Title: Eden
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: June 6, 2011
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 408
Source: Author

Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.

The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of.

Eve lives in a world that's devastated and ruins since the technology began having a mind of its own. Once made to be a cure, the tech now controls most of the Fallen world, leaving just a few bands of humans still alive and Eden as their one, true sanctuary. Their world is at war between the living and the machine, and Eve is at war with herself, fighting a constant inner turmoil to survive and reconcile her forgotten past with her present. But life is even more confusing when it comes to the two men in her life who give her a focus and a center. West might very well be for her, but Avian is a rock, and she's known him half her life. Will Eve's love for all those in Eden be enough to keep them all alive, or will they soon be a part of the Fallen?

Eden is, perhaps, the epitome of dystopian fiction, creating a world that's so devastated by mankind's greed and lust for advancement that it seems like there is very little hope left at all. The brainchild of indie author, Keary Taylor, Eden is her first stab at dystopian fiction after her popular and successful Fall of Angels series, including Branded, Forsaken and the forthcoming Vindicated. Well-written in the challenging first-person POV, Eden allows you direct access to Eve's mind as she makes her way through a crippled world where love is a luxury at best.

We all know how much I love dystopian fiction, and Eden has such an amazing premise that promises a dark, haunting story that is both painful and hopeful. The world within Eden is a series of stark contrasts, portrayed almost as black and white. You have the ruined world that's been consumed by technology and cybernetics with one goal - to eliminate humanity. Then, you have the lush gardens of Eden where the remaining humans are living at the base level of humanity, surviving on love, compassion and the mere basics. That, was the highlight of Eden for me. I did, unfortunately, have a few issues with Eden though. The story starts with a bang, then settles into a lull of backstory for a few chapters that, while necessary, could probably have been interwoven later in the story to better help the flow. I also felt that it took a long time to get into Eve's head. She had this whole life before Eden, but I struggled to get a grasp on it because she was so stubborn ad shrouded in mystery. Avian and West were both strong male characters with a great impact on the plot, but I felt the romance often overshadowed the action in the book, which is a struggle for me - especially if it's a bit of a triangle. All that said, though, I still want to remark on what an amazing world there is in Eden because it's one of the best I've read of in a while.

All in all, Eden is so, so close to being a really great dystopian, but because of some flaws, it ended up just being good for me. As far as I can see, this is a stand-alone book, so make sure you read it for that. I give it a strong 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all YA fans, especially those who enjoy upper YA and dystopian fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Forsaken
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: January 11, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 330
Source: Author

It’s been four months since Alex gave everything to save Jessica. Life should be perfect; she has Alex, she’s been freed of the nightmares, and most of all- she’s alive. But some things have changed, some things haven’t. That’s the problem. Alex still hasn’t asked “the question”. Jessica can’t see the reason why and it’s tearing her apart. He’s keeping something from her.

Alex isn’t the only one who has changed though. Something is different about Jessica but she doesn’t understand what’s happened. She just knows something’s wrong, that she feels different than she used to, on a skin deep level. And it may keep her and Alex apart. Forever.

Jessica's life should be perfect. Alex gave up everything to save her life, and her troubles are over...but are they really? In a world where her reality has been turned on its end, secrets are coming into the open and Cole is determined to show her that these secrets mean something but the past and just how they might change her future. And, despite the hope that Jessica and Alex might just be together forever, something dark is brewing beneath the surface, and it's almost like destiny is coming into play and overriding it all.

Forsaken is the second installment in author, Keary Taylor's, Fall of Angel series. As the sequel to the promising first book, Branded, I went in with high but measured hopes for Forsaken because, let's be honest, series seem to be the way every single author in just about every single genre goes these days. Luckily for us, Forsaken continues its unique twist and take on the angel trend, giving life to a dark and haunting world where angels are every bit as badass as your run-of-the-mill vampire or werewolf, and perhaps moreso than them, too.

What I enjoyed most about Forsaken was the deeper look we got into Cole's past, which I felt was lacking in book one, and was one of the only reasons I lowered my rating for the first book. Delving into the past and seeing how it affected Jessica's future, as well as the future in general, engaged all the characters into this perfectly enmeshed struggle that was exhilarating and nervewracking at the same time. Yes, there were a few grammatical and punctuation errors, but the only real qualm I had with Forsaken was the cliffhanger ending. While yes, the Forsaken read well, it couldn't stand alone, and I have a hard time with that.

Overall though, Forsaken was a great read with a plot that's well-executed with engaging and dynamic characters, as well as a fabulous voice. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all YA fans, especially those who enjoy paranormal tales involving angels.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Get excited, guys! It's day 5 of The Long Weekend Blog Tour, and we have yet another amazing stop for you to visit today! Be sure to check out Jen's blog, Makeshift Bookmark, for her take on the book, as well as an author interview and international giveaway!

Night after night, Jessica stands trial before a council of vindictive angels for deeds she didn’t commit. Condemnation brings a branding as they dementedly laugh and point but exaltation starts a war over her soul. These are Jessica’s nightmares. Alex is everything Jessica could ever want and she’ll do anything to be with him. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck.This is what she will fight for.

But the nightmares rule Jessica’s life and she must find a way to stop the events that are pulling her toward her own judgment or become the object of her greatest fear. And lose Alex forever.
Taken from GoodReads.

Branded follows the story of Jessica, terrified to sleep because when she does, she's judged. She stands trial before the angels, both good and bad, for the souls of the dead. She's lived this life since she was five, and she was eventually committed by her own mother because her parents couldn't deal with her problems. Independent and afraid of opening up, Jessica knows she must eventually sleep, and when she does, she'll be judged again and face the branding of the angels.

Holy original plot! Branded is a new take on angels, which are apparently the new supernatural "creature" that's hot in the YA book world. That said, author Keary Taylor has presented a fresh idea with a delightfully independent and strong female protagonist that will keep you cheering for her throughout the story. Branded is, in a nutshell, a rich blend of biblical undertones, the weight of right and wrong, and the quest to save one's soul.

While the plot of Branded was beautifully original, I will say there were a few things I would have changed, if at all possible. First of all, there were some points where I could read right between the lines to see what happens next. I would rather be surprised. I also felt that the villain was a little too surface-heavy for me. I want to know more than his actual motives. I want to know what drives his motives, if that makes sense. The true strength of Branded lies within the relationship between Alex and Jessica. That was pure gold, in my honest opinion.

All in all, in my very humble opinion, Branded is an extremely strong 3.5 out of 5. The author shows so much promise and talent, and I can't believe a publisher hasn't picked her up yet. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of her work. I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy, especially those who enjoy supernatural and romance elements.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

Delirium - (For Review - Thank you, HarperTeen & NetGalley) - Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

Here Lies Bridget - (For Review - Thank you, Harlequin Teen & NetGalley) - Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination..

Branded - (For Review - Thank you, Keary Taylor) - Night after night, Jessica stands trial before a council of vindictive angels for deeds she didn’t commit. Condemnation brings a branding as they dementedly laugh and point but exaltation starts a war over her soul. These are Jessica’s nightmares. Alex is everything Jessica could ever want and she’ll do anything to be with him. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave me a link, and I'll be sure to check it out!