Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I'd been putting off reading Delirium because I'd seen such polarized reactions to it. Some loved it, some hated it. So I tried to go in with as few expectations as possible. In the end, I'm planted, firmly, in the "loved it" camp.

Lena is counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday when she will receive the procedure that will protect her from, what the government has deemed the most dangerous disease of all, love. Lena's anxious to have the surgery because she's lived in fear that she will turn out like her mother, whose multiple procedures could never quite cure her of the disease and ultimately lead to her mother taking her own life.

Lena's anticipatory countdown warps entirely after meeting Alex. Alex is is an "Invalid", one of the uncured. Lena's relationship with Alex changes her preconceived notions about the "invalids" and slowly realizes that perhaps the "cure" is nothing more than the government's way to control citizens. (D'uh!) Lena's countdown then morphs to a countdown to the now dreaded day.

While Lena's feelings for Alex are strong she is merely dreading the procedure but doesn't intend to do anything rash, like refusing the procedure, until she learns something about her mother. The revelation changes everything she thought she knew about her past and that, in turn, changes everything for her future.

While reading Delirium I realized how much I enjoy a good dystopian novel. I love reading about alternate realities, presented as utopias, and following the character's realizations that the world they live in is anything but a utopia. I really enjoy that growing awareness of all that they're being denied and how the character processes that information.

I loved the relationship between Alex and Lena. I thought it was very well done. There was Lena's initial reaction to finding out Alex is an "invilad" and Alex's patience with Lena's coming to terms that maybe "the cure" is not necessarily the answer. Love Alex!

Delirium is an excellent start to a promising series. I'm so disappointed that, according to Goodreads, I have to wait until 2012 for, Pandemonium, the next installment of Lena's story. *POUTS* I'm so glad I didn't let the negative reviews I've seen of this book sway me from reading it. If you're a fan of the dystopian genre, I'd definitely give it a go. I'm so glad I did!

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Challenge(s) Fullfilled: E-book Challenge

Disclosure: I received this as a digital ARC through NetGalley. I did not receive any compensation for this review.

Reveiw: Promise Canyon by Robyn Carr

After years spent on ranches around Los Angeles, Clay Tahoma is delighted to be Virgin River’s new veterinary assistant. The secluded community’s wild beauty tugs at his Navajo roots, and he’s been welcomed with open arms by everyone in town—everyone except Lilly Yazhi.
 
Lilly has encountered her share of strong, silent, traditional men within her own aboriginal community, and she’s not interested in coming back for more. In her eyes, Clay’s earthy, sexy appeal is just an act used to charm wealthy women like his ex-wife. She can’t deny his gift for gentling horses, but she’s not about to let him control her. There’s just one small problem—she can’t control her attraction to Clay.
 
But in Virgin River, faith in new beginnings and the power of love has doors opening everywhere...

Promise Canyon is book 10 (13 counting novellas) in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, the first in the latest trilogy which is followed by Wild Man Creek and Harvest Moon. Like any series with so many installments there will be books that are better than others and Promise Canyon isn't one of my favorites nor is it my least favorite. It falls somewhere in the middle.

Virgin River reminds me very much of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, not in content or genre but because of the multiple story arcs, recurring characters, and character development over time. However, Promise Canyon introduces us to a new hero and heroine and I found it harder to get into.

I did enjoy the main relationship but I just didn't feel as connected to the characters as I have in the past. In Promise Canyon both main characters are Native Americans but from different tribes. Clay is Navajo and Lilly is Hopi. Lilly, having been jaded at a very young age by another Navajo is determined to avoid the new Native veterinary assistant, but Clay has other plans.

Clay patiently befriends and eventually worms his way into Lilly's heart. Lilly is resistant to her attraction to Clay and allows her past to cloud her judgement of the man Clay is, unfairly, comparing him to a reckless Navajo boy who once broke her heart. Clay is wonderful hero, sexy, steadfast. Not in the least bit tortured. Just a good guy with some baggage in the form of an ex-wife who eventually shows up to add additional conflict to Clay and Lilly's relationship.

In Promise Canyon, Virgin River says good bye to one of their own and also welcomes new faces who will, no doubt, one day star in their very own Virgin River adventure. While not my favorite in the series, Promise Canyon advances the series and is, overall, a good addition to the series. Every time I review one of these books I use the same description, because it's always true; Robyn Carr's Virgin River series is always heartwarming and uplifting.

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Disclosure: I received this as a digital ARC through NetGalley. I did not receive any compensation for this review.

The series in order:

Challenge: E-book