The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber

Title: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow (The Evapo-ration of Sofi Snow #1)
Author: Mary Weber
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 6th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofi's dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth's corporations rule in place of governments and the human-oid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earth's Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofi's the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And she's convinced he's been taken to the ice-planet.

Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.

For Miguel, Earth's charming young playboy, the games are of a different sort. As Ambas-sador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight's bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he's a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.

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The Evaporation of Sofi Snow is a fast paced Sci-fi that combines Aliens, Gaming and Mystery. What could be better than that. Once you start reading it’s hard to stop.

Sometimes you will find that Sci-fi stories have moments where they drag. It’s often because there are a lot of things that need to be explained and be part of the book in order to get you to the end game. The Evaporation of Sofi Snow never has that lag time. Every minute is interesting and is constantly moving. The first scenes revolve around a game arena and even though I enjoy gaming. I don’t always enjoy reading a game scene in a book. I think the fact that there are two POVs makes it very interesting. It keeps the story moving because you don’t have to try to guess the other main characters thoughts.

I loved Sofi! She is a great character because she is a no nonsense girl. Plus she is a master hacker! I love any girl character that knows her way around the net and give arrogant boys a run for their money. She always has her headphones with her to clear her thoughts by listening to music. She also has a very strong bond with her brother Shiloh. Who she has made it her life mission to protect.

We have Miguel who is also a great character and counterpart to Sofi. He has to wear his mask as he plays politics. He has a deeper goal in mind for the Delonese (aliens) but that is something that is uncovered as we move through the book.

Although Sofi and Miguel have had a past relationship and still care for eachother. The book really doesn’t focus on romance that much. There is a little but it doesn’t take away from the main story which is discovering more about the Delonese and what happened to Shiloh.

I don’t want to give anything away about the plot so I won’t even talk about it. It has a lot to deal with politics as the world is run by corporations. Ya scary right. It also has a lot to do with the Aliens (Delonese) and what does doing right for the greater good really mean. I thought there were a few things explored that can get you thinking.

Crap that ending!! I need the second book as soon as possible and I can’t wait to read it. This is definitely a book you want to pick up and if you are a little more hesitant with Sci-Fi. The pacing of this book is perfect for you. It’s a good one to try the genre out with.

Just a side note. Mary Weber also wrote the Storm Siren series, which is another series I love.


Okay so when I was making the playlist for this book I kind of struggled. Sofi listens to something called Funk Pop and I have no idea what that is. So I tried looking it up and finding songs that might go with it. Even trying to find radio stations for it. So I ended up mixing up some songs that I found interesting that might play in Sofi's ear. Maybe not. Definitely ones I felt like went with the story. The first song on the list I don't know what they are saying but I really liked the beat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Weber is the multiple-award-winning author of the bestselling young adult Storm Siren Trilogy, and The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series (all by HarperCollins). An avid high school, middle school, and conference speaker, Mary's passion is helping others find their voice amid a world that often feels too loud. When she's not plotting adventures involving tough girls who fre-quently take over the world, Mary sings 80's hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Comic-Con, and the ocean.

Mary's debut, Storm Siren, was featured in the Scholastic School Book Fairs, and her novels have been endorsed by bestselling authors Marissa Meyer, Jay Asher, Wendy Higgins, CJ Redwine, and Jonathan Maberry.

You can also find Mary's fun interviews in the paperback of Marissa Meyer's NYT bestselling, CRESS, and in Jay Asher's 13 REASONS WHY movie tie-in edition. Most recently, you can see her and her family as extras in the NETFLIX Original Series, 13 REASONS WHY.

She gets nerdy at @maryweber.com, FACEBOOK @MaryWeberAuthor, IN-STAGRAM @MaryWeberAuthor, TWITTER @mchristineweber, and GOOD-READS. Come say hi!!

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The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody

Title: The Chaos of Standing Still
Author: Jessica Brody
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: November 28th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Over the course of one chaotic night stranded at the Denver airport, Ryn con-fronts her shattered past thanks to the charm of romance, the uniqueness of strangers, and the magic of ordinary places in this stunning novel from the au-thor of Boys of Summer.

Ryn has one unread text message on her phone. And it’s been there for almost a year.

She hasn’t tried to read it. She can’t. She won’t. Because that one message is the last thing her best friend ever said to her before she died.

But as Ryn finds herself trapped in the Denver International Airport on New Year’s Eve thanks to a never-ending blizzard on the one-year anniversary of her best friend’s death, fate literally runs into her.

And his name is Xander.

When the two accidentally swap phones, Ryn and Xander are thrust into the chaos of an unforgettable all-night adventure, filled with charming and mysteri-ous strangers, a secret New Year’s Eve bash, and a possible Illuminati conspira-cy hidden within the Denver airport. But as the bizarre night continues, all Ryn can think about is that one unread text message. It follows her wherever she goes, because Ryn can’t get her brialliantly wild and free-spirited best friend out of her head.

Ryn can’t move on.

But tonight, for the first time ever, she’s trying. And maybe that’s a start.

As moving as it is funny, The Chaos of Standing Still is a heartwarming story about the earth-shattering challenges life throws at us—and the unexpected strangers who help us along the way.

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The Chaos of Standing Still is an interesting contemporary by Jessica Brody. It deals with a teenager who is not only struggling to deal with grief but is also experiencing survivor's guilt. She has lost someone that she considers the better half of herself so she is stuck in this cyclone of emotions she can’t find a way out of.

I loved the setting of the book. Ryn is trying to get home and his flying a cheapo airline which makes stops in Denver. She ends up stranded at the airport due to a snowstorm that has completely shut down not only the planes, but the entire area. While I was reading I actually looked up things about the airport. I’ve been there before but Brody does such a great job of describing different things about it. Especially the artwork that I didn’t even notice in the times I’ve passed through there. (only on connecting flights). I loved how she made the airport come to life in my mind

I actually read an adult book where the main character was dealing with the grief in a similar way to Ryn. By that I mean the way she chooses to keep Lottie alive. The thing that is interesting is that being in her head you start to understand how she sees things this way. I really like that we learn more about Lottie and Ryn by the flashbacks she has. You see how Ryn really felt like she needed to take care of Lottie, it’s almost like that gave her a purpose and once Lottie is gone. She can’t find her place anymore, she doesn’t really understand where she belongs in the world. I think that also influences the guilt she feels because she doesn’t see herself as being someone who is worth anything on her own. She needs to figure out who this new Ryn is and she doesn’t really want to.

Xander is such a fun guy and even though he has his own things going. I like the way that he doesn’t just leave Ryn. He was just cute all around.

I love the other characters in the story as well. The various people they meet at the airport who have their own stories as well. It made the book fun, even though it deals with a heavier issue. Also it kept me drawn in. I felt like there was always something interesting going on.

I love a YA romance that reminds me of my own high school experience. I felt like this one gave me the same feels and it was easy to get on board with the cuteness of it. Of course it’s not perfect, Ryn is still dealing with some heavy stuff. I like the way Xander and Ryn come together and at times think they are going their separate ways but end up in the same place again.

I really enjoyed The Chaos of Standing Still. I loved Jessica Brody’s writing, she is able to keep a story interesting and moving. I liked the characters and setting. Of course this is the perfect time of year to read it with New Year’s just around the corner.

Jessica Brody knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started self “publishing” her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples, and electrical tape.

After graduating from Smith College in 2001 where she double majored in Economics and French and minored in Japanese, Jessica later went on to work for MGM Studios as a Manager of Acquisitions and Business Development. In May of 2005, Jessica quit her job to follow her dream of becoming a published author.

Since then, Jessica has sold over twelve novels for teens, tweens, and adults in-cluding 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, The Karma Club, My Life Undecided, and the three books in the Unremembered trilogy, the first of which is currently in development as a major motion picture by the producers of The Vampire Academy, Zero Dark Thirty, Life of Pi, and Slumdog Millionaire. In 2016, she will release two new contemporary novels, A Week of Mondays (August) and Boys of Summer (April), and in 2017, her debut middle grade novel entitled, Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up, will hit bookstore shelves.

Jessica also writes books for the Descendants: “School of Secrets” series, based on the hit Disney Channel Original movie, Descendants!

Jessica’s books are published and translated in over twenty foreign countries. (Click here for a full list of foreign sales and publishers.) She currently splits her time between California and Colorado.

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