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Showing posts with label Post-Apocalyptic Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Post-Apocalyptic Fiction. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: Book Settings That Float My Boat
I'm a little tardy to the TTT party today, but better late than never, right? Since I'm not a big app user or podcast listener, I'm not really feeling today's topic—Top Ten Online Resources for Book Lovers. I'm going to skip it in favor of last week's—Favorite Book Settings—which I missed due to being in Europe. I know I've done topics like this before, so my selections may sound a *little* familiar...
If you want to join in the TTT fun, click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details.
Top Ten Favorite Book Settings
1. Scotland—I've long loved me a moody, broody Scottish setting. Now that I've been there, I'm even more interested in reading about this lovely land, the ancestral home of my paternal ancestors.
2. Creepy old buildings—Be it a house, a hospital, a hotel, a school, whatever...as long as a book features a spooky edifice (preferably teeming with ghosts), I'm in.
3. The American South—I enjoy a good Southern yarn, especially when it's filled with quirky characters and Down Home warmth. There's just something about the South, y'all.
4. World War II—Although I've stepped back from WWII novels a bit this year, I still find it an endlessly fascinating setting.
5. Dystopian/post-apocalyptic—I'm not reading as much in this genre as I have in the past, but I still dig a good end-of-the-world tale.
6. Small towns—Quaint little villages make the perfect setting for cozy mysteries, psychological thrillers, rom-coms, horror stories, and more. I especially love a good small-town-with-big-secrets yarn.
7. Extreme situations/climates—Even though I'm a huge wimp, I enjoy immersing myself in engrossing survival stories, especially when they're set in places with chaotic, unpredictable weather that's going to act up at just the wrong moment.
8. Islands—I'm also all about tales set on islands. The isolation ups the ante for any kind of story, be it a mystery, a psychological thriller, a rom-com, or whatever.
9. At sea/maritime disasters—While I'm not afraid of water, I still don't love the idea of floating along in the sea with all kinds of dangers—real and imagined—lurking below me. Because of this, books set at sea, especially survival stories, mysteries, thrillers, and action/adventure tales, always give me a shivery thrill. Titanic books will 100% always get my attention.
10. American West/pioneer/homesteading—I've mentioned before that I'm the descendant of both Mormon pioneers and Oregon Trail adventurers. I grew up hearing their stories, so I've always been fascinated with this time period and setting.
If you read this blog with any regularity, you're not going to be surprised by any of my answers. You've seen what I like to read—do you have any suggestions for books I haven't read yet that fit in these categories? What are your favorite book settings? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Friday, October 01, 2021
New YA Post-Apocalyptic Novel Not Super Memorable, But Still Entertaining
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Once upon a time, Paige Miller had big plans for her life. She was going to rock her last year of high school basketball, accept a full-ride athletic scholarship to UConn, then aim for a career in the WNBA. That was before everyone got sick, before she herself fell ill. When she wakes up in her bedroom attached to an IV, Paige realizes she's been in a coma and that everything—not just her world, but the entire world—has changed completely. Not only has her family been wiped out by the lethal flu, but there are few, if any, other people still alive. Life is no longer about basketball. Now it's about survival.
When Paige decides to venture out into the empty world, she's ecstatic to encounter another teenager. Trey Dawson is also an athlete, also alone. Although he has more answers than Paige, neither knows exactly what's going on. As they navigate their way through their strange new reality, they make some shocking discoveries about what's happening and why. Armed with this knowledge, they have a slim chance to save what's left of humanity. Can they succeed against a threat that's much, much worse than a deadly virus?
I enjoyed Rae Carson's Gold Seer trilogy, so I was excited when I learned she had a new book coming out. And a YA post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel at that. Yes, please! Although as it turns out, there's nothing super original or memorable about Any Sign of Life (available October 12, 2021), I still enjoyed the read. It's tense, fast-paced, and exciting. The characters are likable despite not being very complex or fleshed-out. I definitely wanted them to be victorious, even if they didn't quite feel like real live people. While I generally prefer realistic doomsday scenarios, this more sci-fi version still appeals. I assume Any Sign of Life is the beginning of a series and, while I can't say I'm chomping at the bit for the next installment, I'm always here for an entertaining end-of-the-world novel.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Any Sign of Life from the generous folks at Greenwillow Books (a division of HarperCollins) via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
MG Dystopian/Survival Story a Taut, Absorbing Read
(Image from author's website)
Maddie Harrison loves her little stepbrothers, but sometimes a girl needs a break. That's why the 12-year-old decides to spend a night away, secretly having a sleepover in her grandparents' condo while they're away. Her friends bail on the idea, but Maddie perseveres—and it's glorious. Until she wakes up and finds that her entire town has been emptied while she sleeps. Everyone she's ever known and loved is gone, leaving their cell phones behind. What could possibly have triggered the exodus? Is she the only one who's been left behind? With no way to contact her parents, how is she ever going to find them? And how will she survive without them?
As the days and weeks pass, it becomes apparent that no one is coming to rescue Maddie. The more she explores, the more she realizes that the emptiness goes beyond just her suburb. It's apparent that, somehow, Maddie will have to find a way to keep herself healthy and safe for the foreseeable future. With only George, her neighbor's abandoned rottweiler, by her side, she has to forage for food and water, figure out how to stay warm during the upcoming winter, and keep them both safe from the threats all around them. With boredom and loneliness weighing heavily on her, Maddie must keep dark thoughts at bay and keep going. But for how long? What really happened to her parents, siblings, and friends? Are they ever coming back? How many more months can Maddie survive all on her own?
Alone, a debut novel by Megan E. Freeman, tells a tense, harrowing story that will appeal to anyone who loves taut survival tales. While its premise—a young girl sleeps blissfully on while a fairly large town is completely evacuated around her—seems awfully far-fetched, the rest of the plot feels disturbingly realistic. Told in verse, it's a fast-moving, absorbing book that I buzzed through in one sitting. It's easy to root for Maddie, who's brave, resourceful, and likable. Kids will find her determination both admirable and empowering. Although the story is scary in places and does get pretty bleak for a middle grade novel, it ends on a hopeful note. Hand this one to reluctant readers, Hatchet fans, and kids who want a soft introduction to dystopian/post-apocalyptic type literature. They'll eat it up, just like I did.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and other MG survival stories like The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling and Storm Blown by Nick Courage)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, November 12, 2020
New YA Virus Novel Original and Enjoyable
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ever since her mother sought refuge in the remote religious community of Red Creek, 16-year-old Agnes and her siblings have lived within its protective bounds. Agnes is careful to follow all the rules—she keeps her hair bound, her face unpainted, her eyes on the Lord, and her actions in line with the prophet's teachings. She doesn't question the enigmatic leader, even as his preaching becomes increasingly frenetic. Her one rebellion is going against the prophet's law prohibiting medical intervention. Ezekiel, Agnes' 7-year-old brother, is a Type 1 diabetic. Faith hasn't healed him—he needs frequent doses of insulin or he'll die. Agnes won't let that happen. She secretly barters for his medicine with a woman from the outside, even though it means risking punishment and excommunication.
When Agnes' contact brings disturbing news from the outside about a viral pandemic that's sweeping the nation, Agnes is shocked. The prophet is overjoyed that The End is near; his people will wait the apocalypse out in an underground bunker as planned. Agnes refuses. Desperate to save Ezekiel, she leaves behind everything she's ever known and flees with her brother in tow. As they seek safety anywhere they can find it, Agnes realizes that she has a strange, otherworldly connection to the deadly virus. Is it possible that she, an ordinary young woman with little knowledge of the world, has the power to stop it?
While Agnes at the End of the World, a debut novel by Kelly McWilliams, may sound like just another YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic story, it has a few elements that make it stand out. Most cult stories are brutal in their depictions of religious faith, showing it as something that can only be espoused by the blind and the brainwashed. As Agnes' eyes are opened and she begins to question what she's been taught, she grows into a faith that is meaningful in a more personal way. She comes to understand what she, herself, really believes and knows. To me, her journey feels authentic and I love that a YA book depicts that kind of faith as something that is not just acceptable but also healthy and sustaining. Despite its ruminations on religious devotion, never fear—Agnes at the End of the World is not a Christian novel or even a preachy one. Its religious themes are expertly woven into its larger plot. As a Type 1 diabetic myself, I also appreciate the realistic representation of my disease in this story. It's a condition that isn't addressed a lot in novels and definitely should be. Beyond these unique features, Agnes at the End of the World also offers a cast of likable characters, a fast-paced plot, and a story well told in assured prose. For all these reasons, I very much enjoyed this novel, which kept me burning through the pages eager to find out what was going to happen next.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Line Between and A Single Light, a duology by Tosca Lee, and The Outside and The Hallowed Ones, a duology by Laura Bickle)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, September 04, 2020
Dystopian Duology Harrowing But Hopeful
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for A Single Light, it may inadvertently spoil plot surprises from its predecessor, The Line Between. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
After making a desperate trip across the country in the middle of a terrifying pandemic, Wynter Roth is glad to be safely ensconced inside an underground bunker hidden in the Nebraska prairie. The people she loves most—her boyfriend Chase Miller, her 5-year-old niece Truly, and family friends Julie and Lauren—have been protected with her for the last six months. As the weeks wear on, however, things in the bunker have started to unravel. The bunker's inhabitants, including Wynter, can't wait to escape the confines of their underground home, to breathe fresh air, and to return to blessed normality now that the virus has been eradicated.
As the hours tick down until the bunker's automatic unsealing, Julie becomes desperately ill. Wynter needs to get outside and procure an antidote for her friend before it's too late. What she finds outside the bunker, however, shocks her. The world has not righted itself in the last six months. In fact, it's more treacherous than ever before. What happened on the outside while Wynter was sealed inside the bunker? If the virus is still running rampant, how will she save Julie? Once again, Wynter finds herself racing against time, traversing a ruined landscape where danger lurks around every corner. Can she get what she needs in order to save Julie's life? What about the rest of mankind? Can the deadly virus be vanquished or will this be the true end of the world?
The Line Between, the first book in Tosca Lee's dystopian duology, kept me so riveted that I knew I had to read its sequel, A Single Light. While the second book is darker and less original than the first, I still enjoyed it. It boasts plenty of action, introspection, and romance. Despite some tension that crops up between Wynter and Chase in this installment, I adore them as a couple! Reading about them and their plight to save the world definitely kept me engrossed and entertained. These are the only books I've read by Lee, but they've convinced me to keep a close eye on this intriguing author. I'll be very interested to see what she does next.
(Readalikes: The Line Between by Tosca Lee; also reminds me of Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams as well as The Hallowed Ones and its sequel, The Outside, by Laura Bickle)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, September 03, 2020
Exciting Apocalyptic Novel Timely and Affecting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After leaving the doomsday cult in which she's been brought up, 22-year-old Wynter Roth is learning how to navigate a strange new world populated with things she's always been taught were evil: television, rock music, skin-bearing clothes, etc. Just as she's beginning to get a handle on things, a strange virus sweeps through the U.S. The disease acts swiftly and causes a terrifying type of early-onset dementia, which leads to confusion, violence, and fear.
Even though Wynter was never a hard-core New Earth believer, she's not entirely surprised to discover the Prophet's revelations about the imminent collapse of society coming true. The End he always raved on about is happening before her eyes. And she's just as helpless as everyone else when it comes to stopping it. Then Wynter's older sister, the Prophet's wife, shows up on Wynter's doorstep. Sick with the virus, she shoves a carrier full of tissue samples into Wynter's hands, begging her to take them to a veterinarian in Colorado. Even though the government is warning people to shelter in place, Wynter knows she has to get the samples to someone who can help eradicate the virus. And she has to do it now.
As Wynter flees Chicago in a desperate race against time, she encounters Chase Miller, an ex-Marine who promises to help her travel across the country. Wynter can't tell him what she has in her possession and Chase is keeping plenty of his own secrets. Can Wynter trust her newfound road trip pal? Can she get the samples to Colorado in time? Can anyone save the population from descending into complete and utter madness?
Although we're in the middle (at the end?) of a global pandemic, I still enjoy reading novels like The Line Between by Tosca Lee. After all, disaster/survival scenarios are way more fun to contemplate in fiction than to experience in real life! I've read loads of these kinds of books and, honestly, The Line Between doesn't bring anything super unique to the table. And yet, it's one of the most memorable apocalyptic novels I've read in some time. Why? Well, it features likable characters, an exciting plot, a timely premise, and solid writing. What's different about it is that it's cleaner and more uplifting than most books of its ilk. Yes, it deals with difficult, disturbing subjects. However, it does so in a way that is thoughtful and faith-promoting without being cheesy or preachy. While The Line Between is technically a Christian novel, it doesn't feel like one. It does ruminate on religious subjects, which—as a person of faith—I found both refreshing and thought-provoking. Statements like this one stayed with me long after I finished the book: "It occurs to me that none of us should have entered these walls. That we have never been 'in but not of the world' here but in another world completely. That this was never faith, but seclusion in a place so safe that faith need never be tested even as we lived our lives of duality" (388). This element of the story may turn non-religious readers off, but I hope it doesn't because The Line Between really is an engrossing, affecting read. I loved it.
(Readalikes: its sequel, A Single Light by Tosca Lee; also reminds me of Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams and The Hallowed Ones and its sequel, The Outside, by Laura Bickle)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, non-graphic references to disturbing subject matter (rape, sexual abuse, forced marriage, etc.), and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Line Between from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Slow, Introspective Dystopian Novel a Bit of a Slog
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With floodwaters rising steadily over the last 100 years, the world has dwindled to a string of small colonies perched on the mountain peaks that used to soar far above civilization. Oceans of dark, impenetrable water are all around, forcing many to live solely on the water, stepping on land rarely and only to gather news and supplies. Ever since the floods swallowed what was left of Nebraska, Myra has lived on a 15-foot long, 5-foot wide boat with her 7-year-old daughter, Pearl. Although her life is focused mainly on keeping Pearl fed and out of danger, Myra has another purpose guiding her actions. She's desperate to find her older daughter, Row, who was stolen from Myra by her husband seven years ago.
Just when Myra is giving up hope of ever finding Row, a stranger claims to have spotted her in a remote Arctic Circle colony. Is it true? Even if it is, can Myra really make the long, arduous journey to such a far-flung spot? Regardless, she has to try. But such an undertaking will require getting help from strangers and she stopped trusting other human beings long ago. Desperate, she throws her lot in with a group of pilgrims looking for the perfect place to create a utopian society. Even in a bigger ship, with a crew of people who seem trustworthy, Myra feels anxious. Can she keep herself and Pearl safe all the way to the Arctic Circle? What if Row isn't there? With the trip becoming more dangerous with each mile, Myra has to decide what is more important—keeping Pearl safe or finding Row—because the farther she travels, the more apparent it's becoming that she can't do both ...
Of all the dystopian worlds I've encountered in books and movies, I'm most creeped out by the watery ones. There's just something about the fathoms below ... With its unsettling setting and sad, introspective vibe, After the Flood, a debut novel by Kassandra Montag, is a haunting read in more ways than one. It's not a page-turner by any means; in fact, there are only occasional spurts of action. This made the story a bit of a slog for me. I also had a little trouble with the characters. I found them an interesting lot, but they were written in a way that felt removed, which made it tough to connect with them. Nevertheless, I found Montag's prose assured, the world she created fascinating, and her heroine intriguing. I finished the book because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Myra and her daughters. In the end, though, After the Flood turned out to be just an okay read for me. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of After the Flood from the generous folks at William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins). Thank you!
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Hard-to-Find Australian Doomsday Novel Tense, Gritty
(Image from Book Depository)
"I don't know who I am now the world is different" (261).
In the last three years, Rick Palmer has gone from a relatively normal father to a paranoid doomsday prepper. After his wife took off, he poured his energy into educating himself and his three teenage daughters on how to survive the apocalypse he claims is imminent. He drilled his kids on how to find water in the desert, how to conserve resources, how to set bones and perform emergency first aid, and most of all, how to slip out of their house and into their well-stocked bunker without giving away the secret of its existence. Despite these frantic exercises, life in the Palmers' tiny Australian town is perfectly peaceful, even boring. Prudence Palmer and her sisters are convinced their father is mad as the proverbial hatter. They long for a normal, on-the-grid life full of the luxuries the other teens in town take for granted—smartphones, dates, regular school, parents who aren't off their rockers ...
Then, the lights go out in the Palmers' small village. Communication with the outside world is cut off. Confusion and chaos quickly replace order and reason. With Rick missing—he hasn't returned from the distant mine where he works—it's up to Pru to decide the best way to keep herself and her sisters safe. She knows she should retreat to the bunker immediately, but a chance meet-up with a handsome boy visiting from America, whose parent is also missing, gives her pause. As fear and desperation settle over their once-peaceful town, Pru must ask herself some important questions. Does she do what her father taught her and hoard her resources or defy his wishes and aid her helpless neighbors? What kind of person is she really, when push comes to shove?
I don't read as many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels as I once did, but I still enjoy them when I do. After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson was mentioned on some best-of-the-genre list, so I knew I wanted to read it. It's not an easy book to get a hold of, though; luckily, Book Depository came through for me. While there's nothing really original about After the Lights Go Out, it's still a tense, engrossing novel. It's atmospheric, gritty, and compelling. The plot moves quickly, the characters are intriguing, and the decisions Pru has to make throughout the story makes it a thought-provoking tale. Like all books of this kind, it made me ask myself, "What would I do in this situation?" It's an interesting thought. All in all, then, I enjoyed this one, even if it's nothing I hadn't seen before.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Tomorrow, When the War Began series by John Marsden and lots of other dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of After the Lights Go Out from Book Depository with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Contemplative Post-Apocalyptic Novel Absorbing, Thought-Provoking
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"It was as if the building itself had drawn us to it from the most far-flung corners of the world. And when we arrived, the world had ended" (143).
In Switzerland for an academic conference, Jon Keller—a history professor at Stanford—is staying at L'Hôtel Sixième. Featuring 1000 rooms, breathtaking views, and a fading elegance, the isolated resort sprawls on acres of lovely country land in the middle of nowhere. This becomes a problem when frantic news reports announce that nuclear bombs have fallen on major cities in both Europe and the U.S. Panicked guests stampede to the door, speeding toward the nearest airport and train station. With no transportation left, Jon and a handful of others become stranded at the hotel. As news stations and the Internet shut down, they're left with zero information, no viable means of escape, and little hope for survival.
Two months after the disaster strikes, Jon is one of 20 or so people still living in the hotel. Some have since wandered off or committed suicide; those who remain eke out a semblance of a life, trying to stave off the boredom and cabin fever that rules their lives. With supplies dwindling, the guests also must figure out how to find more food, protect themselves against roving bands of desperate survivors, and whether or not it's time to move on from what has been a relatively safe haven. While these conflicts plague the hotel community, another problem arises—the body of a young girl is discovered in one of the building's water tanks. Horrified, Jon vows to find out what happened to her. The situation at the resort is bad enough without having a cold-blooded murderer among them. As their patchwork society crumbles around them, Jon and his comrades search for the killer among them while battling to hold on to not just their sanity but their very humanity.
The Last by Hanna Jameson is an intriguing genre mash-up that combines a compelling murder mystery with a tense dystopian/post-apocalyptic survival tale. It's not a pulse-pounding thriller, but more of a contemplative study of human nature. Which isn't to say it's boring. It's not. In fact, it's an engrossing novel that asks some interesting questions about right and wrong, self-interest vs. community, what truly matters when the world has gone to hell, and what makes us human. While I didn't end up loving The Last, I did find it an absorbing, thought-provoking read.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, depictions of illegal drug use, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Last from Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Atmospheric Yukon Dystopian Absorbing, But Indistinct
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With the world in shambles after a crippling apocalypse, Lynn McBride and her family have found safety in the wilds of the Yukon Territory. It's not an easy life they live, nor a simple one. Every day, they must battle the harsh weather, find enough food to sustain them, and deal with the loneliness and boredom that come from seeing the same four faces day in and day out, year after year after year. Although Lynn is grateful for her safety, she longs for something more.
"More" comes in the form of Jackson Day, a 27-year-old stranger she finds wandering the barren landscape with his dog. Jax is the first new person Lynn has seen in seven years; bringing him home seems like a natural, normal gesture. Not everyone in Lynn's family is glad to see him, though, especially when he triggers a chain of events that will have deadly consequences for the McBrides. Before long, Lynn will find herself traversing a frigid, hostile world toward an unknown future in a ruined world. It's up to her to save the world. Can she do it?
I had very high hopes for The Wolves of Winter, a debut novel by Tyrell Johnson that has been described as "written in a post-apocalyptic tradition that spans The Hunger Games and Station Eleven but blazes its own distinctive path." With that kind of acclamation, I expected to be knocked off my feet by excessive wow. Did that happen? Not exactly. While The Wolves of Winter offers an absorbing survival tale set against an intriguing, atmospheric backdrop, the story adds little originality to the genre. The plot remains very basic, nothing you won't find in dozens of other post-apocalyptic stories. While this is a comparatively quiet tale with lyrical prose reminiscent of Station Eleven, it's nowhere near as unique or compelling as The Hunger Games and there's little about it that's truly distinct. That being said, I enjoyed the novel overall. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough to be interested in reading more from its author, a talented newcomer.
(Readalikes: similar in tone to Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel; story reminds me of the Partials trilogy [Partials; Fragments; and Ruins] by Dan Wells)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, February 08, 2018
Disappointing Dystopian Opener A Not Very Promising Start
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A businessman on holiday in Scotland goes on a hunting trip with family, where he's exposed to tainted pheasant's blood. He starts feeling poorly almost immediately; by the time he's on the plane back to the U.S. he's deathly ill. Within 48 hours of exposure, he's dead. The sickness spreads rapidly, killing 1/3 of the world's population in a matter of weeks. With widespread death and decimation comes fear, anarchy, and chaos. Out of the ashes of the dying world something even more unsettling rises—magick, both good and evil.
As the immune flee New York City, running toward the hope of safety, strangers will band together for survival. Despite rising conflicts between the Uncanny, the immune, and everyone else, those who desire good must work together to fight the powerful forces that want only destruction and domination. The trick—as it turns out—is knowing one from the other.
I love me an immersive dystopian series, so I've been looking forward to Year One, the first book in a new one by Nora Roberts. Hoping for a rich, engaging read, I found myself disappointed. What plot there is in Year One isn't very original or surprising. Its cast features too many characters with too little personality—it's difficult to keep track of who is who. The book's overly long and by the end, I just did not care (although I did read to the end). This means I won't be continuing the series, which is a bummer because initially I was very excited about it. Ah well. Such is the reading life sometimes.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken and a little of the Gone series [Gone; Hunger; Lies; Plague; Fear; and Light] by Michael Grant)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Year One from Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Subterranean Dystopian Trilogy Starts Off With an A-Grade Bang
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Protected from the toxic air outside, a whole city of people live in a silo that extends 144 floors underground. With no elevator or alternative way to move quickly from the bottom of the structure to the top (or vice versa), the residents remain mostly on their own floors, rarely making the arduous trip up to the first. There's little to see there, anyway—only a ruined world, desolate and deadly. Why bother? Leaving the silo altogether would be suicide, so no one dares. Only those who are forced out flee the safe, subterranean world. Exile means almost instant death; no one survives that sentence.
When the silo's venerable, long-time sheriff makes the shocking decision to leave the silo, he sets a life-changing chain of events in motion. He selects a surprising candidate to take his place, 34-year-old mechanic Juliette "Jules" Nichols. Unused to the comparative luxury of life on the silo's top floors, she struggles to find her place tackling a new job in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Although she has no experience in law enforcement, she's smart and determined to do her job well. It's only as she begins to study the inner workings of her community, however, that Jules realizes it's not quite the utopia it seems to be. In fact, the silo hides some devastating secrets—revelations that could change everything. The more Jules uncovers, the more her tenuous place at the top is jeopardized. In order to make crucial changes, she'll have to risk everything to expose long-buried truth. Will her efforts be successful? Or will hers be the next corpse rotting away just outside the silo's sheltering walls?
Wool, the first book in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian trilogy by Hugh Howey, is a beast of a book. At 500+ pages, it's hefty and yet, the novel never drags. Propulsive and engrossing, it speeds along, capturing the reader's attention with complex characters, imaginative world-building, and an intriguing plot. Yes, the novel embraces typical dystopian elements that will undoubtedly feel familiar to genre fans. At the same time, though, Howey's inventive world manages to feel fresh and new. Everything about this vividly-detailed book kept me completely riveted. I ate Wool up and cannot wait to get going with Shift, the second installment in this addictive series.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Icebreaker by Lian Tanner; The Compound by S.A. Bodeen; and The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Wool from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Space Apocalypse Story Quiet, Contemplative, and Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Born on the Northumbrian coast of England, Jamie Allenby has always longed for the wide open space of ... space. When given the chance to relocate off-world at 22, she takes it. Now 38, she's a veterinarian living on Soltaire, a planet roughly the size of Russia. Jamie gains consciousness one day after suffering from a debilitating fever to find that the deadly virus has killed most of Soltaire's 10,000 inhabitants. Fearing she's the only survivor, she heads out looking for others. It's a desperate, frantic search through an endless, empty landscape.
Eventually, Jamie finds a ragtag group of survivors, which includes Callan Jacobs, the captain of a spaceship. Against the advice of his crew, Callan has been landing wherever he can in an effort to save as many humans as possible. Relieved to be rescued, Jamie sets her sights on Planet Earth. She and her estranged lover, Daniel, always said they'd meet in Northumberland if—when—their world in the stars ended.
Turns out, Jamie's not the only one with an ambitious plan. Others have their own ideas about how to move on, rebuild, and repopulate the human race. Torn between duty, desperation, and desire, Jamie must decide what she really wants and how much she's willing to risk to get it. With opposition around every corner, it will take all her strength, all her courage, to make her own future worth living.
The Space Between the Stars, a debut novel by English short story writer Anne Corlett, tells a sci fi tale unlike any other I've read. Unlike most space age adventures, this one is quiet, contemplative, and fiercely character-driven. Its brilliance comes not from elaborate world-building or creative creature-inventing, but from its ruminations on what it means to be human. This isn't to say the novel's boring. It's not. Not at all. There's more than enough action to keep a reader flipping pages. That's just not what makes the book memorable. Instead, it's the novel's chilling (without being too gory or graphic) vibe; vivid, lovely prose; and its thought-provoking questions that cause it to linger in the reader's mind long after they finish it. I loved this unique novel and can't wait for more from its promising author.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), mild sexual content, violence, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Space Between the Stars from the generous folks at Penguin Random House. Thank you!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
TTT: Under-the-Radar Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Gets Its (Tues)Day
First, though, you need to click on over to The Broke and the Bookish so you can join in the fun, too. Just read over the TTT guidelines, make your own list, use the linky to add your post to the master list, and have fun visiting other TTT posts. It's a great way to get to know others in the book blogging community while learning about awesome reads you're going to want to add to your TBR pile. Be there or be square. For reals. TTT is always a good time—I promise!
Here we go with my list of Top Ten Hidden Gems in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction:
1. The Tomorrow series (Tomorrow, When the War Began; The Dead of Night; A Killing Frost; Darkness, Be My Friend; Burning for Revenge; The Night is for Hunting; The Other Side of Dawn) by John Marsden—I'm in the middle of this YA series written in the 90s by an Australian author and I'm still enjoying it. The story revolves around a group of teens who are camping in the bush when an unknown enemy takes over their town. They return to discover that their families and friends have been rounded up at gunpoint. Not knowing how widespread the invasion is or what they can do to stop it, the group has to figure out how to survive in a world that has literally changed overnight.
2. The Wool trilogy (Wool; Shift; Dust) by Hugh Howey—This trilogy of very chunky books looks intimidating, but in fact, tells a very absorbing story set in a unique dystopian world. Okay, I've only read Wool, the first installment, but I imagine its sequels are just as good.
3. Orleans by Sherri L. Smith—Set in a Gulf Coast that is half-drowned after repeatedly being hit by devastating hurricanes, this novel seems especially apropos right now. It's a chilling, atmospheric tale about a teenager with highly-prized blood who's trying to keep herself and a newborn baby alive in a ruined, ruthless world. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for a sequel to Orleans, but so far I haven't seen one. Pity.
4. The Hallowed Ones and The Outside by Laura Bickle—When the world is overrun by a dangerous menace, Katie's isolated Amish village is the last to know about it. To protect their people, the elders close off the community—no one is allowed out or in. It's only when a handsome, injured Canadian comes begging for help that Katie dares defy her religious leaders. Will her rash decision to shelter him prove fatal for everyone she loves?
5. The Horse trilogy (White Horse; Red Horse; Pale Horse) by Alex Adams—I've only read the first installment of this gritty, gory series about a woman trying to find the man she loves in a Europe ravaged and ruined by a vicious plague. It's grim and graphic, but addictive. Adams writes in raw, beautiful prose that makes the book impossible to put down.
6. The Ashes trilogy (Ashes; Shadows; Monsters) by Ilsa J. Bick—I'm not sure why I haven't finished this absorbing YA series yet because it's tense, twisty, and thrilling.
7. Wayward Pines trilogy (Pines; Wayward; The Last Town) by Blake Crouch—I loved this enthralling trilogy about a secret service agent who wakes up in a strange, secret-filled town after a car accident. The less you know going into it, the better, but be aware of this: you won't be able to stop reading until you know every one of Wayward Pines' tantalizing secrets.
8. The Gone series (Gone; Hunger; Lies; Plague; Fear; Light; Monster) by Michael Grant—This series has a lot of different elements (sci fi, romance, dystopian, survival, supernatural, etc.) that combine to make for always-compelling reading. I'm stoked that, four years after the series ended, Grant is publishing a new installment.
9. The Forgetting and The Knowing by Sharon Cameron—Cameron introduces us to an interesting society where memories are wiped out every 12 years. Unbeknownst to anyone else, Nadia is immune to whatever causes the phenomenon. Thus, she becomes privy to the shocking secrets of her walled community. A haunting, hopeful series (I believe it will be a trilogy), these books are not to be missed.
10. The Ship Breaker Trilogy (Ship Breaker; The Drowned Cities; Tool of War) by Paolo Bacigalupi—I read—and loved—Ship Breaker back in 2010. It's a watery dystopian about Nailer Lopez, a salvager looking for treasures to sell, who comes across a half-dead woman draped in enough gold to feed him for the rest of his life. As Nailer sets about rescuing snooty Nadia, the pair find themselves in a frenzied race for survival. Bacigalupi is a skilled writer, who offers up a story rich in character, setting, and plot. I need to re-read Ship Breaker and continue with its sequels.
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As a bonus, I discovered five other hidden post-apocalyptic gems that I just added to my TBR list on Goodreads:
1. The Last One (2016) by Alexandra Oliva—Contestants on a reality show must survive in a real emergency.
2. Zone One (2010) by Colson Whitehead—described as "literary zombie fiction"
3. The Quiet Earth (1981) by Craig Harrison—A man wakes up and finds himself all alone in a world gone wrong.
4. Icequake (1979) and Tsunami (1983) by Crawford Kilian—Devastating natural disasters create chaos and fear.
5. Down to a Sunless Sea (1979) by David Graham—An airplane full of passengers escaping the apocalypse runs head-on into a nuclear holocaust.
6. Emergence (1984) by David Palmer—A young girl with a unique genetic makeup sets off through a wasted world to find others like her.
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Phew! So, there you have it ... some hidden post-apocalyptic gems for you to try. What do you think of the list? What am I missing? What's on YOUR list today? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
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