DNF Review: Steelheart (Brandon Sanderson)

Title: Steelheart
Series: The Reckoners, Book 1
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Ember (Delacorte)
US Release Date: September 24, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Superheroes
Content Rating: Teen (Part One: violence, killing)
Format Read: Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.

Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart — the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning — and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

*          *          *

**I did not finish this book.** 
I stopped at Part Two (Page 118).

Series: This is the first book in The Reckoners trilogy. All books in the series have been released and are available for purchase.

I have enjoyed several of Sanderson's stories (his Alcatraz series is a particular favorite), so over the years I collected all of the Reckoners books, even though I prefer to avoid dark revenge stories like the series advertised to be. This year, however, I finally decided to pass on it and let my copies go, but not before at least reading the first few pages of the first book, Steelheart, just in case.

And then I couldn't stop. Sanderson has a quick and engaging writing style with long but engrossing action scenes and smooth dialogue, and while it was a revenge story the book's mood was light despite deadly violence and ruthless villains. David was a bright boy who knew his stuff and stuck to his guns (figuratively and literally), even if he could be a bit bumbling at times and could not stop thinking about Megan. The setting was odd and hard to picture, and I wasn't particularly impressed with the Epics and their powers, but to my surprise I quickly found myself some 100 pages in and quite enjoying myself.

And then the action ended. As they traversed and hid in the bizarre setting and talked at length about the unimpressive Epics, I immediately lost interest in the story and started flipping pages, looking for when the action picked back up again. When I discovered it would be a few chapters, nearly 40 pages of more traversing and talking, I set the book aside to consider my enthusiasm to continue. With the action-packed opening behind and the revenge plot looming ahead, it didn't take long to realize my complete lack of interest in seeing David's story through, and I resolutely ended my read at Part Two.

If you love superpower stories, and especially enjoyed Marissa Meyer's Renegades, then I highly recommend you give Steelheart a try. Sadly, it just wasn't for me.


STRENGTHS (Part One)

• Quick and engaging writing style
• Long, engrossing action scenes
• Smooth dialogue

WEAKNESSES (Part One)

• Bizarre, hard-to-picture setting
• Unimpressive Epics and their powers (probably just me, I'm so over superheroes)
• When the action ends, the story becomes a lot of walk and talk

For Fans Of: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

DNF Review: Die For Me (Amy Plum)

Title: Die For Me
Series: Revenants, Book 1
Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 12, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Told: First Person (Kate), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (up to Page 126: death by subway train)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again. 

*          *          *

I did not finish this book. I stopped at Chapter 16 (36% through).

The full Revenants trilogy has been lingering on my shelves for years, so when it caught my eye yet again last week I finally decided to give it a try. I recalled this 2011 release was supposed to resemble Twilight, and boy did it. A "normal" girl moves to a new place and catches the eye of a beautiful immortal boy who accidentally but irrevocably entangles her in his dangerous paranormal world. Also like Twilight, I found the writing inexplicably engrossing, and despite the stupidity of a young girl insta-falling for a "bad" boy, I couldn't put the book down.

Until Chapter 15. The confusing paranormal element had been revealed, leaving just the romance to look forward to - and I almost never look forward to romance. There I was, reading about their sweet date and gorgeous view (Paris and Vincent), and I was immediately bored.

All interest suddenly lost, I searched the reviews for how the paranormal elements might intriguingly expand and add action to the romance. I read the summaries of the next two books, looking for twists and reasons for me to continue reading. But sadly, I didn't find any. Clearly Kate continues to be a teenage girl making bad decisions in the name of instalove, and after I really didn't find the paranormal element all that plausible I just didn't feel like devoting any more of my hard-earned reading time to the rest of the series.

Do I regret trying it? Surprisingly, no. I've been curious about it for years and now know exactly what it's about. And although it wasn't my kind of read, with its engaging writing style, unique paranormal elements, and (as far as I read, anyway) innocent teen romance, I could easily recommend it for paranormal romance lovers who enjoy exotic settings.

DNF Review: A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares (Krystal Sutherland)

Title: A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares
Series: standalone
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Told: Third Person (Esther), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (strong language, underage drinking, innuendo, violence, abuse, attempted suicide, parental neglect, body parts, disturbing serial crimes...)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Ever since Esther Solar’s grandfather met Death, her entire family has been doomed to suffer one great fear in their lifetime—a fear that will eventually lead each and every one of them to their graves. Take Esther’s father, for instance: He’s an agoraphobe who hasn’t left the basement in six years. Then there’s her twin brother, Eugene, whose fear of the dark goes far beyond the things that go bump in the night. And her mother, Rosemary, is absolutely terrified of bad luck.

As for Esther, she’s managed to escape the curse…so far. She doesn’t yet have a great fear because she avoids pretty much everything. Elevators, small spaces, crowds—anything that might trigger a phobia is off-limits and is meticulously recorded in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares. 

Esther thinks she has it all figured out, until she’s reunited with an old elementary school classmate—and first crush—Jonah Smallwood. The encounter leaves her stranded at a bus stop and swindled out of her phone, all her cash, a Fruit Roll-Up she’d been saving, and her list—not to mention her dignity. But the theft is also the beginning of an unexpected friendship between the two, one that sends the pair on a journey of self-discovery as they try to break the curse that’s consumed Esther’s family. Together they face their greatest fears, one debilitating phobia at a time, only to discover the one fear they hadn’t counted on: love.

*          *          *

I did not finish this book. I stopped at Chapter 27 (Page 240 of 348).

I tried to finish this book. I really did. For over 2 months I tried again and again, setting it aside for a week or two and then picking it back up to try once more. But with every try the story further depressed and eventually disturbed me until I simply couldn't continue.

This isn't to say the book is bad - on the contrary. It's an engaging story with an original plot, a snarky and unique voice, and an air of The Addams Family, and for those who enjoy grittier realistic fiction with a touch of the macabre I would highly recommend it. But for an easily depressed soul such as myself who really can't handle contemporary fiction without a soppy romance focus, this story was just too real for me - with its colorful, catty cover and interesting summary I was fooled into believing I could handle any heavier content, and was sorely mistaken. The book has a serious dark side in the spiraling phobias of Esther's family, as well as Jonah's abusive situation, and to deal with it the understandably rather unstable teens drink and act out to excess. (There is also quite a lot of strong language, which always puts me off.) Just one of these things, possibly two, and I might have been able to soldier through, but all of it together left me ever more melancholy with every chapter until in a declaration of self-kindness after the disturbing Chapter 26 I finally allowed myself to let the book go unfinished.

I did lightly skim the remaining 100 or so pages and am glad to say the story does have a redemptive conclusion. But it came in the wake of even more unsettling content, and I am relieved I did not subject myself to it fully.

Conclusion: If you love darker realistic fiction with playful premises, do not pass this up. But if like me you require your contemporary reads to possess a large amount of fluff and good feels, don't let the flowery purple cover fool you - there's sadly little of either to be had in this book.

For Fans Of: The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle (my review)

DNF Review: Starfall (Melissa Landers)

Title: Starfall
Series: Starflight #2
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Told: Third Person (Cassia, Kane), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (Up to Page 64: violence, kissing, mistreatment)
Format Read: Hardcover (library)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home, but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend...with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee plan a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, Cassia isn't exactly in need of heroics—she's claimed her birthright as Eturia's queen, but has inherited a war-torn planet simmering with rebellion. Cassia must make alliances, and Kane, the bastard son of a merchant, isn't a choice that will earn her any friends. Kane knows he will never find someone to replace Cassia—and is certain she returns his feelings—but how can he throw away his own promising future waiting on a queen?

When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family's complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is.

*          *          *

I did not finish this book. I stopped at Chapter 8 (Page 64).

This companion novel picks up about a year after Starflight, this time focusing on Banshee crewmates Cassia and Kane. Although I really wasn't looking forward to their trademark bickering at the forefront, the book opens with them barely speaking to each other and without the bickering I found the dialogue seriously lacking. They are also separated almost immediately, and since the two of them together was what made either of them shine, apart they were rather dull. Especially Kane, although he didn't get much page time in the beginning as he was ignored for quite a few chapters to allow Cassia's story to make rapid progress (that unfortunately skipped over the interesting bits).

I expected Starfall to be a continuance of their Starflight story of adventure on the run, but was sorely disappointed when the run ended several short chapters in and the story instead turned to an overused one of political upheaval and rebellion. (I guess since I loved the first book so much I never really read the summary.) Cassia's common "royal rebel struggling with love of a servant" story just didn't offer anything particularly unique to engage me, and although Kane and the rest of the crew were finally returning to the scene in Chapter 8, and the summary promised a threatening mafia, by then I had lost all interest and couldn't muster enough curiosity to press on, let alone finish.

I will continue to love and highly recommend Starflight (you can read my raving review here), but will sadly be suggesting a pass on this sequel.

DNF Review: Reawakened (Colleen Houck)

Title: Reawakened
Series: Reawakened, Book 1
Author: Colleen Houck
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: August 11, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy Adventure
Told: First Person (Lily), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (up to P95: car accident, mental and physical manipulation)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

*          *          *

DNF Review
(DNF at Page 95)

In a Sentence: While the premise was interesting, I couldn't connect with the writing, the main character, or the story, and the magic was unsettling.

I'm intrigued by all things Egyptian (I once even tried to learn hieroglyphics), so when I heard about Reawakened I was eager to read it. But despite the exciting premise, right from the start there was something off about the writing that unbalanced everything else, and I found the story rather unbelievable and a little disturbing.

I'm always willing to suspend some disbelief for the sake of entertainment, but here I struggled as the situations felt way too coincidental or just downright dictated. Main character Lily, who was supposed to be really smart, was instead rather dense, but I could tell it wasn't her fault but the story's dictating her personality and knowledge - and the knowledge around her - out of necessity. (She loved to study people but had somehow never heard of anthropology (the study of humans), and her college brochures didn't even list it as an option??) Then when she came into contact with Amon, her reactions were odd, and after a lot of talking and proof that should've persuaded a "smart" person like her it was something insignificant that convinced her to believe him. (My literal reaction: "What? That she believes? Seriously?")

And then there was the magic. While I was intrigued by the power to allow one person to live off the life force of another, I found the "necessary" slavish addition highly disturbing as Amon was able to control not only Lily's body with commands but alter her mind and emotions, diverting her thoughts when she focused on things he didn't want her to and calming her when her instincts told her to fear. Although the book insisted there was innocence to it I was unsettled by the way it was handled, and the interesting bits were soon suffocated by the troubling ones.

In the end though, the writing was the final nail in the sarcophagus for me. With flat dialogue and awkward movement on top of the dictated characters and disturbing magic, I struggled to maintain interest despite the plot heading overseas. Clinging to the still intriguing premise I hoped the book would get better, but when a serious case of backstory infodumping began on the plane ride my interest dropped to zero and I finally decided it was time to throw in the Egyptian cotton towel.

Conclusion: While I really thought this would be just my kind of read, I couldn't connect with any of the elements and lengthy infodumping proved too much for me to continue.

Try It Again?: Doubtful