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The Fractured Road - Part 1: East and West
2015: One June evening, a careless scientist leaves his laboratory with traces of a newly engineered virus on his clothing. Weeks later, six billion people across the globe are dead. Only the young are spared…
2020: After five years on a remote Atlantic island, nineteen-year-old Andy and her friends, Morgan and Charlie, are forced to return to America. What awaits is a journey across the once-great nation as they contend with a land steeped in chaos where brutality reigns. Together, they find refuge in unlikely places and befriend other survivors who will change their lives…and the course of humanity…forever.
Get hooked on this new dystopian trilogy...
2020: After five years on a remote Atlantic island, nineteen-year-old Andy and her friends, Morgan and Charlie, are forced to return to America. What awaits is a journey across the once-great nation as they contend with a land steeped in chaos where brutality reigns. Together, they find refuge in unlikely places and befriend other survivors who will change their lives…and the course of humanity…forever.
Get hooked on this new dystopian trilogy...
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2012
1 person is currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Britt Holewinski
2 books91 followersBorn in Boston, Britt Holewinski lived in six different houses across the United States during her childhood, sparking her interest to write about characters who must continually adapt to new situations and locations.
In her spare time, Britt loves to go hiking anywhere with a view, learn French, and visit historical Revolutionary and Civil War sites along the East Coast.
Her favorite books are "Matilda" by Roald Dahl and "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.
In her spare time, Britt loves to go hiking anywhere with a view, learn French, and visit historical Revolutionary and Civil War sites along the East Coast.
Her favorite books are "Matilda" by Roald Dahl and "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 19, 2014
Disclaimer: I won this title in a GR giveaway back in April of 2013 (I think--I know it was a long time ago). I would like to express my sincere apologies to the author for taking so long to get around to it. Especially since she signed and personalized my copy.
I liked this book. It begins one-dimensionally with a straight-forward narrative of three survivors of the virus on the island of Bermuda and continues in this fashion for the first 250 pages. While there are opportunities for the author to expand on subplots and characters, she doesn't do so. It IS a plot device to keep all these subplots secret, but it severly limits Holewinksi's tale.
Once the secret of the prologue is revealed, the narrative thread bifurcates between our heroes travelling from New Mexico to Princeton and the principle antagonist in New York. And at this point TFR takes off. Not that the first 250 pages were boring, but had the story focused on more than just our band of survivors from the get-go, TFR would have had the scope the author was striving for and, frankly, would have been a more interesting work. It also would have made this first volume of TFR a 700-800 page tome (which I would not have minded at all). I wanted to know more about the doings and characters in Aspen and Los Angeles--rather than just having a character relate this in narration. I also think that a chapter on the spies travelling from New York to New Mexico would have helped introduce the New York thread earlier.
I also would have liked to have seen shown how a character feels about another, rather than being told how they feel.
I'm not sure I buy into the world created in this book, nor the virus that killed 6 billion people, but I'll take it for granted. I don't really know what a world created by teenagers would look like and having been in the military, I know what kind of crazy ideas can be hatched by those minds.
But through it all, Holewinksi proves herself to a gifted author. Her prose (while corny at times) is fluid and precise and she is a terrific storyteller. At this time, I would probably continue with TFR, if the next part apprears fairly soon.
FINAL NOTE: I did find the cover design of this book to be quite uninspired. It didn't make me want to drop everything and begin reading (obviously, since it took me 18 months to get around to it.) Also, there are several places in the first 200 pages where a paragraph isn't indented. I've had this happen to me several times when I changed the format of a writing. While that didn't detract from the story, it was annoying to look at and made the pace falter (for me). But other than that and a couple of missing articles (a, an, the) in places, the editing is clean.
I liked this book. It begins one-dimensionally with a straight-forward narrative of three survivors of the virus on the island of Bermuda and continues in this fashion for the first 250 pages. While there are opportunities for the author to expand on subplots and characters, she doesn't do so. It IS a plot device to keep all these subplots secret, but it severly limits Holewinksi's tale.
Once the secret of the prologue is revealed, the narrative thread bifurcates between our heroes travelling from New Mexico to Princeton and the principle antagonist in New York. And at this point TFR takes off. Not that the first 250 pages were boring, but had the story focused on more than just our band of survivors from the get-go, TFR would have had the scope the author was striving for and, frankly, would have been a more interesting work. It also would have made this first volume of TFR a 700-800 page tome (which I would not have minded at all). I wanted to know more about the doings and characters in Aspen and Los Angeles--rather than just having a character relate this in narration. I also think that a chapter on the spies travelling from New York to New Mexico would have helped introduce the New York thread earlier.
I also would have liked to have seen shown how a character feels about another, rather than being told how they feel.
I'm not sure I buy into the world created in this book, nor the virus that killed 6 billion people, but I'll take it for granted. I don't really know what a world created by teenagers would look like and having been in the military, I know what kind of crazy ideas can be hatched by those minds.
But through it all, Holewinksi proves herself to a gifted author. Her prose (while corny at times) is fluid and precise and she is a terrific storyteller. At this time, I would probably continue with TFR, if the next part apprears fairly soon.
FINAL NOTE: I did find the cover design of this book to be quite uninspired. It didn't make me want to drop everything and begin reading (obviously, since it took me 18 months to get around to it.) Also, there are several places in the first 200 pages where a paragraph isn't indented. I've had this happen to me several times when I changed the format of a writing. While that didn't detract from the story, it was annoying to look at and made the pace falter (for me). But other than that and a couple of missing articles (a, an, the) in places, the editing is clean.
June 29, 2013
A giveaway win.
I went into the story without reading the blurb - something I often do, as many spoilers lurk on that back page. I did note this book to be self-published, and developed relatively low expectations.
Was pleasantly surprised. Kudos to you, Britt.
A very neat piece with some great pacing. Characters develop well.
Youngsters find themselves in a position of discovering self-sufficiency by necessity and need to grow up quickly. A nice measure of surprise and 'horror' for a YA audience, in my opinion.
I read an earlier review, which mentioned the plot was not believable. Disagree. As with all fiction, readers are asked to suspend disbelief and believe anything is possible.
I wish you great luck with sales.
Although 3 stars, and not 5, remember 3 equates to 'I liked it', so a true compliment.
I went into the story without reading the blurb - something I often do, as many spoilers lurk on that back page. I did note this book to be self-published, and developed relatively low expectations.
Was pleasantly surprised. Kudos to you, Britt.
A very neat piece with some great pacing. Characters develop well.
Youngsters find themselves in a position of discovering self-sufficiency by necessity and need to grow up quickly. A nice measure of surprise and 'horror' for a YA audience, in my opinion.
I read an earlier review, which mentioned the plot was not believable. Disagree. As with all fiction, readers are asked to suspend disbelief and believe anything is possible.
I wish you great luck with sales.
Although 3 stars, and not 5, remember 3 equates to 'I liked it', so a true compliment.
February 21, 2013
This would be the book I won on Goodreads. It actually came to me signed by the author for me! How cool is that? Anyways, this is a young adult dystopian fiction novel wherein a virus is accidentally released that targets adults so everyone who is through puberty dies. 5 years later our main characters escape Aruba and come to the states only to find things are worse in some ways on the mainland. They have some crazy adventures and this book ends with a major cliff hanger, but it's only the first book in what is to be a trilogy. I can't wait for the next one!
January 29, 2013
Now I want to see the next volume. It a true "road trip" under catastrophic circumstances. Really exposes what can happen when there are no longer any rules to live by. The struggle of good over evil based on values instilled at an early age. The characters mature and form themselves with each chapter.
May 18, 2013
I received this book in a first reads giveaway.I was not overly impressed with this book. There were several problems that I had with it when I was reading it.
The first issue I had was that it seemed too easy for the world created for children 13 and under to get modern infrastructure up and running. I understand that in the beginning, with the way the adults die off, that many things would still be up and running. Over time they would start to deteriorate. The author explains that genius level kids could figure out how to get these things repaired and up and running. It is hard now for things to be repaired with people who have years of experience to get things p and running after a disaster. It just felt too convenient. I do understand that in any fiction, there has to be a certain level of disbelief, but there still has to be a certain level of plausibility for me to enjoy the story.
Also, in a world that has lost a huge majority of it's population, it still felt too easy for people to be found around the country. I know this helps move the story along, but too much of it hurts the credibility of the story. Maybe if the story was confined to a smaller area, the story would have worked better for me.
Fiction that involves a rebuilding of civilization often takes a look at human character and what types of people will survive and what aspects of human behavior will emerge from us. I think what works in books like Lord of the Flies is that the story takes place in a small area and we can see what happens in a place where modern people have to truly figure out how to survive first and luxury is meeting basic human needs. I think that was lost in this story where it felt to easy to have gas, electricity, and modern conveniences. I am sure that people would work towards that, but in a world where adults are no longer around, I feel five years would not be the time it would take to achieve those goals.
The first issue I had was that it seemed too easy for the world created for children 13 and under to get modern infrastructure up and running. I understand that in the beginning, with the way the adults die off, that many things would still be up and running. Over time they would start to deteriorate. The author explains that genius level kids could figure out how to get these things repaired and up and running. It is hard now for things to be repaired with people who have years of experience to get things p and running after a disaster. It just felt too convenient. I do understand that in any fiction, there has to be a certain level of disbelief, but there still has to be a certain level of plausibility for me to enjoy the story.
Also, in a world that has lost a huge majority of it's population, it still felt too easy for people to be found around the country. I know this helps move the story along, but too much of it hurts the credibility of the story. Maybe if the story was confined to a smaller area, the story would have worked better for me.
Fiction that involves a rebuilding of civilization often takes a look at human character and what types of people will survive and what aspects of human behavior will emerge from us. I think what works in books like Lord of the Flies is that the story takes place in a small area and we can see what happens in a place where modern people have to truly figure out how to survive first and luxury is meeting basic human needs. I think that was lost in this story where it felt to easy to have gas, electricity, and modern conveniences. I am sure that people would work towards that, but in a world where adults are no longer around, I feel five years would not be the time it would take to achieve those goals.
June 8, 2013
I recieved this book through a giveaway
5 stars is an isult for this book, it deserves 10 stars.
I have never read an apocalyptic book before and i was a bit sceptical going into this book but i have to say this is one of the best books i have read in a long time!
This book gets straight into the story with some great characters. The book is fast pace and easy to read, full of action and tension. I could not put this book down once i started it and i recomend it to anyone.
We are first introduced to Andy, Charlie and Morgan; 3 survivors of a virus that wiped out all adults. Along their adveture they meet Ben and Jim and other interesting characters. Each character is well developed throughout the book.
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to come out!
5 stars is an isult for this book, it deserves 10 stars.
I have never read an apocalyptic book before and i was a bit sceptical going into this book but i have to say this is one of the best books i have read in a long time!
This book gets straight into the story with some great characters. The book is fast pace and easy to read, full of action and tension. I could not put this book down once i started it and i recomend it to anyone.
We are first introduced to Andy, Charlie and Morgan; 3 survivors of a virus that wiped out all adults. Along their adveture they meet Ben and Jim and other interesting characters. Each character is well developed throughout the book.
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book to come out!
May 15, 2013
What happens when Lord of the Flies meets modern times? This amazing, thrill-ride of a story! I originally thought this would be more YA but didn't mind as I'm becoming a fan of the genre. I was blown away! While I'd say the book can easily be enjoyed by mature YAs themselves it was perfectly relatable for adults.
The story and characters are extremely well developed and you have someone to root for, and plot against. I can't wait to pick up the next installment. I usually pass along my books to family and friends so they can enjoy also...but I'm having a hard time letting this one go!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The story and characters are extremely well developed and you have someone to root for, and plot against. I can't wait to pick up the next installment. I usually pass along my books to family and friends so they can enjoy also...but I'm having a hard time letting this one go!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2013
3.5 starts I received this as a goodreads first read.
This was a quick read. I loved the characters and it was fast-paced. There were some holes or some pretty big things that I thought were unbelievable, and somewhat predictable, but even with all of that said- I can't WAIT to read the next one.
This was a quick read. I loved the characters and it was fast-paced. There were some holes or some pretty big things that I thought were unbelievable, and somewhat predictable, but even with all of that said- I can't WAIT to read the next one.
August 24, 2013
From what I read it was good. Targeted for a younger audience though.
If you're into young adult dystopias, i recommend this.
I'll be following the author to see what else is written.
Received forma goodreads givaway.
If you're into young adult dystopias, i recommend this.
I'll be following the author to see what else is written.
Received forma goodreads givaway.
January 3, 2014
I loved this book. Could not put it down. Read it in about a day. Really interesting plot, romantic love story, and very suspenseful. The cliff-hanger ending is ingenious and makes me keep thinking about what will happen in the next one.
September 15, 2013
won this one. I really liked it and can't wait for the next book!
June 1, 2014
Great dystopian story. What happens when lord of the flies hits the whole world rather then one island? Really looking forward to the next book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews