Tag: young adult dystopian

Caged (Divided Series Book Two) by CC Robinson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young woman imprisoned and alone must find a means of escaping her confinement and warning her allies before its too late in author CC Robinson’s “Caged,” the second book in the Divided series. 

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The Synopsis

The second book in the gripping, award-winning Divided series is here!

The walls are closing in on Rose.
But when powerful enemies move her from house arrest to a literal prison, Rose finds herself alone. Caged. And without help.

Isolated from her friends and allies, yet stumbling on the truth of her captors’ schemes, Rose must free herself. If she doesn’t make it out in time, evil oppressors will take over her city.

Can Rose escape her cage before her foes win and destroy what took the Underground generations to build?

Find out in the second book in the award-winning YA dystopian Divided series that reviewers say reminds them of such classic YA dystopian as Divergent and The Giver.

This book is best read AFTER reading Divided: Book One in the Divided Series.

AudiobooksNow

The Review

In a time when most of the world feels like it is teetering on the edge of a dystopian event, this book perfectly captures both the struggles of living under a tyrannical government and the hope that can stem from finding community and solace in the company of friends and allies. The visceral, gritty tone that the author captured in this novel will sit with readers long after the book ends, and yet the glimmers of hope that arise in those small moments between the characters will resonate with readers as a welcome reprieve for characters that feel relatable and earnest in their desire to free their family, friends, and city.

The balance of action-driven narrative and emotional character growth was well-developed in this story. The fear, rage, and mistrust that comes with living in a society where anyone can turn on you in a moment’s notice, while also finding those moments of hope and joy amongst those you love and trust, was a fine line the author perfectly articulated in this story. The protagonist especially brought this to life, showcasing a fierce loyalty and strength of character as she relentlessly pursued her path, as well as the steady growth of her friends and allies like Marcos, Jason, and Harriet, felt well-earned and encouraging in the face of such overwhelming odds. 

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and entertaining, author CC Robinson’s “Caged” is a must-read addition to the Divided series and a fantastic dystopian YA thriller. The twists and turns in the narrative, the glimmers of hope that resonate with readers, and the emotional undertones will stay with readers and leave them eager for the next chapter in this series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

CC Robinson is the award-winning debut author of the Divided series, a dystopian series set in a racially divided world. CC has more than two decades’ experience working in cross-cultural settings as both a medical doctor bringing healthcare to post-civil war nations around the globe and as an Associate Pastor at a multi-ethnic congregation led by an African-American man in Cincinnati, the setting for Divided. She wrote Divided out of concern for our nation’s divisiveness and racial hatred.

Divided portrays a racially divided world in which four teens meet in an underground rebel organization and must work together despite cultural differences to prevent the dictator’s nation-annihilating territory grab.

CC lives in Cincinnati, OH with her husband, three Gen Z grown and flown kids, one cat named Newt who thinks he’s a dog and a real lap dog named Sadie. When CC’s not writing or working at her church, you can find her in the garden, elbow deep in dirt. Follow her on socials (@ccrobinsonauthor) or sign up for her monthly email newsletter on her website.

https://www.ccrobinsonauthor.com/

Cut From Stone by Brendan O’Meara Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A teenager living in a world split in half between two different factions is chosen to be one of several teens to be transformed into elite soldiers in author Brendan O’Meara’s “Cut From Stone”. 

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The Synopsis

The world is fresh from humanity splitting in half – the BlankZone in the East and the Federation in the West. As an inevitable attack from the BlankZone looms, the Federation makes swift, mysterious, and unexpected moves to prepare.

James, a 17-year-old living in the Federation, is drafted by the military. He learns he has been selected to join a group of skilled teens who will be transformed into elite human weapons. Follow James and his friends as they mature from teenagers to lethal warriors. Together, they will face life altering events as they navigate a new existence dedicated to protecting their friends, families, and humanity at all costs. 

The Review

This was a brilliant YA Sci-Fi and Dystopian read. The author did an incredible job of layering the narrative with world-building and an atmosphere that took on the quality of futuristic historical fiction in many ways. The tension and drama that the author brought to life did an incredible job of highlighting the struggles of this dystopian future in which our world is divided, and the detailed way the settings were brought to life really made this world feel alive and realistic in a lot of ways.

Yet to me, the biggest draw of this novel was the author’s incredible character growth for his cast of characters and the pacing of the action itself. While a military dystopian YA read, the book did a great job of keeping the narrative more character-driven than action, allowing the more bloody aspects of this narrative to be something alluded to or trained for before actually heading into the thick of things. The relatability of the characters and the complex journey the protagonist in particular goes on allows readers to really become invested in his struggles and keeps the reader grounded in this new reality fully.

The Verdict

Harrowing, entertaining, and captivating, author Brendan O’Meara’s “Cut From Stone” is a great first chapter in the author’s “Crafting Humanity” series and a brilliant must-read sci-fi and YA dystopian read. The twists and turns in this world and the physical and emotional toll this adventure takes on the chosen teens allow for a more personal and driven approach to the genre than ever before, and readers will be hard-pressed to put this book down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Raised in White Plains, New York, Brendan O’Meara formed a love of stories and books from a young age. He has spent his free time over the last decade crafting his debut novel, Cut From Stone, book one in the Crafting Humanity series.

It began in Philadelphia where he attended college daydreaming about a dystopian reality. With a vivid imagination (as described by his middle school teachers) and a passion for adventure, Brendan’s novels will transport you to a different life and capture you from cover to cover.

Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his daughter, wife, and two dogs. You will find him on the weekends drinking a beer watching the Packers and Notre Dame football games. He is an avid reader with a specific interest in sci-fi, anything dystopian, fantasy, history, and all levels of fiction.

Brendan would love to hear from you, feel free to contact him any time at brendan.omeara@craftinghumanity.com.

Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Amazon.

https://www.cutfstone.com/

https://twitter.com/cutfstone

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B788Q3QX/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F62063908-cut-from-stone%3Fac%3D1%26from_search%3Dtrue%26qid%3D00QYLqM3k8%26rank%3D2&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20