REVIEW: OUT OF CONTROL ~ SARAH ALDERSON

 

After watching her friend and bodyguard die at the hands of men who intended to harm her, Liva shuts down all her feelings.  She goes through life with her emotions switch turned off; but Liva finds solace in the adrenaline coursing through her veins when she climbs structures she’s not supposed to.  With her father out of town shortly after she moves in with him in New York, she spends a few nights with his friends, her father not comfortable leaving her alone in a new city.  When she can’t sleep one night she opens her bedroom window and silently climbs on top of the roof.  Looking for peace, Liva finds unexpected safety instead when she hears her hosts being murdered.  Liva reports the crime and is taken to the police station in protective custody to give her official statement.  At the desk next to her is Jay, who is not a witness but a criminal.  Being cuffed to the desk kind of gives that away.  When a gunman in a cop’s uniform starts shooting up the police station, Liva and Jay must depend on each other to escape the massacre.  When Liva contacts her father for help, the team he sends to retrieve her are intercepted and Liva is caught between two rival groups; one who wants to take her, willing or not, and one who wants her dead.  It soon becomes clear that Liva is somehow at the center of the chaos; but why? Who wants to kidnap her, who wants her dead, and how do the two groups connect?  On the run, Liva and Jay must stay one step ahead of the shooter, the mysterious agents, the police (Jay is a fugitive, after all) and a local gang while fitting together pieces known and unknown – and fighting the intense connection neither can’t deny.  A poor car thief and a wealthy dancer, on the surface they have nothing in common; but for the first time Liva has met someone who makes her feel as alive as she does when she’s standing on top of a high-rise.  The timing is horrendous, the circumstances far from ideal, but can Liva resist the young man who brings her to life?

 

 

Out of Control by Sarah Alderson is an action-packed adventure that doesn’t give you time to catch your breath.  The action starts almost immediately and doesn’t let up until the end.  Authors seldom succeed in making me truly fear for the safety of the protagonists, but Alderson managed to get me to tense up several times.  She does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes, keeping the mystery alive while dropping clues, making the reader work with Liva and Jay to find answers.  The ultimate truth of why Liva is targeted is a shocking turn of events Alderson masterfully weaved into the story.  The chemistry between Liva and Jay jumps off the page and the progression of their relationship is very believable under the circumstances.  The sexual content of the book is very mature but stops short of being adult level. 

 

Out of Control is an exciting, satisfying read that takes the reader on an electrifying adventure with the perfect blend of action, mystery and romantic suspense.

 

 

 

Product Information:
Title: Out of Control

Series: Standalone

Author: Sarah Alderson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Year: 2014

Pages: 321

ISBN-10: 1481427172

ISBN-13: 978-1481427173

ASIN: B00EB9Z8XU

Related Posts:

Review: Hunting Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Losing Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Tormenting Lila - Sarah Alderson

Review: Fated - Sarah Alderson

Review: Come Back To Me - Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson)

 

REVIEW: FATED ~ SARAH ALDERSON

What happens when you discover you aren’t who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?

Evie Tremain is a shadow of the girl she once was.  After the death of her father and the betrayal of her best friend and boyfriend, all Evie cares about is saving enough money to move to New York, and her only priority is working as many shifts as she can.  All that changes one night when Evie is attacked by creatures she could never have imagined truly existed – that’s when Evie finally learns the truth.  She was adopted at birth because her biological parents were killed protecting her.  Evie is the last in a long line of demon slayers, and an unwilling participant in a war between Hunters and Unhumans.  A prophecy predicts that Evie will be the Hunter to end the war, severing Earth’s connection to all other realms – making Evie the Unhumans’ number one target.

Lucas Grey is half human, half Shadow Warrior demon, and a member of the Brotherhood – the group of Unhuman assassins tasked with killing Evie.  Orphaned by Evie’s mentor, Lucas has only revenge on his mind when the Unhumans descend on Riverview, California.  Aided by the power to merge with the shadows, invisible to humans, Lucas has the best chance of getting close enough to kill Evie – but he finds himself protecting her from his Brotherhood instead.  Confused by his instinctive actions, Lucas convinces himself he only protected Evie because he has something better in mind.  Lucas, being half-human can risk getting close to Evie – with her skills undeveloped and not yet at full power, Evie won’t be able to sense his Unhuman side.  Lucas moves to Riverview to get close to Evie, learn all the Hunters' secrets and kill Evie before she can fulfil the prophecy.  The only problem is, instead of focusing on his mission, Lucas finds himself secretly aiding Evie in her training, time and time again protecting her from threats known and unknown.  Is it possible that despite his orders, despite his oath to the Brotherhood, despite Evie being his sworn enemy, Lucas has gone and fallen in love with a demon slayer?

Having so enjoyed Sarah Alderson’s Hunting Lila and Losing Lila, giving both books a rare 5/5, I was very excited to start her new series.  The sad truth, however, is that Fated did not grip me half as much as the Lila series did.  For some reason I just did not instantly connect with Evie and Lucas as I did with Lila and Alex.  I also found their chemistry a tad unbelievable – just the whole scenario surrounding their relationship came off a little forced and unnatural at times.  Initially I also didn’t find Evie a very likable character.  While I have understanding for her emotional turmoil, I found her weak and whiny.  I can say, though, that Evie does improve throughout the book, and as she gains confidence and strength she becomes more interesting and more likable.  I do like Lucas as a character; his motivations and intensity are very believable.  I did not like the supporting characters, however, whereas I loved all the supporting characters in the Lila series – so much so that I can’t wait for a reunion novel. 

I think my mistake was going into this series expecting a second Lila series, comparing it right off the bat - probably not fair to the author.

The book is not bad, though, and if this is your first Alderson read you’ll probably enjoy it.  But if, like me, you’re hoping for something on par with Lila, I think you might be disappointed. 

The storyline has promise, and the sequel, Severed, is sure to be more interesting, but ultimately this book just didn’t hook me as I like my books to do.

Product information:

Title: Fated

Author: Sarah Alderson

Number of pages: 310

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Year: 2012

ISBN: 9780857074348

REVIEW: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES ~ CASSANDRA CLARE

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is the first of six novels in The Mortal Instruments series.  It follows Clary Fray who must find answers about her true identity when she finds herself drawn into the world of demon hunters.  A carefree night on the town with her best friend, Simon, turns into a nightmare when Clary witnesses a murder committed by a trio covered with strange tattoos. Clary summons help, but finds it hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air, and nobody but Clary can see the murderers.  Equally startled by her ability to see them, the killers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. 

The following night Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.  The question is, why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and Jocelyn Fray? And how is it that Clary suddenly, inexplicably, got the Sight?

With nobody around to answer the burning questions, Clary must risk all as she dives head-first into the danger that surrounds her on a quest to save her mother.  Clary is joined by Jace Wayland, a skilled young demon hunter she shares an immediate, intense connection with, and brother-sister duo Isabelle and Alec Lightwood – both of which seem to resent Clary’s new place in their sacred world.  As Clary navigates the new world open to her, she discovers vampires, werewolves, faeries, mermaids and more truly do exist, and as she crosses paths with several of them she comes to realise that life is not as black and white as it is made out to be, and the supernatural world is fragilely perched on the precipice of a full scale war.  Could Clary be a key to preventing it?

City of Bones is a very enjoyable read.  The world Clare created is very believable, and the lives of the Shadowhunters are fascinating.  It’s hard to go into too much detail without dropping spoilers, as the book is packed with surprise revelations.  The book does not have quite the same pull that I experienced with, for instance, The Harry Potter series or The Hunger Games trilogy, but the series does have the potential to become great.

Upon finishing the novel I did some more reading on the series, and discovered that a movie version of City of Bones is under way.  Filming wrapped just last week, and the film is scheduled to be released August 2013.

Collins (Clary), Sheehan (Simon) and Bower (Jace) on set 

Lily Collins has been cast in the lead role of Clary Fray.  She does have the right look, and I think she can pull off the combination of innocence and fierceness that is Clary Fray.

Lily Collins as Clary Fray

Jamie Campbell Bower has been cast as Jace Wayland.  He does have a certain arrogant rebellion about him - I think he's perfect for Jace.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland

Kevin Zegers will be portraying Alec Lightwood.  I think he can capture the brooding, often rude, Alec just fine.

Kevin Zegers as Alec Lightwood 

Isabelle Lightwood will be portrayed by Jemima West.  She does seem to have the beauty and cool arrogance that makes Isabelle resent Clary's sudden intrusion into her domain.

Jemima West

Clary's somewhat dorky best friend, Simon Lewis, will be portrayed by Robert Sheehan.  Slap some glasses on him, and he's Simon to a tee.  

Robert Sheehan

The first teaser trailer for the movie is scheduled to be released Thursday evening as a preview to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Product information:
Title: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Author: Cassandra Clare

Number of pages: 496

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

Year: 2008

ISBN: 9781416955078

REVIEW: LOSING LILA ~ SARAH ALDERSON

I suggest you first read my post on book 1, Hunting Lila, before continuing.  If this is a story you might like to follow, do not read this post – it contains major spoilers of book 1.

At the conclusion of Hunting Lila, Lila has discovered that Demos is not the man who murdered her mother, and that her mother was never truly killed at all; like Lila she is a psygen – she is kept on The Unit’s base and experimented on!  Alex and Jack also discover that The Unit is not what they think, and that the psygens they have been taught to hate are not as sociopathic as they were made to believe. 

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson picks up a shortly after Hunting Lila left off.  A few days after the Joshua Tree shooting , Lila and Alex are in Mexico, meeting up with Demos and the other psygens in order to facilitate a plan to break Jack and Melissa out of The Unit’s custody.  With Alex’ support and encouragement Lila finally embraces her ability and works on controlling it and getting stronger.  It’s time to stop running and start fighting. 

The stakes go even higher when Lila learns that The Unit also got their hands on her father.  It turns out that her father has always been aware of the fact that her mother is telepathic, and that he has been working on a cure for psygens, to remove their abilities; but with his research The Unit need only reverse the basics and they can create psygens of their own – better, stronger psygens to be sold as weapons to the highest bidder.  

Is it possible for a handful of psygens, along with Alex, to break into the hi-tech military base, get down to maximum prisoner holding, break out Lila’s family and safely get back out, when all of them are wanted and hunted by The Unit?   Can a team of five people hope to take down an entire military institution who threatens them all?

Losing Lila was every bit as exciting as Hunting Lila, and concluded quite satisfactorily; however, several questions are left unanswered.  What happened to Richard Stirling?  Is Sara alive?  Will Jack ever discover the truth of his birth?  Sarah Alderson left the back door ajar, ensuring the possibility of a future novel  - though, should this not materialise, Losing Lila answered all the major questions, so we can live with it.  Though I would LOVE another book.  Maybe set a few years later, seeing the gang reunite for a kick-ass mission?  I was disappointed to have to say farewell to Lila, Alex, Jack, Demos, Suki, Key and the others; especially Mrs Johnson – what a hoot! 

One of the things I appreciated most about these books, is that there is no love triangle.  I am sick unto death of love triangles.  It was really great to know straight of the bat that Lila loves Alex, and while suspecting the feeling is mutual, he admits it fairly early on.  It was so refreshing to just have the two of them be a couple in love all along, their love threatened only by physical threats, no third party. 

The plotline is fast and furious, and once again there are several surprising revelations that make the outcome impossible to predict. 

I had a hard time putting these books down, and whenever you are literally sad to finish a book, the author did a fantastic job.  Sarah Alderson most definitely did.   Great, gripping read.

Product information:

Title: Losing Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Number of pages: 320

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year: 2012

ISBN-10: 0857071971

ISBN-13: 978-0857071972 

REVIEW: HUNTING LILA ~ SARAH ALDERSON

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson is about seventeen year old Lila who is suddenly taken to London by her father after her mother’s murder, separating her from her brother Jack and his best friend Alex – the guy she’s loved all her life (though she’s the only one who knows this). Shortly after her mother’s death Lila discovers that she has telekinetic abilities.  For four years she carries this secret until a mugging exposes her to others.  Lila leaves London behind and runs to California, into the arms of her best friends and protectors; Alex and Jack. 

Happy to be with the people she loves best, Lila tries to simply forget what happened in London and enjoy the time she has with them.  Jack and Alex have both joined the marine corps, and work for a secret organisation called The Unit – though Lila has never discovered what it is they do; only that they hope to track down her mother’s killer.  Lila doubts her decision to come to California when she starts suspecting that Jack doesn’t want her there; but when she realises that Jack and Alex never leave her alone and that men from their unit are always watching their house, Lila starts suspecting that Jack and Alex fear for her safety. 

Lila then learns that Jack and Alex are trying to capture a band of very dangerous criminals, who have now discovered that Jack has a sister.  They hope to kidnap Lila in order to have collateral with which to bargain with The Unit.  Content to be in Alex’s company, Lila doesn’t worry about the situation overmuch, but Lila soon discovers that there are others like her; people with special abilities – and that Jack and Alex’ job is to hunt them down, and “contain” them.  The only people she trusts to keep her safe, are actually the very people whose job it is to capture her.  Lila then discovers that her mother’s murderer is also a like her, only he’s the most powerful of their kind – and it is he and his cronies who want Lila.

Can Lila trust Jack and Alex with her secret?  If they were to find out, would they still love her?  Can she trust them to protect her when they have been trained to despise and dispose of her kind?

Hunting Lila is the most gripping read I’ve had in a really long time.  The story is very well plotted and written, the characters are wonderfully developed and the intrigue of it all won’t allow you to put the book down until you’ve finished it. 

Especially Lila’s fears about being considered a freak and her feelings towards Alex are wonderfully written – you as reader feel what Lila feels.   Anytime an author can awaken such deep emotion within you, you’ve got a winner in your hands.

Hunting Lila and its sequel, Losing Lila, came highly recommended by my best friend, Erika – so automatically I bought both at the same time.  What a relief.  When I finished Hunting Lila I immediately picked up Losing Lila.  This story is so gripping I couldn’t wait to read more. 

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as The Hunger Games trilogy and the Twilight saga.  One of my favourite books I've read all year.

Product information:

Title: Hunting Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Number of pages: 320

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year: 2011

ISBN-10: 0857071955

ISBN-13: 978-0857071958