Suffer the Fate, For All Else is Delusion

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Carve the Mark, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT

~The Fates Divide~
Carve the Mark
Book 2
By Veronica Roth
Amazon ~ Powell's

Fate brought them together. Now it will divide them.

The lives of Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth are ruled by their fates, spoken by the oracles at their births. The fates, once determined, are inescapable.

Akos is in love with Cyra, in spite of his fate: He will die in service to Cyra’s family. And when Cyra’s father, Lazmet Noavek—a soulless tyrant, thought to be dead—reclaims the Shotet throne, Akos believes his end is closer than ever.

As Lazmet ignites a barbaric war, Cyra and Akos are desperate to stop him at any cost. For Cyra, that could mean taking the life of the man who may—or may not—be her father. For Akos, it could mean giving his own. In a stunning twist, the two will discover how fate defines their lives in ways most unexpected.


It's refreshing to finish a series before you were necessarily expecting it, yet not feel cut off in the least.

Holding on to Each Other in a Very Large Expanse of Sea

~A Very Large Expanse of Sea~
By Tahereh Mafi
Amazon ~ Powell's

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.


This book is set in 2002, but was published in 2018. I'm making assumptions here, but something tells me it wasn't just the author's schedule that kept this story from releasing sooner, and that can tell you a lot about the state of this country. Plus, it's Banned Books Week, which should also tell you a lot about the state of our country...

Lines of Kill Marks From Wrist to Shoulder

~Carve the Mark~
Book 1
By Veronica Roth
Amazon ~ Powell's

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.
The Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?


A fantastic opening to what is sure to be a great series/duet. The characters were strong, complex, and intriguing. The worlds were diverse and nuanced. The plot was twisty and enthralling. There were multiple times I thought we'd reached a perfect cutoff point / cliffhanger to lead into the sequel, only to have half the book still to go. I don't know whether that speaks more to the length and depth of the story, or to my lowered expectations involving YA romance series.

Hidden From Hunters and the Pride Alike

~Hidden~
Firelight
Book 3
By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....


A meh finish to a meh series. Besides not liking the characters much, I didn't find the trilogy led them anywhere. Jacinda didn't seem any different at the end than when she began, other than being able to make decisions because shitty people weren't in charge anymore. Will never changed. Cassian's only change came in accepting that he wasn't irresistible to Jacinda, and Tamra only changed physically and situationally. Things happened in the series, but nothing changed in the characters, just to the characters.

The Shader of Our Pride

~Vanish~
Firelight
Book 2
By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?


Though not as infuriating as the first book, I still wasn't thrilled with the characters, especially Jacinda. I guess I'm not big on the cult-ish pride the draki live in either. Everybody keeps talking about how there are big things planned, but that usually just means making babies. Yes, they're still on about forced child bearing being normal. Ugh. But I will go on the record as being team Cassian. He seems like they only one with any conscience, logic and real feelings in the entire town. Of course, I'm also for him getting with Tamra, since I can't stand Jacinda.

Long story short, this book doesn't have the main character improving, just being in a terrible place so we can feel sorry for her. It's what I call the Gone With The Wind Effect.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Pride's Precious Fire-Breather

~Firelight~
Firelight
Book 1
By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a drakia descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.


Maybe I'm getting too old. Maybe this book is too old compared to the current climate of strong females in YA lit. Maybe I shouldn't read this type of stuff after coming off of a long run of books featuring literal heroines. But...

Of Vampires And Humans

~Team Human~
By Justine Larbalestier
& Sarah Rees Brennan
Amazon ~ Powell's

Mel is horrified when Francis Duvarney, arrogant, gorgeous, and undead, starts at her high school. Mel’s best friend, Cathy, immediately falls for the vampire. Cathy is determined to be with him forever, even if having him turn her could inadvertently make her a zombie.

And Mel is equally determined to prove to her BFF that Francis is no good, braving the city’s vampire district and kissing a cute boy raised by vampires as she searches evidence in this touching and comic novel.


You know the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, this one definitely fits that. If you thought you were getting a dark, edgy, super serious book about humans fighting vampires in a dystopian world, or something like that, yeah not so much. The title works fine, but that cover art is way out of line with the tone of the actual story.

Whichwood Was a Distinctly Magical Village

~Whichwood~
Furthermore
Book 2
By Tahereh Mafi
Amazon ~ Powell's

Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair, and her own ever-increasing loneliness and fear.

But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appears, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.


This book is REALLY dark. Like, darker than even I (at 30) was comfortable with at times.

Homework Is Unconstitutional

~Class Action~
By Steven B. Frank
Amazon ~ Powell's

NO. MORE. HOMEWORK.

That’s what sixth grader Sam Warren tells his teacher while standing on top of his desk. He's fed up with doing endless tasks from the time he gets home to the time he goes to sleep. Suspended for his protest, Sam decides to fight back. He recruits his elderly neighbor/retired attorney Mr. Kalman to help him file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all students in Los Angeles. Their argument? Homework is unconstitutional.

With a ragtag team—aspiring masterchef Alistair, numbers gal Catalina, sports whiz Jaesang, rebel big sister Sadie and her tech-savvy boyfriend Sean—Sam takes his case to federal court. He learns about the justice system, kids’ rights, and constitutional law. And he learns that no matter how many times you get knocked down, there's always an appeal...until the nine justices have the last say.

Will Sam's quest end in an epic fail, or will he be the hero who saves childhood for all time?

Just in time for school to start again!

A fun and thought provoking story. I personally don't remember much about my homework in school. I remember having it, but quantifying how much I had...I don't think it was as much as these kids have. Considering I had enough time for band and family and tv and books, I either didn't have much or got enough done in class to offset it. Granted, there was never enough time for sleep, and I doubt that will change any time soon.