There is no cure for being stung.
Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.
Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.
Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.
4 Star Rating
My Recommendation: Pick it up, download it. It is not only a good read but something different! It started off exciting and consistently stayed that way. Not saying there is non-stop action, but you'll stay interested - no doubt.
Recommended Age 14+ Things start off mysterious! Memory loss, tattoos, absolute destruction. This book had a fascinating concept. I love it when a story gives me something new to daydream about. The characters weren't very original. A young vulnerable girl and a young man with a chip on his shoulder who has a need to protect the girl - they fall in love, blah, blah, blah. Every new YA dystopian fiction has this same character scenario but Stung is among the few books that does it right. The never ending questions and the anticipation of the outcomes made this a great read.
Plot/Pace: Wanted to keep reading and reading. It felt like the more I read, the more I couldn't stop because I had to know what was going to happen next. It was never boring. As I said before a unique plot, at least for me. Yes there have been books about viruses decimating the population, but none brought about by a bee vaccine! There's some intrigue and secrets to keep the story interesting. The moments between Fo and her twin brother tugged at my heart!
Imagery: Not overly descriptive. Fo's flashbacks provided a clear vision of what things were like and how she felt. I even liked that they were italicized.
Romance: Niiiiice... Not too intense and the romance builds up over time. You get some of the best elements of young romance - gradual attraction, fear of loss, fierce protection and a declaration of feelings. The romantic scenes are wonderfully described - his fingers slide to the nape of my neck; my mouth moves with his, my breath flows with his....whoa!
Action: Throughout the book there were moments when I was on edge about the outcome. The author gives a good depiction of the entire situation. She doesn't just detail the fighting, but all of the elements of the confrontation. The anticipation leading up to it and the imagery during the battle. Even the dialogue is written so that you get a feel for the emotions of the characters.
Characters: Enjoyable. I liked the enigma of Arris. It was touching that Jonas' bond with his sister was stronger than his transformation.
What Irked the Shiznit Out of Me: Nothing
What Blew Me Away: Nothing
There are no heroes.
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 wills.
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.
5 Star Rating
My Recommendation: So worth it! Am I upset that he took time from finishing the next book in the Way of Kings series to write this? HELLZ YES..but adding a YA series to his collection was such a very good idea. Action packed, humorous, imaginative, climactic and moving.
Recommended Age: 14+ I will try not to be biased in this review, but I can't get enough..can't get enough Brandon Sanderson! None of his books has ever disappointed. As an author he has such an amazing way of bringing unique ideas to his books. This was a super hero book with what seems to be no true super heroes. You are rooting for the regular humans in this story and they are all great characters. Quirky, individual and passionate. What you think you've figured out, you didn't! I just knew..KNEW I KNEW what Steelheart's weakness was after the Prologue. Ehh..wrong! This book has surprises, shocks and plenty of funny moments. Just another Brandon Sanderson book to add to the "I highly recommend" list!
Plot/Pace: Couldn't stop reading. As a matter of fact, I back-tracked quite a few times to re-read paragraphs. Just the right measure of excitement and getting to know the characters. The story didn't lag in place and it was never too complex to follow. The plot is pretty simple, but well-thought out with victories and disappointments. As a reader you don't feel like things are always working out perfectly. And the hidden sub-plot of the labs and testing on superheroes!!! I can't wait until the next book where that really starts to be revealed.
Imagery: Well written descriptions of the scenery and characters. I was able to build in my head a good image of the surroundings and faces. But things weren't so detailed that I was limited in making the characters my own. Brandon Sanderson relates a scene in a way that allows you to envision facial expressions without having to spell it out in the sentence. I became absorbed in reading the story. I felt awkward when David felt awkward; empathy for the Professor when he would lose it and I fell in love with Cody's charm and liveliness. Now that's some good writing right there!
Romance: The story has a teen crush element. It made for some very cute moments with David.
Action: Action-packed! The situations they got themselves into were very thrilling. The book was filled with scenes to show off great weapons and great powers! When this is made into a movie, and I really hope it is, this will be on par with the new Spiderman and Avengers.
Characters: Each and every character was so well developed and unique!! Bad guys, good guys, main characters and secondary! Each had a personality trait or quirk that made him memorable. David is a great main character and hero all in one. He is smart, geeky, awkward and ballsy. I loved his "inside the mind" conversations. They brought a lot of humor to the story. And so did Cody! The Southern/Scottish character was one of my favorites. He brought the human aspect to the story, balancing out the revenge with keeping their humanity and compassion. Sanderson uses each of his characters to develop the story and make it entertaining.
What Irked the Shiznit Out of Me: Not Applicable :)
What Blew Me Away: The dialogue and banter between the characters. The unexpected revelations and twists.
If you like this book, what else might you like???
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.
2.5 Star Rating
My recommendation: Now that it is in paperback, pick it up. I'm hoping Book 2 is better.
Recommended Age: 13+: Don't believe the hype! I didn't have to force myself to finish the book, but neither was I waiting until I had a free moment so I could pick it up and read again. This YA Dystopian fantasy is not as exceptional as some of the latest ones to come out. It does not have the intensity of Hunger Games or Maze Runner. It is not as emotionally moving as Pure. Even without comparing to some of the best dystopians written recently, this book was not as compelling as it could have been. This was a satisfying novel, but lackluster in its delivery. One to read when you're waiting on a new book from your favorite series.
Plot/Pace: A pretty good premise for a book. Not an overly complicated plot; this was an easy read. The logic behind the main conflict was not impressive. It's pretty predictable why things are happening and what the people of power are trying to accomplish. The book delineates between the have and have nots, but not enough to really understand the struggle or why the struggle even began. Basic information is given (begging, stealing, scrounging). Where is the history, so that I can relate to the current feelings of the characters. It may be that things are just being revealed in the first book and more reasoning and detail will be developed later. I hope so...
Imagery: In my opinion, this is lacking. Was there enough of a depiction of the Republic and its inhabitants to give the reader a feel of the "new" world? Yes...But is that enough for dystopian? No. I want to get a real feel for just what has happened to the world. I want to be able to picture the new surroundings and the people and have that resonate with me.
Action: Pretty good. Nothing was over the top or unbelievable. Yes, teenagers are climbing walls and jumping from buildings, but look at the world they live in an how they were trained.
Romance: Meh! There was no real buildup to the romance between the two lead characters. They look at each other and there is an attraction and....that's it. Why? Why do they stay attracted? Just because they look good to each other? They kiss a couple of times, but other than the unexpected first kiss, I wasn't impressed. Don't put it in the book just to have it in there!
Characters: Another Meh! Each character is distinct in how they were written. Day has his mischievous charm and June is rebellious, but there is no depth to them. The mistrust and suspicion between the two could have been used to develop their relationship into something meaningful. A plus was the ruthlessness of the two villains.
What Irked the Shiznit Out of Me: Ahh...no spoilers! Let me try to phrase this correctly. Explain to me how the actions of one can cause intense pain to another, based on information one "thinks" they know for sure, and the person who felt the intense pain forgives and forgets with no explanation! And never gets mad...and doesn't lash out or complain or blame the one who caused the hurt. PLEASE! Never happens in real life!
What Blew Me Away: Nothing
My rating does not mean you shouldn't read it..just that this won't be one of the best stories you've ever read. I was not impressed with this book. The love story was almost non-existent and the storyline was too simple and predictable. I did enjoy the action and the antagonists in the story.
If you like this book, what else might you like???
