Tag: dystopia

Journey to Territory M (Extinction of All Children: Book 2) by L.J. Epps

Journey To Territory M (Extinction Of All Children, Book 2) by [Epps, L.J.]

3 Stars

Publisher: L.J. Epps

Date of publication: November 8th, 2018

Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult

Series: Extinction of All Children

Extinction of All Children—review here

Journey to Territory M

Journey to Territory U

Where you can find Journey to Territory M: Amazon | Barnes and Noble| BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Emma Whisperer’s journey continues in this sequel to the Extinction series. Emma, the last eighteen-year–old in Territory L, finally escapes Territory L and makes it into Territory M. She tries to find her niece, Abigail, and searches for the leader of Territory M to see if the walls can come down. She brings two friends with her on her journey to finish what she started back in Territory L.

Emma hides out, trying not to get caught. Who can she trust? Will they find Abigail? Is she still alive? Will they find the newbie camp? Will they find out who the leader of Territory M is? Will the leader help them bring the walls down?

Emma thought escaping from Territory L would solve all of her problems. She soon finds out that escaping to Territory M is not all she envisioned it would be. President Esther, Rich, and the leader of Territory M have more in store for Emma than she bargains for.

Take a ride with them as their adventure begins in an abandoned college where they meet up with some unruly characters. Will these people, known as the runaways, be friends or foes?

Emma and her friends—old and new—find themselves searching for places to hide out from President Esther and her henchman Rich, all the while trying to find the leader of Territory M.

Take a ride with Emma as she finds some much-needed answers.

My review:

I was excited to read Journey to Territory M. I had enjoyed reading the Extinction of All Children. I was curious to see how Emma’s journey through Territory M would be. I was interested in knowing if she would free Abigail. I was curious to see if she would meet the mystery ruler of Territory M. Yeah, well, that excitement was misplaced. I hate to say it, but I was thrilled when this book was over.

Again, there is a trigger warning. It is the same as in the Extinction of All Children. The difference is that the author went into detail about how the babies and children were killed. The guards’ discussion made me sick. I have a daughter the age of the little girl featured in that scene. I ended up putting the Kindle down, walking over and hugging her tight. I also cried. So my trigger warning is the same. Don’t read this book if you are triggered by infanticide and graphic discussion of killing babies/children.

There was one major plotline in Journey to Territory M. That plotline is Emma and her friends’ mission to get to the mansion and talk to the mystery ruler of the Territory.

I found the plotline boring once the first couple of chapters were over. I had figured out who the mysterious leader of Territory M was way before that person was revealed. I also figured out that the newbie camp was as evil as it sounded. Even Rich’s abuse of Emma got boring. By the end of the book, I wasn’t surprised it went the way it did. I wasn’t surprised by Emma’s choice. I was not surprised by anything that was revealed.

I do want to point out that Territory M is for the middle-class. These people had the same rules as the lower-class, except they were were laxer. They could have children. But, they had to show that they were worthy of keeping them by working hard. If they didn’t live up to what Territory M’s ruler thought was hard, they got their children taken away. So, it wasn’t much better than Territory L.

Emma had zero character growth in Journey to Territory M. Her character acted like a child. There were points in the book where I wanted to shake her and say “Act like the revolutionary that you want to be.” She annoyed me too. Those eyerolls were more suitable for a 12-year-old than an 18-year-old. Plus, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut to save her life. I wanted to duct tape her mouth shut at one point. I do admire that she never forgot that she was searching for her niece. I also liked that she wanted those walls down and that she wasn’t afraid to tell President Esther where to stick it.

The secondary characters surpassed Emma in character growth, which is impressive because it is usually the main character who changes with the book. Not in this case. Emma was stuck in her rut while her companions grew. While I did like it, I thought that it showcased how immature Emma was.

I did figure out who the mysterious leader of Territory M was. I figured it out early in the book, and I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed. I didn’t like or trust this person. The whole newbie camp only underscored my dislike of that person. Actions speak louder than words, and this person’s actions spoke volumes.

Journey to Territory M did fit in with the dystopia genre. The author did a great job of portraying what the middle-class of this country was put through. They had it more comfortable than the lower-class but more stringent than the upper-class. I couldn’t imagine living like that!! Journey to Territory M was also an excellent fit for the young adult genre.

I was a little put off that there was even a hint of a love triangle. I didn’t feel that it had a place in the book. I had a “meh” reaction whenever Emma and Samuel/Eric had romantic interactions. I will say that I was happy that the author didn’t give and made her have sex with either of them.

The end of Journey to Territory M made me go “WTH am I reading?” I couldn’t believe that the President was allowing Rich to call all the shots. With Rich’s blatant hatred of Emma, it shouldn’t have been around. Also, what happened at the very end of the book. I couldn’t believe the author did what she did to some of the characters. Again, another “WTH am I reading reaction.” I want to know how everything will be resolved. I also want to understand why the President is so soft on Emma. I have a feeling I know. As much as Journey to Territory M left a bad taste in my mouth, I am going to read Journey to Territory U and finish the series.

I am going to give Journey to Territory M an Older Teen rating. There is no sex (there are a couple of kissing scenes). There is violence (including a graphic scene where guards talk about killing babies and a 6 year old). There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Journey to Territory M. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Journey to Territory M.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Journey to Territory M?

What are your thoughts?

Dystopias? Like to read them? Yes or No.

Let me know!!

Extinction Of All Children (Extinction Of All Children: Book 1) by L.J. Epps

Extinction Of All Children (Book 1) by [Epps, L.J.]

4 Stars

Publisher: L.J. Epps

Date of publication: June 3rd 2016

Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult

Series: Extinction Of All Children

Extinction Of All Children—Book 1

Journey to Territory M—Book 2

Journey to Territory U—Book 3

Where you can find Extinction Of All Children: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

A young adult, fantasy novel about a teenager who is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory. There will never be another child; every baby born after her has been taken away. Everyone wonders why she survived.

Emma Whisperer was born in 2080, in the small futuristic world of Craigluy. President Esther, in charge for the last twenty-two years, has divided their world into three territories, separated by classes—the rich, the working class, and the poor—because she believes the poor should not mingle with the others. And, the poor are no longer allowed to have children, since they do not have the means to take care of them.

Any babies born, accidentally or willfully, are killed. Emma is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory; every baby born after her has died. Somehow, she survived this fate.

During the president’s Monday night speech, she announces a party will be held to honor the last child in the territory, Emma Whisperer. Emma must read a speech, expressing how happy she is to be the last eighteen-year-old.

Emma doesn’t like the rules; she doesn’t believe in them. So, she feels she must rebel against them. Her family doesn’t agree with her rebellion, since they are hiding a big secret. If this secret gets out, it will be disastrous, and deadly, for her family.

During Emma’s journey, she meets—and becomes friends with—Eric. He is one of the guards for the president. She also befriends Samuel, another guard for the president, who is summoned to watch over her. As Emma meets new people, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Yet, she finds herself falling for a guy, something which has never happened before.

After doing what she feels is right, Emma finds herself in imminent danger. In the end, she must make one gut-wrenching decision, a decision that may be disastrous for them all.

My Review:

Again, another review where I have to post a trigger warning. In this world, the babies born to the people in Territory L are killed. It is not mentioned in what manner they were killed. The author left enough unsaid for my imagination to go overboard. So, it is safe to say that if you are triggered by infanticide, then do not read the book or the review.

When I saw this series turn up in NetGalley’s Read Now email, I was immediately intrigued. A world where society was divided up by classes? A world where the lower class was not allowed to have children? A heroine who was upset at the restrictions that were in place. Who was willing to do whatever it takes to make sure those sanctions were lifted? Yeah, you could say that my interest was caught.

Emma Whisperer was the last child born in Territory L. All babies born after her were killed. Why she was spared that fate, she didn’t know. She knew that President Esther was wrong in not letting the people in Territory L keep their children. So, the night of the party celebrating her 18th birthday, Emma took a stand. That stand ended up landing her in jail. But, it is in prison where she makes her most dangerous decisions and discoveries. Is standing for what she believes in the right thing? What will be the consequences for her actions? What did she discover?

Like I mentioned above, the plotline caught my interest. How could it not have been? I was a massive fan of the Mockingjay and Divergent series. I figured that the Extinction of All Children would be the same. In a way it was. But it was also different. Emma wanted to change things, and she didn’t let anyone stop her. She made her case in the Extinction of All Children at the beginning of the book. She kept making it every time she got a chance.

I did like Emma. She stood up for what she thought was right. She did try me nuts, though. Even though she was 18, she acted like she was so much younger at points in the book. Her eyes rolled so much in this book; it wasn’t funny.

Let’s talk about President Esther. She made my skin crawl. I couldn’t understand how one bitter woman could decide that a class of people didn’t deserve to have their children. I got why she felt that way. Growing up poor will leave scars. But to punish people for what her mother went through. That screamed deeper issues. How deep, though, wasn’t revealed until the end of the book.

The Extinction of All Children fit in well with the dystopia genre. The author did a fantastic job of building up a world where a country was divided into classes and walls.

This book also fits in well in the Young Adult genre. If the characters had been older, the book wouldn’t have worked. It needed young people. It required that energy that Emma had and projected.

The end of the Extinction of All Children left me with more questions than answers.. I wondered why certain people had grudges. I wondered who the head of Territory M was. It was well written, but nothing was ended. The storylines were not completed. Which is fine because that is a lead in to book 2.

I would give Extinction of All Children an Older Teen rating. There is no sex (there is a threat of rape). There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Extinction of All Children. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Extinction of All Children.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

An Unfortunate Dimension by Dominic Schunker

An Unfortunate Dimension by [Schunker, Dominic]

4 Stars

Publisher: Offworld Publishing

Date of publication: December 7th, 2018

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia

Where you can find An Unfortunate Dimension: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Synopsis:

An Unfortunate Dimension is a psychological thriller with a twist you’ll never see coming. 

Salvador is thrown into battle and intense laser fire. He doesn’t know how he got here or why, and that’s just one of his problems. He’s been experiencing a sort of dimensional schizophrenia, jumping into bizarre scenes past, present and future. Is the universe messing with him, interfering with his only goal, to bring his wife Jemma out of her coma? 

He grows sure Jemma is trying to communicate a solution from her dimension, trying to tell him how to save her, to bring her back round. She tells him to look for signs, find a pattern, and soon he does. His dad’s old car, a song, a demon, and Camille, his lost best friend from school. 

He learns Jemma was the teacher on going-home-duty when a little girl, Ashlen, vanished a few months ago. Why didn’t she tell him about Ashlen? He becomes convinced it’s a clue. The school is quizzed, the police are quizzed but still no answers. His mission races on when he learns they’ll turn off Jemma’s life support in seven days. 

What if Jemma’s goal is not to save herself, but something else? Eventually, he realizes it’s to save Ashlen, to ease her guilt, allow her to recover. That’s the link, here is the reason for the pattern: save Ashen and that will bring Jemma round. 

Between dimensions and interactions with Jemma and Camille, from a VR game, space travel and a distant planet awaiting its foretold enlightenment, Salvador knows what he must do. Nothing is as it seems, and the invasive truth is coming.

My review:

I like science fiction but I haven’t been reading a lot of it. To be honest, I got burned out by it. When I saw the blurb for An Unfortunate Dimension, I decided to read it. I am glad that I did because this book was good.

An Unfortunate Dimension is the story of Salvador. Salvador has been having a rough time lately. His wife, Jemma, is in a coma, on life support. Salvador has been experiencing weird occurrences. Like being dropped into an intense laser fight, naked. Or seeing his best friend who disappeared when he was 13 year old. Or seeing a young kidnapping victim alive. Salvador makes the connection between Jemma and the kidnapping victim the same day he is told that he has 7 days before they shut off life support. Convinced that saving Ashlen will save Jemma, Salvador does everything in his power to find her. But things aren’t what they seem. Can Salvador lead the police to Ashlen and save Jemma? Or will he fail?

I had a hard time getting into An Unfortunate Dimension. The beginning was confusing. There was so much going on that I had an issue keeping everything straight. There was a point during the first couple of chapters where I almost DNF’d. But I decided to keep on plugging along. By the 4th chapter, the book smoothed itself out. It turned into the book that I enjoyed reading.

Salvador: I liked Salvador. His grief over losing Jemma came off the pages. Once he realized who Ashlen was to Jemma, he was determined to find her. He was determined to help Jemma so she could be restored to him. He did have his faults. He drank way too much. His choice in friends made me question him on more than one occasion in the book. But what I liked the most about him was that he didn’t question anything that was happening to him. Even when he saw the demon (which would have freaked me out).

The kidnapping storyline was heartbreaking. I liked how the author foreshadowed what was going to happen. I also liked the connection to Camille. I thought it was interesting and I didn’t put two and two together.

The author did a fantastic job with the science fiction storyline. I liked how he included VR in this book. The whole scene with the shaman was creepy but informative. The revelation of the alien planet was creepy too. Knowing what I know now, I understand what that planet was too Salvador.

The plot twist in An Unfortunate Dimension was one that I didn’t see coming. I was taken aback by it. I did a no way. I can’t say too much more about it because I will be giving away spoilers. This is the second book in as many weeks with a plot twist that took my by surprise.

The end of An Unfortunate Dimension is tied into the plot twist. So, I am not going to say anything about it. Only that I was shaking my head and saying “No way” up until the last sentence.

I would give An Unfortunate Dimension an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no on under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread An Unfortunate Dimension. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review An Unfortunate Dimension.

All opinions stated in this review of An Unfortunate Dimension are mine.

Have you read An Unfortunate Dimension?

What are your thoughts on it?

Do you like it when there is a huge plot twist right at the end of the book?

Why or why not?

Let me know!!

Within the Darkness (Wisteria: Book 2) by Shelby Lamb

Within the Darkness (Wisteria Book 2): A Dark Fantasy Dystopian With Demons and Monsters - Mature Content by [Lamb, Shelby]

4 Stars

Publisher: Shelby Anonymous

Date of publication: January 4, 2019

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Dystopia

Series: Wisteria

Something—book 1 (review here)

Within the Darkness—book 2

Where you can find Within the Darkness: Amazon| Bookbub

Synopsis:

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.”

— Aldous Huxley

Aubrey has done it. She has teleported herself to “the hidden domain” and have managed to bring along her dream boy, Nathan, and nemesis/ex-besty Adelaide. But how could this be? They were all just at a party. No one knew getting into the backyard shed and saying the “magic words” would work. And the three are absolutely stunned. But the world Aubrey thought would be a wonderful paradise is actually a nightmare. As beautiful and enchanting as it is, Wisteria is like jumping down the rabbit hole with the Devil waiting on the sidelines. 

The people are different in this world. They are monsters, and not just physically. The Moss Wall is supposed to serve as a protection, separating the demons from the non-demons, but that doesn’t mean Aubrey and her friends are safe. Non-demon Aristocrats are nasty and cruel, indulging in their favorite daily past-time: the torture of the red maidens. 

And as for the handsome demon boy who wants Aubrey’s soul? “You’ll never escape,” warned fairies swooping down on her.

But Aubrey, Nathan, and Adelaide won’t go down without a fight. They simply must make it to the safe house and find their way out of the realm. Thankfully The Underground Annual is on its way. It is the biggest party, an explosive rave that happens once a year. And now it is their only window of opportunity. But will their plan succeed?

My review:

Trigger Warning:

I rarely do this but I am going to start this review off with a warning. Within the Darkness is a graphic book. I am not shocked by things that I read. Not at all. But even I had to do take a step back at the casual, extreme violence that was showcased in the book.

I will include a trigger warning with this book because it needs it. The triggers are rape, drug use, physical abuse, mental illness, cutting and talk of suicide. If you are triggered by any of these, then skip reading this review and the book.

The Plot:

Within the Darkness starts off with right after the events of Something. Audrey, Nathan, and Adelaide have been transported to Wisteria. Very soon after arriving in Wisteria, they find out that the magical land they were sent too has a dark side. Sexual assault, drug use, murder, and violence are the norm in Wisteria. Monsters roam the street and the forests. Audrey, Nathan, Adelaide, and Morgan are soon pushed right into the thick of it. They are captured by a sadistic Auntie and her sidekicks. Forced to endure and do things that they would never do, they vow to escape and go to a safe house. They find their chance when they realize that there is a rave that is held only once a year. They hope to escape in the crush of people. Can they do it? Can they survive until then?

I thought that the plot of Within the Darkness was well written. The urgency that Audrey, Nathan, and Adelaide felt was palpable. Their terror at being in a world where graphic violence was the norm was palpable. If I had seen some of the things they did, I would have freaked out at the beginning.

I will admit that the amount of violence showcased in the book was a bit off-putting at first. But, as I got deeper into the book, I came to realize that the violence was part of Wisteria. Audrey came to realize that towards the end of the book. It’s hard to explain without giving away major spoilers. All I will say is that I had an “Aha” moment the minute Audrey realized it too.

Characters:

Audrey: I wasn’t a fan of Audrey in the first book. So, I went into reading Within the Darkness with a little bit of prejudice against her. She took Nathan and Adelaide into Wisteria against their will. Which was kind of a dick thing to do. I wouldn’t go as far to say that I liked her but I did start to understand her. She was struggling with an untreated mental illness. It caused her to do things that she regretted after the fact. She did try to make things right. She tried to get them to the safe house. But she also got them into some pretty hairy situations.

I thought Audrey’s struggle with her mental illness was spot on. I also thought that her coping mechanisms (the cutting, sex, and drugs) were spot on also.

Nathan: I felt bad for him in this book. He was dragged into a world that was alien by his stalker. Plus, he had his girlfriend to protect. I didn’t blame him for how he felt about Audrey. Heck, I would have felt the same way. I did admire how he didn’t allow the violence of Wisteria to influence him. I was the only person at Ambrose’s parties that didn’t drink or do drugs (that I can recall). He also loved Adelaide.

Adelaide: I didn’t have any feelings towards Adelaide during the first half of the book. I did sympathize with her. I also understood her anger at Audrey. Who wouldn’t have been angry? She didn’t evoke any sort of strong reactions from me. I did start to like her after what happened to her at Auntie’s. I am not going to go into what happened but it made her a stronger person.

Morgan: She was the only one out of the foursome that I didn’t like. She was a junkie looking for a fix. She would do whatever it took to get her drugs. Even if that meant selling out the people she was traveling with. She was the only person in the group that wasn’t disgusted by the violence in Wisteria. It actually turned her on. I was hoping that she was eaten by something or killed. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.

My Thoughts on the Book

I did enjoy reading Within the Darkness. The author did a fantastic job with world building. I liked how she incorporated Japanese/Asian themes in the book. It made for an interesting background for what was happening in that realm.

There were parts of the book that made me wince while reading it. The treatment of the red-maidens was a huge part of that. A close second was how the Main World girls were treated. The casual violence towards those women was cringeworthy. I winced while reading those parts of the book.

The end of Within the Darkness was a cliffhanger. I wasn’t surprised by what happened. I was surprised that it happened with such ease. The author did not wrap up storylines. So I am expecting most of them to be carried on into book 3.

I would give Within the Darkness an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is explicit violence. This is not a book for anyone under the age of 21.

I would reread Within the Darkness. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would make sure to tell them about the triggers.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Within the Darkness.

All opinions stated in this review of Within the Darkness are mine.

Have you read Within the Darkness?

Let me know!!

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Our Life in the Forest by Marie Darrieussecq

Our Life in the Forest

3 Stars

Publisher: Text Publishing

Date of publication: October 25th, 2018

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Where you can find Our Life in the Forest: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

In the near future, a woman is writing in the depths of a forest. She’s cold. Her body is falling apart, as is the world around her. She’s lost the use of one eye; she’s down to one kidney, one lung. Before, in the city, she was a psychotherapist, treating patients who had suffered trauma, in particular, a man, “the clicker”. Every two weeks, she traveled out to the Rest Centre, to visit her “half”, Marie, her spitting image, who lay in an induced coma, her body parts available whenever the woman needed them.

As a form of resistance against the terror in the city, the woman flees, along with other fugitives and their halves. But life in the forest is disturbing too—the reanimated halves are behaving like uninhibited adolescents. And when she sees a shocking image of herself on video, are her worst fears confirmed?

Our Life in the Forest, written in her inimitable concise, vivid prose recalls Darrieusecq’s brilliant debut, Pig Tales. A dystopian tale in the vein of Never Let Me Go, this is a clever novel of chilling suspense that challenges our ideas about the future, about organ-trafficking, about identity, clones, and the place of the individual in a surveillance state.

My review

When I first saw Our Life in the Forest, it was in a Read Now email from NetGalley. What attracted me to the book, before reading the blurb, was the cover. This is one of the more original covers that I have seen. I didn’t get why the human body parts were mixed in with trees and flowers. But, having read the book, I understand 100% now. When I read the blurb, I felt that this would be a book that I would enjoy.

I didn’t enjoy reading Our Life in the Forest. Which was a huge disappointment to me. There were no chapters, which was a huge thing for me. That led to me having issues following the plotline. Maybe I am old-fashioned but I need for a book to have chapters. I need those small breaks. Mainly to adjust to anything that was thrown at me during the last chapter.

I did like the storyline and thought it was original. Not a lot of books I can say that about. I liked how the author had Vivianne remembering her life before the forest. I got a good feel for her character and why she did what she did. Now, I didn’t like Vivianne. I thought she was selfish and self-centered. I do believe that the author wrote her that way on purpose. It made what was happening around her come more into focus.

I am not going to get into the ending. I will say that there is a huge twist in the book that I didn’t see coming. One that made me go “WTH” when I read it. I was not expecting what I read and it stuck with me after I finished the book.

What I liked about Our Life in the Forest:

A) The cover

B) The storyline

C) The ending

What I disliked about Our Life in the Forest:

A) No chapters in the book

B) I had an issue following the plotline

C) Vivianne. I didn’t like her

I gave Our Life in the Forest a 3-star review. This is a compelling dystopia. It is not an easy read for me. There were no chapters and I had issues following the plotline. The ending did save the book. It was a stunner.

I would give Our Life in the Forest an Adult rating. There is sex but it isn’t graphic. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Our Life in the Forest. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Text Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Our Life in the Forest.

All opinions stated in this review of Our Life in the Forest are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Until We Are Free (Until: Book 1) by TM Blayte

Until We Are Free (Until #1)

3.5 Stars

Publisher: Alban Lake Publishing

Date of publication: August 1st, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia

Series: Until

Until We Are Free—Book 1

Where you can find Until We Are Free: Infinite Realms

Goodreads synopsis:

Nyl Jayms is tasked with kidnapping the Elder princess, to force her brother, the king, to negotiate with humans. The alternative is a war that could lead to the annihilation of both humans and Elders.

A Rider Council faction, led by Nyl’s father, is opposed to any negotiations. They will do anything, including sabotaging his assignment, to trigger a war.

Nyl and his team have to outsmart the king’s elite Royal Guard, to get to the princess, and somehow stay one step ahead of the faction opposed to negotiations. Everyone will be forced to re-evaluate ideology they were raised with, as an impending war looms ever closer.

Join these élite rebel warriors on a journey of war, betrayal, and political scheming, in Until We Are Free. In this debut novel from TM Blayte, faces of friends, family, allies, and enemies will blur. Loyalties will be tested until the determination to be free becomes the only thing that matters. After all, does one person’s freedom mean another person’s oppression?

My review:

Nyl is a 16-year-old boy who has graduated from Rider Training Camp. The Rider Training Camp is where the rebels go to train their children to fight against the Elders. The Elders are an alien race that has taken over Earth. They have kept the humans living there under severe oppression. Nyl’s first mission out of Camp is one that has failed in the past. He needs to kidnap the Elder princess. The leaders of the Rebel faction were going to use her as a bargaining chip to gain their freedom. What Nyl and his friends weren’t expecting were other Riders sabotaging the assignment. War becomes a reality when the Princess escapes. But Nyl isn’t ready for the reality of war. He also comes to realize that the war isn’t exactly black and white. That friendship can change with war. And that you can’t always trust the people who you grew up with.

I liked Nyl. He was smart and he thought well on his feet. He picked up on what was going on with the council before his father told him. Well, he had some help from Tamira with that. What I liked is that while he was dedicated to the Rider cause, he began to see that how the Rider’s went about overthrowing the Elders weren’t the best way to get things done. It was the end of the book that showed how his character had grown. I am to see what he will do with what he knows in the next book.

I thought that the main plotline of Until We Are Free was interesting. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept my attention to the end. It was well fleshed out. I did have some questions about the Elders at the beginning of the book that were answered towards the end. I also had some questions about the different bloodlines that kept coming up in the book. But, again, they were answered at the end of the book.

I wasn’t sure what to think about the plotline with all the double-crossing going on within the Rider hierarchy. I did find it interesting that Nyl’s own father set him up to fail on the first mission. I also think that Nyl’s father knew what was coming at the end of the book. He didn’t seem that surprised by it.

I didn’t care for the bit of romance between Tamira and Nyl. It didn’t add anything to the book. Was it sweet? Absolutely. Was it needed? No. The book would have been just as fine if they didn’t hook up.

Until We Are Free fit in perfectly with the Young Adult genre. It also fits in perfectly with the fantasy and dystopia genre. I do wish that more information was given about the Elders. There was some info given but not enough to appease me.

The end of Until We Are Free was eye-opening. The author did a great job at wrapping up most of the plotlines. He did leave the one with Nyl wide open. Considering what happened in the chapter before the end of the book, I wasn’t surprised. The twist at the end of the book with Mira’s mother was shocking. I cannot wait to read book 2!!

I gave Until We Are Free a 3.5 rating. This book was a good read. It was fast. The plotlines drew me in and kept me interested the entire book. I was sympathetic and liked the main character. The only thing I didn’t like was that there was a relationship between Mira and Nyl. Other than that, I enjoyed reading it.

I would give Until We Are Free an Older Teen rating. There is sex (not graphic). There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Until We Are Free. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Until We Are Free.

All opinions stated in this review of Until We Are Free are mine

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read Until We Are Free?

Love it? 

Hate it?

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The Lost Thorn by Joshua P. Aguayo

The Lost Thorn

3 Stars

Publisher: Full Runa Transmedia Studio

Date of publication: December 4th, 2015

Genre: Cyberpunk, science fiction, dystopia

Where you can find The Lost Thorn: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

The Lost Thorn is a science fiction novel, with a strong and unstable female protagonist, that fuses the ideas of cyberpunk with dashes of urban fantasy. It’s a heart-pounding adventure told from the perspective of a highly chaotic girl who has lost everything she held dear, leaving her with nothing but a powerful drug to cope with the inescapable pain.

Cyberpunk meets psychological thriller. The Lost Thorn deals not only with mega-corporate thugs and gang politics, but it also follows Samantha’s spiral and constant clash with the demons of addiction and madness.

The novel is a grim and depressing social critique that often becomes a foil for the protagonist, whose voice we hear guiding us through her story. She is spunky, easygoing, careless, and terrible at making puns. This is an adventure of contrasts from beginning to end, one that will leave you hanging and asking for more!

My review:

Cyberpunk is a genre that I haven’t read. So when I was approached to review The Lost Thorn, I decided to accept it. I am undecided on how I feel about this book. I thought that I had a good storyline with interesting characters. But, the plot was all over the place. I got lost several times while reading the book. The characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked for them to be.

The Lost Thorn is about Samantha. Sam is an addict. She wasn’t always an addict. But after the execution of her father and her identical twin sister being held hostage by ClearSight, snorting Obsidian is her way of coping with her pain. Sam is barely getting through life when the head of the gang that she was affiliated with asks her to take a look at something they have. Something that only Sam can open. See, Sam is a mage. Mages had been outlawed for the past 20 years. Sam was in hiding. But she needs to reawaken her powers. Because someone needs her to break someone out of a prison for mages. They also need her to destroy it. Can Sam shake her addiction long enough to do what her mysterious employer wants? Or will she succumb to it?

I liked Samantha. She was such a wise guy. Always had a quick comeback for people or a bad pun if the situation called for it. Her grief over losing her father and sister came off the pages. Up until the end of the book, I felt that there could have been more “oomph” to her character. If what was revealed at the end of the book was stated at the beginning, everything would have made much more sense to me.

I couldn’t read Kiki. Up until the middle of the book, I didn’t know how she felt about Sam. Her flirting with Sam annoyed me because there was no other sign that Kiki felt anything for her. She flirted, it seemed to me, to get information out of Sam. She also knew a lot more than she let on. She had known about things that surprised Sam. I also didn’t understand why she had to go along for the rescue mission.

The secondary characters were interesting but I wish that they were more fleshed out. I wish that more was said about the mysterious Hummingbird and why that person wanted Sam to take down ClearSight’s mage prison. It was very frustrating not to know that.

As I mentioned above, the plotline was all over the place in this book. There were times where I had to backtrack to earlier chapters to understood what was being referenced in what I was reading. Or I was left going “what the heck“. Usually, because I couldn’t figure out what was going on in the book. I do not get confused while reading books. So, yes, this factored hugely in my rating.

I had a few questions about certain things mentioned in the book. What happened to Earth to make it the hellhole that the author made it out to be? Was it war? There were some vague references in the book but nothing was truly answered. I also wanted to know why mages were being hunted and kept in prisons. Why did the ruler of that city hate them so much that he ordered them to be executed? I also had some questions with Obsidian and its origins. Not going to get into it here but I was kinda confused about how it was created. The Last Thorn should have answered those questions by the end of the book. But it didn’t. I can only hope that there is going to be a book 2 and that book will answer my questions. And, like with the previous paragraph, this factored in with my review also.

The end of The Last Thorn confused me. What Sam “confessed” to should have been made clear at the beginning of the book. It did explain a lot about her personality. I got no sense of closure from the ending. The storylines were not ended and were left hanging. Which makes me wonder if there is going to be a book 2.

I gave The Last Thorn a 3-star rating. I thought the characters were interesting but felt that the secondary characters could have been a bit more fleshed out. The plotline was fast-moving but I kept having to backtrack and that added time to my reading. There were also times where I got lost because I had no idea what was going on. The end of The Last Thorn was confusing and storylines were not resolved.

I would give The Last Thorn an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread The Last Thorn. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review The Last Thorn.

All opinions stated in this review of The Last Thorn are mine

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Aaru: Halls of Hel?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Aaru: Hall of Hel (The Aaru Cycle: Book 2) by David Meredith

Aaru: Halls of Hel (The Aaru Cycle #2)

4 Stars

Publisher: Amazon

Date of publication: July 27th, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Series: The Aaru Cycle

Aaru—Book 1 (review here)

Aaru: Halls of Hel—Book 2

Where you can find Aaru: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

“… Let them have everything – health, food, a place to live, entertainment. They are and remain unhappy and low-spirited for the demon waits and waits…”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Rose is a Veda.

In Elysian Industries’ virtual paradise of Aaru, that means she’s practically a goddess. She is immortal. She is powerful. A limitless paradise is hers and her friends’ to command. They are free from sickness and pain, old age and death. She should be ecstatic over her prestige and privilege, but the gilded utopia has lost its luster.

In a reality where anything can be hers with a thought, and Rose can master any skill instantly with nothing but her imagination, to what can she still aspire? She has all of eternity to fill, but what will her purpose be? Rose adores her sweet, Latin boyfriend, Franco. She loves wiling away endless immaculate days with her friends, but shouldn’t there be more to life than mere play? Also, Rose is dogged by a deep concern for her little sister, Koren, the Elysian Industries spokes-model and reality star back in the “Before” world.

Though Koren is wealthy, famous, and idolized by millions of adoring fans, her life is spinning out of control. Her parents’ marriage is on the rocks, and the boyfriend of her dreams, Jonas Perry, seems suddenly indifferent. Koren finds her celebrity increasingly isolating, her grueling work schedule exhausting, and the constant scrutiny of her personal life unwelcomed and intrusive. To top it all off, she has regular nightmares about the death of her friend, Kiku, and the still-at-large Magic Man who nearly stole away her everything.

Koren and Rose have more to fear from this quarter than they know. Magic Man’s obsession with the teenage idol has not lessened, and he is far from defeated. With vital aid from an unexpected source, his nefarious schemes to make Koren his own and to hack the Aaru mainframe are on track and moving forward. Unless the sisters can thwart his sinister designs, everyone and everything the girls hold dear could be destroyed.

My review:

I was so excited when I accepted the invitation to review this book. I will admit that I hyped up Aaru: Halls of Hel in my mind more than I should have. Usually, I get burned by the book. It ends up not being as good as I thought it would be. Not in this case. Aaru: Halls of Hel lived up to my mental hype.

Aaru: Halls of Hel takes place shortly after the events of Aaru. Rose has been made into the Arch Veda of Aaru. As she grows into the role that she was given, Rose deepens her relationship with Franco. She also becomes aware of Residents who were not allowed past the firewall because of different issues. While she is concerned about Koren, her first responsibility is Aaru and its Residents. Koren is not doing so well. She barely speaks to Rose. Her mother is cheating on her father. Her father is content to sit home and drink all day. Her boyfriend isn’t there for her and is seen stepping out with another girl. On top of it, she is having disturbing nightmares about Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault. It is taking a toll on her and she is about to break. Hel is the Magic Man’s creation. Kept isolated in another computer, she is tortured and maimed. She has a dual nature. While loving and kind, she also is vicious. It is her dark nature that shows when she is in Aaru. How is Hel connected to Koren and Rose? Will Rose be able to look out for her sister and the Residents of Aaru? Will Koren reach a breaking point with her life? What is the Magic Man’s end game? And more importantly, who is the mysterious man helping him?

I was disappointed that I didn’t see as much as Rose as I did in the first book. I wanted to see more of what an Arch Veda could do in Aaru. I did like seeing her interactions with the other Vedas, though. I thought it was interesting what they could do and how much control they had over the Aaru’s landscape. I also liked reading about her relationship with Franco. I also wish that there was more interaction with Koren. But, that did come towards the end of the book.

Koren was a hot mess in this book. I felt so bad for her. She was spiraling out of control and had no safety net. I wondered as I read about her intense guilt over Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault if she had received any sort of therapy for it. It seemed like Elysian Industries kept working her and turned a blind eye to what she was going through. She acted like the adult in her relationship with her parents. Which is sad for a barely 15-year-old. What I did like was how she was able to interact with Rose. Loved it!! I also got her confusion over meeting Hel. I would have been confused too.

I was a little confused when Hel was introduced. At first, I thought her chapters, which were brief, were Koren having nightmares about the Magic Man. I didn’t put two and two together until the Magic Man started interacting with Hel. He couldn’t have done that with Koren. Then I started to feel bad for Hel. What the Magic Man did to her was awful. What she was used for was awful. What she was programmed to think about Rose and Koren was frightening. Her skills were frightening. I winced at what she could do to the other Veda’s and Residents.  But, I am curious to see where her character development goes.

The Magic Man was as slimy as he was in the first book. What he did to Hel was awful. What he wants to do to Koren was as bad. I thought he got what he deserved when he was left in Mexico. But, I was also interested in his backstory. I wanted to know how he got the way he did. There were hints and I hope that more is explained in the next book.

As always, the secondary characters added more depth to the story. I will say that I thought Koren and Rose’s parents were awful in this book.

The first plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel was the one with Rose. It showed Rose’s rise to Arch Veda. It detailed her relationship with Franco and the other Vedas. It shows her confusion about Quarantine after Dani was snatched away from her. Her relationship with Koren was also discussed even though they didn’t interact much with each other. It also showed her confusion when Hel arrived and wrecked havoc in Aaru.

The second plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel detailed what was going on in Koren’s life. It showed how bad Koren’s life had become. She had no relationship with her mother and barely had one with her father. All she did was work. When she did decide to take a vacation, she ended up going back after a couple of days. Because of her work schedule, she wasn’t able to talk to Rose as much as she could. Her boyfriend was a huge jerk. Things did start to get better for her towards the end of the book but man, she was a mess.

The third plotline was about Hel. It showed how much she was tortured by the Magic Man. What happened to her when she was behind the firewall was horrific. Her joy at seeing Koren was heartbreaking because of what happened to make Hel react the way she did. The same went for when she saw Rose for the first time. She loved her and she hated her. All because of what the Magic Man did to her.

The secondary storylines, like the secondary characters, added depth to the story. The author did a great job at wrapping them up and incorporating them into the main storylines. I will say that I have a good idea at who Simon was, or at least who he is in Aaru.

The end of Aaru: Halls of Hel was insane. The author left all the storylines up in the air. Which in turn left it wide open for book 3. There was a twist in the plot that I did not see coming. It took me by complete surprise when Hel introduced that person in the book. I went “No way“. Then the book ended. So, yes, a bit of a cliffhanger but man, it was good.

I gave Aaru: Halls of Hel a 4-star rating. This was a fast paced book that I enjoyed reading. The characters and their situations were relatable. I will say that the twist at the end of the book took me by surprise. It left me wanting to know more.

I would give Aaru: Halls of Hel an Adult rating. There is sex and sexual situations that were not graphic. There is violence. There is language. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Aaru: Halls of Hel. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Aaru: Halls of Hel.

All opinions stated in this review of Aaru: Hall of Hel are mine

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Aaru: Halls of Hel?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Days of Reign by Elisa Hansen

Days of Reign

4 Stars

Publisher: RABT Book Tours

Date of publication: June 29th, 2018

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia

Where you can find Days of Reign: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Synopsis:

Zelenka is an outcast. Tormented by the harsh rules and punishments of Eldon, she will soon be imprisoned in the horrifying government factories. Her lover, the charismatic Fraco, may be her one chance to escape. But Zelenka is drawn to the dangerous and elusive world of the Amaryllians. Only through them can she triumph in her two dreams: freedom, and survival.

My review: 

I was intrigued when I got the invite to review Days of Reign. The whole plotline of a girl trying to escape an oppressive regime caught my attention. I know that books like this in the dystopia genre are a dime a dozen but Days of Reign stood out from that crowd. This book had relatable characters and touched upon some real-life issues that we are facing today.

Eldon is a planet that is dying. Zelenka is a girl who has two choices in life. Either she marries by her 19th birthday or she risks going into a government-run factory. There, she will birth children until she dies. Zelenka is desperate to avoid that fate but she also wants to marry for love. Zelenka is also different from other girls her age. Zelenka has been taught to read and write, beyond what the government mandates for girls. Zelenka dreams of escaping Eldon. Her chance comes when she meets an intriguing woman named Fianna from Eldon’s sister planet, Amaryllis. After suffering a heartbreaking loss and enduring an attack by someone she thought she loved, Zelenka is ready to go. But, is Amaryllis all that it is cracked up to be? Will Zelenka find the freedom that she has craved?

I liked Zelenka. I also felt bad for her. The oppression that she lived under was stifling. But, somehow, she managed to thrive under it. She could read and write beyond what a woman in that society was allowed too. I felt that was amazing because her parents (and grandfather) took such a risk in educating her. She was hoping for a love match with Fraco to avoid being placed in the factories. I liked how she questioned her faith and wondered about Amaryllis. I was a little confused about exactly how she met Fianna. But that connection helped her when she needed to escape Eldon. Her wonder and amazement when she arrived in Amaryllis were exactly how I would have reacted. Considering the oppression that she left, Amaryllis was heaven to her.

I liked Fianna but I didn’t understand her role in the book for about half the book. Everything became clear after she and Zelenka landed in Amaryllis. What she was destined to do and who she was going to help. I do wish that it was revealed a bit earlier in the book. There were hints but still.

I didn’t like Fraco. I did pity him towards the end of the book but I didn’t like him. The things he did were heinous. But, he was a product of the male-dominated society of Eldon. He did what he thought was in his right.

As with every book, the secondary characters made the book. And with Days of Reign, they definitely added some much-needed depth to the storyline.

There were 2 plotlines in Days of Reign. Both plotlines were wonderfully written. They were also compelling. What got me was how some of the issues on both Eldon and Amaryllis reflected issues today. It actually scared me a little.

The first plotline centered around Zelenka in Eldon. It showed how awful her life was on Eldon. It showed how awful conditions were there. Take for instance her best friend, Sara. Her father sold her to a family as a communal bride (I know, right!!). When Zelenka went to visit Sara, she finds out that Sara committed suicide. It was one of two events that pushed Zelenka into leaving with Fianna. The other event, well, you will need to read the book to find out.

The second plotline is also centered around Zelenka. But she is in Amaryllis and discovering that living in Amaryllis is not what she thought. I shared Zelenka’s awe over everything that she saw and learned on Amaryllis. I wish I had a shower like she had.

There were a few secondary storylines that added to the story. Such as Zelenka’s writing and the storyline with Maeve. Those storylines added much-needed depth to the book.

Days of Reign fits in perfectly in the dystopian genre. It also fits in with the science fiction angle of the book.

I will warn that there are triggers in this book. They are rape, female circumcision and suicide. Not to mention that women are only looked at for sexual gratification and considered non-people. Like I mentioned at the beginning of the book, some of these follow different issues in real life.

The end of Days of Reign was confusing for me. Is there going to be another book? Because if there isn’t, a lot of storylines were left up in the air. If there is another book, it was brilliant of the author to end the book the way she did.

I gave Days of Reign a 4-star rating. This is a well-written book that I enjoyed reading. The characters were relatable and well-rounded. I did have an issue with how the book ended. Hopefully, there will be a book 2.

I would give Days of Reign an Adult rating. There is sex, but it isn’t graphic. There is violence. There is mild language. There are triggers (see above). I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Days of Reign. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would include a warning about the triggers.

I would like to thank RABT Book Tours for allowing me to read and review Days of Reign.

All opinions stated in this review of Days of Reign are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read Days of Reign?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Bright Ruin (Dark Gifts: Book 3) by Vic James

Bright Ruin (Dark Gifts #3)

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Del Ray

Date of publication: October 9th, 2018

Genre: young adult, science fiction, dystopia

Series: Dark Gifts

Gilded Cage – Book 1 (review here)

Tarnished City – Book 2 (review here)

Bright Ruin – Book 3

Where you can find Bright Ruin: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

Magically gifted aristocrats rule–and commoners are doomed to serve. But a rebellion threatens the old order. The dystopian trilogy that began with Gilded Cage and Tarnished City concludes.

In a world where the lower classes must endure ten years of forced service to unfairly advantaged, magically powered rulers, a teenage boy dreams of rebellion, his older sister yearns for love and knowledge, and a dangerous young aristocrat seeks to remake the world with his dark gifts. In Bright Ruin, the final book in the trilogy set in modern-day England, our heroes will lead a revolution that will transform–or destroy–the world.

My review:

This book. Has left me. Wordless. Talk about having everything turned upside down and inside out. I can’t even get my thoughts together to write a review that makes sense…lol. But I will try.

I was excited to read Bright Ruin. I had loved the previous two books in the Dark Gifts trilogy and I was expecting to feel the same about Bright Ruin. Which I did. But this book also left me with a what the heck feeling. Why? Because of the ending. But I will get to that later in the review.

Out of all the characters in the book, I thought Gavar shined in this book. His character development from Gilded Cage was amazing. He went from being a pawn of his father to someone who decided to shake off the yoke of oppression that he lived under. I did have my doubts about him while reading Bright Ruin. I had doubts about his allegiances. But, I came to realize that the only one he was loyal too was Libby and through association, Daisy. That everything he did in Bright Ruin was to safeguard them. Of course, he was doing it under duress but still.

Speaking about Gavar brings me to Silyen. I didn’t know what to make of him for most of the book. The author did a great job at keeping his true intentions under wraps until the end of the book. Even when Luke and he met the King, I still had doubts about his true intentions. I should have known after the King’s death scene that Silyen had something up his sleeve. I also should have known when he made that deal with Dog “A life and an escape“. Grrrr. I also should have known his true intentions towards Luke. Thinking back, there were enough hints, I didn’t add them up. I will say that the kiss was electric and I am glad it was left at that.

I didn’t like Abi as much as I did in the first two books. I don’t know why I didn’t. I do think that she saw something in Gavar that surprised her. She saw goodness and the potential to help instead of harm. Which is why she trusted him with the plans to help break her parents out of where they were being held. Which is why she didn’t blame him for what happened when she found out the truth. I did like the change in her from the first book. She went from someone who accepted what life was thrusting at her to someone who dared to change things. That change was electric. A big part of that change was Jenner’s betrayal at the Blood Festival. But the other half of that change happened when things went sideways when her parents were rescued. Those events shaped her into who she became at the end of the book.

I thought Luke was useless in this book. Until Silyen took him to Crovan’s island. Then I realized, hey he is useful. I thought his relationship with Silyen was one of master and slave. But, as I read Luke’s part of the book, I realized that Luke was providing Silyen with something. I didn’t know what. Like I mentioned above, I was shocked at the kiss between them. But, I was also shocked by what Luke did at Silyen’s request. That took more bravery than anyone in the entire book. But, like I said above, I should have known it was coming. That whole death scene with the King was a huge indicator of what was going to happen. I failed to see it.

I want to mention how much I liked Dog in this book. I loved that the author gave him a voice and a purpose in this book. I also liked that his humanity was showing more and more. It counteracted nicely with what I knew about him.

It was the last chapter that bothered me. Luke’s storyline was not resolved. As was Coira’s, the King’s and Silyen’s. To end the book the way it did make me go “WHHHHHYYYYYY????” I can only hope that the author is going to do some sort of sequel to Bright Ruin. Something that explained what happened.

What I liked about Bright Ruin:

A) Gavar.

B) The kiss between Luke and Silyen

C) Dog

What I disliked about Bright Ruin:

A) What Silyen asked Luke to do

B) The end of the book

C) Abi. Just didn’t like her

I gave Bright Ruin a 4-star rating. This is a fantastic dystopian book. The characters were well fleshed out and the world building was amazing. I did have an issue with the ending. Other than that, loved the book.

I would give Bright Ruin an Older Teen rating. There is no sex (other than that amazing kiss between Silyen and Luke). There is violence. There is mild language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Bright Ruin. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Book-Ballantine, Del Ray, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Bright Ruin.

All opinions stated in this review of Bright Ruin are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**