Blog Tour: Persistence of Vision by Liesel Hill

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to be in the tour. What, with a dystopian genre and sci-fi elements like time travel...well, how could the geek in me resist?

Review

Title: Persistence of Vision
Author: Liesel Hill
Publisher:  Tate Publishing
Released: January 29th 2012
Pages: 386 (Kindle)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US


In a world where collective hives are enslaving the population and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper, and independent 21st Century woman, must find the strength to preserve the freedom of the future, but without the aid of her memories.

After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can't explain. When she's attacked by a creep with a spider's web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she's never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.

In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.

If Maggie can't fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away...


Five percent into this book, and I wanted to cry. What was I supposed to do? I was part of a blog tour of a book I wasn't even sure that I wanted to finish! I was confused, frustrated, disappointed...and then I hit 10% of my way through, and suddenly it became one of the best books I've read in a long time.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Life-Ruiner Green
Publisher: Dutton
Released:  January 10th 2012
Pages: 313 (Hardback)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

All of Me by Kim Noble

Title: All of Me
Author: Kim Noble
Publisher: Piatkus
Released: October 6th 2011
Pages: 369 (Paperback)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

When Kim Noble was younger than five years old, her personality splintered and fractured. She was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which causes unbearable pain.

Now her body plays host to more than 20 different personalities, or 'alters'. There are women and men, adults and children; there is a scared little boy who speaks only Latin, an elective mute, a gay man and an anorexic teenager.

All Of Me tells of Kim’s terrifying battles to understand her own mind, of her desperate struggle against all odds to win back her 13-year-old daughter, and of her courage in trying to make sense of her life. It is by turns shocking, inspiring, sometimes funny, and deeply moving.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Title: The Catastrophic History of You and Me
Author: Jess Rothenberg
Publisher: Razorbill
Released: February 2nd 2012
Pages: 400 (Paperback)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning...Welcome to forever. 

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. 

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. 

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Follow Friday (#19)

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where you meet and follow different bloggers.

Question of the Week: Write a letter to your favorite character. Rant, rave or gush…just pretend like they are real and you just want to let them know a "few things". - Activity courtesy of author, Kelly Walker.

Now I need to choose a favourite character! Decisions, I'm really not good at making decisions.

Dear Alaska,
What was Miles to you? Part of me is annoyed at him for falling all over you in the first place, trying to pursue you and fix all your problems, even though you obviously had a boyfriend. But then part of me is annoyed at you, Queen of Mixed-Signals; what was Miles to you? What did you feel for him? Was he a friend, someone you cared for deeply? Or a romantic interest? Or did you just lead him on, not caring whose feelings were hurt in the process?
Even though I love you both, Miles was a jerk, and so were you.
Love, Nina

Lenobia's Vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Title: Lenobia's Vow
Authors: P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Publisher: Atom
Released: January 31st 2012
Pages: 147 (Paperback)
Buy: Amazon UK /Amazon US

Before becoming Zoey's favourite professor and the House of Night's powerful horse mistress, Lenobia was just a normal 16-year-old girl - but with enough problems to last a lifetime. In 1788, Lenobia's father places her on a ship bound for New Orleans. An evil bishop, skilled in Dark magic, makes the same journey. His appetite for beautiful young women forces Lenobia to remain hidden, but she secretly visits the ship's stables, where a handsome young man and his horses capture her attention. Can they make it to the New World before the bishop discovers her true identity and a powerful evil breaks loose? And will Lenobia follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk?

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
Released: October 6th 2009
Pages: 384 (Paperback)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Stacking the Shelves (#7)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews where bloggers get together and show off what new reads are stacking up on their shelves.

Vortex by Julie Cross (from PanMacmillan)
Double Crossed by Ally Carter (from Disney Book Group via Netgalley)
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza (from HarperCollins via Netgalley)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (from school library)
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg (from school library)
All of Me by Kim Noble (from library)
I Am Alive by Cameron Jace (from author)
Sunshine by Nikki Rae (from author)

So what books have you received this week? Leave a comment below!

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Title: The Future of Us
Authors: Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Released: January 5th 2012
Pages: 356 (Paperback)
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

It's 1996 and very few high school students have ever used the internet. Facebook will not be invented until several years in the future. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD. She and her best friend Josh power it up and log on - and discover themselves on Facebook in 2011. Everybody wonders what they'll be like fifteen years in the future. Josh and Emma are about to find out

How many years ago did I buy Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher? Probably around the same time I borrowed The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler from the school library.  These two authors are brilliant at being comedic, whilst also dealing with serious issues, so when I saw a book written by the both of them? Well, I just had to have it.

Book of the Month: January

This month I have read ten books, and compared with December, they weren't as great as I had hoped. Four 3 stars, five 4 stars, and one 5 star - I suppose it's not that difficult to guess which one would be my book of the month!

I'd had my eye on Under the Never Sky for a while, due to the blurb and the major hype surrounding it. And after finishing it two days ago, I can safely say that the hype is there for a very good reason. With amazing characters, a steady and good plot, and believable relationships, this is definitely a series I'd recommend to dystopian lovers - and if you haven't tried dystopian fiction yet, then this is probably one of the best books to start with. Now to get my hands on Through the Ever Night!