This Week's Topic:
Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't/Want To Read From X Genre
My Answer:
My fill-in-the-blank genre is Dystopian. I've been quite fond of this genre since reading Brave New World, which was the sign assigned-reading novel from high school that I actually loved. Dystopian has more than exploded in recent years, especially when it comes to YA. That said, there are quite a few books I haven't read that pretty much everyone else in the bloggersverse seems to have read—or even finished the entire series. The they are::
Book Series:: Starbound, Book #1
Author:: Amie Kaufman (Twitter) & Meagan Spooner (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction
The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.
Why I Picked It:: I met Amie and Meagan at an event a few years back, and was intrigued by both ladies, the story and their writing process, which each writing the male and female leads' POV respectively. And the cover is unbelievably gorgeous, which is a huge pull for me. I've even got an autographed copy. No excuses here.
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Book Series:: Partials Sequence, Book #1
Author:: Dan Wells (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. But sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that that the survival of both humans and Partials rests in her attempts to answer questions about the war's origin that she never knew to ask.
Playing on our curiosity of and fascination with the complete collapse of civilization, Partials is, at its heart, a story of survival, one that explores the individual narratives and complex relationships of those left behind, both humans and Partials alike—and of the way in which the concept of what is right and wrong in this world is greatly dependent on one's own point of view.
Why I Picked It:: This is another case of a gorgeous cover pulling me in. Also, I'm a big fan of Dan's brother, Robison Wells and his Variant series.
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Book Series:: The Darkest Minds, Book #1
Author:: Alexandra Bracken (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
Why I Picked It:: Sounds awesome and I started it a while ago and put it down. I think maybe it was due back to the library, and I couldn't renew.
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Book Series:: The Dwellers, Book #1
Author:: David Estes (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
After her parents and sister are abducted by the Enforcers, seventeen-year-old Adele, a member of the middle-class moon dwellers, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for her parents' crimes of treason.
Against all odds, Adele must escape from the Pen and find her family, while being hunted by a deranged, killing machine named Rivet, who works for the President. She is helped by two other inmates, Tawni and Cole, each of whom have dark secrets that are better left undiscovered. Other than her friends, the only thing she has going for her is a wicked roundhouse kick and two fists that have been well-trained for combat by her father.
At the other end of the social spectrum is Tristan, the son of the President and a sun dweller. His mother is gone. He hates his father. Backed by only his servant and best friend, Roc, he leaves his lavish lifestyle in the Sun Realm, seeking to make something good out of his troubled life.
When a war breaks out within the Tri-Realms, Tristan is thrust into the middle of a conflict that seems to mysteriously follow Adele as she seeks to find her family and uncover her parents true past.
In their world, someone must die.
Why I Picked It:: I'm a member of David's Goodreads group and I haven't read this yet... yep, guilty.
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Book Series:: The Selection, Book #1
Author:: Kiera Cass (Twitter)
Genre(s):: Dystopian
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
Why I Picked It:: I hear about it too much to not have tried it out. Honestly, this premise doesn't interest me a great deal. But people rave on, so I'm curious.
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Book Series:: Legend, Book #1
Authors:: Marie Lu (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Why I Picked It:: I met Marie at the same event as Meagan and Amie. Yes, I that means another unread autographed copy...
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Book Series:: Across the Universe, Book #1
Author:: Beth Revis (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.
Why I Picked It:: I've started and put down this book so many times it's not funny. It's not even that I don't find it interesting. I'm not sure why I keep putting it down, but I do...
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Book Series:: Incarceron, Book #1
Author:: Catherine Fisher
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Steampunk
And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.
Why I Picked It:: The prison premise intrigues me, as does its gorgeous cover.
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Book Series:: The Giver Quartet, Book #1
Author:: Lois Lowry
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Classics
The Giver is set in a future society which is at first presented as a utopia and gradually appears more and more dystopic, so could therefore be considered anti-utopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. Jonas' society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness, in case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. As Jonas receives the memories from his predecessor—the "Giver"—he discovers how shallow his community's life has become.
Why I Picked It:: I've been curious about this one. But when I was younger, I confused he title with an action film... not sure what it was now. But, I started the movie an was intrigued so I stopped watching and will try it out.
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Book Series:: Uglies, Book #1
Author:: Scott Westerfeld (Twitter)
Genre(s):: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction,
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license - for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all.
The choice Tally makes changes her world forever...
Why I Picked It:: Another one everyone talks about. I read the full series synopsis and was confused. So much so, I can't remember what it said. Not sure if I ever will read it.
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