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Lens #1
The Designate: Lens, Book 1
In a world monitored by mind-manipulating implants, one young woman will risk everything for liberty.
Brooklyn, 2095. Seventeen-year-old Riley Taylor longs to escape the crushing poverty of the slums. Stuck with her best friend in a totalitarian police state, their only hope of freedom is joining the military. But when Riley gets ripped away from him in their first brutal combat, she’s shocked to discover why so many recruits come home in coffins.
Ultimately reunited on the front lines in the war for dwindling natural resources, she’s devastated to learn they wiped his memory. As they fight side by side, she vows to survive long enough to restore his recollection of their lost friendship. But with her state-issued chip recording her every move, digging into the corrupt regime could prove deadlier than the battlefield....
Can Riley save her best friend before the government steals her last shot at a new future?
Brooklyn, 2095. Seventeen-year-old Riley Taylor longs to escape the crushing poverty of the slums. Stuck with her best friend in a totalitarian police state, their only hope of freedom is joining the military. But when Riley gets ripped away from him in their first brutal combat, she’s shocked to discover why so many recruits come home in coffins.
Ultimately reunited on the front lines in the war for dwindling natural resources, she’s devastated to learn they wiped his memory. As they fight side by side, she vows to survive long enough to restore his recollection of their lost friendship. But with her state-issued chip recording her every move, digging into the corrupt regime could prove deadlier than the battlefield....
Can Riley save her best friend before the government steals her last shot at a new future?
423 pages, Audible Audio
Published April 21, 2020
1153 people are currently reading
860 people want to read
About the author
J.B. Cantwell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
January 18, 2021
This is so freaking good. That ending though! *tears*
I was so sure that Riley and Lydia were a thing, or at least I was totally wishing for it to happen.
I was so sure that Riley and Lydia were a thing, or at least I was totally wishing for it to happen.
December 9, 2019
The Designate
To say that I was disappointed with this book would be an understatement! It had so much potential! felt like the storyline had so much promise and then it just fell so far as I began reading. I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to finish the book. I feel like this book focused too much on the action and thrill of the story. However, it didn’t focus enough on the characters and building the relationships. This story had a hard time maintaining my interest and I had to push myself to finish. I would change a lot in the storyline. Also I came across a few editing errors. I would give this a 2.0
To say that I was disappointed with this book would be an understatement! It had so much potential! felt like the storyline had so much promise and then it just fell so far as I began reading. I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to finish the book. I feel like this book focused too much on the action and thrill of the story. However, it didn’t focus enough on the characters and building the relationships. This story had a hard time maintaining my interest and I had to push myself to finish. I would change a lot in the storyline. Also I came across a few editing errors. I would give this a 2.0
April 13, 2020
Definitely not the Hunger Games.
It's dystopian, it's a controlling government with a choke hold on the people, but it's still not written by Suzanne Collins. Which is exactly my point. I don't want another Hunger Games, but I would like a book just as well written and edited. I don't know if it's Collins' talent of storytelling or the editors used by her publisher, but I read those books straight through. Though I wasn't thrilled with the premise or the story as a whole, her ability to tell a story was captivating. Which is exactly what makes a good story. It doesn't matter if you like it, or how it ends. What matters is the telling of it. And that's exactly what this story lacks, a good telling.
Why do we watch Indiana Jones a thousand times over? Certainly not because of the true to life adventures! Because, as we all know, former Nazi soldiers are still roaming the earth unable to toss aside the uniforms of a long since vanquished regime, and searching for an ancient relic that possesses supernatural hauntings of death angels that serve to protect their relic from the despicable plans of the greedy. . . Yah. . . because that happens every day. . .
Despite the impossible and improbable of every Indiana Jones story, we still love to watch them because of their entertainment value. Steven Spielberg knows how to tell a story and tell it well!
So, if you're going to have inconsistencies or highly improbable premises, at the very least, make it enjoyable.
And to this day I don't know how she did it, but if you're going to be serious about your story, tell it in a way that engages and intrigues your readers. Like Suzanne Collins. I don't kmow how she did it, but she kept my interest all the way through and at the end I wished I had never wasted my time or money on those books. But. . . I still read them, didn't I?
It's dystopian, it's a controlling government with a choke hold on the people, but it's still not written by Suzanne Collins. Which is exactly my point. I don't want another Hunger Games, but I would like a book just as well written and edited. I don't know if it's Collins' talent of storytelling or the editors used by her publisher, but I read those books straight through. Though I wasn't thrilled with the premise or the story as a whole, her ability to tell a story was captivating. Which is exactly what makes a good story. It doesn't matter if you like it, or how it ends. What matters is the telling of it. And that's exactly what this story lacks, a good telling.
Why do we watch Indiana Jones a thousand times over? Certainly not because of the true to life adventures! Because, as we all know, former Nazi soldiers are still roaming the earth unable to toss aside the uniforms of a long since vanquished regime, and searching for an ancient relic that possesses supernatural hauntings of death angels that serve to protect their relic from the despicable plans of the greedy. . . Yah. . . because that happens every day. . .
Despite the impossible and improbable of every Indiana Jones story, we still love to watch them because of their entertainment value. Steven Spielberg knows how to tell a story and tell it well!
So, if you're going to have inconsistencies or highly improbable premises, at the very least, make it enjoyable.
And to this day I don't know how she did it, but if you're going to be serious about your story, tell it in a way that engages and intrigues your readers. Like Suzanne Collins. I don't kmow how she did it, but she kept my interest all the way through and at the end I wished I had never wasted my time or money on those books. But. . . I still read them, didn't I?
January 22, 2024
*mild spoiler alert*
Unless you’re on a mission to read every dystopian novel with a female protagonist, feel free to skip this one.
We meet struggling 17 year old Riley in impoverished Brooklyn. Which is exactly what she does for the rest of the novel - struggles, and moans, and whines, and complains.
There aren’t many options for a poor girl with little education in a flooding city ruined by climate change. She can keep surviving on government issued nutrition squares or she can join the army and get the benefits if she survives the 3 year tour. Hoping to escape her circumstances, Riley takes her chances with the army, knowing that only 1 in 5 recruits survive. Once in the training program she can’t complete the most mundane of tasks such as eating a bowl of mashed potatoes, or making a bed without having a meltdown. Relatively early on, we are told that Riley was accepted into the army despite having little physical ability because of her exceptional intelligence and valor scores, yet there is nothing in her observations, thoughts, or actions to suggest that she is exceptional in any way. Once deployed, and after some groundbreaking realizations that war is bad and freedom is good, Riley miraculously becomes a natural, resourceful, and brave squad leader. How this character development unfolded we are not told.
Other than that, it’s a relatively standard run of the mill futuristic dystopian setting and the story really could go anywhere, if you can take the bad writing and get through another four books. Everyday experiences such as blood drawing or running around the block are described in detail, while anything that could make this world interesting is glossed over. Controlling government, mandated neural implants and lenses, customized propaganda, hormonal treatments, body modifications, memory tempering, psychological reprogramming are all there, but for you to imagine on your own.
If you do decide to embark on this journey, take a shot every time Lydia snarls or Riley’s body parts throb.
Unless you’re on a mission to read every dystopian novel with a female protagonist, feel free to skip this one.
We meet struggling 17 year old Riley in impoverished Brooklyn. Which is exactly what she does for the rest of the novel - struggles, and moans, and whines, and complains.
There aren’t many options for a poor girl with little education in a flooding city ruined by climate change. She can keep surviving on government issued nutrition squares or she can join the army and get the benefits if she survives the 3 year tour. Hoping to escape her circumstances, Riley takes her chances with the army, knowing that only 1 in 5 recruits survive. Once in the training program she can’t complete the most mundane of tasks such as eating a bowl of mashed potatoes, or making a bed without having a meltdown. Relatively early on, we are told that Riley was accepted into the army despite having little physical ability because of her exceptional intelligence and valor scores, yet there is nothing in her observations, thoughts, or actions to suggest that she is exceptional in any way. Once deployed, and after some groundbreaking realizations that war is bad and freedom is good, Riley miraculously becomes a natural, resourceful, and brave squad leader. How this character development unfolded we are not told.
Other than that, it’s a relatively standard run of the mill futuristic dystopian setting and the story really could go anywhere, if you can take the bad writing and get through another four books. Everyday experiences such as blood drawing or running around the block are described in detail, while anything that could make this world interesting is glossed over. Controlling government, mandated neural implants and lenses, customized propaganda, hormonal treatments, body modifications, memory tempering, psychological reprogramming are all there, but for you to imagine on your own.
If you do decide to embark on this journey, take a shot every time Lydia snarls or Riley’s body parts throb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
This was a so so post apocalyptic dystopian book. It was a little too paint by numbers for me for most of the book. I will say the ending was excellent though, it saved it from being a two star book. I can't say I am excited to read the sequel and up until the very end I had zero interest in possibly reading it but that ending was really good and it does make me want to see what happens next. If you are going to have any part of your book be really good, make it the end!
#dystopian
#postapocalypse
#dystopian
#postapocalypse
October 24, 2022
It's hard to write a review about a whole book when the last page ends as it did. Good dystopian. Time was taken to build the world and the friendships. No love story, just a good friendship. Although it may be moving into a possible "more than friends".
January 5, 2023
Really badly written. The motivation for the characters is sketchy at best. Then, the mc is supposedly smart, according to a test, but then acts like an idiot throughout the book. No conviction or drive. She whines a lot. Can't make up her mind the entire time.
Just awful all around.
Just awful all around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
This started out as a decent, if cliched, idea, but is executed poorly.
The beginning of the book was heavily derivative of Divergent. The world has succumb to world wars and climate change (to the extreme degree as painted by hyperbolic activists). The main character joins the military in the hopes she'll survive and claim an extravagant bonus that's obviously a scam. Once in The Service, she goes through military training that makes NO SENSE. They basically throws out hundreds of years of doctrine and treat the soldiers are extremely disposable to the point where if someone is wounded and can't walk they're to be left behind. They create an environment where a soldier not only has no reason to not care about their fellow soldiers, but is encouraged to not care, to not look out for one another; help someone and you get punished. What? How does that make any sense? I get that the author is showing how they view human life as cheap and worthless, but that's a lot of wasted resources to train a soldier only to have them left for dead because they got shot in the leg.
Something else that didn't make sense is how the Oranges, people that were criminals (Red) and have served a term in The Service already. If they had already served a term, why are they going through raw recruit training? They're already trained and have experience. Why waste the resources when you can just send them back to the front?
The beginning of the book was heavily derivative of Divergent. The world has succumb to world wars and climate change (to the extreme degree as painted by hyperbolic activists). The main character joins the military in the hopes she'll survive and claim an extravagant bonus that's obviously a scam. Once in The Service, she goes through military training that makes NO SENSE. They basically throws out hundreds of years of doctrine and treat the soldiers are extremely disposable to the point where if someone is wounded and can't walk they're to be left behind. They create an environment where a soldier not only has no reason to not care about their fellow soldiers, but is encouraged to not care, to not look out for one another; help someone and you get punished. What? How does that make any sense? I get that the author is showing how they view human life as cheap and worthless, but that's a lot of wasted resources to train a soldier only to have them left for dead because they got shot in the leg.
Something else that didn't make sense is how the Oranges, people that were criminals (Red) and have served a term in The Service already. If they had already served a term, why are they going through raw recruit training? They're already trained and have experience. Why waste the resources when you can just send them back to the front?
June 24, 2019
Very interesting dystopian world. Touched on some consequences of polar icecaps melting that I never thought of, but there wasn't enough of that. Characters a bit one dimensional. A bit too much retelling of reasons and emotions between each action. So much so, I was begining to feel insulted. The second half of the book felt rushed compared to the detail of the first part. I can't say that I liked the MC either. But that's just me. Probably, (unless much time has passed and I can't find anything else to read) won't be reading the sequel. Even at Kindle Unlimited prices. Will browse other titles of this author just to see what else is on offer.
January 25, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC copy of this book.
I generally have pretty low standards for YA dystopians at this point. I have been desensitized by the many books that are just downright terrible. I have given up hope of a plot that isn’t full of plot holes or fluff while the author is trying to figure out what is really going to happen. I have given up hope that the ending will be a surprise or not predictable from the first few pages.
Cantwell has avoided every single issue I have with YA dystopian novels. There is no predictability, no giant plot holes that don’t appear unintentional (and explained later as Riley makes it further along in her adventure), and the main character has a ton of flaws that make her mess up. So much attention has been paid to why the world is at war and what that really means. There is a lot of world building done, but it doesn’t bash you over the head. You learn the world slowly, calmly. You learn so smoothly that before you realize it you are reacting with the characters in a way that is appropriate, which is a huge thing for dystopian books for me. If the reason the world is in shambles is not believable or able or drag me in, then it is hard to care. This isn’t a convoluted plot that is revealed only when it moves the plot forward, there is a whole world that is set up and is ready to be explored. It doesn’t feel like it was forced when the author hit a road block. It is so impressive in this genre.
The characters are complex. Riley is an abused kid who is just trying to make it by in life, but knows nothing about how the world really works which is played out in the novel so well. There are so many instances where Riley stumbles and does the exact wrong thing because she has no clue what she is doing. It blew my mind. I was rooting for her so hard, but if Cantwell kills her off for one of her mistakes I will not feel cheated. I actually want the main character to live! That is so rare in this genre. Normally after four hundred pages I am ready for the main character to die because there is little to no way that they are alive, the plot is full of “special kid” advancements (why do the adults always pick one kid to focus on and then hand them every tool needed to beat them? So easy to predict and is boring). This one has a little bit of “special kid” type plots, but not for the main character. It was an added mystery and wrench in the plot. Riley was not the special kid (outside of her test scores being high in the beginning which lead to her getting into the military despite a physical impairment. The plot goes much further with the kids that are deemed special with genetic modifying and wild sci-fi plots).
I could go on for a long time about how awesome this book is, but you could in the time you would have spent reading a longer review go and buy the book. Go get this book. I have read all the big names in the YA dystopian genre and the post-apocalyptic too. This blew me away. I was bored through The Hunger Games trilogy, I was yawning through The Last Star (and the other books in the series), laughing at how bad the Matched series was, and calling every twist and turn of Maximum Ride.
I got an ARC copy of this book.
I generally have pretty low standards for YA dystopians at this point. I have been desensitized by the many books that are just downright terrible. I have given up hope of a plot that isn’t full of plot holes or fluff while the author is trying to figure out what is really going to happen. I have given up hope that the ending will be a surprise or not predictable from the first few pages.
Cantwell has avoided every single issue I have with YA dystopian novels. There is no predictability, no giant plot holes that don’t appear unintentional (and explained later as Riley makes it further along in her adventure), and the main character has a ton of flaws that make her mess up. So much attention has been paid to why the world is at war and what that really means. There is a lot of world building done, but it doesn’t bash you over the head. You learn the world slowly, calmly. You learn so smoothly that before you realize it you are reacting with the characters in a way that is appropriate, which is a huge thing for dystopian books for me. If the reason the world is in shambles is not believable or able or drag me in, then it is hard to care. This isn’t a convoluted plot that is revealed only when it moves the plot forward, there is a whole world that is set up and is ready to be explored. It doesn’t feel like it was forced when the author hit a road block. It is so impressive in this genre.
The characters are complex. Riley is an abused kid who is just trying to make it by in life, but knows nothing about how the world really works which is played out in the novel so well. There are so many instances where Riley stumbles and does the exact wrong thing because she has no clue what she is doing. It blew my mind. I was rooting for her so hard, but if Cantwell kills her off for one of her mistakes I will not feel cheated. I actually want the main character to live! That is so rare in this genre. Normally after four hundred pages I am ready for the main character to die because there is little to no way that they are alive, the plot is full of “special kid” advancements (why do the adults always pick one kid to focus on and then hand them every tool needed to beat them? So easy to predict and is boring). This one has a little bit of “special kid” type plots, but not for the main character. It was an added mystery and wrench in the plot. Riley was not the special kid (outside of her test scores being high in the beginning which lead to her getting into the military despite a physical impairment. The plot goes much further with the kids that are deemed special with genetic modifying and wild sci-fi plots).
I could go on for a long time about how awesome this book is, but you could in the time you would have spent reading a longer review go and buy the book. Go get this book. I have read all the big names in the YA dystopian genre and the post-apocalyptic too. This blew me away. I was bored through The Hunger Games trilogy, I was yawning through The Last Star (and the other books in the series), laughing at how bad the Matched series was, and calling every twist and turn of Maximum Ride.
March 14, 2018
Not too far into the future, the US is fighting Canada for the most precious resource: fresh water. Depending on what propaganda has been fed, the US believes Canada is keeping the water for themselves as they are flourishing. Canada was willing to share the water, but at a price, and the US isn't willing to pay and would rather forcefully take the water.
In the US, they have advanced tech that requires every citizen to have an implant. It acts as an ID and feeds information into your vision, almost like Google Glass. There's a certain class system based on 3 colors: red, orange, green. As a green you have the option to join the service with a 3 year requirement. The benefit is money, but not many survive to read the end point. Reds are required to serve as a sentence for their crimes, the worse the crime, the longer they are required to serve. Oranges were reds who continue to serve to become greens and integrate back into society.
It's a very militaristic book. Selected recruits chosen to become super soldiers. There's a lot of action and fighting, tactical teams, strategy, even a resistance recruiting members, also a spy for the military in the midst. It's an enjoyable read and you are left with a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to reading more and finding out what happens. Note: I voluntarily review an Advanced Review Copy of this book.
In the US, they have advanced tech that requires every citizen to have an implant. It acts as an ID and feeds information into your vision, almost like Google Glass. There's a certain class system based on 3 colors: red, orange, green. As a green you have the option to join the service with a 3 year requirement. The benefit is money, but not many survive to read the end point. Reds are required to serve as a sentence for their crimes, the worse the crime, the longer they are required to serve. Oranges were reds who continue to serve to become greens and integrate back into society.
It's a very militaristic book. Selected recruits chosen to become super soldiers. There's a lot of action and fighting, tactical teams, strategy, even a resistance recruiting members, also a spy for the military in the midst. It's an enjoyable read and you are left with a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to reading more and finding out what happens. Note: I voluntarily review an Advanced Review Copy of this book.
August 7, 2022
3.5 stars. I liked this while I was listening, but I'm just not sure how much I'll remember. I was able to get the audio, included in AudiblePlus. I found had the kindle copy too (free 11/2019 and still available as part of Prime). A post-apocalyptic world, struggling to survive. The US is lacking fresh water and battling with Canada over water sources. Induction into the army is a way to get out of the gutter or work off crimes (red/orange/green designations). Some soldiers are genetically manipulated. There is an underground resistance.
Had six "Episodes" that each had 10+ chapters in. I wondered if this had been written as a serial or something, to be set up that way? The end of each "Episode" did have a sense of that part wrapping up (like the end of a television episode).
Emily Woo Zeller narrating - good, but a little bland at times. Hard to have the characters screaming, and what is the narrator to do? Scream the narration? Also, a LOT of "she said, he said, said, said, said" I did a search in the kindle copy ... 801 times. It felt like a lot. I think it's much more noticeable in audio, something I'd gloss over reading myself.
The sequels are in Kindle Unlimited, audio available for $7.50 ... but I'm not with KU right now and not feeling drawn in enough to spend $$ on books (I have a list a mile long at the library, these aren't at the libraries though).
Had six "Episodes" that each had 10+ chapters in. I wondered if this had been written as a serial or something, to be set up that way? The end of each "Episode" did have a sense of that part wrapping up (like the end of a television episode).
Emily Woo Zeller narrating - good, but a little bland at times. Hard to have the characters screaming, and what is the narrator to do? Scream the narration? Also, a LOT of "she said, he said, said, said, said" I did a search in the kindle copy ... 801 times. It felt like a lot. I think it's much more noticeable in audio, something I'd gloss over reading myself.
The sequels are in Kindle Unlimited, audio available for $7.50 ... but I'm not with KU right now and not feeling drawn in enough to spend $$ on books (I have a list a mile long at the library, these aren't at the libraries though).
September 13, 2022
YA POST APOCALYPTIC… not too far in the future ~2090 the USA has depleted and polluted itself into a climate mess and can barely sustain itself with water food etc…
The government and military are awful but often a stint in the “service” is the only option for teen and twenty somethings…
It’s super dismal. They are constantly at war with Canada over water rights. Canada has been a better steward of its resources and not as badly harmed by climate crisis.
The MC Riley Taylor age 17 signs up to fight because she’s too poor and alone for much else…
There are some interesting and inventive world views presented.. Riley can’t lie to save her life- not a great trait in a deceptive world and that is always disappointing characteristic for a supposed strong character. There is love interest and long time friend Alex - it doesn’t get too sappy but I wish they’d just been portrayed as friends as the love thing didn’t work for me tho it’s very mild in the book.
The story suffers from slowness and the MCs survive every episode where the rest of the team doesn’t make it… often a tad unrealistic. However the book kept me wanting to read more even tho I had this first in the series as a freebie.
I think there are five in the series so I may see what’s next and read on into book two.
The government and military are awful but often a stint in the “service” is the only option for teen and twenty somethings…
It’s super dismal. They are constantly at war with Canada over water rights. Canada has been a better steward of its resources and not as badly harmed by climate crisis.
The MC Riley Taylor age 17 signs up to fight because she’s too poor and alone for much else…
There are some interesting and inventive world views presented.. Riley can’t lie to save her life- not a great trait in a deceptive world and that is always disappointing characteristic for a supposed strong character. There is love interest and long time friend Alex - it doesn’t get too sappy but I wish they’d just been portrayed as friends as the love thing didn’t work for me tho it’s very mild in the book.
The story suffers from slowness and the MCs survive every episode where the rest of the team doesn’t make it… often a tad unrealistic. However the book kept me wanting to read more even tho I had this first in the series as a freebie.
I think there are five in the series so I may see what’s next and read on into book two.
December 10, 2023
Great Series, some significant copy editing errors in ebook format.
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series, it is well rounded with flawed characters doing their best. I have two faults with the editors more than the author: poor copy editing ie - causal clothes when casual was intended, etc. There were several of these sprinkled through the series, and never prevented understanding the intent of the writer, but were annoying. Perhaps the hard copies in print avoided these errors. Secondly as is common in the genre; A ridiculous timeline of five years from first contact to climax. There simply was no reason for each plateau of the story arc to be given such a brief fictional time span. Perhaps this was some effort to keep the heroin plausibly virginal, I didn't find it necessary to either keep her relationships platonic or to keep her on such a frenetic pace. A better editor should have made suggestions that helped relieve this conflict.
I was first introduced to this author and series through Kindle Unlimited read for free lending. I have since purchased the books separately and would enjoy an Audible edition in the future for my wife who prefers to listen rather than read. Despite my critique of the editors, my admiration of the writing craft is undiminished. Well don Ms Cantwell! I am following and looking forward to much more from this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series, it is well rounded with flawed characters doing their best. I have two faults with the editors more than the author: poor copy editing ie - causal clothes when casual was intended, etc. There were several of these sprinkled through the series, and never prevented understanding the intent of the writer, but were annoying. Perhaps the hard copies in print avoided these errors. Secondly as is common in the genre; A ridiculous timeline of five years from first contact to climax. There simply was no reason for each plateau of the story arc to be given such a brief fictional time span. Perhaps this was some effort to keep the heroin plausibly virginal, I didn't find it necessary to either keep her relationships platonic or to keep her on such a frenetic pace. A better editor should have made suggestions that helped relieve this conflict.
I was first introduced to this author and series through Kindle Unlimited read for free lending. I have since purchased the books separately and would enjoy an Audible edition in the future for my wife who prefers to listen rather than read. Despite my critique of the editors, my admiration of the writing craft is undiminished. Well don Ms Cantwell! I am following and looking forward to much more from this author.
April 17, 2023
The story takes place in 2074. By that time climate change has gotten really bad and the oceans have been rising as much as fifty feet in some places. This has resulted in coastal cities being flooded.
Riley is a 17 year old girl who lives in one of those cities. The situation is terrible but there is an out. If someone joins the military and survives three years they will be paid a great deal of money. Survival for three years, of course, is not very likely.
People at divided into groups and you can tell what group a person is in by a lens in one of your eyes. The greens are normal, the oranges are criminals the the reds are bad news.
Black? That's even worse.
So she joins, has to go through basic training and she gets assigned to the infantry. The book then goes into more training and your battle experience against the enemy. It's easy to see why the survival rate is low.
She learns there are two sides to every argument, though. Lots of fighting, dirty politics and future climate disaster.
Riley is a 17 year old girl who lives in one of those cities. The situation is terrible but there is an out. If someone joins the military and survives three years they will be paid a great deal of money. Survival for three years, of course, is not very likely.
People at divided into groups and you can tell what group a person is in by a lens in one of your eyes. The greens are normal, the oranges are criminals the the reds are bad news.
Black? That's even worse.
So she joins, has to go through basic training and she gets assigned to the infantry. The book then goes into more training and your battle experience against the enemy. It's easy to see why the survival rate is low.
She learns there are two sides to every argument, though. Lots of fighting, dirty politics and future climate disaster.
March 31, 2023
I had a lot of issues with this book, BUT I liked it and read it all. 5 stars...it was good.
The year is 2095; the world has suffered from wars and climate change. If you survive a 3-year military tour, you get rich, and almost no one services, but there are few options for the poor. The 17-year-old heroine, Pink, enlists.
What I liked:
-The story and it did not go the way I thought it would.
-The main character, Pink. She grows to be one tough girl. She definitely has a clear arch of growth.
-It showed the reluctance of many soldiers to take a life. We know this historically too.
-It kept changing scenes and situations and adding characters. Unpredictable, I had to keep reading.
What I didn't like:
-Inaccuracies in the details, in 2095, we should have about a three-foot rise, not 30 feet.
-The war and fight are over water rights. It didn't quite fit a scenario that seemed real to me-the big picture, if you will.
The year is 2095; the world has suffered from wars and climate change. If you survive a 3-year military tour, you get rich, and almost no one services, but there are few options for the poor. The 17-year-old heroine, Pink, enlists.
What I liked:
-The story and it did not go the way I thought it would.
-The main character, Pink. She grows to be one tough girl. She definitely has a clear arch of growth.
-It showed the reluctance of many soldiers to take a life. We know this historically too.
-It kept changing scenes and situations and adding characters. Unpredictable, I had to keep reading.
What I didn't like:
-Inaccuracies in the details, in 2095, we should have about a three-foot rise, not 30 feet.
-The war and fight are over water rights. It didn't quite fit a scenario that seemed real to me-the big picture, if you will.
December 27, 2023
PG-13: involves a lot of killing so is a touch graphic. The idea behind the book is really interesting! I really enjoyed reading it.
I would’ve liked this more though if there was more romance than the teeny tiny bit thrown in. I also wish there were a few experiences shared between “pink” and her best friend so we could truly understand how close they were and the importance of their relationship, it would’ve made us as the reader feel what she feels more when being separated from him and watching him be changed. When I feel like I’m the character in the book because of how my emotions play right a long with it than that’s how you know it’s well written. Their relationship feels like a sandwich without the meat to me even though they are obviously supposed to be pretty important to each other.
I would’ve liked this more though if there was more romance than the teeny tiny bit thrown in. I also wish there were a few experiences shared between “pink” and her best friend so we could truly understand how close they were and the importance of their relationship, it would’ve made us as the reader feel what she feels more when being separated from him and watching him be changed. When I feel like I’m the character in the book because of how my emotions play right a long with it than that’s how you know it’s well written. Their relationship feels like a sandwich without the meat to me even though they are obviously supposed to be pretty important to each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2023
Well written and disturbingly honest
While I don't necessarily ascribe to all of the book's theories about the reasons for the world's conditions n the story, I know for a fact the politics of war and peace, power and greedy can create societies that eat their own. My heart is touched buy the naivete and the backbone that Pink shows in this story, a girl named Riley who just wants a chance at a better future. Joining the army to fight the enemy and protect what's left of America with the promise that she probably won't live but if she does she'll be rich makes for a compelling plot. Then her eyes are opened, a bit at a time, to the reality on the inside and she faces making decisions that no one should ever have to make.
While I don't necessarily ascribe to all of the book's theories about the reasons for the world's conditions n the story, I know for a fact the politics of war and peace, power and greedy can create societies that eat their own. My heart is touched buy the naivete and the backbone that Pink shows in this story, a girl named Riley who just wants a chance at a better future. Joining the army to fight the enemy and protect what's left of America with the promise that she probably won't live but if she does she'll be rich makes for a compelling plot. Then her eyes are opened, a bit at a time, to the reality on the inside and she faces making decisions that no one should ever have to make.
September 4, 2019
Very good story.
I gave this story five stars, for the character development, the pacing and the story itself. Basically, an apocalyptic story set during a period of climate change, and the warfare that springs up between nations for the few remaining resources. Told through the eyes of a young soldier, who joined up for the promise of wealth, if she could survive her enlistment. How she, and the people around her change, is a fascinating story, and I can't wait to read the next book(s) in the series.
I gave this story five stars, for the character development, the pacing and the story itself. Basically, an apocalyptic story set during a period of climate change, and the warfare that springs up between nations for the few remaining resources. Told through the eyes of a young soldier, who joined up for the promise of wealth, if she could survive her enlistment. How she, and the people around her change, is a fascinating story, and I can't wait to read the next book(s) in the series.
August 16, 2020
Ohhh my damn!!!
My god if this is what I can expect from the rest of this series I will be recommending this to everyone I know who reads and who doesn’t read for that matter! It well written and the storyline is believable and interesting and keeps you wanting Riley to come out on top and to succeed even when the odds are sooo stacked against her and you know it just isn’t going to happen. And Alex, my god that connection she has with him... I need to next book now!!!! Yes this is a definite recommend !! 🖤
My god if this is what I can expect from the rest of this series I will be recommending this to everyone I know who reads and who doesn’t read for that matter! It well written and the storyline is believable and interesting and keeps you wanting Riley to come out on top and to succeed even when the odds are sooo stacked against her and you know it just isn’t going to happen. And Alex, my god that connection she has with him... I need to next book now!!!! Yes this is a definite recommend !! 🖤
February 24, 2022
Not what I expected for post apocalyptic story but it was a good read. Mostly about making soldiers out of poor youth. Lots of training and tough life lessons being taught for what seemed like the longest time. Finally in the last quarter of the book we see action resulting from the training. Not pretty. As interesting as it was I doubt I will move on to the next book anytime soon (think it’s a trilogy). I prefer the everyday person caught in the sudden fall of electronics, etc. to the military like training and fighting.
August 3, 2022
DNF - quit at 5%
This moved way too slowly, and lost my interest after just a few pages in. I did make it to page 16, or 5% before giving up. This needed something to spice it up, a hook to interest the reader in finding out what happens. This made me think that it would not get better at all. I've deleted the free version I downloaded from my Kindle.
At my age (60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
This moved way too slowly, and lost my interest after just a few pages in. I did make it to page 16, or 5% before giving up. This needed something to spice it up, a hook to interest the reader in finding out what happens. This made me think that it would not get better at all. I've deleted the free version I downloaded from my Kindle.
At my age (60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
September 24, 2022
Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 depending on the part of the book I'm reading. Some parts are very flat and boring. Other parts were so interesting it kept me reading. The real trick is that just when I was about to give up reading, the author would put in one of these very interesting parts. It would keep me going, thinking things were going to pick up and go in a very different (better) direction. But then we would be right back in flat, boring typical dystopian troupe land. I'll give the second one a whirl and see how it goes because I like Riley just enough that I'm actually rooting for her.
March 28, 2023
First volume of five. This is fairly routine dystopic future YA, but engaging enough to want to keep going. I generally liked the characters and the writing, but there were occasional lapses that I think another pass by a good copyeditor could have improved. I also had some questions about the nature of the created world, as places described as flooded didn't seem to always fit with actual topographies. The character of Riley/Pink sometimes seems to shift too, but overall as I said up front worth continuing.
June 21, 2023
Wow! Can we say big brother?
What a dark, dreary, horrible life the remnants of a fatally changed world are living.
Riley and Alex have the option of joining the Service for 3 years ( after their term is over they receive tons of money) or running away to some other god forsaken flooded out city to try to eke out a living.
The lies they have been told their entire lives by their government are mind boggling, as Riley finds out.
I don’t want to give too much away, it’s so good you need to read it for yourself.
What a dark, dreary, horrible life the remnants of a fatally changed world are living.
Riley and Alex have the option of joining the Service for 3 years ( after their term is over they receive tons of money) or running away to some other god forsaken flooded out city to try to eke out a living.
The lies they have been told their entire lives by their government are mind boggling, as Riley finds out.
I don’t want to give too much away, it’s so good you need to read it for yourself.
June 10, 2024
I am actually reading the 5book series and I’m about finished but seriously I’m struggling to finish. I hate to leave a book unfinished, I feel like it’s hard to leave a review before it is done, but honestly the story has completely got lost. Now it’s a book about mental health and a crippled old man. What happened to the revolution? Has it just been waiting while this girls has a breakdown? This could have been a good three book series if the author had paid a good content editor. Don’t start it, it will only frustrate you.
December 21, 2019
Exciting, dystopian war
This book brought me in right away, just how I like it. Riley and Alex have been friends since childhood and go into the service together, for three years, after which they will be paid money that will change their lives. But the service is changing them, maturing them in ways they never imagined. They joined to get away from their misery at home. They had no idea what waited for them.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
This book brought me in right away, just how I like it. Riley and Alex have been friends since childhood and go into the service together, for three years, after which they will be paid money that will change their lives. But the service is changing them, maturing them in ways they never imagined. They joined to get away from their misery at home. They had no idea what waited for them.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
March 10, 2021
This book brought me in right away, just how I like it. Riley and Alex have been friends since childhood and go into the service together, for three years, after which they will be paid money that will change their lives. But the service is changing them, maturing them in ways they never imagined. They joined to get away from their misery at home. They had no idea what waited for them.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
August 20, 2020
Shades of The Hunger Games, but not quite as good. Still a nicely readable dystopian novel with young people struggling to survive. The paces slows down at times due to repetitious passages, but sure picks up as the story progresses. I'll continue on to the 2nd installment to find out what happens to Riley.
October 22, 2021
Canada
Dystopian war with Canada. An interesting premise with chip and lens and bait for recruiting. And spies. I tend to steer clear as I find this genre depressing but I took a shot. Perhaps I was craving a bit of depression? Anyway, if that is what you are into, you should enjoy this possible (but imho unlikely) future.
Dystopian war with Canada. An interesting premise with chip and lens and bait for recruiting. And spies. I tend to steer clear as I find this genre depressing but I took a shot. Perhaps I was craving a bit of depression? Anyway, if that is what you are into, you should enjoy this possible (but imho unlikely) future.
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