Series Recap: The Program Series by Suzanne Young

Reading Order (sort by reading date):

The Program (Book 1, Published on April 30, 2013)
The Treatment (Book 2, Published on April 29, 2014)

Click the titles to check out my reviews.

***

Synopsis Recap:

Set in the middle of a teenage suicide epidemic, Sloane and James are careful with their display of emotions in The Program. They have to be, or they'll be sent to the Program, which will wipe out what they truly are. Except when they can't take it anymore, they're both sent to what they fear most. By some miracle they meet again. And they find out how cruel and ruthless the Program truly is. Friends are lost. People you think you know might just turn their backs on you in a nanosecond. They have to set out to get their memories back if they want to escape the Program once and for all.

The Treatment is set right after the events in The Program. Sloane and James are on the run, trying to figure out a way to stay out of the radar of the Program and stay together for good. After making an unlikely alliance, they have to set out to find the Treatment -- the cure for the Program, which can bring back lost memories -- and find out what really happens when they're first in the Program and take down The Program. Betrayals are faced, and irreversible choices are made. The Treatment is the conclusion of The Program series.

***

Thoughts Recap:

Despite obvious flaws, The Program is quite a nice start for a couple in the middle of an epidemic which can force them apart for good. The emotions are pretty intense. Almost overwhelming. And I love the parts of the "echos in the past", because it's bittersweet and quite heartbreaking. The concept of teenage suicide epidemic is cool, because it's not just a biological problem anymore. It's a mental problem, and it's not every day you'll see a suicide epidemic. Though there are flaws like the plot being a little bit slow-paced at first and the lack of development of the background of the epidemic, I really like The Program.

The Treatment is a very different book. Now that Sloane and James are together, they're desperate to find a way to stay together. The Treatment is more energetic and sweet. Action-packed and fast-paced, the book is much better than the previous one on these two aspects. Sloane and James's relationship is admirable and strong. It's not something to be forgotten so easily. Though the ending is a little disappointing, The Treatment is quite a good book and a satisfying ending.

The flaws might be obvious, but the goodness kind of covers it up.

Overall rating: 8/10

Do I recommend this series?: Yeah :)

TBR #12: April 2014

This April, surprisingly, is quite uneventful comparing to the last April. But still, there are good books!

1. Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Synopsis:

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Expected Publication: April 1, 2014

2. Gilded Ashes (Cruel Beauty) by Rosamund Hodge

Synopsis:

A romantic and fantastical reimagining of the classic Cinderella tale, Gilded Ashes is a novella by Rosamund Hodge set in the same world as the author's debut novel, Cruel Beauty.

Orphan Maia doesn't see the point of love when it only brings pain: Her dying mother made a bargain with the evil, all-powerful ruler of their world that anyone who hurt her beloved daughter would be punished; her new stepmother went mad with grief when Maia's father died; and her stepsisters are desperate for their mother's approval, yet she always spurns them. And though her family has turned her into a despised servant, Maia must always pretend to be happy, or else they'll all be struck dead by the curse.

Anax, heir to the Duke of Sardis, doesn't believe in love either—not since he discovered that his childhood sweetheart was only using him for his noble title. What's the point of pretending to fall in love with a girl just so she'll pretend to fall in love with him back? But when his father invites all the suitable girls in the kingdom to a masked ball, Anax must finally give in and select a wife.

As fate would have it, the preparations for the masquerade bring him Maia, who was asked by her eldest stepsister to deliver letters to Anax. Despite a prickly first encounter, he is charmed and intrigued by this mysterious girl who doesn't believe in love. Anax can't help wishing to see her again—and when he does, he can't help falling in love with her. Against her will, Maia starts to fall in love with him too. But how can she be with him when every moment his life is in danger from her mother's deadly bargain?

HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas, with new releases the first Tuesday of each month.

Expected Publication: April 1, 2014

3. Rebel Belle (Rebel Belle #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Synopsis:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Expected Publication: April 8, 2014

4. Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

Synopsis:

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Expected Publication: April 8, 2014

5. Frozen (Taken #2) by Erin Bowman

Synopsis:

The Heists were only the beginning.

Gray Weathersby escaped from the primitive town of Claysoot expecting to find answers, but what he discovered shook him to the core: A ruthless dictator with absolute power. An army of young soldiers blinded by lies. And a growing rebellion determined to fight back.

Now Gray has joined a team of rebels on a harsh, icy journey in search of allies who can help them set things right. But in a world built on lies, Gray must constantly question whether any ally—or enemy—is truly what they seem…

Expected Publication: April 15, 2014

6. Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Expected Publication: April 15, 2014

7. The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Expected Publication: April 15, 2014

Check out my review here:  http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-forever-song-review_17.html

8. Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3) by Wendy Higgins

Synopsis:

It’s time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

9. The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young

Synopsis:

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

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

10. The Taking (The Taking #1) by Kimberly Derting

Synopsis:

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

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

The Treatment (ARC): Review

Synopsis:

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

***

The original cover of The Treatment is the orange pill. It's simple but it really gets to the point and fits in the book perfectly. They made a cover change, and though I still like this cover (because it's more sophisticated than the pill cover), it just doesn't fit in the book as perfectly as the pill cover. I have to say I'm a little disappointed with this. But the cover matters little to me (I'm not one of those who judges the book by its cover normally).

I actually like this book more than the first one. Sure, the first book is pretty nice and it sets quite a stage for The Treatment. But the appearance of new characters just adds so much fun. The name's Dallas. She's quite a unique girl. Although sometimes she might be bitchy and emotional and not very strong, she's actually a good girl at heart. She plays an important role in The Treatment. I kinda like that girl, even though sometimes she can be a real bitch. 

(Spoilers below! Beware!)

The Treatment is quite an unique experience. Because I've never seen a couple (them being Sloane and James) being forced apart so many times, not knowing if they'll ever see each other again, or even if they do, if they'll ever be the same anymore. While I admire that their heart stay the same, which is one of the parts I like most, I feel a little frustrated that they're forced apart so many times. I mean, I totally get that the Program is after them and they're in grave danger. But do you need to force them apart so many times to prove that point? Because I can totally think of other things to indicate the dangerous factor. I guess this whole situation has two sides.

(End of Spoilers)

But when Sloane and James are together, they're just so cute. Even the little jealous streak James shows when he learns about Sloane and Realm is pretty cute. I don't normally say jealousy is cute, because I kinda despise it most of the times. But for some reason James showing possessive streak is pretty cute. And they just care so much for each other and trust each other so much even when others say their past might not be what they expected to be. It's really sweet.

I still can't give it a five out of five on Goodreads though. Because there's one fatal flaw that destroys some of the fun. The ending. Not that the ending is depressing or extremely heart-wrenching or anything. But I can totally feel that the ending is rushed. And it's very disappointing. I expected so much more from The Treatment even after I know The Program is going to be a duology (which by the way, kind of sucks, because I want more from The Program). But it seems like there's a drastic move, and bam! everything changes. I don't even understand what is going on before I re-read it like 2 times. It's just too fast. And that's not good. At all. I still like the ending, but it's just not what I've been expecting (and not in a good way).

But despite this fatal flaw, I still find myself liking this book more than the first one. Maybe because the world has been developed properly and the chasing-and-being-chased stuff can finally take place. The characters are also more sure of themselves. I just hope that The Program is not a duology, because the whole concept of teenage suicide epidemic is unique and fascinating.

Rating: 8.5/10

P.S. Just an extra information. This is the original cover of The Treatment (aka the orange-pill cover)

Teaser Tuesday: The Treatment by Suzanne Young

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn¡¦t give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

This week I choose The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young

James's hand touches the small of my back as he motions to an empty bartop table. I sit down, and he stands next to me, surveying the room. "This isn't really my idea of fun," he says.

Add The Treatment on Goodreads:

Cover Reveal: The Treatment by Suzanne Young

The Program is one of the better books I read this year, and of course I can't wait for its sequel, The Treatment! And here's the cover. Plain like The Program, but quite curious:

Synopsis:

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

***

So this is the ever-so-popular orange pill for memory return, right? Well, you know what I think? I think the pill brings consequences that cannot be reversed, and I don't mean the pill can necessarily bring back forgotten memories.

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

Name Reveal: The Program #2 by Suzanne Young

I like The Program. How can I not be excited for the second installment of this series?

Check my review of The Program here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-program-review.html

Now is the big part. The sequel of The Program is called:

The Treatment

(Warning: HUGE SPOILER BELOW! AVOID THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PROGRAM AND DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!)

Okay, for some reason this give me chills to the core. Last time I checked, Sloane and James are trying to get to resistance (or something like that).

If I'm being optimistic, then I think Sloane and Jack are getting that orange pill. But if I'm not being optimistic, I feel like something bigger and badder is out there. The Treatment. Ugh, the name alone is killing me! I need it! And it will be released in 2014! That's too far away!