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Survival Colony 9 #1
Survival Colony Nine
In a future world of dust and ruin, fourteen-year-old Querry Genn struggles to recover the lost memory that might save the human race.
Querry is a member of Survival Colony Nine, one of the small, roving groups of people who outlived the wars and environmental catastrophes that destroyed the old world. The commander of Survival Colony Nine is his father, Laman Genn, who runs the camp with an iron will. He has to--because heat, dust, and starvation aren't the only threats in this ruined world.
There are also the Skaldi.
Monsters with the ability to infect and mimic human hosts, the Skaldi appeared on the planet shortly after the wars of destruction. No one knows where they came from or what they are. But if they're not stopped, it might mean the end of humanity.
Six months ago, Querry had an encounter with the Skaldi--and now he can't remember anything that happened before then. If he can recall his past, he might be able to find the key to defeat the Skaldi.
If he can't, he's their next victim.
Querry is a member of Survival Colony Nine, one of the small, roving groups of people who outlived the wars and environmental catastrophes that destroyed the old world. The commander of Survival Colony Nine is his father, Laman Genn, who runs the camp with an iron will. He has to--because heat, dust, and starvation aren't the only threats in this ruined world.
There are also the Skaldi.
Monsters with the ability to infect and mimic human hosts, the Skaldi appeared on the planet shortly after the wars of destruction. No one knows where they came from or what they are. But if they're not stopped, it might mean the end of humanity.
Six months ago, Querry had an encounter with the Skaldi--and now he can't remember anything that happened before then. If he can recall his past, he might be able to find the key to defeat the Skaldi.
If he can't, he's their next victim.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2014
24 people are currently reading
2281 people want to read
About the author
Joshua David Bellin
21 books271 followersI've been writing novels since I was eight years old (though the first few were admittedly very short). A college teacher by day, I've published numerous works of science fiction and fantasy: the Querry Genn Saga (SURVIVAL COLONY 9 and SCAVENGER OF SOULS), the deep-space adventure FREEFALL, the 5-part Ecosystem Cycle (ECOSYSTEM, THE DEVOURING LAND, HOUSE OF EARTH, HOUSE OF STONE, THE LAST SENSOR, and THE GREAT FOREST), and the 3-part Book of the Huntress series (DAUGHTER OF DUST, DARK'S DOMINION, and SCARRED CITY). My latest novel, the time-travel thriller MYRIAD, released in May 2023.
In my free time, I love to read, watch movies, and spend time in Nature with my kids.
Oh, yeah, and I like monsters. Really scary monsters.
In my free time, I love to read, watch movies, and spend time in Nature with my kids.
Oh, yeah, and I like monsters. Really scary monsters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 19, 2014
I swear I have dust and grit in my mouth from reading this book. The sensory detail and the vividness of this story were the first things to impress me. This is no thinly built apocalyptic world. Querry Genn and his fellow survivors are fighting for their lives in this desperate landscape and not for one minute do you doubt that their struggle is real. Surviving a single day in this barren, dangerous world is an amazing feat, and no one takes for granted that he's going to do it again tomorrow.
There's something else that's done terrifically well in this story, and I'm not talking about the pacing, which will having you falling over yourself to turn the pages faster. No, I'm talking about the aliens.
Whoa, boy.
Yes, if things weren't bad enough for Querry and his fellow colonists, some race of alien baddies is picking off these few human survivors one by one, and let me tell you, the Skaldi are good aliens. Not good like nice, I mean they are good bad guys. I don't want to give anything away but I can add the Skaldi to the list of things that will probably pop up in my nightmares at some point and when they do, I will pretty much never sleep again. They are menacing, mysterious, and creepy as heck.
Did I mention that Querry is carrying a secret? And the people he relies on are keeping a secret from him? Way to crank the tension up even more.
Yeah, Querry's got his work cut out for him. You'd better read this to find out if he makes it.
A stand-out book, a stand-out hero. SURVIVAL COLONY 9 is literary quality sci-fi thriller.
Just take this bit of advice: keep a bottle of water nearby because this book will make you thirsty. Also I suggest reading with all the lights on. I'm telling you, those Skaldi, man.
*shudders*
There's something else that's done terrifically well in this story, and I'm not talking about the pacing, which will having you falling over yourself to turn the pages faster. No, I'm talking about the aliens.
Whoa, boy.
Yes, if things weren't bad enough for Querry and his fellow colonists, some race of alien baddies is picking off these few human survivors one by one, and let me tell you, the Skaldi are good aliens. Not good like nice, I mean they are good bad guys. I don't want to give anything away but I can add the Skaldi to the list of things that will probably pop up in my nightmares at some point and when they do, I will pretty much never sleep again. They are menacing, mysterious, and creepy as heck.
Did I mention that Querry is carrying a secret? And the people he relies on are keeping a secret from him? Way to crank the tension up even more.
Yeah, Querry's got his work cut out for him. You'd better read this to find out if he makes it.
A stand-out book, a stand-out hero. SURVIVAL COLONY 9 is literary quality sci-fi thriller.
Just take this bit of advice: keep a bottle of water nearby because this book will make you thirsty. Also I suggest reading with all the lights on. I'm telling you, those Skaldi, man.
*shudders*
August 3, 2016
I had more questions by the time I finished reading this than I have for any other story.
It's about a group of people who are running from creatures that are trying to kill them. We never find out what the creatures really are, where they came from, how many there are, etc. We don't know anything about the rest of the planet - just this one group endlessly trudging through the desert living on almost nothing for food and water. Why didn't they leave the desert? Why did they come to the desert to begin with? The creatures started wiping out the population about 50 years prior, there's no food, the water is polluted, you can't stay in one place for more than a few days at a time, so why do people keep having children? This small group of about 25 total seemed to be about a third to a half children. It made no sense.
Frankly, by about halfway through I couldn't figure out why they were trying so hard to stay alive. Why bother. There didn't seem to be anything left to live for. What a horribly depressing book.
It's about a group of people who are running from creatures that are trying to kill them. We never find out what the creatures really are, where they came from, how many there are, etc. We don't know anything about the rest of the planet - just this one group endlessly trudging through the desert living on almost nothing for food and water. Why didn't they leave the desert? Why did they come to the desert to begin with? The creatures started wiping out the population about 50 years prior, there's no food, the water is polluted, you can't stay in one place for more than a few days at a time, so why do people keep having children? This small group of about 25 total seemed to be about a third to a half children. It made no sense.
Frankly, by about halfway through I couldn't figure out why they were trying so hard to stay alive. Why bother. There didn't seem to be anything left to live for. What a horribly depressing book.
February 4, 2015
I enjoy reading a good post apocalyptic novel every so often. I found some of them like The Hunger Games and Divergent series, or Orleans by Sherri L. Smith to be fascinating and exciting reads. Others I've read have ranged from mildly interesting to somewhat boring or confusing. Survival Colony Nine was a bit of all of those things. I found the first three quarters or more of the book to be less than exciting or interesting. In fact I fell asleep many times after reading only a few pages. I just couldn't seem to get into the story at all. It just sort of dragged on and on and I couldn't figure out where it was going. It was also a bit on the bleak side. Not to say that post apocalyptic stories are full or sunshine and happiness, but this one was much more stark and depressing than most. I did enjoy the last 60 pages very much. That's when the story really took off for me and answered so many of the questions I had been forming during my reading up to that point. I wish the whole book could have been as good as those last 60 pages. It would have made for a much more exciting read.
October 28, 2014
"People don't change, Querry. We're the descendants of the madmen who destroyed the planet. Why should we be any different?"
This one was just weird
It had me pretty solid until about chapter 15. Then it just seemed...to go off in a direction that I couldn't quite understand or like.
Querry was easy to like. I did like getting to know the whole colony - even seeing the struggle with Yov and Wali. It was realistic even if I didn't like it.
The skaldi were equally fascinating and the eerie idea that we don't know what they actually look like - only that they can be everyone and no one.
but the final explanation and the final "hope" was just too off to me.
This one was just weird
It had me pretty solid until about chapter 15. Then it just seemed...to go off in a direction that I couldn't quite understand or like.
Querry was easy to like. I did like getting to know the whole colony - even seeing the struggle with Yov and Wali. It was realistic even if I didn't like it.
The skaldi were equally fascinating and the eerie idea that we don't know what they actually look like - only that they can be everyone and no one.
but the final explanation and the final "hope" was just too off to me.
May 26, 2014
Wow. What a unique book! It was totally different than what I thought it would be, and I LOVED it! The idea of the Skaldi, who aren't quite like any other "creature" in YA, was fabulously done. And Querry, the main character, was really relatable. This book also had like a million quotable lines that I think will be popping up all over tumblr in the near future, after it's released! Full review to come---great job, Joshua! I think you created a book that teen boys are going to really dig. Girls as well!
November 6, 2015
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
I'm gonna start this off with a rant about a totally different book. Trust me, it's relevant to this review.
Remember that book called The 5th Wave? You know, where those "aliens" wreak havoc on the human race and supposedly want to kill off our species by, er, "destroying our humanity"? Somehow? If you're like me, you hated that book. The premise was amazing -- but the execution was awful. Yancey succumbed to the gooiest lovey-dovey story he possibly could have, with side notes by Cassie's younger brother and love-interest-fail Ben. What happened to "destroying the humanity within" when the so-called "aliens" start falling in love with humans? (yaaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnnn)
SPOILER ALERT: The "aliens" in The 5th Wave (and the Infinite Sea) aren't actually aliens at all. It's literally just random military dudes with the technological prowess to feign a Mothership in earth's atmosphere and cause natural disasters on such a titanic scale that literally their plans could've gone to hell if one of them tripped over a rock. What makes me even angrier is that, you know, both of those books are being marketed as alien books, the best sci-fi alien invasion books in today's YA lit, yada, yada, yada, YADA, and the 5th Wave is obviously becoming a movie.
Rant over.
Now let's get to this review. In my opinion, "Survival Colony 9" was everything that T5W should have been. It's gritty. The aliens are terrifying (AND THEY'RE REAL, TOO!) So this is a true alien invasion book.
For the most part, SC9 is all about the group dynamic. Bellin does an excellent job showing power roles within the colony and how the colony overall is affected by leader's decisions, mutinous uprising, and individual self-interest. And the world of the book was a great setting. Everywhere is dangerous. There's nowhere, NOWHERE to hide. In the entire book, there is exactly ONE small group of buildings they camp out in. Otherwise, they're trekking across a desert, in the wide open, dying on the run. If the heat doesn't kill them, literally the only way to avoid these alien body snatchers is to never sleep -- and even then you better have a flamethrower, or else you're screwed.
There is a reason I didn't give this 4-stars. Simply put, though the environment was well-crafted and believable, I don't think the environment itself was dangerous enough. We're led to believe it's very, very, VERY hot. These people have no shade, they're drinking VERY little water, and the water they DO drink is contaminated with oil (unless it rains, which is like twice a year).
But despite those crappy living conditions, nobody died. Or got sick. Or collapsed from heat stroke. Nothing like that. No matter how dangerous the natural conditions were, the only real threat came from the Skaldi (the aliens, and trust me, whenever the Skaldi attack, it's bad news. I cringed on several occasions).
The other reason I couldn't give this 4 stars is because I didn't feel like the MC, Querry, was 14 years old (he was supposed to be). The 14-year-old would slip in sometimes...but mostly it was left to the side. I know he lost his memory and his dad basically put him through boot camp the rest of the time, but Querry's voice just felt like it could've been any age. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I felt like he realistically could have been 22 years old and it wouldn't have changed the story. I *needed* to feel a unique voice, and I didn't get it.
Back to some positives. Going along with the group mentality themes, I also liked how this wasn't a constant action-packed blockbuster. Bellin took his time. Admittedly, the first 150 pages are slow. There isn't a single Skaldi attack (a terrifying flashback at the beginning, but that's it). But for me, it worked. That build up to the first action scene packed in so much tension that the entire, you were waiting for an attack. It wasn't *if* there's going to be an attack, it's *when*. The slow build led perfectly into the first attack, and...wow. It paid off.
After the first attack, the book switches gears. The pace picks up, the group dynamic changes, and you really don't know what to expect. I liked how *anyone* could've been Skaldi. It increased the tension.
Toward the end of the book, however, I felt like things started coming too easily. Yes, Querry steps up to the plate and takes certain matters into his own hands, but I felt like the book started rushing at that point. And in the climax... Climaxes are hit-or-miss. They're difficult to pull off. I'm a writer, I know how hard it is to make a novel's climax WORK. And personally, this one fell short of my expectations. It was certainly action-packed, but it didn't last very long and the tension that the first half of the book had surrounding the deadliness of the Skaldi seemed to taper. The Skaldi pretty much didn't fight. And Querry's "Special Power" twist seemed too convenient. It wasn't explained, and I felt like, as a reader, I needed his power to be physically grounded rather than used as a deus-ex-machina at the last second.
All that being said, yes, Survival Colony 9 is worth a read. Think "The Walking Dead" with aliens. The aliens, like the zombies, show up here and there, but mostly you get to see the group dynamic and power struggles. As a side note, imagine watching the Walking Dead from Carl's POV. That's what this book feels like. His dad is in charge of the colony, and he's sorta doing his own thing till the end.
There's a sequel coming out in Summer 2016 called "Scavenger of Souls". And the cover looks amazing. Am I going to read it? Yes! I wasn't so attached to Querry, but the world and the threat of the Skaldi hooked me. I feel like we haven't really seen what the survival colonies are up against, and I feel like Bellin will continue to grow his story. I'm excited to read it for sure!
Characters: 2.5/5
World: 3/5
Style: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Cover: 5/5 (it's soooo beautiful)
I'm gonna start this off with a rant about a totally different book. Trust me, it's relevant to this review.
Remember that book called The 5th Wave? You know, where those "aliens" wreak havoc on the human race and supposedly want to kill off our species by, er, "destroying our humanity"? Somehow? If you're like me, you hated that book. The premise was amazing -- but the execution was awful. Yancey succumbed to the gooiest lovey-dovey story he possibly could have, with side notes by Cassie's younger brother and love-interest-fail Ben. What happened to "destroying the humanity within" when the so-called "aliens" start falling in love with humans? (yaaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnnn)
SPOILER ALERT: The "aliens" in The 5th Wave (and the Infinite Sea) aren't actually aliens at all. It's literally just random military dudes with the technological prowess to feign a Mothership in earth's atmosphere and cause natural disasters on such a titanic scale that literally their plans could've gone to hell if one of them tripped over a rock. What makes me even angrier is that, you know, both of those books are being marketed as alien books, the best sci-fi alien invasion books in today's YA lit, yada, yada, yada, YADA, and the 5th Wave is obviously becoming a movie.
Rant over.
Now let's get to this review. In my opinion, "Survival Colony 9" was everything that T5W should have been. It's gritty. The aliens are terrifying (AND THEY'RE REAL, TOO!) So this is a true alien invasion book.
For the most part, SC9 is all about the group dynamic. Bellin does an excellent job showing power roles within the colony and how the colony overall is affected by leader's decisions, mutinous uprising, and individual self-interest. And the world of the book was a great setting. Everywhere is dangerous. There's nowhere, NOWHERE to hide. In the entire book, there is exactly ONE small group of buildings they camp out in. Otherwise, they're trekking across a desert, in the wide open, dying on the run. If the heat doesn't kill them, literally the only way to avoid these alien body snatchers is to never sleep -- and even then you better have a flamethrower, or else you're screwed.
There is a reason I didn't give this 4-stars. Simply put, though the environment was well-crafted and believable, I don't think the environment itself was dangerous enough. We're led to believe it's very, very, VERY hot. These people have no shade, they're drinking VERY little water, and the water they DO drink is contaminated with oil (unless it rains, which is like twice a year).
But despite those crappy living conditions, nobody died. Or got sick. Or collapsed from heat stroke. Nothing like that. No matter how dangerous the natural conditions were, the only real threat came from the Skaldi (the aliens, and trust me, whenever the Skaldi attack, it's bad news. I cringed on several occasions).
The other reason I couldn't give this 4 stars is because I didn't feel like the MC, Querry, was 14 years old (he was supposed to be). The 14-year-old would slip in sometimes...but mostly it was left to the side. I know he lost his memory and his dad basically put him through boot camp the rest of the time, but Querry's voice just felt like it could've been any age. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I felt like he realistically could have been 22 years old and it wouldn't have changed the story. I *needed* to feel a unique voice, and I didn't get it.
Back to some positives. Going along with the group mentality themes, I also liked how this wasn't a constant action-packed blockbuster. Bellin took his time. Admittedly, the first 150 pages are slow. There isn't a single Skaldi attack (a terrifying flashback at the beginning, but that's it). But for me, it worked. That build up to the first action scene packed in so much tension that the entire, you were waiting for an attack. It wasn't *if* there's going to be an attack, it's *when*. The slow build led perfectly into the first attack, and...wow. It paid off.
After the first attack, the book switches gears. The pace picks up, the group dynamic changes, and you really don't know what to expect. I liked how *anyone* could've been Skaldi. It increased the tension.
Toward the end of the book, however, I felt like things started coming too easily. Yes, Querry steps up to the plate and takes certain matters into his own hands, but I felt like the book started rushing at that point. And in the climax... Climaxes are hit-or-miss. They're difficult to pull off. I'm a writer, I know how hard it is to make a novel's climax WORK. And personally, this one fell short of my expectations. It was certainly action-packed, but it didn't last very long and the tension that the first half of the book had surrounding the deadliness of the Skaldi seemed to taper. The Skaldi pretty much didn't fight. And Querry's "Special Power" twist seemed too convenient. It wasn't explained, and I felt like, as a reader, I needed his power to be physically grounded rather than used as a deus-ex-machina at the last second.
All that being said, yes, Survival Colony 9 is worth a read. Think "The Walking Dead" with aliens. The aliens, like the zombies, show up here and there, but mostly you get to see the group dynamic and power struggles. As a side note, imagine watching the Walking Dead from Carl's POV. That's what this book feels like. His dad is in charge of the colony, and he's sorta doing his own thing till the end.
There's a sequel coming out in Summer 2016 called "Scavenger of Souls". And the cover looks amazing. Am I going to read it? Yes! I wasn't so attached to Querry, but the world and the threat of the Skaldi hooked me. I feel like we haven't really seen what the survival colonies are up against, and I feel like Bellin will continue to grow his story. I'm excited to read it for sure!
Characters: 2.5/5
World: 3/5
Style: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Cover: 5/5 (it's soooo beautiful)
September 1, 2016
The author of Survival Colony 9 has created a desolate and barren world that hints of war, environmental disasters, and takeovers by an alien race. The humans who remain on the earth and travel nomadically in constant fear of attacks by the Skaldi, struggle with leadership, hope, and unity. Querry Genn is being groomed for leadership within the colony, but when the story begins he is unable to remember further back than six months
This book has created so many elements that examine who humans are and how we would possibly behave in the wake of a disaster. Leadership is constantly being questioned, allegiance never feels sure, and hope is allusive. The author has skillfully rendered a colony at odds with itself while trying to survive in a world with dangers that are new and unknown.
The creatures in this book are surprising and refreshing. The first image readers will encounter is of a human on all four limbs, leaping through the wasteland with such speed and agility, it can't be out run. "Then he dropped to a crouch and sprang up the hill toward us, one hand propelling him across the ground, the other tucked at his side. His face stayed in shadow, but I caught a glint of his teeth, bared and white in the moonlight." (11) And what these creatures do to humans will stay with the readers for a long time to come.
At the heart, though, the book is about a young man discovering himself, his strength, and his history. Querry Genn is a protagonist teens can relate to as he tries to determine why he is special and what his place is within the world.
This book has created so many elements that examine who humans are and how we would possibly behave in the wake of a disaster. Leadership is constantly being questioned, allegiance never feels sure, and hope is allusive. The author has skillfully rendered a colony at odds with itself while trying to survive in a world with dangers that are new and unknown.
The creatures in this book are surprising and refreshing. The first image readers will encounter is of a human on all four limbs, leaping through the wasteland with such speed and agility, it can't be out run. "Then he dropped to a crouch and sprang up the hill toward us, one hand propelling him across the ground, the other tucked at his side. His face stayed in shadow, but I caught a glint of his teeth, bared and white in the moonlight." (11) And what these creatures do to humans will stay with the readers for a long time to come.
At the heart, though, the book is about a young man discovering himself, his strength, and his history. Querry Genn is a protagonist teens can relate to as he tries to determine why he is special and what his place is within the world.
May 4, 2014
SURVIVAL COLONY NINE will keep you up at night trying to figure it all out, and think of how the author pulled off all the twists and turns throughout the story without you seeing them coming, so it's better to just reserve a day and read this book all at once!
November 2, 2014
I had a hard time with this book. I could not get into the plot and I had a hard time visualizing the world and the aliens. I was really hoping to enjoy this book, but unfortunately it was not for me.
June 15, 2015
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
I received Survival Colony 9 back in September. I’d actually started it then, but for reasons I don’t remember, I stopped. I never made it past the first chapter unfortunately. And now? I finished it in one setting. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book about dystopian survival in the wilderness, and that too with a male protagonist. I couldn’t but help picturing The Scorch Trials while reading this book–I haven’t read James Dashner’s books, but after seeing the trailer, I kept imagining a similar desert setting with broken-down cities in Survival Colony 9. Anyway, this one was definitely filled with twists of all kinds and builds up to a fantastic ending that’s filled with secrets, revelations, kick-ass action, and sacrifice.
As I mentioned before, it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book with a male main character. The last one I read would probably have to be Grasshopper Jungle, and I read that at the beginning of the year. We definitely need more male protagonists in YA. Anyway, Querry’s character was pretty interesting from the start because of the fact he couldn’t remember anything beyond the past six months. I knew the twist was going to be juicy, and I was not disappointed. There’s quite a few different characters in this colony, most notably Querry’s father Laman. While he seemed quite harsh from time to time I have to say I was totally on his side even other member’s the colony disagreed with his ideas.
The Skaldi! Creepy, creepy, creepy creatures. I don’t know why but for some reason I kept imagining a creature that looked like the offspring of the aliens from Alien vs. Predator and those giant worm creatures with the scary rows of teeth. I honestly don’t remember what the Skaldi are supposed to look like (and I’m sure it’s absolutely NOT what I imagined), but they take over human bodies by crawling into them *shudder* so they’re pretty much unlike any creature found in YA that I’ve read so far. The next book is called Scavenger of Souls so there’s much more of these creepy–I literally just shuddered involuntarily just thinking about them–creatures coming up.
An action-packed novel that will have readers sitting on the edge of their seats, gripping the covers, and flipping pages like mad, Survival Colony 9 was a fantastic opening to a strange and broken world that Josua David Bellin has introduced. I look forward to more books in this series–hopefully there’s more than one sequel!–and even though it’s probably going to give me nightmares, I look forward to reading more about Querry and the rest of the colony, and *shudders once again* the Skaldi.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Kelsey at Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
I received Survival Colony 9 back in September. I’d actually started it then, but for reasons I don’t remember, I stopped. I never made it past the first chapter unfortunately. And now? I finished it in one setting. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book about dystopian survival in the wilderness, and that too with a male protagonist. I couldn’t but help picturing The Scorch Trials while reading this book–I haven’t read James Dashner’s books, but after seeing the trailer, I kept imagining a similar desert setting with broken-down cities in Survival Colony 9. Anyway, this one was definitely filled with twists of all kinds and builds up to a fantastic ending that’s filled with secrets, revelations, kick-ass action, and sacrifice.
As I mentioned before, it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book with a male main character. The last one I read would probably have to be Grasshopper Jungle, and I read that at the beginning of the year. We definitely need more male protagonists in YA. Anyway, Querry’s character was pretty interesting from the start because of the fact he couldn’t remember anything beyond the past six months. I knew the twist was going to be juicy, and I was not disappointed. There’s quite a few different characters in this colony, most notably Querry’s father Laman. While he seemed quite harsh from time to time I have to say I was totally on his side even other member’s the colony disagreed with his ideas.
The Skaldi! Creepy, creepy, creepy creatures. I don’t know why but for some reason I kept imagining a creature that looked like the offspring of the aliens from Alien vs. Predator and those giant worm creatures with the scary rows of teeth. I honestly don’t remember what the Skaldi are supposed to look like (and I’m sure it’s absolutely NOT what I imagined), but they take over human bodies by crawling into them *shudder* so they’re pretty much unlike any creature found in YA that I’ve read so far. The next book is called Scavenger of Souls so there’s much more of these creepy–I literally just shuddered involuntarily just thinking about them–creatures coming up.
An action-packed novel that will have readers sitting on the edge of their seats, gripping the covers, and flipping pages like mad, Survival Colony 9 was a fantastic opening to a strange and broken world that Josua David Bellin has introduced. I look forward to more books in this series–hopefully there’s more than one sequel!–and even though it’s probably going to give me nightmares, I look forward to reading more about Querry and the rest of the colony, and *shudders once again* the Skaldi.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Kelsey at Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
April 7, 2014
Got to read an early copy, yay for author perks, because this book is rad!
Official Blurby-Blurb:
Gripping and action packed. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, another twist would shock me. Superb!
More Heather thoughts:
Man, I love books that are wicked smart and plotty like this. Bellin is completely impressive not only with his twisty plot gymnastics, but with the character drama. This is a story about a group of people in a vast barren wilderness trying to survive against all odds. It’s a great horror movie/sci-fi set-up. Once you get drawn in, you just can’t put this book down. Beyond that, it’s all about the internal struggle of Querry to find himself and his internal and external struggles are often layered echoes of one another, which is freaking cool.
The whole time there are questions and mysteries popping up. At the beginning, I thought, oh, I bet I can predict how this will go. Um yeah. No. Wrong. Hello twist-I-wasn’t-expecting. And then fifty pages after, another-twist-I-wasn’t-expecting. And so on. This freaking delighted me! There’s a lot of predictability out there in the world of books. Finding a wicked twisty author who surprises you? Fun, fun, fun! Couldn’t put it down because I had to know what was going on and get to the ending. I read it in a day. Oh and yeah, there’s some deliciously creepy bits :)
This book is just wicked cool from all sides, people. Wicked cool. If you like action or survival stories or twisty smart stories, or hell, just a book that will draw you and not let you put the book down until it’s done, go grab this book when it’s out or pre-order it! Comes out September 23rd.
Official Blurby-Blurb:
Gripping and action packed. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, another twist would shock me. Superb!
More Heather thoughts:
Man, I love books that are wicked smart and plotty like this. Bellin is completely impressive not only with his twisty plot gymnastics, but with the character drama. This is a story about a group of people in a vast barren wilderness trying to survive against all odds. It’s a great horror movie/sci-fi set-up. Once you get drawn in, you just can’t put this book down. Beyond that, it’s all about the internal struggle of Querry to find himself and his internal and external struggles are often layered echoes of one another, which is freaking cool.
The whole time there are questions and mysteries popping up. At the beginning, I thought, oh, I bet I can predict how this will go. Um yeah. No. Wrong. Hello twist-I-wasn’t-expecting. And then fifty pages after, another-twist-I-wasn’t-expecting. And so on. This freaking delighted me! There’s a lot of predictability out there in the world of books. Finding a wicked twisty author who surprises you? Fun, fun, fun! Couldn’t put it down because I had to know what was going on and get to the ending. I read it in a day. Oh and yeah, there’s some deliciously creepy bits :)
This book is just wicked cool from all sides, people. Wicked cool. If you like action or survival stories or twisty smart stories, or hell, just a book that will draw you and not let you put the book down until it’s done, go grab this book when it’s out or pre-order it! Comes out September 23rd.
March 17, 2017
Great book, with some great plot twists, and a truly amazing ending. The final battle at the end is fast-paced and deadly, leaving me wanting more. The struggle between Queery and his 'father' is full of drama, and made all the more intense by the search for Queery's memories. This is one of the best post-apocalyptic books i have ever read, and certainly a very good dystopian read.
Summary:
After a devastating war destroys life as we know it, humanity must split up into survival colonies to survive. And of course, no one can forget this and the mysterious creatures called the skaldi that come after-except Queery. Queery is the so-called-son of Laman Genn, the leader of his adopted home: Survival Colony 9. And ever since an accident one night during an evacuation, Queery cannot remember anything, and has trouble making new memories. And so Queery, Laman, and Queery’s brother-turned-rival Yov set out across desert wastelands, ruined cities, and more desert to find out the truth. They suffer losses of friends, both mechanical and human, separations and feuds, and after one final struggle, in which Yov is revealed to be not only Queery’s brother, but the double agent that has plagued SC9 for months. And this final struggle also leaves one more friend dead, lost and buried under the desert sand. And so finally, with the remnants of SC9 and his memories in tow, Queery must set out to rebuild a new, and better, society for generations to come.
Summary:
After a devastating war destroys life as we know it, humanity must split up into survival colonies to survive. And of course, no one can forget this and the mysterious creatures called the skaldi that come after-except Queery. Queery is the so-called-son of Laman Genn, the leader of his adopted home: Survival Colony 9. And ever since an accident one night during an evacuation, Queery cannot remember anything, and has trouble making new memories. And so Queery, Laman, and Queery’s brother-turned-rival Yov set out across desert wastelands, ruined cities, and more desert to find out the truth. They suffer losses of friends, both mechanical and human, separations and feuds, and after one final struggle, in which Yov is revealed to be not only Queery’s brother, but the double agent that has plagued SC9 for months. And this final struggle also leaves one more friend dead, lost and buried under the desert sand. And so finally, with the remnants of SC9 and his memories in tow, Queery must set out to rebuild a new, and better, society for generations to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2015
I feel like I've been repeating myself while writing reviews on 2014 copyright summer reading: there was nothing wrong or bad about this book; it just didn't offer anything new. The world has been destroyed - by us. Most humans that survived the apocalypse are now gone. Bands of survivors have colonized in small groups (50 people or so), trying to remain alive and avoid the Skaldi (body snatcher type creatures). That's about it. It's a survival story. The Skaldi are creepy, but they're not scarier or cooler or more interesting than any post-apocalyptic creatures I've read in other books. The characters aren't especially interesting. The two best things about it are that it's a quick read and it's a stand alone.
April 10, 2014
This book is part survival, part sci-fi, but mostly about finding identity. Querry Genn's memory has been wiped and all he knows is he's a member of one of the last survival colonies of humans. His father is the colony's leader and Genn focuses on staying in his father's good graces and staying clear of the Skaldi.
Nothing is as it seems in this novel. But I don't want to give any spoilers! Bellin paints a bleak landscape, at times creepy and at times downright scary! The explosive climax will have you flipping pages faster than you can say Eek. But to me the heart of this story is Querry's discovery of self. But if I say anything else I'll give it away, so shhhhh.
Nothing is as it seems in this novel. But I don't want to give any spoilers! Bellin paints a bleak landscape, at times creepy and at times downright scary! The explosive climax will have you flipping pages faster than you can say Eek. But to me the heart of this story is Querry's discovery of self. But if I say anything else I'll give it away, so shhhhh.
April 4, 2014
Survival Colony 9 is the kind of book that gives you that creeping, unsettled feeling. You know the one-- it makes you turn one page and then the next, and then the feeling gets worse, so of course, you need to read just a couple of more pages...
Seriously, though. Joshua David Bellin's YA debut is a spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat kind of stunner. There's something about the stark, barrenness of his setting that comes alive in vivid detail. And the twists...oh, the twists.
Highly recommended if you like your books filled with post-apocalyptic suspense.
Seriously, though. Joshua David Bellin's YA debut is a spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat kind of stunner. There's something about the stark, barrenness of his setting that comes alive in vivid detail. And the twists...oh, the twists.
Highly recommended if you like your books filled with post-apocalyptic suspense.
January 9, 2021
I DID IT!!! I’ve picked up this book about a million times and have never been able to finish it. I feel like I’ve just finished a five year marathon. Overall the ending wasn’t as great as I would have hoped but an interesting read overall. It’s not my usual cup of tea but I dug the change of pace
October 10, 2016
Bellin definitely stumbled onto a good story here. I wish it was told a bit better and the descriptions of the Skaldi were better (I had a really hard time picturing them). I also wanted to have some seeds of mystery planted in this book more explicitly, like what ARE the Skaldi really and where did they come from? But alas. I give the author the benefit of the doubt that that comes more in to play in the second book, but I'm not sure if I'll read it.
August 22, 2014
Querry Genn is a teenager living in HSC-9 or Human Survival Colony 9. The survival colonies are small bands of humans scrabbling to survive on all that’s left of the world after the massive wars destroyed most of civilization. Of course, it wasn’t just the war that had destroyed the world. As soon as people began to band together, trying to recover after the devastation, the Skaldi appeared, leaving death in their wake.
Querry Genn lost his memory after an attack more than six months ago. He’s had to work to relearn the people around him, as well as the history of the colony. His father, Laman, keeps Querry close, trying to protect him as he also drills him, attempting to force the memories to return. This constant closeness makes Querry the butt of many jokes made by the other teenagers. Querry knows there is something he’s missing, but without those memories, there’s no way he’ll be able to solve the mystery.
Joshua David Bellin has created an unforgiving world, where one mistake can kill a person. Within this world, he has introduced a creature so insidious it might even creep into readers’ dreams. These creatures, the Skaldi, are called “soul suckers” by the colonists and are truly a work of art.
There are several strong characters within the story. Bellin develops each character carefully, sculpting the person from the first scene, layering complexity upon complexity in each successive scene. There are only a few key characters, so it’s easy for the reader to keep everything straight with minimal confusion.
Bellin grabs the reader’s attention in the first scene of the book. He knows how to hook the reader immediately and intensely. He maintains this high attention level virtually throughout the entire novel. The reader is so focused on watching the action, s/he is rather surprised to discover the end has approached. The pages dissolved in a blur.
The one issue I had with the book is that the conflict resolution was rather abrupt, though this is understandable given the nature of the beast. I cannot explain this further without a major spoiler. Suffice it to say that Bellin has created a world that is unfriendly, peopled with harsh, sometimes bitter characters, struggling to survive on a planet that may no longer want them.
I rate this book a fabulous 4 and ½ (rounded up to 5) gloriously glittering stars!!
I received a copy of this book from the author for purposes of review. All opinions in this review are my own.
October 8, 2014
It had been a very long time since I had picked up a sci-fi novel, specifically a YA dystopian, post apocalyptic one. A few years ago, it was my favorite genre. Now my tastes are more adult romance than anything. Survival Colony Nine reminded me of everything I had missed about YA dystopians. I loved it. It encouraged me to pick up more of them in the future.
Survival Colony Nine was an interesting take on the post apocalyptic genre. Due to how the plot was set up, none of the characters could be trusted. I was suspicious of all of them. At times, the author even had me doubting the main character, Querry. It was a fantastic way to read. I don't think I've gotten that emotionally involved in trying to figure out what's going to happen in a book in a long time. There were quite a few plot twists and turns in the book. I was only able to predict two of them. Most of them shocked me, which is hard to do.
Only one thing bothered me about this book. The characters made quite a few pop culture references to things that they couldn't have known about. I noticed it throughout the book when I was reading it, and it drove me bonkers. For example, one of the characters references boy scouts a few times. Even the main character admits that he has no idea what it means, but he can only remember six months in the past. The old lady is the only one that remembers the before times. However, being older, her memory would start to fade. I doubt she would remember something as trivial as boy scouts. There were a few other things like that. It bothered quite a bit.
All in all, I really enjoyed Survival Colony Nine. I'm hoping that the author writes a sequel. Where the book left off, it could be wrapped up, or have a sequel. I want to know if the colony does survive, or if they end up parshing. I also have quite a few unanswered questions that I won't go into here because they contain spoilers. If you've read the book and want to know my questions, feel free to send me a message and ask. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an action packed dytopian.
Survival Colony Nine was an interesting take on the post apocalyptic genre. Due to how the plot was set up, none of the characters could be trusted. I was suspicious of all of them. At times, the author even had me doubting the main character, Querry. It was a fantastic way to read. I don't think I've gotten that emotionally involved in trying to figure out what's going to happen in a book in a long time. There were quite a few plot twists and turns in the book. I was only able to predict two of them. Most of them shocked me, which is hard to do.
Only one thing bothered me about this book. The characters made quite a few pop culture references to things that they couldn't have known about. I noticed it throughout the book when I was reading it, and it drove me bonkers. For example, one of the characters references boy scouts a few times. Even the main character admits that he has no idea what it means, but he can only remember six months in the past. The old lady is the only one that remembers the before times. However, being older, her memory would start to fade. I doubt she would remember something as trivial as boy scouts. There were a few other things like that. It bothered quite a bit.
All in all, I really enjoyed Survival Colony Nine. I'm hoping that the author writes a sequel. Where the book left off, it could be wrapped up, or have a sequel. I want to know if the colony does survive, or if they end up parshing. I also have quite a few unanswered questions that I won't go into here because they contain spoilers. If you've read the book and want to know my questions, feel free to send me a message and ask. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an action packed dytopian.
August 31, 2014
"Forget the past.
Fight to stay alive."
I came across this book while signing up for a blog tour and when I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it! I love a good survival story and this one sounded perfect!
I also loved the cover of this book. It portrays exactly what I would think of when I imagine an survival story. I am one of those people who will read a book just because the cover grabbed my attention.
This story is about a colony's fight to survive after a brutal war ravaged the earth and aliens called Skaldi attacked and left earth desolate and empty. This colony is called Survival Colony 9. There is a young boy in the colony named Querry Genn whom has an accident while trying to run from a Skaldi attack and he has lost his memory and can remember none of his past.
"The colony. HSC-9, Human Survival Colony Number Nine.
Survival Colony Nine. The only home I can remember.
I just wish I could remember how I got here.
Or who I am."
Querry's dad is the commander of the colony and pressures Querry into re-training immediately so that he can help to protect the colony. His dad thinks that this intense training will help to bring back Querry's memory. While training Querry meets another colonist named Korah and is immediately drawn to her.
Survival Colony 9 has some great action sequences and definitely has a good mystery woven into the story but I did find myself feeling a little disconnected. There was just enough information given in each chapter to keep me wanting to read and finish the story. I felt the romance aspect was lacking and I really wanted that to evolve. Overall I did enjoy the book and I think young adult readers who enjoy sci-fi, survival, and mystery will like this book. I really hope there is a sequel because I felt like I didn't get all the answers that I was looking for and I am hoping there is more of the story to dig into.
Fight to stay alive."
I came across this book while signing up for a blog tour and when I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it! I love a good survival story and this one sounded perfect!
I also loved the cover of this book. It portrays exactly what I would think of when I imagine an survival story. I am one of those people who will read a book just because the cover grabbed my attention.
This story is about a colony's fight to survive after a brutal war ravaged the earth and aliens called Skaldi attacked and left earth desolate and empty. This colony is called Survival Colony 9. There is a young boy in the colony named Querry Genn whom has an accident while trying to run from a Skaldi attack and he has lost his memory and can remember none of his past.
"The colony. HSC-9, Human Survival Colony Number Nine.
Survival Colony Nine. The only home I can remember.
I just wish I could remember how I got here.
Or who I am."
Querry's dad is the commander of the colony and pressures Querry into re-training immediately so that he can help to protect the colony. His dad thinks that this intense training will help to bring back Querry's memory. While training Querry meets another colonist named Korah and is immediately drawn to her.
Survival Colony 9 has some great action sequences and definitely has a good mystery woven into the story but I did find myself feeling a little disconnected. There was just enough information given in each chapter to keep me wanting to read and finish the story. I felt the romance aspect was lacking and I really wanted that to evolve. Overall I did enjoy the book and I think young adult readers who enjoy sci-fi, survival, and mystery will like this book. I really hope there is a sequel because I felt like I didn't get all the answers that I was looking for and I am hoping there is more of the story to dig into.
February 2, 2015
3.5 stars
They’re on the run, fifty- one individuals of Survival Colony 9. A few years ago, most of civilization was wiped out and now small groups of individuals’ struggle to survive on what resources they can find. Their greatest threat is the Skaldis, who invade the bodies of others. The Skaldis imitate their host, controlling them and moving on to another victim once they have used up that host. It sounds like something from Alien, these monsters taking on the bodies of individuals, causing havoc within the colony and then moving on to another victims until they are finished, leaving all their victims wasted and spent. Querry is a member of Colony 9 and he just remembers his last six months of his life and no one is sharing the rest of this teen’s life with him. I really found it strange that even his father wouldn’t tell him about his childhood when Querry asked so I felt that eventually this knowledge would come to light later in the novel. Querry’s father is the leader of this colony and as the group moves across the barren land, anxiety is high as they fear the Skaldis and they never know what they might encounter. A few teens start to question the authority of the group and with the threat of the Skaldis looming; the tension of the novel is like a roller coaster
I found that there were parts in the novel where nothing really was occurring and then other times, I was totally submerged into all the struggles the characters where battling. Fighting against the unknown Skaldis was an ultimate battle but there were questions about their existence that were not addressed in the novel that I wished the author had told us more about . The author was creative in his addition with the trials and with Querry’s history. It was an interesting read.
They’re on the run, fifty- one individuals of Survival Colony 9. A few years ago, most of civilization was wiped out and now small groups of individuals’ struggle to survive on what resources they can find. Their greatest threat is the Skaldis, who invade the bodies of others. The Skaldis imitate their host, controlling them and moving on to another victim once they have used up that host. It sounds like something from Alien, these monsters taking on the bodies of individuals, causing havoc within the colony and then moving on to another victims until they are finished, leaving all their victims wasted and spent. Querry is a member of Colony 9 and he just remembers his last six months of his life and no one is sharing the rest of this teen’s life with him. I really found it strange that even his father wouldn’t tell him about his childhood when Querry asked so I felt that eventually this knowledge would come to light later in the novel. Querry’s father is the leader of this colony and as the group moves across the barren land, anxiety is high as they fear the Skaldis and they never know what they might encounter. A few teens start to question the authority of the group and with the threat of the Skaldis looming; the tension of the novel is like a roller coaster
I found that there were parts in the novel where nothing really was occurring and then other times, I was totally submerged into all the struggles the characters where battling. Fighting against the unknown Skaldis was an ultimate battle but there were questions about their existence that were not addressed in the novel that I wished the author had told us more about . The author was creative in his addition with the trials and with Querry’s history. It was an interesting read.
August 2, 2014
This book was ridiculously fun to read. I'm not sure what that says about me, because it's actually both bleak (dystopian is an understatement) and scary (the Skaldi are terrifying), but I had the best time with this book.
Because Querry has memory issues, we are able to learn about this world a little at a time in a way that feels organic and not annoying (no huge information dumps here). Even with his problems---and the scorn of not a few of his fellow colony members---he's a hero we can root for. Even so, he's not perfect. He's pretty easily fooled (being a near-lifelong horror movie fan, I think I'd deal with the Skaldi pretty well), which could be a major problem later on.
And yeah, can we discuss the Skaldi really fast? They're sort of like cannibalistic pod people and it's apparently nearly impossible to know if someone's a Skaldi before they let you know. And of course they let you know about two seconds before they kill you and then become you.
Apparently there will be a sequel, which is excellent news. Highly recommended.
Because Querry has memory issues, we are able to learn about this world a little at a time in a way that feels organic and not annoying (no huge information dumps here). Even with his problems---and the scorn of not a few of his fellow colony members---he's a hero we can root for. Even so, he's not perfect. He's pretty easily fooled (being a near-lifelong horror movie fan, I think I'd deal with the Skaldi pretty well), which could be a major problem later on.
And yeah, can we discuss the Skaldi really fast? They're sort of like cannibalistic pod people and it's apparently nearly impossible to know if someone's a Skaldi before they let you know. And of course they let you know about two seconds before they kill you and then become you.
Apparently there will be a sequel, which is excellent news. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2014
A very intriguing read with a clever breed of new monsters to keep you uncertain and shaken right up to the end. SC9 is a psychological battlefield on two fronts: first--and most importantly--in the fragile minds and group psyche of the colonists, who must constantly wrestle with how to save themselves without loosing their humanity; and second, in the mind of the reader, who will enjoy no shortage of causes to second-guess with great satisfaction every development in the story.
Well-written, SC9 is deliberately metered and thoughtful, expertly so, but also to a fault. Action junkies best seek their fix in less cerebral corners of the saturated genre (though fear not, flamethrower fans--there's plenty of napalm to smell in the morning within these pages). If you're curious about the very real day-to-day tension of surviving a living nightmare from which the characters of a barren post-apocalyptic landscape can never awaken, you'll find great rewards lurking inside these pages.
Well-written, SC9 is deliberately metered and thoughtful, expertly so, but also to a fault. Action junkies best seek their fix in less cerebral corners of the saturated genre (though fear not, flamethrower fans--there's plenty of napalm to smell in the morning within these pages). If you're curious about the very real day-to-day tension of surviving a living nightmare from which the characters of a barren post-apocalyptic landscape can never awaken, you'll find great rewards lurking inside these pages.
October 20, 2014
I just finished reading Survival Colony 9.
It was ok.
pros: guy main character, no romance, memory issues that hold the key to the problem, plot flashbacks.
Cons: super slow plot that didn't get interesting to me until the last 3rd. The last 3rd was confusing though very active. It was almost too bleak a setting for me to possibly imagine 2 weeks into their future (it was set a 2 generations in after all-world war destroyed resources). The colony's survival always seemed bleak and that each day was a struggle to survive, but then there'd be a 3 days working on a project and I'd wonder how they would get further water.
The Skaldi (the bad creatures/guys) were never really clear what they were/weren't-even in the denouement. There was a lot of running from them, talks about different victims' remains or lack thereof.
I just didn't gel with it like other books in this genre.
It was ok.
pros: guy main character, no romance, memory issues that hold the key to the problem, plot flashbacks.
Cons: super slow plot that didn't get interesting to me until the last 3rd. The last 3rd was confusing though very active. It was almost too bleak a setting for me to possibly imagine 2 weeks into their future (it was set a 2 generations in after all-world war destroyed resources). The colony's survival always seemed bleak and that each day was a struggle to survive, but then there'd be a 3 days working on a project and I'd wonder how they would get further water.
The Skaldi (the bad creatures/guys) were never really clear what they were/weren't-even in the denouement. There was a lot of running from them, talks about different victims' remains or lack thereof.
I just didn't gel with it like other books in this genre.
October 26, 2014
Absolutely wonderful.
If The Walking Dead and The Road had a child, this would be it. Kinda. With so many dystopian novels vomiting all over the YA market, it's easy to get burnt out and want to go read about squirrels or something. Though, Survival Colony 9 is a fresh take on the genre. The story starts slowly, yet builds up quickly, until you can't put it down. Just when you think you have the story figured out....NOPE. Takes another turn. And another....and....maybe another.
Can we talk about the writing? Cause this is my favorite part. This book is packed with sensory overload. Makes you feel like you were right there caked in sand and grime while the sun scorches face and burns your insides. Only several other books have had this impact on me -- so I feel this is quit remarkable.
Absolutely wonderful. Go read it.
If The Walking Dead and The Road had a child, this would be it. Kinda. With so many dystopian novels vomiting all over the YA market, it's easy to get burnt out and want to go read about squirrels or something. Though, Survival Colony 9 is a fresh take on the genre. The story starts slowly, yet builds up quickly, until you can't put it down. Just when you think you have the story figured out....NOPE. Takes another turn. And another....and....maybe another.
Can we talk about the writing? Cause this is my favorite part. This book is packed with sensory overload. Makes you feel like you were right there caked in sand and grime while the sun scorches face and burns your insides. Only several other books have had this impact on me -- so I feel this is quit remarkable.
Absolutely wonderful. Go read it.
December 30, 2014
I have never read a book that could both put me to sleep and give me nightmares. the first 60% of this book was incredibly slow. I almost walked away. it started to pick up about half way through and at 80% it finally had my attention. usually when a book is made into a movie, a lot has to be cut out to get the movie to run in two hours. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be the case with this book.
there were some loose ends left untied... perhaps setting up for a sequel? but, unusually for me, I don't really care. I'm ready to move on to something else.
it was well written, just a bit too slow for me. I appreciated that for once it wasn't full of swearing or sex scenes like most dystopian YA. I thought about recommending it to my niece until I had nightmares about the scaldies. perhaps the book had more of an impact than I thought. :-)
there were some loose ends left untied... perhaps setting up for a sequel? but, unusually for me, I don't really care. I'm ready to move on to something else.
it was well written, just a bit too slow for me. I appreciated that for once it wasn't full of swearing or sex scenes like most dystopian YA. I thought about recommending it to my niece until I had nightmares about the scaldies. perhaps the book had more of an impact than I thought. :-)
August 13, 2014
Wow--what a powerful story. Querry Genn's quest for survival and his very identity in a post-apocalyptic world makes for one heartrending, bleak and yet ultimately empowering journey for both him and the reader. And what descriptions along the way! I can nearly taste the dust in my mouth and feel the sun burning my skin. Nothing is sugarcoated here, so be warned. This was such a vivid, visceral experience--Bellin wields sensory details like a master. There is real humanity in these pages, with all of its grit and grimness, but also triumph. It's a story that's at once incredibly unique in the details and totally universal in its deeper meaning. Highly recommended.
April 18, 2015
Short Version: I was so sure this was going to be an absolute favorite. It wasn't bad, but it didn't blow me away as I'd hoped. It gets points for being insanely unique though. I enjoyed the story itself, but I don't really know the point. It was almost a brief glimpse into this hellish world, and then we're all done here. If there was a sequel, more to the story (including how the hell this all came to be) I would rate higher. But for now, I am left wanting a bit more.
Update: There IS a sequel. Which I will definitely be needing, and also, of course, increasing my rating!
Update: There IS a sequel. Which I will definitely be needing, and also, of course, increasing my rating!
July 25, 2014
Fans of EARTHSEA by Ursala Le Guin will enjoy SURVIVAL COLONY by Joshua David Bellin, a sci-fi novel where landscape informs the plot and character, and there is power in a name and discovering who you really are.
There is nothing objectionable in language, sex, or violence so I would recommend it to readers of any age.
I read this book on the OneFour KidLit ARC tour and was not paid nor influenced for this honest review.
There is nothing objectionable in language, sex, or violence so I would recommend it to readers of any age.
I read this book on the OneFour KidLit ARC tour and was not paid nor influenced for this honest review.
May 5, 2016
It was okay. There were things that didn't add up and seemed to just be thrown in there just for shits and giggles. The protagonist had no clue what was going on most of the time, and it was annoying. People in the book really needed a chill pill, and they killed the one character I was actually starting to like. Ugh.
The End
The End
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