Review: Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Title: Gemina
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #2
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 18 , 2016
Pages: 659
Rating:

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! I seriously have no freaking clue which book I loved better, ILLUMINAE or GEMINA! They both were equally AMAZING! And I don't think I have ever thought that about a first and second book in a a YA Series. To be so speechless beyond believe. To read a book that really stuns and wow's you! To not be able to put the book down. I mean, my god. HOLY FUCK, THIS BOOK! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! As you know from Illuminae, we still have that great format I love so much. GEMINA is told in emails, documents, military files, ims, pictures and more. And it's one of the things I absolutely love about this trilogy.

GEMINA focuses on the Hemidall Jump Station where the Hypatia is trying to get to spread word about the Kerenza invasion. But Hemidall is having their own problems as a elite BeiTech strike team invades Hemidall to take control and killing people off. And we have Hannah Donnelly, the Captain's daughter and Nik Malikov, member of a crime family trying to save Hemidall and help Hypatia from BeiTech! Now when I heard the book would be centered on a different cast of character I was slightly disappointed. So I didn't read this right after Illuminae, I put it off for some time. I worried over nothing. The characters were just as amazing as the ones in Illuminae!

Hannah and Nik! At the beginning Hannah had a boyfriend and Nik was her drug dealer. And Nik was obviously so into Hannah. And she off as a spoiler rich girl. But once the story moved along I came to like them. I'm not going to say I liked them more that Kady and Ezra, but I really did enjoy them. But once the BeiTech strike team invades Hemidall, damn! these two definitely how bad-ass they were. Especially Hannah! Behind all gorgeous face is a warrior!

Of course, I have to have a SPOILER SECTION, so BEWARE if you haven't read the book and don't blame me if you spoiled yourself. I did WARN YOU. But I just have to talk about this shit! Charles Donnelly. My heart broke when he died. All I could think about was Hannah. And he died so horribly. My god. And obviously Hannah kicking the shit out of these BeiTech team members. You go, girl! And when Hannah stabs Nightingale in the eye and wrote in lipstick on the floor: WHO'S NEXT? COME PLAY! HD XOXO Oh, my god! You gotta love this girl!

Jackson Merrick. Hannah's BFF. Secret Double Agent. I knew there was something up with him when he was telling her to turn herself in the BeiTech strike team so they won't kill anymore or some shit. That was just bizarre. But to find out he was the one who betrayed everyone. He is the reason why BeiTech got on Hemidall. Oh, my god! PURE RAGE! And the part later were he is talking to her that she chose Nik and not him?! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? You fucking betrayed her? Her fucking dad id dead because of you! And after all that she's suppose to choose you!? ARE YOU FOR REAL? In the end he does right by Hannah and stays behind to sacrifice himself she Hannah, Nik and Ella (Nik's cousin) can escape.

I prayed through this whole book that Isaac Grant made it out alive. Thank god he did. I couldn't take it if Kady lost both her mom and her dad. Thank you for not killing him! And the different universe thing. Like what? So much shit happening in this book! And before I forget NOT ENOUGH AIDAN! Please let there be more Aidan in the final book! I NEED HIM IN MY LIFE! And then the ending! Can somebody say cliffhanger? Thank god Obsidio is already out! We are now at the END OF THE SPOILER SECTION.


But DAMN! I got so freaking excited when I read such a fantastic book that I go kinda crazy for a little bit! GEMINA definitely had me engaged. It's like these books read like an actual movie and you're there and you're seeing everything unfold. And The Illuminae Files would be a FUCKING AMAZING movie! All I can say is what I've been saying for this whole review already, it was absolutely amazing and I was blown alway and I need to leave you and go reads OBSIDIO ASAP!

read more

Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 20 , 2015
Pages: 602
Rating:

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

HOLY FUCK, THIS BOOK! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! I freaking loved ILLUMINAE to death! To be honest, this book was not on my radar at all, probably because I was taking a break from YA for the last few years. But I noticed this book all over #booktube and #bookstagram and seen how highly rated it was on Goodreads that I had to take a chance on it. Now the fact that it was a sci fi book made me want to pass it by because sci fi is one of my least favorite genres. I just find them so boring. But like I said, I just had to take a chance on this book and I am glad that I did!

I knew very little going into ILLUMINAE and I'm glad I knew very little. The only thing I new was a planet was invaded and destroyed and remaining survivors flee on these ships and those who destroy the planet are on hot pursuit to kill the remaining survivors. Sounds like a wicked awesome plot, right? But to add to that awesomeness this whole book is told in emails, documents, military files, ims, interviews and more.

Now I have never read a book in such a format like this, I'm sure lots of readers haven't, but I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about it at first. Was it going to be easy to understand everything going on? Was I going to like it? The way this book was written is the best damn thing they could'be done, I think I enjoyed this book 100X more than if it was written in the traditional way! I was freaking hooked on the first page and could not freaking stop! I remember just having to stop, because I have to sleep, right? But I would keep thinking about this damn book everytime I wasn't reading it! It was THAT good!

But let's get into it! Our main duo, it Kady and Ezra, who just broke up before chaos erupted on their planet and they are trying to flee and survive. They both up on different ships. Kady ends up on the Hypatia and Ezra ends up on the Alexander-78V while the Lincoln (aka. the bad guys) are hot on their trails to finish off the remaining survivors! But even though Kady and Ezra are both on different ships, they are still in contact with each other via emails/im's!

Now I loved Kady and Ezra, from the beginning to the ending. Both of them just trying to stay alive and get back to each other. Now besides this book being so amazing, it's also horrifyingly violent! Let's just say if you're squeamish, turn around please! I swear at some parts I wanted to close my eyes and hold my mommy, but wait, I'm reading a book, not watching a movie. lolz! I heard myself screaming! and saying EEWW quite a lot. But the horrifying things make for such a good book!

And I have to talk about HIM. I have to! If you've read the book, you know damn well who I'm referring to. I have a crush! I have a crush on a crazy psychotic insane computer. AIDAN. I swear he took the show away from Kady and Ezra for a while there. I immensely enjoyed his mind and his talks with Kady and everything about him. PERFECT.

Of course, I have to have a SPOILER SECTION, so BEWARE if you haven't read the book and don't blame me if you spoiled yourself. I did WARN YOU. But I just have to talk about this shit! James McNulty! Why? Did he have to die? I loved the way he went though and that he had a choice. He made that video and I loved that we got to hear his final words. Byron Zhang! Why? At least you saved Kady from yourself! But I loved you too!

David Torrence. Why? Wait! You're asshole self deserved to die. And Aidan adds the perfect touch to his death, playing Mozart. If this was a movie, I want to see this scene the most. And Aidan, I cannot believe you! Pretending to be Ezra to Katy to the Alexander! Oh.my.god. I'm sorry, but I didn't see that! I did a doubletake. What? I prayed Aidan was lying and Ezra was not dead. Low behold, I get to the ending and scream, FUCK YES!

But OMG. These last 100 pages, I was freaking balling my eyes out crying! I mean Kady and Aidan's last words to each other. THE FEELS! And I was SCREAMING, 'someone please find Kady before she dies'. Thank god, my prays were answered! And, Ezra's mom?! Oh.my.god. I thought I was shocked beyond believe enough already. What.the.hell. That's it! I NEED the next book now! We are now at the END OF THE SPOILER SECTION.

But DAMN. This book took me so many places. When I first picked up this book, I didn't expect to love ILLUMINAE this damn much. This book horrified me to no ends, it gave me so many feels! And made me weep for these characters, characters that you are only getting their story through these emails and documents. That is saying something! Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, Goddess and God of Science Fiction YA! I bow down to you!

read more

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe, #2
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 386
Rating:

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. 
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. 

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

A MILLION SUNS was quite an interesting sequel to the first book in the trilogy, Across the Universe. I liked it and I didn't like it and a lot of it had to do with the characters! I mean the characters made me go bonkers and I had an urge to throw the book across the room in annoyance. But overall, it was an amazing sequel!

Of course I couldn't put the book down because so much happened in this book that I couldn't afford to miss a minute of what was going on. Elder is now, The Eldest, but he wants to keep going by Elder. And he is goal to to be the leader that Godspeed needs. He wants the ship to land and trying very hard to be a leader everyone of the ship can be proud of, but everything gets chaotic on the ship very quickly, especially since everyone is off of Phydus.

Anyway everyone refuses to work and is disobeying all of the rules and causing riots and I feel really bad for Elder because everything is turning out not so good for him. In the meantime, some murders have taken place with a note left at the scene, "Follow the Leader", which is really bad for Elder. Orion left some clues for Amy about this big secret he found about the status of the new planet/Godspeed!

So I thought A MILLION SUNS was really good up to the point where Amy was getting way to impatient about having her parent's unfrozen every second she hears somewhat good news about Godspeed. At the end of A MILLION SUNS Amy wouldn't look at things rationally, but took things way too personally. She didn't agree with what Elder decided at the end and I'm sorry to say this but she was seriously acting like a spoiled little brat.

I had some problems with A MILLION SUNS as you can tell, but it was still pretty and good and I am looking forward to the third book and can't wait to see what happens.

read more

Review: The Playful Prince by Michelle M. Pillow

Title: The Playful Prince
Author: Michelle M. Pillow
Series: Lord of the Var, #2
Publisher: New Concept's Publishing
Release Date: October 16, 2006
Pages: 204
Rating:

To play. Prince Quinn, royal Ambassador, isn't looking for a serious relationship. In fact, he's never even considered it. Hopping from lover to lover, he's content to enjoy himself, never taking anything but his work seriously. However, when Dr. Tori Elliot is sent to the palace to test for biological weapons, he can't seem to stay away from her. Or not to play. Tori Elliot has just finished her last assignment and is on her way to a much needed vacation.

But when the Human Intelligence Agency stops her ship and demands she heads up a team on some remote planet, she knows it in her best interest not to refuse. Ever serious, she knows she's there to do a job and no matter what, she's going to act like a professional. Meeting Prince Quinn, his body pressed against another woman in the palace halls, she knows he's not the man for her. Too bad he's the Ambassador and too sexy for his own good. Fighting her desire, Tori must try to do her job while not succumbing to the playful Var prince.

Tori struggled to keep a straight face. Oh, yes, the fearsome teddy bear. Watch out for the button eyes!

THE PLAYFUL PRINCE was such a fun book and the title really describes exactly how Prince Quinn is. Playful indeed! I found myself loving how Quinn couldn't stay away from the stubborn Doctor Tori Eliott. I am loving how these books are turning out, they are quite fun and enjoyable!

"They've sent me children. I asked for scientists and they gave me children.”

To me THE PLAYFUL PRINCE was just a fun and real quick read and also the dialogue was enjoyful and laugh out loud funny as well! There were just some scenes in this book I couldn't help crack a smile at, especially since the heroine is really stubborn and the hero won't stop, until he has her in his clutches! I just love books just like these kind.

“They say love is blind, but in your case I’m assuming it’s also deaf, dumb, and completely brain dead.”

I didn't dig the heroine, Dr. Tori Elliot in this book because she really pissed me off quite a bit. It took Prince Quinn giving Tori way too much attention and lots of seducing before Tori caved and slept with Quinn, and then it's like the end of the book and she still doesn't get with all the jealousy he has been showing, which he was jealous a lot and showed it a lot, that Quinn cared and loved her. I mean do we have to spell it out. I just don't like when the heroine is hard to get and really that slow.

“If you insist, Dr. Elliot,” Quinn whispered hotly, leaning forward to nip her earlobe. “What I do to this body of yours will strictly be professional.”

Prince Quinn was absolutely perfect in my eyes! I love that at the end of the book when they are finally together he lights the fireplace and throws Tori's clothes in the fire so she won't run away the next morning like she always did! Good way to make a woman stay in your bed, she won't run away in no clothes! THE PLAYFUL PRINCE was a cute book and I am really enjoying the series. I can't wait for the next book who is my favorite prince, Falke.

read more

Review: The Empress' New Clothes by Jaid Black

Title: The Empress' New Clothes
Author: Jaid Black
Series: Trek Mi Q'an, #1
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Release Date: November 17, 2006
Pages: 329
Rating:

Modern day Earth woman Kyra Summers is kidnapped and wed by a seven-foot tall, thickly muscled warrior claiming to be her Sacred Mate. Life on his home planet Tryston takes some getting used to, as the laws of the world cater to erotic hedonism and leave females at the sexual subjugation of the barbarians who claim them.

No one said love with an alien would come easily. Enjoy Kyra's spicy escapades as she adjusts to life and love in another dimension.

THE EMPRESS' NEW CLOTHES was an interesting and fun read for me. I love sci-fi erotica themes. Especially ones like this one where the hero is from a different world/planet and the heroine is his mate. I found myself quite enjoying the story a lot.

Kyra and her best friend, Ger are relaxing in a resort while the Emperor of Trek Mi Q'an, Zor finds out that his queen is the lovely, Kyra, so he goes and takes Kyra away to his planet. Kyra must learn and obey all of the customs of Zor's planet that are all very revealing and sexual, and so not normal from where she comes from.

“I’ll go to sleep. But first, I want to put some clothes on.” Zor grunted. His eyes remained shut. “You will always remain naked whilst alone in my presence, yet will I allow you the dress of Trystonni women whilst in the company of others.”

The truth of the matter is that I am just getting started in the erotica genre, so I haven't read a lot of erotica, but THE EMPRESS' NEW CLOTHES was one of the best reads I have read in a long time. I think what I loved about this book was the different customs of Zor's planet. There are a lot of sex scenes in this book so be warned! I didn't mind it, so much because I loved everything about this book and plus it's apart of the storyline as well because Zor's planet customs and everything sort of centers on the sex.

“I could never hate you.” Kyra shook her head. “Never.” “Ah nee’ka .” Zor kissed her cheek, then turned her face slightly to kiss the tip of her nose. “I do not deserve one so fine as you.”

This book was "laugh-out-loud" funny some of the time. I loved watching Kyra learning all of the customs and fitting in her role as queen and just doing stuff she never thought she would do because it is looked down upon on Earth by people. She gets to do what she wants and no feel ashamed of it. And I loved Zor! He was everything you loved in an Alpha hero! He was arrogant, jealous, hot-tempered and so worthy of your drooling all over him!

As I've said again and again, I loved THE EMPRESS' NEW CLOTHES and I will definitely be reading the other books in the Trek Mi Q'an Series. I am hoping I will like them as much as I did this book.

read more