this. This is a series and the way Robinson leaves this one, you know some major stuff is going to go down - I might just check it out to see what happens.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Ashley has lost her grandmother and one of her favorite places on earth is targeted for demolition by Roman Diaz, a Miami real estate developer. To stop him from destroying Sunnyvale Vacation Rentals, Ashley decides to chain herself to a tree in protest.
This installment is mostly the introduction of these two characters and a bit of their background. I can already tell I am going to love this story. Roman and Ashley are complete opposites and I can't wait to see just how much she turns his world upside down.
Knox introduces us to an interesting concept with these stories as they are a serial novel. As with my favorite tv shows, I can't wait for the next episode to dive back into this story.
This installment is mostly the introduction of these two characters and a bit of their background. I can already tell I am going to love this story. Roman and Ashley are complete opposites and I can't wait to see just how much she turns his world upside down.
Knox introduces us to an interesting concept with these stories as they are a serial novel. As with my favorite tv shows, I can't wait for the next episode to dive back into this story.
In this installment Ashley and Roman are on the road. He has agreed to take her to her friend's place...little does he know he agreed to take her to a swamp community...in Georgia. All things that will make Roman wonder what the heck has he gotten himself into.
While this is just a little snippet of the story, Knox does a wonderful job of giving the reader more information about these characters. Although they are mostly in their own heads, I have been able to get a good sense of who Roman is and although he has some secrets to reveal yet, it is clear he likes order and no emotions. Even his relationship with Carmen isn't about how he feels for her, it is about the order and structure it provides him in his life.
At the exact opposite of the spectrum is Ashley. She clearly acts rashly and doesn't really think through the things she does and although it has worked for her so far, she wants more. That is really what Sunnyvale represents for her - something in her life that she knows and can impact.
I can't wait to dive into the next episode with these two. I don't see things going well for Roman at all based on the shenanigans Ashley seems to be able to cook up.
While this is just a little snippet of the story, Knox does a wonderful job of giving the reader more information about these characters. Although they are mostly in their own heads, I have been able to get a good sense of who Roman is and although he has some secrets to reveal yet, it is clear he likes order and no emotions. Even his relationship with Carmen isn't about how he feels for her, it is about the order and structure it provides him in his life.
At the exact opposite of the spectrum is Ashley. She clearly acts rashly and doesn't really think through the things she does and although it has worked for her so far, she wants more. That is really what Sunnyvale represents for her - something in her life that she knows and can impact.
I can't wait to dive into the next episode with these two. I don't see things going well for Roman at all based on the shenanigans Ashley seems to be able to cook up.
In this installment, Roman and Ashley are still at the swamp with her friends and Ashley is still looking for a way to get him to realize she needs Sunnyvale. I felt so bad for Roman and believe it or not, this episode only made me like him more. Don't get me wrong, he needs someone like Ashley around to show him that life doesn't have to be perfectly controlled and everything in order but by taking him to the swamp, she is basically throwing him right into the deep end of the pool.
Ashley and her grandmother's friend come up with a plan to use animal conservation (Key Deer) as an excuse to save Sunnyvale and almost as a last resort, Ashley goes through and threatens Roman. Now he has to do whatever he can to get her to drop this idea. Because of that, he agrees to go on a road trip with her where she believes she will change his mind.
Another great episode by Ruthie Knox. If she isn't on your auto buy list, believe me when I say she should be. And if you haven't read anything by her yet, what the heck are you waiting for? She creates great characters and knows how to get a reader invested in her story. This one is no different and I will forever be singing the praises of this author to anyone who listens. I will be waiting anxiously for the next installment to see where the rest of this story goes.
Ashley and her grandmother's friend come up with a plan to use animal conservation (Key Deer) as an excuse to save Sunnyvale and almost as a last resort, Ashley goes through and threatens Roman. Now he has to do whatever he can to get her to drop this idea. Because of that, he agrees to go on a road trip with her where she believes she will change his mind.
Another great episode by Ruthie Knox. If she isn't on your auto buy list, believe me when I say she should be. And if you haven't read anything by her yet, what the heck are you waiting for? She creates great characters and knows how to get a reader invested in her story. This one is no different and I will forever be singing the praises of this author to anyone who listens. I will be waiting anxiously for the next installment to see where the rest of this story goes.
