lisaluvsliterature's Reviews (4.19k)

This book kept up with the first in the series. Although I found it a little slow to get into. There was a big event at the beginning that got you hooked though, you found out that the library Cass had first arrived at in the first book had been burned and people killed by the Rebuilders. Which meant that Dor's daughter had been kidnapped. Cass thinks she could just stay at the Box with Smoke, but Smoke is so angry about the Rebuilders that he goes to infiltrate them for Dor. It's basically a suicide mission. And Dor is going to go too, it is his daughter. Cass wants to go as well to find Smoke, although she feels that Smoke has betrayed her and her daughter Ruthie by just leaving like that. Cass really just wants to find a safe, normal place for her daughter Ruthie to have a chance to grow. So after a trip filled with danger to the Rebuilders, Cass feels she might have found a good place. As an Outlier, someone who has the immunity to the disease that has caused the zombies, she is highly valued, and would live a life of "comfort" in the Rebuilders' colony. However, it turns out all is not as great as it seems. What the scientist in charge of the rebuilders wants the Outliers for is a bit creepy, and Smoke has gotten himself into a situation that must be saved, and then they do find Dor's daughter Sammi, and she also is in a precarious situation, although being Dor's daughter, she feels she can take care of herself. It definitely leaves off on a huge cliffhanger, and I know the 3rd book is out. I may have to actually buy that one, as I got the other two as an ARC and the first came with the 2nd ARC to introduce to the series. I got both from the Barnes and Noble store I work at.
Personally, some of Cass's decisions I don't quite know that I would be like that, so at times it is hard for me to connect to her. But the story is one that is interesting and keeps you reading on.

This is another time when I wish Goodreads would let us give half stars. This was good. Not quite a 4 for me, but really not as low as a 3 either. I did enjoy this book. When I had to put it down, I was eager to pick it back up, and that is a good sign for me. I have really been into dystopian stories, and this was a good one. I could tell that there was something more to the relationship between the main character Eden and her boss Bramford from the first time they had an interaction in the book. The relationship between them was so much like the few real romance novels I've read. Even though we never really got the story from his viewpoint, it was always from Eden's, I could tell by the things he said, and the things Eden saw him do, that he had feelings for her. And I'm okay with that. She felt attracted to him, and so even though she fought her feelings for him, she really wanted him too. Which, kind of textbook romance novel. But again, the rest of the story was okay enough for that to work.
In this future world, it seems as if something like global warming has occurred, because anyone with light skin, or most people with light skin, died because of the heat and the sun's rays. Those who were left, even the darker skinned people, had to move below ground. Now the white people, or "Pearls" are the minority, and treated that way. The darker skinned people are called "Coals" and are considered the superior race. It is so bad that the Pearls even color their skin to look like Coals. People are given mating ratings, based on their skin color, skills, etc. Pearl is pretty low. Now the reason this is so bad, is that if by the time you reach a certain age you aren't married, you are no longer allowed to live in society and use their rations and supplies. They take you to the surface and leave you to fend for yourself. Which usually means death. Eden's father is a scientist that works for Bramford, where he also got Eden a job. Eden knows only one Coal who treats her fairly and makes her feel attractive, his name is Jamal. She finds out that Bramford is having her father work on a genetic cure for the light colored skin. A way to make it darker. But when they are attacked by a very prejudiced group, her father's work is compromised, Bramford agrees to be the test subject, and they must leave and run into a rainforest to hide. Bramford begins to change, because part of the cure contains the genes of a jaguar to start with, and he changes physically into almost a beast. But he is still human enough to use his resources to get them free, into a village. Pearl finds out Bramford once was mated, and this leads to some interesting discoveries of what kind of a man he really is.
This is going to be a series I guess, which is good, because while this ends on a pretty good note, we're also kind of left wondering what will happen next, with Bramford, and how will Eden be able to be with him, now that he is not really a man anymore.

All I can say is, why has it taken me so long to read this book? And I'm guessing, any book by Rachel Vincent is going to be this good! Reading this book reminds me of when I found [a:Mara Purnhagen|3097903|Mara Purnhagen|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg]and her ghost series. I fell right into it, in love with it, and can't wait to read the rest of the series! First off, not sure why I didn't guess right from the series name: Soul Screamers, that this was about banshees. But what a cool new supernatural creature to develop into a story! The main character is Kaylee. Kaylee gets this uncontrollable urge to scream when she sees this black cloud surrounding people, and somehow she just knows that they're about to die. She had an episode in a mall,and I guess I have to get the prequel novella to read about that, but her aunt and uncle, who she lives with because her mother died when she was little and her father has moved back to Ireland, well, they put her in a psych ward and get her on meds to try to help with these "episodes". Only it happens again when she's snuck into a local club for 18 and older with her best friend Emma. The night starts off good, as one of the hottest guys in school, Nash, seems to have eyes for only her, and really be into her. But then this happens again, and she has to hold back the scream, and doing so makes her look like she's having a fit. Only, Nash doesn't seem to be too freaked out or scared off by this. In fact, he seems to know what's going on, and he does, he lets Kaylee in on what her heritage is. The cool thing, banshees aren't quite what we think of them as. In fact they have a cool Irish name that is interpreted as banshees, bean sidhe. The females scream/sing because they can tell when the soul leaves the body. And they are able to hold it and keep it from leaving the body, so that the deceased can see his family say their goodbyes, etc. The males don't do the screaming, but they can get the soul to move, back into the body, towards where it should be going, etc. But you're not supposed to bring someone back to life this way, because it means someone else will take their place. And what Kaylee soon learns, is that this rash of deaths of young people isn't supposed to be happening. They aren't on death's "list" to die. Someone is taking their souls for a nefarious purpose. And we do find out who, and Kaylee's father does come back, and we learn a lot about her family, but I won't tell you that, you'll have to read it for yourself.
I just have to say I love the connection between Nash and Kaylee. Can't wait to read on and find out where it goes. I do also like the character Tod, a grim reaper, which reminds me of one of my favorite shows, Dead Like Me. I can't wait to keep up with him too. I got this book as a strip cover that was going to be thrown away at the bookstore where I work. Now I have to go back and buy the compilation that has this, as well as the prequel novella: [b:My Soul to Lose|6644109|My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers, Prequel)|Rachel Vincent|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1248501543s/6644109.jpg|6776907], and the 2nd book in the series: [b:My Soul to Save|8660572|My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, #2)|Rachel Vincent|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1280177330s/8660572.jpg|17289417]. I'm hoping that they'll put the next 3 in a compilation as well.

Okay, I see there is a TON of controversy and dislike on this book, so I have to post my review here as well as on my blog. I loved the first book in this series. The 2nd was kind of slow, but I could see how it was necessary. This one was much better in lots of action and a REAL conclusion to the story. It's not one of those stories that are supposed to be a trilogy, but then at the end, all of a sudden it isn't quite over so we go on. My thought to those authors is to not call it a trilogy, call it a series. Even just to be safe. Anyway, beyond that. I will admit I am totally Team Ren, not Shay. But then again, I'm not Calla. It's like with Twilight, the book. If Bella had ended up with Jacob, that would have been wrong. And I'm only Team Jacob because of Taylor Lautner, and only after New Moon, so I'm more Team Jacob for me, than for Bella. I feel this book had a very logical ending. And I'm okay with who Calla ended up with, and with the way it happened. I loved all the different places they had to go to get the pieces for Shay to use to defeat the Keepers, and his uncle, who was actually a demon. Definitely some of the characters who died in this were some that were my favorite, but I compare that to Harry Potter, in that it seems more realistic, (yeah, I know this is fiction) if not everyone miraculously lives through it all. Plus, it adds more emotion and makes you feel more connected, I think. As I said before, I like that there was a very firm, no question about it, ending. While the Rift may be closed, they do also let on at the end that it doesn't mean all bad magic is over, just that it can't come from that evil anymore. I don't want to say too much that might give away the ending. And I can understand why some people were upset about it, I just don't agree with them. I understand their point about it not really being Calla's "choice" how it all ended up, but really, that was her choice seemed to be leaning towards, so....
The one complaint someone mentioned that I totally agree with, is the cover. I loved the original hardcover artwork , and am not a fan of the new covers, this book does actually make Calla look a lot older than she is.[bc:Nightshade|8588789|Nightshade|Andrea Cremer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325802897s/8588789.jpg|7168458]
I do look forward to the prequel. I think that will be neat to go back and see how it began.

I waited so long to read this from when I got to read the first book in the series, [b:Wither|8525590|Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)|Lauren DeStefano|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878510s/8525590.jpg|13392566]. I wished really bad I'd get an ARC of it since I'd gotten to read Wither as an ARC. But it didn't happen, so I had to check the book out from the store where I work. I gave Wither 5 stars I loved it so much, and this was really good, but had some of the same issues that a lot of 2nd books in a series seem to have. I was a little surprised they that Rhine and Gabriel ran into a trap so soon, but I guess I'd have realized that if I'd read the summary here on Goodreads. :-) But it made sense because that is where they met "Lilac" and her daughter Maddie. It is also where we got the idea that their former housemaster, Vaughn, Linden's father, had more secrets than we had even begun to find out in Wither. At first when Rhine started feeling sick, I wondered, was she finally pregnant? It doesn't really ever say that she and Gabriel go that far. But I was a little confused. Then, when you figure out what Vaughn may have done, it all begins to make sense. I knew that the whole situation with Linden couldn't be finished yet, it just wasn't completely tied up, and this is how we get back to begin to deal with it. I was so anxious for Rhine to find her brother as well. And I'm glad we do finally get some satisfaction on whether he's still alive at the end. I'm almost wondering though, if we still have more to learn about their scientist parents, and if they were as good as a child remembers their parent to be.
So now I'm eagerly awaiting the 3rd book! It would be so awesome to get an ARC of that, but not holding my breath, so at least this time I'll be waiting the same amount of time as everyone else who has to wait till the book is actually published. In conclusion, I liked the book, and am still hooked on the story!

Normally I would wait until a month before the publishing date to review a book from Netgalley, but since I see that the ebooks were "published" already, I thought it would be okay to go ahead and post my review. Once again, I'll say thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this egalley, as well as Marshall Cavendish, the publisher.
I'm kind of surprised by how many zombie books I've begun to read. And really, while yes, this is a zombie story, the zombies play a pretty small part. They are there, they are a danger, but again we're really reading about the story of the people not infected. In this story the zombies are humans suffering from a scientifically enhanced version of rabies. One that takes humans over and can change them into almost beast like creatures, hairy, running around on all fours, or still pretty human looking. The title of this, The Weepers, was hard to find on Goodreads at first. That's because most of the book listings for this are under the title The Other Life #1. The title "The Weepers" is due to the fact that the creatures all look as if they are crying, they have "tears" running down their faces, and their eyes are swollen as if from crying.
The beginning of the book reminds me a bit of [bc:The Compound|2696181|The Compound|S.A. Bodeen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311989633s/2696181.jpg|2721510] by S.A. Bodeen. Sherry is our main character, and she is living in an underground bunker with her family. We know how long she's been down there because she has counted days, and tells us over and over. They've been sent into bunkers we're told, by the government. But recently the messages from the government telling them to stay there until they receive notification it is okay outside, have stopped. And they've run out of food. Apparently the amount of food they brought for 4 years, wasn't exactly enough. Even with Sherry's grandfather passing away while they are there. Everyone is going stir crazy, getting on each others' nerves, and the end of the food supplies means they must make a drastic decision. Sherry and her father choose to go out of the bunker and try to find some food, also hoping to find out what is going on outside now that they've not heard any news from outside. Fortunately their family has had a history of hunting and shooting, so Sherry is prepared and not overly scared of shooting a gun, whether she's any good of a shot or not. As she goes to a large store, I think it was a Walmart, she and her father hear strange noises, and see their first weepers. As they are attacked, her father tells her to run and meet him outside and be safe. But he never comes back. Sherry runs into a boy named Joshua. He saves her, and takes her back to a place called Safe haven. But Sherry knows she must get back to her family in the bunker before they try to go out on their own and something horrible happens to them. She also must try to find her father, especially when Joshua tells her that the weepers often take humans to their nests, and stockpile them, kind of like squirrels with nuts.
The story line was good, and I like the science behind the disease. I also like that there is government intrigue in what could be going on. However, and I don't know if it's just because what I read was an egalley, and maybe not quite ready for publishing, but there were some grammatical errors. First, one sentence that really stood out and bothered me was this: "On the fifth floor we didn't have more luck". I think it's missing the word "any" before more luck. Just doesn't sound right. There were a few other things like that. Nothing that won't hopefully be fixed with a quick edit before publication if there is time.
Also, we get these flashbacks of Sherry's life before all this started. And while at first they seemed to fit in okay, towards the end they didn't really fit where they were going. Again, I'm wondering if that has something to do with it being an egalley, and maybe there is something wrong with the formatting of the pages. Don't know. I like the idea of flashbacks leading up to the current time, they just need to fit into the story more smoothly. I will recommend it, the story is good, just a few editing things to get straightened out to make it the best it can be.

Finished except for the 20 pages missing out of the ARC.