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The Barronlands Trilogy #1
The Twenty
Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN B007SQEZCS
Imagine living in a time when infertility runs rampant and babies are no longer being born. The world is crumbling around you as people start talking about the end. This is the world Hazel DeSales grew up in. After her mother dies from a mysterious cancer, Hazel finds herself taking care of her younger sister Netty and alcoholic father.
It's not until twenty women, known as the Elect, become pregnant all across the Barronlands when things start looking up. Hazel and Netty apply for jobs working as domestics in the Antioch Center where the Elect will be taken care of and protected. Hazel feels change in the air and her outlook for the future starts to improve.
But she soon learns that change is not without consequence. Rumors are brewing about a government cover up and Hazel finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So begins the unraveling of secrets that uncover things from her past and rattle her future. Hazel is determined to seek the truth and promises herself to do whatever it takes to succeed.
Imagine living in a time when infertility runs rampant and babies are no longer being born. The world is crumbling around you as people start talking about the end. This is the world Hazel DeSales grew up in. After her mother dies from a mysterious cancer, Hazel finds herself taking care of her younger sister Netty and alcoholic father.
It's not until twenty women, known as the Elect, become pregnant all across the Barronlands when things start looking up. Hazel and Netty apply for jobs working as domestics in the Antioch Center where the Elect will be taken care of and protected. Hazel feels change in the air and her outlook for the future starts to improve.
But she soon learns that change is not without consequence. Rumors are brewing about a government cover up and Hazel finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So begins the unraveling of secrets that uncover things from her past and rattle her future. Hazel is determined to seek the truth and promises herself to do whatever it takes to succeed.
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First published April 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 11, 2012
Between finishing a book and posting a review, I typically research what other people thought about the book. I like to point out things that aren’t mentioned in most of the reviews, so that readers can make a more rounded decision before buying. This time, not one of the reviews seemed to reflect at all what I read. What I did read wasn’t at all what I expected. I thought this would be a dystopian novel about a nurse caring for a woman who is one of few pregnant after years of national infertility. It kind of is, but the focus isn’t on the pregnant woman or the infertility. It’s about Hazel and her life and she just happens to be assigned to one of the pregnant women, named Elise. The story is focused on Hazel’s innocence. She acts like a child in a dangerous world, untouched by years of poverty and living with an alcoholic father.
I didn’t care about Hazel or her romance, because frankly I don’t like romance novels. I like dsytopian novels and novels with conspiracies. That’s what attracted me to this novel initially. Between the writing level and Hazel’s attitude, I felt that this had a PG rating. Hazel isn’t a virgin, but she doesn’t do anymore than kiss. There is no cussing. There’s minor violence and the bare minimum of gore (all pregnancy related). Basically, there’s no “adult” in this adult novel. Also, although Hazel is narrating and a nurse, there is zero medical jargon. It cuts down on the realism factor.
And worse, the author pulled a Twilight! Remember book two where Stephanie Meyer skips over half of Bella’s year cause she’s lost in depression? All you get is September, October, November…Well…
July
August
September
Blank chapters that skip over most of Hazel’s interaction with Elise so that the details of pregnancy and nursing duties could be overlooked. Instead of learning about the miracles blossoming in these women’s wombs, we get page after page of Hazel doing mundane things like eating in the cafeteria with her coworkers. I’m really frustrated as a reader, because this book had so much potential but it felt like the author skirted around things that she wasn’t familiar with instead of researching nursing, pregnancy, and the like and producing an awesome novel.
And don’t get me started on the ending. Cliffhanger. Nothing is resolved. Have to wait for part two, but I don’t think I will.
I didn’t care about Hazel or her romance, because frankly I don’t like romance novels. I like dsytopian novels and novels with conspiracies. That’s what attracted me to this novel initially. Between the writing level and Hazel’s attitude, I felt that this had a PG rating. Hazel isn’t a virgin, but she doesn’t do anymore than kiss. There is no cussing. There’s minor violence and the bare minimum of gore (all pregnancy related). Basically, there’s no “adult” in this adult novel. Also, although Hazel is narrating and a nurse, there is zero medical jargon. It cuts down on the realism factor.
And worse, the author pulled a Twilight! Remember book two where Stephanie Meyer skips over half of Bella’s year cause she’s lost in depression? All you get is September, October, November…Well…
July
August
September
Blank chapters that skip over most of Hazel’s interaction with Elise so that the details of pregnancy and nursing duties could be overlooked. Instead of learning about the miracles blossoming in these women’s wombs, we get page after page of Hazel doing mundane things like eating in the cafeteria with her coworkers. I’m really frustrated as a reader, because this book had so much potential but it felt like the author skirted around things that she wasn’t familiar with instead of researching nursing, pregnancy, and the like and producing an awesome novel.
And don’t get me started on the ending. Cliffhanger. Nothing is resolved. Have to wait for part two, but I don’t think I will.
June 28, 2012
(June 25th 2012) I just started reading this book today and really didn't want to put it down, but alas I had to go to work.
I am loving the characters and clear easy flow of the story so far. This is a book I would highly recommend to my friends to read and even though I haven't even finished reading it I know its going to be one that has me eagerly awaiting the next in the series ( Trilogy ).
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(June 27th 2012) I finished reading the book today and thoroughly enjoyed the story, characters and plot, I believe book two is due out later this summer and I cant wait to read more.
Claudia Carozza has created a great, believable world with wonderful characters, especially Hazel who i'm sure you'll soon grow to admire and love. Claudia is an author that i'm sure we'll see a lot more of as she has the abilty to tell a very good story.
The great thing about this book is it is suitable for all ages to read, the author relies on true storytelling skills instead of feeling the need to use swear words, sex and undue violence to spice the story up, but rest assured it lacks nothing for that. This book is certainly good enough to stand up on it's own against the best of the Dystopian literary genre out there.
Check it out, you'll love it :-)
------------------------------------------------
Below is the synopsis (copied) of the book:-
Imagine living in a time when infertility runs rampant and babies are no longer being born. The world is crumbling around you as people start talking about the end. This is the world Hazel DeSales grew up in. After her mother dies from a mysterious cancer, Hazel finds herself taking care of her younger sister Netty and alcoholic father.
It's not until twenty women, known as the Elect, become pregnant all across the Barronlands when things start looking up. Hazel and Netty apply for jobs working as domestics in the Antioch Center where the Elect will be taken care of and protected. Hazel feels change in the air and her outlook for the future starts to improve.
But she soon learns that change is not without consequence. Rumors are brewing about a government cover up and Hazel finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So begins the unraveling of secrets that uncover things from her past and, threatening her future. Hazel is determined to seek the truth and promises herself to do whatever it takes to succeed.
I am loving the characters and clear easy flow of the story so far. This is a book I would highly recommend to my friends to read and even though I haven't even finished reading it I know its going to be one that has me eagerly awaiting the next in the series ( Trilogy ).
----------------------------------------------
(June 27th 2012) I finished reading the book today and thoroughly enjoyed the story, characters and plot, I believe book two is due out later this summer and I cant wait to read more.
Claudia Carozza has created a great, believable world with wonderful characters, especially Hazel who i'm sure you'll soon grow to admire and love. Claudia is an author that i'm sure we'll see a lot more of as she has the abilty to tell a very good story.
The great thing about this book is it is suitable for all ages to read, the author relies on true storytelling skills instead of feeling the need to use swear words, sex and undue violence to spice the story up, but rest assured it lacks nothing for that. This book is certainly good enough to stand up on it's own against the best of the Dystopian literary genre out there.
Check it out, you'll love it :-)
------------------------------------------------
Below is the synopsis (copied) of the book:-
Imagine living in a time when infertility runs rampant and babies are no longer being born. The world is crumbling around you as people start talking about the end. This is the world Hazel DeSales grew up in. After her mother dies from a mysterious cancer, Hazel finds herself taking care of her younger sister Netty and alcoholic father.
It's not until twenty women, known as the Elect, become pregnant all across the Barronlands when things start looking up. Hazel and Netty apply for jobs working as domestics in the Antioch Center where the Elect will be taken care of and protected. Hazel feels change in the air and her outlook for the future starts to improve.
But she soon learns that change is not without consequence. Rumors are brewing about a government cover up and Hazel finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So begins the unraveling of secrets that uncover things from her past and, threatening her future. Hazel is determined to seek the truth and promises herself to do whatever it takes to succeed.
July 7, 2014
The Barronlands is divided into wards, and all of the tyrannical Officials rule out of First City in Ward 8, located at the center of the domain. Each ward beyond encircles the previous one, and the farther you get from the center, the worse conditions get. Hazel and her younger sister Netty live with their dad in Ward 7, and things wouldn’t be so bad if he hadn’t become a drunkard after their mother passed away from the cancer known as “The Affliction” that swept through the Barronlands when they were children, killing off large chunks of the population and leaving surviving women unable to conceive children.
The inability to conceive children is causing the population to dwindle, so everyone’s starting to wonder if the human race is even going to survive. Meanwhile, Hazel is forced to sell off as many of her family’s belongings as possible just to put food on the table, and she ventures into Ward 1 to purchase a gun to protect her family from thieves. Life in Ward 7 isn’t supposed to be this hard. But just when things are getting desperate for the human race and for Hazel’s family, twenty women are miraculously found in the Barronlands that have conceived children, and they are taken to the Antioch Center in Ward 8 to receive proper medical care from the best of the best. As a trained nurse, Hazel receives a job offer to care for one of the the twenty women at the Antioch Center, and her sister receives a job offer to work in the kitchen there, but she’ll have to leave behind her father and the mysterious Shane, a boy she’s developed feelings for over the past few months.
Once there, things seem to be looking up. Hazel makes friends, and starts getting close to Luka, the Lieutenant of security at the Antioch Center. But strange things start to happen. Hazel accidentally overhears bits of information that seem to point to the Officials being involved in shady business, including causing The Affliction. This puts her, and her family, in a grave situation, and she has to decide whether she’s going to stand up for what’s right or keep quiet to protect her family.
I had a lot of conflicting thoughts throughout this book, but overall I really did like it, and I look forward to the release of the next installment in this series. I’m giving this a strong 3.5 stars, and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of dystopian.
Read the full review at http://eatbooksforbreakfast.com/2013/....
The inability to conceive children is causing the population to dwindle, so everyone’s starting to wonder if the human race is even going to survive. Meanwhile, Hazel is forced to sell off as many of her family’s belongings as possible just to put food on the table, and she ventures into Ward 1 to purchase a gun to protect her family from thieves. Life in Ward 7 isn’t supposed to be this hard. But just when things are getting desperate for the human race and for Hazel’s family, twenty women are miraculously found in the Barronlands that have conceived children, and they are taken to the Antioch Center in Ward 8 to receive proper medical care from the best of the best. As a trained nurse, Hazel receives a job offer to care for one of the the twenty women at the Antioch Center, and her sister receives a job offer to work in the kitchen there, but she’ll have to leave behind her father and the mysterious Shane, a boy she’s developed feelings for over the past few months.
Once there, things seem to be looking up. Hazel makes friends, and starts getting close to Luka, the Lieutenant of security at the Antioch Center. But strange things start to happen. Hazel accidentally overhears bits of information that seem to point to the Officials being involved in shady business, including causing The Affliction. This puts her, and her family, in a grave situation, and she has to decide whether she’s going to stand up for what’s right or keep quiet to protect her family.
I had a lot of conflicting thoughts throughout this book, but overall I really did like it, and I look forward to the release of the next installment in this series. I’m giving this a strong 3.5 stars, and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of dystopian.
Read the full review at http://eatbooksforbreakfast.com/2013/....
June 22, 2012
Full review and author interview here: http://flyingonsilverwings.blogspot.c...
I found "The Twenty" to be an absolutely captivating read. When I read the blurb the first thing that came to mind was The Children of Men by P.D. James. There's something about a society that's been decimated by infertility and the prospect of human extinction that I find fascinating. The characters in this book are so well rounded and likable. I immediately liked and respected Hazel. She is selfless and will do whatever it takes to protect the people she cares about. She's self assured and amazingly strong willed, and when things get tough she squares her shoulders and marches ahead, even pushing everyone else behind her. Her sister, Netty, while still a likable character, is much more passive and even a little coddled. I love our two male characters, Shane and Luka. It's not often that I am faced with a love triangle where I don't immediately know which guy I want the girl to end up with...actually, I don't think that's ever happened. Until now. I love them both! Shane is more quiet and laid back, yet he's extremely passionate about what he believes in. Luka, on the other hand, is more demanding and controlling, but he definitely has a softer side. They are both amazing characters. The action and mystery in this book had me completely enthralled, and the ending left me begging for more. Seriously...I begged! "The Twenty" is the first book of the Barronlands Trilogy, and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on the next thrilling story so I can see where Hazel and her friends end up and what forces they are up against.
I found "The Twenty" to be an absolutely captivating read. When I read the blurb the first thing that came to mind was The Children of Men by P.D. James. There's something about a society that's been decimated by infertility and the prospect of human extinction that I find fascinating. The characters in this book are so well rounded and likable. I immediately liked and respected Hazel. She is selfless and will do whatever it takes to protect the people she cares about. She's self assured and amazingly strong willed, and when things get tough she squares her shoulders and marches ahead, even pushing everyone else behind her. Her sister, Netty, while still a likable character, is much more passive and even a little coddled. I love our two male characters, Shane and Luka. It's not often that I am faced with a love triangle where I don't immediately know which guy I want the girl to end up with...actually, I don't think that's ever happened. Until now. I love them both! Shane is more quiet and laid back, yet he's extremely passionate about what he believes in. Luka, on the other hand, is more demanding and controlling, but he definitely has a softer side. They are both amazing characters. The action and mystery in this book had me completely enthralled, and the ending left me begging for more. Seriously...I begged! "The Twenty" is the first book of the Barronlands Trilogy, and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on the next thrilling story so I can see where Hazel and her friends end up and what forces they are up against.
January 4, 2015
“The Twenty” by Claudia Carozza was an absolutely riveting read. I was enthralled by the style of Carozza’s writing. She seamlessly wove her words into a beautiful story of love, betrayal, destruction and hope. An extremely difficult task for any author, however, Carozza does it effortlessly.
When I first read the synopsis, it grabbed my attention because it reminded me of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The stories both include the plot of a barren society with just a few who can carry children. However, that is where the similarities end. Carozza actually injected hope into a desperate situation. And instead of passive characters, Carozza’s characters are very self-reliant and strong, proving that they can forge their own destiny. I liked “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but not as much as I liked “The Twenty.” Yes, I am serious. It was that good.
Plus, an added bonus is that “The Twenty” is the first novel of The Barronlands Trilogy. That makes me super happy because I cannot wait to find out how the story of Hazel progresses. I am also curious about Claudia Carozza, the author of “The Twenty.” She is a young author (& a fellow Taurus!) and I see a beautiful future for her in the world of books!
5 stars for “The Twenty”
When I first read the synopsis, it grabbed my attention because it reminded me of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The stories both include the plot of a barren society with just a few who can carry children. However, that is where the similarities end. Carozza actually injected hope into a desperate situation. And instead of passive characters, Carozza’s characters are very self-reliant and strong, proving that they can forge their own destiny. I liked “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but not as much as I liked “The Twenty.” Yes, I am serious. It was that good.
Plus, an added bonus is that “The Twenty” is the first novel of The Barronlands Trilogy. That makes me super happy because I cannot wait to find out how the story of Hazel progresses. I am also curious about Claudia Carozza, the author of “The Twenty.” She is a young author (& a fellow Taurus!) and I see a beautiful future for her in the world of books!
5 stars for “The Twenty”
July 19, 2012
The Twenty is an interesting book that I decided to read because it takes place in a dystopian world where there had an epidemic that wiped out all the humans. Then comes along a new government where you are ranked by which ward you reside in. The farthest ward you are from First City the less and less power the government has control of you and if they even care at all. The Twenty is about a group of twenty women who are pregnant during a time where it's very rare, and crying babies would stir a whole ward. So then comes along Hazel DeSales and she finds a job working for the government which she knows is corrupt, but when her drunken father's paychecks are coming in smaller and longer amounts of time she has to give somethings up to live. Hazel becomes a nurse for one of the Twenty and hears things she shouldn't when Hazel is in the shadows. I really liked this idea when I first read the summary because it was different from all the other dystopian books that are out there. Claudia Carozza's writing was very simple, but what I really loved about the novel is because she keeps a good pace and makes me be on the edge of my seat, constantly. I also love how she built up the world. Having certain things that seem mundane to us, feel like an alien to the people in this world. I think, unlike most dystopian novels there isn't much technology advancement in The Twenty. In my mind when I think of the wards that people live in other than 8, I think of a ghost town, or a very unkempt town. I still what to know what First City and ward 8 really look like.
Hazel DeSales is the female protagonist and she has some boy problems amongst many others. I could just feel the love triangle as soon as Shane came into the novel. Btw I'm on team Shane, if there is a team. I personally don't like Luka. My first impression of him was, "He's going to betray them." That was a very harsh thing to assume, but honestly I haven't warmed up to him and from the looks of where things going I feel like he's going to be the one. There were some characters that I have a lot of faith in. For example, Elisa Montgomery one of the Twenty whom Hazel nurses throughout her pregnancy. Elisa to me is a very strong character and I think if she wasn't pregnant and she had another role in the novel she'd kick butt. The "bad guys" didn't scare me honestly. They didn't make me think, "Well, this is going to be very very bad," or something along those lines. Yes, there are somethings that are kind of spoilers that are sins, but I don't see why they are doing the things that they are. The government is very secretive and I really want to know what they are going to do with the babies of the Twenty because it seems like something big is going to occur.
The Twenty for me, was a very quick summer read and if I had time probably could finish in a day or some hours. The novel has a very fast pace, and the scenery isn't too advance that I'm constantly wondering and daydreaming about the wards and the buildings.
I feel like this sort of story could happen in some way. I don't know how and why, but there seems to be a truth in it. I really love how Claudia Carozza didn't particularly shy away from unpleasing things because that's how the world that Hazel lives in is. Where the police don't care, and the crack heads are everywhere.
I am defo going to read the second book in the trilogy when it comes out and I want to check out Claudia Carozza's upcoming new series coming later this year. I'm very excited about the next The Twenty novel because this one leaves off with a huge cliff hanger, which I really wanted to be resolved in this novel because we all saw it coming. So, in conclusion I give Claudia Carozza's debut dystopian novel a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)
Please check out my blog at http://readrw.blogspot.com/
Hazel DeSales is the female protagonist and she has some boy problems amongst many others. I could just feel the love triangle as soon as Shane came into the novel. Btw I'm on team Shane, if there is a team. I personally don't like Luka. My first impression of him was, "He's going to betray them." That was a very harsh thing to assume, but honestly I haven't warmed up to him and from the looks of where things going I feel like he's going to be the one. There were some characters that I have a lot of faith in. For example, Elisa Montgomery one of the Twenty whom Hazel nurses throughout her pregnancy. Elisa to me is a very strong character and I think if she wasn't pregnant and she had another role in the novel she'd kick butt. The "bad guys" didn't scare me honestly. They didn't make me think, "Well, this is going to be very very bad," or something along those lines. Yes, there are somethings that are kind of spoilers that are sins, but I don't see why they are doing the things that they are. The government is very secretive and I really want to know what they are going to do with the babies of the Twenty because it seems like something big is going to occur.
The Twenty for me, was a very quick summer read and if I had time probably could finish in a day or some hours. The novel has a very fast pace, and the scenery isn't too advance that I'm constantly wondering and daydreaming about the wards and the buildings.
I feel like this sort of story could happen in some way. I don't know how and why, but there seems to be a truth in it. I really love how Claudia Carozza didn't particularly shy away from unpleasing things because that's how the world that Hazel lives in is. Where the police don't care, and the crack heads are everywhere.
I am defo going to read the second book in the trilogy when it comes out and I want to check out Claudia Carozza's upcoming new series coming later this year. I'm very excited about the next The Twenty novel because this one leaves off with a huge cliff hanger, which I really wanted to be resolved in this novel because we all saw it coming. So, in conclusion I give Claudia Carozza's debut dystopian novel a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)
Please check out my blog at http://readrw.blogspot.com/
September 4, 2012
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very enjoyable for me. I was prepared to spend a lot of time hearing about Hazel and I found her to be a rather interesting character, so this wasn’t a problem for me at all. Hazel lives in a world where the human race is going to be extinct soon, it’s just thought to be a fact. Babies are not being born, women are not getting pregnant, and the cancer epidemic that wiped out much of the population seems to blame. First, let me talk about Hazel and her family a little bit. Hazel is very codependent. Normally this is something that bothers me in a character but for her it makes complete sense. Her mother died of cancer and her father is drinking himself to death in her absence, leaving Hazel to essentially become the woman of the house and handle all the responsibilities. So in this way it makes sense that she is codependent, she has been forced into an adult role long before she was ready for it.
The premise of this book is that seemingly out of nowhere 20 women have become pregnant. Since these women are the hope for all of the human race, they are going to be taken to the most secure facility around to be catered to until they give birth. I suppose I can understand this mentality but it was a pretty big giveaway that this was going to be linked to the government somehow once they start segregating these women from the rest of society. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t see more of these women. Mostly we see then during the limited time that Hazel spends with them, mainly while they are eating, bathing, or going to the doctor. I didn’t necessarily dislike this, but these women are the key to the survival of human beings so I was hoping they’d be a bigger focus.
I was absolutely thrilled to see that we avoided any insta-love in this book! I can’t stand insta-love in stories because it isn’t real and it isn’t love. But we didn’t have this in this book and I appreciated it. I really liked Shane. Granted, he came off a bit stalkerish to begin with but that quickly went away and I thought he was a very good match for Hazel. They got along well and seemed comfortable with each other and things were moving along at a natural pace. But then Hazel gets her job with the Elect and Shane neglects to write or make any kind of contact with her at all. Rather than have Hazel shrug her shoulders and think, well it was a budding relationship anyway, and move on she broods. I honestly couldn’t understand why she was thinking about him so much. They only knew each other for a few weeks I believe, so what’s the big deal? This is when I began to suspect that a love triangle was brewing. Insert sigh here. Then she meets Luca. Luca is an awesome guy. He’s smart, protective, and sweet. But he’s protective in a chivalrous way, not a jerk way. I was practically shouting at my book for Hazel to fall for him..and she does. They take their relationship nice and slow and it forms very natural and sweetly and I LOVED it! Then at the end I was confused again when she starts freaking out about seeing Shane again. I thought we were in love with Luca, so why are we still moaning about Shane? Consider me scratching my head on that one.
I also liked the idea of people “disappearing” if they ask too many questions or find out too much information. I was interested to see where this went and I wasn’t disappointed. Overall this book was probably 3.5 stars for plot alone, but with my added enjoyment of the book it bumps it up into 4 stars.
This and other great reviews at Stefani's World of Words
This book was very enjoyable for me. I was prepared to spend a lot of time hearing about Hazel and I found her to be a rather interesting character, so this wasn’t a problem for me at all. Hazel lives in a world where the human race is going to be extinct soon, it’s just thought to be a fact. Babies are not being born, women are not getting pregnant, and the cancer epidemic that wiped out much of the population seems to blame. First, let me talk about Hazel and her family a little bit. Hazel is very codependent. Normally this is something that bothers me in a character but for her it makes complete sense. Her mother died of cancer and her father is drinking himself to death in her absence, leaving Hazel to essentially become the woman of the house and handle all the responsibilities. So in this way it makes sense that she is codependent, she has been forced into an adult role long before she was ready for it.
The premise of this book is that seemingly out of nowhere 20 women have become pregnant. Since these women are the hope for all of the human race, they are going to be taken to the most secure facility around to be catered to until they give birth. I suppose I can understand this mentality but it was a pretty big giveaway that this was going to be linked to the government somehow once they start segregating these women from the rest of society. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t see more of these women. Mostly we see then during the limited time that Hazel spends with them, mainly while they are eating, bathing, or going to the doctor. I didn’t necessarily dislike this, but these women are the key to the survival of human beings so I was hoping they’d be a bigger focus.
I was absolutely thrilled to see that we avoided any insta-love in this book! I can’t stand insta-love in stories because it isn’t real and it isn’t love. But we didn’t have this in this book and I appreciated it. I really liked Shane. Granted, he came off a bit stalkerish to begin with but that quickly went away and I thought he was a very good match for Hazel. They got along well and seemed comfortable with each other and things were moving along at a natural pace. But then Hazel gets her job with the Elect and Shane neglects to write or make any kind of contact with her at all. Rather than have Hazel shrug her shoulders and think, well it was a budding relationship anyway, and move on she broods. I honestly couldn’t understand why she was thinking about him so much. They only knew each other for a few weeks I believe, so what’s the big deal? This is when I began to suspect that a love triangle was brewing. Insert sigh here. Then she meets Luca. Luca is an awesome guy. He’s smart, protective, and sweet. But he’s protective in a chivalrous way, not a jerk way. I was practically shouting at my book for Hazel to fall for him..and she does. They take their relationship nice and slow and it forms very natural and sweetly and I LOVED it! Then at the end I was confused again when she starts freaking out about seeing Shane again. I thought we were in love with Luca, so why are we still moaning about Shane? Consider me scratching my head on that one.
I also liked the idea of people “disappearing” if they ask too many questions or find out too much information. I was interested to see where this went and I wasn’t disappointed. Overall this book was probably 3.5 stars for plot alone, but with my added enjoyment of the book it bumps it up into 4 stars.
This and other great reviews at Stefani's World of Words
July 9, 2012
I received this book in a GoodReads first-read giveaway.
The Twenty takes place in a dystopian future where infertility is the result of an epidemic plague call the Affliction.
Just when it appears mankind may be going extinct, twenty young girls become pregnant and the government takes them into the Capitol city ward to protect them during their pregnancies. They are referred to as ‘The Elects’.
Main character Hazel, and her sister Netty are chosen to go to work for the government at the Antitoch Centre in the Capitol city ward – Hazel as a nurse assistant to one of the Elects and Netty as a cafeteria worker. They leave behind their useless father who has become an alcoholic since becoming a widow after Hazel and Netty’s mother dies from the Affliction. Hazel also leaves behind a ‘guy friend’ named Shane who she’s kinda/sorta but not really in a relationship with. He wants to protect and help her. He makes her heart do flipflops.
After she “accidentally” overhears a couple of key conversations, Hazel discovers some of the government workers at the Centre may be up to no-good and corrupted. *surprise!* She realizes she knows things … things that make her a target and soon she is physically threatened and now she KNOWS her life is in danger.
Enter Luka. (hubba hubba)
He’s a security guard for the Antitoch Centre who also knows the government is corrupt and he is trying to find proof of their wrong doings. He likes Hazel and wants to protect and help her. He makes her heart do flipflops too.
This balances out the love triangle nicely.
It’s time to get the hell out of Dodge (aka the Capitol city) when it becomes apparent Hazel and her sister are on the government’s hit list. Resulting in Hazel, Luka and their small group of rebels breaking out of the Antitoch Centre in search of safety and, ultimately, the answers to what the government is up to, what their role was in the plague that killed so many citizens and what their nefarious plans are for the ‘Elects’.
I found there to be more than a few plot line and character similarities between The Twenty and The Hunger Games and possibly even Divergent a little too. Maybe it was how the future United States was divided into different wards/districts and each area being known for certain characteristics and/or helpfulness or usefulness to where ever the Capitol city is. Although, to be fair, there is a fertility issue and young, pregnant girls in this book, so that’s completely different (but then, that part reminds me a little bit of The Handmaid’s Tale).
I’m not sure if any parallels were on purpose or coincidental, but I guess, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter in the end.
Similarities to other books aside, I actually liked The Twenty. Overall, it was well written and paced nicely. I liked the characters and the story kept me interested the entire time. If we were allowed to give half-stars I probably would have gone with a 3.5 instead of the 4. Because I liked it as much as I did and I think this series has a lot of potential and room for improvement … I rounded up.
For some reason, I didn’t realize it was the first book in a trilogy, so I started getting pretty nervous toward the end trying to figure out how the author was going to wrap things up when there were so few pages left in the book.
Needless to say, it ended on a fairly nail-biting cliffhanger (so now I’m going to be carrying a worry around for the fate of these characters until I can get my hands on and read books 2 and 3 in this series) LOL
I think this series will be VERY popular among YA readers.
The Twenty takes place in a dystopian future where infertility is the result of an epidemic plague call the Affliction.
Just when it appears mankind may be going extinct, twenty young girls become pregnant and the government takes them into the Capitol city ward to protect them during their pregnancies. They are referred to as ‘The Elects’.
Main character Hazel, and her sister Netty are chosen to go to work for the government at the Antitoch Centre in the Capitol city ward – Hazel as a nurse assistant to one of the Elects and Netty as a cafeteria worker. They leave behind their useless father who has become an alcoholic since becoming a widow after Hazel and Netty’s mother dies from the Affliction. Hazel also leaves behind a ‘guy friend’ named Shane who she’s kinda/sorta but not really in a relationship with. He wants to protect and help her. He makes her heart do flipflops.
After she “accidentally” overhears a couple of key conversations, Hazel discovers some of the government workers at the Centre may be up to no-good and corrupted. *surprise!* She realizes she knows things … things that make her a target and soon she is physically threatened and now she KNOWS her life is in danger.
Enter Luka. (hubba hubba)
He’s a security guard for the Antitoch Centre who also knows the government is corrupt and he is trying to find proof of their wrong doings. He likes Hazel and wants to protect and help her. He makes her heart do flipflops too.
This balances out the love triangle nicely.
It’s time to get the hell out of Dodge (aka the Capitol city) when it becomes apparent Hazel and her sister are on the government’s hit list. Resulting in Hazel, Luka and their small group of rebels breaking out of the Antitoch Centre in search of safety and, ultimately, the answers to what the government is up to, what their role was in the plague that killed so many citizens and what their nefarious plans are for the ‘Elects’.
I found there to be more than a few plot line and character similarities between The Twenty and The Hunger Games and possibly even Divergent a little too. Maybe it was how the future United States was divided into different wards/districts and each area being known for certain characteristics and/or helpfulness or usefulness to where ever the Capitol city is. Although, to be fair, there is a fertility issue and young, pregnant girls in this book, so that’s completely different (but then, that part reminds me a little bit of The Handmaid’s Tale).
I’m not sure if any parallels were on purpose or coincidental, but I guess, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter in the end.
Similarities to other books aside, I actually liked The Twenty. Overall, it was well written and paced nicely. I liked the characters and the story kept me interested the entire time. If we were allowed to give half-stars I probably would have gone with a 3.5 instead of the 4. Because I liked it as much as I did and I think this series has a lot of potential and room for improvement … I rounded up.
For some reason, I didn’t realize it was the first book in a trilogy, so I started getting pretty nervous toward the end trying to figure out how the author was going to wrap things up when there were so few pages left in the book.
Needless to say, it ended on a fairly nail-biting cliffhanger (so now I’m going to be carrying a worry around for the fate of these characters until I can get my hands on and read books 2 and 3 in this series) LOL
I think this series will be VERY popular among YA readers.
January 20, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review through the Making Connections group on Goodreads.
As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book, and I was not disappointed! The concept behind it seemed so plausible, it gave me chills just thinking about it. Cancer affects so many people, both survivors and victims, and many women are affected by infertility. In my mind, it wouldn't be a stretch for cancer and infertility to run rampant one day. That's why the idea behind this book is brilliant and at the same time scary. It seems realistic, something that could really happen, and if it did, would our society become like the one the main character, Hazel, faces?
I fell in love with Shane right away! When he rescued Hazel from a group of dangerous men in the first ward, it only endeared me to him even more. I liked the easygoing, natural relationship that blossomed between Hazel and Shane. He hates the Officials, and he is rebellious. He brings up ideas and thoughts to Hazel that open her eyes to the way life is for them, but she also seems to accept things the way they are and goes on. He wants change. He wants to do something about the conditions they all live in. And he wants Hazel to be by his side taking action along with him. I admired that.
Hazel is hired as a nurse while her sister Netty is hired to work in the kitchen taking care of the twenty pregnant women. I worried just as much as Hazel did about Shane forgetting her while she was away doing this job because he hates the Officials so much and wasn't exactly supportive of her new job. While I loved Shane right away, I found myself liking Lukas but also feeling wary of him. He and his friend Chris work for security, and I was skeptical of security being needed for the Elect because the building seems to be really secure as it is. I had a feeling security was more for the workers and the pregnant women themselves--in case anyone got out of hand or discovered something he/she wasn't supposed to know or find out about. I didn't always trust Lukas and Chris.
Elise is eighteen, and the girl to whom Hazel is assigned to care for. Elise's character was a surprise--she has a certain vulnerability but is also strong. I would like to think I could be as strong as she is, but I'm doubtful. She finds herself in a situation I couldn't even imagine, and I don't think I would've handled myself as well as she did. She and Shane are definitely the two characters I found myself drawn to.
Throughout the book, there's an undercurrent of sinister plans for the girls and the babies they are about to have. Will the babies be taken from them? Will they be tested and/or experimented on? I loved the suspense and action--I had all kinds of theories as to what is going on. I love it when I'm reading a book and I know that absolutely anything can happen.
The only thing keeping me from giving this book five stars instead of four was my disappointment that the summer months were skipped over, but there's always the chance of flashbacks in the next book. I think skipping three months was jarring to the story and some momentum of the story was lost. I can't wait to read the next installment of this trilogy and find out where the story will take me next!
As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book, and I was not disappointed! The concept behind it seemed so plausible, it gave me chills just thinking about it. Cancer affects so many people, both survivors and victims, and many women are affected by infertility. In my mind, it wouldn't be a stretch for cancer and infertility to run rampant one day. That's why the idea behind this book is brilliant and at the same time scary. It seems realistic, something that could really happen, and if it did, would our society become like the one the main character, Hazel, faces?
I fell in love with Shane right away! When he rescued Hazel from a group of dangerous men in the first ward, it only endeared me to him even more. I liked the easygoing, natural relationship that blossomed between Hazel and Shane. He hates the Officials, and he is rebellious. He brings up ideas and thoughts to Hazel that open her eyes to the way life is for them, but she also seems to accept things the way they are and goes on. He wants change. He wants to do something about the conditions they all live in. And he wants Hazel to be by his side taking action along with him. I admired that.
Hazel is hired as a nurse while her sister Netty is hired to work in the kitchen taking care of the twenty pregnant women. I worried just as much as Hazel did about Shane forgetting her while she was away doing this job because he hates the Officials so much and wasn't exactly supportive of her new job. While I loved Shane right away, I found myself liking Lukas but also feeling wary of him. He and his friend Chris work for security, and I was skeptical of security being needed for the Elect because the building seems to be really secure as it is. I had a feeling security was more for the workers and the pregnant women themselves--in case anyone got out of hand or discovered something he/she wasn't supposed to know or find out about. I didn't always trust Lukas and Chris.
Elise is eighteen, and the girl to whom Hazel is assigned to care for. Elise's character was a surprise--she has a certain vulnerability but is also strong. I would like to think I could be as strong as she is, but I'm doubtful. She finds herself in a situation I couldn't even imagine, and I don't think I would've handled myself as well as she did. She and Shane are definitely the two characters I found myself drawn to.
Throughout the book, there's an undercurrent of sinister plans for the girls and the babies they are about to have. Will the babies be taken from them? Will they be tested and/or experimented on? I loved the suspense and action--I had all kinds of theories as to what is going on. I love it when I'm reading a book and I know that absolutely anything can happen.
The only thing keeping me from giving this book five stars instead of four was my disappointment that the summer months were skipped over, but there's always the chance of flashbacks in the next book. I think skipping three months was jarring to the story and some momentum of the story was lost. I can't wait to read the next installment of this trilogy and find out where the story will take me next!
September 26, 2012
I had this book for a while, but when I saw the cover of the 2nd book on the author's website, I had to start reading it. And let me say, I regret not reading it sooner.
Hazel lives in Ward Seven of the Barronlands (her country) that had been dominated by cancer. That cancer started an infertility disease. So now, no female can get pregnant. Hazel takes care of her younger sister, Netty and her drunk father. She has lived on her mother's jewels and money for years but they are running out and she has to find a job soon. Suddenly, twenty women, called The Elect, get pregnant across the Barronlands. The government looks for domestics to take care of them, Hazel and Netty apply for the job. Strangely, both of them are accepted.
Hazel arrives at Ward Eight, and gets to meet her Elect, Elisa. Elisa is fragile and had a hard time with her pregnancy. But Hazel is just glad for the amount of money she can make, although she can't see her sister as much as she likes. Hazel makes new friends, the lovely Maria, and the adorable Luka. But when Hazel is in the wrong place at the wrong time, she hear something that will cost her life if anyone knew. But someone does know, and he is assigned to kill her...
What is the government hiding? Will Hazel be able to save her life? And will she surrender to Luka's charm or has she left her heart at home? Find out much more when you read this exhilarating, action-packed novel that will make you say goodbye to sleep and bite out all your nails...
I LOVED this book. Finished it in ONE setting. I honestly couldn't put it down. Claudia Carozza has a beautiful writing style. You can imagine everything she writes. I loved how her world building. The characters are AWESOME! Hazel is a head-strong, always-reasonable, adorable young woman. I would love to have her as a friend! Netty, Hazel's sister is also very realistic and she acts exactly like younger sisters. Loved her! The boys, oh God, they were so love-able. Shane is gorgeous, but vulnerable, and he has different colored eyes, ohmigod! I loved Luka's protectiveness and I envied Hazel every time he laid hands on her. :P
The only little flaw this book had was that it was a little slow at the beginning, but it got much better throughout. I can't wait for the sequel, The Forgotten. If you want an exhilarating, believable, imaginary dystopian one-in-a-million novel then this is the ONE and ONLY!
You NEED to get your hands on this. Like..... right now! PLEASE!
Hazel lives in Ward Seven of the Barronlands (her country) that had been dominated by cancer. That cancer started an infertility disease. So now, no female can get pregnant. Hazel takes care of her younger sister, Netty and her drunk father. She has lived on her mother's jewels and money for years but they are running out and she has to find a job soon. Suddenly, twenty women, called The Elect, get pregnant across the Barronlands. The government looks for domestics to take care of them, Hazel and Netty apply for the job. Strangely, both of them are accepted.
Hazel arrives at Ward Eight, and gets to meet her Elect, Elisa. Elisa is fragile and had a hard time with her pregnancy. But Hazel is just glad for the amount of money she can make, although she can't see her sister as much as she likes. Hazel makes new friends, the lovely Maria, and the adorable Luka. But when Hazel is in the wrong place at the wrong time, she hear something that will cost her life if anyone knew. But someone does know, and he is assigned to kill her...
What is the government hiding? Will Hazel be able to save her life? And will she surrender to Luka's charm or has she left her heart at home? Find out much more when you read this exhilarating, action-packed novel that will make you say goodbye to sleep and bite out all your nails...
I LOVED this book. Finished it in ONE setting. I honestly couldn't put it down. Claudia Carozza has a beautiful writing style. You can imagine everything she writes. I loved how her world building. The characters are AWESOME! Hazel is a head-strong, always-reasonable, adorable young woman. I would love to have her as a friend! Netty, Hazel's sister is also very realistic and she acts exactly like younger sisters. Loved her! The boys, oh God, they were so love-able. Shane is gorgeous, but vulnerable, and he has different colored eyes, ohmigod! I loved Luka's protectiveness and I envied Hazel every time he laid hands on her. :P
The only little flaw this book had was that it was a little slow at the beginning, but it got much better throughout. I can't wait for the sequel, The Forgotten. If you want an exhilarating, believable, imaginary dystopian one-in-a-million novel then this is the ONE and ONLY!
You NEED to get your hands on this. Like..... right now! PLEASE!
May 28, 2013
My first thoughts after reading The Twenty was that fans of the Birthmarked Trilogy and The Hunger Games would enjoy this book, my second thought was, if I can be blunt, the book needs some work. While I found the story and plot to be interesting the writing, character development and world development fell flat. I didn't feel any real connection to the characters or their relationships with one another. There was a scene where they are about to be ::spoiler:: caught escaping ::end spoiler:: and I didn't really feel that anticipation or fear of what would happen to the characters, I didn't feel enough of a bond or understanding of the characters to care if they lived or died. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book because the plot is very interesting but like I said, the book needs more development. The author dives in and makes very straight to the point statements, no description is given about the setting or a back story about the Barronlands. Their are a lot of characters that are introduced and then pushed to the wayside; for example Shane. He is introduced within the first couple chapters of the book and he seems like he will be a potential love interest for the main character, Hazel. The two spend almost everyday together for a month but we see none of it. So when Hazel thinks about Shane with longing I have no idea why she misses him because as a reader I don't know who Shane is and how he and Hazel have bonded. The main focus, according to the synopsis, is that Hazel is suppose to be taking care of Elisa, one of the twenty women who are pregnant. So much information could have been given here but instead a Stephenie Meyer was pulled. Instead of learning about Elisa, the other pregnant women, and the society they live in where pregnancy is extremely rare the author has empty chapters with the months that have passed by. This proved no information to the reader.
I know this sounds like a really critical review, but I'm just being honest. The book has a lot of flaws, but the story is interesting. I've already picked up the next book and have started reading it. I'm only about 30% in and have noticed a major improvement in the writing and I'm hoping that we get to learn more about the situations presented in The Twenty and its sequel. I'll update you on what I think of this next book!
Rating: ★★ 2.5/5
I know this sounds like a really critical review, but I'm just being honest. The book has a lot of flaws, but the story is interesting. I've already picked up the next book and have started reading it. I'm only about 30% in and have noticed a major improvement in the writing and I'm hoping that we get to learn more about the situations presented in The Twenty and its sequel. I'll update you on what I think of this next book!
Rating: ★★ 2.5/5
July 21, 2012
This story is set in a time after an Affliction has depleted the population with a "cancer" and all women have become barren. Then twenty women become pregnant and are taken into custody by the Officials. They are taken under the guise of being cared for until their children are born so that doctors can study them and the the children to find a cure for the Affliction and infertility that plague their society.
The story follows Hazel and her sister who are hired to work in the facility where the mothers are being held. Hazel learns too much about things that the Officials would do anything to keep secret and people often disappear when they know too much.
I thought that the characters were well developed, but just when I was getting into the story it ended. This is part of a series, but I just felt that it was too short and ended before anything really happened. I will definitely read the next in the series when it comes out, but I was left a little disappointed that this one ended so abruptly.
I received this book to review from the Goodreads group Making Connections. Thank you to the author and the moderators of the group for providing this book for review. I really appreciate it and look forward to the next book in the series.
The story follows Hazel and her sister who are hired to work in the facility where the mothers are being held. Hazel learns too much about things that the Officials would do anything to keep secret and people often disappear when they know too much.
I thought that the characters were well developed, but just when I was getting into the story it ended. This is part of a series, but I just felt that it was too short and ended before anything really happened. I will definitely read the next in the series when it comes out, but I was left a little disappointed that this one ended so abruptly.
I received this book to review from the Goodreads group Making Connections. Thank you to the author and the moderators of the group for providing this book for review. I really appreciate it and look forward to the next book in the series.
September 28, 2012
Although the conflict in the storyline is different, my first impressions were that this book is really similar to The Hunger Games as it was set in a time when there are segregated 'wards' and classes of societies, a younger sister that leans on the older sister, and a group of oppressed classes that are trying to overthrow the wealthy 'officials'.
Doesn't really live up to The Hunger Games standard (but then again they are big shoes to fill) andI thought that some of the characters were really simplistic and lacked a little depth, but there was enough action and movement in the storyline to make it a good easy read while on the train commute to/from work everyday.
Being the first part of a trilogy I am interested enough to want to keep on reading the second one, but didn't think it was anything to rave about.
Doesn't really live up to The Hunger Games standard (but then again they are big shoes to fill) andI thought that some of the characters were really simplistic and lacked a little depth, but there was enough action and movement in the storyline to make it a good easy read while on the train commute to/from work everyday.
Being the first part of a trilogy I am interested enough to want to keep on reading the second one, but didn't think it was anything to rave about.
June 25, 2012
I won this on first-reads.
A beautiful intro for a dystopian romance series. The lovely world of the barronlands and the mysteries ward eight holds are enchanting and hold twists at every turn. The author introduces lovable characters with guts and guns, and one mysterious character who hovers on your subconscious. Waiting for the next one!
A beautiful intro for a dystopian romance series. The lovely world of the barronlands and the mysteries ward eight holds are enchanting and hold twists at every turn. The author introduces lovable characters with guts and guns, and one mysterious character who hovers on your subconscious. Waiting for the next one!
September 29, 2012
I know, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but as soon as I saw this one I knew I wanted to read it. I love dystopians and this was no exception. The idea was original from any others i have read and I found it an easy quick read. Can't wait for the sequel :) x
July 17, 2012
This is the first book in a trilogy. As of right now, I'm not sure if I'll get the second book. The book ends in a cliffhanger and I'm intrigued to see what happens next. But, the writing was amateurish and the story line was a bit flat.
July 1, 2012
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway!
November 4, 2012
If it had more depth to it I would have given five stars easily. The story was interesting it just needed more...soul
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