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Monday 14 April 2014

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Breathe (Breathe, #1)RATING:1.5/5

I am extremely sad to say that BREATHE did not live up to my expectation whatsoever. I remember Breathe being one of my most anticipated releases of last year. Needless to say, I’m not disappointed that I waited this long before I finally got around to reading it.


The world has gone through an extremely rough time. Trees all over the world have  been dying off and now
there isn't enough oxygen left for the worlds population to live on. So, the government put its people through “The Switch.” Putting up domes in major cities around the world, the government found a way to manufacture the oxygen that we need to breathe. 

Bea is a lowly “auxiliary,” forced to walk only three miles per hour (unless she wants a fine) and her family can only afford powdered and chemically manufactured food. Bea’s best friend Quinn lives a much nicer life-style. Being a Premium, his family can afford all the oxygen they need and then some. They’re able to exercise, do the dance with no pants, and anything else that requires a high amount of oxygen consumption. Quinn has a new crush at school, Alina. From what Quinn can see she’s smokin’ hot, but Alina doesn’t want anything to do with him.

One day, Quinn decides to take Bea outside the dome on a camping trip since neither of them have ever been. So they load up with oxygen tanks and set out. But just before they reach border patrol, they run into Alina and she desperately needs her help. Quinn, having this massive crush on her, decides to help her with no questions asked. Little does he know that she’s running away to re-join the resistance. It’s no longer safe for her within the dome of Breathe.

From here, things take off and Quinn and Bea are introduced to the resistance pretty much right off the bat because there was NO DOUBT that Quinn and Bea would betray Alina and the resistance. Why wouldn’t they betray them, you ask? Because they LOOK like they would make good members. Alina TRUSTS them. She thinks they’re GOOD PEOPLE. Well, miss Alina. I think you SHOULD have been expelled from the resistance because you clearly don’t take this thing seriously enough. It was SO easy for Quinn and Bea to convince Alina to let them into the resistance, even though she pretty much met them for the first time at border patrol. Alina literally claims that they’re all best friends by the end of this EVEN THOUGH SHE HARDLY SPENT ANY TIME WITH QUINN AT ALL.

All of the relationships between any of the characters felt so 2D and fake and forced. This might have been because all of the characters were also so 2D and fake and forced. Nothing felt real, there was no real depth to ANYTHING in this book. GAH! IT JUST MAKES ME SO FRUSTRATED.

The plot is pretty much what held this book together for me. This whole idea of having to buy our oxygen and then having a resistance trying to re-plant trees and things (which would never actually work out considering how long it takes for a tree to grow) sounds so COOL. But because the characters were so flat, because the relationships were so forced, because it was so easy to get into the resistance I wasn’t really able to fully enjoy the plot since I was busy being mad by almost every other element in this book.

Needless to say (unfortunately), I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’ve been reading for a while. I have no doubt it will frustrate you on some level as well. Although, I do think this would make a good starting book for people who are just starting to get into reading because it's not a very huge book to process.

Sunday 6 April 2014

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth by Beth RevisRATING: 5/5
Ho. Ly. Cow. THAT WAS SO FREXING GOOD!!!!!

As the last book in the Across the Universe trilogy, I had high expectation for the finale. Admittedly, when I first started it I was disappointed. It seemed like Elder still couldn’t get his shit together and Amy wasn’t doing much better.

But wow, did I ever underestimate these two. The things they were willing to do, the things they were willing to sacrifice. It just about took my breath away. These two kids were phenomenal decision makers when it really came down to it. They had more sense than both the shipborns and earthborns put together. They took the time and effort required to gather together the information needed that enabled them to make these hefty decisions. And did they ever make those decisions. The fearlessness both Amy and Elder used to protect those relying on them and even those who weren’t was just… I have no words.

The plot twists in this novel were phenomenal! Although I was able to predict a couple of them, there were many that I never saw coming and one that literally made me go “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” out loud. And I NEVER do that. EVER. Needless to say, the twists to this book were pretty amazing. This book was amazing (clearly I don't know what synonyms are).

And not only that, but the new centauri-earth was amazing (that glass stuff was incredible!). Revis described it in such detail and everything was so different and lethal from sol-earth while at the same time everything also felt so similar and safe. I don’t think there was a better way that she could have constructed it.

Needless to say, this trilogy is easily one of my new favourites. I will push it onto anyone who will listen and maybe even onto a few who won’t. If you haven’t read this book yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? That was the first question that popped into my head when I finished the book. Why had I waited so long? I’m so glad this was the titled I picked from my TBR jar this month. SO GLAD.