Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard

Mare Barrow struggles for survival in a world where there is a ruling class, the Silvers, who proudly proudly display their superpowers in order to make the powerless Reds feel belittled. The Reds are forced into poverty and are slaves to the Silvers' war. All Reds who don't have any special skills (like sewing, fishing, etc.) by the age of 18 are forced to fight and die in the war. Mare is approaching the age of 18 and is becoming increasingly disobedient to the laws of the Silvers. But she has a few lessons to learn. 

This is one of the better teen dystopias I've read in a while. The world-building is unique and the characters are engaging. It's unlike many of the dystopias lately in that it gives you the opportunity to see how the bad guys aren't all bad. But it does also has some typical aspects of teen dystopias with female main characters. I'd like to see more teen fantasy/sci-fi with male characters these days, as I find them more to the point and less about messed up romance. 

Overall, if you like teen dystopia, you'll like this book. If you don't, you won't.

I emerge from Hibernation (again)

Well, it's certainly been a while, hasn't it. I haven't been blogging lately because I fell into an interviewing / reading / blogging funk. Interviewing is such a draining process! But the good news is that I got a good job at a major dialysis company and have been training there for about two months. So it's time to re-emerge. That's my big news for over the last couple of months, so I'll just settle down to a weekly update now: 

Holding Smoke, by Elle Cosimano

Holding Smoke, by Elle Cosimano
I received a copy of this book from Disney Press via NetGalley
in exchange for a fair and honest review

John Conlan is in juvie for double murder, but the bars can't hold him like they hold the other inmates. John is able to leave his body behind and travel around as a "ghost." 

In which Rachel has been interviewed

Ever since getting my EMT certification about 3 weeks ago I've been applying for jobs like crazy. In fact, one morning I woke up to discover that I'd actually applied to several jobs in the middle of the night and totally forgotten about it! This week, I've had two interviews. Both jobs seem very interesting. We'll see what happens. 

Unfair, by Adam Benforado

Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice
Written by Adam Benforado
Narrated by Joe Barrett

In Unfair, Adam Benforado discusses the injustices of the American justice system with historical, current, and scientific evidence. In his historical musings, he discusses the idea of justice as it evolved with time. For instance, he brought up witch trials (including the ridiculous ones where they throw the unlucky defendant in a lake and to see if she floats) and trials of animals that had killed humans. He pointed out that our concept of justice will continue evolving so that in 100 years our own criminal system will seem as preposterous and horrific as a witch hunt. 

The Corinthian, by Georgette Heyer

The Corinthian
Written by Georgette Heyer
Read by Georgina Sutton

The ridiculously wealthy Sir Richard Wyndham has just been bullied by his family into proposing to a cold-hearted mercenary woman whom he does not love. They day before his proposal, he goes on a drunken walk through the night-time city, and a boy climbs out of a window into his arms. But the boy turns out to be Penelope Creed, a young heiress who is likewise being pressured by her family to marry someone she doesn't love. Penelope is about to set out on a journey, and Wyndham feels obligated to escort her. 

In Which Rachel sums up a month of non-blogging

Welcome to May, Mental Health Awareness month! I am going to have a very ill-advertised blog hop this month, so if you read any books that have a mental illness theme let me know, and I'll point people to your review! At the very least, I hope to get a few books reviewed.