Short Story Saturday: Destroy Me

Short Story Saturday is a new feature here at Unabridged Bookshelf! It is just reviews of short stories, novellas and anthologies. I will probably even review more than one at a time if they are small.

About the Book

Title: Destroy Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Series: Shatter Me #1.5

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, 

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Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.
In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .
Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.
Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

My Review of Destroy Me

In Shatter Me, I hated Warner. He was a creepy psychopath. With Destroy Me being from Warner’s point of view, I was nervous I might not like it. I should have just trusted the awesomeness that is Tahereh Mafi. I may have hated Warner in Shatter Me, but I grew to love him a little bit in Destroy Me. 

Opening up readers to Warner’s inner thoughts is a genius move. It shows that Warner may have plenty of issues, but he is not pure evil and possibly actually human. It all gives insight to the horrific treatment Warner had to survive under his father. While I grew to love Warner, I am still divided as to whom I would like to see Juliette end up with but I am leaning closer to Warner for sure. 

Since this is a novella, it is a quick read that I highly recommend reading before Unravel Me. Knowing Warner better will give better insight and a deeper connection to the characters. At least that is what I hope as I am planning to start Unravel Me very soon. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf purchased this book**

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Welcome to Short Story Saturday: Review of Darla's Story

Short Story Saturday is a new feature here at Unabridged Bookshelf! It is just short stories, novellas and anthologies. I will probably even review more than one at a time if they are small.

About the Book

Title: Darla's Story

Author: Mike Mullin

Series: Ashfall #0.5

Publication Date: October 5, 2013

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Darla Edmunds has faced a lot of challenges in her seventeen years: Her dad died in a farming accident when she was fourteen. Her mother retreated into hyper-religiosity, leaving Darla to run the family farm almost single-handedly. But those struggles pale in comparison to the one she faces after the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plummeting the world--and Darla's small corner of Iowa--into a cataclysmic natural disaster.

My Review of Darla's Story

The Ashfall series is one of my favorite young adult series of all time. I really think Darla saves Alex and gives him a purpose and reason to keep fighting to survive throughout the series. I also really like Darla’s inventions and her ability to solve just about any problem. When I saw there was a short story about Darla’s first day after the eruption of Yellowstone, I knew I had to read it. It really opened my eyes at how responsible and intelligent Darla really is. I can say I do not think I would hold up as well if a major nationwide catastrophe struck. 

Darla’s story even though a short novella gives insight into Darla and her life before the eruption. It also gives insight as to how Darla got the farm into the shape it was in before Alex shows up. I also like the relationship between Darla and her mother. This novella is a must read for any Ashfall fan or it is the perfect way to start a love with the series. 

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Teaser Tuesday: Darla's Story

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their to be read piles.

My teaser this week comes from:

Title: Darla's Story

Author: Mike Mullin

Series: Ashfall #0.5

Publication Date: October 5, 2013

Length: 70 Pages

Darla Edmunds has faced a lot of challenges in her seventeen years: Her dad died in a farming accident when she was fourteen. Her mother retreated into hyper-religiosity, leaving Darla to run the family farm almost single-handedly. But those struggles pale in comparison to the one she faces after the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plummeting the world--and Darla's small corner of Iowa--into a cataclysmic natural disaster.

The Teaser

How much of this noise, ash, and darkness could they survive? But the rabbits weren't the worst of my worries: if this kept up, how could Mom and I survive?

Kindle Location 191 of 1069

I really like this one so far, but then again the Ashfall series is one of my favorite series, and Darla one of my favorite characters in the series.

Do you have a teaser for me?
Make sure to leave a link for me in the comments!

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Novella Review: Uncharted: An On The Island Novella by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Title: Uncharted: an On The Island Novella

Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves

Series: On The Island #1.5

Publication Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: Dutton

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Tracey Garvis Graves - and Anna and T.J. - return in this companion novella to the New York Times bestseller On the Island

When twenty-three-year-old dot-com millionaire Owen Sparks walked away from his charmed life, he had one goal in mind: get as far away as possible from the people who resented his success, or had their hand out for a piece of it. A remote uncharted island halfway around the world seemed like a perfectly logical place to get away from it all. 

Calia Reed wasn't part of Owen's plans. The beautiful British girl - on holiday in the Maldives with her brother, James - made Owen wonder if getting away from it all might be a lot more enjoyable with a carefree girl who didn't know anything about the life he left behind. 

But Owen had no idea how much his carefully detailed plans would go awry. Nor did he realize that a decision he made would have such a catastrophic effect on two passengers who boarded a plane in Chicago. 

And when Owen shows up at Anna and T.J.'s door with an incredible story to tell, everyone involved will learn just how much their lives are intertwined. 

Uncharted includes an early look at Covet, coming September 2013.

MY REVIEW

Uncharted by Tracey Garvis Graves is a must read for fans of On The Island. Uncharted introduces us to Owen Sparks, and tells his story about living on the island. Uncharted reminds me of everything I loved about On the Island and I could not have put it down if I tried. Tracey Garvis Graves has an amazing talent at write stories that a beautiful and tragic at the same time, and leave the reader craving more. 

Uncharted gives us a glimpse of T.J. and Anna’s life while introducing Owen Sparks. Owen Sparks story about his time on the island. It is not a life and death situation like T.J. and Anna, but it is not without tragedy. As I consumed Uncharted, I loved experiencing the island where T.J. and Anna were stranded through different events and with a different perspective. 

On the Island will remain one of my all-time favorite books, and Uncharted has me craving even more of Anna, T.J. and Owen. I am very excited to see where the story will go from here when Isle of Bones is released, because I know that whatever Tracey has planned will have me completely enthralled from beginning to end. I guess Covet will have to hold me over until Isle of Bones. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf recieved this book from the publisher,in exchange for an honest review**

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Novella Review: Forgotten Lyrics by Amanda Hocking

Title: Forgotten Lyrics

Author: Amanda Hocking

Series: Watersong #0.5

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: October 30, 2012

Length: 60 Pages

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Don’t miss this imaginative new short story set in the magical world of Watersong—a realm of enchanting beauty…and terrifying secrets.
Aggie is a mythological creature on a secret mission.  Lydia is a young woman from a magical family with no real powers of her own. And Daniel is a high school boy who’s made it his duty to protect his deeply troubled older brother.  Then one fateful night, their lives collide in a terrifying accident that changes them all forever. And beneath the surface, the ripple effects of the accident will have more impact than anyone could ever guess...changing not only their future, but the fate of an entire town.

MY REVIEW

Forgotten Lyrics is a brief but insightful look into the Watersong world, before the events of Wake. This novella was another great installment from Amanda Hocking. Easily read within an hour or so, it gives more details about events mentioned in Wake, without giving anything away.

The novella takes place for the most part five years before Wake. This story is about a specific event in Daniel’s life, and how that event interacts with Lydia and Aggie. For fans of Wake, it is a great read and highly recommended. It is also a great introduction to the series for those who are curious, but have not yet to read any of the Watersong series.

Forgotten Lyrics gives insight into characters that have made appearances in so far in the series, and some that have not yet. I have been a fan of Amanda Hocking since reading some of her earlier works, and her Watersong series is currently one of my favorites. I cannot wait for its continuations in Lullaby and Tidal.

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Novella Review: Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers #5.5) by Rachel Vincent

Title: Never to Sleep

Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers #5.5
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: January 1, 2012
Pages: 61 Pages

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Kindle | Nook

Don't Close Your Eyes.
Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin's strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she's put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep...forever.
Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family...?

MY REVIEW 

Never to Sleep is a novella of the Soul Screamer Series by Rachel Vincent. Never to Sleep takes place during If I Die, and it is told from Sophie Cavanaugh’s point-of-view. Since it does take place during If I Die, it is best read after reading If I Die. If this novella, we get a better view point of Sophie. While I still think Sophie is an egotistical little brat, I have to admit she surprised me in Never to Sleep. The most important event in Never to Sleep is that fact that we meet a new character, Luca. Luca is the new boy at school, and he happens to run into Sophie.

Luca is a curious character, and I am very interested to see the part he is going to play in Before I Wake. With the short length of Never to Sleep, there is not more than a glimpse into his purpose or character. I also am curious to see what is in store for Sophie in Before I Wake, and if maybe, she will stop being so nasty to Kaylee. There are also some other developments, that I need to have answered or explained in Before I Wake. Any Soul Screamer fan waiting for Before I Wake should pick up Never to Sleep. 

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