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The Selected
A cruel imprisonment. A pulse-pounding escape. And a shocking secret that changes everything.
Seventeen-year-old Rory O’Shannon is used to the bullies. She’s accustomed to hunger pangs. She’s even getting used to the nightmares that have tormented her ever since the New Government dragged her father away in the middle of the night.
But nothing can prepare Rory for what happens once she’s sent to a labor camp and tortured inside an underground prison. There she meets a mysterious and handsome boy who knows a secret about her. Together they make a harrowing escape. And that’s when Rory is forced to do unimaginable things to try to stay alive.
Soon she discovers the astonishing secret that everyone has been hiding from her. And then she finds out she possesses an amazing power that no one else has—a hidden power that the New Government is desperate to uncover.
Will Rory and her family survive being targeted by the deadly New Government?
Authors NOTE: This book is for readers ages 16 and up...
This novel is 230 pages. For ages 16 and up (due to drama and violence).
Seventeen-year-old Rory O’Shannon is used to the bullies. She’s accustomed to hunger pangs. She’s even getting used to the nightmares that have tormented her ever since the New Government dragged her father away in the middle of the night.
But nothing can prepare Rory for what happens once she’s sent to a labor camp and tortured inside an underground prison. There she meets a mysterious and handsome boy who knows a secret about her. Together they make a harrowing escape. And that’s when Rory is forced to do unimaginable things to try to stay alive.
Soon she discovers the astonishing secret that everyone has been hiding from her. And then she finds out she possesses an amazing power that no one else has—a hidden power that the New Government is desperate to uncover.
Will Rory and her family survive being targeted by the deadly New Government?
Authors NOTE: This book is for readers ages 16 and up...
This novel is 230 pages. For ages 16 and up (due to drama and violence).
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2013
9 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 19, 2017
Although again, the romance with Diego was a bit forced, this first book did have an interesting start to a dystopian teen read. Although we all get sick of the books where the narrator has a special power that could save the world, Rory is a likable if completely oblivious and often stupid narrator. I would have loved to have read this from her sister Dani's perspective as a change of pace.
A lot of the story could have evolved slower so we would buy into it more, but the plot didn't arise out of nowhere either. Diego seemed a bit forced as a love interest- not enough interaction at the labor camp/prison. The interrogation scenes were well-done. In a real situation they would have paced it like that. We luckily didn't see it get much worse.
The Underground camp could have had some more detail to its description. That part ran by too quick. I'm sure the next book will be more focused there though, at least at the start. Hope doesn't waste a lot of time setting a scene or describing things around Rory, aside from the prison cell. This can be good and bad.
A lot of the story could have evolved slower so we would buy into it more, but the plot didn't arise out of nowhere either. Diego seemed a bit forced as a love interest- not enough interaction at the labor camp/prison. The interrogation scenes were well-done. In a real situation they would have paced it like that. We luckily didn't see it get much worse.
The Underground camp could have had some more detail to its description. That part ran by too quick. I'm sure the next book will be more focused there though, at least at the start. Hope doesn't waste a lot of time setting a scene or describing things around Rory, aside from the prison cell. This can be good and bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2014
This was a really quick read. I read it in one day, between doing chores, laundry, lunch with my parents, and dinner at my in-laws. SUPER fast read. You are only in the middle of the story at the end of book one though, so book 2 is a must read. Not sure if more books will be coming out at a later date or not. I haven't seen anything listed (the Rebecca Hope website is still offering a preview of book #2 so is obviously outdated) but I haven't read book 2 yet so I'm not sure if the story is resolved or not.
Based on the similes and metaphors, it feels like a high schooler wrote this book. She uses words like predator and 'injured animal' several times just in the first two pages. It doesn't take long for an overused simile to get annoying.
Additionally, it appears there was some sort of issue with the conversion of this book to an e-book because there were SEVERAL errors. Words in a sentence were switched around... words were put in the incorrect place. For example, a sentence that should read "our only chance was to make it to the tree line before dawn" would have read "our only chance to it make it was to the tree line before dawn". You could always figure out what it was supposed to say, but it was frustrating to find so many errors!
I love dystopian novels, and the vast majority of them are YA but even at 30 years old I love them. This one though, I definitely felt had a younger audience. As I said before, it felt like it was written by a high school aged author, and I really struggled with the book because of that.
SPOILERS!!!!!!
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Where did the super human powers (healing, ESP, etc) come from? The author never addresses the origin of people who have these powers, and that was frustrating. Also, even though I know all dystopian books are a tad bit sci-fi, this one was WAY out there... just not a book I could really let myself get lost in, because it all seemed so incredibly unreal, and not in a good way.
Based on the similes and metaphors, it feels like a high schooler wrote this book. She uses words like predator and 'injured animal' several times just in the first two pages. It doesn't take long for an overused simile to get annoying.
Additionally, it appears there was some sort of issue with the conversion of this book to an e-book because there were SEVERAL errors. Words in a sentence were switched around... words were put in the incorrect place. For example, a sentence that should read "our only chance was to make it to the tree line before dawn" would have read "our only chance to it make it was to the tree line before dawn". You could always figure out what it was supposed to say, but it was frustrating to find so many errors!
I love dystopian novels, and the vast majority of them are YA but even at 30 years old I love them. This one though, I definitely felt had a younger audience. As I said before, it felt like it was written by a high school aged author, and I really struggled with the book because of that.
SPOILERS!!!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Where did the super human powers (healing, ESP, etc) come from? The author never addresses the origin of people who have these powers, and that was frustrating. Also, even though I know all dystopian books are a tad bit sci-fi, this one was WAY out there... just not a book I could really let myself get lost in, because it all seemed so incredibly unreal, and not in a good way.
June 24, 2014
Rory (Aurora) is a 17 year old girl used to bullies from the Elite. Used to protecting her little sister, doing without, and basically just getting by without bringing too much attention to herself. All that changes one day when she is forced to fight back which results in her being hunted and on the run. While on the run, she learns something about herself, that apparently all those around her already knew. She is somebody special. And while she adjusts to this revelation, and at the ultimate cost to those around her, she also finds herself in love with a boy who sees her as so much more than just a girl. Which in his eyes, is all she wants to be.
Rebecca Hope writes with a haunting narrative which paints such a clear picture, that you will get lost in the story during several parts. My favorite was, "I sucked at the wound,, pulling up all the pus and ooze into my mouth. I tasted it. It tasted like a thousand dead men."
Wow. I just wish I could have had a better connections to the other characters. Not just Rory. But I'm hoping that will happen in book 2.
Rebecca Hope writes with a haunting narrative which paints such a clear picture, that you will get lost in the story during several parts. My favorite was, "I sucked at the wound,, pulling up all the pus and ooze into my mouth. I tasted it. It tasted like a thousand dead men."
Wow. I just wish I could have had a better connections to the other characters. Not just Rory. But I'm hoping that will happen in book 2.
January 21, 2014
During the time of the New Government, no one has it easy, especially those who aren't considered Elite. Sarah and her family fall into that category... dirty clothes, shack of a home, never amounts of food, no hot water... she tries to fly under the radar, but the fact that she's fighting back the Elite boys who torture her or her sister daily are making her an easy target. This escalate and she's imprisoned, only to find out she's what everyone has been waiting for....
April 27, 2014
In a world where society is split up into the Elite and the Miasma, Rory is unfortunately not one of those privileged. Finding herself imprisoned after her best friend dies, she is thrown into the Underground world, something she only heard rumors of- and also learns she's one of the few Selected. I enjoyed the storyline, but found the writing a bit elementary, with short sentences and repetition at times. Part of a series, the ending was a bit brief.
August 1, 2013
I loved this story. It was a bit different and led me on a journey of fear and intrigue for the main character, Aurora (Rory). It starts out with a older sister protecting a younger one and lands up with Rory in prison! Will anyone save her from her fate? Thanks to the author, the journey will be one of trials, fateful meetings, and discovery of unknown powers.
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September 19, 2013I'm very sorry for what i'm about to say. This book was a waste of my time and my money. The story line, the blurb and the amazon sample made me buy it and it was going so well but i couldn't handle how selfish the main character was!! Everything was about her her her and i'm writing this based on the 23% i read.
August 22, 2013
I liked this book, it was nothing amazing but good. I am looking forward to the second book
February 19, 2014
Great reading,too short.
Would most likely make great movie.hope to read more.thanks,I think I downloaded the next story I am not sure yet.
I
Would most likely make great movie.hope to read more.thanks,I think I downloaded the next story I am not sure yet.
I
March 26, 2017
This was an enjoyable dystopian read. The storyline was well thought out, the characters were likeable and realistic, there was a lot of action, drama, and intrigue. The whole book captured my attention and there were many twists and turns to surprise me along the way.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews