Dualed ~ Elsie Chapman

Title: Dualed
Author: Elsie Chapman
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: February 26, 2013
Page count: 304
Author Website:http://elsiechapman.com/
Source: ARC provided by the publisher, via NetGalley
From GoodReads:
You or your Alt? Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.
Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.
Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.


In a world where babies are genetically engineered, they are made in twos. Each person has an alt, and each person must face and kill their alt. It's kill or be killed. The survivor is the stronger of the two, the one more fit to live in the world.
Children are taught how to kill and survive in school. There are actual classes for it. Until you kill your alt, you are not really a full member of society. It is encouraged to kill your alt, because if not, neither live.

Very interesting...

For West, things are going as planned, until something happens that shakes West to the core. When its time for her to kill her alt, she doesn't know if she can, or should. Instead, West goes out on her own and makes her own life.

My thoughts...

I have mixed feelings about West. Don't get me wrong, I highly enjoyed the book. I read it in no time and am ready for Divided. I do have to say, I am very curious as to where the story will move along from here. But, I had issues with West. Here we have this girl that is so damn ready to get her assignment and kill her alt. She wants to go see friends kill their alts. She is all about it. And pissed that she can't have advanced weapon and combat training. She is a strong character. She knows who she is.

Then something happens...

And the West I liked fell apart. She becomes  a renegade, not caring about herself or anyone else really. She loses it. I did not like this. I began to lose to respect for West. By the end of the book, some of it came back. I still liked her, I just didn't respect her as a character very much. And that could be the way it was intended. Where I feel West took the easy way out, the cheating way out, she would very much disagree. It is what it is. And a certain part of the story was over way too quickly. All of this intense lead up to have it end in no time. I was a little bummed about it.

Even though West was not my most favorite book person, I still feel she is a strong female lead. She could have been stronger, but hey, that's my opinion. And I guess the story would have been quite different had West not done what she did...oh wow. Can't think too much on that, else my brain goes all nutso and I contemplate all of the actions of previous reads' characters... O.o

All in all. Fantastic debut by Elsie Chapman. And a fun dystopia society to read about. I would love to read a novel, or even novella from BOTH alts' points of view. Yeah, the ending of that would be odd..but would be one hell of a read! Definitely put this one on your to-read list! And yay to Elsie for an awesome debut!

{Blog Tour} The Scourge by A.G. Henley

 




About The Scourge - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

Seventeen-year-old Groundling, Fennel, is Sightless. She’s never been able to see her lush forest home, but she knows its secrets. She knows how the shadows shift when she passes under a canopy of trees. She knows how to hide in the cool, damp caves when the Scourge comes. She knows how devious and arrogant the Groundlings’ tree-dwelling neighbors, the Lofties, can be.

And she’s always known this day would come—the day she faces the Scourge alone.

The Sightless, like Fenn, are mysteriously protected from the Scourge, the gruesome creatures roaming the forests, reeking of festering flesh and consuming anything—and anyone—living. A Sightless Groundling must brave the Scourge and bring fresh water to the people of the forest. Today, that task becomes Fenn’s.

Fenn will have a Lofty Keeper, Peree, as her companion. Everyone knows the Lofties wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an arrow through the back of an unsuspecting Groundling like Fenn, but Peree seems different. A boy with warm, rough hands who smells like summer, he is surprisingly kind and thoughtful. Although Fenn knows his people are treacherous, she finds herself wanting to trust him.

As their forest community teeters on the brink of war, Fenn and Peree must learn to work together to survive the Scourge and ensure their people’s survival. But when Fenn uncovers a secret that shatters her truths, she’s forced to decide who and what to protect—her people, her growing love for Peree, or the elusive dream of lasting peace in the forest.




MY REVIEW:

 I was more than pleasantly surprised with this book! From the first page I was hooked and had to keep reading. I was fascinated with Fenn. In such a scary climate, with the Scourge, and living in a forest, she must keep brave and gather water out among the Scourge. If she lets fear win, then both the Groundlings and Lofties go without water. And with this duty comes her Lofty Keeper-the person responsible for her safety while she is gathering water.

But what begins as friendship blossoms into something more. Especially when Fenn sets out to find safer water for her people. But in order to even help her community she must get the okay from The Three. The Three are the three elders chosen to essentially rule and lead their community. And of course there is one who is a jackass. Everytime I read a scene with him, my blood pressure went up lol!

The water quest opens Fenn's eyes to a world of truths, lies, deceptions, and love. Can she go back to how it was before after learning what she has? Can she go back to living in the forest floor with Peree up above?

 I really enjoyed the characters, and their development, and in some cases their un-development. I liked how Fennel and Peree developed a friendship under not so great circumstances. But is there a love triangle you ask. Why yes, yes there is a love triangle. But guess what? The Scourge wins my Love Triangle Stamp of Approval. yay!

The entire time I read the book, I kept trying to place it in our known world. And for the life of me, I cannot do it! So kudos to A.G. Henley for completely transcending at least MY geographic recollection and making a whole new world in which to toss her characters! :D

Ugh I just loved this book! And I cannot wait for the next one in the series.I am so anxious to see where the characters go from here. And where their community goes after the first. I'd love to write up more in regards to the community, but without spoiling something, I'm just gonna leave it! I love me some 'zombie' books and The Scourge took it to a whole new level. Love it! 

About A.G. Henley - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

A.G. Henley is the author of the young adult novel, THE SCOURGE. She is also a clinical psychologist, which means people either tell her their life stories on airplanes, or avoid her at parties when they’ve had too much to drink. Neither of which she minds. When she’s not writing fiction or shrinking heads, she can be found herding her children and their scruffy dog, Guapo, to various activities while trying to remember whatever she’s inevitably forgotten to tell her husband. She lives in Denver, Colorado. Learn more at www.aghenley.com

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{Blog Tour} Valkyrie Rising - Ingrid Paulson

From Goodreads:

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13034113-valkyrie-rising

Release date: October 9th, 2012 |Publisher: HarperTeen

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Ingrid Paulson lives in San Francisco with her husband and daughter and enjoys long-distance running, eavesdropping, and watching science documentaries. She has always loved books and writing short stories, but was surprised one day to discover the story she was working on wasn't so short any more. VALKYRIE RISING is Ingrid's first novel.

Ingrid's grandmother might actually be a Valkyrie; she's still waiting for her to come clean.

Official links:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ingridepaulson

Website: http://www.ingridepaulson.com/

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/IngridPaulson

 

My Thoughts:

I loved this book! I found it to be a breath of fresh mythological air. Don't get me wrong, I adore me some Greek Mythology, but it is nice to read about Norse Mythology also! And come on...VALKYRIES! You just cannot beat that. 

Ellie was a fun character. She is all but repressed by her older brother who thinks it is his life's mission to keep her in a bubble. But for a couple weeks in Norway she is free, until he shows up with his best friend Tucker. 

Tucker. What to say about him? 

/swoon?

Yes, that will work. 

While in Norway visiting their grandmother, Ellie discovers that a lot of 18 year old boys are going missing. The rumor is that Valkyries are stealing them. But why? Can that even be true? Ellie learns first hand that not only is it true but she is one of them!

So yes, much awesomeness in this book. Bad-ass butt-kicking females. Fur lined boots of win, battles of mythological proportions. Oh and Loki. Can't forget to mention Loki!

Now, do yourself a favor and go out and read this book! You will not be disappointed.

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