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Showing posts with label Cyberpunk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyberpunk. Show all posts

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Scarlet Lunar Chronicles Book 2: Audiobook

Author: Marissa Meyer

Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Title: Scarlet Lunar Chronicles Book 2
Publication: February 5, 2013
Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners
Genre: Young Adult, Futuristic, Cyber-punk
Length: 11 hours
Pages: 464
Audience: 15 and up
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.


My thoughts:
 Oh man, you guys! This series is a must read. I know my review and thoughts are a little late, but the audiobook for the Lunar Chronicles is well worth it!
This book picks up where Cinder left off. From the synopsis, I was wondering how Marissa Meyer would add another important/ main character and wrap her into the whole story. She does it perfectly! The storyline switches from back and forth from Cinder to Scarlet's perspective throughout the novel. As you also know, Scarlet is supposed to be a re-imagined, updated Red Riding Hood, so I was also intrigued as to how she would add that to the plot as well. One of my favorite characters from Cinder was brought back. I was a bit worried because I really liked the character and was unsure of their livelihood. New characters were introduced... and old evil ones were still there to make your blood boil from their wickedness. Wold was an interesting character and kept me second guessing my readings on him. I'm still trying to decide what I think about him. Cinder was not the main focus and Scarlet is a new leading lady. I liked them both and even though the book focused slightly more on Scarlet than Cinder, I still felt like there was a balance of the amount of time that was spent on each to character. I cannot wait for the next book, which according to Ms. Meyer's website is due out in 2014.
The one thing that really makes me love this series is the audio format.Rebecca Solar is great. She sounded a little different at first like she might have had a cold when recording the first part of the novel. After a while she started to sound like she did in the Cinder. I LOVE the French accents she had in this novel. I love all the accents she did, actually. She differentiates for each character. From memory there are three French characters and I could tell them each apart while listening to the novel. I apologize for the review being posted so late, but trust me the audiobook is worth a try and you will be not disappointed!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Amped: A Novel (Audiobook)

Author:  Daniel H. Wilson

Title: Amped: A Novel
Publication: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Doubleday
Genre: Adult, Adventure, Science Fiction, Futuristic
Pages: 288
Length: 8 1/2 hours
Audience: 18 and up
Rating: 3.5 out 5
Source: Public Library

 Favorite Quote: "I'd rather be weird and know it than be a stupid ass."- Nick


Synopsis (from the cover):
 Twenty-nine-year-old high school teacher Owen Gray had long ago come to terms with the tiny device in his head, which was implanted to control the seizures he suffered in his youth. Owen's "amp" gave him a normal life, even though he question where his brain ended and the computer began. 
But when the Supreme Court rules that "amplified" humans like Owen are not protected by the same basic laws as pure humans, his world in downtown Pittsburgh instantly fractures. Before he can get his bearings, Owen receives desperate news from his father, the doctor who originally implanted Owen's "amp". He confides a dangerous secret: Owen's "amp" has the potential o do something extraordinary- and there are people who will come for him, and want to kill him for what is in his head. 
Owen begins a harrowing journey to a dusty community in rural Oklahoma where he finds the one man who can explain his true abilities He also meets Lyle Crosby, whose stunning physical abilities and ruthless ideas show Owen how to harness his own startling gifts- but also threaten to drawn him into a dark world from which there may be no moral return.


My thoughts:
This book has been on my mind ever since I read it. I want to know why it bothered me so much to listen to this book. I've read books by Chuck Palahniuk, the author of books like Fight Club, Diary, Rant, Choke, etc. He isn't an easy author to read. His books are very graphic, gritty, dirty, and painful. I've watched graphic movies and TV shows like Dexter, The Expendables, etc. and I've had to look away every now and then because it was hard to watch. I think I didn't like the book for three reasons 1. I was listening to it with my boyfriend who loved it, and felt bad if I turned it off (we were on a looooong road trip). 2. I can look away at graphic scenes or I can imagine them less graphic when I'm reading. However, when something is being read to me in a certain tone...I can't exactly stop or look away...I just listen and imagine. 3. This book scared me because I can see medical implants with chips coming into existence in my lifetime, and having to deal with the issues the people in the book had to deal with. I will go out on a limb and call this book a boy book. A friend of my boyfriend suggested it and he and my boyfriend loved it. If you like really gritty books and science fiction, then I recommend it. It may not be so bad if you read it, but listening to it was so hard for me. There were times I know I had to look goofy because the details were so painful that I was making pained and disgusted faces for most of our trip. As for the idea and the storyline- I loved it. I think the way the book was written with little snippets from news blogs and historical documents was really cool. The characters were well written that I could actually imagine people I know as some of the characters. I love the quotes in the first chapter of the novel because it talks about how reliant we are on technology that it is inside of us, taking over us. I enjoyed the book overall, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it instead of listening to it.


Friday, August 24, 2012

Cinder (Audiobook)


Author:  Marissa Meyer
Title: Cinder
Publication:January 3, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Cyberpunk, Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure
Pages: 400
Audience: 15 and up
Rating: 4 out 5
Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from the cover): 
Sixteen year old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interface has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. The reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an "honor" that no one has survived. But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.


My thoughts:
This isn't a book I would have normally picked for myself. Cricket suggested it to me. I thought she had read it until I decided to try to discuss a part with her and she covered her ears. I found out quickly it is on her "to read" list. I really don't know what to say about the book. There was a whole lot going on during the novel because it really is a cyberpunk, dystopian, fantasy, adventure novel for young adults. I was unsure how the Cinderella theme fit in, but by the end of the book it all makes sense. I listened to the audiobook, and I'm not going to suggest that. I finally found someone who had actually read the book, and I asked them if Cinder sounded like a whiny teenager. She said said Cinder did not sounded like a I'm-not-going-to-take-crap, strong, female lead. The lady who narrated the book made Cinder sound like a brat, and I just wanted to slap her in a few scenes. Now the narrator did an excellent robot voice. The robot, Iko, ended up being my favorite character because her voice was perfect. I also found myself leaning towards the evil villain side. I almost always go with the protagonist, but evil Queen Levana's glimmer is working on me. She is just a perfect evil, wicked witch of a queen who stops at nothing to get what she wants. The book as a whole was entertaining. I once again suggest reading it. The audio was okay, but I think reading it you can maybe see more of a stronger version of Cinder. Overall, the book was a good read and something outside of what I usually read. Marissa Meyer plans to make the novel into a series titled, The Lunar Chronicles. The next novel is titled, Scarlet, which comes out in February 2013. I can't wait to see what that series has in store.