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Dystopia #1
Dystopia
Imagine living in a world where everything you do is controlled.
In the distant future the United States has been split into two regions separated by a barren wasteland; this is the country of Dystopia. Here the individual is discouraged, freedom is an illusion, food is rationed, and everything you do is tracked by a chip implanted in your arm. This is Dana Ginary’s world.
At age seventeen, people receive their career assignments chosen for them by a government body. Forced to work at the Waste Management Plant because she was declared too individualistic, Dana finds herself surrounded by death and brutality. Knowing her days are numbered, she looks for a way to leave the plant before she, too, becomes one of its causalities.
It is then she meets a man named George and soon finds herself caught up in a cat mouse game between the resistance and the Dystopian government. Dana finds herself faced with an agonizing choice of whom she will betray and whom she will save: her friend George, her parents, or herself.
In the distant future the United States has been split into two regions separated by a barren wasteland; this is the country of Dystopia. Here the individual is discouraged, freedom is an illusion, food is rationed, and everything you do is tracked by a chip implanted in your arm. This is Dana Ginary’s world.
At age seventeen, people receive their career assignments chosen for them by a government body. Forced to work at the Waste Management Plant because she was declared too individualistic, Dana finds herself surrounded by death and brutality. Knowing her days are numbered, she looks for a way to leave the plant before she, too, becomes one of its causalities.
It is then she meets a man named George and soon finds herself caught up in a cat mouse game between the resistance and the Dystopian government. Dana finds herself faced with an agonizing choice of whom she will betray and whom she will save: her friend George, her parents, or herself.
230 pages, ebook
First published April 2, 2013
About the author
Janet McNulty
76 books92 followersMs. McNulty has published in a variety of genres, not wanting to be tied down to just one thing. She began her writing career with her fantasy series entitled Legends Lost. Since then, she has gone on to publish in the popular dystopian genre with her Dystopia Trilogy and has even published a cozy mystery series entitled Mellow Summers. Her most recent work is her space opera, science fiction adventure series: the Solaris Saga.
In addition to writing for young adults and adults, Ms. McNulty has also published several picture books for children.
In addition to writing for young adults and adults, Ms. McNulty has also published several picture books for children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 18, 2015
While the story idea was okay, the writing was just....bad. In chapter two, the author stops the story completely and directly addresses the reader. It really threw me, but I decided to keep reading, unfortunately.
Save yourself the time and money and DON'T bother with this book, despite some positive reviews.
Save yourself the time and money and DON'T bother with this book, despite some positive reviews.
July 29, 2014
view the complete review here on my Blog : http://sukriti810.blogspot.in/2014/07...
STAR RATING: 4.5/5
DESCRIPTION IN ONE LINE: I was at the edge the entire time and turned pages eagerly.
Title: Dystopia actually means an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The title is highly appropriate for the book and conveys the general idea of the book completely.
Title Rating: 5/5
Cover: The choice of the grim colours depicts the plight of the people of Dystopia and the pair of eyes is the indication of the constant watching. Certainly an apt cover and we must say the cover designer is an expert at his/her field of work.
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Characters: DANA : Our rebel girl who is a fearless girl and not afraid to voice her opinions. She has a strong character in the trained world where people are not allowed to speak up. She's the pure dystopian fiction queen with the guts to rule down the President. She's sensitive to other's problems and not in the least frightened to help.
GEORGE: He's our secretive guy who doesn't trust easily and loves our Dana in fatherly sort of a way. He is gutsy and headstrong to bring down the government.
DANA'S FRIENDS: Dana has gained trust among her friends and they are ready to help her out in a land where bonding is a crime. They are understanding, caring, supportive and have certain individual qualities.
Characters Rating:4.5/5
STAR RATING: 4.5/5
DESCRIPTION IN ONE LINE: I was at the edge the entire time and turned pages eagerly.
Title: Dystopia actually means an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The title is highly appropriate for the book and conveys the general idea of the book completely.
Title Rating: 5/5
Cover: The choice of the grim colours depicts the plight of the people of Dystopia and the pair of eyes is the indication of the constant watching. Certainly an apt cover and we must say the cover designer is an expert at his/her field of work.
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Characters: DANA : Our rebel girl who is a fearless girl and not afraid to voice her opinions. She has a strong character in the trained world where people are not allowed to speak up. She's the pure dystopian fiction queen with the guts to rule down the President. She's sensitive to other's problems and not in the least frightened to help.
GEORGE: He's our secretive guy who doesn't trust easily and loves our Dana in fatherly sort of a way. He is gutsy and headstrong to bring down the government.
DANA'S FRIENDS: Dana has gained trust among her friends and they are ready to help her out in a land where bonding is a crime. They are understanding, caring, supportive and have certain individual qualities.
Characters Rating:4.5/5
August 13, 2016
I really wanted to like this book.. and to be honest it has great potential.. I'm such a sucker for dystopia's I love the energy and the rush you get from reading them! But this book was like reading a play and I couldn't get in to it! I felt like was missing the rush and the build up.. Everything was short and the point.. Making me feel that the book was just ok. But with that being said.. it may be perfect for someone else!
April 24, 2014
If you like YA fiction such as The Hunger Games, you’ll love this piece of art...
What attracted me to this book is the title Dystopia. It is the name of a country that are separated by wasteland. This novel is a YA fiction similar to The Hunger Games or Divergent. How can I tell of this book is a good read. I always followed a simple set of rules. The first rule is to look for good quotation as mentioned by the author in the story. If the quotation is worth mentioning, then I think this author had displayed very outstanding literacy skills. One quotation that caught me is, "It was years later that the people realized who their "messiah" was." When I read this sentence or quotation, I soon realized how the author managed to craft a scene so terrible that at that time, people are already living in fear, poverty despite all the promises. It is sad for the main character, Dana to live in such a world. As I flipped from page to page, I was sucked into the story on how Dana fought for her rights in this chaotic world.
This fiction sets into the future where people are living in fear towards the government whereby 2 regions are separated by a wasteland whereby Dana to be posted after her college. People are jobless, having fear, their freedom being deprived, food are scare, as a matter of fact, it is rationed. And even the elected-President of US was in a way created. Anyone who questioned this person will be despised and singled for condemnation. Riots are everywhere, where the wealthy becomes rich by exploiting the poor. Honestly, this is not the kind of world I want to be associated with. Thank goodness. I admired the author on her ability to craft out a novel so real as if it is happening right now. Well done!
The main character Dana is a teenager who dares to dream despite the adversity. She is just like Katniss Everdeen willing to fight for her freedom. However, due to a chip on her arm, her freedom are restricted as she fights her way out and against the Dsytopian government. The story really develops into a climax when she tries to leave the waster management plant and met with a man named George. For not being a spoiler, I shall urge you to read the story to get the full plot in order to appreciate this hard work put by the author.
The plot is simple to follow and is suitable to most people, even young adults. There are some scenes that really thrilling, suspenseful and action at times. Although, this novel is more of a science fiction novel, but I think action adventure are more relevant as Dana fights her way out. I have completed the whole novel under one sitting and I believe you are able to.
This book is a simple book to read with lots of surprises and twists. This book is great for teens, young adults, and even mature readers like myself. You'll definitely get lots of entertainment and enjoyment out of this novel.
If there's one thing I'd change about this book, it would be the characters development of Dana and George. To have more dialogue and between them. I would think a sudden twist to the plot will be great as well. However, the overall story is a good read. If you are interested on how Dana escape from the waste land, then you really must read this novel.
This book looked great on my Kindle Fire tablet. It has good formatting and layout.
If you found this review useful, let the community know.
Zhu Hsia is the author of The Elements (A YA Urban Fantasy) and The Third (An Urban Paranormal Romance Novel).
What attracted me to this book is the title Dystopia. It is the name of a country that are separated by wasteland. This novel is a YA fiction similar to The Hunger Games or Divergent. How can I tell of this book is a good read. I always followed a simple set of rules. The first rule is to look for good quotation as mentioned by the author in the story. If the quotation is worth mentioning, then I think this author had displayed very outstanding literacy skills. One quotation that caught me is, "It was years later that the people realized who their "messiah" was." When I read this sentence or quotation, I soon realized how the author managed to craft a scene so terrible that at that time, people are already living in fear, poverty despite all the promises. It is sad for the main character, Dana to live in such a world. As I flipped from page to page, I was sucked into the story on how Dana fought for her rights in this chaotic world.
This fiction sets into the future where people are living in fear towards the government whereby 2 regions are separated by a wasteland whereby Dana to be posted after her college. People are jobless, having fear, their freedom being deprived, food are scare, as a matter of fact, it is rationed. And even the elected-President of US was in a way created. Anyone who questioned this person will be despised and singled for condemnation. Riots are everywhere, where the wealthy becomes rich by exploiting the poor. Honestly, this is not the kind of world I want to be associated with. Thank goodness. I admired the author on her ability to craft out a novel so real as if it is happening right now. Well done!
The main character Dana is a teenager who dares to dream despite the adversity. She is just like Katniss Everdeen willing to fight for her freedom. However, due to a chip on her arm, her freedom are restricted as she fights her way out and against the Dsytopian government. The story really develops into a climax when she tries to leave the waster management plant and met with a man named George. For not being a spoiler, I shall urge you to read the story to get the full plot in order to appreciate this hard work put by the author.
The plot is simple to follow and is suitable to most people, even young adults. There are some scenes that really thrilling, suspenseful and action at times. Although, this novel is more of a science fiction novel, but I think action adventure are more relevant as Dana fights her way out. I have completed the whole novel under one sitting and I believe you are able to.
This book is a simple book to read with lots of surprises and twists. This book is great for teens, young adults, and even mature readers like myself. You'll definitely get lots of entertainment and enjoyment out of this novel.
If there's one thing I'd change about this book, it would be the characters development of Dana and George. To have more dialogue and between them. I would think a sudden twist to the plot will be great as well. However, the overall story is a good read. If you are interested on how Dana escape from the waste land, then you really must read this novel.
This book looked great on my Kindle Fire tablet. It has good formatting and layout.
If you found this review useful, let the community know.
Zhu Hsia is the author of The Elements (A YA Urban Fantasy) and The Third (An Urban Paranormal Romance Novel).
August 5, 2014
Here's the interview with Janet McNulty : http://sukriti810.blogspot.in/2014/08...
STAR RATING: 4.5/5
DESCRIPTION IN ONE LINE: I was at the edge the entire time and turned pages eagerly.
Title: Dystopia actually means an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The title is highly appropriate for the book and conveys the general idea of the book completely.
Title Rating: 5/5
Cover: The choice of the grim colours depicts the plight of the people of Dystopia and the pair of eyes is the indication of the constant watching. Certainly an apt cover and we must say the cover designer is an expert at his/her field of work.
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Characters: DANA : Our rebel girl who is a fearless girl and not afraid to voice her opinions. She has a strong character in the trained world where people are not allowed to speak up. She's the pure dystopian fiction queen with the guts to rule down the President. She's sensitive to other's problems and not in the least frightened to help.
GEORGE: He's our secretive guy who doesn't trust easily and loves our Dana in fatherly sort of a way. He is gutsy and headstrong to bring down the government.
DANA'S FRIENDS: Dana has gained trust among her friends and they are ready to help her out in a land where bonding is a crime. They are understanding, caring, supportive and have certain individual qualities.
Characters Rating:4.5/5
Review: For a young adult not being given the right to choose a career and casted off to a place where dying was as easy as losing a pin is a nightmare enough, topped up with chips that keep tracking every activity might give us cramps. The story unfolds with the Dystopian backdrop giving the general idea of the living conditions and the life Dana lives at the waste management after being herself being cast off the society as garbage. She voices her opinion as the girl-who-doesn't-care and is humanly in the hollow programmed world. She is blackmailed to give away the Resistance in order to save the ones she cares for and does what she feels is right. Its only time that makes her realise that the Government is as fake as their promises and stands up to make things right.
Review Rating: 4.5/5
Appreciation: The plot, suspense and trust issues make the book a gripping read. I was at the edge and couldn't sleep till I finally finished the book after midnight.
Let Downs: Although I hate to point out but the sentence formation was a bit on the weaker side. The reason for this might be being a children's writer initially. A better grip on the complex sentences would make it the perfect read.
Final Verdict: The story is a mind engrossing and makes you read till the last page non-stop. It is highly recommended for the young adults and even adults as it makes a good read for day. As the length is not very long it might keep you a bit jumpy in the most exciting way.
Would I be reading more from JANET MCNULTY: Definitely. Since the moment I have finished this book I have been eager to jump to the next book i.e. Tempered Steel in the Dystopia Series. I hope to lay my hands on the next, as soon as possible.
STAR RATING: 4.5/5
DESCRIPTION IN ONE LINE: I was at the edge the entire time and turned pages eagerly.
Title: Dystopia actually means an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The title is highly appropriate for the book and conveys the general idea of the book completely.
Title Rating: 5/5
Cover: The choice of the grim colours depicts the plight of the people of Dystopia and the pair of eyes is the indication of the constant watching. Certainly an apt cover and we must say the cover designer is an expert at his/her field of work.
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Characters: DANA : Our rebel girl who is a fearless girl and not afraid to voice her opinions. She has a strong character in the trained world where people are not allowed to speak up. She's the pure dystopian fiction queen with the guts to rule down the President. She's sensitive to other's problems and not in the least frightened to help.
GEORGE: He's our secretive guy who doesn't trust easily and loves our Dana in fatherly sort of a way. He is gutsy and headstrong to bring down the government.
DANA'S FRIENDS: Dana has gained trust among her friends and they are ready to help her out in a land where bonding is a crime. They are understanding, caring, supportive and have certain individual qualities.
Characters Rating:4.5/5
Review: For a young adult not being given the right to choose a career and casted off to a place where dying was as easy as losing a pin is a nightmare enough, topped up with chips that keep tracking every activity might give us cramps. The story unfolds with the Dystopian backdrop giving the general idea of the living conditions and the life Dana lives at the waste management after being herself being cast off the society as garbage. She voices her opinion as the girl-who-doesn't-care and is humanly in the hollow programmed world. She is blackmailed to give away the Resistance in order to save the ones she cares for and does what she feels is right. Its only time that makes her realise that the Government is as fake as their promises and stands up to make things right.
Review Rating: 4.5/5
Appreciation: The plot, suspense and trust issues make the book a gripping read. I was at the edge and couldn't sleep till I finally finished the book after midnight.
Let Downs: Although I hate to point out but the sentence formation was a bit on the weaker side. The reason for this might be being a children's writer initially. A better grip on the complex sentences would make it the perfect read.
Final Verdict: The story is a mind engrossing and makes you read till the last page non-stop. It is highly recommended for the young adults and even adults as it makes a good read for day. As the length is not very long it might keep you a bit jumpy in the most exciting way.
Would I be reading more from JANET MCNULTY: Definitely. Since the moment I have finished this book I have been eager to jump to the next book i.e. Tempered Steel in the Dystopia Series. I hope to lay my hands on the next, as soon as possible.
July 6, 2015
I love dystopian fiction, so I was excited to read the aptly-titled "Dystopia". Unfortunately, I was disappointed from chapter one. Dana's story of life in a dystopian American society is promising, but poor grammar, weak writing, and lack of description do the book a great injustice.
The characters have vague descriptions, if any at all; I finished the book in a weekend with no mental image of the main character except for her long, dark hair.
The book reads like a fifth-grade story: this happened, then this happened, then this happened. The language is very simple and somewhat boring.
Events are unclear and disjointed throughout the novel. It took half a chapter for the author to state what kind of wound one character received; one moment he was running and the next he was inexplicably bleeding. Upon arrival at "The Plant", everyone is stripped of their clothes and given a jumpsuit, yet midway through the book Dana is putting on street clothes, despite an evident need for them, a place to buy them, or mention of them being issued to her. When a group of people attempts to escape with alarms blaring around them, conveniently enough, the exit door is unguarded. These are only three examples; I could fill a page with just the inconsistencies I noticed throughout the book.
The heroine - if you can call her such - has no special skills, intelligence, or mental abilities, apart from a mild defiance of the government, which is certainly not severe enough to explain the events of the book. Throughout the book, other characters are murdered for speaking out, yet when she commits the same "crime", she goes relatively unpunished. The authority figures seem to randomly choose her for their mission, and upon its completion praise her for doing something that they "never could have achieved". How about sending undercover officers to do the job?
As a whole, the book did nothing for me aside from making me want to shove it back at the author with a list of things to correct before continuing to charge people to buy it. Unless you just don't care about how a story is written, don't bother spending your money on it. I won't be buying the rest of the series.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The characters have vague descriptions, if any at all; I finished the book in a weekend with no mental image of the main character except for her long, dark hair.
The book reads like a fifth-grade story: this happened, then this happened, then this happened. The language is very simple and somewhat boring.
Events are unclear and disjointed throughout the novel. It took half a chapter for the author to state what kind of wound one character received; one moment he was running and the next he was inexplicably bleeding. Upon arrival at "The Plant", everyone is stripped of their clothes and given a jumpsuit, yet midway through the book Dana is putting on street clothes, despite an evident need for them, a place to buy them, or mention of them being issued to her. When a group of people attempts to escape with alarms blaring around them, conveniently enough, the exit door is unguarded. These are only three examples; I could fill a page with just the inconsistencies I noticed throughout the book.
The heroine - if you can call her such - has no special skills, intelligence, or mental abilities, apart from a mild defiance of the government, which is certainly not severe enough to explain the events of the book. Throughout the book, other characters are murdered for speaking out, yet when she commits the same "crime", she goes relatively unpunished. The authority figures seem to randomly choose her for their mission, and upon its completion praise her for doing something that they "never could have achieved". How about sending undercover officers to do the job?
As a whole, the book did nothing for me aside from making me want to shove it back at the author with a list of things to correct before continuing to charge people to buy it. Unless you just don't care about how a story is written, don't bother spending your money on it. I won't be buying the rest of the series.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2014
Lately, I’ve been drinking in dystopian novels, so I jumped at the chance to read Dystopia. Almost immediately I realized this particular book was going to be a let-down.
The author’s writing lacks polish. Neither the characters nor the storyline drew me in due to poor grammar and word choice, glaring inconsistencies, and an overall absence of any type of development.
For example, initially Dana’s sister was taken five years ago, but a few pages later that same sister had been diagnosed with cancer only three years prior. Maybe that’s a small thing, but I think authors should be able to keep the details of his or her own novel straight.
In another instance, an officer killed one of the other characters and Dana’s reaction was “Jerk!” That’s not a reaction I imagine many people having in a situation such as that.
Needless to say, I found myself completely uninterested in the characters or the story’s outcome.
***A copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.***
The author’s writing lacks polish. Neither the characters nor the storyline drew me in due to poor grammar and word choice, glaring inconsistencies, and an overall absence of any type of development.
For example, initially Dana’s sister was taken five years ago, but a few pages later that same sister had been diagnosed with cancer only three years prior. Maybe that’s a small thing, but I think authors should be able to keep the details of his or her own novel straight.
In another instance, an officer killed one of the other characters and Dana’s reaction was “Jerk!” That’s not a reaction I imagine many people having in a situation such as that.
Needless to say, I found myself completely uninterested in the characters or the story’s outcome.
***A copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.***
May 9, 2013
I wish there are better words to describe how much I love this book.
Its AWESOME.
I love how the storyline glides from the starting to the end and the way the author describes the characters and the settings of the book.
I love the main character, Dana because she is headstrong, strong and stubborn.
I love how she tackled the challenges she faced but I was sad because someone close to her died in the story.
I love everything about the dystopia world, the existence of the evil government and the 'resistance group' fighting for the rights of true freedom.
I wish I have a true paperback copy of this book. :D
The ending was PURE SUSPENSE!!
Why oh why did you end it like that??? I'm so freaking curious about the end.
If there's book 2, I would love to get my hands on it. Hehehe.
Thank you, Janet for giving me a chance to review your book. It was a pleasure.
Sincerely,
Selina.
www.booksandsweetepiphany.blospot.com
Its AWESOME.
I love how the storyline glides from the starting to the end and the way the author describes the characters and the settings of the book.
I love the main character, Dana because she is headstrong, strong and stubborn.
I love how she tackled the challenges she faced but I was sad because someone close to her died in the story.
I love everything about the dystopia world, the existence of the evil government and the 'resistance group' fighting for the rights of true freedom.
I wish I have a true paperback copy of this book. :D
The ending was PURE SUSPENSE!!
Why oh why did you end it like that??? I'm so freaking curious about the end.
If there's book 2, I would love to get my hands on it. Hehehe.
Thank you, Janet for giving me a chance to review your book. It was a pleasure.
Sincerely,
Selina.
www.booksandsweetepiphany.blospot.com
December 7, 2014
There are elements of 1984 in here, and earlier chapters reminded me a little of the City of Ember, but I persevered and was able to engage with events a little easier after Dana's arrival at the Waste Management Plant. Her character begins to develop a little as she finds her way around this prison camp styled facility, making both friends and enemies, but a lot of the secondary characters did seem a little flat.
There are a few issues with the plot in this book, minor details that could be fixed by developing the characters a bit more. Overall though, I really enjoyed Dystopia, although I believe it is better suited to younger readers in the young adult age group. It was a quick read, but there were a lot of interesting dilemma's for the young protagonist to work her way through. I would certainly be interested in reading more from this author.
There are a few issues with the plot in this book, minor details that could be fixed by developing the characters a bit more. Overall though, I really enjoyed Dystopia, although I believe it is better suited to younger readers in the young adult age group. It was a quick read, but there were a lot of interesting dilemma's for the young protagonist to work her way through. I would certainly be interested in reading more from this author.
April 6, 2013
I thought the concept for Dystopia was wonderful and the world was interesting. I am a huge dystopian fan and truly wanted to love the book. However, I felt that the writing was a little disjointed and choppy. The sentences seem very short and to the point, many of them being only a few words, and for me that made it extremely difficult to get into the book. I think it reads a bit more like a screen play than a novel. I also felt that it could have been slightly better paced. The end kind of comes all at once without much build up and then putters out quickly. As I said I did love the concept and the world that was created. I also enjoyed the characters a great deal.Sanders was one of my favorite characters by far.
September 18, 2013
Gripping and thrilling
Dystopia by Janet McNulty
I was given a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Dystopia is a fantastic book creating something new from an amalgamation of ideas. It is an interesting and adventurous read, gripping and thrilling.
McNulty has crafted a stimulating tale which will keep you turning the pages.
Dystopia primes your thoughts in a disturbing manner- great stuff!
A dark place and a deep seeping of spies and government.
A 5***** trip
Dystopia by Janet McNulty
I was given a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Dystopia is a fantastic book creating something new from an amalgamation of ideas. It is an interesting and adventurous read, gripping and thrilling.
McNulty has crafted a stimulating tale which will keep you turning the pages.
Dystopia primes your thoughts in a disturbing manner- great stuff!
A dark place and a deep seeping of spies and government.
A 5***** trip
July 8, 2014
Underwhelmed with this one. Simply written, definitely very young adult. Choppy dialogue and limited adjective use.
May 21, 2014
Excellent!!!! Edge of your seat suspense!!!
January 15, 2015
I was hooked the second I started reading.
October 12, 2015
I had intended finish this but dnf at 61%. This is one of those books that tells you not shows you. There is no atmosphere and I just dont care about anything that happened in the book.
August 7, 2018
This is an amazing book, must read.
December 27, 2023
Absolutely Brilliant. Get more from this author
April 3, 2026
once I started reading I couldn't stop
March 13, 2014
This is a YA dystopia about a totalitarian city-state in the former USA called...Dystopia. Which is, in an odd way, a breath of fresh air--after all, usually euphemisms rule in worlds like this. At least they're being honest.
Main character Dana is assigned to work in a landfill where she and other hapless citizens are forced to work a giant incinerator (what could possibly go wrong there?). Of course, she begins to question her world and start down the inevitable path to becoming Rebel Heroine. The plot is not exactly innovative, but the angle that the author takes is interesting. A while ago Glenn Beck wrote (or rather, commissioned) a series of dystopian novels. This is the dystopian novel Glenn Beck actually wishes he wrote.
Let me back up for a minute there. This book has an agenda. A libertarian, Glenn-Beck-y agenda. I know, I know. However, if you read it through that lens--this is the future Glenn Beck fans fear--it's all the more intriguing. The writing is solid, and McNulty has a firm grasp on describing action. However, the political agenda is administered with all the subtlety of Ron Paul wielding a sledgehammer--after a scene where she remembers how the secret police took her sister away because she'd used up her health care ration (yes), there is actually a random infodump chapter written in second person. This chapter explains, without explicitly mentioning his name, that long ago Obama Broke the Country and that the literally-named, trans-fat free totalitarian hellhole that is Dystopia arose like a Bloomberg-approved phoenix from its smoldering ashes soon after. Again, I'm serious.
I'm giving it three (and a half, if I could) stars because the writing is good, the pacing is brisk, and it's an interesting insight into this point of view. The main character is a lot less obnoxious than many YA heroines, and the villain is...interesting. He has a stick. You'll know what I mean if you read it. He is quite over the top, and although I absolutely love the way she describes his mannerisms and the way he moves (this is perhaps my favorite part of the book), he doesn't seem to have much motivation except for Being Evil. He speaks in cliches, but at least he's present and fairly threatening (he kills people in cold blood quite often, often times it seems just to remind everyone he's EVIL DAMMIT). I would have just loved if his physical idiosyncrasies were matched by equally interesting personality quirks
.
In the end, though, I wasn't bored. It's a quick and exciting read, though your mileage may vary.
Main character Dana is assigned to work in a landfill where she and other hapless citizens are forced to work a giant incinerator (what could possibly go wrong there?). Of course, she begins to question her world and start down the inevitable path to becoming Rebel Heroine. The plot is not exactly innovative, but the angle that the author takes is interesting. A while ago Glenn Beck wrote (or rather, commissioned) a series of dystopian novels. This is the dystopian novel Glenn Beck actually wishes he wrote.
Let me back up for a minute there. This book has an agenda. A libertarian, Glenn-Beck-y agenda. I know, I know. However, if you read it through that lens--this is the future Glenn Beck fans fear--it's all the more intriguing. The writing is solid, and McNulty has a firm grasp on describing action. However, the political agenda is administered with all the subtlety of Ron Paul wielding a sledgehammer--after a scene where she remembers how the secret police took her sister away because she'd used up her health care ration (yes), there is actually a random infodump chapter written in second person. This chapter explains, without explicitly mentioning his name, that long ago Obama Broke the Country and that the literally-named, trans-fat free totalitarian hellhole that is Dystopia arose like a Bloomberg-approved phoenix from its smoldering ashes soon after. Again, I'm serious.
I'm giving it three (and a half, if I could) stars because the writing is good, the pacing is brisk, and it's an interesting insight into this point of view. The main character is a lot less obnoxious than many YA heroines, and the villain is...interesting. He has a stick. You'll know what I mean if you read it. He is quite over the top, and although I absolutely love the way she describes his mannerisms and the way he moves (this is perhaps my favorite part of the book), he doesn't seem to have much motivation except for Being Evil. He speaks in cliches, but at least he's present and fairly threatening (he kills people in cold blood quite often, often times it seems just to remind everyone he's EVIL DAMMIT). I would have just loved if his physical idiosyncrasies were matched by equally interesting personality quirks
.
In the end, though, I wasn't bored. It's a quick and exciting read, though your mileage may vary.
August 23, 2014
A free digital copy of this book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Originally seen on The Bookish Owl
Dystopia was a fast-paced and engrossing thriller. I loved the world build up that Janet McNulty gave us. Her dystopian world was descriptive but not to the point that I found it overwhelming. The whole concept of a regulated society and a government that didn’t care was terrifying. There was one part in which we are given an insider’s point of view to what the President of Dystopia was thinking. It was very chilling to read that part as you could clearly see that she didn’t give a damn about her people. The whole world of Dystopia screamed horrible, and the author had a way of translating this emotion perfectly onto the page. I really felt the stark terror throughout the whole book.
Some of the characters stood out for me. I liked how Dana was a strong protagonist who was ready to fight for her beliefs and stand by her morals. I would have liked to have seen more of the secondary characters like Elsie and Sanders as I felt that they were pivotal to the story yet they weren’t given much time to develop. There was also an unresolved plot line at the end with Sanders and a video he leaked, which wasn’t expounded much. I don’t know if this story line would continue to the second book but I really hope that it will. I liked how the book focused more on the protagonist’s change and development instead of a romantic relationship. However, I’m hoping that the second book would also contain the latter since I’m kind of shipping Mad Dog with Dana.
The dialogue was a little disappointing. It felt dry and staged at some points instead of flowing freely. I was also a bit let down with the ending. There was so much build-up that the abrupt conclusion left me feeling deflated. The writing style needs some polishing since it felt like reading a script instead of a book at times.
I really enjoyed reading Dystopia. It was a fast paced thriller with a strong protagonist and an even stronger plot line. Even though I didn’t care much for the dialogue and was disappointed with the writing style as well as the ending, I still can’t wait for the second book in the series!
Originally seen on The Bookish Owl
Dystopia was a fast-paced and engrossing thriller. I loved the world build up that Janet McNulty gave us. Her dystopian world was descriptive but not to the point that I found it overwhelming. The whole concept of a regulated society and a government that didn’t care was terrifying. There was one part in which we are given an insider’s point of view to what the President of Dystopia was thinking. It was very chilling to read that part as you could clearly see that she didn’t give a damn about her people. The whole world of Dystopia screamed horrible, and the author had a way of translating this emotion perfectly onto the page. I really felt the stark terror throughout the whole book.
Some of the characters stood out for me. I liked how Dana was a strong protagonist who was ready to fight for her beliefs and stand by her morals. I would have liked to have seen more of the secondary characters like Elsie and Sanders as I felt that they were pivotal to the story yet they weren’t given much time to develop. There was also an unresolved plot line at the end with Sanders and a video he leaked, which wasn’t expounded much. I don’t know if this story line would continue to the second book but I really hope that it will. I liked how the book focused more on the protagonist’s change and development instead of a romantic relationship. However, I’m hoping that the second book would also contain the latter since I’m kind of shipping Mad Dog with Dana.
The dialogue was a little disappointing. It felt dry and staged at some points instead of flowing freely. I was also a bit let down with the ending. There was so much build-up that the abrupt conclusion left me feeling deflated. The writing style needs some polishing since it felt like reading a script instead of a book at times.
I really enjoyed reading Dystopia. It was a fast paced thriller with a strong protagonist and an even stronger plot line. Even though I didn’t care much for the dialogue and was disappointed with the writing style as well as the ending, I still can’t wait for the second book in the series!
April 1, 2016
Dana grew up questioning everything and ultimately the government decided to assign her to work in an incinerator plant. There she struggles to survive and ultimately find a way to fight back against her dystopian society.
This was a quick, enjoyable read. I enjoyed following Dana's story and discovery throughout the book. It has a little bit of a Hunger Games vibe in that most of the county is uninhabited and there are isolated, controlled areas that produce specific goods/resources for the government. I did find some of the other characters to be fairly one dimensional and there were a few grammatical errors in my copy. The world isn't too deep or thought provoking, but following a sanitation worker is a novel idea. The pacing was very good and its a good start for a series I look forward to reading.
NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.This review was originally posted on MichaelSciFan
This was a quick, enjoyable read. I enjoyed following Dana's story and discovery throughout the book. It has a little bit of a Hunger Games vibe in that most of the county is uninhabited and there are isolated, controlled areas that produce specific goods/resources for the government. I did find some of the other characters to be fairly one dimensional and there were a few grammatical errors in my copy. The world isn't too deep or thought provoking, but following a sanitation worker is a novel idea. The pacing was very good and its a good start for a series I look forward to reading.
NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.This review was originally posted on MichaelSciFan
October 28, 2014
I received a free ebook version from Library Thing member giveaway.
I enjoyed the premise of this book and liked most of the concepts. The vocabulary was pretty basic, but suitable for the young adult audience this is aimed at. I will warn parents of younger kids who may be interested that there is some mild profanity (shit, damn, bastard, bullshit) but used very sparingly. Also some violence and death, but spares the gory details. No romance or sexual content.
I did not rate this any higher because there were many instances of things happening that were so unbelievable, and I prefer my dystopias to be plausible. Most of the dialogue I felt was on the cheesy side as well with friendships forming very quickly and trust gained too easily.
The ending doesn't really resolve anything because this is apparently the first in a trilogy or series. I'm mildly curious to see what happens next, but not going to lose sleep over it and probably won't read further any time soon because my to-read list is huge.
I enjoyed the premise of this book and liked most of the concepts. The vocabulary was pretty basic, but suitable for the young adult audience this is aimed at. I will warn parents of younger kids who may be interested that there is some mild profanity (shit, damn, bastard, bullshit) but used very sparingly. Also some violence and death, but spares the gory details. No romance or sexual content.
I did not rate this any higher because there were many instances of things happening that were so unbelievable, and I prefer my dystopias to be plausible. Most of the dialogue I felt was on the cheesy side as well with friendships forming very quickly and trust gained too easily.
The ending doesn't really resolve anything because this is apparently the first in a trilogy or series. I'm mildly curious to see what happens next, but not going to lose sleep over it and probably won't read further any time soon because my to-read list is huge.
August 6, 2014
Fast Moving, Quick Read!
The president and council of Dystopia dictate jobs, ration food and control all aspects of life. 17 year old Dana is the rebel teenager who questions authority and finds there are consequences to her actions. She is soon to discover how unjust their government is.
This is a short story written for the young adult audience and adults alike. Personally parts of the story lack flow and were a little choppy, the end a little abrupt, though the overall story was well put together. It did lack in visualization of the characters, though your imagination could compensate. This is a short story, which would explain the lack of depth. It was a fast read, moving at all times.
I did enjoy the book overall and wish to read the sequel.
Dystopia was given to me for my honest review of the book.
The president and council of Dystopia dictate jobs, ration food and control all aspects of life. 17 year old Dana is the rebel teenager who questions authority and finds there are consequences to her actions. She is soon to discover how unjust their government is.
This is a short story written for the young adult audience and adults alike. Personally parts of the story lack flow and were a little choppy, the end a little abrupt, though the overall story was well put together. It did lack in visualization of the characters, though your imagination could compensate. This is a short story, which would explain the lack of depth. It was a fast read, moving at all times.
I did enjoy the book overall and wish to read the sequel.
Dystopia was given to me for my honest review of the book.
December 5, 2014
I received this book through a LibraryThing member giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I found this story to be very interesting with an interesting premise about a national government run amuk. It is interesting and shows the human toil associated with a class based society where most work for the benefit of the elite few. The story clipped along briskly but then it ended - sort of. There is a second volume. I take exception when a prolific author writes a book then separates it into three small volumes yet charges as much for each volume as most indie authors charge for an entire book. I think the story is worth reading and the author deserves compensation for the effort. There are just so many other great indie authors with great books that I can choose to purchase. I can only read a finite number of books so I choose which books to read.
I found this story to be very interesting with an interesting premise about a national government run amuk. It is interesting and shows the human toil associated with a class based society where most work for the benefit of the elite few. The story clipped along briskly but then it ended - sort of. There is a second volume. I take exception when a prolific author writes a book then separates it into three small volumes yet charges as much for each volume as most indie authors charge for an entire book. I think the story is worth reading and the author deserves compensation for the effort. There are just so many other great indie authors with great books that I can choose to purchase. I can only read a finite number of books so I choose which books to read.
March 17, 2014
Enter Dana's world. The government is no longer as we know instead they work hard to ensure a utopia society or so you are suppose to believe. Dana is 17 and lost so much already what is the blow of being assigned to waste management. The place where people are sent to die.
Dana is a well written teenage girl. I feel her pains and understand her angst and desire to push back against a system that more than ever rewards the rich and keeps the poor down. Her reactions are not so uncommon to us today but in her world they make her a stand out. When backed into a conner to do something is dose not want to do she works hard to still protect those she cares about. This book was a quick read and ends in a way that leaves me wanting more.
Dana is a well written teenage girl. I feel her pains and understand her angst and desire to push back against a system that more than ever rewards the rich and keeps the poor down. Her reactions are not so uncommon to us today but in her world they make her a stand out. When backed into a conner to do something is dose not want to do she works hard to still protect those she cares about. This book was a quick read and ends in a way that leaves me wanting more.
September 30, 2014
[Dystopia] by [Janet McNulty] is a modern version of [1984] and example of when good intentions get caught up in greed and people are too lazy to care. The characters were very well developed as well as their relationships. The whole idea struck me as what people in the old Soviet Union must have felt like. (I am a history nerd.) I feel the message is that no matter what if people are apathetic they will lose what means the most to them and sometimes standing up for what is right can be really hard.
January 24, 2014
Dana is a typical dystopian heroine, who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up becoming the catalyst for change. Dana is not looking for a fight, she is not looking to be a rebel, it all just kind of drops in her lap. This was an exciting first book in the series however the ending did leave something to be desired. It just stopped suddenly, without a cliff hanger or anything, but let you know there would be a follow up.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
November 15, 2014
I liked it. It's nothing to rave about however it did leave me interested in continuing the series - at some point. Dystopia is a quick read. I do agree that the politics were not subtle at all (which didn't bother me. I found it amusing but I know some could possibly be offended). There were also some editorial errors but not an over abundance of them. Would I recommend? To some, yes. To others, probably not.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2016
Could this be the U.S.'s future?
This is a somehwat haunting story. It is haunting because I think it's possible this could become us. I'm not sayint that I don't believe in helping my fellows out there but this is equality for most of the masses taken to the extreme. If we're not careful about how we vote, we could be headed for trouble in the future! I look forward to Book 2.
This is a somehwat haunting story. It is haunting because I think it's possible this could become us. I'm not sayint that I don't believe in helping my fellows out there but this is equality for most of the masses taken to the extreme. If we're not careful about how we vote, we could be headed for trouble in the future! I look forward to Book 2.
August 16, 2014
Fabulous
Fabulous
So sad that George died at the end, but this book was well written and the plot was loaded with details. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy.
Fabulous
So sad that George died at the end, but this book was well written and the plot was loaded with details. I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy.
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