Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Hardback) It is the future, and humans have inhabited Mars. They have also physically changed appearance into different classes.
Darrow is a “Red” class, which is basically a slave. (Although he doesn’t know it) He is recruited by a group of revolutionaries and undergoes an operation to make him appear “Gold” so he can infiltrate Gold leadership to spearhead a rebellion that will hopefully release his people. He gets more than he bargains for when he passes their tests, and gets thrown into what they consider training.
Imagine the Hunger Games, but ten times worse, because these kids are sent to fight each other, but not kill … but they end up turning into monsters and killing each other anyway. Darrow needs to excel and be the best of the best if he is going to leave this murderous competition with a chance to save his people.—Even if it means becoming one of the monsters he abhors.
While brutal at times, this novel kept my interest. The world Brown has created is awesome and frightening. Warning that you might feel ill at times, because our hero is forced to do some very horrific and un-hero-like things to survive.
My only quibble with this novel is that near the end, battles and conversations were summarized instead of showing complete scenes. The ending felt quite rushed, like the author was suddenly strapped to fit the story within a word count, or was just trying to get it over with. I doubt either was the case, but it was a bit strange, and noticeable to me. Otherwise, if you can take the brutality, this is a great science-fiction dystopian.
[Caution for younger readers because of the violence]
Talon is told from three different points of view. 1: a teenage soldier, part of a secret order whose sole goal is to destroy every dragon before they can take over the world. 2: A teenage dragon-shifting girl, who is fresh out of school and has to learn to blend in to normal human society for a few months in the summer before becoming an active member of Talon, a dragon organization built to help dragons survive. And 3: A young rogue dragon who has left Talon and is struggling to free other dragons from their rule. 
In this book, a prominent, famous religious leader is murdered, and we watch through the investigator’s eyes, and through the eyes of the sister and former love interest of the victim. It took me a long time, but this book did interest me at the end. 
Origin ups the ante in so many unspeakable ways.
The Caretaker and one other passenger, the only two people awake on the ship, fight desperately to protect their cargo.
But Stone Cold Touch, book two in the Dark Elements series, unfortunately fell flat for me. I think the reason is the love triangle.
This reminded me a lot of Melissa Lander’s “Alienated” in the way humans reacted to their new neighbors moving in on the beach (with crazed xenophobia). I’m sure it is very realistic, and a sad testament to how little humanity has evolved. 
Jennifer M Eaton 