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The Swarm #1
Sleepers
An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.
Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?
Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?
227 pages, ebook
First published January 13, 2011
273 people are currently reading
3415 people want to read
About the author
Megg Jensen
37 books608 followersMegg Jensen is a two-time USA Today bestselling author of epic fantasy.
No stranger to top ten lists on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the iBookstore, Megg's novels have garnered millions of downloads, attracting fans from all over the world.
She lives in Chicago with her husband, kids, and two insane miniature schnauzers.
No stranger to top ten lists on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the iBookstore, Megg's novels have garnered millions of downloads, attracting fans from all over the world.
She lives in Chicago with her husband, kids, and two insane miniature schnauzers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
November 19, 2014
Poor storytelling, world building, and character development made this story hard for me to get all the way through. Too many developments seem based on a single conversations, or action, or seem to come out of the blue. The main character comes across as flighty, insecure, and weak instead of strong and capable.
April 7, 2014
Plot?
non-existent. world building ...non-existent... character development...non existent. All around this was a very poor work. That will teach me not to buy based on a beautiful cover!
non-existent. world building ...non-existent... character development...non existent. All around this was a very poor work. That will teach me not to buy based on a beautiful cover!
May 9, 2012
Oh my god, this was painful. it read like bad fanfiction.
June 30, 2012
Sleepers is a political tale set in a fictional world of Fithia. Lianne is one of three teenagers who were adopted from the losers of war years ago. The Dalagans are redhaired while the Fithians are all round and dark haired.
Lianne is a maid to the queen whom is her secret best friend. Their king is the Henry VIII sort who presides over executions and has his wives executed.
On her sixteen birthday, she discovers a hidden power from her homeland. The Fithians claimed that Bryden, Lianne and Kellan were supposed to learn the Fithian way and bring it back to their poverty stricken land. She doesn't question the propaganda but swallows the lies she's been told.
Lianne is not an exceptionally strong character. She swallows the lies during her childhood and was clearly being used by her boyfriend, Kellan. He wants her to kill the king, and she flitters back and forth between him, Bryden and the Queen Mags decisions.
She never had a mind of her own. She wasn't a loyal friend to Mags or to Bryden. She stood aside while Kellan tortured the crippled Bryden.
This story might have worked if the novel had started during her childhood, not when she turned sixteen. She admits to Kellan's cruel abuses to their friend Byrden after their romance was established. She has a serious character flaw even if Bryden did turn his back on her.
The story got worse after she meets the Dalagans.
Lianne is a maid to the queen whom is her secret best friend. Their king is the Henry VIII sort who presides over executions and has his wives executed.
On her sixteen birthday, she discovers a hidden power from her homeland. The Fithians claimed that Bryden, Lianne and Kellan were supposed to learn the Fithian way and bring it back to their poverty stricken land. She doesn't question the propaganda but swallows the lies she's been told.
Lianne is not an exceptionally strong character. She swallows the lies during her childhood and was clearly being used by her boyfriend, Kellan. He wants her to kill the king, and she flitters back and forth between him, Bryden and the Queen Mags decisions.
She never had a mind of her own. She wasn't a loyal friend to Mags or to Bryden. She stood aside while Kellan tortured the crippled Bryden.
This story might have worked if the novel had started during her childhood, not when she turned sixteen. She admits to Kellan's cruel abuses to their friend Byrden after their romance was established. She has a serious character flaw even if Bryden did turn his back on her.
The story got worse after she meets the Dalagans.
August 8, 2014
Sleepers is an enjoyable middle-of-the-range freebie YA novel. It has a very similar tone to Anathema and in many senses is that book's big sister. Although both have the potential to be developed into much heavier/more adult works because of their subject matter (Anathema - slavery, Sleepers - betrayal, rebellion, execution, forced-marriage and associated rape) they are kept fairly light and only touch on these issues - presumably because of the age of the audience (Anathema, I'd say would be suitable for middle-grade as much as YA, Sleepers less so).
Jensen I genuinely feel has a lot of potential, but could use... I don't know, a creative writing class? A mentor? Some constructive criticism? to fully realise it. The ideas are great (well, apart from... ) but they're underdeveloped. Her solutions to plot events are overtly simple, both in method and writing; we need more than two paragraphs and the kind of master plan a ten year old could come up with to cover these really key plot points (e.g. the execution). I thought the same with Anathema - the solutions are so simplistic as to be incredible - and not in a good way.
To me this reads like a second or third draft - technically good, but with refining it could be much better.
Jensen I genuinely feel has a lot of potential, but could use... I don't know, a creative writing class? A mentor? Some constructive criticism? to fully realise it. The ideas are great (well, apart from... ) but they're underdeveloped. Her solutions to plot events are overtly simple, both in method and writing; we need more than two paragraphs and the kind of master plan a ten year old could come up with to cover these really key plot points (e.g. the execution). I thought the same with Anathema - the solutions are so simplistic as to be incredible - and not in a good way.
To me this reads like a second or third draft - technically good, but with refining it could be much better.
April 17, 2015
This book had a great plot and storyline however...
It was waaaaayyy too fast.
It wasn't even long enough for me to actually develop feelings for the characters.
I wanted to be happy or sad for events that took place but it was way too fast I couldn't. I like I would have if there was more background to the story and each character. And the scenes to be slower.
It really does have such potential
It was waaaaayyy too fast.
It wasn't even long enough for me to actually develop feelings for the characters.
I wanted to be happy or sad for events that took place but it was way too fast I couldn't. I like I would have if there was more background to the story and each character. And the scenes to be slower.
It really does have such potential
March 31, 2012
Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2012/01/18/r...
When I read books, I try to read from the perspective of a reader and not from an English teacher’s perspective, or even an editor’s perspective. Sometimes I fail. Sleepers was one of those books that I couldn’t stop my inner editor from coming out. There were a lot of simple and compound sentence constructions, and I felt this often made the narration stilted. The bulk of the story takes place through dialogue between characters or through Lianne’s thoughts. For being such a great fighter, Lianne only fought twice that I can recall.
There were also a number of inconsistencies that bothered me. Lianne originally states that she could not raise Trevin because she didn’t love him like a son, and then later says she does without an explanation for such a change. She states that she loves Kellan unconditionally, and then easily throws it away for Bryden a few chapters later. I’m not a fan of love triangles to begin with, and these actions annoyed me because they seemed so unnecessary. I struggled to understand the character’s motivations and make a connection with them. I occasionally had trouble with the way characters said things. Example:
I had a difficult time believing a 16 year old would say that, especially the “product of their love” part. I also read the synopsis (above) at 43% and found that I knew very little beyond what is stated in the synopsis, which was frustrating for me. Either the synopsis gives away too much, or the plot did not move along very quickly. The second half of the book was definitely better than the first, and the secrets behind Lianne’s heritage and people were intriguing enough to make me want to know more, though I am not sure at this point whether I will pick up the next book in the series.
There is far more at work in this world than Lianne or we, as readers, can ever guess. I wish this would have been explored in greater depth in the book, as the ending sort of slammed into us with many things happening all at once with little time to process it all. There were some twists and turns at the end in regards to certain characters, but they were so unexpected that it was almost unbelievable. Well, I suspected something was up with a specific character, but what actually happened turned out to be much bigger than I suspected and rather than being thrilled or excited, I was a little flummoxed.
You Might Enjoy This Book If…
Judging by the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, I seem to be in the minority about Sleepers, so you may enjoy enjoy this one, even if I didn’t.
When I read books, I try to read from the perspective of a reader and not from an English teacher’s perspective, or even an editor’s perspective. Sometimes I fail. Sleepers was one of those books that I couldn’t stop my inner editor from coming out. There were a lot of simple and compound sentence constructions, and I felt this often made the narration stilted. The bulk of the story takes place through dialogue between characters or through Lianne’s thoughts. For being such a great fighter, Lianne only fought twice that I can recall.
There were also a number of inconsistencies that bothered me. Lianne originally states that she could not raise Trevin because she didn’t love him like a son, and then later says she does without an explanation for such a change. She states that she loves Kellan unconditionally, and then easily throws it away for Bryden a few chapters later. I’m not a fan of love triangles to begin with, and these actions annoyed me because they seemed so unnecessary. I struggled to understand the character’s motivations and make a connection with them. I occasionally had trouble with the way characters said things. Example:
“He’s been disinherited,” I said. ”He’s not the king’s son. The queen had an affair and he is the product of their love.”
I had a difficult time believing a 16 year old would say that, especially the “product of their love” part. I also read the synopsis (above) at 43% and found that I knew very little beyond what is stated in the synopsis, which was frustrating for me. Either the synopsis gives away too much, or the plot did not move along very quickly. The second half of the book was definitely better than the first, and the secrets behind Lianne’s heritage and people were intriguing enough to make me want to know more, though I am not sure at this point whether I will pick up the next book in the series.
There is far more at work in this world than Lianne or we, as readers, can ever guess. I wish this would have been explored in greater depth in the book, as the ending sort of slammed into us with many things happening all at once with little time to process it all. There were some twists and turns at the end in regards to certain characters, but they were so unexpected that it was almost unbelievable. Well, I suspected something was up with a specific character, but what actually happened turned out to be much bigger than I suspected and rather than being thrilled or excited, I was a little flummoxed.
You Might Enjoy This Book If…
Judging by the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, I seem to be in the minority about Sleepers, so you may enjoy enjoy this one, even if I didn’t.
July 23, 2011
Exactly how does one write a review for a book that has them in the corner of their room, rocking back and forth, sucking their thumb . . uncertain of everything they have ever known? (ok, everything they though they knew/understood about the book they were reading)
Let me say this:
I AM SUPER HAPPY, SUPER GLAD THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK OF A TRILOGY!!!!!
I got this book yesterday and I began reading it last night. By the end of chapter one I was seriously HOOKED! This isn't a good thing to have happen on a night when one should be going to bed early due to a road trip scheduled to begin at 6am. Fighting it as I did, I placed the Nook on the shelf and laid my head down. The ride home had me thinking about this story, wishing I could read and drive at the same time. I even thought about stopping for a bite to eat just so I could read, however I pressed on and found my way home. It was on the way to dinner with someone else driving that I got to pick it back up and read some more. I'm sure my husband thought all my mumbling under my breath, sighs, gasps, were all related to his driving somehow, but they weren't . . it all had to do with this book. Even the points where I laughed out loud. It's the twists and turns of this story that will leave you BREATHLESS! I wouldn't even suggest trying to figure things out, because just as you think you have it . . HAHAHA, you don't! (You will hear Megg Jensen saying, "psych").
My favorite quote from this story has to be one from the beginning of the story . . . "I feel asleep afraid. I woke up with hatred in my heart." It wasn't this statement alone that had me . . but it was like the beginning of the end . . sorta, lol!
I would recommend this book to EVERYONE!
Grab a copy and settle in for an AWESOME ride! One you won't be forgetting anytime soon!
Thank you Megg Jensen for writing this story, I can not wait to see how this plays out.
Let me say this:
I AM SUPER HAPPY, SUPER GLAD THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK OF A TRILOGY!!!!!
I got this book yesterday and I began reading it last night. By the end of chapter one I was seriously HOOKED! This isn't a good thing to have happen on a night when one should be going to bed early due to a road trip scheduled to begin at 6am. Fighting it as I did, I placed the Nook on the shelf and laid my head down. The ride home had me thinking about this story, wishing I could read and drive at the same time. I even thought about stopping for a bite to eat just so I could read, however I pressed on and found my way home. It was on the way to dinner with someone else driving that I got to pick it back up and read some more. I'm sure my husband thought all my mumbling under my breath, sighs, gasps, were all related to his driving somehow, but they weren't . . it all had to do with this book. Even the points where I laughed out loud. It's the twists and turns of this story that will leave you BREATHLESS! I wouldn't even suggest trying to figure things out, because just as you think you have it . . HAHAHA, you don't! (You will hear Megg Jensen saying, "psych").
My favorite quote from this story has to be one from the beginning of the story . . . "I feel asleep afraid. I woke up with hatred in my heart." It wasn't this statement alone that had me . . but it was like the beginning of the end . . sorta, lol!
I would recommend this book to EVERYONE!
Grab a copy and settle in for an AWESOME ride! One you won't be forgetting anytime soon!
Thank you Megg Jensen for writing this story, I can not wait to see how this plays out.
September 21, 2013
Sleepers (The Swarm Trilogy, #1) Lianne was one of three babies given by her defeated homeland to the land of Fithia as a peace offering after a great war. All her life she has been raised to believe that her homeland is magic less, defeated and weak, until her 16th birthday when a spell placed on Lianne as a baby ends and she discovers that much she has believed to be the truth is actually a lie.
With those supposed to guide her through her awakening dead, she must rely on fellow adoptees Kellan and Bryden for the truth. When everyone has a hidden agenda how will Lianne decide who to trust? Will she follow her heart or will she allow herself to be led astray?
I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. At first sleepers seems like a traditional, predictable fantasy book but there are many surprises that make it far from predictable. I loved the element of mystery in this book and the twists in the plot kept me guessing throughout.
I liked the characters, especially Lianne and Bryden and can’t wait to see them developed further in the rest of the series. This book just kept on getting better and better as I got further through it and the end was simply amazing, an action packed rollercoaster of surprises and excitement. I can’t wait for the second book in this fantastic new trilogy and I will be very eagerly awaiting its release.
Reviewed for readers favourite
With those supposed to guide her through her awakening dead, she must rely on fellow adoptees Kellan and Bryden for the truth. When everyone has a hidden agenda how will Lianne decide who to trust? Will she follow her heart or will she allow herself to be led astray?
I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. At first sleepers seems like a traditional, predictable fantasy book but there are many surprises that make it far from predictable. I loved the element of mystery in this book and the twists in the plot kept me guessing throughout.
I liked the characters, especially Lianne and Bryden and can’t wait to see them developed further in the rest of the series. This book just kept on getting better and better as I got further through it and the end was simply amazing, an action packed rollercoaster of surprises and excitement. I can’t wait for the second book in this fantastic new trilogy and I will be very eagerly awaiting its release.
Reviewed for readers favourite
August 30, 2011
Wow, this is the second book by the wonderfully talented ladies at DarkSide Publishing that I've finished today. ;)
Anyway, the review.... WOW! This was a mind blowing experience. I always love reading anything from the girls at DSP because I know I will be entertained with a quality read. Sleepers was no different. I spent the first part of the novel falling as in love with Kellan as Lianne had, but then Bryden... well, Bryden was the surprise I wasn't expecting. To be torn between two equally wonderful and loving though completely different men... by the middle of the novel I couldn't believe everything Lianne was up against (both romantically and otherwise).
The twist at the end. I ran the gamut of emotions with this one. I laughed, I wanted to cry, I bit my nails, and I gasped for air and held my breath while reading as fast as my eyes would move across the page. This was a great adventure, the first of a few for this series. Once again, I look forward to what Megg Jensen has to offer us. Her love of medieval history shone through as well as the fairytale romance we all long for (at least most of us).
Anyway, the review.... WOW! This was a mind blowing experience. I always love reading anything from the girls at DSP because I know I will be entertained with a quality read. Sleepers was no different. I spent the first part of the novel falling as in love with Kellan as Lianne had, but then Bryden... well, Bryden was the surprise I wasn't expecting. To be torn between two equally wonderful and loving though completely different men... by the middle of the novel I couldn't believe everything Lianne was up against (both romantically and otherwise).
The twist at the end. I ran the gamut of emotions with this one. I laughed, I wanted to cry, I bit my nails, and I gasped for air and held my breath while reading as fast as my eyes would move across the page. This was a great adventure, the first of a few for this series. Once again, I look forward to what Megg Jensen has to offer us. Her love of medieval history shone through as well as the fairytale romance we all long for (at least most of us).
April 27, 2014
Having read The Initiate as well as the Cloud Prophet Trilogy, I went into Sleepers with expectations, which, in general, I try to avoid doing, and because of this, was a little let down. The dialogue was clunky, often generic, and even more often unrealistic. At times it seemed Jensen was going for a period historical feel, and at others, minus the smartphones and emoticons, I felt as if I was reading a contemporary novel.
As far as the story goes, stepping away from the writing altogether, it had potential. The tip of the iceberg of this world has been uncovered, I was just left wanting... Wanting more detail on the mysterious forgotten village, wanting to know the lies alluded to by both sides, wanting to understand how the main character could be so fickle and still procure all she does. Since I purchased this series with the complete Eloh Saga, I will be reading the final 2 installments. Here's to hoping Jensen, after getting the first under her belt, settles into a more realistic, less cumbersome writing pattern. Salute!
As far as the story goes, stepping away from the writing altogether, it had potential. The tip of the iceberg of this world has been uncovered, I was just left wanting... Wanting more detail on the mysterious forgotten village, wanting to know the lies alluded to by both sides, wanting to understand how the main character could be so fickle and still procure all she does. Since I purchased this series with the complete Eloh Saga, I will be reading the final 2 installments. Here's to hoping Jensen, after getting the first under her belt, settles into a more realistic, less cumbersome writing pattern. Salute!
April 6, 2012
My take...
Sleepers is a story about friendship and the things we would do for those we love and trust. It is about being true to who you really are and not letting anyone tell you otherwise. Sleepers is about trying to figure out what is right in a world that is so wrong. Sleepers is all of this and so much more.
To me, Sleepers is everything a book should be. It had an incredible storyline with hidden secrets throughout, amazing characters that you felt a need to protect and comfort, and it all flowed so smoothly together to make one beautiful read. Megg also left some things hanging on that cliff at the end that I am sure will be brought to light in the next books of the series.
In my opinion it was a wonderful, wonderful story that has found its place as one of my favorites for 2012. And I truly want to thank Megg for giving me the chance to delve into her wonderful world she so exquisitely created. Well done!
Sleepers is a story about friendship and the things we would do for those we love and trust. It is about being true to who you really are and not letting anyone tell you otherwise. Sleepers is about trying to figure out what is right in a world that is so wrong. Sleepers is all of this and so much more.
To me, Sleepers is everything a book should be. It had an incredible storyline with hidden secrets throughout, amazing characters that you felt a need to protect and comfort, and it all flowed so smoothly together to make one beautiful read. Megg also left some things hanging on that cliff at the end that I am sure will be brought to light in the next books of the series.
In my opinion it was a wonderful, wonderful story that has found its place as one of my favorites for 2012. And I truly want to thank Megg for giving me the chance to delve into her wonderful world she so exquisitely created. Well done!
August 27, 2012
I found myself so exasperated by the poor storytelling in this book that I hardly read the last few chapters - only enough to understand how the book ended. The character development can't even be called "development", and all the story information is plainly and obviously served to the reader on a dull platter. The concept/plot is interesting, but it seems that the author focused so much on its progression and neglected both the characters and the beauty of subtlety and story-telling.
August 13, 2012
Interesting idea, the main character flip flops between two men to the extent you want to give her a good shake. The story is not black and white, with the heroine's anger taking over what is right at one point. Some complexity around how emotions can own us and perceptions, with interesting concepts for parents whose teenage children have turned into different people being explored here! Reasonably enjoyable read and I did like the ending. Worth a read.
August 1, 2011
You can find my review on my blog
HERE
February 3, 2014
I tried okay, I really did…
April 16, 2017
*May contain spoilers*
“...magic is evil and led to our downfall. We should never practice it again or face the wrath of their army.”
“I fell asleep afraid.
I woke up with hatred in my heart.”
Sleepers is the first book in the Swarm Trilogy.
I liked this one more than I liked Anathema.
Lianne, Kellan, and Bryden are Dalagans who were adopted by Fithians.
Fithia is ruled by King Rotlar and Queen Magaretta, aka Mags.
Lianne is one of their servants.
It is the day before Lianne's 16th birthday. This particular morning, an execution is taking place just outside of the castle. Mags has forbidden her maids to watch it. Only Lianne is allowed to watch.
Three men are going to be executed. All three men have pale skin and red hair. They look just like Lianne. Everyone in Fithia has olive skin and black hair. But Lianne, Kellan, and Bryden don't. They are the only kids in all of Fithia that are pale and red-headed.
Lianne watches as the 3 are executed and she is surprised to see they don't look scared at all.
The next day, her birthday, she is in the Queen's room when King Rotlar comes barging in.
He makes serious accusations against Mags and claims he has proof.
Before he leaves, he announces that the Queen and someone she loves dearly will be executed in a week.
Lianne is Mags' best friend, her only friend. Lianne can't let anything happen to her.
She will have to come up with a plan to save her before it's too late.
Lianne: “I’m one of the best fighters, probably one of the best ever.”
She is finally with the boy she loves, Kellan. On her birthday, he reveals to her shocking secrets about the place they were born. He has plans for her, but will she go along with it?
Lianne can be described in 2 words: horny and cocky (no pun intended). She loves one guy, then she loves another guy, but she continues to sleep in the other ones bed. Tsk, Tsk.
She also claimed she was the best fighter in Fithia and that she could take grown men down in only 3 moves but when the time comes to strut her stuff, all of a sudden she doesn't want to. Even though it's the obvious thing to do.
She's indecisive. Extremely indecisive. First she wants to do something, then she doesn't, then she does, then she doesn't.
She reminded me of Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Not the older, more mature Mary that I love, but the young Mary that was annoying and incapable of anything.
Mags: “Anyone who threatens my sons, threatens me. I may care little for my king, but my sons are my life. Without them I would be nothing, trapped in the castle with no future.”
Mags was cursed with beauty. That was her downfall.
Mags was my favorite character. No other person in this whole book can compare to her.
She's had a rough life. Yeah she's the Queen, but not by choice. Mags married Rotlar when she was only 12 years old. She has been (in her own words) raped and held in her room like a prisoner by the king. He only needs her for one thing and that is to give him sons. By the time she is 18 she has already given birth to 3 boys. David (3), Matthew (2), and Trevin (3 months).
They are the only thing that keep her sane. The only thing she has done since becoming Queen is give birth. She has never even been allowed to travel the kingdom. The only people she loves are her children and Lianne.
King Rotlar: “He hated the smell of babies, which was astounding since he was so skilled at getting her pregnant, and he refused to visit Mags any more than necessary.”
“...he wasn’t a leader in battle, but a soft man who sat back while other men would fight for their lives. He issued orders but never executed anything himself, other than getting Mags pregnant.'
Let's see... how do I say this nicely? He's a pig. And an idiot. And a rapist. And mad with power. Rotlar agreed to allow the 3 kids to be adopted so that they would be “the hope for the future relations between our people”.
Oh, and according to Lianne, he can be taken out in “three moves, four if he fights back”
How unfortunate for him. IF she actually knew how to fight. I'm still not convinced she does.
Albree:
“I meant what I said yesterday.” She whispered loud enough for me to hear too. “Anytime. Anyplace, Kellan. She’s nothing compared to me.”
“I’d welcome any part of you touching me. I’d think you’d find it a nice change.”
“...while she cherished her sleep, she loved drama more.”
Albree, or as I like to call her, the town slut is Lianne's sister.
Not by blood, she was also adopted by the couple that adopted Lianne.
She can also be described in 2 words: snotty and slutty.
Kellan:
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“Chatting? Really? I was under the impression you and I were together and here I find you with another guy.”
He's Lianne's boyfriend. He was adopted by a man named Aric. Apparently, he smells of “dirt and oranges”. He's a bully, yet he always ends up getting his ass handed to him when he and Lianne practice fight. That's not attractive.
His kisses leave Lianne feeling “let down”.
Damn, Kellan, can you do anything right?
You can't fight , you can't kiss... you are a YA character, okay?! You better shape up an learn how to do both of those things or you risk being alone for the rest of your life.
Sorry, but he needed a little tough love.
Bryden:
“You will need me. You and Kellan. Hopefully I’ll be in a mood to help you when the time comes.”
“...deep down do you have the heart of a warrior or a heart filled with love?”
He creeped me out when I first met him. I imagined him as the crippled kid from Coraline. Only, you know, with red hair.
His adoptive parents died when he was five and he was left crippled. He used to be best friends with Lianne but after the accident, he separated himself from her. He has never been friends with Kellan, though.
Just as Lianne resembled Mary, Bryden resembled Travis from TFOHAT. I didn't like Travis.
Aric: He has taught Kellan and Lianne hand-to-hand combat even though he was not supposed to. His wife died after giving birth to a stillborn baby when they were younger. He has never remarried.
Sad to say, I didn't fall in love with any of the boys in this one.
That's rare. I usually end up liking 1 guy more than the other, but in this one they both sucked.
What a a shame.
In Anathema, I liked BOTH of the boys.
This didn't have the same feel as Anathema, but I still had the same thoughts while reading this.
The dialogue of the character felt forced.
Especially the part where that one chick There is no way she would have been able to talk so much. She was for Pete's sake!
That's my biggest pet peeve. I hate it when I'm reading a good story and then I start feeling that the dialogue is forced.
That ruins a good book.
It ruined Anathema for me and now it ruined this one, too.
“...magic is evil and led to our downfall. We should never practice it again or face the wrath of their army.”
“I fell asleep afraid.
I woke up with hatred in my heart.”
Sleepers is the first book in the Swarm Trilogy.
I liked this one more than I liked Anathema.
Lianne, Kellan, and Bryden are Dalagans who were adopted by Fithians.
Fithia is ruled by King Rotlar and Queen Magaretta, aka Mags.
Lianne is one of their servants.
It is the day before Lianne's 16th birthday. This particular morning, an execution is taking place just outside of the castle. Mags has forbidden her maids to watch it. Only Lianne is allowed to watch.
Three men are going to be executed. All three men have pale skin and red hair. They look just like Lianne. Everyone in Fithia has olive skin and black hair. But Lianne, Kellan, and Bryden don't. They are the only kids in all of Fithia that are pale and red-headed.
Lianne watches as the 3 are executed and she is surprised to see they don't look scared at all.
The next day, her birthday, she is in the Queen's room when King Rotlar comes barging in.
He makes serious accusations against Mags and claims he has proof.
Before he leaves, he announces that the Queen and someone she loves dearly will be executed in a week.
Lianne is Mags' best friend, her only friend. Lianne can't let anything happen to her.
She will have to come up with a plan to save her before it's too late.
Lianne: “I’m one of the best fighters, probably one of the best ever.”
She is finally with the boy she loves, Kellan. On her birthday, he reveals to her shocking secrets about the place they were born. He has plans for her, but will she go along with it?
Lianne can be described in 2 words: horny and cocky (no pun intended). She loves one guy, then she loves another guy, but she continues to sleep in the other ones bed. Tsk, Tsk.
She also claimed she was the best fighter in Fithia and that she could take grown men down in only 3 moves but when the time comes to strut her stuff, all of a sudden she doesn't want to. Even though it's the obvious thing to do.
She's indecisive. Extremely indecisive. First she wants to do something, then she doesn't, then she does, then she doesn't.
She reminded me of Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Not the older, more mature Mary that I love, but the young Mary that was annoying and incapable of anything.
Mags: “Anyone who threatens my sons, threatens me. I may care little for my king, but my sons are my life. Without them I would be nothing, trapped in the castle with no future.”
Mags was cursed with beauty. That was her downfall.
Mags was my favorite character. No other person in this whole book can compare to her.
She's had a rough life. Yeah she's the Queen, but not by choice. Mags married Rotlar when she was only 12 years old. She has been (in her own words) raped and held in her room like a prisoner by the king. He only needs her for one thing and that is to give him sons. By the time she is 18 she has already given birth to 3 boys. David (3), Matthew (2), and Trevin (3 months).
They are the only thing that keep her sane. The only thing she has done since becoming Queen is give birth. She has never even been allowed to travel the kingdom. The only people she loves are her children and Lianne.
King Rotlar: “He hated the smell of babies, which was astounding since he was so skilled at getting her pregnant, and he refused to visit Mags any more than necessary.”
“...he wasn’t a leader in battle, but a soft man who sat back while other men would fight for their lives. He issued orders but never executed anything himself, other than getting Mags pregnant.'
Let's see... how do I say this nicely? He's a pig. And an idiot. And a rapist. And mad with power. Rotlar agreed to allow the 3 kids to be adopted so that they would be “the hope for the future relations between our people”.
Oh, and according to Lianne, he can be taken out in “three moves, four if he fights back”
How unfortunate for him. IF she actually knew how to fight. I'm still not convinced she does.
Albree:
“I meant what I said yesterday.” She whispered loud enough for me to hear too. “Anytime. Anyplace, Kellan. She’s nothing compared to me.”
“I’d welcome any part of you touching me. I’d think you’d find it a nice change.”
“...while she cherished her sleep, she loved drama more.”
Albree, or as I like to call her, the town slut is Lianne's sister.
Not by blood, she was also adopted by the couple that adopted Lianne.
She can also be described in 2 words: snotty and slutty.
Kellan:
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“Chatting? Really? I was under the impression you and I were together and here I find you with another guy.”
He's Lianne's boyfriend. He was adopted by a man named Aric. Apparently, he smells of “dirt and oranges”. He's a bully, yet he always ends up getting his ass handed to him when he and Lianne practice fight. That's not attractive.
His kisses leave Lianne feeling “let down”.
Damn, Kellan, can you do anything right?
You can't fight , you can't kiss... you are a YA character, okay?! You better shape up an learn how to do both of those things or you risk being alone for the rest of your life.
Sorry, but he needed a little tough love.
Bryden:
“You will need me. You and Kellan. Hopefully I’ll be in a mood to help you when the time comes.”
“...deep down do you have the heart of a warrior or a heart filled with love?”
He creeped me out when I first met him. I imagined him as the crippled kid from Coraline. Only, you know, with red hair.
His adoptive parents died when he was five and he was left crippled. He used to be best friends with Lianne but after the accident, he separated himself from her. He has never been friends with Kellan, though.
Just as Lianne resembled Mary, Bryden resembled Travis from TFOHAT. I didn't like Travis.
Aric: He has taught Kellan and Lianne hand-to-hand combat even though he was not supposed to. His wife died after giving birth to a stillborn baby when they were younger. He has never remarried.
Sad to say, I didn't fall in love with any of the boys in this one.
That's rare. I usually end up liking 1 guy more than the other, but in this one they both sucked.
What a a shame.
In Anathema, I liked BOTH of the boys.
This didn't have the same feel as Anathema, but I still had the same thoughts while reading this.
The dialogue of the character felt forced.
Especially the part where that one chick There is no way she would have been able to talk so much. She was for Pete's sake!
That's my biggest pet peeve. I hate it when I'm reading a good story and then I start feeling that the dialogue is forced.
That ruins a good book.
It ruined Anathema for me and now it ruined this one, too.
August 20, 2021
Three children, Kellan, Bryden, and Lianne are adopted, taught they are from the defeated land of Dalagens. The children have been adopted by the Fithian's to be taught the correct way to live. At the age of twenty, they will be returned to their land of Dalagenia and share their knowledge of how to live now they have been defeated and stripped of their magic.
With these three adoptees accepted into King Rothlar's domain, being molded to what the Fithians deem as the correct way to live. When the children reach the age of twenty they will be returned back to their homeland (Dalagen), to share their knowledge as learned from the Fithian's.
There is something the Fithians have no way of knowing. When the adoptees reach the age of sixteen they awake to their magic. Kellan conspires with Lianne to kill the king and return and free their people. Bryden alerts Lianne that Kellan is not truthful. he plots to succeed the king by replacing himself on the throne. Bryden takes Lianne into his confidence and informs her he came into his magic when he was injured by a coach at an early age. He knows Kellan is not for the good of his people only of himself.
When the Dalagens arrive in their fleet of ships and use their magic to conquer Fithia only to gain all their fertile land and the adoptees discover they have been lied to by all sides. The Dalagens have never been conquered, they have left the illusion until the time of the children's awakening and then defeat Fithian, which is what they did.
In Bryden and Lianne's plan to free the queen and her youngest son, the queen is captured and sentenced to be executed. Bryan uses his magic to create explosions and the queen flies. Lianne and Bryden can't believe that their people would conquer these people just to rape their land with their magic. The magic strips the land of all nutrients and leaves it worthless. Bryden and Lianne take Trevin, the queens son and become their own family, and search for the queen.
With these three adoptees accepted into King Rothlar's domain, being molded to what the Fithians deem as the correct way to live. When the children reach the age of twenty they will be returned back to their homeland (Dalagen), to share their knowledge as learned from the Fithian's.
There is something the Fithians have no way of knowing. When the adoptees reach the age of sixteen they awake to their magic. Kellan conspires with Lianne to kill the king and return and free their people. Bryden alerts Lianne that Kellan is not truthful. he plots to succeed the king by replacing himself on the throne. Bryden takes Lianne into his confidence and informs her he came into his magic when he was injured by a coach at an early age. He knows Kellan is not for the good of his people only of himself.
When the Dalagens arrive in their fleet of ships and use their magic to conquer Fithia only to gain all their fertile land and the adoptees discover they have been lied to by all sides. The Dalagens have never been conquered, they have left the illusion until the time of the children's awakening and then defeat Fithian, which is what they did.
In Bryden and Lianne's plan to free the queen and her youngest son, the queen is captured and sentenced to be executed. Bryan uses his magic to create explosions and the queen flies. Lianne and Bryden can't believe that their people would conquer these people just to rape their land with their magic. The magic strips the land of all nutrients and leaves it worthless. Bryden and Lianne take Trevin, the queens son and become their own family, and search for the queen.
May 29, 2019
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
Short and Simple Review
When I first started this book the premise seemed promising and I was actually interested in finding out where the story would go, but the more I read the less I liked it. Plot developments stopped making sense and the pacing was just too fast to connect with what was happening. As things sped up, character interactions felt less realistic. Pretty much any climactic moment was shortened such that I need to get a real understanding of how the characters really felt. If they did show any emotions, it was like a switch of emotion being turned on, such as Lianne instantly falling in love for someone, someone agreeing to something way too quickly, etc. By the end of the book, I was tired of it. I don't plan on continuing this series.
Short and Simple Review
When I first started this book the premise seemed promising and I was actually interested in finding out where the story would go, but the more I read the less I liked it. Plot developments stopped making sense and the pacing was just too fast to connect with what was happening. As things sped up, character interactions felt less realistic. Pretty much any climactic moment was shortened such that I need to get a real understanding of how the characters really felt. If they did show any emotions, it was like a switch of emotion being turned on, such as Lianne instantly falling in love for someone, someone agreeing to something way too quickly, etc. By the end of the book, I was tired of it. I don't plan on continuing this series.
August 18, 2018
Meh...it had some good moments and some interesting twists, enough that it kept me guessing as to who the good and bad guys actually would. In the end, I guessed both right and wrong. But the characters never really seemed to develop to me. So when the MC keeps changing her mind back and forth, it seems less like she’s trying to adapt to changing circumstances and more like she just doesn’t know what she’s doing.
It wasn’t awful, but it never really lived up to its potential. 0% interest in reading the rest of the series.
It wasn’t awful, but it never really lived up to its potential. 0% interest in reading the rest of the series.
April 21, 2018
Wow this was a hotmess! It was so extremely rushed that there was no time to add depth to the characters, almost no detail so It’s impossible to see a picture of the setting or even the world, and what little the author tells you about the main character makes her seem flighty and childish. The idea behind this was just really poorly executed. It saddens me to see good, unusual, or unique ideas wasted.
January 6, 2019
Honestly not a fan at all unfortunately. I always hate love triangles or anything similar and I also wasn't a fan of the plot or the writing style. I'm sorry to say I found it overly simple and boring, with many parts that actively annoyed me because of character behaviour. I only finished it because I wanted to know what happened at the end, which I half regret because the ending was my least favourite part of the whole book.
January 1, 2020
A wonderful and inspiring series on par with Megg Jensen's other series "The Cloud Prophet trilogy". Just like the rest of Megg's book, the human and relatable characters, unique worlds, and beautifully detailed story captivates you, drags you in, draws you under and completely immerses you in a fantasy land you never want to leave, leaving you breathless and wanting more. I cannot honestly wait to pick up the rest of the books!
January 30, 2018
Fascinating
The characters are lovable, the storyline is unpredictable, the main character has great character, I look forward to reading the next book
The story is clean enough for anyone to read. There is no graphic sex and foul language is minimal if there is any at all. There is a little bit of violence but it’s not graphic.
The characters are lovable, the storyline is unpredictable, the main character has great character, I look forward to reading the next book
The story is clean enough for anyone to read. There is no graphic sex and foul language is minimal if there is any at all. There is a little bit of violence but it’s not graphic.
April 10, 2018
Interesting storyline
L was a girl who just wanted to be loved. A foster child who was taken in by the people who were at war with her people. She grows up to be stuck between the boy she wants and her childhood friend who never wants to be her friend.
The storyline was good I can't wait to read the next part in this series.
L was a girl who just wanted to be loved. A foster child who was taken in by the people who were at war with her people. She grows up to be stuck between the boy she wants and her childhood friend who never wants to be her friend.
The storyline was good I can't wait to read the next part in this series.
May 12, 2019
Very good
I wasn't sure what to expect from this trilogy, after reading the cloud trilogy and trying to figure out how they were connected. It finally made sense the more I read. Even the Inniate, tied in eventually. After finishing this trilogy, all the pieces came together. Lianne is quite the character, strong convictions.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this trilogy, after reading the cloud trilogy and trying to figure out how they were connected. It finally made sense the more I read. Even the Inniate, tied in eventually. After finishing this trilogy, all the pieces came together. Lianne is quite the character, strong convictions.
April 29, 2018
Magic, action and intrigue
Meg, handmaiden to the queen , is fostered by a country that treats her like a servant. Upon her 16 th Birthday she finds her magic. Will it help? Read and find out. This is a compelling read.
Meg, handmaiden to the queen , is fostered by a country that treats her like a servant. Upon her 16 th Birthday she finds her magic. Will it help? Read and find out. This is a compelling read.
November 20, 2018
Very interesting
I love the mystery behind the story. The romance and the betrayal. To think that the love Lianne had for Kellian was all a lie and to find out she's been lied to her entire life by her own people. Good read, loved every bit of it.
I love the mystery behind the story. The romance and the betrayal. To think that the love Lianne had for Kellian was all a lie and to find out she's been lied to her entire life by her own people. Good read, loved every bit of it.
December 30, 2017
Gave up. Zero depth and many actions/plans/beliefs based on nothing at all. Very childish in style.
April 8, 2018
A well-told story with layers and layers of deception for the heroine to plow through.
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