Review: Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Title: Matched (Matched #1)
Author: Ally Condie
Started: 19/4/11
Finished: 22/4/11
Goodreads | Review List

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. 

Review:

Matched is evenly paced with unusual events unfolding. Ally Condie writes about an amazing world in a life that could be ours 1000’s or even 100’s of years from now. It scares me to read something like this sometimes. But I like it because it is plain art. It isn’t something like Fantasy or Sci Fi. It's a completely different world that's nothing like the 2 I have mentioned. This is Dystopia. And Matched is a profound addition to the genre. It is my second dystopia (the first being The Hunger Games) but I found the book artistic and progressive for Cassia. It tells us about her hardships with her family and her Matched and even someone else and with that Condie manages to describe wholeheartedly about “The Society” and how the government works. Being controlled and knowing that that life is normal and being naïve and unable to fight back until someone puts the idea into your head strikes to me as something similar to our regions situation and I can’t help but also feel as if I am naïve myself. 

I feel as if Matched opened my eyes a little and made me feel different. Well, even more different. The story of fighting for free-will gives me some sort of hope but at the same time scares me to no ends and makes me stay on the naive side. After you've finished the book the story will keep you think about it and what would happen next. Matched is a well-written book from Ally Condie. If I didn't have so much work to do I would have finished this in a day. It was unputdownable.

Special thanks to Elodie @ Once upon a quote for the book!

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ARC Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Title: Griffin Rising
Author: Darby Karchut
Started: 18/4/11
Finished: 19/4/11
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Goodreads Synopsis:

For Griffin, it's time to angel up.

For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever. It is their father-and-son relationship, sometimes turbulent, often hilarious, always affectionate, that sings through the story like a pure note.

Masquerading as the average teen next door, Griffin struggles to learn his trade, navigate the ups and downs of modern life among humans (including falling in love with the girl next door), and prepare for the ancient trial-by-combat every apprentice must pass at sixteen or be forced to become mortal.

Review: 

Before I begin with what I thought of Griffin Rising. I'd like to thank Darby Karchut, the Author, for allowing me to read an ARC of this amazing book as well as giving me a chance to read, and review my first ARC. Thank you so much Darby!

Immediately after I started reading I was enthralled at how realistic the characters were. I really became attached to Griffin our Tiro and Basil our Mentor. I like how I shared something in common with Griffin as well as felt like he was really a friend. I love it when books make me feel like that! Griffin was such a different protagonist. I think he was my first male protagonist. My gosh. I need to read more. Basil as well was just the right fatherly figure and mentor for our Griffin! I enjoyed the humor between the two and loved watching Griffin progress as a Tiro as well as a person. Nicopolis is the evil sod, when I thought he got what he deserves he bounces back like a freaking ball. WHY YOU SO ANNOYING Nicopolis! WHY?!

I really enjoyed reading how Fin and Basil are together. Its part of why I love this book. Also, Griffins relationship with Katie also makes me smile and love this book more!

Overall, this is one of the best Debut YA books I've read all year. It had a strong plot with strong characters that you can't help but love. Darby will keep you reading with her easy writing and clean details! On top of that it is a guaranteed unputdownable book! It will definitely keep you reading to the very end. I can't wait for the next installment because the ending was so unexpected!

Also! Griffin Rising is now available in E-Book format on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook! The first chapter is now up on Darby's website! Check it out here.