Review of THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE and 4 ARCs 4 U

I've mentioned this book before, but I'm finally getting around to posting a full review about it. Anyway, I'm giving away an ARC of Jeff Hirsch's THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE as well as Rae Carson's THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and Stephanie Perkins' LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR.



GO HERE to enter (or click on image of book covers). This international giveaway ends tonight at midnight EST.

BUT. I'm also launching a new giveaway today for a few more super hot ARCs. See details way below.

But first, check out my review of THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE.

THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE
by Jeff Hirsch

Summary: The wars that followed The Collapse nearly destroyed civilization. Now, twenty years later, the world is faced with a choice—rebuild what was or make something new.
Stephen Quinn, a quiet and dutiful fifteen-year-old scavenger, travels Post-Collapse America with his Dad and stern ex-Marine Grandfather. They travel light. They keep to themselves. Nothing ever changes. But when his Grandfather passes suddenly and Stephen and his Dad decide to risk it all to save the lives of two strangers, Stephen's life is turned upside down. With his father terribly injured, Stephen is left alone to make his own choices for the first time.
Stephen’s choices lead him to Settler's Landing, a lost slice of the Pre-Collapse world where he encounters a seemingly benign world of barbecues, baseball games and days spent in a one-room schoolhouse. Distrustful of such tranquility, Stephen quickly falls in with Jenny Tan, the beautiful town outcast. As his relationship with Jenny grows it brings him into violent conflict with the leaders of Settler's Landing who are determined to remake the world they grew up in, no matter what the cost.


MY REVIEW

While the Goodreads summary above provides some necessary background to the post-apocalyptic world of THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE, it implies that the story starts at an earlier, less exciting point than it does. When in fact, the story actually starts in medias res and chucks you into the beginning of the suddenly-everything-turns-to-crazy phase of Stephen Quinn's life, the point where change can occur in this truly bleak landscape, whether for the better or the worse. Hirsch makes it clear from the get-go that nothing will ever be the same for Stephen. So, yeah, I was hooked from page one--no, line one--wanting to see how Stephen was going to get along from that point on.

Hirsch completely unravels your expectations, from the first page to the last, the first death...to the last. I went into every scene expecting certain post-apocalyptic dystopian conventions to be employed and was completely surprised by twists and turns I couldn't have predicted, especially with the characters. Stephen's relationship with his grandfather and father, the strangers they help, the antagonists--none of them are predictable. It was post-apocalyptic, yes. But it was also much, much more real, with characters reacting in ways almost too genuine to even be fiction. It was eerie--and scary how real it felt. THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE is not your average dystopian with a government-takes-over-the-world-and-passes-scary-laws kind of story (not yet). It's a the-world-has-gone-to-pot and every-man-for-himself kind of story. It doesn't take place after the rebuilding has occurred, or even at a point where people are eating each other a la Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD (although it still has that same shivery quality that can cause you to tense up all your muscles until conflict is resolved). Rather, THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE brings you into a world with a fallen government, many dead, and a scattered population still reeling from its losses. It's a world very similar to ours, except decimated, like after Armageddon if Armageddon happened yesterday.

But what sets it apart from every other post-apocalyptic story I've encountered is Settler's Landing--a relative utopia hidden within a broken world. So, here's this story that you think is going to be horribly depressing (as in THE ROAD), and suddenly it turns into something lighter and sometimes funny and sweet and romantic and awkward and everything a YA should be. And yet, Hirsch doesn't let you forget the outside world, planting subtle reminders of  what lies beneath the surface calm. Settler's Landing is a shining beacon of hope for Stephen, and yet ironically has the potential to destroy the spirit within him, the shred of humanity that has thus far remained intact through loss and inhumane ordeal. THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE is a coming of age story, like all YA, with a boy who has to make choices about who he is and what he's capable of, but Stephen has to grow and learn and screw up in a situation where mistakes can have deadly and far-reaching consequences. Remarkably poignant, at once dark and light, THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE is a gripping story of adolescent maneuvering through dark times. It's as unputdownable and intense as a book gets.

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Be sure to check out what the other Bookanistas are highlighting today!


Elana Johnson points you to Human.4
LiLa Roecker glories in The Goddess Test
Christine Fonseca is impressed by Imaginary Girls
Shannon Whitney Messenger delves into The Future of Us – with giveaway
Scott Tracey and Shana Silver are wild about Wildefire
Carolina Valdez Miller shivers over The Eleventh Plague – with giveaway
Jessi Kirby celebrates A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie
Stasia Ward Kehoe embraces All the Things You Are
Corrine Jackson sneaks into Sean Griswold's Head

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More ARCs4U Giveaway

I generally only review books on Thursdays, but right now there are so many review-worthy books, so it's been tough. I'll do my best and attempt to post full reviews for the following books (which I'm giving away) ASAP. For now, I've written up mini reviews.

(Click on book covers to open book summary in a new window.)

 MY THOUGHTS: Told from two different POV's, FURY is an enjoyable, fast-paced read with a unique premise revolving around the Greek furies. The characters are refreshingly flawed, and the plot eerie and dark and twisty--full of action and walloping vengeance. Made me want to sing karma karma karma karma karma chameleoooooon, but in a dark and creepy way with my eyes all intense.

MY THOUGHTS: Stiefvater's best work yet. While there is a subtle magic element, there aren't any shapeshifters. It's just dark and beautiful with a romance that breathes you in, but doesn't swallow you whole. The setting and horses are characters as much as Sean and Puck and just as memorable. Overall, a unique premise and beautifully written.





 MY THOUGHTS: NOCTURNE is the continuation of the CLAIRE DE LUNE story and raises the stakes. I was intrigued by the choices Claire is forced to make, the way she's torn between two worlds. It's an enjoyable YA with a paranormal element that heightens the tension and keeps you reading.






MY THOUGHTS: Intense, high suspense thriller with touches of humor. Unpredictable mystery. It's easy to see why SHELTER has received praise from both Rick Riordan and R.L. Stine. Definitely worth picking up.






So, up for grabs: FURY by Elizabeth Miles, THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater, NOCTURNE by Christine Johnson, and SHELTER by Harlan Coben

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CLICK HERE to enter 4 ARCs 4 U International Giveaway

This giveaway is international and ends Thursday, Aug 3, midnight EST. You must be 13 years old to enter. If you win, you will need to provide an address for shipment. Under 18's must have parent/guardian permission to enter.


EDIT: The jotform site is giving me a load of trouble. I've had to create a new form. It's not my favorite, but it works. Please fill out the form below. Your entry will be recorded on a document only I can see (not on this blog). If you've already entered in my comment section or via email, no need to enter again unless you want something more official. I'll record your entry(ies) either way.


Note: you might need to hit the down arrow key to scroll to the submit button on the form. Thanks!

ENTRY FORM HAS BEEN REMOVED. THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!

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This giveaway has closed. Here are the winners:

WINNERS

FURY by Elizabeth Miles

Kim F.

THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater

Shannon L.

NOCTURNE by Christine Johnson

Krazzyme

SHELTER by Harlan Coben

Nat C.

Congratulations, winners! Please send me an address to which I can ship your ARC. Thank you so much to all who entered! Your support of these authors and of my blog means loads to me. I'm preparing another giveaway to post this week. It's pretty major.