Book Review: I AM ALIVE Book 1 (Volumes 1-3) By Cameron Jace

I AM ALIVE By Cameron Jace 

Summary:

Every girl dies - not every girl really lives.

Sixteen-year-old Decca Tenderstone feels captivated when she meets gorgeous & reckless Leo, who is arrogant, silent, beautiful, and shoots almost every one he meets.

Your everyday girl meets badboy lame story... hmm... with a twist...

They live in a dystopian future in Los Angeles where every sixteen-year-old is ranked on a scale from one to ten to determine their future. Outranks, who are considered a danger to society, are forced to attend the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for their lives in deadly games.

The only way the jury still knows that you're still alive is to scream 'I Am Alive' as loud as you can every six hours. Lower your voice, and your dead.

While Decca and Leo can't stand each other, she will find out why she doesn't fit into any rank, and why her mother tried to kill her when she was seven.

Nothing will stand in her way as she has to make choices concerning love, life, staying alive, growing up, and finding out who she really is.

Buy the trilogy of book one here: Link

Amazon Review 

4.5 out of 5 Stars

I only review a book if I want to finish it. So that is saying something right there. I got the first volume in the series when I saw it on the top 100 free list for Teen fiction. I figured I would give it a shot. The first reviews from July didn't seem very promising, but the author said they released the third edition on the 14th and it had been edited extensively. I wasn't spending any money, so it wasn't a leap of faith. 

At first, I had a hard time getting into it... and then the first chapter came to an end. I was intrigued and wanted see where Jace would take it. So I pressed on. I finished the first volume in one sitting. I then bought the other two for just .99. 

It is similar to a lot of the dystopian sellers like Battle Royale and The Hunger Games, the author even admits to this. However, I have to say I enjoyed this more than the The Hunger Games. The characters are easier to like (I only liked Peeta from HG), there is a more background to the history of Faya and the battlefield is just down right creative. I would love to fight to the death where it is set. I liked the system of numbered ranks and the iAm. 

The character development is lacking in places, however, it's just the first Book in a series of Three? (Don't quote me on that number). Not even Harry Potter was a fully functioning character in the Philosopher's Stone. And what human reveals everything right off when it's a series?

My conclusion? I'm waiting for episode four to come out.

Extensive Review/thoughts (Spoiler Warning):

Now for my spoiler thoughts. The first chapter took me by surprise. I had read the first line, "I'm going to surprise you."but it didn't really sink in. So the complete 180 Decca did in the Z room took me by surprise. I almost put the book down because I didn't really care fore the the extremeness of it. However, I pressed on and read the ending line, "I told you I was going to surprise you." From that point on I decided to give the author more of a chance to hook me. Needless to say, I finished the first volume in one sitting. I tried to go to bed after a chapter, but I couldn't sleep while wanting to know where it went. 

I love the aspect of them battling it out in the ruins of Disneyland, I mean, that's just really cool.  I honestly can say I wish I would have thought of it first. 

I liked all the old time references. The burning man, The Breakfast Club (best coming of age movie in the world), iphones (even though they are relevant now), Hannibal Lector, Hitler, Stephen King etc.

I semi-liked the courtship between Decca and Leo, I felt it moved fast though. He fell for her fast and hard and she fell for him fast but not hard. For the longest time, I thought Woo was Leo in disguise, I was wrong. I feel the whole love triangle between the three and the personalities of the males is almost exactly like that of what is found in The Hunger Games. Peeta is Leo, Gale is Woo and Decca is Decca (nothing like Katiness, thank goodness). Even the cave scene where Decca and Leo land is almost exactly like the cave scene in the hunger games. Both Leo and Peeta hurt their legs and got seriously ill. However, I was glad to see Decca not make-out with Leo the entire time. 

I'll save my thoughts for who she will end up with until I get to learn more about Woo/Wolf when he becomes a main character. 

Over all, it was a fun read. 

Book Review: The Wolf's Curse by Kevin Parret

The Wolf's Curse by Kevin Parret

Humans know very little about Leprechauns. Very few know the truths behind their gold, their laws, or their magic. Even fewer know that they have been cursed for centuries. This curse has brought upon an enemy that will stop at nothing to taste sweet Leprechaun blood.

Through an unlikely sequence of events, a young boy saves a Leprechaun from a wolf. A friendship is instantly formed, but with dangerous consequences. Join Franky on his journey from being the kid who is bullied by everyone to a kid brave enough to confront a wolf.

The Wolf's Curse on Amazon Kindle

Author's Twitter 

Review for Amazon:

5 out of 5 Stars 

It has been years since I have picked up a middle grade book and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed with The Wolf's Curse. It brought back a lot of memories from my childhood. I love Franky and Nicole as characters, they are awesome protagonists. Don is lovable and I really like the morals that are taught in the book. If I was a mother, this would be a  book that I would like to read to my child and I would recommend it for any middle grade teachers. I can't wait to read the sequel and see how Nicole, Franky and Don grow as characters!

Extensive Review (SPOILERS warning) 

 I really liked this book, Parret does an amazing job of pulling you through Ireland and making you love Don and Franky. He also did a good job of making you dislike the antagonists. There were times in the book when I wanted to shake his family by the shoulders and tell them to grow up. I'm curious to see if Rob and him become friends later on. It would be nice for Franky to have a male friend too. 

I was a little unprepared for how this book would take me back to my childhood. The dodge ball scenario basically happened to me too, except I was in fourth grade. Remembering those events was surprising, since I hadn't thought about them in years. Thunder also brought back nostalgia for me. My aunt had a German Shepard and wolf hybrid named Hunter. I loved that dog so much. One of very few dogs I have ever wanted to keep for myself. 

The prologue made me think of a movie that I loved as a kid and would rent it on VHS whenever I could. It was called The Magical Land of the Leprechauns. It was basically a redux of Romeo and Juliet done with Leprechauns and Fairies. I liked the theory that Leprechauns created werewolves and I also like the fact that Leprechauns and fairies live together in harmony.    

I really can't wait to see what happens at Don's trial or the kids getting to see a magical land, they'll get to meet Rose and do so many other things. 

Over all, I was pleased with this story and will recommend it to anyone, adult or child. Please keep writing Kevin!

Sara

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Just Yourself to Blame

I saw a quote today that I 100% agree with, but I'm not sure who wrote it, so I'm sorry I can't give them the credit.

"Everything you do is based on the choices that you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decisions and choice you make. Period."

I've always said something similar to this. However, it wasn't until I saw this today that I realized I haven't been following my own belief. Just last night, I was talking to my cousin and telling her how I felt my parents were to blame for the grades I got in High School: for either not knowing how to push me or just not doing it correctly. In the end, it was me who caused my bad grades. I had the potential to be a 4.0 GPA student, all my teachers said so (except when it came to math), I just didn't have the personal drive or care to want to do better. That was my fault and mine alone.

So I feel I should post a public apology to my parents and anyone I have blamed for something I have caused to myself. I'm sorry I was such a butt-head teenager and I'm sorry I blamed you for things that were my problems to deal with and not yours.

The next time you go to blame someone for the way your life turned out, take a second to think about what you are about to say. Is it really their fault or are you trying to make an excuse for your own decisions and choices?

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Tomorrow, I hope to make a post about the potential covers for Up A Tree. I'm having a hard time deciding which one to go with. Maybe my Twitter and Facebook followers can help me decide. :D

Sara D

I was Inspired

I was inspired by Kevin Parrett, the author of The Wolf'sCurse (Which I will be reviewing on Amazon and here later next week). He inspired me to start a blog to talk about my journey when it comes to self-publishing. I knew I would eventually need a blog, but I didn't know what to write about. It's not like I'm an expert at writing, I couldn't just write out a post on how to develop a plot correctly or how to make a main character interesting for a reader. I barely know what I'm doing half the time as it is. 

My first short story, Up A Tree,  should be out later this month, there has been some delay, but I rather have a well edited story than a story that looks like it should be used for toilet paper. 

Self-Publishing wasn't my first choice. As a kid I dreamed of making it big with an Agent and a big time name Publishing House. I had fantasies of owning a big house with a room filled with money and my books would be turned into block busting movies. 

I've matured, at least a little, since then. Well, I hope I have. What do I want now as a 21 year old? A lot of things: Financial stability, a better apartment, better food than ramen. Those things would be nice, but I know they won't magically appear after I publish my first story or even my second to sixth stories. I'm not aiming to be the next millionaire Amanda Hocking, or the next Mind Blowing J.k. Rowling or even the unreachable and unthinkable Stephen King.  I just want my stories read and hopefully liked.

I know it will take time. Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and Amanda Hocking all had to work hard to get where they are now. They didn't just wake up one morning and magically become rich and successful. Success has to be earned and I plan to do just that. So I hope, while doing this blog, that I can help someone else who was in the same boat I was less than a month ago. I hope to give struggling writers the motivation and push to go get what they want.  

Sara D