Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 3

It has arrived, my first YA compilation of 2025. If you read YA, what’s already caught your interest this year? What new releases are you anticipating?

Beastly Beauty (May 7, 2024) by Jennifer Donnelly.

<This is a standalone novel.>

What makes a girl “beastly?” Is it being too stubborn? Being fiery and strong instead of sweet and compliant? Wanting to study architecture instead of attending balls? Is it simply wanting too much?

            In the band of thieves, Beau is the handsome one and is always tasked with being the charming seducer, stealing hearts along with jewels, gold and silver. When the bridge crumbles behind his thieving comrades, Beau is left to face the monster that roams the castle at night. He knows the monster is real, but no one seems to believe him. Certainly not Valmont, who doesn’t hide his utter disdain for the thief. And who are the children who claim they aren’t children? There’s a strange, sizable clockwork, and then there’s the beautiful and cold Lady Arabella with her contingent of vicious ladies-in-waiting with names like Lady Espidra, Lady Rega, Lady Hesma and Lady Iglut. Once bold and independent, much to the chagrin and disapproval of her titled parents (she’s the only child of a duke and duchess), she’s turned inward, crumbling like a ruin once full of hope, faith and love, now weighed down by despair, rage, shame, guilt and more. Arabella’s understanding is that, to break the curse, a boy must love her for her true self, which is a cruel assignment for someone who appears “beastly” on the inside and out. After all, who could ever love ... a beast?

            While I can understand Beau’s desperation to reunite with his brother, I did not like him for most of the story. It’s not only the thieving that turned me off from the character, but his greasy charm and cocksure personality. He is redeemable in the last chapters, but it’s too little too late, and I couldn’t fully appreciate the story. Fortunately, Donnelly is a skilled storyteller and invites readers into a gender-swapped retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” that manages complicated characters in daunting circumstances surrounded by a historically rich backdrop and emotional turbulence. There are glimmers of humor amidst the hopelessness and the mucky, macabre moat monsters. It’s a story of family dynamics and their complications, personal truths and battling to accept oneself, “beastly” aspects and all.

The Encanto’s Daughter (Mar. 5, 2024) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the first novel in a duology.>

Command attention. Project authority. That is what Maria Josephina “MJ” Robertson-Rodriguez must do to stand her ground against the courts that oppose her ascension to the throne. MJ is a princess of the Sirena Court, which is the most powerful and thus is the overall ruler of Biringan, but she’s spent much of her life hiding in the human world, switching towns and schools at the earliest sign of danger. MJ is hapcanto: half-human, half-encanto. (Encantos or engkantos in her father’s language, but they’re also called fairies.) With her father’s sudden death, MJ must go to Biringan to claim her place as the rightful heir. She must win over a council who disapproves of her hapcanto status and that she’s a she, and don’t even get her started on those of the other courts who disapprove of her half-human side. Yep, bigotry is alive and well in Biringan, too. She doesn’t know what her magic is, which she’ll need to showcase at her coronation in less than a month, and she won’t even admit it to her first real friend Phoenix “Nix” Xing, a runaway from Jade Mountain. When she hears that her father’s death was from unnatural causes, she adds investigating his death to her already busy agenda. Nix is there to help, and MJ forges an unlikely alliance with the irritatingly handsome Sir Lucas Invierno. Where his dad once worked for the Court of Sirena, Sir Lucas now resides in the Court of Sigbin and is the realm’s highest-ranking knight. Don Elias, MJ’s godfather and the late King Vivencio Basilio Rodriguez’s most trusted advisor, suspects Sigbin Court of harboring a mambabarang, witches that practice black magic. So. Find the nasty sorceress, discover her father’s murderer, figure out her magical ability and learn all there is to know about Biringan and being royal. If MJ can do all that in less than a month’s time, she can bear the weight of the crown. Right?

            This fantasy duology opener steeped in Filipino mythology makes for a culturally rich tale of magic, family betrayal, court politics and investigation. The downside is that I usually didn’t like MJ’s character. Yes, her life has been upended, and I know she’s trying to assert herself, but she oftentimes comes across as petulant, downright annoying and, well, entitled. She redeems herself with her release of an innocent person, someone she knew had to be innocent from the get-go. Being accepted as the one true heir in only a month’s time – when she’s been gone since toddlerhood – seems far-fetched, but the stakes are high, the plot is action-driven and there’s adventure to be had. Although so-so for me, it may just be what a YA fantasy lover is looking for.

            P.S. Surprise! Maria Josephina isn’t actually her given name. What is it?

Icon and Inferno (June 11, 2024) by Marie Lu.

<This is the second novel in a duology.>

The world’s favorite pop superstar and one of the world’s elite spies are back. Winter Young has thought of Sydney Cossette every day, hoping she’ll randomly show up. She never does, until the day she shows up in his private practice room. Sydney is there to convince him to take another mission with Panacea Group, the secret operation located within Claremont Hotel, a [fictional] luxury resort hotel in St. Paul, MN, featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant called Food for the Gods. They need to make contact with an agent who’s gone dark. It’s the Arsonist, code name for Tems Bourton, and he’s, loosely, Sydney’s ex. Panacea is tracking a plot to assassinate U.S. President Rosen, and Tems is supposed to be their eyes-on-the-ground. Winter and Sydney head to Singapore for the Warcross Championships, Winter getting in with his celebrity status and Sydney joining in once again as his bodyguard. On Winter’s arm is Gavi Ginsburg, his on-again-off-again, no-strings-attached, globe-trotting socialite girlfriend/fling. The intense chemistry between Winter and Sydney remains, but it is tempered with the exes in the mix. Not that they have time to hash out feelings. They have a suspect responsible for plotting the president’s assassination, but there are definitely more people involved. Who are the rogue operatives?

            Sydney doesn’t want to admit it, but she’s struggling. It’s her last mission with Niall O’Sullivan and Sauda Nazari as the head agents/operatives, because it’s Niall’s last mission. He’s retiring! He plans to visit his daughter, Quinn, for the first time in a decade. Niall is the closest to a father figure that she’s ever had. She’s already missing him and is a little jealous of his actual daughter (not that she’ll admit it).

            The Stars and Smoke duology closer is a dramatic, YA spy fiction sequel to its predecessor. It’s action-packed and sometimes violent, occasionally spitting and a little steamy (the scene does leave much of it up to the reader’s imagination). The sexy, romantic tone that Lu incorporated didn’t impress me, but the emotive characters with their abusive, psychologically pain-filled pasts and Lu’s enigmatic writing make this caper dynamic and propulsive. Undoubtedly, there is beauty and ferocity where there is international intrigue surrounding attractive people. But don’t forget that these characters are handy with weapons while playing with fire. Beware getting in the crosshairs.

            Favorite line: “How strange an emotion love was, how powerful it must be to fuel kindness and hatred and empathy and revenge and grief, all at once.” --Sydney, p. 282

            Book One: Stars and Smoke

"Stars and Smoke" by Marie Lu

Stars and Smoke (Mar. 28, 2023) by Marie Lu.

*This is the first novel in a series.*

Chinese American Winter Young is a 19-year-old global pop phenomenon, the most famous superstar in the world. He’s a spy, too, having been approached by the Panacea Group to infiltrate the crime world syndicate of Eli Morrison. His one weakness is his daughter, Penelope, though Eli is anything but weak. The criminal tycoon has no qualms about having adversaries tortured or entire families assassinated. Penelope is Winter’s biggest fan, and for her birthday celebration, Eli is indulging an extremely exclusive private concert with the one and only Winter Young. Panacea Group has been trying for years to get evidence to bring Morrison down. The CIA has too much red tape, so that’s when they call in Panacea, as they have the power to choose what is right over what is diplomatic. The covert spy operation works out of the [fictional] Claremont Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Winter will need to use all his fame, charisma and newfound spy skills to pull off a successful mission. He won’t be alone, as he’ll have Sydney Cossette posing as his bodyguard and taking on the persona of Ashley Miller. Sydney is Panacea’s youngest spy, and she’s keeping a big secret from them, lest they release her from their employ (and no, the secret isn’t her petty thievery). Infiltrating Eli’s inner circle and attending Penelope’s extravagant birthday celebration takes the group to London. His manager, Claire, is along, as are two of his closest back-up dancers, Leo and Dameon. On their list of Eli’s closest associates is Connor Doherty, the accountant who has beautifully expensive taste in accessories, and who appears to have a secret relationship with Penelope. It’s a high-stakes, life or death mission. Can Winter and Sydney survive each other? Can they just ... survive?

            The new series starter from Lu is a rip-roaring adventure containing espionage, mystery, enough advanced gadgetry to make any techie jealous, glamour and danger. Where superstar Winter is Chinese American, polyglot spy Sydney is cued white with a nice range of ethnic diversity amongst the plentiful supporting cast and queer inclusivity, too. Winter’s compassionate, down-to-earth character is a good balance to Sydney’s abrasiveness. The story is clever and fun with intense scenes and a nail-biting plot. It’s propulsive and gripping. Lu remains one of my top authors of YA.

            Standout line: “Optimism is my hidden power.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 8

We’re over halfway through 2022, yet this is my first YA compilation of the year. I’ve got a new-to-me author in this batch, and I have ILL (InterLibrary Loan) to thank for that book.

Cinder & Glass (Mar. 8, 2022) by Melissa de la Cruz.

*This is a standalone novel.*

In this twist on the beloved fairytale, Cendrillon de Louvois (age 15 at start and jumps to age 16) intends to follow in her beloved late mother’s footsteps and become a lady-in-waiting to royalty. Her father, the Marquis de Louvois, is a favorite advisor and dear friend of the king. She wants to see Versailles, but also worries about her lacking etiquette in a sea of courtiers and royals. She’s far more comfortable with her friends Elodie and Marius, employees of the Marquis, than she is amongst those her father and godmother, Lady Françoise, cavort with. She does find an unexpected ally in Auguste, Prince Louis’ illegitimate half-brother. Then her father dies unexpectedly soon after marrying Lady Catherine Monvoisin. The story jumps forward a year after Lady Catherine demotes Cendrillon from stepdaughter to a servant (but not one who’s paid) and in a year has become adept at cooking, washing, mending, etc. Catherine’s increasingly awful to Cendrillon, as is Severine. Alexandre does seem to have compassion toward Cendrillon and interest in Elodie. Cendrillon adopts the name Cinder after presenting herself at Prince Louis’ ball. He chooses 25 young women to vie for his heart, including Cinder and her stepsisters. As Cinder advances in the competition, she realizes she may have to choose between freedom (to get away from her horrid stepmother) or love (for Auguste, though he bears no title).

            While I wouldn't normally want to read another take on “Cinderella,” I do trust de la Cruz’s writing. The YA novel isn't fast out of the gate, but that’s easily overlooked with the cast of bold female characters. Even Lady Catherine, despicable as she is, is certainly ambitious (and greedy). The story is rich in historical detail and this historical twist with a The Bachelor-style competition makes for an entertaining and corset-fashionable take on a familiar fairytale. Likely true of the time, the characters do appear to read within a white default, but the author does include tender, budding romances, both straight and queer. It’s a strong story for lovers of YA and fairytales.

            P.S. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but look at it, it’s gorgeous!

Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Jan. 19, 2021) by Malinda Lo.

*This is a standalone novel, but a companion novel (not a sequel) is due out this fall.*

It is San Francisco in the mid-1950s. McCarthyism continues during this decade, and homosexuality is not only not culturally acceptable, it’s also believed to be linked with Communism. Lily Hu is 17 years old in the mid-1950s. She is Chinese-American, born in America to Chinese parents. Lily is “a good Chinese girl.” A good Chinese girl would never attend the Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar, to see Tommy Andrews, Male Impersonator. And even if she went once, she would never go there again and again with her classmate, Kathleen (Kath) Miller. She and Kath have been in the same advanced math classes for years, now the only female students in their math class senior year. Despite this, she’s never really noticed Kath. Lily is shocked to admit to herself that she has feelings for Kath and that they’re reciprocated is both freeing and shocking. But America in 1954 is not a safe time or place for two teenage girls to fall in love. Lily’s father’s hard-won citizenship is already hanging in the balance since his citizenship papers were taken away because he wouldn’t declare that a patient was Communist. But Lily won’t lie about her feelings for Kath, despite the challenges and emotional pain the truth brings. However, if the FBI finds out Lily is a lesbian, it’ll be seen as reflecting poorly on her father when he’s already facing the possibility of deportation. How will love shine in the bleakest of times?

            The YA novel I received through ILL (thank you, RWPL), it’s the first I’ve read by Malinda Lo, and I was blown away by it. This is a queer, historical fiction novel, complex in its history, beautifully sensitive, emotionally fraught and tender as a feather-light touch. I’ve not read much when it comes to LGBTQIA+ romance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the gold standard. Lo writes in such a way that the reader can’t help but feel empathy toward Lily. I wanted to lift her up when things were falling apart and be the aunt figure who let her stay until she was firmly standing on her own two feet again. Emotions can be exhausting, but that only gives the novel more depth. It has the energy of youthful desire and shimmers with the light of first love. This story is Lily’s bildungsroman. It’s a coming-of-age story, a coming-out story. It’s a love story.

Steelstriker (Sept. 28, 2021) by Marie Lu.

*This is the concluding novel in a duology.*

*Any spoilers are also included on the book jacket.*

Six months after the fall of Mara to the Karensa Federation, the world is savage and broken, and Talin is no longer a Striker. Instead, she has become a nightmare of the Premier’s (Constantine Tyrus) making. She is one of the Federation’s best and most feared designs, a human war machine, a Skyhunter. She patrols the skies with her lethal strength and knife-sharp steel wings, and she protects the sickly Premier, who keeps her in check by holding her mom hostage; Talin is, herself, a hostage. How pleased or angry he is with Talin affects where her mom will go as each two-week mark comes by. Talin’s thoughts remain her own – for now – but she fears the connection she has to the Premier, especially when her intact connection to Red gets Aramin and Adena captured. Red and Jeran hitch a ride to Cardinia, the capital of the Federation, to save their friends and free Talin. But to free Talin, they must find and save her mother first. Talin feels so helpless, but murmurs of rebellion ignite a spark of hope and encourage action.

            The concluding novel in the Skyhunter duology is sophisticated. That may sound like an unlikely characteristic for a dystopian YA novel laden with thrills, suspense and action, but it really is sophisticated. Lu’s world-building in this duology has been stunning, the political landscape  realistically rocky in darkly sci-fi novel form, the protagonists are tough and impressive yet flawed, and the antagonists are villains fleshed out so well that they’re easy to despise. What really clinches the sophistication of the story is the way Lu pens the psychological battle between Talin and Constantine. This novel contains betrayal and subversion, but also love and sympathy. Sometimes even pity. This sequel is tumultuous and intense to its bitter-bright end.

            Book One: Skyhunter

"Skyhunter" by Marie Lu

Skyhunter (Sept. 29, 2020) by Marie Lu.

*This is the first book in a duology.*

When Talin Kanami was eight years old, her homeland of Basea was invaded by the Karensa Federation. She and her mother fled north to Mara in terror and in pain. 10 years later, and Talin hasn’t spoken since the night Basea was invaded due to vocal cord scarring and emotional trauma. She uses sign language, knowing the languages of Basea and Mara. Mara is the last free nation (on this side of the sea), and Mara’s legendary Strikers are the only warriors standing between that nation and annihilation by the Karensa Federation, run by the young, sickly, tyrannical Premier, Constantine Tyrus. Talin, against all odds and through all of the bullying, is a Striker (thank you, open-minded Firstblade Aramin Wen Calla). Strikers don’t just battle the enemy soldiers, but, most specifically, they battle Ghosts. Ghosts are formerly human, but become “monstrous war beasts” after dark poison is poured down their throats. They are grotesque. To kill them, “you must bleed a Ghost out, cutting it at its neck, the only place with a vulnerable vein.” If a Ghost bites a human or scratches them with their poisonous fingernails, one must cut that person’s throat before s/he turns. And if it’s one’s own Shield (a.k.a. Striker partner) … uff da. With Redlen (Red) Arabes’ appearance, he may be the miracle weapon Mara so desperately needs. He’s the Skyhunter. Together with her friends and fellow Strikers Adena Min Ghanna and Jeran Min Terra, they plot to destabilize Karensa. They’ve pledged their lives to Mara and to one another. Strikers are “Bringers of Death,” “Assassins of Monsters.” They are Mara’s saviors and they will give their everything.

            Wow. This first novel in a duology from Marie Lu, one of my favorite authors, blew me away. This story isn’t only another science fiction fantasy set in a dystopia (references to the civilization of the “Early Ones” could be construed as Earth as we would know it) with some battle here and there. No. It runs much deeper than that. Not only do characters have varying skin tones, but Lu doesn’t steer away from xenophobia in her story, with Talin taking the brunt of it (the “Basean rat”). The trajectory of the story, from start to finish, is fast-paced and engaging. The world is expansive, darkly exciting, high-action and brutal with a core group featuring a main character and primary supporting characters that aren’t without sympathy. The way Lu writes is as well-balanced as a perfect sword.

"The Kingdom of Back" by Marie Lu

The Kingdom of Back (Mar. 3, 2020) by Marie Lu.

Everyone is familiar with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (affectionately called Woferl), but this is not his story. It is hers. Maria Anna Mozart, usually called Nannerl. She’s the elder Mozart. The big sister who should shine as brightly as her little brother, but for the fact that she’s female in a male-dominated world (this is the 18^th century, after all). This does not stop her from her desire to compose music for all to hear and is masterful in playing the clavier (harpsichord), but she’ll only perform until she’s of a marriageable age, according to her strict and often tyrannical father. As is known, Woferl shines brightly from a young age; he’s clearly a prodigy. His brilliance eclipses Nannerl’s swiftly and with such ease, and she struggles with jealousy. People will remember him, but what about her? The Mozart family’s tours are long and often take a toll on the young Mozarts, especially on Woferl’s health. Strangely, his downturns in health seem to coincide with a handsome, mysterious stranger from a land of their own stories. A forest surrounds a kingdom, but the trees grow upside down (this is the Kingdom of Back, for it can seem backwards). It is a magical place, intriguing to explore and fantastical, and they even outwit a witch. The stranger, Hyacinth, says he can help Nannerl if she’ll help him. But at what cost?

            From what I’ve read from Marie Lu, “The Kingdom of Back” is her first foray into the world of historical fiction. Historical fantasy. Lu’s YA novel is a clever composition of history, magic and world-building. Whether at home in Austria, somewhere in Europe on a grand tour or visiting Back, Lu blends each setting to segue without hitting the wrong note. That isn’t to say it’s a perfectly comprised concerto. Despite reading the book fairly quickly, there remained something slow about reading it compared to the colorful excitement of the Warcross duology or the action of the Legend series. While I appreciated the historical element, I was less impressed by Hyacinth and Back as a whole. That part felt a bit generic, I’m disappointed to admit. Still, the love/rivalry of the Mozart siblings is emotional and compelling, especially when Nannerl opens her eyes to the Faustian mess she’s gotten herself into. I may not have loved this story, but there is music in it. Can you hear it?

"Rebel" by Marie Lu

Rebel (Oct. 1, 2019) by Marie Lu.

Ten years have passed since Daniel “Day” Altan Wing incited a revolution to bring down the Republic of America. Eden Bataar Wing continues to live in his shadow, despite being a top student at Ross University of the Sciences, the top university in the world. Eden is brilliant and loves to tinker; he’s going to graduate in seven years when it’d normally take a student ten years. Daniel and Eden live in Ross City, the only city and capital of Antarctica, which is encased in a biodome, because Antarctica is, of course, arctic. They live in the upper echelon of society, residing on the Sky Floors. Daniel is an agent for the Antarctican Intelligence Service (AIS), and along with being a brilliant student, Eden is a rebel drone racer. The races are held in the Undercity, where the poorest barely eek out an existence and cannot afford education, healthcare or housing, nor land decent jobs. Everything is based on the Level system. The higher the level, the  better your life, and the system is expectedly unfair to the poor. Say a man lost his job because he’s sick and can’t work. In this system, his Level decreases because he isn’t working, but the further his Level drops, the further he is from being able to enter a hospital for care or medications. Ross City’s system is like a living game; points are earned for good behavior and taken away for ill behavior, and all of this is noted with one’s Level above one’s head like a glowing plumb bob that’s almost impossible to hide from.

            The injustice of the Level system and how it skews toward those with high Levels in the Sky Floors versus those in the Undercity vexes Eden, and it frustrates him that Daniel doesn’t understand him. The fact that Daniel works for the AIS further ignites Eden’s frustration. Eden, the tinkerer, enters an illegal drone race and captures the attention of Dominic Hann. Hann’s been linked to multiple gruesome murders, but no one’s recently laid eyes on him until Eden and his amazing drone. What does Hann want from Eden? This is the best opportunity that’s ever come up to get someone on the inside, but all Daniel wants is to protect his younger brother and love June Iparis again (did he ever stop?), but that is another side story. Eden is going to need any help that he can get: from Daniel, June, Pressa Yu (his janitor friend at the university who lives in the Undercity with her father), the AIS and the Antarctican military. But will that be enough to take Hann down?

            My initial reaction to this book was, “Why?” A fourth book in the Legend trilogy isn’t a trilogy anymore, but a tetralogy, which means I’ll put it with its predecessors. Why couldn’t it at least be a duology? But bookshelf-nitpicking aside, this story should’ve long drawn in Legend fans, and I would hope it kindles interest in new readers to read the first three books if they haven’t already. Although Daniel and Eden live in a gamified world, they still deal with tiers of socioeconomic status and the privilege that’s offered those of the highest Levels, not unlike we might see presently in anything from classroom cliques to the Hollywood elite to the ridiculously wealthy. Lu writes with the expertise of a professional gamer, confident in her storyline and the return of familiar characters. For this story, she’s figured out the algorithm for adventure, fear, want, rebellion, intelligence and romance. She is a powerhouse author.

Duology: "Warcross"

Originally, I was going to include the first book in a compilation post. Then it was a standalone post, but it took me awhile to read it, so I waited for the second book to release in this YA duology in order to create a post showcasing them. I’ve been an established fan of this author’s work since the first story of hers that I read.

Warcross (Sept. 12, 2017) by Marie Lu.

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade, but what do you do if life hasn’t bothered to hand you the lemons? Tattooed teenage hacker Emika Chen (she’s 18) is a bright-haired bounty hunter who’s gone to the physical trouble of taking someone down for the NYPD, only to have the bounty claimed by another. She’s three months behind on rent and is about to be evicted, has a low-paying job and can barely afford mac ‘n cheese when she hacks into Warcross. That game is a global phenomenon, and it was started 10 years ago by Hideo Tanaka. He’s now a billionaire and is all of 21 years old. Emika hacks into the game thinking to make some quick cash, but she doesn’t expect her hack to cause the world to see her when she glitches in. Instead of someone slapping cuffs on her and sending her to jail (again), she finds herself in Tokyo with a business proposition. Only one other person has been able to hack one’s way into Warcross, and they refer to that player as Zero. Emika is one of the players, now professionally playing Warcross, in an effort to find out who Zero is and take her/him down. She’ll come in as a Wardraft Wild Card. She’s gone from impoverished girl with a juvenile record to overnight sensation surrounded by fame, fortune and the best technology available. Also, let’s not forget Hideo Tanaka of Henka Games. He’s a young, attractive, wealthy, elegant genius. By accident, Emika has gotten herself on Hideo’s radar. Good luck turning back now.

            I’ve been a reading fan of Lu’s through her Legend and The Young Elites trilogies. But when it came to this duology, I was uncertain, even though she’s an author whose books I’ve already consistently enjoyed. I still pre-ordered the book, but I know nothing of the gaming world and hacking and all of those tech-genius terms and therefore wondered if I’d find a reading rapport with this book. I put this book off for a long while and now cannot believe I ever doubted it, because I LOVED the book. As soon as I began reading it, I was addicted to the high octane plot, the inventive virtual reality (VR) world and the fascinating characters. Lu plaits everything together like a seamless code. Romance brews in this clever, all-consuming tale. If all VR, science fiction worlds are as kinetic and energetic as this one, then I want a shelf full of these types of YA novels!

Wildcard (Sept. 18, 2018) by Marie Lu.

Welcome to Warcross! The Warcross Championships are fast-approaching, but so much has happened, and more is to come. Firstly, with the presence of illegal power-ups in gameplay, a rematch between the Phoenix Riders and Andromeda has been scheduled, making it the first rematch in Warcross history. Secondly, Emika Chen has been replaced as a member of the Phoenix Riders. Thirdly, Zero has been identified, and the ­­­­Blackcoats resistance he's a part of looks to have morally gray areas, rather like Hideo Tanaka’s plan, though it’s easy to be convinced of the rightness of what the resistance is fighting for. And what the resistance is supposedly fighting to stop is set to launch in mere days when the Warcross Championships are about to commence. A majority of it has already launched, but the beta lenses weren’t in that massive batch. Which means their actions are still their own … for now.

            Emika finds herself at odds with Hideo around the same time she’s avoided being assassinated (life is a little complicated right now). She’s gone to the other side, essentially, by teaming up with Zero, Dr. Dana Taylor, Jax and others associated with the resistance. But Zero wants her to find her way back into Hideo’s good graces so she can gain access to something only he has the key for. And then she needs to corrupt it. But when someone she knows is seriously hurt, what does that say about the resistance? What’s really going on and who’s behind it?

            What a fantastic duology! If Marie Lu were to create a spinoff of this duology or keep up with the current main characters in a new, twisty, exhilarating, gamer-centric plotline, I’d be click-happy in pre-ordering it. I never expected to enjoy stories set in an ultra tech-smart world, and I’ve not only enjoyed it, but loved it. It’s been brilliantly fast-paced, as luminous as the Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Porsches and Luminatii Xs (“the fastest electric car currently on the market”) transformed into the impossible using the NeuroLink. The technology is amazingly immersive, and emotions hold power. What we do out of love can be morally questionable. The stakes are high, and Emika will do what she must.

"Champion" by Marie Lu

A word to the wise that this book is the last in a trilogy. I do my best not to include spoilers, but I don’t promise that there aren’t any.

Champion (Nov. 5, 2013) by Marie Lu.

The Republic. Patriots. The Colonies. A nation divided with a group clinging to the idea that there can be peace between the two. The Patriots are disbanded (or dead), leaving the young new Elector to worry about other matters, such as a threat of war from the Colonies over a plague outbreak and the continued weeding out (a.k.a. execution) of Senators and dissenters who would attempt to assassinate him. Fortunately for Elector Anden Stavropoulos, he has June Iparis (the prodigy) and Day (the legend) on his side. June is training as one of three Princeps-Elects, signifying that one of them will someday lead the Senate. And Daniel Altan Wing – “Day” – once the Republic’s most notorious criminal, is now a national hero. How the tides have turned.

            They’re turning even more, and not for the better. The Colonies have a powerful new ally in the Confederate Nations of Africa. Even more powerful than Africa? The nation of Antarctica, which has a long-standing rivalry with Africa. Their economy is thriving, and their technological advances are extraordinary and impressive. Life in Ross City, Antarctica, is a game that’s brilliant enough to reduce crime to practically nil. They’ll help the Republic push back the Colonies, but their parameters seem almost impossible.

            One thing Antarctica requires is a cure to the virus. Anden thinks clues to the cure lie in Day’s brother’s body, but Day isn’t about to let the Republic get their hands on Eden again. He’ll do anything in his power to keep Eden safe, and June, too, but he’s in a worsening state that may not allow him to help anyone.

            Overall, “Champion” was a satisfying conclusion to this YA dystopian trilogy. It didn’t end all wrapped up with a nice bow. Instead, it ended with the prospect of a new beginning or a new chapter. I enjoyed the finale book, which read swiftly. Lu is a deft writer, as showcased by how smoothly the book reads. Are there awkward moments? Sure. Always. Some may think them technical glitches, but in this case, I felt they added more details that readers might be interested to know. I also enjoyed Lu’s foray into international worldbuilding with the visit to Antarctica. With its game base, it made me think of “The Sims,” making me an instant fan of Ross City. I would have loved to read more about Lu’s Antarctica. I’m thinking a new trilogy, but this time set in Ross City …

            One Legend. One Prodigy. Two heroes. Will either be Champion?

            Book One: Legend

            Book Two: Prodigy

Rutabaga's Reads 2013: Part 5

Ooh, a short compilation! These three books were all released within the first two months of this year, which is why they’re grouped together. I’m a fan of all three of these authors. Click respective links to see what other books I’ve blogged about by the authors.

Mind Games (Feb. 19, 2013) by Kiersten White.

What would you do to protect someone you love? Fia would kill, and she has. She is the sister assassin, the “hands” of the Keane Foundation, which is much more than an elite boarding school. Fia has perfect intuition. There are Seers, Feelers and Readers, but Fia is in a league of her own. Her older sister, Annie, is a Seer, though she can usually only see her sister. Most of the time, Annie is in the dark, as she is blind.

            Fia is sent on a hit that doesn’t result in the target’s death. Adam is a young, medical research prodigy, and she likes him, because he smiles with his whole face and means it. Then there’s James, son of the imposing and shadowy Mr. Keane. She is the happiest and most miserable when she’s around him. He tells her how to soar under the Reader’s radar, but then uses her intuitive skills for potentially unscrupulous reasons. Fia wants to leave, but she can’t leave her sister at the mercy of Mr. Keane. Because he has none. How can Annie protect Fia? How can Fia protect Annie?

            I think Fia is the epitome of a dark, twisted fantasy in some organized-mess compartment in White’s brain (a good thing!). Fia is so angry and broken that reading her character is fun in a freaky way and brilliant in a skilled way. Annie’s voice is calm even amidst worry, while Fia is all fuming, frenetic energy. It made for a great read with its heartfelt/twisted/loving/brutal ways. If you enjoy YA paranormal thrillers, you’ll want this one on your shelf!

            See also: Endlessly (Paranormalcy trilogy)

Prodigy (Jan. 29, 2013) by Marie Lu.

Again told from the perspectives of June and Day, Day is still the Republic’s most notorious criminal, and June is the Republic’s biggest traitor, though that last part is not broadcast. Both pledge allegiance to the Patriots, a rebel group led by Razor a.k.a. Commander Andrew DeSoto. Their mission? Assassinate the new Elector Primo, Anden Stavropoulos, as his father has recently passed away. Day thinks it should be relatively easy considering his hatred toward the Republic and how they’ve destroyed his family. But June has her doubts, because she remembers how her heart skipped a beat the first time she met him. She doesn’t want to assassinate him, and that confuses her. June is thrown back into the Republic to gain Anden’s trust, and as she gets to know him, she realizes Anden as Elector is nothing like his father was. Is Anden the change their Republic needs to turn around? How can Anden deal with the tension-filled Senators and rally the people? Can they prevent a revolution? Are the Patriots in the right? Is Day? Is June?

            “Prodigy” is the second book in the Legend trilogy, and it was so worth the wait. The book is thrilling and taut, satisfying yet sometimes sad. It is a very compelling work of young adult dystopian fiction, still heavy with carrying the weight of the Republic on their young shoulders, though without all the graphicness of “The Hunger Games.” How I will wait in anticipation to read the conclusion!

            Book One in the trilogy: Legend.

Through the Ever Night (Jan. 8, 2013) by Veronica Rossi.

            As in the first book, this one is seen through the eyes of Perry and Aria. They’re reunited, but tensions run high. Perry is struggling as the Tides’ Blood Lord; they think he’s young and rash, but he thinks he’s doing what’s best for his tribe, especially with the Aether storms worsening. When Aria is introduced to the Tides, they don’t accept her at all because she was a Dweller. Both Perry and Aria want to find the Still Blue, but most of the tribe doesn’t believe it exists. Circumstances prompt Aria to leave with Roar (Perry’s best friend) to find Liv (Perry’s sister) who was traded – yes, traded like a possession – to marry the Blood Lord of a northern tribe. Roar wants her back, and Aria wants answers from their leader, for he supposedly knows the location of the Still Blue. What will it cost Perry to bring peace and safety to his tribe? What will Roar and Aria discover? How many more Aether storms can they survive?

            For fans of dystopia, this is a trilogy to read, and I am liking these books a lot. The main characters are heroic yet flawed, brave but worried. Like we do in real life, the characters make choices with good intentions that may or may not have disastrous results. They plod bravely (and anxiously) through hardships and danger, loyalty and trust issues. This book is fast-paced, and it sure jerks you around at points along the way. Again, it’s not like “The Hunger Games,” but it’s a tough, scary, bleak world that they live in. Here, the nights are as Aether bright as the days. How will they get through the ever nights? How would you?

            Book One in the trilogy: Under the Never Sky.

Rutabaga's Reads 2012: Part 3

This is Part 3 of Rutabaga’s Reads 2012. My aim in Part 3 is to include books which the male populace might find to be interesting also, as I realize many of the books I read lean toward female-interest. Please pass these book titles along to any upper middle-grade and young adult (YA) guys that you know (or guys in college or in general, for that matter)!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Sept. 27, 2011) by Laini Taylor.

What if the girl next door spoke multiple languages – not all of them human – and her hair was naturally blue in its current state? If you lived next to Karou, she’d be that girl. Karou is a seventeen-year-old living in Prague taking up art at The Art Lyceum of Bohemia, a private high school, and collecting teeth for Brimstone, the closest she has to a parent, and he’s also a chimaera. There are black handprints on doors and an unfriendly encounter with Akiva, an angel. Both of them have turbulent pasts, though Karou is initially unaware of this.

            Intriguing. Mystical. Strong. These adjectives describe the book for me. The book was buzzed about, and I can see why. This YA book is a supernatural romantic fantasy. There is forbidden romance and a war between races: the angels versus the chimaeras (demon-like to the angels). Yes, I mentioned romance, but it’s a story about more than just love and is much more interesting than just a sappy romance. This book is wonderfully imaginative, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

Divergent (May 3, 2011) by Veronica Roth.

On an annually appointed day, all sixteen-year-olds must choose the faction they wish to devote the rest of their lives to. For Beatrice “Tris” Prior, that day has come. The factions are based upon virtues: Abnegation (the selfless – she grew up in this faction), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave) and Erudite (the intelligent). Tris’ decision will surprise not just herself and her family, but her entire faction. But very few know Tris’ secret. She is Divergent, for she displays equal aptitude for more than one faction. When she chooses, she finds herself thrust into a dangerously competitive initiation. At times downright ugly, it is hard for her to know who her friends really are and who means her harm or undoing. For example, is Four a frustrating friend or calculating foe? And when Tris figures out what is going on with a power-hungry faction, will she be able to stop it? Or will she be too late?

            There is more than one dystopian summary/review in this batch, and “Divergent” is one of them. Of all the dystopian novels I’ve read since “The Hunger Games,” this trilogy-to-be ranks right up there. Romance is not the key to this story. “Divergent” can be twisted and violent, so beware if you don’t like books on that order. In her debut, Roth creates a masterful and edgy dystopia, which is no small feat in a world currently digesting dystopian tales en masse.

Elsewhere (Sept. 9, 2005) by Gabrielle Zevin.

Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth “Liz” Marie Hall dies and finds herself in an afterlife unlike any other. Here, the deceased age backwards (like Brad Pitt’s character in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), but when they reach infancy, they don’t die again, but are sent on the River to be reborn on Earth. That is the case with animals, too. Despite all the things Liz missed this time around on Earth, she finds love, new friends and gets to meet her grandmother for the first time in Elsewhere. And just because she’s dead doesn’t mean she’s lost her ability to throw a tantrum or find her way to the forbidden Well.

            This YA novel is fascinating, and I enjoyed the concept of aging backward and, eventually, starting anew again. Death is not something to be taken lightly, but in a book that isn’t only meant to be weighted down with the serious enormity of it all, Zevin includes some good humor. I recommend this book to anyone looking to read something that’s a little different, even for fiction.

Everlost: Skinjacker Trilogy #1 (Aug. 22, 2006) by Neal Shusterman.

After a car accident, previous strangers Nick and Allie are on their way to “the light” when they collide with each other and veer off course to Everlost. Call it what you will, be it purgatory or an in-between world, but Everlost is a “shadow of the living world, filled with all the things and places that no longer exist.” In this limbo realm, Allie and Nick still encounter dangers, including the McGill, who’s the monster of all monsters in this book. It is also in this limbo realm that Allie discovers she’s a Skinjacker and that she really can’t stand Mary “Queen of Snots” Hightower, self-professed know-it-all of Everlost and its inhabitants, the Afterlights. Allie and Nick are Afterlight Greensouls (new arrivals).

            This book is an imaginative and highly quirky-in-an-interesting-way read. The two books that round out the trilogy are: “Everwild” (Nov. 10, 2009) and “Everfound” (May 3, 2011). Death can be such tricky subject matter, but Shusterman adroitly handles it in a very vivid, unique way with splashes of humor. I recommend this to anyone, but especially to reluctant male readers.

I Am Number Four (Aug. 3, 2010) by Pittacus Lore.

John Smith is an alien on Earth, but he looks like us, and he talks like us. He is one of nine Garde who escaped from their home planet of Lorien, along with their Cêpan, and scattered here. But the first three have been found and killed by the enemy Mogadorians. John Smith is Number Four. Through his Legacies, he is learning more of the history of his home planet (including its destruction) and also coming into his supernatural powers. He and his Cêpan, Henri, must often be on the run, and John is tired of it. He is happy in his newest place in Ohio. He’s made a friend, Sam, and has a beautiful girlfriend, Sarah. But his desire to stay in Ohio leads the Mogadorians to him and puts them all in danger. Can they all make it out alive? Or is Four’s time up?

            This is a very good read if you like sci-fi/fantasy, action and some suspense. There is a small bit of teen love, but nothing to bog down the excitement of the story. There is minimal foul language, but it shouldn’t stop anyone from reading this book. It contains good action. The next two books in the series are also available: “The Power of Six” (Aug. 23, 2011) and “The Rise of Nine” (Aug. 21, 2012).

Incarceron (Jan. 26, 2010) by Catherine Fisher.

Sapphique (Dec. 28, 2010) by Catherine Fisher.

Incarceron is a prison, but it’s not just any prison housing inmates. This prison is alive. It constantly watches the activities of those who dwell within. Finn is one of those trapped in Incarceron. He cannot remember his childhood, but he believes the tales of Sapphique, about the only prisoner ever to escape Incarceron to the Outside, and he’s determined to be the second with the help of a crystal key and Claudia Arlexa. Claudia is the daughter of Incarceron’s Warden and resides on the Outside, but she wants Finn’s help, too, as she is desperate to escape an arranged marriage to Caspar, the Crown Prince of the Realm. She doesn’t like him at all.

            In Sapphique, Finn has escaped to the Outside and is with Claudia, but he worries of the friends that are still trapped in Incarceron. The Outside is not at all what he expected. Though harsh and violent, the prison was technologically advanced. Outside, where the people are adhering to Protocol, technology is not allowed to be used by the general populace, now including him. Most are poor. The Outside feels like another kind of prison to Finn. Inside, his friends are trying to find a way out on their own, but to do so they are in search of a magical glove, which legend says Sapphique used to get out. But they’ll have to fight Incarceron, because the prison wants it, too. Can those on the Outside overthrow Queen Sia? How will it end for the people? And for Incarceron?

            These YA novels are both well-written and move quickly. Though the Outside looks older than our time, it is a future world, a dystopian one. It is not intensely violent like “The Hunger Games,” but it is set in a negative, anti-utopian world. Despite both books running between points of view in Incarceron and on the Outside, I never felt lost, for Fisher lays out the story and the characters quite well. It is complex. Read this if you enjoy science fiction, fantasy and/or dystopias and begin with “Incarceron.”

Inheritance (Nov. 8, 2011) by Christopher Paolini.

At 849 pages, this concluding book in the “Inheritance Cycle” reaches epic length. This saga follows Eragon Shadeslayer, a Dragon Rider, and Saphira Bjartskular, his dragon. They aim to conquer Galbatorix’s fearsome reign and restore peace to their homeland of Alagaësia. Already the duo have felt the triumph of battles won and endured the agony of painful losses, but they are not done yet. There are more battles to fight, including the finale with Galbatorix. Eragon will also have to make a great decision at the end. How will he fare in battle? What will he choose in the end? The story is told from multiple viewpoints: Eragon, Roran (his cousin), Nasuada (leader of the Varden) and, on occasion, even Saphira.

            If you’ve kept up with this saga over the years, I would enjoy hearing your comments on what you thought of the conclusion. My feelings were mixed. On the one hand, there were things resolved that I would expect to be, but the ending wasn’t as satisfactory as I would have expected at so many pages. Still, I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of fantasy and/or a fan of authors like Tolkien, as the world of which Paolini writes is reminiscent of other worlds and strange languages, elves and dwarves. Should you be considering reading this saga, prepare for the long haul, as you will need to start with book one if you don’t want to be lost in the land of Alagaësia or within all the characters.

Legend (Nov. 29, 2011) by Marie Lu.

Both fifteen years old, June Iparis and “Day” are from opposite sides of the track. And the track is the western coast of what used to be the United States and is now called the Republic. It is at war with its neighbor, known as the Colonies. June is a prodigy of intellectual and military grade. She is being groomed for success as she and her brother, Metias, were born into an elite family. Day was born in the slums of the Republic’s Lake Sector, and he is already a wanted criminal. Mostly his acts look to be anti-war-effort. Then he’s accused of killing Metias. June wants her revenge and will track him down, but Day just wants to save his family. The two will discover shocking truths about their Republic and the twisted way it goes about keeping its secrets.

            Told from the viewpoints of June and Day, Lu gives them each a distinctive voice with layers to their characters. She creates visual imagery in the story that plants rich pictures in the minds of the readers. The purported first book in a trilogy, this is a YA dystopian novel to pick up if you read “The Hunger Games.” I am looking forward to the next installments.

The Scorpio Races (Oct. 18, 2011) by Maggie Stiefvater.

Capaill uisce. This term refers to the water horses that come out of the sea and which residents (and a few brave outsiders) on Thisby Island catch and train to race in the annual Scorpio Races. They also hope to not die. These horses aren’t sweet little water sprites or a pet. No. These horses are drawn to the salty sea. And flesh. And drowning that flesh so they can consume it. Nice picture, huh? But the book is also a story about Sean Kendrick and Kate “Puck” Connolly. Sean is the brooding returning champion, while Puck is the first female registrant and a very determined young woman. Sean has his reasons for being who he is, and Puck just wants to save her family’s farm and keep her siblings together.

            This YA book is captivating. Exhilarating. A little bit fearsome (no capall uisce for me - *shudder*). This is the first book I’ve read by Stiefvater, though I know she is renowned for her “Shiver” trilogy. Subtle romance only, so guys shouldn’t feel the need to stay away from this book. There’s one particularly tough scene involving a capall uisce. For sure, this read isn’t for the greatly tenderhearted. But for those who like any of the following – Celtic myths, a story well-imagined, strong visual descriptions – and can stomach reading some violence, you may become a fan of Stiefvater, too.

The Serpent’s Shadow (May 1, 2012) by Rick Riordan.

In the final book of The Kane Chronicles, Carter and Sadie Kane are back to [hopefully] send Apophis, the Chaos snake, deep into the Duat where he belongs and restore Ma’at – order – to the world. As with the other two books, this one is alternately told by Carter and Sadie. Khufu is around, and Walt’s fate will come to pass. A crazy-pathological-liar-ghost-magician named Setne has entered the picture to offer “help,” and many others are in this book helping or hindering the beat-Apophis effort, both human and Egyptian god alike, familiar and maybe not so much.

            Rick Riordan’s books have been my replacement reads for Harry Potter (not that it can ever truly be replaced). Like Harry Potter, they are geared toward the same age group, but read enormously well at any age. They are fun and witty, and each novel takes you on an exhilarating adventure that’s filled with tough choices, tricky business, danger and the sort of timid attraction that comes in the oh-you-don’t-actually-have-cooties-and-are-rather-cute stage. As with his other books I’ve read, this one is vivid and tremendously imaginative. This is a must-read if you haven’t already introduced yourself to Riordan yet, but start with the first book (called “The Red Pyramid”). Or, if you’re more familiar with Greek mythology, begin with his Percy Jackson & the Olympians series.