[REVIEW] Emergent – Rachel Cohn

Rachel Cohn
Emergent (Beta, Book 2)
Disney-Hyperion (US: 7th October 2014)
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TRIGGER WARNINGS: This book contains slut-shaming, ableism, gaslighting, and pregnancy by rape.

This book was delayed. Originally due out in 2013 (maybe March), it didn’t release until October 2014. Never heard any explanation for the wait, but that’s okay – probably none of my business. And maybe because Emergent is the second in a series (no word yet on the next book, though I think the series sold in a four-book deal), there seemed to be little publicity for it. It’s only just barely mentioned on the author’s website. (“And, it’s official: Beta book 2: Emergent is now available!”) Not even a summary for the book there, but I suppose that’s fine, too – maybe to prevent spoilers? And managing a website can be troublesome.

I gave the first book, Beta, five stars, and like with other five-star books I was concerned I wouldn’t enjoy the next as much, so I put off reading Emergent when it was finally published..

And thus I have mixed feelings about Emergent. It starts off from the point of view of Zhara, who took a drug that slowed her heartbeat, so when she crashed at sea at first her rescuers thought she was dead…so they cloned her. (It makes sense in the context of the book.) Anyway, now Zhara lives on an island, Heathen, with self-actualised clones who are planning an Insurrection against the people of the island paradise Demesne, from whom the Emergents escaped.

Then Zhara’s clone, Elysia, arrives and there are love jealousies and…not much happens until the ambush. When the characters move to Demesne, the plot gets going. But is it a case of too little, too late? The conveniences of someone acquiring someone else’s lightning finger abilities; the two women-in-fridges (i.e. females who aren’t Zhara or Elysia) are the first to die…

I love Demesne’s setting, such a vibrant and vivid world of colours. It’s fascinating to learn about cloning, and the plight for clones’ rights. And while I do rather like this novel, I wonder how much of my score is due to nostalgia. I was hopeful of another five-star read after Beta, so I think my own expectations brought me down.

All this said, I’m very much looking forward to the next book, or books, in this series. Hopefully the wait for Book 3 won’t be as long, but I’ll understand if it is.

7th October 2014 Releases

Happy Release Day to:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Naturals (The Naturals, Book 1)
Disney-Hyperion (US: 7th October 2014)
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Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But, it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie. What Cassie doesn’t realise is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides – especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms close. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

Rachel Cohn
Emergent (Beta, Book 2)
Disney-Hyperion (US: 7th October 2014)
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Zhara, the First. Elysia, her clone. On the surface, they are identical. But looks can be deceiving. When Zhara plays, she plays to win. She thought she had escaped the horrors of Doctor Lusardi’s cloning compound. But the nightmare is just beginning. Elysia has taken everything from Zhara – a softer, prettier version of herself and an inescapable reminder of all she’s failed at in her life. Now the man Zhara loves has replaced her with Elysia. Zhara will get her clone out of the way, no matter the cost. Elysia has finally learned the truth: she has a soul. Her First is alive. She knows it hurts Zhara to see her with Alexander, but she can’t give him up. The genetically-perfected Aquine has chosen as her as his life mate, and their days together are limited. Elysia can’t remain in the Rave Caves off the shores of Denesme forever. Revolution is brewing on the island paradise. Hundreds of soulless clones remain imprisoned like Elysia once was, slaves to the whims of their owners – wealthy human inhabitants of the island. As a group of clones and humans, led by Alexander, plot an insurrection that will turn Denesme’s world upside down, Elysia knows her place is fighting by his side.

Rinda Elliott
Blood of an Ancient (Beri O’Dell, Book 2)
Samhain (US: 7th October 2014)
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Beri O’Dell is on a mission. She has to rip back into a hell dimension fast, but needs two things first – the blood of an ancient and a fix for her friend Blythe’s magic, which careened out of control after the battle with the Dweller. Finding ancient blood isn’t easy when the old ones are rare and unwilling to donate. She needs to find Blythe’s former mentor…except the woman has lost her mind and joined a travelling band of singing witches. That’s not the only magical monkey on her back. Nikolos is imprisoned, and after a screwed-up spell lets her witness the horror that has become his life, her fear for him grows by the day. Now there’s another problem – a powerful being unleashed during the battle with the Dweller likes her gluttonous new existence, and will kill anyone who threatens it. But Beri has a few tricks up her costumed sleeve, even if it means mining the darkness of her soul to set everything right…and get Nikolos back in her arms.

Becca Fitzpatrick
Black Ice
Simon & Schuster (US, UK, CA, & AU: 7th October 2014)
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Britt Pfeiffer has never been that adventurous, but that’s about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trekking trip with her. But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, where they find two knights in shining armour. Or so they think. Britt quickly realises that the girls need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, she is forced to guide the boys down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to escape with her life is to pretend she is on their side. But is gorgeous, sexy Mason an enemy or an ally? Tension mounts, and it’s only a matter of time before things turn deadly…

Mira Grant
Parasite (Parasitology, Book 1)
Hachette Little, Brown Orbit (US: 7th October 2014)
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A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease. We owe our good health to a humble parasite – a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system – even secretes designer drugs. It’s been successful beyond the scientists’ wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them. But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives…and will do anything to get them.

Amelia Kahaney
The Invisible (Brokenhearted, Book 2)
HarperCollins Teen (US & CA: 7th October 2014)
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After a perilous accident that literally stopped her heart, Anthem Fleet was left with a jagged scar down the front of her chest – and a strength she is still learning to control. Her new powers helped her avenge the death of the boy she loved and led her deep into Bedlam City’s dark underbelly, where she fought a network of shadowy criminals. But Anthem doesn’t want to be the crime-fighting vigilante that Bedlam needs. She just wants to go to school, practice ballet, and help nurse Ford, her friend and partner, back to health. But when a mysterious group called the Invisible starts attacking the privileged North Siders, Anthem’s whole world is thrown into chaos. Invisible’s threats seem like harmless pranks at first, but as their demands escalate, people start to die. Now Anthem must step up and be the hero that the city needs, or Bedlam will fall…once and for all.

Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
This Night So Dark (Starbound, short story)
Disney-Hyperion (US: 7th October 2014)
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Tarver still has nightmares about the night, six months before the Icarus crash, when he rescued a group of civilian researchers being held hostage by brutal mercenaries. Now Tarver and Lilac must reconcile his memories of that fateful night with the truth that they uncovered on a mysterious planet after the Icarus crashed.

Marie Lu
The Young Elites
Penguin G. P. Putnam’s Sons (US: 7th October 2014)
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Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumoured to possess more than just scars – they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites. Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fight a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

Jessica Verday
The Beautiful and the Damned
Simon Pulse (US & CA: 7th October 2014)
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Cyn Hargrave is on the run, but she can’t escape her dark past. The brother of her murdered boyfriend is convinced she’s the killer – and now he’s tracked her down. Cyn has only one person to turn to, and she can’t stand him. Avian knows the evil that lives inside of Cyn, but he’s still compelled to help her. As the thirteenth Revenant, he’s scorned by Heaven and unwanted by Hell, so he understands what it’s like to be a part of two worlds and not fit into either. Together they will need to deal with the danger that follows her – and the danger inside of her – before one of them destroys her.

October 2014 Releases

Done with September 2014 Releases? Here are October 2014 Releases. For future releases, check Reading Wishlist. NOTE: The images and formatting don’t show up properly through Feedly, so click the title of this post to view it on WordPress.

Where Were You When You Read…?

You know all those memes where you list favourite book moments, tropes, characters, all-time faves, keeper shelf, re-reads, etc? I can’t do those. At all. Because my memory is atrocious. And there are simply too many books to read once, so no re-reading. No trying the same book later. You really only do get one chance with me 😉

So I don’t really have book memories. But for some special novels, I remember where I was when I read part of them. (The usual bed/bath/couch doesn’t count, because those are my regular reading places.) These three are all five-star books, by the way 🙂

6 New Covers (Cohn, Kenner, Roth, Silver, Tintera, Veen)

5-Star Books Read So Far in 2013

Liz Coley: Pretty Girl-13
Beth Revis: As They Slip Away
Laura Bickle: The Hallowed Ones
Rachel Cohn: Beta
Tiffany Reisz: The Angel
Kelly Meding: Changeling
Lauren DeStefano: Sever
Dan Wells: The Hollow City
Krissy Kneen: Steeplechase
Blythe Woolston: Black Helicopters
Fleur Philips: Crumble

4 New Covers (Bick, Black, Cohn, Mead)

Now Available for US Pre-Order

Kelley Armstrong: WILD JUSTICE: 26th November 2013: Buy (US)
Steve Bein: YEAR OF THE DEMON: 1st October 2013: Buy (US)
Rachel Cohn: EMERGENT: 15th October 2013: Buy (US)
Mira Grant: PARASITE: 29th October 2013: Buy (US)
Tracey Garvis Graves: UNCHARTED: 2nd July 2013: Buy (US)
Mark Henry: SEAFOAM: 17th March 2013: Buy (US)
Colleen Hoover: THIS GIRL (paperback): 13th August 2013: Buy (US)
Sarah K.: BONDS OF LOVE: 1st August 2013: Buy (US)
Marie Lu: CHAMPION: 5th November 2013: Buy (US)
Katie McGarry: CROSSING THE LINE: 1st April 2013: Buy (US)

[REVIEW] Beta – Rachel Cohn

Rachel Cohn
Beta
Hyperion (US: 16th October 2012)
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Very strange but pleasant – this is my second five-star read in a row. This rarely happens, but I’m delighted.

Beta‘s spoilers should be keep to a minimum, because there are so many awesome twists and turns. In short: the clones seem more like androids (except for [spoiler redacted]): programmable, and whose purpose is to serve.

It’s hard to like the characters, but they’re very entertaining. I rather like Tahir’s understatement, but that will probably change. I hope Elysia doesn’t hook up with Alex. Would love to learn more about Dr Lusardi.

The outstanding depth of world-building includes vining, Firsts, Betas, Awfuls, Defects, FantaSpheres, ‘raxia, and all the beautiful scenery. Demesne is a stunning setting, and the story as a whole has a vivid colourscape. Fuchsia and violet feature heavily, as do botanicals. Biome City also sounds fascinating, so hopefully we’ll get to experience it in the next novel. (Emergent, 15th October 2013.)

16th October 2012 Releases

Happy Release Day to:

Rachel Cohn
Beta (Annex, Book 1)
Disney-Hyperion (US: 16th October 2012)
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Elysia is created in a laboratory, born as a sixteen-year-old girl, an empty vessel with no life experience to draw from. She is a Beta, an experimental model of a teenage clone. She was replicated from another teenage girl, who had to die in order for Elysia to exist. Elysia’s purpose is to serve the inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth. Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. Even the air induces a strange, euphoric high, which only the island’s workers – soulless clones like Elysia – are immune to. At first, Elysia’s life is idyllic and pampered. But she soon sees that Demesne’s human residents, who should want for nothing, yearn. But for what, exactly? She also comes to realise that beneath the island’s flawless exterior, there is an undercurrent of discontent among Demesne’s worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should not care – so why are overpowering sensations clouding Elysia’s mind? If anyone discovers that Elysia isn’t the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be, she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When her one chance at happiness is ripped away with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she’s always had but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive.

Daniel O’Malley
The Rook
Hachette Back Bay (US: 16th October)
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Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organisation and this person wants her dead. As Myfanwy battles to save herself, she encounters a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and an unimaginably vast conspiracy.