REVIEW: RISE (EVE #3) by ANNA CAREY

Series: Eve #3
Category/Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: 4/2/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 332
Source: Received from publisher for review

How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.

Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?

In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.

I fell in love with this series from the moment I began reading Eve. Everything about the story appealed to me: the characters, led by the incredibly endearing Eve; the history that created this world; the danger, action and adventure; and most of all Anna Carey's incredible writing. And I have to say that throughout the series, Carey has never been afraid to take risks with the story. No one was safe, and I found myself heartbroken more than once.

So having read Eve and Once, I was extremely anxious for Rise. I mean, the ending of Once was so brutal, and I had to know what happened next. Now that I have read Rise, I can say that I did like the story, and Carey's writing is still gorgeous.

In an effort to keep this spoiler free, I'm not going to go into the plot. At all. I can say, though, that the story is surprising, intense, and brutal. And I do applaud Carey for not making the story easy, and for not holding any punches. And though I felt it was authentic to someone of her age and circumstance, I know that some readers have felt Eve was impulsive and reckless. I think they would appreciate her character growth in Rise.

At the conclusion of the series, I can say that I am satisfied. I thought the story was extremely well-paced and well-written. Did everything I want to happen come to pass? I won't say, because if you've read the series, you'll know what I'm talking about. I did feel the ending was extremely abrupt. In fact, I was about to tear my ARC apart looking for missing pages. I didn't like that it just stopped, though I can maybe see why that happened. I will say that I would love if an epilogue had been added. Having said that, I still think Rise was a very satisfactory ending to the Eve Series.


Favorite Quote:

  He'd left so much space in my life. The expansive, hollow feeling seemed impossible to fill with anything else. In the past weeks I felt it in everything I did. It was in the shifting current of my thoughts, the nights now spent alone, the sheets beside me cold. This is where he used to be, I'd think. How can I possibly live with all this empty space?

The Eve Series 

 

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

 

My Reviews of

Eve  |  Once

 

 

Purchase the books at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

 

 

 

Visit Epic Reads' The End is Here Page for all things Eve!

 

 

 

About the author

Anna Carey has been a gift wrapper, face painter, nanny, horrific cocktail waitress, sofa saleswoman and children's book editor. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she can be found writing, reading, and doodling on the giant chalkboard in her kitchen.

Connect with Anna at:

Website  |  Twitter

 

 

{REVIEW} FUSE (PURE #2) by JULIANNA BAGGOTT

Series: Pure #2
Genre: Post Apocalyptic/Sci Fi
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: 2/19/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 416
Source: Received from publisher, via NetGalley

 When the world ended, those who dwelled within the Dome were safe. Inside their glass world the Pures live on unscarred, while those outside—the Wretches—struggle to survive amidst the smoke and ash.

Believing his mother was living among the Wretches, Partridge escaped from the Dome to find her. Determined to regain control over his son, Willux, the leader of the Pures, unleashes a violent new attack on the Wretches. It’s up to Pressia Belze, a young woman with her own mysterious past, to decode a set of cryptic clues from the past to set the Wretches free.

An epic quest that sweeps readers into a world of beautiful brutality, Fuse continues the story of two people fighting to save their futures—and change the fate of the world.

 

Once again, I am left stunned by the Pure series. It is alternately horrific, beautiful, wistful, romantic, and brutally savage. Definitely not my typical read, but I'm so glad that I took the leap. When I read Pure, I was blown away by the author's imagination, and by the fact that the world is based on a premise I find frightening and not out of the realm of possibility. I was drawn to the words that made me see beauty within the horror.

I'm not sure why, but Fuse did not hit me as hard as Pure. Maybe it's because I was somewhat used to the imagery. The shock factor was still there, but not as strong. I think it's also due to the fact that Fuse is the middle book in the series and those often seem to fall short of the first book. Another aspect that may have played part is the heavy scientific explanations. There are several overly (in my opinion) detailed passages that had me skimming, though it's good that there are explanations and logical thinking going on.

As far as the characters go, I was continually, and often pleasantly, surprised by their actions. Pressia is still trying to find her father, find the key to bringing down Willux, and navigating a relationship with Bradford, whom I still adore. Partridge broke my heart. His sacrifices to help the greater good made me proud and sad. His relationship with Lyda was beautiful and heartbreaking. She is another great heroine in this series, seemingly meek but with a powerful presence. The characters that most surprises and make me cringe is El Capitan and Helmud. In Pure, I honestly did not think the two would play a huge part of the story, other than as the conflicted bad guy(s). The fact that he/they now play a large, valiant part in the series is pretty great.

I just don't know how to pin down my feelings about Fuse. It took me nearly half the book to become truly involved.  The writing is gorgeous and imaginative. The story is brave, and makes you think about ethical issues, religious issues, friendship, sacrifice and love.


Favorite Quote:

  "You are whole," Bradwell says. "This is who I am -- scars, birds in my back. I'm whole now. I accept that. You go around seeing beauty in all this wreckage, but when will you see it in yourself?" He reaches up and runs his finger along the curve of the crescent scar around her eye. "This self."  ~eARC, 28%

The Pure Series

 

click on cover for GoodReads page

 

My review of Pure

Purchase Fuse at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

{REVIEW and GIVEAWAY} BREATHE (BREATHE #1) by SARAH CROSSAN

Series: Breathe #1
Publisher: Greenwillow
Publication Date: Oct 2, 2012
Format: ARC
Pages: 400
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina
has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

"I will die because I knew there had to be a better way to live." (ARC, pg. 197)

 

Why I Chose to Read Breathe ~ I was approached by the publisher to help with a promotion. This also included an ARC for review. I thought the story sounded cool, kind of like Under the Never Sky, so decided to give Breathe a try.


In a future destroyed by a need to sustain the world's growing population, air is not a right, it's a precious commodity. With too many people and not enough oxygen, in true form, a big corporation, Breathe, stepped in a provided what the people needed. But it comes with a price. If you're wealthy or a family of importance, your money can buy all the air you need, allowing you to perform such extravagant activities as running, playing, dancing. But if you are poor, and can only afford the bare minimum, you are policed so that you do not overuse your share of oxygen. You may not run fast, play instruments, or go wild and actually make out with your companion. Most citizens, believing their government and this corporation want the best for them. But there are those who believe that their leaders and Breathe are playing a game of control. Keep the people down. Make the people think they need you. When two teens from the Pod meet a member of the Resistance, they learn exactly what is going on, and will discover what it means to truly be free.

For me, Breathe was very similar, in message, to The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. You have a world with no vegetation to produce oxygen, and a company that is profiting from the situation. What I love about dystopian stories like Breathe, is when the premise makes sense because the author has given a very clear and scientific reason. I get irritated with stories that rely on a weak or vague explanation as to how their specific situation came to be. In Breathe, we have a dire future that is realistic and could very well come to pass eventually.

Breathe had three equally great leads. Alina is a member of the Resistance. She was tough, but a bit unlikeable in the beginning. She's a girl who has lost a lot and has become an emotionally distant, ruthless person. She doesn't want tag-alongs on her journey, but finds herself becoming close to and caring for Quinn and Bea. Quinn and Bea are out to have a short adventure outside the Pod. Though they both live there, their lives are dramatically different. Quinn is a Premium, lives an easy, happy life and takes the oxygen he uses for granted. Bea also lives in the Pod, but is an Auxillary. As an Auxillary, she is not considered Quinn's equivalent. Her family exists on the minimum oxygen required, lead slow, quiet lives and are regulated to the extreme. The revelations these three discover about themselves and the world they thought existed was heartbreaking and exhilarating. In addition to the three MCs, we have a straggler, Maude Blue. Maude was truly the surprise of Breathe. I didn't think it was possible, but she became a true gem in this story.

Breathe captured me from the very first line. I was horrified at the inhumanity, indignant at the injustice, and my heart was alternately broken and flying at each turn. If you enjoy truly realistic and plausible dystopian with a sci-fi/post-apocalyptic edge, I encourage you to give Breathe a shot.


Favorite Quote:

"Breathing is a right, not a privilege, so I'm stealing it back."  (ARC, pg.1)


"When I had no one else, they rescued me. There's more to it than that, of course. They showed me I'd become cold and hard; I'd forgotten myself, and without even looking, they found me. They did that. My friends."  (ARC, pg. 263)


You can purchase Breathe at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository


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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

 

**The blurb is very spoilery if you haven't read ONCE.**

The fate of The New America rests with Eve in this stunning finale to the Eve trilogy.

Eve is trapped in the City of Sand, married to a man of her father’s choosing, but she can’t forget her love for Caleb—or her passion for the rebel cause. When rebel armies invade the city, Eve uses her position as princess for the ultimate act of rebellion—to kill her father, the king. Then tragedy strikes, and Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight in this final battle for freedom. ~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~ I loved Eve. The ending of Once was brutal and heart-breaking. I can't wait to see if Eve can get out of the terrible mess she's in.


Expected publication: April 2nd 2013 by HarperCollins

Review ~ ONCE (Eve #2) by Anna Carey

When you're being hunted, who can you trust? For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America. But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America. Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever. In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.~From GoodReads

**I've managed to make this spoiler-free for ONCE (I think), but there may be spoilers for EVE.**

I don't even know how to write this review. I guess I could start by saying that I stayed up until 3am reading ONCE. And I'm exhausted from lack of sleep, but I have no regrets. There was no way that  I could possibly stop reading until I finished. ONCE was that wonderful.

What can I say about ONCE without spoiling it? I honestly feel like nothing. But I'll try. Luckily the blurb does a lot to help me out, because it pretty much lays out the story. ONCE picks up three months after Caleb leaves Eve at Califia. Eve is managing, but her moments are spent wishing for Caleb, to simply be with him again, even if it means living in the wild. As it turns out, no matter where Eve ends up, she's always trapped. After ending up in the City of Sand, Eve is dealt the king of all shockers, spinning her into a whole new orbit. Determined to fight for her own future, Caleb's future, the future of all New Americans, Eve's sense of loyalty, love, and sacrifice are put to the ultimate test.

Many times, middle books in a series are a letdown, a filler. That is not the case in ONCE. This story had so much packed into the pages. The dramatic revelations were shocking. I seriously didn't see any of it coming. The action was intense. Eve is a continual force, never halting her search for an escape. What got me most of all was the love story. Sadly, Caleb and Eve are separated for most of the story, but he is always in her thoughts. When the are together, it is absolutely magical. I literally held my heart while reading several particularly beautiful moments. They were subtle, and breathtaking.

After finishing ONCE I had one single thought: My heart hurts. I won't say the ending was cruel. In fact, as far as cliffhangers go, it was quite brilliant. I am already counting down the days until April 2, 2013, the day book three, RISE, releases.
Favorite Quote:

"I was convinced we would return to one another - it was only the how and when that had yet to be decided." (pg 56, ARC)

"I'd spent so many years preparing for this moment, just so I could steel myself against it. But it didn't feel like that. Not now - not with Caleb. He was asking for permission, his face mirroring all the nervousness I felt. I want to be closer to you, he seemed to say, as he bit down on his bottom lip. Will you let me?" (pg 183-4, ARC)
Expected publication: July 3rd 2012 by Harper Collins

You can purchase ONCE at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.