Summer Reading - 2013 Edition (3)

Among my friends, I'm known as the book person. As a result, whenever someone is looking for a book recommendation they come to me. This time of the year, this happens a lot since summer is fast approaching and a lot of my friends are typically seasonal readers--as in they read when they have time to do so and that time is often summer. Like I did last year, I thought I would post these recommendations--by genre--here on the blog as well. Up this week, some fantasy and science fiction recommendations.

- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few weeks, then you've probably heard all about how amazing The 5th Wave is. And I'm here to tell you that it is even better than everyone has been saying it is. Basically, the story takes place after aliens have wiped off most of Earth's population, and the world as we know it is gone. Even if you aren't into aliens, you will like these books. These books are not the kind of aliens you imagine. And the story is awesome and filled with action. Seriously, read this book.

- Breathe by Sarah Crossan - Picture a world where everyone lives in a dome where oxygen is controlled and rationed because there is no longer enough oxygen in the planet's atmosphere. Now add three teenagers being stuck outside the dome, with dwindling supplies of oxygen, trying to make it to a Resistance stronghold. Sarah Crossan's Breathe felt incredibly realistic while I was reading it and for that reason it makes a great dystopian. If you are looking for a book that will make you think about what could happen in our planet's not-too-distant future, than I strongly recommend Breathe.

- Possession trilogy by Elana Johnson - Here's the thing about Elana Johnson's Possession trilogy, I wasn't entirely convinced after reading the first book, Possession. But then I read the second book, Surrender, and I was sold. There is just so much happening in these books and a certain level of complexity that makes you really think while you are reading. Bonus side: the final book, Abandon is going to be out in just over two weeks so you won't even have to wait too long to find out how it all ends.

- Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth - If you haven't been living under a rock you should have heard about Veronica Roth and Divergent at this point. Between the movie being made and the final book, Allegiant, coming out in September, this trilogy is practically everywhere. But this trilogy totally deserves this attention because it is that good. Divergent is a fast-paced and action-packed dystopian story. This is the kind of book you will pick up and not want to put down again until you have read it all. So if a page-turner is what you're looking for, then Divergent is the way to go.

- The Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano - This was on my list of recommendations last year and I still stand behind it a year later. Though I will admit I still have to read the final book, this is a series I have loved so far. Lauren DeStefano's writing is reason enough to read this series. Reading these books will transport you to another world and another place. If nothing else, they will provide you with the perfect escape for a few hours. And on the plus side, the entire trilogy is out so you can read all three books back to back if that's what you want to do.

Like I've said every week, this is not an extensive list by any stretch of the imagination. If you are looking for some more dystopian or post-apocalyptic recommendations, you are free to check out my recommendations from last year. And if this is not the type of book you are looking for, be sure to come back next week for my last batch of summer reading recommendations

Surrender by Elana Johnson

Title: Surrender (Possession #2)

Author: Elana Johnson

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: June 5, 2012

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father's rules: He's the Director. It's because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent--a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine's got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can't. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi's boyfriend, Zenn.

Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine's father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. she's even starting to suspect Vi's secrets might involve Freedom's newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque...

I really enjoyed reading Possession so I was definitely looking forward to reading Surrender. And Surrender really delivered. There was even more going on in this bok than there was in the previous one. And that made for a book that was very difficult to put down.

Raine's father is the Director. That means Raine is a good girl and followed the rules in Freedom. Or at least that's what it looks like on the surface. In reality, Raine isn't all that big on following the rules and her father will let it slide so long as she uses her talent. Though no one knows about Raine's talent, not even those closest to her. But Raine is willing to throw all that away when she starts to fall for Gunner, someone she should stay away from. But she can't help it. And soon Raine discovers that a lot of people in her life are connected to one another, but there are still some secrets, especially where Vi is concerned. And the secrets only intensify when Jag Barque is brought to Freedom.

While I really enjoyed Possession, it was nothing compared to how I felt while reading Surrender. In this second instalment, Elana Johnson took the story to a whole new level. There was just so much happening and I loved every moment of it. A lot of that had to do with the fact that Surrender followed two intersecting storylines. On the one hand it followed Raine and on the other it followed Gunner. And while the stories intersected on numerous occasions, they also had their own plots which resulted in a lot of action and made for a really great story. Surrender most definitely didn't suffer form the shortcomings often found in sequels.

What was interesting with Surrender was that while it was a continuation of the story that began in Possession, it followed different characters. People like Vi, Zenn and Jag were still around and integral to the story but the focus wasn't on them. Instead, the focus was on new characters Raine and Gunner and how their story fit in with that of the others. And once I got to know Raine and Gunner, I oculd easily see why they fit in with Vi, Zenn and Jag. Raine had always been oppressed by her father and didn't agree with the way he did and ran things in Freedom. In a sense she had a lot in common with Vi. As for Gunner, things had always been hidden from him and now he wanted answers. All that to say, they were a great addition to the story.

If you enjoyed Elana Johnson's Possession you are guaranteed to love Surrender. I know I did and I can't wait to see where the story will go in the next book.

Possession by Elana Johnson

Title: Possession (Possession #1)

Author: Elana Johnson

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: June 7, 2011

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them…starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play. 

When Elana Johnson's Possession came out last year it had caught my attention but after hearing mixed reviews I didn't end up picking it up. Then I received a copy of the sequel for review and I decided it was time to give it a chance. I'm glad I decided to finally read Possession and it ended up taking me by surprise. 

Knowing the Rules has never stopped Vi from breaking them, especially when she's with Zenn. But the Thinkers are determined to help Vi change her ways and become one of them. To get to Vi, the Thinkers go through Zenn, knowing that Vi won't leave him behind. But somewhere along the way, Vi meets Jag Barque. As infuriating as Jag is, he is also incredibly charismatic and Vi has a difficult time resisting him. ANd the more time she spends with him, the more Vi starts to think that with Jag, she could leave everything she knows behind.

While at first Possession had caught my attention, after seeing mixe reviews for it, I ended up not picking it up. But then I received a copy of the sequel for review and I decided it was time to give it a chance. And though Possession had a few minor shortcomings, I found myself enjoying it a lot more than I thought i would. I quickly found myself being drawn in to the world that Elana Johnson created and it wasn't too long before I believe it was real. My only concern was that at times I was given information without really knowing where it was coming from. But other than that, Possession was a really great story and Elana Johnson quickly made me believe in it.

Right away I loved Vi. There's nothing I love more than a character that doesn't let anyone control them. That's exactly who Vi was. She wasn't afraid to defy the authorities if it meant that she got to be herself and help those she cares about. Though sometimes that didn't always put her in the best situations, especially where Zenn and Jag were concerned. What was interesting with the two boys is that they were so alike but so different at the same time. And you know they have a history together but never really find out what it is. And for me that just added to the feeling that I never fully knew what was going on with either of them. The only thing I knew for sure was they both wanted what was best for Vi though they didn't always agree on what that was.

I'm glad I finally decided to give Elana Johnson's Possession a chance. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did and that took me by surprise. It was a fantastic dystopian story and by the time I finished reading, I was excited to see where the story would go in Surrender, the sequel.