Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers
Release Date: April 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Pages: 549
Format: Electronic Copy
Acquired: ARC; Netgalley
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

I was pumped that I got the chance to read this book and I was even more pumped at the fact that it was amazing! This is the first book this year that I've read that is original and and fascinates me. Killer nuns? Extraordinary protagonist? Political unrest? Developed characters? Soon-to-be awesome sequel? If the answer is yes to all of these than this book has officially passed my code of awesomeness. Now we just imagine that I've pounded a gravel, just to make it official.

Okay, so first thing I want to mention is that I wanted to kill Ismae since the first page. For a long time she's been the victim of circumstances not in her control and when she's given a chance to turn her world around she takes it with arms wide open. I just found completely suspect the way she would just throw herself into the situation that she's been handed. Given her background I would have expected her to be more guarded and a little hesitant to accept the new life that she was presented.

And then the way she acts throughout the whole book, or at least the majority of it, is like a naive girl. I will give her the benefit of the doubt because the nuns in more words than one did save her life, so I can understand her want to make them happy and do everything for them without question. I still found it a little unrealistic on how quickly she fell for everything.

Another thing that had me doubting this novel is the character Ismae is supposed to put on as someone who is a seductress. In the covenant they teach the girl's matters in "womanly arts" and yet they can't teach them how to act in court? Just a little thing that got me.

What I did like though is the originality. I have not heard of a story this awesome before and I was really happy when I got the chance to read it early. And to add to the mix of awesomeness is the tangled world that Ismae lives where political unrest is high. It's a little confusing what's going on politics wise, which is why this book demands a lot of concentration and to keep track of who is who. But I think that the author does well near the end in explaining many things.

It was predictable in many occasions, but I like how this book still makes every little things pop a little more. And not to mention the romantic tension between Ismae and Duval just kept me coming back for more to find out what was going to happen between these two.

Sadly this book is not a quick read. Unless someone has the ability to devour about a hundred pages within an hour this book will take a few days, but at least it gives people something to look forward to the next day.

Adventure, romance, twists at each turn, and amazing character/story development I loved this book.

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Title: Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Info: Website | Twitter
Release Date: May 23rd, 2011
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Pages: 320
Format: NookBook
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space. 

I'm a technology junkie so when this caught my eye I knew I had to read it. Not only was it dystopia, but it was also dealing with a world of technology. So why not?

I noticed right away that it wasn't like most dystopia novels that I've read because most of those novels usually the main character deals directly with the government, in this one Maddie does deal with the government, but in the form of her father, a CEO. I found that difference a little bit of an awakening (no pun intended).

Maddie was very believable and there were moments where I just laughed at this poor girl as she tries to function outside of her normal life. I also felt empathy for her because of her home situation but I liked the speed that Katie took this. It didn't take terrible long for the plot to get going but it wasn't terribly quick either. Katie had a nice, steady flow that any reader who picked this up would be able to read this and understand everything that was going on.

Justin, well, he was a pain. Katie said that there was a sequel coming out and I really hope we get into Justin a little more. Though the book talks about his past his mind is just a wall and I just wanted to step in and knock and down. You get little tidbits in his mind but you never understand what he's thinking. You will always know what his intentions are but what he feels inside is just left a mystery.

I loved Clara. She was so much fun and I'm sure the kind of friend everyone would love to have! And she was honest and another tool that Katie used to get into Justin's head a little more as well as a good friend to Maddie. 

Their relationship was so sweet and I just wanted it to continue. The romance geek in me!

I shivered a little when Maddie mentioned the past before digital school started up and the past of both the character and the United States was brought up. You can almost believe that something like what was described is possible, especially with the current way our world is working.

The ending was a little bit of a shocker to me, but it does set it up very well for the sequel. You know that there's more that needs to be done and a lot of character story-lines that were left unfinished.

It took a four mainly because I wish there was a little more history, but I'm sure the second book will make up for it and it also took a four because it was written in Maddie's point of view, and while she had a wonderful way of describing things and making the story flow so smooth and silk like there is limited perspective. You only know what Maddie knows and it can be frustrating, which can work to the advantage of feeling for Maddie, but it also makes you wonder what everyone else is thinking.

Funny, realistic, and fresh I enjoyed this novel a lot. I love Katie's inventions, they were so creative and fun. This gave it high points for me. It was a fantastic read.