I’m in Love With This Cover…

Today I have a very special cover to share with you… 💙✨

Brooke Riley is finishing up her dystopian trilogy with the final book Here We Stand!

Before I show you the gorgeousness, here’s the synopsis.

Whose side are you on?

War is on the horizon. The resistance is at its weakest. Peter, now forced to be a soldier for the government, tries to feed information to Andre. But when it becomes too dangerous to hide what he’s doing from the watchful eyes of the guards— and Evan— he must decide what he’s willing to risk for the rebellion.

Raegan is fighting hard for healing— physically and emotionally. After losing Peter, her entire world has shifted. But she’s determined now more than ever to get stronger and fight for the truth she believes in. But the battle to heal isn’t easy. She’s faced with a choice; give up, or fight?

A couple of years later, Raegan’s and Peter’s worlds collide once more. As everything is falling apart at the seams around them, they have to decide whose side they’re on. Everything they’ve ever known hangs in the balance.

The gripping finale to the How We Rise trilogy!

And now for the cover…

Prepare yourself…

3…

2…

…1,

Voila!

Okay, but the tree roots, the lighting, the silhouettes. 👏👏 I am so intrigued, and I can’t wait to binge this series when it’s complete. 💙

Follow Brooke on Instagram // Goodreads // Amazon

Elite by Kristen Young // Review

Where do you find safety when your world is falling apart?
 
Apprentice Flick thought the Elite Academy was the answer to all her problems. But the revelation of her past turned everything upside down. Now, she is caught between two worlds set on a collision course.
 
Will she embrace the chaotic memories that flood her every waking moment? Or will she run to the security of her Elite training?
 
Discovering her parents’ identities takes her to a secret underground bunker where she finds new friends, opportunities, and maybe even love. But Flick must decide where her allegiances lie soon, or the Triumph of Love festival might bring about her demise. (from Goodreads)

My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After holding out for an admirably long time (more than two weeks 😱), I caved and bought the second book.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t this. 🤯🤯 I really loved the unexpected plot direction that strengthened the themes even more.

I knew I was right to choose Hodge as a favorite character, and it was fun seeing some side characters take a turn in center stage. Flick continued to be very interesting, and I loved seeing her process each new obstacle and revelation.

Again, the tech was really fascinating and immersive. 👏👏 I especially enjoyed the Watcher scenes, though the gravity wasn’t lost.

The new elements in this book were fabulous. I enjoyed the gorgeous yet relevant portrayal of Christianity. I also deeply appreciated the theme of non-violence.

My criticisms of the first book were unfortunately even more present in this one. There was a whole new set of side characters (to the author’s credit I could *eventually* keep them straight) plus code names for some I already knew and a complicated, sometimes clumsy new set of terms.

CW: Flashbacks to implied execution, kidnapping, fear. Mentions of observing stabbing, murder, domestic violence, and planned domestic terrorism through surveillance work. Lying/manipulation. Intrusive thoughts of guilt. Allusion to an official being a p*do. Slight implication of rock music being evil.

Best quote: Just because you don’t hear a voice, doesn’t mean he’s not there. He’s with you. That’s what he wanted me to tell you.

Altogether, I’m very much intrigued by where this series is going and have high hopes it nails the ending. ❤️

Apprentice by Kristen Young // Review

The Love Collective is everywhere. It sees everything. Be not afraid.

Apprentice Flick remembers everything, except the first five years of her life. And for as long as she can remember, Flick has wanted to enter the Elite Academy – home to the best, brightest, and most loyal members of the Love Collective government.

Flick’s uncanny memory might get her there, too … even if it is the very thing that marks her as a freak. But frightening hallucinations start intruding into her days and threaten to bring down all she has worked so hard to accomplish. Why is she being hijacked by a stranger’s nightmare over and over again?

Moving to the Elite Academy could give Flick the future she’s always wanted. But her search for truth may lead to a danger she cannot escape. (from Goodreads)

My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m still a little bit in shock that I finished this book. For a couple days afterward, it lived so rent free in my mind, that I kept wanting to continue reading and being disappointed all over again that it was over. 😅 Fortunately it is a series, so next time I feel like I can swing that much for an ebook, I am absolutely diving back in. 😎

This book drew me in immediately (from the Amazon sample because #cautious), and kept me all the way through. I was really fascinated with Flick’s memory and how it affected her life for good and bad. I can relate to that just a little bit, and it was really interesting to see her backstory slowly revealed, both in memories she’d filed away perfectly and ones she didn’t recognize. I especially found her emotional responses extremely accurate and compelling.

Side characters were one of the biggest pros and cons for me about this book. On the one hand, there were so many names that were so similar, I had trouble keeping them straight until I mentally pared them down to who was most important. Hodge, Chu, and Cam are my favorites, and I’m very invested in Sif’s storyline. (I refuse to believe it’s over.) Dorm Leader Akela is goals.

The tech just absolutely blew my mind. I know it wasn’t anything exceedingly original, but it was so seamless, fascinating, and easy to immerse myself in. My favorite scene was when they were running the Engine Room. 🤩

The unique terminology was a little much at first, but I got used to everything except “Haterman”. That just seemed to pull me out of the story whenever it was used. 🥲 A very small complaint though in an otherwise highly enjoyable story.

CW: Descriptions of child abuse, medical procedures, and violent gladiatorial games. Implied off-screen executions. Claustrophobia. Themes of medical kidnapping and education as indoctrination.

Best quote: “Why are you doing this?” I say to my body. “Why can’t you just behave like a normal person?”

Altogether, I highly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the rest of the series. 👏👏

Perfect for fans of Anomaly by Krista McGee.

Book Review // The List by Patricia Forde

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. (from Goodreads)

My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(This book was originally published in Ireland under the title The Wordsmith.)

My husband took me to Barnes and Noble for my birthday, and this is one of the books I got. (Thanks, Joshua!) I was 60% drawn in by the cover, and 40% fascinated by the word/art-related concept which is always my jam in dystopians. (Hi Fahrenheit 451, Matched, and Gathering Blue.👋)

I also saw a couple reviews compare it to The Giver and The City of Ember, so I was pretty confident it would be something I liked.

It hit every mark for me. 👏👏

Stripped back writing style, fascinating but edging toward horrifying world, MC who is thrown into the deep end, relationships driving her choices and her bravery, save the world but also one soul type story, words central to the plot and surprisingly deep thoughts about free speech and humanity… Even an adorable crush that didn’t take over the story. 🥰

My favorite scenes were when Letta was writing out words at the shop, the music scene, and when she first meets Marlo. I also enjoyed whenever characters spoke List. It was fascinating, and I was always waiting for them to slip out of it. The old scientist’s son deserves the world, Benjamin is the coolest, and I lived for every surprise strength of the women characters in this story.

CW: torture, description of gruesome wounds twice in the story (yet surprisingly clean otherwise), bodily fluids, implied death by exposure/wild animals. Environmental themes discussed neutrally.

SPOILER The main villain has a pregnant woman killed. The main villain MAJOR SPOILER has previously manually forced native children to become mute. Mentions of a young man commiting suicide due to the trauma. END OF SPOILERS

Altogether, while this book can be compared to some of the best middle-grade dystopian offerings, it deserves a place beside them for its unique premise and thought-provoking themes.

This nerd approves. 👏

An Interview with E.K. Seaver

Today I’d like to welcome author E.K. Seaver! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi! Thank you for having me today. I’m an indie author of two books, who’s been
learning how to juggle all the chaos of running a small publishing house and still having a life. I want to honor God as I pursue a good use of the gifts He has given me.

Can we have a brief introduction to your new novel, The Reflections?

Absolutely! The Reflections is about thirty teenagers who are summoned to compete in
what is essentially a futuristic entrance exam for the world’s last university. It tests physical, mental, and emotional strength, and those who are deemed “weak” by failing the tests are executed. It’s a Christian Dystopian novel, and deals with the characters questioning why God would let such horrible things happen, and then realizing that He is the only foundation they can have when the evils are happening. (Sorry, that was kind of long.)

No worries! Love the concept. What led you to become an indie author?

A lot of things! I’d queried The Reflections for a while before actually doing research into
publishing traditionally versus indie. I’d always been under the implication that indie publishing meant people had given up or didn’t care enough about their work to try to go traditional. This was very incorrect, and when I actually started researching indie, I realized it would be a better fit for me– both personality and literary-wise. It truly was God’s hand guiding me through those
decisions, and has opened up doors and dreams I didn’t even realize I had.

That’s awesome. If you could change one thing about your journey, what would it be?

Obviously there were parts of it that were hard. I don’t wish I could have changed them, but there certainly are some things I went through while writing The Reflections that, if I had a better emotional support system, would have been easier. (Check up on your friends, guys. And if they’re not doing well with something you’re too mature to struggle with, please remember that God has given people the grace for the situation they’re in. Walk alongside them, don’t get mad at
them struggling.)

Timely thoughts, there. Lastly, what is your favorite aspect of the “ordinary” life God has blessed you with?

Honestly, I wouldn’t call my life super “ordinary,” and I’m super thankful for that. God’s blessed me with a lot of opportunities to travel and experience things outside of my comfort zone. Being stretched and having to expand my views on the world is both the hardest and one of my favorite aspects of my life.

Thanks so much for coming and sharing with us! And congrats on your book!

Follow E.K. Seaver on Instagram and her newsletter

About the Book

Everyone in the Alliance knows about the Reflections. It’s the opportunity to get into the University, the only government-recognized form of education, and those accepted are guaranteed success and comfort for the rest of their lives. Thus, when Em Gades receives the silver invitation, her future is secured. The worst that could happen is she gets sent home, right?

Until she arrives, and the rumors about the Reflections prove true. The only way to live is to get into the University, and to do that you must be one of the four remaining Chosens at the end of the competition. Although she was warned beforehand to trust no one, Em quickly forms attachments to her fellow teammates with the hope that as many of them can survive as possible. However, as Chosens are rapidly executed for failing competitions, Em struggles to understand that, if God is real, why he would let something so terrible happen to a group of mostly innocent teenagers. With likely no more than a few days left to live, she and the other Chosens must navigate life or death situations and find answers to the question:

Are their lives worth the deaths of others?

Add on Goodreads // Pre-order on Amazon

Those With Ears by Makenzie Gray // A Review

What will Takvi do when the End begins?

In the blink of an eye, Takvi’s guardians disappear into thin air, along with thousands more. When the government swiftly moves to cover up the Disappearing, she and her siblings grapple with the truth behind what happened. They’ve been government loyalists their whole lives, but a split in opinions threatens to upend their lives permanently.  

And Takvi is trapped in a vacuum where no solution leaves her or her family unscathed, which is the one thing she can’t bear. 

The illegal book their guardians left them has answers that agree with her siblings, but Takvi struggles to accept it. When the newly-formed government tightens its grip in eerie prophetic fashion, will she stand up or will she fold? Will any of it matter in the end of the world? 

A compelling apocalyptic story on redemption, sibling bonds, and seeking truth in a corrupt world, Those With Ears is the first novel in the Midnight Hour series.

Add on Goodreads

My Review ⭐⭐⭐

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary ARC of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Going into this book, I knew that the view of end times was not one I subscribe to, and I ran into a couple other things that are definitely from a church tradition different from mine. I’ll be basing my review on other elements. 😉

The world building and character names were pretty much on point. 👌🤩 Everything hit the balance of being super cool but easily understable, and I’m pretty confident I’m pronouncing everything right. My favorite things were the holographs and voice disruptors.

For the longest time I found the main characters pretty annoying, but I think I was supposed to. It was really cool watching everyone grow more balanced in their understanding of each other. Takvi is definitely going to be an interesting one to follow. 😉 And I can’t decide if Kenna or Asena is more legendary. 

The story took its time getting going since it (realistically) takes a lot of talking to affect hearts and minds but once it did it was GOING. Seriously, those last couple chapters were some of the best action I’ve ever read, and the cliffhanger… 😳😳👏

I did wish for a bit more development of the chaos in town and some conversations felt a little repetitive.

Favorite quote: “I stayed,” were the first words from her mouth as soon as I enter the attic. “Good girl,” I say, catching her in my arms and hugging her as tight as I ever could, burying my face in her curls.

CW: end times chaos, family dysfunction/trauma, a fire, wounds and injuries briefly described, mentions of drinking and drugs, frightening and intense scenes including death and near death.

Book two, when?!

Meet Makenzie Gray! (+Book Spotlight)

Today I’d like to welcome author Makenzie Gray! Makenzie, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m so excited to be here! Thanks for having me. Well, I’m an animal lover, a huge bookworm, and perpetually fascinated by the truth we can weave into fiction. I’ve actually been a published author since my teens, but recently decided to move into writing grittier fiction/the dystopian genre, which has been equally difficult and exciting!

Can we have a brief introduction to your new novel Those With Ears?

Those With Ears is my first dive into the dystopian genre, and it’s based around the book of Revelation. It blends sibling dynamics (my favorite part of writing it) with heartbreak and the hope that God can offer us even in the worst of situations.

What led you to become an indie author?
Mainly because of the freedom being an indie affords me! A lot of traditional publishers (not to bash them or anything) usually have guidelines that go against what I write, so it was an easy choice to make. A lot of work, granted, but I think it’s definitely worth it!

If you could change one thing about your author journey, what would it be?
I would learn a lot more about marketing before diving headfirst into publishing, for sure! While this is my debut under Makenzie Gray, I’ve also published a smattering of books under another name, and trial-and-error marketing ideas were the bane of my existence, haha.

What is your favorite aspect of the ordinary life God has blessed you with?
He continually surprises me with the extraordinary circumstances He places me in, despite my limitations and fears. I’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster in the past couple of years, but I can also see how He’s using me in some surprising ways (and how He uses other people to reach out to me when I start doubting). It always amazes me that He can use absolutely anyone, and equips them as they move forward.

Thank you so much for coming!

Thanks so much for having me! It’s been a blast.

Follow Makenzie Gray on Instagram and Facebook as @authormakenziegray

About the Book

What will Takvi do when the End begins?

In the blink of an eye, Takvi’s guardians disappear into thin air, along with thousands more. When the government swiftly moves to cover up the Disappearing, she and her siblings grapple with the truth behind what happened. They’ve been government loyalists their whole lives, but a split in opinions threatens to upend their lives permanently.

And Takvi is trapped in a vacuum where no solution leaves her or her family unscathed, which is the one thing she can’t bear.

The illegal book their guardians left them has answers that agree with her siblings, but Takvi struggles to accept it. When the newly-formed government tightens its grip in eerie prophetic fashion, will she stand up or will she fold? Will any of it matter in the end of the world?

A compelling apocalyptic story on redemption, sibling bonds, and seeking truth in a corrupt world, Those With Ears is the first novel in the Midnight Hour series.

Buy on Amazon // Add on Goodreads

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages

“Some time has passed since the inimitable quartet of Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance have had a mission together. But with the arrival of a new Society member — and a new threat — they must reunite to face dilemmas more dangerous than ever before, including the villainous Mr. Curtain and a telepathic enemy tracking their every move, not to mention a dramatically preteen Constance.

In its triumphant return, the Society encounters all new challenges, but the series’ trademark sly humor, sweet camaraderie, hairsbreadth escapes, and mind-bending puzzles are all as engaging as ever. Fans of the series will be thrilled to see the Society has grown up a little with them, while a new generation of readers will fall in love with these irresistible adventures.” (from Goodreads)

When I finished the original trilogy just six months ago, I had my doubts about reading this one. Why read another book when that ending was sooooo satisfactory? Well, here I am, and I’m very happy to have read it. 😀

(I got to buddy read this book with my friend Mikayla. 10/10 would recommend.)

When it first started out, I’ll admit that it didn’t feel like I was expecting. The first chapter was more action-packed and explanation-packed than these books usually start out with–which I’m sure was a welcome opening for readers new to the series or in need of a refresher. 😉 Fortunately, it settled into the happy rhythm of cleverness, heartwarming friendship, and profound thoughts mixed together into an adventure like I’ve grown to love.

The blessed wordplays are back and better than ever! And so many callbacks to the first book. ❤ Also, Milligan will never cease to be a legend. XD

I love the old gang so much, and I loved seeing them be themselves and even more so. Kate was… WOW. The moment with the stairs, anyone? Sticky is darling, and the more I think about it, I relate to him a little more than I ever have before. And Constance!!! The green-plaid-suit-wearing teenager with scarlet hair (maybe a bit like her sister’s ❤ ). She was sleepy and grumpy again in this one, yes, but her struggles with feeling left out (as the only one officially still a young kid), her beautiful if grumpy love for her friends and family, and some of the gobsmacking things she did = happy sigh. Also, while I recognize that she shouldn’t be rude, I also recognize that certain things are always going to be harder for her, but after that ending I’ve got some hope. 😉 Also, Tai is my baby. ❤ I liked his role in the story, and yes, of course I saw a metaphorical meaning for it. XD

And Reynie. He’s always been my favorite character, and I love his big, beautiful heart. The painful growth he had to go through in this one was a little hard to read about at times, but I loved it in the end. He’s so awesome. ❤

Honestly, all the ponderings about growing up and growing apart and respecting each other were amazing. My friend Mikayla and I agreed that it meant a lot to us since we were a similar age to the characters for the first time. (And those topics have been on my mind a ton lately.)

I loved the adventure in this one, and while I had a *tiny* guess of what was going on, the full scope of it just blew. my. mind. O.o. I love it so much. I did find some of the logistics confusing at times and the ending was a little slow, but I didn’t mind those so much. 😉 Everything else was so perfect. ❤

(And Reynie daring Kate to keep her hairstyle in was The Most Adorable Thing Ever.)

Just a note, there were a couple instances of threats against children and some peril. Also, as it says on the tin, telepathy is a factor.

Best quotes: “Poetic license,” Constance said with a shrug. Tai was fascinated. “There’s a license for poetry?”

More than once he’d come close to knocking on Mr. Benedict’s study door, only to change his mind and creep away. Now it occurred to him that Mr. Benedict had been aware of those almost-knocks. In fact, Mr. Benedict’s decision to “have an extra cup of tea” had likely been meant to make it easier for Reynie to approach him. No need for knocking. Mr. Benedict had removed the door.

Altogether, this was a great read, and with the nods to the prequel, I’m thinking I’ll need to read that one too. 😉

Book Review: Underground

“Katherine Holliday has left behind her life in the Federation. She is ready to start a new one with Matthew and the Intolerants. But it isn’t long before the Underground leaders send her on a mission that takes her back to the Federation. Katherine finds herself in City 1, with the help of new and unexpected allies, in an attempt to locate information that could help the Underground escape the Council’s battle plan called Project Endgame.But the Federation has changed and the Council is more desperate than ever. While back in the Federation, Katherine uncovers a tangled web of deception and manipulation. Haynes isn’t the only one with secrets, and the question of who to trust becomes harder to answer.” (from Goodreads)

Okay, so I just discovered a new book syndrome–the exact antithesis to Dispensable Middle Book in a Trilogy syndrome, and I call it The Sequel Is Better Than the First Book, Wow syndrome. I liked Reintegration well enough and was a big fan of some specific aspects, but this one was really, really good.

Underground picked up just days after the first book, and Katherine is a mixture of rejoicing and reeling. No spoilers, but she has a lot to take in. At first, I was a little frustrated or surprised or something that she wasn’t immediately thinking like a Christian (I know the Christian fiction drill), but seeing her slow journey of learning to live in the reality of what Christ has done ended up being really encouraging because I feel that sometimes…

Matthew is still Matthew (<3), and I love his family. The few characters I met of the Underground were interesting as well. Also, Locke and Rush both had me intrigued. O.o. Like, A+ for complicatedness.

Speaking of complicated, I ate up the political and ideological discussions/conflicts. Isolationism vs. impacting the world, physical warfare vs. spiritual warfare, and the definition of true freedom… It was all good. 😀 And it didn’t slow down the plot one bit, either! The mission was crazy and really cool. Also, CRAZY.

The worldbuilding in this one went into a little more depth which was fun. Some of the tech was pretty cool, though it was freaky how the Federation could change so quickly.

There was a little bit of repetition of internal thoughts, but really not a lot and I didn’t mind it all. 😉

Just a note, there were many mentions of executions, the possibility of medical experimentation on young children, and some more gunshots, though they weren’t described.

Best quotes: Suddenly it hits me. I can’t lie to them. Who I was is part of who I am. Christ saved me from who I was. Who I am now proves that He changed me.

“We would be safer that way, but I think something inside of us would die if we gave up and stopped fighting. We’d no longer be standing up for what’s right.”

Altogether, I really enjoyed and was encouraged by this book. Book three can’t come soon enough. 😉

Book Review: The Girl Who Could See

“All her life Fern has been told she is blind to reality—but what if she is the only one who can truly see?

Fern Johnson is crazy. At least, that’s what the doctors have claimed since her childhood. Now nineteen, and one step away from a psych ward, Fern struggles to survive in bustling Los Angeles. Desperate to appear “normal,” she represses the young man flickering at the edge of her awareness—a blond warrior only she can see. 

Tristan was Fern’s childhood imaginary hero, saving her from monsters under her bed and outside her walls. As she grew up and his secret world continued to bleed into hers, however, it only caused catastrophe. But, when the city is rocked by the unexplainable, Fern is forced to consider the possibility that this young man isn’t a hallucination after all—and that the creature who decimated his world may be coming for hers.” (from Goodreads)

(Originally posted on Lilian’s blog as part of a very fun collab) 😉

First off, is it weird that I want to enlarge this cover and hang it up like a movie poster? Because I do. XD (And the birds, guys!!!)

I actually read this book twice in a row to get all my thoughts about it together. The first time I read it, I was pretty keyed up from something unrelated to the book plus the SUSPENSE that is this story that I felt like I definitely missed some things, so I read it again to get all the richness. 😉

Wow. 

Fern was a very interesting character in that she was so normal. It sounds weird, but I mean that she wasn’t super rebellious or brilliant or skilled at anything in particular. She could have been you or I. I especially liked how she was doing her best to take care of Elinore. ❤ That was super sweet and showed her strong inner character. Also, I need more heroines with untamable hair, because that is the most relatable thing ever. XD 

All of her banter with Tristan was hilarious! I loved the easy way they talked with each other, even when she was trying to get him to go away. 😉 Honestly, I think “Plant Girl” is the most adorable nickname, and I’m gonna start calling him “Post-Apocalyptic Macho-Man”. (I definitely do ship it, guys. And I appreciated how appropriate and sweet everything stayed.)

The worldbuilding was really fascinating. Talk about a very, very destroyed world. O.o. Some of that and a certain aspect of the plotline were reminding me a little of one of my favorite Doctor Who episodes. 😉 Between the world-jumping, (intense) flashbacks, and a time skip, it could get confusing sometimes, but I followed (at least on my second read-through). 😉

The FBI agent Barstow was an interesting and competent side character. I like what ended up happening with him. 

Okay, but the spiritual themes! O.o. I understood them sooo much stronger the second time, and I was tearing up a bit at certain parts. 😉 Something that really hit me near the beginning was how easy it was for Elinore to believe in Tristan, and how Fern needed to go back to the trust and belief she had as a child. Definitely a message to us young adults who have begun to experience the world that calls us crazy for our beliefs. And the theme of a valuing love that sets people free. And Tristan’s reply to Fern’s question at the end. So amazing. I’m trying not to spoil anything, but I loved it. 😉

Just a note, some of the post-apocalyptic situation and medical details (including children) could be disturbing to young children. Some of the descriptions of wounds/blood got to be a little too much for me, personally, at times. Also, one redacted swear word and a slang phrase were used.

(All the best quotes are spoilers. Sorry, guys. Just read it.)

Altogether, I’m glad I tried this book, and I very much enjoyed the sci-fi-ness and the allegorical themes. 😉 I definitely want to try this author’s Peter Pan inspired book when it comes out, and I want her to write something Nutcracker-ish next. A girl can dream, right? 😉