Book Review | Extraction by Stephanie Diaz

I absolutely love reading young adult dystopian books, so when I heard about Extraction by Stephanie Diaz I knew I had to add it to my list. It is the first in a new series, and was just released this past July. If you're looking for a dystopian pick with some unique science fiction elements, you'll definitely want to pick up Extraction!

Readers follow sixteen-year-old Clementine as she struggles to survive on the Surface. Because of pollution, the moon has started leaking a killer acid through the depleted ozone layer. Though scientists built a shield to keep the acid from killing the population, most people now live underground, with the Core being the desired place of residence. As the book begins, Clementine is about to take the Extraction testing. This test decides whether she will be chosen to live in the Core, or whether she will be killed at age twenty once she is no longer needed.

Clementine scores well on her test, and is given the opportunity to escape the Surface. But leaving means she will be ripped away from her best friend Logan, whom she will most likely never see again. Clementine hopes her new life in the Core will be a safe one, and that she might possess enough Promise (the score each citizen is given according to their physical and intellectual abilities) to impress the Core's commanders.

Overall, I really enjoyed Extraction, and gave it four out of five stars on Goodreads. The story is fast-paced, easy to read, and very adventurous. There were many twists and turns around the way, but they were logically written and Diaz drops subtle hints to carefully craft the story. I also really enjoyed the characters, and how I never knew who I could trust and who was a bad guy. My only critique was that there are many elements of Extraction that were very reminiscent of other dystopian novels I've read. I would have liked a bit more originality at some points, but for the most part the story is out of this world (pun intended).

While Extraction had a solid ending, I'm very much looking forward to the second book Rebellion which is scheduled to be released in February of 2015. If you love the young adult dystopian genre like I do, I highly recommend picking up this series. Extraction is available for purchase on Amazon HERE. You can also preorder Rebellion HERE to make sure you'll get the next book as soon as it's released! As always, please let me know your thoughts on Extraction in the comments below!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

As a child I absolutely loved reading fantasy novels, but for some reason I've strayed away from the genre. When I saw that the book club Booksplosion was hosting a read-along for the first book in the Heir Chronicles series by Cinda Williams Chima, I decided to pick up The Warrior Heir and join in on the fun.

The Warrior Heir is a young adult fantasy novel that follows our main character Jack. The book opens with a mysterious prologue that gives us a glimpse into a magical world, but then jumps forward to Jack's high school life. He's lived as a normal teenager, but one day he forgets to take his medicine and weird things start happening. It turns out Jack is a member of a magical world, and readers follow him as he adapts to his new status.

There were several aspects of The Warrior Heir that I really enjoyed, but unfortunately the story was very slow going for me, and I felt like the world-building took a long time to develop. For much of the book, I was quite confused and wished I had more of a setting for the story. Similarly, I found the story hard to believe. Yes, it is a fantasy novel, but as the story begins Jack is still a normal kid at a normal high school. He and his friends do some crazy things no questions asked, and that annoyed me. However, I did like Jack's relationships with his friends and his Aunt Linda, and I thought the book ended well.

That said, I don't think I will continue on in this series. The Heir Chronicles is a companion series, which means that each book follows a different main character. I would love to hear more about Jack and how his life develops after The Warrior Heir, but I'm not interested in other characters in this world.

I rated The Warrior Heir a solid three stars on Goodreads. While the story was innovative and ended well, the book was just too slow in its world building for me to rate it any higher. If you really love fantasy, especially those with magic, I think you would enjoy this book. On the other hand, if you are looking to break into the fantasy genre, I don't think this is a great series for you. You can purchase The Warrior Heir on Amazon HERE. As always, please let me know your thoughts on this book in the comments!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

TodayTix App Brings the First Mobile Lottery to Audiences of On The Town!

If you've been an OpenLetter2NYC reader for a while, you'll know that I never attend a Broadway show at full price. Whether I wait in line for rush tickets, score a discount seat on the web, or enter the ticket lottery, I'm always on the hunt for the most affordable seats. I've been stalking the On The Town website recently, as one of my childhood friends is in the show and I just had to see her onstage as soon as possible. Imagine my surprise when I saw that On The Town is offering the first mobile lottery in Broadway history!

The TodayTix app makes entering the On The Town lottery super easy. All I had to do was download the app for free in the App Store on my iPhone (also available on Google Play and Amazon) and enter the lottery directly from my phone! Each day, I simply enter the On The Town lottery for free, and a few hours before the show I'm notified via email whether or not I scored tickets. For someone who lives in Downtown Manhattan, this app is absolutely perfect – I can enter the lottery no matter where in the city I am, and I don't have to wait in any lines at the theatre. Talk about convenient!

TodayTix is also a great app even if you're not looking to see On The Town (which you should, by the way!). The app allows you to get discounted tickets for many other Broadway shows, and is currently offering free tickets to the preview performances at The Public this season. There is no reason to stand in line out in the elements when you can buy discount tickets directly on your phone. With the time (and money) you save, you can enjoy New York City and pick up your tickets at the box office come showtime!

I also want to mention the great customer service I experienced with TodayTix. This past Saturday I entered the On The Town lottery, and figured I didn't win when showtime was getting close. Then my phone rang, and it was TodayTix! The original lottery winner cancelled, so they called and offered the ticket to me! I was so excited! I headed to the Lyric Theatre, handed my $20 in cash to the box office, and enjoyed the show from my orchestra seat. It was awesome!

I will have a full review of On The Town up on my blog once the show officially opens in October. For now, I definitely recommend that you take advantage of the TodayTix app. If you sign-up for TodayTix, please use my referral code, as you and I will both get $20 off our next ticket purchases through the app. Simply click HERE to be directed to the TodayTix website. I hope to see more Broadway shows using this app for their lottery systems soon!

Book Review | The Iron Trial by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

I've been hearing people gush over both Holly Black and Cassandra Clare since I got back into reading this year, but to be quite honest, I had never read anything by either author! Lucky for me, I was approved on NetGalley to read and review an advanced eBook of the pair's new book, The Iron Trial. This is the first book in a new, middle grade series called the Magisterium. Once I heard magic was involved, I couldn't wait to read it!

The Iron Trial follows Callum Hunt, a 12-year-old boy who grew up with his dad. Call knows there is something different about his family, as his dad always tells him about the dangerous war that killed his mother. This war took place between the mages, magical people who can control the elements. Call is now faced with the difficult task of failing The Iron Trial – the test all magic-prone kids must take to determine whether or not they will be accepted to the magic school called the Magisterium. Call does everything he can to fail this test, but, of course, things don't go quite according to plan and Call is ripped away from his dad to try and learn the ways of the mages. Readers follow Call as he adapts to life in the Magisterium, and tries to determine whether it is the dangerous place his father warned him it would be.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Iron Trial, but before I get into my personal thoughts I do want to address the Harry Potter comparisons. There are many elements of The Iron Trial that reminded me of Harry Potter, but I hesitate to say the are copied. Because both of these series take place in magical worlds, there is bound to be some overlap. Do I think certain choices were interesting based on the Harry Potter connection? Yes. But the overall story in The Iron Trial is so different from Harry Potter that I do not think it is a copycat novel. Instead, I liked reading a book with Harry Potter influences because that's one of my all-time favorite series. I would definitely recommend it for Harry Potter fans!

Moreover, The Iron Trial a fun and easy read, but it's an unpredictable one. I never knew which way the story was going to go, and that made me want to keep reading. The story flowed quite well, and all of the surprising elements made logical sense in hindsight. I think The Iron Trial is perfect as the first book in a series. The world-building was done very well, and I loved how the authors set up the story for the next book. I am really impressed with The Iron Trial and can't wait for the next book to be released!

I highly recommend The Iron Trial for readers of all ages, especially those who love fantasy and magic. It is well-written and imaginative, and just tons of fun. Of course, I gave it a 5 star rating on Goodreads. You can purchase The Iron Trial on Amazon HERE. As always, if you've read this book please let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I received this book from NetGalley to review. I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden Trilogy, Book 3)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE IMMORTAL RULES AND THE ETERNITY CURE, THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE BLOOD OF EDEN TRILOGY. PLEASE SEE MY NON-SPOILER REVIEWS HERE AND HERE.

Today I'm bringing you my non-spoiler review of the final book in the Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julie Kagawa, The Forever Song. If you have not read books one and two in the series, I do not recommend this review, but if you are debating whether or not to get the last book in the series, this is the perfect post for you!

With the crazy cliffhanger at the end of The Eternity Cure, I'm sure you wanted to pick up The Forever Song right away. In this book, we follow Allison, Jackal, and Kanin as they search for Sarren and try to stop him from completing whatever evil plan he's brewing. There are a lot of twists and turns along the way, and at times the characters are truly unpredictable. I loved how epic this book was, and read through it as quickly as possible.

That said, The Forever Song was a solid, four star book for me. One of the plot points greatly mimicked another popular dystopian book, and I felt like the ending itself was a bit rushed. I would have enjoyed a lengthier ending scene, but was overall happy with the series's conclusion.

This was my first time reading any books by Julie Kagawa, and I greatly enjoyed the experience! I would give the Blood of Eden trilogy a total rating of 4.5 stars, and definitely look forward to rereading it again in the future. This series has inspired me to pick up more paranormal books, and I definitely want to read more of Kagawa's works. I would also love a companion series to the Blood of Eden trilogy in Jackal's perspective! That would be awesome!

You can purchase The Forever Song on Amazon HERE. Please let me know in the comments if you've read the series! I would love to discuss it!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden Trilogy, Book 2)

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE BLOOD OF EDEN TRILOGY, THE IMMORTAL RULES. PLEASE SEE MY NON-SPOILER REVIEW OF THE IMMORTAL RULES HERE.

Today I'm continuing on with my reviews of the Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julie Kagawa with my thoughts on the second book in the series, The Eternity Cure. This review will remain spoiler free, but I only recommend reading this if you've read the first book in the series.

The Eternity Cure follows Allison after she leaves the humans in Eden. She is on the hunt for Kanin, as her blood tie is alerting her that something is wrong, and he may be nearby. But to Allison's surprise, her blood tie leads her to another vampire that she must befriend in order to help find her father and save him from whatever it is that is tormenting him. What follows is an exciting and adventurous journey that reads like a horror novel.

I know my summary is a bit vague, but I think it's best to go into The Eternity Cure not knowing much. The Eternity Cure is definitely my favorite book in the series! It's funny and dark at the same time, and the characters are awesome. My one criticism with The Eternity Cure is that there are a few inconsistencies in the story between this book and The Immortal Rules. These inconsistencies don't have an effect on the overall plot, but were quite noticeable to me when I read the books back to back. This is definitely an editing mistake, and it takes a bit of credibility away from the author when I can notice these holes in the story. Nonetheless, I rated The Eternity Cure a 4.5 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, and would have given it a full 5 stars had it not been for those inconsistencies.

If you've read The Immortal Rules and you are debating whether or not to continue on with the series, I think you really should! The Eternity Cure contains some background information to refresh the reader where the story is headed, so you don't need to worry about rereading the first book. You can purchase The Eternity Cure on Amazon HERE. Stay tuned for my review of the last book in the series, and, of course, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Book Review | The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden Trilogy, Book 1)

I've always been hesitant to read vampire books, especially in the young adult genre, since the Twilight phenomenon. Then I started hearing about the Blood of Eden Trilogy by Julie Kagawa. It's described as a mix of vampires and dystopia, so I had to give it a try. I read all three books in this series back-to-back, and will be reviewing each book for you. This first review will be spoiler free, so it's perfect for those of you who are looking to learn more about the first book in the series, The Immortal Rules.

This series follows our main character Allison Sekemoto. She lives in a vampire district as an unregistered citizen. This means she is not recognized by the government, and thus isn't given food or any means of survival. However, Allison does not want to register, because registered citizens must give their blood to the vampires who rule over the city. Allison hates everything about the vampires. Not only did they kill her mother, but they've forced her into a life of crime.

One day, Allison goes outside of the city walls to hunt for food. She discovers a hidden, storage cellar of canned goods, and encourages her friends to help her raid it. Unfortunately, when they go to get the food, they are attacked by rabids – dangerous creatures that are vampire mutants. Allison's friends are killed, and she is on the verge of death when a vampire appears out of nowhere. He gives her the opportunity to become a vampire, or to die. Despite her hatred for vampires, Allison makes the choice to become a vampire and live forever. The remainder of The Immortal Rules follows Allison as she learns what it means to be a vampire, and follows her as she discovers the world that exists beyond her city's walls.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Immortal Rules, and gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. While the beginning of the book is a bit of a "typical dystopian," once the world-building is completed, the story develops into something very unique. I love Kagawa's character development, and the vampire versus human element that runs throughout the plot. My only issues with the book were very minor. I found some parts of the story very predictable, and some parts a bit slow. Otherwise, I loved everything about The Immortal Rules, and was ready to pick up the second book in the series right away.

If you are looking for a new spin on the dystopian genre, I highly recommend The Immortal Rules. This is also a great series if you want to give the paranormal genre a try, but are unsure of how you feel about vampires. You can purchase The Immortal Rules on Amazon HERE. Make sure to stay tuned for my review of the second book in the series, The Eternity Cure!

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the books I mention easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.