Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Reign of Shadows {book one} by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Number of Pages: 304 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}:
Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.


But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

She thinks: I love a good fairy tale, especially a good retelling, and this one hits the mark. It seems fairly straight forward, but Sophie Jordan does a brilliant job of retelling the story of Rapunzel with many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. Within the first couple of chapters, you'll question everything you have read so far and then pay extremely close attention to all that happens after. This story is a coming-of-age-after-being-locked-away story and a finding-oneself story. It's beautiful and heartbreaking, and if you're like me, you'll probably close the book at the end, want to cry, but also start imagining a whole mess of theories about what's going to happen in book two...which comes out next month!

Replica by Lauren Oliver

Replica {book one} Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Number of Pages: 520 pages
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Source: Library

Summary {via GoodReads}:
Lyra

From a distance, the Haven Institute, tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida, looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, it is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed.

But when a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape. As they make their way through a new and menacing environment, they meet a stranger named Gemma, who has embarked on a perilous quest of her own. And as Lyra tries to understand Haven’s purpose, she uncovers earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls.

Gemma

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals her whole life. A sickly child, she has grown into a lonely adolescent whose life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April.

But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two human models, or replicas, 24 and 72—and a completely new set of questions. As Gemma tries to unravel the mysteries of Haven, she learnes terrible truths about herself and her family that will threaten to destroy everything she loves.

Two girls, two stories, one novel.


While the stories of Gemma and Lyra mirror each other, each contains revelations critically important to the other story. Their narratives can be read separately or in alternating chapters.

She thinks: This book is mind-blowing! Like...whaaaaaat? Of course, I'm a huge Lauren Oliver fan so I'm not too surprised I loved this book. Her Delirium series is one of my Top Ten favorites, for sure.

I chose to read Replica as two separate stories; I read Lyra's story first and then Gemma's. Usually with books, I'm fairly good at predicting what's going to happen {also known as ruining a book for myself}, but I didn't have that problem with this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. And, honestly, having to stop reading because of my lunch break was haaarrrrrddddd.

If you're a fan of books like Divergent and Maze Runner, then I highly recommend reading this!