Stacking the Shelves #38

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme first initiated by Tynga. This weekly segment will showcase the books/galleys/ARCs we've acquired/purchased/borrowed within the week.

We haven't done this in ages! Well anyway, we're back and this post features our May haul!

                           

In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Three by Kristen Simmons

Raging Star by Moira Young

Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Warrior by Ellen Oh

Half Bad by Sally Green

Collector's edition of Eleanor and Park

Control by Lydia Kang

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Slayers by C.J. Hill

Toxic Heart by Theo Lawrence

Ruins by Dan Wells

               

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Michelle's review HERE plus our INTL Giveaway (3 copies of this book!) HERE.

eARCS

 

 

  

           

ARCs

Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

On the Fence by Kasie West

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Thank you to Fully Booked, National Bookstore, Edelweiss, NetGalley and Harper for all our lovelies! 

How did everyone else's book hauls go?

 

[BLOG TOUR] Wings by Elizabeth Richards Guest Post + INTL Giveaway

Grab your hairbrush microphones, as Natalie and Day share their ultimate girls’ night in party mix!

Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

Day: If she danced down the streets of Black City like that, she’d be arrested!

Natalie: That looks like a typical Friday night on Chantilly Lane, to be honest…

Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlise

Day: I have to admit this video really confuses me. What does spinning people around in a centrifuge have to do with heaven on earth? What message is she trying to send?

Natalie: Erm…love makes you puke?

Like A Virgin – Madonna

Day: Ha! You haven’t been able to say that for a while

Natalie: Day! *blushes*

The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) – Cher

Natalie: Oooh, this was one of Polly’s favorite songs. “If you want to know, if he loves you so, it’s in his—”

Day: “Pants!”

Natalie: *rolls eyes*

Flashdance... What a Feeling - Irene Cara

Day: I wish I could dance like her!

Natalie: You know most of the dance moves were done by a guy-in-a-wig?

Day: Oh…! That’s not fair; he has nicer legs than me! 

Mickey – Tony Basil

Day: Hee hee, Beetle loves this video. I can’t think why…

Natalie: Don’t give the boys any ideas!

I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany

Day: THOSE SHOULDER PADS! She could take someone’s eye out with them.

Natalie: You’re just jealous.

Day: It’s true, I am. I secretly covet her stonewashed denim jacket… 

Time Of My Life – Dirty Dancing

Day: I love this song! I always imagine it’s me and Beetle doing the dance. He tried to lift me over his head once…well, let’s just say it didn’t quite work out like it did in the movie.

Natalie: *giggles*

Here's the INTL Giveaway!

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NICOLE'S REVIEW: Rebel by Amy Tintera

Title: Rebel
Author: Amy Tintera
Format Acquired: ARC/eARC

Publication Date: May 13 2014

Publishing House: HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780062318091
Source of Copy: National Bookstore/Edelweiss

Summary:

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake... he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Rebel is the sequel to Reboot which I reviewed here. This is one duology you don't want to miss!

Callum and Wren have finally escaped HARC's clutches and run North in search of the Reboot Reservation. Enter Micah, leader of the reboots at said reservation, he's out for blood with his made quest for retribution. He expects Wren to lend a hand in this bloody crusade but isn't quite prepared for her reluctance. When they butt heads and Micah ultimately betrays Wren, boy is he in for a surprise because nobody underestimates 178. Nobody.

You know what I love about Rebel? It's told in dual POVs. Yes! Alternating between Callum and Wren, I just loved seeing things from Callum's perspective. How he manages to read Wren so easily, how emphatic he is and how much he wanted to help. Can I just mention that he and Wren are perfect? He totally adores her. It's too cute.

Wren and Callum's relationship is something to behold. It's wonderfully mature but not without its ups and downs. They both have different viewpoints, Callum's more in touch with his feelings while Wren, who is just learning to deal with her locked-away emotions, is more pragmatic. It causes some conflict between them but it's totally nothing to worry about. I love how they're both just sure of each others feelings, without all the drama and fuss and mess in most romances. Thank you.

Another thing about Rebel is how much Tintera's characters mature. Wren's coping with her emotions, she's smart, sensible and she actually thinks before she acts. She doesn't want to fight in the war but in the end she makes a choice to do what is right. Callum on the other hand, who was against violence and any sort of death and dismemberment in Reboot, is now forced to change his standpoint. He's caught in the middle of a war and he can't always count on Wren to hit someone for him and getting all physical is sometimes a must when you're being hounded by crazy HARC agents and a crazed reboot out for blood.

Rebel is also delightfully action-packed. Nothing wrong with liking a little violence in my books right? The action scenes weren't over the top and Wren is as kick butt as always. The pacing was just right, Tintera took her time building up the tension in the reboot camp, to stir a little trouble in between the reboots and finish with altercations between HARC and the reboots with a smattering of humans on their side.

This book is a satisfying end to a wonderful duology. Fans of Reboot will surely love this sequel. Looking for your next dystopian read? Check these books out. They will not disappoint. As for me, I am definitely looking forward to Amy Tintera's future work. 

Rating:

       

                           

NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer
Author: Elizabeth May
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: May 6 2014

Publishing House: Chronicle Books

ISBN: 1452114234
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh's social events - right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it's the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She's determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city's many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana's father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose - and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Michelle and I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time. To actually receive an eARC for this...well, you can just imagine the squealing and the crying and the howling. But, my friends, I'm afraid The Falconer did not really live up to our expectations. It's an okay read, don't worry, it just fell short.

Lady Aileana Kameron is the subject of scandal and gossip and suspicion at every ball she attends. It's not something she can help though, because just a year ago she was found next to the bloodied body of her mother who died of -alleged- animal attack. Aileana knows the truth, and it wasn't an animal that killed her mother but a fae. Hell bent on revenge, she completely sheds her debutante persona and turns into a cold-hearted, merciless killer. Her target? Any fae she can get her hands on. Her partner Kieran, who is also fae, trains her to fight and maim and kill his own kind for reasons unknown of course. 

I think the author was able to portray Aileana's grief and sorrow and anger in such a way that it was actually believable. Nothing wrong with that, right? But somewhere along the way, that's all there was to Aileana. Her anger, her vengeance. I don't mind the violence and the graphic descriptions of her kills but seriously it got to a point where I was just like "I get it. You're mad. On with the story, please?" Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against angry heroines but reading about someone who's angry all the time makes me angry too. I don't like being angry.

Moving on to the romance, which involves a love triangle, Aileana has Kieran on one side Gavin on the other. Who's Gavin? Oh just her childhood friend. He's her childhood crush; handsome, smart and he's wealthy to boot. He's perfect, just perfect. Now Kieran is your typical brooding, angsty bad boy who can strike a chord in women and turn them into touch-crazed animals. Okay. I might be exaggerating a bit but you get the gist. He's every woman's fantasy. (I was planning on adding something more vulgar but my co-blogger is lurking) How's a girl to choose? Can I also mention that these two are highly suspicious? Creeping around, keeping secrets and the like.

Aside from Aileana's relationship with the men in her life, there's also her relationship with the little pixie named Derrick who lives in her closet, loves honey and is a general nuisance; and her best friend Catherine; and her distant father who wants to marry her off. Life's a blast for Aileana. She's got to find a balance between her life as daughter of a peer, her various social obligations and her quest for vengeance. Not to mention she's stuck in a love triangle plus trouble with pesky faeries out to kill her.

I also want to take some time to warn you guys about that cliffhanger. Cue heavy signing - just when the action was getting started and things seemed to be progressing it just had to get cut off. Oh well. The book is still an okay read.

I'd recommend this book for people who are looking to ease themselves into steampunk/faery books or maybe for those who just want a quick fantasy read. 

Rating:

                          

Michelle's 22nd Birthday Giveaway

I actually imagined that the big 22 would be pretty eventful. Not travel-wise, but 

Last year, we gave away copies of Jennifer Nielsen's The False Prince, nail polishes, and other goodies. This year, for Michelle's 22nd birthday giveaway, we're giving away not one, not two, but THREE hardback copies of Marie Rutkoski's awesome new book, The Winner's Curse! She gave this book a 4.5 rainbow-rating, so it's hardly surprising that she chose this one to give away this year (You can check out the review here.)

Also, the giveaway is open internationally, so anyone and everyone can join in the fun.

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Terms and Conditions:

1. The books will be sent from an online bookstore. Threfore, The Twins Read will not be held liable for any customs / taxes that your country will impose on you. Likewise, The Twins Read will not be held liable for any lost / damaged packages.

2. You must be 13 years old and above to join. Please ask your parent/guardian to join the giveaway for you, if you aren't.

3. If you only use ONE account to do all these tasks and enter under different names, they will still only constitute as ONE entry. 

4. If the winner does not respond to messages via Facebook, or e-mail within 48 hours, The Twins Read has the right to choose another legible winner.

[BLOG TOUR] MICHELLE'S REVIEW: Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood

Title: Infinite Sky
Author: C. J. Flood
Format Acquired: Borrowed ARC

Publication Date: May 20 2014

Publishing House: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9781481406581
Source of Copy: Dianne of Oops! I Read a Book Again

Summary:

A truly beautiful book about the summer that changed one girl's life, as her mum leaves home, travellers set up camp in the family's field, her older brother goes off the rails, and she falls in love for the very first time. Opening with a funeral, Iris is mourning the boy in the casket - but who is it? Sam, her tearaway brother, or Trick, her tentative boyfriend? Over one long hot summer, we find out just how their three lives were turned upside-down.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

You know those kinds of novels where you just keep reading these almost "normal" narrations, but then you find yourself get gutted (and heart-wrenchingly wounded) time and time again? C. J. Flood's Infinite Sky is exactly like that.

Right in the beginning of her pubescent years, Iris is learning how to cope with an angry brother, a distant father, and the non-presence of a mother who would rather see the world. Her horizons are further broadened when she meets Trick, the son of the Gypsy household that settles illegally on their land. Iris' father won't allow their presence on his land, so how he reacts when he finds out Iris and Trick's secret and forbidden friendship is not surprising. Out in the fields, under the stars, not everyone can see just how limiting life can usually be... Except for Iris and Trick.

Infinite Sky does make use of British slang, so for people who aren't really used to them might find some details incomprehensible. I must admit that I was a bit off-put sometimes because I just couldn't get the hang of it, but nevertheless, the almost unintentional prose really pushed me to keep reading. Infinite Sky actually has a simple storyline, and probably because of its non-embellishments, it kind of works. In a way, it captured Iris' curiosity for the world as well as the beginning changes in her "journey to womanhood" (I hate this phrase I coined, but if the shoe fits, yeah?) and the tremulous relationships within their family and with the much-shunned Gypsy family. The first bloom of romance is very tender and sweet, and it was like that with Iris and Trick.

To sum it up, this is the kind of book that you reach for when you feel bogged down by weighty matters. At the end of the book, readers will end up surmising about life, and the more serious problems we ignore on a day-to-day basis.

Fans of Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere will undoubtedly find a familiar, yet younger soul in Infinite Flood's Iris. 

Rating:

     

              

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Renegade by Debra Driza

Title: Renegade
Author: Debra Driza
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: May 13 2014

Publishing House: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 9780062090393
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who - and what - Mila really is. She can't bear to reveal her secret, even though he's unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila's complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity - as well as Hunter's real motives.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Renegade is the second book in the Mila 2.0 series. Here's my review for the first book Mila 2.0.

On the run from General Holland and the Vita Obscura, Mila has somehow managed to rope Hunter into her plans under the guise of looking for her real father - with nothing but the name "Richard Grady" to lead the way. Along the way, Mila unveils secrets related to her creation, her real parents and she also has to deal with the sneaking suspicion that Hunter isn't exactly who he seems.

Now for this baby, the first half is actually rather disappointing. It's basically about Mila and Hunter on the run. Mila's all confused and stressed out about telling Hunter that she isn't a normal girl. She's actually not human at all, she's an android with programmed emotions.  I actually spent a lot of time imagining myself shaking Mila and telling her to just spit it out because I couldn't take her indecision. I get that it's a big decision and she just wants to have someone to talk to for a while longer but seriously, her life was in danger and she could only think about her loneliness? What about your life? And where's the action I was promised?

Mila and Hunter's relationship take up a lot of the second book and it was quite annoying because I wanted Mila to use her android powers and kick some butt. I wanted Mila to just tell Hunter the truth about herself and go find out her origin story. I didn't want them to be on a seemingly endless road trip acting like nothing's going to come after them and disrupt their seemingly perfect calm. I want to know why the Vita Obscura's out for her and I really want to see her beat the crap out of her twin.

Suffice to say it was quite tiring to read this book and it was only around the second half or rather the last third of the book where things started to pick up. There were a few action scenes and those secrets that her mother kept were all aired out now. Mila also makes a really life changing decision that will definitely affect the tone of the next book. 

But the way this book ended does make me want to pick up the third book. Because after Mila's big decision, what's going to happen to her and Hunter's relationship? What of the Vita Obscura and Holland? You know. Things like that. 

Rating:

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Taking
Author: Kimberly Derting
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: April 29 2014

Publishing House: HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780062293602
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas 'n' Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of deja vu, she heads home only to discover five years have passed... and yet she hasn't aged a day.

Everything about Kyra's old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn't sure how to move forward unless she uncover the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin's annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they wonder if Kyra's father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others who have been taken... and returned Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Books with aliens are few and far between (those that actually manage to pique my interest) and decent alien books that I've read? I could count them on one hand. 

The Taking has promise - it has an interesting plot that involves memory gaps and alien abduction and human experimentation plus mention of super powers. Cool, right? It all went downhill when the romance was added and I had to resist banging my head up against the wall or throwing my iPad at someone. 

The last memory she had was of the fight with her father, stepping out of the car after a temper tantrum and the light. The bright light. Then nothing. Kyra lost five years of her life to who knows what and coming home and finding out that everything's changed? Not the easiest thing to deal with. Her father and mother are separated, Austin's gone off with her best friend and Tyler, Austin's younger brother, is pretty hot and she's got the tingles for him. But when strange things start to happen, Kyra has no choice but to give her father's crazy theory about alien abduction some credit. Especially when strange people appear on her doorstop overly interested by her five year disappearance.

See, the plot's not that bad. It just got overshadowed by the romance. Meaning to say that the story was focused more on the romance with a little alien stuff thrown in. Maybe a little grand theft auto and some blood. But let's talk about the romance since it is, obviously, my biggest peeve about this book.

You see, before Kyra was abducted, there was Austin. Austin was her childhood best friend, he's hot, he's handsome, he's everything Kyra wants and she is determined to never be separated from him. Who cares about all those wonderful opportunities at the big league universities if she's got this hot boyfriend right? Oh Kyra, you fool. That's the argument Kyra and her dad were having before she got abducted. So we've established that Austin is perfect, okay? Moving on.

When Kyra gets back after five years, Austin went off with her best friend to university and it was pretty obvious how heartbroken and angry she was. I was irritated because Austin seemed like a good guy and then, after five years, he's turned into this massive jerk? Apologizing to Kyra for his own sake? I don't know. I mean a lot can change in five years but from the very start Austin was never a jerk, so why now? It just didn't sit so well with me.

Now, as mentioned Austin has a little brother named Tyler. He was twelve when Kyra got taken but now he's seventeen and apparently he's also fair game. He's been in love with Kyra since forever too. What is so great about Kyra? I don't get it. The Taking is all about Kyra and her relationship with this guy. Things moved too fast and she easily dismissed her problems because some boy drew her stuff using chalk on pavement. He's hot, looks like Austin, so why not right?

Aside from too much romance, I didn't like how everything was so easy for Kyra. Chased by bad guys? Not to worry some, random alien guy who's been tracking you for months steps in to save the day. Not to mention the fact that she has powers that the other hybrids don't which makes her even more special.

Kyra is not special. She's just a lovelorn teenager who's more obsessed with her boyfriend than she is with her safety and the safety of those she loves. I'm sorry, this book is a disappointment. Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series sees more alien action than this. 

Rating:

                     

[BLOG TOUR] MICHELLE'S REVIEW: Scan by Sarah Fine, Walter Jury

Title: Scan
Author: Sarah Fine, Walter Jury
Format Acquired: Borrowed ARC

Publication Date: May 1, 2014

Publishing House: Putnam Children's

ISBN: 9780399160653
Source of Copy: Borrowed from Dianne (Oops, I Read A Book Again)

Summary:

Tate and his father don't exactly get along. As Tate sees it, his father has unreasonably high expectations for Tate to be the best - at everything. Tate finally learns what he's being prepared for when he steals one of his dad's odd tech inventions and mercenaries ambush the school, killing his father in the process and sending Tate on the run from aliens who look just like humans.

All Tate knows - like how to make weapons out of oranges and lighter fluid - may not be enough to save him as he's plunged into a secret inter-species conflict that's been going on for centuries. Aided only by his girlfriend and estranged mother, with powerful enemies closing in on all sides, Tate races to puzzle out the secret behind his father's invention and why so many are willing to kill for it. 

(Image, summary, and information courtesy of Goodreads)

Review:


Tate has no idea why his dad insists upon him being perfect. With only his loving girlfriend as his sanctuary, Tate is emotionally distant from a father who spends most of his time developing inventions that Tate could not understand. What starts as a prank when he brings one of his dad's inventions to school turns into an action-filled chase resulting in his father's death, and him discovering that the world has been infiltrated by human-looking aliens... and that what he's holding in his hands could potentially start a war millions do not know that they're part of.

The ball starts rolling pretty quick when Tate sneaks into his father's supposedly secret workroom and brings to school one of his shiny, albeit "useless", inventions. All hell inevitably breaks loose, and immediately, readers are taken on a wild romp with Tate and his super girlfriend, Christina, as they try to outwit, outsmart, and outrun the aliens who wouldn't hesitate to kill them for the invention.

I did like Tate's predilection for making science seem cool with all the makeshift inventions of his own in lieu or boring firearms, and how well he works with Christina in tandem. While she is the girlfriend who just gets roped into this whole mess, Christina is very level-headed and it almost seems like she's used to being chased down by homicidal aliens. Tate's need for proof, or at least a hint, of his father's love is bittersweet, as readers would find out for themselves in the book.

Fast-paced and quite riveting this book may be, Scan felt overly long sometimes, which I can't fault it for since I am not an action flick kind of girl. And while I did like the characters, it did feel like there wasn't enough of their characters shining through that made them tangible or corporeal-like to me.

Scan would undoubtedly appeal to huge fans of alien-themed action movies. I like my alien movies mostly rom-com (like Stephenie Meyer's The Host, no judging please) so I probably wasn't the best audience for this. Scan was nonetheless quite interesting to read, if only because I, too, won't be surprised if aliens actually live amongst us, and because I didn't realize that I can pelt out predators with oranges in the event that I'm near a grocery. (Thanks, Tate.)

Rating:

              

[Blog Tour] The Twins on Thursday: Resistance by Jenna Black

"The Twins on Thursday" is reserved for the Twins' joint reviews. It is a special feature of our blog that discusses books that we either both like, dislike, or have mixed feelings about. This is also the day where we post reviews for books (and ARCs/Galleys) that have been sent to us by authors/galley sites/publishing houses. And because we don't believe much in uniformity, we'll be trying to mix things up a bit by adding random stuff in relation to our review (well, mostly for books we purchased anyway).

Title: Resistance
Author: Jenna Black
Format Acquired: Paperback

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

Publishing House: Tor Teen

ISBN: 9708765333728
Source of Copy: Borrowed from Dianne

Summary:


Nate Hayes is a Replica.

The real Nate was viciously murdered, but thanks to Paxco's groundbreaking human replication technology, a duplicate was created that holds all of the personality and the memories of the original. Or... almost all. Nate's backup didn't extend to the days preceding his murder, leaving him searching for answers about who would kill him, and why. Now, after weeks spent attempting to solve his own murder with the help of his best friend and betrothed, Nadia Lake, Nate has found the answers he was seeking... and he doesn't like what he's discovered.

The original Nate was killed because he knew a secret that could change everything. Thanks to Nadia's quick thinking, the two of them hold the cards now - or think they do.

Unfortunately, neither of them fully understands just how deep the conspiracy runs.

(Image, summary and information courtesy of Goodreads)

Review:

Against her will, Nadia is sent to a "spa" to keep the heat off her family and to their family name. Nate doesn't know that Nadia is in seclusion, and Nadia knows that she is useless when the real battle is outside... Until an ally steps in to inform her about the new developments in Nate's life. Nate, on the other hand, finds himself in a stickier situation, what with politics and love and familial duties and ties entangling themselves into a web where he finds a bigger conspiracy that no one is really quite prepared for.

If you think Replica (the first book) was pretty good, Resistance is even better. Replica only skimmed the surface of the conspiracy, so we were really impressed at how bigger Black makes this ruse out to be without sacrificing too much credibility. While things may have come to a certainly roundabout way, both Nadia's and Nate's characters have grown and their resolve is no longer as shaky and conflicted as before.

We like that not only has Nadia cemented herself as a kickbutt girl (We knew the girl had it in her since book one!) in Resistance, but Nate isn't so much as the hang-back-and-let-Nadia-worry-about-it Nate here. He's actually testing his limits and control, which makes us proud of him.

Another thing we have to love about Resistance is the pacing, there's never a dull moment in this book and it's full of action packed scenes. Nate and Nadia have matured a lot and have to make a lot of hard decisions. We totally approve of Black's willingness to put her characters through one catastrophe after the other. 

In Resistance, everything is falling into place - the plot, the characters, the conspiracy. It's an interesting roller coaster of suspense and action with romance throw in. Plus points to that because it's not forced at all and we kind of wish that Nadia's romance with this spy flourishes. (And we're pretty grateful that the revolution isn't run by a bunch of teenagers this time.)

Rating: