First

First (Live Once)
By: Chanda Stafford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

( I received this book free from the author through Goodreads group {All about YA}[R2R] in exchange for my honest review )

5 Stars!

I can't stop smiling. The ending, oh the ending, a cliff-hanger, but my god it was good, no it was exceptional.

From the first moment I started reading the first few words; I was hook, captured and I couldn't stop. The prologue was the perfect setup, and starts your mind down the confusing road of who's side is anyone really on.

The brutality and rawness made me angry but strangely understanding for both sides. There wasn't a clear black and white, and the ones you thought were gun-ho about keeping the old ways, are the ones trying to change it. Loyalties are test in this book, as well as broken. We get a taste of who the major players are going to be in the book(s) to come.

(Madam vice-president I got my eyes on you)

There are a few moments where I stepped back and went, well hell, I didn't see that one coming. Right down to the wire I was sure that there was going to be some sort of, let’s say; escape attempt. And right down, until the last few pages, I didn't quite know if our darling protagonist was going to live or die, and I shall not tell you!

Speaking of Mira, she touched my feels and pulled at my heart strings worst the this season(11) of Grey's Anatomy (Stop messing with the babies!)

She's strong but not arrogant. She isn't some brewing bad girl who only thinks of herself. She's caring and just wants to live her life as peacefully and as safely as she possibly can. She's human, simply put. She isn't written to be better than her peers, or to have super everything powers. She's a girl that wants to protect her little brother, do the right thing, even if she can't do it freely.

She has so much compassion in a world where there simply isn't any. She's smart, but scared, and never once did she try to hide it. No one can be stoned face when faced with death.

As for the love-triangle between Tanner, Will and her, well that was a bust. To me there wasn't one; Mira isn't in love with Tanner so much as she's worried about his safety. Mira and Will, -insert eye roll- they had that spark, that they tried to push away, but they both knew, they knew.

(<(Heck even Tanner knew)

Though their feelings did grew quickly, it wasn't, to me, unnatural. It was subtle, kind, and just that simple sweet that you rarely see. Old-school you could say.

Will as much as I like him, I'm not quite set on him yet, there were hints of something dark, though I could be wrong. I guess I'll just have to wait until the next book.

I highly recommend this novel. It's a fast past, heart breaking future world, with just enough realism thrown in to make you wonder.

Thank You Chanda Stafford for giving me the opportunity to read this fascinating work of fiction.

Happy Reading

-Emily