BOOK REVIEW |The Empress by SJ Kincaid

Title: The Empress
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Series? Yes, a trilogy (originally was going to be a standalone)
Publication Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Source: I received a copy of The Empress via Netgalley. Thank you to Simon & Schuster! All thoughts and opinions are my own. :)

It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.

But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.

Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Goodreads

Sci Fi Month 2017!!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! This post is a little late, but I wanted you the know that this month I am participating in Sci-Fi Month! I've participated twice before, and this will be my third year in a row. Sci-Fi Month is hosted by Lisa @ Over the Effing Rainbow and Imyril @ x+1!

This whole month, I'll be focusing on reading science-fiction. As the mood reader I am, I will probably read a mix of genres, but I'm gibing science fiction more attention. 

So, here are some of the books I plan on reading this month! I'm also planning on reading some short stories, which I want to do a collective review of. 

Waiting on Wednesday #6

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in weekly meme Waiting on Wednesday. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we highlight upcoming releases we are excited about!

This month I am participating in SciFi month, which is hosted by Rinn @ Rinn Reads and Lisa @ Over the Effing Rainbow! In order to tie that in, I am going to be showing everyone an upcoming science fiction read I'm looking forward to.

This week, I chose Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner! 

There is little to know about Unearthed except that it's expected publication is sometime in 2017!

Here is the little blurb they have shared:

Jules Addison and Amelia Radcliffe join forces in a tomb-raiding race on a newly discovered planet to unravel the secrets of an ancient, long-extinct civilization — only to uncover a revelation that could spell the end of the human race.

Why I'm Waiting

I absolutely loved Kaufman and Spooner's Starbound series. I finished the trilogy January of this year and couldn't wait for the duo's next release. Their trilogy is one of my favorite YA trilogies out there, so I have extremely high hopes and anticipation for this one!  The whole tomb-raiding and ancient civilization spark my interest even more. And just in case you don't like the cover, don't worry. It's not the official one. ;D

What did you pick this week? Are you looking forward to Unearthed?

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW | A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
Series: Firebird Trilogy
Author: Claudia Gray
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Pages: The physical copy has 360 pages
Source: I downloaded the audiobook through my online local library!

A thousand lives. A thousand possibilities. One fate.

Marguerite Caine grew up surrounded by cutting-edge scientific theories, thanks to her brilliant physicist parents. Yet nothing is more astounding than her mother's latest invention—a device called the Firebird, which allows people to leap into alternate dimensions.

When Marguerite's father is murdered, all the evidence points to one person—Paul, her parents' enigmatic star student. Before the law can touch him, Paul escapes into another dimension, having committed what seems like the perfect crime. But he didn't count on Marguerite. She doesn't know if she can kill a man, but she's going to find out.

With the help of another physics student, Theo, Marguerite chases Paul through various dimensions. In each new world Marguerite leaps to, she meets another version of Paul that has her doubting his guilt and questioning her heart. Is she doomed to repeat the same betrayal?

As Marguerite races through these wildly different lives—a grand duchess in a Tsarist Russia, a club-hopping orphan in a futuristic London, a refugee from worldwide flooding on a station in the heart of the ocean—she is swept into an epic love affair as dangerous as it is irresistible.

Waiting on Wednesday! #5

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in weekly meme Waiting on Wednesday. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we highlight upcoming releases we are excited about!

This month I am participating in SciFi month, which is hosted by Rinn @ Rinn Reads and Lisa @ Over the Effing Rainbow! In order to tie that in, I am going to be showing everyone an upcoming science fiction read I'm looking forward to. 

BOOK REVIEW | Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Gemina
Series: Illuminae Files
Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Publication Date: October 18, 2016
Pages: 608
Source: I got Gemina from my local library! 

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They've totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

Discussion | Is Terraforming the Solution to Earth's Evergrowing Problem? + Book Recommendations!

Earlier this month, I saw a video about terraforming and really made me start thinking. First, take a spin with the video if you are interested in our species' future on our home planet Earth.

The video talks about terraforming options. This includes Mars, Venus, Titan, and Europa. To be honest, I always thought that we wouldn't need another Earth for a good 5-7 billion years. That's when the sun will expand until becoming a white dwarf. In this expansion, earth  would die. But if we continue with how we are treating Earth today, the expiration date is much closer. It's still well after my life span on Earth, but it's harrowing to think that humans might cause the demise of our planet. 

Waiting on Wednesday #4

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in weekly meme Waiting on Wednesday. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we highlight upcoming releases we are excited about!

This month I am participating in SciFi month, which is hosted by Rinn @ Rinn Reads and Lisa @ Over the Effing Rainbow. In order to tie that in, I am going to be showing everyone an upcoming science fiction read I'm looking forward to. 

TTT: Sci-Fi Books I've Added to My TBR

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in Top Ten Tuesday. TTT is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. This week our topic was "Ten Books I've Added To My To-Be-Read List Lately." If you didn't know, I'm participating in Sci-Fi month. Because of this, I'm going to put a little science fiction twist on this post.

What Movie Should I Watch? [POLL]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! If you didn't know, I am participating in Sci Fi month, which is hosted by Rinn @ Rinn Reads and Lisa @ Over the Effing Rainbow.

I'm having a hard decision deciding what science fiction movie to watch (on Netflix) to review. I decided that I would let you decide instead and then see my reaction! I have a good feeling about what book will read, but I still want to see the results!

Sci Fi Month 2016 | Second Time's the Charm!

Hey everyone! If you didn't know, last year I participated in Sci Fi Month! It is hosted by Rinn @ Rinn Reads and Lisa @ Over the Effing Rainbow! I was kind of a mess last year. I had recently started my blog, and I didn't really know what I was doing. I have hopes that this year will be much better!

Movie Review: Interstellar (2014)

My mind is blown by Interstellar!

If you don't know what Interstellar is about, the movie follows a single dad, Cooper, who takes on an underground NASA mission to try to find a new world sustainable for human life by traveling through a black hole. There is a lot more to this story, including another plot in entirety back on Earth where Cooper's daughter, Murph, is trying to solve the equation for gravity so that humans can live on their own simulated planet.

Interstellar is a very intricate movie with a ton of more sub plots than just the two I mentioned above. After I finished watching the film, I wanted to re-watch it so that I could fully grasp what I just watched. Since it was my first ever time watching it, I know I missed a lot of stuff. However, this is what I really liked about the film! It does toe the line of too confusing, but I still liked it.
Knowing that there is even more for me to experience every time I watch the movie makes me anticipate the next time I see it even more.

The storyline of this movie was spot on! It was the perfect blend of both science and fiction. In a very long time from now, this could happen, and we might have to relocate somewhere else to live. The acting by the whole cast, but especially Matthew McConaughey who played Cooper, was spot on! It was really hard for me not to cry several times throughout the movie, and I definitely would have if I weren't in public. There are some certain scenes that are so powerful and I felt exactly what the characters were feeling. For instance, when a certain massive betrayal occurs in the movie, I was shocked and angry just like the cast of characters were.

The movie made me sit on the edge of my seat, anxious to see what happened next. Insterstellar has a plethora of thrilling near death scenes that captured me into the story. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there were some truly mesmerizing and beautiful scenes that transported me to the worlds that Cooper and his partner, Brand, were on. The movie as a whole is visually stunning and even if the acting was bad or the plot only half way good, I would still recommend the movie. The film really makes you see the world in a different light. Earth is only one planet in one solar system for one star in one galaxy, while there are more galaxies than we could count with billions of stars found in each.

The last 45 minutes or so of the movie are downright amazing. It is mind boggling to still think about what happened, but it was excellent! It was an outstanding turn of events and one of the main reasons why I want to watch the movie again. In short, I do recommend this movie. It is hard to grasp at times and I feel like in order to understand everything, you have to watch it multiple times. The acting and plot is excellent and there are twists and turns throughout the film that will keep you on the edge on your seat. 

With that, I give this book 

4.1 Out of 5 Stars!

Movie Review: Mockingjay Part 2

I literally have nothing bad to say about this film! I absolutely loved it!

Mockingjay Part 2 is everything I wanted in a concluding movie of one of my favorite franchises. I never knew I could be so happy with something. Right once I finished seeing the movie, I wanted to go back and see it again. 

This was such a faithful adaptation and I loved every second of it. They really stuck true to the books and I adored how they translated it into film. The acting is on point throughout the entire movie, and Josh Hutcherson's portrayal of a broken Peeta was excellent. Even though the movie is pretty long, 2 hours and 17 minutes, there was not one time I was bored. Because I knew what was going to happen since I have read the books, I was eagerly anticipating some scenes and anxious at others. I was low-key hoping they didn't kill off a certain character in the sewers, but the scene was so well done and truly paid tribute to the character. 

One thing I love about this book is that there is so much symbolism and " Easter eggs" throughout the film. For instance, at the end of the movie (no major spoiler don't worry!) Peeta is holding a dandelion. If you don't remember, at the end of Mockingjay Katniss explains how Gale is like a fire while Peeta is a dandelion. Already fire-like herself, she needs something to calm herself and Peeta is her perfect match. In another scene, when President Snow coughs up blood, it comes out in the shape of a mockingjay! Now that is just brilliant. Another scene that I felt was really cool was one of the end scenes where Peeta and Katniss are just sitting together looking outside as it rains. They are in the same exact post they are in on top of the roof in The Hunger Games movies, and it made the scene so much more powerful. You can really see their character development from then to now. 

I was also worried about the scene near the end with President Snow, President Cain, and Katniss at the trials. (I'm trying so hard to not give spoilers! Haha!) Because I knew what Katniss was about to do, Cain's speech was so powerful and ironic. Not only is she talking about Snow, an evil dictator, but herself as well as she continues on with her tyranny.  

I literally have no complaints. Not only was this movie faithful to the book, but was extremely well written, directed, and acted. If you haven't heard already, there was this scene between a couple that never happened in the book that became canon in the movies. I loved that change! I've been shipping this couple ever since I first read the books and I was fangirling and my friend and I freaked the crap out when they kissed! SO. GOOD. 

Another aspect that I wanted to talk about was the music and score throughout the trilogy of movies. I just realized this when watching this final movie, but they always use this same music phrase in key moments, and it made the scenes even more powerful! Hearing that progression actually pushed me into crying in one scene. Talking about crying, I did that. Multiple times. How could you not? The movie is so bittersweet and touching, and my heart felt like it was breaking and rejoicing at the same time. As you can tell, the movie gave me all the feels.

Does anyone else want prequels of these movies? Ever since I heard the news that The Hunger Games was adapted into film, I have been thinking of all the other movies they can make. For instance, they could do a prequel on the revolution that would start the Hunger Games and the first game to happen. I would also love to see Finnick's game and Annie's as well. To be quite honest, I want to see their love story enfold. But the one prequel I want to happen the most is Haymitch's! If you don't know, Haymitch was victor of the 50th Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell where instead of 24 participants there were 48! Haymitch used the game boundaries as a weapon, and in turn the Capitol killed his family. Talk about brutal! But also, it would give more insight and depth to Haymitch as a character. 

To just recap everything I just said up in those billions of paragraphs, I pretty much said that I loved everything about the movie. This was such a perfect adaptation and I couldn't have asked for a better movie for a better series. In ranking the movies, this was my favorite followed by Catching Fire, and Mockingay Pt. 1 and Hunger Games tied. 

I couldn't recommend this movie more! It was such a great conclusion and though it is bittersweet the series came to an end, I could not be happier. 

With that, I give this book

5 out of 5 Stars!

What's your favorite of the Hunger Games movies? The books? What did you think of the movie? I'm definitley going to watch this again - proabably during Thanksgiving break!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you guys soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Discussion: What Classifies Sci-Fi?

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! This month I have been participating in Sci Fi Month, an event hosted by Rinn Reads and Over the Effing Rainbow!It's been really fun so far and you should definitely participate with us next year! Today I'm talking about something that has always been a bit confusing to me. What makes a book science fiction?

The definition of science fiction is "fiction based on imagined futuristic scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel  and life on other planets." But what is the major difference between genres such as science fiction and dystopians. For me, I have been wondering this for a while and determined that while not all science fiction works are dystopian, but all or most dystopians are science fiction.

Take Delirium by Lauren Oliver, for instance. No one really thinks of the series where love is a disease as science fiction, but it fits the parameters. Not only does the world in the novel has extreme technological advances, but both the social and environmental aspects of the society has vastly changed. The book is set in the future and fits the definition, but I have never really thought about the series as a science fiction one.

Throughout Sci-Fi Month, I've been asking myself if the books I've been reading are science fiction or not. Another question that I have is if fantasy novels could also be considered science fiction as well. In most fantasy, there are creatures that defy our natural world, but does that make it science fiction? Yes, society in a fantasy novel is vastly different than our world, but the story is set in another universe. I still haven't made my mind up yet on this one!

What are your thoughts? I never really thought about it up until now, but it is an interesting concept that I have read more science fiction books than I think I have. What are some of your favorite science fiction books that you have read?

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

I never knew I could be as content with a book as I am now. 

Reading Winter has got to me one of the best reading experiences I've ever had. As the fourth and final book in the Lunar Chronicles, I had some high expectations. What I received was better than I dared to dream. Due to its intricate plot with a group of main characters, I knew that tying up all the loose ends would be a hard feat to do. I am happy to say that there weren't any loose ends or big questions I still had after reading this novel.

I truly don't have anything to say for the weaknesses of this novel. The pace felt slow about 200 pages in, but never felt as if it was dragging. The slow pace wasn't necessarily slow, in fact it was slow compared to the break neck action and danger found in the majority of the novel. All of the characters were true to who they were in the previous novels. Winter and Jacin, the two main characters newly introduced, were a breath of fresh air. I loved the dynamics of their relationship and how they had a fragile and complicated past as well.

I think my favorite couple out of the four core couples has to either be Thorne and Cress or Kai and Cinder. With Kai and Cinder reuniting at the end of Cress, the third novel in the series, I desperately hoped that Cress and Throne got their happy ending. Their relationship is so cute. Both have their insecurities pertaining to one another, but in the end they make each other better people. Scarlet and Wolf's relationship deemed stronger than ever in this novel. I love how they always support each other, no matter what changes occured. Winter and Jacin have great chemistry. They were childhood best friends and Jacin has stuck by her side since then. What I loved most about their dynamic was that because they've known each other for so long, I knew there was no other pretenses as to why they interacted.

The intricate world building of this series has truly paid off in this concluding novel. I was never confused throughout any of the novel as to the structure of how everything worked. As a reader, we have been both introduced to the Eastern Commonwealth and Luna.The political relationship between these two is tense to say the least, but I loved the political tension. In fact, the political tension between Earth and Luna really enhances the novel.

The last thing I want to talk about is the amazing turn of events throughout the novel. Marissa Meyer wrote an amazing novel and I literally would never have guessed some of the main things that happened. There were some major points in the final battle that I was blown away by. There were developments that I never truly saw coming and I loved every single one of them. The last 150 or so pages were downright amazing. They were so great to read and I was speeding through needing to know what would happen.

While not all my predictions came true, Winter was even better than my imagination and it was a wonderfully crafted novel. The Lunar Chronicles has been cemented as one of my favorite series with this conclusion and I could not be happier.

With that, I give this book

5 out of 5 Stars!

Movie Review: The Europa Report

Europa Report blew my mind, put it back together again by gravity, and then blew it up again. 

This movie was so much better than I anticipated. I watched it for my Astronomy class, and didn't have too high of expectations since the week before we watched Mission to Mars. *sigh* Europa Report was everything I wanted Mission to Mars to be.

The movie chronicles a space mission funded by a private corporation (not NASA!) to Jupiter's moon Europa. Instead of sending a probe their first, the company has only one shot of doing this, and decides to send six humans on a mission to discover if Europa has life.

Knowing the background of Europa was really helpful before watching this movie. I wouldn't have been confused per se, but I definitely grasped the concepts more and got a lot out of it. Basically what you need to know about Europa is that it is a massive moon that suggests that there is flowing liquid on the moon. Europa is encased in a thick layer of ice, and many astronomers believe that there is an ocean underneath said layer of ice that might have more water than all the terrestrial planets put together! This causes a great deal of speculation about whether or not there is life on Europa.

One thing I really like about this movie is that it isn't too far fetched. Europa is believed to have water, and it's not short of the imagination to suggest that we might go there one day in search of life. The movie accurately depicts how life threatening these mission are. Getting to Mars would be at least a two year mission, so travelling to Europa would be even longer.

As said before, the movie follows a crew of six and their ill-fated mission. Before even reaching the moon, one of their crew has passed. A cool thing about this movie is that it isn't in chronological order. That may bug some people, but it drew me into the story even more and really worked for me. There was never a slow moment in Europa Report, but the movie also never felt rushed. I felt as if I really knew the characters; I started connecting with them.

Another aspect I absolutely adored in this movie were the camera angles! The angles used in the movie reflect what camera angles there might be on a spaceship. There are times where, Rosa, one of the crew members, is filming a diary-esque vlog explaining the mission. Throughout the movie, we also seem camera angles really close to the characters faces, as if the camera from the spacesuits of the members were transmitting to us. The angles drew me in more than I already was, and I felt as if I was there with all the crew.

Throughout the movie, some weird stuff has been happening to the crew while on Europa. There is this distant light, seemingly luminescent. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat. While watching, I was making all the theories and predictions about what everything meant. I had a really fun experience watching this.

The best thing about the movie though, was the ENDING. HOLY CRAP. It was soooooo good! I raved to this to anyone who would listen to me. Seriously, the ending of the movie makes the film so much more better. It blew my mind. It was so good and creative, and was left reeling (in a good way!) afterwards.

To put it short, I definitely recommend this movie! There were minor issues I had, but nothing major. Europa Report is everything I want a sci-fi movie to be. It's fun, plausible, believable, has great acting, and actually has science in it! Imagine that!

With that, I give this movie

4.5 Stars (or 90 percent!)

Have you guys heard of this movie or watched it? If so, what did you think? What are some of your favorite science fiction movies? 

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you guys soon with another post!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!




(Or not..I might just be binge-reading all of Winter! Haha!)

Book Review: Collide by Melissa West

Collide was an amazing conclusion to an epic series!

When I first read Gravity, the first novel in the series,  in January 2014, I was blown away. At that time, I was just getting interested in science fiction and didn't really know to expect from a dystopian alien novel. What I got was one of my favorite science fiction series out there. The first novel was a five star read for me, and the second, Hover, was deserving of all four stars. The Taking Trilogy has been a lot of fun for me to read.

I can't tell you much about the plot of this novel because it is the third book in the series. The first novel, Gravity, follows Ari and Jackson, the two main characters. Ari is the daughter of the Commander of the military and she is training to become an Operative. Jackson is her biggest rival in the school she trains at. Human on this Earth coexist with another species, Ancients. These aliens are assigned a human and every night while the humans are asleep, the alien species take a vital nutrient that only humans possess. One night, Ari can't find her mask that humans where so that they fall asleep. There is only one rule in her society: Don't Ever Peek. You're never supposed to figure out who is your assigned alien. Ari, our ever intelligent heroine, does peek and finds her alien to be none other than Jackson. She is blackmailed to help him, or else all humans will die.

This conclusion to the series was everything I wanted. Ari and Jackson, the two main characters in the series have so much chemistry. One of the things that I love about both Ari and Jackson is that they are each their own person. Both have distinct personalities, and yet our two main characters are so alike. Ari is headstrong as is Jackson, and they are both willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.

Another thing that I loved about Ari and Jackson is that they were a very strong couple this time around. In Gravity, the couple were both at odds with one each other and actually strongly disliked, or almost hated, each other. They matured throughout the first book and realized that they might just be a perfect match with one another. Their relationship was a newborn baby in the first book that went through adolescence in the second. Hover saw Ari and Jackson's relationship in the preteens and teenager stages; they didn't exactly know what they wanted and the relationship was filled with angst. By Collide, Ari and Jackson's relationship matured into adulthood; they understood and listened to each other. I really loved how I didn't have to read anything that was angst ridden. It was one thing in this explosive book that I did not have to worry about.

Another one of my favorite aspects of the novel is definitely the science fiction aspect. It's what truly makes the novel a great experience. The implementation of the alien race not only introduced some really great actions scenes and dilemmas, but political tension as well. I could never put Collide down; it was so action packed and never had a slow moment.

The alien species is not the only thing that contributes for it to be classified under science fiction. The Taking trilogy is set in a futuristic world with advanced technology in engineering, agriculture, architecture. In fact, it's futuristic in every aspect.

If you haven't heard of this series, I plead with you to pick it up! It's so much fun and Collide was everything I could have asked for. I only had minor problems throughout the whole novel, but it didn't really take away from the experience that much.

With that, I give this book

4.25 Stars!





Have you guys read this series? What is one of your favorite alien books?

P.S. Melissa West is releasing a full length novel that will take time before Gravity! It'll be published in April next year!

Books That Are Out of This World!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'm going to be talking about books that are not set in Earth. Some might be set in space, and others might be set in alternate dimensions, worlds, or planets. All of the novels listed below are not only book that are out of this world because of it's setting, but because I liked the book so much and it was out of this world amazing. These are in no particular order!

6.) Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

The Starbound Trilogy is one of my favorite series and it hasn't even concluded yet. This set of novels all follow different characters, with the last one connecting all of them into one galactic war. Talk about epic! I can't wait to see what will finally happen in the last novel and how everything will come together. Out of the two that are already out; These Broken Stars,This Shattered World, and the novella, This Night So Dark, I actually have liked the debut the most. I related to Lilac and Tarver a lot in These Broken Stars, and didn't as much with Jubilee and Flynn in This Shattered World. However, I'm pretty sure I gave five stars to each and four stars to the novella. Starbound not might be everyone's favorite series, but it is really well done.

5.) For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

When I first finished For Darkness Shows the Stars, I was so frustrated. The last 75 or so pages were amazing, but I hated how long it took our two main protagonists to come together again. But time has down this book amazing wonders in my mind. Whenever I think about it, I always remember the magical feel the novel had and the more I think about it, the more I like it. If I were to read this book again, I think I would actually like it more than at first. The novel is set in a futuristic world, but I can't tell you what the sci-fi aspect is of the novel because it is part of the massive twist at the end.

4.) Across the Universe Trilogy by Beth Revis

The Across the Universe trilogy was the series that really got me into science fiction again. The series was perfect for where I was as a reader at the time and I will always have a fondness in my heart for it. Across the Universe, the first of the three, follow Amy and Elder's journey through space and their adventures in the ship. They delve into some pretty shady stuff and it just expands even more with the next two, A Million Suns and Shades of Earth. If you're looking for a fun series set in space, I would definitely recommend this series to you! It might not be the best written, but it sure is a riveting experience.

3.) The Taking Trilogy by Melissa West

Melissa West's Taking trilogy is all about aliens and the shaky peace between humans and an alien race. I'm hoping to finish the trilogy this month with Collide, the final novel, and I cannot wait! Jackson and Ari, our two main characters, are both that I love being in the head of. They're both so alike and different in several ways and I really enjoy seeing how the same thing will affect each of them so differently. I love how the story is not all focused on the romance between Jackson and Ari. In fact, it takes a back burner to the intense political feud in the series.

2.) Plus One by Elizabeth Fama

Plus One is on the borderline for whether or not it is science fiction. The standalone novel is set in a futuristic world where  people are either a Smudge or a Ray. Smudges can only come out in the night, while Rays can come out only in the daytime. The novel follows Sol LeCoeur, a Smudge, and the adventure that ensues when she purposefully kidnaps her niece so her drying grandfather can see her. I loved this novel when I first read it, but I don't know what my feelings would be if I reread it. Plus One was a super fun read that was quick paced and I never became bored. If you're looking for a light sci-fi, I would recommend this one.

1.) Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game is on a whole other spectrum from the light science fiction of Plus One. This novel is one of the most well known science fiction novels. I read it a while back in December 2013, but I completely adored it. If you don't know what the book is about, it follows Ender, and his predestined life to go to a Battle School in space where he is trained to defeat an alien species. I loved Ender's Game when I read it, and I still sometimes think about it to this day. Not often, but still. The novel has a lot of controversy, but I feel like this is a book everyone should read for themselves in order to get an opinion.




That's it for today! Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? What are some of your favorite books that take palce in space or an alternate universe? 

Thanks for stopping by! I'll see you guys soon with another post!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Top 6 Sci-Fi Reads on My TBR!

Science Fiction has always been one of my favorite genres. I'm not always in the mood for it, but when I am, the genre never ceases to disappoint. Down below are a list of the top books on my to read shelf that I want to get to! I wanted to list books that are already out so I could possibly read them this month!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I am so excited for Illuminae! I started reading is last night and is was so hard to put it down! I don't really know much about it, but that was what I wanted so that I can be even more mind blown. Needless to say, I am so eager to just sit down and devour this!

Fragments by Dan Wells

I read the first book in this trilogy, Partials, just around 2 years ago and I own the second. I want to read this book, but I hope that I haven't forgotten too much of the first one. If need be, I'll read the last forty or so pages for a refresher. This isn't too high on my to-read list, but I would really like to get to it by the end of the month!

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray 

A Thousand Pieces of You is a book that I should have read a year ago and never got around to. From what I have heard, the science fiction takes a back seat to the romance, which is a major bummer, but I still think I'll enjoy it. All I really know about this novel is that it deals with alternate universes. That, and the cover is freaking gorgeous,

Pulse by Patrick Carman

Once again, Pulse is a novel that's been sitting on my shelves just waiting to be picked up. I don't know much about it other than the fact that it deals with super human capabilities, so I already know its right up my ally. I haven't read a superhero book in a really long time, so fingers crossed that I'll like it!

Collide by Melissa West

Besides Illuminae, Collide is my most anticipated book of this month. Collide is the final book in the Taken trilogy by Melissa West and I'm so excited to see how it ends. The trilogy focuses on aliens, and I completely love it! I read Gravity, the first novel,
a really long time ago, but the second book, Hover, I read around a year ago. I forgot a lot, but I do own Hover, so I can always re-read part of it if I get too confused.

The Body Electric by Beth Revis

When I heard about the Body Electric, I seriously freaked out. At the time, I had just finished her Across the Universe trilogy, which I loved, and couldn't wait for me. Luckily, Beth was having a tour for the Body Electric and visited a book store relatively close to me! I got all this amazing merch for the novel and got it signed as well. After staring at the book and being really anxious it wouldn't live up to my expectations, I am excited to see how everything turns out.



What are some of your most anticipated reads on your to-read shelf? Have you read any of the six listed above? 

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you guys soon with another post!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

Sci-Fi Month is Upon Us!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I'm here to tell you some really exciting news! I am participating in Rinn Read's Sci- Fi Month!

Sci- Fi Month is a month long event to celebrate science fiction. This event is also hosted by Over the Effing Rainbow. This whole entire month I am going to make it my mission to read as much science fiction as I can! I don't want to get too anxious though, so I am just going to read at my own pace and see what happens. Here's a list of the books I was looking into reading this month! Keep in mind this is a very loose TBR. Who knows what will happen? Fingers crossed I'll get to some of them!


1.) The Body Electric by Beth Revis
2.) Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
3.) Cured by Diana Clarke
4.) Pulse by Patrick Carman

As for after those four, I don't really know! I am going to visit my local library and see if they have naything that intrests me there, as well as visit my online library. Fingers crossed I'll find something that catches my eye!

What are some of you're favorite sci-fi reads? Throughout this whole month I am going to have science fiction related posts, so keep your eye out for those!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you guys soon!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!