American War

I was a little confused at the beginning of this book, but once I understood the timelines and the backstory, the whole thing fell into place. American War brilliantly captures what a second Civil War could look like if the south rose again at the end of the twenty first century. It's bleak and full of diseases, dependence on fossil fuels, drone warfare and the stubborn resistance of those in the south. Told by a nephew of Sarat Chestnut (an infamous southern fighter), American War is a flash back at a pivotal event that prolonged the Civil War and killed millions of people. It's a look at morals, war atrocities, survival, and family. It's fast paced and interspersed with historical documents that help explain what is going in the world while the South is trying to fight for independence. An interesting, exciting, and timely read!

The Sunlight Pilgrims

It's 2020 and the world is entering another ice age. In Scotland there is a small caravan park in the mountains preparing itself for the coldest winter anyone has ever seen in their lifetimes. Dylan lost his mother, his grandmother, and the family movie theater in London. The only place he has to go is a small caravan he had no idea even existed, thankfully his mother had the foresight to buy it in cash before her death. Armed only with a suitcase Dylan arrives in the cold, godforsaken, but oddly beautiful park. He is immediately smitten with the young mother next door and her ridiculously cool daughter. Constance and her daughter Stella, are immediately smitten with their new neighbor Dylan, enjoying his tall stature, beard, tattoos, and London stories. They slowly start to invite him into their lives where he discovers that Stella is in the process from transitioning from a boy to a girl and Constance is looked down upon because for years she's always had two lovers. Can this odd trio band together and survive the coming subzero temperatures? Cute, quirky, and honest, this book had me hooked from the beginning. Personally I had a crush on Dylan and would love to have shared his caravan with him. Stella was a breath of fresh air and is wonderfully developed as is her mom who is imperfectly perfect. A fantastic read!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in return for my honest, unbiased review.

Ender's Game

I was excited to finally get this book off my "to-read" list and I wasn't disappointed. For years I've heard this book hailed as one of the all time greatest science fiction novels of all time and I'm glad to say it lives up to all the hype.

In the future children are the saviors of humanity, after aliens attack the earth elite children are groomed to become captains of the starfleet to defend humankind. Young Ender is an exceptional child, from an early age his critical, emotional, and physical skills, were amazing. As he ages he has to continually show the higher ups that he has what it takes. But does he? Is there anything wrong with wanting to be a child and act your age? Is it even moral to subject such young children to tests? Read to find out more, also keep your eyes peeled for the trailers of the new movie adaptation starring Harrison Ford.