Red Queen

Sooo, I've been reading a lot lately. I haven't posted in forever, but I finished a book today that I had to write about. I picked up a book Friday at NCTE called Red Queen. It was in an awesome package, check it out:

I picked up an ARC of this book at a conference and finished it in a day. It is FABULOUS! It is a little similar to a few books I have read (Red Rising and The Selection come to mind), but so much different that it is definitely in its own category. The story is fast-paced and engrossing. The world is similar to our own but also in disrepair. The chasm between the poor and the rich is great and seemingly insurmountable, but isn't that what makes for a great story? The characters are likable and relatable. And the ending? I should have seen it coming but I didn't. This is a world where blood distinguishes the haves from the have nots. Until one day...it doesn't. What happens when everything everyone has believed is proven to be otherwise? Loved this book, and I am dying to know what happens next. Unfortunately, I will probably have to wait a while to find out. SO Great! When it comes out in February, READ IT!! In other news, I have also recently finished The Program & The Treatment, a two-part series about a world where suicide has become a teenage epidemic. Also, it is contagious. To solve this problem, the government develops THE PROGRAM. Basically, a "treatment" program that removes selected "painful" memories and turns teenagers into "happier, calmer" versions of themselves. Basically, they sort of become stepfords. But the question turns into this: Can you really change a person's nature? What happens when the program doesn't exactly "work"? And is the program a major cause of this "epidemic" itself. This is a great little series that follows some lovely rebels as they explore these questions and try to work things out for themselves. I picked it up last year at NCTE and I was not disappointed. I also recently read Belzhar, which was a really neat book. This is a story about troubled teens who have experienced hard things in their life that more or less set them on edge. Since they have had problems coping with what happened, they are sent to a special school known as "The Wooden Barn." This is story about new friendships and letting go, all centered around a Special Topics English class. Because what could be more therapeutic, right? :) It might also include a reference to Plath's Bell Jar, which is where the title is derived from. Either way, I found it engrossing and enjoyable, if not a little sad and unexpected in the end. A while back, I read Gaiman's Ocean At the End of the Lane. In a day. Yeah, it was good. Weird and slightly disturbing, but good. I have to say, there are some images from that book that I will never be able to get out of my brain, specifically, the worm. If you read this book, get back to me on that. I will never be able to shake that one. *shudder* Anyway, it is a delightful book, as is always the case with Gaiman. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and you should, too. So I have just returned form this year's NCTE with another load of books that I am eager to read. At some point. :) For now, I am trying to finish up the Heroes of Olympus series and have started House of Hades. Soon to finish (hopefully) so I can get Blood of Olympus and put that series to rest as well. Also, best news I have heard lately? Kiera Cass has another installment in the Selection series in the works. I talked to the publishing company rep and SHE was stoked about it, too, but no ARCs yet as the book is not quite there. BUT I can't WAIT to read it. Like, now. OH, and another highlight of my NCTE? Meeting Ally Condie and telling her how much I frickin loved Matched (although I kept mum on the fact that I did NOT care for Crossed) and saying hello to James Dashner and getting Kill Order signed. Woot! He has signed at almost every NCTE I have been to, but his lines were OUTRAGEOUS this year. I guess that's what happens when you have a mega-hit that's turned into a movie. Can you imagine the clamor if Suzanne Collins showed up? Or if they brought Veronica Roth back now that Divergent has hit theatres? Oh my. Anyway, hope you have some ideas for more books to read and that you find some inspiration over the holiday weekend. Until then, Happy Reading!

Under the Never Sky

So, I loved this book. It's actually part of a trilogy. I picked up the second and third books at NCTE the past few years, but I didn't have the first one so I finally got it. Let me just say, I loved this book. It is a YA dystopian novel, but it is definitely an original idea. I can't really say that it's like any one particular other book out there. There are a lot of really unique aspects to the storyline. I think this would be a good choice for anyone who's looking for a book that's not like all the rest. It encompasses a post-apocalyptic society, special skills, loss, and journey for multiple characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. More info as I finish them!

Allegiant

Hi folks. Well, I am on a short reading streak right now. I think I am reading to avoid doing what I should be doing, namely...work. :)

Yesterday I finished up Veronica Roth's Allegiant. Now, don't get me wrong. Veronica Roth is a sweet, sweet lady. She really is. But I have some issues with this book. Surprisingly, it's not the ending. I have no problems with how she ends it even though it seems that some people are unhappy with how she chooses to close it off. I actually find the very last part of the book quite fitting for the story as a whole. I am good with that.

It's the meat of the book that I'm kind of meh about. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this book is much more rushed than the other. It was like she was just trying to find some kind of way to tie all her loose ends together so she just started throwing some things out there. I don't really know. It just feels like she tries to do too much in too little time and it throws off the fluidity.

All in all, I did enjoy the series. I think there are a lot of interesting ideas within it. Just kind of anticlimactic for me.

Currently, I am kind of on a "finish the series" kick right now. Finally finished that one. Next up is Beautiful Redemption, then either Requiem  or Reached.

Happy reading!

Multitude of books

Well, friends, I've read quite a multitude of books since I last posted, but I haven't done a very good job of updating. Crazy schedules and whatnot. But here are a few I've been through recently: The Fiery Heart (Richelle Mead): I just finished this one last night. OMG. I am in love with her writing. I am definitely a bigger fan of the bloodlines series than the Vampire Academy series (though I loved those, too). I think this lady is only getting better the more she writes this series, though I do suspect that the next book in the series might be the last. We can still hope for another spinoff though! Beautiful Chaos/Beautiful Darkness/Beautiful Creatures: Ok, so those are out of order, but I have finished the first three books in the series. I definitely find these interesting. I like the whole magic/supernatural powers aspect that run through. The ways the characters are connected interest me as well. The end of the third book, oh my goodness. I am glad I have the fourth to start on straight away or I would be ticked. Looking forward to seeing the conclusion of this series! Uglies (Scott Westerfield): I read this back in December and really enjoyed it. I think it plays a lot into our society's view of appearance and the way it affects people. What the characters learn and reveal throughout the story are quite intriguing, too. I have purchased the second book, Pretties, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. More on that later. The Selection & The Elite (Kiera Cass): These are quite possibly my current favorite books. I'm not sure why as they are kind of like a royal verison of the Bachelor meets Panem. I think the author's writing style is what makes her work so fascinating. That and the fact that the relationships are so realistic. Yeah, a love triangle is a little cliche, but, hey, that's how life is and it often makes for the best story. I am dying to read the next book, The One, when it comes out in May. Also, for anyone who enjoyed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the second book in the series just came out. I don't have a copy yet, but I am dying to get my hands on one. So if you happen to get it, please let me borrow it? :) Until then, happy reading!

Mark of Athena

HI all. Just a quick posting for today. I have just finished reading the latest installment in the Heroes of Olmpus series (I know, I'm a little behind), the Mark of Athena. Once again, I was not disappointed. I have really enjoyed this spin-off series just as much as the original Percy Jackson series. I like the familiarity of the characters and the new twists that continue to be added. The reworking of both Greek and Roman mythology is sometimes genius (in my humble opinion). I love the blending of the style and the new additions to the quest. I look forward to seeing where this adventure goes in the next book as well. (I can't help but wonder just how long this series will continue. I feel like it has one, two more books max before Riordan has tapped it out as well). I have to admit, I was surprised by some of the paths taken in the book as well, but I enjoyed following them to their endings. If you're a fan of the series, definitely check it out!

Every Day

 

So today (yes, just today), I read David Levithan's Every Day. I have had this book for a while, but I hadn't picked it up yet. I heard it was good, and I can definitely agree with that. I haven't read any of his books before, but wow. The man writes good stuff.

 

Imagine what it would be like if every day you woke up in someone else's body. You didn't even have a body that you can remember to begin with. You have always been someone different. Every. Day.  How would you survive? What would you do? How could you have any lasting relationships.

 

That's what this story is all about. The main character, A, is not truly male or female. A just is. And every day A is someone else. He/she gets used to being unobtrusive in his host's life. But then he meets a girl. And he falls in love. And everything changes. This story is all about A's discovery of this love and his/her quest to discover whether such a relationship can even exist based on his/her life path.

 

This book is different. And imaginative. I really, really enjoyed it. Definitely an improvement over the last book I read. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary with a great storyline, then look no further.

 

Happy reading, folks!

Dead Ever After

So, I just finished the final installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I am not impressed. Excuse me while I go on a mini rant. Ugh, Charlaine. Just ugh. Why'dyouhavetogodothattoagoodseries? (forgive my Diantha speak for a moment).

Now, I guess I should be fair for a moment and say that it is not the worst book I've ever read. But it definitely felt a little...off. Like Charlaine didn't really know what to do with it and just picked a direction. Sometimes, it felt like an entirely different author was writing this book. I dunno if she just lost sight of her original vision or got overtaken by her enjoyment of the tv show or what. But this is not the Sookie series I came to know and love and told everyone to read. It just isn't.

On a positive note, I can appreciate that some loose ends were tied up. Some characters that I quite enjoyed made cameos in the book and tied up their storylines, which was good. The villain was a bit unexpected, so I suppose that works okay, too.

I will say, though, that I hated what she did with some of the characters. And I am conflicted about the ending. On the one hand, it could be the perfect way to end the story. On the other hand, no. Just, no.

So if you're a true Sookie fan and you have the desire to know how it all ends and who Sookie chooses, then definitely read the book. Get the closure. See where it goes. But don't expect the fireworks that you found in some of the earlier books from the series. (And, I'm sure I've said this before, but I just really haven't truly enjoyed any of the books since the vampire convention at Rhodes.)

Not sure what my next book will be, but expect to find out soon!



Night Circus

So, I have only good things to say about Erin Morgenstern's Night Circus. I liked this book a lot more than I anticipated (considering I don't often read about the circus or anything circus related.).

This is a book that is an epic love story as well as an epic competition. Where you know from the beginning who the competitors are, but not what the competition entails. They live in a world where real magic is disguised as illusion within the boundaries of the enchanting night circus (aptly named because it is only opened from dusk until dawn). Everything is laid out in shades of black and white for the characters (literally) and we, the reader, watch as the competition unfolds.

Many things did not happen as I anticipated. Many fascinating events occurred throughout the story and I found myself getting drawn into the book. There are even chapters that literally lead you through various parts of the circus as if you are there.

All in all, I found this to be quite enchanting. The back cover touts it as a love story, but that is really only a small part of the story as a whole. Instead it is more about finding the same outcome despite taking different paths to it. I would definitely recommend this for anyone just looking for a good summer read.

Happy reading, friends!

Name of the Star

So, I confess. I have had this book (by the most fabulous Maureen Johnson) sitting on my shelf for over a year now and I have just got around to reading it. Boo on me. I sooooo should have picked it up sooner because it was fabulous.

So I had heard this was a book with loose ties to Jack the Ripper, which I thought was interesting. Before I read it, I assumed it was set in the past, but it is actually in the present, which I liked. The lead character is likeable as well as most of the secondary characters.
I found myself really interested in what was happening and I didn't figure it out ahead of time. Basically, the main character (Rory) is from Louisiana but moves to England for a year for school because her parents are there on sabbatical. You get all of that interesting adjustment to the new school and new culture blah, blah, blah, which is actually not so bad. And the copycat Ripper murders, of course. I didn't predict most of what would happen in the book, but let's just say Rory's level of involvement is quite interesting. And the end? LOVE what happens.
If you are into some interesting twists and turns, then I would highly recommend this book (and now I have to find the second book of the series, which just came out. Ahh!).

Happy reading!

Still alive, still reading....

Hi all! I know, it probably feels like I've taken a reading hiatus, but I promise I'm still around. It just took me a while to figure out what I wanted to read. In the past two weeks, I have finished both The Golden Lily and Indigo Spell.

         

Can I just say, I love Adrian? Ok. Now that that's out of the way...
I am a fan of this series. A big one. I loved the Vampire Academy series, and I think this is just as intriguing if not more so. Let's just say that Sydney has really grown on me. I thought she was an interesting character in the VA series, but I love that she has become such a dynamic figure in this series. I think it's good for anyone to be able to relate with a character who has to struggle with her beliefs and question everything she has ever known. This starts slowly in the Golde Lily but goes full blown in Indigo Spell. Neither book was a disappoint, and I am anxious to get my hands on the next installment (Fiery Heart) later on this year.

If you like vampires, romance, rouge  fighters, magic, and a little espionage, this is definitely a good choice.

Happy reading, friends! Next book on the list is uncertain. I think I might try out the fourth book in the Game of Thrones series just to catch up on those characters. :)

The Fault in Our Stars

For the past year, I have been told that I needed to read this book. I knew I needed to. As I sat at NCTE last year and listened to John Green talking, I knew that I should read this book because of his style and his humor. To be honest, I don't know that I could have read this book if anyone else had written it. From the outset, you know that the story is about a teenager named Hazel who has cancer. That, alone, would usually be enough to deter me from reading this book.

However, I loved it. John Green has a way of walking this fine line between seriousness and humor that makes this book not just readable but lovable. This might possibly be the best book I have read in a good, long while. I often laughed and my chest often hurt because of how real this story is. These characters could live next door or walk down the hall next to you. John Green doesn't treat them like fragile cancer patients but like real kids. I think that is possibly why this story works so well.

Unfortunately, the story does end in a similar way to what I anticipated. As I read the book, I laughed and cried and sometimes got a little angry at the characters. It is touching in a way many stories fail to be nowadays. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that, at its essence, is just a flat out good read.

Twofer- Pandemonium and The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Hi folks. I finished Pandemonium some time ago, but I never got a chance to blog about it. I do have to say that I quite enjoyed it. It didn't take me very long to read it either (despite the holiday hiatus from the blog). I was relatively satisfied with the storyline. I thought it progressed well, and the adjustment of the main character to her new situation was well played. Introducing a new interest didn't really surprise me either. The ending of the story might be considered a shock to some, but I kind of saw it coming. I think anyone who is a fan of the series could predict it, but I liked it anyway. I am very intrigued to see what happens in the third installment, Requieum (which, unfortunately, was not available in time for NCTE this year).

This week, I read The Evoluation of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin. See previous blog entry from last year on The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I was really, really excited to get my hands on this book. Thanks to some fabulous friends who snatched me a copy from NCTE since Michelle signed the morning I left. I wasn't really sure where this book was going to go. Clearly I needed a refresher as it took me a few chapters to remember exactly what happened in the first book. Once I got into it, I was very intrigued. This book really made me feel a little crazy, too. I was beginning to wonder just how much Mara could take. I honestly did not really see the ending coming either. I didn't expect the storyline to take the course it did. I will definitely be ready for the third book next year. I need to know what happens to Mara, and I hope that it will be better than what I anticipate might happen.

Recently, I have finally acquired a copy of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. All I have heard about this book is how amazing it is, and I am super excited to finally get into it firsthand. Reviews upcoming!

2012 was definitely not a productive reading year for me. Let's hope next year is a better one for reading!

Catching Up

Hi friends. Recently, I have finally caught up with some of those half-read books that have been lying around my house. First up, I finally (finally, finally, finally) finished Dark and Hollow Places. If you're unfamiliar with it, it is the final installment of the triology of Forest of Hands and Teeth  and Dead Tossed Waves. I am not sure why it took me so long to finish this book. I started reading it, thought it was interesting, then started reading something else and it somehow ended up tucked underneath my bed, waiting to be unearthed. I did find the ending to be mostly satisfying. Crazy how it took me months to get halfway through the book then a day to finish the second half. I felt that the end might have been slightly rushed, but it works.

I also finished Insurgent yesterday. I definitely enjoyed Divergent and sped through it. However, I got about 150 pages into Insurgent and just kind of took a hiatus. I really liked what happened in this story. But oh, you protagonists. Get it together! I do have to say that I feel like the lead character, Tris, is very realistic. I think many people would perform similar to how she does when faced with difficult situations. And let me just say, I hope we are never divided into a society of factions. Oy! For this book, I found the ending extremely satisfying but also a bit confusing. I am not sure exactly what is going on at the end of the book and am looking forward to the next installment to see where Roth decides to take the series.

For now, I have actually started a new book (gasp!). I read Delirium a few months ago and have decided to now read the second book, Pandemonium. We'll see how long it takes to get through it. :)

Delirium

Hi all! So it took a little longer to finish Delirium than anticipated because, well, I took a detour and read Fifty Shades Darker. Yup. Thought about going straight through to Fifty Shades Darker, but I wasn't really up for pornapalooza last week. So I got back to Delirium (by Lauren Oliver) and finished it up so I could move on to Pandemonium, which I actually snagged last year for free at NCTE. Woot! Anyway, here's a look at the cover:

What would it be like to live in a world where love is forbidden? That is exactly the idea that is present in this book. Instead of being the wonderful, happy thing we consider love to be, it is instead considered to be a disease. That' right. Like on the scale of AIDS or Hepatitis. How would that affect your relationships with friends, family, and potential partners? All of these issues are explored in the story, which I found to be quite intriguing. The added bits from fairy tales and scriptures of the society are a great touch, too. If you've ever wondered what the world would be like without love, this is definitely the book for you. But, of course, there has to be an underlying love story. What kind of YA novel would it be without it?

I did enjoy both the storyline and characters. The heroine is great because she has a typical "I'm not all that" complex but learns about herself throughout the story. There are a lot of moments where you can feel impending danger as well, so some things are not quite as surprising. Others are unexpected, but in a good way. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a good story with the dystopian undercurrent.

So what's next? Well, I have several options. I am a slacker, slacker, slacker and still haven't finished the last book of Carrie Ryan's zombie trilogy (bad, bad, bad person), and I want to read Pandemonium and see where that goes. I also haven't finished Insurgent. Oops. I am such a half-reader nowadays. What's up with that?

I guess you will have to wait and see. Until then, happy reading!

A little more Entice-d

Hi all! Hope your summer of reading is going a little better than mine. I have such good intentions to sit and read...then I find myself knitting. Or playing on facebook. Or watching Big Brother. Yeah. Anyway, I did finish up Carrie Jones' Entice last night.

And I will have to say, I did like this one a little better than Captivate. There were good parts to that book, but it just didn't hold my attention like Need. Let me tell you, though, she will tear you between two people. Most of the time, I have a clear cut decision on who the girl should choose (i.e. Edward or Jacob, Gale or Peeta, Ky or Xander, etc). In this book, it's a little less clear. I had a clear choice for a while, now it's a little more iffy. I think I like Astley a lot, which is not something I anticipated happened. And I really like the name. It's going on a list of names I like.

Anyway, as for the book itself, I love that it brings in even more Norse mythology. Yay Carrie Jones! I think Norse mythology has been way underplayed, and I'm glad to see it making a reappearance in the world of YA literature. I have to admit, I can only imagine Thor one way now though....oh well. There's a nice little end of days storyline wrapping up in this book, lots of pixies and other fae, and a lot of death. That's right. Death. It's a little on the dark side of things, but isn't all good literature?

There is one more book in the series, Endure, but unfortunately I do not have it yet. Guess I'll have to snatch it up sometime to see how the story plays out. Until then, I continue on to the hundreds of books on my shelf. Next up? Lauren Oliver's Delirium. I've heard good things about it, ,so we shall see.

Happy reading, folks!



Slightly less captivated...

So, last night I finished Carrie Jones' Captivate. Here's what it looks like:

Now, don't be mislead by my title of the post. I did enjoy the book. It was not like Crossed, which was a second book that dragged on. This book didn't really drag, I just didn't like it as well as the first book. I think it's because of what happens though.
I can tell you that I was surprised by some of the events in the story. More than once, I thought, well, I didn't really see that coming. So there are good points. Lots more pixie fun, with a little bit of the other fae sprinkled in as well. Jones throws in some Norse mythology as well, which I absolutely love because I'm a huge Norse fan.
So, if you read the first book, you should definitely check out the second. These books are in a similar vein to other supernatural YA out there right now, but with some definite different directions.
Next up? The final book of the trilogy, Entice. We'll see how long it takes to finish it.

Double Feature! Storm of Swords and Need

Hi all! I really have been reading lately. Promise. But one of the books I was reading was George R. R. Martin's Storm of Swords, so it took me a while. But, you know, I had to get ahead of the HBO season so I would be prepared. OMG! More on that in a bit though. I also finished Carrie Jones' Need last night. So, here are my thoughts.

This book. Ugh. Halfway through I wanted to throw the book and just stop. But I didn't. By the end, I was okay with where it was going. But, again, no one is safe in this series. I starting to get frustrated with all of my favorite characters dieing while those I can't stand live. Grrrrrr. I've had about enough of that. But, I must say, there were some satisfying deaths in this book as well. And some that were quite unexpected. Quite. On the whole, I enjoyed it. There were a lot of twists and turns and intriguing moments, so I was satisfied. However, I am starting to get a little bored with the Daenerys storyline. He needs to fix that. She was one of my favorite characters, now I'm just meh about her.

I do have to say, at the end of this book, I was ready to pick up Feast of Crows and go on with it. However, I decided to take a short break from this series to pursue some of the many other books on my shelf, starting with:

If you are a fan of the supernatural genre, you will probably like this book. I have to admit, I read it in about two days, which is pretty good. It's a quick read with an interesting storyline. No vampires or ghosts or anything like that, but a different breed of supernatural. The story was interesting, I didn't hate the characters, and it wasn't quite as whiny as some books can get. There were a few parts that felt a little rushed to me, especially the end. But there are also two more books in the series, the next of which I am starting today. So, it has a lot of promise. My sister-in-law also read this book and loved it. She took it on vacation thinking it would take a few days and finished it in one. :) It's a fun little read if you need a good book (but not really scary, as the cover comments would have you believe).

So now I'm working on the next book, Captivate. More news on that soon perhaps. What are you reading this summer?





Fifty Shades of WTF

Ok, so I took a brief detour from Insurgent to look into the Fifty Shades trilogy that I've heard so much about lately. If SNL deems it worthy of spoofing, then I suppose I might as well give it a go.
I started with Fifty Shades of Grey this week, which bears this cover:

If you happen to read this book, you'll know why the cover picture is what it is.

The book has its intrigue as well as its not so much moments. I think another round of editing would have been beneficial in that aspect as it could cut some of the less relevant information. On the other hand, I found some of the mundane specifics to be interesting and quite true to life.

The story itself has been explained as "mommy porn" and I would have to agree. This is kind of like a trussed up Harlequin romance. There are some big words scattered here and there and a plot very loosely based on some classic literary tales. Much of the storyline alludes to Tess of the D'Urbervilles, but I found Christian Grey to be much more like Dorian Grey. I can't help but wonder if that idea was buried somewhere deep within the novel as well. That hedonistic, beauty-loving spirit of Dorian is very much a part of Christian Grey's character, but as far as I know he doesn't keep an aging portrait of himself. We shall see what is to come of that in future novels.

Is it the best book I've read this year? Definitely not. There are some fallacies throughout the story, and it has moments where I could only think...yeah, right. That would never really happen.

So if you're looking for a steamy summer romance, then by all means pick it up. It is definitely a little on the kinky side of things, but that is apparently the appeal of the story. If your tastes are more classically inclined like those of the protagonist Ana, you might want to just skip this series.

Back to Insurgent now (or perhaps Clash of Kings...hmmm...so many options). Happy summer reading friends!

Deadlocked

Well, fellow Sookie fans, we are only one book away from the conclusion of the series. And honestly, I think it's time. Of course, I did purchase Deadlocked on its release day because I have to know where the series is going.



But, once again, I was not super impressed with the story. It just feels...blah. Like she's trying to tie everything up but could do it with less books. I think she could probably have stopped a few books ago and been the better for it. However, we are still meandering along Sookie's complicated life with her. And she still hasn't really chosen. If nothing else, I wish she would just pick one damn man already. Geez, girl, you can't keep them all. (Not unhappy to have the Quinn cameo though! I do love that tiger.)

Anyway, this book is yet another filler, I feel, to get us along to the finale of the series. It better be a damn good one, too, since Charlaine's been stringing us along for a couple of books.

Crossed

Another book that I finished yesterday is Ally Condie's Crossed. Ta da!



This book is the continuation of last year's Matched, which I loved. I've had it for a while and finally picked it up to finish durng finals week. (Hey, I gotta do something while everyone's taking exams).

I wasn't unhappy with this story, but it definitely was not as interesting to me as Matched. The back and forth narration in the chapters almost annoyed me. On the one hand, it was okay to have different points of view, but like it said, it got a litle annoying. I was relatively satisfied with how the story ended, too. It definitely sets up well for the next book in the series (can't remember its title offhand, but it starts with a C, too). I am curious to see who Cassia meets up with going into the next book as well. If you read Matched (which I highly recomnend!), then I think this book is worth a read just because it will get you to the continuation of the series when it comes out later this year. :)