Must-read YA and romance: 'The Infinite Sea,' 'Vault of Dreamers,' 'Why I Love Bodyguards'
The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
What it's about (courtesy of Putnam Juvenile):
How do you rid the Earth of 7 billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.
Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others' ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.
Cassie and her friends haven't seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.
Why you should read it: When The 5th Wave came out, I was blown away. The storyline just clicked with something inside me, and the audio version? Perfection. I was nervous about The Infinite Sea. What could happen next? How would Rick keep the suspense and rage up? The despair and longing? It was amazing! We get to see from more viewpoints than just Evan and Cassie (though they are there, too). Ringer plays a huge part in this, and I have to say getting inside her head made this odd silent girl into something infinitely beautiful and strong. Cassie is still my favorite, but Ringer is coming in a close second. This entire series is plots within plots and lies within lies. Readers have no idea who is the enemy … are they human? Did they come down or only made humans think they did? It's so confusing and beautiful. The style of writing, the half-finished thoughts, it all make this book perfect.
What Rick Yancey has to say …
Describe The Infinite Sea in one line?
Rick: Things go from bad to worse, due to aliens.
Describe your awesome heroine in one line?
Rick: The one who stood up when anyone else would have stayed down.
What are you working on now?
Rick: The third book of The 5th Wave, entitled Sh*t Just Got Real. (It's a working title.)
Epic one-liner from The Infinite Sea?
Rick: Just one? I have a bunch of favorites:
• "The world is a clock winding down."
• "The world ends. The world begins again. It's always been that way."
• "They can kill us, even down to the last of us, but they can't kill what lasts in us."
The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien
What it's about (courtesy of Roaring Brook Press):
The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students' lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students' schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What's worse is, she starts to notice that the ridges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there.
Why you should read it: This book it twisted. It starts out very cookie-cutter, an elite boarding school where all types of great artists gather: poets, artists, dancers, actors, filmmakers, video game makers, etc. Then Caragh really twists it. The school is also a reality TV show where the students must get advertisers and "blip ratings." Then there's the whole forced 12-hour sleep cycle and mysterious going-ons and what you have is a crazy good book. I held my breath the entire time. Is Rosie crazy? Is Linus bad or good? Just which things are hallucinations and which are dreams? At first, Rosie was cold to me as a character, then I wasn't sure if I liked her (the filming of the losers), but soon I fell in love with her determination and spirit. I wasn't sure how I felt about Linus, but Rosie was mine, and I wanted her to destroy the Dean and figure out just what was going on. Let me warn you, though. The ending? Crazy. If you don't like cliffhangers, this will just tick you off, because readers, along with Rosie, are in the dark … dreaming … wondering just what happened …
What Caragh M. O'Brien has to say …
Describe The Vault of Dreamers in one line?
Caragh: At an arts school that doubles as a reality TV show, Rosie Sinclair discovers a dire secret behind the cameras, and nobody's dreams are safe.
Describe your awesome heroine in one line?
Caragh: Brave and uniquely brilliant, Rosie Sinclair longs to become a filmmaker who can save the world, but first she must survive the cuts of the Forge School, and she's more comfortable behind a camera than in front of it.
What are you working on right now?
Caragh: I'm working on the sequel to The Vault of Dreamers and contemplating evil.
Epic one-liner from your book?
Caragh: "I knew what I'd seen, and I knew what I'd filmed, but my camera showed nothing."
Why I Love Bodyguards by T.A. Chase
What it's about (courtesy of Amber Allure):
Hilton Burke might be one of the most powerful men in the world, but he can't seem to get what he wants the most. Every time he sees Cathal McKinley, his head of security, Hilton can't help wishing they could be more than just employer and employee. He even admits to himself that he just might be in love with Cathal, even though they've never even slept together.
Cathal McKinley accepts how much he wants his boss, Hilton Burke, but he's pretty sure there's no way Hilton will want to date him. They come from two different worlds. And now, having to return to Sunburst, Montana, to deal with family problems, Cathal knows there's no chance for the two of them to get together.
Hilton and Cathal have spent years dancing around each other, but when Cathal needs help, Hilton comes to Montana to back him up. Soon, they're dealing with children and an old friend who can't take "no" for an answer. And finally admitting their love turns out to be the least of their worries...
Why you should read it: This light story is the sequel to Why I Love Geeks and Why I Love Waiters. We get to see more of Herb and Chuck and, of course, our heroes Hilton and Cathal. These books are fun, light and always have a happy ending that makes readers feel good. I loved watching as Hilton and Cathal grew closer and bonded over Cathal's hometown and family issues. I wasn't a fan of Zinnia (I'm sure readers weren't supposed to be), and I just wanted someone to smack her upside the head. There were also four children who added to the dynamic, though I did wish at times Hilton and Cathal could have had their relationship grow without them. It was supersweet that, without question, they took the kids and Cathal's sister's latest baby (she got pregnant and arrested). If you love the Why I Love series, this is an excellent addition. I had fun, read it in one sitting, and it left a smile on my face.
What T.A. Chase has to say …
Describe Why I Love Bodyguards in one line?
T.A.: A bodyguard discovers his client wants more than just his protection.
Describe your hot heroes in one line?
T.A.: Two hot Alpha males who have to each give a little to find love.
What are you working on now?
T.A.: I'm working on a paranormal about a male escort and the man whose family the escort works for.
Epic one-liner from your book?
T.A.: "You mean you just finished listening to Herb while he talked about everything and anything that flitted through his mind like a butterfly in a field of flowers."
Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).