Wires and Nerves Volume 2: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer

Spin off of The Lunar Chronicles: Wires and Nerve Volume 2

Iko – an audacious android and best friend to the Lunar Queen Cinder – has been tasked with hunting down Alpha Lysander Steele, the leader of a rogue band of bioengineered wolf-soldiers who threaten to undo the tenuous peace agreement between Earth and Luna. Unless Cinder can reverse the mutations that were forced on them years before, Steele and his soldiers plan to satisfy their monstrous appetites with a massacre of the innocent people of Earth.

And to show he’s serious, Steele is taking hostages.

Cinder and Kai, Scarlet and Wolf, Cress and Thorne, and Winter and Jacin all feature in this epic new battle. But it is Iko who must face her deepest fears when she uncovers the truth about her own unusual programming.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34930815-gone-rogue?ac=1&from_search=true

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My Review: 5/5 Stars 

I loved the Lunar Chronicles and when Marissa Meyer announced a graphic novel spin-off featuring Iko, I was beyond excited!! Wires and Nerve Volume 1, was awesome! Action packed and we had back all our favorite characters. The series even started where it left off. Check out what the characters are currently doing and that just because the war has ended and Levana is gone, doesn't mean peace comes that easily. Gone Rogue, continues with Iko's mission of finding and stopping the rogue wolves. With the help of Kinney and the rest of the gang, they bring down the Alpha wolf once and for all.

One of the greatest parts of this book was the character development of Kinney. Kinney never understood how everyone could see Iko beyond being an android. He finally stops being hard headed and really looks at Iko and those who love her. With some crazy action packed moments and twists, Kinney sees past the fact that she is an android and that she has more human in her than anyone. 

We also get a little bit more of the origin of Iko and how she was first brought and created by Garan's (Cinder's adopted father). And more reunions with the gang. Finally, a proper Cinder and Kai reunion that was so typically awkward and them that is was of course perfect and swoon worthy. The book does a good job of showing how just because you stopped the bad guy doesn't mean all is well. There are problems on Luna, problems on Earth, the rogue wolves. A hero's day is never done. But the ending is worth it and we see where our beloved characters are headed before we get to the final story in Stars Above. 

Though this seems like the official end to the Lunar Chronicles, part of me hopes it isn't. There are just too many great characters and the universe Marissa Meyer created is just too brilliant to leave it at that. I'd be happy with more graphic novels if that's all that comes. But I guess we'll have to wait and see. 

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part 2 by Michael DiMartino

Recovering from the fight and furious for revenge, Triple Threats member Tokuga solidifies his ties with the duplicitous Wonyong. Meanwhile, when Republic City’s housing crisis reaches its peak, Zhu Li sets her sights on the biggest public figure in the city—President Raiko—in a bid for the presidency! With her friend’s success, the future of the spirit portal, and the wellbeing of Republic City’s citizens at stake, can Korra remain neutral and fulfill her duties as the Avatar?

Written by series co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino and drawn by Irene Koh (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Afrina and the Glass Coffin), with consultation by Bryan Konietzko, this is the official continuation of The Legend of Korra!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32470949-the-legend-of-korra

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I'm a huge Avatar the Last Airbender fan and Legend of Korra fan. To have the brilliant creators keep the series alive in graphic comic form is like a dream come true. The show may be over but the story goes on. All of the comics have been pretty awesome so far. And Legend of Korra is no different. 

Picking up where Part 1 ended, the tension between the Spirit World and the world of humans has been high. And it's no help when the dangerous gangs that run around in Republic City are creating even more problems. Though we didn't get too much of the spirits this time, we need get more from the gangs and their goals. And of course a cliffhanger that makes us happy that the next one comes out in June as opposed to next year! If you love Legend of Korra, definitely check out the series! 

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Unearthed Book 1

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32941343-unearthed

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

If there is one thing Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner can do, it's write science fiction young adult books. Both are amazing authors on their own, but together...they are incredible! I loved their Starbound Trilogy and I was so excited to hear that they were writing another series together. Something that was often described as Indiana Jones meets Laura Croft in space, they did not fail this expectation. Especially not with that cliffhanger they left! 

I'll admit the beginning was a bit slow for me in terms of the story picking up and the real action to begin rolling. Though there was definitely some action to kick off, it wasn't until later when our main characters Jules and Mia, really began going and running and solving puzzles. Mia and Jules I instantly liked and especially with their chemistry. Though it was frustrating to have them both keeping secrets from one another (but what do you really expect with any book? You can't just tell this person you just everything about yourself! Where is the mystery in that?), it was still worth the wait to watch them get to know one another and why they are on Gaia. 

Jules is determined to prove whether or not his father was right when it comes to the Undying and Gaia. Mia just wants to bring some sort of alien tech that is worth something to help her little sister. Meanwhile there are other more dangerous people out there willing to do whatever it takes to find the treasure that is alien technology. Whether to save the Earth or for selfish greed. But there is more to the Undying and than anyone thought. With the help of Mia, Jules follows the clues as they carefully navigate one of the temples. But when there are warnings and things that shouldn't be there, it makes them realize there is a lot more going on than they originally thought. 

A really great science fiction young adult novel. Action packed with great characters. I'm really excited for the next book and equally sad that I have to wait at least another year to get it. Especially when they left a killer cliffhanger, that had been asking what do you mean that's the last page!? Great book! 

DC Icons Book 2: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

DC Icons Book 2

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29749090-batman

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It's kind of awesome that a bunch of my favorite young adult authors have gathered together to write a series based off my favorite DC characters. When it comes to DC comics characters and stories, I am a huge fan. And to see it in young adult fiction format, that is pretty amazing. Especially when you have authors like Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, and Sarah J. Maas, doing the writing. Wonder Woman: Warbringer, written by Leigh Bardugo, led the charge and that one was not not a disappointment. And Marie Lu with Batman: Nightwalker, followed her example. 

Marie Lu introduces to eighteen-year-old Bruce Wayne. Bruce is about to graduate high school and begin his grooming to become head of Wayne Enterprises. His interest in understanding the criminals of Gotham, fighting to defend himself, and technology and gadgets (especially a crazy fast car, that hello!, is definitely the super prototype of the Batmobile). You can tell that Bruce is on the path to becoming the Dark Knight of Gotham, but the question is what experience could really begin his journey? It's one that even leads to his first Batsuit. 

I loved Lu's story for Bruce. Bruce's instincts for justice leads to him chasing down a criminal in a car chase because he knows the police won't catch them. Though he succeeds, he isn't left unscathed, and sorry Batmobile number one, you don't make it out that well. Having interfered with the police, Bruce is sentenced to spend five weeks doing community and what better place to put a kid that will teach him not to interfere with criminals anymore? Arkham Asylum. (Sorry Detective not Gordon, probably not the best plan for someone who will become Batman.) Bruce's time at Arkham leads him to a criminal that is suspected of working with the famous Nightwalkers. Though this criminal mastermind is a eighteen-year-old girl named Madeleine. A liar, thief, and hacker, Madeleine is an intriguing character, who will keep you guessing on who she really is behind her expressions and words. Bruce experiences the twists and turns, the truth and lies, behind a master manipulator. What I loved about this story was that you can see how Bruce will become Batman. How this one experience will teach him about criminals, about how his technology at Wayne Enterprises, and his sense of doing something good for his city and bringing those to justice who really deserve it, will lead him to becoming the protector he is meant to be. 

And with all good stories by Marie Lu, there are twists and turns that you don't see coming. Along with action packed scenes that leave you wanting more and wishing that you could read more of Bruce's adventures. 

If you are a fan of DC comics and young adult books, then I recommend picking this series up. You get justice for the characters you love with a fresh interpretation that is enough to make it different but feel like everything you know and love about these characters are wrong. 

Another great book in this series and I'm super excited about the next one in the series called Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas that will be released in August. Maas is an awesome writer and her lead female characters are always kick ass! And something tells me her interpretation of Selina Kyle will do just that. 

Starbound Series Book 0.5: The Threads We Weave

Starbound Series prequel

Before THESE BROKEN STARS . . .

Tarver was a new recruit, learning to survive on—and off—the battlefield.

Lilac was a girl in a gilded cage, trapped in the glittering world of high society.

Flynn was a young rebel, snatching what joy he could beneath the starless skies of Avon.

Jubilee was an orphan, seeking justice after the violent uprising that killed her parents.

Gideon was a runaway, disappearing into the underbelly of Corinth to leave his past behind and become the Knave.

Sofia was a child of occupied Avon, sharpening her silver tongue and honing the art of the con.

What none of them knew was that the whispers were watching. What none of them knew was that their steps were being guided.

In this collection of exclusive e-shorts, bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner take you back to where it all began. Follow each of the six characters from the Starbound trilogy as they begin the journeys that will lead them to one another—and the destinies that bind them together.

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

This 41 page story was a great insight on these beloved characters before their stories really began. Each short story gave us a piece of who Traver, Lilac, Flynn, Jubilee, Gideon, and Sofia are. What made them into the characters we see them in These Broken Stars, This Shattered World, and Their Fractured Light. How these small moments to them led them to who they are meant to be and the journey they would face later on. Though they were short, the stories were beautifully written. And though I haven't read the series for a long time, I had no problem remembering who each of these characters were. Better yet, the stories reminded me that it may be time to re-read them again with all the pieces. If you are a fan of the trilogy, definitely check out The Threads We Weave. 

Black Dagger Legacy Book 3: Blood Fury by J.R. Ward

Black Dagger Legacy Book 3

A vampire aristocrat, Peyton is well aware of his duty to his bloodline: mate with an appropriate female of his class and carry on his family’s traditions. And he thought he’d found his perfect match—until she fell in love with someone else. Yet when his split-second decision in a battle with the enemy endangers the life of another trainee, Peyton has to face the idea that his future, and his heart, actually lie with another.

Novo, as a female in the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training program, feels like she has to prove herself to everybody—and she has no interest in being distracted by falling in love. But when Peyton proves to be so much more than a rich playboy, she is forced to confront the tragedy that has broken her soul and closed her off from love.

As the two grapple with Novo’s past and Peyton’s present, another couple must contend with an erotic connection that is unparalleled—and potentially scandalous. 

Saxton, who has had his heart broken, discovers in himself a deep-seated attraction to Ruhn, a new member of the household. But will the other male explore the connection? Or will he close his mind and his heart to what could be true love . . . and cost Saxton everything?

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It's been quite a while sine I have picked up this series. The book before this was from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, which is the main series and Black Dagger Legacy is the side series which you really want to read within the main series because it is happening all in order. So I left off with The Chosen, which had come out April of 2017 and haven't really touched the series again until Blood Fury. I was reminded exactly why I love this series so much and now I am ecstatic for the next one in this universe that comes out in April, The Thief. Most of our characters from the other books make an appearance and remind me why I loved all of them. Because let's face it, every single one of them our mouthy and just spit out the first thing that comes to mind and never hold back.

All of these characters are so interesting. Their personalities are ones to remember, which for a majority of them (okay probably all of them) are hilarious. Their pasts are dark and torturous but it is what makes them all who they are and you get to experience how they move forward with their lives, despite how harsh it might be. Blood Fury focused on two couples, which was such a treat! Novo and Peyton are the Legacies. Both in the training program set up in the Brotherhood, these two have never really gotten along well, though the sexual tension between the two is off the scale. Though Peyton's issues are revealed more in the previous books, we finally get a look at Novo. Her past isn't pretty and her issues with trust are pretty intense. But what these two learn is that they can rely on one another and that in time that turns to trust and then into love. Peyton and Novo's journey isn't easy, like most of our couples in the past books, but watching these two grow into who they are supposed to me is quite a thing to witness.

Our other couple is Saxton and Ruhn. Saxton has been finding it hard to get over his feelings for Blay. Especially when Blay is in a happy relationship while Saxton is just focusing on his job for the King. Saxton debates leaving Caldwell but knows his job is important and it makes him linger. Ruhn, we are just really learning about. Quiet and shy, the male doesn't feel like he belongs in the Brotherhood Mansion because he isn't sure where he fits in. He stays for his niece, Bitty, who he loves so much, that leaving her isn't an option. His past is also revealed and it is something you don't see coming, given the male shown. Thrown together for the first time, as they help an older female with home, they begin to realize that there is a spark between them. Ruhn learns something new about himself and Saxton learns that with the right person maybe he can move on and be happy. Their story was so beautiful and to be honest I was more excited when I saw it was their point of view when I turned the page. 

Overall the book was great and I was a great edition to the Black Dagger Brotherhood universe. Can't wait for the next BDB and certainly cannot wait for another BDL! There is only one more male in the training program. The only question is where will the story go? I'm excited to find out and a re-read of the series is definitely on the list!