Review- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In his twisty, gritty, profoundly moving debut—called “mandatory reading” by the New York Times—Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx.

In the months after his father's suicide, it's been tough for 16-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again--but he's still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he's slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely. 

When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron's crew notices, and they're not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can't deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is. 

Why does happiness have to be so hard?

Release date: 2nd June 2015

Published by: Soho Teen

Page numbers: 293

REVIEW:

"I want to be so happy that bad memories aren't following me around like unwanted shadows." 

What do I say about More Happy Than Not? The book once showed up on my Goodreads page and there was just something about it that made me want to read it, and I am so happy I did. This is one of those books that makes you smile and leaves you crying. I cannot put into words how deep and dazzling this book is. There is definitely more to it than what meets the eye, and that can only be understood when one reads the book. 

For a very brief time in his seventeen years, Aaron Soto assumes that his idea of happiness is possible in this chaotic and objectionable world, until he comes home one day to find his father in the bathtub full of blood from the cuts and slits on his wrists. Since then, Aaron is haunted by the rather gruesome and chilling scene that no child should ever see. Thinking that he is the reason why his father killed himself, Aaron starts presuming that he is no good. 

More Happy Than Not isn't just about Aaron assuming the worst of himself because of what he has seen, but also because of who he is. He was such a gem of a person and a wonderful character to read about. In spite of his own perception, in my eyes, he didn't have any flaws because he was always so true and genuine. His troubles and issues were extremely well done and so well portrayed that they made me want to cry and hug Aaron and never let him go. He was unforgettable and beautiful.  

For me, this book was basically Becky Albertalli's Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and David Levithan's Two Boys Kissing put together. Seeing as I loved these two, there is no reason I can pinpoint as to why I didn't love More Happy Than Not. Seriously, this book. This book is so fun and beautiful. Author Adam Silvera has written and shared an incredible story that tells us about the struggles of people who aren't accepted as they are by society and who only wish to fit in, when really, they are beautifully unique just as they are. 

Buy the book: AMAZON / FLIPKART

Review- The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer by Laxmi Hariharan

Goodreads Summary:

When her best friend is kidnapped, Ruby will stop at nothing to rescue him. 

Criminals run the streets of Bombay. Jam-packed with the worst degenerates. The city is a shell of the pride and joy it used to be. 

Ruby knows something must be done, but it isn’t until her best friend is kidnapped by the despotic Dr. Braganza that she knows that she and she alone must save city, save her best friend, save the world from total destruction. 

Armed only with with Vikram, a cop-turned-rogue they are about to embark on a road they may never return from. 

If you’re looking for fast-paced books like Hunger Games or dystopia fiction like Angelfall, the Ruby Iyer series is perfect for you. 

Ruby Iyer series: 

Ruby Iyer Diaries (Ruby Iyer Series #0.0 Companion novelette to The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer (Ruby Iyer #0.5)

REVIEW:

What I enjoyed most about The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer is the fact that the book centres around a kickass female protagonist. Although difficult to relate to and immature at times, Ruby Iyer was definitely a fresh change from the typical damsels in distress. Getting into her head got on my nerves sometimes, but it was amusing to read from her point of view. She and her love interest, Vikram Roy made for a very cool and new age couple, which was awesome. 

While I wasn't a 100% into the story as it didn't keep me as gripped and interested as I would have liked, it was still really good to imagine the city of dreams collapse and go from being hero to zero. Bombay was really well portrayed by author Laxmi Hariharan, who made it easy even for a person like me who isn't a frequent Bombay visitor, to imagine everything perfectly. Also, I found it so hard to even think of the same happening in reality because even though I am not the biggest fan of the city, even I know that Bombay is Bombay. 

Another really impressive part was the subtle combination of dystopian and fantasy that Laxmi nailed. It was fascinating on the one hand, to read the slight mythological references and on the other hand, the very futuristic aspirations that the villain, Dr. Braganza has for Bombay. I'm not sure if that was the intention of the author, but the two aspects stood out and made for a good combination. 

All the other characters were very well done as well. It's still confusing for me as to exactly where the story is headed and what the villain really wants, but I sure as hell am curious to know more. I just hope I get all the answers in the next instalment and the other books to come in the series. Overall, The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer was an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend to fans of dystopian who want something different in the genre. 

*A copy of The Many Lives by Laxmi Iyer was provided by the author and Read Out Loud in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book. 

RATING: 

Review- Divergent by Veronica Roth

Goodreads Summary: 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

REVIEW: 

I had been wanting to read Divergent since a very long time, especially because practically every review I read for it has been a four or five stars one. Besides, after The Hunger Games, followed steadily by a few not so extraordinary stories, I hadn't read any solid dystopian. And can I just say that Divergent was the perfect choice to get back into a genre that tends to leave me feeling depressed and helpless half the time. Also, the other main reason why I read this book is because the Divergent movie is coming out soon, which I cannot wait to watch. While I agree with almost every positive aspect of the book that has been pointed out before, I still feel it's necessary to express it. But that obviously doesn't mean I loved everything about the book, as we shall see. 

What I appreciate the most about author Veronica Roth is her deep and detailed description of the post-apocalyptic world in Divergent. Dystopians usually confuse me with their functioning, but that was never a problem here. There were times when it seemed like the book wouldn't end because it did tend to get too deep. The amount of time it took me to finish the book had me afraid of going into a reading slump. Other than a precise and clear view of each of the five factions, there was also a meticulous world-building. Besides these two points, I found that there were the regular ingredients that go into making a  delectable dystopian. Kick ass heroine- check. Smart, sensible and steady hero- check. Strong and supporting family- check. Sweet friends- check. Nasty enemies- check. Sleazy government- check. Sensible scientific discoveries- check. All these and much more went into making Divergent an extremely great read. Beatrice or Tris and Tobias or Four obviously stood out throughout the length of the book. 

Aside from what I have already said, the other positive that I actually ended up admiring in Divergent is the nature of the dystopian world described. We all know that it isn't easy to live there and we all know what the consequence will be. And Divergent has that consequence. And I deeply, deeply, deeply admired that. While I couldn't really connect to the story emotionally and it wasn't anything extraordinary for me, Veronica Roth's writing which goes from Tris' point of view in first person, is simply smacking. It's clean, clear and precise and that in itself is enough in making a reader connect with a book. I have no idea if I will be continuing with the series anytime soon, but I sure as hell am curious to read both Insurgent and Allegiant. I am interested in knowing what's in store from here. 

RATING: 

Author Interview + Giveaway- The Prophecy of Trivine

Hey guys!

Today we have with us Tnahsin, Pulkit and Srivatsan who are the authors of The Prophecy of Trivine. Let us see a little bit about the book and then we can head on to the interview :) There's also a super cool giveaway at the end.

Summary-

An emissary of an advanced alien race travels to the Earth to undertake responsibility of an experiment that has gone out of control. The outcome of this fateful experiment, which was conceived millions of years ago by her species, now rests in her hands. As she prepares to deliver her final judgment, she comes across three young men in a sacred forest who change her life forever. 

These three men- a scientist, a hacker and an artist, happen to take refuge in that forest, trying to escape from the oddities of their own unfair lives. Struggling with their dreams and demons, they begin to explore the dark and paranormal behavior of the forest by forging a companionship. From the rare flora and fauna breathing alive on the ground to the deadly wide expanse of the whimsy black sky, everything they find is yet another puzzle unsolved. 

Little did they know that four of them hold in their hands the future of mankind and much beyond imagination, they are connected through an ancient Prophecy that was long lost in the sands of time.

There is also a book trailer which goes with it:

Book links:

Goodreads / Facebook / Website

Buy the book:

Amazon US /  Amazon India  / Bookadda  / Infibeam  / Flipkart  / HomeShop18

AUTHORS:

The Prophecy of Trivine was written jointly by three friends, who were once together in college, and are now pursuing their lives & careers in distant corners of the world. But they still share the common passion of writing.

​

​They have come a long way, from the summer of 2010 when it all began, to the beginning of 2014 when the book will be in hands of friends. 

Pulkit Gupta

Pulkit is a Computer Science professional who completed his Bachelors in Engineering from Thapar University, India in 2011. He has been an avid reader and an enthusiastic writer since his childhood days. He maintains a number of blogs which are in various stages of decay, but his most recent short story work can be found on his recently createdblog:
 

He currently works as a Technology Analyst at Goldman Sachs, Bangalore

Srivatsan Sridharan

Srivatsan is a Computer Scientist, who recently graduated with a Masters degree from Purdue University in the United States. He completed his Bachelors in Engineering from Thapar University, India in 2010. Along with computers, he is extremely passionate about writing. Most of his artistic ideas have taken shape in the form of short stories, speeches, travelogues, and essays. Some of them can be found in hisblog:
 

He currently works as a Software Engineer at Yelp, Inc. in San Francisco, California.

Tnahsin Garg​

Tnahsin was born and brought up in India where he got a Bachelor's degree in engineering. After that he travelled to United States in search of higher education and adventure, and ended up getting a Master's degree in 2012.  When tired of his scientific pursuits, he's often found scribbling something unintelligible on some decayed corner of the Internet. He does have a neglected blog for those who like clicking around in curiosity. 

He is currently pursuing a PhD in applied sciences in Northern Europe. 

INTERVIEW:

1.Tell us a little bit about yourself.

We’re writers who were unfortunate enough to end up in engineering colleges, but fortunate enough to meet each other and dream up a story together. While there’s certainly loads of money up for grabs in building real worlds, the allure of building imaginary worlds is irresistible.

2.Tell us about your book, The Prophecy of Trivine.

"The Prophecy of Trivine" is a sci-fi/fantasy adventure novel set in a mystical forest in the foothills of the Himalayas, where three young men, a scientist, a computer hacker and an artist seek refuge, gripped by their life’s own dreams and demons. As they explore the dark and paranormal nature of the forest, they find themselves inextricably connected to an ancient Prophecy that was foretold millions of years ago. More can be found at www.theprophecyoftrivine.com

3.How did the three of y’all come together to write The Prophecy of Trivine?

Our common love for all things literary brought us together as we tried to bolster the literary society at Thapar University. And one fine day, over a cup of chai at the cafeteria, a random rant about the origin of the universe blossomed into a concept that later became the The Prophecy of Trivine.

4.What kind of research went behind The Prophecy of Trivine?

The research topics sprawled from carcinogenic chemicals to exotic flowers, from astronomical technicalities to ethical hacking, and humanitarian issues to habits of werewolves.  So, yes, we spent a lot of time on wikipedia. 

5.What was the most difficult part in writing and publishing The Prophecy of Trivine?

Because we were geographically separated for most of the project, it was a big challenge to work together and come up with a coherent manuscript. Picture moody writers hurling abuses at each other, one pining for his morning coffee, and the other with sleep in his eyes after a long day. It was as fun as it sounds though! Also, what they say about first time authors struggling to get published - it’s truer than you would believe! 

6.Why do you think readers should pick up The Prophecy of Trivine?

Given that the Indian fiction market is saturated with badly-written-cheesy romances and well-researched-but-boring rehashed mythologies, we thought it’s high time we introduced something worth reading and remembering. Hence, this fresh attempt at Indian Science Fiction & Fantasy.  Besides, initial reviews say that it’s a thrilling page-turner. We do not disagree. :)

7.What are the three things you would want to have with you on a deserted island?

Pulkit - I guess internet is out of the question, so a book (or fifty), a notebook, and a cache of pirates’ rum!

Tnahsin - I’ll just take a magic lamp, you know the one which pops out a genie thingy.

Srivatsan - Sanity, curiosity and Sir William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

8.If you could read one book for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Srivatsan - The Great Gatsby

Tnahsin - The complete collection of Shakespeare (yes, there’s a fat collectible book out there!)

Pulkit - The Catcher In The Rye

9.Who are your favorite authors and why?

Pulkit - George RR Martin, for telling an intricate and complicated story convincingly well, JK Rowling, for lighting up my childhood, and RL Stine, for inspiring me to write (I’m not being completely serious about the last one).

Srivatsan - Ooh, that’s a toughie. I think I’ll go with Michael Crichton, for his exceptionally vivid imagination and consistent performance in making far-fetched technologies seem amazingly real. (And yes, JK Rowling of course, for having made my childhood the best childhood ever!)

Tnahsin - There are so many to list here. But the ones that come immediately to my mind are Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Rushdie, Wilde...and the list goes on.  Don’t ask me why. We should really talk about this some other time, over coffee? ;)

10.Any advice you would like to give to aspiring authors?

For a start, there’s a book by Stephen King called ‘On Writing’ and another one called ‘Ernest Hemingway on Writing’. That ought to do. 

Thank you so much Pulkit, Srivatsan and Tnahsin!

GIVEAWAY:

These guys have been generous enough to offer up TWO copies of The Prophecy of Trivine to two lucky Indian readers. So go forth and enter!

May the odds be ever in your favor! :)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's it guys. Hope you enjoyed the interview.

Happy reading! :)

Review- Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads Summary: 

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Shatter Me series: 

My review of Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

My review of Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5)

My review of Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)

My review of Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5)

REVIEW:

Ignite Me was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases of 2014 and Tahereh Mafi's simple hope, as stated in the Acknowledgements, for this being a worthy conclusion to the Shatter Me trilogy for the readers may or may not have come true. It's always sad to say goodbye to a series that has been so terrifying and beautiful. A series that's been a mind blowing journey with the amazing and wonderful protagonists and the deadly and painful antagonists. And a series that's made my mind go from left to right to centre in a matter of a few words, lines and books.

What I admired and loved the most about Ignite Me was the development of the characters from Shatter Me to Destroy Me to Unravel Me (which is clearly my favourite now) to Fracture Me to finally, Ignite Me. Juliette went from being a depressed, outcast, lonely, sad and confused girl to this action-packed and kick-ass heroine, who took control of everything and did a great job at it, even though she seemed naive, confused and silly. I cannot even express how much I love Adam and Warner. Adam, albeit stupid, is sweet and sensitive. Warner is so suave, sexy and smart and he had so much of page space in this book which was exciting to see.  Adam's younger brother James has always been a sweetheart. The one person who stood out the most for me, however, was Kenji. Besides being funny and entertaining, he's a brave soldier who has his ups and downs and climbs and falls and who stays determined and keeps rocking no matter what. 

There really isn't anything I haven't said about how much I love all the books in the series to the point that I don't have anything left to say right now except that I liked this book but I really wish it had more. While I did like how everything fell into place, when I contemplate over it practically, when it comes to dystopians, government, politics and power, the question never really is about what's going on but it's all about what next, and unfortunately, Ignite Me didn't take up the latter, and I can't believe I'm saying this since I prefer open endings over concrete ones, but like I said, practicality took over me. And personally, I feel that deaths make dystopians, dystopians, which was clearly a missing factor here and it disappointed me slightly. In spite of the beautiful writing, I felt that it was rushed and finished for the sake of it. 

Tahereh Mafi has written, like she always does, a brilliant book but for some reason, it wasn't as good as the first two books and the novella in between them. I was expecting an epic conclusion with lots of breakdowns and haphazardness but maybe that’s where I’m wrong. Maybe I expected too much. I don’t even care what Team I’m on right now. Nonetheless, this is definitely a series that’s going to be remembered forever simply for its emotional manipulation (thanks for that term, Janhvi), the hassle the Teams created and the beautiful writing. 

RATING:

Review- Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads Summary:

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Timesbestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu.

Shatter me Series:

My review of Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

My review of Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5)
My review of Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2.5)

REVIEW:

Fracture Me is a novella from Adam Kent's point of view in the Shatter Me series that falls between book #2 Unravel Me and the final installment in the trilogy, Ignite Me. Before I get onto anything, let me just clarify that I am Team Warner. That's the reason why I wasn't as excited about Fracture Me as Team Adam members or as in between about it as readers who can't decide what Team to join. But what I can say is that I hoped this novella would be drastic like Destroy Me, but but but... it wasn't. 

Many readers have not liked Fracture Me as much as they would have loved to like it and I can completely understand why. This book isn't how and what Tahereh Mafi usually writes. I get that. And I also get that Adam seemed really stupid at times for not going after the love of his life the way any sane person probably would, especially since he seemed crazy in love with Juliet in the first book. 

“Losing a parent is excruciating, but somehow, the pain is so much different from losing a child. And James, to me, in many ways, feels like my own kid. I raised him. Took care of him. Protected him. Fed him and clothed him. Taught him most everything he knows. He’s my only hope in all this devastation- the one thing I’ve always lived for, always fought for. I’d be lost without him.

James gives my life purpose.”

In my most sincere and humble opinion, what Adam does is actually really amazing. As a sensible person, he does exactly what is expected of him- he puts family before anything and anyone else and I cannot express how much I admire him for that. It was so good and highly refreshing to see Adam dedicate his life to the safety of his little brother James. Yes, Adam did seem stupid sometimes, but he has responsibilities and come to think of it, a dystopian world is very well capable of making someone mad so I understand Adam.

For such a short read, Fracture Me isn't a five star read like all the other books in the series and it isn't even much content wise, but it was very good whatever it was and I love this series so much. This book has made me respect Adam and at the same time, it has made me realise why I am all for Warner winning the girl in the first place. Adam has a life besides Juliet and he will be happy without Juliet; I know that. 

RATING: 

Review- The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Summary-

An all-new, edge-of-your seat adventure from James Dashner, the author of the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series, The Eye of Mindsis the first book in The Mortality Doctrine, a series set in a world of hyperadvanced technology, cyberterrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams . . . and your worst nightmares.

Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it’s addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he’s holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific—the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer’s motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.
And they’ve been watching Michael. They want him on their team.
But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can’t even fathom—and there’s the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.

Review-

I have heard a lot about James Dashner's Maze Runner series so when I got a chance to read The Eye of Minds I jumped on it. The Eye of Minds was definitely a unique read. It is set in a world where the VirtNet exists and technology and gamers are all that matters. 

Michael is a gamer. He is an expert in the codes which exist in the VirtNet and is addicted to the thrill which he gets out of it. Even if its not real is pretty damn close to it. The more hacking skills you have the more fun you can have. I liked Michael. He was a typical sixteen year old guy, completely into the VirtNet just looking for his next adventure.

But there are rumors spreading about people disappearing in the VirtNet. A gamer is holding them hostage and they are all being declared brain dead in the real world. So the government hires Michael and his two friends Sarah and Bryson to find out the hacker. I really liked Sarah and Bryson. They were all great friends who always had each others backs.

They Eye of Minds is filled with Michael and his friends adventures to find the hacker in the VirtNet. They go through a series of levels and soon the game becomes more dangerous than any one of them could have imagined. I can see how all this could appeal to a hard core science fiction reader. I liked it to an extent but I can't say I was amazed by the character building.

James Dashner definitely has amazing world building skills. Each level or mission the teenagers were on had a unique setting. I could clearly imagine what was happening, the description was so vivid. I loved the twist we got in the end. It kinda changed the whole game. The Eye of Minds was a good read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Random House India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi

Goodreads Summary:

Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital—and more brutal—than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Under the Never Sky series: 

My review of Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1)

REVIEW:

Roar and Liv is actually a prequel to author Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky series, but I think that because it came out after the first book's release, everyone read it as a 1.5 instead of a 0.5 novella. I am explaining this because when I started reading it, I had no idea as to what was happening and why it was happening since the way Under the Never Sky ended, Roar and Liv could just not have what it had. Then I saw that it was 0.5, my brain went into putting two and two together and the story made absolute sense and turned out to be an even more amazing read, albeit short, than Under the Never Sky. 
There were a lot of side characters in Under the Never Sky  Even though each of them was important in their own way and well portrayed by author Veronica Rossi, I was deeply engrossed in the interaction and chemistry between the protagonists, Aria and Peregrine. 
Once I started reading Roar and Liv, I found that Roar is simply amazing. His point of view, which lasts throughout the book, was just as amazing as him. His thoughts were so good that they made me like him even more. Author Veronica Rossi has put down Roar's view beautifully.  
Roar and his grandmother go to Peregrine's father, Jodan, who gives the two food and shelter and Roar two best friends. Roar, Liv and Peregrine know each other since childhood. Roar and Peregrine's friendship is strong, fun and loyal making Roar seem like more of a brother to Peregrine than his real brother, Vale. Roar feels a deep attraction towards Liv which turns into a sweet love. But where there is love, there are tons and heaps of problems. I always enjoy forbidden, behind the scenes and heartbreaking romances and Roar and Liv's was just the same. 
Overall, Roar and Liv was an amazing novella that ended unhappily which I love but with the promise of more to come. I absolutely enjoyed this one. 

RATING: