Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (Amazon)
BOOK REVIEW
In the final instalment to the dystopian Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay, our heroine Katniss Everdeen is forced to grow up. The dangers she and her compatriots face are less contrived, the baddies act with greater malice and the relationship problems are more mature. (more…)
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. (Amazon)
BOOK REVIEW
I enjoyed listening to the first The Hunger Games novel in audio so much, that despite a family member owning the full series in paperback I decided to seek out the audiobooks of titles 2 and 3, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. (more…)
Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win. (Amazon)
BOOK REVIEW
The young adult genre is something I have come to appreciate much later than my young adult years. I still have my training wheels on when it comes to this genre so I select such titles very carefully. With a first paragraph such as this one though, I just knew Monica Leonelle’s Socialpunk was for me…
After playing God for six years with the world he created, he couldn’t control any of his subjects, none at all. Over the years, he had watched them evolve and become the sum of their own choices rather than the sum of his; and for that, he regretted ever giving them life.
One of the first things I was struck by when I began Socialpunk was just how easy it was to read. That is not to say the prose is overly simplistic, not at all. Author Monica Leonelle sets a scene and presents evocative imagery as well as any author of literature, yet does so with an appealing efficiency.
“Dash said you wanted to talk to me about something?”
“Yes.” Nahum’s eyes glistened like something she’d seen in a picture — a calm, secluded lake, surrounded by trees. The Scorched Years had taken their toll on the scenery, and most lakes were frozen or too polluted to enjoy anymore. But Nahum’s eyes seemed like a place she could spend some time in.
The storyline has what I’d call a strong back beat (momentum) and is very hard to put down – if not for other commitments I would have gladly read Socialpunk in one sitting.
In Socialpunk Monica Leonelle introduces us to a determined heroine and a colourful ensemble of underdogs in a very modern David and Goliath battle.
The beauty of this story is its broad appeal – it really does have something for everyone. Despite it’s female lead, the ensemble cast features strong and varied male characters. I found the dystopian framework well thought out and sufficiently complex for an analytical mind such as mine to buy into and the incorporation of modern marketing/affiliation concepts very clever. But do not worry if you that’s not your kind of thing. Socialpunk‘s primary dramatic storyline delivers just the right mix of warm and fuzzy romance, tension, mystery, jealousy, loyalty and betrayal to leave you wanting more.
Cinder could understand why love was not important in the future – without sharing information, how did you establish bonds with others? You could offer your opinion on facts, perhaps; but with access to thousands of opinions on any topic, even opinion was a commodity.
The only weakness in the version I read were a couple of small editorial oversights, perhaps in the rush to launch – but these could easily be fixed.
Socialpunk is the first title in Monica Leonelle’s Socialpunk Trilogy. I am looking forward to reading (devouring) the remaining titles, and we will not have long to wait, with Socialmob and Socialhood being released in July and October 2012.
To promote the Socialpunk Trilogy launch, author Monica Leonelle is holding a great giveaway with prizes such as an Ipad 3 or Kindle Fire – ENTER BELOW.
Genre: Action-Adventure, Young Adult, Sci-Fi-Fantasy, Mystery
Author Information: Monica Leonelle is a 27 year old writer living in Chicago with her Westie dog Mia. She is the author of a YA urban fantasy series called Seven Halos in addition to her YA cyberpunk trilogy, starting with the first book, Socialpunk.
* My receiving this ebook for free from Monica Leonelle and my participation in the Socialpunk Trilogy Blog Tour did not impact my ability to express my honest opinions having read the novel.
Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.
The Socialpunk Trilogy by Monica Leonelle includes Socialpunk (April 2012), Socialmob (July 2012), and Socialhood (October 2012).
Every year, twelve boys and twelve girls are chosen to take part in the Hunger Games. Watched by the entire nation, this is action-packed reality TV at its most exciting – and most dangerous. Katniss Everdeen has grown up struggling to save the people close to her. Now she faces the biggest challenge of all – the fight for her life. Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death. (TheNile)
BOOK REVIEW
I have found myself reading a surprising amount of dystopian fiction lately – a lot for my normal reading tastes anyway. But up until now I had not read any young adult fiction in twenty years. I am a little behind the popular crowd, but finally got around to reading Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games. I now completely understand what all the fuss has been about.
The basic premise, teenagers being forced to participate in a challenge to the death while all the gory action is broadcast to captivated television audiences, is in itself obviously wrong on so many levels. (I have no idea how the violence will be portrayed for younger audiences in movie format.) But it is the story within that story, the growth of the characters themselves, that readers are encouraged to focus on that is really special.
Katniss Everdeen is a wonderful character developed with great care and sensitivity by Collins. For a character with such strength of character and feisty attitude it is her very realistic weaknesses that make her most endearing.
In The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins has written with such compelling and unrelenting intensity that makes putting this book down extremely difficult.
Or in my case, turning off the audio book. Narrator Carolyn McCormick does an outstanding job maintaining the fast pace and thrilling intensity of the action-packed storyline without sacrificing clarity of prose and expert character differentiation.
Although ostensibly young adult fiction, the dystopian future crafted by Collins is sufficiently evocative and thought provoking to capture the hearts and minds of a more mature audience. This in itself I believe is they key to its success.
It is hard to imagine that the second and third novel in this trilogy could live up to this benchmark, but I will definitely be seeking out a copy of Catching Fireto follow the plights of the characters further.
BOOK RATING: The Story 4.5 /5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year. (Amazon)
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Book 2) Synopsis
Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win. 
SOCIALPUNK by Monica Leonelle
The Hunger Games Synopsis
