Review: The Twelfth Keeper by Belle Malory

The Twelfth Keeper by Belle Malory
Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Publisher: Belle Malory
Number of Pages: 439
Format: Ebook
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When sixteen-year-old Kennedy Mitchell is proclaimed the world’s last keeper, she thinks it’s a cruel joke. Come on- her? Impossible. She’s no warrior. She isn’t wise beyond her years, or more importantly, capable of keeping Earth safe.

Except...no one will listen. And since all evidence says otherwise, the job is hers whether she likes it or not.

During the highly demanding training regime that follows, Kennedy struggles to fit in with Earth’s renowned protectors. Especially Phoenix Jorgensen, who openly despises her. Problem is, he may be the only one she can trust. The keepers have big secrets surrounding them. Secrets Kennedy isn’t comfortable knowing, much less being apart of. With Phoenix’s help, she’ll have to find a way out.

Either that, or die trying.

First I would like to thank Belle for giving me the opportunity to review her latest book.

At first I wasn't too sure how I feel about the book. It took a little bit to get into, but at the same time kept me interested enough to keep reading. The setting is kind of confusing. You can tell that it's set sometime in the future, but not sure exactly when. I've read books before where the first book isn't about world building. It just gives you enough information so you're not totally lost, but at the same time keeps you guessing. I like it. It leaves a lot to your imagination.

The concept of the plot is interesting. Earth was build with its own protectors, the keepers, born from  one of the twelve constellations. The Defense of Extraterrestrials, or DOE as it's more commonly referred as, has found all the Keepers but the last one; until now. Kennedy Mitchell has gone through a lot. With the death of her dad, her mom not only had to work two plus jobs, but had to move across the island they live on. When DOE insists that she is the twelfth keeper, she knows they made a mistake. There is nothing special about her. But when Kennedy realizes how much money trouble their family is in she agrees to go with DOE and train.

Enter Phoenix, keeper number nine and the first keeper that was found. Calaya, a stargazer, has been telling Phoenix that he will have a special bond with the twelfth keeper. That he will fall for her and will want to be her hero instead of Earth's. Phoenix is determine to not let that happen, nothing is more important than his responsibility of protecting his planet and the people. But when Kennedy's life is endangered Phoenix can't keep his emotions in check anymore.

I wasn't too big on Phoenix completely ignoring and keeping his distance from Kennedy and then wham all of a sudden he can't stay away. It's been done before, but I wish there were some kind of a communication between the two before the incident. But the time they had spent together, I couldn't help but fall in love with Phoenix. Not to mention laugh at Kennedy's comments about his coffee making skills. She should give him a few pointers.

Of course with being YA there are some guarantees. Enter Hunter, Kennedy's best friend. On the day she left he had kissed her and with that had told her his real feelings for her. I see a love triangle brewing in the near future. Instead of the usual snarky bff, we have Matilda, the latest robot to assist Kennedy. And there were times when I forgot she was just a robot. The comments she would make were hilarious, and especially love the fact she calls Kennedy Cupcake. Has to be my favorite thing about this book.

Then there are a few things that kind of bugged me. There were a few senteces that I had to read a few times to understand what was going on. Nothing big. And then there were the occasionally use of words like shit and fuck. Now I don't have a problem with it, but I don't think are very appropriate for YA.

Last but not least there's a few things that I keep wondering. Why does Kennedy refers to her mom by her first name? I want to know more about the keepers and the constellations. I want to know more about they day Kennedy's father died. What really happened to Kennedy that day? And why did the doctor lie to Kennedy about the phone?

Overall this book has me intrigued, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for Kennedy and the rest of the keepers.

Rating: 4/5

 

Review: Glitch by Heather Anatasiu

Glitch (Glitch #1) by Heather Anastasiu
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Number of Pages: 308
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

I'm not even sure where to begin. I initially picked this book up because of the cover. Which the saying "never judge a book by it's cover" shouldn't be implied literally most of the time. This isn't the first book I've brought that I initially picked up because the cover caught my eye. Plus I have really gotten into dystopia fiction lately. So I thought why not.

When the book begins Zoe has already been glitching. She knows the right thing to do is to report it so she can get fixed. But she has a secret and she knows if she reports herself she will be deactivated.  But she's been glitching more often and has become paranoid that someone will notice and report her. Which is when she notices Adrien, and Zoe is convinced he's a monitor. But when he saves her from an official, she has no choice but to trust him.

I absolutely love Adrien. And not even half way through the book I was already on Team Adrien. And of course staying true to YA, we have a love triangle. Not even 100 pages in I could see it already forming, which kind of annoyed me. I could tell Max was a glitcher before it was officially revealed. Just something about his actions tipped me off. And I was weary of him from the first moment. When he finally told Zoe he was glitching too, well there was a scene that was really too creepy for me to process. I literally looked up and wondered if I was reading some type of sci-fi porn. Most of the time I usually like the "other guy", but I just wanted Max to go far away.

There was a small twist where Zoe founds out that she had been on the surface when she was young, but she also had an older brother. The bigger twist at the end was kind of boring. I almost kind of guessed it before it happened.

Overall, it was a decent book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. The way they speak and how they live took a while to get used too. And I'm still not sure I'm used to how they say things. They just seem too robotish too me. I do wish we got to see more of her mom, dad, and especially her brother. I'm curious to see what happens next.

Rating: 3/5

 

Jen's review of "Pandemonium" by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Publication date: Feb 1st, 2012

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Number of pages: 375

Format: Paperback

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description: I’m pushing aside
the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana
and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

In which was one of the most anticipated sequels of 2012 comes the second installment from Lauren Oliver in her Dystopian trilogy. If you remember at the end of the last book, Delirium, Lena had barely escaped while her boyfriend Alex was trapped. When we pick up with this story, Lena finds herself on the other side in the Wilds where she soon is found by some people who help her adjust to this new life and find some purpose.

This book is a little different than what we are used to. We have two POV's. The THEN, and the NOW.. meaning it talks of the present and the past.
It can be a little confusing to begin with, but the more you go forward with the story you tend to get used to the tenses.
In the THEN tense, we have Lena and her new group of friends as they show her what this life is about, and how nobody has a past... you are who you are once you come to this place and nothing else matters.
In the NOW tense... we are taken to Lena in NYC where she is attending school, but also her true mission for being there is to keep an eye on the DFA -- Delirum Free Association. Her part/role is to follow and watch for the son of the head of the company, Julian.
When the two of them start to get closer together... Julian will start to wonder whether he knows what he is getting himself into, and start to ask himself if he is on the right team.

The chemistry between these two is so real. The way they get to know each other makes you believe that just maybe... she might belong with him.
But then, her heart also still lies with Alex. He might not in the book, but he is constant in her thoughts and her heart.
And the all and mighty cliffhanger in which we are left until 2013 with. It certainly gives you that 'oh no, you so did not' feeling about the end, and the dreaded feeling that we'll now have to wait a year until the finale.

I enjoyed the new characters, especially Julian. He was my favourite character from this new book, and I have changed to Team Julian. Lauren even wrote it in my book when I met her recently.
I admit.. while I did love Alex in book 1... I didn't feel the kind of chemistry with Lena that I did with Julian, and by the end of the book I knew whose team I was on.

                                                            Rating: 4/5