Showing posts with label genes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genes. Show all posts

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Book Review - City of Beasts by Corrie Wang + Giveaway


Photo Credit - Amazon

Seventeen years ago, the fees separated themselves from the beasts. The divisions of the genders have allowed them to keep the world peaceful.  Glori Rhodes is like most fees her age. She likes her neighborhood, can bench press her body weight and knows twenty-seven beast counterattack moves. Like many other fees, she never questioned why the genders are separated or the laws that govern them. However, when her mother secretly gives birth to a baby beast, Glori can't help but grow attached to the child.

When her brother, Twofer was snatched during a raid with the beast, Glori is willing to stop at nothing to save him. Glori and her best friend, Su, decide to infiltrate the City of Beasts to get her brother back. Glori thought it would be a simple grab and go mission but, quickly discovers that she is in for an adventure of a lifetime. Will Glori and Su be able to save her brother?

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect from the novel but, it turned out to be an interesting read. I like how it showed how things could have turned out if genders lived segregated lives. My favorite character was Twofer and how the bonds of love and family can change what society dictates to us. Overall, I thought the novel was enjoyable to read but, was predictable.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**


About the Book:
Author: Corrie Wang
Pub. Date: September 17, 2018
Publisher: Freeform
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 384
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonKindle,  B&NiBooksKoboTBD

"If you see a beast, and you have the shot, don't hesitate. Kill it."


For seventeen years, fees have lived separate from beasts. The division of the sexes has kept their world peaceful. Glori Rhodes is like most other fees her age. She adores her neighborhood's abandoned Costco, can bench her body weight, and she knew twenty-seven beast counter attack moves by the time she was seven. She has never questioned the separation of the sexes or the rules that keep her post-nuclear hometown safe. But when her mother secretly gives birth to a baby beast, Glori grows to love the child and can't help wondering: What really is the difference between us and them?

When her brother, at the age of five, is snatched in a vicious raid, Glori and her best friend, Su, do the unthinkable - covertly infiltrate the City of Beasts to get him back. What's meant to be a smash-and-grab job quickly becomes the adventure of a lifetime as the fees team up with a fast-talking, T-shirt cannon wielding beast named Sway, and Glori starts to see that there's more to males, and her own history, than she's been taught. Glori, Sway, and a motley cohort of friends will go to the ends of the earth to find her little brother. And maybe save their divided world while they're at it.

About Corrie: 


Corrie Wang is passionate about libraries, recycling, and eating all the food, everywhere. Corrie grew up in Buffalo but spent her formative years in Brooklyn, where one of her last paying gigs was managing a three-story nightclub on the Lower East Side. 

Writing to fix things that make her angry and explore things that frighten her, Corrie’s novels are about girls unapologetically conquering scenarios they should have little control over. Tired of seeing women and girls lose in this culture - spoiler - they never do in her stories.

Her debut novel, The Takedown was chosen as one of the best books of 2017 by the New York Public Library and a 2018 YALSA selection for Best Fiction for Young Adults. City of Beasts is her second novel.

Seeing, as Corrie wrote an entire novel about the freakiness and perils of socializing too much on the internets her existence there is haphazard at best. Now, more than ever, she feels it is time for everyone to look up. (Also stand up, step up, and eat up.
Woot!) That being said, you may follow her poor photography skillz on INSTAGRAM. 
AND P.S. Wang rhymes with 'song' y'all.


BLOGGERS WHO HAVE POSTS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 16TH, PLEASE POST THIS PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN INFO!

CITY OF BEASTS PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN
Please submit proof of purchase to CORRIEWANGBOOKS [at] GMAIL [dot] COM. All formats apply (physical & e-book). Open to the United States only. Last day to submit is MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 at 11:59 PM.

PRE-ORDERS FROM BLUE BICYCLE BOOKS
Each signed pre-order copy of City of Beats will come with:
  • 1 set of 5 Battle Cards featuring different mercenaries
  • A special paperclip necklace made by Mouse which makes you a part of the City of Beast family
  • Entry to win 1 of 3 raffle prizes
    • 1st prize is a Jackrabbit Filly t-shirt/patch/ $10 gift card
    • 2nd prize $10 gift card to Jackrabbit Filly and t-shirt
    • 3rd prize $10 gift card to Jackrabbit Filly

ANY PREORDERS FROM AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Pre-order City of Beasts at your local indie and you will receive:
  • A signed bookplate
  • A set of 5 Battle Cards featuring different mercenaries
  • A special paperclip necklace made by Mouse, making you part of the City of Beast family

PRE-ORDERS FROM ANYWHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD!
ANY PREORDERS FROM AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Pre-order City of Beasts anywhere else books are sold you will receive:
  • A signed bookplate
  • 1 of 5 Battle Cards at random

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive finished copies of CITY OF BEASTS, US Only.


Rafflecopter link:


Tour Schedule:
Week One:
9/2/2019- Country Road ReviewsExcerpt
9/3/2019- Two Chicks on BooksExcerpt
9/4/2019- Character Madness and MusingsExcerpt
9/5/2019- Shelf-RatedReview
9/6/2019- BookHounds YAReview

Week Two:
9/9/2019- Lifestyle of MeReview
9/10/2019- Daily Waffle - Excerpt
9/11/2019- A Dream Within A DreamReview
9/12/2019- Life of a Simple ReaderExcerpt
9/13/2019- Here's to Happy EndingsReview

Week Three:
9/16/2019- Jena Brown WritesReview
9/17/2019- Kati's Bookaholic Rambling ReviewsExcerpt
9/18/2019- Wishful EndingsExcerpt
9/19/2019- Book-KeepingReview
9/20/2019- Jade Writes BooksReview

Week Four:
9/23/2019- Eli to the nthReview
9/24/2019- two points of interestReview
9/25/2019- The Layaway DragonReview
9/26/2019- Smada's Book SmackReview
9/27/2019- PopTheButterfly ReadsReview

Week Five:
9/30/2019- lori's house of reviewsReview

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Book Review - All Things Now Living (Seventh Daughter, #1) by Rondi Bauer Olson

Photo Credit - Amazon
Amy doesn't like to see any animals suffer or die. She refuses to hurt animals, but she can't see herself feeling sorry for the abominable inhabitants of New Lithisle. The dome the inhabitants built to shield themselves from diseases is predicted to collapse and Amy was taught this is God's will. 

While on a trip with her father, Amy becomes trapped New Lithisle. She is kept hostage where she meets, Daniel. He is beautiful and Amy is attracted to him, but he has been modified. Amy is conflicted upon saving New Lithisle and its inhabitants or standing by idly while the residents suffer through God's curse. Will Amy help save the New Lithisle? Will Amy be able to see the humanity in all of God's creatures?

The story had an interesting premise, but I couldn't get into the story. I found the characters confusing and have conflicting ideas. For example, Amy doesn't like to see animals die, but doesn't care about the people about New Lithisle. She constantly judges them by their exterior even though they go out of their way to help her. Daniel is conflicted about doing what Amy wants and what is best for the New Lithisle. He trusts some people, but the others, he judges harshly. He was afraid of Leroy and wanted to leave him behind, but when Scout threaten Amy, he had no problem having Scout tag along with them. The characters all have a strange dynamic with each other. One minute, they trust each other the next they are shooting the other person.

I also found the story to be confusing and convoluted. I had to re-read several sentences and I still couldn't follow. I felt that some of the story could have used more details or backstory. Like more about Amy's sisters and why there are seven of them along with why Amy has a bounty on her. They keep mentioning them, but they never come into contact with each other.  Also, what is this pandemic, they keep talking about since they became immune to the swine flu. What happened to her scientist mother? The dialogue felt a bit weird and not authentic. I have read a few dystopian novels and while I am not a fan of the genre, I do generally like them. However, this one doesn't keep my attention for very long.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**