Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster

Title: Human.4
Author: Mike A. Lancaster
ISBN: 9781606840993
Publisher: Egmont
Page #: 231
Source: My public library

Summary:
"Kyle Straker volunteered to be hypnotized at the annual community talent show, expecting the same old lame amateur acts. But when he wakes up, his world will never be the same. Televisions and computers no longer work, but a strange language streams across their screens. Everyone's behaving oddly. It's as if Kyle doesn't exist.

Is this nightmare a result of the hypnosis? Will Kyle wake up with a snap of fingers to roars of laughter? Or is this something much more sinister?

Narrated on a set of found cassette tapes at an unspecified point in the future, Human.4 is an absolutely chilling look at technology gone too far."
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First Lines:

"When Danny Birnie told us that he had hypnotized his sister we all thought he was mad. Or lying. Or both."
Page 3
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Review:

For some reason, I thought this book was going to be about robots or something. Don't ask me why. It was just something that popped into my head and didn't let go. But it wasn't... promise. In fact, it was a lot more than I expected.

This story is about four people who are hypnotized at a small talent show in their village. When they wake up, nothing is the same. Their families are different, their friends aren't interested, it seems like everyone is after them. Something happened while they were under hypnosis and they have no idea how to figure it out. All technology is down, so the four of them have to make their own conclusions... until they run into the boy who hypnotized them.

I really am going to try not to give away the ending. You only get glimpses of what might have happened to everyone until you get close to the end of the book. I don't know that I was shocked, but it definitely wasn't the ending I was expecting. But it was so much better than my brain had made it. Very unexpected and very thought provoking.

Can you imagine what you would do if everyone you knew acted like you weren't even there? If they all became a part of something you couldn't touch? I mean, we are talking everyone. Something about that really gives me the heebie-jeebies. Kyle has three other people to help him figure things out - luckily, one of those is a semi-friend of his. The other two are adults that he didn't know much about.

There's something very cool about the way this book was written. Each section is like a recorded side of a tape - something that was recorded after this story happened. There are notes along the story to define certain terms (like... golf. and other slang terms.) that make you realize the tapes are being listened to by "superior" seeming people. There are also notes that indicate that those people have studied the tapes in order to get a sense of what life was like in the past. It's a very cool way of telling a story - one that I think goes over really well in this book.

I will definitely be recommending this book to those are who are huge sci-fi fans. It fully fits the bill there. But I think other people who like the dystopian stuff might really get into this book as well. The book was super fast - I started it at lunchtime and finished a little after dinner (and no, I didn't read the whole time). Perhaps this book hypnotized me!

It's a great story and I think people will really fall in love with it. There's a lot to digest in the end and to think about our lives today. This is the author's first novel and I look forward to seeing what else he has in store for us!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog
Helen's Book Blog
The Book... Spot
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
Murdoch's Musings
Brooke Reviews
Luxury Reading

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

Title: Bite Club (Morganville Vampires #10)
Author: Rachel Caine
ISBN: 9780451233189
Publisher: New American Library
Page #: 337
Source: My public library

Summary:
"After learning that vampires populate Morganville - and surviving a number of adventures with her new night-dwelling friends - college student Claire Danvers has come to realize that for the most part, the undead just want to live their lives.

But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.

There's a new extreme sport being broadcast over the Internet: bare-knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against one another - or, worse, against humans. Tracking the out-of-town signal leads Claire - accompanied by a loyal group of friends and frenemies - to discover that what began as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville.

And if they want to survive, they'll have to do a lot more than fight..."
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First Lines:

"Looking back on it later, Claire thought she should have known trouble was coming. But in Morganville, anything could be trouble. Your college professor doesn't show for class? Probably got fanged by vampires."
Page 3
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Review:

Check reviews of the past books in the series (The first four were pre-blog):
Glass Houses; The Dead Girls' Dance; Midnight Alley; Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule
Carpe Corpus
Fade Out
Kiss of Death
Ghost Town

I am always leery of the covers on these books. There's something about them that is a little off-putting for me. But eventually I come to my senses and remember that I love the series. Then I'm good to go.

This tenth book (!!) in the series is about some of the local baddies creating a fight club for vamps and humans. You can imagine how that goes over. Not well. There seems to be a lot more raw emotion and bloody fighting in this book. That gives it a different feel from the other books. You also get a more in-depth look at Shane in this book. More about his life, how he views things, his damage, etc. It's nice to get another perspective a little bit.

I'm trying not to give away any spoilers, so sorry if this is a bit vague. There were a few surprises in the first couple of chapters. Namely, bringing back those characters I thought were gone. I also had forgotten how the end of the 9th book had left me in shock - it carries over and is explained more in this one.

You know, I always wonder what the author is going to come up with next. And I'm always surprised at the many story lines that are carried out in the series. I really enjoy that technology is being pulled in more and more - I mean, doesn't that seem like the logical thing to do? If you're living in a place where no one else knows it's run by vampires. You'd think info would get out there with all the tech at our disposal. Morganville has an answer for everything, though :).

Something occured to me while I was reading this book. I've been pretty involved in the series, but I just realized that this is one of the few vampire stories at the moment where the vamps are actually bad. One of my teens was complaining that vamps are all love interests now - instead of people being scared of them. Basically she thought the idea was ridiculous. I'm going to have to recommend this series to her, because the vamps are still the bad guys. Yes, there are a few lines blurred on that, but not without explanation. I think Caine does a great job showing the many sides to vamps - as in, they still have personalities and such. I guess that's a comment for the whole series, not just this book.

If you haven't picked up the first book in the series, I very much recommend that you do. They have recently republished the first four in two-book bound paperbacks. You should really get your hands on those. Especially if you're looking for a good vampire series that isn't too girly. I know I recommend them all the time to my teens.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Becky's Barmy Book Blog
Book Addict
Fictional Fantasy
Gone with the Words
All Things Urban Fantasy
Fresh Fiction
Paperback Dolls

Waiting on Wednesday (57)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Here's what I'm waiting on this week:

Soul Thief (Demon Trappers #2)
by Jana Oliver
To be released: August 30, 2011

Summary from Barnes & Noble:
"Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…"

Sorry for the really long summary. I absolutely loved the first book in this series (see review). It was written so well - and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book! I know it's going to be just as great. I can't wait to see what happens to Atlanta. :) If you haven't already, go check out the first book. You won't be sorry.

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Title: Memento Nora
Author: Angie Smibert
ISBN: 9780761458296
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Page #: 184
Source: my public library

Summary:
"On an otherwise glossy day, a blast goes off and a body thuds to the ground at Nora's feet. There are terrorist attacks in the city all the time, but Nora can't forget.

In Nora's world you don't have to put up with nightmares. Nora goes with her mother to TFC - a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic. There, she can describe her horrible memory and take a pill to erase it so she can go on like nothing ever happened. But at TFC a chance encounter with a mysterious guy changes Nora's life. She doesn't take the pill. And when Nora learns the memory her mother has chosen to forget, she realizes that someone needs to remember.

With newfound friends Micah and Winter, Nora makes a comic book of their memories called Memento. Memento is an instant hit, but it sets off a dangerous chain of events. Will Nora, Micah, and Winter be forced to take the Big Pill that will erase their memories forever?

Angie Smibert's remarkable debut novel takes readers on a thrilling ride through a shadowy world where corporations secretly rule and consumerism is praised above all."
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First Lines:

"I'm about to forget everything I'm going to tell you. So I'm only going to mention the parts that matter. To you, at least. The rest I'm going to keep to myself, for my self."
Page 1
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Review:

Memento Nora is one of those books that sort of surprised me a lot. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. I've read several dystopian books lately and expected this one to be more of the same. But it had a little something extra that drew me in.

This is the story of three unlikely friends who stumble upon something huge in a world of terror. Okay, so maybe one unlikely friend for the other two :). Ahem, anyway... this book is set in a world that is very similar to our own - and based on events that have happened in the last few years. It builds on that whole terrorism concept that has become part of our lives (unfortunately). The story takes terror to a place that actually makes sense - almost corporate.

I loved the whole concept of taking a pill to forget terrifying things that happen to you. People almost do that already with how many mood enhancing drugs, right? Not so far off. But it's an interesting thought - would you choose to forget about it if you could? Or would you choose to remember?

Watching the semi-friendships form is very interesting. It's not like these characters become besties for life. It's more like they share a common interest, but they are so different that they are distrusting of each other. But there are friendships like that sometimes that are even more important to you than others. I liked the tiny blooming of a romance, and I was so glad that it didn't take over. It's really only a hint of one, but it gives the story that little kick.

The ending gives you a hint of a twist - but it's really more of the characters figuring things out. You almost get there before them, but I was still a little taken aback when it was all spelled out in the story. Unfortunately, it feels a little realistic. I remember thinking that this could really happen. That people can get in this deep.

I do think that lots of different readers are going to like this book. There's a little violence and the topics are a bit heavy, so it might be better for upper middle grade to older readers. But guys, girls, all of the above will enjoy this one. Especially if they are into dystopian novels - this is a really good start (it's length helps, for sure). I did read that there is going to be a sequel, so I look forward to reading it. This book stands alone really well, so feel free to pick it up!
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Other Blog Reviews:

A Blog About Nothing
The Hate-Mongering Tart
Between the Covers
Cari's Book Blog
The Book Worms
Books With Bite
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

Top of the Feud Chain by Lisi Harrison

Title: Top of the Feud Chain (Alphas #4)
Author: Lisi Harrison
ISBN: 9780316035828
Publisher: Poppy
Page #: 226
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"Eccentric billionaire Shira Brazille founded the super-exclusive Alpha Academy on exotic Alpha Island to nurture the next generation of exceptional dancers, writers, musicians, and inventors. It's a dream come true for one hundred lucky girls, but those not measuring up can be sent home at any time, for any reason. The one left standing will win worldwide fame. Who will it be?

Skye Hamilton
Is stepping up her game as Shira sheds Alpha Academy girls faster than skin from a well-pumiced foot. There's just one thing standing in her way: island bad boy Taz Brazille. Can Skye keep a dancer's poise, or will Taz throw her off the music once and for all?

Allie A. Abbott
Finally knows who she really is, and nothing is going to bring her down. Not even AJ, who just can't let go of the past. But she can Bring. It. On. Allie's come too far to be sent home without a fight.

Charlie Deery
After bouncing like a dashboard hula doll between Allie and Darwin, Charlie finally has her BFF and Brazille beau by her side. But as the competition on Alpha Island reaches its boiling point, will her drive to win make her lose what matters most?

If at first you don't succeed, you're not an alpha."
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First Lines:

"'Kick her butt, Skye!' Charlie Deery's forehead throbbed with tension as she squinted out at the race on the sun-flecked lake, but she forced her hands to keep clapping in support of her bestie."
Page 1
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Review:

Here are my reviews for the first three books in this series:
Alphas (#1)
Movers and Fakers (#2)
Belle of the Brawl (#3)

I honestly didn't know this was the last book in the series until I got far enough to the end to realize what was coming. I was kinda shocked to realize there wouldn't be anymore. I mean, if it hadn't ended the way it did, I could imagine tons of books set on Alpha Island. Alas...

Well, the story has built and built from the first Alphas book - you had lots of characters to follow and figure out. In this last book, you really concentrate on the three best friends who have been growing throughout the first three books. It's nice to have a more narrow view - especially when you are flipping character point of view in each chapter.

The island has been left unattended and girls are challenging each other left and right for a chance to stay on the island. Losers get kicked off. Our three leading ladies get challenged to a flight - which lands them dumped in the middle of the desert. That's one of the things that made this book a lot different from the first three. The setting is totally changed and you get a new perspective on the girls.

I promise not to give away the ending, but I will say this... I was totally surprised. I could not have even imagined where the story was going to go - and it was done perfectly. Once I started thinking about it, all the pieces fell into place and I wondered at the awesomeness of the author. :)

I will definitely be recommending this series to girls of all ages - especially now that it's a completed series. Those are an easier sell than ones that are in flux. I think anyone who loves chick lit will love these books, but you gotta start with the first one! I do hope we hear more from Alpha Island someday. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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Other Blog Reviews:

I'm sure I'm completely wrong about this... but I couldn't find any reviews online! Just book seller websites. If you've read it, shoot me an email or comment and I'll add you to the list. This just means more people need to read it. So get on that!

Words Like Silver