Melissa West

Ari is with Jackson on his planet Loge and she’s torn by her attraction to him and her anger at his deceit. But right now they have bigger problems. The planet Loge is dying, the humans on Loge are enslaved and Earth is not willing to help. In this sequel to Gravity, we find Ari trying to save both the humans and those on Loge. She recalls the training she received with her father on earth and with fierce determination, she knows she must take desperate measures to put an end to the cruel show more and tyrannical rule of Zeus on Loge. West’s second installment is as intense as the first, but here the action takes place on Loge instead of Earth. Ari finds Loge is in imminent danger and yet, surprisingly, everyone seems to expect her to save them. This is odd since she’s really no match for Zeus and the advanced aliens of Loge. She is brave and talented but sometimes she’s too headstrong, running into danger without really thinking things through. This impulsiveness and willingness to throw herself into dangerous situations makes her a character that’s at times hard to sympathize with. Jackson on the other hand, is patient and loving despite her antics, and readers should be entranced with his loyalty. Ari is mercurial while Jackson is constant. She knows she is expected to be the one to put an end to Zeus’ rule and she will do whatever it takes, even if it means putting herself in danger. West has all the elements for a riveting book but the plot has too many instances of implausibility. For those who like a cliffhanger ending, this one is sure to keep readers salivating for the next installment. show less

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)

Actual rating: 3.5

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I've only read a few dystopian/post-apocalyptic books - considering it's been the current trend - and Gravity certainly makes a nice addition to my list.

In Ari Alexander's world, humans owed their lives to Ancients - aliens who, apparently, had been on Earth for a long time. After the damage that had been brought by World War IV, these Ancients formed a treaty with show more the humans, and under it, the Ancients would help sustain life on Earth in exchange of a future coexistence because they were having problems with their own planet. However, the Ancients couldn't survive on Earth without the Taking, a process where they get antibodies from humans.

Ari was the daughter of the Commander - practically the second most powerful man in Sydia - and since position was hereditary for the higher-ups in their society, her life had already been planned out for her the moment she'd been born. She was to train physically and mentally, learn the responsibilities she would one day have, and even marry the President's son who was one of her best friends. She didn't love that last bit, but she knew she had to do it. She became what everyone had expected her of being, until she discovered something: Jackson Locke, her biggest rival in Operative training, was the Ancient assigned to her for the Taking.

I love it when females kick ass, so of course I loved Ari. She was like Tris Prior from Divergent, only better at fighting. She was also intelligent and kind-hearted, and it was really fun to see her breaking the rules that she'd been following her whole life. And, like Ari, the whole time, I was also confused as to whose side I should take: the overconfident humans' or the vicious aliens'. Jackson, on the other hand, was mysterious all throughout the story. His identity, plans, and motives were always questionable, and so he was always interesting; quite swoon-worthy, too.

Their romance blossomed faster than I would have expected, though. I mean, sure, Ari found out that Jackson's the Ancient assigned to her and she began working with him in his mission, but to like him in a few days when she'd disliked him for years?

But I did love the world-building. Melissa West wrote a very believable future world: technologically-advanced yet suffering because of humanity's actions. And the aliens! I already believe in aliens, and add to that a Discovery Channel documentary I watched last year about aliens that have been on Earth since prehistoric times, and even the aliens in this book were creepily believable.

And the pace was amazing. I was immediately thrown into action when I started reading this, and I forced myself to put it down on the first "calm" part I got to. Also, the writing was solid and straight-to-the-point.

I love plots that revolve around high stakes - and I can't think of anything higher than planet domination and racial safety - but the ending was a letdown for me. I felt like it ended around twenty pages before it should have. West could've answered the most immediate questions and made me anxious for the sequel, but now I only feel like something's missing.

MY FAVORITE PARTS were the very entertaining Law/Jackson scenes. show less

NOTE: I received the eARC via Netgalley. Many thanks to the Entangled TEEN Team.

Honestly speaking, Gravity did not have me swooning or panting to catch my breath. It was a nice story with nice characters, some adequate sort of action...

But Hover?

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Things have changed. Tremendously. So much that my rating has gone up!

I loved Hover. I loved the writing style, which was flawless and mesmerizing. I loved that there was action and passion and all things pure and holy in a show more world that is progressively dying. I loved how every single movement of a character seemed to be there on purpose.

Most of all, I loved Ari Alexander, who had started to figure out things about herself, about the importance of life, about truth as she knew it. About her own heart and where it may lead her if she'd only let it. Ari isn't the same girl she used to be back on Earth. Oh no. She's slowly transforming into a woman of importance. But not self-importance. We're talking appointed importance. Because people actually look up to her. And it's not that she's seeing exactly what her father was teaching her through all those hard lessons she used to despise so much.

And then there's Jackson. Traitor Jackson. Alien Jackson. Jackson, who is actually the most adorable, loving and caring male specimen in this series. He's endangered his life on numerous occasions in order to protect the people he loves. He's suffered through so much pain, and Zeus's attempts to break him, but has stood up under it all. Until Ari that is. Because she very well may be his undoing.

Things get incredibly complicated as Zeus's plans unravel. But hold your breath because that's not all. What Earth is planning is worse.

Pick up the book and stick around to see exactly what I mean. I assure you, you won't regret it. show less

Miles from Kara by Melissa West
Book #2: Charleston Haven Series
Source: ARC from author
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

**Though you don’t have to read Pieces of Olivia first, I highly recommend doing so.**
The following review is slightly spoilerish

Miles from Kara is the second installment of Melissa West’s Charleston Haven series and in many ways, it picks up where Pieces of Olivia left off. Olivia and Preston are a solid couple now and Kara’s long-distance relationship with Ethan is show more still stressing her out. As the last weeks of her freshman year are winding down, Kara has some decisions to make and in light of her friends’ happiness, those decisions need to be made sooner rather than later. First on the list, finding a way to stay in Charleston for the summer; next on the list, figuring out if her major is really where she wants to be and; finally sorting out her feelings for her boyfriends’ roommate, Colt.

For so long, Kara has been the perky member of the group, the one her friends could count on and, the one who has always known where her life is going. Of the group, Kara has always appeared to be the one the most in control of her life and her future. As the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving and Kara has become a master of deception. When Kara was just sixteen years old she found herself pregnant, very scared and, being forced into an abortion she wasn’t at all sure she wanted. For years, Kara has managed to live her life and conceal from everyone just how guilty and ashamed she feels about her past. The guilt and shame have slowly eaten away at Kara to the point that she is no longer the perky and upbeat member of the group but the surly and snappish member. In an effort to hold it together, Kara continues her relationship with Ethan, finds a job at the campus counselling center and, tries to ignore her feelings for Colt. As you might well imagine, Kara’s past and present are on a collision course in one very, very eventful summer, Kara is forced to deal with everything!

Once she squares away her job and living arrangements for the summer, Kara faces her feelings for Colt and makes what she hopes is a clean break from Ethan. Colt is a bright spot in Kara’s life and as the summer progresses she becomes more and more comfortable with him and with sharing her life with him. Colt is patient and kind (he has a fabulous accent!!) and is completely head over heels for Kara. He understands that her past plagues her and as he sees her present being impacted by her past, he holds on for the ride and does all he can to support Kara. Kara is forced to confront her past and deal with it when she comes into contact with a very young and very pregnant client at the counseling center. Instantly Kara sees herself in the young client and though she knows her actions violate every code and rule of counseling, she dives right in and sees an opportunity to correct the mistakes she made in her own past. Needless to say, the collision of past and present is all kinds of ugly and without Colt, Kara likely won’t survive the wreck.

The Bottom Line: Miles from Kara is yet another emotionally-charged read from Melissa West and a fine follow-up to Pieces of Olivia. Kara is such a unique character: she was quite literally forced into an abortion by her mother, she has no clue if her chosen path in life is right for her and, she has dealt with all of this while walking around with a smile on her face. Kara has always been the rock in her group, the one the others look to for help and support and she has done this gladly while suffering silently. Kara’s strength is her passion for helping and caring for others and in many ways that passion was born out of her terrible, terrible past. Again, appearances can be deceiving and the collision of her past and present initially looks very bad but in the end, is the vehicle for determining her future and finding happiness. Kara is a strong and instantly likeable character and I found myself rooting for her even in her most desperate moments. Once again, West has put together a strong read with a very strong yet damaged female lead that is appealing on every level. In all, I am still quite comfortable recommending this read and the series to others and am looking forward to the next installment of the Charleston Haven series. show less