Bernard Jan's Blog - Posts Tagged "dystopia"

Control Freakz vs. a Teenager with an Attitude

Control Freakz (Control Freakz, #1) Control Freakz by Michael Evans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Michael Evans, a high school student, an advocate for a better future and a young adult author, nailed his appearance on the writing scene with his debut novel Control Freakz. I didn’t expect such mature and imaginative writing from someone so young! The fact I’ve read the second edition of his first novel in Control Freakz Series, which has a couple awesome plot and style changes from the first edition, as the author says in his note, cannot diminish the quality of his writing and story-telling.

If you are a fan of post-apocalyptic and dystopian literature, this is the book you must read. Not just to support the young and ambitious author but to enjoy the action-packed story of Nathalie and two of her best friends, Hunter and Ethan, who are trying to escape attempted mind control by the invasive government of President Ash in the post-apocalyptic America.

As you read Control Freakz, you see the love and attraction Evans has for the words and how instinctively he handles them. But his love goes much further than writing books and telling exciting stories. He wrote this book (and the whole series) as a wake-up call and out of concern for our own world and its future. His desire to inspire others to advocate for positive changes in their lives and our world is admirable and I support him in that.

Michael Evans is a teenager whose commitment to his writing and love for this world we should all recognize and support.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Bernard Jan



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Aftershock Review

Aftershock (Conspiracy Chronicles #5) Aftershock by Michael Evans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


To the fans of sci-fi, YA, technothrillers, apocalypse, dystopia, and conspiracy books: please read all four books in the Conspiracy Chronicles series because you don’t want to miss anything until you get to the Book 5, Aftershock. So much has happened, and is going on in this latest installment, as Sam, Jake and Ai try to save China—and the entire world—from the natural disaster engineered by President Li and the Party.

The very thought of an earthquake gives me enough creeps and terror even without thinking of the man-made earthquake of the magnitude and size to destroy hundreds of millions on the eastern seaboard of China. But the most impressive parts of Aftershock to me are unforgettable and unbelievable action scenes on the oil rig in the East China Sea. If this book series ever turned into a movie, Hollywood and the Marvel Cinematic Universe films would have a serious competition!

This novel is a nuclear bomb made of robots and futuristic technology ready to explode. And its author, Michael Evans, has no second thoughts before pressing the “activate” button and giving us one huge AFTERSHOCK. This book detonates from the beginning to the end!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

My reviews of Breakdown (ex Deadwave), Blood Brothers, The Last Migration, and Renegade.

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Bernard Jan



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Triggered Review

Triggered (Control Freakz #3) Triggered by Michael Evans

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the third novel in the Control Freakz box set, Michael Evans brings Natalie’s life into somewhat calmer but emotionally still challenging and turbulent waters. Unlike in action-and-killing-packed Control Freakz (book 1) and Delusional (book 2), Natalie in Triggered has even more time to look into herself, deals with her regrets and contemplate about her emotional state. The same broken state in which she made some bad moves and wrong decisions. As she becomes aware of the impact she has left on the world and the lives of her closest and dearest ones, she sinks into lethargy, self-pity, depression, and solitude. Before she sets her mind on becoming a new, yet the same old Natalie, determined to make great things for humanity.

Saving the world comes at too great a price and learning the truth can be too hard to handle. But the young author shows no mercy to his protagonists, and that is what I love about his writing. Not mentioning the continuous elements of surprise and his easy-to-read and rich writing style.

This is the review of an older edition of Triggered and some of my review may or may not pertain to the current edition of the novel. But I wanted my review to reflect an honest experience of the story as it was when I read it.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

My review of Control Freakz and Delusional.

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Bernard Jan



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Lone Wolf Review

Lone Wolf (Conspiracy Chronicles, #6) Lone Wolf by Michael Evans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Too much is going on in my head now to write a standard, comprehensive review. The flood of thoughts and emotions. Which might be a good thing. Because this book hit me like a sledgehammer, and I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down once I started reading it.

Is it a fight of a sole young man against the strongest dark forces of the world? A boy who lost everything dear and most precious to him on his quest to save the humanity from the darkness descending like a massive dome over the entire world? Is it a story that in the sixth book in the series already spreads through your systems and sets your adrenaline on fire like a lava melting the steep slopes of an ancient volcano? Or an untamable imagination of the young author that breaks every border and discovers new heroes and villains, new dire and challenging situations and intense states of mind? Or is it the sign of the time from the future which doesn’t look so futuristic and impossible in our world today?

Lone Wolf by Michael Evans resonates with every fiber of my being. Learning from his Acknowledgements that this was the last book he was writing as a non-adult person makes it astonishing. What an achievement!

Welcome to the adulthood, Michael, and may all the forces of the universe be with you and your writing.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

My reviews of Breakdown (ex Deadwave), Blood Brothers, The Last Migration, Renegade, and Aftershock.

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Bernard Jan



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Deadwave: Conspiracy Chronicles Prequel Review

Deadwave: Conspiracy Chronicles Prequel Deadwave: Conspiracy Chronicles Prequel by Michael Evans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After I read six books from the Conspiracy Chronicles series by the young author Michael Evans, I was eager to read its prequel which takes place several years before the events in the first book in the series, Breakdown. Michael nailed it again. In Deadwave he realistically describes Sam’s emotional state of mind and all the darkness of his suicidal thoughts after he lost his mom who killed herself by jumping off a cliff.

Emotions, regrets, qualms of conscience. The entire atmosphere around his father and best friend Jake are so painfully described as he was describing his personal trauma. It is an honest reminder to all of us on what we sacrifice to reach our goals by not spending enough time or sharing love with our dearest ones. These parts of the book are the most powerful. But they don’t overshadow the other parts when Sam follows his dream to become the best player in the virtual reality zombie-infested video game Deadwave.

Deadwave: Conspiracy Chronicles Prequel only confirms the exceptional potential of young Evans as a writer with a fantastic imagination, impressive writing skills, and the power to capture us into his dystopia-science fiction-thriller world. Another success and a must read!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

My reviews of Breakdown (ex Deadwave), Blood Brothers, The Last Migration, Renegade, Aftershock, and Lone Wolf.

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Bernard Jan



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Mad World Review

Mad World Mad World by Michael Evans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


From the Control Freakz Series to all his books in the Conspiracy Chronicles, I have never stopped admiring the talent and imagination of a young, teenage author, Michael Evans. That didn’t change after reading the first book, Mad World, in his brand new World Gone Mad Series.

Pumped with adrenaline, action and terrifying scenes of destruction of our world, Mad World grabs the readers and glues them to its last pages. The beginning scenes of the apocalypse are so realistic and gripping that we can experience the fear, panic, and disbelief creeping through our body as we root for the main character(s) we quickly become fond of. As the story develops further toward its darker moments with millions of people dead and their homes, towns and lives perished or robbed, its fatality clenches us even harder thanks to the greatness and ease of Michael Evans’s writing.

And all it took was one man’s addiction that led to the apocalyptic destruction of our future world.

Although Mad World, and the World Gone Mad Series, is a post-apocalyptic survival thriller, it is a dystopian and suspense story fueled by love for the family, people and mankind, but also by deep remorse and repentance. We can feel the author’s personal involvement in love and great care with which he created his characters and wrote probably his best book so far, but also in his goal to ensure that society never ends up there. In a mad world.

Michael Evans is the author with unquestionable talent, potential, vision, and the future. And so are his stories.

BJ
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Bernard Jan



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Cruel Summer Cover and Blurb Reveal

With the beginning of the new year comes the moment to announce my new book launch! And I start it with its cover and blurb reveal.

I originally wrote Cruel Summer in Croatian over 20 years ago. By the end of February this year, I will release it in English. Cruel Summer is a Young Adult cross-genre novel with elements of social and family issues, teen and child abuse, extreme sports, conspiracy, mystery, murder and crime investigation, teen romance, sci-fi and dystopia.

I hope I won’t be distracted this time with earthquakes and other unpredictable situations and thus forced to postpone my release date again.

Indie author Dean Cole did a fantastic job and made me fall in love with his stunning eBook and paperback cover. Working with Dean was a genuine pleasure. He is the fastest designer I worked with and he will professionally meet and fulfill your requirements before you are aware it is over. It took him only three days to deliver me such a brutally good book cover, as one of my friends commented it. Do I need to say more?

Another indie author, also from the UK, saved me by helping me with the blurb for Cruel Summer when I was stuck with it. Jonathan Hill was my savior and magician also for the blurbs for my other two books, January River and Look for Me Under the Rainbow. This time again he did an amazing job, and I can never thank him enough for his professionalism, patience and kind help.

Cruel Summer Blurb

All he wants to do is skate. But they have other plans for him.

Michael Daniels is seventeen and dreams to enter professional skateboarding contests. But beneath New Manhattan, a city under the oppressive shadow of climate change, exists another world altogether—secret laboratories which threaten society as he knows it.

Those with power will get what they want. No price is too high, even if it means making someone special or robbing them of their dignity, freedom . . . or life.

The price is too high for Michael, though. He has endured his stepfather’s abuse and mind games for almost as long as he remembers. Until one day he takes matters into his own hands, ruining the lives of those he loves most. And his skateboarding friends, Alien and Victor, are his only hope for freedom.

When there is no hope left, friendship is what remains.

Please show some love to Dean and Jonathan by following them on their Twitter and on Goodreads where you can also find their books.

And don’t forget to look for Cruel Summer when it goes online and becomes available on my Amazon profile.

BJ
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Cruel Summer eBook Launch Day on Amazon!

All I wanted to do is to publish this book. But I had other books plans before that one.

After many years of preparations, testing, trial and error, waiting and burning excitement, Cruel Summer launch day is here, and the eBook is available at Amazon marketplaces!

Cruel Summer is a gripping, unexpected, strong, and emotional YA cross-genre story about an abused teenage boy and a poet in New Manhattan, Michael Daniels, who only wants to skate and enter skateboarding contests, and the loyalty of friendship that stands as the shield between those with power and his freedom. Michael’s skateboarding friends, Alien and Victor, are his only hope when things go wrong and mysteries and secrets start to unfold, threatening to turn their society into an authoritarian dystopia. Because when there is no hope left, friendship is what remains.

All he wants to do is skate. By they have other plans for him.

Cruel Summer has elements of family and social issues, extreme sports, conspiracy, murder, mystery, teen romance as a subplot, and even sci-fi and dystopia as a touch of alternative history. It carries a strong message of friendship.

Although the main protagonists are three friends, skateboarders from New York City at the end of the millennium, Cruel Summer is not just a novel about extreme sports. It is a deep story of a family and sexual abuse, and the exploitation of power by those who have the means to use it over the individuals and the population in general. Having a strong human rights and environmental message, it will also appeal to those who love reading these books.

Originally published as Okrutno ljeto in Croatian in 2014, Cruel Summer is still a hot topic today.

Please click on the links below to get your copy where you can also leave your honest review. Thank you for that!

Amazon.com
Amazon Australia
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Goodreads
BookBub

Cruel Summer is enrolled in KDP Select, where you can read it for free. Through most of March, it will be at the discounted price of $0.99 before it goes up to its regular place. A perfect time to download your eBook!

Thank you all who helped me bring this book to life. There are too many of you to mention you here, but you have my eternal thanks in the Acknowledgements in the book.

If you are a representative of the media, please click here for the press release.

Cruel Summer and I are available for reviews, book tours, interviews.

Cover design by Dean Cole.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan
Bernard Jan
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Cruel Summer Paperback

It took a small conspiracy to publish the paperback edition of my novel Cruel Summer! Since Amazon has restricted international delivery of print books to Croatia, I couldn’t order my proof copy to approve it before publishing it. I’ve been waiting for a month for this restriction to be removed, but no one could tell me when that would happen.

Out of pure desperation, I asked my US based friend Thomas if he could help me with checking out my proof copy. He said yes; I sent him my book from Amazon; he took photos of it and emailed them to me. When I was certain that the book was ready to be released, I hit the publish button and published my paperback.

This is a story on how the story of an abused teenage skateboarder, Michael Daniels, came to life on March 8, 2021 on Amazon. Its paperback price is $17.99 and you can order it here.

Michael Daniels is seventeen and dreams to enter professional skateboarding contests. But beneath New Manhattan, a city under the oppressive shadow of climate change, exists another world altogether—secret laboratories which threaten society as he knows it.

Those with power will get what they want. No price is too high, even if it means making someone special or robbing them of their dignity, freedom . . . or life.

The price is too high for Michael, though. He has endured his stepfather’s abuse and mind games for almost as long as he remembers. Until one day he takes matters into his own hands, ruining the lives of those he loves most. And his skateboarding friends, Alien and Victor, are his only hope for freedom.

I hope this blurb is catchy enough for you to get your copy or buy it as a gift for someone else.

The book cover is beautifully designed by Dean Cole and I guarantee you, you will love it. Dean’s design is mind-blowing. He perfectly portrayed the spirit and the theme of the novel. I don't doubt that holding this book in your hands will give you a special reading experience.

Please don’t forget to leave an honest review on the platforms below and recommend it by word of mouth.

Amazon.com
paperback and eBook
Amazon Australia
eBook
Amazon Canada
paperback and eBook
Amazon UK
paperback and eBook
Goodreads
paperback and eBook

If you are a representative of the media, please click here for the press release.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Bernard Jan
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Cruel Summer in TCK Publishing Contest

I have submitted my YA cross-genre novel, Cruel Summer, to TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards 2021 contest.

TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards 2021 is a contest for best books in 16 categories. To get to my YA and Middle Grade book category, use the arrows on the left and right side of the voting form to navigate between categories. Once you are on the page 12/16, scroll down to Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan and click on the book title to cast your vote.

Please share the link below with others too, so they can also show their love and support to Cruel Summer.

Vote here
for Cruel Summer in TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards 2021 (page 12/16 YA and Middle Grade).

Thank you!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Bernard Jan
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