Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Synopsis:
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
(Synopsis take from Goodreads.)

My Thoughts:
I read 194 books last year. Out of all of those books, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon was definitely my favorite. I read it when I was in the hospital. I ended up reading it in a little under two hours, even with all of the usual hospital interruptions, because I couldn't put it down.

Typically I'm not a big fan of young adult contemporary novels. However, this book had a little bit of everything that adds up to make a contemporary novel good. It tugged at the heartstrings, and made me cry several times. It had a little bit of humor that had me cracking up laughing. Towards the end of the book, there was some suspense mixed in that had me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea that the big plot twist was going to turn out the way it did, although my best friend guessed correctly. I don't even know where to begin with the romance. It was unconventional, which I greatly enjoyed. I didn't even think it was going to happen because of all the difficulties in the way, but it did. It made me want to stand up and cheer and root for the main characters even more than I already was. 

Speaking of main characters, Maddie is an inspiration to women everywhere. Heck, not just women, but to everyone fighting their own battles, especially illness. Maddie has been dealt a terrible lot in life. If I was her, I probably would have crawled under the covers and given up a long time ago. However, not only does she not let her illness get her down, she finds various ways to overcome it and be happy.


Everything, Everything was a wonderful YA contemporary from debut author Nicola Yoon. I know this was her first book, but she has been added to my list of authors to auto-buy. The book is an inspiration to people everywhere, regardless of sex or age. I think it should be required reading in high schools as it teaches about overcoming adversity. 

I give Everything, Everything: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.nicolayoon.com/#intro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicolaYoon
Tumblr: http://nicolayoon.tumblr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolayoon/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7353006.Nicola_Yoon

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

2016 Bookish Resolutions

2015 seemed to go by quickly. I can't believe it's 2016 already. 2015 was a great reading year for me. I read a lot of wonderful books, and some books that weren't so wonderful as well. I hope 2016 is a great reading year for me as well. To make that happen, I have created some bookish resolutions that I am going to try to stick to throughout the year.

1. Write at least two posts per week on the blog.
One thing that disappointed me a lot in 2015 is that I really started slacking on blog stuff. I barely wrote one post per month, which is kind of embarrassing and shameful. This year, I hope to write at least two posts a week. Out of those two posts, I want one to be a book review, and one to be a bookish feature.

2. Read more review books.
In 2015, I read 194 books, which isn't too bad with everything I had going on in the year. However, out of those, only 34 were review books, which makes me feel like a slacker compared to how many books I have on my bookshelf, and on my Kindle that need reviewed. This year, I hope to have the majority of the books that I read be review books.

3. Read at least 100 books for my Goodreads challenge.
I know, 100 books doesn't sound like a lot to some people. However, I'm going to be starting college full time, and going most of the year. Last year, when I completed my first semester, I started stressing myself out because I couldn't keep up with college and my 200 book reading challenge. I really don't want to go through that stress again this year, so I set a goal that is light, and definitely obtainable.

4. Not buy as many books.
Typically, between Kindle books, and physical books, I usually buy close to 200 books a year. I know, that sounds crazy, but I love going to library book sales throughout the year and buying as many books as I want because it's so cheap. Also, I get a lot of free Kindle books. However, I'm realizing that even though I love buying all of those books, I'm never going to be able to read all of them if I keep up at that pace. So, I want to buy the least amount of books possible that I can. This means avoiding library book sales for the most part.

5. I want to finish some series.
I have so many series that I have started and never finished that I have lost count. I'm hoping to go through my Goodreads list, and finish some of those in 2016. There are a few heftier series that immediately come to mind, such as A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, and Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan.


These are just a few of my bookish resolutions, but they are the most important to me. I'm curious, do you have any bookish resolutions? If so, what are they? Please leave a comment and let me know. I hope everyone has a great new year, and is able to read a lot of books!

Fire by William Esmont

Synopsis:
No one knows what caused the dead to rise. No one knows what caused them to attack the living. Fighting for their lives, scattered survivors find the attempted cure to be almost worse than the disease. In the twilight of a shattered civilization, the fate of humankind rests upon the actions of a handful of war-weary survivors. Driven to a scorched corner of the former United States, they alone hold the key to a global reawakening. Or the final epitaph for a dead planet.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads.)

My Thoughts:
I have had Fire for quite a few years now. Recently, I've been extremely sick, which has given me some extra time to read a lot of my older books in my tbr pile. After reading Fire, I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I loved it. In fact, I'm writing this review right after finishing Fire so I can read the second book in the series, Air, immediately.

If you follow me on any social media site, you know I am slightly obsessed with zombies. I've read a lot of zombie books, and watched quite a few zombie themed tv shows and movies. I think that Fire is one of the better zombie books that I have read. In my opinion, it is an accurate description o what would actually happen in a zombie apocalypse. The one thing I loved that William Esmont did is that not only can a zombie infect a person by biting them, but zombie blood is also infectious. That's something that doesn't happen in a lot of zombie stories, but I feel like it would happen in real life.

Esmont also creates some very complex characters that you just want to root for (or love to hate in one particular character's case). Even though there are several different points of view, all of the characters come together in a way that is brilliant. Also, one of the characters has a particularly nasty past, but once the zombie apocalypse happens, that doesn't matter anymore. I believe that's how it should be. My favorite character is Megan. She's been through hell and back, but she doesn't let it get to her. I can't wait to see what she does in the future.

I loved Fire by William Esmont. It's one of my favorite zombie books that I've read this year. I think that Esmont has a great future ahead of him writing zombie/survival novels. I can't wait to see where he takes the story next. I recommend this series for fans who like The Walking Dead, with more realism. I also recommend it for people who like survival stories.

I give Fire: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.williamesmont.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamesmont
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WilliamEsmont
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+WilliamEsmont/posts
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WilliamEsmontBooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4090088.William_Esmont

I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Seth's review of American Science Fiction: Five Classic Novels 1956-1958 by Various Authors

Synopsis:
This second of two volumes surveying the best science fiction novels of the 1950s presents works by five of the field’s most admired and influential practitioners. In Robert A. Heinlein’s Double Star (1956), an actor forced to impersonate a twenty-second-century political leader intent on forging bonds between Earthlings and Martians learns hard lessons about the nature of power. Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination (1956), which Neil Gaiman has called “the perfect cyberpunk novel,” is a classic revenge tale set in a nightmarish future dominated by corporations.

In James Blish’s A Case of Conscience (1958), space voyagers on the remote planet Lithia find themselves challenged by the values of an alien civilization. Algis Budrys’s Who? (1958) unleashes Cold War anxieties about technology and human identity with its story of a scientist rebuilt beyond recognition after a devastating accident. Set in “the Place,” a bar and bordello in the backwater of time’s stream, Fritz Leiber’s The Big Time (1958) explores the implications of the “Change War,” an endless cosmic struggle in which shadowy antagonists dart in and out of history in a contest to control destiny.

The range of styles—by turns adventurous, satiric, incisive—is as varied as the themes addressed by these novels, all now acknowledged as American classics. Together they mark an explosively entertaining era in modern fiction.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads.)

Seth's Thoughts:
While not an elegant title for a book, it is quite accurate. Once you crack it open you find quite a few stories in it. The running time on this book if you are going to read it from cover to cover is quite long. You’re looking at a little over 20 hours of reading, possibly more.

The first story in this collection is Double Star by Robert Heinlein. It follows the life of a has been actor who takes on a role of a lifetime. Quite literally it seems. While slow paced, it has a knack of keeping you interested to find out what happens to ‘The Great Lorenzo’. Overall, the story seems quite credible for science fiction. It keeps away from anything too exotic like light speed travel and all the other staples of sci-fi stories like giant star ships etc. The only thing unrealistic about it is the presence if aliens on Mars, but as this was something written back in the 50’s it’s to be expected seeing as how practically all planets in the solar system were perceived as being inhabited. I give this story in the collection a 4/5.
The second story in this collection is The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. This covers an alternate history where sometime after man began to colonize other planets in the solar system and the asteroid belt, they discovered how to teleport (jaunt). This has a huge impact on how the world economy works. Cities spring up in unlikely places. Roads are left in disrepair. Telepathy becomes a thing with some people as well. This story focuses on the life of Gully Foyle who is left to die in space only to eventually track down and get his vengeance on those who left him to die. This story is much faster paced than the last one, which was a nice respite. I give this one as well a 4/5.

The third story in this collection is A Case of Conscience by James Blish. This one follows the story of three men contacting an alien race for man for the first time. They aren’t nearly as advanced as man is in some aspects of technology because the planet they evolved on didn’t have enough heavy metals to do much with. But they had managed to develop flight with what was available to them. The three men observe and collect information on the aliens up until they have to leave. Upon leaving they are gifted with one of the alien young to take back to Earth with them. While I enjoyed this story somewhat, it left me wanting more from it I think. I can’t explain what. Anyways, I give this one a 3.5/5.

The fourth story in this collection is WHO? By Algis Budrys. This one follows a cold war scenario with more technology than was available in our history. A man who was thought to have been dead was brought back from Russia, but his identity can’t be confirmed because all his identifying characteristics have been replaced by mechanical items. No teeth, no fingerprints, even his eyes have been replaced. As such, he is under suspicion for the whole rest of his life on whether he is an American or in reality a Russian spy. I also give this one a 3.5/5.

The last story in this long winded collection is The Big Time by Fritz Leiber. It covers something called the Change War. It follows an entertainer who is stuck outside of space and time along with several others. They ostensibly ‘entertain’ time travelers who combat different scenarios in history where things could have gone horribly wrong. To be honest, I thought it was a quite boring story and was just glad to be done with this collection. I give this one a 2/5.

Seth gives American Science Fiction 1956-1958: 3.5/5.

Want to know where to buy this book?

• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159853159X/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=159853159X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
• Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-science-fiction-gary-k-wolfe/1111399782?ean=9781598531596&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Neither Seth nor I were compensated in any way for this review.

The Last Good Knight: Sore Spots by Tiffany Reisz

Synopsis:
With a potential stalker on the loose, Kingsley hires Lance as Nora's bodyguard, but stipulates no sex while he's on duty. Frustrated by the ex-SEAL's noble chivalry, Nora is driven to seek release with the one man she's trying to forget….
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads.)

My Thoughts:
When I read part one of The Last Good Knight, Scars and Stripes, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. The second part of the series went up on NetGalley shortly afterwards, and I decided to give the series one more shot to see where the story went. I'm glad I did. I liked Sore Spots so much better than Scars and Stripes.

Sore Spots picks up exactly where Scars and Stripes left off. The first book in the series was a lot of plot setup, whereas with Sore Spots, the reader gets to see the plot develop and get to know the characters a little better. I'm really starting to like Nora. Her take no crap from anyone attitude makes her incredibly badass. I also enjoy Lance and the chemistry between them that just sizzles off of the page. Soren is still a mystery to me. I'm curious to know more about him as I find his mystery appealing. Oh well, I guess that's what I get for not reading the original series first.

I will be continuing The Last Good Knight series as soon as I possibly can. Tiffany Reisz didn't have me hooked after the first book, but she definitely does now. I can't wait to see what happens with the Lance/Nora/Soren love triangle. Also, I'm interested in hearing more about Nora's clientele.

I give Sore Spots: 4/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.tiffanyreisz.com/about/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleredridingcrop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tiffanyreisz
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/tiffanyreisz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4480131.Tiffany_Reisz

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Seth's review of Atlas 1-3 by Isaac Hooke

Synopsis for Atlas:
Rade Galaal enrolls in the hardest military training known to man to become a member of the MOTHs, the most elite fighting unit in the galaxy. MOTHs are tacticians, corpsmen, snipers, astronauts and commandos rolled into one. They also happen to pilot the atomic-powered ATLAS mechs, specialized military hardware that brings new meaning to the phrase "one-man-army." 

When Special Warfare Command orders MOTH Team Seven on a covert operation beyond the furthest reaches of explored space, Rade realizes he's signed up for more than he bargained for...

Synopsis for Atlas 2:
The desperate battle on far-flung Geronimo may have ended in a qualified victory for the elite MOTH soldiers in their devastating, atomic-powered ATLAS mechs…but the cost was a massive one, paid in blood. Rade Galaal, graduate of the toughest military training in the universe, barely survived the terrifying mission in deep space that claimed the lives of the two people he couldn’t afford to lose: a comrade who was more than a brother, and someone who was his whole world.

Lost, broken, and questioning his place as a MOTH and as a man, Rade faces a new crisis when an enemy force—a terrifyingly familiar one—threatens the future of humanity itself. Entering human territory from the depths of uncharted space, this massive alien vessel wears the face of death.

Once the nightmarish invader begins threatening total annihilation, can Rade and his team hope to prevail…or even survive?

Synopsis for Atlas 3:
The ATLAS mechanized battle suits are the pinnacle of military technology, boasting awesome destructive power—but what is behind the armor is only human. Rade Galaal, elite soldier and ATLAS operator, has been tested—and broken—by savage battles and devastating losses. Now, an old enemy poses a new threat.



The vile insectile aliens that once threatened Earth have regrouped to engineer a new apocalyptic assault on mankind, and the ATLAS mechs are called to defend the very survival of the human race.



On the desolate, far-flung moons of Tau Ceti II, there will come a reckoning. Earth’s adversaries are legion, and the planet’s soldiers—for all of their rigorous training and amazing ordnance—are only flesh and blood. But they possess a defiant will to survive. Will Rade find the strength to reforge his shattered spirit and defeat the alien onslaught before all is lost?
(All of the synopsis were taken from Goodreads).

Seth's thoughts on the series as a whole:
Hello again one and all. I have once again read a book for my lovely wife, and as such I am happy to give a review for said book. The one in question for today is a series rather than a single book. It is the Atlas series by Isaac Hooke. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this series. I’m pretty sure it was the reason I didn’t sleep for several days in a row. The story starts out small, following Rade, a Dissuader who finds himself quickly down on his luck. Having had enough of his poor lifestyle, he decides to make a go for a new life in America. So, this story seems typical enough right? Small town dude from a south of the border city decides to move to America for a better life right? Well, it’s not as simple as that. America has pretty much turned into a wet dream thought up by Donald Trump. Any non-native born people seeking citizenship have to serve time in the military to gain citizenship, and even then they get treated like crap by most people outside of the military.

Oh, I should probably mention right about now that this series is set in the future. I can’t recall if an exact date is given or not, but humanity has advanced enough that we as a whole have become space faring. We can also use gates, a la Cowboy Bebop, to travel vast distances. So, the human race has spread to the stars. What does this have to do with Rade? Well, he gets to choose which branch he would like to serve. He just so happens to pick the hardest branch available. The Moths.

What are the Moths? Imagine Navy Seals, but Navy Seals that have been concentrated to the levels of badassdom that would happen if Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee were able to have children, and then those children were strapped into giant mechanical suits of armor. That, in short is what a Moth is.

I could go on and on about the story and all that, but you probably want to know: is it worth the read? The simple answer to this question is yes. The long answer is composed of several questions. Do you like action? Do you like sci-fi? Do you like space operas? Do you like reading stories about how underdogs struggle and eventually redeem themselves in the eyes of themselves? If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you will enjoy reading this series.

Seth gives the Atlas series: 4.5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://isaachooke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorisaachooke
Twitter: http://twitter.com/isaachooke
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/isaachooke/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/isaachooke
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/isaac-hooke/51/a16/75
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+IsaacHookeAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6876662.Isaac_Hooke

I received these books from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Neither Seth nor I were compensated in any way for this review.

Scars and Stripes by Tiffany Reisz

Synopsis:
The Last Good Knight: An Original Sinners novella told in five parts.

Part I: Scars and Stripes

It's lust at first sight when Mistress Nora encounters a sexy newcomer to The 8th Circle. She's happy for the distraction, since she left her lover, Søren, but her session with Lance is cut short when her boss, Kingsley Edge, reveals they're all in danger….
(Synopsis from Goodreads.)

My Thoughts:
I've always wanted to read a Tiffany Reisz book. When I saw that this was a prequel to her Originals series, and that it was on NetGalley, I decided to give it a try. The beginning was extremely confusing for me, but by the end of the book, I started to enjoy it.

Even though this is a prequel, I think I should have read the main series first. During the beginning, I was so confused. I had no idea who the characters I was reading about were, or what the heck was going on. I think if I had read the main series, I would have known these things and caught on to references that I probably missed. 

After I figured out what was going on, I enjoyed the characters. My favorite character was Lance. I hope he continues to show up in the prequels. I will be upset if he was just a one time thing. It was also interesting meeting Siren. Everybody who has read this series talks about how amazing and swoon-worthy he is, but so far I am not impressed

All in all, I really did enjoy the book. I'm interested to read the next prequel in the series and figure out what happened after that crazy cliffhanger. I recommend this for people who have read the original series, and want a bit more of Nora in their lives.

I give Scars and Stripes: 3.5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.tiffanyreisz.com/about/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleredridingcrop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tiffanyreisz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4480131.Tiffany_Reisz

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.