BOOK REVIEW: SPARK by AMY KATHLEEN RYAN

Title:  SPARK (Sky Chasers #2)
Author:  AMY KATHLEEN RYAN

Publisher:  St Martin's Griffin
Pages:  Hardcover - 309

RATING:  4 STAR SABOTAGE!!

Goodreads Description:

 Waverly and Kieran are finally reunited on the Empyrean. Kieran has led the boys safely up to this point, and now that the girls are back, their mission seems slightly less impossible: to chase down the New Horizon, and save their parents from the enemy ship. But nothing is truly as it seems…Kieran’s leadership methods have raised Seth’s hackles— and Waverly’s suspicions. Is this really her fiancé? The handsome, loving boy she was torn from just a short time before? More and more, she finds her thoughts aligned with Seth’s. But if Seth is Kieran’s Enemy No. 1, what does that make her?

In one night, a strange explosion rocks the Empyrean—shooting them off course and delaying their pursuit of the New Horizon—and Seth is mysteriously released from the brig. Seth is the most obvious suspect for the explosion, and Waverly the most obvious suspect for releasing him. As the tension reaches a boiling point, will Seth be able to find the true culprit before Kieran locks them both away—or worse? Will Waverly follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? With the balance of power precarious and the clock ticking, every decision counts… every step brings them closer to a new beginning, or a sudden end...

 MARISSA'S REVIEW:

The second in the Sky Chasers series, Spark has you second guessing just who the good guys (or spaceships!) are. Glow introduced us to the many and varied characters aboard the Empyrean and the New Horizon. In Spark, these teen characters are forced into an environment that tests their abilities both physically and mentally - and will definitely alter your own perception of individuals. 

I had a dislike towards Kieran in Glow....and by the midway of Spark - I despised him. Urrgh....I have honestly never felt such hatred towards a lead character in my reading years!!!

The struggle for power on the Empyrean continues to battle - Kieran, Seth and Waverly all playing pivotal roles. Waverly becomes stronger, independent and a thorn in Keiran's side.  

There are moments throughout the book that I had to remind myself that these are kids and teens running the ship. Each and every one of them stepped up to take on roles most barely new existed.

 

Throw into the mix a possible stow-away set on destroying the spaceship from the inside and we have an action packed, suspense filled sequel.

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BOOK REVIEW: GLOW by AMY KATHLEEN RYAN

Title:  GLOW (Sky Chasers #1)
Author:  AMY KATHLEEN RYAN

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Pages/Format:  ARC paperback from publisher, 385 pages

Genre: YA Sci-Fi


RATING:  4 NEW EARTH STARS (HIDDEN IN THE NEBULA!)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

Glow is the most riveting series debut since The Hunger Games, and promises to thrill and challenge readers of all ages.

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

A sci-fi tale set to draw-in the YA world and take it on a journey of survival, self-discovery and love.  

Glow introduces us into the world that exists on-board the Empyrean - the space vessel taking people set to be the inhabitants of a New Earth.  Earth as we know it is spiraling out of control and will cease to exist in the not too distant future. 

The Empyrean  has a sister ship, New Horizon. The occupants of the New Horizon have their own mission - sabotage the Empyrean and take the girls.....you see no-one on the New Horizon can reproduce, yet the people of Empyrean have been successfully creating new families for many years.  What could possibly have caused this devastating outcome for the New Horizon?

With the attack and removal/demise of most girls and adults, the boys of the Empyrean are left to run a the ship and simultaneously embark on a new mission of their own to rescue the girls and adults being held captive on board the New Horizon.  They are all fighting for the same outcome...only fighting amongst themselves is inevitable.  Alliances are tested as two struggle for power.

Whilst the boys are head to head on the Empyrean, Waverley must take charge and lead the girls being held captive on the New Horizon.  Can Waverley step up and be the strong young woman she is required to be?   She needs to lead the young girls plus mount a rescue mission of her own.....and why not throw in an escape plan as well?!  Waverley discovers she will do anything to save the ones she loves....but can she kill another person that gets in the way?

I have held on to Glow for a few months now - I started reading it quite a while ago but my head just wasn't in the sci-fi space at the time. So back on the shelf it went.  When I was offered Spark (Sky Chasers #2) to review - I knew I had to pick up Glow and give it a chance.  And I sure am glad I did.  The characters are great - they evolve constantly throughout the book to suit the environment and perils they are faced with.   Yes the odd character needed a darn good slapping - I for one am not a fan of the male lead Keiren Alden.  He's just to "by the book" for me! But in saying that, Amy Kathleen Ryan wrote him very well.

At this stage I am team Seth - the bad boy rivaling Keiren for not only the captain's position.....but also Waverley's heart.

ENJOY!

MARISSA