Contact email: mesreads AT gmail.com
###Winner Announcement Posts are linked here.###

GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW LOCATED ON THEIR OWN PAGE - CLICK ON TAB ABOVE; Giveaways also linked on right sidebar.
Showing posts with label Regina Shen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regina Shen. Show all posts

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Guest Post: REGINA SHEN WORLD by Lance Erlick

REGINA SHEN WORLD by Lance Erlick

The seed of the idea for the Regina Shen stories and her world was a challenging realm of the future that tested a resilient young woman every step of the way. In fact, the budding scene was of the outcast, Regina, adrift in a storm with no safe port.

In the story’s mythical past, abrupt climate change, rising seas, famines, and wars caused a collapse of the old order. In the final days, an all-female militia rose up, denying men procreation rights until they became extinct. The heroic, three-century-old Grand Old Dames saved the world and created an all-female society, vowing that there would be no more wars and no more gender strife. They created the World Federation to restore peace.

Before the Grand Old Dames took over, they were able to perfect fertility research to enable two women to have a child without men. This enabled them to make this a foundation for building their new society. Then, as a means to maintain order and control, they introduced a defect into the human genome so that only regulated Federation fertility clinics could bring forth new life. Only those who receive the blessing of the new order are allowed to have children.

This gave the new leaders complete control over the people and their futures. Then something happened so that the process began to decay and fail until there were no live births. For unknown reasons, Regina Shen’s DNA does not have the defect; she was not the product of a Federation clinic. Now the Federation is hunting her down to control her genes amidst a power struggle over a successor to the dying World Premier.

Because of desperate times after the worldwide collapse, the Federation adopted a caste system to help maintain order and to fill the necessary roles in society with Working Stiffs on the bottom, Professionals and Elites in the middle, and the Grand Old Dames at the top. Outcasts like Regina Shen were thrown over massive barrier walls built with slave labor to hold back the rising seas. The outcasts were left to fend for themselves, and fend they did, becoming stronger and more resilient than citizens of the Federation. In fact, many are captured as slaves to work the toughest Federation jobs.

The Federation created the Department of Antiquities in its early days to find and destroy all evidence of life before the Federation. The Grand Old Dames banned all print books and took control of their mesh, a future version of the Internet with one distinction. All information resides in Federation cloud-type databases and can be rewritten or purged in support of Federation goals. Rising in power and requiring military resources, the Department of Antiquities became the police and military rolled up into one, enforcing the laws of the Federation.

It is the Department of Antiquities that discovers Regina Shen’s DNA, turning her into a pawn of a worldwide power struggle.
Author's Bio:


He was raised by a roaming aerospace engineer, growing up in various parts of the United States and Europe, as well as traveling through Asia. He took to stories as his anchor, including the works of Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein, and has been writing since age eleven.

Growing up, he was inspired by his father’s engineering work on cutting-edge aerospace projects to look to the future.

In an ideal world, Lance would find time loops where he could step out for a week at a time to read and write. Then he would return to the moment he left, without life getting in the way. Of course, since everyone would have the same ability, he suspects life would still sneak in.

Lance is also the author of short stories and novelettes.


Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Facebook   Goodreads



I have found the series engaging. My reviews of the four books (and giveaway links) can be found through this link.

Book Review: Regina Shen: Endurance by Lance Erlick

This is my favorite of the series so far.
Regina Shen: Endurance
by Lance Erlick
File Size: 3964 KB
Print Length: 297 pages
Publisher: Finlee Augare Books (July 1, 2016)
ASIN: B01FWERE7K
Genre: Sci Fi, Dystopian, YA
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0


Outcast Regina Shen continues her adventure as a hunted fugitive and as a pawn in a worldwide grab for power.
Competing World Federation power brokers seek to control Regina for her unique DNA that could reverse a global fertility collapse. They make use of her unique memory for ancient forbidden texts that help her locate illegal artifacts from before the Federation, which agents then destroy.
For months Regina has been treading a fine line, trying not to let the Federation destroy any more of their past while doing all she can to rescue her kidnapped sister from agents who dangle the sister as bait. Betrayed again by her mom, Regina flees to the Southwest Desert with a close companion to hunt down a vault to exchange for her sister’s freedom. Nothing goes according to plan.
Before her journey concludes, tragedy will shake Regina to her core. It will also open up new possibilities that could lead down an even more dangerous path closer to her destiny but farther from her sister.


Review:
Regina is a young girl in an all female society. She was raised as one of the many outcasts, known as 'marginals' living in the swamps outside the Barrier walls Within the walls the society is divided into castes of working stiffs, professionals and elites. With the direction of her teacher, Mo Mere, Regina escaped under the wall to try to make it at university. But, like many independent marginals, Regina couldn’t fit in, and, unlike a good quiet citizen, Regina could not stop challenging the limits and restrictions of the Federation order. Regina left university with her new friend, Ester, still intent on rescuing her sister, Colleen.

The Federation has a serious fertility problem and they are seeking to capture Regina as they think her blood/DNA will prove a solution. Although the Federation inspectors have been close on her trail, Regina found friends along the way who helped her get to Alaska. Inspector DeMarco keeps dangling Colleen’s release as a reward if Regina will find other DNA vaults and deliver healthy samples to DeMarco. Even though Inspectors Volpe and Wendt destroyed the Alaska vault, DeMarco directs Regina to the Southwest vault.

Once again Regina gets aid from the truckers to get her from Fairbanks, Alaska to Flagstaff. There she and Ester find another DNA vault but DeMarco and Volpe are still on her tail, seeking to fight over the DNA coolers and, in the case of Volpe, determined to destroy the entire vault, no matter how valuable the contents might be to the future of society.

It is fairly obvious to the reader, if not to Regina, that DeMarco has been arranging help all along the road. Still, DeMarco doesn’t keep her bargains very well and Regina has little reason to trust her. DeMarco again sends Regina off to another vault, this time back over the barrier wall to the underwater city of Philadelphia. While Regina makes her way back across the country to her home in the swamps, DeMarco continues to lose control of her backing in the Department of Antiquities.

The infighting among the inspectors intensifies in this book and Regina faces more danger and tragic loses. I appreciated the good pacing and action in this story and liked the excitement of the find in the Philadelphia salvage. Regina’s ‘legend’ and gift of hope to others grows even as a plot twist sets the stage for a new stage in Regina’s life. The ending of this volume left me wanting to follow the new journey and adventure. There are still too many unanswered questions so I do hope there is to be another book.

I received this through iReads Book Tours for an honest review. PLEASE SEE AUTHOR GUEST POST HERE.

See my reviews of books one through four in this series through this link.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Regina Shen, Defiance by Lance Erlick

This continues to be an engaging YA, female society dystopian series.
Regina Shen: Defiance
by Lance Erlick

File Size: 2958 KB
Print Length: 292 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Finlee Augare Books (July 7, 2015)
ASIN: B01187267S
Genre: Dystopian
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Outcast Regina Shen is determined to stop the Federation’s relentless attacks on her family and friends, but the stakes are much higher now.
Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner series, Regina Shen: Defiance is the third book in an action-packed, science fiction thriller with an ordinary yet strong and gutsy heroine who faces down adversity in a futuristic world filled with challenges. With the young protagonist having to grow up fast, it appeals to both young adult and adult audiences.
Abrupt climate change has melted ice caps, flooded coasts, and turned continents into deserts. The World Federation condemned Regina and her family to live on the seaward side of barrier walls built to hold back rising seas caused by abrupt climate change. Raised on swampy islands and salvage from sunken cities, including illegal print books from before the Federation, Regina defies the Federation by consuming banned books. Then she jumps the barrier into the Federation to free her sister.
The Federation’s notorious Department of Antiquities, under the command of Chief Inspector Joanne Demarco, polices barrier walls, destroys knowledge from the past to suppress dissent, and believes Regina’s DNA can stop human extinction. Now Demarco faces several ruthless rivals willing to do anything to control Regina in a worldwide power play to determine who will become the new World Premier.
Regina is determined to deny the Federation while helping friends. She has to flee from Virginia through desert and wilderness to Alaska to hunt a treasure big enough to barter for freedom for her and her sister. In the cat-and-mouse game, can she find allies and ways to escape the Federation dragnet long enough to discover something to trade?


Review:
Book three in this series reveals ‘working stiffs’, outcasts, truckers and mountain women who risk authorities to help Regina and Ester escape from the Antiquities factions who are desperate to capture Regina. Regina’s primary concern is still rescuing her sister, Colleen who has been captured again. Ester longs to settle down with Regina but that is not possible as long as Regina is on the run. So Ester continues to tag along.


There are three separate inspectors in competition to get Regina. The original Chief Inspector, Demarco, seems to want to help Regina but Regina isn’t ready to trust her. Inspector Volpe wants revenge for the foiled capture during which she was attacked by piranha. Former Inspector Wendt has gone mostly rogue and destructive.


I liked the people who are willing to help Regina and I like that she inspires and brings hope to others even though she continues to minimize her role. I am not greatly invested in the primary characters and I don’t particularly care for Ester’s rather wimpy and whiny complaints, although she has a few good moments.


The outsiders helped to keep my interest and helped the forward movement of the story. The last twenty percent of the story I was more engaged, wanting to find out what happens and where the author is taking the plot. I am interested to read book four.


I received this through iReads Book Tours.

Please check out my review for Book 1, Regina Shen: Resilience.
and Book 2, Regina Shen, Vigilance


GIVEAWAY:
Prizes: ​

Win 1 signed copy of Resilience + $15 Amazon gift card + 2 sets of postcards / 2 winners will receive a signed copy of Resilience / a free ebook copy of The Rebel Within (open to USA)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thursday, June 23, 2016

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Regina Shen: Vigilance by Lance Erlick

This dystopian series follows the struggles of one young woman who might make a difference in a restrictive, dying society.
Regina Shen: Vigilance
by Lance Erlick

File Size: 3295 KB
Print Length: 249 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Finlee Augare Books (April 18, 2015)
ASIN: B00WDAQDJW
Genre: Dystopian, YA
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


After two years of training, outcast Regina Shen prepares to jump the barrier wall into the World Federation to hunt for her sister, but nothing goes according to plan.
Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner series, Regina Shen: Vigilance is the second book in an action-packed, science fiction thriller with an ordinary yet strong female heroine facing extraordinary hurdles with tenacity. With the young protagonist having to grow up fast, it appeals to both young adult and adult audiences.
The Federation condemns Regina and her family to live on the seaward side of barrier walls built to hold back rising seas caused by abrupt climate change. For two years she avoided capture. Now the Federation is desperate to exploit her unique DNA in order to stop human extinction. She would rather die than help the people who kidnapped her sister.
The Federation’s notorious Department of Antiquities, under the command of Chief Inspector Joanne Demarco, polices barrier walls, destroys knowledge from the past to suppress dissent, and pursues Regina for her genome. Now Demarco has a ruthless rival who aims to use Regina to overthrow Demarco.
Regina survives by her wits on swampy islands and salvage from sunken cities, including illegal print books from before the Federation. With her photographic memory, she defies Antiquities by consuming books not available in the Federation. That makes her an outcast among peers but may help her reach the university town where they’re holding her sister.
Pursued by Antiquities, Regina jumps the wall into the Federation. While making new friends and enemies, she learns that Federation life isn’t any better than the swamps. Regina must use her wits to avoid letting either of two rival inspectors capture her. Can she rescue her sister from an obvious trap?


Review:
Regina is an outsider in a world that is run by Grand Old Dames (Gods) who have extended their lives for over 300 years. They eliminated men years before and control the population by restricting education and punishing free thinking. Regina and her family are ‘Marginals” who life in the swamps outside of the wall that keep the 'harmonious' citizens within the Federation.

Regina and her younger sister Colleen revealed blood work that could help with the growing infertility problems of the society. Colleen was captured two years before but Regina has managed to evade the Federation agents who have sought her. Now Regina starts her new life as a university student but she doesn’t blend in or make friends like she is supposed to.

Regina still refuses to see the bigger picture or acknowledge her ‘destiny’, as her swamp teacher, Mo-Mere, puts it. I can’t help but seeing Regina’s actions as selfish, with narrow focus and little concern for her friends and those who are trying to help her. I have to be honest that I found this annoying. I was glad to note that as this book nears the end it appears that Regina is finally growing up and acknowledging the consequences effecting others. I liked the new characters who help Regina in this episode and I think the difficult positions of Regina’s ‘enemy’, Federal Agent DeMarco, adds an interesting dynamic.

This is book two in this YA, dystopian series. The pacing of the story is good. The society is all female and some of the relationships are leaning into the lesbian genre although there is nothing overt at this point. I really appreciated the author’s expressions regarding government control through limiting truth, education and discouragement of free thinking. I am not enthralled but I do find the series engaging. I am curious where the author will be taking Regina, DeMarco and the story.

Please check out my review for Book 1, Regina Shen: Resilience.
I received this through iReads Book Tours. I will be reading and reviewing the third and fourth books in July.

GIVEAWAY:
Prizes: ​

Win 1 signed copy of Resilience + $15 Amazon gift card + 2 sets of postcards / 2 winners will receive a signed copy of Resilience / a free ebook copy of The Rebel Within (open to USA)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Regina Shen: Resilience by Lance Erlick

This is an entertaining dystopian with a likeable primary character.
Regina Shen: Resilience
by Lance Erlick

File Size: 3768 KB
Print Length: 241 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Finlee Augare Books (May 4, 2015)
ASIN: B00VDIZ72O
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, YA
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Regina Shen is an outcast forced to fend for herself. A storm is coming and that could be the least of her problems.
The World Federation condemns Regina and her family to live on the seaward side of barrier walls built to hold back rising seas caused by abrupt climate change. A hurricane threatens to destroy Regina’s world, tearing her from sister, mom, and home. Now Federation agents claim she has unique DNA that could single-handedly stop human extinction. It's too bad she doesn't trust them enough to barter fairly, let alone with her life.
Three-hundred-plus-year-old Grand Old Dames rule the all-female Federation using a rigid caste system. Their notorious Department of Antiquities, under the command of Chief Inspector Joanne Demarco, polices barrier walls, destroys knowledge from the past to suppress dissent, and pursues Regina for her genome.
Regina survives by her wits on swampy islands and thrives on salvage from sunken cities, including illegal print books from before the Federation. With her photographic memory, she defies Antiquities by consuming salvaged books not available in the Federation, which makes her an outcast among her teenaged peers.
Separated from sister, mom, and home, with Antiquities and bounty hunters in pursuit, Regina fights to stay alive and avoid capture while hunting for family. Does she have the resilience to survive both the storm and Antiquities?
Regina Shen: Resilience is the first book in an action-packed, science fiction thriller with an ordinary yet strong female heroine facing extraordinary hurdles with resolve. With the young protagonist, it should appeal to young adult and adult audiences.


Review:
Regina Shen lives in the swamps on the seaward side of the wall of the World Federation. Regina is one of the “marginals’ who survive beyond the help of the government. But the government is experiencing some difficulties. The world of only females is having trouble reproducing. The dna that has helped society continue has degenerated so that the species is at risk.

The Federal agents are testing the marginal girls and have found two with a viable dna… the Shen sisters, Regina and her younger sister, Colleen. The girls are on the run from a hurricane and the Federal agents, especially the Department of Antiquities Chief Inspector, DeMarco. DeMarco sees the girls, especially Regina, as her ticket up the power chain.

Regina is intent on finding her missing mother and sister. She keeps going back into danger, desperate to find Colleen. DeMarco has resources including the government technology of tracking devices, power boats, weapons and a network of marginal traders who barter everything they can, including girls. Although she is hot on her heals, Regina, with her affinity for the swamps, continues to evade capture.

Regina finds friends along the way who help her survive until she returns to her beloved teacher Mo-Mere. Mo-Mere was once within the walls until they cast her out. She knows that Regina is special and she wants to train and prepare her for more. Regina isn’t one to sit and hide. She wants to be out salvaging and helping to carry her own weight. But how can Regina stay with her friends without putting them in danger?

I like Regina’s strong character even though she is young, impulsive and makes foolish mistakes. She is also resourceful and caring. She is lucky to find good friends along her journey. DeMarco is a villain you like to dislike and I kept hoping she would meet an unpleasant fate. There is some repetition of the circumstances and it seemed like Regina was often more worried about food than getting to a place of safety. Granted she has to get food and water to survive but it just seemed like too much emphasis to me. (Then again... it is YA which sometimes pushes my patience.) Other than that, the writing flows well and has good pacing with tension building action.

I like how Regina is becoming a symbol of hope for the marginals. Still, she is in constant danger of betrayal or capture. I am looking forward to continuing the story in a week with book 2, Vigilance.

This is the first review of four books in the series which I am reviewing
through iReads Book Tours.


GIVEAWAY:
Prizes: ​

Win 1 signed copy of Resilience + $15 Amazon gift card + 2 sets of postcards / 2 winners will receive a signed copy of Resilience / a free ebook copy of The Rebel Within (open to USA)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails