The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker
Publisher:  Usborne
Publish Date:  February 1, 2012
ISBN:  978-1409536086
Pages:  320


Sherry's family has been in a sealed bunker for over three years due to a weird rabies outbreak.  Her grandfather is being stored in the freezer, her grandma won't stop knitting, her parents fight all the time and they're all starving.

Sherry and her dad finally leave the bunker in search of food.  Once outside, they're astounded by what has happened to their town...or really as far as they can see.  There's no one around...at all.  No signs of life.  They go to the closest store and they're attacked by 'Weepers' - humans changed by the rabies virus.  Sherry escapes with the help of a guy, but her dad is taken.

The story was good, it really was.  I like the premise, I like the action, surprises, flashbacks and countdowns.  The parts that didn't cut it for me:

 - the romance between Sherry and Joshua.  It's stated that Sherry is 15 years old and Joshua seems to be older, but you don't know how old - he comes off as early 20's.  I was a little creeped out by not knowing and also the romance didn't add to the story, I could have done without it. 

 - that Joshua takes Sherry on the hunt for her dad.  Yeah, he doesn't know what the guy looks like, but give him a description!  Sherry was a huge liability and if I were going into a life threatening situation, I wouldn't want to take someone that hadn't proved themselves.

I think that personally I wanted more plot, less romance.  I did like that Sherry reacted as I would expect the average person to - she freaked out!  I also loved that she didn't instantly turn into  bad-ass fighter chick!

While reading the book, I really couldn't help but be reminded of the Will Smith movie "Legend".  Awesome movie, by the way.  Let me know what you think!

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
Publisher: Candlewick
Publish Date:  May 24, 2011
ISBN:  978-0763656522
Pages:  464
Jacket Photography: ILina S/Getty Images





So I'm not huge on angel books, but I so loved the cover on this one and the blurb sounded interesting, so I gave it a try.  I'm glad I did!

16 year old Willow attends high school and tinkers with old cars...and she's psychic.  She's seen as a weirdo by her schoolmates, but that doesn't stop them from asking for readings from her.  That's how she first finds out about Angels.  She reads for a classmate and sees her with a man, a terrifying man that is feeding off of her.  The classmate thinks that the Angel is helping her and she feels so wonderful when she's with him, she wants to quit school and join the Church of Angels.  Willow decides to do whatever she can to stop her.

Alex is a teenage Assassin.  He was trained by his father and friends when he was a young boy.  Eventually the CIA took over Project Angel and separated all the Assassins.  Now they don't see each other or work with each other, they receive anonymous texts telling them where to go to kill the next Angel.

Now, all the talk of killing Angels - what awfulness, right?!  Nope.  See, Angels aren't heavenly messengers from God, they are parastic energy fiends from another dimension. Awesome take on Angels, Ms. Weatherly!  Kudos!

Alex is eventually sent to kill Willow, but he realizes that she isn't aware of some of her powers, so he takes her with him and they try to figure out how to save everyone from the Angels destroying mankind and their planet.

I like that Alex and Willow are fleshed out characters, they each get a chance to talk and let you know how they feel.  They aren't super good people, just people with some training or powers that are trying to do the right thing...but they don't always succeed.  I like that there isn't a love triangle - just one girl & one boy.  The dialogue is well written between them and others, it flows nicely.  The romance could have been a little more spread out, I dislike that in a lot of YA books, the characters are in love before they even know each other.  Maybe that's because I've forgotten that part of being a teen?  I don't remember being like that with boys.  I might like them or daydream about them...but instantly be in love with them?  Nah.

I was a little disappointed in the section where Alex and Willow ditch out in the cabin and just don't do anything.  I felt like maybe the author didn't know what to do with them and had to kill some time until she needed them.

Overall I did like this book, I can get over the small things that annoyed me.  I'm definitely going to read the next one.