Anxiously Awaiting...Rebel Heart!!

Rebel Heart

by Moira Young

Dustlands, book two

Publication date: Oct. 30, 2012

Synopsis:

The Tonton have been defeated. Lugh has been rescued.
The heartstone has brought Saba and Jack together.
Now, Saba and her family head west to meet him and start a new life. All should be well.
But shadows of the dead are stalking Saba.
And another kind of shadow is creeping over the dustlands.
Then a messenger shows up.
With news of Jack.



I *CANNOT* wait!!

Blood Red Road

Blood Red Road

by Moira Young

Dustlands, book one

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when four cloaked horsemen capture Lugh, Saba's world is shattered, and she embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the outside world, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba’s unrelenting search for Lugh stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. (description from Amazon.com)

Are you feeling depressed and deprived after finishing The Hunger Games trilogy?  Looking for another phenomenal read with a strong female protagonist? Look no further.  It's here.

I loved Saba's voice. Very much like Katniss, she's tough, even as she has no desire to be... she does everything for the benefit of her twin and only comes later to realize how much her journey has shaped her into her own strong, independent person.  She can come across as callous at times, but really cannot help but help the others around her. 

I loved the written style of this book. It reads like a movie.  The prose is sparse and thus, even more compelling.  The author purposely refrains from using quotation marks around the speech, indicating yet a further breakdown of society, but also forcing the reader to truly read every word on the page.  

The world is well-built, with realistic issues, and a cool futuristic cowboy vibe.  I cannot wait to dive in again in book two!! Rebel Heart should be coming out this October.

Full disclosure: Book won from Coffee & Cliffhangers - THANK YOU!!!!!

Betrayal

Betrayal

by Lee Nichols

Haunting Emma, book two

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos, but terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennett. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennett can handle.

Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school with fellow ghostkeeper, Natalie. When a new team of ghostkeepers arrive-one a snarky teen boy, the other a British scholar-Emma finds solace in training for the battle against Neos. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by an unknown force. One they thought was good. (description taken from Amazon.com)

I am officially hooked on this series. I couldn't put the first one down...just finished book two while laying sick in bed...I should have been sleeping! I really had to find out what happened to Emma, though!

*Potential spoilers ahead*

I'm going to assume that you've read book one from here on out, okay? If you haven't...well skim this part! Anyway...Neos is one creepy bad guy. He literally gives me the chills. I was wholeheartedly rooting for Emma all the way through this book as she tries to learn to weild her powers better so that she can take him out.

It broke my heart a couple of times when Neos influenced those close to Emma into betraying her. Throughout the book, I, like Emma, never really knew who she could trust. Nichols takes the poor girl through some wicked twists and turns. In the end, though, Emma realizes that everyone is standing with her and that she is stronger than her predecessors precisely because she has friends and family at her side.

I am fascinated and torn by her relationship with Bennett. Their unresolved issues are a huge draw for me...I can't wait to find out info on the next book of the series. I have to see what's going to happen. Though I like Bennett and feel like he really does love Emma, I have this sinking feeling in my stomach sometimes that he's really not good for her.... I need to read more!!!

*Spoilers end*

I wholeheartedly recommend this series to readers looking for romance, mystery, action, thrilling chills, plot twists, loyal friendships...well it goes on and on...Seriously, check it out!! You definitely need to start with the first book, Deception, though.

Full disclosure: ARC received as part of blog tour through Book It Forward ARC Tours