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Title: The Pack
Author: L.M.Preston
Genre: Sci-fi
Perfect Paperback: 316 pages
Publisher: Phenomenal One Press (August 1, 2010)
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

My Thoughts:
Kids are disappearing on Mars and the future looks bleak if nothing is done to stop it. Shamira’s parents are part of the elite security personnel of Mars. When the kids start disappearing, 16-year-old Shamira stars an investigation of her own and despite her parents protests goes out into the night to hunt them down and find out whats going on. So whats the surprise here? Shamira is blind AND the story is set on Mars.

It’s the year 2161 and Mars is colonized. Initially all the criminals and unwanted people from Earth were send to Mars and Mars security tried hard to keep crime rate under control. But suddenly some of the kids start disappearing and everyone is working hard to find the culprits.

What I loved about the story is the setting, it’s very refreshing to read something set on Mars and imagine that something like this could be a possibility in the future. Shamira is a kick-ass, no-nonsense heroine. I wished she would have stayed blind but she does get her sight back (don’t worry, not a spoiler since it happens pretty early in the book).  I understand it would be difficult to develop an action-adventure plot with a blind heroine but that would have made it even more unique.

I also loved the chemistry between the pack members (the ones that help Shamira to find the culprits) and the action sequences were fabulous. I kept marveling over the environment the author created on Mars. The only drawback I see here is that this book seems to be written for the middle graders. There were a few loopholes in the story but I was so caught up in the story that I didn’t care. And although, many books are cross overs, this isn’t. You will like it if you love YA or adventure books.

Note: Avoid Amazon reviews for this book (the long ones), they are full of spoilers.

And now the contest details:
Here’s what you win, courtesy the author and the publisher

· Free signed book, poster, magnet and $10 itunes gift card
· All of the winners from the Virtual Blog tour will automatically get a free copy of the next book released by Phenomenal One Press, BANDITS that comes out Spring of next year.

The contest is open till 15th September. It’s International. To enter just comment with your email address.