Source: Received ecopy of book for a Kismet Book Tour.
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 247 (Paperback)
Visit Paradise 21's Tour Page on Kismet's website for more information.
Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage. But Aries has other plans.
When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price.
The life of the man she loves.
Review:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Paradise 21. I knew it wasn't going to have Earth as its setting, and that somehow Aries was going to meet a handsome man named Striker. I knew these things from the blurb on Goodreads, but they didn't prepare me for this book...at all! Instead, I was wowed by a book that was way more than I expected. I expected to like it obviously, or I wouldn't have signed up to read it for a blog tour, but I definitely didn't expect to get as wrapped up in this story as I did. When I finished Paradise 21, I was honestly upset that it was over...I was like "I want to more!!!" :P
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Paradise 21. I knew it wasn't going to have Earth as its setting, and that somehow Aries was going to meet a handsome man named Striker. I knew these things from the blurb on Goodreads, but they didn't prepare me for this book...at all! Instead, I was wowed by a book that was way more than I expected. I expected to like it obviously, or I wouldn't have signed up to read it for a blog tour, but I definitely didn't expect to get as wrapped up in this story as I did. When I finished Paradise 21, I was honestly upset that it was over...I was like "I want to more!!!" :P
Now that I have professed my love for this book, it's time for some details. The characters were fantastic. Aries was amazing! The fact that she'd grown up on a ship where they basically discouraged any type of original thought didn't deter her at all. She was amazing; smart, determined, thrifty, and selfless when those that she loved were at risk. I have to admit, I love seeing heroines who use their heads, and when they don't like what it's saying, they follow their heart. Then there was Striker...oh my, my, my. If I ever try and land on a strange planet from my cramped life on a spaceship, I hope I find a space pirate like him...now I know what you're thinking, "That won't happen...seriously...ever!" And, you know what, you're right! It won't, but a girl can dream, can't she? :P
Along with Striker and Aries, were Barliss, Aries' betrothed, Tiff and Drifter, Striker's ex-crewmates, and a few newbies thrown in. I'll admit, I was not a fan of Barliss. He was heartless, and was willing to do anything to get his way. He was basically a 40-something bully who was doing it all in the name of the cause. Tiff and Drifter, were also pretty selfish. They staged a mutiny on Striker, and abandoned him on Sahara 354...which I guess turned out alright, since that's where he met Aries. ;) I also really liked Loot, who was rescued by Tiff when he was little, he was just so darn sweet, and so loyal. :)
I thought the story itself was fantastic! Aubrie did a fantastic job crafting the world of Paradise 21. I felt it was realistic, and it the perfect amount of descriptive. Hopefully you understand what I mean by that. haha I'll clear it up though, just in case. By saying Paradise 21 was the perfect amount of descriptive, I mean that it wasn't overly descriptive, which frankly bores me after a while, or not descriptive enough. It was just right. I felt like I could actually picture the world around Striker, and Aries, and it was as if I was really there.
Along with the characters, and descriptions, I loved the romance of this story. I was definitely a fan of Striker and Aries, and I loved them together. The whole concept of choice was huge in Paradise 21, too. It made a big impact on me. Aries grew up on the New Dawn, where everything was chosen for her. Her job, her husband, and all other choices were decided for her based on the fact that they had an obligation to pass on their unique genetic code. Their whole lives were lived as machines basically, and their main operative was to mate, and pass on their DNA so that a generation in the future would reach the ship's destination, Paradise 21. I loved that Aries was fighting so hard to have choices, and that she was so passionate about being able to have them at all, it was kind of inspiring, and makes you think about how we kind of take the fact that we have choices for granted. Ergo, I loved that Paradise 21 made me think, and examine my own choices. It's always nice when a book blows away your expectations...and Paradise 21 definitely blew mine out of the water...or should I say into outer space. ;)
Book Trailer:
About Aubrie Dionne:
Aubrie is an author and flutist in New England. Her stories have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, A Fly in Amber, and several print anthologies including Skulls and Crossbones by Minddancer Press, Rise of the Necromancers, by Pill Hill Press, Nightbird Singing in the Dead of Night by Nightbird Publishing, Dragontales and Mertales by Wyvern Publications, A Yuletide Wish by Nightwolf Publications, and Aurora Rising by Aurora Wolf Publications. Her epic fantasy is published with Wyvern Publications, and several of her ebooks are published with Lyrical Press and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she’s not writing, she plays in orchestras and teaches flute at Plymouth State University and a community music school.
TOUR STOPS:
Monday, August 8th - A Journey of Books / Guest Post, Where Aubrie got the idea for Paradise 21
Tuesday, August 9th - Paranormal Opinion / Guest Post, Paradise 21: Space Pirates with a Chip on Their Shoulder
Wednesday, August 10th - The Great, The Good and The Bad / Guest Post, Sci fi terminology in Paradise 21
Thursday, August 11th- The Magic Attic / Character Interview, Striker
Friday, August 12th - We Fancy Books / Guest Post, The baddies in Paradise 21
Monday, August 15th - My Bookish Ways / Author Interview
Tuesday, August 16th - Oodles of Books / Guest Post, Luggage in Space
Wednesday, August 17th - Mission To Read / Guest Post, Creating your own world: Positives and Negatives
Thursday, August 18th - Books Like Breathing / Character Interview, Aries
Friday, August 19th - Burning.x.Impossibly.x.Bright / Guest Post, Character Building: Challenges and Rewards
Tuesday, August 23th - The Fiction Enthusiast / Guest Post, Paradise 21: the twenty first planet capable of sustaining life
Wednesday, August 24th - Bewitched Bookworms / Author Interview
Thursday, August 25th - The Book Faery Reviews / Guest Post, What Makes Space Opera So Awesome?
Friday, August 26th - The Well-Read Wife / Guest Post, Pirate names: learn the crew of the Morphic Marauder
GIVEAWAY!
As part of the Kismet Book Touring's Tour for Paradise 21, each stop is giving away a signed postcard and one of Aubrie's previous works , which one you win is up to you. To enter, all you have to do is fill out the form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and lasts until the end of the tour on August 26th (at 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time). The winner will be chosen using Random.org and they will have 48 hours to claim their prizes. To enter, you must also be 13 years or older.
To enter to win the three necklaces that Aubrie made (picture to the left), all you have to do is comment on one of the participating blogs' Paradise 21 tour post (you can find all the stops under Tour Stops right above this giveaway in this post) and you'll be entered in the giveaway for the necklaces. Winners will be announced on Aubrie's blog at the end of the tour.
To enter to win the signed postcard and an ebook, just fill out this FORM.
*GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*
Are you looking forward to reading Paradise 21? Have you read it already?
Any thoughts you'd like to share? :)
Happy Reading!!!
♪♫ Ambur
Wow, those necklaces are beautiful! So thank you for the post and for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeletemikki-mano@hotmail.com
This book sounds really interesting, and so do Aubrie's previous works.
ReplyDeleteThe necklaces are gorgeous!
Thanks for the giveaways!!
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
Paradise 21 sounds great! I love the cover of her books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!