Erasing Time Review

Title: Erasing Time
Author: C.J. Hill
Series: Erasing Time
Volume: 1
Genre: YA science fiction, dystopia

Why I Read It: It was new and shiny at the library (that's the thing, there's not much in the YA section I haven't seen before), and sounded interesting.

A Quick Intro: Identical twin sisters Sheridan and Taylor Bradford are suddenly dragged forward in time, four hundred years in the future, and as far as their aware, they have no way home (theoretically, things can only move forward in time, not back in the story). The world is a very different place. Everyone lives in protected domes, warring with other domes. Everyone has dyed their hair and painted their skin- fashions have changed, society has changed. Everyone's rank is displayed on their chest. The language is so different that they need a translator. There are only two people who understand their language in the future. Echo and his father, Jeth are historians. And not all is well in the pods. The Dakien, which are an organized crime group seem to run the city from the shadows and the "Doctor Worshipers" have a religious (religion is forbidden) resistance of their own. And now the twins are the target by the corrupt government and the Dakien, four hundred years from home with no one to turn to but Echo, who was a twin himself, and secrets of his own.

What I Thought: The concept of time travel is always risky. The concept of how they move through time was relatively sound-I could see the explanation working (the time freezer), and the DNA composition seems pretty sound, the only part that doesn't sit with me is the looking for DNA in the time streams. But that's the "what if" part of science fiction. I really like the changes in language. That was neat because languages can change very fast.

The romance didn't really work for me (I mean, it was okay toward the end... but... instalove and spontaneous snogging (though the second may just be a normal future thing)...). The plot twist was something that I kind of called. It was a bit predictable on some points, but it was still a neat read.

Fun Fact: The city pods are somewhat similar to the ancient Greek city-states, which were often at war with each other. They were also the birthplace of democracy, in Athens (though it didn't last long, and disappeared for a very long time after that).

Best Books in 2012

Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

I think I might have broken the rules here...

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I don't know if I was super-excited about anything. But I grabbed a lot of books of the shelf and didn't enjoy them though. I didn't finish Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for example. I expected the last Maximum Ride to be dreadful (at least I can say I called it). This is the year I give up on James Patterson for good (New Years resolution #1: No more James Patterson.).

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

Legend by Marie Lu... I pulled it off the shelf because I liked the cover, and ended up reading in twice and then buying it.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. I'm on the third re-read. I really should just buy the book.

 4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange trilogy. I had to lend them out to people and worry over whether or not they would get eaten... I do that sometimes (do I have control issues? maybe...)

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

Can it be a trilogy? If so, then Legend by Marie Lu and the Razorland trilogy by Ann Agguire.
If not: the Agency by Y.S. Lee

 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Y.S. Lee (author of the Agency). Marie Lu (I've already mentioned her debut, Legend). 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (I think it was this year, though I have a feeling it might have been last year). I don'r typically read realistic fiction, but I really loved it. I managed to get the old cover when I bought it too (I really don't like the new printing cover).

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

I'm going to have to say Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian. I threw my self into reading this one with a desperate, desperate need to finish. I was in Belize with almost no Internet (I had a long battle getting the book to download), and while everyone else was sightseeing I was locked in a hotel room frantically trying to reach the end. I'm just a little in love with the series. That, and Enclave by Ann Agguire.

 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

A lot of them. I often almost obsessively re-read.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Go figure. It's a kid's book. 

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

I don't know. There were a lot this year... a lot. Right now the ones that come to mind most are most of the Artemis Fowl cast (like I said, I love the series), Kelley Winslow from Wondrous Strange (I don't even know why, I just find her fun to read, though I can only visit her in re-reads now), and for some bizarre reason, William Herondale from Infernal Devices (probably because I just finished Clockwork Prince, though, and the boy got rather brutal treatment in the last fifty pages-or more like 150 pages... even if he kind of got on my nerves a lot).

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Hmm... I loved Michael Scott's story telling in the Enchantress.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

None that come to mind. I didn't read anything that was really profound this year. Though I did re-read Fat Cat by Robin Brande, which always makes me think. And go off of chocolate. And make my own pasta.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

Fine. I'll say it. Infernal Devices. There, I said it (I hope you're happy K.B.). In spite of how much I complained and ranted and bashed the books (and disliked the covers), I actually kind of liked them a lot. 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

Are you sure you want to ask me this? I have a habit of quoting that makes some people want to kill me...

 16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Heart of Darkness was both the longest and shortest book I read. It was painful to read (says the girl who read Lord of the Rings before she turned 16), but was an incredibly small book. If you're talking length, Heart of Darkness was the shortest. And Inheritance was the longest.

 17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

The end of The Mark of Athena. I think the entire fandom has decided that Rick Riordan is trolling us.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

...*is stuck*...

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

You've got to be getting tired of this by now, but Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian, and Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Enchantress. Also, the Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Dash and Lily's book of Dares. It's the only book I read solely on somebody else's recombination, without even reading the blurb (does Goodread's book club count?).

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Just one? I'm going to have to cheat here. For non-fiction: Your Inner Fish. For fiction I'd love to try Jane Eyre (good luck, self), since I feel like I need to give classics another chance. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Prodigy by Marie Lu, Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, and book 4 of the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Consistency! And the whole reviewing thing. I need to work on that, don't I?

Top Ten Books I Keep Saying I'll Read

...but may secretly be lying. Alternately: In Which Kelly Needs To Toughen Up and Read These Books

Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I know people love them. I know they have excellent reviews. They're recommended for people who've read what I have. And I have no idea why I'm having such a hard time thinking about reading them. It's very strange. I think it may have something to do with the concept.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
A friend of mine sings praise for this book (so I keep saying that I will read it at some point), and again, it has excellent reviews. But I read the blurb and think "great, another love triangle in which I am not liable to care in the slightest about the participants". Also, I'm not crazy about assassins.

The Maze Runner Trilogy and the Scorch Trials by James Dashner. 

These I really do believe I'll read at some point. I don't know why I haven't yet, I just keep putting it off for some mysterious reason.

The Cite of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
A friend really wants me to read this. I keep saying I will, once I finish the pile of books I'm reading now. The issue is that I keep adding to that pile, so it never gets read. It also happens to be part of a series, though she doesn't know that (I've done my research).










Reached by Ally Condie
I've made the executive decision that this counts. Because I keep saying I'll finish it, but am still trying (and failing) to do so. I think it might be because I realized I don't much care for any of the characters.







Looking for Alaska by John Green
 This is another I truly believe I will one day soon get around to reading. I'm just a procrastinater.

Micro-reviews

Because I'm too lazy to do actual reviews... though maybe I'll do full length for a couple at some point... maybe...

Crewel by Gennifer Aldin
This book was read while I was kind of overwrought- I was stealing moments in order to read anything at all, and, while this was a book I had decided I would read immediately, I kept drifting away to others. I just wasn't captivated. I actually forgot the heroine's name one time- I couldn't connect with her, and I don't really know why. The concept is interesting: there are girls who can weave the fabric of the world, and control destiny (crewel is actually a kind of wool thread). But my mind just wandered.There were moments I felt I should be sympathetic to the female lead, but I just wasn't (and I can get very into my characters- the last Artemis Fowl pretty much put me through a condensed version of all of the stages of grief... and then brought me back), but I was unflinching at this one, even when she was forced to mutilate her own fingers weaving razor-sharp thread. I just couldn't attach myself to any of the characters.


Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I wouldn't like it, but I kind of do anyway (does that make sense? no, I don't think it does). It's a lot of things I don't like in a book- steampunk just to be steampunk, a budding love triangle, French vampires named Camille (seriously, what is with people naming French vampires Camille, is there no other available name?) but now I'm nitpicking. But I don't hate it- actually, I kind of liked it. This isn't my first foray into Cassandra Clare's work, I gave Mortal Instruments a go but didn't get into it (please don't kill me with pitchforks). I get the sense that the characters will grow on me in spite of myself, and as soon as I finished Angel I rushed out to get Prince. The banter I found highly amusing (I do so enjoy banter), and I am curious about the plotline. No opinion on the love triangle except this: if Tessa is a warlock, she's immortal right? and both of the boys aren't (and Jem is kind of dying), so how would a relationship work anyway (unless she's not a warlock... or not a normal one... or something... I'm just confusing myself more here... (she talks to Magnus Bane at some point in City of Glass, and apparently Church the cat is in Mortal Instruments too)... I really should just read Mortal Instruments... and my habit of the overuse of  the ellipsis rears it's ugly head ). Anywho, I'm partway through Clockwork Prince now, and forseeing much angst in the future. And I know I'm totally going to get attached.



Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
I read this one a while ago... while babysitting (not out loud). It was hard to put down... though it had do get put down a lot, weing as there were children to be babysat (whose idea was the term "babysitting" anyway?) I remember that I was really glad when I finally got the kids to sleep so I could read in peace for a couple minutes. And even a while after (it has been a while... I read it in February... though there was a re-read), I still remember the most of the characters and some random things (Aria smells like violets, and Perry is short of Peregrine), which I don't always do. Through the Ever Night comes out in January if I'm not mistaken (I do that sometimes).


And that's all for now. I'm off to go read more of Clockwork Prince.

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

In no particular order...and I've kind of lost track of when I read some of these, so we'll say late 2011 to 2012.

Legend by Marie Lu
I pulled this one off the library shelf when it was brand-new and shiny. I was on a bit of a dystopian kick at the time, so it fit the bill. Its one of those books I was surprised I liked as much as I did- so much that I bought a copy, and am counting down to the rest of the trilogy. Prodigy (book 2) comes out in January.








Artemis Fowl: The Last Gaurdian by Eoin Colfer
I'm completely smitten with this series (I don't usually do smitten, believe me). There's just something about it that I adore.This is the last one in the series, and it came out on July 10th. I remember the release because I was travelling (in Belize), and had to buy the e-book (though I now own the hardcover as well). I was a bit of a homesick mess when I read it, but I think it helped to keep me sane (while causing me a lot of stress, simultaneously). Thank you, Eoin Colfer, for an awesome series. I will love it forever.
My Review is here.





The Enchantress by Michael Scott
One of my top fantasy books of the year, hands down. This is another series that I love, and it's a really wonderful world he creates. A bit on the confusing side (in one of the plot lines), but it really is a great story.
Full review here.








 The Time Travelers by Linda Buckley-Archer
Even though I'm technically close to exceeding the age-range for teenage literature, I'm still a little in love with childrens' fiction. Seriously. There's just so much imagination in them, which I wish I found more in teen literature more often (it can be kind of formulaic sometimes). This was a birthday present, and I ended up buying the other two books in the trilogy on faith (and because I'm OCD about having a full series). I know some people didn't like it-it almost seems as if you loved it or you hated it. I liked it.
P.S. Look at the cover in full size. I adore the cover so much it's probably a little strange (all the covers in the trilogy are lovely, actually).

 Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
I'm going to be straight with you- before this series, I didn't really like Scott Westerfeld's writing. I read Uglies, Pretties and Specials, and I couldn't make it through Extras. There was just something I couldn't get through. But the Leviathan trilogy blew me away (not literally). It's such a wonderful steampunk trilogy. It isn't steampunk for the sake of being steampunk, the gears and the beasties (only makes sense if you've read the books) are truly an important part of the story. The story wouldn't exist without them.


Traitor in the Tunnel by L.S. Lee
It was going to be the end of the trilogy, but apparently the author is working on a fourth- she says that she's not quite done with Mary and James quite yet. I would love to get my hands on an ARC of book four whenever it gets released. It's a great book... Its one of the best portrayals of Victorian London that I've ever come across- very raw. And I loved it. It's actually on my Christmas list.







Enclave and Outpost by Ann Aguirre
Like I said, I'm on a dystopia kick. It's a wonderfully fast paced (in Enclave), and more character driven in Outpost. I'm looking forward to Horde, which is set for release in 2013. It's a good contrast for Legend, much grittier and more dangerous- there's not much politics here. It isn't a zombie book (I haven't found any that appeal to me), but there are carnivorous creatures rather like monsters.

Top Ten Tuesdays

Top Ten Books on my Birthday Wishlist

Mindblind by Jennifer Roy: This is one that I've taken out of the library several times. It's a neat little book, one of those books you can't quite figure out why you enjoyed so much. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I don't usually like classics. But this one came free with the Kindle app that I got for my laptop when I was travelling, and, because I had a very poor internet connection and no books, I started reading in and some how loved it. But it must be this cover, because I'm picky that way: I can't stand most of the covers -no paintings may be on the covers. Ever. At all.

The Agency by Y.S. Lee: All three (and the forth, but it isn't due for release for a while, so it doesn't really count). I love the concept of these novels. A Victorian, all women's detective agency.

Enclave and Outpost by Ann Aguirre: Because I do love my dystopic fiction. Yes, very much so.

Graceling, Fire and Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore. They've been growing on me a lot recently, thought I didn't initially love them.

Book Talk: Mark of Athena- Spoiler Alert

 Sorry for the delayed posting on Mark of Athena. I got it on Wednesday and finished it on Thursday, but I hadn't gotten around to doing a review.
Title: Mark of Athena
Series: Heroes of Olympus (Sequel Series to Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
Author: Rick Riordan
Volume: 3
Rating: 9.5/10

Summary (be warned of minor spoilers): These books are actually kind of hard to summarize, as there are a lot of smaller adventures on the way, but bear with me.
The Greek and Roman demigods meet in this book. The giant, flying trireme with Festus's head lands over the Roman city (it is not allowed to actually land, because that would break the rules). We get Annabeth and Percy's reunion, which was wonderful (it involves a judo throw). Then everything goes downhill. The boat fires on New Rome, and the Greek demigods and Roman demigods plunge quickly into all-out fighting. The seven: Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank and Hazel, make it to the trireme and depart in rather a hurry from the battle below. In quick sucession, we find out that there are some not-nice spirits taking over people's bodies- Leo, Percy and Jason for a short while until Piper charmspeaks them out, and undergo several, smaller adventures on their journey- much like the heroes on the original Argo. The rest can be summed up as a race-against-the-clock flight to Rome. Nico's been imprisoned by giants, putting himself into a coma that will allow him to last a week sealed in an airtight container. So they are now racing to Rome to save Nico, oh-and the world.

Annabeth has something to deal with on her own, as well, something that may heal the huge, hostile rift between her mother and Rome. Unfortunately, every child of Athena to try has failed. She must face one of her greatest fears to right an ancient wrong. She must find the statue of Athena that formerly stood in the Parthenon, which was stolen by the Romans to break Athenian spirit.

Response (in which the spoilers are more extreme): Look, I'm getting better at not spoiling everything in my summaries! When I finished my response was "Fall of 2013?! So Long!". Talk about a cliffhanger ending (or rather a they-stopped-hanging-off-the-ledge-and-are-now-plunging-toward-the-most-evil-place-ever-what-is-going-to-happen-now ending). I think everyone on Argo 2 is feeling some sort of guilt and a truckload of fear. The next book might be a little darker- I mean, if we see inside Tartatus, which almost drove Nico insane, and he's the son of the ruler of the Underworld.

This book was a overall really good. It only lost 0.5 because I missed reading in Percy's first-person point of view. There were a lot of little split-off-into-teams tasks, which we grasped a mix of dynamics with the characters. Neither Percy nor Jason really feel comfortable in a leadership capacity, Leo feels like a seventh wheel, Annabeth is really worried about her mothers quest/curse, there's the whole Frank-Hazel-Leo thing and meanwhile everything seems to be trying to kill our heros (and capture two as sacrifices).

I'm kind of anxious for the next book. A lot. The original 7 has been separated and now we've got Nico in a role we've not seen him in before-leader, and Percy and Annabeth have quite the battle of their own to look forward to.

This review is awful. I'll come back and edit it later.

A mention of The Last Guardian

I was looking at Artemis Fowl fanart, when I came across a bunch of people arguing about how Opal killing her younger self would have worked at all. Really, it is actually the embodiment of the grandfather paradox mentioned in Time Paradox. Her past self dies, and so therefore doesn't live to the point where she kills her past self, so her past self lives... and so-on and so forth in a loop, so nothing would change. Gosh darn all these Time Paradoxes. The Grandfather paradox is the one I agree with, and it seems to be the one that this series follows, so it, to an extent works. Why Opal goes nuclear... well, quantum doesn't like being messed with. I get confused every time I think about it.

And Artemis's memories. People's opinions vary as to whether he gets them back. I think he does. Outside of "because I said so", the fairy spirits are shown to retain they're memories after the loss of their bodies, and while possessing those at Fowl manner, so I don't really see a reason why Artemis shouldn't do the same, after all, he is basically possessing his clone's body, though it doesn't have a soul to push out of the way. Also, there is the matter of magic. At one point (during the Lost Colony), he "wraps a memory in magic" to preserve it. So magic seems to help prevent memory corrosion under extreme circumstances (like entering a time tunnel, or losing one's body), and of course there's Artemis's own willpower, and how stubborn he is about getting what he wants and keeping it (see book 1). He's the only human to avoid being destroyed by a timestream, almost entirely due to willpower. And, if all else fails, I did say so, didn't I?