The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion  
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Received From: Bought  

Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

 Review:
I loved this book. I had heard so many good things about it and I thought it sounded interesting but now I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I read Alexandra Bracken's first book Brightly Woven and loved it so I was excited to try this new series!

One thing that is different about this book is the fact that the government/leaders are not the only bad guys. EVERYONE is a bad guy. From the bounty hunters to a secret group that wants use the kids to even other kids. Everywhere you look there is a new threat to be discovered and to hide from.

When Ruby was a child she was able to trick the camp into thinking she was a green. Which basically means she is harmless. But once they discover that she isn't a green she has to run for her life. She meets up with the greatest people you will ever meet (:P) Liam, Chubbs, and Zu are amazing characters and I would totally read a prequel with just their adventures.

They are all running to a mystical camp that is supposed to be a safe haven for kids. But of course nothing is as it seems. I loved getting to know this world and all the amazing characters. Liam, Chubbs, and Zu all have their different personalities and various traits that will endear you to each one in turn. There is even a little bit of a romance.

As I mentioned before this book is harrowing and it continues to get more and more intense until the final pages which will have you yearning for the next book. (Which lucky for you is already out.)

I really enjoyed The Darkest Minds and am excited to read the next installment Never Fade. 

The Marked (Talents #2)

Title: The Marked

Author: Inara Scott

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Release Date: April 3, 2012
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: In her second semester at a boarding school for teenagers with special powers, Dancia Lewis faces danger from both inside and outside of Delcroix Academy. 

Review: This is the second book in the Talents series (previously called Delcroix Academy). I really liked the first book The Talents and so I was really excited to see what would happen next.

One of my favorite parts of The Marked was seeing Danica grow into her powers. She didn’t really get to use them in the first book and I really enjoyed seeing her grow and learn what kind of power she had.

Danica had some definite doubts about the program. I shared in these doubts and I loved how Scott made me feel the same way as Danica and even made me have some doubts that were not explicitly said.

The ending of The Marked was beautifully written. I loved how the story slowly unfolded up into this climax. It left me wanting the next book without being having a cliffhanger. I need the next book to find out what is going to happen!!!!

The only problem I had with The Marked was that parts of it were kind of slow. I felt like some parts at the very beginning could have been taken out while other could have been fleshed out. For example I wish we could have seen more of Danica’s training. But other than that I really enjoyed it!

The Near Witch

Title: The Near Witch

Author:  Victoria Schwab

Publisher: Hyperion Books CH

Release Date: August 2, 2011

Received From:  NetGalley

Summary: 

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Review:

Ok, I’m going to warn you, this review might be a little fangirly.
Once I read the synopsis I was captivated, but I was also a little wary, because sometimes the synopsis gives away it all and makes the book dull and boring. This was NOT the case! I was drawn in from the first page, each word pulling me further and further into a spellbinding novel.
The way the Near Witch was written is different than any I have ever read before. It was descriptive, lyrical, and semi-poetic, each word had a purpose and a mission. Some people don’t like description in novels, but I happen to like it, and the Near Witch is a great example why. The moor and its inhabitants seemed so real and were painted so beautifully that I felt myself feeling for all the people whose kids were taken. 
I loved the characters in The Near Witch, they were seamless and believable, none of them did things that were out of character.  Lexi is one of my new favorite characters, she is reminiscent of other kick-butt heroines such as Katinss from The Hunger Games and Katsa from Graceling. She didn’t let anything anyone said stop her from doing what she thought was right, she is a great example to girls everywhere.
Cole… oh Cole. He was filled with so many surprises and twists. Also he wasn’t a “bad boy” that is so prevalent in books today. He was sweet as well as not being a pushover.
When I first picked up this book I was going through kind of a reading slump and The Near Witch blew my mind and reminded me why I love to read and why I love to blog. It reminded me why I called this blog A Reader’s Adventure. Because some books take you to places and worlds that you could never have imagined in a million years. The Near Witch was my adventure, and Victoria Schwab was my expert travel guide. Thank you Victoria for the reminder.

The Near Witch combined everything that is good about books, beautiful writing, exquisite characters, amazing world building, with just a touch of good old-fashioned scariness.  This was the best book I have read this year and possibly in years.