The Last Year Series Book Review and Giveaway!

Whispers in Autumn
(The Last Year Series)

Author:  Trisha Leigh   

ISBN: 1475235941 (ISBN13: 9781475235944)

Release Date:   July 24th 2012
Format : Kindle
Pages: 388

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance,
Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: The Last Year #1

Summary
In 2015, a race of alien Others conquered Earth. They enslaved humanity not by force, but through an aggressive mind control that turned people into contented, unquestioning robots.

Except sixteen-year-old Althea isn’t content at all, and she doesn’t need the mysterious note inside her locket to tell her she’s Something Else. It also warns her to trust no one, so she hides the pieces that make her different, even though it means being alone.

Then she meets Lucas, everything changes.

Althea and Lucas are immune to the alien mind control, and together they search for the reason why. What they uncover is a stunning truth the Others never anticipated, one with the potential to free the brainwashed human race.

It’s not who they are that makes them special, but what.

And what they are is a threat. One the Others are determined to eliminate for good.

Review

One word comes to mind when I read this book; “Wow”. I have never read a alien book quite like this before, and it was different and exciting. I can see this book being turned into a movie. These aren’t good aliens, they control human minds so that they could take over the earth for its resources. I disliked them right away. In this book the Aliens are called Others. I find that trust is a major theme in this book. Do you trust yourself and your own gut, or do you trust what the ones in charge are telling you?

The book takes place in Connecticut. Our main character, Althea, is living with the Morgans for the autumn season.  The Morgans believe that Althea is their daughter. That's interesting, because every season (except for summer) she travels to different cities. Does she have a family for each season, and how does she convince them that she's their daughter?

The plot centers around Althea and how her life has always been a lie.  She has to hide her true thoughts from everyone, and doesn't trust anyone because a note she found in a necklace told her not to. Then she meets Lucas at the cell (cells are like schools, but changed when the Others arrived on earth) they both attend, everything changes. She wants to trust him and believe him, but she can’t fully trust him because she lived without trusting someone for so long. When Wardens arrive, they begin to trust each other more. Wardens are Others who watch out for anyone who isn't under the Other mind control. Their arrival leads Althea and Lucas to come together and learn to trust each other, so that they can find out why they are different from everyone. As the truth slowly starts to unfold, they learn that they have powers most humans do not and that they are in danger.

Althea is a great character. She has a strong personality, but when it comes to the Others she’s scared. She also doesn’t trust anyone, even when it came to Lucas. She wants to believe that Lucas is someone she can trust. It’s not until later when the Wardens come that they began to talk. Slowly she starts to let down her guard around Lucas, trusting him and even falling for the boy with golden hair and blue eyes. They do everything to find out what the Others want with them, who and what they are, and how they came to be something the Others can’t control.

Lucas is a great guy. At first he’s careful around Althea, but after a while of talking to her he learns that he could trust her. He does what he can to protect Althea, and shows his strength even when he is hurt in the process.

Rating
5 out of 5 Howling Books

Winter Omens Arc
(The Last Year Series)

Author:  Trisha Leigh   

ISBN: 147828787X

Release Date: September 25th 2012
Format : Kindle
Pages: 398

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance,
Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: The Last Year #2

Summary
Althea and Lucas barely escaped the Others’ clutches in the autumn, and were separated in the process. Alone and on the run from the cruel alien race determined to exterminate her, Althea struggles to adapt and survive in a world she never imagined.

When a boy named Pax appears out of nowhere, he quickly recognizes Althea for what she is – a human/Other hybrid just like him. Althea begs him to help her find Lucas, but Pax refuses, intent on following his own mysterious agenda.

The Others’ presence continues to devour the planet’s resources, and if history is an indication, they won’t leave until Earth is destroyed beyond repair. Althea and Pax sense the only way to save themselves – and maybe their home – is to understand the powers simmering inside them.

Together they push the limits of their capabilities in the quiet Wilds, but are soon confronted with a terrifying fact: no place is safe from the relentless pursuit of the Others.

Least of all their own minds.

Review

Just as good as the first book, there were even times where I cried in this book. The blend of emotion tugging romance and sadness made me fall in love with this series. This book was even more exciting then the first, and the romance is more heated up, and you won’t believe with who.

This series takes place in Lowa at first, where Althea wakes up from escaping the Others. She isn’t with Lucas and she has to get out of the town before the Others locate her. Soon she meets up with Pax, and they travel across the country to get to Portland.

After escaping the Others and being separated from Lucas, Althea is by herself. She runs away from the town of Lowa, where she wakes up in and flees into the wilds. In the wilds, she meets a dog that she mistakes as a wolf at first, and a boy name Pax who she realizes is like her. Though they are weary of each other at first, they soon come to trust each other with their secrets as they travel together. At first Althea tries to convince Pax that they need to find Lucas, but soon gives up when Pax only has one thought and that is to get to Portland. As they travel they learn more of each other and grow closer. It doesn’t help that Althea is being targeted every time she sleeps by the Others who have found her in the hive of their minds.

Althea is more trusting in this book then the last. Though it still took time for her to trust Pax, it was a lot faster then when she first met Lucas. Probably because she learns that there are three other season elements beside her. Finding Pax, who is autumn, makes her glad that she isn’t alone any longer. Despite the fact she found a dog to keep her company, finding someone like her made her relax about not being alone anymore.  She learns more about why the Others don’t allow animals in the towns and that the Others might be afraid of her and the other three dissidents because of their powers.

Pax is different from Lucas. While Lucas is kind and cares about Althe, Pax doesn’t treat her the same, he’s keeping her at a distance. He serious about his mission, and he hates the Others as much as Althea, but has no reason to stop them. He just wants to get to Portland to solve unfinished business. Though things change when Althea starts to travel with him. He feels their connection and how strong the pull is towards one another every time they touch. He soon learns to trust Althea and even has a couple romantic moments together.

The romance between these two is heated and you can see how much they attract one another. Every time they touch they want to kiss and be closer together. At a few parts they couldn’t help but react on these feelings only to stop just as fast. It’s because of these moments between Althea and Pax that I’m confused on which guy I like more. Lucas hardly had time to act on his feelings in the first book because of the trust issue and the issue with the Others. Pax is new and Althea trusts him much faster, and they spend all their time together to grow and develop romantic feelings right away. Both guys are great, so I’m not sure if I’m a Pax fan or a Lucas fan.

Rating
5 out of 5 Howling Books

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