Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed: Discussion Post & Giveaway for Partials

This week Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I have shared with you our interview with Partials author Dan Wells and some of our favorite quotes from the book. Today we are doing an open discussion of the book where we share some of our thoughts and give readers a chance to join in and link up their review of Partials.

Discussion for Partials

Okay, my first thought when thinking of Partials is just how well it was written and how outstanding the characters were. Who was your favorite?

I agree that Partials was written amazingly. It was easy to grow attached to the characters and I think my favorite would have to be Kira, following by a tie between Marcus and Samm. Kira was incredibly smart and I liked how Well's took the time to let her work through her thoughts and figure things out. She's really strong too and to me that always makes a fantasic female lead. Marcus, he was a crack up! I think he had some of the best lines throughout the story and then Samm, he was a shocking surprise and yet still a huge mystery that I can't wait to learn more about in the next book. What about you, who was your favorite and why?

I agree 100%. Kira was amazing and I think it was wonderful how SMART she was. She didn't need anyone to show her the way, she really took charge. Marcus cracked me up. A lot of the book was focused around serious issues and his lines really created a nice distraction for a while. Samm was very surprising! One of my favorite things about this book was simply looking forward to Samm's moments to see what could be discovered from what he said. What did you think about the science part of the story?

To be honest, I was someone worried that the science part of the story would take over, but was happy that the writing made that part of the story fit in nicely and never took away from anything. That's the thing about Partials. There's so much in the story from various different genres that gave this book an amazing twist. In the end, I liked the science part of things. I wanted to see Kira work her way through things, to figure out the puzzle pieces before her. The science part of things really gave me a better chance to see just what a smart cookie she really is. The new "government" in Partials is written somewhat as a whole other character. What did you think of their choices for the people?

Very true. I was honestly worried I would be confused by the science part but it really grabbed my attention quick. It was nice to read a dystopian novel where we know exactly what happened to the humans. Many times that is overlooked. Partials is really a book that has a little bit of everything and that's one of the reasons why I think I enjoyed it so much. Now, as for the government and their choices, on one hand I can see why they worried so much about the people rebelling against them. Not many people were left and they needed order, but it was obvious that the pregnancy age was the biggest factor for the people (as it should have been). Their ideas weren't working so I think it was time for some new choices to be made but I couldn't help but feel bad for the adults in this book because they had literally lost everything.

The government was someone out of control. I cringed at the choices and laws they made for the world. I hated the control they had over everyone. Really, there were no choices left for a free person to make. The government did it all for you. I mean, I understand the need for humanity to continue, and the RM virus made that hard to do, but the control over people was just maddening!

In the end, I LOVED Partials. It's one of the best books I've read in 2012 and I am in serious need for the sequel - Fragments in 2013. I really couldn't find anything that I didn't like about this title and I hope more people will pick this one up and fall in love just as much as I did.

Definitely! I had heard amazing things about it but it really blew me away.  I can't wait for book 2 to see what happens to these characters next!

What did you guys think? Please leave us (spoiler-free) comments and we invite others to reply and join in. If you haven't read the book yet, just tell us what really makes you want to read it.

Prize: 

• 1 winner will receive an ARC of Partials by Dan Wells. 

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends April 14th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.  

You will find this form on A Life Bound By Books as well. PLEASE only fill it out ONCE!  

 

We wanted to do this feature as a way to promote a new release and get people involved in discussing the book. One of the best ways to find out about a book is to read the reviews. 

Please feel free to link your review of PARTIALS that has been posted on your blog or Goodreads.

Rules: Please post ONLY your review of PARTIALS. 

Please provide the direct link in the linky.

You can include your rating of the book. 

Example of link: Confessions of a Bookaholic - Partials Review (5 stars)

We would love you to join the discussion about the book. Leave comments, tell us what you thought, tell us why you want to read it, or ask questions. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS! We don't want to ruin it for others, but we'd love to see what everyone thought of the story.  

Who will you support? Divergent Nation: Team Dauntless!

Today I was browsing around twitter and saw that some wonderful packages were being received from the lovely people at HarperTeen. I ran outside like a kid seeing snow for the first time and what do my eyes find? THIS package at my doorstep. I'm seriously a huge fan of Divergent. I flipped out while reading it and have talked about it over and over in the past year. 

Out of all the factions to choose from, I wanted to be as brave as Tris and jump right into the danger. I think there is a little bit of everyone who wishes to be that brave. So I gotta say, I was THRILLED to find out I was part of the DAUNTLESS faction! I mean c'mon, the people are brave, determined, and the faction has FOUR and guys like FOUR! Who wouldn't want to be a member?? 

Team Dauntless

That's why I need your help! The 5 faction teams have been created and it is up to you to find out who you'd like to support. Of course, our main goal is to spread the word about Insurgent's release (May 1st) and have some fun along the way. 

Team Dauntless is already brainstorming ways to spread the word about our fabulous team and you can help by visiting the Dauntless tumblr page and tweeting with the hashtags #TeamDauntless #DivergentNation

Join the brave!

Go Team Dauntless!

Sharin' the Love: Book Giveaway #2

One winner will get finished copies of
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
Gil Marsh by  A.C.E. Bauer
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Prize: 

• 1 winner will receive the 4 finished copies listed above.

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends April 16th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

Blogger Talk: Favorite Quotes from Partials by Dan Wells

Hello again! It's time for another post for this months Blogger Talk! Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I, along with Dan have put together some of our favorite quotes from the book. Check them out and see what you guys think. We'd love to hear your comments!

Title: Partials (Partials, #1)
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 472 Pages (February 28th, 2012)
Add Partials to: Goodreads
Order Here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partialsóengineered organic beings identical to humansóhas decimated the worldís population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanityís time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friendís pregnancy, sheís determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the warís origin that she never knew to ask.

Quotes from Partials:

Top 5 Favorite Quotes of Dan's -

Owen Tovar: "War, see, is when two sides fight, maybe not evenly, but at least they both get a few swings in. What we call the Partial War was mankind getting mugged in an alley."

Duna Mkele: "Let us assume, just for the moment, that whatever the Partials are planning is larger in scope than the murder of one teenage girl."

Nandita Merchant: "Each life has a different purpose, and some people can find their purpose more easily than others. The key, the most important thing you can ever know, is that whatever your purpose is, that's not your only choice."

Kira: "I don't know if 'we're stupider than they think we are' is a really great attack strategy."

Isolde: "If you can't know the truth, live the most awesome lie you can think of."

A Couple of My Favorite Quotes -

"No matter how they spun it, no matter how much they tried to focus on the positives, the ugly truth was that there simply weren't any children anymore. They were closing the school because they had run out of students. The teachers had done their job, but the doctors hadn't. -- page 12 (Kira)

"I've never been this wet in my entire life," said Kira. "Even immersed in a bathtub I swear I was dryer than I am now."
"Look on the bright side," said Marcus.
Kira waited.
"This is the point," she said, "at which you would traditionally suggest a bright side."
"I've never been a real traditional guy," said Marcus. "Besides, I'm not saying I know a bright side, I just think this would be a great time to look at one." -- page 45 (Kira and Marcus)

"Wake up sleepyhead," said Kira, bumping Marcus's ear with her shoulder. "We're almost home."
"I didn't order sushi."
"What?"
Marcus opened his eyes warily. "What did I say?"
"Nothing I have to smack you for. You're lucky you were dreaming about food instead of girls."
"I'm male," said Marcus, rubbing his eyes. "It was a fifty-fifty shot." -- page 73 (Kira and Marcus)

A Couple of Lisa's Favorite Quotes -

 "So tell us about yourself," said Marcus, settling into a couch. "If I'm going to spend the while night waiting for you guys to stop flirting and shoot each other, I want to at least be entertained." -- page 54 (Marcus)

"Just bring something to share this time," sad Kira, turning back to Marcus and tapping him pointedly in the chest. "I'm not covering for you like last time."
"That was a one-time thing," said Marcus, laughing, "and it wasn't last time, it was four times ago, and I've covered your share way more than that."
"I'm just saying," said Kira, picking him again in the chest, "I don't want my food-for-nothing, freeloader boyfriend to make me look bad in front of everybody. Again." She poked him one last time, glared at him playfully, then poked him again for good measure.
"Do you poke all the boys, or I am Special?"
She leaned closer. "It's just you." She kissing him on the cheek. "Until somebody better comes along." -- page 76 (Kira and Marcus)

"Wake up sleepyhead," said Kira, bumping Marcus's ear with her shoulder. "We're almost home."
"I didn't order sushi."
"What?"
Marcus opened his eyes warily. "What did I say?"
"Nothing I have to smack you for. You're lucky you were dreaming about food instead of girls."
"I'm male," said Marcus, rubbing his eyes. "It was a fifty-fifty shot." -- page 73 (Kira and Marcus)

"Well, thanks for not shooting anyone, I guess" said Marcus. "My contribution was to somehow refrain from peeing myself. You can thank me later." -- page 347 (Marcus)

It looks like this month Lisa and I managed to have one of our favorite quotes be the same. And I think it's telling that most of our quotes have Marcus in them. He was very entertaining to say the least. Also, the quote of Dan's from Isolde was one I almost used as well. That scene was a good one.

*Note: The quotes from Lisa were taken from an ARC copy of Partials.

Don't forget to check out the Interview with Dan >>>CLICKING HERE<<<

Again, we can't say thank you enough for taking the time out of your busy touring schedule to stop by a few days this week and be part of this months Blogger Talk.
Thanks for everything!

Find Dan Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

  

Check out my review of Partials HERE!

Book Trailer:

Be sure to stop by again later this week for our Partials discussion post. We hope you'll join in on to help us celebrate this FANTASTIC book and author. 

Review: Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Flux (September 1st, 2010)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 302 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Leaving Paradise #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them. 

Review:

We all know that Simone Elkeles is a brilliant author. Her stories are always raw, honest, and emotional. I picked up Leaving Paradise (book 1) after reading the first two books in her Perfect Chemistry series and while I didn't fall in love with this story as much as those, it was still amazing.

I was excited to see where Caleb and Maggie end up after finishing Leaving Paradise but it took me a while to get to read this book. I was still able to dive right in and pick up where book 1 left off without being confused or forgetting many of the details. Return to Paradise takes place 8 months after Caleb left Paradise. He has tried to escape the town, his parents, and the pain of seeing Maggie. But, as we know, you can't hide from your problems. Caleb is soon in trouble again and his own real option is to go on a summer trip with some other teens. 

Maggie has somehow gained even more strength since Caleb left. She was hurt, but found ways to heal. She even joined a summer trip to help share her story of the accident, but she never expected to see Caleb there. 

When Caleb and Maggie see each other again I could literally feel their anxiety. As much as they may have thought they had moved on, it was obvious that the feelings were still there. I admired Maggie's determination and resistance of Caleb. He attempted to push her buttons but she remained composed and refused to let him rule her emotions. The trip opens up the thing they each tried to keep locked up -- the accident and what happened after Caleb got out of the juvenile detention center. But, with some help from the other teens on the trip, they do eventually learn a lot about themselves. 

Endings can make or break and entire book for me. I despise if an ending (especially of an entire series) is rushed. I was extremely satisfied with this ending. I obviously won't say what happened, and there are several surprises, but it was gratifying. 

Don't think that this is just a clear-cut story. Simone placed a lot of surprises and twists along the way. And, we meet some new characters that bring a lot of life to the story. 


Recommended: Contemporary readers looking for something with a deeper plot. Read Leaving Paradise first. Also, if you haven't checked out Simone's other series, Perfect Chemistry, go do that..NOW!

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Giveaway: Forgiven by Jana Oliver

I adore Jana Oliver and yesterday the third book in her Demon Trapper's series was released. St. Martin's Griffin has been kind enough to offer up a copy of Forgiven to one lucky reader!

Forgiven by Jana Oliver
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 27th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 368 pages
Series: The Demon Trapper's #3

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.
But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control:  something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

Prize: 

• 1 winner will receive a copy of Forgiven.

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends April 16th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter. 

Website   |    Goodreads     |    Twitter    |    Facebook

 

Amazon     |      Barnes & Noble     |     The Book Depository

Tour Interview & Giveaway: The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

The Savage Grace, the final book in The Dark Divine series, was just released March 13th. Bree is here today to tell us a little more about herself and her writing.

Fill out the form below for a chance to win a copy of The Savage Grace. 
3 winners will be picked.

1. How has your writing style or strategy changed as The Dark Divine series has progressed?

Before being published I could write whenever I wanted and be as slow as I wanted--which means that it took me 4 years to write the first book.  Now that I write on contract, I've had to learn how to compress my writing process into a much shorter period of time (usually 5-6 months).  I strive to find the balance between being a mom and making those tight deadlines--which means I end up putting in a lot of late nights.

2. What are a few of the most surprising things your fans of the series have done? 

I always find it funny when fans paint their toenails to match my book covers and then tweet pictures of their feet to me.  It's a good thing I am not someone who is grossed out by toes!

3. Can you tell us something that most people may not know about you? 

I went to a royal ball in an Austrian palace when I was 17--and all I had to wear was a little red gingham dress.  I'm totally going to use that experience in a book someday.

4. You had a pretty scary accident happen to you years ago and it made you want to start writing again. What would you like to tell people who may be putting off their dreams in order to deal with the stresses of life? 

I always tell people to think about this question, "If you died tomorrow, what would regret not having done in your life?"  Then I tell them to go out and try to work towards that thing.  Most dreams take a lot of time to achieve, so the longer you put off trying to strive towards them, the greater you are running the risk of running out of time. 

5. What are some of the things that help you if you are having a difficult time writing a certain scene? 

I like to go for walks around the lake near my house.  I call them "plot walks."  Sometimes I go alone just to think, and sometimes I bring my husband along and we talk through the issue.  I've also been known to cover my family room walls with giant post-it notes and work the problem out on paper in visual way.  Scribbling on the walls always makes me feel a little giddy like a mad scientist.

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
Publisher: EgmontUSA (March 13th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 488 pages
Series: The Dark Divine #3

A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

Prize: 

• 3 winners will receive a copy of The Savage Grace

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends April 13th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter. 

 Website      |       Goodreads      |     Facebook     |     Twitter      |     Blog

Amazon       |       Barnes & Noble      |       The Book Depository

Blogger Talk Interview: Partials by Dan Wells

Hello everyone... it's time for another post for our second month of Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed!! Today we have a exciting and very different, yet fun interview with Partials author, Dan Wells. We hope you'll enjoy it, as much as we have.

A quick message: Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I would love to thank everyone who participated in last months discussion. We're still working out the kinks of this new feature for both of our blogs, but we believe it's been a great addition for each of us. We hope you guys will continue along with us for the journey as we bring you new and exciting books and authors each month.

Title: Partials (Partials, #1)
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 472 Pages (February 28th, 2012)
Add Partials to: Goodreads
Order Here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partialsóengineered organic beings identical to humansóhas decimated the worldís population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanityís time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friendís pregnancy, sheís determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the warís origin that she never knew to ask.

Top 5 Interview:

1. Give us 5 words you would use to describe Kira?

Smart, Brave, Reckless, Temperamental, Determined

2. 5 words you would use to describe the "world" we see in Partials?

Decaying, Empty, Overgrown, Dangerous, Waiting

3. Tell us 5 ways we would know someone is a Partial?

1-They're stronger, faster, and tougher than a human.
2-They're trained in battle.
3-They heal at a superhuman rate.
4-They can communicate silently with other Partials, which also means:
5-You can tell someone's a Partial if you are a Partial yourself

4. The 5 major survival skills humans would need in order to stay safe.

1-Stay away from old houses; most of them lack steel construction and could collapse if you're not careful.
2-You can find water almost everywhere, but make sure you purify it first. The Old World put a lot of scary chemicals into the soil.
3-Most canned food is still good, so you can find food almost anywhere (but watch out for cans that are bloated or swollen--they've gone bad).
4-Stay away from Partials at all costs.
5-Partials aren't the only bad guys. Wild animals have reclaimed most of the planet, and unscrupulous humans might be the most dangerous threats of all.

5. What are 5 symptoms of the RM virus?

1-Intense fever.
2-Loss of bodily fluids (mucus, urine, sweat), and with that the threat of dehydration.
3-Hallucinations.
4-Loss of muscular control.
5-Destruction of the immune system.

Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy touring schedule to stop by today and be part of this months Blogger Talk. It was great to have you here, you're more than welcome anytime and we're looking forward to having you stop by again later this week when we share some favorite quotes with everyone.

Find Dan Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

  

Check out my review of Partials HERE!

Book Trailer:

Be sure to stop by again later this week for quotes from Partials and discussion post we hope you'll join in on to help us celebrate this FANTASTIC book and author. 

Tour Review & Giveaway: The Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos

The Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos
Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (December 16th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Author (Thank You!)
Series: The Emerald Talisman #3
Rating:  4 of 5 stars

Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, hurt and unsure of his place as a sober vampire, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. Scarlett bides her time, plotting for the perfect moment to prove herself and earn redemption. But somewhere in L.A., Alora conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear.

Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. As more and more vampires show up from nowhere, addicted to her scent, Julia must pick her allies carefully before it’s too late. Can Julia bargain with fate? When the time comes, will she even have a choice?

Review:

Ah, I'm so sad to see this series end. I've been a huge fan since the very beginning and I still remember the crazy rush I had after finishing book 1. The Onyx Talisman takes readers on another wild ride with these characters we easily grow to love. 


Brenda has always been a fantastic author so, needless to say, the writing in this book is amazing. She really knows how to throw in some intense action that will have your heart racing. I liked the way that each book flows so well together and it's easy to see the progression of each character. 

I admit, I have a soft spot for Phil and I wish there was something more for him. I wanted him to have more happiness. I loved him from the beginning and he was so loyal and caring towards Julia. I felt that he was the person who really brought out some new emotions for Julia. Even more than Nicholas, sometimes Phil was just able to break down the walls Julia sometimes had around herself. 

One thing I loved (without going into detail) is that we really get a satisfying ending -- meaning that it isn't abrupt or not explained. I hate when the action ends with a book and within a paragraph, it's over. Brenda gives a little more to help readers truly understand what happened. 

Brenda, 
I feel like I've known you forever. You were one of the first people I worked with and I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to enter the world you created. You continue to amaze me with all you do and you are truly an inspiration. Even more than your talent, you are a fabulous person, friend, and mother. You do it all! And, you still remain positive even during the stressful times. 
Thank you for all you do and for creating such a fascinating world full of characters that will always be in my heart. 


--Jessica

 Blog    |    Twitter    |    Facebook    |    Goodreads

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Next Tour Stops

March 24- Proud Book Nerd

March 25- La Femme Readers

March 26- Yara @ Once Upon A Twilight

March 27-Katie’s Book Blog

March 28- Kristie Cook

Fill out the form for a chance to win a KINDLE, a signed copy of the book, or an ebook! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sharin' the Love: Blogger ARC Giveaway #2

The winner will get an ARC of...

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Prize: 

• 1 winner will receive the 4 ARCs listed above.

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter. 
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends April 12th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter. 
• You MUST be a book blogger to enter!

Blogger Talk Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Partials by Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 28th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 472 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Partials #1

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask. 

Review:

If you are a reader who likes a challenging book, Partials is the one to grab! Partials was a surprising read for me. I expected it to be great but it really brought a lot of science and detail into a dystopian world. Most of the humans have been killed by an airborne virus. The ones who have survived are scrambling to find a way to save the children being born, and soon dying, from the disease as well. So far, no child has been born immune and it seems the human race will soon die off completely. 

Kira is a medic. She is a 16-year-old who is intelligent far beyond her years, and her and her friends are well aware of the issues that plague the human race. To make things worse, it's not just the virus causing issues. Politics are causing people to rebel and now the leaders are trying to show more power as a way to make people listen. 

Soon, Kira comes up with a plan that she feels will help save the humans. She will study a Partial, an engineered being that everyone feels is responsible for the spread of the virus years ago. Her and her friends go into dangerous territory to find a Partial and this journey shows her a lot more than she expected. 

Dan Wells is a brilliant writer. The world we are introduced to in Partials is scary, desolate, and all too possible. A virus spreading quickly across the planet is a real threat so I think that's why Partials is such a frighting story. Dan brought a lot of science into this story. He didn't leave us with questions as to what exactly had happened to the rest of the humans. We know about the virus, what it did to the victims, and how it spreads. I loved that the readers can really feel like they take part in deconstructing the virus itself and seeing what can be done to stop it. This was really a book that allows readers to step back and think about what's going on, and attempt to figure it out with the characters. 

Although few humans survived, I got a good idea of how the remaining population lived in their new surroundings. The young adults (and very young teens) were critical to the survival of the race. The political figures always made that clear and in a way it showed how the younger population had more power than one would think 

The characters we meet in Partials were so well developed and interesting. Kira was intelligent, focused, and extraordinarily brave. She thought of herself last. Her friends were always at the top of her list. Kira's friends were each so different and brought so much to the story. 

Probably the most surprising part of this book to me was just the visuals. Dan Wells used honest, descriptive language to describe a world that is harsh and ruined. Everything from the broken roads, abandoned homes and skyscrapers, decaying remains, and wild animals were things I could picture with such clarity. I saw it like a movie or one of those Discovery shows that that go through what would happen if humans didn't exist. It's so frightening. 

If you are thinking of taking a chance and reading a post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel, pick up Partials!

Dan Wells did a remarkable job bringing this world to light and showing a harsh reality.  Partials had everything I could hope for in a fabulous YA novel!


Recommended: Lovers of post-apocalyptic/dystopian, science fiction, with strong characters and outstanding world-building.

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