Waiting on Wednesday (43)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Shutdown (Glitch #3) by Heather Anastasiu

The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution. 

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands. 

Will be published on: July 2nd, 2013 (St. Martin's Griffin)

I have to admit that I still need to read the second book in the series, but I thought the first book was amazing! I'll probably wait until the last book in the series is released (a.k.a. this one) and then read the series in a reading marathon! 

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Override by Heather Anastasiu

Title: Override

Author: Heather Anastatiu
Series: Glitch #2

Will be published on: February 12th, 2013 (St. Martin's Griffin)

Synopsis from Goodreads: Zoe never wanted to be a leader. She just wanted to be free. After escaping the Community and getting her friends away from Chancellor Bright’s control, she thinks everything will get better. She and Adrien can finally be together. She’s safe at the Foundation and is training with a team of other glichers to become a freedom fighter in the Resistance. 

But while Zoe is free, she’s far from safe. Adrien is tortured by visions of the future that he refuses to share with her. And there’s something’s wrong with Zoe’s telekinesis. The control she gained when she escaped the Community seems completely gone, and her power is expanding in unexpected and terrifying ways. Everyone is counting on her to be the key to defeating the Chancellor, but Zoe is terrified she’s too weak to save anyone.

As the Chancellor begins enacting her plan to move up the ranks of the government and gain an ever-widening noose of control, the future of Resistance grows more and more precarious every day. Others around Zoe are becoming desperate in their attempts to survive, until finally distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation itself. In the end, Zoe will have to make a choice: will she stand up as the leader Adrien foretold her to be, or will she fail everyone in the moment they need her most?

Glitch is one of my favorite books I've read in 2012. I have to make my top ten, but I have a suspicion it's going to be on it! So, of course, I can't wait to read Override! The ending of Glitch was a total cliffhanger and I want to know how it continues!

What are you waiting on?

Review Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Title: Glitch

Author: Heather Anastasiu

Will be published on: August 7th, 2012 (St. Martin's Press)

Pages: 304
Source: for review

Series: Glitch #1
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.
In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

When I first read the synopsis of Glitch I immediately knew this was a book I wanted to read. And I was really happy when the publisher accepted my request on Netgalley! While reading it I became more and more amazed by the story. The world setting, the characters, the plot: they're all so good. 

So first, the world setting. It's set in the future where people have a V-chip, so they can no longer experience emotions. Children get other chips than grown-ups, so they can experience emotions sometimes and the more older you get the heavier the chip. When you reach adulthood you get the strongest one and it's unlikely you'll ever experience emotions again. But some people glitch while they hit puberty, just like Zoe. When she glitches she experiences emotions and even develops a special power. At first she thinks she's all alone, but when she's discovered at anomalous behavior she's rescued by Adrien. So she discovers she isn't alone after all. 
The world setting is so well thought of. The fragments where glitchers discover emotions are so good. When Zoe cries she descirbes it as water coming out of her eyes. She learns emotions from books and Adrien helps her. It's so beautiful when he tries to explain love and hate to her. 


I really liked Zoe. The scene where she discovers how it's like to really love your family almost broke my heart. She feels like a strong protagonist, but she also has her weaknesses. She really cares for other people, even when she doesn't know them and that brings her in some trouble. I liked Adrien, he really seems to care about Zoe, but I just felt like he had some serious trouble of his own. I didn't like Max. I just got a bad vibe from him and the way he handled his new found emotions just spooked me sometimes. On the other hand it was realistic. 


About the plot: I did not see that end coming! I knew something was about to happen, but it wasn't before it actually happened that I opened my eyes and saw what was really going on. I loved Heather Anastasiu's writing style. It made the story well paced and I just couldn't put it down. I was in a bit of a reading funk the last couple of weeks, but this book got me out of it!


I would definitely recommend this book. Especially if you're into dystopian novels it's a must read!

Upcoming (8)

In Upcoming I talk about the books that I will review on this blog. So you know what you can expect here in the upcoming days. 
My new books arrived last week (yay!) and I got accepted on some really cool books on Netgally (yay again!) and with my vacation coming up I intend to catch up on my ever growing TBR pile. So in the upcoming weeks I'll review them here. 


This week

Review Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.
In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

What really happened to Anastasia Romanov?
Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.
In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college--until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams...

Synopsis from Goodreads

Next week

Review City of Swords by Mary Hoffman
I'm so happy! City of Swords is finally here. Review will be up next week!


Review I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk
My perfect summer read! 

Hope to see you soon!

My bookshelves (2)

In My bookshelves I discuss the books I got or want to have. This week I'll show you the books I got in the last week.

For review

Title: The Fame Game (Dutch version)

Author: Lauren Conrad

Published: May 21st, 2012 (Blossom Books)
Pages: 320

Source: gift
Series: Fame Game #1 
The new series by Lauren Conrad with Madison Parker as Hollywoods new favorite!

 Title: De IJzerkoning

Original title: The Iron King

Author: Julie Kagawa

Published: May 29th, 2012 (Harlequin Young Adult)
Pages: 384

Source: for review
Series: The Iron Fey #1
The Iron King is just translated in Dutch. I wanted to read this book for a while, and I got the Dutch version for review.

 

Title: Glitch

Author: Heather Anastasiu

Published: August 7th, 2012 (St. Martin's Press)
Pages: 320

Source: Netgalley
Series: Glitch #1

The synopsis of this book sounds good, so I'm curious how the story will be. 

Title: Between (Dutch version)

Author: Jessica Warman

Published: May, 2012 (Van Goor) 

Pages: 352

Source: publisher

I'm very happy to get the chance to read and review this book. I love books where the story is like a puzzle (or so I hope it will be).

Title: Fated 

Author: Alyson Noël

Published: May 22nd, 2012 (St. Martin's Press)
Pages: 352

Source: bought
Series: The Soul Seekers #1 

I loved The Immortals-series, so I can't wait to start in her new series.

Not for review

 

Title: Style Yourself (Dutch version)

Published: May 21st, 2012 (Blossom Books)
Pages: 240

Source: gift 
On this blog I mostly review YA and Chicklit. Since Style Yourself is neither, I won't review it here. But it's a really nice book, so I wanted to show it to you anyway.