Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Bethany Wiggins' teen dystopian thriller is currently doing fairly well in the U.S. book market, and I can see why. Stung has it all: romance, danger, horror, some elements of fantasy, and an adrenaline-rush of a plot. Stung is aimed at teen readers, but be warned that there is a lot of content that may be inappropriate and/or disturbing to young readers.

Summary: Fiona doesn't remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered-her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighbourhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right wrist-a black oval with five marks on either side-that she doesn't remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. And she's right. When the honeybee population collapsed, a worldwide pandemic occurred and the government tried to bio-engineer a cure. Only the solution was deadlier than the original problem-the vaccination turned people into ferocious, deadly beasts who were branded as a warning to un-vaccinated survivors. Key people needed to rebuild society are protected from disease and beasts inside a fortress-like wall. But Fiona has awakened branded, alone-and on the wrong side of the wall...

While I can appreciate the gripping and suspenseful story, and while I do not consider myself a sensitive or easily offended reader, Stung did leave a bad taste in my mouth for the sole reason of the heroine's nickname.

Fiona, or Fo, is frequently (and affectionately) called Fotard. At first, I was confused and figured, that this is 2014. No way in hell would Wiggins use a word that is so uncomfortably close to the R-word. I was so convinced that this affectionate nickname couldn't possibly be a play on the R-word until someone else pointed it out. Glass shattered. This is disgusting.

People will always find something about a book that offends them. Some people still won't tolerate these subjects when they are handled in a way to encourage readers to consider real issues. Fine. But it's a problem when the subject matter adds NO value and serves no purpose. It could have easily been cut from the book. Moreover, Fo is already a weak heroine who needs a man at her side to pull her out of dangerous situations. Does she really need to be useless AND show terrible self-esteem by choosing a boyfriend who essentially calls her the R-word? Fiona is officially worse than Bella Swan for setting an example for teen girls.

Moving on...

I did like how Wiggins explores the theme of gender in that it doesn't have to be strictly male and female. This was an interesting theme that played out through the character of Arrin. Arrin is a boy, pretending to be a girl, who is pretending to be a boy. In the end, the mystery of Arrin's gender is moot. Looks can be deceiving, and anyone can be a murderous lunatic.

Overall, the story is thrilling, and there's plenty of action, violence, and disturbing scenes to interest readers who aren't in it for the love story. I'm only giving Stung three stars, because while I can appreciate this book for all its positives, between Fo's nickname and the sad fact that there is not one admirable female character in this male-dominated society of violence, rape, and insanity, I'm tempted to rate it lower.

I will be reading the sequel, Cured, and I'm interested to read anything else by Bethany Wiggins. She's a talented writer and deserves the acclaim she's getting with her highly anticipated Stung novels.

3 Stars

Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

One book that's getting a lot of buzz right now that I couldn't resist reading is Danielle Paige's Dorothy Must Die. And while I've never read or had any interest in Pride, Prejudice and Zombies or any comparative titles, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this novel. It's still a great novel and I definitely recommend it for a fun weekend read!

Summary: I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know? Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road—but even that's crumbling. What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe. My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. And I have a mission.

Be warned that while it is categorized as YA fiction, it reads more on the adult side. Graphic violence, extreme language, death, sexual references, and disturbing scenes are peppered throughout the text. It's not slasher/horror fiction, and all of these things are used effectively, but younger readers may find some scenes frightening.

This book has sass, humour, action, suspense, a kick-ass heroine, and a fantastic satiric quality about it. I liked that this is a story where the lines of good and evil are blurred and we get to see characters in a new light, with a different ending to the story. Of course there's also a very bloodthirsty and fearless lion, a scarecrow whose thirst for knowledge has warped him into a psychopath on Leatherface's level, and a Tin woodman who would do anything—and kill anyone—to earn Dorothy's love. It's what happens when power, courage, knowledge, and love can turn you into something... wicked.

This a fun summer read for teens and young adults alike, though the book will really appeal and be appreciated by those who have read Frank L. Baum's original books. Dorothy's past and present, Ozma, Jellia Jam, and the transformation of Oz itself won't mean as much to you otherwise.

Dorothy Must Die already has a prequel novella, and I'll definitely be picking up a copy of the sequel when it comes out! You can check out the book trailer below!

3.5 Stars

Review: Inhuman by Kat Falls

Inhuman by Kat Falls is a YA dystopian novel from Scholastic Inc., but it's not like any other YA dystopian story out there. Inhuman reads like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and The Walking Dead. I also find it hilarious to note that Chicago is again the setting of this dystopian society. Poor Chicago. Why do YA authors think this city is going to hell?

Set in the future, the world has been ravaged by a virus that essentially turns humans into animalistic creatures. Those afflicted are trapped on the other side of a heavily guarded defensive wall in attempt to control another outbreak and to protect the population from the danger posed by the infected. This abandoned area of the U.S. is nicknamed the Feral Zone- something that you can't really appreciate until the courageous female protagonist (Lane) adventures through it on a mission to save her father.

Inhuman is a mix of horror, suspense, action, and adventure. There's guns, bloodshed, corrupted and power-hungry antagonists, a light love story, and of course-- humans who have turned into savage part-animals. The protagonist is courageous, smart, and yet another strong female character to inspire readers. I enjoyed the fact that she's not immune to the horror around her; she's humanized in her reactions to the violence and danger in the Feral Zone.

The book explores the differences between being human and being animal, suggesting that with or without a virus, we all have a little "feral" in us. You can be "all human" and still be driven to feral qualities or actions in moments of pure desperation or in an attempt to survive; it's human nature. We see that not all "animals" are feral, but we also see that all humans have some animal in them; whether they were infected or not. It's a vague reference to evolution in that this a virus that exposes who we are at the most basic level, by turning man back into beast.

Inhuman is a fact-paced adventure through a mutated, desperate, and violent world. It is a fantastic fantasy/dystopian story that is well-written, exciting, and different from the wealth of other dystopian YA novels out there. Kat Falls is an extraordinary writer! If you enjoy teen action/adventure and dystopian novels, this is a must-read!

4 stars

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner was a surprise to me. I appreciated the unique plot and the characterization of the novel, but to be honest, I got a little bored toward the middle of the book. It was the exciting ending of the book that changed my mind with an explosive climax that changes this book from a slightly dull PG-13 dystopian novel into a horrific climax that will have you on the edge of your seat.

The Maze Runner is a great novel for teen boys, which is perhaps why I struggled a little with the content. Dashner writes a dystopian society of boys who live a caged existence, forced to navigate a dangerous maze filled with half-machine, half...something disgusting and weird creatures. The Grievers require some imagination on the part of the reader, but it's not hard to imagine the horror that facing such a monster would cause.

The allegory of the maze is timeless in its ability to cause feelings of hopelessness and panic. To solve the puzzle of the maze is the point of the boys' existence and there are greater forces at work who are willing to spill a lot of blood to create obstacles for the boys before they can solve the puzzle. The maze isn't the only evil--there's also the creators of the maze. I won't even go into the creators; you'll have to read the book to find out how twisted this dystopian world has become.

The movie is coming in 2014 and it's sure to be a hit. Dashner is very detailed in his writing and he writes with such vividness that it's easy to put yourself in the Glade or staring death in the face within the maze. Dashner has created a thrilling adventure of survival, of friendship, and of determination. There's mystery, violence, and danger. Hopefully the screenplay is just as thrilling!

This book reads great for a male, YA audience who love books with adventure, suspense, and who can handle some violence. There's quite a lot of humour that boys would appreciate as it feels realistic in how boys talk to each other. The characters use hillbilly-ish jargon for curse words and other crude terms and it interjects some humour into the book. There's very, very little in the way of romance, too, which a male audience will appreciate. Especially if you, like me, are getting a little sick of the love triangles...

The Maze Runner is dark like The Hunger Games, but it's a little more far-removed from a future dystopian society. James Dashner has written a nail-biting book that will almost guarantee you'll be ordering the next book immediately after finishing the first. All in all, I'll give a 3.5/5. It lost some points for a slow middle portion, but the story is gripping and the ending is stunning.

Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

My biggest regret about this book is the fact that the final cover has the blood splatter removed from her face. It was just so much more sinister that way. My only other complaint would be the loopy, low-ascender cursive writing in which the murders are written. I'm not someone easily tripped up my typeface, but sometimes this got aggravating. Please note that I did read this book as an ARC-- maybe the final copy is different.

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is a little cheesy, a little intense, and a lot of fun. You get a little history and a little tour of France along with all the murders and mystery, which is a great perk of reading the book. Sadly, there's not much history because most of the historical facts have been altered for the purpose of the story. Still... it will give you a window into a very prominent and interesting woman in history and it just might get some readers looking up Marie Antoinette on Wikipedia.

Katie Alender has crafted a murder mystery of girl-power proportions. It's a modern girl-power story crossed with horror and history genres, with a little bit of suspense and drama. Girl-world comes across in the wealthy, privileged class of girls on their school trip to Paris who worry about social status as much they worry about looking trendy and attending the right parties (Gossip Girl, much)?

Colette's friends Blair Hannah and Pilar are shallow and silly, which immediately make Colette much more likeable as the heroine of the story. The boys are romantic and dreamy, the murders are gory and many, and the ghost of Marie Antoinette is dangerous and vengeful. The story has everything you could ever want in girl-world: love, betrayal, attraction, friendship, rule-breaking, and luxury. Oh, and the ghost of Marie Antoinette.

The book is a fairly fast read and while it is enjoyable, the lack of real horror in the mystery or murders kept it from being as powerful as it could have been. Still, Katie Alender writes a great preteen novel with enough pretty things (boys included!) and excitement to hook in the younger teens.