Book Review and Giveaway (CLOSED): Dark Parties by Sara Grant

Title: Dark Parties (#1)
Author: Sara Grant
Details: ARC, published in Hardcover, 320 pgs.
Published: August 3rd, 2011 by Little, Brown
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Big Honcho Media;  Little, Brown *for review*


Description:

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says... 
Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

Dark Parties left me with that feeling you get after you read an amazing dystopian.  Upon closing the book I had a tear in my eye and a serious need for MORE!  I was thinking other things too, but some of that would be too spoilery for you.  
I thought that the world created in this book was fantastic.  Imagine living under this dome and being told that everything outside was gone.  That it was destroyed, that there is no more life outside the Protectosphere.  Inside this dome is like a fairly normal city.  And it even has country side, so obviously it's a HUGE dome.  
I really liked Neva.  I liked that she stuck by her beliefs and didn't give up.  She was also a true friend even when faced with some very tough decisions.  She loved her friends and family and was willing to do anything, even sacrifice herself for them.  To me that made her incredibly brave.  
This book has some romance but it wasn't the most important part of the story.  It actually complicates things a bit and put a different twist on how things played out.  I thought that it moved a bit fast as far as their feelings for eachother but I ended up really liking it.  It was a forbidden romance but I can't tell you how or why without spoilers, so you'll have to read it!  
The first half of the book was a bit slow moving.  That's to be expected in any book where we have to learn about a new world and get introduced to the characters.  It may have also been my mood at the time.  The second half was much faster and much more difficult to put down as stuff really started happening.  And the last quarter?  Don't expect to get anything done while reading it because it's INTENSE!  And fabulous. It's exactly the way any dystopian should be.  
The book left off with a cliffhanger but yet it moved past the really intense part.  So I'm very very anxious to read more and find out more, but I'm not screaming in frustration.  Still am very anxious for the next book! (Assuming there is one.)

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Find the author:

Website

Dark Parties on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/darkparties  


Check out an Excerpt:

http://www.bighonchomedia.com/Assets/LittleBrown/DarkPartiesExcerpt.pdf

About the author:

Sara Grant is an American living in the UK. Born and raised in Washington, Indiana, Sara graduated from Indiana University with degrees in journalism and psychology. She now works as a freelance writer and editor for Working Partners, a London-based company creating series fiction for children. She lives in London with her husband. This is her first novel.

Book Trailer

The Giveaway: CLOSED

Big Honcho Media and Little, Brown Books are generously giving this book away to two different winners.   

 US only.

Must be 13 or older to enter. 

Ends July 20th, 2011

To Enter:

Leave a comment with contact info.

This Giveaway is being sponsored by a third party.  I am not responsible for prizes being damaged or not arriving.  However, if you do not receive your prize within 6 weeks please notify me so I can clarify whether it was sent.