Last year I mentioned 10 Hot Dystopian Novels {on my 2012 Reading List}. I finished all the books, so here's a recap on whether or not I liked them. I love this genre and plan on reading even more!

Reading Dystopian Books in 2012 {Finishing the List}

Divergent, Veronica Roth. This book is definitely worth all the hype it has received, but I didn't like that it took quite a while for the author to explain exactly why the (dystopian) society was divided into factions based on a character trait - e.g., Abnegation (selfless), Candor (honesty & truth), Dauntless (Fearless, Bravery), etc. - and I think the explanation was pretty weak sauce. (My Discussion | Amazon| Goodreads)

Insurgent (Divergent #2), Veronica Roth. The plot of Insurgent moves at a pretty fast pace, but as much as I enjoyed the pacing and intrigue of the plot, I felt like scratching my head and going, "huh?!" towards the end. My complaint with the 1st book - the weakness of the explanation for "why" the dystopian society was divided the way it was - also applies here too. It is more thoroughly explained, but I still don't freaking get it. (My Discussion | Amazon | Goodreads)

When She Woke, Hillary Jordan. What a book! Jordan did a good job tackling some hard issues, like abortion (which was illegal & the reason why the main character was tinted red - her punishment), religion, justice, feminism & homosexuality. With all the issues involved, it was surprising that this book wasn't a muddled mess - but it just wasn't. The plot was compelling and the characters well developed - the story flowed smoothly & I followed along eagerly & willingly. (My Discussion | Amazon | Goodreads)

Legend, Marie Lu.This book is fast paced, action packed and the characters are very well developed! They took me for a ride and I went along happily - eager and anxiously awaiting every plot twist. (My Discussion | Amazon| Goodreads)

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline. I'm not a gamer, but this book fully captured my imagination and left me pondering if we aren't in fact closer than it seems to living/ preferring a virtual World. (My Discussion | Amazon | Goodreads)

Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi. The World in this book is totally plausible and believable. I think it was the strongest point of the book, because other than the main character, Nailer, and his father ... and maybe Tool, I didn't connect much with any of the other characters. (My Discussion | Amazon| Goodreads)

Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler. Butler does not pull any punches in the dark, violent dystopian society that she created. She let's us know in no uncertain terms that any feeling of safety is fleeting, and any hope of a bright future is just a pipe dream. And there is racism, socioeconomic strife, and a question of the place of religion in such a depressing World. Did I mention - this book is interesting and so well worth reading?! (My Discussion | Amazon| Goodreads)

The Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness. Definitely A+ for the interesting concept - everyone can hear each others thoughts - and the book was intriguing, suspenseful at times & the plot moved along at a fast pace. There were a few inconsistencies throughout, but I plan on reading the rest of the series. (My Discussion | Amazon| Goodreads)

Pure, Julianna Baggott. This novel is bleak, depressing and full of tragic beauty. Baggott did an AMAZING job detailing this post-apocalyptic Worlld - one where survivors under the Dome remain as they were before nuclear detonations, and outside of the Dome, the survivors have been fused to whatever they were in contact with during the explosions. It was hard to hear sometimes - El Capitan has his brother fused to his back; Pressia has a doll-head for a hand; her grandfather has a fan in his throat ... and on and on it goes. Make sure you can handle a dark book before reading this one! (My Discussion | Amazon|Goodreads)

A Million Suns, Beth Revis. This second installment in the trilogy was even better than the 1st book, Across the Universe. I liked it all - plot, pacing & characters.I was sucked into the story from the beginning, and there was a sense of urgency that never let up. (My Discussion | Amazon| Goodreads)