Disruptor—Arwen Elys Dayton

Title: Disruptor
Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
Publisher: Delacorte, 2017
Pages: 352 p
Source: Library Ebook
Compensation: None
Read: January 2018

Disrupter is the thrilling conclusion to the Seeker series that started with Seeker and continued with Traveler. Everything comes together in this final book and it’s well worth the wait. The series starts with Quin, Shinobu and John attempting to finish their Seeker training... and learning that being a Seeker is not what they thought it would be. Instead of protecting people, righting wrongs, and avenging evil, Quin’s father has perverted the sacred Seeker training and created a team of assassins to murder other Seekers. The young Seekers revolt but cannot even trust each other. In Disruptor we learn the true history of the Seekers and the Dreads and the only way anyone can be saved is if they work together.

I loved this entire series and Disruptor is no different. It was written perfectly, alternating chapters with the different characters, slowly revealing the secrets and mysteries set up in the first book, and keeping the reader riveted the whole time.

View all my reviews

36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You—Vicki Grant

Title: 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You
Author:  Vicki Grant
Publisher: Running Press, 2017
Pages: 288 pages
Source: Library ebook
Compensation: None
Read: January 2018

Hildy signs up for the local college’s psych study because she’s interested in things like that and she needs someone to talk to. Paul signs up because he needs the 40 bucks. All they have to do is ask each other 36 questions and answer them honestly. They couldn’t be more different—Hildy is the well spoken daughter of the high school principal and Paul *almost* graduated high school. Hildy is sensitive and cries easily, Paul is gruff. Can 36 questions really bring strangers closer together?

This was a quick cute read. Interspersed throughout the traditional narrative are messages between Hildy and Paul, and Paul’s drawings. There were no major surprises and the big reveal of their secrets was predictable, but it was an enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

Shadowcaster—Cinda Williams Chima

Title: Shadowcaster
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Publisher: Harper Teen, 2017
Pages: 551 p.
Source: Library
Compensation: None
Read: May 2017

Shadowcaster is the sequel to Flamecaster, which is the “sequel” series to the Seven Realms. I really liked the universe that Cinda Williams Chima created with the Seven Realms so I’m thrilled that she’s continuing to explore it. While Flamecaster focused on Han & Raisa’s son Ash, Shadowcaster tells his little sister’s story. Alyssa is the heir to the throne, but much like her mother, she’d rather be fighting with a sword than dealing with Princess duties. The events in Shadowcaster take place at roughly the same time as Flamecaster, with Jenna making an appearance towards the end of the book. There’s SO much in this one in addition to Alyssa and her journey. There’s a young boy Breon who has a mage mark similar to Jenna’s and who can also do strange things. There’s an honorable Arden captain who is taken prisoner by Alyssa’s company but winds up being much more. Fans of the series will enjoy this one and eagerly await the next book.

******

Satellite—Nick Lake

Title: Satellite
Author: Nick Lake
Publisher: Knopf, 2017.
Pages: 464 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: January 2018

Leo, Orion, and Libra were born on a space shuttle 16 years ago and have been waiting ever since to go “home” to planet Earth. Before they can leave their bodies have to be strong enough to withstand the space flight home. Twins Orion and Libra are excited to go to Earth and be with their caring astronaut mother, but Leo is not so sure about his future. He’s excited to finally meet his beloved grandfather, but he has a strained relationship with his aloof mother who doesn’t have time for traditional mothering when she is working on the space station. When the three space friends make it to Earth, they discover it’s much harder to adapt than they thought it would be.

This book was not written as a traditional narrative, although it read like one. There was little to no capitalization, words were abbreviated (ur for your), and it was written like a message would be rather than a book. At first it bugged me, but the story was good and the characters were good and once I decided to read it as a message from Leo rather than as a traditional book, it bothered me less.

View all my reviews

(Imported from my Goodreads review)

Once and For All--Sarah Dessen

Title: Once and For All
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Viking, 2017
Pages: 356 p.
Source: Library Ebook
Compensation: None
Read: July 2017

Sarah Dessen’s Once and For All

Louna is spending the summer after high school graduation doing what she's done for years--helping her mom in the wedding planning business. Although she works in the business of "love" Louna is becoming more and more cynical about relationships and romance and true love. Despite her mom's unhappy divorce and jaded outlook, Louna wasn't always this way. She had one perfect night with the perfect guy and hope for the future until it was stolen from her during a school shooting. Ever since then Louna has refused to date anyone, refused to get close to anyone, thinking that she'll never have a chance to get another perfect night. Enter Ambrose, the son of one of her mom's clients. Louna is sent to track him down when he's late for his own mother's wedding and she's strangely drawn to him despite his annoying optimism. When her mom decides to give him a job to keep him from annoying her newest client (his sister), Louna thinks she's crazy. But Ambrose grows on her and she realizes that she can't cut herself off from life forever.

Have I ever read a Sarah Dessen book that I didn't like? Nope. I have not. I always care about the characters, I always sympathize with the situations, I always want to continue reading. I'll be honest, I don't remember plot points years later. I remember characters and when they pop up in later books I have to go back and read my past reviews to jog my memory as to who they are and what they did. But that's ok. Because when I'm reading a Sarah Dessen book I am fully immersed in that world. If you're a Sarah Dessen fan, you won't be disappointed with her latest offering.

******