It was hard not to DNF this title. While I liked the premise and the attempt the story made to keep my attention and care in what was happening, the drag of the pacing and the lack of effect of final events left me feeling bored and disappointed.

I really enjoyed this title from Mary Weber, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work! Mary always has a talent of drawing reading into the world (whether that world is fantasy or sci-fi) and Shilo was no different! Another five star read from Mary Weber!

This is a great duology but I just got so confused when I read this book. It felt like I was reading the same book twice. I did love the first book and I was glad to get the second but it just didn't stand out to me.

I can't really give this the proper review I needs as I never read it due to not reading the other. Thank you for the early opportunity though!!

This is not a bad book - yet there are some things left to be desired. Firstly, while the setup is interesting, the execution should be deeper thought about. Such an interesting world is not accompanied with similarly rich, complex plot. Also, the subplot of "games" should be left out - there is no significance to it and also it is too similar to The Hunger Games (which is far better series in my opinion).
But I like Miguel and the ethic ideas behind the novel (like the condemnation of human trafficking and of the egoistic attitude to solving one's troubles only to hurt the others in the process (sometimes knowingly)).

DNF
Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. Unfortunately, presently I have no interest in reading this title as I am in a YA slump. I may come back to it when I am in the mood in the future. I apologize for the convenience.

tl; dr, This book is the action-based part of the duology, whereas the first book was more set-up (although both have lots of action!). They're similar to Warcross and The Lunar Chronicles, and they have gorgeous covers!

In this book, the characters come more together, and they begin to talk from their own perspectives. We get more into the mind of Levana Inola, as well as Shilo and Miguel, which I really enjoyed. The storytelling style was also really cool and special: it felt dreamlike/in a haze in some parts, and action-based in others.

I enjoyed this book better than the previous one, but I'm still not completely sold on the concept: I think The Lunar Chronicles and Warcross did it better; like many other books, the idea was done better than the execution of the actual story. I enjoy Mary's inclusion of important topics in her stories: this book includes definition of humanity, slavery, and several others.

Overall, this duology wasn't my favorite: it was a fun read, but not one I would reread: I wasn't particularly connected to the characters, and the story was slightly confusing.

I will not be properly reviewing this book because I don't really read YA anymore (I have not really enjoyed the books in the age range I have read in the last two years) and it seems unfair to write a review knowing my problems with what I read of this book have more to do with me than with the book itself.

I was unable to get into the first book of this series, and I would feel awkward trying to read this one, so I won’t be providing a review for this one.

This second book in the duology brought us back to the sci-fi adventures of Sofi Snow. What I love most about this series is the gorgeous writing. There were so many moments where I just found myself enraptured by Weber’s prose. The series puts a spotlight on human trafficking in a sci-fi setting, and while Weber can sometimes be a little heavy-handed with her messaging, she makes some keen observations about society. This installment was exciting, with quite a bit of sci-fi adventure. And we get the added perspective of Inola, Sofi’s mom. She is the type of morally gray character who makes you think—what would you risk if you thought it would help society? What price would you pay to cure some of the world’s worst diseases, and what ills would you be willing to turn a blind eye to? Overall, I thought that this was a fantastic conclusion!

Mary Weber's storytelling skill does not disappoint in this second half of the Sofi Snow duology. The character development is realistic, the emotional journey is raw and gripping, and the twists of the plot kept me turning pages faster as I reached the redemptive and surprising conclusion. It was everything I hoped it would be.

Reclaiming Shilo Snow was a fast read from start to finish; it is hard to put down between the high stakes, the glitching virtual reality, and the characters you become attached to very quickly. But very clear is the message that life is beautiful and precious and worth protecting. And that is what sold it to me in the end. Worth the read.

It’s not often I find YA books that are unashamedly transparent about heart-wrenching issues. Sure, there are plenty that touch base on issues and topics our world faces, but many suffer from being superficial or overwhelmed by other elements such as cheesy romance or feel good feelings. The Evaporation of Sofi Snow and its sequel Reclaiming Shilow Snow by Mary Weber, however, is a series that gets to the heart of issues that devastate our world today.

Abuse, human trafficking, neglect, society’s fixation on violence and fame… these are only a few of the many issues covered in this duology and the way Weber spotlights these topics is an impressive and brave feat. Books that grapple with hard topics are also books that are hard to read. And Reclaiming Shilo Snow is a hard book to read. But it is also a necessary book to read. Between the pages of this story are truths that are so, so important.

Picking up where The Evaporation of Sofi Snow left off, reading Reclaiming Shilo Snow was like stepping right back into the futuristic world consumed by technology. There was no disorientation or jarring moments as I tried to remember where the last book left off. I would say it was like coming home, but I’m not sure the world Mary Weber has created is one I would want to live in. This world is dark and painful, but there is hope.

This isn’t a fast paced story. You won’t find a thrilling action-packed science-fiction adventure between the pages of that beautiful book cover. Instead, you will find a story that takes its time as it unfolds the mysteries and secrets surrounding the Delonese and their monstrous genetic experiments. The story is a process of observation and conversation and hacking your way into an alien space station. But there are moments of action that kick absolute butt and will leave you feeling as if you were punched in the gut. (I swear, Mary, you and your plot twists will be the death of me!) There are moments of revelation that will leave you absolutely gasping for breath. And there are soft moments of clarity, of meaningful truths that will leave you in tears.

I absolutely love that this book focuses on a brother-sister relationship. Sofi will do anything to find her brother and it's obvious in her actions and her constant dwelling on his safety and protection. I want more stories with these kind of strong, heart-pulling sibling relationships. I also like that while there is a hint of romance and reconciliation of romance that it is not the focus. Yeah, it’s there. It’s beating right alongside the rest of the story, but there are more important things to take care of. But above all that, I love that this book speaks to the heart.

I can’t make you read this book. I know that some people will write this book off as “not for me,” but I have found that I cannot read this book without letting it hit me hard. Because beyond the ultra-cool technology or the diverse cast of characters or the spooky aliens with their even spookier planet, this book has heart. I can plainly see what issues are heavy on Mary Weber’s mind just by reading this story. I’ve always found that fantasy and science-fiction’s biggest job is to take issues we face and shape them into a story that brings out hope. A light when all other lights go out. And Mary Weber has done that with Reclaiming Shilo Snow.

The issues in this book are important. They are often whispered about or shoved to the side because they make us uncomfortable. Because they reveal something about ourselves and the society we live in. But Mary Weber has bravely opened up about these issues, whether it comes in the form of human trafficking or abuse and neglect or our own selfishness for power and blood. And that is why, more than anything, the story between these pages is devastatingly important.

Because the issues in this book are happening today, not just in the future. They are real, despite that Earth is not currently being invaded by aliens. They are true, despite Earth not having bloody technology based entertainment games. They are important, despite Earth not being altered by genetic experiments. (Oh, wait…)

And we are called to make a difference. We are called to make a change. We are called to get our humanity back.

Reclaiming Shilo Snow surpassed all my expectations!

The story picks up right where it left off at the end of book 1. We already knew there was unfinished business between Sofi and the Delonese, as well as her continued search for her brother. One of the main themes from book 1 was Sofi’s broken relationship with her mother, Inola. This book explored that theme even further and the reader was able to see both sides of their relationship.

Although Miguel remains a love interest for Sofi, I didn’t feel like the romance portion of the story bogged down the plot. It was enough to satisfy the reader but allowed the action and movement of events to continue without feeling stifled. In the same way that we learned more about Inola’s backstory and motives, we are brought to a deeper understanding of what makes Miguel tick, as well. One of my favorite things about Mary Weber’s writing is how she continually takes each character to the next level throughout each story, which helps make the bond between reader and character stronger.

Sofi comes across as a real teenager that has many of the same struggles that teens have today. Her decisions aren’t always the right ones but each step of her journey teaches her who she is and what she wants to accomplish with her life. This alone should make this book jump to the top of the TBR pile for any teen looking for a solid YA novel.

Reclaiming Shilo Snow is a clean YA sci-fi novel appropriate for teens and adults of all ages.

"How do we lose our humanity? And how do we gain our humanity back?"

* *
2 / 5

I might not have been the biggest fan of the first book, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow, but I did enjoy it, mostly because of the fist fights, car chases, and flying spaceships. So I decided to give the sequel a go, but unfortunately I wasn't particularly impressed. It was the pure, sheer weirdness of this book that put me off.

"Thank heavens for the Delonese. For their gift of technology and environmental cleanup. But more so for the mirror they held up"

It took me a little while to slip back into this series; I remembered that we were on the Delonese planet that isn't really a planet with Sofi and Miguel, and that something was going on with Shilo, Sofi's brother. The rest of the details came back to me slowly and fuzzily, prompted by the book. Unfortunately, recalling the first book didn't particularly help me to enjoy the sequel which felt badly paced, had too short and choppy chapters, and which alternately confused and alienated me.

The biggest problem for me was Sofi and Shilo's mother, Inola, and her bizarre involvement in a bizarre plot involving a deal to abduct children for medical experiments. What sort of mother would let her children be tested on by aliens?? And why would this mother be given a sympathetic angle? Then there's the weird involvement of the virtual reality games again, in which people seem to fight real monsters and actually die. Why is this allowed?? What relevance does it have to the plot?

I still liked Sofi. I liked her dedication to her brother, the lengths she was willing to go for him, how passionate she was. But I simply found the plot of the novel too convoluted for me. It's got everything from medical experiments, to secret planets, to virtual reality games, child trafficking, and political espionage but none of it seems to come together properly.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: This one fell back into what I didn't like about book one.

Do I Recommend this book? If you liked book one I do not see why you wouldn't like this one.

Notes and Opinions: This one fell into the same old, same old as book one did. It was confusing and well the writing really didn't flow the way I was hoping for. I am still a full on fan of Mary Weber's stories but this one just didn't really work out for me. I think one of the biggest issues with this duology as a whole was that I had a hard time picturing the story as it went along in my mind. When I read I see everything like a movie (yes yes I know that it totally cool!) but this one I just couldn't do it.

Go Into This One Knowing: Confusing, and well CONFUSING!

for a book with his name in the title, you would expect shilo to be in it slightly more. this sequel to the evaporation of sofi snow, felt about the same to me as the first one/a little more disappointing. again, i liked a lot of the darker thematic elements of freedom/slavery/human trafficking, politics, moral/ethic ambiguity but the relationships and characters still didn't do much for me. And I am very much a reader for relationships/characters and dialogue. but that's just me. If you liked the first one or her other books, you'll probably like this just as much.

Reclaiming Shiloh Snow
First of all, let me thank Thomas Nelson for the chance to read and review this book: Reclaiming Shiloh Snow.
As always, these thoughts are my own. This review is spoiler-free and no main plot points are revealed.

THIS IS THE 2ND BOOK IN A SERIES

I give Reclaiming Shiloh Snow 3.5 stars

Synopsis:

Trapped on the ice-planet of Delon, gamer girl Sofi and Ambassador Miguel have discovered that nothing is what it seems, including their friends. On a quest to rescue her brother, Shilo, a boy everyone believes is dead, they must now escape and warn Earth of Delon’s designs on humanity. Except the more they unearth of the planet and Sofi’s past, the more they feel themselves unraveling, as each new revelation has Sofi questioning the very existence of reality.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Sofi’s mom, Inola, is battling a different kind of unraveling: a political one that could cost lives, positions, and a barely-rebuilt society, should they discover the deal made with the Delonese.

But there’s a secret deeper than all that. One locked away inside Sofi and ticking away with the beginnings, endings, and answers to everything. Including how to save humanity.

Facts:

This book was 352 pages
It was published March 6th, 2018
I received a copy for my opinions

You can find out more here:

Reclaiming Shilo Snow: The Pulse-Pounding Sequel to The Evaporation of Sofi Snow   |   Thomas Nelson   | Goodreads

Lunar Chronicle Vibes
When I started in on the first book in this series, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow, and even more in this book, I kept getting Lunar Chronicle vibes! I love the whole 'perfect alien' and 'tech' and 'gamer' books, and if you do too, this book is for you!

At first, in tEoSS, I was afraid the FanFight games would feel too cliched, like the Hunger Games and my more recent read: Ruthless Magic. They were different enough, and more tech-centric enough, that I liked them rather than felt them too overblown.

Pros:
I liked the main character, Sofi Snow. I liked her a little more in the first book, but she was a great character for this story too! She's a POC and a gamer chick and is just so cool. I liked the alien planet, and I felt that the entire story was believable and interesting.

Cons:
So, semantics. Languages change and adjust. This is set about 30 years in the future and the Spanish that Miguel speaks is the exact same Spanish spoken today. I would have loved a few words to be altered, just to feel realistic. Miguel also doesn't act 19. I work with 19-year-olds, and he acts more like 25 or 30. Maybe the 19-year-olds of the future are the 30-year-olds of today. Who knows. I also was pretty bored by the entire storyline of Inola. You know exactly why she's been given a perspective, and the result was expected, which disappointed me.

Overall? I liked it. It was clean, and interesting, and if you liked the Lunar Chronicles, I think you'll enjoy these stories as well.

I can’t say enough how much I loved this book.

Mary Weber really takes tough topics, like human trafficking, and turns them into an eye opening sci-fi masterpiece. The characters are so well rounded and deep that it makes it that much easier to relate to each one of them.

One of the most memorable sentences in the book really sums up, not just Sofi’s journey, but the human experience. “Even though all was not perfect in the world, the world was perfect in this moment.” With everything happening in the world it is important to find little moments of perfection. Thank you Mary, for that nugget of wisdom.

This was a perfect ending to a great series!

With this sequel to The Evaporation of Sofi Snow, Mary Weber expands on the story she began, continuing it with great action and suspense and giving it a fitting conclusion. Reclaiming Shilo Snow picks up where the first book ended, and the story moves at a fast pace through some unexpected twists, turns, and discoveries. While entirely entertaining, it also delivers more serious themes involving human trafficking, and as a whole, kept me engaged chapter after chapter, eager to learn what would happen to these characters and their world. I completely enjoyed Reclaiming Shilo Snow, and if you liked The Evaporation of Sofi Snow, I think you will, too. Check it out.