NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #15: Proxy by Alex London

Title: Proxy

Author: Alex London

Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: June 8 2013

Publishing House: Philomel

ISBN: 9780399257766

Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary: 

Knox was born into one of the City's wealthiest families. As a Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want - the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy, his life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox's. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when both boys realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox's father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys' resolve, and shine a blinding light  onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

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

Review: 

Just when I've been about to turn my back on dystopians this book comes along and manages to rekindle my love for the genre. With wonderfully nuanced characters and crazy plot twists I found myself engrossed in a world where the rich (Patrons) have everything and the poor are burdened with debt. 

Enter Knox, born to one of the wealthiest families he wants for nothing. He has money, looks and a Proxy to take all his punishments for him. He's all up for causing chaos because he knows he won't ever be blamed. But when Knox crashes a car and kills his passenger, his Proxy is set to die in his place. Syd, the Proxy, won't stand for it and runs. Caught in this tangle of lies and deception, Knox and Syd form an unlikely truce because to get out of this alive, they'll both need their wits about them.

Proxy is told in the alternating voices of Syd and Knox. Knox is your typical rich boy, spoiled, uncaring, entitled and always after his next conquest. Let me add that he's also an excellent hacker despite blundering about in school. He's the type of character I usually hate but London's characters aren't one-sided and being a spoiled brat isn't all Knox is. He's got issues with his father and the events that led to the death of his mother and his growth later on in the story is admirable. So while I did want to punch him in the face I as wanted to give him a hug and tell him that things'll get better.

Syd is Knox's Proxy. Every blunder and every mistake Knox commits, Syd is there to take punishment. Being a Proxy is a way for the poor to pay off their debt (school, medical bills, the like) and Syd was just the unlucky boy who got picked. Did I mention that he's also gay? I love how London didn't make such a fuss about Syd's being gay. It's not an Issue book, it's definitely a sci-fi/dystopian where the protagonist just so happens to be a boy who likes boys. Syd's also a special little butterfly - there's something in his blood that might just put an end to the social divide but he's going to need the help of the rebels to figure it all out.

London has created such a great book. It's got social issues, the divide between the poor and the rich is glaringly obvious; well crafted actions scenes and a bunch of cool tech that I wouldn't mind playing with. His characters are multidimensional, not flat paper dolls to be jerked around. The plot's all twisty and focuses on the unwitting friendship (sort of) between Syd and Knox. The ending was a surprise. I never expected the book to close on that note and I'll admit to feeling a little bereft after finishing the book. Do I recommend this book? Yes. YES. Pick up Guardian while you're at it.

 Rating: 

For PH residents, Alex London is coming to the Philippines on Aug 30 for a book singing event. I can't wait to meet him. Seriously. You all need to read this book. The copy I have right now is from Fully Booked but I'll be snagging copies (YES, COPIES) from National Book Store. Buy your books there. See you at signing!

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

This week's feature is Proxy by Alex London. I snagged a copy of the book as soon as it came out and it's shiny. It was the perfect opportunity to use my newly acquired bottle of OPI.

If you want to check out my other bookish manicures, visit my tumblr HERE or my instagram HERE. 

Nail polish used: 

OPI Push and Shove (It is so gloriously shiny)

MAC Flaming Rose

No fancy freehand designs this time around. These nails are way easy to do and who knows, I might be sporting these during the signing.

I didn't use any fancy tools to create this design. I just put on two coats of Push and Shove then whipped out Flaming Rose (but you can use whatever shade of red you'd like to use) and outlined my nail.

Closer look. They're as shiny as the book and I love my nail shape.

With the book again. Okay so it must be a trick of the light because the cover isn't yellow like that. Look at the first picture!

Look at these bad boys under the sun. I'm blinded.

Would you guys consider recreating this mani and will I be seeing you at signing? Tag @thetwinsread OR @novelnailsdesigns on Instagram and we can talk about books and nail polish. Glorious nail polish.

                      

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Title: Not a Drop to Drink
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: September 24 2013

Publishing House: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 9780062198501
Source of Copy: Purchased from FullyBooked

Summary:

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the ponds leaves thirsty or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, the nighttime threats, and the gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won't stop until they get it...

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

Review:

Lynn's okay with the way she lives. It's day after endless day of protecting her pond, looking for food and surviving the winter. She doesn't see the point of moving away from the tiny pond, content with her day-to-day routine. So when stragglers threaten her pond - she's going to do anything to keep it safe, things happen and she's got no choice but to deal with this upheaval on her routine.

The scariest thing about Not a Drop to Drink is how the events that happen in the book could actually happen in real life. It's an intense read about a girl's struggle to survive in a world where water is scarce and if you have it, you'll have to fight to the death to protect it. And that's exactly what Lynn does, with the help of her mother. 

The post-apocalyptic setting was really well done. One of the few post-apocalyptic books that actually feels like a dark, desolate world where people cling to fragments of their old life. The author doesn't drop you in the middle of some wasteland, says it's the aftermath of the war and boom. Post-apocalyptic. She takes time to build the world and introduce her characters.

McGinnis has a strong heroine - Lynn. All her life she's been taught to survive by her mother. Taught how to shoot, to hunt, skin an animal and how to purify water from their pond. She keeps vigil over their house at night by setting point up on the roof. But from the way her mother brought her up - to not trust strangers and shoot before she speaks - it makes for a very lonely life. She's stubborn and set in her ways, but she's totally unsure of how to interact with other people.

When she meets a boy - there will always be a boy - named Eli, she starts acting differently and the book started loosing it's survivalist feel. I get how meeting Eli was totally new for Lynn seeing as how there aren't much teenage boys just hanging around but things start getting more emotional and survival seems to be the last thing on Lynn's mind... I got bored. Mainly because it was't as gripping but also maybe because I wasn't really feeling Eli and Lynn. She's such a capable heroine and Eli's this bumbling idiot who can't do anything to save his own life. Maybe the idea of having to care for someone lesser than her was her thing - she did take in a little girl you know - and regards Eli as a pet. Wishful thinking on my part because it's pretty obvious that they're into each other.

But the book isn't all about the survival of these few people because there are bigger things going on and there are still men in trucks who snatch people of their belongings to looks out for. Obviously, Lynn's got to find out more about these people and when she does, she's going to have to find a way to stop them from bulldozing over her and everyone she's come to care for. 

I'll stop here to keep myself from being too spoilery but if you're on the lookout for a post-apocalyptic survivalist story, pick this one. It's terrifyingly realistic.

Rating:

        

                         

NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #11 : These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: These Broken Stars
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: December 10 2013

Publishing House: Disney Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423171027
Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary:

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Tarver and Lilac must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together - would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it.

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

Review:

I initially had a lot of misgivings about this book but I bought it anyway because of the gorgeous cover which, after reading the story is very fitting. Confession time guys, I rated this book based on the summary alone and proudly proclaimed that this book would rate 3 rainbows at most. At MOST. I was actually expecting it to go even lower but I was wrong. I was dreadfully wrong and I love These Broken Stars all the more for shoving that those 3 rainbows back in my face.

Think Titanic but set in space. When the ship Lilac was traveling on - ironically named Icarus, nothing good comes from that name, seriously - crash lands on a seemingly terraformed planet leaving only her and the infuriatingly handsome Tarver alive, she's got no choice but to stick to his side in hopes of surviving. Their goal? To stay alive and hope that they get rescued. But they didn't count on the voices that call to Lilac or the secrets that their journey across the terrains seem to uncover. 

Lilac, whom I initially thought I would be annoyed at - because I don't get along well with prissy, spoiled characters - threw me for a loop. She's rich and spoiled and she's basically a prim and proper princess, which we all should expect because she's daughter of the richest man in the universe, but she wasn't annoying. She's smart and pretty like all YA heroines are wont to be but she's got some hidden facets to her personality that I absolutely adored. That scene where she got down on her knees in her gorgeous dress and high heels to tinker with the control panel of an escape pod made me think that well, this chick's pretty cool. She's not only a looker but she's got brains too. (Her ability to walk through a jungle in high heels garners plus point for her. I can't even walk on solid ground in high heels.)

Tarver is an award winning military man. He's handsome and capable and I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him too. He and Lilac are total opposites, which make their interactions highly entertaining. It was amusing to see his confusion, fascination and unbridled interest in Lilac. He's not meant to mingle with the elite upper class but does so and despite being capable of dealing with them expertly, he just doesn't quite fit in and their class standing might have been a point of tension between them.

Panicked crowds, crashing ships and surviving on an unknown planet; these are all situations that Tarver's been trained for and his strength and fierceness and capabilities are all admirable. But while I can say that I liked all of those traits it's their character growth and willingness to change that I approve of best. Lilac's growth was incredible and I found myself adoring her even more for the way she pushed herself to change. The romance was unbearably sweet and real and absolutley swoon-worthy. Tarver and Lilac bickered a lot but once they started to get to know each other that only served to rekindle the attraction they had for each other on the ship. 

I'm not exactly a fan of survival stories but I loved These Broken Stars so much. Excellent characters and wonderful character growth and gorgeous prose? Yes please. While there are a few things questionable about the sci-fi aspect I find that I don't really mind and this book deserves 4 freaking rainbows. 

Also, Starbound #2 (This Shattered World) comes out November 11 2014 which is a LONG, LONG TIME to wait. It's not a continuation of Lilac and Tarver's story - cue ugly cry - but it's totally fine because HAVE YOU READ THAT SUMMARY? It sound so interesting! I can't wait till November and the moment local bookstores stock it I am totes throwing my money at them and grabbing a copy. The fact that it has some Legend by Marie Lu vibes going on is kind of a plus. I just hope the ending doesn't make me bawl like Champion did. Please. No tears. 

Rating:

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

These Broken Stars has a freaking gorgeous cover. How could I not create nail art for it? Plus, it was the perfect opportunity to try out galaxy nails. Yay!

These nails also served as my graduation nails because they matched the blue of my dress. 

Here's a list of the nail polish I used to create these babies.

Base: NARS Ethno Run RIGHT

Silver: OPI Haven't the Foggiest

Blue: Orly Sweet Peacock

"Stars": Orly White Tips

Shimmer overlay: China Glaze Fairy Dust

Isn't it just gorgeous?

I love how my NARS base coat, which is a dark shade of blue, looks darker than it really is thanks to the application of the lighter shades.

I used a sponge to apply the silver and blue. I just dabbed the colors onto the opaque base and applied the white dots which are supposedly stars with a dotting tool.

I layered China Glaze Fairy Dust over it. Doesn't it look marvelous? That shimmer is the best.

I'm all matchy with the book now. 

So what do you guys think? Yay or nay?