What YA' Reading: Survival

Stories about someone whose life is on the line and fighting for survival keep me reading late into the night. Will they make it? How are they ever going to get out of this extraordinary situation? Check out my recommendations of books where survival is essential. 

Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova

In a world where magic is rare, no one is more more feared than Renata. She's a memory stealer whose powers were used by the king against his enemies. Renata was rescued by the rebels working against the king, but they don't trust her.

When the rebel boy she loves is captured, Renata will do anything to save him and end the war. Even if it means facing the memories that haunt her and returning to the one place she never wanted to see again.

Incendiary is a beautiful story that asks what you would do if you were haunted by memories and the knowledge that you can doom others. When Renata steals the memories, they stay in her mind and can overwhelm her at the worst times. As a reader, the idea of remembering the worst moments of someone else's life feels intrusive. I felt sympathy for both Renata and the people whose lives she impacted.

"Gorgeous worldbuilding, searing suspense, and a huge cast of fascinating, complex characters make Incendiary an irresistible read. From the very first page, the indomitable Renata Convida's quest for vengeance and justice had me in its teeth."―Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

If you like Incendiary, the story continues in Illusionary. 

Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Ross Quest is a 17-year-old master thief who wants to leave her family of thieves and escape to a normal life. But when her mother is captured with a ransom demand that even a thief can't pay, Ross enters the Thieves' Gambit: a competition of heists where even death is possible. The grand prize is a wish for anything in the world, which Ross can use to save her mother's life. She knows she has to win, but when you are in a competition of thieves who can you trust?

Thieves' Gambit is a fast paced novel filled with twists and turns. Ross faces challenges that feel both extraordinary (like stealing priceless historical artifacts) and ordinary (like being in a competition with your ex-best friend). The characters are fun to read and the will-they-or-won't-they romance between Ross and her fellow thief, Devroe, is both sweet and suspenseful. Throughout the book, I wondered about the thief who is willing risk everything but can't decide if she's willing to risk her heart.

“A propulsive, high-octane thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. Full of breathtaking heists, complex relationships, high-stakes tension, and characters I would follow anywhere, Thieves’ Gambit gripped me from the first page, and never let go. You won’t want to stop reading.”—Alex Aster, #1 New York Times best selling author of Lightlark

If you like Thieves' Gambit and want more heists, check out Heist Society by Ally Carter.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette has been locked up for murder. She didn't mean to kill anyone, but her touch is fatal. When the government gives Juliette the chance to get out in exchange for working for them, she wonders what they want her to do for them. Does she become their weapon or become something more?

Shatter Me is the first in a dystopian series that asks is different bad? Juliette has always been different from the people around her and has been rejected for it. When she has the opportunity to be around people who tell her it is a gift, she understandably struggles to come to grips with what they are saying. How could she ever grow to accept the very thing that makes her so dangerous? 

“Fast-paced action scenes convey imminent danger vividly....Part cautionary tale, part juicy love story, this will appeal to action and adventure fans.” — Kirkus Reviews

If you like Shatter Me, check out The Hunger Games.