Review & $10 Amazon GC Giveaway: Black Hole Bounty by Sienna Bronwyn

SYNOPSIS

Destiny is written in the stars? Maybe, but when you’re in a black hole you make your own damn destiny.

It’s not every day you get abducted by an alien general, but then, Jerusa Whichab isn’t having an average day. Earth is fading from view and she’s got a decision to make—cooperate with her despotic, yet unnervingly attractive captor or receive an injection of goo. General Toyeb can’t be trusted, and his body-healing, mind-blowing Theta waves leave her panting for more. But what choice does she have if she’s to stay alive?

None, if enemy bounty hunter Berwyck dal Korth has his way. Intent on capturing Jerusa, he performs a binding ritual to ensure she cannot escape him—a ritual with unforeseen side effects for both of them. Forced into hostile proximity, Berwyck and Jerusa battle to subdue their rising attraction, but will they conquer their desire—or succumb?

REVIEW

Jerusa was abducted by aliens, just when she is trying to overcome her phobia of flying.  It seems that she is descended from the aliens herself and her blood is the only thing that can save the alien species from a virus.  Jerusa accepts to help, provided she will be handed over to her family unharmed.  And just when she thinks that things settled down, she is abducted again.

Jerusa's characters is not something bold or admirable.  She doesn't stand up for herself and easily convinced.  And the two male main characters in the book are also not your typical hero material.  But, the author has to be given credit for making a reptilian alien look appealing.  It's a unique premise and a tough one too.  For the first book in the series, this book is a good start.

The author has potential and the novel could have been better at many areas, especially in the characterization.  I have no complaints in the world building.  The author has done an amazing job on that front.  The Kuna Indian history is fascinating.  And the writing style is witty and neat.

Overall, a good start from a potential author!

3.5 STARS!

GIVEAWAY

Sienna will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Beguiled (Immortal Essence #2) by RaShelle Workman

Original Title: Beguiled
Series: Immortal Essence #2
Author: RaShelle Workman
Publisher: Polished Pen Press
Release Date: October 19th 2012
Source: From "Orangeberry Book Tours"
Genre: Science Fiction, Young adult, Romance



Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

In book 2 of the Immortal Essence series, Venus must enter her planet's Hell, and complete three trials in order to free her parents, and save her soulmate.

SUMMARY:

Venus has become immortal, just as she always wanted. In the process she hurt Zaren, lost Michael, and destroyed her family.

At least that's what she believed.

Turns out Ramien, the god of her planets' underworld, has her parents, and Michael.

To save them, Venus makes a deal. She must complete three trials. They seem impossible. They certainly won't be easy. Worst of all, someone she loves won't make it out alive.

REVIEW

This is the second book of the Immortal Essence series.  I haven't read the first one, and so for those readers like me, who are starting directly with the first, here are some information:

• Venus is the Princess of the planet, Kelari.
• Venus is sent to Earth, to get Michael, the human, to find his soul mate.  But, Michael confessed his love for her.  This is her task that she must do to attain her immortality.
• Venus chose her guardian, Zaren, over Michael, at the end of the first book.
• At the end of the first book, Venus becomes immortal and comes back to Kelari.
• Cross-species mating is forbidden by the laws of the Universe.
• Humans can't live in Kelari, just as Kelarians can't live in Earth forever.

So, after Venus comes back, she finds that her parents were missing.  She is a emotional mess..always crying and depending on Zaren to sooth her.  Then she meets the human, Michael, in Kelari..alive.  She wonders how he is alive in her planet, as he humans usually can't withstand.  Then Michael reveals that he is not human and he knows her parents' location.  Venus follows him to a place, where souls are caught and kept by the soulless (literally!) Ramien, the god of the planets' underworld.  Ramien says her that her parents are dead and if she needs their souls to be free, she should marry him.  Not only that, Ramien has bigger plans to Venus and gives her three tasks just for entertainment.  If Ramien marries her, he will become equivalent to a Creator.

This book is a fast-paced sci-fi novel.  Although I loved the overall idea of the book, it might be better if the characters are well-developed, and the writing better.  Its always good to know some new world, but I felt the story somewhat rushed.  The major details are missing like why does Venus doesn't have any powers if she is such a high entity and why keep the three tasks if Ramien anyway wishes to marry her.  It doesn't solve any purpose, except kill some more people.

In spite of its flaws, I liked the world building of the novel.   I wish to learn more about this series, and would definitely wish to read more.

4.5-STAR Review: iFrankenstein by Bekka Black

Original Title: iFrankenstein
Author: Bekka Black
Release Date: September 16th 2012
Source: JKS Publications
Genre: Sci-fi, Young adult

Frankenstein comes to life for the wired generation.

Following her critically-acclaimed iDrakula, award-winning author Bekka Black breathes life into a modern re-telling of iFrankenstein, using only text messages, web browsers, tweets, and emails.

Homeschooled teenager Victor Frankenstein is determined to write his own ticket to independence: a chatbot to win the prestigious Turing prize and admission to the high tech university of his choice. He codes his creation with a self-extending version of his own online personality and unleashes it upon the internet. But soon he begins to suspect his virtual clone may have developed its own goals, and they are not aligned with Victor’s. The creature has its own plan, fed by a growing desire to win darker and more precious prizes: unfettered power and release from loneliness.

As the creature’s power and sentience grows and its increasingly terrible deeds bleed over from the online world into the real one, Victor must stop his creation before his friends and humanity pay the ultimate price. 

MY REVIEW

This is the retelling of the Frankenstein (original by Mary Shelley).  I do not know the original story of Frankenstein.  But, when I read a retelling, I have to know the original story right?  So, I referred the fastest way - Wikipedia.

So, coming back to the review of iFrankenstein, I loved it.  Victor is a computer geek, upset with his dad (calling him The Sperm Donor), never having time with Elizabeth - the girl he likes/maybe love, and on a mission to create a chatbot to win the prestigious Turing prize.  Soon, Victor creates a chat box with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and leashes it in the Internet world.  This chatbot is designed to act as a Virtual Victor, i.e., it takes the input from all of real Victor's cyber world - Facebook, Tweets, MySpace, etc.

Soon, Victor finds that his profiles are being hacked in Facebook and MySpace and bad content gets posted.  His dead mother's personal e-mail gets hacked.  And Victor finds himself stuck in something impossible to explain or explore.

Have to admit - I was thrilled.  And after a long time, I stayed late to finish this novel.  The characters are created just to support the story - not vice-versa.  I am new to this author - but I would love to try some more of her work.  This author can really write and knows how to deliver.

And the best thing about the author is "SHE RETOLD A CLASSIC NOVEL JUST IN EMAILS, BROWSERS, CHATS, PICTURES AND TEXT MESSAGES".  If someone told me that before, I would have laughed at the idea.  But, now, I am just amazed by the author's talent at giving a full novel with just a few messages.

And the other reason I love this book is its ending - okay, not going to spoil it for you.  But, I can't not say it - its not the same ending of the original Frankenstein.  I don't like tragedies - so, you have some sort of happy ending here.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, is I lost my thrill once I finished reading.  Best books will have that quality of retaining the feeling for a long time.  But only hours from finishing the book, I don't have that excitement.   The other small flaw is the starting of the novel - its a bit slow and needs getting used to.

WARNING: Those who are not used to the cyber/mobile world, please download a sample, before buying it, so that you know whether you can understand them.

4.5 STARS!

SOME NOTES

About Turing Award:

The ACM A.M. Turing Award is an annual prize given by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to "an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature made to the computing community". It is stipulated that "The contributions should be of lasting and major technical importance to the computer field". The Turing Award is recognized as the "highest distinction in Computer science" and "Nobel Prize of computing".

The award is named after Alan Turing, mathematician and reader in mathematics at the University of Manchester. Turing is "frequently credited for being the Father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence". As of 2007, the award is accompanied by a prize of $250,000, with financial support provided by Intel and Google.

Source: Wikipedia

Review: The Bane of Yoto

Original Title: The Bane of Yoto
Author: Joshua Viola, Tyler Kirkham (Illustrator), Nick Runge (Illustrator), Nicholas Merlin Karpuk
Publisher: FiXT
Release Date: June 5th 2012
Genre: Science Fiction

2012 New York Book Festival Award Winner

Some say the Arbitrators existed long before the world was born. Others believe their dark powers spun the fabric of time itself. They are mystery.

But here is truth: After ages of formless existence, the Arbitrators craved physicality once more. In their search for a worthy body to inhabit, they destroyed the world Ajyin – home of the gentle, blue-fleshed Numah and the combative, carapaced Olokun.

But not all was lost. General Vega and his vile Olokun warriors enslaved the remaining Numah. They relocated to Neos, Ajyin’s thriving moon.

There, under Vega’s imperious rule, the Numah toiled to extract minerals for a defensive barrier called the Aegis Shield. It would protect Neos from the Arbitrator’s return, the General vowed.

However, the Arbitrators’ hunger sparked a great fire – a blaze of revenge and revolution that soon found its home in the heart of Yoto, a weak and cowardly Numah. Now Yoto’s days of cowardice are over. He is transformed, a powerful and dangerous being beyond Vega’s control …

… And the Arbitrators’ dark presence haunts the world of Numah and Olokun once more …

3D Comic based upon the novel available now for mobile devices.

REVIEW

"The Bane of Yoto" was an amazing tragic and thrilling read!  Not a fast read, but thought-provoking at the start and action-packed at the end.  With excellent writing and thrilling plot, the author has created the scenes well.

The plot starts with the lives of Numah people, who are treated terribly by Olokun.  Among these Numah people were the kids - Eon, Yoto and Celeste - and their parents.  Their parents were killed in the arena, before their very eyes.  Eon waits for revenge for years..few of the other Numah people also help him.  They want to kill the Olokuns and take over the entire planet, as the Olokuns destroyed their planet.  Although it started very slow, it was action packed after some time.

The writing was okay, the world building was great and the characters are scary.  When the author needed some action in the story, she just brings in a new character..got to love that - it just added to the thrill and action.

Recommended for those, who want to try science fiction!

ARC Review: The Pack - Retribution

Original Title: The Pack: Retribution

Series: The Pack #2

Author: LM Preston

Publisher: Phenomenal One Press

Release Date: September 28th 2012

Genre: Science Fiction, Young adult

Revenge doesn't have a name, but has chosen a victim--Shamira. But she's never been the type to lie down and let someone hurt her family or her friends. In order to find the mastermind behind the threat to all she cares about, she must give up the one person who's found his way into her guarded heart, Valens. Valens refuses to back off easily, and neither will Shamira's friends. They join forces with her in order to deal with a new enemy who seeks to kill everyone in Shamira's life that dared save the missing kids on Mars.

REVIEW

*** A copy of this novel was provided by the author for review purposes. ***

This novel is set up in a different world - actually its Mars.

"The criminals in Earth that could be rehabilitated with hypnotic software that would remove the subject's desire to commit crime were released into the Mars relocation program.  Others that were too violent and twisted were put to death by electrical drowning in the Waters."

Shamira and her friends were in the training program for Security Force Elite Officers.  When their trainer was killed in an ambush, Shamira sets her mind to get to the killer, no matter what it takes.  Once blind, Shamira had very few friends.  But now, she has a sweet boyfriend and many loyal friends.  This training team was one of the reasons I loved this book.

Well thought-out plot, good world building and deeper characters made this book more enjoyable.  The theme is new.  The action, romance, revenge and technology played good in required sequences, which gives you something to think about, when you take a break from reading.

I had trouble understanding the first few pages.  But, that may be due to the fact that I am reading second book in the series, without reading its previous book.  The only other problem I faced was narration.  It could have been better.  Creating such an idea and a plot surrounding that idea is not an easy deal.  But, those efforts may not be recognized without proper narration.

*** There were a few sentence formation errors and the e-book had some bad formatting.

This is one of the very few science fiction novels I enjoyed.  My lack of interest in science always made me avoid science fiction novels.  But, this was easy and understandable.  Thanks to that!

3.5 stars!

Review: Alec's Dream (Ghost of Angels #1)

Original Title: Alec's Dream

Series:Ghost of Angels #1

Author: Dave Birchbauer

Published Date: November 7th 2011

Genre: Sci-fi

How could anyone ever know she would be here? Only through a strange series of events was Jessie here at all… lost on an alien spaceship because she stowed away on another spaceship… impossible. And yet, here was an alien, on an alien spaceship, who’s been waiting hundreds of years for her to show up… and he even had a gift for her!

REVIEW

Alec and Clay were scientists and thick friends. Their daughters are Jessie and Sofie, and they are thick friends as well. Jessie is interested in new inventions, as her father. When Alec's new anti-gravity spaceship invention is launched, Jessie and Sofie also travel to moon, along with the crew. Something is already waiting for them there and they are held prisoners by aliens. Not only that, the aliens have bad plans for our Earth. Will Jessie save the crew, her friend and Earth?

Review on first 40% of the book:
I think the author could have made the effort to make this book easier for all types of readers. Well, not all of us are geeks here. But, you will have to be at least half-geek, for understanding the book.

Review on the remaining 60% of the book:
Hmm..interesting! Some things are a bit hard to take in like Jessie's powers. But, this was really a good effort by the author. Will definitely go for next in the series.

A good effort!

3.5 stars!

Review: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)

Original Title: Mockingjay
Series: The Hunger Games #3
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published Date: October 24th 2010
Genre: Science-fiction, Dystopian

Enveloped and toasted with so much sadness and pain, is the book, 'Mockingjay'.  In spite of all odds, Katniss Everdeen enters in the Hunger Games twice and comes out of it alive both times.  If you think it as her luck, then you should read this book.

At the end of the 'Catching Fire', there was a very unfair cliffhanger.  Katniss finds that her district is completely destroyed, and Peeta is taken by the Capitol to be tortured.  Katniss is brought to District 13, which was considered as destroyed.  In District 13, Katniss is expected to be Mockingjay, the symbol of revolution.  But all Katniss could do is to think of a way to be out of insanity.  Well, who can blame her!  I just felt that way myself.  On to the story.. District 13 forms a plan and starts a revolution to overthrow Capitol, keeping Katniss as a piece of their game, again.

When I finished the book, I didn't feel happy or glad..only heaviness and disappointment.  No matter what happens in the future of the book, there could never be a completeness or peaceful night's sleep in Katniss' life.  The series is an ultimate success and most of us felt it, than knowing it.  But, I just thought there are so many deaths and even the final decision of Katniss, while choosing between Peeta and Gale, is not happier.  It felt like another survival need.

No hope or optimism in the book.  The main goal for the revolution falls, when they won.  I know the author has made it realistic..but if tearing apart your heart is realistic, I think I can live without it.

Closed the book with a heavy sad sigh!

Some favorite quotes:

“You love me. Real or not real?"
I tell him, "Real.”

“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.”

“Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!”

“Some walks you have to take alone.”

“I knew you'd kiss me."
"How?" I say. Because I didn't know myself.
"Because I am in pain," He say's. "That's the only way I get your attention.”

“Is that why you hate me?" I ask.
"Partly," She admits. "Jealousy is certainly involved. I also think you're a little hard to swallow. With your tacky romantic drama and your defender-of-the-helpless act. Only it isn't an act, which makes you more unbearable. Please feel free to take this personally.”

Series:

1.  The Hunger Games - Read review here
2.  Catching Fire - Read review here
3.  Mockingjay

Review: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

Original Title: Catching Fire
Series: The Hunger Games #2
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published Date: September 1st 2009
Genre: Dystopian, Young-adult, Science-fiction

I finished this book 24 hours before and from that moment, I keep thinking the same - "What is it with this author?  Why is she sooooo.. Oh! Forget it!".  Seriously!  What is it with this author and writing!  I am mad, when I finished this book.  All the time, I keep praying for the characters in the book and then THE WORST CLIFFHANGER EVER!

For those of you, who are hearing about this book/series for the first time, please see the The Hunger Games #1 review, before reading this.

Katniss Everdean and Peeta Mellark, after coming alive from the 74th Hunger Games, did not feel happy or safe with the winnings.  The aftermath of the Hunger Games seems to torture them even in their dreams.  Katniss begins settling into her new life as victor, where she never has to hunt or work for food and she has more money, than everyone else in her District.  Katniss is unsure of how she is feeling towards Peeta and Gale (her friend from childhood), while both Peeta and Gale are in love with her.

But what Katniss doesn't know is, there is a rebellion starting against the Capitol, keeping Katniss as their symbol. This news comes through the President Snow, who threatens her that if she fails to convince the people that all she had done in the arena is due to love and not to evade the Capitol, then her whole district will be destroyed.  While she decides on how to go about all this, she finds two women, who say they are headed for District 13, which the Government claims to have destroyed.  

Katniss convinces herself that the information about District 13 must not be true and she starts thinking of running away from District 12 to save her family from the President.   But, before she can take another step towards it, the Government announces Quarter Quell - the celebration of the 75 years of Hunger Games, where every District has to offer two of their previous tributes (one male and one female) for the 75th Hunger Games - and Katniss finds herself entering again into the worst place again, to save Peeta this time, instead of her.  Again, THE 75th HUNGER GAMES begins and the adventure rolls.

Katniss, the girl on fire, is actually on fire, this time.  I like Katniss, who always concentrates on the problem at hand, rather than mulling around her unfortunate circumstances or discomforts, even when there is utter hopelessness.  Both outside or inside the arena, there is a knife point always hanging over her head.  

The plot and storytelling are so powerful, that I felt myself pulled inside the book.  The arena and all the dangerous stuff that the people face there, are both scary and spell-binding.  No way would I have guessed any of it.  The feeling of sadness towards the second half of the book is so high, because of the losses and sacrifices that takes place.  Well, there is always a huge cost, when revolution begins.  At the cliffhanger at the end of the book, I completely lost it.  I would have thrown the book and hunted for Suzanne Collins for such unfairness, but then I remembered the third book is already out and calmed down.  Starting with it..immediately!

Another best from Suzanne Collins!  A must read!  A 5+ star book, again!

Series

1.  The Hunger Games - For review and trailer, click here
2.  Catching Fire
3.  Mockingjay

Time magazine named Catching Fire was the fourth top fiction book of 2009, while People magazine rated it their eighth Best Book of 2009. It also won Publishers Weekly's Best Book of the Year for 2009 award.

Lionsgate announced that a film adaption of Catching Fire will be released November 22, 2013,[18] as a sequel to the film adaption of The Hunger Games, which will be released March 23, 2012.

Some Favorite Quotes

“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever."
“We had to save you because you're the mockingjay, Katniss," says Plutarch. "While you live, the revolution lives.”
“The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol's plans. The symbol of the rebellion.”
“Technically, I am unarmed. But no one should ever underestimate the harm that fingernails can do. Especially if the target is unprepared.”
“At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.The hard thing is finding the courage to do it.”
“I can only form one clear thought. This is no place for a girl on fire.”

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

After a long time, I read a book that had a drastic effect on me.  Have you ever read a book, which makes you keep on thinking about it for the next few days?  Whenever you think of it, have you always felt exciting, glad and sad at the same time?  Have you felt your heart racing at every incident that take place in a book?  Did you find the need to realize that a book is not a real life and keep saying its a fiction, so that you won't be knocked out cold?  Well, THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins, is such a book.

The Hunger Games is set in a time in future (I hope fervently that its centuries later), where humanity is at its worst.  Our world, then, is ruled by a set of rich people, who live in comfort, in a place called Capitol.  We, the remaining population, occupy the 12 districts and work for the Capitol.  Life in the district is so bad, that people have to strive hard, to remain alive.

As if this is not bad enough, every year, two members of each district (irrespective of their age, is chosen and thrown into the Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games is a huge place, where there is various traps, vicious animals and life-sucking troubles, that the members have to survive.  The last member, who is alive, will be the winner and can live the rest of his life in his district in luxury.  In addition to the traps and stuff from the Capitol, the members kill each other like animals, to survive in that arena.  This entire action is cast live to all the world.

Katniss, our protogonist, a 16-year old from District 12, volunteers for this event in order to protect her 10-year old sister, who is selected for the Hunger Games.  After her father died, Katniss protects and feeds her mother and sister.  Katniss detests the Capitol and she is a girl, who is good in hunting.  Katniss is excellent with a bow and arrow.

Along with Katniss, Peeta Mellark, the boy who had a secret crush on Katniss since childhood, also is selected for the Hunger Games, from District 12.  Although the two try to be seen as a couple to get support from the audience, when the real action begins, Katniss is blind to Peeta's love and continues her "act".  Although romance is a very small part in the grand scheme of things in the book, it still feel unfair towards Peeta.  Unlike Katniss, Peeta is not much of a survivor.  He is a baker's son and the skills to survive towards hunger and other brutalities are not good for him.

When finally the Hunger Games begins, the violence and the stress of the kids to survive just moves you to bits.  In spite of all the violence and so much blood-shed and death, I don't feel repulsive, but felt hypnotized.  The plot seems challenging and not in one place can I guess or think about what will happen next.  The writing and descriptions are beyond awesome. 

This book is going to be a movie soon and I CAN'T WAIT..  The trailer below for you..

The soon-to-be movie, The Hunger Games, is a must-read for all and I promise, it would never disappoint you.

Series:

1.  The Hunger Games
2.  Catching Fire
3.  Mockingjay

The Hunger Games received a number of awards and honors. It was named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of the Year" in 2008 and a The New York Times "Notable Children's Book of 2008".  It was the 2009 winner of the Golden Duck Award in the Young Adult Fiction Category. The Hunger Games was also a "2008 Cybil Winner" for fantasy and science-fiction books.  It also one of School Library Journal's "Best Books 2008" and a "Booklist Editors' Choice" in 2008.  In 2011, the book won the California Young Reader Medal.