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The Remnants #1
Season of Wonder
In the first book of bestselling author Lisa T. Bergren's new YA futuristic dystopian series, a group called the Remnant begins their mission to course-correct humanity, one person at a time. But as soon as they begin to move, so do their enemies, placing the entire world in peril.
Paperback
First published April 8, 2014
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About the author
Lisa Tawn Bergren
102 books3,801 followersAbout
Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books, with more than 4.5 million copies sold. She recently released The Sugar Baron's Daughters Series (KETURAH, VERITY and SELAH), and recently finished a teen series called Remnants (SEASON OF WONDER, SEASON OF FIRE, and SEASON OF GLORY). She's also written the River of Time Series (WATERFALL, CASCADE, TORRENT, BOURNE & TRIBUTARY, DELUGE) and The Grand Tour Series (GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, GLITTERING PROMISES), time-slip romance duology called River of Time: California (THREE WISHES and FOUR WINDS), and some contemporary romances (ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER and ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER are the newest releases).
Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, consulting and helping Tim with his business. Her husband Tim is a sculptor of ducks-out-of-fenceposts (RMRustic.com), graphic designer and musician. They have three big kids–Olivia (who just got married), Emma (who is about to get married) and Jack (who is a junior in high school).
The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books, with more than 4.5 million copies sold. She recently released The Sugar Baron's Daughters Series (KETURAH, VERITY and SELAH), and recently finished a teen series called Remnants (SEASON OF WONDER, SEASON OF FIRE, and SEASON OF GLORY). She's also written the River of Time Series (WATERFALL, CASCADE, TORRENT, BOURNE & TRIBUTARY, DELUGE) and The Grand Tour Series (GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, GLITTERING PROMISES), time-slip romance duology called River of Time: California (THREE WISHES and FOUR WINDS), and some contemporary romances (ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER and ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER are the newest releases).
Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, consulting and helping Tim with his business. Her husband Tim is a sculptor of ducks-out-of-fenceposts (RMRustic.com), graphic designer and musician. They have three big kids–Olivia (who just got married), Emma (who is about to get married) and Jack (who is a junior in high school).
The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
January 20, 2014
Forbidden love. Poetic imagery. Addictive writing. Bergren does it again! Prepare to enter a world so different from our own, yet one you never want to leave. Romance fans and adrenaline-junkies alike will root hard for strong Andriana and her knight Ronan as they fight to save the world...and their intense attraction. I swooned, I laughed, and I worried. Addictive to the very end...I need book two now!!!
*I also sent the following in an email to Lisa...*
"Dude, that build up to the kiss? Ronan is totally my new book boyfriend. Holy smokes!"
he he he
*I also sent the following in an email to Lisa...*
"Dude, that build up to the kiss? Ronan is totally my new book boyfriend. Holy smokes!"
he he he
February 8, 2017
{{This review was updated to the Official Rating System on March 19th,2016. This book was first reviewed on September 17th, 2014.}}
About this book:
“THEIR ARRIVAL WAS FORETOLD FOR YEARS….
Andriana is a Remnant, gifted as an empath and one of the Ailith, destined to act as humanity’s last shield against the horrors that now plague those who remain.
After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to answer the Call and begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected Valley is more dangerous than they imagined.
The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing anyone sympathetic to the Remnants’ cause. And as the Remnants battle the demonic forces, still other enemies close in. Dangers intensity, but so do Dri’s feelings for Ronan–the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must find a way to master her feelings. Or risk compromising everything…”
Series: Book #1 in “The Remnants” series. Review of #2 Here! {More about this series: “In the first book of the new futuristic dystopian series from author Lisa T. Bergren, the chosen remnants must work to redirect humanity’s course.”}
Spiritual Content- Very much the Light vs the Dark storyline; All about the Call & high gifts; Many, many, many Prayers, Talking to & Focusing on the Maker; Many, many, many talks about the Maker, his presence & power, along with listening, trusting & relaying on him and choosing good; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to the Maker (easy to assume that the Maker is supposed to be God); A couple Scriptures are remembered & mentioned; Many Mentions of prayers & meditation; Mentions of praising & thanking the Maker; Mentions of the Sacred Words (assumed to be the Bible); Mentions of visions of angels (& demons & dark angels); Mentions of followers of the Way; Mentions of being blessed & blessings; A couple mentions of miracles;
*Note: ‘saints’ is said like a cuss; We can assume that Sheol is supposed to be Satan (though it’s never straight-out said); A man does a “h*llish call” (Dri later says “It was the sound of the dead and d*mned”); Being summoned to evil spiritual places & feeling the darkness (semi-detailed); Keallach like to preach enlightenment; Drifters loathe the talk of the Maker or any god and will kill anyone who mentions them; A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of hell’s gates; A couple mentions of warlocks & witches; A few mentions of fortune tellers who summons the spirits of dead people; Mentions of magic & sorcery (along with sorcerers); Mentions of Greek mythology; Mentions of religions; Mentions of a monastery and monks (who believe no god but have a goal to entice the earth back “to her normal rhythms”); Mentions of the afterlife, the next life & the afterworld (we can assume the author means Heaven, but it’s not ever said).
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘sheesh’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘suck’, a ‘what the—‘, a ‘wicked-good’, two ‘what in the heck?’s, three forms of ‘idiot’, three ‘shut up’s (one has a please before it); An oath is swallowed; Two curses are said but not written; Lots & Lots of Fighting, Killing, Hitting, Battle, almost being killed, Blood, Arrows, Swords, Daggers & where they are aimed/put (all ranging from semi-detailed to detailed); Lots of Pain & Feeling pain (semi-detailed); Fear & Terror (semi-detailed); Enemies & Trackers (and to kill one you have to cut out their heart or decapitate them); Many Mentions of pain, blood & injuries (semi-detailed); Many Mentions of torture, deaths, murders, killing & bodies (semi-detailed); Many Mentions of illnesses, the Cancer & pain (semi-detailed); Mentions of bullets & shooting (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thirst for blood; Mentions of hate, jealousy, arresting & prisons; Mentions of crimes, hanging & the gallows; Mentions of heads being cut off; Mentions of hittings & beatings; Mentions of kidnappings & taking children (semi-detailed); Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of wars; Mentions of pubs, taverns, drunks, drinking, wine & whiskey; Mentions of hunting (animals and humans); Mentions of butchering deers for food (blood, semi-detailed); Mentions of dead horses (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of lying & fibs; A few mentions of abuse & beating women; A couple mentions of human waste, sewage, foul smells & private business; A couple mentions of skeletons; A couple mentions of gambling & betting; A couple mentions of smoke; A couple mentions of vomit; A couple mentions of eating horse meat; A mention of a drowned foal; A mention of a girl who was burned alive; A mention of a man who was cut apart; A mention of urinating.
Sexual Content- Remembering an almost kiss (semi-detailed); an almost kiss, a head kiss, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, one semi-detailed kiss and a detailed kiss; Wanting to be kissed & Touched (up to semi-detailed); Many Touches, Embraces & Shivers (semi-detailed); Staring at bare skin & lips (semi-detailed); Hair is let down & Hand holding (semi-detailed); Lots of Noticing, Nearness, Warmth & Smelling (semi-detailed); Many Men stare, leer, rake & lustfully admirer women (including Dri; comments (up to semi-detailed)); a ‘wench’; Dri & Ronan have feelings for each other; Dri wishes Ronan would love-love her because he holds her heart; Ailiths aren’t supposed to marry, mate & bear children; The men of Zanzibar (a place/city) treat their women as property to be obtained, kept & traded and added that “since brown eyes were the norm any other color were apparently prized.”; Women are referred to as women-flesh by men at Zanzibar; Zanzibar women belong to their men and show it by walking behind him with her hip on his hip; Men at Zanzibar & another city ask if the woman are for sale/trade (along with mentions of not caring about the age, paying for them & asking if she’s a certain man’s “womanflesh”); Men try to take Dri & want to sell her to Zanzibar as womanflesh (They call her dolly. A mention of an auction, slaves & being a man’s property.); A 50 year old woman says that Zanzibar “is no place for women, whether or not she’s reached her second decade. Even I barely get in and out unmolested.”; In Zanzibar, women are valuable & men act like rabid dogs (hungry) towards them, not caring about their ages; Zanzibar has a one child per family policy where the males are most wanted, therefore the females are usually drowned or left to die; Women of Pacifica have a high infertility rate & many chose not to bear children fearing what it will do to their bodies; A man has five wives only to protect them and their children; A man slaps his women’s backside; A lustful man touches Dri’s waist and back, tries to pull her closer, his lips hover near her face, & his fingers linger on her legs (she gets away before anything else happens); When a man tries to touch Dri’s hair (near her breast) tells him he cannot touch her; The story of Zesus & how he seduced a women (as a swan) and it resulting in two eggs; A mention of refusing a man’s advances; A mention of a place gentlemen wouldn’t go; A mention of a harem; A couple mentions of taking women; A couple mentions of putting a woman in her place; A couple mentions of birthing pains & the womb; A couple mentions of parents being discouraged from procreating; Mentions of women kissing & sitting in laps of men (while wearing revealing clothes); Mentions of kissing; Mentions of flirts & flirting; Mentions of blushes; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of girls far younger than age 20 marrying; Mentions of good-looking men & pretty girls; Mention of compliments & people believing to only exchange compliments in the most intimate of situations (“Catering to our most base desires…”); Mentions of terrible comments of a woman attending to a man’s needs; Mentions of women being used; Mentions of men who trade women; Many Mentions of lust & men wanting women; Attraction, love, falling/being in love and lots of the emotions;
*Note: A mention of a dress with its neck wide, but covering Dri’s breasts; A mention of a dress Dri wears that taut over her breasts and hips; A mention of a butt hurting from riding a horse; A couple mentions of bra & underwear; A couple mentions of half-dressed women; A few mentions of women in Castle Vega showing their bellies & cleavage while kissing men; A few mentions of nakedness; Mentions of stripping down to underthings to bathe; Dri accidentally flashes her bare belly & Ronan quickly looks away (when he accidentally shows his bare chest/neck, she stares); A man takes off his shirt in front of Dri and he has her put a new shirt on him.
-Andriana “Dri”, age 17
First person P.O.V. of Dri
Dystopia
416 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
This is such a Lisa T. Bergren novel! I don’t think I’ve read any dystopia books with swords and arrows. {“River of Time” series, anyone? Review of Book #1 in that series, HERE!} I, of course, had to dock stars because of the Negative & Sexual content. I was expecting a really big cliff-hanger at the end and was shocked when there really wasn’t one.
Here’s a neat feature in the back of the book!
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE:
Ailith: A-lith ("noble war"; "ascending, rising")
Andriana: An-dree-ana, or Dree, for "Dri" ("warrior")
Asher: Ash-er ("happy one")
Azarel: Ah-zah-rell ("helper")
Bellona: Bell-oh-na ("warlike")
Chaza'el: Chazah-ell ("one who sees")
Kapriel: Kah-pree-ell (variant of "warrior")
Keallach: Key-lock ("battle")
Killian: Kill-ee-un ("little warrior"--though he's not so little in my novel!)
Raniero: Rah-near-oh ("wise warrior")
Ronan: Row-nun ("little seal"; I know. Not as cool, right? But he was named Duncan at first draft and I had to change it due to publisher request, and "Ronan" sounded like a medieval, cool warrior name to me. I overlooked the real translation in favor of the man he became in my story. And that guy, to my mind, is more like a warrior, with the spray of the sea upon his face as he takes on the storm--which is like a seal!)
Tressa: Tre-sah ("late summer")
Vidar: Vee-dar ("forest warrior")
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“THEIR ARRIVAL WAS FORETOLD FOR YEARS….
Andriana is a Remnant, gifted as an empath and one of the Ailith, destined to act as humanity’s last shield against the horrors that now plague those who remain.
After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to answer the Call and begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected Valley is more dangerous than they imagined.
The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing anyone sympathetic to the Remnants’ cause. And as the Remnants battle the demonic forces, still other enemies close in. Dangers intensity, but so do Dri’s feelings for Ronan–the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must find a way to master her feelings. Or risk compromising everything…”
Series: Book #1 in “The Remnants” series. Review of #2 Here! {More about this series: “In the first book of the new futuristic dystopian series from author Lisa T. Bergren, the chosen remnants must work to redirect humanity’s course.”}
Spiritual Content- Very much the Light vs the Dark storyline; All about the Call & high gifts; Many, many, many Prayers, Talking to & Focusing on the Maker; Many, many, many talks about the Maker, his presence & power, along with listening, trusting & relaying on him and choosing good; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to the Maker (easy to assume that the Maker is supposed to be God); A couple Scriptures are remembered & mentioned; Many Mentions of prayers & meditation; Mentions of praising & thanking the Maker; Mentions of the Sacred Words (assumed to be the Bible); Mentions of visions of angels (& demons & dark angels); Mentions of followers of the Way; Mentions of being blessed & blessings; A couple mentions of miracles;
*Note: ‘saints’ is said like a cuss; We can assume that Sheol is supposed to be Satan (though it’s never straight-out said); A man does a “h*llish call” (Dri later says “It was the sound of the dead and d*mned”); Being summoned to evil spiritual places & feeling the darkness (semi-detailed); Keallach like to preach enlightenment; Drifters loathe the talk of the Maker or any god and will kill anyone who mentions them; A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of hell’s gates; A couple mentions of warlocks & witches; A few mentions of fortune tellers who summons the spirits of dead people; Mentions of magic & sorcery (along with sorcerers); Mentions of Greek mythology; Mentions of religions; Mentions of a monastery and monks (who believe no god but have a goal to entice the earth back “to her normal rhythms”); Mentions of the afterlife, the next life & the afterworld (we can assume the author means Heaven, but it’s not ever said).
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘sheesh’, a ‘stupid’, a ‘suck’, a ‘what the—‘, a ‘wicked-good’, two ‘what in the heck?’s, three forms of ‘idiot’, three ‘shut up’s (one has a please before it); An oath is swallowed; Two curses are said but not written; Lots & Lots of Fighting, Killing, Hitting, Battle, almost being killed, Blood, Arrows, Swords, Daggers & where they are aimed/put (all ranging from semi-detailed to detailed); Lots of Pain & Feeling pain (semi-detailed); Fear & Terror (semi-detailed); Enemies & Trackers (and to kill one you have to cut out their heart or decapitate them); Many Mentions of pain, blood & injuries (semi-detailed); Many Mentions of torture, deaths, murders, killing & bodies (semi-detailed); Many Mentions of illnesses, the Cancer & pain (semi-detailed); Mentions of bullets & shooting (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thirst for blood; Mentions of hate, jealousy, arresting & prisons; Mentions of crimes, hanging & the gallows; Mentions of heads being cut off; Mentions of hittings & beatings; Mentions of kidnappings & taking children (semi-detailed); Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of wars; Mentions of pubs, taverns, drunks, drinking, wine & whiskey; Mentions of hunting (animals and humans); Mentions of butchering deers for food (blood, semi-detailed); Mentions of dead horses (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of lying & fibs; A few mentions of abuse & beating women; A couple mentions of human waste, sewage, foul smells & private business; A couple mentions of skeletons; A couple mentions of gambling & betting; A couple mentions of smoke; A couple mentions of vomit; A couple mentions of eating horse meat; A mention of a drowned foal; A mention of a girl who was burned alive; A mention of a man who was cut apart; A mention of urinating.
Sexual Content- Remembering an almost kiss (semi-detailed); an almost kiss, a head kiss, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, one semi-detailed kiss and a detailed kiss; Wanting to be kissed & Touched (up to semi-detailed); Many Touches, Embraces & Shivers (semi-detailed); Staring at bare skin & lips (semi-detailed); Hair is let down & Hand holding (semi-detailed); Lots of Noticing, Nearness, Warmth & Smelling (semi-detailed); Many Men stare, leer, rake & lustfully admirer women (including Dri; comments (up to semi-detailed)); a ‘wench’; Dri & Ronan have feelings for each other; Dri wishes Ronan would love-love her because he holds her heart; Ailiths aren’t supposed to marry, mate & bear children; The men of Zanzibar (a place/city) treat their women as property to be obtained, kept & traded and added that “since brown eyes were the norm any other color were apparently prized.”; Women are referred to as women-flesh by men at Zanzibar; Zanzibar women belong to their men and show it by walking behind him with her hip on his hip; Men at Zanzibar & another city ask if the woman are for sale/trade (along with mentions of not caring about the age, paying for them & asking if she’s a certain man’s “womanflesh”); Men try to take Dri & want to sell her to Zanzibar as womanflesh (They call her dolly. A mention of an auction, slaves & being a man’s property.); A 50 year old woman says that Zanzibar “is no place for women, whether or not she’s reached her second decade. Even I barely get in and out unmolested.”; In Zanzibar, women are valuable & men act like rabid dogs (hungry) towards them, not caring about their ages; Zanzibar has a one child per family policy where the males are most wanted, therefore the females are usually drowned or left to die; Women of Pacifica have a high infertility rate & many chose not to bear children fearing what it will do to their bodies; A man has five wives only to protect them and their children; A man slaps his women’s backside; A lustful man touches Dri’s waist and back, tries to pull her closer, his lips hover near her face, & his fingers linger on her legs (she gets away before anything else happens); When a man tries to touch Dri’s hair (near her breast) tells him he cannot touch her; The story of Zesus & how he seduced a women (as a swan) and it resulting in two eggs; A mention of refusing a man’s advances; A mention of a place gentlemen wouldn’t go; A mention of a harem; A couple mentions of taking women; A couple mentions of putting a woman in her place; A couple mentions of birthing pains & the womb; A couple mentions of parents being discouraged from procreating; Mentions of women kissing & sitting in laps of men (while wearing revealing clothes); Mentions of kissing; Mentions of flirts & flirting; Mentions of blushes; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of girls far younger than age 20 marrying; Mentions of good-looking men & pretty girls; Mention of compliments & people believing to only exchange compliments in the most intimate of situations (“Catering to our most base desires…”); Mentions of terrible comments of a woman attending to a man’s needs; Mentions of women being used; Mentions of men who trade women; Many Mentions of lust & men wanting women; Attraction, love, falling/being in love and lots of the emotions;
*Note: A mention of a dress with its neck wide, but covering Dri’s breasts; A mention of a dress Dri wears that taut over her breasts and hips; A mention of a butt hurting from riding a horse; A couple mentions of bra & underwear; A couple mentions of half-dressed women; A few mentions of women in Castle Vega showing their bellies & cleavage while kissing men; A few mentions of nakedness; Mentions of stripping down to underthings to bathe; Dri accidentally flashes her bare belly & Ronan quickly looks away (when he accidentally shows his bare chest/neck, she stares); A man takes off his shirt in front of Dri and he has her put a new shirt on him.
-Andriana “Dri”, age 17
First person P.O.V. of Dri
Dystopia
416 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
This is such a Lisa T. Bergren novel! I don’t think I’ve read any dystopia books with swords and arrows. {“River of Time” series, anyone? Review of Book #1 in that series, HERE!} I, of course, had to dock stars because of the Negative & Sexual content. I was expecting a really big cliff-hanger at the end and was shocked when there really wasn’t one.
Here’s a neat feature in the back of the book!
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE:
Ailith: A-lith ("noble war"; "ascending, rising")
Andriana: An-dree-ana, or Dree, for "Dri" ("warrior")
Asher: Ash-er ("happy one")
Azarel: Ah-zah-rell ("helper")
Bellona: Bell-oh-na ("warlike")
Chaza'el: Chazah-ell ("one who sees")
Kapriel: Kah-pree-ell (variant of "warrior")
Keallach: Key-lock ("battle")
Killian: Kill-ee-un ("little warrior"--though he's not so little in my novel!)
Raniero: Rah-near-oh ("wise warrior")
Ronan: Row-nun ("little seal"; I know. Not as cool, right? But he was named Duncan at first draft and I had to change it due to publisher request, and "Ronan" sounded like a medieval, cool warrior name to me. I overlooked the real translation in favor of the man he became in my story. And that guy, to my mind, is more like a warrior, with the spray of the sea upon his face as he takes on the storm--which is like a seal!)
Tressa: Tre-sah ("late summer")
Vidar: Vee-dar ("forest warrior")
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
May 30, 2016
I picked this book up a while ago at Thrift Books on a whim. I had money, I liked the cover, and I wanted to read another book by Lisa T. Bergren. I didn’t know how much I would like this book, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Oky doky, let’s talk about the characters. This book follows a girl named Andriana, an Alith, one of the few chosen by the Maker to save the world! *cue dramatic music* At first I was skeptical at the whole save the world thing. It sounds like every book. Ever. But it was its own unique book. I enjoyed it significantly. :D But back to Andriana, and the other characters. This book held many memorable characters. I have to say my favorite was probably Niero, the leader of the Alith. He seemed to have a story that I very much want to know. *narrows eyes*
Another thing I liked about this book was that it was love triangle free!!!! *throws confetti* You would think with all the other male characters about, that Andriana would start to like someone else besides Ronan, but thankfully no. I was very happy about that. I liked that in the book she could just have a handsome, male friend. Not have to have a triangle, and make them out to be a complete jerk. I love the Alith’s brother\sister like relationship.
The setting? Well sit down honey. Let me tell ya about the land we like to call *coughs* AMERICA IN THE FUTURE! Years ago the world was like destroyed (To be honest, I forget how it was destroyed). As a result, we have no advanced technology. We are transported to a time with swords, and all that cool stuff. No cars either, but we have motorbikes. Basically, midevil with motorbikes.
Another cool thing is that each Alith had like a super power. Okay, it was categorized a super power, but I like to say it was. Andriana’s is that she can read people’s emotions. I thought that was super cool!
The problems? Well, I thought it started out a bit slow. It just seemed to drag for the first 100 pages. Once you get past those, you’re stuck to your seat. Also, I felt like Ronan and Andriana went a bit fast at the end in their relationship. But I knew Lisa Bergren’s writing style, and I was expecting it.
As for who I would recommend this for, probably 14 and up. There was quite a bit of talk on the corruption of the city, and I wouldn’t recommend that for any younger than that.
Oky doky, let’s talk about the characters. This book follows a girl named Andriana, an Alith, one of the few chosen by the Maker to save the world! *cue dramatic music* At first I was skeptical at the whole save the world thing. It sounds like every book. Ever. But it was its own unique book. I enjoyed it significantly. :D But back to Andriana, and the other characters. This book held many memorable characters. I have to say my favorite was probably Niero, the leader of the Alith. He seemed to have a story that I very much want to know. *narrows eyes*
Another thing I liked about this book was that it was love triangle free!!!! *throws confetti* You would think with all the other male characters about, that Andriana would start to like someone else besides Ronan, but thankfully no. I was very happy about that. I liked that in the book she could just have a handsome, male friend. Not have to have a triangle, and make them out to be a complete jerk. I love the Alith’s brother\sister like relationship.
The setting? Well sit down honey. Let me tell ya about the land we like to call *coughs* AMERICA IN THE FUTURE! Years ago the world was like destroyed (To be honest, I forget how it was destroyed). As a result, we have no advanced technology. We are transported to a time with swords, and all that cool stuff. No cars either, but we have motorbikes. Basically, midevil with motorbikes.
Another cool thing is that each Alith had like a super power. Okay, it was categorized a super power, but I like to say it was. Andriana’s is that she can read people’s emotions. I thought that was super cool!
The problems? Well, I thought it started out a bit slow. It just seemed to drag for the first 100 pages. Once you get past those, you’re stuck to your seat. Also, I felt like Ronan and Andriana went a bit fast at the end in their relationship. But I knew Lisa Bergren’s writing style, and I was expecting it.
As for who I would recommend this for, probably 14 and up. There was quite a bit of talk on the corruption of the city, and I wouldn’t recommend that for any younger than that.
March 26, 2014
Lisa Bergren has joined the ranks of author's who've dived into the dystopian/fantasy genre! :-)
I was really excited to see a Christian author (who's work I personally love!) publishing a novel in this category! There are a lot of books coming out in this genre, but they usually aren't those with good worldviews. So I was curious and intrigued how Bergren's new novel would turn out to be. And I was really pleased with the adventure I discovered within the pages of Remnants: Season of Wonder!
Andriana -- or Dri, as she is usually called -- is a really intriguing character with a lot of depth. I came to the end of Remnants: Season of Wonder and didn't think I fully knew her yet. Not that the author doesn't give us enough insight on the character, but she just is so complex and always seems to be learning, growing, and maturing...I kind of expect her to surprise me in some way in the books ahead, but I guess we shall see!
The whole aspect of the chosen "Ailith" and the connection between Remnants and their Knights really intrigued me. I loved this "hero team" of two special people -- one (Remnant) who the Maker bestows with special powers, and the other (Knight) the Maker has strengthened to protect their special Remnant. It was a really neat bond --- and one I would've like to see moreso, I think, without a romance complicating things. Such as Vidar and Bellona's Remnant/Knight bond -- there was a strong tie between them, that could be seen, but it was like a brother/sister bond, and because of that I really enjoyed watching them work together throughout all their adventures.
That was my only issue with this book -- the romance. Not because it was badly done, per se, but it just didn't sit well with me. From the beginning of Remnants: Season of Wonder, the reader knows that while Remnants and Knights are always pared with someone of the opposite sex, it's forbidden for them to fall in love with each other. Forbidden! Now, it's never clear if this is a rule the Community set, or something the Maker set. If it is a command of the Maker, than 1) it's seriously bad to disobey that! and 2) it seems out-of-character with the Maker. The Maker created everything and knows the faultiness of human beings, right? So I find it hard that he would pare up teams of the opposite sex, and not expect their heartstrings to become intimately attached to each other. This is just my thoughts on this aspect of the book -- I'm curious how Dri and Ronan's romance will enfold throughout the rest of the series. We shall see!
Besides that, I thought the book was great! The good vs. evil in this book was very well done and apparent. The Sons of Sheol were creepy dudes and definitely not someone I want to run into! *shiver* It had a really 'dystopian' feel to it, with the hintings of what the world was like before the plagues and wars. Throughout Remnants: Season of Wonder you're constantly going from one city to another -- and therefore being introduced to so many varied and differing cultures...it was really neat to get a small taste of each!
When I reached the last page of Remnants: Season of WonderI was left wondering where the Ailith would find themselves next. I was sad to part with Dri, Ronan, Neiro, Vidar, Bellona, Killian, and Tressa. They all made such a great team together! I give this book 4 stars -- couldn't give it 5 stars because of the romance-angle of the story. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next release in this series and hope the adventure, peril, and suspense continues to get's even better!
I reviewed this book for NetGalley. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.
I was really excited to see a Christian author (who's work I personally love!) publishing a novel in this category! There are a lot of books coming out in this genre, but they usually aren't those with good worldviews. So I was curious and intrigued how Bergren's new novel would turn out to be. And I was really pleased with the adventure I discovered within the pages of Remnants: Season of Wonder!
Andriana -- or Dri, as she is usually called -- is a really intriguing character with a lot of depth. I came to the end of Remnants: Season of Wonder and didn't think I fully knew her yet. Not that the author doesn't give us enough insight on the character, but she just is so complex and always seems to be learning, growing, and maturing...I kind of expect her to surprise me in some way in the books ahead, but I guess we shall see!
The whole aspect of the chosen "Ailith" and the connection between Remnants and their Knights really intrigued me. I loved this "hero team" of two special people -- one (Remnant) who the Maker bestows with special powers, and the other (Knight) the Maker has strengthened to protect their special Remnant. It was a really neat bond --- and one I would've like to see moreso, I think, without a romance complicating things. Such as Vidar and Bellona's Remnant/Knight bond -- there was a strong tie between them, that could be seen, but it was like a brother/sister bond, and because of that I really enjoyed watching them work together throughout all their adventures.
That was my only issue with this book -- the romance. Not because it was badly done, per se, but it just didn't sit well with me. From the beginning of Remnants: Season of Wonder, the reader knows that while Remnants and Knights are always pared with someone of the opposite sex, it's forbidden for them to fall in love with each other. Forbidden! Now, it's never clear if this is a rule the Community set, or something the Maker set. If it is a command of the Maker, than 1) it's seriously bad to disobey that! and 2) it seems out-of-character with the Maker. The Maker created everything and knows the faultiness of human beings, right? So I find it hard that he would pare up teams of the opposite sex, and not expect their heartstrings to become intimately attached to each other. This is just my thoughts on this aspect of the book -- I'm curious how Dri and Ronan's romance will enfold throughout the rest of the series. We shall see!
Besides that, I thought the book was great! The good vs. evil in this book was very well done and apparent. The Sons of Sheol were creepy dudes and definitely not someone I want to run into! *shiver* It had a really 'dystopian' feel to it, with the hintings of what the world was like before the plagues and wars. Throughout Remnants: Season of Wonder you're constantly going from one city to another -- and therefore being introduced to so many varied and differing cultures...it was really neat to get a small taste of each!
When I reached the last page of Remnants: Season of WonderI was left wondering where the Ailith would find themselves next. I was sad to part with Dri, Ronan, Neiro, Vidar, Bellona, Killian, and Tressa. They all made such a great team together! I give this book 4 stars -- couldn't give it 5 stars because of the romance-angle of the story. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next release in this series and hope the adventure, peril, and suspense continues to get's even better!
I reviewed this book for NetGalley. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.
February 1, 2016
This was really a new refreshing read for me. When I started it, I wasn't very interesting in anything I was reading. So this took me awhile to read (like more than a week, when three or four days in my average). Normally I think I would have read this super quick, it was that good.
Their coming was foretold for many years. Children born on the seventh day of the seventieth-seventh Harvest after the Great War. Carrying the Ailith Strain and a birthmark in the shape of a crescent moon, they were recognized immediately and taken to safety. Prophesied to save the world, they spend their whole lives training physically and spiritually. Now Andriana (a Remnant) and Ronan (her Knight of the Last Order) have experienced the Hour of their Call, their call to save the world. But right from the start, they meet with danger. Are they, and the other Ailith, ready for this? Do they even know what specifically they're meant to do? Or are they going to just die as martyrs for a righteous cause?
So this was a really slow reading for about seventy percent of the book, but as I said above, I kind of wasn't interested in anything I was reading at the time. The last thirty percent or so I read as quick as I could. It was so so good. I'm still wondering how this whole series is going to be resolved. I feel this story can have no real conclusion.
The main character was Andriana. I liked her. She had spirit and was quite a fighter. There were a good bit of characters that were there throughout the book: Ronan, Raniero, Vidar, and Bellona. And later Tressa and Killian. They each had a distinct personality and I loved them all, but Ronan was my absolute favorite. He, for some reason, reminds me of Four from the Divergent Series. At least, a more kinder, "Christian" version of Four. He was such a gentleman and he really cared for Andriana. He would die for her. The romance that grew between them was sweet.
There was plenty of action, suspense, adventure, danger of the unknown, and the like. It was really really intense! I will say this is definitely for more mature older teens, because there is hints of what some sinful men do to women. And there was one setting where it was kind of shown in a really moderate amount.
I'd recommend this to all the Christian Fiction fans out there. It was such an interesting dystopian. You'll enjoy it!
You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!
Their coming was foretold for many years. Children born on the seventh day of the seventieth-seventh Harvest after the Great War. Carrying the Ailith Strain and a birthmark in the shape of a crescent moon, they were recognized immediately and taken to safety. Prophesied to save the world, they spend their whole lives training physically and spiritually. Now Andriana (a Remnant) and Ronan (her Knight of the Last Order) have experienced the Hour of their Call, their call to save the world. But right from the start, they meet with danger. Are they, and the other Ailith, ready for this? Do they even know what specifically they're meant to do? Or are they going to just die as martyrs for a righteous cause?
So this was a really slow reading for about seventy percent of the book, but as I said above, I kind of wasn't interested in anything I was reading at the time. The last thirty percent or so I read as quick as I could. It was so so good. I'm still wondering how this whole series is going to be resolved. I feel this story can have no real conclusion.
The main character was Andriana. I liked her. She had spirit and was quite a fighter. There were a good bit of characters that were there throughout the book: Ronan, Raniero, Vidar, and Bellona. And later Tressa and Killian. They each had a distinct personality and I loved them all, but Ronan was my absolute favorite. He, for some reason, reminds me of Four from the Divergent Series. At least, a more kinder, "Christian" version of Four. He was such a gentleman and he really cared for Andriana. He would die for her. The romance that grew between them was sweet.
There was plenty of action, suspense, adventure, danger of the unknown, and the like. It was really really intense! I will say this is definitely for more mature older teens, because there is hints of what some sinful men do to women. And there was one setting where it was kind of shown in a really moderate amount.
I'd recommend this to all the Christian Fiction fans out there. It was such an interesting dystopian. You'll enjoy it!
You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!
March 9, 2018
This isn't my usual kind of reading. I mean, I almost never read YA... or futuristic... or fantasy... or dystopian... And this book is all of the above! But I needed something to listen to at work & this was about the only one available that I hadn't already read so this is the one I got! And... the story itself isn't bad. Not *fantastic*... but it is kinda interesting.
This book gets pretty dark and violent at times, but I totally expected that and it really didn't bother me at all. The descriptions of violence may bother some people, but it's to be expected so don't read a book like this if you greatly dislike violence.
One downside to this book was the narrator. She usually talks pretty slowly. And sounds like she has a cold & is talking through her nose. It didn't bother me all the time, though, only when it was more pronounced. And she mispronounced some words that just really stood out to me because I didn't think they were difficult words to pronounce & I would have thought someone would have caught that & remedied it. Some people may not even notice these things, but I did & it bothered me.
Another downside is how much time was spent dwelling on things like desiring, wanting, and lusting. Also, phrases such as "I like a dolly tied up." and the story of the twins of Gemini, which aren't really appropriate. I do not appreciate seeing stuff like this in Christian Fiction and I especially don't think it's appropriate for younger readers! I won't go into all of that here because I didn't have time to mark all the places that would help me remember accurately. I will, however direct anyone concerned about sexual content to this review-- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... --by Lindsey. She has a section specifically labeled "Sexual Content" that covers all of my concerns, if you're interested.
And I think that about covers what I wanted to say. I only give this book 2 stars because the basis of the story was kinda interesting, but..... there was too much I didn't like about it to give it any more stars than that. :/
I may go ahead and read the rest of this series if my library gets the audiobooks... Just to see how they are compared to this one. But I don't know.
This book gets pretty dark and violent at times, but I totally expected that and it really didn't bother me at all. The descriptions of violence may bother some people, but it's to be expected so don't read a book like this if you greatly dislike violence.
One downside to this book was the narrator. She usually talks pretty slowly. And sounds like she has a cold & is talking through her nose. It didn't bother me all the time, though, only when it was more pronounced. And she mispronounced some words that just really stood out to me because I didn't think they were difficult words to pronounce & I would have thought someone would have caught that & remedied it. Some people may not even notice these things, but I did & it bothered me.
Another downside is how much time was spent dwelling on things like desiring, wanting, and lusting. Also, phrases such as "I like a dolly tied up." and the story of the twins of Gemini, which aren't really appropriate. I do not appreciate seeing stuff like this in Christian Fiction and I especially don't think it's appropriate for younger readers! I won't go into all of that here because I didn't have time to mark all the places that would help me remember accurately. I will, however direct anyone concerned about sexual content to this review-- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... --by Lindsey. She has a section specifically labeled "Sexual Content" that covers all of my concerns, if you're interested.
And I think that about covers what I wanted to say. I only give this book 2 stars because the basis of the story was kinda interesting, but..... there was too much I didn't like about it to give it any more stars than that. :/
I may go ahead and read the rest of this series if my library gets the audiobooks... Just to see how they are compared to this one. But I don't know.
October 11, 2016
About a year ago I started reading this book, but life got a bit crazy and I didn't get more than 1 or 2 chapters into it. So when I picked it up again, it was a bit of an odd start because the beginning was familiar, but it'd been long enough where I'd lost the connection to it.
Remnant was hard for me to get into, but I blame part of that on how haphazard this go round of reading it was. I read most of it in busy places where I was interrupted frequently and had a lot of general noise going on.
As I tried to identify why I wasn't connecting with a book that on a lot of levels was really good, it finally hit me: there was too much going on. Too many new things to take in. We're thrown into a post-apocalyptic story where the world is unfamiliar. Immediately there's action, the characters being thrust into a new situation, there's a lot of main characters right from the get-go, and there were a LOT of world-building details to try and process.
I had a hard time understanding the world because there was the drip-feed method of information, but it was constant, so I was constantly having new ideas to wrap my head around information and it wasn't until nearer the end that I finally had a grasp of what the world looked like, what they did have, didn't have, what was rare, what was extinct, who was in charge, how the rulers effected the rest of the world, etc.
You don't realize at the start that farms are unheard of. That bees and fresh food are non-existent. So I didn't understand how ROUGH the Valley people had it. And some things I still don't understand. Why are compliments unheard of? Why are things such as "You're beautiful" no longer said?
There's this idea that it's been a long time since the world was as the writer knew it, but there's things like canned food and typewriters. Typewriters are ALREADY archaic, why in the world would there still be working ones laying around if there's this idea that the Great War happened a long long long time ago and that things were already on the decline before that. Canned food would most likely have all been eaten by that point and I'm pretty sure tuna fish after let's say even a 100 years is NOT something a person would want to be eating.
My other issues are the "romance" and the goal of the characters. They're the chosen, the few, the select, the powered people. They're supposed to save the world. It all sounds so grand in the blurb and I was REALLY excited to see how it played out. Seeing the whole story laid out, I'm like WHAT????
Because here's the thing, the characters spent most of the story finding people. They go to find a healer, then they go to find a prince, while finding a couple other people, and then the book ends before they find the prince. Not kidding, this is a book about finding people, and only the prince seems important. Everyone else is pretty much a "oh, I found you along the way."
What are the other Remnant/Knight groups doing? I swear there's more of them out there, but I don't think they're mentioned except a random thought near the beginning. Are they the ones out saving the world? Because the group the book follows sure isn't doing a whole lot of world saving. If they're just out there people-hunting, why wait so long? Hour of call hits and wait, world-saving is put on hold until the Avengers Assemble over a period of months that span an entire novel.
The romance between Dri and Ronan wasn't believable. It had potential to be because hey, forbidden love between a Remnant and her Knight? They've spent a lot of time together, they're a team, it makes sense. But Ronan is like a cardboard cutout. We see a lot of Dri being all "Oooh, Ronan. I love him but we can't." But I see no reason WHY she feels that way. Ronan has little personality besides some jealousy and is more a prop than a character in most scenes.
Now my actual rating for this is 3.5. I know I've done a lot of negatives, but overall I DID enjoy most of the book, I will be reading the second book, and it has some good points to it. The MC is very well-developed, the writing style is smooth and easy to read. The story line(though it's not what I expect considering the blurb) is interesting and kept me going.
Keallach was a great antagonist, though we don't see him until near the end and not for long. I can already see that his character is an interesting one. The leader of the group(forgot his name) probably was the most developed of the secondary characters and I think is maybe supposed to be a love triangle interest. Ronan has some jealousy towards him, but Dri has zero romantic interest in him despite a lot more scenes that showed a relationship and so on between them.
In summary, this book isn't what I expected for a "world-saving" story. There's a lot that I felt wasn't done to the best of it's ability. But despite all of that, the story is interesting and any book that makes me want to read the next one is a win.
Remnant was hard for me to get into, but I blame part of that on how haphazard this go round of reading it was. I read most of it in busy places where I was interrupted frequently and had a lot of general noise going on.
As I tried to identify why I wasn't connecting with a book that on a lot of levels was really good, it finally hit me: there was too much going on. Too many new things to take in. We're thrown into a post-apocalyptic story where the world is unfamiliar. Immediately there's action, the characters being thrust into a new situation, there's a lot of main characters right from the get-go, and there were a LOT of world-building details to try and process.
I had a hard time understanding the world because there was the drip-feed method of information, but it was constant, so I was constantly having new ideas to wrap my head around information and it wasn't until nearer the end that I finally had a grasp of what the world looked like, what they did have, didn't have, what was rare, what was extinct, who was in charge, how the rulers effected the rest of the world, etc.
You don't realize at the start that farms are unheard of. That bees and fresh food are non-existent. So I didn't understand how ROUGH the Valley people had it. And some things I still don't understand. Why are compliments unheard of? Why are things such as "You're beautiful" no longer said?
There's this idea that it's been a long time since the world was as the writer knew it, but there's things like canned food and typewriters. Typewriters are ALREADY archaic, why in the world would there still be working ones laying around if there's this idea that the Great War happened a long long long time ago and that things were already on the decline before that. Canned food would most likely have all been eaten by that point and I'm pretty sure tuna fish after let's say even a 100 years is NOT something a person would want to be eating.
My other issues are the "romance" and the goal of the characters. They're the chosen, the few, the select, the powered people. They're supposed to save the world. It all sounds so grand in the blurb and I was REALLY excited to see how it played out. Seeing the whole story laid out, I'm like WHAT????
Because here's the thing, the characters spent most of the story finding people. They go to find a healer, then they go to find a prince, while finding a couple other people, and then the book ends before they find the prince. Not kidding, this is a book about finding people, and only the prince seems important. Everyone else is pretty much a "oh, I found you along the way."
What are the other Remnant/Knight groups doing? I swear there's more of them out there, but I don't think they're mentioned except a random thought near the beginning. Are they the ones out saving the world? Because the group the book follows sure isn't doing a whole lot of world saving. If they're just out there people-hunting, why wait so long? Hour of call hits and wait, world-saving is put on hold until the Avengers Assemble over a period of months that span an entire novel.
The romance between Dri and Ronan wasn't believable. It had potential to be because hey, forbidden love between a Remnant and her Knight? They've spent a lot of time together, they're a team, it makes sense. But Ronan is like a cardboard cutout. We see a lot of Dri being all "Oooh, Ronan. I love him but we can't." But I see no reason WHY she feels that way. Ronan has little personality besides some jealousy and is more a prop than a character in most scenes.
Now my actual rating for this is 3.5. I know I've done a lot of negatives, but overall I DID enjoy most of the book, I will be reading the second book, and it has some good points to it. The MC is very well-developed, the writing style is smooth and easy to read. The story line(though it's not what I expect considering the blurb) is interesting and kept me going.
Keallach was a great antagonist, though we don't see him until near the end and not for long. I can already see that his character is an interesting one. The leader of the group(forgot his name) probably was the most developed of the secondary characters and I think is maybe supposed to be a love triangle interest. Ronan has some jealousy towards him, but Dri has zero romantic interest in him despite a lot more scenes that showed a relationship and so on between them.
In summary, this book isn't what I expected for a "world-saving" story. There's a lot that I felt wasn't done to the best of it's ability. But despite all of that, the story is interesting and any book that makes me want to read the next one is a win.
March 18, 2014
I've just finished reading this amazing book. I'm a HUGE fan of the River of Time series! And to be honest, I wasn't sure anyone, let alone Bergren herself, could do better. Admittedly, I was wrong.
Season of Wonder is a book filled with nonstop, pulsating action, enough to take your breath away and I don't say that lightly. I must warn you, this book has some hot guys who are just plain awesome and duhh-reamy. I even adored the 'bad' guys and their swooning tactics...reminded me of Lord Greco in the River of Time Series (sigh).
I've read Hunger Games and Divergent and loved them. But, this dystopian novel feels more believable and with each page, I was pulled in deeper and deeper into that world. This book contains forbidden love, a hint of romance, a dangerous quest - guided by the Maker, good vs evil, faith, healing, lives at risk, kidnappings, deaths! What more could you want?
I for one, want the next book! No, I NEED the next book! I have a feeling, this 'book-hangover' is going to last for a long, long time!
I was lucky enough, to be chosen, to be a member of the street team and received and ARC for an honest review. In no way did that sway my opinion of this book. It was totally amazing! #Remnants
Season of Wonder is a book filled with nonstop, pulsating action, enough to take your breath away and I don't say that lightly. I must warn you, this book has some hot guys who are just plain awesome and duhh-reamy. I even adored the 'bad' guys and their swooning tactics...reminded me of Lord Greco in the River of Time Series (sigh).
I've read Hunger Games and Divergent and loved them. But, this dystopian novel feels more believable and with each page, I was pulled in deeper and deeper into that world. This book contains forbidden love, a hint of romance, a dangerous quest - guided by the Maker, good vs evil, faith, healing, lives at risk, kidnappings, deaths! What more could you want?
I for one, want the next book! No, I NEED the next book! I have a feeling, this 'book-hangover' is going to last for a long, long time!
I was lucky enough, to be chosen, to be a member of the street team and received and ARC for an honest review. In no way did that sway my opinion of this book. It was totally amazing! #Remnants
October 2, 2014
My 13 year old is a HUGE Lisa Bergren fan. This book did not disappoint.
She loved how Lisa kept to her medieval fan base with a dystopian book. Her twist on this book is that in the future, things have regressed to the past. Technology has devolved. And life has changed.
From page one you bound into Andriana's story -- one that removes her from any semblance of a normal life. Andriana and her kin are off to save what's left of the world from a tyrant while saving his brother. On the way they must rally others to the fight. Andriana knew that she was destined to be a warrior. Now the day has arrived. My daughter loved the romantic storyline and the journey to find her kin. Along the way Andriana learns that love conquers all obstacles. My daughter loved the choosing to take that step and going deeper even as the heroine helps save the world.
This book is one that readers of hero's calling books will love -- especially if set in a dystopian framework.
She loved how Lisa kept to her medieval fan base with a dystopian book. Her twist on this book is that in the future, things have regressed to the past. Technology has devolved. And life has changed.
From page one you bound into Andriana's story -- one that removes her from any semblance of a normal life. Andriana and her kin are off to save what's left of the world from a tyrant while saving his brother. On the way they must rally others to the fight. Andriana knew that she was destined to be a warrior. Now the day has arrived. My daughter loved the romantic storyline and the journey to find her kin. Along the way Andriana learns that love conquers all obstacles. My daughter loved the choosing to take that step and going deeper even as the heroine helps save the world.
This book is one that readers of hero's calling books will love -- especially if set in a dystopian framework.
August 15, 2017
This has been on my TBR list for a while, now that the series is done, and it's been done for awhile I know I wanted to read them. It is engaging from the first page. I enjoyed all the characters and the ending (while knowing I had the second one in hand) ended well and had me looking forward to diving right into the next.
Moral Note: Some mild talk of ownership of women, and lusty leers, nothing graphic, no language, mild violence/torture.
Moral Note: Some mild talk of ownership of women, and lusty leers, nothing graphic, no language, mild violence/torture.
September 15, 2016
This book overall really good so I'm sad not be able to give it five stars. I was just expecting more of a biblically accurate story because it's Christian Dystopia, and I found a few things quite theologically stupid. But the story line plot was excellent- of course, we're talking about Lisa Bergren here- and I found myself loving the characters, especially Raniero. Just something about him, the way he was father-figure, friend, and sometimes I wished a lover too. However, I loved Ronan as well, but I wish that we had had more half-romantic scenes between him and Andriana, kind of like I felt there was with Raniero and her a few times, even tho there was no attraction there. But yeah, I felt like the book was overrall well done. I did notice several Grammer and punctuation mistakes but editing is partially to blame for that. It was also really nice to have a hardcover in my hands because I'm so used to paperback and having a lot of my time spent trying not to bend or fray the covers of those. With this one, I could just thoroughly enjoy the story in the book, not just the actual book. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Well done Lisa Bergren- another great read! You never fail me :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2016
Such a great book! I'll be writing a full review later on today!
July 26, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
(Trigger warning: I’ve probably misspelled a bunch of names in this review, so look out!)
Things I Liked
~The powers. This aspect gave me Into the Flames (by Kim Vandel, excellent book, btw) vibes with certain things: the markings, the “Christian superheroes”, etc. Also, empathy has always been one of my favorite powers to read about in fiction, and it has so much potential. The only other book I can think of does this is the Song of Seare series by C.E. Laureano. Also, the gift of discernment shows up, which is cool.
~Vidar reminded me of Leo Valdez... 👍
~Several characters in particular intrigued me: Rainero and Kelleach. I have Theories about both, and finding out if my surmising is correct might just be enough motivation for me to read the next one. 😉
~Relatable for me personally- I could relate to both Dri’s empathy gift (although not quite on that level, lol, but just being overwhelmed and feeling controlled by other’s emotions) and her fear of heights. Other than that we’re complete opposites, haha. I also appreciated the line about focusing on truth, not feelings.
Things I Didn’t Like
~The worldbuilding took me quite a while to get used to. I knew it was a YA dystopian, but my brain kept yelling “fantasy”, and it threw me off a bit when Dri referenced Winnie the Pooh and Shakespeare but didn’t know what pennies were.
~The content. This is the reason why my rating isn’t higher. There was more sensuality then what I’m typically comfortable with reading- frequent thinly-veiled references to prostitution, and we hear a lot about Ronan’s muscles. One brief kissing scene; I don’t think it was detailed but I skipped it anyway. Multiple times men attempt to get too close for comfort with Dri but their plans don’t succeed, thankfully. The violence wasn’t graphic or too heavy, and language was practically nonexistent.
~Despite how often Ronan shows up, I don’t feel like I know him very well as a character? I think it would help if we saw him more interacting with others and not Dri all the time, but since he’s her Knight and follows her around all the time, that’s not as much as you might expect.
Overall, I did enjoy Season of Wonder. I wish that the world building would’ve been more consistent, and I would feel much more comfortable recommending it if the content level was decreased. But if that sounds like something you can handle, then I suggest giving this one a try!
(Trigger warning: I’ve probably misspelled a bunch of names in this review, so look out!)
Things I Liked
~The powers. This aspect gave me Into the Flames (by Kim Vandel, excellent book, btw) vibes with certain things: the markings, the “Christian superheroes”, etc. Also, empathy has always been one of my favorite powers to read about in fiction, and it has so much potential. The only other book I can think of does this is the Song of Seare series by C.E. Laureano. Also, the gift of discernment shows up, which is cool.
~Vidar reminded me of Leo Valdez... 👍
~Several characters in particular intrigued me: Rainero and Kelleach. I have Theories about both, and finding out if my surmising is correct might just be enough motivation for me to read the next one. 😉
~Relatable for me personally- I could relate to both Dri’s empathy gift (although not quite on that level, lol, but just being overwhelmed and feeling controlled by other’s emotions) and her fear of heights. Other than that we’re complete opposites, haha. I also appreciated the line about focusing on truth, not feelings.
Things I Didn’t Like
~The worldbuilding took me quite a while to get used to. I knew it was a YA dystopian, but my brain kept yelling “fantasy”, and it threw me off a bit when Dri referenced Winnie the Pooh and Shakespeare but didn’t know what pennies were.
~The content. This is the reason why my rating isn’t higher. There was more sensuality then what I’m typically comfortable with reading- frequent thinly-veiled references to prostitution, and we hear a lot about Ronan’s muscles. One brief kissing scene; I don’t think it was detailed but I skipped it anyway. Multiple times men attempt to get too close for comfort with Dri but their plans don’t succeed, thankfully. The violence wasn’t graphic or too heavy, and language was practically nonexistent.
~Despite how often Ronan shows up, I don’t feel like I know him very well as a character? I think it would help if we saw him more interacting with others and not Dri all the time, but since he’s her Knight and follows her around all the time, that’s not as much as you might expect.
Overall, I did enjoy Season of Wonder. I wish that the world building would’ve been more consistent, and I would feel much more comfortable recommending it if the content level was decreased. But if that sounds like something you can handle, then I suggest giving this one a try!
February 10, 2014
I so loved, loved, LOVED "Remnants: Season of Wonder"! It truly is one of the best YA books I have ever read!
The reason this book is so amazing is because of the powerful symbolism that was woven into all the characters and events! I know that the book is suppose to be more of a dystopian kind of a novel (and it really is), but I felt it to be more allegorical in a sense! I truly believe that many of the things written showed how Christians are suppose to be with their relationship with God and His church! An example is how when the Remnants and knights are trained to wholeheartedly seek and focus on the Maker in all things. It doesn't matter if it's where to go, how to act, or what to say! They are suppose to seek him above all else. This is just one example out of many (I don't want to list anymore because I don't want to spoil it)! I felt that all of it was truly symbolic of the Christian faith and everything dealing with it such as the church and one-on-one relationship with Jesus!
The spiritual theme was a huge part of the novel in my opinion, but the action part of the novel was too! However it was different then a regular fighting scenes because it really lived out Ephesians 6:12 which says: "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
I know I already said this in the beginning, but this is truly an amazing novel! I very strongly recommend it because there is so much depth that left me speechless concerning spirituality! If you decide to read any novel this year let it be this one because you won't regret it! It will leave you not only enamored by the storyline, but also searching the Maker and His calling for you!
I give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars!
(I received an ARC copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review!)
The reason this book is so amazing is because of the powerful symbolism that was woven into all the characters and events! I know that the book is suppose to be more of a dystopian kind of a novel (and it really is), but I felt it to be more allegorical in a sense! I truly believe that many of the things written showed how Christians are suppose to be with their relationship with God and His church! An example is how when the Remnants and knights are trained to wholeheartedly seek and focus on the Maker in all things. It doesn't matter if it's where to go, how to act, or what to say! They are suppose to seek him above all else. This is just one example out of many (I don't want to list anymore because I don't want to spoil it)! I felt that all of it was truly symbolic of the Christian faith and everything dealing with it such as the church and one-on-one relationship with Jesus!
The spiritual theme was a huge part of the novel in my opinion, but the action part of the novel was too! However it was different then a regular fighting scenes because it really lived out Ephesians 6:12 which says: "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
I know I already said this in the beginning, but this is truly an amazing novel! I very strongly recommend it because there is so much depth that left me speechless concerning spirituality! If you decide to read any novel this year let it be this one because you won't regret it! It will leave you not only enamored by the storyline, but also searching the Maker and His calling for you!
I give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars!
(I received an ARC copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review!)
May 19, 2014
While I have thoroughly enjoyed many of Bergren's novels, for some reason I was hesitant to start this one, but yet eager too. I know that makes no sense! However, I am so glad I did start this novel, which I also thoroughly enjoyed! Remnants is another foray for Bergren into the YA genre. It is however, a different type of novel than her previous River of Time series. Remnants could best be classified as a futuristic, post-apocalyptic novel also tapping into some fantasy elements, and it is Christian fiction. While the last part is not over done or preachy, I felt it added the element that is so often missing in most non-christian, YA fiction books of this type - hope, redemption and the feeling that there is a bigger story at work than just the pat romance and danger.
This novel, is told through the perspective of one character, Adrianna. This did not bother me; I actually felt that it added a little bit more mystery to things since I didn't know what the other characters were thinking. I am not sure if Book 2 will continue things from her perspective alone or will it open us up to viewing things from another or multiple perspectives...? We will see! All I know is, I will eagerly await Book 2 to release (sadly not for quiet some time).
All in all, this story was well written. I grasped the time, the environment, the characters and the dilemma with no problem. The characters are well written and easy to care for. And there was a nice flow to the story. The beginning didn't grip me but held my interest and then just a little further in I was hooked. What more can I say except that I recommend it!
This novel, is told through the perspective of one character, Adrianna. This did not bother me; I actually felt that it added a little bit more mystery to things since I didn't know what the other characters were thinking. I am not sure if Book 2 will continue things from her perspective alone or will it open us up to viewing things from another or multiple perspectives...? We will see! All I know is, I will eagerly await Book 2 to release (sadly not for quiet some time).
All in all, this story was well written. I grasped the time, the environment, the characters and the dilemma with no problem. The characters are well written and easy to care for. And there was a nice flow to the story. The beginning didn't grip me but held my interest and then just a little further in I was hooked. What more can I say except that I recommend it!
March 21, 2015
This was an amazing book! I mean, mind-blowing! The characters were great, each had likeable traits and faults, and they had unique personalities, but I do wish we could know more about Tressa and Killian. I picture him as Tuffnut in How To Train Your Dragon 2, with the dreadlocks. Weird, I know right? But, hey, if the shoe fits...
It's a dystopian book with some fantasy aspects. All of the main and supporting characters are or appear to be between sixteen and twenty. I mean, the emperor of the world is 17. The only guy who appears to be older is the antagonist, Sethos.
Andriana is our main character and she's a pretty awesome narrator (nobody can beat Percy Jackson). Her Knight is Ronan. Raniero, or Niero as everyone calls him, is like their leader. And then we have their friends and fellow Ailith and Knights of the Last Order Vidar, Bellona, Tressa and Killian. For all of you Leo Valdez fangirls, Vidar is our resident funny guy...
I absolutely love this kind of book: The Cain-and-Sam or Loki-and-Thor, brothers against each other. In this book, we have Kapriel and Keallach. Keallach is the bad twin, while Kapriel is the good guy.
I am giving this book five stars. It was amazing and funny with the right amount of romance, a ton of action and supernatural gifts like being able to see angels and demons or being able to heal someone. I only had one fault with it, which was that the country doesn't have a name. We have Pacifica, which is obviously based off of San Francisco, since nearby they have a prison named the Isle of Catal. Plus there was Zanzibar, Georgii Post and Nem Post, but that was it. Other than that, two thumbs up.
It's a dystopian book with some fantasy aspects. All of the main and supporting characters are or appear to be between sixteen and twenty. I mean, the emperor of the world is 17. The only guy who appears to be older is the antagonist, Sethos.
Andriana is our main character and she's a pretty awesome narrator (nobody can beat Percy Jackson). Her Knight is Ronan. Raniero, or Niero as everyone calls him, is like their leader. And then we have their friends and fellow Ailith and Knights of the Last Order Vidar, Bellona, Tressa and Killian. For all of you Leo Valdez fangirls, Vidar is our resident funny guy...
I absolutely love this kind of book: The Cain-and-Sam or Loki-and-Thor, brothers against each other. In this book, we have Kapriel and Keallach. Keallach is the bad twin, while Kapriel is the good guy.
I am giving this book five stars. It was amazing and funny with the right amount of romance, a ton of action and supernatural gifts like being able to see angels and demons or being able to heal someone. I only had one fault with it, which was that the country doesn't have a name. We have Pacifica, which is obviously based off of San Francisco, since nearby they have a prison named the Isle of Catal. Plus there was Zanzibar, Georgii Post and Nem Post, but that was it. Other than that, two thumbs up.
February 19, 2015
I loved, Loved, LOVED her Waterfallseries, so I'm always nervous about any subsequent series from authors whose first series (in this case, I think Waterfall was her first YA series) I Capital L Loved. I always feel like the next set will be the red-headed step-child that you're alright about but you don't really like him all the same (poor gingers).
But I digress. This was not that poor ginger foundling and I actually really enjoyed reading this. Plenty of action, some nice little lovey bits, and people you really cared about. I only have a small complaint:
I wish Ronan played a much bigger part than I felt he actually played. Although I liked him, and was like "Yeah Ronan!" at times, as the book was coming to a close and , I was sort of left with asking why I should care. I get that Dri is the narrator, but a little more time with Ronan would have been beneficial in the beginning instead of spending so many more words on Neiro.
Also, I realize this is Christian Fiction, and I obviously have no issue with reading this genre. But I felt the religious aspect was better done in Waterfall.
Anyway, I definitely enjoyed this, and will be getting my hands on the second as soon as I can!
But I digress. This was not that poor ginger foundling and I actually really enjoyed reading this. Plenty of action, some nice little lovey bits, and people you really cared about. I only have a small complaint:
I wish Ronan played a much bigger part than I felt he actually played. Although I liked him, and was like "Yeah Ronan!" at times, as the book was coming to a close and , I was sort of left with asking why I should care. I get that Dri is the narrator, but a little more time with Ronan would have been beneficial in the beginning instead of spending so many more words on Neiro.
Also, I realize this is Christian Fiction, and I obviously have no issue with reading this genre. But I felt the religious aspect was better done in Waterfall.
Anyway, I definitely enjoyed this, and will be getting my hands on the second as soon as I can!
April 9, 2015
I've just finished reading this amazing book. I'm a HUGE fan of the River of Time series! And to be honest, I wasn't sure anyone, let alone Bergren herself, could do better. Admittedly, I was wrong.
Season of Wonder is a book filled with nonstop, pulsating action, enough to take your breath away and I don't say that lightly. I must warn you, this book has some hot guys who are just plain awesome and duhh-reamy. I even adored the 'bad' guys and their swooning tactics...reminded me of Lord Greco in the River of Time Series (sigh).
I've read Hunger Games and Divergent and loved them. But, this dystopian novel feels more believable and with each page, I was pulled in deeper and deeper into that world. This book contains forbidden love, a hint of romance, a dangerous quest - guided by the Maker, good vs evil, faith, healing, lives at risk, kidnappings, deaths! What more could you want?
I for one, want the next book! No, I NEED the next book! I have a feeling, this 'book-hangover' is going to last for a long, long time!
I was lucky enough, to be chosen, to be a member of the street team and received and ARC for an honest review. In no way did that sway my opinion of this book. It was totally amazing! #Remnants
Season of Wonder is a book filled with nonstop, pulsating action, enough to take your breath away and I don't say that lightly. I must warn you, this book has some hot guys who are just plain awesome and duhh-reamy. I even adored the 'bad' guys and their swooning tactics...reminded me of Lord Greco in the River of Time Series (sigh).
I've read Hunger Games and Divergent and loved them. But, this dystopian novel feels more believable and with each page, I was pulled in deeper and deeper into that world. This book contains forbidden love, a hint of romance, a dangerous quest - guided by the Maker, good vs evil, faith, healing, lives at risk, kidnappings, deaths! What more could you want?
I for one, want the next book! No, I NEED the next book! I have a feeling, this 'book-hangover' is going to last for a long, long time!
I was lucky enough, to be chosen, to be a member of the street team and received and ARC for an honest review. In no way did that sway my opinion of this book. It was totally amazing! #Remnants
August 4, 2014
Overall, it's a tremendous YA fantasy/dystopian novel with fascinating characters, plenty of action and adventure, and an intriguing storyline. Highly recommend picking it up and giving it a chance. I just finished reading it, and I already wish the next book was available! :)
Lisa Tawn Bergren builds a tremendous cast of characters to carry the story. Each is unique and intriguing, something difficult to achieve when there are so many.
Andriana makes a fascinating main character. She is strong and capable, though not without her weaknesses. One of the elusive great "strong female characters" everyone is always talking about. She is capable of rescuing and caring for herself, but doesn't deny help and isn't afraid to ask for it when she needs it. She maintains her ability to be feminine without being portrayed as helpless.
My only gripe is that there are a few times where her curiosity gets the better of her or she keeps stumbling into one scrape after another until you want to smack her up the side of the head and warn her to watch her step! But that's a minor complaint!
If you haven't read it yet, I definitely recommend picking it up!
Lisa Tawn Bergren builds a tremendous cast of characters to carry the story. Each is unique and intriguing, something difficult to achieve when there are so many.
Andriana makes a fascinating main character. She is strong and capable, though not without her weaknesses. One of the elusive great "strong female characters" everyone is always talking about. She is capable of rescuing and caring for herself, but doesn't deny help and isn't afraid to ask for it when she needs it. She maintains her ability to be feminine without being portrayed as helpless.
My only gripe is that there are a few times where her curiosity gets the better of her or she keeps stumbling into one scrape after another until you want to smack her up the side of the head and warn her to watch her step! But that's a minor complaint!
If you haven't read it yet, I definitely recommend picking it up!
January 27, 2015
3.5 stars. Bravo to Ms. Bergren for writing this speculative tale with lots of great spiritual overtones. I always appreciate that in a book. While this one's labeled a dystopian, it's a mild dystopian with more of a fantasy feel in some ways. I enjoyed the concept of brave young warriors and chosen venturing out to fulfill their destinies. At times I did feel a little confused as I never fully understood exactly what or why these young adults were different. I would've liked to be told that a little more clearly. Perhaps that's coming in the next books. Also, at times, the main female character (who tells the story in first person) seemed weak, which is abnormal for this genre. She also did a lot of pining for the main hunk, I mean hero. :) I do wonder why they paired female knights to protect male chosen and male knights to female chosen, but if they hadn't then that would've taken away some of the angst in the story! That said, this book will appeal to teens (and adults) who enjoy tales of adventure with fantasy and dystopian elements.
February 5, 2016
PROPER REVIEW TO COME
Maybe I'm being too hard on this book. I just had so high hopes. I love the River of Time series and I love Lisa T. Bergren, but this book didn't quite meet my expectations. I love some of the characters (like Raneiro, Vidar and even Keallach), yet our main character, Andriana, and her romantic interest, Ronan, fell flat for me. I don't know why, I just didn't connect with them.
Maybe I'm being too hard on this book. I just had so high hopes. I love the River of Time series and I love Lisa T. Bergren, but this book didn't quite meet my expectations. I love some of the characters (like Raneiro, Vidar and even Keallach), yet our main character, Andriana, and her romantic interest, Ronan, fell flat for me. I don't know why, I just didn't connect with them.
July 24, 2021
Rereading because I just found out I never read the third book in the series!! 😱 But since it’s been seven years, I decided I need a refresher on books one and two.
Lisa T. Bergren is a talented author who can write across genres. This book fits perfectly well into that dystopian journey-plot trend with characters I came to enjoy, and a thread of romance (Ronan’s my favorite).
Available on Hoopla.
Lisa T. Bergren is a talented author who can write across genres. This book fits perfectly well into that dystopian journey-plot trend with characters I came to enjoy, and a thread of romance (Ronan’s my favorite).
Available on Hoopla.
March 29, 2016
I know, you are wondering why I reviewed Seasons of Fire before I reviewed the first book. Well, I couldn't get on that much when I read the first book and I forgot all about it! But now, I am cleaning out my to-read shelf and marking the ones I have read as read!
This book was a little hard to get into but very exciting and intense. Really enjoyed it!
This book was a little hard to get into but very exciting and intense. Really enjoyed it!
December 8, 2015
This was a great book!!! Loved it!! The beginning was a little confusing because I didn't quite understand what was going on but it cleared up quick. Very unique story and I can't wait to read the next one!
Would recommend to anyone :)
Would recommend to anyone :)
February 15, 2017
Fans of The Maze Runner will probably like this book. I'm intrigued and want to read the next book in the series. Still not sure I'm a complete dystopian fan, but it's such a new genre for me... I think I need a few more books to decide.
August 6, 2016
***I received a copy of this book for free from the author in return for my honest review***
I liked it but I personally would not shelve it as dystopian, it felt more futuristic and post-apocalyptic to me with a little Fantasy thrown in. I would put it more into the category with The Girl of Fire and Thorns. This is not a bad thing. I really liked The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Shadow and Bone, Blood Red Road, all books I would probably shelve this one by.
This book definitely has a hero quest storyline. Who doesn't love a good hero quest? You have a girl many years in the future. The world is in ruins after all of the bombs have been dropped. The people are still suffering with the poisoned land and with Cancer that was also the result of the bombs, radiation, and poisoned/toxic land. Many animals have been hunted to extinction or almost extinction for food.
However, it has been foretold that a special group of teens will be able to rectify the horrors that happened and are happening. These special gifted teens are known as Remnants. Each Remnant is protected by a Knight. They were all born on the same special day and all have a special birthmark that identifies them. They trained side-by-side their whole lives to become warriors. Each gifted teen also has a gift.
We follow Dri. Her and her knight Ronan (he was suppose to be Duncan, Duncan was such a better name) as they start their adventure. They of course, meet up with other like them (assembling the team, so to speak). They come across many hardships and are hunted by the Sons of Sheol.
What can I say, I liked it. I guess it counts as Christian Fiction too? As our heroes pray and look to the Maker for guidance on what to do next, protection, etc...This did not bother me at all. I normally do not gravitate to Christian Fiction, because I worry that it will be too preachy. You do not get that here. Like I stated above, I was reminded of The Girl of Fire and Thorns series as I read this book, she too prayed. So, if Christian Fiction is not your thing, I would still recommend this book to you.
I liked the characters. They all felt well developed. I like how Lisa thought long and hard behind the meaning of each character's name before she named each one. I am a little sad to find out that Ronan was originally going to be called Duncan, but it was changed. I would have been okay with Duncan. My husband said Duncan would have been better he gave me a funny look when I said his name was Ronan.
I like the romance. Dri and Ronan clearly care deeply for one another but are specifically told during training they are never to be in love with one another. That love is not their path. They were not born to marry, have babies, and grow old with their loved one. They were born to save everyone. That of course doesn't stop their feelings. What's worse is that Dri's gift is the gift of empathy. She feels what everyone else feels, their hatred, love, desire, etc...
The world that was created in the aftermath of the apocalypse seems right. People struggle. There are bad people who take, like Drifters that make me think of Mad Max. There are people that make lots of money trading precious goods. There are people that keep people down. There are people that team up together and create great communities where they help one another out, etc...Let me just say, I like the world building, it felt very realistic to me.
To summarize, I really liked this book and I would recommend it to a friend and maybe even a stranger, if the topic came up. I will definitely read the next book in this series when it comes out.
I liked it but I personally would not shelve it as dystopian, it felt more futuristic and post-apocalyptic to me with a little Fantasy thrown in. I would put it more into the category with The Girl of Fire and Thorns. This is not a bad thing. I really liked The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Shadow and Bone, Blood Red Road, all books I would probably shelve this one by.
This book definitely has a hero quest storyline. Who doesn't love a good hero quest? You have a girl many years in the future. The world is in ruins after all of the bombs have been dropped. The people are still suffering with the poisoned land and with Cancer that was also the result of the bombs, radiation, and poisoned/toxic land. Many animals have been hunted to extinction or almost extinction for food.
However, it has been foretold that a special group of teens will be able to rectify the horrors that happened and are happening. These special gifted teens are known as Remnants. Each Remnant is protected by a Knight. They were all born on the same special day and all have a special birthmark that identifies them. They trained side-by-side their whole lives to become warriors. Each gifted teen also has a gift.
We follow Dri. Her and her knight Ronan (he was suppose to be Duncan, Duncan was such a better name) as they start their adventure. They of course, meet up with other like them (assembling the team, so to speak). They come across many hardships and are hunted by the Sons of Sheol.
What can I say, I liked it. I guess it counts as Christian Fiction too? As our heroes pray and look to the Maker for guidance on what to do next, protection, etc...This did not bother me at all. I normally do not gravitate to Christian Fiction, because I worry that it will be too preachy. You do not get that here. Like I stated above, I was reminded of The Girl of Fire and Thorns series as I read this book, she too prayed. So, if Christian Fiction is not your thing, I would still recommend this book to you.
I liked the characters. They all felt well developed. I like how Lisa thought long and hard behind the meaning of each character's name before she named each one. I am a little sad to find out that Ronan was originally going to be called Duncan, but it was changed. I would have been okay with Duncan. My husband said Duncan would have been better he gave me a funny look when I said his name was Ronan.
I like the romance. Dri and Ronan clearly care deeply for one another but are specifically told during training they are never to be in love with one another. That love is not their path. They were not born to marry, have babies, and grow old with their loved one. They were born to save everyone. That of course doesn't stop their feelings. What's worse is that Dri's gift is the gift of empathy. She feels what everyone else feels, their hatred, love, desire, etc...
The world that was created in the aftermath of the apocalypse seems right. People struggle. There are bad people who take, like Drifters that make me think of Mad Max. There are people that make lots of money trading precious goods. There are people that keep people down. There are people that team up together and create great communities where they help one another out, etc...Let me just say, I like the world building, it felt very realistic to me.
To summarize, I really liked this book and I would recommend it to a friend and maybe even a stranger, if the topic came up. I will definitely read the next book in this series when it comes out.
November 29, 2015
Gifted teens known as Remnants have been chosen and trained to act as humanity's last hope to rectify the horrors that are now part of everyday life in 2095. The Community has trained these teens as warriors and assigned them Knights of the Last Order as protectors; together they are a force that will be difficult to bring down. The Sons of Sheol, of course, are hell bent on doing just that.
I am a huge fan of Lisa and her writing, so of course I have to read all her books that I can get my hands on. So when I saw my local library had this book, I ordered it immediately! So let me set the scene for you. It's around 50 years in the future. Everything has changed. Their was a nuclear war and a lot of the earth was destroyed and wasn't deemed livable for years. Society is now back to its simple and hard ways. A lot of animals have gone extinct, and the ground is very hard to plant in without tools, so food is very scarce. Now comes in this 17 year old girl, Andriana. She has been raised and trained all her life, along with her knight Ronan, to save the world from the dark and evil forces that are rising to power. So throughout the book, the two of them, along with several other people just like them, go on a journey to save the world. But they don't do it alone. They do it all with the help and guidance of "The Maker", aka God. Now on to my review. From page one, you dive right into the story. You are suddenly immersed in the world and life of Andriana. At first, it was a little confusing as I tried to get used to the lifestyle and words and phrases of the story. But after awhile, I just got used to them and could effortlessly read the book. I loved the characters! I absolutely fell in love with them. Lisa provided just enough depth for them so that I can imagine them my own way, yet have a basic idea of where to start. And if you've rad my reviews before, you probably know how much I value that in a book! The whole plot worked perfectly. It made me want to keep reading and reading it! I was so caught up in the story, imagining it like a movie playing out in my head, The ending was horribly perfect. It ended on such a cliffhanger!! My favorite character (I won't name her/him for spoiler purposes) may be dead and I won't know it until book two (Remnants: Season of Fire) comes out! Thankfully I don't have to wait long, it's comes out March 3
I am a huge fan of Lisa and her writing, so of course I have to read all her books that I can get my hands on. So when I saw my local library had this book, I ordered it immediately! So let me set the scene for you. It's around 50 years in the future. Everything has changed. Their was a nuclear war and a lot of the earth was destroyed and wasn't deemed livable for years. Society is now back to its simple and hard ways. A lot of animals have gone extinct, and the ground is very hard to plant in without tools, so food is very scarce. Now comes in this 17 year old girl, Andriana. She has been raised and trained all her life, along with her knight Ronan, to save the world from the dark and evil forces that are rising to power. So throughout the book, the two of them, along with several other people just like them, go on a journey to save the world. But they don't do it alone. They do it all with the help and guidance of "The Maker", aka God. Now on to my review. From page one, you dive right into the story. You are suddenly immersed in the world and life of Andriana. At first, it was a little confusing as I tried to get used to the lifestyle and words and phrases of the story. But after awhile, I just got used to them and could effortlessly read the book. I loved the characters! I absolutely fell in love with them. Lisa provided just enough depth for them so that I can imagine them my own way, yet have a basic idea of where to start. And if you've rad my reviews before, you probably know how much I value that in a book! The whole plot worked perfectly. It made me want to keep reading and reading it! I was so caught up in the story, imagining it like a movie playing out in my head, The ending was horribly perfect. It ended on such a cliffhanger!! My favorite character (I won't name her/him for spoiler purposes) may be dead and I won't know it until book two (Remnants: Season of Fire) comes out! Thankfully I don't have to wait long, it's comes out March 3
January 29, 2017
I'll start out by saying this was one of the more interesting books that I have read. I originally picked it up because I read two other series' by the author, Lisa T. Bergren, and thought that I might as well read another one, because she is a great writer. However, from the start, I wasn't impressed. The whole book was very confusing, and it felt as though everything was out of place. But as the story went on, it did get a tiny bit better, and things got more cleared up. I still would not recommend this to someone, unless they are looking for a challenging read that you really have to pay attention to very small details in.
The whole story itself is based off of this group of elite teenagers, and their job is to save the world. From the start, the two main characters, Andriana and Ronan, have trained and waited for their entire lives for their "calling", and it has finally come. They were chosen at birth, by the Maker, to fulfill this task when called upon it - to free the king Ailith from his own brother who captured him. Along with other teenage Remnants and their Knights, they go on tasks around their world, saving people, healing people, and promoting the ways of the Maker. It's not always easy, having to watch their backs 24/7 from the Sons of Sheol who would want nothing more than to see them dead.
On top of everything that is happening, Andriana has feelings for the one person that she can't have feelings for - her Knight. Knights and Remnants are never allowed to see one another, and it is a strict rule put in place from the Elders, however, they both try time and time again to see one another, but know they should not go against the Maker.
After discovering their is more beyond the Valley than they could ever have imagined, this group of teenagers has to fight to live, and it's only a matter of time before more danger will come their way, for basically the whole world is against them at this point.
The whole story itself is based off of this group of elite teenagers, and their job is to save the world. From the start, the two main characters, Andriana and Ronan, have trained and waited for their entire lives for their "calling", and it has finally come. They were chosen at birth, by the Maker, to fulfill this task when called upon it - to free the king Ailith from his own brother who captured him. Along with other teenage Remnants and their Knights, they go on tasks around their world, saving people, healing people, and promoting the ways of the Maker. It's not always easy, having to watch their backs 24/7 from the Sons of Sheol who would want nothing more than to see them dead.
On top of everything that is happening, Andriana has feelings for the one person that she can't have feelings for - her Knight. Knights and Remnants are never allowed to see one another, and it is a strict rule put in place from the Elders, however, they both try time and time again to see one another, but know they should not go against the Maker.
After discovering their is more beyond the Valley than they could ever have imagined, this group of teenagers has to fight to live, and it's only a matter of time before more danger will come their way, for basically the whole world is against them at this point.
April 12, 2014
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1Y3JTBO...
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/17): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Remnants: Season of Wonder was a very good read. I've read several of Bergren's novels (including her YA River of Time series and adult Grand Tour trilogy - both of which I loved), so I was excited to dive into this story!
I loved the new set of characters. While I liked all of the Remnants/Knights, my favorite was Vidar. I loved how, even when things were really tense, he was able to bring a much needed lightness to the story with his bravado and made me chuckle.
The romance story between Ronan and Andriana was nice and yet, I also have mixed feelings about some aspects of it...
Remnants: Season of Wonder had action, danger, and great characters. Whenever I had to stop reading, I looked forward to picking it back up and continuing the story. I recommend it to mature teens and adults who enjoy dystopian/futuristic novels with some sci-fi elements. I'm anticipating the release of the next Remnants novel!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/17): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Remnants: Season of Wonder was a very good read. I've read several of Bergren's novels (including her YA River of Time series and adult Grand Tour trilogy - both of which I loved), so I was excited to dive into this story!
I loved the new set of characters. While I liked all of the Remnants/Knights, my favorite was Vidar. I loved how, even when things were really tense, he was able to bring a much needed lightness to the story with his bravado and made me chuckle.
The romance story between Ronan and Andriana was nice and yet, I also have mixed feelings about some aspects of it...
Remnants: Season of Wonder had action, danger, and great characters. Whenever I had to stop reading, I looked forward to picking it back up and continuing the story. I recommend it to mature teens and adults who enjoy dystopian/futuristic novels with some sci-fi elements. I'm anticipating the release of the next Remnants novel!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
November 22, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The characters and storyline are very unique.
In a futuristic and post-apocalyptic world there is a special group of teens who are born on the same day called Remnants who with their Knights are supposed to try and fix the damage that has been done to the world by bombs and a cancer that has killed many people. Along the way they are meeting more Remnants and Knights to assemble the team but they suffer hardships and are also being hunted by the Sons of Sheol.
The story starts off with Dri a Remnant and her Knight Ronan being called to start their journey something they have been training for since they were younger. Once they meet their elders there is another team there plus their boss. The group sets off to rescue the other members but they encounter hardships in their quest.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s not like anything I have ever read but it did remind me a little of Mad Max or Water World as some the things the characters go through which isn’t a bad thing as I enjoy both of those movies. But what I loved most was Dri she is a lot stronger than she even realizes and with her special gift of empathy she is a valuable member to her group. She handles feeling everyone’s feelings better than I could. I would be very overwhelmed and probably would want to make my gift go away somehow. My other favorite part is the relationship between Dri and Ronan. They are never to be in love with one another. That is not their destiny. They were born to save everyone but it still doesn’t stop them from having stronger feelings for one another.
The other characters add to the storyline just as much and I can’t wait for the next book so I can see what happens to all of them. 4/5 Bloody Fangs
In a futuristic and post-apocalyptic world there is a special group of teens who are born on the same day called Remnants who with their Knights are supposed to try and fix the damage that has been done to the world by bombs and a cancer that has killed many people. Along the way they are meeting more Remnants and Knights to assemble the team but they suffer hardships and are also being hunted by the Sons of Sheol.
The story starts off with Dri a Remnant and her Knight Ronan being called to start their journey something they have been training for since they were younger. Once they meet their elders there is another team there plus their boss. The group sets off to rescue the other members but they encounter hardships in their quest.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s not like anything I have ever read but it did remind me a little of Mad Max or Water World as some the things the characters go through which isn’t a bad thing as I enjoy both of those movies. But what I loved most was Dri she is a lot stronger than she even realizes and with her special gift of empathy she is a valuable member to her group. She handles feeling everyone’s feelings better than I could. I would be very overwhelmed and probably would want to make my gift go away somehow. My other favorite part is the relationship between Dri and Ronan. They are never to be in love with one another. That is not their destiny. They were born to save everyone but it still doesn’t stop them from having stronger feelings for one another.
The other characters add to the storyline just as much and I can’t wait for the next book so I can see what happens to all of them. 4/5 Bloody Fangs
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