Review: The Awakening

The sequel of the Darkest Powers trilogy picks up exactly where book one left off-- in a clinic facility with the beloved gang about to be tortured by the evil Edison group. Derek and Simon are still on the loose, and the pressure for Chloe to reveal their whereabouts keeps intensifying. The best thing to do is plot another escape plan. But who can Chloe trust? 

Sadly, her powers have not reached their full potential yet, hinting at what the end of the series might actually be. The only tension Chloe is able to provide us with, is sexual, as her on/off chemistry with shapeshifter Derek sends sparks flying left and right. 

Still, a lot of questions are answered in this book as Armstrong cuts the plot twists to a bare minimum: Why did Chloe's aunt feed her to the enemy? Who is a friend and who is a foe? Can everyone control their powers?  All these questions that kept the readers on the edge of their seats are settled. It is only at the very end, that we are left again a huge question mark, pausing the story quite unfairly. This is the first series I've encountered that is meant to be read at once. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Toolbox

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish


THINGS THAT MAKE BOOK BLOGGING EASIER

1. Goodreads

Great way to keep track of to-read lists, organize what you have read and get recommendations.

2. Library/NetGalley

Two places filled with books that you can review.

3. Coffee/Tea

It goes without saying. If I ever publish a book, caffeine, will be thanked.

4. Booknotes

It's not a bad idea to keep a book filled with notes of things one might forget when writing a book review.

5. Bookaholics Anonymous

The finger stretching exercises they do before each meeting are quite helpful after handling hardcovers.

6. Fellow Bloggers

The most valuable point of all. I love reading other reviews, and discussing books keeps me updated and eager to read even more. 

What YA characters should know about cooking

Twilight's Bella Swan and Grace Brisbane from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series might know their way around the kitchen, but what about the rest of our YA favorites. Thankfully, six fellas from the University of Boulder Colorado wrote College Cooks meant to prepare college students for their first meals without parental help.

The book urges the reader to remember that safety always comes first.

Make sure to use different cutting boards for meat and vegetables 

Don't just flip it from one side to the other, and disinfect it with bleach when needed.

Discard food that was left out for more than one/two hours depending on the temperature of the room
If you are having a BBQ on the patio with friends, the food will perish faster than indoors. Be careful not to poison your guests -- unless they've been discourteous.

Deli  meats last three to five days in the fridge once the package seal is broken 
Guess, I'll have no choice but to give some to the neighborhood's dogs.

College Cooks also explains the difference between a sunny side up and a fried egg (perfect for the character involved in a love triangle as one must please both admirers), and contains a panoply of recipes including some semi-home made.

Bon appétit.

Review: Anomaly

Thalli's sole purpose in life is to play music. In fact, everyone in the community is assigned a job early on. Scientists, of course, being top of the line -- as they are the only one's allowed in private areas and have the responsibility to apply the rules the others must obey. It is a post-apocalyptic state after all. If anyone can save the world, it's the scientists. To assure themselves that no other war will ever destroy the planet again, the scientists abolish feelings, so when Thalli is caught crying she is instantly plagued as an anomaly and must therefore fight for her life. 

When John, Thalli's friend, tells her about a Designer who is bigger than the scientists and "puts us in seemingly impossible situations to demonstrate his power," I feared the whole book would be centered on a battle of faith vs. science. But instead McGee rolled up her sleeves and wrote a much more complex story filled with action, plot twists, and betrayal that steered away from cliches. 

Thalli isn't always a strong female lead. She can be naive, obstinate that there is no Designer -- because he doesn't show up and saves us when we need him to -- allowing us to see our own vulnerability through hers. 

My only concern is that the book had so many plot twists forcing the end to feel uncertain. After all, it is an open ending that hints at a sequel. I had to read it twice to make certain that I wasn't the one being conned. 

Caught my arrow # 22

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

It was a good week for me as I finally have a chance of reading Holly Black.

Received for review

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Thank you Hachette Book Canada

Also received from NetGalley

What are you reading this week?