Title: The Bodies We Wear
Author: Jeyn Roberts (Twitter)
Publisher: Knopf BYR
Publish Date: September 23, 2014
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher

People say when you take Heam, your body momentarily dies and you catch a glimpse of heaven. Faye was only eleven when dealers forced Heam on her and her best friend, Christian. But Faye didn’t glimpse heaven—she saw hell. And Christian died.

Now Faye spends her days hiding her secret from the kids at school, and her nights training to take revenge on the men who destroyed her life and murdered her best friend. But life never goes the way we think it will. When a mysterious young man named Chael appears, Faye's plan suddenly gets a lot more complicated. Chael seems to know everything about her, including her past. But too many secrets start tearing her world apart: trouble at school, with the police, and with the people she thought might be her friends. Even Gazer, her guardian, fears she's become too obsessed with vengeance. Love and death. Will Faye overcome her desires, or will her quest for revenge consume her?

There's nothing like a good old-fashioned story that involves revenge, love and death. Right? These three elements hold so much power that they're enough to ignite a plot from mere ashes and really get readers involved in a story. And, The Bodies We Wear, promises readers all that and more. With a subplot of revenge, a protagonist hell-bent on righting the wrongs done to her and her friend in the past and a sinister drug that seems harmless but creates havoc, it's the picture-perfect setup for a science-fiction novel. Author, Jeyn Roberts, reels us into a world that's dark and evocative, but eerie in its secrecy, luring us into the fold and leaving us wondering how we'll ever escape.

The Bodies We Wear, essentially, lays out the framework for a pretty powerful sci-fi novel that should, based on the synopsis, be action-packed and gripping. I found, however, that it felt a bit flat once I got into the story. Yes, that picture-perfect framework is there, and it's a pretty incredible setup for a plot, but in terms of execution, I felt that it lacked a little bit of the oomph that I'd really hoped for. From the beginning, we're shown a protagonist who has had pretty much every bad thing that could happen to her actually happen, and I really wanted to see Faye take the bull by the horns and seek out the revenge. And yes, essentially, she did. But the voice that we're given for Faye felt a bit hollow, and instead of feeling fervor and passion in her story, I just felt a bit humdrum about it all. I guess, in the end, it felt like I was being shown her story, rather than experiencing it through her eyes. 

In a novel like The Bodies We Wear, I also expect certain plot devices to be used to "throw us off the trail" so to speak. It's those elements that keep me turning page after page, hoping to uncover the true nature of the sinister secret within Faye's world. Unfortunately though, these little revelations felt predictable and inauthentic, which made the plot feel more disingenuous than powerful. And, then we have Chael, who is supposed to be this beacon of honesty in the story - the one that reveals those darker elements that we can't wait to find out. But Chael turns out to be someone that I didn't really expect him to be and, unfortunately, in a way that I felt somewhat threw off the sincerity of the novel. 

Overall, I loved the concept of Heam, the consequences of such a drug and the underlying religious implications of the drug, but it seemed as though the drug and the story played second fiddle to a dry and cloying narrative. Had I felt more invested in Faye's voice, The Bodies We Wear might have worked for me, but in the end, I felt more let down than anything else. I give it a 2.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to to those who enjoy YA, especially those who like lighter science fiction stories.

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

Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young (Twitter)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: April 30, 2013
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Sci-Fi
Pages: 405
Source: Personal Copy

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

I've been avoiding dystopian novels like the plague lately, so reading The Program was very much like a warm welcome back to this genre that captivated me over a year ago. Giving myself a break from the genre gave me a chance to clear my mind, think objectively about such intricacies in a dystopian society and allow me to once again form connections and bonds with characters within their worlds. Suzanne Young offers up a dystopian reality that's vaguely reminiscent of other novels we've read before, but there are harsh extremes within this novel that set it apart entirely.

I found that the idea for The Program was incredibly well-presented, and I found that the double-edged sword aspect of the plot, itself, made for a memorable experience. Teenagers are known to be volatile, emotional and far too often unguarded, making them susceptible to extreme emotional swings, which are both frowned upon and immediately stopped within this society. One recorded outburst equates to a stint at the Program where teens are forever changed - and their memories are wiped. But the cost is high, and the moral implications within this novel are challenging, thrilling and exciting. Is life worth living without memories, emotions and feelings, or is life worth living solely as a shell? What emotions make you…you? These questions fueled my rabid reading of the plot, as well as my overall curiosity throughout.

I must admit, however, that I failed to make the strongest connection with Sloane or James though, and while I loved the setup and the intricacies of this novel, I desperately wanted to feel something for the two of them, as well. Much of their setup was focused upon their love story, which is established prior to the novel's beginning. I'm all for a pre-established relationship, but I need to understand each person's character and role within the relationship to better understand the dynamic of how they work and relate to one another, as well. Trust me, Sloane was a likable girl, but was she the most memorable at the end of the day? Perhaps not as much as I'd hoped, which did, unfortunately, lessen my desire to root for her.

Overall though, despite my struggle to fully connect with the characters within The Program, I was really surprised with how intriguing I found the setup of this novel to be. Furthermore, it must be said that Ms. Young takes her time building this eerily ordered world, and I'm definitely going to continue on this series - and hope that I learn to better understand Sloane, James and the other important characters, as well. I give this novel a 4 out of 5, and I definitely recommend it for fans of YA, especially those looking for a well-built dystopian.

Title: Landry Park
Author: Bethany Hagen (Twitter)
Publisher: Dial
Publish Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 384
Source: Personal Copy

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate.

As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

In a futuristic society run almost entirely on nuclear energy, Landry Park offers readers a powerful conceptual dystopian in which society is separated into strict classes. Dystopians are, more often than not, a dime a dozen on the YA market these days, so reading a novel with about a broken society in a somewhat imaginable future is a breath of fresh air. Bethany Hagen has crafted a novel that's as enticing as it is intriguing, and the premise promises readers a true fractured future, though I felt some of the hype was more potent than the novel itself.

Landry Park is touted as the "Downton Abbey" of dystopians, leading a reader like me to expect clear, concise and believable class distinctions that are marked by duties and responsibilities. While, yes, the novel offers us clear class hierarchies, I felt that it failed to explain how the separation of classes truly came about, which became an almost fundamental flaw for me, as it seemed so very crucial to the world-building of the novel. The descriptions of the gentry and the Rootless, however, are solid and remarkable, making them tangible. The gentry really grated on me, as I could almost taste their acrid sense of entitlement, while I felt great sorrow and loss for the hardships the Rootless had to endure.

And yet, I struggled to find our protagonist, Madeline's, place in all of the hardships of this future society. On the surface, she played her role very well as the self-important wealthy girl longing for a life that's different than the one she lived out. More than once, we read and understand that she longs to make a difference and make a change in the way society functions, but I felt that her motives and reasoning for wanting this change were never really explored through Landry Park. I wanted to become fully invested in her desires for change and her plight to right the wrongs of society, but I found myself thinking only that she satisfied, but did not fulfill her role in its entirety.

Landry Park also offers readers a touch of romance through the budding relationship between David and Madeline. David's character was more fleshed out than Madeline's but I never truly grasped the poignancy of their relationship. Rather, it felt more like a plot device to further our protagonist's agenda and endgame of creating change. Thus, their relationship and the romance that I'd hoped would offer us a bit more drama, ended up only offering a slight diversion with little to no substance.

Overall, I can't say that Landry Park was the best dystopian I've ever read, though I do admire the risks that Ms. Hagen took. I feel that if the story had had another 200 pages, we might have had the full society and plot devices to create a truly memorable dystopian novel, but in the end, I'm not entirely certain it stood out from the crowd for me. I give this novel a 2.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans  of YA, especially those who enjoy lighter dystopian novels. 

Title: Plus One
Author: Elizabeth Fama (Twitter)
Publisher: FSG BYR
Publish Date: April 8, 2014
Genre: YA, Dystopians
Pages: 373
Source: Publisher

Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.

Dystopian novels are often a dime a dozen these days, but I must admit that the concept of Plus One had me going from the very start. Author, Elizabeth Fama, is known for her way with words, spinning stories into this hypnotic, melodic sort of storytelling that leaves you breathless, so I had no reservations at all when I picked up the novel. Offering us an interesting alternate reality, it's the type of novel that asks readers to put their preconceived notions aside and simply dive headfirst into a world that's unfamiliar in it's familiarity. It's a different sort of dystopian novel - one that I believe will either sink or swim for readers.

Plus One  presented a unique challenge for me, perhaps because I've read so many dystopian novels in the past couple of years. In 1918, a flu pandemic threatened to destroy the world's population, so the then President divided the populace into two groups - those who would work the medical fields during the day and the laborers who would work at night. I struggled a bit with this premise, understanding exactly how two perfectly symmetrical shifts would help heal the world from a ravaging disease. Furthermore, what started as an equal society working together (though separated) to keep their people alive, melted into a complete persecution and separation in less than 100 years. I found it, while fascinating, a bit implausible.

I started to reconcile with the idea of the day vs. night premise about halfway through Plus One, and I found myself growing attached to Soleil's character. She was rash, and impulsive and fairly unpredictable, but in a novel that felt quite intangible at times, I felt that she was a ray of light. At times, she felt a bit juvenile, and her actions seemed a bit haphazard, but her persona and the relationship between Soleil and D'arcy rang true and honest. I truly believe the relationships were the highlight of the story for me because, whereas much of the plot felt a bit rushed and haphazard, I felt like I always had a grasp on the characters and their motives, at the very least. 

I think that in the end, my real qualm with Plus One was simply that it felt a little too rushed. With a novel like this, we're being offered a new world in which we're expected to understand and empathize with the changes to society and its inhabitants. However, there was simply so much going on that it felt as though it moved with a little too much speed, when it could easily have worked just a little slower and more deliberate in its actions. The foundation for the world was there, but unfortunately, the meat simply didn't follow through, and while I loved the characters and longed for more of them, I couldn't help but feel a little slighted at the end.

Overall, Plus One  is a complex dystopian that I have extremely mixed feelings on. Ms. Fama remains an incredible writer - one whom I will seek out time and again. Unfortunately, it was also a little unbalanced, and that's where the story lost me a bit. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA and NA, especially those who enjoy dystopian novels that focus heavily on characters over plot.

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

Title: The Jewel
Author: Amy Ewing (Twitter)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: September 2, 2014
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 304

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty––because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence...and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

While I admit that the dystopian genre is really quite tiring to me these days, I can't help but be utterly captivated by the synopsis of The Jewel. Combining a story of the "haves" and "have nots" with a forbidden romance and a broken, horrible world is usually the perfect combination for me. I must say that this cover looks like a bit of a cross between The Winner's Curse and The Selection, but it also sounds like it  might just be fitting for this novel. Here's hoping that a dystopian novel can still surprise me in the best possible way! What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Frozen
Authors: Melissa de la Cruz & Michael Johnston
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Fantasy
Pages: 336
Source: Personal Copy

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

I spent a long time contemplating whether I should actually review Frozen because, while it is the type of book that should work for me, I really actually struggled with it from the start. I'm a big fan of post-apocalyptic dystopians that take the time to set up proper world-building and give us a an actual baseline for the story to follow. However, this book throws us into a world of melee and dysfunction without a true glimpse as to why the world is so broken, as well as why society is so plagued by the demons it faces today. Without any exaggeration, Frozen gives readers nymphs, darkens, polar bears, zombies and more - all in a barren icy wasteland in which, somehow, some of our characters seem to bear enough wealth to drive luxury vehicles and own boats. 

My issue with these contradictions, as well as the overabundance of fantasy elements in what could have been a plausible dystopian definitely weighed heavily on me from the start. While I was already struggling with the plot elements, we're thrust further into a novel that is plagued with excessive run-on sentences that made it really hard for me to actually get invested in the story. I understand stylistic writing, however, this actually made the novel quite difficult to read. It actually managed to throw off the pacing of the novel, which might have otherwise worked well for me. 

While I can certainly appreciate the lengths to which the authors went to make an original dystopian novel and cross it with fantasy, I really struggled to feel any sort of emotion or connection with the characters, and I honestly felt as though there was just too much happening to ever garner an inkling of a connection with Nat and, by association, Nat and Wes's romance. I think that, had we been given a few less fantasy elements and a few more moments of sincere character-building, I might have ended up liking this one, but I honestly felt too overwhelmed by the haphazard nature of the world of Frozen to feel any real emotion towards it in the end.

Overall, Frozen was, unfortunately, just not the book for me. Now, I've seen the reviews, and I see that a lot of readers actually enjoyed the book, so maybe I'm missing something here. I'd love to hear what others read in it that I missed because I really did want to enjoy it. I give it a 2 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy dystopian and post-apocalyptic fantasy.

Title: Fire & Flood
Author: Victoria Scott (Twitter)
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Date: February 25, 2014
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

A race for survival, a race for family and a race for a cure; these are all winning elements for the perfect setup to a fantastic dystopian novel - even in an extremely tired and overplayed genre. The trickiest thing for such a novel, however, is standing out within this genre, and it must be said that, while some elements of the story seemed vaguely reminiscent of other such novels, Fire & Flood does enough to stand alone and stand alone well. Author, Victoria Scott, promises readers a thrill ride from start to finish, giving us enough action and adventure to satiate our appetites, as well as a main character in whom we're readily eager to place our trust.

Tella was quite an energizing protagonist. I worried that she'd feel a bit too cloying with her mission to save her brother at the forefront of the novel, but I was pleased to discover that she actually felt like a  tangible and accessible teenage girl. Though her quest to save her brother does define her, it also serves to transform her through Fire & Flood and, in doing so, we see a delicate air of vulnerability to her character that makes her both endearing and incredibly fun to travel with on this journey. I found that Cody, on the other hand, pretty much served only to fuel the nature of the plot along, which was slightly disappointing, but not altogether a game-changer for me.

The setup for the Brimstone Bleed within Fire & Flood definitely made me wary at first. I was getting flashbacks of other well-known dystopian novels, and I really didn't want to see it fall into the trap of becoming a replica of another novel. Thankfully, the book offers us an adventure and a race that is different enough to capture our interest and keep us invested in the story. The race transports us to a new scene, which presents challenges both to ourselves and to our characters, and we get to see firsthand just how brutal the Brimstone Bleed can be. I must say that I enjoyed the element of our characters receiving a Pandora, or an egg, which will transform into an animal through their journey to guide them along. This element was surprising, fun and definitely unique to me.

I was, however, disappointed in the love interest of the story, Guy. I felt as though we got to know a plethora of characters, but his character was never completely defined. Rather, I felt as though we got to know snippets of his persona, but we never truly understand or empathize for his motives for being in the race. Furthermore, the plight of the budding relationship between Tella and Guy felt a bit too familiar to another epic romance in another incredibly popular dystopian series. Though they felt for each other, they were scared to succumb to their feelings because of the inevitability of one winner. 

Overall, however, I was really quite impressed with Fire & Flood. The story offers us enough originality to get us invested in yet another dystopian series and, in doing so, we've found a whole new world in which to become invested. I give this book a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of dystopian novels, especially those who enjoy epic adventures.

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

Title: After the End
Author: Amy Plum (Twitter)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: May 6, 2014
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Sci-Fi
Pages: 352

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there. At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Just when I think I'm totally sick of the dystopian genre, another novel pops up and catches my eye. I'd be lying if I said the genre has become a bit tired and repetitive lately, but I like the sound of the twist of this one. It seems like, if it's done well, it might be just different enough to pique and capture my interest throughout the story. So, I can't help but say that I'm lusting over this one shamelessly this week. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.