Review: Ask Again Later (Liz Czukas)

Title: Ask Again Later
Series: standalone
Author: Liz Czukas
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Light Contemporary
Told: First Person (Heart), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (strong underage drinking, some strong language, badly behaving teens, streaking, kissing)
Format Read: Paperback (won)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A relatively fun but ultimately dizzying prom story with a somewhat sweet romance but serious teens gone wild issues.

Ask Again Later is one book that tells two parallel stories: Heads (prom date: Troy) and Tails (prom date: Ryan). They start out relatively separate but eventually merge at the conclusion into one fateful end.

If this book had just been the Tails story, I probably would've given it 3.5/4 Scribbles. Despite misunderstandings and misdirected jealousy, it was essentially fun with friends that ended in a sweet romance. But then there was the Heads story. The kind of train-wreck I pointedly avoid, it started off bad and quickly degraded into a series of "what else can go wrong to make this night even worse" events escalated by underage drinking (lots and lots and lots of it), stupid pranks, a disturbingly indifferent brother, and some seriously unstable teens that the limo driver really should've called the cops on.

The book started out innocently enough with a playful voice and short chapters, but after the first Heads chapter I was wary. The Tails chapters quickly became a relief from the Heads storyline, but they just weren't enough to save my quickly plummeting rating as the book progressed. Right from the start I had trouble keeping the parallel prom stories separate (I couldn't even remember who was Heads and who Tails), and when they eventually intertwined to share the same chapters it got so confusing that my head ached trying to mentally keep them straight. Not something one is looking for in a fun, flirty contemporary romance.

On the plus side I did like Heart and her diverse crew (even if I couldn't tell a few of them apart). The writing was engaging and, although the story was seriously confusing, the playful voice kept me reading. The romance was complicated but ended sweet, and despite some frustrating miscommunication I shipped it.

If only it had just been the Tails story. *sigh*

Conclusion: Despite the confusing back and forth parallel stories and bad teen behavior, Ask Again Later was an interesting premise with a shipable romance that I would recommend for more mature readers looking for a decent prom story. Due to the older content and language though, I think I'll be passing on any more Czukas stories.

Scribble Rating: 

2.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Nyxia (Scott Reintgen)

Title: Nyxia
Series: The Nyxia Triad, Book 1
Author: Scott Reintgen
Publisher: Crown Books (Random House)
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Thriller
Told: First Person (mostly Emmett), Present Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, attack, murder)
Format Read: ARC (won)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Every life has a price in this sci-fi thriller that has the nonstop action of The Maze Runner and the high-stakes space setting of Illuminae. This is the first in a new three-book series called the Nyxia Triad that will take a group of broken teens to the far reaches of the universe and force them to decide what they're willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune.

Emmett Atwater isn't just leaving Detroit; he's leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family. 

Forever. 

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden--a planet that Babel has kept hidden--where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe. 

But Babel's ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won't forever compromise what it means to be human.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: An entertaining teen sci-fi thriller with an engrossing competition and diverse cast but very confusing description and way too many characters to keep straight.

>>STRENGTHS

• Main character Emmett was one of the best teen male protagonists I've ever read. He didn't swear like a sailor or constantly think about sex as most other teen male protagonists in my reading experience tend to do. He also didn't objectify girls, instead treating them just like the guys, and even when he eventually fell for one he treated her with respect. He was playful and snarky but with a dark streak and quirky anger issues that made him real and relatable. I thrilled at his triumphs and despaired at his losses and became so invested in his competition position that I worried about the scoreboard as much as he did.

• Although the contest setup was rather Divergent with its shifting scoreboards and somewhat Hunger Games with its deadly consequences, the addition of the mysterious and almost magical Nyxia material was unique and intriguing. The story was strung with dark and exciting twists, some of which I saw coming but generally enjoyed regardless. I especially anticipated the last chapter's twist but it only made the conclusion even more tense and had me literally on the edge of my seat as I read it.

>>WEAKNESSES

• I had two great struggles with Nyxia, the first being description. I couldn't picture much of anything for some mysterious reason, which meant I was very confused where the characters, settings, ships, suits, tech, aliens, and pretty much anything else described was concerned. But despite many paused moments of great ponder, my confusion didn't disrupt my reading too much.

• My other great struggle was the massive cast of characters, the important of which numbered almost 30 by the end. With ten initial competitors plus ship crew, family members, and Emmett's flashback friends, it took over half the book to mostly but never fully keep everyone straight. And then two-thirds into the book, a whole new bunch of characters were introduced, renewing my confusion. Needless to say Emmett was the only one I could recall with any certainty by the end, and I'll definitely need to re-read this book before the second or be completely and hopelessly lost.

• I also wasn't crazy about the romance. Since Emmett treats the girls just like the guys for most of the book there wasn't even a hint of romance until the last 100 pages or so, and because of this it was a rather bad case of  instalove that felt very rushed and sadly culminated quickly. Given the situation though I guess it was realistic, and for the most part I'll be interested to see how it expands in the next book (especially since it'll be shouldering some serious baggage).

Conclusion: While I couldn't picture much of the description and struggled to keep the characters straight, I did become quite engrossed in the thrilling competition and really connected to the main character. After the "End of Part 1" cliffhanger ending I look forward to continuing Emmett's story in the next book, Nyxia Unleashed, and highly recommend Nyxia if you enjoy sci-fi thrillers.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Alienated (Melissa Landers)

Title: Alienated
Series: Alienated, Book 1
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction Romance
Told: Third Person Multiple (Cara & Aelyx), Past Tense
Rating: Older Teen (heavy sensuality, some language and alien swearing, violence)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased used)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. 

Handpicked to host one of the first-ever L’eihr exchange students, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A tense but steamy contemporary sci-fi romance about prejudice and conviction.

I originally read an ARC of Alienated in 2013, but as can sometimes happen I never finished my review. While getting said ARC signed some time later, the author informed me a big change had been made to the final published version and insisted I re-read a finished copy before the second book. I therefore put off continuing the series until I got my hands on a paperback, and eventually acquiring one finally picked it up for a re-read. Because of all the innuendo I almost gave up only a few chapters in (I'd forgotten how bad it was for asexual me), but with the second book now waiting on my shelf I decided to persevere.

Despite the colorful dreamlike cover, Alienated is at its heart a tense story of dangerous prejudice - on both sides. Human racism against visiting aliens is a common scenario, so it was interesting to have the feelings mutual for a change as both humans and aliens assume the worst and badly react accordingly. It isn't a plot I generally enjoy, but Melissa's writing style brought a fun voice to the serious situation and kept me reading even as the tension grew past the boiling point.

Cara was too crass and flippant for me to buy her being a brainy valedictorian, but she was a girl of conviction - once she decided to join the exchange program she never wavered from her commitment, even when it lost her everything - and I admired her for it. Aelyx was arrogant and conceited and negative but fiercely loyal to family, even over his own personal desires - until he fell for Cara of course, but by then she'd become family too so the sentiment still holds. Despite his many faults he grew on me, and although his relationship with Cara was heavily physical I shipped them the second read around.

Conclusion: While the content was a little too steamy for my asexual tastes, it was a tense and relatively engaging contemporary sci-fi. Since the romantic pair should be separated most of the next book, which would keep the physical romance to a minimum (I hope), I might be interested in seeing where the story goes.

Remember: If you're going to give Alienated a try, don't read the ARC, read a finished copy.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles