New Release Review: All Thy Sons by K.M. Breakey

All Thy Sons
by K.M. Breakey

Released: February 3, 2019

Genre: Political Fiction

Description:
Life's unfolding on schedule for Tony Fierro. Raised in Vancouver by a loving Catholic family, he's blessed with good looks and self-confidence to burn. He gets the job. He woos the girl. He has the world by the tail.

But the world is acting strangely. Irrationally. Immorally. Tony questions the progressive mantras that pervade modern-day culture, but quietly. Better to ignore them, laugh at them, even as the absurdities multiply and turn dangerous.

His pal Ivan senses the evil lurking and warns of impending calamity. But Ivan's paranoid. An alarmist. He always was. Tony's got better things to do, like raise his boys, pay his mortgage, live his life.

When tragedy strikes, Tony's world crashes. He wakes from his slumber and sees a country at war with itself, a government complicit in the destruction, the pattern playing out across the Western World.

He can no longer stay silent, but will his message cross the line as a new Dystopian order rises. All Thy Sons explores a hellish future of chaos and racial violence. A future where remaining First World sanctuaries vanish with stunning rapidity.

What happens when there are no safe neighborhoods, or cities, or countries? Do we lapse into tribalism? Do we rise? Or does a new master rise?


My Thoughts:
This looked like another exciting, disturbing, and deep read by K.M. Breakey, but I had it on my to-be-read queue for a while, mainly because I wanted to be in the right frame of mind to fully enjoy and process it.

So now that I have read it, what did I think? It was what I expected, in general. A deep dive into one person's perspective of the social and political landscape, but built from their youth, through today, and then into the near future. Unlike Never, Never, and Never Again, this one doesn't stop at the present day, but takes a stab at where today's trends might take us.

Now for why it took me so long to read this. Simply put, I knew from past reads that the scenarios, opinions, outcomes, and examples would directly or indirectly conflict with my own life view. It's tough to prepare yourself to read something that's going to challenge how you perceive the world, but I keep reading Mr. Breakey's books because I think it's important to see the other side, to empathize, if not sympathize, with someone else’s deeply held beliefs.

Did this book convert me to another way of thinking? No, not exactly, but it did point out some interesting things, and I will try to pay more attention when I see them in real life. As for the writing and the story telling? They're spot on. This is a well-thought out story that stays true to its purpose and the guiding principles and influencing events of its characters.

On the other hand, I found it a bit politically preachy in places, especially when the friends in the book would engage in conversations with only one viewpoint or when one of the participants in a scene was portrayed as wrongheaded and unrealistically naive. Are there folks out there like that? Yeah, but not everyone who disagrees with someone's viewpoint is wrong or illogical or to be pitied, no matter which side we're talking about.

In any case, my biggest takeaway from this book is that it isn't necessarily one political leaning or another that can lead our society to its destruction. Instead, it is the polarization, the open hostility, and even the artificial harmony that hides the strong fears and prejudices that people really feel. As in this story's dystopian outcome, this internal strife (and by internal, I mean amongst those in a single country or community) weakens us and makes us vulnerable to outside interests who may want to exploit us or even take over.

Is that what the author wanted me to learn? I'm not sure. But it is what I took away. Does this story leave you feeling warm and fuzzy? Nope, and it doesn't mean to.  In fact, if you're progressive or liberal, I feel like this story might deeply offend or even anger you, so take that into consideration. Still, I think it provides a valuable look into another perspective, whether or not that perspective is popular in the mainstream, wrong or right. That's why I read this book and will probably read more by this author.

Overall, I really liked the book, but found it personally challenging to read it with an open mind. It left me thinking and didn't leave me feeling comfortable with the way things are going in the world, not that I was particularly comfortable anyway.  Recommended for folks who like political fiction and fictional memoirs.

I received the review copy of this book from the author.

About the Author:

K.M. Breakey was born in Toronto and educated at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. He spent 25 years in Software Development before turning full attention to writing in 2016, with the success of his 3rd novel. Johnny and Jamaal fearlessly explores racial dysfunction in America, from perspectives you won't hear in mainstream media. His latest, Never, Never and Never Again, tackles South Africa's complicated history, from Apartheid, through Transformation, and into the chaos currently laying waste to this once-prosperous nation. In an age of mass media distortion and rapid erosion of free speech, Mr. Breakey sees fiction as a powerful vehicle to disseminate truth and expose lies.

He has also published Creator Class and The World Clicks. To learn more, visit kmbreakey.com.


Books by this Author:

Dystopian Review: Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

Magisterium
by Jeff Hirsch

Description:
On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.

Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea of what might be on the other side of it. Glenn's only friend, Kevin, insists the fence holds back a world of monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn't for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality: Glenn's mother disappeared when she was six, and soon after, she lost her scientist father to his all-consuming work on the mysterious Project. Glenn buries herself in her studies and dreams about the day she can escape. But when her father's work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that will send Glenn and Kevin on the run---with only one place to go.

With MAGISTERIUM, Jeff Hirsch brings us the story of a complex, captivating world that will leave readers breathless until the very last page.


My Review:
Magisterium is a rather odd blend of fantasy and science fiction. The world is split along a rift between science and magic, and Glenn is a child of both worlds.

This story starts off seeming to point in one direction, then goes somewhere wholly unexpected. The shift in Glenn’s goals is well done, and I must say the conclusion surprised me. The magic and Glenn’s experiments with it are fantastic, coming alive in the mind’s eye.

That being said, I would have liked to see more world building, particularly with regard to the history and cause of the rift, but there is enough there to hold the story together. I’d also liked to have seen just a bit more of the science fiction explained, but this book is focused mostly on the fantasy.

Overall, I really liked this book, which I borrowed as an audiobook from the library. Folks who enjoy fantasy with a touch of sci-fi might like this, but I have a feeling the story might just come off better in audio than in text.


About the Author:

Jeff Hirsch lives in Astoria, New York with his wife who blogs and writes about sewing. They have two cats, but on his various author pages, Jeff is sure to mention his future dog who shall be named Jerry Lee Lewis. He studied both acting and creative writing, and has an MFA in creative writing.

I recommend popping over to both his Goodreads and Amazon profiles to learn more (and see his much more witty versions of this bio). Links below.

Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Profile
Twitter @jeff_hirsch

Dystopian Review: The Giver (The Giver #1) by Lois Lowry

The Giver (The Giver #1)
by Lois Lowry


Description:
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.

1994 Newbery Medal winner. Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.


My Review:
The Giver is set in a future where humanity is conditioned for harmony and perfection and condensed into tiny pockets of civilization where life and knowledge are closely regulated. Behind it all, though is the Keeper, a person assigned the onerous task of remembering the full and true history of mankind in all its glory and horror. When Jonas is selected as the new Keeper, the former one becomes the Giver, imparting all of his knowledge in a one-way transfer.

What I love most about this book is how Jonas slowly begins to understand the nature of his society. The emotional underpinnings, which only he and the Keeper can experience, are heart wrenching. I think the author did a fantastic job portraying both the best and worst of humanity. And I also loved that once given, everything about the transferred idea, its emotion, memory and importance, are lost to the Giver.

I saw the movie before I listened to the audiobook, but the two are pretty close. Surprisingly, the ambiguous ending of the film was spot on. The ending in the book left me with that same sense of unease and ambiguity. Did he make it or not? I still have no idea, but it did leave me thinking.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I’d recommend it to folks who enjoy dystopian stories with embedded lessons. It’s a chilling, yet hopeful read.

I picked this audiobook up from the library.


About the Author:

Lois Lowry is known for her versatility and invention as a writer. She was born in Hawaii and grew up in New York, Pennsylvania, and Japan. After several years at Brown University, she turned to her family and to writing.

She is the author of more than thirty books for young adults, including the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader.s Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, NUMBER THE STARS and THE GIVER. Her first novel, A SUMMER TO DIE, was awarded the International Reading Association.s Children.s Book Award.

Ms. Lowry now divides her time between Cambridge and an 1840s farmhouse in Maine. To learn more about Lois Lowry, see her website at www.loislowry.com.

The Giver Quartet:
Hmm, now that I'm prepping this post, I see that this is actually a quartet, and the ambiguous ending doesn't seem that bad anymore now that I know there is more.

Dystopian Review: Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

Allegiant (Divergent #3)
by Veronica Roth
Narrators for the audiobook: Emma Galvin, Aaron Stanford


Description:
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.


My Review:
Ok, yeah, this one takes your heart and stomps on it, but still, it is fantastic!

I went into this with a great sense of trepidation, having heard all the outpourings of dismay from fellow readers. I managed to avoid reading spoilers, though, so this book came as a complete shock to me.

Now that I’ve read (listened to) it, I can’t imagine it any other way though. Everything makes sense, as much as it can, and while heartbreaking, I found the ending satisfying.

The dual narration threw me off at first, but like everything else in the story, it makes sense by the end. Wow! Both performances were spot on.

Overall, this book and the series are excellent reads, but they don’t take any prisoners. Be prepared to feel this story to your bones.

I borrowed this audiobook from the library, basically binged the trilogy.


About the Author:

 

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and Carve the Mark. She was born in a Chicago suburb, and studied creative writing at Northwestern University. She and her husband and dog currently live in Chicago.

You can find Veronica on Instagram (@vrothbooks), Facebook, or at her website (veronicarothbooks.com), or sign up for her newsletter to get book news and exclusive content here! eepurl.com/dcqzr1

Dystopian Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth
Narrator for the audiobook: Emma Galvin

Description:
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.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian DIVERGENT series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.


My Review:
The second book in the Divergent series is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Tris and Four are having troubles, Tris is traumatized, and their world is literally falling apart around them. Then add in betrayal and a horrific reality none of them could have imagined and you have one fantastic read.

Overall, loved this installment and highly recommend it to fans of the dystopian genre.

I borrowed this audiobook from the library right after reading the first one. The same narrator performs book two.


About the Author:

 

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and Carve the Mark. She was born in a Chicago suburb, and studied creative writing at Northwestern University. She and her husband and dog currently live in Chicago.

You can find Veronica on Instagram (@vrothbooks), Facebook, or at her website (veronicarothbooks.com), or sign up for her newsletter to get book news and exclusive content here! eepurl.com/dcqzr1

Dystopian Review: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent #1)
by Veronica Roth
Narrator for the audiobook: Emma Galvin


Description:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves.... or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series - dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.


My Review:
I jumped on the Divergent stories a bit late in the game, particularly because when I first became aware of them, everyone was already shouting their displeasure at the series’ conclusion. Still, I saw the movie for Divergent and figured I’d give the series a shot when I found the audiobooks available at my local library.

I’m glad I did. This was a blast. I can see why people loved this book. Tris’s world is just crazy. Having to choose a life focus before you’re ever out of school. Knowing that if you fail in your initiation, you’ll be relegated to the streets and an outcast life of poverty. Then adding in the revelation that you aren’t normal, and your abnormality could get you killed if you fail to hide it. All of this is Divergent.

The storytelling is engaging and entertaining, and it drew me along even though I had a good idea what would happen by having watched the movie first.

I must also say I thoroughly enjoyed the talented performance of the narrator, Emma Galvin, whom I’ve come to recognize in other stories.

Overall, I loved the story and would recommend it to fans of dystopian novels.


About the Author:

 

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and Carve the Mark. She was born in a Chicago suburb, and studied creative writing at Northwestern University. She and her husband and dog currently live in Chicago.

You can find Veronica on Instagram (@vrothbooks), Facebook, or at her website (veronicarothbooks.com), or sign up for her newsletter to get book news and exclusive content here! eepurl.com/dcqzr1

Audiobook Review: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Simon Prebble (Narrator)

Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell, Simon Prebble (Narrator)

Description:
Blackstone Audio presents a new recording of this dramatically popular book.

George Orwell depicts a gray, totalitarian world dominated by Big Brother and its vast network of agents, including the Thought Police - a world in which news is manufactured according to the authorities' will and people live tepid lives by rote.

Winston Smith, a hero with no heroic qualities, longs only for truth and decency. But living in a social system in which privacy does not exist and where those with unorthodox ideas are brainwashed or put to death, he knows there is no hope for him.

The year 1984 has come and gone, yet George Orwell's nightmare vision of the world we were becoming in 1949 is still the great modern classic portrait of a negative Utopia.


My Review:
It took me quite some time to get around to reading (listening) to this book, and I must say I wasn’t disappointed.

It boggles the mind how pervasively fictional (in the context of the story) every known fact and history in the book is. The concept of double think, well, it’s amazing and seems like it wouldn’t be possible, but the way George Orwell explains it in the book, gives examples, and shows it happening to the characters makes it start feeling pretty real by the end of the story.

I found it particularly chilling how the government run media in the story proactively rewrote history, made all the more so by how easily the citizens of that future dystopia instantly adjusted their own perceptions of history to match.

Then, the romance. I had no idea that this story, with all its reputation of dystopia and Big Brother, was actually a tragic romance. Not only did it make the story hard to put down, but it perfectly illustrates just how well Orwell’s society controls every aspect of those who reside in it.

As for relevance? Well, it’s eerie and eye opening. Having read this, I find myself paying closer attention to trends in what stories the media shares, what they say, and how certain popular figures respond to it. While the story takes the ideas of social and thought control to the extreme, current events make it seem rather possible that the concepts in the book aren’t quite as fictional as one would hope.

Overall, an excellent and chilling story. Highly recommended. The audiobook performance by Simon Prebble was fantastic.

I borrowed this audiobook from the library.


*Note that the image I used is for a boxed set of this book along with Animal Farm. It was the closest match I could find to the one I read from the library.

New Release: The List by Patricia Forde

The List
by Patricia Forde

Publication Date: August 1st 2017

Description:
Fahrenheit 451 meets The Giver for tweens in this gripping story about the power of words and the dangers of censorship.

In the city of Ark, speech is constrained to five hundred sanctioned words. Speak outside the approved lexicon and face banishment. The exceptions are the Wordsmith and his apprentice Letta, the keepers and archivists of all language in their post-apocalyptic, neo-medieval world.

On the death of her master, Letta is suddenly promoted to Wordsmith, charged with collecting and saving words. But when she uncovers a sinister plan to suppress language and rob Ark’s citizens of their power of speech, she realizes that it’s up to her to save not only words, but culture itself.

My Review:
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It’s a gripping and thought provoking read with a decent amount of action and good pacing. I’d recommend it to folks who like dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and stories that feature young protagonists.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

You can read the full review on my original post here.

Add to your shelf on Goodreads.

About the Author:
Patricia Forde lives in the County Galway, in the wet of Ireland. She has published five books for children in the Irish language and has written two plays, as well as several television drama series for children and teenagers. She has worked as a writer on both English and Irish language soap operas. In another life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of Galway Arts Festival. The List is her first novel.

Author Links:
Goodreads Patricia's Author Profile

Sci Fi Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline

Description:
It's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We're out of oil. We've wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS - and his massive fortune - will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle. Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions - and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.


My review:
Fantastic book! Kind of a high tech Willy Wonka.

For me, the 80s pop culture and video game stuff was fun and interesting. It was funny how all these gunters (egg hunters) basically had to learn and master everything Halliday liked, no matter how obscure, all for a chance to find the unfindable easter egg in the Oasis.

I also liked that this wasn't just Wade against the world. He finds allies of a sort, and that not only adds some more interesting characters, but also makes him more likeable. The story does slow down in the middle as Wade gets stumped and then distracted from the hunt, but when it picks back up again, it just doesn't stop.

Particularly interesting is the description of the technology and the cleverly interspersed glimpses of the real world it was created to hide.

Overall, I loved this story. I'd strongly recommend this to people who enjoy 80s culture, video games, sci fi and dystopians. 

I bought this book for my son and borrowed it from him to read after he'd finished with it.


About the author:

ERNEST CLINE is a novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. His first novel, Ready Player One, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, appeared on numerous “best of the year” lists, and is set to be adapted into a motion picture by Warner Bros. and director Steven Spielberg. His second novel, ARMADA, debuted at #4 on the NYT Bestseller list and is being made into a film by Universal Pictures. Ernie lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.

Author Links:
Goodreads
Twitter
Amazon
Author Page

Dystopian Review: The List by Patricia Forde

The List
by Patricia Forde

Genre: YA, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Eco Fiction, Science Fiction

Publication Date: August 1st 2017 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Original Title: The Wordsmith, published April 16, 2015

Description:
Fahrenheit 451 meets The Giver for tweens in this gripping story about the power of words and the dangers of censorship.

In the city of Ark, speech is constrained to five hundred sanctioned words. Speak outside the approved lexicon and face banishment. The exceptions are the Wordsmith and his apprentice Letta, the keepers and archivists of all language in their post-apocalyptic, neo-medieval world.

On the death of her master, Letta is suddenly promoted to Wordsmith, charged with collecting and saving words. But when she uncovers a sinister plan to suppress language and rob Ark’s citizens of their power of speech, she realizes that it’s up to her to save not only words, but culture itself.

My Review:
The List is set in a post-apocalyptic future where the ice caps have melted and flooded the world. A small colony has formed where a group called the Green Warriors had identified a place the flooding would not likely touch. Called Ark, the main town is under the control of Noa, a man who blames the disaster on words, on people talking each other into believing there was nothing to the science that predicted the flood.

So, one, this book is very much a story warning against censorship, not only of words, but of culture, the arts, and human nature. But two, it’s also about climate change and a commentary on politicizing the science around it to the point that real threats are disregarded. I thought these elements were both interesting and rather frightening.

Still, the entire story is told from the perspective of a child, just into her teens, who loses her guardian and assumes a massive responsibility all in the same day. A girl who discovers everything she thought was normal and right was actually a lie. It’s a pretty exciting read, actually, but there are some poignant tragedies fed by the brutality and lack of empathy of those who are supposed to lead and protect Ark.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It’s a gripping and thought provoking read with a decent amount of action and good pacing. I’d recommend it to folks who like dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and stories that feature young protagonists.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Add to your shelf on Goodreads.

Hardcover is available for pre-order on Amazon.

About the Author:
Patricia Forde lives in the County Galway, in the wet of Ireland. She has published five books for children in the Irish language and has written two plays, as well as several television drama series for children and teenagers. She has worked as a writer on both English and Irish language soap operas. In another life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of Galway Arts Festival. The List is her first novel.

Author Links:
Goodreads Patricia's Author Profile

New Release and Review: Rise of the Chosen (Lifeblood #1) by Anna Kopp

Rise of the Chosen (Lifeblood #1)
by Anna Kopp

Description:
In Sam's world there are two rules. Rule #1: Nobody dies. Protect the living at all costs. Rule #2: Everybody dies. At least once.

The Waking was a global event in which a force called the Lifeblood invaded all humans who died. The few strong enough to control it came back as powerful immortals. The rest let the bloodlust take over and awoke with one goal - to kill.

Newly appointed Watch Guard Samantha Shields has a legacy to uphold. Her father died a hero defending their city and now she wants to follow in his footsteps. Except for the dying part, of course. Unfortunately, fate has other plans as she discovers deep dark secrets that make her choose between her loyalties and the lives of everyone in her city. Both rules are in play as Sam is forced to make hard decisions that could cost her everything - including the person she cares about most.

My Review:
Rise of the Chosen is a rather interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. In it, all who die are either Chosen or Woken. Chosen are superhuman immortals, the best line of defense against the woken. Woken are mindless, vicious killers who are just as superhuman and immortal as the chosen.

What I liked most about the story were the ways humanity came up with to protect themselves from the woken. Each method seemed like something people would actually do, though there were some very dark strategies at play for even the best of them.

I also enjoyed the romance. The intimate scenes were fade-to-black, allowing the story to focus on the threats facing the heroine and the city, but it’s blended right into the plot in a natural and believable way. It seems like there’s more story to tell, which is great since there are more books coming in the series.

The only thing I didn’t quite buy or like was how Sam’s loyalties shift. I can’t go into details because they’d spoil the surprise, but let’s just say I’d have chosen differently.

Overall, I really liked this story. Fans of the zompoc and dystopian genres will probably dig this story. There’s meat behind this one, not just rampaging undead and hopeless scenarios. A great read.

I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley.

About the Author:

Anna Kopp is a writer from Ohio. She's a World of Warcraft playing mom of two boys who love Minecraft.

Book review contributor to My Trending stories at https://mytrendingstories.com/profile...

Cover Reveal: A Tragic Consequence by JC Morrows

Today is the cover reveal for A Tragic Consequence by JC Morrows. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

A Tragic Consequence (Order of the MoonStone #4)
by JC Morrows
Genre: Dystopian
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 25 October 2016

Blurb:
FORCED TO FLEE . . . WOUNDED . . . AND ON THE RUN . . .

Not exactly a safe place for a former assassin and a prince with a price on his head.

In the dark streets of Auralius, Kayden and her prince struggle to find a way to set the country right again. But the Order of the MoonStone has a long reach and a strong grip.

Will the two of them be able to find a way to bring down Kayden's former employers?

Or will Kayden's unusual charm help them to find an ally where there was none?

You can find A Tragic Consequence on Goodreads.

 

Check out the free series sampler!
The Order of the MoonStone sampler

by J.C. Morrows

Blurb:
A Country… A King… A Choice…

When she falls in love with her target, Kayden realizes she cannot fulfill her mission. Now she will have to reveal her deepest, darkest secrets to the Prince… or it could mean both their lives.

This FREE digital sampler includes excerpts from the first four books in JC Morrows' romantic, edge-of-your-seat suspense-filled, bestselling young adult series—as well as a teaser to the highly anticipated fifth book, A Broken Kingdom!

You can get this sampler for free at the following places:
- Amazon
- B&N
- Kobo
- Scribd
- Inketera


About the Author:
JC Morrows - Bestselling author of YA Christian speculative fiction, drinker of coffee and avid reader - is a storyteller in the truest sense of the word. JC has been telling stories in one form or another her entire life and once her mother convinced her to write them down, she couldn't stop.

You can find and contact JC Morrows here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Amazon
- Newsletter
- Instagram
- Pinterest
- Tumblr

Giveaway
There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of A Tragic Consequence. These are the prizes you can win:

• paperback copy of one book in the Order of the Moonstone series by JC Morrows, winners choice (US only)
• e-copy of one book in the Order of the Moonstone series by JC Morrows, winners choice (International)

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Review of Debut Novel: After Impact (After Impact #1) by Nicole Stark

After Impact (After Impact #1)
by Nicole Stark
Published 10FEB2016

Description
Avalon wakes up from a 100-year-old cryosleep in a new habitat with few memories and lots of questions. At first, HOPE (Humanity's One Plan for Escape) habitat appears to be a well-oiled machine, preparing 5,000 carefully chosen inhabitants for a new Earth. However, a medical assistant named Ilium reveals that certain members of the habitat have been falling ill from a mysterious virus they were inoculated against. Soon, HOPE habitat's tranquil illusion is shattered as Avalon plays a perplexing message left by her father. If Avalon is to survive this dangerous new environment, she will have to find the strength to navigate a habitat enveloped in secrets.
This is a relentless page-turning thriller, and the first in a series by debut author Nicole Stark.


My Review
After Impact is the first book in a series about the survivors of a meteor-strike apocalypse. Avalon is only one of 5,000 cryogenically frozen young people preserved to seed the future of mankind. But she’s awoken early, and that’s only the first of several odd things she discovers as she tries to find her place in the HOPE habitat.

There were several things I liked about this story. First of these is the virus. It was central to a plot that I expected to go one way, but went in an entirely different, unexpected way. The second thing I liked is that the story isn’t predictable (though it seemed so at first). The third thing I liked is how Avalon and Ilium try to champion the less fortunate and fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. It’s not an uncommon theme in dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories, but I like seeing it (probably why I like the genre). Oh, and there seems to be some sort of genetic mayhem going on that promises for some interesting twists in future installments.

On the other hand, certain inclinations in the writing tended to kick me out of the story and send alternate wordings running through my mind. Also, while there are some fascinating technologies, ideas, and character interactions in the story, some of them are presented in a bit of a heavy-handed manner. On a good note, though, it’s obvious the story was meticulously copyedited. I don’t recall seeing any outright errors.

Overall, I somewhat like this story and the direction the series seems to be taking, though the writing lacks some of the polish experience would bring. Based on that, I think folks who enjoy discovering new authors in the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genre might find this to their liking, but folks who are looking for something that feels a bit more practiced might not.

I received a review copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

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Intrigued? Check out the author and her works on the following sites:

Amazon

Goodreads

Her Author Page

Book Blitz: True Calling Series by Siobhan Davis

This is my stop during the book blitz for the True Calling series by Siobhan Davis! This blitz will run from 28 June till 4 July. The book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The tour schedule can be viewed here.

True Calling is a fully completed YA sci-fi dystopian romance series that will appeal to readers who enjoy fast-paced action adventure, sublime world building, strong character development, and tons of swoon-worthy romance. With over 500 five-star ratings on Goodreads, the True Calling series is currently FREE to download from Kindle Unlimited! If you don't read on KU you can benefit from significant discounts during the blitz - read the first 3 books for 99c!

All books in the series are listed below, and check out the cool giveaway!
- True Calling – free!
- Lovestruck - free during blitz!
- Beyond Reach – 0.99$ during blitz
- True Calling Boxset – all books plus bonus content for only $7.99
 

True Calling (True Calling #1)
By Siobhan Davis
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Age category: Young Adult

Blurb:
Welcome to Novo: Your new home in Space

For Ariana Skyee, Planet Novo was everything it promised to be until the authorities introduced "The Calling" as their response to repopulation. Now, all seventeen-year-olds are to participate in this Bachelor-style pageant to find their perfect match, marry, and have children.

But that's not Ariana's only concern. Thanks to the government-sanctioned memory erase, Ariana has no recollection of Zane, the mystery boy who haunts her dreams. Things are further complicated when the pageant commences and her feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify. Together, they start to realize not everything about their new home is as it seems.

Entangled in a dangerous web of deceit, Ariana sets out to identify the truth. Conflicted over warnings that Cal isn’t trustworthy and alarmed at the government's increasing interest in her, she doesn’t know where to turn. But her search for the truth comes at a high personal price. When her world implodes, discovering the past shapes her future with devastating consequences.

You can find True Calling on Goodreads

You can get your free copy of True Calling here:
- Amazon
- Amazon UK
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- iBooks

All the books in this series:

Lovestruck (True Calling #1.5) by Siobhan Davis
You can find Lovestruck on Goodreads. Get your free copy of Lovestruck from June 28 till July 2 on Amazon or Amazon UK.

Beyond Reach (True Calling #2) by Siobhan Davis
You can find Beyond Reach on Goodreads. You can buy Beyond Reach for only 0.99$ during the blitz on Amazon or Amazon UK.

Light of a Thousand Stars (True Calling #2.5) by Siobhan Davis
You can find Light of a Thousand Stars on Goodreads. You can buy Light of a Thousand Stars on Amazon or Amazon UK.

Destiny Rising (True Calling #3) by Siobhan Davis
You can find Destiny Rising on Goodreads. You can buy Destiny Rising on Amazon or Amazon UK.

Praise for the True Calling series:
"In a word, WOW!! Talk about a fascinating and magnetic tale!" Tome Tender

"With intergalactic battle, love that traverses countries—entire planets—and endless twists and turns, this series deserves a spot on your e-reader." A Leisure Moment

"True Calling is a dystopian sci-fi romance that is FABULOUS!" The Caffeinated Booknerd

"Fresh with original ideas, exciting characters, great storyline, and a realistic love story." Amazon reviewer.

"This series deserves to become as well-known as popular series such as The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc... it's that good." Paranormal Books.

“I cannot put my love for Siobhan Davis' True Calling series into words - it's easily one of my favorite series." RamblingB00ks

"This isn't just a book I couldn't put down, but a series I cannot put down. All I can say is wow!" Patricia Hamill. Author-Blogger. Puretextuality (Yep, that's me!)

"It's Hunger Games meets Twilight but only better!" Amazon reviewer.


About the Author:
Siobhan Davis writes young adult science fiction fantasy romance books, and she is the author of the Amazon bestselling True Calling series. The first book in her new Saven series was released in December 2015.

A self-professed teenager forever--at least when it comes to books, music, and films, Siobhan is totally addicted to teen fiction and superhero/blockbuster movies. She loves baking, shoes, bags, makeup, anti-wrinkle cream, anything pink, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, and Robert Pattinson (definitely Team Edward).

Before pursuing a full-time writing career, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in Human Resources over the last twenty years. She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

You can find and contact Siobhan here:
- Website
- Blog
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Google +
- Goodreads
- Amazon
- Newsletter

Sample chapters, quotes, reviews and book excerpts are all available to download from the authors website

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of the True Calling series. These are the prizes you can win:
- Paperbacks of the three books in the Selection trilogy by Kiera Cass
- Paperbacks of the three books in the True Calling series by Siobhan Davis

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
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