[Review] Our Broken Sky by Sarah Harian

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Title: Our Broken Sky
Series: Chaos Theory #1.5

Author: Sarah Harian [ Facebook | Twitter | Website]

Publisher: Penguin/InterMix

Genre: New Adult Fiction - Science Fiction, Dystopia, Romance [violence and sexual content]

Release Date: August 19, 2014

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.

Valerie has always been different from her identical twin Veda. Tattooed, fiery, and foul-mouthed, Valerie acts on instinct, getting even with anyone who wrongs her passive and sensitive sister.

At twenty-two, Veda doesn’t want to seek revenge against the three young men who raped her. As for Val…

Val never could manage her anger well.

As far as Val sees it, the Compass Room is simply a quicker way for her to die—payment for the crime she feels no guilt over. There isn’t a reason to fight, not until a girl as broken as she is reminds Val of what it’s like to hope… - via Goodreads

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Continuing with Harian's gritty prose Our Broken Sky dives into the backstory of Val exposing her family, her loves, her crime and the aftermath in the process. As a series novella the storyline is quick and fast paced, avoiding content that is present in book one, The Wicked We Have Done, to deliver fresh storytelling. Val is an amazingly strong character whose voice is as raw and gritty as her personality. The moments where she really shines are connected to her extreme emotions of lust, anger, guilt and hope. Similar with TWWHD the scenes are intense, emotional and without filler. Celebrating the romantic side of the New Adult genre, Harian leaves the reader with super steamy scenes while incorporating much appreciated diversity. 

Why I'm desperately waiting for the next book...

I tend to be skeptical about novellas and the value of their content. However, this really hit the mark by adding new and relevant content that parallels the original story. The downside is that it would be really hard to pick this up without having read book one to fill in holes and provide context. The upside is you get 90 pages of action and information which add more depth to TWWHD. Random shout out for looking at lesbian and interracial relationships! 

I don't read my NA for various reasons but mostly because I feel like it's branded itself as an extension of the romance genre. I find the Chaos Theory series refreshing because there's a balance between exciting storylines/plot points, (super steamy) romance and character development. 

 A Vault of Sins comes out September 16!

Check out my review of The Wicked We Have Done!

3.5 Stars

[Mid-Week Read] Just One Night by Gayle Forman

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories, graphic novels and anything in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

Buy on Amazon for 99 cents!

Title: Just One Night

Series: Just One Day #2.5, 40 pages

Author: Gayle Forman [Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Website]

Publisher: Viking Children's Books an imprint of Penguin

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 29, 2014

Format: personal copy – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

After spending one life-changing day in Paris with laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter, sheltered American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey discovered her new lover had disappeared without a trace. Just One Day followed Allyson’s quest to reunite with Willem; Just One Year chronicled the pair’s year apart from Willem’s perspective. Now, back together at last, this delectable e-novella reveals the couple’s final chapter.

General  thoughts:

Taking place when Willem open the door to see Allison and concluding after only one night together we learn about their respective adventures, missed connections and steamy love for each other. 

Oh Willem, I've missed you. One thing about Gayle's writing is that the duologies have always been told from the female's POV first and then the male's in the second book. This novella is told in third person and I'm not sure that I like it, but I do see the necessity. All the inner dialogue which carries the drama and humor is lost, instead we must rely on body language and speaking dialogue which falls flat in places. If anything, we learn never to assume you know the situation. Even if it unfolding in front of you. Missed connections will happen, but so do coincidences, and happy ones at that.

Does it add the story?

Not really, Just One Day and Just One Year filled in their respective gaps and the endings give us closure. However, this novella continues on to set up a more comfortable happily ever after with Allyson and Willem living in the same place. Maybe. Probably. 

3 Stars: While I love a vague ending, this is the happy ending that readers were waiting for. 

[Mid-Week Reads] The Blue-Haired Boy by Courtney C. Stevens

Mid-Week Reads will focus on novellas, short stories and those in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

Buy ebook on Amazon for 99 cents!

Title: The Blue-Haired Boy

Author: Courtney C. Stevens (Twitter, Blog)

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Format: ebook novella

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Set before the events of Courtney C. Stevens's debut novel, Faking Normal, this digital short story focuses on Bodee Lennox, otherwise known as the Kool-Aid Kid.

Bodee Lennox has secrets. About where he got the four-inch scar on his leg. About the bruises on his back. About what it's really like to live in the Lennox household. These are things he doesn't share with anyone . . . until he meets Gerry, a girl with bright-green hair and a smile the size of Alaska. When Gerry falls out of a bus in Rickman, Tennessee, and lands at Bodee's feet, she gives Bodee two things he desperately needs: a friend and a chance to leave Rickman behind, even if it's just for a few hours.

He joins Gerry on her epic bus trip for as far as his money will take him. And by the end of the day, more of Bodee has changed than just the color of his hair.

Courtney C. Stevens gives the readers a taste of Bodee's story prior to Faking Normal. While the novella is so short it hurts, it is beautifully crafted to answer two key questions I had about Bodee after reading Faking Normal. The biggest being, Why Kool-Aid?, and the second I wouldn't dare to spoil. The ending was bittersweet, but left me with peace and closure since I know what's to come as Bodee grows. 

Read my review of Faking Normal here.

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