The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante's shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.
Shudder
348 pages
Published June 15, 2013
-- Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy --
It's only been three days, and already everything is different.
Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.
And then there are the visions.
The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling...
Oh, my! Dystopia at its finest! A quick word on Stitch (book 1): It had been a while since I'd read what it was about so I just started reading. It seemed like a nice time travel romance with a hint of something else and then BAM!, in came the dystopia element. At that point, I couldn't put it down. And when I got to the end, I was glad I had book 2, Shudder, ready to start.
Shudder takes off right out of the gate and doesn't stop. We get the perspective of different people. First up are the Engineers who are running Paragon. We find out more about their motives and what they are hoping to accomplish (scary!). Then we are taken to one of the rebels who is being punished for her part in the rebellion. We're not sure who she is for a while, though. Next up is Alessa and Isaac, newly reunited, who leave Paragon to try to find a new headquarters for the rebellion. It's not an easy task and there are lots of struggles along the way. And finally, we hear again from a character in Stitch that we haven't heard from in a while who is back in prison. He starts communicating with his neighbor through notes and it's someone we know but don't find out her identity for a while, either.
I loved all the back and forth and it wasn't confusing at all. I had a hard time getting anything done since I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. Hearing lots of different perspectives moved the book along at a fast pace and I was engrossed in this story. The interesting part of dystopia is that the people in charge seem to start out with good intentions but in their quest for control, they forget that most people desire freedom and the chance to live life the way they want so it never turns out well. I enjoy reading about those willing to fight back.
Alessa goes through quite a bit as she struggles with wanting to no longer be involved with the rebellion to her feelings for Isaac as she can't seem to stop thinking about Joe. She also has some physical issues to deal with as she tries to figure out what's happening to her. And then the ending--I was not happy that I didn't have book 3, Stuck, ready to start (there is a sneak peek at the end of Shudder, and I think I will love this one, too). If you are looking for a fantastic dystopian series, this is one I would highly recommend!!
My Rating=5 stars
Content: Some sex (without any details) and mild swearing
Here's what others are saying about this book:
Praise for Pacing
Review at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The tale moved at an even clip until the final chapters where I found myself turning the pages at a frantic pace as all of the threads came together and we moved to the climatic ending. We as the reader are now privy to things the Rebels do not know and the set up for book three created suspense and anticipation. With its powerful world-building this tale has me excited to read the conclusion of this trilogy.
Review at Michelle Chew Writes
I'm totally captivated by the intense storyline and how the story slowly unravel and explains some lingering questions from Stitch. I love how the author did that and even maintaining the smooth flow of story.
Review at Little Hyuts
Despite how popular dystopian YA has become, Samantha Durante was able to bring something fresh to the genre. This series is in no way cookie cutter dystopian. Shudder jumps right back into the story, taking place only days after book one ended. Fast paced with not a single dull moment, this book will have you turning pages until the end. And believe me you are going to be upset Stuck isn't here yet. I highly recommend this series!
Review at From the Writer's Nest
This dystopian/post-apocalyptic sci-fi world still manages to surprise and shock. The pacing is faster and the action scenes had me on the edge of my seat! With plenty of suspense and a downright scary future world, this is a sequel you don’t want to miss!
Review at The Minding Spot
The action, suspense, compelling characters and deftly built world mesh together to create a stunning installment that has me waiting, somewhat impatiently, for the next one!
Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!
As an avid lifelong reader of fiction of all sorts, there’s nothing I find more engrossing than an epic sci-fi/fantasy/romance series. I’ve whiled away countless weekends of my life immersed in richly-woven worlds that someone else was kind enough to put on paper... about the author
Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.
Stitch
314 pages
Published August 1st, 2012
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.
Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence... Goodreads
Tour-Wide Giveaway:
5 Winners. August 24 - September 16, 2013. See Rafflecopter for restrictions.
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The Highlight Tour
Sharing Top Highlights from the Summer-Long Tour!
August dates:
24 - The Reading Diaries - Review
- The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
- Rose & Beps Blog
25 - Chapter Break - Review
- Wonderings of One Person - Review
- Mortal Moments
26 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review
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27 - YA Book Addict - Review
- The Bookish Daydreamer
- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
28 - Library of a Book Witch
- Mommasez... - Review
29 - Mel's Shelves - Review
- Fundinmental
30 - Green Mountain Couple
- Literary Meanderings
31 - Donnie Darko Girl - Review
- My Devotional Thoughts
Sept. 1 - The Book Rogue
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