Friday Reads [1]

I've seen this go around a lot on the booktube community and I thought I would adopt it for my blog. Basically, in a "Friday Reads" post I will tell you about the book I'm currently reading along with the books I am planning to read over the coming weekend. I'm hoping to do a Friday Reads post every week but we'll see how it goes. 

Currently Reading

Frozen by Erin Bowman

Frozen is the second book in the Taken trilogy by Erin Bowman. I'm about a quarter of the way through it and I really like how there was a small part in the beginning that kind of recapped what happened in the first book and reoriented the reader into the action that starts off the second book. So far it's pretty good. I was able to guess one of the first plot twists but I'm still enjoying it and I'm excited to see where it goes.

[Goodreads]

Reading This Weekend

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

I was fortunate to receive an eARC of Lindsay Cummings debut novel releasing this Tuesday but sadly I haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. I'm definitely planning to read it this weekend though, and I'll have a review up most likely on Monday before it comes out. Don't worry, it will be spoiler-free! I wouldn't want to ruin this promising book for anyone who's excited to read it.

[Goodreads]

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu

If somehow I manage to finish both of the above books between all the graduations and receptions I'm going to this weekend, I'll be picking up Corey Ann Haydu's latest book. I read OCD Love Story and really enjoyed it so I'm excited to see what her next book has in store. I think I might be a little over ambitious including this book, so I won't be too disappointed if I don't get to it.

[Goodreads]

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [13]

Frozen (Taken #2) by Erin Bowman

Summary

The Heists were only the beginning.

Gray Weathersby escaped from the primitive town of Claysoot expecting to find answers, but what he discovered shook him to the core: A ruthless dictator with absolute power. An army of young soldiers blinded by lies. And a growing rebellion determined to fight back.

Now Gray has joined a team of rebels on a harsh, icy journey in search of allies who can help them set things right. But in a world built on lies, Gray must constantly question whether any ally—or enemy—is truly what they seem…

I liked Taken, the first book in the trilogy, but as I mentioned in my review, it really did feel like it needed a sequel, which is finally out! I think there is so much potential in this great series and I'm really excited to see where author Erin Bowman takes the characters in Frozen.

Check out my review of Taken.
Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Erin Bowman's website.

Sunrise (Ashfall #3) by Mike Mullin

Summary

The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race. Now, almost a year after the eruption, the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapsed completely. The ham radio has gone silent. Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors' constant companions.

When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and adults are not facing the stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever — and unthinkable sacrifice. If they fail . . . they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.

This epic finale has the heart of Ashfall, the action of Ashen Winter, and a depth all its own, examining questions of responsibility and bravery, civilization and society, illuminated by the story of an unshakable love that transcends a post-apocalyptic world and even life itself.

This is one of my most anticipated books of this year because it is the last book in such an amazing series! I received an early review copy, but I haven't had a chance to read it. Regardless, I will be buying myself a hard copy because this a series I know I'll be re-reading.
[Note: this book was actually released March 17th but because of a mix-up, the release date still appears as today in many sources]

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Mike Mullin's website.

Other notable new releases

• To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han - I read an extended excerpt this past weekend and all I can say is I cried out in frustration when I couldn't read the rest of the book.
• What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick - I absolutely loved My Life Next Door and I can't wait to see what Fitzpatrick brings to the table with her newest book.
• The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith - I've really enjoyed both of Smith's previous books. They are feel-good books that put a smile on your face and I'm sure this one will be no different

New Release Tuesday...The Ones I'm Psyched For [6]

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Summary

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

There has been so much hype surrounding the release of the Cress, the third book in the Lunar Chronicles, and yet I still haven't had the chance to read the first book. Regardless, I'm going to take this as an opportunity to read all three books of what promises to be a fantastic marathon.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Marrisa Meyer's website.

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahere Mafi 

Summary

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Although I've only read the first book in the Shatter Me trilogy I am still excited for the release of the third and final book. I'm hoping to binge read Unravel Me and Ignite Me in the coming week. Don't worry, I am ready to feel all of the feels that come with the end of a series!

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Tahere Mafi's website.

The Ether: Vero Rising by Laurice Elehwany Molinari

Summary

The Fiercest of Warriors? Vero Leland always suspected he was different from others his own age, ever since his childhood attempts to fly. But he never could have predicted the truth---or how much his life was about to change. Soon after his twelfth birthday, Vero learns he is a guardian angel and is abruptly transported to the Ether, the spiritual realm that surrounds the earth. Yet before he can be counted among these fierce warriors, Vero must learn to master his growing powers, competing with other angels-in- training and battling demonic creatures known as maltures as well as mythical creatures such as the leviathan. Until his instruction is complete, Vero needs to alternate between the Ether and his regular life. If he survives training and accepts his destiny---a destiny he did not choose---he must leave everything behind, including his family and the life he loves. Meanwhile, an evil is growing---the maltures are rising, and Vero appears to be their target.

I recently heard about this book from my cousin who got an advance copy of the book and raved about it. I'm not normally into paranormal books about angels and such but I'm always willing to give a book a chance and since she liked it so much I'll definitely be picking this one up.

Check it out on Goodreads.
Check out author Laurice Elehwany Molinari's website.

Other notable new releases

• The Selection Stories by Kiera Cass - short story collection including The Prince and The Gaurd about Maxon and Aspen, respectively, from The Selection Series
• Stolen (Taken #0.5) by Erin Bowman - a short story following Bree and her life before we meet her in Taken

Book Review: Taken by Erin Bowman

Taken by Erin Bowman

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Library

Summary

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

My Review

It was very apparent by the end of the Taken by Erin Bowman that it was part of a trilogy. I would almost go as far to say that it really doesn't stand alone very well. While the plot of the book was great, there was a very apparent lack of character growth. It was very plot and action driven, and while that is not a bad thing, sometimes it felt that the characters were secondary to the action, and it was hard to form and emotional attachment to them, as a reader. My hope is that the main characters will grow more in the later books, but it still doesn't excuse the poor character development in the first book. Overall, though, the book was very good and I'm excited to read the next one in the series.