Viral Nation (Viral Nation, #1) by Shaunta Grimes

Description from Goodreads:

After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.

Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.

When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.

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I was really excited when I noticed that my request for Viral Nation was accepted on NetGalley. I haven't read any post-apocalyptic books for a long time even though they usually end up being some of my favourite books. The idea of autistic main character also made me intrigued about the book as I don't recall reading any similar kind of books. There were so many fascinating elements that I knew I had to get my hands on the book. So, you can imagine my excitement as I started reading the book.

I really liked the main characters Clover and West whose point of views the readers were allowed to witness. As Clover is the autistic main character, I was slightly worried that Grimes couldn't write her convincingly. But that worry ended up being for nothing! The readers immediately notice how Clover is struggling with social situations and can't correctly interpret others' rhetorics or intentions, just like it usually happens to autistics.  However, it was nice to realise despite of everything that I was able to identify with her character. She feels compassion and love, and on top of this, she is a child genius with  her incredible memory. I was never left cold by her character.

West on the other hand was this protective and loyal big brother who had taken care of Clover as long as he could remember. However, he had to put his own dreams on hold as West always puts Clover's needs first. Writers tend to write the male characters in a very romanticised fashion, but it was really refreshing as West isn't perfect: he has problems with his aggression and he doesn't always handle situations related to violence in the best manner. 

Even though the plot isn't exactly original, I loved the corrupted society the book included. The nation has been swept away by the virus killing the majority of population, only leaving some hundreds of thousands people alive. The survivors now have established few cities surrounded by walls which prevent the citizens from leaving as they are told that here are only dangers waiting outside the city walls. I wish Grimes would have introduced more of the society and how the hierarchies work, even though we got a brief glance to the system. I was left with so many questions that I would have liked to gotten answers to.

But there was something which in the book that left me a bit cold. Well, if I'm being completely honest, more than a bit of cold. I usually enjoy reading books which include action and all sorts of dangers, but I don't feel like Viral Nation offered too many situations like that. Despite the fact that there were this constant atmosphere of fear, there weren't scenes which made my heart pound and want to read faster than I actually could. The plot in itself was good, but I didn't find it thrilling or suspenseful.

Viral Nation was a good read. It wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, but I did enjoy it. I tend to have too high expectations and this is probably why I end up disappointed with so many books. But I don't think it is actually correct to lower my expectations when I'm reading, is it? I think we all deserve books which we love unconditionally. Viral Nation just wasn't one of those books for me. 

☆☆☆

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (2013)

Description from Goodreads:

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

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First of all, I want to thank Bloomsbury Publishing Pic for allowing me to have a copy of this exceptional book. I just finished reading the book and I'm so speechless! All Our Yesterdays is one of those books which just blow your mind, and you can't stop thinking about it after finishing. I don't know if I have any bad word to say about this book. I think I could write a book of the all the praises I have for it!

Yes, yes, yes! Finally, I've read a decent, or well to be honest, an excellent time-travelling young adult book! I have waited for this so long, and finally it happened. The best part is that even though time-travelling was a big part of the book, there was so much more to the story with action, betrayals, romance, friendship and so so much more. I'm so in love with the book at the moment!

First of all I want tackle the time-travel concept. I have encountered quite many books that include time-travelling, but the author hasn't offered a good, realistic, and scientific explanation how does the time-machine actually work. However, in the case All Our Yesterdays, Terrill gives a proper description how it is possible to travel through time. Even though I'm not a physicist and I'm not an expert on these issues, the author's theory seems logical and actually plausible! It was just a pleasure to read how Terrill had come up with her own idea!

I was sucked into the story from the first page. In the beginning, the readers aren't allowed to know too much what has happened to Em and Finn to get imprisoned, but slowly we are allowed to know what got them into that position. The chapters bounce from the future to the past which is really interesting to read. One could think that this solution interrupts the natural flow of the story, but I found it a great choice from the author. We get to know the characters better and find out what are the motivations behind Em and Finn's actions. 

It's really rare for me to like all the characters in the novel including both "good" and "bad" guys. But in All Our Yesterdays I really loved everyone. Em was this brave yet gentle soul, and I could immediately identify with her even though she was in a position where I probably won't ever be. Finn on the other hand was so sweet and loyal. Even though Marina (e.g. the past Em) doesn't exactly fancy Finn, the readers can right away see what a nice person he really is. And James. James, James, James. He probably along with Finn was my favourite character. James was such a complex character with his intelligence and awkwardness. 

But maybe the best thing in the whole novel was that even though the idea of time-travelling is rather Utopian, the events and the characters made the story so believable. Even though at moments the story was terrifying and so far from the reality, somehow I could see that the world could turn up to be something like in All Our Yesterdays if (or when..) time-machine is invented. I don't want to reveal how the world turned up to be, but it was something scary.

Apparently there is going to be sequel (sequels?) and I just simply cannot wait for it. The ending was sort of perfect and left me reeling with so many emotions. I hope Terrill writes the book 2 asap, or I just might have to kidnap her and get answers to my questions about what's going to happen next!!

"I feel something like the whisper of a touch to my face. Deep from the back of my mind, a voice that sounds a lot like my own speaks to me like a memory, telling me I'm strong and loved and that everything is going to be okay. And, for some strange reason, I believe it."

☆☆☆☆☆