Defy the Fates by Claudia Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great finish to a fantastic YA sci-fi adventure. Still clean and full of action and morality questions. Glad I read it.

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Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tore through this book. And although I enjoyed the plot and action and the relative cleanliness of the book, it also contains and delves in to complex moral questions of artificial intelligence and what is the threshold for what constitutes life. I’m already reading the last book in this trilogy.

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Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Update Mar. 1, 2021: I have re-read this and I still loved it! Now I'm going to binge on the trilogy!

After reading the epic Pillars of the Earth, I needed something a little less involved and this was perfect. Almost totally clean and chock full of adventure and action, with some ethics and morality thrown in. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

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Catalyst by S.J. Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The final book in this trilogy was bloody and disturbing. And it taught some questionable ethics. But I will say that it was exciting and had a satisfying James Bond-esque ending of the villain.
I did mostly skip the part that’s in space, because it was boring. I basically just skimmed it for any important developments. There was one major development, and it could have been condensed into a couple of pages instead of all.those.pages. If you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about.
But happily, still no swearing or sex. That is rare and commendable.

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Vortex by S.J. Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one definitely wasn't as good as the first book, but it moved along at an OK clip and for the most part kept me interested. I probably will read the last book, just to see how it all ends.
Still no swearing or sex.

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Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Update: I re-read this yesterday. It was just as good as I remembered it. Now I’m determined to read the whole trilogy, since I somehow forgot to get #2 after I read this 5 years ago.


I liked this YA sci-fi thriller a lot. It reminded me of Ernest Cline's Armada at the beginning, but quickly took on shades of Ender's Game. I am going to look into the next in the trilogy. No swearing or sex, so I can recommend fully!

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Heaven's Queen

Heaven's Queen (Paradox #3)

by Rachel Bach

4 stars

379 pages 
Published April 22, 2014 by Orbit
 
A great, happy ending to this action-filled sci-fi romp through the universe. Loved it!

There is a sex scene and more than a smattering in s-words throughout the book. I may just have to read some of Rachel Bach's other books; let's see if they are as good as this trilogy was.

Honor's Knight

Honor's Knight (Paradox #2)

by Rachel Bach

4 stars

384 pages

Published Feb. 25, 2014 by Orbit 

 

As far as sequels go, this one is a winner. I was ecstatic about the first novel, Fortune's Pawn, and was eager to get my hands on No. 2 in the trilogy. I did! And I read the thing in a day. While sick. And while my 20-month-old was sick. It was that engrossing.

The book is full of all the good stuff that was in the first book, minus the sex scene. Plus lots of answers and explanations. Not all, but definitely enough to satisfy me. I am on the waiting list for the last book, and can't wait to read it.

Fortune's Pawn

Fortune's Pawn (Paradox #1)

by Rachel Bach  

4 stars

320 pages

Published Nov. 5, 2013 by Orbit

Ah. Sci-fi at its best! I loved this book! It's full of space adventure, fighting, aliens, a mysterious enemy, love, travel ... all well thought-out and described. Bach has created a universe full of diversity, danger and beauty. I can't figure out how one person can bring such creativity and imagination to a book.

The only thing I can't figure out is if this is a YA or an adult book. I am leaning toward adult, because the main character, Devi, is almost 30 years old and is quite free with sharing her sex life. There is a sex scene in here, but it's not terribly graphic. But it is there.

There is some swearing, as well. I wouldn't let my mom read this book.

Yet saying that, I can't wait to read all the books in this trilogy! I haven't read a book that gets me excited like this in a long time.

Into the Still Blue

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)

by Veronica Rossi

4 stars

392 pages

Published Jan. 28, 2014 by HarperCollins

Finally! I got to finish this trilogy. My life can continue.

Since it had been a while since I read #2 in the trilogy, it took me a while to catch up on what had previously happened. You know how some books have the book equivalent of TV shows' "Previously Seen on ..." before the books starts to get you reacquainted with plot and characters? This book would have benefited by having that.

But it's not too bad. There aren't a gazillion characters you have to remember. And the plots pretty simple.

The one thing that bugged me about the ending and their journey to the Still Blue is the abruptness in which they found their destination. It was so easy! After 2.5 books touting the difficulty of the way, everything was so simple.

And what really bugged me was how Cinder was treated. I'm not giving anything away here. You'll have to read the book and find out, but I HATED what happened to him!!

There was a bit of teen sex that was glossed over, but little to no swearing. There also is a bit of gory violence and a few torture scenes.

The Dark Planet

The Dark Planet (Atherton #3)

by Patrick Carman

3 stars

350 pages 
Published May 1, 2009 by Little, Brown Young Readers 

This trilogy finished with a happy ending ... yay! A little bit unbelievably, yes, but I was willing to ignore the craziness of the denouement because most, if not all loose ends were tied up. Although, it doesn't come outright and say what happened to Cmdr. Judix. I love tied up loose ends. They make me happy and feel complete.

For a kids' book, this is nicely done. Simple plot, lots of adventure and excitement. And there are dragons AND spaceships involved! What could be better?

I will probably recommend this trilogy to my 11-year-old. I think she'd like it.

Kudos to Carman for not swearing in the book. Kids don't need to read - or hear- that stuff.

The House of Power

The House of Power (Atherton #1)

by Patrick Carman

4 stars

339 pages 
Published April 3, 2007 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

I've had this book on my to-read list for like 2 years, and I finally got around to it. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. It had just about everything I was looking for: adventure, a touch of sci-fi, some creepy creatures, secrets and revelations, no swearing or sex. Just a great book for older kids and even teens. And there was no love story - which was a huge plus. Those sure get old after you read them a zillion times.
I can recommend to anyone who is in the mood for suspense and adventure. I may read this one to my kids for a bedtime story.

Across the Universe

Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

by Beth Revis

4 stars

398 pages

Published Jan. 11, 2011 by Razorbill

I liked this book despite the "Soylent Green" overtones. I really liked the plot and the pacing. Writing was pretty good, too, and the characters were well-rounded, except for the villains, but those are usually flat anyway, so no biggie.

I will be reading the next in the series. Can't wait to see what happens!

Firstborn

Firstborn

by Brandon Sanderson
4 stars

47 pages

Published July 14, 2010 by Tor Books (first published Dec. 17, 2008)

Another Brandon Sanderson short story. This one is set in the far future in space - about a guy who is an absolute failure as a military tactician.

Fantastic moral at the end - with a bit of a Twilight Zone-ish twist. Loved it.

The Boy at the End of the World

The Boy at the End of the World

by Greg Van Eekhout

3 stars

224 pages

Published June 21, 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens 

 

I started this book, then put it aside for a while to read another book. I guess that says something for the story.

While it was an interesting concept - an engineered boy waking up after thousands of years since the extinction of man - I just couldn't quite engage in the story. Mostly because it was a little-disguised environmental lecture. I love nature, yet I don't like being told that I'm an evil villain because I drive my kids to school.

I give this three solid stars because the writing was actually quite witty. There were even some places where I laughed out-loud ... Hello!

The Fall of Five

The Fall of Five (Lorien Legacies #4)

by Pittacus Lore

4 stars

352 pages

Published Aug. 27, 2013 by HarperTeen

 

Again, the fictional author Pittacus Lore has written another pulse-pounding novel in the Lorien Legacies series. This time we see betrayal plague the Garde.

I almost wish the title was a little more vague. It basically tells you the plot of the entire book. The only thing you are left wondering is HOW.

Despite that, the book is well-written, clever, and full of action. We also are treated to a few more clues to how the story will end. But nothing too much.

I, of course, will be reading the next in the series.

Sent

Sent (The Missing #2)

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

4 stars

320 pages

Published Aug. 25, 2009 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

 

Quickie Review:

I read the first and second books of the series one after the other, and it was a fun read. The second book is filled with history, which I love, but it was a bit confusing. I really just had to push on through her "explanations" and focus on the story. Some inconsistencies, as well, but nothing too distracting.