Trailer Tuesday: 24/06/2014

This week I have selected three dark trailers which have been tagged as sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, young adult and new adult. In all the trailers, the protagonist's are female who either do kick some butt or promise to do so in the future.  I hope you enjoy them!

If you would like to see your trailer featured here, or would like to share one you found and loved, please send me a link to it via Twitter, Facebook or my contact form on my blog!

Carrier by Anne Tibbets



Punchy, emotive narration with eerie music and snappy scenes. This trailer just works for me. I'm not sure how I feel about the last line. Is she mad to think she can 'expose their lies' or does she have the skill set to change the world? I don't know, but I want to know! 

Synopsis

Twenty-two -year-old Naya has spent nearly half her life as a sex slave in a government institution called The Line. When she’s kicked out after getting pregnant with twins, she’s got no way to earn a living and a horrifying choice to make: find someone to replace her, or have her babies taken in her stead.

A doctor with a history of aiding ex-Line girls, Ric Bennett, wants to help. He runs a team of rebels that can delete Naya’s records and free her forever. But when The Line sniffs out his plan, things get bloody, fast. Naya means more to them than just a chance at fresh faces—her twins are part of the government’s larger plan.

As they hide from government search parties, Ric comes to admire Naya’s quiet strength. And Naya realizes Ric might be a man she can trust. If they make it off the grid, they could build a new life. But first they’ll have to survive the long, vicious reach of The Line

    

ARV-3 by Cameo Renae



I think this is one of the most professional trailers I have seen so far. The locations and props are superb and I appreciate the static and walkie-talkie like voice over.  The creepy figure was... Well a little creepy! I loved that the last few seconds you see the protagonist overpowering it. 

Synopsis

The beginning of the end. The Apocalypse.

A nuclear fallout wiped out every living thing on the planet, except for a few thousand of us who took shelter in underground bunkers across the globe. Now, after thirteen long years, we were finally able to return to the topside to begin to rebuild.

We thought we were alone. We were never more wrong.

Before the fallout, scientists had worked on creating an anti-radiation vaccine (ARV). The first two attempts failed, but despite the incomplete tests and results, the government approved and distributed the third serum to the masses in an effort to aid those who had no shelter.

It worked, keeping those who remained on the topside alive, but it also altered and mutated them. This new and infectious threat had completely outnumbered us. Now, we not only had to rebuild our planet. We would have to fight for it.

My name is Abigail Park. I’m seventeen, and this is my story.

    

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender



In the beginning I wondered if this was some kind of parody (it somewhat reminded me of the videos of an awful Harry Potter fanfic), but 40 seconds in and the trailer feels a lot more serious. I love the ghost effect and the rebellious rock sound. I feel like the protagonist has a really down to earth voice and I look forward to reading this books some time.

Synopsis

It's been three months since Alexis helplessly witnessed Lydia Small's violent death, and all she wants is for her life to return to normal.
But normal people don't see decaying bodies haunting photographs. Normal people don't have to deal with regular intrusions from Lydia's angry ghost, sometimes escalating to terrifying attacks.

At first, it seems that Lydia wants revenge on Alexis alone. But a girl from school disappears one night, and Alexis spots one of Lydia's signature yellow roses lying on the girl's dresser the next day. Soon, it becomes clear that several of Alexis's friends are in danger, and that she's the only person who can save them. But as she tries to intervene, Alexis realizes that her enemy is a much more powerful ghost than she's ever faced before... and that its fate is tied to hers in ways she couldn't possibly imagine.

Not even in her worst nightmares.

    

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Review, Tour, Giveaway: The Only Boy — Jordan Locke

If you are looking for a dystopian that is more on the pleasant side and geared towards young adults I think this fits the bill pretty well. With its fast pace and range of settings, this book kept me interested throughout.

Read more to read my review, learn about the author and enter a $50 giveaway.

Official Synopsis

Genre: YA; Sci-Fi, Dystopian 
Pages: 269

Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch's senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out.

Taylor's got a dangerous secret: he's a boy. His compound's been destroyed, and he's been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he'll be exiled. Maybe even executed.

Mary's never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn't suspect Taylor's secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. Then again, she might be frightened to death of him.

Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound's boundaries.

Amazon UK | Amazon.com

My Review

The cover is gorgeous and does a good job of conveying the premise of the book. The title is a little misleading. Taylor isn’t the ‘only boy’, he is just the only one in his Section and the only one to enter Section One. But it’s punchy and sets up the background for Section One and the history of the dystopian world: there are no boys. It appears as if all male humans have been killed off due to an airborne disease, but that is just its preference, in truth the disease has also affected and killed many women.

In Section One we have a vivid picture of your typical risk taker. In a compound where no touching is allowed (it’s believed to spread the disease) a lot of warm emotions are lacking. We don’t see love – familial or romantic – and even friendships and family ties seems dull and duty bound. On the flip side, that also means there is no physical violence because that counts as touching. The Matriarch of the compound is twisted and cruel. Without a chapter told from her point of view, it is pretty difficult to know exactly why she is this way or why she made (or enforces) such strict and oppressive rules. Taylor, following the bombing of his home, comes from another Section which is run quite differently to Section One. He finds the change difficult, but he doesn’t seem to grief too much over the loss of his home, family and friends.

That leads me to the first issue I had with this book. I appreciate that fast pace. But sometimes it felt as if this book neatly skimmed over everything with a sprinkling of depth here and there for good measure. The big baddie is the Matriarch, but we don’t know enough about her to make a judgement beyond ‘your rules are wrong’ and ‘you have made evil choices. And, [spoiler alert!] towards the end Mary encounters the scientist who created a baby boy (all the children are made in a laboratory) – Taylor. Do we get to know her or her life story? Nope. I wanted to know more about these key characters. Okay, they may not be in much of the book because of their lack of interaction with the key characters, but they play a massive role in regards to why events have happened.

In regards to the main characters – Mary and Taylor – I felt ambivalent. They seem so immature in the decisions they make, but I think you could put that down to their very limited life and social experiences. I wish the characters had a little more depth to them to make them more intriguing, but as an adult reader I realise not every young adult book is going to tick that box for me. Their naivety was also a bit irksome. Why it took so long for them to realise the ‘evil Earthers’ weren’t attacking the compound is beyond me. I think the clue is in the name – Earthers. They hunt and gather. Where are they apparently getting an airplane and a bomb?

The Earthers were a wonderful addition to the plot. It made the world feel more populated and even more female dominated. The female Earthers make the final decision in regards to their lives and despite capturing and treasuring a few surviving menfolk. I think Locke did a great job at contrasting the different ways in which groups of people chose to live their lives after the disease, from the sterile Section One to the back-to-nature Earthers.

The book felt a little rosy. The love between the main characters felt too quick and too superficial. The ending was also seemed pleasing all round for the characters, on the whole. Should I put that down to it being young adult? Good reads estimates young adult to be aimed at those between 13 – 21 years old, and I would say this is probably aimed at those on the lower end. The subject matter of dystopian is often dark and emotionally exhausting, but this book felt on the lighter side of the dystopian spectrum.

Overall this is a pretty enjoyable read. The plot, environments and themes are intriguing. The pacing is steady and you never get the sense of having been in one story location or point too long. For readers who are looking for great depth in characters and plot this book might not be satisfying enough, but if you are looking for a dystopian that is more on the pleasant side and geared towards young adults I think this fits the bill pretty well.

The Author

Jordan Locke lives in Connecticut with his wife, two lively daughters and a well-behaved whippet. A graphic designer by trade, his creativity spilled over into the literary world. After years of writing, reading and learning the craft, his fifth novel, The Only Boy, brought him offers of representation from two well-known agents. Now, after the dog is fed and the kids are in bed, you will find him tapping away at the keyboard.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/8/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Review: PODS — Michelle K. Pickett

I think that young adults may like this book, along with people who like romance and rosy novels. The latter type of readers probably won’t dip into dystopian novels often, or at all, but this could be a nice way to introduce them to elements of the genre. For fans of emotionally powerful dystopian stories or sci-fi, this book might be underwhelming.

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Trailer Tuesday (01/04/2014)

Trailer Tuesday continues! I'm finding that a majority of the trailers are for books from bigger publishing companies. I so rarely see a book trailer that I will be including those anyway!

If you would like to see your trailer featured here, or would like to share one you found and loved, please send me a link to it via Twitter, Facebook or my contact form on my blog.

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Book Blast & Giveaway: The Boxcar Baby — J.L. Mulvihill

Today I present to you... another giveaway! I have read the blurb of this book quite a few times, and I think it sounds like a fabulous book. It is already on my to read list!

Synopsis: Born in a boxcar on a train bound for Georgia. At least that is what Papa Steel always told AB'Gale. But now, fifteen years later, the man who adopted and raised her as his own is missing and it's up to AB'Gale to find him. Aided only by a motley gang of friends, AB'Gale train hops her way across the United States in a desperate attempt to find her papa and put her life and family back the way it was. Her only guide is a map given to her by a mysterious hobo, with hand written clues she found hidden in her papa's spyglass. Here is the Great American Adventure in an alternate steampunk dystopian world, where fifteen-year-old AB'Gale Steel learns that nothing is as it seems, but instead is shrouded in secrets and mysteries ... and that monsters come in all shapes and forms.

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Review: Second Life — R J Crayton

Second Life is the sequel to First Life. The setting of Life First was intriguing, though its plot focused on the struggles, family and romance in relation to one woman – Kelsey. The book was enjoyable overall, but I found the main character irritated me somewhat because the choices she made were often poor. The whole bad situation could have been avoided if Kelsey had simply left the country when she realised that she did not agree with Life First policies. Instead she stayed until she was marked for donation and then attempted to run away. Pretty poor decision making there, don’t you think? Especially given the number of people who were drawn into and effected by that affair. The side characters seemed to be more interesting and less 2D than Kelsey. (You can read my full review of the first book here.) Needless to say I was very excited to find that the second book was focusing on Kelsey’s more logical friend – Susan.

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Book Tour + Giveaway PODs — Michelle K. Pickett

PODs by Michelle K. Pickett

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

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Review: The Cleansing

Book Summary

After the earth suffered from a series of severe natural disasters that claimed many lives, people are still fearful years later. America allows in foreigners from other devastated areas to assist with rebuilding. As a result, a new wave of immigration occurs, and now Americans are in the minority. They are discriminated against and blamed for global warming.

 When a foreigner becomes president of the United States, he devises a plan that will prevent Americans from standing in the way of his tyranny. He forces them to attend the Earth Education Program, where they are supposed to learn how to take better care of the environment.

The story follows John and Annie Weber, an American couple, who discover that the program is more malignant than it appears. As a massive genocide takes place, John and Annie struggle to survive in this new world.

Star Rating

5 / 5

I really enjoyed this book. It's depth surprised me. The character development in this book is superb and by the end of the novel you really feel connected to the characters. What makes this book even more amazing is how the plot is handled. It's pacing, subplot interjections, flashbacks, and plot twists kept me hooked. In a distant future I suppose the events in this book could become a possible reality. I think that the potential possibilities is what makes certain dystopian novels truly chilling. This is a great dystopian novel, and I think anyone who likes thrillers or drama would appreciate this book.

Review

Throughout the book we see racism directed at Americans through laws. Having studied the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s I can see some similarities and, in the beginning, it was interesting to see things turned around on Americans. It wasn't long until their treatment stopped being an interesting 'how would you like it' and turned into something that registered as just wrong to me as a reader. The main characters in this novel, John and Annie, are a somewhat average couple. I think this makes it a lot easier to relate to the feelings of the characters. They aren't action heroes, they aren't the strongest or most intelligent, they aren't anything particularly special. They survive the story by their own skills, personal strengths, love and luck. But, as in all true dystopian novels, they are doomed to fail. We follow these two characters, share in their heartbreak and joys. We feel everything they do. In fact, towards the end of the book, I was close to tears (and I don't often cry over books!). I was happy to see that, at the end of the book, a sequel is planned. While I do hate cliché or unearned happy endings, I would like to think that the fictional world of this book can right the wrongs of Julian. So obviously I will be reading the rest of the series!

The book is sometimes interrupted by subplots of other characters. At first I thought it was strange, then I began to like it. The other perspectives helped give a bigger view of what was happening in the world and how other people were living or suffering. I found the chapter dedicated to John's parents to be very chilling and, for that reason, enjoyable because I didn't see it coming. I thought there would be some side note as to what happened to them, or that they would be left as deaths that happened off screen, presumably at the Earth Program. Laura and Stephanie's subplot was also interesting because their story gave the book its final, horrific chapter. Evans shows that she isn't limited to following just the 'main' characters in a book, and that she can weave a bigger picture using minor characters to spice up the novel.

This book was definitely easy to read, the length was perfect and I enjoyed the pace. For me, Evans ticked all the right boxes. Despite Annie's inability to bear children and her irritability (and bitterness) towards her family and friends who had children, Annie never came off as a character who was petty or annoying because of that aspect of her character. To me, her feelings and thoughts were justified, and so I liked her very much as a character. Furthermore, I felt John had a vulnerability about him which made him believable because he wasn't Mr Action Man.

  

While it isn't a negative point, I did foresee Annie getting pregnant, or at least a pregnancy scare, in the book because of the mention of nausea. Perhaps my mind was just making huge assumptions because of one word. However, there was a lot I didn't foresee. In this book I felt there were quite a few twists in the story. For example, when Annie and John are sent for 're-education' I thought the worse that would happen would be rigged exams to keep Americans locked up permanently. I ended up thinking the characters were just being a bit paranoid, but when the soldiers began to shoot at the Americans I realised how Evans had created a place where Americans were lulled into a false sense of security - and I too had been taken in by it! Moreover, I certainly didn't see one of the good guys mercilessly taking the life of a spy. As a reader I know it's what should always happen, but good characters do tend to refrain from outright murder, or there's more emotional anguish written. And, of course, the last note I made on this book was 'omg'. I definitely didn't think the ending would happen in such a way. I hope I haven't given too much away about this book, but it's rather difficult to explain how much of a pleasure it was to read without nodding to all the twists and turns in the book.

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