Zenith (The Androma Saga #1) - Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings

Goodreads summary:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

There is darkness sweeping across the stars.

Most know Androma Racella as the Bloody Baroness: a powerful mercenary whose reign of terror stretches across the Mirabel Galaxy. To those aboard her fearsome glass starship the Maurader, she’s just Andi, their captain and protector.

When a routine mission goes awry, the all-girl crew’s resilience is tested as they find themselves in a most unfamiliar place: at the mercy of a sadistic bounty hunter connected to Andi’s past and a harrowing betrayal.

Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, a ruthless ruler waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time to exact revenge for the destruction of her people. The final pieces of her deadly plan are about to fall into place, unleashing a plot that will tear Mirabel in two.

Andi and her crew embark on a dangerous, soul-testing journey that could restore order to their ship—or just as easily start a war that will devour worlds. As the Marauder hurtles towards the unknown, and Mirabel hangs in the balance, the only thing certain is that in a galaxy run on lies and illusion, no one can be trusted.

From internet sensation Sasha Alsberg and author Lindsay Cummings comes a new serialized space opera, full of action, fantastical intrigue, and steamy star-crossed romance. ​

For fans of popular sci-fi books and fantasy books for teens such as Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, Wool by Hugh Howey, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.


My review:

3.5/5

I love Sasha Alsberg's channel, ABookUtopia, so I had to read her first novel, written in collaboration with Lindsay Cummings. I was a bit surprised by the length of it, even though I was aware that it was only part of a novel, but I wasn't disappointed at all.

I'm afraid that I can't say much about the novel right now, because I would have to read the entire novel, instead of parts of it, to have a real opinion about it. However, I can say that I liked what I read so far. I liked the writing, and the plot seemed quite interesting, even if it's just blooming at this point. Even though it's done in short parts, I feel like this one could have been a bit longer, because it would have been easier to understand the story and the characters if there had been a bit more explanations.

I'm excited to read the other parts of Zenith, because I really want to find out more about this interesting world and its characters. Also, this part ends on a sort of cliffhanger, so I can't wait to continue reading!

Split Second (Pivot Point #2) - Kasie West

Goodreads summary:

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too... but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories... once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot... and a future that could change everything.


My review:

4/5

Kasie West, I love you. When have you ever written something I didn't like?

This book puts an end to a fantastic series. The idea of a world where a small part of the population live secluded and have awesome abilities is incredibly intriguing, which is why so many readers can't stop reading once they begin. When you start reading, you're impressed by these people and wish you could have such powers, but as the story goes, you start doubting that it would be a nice world to live in, because there will always be people using their abilities to do bad things. I really liked seeing the deterioration and wondering what I would do if I were in Addie's place.

I really liked Laila in the first book, so I have thrilled to see more of her in the second one. She's so fierce, independent and smart that I wish I could be like her. I loved her relationship with Connor, who's an awesome character. Although he's described as a bad boy in the summary, I think he's actually the opposite of that, because once you get to know him, you realize he's so incredibly nice and caring. I think he and Laila might be one of my new favourite ships. 

I wish we could've seen a bit more of Addie's ability in this book, because it's awesome and there are pretty much no possibilities of doing something bad with it. Also, I thought the ending could've been a little bit more complex and interesting, because I didn't get that much into the story by the time it ended. 

In the end, I really enjoyed reading this series and I would recommend it to anyone. Kasie West will always be a favourite of mine, even though I must admit that I preferred her romance novels now that I've read everything that can be read from her.

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) - Kasie West

Goodreads summary:

Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier... 

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through... and who she can’t live without.


My review:

4/5

When Kasie West writes a book, you read it, obviously. Because Kasie West is Kasie West, and her books are simply amazing. Well, you know what? This book's no exception. Although it isn't my favourite, I still enjoyed reading it, which isn't a surprise. 

The universe created by West is really intriguing. I didn't know much about it before I started reading, but it's easy to understand and I became interested in it after a couple of pages only. Having powers such as this population does sounds awesome, even though they're not always using them to do something good. I'm not sure if I would like to have Addie's ability, but it can truly be useful, which we realize later in the story. I liked seeing both versions of the future and how they had similarities, because some actions are not influenced by her choices. It's interesting to see how one choice can affect your future, because although this is all fictional, it's the same in real life. Laila's ability is great and I think it really suits her rebellious side, which completed her personality, in my opinion. Some of their abilities sounded plain scary to me, especially the ones messing with the others' brains and feelings, because I'm all about honesty and authenticity and being influenced by someone without realizing it is pretty much the opposite. I wouldn't want to live in such a world, but it's definitely nice to imagine. 

I loved the characters I discovered in this book. Addie and Laila's friendship is amazing and it reminded me of my own with my best friend, which made me relate even more later in the story. Personality-wise, I'm kind of similar to Addie, so some of her reactions were the ones I would've had and it made me get into the story even more. As for the love interests, my choice was very clear and I'm glad it didn't change later on, because I hate when this happens. I do wish this book had been more about how you can have a great future with two different people, like I thought it would be, because I believe that love can be just a matter of timing and that your love life could be completely different yet perfect because of one choice you made. 

I wasn't expecting the plot to be that way, but I really enjoyed the way it went. It was different from Kasie West's usual genre, but I could still find similarities that I enjoyed. My only problem with the story is probably how, after the initially surprising turn of events, many things turned out to be predictable. While it's the good kind of predictable in her other YA novels, it wasn't really in this book, because the whole point of the story was to know what would happen, where the point of her YA stories is usually to see how everything happens, if that makes sense. I still got a few surprises, but there was an entire part that I had guessed would happen, which means it must have been really predictable, since I'm not one to predict right, usually. 

In the end, I had a really nice time reading and I had to start the second book, especially since I wanted to know more about Laila (she's amazing!). As always, I recommend Kasie West's books!

Interview: Tessa Elwood

Hello everyone! Recently, I interviewed Tessa Elwood, who wrote the amazing novel Inherit the Stars. If you haven't read my review yet, you can find it here. I highly recommend it! This interview is really fun and interesting - in fact, there's even a great coffee recipe - so keep on reading!

 

Hi Tessa! First of all, let me thank you for doing this interview. Your novel, Inherit the Stars, has charmed many readers so far and I'm convinced it'll keep doing so. Can you explain what it is about?

Amid a desperate energy crisis, a girl steals her sister’s place in an arranged marriage to save the life of her oldest sibling—upending a much needed political alliance. But then, she'd do about anything to save a sibling's life.


How did the idea come to you?

Via song. On a Netflix night, I saw O Brother, Where Art Thou? and heard Alison Krauss’ rendition of “Down to the River to Pray.” Everyone walking through the woods clothed in white, and in my head I saw a wedding. Soaring vocal chorus, marble and red petals. Wholly beautiful and everyone expectant…except the bride, who cried behind her veil.

Which got me thinking, what would an unwanted arranged marriage be like if the main parties didn’t hate each other? Or even particularly resent each other? They chose this with their eyes open, though it wasn't a cultural norm or what they or their parents had planned for them until the necessity hit. What would that look like? Might as well write and see.


Is this your first novel, or have you been writing for longer than that?

Nah, my first novel was full of pegasus‚ parallel worlds, close-knit spies, and nation states held together by duct tape and string.



When was the first time you actually called yourself a writer?

Only when philosophizing. “As a writer, I..." or “As writers we…” But even now, that’s the only time I tack the “r” on. Otherwise, it's “I write.”

I can't decide if the general hesitance behind artistic identifiers are a question of self-identity or simply what we hold intrinsic. Taken for granted. Like introducing one’s self as a daughter or son. Which is odd, thinking about it, as parents identifying as parents is very prevalent. Though that is something requiring definition—someone may or may not have a child, but they certainly someone else’s. Anyway, tangent.



Was your novel intended as a stand-alone or as part of a series?

Stand-alone. I like stand-alones. But I like serious, too—lord knows I ate up all the Discworld books and always snag the latest Mercy Thompson.


Who is your favorite character in your novel and why?

Asa! This was actually a recent midnight discussion with a friend. She said she often prefers the love interest over the lead in stories, so why shouldn’t that carry over to her cast/protagonist? And I’m like if the protagonist isn't your favorite, then swap them out for the person who *is*. Or at least, the person who fascinates you most, even if you hate their guts. I think that’d be interesting, writing about a character I couldn’t stand. But then, knowing me, I’d redeem them. Or get fed up and kill them off. You never know.

I love Asa's heart, and the way she pushes through fear. Every small step requires so much effort, so much courage she doesn’t feel. And yet she makes that effort. Every day. Sometimes every minute. That’s something.



If Asa were a part of our world, who would be her celebrity crush?

Actually…I don’t know? Good question though. I’m guessing, in films/media, Jennifer Lawrence or Shailene Woodley, for the strong parts they play. Asa would love to be that kick-ass.



In your novel, Asa's family takes a big part of her life and she would do anything for her sisters. Is that something that you value, too?

Yep. Loyalty is fundamental, the constant when the chaos hits. And family embodies that, or at least has the potential. But then, so can friendship—family doesn’t have to be defined by blood.


So far, what's the hardest thing you've been faced with while publishing your novel?

And this is where I smile and shrug.



Who are the authors that have inspired you with their work?

Just about everyone I’ve read. Even stories I dislike will get me thinking about something else. For ItS specifically, probably Georgette Heyer. I listened to a lot of Heyer when drafting. You can never hear too much Heyer.



If you could have lived in any fictional world, which one would it have been?

Oh that’s a hard one. I love the world of Garth Nix's Abhorsen, Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, and NK Jemisin’s Inheritance series, but I don’t know that I’d want to *live* there. Well, maybe in Old Man’s War. Or Discworld! Then, hmmm, maybe not.

If it could be any fictional world, maybe FF IX (the one no one remembers) or X. Or Enslaved (just ignore the ending and mind enslavement). Or Fable. (If I was running things, of course.) I really enjoyed cruising Infamous, but living there? Not so much.



Who would be your fictional best friend?

Oh, I have a list. Such a list.
Maya from The Goblin Emperor, or Sybella from Dark Triumph, or Sabriel, or Amelia Peabody from Crocodile on the Sandbank, or Sam Vimes from Discworld, or Moist, Susan, Death, Rat, Angua, or pretty much everybody from Discworld except the exceptionally insane. Currently, I may have a small crush on Bigby from The Wolf Among Us. Potentially. Just a bit.



Aside from writing novels, what are you passions and hobbies?

Games with good story and character development, or interesting mechanics. Running with audiobooks. Collecting podcasts (I have a list). Night sky photography (oh the milky way). Art fairs. The art institute students produce some amazing stuff.



I've heard that you're obsessed with coffee. Now tell us the truth: what's the best way to drink it? Do you have a special recipe or a favorite coffee shop?

Oh yes. Both. Very big on local as opposed to chains. If you’re not doing espresso, a pour over is definitely my favorite if ordering out (though usually I just get drip, as it’s less hassle). At home though, it’s french press all the way.

And if you want to get technical : the french press is a process that looks like a headache but is actually pretty easy/forgiving. The press itself is pricey, especially the stainless steel kind (what I recommend). Coffee grinders aren’t too bad, and any cheap one will do (though I wouldn’t go much cheaper than $20, as the super cheap ones are usable but irritating). And yes, you do need one. I ignored that big of advice for awhile because it seemed way too connoisseur, and was it really worth it to jack with the whole grinder thing? I mean, how much of a difference would it make?
A lot. Trust me.

— First, boil water. (I’m lazy and use an electric kettle.)
— Grind the beans while this is going on (I use 1/2 cup of beans, and I believe my press is a 36oz?), and dump into the press. Get local if you can, ones that don’t have that weird, shiny coat to them.
— Once the water boils, wait 30 seconds and then fill the press halfway.
— Set a timer for 4 minutes.
— After a minute has passed, stir down the beans (they’ll have bloomed) and finish filling the press with water.
— Once the timer is up, press down the filter and boom—coffee.



What's your favorite social media platform and where can we find you?

Tumblr by far, full of fascinating and/or fandom-y things (i.e. Dragon Age and art). http://feonua.tumblr.com/
I’m never *on* twitter, but my favorite artsy/non-fandom retumbles crosspost to @tessaelwood.



Can you tell us about your current projects and how your novel's publication is going?

Projects! Book 2 of Asa, of course. Mostly book 2. After that, I have a list. All scifi and a potential science fantasy. For book 1 pub stuff, it’s all done on my end and I'm in b2 world. Barring the zombie apocalypse, the first ItS will be out on Dec 8th.


Thank you for answering the questions! I'll wish you luck for your future projects.

Inherit the Stars - Tessa Elwood

Goodreads summary:

Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.



My review:

4.5/5

Fast-paced, intriguing and romantic. The perfect kind of book!

I loved everything from this novel: the characters, the world, the plot, the romance, etc. While there is in fact a lack of description concerning the world where this story is set, it is undeniably very interesting. There are many different planets and they can fly from one to another pretty much whenever they can, which sounds awesome. The story is quite surprising and kept me anxious to know what would happen next, which is why this could perfectly be read in a single sitting. Then there's the romance. I have found another OTP, that's for sure. It is SO. DAMN. CUTE. I swear. The way Asa loves her sister and would do anything for her family is also very touching, especially since most of the book is based around it. I liked how important family is in this novel, because sometimes we don't even get to know the main character's family in other books, which is thankfully not the case here. Really, this book is a perfect mix of sci-fi, action and romance, all in one.

The only thing I would've changed would be the end, because it felt really rushed and abrupt to me. I was seriously expecting a sequel when there were about two pages left, because I thought it would be impossible to conclude everything in such a small number of pages. Unfortunately, I was wrong and I'm not even sure there's a sequel planned. Let's hope 11:11 helps me with this situation, or I might die waiting for the sequel I will never have gotten - very sad.

Overall, this is a great novel. I can't wait for it to come out so everyone can read it and hopefully love it as much as I did. Also, fingers crossed for the cover, because it better be a good one!

(Inherit the Stars is out on December 8th, 2015. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I did an interview with the author, Tessa Elwood. She's such a nice person! If you haven't read it yet, you can find it here.