Mini Monday (7): Sleeper by Mackenzie Cadenhead

Goodreads synopsis

Sarah’s dreams are everyone else’s nightmares in this thriller that perfectly combines Inception and Heathers

As a sufferer of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, Sarah acts out her dreams. Usually she's only a danger to herself, but when she almost breaks her best friend's neck at a sleepover, Sarah becomes a social pariah. Luckily (and strangely), Wes, a guy she's only seen in her dreams, turns up at school and the two become inseparable.

An experimental drug offers a cure, but she and Wes soon realize that not only are they sharing the same dreams, they can now alter other people's dreams. It's clear that this new drug is offering a lot more than just sleep. Will Wes and Sarah choose responsibility…or revenge?

Thoughts

I've been reading a lot of books lately that have such an interesting premise to me but fall short on execution. Sleeper is another one of those books to add to that pile. Sometimes the plot was entertaining but the characters were pretty flat and I had a lot of trouble connecting to them. 

The Fall Of Venus by Daelynn Quinn

Very sorry about the blurriness of this cover. If your wondering it says 'The Fall Of Venus and it has an infinity fly on it. :) 

Author: Daelynn Quinn
Format: Paperback
Date published: July 19 2013
Publisher: Createspace independent Publishing Platform

Introduction

       After a virus that has wiped out 93% of the population, Pollen wakes up in the woods  and doesn't remember much of the past few weeks. Pollen has no idea why she is in the woods nor does she know why she has a tattoo on the side of her face, but she is determined to stay alive and away from bounty the bounty hunters that will stop at nothing to capture her. She soon meets Marcus, a boy in the same situation as her, and together they try to come up with a plan to rescue her niece, Evie from a refugee camp that different intentions then they let everybody know

Cover

       OHHHHH so that's what an infinity fly looks like.  It was described pretty well in the book, I was just trying to figure out how the eyes form the infinity symbol, but yeah, it makes sense now.

Pollen and Marcus
       I knew this was going to happen. Regardless of the fact that Pollen is engaged. I knew it. I am quite happy with the fact that although Pollen feels as though she knows Marcus, they don't just start being all couple-y. I extremely liked the fact that for a little while Marcus refused to become involved with her because he didn't want to be used an thrown away.

Glenn
       Oh Glenn, such mixed feelings I have about you. One minute he is doing something completely stupid and betraying people, the next minute he's like:
       "Oh Pollen! I know I crossed the line (Again) but I want you to know that I will always care about you."
       Alright cool Glenn, you know what you should do? pick a side and stick to it. Thanks.

Crimson
        I loved learning about Crimson it was really interesting. Also, while you are learning about Crimson, the author makes everything relatively easy to follow, which is always good.

Conclusion
       I really liked the concept of this book, and the story is easy to follow and really interesting to read .

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Author: James Dashner
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Date Published: October 6, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Author's Website: www.jamesdashner.com


Introduction
        Thomas can't remember anything other than his first name when he finds himself in the Glade. A big space surrounded by stone walls. Many other boys are in the Glade, and like him, they don't remember anything before arriving. All Thomas wants is some answers, unfortunately the other boys in the Glade don't have all the answers. All they know is that:

1. A new boy comes to the Glade every month.

2. Outside the Glade is a maze

3. The walls that lead inside the Maze open every morning and close every night

4. Nobody has ever survived the Maze overnight.

       Just a day after Thomas' arrival, something extraordinary happens. A girl comes to the Glade and she delivers a mysterious message. Then suddenly, nothing is as it seems, and everything is different. So different in fact that the all the boys are starting to lose hope that an exit inside the Maze exists.

Cover
      I really dislike this cover. I can't put my finger on why, but I can't bring myself to like it.

Characters/Relationship
      All of the characters in this book are boys except for one. I didn't mind that at all. Sadly, I couldn't bring myself to like the protagonist. Throughout the whole story he didn't really show a lot development. Overall he just wasn't very interesting.
       A character I did like in the book was Newt. He had a good personality and was fun to read about.
       Then of course, I have to mention Chuck. He is the first person that Thomas befriends and they stay friends throughout the entire book. He can get a little annoying at times but most of the time he is really sweet.
       No real love story in this book, though I suspect that something might happen between Thomas and Teresa in the next book.

Dislikes
       I just have one thing to mention that really bugged me about the book. The beginning is really slow. I mean for the longest time nothing really happens. I went through about 100 pages being bored with the book.

Conclusion
        I had really high hopes for this book. When you read the blurb on the back it seems quite interesting. Also after seeing all the hype that this book was getting, I decided that I better read it before the movie comes out. (Read on for details on the movie.) But yeah, I haven't really decided if I am going to continue with the series, but maybe If I find out a little more about it       
       






Movie
        The movie is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2014. (So many movies are going to be released around Valentines Day!)

Cast

      Dylan O'Brien as Thomas

       

       Kaya Scodelario as Teresa

       Aml Ameen as Alby

       Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt

       Blake Cooper as Chuck

       

       Will Poulter as Gally

       Ki Hong as Minho

       I think some of the actors look a little old to be playing teenagers, but overall it's an alright cast n my opinion.

      

       Hey look, pictures! YAY!

 

Wither by Lauren Destefano

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 358
Date Published: March 22 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Introduction
       In this broken world, everybody knows exactly when they will die. Long ago, a generation of people were born. They were perfect. No life threatening conditions ever infected their bodies, and most settled comfortably  into old age. When this generation had children however, something went wrong. This newer generation is a ticking time bomb. Females will die at age twenty, and males will die at age twenty five. sixteen year old Rhine only has four more years left to live. One night, she is taken from Manhattan and chosen along with two other girls to become a wife of a wealthy man named Linden. Linden lives in a mansion where you could lose yourself in illusions, But Rhine knows the only reason she Jenna, and Cecily are in the mansion is so they can bear children. While Linden is really nice to all the wives, All that is on Rhine's mind is escaping. She needs to get back to her twin brother Rowen, and she needs to spend her few remaining years where she grew up. With the help of a servant named Gabriel, and her sister wives, she just might be able to make it back before it's to late.

Characters/Relationships
       I like Rhine and Jenna, but Cecily can be a bit of a brat sometimes. I mean, I know that she doesn't fully understand what's going on, but she's never nice to the people that bring her the food, and she is barley ever nice to Jenna and Rhine.
       Rhine starts of hating Linden, later in the book she realizes it isn't his fault that she's stuck in the mansion.  He's as much of a prisoner as she is.
        The girls are at the mansion so that they can have children, they do mention sex, but nothing really happens.
      Aside from Jenna, most of the characters have really cool names. Rhine is the name of a river. Which is pretty cool. I've never heard the name Cecily before, but I quite like it. The only problem I have is that the two names, Rowen, Rhine's brother, and Bowen, a baby, sound too close to each other in my opinion. All you have to do is change ONE letter.
      I saw Rhine and Gabriel's relationship come from a mile away. I don't know if it was like that for anybody else who read the book, but to me it was obvious.
       On Goodreads, a lot of people have been having discussions on whether they liked Gabriel, or Linden better. I don't really like either of them. Gabriel doesn't have much of a personality, and Linden is completely clueless about the fact that neither Jenna nor Rhine actually want to be at the mansion. Which I guess isn't really his fault because that is probably what his creepy father wants him to believe, but still.

Conclusion
       I liked this book. It's nice change from what I usually read. This is the first book in The Chemical Garden Trilogy. I will pick up the second book entitled Fever if I get the chance.

Revived by Cat Patrick

Author: Cat Patrick
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Date Published: May 8 2012
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Introduction
       Daisy "Appleby" is part of a program that tests a drug called Revive. As long as you don't have a disease when you die, you can be brought back to life. Daisy has died five times in the last the fifteen years. Every time she dies, she gets a new name, a new house and a new school. Last time she died, she was relocated to Omaha, Nebraska. Daisy is used to moving so she doesn't mind that she has to go to a new high school, she thinks it's going to be like every other high school she's ever gone to. All she has to do is blend in and not be noticed. On the first day at her knew high school, she meets Audrey, a pretty girl with a great personality, and her brother Matt, a cute and nice guy. They all become really good friends. As the book goes on, Daisy worries that she might be becoming too attached to Omaha and too close to her new friends.

Audrey
       I loved absolutely every character in this book. I especially loved Audrey. She is just so positive all the time, and I just love how no matter what happens she is always able to laugh and make jokes.
     
Mason
       Another character I liked was Mason. He cares about Daisy so much just like a real father would. Mason tries to share everything that he can with Daisy despite the protest from his partner Cassie.
     
Daisy    
       I did like Daisy, she was very realistic. I liked how even though she could be brought back to life, she doesn't spend her whole life taking stupid unnecessary risks. Yes, she makes stupid decisions but that's what everybody does at some point anyway.
     
Matt and Daisy
      I liked Matt and Daisy's relationship. They were a good match for each other. They actually have a lot in common plus they both have a good relationship with Audrey which is an added bonus.

Conclusion
       I loved this book. The characters were all really realistic, which is great. Boys could defiantly read this book. I would not recommend this book to people who don't like sad books very much. If you can handle some sadness and like, books about friendship, This book could be great for you.

End Of Days by Eric Walters

Author: Eric Walters
Pages: 320
Date Published: September 27 2011
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Introduction 
        Our days are numbered. We have on average, seventeen years and four months. A large object is rushing toward earth and once it comes, humans will cease to exist. Within a twelve month period, the greatest minds on earth have mysteriously died. Or so everybody thinks. They have really been taken to study and prevent an asteroid from hitting the earth. As time ticks down, food becomes scarce and many die. Scientists are scrambling to find a way to destroy the asteroid, after a failed attempt to completely stop the asteroid, they are running out of ideas. But with the help of a teenage boy named Billy, and another scientist they have one last shot to stop the end of days from happening.

Cover

       I like the cover for the End of Days, it was very plain yet still looks nice, the rainbow colors in the title stand out nicely against the black background.

Characters/Relationships
      I liked many of the characters in this book among my favorite is Billy. He was tough enough to survive years in the disastrous world yet he is still very kind. He puts in a great effort in being a leader. everywhere he goes. He to know everybody around him because he believes that everybody is important and that nobody should be forgotten. After years of not having much food, and disagreements between other people, you would think that, that would make him mean and full of hate, but despite all that he still has some kindness in him.
      A character that I didn't like as much would probably Mr. Sheppard. One of the great minds that was taken to help stop the asteroid. I found him boring at some points. He didn't really capture my interest for very long while I was reading the book.
       No love story in this book really, for a brief time Billy thinks about Christina but only for a few pages within the book. Billy and Christina never became an item.

Conclusion
      Overall, this book was alright. Most of the characters were pretty good. I am not a huge fan of Eric Walters but I am glad I gave this book a shot. It would be a great book for boys and girls to read if they are into a little bit of science fiction.

Variant By Robison Wells

Author: Robison Wells
Pages: 373
Date Published: October 4 2011
Publisher: Harperteen

Introduction

      Benson Fisher is wishing to get away from his life as a foster child. When he gets accepted to Maxfield  Academy he couldn't be more thrilled to finally have a chance to have friends and settle into a place for more than a few months at a time. Once arriving he finds out that the school is blocked by a wall, and separated by miles of forest from any sign of civilization. That's not all. No phones, Internet access, or adults. You get no contact with anybody outside of the school. Even though there are no adults, there are still rules and still punishments. The biggest rules are, no sex, no violent fights, No refusing punishments, and trying to escape.  if you break any of those four rules you end up in detention. Those who go to detention don't come back. After hearing all of this though, all that is on Benson's mind is escaping this weird school. No matter how many people try to convince Benson that it is was a lot worse before the students spit up into gangs. The society, the people that want to be follow the rules, Havoc, the people that want to cause trouble, and Variant or the V's. They are the people that hate the school and want to escape, but generally follow the rules. Benson joins the V's. He makes friends and fits in fine. He even grows close to a girl in his gang named Jane. he even finds himself having fun. Until, finding out a secret that the school had kept hidden since it was built. Now that he knows the secret he has no doubt in his mind that he has to get out of the school.


Cover
       The cover to variant is a boy and a girl walking in the woods. The boy has his back turned, but girl is looking backwards. Most of the cover is sort of blurred out. I liked this cover a lot because it the way the cover is blurred out is mysterious just like the story is.

Characters/Relationships
       In the book you learn about many members of all the different gangs. Mainly the people in the V's. Benson himself is a little stubborn and rebellious at times. He was a pretty believable character. Two of my favorite characters in the book were Lily and Curtis. Lily has only been at the school for a few months and is also very content about leaving. She wasn't in the book a whole lot when she is it is mostly when they are  playing paintball. My other favorite character was Curtis. He always helped Benson and always forgave Benson when he had done something stupid to jeopardize the safety of the gang.

       As I said before Benson gets quite close to Jane and at one point takes her to a dance. The relationship didn't last long at all though. Other than Benson and Jane, Curtis and another girl in the V's named Carrie are also dating. You don't hear much about this couple but Benson always sees the holding hands and walking together

Conclusion
       Variant was an amazing book that kept me interested to the very last page. The characters were believable and very easy to connect to. I highly recommend this book.