More Romance than Dystopian
927847
The Hundred focuses more onto the relationships between the four main characters than it does on the Earth or the dying spaceship.

Glass is a high society member. She was confined for reasons she refuses to tell everyone. She manages to escape the dropship that heading to Earth. She is pardoned and she is the person who's telling you what is happening on the spaceship. Glass doesn't think her actions through. Most of her situation could have been avoided if she looked towards the future a little more. The reason was confined wasn't bad to me, but what she did after that is awful. I really don't like her for that.

Wells is the son of the Chancellor. He got himself confined so that he can protect Clarke, another main character and the girl he loves. Wells is the stupidest character to me. He is very self entitled and thinks that he knows best. Every decision he makes results in a lot of awful things.

Clarke was confined for crimes her parents committed. She was trapped because of her loyalty to her parents. Clarke was training to be a doctor before she was confined. Clarke is the only character I felt made the right decisions. She thinks of other people before she acts and tries not hurt anybody.

Bellamy forced himself onto the dropship so that he could be with his sister, Octavia. As soon as he gets to Earth he just wants to leave the rest of the hundred. His sister has other plans, though. I liked Bellamy a lot, too. All he really cares about is his sister. That makes him a little blind to her,, though. He is a little selfish, but that's just because he grew up thinking nobody cared about him so he had to take care of himself.

I hope that in the next book the characters get fleshed out a little bit more. I also want to learn about what happened to the Earth. That's not really addressed in this book. I can't wait for the next one.
21398
POSSESSION by Elana Johnson was so much better than I imagined it would be when I first read the product description. It's kind of like the Dystopian and Paranormal Romance genres ran away together and had a lovechild. Supernatural abilities? Check. Lunatics running the world and controlling society with what once might have been noble motives but are now just arrogant and foolish fallacies? Check. Love triangles? Check. Fate of the relationship trumps fate of the world at novel 1's end? Check :)

Oh well. No genre or genre mashup is perfect. But POSSESSION was fun, and I didn't even get too confused by Mind Control. Things got a little murky in the tunnels before I realized simulation time had ended, but I figured out what was what eventually.  This book does NOT work as a standalone novel but I hear there's a sequel coming someday. But that kind of nonsense seems standard behavior in YA book world these days. I guess if I want to avoid open endings I should wait until all of the books have been published... oh well.

If you enjoy either the dystopian or paranormal romance genres, you'll probably like this book. Not as good as BLOOD RED ROAD or DIVERGENT. But still a fun and absorbing read. Sure to have rabid fans in no time :)
4080445
In Between Seasons by Cassandra Giovanni is set in a dystopian society after The Fall in 2021, which resulted after a government breakdown from the 2012 recession. The government has collapsed and Marshal Law has erupted, leaving the country a disaster. Those who survived the war chose sides by forming Tribes and staking claim on land; building compounds in the middle of the country. Now twenty years after The Fall, Kate Ericson, daughter of one Tribe leader faces the challenges of what comes next in a world she struggles to understand.

Its Kates last day of school. Shes 18, and its time for her to take her place with the rest of the woman in her Tribe, doing whatever it is women are supposed to do. The problem: Kate is not like other women. Although indoctrinated by the history books and legends told by her own father, she questions things that don't quite fit. In a world where girls are taught not to question, Kate finds her voice and breaks the status quo only to find her an outcast in her own family.

Though Kate has been dating Trevor, a boy chosen for her by her family, she feels little for him. With not much of promising future ahead, Kate hopes for more than what happens to lie in front of her and seeks a way out by writing her own books. Since those she is supposed to trust refuse to give her any truthful answers, she spends her spare time filling books with her own conspiracy theorys as to what happened before and during The Fall, and now what lies outside her tribes compounds. As Kate becomes brave, she soon realizes that the theories she thinks to be stories are closer to the truth than she ever imagined.

Within weeks of joining the women in her tribe, Kate finds her way out. When Hunter Marks, a sexy general from an opposing tribe is assigned to kidnap and kill Kate, they soon realize what follows will be the beginning of the rest of their lives.

In Between Seasons focuses on Kate and Hunters journey in a post-apocalyptic society, struggling to find where they fit in a world neither of them agree with or completely understand. I liked both of the characters. Both Kate and Hunter tried to be what their families expected but ultimately chose to be true to themselves. In their own way, both did what they were tolduntil they found each other.

This New Adult romance focuses more on the developing relationship between Kate and Hunter, as well as their individual journeys of self-discovery rather than the what happened part of the story. Finding balance between character development and plot points can often be difficult in character-driven stories, but Giovanni pulled it off with an entertaining story.

Although at times there wasn't much happening and the ending came and went a bit too quickly for my taste, I enjoyed the story. I thought the premise was intelligent, and the struggles Kate and Hunter faced were realistic and relatable. And the teasersI couldn't wait to see how Kate was the weapon they needed to survive. Im looking forward to seeing what the rest of the characters in this series have in store for them.
4774379
Original review posted on Gin's Book Notes (GinsBookNotes  .com)

Concealed in the Shadows is a young adult dystopian story that begins in the year, 2033; the year that our main character, Sydney Harter, turns 18 and is legally able to petition the court for custody of her 14 year old sister, Evvie.

The future world that the author creates is controlled by technology and was established by a 2015 population bill that disunited the United States and split it into counties and sectors. The proposed purpose of this reformation is to save the world from destruction by controlling the population and how they interact with the environment and each other. Terrible restrictions and laws are put into place and very quickly the basic concept of humanity is lost.

The beginning of the story was a little slow for me. It is a lot of backstory for Sydney and the world she is living in and it didn't really grab me until chapter ten. Once I hit that point I was reading every chance I had to see what would happen next. I enjoyed that there were several surprise moments in the story; some big things happened that I didn't see coming at all.  There were a few moments when my eyes became a little misty and there were several times that I had to stop reading and think about the consequences of the world that Gabrielle Arrowsmith had created.

By the end of the book I was fully vested in the lives of Sydney and Evvie Harter and the people they connected with throughout the story. I would have loved a happy ending for them but as with all first books in a series that story is yet to come. Yes, I'm an eternal optimist; I chose to believe that by the end of this series their story will end on a "and they lived happily ever after" note.

So, to summarize. I really liked Concealed in the Shadows and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. There is a lot of action, emotion, and mystery in this book, a tiny hint at a possible future romance. I found the overall message to be one of hope, sacrifice, and perseverance. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

*I downloaded this book when it was offered for free during a special promotion weekend.*
1428890
J.T Hall is a new author to me. The blurb for Murder Once Seen caught my interest, promising a mix of urban fantasy, dystopia, paranormal, mystery, and suspense, with a dash of (light) BDSM. The author managed to wield this melting pot of genres quite nicely, and I felt the book delivered on its promise. It did feel a bit uneven, but overall I enjoyed it.

Derwin, the bounty hunter, hooks up with Elliot, the rent boy, to get his pain fix for his Oddity (see blurb). Derwin discovers Elliots ability to see scenes from peoples past by touching their personal items with his palms. Derwin convinces Elliot to help him search for his boyfriends killer, since Elliot is able to uncover new clues with the help of his Oddity.

Derwin and Elliot made for some interesting characters. Their attraction to each other was instant and explosive. Their wariness and distrust, that seems to infuse this world, morphed into trust and something deeper. They were really sweet together. Two lost souls slowly mending each others different wounds.

I really enjoyed the world build and the look I got into this urban/dystopian future. While I enjoyed it, I felt it wasn't fully explored. I hope the author will show me more of this world in the sequels, there is a lot of potential here.

The mystery and suspense were the somewhat weak parts. The bad guy was pretty obvious, so the mystery wasn't much of a mystery, more like following big flashing signs. The way Elliot used his abilities underway was cool, even though it made him see some unpleasant things.

There was a scene in the book that took me totally off guard. It had to do with the publishers warning of sexual assault and dubious consent that I didn't know about until writing this review (Ive included the warning in the blurb above). It involved Elliot and one of his clients (he is a rentboy by profession after all in this book), who is the leader of the gang controlling the section of the city where Elliot, his Madame and her stable of prostitutes operate. Elliot had to do the session with the sadistic gang leader to keep Elliot and the others working the street safe from the gang.

The scene was graphic with violence and dub con/non con sex. I wasn't expecting it at all, and found it very unpleasant. Im not strictly opposed to reading a scene like that, but I really want to know beforehand, so I know to expect it. Im giving Riptide an annoyed side eye here, since they really ought to include the warning in the blurb, and not just have it on a separate section under the book on their website. The warning is not listed on Amazon or Goodreads, so an unsuspecting reader might pick up this book getting more than they bargained for.

This explicit scene notwithstanding, I enjoyed reading Murder Once Seen since Im a sucker for urban fantasy, dystopian, paranormal, and mystery and murder. I do feel like the author tried to include or mix together too many genres and plot points, that it fell short in some areas, like the mystery. It might have been a tighter story focusing on fewer plot points, but exploring those few more. However, the world build was intriguing with its demons and Oddites. I liked Elliot and Derwin, and they were perfect for each other. I liked that they had to work to develop their relationship, even though they initially were insta-love/lust.

The story has a HEA, or more like HFN since turn of events set the stage for a sequel. Im pretty sure Ill be reading the next installment wanting to see more of Derwin and Elliot in their world.

Reviewed for Lovebytes.
2539294
I loved the book, but I have to agree with the other reviewers that the romance/sex parts turned me off because there wasn't enough character development to make me want to care. The writing is solid, the story and the use of mythology (which becomes even more apparent in the sequel) is original and compelling. It's also one of the first books I've read this year where I thought the pacing and length were just right. If only the romance/sex didn't read like a dime store romance novel. I get it that the characters are attracted to one another, but I don't need to be reminded of it on every page. Maybe I like my dystopian fiction more cerebral and tad less hormonal.
2017513
Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Final Trade.  I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Honestly, I am growing aggravated with the number of dystopian books that portray the chaos that ensues after a disaster (whether it be war, apocalypse, or zombies) by including women being treated like property.  They are enslaved, abused, and demoted to the level of animals in The Final Trade, which gave the book a more familiar than unique feeling.  I did like the fact that the main character, Zoey, is strong and has the determination that it takes to survive in a male dominated world.

Picking up from where The Last Girl ended, there is a continuity of story from the first book to this one.  That being said, the author did not progress the plot far enough in The Final Trade, making it feel more like a bridge to another novel than a book that can stand on its own.  I would be hesitant to recommend it to other readers, as I am not sure if I would continue with the series if given the opportunity.  Readers who like The Last Girl may find The Final Trade as a satisfying sequel, but I found it to be only more of the same.
1599119
This is the sequel to Matched. I liked Crossed better than Matched, partly because it has less of a typical science fiction plot. Ky and Cassia and some other characters escape into the canyons and try to find the "Rising", the rebellion against the Society. In the end, though, it seems to me, the Rising is not much better than the Society. They have their own tight rules; you are not allowed to have "unnecessary possessions."  The book did have an interesting plot, but it was kind of depressing. However, I did like the descriptions of the beauty and loneliness of the canyon. Also, some interesting new characters are introduced in Crossed, each with their own complicated story, and secrets are revealed. The Matched trilogy is definitely not my favorite science fiction, but I will read the third book when it comes out, if only to see what happens in the end

*You can read all of my book reviews at my blog, [...]
3859420
This YA dystopia is pretty different from the rest of its subgenre, in a good way.

Frenchie is on the run. His parents and brother have already been taken, grabbed by government agents, shoved in a white van, and driven off to the schools. After years of ecological devastation, a new disaster struck: the majority of the population became unable to dream with terrible results. The only ones who can still dream are Native Americans, and their bone marrow holds the cure for the dreamless. And so the Canadian government authorizes their unwilling sacrifice, turning people into parts to be harvested. Frenchies survived, but survival is always in doubt. Hes found a group of other Indigenous people, all on the run from the recruiters. Each of them has their own story of loss, but their futures are not without hope.

The Marrow Thieves has an unconventional structure. While the main story is Frenchie and his found family trekking through the woods, The Marrow Thieves also contains stories within stories, detailing the pasts of different group members. Theres Miig, a man whose husband was kidnapped by recruiters. Wab, who has been victim to some brutal violence. Minerva, the eldest member of their group. Also unlike the majority of YA dystopian novels, its not action packed. It was interesting to read something of this genre with a slower, more reflective pace. It just goes to show how it can be good to break the mold.

The Marrow Thieves shows the importance of the characters specific connections to their Native heritage and legacy of survival. Frenchie and his family might be living in a hellish dystopia, but his peoples pasts have been dystopic too. Thus, the horrors of The Marrow Thieves are grounded in a long history of racial and cultural violence and the inequities of our present.

I wasn't a huge fan of the romantic subplot, which is with a girl named Rose. Look, it takes a lot to sell me on a romantic subplot, and this one doesnt cut it. I found it hard to buy into the connection between Frenchie and Rose, since it sort of felt like the reason he was interested in her was because she was the only girl his age. I can see it as a crush, but not much more than that. Then again, the overhyped drama of a first crush is probably accurate for a lot of teenagers. Its just not my cup of tea.

I occasionally found the writing style clunky. Some other reviewers have mentioned how The Marrow Thieves forshadows by outright telling you something important is about to happen. Multiple times. Yeah, I noticed that as well, and while it did make me wonder what was going to happen, it also threw me out of the story.

The Marrow Thieves is a dark, intelligent novel and an important addition to young adult literature. At the same time, Im not sure Id be interested in reading any possible sequels. While I liked how it departed from some genre tropes, why did it have to keep the half baked romance sub-plot? Oh, well. It may not have appealed to me as a reader, but Im sure itll find its fans.

Originally posted on <a href=https://theillustratedpage.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/review-of-the-marrow-thieves-by-cherie-dimaline/>The Illustrated Page.</a>
138644
I began this book with minimal expectations as dystopian novels are the things nowadays with the Hunger Games and Divergent.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the author's take on dystopian society.  Although there are standards themes such as categorizing people and rebellions, the characters and plot were well-developed.  I do think the author skimped on background details about what lead up to the society and how exactly the people are awarded or docked points, but overall, I understood the society and its concept.  I was losing interest toward the end as it seemed like a lot happened with no explanation and no real ties to the story.  It's almost like the author had too many ideas at the end and didn't know how to bring the story to a climax and effectively resolve it or leave a cliffhanger.

Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop and ended up finishing the novel in about a day and a half (I would have been done sooner if I didn't have to work).  I immediately looked for the next book in the series, but unfortunately, it's not available yet.  I look forward to seeing where this storyline goes.
1307687
It's a romance but it's not a graphic one. It also has some adventure, battles and some more! 4.5 stars!
4086363
Commune Book Two by Joshua Gayou is the sequel in his dystopian series.

Like Commune Book One, the sequel is written in first-person narration, alternating between perspectives from new characters as well as old ones.
This was enjoyable to read because it really helped to flesh out the characters of the main protagonists: Jake, Amanda, and Gibs, and I particularly liked this narrative style when it circulated between these three characters, each doing different tasks at different times in different locations. It helped highlight the wide range of jobs needing doing amongst the group and how every member plays a different role.

However, when the narrative switched between these three during one singular event, I think this let the book down a little. To me, retelling the same or an incredibly similar event from different character perspectives came across as somewhat redundant.

Speaking of Jake and Amanda, Commune Book Two draws out their personalities even more, particularly as they interact with newest members of the group.

Gibs, an ex-Marine, is the new addition to the group of protagonists in the series and, although his language is incredibly  explicit, he feels a very naturally written character.

Thus, as an ex-Marine, his authoritative style of voice, paired with his knowledge of guns and mechanics made the explanation of certain weaponry much more appropriate  I remember finding myself lost at the use of over-technical language in Commune Book One; I did not have this same problem again, and this is a great improvement to see.

Turning my attention to the minor characters however, it was difficult to remember who was who because a lot of the minor characters seemed to have their own small strands working in the background of the overarching narrative. Now, whilst it is completely natural that, in a group of survivors, some will be leaders, and some will be followers, I query the necessity of having to provide each minor character with a backstory and family, particularly when their lives and their roles are not the ones we follow for a lot of the book.

Furthermore, with only some throwaway details about some minor characters, it was difficult for me to care about the injuries, or incidents that happened to them. This contrasted with the first-person perspectives of the main characters, who would always seem to respond as if theyd just lost a best friend, despite them only being mentioned in a few pages or chapters.

Moving on from this, I liked Joshuas style of writing; his descriptions were very imaginative, without bogging the reader down in too much unnecessary detail. There were lots of action scenes throughout Commune Book Two, with lots of variation each time  such as location, characters, the nature of the incident - so it never felt like generic gunfight #3. Each action sequence was fast-paced, and I found the ending scenes with Gibs particularly exciting.

The fear of survival, emphasised by violent incidents and practical problems like a lack of supplies eradicated my longing for overarching problem - like a zombie apocalypse. I remember discussing that at times in Commune Book One, life felt more straightforward than scrambling for survival, leaving little for characters to do. However, by describing scouting for supplies, building a base, and dealing with any opposition, there was never a dull moment.

The ending of Commune Book Two was good; it introduced new story elements, as well as tying up other narrative strands, reminding me of how an episode of The Walking Dead would end, leading you to want to find out what happens next.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story of Commune Book Two. The protagonists were developed in more depth with more proficiency, the introduction of new characters meant watching the groups merge together and settle into life in this new dystopian landscape in an enjoyable way.
1354839
The main genre I would file this under is adult romance. Unfortunately, it is not listed that way. If hot sex scenes aren't your thing, you will not like this book. Secondarily, this has a paranormal theme addressing the passage of souls from earth to heave or hell. I found this paranormal spin to be well defined and interesting. Lastly, it is set in a mildly dystopian future. Luckily, for me, that was not a large part of the story. The build up of romance and relationships were strong enough to make it hard for me to put this book down. I am eager to read the next book in the series, as I found several of the secondary characters interesting enough to "find out what's next." If you know what you're getting into when you start this book, the only thing I can say that was disappointing is that it is not a stand alone book. As another reviewer wrote, it is really just Part One of a longer story. If find that ploy, if you will, frustrating. But, I'm hooked so far.
1048516
Undone is a "different worlds / opposites attract" romance that sets up the scenario nicely, but the transformation seems to be a bit abrupt.

Beau's a prim and proper businessman. He needs to be to court government contracts, and romance was far from his mind. Annabel is a free-spirit with no goal and no agenda, wandering the world for new experiences because that was her early life. When Beau rescued Annabel from a bike messenger in New York, a chain of events was unleashed, and the two fell for each other... hard. His work started to suffer. She started to question her whole lifestyle. But are they willing to make compromises to make it work, or will their hearts be broken?

I'm not too sure what to make of this novel. It feels like opposites attract / fated mates kinda story, but the struggle feels as if it's not all there. There's no "long and arduous slide into hell", so to speak. The flip from "hi" to "madly in love" feels a bit too fast, and not quite enough of a struggle.
1791673
I think the reveal at the end of the book made the read worth it.  This is another run-of-the-mill YA dystopian fiction trilogy without the standard love triangle.  It felt a little forced at times but perhaps that's because we have to hear the thoughts of a sixteen-year-old girl as an older author imagines them.  Lots of trust issues, folks.  I'll probably read the last book, but I'm not in any hurry.
575421
Addicted is the second installment in Elle Kennedy's erotic dystopia series titled Outlaws. Although the storyline picks up right where it left off in the first book, there didn't seem to be a focus on the dystopia element in this one. The erotica/romance element took precedence in my opinion which was both enjoyable and disappointing. Although, I love a good friends-to-lovers story, the thing that hooked me on this series was the strong dystopia component. The balance of a well-rounded storyline combined with the erotica component made the first book a winner for me. In Addicted, there were small pieces of storyline here and there, but overall I found the balance heavily lacking. I will still be following this series, no doubt about it. I don't give up that easy!
2783110
To be honest, I've been getting bored with the dystopian genre because of its predictability, but gave this book a chance because I read some of Chase's other work and was impressed with his fresh voice and ability to write relatable characters.

After the first few chapters introduce the teen heroine and her world, it's pretty much non-stop action. There are motorcycle, boat, and helicopter chases, gunfights, arena combat, and all kinds of dastardly, scheming villains to hate. All the usual tropes of the genre are here, but Chase pushes them to the extreme. I was constantly surprised by the twists the plot takes, especially the ending which I did not see coming and leaves me wanting more.

I have read a lot of dystopians and the one thing I hate about them (and YA in general) is "insta-love" where too much time is spent on a fake-feeling, rushed romance instead of on solving the hero's real problem. That's not the case with this book. While there are hot guys the hero is attracted to (three of them, all very different from each other), her feelings are more credible given the intense situation she's in. That the heroine in Drone chooses to develop her own potential before pursuing romance is a huge breath of fresh air.