Book Review | Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby

Title: Star Splitter
Author: Matthew J. Kirby
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication Date: April 25th, 2023
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the publisher and BookishFirst for a complimentary copy to review! All opinions are my own.

“For Jessica Mathers, teleportation and planetary colonization in deep space aren’t just hypotheticals–they’re real. They’re also the very real reason her scientist parents left her behind six years ago. Now she is about to be reunited with them, forced to leave behind everyone she knows and loves, to join their research assignment on Carver 1061c, a desolate, post-extinction planet almost 14 lightyears from Earth.

Teleportation is safe and routine in the year 2198, but something seems to have gone very, very wrong. Jessica wakes up in an empty, and utterly destroyed, landing unit from the DS Theseus, the ship where she was supposed to rendezvous with her parents. But Jessica isn’t on the Theseus orbiting Carver 1061c. The lander seems to have crashed on the planet’s surface. Its corridors are empty and covered in bloody handprints; the machines are silent and dark. And outside, in the alien dirt, are the carefully, and recently, marked graves of strangers.

Questions of self-determination and survival collide in this expertly crafted science fiction novel from Edgar Award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby. Kirby builds spine-tingling tension page-by-page in this imaginative and haunting story that spans both space and time.” (goodreads)

I was happy to see that this author came out with another book after enjoying one of his middle grade books! I don’t read many sci-fi books but was drawn into the blurb for this one.

The book is told from one point-of-view but two different timelines. Although, there is a lot to be said about the one-point-of-view but going to keep this spoiler free! It was very interesting to get to know Jessica through the before and the after. The after coming because of some wild events. I was very intrigued by her story and the bravery she had to deal with the consequences of actions taken by her own mother and even herself. The story has a lot to do with teleportation and what happens to their bodies when they process is initiated. I really wasn’t expecting to work that way, but it made for a wild ride.

She does find herself in a bit of a relationship but it is so minor that I feel like it could have been left out. I didn’t really feel the spark between them and maybe it’s because of the whole time jump or them just being in the circumstance that they were in.

I do wish that there had also been more about the planet and what inhabited it. We only get glimpse and pieces and I just don’t think it did justice. Some of the things are a big part of the story and it just didn’t make sense how it all went about.

Overall, this was a good read. I was hooked when it came to the dual timeline and thought Jessica was an interesting character.

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First Lines Friday | 4-14-23

Hello Lovely Readers!

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

“I don’t care how many prep classes you take, or how many counseling sessions you go through, or how many waivers you sign, none of it actually prepares you to be burned apart by a laser, atom by atom.”

The book is….

“Crash-landed on a desolate planet lightyears from Earth, sixteen-year-old Jessica Mathers must unravel the mystery of the destruction all around her–and the questionable intentions of a familiar stranger. Pulse-pounding YA science fiction from award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby.

For Jessica Mathers, teleportation and planetary colonization in deep space aren’t just hypotheticals–they’re real. They’re also the very real reason her scientist parents left her behind six years ago. Now she is about to be reunited with them, forced to leave behind everyone she knows and loves, to join their research assignment on Carver 1061c, a desolate, post-extinction planet almost 14 lightyears from Earth.

Teleportation is safe and routine in the year 2198, but something seems to have gone very, very wrong. Jessica wakes up in an empty, and utterly destroyed, landing unit from the DS Theseus, the ship where she was supposed to rendezvous with her parents. But Jessica isn’t on the Theseus orbiting Carver 1061c. The lander seems to have crashed on the planet’s surface. Its corridors are empty and covered in bloody handprints; the machines are silent and dark. And outside, in the alien dirt, are the carefully, and recently, marked graves of strangers.

Questions of self-determination and survival collide in this expertly crafted science fiction novel from Edgar Award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby. Kirby builds spine-tingling tension page-by-page in this imaginative and haunting story that spans both space and time.” (Goodreads)

DO YOU WANT TO READ IT AFTER THESE FIRST LINES?

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Book Review | Containment & Salvation (Sanctuary #2 & #3) by Caryn Lix

Title: Containment (Sanctuary #2)
Author: Caryn Lix
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

“They may have escaped Sanctuary, but Kenzie and her friends are far from safe.

Ex-Omnistellar prison guard Kenzie and her superpowered friends barely made it off Sanctuary alive. Now they’re stuck in a stolen alien ship with nowhere to go and no one to help them. Kenzie is desperate for a plan, but she doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Everyone has their own dark secrets: Omnistellar, her parents, even Cage. Worse still, she’s haunted by memories of the aliens who nearly tore her to shreds—and forced her to accidentally kill one of the Sanctuary prisoners, Matt.

When Kenzie intercepts a radio communication suggesting that more aliens are on their way, she knows there’s only one choice: They must turn themselves in to Omnistellar and destroy the ship before the aliens follow the signal straight to them. Because if the monstrous creatures who attacked Sanctuary reach Earth, then it’s game over for humanity.

What Kenzie doesn’t know is that the aliens aren’t the only ones on the hunt. Omnistellar has put a bounty on Kenzie’s head—and the question is whether the aliens or Omnistellar get to her first.” (Goodreads)

Title: Salvation (Sanctuary #3)
Author: Caryn Lix
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication Date: July 21st, 2020
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“When Kenzie and her friends find themselves trapped on a strange planet, they must risk everything to save themselves and Earth in this thrilling final book in the addictive Sanctuary trilogy!

Fall down seven times, get up eight.

These are the words Kenzie has always lived by. The problem is, she’s fallen down too many times to count.

Kenzie and her friends have already escaped two vicious alien attacks—not to mention the corporate bounty hunters sent to capture them. They’re haunted by the friends they’ve lost and the hard choices they’ve had to make in this war they never asked for.

And now, thanks to superpowers she received from the very aliens she’s fighting, Kenzie has stranded everyone on a strange planet with no way off. She just wanted a safe place from the monstrous creatures terrorizing her world, but this new planet has dangers of its own, and Kenzie will have to uncover its secrets if she has any hope of ever making it home again.

Sacrifice is nothing new for Kenzie. She’ll do anything—anything—to destroy the aliens that killed both of her parents. But how can Kenzie save Earth if she can’t even save the people she loves?” (Goodreads)

Apparently I forgot to write a review for the sequel so you get a two-for-one!

The sequel, Containment, was a surprisingly wild ride from beginning to end. You never know what you are going to get when the first book ends on a cliffhanger but this book didn’t have any middle book syndrome.

The book is told from one point-of-view once again and it comes from Kenzie. She is still reeling from the emotions of what happened in the first and at times feels a lot of guilt. Her budding relationship with Cage has been in a bit of turmoil because they are on opposite sides when it comes to a secret they are holding onto. I will say that their relationship isn’t my favorite part of the plot. It feels very quick and continues that way through this book as well. They are cute together but I just need more.

There is so much that happens in the plot when it comes to the corporations and the aliens. I wasn’t sure how everything would come together and I’m glad I never guessed what was going to happen next. It made for a more surprising read! It was very intense.

Overall, I enjoyed the sequel.

In the last installment, Salvation, Kenzie and her friends are back and are still in trouble even if they find themselves on an unknown planet. It’s just as intense as the last two books.

The book is told from one point-of-view as usual and it comes from Kenzie. There are still the little paragraphs from the aliens at the beginning of some chapters and a few at the end of others. It helps to really pull in both groups to understand.

Sometimes finales can be a hit or miss for me but I really liked this one. I thought it wrapped up the plot lines well and gave us a glimpse into what happened to the group we have been following since book one. It was a pretty sad read since not everyone makes it out alive. I had a feeling something like this would happen but I didn’t want to believe that it could happen to characters I really liked, haha. No one is safe!

I still wasn’t 100% vibing with the relationship between Kenzie and cage but that’s fine. I still liked it for what it was.

Overall, this was a good ending and a nice YA sci-fi trilogy!

Book Review | Sanctuary by Caryn Lix

Title: Sanctuary (Sanctuary #1)
Author: Caryn Lix
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication Date: July 24th, 2018
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

“Kenzie holds one truth above all: the company is everything.

As a citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the most powerful corporation in the solar system, Kenzie has trained her entire life for one goal: to become an elite guard on Sanctuary, Omnistellar’s space prison for superpowered teens too dangerous for Earth. As a junior guard, she’s excited to prove herself to her company—and that means sacrificing anything that won’t propel her forward.

But then a routine drill goes sideways and Kenzie is taken hostage by rioting prisoners.

At first, she’s confident her commanding officer—who also happens to be her mother—will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. Yet it soon becomes clear that her mother is more concerned with sticking to Omnistellar protocol than she is with getting Kenzie out safely.

As Kenzie forms her own plan to escape, she doesn’t realize there’s a more sinister threat looming, something ancient and evil that has clawed its way into Sanctuary from the vacuum of space. And Kenzie might have to team up with her captors to survive—all while beginning to suspect there’s a darker side to the Omnistellar she knows.” (Goodreads)

I’m pretty sure I have been wanting to read this book for quite some time, probably around since it came out last year. A couple months ago I picked it up from Book Outlet for under $2 for a hardcover. I am so glad I did because what a wild ride this book is!

From the first chapter, I was hooked. The relationship dynamic between mother and daughter isn’t so black and white when your mother is your commander. Kenzie has a hard time seeing her mother this way and her mother is literally a dillweed! At least Kenzie has better qualities than her mother and learns to trust those she never thought she could, the prisoners of Sanctuary.

The prisoners aboard are unique in that 1.) they are teens and 2.) they each have a special ability too. They play a major role in the plot and it was crazy!

I really liked a lot of the characters but some didn’t get as much attention or have a background story that was talked about. I wish I would have got a little more from them.

The plot is really where this book shined through. It kept me intrigued and not wanting to put it down for a moment. The plot twists were also surprising which I am always a fan of. My only complaint here would be the romance. It felt forced and quick which is something I am not a fan of.

Overall, I loved this book! It was a great YA Sci-fi which I haven’t read in awhile. It is heartbreaking, adventurous, and will literally leave you hanging on to the edge of your seat! I would say more but I would give a lot of the book away so just do me a favor and read it!

First Lines Friday | 1-13-22

Hello Lovely Readers!

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

“My parents would kill me if they caught me reading manga at one in the morning, but I was too keyed up to sleep.”

The book is….

“Kenzie holds one truth above all: the company is everything.

As a citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the most powerful corporation in the solar system, Kenzie has trained her entire life for one goal: to become an elite guard on Sanctuary, Omnistellar’s space prison for superpowered teens too dangerous for Earth. As a junior guard, she’s excited to prove herself to her company—and that means sacrificing anything that won’t propel her forward.

But then a routine drill goes sideways and Kenzie is taken hostage by rioting prisoners.

At first, she’s confident her commanding officer—who also happens to be her mother—will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. Yet it soon becomes clear that her mother is more concerned with sticking to Omnistellar protocol than she is with getting Kenzie out safely.

As Kenzie forms her own plan to escape, she doesn’t realize there’s a more sinister threat looming, something ancient and evil that has clawed its way into Sanctuary from the vacuum of space. And Kenzie might have to team up with her captors to survive—all while beginning to suspect there’s a darker side to the Omnistellar she knows.” (Goodreads)

HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? DO YOU WANT TO READ IT?

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Audiobook Review: The Maze Cutter by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Cutter
Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication Date: October 4th, 2022
Publisher: Akashic Media Enterprises
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary audiobook to review! All opinions are my own.

“Seventy-three years after the events of The Death Cure, when Thomas and other immunes were sent to an island to survive the Flare-triggered apocalypse, their descendants have thrived. Sadina, Isaac, and Jackie all learned about the unkind history of the Gladers from The Book of Newt and tall tales from Old Man Frypan, but when a rusty old boat shows up one day with a woman bearing dark news of the mainland–everything changes. The group and their islander friends are forced to embark back to civilization where they find Cranks have evolved into a more violent, intelligent version of themselves. The islanders are hunted by the Godhead, the Remnant Nation, and scientists with secret agendas. When they cross paths with an orphan named Minho from the Remnant Nation, the dangers become real and they don’t know who they can trust. The islanders will have to survive long enough to figure out why they are being targeted, who is friend or foe, and what the Godhead has planned for the future of humanity.” (Goodreads)

I didn’t even know there was going to be a whole different series set in the same world but in the future. I remember really enjoying the original and so when I saw this on Netgalley I figured why not!

The book is told from multiple point-of-views. I wouldn’t say that one was more thrilling to read about than the others. At times the point-of-views were kind of bland and it felt like I didn’t get to know the characters that well. I would say that the book is more plot driven than character. I like a bit of both or more character driven.

It was interesting to be back in this world. It felt a bit different but also the same in some ways. The world building was fine but I do feel like I was missing something when it came to the cult and everyone’s plans. I don’t think it was entirely explained well but I am assuming there will be more answers as the series continue. The pacing could definitely be slow at times.

I did like the narration for this book and thought it was well done.

Overall, it was good. I wouldn’t say it was as good as the original but it wasn’t bad.

Arc Review: The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill

Title: The Stars Between Us
Author: Cristin Terrill
Genre: YA Sci-fi / Romance
Publication Date: August 2nd, 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Rating: ⭐⭐

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.

“There’s always been a mystery to Vika Hale’s life. Ever since she was a child, she’s had an unknown benefactor providing for her and her family, making sure that Vika and her sister received the best education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger life than one as a poor barmaid on a struggling planet, but those dreams feel out of reach. Until one day Vika learns that her benefactor was a billionaire magnate who recently died under suspicious circumstances, and Vika has shockingly been included in his will. Invited to live on a glittering neighboring planet, Vika steps into a world she can hardly believe is real.

The only blight on Vika’s lavish new life is the constant presence of Sky Foster, a mysterious young man from Vika’s past who works for her benefactors. She doesn’t like or trust Sky, but when she narrowly escapes an explosion and realizes someone is targeting the will’s heirs, Vika knows Sky is the only one who can help her discover the identity of the bomber before she becomes their next victim. As Vika and Sky delve into the truth of the attacks, they uncover a web of secrets, murder, and an underground rebellion who may hold the answers they’ve been looking for. But Sky isn’t who he seems to be, and Vika may not escape this new life unscathed.” (Goodreads)

There is a lot I wish I could say about this one but sadly it just didn’t click for me. I at least still like the cover!

The book is told in third-person but it mainly follows Vika Hale. I can’t say that I liked her much. She was very bratty and called others out for their infatuation with money but quickly became elitist it seemed when circumstances changed in her favor. I thought she was rude to one character in particular and didn’t really make sense as to why. It’s not like he ever did anything to her to warrant it. The other characters were okay but none felt like they really had any development.

The one good thing about this book is that it is very easy to read and is not bogged down but an extravagant plot in space. There is no info dumping or anything to be aware of. Personally, I needed more from the characters, the plot, and the world-building. It felt too simplistic for my taste and left something to be desired. It also felt very slow in the beginning as well which usually is a turn off for me. I was hoping it would pick up a bit and it does but still not enough for me to love it.

Overall, it was okay. I did need more from it and that’s sadly why I didn’t love it.

Arc Review: Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long

Title: Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves
Author: Meg Long
Genre: YA Sci-fi / Dystopian / Fantasy
Publication Date: January 11th, 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an earc to review! All opinions are my own.

“After angering a local gangster, seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen must flee with his prize fighting wolf, Iska, in tow. A team of scientists offer to pay her way off her frozen planet on one condition: she gets them to the finish line of the planet’s infamous sled race. Though Sena always swore she’d never race after it claimed both her mothers’ lives, it’s now her only option. But the tundra is a treacherous place, and as the race unfolds and their lives are threatened at every turn, Sena starts to question her own abilities. She must discover whether she’s strong enough to survive the wild – whether she and Iska together are strong enough to get them all out alive.” (Goodreads)

I’ve been dying to read this book and although it has unique qualities to it, I still found myself not meshing as well with it as I would have hoped. The cover is still gorgeous though! Probably one of my favorites I have seen for the new year.

The book is told from one perspective and it comes from Sena. She is a thief and takes care of herself as she has no family to fall back on. She isn’t a boring character in the slightest but I still didn’t connect with her either. I think the disconnect started with the slow start of the book and how every chance someone or Sena gets they bring up her dead mothers. I’m all for tragic backgrounds but I don’t want it to become the main character’s whole personality and why practically everyone on the planet hates her. It makes sense as to why found family exists in this book because Sena can’t really be picky.

There are some minor characters that do shine through as well as some that fall through the cracks. A couple were mentioned in the beginning and I thought one in particular would have a decent sized role but to my surprise he got dropped.

When starting this book I also didn’t realize, or maybe forgot, that it would have sci-fi/dystopian aspects to it. Sci-fi is a genre I have a love/hate relationship with. I have read books from the genre I have loved and have read some I hated. I think my issue for this book in particular is that although what was mentioned about genetic engineering and climate was interesting I still felt like I was missing information and would have liked to know how it all got started, more about the corpo commandos, and more about the other planets.

I did like the last half of the book more because it’s truly where the action starts when it comes to the racing. There are quite a few plot twists to go along with it and I only saw one coming so I would say that those are good odds. The icy planet setting is a unique one as I have only read a couple books with a similar one but plots have been very different. I also liked the wolves and would say Iska was my favorite part of the book. You can’t go wrong with animal companionship!

Overall, this was good but still missed the mark for me in some ways.

Audiobook Review: Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #3) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #3)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication Date: November 9th, 2021
Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Is this the end?
What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases, and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course.
Wait. . . . Not. So. Fast.
When we last saw Squad 312, they working together seamlessly (aka, freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally.
But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the te4am has one last chance to rewrite thirs. Maybe two. It’s complicated.
Cue Zila, Fin, and Scarlett (and MAGELLAN!): making friends, making enemies, and making history? Sure, no problem
Cue Tyler, Kal, and Auri: uniting with two of the galaxy’s most hated villains? Um, okay. That, too.
Actually saving the galaxy, though?
Now that will take a miracle.” (Goodreads)

Here’s to another book series that I have finished! But also, boo to this journey actually being over! 😢 Squad 312 has been a great group of friends and I am sad to this found family go.

The book is told from multiple point-of-views just like the first two books. Most of the characters are not together and or have interesting backstories to tell to help give us more information. It’s always nice to get into their heads. I don’t know if I could honestly pick a favorite point-of-view. They were all good! Tyler did have a lot of chapters and he made me laugh quite a bit though so I could be persuaded to pick him, haha. Some of the characters did feel a bit more secondary than they have in the previous books but I did like what we got from them.

I did rate the last book a whole star less than what I rated the first two. I don’t think that the ending to this trilogy was bad and it does actually wrap up nicely, especially after there were so many plot lines from this particular book. Personally, I just think their third book is usually the weakest. In this book there is so much still going on all the way up and past the 50% mark. It felt like the plot focused more on the relationships of the squad members, which don’t get me wrong some parts had me smiling, but it didn’t leave a lot of room for the rest and to me the ending/final arc felt a bit anticlimactic. I also would have really liked more focus on the Ra’haam.

Overall, it was an enjoyable conclusion. I still would recommend this series, especially the audiobooks, because it has great tropes and the characters are very loveable.

Goodreads Monday: The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill | 12-20-21

Hello Readers!

Goodreads Monday was hosted and created by Lauren’s Page Turners and has now been taken over by Budget Tales Book Blog. To participate, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off.

Title: The Stars Between Us
Author: Cristin Terrill
Genre: Ya Sci-fi
Publication Date: August 2nd, 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books

“There’s always been a mystery to Vika Hale’s life. Ever since she was a child, she’s had an unknown benefactor providing for her and her family, making sure that Vika and her sister received the best education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger life than one as a poor barmaid on a struggling planet, but those dreams feel out of reach. Until one day Vika learns that her benefactor was a billionaire magnate who recently died under suspicious circumstances, and Vika has shockingly been included in his will. Invited to live on a glittering neighboring planet, Vika steps into a world she can hardly believe is real.

The only blight on Vika’s lavish new life is the constant presence of Sky Foster, a mysterious young man from Vika’s past who works for her benefactors. She doesn’t like or trust Sky, but when she narrowly escapes an explosion and realizes someone is targeting the will’s heirs, Vika knows Sky is the only one who can help her discover the identity of the bomber before she becomes their next victim. As Vika and Sky delve into the truth of the attacks, they uncover a web of secrets, murder, and an underground rebellion who may hold the answers they’ve been looking for. But Sky isn’t who he seems to be, and Vika may not escape this new life unscathed.

In The Stars Between Us, Cristin Terrill sweeps readers away to a Dickensian-inspired world where secrets are currency and love is the most dangerous risk of all.” (Goodreads)

I got an early access email for this one and it sounded so good I couldn’t resist downloading it! In the email they mentioned The Grace Year which definitely had my attention too. I love the cover and I can’t wait to start it!

Does this one sound like something you would read?

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