The Murder of Adam and Eve by William Dietrich

When 16-year-old Nick Brynner becomes too interested in a fort on a forbidden island, with many secrets stashed inside, he decides to kayak there, in hope of finding out more about this mysterious place. What comes next definitely wasn't what he expected as he is sent through a time wormhole to an abandoned village, chased by a a gargoyle looking create and is saved by a pretty blonde with piercing bright blue eyes, Eleanor Terrell. In a thrilling quick paced journey, these two teens are set a series of life threatening challenges by an alien race, the Xu, and are time travelled back to prehistoric Africa to judge whether to save ancestors "Adam" and "Eve" in fear of a reset of the current population. Now they are against the clock to save their ancestors, the whole human race but also themselves.

MY REVIEW
4 of 5 stars

Firstly I would like to thank  Burrows Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this  amazing book.

When first reading about this book I was sceptical about how good it was going to be due to never reading a book quite like this. But boy was I wrong. I fell in love with this book from the very beginning.

The main talent of William Dietrich's writing was how thought provoking it was. Throughout the book it was making me question myself and everything I have learnt about the world and history. It made me question how we could get from the stage of prehistoric Africa, being beautifully described by Dietrich in this book, of basically freedom to the modern world today. It really made me think about all the implications and problems Man have done to the world: pollution, wars, conflicts, crime. It made me realise how many of our actions as a human race have impacted dramatically on the planet we live on today. This was brilliantly done by Dietrich because not only did he get me thinking, he was showing this struggle that Nick had himself, thinking all of these big questions about the nature of our planet and whether it would be better to start everything again or carry on how we are. This is the first ever book that has made me think in such a way.

The storyline was pure genius and this is why I love this book so much as this is such a unique idea to many other books I have read in the same genre. I like how Dietrich constructed the Adam and Eve characters in a more historic and scientific way rather than the biblical side of them. This story also helped me in understanding more about science and how humanity was started as it made me consider the scientific aspect of Adam and Eve with the explanation of individuals today DNA being traced back to two individuals in the prehistoric times. Dietrich's writing is so impressive in how he can get his reader to consider different sides of theories and make us want to know more about where we have actually come from. But also I like the inclusion of the alien race, the Xu, as it brings more of an intense feel to the text as constantly I was thinking about them and what they were going to do to Nick and Ellie, Adam and Eve and the whole population of the human race.

All I have left to say is thank you William Dietrich for bringing prehistoric Africa and the individuals of this time to life.

Divergent (divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior's world society is divided into five factions - Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Amity and Erudite- each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue in an ever growing attempt to form a "perfect society". Now Beatrice and all 16 year olds of all factions have to make a life changing decision. Stay with their family. Or lose them. On Beatrice's choosing day she rejects her family's faction and chooses another faction in an attempt to reinvent herself as 'Tris'. In this new and dangerous faction, unrest and growing conflict appears, challenging this idea of forming a "perfect society". This decision to change factions may have just put Tris's life on the line. And maybe the ones she loves too. In an attempt to save those she loves but to survive herself she must  use strengths that have forever been feared and learn truths about the order of society...and the truths laying within her own family

MY REVIEW
5 of 5 stars

I have to admit when I first started reading Divergent I did feel that it was going slow and that it wasn't getting anywhere. When I think about it now the purpose was so we could be introduced to this complicated world slowly rather than having a quick introduction and end up in an explosion of confusion. However as the book progresses the better it gets with the storyline developing and the development of characters increasing my love for the book.

At the start I didn't think I would end up liking Tris since I couldn't connect with her but similar to the storyline I came to love her character. Even though she consistently claims she isn't selfless and shouldn't be part of Abnegation, her heroic actions say otherwise. She doesn't want to define herself as a certain thing but it is her actions that do so for her, shining with values of selflessness and bravery. Even though I couldn't imagine society becoming like this, I think it helps the reader, such as myself, to step back and from another perspective analyse our own personalities and traits such as the 5 factions. I definitely think this book helps people to think about themselves in a perspective quite similar to Tris's. I can relate as I myself find it hard to define myself as one certain thing. When someone says 'describe yourself in one word' I can't. I feel like it is impossible. Such as it is impossible for Tris to define herself as simply selfless or simply brave.

I have to applaud Veronica Roth on her character development of Four/Tobias. At the start she describes Four as being a closed, independent person. I love the idea that even though with Tris he opens up, he can still be independent and that their relationship isn't the entire focus of the story. I mean, come on obviously the romance flourishing between them causes 'awww' moments but I do love how both characters are mature enough to be independent. In my opinion  Four is one of the main characters that make this book even more enjoyable for me because I just can't hate his character. That's a good skill in Roth's writing,

By the end of the book I felt entirely compelled to go to the book shop and buy Insurgent. Hopefully now you will be too.

Champion (legend #3) by Marie Lu

Through everything June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other. The new existence of a promising Republic is getting the hopes up of many. June is back in the good books of the Republic, working as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position. But had they gotten their hopes up to just be let down again?

Since the end of Prodigy June and Day have had little contact. Until an event occurs that neither would have predicted to bring them back together again.  Just as a peace treaty is imminent for a better Republic, a plague outbreak causes panic and fury in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new outbreak of plague is more dangerous and deadly than anything they have seen before, could this be the downfall of the Republic? Or can June find it in herself to ask the one she loves to do something even deadlier than the plague?

MY RATING
4 of 5 stars

Out of all the books in the trilogy, Champion is the most intense and serious one since there is the constant fear and worry about the state of Day. I wanted Day to do Day type things like jumping off buildings or running on roofs but I also wanted him to tuck up in bed and watch a movie, so I didn't have to worry about him dying. There was definitely a lot of gasp moments, especially in reference to Commander Jameson.....and a gun. But overall I feel this book ties up all the politics, war and relationships in to a massive explosion of emotions and brings a very serious feel to the book. Most of the book is based on the characters making life or death decisions which creates such a suspense. This is reflected by the pace of the book not slowing down one bit, but this reinforces the feeling of urgency and how split decisions can affect the futures of these characters.

An amazing talent Lu has is her development in characters, from Legend to Champion, there isn't one character that hasn't changed or matured. This maturity is evident in characters such as Tess and of course June and Day. This development in maturity is somewhat realistic and makes me love reading books like this as you can see how they change their mindset and the way in which they make decisions changes. Throughout selflessness has become an ever growing value shining from many of the characters due to this development in maturity. Eden. Day. June. Kaede. Tess. Pascao. Metaius. All these characters have proven to be selfless in one way or another and all have done it out of love/care for the other characters, which essentially is the whole point of this book. This is the reason that Day was fighting the republic; for his family. This is the reason June was fighting the republic; for her family.

I admit I was in no way satisfied with Lu's ending and how much it lacks detail of what occurs in the future for Day and June, since it keeps me guessing and realising that I will never know the answer to it. In all honesty I feel like the ending could be better as once I read it I was questioning whether some pages had been ripped out because I didn't want it to end in the way I did. However even though it wasn't my preferred ending the last two or three chapters did have me gnawing my nails and prompting me to carry on reading. And the ending was in some ways a skilled part of the writing as the ambiguity of it did somehow cause me to both feel sadness but hope, like a light at the end of the tunnel from  all the darkness and the hurt and all the pain both characters had been through. It felt like they could have a new start. With a new Republic.

I'm so sad this series is over however if you haven't had the chance to read it. I don't care what time it is, go to the shop now. Buy it.

Prodigy (legend #2) by Marie Lu

Injured and on the run from a relentless Republic. Now they only have each other to rely on. 
Seven days have passed since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead by the people of the Republic who don't know the whole truth, that is hidden from them by their beloved Republic. If only they knew.

Day is alive but barley with the execution of his brother weighing heavily on his conscience. Day is still the most wanted criminal but now June earns the title of becoming the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help,  they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic at any cost. Can the Patriots be trusted? Or have Day and June just become the next pawn in a evermore terrifying political game? 

MY RATING
4 1/2 of 5 stars

Well Prodigy just blew my mind and is hard to admit, may be better than Legend.

I have noticed, especially with Prodigy, the pace of the book is extraordinarily quick but through the talent of Marie Lu's writing, she gets away with it with the well constructed dialogue, characters and action. Not only did the pace help me to read it quick, I felt I was compelled to flick the next page as a new cliff-hanger presented itself at every turn.

The thing I love about Prodigy and how Marie constructed the book is that Metias is still involved in all the plots and storylines even though he died early on in Legend. This shows the talent of Lu since after a few paragraphs I was entrapped in emotional feelings towards Metias and felt like I knew him for the whole of Legend. It shows that Lu can make you build a relationship with a character who isn't even witnessing or living through the present events of the story. I think the main reason this is done is this is all June has ever really cared about. Yes, she cares about Day but the only goal she has ever really been invested in is avenging her brothers death. This seems to pull at my heart strings every time as it reinforces me with the feelings and the strong bonds June and Metias had.

Another thing I love about the book and the series infact is that it wasn't the romance that had to compel me to read it or love it but the entrancing characters themselves. I'm not going to lie there were moments that I was screaming at the book for their relationship to flourish more but when I step back and think about it this isn't the central part of the storyline. This is what I enjoy about this book. It shows all of the characters as being strong and independent individuals and throughout they have all shown they don't need to dependent on someone else, which is shown in Day and June's ever complicated relationship. Even though they have each other, that romance isn't what has to define them.

The main talent I have to compliment Lu on is her outstanding ability to create interesting and inspirational but also a diverse group of characters within her writing. Somehow with each character, at some stage, Marie Lu has made me both love and hate them. And I think this is a skill that not many writers have the ability or the luck of having. Lu has surprised me with the growing love of new characters introduced in Prodigy with the ever fascinating Razor who I seem to hate but love because of his impressive deceiving and cleverness to the situations he is presented with. And obviously I can't forget the hilarious Pascao who every time causes a grin to appear on my face. He definitely helped to make this book a great read. But back to my beloved characters, Kaede, well what can I say this girl has some major sass and a whole lot of attitude. Kaede has always been a favourite and always causes me to snigger loudly with her hilarious comments. She can make any moment hilarious....or perhaps awkward for the characters. Now there's June and Day. I include them together because the further the book progresses the more evident it is to me, how similar they are. They are both solid in their beliefs and not only how to achieve them but their reasoning's for doing so: family. I also love how they are deemed as heroes but themselves able to have flaws which is rarely shown as many writers show that to be the hero you have to be perfect.

Now. The end. What can I say? I AM DEVISTATED.
I'm so shocked at the turn of events at the end and definitely did not expect that to happen. But what else would you expect from Marie Lu, the queen of plot twists.

Legend (legend #1) by Marie Lu

 

                                                     

Fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal in a country where the plague is engulfing it quicker than they can deal with the situation. When Day's youngest brother is diagnosed with the plague he will go to incredible lengths to save his brother, even if he has to steal the cure from a hospital whilst on the run from a threatening government.

Fifteen-year-old June Iparis is sister to Captain Metias who is her only living relative. That is until disaster hits and Metias is killed by a fugitive. Now June has no one. Nothing to live for. Except to avenge her brothers death. Her target? Day.

Both on a mission. Day's to keep his family alive whilst June's to avenge those who aren't alive. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their precious country will go to keep its secrets.

 

Who will break first? Day? June? or their beloved Republic?

LEGEND BY MARIE LU

 

MY RATING : 4 of 5 stars

 

This was an enjoyable dystopian read, and I loved the suspense and tension that was created throughout this story.

Admittedly Marie Lu has done a fantastic job in the creation of the characters Day and June. The thing I love the most was how she made the characters come from completely different backgrounds but have similar personalities, showing that the difference in class or status shouldn't matter or affect what is within. Through both characters it strongly reflects morals and values we should all have towards one another such as care and respect which is evident in Day's life threatening decisions to protect his family and June's determined actions to avenge her brothers death. I liked the way that both had strong ideas about right and wrong, and both cared enough about the ones they love to risk their lives for them.

I loved the storyline and  the way in which Marie Lu planned for Day and June to meet with one another as it is different from many other books. I was quite shocked when it was revealed that Metias was dead as I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially how close to the start it happened. It upset me though since I was starting to become thoroughly interested with his character but was glad that a lot of the plot was based around him, giving the reader the chance to learn more about him.  I don’t think there was a lot of romance in this one though, with the storyline mainly focused on June and Day individually but I liked that since it's unique from many other books who think the main plot of the book has to be based on a relationship rather than the individuals.There was an extreme amount of suspense in this book and a lot of gasp moments with the waiting for June and Day to meet, wondering what will happen when they do, and wondering how it will all end!

 

An eventful, enjoyable and electrifying read.

I would recommend to read this book or you are definitely missing out!