Audible Book Review: Actualized, The Configured, Book 3 by Jenetta Penner

This is a good conclusion although I wasn't really into the YA elements.
Actualized
The Configured Trilogy, Book 3
By: Jenetta Penner
Narrated by: Brittany Goodwin
Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
Release date: 12-17-19
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genres: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Teen and Young Adult
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
It comes down to one choice: save the world or save the ones you love.
Listen to the exciting and emotional conclusion to The Configured Trilogy.
©2018 Jenetta Penner (P)2019 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Avlyn has escaped to the Affinity Camp with her brother, Ben, Meyers, Aron and some other surprising, and sometimes connected characters. Aron had asked to pair with Avlyn but she fell for Meyers. Now Avlyn, who was raised in a society that suppressed emotions is trying to cope with all sorts of emotions.

She is stressed about Ben who is in a coma recovering from a system attacking his nanites. She is also experiencing a lot of conflicting emotions even as she commits to helping Cynthia Fisher the ousted director of Elore, leader of Affinity and relation to Avlyn and Ben. The Affinity team has to find a way to overthrow the dictatorship of Manning who is using nanites to control an army in Elore while also avoiding the dangers from the powers of New Philadelphia who are trying to mimic the abilities that Ben and Avlyn share.

Her superior gives orders to Avlyn that she repeatedly ignores. Although she may help gain information and save lives, she is also putting herself and others in danger. This doesn’t stop her behavior. Avlyn is conflicted trying to safe all of the family she has learned to love and trying to save society. Will she be able to help stop the dark powers before they destroy the outside people of Affinity and other humans in the two warring communities?

I listened to book 1, Configured, which introduced Avlyn, Aron, Meyers and Avlyn’s natural mother and community assigned mother. Avlyn’s unique abilities, the intrigue and rivalries were revealed. I did not read or listen to book 2 but enough detail was provided in this book so I didn’t feel like I missed anything.

There is some interesting character relation involvement in this conclusion. However, I struggled with Avlyn’s angst and irresponsible insistence on doing things her own way. The writing felt immature (like the characters) and the plot machinations were clearly worked out to provide danger and rescue. Sadly, not particularly realistic or comfortable. The story did have a suitable conclusion and might work better for true fans of YA (which I may not be). I recommend this to those who like dystopian sci fi with YA elements.

Audio Notes: Brittany Goodwin does a fairly good job providing sufficiently distinct voices. I’m not sure she captured the full depth of emotions (which might have been a good thing) but she did convey the YA feel of the book. I am glad I listened to this rather than reading.

Source: 2/13/2020 Author Code for Review title. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author goals.

Audible Book Review: Configured by Jenetta L. Penner

This is an engaging dystopian sci-fi.

Configured
The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
By: Jenetta L. Penner
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi

Series: The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Teen
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
There will come a day when love will mark you as a traitor. In a society where emotions are nothing and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in. She's lucky to be alive, unlike her twin brother Ben who died when they were four. And she's lucky to have been taken from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family. But mastering her emotions? That's a problem, especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her. Then on Configuration Day, Avlyn's official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen. Now, instead of blending in, Avlyn fears she'll be exposed for what she really is. If Gen Tech finds out how deeply she feels, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her secret meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined. It will be over.
©2016. 2017 Jenetta Penner (P)2017 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Avlyn lives in a world where emotions are forbidden. The government, Direction, selects who will advance from a mundane Level One worker to become a more prestigious, important, and privileged Level Two. Avlyn lost her twin brother Ben to a virus when they were young. Then she was moved from her biological parents to be raised in a Level Two family.

When Avlyn attends her Configuration Day appointment, she begins to experience strange visions. Although Avlyn tried to maintain a low profile, she is assigned as a tech worker in the powerful government firm that monitors every citizen. She can’t speak to anyone about her concerns and her confused emotions. Avlyn struggles with her position and instructions to make a sensible, program-directed life match.

Avlyn witnessed a bomb attack and is disturbed by the reporting that is delivered to the public. Soon she finds herself approached by an underground rebel group that is preparing a revolution to expose the lies of the current leader and restore freedoms to the people. Part of Avlyn doesn’t want to be involved, but another part longs to express the emotions she has hidden. And then there is the surprising secret skill she discovers that will change her path.

Ms. Penner does a good job of developing the conflicted emotions of the protagonist. I also liked the two young male interests who complicate her life. Both young men have a role in her struggles until the end of the book that stops at a point that clearly leaves a lot open for the next book in the series. I look forward to the next books in the series. I recommend this to fans of young adult, dystopian stories.

Audio Notes: Lillie Ricciardi delivers the narration with clear voices and a fitting emotional level. The narration enhanced the story for me.

3/28/2020 Audible One March Credit. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audio Book Review: Starfire by Jenetta Penner

This a good beginning for a YA sci-fi thriller.
Starfire
The Starfire Wars, Book 1
By: Jenetta Penner
Narrated by: Rebecca Johnson

Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-03-20
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Alien, Dystopian, Teen and Young Adult, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
A lush, new world. A reluctant passenger. A stranger with swirling cyan eyes.
Cassiopeia loathes the idea of leaving her withering home to settle the lush new planet, Arcadia - Earth’s salvation.
Two years ago, her mother died in a horrible accident, and leaving Earth means leaving her memory behind.
But Cassi’s father is the architect of this new, grand civilization, and she has no choice but to go.
So when a terrorist attack strikes and her father is killed, her world falls into complete chaos.
Cassi is plunged into a reality of dark secrets and lies. Everything about Arcadia proves to be a sham, and a war spanning the stars is looming.
Enter a gorgeous, mysterious, and undeniably dangerous boy...
Who either wants to help Cassi...
Or destroy her.
Dreamers and lovers will crave this star-crossed romance and adventure set in a new world.
Listen to Starfire today!
©2018 Jenetta Penner (P)2019 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Cassi isn’t one of the many people from earth who are happy to be on a space ship to colonize a new planet, Arcadia. Cassi’s parents are scientists who were instrumental in locating a compatible planet and arranging for the colonization program from crowded Earth. Sadly Cassi’s mother died in an accident so only Cassi and her father, Richard Foster, plan to move into the new settlement. Shortly before landing Cassi inadvertently hears an altercation between her father and his nemesis, the President of the Board, Elizabeth Hammond. They disagree on how to move forward with development on the new planet with Foster seeking to protect the existing culture and Hammond leading the greedy interests to exploit the mines of the planet.

As the colonists prepare to celebrate the landing, an unprecedented explosion kills Foster and others near the speakers’ platform. Hammond refuses to explain what happened, leaving the event shrouded in mystery and leaving Cassi determined to find out if her father is really dead.

Cassi was in the room when the explosion took place. She had just had an encounter with a strange young man with eyes flashing cyan. When she wakes Cassi finds a new friend, Max, trying to help her. But she has a vague memory of the stranger who pulled her away from the fire. Soon she will begin to wonder who she can trust to help her or who will lead to her destruction.

I would describe this as writing clearly geared to young adult audiences. I did enjoy the sci fi elements and the alien conflict even though I felt many characters, including Cassi, were not deeply developed. Cassi just assumed some companions were safe to share her secrets with while ignoring that some may well have been seeking to betray her. The romance is a quick crush of young love and light contact which is fitting for YA level. Although I am not pulled in by the romance, I am curious to see what develops as the war among the conflicting colonists and the hidden, conflicted aliens progresses. I would be interested in reading book 2.

Audio Notes: Rebecca Johnson does a good job with the narration. Her voice and reading match the YA characters. The narration made it an easy, quick listen.

Source: January 2020 Audible Code from the Author. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author Review goals.