Book Review: The Ark by Laura Liddell Nolen

This is a thought provoking dystopian story with engaging plot twists.
The Ark
by Laura Liddell Nolen

• File Size: 1020 KB
• Print Length: 239 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager (March 26, 2015)
• Publication Date: March 26, 2015
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• ASIN: B00O0FY6B0

Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive.
It’s the final days of earth, and sixteen-year-old Char is right where she belongs: in prison. With her criminal record, she doesn’t qualify for a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect earth’s survivors during the meteor strike that looks set to destroy the planet. Only a select few will be saved – like her mom, dad, and brother – all of whom have long since turned their backs on Char.
If she ever wants to redeem herself, Char must use all the tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they actually ever want to see her again, or not . . .

Review:
Char felt abandoned at home and, as a rebellious pre-teen, she took up with a bad group of kids. She pushed her beloved younger brother away so he wouldn’t follow in her thieving footsteps. She tried to break away but her cohorts trapped her in the last robbery. Of course, noone would believe her and, at the age of sixteen, she is on her third time in Juvenile prison. The bigger problem is that no prisoners will be allowed a starpass to enter the Ark.

A meteor is headed toward Earth. Five Arks have been built to take selective groups from five nations into space to recolonize. Important people in leadership and specialized fields, like medicine, are guaranteed a spot. Others from age appropriate (under 40), healthy citizens have been selected by lottery.

Char unexpectedly finds herself in possession of a starpass. She seeks help from a special prisoner, Isaiah, who is called ‘the mole’ due to his blindness. She persuades him to help her escape. They become separated but she finally makes it to the Ark and a young security officer helps her enter at the last minute. Char desperately wants to see her family but she fears they will not welcome her.

Once on board Char is exposed as a stowaway and goes on the run and into hiding. She discovers surprising allies and experiences (yet again) painful betrayals. The disturbing secrets she discovers could change life, not only for her but, for everyone onboard the Ark.

Char is a complex character, whose spirit of rebellion was difficult for me to embrace. I had to remind myself more than once that she is just a young, confused and emotionally hurt girl. I would have appreciated Char’s stealthy skills if they were used for good and they do come in handy in helping her reach the Ark and survive once there. I also liked Isaiah’s intensely brilliant leadership skills although he too is a difficult character to fully like.

The author makes a good point about how we view rules: some believe rules are made to “protect us”, while others recognize some rules often “only protect a small group”. I initially had trouble getting into the story/characters. However, once I hit 30% I couldn’t put it down. There is a distinct blurriness to lines of good and evil. There is certainly bleakness in the story – especially to the extent that corruption is going with those destined to build a new world– but there is a message of hope too. I recommend this story as a good dystopian experience.

I received this ebook from Pump Up Your Book tour for an honest review.

• The Ark is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
• Read Chapter One here.

About the Author

Laura Liddell Nolen grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent lots of time playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. They supplemented their own stories with a steady diet of space- and superhero-themed movies, books, and television. The daughter of a comic book collector, she learned how to handle old comics at an early age, a skill she’s inordinately proud of to this day.

Laura began work on her first novel, The Ark, in 2012, following the birth of her daughter Ava, a tiny rebel and a sweetheart on whom the novel’s main character is loosely based. Completion of The Ark was made possible in part due to an SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award. 

Laura loves coffee, dogs, and making lists. She has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two young children, and their dog Miley, who is a very good girl.

For More Information:

Visit Laura Liddell Nolen’s website.

Connect with Laura on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out more about Laura at Goodreads.

Visit Laura’s blog.

Book Review: The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig

This is an engaging and imaginative dystopian story.

The Fire Sermon

by Francesca Haig

• File Size: 3075 KB
• Print Length: 385 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books (March 10, 2015)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• ASIN: B00LD1OQQO

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 10, 2015
The Hunger Games meets Cormac McCarthy’s The Road in this richly imagined first novel in a new post-apocalyptic trilogy by award-winning poet Francesca Haig.

Four hundred years in the future, the Earth has turned primitive following a nuclear fire that has laid waste to civilization and nature. Though the radiation fallout has ended, for some unknowable reason every person is born with a twin. Of each pair, one is an Alpha—physically perfect in every way; and the other an Omega—burdened with deformity, small or large. With the Council ruling an apartheid-like society, Omegas are branded and ostracized while the Alphas have gathered the world’s sparse resources for themselves. Though proclaiming their superiority, for all their effort Alphas cannot escape one harsh fact: Whenever one twin dies, so does the other.

Cass is a rare Omega, one burdened with psychic foresight. While her twin, Zach, gains power on the Alpha Council, she dares to dream the most dangerous dream of all: equality. For daring to envision a world in which Alphas and Omegas live side-by-side as equals, both the Council and the Resistance have her in their sights.

Review:
Cass lives in a society that is still recovering from nuclear destruction. Four hundred years after the fires there is a generation of twins, always male and female, who are separated into two distinct classes. The Alphas are without deformity and they get to remain with their parents, go to school and enter the ruling society. The Omegas, who have at least one defect are branded, separated from their family and sent to Omega working communities. The controlling Alphas would like to ignore their twins, but they cannot because if either twin dies, so does the other.

Cass is a rare seer, dreaming or sensing future events around her. She was able to hide this ‘defect’ for years which caused anger and resentment to grow in her twin, Zach. The family suffered ostracism because they could not separate out the Omega. Zach tricked Cass into revealing her secret when they were 13 and she was finally sent away to an Omega farming community.

Cass spends six years working and dreaming of a world where people are given equal chance. Meanwhile Zach, known as the Reformer, has gained a powerful position on the Alpha Council creating enemies in both factions. Zach captures Cass and imprisons her in a secluded cell, presumably to protect her from his own enemies. But there is a devious conspirator working with the Alpha Council, another seer known as The Confessor. The Confessor relentlessly questions Cass regarding any visions of a rumored Island of refuge where Omega’s live without the oppressive restrictions and taxes imposed by the Alphas. Cass refuses to break under the hateful probing and one day she pushes back and sees awful sights in the mind of The Confessor.

Fearing what they will do to her next, Cass escapes and manages to release another prisoner before leaving the fortress. The young boy, who is missing an arm, has lost his memories of life before his imprisonment. Cass names him Kip and they manage, with the aid of Cass’s foresight, to elude pursuers as they travel in hope of finding The Island. They find bits of help along the way and even spend a few weeks in relative safety. But Cass knows that The Confessor is always probing her thoughts and wherever Cass and Kip go they expose friends to danger.

Cass and Kip find what appears to be an Omega safe place. At least it was safe until Cass arrived. Piper, the young leader, is not sure if he can believe Cass found their carefully hidden refuge without help. Some of the leaders want to kill her, especially when they discover the identity of her twin. Even if she isn’t a spy, chances are she brings danger. But Piper hopes he can use her abilities to help the rebellion forces. Cass tries to get Piper and other rebels to understand her desire to find a world of peace instead of a world where Omegas are cast aside and twins are killed for political advantage.

The story continues with the clever rebel Omegas battling the ruthless, manipulative Alphas. A new character is added rather late in the story giving aid and challenging Cass to stop running and take a stand. There is also a good twist, or two, as the book reaches its climax. It is clear that there is still a lot of story left for a sequel and it will be interesting to see where the author’s creative imagination takes this difficult society.

I enjoyed the easy writing style, the determined characters and the action. There were a few drawbacks where I questioned the lack of sense and caution but these actions could well fit young people who tend to be impetuous, reckless and don’t always recognize their own mortality. The story is entertaining and suitable for young adults. I think it could make an interesting movie.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review. It qualifies for NetGalley Challenge.

Audio Book Review: 25 Perfect Days by Mark Tullius

I recommend this for dystopian fans, but try the text for more clarity. 
25 Perfect Days
Written by: Mark Tullius
Narrated by: Dave Thompson


Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-25-14
Publisher: Vincere Press, LLC
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Will you follow The Way or be crushed by the Controllers?
A totalitarian state doesn't just happen overnight. It's a slow, dangerous slide. 25 Perfect Days chronicles the path into a hellish future of food shortages, contaminated water, sweeping incarceration, an ultra-radical religion, and the extreme measures taken to reduce the population. Through 25 interlinked stories, each written from a different character's point of view, 25 Perfect Days captures the sacrifice, courage, and love needed to survive and eventually overcome this dystopian nightmare.
©2013 Mark Tullius (P)2014 Mark Tullius

Review:
The society this story describes is not one I would want to live in. This portrays a scary dystopian world. A religious group called The Way has slowly joined with government to control all aspects of work and life. Overpopulation and contamination of resources has resulted in food shortages, limited licencing, quick and unjust incarceration and controlled population growth. Instead of being allowed freedom to have children the privilege must be paid for. Some young women are used as selective breeders. As the years pass the society becomes more dark and hopeless. Those who don’t comply, don’t survive, one way or another.

I found the story interesting but very difficult to follow on audio. There are a handful of characters whose lives are followed over 25 days through a period of 40 years. Some of the scenarios are brutal; some are appalling to 'normal' society; and a few are heart warming and heart wrenching. It was difficult for me to connect all the vignettes.

I recommend this be added to any dystopian reading list. However, for this book, I would recommend the text and not the audio. I think it would be easier to track the characters and the changes in the society with the written version, especially if you are a listener who does other things (chores, driving, etc) while listening. If you sit quietly and listen, this might work.

Audio Notes: I think the narrator, Dave Thompson, did a good job with a difficult project. It might have been better with this work to have different narrators for the different character lines.

I received this audio through Audiobook Jukebox. (2015 Audiobook Challenge.)

Audible Book Review: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The overall society issues and concepts are utterly thought provoking in this classic.

Brave New World
Written by: Aldous Huxley
Narrated by: Michael York

• Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins 
• Unabridged Audiobook


Release Date:01-16-08
Publisher: AudioGO

Genre: Dystopian Classic
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.
On the 75th anniversary of its publication, this outstanding work of literature is more crucial and relevant today than ever before. Cloning, feel-good drugs, anti-aging programs, and total social control through politics, programming, and media: has Aldous Huxley accurately predicted our future? With a storyteller's genius, he weaves these ethical controversies in a compelling narrative that dawns in the year 632 A.F. (After Ford, the deity). When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.
©1932 Aldous Huxley; ©1998 BBC Audiobooks America; (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks America

Review:
Lenina and Bernard are friends in a society that is totally controlled by conditioning from birth to adulthood. There are no “children” but rather units are grown in the cloning factory, assigned a life role and then molded with inoculations dream manipulation and brain training or conditioning to fit thier station in the happy, united society. Independence and free thinking, even reading, are prohibited and punished. Early sexual play is encouraged as it is part of conditioning to not feel the need for singular love because one can have multiple partners and sexual fulfillment is enhanced by drugged sensory sessions. Anyone who feels at all unhappy or unsettled is encouraged to take soma, the ubiquitous “happy” drug, which is also the reward for a good day’s labor.

Bernard is on the edge of this controlled world. Others consider him to be a bit “off” and blame it on an accident of alcohol in one of his childhood batches. He wonders what it would be like to feel passion and to know freedom. Yet he is too conditioned and too cowardly to take any bold step out of line. He has one good friend who is also on the fringes but more in an artistic sense than in a rebellious sense.

Bernard convinces the outgoing Lenina to take a trip with him to a savage reservation. They are a alarmed by the primitive life-style and even more shocked to discover a mother and her natural, now grown, son (“gasp”). Then Bernard realizes that the woman, Linda, came from his world and was accidentally lost and left behind twenty plus years before. Her son, John, is eager to learn of the world his mother told him so much about. John has grown up with Indians and taught himself to read from the works of Shakespeare. Exploring a modern society of controlled members seems like the chance to explore “a brave new world”.

Bernard get permission to bring Linda and John back to the city where they will view John’s reactions as an experiment. What John discovers may not be to his liking although Bernard is thrilled with the fame he gets as the sponsor of this strange savage being. John is fascinated by Lenina but his moral background is offended by her loose ways.

There is a great deal of weird strangeness in this book and some of the scenes were silly and annoying. However the overall society issues and concepts are utterly thought provoking. I was intrigued when the government leader explained the process of creating a society of ‘sameness’ to John. I have a feeling this was quite bold in its day (1932) and the sexual freedoms no doubt contributed to its being on the “banned books” list. Although this is not an exciting or action packed dystopian, it is certainly a must read classic in that genre.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Michael York. This might not be a favorite book but the audio rendition made it easier to 'read' than if I had to read from print/eBook.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An excerpt:

Bernard: “I want to look at the sea in peace...
It makes me feel as though...as though I was more of me, if you know what I mean. More of my own, not so completely a part of something else. Not just a cell in the social body....”
Lenina: “...after all, everyone works for everyone else. We can’t do without anyone, even Epsilons.”
Bernard: “What would it be like if I could? If I was free, not enslaved by my conditioning?”

I selected this from my own Audible Library for Banned Books Week.

Audible Book Review: Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy, Book 3 by Veronica Roth

I found this to be a satisfactory conclusion to this trilogy. 
Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy, Book 3
Written by: Veronica Roth
Narrated by: Emma Galvin, Aaron Stanford

• Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins 
• • Series: Divergent, Book 3
• Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-22-13



Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Dystopian
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation - like a single choice - changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times best-selling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of listeners in Divergent and Insurgent.
©2013 Veronica Roth (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
This is the concluding book in the Divergent trilogy. Tris, Four and some of their Dauntless friends have survived the civil war that erupted during book two, Insurgent. Tris had managed to release a secret video tape that revealed some mysteries about the cities past and a directive that the Divergents were to help those outside of the city walls.

Now in book three, the Factionless, led by Four’s mother. face a new battle with the Allegiant, a group comprised from the old factions who want to restore the previous order of the factions. Four rescues Tris’ brother Caleb, even though he had betrayed her and they flee beyond the walls to escape the Factionless and Allegiant pursurers,

Outside they find a government compound, the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. Here they learn that Purity Wars destroyed much of the past civilization and genetic manipulation is being used to try to rebuild a sound society. Divergents are prized as pure bloods and all others are genetically impure and expendable. Although Tris is safe as a true Divergent, Four, or Tobias, is at risk. He soon aligns with others who are plotting against the government powers who not only control the genetically rascist compound but also exercise control over the affairs of the “experimental” cities like Chicago.

Tobias’ participation in a failed raid results in a life-threatening injury to Uriah. Tobias feels responsible and guilty while Tris is angry because she thinks he acted rashly and he went against her warnings. There is estrangment and tension among the friends as they try to sort out how to cope with their new surroundings and then discover they have to find a way to protect their old city home from the destructive plans of the Bureau.

I enjoyed how the story is told in alternating views by Tris and Tobias. This dual voice gives a broader scope portraying events from two different viewpoints and emotions. There is danger, angst, conspiracy, a little romance and a bit more tragedy. I liked the conflicts and the dilemmas posed in this book. The author seems to be making a statement about the devastating consequences of pitting different races and/or different classes against each other instead of accepting each others strengths and working and growing together.

I enjoyed this book significantly more than book two which seemed full of disjointedness. There were flaws in this book too as there seemed to be a section of “telling” of back history which can bog down the reading. What bothered me more though was the implausibility that Tris and her friends were a) given free roam in the compound without being assigned particular tasks and b) could plot so “openly” with existing dissenters. This made the story a bit of an “eye-roller” at times. It is not a big secret that one of the main characters dies which is a difficult, sad feature but actually added an acceptable bit of reality.

I am not sure the title Allegiant is appropriate to where this final book goes but it fits with the prior titles and there could be a case made that it has a dual meaning. Perhaps my expectations were not as high as many who were disappointed by this book. Although I didn’t like everything about this conclusion it wrapped things up satisfactorily for me as an adult reader.

AUDIO NOTES: Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford did a very fine job of portraying the characters of Tris and Tobias. The alternating voices (as well as the alternating views) added to my enjoyment of the story which may have dragged more without that feature to break the flow and add interest. I would recommend listening to this title on audio.

This title is from my own Audible Library.

Book Review: Darkest Worlds: A Dystopian Anthology

This is an intriguing collection of stories with unusual stories and futuristic situations.
Darkest Worlds: A Dystopian Anthology 
Katie French (Author), S.K. Falls (Author), Zoe Cannon (Author), A.G. Henley (Author), Kate Avery Ellison (Author), Megan Thomason (Author)

• File Size: 409 KB
• Print Length: 237 pages
• Publisher: A.G. Henley (September 2, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• ASIN: B00EYMO344

Genre: Dystopian, Anthology
My Rating:4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 2, 2013
An anthology that explores what humans are made of when society falls to its knees. Darkest Worlds includes six original novellas by award-winning authors and best sellers of Young Adult and New Adult Dystopia
All proceeds go to Girls Write Now, a charity that promotes literacy of inner-city girls.
Nessa: A Breeders Story by Katie French.
MOON by S.K. Falls.
The First Unforgivable Thing by Zoe Cannon.
The Keeper by A.G. Henley.
Survival Lessons by Kate Avery Ellison.
clean slate complex by Megan Thomason.

Amazon * Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Nessa: A Breeders Story by Katie French, author of The Breeders: Eighteen-year-old Nessa knows what it’s like to be an endangered species. Growing up in a dying world where nine out of ten babies are born male, she survives by trusting no one. When Marlin, the nineteen-year-old gunslinger, kills the man who has been keeping her enslaved, Nessa decides he might be her meal ticket. What she doesn’t realize is love is still possible, even in their decimated world.

4.25 I liked Nessa tough personality and Marlin’s caring. There are sacrifices and twists in this story. I just wished it had more history and explanation of the breeder program but that might be part of the first book in the series.

MOON by S.K. Falls, author of World of Shell and Bone: Loyalty. Obedience. Patriotism. Moon Stewart has no doubt that the New Amanian way of life is the right way. The only way. But was there ever a time when she felt differently? In this companion novella to the dystopian bestseller World of Shell and Bone, the secrets of Moon's past are revealed, giving readers a glimpse into the mind of their favorite antagonist.

4.0 Although I found the story interesting the characters are not warm fuzzy but rather cutthroat. Moon lives in a society where “good citizens strive to do what’s best for the collective, not the individual.” But everyone wears masks. Moon was only 13 trying to survive the harangues of her obsessed mother who is convinced that Moon’s older sister, Neptune, needs to be turned in to the enforcement as a dissident radical.  Now Moon is older and has a government job like her mother always wanted. Has Moon learned the hard lessons to balance the appearance with the ability to do what it takes to beat out her competitors?

The First Unforgivable Thing by Zoe Cannon, author of The Torturer’s Daughter: When a dissident working undercover as an interrogator is ordered to torture a confession from the only girl he’s ever loved, he chooses to defy both the totalitarian regime and the resistance by helping her escape—but she has an agenda of her own...

4.25+  This is a world where it is not always clear who is the real enemy – the authority or the resistance? I liked both Lucas, who was starting his career as an interrogator, and Simone, who was about to be interrogated as a member of the resistance. There were good twists and irony in this story and the ending left me interested in what would happen.

The Keeper by A.G. Henley, author of The Scourge: a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award. Peree knows his duty as the new Keeper of the Water Bearer, Fennel, is to make sure his people get every drop of their share of the water she collects when the flesh-eating Scourge roam the forest. He will motivate her, distract her, do anything he can to keep her working. He knows his duty is to his people and his people alone. What he doesn’t know is that he's falling in love with her.

4.5 This story had unique characters and society system. I was engaged by Peree (short for Peregrine), the new Lofty Keeper, and Fennel, the sightless Groundling who is the new Water Bearer. It is the Keeper’s job to protect the Water Bearer and make sure that a fair portion of water gets distributed to the Loftys. I liked how their growing friendship is going to challenge the societal boundaries. I was saddened when the novella abruptly ended leaving me wanting more.

Survival Lessons by Kate Avery Ellison, author of Frost: A young Farther prisoner named Eva escapes into the monster-filled wilderness of the Frost with a band of fellow inmates, all of whom are harboring secrets...but little do they know that Eva has secrets of her own. Set in the world of The Frost Chronicles.

4.5 This story includes a touch of steampunk-type elements and I think this was my favorite of the collection. As the author says “survival in a time of great danger is like a dance.” Eva gets the chance to escape with several prisoners into the Frost wilderness. She has managed to get tangled with three conspirators who are intent on finding a “treasure” - a special devise. This story is a dance of danger, thieves, rivals and betrayal. I was drawn in and intrigued by the secrets and definitely interested in reading more of the Frost Chronicles.

clean slate complex by Megan Thomason, author of the daynight series: Homeless Alexa Knight agrees to help the do-gooder non-profit The Second Chance Institute in return for medical care for her sick mother. The SCI is wooing the poor and downtrodden into their Clean Slate Complexes--where "everything is provided" from jobs to food, shelter, clothing, and education. Unfortunately, as with all things that sound too good to be true, there's a catch...

4.25 Having read the first book in the daynight series I was curious what this novella would cover. I wasn’t disappointed. This gives a scary look at The Second Chance Institute system and how it is enticing people for its goals. A young homeless girl, Alexa, meets up with Joshua, the rapper song artist son of the SCI leaders. Although she at first thinks he is very strange she is soon drawn to his buoyant personality. But can she trust him when she begins to think that things are not as good asthey appear? There is intrigue, danger, excitement and a bit of young romance. I liked the easy writing and the strength of the characters. I could see this novella pulling a reader into the series.

I purchased this book as I like Dystopia and as I was participating in BookBlast Feature and Giveaway.

Katie French

Facebook * Twitter *Blog

S.K. Falls

Facebook * Twitter

Zoe Cannon

Facebook * Twitter * Blog

A.G. Henley

Facebook * Twitter * Blog

Kate Avery Ellison

Blog * Twitter

Megan Thomason

Facebook * Twitter * Blog

Girls Write Now--charity

Website

See the previous post for BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

BookBlast Feature and Giveaway: Darkest Worlds: A Dystopian Anthology

Darkest Worlds: A Dystopian Anthology

An anthology that explores what humans are made of when society falls to its knees. Darkest Worlds includes six original novellas by award-winning authors and best sellers of Young Adult and New Adult Dystopia.

All proceeds go to Girls Write Now, a charity that promotes literacy of inner-city girls.

Amazon * Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Nessa: A Breeders Story by Katie French, author of The Breeders: Eighteen-year-old Nessa knows what it’s like to be an endangered species. Growing up in a dying world where nine out of ten babies are born male, she survives by trusting no one. When Marlin, the nineteen-year-old gunslinger, kills the man who has been keeping her enslaved, Nessa decides he might be her meal ticket. What she doesn’t realize is love is still possible, even in their decimated world.


MOON by S.K. Falls, author of World of Shell and Bone: Loyalty. Obedience. Patriotism. Moon Stewart has no doubt that the New Amanian way of life is the right way. The only way. But was there ever a time when she felt differently? In this companion novella to the dystopian bestseller World of Shell and Bone, the secrets of Moon's past are revealed, giving readers a glimpse into the mind of their favorite antagonist.


The First Unforgivable Thing by Zoe Cannon, author of The Torturer’s Daughter: When a dissident working undercover as an interrogator is ordered to torture a confession from the only girl he’s ever loved, he chooses to defy both the totalitarian regime and the resistance by helping her escape—but she has an agenda of her own...


The Keeper by A.G. Henley, author of The Scourge: a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award. Peree knows his duty as the new Keeper of the Water Bearer, Fennel, is to make sure his people get every drop of their share of the water she collects when the flesh-eating Scourge roam the forest. He will motivate her, distract her, do anything he can to keep her working. He knows his duty is to his people and his people alone. What he doesn’t know is that he's falling in love with her.


Survival Lessons by Kate Avery Ellison, author of Frost: A young Farther prisoner named Eva escapes into the monster-filled wilderness of the Frost with a band of fellow inmates, all of whom are harboring secrets...but little do they know that Eva has secrets of her own. Set in the world of The Frost Chronicles.


clean slate complex by Megan Thomason, author of the daynight series: Homeless Alexa Knight agrees to help the do-gooder non-profit The Second Chance Institute in return for medical care for her sick mother. The SCI is wooing the poor and downtrodden into their Clean Slate Complexes--where "everything is provided" from jobs to food, shelter, clothing, and education. Unfortunately, as with all things that sound too good to be true, there's a catch...

Katie French

Facebook * Twitter *Blog

S.K. Falls

Facebook * Twitter

Zoe Cannon

Facebook * Twitter * Blog

A.G. Henley

Facebook * Twitter * Blog

Kate Avery Ellison

Blog * Twitter

Megan Thomason

Facebook * Twitter * Blog

Girls Write Now--charity

Website

The Girls Write Now mission is to provide guidance, support, and opportunities for at-risk and underserved girls from New York City’s public high schools to develop their creative, independent voices, explore careers in professional writing, and learn how to make healthy school, career and life choices.

BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 9/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Audible Book Review: Insurgent: Divergent, Book 2 by Veronica Roth

This is an engaging story with strong emotions, good action and surprising twists. The audio is well done if you prefer listening to reading.

Insurgent: Divergent, Book 2

• UNABRIDGED
• by Veronica Roth
• Narrated by Emma Galvin
•   Series: Divergent, Book 2

Genre: Dystopian
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
 

Publisher's Summary

One choice can transform you - or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves - and herself - while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable - and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Review:
This story picks up after the initial battle between the Dauntless and Erudite that closed out the first book, Divergent. Tris and Tobias (Four) are on the run with others of the Dauntless who survived the attack. They must seek ‘asylum in either Amity or Candor.  But the peace loving Amity faction doesn’t want to get involved or take sides.  They might provide shelter but they will not provide protection.  When conflict breaks out they learn some unpleasant control systems are activated.

Pushed on to Candor, Tris and Tobias are challenged as traitors based on a negative interpretation of  the images of them from the battle. When forced to respond under truth serum they reveal secrets they have held from each other. Can they truly love each other if they have not been able to trust fully?

They are threatened at Candor too when the Erudite use more Dauntless ‘drones’ under simulation serum to attack in order to weed out all the people who are Divergent.  The Erudite leader is set on experimenting on the Divergent until she can develop a serum that will control them. The only other alternative is to eliminate the Divergent. Tris is a primary candidate for the testing.

As Tobias chooses to work with the Factionless, Tris secretly works with a leader from her parents’ home, the Abnegation.  Although Tris knows that Tobias will see this as a betrayal, she is convinced that certain truths must be revealed at whatever cost.

I really loved the underlying messages regarding human diversity that Ms. Roth portrays.  Although the factions have specific strengths it is interesting to see individuals with mixed traits cross the boundaries of the groups.  Tris has to deal with the guilt and grief of killing one of her good friends in the first book.  She struggles with this and, although a bit harsh, I liked the strength of one of her new friends who pushes her out of her depression saying “You are Dauntless. It’s time you acted like it! People die. That’s what happens in war.”  Tris has to make hard choices and these added to the intensity of the book.

There was a section in the middle that dragged a bit for me. I had to recall that Tris is only 15 or 16 trying to cope with her family loss, her guilt and the war surrounding her. Also, I recognize that for teenagers first love can be a consuming thing.

The action picked up for the ending confrontations. There are twists and secrets that leave a stunned group of combatants at the close of this book. I can think there are a wide variety of choices for the characters to face in taking their next steps.

This series is really good entertainment with some interesting observations of social behavior underlying the governmental system set up.  I bet this would make good discussion material for classes in high school and college. I look forward to learning where the author takes the characters in the final book.

I enjoyed Ms.Galvin's narration which is steady and strong. She provides good character inflection and emotional intensity for this engaging story. 

This is from my own Audible Library.

Audiobook Review: The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

This is a thought provoking dystopian tale with YA characters but good for adult listening too.

The Eleventh Plague

by Jeff Hirsch (Author), Dan Bittner (Narrator)

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 7 hours and 3 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Scholastic Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: September 1, 2011
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005KFQPQ8

Genre: Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In the aftermath of a war, America's landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived. But when Stephen's grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma, Stephen finds his way to Settler's Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. There he meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny. When they play a prank on the town bully's family that goes horribly wrong, they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler's Landing forever.

Review:

This story tells of terrible danger, loneliness, prejudice, fear and ends with a message of hope.
Fifteen year old Stephen and his family survived the war that devastated America. Somehow they also survived ‘the eleventh plague’ that killed two-thirds of the population. The life that Stephen knows has been harsh. He has learned to follow his strict and demanding grandfather’s rules or suffer for disobedience. His sweet, kind mother died in childbirth, and Stephen, his father and grandfather have lived as scavengers. They are constantly traveling to find what they can to trade and along the way they have to avoid towns where their might be illness and avoid being picked up by slavers. Stephen’s father might occasionally long to settle down but it would mean a risk from the routine that has been drilled into them.

Stephen’s grandfather dies and Stephen and his father struggle on. In a break of discipline, his father intervenes to help others break away from slavers.  As Stephen and his father then try to escape his father is injured and falls into a coma. Although fearful of strangers, Stephen has little choice but to accept their help. He follows them to a small community which is unlike anything Stephen has known.  The people share their burdens, their bounty and their skills.  The families live in homes and the young people even attend school.

It is hard for Stephen to adjust and fit in especially since the primary community leader’s son has taken a dislike to him and claims he is a spy for another community up the road.  The bully and his friends taunt and harass Stephen every chance they get hoping Stephen will be thrown out of the community. Stephen slowly warms to the family that has taken him in. The son befriends him as a brother and Stephen is intrigued by their adopted Asian daughter, Jenny. She too is looked upon with suspicion by many in the community so she holds herself as an outcast.

As Jenny and Stephen are drawn to one another they tend to get into trouble. This puts the family at risk and eventually triggers a confrontation with the neighboring community.  When the slavers show up to enter the fray the people have to decide how they are going to defend themselves. Even more importantly, how are they going to treat each other as they move into the future?

I enjoyed the plausible struggles and traumas portrayed in this story. The pacing is good and the characters’ diversity gives room for thought. Although the narrator did a good job of presenting different voices I felt at times that he lacked some extra ‘umph’ or spark that could have given greater life to the story.  All in all though I recommend this as solidly engaging and a good listen.

I received this as a free download as part of Audiofile Sync YA 2012  Summer Program. That is a great program that pairs a new audiobook with a classic of similar tone to encourage young people to read/listen to the classics as well as new authors.

I'm not quite sure where the community is located... mid south I think. I will add it to my New Author, Audio and Post-Apocalyptic Challenge lists.

Book Review- Audible- Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

An exciting dystopia read. If you liked Hunger Games and other stories in this genre you will like this.

Inside Out (Harlequin Teen)  by Maria V. Snyder

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (February 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373210116
• ISBN-13: 978-0373210114

 Genre: Sci fi Fantasy, Dystopia
     My Rating:  4.75 of 5.0

Product Description
"Imagine every space in this room filled with people. Constantly being jostled and pushed. In the lower levels there is no quiet place. No peace. To a scrub, this room is paradise."
I drew a deep breath. I'd spoken more in one burst to this stranger whose room I'd invaded than anyone else in weeks. And with a single word he could alert the Pop Cops and send me to the Chomper. We stared at each other for a few heartbeats.
Before I could retreat he said, "My name's Riley Narelle Ashon. Any time you need peace, you're welcome to use my hideaway."
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own...until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Review:  This is a very engaging story and I listened to it in about two days as I didn't want to stop.

Trella is a teenage girl, a Lower,  who works as “a scrub”, cleaning pipes on "Inside" which is the world as she knows it. Her best friend, Cogan, is a leader among the Lowers who hate the Uppers who control them and keep them in their places of labor by threat of the Population Control Cops (Pop Cops).  One of Cogan’s friends, is a computer genius, Logan. Unknown to the Uppers, Logan makes all sorts of handy gadgets that help Trella to spy and gain information around the systems. Another friend  believes he has found information leading to Gateway which will lead them to “outside” with information that Trella can help gain.

Trella moves freely among the pipes, provided she gets her job done and shows up when expected so the Pop Cops don’t harass her.  While crawling through the pipes she discovers what appears to be an empty room - which is a luxury to the crowded Lowers. Then she meets a boy there, Riley, and even though he is an Upper they develop a friendship. There is mystery in how the Uppers lord it over the Lowers and Trella and Riley are surprised to learn that life “on the other side” is not as either has been taught.  Riley gives Trella a sheep stuffed animal which they call Sheepie. Ultimately that becomes the symbol of the Lower’s rebellion by a “force of sheep.”

This story moves along very quickly with good twists.  I enjoyed the characters, the story, the surprises and the good narration. This is YA but that did not lessen the enjoyment and I was anxious to listen to book two.  This is an author I really like. I enjoyed her early trilogy, the Study series which I recommend too.
My review of the second book, Outside In, is my next post.