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The Rival
Bex Blixen is an elite high school cadet trained in deadly Apian Dance combat, living in an accelerated-physics academy designed to win the arms race of the second Cold War. But as conflicting clues surface regarding the whereabouts of her sister Beatrix, Bex becomes convinced her sister has been kidnapped by rebel government agents seeking to turn her breakthrough teleportation research to treacherous ends. Bex must enlist the help of her friends and a mysterious powerful ally to stop the evil Dr. Andronicus and save not only her sister, but her homeland as well.
ebook
First published September 15, 2011
136 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Joy Carlson
2 books7 followersI’ve done everything from sending fish into space to herding guinea pigs in Peru. Now I write books about chicks who kick butt.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 6, 2011
I was very humbled by this review that I received on iTunes, and wanted to share it here on goodreads.
“The Rival, the first in a series, is an astonishing teleport into an imagined world. Author Bethany Carlson has invented a plausibly magical alterna-reality in which the (mostly teenage) characters must be their best selves to vanquish evil. There are echoes of Narnia and other classics but the subject matter and narrative are entirely the author’s own creations.
Highlights:
1.The martial art studied by the protagonist, Bex, is known as Apian Dance, a super-gymnastic-dance-combat form based on the kinetic language of bees.
2.When the kids go out to the barn to put on a show, it involves advanced physics as well as personal sacrifice for the greater good.
3.Girl power.
4.Plenty of action, artfully dropped clues to the narrative, and well-developed main characters.
Downside: It’s a trilogy. I have to wait to find out what happened!
This is a young-adult book, but totally enjoyable for no-longer-young-adults as well. Can’t wait for the sequel!
Highly recommended.”
-Not-Young-Adult, on iTunes
Thank you so very much.
“The Rival, the first in a series, is an astonishing teleport into an imagined world. Author Bethany Carlson has invented a plausibly magical alterna-reality in which the (mostly teenage) characters must be their best selves to vanquish evil. There are echoes of Narnia and other classics but the subject matter and narrative are entirely the author’s own creations.
Highlights:
1.The martial art studied by the protagonist, Bex, is known as Apian Dance, a super-gymnastic-dance-combat form based on the kinetic language of bees.
2.When the kids go out to the barn to put on a show, it involves advanced physics as well as personal sacrifice for the greater good.
3.Girl power.
4.Plenty of action, artfully dropped clues to the narrative, and well-developed main characters.
Downside: It’s a trilogy. I have to wait to find out what happened!
This is a young-adult book, but totally enjoyable for no-longer-young-adults as well. Can’t wait for the sequel!
Highly recommended.”
-Not-Young-Adult, on iTunes
Thank you so very much.
September 24, 2011
I loved "The Rival" - I couldn't put it down (at the dentists office, they had to tell me to put it down before they could start drilling). It was a really well told story, both suspenseful and fun, the voice was strong, and the characters were fantastic. My sense is that the target audience is YA, but as a not so young adult I still really enjoyed it. Major props to the author for having strong female characters that aren't obsessed with their love lives! This made it far more engaging than the run-of-the-mill YA novel.
A few things:
I want to read part 2 (how long will it be?), and I want a movie to be made so that I can see Apian dance competitions come to life (though the descriptions of Apian dance were impressive - it's no small feat to write about dance in a way that makes it come to life in the reader's mind).
A few things:
I want to read part 2 (how long will it be?), and I want a movie to be made so that I can see Apian dance competitions come to life (though the descriptions of Apian dance were impressive - it's no small feat to write about dance in a way that makes it come to life in the reader's mind).
September 26, 2011
My first impression on this book was that it is completely awesome. It is well thought out, I like the heros as well as the villians. I also am very impressed by the futuristic academy with dancing military competitions the author made up. Not to mention the cool animal protectors everyone has. She really put a thorough touch on all the awesome elements throughout the story!
I teach 5th grade in a public school, and am gladly reading this story out loud to the class. They love it, and ask me to keep going whenever I have to stop. I look forward to a second one to tell me more about the adventures of all the characters!
I teach 5th grade in a public school, and am gladly reading this story out loud to the class. They love it, and ask me to keep going whenever I have to stop. I look forward to a second one to tell me more about the adventures of all the characters!
November 2, 2011
The Rival is a well written and unique read. I love the descriptions of the fighting dance techniques, technologies and weaponry. The characters are full of personality and create very real relationships with each other. I can't wait to read the next book, I've really been sucked into this world! Very impressed by this first book by Bethany Carlson!
September 20, 2011
The intelligence of Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quartet coupled with the adventure of Robert Louis Stevenson and the ass-kickage of Michelle Yeoh v. Ziyi Zhang. What more do you need?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews