REVIEW: The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (The Murder Complex #1)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Source: Edelweiss*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

My Review

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings was a fantastic dystopian that had me gripping for the next chapter and kept me on the tip of my toes. I was throughly enraptured!



Meadow was trained by her father her whole life to survive, to kill or be killed in a world where murder was practically the norm. There are glimpses of this cruel and unusual training and I’m sure parts of it will take the reader aback. I really got a sense of who Meadow was, what was important to her and what truly went through her mind. She was very protective of her family and was willing to do just about anything to keep them alive, especially her young sister. Meadow was stronger than she looked. She didn’t take pride in her killing, but she didn’t regret it either. While I knew it was wrong, I understood that Meadow needed to do such things to survive and I was grateful for Cummings for keeping it that way and not sugarcoating it.



I liked Meadow, but I loved Zephyr because he was so different compared to Meadow. He, too did what he could to survive, but he was street smart, someone who put his head down to not be noticed. He was the comic relief when things got real serious. Zephyr was funny, sarcastic, sweet and warm and he was really too cute for words. And while he was the light in the book, he also was the darkness. He felt extreme guilt for killing people though he didn’t really have recollection of the actual killing. He felt like he wasn’t in control of his body. I felt true sorrow for Zephyr because it was obvious that he felt remorse and disgust.

I was impressed by the world building because it was throughly explained. I was able to adapt myself into this world easily and know exactly what was going on, what it was all about through the eyes of the two main characters. The world was complex, but not hard to grasp. There were different elements that really made this world unique from the making of the Initiative, to the implanted Pins, the Catalogue numbers on every citizen, the 4 Commandments that are not meant to be broken, The Pulse and the nanities. Even some small phrases that were specific to the originality if this book were fit for the world. The world itself was described thoroughly. I could see how bleak and frightening it could be, how cut throat and lonely as well. The people in this world were either starved for food or afraid of being murdered and the food given was just not cutting it and the Initiative wasn't protecting them. Even to get a job was brutal. I loved it and cringed at the same time. It did have a reminiscent feeling between Divergent, The Hunger Games, and the movie Hanna, but it still held its own. 



I think my favorite part of the whole book besides everything else I already mentioned has to do with the pacing. It was steady in the beginning, letting me get a feel of the world, allowing me to get to know Meadow and Zephyr and get attached on some significant level. I saw the lives they lived, the ways in which they survived, and how both became their own personal monster they couldn’t really control. The pace picks up drastically to a certain point and from there it becomes a whirlwind of twists and turns and revelations. It was super thrilling and exciting and totally left my heart racing.



Overall, I adored The Murder Complex. It was a job well done and oh god, I need book two so bad it’s like I’m on some serious withdrawal. 


REVIEW: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #3)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Source: Edelweiss via publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.
In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

My Review

In Under the Never Sky, Rossi impressed me with the world she created. In Through the Ever Night, she floored me with an upstanding, surpassing sequel that made me love Aria, Perry and Roar one million times more. And now in Into the Still Blue, Rossi completely took my breath away and left me whole and satisfied at such an end for a trilogy I’ve been holding so close to my heart. 



What I truly love about this last and final book is the balance of everything. It had developed closeness between characters, descriptive world building that never seemed to amaze me despite how familiar I was with it and adventure through the journey to getting to the Still Blue. The stakes were higher, deaths were inevitable, the love whether friendship or romance between one another was stronger and Outsider and Dweller came together. Best of all, the questions that have been roaming through my mind got answered.

There was no doubt in my mind that Aria and Perry’s relationship was rock solid and it continued to be throughout the whole book, probably more so with everything they went through. Like in the previous book, they had their own battles to contend with and I thought through each situation, they persevered. Even in the first book, I knew their relationship was authentic and natural. I appreciated that Rossi continued on with that here. While Perry and Roar’s relationship was rocky in this one, Aria with Roar was even stronger than ever, which gave me hope for all three of them. I really loved this trio so much. They were such a great team.

I thought the characters in this book went through so much more and not just the main three. There were definitely lots of struggle and pain but not without glory and triumph. Many characters who I hated were able to sway me and bring themselves some sort of redemption. And of course, this book was not without loss and sacrifice that left me with a heavy heart. I liked that a lot of acceptance and tolerance of one another seeped slowly, but surely into everyone. It was hard to see the hate, but even better to see the love.

Sable, the villain in all of this, although I hated him, was truly despicable. He was narcissistic, egotistical and oh so manipulative. I truly got to see what kind of leader and monster he was and how far he was willing to go to get what he wanted. He didn’t hesitate and was just so ruthless in nearly every way. He also had that creepy factor when it came to some situations in the novel; he definitely made my skin crawl. 

Into the Still Blue showed the life in the cave and the life in the Komodo. This was nice to see because it showed the different worlds of the Dwellers and the Outsiders, but it also showed just how much they needed to band together in order to survive and make it to the Still Blue. I thought Rossi did a great job of showing how some decisions were not going to be easy and not everyone was going to have a happy ending. Rossi didn’t hold back on this aspect and I thought she stayed true to the story. There were a few surprising revelations and twists, not so much to give too much shock value. However, the suspense of what was to happen next gave way for more than one heart stopping moment. In general, there was plenty of action, brutal beating and killing, and on the edge scenes that made this book that much more enjoyable and thrilling.

All in all, I thought Into the Still Blue was a mesmerizing finale. It was rich, beautiful, heartbreaking and certainly hopeful. I will surely miss the Aria, Perry and Roar as they have become friends I have gotten to know these past few years. 

*Thanks to HarperCollins for sending a copy for review

I was not compensated for my opinion

Read my review for book two: Through the Ever Night

Read my review for book one: Under the Never Sky

Favorite Quotes

*quotes taken from an eARC, all are subject to change from final finished copy.

The rough-edged hunter with the fierce glare she'd met half a year ago was almost gone. He was confident now, steadier. Still fearsome, but controlled. He was everything she'd expected him to become.

"Yes. Of course... I'll always... like you, Aria."
"I'll always like you too."

You know how hard it is to find trustworthy people. How impossible it is. People will turn on each other for the smallest reasons. For a meal, they will toss a friend aside. For a warm coat, they will stab each other in the back...

"So he got Brooke and her," Soren continued, indignant. "How does that even happen? He barely talks!"

"You know I'll go anywhere with you, Perry."

"Keep her safe."
"Of course. With my life."

"We all have the potential to do terrible things, Soren. But we also have the potential to overcome our mistakes."

"Your pants falling down is natural?"
He grinned. "Yeah. If they fall any further, it's going to be very natural."

"We can bring them together. Can't you see it? Can't you picture what we could be?"
"I can picture all the ways I want to end your life."

"Fine. Then I love you, my little Night Crawler."

REVIEW: Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan (Uninvited #1)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Source: Edelweiss via publisher*
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan was a different kind of dystopian novel that really caught my attention. It had a unique premise and the thing that really drew me to the book was the whole HTS gene. I liked the way Jordan incorporated this into this world and changed the life of a girl by the shocking revelation that she would be a killer one day. 



The main character, Davy Hamilton was picture perfect. She was super talented at a very young age, loved and admired by friends, teachers, and other parents and even envied by many. She had loving parents and a boyfriend who adored her. All of this came crashing down on her and it completely changed her vision of the world around her and even herself. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Davy was weak, just closed-minded in the beginning. She was in denial, which was understandable, but what I loved was how determined she was to prove that she wasn’t a monster or the killer people seemed to believe. She fought hard with herself and I think knowing Sean and Gil made her realize that they weren’t so different as her. She did struggle to accept what happened to her but she tried her damn hardest not to let the HTS gene define her.

 

I liked being in Davy’s head and experiencing her hardship as being a carrier. I got to her see go through being at her lowest point, then her highest, and even when she had to make a life altering decision. But what I really liked more than being in Davy’s head was the short, small snippets before the chapters that showed what was going on outside of Davy’s immediate world. It should how brutal people were, how carriers had their own self-fulfilling prophecy, and how chaotic things really seemed to be when scrutinized. I wish these glimpses were more prominent in the novel because they brought more understanding to world itself. 



There was romance in the book for those looking for something like that. However, it is not very heavy. The novel is more focused on Davy’s struggles, what she goes through being a carrier and how she has to survive being labeled dangerous among the dangerous. However, the romance has some serious potential. The little that I did get was both satisfying while still leaving me wanting more between Sean and Davy. 

Sean was still mystery to me, even now, but what she showed and the way he acted had me rooting for him all the way.

So basically this book centers around the HTS gene and I really loved that concept because I thought it really relates to today’s world. People still judge and discriminate because of label or appearance or because what society believes. The HTS gene in this book is basically that label. The people in this book look at the carriers like they are already killers. It didn’t matter if they knew that person before and had positive past encounters with them. I thought Jordan did a great job of balancing out this part of the book and incorporating this into Davy’s life while still showing what’s truly going on around her that she’s not aware of. Jordan doesn’t reveal everything, she does it bit by bit and this is what makes the book truly enticing. Even when things get revealed, there’s still so much left to know, I’m itching for the next book!


All in all,  I loved Uninvited. It had a great storyline, a main character than stands out among the rest, and a world that’s so much more than I could have imagined.

*Thanks to HarperCollins for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion.

REVIEW: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #2)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 8, 2013
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death. 
Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first.

Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? 

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi was a spectacular follow up to Under the Never Sky. I couldn’t have asked for a better, more riveting sequel! 

The novel picks up right where UTNS left off with Perry and Aria reuniting. It started off good, a strong lead in to the hope and tension that circulated throughout the novel. The reuniting of my favorite heroes meant good and bad things to come and while I expected some of these things, plenty of times I didn’t.

Through the Ever Night was more than just about Perry and Aria. While there was romance between them, I felt that it was set back to allow more important things to come forward that they needed to deal with. I cannot say that those stolen moments were not cute. I adored them together the most, even if it was short and fleeting. There was definitely more tension between Aria and Perry because of their situation and circumstances and those trials, tests and doubts solidified their relationship for me. 

I felt Aria and Perry grew more individually; strong separately, but stronger still together.  Aria was no longer the lost Dweller, terrified of the outside. She really embraced who she was even though she still struggled with where she belonged. Perry showed a more vulnerable and insecure side when it came to his feelings and his relationship with Aria. He struggled with wanting to protect the Tides while still doing the right thing in the end no matter how much his people disagreed.


Because both Aria and Perry had their own scores to settle, I think this added just a bit more adventure and thrill for the storyline. The friendship between Aria and Roar that was established in the first book definitely deepened in this book. It was probably my most favorite part because their bond was different from the Perry and Aria bond, but just as touching and heartfelt than ever. I liked seeing the previous secondary characters I barely got a glimpse of get bigger parts, even though some of those characters made me want to punch them in the face. 

Plot wise there were many problems the main characters had to face whether they be directly or indirectly related to one another. Each faced a whole lot throughout the novel and it really added depth to everything. This book wasn’t solely set on Aria and Perry finding the Still Blue, though that was their main goal. Other elements were definitely at play (Aether storms, Hess, the Horns, Dwellers vs Outsiders) coupled with Rossi’s talent to really emphasize the world surrounding the characters, there wasn’t room to be bored. There were just plenty of surprising twists that kept me on my toes and there wasn’t an ounce of pain, betrayal, loss and heartache that I didn’t feel along the way. 

Overall, Through the Ever Night was far beyond anything I ever expected. Rossi really outdone herself and all I can say is that I loved every single page of what she created here. 

Read my review for Under the Never Sky, the first book in this amazing trilogy!

REVIEW: The Ward by Jordana Frankel

Title: The Ward
Author: Jordana Frankel
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Source: Edelweiss* 480 pages
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.

However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

The cover to this book is what originally drew me in and had me begging to read it. Sadly, the contents of the this is not as striking as its cover. The Ward by Jordana Frankel was a book I wanted to love so bad, but it failed to meet any of my expectations. 

What I did like:



Main character and heroine: Ren


It took me awhile to warm up to Ren, but I think in the end I could say that I liked her. She wasn’t the best of heroines or even that great, but Ren was interesting. Her reckless adventurous side intrigued me, but her love and devotion for her sister Axen impressed me. I liked that Ren wanted to be a racer even when she knew it was dangerous and mostly filled with boys. She was bold, daring, and never backed down from a challenge and I found these traits set her a part from the rest. At times, Ren was able to make me laugh with her snarky comments and with her amusing inner dialogue. 



The passionate doctor


He was gangly, awkward, and a little weird but I adored him. He wasn’t physically strong, nor could he swim or even be a match for the other guy in this book, but he was smarter than everyone else. He was the only one who wanted to make a difference and actually do something in The Ward. He was sweet and I hope that Ren could see what I saw in him too. 



Ren and Axen


Ren didn’t want to love or care for anyone for fear of being alone. She has always looked out for herself, but allowed this younger girl to worm her way in. Ren becomes BFFs with Axen, basically considering her a sister with no blood relation and risks everything to save her from her sickness. It was inspiring. 


What I didn’t like:



Ren’s issues with breathing and not breathing. It’s ridiculous. It's just too much of this..

"Then I can breathe, and I realize that I hadn't been."

"I have to force myself to breathe."

"I can't breathe, there's nothing for me to breathe."

"I exhale, realizing that I too wasn't breathing." 

And my personal favorite..

"I hold my breath... but I already am."

*rolls eyes* And that's just some. It goes on and on nearly every chapter.



Descriptions, you are too much. 

I like great descriptions that easily allow me to build the world in my mind. Yes, I was able to see some parts (especially with the helpful cover) but most of the descriptions in this book were too much and over the top. I felt that the more it was described, the more jumbled it seemed. The descriptions for bubbles, the buildings, the beginning race, the underwater crash and some more were so freaking long and drawn out I thought it was never going to end.



You can never have too much plot.

Wrong. You can and this book was all over the place that I could barely follow. There was the racing, the DI government, the sickness called Blight, the freshwater, the science, the history of the spring, the Tetai, the people of the Isle vs. the Ward, the Upstate, and the cure. Every single thing in this book was interesting on its own, but it’s one after the other and it got so overwhelming. I found myself going back and rereading more than I could ever want. All of these things I mentioned were touched upon maybe some more than others, but nothing gets developed fully because too much was going on. Even now, I’m not even sure what the heck I read. 



Overall, The Ward wasn’t everything it was cracked up to be. While I enjoyed some parts of this book, it just didn’t deliver the amazing I expected. It lacked in something I can’t pinpoint and most of the book just annoyed me. It was too long, too hard to understand, and didn’t give me any gut wrenching emotions it should have.

*Thanks to HarperCollins for sending a copy for review

REVIEW: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Title: Crewel
Author: Gennifer Albin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
Format: egalley* 368 pages
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.

Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.

Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Crewel was not lacking in creativity. In fact, it was brimming with originality. Gennifer Albin put together a book with ingenious world building and stunningly illustrious writing. What I expected out of Crewel was beyond anything I ever imagined and more. 


In Arras, everything is controlled by the Guild; who you marry, when and how many kids you can have, what you eat, what your future job will be is all decided for you. Men are superior to woman, families with children are segregated between female and male, and young girls with special abilities are taken to be Spinsters who control the fabric of life in Arras. The world that Gennifer Albin created and built from the bottom up was really brought to life in Crewel. It felt surreal, nearly dream-like, but it also felt substantial and essential in the way Albin described the inner workings of it all. It was described in great detail, explained to the extent of allowing yourself to be placed within just like Adelice. I didn’t just read about Arras, I felt like I was living and breathing in it. Albin gets down to the very core of this world with the Spinsters, the Guild, and all the officials that control Arras. Not only do we know how this world works, but we also learn why and how it came to be. There is so many elements to this world that make it work, grow and thrive. It’s not only fascinating, it’s intricate and complex. While Albin gives us a lot to start with, she still allows room for interest and yearning to know more. 

Main character and spunky, sharp-tongued Adelice Lewys was the star of this novel. She may have been frightened by the her new surroundings, but I felt and saw the fire within her and her will to fight for what she believed was right. She was definitely a little innocent and naive about a lot, but Adelice was intelligent and she cared. Although she listened, followed, and went along with her training and learning, she still knew her place, knew what she wanted and she never lost herself to the privileges that was given to her as an Eligible. Adelice cared deeply about her family and the friends she made within the Western Coventry. I seriously admired Adelice’s feisty personality and how she was sassy and just a handful to many people’s eyes. Even though her big mouth and quiet defiance got her in trouble time to time, Adelice never gave up. She was a rebel at heart who was courageous and clever all the way. The best thing about Adelice is the fact she didn’t let the power she knew had go over her head. Her compassion and kindness gave way to a character who was true and good from the bottom of her heart. 

I love the connection Adelice had with both Erik and Jost. Albin made it so I was able to fall for both characters so easily. It didn’t really matter who Adelice would pick, because I felt either one would be a suitable for her. They both had great chemistry together. Eric was the comic relief during all the intense and serious parts of Crewel. At first he seemed like an arrogant pretty boy, but underneath was someone who was so funny and charming. Jost, on the other hand, was rough around the edges in the beginning. But Jost was a cool and witty guy. He watched out for Adelice and gave her advice even when she thought she didn’t need it. He saw how different she was compared to all the other Eligibles. Erik and Jost were different in some ways, but also the same in others. I believe that both cared for Adelice in their own way. In the end, I loved both of them and I bet other readers will definitely have a hard time choosing between the two. 


Crewel had some predictable moments, in which I somehow knew how things were going to go, but there were still plenty of times where I was surprised by the twists that Albin placed within the story. I really enjoyed Albin’s clean and delightful writing. It was detailed and very thought-provoking. I thought the pacing of the whole book was great overall. Some parts were a little slow at times, but I wasn’t bored. In fact, I enjoyed finding out more seeing how the story would unravel. I loved how thorough the world building was and how developed the characters were.

All in all, Crewel was one crafty and intriguing dystopian novel that I found wanting to explore further on. 

*Thanks to Macmillan for sending a copy for review

REVIEW: The Forever Contract by Avery Sawyer

Title: The Forever Contract (A Dystopian novella)
Author: Avery Sawyer
Publisher: Planet Explorers Publishing
Published: August 1, 2012
Format: ebook* 46 pages
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get It: Amazon

In the very near future, the country is plunged into drought and unrest. Scare resources and constant heat are making life completely miserable. Casey doesn't think she can stand slugging back another gel pack or working one more shift at the wells. Fortunately, there's a solution: anyone over the age of seventeen can sign the Forever Contract and enter a utopian paradise. While people's minds take a permanent vacation, their bodies get warehoused and hooked up to a complex array of sensors and feeding tubes. As Casey's brother says, "You upload your consciousness to the system and you're free to live as long as you want, however you want. No more pain, no more heat, no more awful dust, no more work. Just pure thought. It's what our species has always been meant for. Suffering is for philosophers. Not for me."

Casey's ready to sign--a permanent vacation is just what she needs. There's only one problem: her boyfriend James doesn't trust it.

Would you sign the contract?

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

In this short novella, The Forever Contract, we dive into a dystopian world where the country is experiencing the worst drought human kind has ever encountered, where the water is so scarce trees and plants are a rarity to be seen. Following the water wars, a system was created as an alternate paradise where you can live an immortal life, pain free, work free, and with all the food and water you could possibly want. However, this paradise has a price. A dangerous price. 

The Forever Contract was one intense book! I was impressed with Avery Sawyer’s ability to create such a great storyline in a very short read. She had me from the first page right down to the very last and even then I was wanting more. The world she built in The Forever Contract was well developed and explained thoroughly. The best part about this world was that it was realistic and believable. I could definitely imagine something like this happening in our world with the rate in which we are using our resources and the way technology advances so quickly. The Forever system was the most fascinating about this world. Although I slowly got to learn the truth about how it really works behind the scenes, Sawyer still piqued my interest and made me want to experience it the way Casey wanted to. 

Another aspect I loved and enjoyed in this book was the split point of view between Casey and James, our two loving and amazing protagonists. Casey was a lovable and brave young lady. She was bright and open to wanting a new life, but she was stuck with going after her brother in the system or staying with her parents and James who never planned to go in. James was an intelligent and passionate person who was devoted not only to Casey, but to bringing down the system and the government in charge. He did everything he could, never wavering from his beliefs. I adored his determination, his willingness and his sacrifices. He was my favorite and I admired him so much. 

The ending of The Forever Contract is one that will surely make your heart race and keep you at the edge of your seat. It ends abruptly with a hint of bittersweetness that left me hanging by a thread. Despite the very quick pacing, I very much enjoyed this novella. I’m hoping Avery Sawyer will continue this journey between Casey and James because I’m itching for some kind of resolution and even more so, retribution.



Overall, The Forever Contract is definitely one novella you don’t want to miss out on! 

*Thanks to Laura Schaefer (Avery Sawyer) for sending a copy for review