Caragh Reviews - Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Published – 1^st April 2010

Publisher – Harlequin

Format – Paperback

Synopsis – I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

I first discovered Maria V Snyder a few years ago through the ‘Study’ and ‘Glass’ series’ that she wrote and I ADORED them and the writing style. Inside Out was a lucky library find and I was pretty anxious to get stuck into it, knowing how brilliantly Snyder creates her worlds.

For the first half of the book I honestly kind of struggled. The idea behind the book was incredible and really gripped me. Whenever I wasn’t reading I found myself desperately wanting to know what this world was and how Trella fit into it. Unfortunately, that was most of the time because when I was actually reading it; my interest sort of...disappeared. It felt like the story was moving too slowly considering the amount of tension that was already building up. However, I persevered due to sheer curiosity for answers and I am so SO glad that I did!

I’m not sure exactly what point it was that everything suddenly clicked for me, but somewhere along the line my brain caught on to the fact that the pacing, the excessive tension, the long drawn out moments etc, were intentional and integral to the plot. This IS Trella’s life. Once I accepted that, it was easier to see the social commentary that Snyder is providing. The class divides aren’t too dissimilar from those we have now and the prejudices against the things we don’t understand. This is why I love fantasy, science fiction and dystopia so much; to see our world reflected back at us to give a clearer understanding. By the end of the book – the big ‘reveal’ if you will, I was left open-mouthed and a little ashamed that I ever doubted the book to be honest. It’s a little out there but it’s totally believable and definitely intriguing! Can’t wait to come across the next book, Outside In.

Book Haul

As always, I bought way more books than I read which isn't helping my TBR piles at all! I'm happy with what I have though so here they are!

1. Extras - Scott Westerfeld
2. We Bought A Zoo - Benjamin Mee
3. Death Cure - James Dashner
4. The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol 1 - Alan Moore
6. Future Games - Orson, Scott, Card & Others.
7. Of Light & Darkness - Shayne Leighton
8. The Scent of Magic - Maria V Snyder
9. Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult
10. Inheritance - Christopher Paolini
11. Twined - A.L.Collins
12. Tempestuous - Kim Askew & Amy Helmes

Some of these aren't available to buy yet but I have a feeling they're going to be great, so make sure you check out the books from this haul if you're curious.

September Wrap-Up

September was a bit of a disappointment as I didn't make it through my TBR due to moving house, but here goes.

Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick
Jack's Outpost - Elizabeth Braun
Assassin Study - Maria V Snyder

With the exception of Snyder's short story, the reviews are up so please do go and see what I thought about them.

I'm working on an interview with Elizabeth Braun to talk a little about Jack's Outpost and herself so keep an eye out for that - hopefully coming in October!
Hopefully October is a little bit more successful. Let me know in the comments what books you read during September :)

Sick/Ill Book Tag

I love these book tags! I tag whoever reads this ;) As always, link me to your answers in the comments as I love seeing what people come up with :)

This tag is the Sick/Ill book tag. As the owner of an autoimmune disease myself, I thought this one could be fun/different to anything else. The aim of the game is to pick a book that suits the description of the condition.

A total of 9 illnesses whose symptoms mirror how a book made you feel:

1. Diabetes: a book too sweet, like really sweet.
Let It Snow - Green, Johnson & Myracle.
Such an adorable book, containing three short stories (one by each other). Very sweet and easy to read. 

2. Chicken Pox: a book you've read once, and will never pick up again.
Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L.James or any autobiography.
Reading that book once was more than enough for me! Also autobiographies are really interesting to read but I can't see myself ever re-reading one.

3. Influenza: the flu a contagious book that spreads like a virus
The Study Series - Maria V Snyder
Since buying these books, i've gotten five other people to read them and LOVE them. I will forever push these books on to people :)

4. The cycle: a book you read every month, year or often
Harry Potter Series
I think every Potter fan re-reads these often! :)

5. Insomnia: a book that kept you up all night.
Twilight Series - Stephenie Meyer & The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson
The Twilight books were just so easy to read that I soaked them up. I'm an unashamed Twilight fan and they would probably still keep me up all night!
Johnson's book was just brilliant and I could not rest until I had the story finished.

6. Amnesia: a book that's forgotten and failed to leave a powerful impression in your memory
The Vampire Chronicles - Anne Rice
I really need to finish this series! It's not that I didn't enjoy what i've read so far - I honestly just keep forgetting that i'm in the middle of it. It's just not powerful enough to make me want to finish I guess.

7. Asthma: a book that took your breath away
The Fault in our Stars - John Green
Beautiful writing, fantastic characters and a plot line that literally takes your breath away. This is a total must read.

8. Malnutrition: a book that lacked food for thought
Hush, Hush / Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick
I recently reviewed Crescendo and as I explained there - there's just nothing to these stories so far but I can't stop eating them up! Sometimes, I just can't argue with the critic in me, and I just have to sit back and read...:)

9. Travel sickness: a book that took you on a journey through time or space or to a specific local on the map
Eragon Series - Christopher Paolini
(With the exception of Inheritence, which I am yet to read).
I read these a few years ago whilst I was in hospital. Not really a 'travel' journey, but a journey none-the-less. They're just wonderful stories that anyone can get into and I hope that by the end of the year i'll have read the final installment to complete the story!