The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Title: The Unwanteds

Author: Lisa McMann

Publisher: Aladdin (Simon & Schuster Imprint)

Rating: Two and a half stars

In the land of Quill, once in a year, thirteen years old kids must face Purge, to decide whether they're Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Alex Stowe is Unwanted while his twin brother Aaron is wanted. That meant Aaron will stay in the society and Alex will be sentenced to death. Or so he thought, until he and other Unwanted kids arrived in Artime where he was allowed to draw, spoke what was on his mind, and snacked in the middle of the night. But Alex missed his twin brother and wanted to contact him. Would he do it even though it might jeopardize Artime?

In the beginning, I was a bit annoyed because there's no explanation why the world turned out like that. For me good dystopian has to have a logical reason why the world became that way. But I decided to keep reading in case the explanation is located in the end of the story. It did have explanation, but it made me think this isn't supposed to be called as dystopian...

Anyway the plot was interesting and idea was great. basically the stoy is good enough to keep me reading until the end; the kids with creative traits were banished from tight and strick society? twins separated and must fight against one another? I'm on it. Plus the strange creatures are amazing as well, I like Simber a lot.

The characters, however aren't so interesting for me. Alex is okay, Lani is a bit bratty, Megan and Samheed a bit typical. Mr. Today also just okay, remind me a bit about Dumbledore but definitely not as awesome as him.The romance part was weird and it just didn't click at all; it felt a bit forced for me.

Then in some parts of the story there are several sub chapters where the narration voice shifted uncomfortably, at least for me. For example there's one that shifted from Alex to Samheed even to Mr. Today while it was supposed to be from Alex POV or another sub-chapter where the narration shifted from Alex to Samheed to Lani. Seriously, it's annoying and confusing. How Alex could possibly know what's Samheed or Mr Today's thought?

So overall the story is good and worthy to read although a bit predictable but the characters were just okay and narration was a bit annoying.

Lynossa

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

Title: The Floating Islands

Author: Rachel Neumeier

Publisher: Random House

Rating: three and a half stars

They flew as geese fly in the fall, in a formation like a spear point. At first the shape the winged men made was stark as a rune against the empty sky, but as they approached the ship, they broke their formation, wheeled, and circled low. The morning light caught in the feathers of their glorious wings, crimson as blood, except for one man whose wings were black as grief.

Trei had just lost his family in a terrible disaster and had to seek for a new place in The Floating Islands when he saw the Kajurai, the flying men swam at the air. Trei knew that's the one thing he ever wanted to be. The only person who understood his feeling is Arenai, his newly-found cousin. Being a woman in The Floating Islands meant you have to prepare to be a good wife and that's it. But that's not what Araene wanted. Both of them tried hard to be what they wanted but danger lurked in when Trei's old country decided to attack The Floating Islands. Will they able to be what they wanted to be? And where would Trei's loyalty lies?

The Floating Islands is a very interesting story; I enjoy reading it. Not only that but I also like Trei and Araene for being bold and fearless in pursuing what they wanted. However the other characters aren't so interesting. I guess on of my problems with this book is the conflicts aren't deep enough. Most of the characters are very good and helpful. Trei managed to fit in with the other kajurai apprentices without much problem (I would love to see a bit of clash in there), and the same thing also happened to Araene. Most of the characters are good and they rarely showed their bad side, which I would prefer to see more instead of the good-goody two shoes kind of characters. So for me it's lack of deep conflicts, either between characters or in plot, but overall it's pretty good.

I would recommend it for fantasy and middle-grade lovers.

Lynossa

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Title: Blood Red Road
Series: Dustlands #1
Author: Moira Young
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Expected publication: June 7th 2011
Pages: Hardcover, 512 pages
Rating: 4.5 - Almost Perfect!

Source: Simon and Schusters Galley Grab

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Summary:

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 a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.
Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

Review:

Blood Red Road is an book full of adventure. The adventure start right after Saba’s twin Lugh was taken away by the Crazy King. She sent off to search for him. But It didn’t stop just right there. She encounters many obstacles. She was captured and was forced to fight in the arena. Meet a lot of people who she thinks will only slow her down and encounters a feeling she's not familiar with. Gigantic Worms with claws. And many more.

Saba is fierce fighter. She was force to become independent when she went searching for her brother who she previously depends on. Smart and fearless. Despite her lack of experience in fighting nor knowledge about it. She surprisingly handles everything that was thrown at her. She’s pretty stubborn too. That you as reader would may feel irritated sometimes just like me. Her sister Emmi is exactly like her. Brave, stubborn and fighter she refused to be left alone without a fight. I love each characters here. They are all not the one who complain. They just go and always ready for the worst. I love how mature they are.

The romance and the action are well balanced. They kick ass and even kids do too. That maybe is the thing i like about this book. The gender is never a problem as long as you do know how to fight. Be it old or young. Their adventure just never stops. The plot is well planned. The book is well written Mrs. Young made sure that her readers are well inform. She describes every bits of action and every bits of emotions that flows in the book. To the point that you can’t contain your excitement and then suddenly you want to join Saba in the book and help her. It’s like you are watching a movie inside your head.

The setting. It’s a world where civilization hardly ever exist. People don’t know how to read nor write and how to speak fluently or use the right words or know the right grammar. That said I think it also effects Saba's narration throughout the story. People will do everything to survive their world. Even sell a girl and force them to fight in the arena. The pace is fast. You can never be bore while reading this. Though as the story progresses I come to terms that the first part of the book is more exciting. The rest was..well exciting as well but not much as the first part. As I was able to know how determined Saba was to save her brother from the people who wants to get him. But as her story goes and as she faces more obstacle even though her real goal is to save Lugh. The action was lessen. As the author was focused on building the plot and the setting and as well as the other supporting characters.

The dialect of the book might be a uncomfortable for some of you who wants to read it. As for me, before I could even decide to drop the book it was too late because I am already hooked and all I can do is to continue reading or continue regretting why I didn’t read it. And sooner before I know it I became comfortable with the dialect.

Over all. The plot. The Characters. The adventure. The monsters. The Crazy Villains and the dialect. Wow I never thought I’ll be able to read this all in one book. It gives me a heck of a crazy ride there. I’ll be sure to read the second book.

Kay-c

Blood Red Road by Moira Young