A Million Suns- Jan. 17th

Grade: A

Fantastic! Yep, that's exactly what we said as soon as we turned the final page... until we realized that we'd have to wait a whole year to find out what happens. Despite that fact, we think this second book in the Across the Universe trilogy is even better than the first.

A Million Suns picks up not too long after Elder and Amy have rooted out Orion's murderous plot and stopped Eldest's use of Phydus. Although their intention was to make life better for those on the Godspeed, this new found freedom and ability to 'think' has not made life easier. In fact, a rebellious nature permeates each corner of the ship and a serious mutiny is brewing. Elder must step up and lead the people realizing that not everyone will be happy with his decisions. Amy is still grappling with the constant urge to defrost her parents, but is soon distracted when she learns of yet more secrets left behind by Orion. Each new discovery sheds more light upon the mission, the condition of the Godspeed, and past events. Just when you think that there couldn't possibly be anything more shocking to learn- a HUGE piece of the mystery is revealed- and then the pages dwindle away...

One heck of a cliff-hanger that we both appreciated and HATED at the same time. We're already buzzing with plot line predictions for book three. We're making this one of our first Titan Library Picks for 2012 and patiently starting our countdown to January 2013 and book 3.

Under the Never Sky- Jan. 11th

Grade: A

More dystopia! You didn't really think that you could get away from it in 2012 now did ya? Enter the Realm... or the outer wasteland for that matter. Under the Never Sky is the first in a planned series/trilogy with chapters alternating between it's two main characters: Aria and Perry.

After a traumatizing attack, Aria is banished from the Realm (a cybernet pod life) and must survive in the outer wasteland known as the Death Shop. Here, electric Aether storms decimate villages, cannibals roam the region, and the reality of it all could actually kill her. Desperate to find her mother and get back into the Realm, Aria reluctantly joins forces with Perry-a savage. Perry too wants to get into the Realm in order to rescue his nephew who has been kidnapped by Realm agents. Their unlikely alliance soon develops into more than just a survival pact as they begin to understand each other better. But their bond could have a devastating effect on the fates of all those under the never sky.

Aside from the uneven and slightly slow beginning, we enjoyed this one and will proudly display it with all of our other dystopian picks. Don't be put off by the alternating chapters- just be sure to take note of who is speaking otherwise you'll find yourself back-tracking. We're looking forward to the next installment- unfortunately we've got quite a long time to wait.

Cinder- Jan. 6th

Grade: A

Let's start the new year off with some Cyberpunk! Not sure of what Cyberpunk is? Well, just remember- "high tech, low life"- meaning that the technology featured in the story is advanced, yet the majority of the people live in a less than ideal setting. Cinder is the first in the Lunar Chronicles and follows a reinvented tale of Cinderella. Yes, there is a prince (Kai). Yes, there are stepsisters and a royal ball, but this story also has a viral plague, aliens, and enough political intrigue to rival your favorite spy novel.

Cinder, a cyborg, is adopted into a foster family after a devastating hovercraft accident that kills her parents. She is soon put to work as a mechanic who must earn her keep by fixing robots, computers, and any other gadget thrown her way. Its dreary business as usual, until the handsome Prince Kai walks in with a broken bot requesting a master mechanic. Sensing that the bot contains vital information that could save the kingdom, Cinder must figure out the problem and return the bot to Kai as quickly as possible. But time is running out as a world-wide plague continues to claim victims and the alien nation of Lunar begins to formulate plans for an invasion.

Yep, we think this is a great twist to that old tale. And don't think that Cinder is all caught up in worrying about what to wear to a ball. She's a tough chick who is far more confident working with machines, infiltrating plague infested hospitals, and facing off against a powerful alien queen. This is a Cinderella tale like no other. Enjoy!