"The ice-planet arrived in the dusky heat of summer twilight"

* * *
3 / 5

This was a peculiar read. It's sort of about a combative game but then it's about mysterious aliens, a missing brother, weird politics, and some all around general skulduggery. The Evaporation of Sofi Snow is part mystery, part action, and part confusion. Whilst it could have done with some trimming down and clarification, it's a genuinely enjoyable read with a few solid twists.

"Sofi, sometimes I hate all the death. It makes my soul tired"

Sofi is seventeen, a hacker and a gamer. Miguel is nineteen, an ambassador of Earth to the Delonese. She's of Native American descent, has a younger brother (Shilo) who she adores, and her mother is in charge of Corporation 30. He's the youngest ambassador ever, of Spanish descent, and bilingual. They narrate in alternating chapters and both are solid narrators backed up by a decent, if scientifically questionable, story.

We open with Sofi's brother Shilo partaking in some sort of violent game, with Sofi leading a sort of tech gamer crew behind the scenes. The game itself is a dangerous obstacle race with no rules on competitors attacking and undermining each other. The contestants are supported by their off-site teams, who are allowed to insert their own code into the virtual game to take out the opposition. I say virtual game, but I found this opening a touch confusing because all the characters were treating the game as though it were real, speaking of ex-contestants living without limbs and such, as though they were permanently harmed. Then there's the Delonese, peculiar aliens, being mentioned without much explanation. It's an action packed start to a novel, but it's not a very clear one.

"She pulled her knees up to her chest and fell back asleep, safely away from the person who had been her first innocent love"

Fear not, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow does get a lot better. Sofi is a good character. She's driven by a love for her brother who, after a bomb goes off in the game arena, vanishes. He is presumed dead. But then again, so is Sofi, who is in fact kidnapped by members of her mother's corporation; her mother, whilst not a particularly nice lady, has no idea her daughter is in fact alive and being experimented on. Then there's car chases, spaceship flying, political manoeuvrings, and good ol' fist fights. Once I struggled past the beginning and the lack of general understanding of the world Weber had created, this was a really fun book.

Miguel on the other hand is a bit weird. It states somewhere that he's been an ambassador for three years, which implies that they made a sixteen year old boy an ambassador to a potentially hostile and definitely bizarre alien race. I'm not buying it. I wouldn't make anyone under thirty an ambassador, and not without a great amount of training and experience. What I did like was his bi-linguality and frequent use of Spanish. He also manages to be quite charming without being either creepy or cringy, which is too fine a line for many authors to walk! I definitely grew fonder of Miguel as the book went on.

"We are one," Danya translated. "In soul. In beliefs. In harmony. In favour."

Then there's Miguel and Sofi together. I quite like it when characters have a romantic history. It makes them feel a bit more real and often avoids much of the flirtation or awkward first kisses. At least I did quite like it until the reason why Miguel and Sofi broke off their relationship in the first place is brought to light; I thought it was a bit of a childish reason and rather undeveloped. Neither is the backing cast that great; Claudius is Miguel's fellow ambassador and a sort of rakish playboy, Heller is Sofi's fellow gamer tech and is a bit creepy. I didn't care that much for either of them; Sofi and Miguel are far and away the strongest characters.

I'd recommend this to those that like their YA with a dash of mystery. The ending was also superb and I did not see it coming, so I'm definitely interested in reading the next book.

I really didn't enjoy this book, the relationships were almost all negative ones and the ending didn't provide any closure whatsoever.
I didn't write a review on this because I didn't feel it would benefit anyone.
I do apreciate the opportunity to have read it though. So thank very much.

After the end of the world and the proceeding restoration of that very same world, a new world order has taken over. A order based on companies, companies that provide basic services like food, medicine and cures for everything including ageing. They seemingly have all of the power, but truly they have deals with an alien race for more advanced tech and medicine that gives these creatures more power then was ever expected. Throwing games annually to entertained the masses and the aliens that they deal with, they pit kids against each other in a dangerous and bloody competition to win fame, fortune and a way out of crippling poverty. Sofi is a part of a team in those very games, and her brother is the one in the arena. When something goes terribly wrong and her brother goes missing, she will do anything to get him back. Anything.

This book was incredibly boring. The universe it was in seemed flimsy and undefined, and well as the characters, who were mostly highly underdeveloped. Most of the characters were nothing interesting, or really someone that the readers could get a deep connection to. That left the story feeling hollow and without substance. Sofi was the most developed character, and it was still pretty hard to muster up emotional reactions for the things that were happening in the novel. Spoiler alert: this book ends on a cliff hanger, but for the first time ever I would have to say the cliff hanger did not leave me wanting more. Ultimately, I did not enjoy The Evaporation of Sofi Snow and I give it the honest rating of THREE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!

The first approch I had with this book was like having a face to face encounter with a wall, beacuse I was totally launched inside the novelìs world without having time to ask what, why and how. So I kept on with reading, diggind inside this dystopian and sci-fi universe.

There is a Earth diveded into Corporations - Corp - , FanFights - games suspended between virtual reality and real reality -, and aliens. In this hyper technological panorama the life of Shilo and Sofi Snow unfold, controlled by their mother Inola, Corp 30 's CEO.
Shilo fights as a player for the Corp at the FanFights while Sofi, along with a squad of technicians and hackers, help him during the quests and the tournaments. Everything is fine, untile a bomb explode and Shilo get lost. Premused to be dead, Sofi is sure of the contrary and so start her mission to find her brother.

If you're in love with books full of betrayals, conspirations, aliena, genetic manipolations, hackers and codes, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow might be the book you're searching for. For me, someone that don't usually read sci-fi, I had a lot of fun with this book. I was totally fascinated by Sofi's world, by the avanced techonology, the FanFights and the Delonesi.
Talking about the aliens, I have only a little complaint. I was expecting to see something a little less human, maybe similar the to human race but not totally humanoid. In a way or another, Delonese's culture was interesting and creepy - basically, they're adorable... for how much a creepy alien race can be.

Honestly, this book needed a bit more of explenations about the technology and how the wars, that made Sofi's world possibile, took place. Even if I was fascinated, I had the sensation to be inside the book but at the same time I was not. Also, how Sofi knows all the informatic codes? Yes, it's stated that she's a genius, really well versed in technology, but I needed more details.
Second point is that I couldn't connect really well with the characters. I was okay while following their adventure but I didn't feel that my heart was beating for them. Anyway, I can't say that I disliked them.
The author's style was simple and let the whole story flow without problems. In the end, I wasn't crazy about the cast - Sofi, Miguel, Heller, Claudius, Vic, Shilo... - but I love the rest.

The mistery and the conspiration trapped me inside their web, passing by the decadence of the streeet to the technology of the FanFights and the Corps, reaching Delon planet. Reading and discovering more about Sofi's visions and dreams, the death sentence that the Corp imposed on her, what happened to Shilo, along with action and hackers moves created a good mix.

There is also a bit of romance for love's lovers, but it start when it's already broken. Between Sofi and Miguel - please, just imagine that this boy has rainbow hair - there was something but everything fold page after page without compromising the whole plot and the story.

All the revelations are dropped around the book, slowly at first but then the finale hits with strength and with an amazing cliffhangers. I cannot think that I will have to wait another year to read the sequel.

A well written book that kept me on the edge of my seat! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it kept me glued to the pages until the very end!

Yes, I tried again—painful. Traditionally published Christian fiction is in trouble. Relevancy and popularity trumps spirituality in almost all cases. It’s confusing. Why do they bother with the Christian? I’m afraid it’s that nominal Christians and non-believers are comforted by the purported genre.

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow is popular entertainment with no redeeming merit
Is that so bad? I suppose not. But with the talent of a Mary Weber, of Storm Siren Trilogy fame, so much more could be done for the Kingdom of God. However, I believe that her fans do not care about that at all. This is modern, high-tech, social-media society in all of its excitement and dangers. Well, actually the spiritual dangers are completely ignored.

This is barely even a clean read. It’s too titillating for that. Nothing overt other than the constant appeal to the flesh and the lusts thereof. And then there’s the sudden, horrific, dead stop cliffhanger ending. ‘Nuf said.

As sister and brother, Sofi and Shilo have been through a lot together - even more than they can remember. Born into a world devastated by the Fourth World War, when an alien race brought their planet into orbit around earth and shared their technology with very needy humans, no one asked questions. Born into the family of Corporation 30 CEO, Inola, Sofi and Shilo have followed in the ways of many other youth of the day and entered the Fan Fantasy Fight frenzy. Sofi, a master computer programmer and hacker, along with her team, back Shilo, a skilled athlete even at 12 years of age, who competes in the non-lethal Fan Fight competitions. Unfortunately for the siblings, too many secrets are being hidden by the corporations which now rule Earth. For reasons unknown, an attempt is made on the siblings' lives. Sofi survives and escapes her captors to search for her brother. She has no idea what she will find. Needing help, she approaches Miguel, an ambassador gifted with diplomacy and people sense. He has access to the planet where the alien race, the Delonese, live. Hiding secrets of his own, he is drawn into this drama and is just as committed to finding answers. What Sofi and Miguel find will shock them both.

When I started reading this book, I thought "maybe this isn't worth reading... is it just another dystopian novel about teenagers surviving in some harsh or oppressive society? I don't want to read the same story with a different setting." I was pleased to find that my presuppositions were wrong. Very wrong!! This book is original -- it has a great blend of mystery and intrigue with a little bit of romance mixed in. I found the characters to be interesting and engaging; I could relate to them. Woven into the deeper fabric of the book are themes of loss, betrayal, hurt, love, guilt, and what it means to be family. I definitely couldn't predict most of the twist in the plot line.

Though, it might have taken me a few chapters to be grabbed, but I have to admit that I got hooked. After reading it, I have to say that the most disappointing thing about this book is that it ended way too early... and in the middle of a very important part of the story line. Arg! A cliffhanger! I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment, as I do not want to miss what happens next. I recommend you add this book to your must-read list of 2017 newly released young adult fiction.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book. All opinions contained above are my own.

Admission: I have read the popular mainstream YA bestsellers. In fact, I try to read most of them before the movie comes out. The Hunger Games, Divergent, Ender’s Game, The Maze Runner, The Fifth Wave, and more are books I’ve read and (for the most part) enjoyed. And I am often in awe of the worlds their imaginations create.

Mary Weber’s is no exception. Her newest offering takes elements from several of these—aliens, hackers, games of skill—and combines them into a creation that draws readers in.

As the book opens, Sofi’s sole focus is on her brother. A fact readers soon learn is more of a way of life for her. When things go awry, Sofi’s one goal is to find her brother. Between rebelling against her CEO-focused mother and her protection of her brother, some of her choices are not the best. But, you see and understand the motivation behind those poor choices.

What I loved about this book is how fast it moved. There is some good action with the FanGames, but there are more nuances that keep the pace.

Sofi’s past with Miguel (the youngest ambassador in earth’s history); her relationships with her team, her mother, and her brother; and the question the Delonese people’s motivation all kept my interest. Add in that I never quite knew who to trust, and this one was a page-turner.

This is the first book in a duology, so I finished with several questions that I definitely want answered when Sofi, Miguel and the others return in the final book.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Wow. I am still reeling from the end of this book. I want more. I need more. You can’t leave me hanging! It’s kind of like when a season finale of your favorite show cuts off at the end with the main character hanging in limbo and you just can’t wait until September to find out if they make it or not. Same concept here – I cannot wait for the next release! I need to know what will happen to these characters! But alas, I don’t have a choice and in the meantime my mind is going to run wild with different scenarios. I wonder if I can telepathically send them to the author so they can be included in the next installment?

When I first started reading this book I wasn’t so sure I was going to understand what was happening. I felt like I had entered the “gamers on steroids” world. But the more I read, the more fascinated I became. In a world full of codes, futuristic approaches, and real-life video gaming, I didn’t think I’d be able to comprehend anything the author was writing. But here’s the thing – I did! This was so well written that even a non coder (I don’t even understand HTML!) could understand what was happening. And, thankfully, that was only part of the storyline. The story had great characters, intense scenes, and a strong heroine that you couldn’t help but cheer on. The deeper I got into the storyline, the more hungry I became to read it. And once I got to the last third of the book, there was no going back. I had to finish!

Do not be intimidated by this book, I promise you it’ll be ok. But…this is not for those readers who expect a completed ending. It won’t happen here and trust me when I say that is a good thing. That means I have something to look forward to! I encourage you to go along this rollercoaster of a book. It will keep you at the edge of your seat, and even make you think a little bit about what our world could possibly be like down the road!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's fast pace, high intensity and totally addicting! I was quickly in action with this book and it's drive continued through the entire book. Overall, as a Hunger Games fan this book certainly fit the bill for that need.

It is interesting the world had it's fourth war, and brilliant aliens saved us. I am not usually a fantasy reader as I struggle to find a realism but for some reason Sofi's story works for me. It begins with a small backstory, that is intriguing and mysterious. It draws the reader in with the question of what happened. Then you are in the games for living and wow! This author is amazing at creating the thrilling action with suspense. Sofi's brother is in the games, until the games end with a boom. Love the suspense and slight horror I felt at this moment, but it only added to the appeal of this book. Another aspect is Sofi's brilliance, she is just a smart gal and that is very attractive to me as reader. I enjoy reading about strong, smart female characters.

Sofi has a talent that begs to be used. I really enjoyed her mental visions or dreams as some may call it. They add a different perspective to the story without changing the character. With one other primary character, Miguel the book is easy to follow. I did feel like I missed a piece of the puzzle or a first book, but it wasn't a draw back. If anything I have wanted more since finishing the book. I recommend this book to any Hunger Games fan as it will surpass that amazing series. Trust me this book will meet your expectations.

I received this book on netgalley and I must say it is rather a pleasant surprise.

We are in a future where after four world wars, governments gathered around large corporations, the latest tricks in fashion are virtual games with players representing the 30 corparations. I know, I know, Hunger Games vibes here, but there is also this mysterious alien race (lookalike human with no blink) that has it own agenda and you have the general idea of ​​the world building. I must say that I really liked it, I found it complex, classic at times but always with a touch of novelty that is really pleasant if you read as much as me.

Another point that I loved are the characters, Sofi raised her brother after her mother's abandonment (kind of, she doesn't care about them), when the latter disappears, she will do everything to find him, the fraternal relationship between this two is very touching and realistic, it is a real asset in this book. Miguel is also a complex character, he is constantly at the heart of the audience and he has a double face because of that, the one he shows and the one he really is, I must say he is quite intriguing. The two characters are going to have to work together despite a past rancor and I liked their relationship and development.

What is certain in this book is that the author plays with our nerves all along, first in the first part that revolves around the games then in the second part which is the search for Sofi's brother. There is a lot of rhythm and action, I was surprised by more than one event and I must say that I found the book successful. The author leaves enough unanswered questions for us to want to read the rest and believe me I will read it.

I really enjoyed this book! I don't read a lot of sci-fi but was totally sucked into the story. The gamer/hacker angle was intriguing, the tension high and the pacing just right. The book does end in a cliffhanger and I'm anxiously awaiting book 2.

Wow!

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow is intense and full of twists and turns and people (and aliens) you’re not sure you can trust. About the only person I was sure I could trust was Sofi Snow. Maybe. lol. And that ending!! If you’re like me, you’ll be frantically tapping the kindle (or shaking your print copy), hoping for more pages.

To be honest, it took me a few chapters to get fully into this novel, but then again I’m not usually a fan of science fiction so take that observation with a grain of salt. Once it clicked though, HELLO. I couldn’t put it down. Mary Weber feeds the reader information about the characters, about the setting, about the plot itself, a little bit at a time, causing my mind to whirl the whole time I was reading.

Sofi Snow is a strong heroine without sacrificing her heart and her vulnerability. And like just about every big sister would say, “don’t mess with her younger brother or she’ll take you down.” There is a side of Sofi that just made me really sad, some choices I was disappointed in, but I am withholding further judgment on this particular issue until I’m finished reading both books, waiting to see if we learn more about why she has made these choices and how it affects her character growth over the course of the duology.

Miguel is equally complex – maybe even more so – and he turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the novel! From his lavender hair to his playboy-facade good looks and charm to even the way Weber seamlessly incorporated his bilinguality into his conversations. The more I learned about him, the more I liked him … especially toward the end. And his best friend Claudius is a hoot!

Perhaps the most important part of The Evaporation of Sofi Snow is the message that exists beneath the surface of the story, mainly the atrocities of human trafficking and the importance of retaining your humanity in a world that feels alien. Neither theme is blatant or preachy; instead, they subtly weave throughout the characters, the setting, the events that unfold in ways that enhance each element.

Bottom Line: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow may have taken me a few chapters to fully embrace, but once it hooked me I couldn’t put it down. The characters are unique and layered, the plot full of surprises, and the worldbuilding is dimensional and creative. Keep in mind as you’re reading that there’s another book to come, so not everything will be explained or tied up by the end of this one. And given the riveting twists and turns in this installment, I don’t think it’s safe to assume anything about book #2!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

WOAH WOAH WOAH! My mind is still reeling at how epic The Evaporation of Sofi Snow was. This book, guys. I'm not always a big fan of science-fiction, despite having studied in the sciences most of my life, but this is Mary Weber's book, so I HAD to pick it up. And I have absolutely zero regrets, because this book was one wild, heart-attack inducing ride.

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow opens up in the middle of a virtual reality game in a futuristic society ruled by corporations. Sofi's brother, Shilo, is part of this virtual reality game/competition, with Sofi helping behind the scenes. I was fascinated by the world that Weber has created. Just the idea that corporations control the world, is an absolutely terrifying thought to me, and you see the pros and cons of such a society in The Evaporation of Sofi Snow. Add to that an eerie, but enigmatic alien race from an ice-planet, also playing a monumental role in this futuristic society, this book was just brimming with some cool ideas. I especially liked how she weaved together themes of politics and human trafficking here.

The book was very much fast-paced from the start. As soon as the bomb blast mentioned in the synopsis occurred, it was one twist after the other. I'm not a reader who is easily surprised and taken aback by events in books, because I can usually predict them, but here with The Evaporation of Sofi Snow, I didn't see half of the revelations coming. It made for an intense story for me, and I found myself speeding through the story. When I had to set the book down to head to school, I did so unwillingly, because all I want to do was to find out what evil twist Mary Weber would slap in my face. And then came the ending, and I was screaming and yelling because OMG HOW UNFAIR.

Besides the engaging plot, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow also had a great cast. Underneath all that action, themes such as relationships, growing up, and fighting for what you believe in were infused throughout the story. I liked Sofi's voice a lot, because she was just so brave, and loyal, and fiercely devoted to her brother, Shilo. We see bits and pieces of the nature of their relationship, and it warmed my heart, and brought moments of lightness to the story. Miguel was also pretty great as a love interest, though very mysterious. I don't think we fully got to know him here, but I'm hoping we'll see more character development in the sequel. The romance wasn't that strong of a focus here - it was a second chance romance, and I'm hoping to see more of that hints of chemistry I saw here amplified in the sequel. There's a ton of potential for an epic and swoon-worthy romance, and you all know I'm always down for that.

There were many loose ends here, which makes sense because the author needs material for the sequel, and honestly, I just can't wait for it to be out, so I can learn more about the shady Delonese, the corps and the game. I highly recommend The Evaporation of Sofi Snow if you're seeking a fast-paced, intense and addicting story. You'll me left wanting to rip off your hair in anticipation of the sequel.

I loved Mary's Storm Siren trilogy, so I was expecting to love this one as well. I honestly had to push myself to get through it, it was so hard. I was bored, I didn't like the characters and the plot was extremely predictable.

During World War IV, a planet of aliens arrived beside Earth and brought the War to a stop. Now, the world is split into 30 Corporations, where one team from each corporation must battle in Earth's Fantasy Fighting arena, the winners (and those deemed worthy enough) will become famous and rich, while the losers are sold to a life of misery. Sofi and Shilo are forced to enter the games by their mother, the Ambassador for Corporation 30, during the games a mysterious bomb goes off. While being carried to the emergency room, Sofi wakes up and sees that her brother is being taken away by the aliens, and later learns that her own Corporation wants her dead. Determined to find her brother, Sofi sets out on a mission to get him back from the aliens and make both of them evaporate.

I honestly thought I was going to love Sofi, she's the type of character I usually adore in books, but for some reason I wasn't a huge fan. I didn't hate her, but I didn't like her either, she was very.. meh.

The romance in this story was very weird. Miguel and Sofi dated a few years back. He ended up leaving, and Sofi was crushed. Turns out that Miguel still loves Sofi and hasn't slept with anyone since.. and now Sofi hates his guts. I honestly feel like this backstory is a little too much, personally if I was in Sofi's place I would never get back together with this guy, I never liked him throughout the book. When the two ended up having some moments it seemed very awkward and cringy. It's not a romance I could ever ship.

The first third of the book I truly did enjoy. It was basically the hunger games arena style, but the players could change the arena themselves to try to kill the other players. It was very entertaining and I was excited to see what would happen next. Then once the bomb went off and Sofi went on her mission things started to slow down and then the romance came in and I just wanted to put the book down. The main problem with the second part of the story was how predictable it was. I guessed who the bad guy was right at the beginning, and I was right. It was easy to tell that the "alien planet" wasn't actually a planet (how would a planet travel through space without being in orbit) and lots of other things.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately it wasn't the one for me. I hope that you enjoy it more than I did if you do plan on reading it.

Okay, first of all. That's a cruel ending. If I had book 2, I'd binge it immediately.
I was really surprised by how much I liked the main characters. Miguel is usually the type of character that I end up hating.
And for the first time in a while, I actually like the main ship here.

YA fiction has sadly gotten a bit predictable lately but there were so many twists in this book that I didn't see coming.
Will I check out book 2? Hell yeah, in fact, I need it asap!

If you love sci-fi with both space and computer elements, this is the book for you.

DNF

Mini review:

When I heard about this book I was excited to read it! Before I started to read it I went to reread the synopsis and realized that this book may not be for me. After reading The Hunger Games I haven't wanted to read about any sort of death related games, which the MC's brother takes part in. Now when I actually started to read it I was bored and was not looking forward to reading about these games.

I do still recommend it. It just wasn't for me.

Talk about a book hangover! I have spent the last few days trying to sort through all the emotions and feelings this book evoked in me.

Sofi Snow is a young woman with a lot of confusion about her self worth. She has had her fair share of rejection in life. Miguel had been satisfied with his life...that is until he met Sofi. As their lives get thrown into a web of lies, deceit, blackmail, and hidden agendas. Will Sofi and Miguel be able to push their past aside and work together for the future of Earth and all of its inhabitants?

There is SO MUCH that happens in this book. It started off fast paced and ended with a major cliff hanger in the middle of a VERY INTENSE scene. (We do get a little breather from all the action in the middle of the book.) Between Sofi's struggle to find herself, Miguel's determination to be a "new man", and the whole mess with Shiloh...My brain was on overload. There were a few aspects to the story that still sit uneasy with me regarding Sofi and Miguel's past. I do think the situation calls for the background our characters have and I am curious to see how Mary Weber addresses this and where she takes them in the next book.

One of the main themes in this story is Human Trafficking. I commend Mary for addressing the very real and very serious issue that has been swept under the rug for too long. To hear her heart, you will want to read this book! I look forward to reading more from Mary and finding out how Sofi's story ends.

I received a complimentary copy of The Evaporation of Sofi Snow from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This first book in the series was hard to put down! I enjoyed the premise and couldn't wait to see what happened to Sofi and Miguel next. The alternating POV worked well in this case. Miguel's secret agenda frustrated me somewhat simply because it took so long to be revealed, but it was nothing compared to the cliffy ending... I can't wait for the next title!