Pawn – Aimée Carter
Released November 26,
2013
In the dystopian America where Kitty Doe lives, there
are seven levels of society. Just when it seems like Kitty will never make it
higher than a III, she’s offered a chance by the Prime Minster to become
a VII. She’s remade into the Prime Minister’s beloved niece, Lila Hart, who
passed away a few weeks before. Quite suddenly, Kitty is ensconced in the
ruling family’s lies, manipulation and special brand of evil.
The steady flow of secrets revealed is what catapulted Pawn to unputdownable, especially near
the end. The characters, from Kitty to boyfriend Benjy to the entire Hart
family, are distinctive, intriguing and all clearly motivated. The only thing
that threw me was the pacing, as the beginning read slowly and the middle
quickly. It steadied as the story neared the climax, and that plus the
unbelievable revelations, kept me reading to the end. Captive, the sequel, is expected later this year.
These Broken Stars – Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Released December 10,
2013
Lilac LaRoux and
Tarver Merendsen are the only survivors of a luxury spaceliner crash on an uninhabited
planet. When it’s clear that rescue teams aren’t coming, Lilac, a privileged
daughter, and Tarver, a young war hero, must learn how to survive on this
uncharted planet. They are barely succeeding when Lilac begins hearing whispers
in the surrounding countryside.
Immediately upon opening this book, I was intrigued by the
format. In snippets of conversations between chapters, Tarver is being debriefed.
I looked forward to his sarcasm in the midst of the dense, detailed chapters. This
novel has an epic feel, as it is not only science fiction, but romance and
adventure as well. Yet, there are only two main characters and a
handful of secondary ones who make appearances. I loved that Lilac and Tarver,
their adventure on this planet and their slow, uncertain romance were the sole
focus of the tale. Also, not only are two sequels in the works, but a TV show adaptation as well!
The Winner’s Curse – Marie Rutkoski
Winner’s Trilogy series
To be released March
4, 2014
In the simplest sense, The Winner’s Curse is the story of
love in the midst of war. And yet, it is so much more: a story of slavery,
romance, betrayal and sacrifice. Kestral, a general’s daughter, lives in an
empire that enslaves those it conquers. Even though she shies away from the
idea of slavery, one day she spots a young man for auction and buys him on
instinct. He’s intriguing and defiant, and soon their growing friendship cannot
be hidden.
The romance between Kestral and Arin is slow, which makes it
realistic, and barely explored, which makes it heart-wrenching. I adore that
Kestral understands strategy but is just a fair fighter, which makes her
different from a lot of YA heroines. Kestral’s imperfection is her strength
(and makes her human). The fact that Kestral and Arin are both masters and
puppets of their own fate is ingenious. The book is expertly plotted and the characters
expertly crafted. The Winner’s Curse
is powerful, unforgettable and a must-read of the YA genre. I’m beyond thrilled
that it’s going to be a trilogy!
