Review | Article 5 (Article 5, #1) by Kristen Simmons

Series: Article 5
Pages: 364
Date released: January 31, 2012

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

   The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse.    People who get arrested usually don't come back.

   Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

   Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

   That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

     Article 5 was book written for all the action lovers out there. It’s Mission Impossible on paper! It reminded me very much of Shatter Me. The characters, setting, and plot were all very similar, but uniquely executed. Ember was awesome. She was strong in her own way, but she valued the place that others had in her life. She was logical and reasonable, but when she was taken she never stopped fighting to get away. Her spirit was continuously going even when things were at rock bottom.
     Chase was nice, too. He was the strong but silent type and he sacrificed everything for Ember. She really was his everything. I liked his smart mouth and how he had some sarcasm behind his silence. His golden brown skin and 6”2’ stature certainly didn’t hurt either. He is still kind of a mystery right now though since this book doesn’t delve into much about him being a soldier. I wonder if any of the other books will as the series continues.
     By the time I flipped Article 5 closed I felt a deep-set satisfaction of them being okay and putting their talents to use. Because of this, I don’t know if I will read the next books in fear of ruining my happy ending. But…(Levar Burton voice) you don’t have to take my word for it.

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Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu

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.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

     All the reviews I’ve read of this book have been nothing but five stars. I would only give it a four. It took me a long time to get into it. A good part of the beginning of the book was really only back story and it was drawn out. I love the separate points of view of the book. It let me get to know Day and June so personally. In the middle of the book, the action bumps up and the story finally starts to get good. Day and June both have brilliant minds to conquer the world that they live in. Speaking of, the setting of the book added a lot to the atmosphere, too. It was horrible to think of and the descriptions come right off the page. Even the evil villains had a place in the book. On almost every page, I was feeling something, pity, anger, sadness. Legend may have a slow start, but when it starts it doesn’t stop. The ball will continue rolling in the next installment and I can’t wait. 

Review | Eve (Eve, #1) by Anna Carey

Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose--and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in "Eve"'s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.

     Another fascinating dystopian to add to my shelf, Eve drug me into the future, let me explore, and then threw me out when I still wanted more. The world of Eve is the big thing in the book. The harsh world set the interesting backdrop for Eve to perform on and both passed with flying colors. Every page of Eve weaved me deeper and deeper into the terrible world. The girl-only Schools, fear of men, and monarch leadership were things Eve had to endure. Because of her upbringing, Eve is about as innocent as they come. It’s an adorable innocence, but it does not mean that she doesn’t kick butt. Crazy things happen because *gasp* the King wants an heir…with Eve! She flees when she finds out about what happens to the girls when they graduate. Danger meets her at every turn. Then she meets Caleb and he’s handsome…and not at all what she was taught a man was like. They grow closer and fight the awful world together. Eve reminded me of Delirium, especially the separation part. It wasn’t repetitive, but a delightful innovation. For now, I anxiously await the Eve sequel.

P.S. Does this seem familiar?

"What are your names?" The stocky one asked. He spoke to Caleb, but his eyes scanned my hair, the exposed crescent of my face, and my thin, scarred legs. Caleb stepped toward me. "I'm Jacob and this is Leah."

LOL! Twilight Reference!