Amber Rain by Alyssa & Celesta Thiessen Book Review

Amber Rain
by Alyssa Thiessen & Celesta Thiessen

ASIN: B00I8S5CMM
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Publication: February 3rd, 2014
Source: Story Cartel

Ellie Lauder and her family grew up in an underground shelter. They are the descendants of the survivors of the amber rain, an astronomical tragedy that brought human to the brink of extinction. Although population in the shelter are numbered, Ellie and her three brothers was always bullied by kids of their age.

Her father wasn't exaggerating; she was at the top of her class. Not that it won her any friends. Not that anything would. Why do they hate me so much.

Most of the time her brothers stood out for her, but they were always the odd one out, an outcast. There was one incident that forced her to fight back, and Ellie being sick of always being bullied decided to runaway and eventually discovered a secret entrance that leads to the surface. A place where she thought was gone forever.

The  world wasn't opening up and swallowing her. This was outside. This was above. She looked into the sky again. Sun. Clouds. It was so much bigger in real life, so much brighter - so much more terrifying.

My Impression

At first I thought the story would be like "The City of Ember", but visualizing the technology they have here in Amber Rain, I already guessed not. It would pass for a middle grade genre if it weren't for some violent settings. It was an easy read and I really felt like the book is for ages 14+.

I wasn't really enticed by the book cover, I was actually wondering about the connection between the title Amber Rain to the the Girl looking at the wilderness. As I read the story it does makes sense after all. 

The story was okay for me, it kept me reading till the end of the book without pausing. I guess the mystery behind their existence, their history and the mystery of what's waiting for them outside the shelter made me held on. I was actually also waiting for Ellie to fight back and get even with the other kids. I guess, it touches some nerves. LOLx.

I also liked the minimal twist in the story, about Ellie finding out who she really is and the switch! I really liked that part. I was like... TIME TO KICK SOME BULLIES GUTS! 

Although the ending isn't a cliffhanger type, I find myself looking forward in knowing what's going to happen next, how will they survive, how will everyone get along and how those hanging romance bloom.

Rating:  4 Stars

Plot: Well paced story.

Page Turner: In most part

Continued?: Yes.

Recommended: Yes.

Book Boyfriend:  I had a hard time visualizing Lee, River and Will. So, no.

About the Author

Celesta Thiessen

Official Website ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter

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The False Prince Book Review

The False Prince
by Jennifer Nielsen

ISBN: 0545284139 (ISBN13: 97805484134)
Genre: Children Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publication: April 1st, 2012

From Goodreads Synopsis:

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. but Sage's rival have their own agendas as well. 

My Impression

This was the first book I read which got a male protagonist POV. What amazes me the most is how I often flip the cover to check if the author is "really" a female. The way I visualize Sage, he is a 100% male. The author did bring out her masculine side in the form of Sage. 

Sage is an awesome character, I liked him very much. He is a good sort of rebellious teen, doing what he like, not letting other manhandled him. He is very intelligent. I admire him for being a quick thinker and a thorough planner. Like he's always 10 step ahead of the other characters. Though I already got a hint about the "truth" in the earlier chapters, I think it's his attitude that gave him away. 

A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.

I wasn't really impress by the book cover though, it looks boring for me. But all in all I like the story, though it was a very slow paced. I enjoyed how Sage outwit every character in the story. 

Conner answered, "Mrs. Turbeldy warned me that you have a history of running away. Where did you go?" 

To church of course. To confess my sins."

Though I "DID" like the story... I don't think anticipation is high enough for me, to read it's other sequels. There's no loose ending to hang into, no romance ( well, there are two possibilities, but I didn't find it interesting enough  )  to watch out for. So... there you go....

Rating:  4 Stars

Plot: VERY slow paced. Detailed

Page Turner: Not really.

Continued?: Yes.

Recommended: Yes. I think... ✖‿✖

Book Boyfriend: 15 years old is tooo young for me.

About the Author

Jennifer Nielsen

Official Website ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter ✿ Goodreads

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