The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

This is the story of Ava Lavender, a girl born with wings.  But to truly understand Ava and her sorrows, we must understand those of her mother and grandmother.  Three stories in one book, giving the reader insight to Ava's past, which in turn brings insight to her future.

Although this tale feel convoluted at times, the weaving together of three stories works well for this book.  As I was absorbed further into the stories of Emilienne and Vivane, I would be surprised at the first person narration tangents that would pop up.  Momentarily caught up in the sorrows of her relatives, I had forgotten that this was the story of Ava, the girl with wings and a heavy history.

The imagery is incredible.  Never mind that I know perfectly well that one cannot foretell the future by which way the wind is blowing, or that it's unlikely that a person can be born with wings- I was sucked in from the very first page and rarely wanted to put this book down. 

Ava Lavender's sorrows are indeed strange and beautiful, giving the reader a fantastic tale of misguided love, heart-wrenching loss, and a pure hope that Ava can overcome the complicated history of her family and find freedom in accepting herself. 

Moirai by Ruth Silver

The story of Olivia and Joshua continues with this action-packed sequel.

Silver does a great job of pulling the reader into the story once again.  There is suspense and turmoil from the first page, making this book hard to put down.  And although it isn't long, there is quite a bit of detail to process. 

My favorite part is the incorporation of the story of the Moirai, or the Fates.  The question of whether different choices lead to different outcomes or if we are fated for the same thing regardless of our decisions arises several times throughout the book.  Is Olivia's fate truly to be the medical miracle everyone wants her to be?  Or is it just a projection on her by those who want a symbol for the reason that they fight? 

The dialog rings true and the reader can really feel the emotion of Olivia, who narrates this tale.  The way Silver writes is strong, well-paced, and full of energy.

There are a few new characters introduced, and some brought back from Aberrant, who mesh well with the rest of the characters.  Tension is felt with some; trust is kindled with others. 

I am looking forward to the next installment!

Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

 Kaitlyn never imagined she'd still be alive after she donated her body to science upon the event of her death, which is what most of us would think. She finds herself unable to remember anything before the past few months, and she's subjected to training, tests, and endless time alone.  She can't help but feel that she's missing something, that she's experiencing emotions that should have been eradicated when her body was fused with a supercomputer.

Although this story can be a bit dull in places (it's tedious to be the subject of scientific studies, and sometimes to read about them), it does make you stop and think what you would do in the same position.  Kaitlyn has to use her enhanced brain and physical skills to determine if she's still human enough not to think of herself as a monster.

This is a thought-provoking story of what happens after you check the box on your license that marks you as a donor after death.