Pandemic | Yvonne Ventresca

Even under the most normal circumstances, high school can be a painful and confusing time. Unfortunately, Lilianna's circumstances are anything but normal. Only a few people know what caused her sudden change from model student to the withdrawn pessimist she has become, but her situation isn't about to get any better. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lil's worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak-her father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey-Lil's town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread illness and fatal disaster. Now, she's more alone than she's been since the "incident" at her school months ago.

With friends and neighbors dying all around her, Lil does everything she can just to survive. But as the disease rages on, so does an unexpected tension as Lil is torn between an old ex and a new romantic interest. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door. In this thrilling debut from author Yvonne Ventresca, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Yvonne Ventresca in December during the YABookFest in Princeton. I got her book personally signed, and I finally got the chance to pick it up and read it. I will say that this book picked me up out of my reading slump. It was the first book I read in a long time that reminded me why I enjoy reading.

Personally I really enjoyed Lilianna's and Jay's character and how they developed throughout the novel, Lilianna in particular. While Lilanna's past incidents may seem irrelevant, I think it was crucial in changing her character and developing it further. It's what made her so paranoid and probably what saved her life in this crisis. But we also got the chance to see Lilianna finally open up to the people around her.

While this book wasn't action-packed, I think more of the action is in the character development and the relationships between them. I love dystopians and this is yet another book to add to the list.

The premise of this book closely resembled that of Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, so if you enjoyed that, I definitely recommend this book. 

From the Ashes | Shelby Morrison

For eighteen years Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised as a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But simmering beneath her polite surface is a dangerous gift, one which she must keep a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.

When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions, Aia’s lifelong goal of independence shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.

Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To rescue those she cares about will require accepting what she is. But can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded to save the very citizens baying for her blood?

While I don't usually read fantasy, the few reviews I heard about this book had me hooked. As the first book in a dystology, From the Ashes is a fantastic beginning to Aia's adventurous journey. From the first page we jump right into the action, and from there the storyline, characters and plot just grows. We begin to know Cole, Aia and Illcina, along with all the minor characters and we fall in love with all of them. Even Illcina, a seemingly evil character.

While I'm not going to discuss any specifics regarding the plot and characters, I definitely hope for more of the love triangle that's planning to ensue. I honestly can't wait for the next couple of books. If you haven't picked up this book yet, I definitely recommend it! 

I even got the opportunity to interview Shelby Morrison, you can check it out here.

Cinder | Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Yet another highly hyped book I was hesitant to read. Though after finding a wonderfully priced hardcover copy on BookOutlet, I caved and bought it. It wasn't until months later I actually picked it up and began reading it. My reasoning was to wait until Winter came out so I could binge the entire series together. Nonetheless I read it and really enjoyed it. It's somewhat of a fusion between the typically dystopian setting and the fantastical fairy tale world. 

The characters were honestly amazing. I loved Cinder, I loved Kai, I loved Peony, I loved Iko. All of them had such distinct personalities and I loved their interactions with other characters. 

In an effort to keep this review fairly spoiler free, I'm not going to talk about the plot all that much, but I will say that I am incredibly excited to continue the series! 

If you've read Cinder, let me know in the comments below what your favorite part was! 

The Walking Fish | Kopel & Rachelle Burk

A humorous, exciting tale of an ordinary girl who makes an extraordinary scientific discovery—a blind fish that walks

When seventh-grader Alexis catches an unusual fish that looks like a living fossil, she sets off a frenzied scientific hunt for more of its kind. Alexis and her friend Darshan join the hunt, snorkeling, sounding the depths of Glacial Lake, even observing from a helicopter and exploring a cave. All the while, they fight to keep the selfish Dr. Mertz from claiming the discovery all for himself. When Alexis follows one final hunch, she risks her life and almost loses her friend. Walking Fish is a scientific adventure that provides a perfect combination of literacy and science.

Another first in my experimentations of other genres, and once again I was simultaneously surprised and impressed. I was ready to critique it as a middle-grade, not exactly comprehending what exactly that meant, but I went into it expecting a "middle grade read", something I, understandably, would not enjoy. However, it surpassed my expectations. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the setting. It was a fantastic mix of creative and realistic. 

The protagonist Alexis has so much determination and perseverance, a quality that is incredibly inspirational to younger children. This is definitely a book I would recommend as a cute, young read either for yourself or a younger sibling/child. 

Popular | Maya Van Waganen

A touchingly honest, candidly hysterical memoir from breakout teen author Maya Van Wagenen 

Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren’t paid to be here,” Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular? 

The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise—meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya’s journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence.

I thought that the concept of this book was really interesting. I loved the innovative idea and the effort and bravery Maya took to conduct this experiment. As an eighth grader it can't have been easy talking to those at the "top of the food chain". Honestly, it couldn't have been easy taking the initiative to talk to other in general, I know, now, I still have trouble initiating conversation. 

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I'm not typically a nonfiction person. I've lived inside my YA bubble for quite a while and as people have been recommending this book I decided to give it a read and I was honestly blown away by the writing style. The way people, places and events were described was done so well and I just didn't want this book to end. 

This book is heart-warming, inspiring and something everyone should read, it's one of those books that everyone can relate to at some point in their lives. 

The Tooth-Fairy Trap | Rachelle Burk

Bluma is a young tooth fairy who is allergic to her own fairy dust. She faces many problems during this night of tooth collecting, but her biggest challenge is Bradley's fairy trap. Bluma can succeed in collecting his tooth only with the help of the boy's grouchy hamster, and a few things she has collected through the night.

For the longest time I've been stuck inside my YA bubble, but recently I've been branching out to the nonfiction side of the world and even more recently I agreed to review a middle grade chapter book. Imagine taking the character development, plot, setting, conflict, etc. of an average YA book of about 300 pages and condensing it to less than a 100 pages, that's essentially what a children's book does, and I think that Rachelle Burke did a fantastic job of doing so.

I honestly think that this book served as a really good children's book. Not only does it take into account each element, but it encompasses a simple, yet entertaining storyline for children to follow. As a really cute story, this is definitely something I'd read as a nighttime story to my future kids or as a beginner book for a learning reader. 

I do wonder whether this book is a series, since I could definitely see Bluma having more adventures as a tooth-fairy.

Crown of Midnight | Sarah J. Maas

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached. 
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far more loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closet relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances- not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for. 

Slowly I'm being entangled into this web of intense plots and realistic to-die-for characters as the plot gradually transitions from the simplicity I thought it was going to be to the complicated mess it will become.

There's honestly no way for me to discuss any part of this book without spoiling some aspect of it, and every part of this book should be experienced firsthand. So if you haven't already done so, definitely give this book (and series) a try, you will not regret it.

The Maze Runner | James Dashner

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

I know I'm a bit late to the Maze Runner party, however I will admit I was a bit nervous to read this book. When popular hype starts surrounding a book (movies being made, merchandise being sold, etc.), the book sometimes disappoints (Ex. Twilight, Mockingjay, etc.). But the driving factor for me reading this book was that I really really wanted to watch Dylan O'Brien in the movie and I can't watch movies without reading the book. 

And so it began, I picked it up, started reading. It was a bit hard to get into since I was suffering from post-percabeth depression after the Blood of Olympus, but once I finally did, it was honestly amazing. 

The best part of this book was without a doubt the plot. The entire plot was completely action-packed, filled with mysteries and plot-twists the entire way through. The world that James Dashner has built is just so interesting. At first it began to seem like a hunger games situation, but as we learn more and more about the plot and the purpose, the story seems to take a different route altogether. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, mainly Teresa. While the boys would troop together and work together to solve every obstacle that comes their way, Teresa honestly didn't really serve a purpose. I'm sure she must have a bigger part in the other books but in this one she was just sitting in a cell the whole time or sorta flirting with Thomas. Of course she was the "most beautiful girl he's ever seen" and "he couldn't take his mind off of her". Her whole presence just seemed too cliche and I wasn't a huge fan. 

As book one in the series, I think this book did an overall great job of setting up the world but also introducing a bigger plot towards the end of the book. Something bigger than them and the Glade. Not at all a slow read, I would recommend this to dystopian lovers, anyone who liked the Hunger Games or Divergent should definitely read this book! 

Since You've Been Gone | Morgan Matson

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just...disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night?
Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn?
Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger?
Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she'll find?

Go skinny-dipping?

Wait...what?

This was a great contemporary read to wind down the summer. It'a nice short light read. I had a lot of fun reading this book and it's definitely worth reading.

Opposition | Jennifer L. Armentrout

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came. 

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her-- could destroy them all. 

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the worls is crumbling around them, they may lose everything-- even what they cherish most-- to ensure the survival of their friends... and mankind. War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing. 

This is the fifth and final book in the Lux series.

Generally I really enjoyed this book. It was a really good mix of action and romance, although I admit it did seem a bit short. Because this is the fifth book of the Lux Series, I'm going to go straight into my spoiler-filled discussion. I'll link the reviews to the rest of the books below.

Obsidian
Onyx
Opal
Origin

City of Lost Souls | Cassandra Clare

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Since this is the fifth book in the Mortal Instruments Series, I will be going straight into a spoiler filled discussion of the book, but here are the links to my reviews of all the other books. 
City of Bones
City of Ashes 
City of Glass
City of Fallen Angels

Dorothy Must Die | Danielle Paige

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 blue birds. 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 the yellow brick road, though—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.

Non-Spoiler Review

Dorothy Must Die is a kick-butt book about a girl named Amy who travels to Oz in a tornado and is given the task to kill Dorothy, who, from the famous story, isn't as much of a hero as everyone thinks. She's turned Oz into a place of misery and despair. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love books with bad-butt female protagonists who have to overcome difficult odds to become successful. Amy was a great character and really enjoyed reading about her and her journey through Oz. 

If you enjoyed Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins, then you should definitely try Dorothy Must Die! 

Spoiler-Filled Review

The characters within this book were so well written. There were some characters I liked, some I hated and some I just didn't know how to feel about. We were really able to get inside of Amy's head and really feel what she felt, all the confusion and hesitation. 

I hated Madison from the beginning and completely hated how she dealt with the principal and how Amy got blamed for that entire fight. I hate when things like that happen in the books and the good guy is the one who gets in trouble. It makes me so mad. Gr. 

I loved the entire part when Amy was being trained just because even though Nox was there and even though it was quite obvious that they liked each other, neither strayed from the original plan and I love that. Generally, I'm also a huge fan of fighting/training scenes, when the protagonist is trained to fight. They're just epic and I love them. 

One thing that really blew my mind was that Pete was actually a girl. Halfway through the book I was spoiled, but it was still really weird and quite confusing, mostly since it was never fully explained. 

One thing I really really hate is that hesitation before killing Dorothy. Amy had at least three different chances to kill Dorothy but she always stopped just a little too long and her chance is gone. I understood why she stopped, but it was still frustrating since the book could have easily ended in the middle. 

This is the first book in a series and there are some things that I'm really looking forward to. I'm really hoping that Amy's real life and the life of Oz somehow get integrated. Maybe Dorothy escapes to the real world and gets involved with Madison and her mother and Amy has to control that situation and still kill Dorothy. I'm also looking for more progress in the relationship between Amy and Nox as well as an explanation to Pete and his/her disguise. 

Overall, I really did enjoy this book! I found it extremely similar to Rebel Belle, which was good considering I loved that book. What was your favorite scene in the book? Let me know in the comments below! 

Attachments | Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 

A Tragic Heart | S. Elle Cameron

A heart-wrenching story about a young girl trying to find meaning in life, A Tragic Heart finds Taylor looking for reason while struggling to conquer her inner demons. Deftly juggling weighty themes that can be prominent in a teenager's life, while delving into the troubles of love triangles and growing up, this fantastic novel brings a surprising depth to the genre while ensuring readers are captivated from the beginning. Skillfully navigating the complex psychology of a troubled youth, this introspective story explores the tragic depths of a young woman in near constant suffering. 

What seems like an average tale of a troubled teenager coming of age will quickly shatter readers’ preconceptions with a number of gripping twists and developments. Flourishing into a more complete and introspective story, A Tragic Heart quickly proves to readers that it can be so much more than a stereotypical tale. 

Non-Spoiler Review

This book was nothing like I expected which is a fantastic thing. There's not too much I can say about this book without giving away most of the plot, but it's mostly an emotional drama. Although there was a relatively slow start to the book, once it got going, it just didn't stop. For some reason (regardless of the title), I went into this book thinking it was going to be a light, cute read. Man, was I wrong! This book makes you feel every emotion possible, from anger to annoyance to extreme sadness. Although the writing wasn't the best, it did its job of conveying the stories of each of the characters. There are so many dark topics that are touched on within this book, so I recommend it to older teens who are looking for intense emotional books. 

Rebel | Amy Tintera

The sequel to the action-packed Reboot is a can't-miss thrill ride, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Veronica Roth, and Marie Lu.

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

Non-Spoiler Review

This book is the second and final book in the Reboot duology. The first book, Reboot, is in a dystopian world where the human population has mostly been wiped out by KDH virus. But where people die, they can "reboot" and come back to life except their better fighters, can heal faster, and have less emotion. The longer time between the rebooting, the less human the new reboot is. Reboot follows the story of Wren Connolly, who has practically the highest number, one hundred seventy eight. She's supposed to be emotionless, but when Callum, a twenty-two, comes in, she realizes that maybe she's not as heartless as everyone says she is. The second book continues their journey and develops their relationship, which is the most I can give away without ruining both books. It's action-packed and cute and a fairly short and fun read. Go read both of them, come back and we'll discuss! 

Seeing Through Stones | Rajdeep Paulus

I live in the in between. Between yesterday and forever. The way forward haunts me. The gap I must cover daunts me. And hope beckons, “Run to me,” but I just learned to walk.

After a lifetime of abuse, the Vanderbilt siblings flee their home, finally free to pursue new dreams while running from yesterday’s nightmares.

Once bed-ridden Jesse navigates the Chicago streets, concealing his identity and planning revenge. A chance encounter in the rain introduces a girl who offers Jesse a glimpse of a sunnier future, but how will he weather the growing storm inside himself?

Separated from her Post-it note prince, Talia hides at a safe house for survivors of domestic violence while her father turns the city upside-down to find her. Surrounded by women fighting their own demons, Talia faces her past at every turn.

Non-Spoiler Review

Seeing Through Stones is the sequel to Swimming Through Clouds, covering Talia's journey right where we leave off from the first book. In contrast to the first book, in Seeing Through Stones we get two different points of view, Jesse's and Talia's. I loved being able to see the difference in their thought process towards how to deal with their father. If you haven't read the first book, I completely recommend you check it out! Here's my review. Once you finish these books, come back so we can discuss!

Pandemonium | Lauren Oliver

I’m pushing aside 
the memory of my nightmare, 
pushing aside thoughts of Alex, 
pushing aside thoughts of Hana 
and my old school, 
push, 
push, 
push, 
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Non-Spoiler Review

This book is the sequel to Delirium and I have to say, it's an amazing book. Compared to those from Delirium, I was able to connect more emotionally with the characters from Pandemonium and I was so much more thrilled by the action scenes. The sequel basically picks up from where Delirium leaves off and is told in two separate times: Then and Now, both of which tell different stories. The two stories are woven together so well, I was constantly left on the edge of my seat at the end of each chapter, dying to know what would happen next. If you haven't yet picked up this series, go get it right now, it's action- packed and thought- provoking. If you've only read Delirium and are a bit hesitant to finish the rest of the series, I seriously recommend picking up the sequel, it only gets better. Go read the book and come back for the spoiler section once you're done!

Delirium | Lauren Oliver

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love- the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. 

Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: she falls in love.

Non-Spoiler Review

This book came out back in 2011 and I read it when it came out and never finished the rest of the series, so I figured why not marathon read the whole series. This book touches on such a strange dystopian world, in which love is considered a disease, and people who are in love are considered infected. The rules within this community are extremely harsh and strict, and even trying to imagine this world is frightening, I can't even fathom having to live in it. Lena's journey throughout the book, although in a completely different world, is so parallel to struggles that teenagers have to go through every day that it's so easy to connect with her and follow along. I completely recommend this book, and I can't wait to jump into the next one. 

Panic | Lauren Oliver

Panic began as so many things d in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She'd never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought. 

Dodge has never been afraid of panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game; he's sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he's not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for. 

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them-- and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. 

Non-Spoiler Review

I didn’t expect this book to be as intense as it was. As soon as I started the first page, we hit the ground running with the beginning of the epic games of Panic. In this small town of Carp, there’s an annual game of Panic, in which the contestants have to go through ridiculous, crazy challenges that usually endanger their lives. These games take place during the summer and only graduating seniors are eligible to participate. During the school year, each student must pay a dollar daily in order to fund these games, regardless of their age. This year the grand total is $67,000, but not everyone plays for the money. Dodge, Heather, and Nat, three unlikely contestants, all have their own reasons for playing. If you enjoy adrenaline-filled books that really get your heart racing, then I completely recommend this book!

Spoiler-Filled Discussion

I had a lot of expectations from this book because it was so widely spread around the book community, but not everything happened the way I thought it would.

For example, I thought Dodge and Heather were supposed to get together, but a few pages in, Dodge was pining over Nat, and Heather was acting jealous of Avery and Bishop. So right away, those predictions were out the window.

Disregarding all the couples, I thought that the entire game of Panic was incredibly cool, and incredibly dangerous. All of the challenges had my heart pounding just because there was a faint chance the characters wouldn’t make it. Out of all of them, I think the scariest one was when Heather was forced to put the gun to her temple and pull the trigger, not knowing whether the bullet would be fired. When I first read it, I was so confused as to why it was so hard for her to shoot a gun, because I missed that she was supposed to point it at herself. Putting myself in her position, I would be so scared to go through with it; add a father killing himself in the same way, and there’s no way I’d be able to go through with it.

The characters were pretty meh in this book. I really did enjoy seeing Heather grow throughout the book. From the beginning, she was super self-conscious and questioned practically everything she did. But as the book went on, she discovered that she really loved animals, despite what she previously thought. She was finally able to admit her tendencies to focus on the negative, and change it.

Both Nat and Dodge really annoyed me throughout the book. As characters, both were extremely flimsy and had strategies for Panic that weren’t…conventional. Nat basically got to the semifinals without lifting a finger, much like Foxface in The Hunger Games, except that Nat isn't that smart. She didn’t have to do the first challenge, nor did she really do anything in the second challenge. She was such a flaky character, I never felt like I could trust anything she said or did, which is why I don’t completely understand Heather’s friendship with her.

Contrastly, Dodge was extremely stubborn about everything he did. He completely immersed himself in every emotion he felt. When he felt anger and wanted revenge on Luke for paralyzing his sister’s legs, rather than simply beating Ray, Luke’s brother, in Panic, Dodge went so far as to almost kill him. When Nat showed him even the slightest bit of attention, he became the complete puppy dog and fell head over heels in love with her. Because he was so stuck in the emotion, he wasn’t able to accept the change that was happening. He wasn’t able to accept that Dayne, his sister, was getting accustomed to her new life. He couldn’t accept the fact that Nat was obviously using him. By not accepting this change, he was continually hurting himself.

Bishop as the judge was extremely predictable. As soon as Dodge noticed something weird, I knew one of the judges was Bishop. But I was also expecting the other judge to be revealed too. Personally I think it was Vivian because why else would she be in Bishop’s house.

Everything about the book was great, but I was slightly disappointed with the ending. Throughout the entire book there was so much intensity geared towards the end of the book: who would win, what would happen between Bishop and Heather, would Dodge get his revenge? On top of that, Heather took the car with the explosives in it, building on the anxiety, and the rest was a blur. And then all of a sudden we skip to like two months later and all of a sudden there’s a happily ever after ending. I really wanted to see the conversation between Bishop and Heather, and how Nat and Dodge ended up together.

If you guys were the judges of Panic, what kinds of tasks would you put? Let me know in the comments!