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[Book I of the Rittenhouse Saga]
Centuries after most of humanity died out, a new civilization is slowly constructed upon the remnants of the old.
Emery, a young man living in the walled city of Rittenhouse, has taken it upon himself to rescue "mutts," as the citizens of Rittenhouse call the impoverished masses outside. When Timothy, a boy afflicted with a fatal illness, seeks Emery's help, the two embark on a deadly errand to secure the medicine Timothy needs. This mission takes them from the safety of Rittenhouse into the wasteland outside it, where ancient superstitions are reborn and humanity struggles to survive amidst the ruins of a fallen American metropolis.
Centuries after most of humanity died out, a new civilization is slowly constructed upon the remnants of the old.
Emery, a young man living in the walled city of Rittenhouse, has taken it upon himself to rescue "mutts," as the citizens of Rittenhouse call the impoverished masses outside. When Timothy, a boy afflicted with a fatal illness, seeks Emery's help, the two embark on a deadly errand to secure the medicine Timothy needs. This mission takes them from the safety of Rittenhouse into the wasteland outside it, where ancient superstitions are reborn and humanity struggles to survive amidst the ruins of a fallen American metropolis.
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2011
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January 22, 2015
-Otro tipo de aproximación al postapocalipsis.-
Género. Narrativa Fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Timothy consigue una audiencia con el rey, que vive en un antiguo autobús, pero el monarca no tiene el tipo de medicina que Timothy está buscando, aunque le indica donde podría encontrarla: Rittenhouse. El rey tiene un contacto dentro y a pesar de que parece imposible infiltrarse en su interior hay más de una forma de entrar en Rittenhouse, un lugar que mantiene algo de la tecnología y saber de tiempos pasados y en la que hay cierto equilibrio y convivencia entre diferentes grupos étnicos que no siempre se preocupan por las personas que viven más allá de sus muros, los mutts. Primer volumen de The Rittenhouse Saga.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Narrativa Fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Timothy consigue una audiencia con el rey, que vive en un antiguo autobús, pero el monarca no tiene el tipo de medicina que Timothy está buscando, aunque le indica donde podría encontrarla: Rittenhouse. El rey tiene un contacto dentro y a pesar de que parece imposible infiltrarse en su interior hay más de una forma de entrar en Rittenhouse, un lugar que mantiene algo de la tecnología y saber de tiempos pasados y en la que hay cierto equilibrio y convivencia entre diferentes grupos étnicos que no siempre se preocupan por las personas que viven más allá de sus muros, los mutts. Primer volumen de The Rittenhouse Saga.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
July 10, 2012
So reviewing this book is probably the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. Evan messaged me on tumblr and as if I would review his book, and sent me a coupon to read it for free. Needless to say I was absolutely flattered, and when he told me it was a young adult dystopia I was damn excited, seeing as they’re all the rage right now.
Even though the version that I read was only 150 pages long, I thought the story was fantastic. You get just enough about the history to understand the hierarchy of the new society that’s formed without breaking the traditional dystopia standards. Building off that, the story is very unique. The concept of how the government is divided versus the people who live outside the government control was extremely interesting. Without giving too much away, I have to say that the government breakdown was the most interesting part.
I also loved the characters. They’re so human in these inhuman circumstances, they question and fear and strive to be better against all the odds. You’re also introduced to some people who are obviously striving for power regardless of the consequences, which ends up adding glorious and painful twists to the story. There are a lot of different elements that work together, and for once, guess what? NO TEENAGE ANGSTY ROMANCE. I thought I was going to die and go to heaven when I realized that. Just average human encounters, without all the disgusting appeal to the 14 year old masses.
I’m glad to know he plans it to be part of a series, because I’m sure that his writing could develop more. If anything I just wish it was longer! There’s so much more about the characters that I’m interested in, and I can only hope that in further books we’ll go deeper into the world Fuller created.
A note about the author: Evan is actually self published. His book is through the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords websites, but he funded it completely on his own. I think it takes some serious courage to put so much into publishing your own work, and I sincerely hope someone will pick it up. He’s also a really cool guy in general, so you should spend the money and get the e-book because it’s definitely worth it.
Even though the version that I read was only 150 pages long, I thought the story was fantastic. You get just enough about the history to understand the hierarchy of the new society that’s formed without breaking the traditional dystopia standards. Building off that, the story is very unique. The concept of how the government is divided versus the people who live outside the government control was extremely interesting. Without giving too much away, I have to say that the government breakdown was the most interesting part.
I also loved the characters. They’re so human in these inhuman circumstances, they question and fear and strive to be better against all the odds. You’re also introduced to some people who are obviously striving for power regardless of the consequences, which ends up adding glorious and painful twists to the story. There are a lot of different elements that work together, and for once, guess what? NO TEENAGE ANGSTY ROMANCE. I thought I was going to die and go to heaven when I realized that. Just average human encounters, without all the disgusting appeal to the 14 year old masses.
I’m glad to know he plans it to be part of a series, because I’m sure that his writing could develop more. If anything I just wish it was longer! There’s so much more about the characters that I’m interested in, and I can only hope that in further books we’ll go deeper into the world Fuller created.
A note about the author: Evan is actually self published. His book is through the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords websites, but he funded it completely on his own. I think it takes some serious courage to put so much into publishing your own work, and I sincerely hope someone will pick it up. He’s also a really cool guy in general, so you should spend the money and get the e-book because it’s definitely worth it.
April 29, 2012
This review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
When I jumped into Evan Fuller's Mutt I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I have read independent authors' novels before that have left me confused, angry, and even tired, so I won't lie, I was a bit weary. But Fuller's debut into the world of writing is an exciting and fluently written story that delves into the politics of humanity if the world were to experience catastrophic events (I'd like to even say that the points raised in the novel can be used to compare the different powers that countries in the present global economy hold).
The cover is intriguing and it forces the reader to look for any hints of what is offered within the pages. The magic can be seen in the wisps of smoke coming off Green, the central magical character in the novel, and the rough life of the Wastelands can be noted in the wear and tear of his clothing. The colour of the background might indicate the "wasteful" atmosphere that the characters explore.
The following synopsis is from smashwords:
"Centuries after most of humanity died out, a new civilization is slowly constructed upon the remnants of the old.
Emery, a young man living in the walled city of Rittenhouse, has taken it upon himself to rescue "mutts," as the citizens of Rittenhouse call the impoverished masses outside. When Timothy, a boy afflicted with a fatal illness, seeks Emery's help, the two embark on a deadly errand to secure the medicine Timothy needs. This mission takes them from the safety of Rittenhouse into the wasteland outside it, where ancient superstitions are reborn and humanity struggles to survive amidst the ruins of a fallen American metropolis."
To be honest, I have become a fan of Fuller's writing and only really had two complaints while reading the novel.
Negatives:
1. Editing. Though not to such an extent that it distracted me from the story, the editing could have been a bit more thorough. Some of the errors include: a few missing quotation marks, extra words, oddly phrased sentences, and missing words. The problems with editing weren't so huge that it completely killed the novel because the writing was still beautiful. Don't let this deter you though: a) because I am a stickler for these things in novels, and b) the story is brilliant and thought-provoking.
2. There is one moment where a professor is called out of a classroom and I never get to find out what happened... I would love to see an answer in the sequel!
Positives:
1. Fuller's writing is effortless. When I first began reading Mutt, I found myself lost in the world of Rittenhouse and the Wastelands (which immediately brought my thoughts to T.S. Eliot, but I digress). The writing is fast-paced and this is mainly why I finished so quickly!
2. There is a scene that terrified the hell out of me. Why is this a positive? Because I rarely find novels that legitimately have sections that scare me to the point were I feel uncomfortable. For example, there's a point where Emery, the protagonist, is attacked and his thoughts become erratic. How does Fuller present the mental change of his character? By writing one long run-on sentence, which is an excellent technique when done purposefully with the intention of disturbing the reader and making him/her wonder why the author has written such a sentence.
3. The emotions that the characters experience are well written and I found myself empathizing with them. Let me tell you, some moments in this book will break your heart, while others will make you just as angry as the characters themselves.
4. The characters all varied for me. Lydia was a bit of a nag, but I understand why. The people in and from the Wastelands had a great dialect, which Fuller continuously used. He varied it slightly as the social status of the characters either rose or fell. Emery is of a higher class, so his dialogue was rich and intelligent.
5. The description of things that survived after the extinction of the world as we know it and how the world rebuilt itself is brilliant. It was fascinating to see how things would be in such a world and how our actions now would be viewed later.
Mutt is a great debut novel and I urge you to read it if you enjoy dystopian novels that not only explore magic, but also the political issues behind the changes that the world undergoes when it is trying to fix itself.
When I jumped into Evan Fuller's Mutt I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I have read independent authors' novels before that have left me confused, angry, and even tired, so I won't lie, I was a bit weary. But Fuller's debut into the world of writing is an exciting and fluently written story that delves into the politics of humanity if the world were to experience catastrophic events (I'd like to even say that the points raised in the novel can be used to compare the different powers that countries in the present global economy hold).
The cover is intriguing and it forces the reader to look for any hints of what is offered within the pages. The magic can be seen in the wisps of smoke coming off Green, the central magical character in the novel, and the rough life of the Wastelands can be noted in the wear and tear of his clothing. The colour of the background might indicate the "wasteful" atmosphere that the characters explore.
The following synopsis is from smashwords:
"Centuries after most of humanity died out, a new civilization is slowly constructed upon the remnants of the old.
Emery, a young man living in the walled city of Rittenhouse, has taken it upon himself to rescue "mutts," as the citizens of Rittenhouse call the impoverished masses outside. When Timothy, a boy afflicted with a fatal illness, seeks Emery's help, the two embark on a deadly errand to secure the medicine Timothy needs. This mission takes them from the safety of Rittenhouse into the wasteland outside it, where ancient superstitions are reborn and humanity struggles to survive amidst the ruins of a fallen American metropolis."
To be honest, I have become a fan of Fuller's writing and only really had two complaints while reading the novel.
Negatives:
1. Editing. Though not to such an extent that it distracted me from the story, the editing could have been a bit more thorough. Some of the errors include: a few missing quotation marks, extra words, oddly phrased sentences, and missing words. The problems with editing weren't so huge that it completely killed the novel because the writing was still beautiful. Don't let this deter you though: a) because I am a stickler for these things in novels, and b) the story is brilliant and thought-provoking.
2. There is one moment where a professor is called out of a classroom and I never get to find out what happened... I would love to see an answer in the sequel!
Positives:
1. Fuller's writing is effortless. When I first began reading Mutt, I found myself lost in the world of Rittenhouse and the Wastelands (which immediately brought my thoughts to T.S. Eliot, but I digress). The writing is fast-paced and this is mainly why I finished so quickly!
2. There is a scene that terrified the hell out of me. Why is this a positive? Because I rarely find novels that legitimately have sections that scare me to the point were I feel uncomfortable. For example, there's a point where Emery, the protagonist, is attacked and his thoughts become erratic. How does Fuller present the mental change of his character? By writing one long run-on sentence, which is an excellent technique when done purposefully with the intention of disturbing the reader and making him/her wonder why the author has written such a sentence.
3. The emotions that the characters experience are well written and I found myself empathizing with them. Let me tell you, some moments in this book will break your heart, while others will make you just as angry as the characters themselves.
4. The characters all varied for me. Lydia was a bit of a nag, but I understand why. The people in and from the Wastelands had a great dialect, which Fuller continuously used. He varied it slightly as the social status of the characters either rose or fell. Emery is of a higher class, so his dialogue was rich and intelligent.
5. The description of things that survived after the extinction of the world as we know it and how the world rebuilt itself is brilliant. It was fascinating to see how things would be in such a world and how our actions now would be viewed later.
Mutt is a great debut novel and I urge you to read it if you enjoy dystopian novels that not only explore magic, but also the political issues behind the changes that the world undergoes when it is trying to fix itself.
November 30, 2012
Rating: 9/10
Summary: Rittenhouse is a city of rich folk who keep the impoverished masses outside the city gates. Emery, a young man living within the city, has taken it upon himself to secretly help “Mutts”, those found outside in the ruins of the American metropolitan areas. Timothy, a young mutt, finds his way to Emery in dire need of medication. Emery puts everything on the line to help Timothy, even his own life.
My thoughts: I truly enjoyed this book; the storyline was very different from most other books I read out there. It was refreshing to find something new and exciting that touched on really hard themes in an almost poetic fashion.
One of the strongest points of the book is the descriptions. You really get a sense of the area, the destruction, and the characters without taking away from the plot line. I strongly enjoyed the protagonist being skinny and not a blond haired, blue eyed god. A Story that can make an average Joe a spectacular character in my eyes deserves to be read by everyone.
The government was probably one of the most fascinating parts of the story. I am a huge sucker for apocalyptic situations and I love to imagine how much our world will change and what time of system could work. It this debut novel, you get a very good sense of what the author wants you to believe and how the system works, which was very believable.
The ending, which I will not reveal, had a really nice twist, which complimented the storyline and the messages throughout, that also built some really strong character changes for future novels.
Summary: Rittenhouse is a city of rich folk who keep the impoverished masses outside the city gates. Emery, a young man living within the city, has taken it upon himself to secretly help “Mutts”, those found outside in the ruins of the American metropolitan areas. Timothy, a young mutt, finds his way to Emery in dire need of medication. Emery puts everything on the line to help Timothy, even his own life.
My thoughts: I truly enjoyed this book; the storyline was very different from most other books I read out there. It was refreshing to find something new and exciting that touched on really hard themes in an almost poetic fashion.
One of the strongest points of the book is the descriptions. You really get a sense of the area, the destruction, and the characters without taking away from the plot line. I strongly enjoyed the protagonist being skinny and not a blond haired, blue eyed god. A Story that can make an average Joe a spectacular character in my eyes deserves to be read by everyone.
The government was probably one of the most fascinating parts of the story. I am a huge sucker for apocalyptic situations and I love to imagine how much our world will change and what time of system could work. It this debut novel, you get a very good sense of what the author wants you to believe and how the system works, which was very believable.
The ending, which I will not reveal, had a really nice twist, which complimented the storyline and the messages throughout, that also built some really strong character changes for future novels.
June 15, 2012
I’m not quite sure how I am typing this review right now. My eyes are SOO sore from looking at a computer screen for 2 hours, because I’m reading this book on my computer. It was so worth it though. I couldn’t stop reading this book!
Once I started to read, my first thought was not a good one. I knew this type of book, or at least I thought I did, and these types are all well and good, but they weren’t MY type. I’m not a fan of books that exist in their own world, because that’s sort of hard for me to follow. One of the negatives about this book for me is that you do have to pay attention to the history of the place and the people, which got way too complicated for me. I was just like “um….will this be important later on? Do I have to memorize this?” If it weren’t for that one thing, this book would have gotten a 10/10.
Now on to the positives, which is like, everything else. This plot was so original! I haven’t read or seen anything like it before. That’s so refreshing to find something so original in young adult fiction writing. I feel like most of the stuff I read is just not giving me anything to work with! It doesn’t keep my interest. Well THIS did. I was so enticed in the plot and the mission Emery faces.
Can I just say that I love Emery as a character? He’s such a good person, even though he has a dark past. Some characters in book totally mess themselves up with a dark past, but Emery decides to do something really great for the people less fortunate outside Rittenhouse. He is not whiny or complaining about anything.
Despite the fact that I have a hard time following books “in their own world,” I could follow this one pretty easily. There were some things that I didn’t understand about what people looked like or what the setting looked like, but it’s explained really well. Beautiful writing in this book, I mean, seriously.
Even if this “isn’t your type” of book, you have to try it. I loved it so much! You will love the setting, plot, characters, and writing. And those are, for me, the four great-book keys. And this book has it all. So go read it!
For more detailed book reviews go to goodbadanduglybooks.tumblr.com and click the follow button. You know you want to!
Once I started to read, my first thought was not a good one. I knew this type of book, or at least I thought I did, and these types are all well and good, but they weren’t MY type. I’m not a fan of books that exist in their own world, because that’s sort of hard for me to follow. One of the negatives about this book for me is that you do have to pay attention to the history of the place and the people, which got way too complicated for me. I was just like “um….will this be important later on? Do I have to memorize this?” If it weren’t for that one thing, this book would have gotten a 10/10.
Now on to the positives, which is like, everything else. This plot was so original! I haven’t read or seen anything like it before. That’s so refreshing to find something so original in young adult fiction writing. I feel like most of the stuff I read is just not giving me anything to work with! It doesn’t keep my interest. Well THIS did. I was so enticed in the plot and the mission Emery faces.
Can I just say that I love Emery as a character? He’s such a good person, even though he has a dark past. Some characters in book totally mess themselves up with a dark past, but Emery decides to do something really great for the people less fortunate outside Rittenhouse. He is not whiny or complaining about anything.
Despite the fact that I have a hard time following books “in their own world,” I could follow this one pretty easily. There were some things that I didn’t understand about what people looked like or what the setting looked like, but it’s explained really well. Beautiful writing in this book, I mean, seriously.
Even if this “isn’t your type” of book, you have to try it. I loved it so much! You will love the setting, plot, characters, and writing. And those are, for me, the four great-book keys. And this book has it all. So go read it!
For more detailed book reviews go to goodbadanduglybooks.tumblr.com and click the follow button. You know you want to!
July 30, 2012
The plot for Mutt was well thought out and the characters were original and creative with a hint of good humour. Even though I didn't like some things in this book, I still really enjoyed it. This book made me laugh at the awkward jokes and pulled at my heartstrings at the end. The ending was beautifully written.
The different kinds of purebloods in Rittenhouse were interesting and I liked that Evan Fuller put it in. What I wished he had done was added more description about the different types. I am still curious about the people who are Vorteil . The relationship between Emery and Lydia was a weird one. It wasn't weird because they had a few obstacles but it was weird because to me, the relationship felt odd and unnatural. It felt like Evan Fuller put it in just for the sake of having it there. Sometimes a story needs romance, but other times, stories don't. I think that this story would have been just as good without it.
What I loved about the book was the writing style, the way that most of the words flowed together and how Evan Fuller easily put words that were difficult into the text instead of just using 'easy' words. My favourite character throughout the book was Timothy because to me, he showed the most courage. Timothy was so ready to do things that he didn't want to do and things that he was willing to do. Even though Timothy was my favourite, I still loved the other characters as well. Evan Fuller really got his message across with this tale about how kindness will always help you when you truly need someone or something. Evan Fuller gave a lot of examples of kindness shared between the characters and how it benefitted them somehow in the end.
Mutt by Evan Fuller is a great read for anyone who enjoys dystopian stories with adventure, danger, and being forced to trust people who you despise. I can only wonder when his next book will be coming out.
The different kinds of purebloods in Rittenhouse were interesting and I liked that Evan Fuller put it in. What I wished he had done was added more description about the different types. I am still curious about the people who are Vorteil . The relationship between Emery and Lydia was a weird one. It wasn't weird because they had a few obstacles but it was weird because to me, the relationship felt odd and unnatural. It felt like Evan Fuller put it in just for the sake of having it there. Sometimes a story needs romance, but other times, stories don't. I think that this story would have been just as good without it.
What I loved about the book was the writing style, the way that most of the words flowed together and how Evan Fuller easily put words that were difficult into the text instead of just using 'easy' words. My favourite character throughout the book was Timothy because to me, he showed the most courage. Timothy was so ready to do things that he didn't want to do and things that he was willing to do. Even though Timothy was my favourite, I still loved the other characters as well. Evan Fuller really got his message across with this tale about how kindness will always help you when you truly need someone or something. Evan Fuller gave a lot of examples of kindness shared between the characters and how it benefitted them somehow in the end.
Mutt by Evan Fuller is a great read for anyone who enjoys dystopian stories with adventure, danger, and being forced to trust people who you despise. I can only wonder when his next book will be coming out.
June 11, 2012
This book was an interesting romp into a new dystopian world. I read it for my joint book blog over on Tumblr.
Anyway, this is my personal review of this interesting novel. While it's a bit different than the main-stream dystopian novels prominent currently, this self-published book is certainly worth a read. At times I did struggle to connect to the characters, just because I found them rather boring at times. At other times, I couldn't put the book down for even a second and might have been slightly late for work on one occasion.
Anyway, this is my personal review of this interesting novel. While it's a bit different than the main-stream dystopian novels prominent currently, this self-published book is certainly worth a read. At times I did struggle to connect to the characters, just because I found them rather boring at times. At other times, I couldn't put the book down for even a second and might have been slightly late for work on one occasion.
May 19, 2013
I've known Evan for a long time. He's always had a way with words, and I've collaborated with him in many artistic ways. But what he's done with Mutt is truly remarkable. This book is engaging from the start, its character development and plot are unparallelled, and it's safe to say I'm not the only one seething from the mouth waiting for the sequel. It's THAT good. Do yourself a favor and read this book. You won't regret it.
November 5, 2012
Mutt (The Rittenhouse Saga) by Evan Fuller is positively brilliant. What a great story! I was ready to read this tale when I saw that the hero had the same name as one of my favorite bands--Emery!! Crazy, I know, but between that and reading other reviews that compared this to Neil Gaimon's "Neverwhere", well, I just HAD to give it a try. And I'm awfully glad I did. Now, dude, where's Book 2???
August 24, 2012
This book was really good and I have no General complaints really. I was only out of the loop for like the first 4 pages but to be honest that goes for any book. XD I really didn't expect the ending,my heart dropped when I read it lol But! Don't let that fool you from not reading this,it is a great book and I cannot wait for the second book!
July 13, 2012
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I really loved both the character and story development. I really look forward to reading the rest of the series.
See my full review here.
See my full review here.
November 3, 2012
This book was free on kindle..I really liked it and can't wait to read the sequel if there is one...I will miss a character though. thanks for the book.
July 21, 2015
This does have a lot going for it. The writing is good but the editing is bad- it had so many grammatical mistakes and missing words, it was clearly self published, as well as the pleas that if you liked the book to go to the kickstarter to fund the 2nd. That said, it does finish in a satisfying way if you don't care to continue.
In this world, it's the future, after what they cal "The Extinction". However, humans clearly aren't extinct. Some people, purebloods, live inside the cities, where food is plentiful and some sort of capitalism has re-established itself. I was not clear what the four types of purebloods were - Farsi and something that started with a V. It was also a little fuzzy as to who the people were. It seemed that Americans did not survive the extinction, and the new people who came over from the rest of the world re-established society. However, the "mutts" who live on the outside live in your typical squalor with no hope, no food, no medicine, etc.
The main part of the story is a kind-hearted man named Emery who came to Rittenhouse (one of the richie cities) from another one to handle the estate of his cousin. However, he had a misadventure and ended up in the clutches of a warlord known as the King. As a result (and because his heart is in the right place) they came to some sort of deal where Emery's life was saved and in return, he would help some of the King's worthy subjects. Basically, he tries to help sick or orphaned mutts from the outside. This is very dangerous, as anyone caught going outside of smuggling people inside are exiled to the outside, where all the hunger and horror is. However, it's no walk in the park, despite Emery's resources. Along comes Timothy, one of the King's subjects, suffering from a terrible disease that people on the inside are pretty much immune from. When Emery tries to get the medicine, he's sort of sent on a Wizard of Oz like journey where he is required to do a task to get what he needs. It goes about as well as you might expect.
I didn't hate this but didn't love it. I liked the characters, I thought the writing and plotting was good - when people were injured, I felt like there was real danger - and they didn't just get shot and not feel pain or have trouble.. The people on the outside could have been mindless brutes, some where, but they had the ability to express gratitude when they were treated like humans rather than animals. There were some magical saves which where interesting - you don't often get magic in a dystopian, but that was almost part of the problem. I felt like this was all over the place - it starts with Emery, then Timothy comes and i thought it would be about him, but then it went back to Emery again. There were relationships that weren't resolved. There was something about the house that was hinted at but not revealed. It's like the magic wasn't fully developed, and I felt like it was just there to make things easier. It sort of made things too easy at time, as far as traveling or healing went. There was a cost for magic but it had no impact on the plot as far as what magic was - there was nothing about the magic inside the pureblood cities. It wasn't part of the conflict or anything. You would think in a dystopian horror the wonderful magic that people could use would be worth something in this world.
Basically, I just feel like I checked off a book off my TBR, but I wouldn't continue the series.
In this world, it's the future, after what they cal "The Extinction". However, humans clearly aren't extinct. Some people, purebloods, live inside the cities, where food is plentiful and some sort of capitalism has re-established itself. I was not clear what the four types of purebloods were - Farsi and something that started with a V. It was also a little fuzzy as to who the people were. It seemed that Americans did not survive the extinction, and the new people who came over from the rest of the world re-established society. However, the "mutts" who live on the outside live in your typical squalor with no hope, no food, no medicine, etc.
The main part of the story is a kind-hearted man named Emery who came to Rittenhouse (one of the richie cities) from another one to handle the estate of his cousin. However, he had a misadventure and ended up in the clutches of a warlord known as the King. As a result (and because his heart is in the right place) they came to some sort of deal where Emery's life was saved and in return, he would help some of the King's worthy subjects. Basically, he tries to help sick or orphaned mutts from the outside. This is very dangerous, as anyone caught going outside of smuggling people inside are exiled to the outside, where all the hunger and horror is. However, it's no walk in the park, despite Emery's resources. Along comes Timothy, one of the King's subjects, suffering from a terrible disease that people on the inside are pretty much immune from. When Emery tries to get the medicine, he's sort of sent on a Wizard of Oz like journey where he is required to do a task to get what he needs. It goes about as well as you might expect.
I didn't hate this but didn't love it. I liked the characters, I thought the writing and plotting was good - when people were injured, I felt like there was real danger - and they didn't just get shot and not feel pain or have trouble.. The people on the outside could have been mindless brutes, some where, but they had the ability to express gratitude when they were treated like humans rather than animals. There were some magical saves which where interesting - you don't often get magic in a dystopian, but that was almost part of the problem. I felt like this was all over the place - it starts with Emery, then Timothy comes and i thought it would be about him, but then it went back to Emery again. There were relationships that weren't resolved. There was something about the house that was hinted at but not revealed. It's like the magic wasn't fully developed, and I felt like it was just there to make things easier. It sort of made things too easy at time, as far as traveling or healing went. There was a cost for magic but it had no impact on the plot as far as what magic was - there was nothing about the magic inside the pureblood cities. It wasn't part of the conflict or anything. You would think in a dystopian horror the wonderful magic that people could use would be worth something in this world.
Basically, I just feel like I checked off a book off my TBR, but I wouldn't continue the series.
January 25, 2013
Rating: 3
The Low Down: This is the future, where there is no longer a world as it once was. The United States has been broken down into walled areas with a lot of space in between. There are only four races recognized, four pureblood races that can live inside these cities, eat well, get an education, prosper. Everyone else lives outside the walls. These outside areas are full of mixed-race people living in deplorable conditions. Mutts. Scraping by without much to eat, a decent place to live or medicine. Someone does rule the wilderness, imposing taxes, ruling by mob enforcement and controlling the drug trade, but taking care of the "subjects" is way down at the bottom of the list.
Timothy is in great need of medical attention that he can't get on the outside. He makes a hazardous journey to the city of Rittenhouse, looking for the man who can help him. Emery is the man, a pureblood who has made his house and property a safe haven for those outsiders who need help that they cannot get otherwise. Together, they must leave the safe confines of Emery's home, elude the local guards, sneak out of the city and find the de facto leader of the Mutts so Timothy can survive. While Timothy wonders why a pureblood would help a mutt, Emery wonders why he can't help more of them.
Best Thang ‘Bout It: The story starts to lay itself out nicely in the beginning, presenting the questions and mysteries that are to come. The descriptions of the people, the landscape, the action are all vivid and evocative. The story picked up again for me at the end.
I’m Cranky Because: The dialogue, at times, was not on par with the storytelling. It could be trite or limp at times. The action was a little slow-moving. I felt like there was a lot of information that I didn't have as well; things would be mentioned, almost in passing, and I wasn't sure at the time if it was important. For example, there was no talk of magic, then it is mentioned. In another instance, a guard disappears in a cloud of dust. I was left to wonder: real dust? Or did he disappear or turn into something else? It seemed more like an afterthought. I actually got more information from the synopsis on Amazon regarding the back story.
I would have liked to know more about the state of the country, why there are purebloods, how the mutts were removed from society. I just don’t know what weight to give to these things.
To Read or Not To Read: This was a hard one for me. I really went back and forth over my rating; I personally didn't think it was a solid read; it wavered back and forth between good and meh. Others thought differently, and you can click the links below to see their reviews. I will leave it at that.
Mutt by Evan Fuller was published December 1, 2011 by Lords of Autumn. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review.
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian
Ages: 14 and up
You Might Want to Know:Mild profanity
The Low Down: This is the future, where there is no longer a world as it once was. The United States has been broken down into walled areas with a lot of space in between. There are only four races recognized, four pureblood races that can live inside these cities, eat well, get an education, prosper. Everyone else lives outside the walls. These outside areas are full of mixed-race people living in deplorable conditions. Mutts. Scraping by without much to eat, a decent place to live or medicine. Someone does rule the wilderness, imposing taxes, ruling by mob enforcement and controlling the drug trade, but taking care of the "subjects" is way down at the bottom of the list.
Timothy is in great need of medical attention that he can't get on the outside. He makes a hazardous journey to the city of Rittenhouse, looking for the man who can help him. Emery is the man, a pureblood who has made his house and property a safe haven for those outsiders who need help that they cannot get otherwise. Together, they must leave the safe confines of Emery's home, elude the local guards, sneak out of the city and find the de facto leader of the Mutts so Timothy can survive. While Timothy wonders why a pureblood would help a mutt, Emery wonders why he can't help more of them.
Best Thang ‘Bout It: The story starts to lay itself out nicely in the beginning, presenting the questions and mysteries that are to come. The descriptions of the people, the landscape, the action are all vivid and evocative. The story picked up again for me at the end.
I’m Cranky Because: The dialogue, at times, was not on par with the storytelling. It could be trite or limp at times. The action was a little slow-moving. I felt like there was a lot of information that I didn't have as well; things would be mentioned, almost in passing, and I wasn't sure at the time if it was important. For example, there was no talk of magic, then it is mentioned. In another instance, a guard disappears in a cloud of dust. I was left to wonder: real dust? Or did he disappear or turn into something else? It seemed more like an afterthought. I actually got more information from the synopsis on Amazon regarding the back story.
I would have liked to know more about the state of the country, why there are purebloods, how the mutts were removed from society. I just don’t know what weight to give to these things.
To Read or Not To Read: This was a hard one for me. I really went back and forth over my rating; I personally didn't think it was a solid read; it wavered back and forth between good and meh. Others thought differently, and you can click the links below to see their reviews. I will leave it at that.
Mutt by Evan Fuller was published December 1, 2011 by Lords of Autumn. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review.
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian
Ages: 14 and up
You Might Want to Know:Mild profanity
January 4, 2013
I'm an avid reader of different genres. From Harry Potter to Fingerprints of the Gods. I'm always willing to try new authors/books when I can get them for free. I've found that more often than not, the books pretty much suck. This one was a surprise.
I can't wait for the next in the series and I will be more than happy to buy it! The Author brings the characters to life in an engrossing storyline. Love it!
I can't wait for the next in the series and I will be more than happy to buy it! The Author brings the characters to life in an engrossing storyline. Love it!
July 4, 2013
Overall, it was a good read. This is a first book and sort of feels like it. I like the world vision. The character development is a little slow (finished the first book and don't have a good sense of the main character). I recommend it, but won't read it again.
February 2, 2013
I had trouble staying interested in this book. The story was not a horrible one, but could have been better. The story seemed to jump too fast and I just didn't really get into the characters. I would have to think twice before reading part 2... if published.
December 7, 2012
Looking forward to the sequel!
February 21, 2013
It started out a little slow but once the story took off I tore through it in a couple of hours. An incredible start to the series.
October 16, 2013
Good book! I wish there was a lot more exploration of the outside world, there still is so much to be explored, but I'm certain that there will be more in future books.
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