Series Recap: Reboot Series by Amy Tintera

Reading Order (sort by release date):

Reboot (Book 1, Published on May 7, 2013)
Rebel (Book 2, Published on May 13, 2014)

Click the titles to check out my reviews.

***

Synopsis recap:

Reboot starts with Wren, who has died and Rebooted after 178 minutes because of KDH virus when she was twelve. Now seventeen, she's the perfect soldier that HARC has. She always thinks that she barely has any human emotion at all. But when Callum, who is practically still human (because he Rebooted after only 22 minutes), demands her training, she finds herself that maybe she's not as emotionless and inhuman as she thought. And then there's another threat. Some Reboots are turning vicious, bloodthirsty creatures, and Wren has to set out to rebel against HARC and find the origin of these problems before someone she really cares about dies because of this.

Rebel picks up after Wren and Callum escaped HARC and find a place called Reboot Reservation, only the place isn't the haven for Reboots like others claimed. A vicious leader, a bunch of scared Reboots, violent actions, and trying to do something drastic on the whole human race (I'm not going to reveal what's the big move), and the threat from HARC, Wren and Callum has to find a way around that if they want to stay together and build a life together.

***

Thoughts recap:

Three words to describe the series: Unique, interesting, but not very... dynamic

The concept of Reboot is mentioned in the first book, Reboot. It's kind of a twist of zombies. Only the "zombies" (aka Reboots) are far more intelligent and physically superior. I like that the Reboots are not just creatures that the government can't control (because zombie apocalypse is really an old epidemic, even though I like The Walking Dead). They're under far too much control, and they're (mostly) not that happy about it. The world in Reboot is pretty well-developed in this case, because there's the whole outline of the KDH-infected world in the book. The characters... well, I guess most of them are average characters, except maybe Wren. She's a pretty cool girl. Not only she can kick some ass, she's logical. But other than that there's nothing really significant about other characters. The plot is a bit slow, though. And a little bit predictable. But it's nothing intolerable.

Rebel is better. In this book Wren and Callum has to fight for their lives. Constantly. The character improvement is a thumbs-up, especially on Wren and Micah. Wren is no longer the emotionless Reboot we met at the start of Reboot, and she finally gets in touch with the human side of her. Micah's character is portrayed well. The vicious and cruel side of him is a little terrifying. The plot is much more fast-paced and complicated, because of the multiple threats coming from all sides, which is another thing I really like. There might be some flaws concerning Callum and other minor parts, but overall Rebel is a fine book.

Overall rating: 7/10

Do I recommend this series?: I'm not against people reading it (obviously), but I'm not actively recommending this series.

TBR #13: May 2014

Possibly my least favorite month of the year. But this year it's different. I've got a lot of really good sequels of really good series.

1. After The End (After The End #1) by Amy Plum

Synopsis:

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Expected Publication: May 6, 2014

Check out my review here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/after-end-arc-review.html

2. The Warrior (Dante Walker #3) by Victoria Scott

Synopsis:

War between heaven and hell is coming, but Dante Walker makes it look damn good.

Dante’s girlfriend, Charlie, is fated to save the world. And Aspen, the girl who feels like a sister, is an ordained soldier. In order to help both fulfill their destiny and win the war, Dante must complete liberator training at the Hive, rescue Aspen from hell, and uncover a message hidden on an ancient scroll.

Dante is built for battle, but even he can’t handle the nightmares where spiders crawl from Aspen’s eyes, or the look on Charlie’s face that foretells of devastation. To make matters worse, the enemy seizes every opportunity to break inside the Hive and cripple the liberators. But the day of reckoning is fast approaching, and to stand victorious, Dante will have to embrace something inside himself he never has before—faith.

Expected Publication: May 6, 2014

3. The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

Synopsis:

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

Expected Publication: May 6, 2014

4. Tempting The Bodyguard (Gamble Brothers #3) by J. Lynn

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint...

He can protect her from everyone except himself.

Alana Gore is in danger. A take-no-prisoners publicist, her way with people has made her more than a few enemies over the years, but a creepy stalker is an entirely different matter. She needs a bodyguard, and the only man she can ask is not only ridiculously hot, but reputed to have taste for women that goes beyond adventurous.

Chandler Gamble has one rule: don't protect anyone you want to screw. But with Alana, he's caught between his job and his increasingly hard libido. On one hand, Alana needs his help. On the other, Chandler wants nothing more than to take the hot volcano of a woman in hand. To make her writhe in pleasure, until she's at his complete mercy.

She needs protection. He needs satisfaction. And the moment the line is crossed, all hell will break loose...

Expected Publication: May 12, 2014

5. Renegade (MILA 2.0 #2) by Debra Driza

Synopsis:

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.

Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

Check out my review here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/02/renegade-arc-review.html

6. Rebel (Reboot #2) by Amy Tintera

Synopsis:

The sequel to the action-packed Reboot is a can't-miss thrill ride, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Veronica Roth, and Marie Lu.

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

Check out my review here:  http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/rebel-arc-review.html

7. Raging Star (Dust Lands #3) by Moira Young

Synopsis:

Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo and the Tonton...until she meets him and he confounds all her expectations with his seductive vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to create and build a healthy, stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The few who can pay.

Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Still uncertain, her connection with DeMalo a secret, Saba commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, anxious for the land in New Eden, Saba leads an inexperienced guerilla band against the powerfully charismatic DeMalo, in command of his settlers and the Tonton militia. What chance do they have? Saba must act. And be willing to pay the price.

Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

8. Of Neptune (The Syrena Legacy #3) by Anna Banks

Synopsis:

Emma and Galen’s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

9. The Lovely and The Lost (The Dispossessed #2) by Page Morgan

Synopsis:

Ingrid and Gabby survived the Underneath. They saved their brother, Grayson, from a future of dark servitude and exposed a plot to undermine the Alliance. But danger still lurks in the streets of Paris, and the Dispossessed, perched on the city's bridges and rooftops, might not be able to save their human wards this time.

Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

Check out my review here:  http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-lovely-and-lost-arc-review.html

10. Dangerous Creatures (Dangerous Creatures #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Synopsis:

A new series returns to the world of Beautiful Creatures. Some loves are cursed...others are dangerous.

Ridley Duchannes will be the first to tell you that she's a bad girl. She's Dark. She's a Siren. You can never trust her, or even yourself when she's around. Lucky for her, Wesley "Link" Lincoln can never seem to remember that; quarter Incubus or not, his heart is Mortal when it comes to Ridley. When Link heads to New York City to start a music career, Ridley goes along for the ride-and she has her own reasons. As if leaving small-town Gatlin for the big city, trying to form a band, and surviving life with a partially reformed Siren isn't hard enough already, Link soon learns he has a price on his head that no Caster or Mortal can ever pay.

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthors of Beautiful Creatures, are back and casting another magical spell. Their signature mixture of mystery, suspense, and romance, along with a dash of fun and danger, will pull fans in and leave them begging for more.

Expected Publication: May 20, 2014

11. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID.

I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Nothing in the world can defeat him — must they journey to another world to find the chance? Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last installment of the Mortal Instruments series!

Coming 5. 27. 2014

Expected Publication: the synopsis just said it. May 27, 2014

12. Ignited (Sense Thieves #3) by Corrine Jackson

Synopsis:

Nobody hides forever.

Ever since Remy O'Malley discovered her dual identity as a Healer and a Protector, she's kept alive by staying one step ahead of both sides in this centuries-old war. Now someone's trying to draw her out of hiding, using her kidnapped father as bait.

To save him, Remy will need every friend she's got. But as new alliances form, old bonds fray. Her boyfriend Asher is losing his powers, becoming more mortal every time she touches him. Meanwhile, Remy finds herself growing closer to Asher's brother Gabe, even as a family tragedy drives her sister Lucy farther away.

On a rescue mission to London, Remy decides she's tired of being the hunted. It's time to end this war once and for all, as Protectors and Healers alike hurtle towards a final, violent confrontation that not everyone will survive.

Expected Publication: May 27, 2014

13. The Fear Trials (The Murder Complex #0.5) by Lindsay Cummings

Synopsis:

Meadow Woodson has been trained to survive. This is a prequel to The Murder Complex, by Lindsay Cummings, and it is set in a blood-soaked world where the murder rate is higher than the birth rate. For fans of Moira Young's Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson's father calls it The Fear Trials, and it is a rite of passage in their family. Meadow is up against her brother Koi. The Fear Trials will both harden her and make her brave. If Meadow wins, she will get a weapon of her own and the right to leave the Woodsons' houseboat without her father or mother at her side. Set in the violent, complex, and mysterious world of The Murder Complex, and introducing Meadow Woodson—a teenage girl trained to survive no matter what the cost—and her family, who are together for the last time on their houseboat in the Florida Everglades.

Expected Publication: May 27, 2014

14. Take Me On (Pushing The Limits #4) by Katie McGarry

Synopsis:

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for

Expected Publication: May 27, 2014

Rebel (ARC): Review

Synopsis:

The sequel to the action-packed Reboot is a can't-miss thrill ride, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Veronica Roth, and Marie Lu.

After coming back from death as Reboots and being trained by HARC as soldiers, Wren and Callum have finally escaped north, where they hope to find a life of freedom. But when they arrive at the Reboot Reservation, it isn't what they expected. Under the rule of a bloodthirsty leader, Micah, the Reboots are about to wage an all-out war on the humans. Although Wren's instincts are telling her to set off into the wilderness on their own and leave the battle far behind, Callum is unwilling to let his human family be murdered. When Micah commits the ultimate betrayal, the choice is made for them. But Micah has also made a fatal mistake . . . he's underestimated Wren and Callum.

The explosive finale to the Reboot duology is full of riveting action and steamy love scenes as Wren and Callum become rebels against their own kind.

***

Rebel picks up after Wren and Callum escaped HARC and find a place known as the Reboot Reservation. Just when they try to find a life for themselves, they're thrown into violence again by the sort-of-psychotic leader of Reboot Reservation, Micah. And there's still the threat from HARC. They have to stick together in order to fight their way through all these mess and have a life they want.

So much more has happened in Rebel. I will admit Reboot is a little slow on uptake, because it takes quite sometime before the book gets to interesting parts. But since there are much more complicated stuff in Rebel, the plot is a lot more fast-paced. This part is the most significant improvement of the book. Action scenes are totally not in shortage. I don't count those trainings in HARC in Reboot as one of those action scenes (I don't think you actually need me to explain this, right?). Those fighting scenes in Rebel is just so much more intense and thrilling. It's "fighting-for-your-life-every-second" kind of intense. I love that.

Rebel is told in dual point of view. Wren's and Callum's. Although reading Callum's point of view is still a load of fun and pretty enjoyable, I find myself don't like it as much as I thought I would. Callum sounds too... sane in Rebel (not that Wren is insane, but come on). I thought being almost-human he will have a wider range and more intense emotions. But no, other than the fact that he thinks the Reboots shouldn't raise a massacre on humans just because they're nasty on Reboots, he's pretty tamed. Wren might be slightly more ruthless and logical than Callum (which is not very, but still), but her emotions are just more real and intense, which makes reading her point of view much more interesting. I must say, though I love the dual perspective, I can't deny I'm a little disappointed in Callum's point of view.

Amy Tintera makes a vast improvement in Rebel, and I deeply appreciate that. Although I think there are some space for more improvement, I'd say Rebel is good enough.

Rating: 7.5/10