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Tent City #2
Red River
No one knows Brody’s secret and Dani plans to keep it that way.
It's been seven years since the first plague. Things seem safe - until the river runs red and the blood-filled waters set off a series of catastrophic events. Seeking refuge once again, Dani and her group make their way back to Tent City, unsure of what the future holds.
Can Dani keep Brody safe long enough to fulfill the prophecy? Who can she trust? Will she be able to bring down The Council before they destroy what she holds most dear? With the plagues looming, is there a bigger threat than just The Council?
In the midst of chaos, Dani finds love, but is forced to choose between two brothers - the one who can’t live without her and the one she has promised herself to – knowing the decision could destroy their relationship forever.
Red River is the second book in the Tent City series. It is a young adult dystopian novel of biblical proportions set in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
It's been seven years since the first plague. Things seem safe - until the river runs red and the blood-filled waters set off a series of catastrophic events. Seeking refuge once again, Dani and her group make their way back to Tent City, unsure of what the future holds.
Can Dani keep Brody safe long enough to fulfill the prophecy? Who can she trust? Will she be able to bring down The Council before they destroy what she holds most dear? With the plagues looming, is there a bigger threat than just The Council?
In the midst of chaos, Dani finds love, but is forced to choose between two brothers - the one who can’t live without her and the one she has promised herself to – knowing the decision could destroy their relationship forever.
Red River is the second book in the Tent City series. It is a young adult dystopian novel of biblical proportions set in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2013
18 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Van Hull
2 books98 followersFOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK :)
https://www.facebook.com/TentCityByKe...
Where do we go from here? Tent City and Red River have reached further in the world than I could have ever imagined, even surprisingly finding homes in the hearts of readers I would never expect would care to hang out with Dani, Brody, and the rest of the gang in Tent City. Readers are the most amazing creatures I've ever come across. I have such a huge adoration for them, all readers, not just the ones who read my work.
Just for a sneak peak of what's coming next, my latest work in progress has taken an interesting turn and I won't say much, but it's looking to be a companion novel for Tent City series, and maybe not in the way you would expect.
As far as what's going on in my life, this last little kiddo keeps me from finishing that novel, but I'm more determined than ever and I hope to have something for you by September.
Happy Reading Everyone!
https://www.facebook.com/TentCityByKe...
Where do we go from here? Tent City and Red River have reached further in the world than I could have ever imagined, even surprisingly finding homes in the hearts of readers I would never expect would care to hang out with Dani, Brody, and the rest of the gang in Tent City. Readers are the most amazing creatures I've ever come across. I have such a huge adoration for them, all readers, not just the ones who read my work.
Just for a sneak peak of what's coming next, my latest work in progress has taken an interesting turn and I won't say much, but it's looking to be a companion novel for Tent City series, and maybe not in the way you would expect.
As far as what's going on in my life, this last little kiddo keeps me from finishing that novel, but I'm more determined than ever and I hope to have something for you by September.
Happy Reading Everyone!
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April 30, 2015
I don't like being alone. In the solitude, I find myself thinking about one of two things. The first and most common thought that repeats in my head is that I'm burning with hatred for Burke and it makes my insides feel gross. I find myself fantasizing about leaving Mom and Dad and going out and killing him. The time I spent in Tent City has desensitized me to death and instead of being afraid of it, I long to bring it to Burke, gift-wrapped with the prettiest ribbon.
I feel like I was suckered into reading Christian fiction. The first book in this duology, Tent City, was fine. I knew it had Christian subtext and I was fine with that. However, in this book the subtext rapidly becomes text. o.O
Dani, her little brother Brody, her two love interests Bentley and Jack, her parents, and all the people she's picked up along the way are now trying to find their way together. 7 years ago is when the plagues started - locusts, rabid animals... Tent City ended with Dani holding Brody in her arms and staring at a river filled with blood and dead fish.
Rumors of a Golden Child, the next King, are rampant, and everyone knows the Council (read: government) is frantically searching for the messiah. Most people believe they plan to kill him. People are getting caught up in this fever, sacrificing babies born with birthmarks and engaging in other kinds of religious perversion.
I can't say too much more without giving the plot away. Let's break down the good and the bad in this book.
...
WHAT WAS GOOD:
1.) Van Hull is a good author. She knows how to put a story together. She doesn't have a 'voice' that really resonates - so that is a minus - but she knows how to weave a plot and she kind of creates a languid feeling (no matter what's going on in the story.) In this way, her writing is reminiscent of the writing of John Darryl Winston who also creates a sort of languid, relaxed atmosphere in his writing. I liked Van Hull's story (in regards to how it was written, not the content) and was enjoying reading it.
2.) Van Hull discusses some important matters in a nuanced, accessible way that is rather relaxed. In this book, she touches on when to let your child go and make her own decisions, abortion, pre-marital sex, and drug addiction. I was upset with her takes on pre-marital sex and abortion (we'll cover that in the negative section).
Regarding parental control, Dani is reunited with her parents after being sent away from them in the last book. When they are back together, Dani and her parents clash about some important issues. When she and Bentley decide to launch a rescue mission for someone who is missing,
"Now just hold on a minute," Dad interrupts. "No one's going anywhere. Not when we just got ya back."...
"You can't tell me what to do!" I'm standing now, fully indignant.
"Oh yes, I can. I'm still your father." He's standing now too...
"All you've done is send me away and fill me full of lies. Some father you are."
In another argument, we have Bentley - who ran Tent City and is used to being on his own without parents, add his two cents:
"Seems to me she's old enough to make her own decisions... no offense," Bentley replies with an almost smirk on his face and his hands raised as if to say, hey, don't look at me.
"We're still her parents and we're in charge here."
"Since when?" Bentley challenges back.
There's also a brilliant scene where Dani's mother finds Bentley and Dani sleeping together on a couch (fully clothed, fell asleep after watching a movie) and flips the hell out.
"No daughter of mine is going to be sharing her bed with a boy under my roof."...
My face is blushing hot, but not from embarrassment. I'm pissed. I turn 18 in less than a month, and had been living on my own for five months and she has the audacity to do this?
Dani then stands up to her mother brilliantly. I enjoyed this whole thing. I feel like Dani's parents have to realize that you can't put the cat back in the bag. They sent her out into the world with her five-year-old brother and her best friend. As soon as they did that and made that decision, everything changed. Making that decision was akin to giving her adult status.
She survived on her own (as in without parental support) for five months. She is now an adult, and her parents need to accept this and start treating her like one. They can no longer decide what she can do, where she can go, and they certainly have no right to try and control her sexual decisions. Now, this is a Christian novel and Dani is a virgin - she is not sexually active. But that isn't the point. She's been living on her own for 5 months now and she could have had sex with any number of men. She's certainly learned how to fight and she has killed men. She is NOT a child anymore. She is an adult and her parents have to wrap their heads around this. They can converse with her, give their opinion on things if they want - but all her decisions are hers now. She's grown, just like them.
Also, it is NOT her mother's house. They are living in a house that they all (as a group) broke into and set up in. You cannot use an "under my roof" argument with your daughter if it is, in fact, not your house. So that's bullshit - it's as much Dani's house as it is her mother's.
This transition is SO hard for both parents and children, and I liked the way Van Hull showed it here. Sparks fly but eventually both Mom and Dad catch on that Dani is totally different and they are no longer her chief.
3.) Dani's mood swings, anger, and conflicting feelings are realistic and I found she was like a real teenager. People were often afraid to approach her because sometimes she gets angry, but the readers are in her head and understand everything she does and thinks. I thought this was well done.
4.) Hannah basically equals Tomoe Hotaru. I liked this whole subplot, it was very enjoyable to me.
5.) Dani is capable as the result of training and hard work (not innately gifted). She does minor surgery twice in this book, she saves people, etc.
...
WHAT WAS BAD:
1.) Everyone, but especially the two love interests, is an evasive, lying, question-dodging jerk. Dani can't get a straight answer from people to save her life. I feel like Van Hull was using this to keep us readers in the dark, but it's bad writing that made me despise everyone and want to shake them until some answers fell out of them. I couldn't understand why Dani didn't get more angry and upset at everyone for hiding 5 billion things from her. This was also a huge problem in Book 1 and it made me rabid. So frustrating.
2.) There's a love triangle. I hate love triangles.
3.) Messages I didn't agree with, namely "having pre-marital sex is wrong" and "people who get abortions are sinners and will be punished by God." Even though Dani is not sexually active, her best friend Kit is. And I feel like she is really punished for it by And the book has an added anti-abortion message which emerges when
This is a terrible message that I can't support at all. I hated this whole thing.
There's also a strong message that Dani can get whatever she wants if she prays hard enough and humbles herself before God. I mean it, whatever she wants. Like for someone not to die or come back from the dead, for instance. This is, of course, okay in the book because she kind-of-sort-of has "super-powers" (given to her by God, of course) but as a message to actual Christians... The idea that if bad things happen it's almost your fault because you didn't pray hard enough / didn't believe enough / sinned in the past etc. is really sickening. However, I trust readers will be smart enough to just enjoy the superpower angle and not actually buy into this line of thinking themselves. But I wanted to mention it, because I think it's important.
And the apocalypse has come because humans are disobedient to God.
"Yeah, but it's gotten worse. All God wants us to do is be kind to one another, love Him, and follow His rules. But us humans? We think we are bigger than Him. We don't want a baby? We have a solution for that, a legal one even."
I really hate this. Especially this whole "Old Testament God decides to kill everyone on Earth" thing that I was under the impression Christians put aside after Jesus, who died on the cross to take everyone's sins. Jesus died for the sins of the world. I just don't get how that aspect of Christianity gels with this "now God will cleanse the Earth of humans once again" thing.
4.) I know my Bible, and was rather annoyed when Van Hull wasted pages re-telling me the story of King Solomon and his wisdom regarding the baby, and other basic Bible stuff. Although I guess the author can't assume everyone is familiar with basic Bible stories. Still, I feel like it's better to just mention the story, like, "Hey, remember Noah's Ark?" and then let readers look it up if they are unfamiliar with it instead of retelling the whole thing.
5.) He stands up, still carrying me and he makes his way to the cabin. My heartbeat picks up and I just realize what I've done. I can't deny him now. I'm the one who came on to him. What kind of hypocrite or tease would that make me?
No. You have a right to say 'no' at any time. You don't owe men anything because of past sexual behavior. You have a right to kissing/foreplay without sex. A make-out session does not mean you're promising sex to a guy. I hate the word 'tease.' HATE IT. You do NOT have to escalate your sexual behavior to please another person who expected sexual stuff from you because you flirted/kissed/etc. This kind of shaming people for not 'going all the way' needs to stop. You have a right to make choices about how 'far you go' with any person and should not be judged or shamed for those choices.
6.) And yet again I'm confronted with a book that apparently thinks it's okay for the 18-year-old heroine to kill people (in self-defense) but absolutely wrong for her to be sexually active. This just baffles me on so many levels. Also, Dani doesn't ever think about the people she's killed or really regret it, which is strange since she's an 18-year-girl who never experienced any violence until 5 months ago.
7.) "You'll let him go?" she asks with a small, hopeful smile.
"Yeah," I say, but I'm not sure what I've done.
Oh-kay. Callie is in love with Bentley and Bentley is in love with Dani. Callie asks Dani to "let Bentley go" and Dani agrees.
I hate when books treat men like objects. Dani doesn't own Bentley or control his feelings. I'm unsure what Callie and Dani think is going to happen here.
DANI: "Oh, Bentley, I've been meaning to tell you! I don't love you. I choose Jack. But I know Callie's looking for a Boyfriend and she likes you! Maybe you should go talk with her!"
BENTLEY: "Oh, okay. Thanks for telling me you don't love me. I'll just stop loving you instantly now, because love is something people can turn on and off like a switch. And I'll just be ready to go love Callie and be her Boyfriend now. Bye!"
Is that REALLY how you think humans and human emotions work!?!?!?! You're stupider than I thought, Dani and Callie. Jeez. And guess what, Callie? Even if he has to accept that Dani isn't in love with him, that is NO GUARANTEE that he'll be in love with you, Callie. He's not a vase! You can't just bid for him at auction like a piece of furniture you've had your eye on! I mean, WTF?
8.) Dani still makes stupid decisions, especially regarding who to trust.
9.) Riding the bear train.
This is an actual line in the novel that happens during a rather serious and (allegedly) scary scene where Dani & Co. are approached by rabid bears. It's a hilarious line, and so out of place considering the context that I was stunned no beta-reader noticed it and snatched it out. o.O You don't want your readers laughing hysterically during an intense scene, I'm assuming.
...
NEUTRAL:
This book has an anti-gun message. Just mentioning it because it's interesting and you might care.
...
Tl;dr - I am giving this one star because it goes against my personal beliefs. However, don't let that stop you from reading it! If you are okay with a book that is anti-abortion, anti-pre-marital sex and strongly believes in a vengeful and angry God, then by all means read it - Van Hull is a good author who writes well and can create an intriguing story. I, however, could not swallow what this book was preaching.
I don't regret buying it - I wanted to see what happened after her first book, Tent City, which was a 3-star read for me. Now I know and my curiosity is satisfied.
I feel like I was suckered into reading Christian fiction. The first book in this duology, Tent City, was fine. I knew it had Christian subtext and I was fine with that. However, in this book the subtext rapidly becomes text. o.O
Dani, her little brother Brody, her two love interests Bentley and Jack, her parents, and all the people she's picked up along the way are now trying to find their way together. 7 years ago is when the plagues started - locusts, rabid animals... Tent City ended with Dani holding Brody in her arms and staring at a river filled with blood and dead fish.
Rumors of a Golden Child, the next King, are rampant, and everyone knows the Council (read: government) is frantically searching for the messiah. Most people believe they plan to kill him. People are getting caught up in this fever, sacrificing babies born with birthmarks and engaging in other kinds of religious perversion.
I can't say too much more without giving the plot away. Let's break down the good and the bad in this book.
...
WHAT WAS GOOD:
1.) Van Hull is a good author. She knows how to put a story together. She doesn't have a 'voice' that really resonates - so that is a minus - but she knows how to weave a plot and she kind of creates a languid feeling (no matter what's going on in the story.) In this way, her writing is reminiscent of the writing of John Darryl Winston who also creates a sort of languid, relaxed atmosphere in his writing. I liked Van Hull's story (in regards to how it was written, not the content) and was enjoying reading it.
2.) Van Hull discusses some important matters in a nuanced, accessible way that is rather relaxed. In this book, she touches on when to let your child go and make her own decisions, abortion, pre-marital sex, and drug addiction. I was upset with her takes on pre-marital sex and abortion (we'll cover that in the negative section).
Regarding parental control, Dani is reunited with her parents after being sent away from them in the last book. When they are back together, Dani and her parents clash about some important issues. When she and Bentley decide to launch a rescue mission for someone who is missing,
"Now just hold on a minute," Dad interrupts. "No one's going anywhere. Not when we just got ya back."...
"You can't tell me what to do!" I'm standing now, fully indignant.
"Oh yes, I can. I'm still your father." He's standing now too...
"All you've done is send me away and fill me full of lies. Some father you are."
In another argument, we have Bentley - who ran Tent City and is used to being on his own without parents, add his two cents:
"Seems to me she's old enough to make her own decisions... no offense," Bentley replies with an almost smirk on his face and his hands raised as if to say, hey, don't look at me.
"We're still her parents and we're in charge here."
"Since when?" Bentley challenges back.
There's also a brilliant scene where Dani's mother finds Bentley and Dani sleeping together on a couch (fully clothed, fell asleep after watching a movie) and flips the hell out.
"No daughter of mine is going to be sharing her bed with a boy under my roof."...
My face is blushing hot, but not from embarrassment. I'm pissed. I turn 18 in less than a month, and had been living on my own for five months and she has the audacity to do this?
Dani then stands up to her mother brilliantly. I enjoyed this whole thing. I feel like Dani's parents have to realize that you can't put the cat back in the bag. They sent her out into the world with her five-year-old brother and her best friend. As soon as they did that and made that decision, everything changed. Making that decision was akin to giving her adult status.
She survived on her own (as in without parental support) for five months. She is now an adult, and her parents need to accept this and start treating her like one. They can no longer decide what she can do, where she can go, and they certainly have no right to try and control her sexual decisions. Now, this is a Christian novel and Dani is a virgin - she is not sexually active. But that isn't the point. She's been living on her own for 5 months now and she could have had sex with any number of men. She's certainly learned how to fight and she has killed men. She is NOT a child anymore. She is an adult and her parents have to wrap their heads around this. They can converse with her, give their opinion on things if they want - but all her decisions are hers now. She's grown, just like them.
Also, it is NOT her mother's house. They are living in a house that they all (as a group) broke into and set up in. You cannot use an "under my roof" argument with your daughter if it is, in fact, not your house. So that's bullshit - it's as much Dani's house as it is her mother's.
This transition is SO hard for both parents and children, and I liked the way Van Hull showed it here. Sparks fly but eventually both Mom and Dad catch on that Dani is totally different and they are no longer her chief.
3.) Dani's mood swings, anger, and conflicting feelings are realistic and I found she was like a real teenager. People were often afraid to approach her because sometimes she gets angry, but the readers are in her head and understand everything she does and thinks. I thought this was well done.
4.) Hannah basically equals Tomoe Hotaru. I liked this whole subplot, it was very enjoyable to me.
5.) Dani is capable as the result of training and hard work (not innately gifted). She does minor surgery twice in this book, she saves people, etc.
...
WHAT WAS BAD:
1.) Everyone, but especially the two love interests, is an evasive, lying, question-dodging jerk. Dani can't get a straight answer from people to save her life. I feel like Van Hull was using this to keep us readers in the dark, but it's bad writing that made me despise everyone and want to shake them until some answers fell out of them. I couldn't understand why Dani didn't get more angry and upset at everyone for hiding 5 billion things from her. This was also a huge problem in Book 1 and it made me rabid. So frustrating.
2.) There's a love triangle. I hate love triangles.
3.) Messages I didn't agree with, namely "having pre-marital sex is wrong" and "people who get abortions are sinners and will be punished by God." Even though Dani is not sexually active, her best friend Kit is. And I feel like she is really punished for it by And the book has an added anti-abortion message which emerges when
This is a terrible message that I can't support at all. I hated this whole thing.
There's also a strong message that Dani can get whatever she wants if she prays hard enough and humbles herself before God. I mean it, whatever she wants. Like for someone not to die or come back from the dead, for instance. This is, of course, okay in the book because she kind-of-sort-of has "super-powers" (given to her by God, of course) but as a message to actual Christians... The idea that if bad things happen it's almost your fault because you didn't pray hard enough / didn't believe enough / sinned in the past etc. is really sickening. However, I trust readers will be smart enough to just enjoy the superpower angle and not actually buy into this line of thinking themselves. But I wanted to mention it, because I think it's important.
And the apocalypse has come because humans are disobedient to God.
"Yeah, but it's gotten worse. All God wants us to do is be kind to one another, love Him, and follow His rules. But us humans? We think we are bigger than Him. We don't want a baby? We have a solution for that, a legal one even."
I really hate this. Especially this whole "Old Testament God decides to kill everyone on Earth" thing that I was under the impression Christians put aside after Jesus, who died on the cross to take everyone's sins. Jesus died for the sins of the world. I just don't get how that aspect of Christianity gels with this "now God will cleanse the Earth of humans once again" thing.
4.) I know my Bible, and was rather annoyed when Van Hull wasted pages re-telling me the story of King Solomon and his wisdom regarding the baby, and other basic Bible stuff. Although I guess the author can't assume everyone is familiar with basic Bible stories. Still, I feel like it's better to just mention the story, like, "Hey, remember Noah's Ark?" and then let readers look it up if they are unfamiliar with it instead of retelling the whole thing.
5.) He stands up, still carrying me and he makes his way to the cabin. My heartbeat picks up and I just realize what I've done. I can't deny him now. I'm the one who came on to him. What kind of hypocrite or tease would that make me?
No. You have a right to say 'no' at any time. You don't owe men anything because of past sexual behavior. You have a right to kissing/foreplay without sex. A make-out session does not mean you're promising sex to a guy. I hate the word 'tease.' HATE IT. You do NOT have to escalate your sexual behavior to please another person who expected sexual stuff from you because you flirted/kissed/etc. This kind of shaming people for not 'going all the way' needs to stop. You have a right to make choices about how 'far you go' with any person and should not be judged or shamed for those choices.
6.) And yet again I'm confronted with a book that apparently thinks it's okay for the 18-year-old heroine to kill people (in self-defense) but absolutely wrong for her to be sexually active. This just baffles me on so many levels. Also, Dani doesn't ever think about the people she's killed or really regret it, which is strange since she's an 18-year-girl who never experienced any violence until 5 months ago.
7.) "You'll let him go?" she asks with a small, hopeful smile.
"Yeah," I say, but I'm not sure what I've done.
Oh-kay. Callie is in love with Bentley and Bentley is in love with Dani. Callie asks Dani to "let Bentley go" and Dani agrees.
I hate when books treat men like objects. Dani doesn't own Bentley or control his feelings. I'm unsure what Callie and Dani think is going to happen here.
DANI: "Oh, Bentley, I've been meaning to tell you! I don't love you. I choose Jack. But I know Callie's looking for a Boyfriend and she likes you! Maybe you should go talk with her!"
BENTLEY: "Oh, okay. Thanks for telling me you don't love me. I'll just stop loving you instantly now, because love is something people can turn on and off like a switch. And I'll just be ready to go love Callie and be her Boyfriend now. Bye!"
Is that REALLY how you think humans and human emotions work!?!?!?! You're stupider than I thought, Dani and Callie. Jeez. And guess what, Callie? Even if he has to accept that Dani isn't in love with him, that is NO GUARANTEE that he'll be in love with you, Callie. He's not a vase! You can't just bid for him at auction like a piece of furniture you've had your eye on! I mean, WTF?
8.) Dani still makes stupid decisions, especially regarding who to trust.
9.) Riding the bear train.
This is an actual line in the novel that happens during a rather serious and (allegedly) scary scene where Dani & Co. are approached by rabid bears. It's a hilarious line, and so out of place considering the context that I was stunned no beta-reader noticed it and snatched it out. o.O You don't want your readers laughing hysterically during an intense scene, I'm assuming.
...
NEUTRAL:
This book has an anti-gun message. Just mentioning it because it's interesting and you might care.
...
Tl;dr - I am giving this one star because it goes against my personal beliefs. However, don't let that stop you from reading it! If you are okay with a book that is anti-abortion, anti-pre-marital sex and strongly believes in a vengeful and angry God, then by all means read it - Van Hull is a good author who writes well and can create an intriguing story. I, however, could not swallow what this book was preaching.
I don't regret buying it - I wanted to see what happened after her first book, Tent City, which was a 3-star read for me. Now I know and my curiosity is satisfied.
December 19, 2013
Red River is a darker, sadder tale than Tent City, so brace yourselves. A lot of the great things about book one are still in play, but the stakes are higher—more plagues are on their way and Dani must protect her brother’s secret to save his life.
The Story:
Despite the fact that I just read this book, I’m having a hard time summarizing the plot even in my own mind. I think that is because the books relies far more on the emotional journey of the main character than on an active plot trajectory. This is a very character driven novel. The story is about fear and grief and what those emotions do to us as people—how we learn to cope with them. The characters are all waiting for the next plague (and fearing the last one—death of first born—not knowing when it will come). Dani is not the most lovable in this book—she is human, and flawed, and realistic, but not the kind of character that inspires a reader. She’s pretty self involved, which at times makes her hard to root for.
While all of this is interesting—and it is, I was never bored—it felt like a bit of a let down. Tent City ends with the promise of a plot for book two: Dani and Bentely are going to save Jack. So, what we are expecting is a story in which Dani must somehow infiltrate the capital right under the enemy’s nose and rescue a loved one. But this isn’t what happens. Instead of this more proactive story, we get a stationary tale of survival and coping with depression. It felt a bit like a broken promise to me.
The Writing:
I really enjoyed the writing in Tent City, but I felt it was prone to stumbles—to awkward phrasings and word repetitions. Not so in Red River, which is a far more technically clean novel. It still has the authentic, youthful voice of Dani, but reads smoothly and is often evocative. For example, the description of the opening scene had my stomach roiling it was so well done. I have no real complaints as far as the prose goes.
What I loved:
Some of my issues with book one were solved in this second entry. My biggest problem with Tent City was the weak role the protagonist played within the plot—she was kept in the dark by her love interests and was not key to the conclusion. She was not a power player. Here, this is not an issue. Dani is often the one with the secrets herself, she is viewed as a leader within the group, and she plays a very strong role in how the story ends. So, yay for that!
There were several surprises along the way that I did not see coming—I liked that characters who were black and white in book one got a lot grayer in this story. As in real life, the truth is complex in Red River. There were a lot of little details that came together in neat, unexpected ways, which I really enjoyed. We also meet some new characters who are likable additions to the cast. The way the ‘advancements’ progressed was really neat and one of my favorite elements.
The best part of the book, for me, was the climax. After a story that was a bit slower in pace, the ending is quite a punch of excitement. No let down to be had at the end of this novel, that’s for sure!
What I Didn’t Love:
While I was glad that Dani was a more active player in this story, in some ways she seemed to regress in this book. It’s a bit of a bummer to see a character get weaker rather than stronger, especially when its the female lead.
But my primary complaint is that, on an intellectual level, I felt a bit let down by the handling of the biblical elements in the story. The crux of the drama is the plagues, but this doesn’t really come together in a significant way. Everyone keeps saying that the plagues are a punishment from God for sin—which felt like an off conclusion to me. If it were a flood or some raining fire then I could see the correlation, but the plagues didn’t quite work that way. They were a sort of escalating ultimatum for the Pharaoh to release his slaves. I kept wondering, if this is a reprisal of that wrathful Old Testament God, what is it He wants? The Old Testament God was a bit of a stickler about rules, but he was always pretty darn clear about what he wanted.
It seemed as though even the hyper-Christian characters were only vaguely aware of the events of this rather popular bible story. They were all afraid of the final plague, the death of first borns, but no one ever suggests applying some lamb’s blood to their door. At one point, they happen upon a Bible and Dani and Bentley read about David and Goliath, yet never once do they say, “hey lets page on over to the book of Exodus and take a closer look at these plague things.” They leave the bible behind. Really? I mean, when the apocalypse takes a decidedly Biblical turn, regardless of my religious affiliation I think I’d want to brush up on the so-called good-book, for the sake of preparedness at the very least.
All of this vague, muddled bibley-ness, creates a confused story for me. We have a God in this book who is acting old-school vengeful with plagues, in very isolated and specific situations, but then the book itself takes a more modern, positive attitude towards God in the end. Considering the story was so centered around the plagues, I had hoped that the novel would offer a more poignant and clear conclusion on this matter.
Conclusion:
So, in conclusion, while I do not think this is a perfect book plot-wise, there are so many wonderful, gut-wrenching moments that I think it is still very worth reading. It’s the kind of book that is going to make you have an opinion. It is going to make you feel.
The Story:
Despite the fact that I just read this book, I’m having a hard time summarizing the plot even in my own mind. I think that is because the books relies far more on the emotional journey of the main character than on an active plot trajectory. This is a very character driven novel. The story is about fear and grief and what those emotions do to us as people—how we learn to cope with them. The characters are all waiting for the next plague (and fearing the last one—death of first born—not knowing when it will come). Dani is not the most lovable in this book—she is human, and flawed, and realistic, but not the kind of character that inspires a reader. She’s pretty self involved, which at times makes her hard to root for.
While all of this is interesting—and it is, I was never bored—it felt like a bit of a let down. Tent City ends with the promise of a plot for book two: Dani and Bentely are going to save Jack. So, what we are expecting is a story in which Dani must somehow infiltrate the capital right under the enemy’s nose and rescue a loved one. But this isn’t what happens. Instead of this more proactive story, we get a stationary tale of survival and coping with depression. It felt a bit like a broken promise to me.
The Writing:
I really enjoyed the writing in Tent City, but I felt it was prone to stumbles—to awkward phrasings and word repetitions. Not so in Red River, which is a far more technically clean novel. It still has the authentic, youthful voice of Dani, but reads smoothly and is often evocative. For example, the description of the opening scene had my stomach roiling it was so well done. I have no real complaints as far as the prose goes.
What I loved:
Some of my issues with book one were solved in this second entry. My biggest problem with Tent City was the weak role the protagonist played within the plot—she was kept in the dark by her love interests and was not key to the conclusion. She was not a power player. Here, this is not an issue. Dani is often the one with the secrets herself, she is viewed as a leader within the group, and she plays a very strong role in how the story ends. So, yay for that!
There were several surprises along the way that I did not see coming—I liked that characters who were black and white in book one got a lot grayer in this story. As in real life, the truth is complex in Red River. There were a lot of little details that came together in neat, unexpected ways, which I really enjoyed. We also meet some new characters who are likable additions to the cast. The way the ‘advancements’ progressed was really neat and one of my favorite elements.
The best part of the book, for me, was the climax. After a story that was a bit slower in pace, the ending is quite a punch of excitement. No let down to be had at the end of this novel, that’s for sure!
What I Didn’t Love:
While I was glad that Dani was a more active player in this story, in some ways she seemed to regress in this book. It’s a bit of a bummer to see a character get weaker rather than stronger, especially when its the female lead.
But my primary complaint is that, on an intellectual level, I felt a bit let down by the handling of the biblical elements in the story. The crux of the drama is the plagues, but this doesn’t really come together in a significant way. Everyone keeps saying that the plagues are a punishment from God for sin—which felt like an off conclusion to me. If it were a flood or some raining fire then I could see the correlation, but the plagues didn’t quite work that way. They were a sort of escalating ultimatum for the Pharaoh to release his slaves. I kept wondering, if this is a reprisal of that wrathful Old Testament God, what is it He wants? The Old Testament God was a bit of a stickler about rules, but he was always pretty darn clear about what he wanted.
It seemed as though even the hyper-Christian characters were only vaguely aware of the events of this rather popular bible story. They were all afraid of the final plague, the death of first borns, but no one ever suggests applying some lamb’s blood to their door. At one point, they happen upon a Bible and Dani and Bentley read about David and Goliath, yet never once do they say, “hey lets page on over to the book of Exodus and take a closer look at these plague things.” They leave the bible behind. Really? I mean, when the apocalypse takes a decidedly Biblical turn, regardless of my religious affiliation I think I’d want to brush up on the so-called good-book, for the sake of preparedness at the very least.
All of this vague, muddled bibley-ness, creates a confused story for me. We have a God in this book who is acting old-school vengeful with plagues, in very isolated and specific situations, but then the book itself takes a more modern, positive attitude towards God in the end. Considering the story was so centered around the plagues, I had hoped that the novel would offer a more poignant and clear conclusion on this matter.
Conclusion:
So, in conclusion, while I do not think this is a perfect book plot-wise, there are so many wonderful, gut-wrenching moments that I think it is still very worth reading. It’s the kind of book that is going to make you have an opinion. It is going to make you feel.
October 20, 2013
Well I thought the book was pretty amazing. From reading just the first book I had this idea in my mind on where things were going. Then I read the second book and just had to throw all that out the window. There is a lot of supernatural and spiritual stuff going on in this book. Lots of twists and turns in the plot. And ultimately the end of the book was satisfying...it answered most of the questions I had and gave hope for the future.
NOTE: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2013
4.0/5.0
I really liked Tent City... I loved Red River.
The story line advances really quickly in this one. There were very few, if any, moments where things were just "chill". It seemed like as soon as they got out of one predicament, they fell face first into another one.
It was a lot grittier than Tent City as well. The characters are forced into a lot of very intense situations. I love that Van Hull did create weakness and flaws in her characters. They didn't always choose the right way to deal with things, and they suffered consequences as a result. It made the story seem a little more real. Don't get me wrong, I love a bad-ass who can take whatever is thrown their way, but at the same time, its nice to see a character that isn't perfect occasionally.
Speaking of, yes, there are some very hard topics in this book, like drugs and abortion. Personally, I had no issue with them. Van Hull by no means candy coats or glorifies these things. As far as I am concerned, these are real issues that real teenagers face, and there is absolutely no reason not to write about them.
Additionally, this being a "religious" apocalypse, there are religious themes to this book. Personally, I didn't feel at all uncomfortable or offended by anything that was said. I felt like most of the so-called "bad things" that were said, were not said about religion, but rather about religious extremist and people who use religion to for no other reason than to gain power.
It didn't bother me that the main character questioned the idea of having "faith". I imagine a lot of people in her situation would, especially someone who was not brought up in a family with a strong religious background. I didn't find it blasphemy. I found it a realistic picture of someone trying to sort out whether or not they believed in a time where faith can be difficult.
That's my two cents on the "controversial" issues anyway. Its very subjective, so i'm sure that will vary from reader to reader, but I wasn't bothered or offended by it. I thought it was very well done personally.
Beyond that, this book really kept me on my toes. It was one of those books that it drove me nuts to put down (and since my office kind of frowns upon the whole read instead of work thing, I had to put it down occasionally). There was a lot of mystery and build up that kept me on the edge of my seat and my head spinning with possibilities. It threw a few curveballs that I never saw coming in there too.
The end wasn't nearly the cliffhanger of Tent City, however, it really didn't need to be. If there is a book three, I'll totally read it. I still have a lot of unanswered questions, so I'm hoping...
I would hands down recommend this book. I feel like Kelly Van Hull is truly growing as an author... can't wait to see what is next!
I really liked Tent City... I loved Red River.
The story line advances really quickly in this one. There were very few, if any, moments where things were just "chill". It seemed like as soon as they got out of one predicament, they fell face first into another one.
It was a lot grittier than Tent City as well. The characters are forced into a lot of very intense situations. I love that Van Hull did create weakness and flaws in her characters. They didn't always choose the right way to deal with things, and they suffered consequences as a result. It made the story seem a little more real. Don't get me wrong, I love a bad-ass who can take whatever is thrown their way, but at the same time, its nice to see a character that isn't perfect occasionally.
Speaking of, yes, there are some very hard topics in this book, like drugs and abortion. Personally, I had no issue with them. Van Hull by no means candy coats or glorifies these things. As far as I am concerned, these are real issues that real teenagers face, and there is absolutely no reason not to write about them.
Additionally, this being a "religious" apocalypse, there are religious themes to this book. Personally, I didn't feel at all uncomfortable or offended by anything that was said. I felt like most of the so-called "bad things" that were said, were not said about religion, but rather about religious extremist and people who use religion to for no other reason than to gain power.
It didn't bother me that the main character questioned the idea of having "faith". I imagine a lot of people in her situation would, especially someone who was not brought up in a family with a strong religious background. I didn't find it blasphemy. I found it a realistic picture of someone trying to sort out whether or not they believed in a time where faith can be difficult.
That's my two cents on the "controversial" issues anyway. Its very subjective, so i'm sure that will vary from reader to reader, but I wasn't bothered or offended by it. I thought it was very well done personally.
Beyond that, this book really kept me on my toes. It was one of those books that it drove me nuts to put down (and since my office kind of frowns upon the whole read instead of work thing, I had to put it down occasionally). There was a lot of mystery and build up that kept me on the edge of my seat and my head spinning with possibilities. It threw a few curveballs that I never saw coming in there too.
The end wasn't nearly the cliffhanger of Tent City, however, it really didn't need to be. If there is a book three, I'll totally read it. I still have a lot of unanswered questions, so I'm hoping...
I would hands down recommend this book. I feel like Kelly Van Hull is truly growing as an author... can't wait to see what is next!
December 17, 2013
Overall-
Where to begin. I liked this book. And it certainly intrigued me throughout. The constant buzz of the mystery really kept my rapt attention. And if you were a fan of the first book, then its worth reading this one! I love that there was finality to quite a few things. Especially the love triangle issue. I absolutely love Bentley and Jack, as characters they warm my heart, in their own ways they are strong and beautiful. I liked Hannah a lot too, he courage and compassion was really touching and watching Dani and Hannah become so close reminded me of what true friendship is like.
I think its important to note that this book deals with some pretty difficult and heavy issues including drug abuse, abortion, and religion. I do not provide an opinion on these issues (for the most part, see religion issue below) because it is not for me to judge on these issues to the public but think its important for a reader to know what they are about to read.
I must admit though, I had a number of problems with the book. For starters, and this is just me, I struggled throughout the book with the religious concept/theme. I got over that though, and while it was a primary concept throughout, the author managed to set it up nicely with the narration so not to seem as though someone is pushing beliefs on me, but instead just putting out thoughts and ideas based on an ideology. (i.e. providing some of both sides of the religious spectrum) Personally, I appreciated that Dani didnt just "go along with it" and was skeptical. Next, I HATED the love triangle. I was able to appreciate the difference between the two guys, and even the relationships she had with both, separately. But I just wanted her to make up her damn mind! Even that I was able to get over. It added to the plot line and mystery. My biggest issue with this book was what felt like "jumping" and skipping of moments, scenes, thoughts, the vagueness of some of the explanations. I frequently felt like I was missing a connection between what happened in one scene and another. It wasnt that the scenes were in contrast to one another but I felt like I missed some piece of information some how (which I didnt, because I would go back and check). It seemed to me, that the author may have been attempting to add mystery and intrigue to scenes by "leaving" something out, but this really confused me at times. This issue did detract from my reading, but not to the extent that I couldnt continue or make sense of what was going on.
Most of my questions left lingering from the last book were answered, and for that Im grateful. I have a some unanswered questions still out there (i.e. why is he "king" and why does everyone accept this? what does being king mean? whats the power of 6 mean? how did a character get boils? no one mentioned the frogs? Castor oil? Hows there electrcity?...). At the end of the day though, I enjoyed the book regardless of some of the flaws, which quite frankly are to be expected. (writing is hard!) Mostly though I love Bentley (I guess you can tell which team I am on!!)
Plot-
This is a different approach than most of the young adult dystopian novels out there right now. The author took a really interesting approach to the idea of dystopian, corruption and religion. The overall plot the book was intriguing and really kept my interest. There was always something going on. Drama, action, mystery, suspense. This book certainly has it all! Theres also the love triangle and a budding friendship with a new friend. There are some points that were never explained (the wolf, the baby, dad?) and some pieces of the story I dont fully understand (King?) but feel that the overall plot line was flushed out by the end and the story ended "properly". I have not seen a book like this that takes the idea of religion/cult and makes it a focal point of a dystopian romance so I was able to appreciate that, but felt that more could have been provided in the way of explaining the back story of the cult. I think the amount of romance was good. I appreciate that in this book, the main heroine doesnt fall in love with someone right away, but gets to know them and builds upon a relationship with the boy as a friend before moving forward. All in all, this was a pretty good book, and if you liked that first book you should read this one!
See my full post at:
http://beautysinbreakdown.blogspot.co...
Where to begin. I liked this book. And it certainly intrigued me throughout. The constant buzz of the mystery really kept my rapt attention. And if you were a fan of the first book, then its worth reading this one! I love that there was finality to quite a few things. Especially the love triangle issue. I absolutely love Bentley and Jack, as characters they warm my heart, in their own ways they are strong and beautiful. I liked Hannah a lot too, he courage and compassion was really touching and watching Dani and Hannah become so close reminded me of what true friendship is like.
I think its important to note that this book deals with some pretty difficult and heavy issues including drug abuse, abortion, and religion. I do not provide an opinion on these issues (for the most part, see religion issue below) because it is not for me to judge on these issues to the public but think its important for a reader to know what they are about to read.
I must admit though, I had a number of problems with the book. For starters, and this is just me, I struggled throughout the book with the religious concept/theme. I got over that though, and while it was a primary concept throughout, the author managed to set it up nicely with the narration so not to seem as though someone is pushing beliefs on me, but instead just putting out thoughts and ideas based on an ideology. (i.e. providing some of both sides of the religious spectrum) Personally, I appreciated that Dani didnt just "go along with it" and was skeptical. Next, I HATED the love triangle. I was able to appreciate the difference between the two guys, and even the relationships she had with both, separately. But I just wanted her to make up her damn mind! Even that I was able to get over. It added to the plot line and mystery. My biggest issue with this book was what felt like "jumping" and skipping of moments, scenes, thoughts, the vagueness of some of the explanations. I frequently felt like I was missing a connection between what happened in one scene and another. It wasnt that the scenes were in contrast to one another but I felt like I missed some piece of information some how (which I didnt, because I would go back and check). It seemed to me, that the author may have been attempting to add mystery and intrigue to scenes by "leaving" something out, but this really confused me at times. This issue did detract from my reading, but not to the extent that I couldnt continue or make sense of what was going on.
Most of my questions left lingering from the last book were answered, and for that Im grateful. I have a some unanswered questions still out there (i.e. why is he "king" and why does everyone accept this? what does being king mean? whats the power of 6 mean? how did a character get boils? no one mentioned the frogs? Castor oil? Hows there electrcity?...). At the end of the day though, I enjoyed the book regardless of some of the flaws, which quite frankly are to be expected. (writing is hard!) Mostly though I love Bentley (I guess you can tell which team I am on!!)
Plot-
This is a different approach than most of the young adult dystopian novels out there right now. The author took a really interesting approach to the idea of dystopian, corruption and religion. The overall plot the book was intriguing and really kept my interest. There was always something going on. Drama, action, mystery, suspense. This book certainly has it all! Theres also the love triangle and a budding friendship with a new friend. There are some points that were never explained (the wolf, the baby, dad?) and some pieces of the story I dont fully understand (King?) but feel that the overall plot line was flushed out by the end and the story ended "properly". I have not seen a book like this that takes the idea of religion/cult and makes it a focal point of a dystopian romance so I was able to appreciate that, but felt that more could have been provided in the way of explaining the back story of the cult. I think the amount of romance was good. I appreciate that in this book, the main heroine doesnt fall in love with someone right away, but gets to know them and builds upon a relationship with the boy as a friend before moving forward. All in all, this was a pretty good book, and if you liked that first book you should read this one!
See my full post at:
http://beautysinbreakdown.blogspot.co...
October 29, 2014
Ok, now that I've finished, then slept on it I'm still feeling crazy. First off I received a copy via the author for an honest review it in no way shape or form took into account for this review.
Ok now that that's out of the way lets try and unscramble what just happened to me. I've been book hung-over for the past few hours and still haven't figured out what to write for the review so I'm going to fly by the seat of my fuzzy jammies and tell you my thoughts and there's quite a bit so hang tight. :)
Deep breaths, now lets start with I LOVED Tent City. I even have a signed copy and that bad boy looks fa-u-lous on my bookshelf next to all the other dystopia's I have. See when I first started this series I was intrigued by the religious parts by using the plagues. I kept thinking "this is going to be horrible, I'm not even sure the last book I read that had religious elements I even read..." And Kelly would prove me wrong each time. Just because I'm not religious or have such firm beliefs maybe that's why I don't get all "crazy" about the way its put in the book. And honestly if your only reading it for that this isn't the book for you its so much more! The characters are great, though me and Dani didn't get on the same page till a bit over half way through this time... but still they're developed so well and I love that. I'm connected to each one for there various thoughts, ideas, stylizing, etc they hook lined and sinkered my in book one. Also to me it was a fresh breath I was getting a bit tired of all the "futuristic" dystopian novels/series out there. Or having to keep learning a new type of English sometimes that got frustrating.
Anyway Red River did it for me just as good as book one, eh not as great as book one but normally for me that's the case book one in a series will almost ALWAYS be my one and true favorite. Its was left a certain way in book one but I swear as I started reading this it one it was like "Uh, what the hell is going on?" But in a good way. :)
Red River was grittier, uglier, and down right getting up to no good some of the storyline I was a bit shocked others I was numb but all in all I loved this one just as much as the first. I don't want to spoil it too much and I'll probably end up redoing this review (coffee? yes I think I forgot to have coffee this morning...).
Rating:4.5
Recommendation: HECK yes I'd recommend this series! Just open up a bit to having both perspectives of the religious kind and a seriously good storyline!
Ok now that that's out of the way lets try and unscramble what just happened to me. I've been book hung-over for the past few hours and still haven't figured out what to write for the review so I'm going to fly by the seat of my fuzzy jammies and tell you my thoughts and there's quite a bit so hang tight. :)
Deep breaths, now lets start with I LOVED Tent City. I even have a signed copy and that bad boy looks fa-u-lous on my bookshelf next to all the other dystopia's I have. See when I first started this series I was intrigued by the religious parts by using the plagues. I kept thinking "this is going to be horrible, I'm not even sure the last book I read that had religious elements I even read..." And Kelly would prove me wrong each time. Just because I'm not religious or have such firm beliefs maybe that's why I don't get all "crazy" about the way its put in the book. And honestly if your only reading it for that this isn't the book for you its so much more! The characters are great, though me and Dani didn't get on the same page till a bit over half way through this time... but still they're developed so well and I love that. I'm connected to each one for there various thoughts, ideas, stylizing, etc they hook lined and sinkered my in book one. Also to me it was a fresh breath I was getting a bit tired of all the "futuristic" dystopian novels/series out there. Or having to keep learning a new type of English sometimes that got frustrating.
Anyway Red River did it for me just as good as book one, eh not as great as book one but normally for me that's the case book one in a series will almost ALWAYS be my one and true favorite. Its was left a certain way in book one but I swear as I started reading this it one it was like "Uh, what the hell is going on?" But in a good way. :)
Red River was grittier, uglier, and down right getting up to no good some of the storyline I was a bit shocked others I was numb but all in all I loved this one just as much as the first. I don't want to spoil it too much and I'll probably end up redoing this review (coffee? yes I think I forgot to have coffee this morning...).
Rating:4.5
Recommendation: HECK yes I'd recommend this series! Just open up a bit to having both perspectives of the religious kind and a seriously good storyline!
January 5, 2014
First off, I have to say that I was given a free e-copy of Red River from the author in exchange for an honest review of the book.
I LOVED Tent City, so I was really looking forward to Red River coming out. So my expectations may have been a bit high for this book, and it didn't disapoint, but I wasn't as obsessed with it as I was Tent City. The book didn't waste anytime jumping into the action, which I really liked. However there was one scene at about 10% in that I totally was not expecting and I had such a hard time reading that I had to put the book down for a couple days just to figure out if I could pick it up again. Of course my curiosity of the story won out and I did finish it.
There are a lot of BIG issues that Dani is faced with in this book - drugs, abortion, etc. And while I appreciate the depth of these issues, they almost seemed too glossed over in some ways for me. They seemed to come up all of a sudden, and then within a short amount of time they were just done and dealt with. I just seemed a bit unrealistic to me that such issues could be dealt with so quickly. There was always a lot going on in the book, and yet they never seemed to DO anything. Most of the book was just about them surviving. I would have liked to see more done with Burke, it seemed that he went from REALLY bad to maybe not so bad.
But all of the 'issues' I had were minor. I'm super glad I read it and was happy with the closure it gave to Tent City. Dani has a lot to deal with and it was nice to see her grow and overcome the obstacles in front of her. Once again I really liked both Jack and Bentley in this book, and I still couldn't decide for a long time who I really wanted her to end up with! But thankfully the author did not focus on the 'love-triangle' too much and there was way more to the story than that.
All in all, Red River was a good read. I love the author's writing style and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
I LOVED Tent City, so I was really looking forward to Red River coming out. So my expectations may have been a bit high for this book, and it didn't disapoint, but I wasn't as obsessed with it as I was Tent City. The book didn't waste anytime jumping into the action, which I really liked. However there was one scene at about 10% in that I totally was not expecting and I had such a hard time reading that I had to put the book down for a couple days just to figure out if I could pick it up again. Of course my curiosity of the story won out and I did finish it.
There are a lot of BIG issues that Dani is faced with in this book - drugs, abortion, etc. And while I appreciate the depth of these issues, they almost seemed too glossed over in some ways for me. They seemed to come up all of a sudden, and then within a short amount of time they were just done and dealt with. I just seemed a bit unrealistic to me that such issues could be dealt with so quickly. There was always a lot going on in the book, and yet they never seemed to DO anything. Most of the book was just about them surviving. I would have liked to see more done with Burke, it seemed that he went from REALLY bad to maybe not so bad.
But all of the 'issues' I had were minor. I'm super glad I read it and was happy with the closure it gave to Tent City. Dani has a lot to deal with and it was nice to see her grow and overcome the obstacles in front of her. Once again I really liked both Jack and Bentley in this book, and I still couldn't decide for a long time who I really wanted her to end up with! But thankfully the author did not focus on the 'love-triangle' too much and there was way more to the story than that.
All in all, Red River was a good read. I love the author's writing style and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
November 19, 2013
4.5 Stars! In Red River (Tent City #2), Dani is dealing with the aftermath of a world turned upside down by the never ending plaques and the devastating loss of Tent City and all it represented. Dani tries to navigate through the physicality of survival, while dealing with the emotional strife of teenage angst, as well as deep seated anger and the need for revenge. If that isn't enough, Dani feels the strain and burden of Brody's safety, not to mention she is torn between two lovers who are brothers! Phew! That would be enough to make anyone crazy and Dani is no exception. She is confused, tired and needs an escape from the pain, but escape costs Dani dearly as she delves into addiction, thus complicating her life even further. Although Dani has some major slip ups, she manages to learn from her mistakes and her trials make her stronger...a heroine's journey if ever there was one!
Before you think that Red River is an emotional downer and way too heavy, let me assure you there is plenty of exciting elements, including these amazing enhancements or superpowers that continue to develop. Also, two complex and endearing new characters are introduced and play a critical role in Red River: the self-sacrificing Hannah and the smooth musician Milo. I love both of them and I'm intensely convinced that Kelly has a whole other story or two to be told from their POV. I also love the role that Dani's father plays, but I'm not giving anything away. Finally, big kudos for a plot with many twists and turns and a finale that is hot...I'm just saying! I highly recommend this series and I'm already dreaming about the next book...please tell me there's more!?
Before you think that Red River is an emotional downer and way too heavy, let me assure you there is plenty of exciting elements, including these amazing enhancements or superpowers that continue to develop. Also, two complex and endearing new characters are introduced and play a critical role in Red River: the self-sacrificing Hannah and the smooth musician Milo. I love both of them and I'm intensely convinced that Kelly has a whole other story or two to be told from their POV. I also love the role that Dani's father plays, but I'm not giving anything away. Finally, big kudos for a plot with many twists and turns and a finale that is hot...I'm just saying! I highly recommend this series and I'm already dreaming about the next book...please tell me there's more!?
January 16, 2014
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to continue this story, and to find out what happens next--especially with Brody! Overall, I'd say that I liked this one better than Tent City. I thought the story improved, and we got a little more world building.
We also got to meet, I think, my favorite character of this story, Milo. Milo was awesome, and I really would have liked more scenes with just him and Dani. What I loved was there wasn't a romantic interest between them, that it was just friendship.
I also could have used some more clarity on the Advancements. We start to learn more about them, and how they tie in with Brody and the Plagues, but I was still pretty confused by the end. I also felt like we needed just a bit more action and less of Dani's thoughts. Instead of Dani telling us what was happening, it would have been better to experience it ourselves as readers!
But other than these small gripes, I really enjoyed this story, the characters, and especially the ending. The ending was epicly amazing, which made the book for me!
I was really excited to continue this story, and to find out what happens next--especially with Brody! Overall, I'd say that I liked this one better than Tent City. I thought the story improved, and we got a little more world building.
We also got to meet, I think, my favorite character of this story, Milo. Milo was awesome, and I really would have liked more scenes with just him and Dani. What I loved was there wasn't a romantic interest between them, that it was just friendship.
I also could have used some more clarity on the Advancements. We start to learn more about them, and how they tie in with Brody and the Plagues, but I was still pretty confused by the end. I also felt like we needed just a bit more action and less of Dani's thoughts. Instead of Dani telling us what was happening, it would have been better to experience it ourselves as readers!
But other than these small gripes, I really enjoyed this story, the characters, and especially the ending. The ending was epicly amazing, which made the book for me!
November 1, 2013
I want to thank the author for a sneak preview at this very satisfying sequel to Tent City.
Red River follows up on Dani, her family, and her Tent City crew in this series about life after the food chain in the United States is destroyed and the government collapses, and gives us a better idea of what happened, how, and why.
After the first book, I felt really invested in knowing what became of the kids and their families, and to learn more about the back story of the characters.
The author does this for the reader and more. Some great new characters are introduced. Love interests are sorted out and teenage angst plays out (without getting boring or on my nerves anyway!) Interesting new "advancements" appear and grow. Villains come to light that were previously unknown.
This series reminded me a little of the Tomorrow, When the War Began series by John Marsden with the story revolving around teenage survivors, and I really liked the South Dakotan setting a lot.
I look forward to more from Kelly Van Hull!
Red River follows up on Dani, her family, and her Tent City crew in this series about life after the food chain in the United States is destroyed and the government collapses, and gives us a better idea of what happened, how, and why.
After the first book, I felt really invested in knowing what became of the kids and their families, and to learn more about the back story of the characters.
The author does this for the reader and more. Some great new characters are introduced. Love interests are sorted out and teenage angst plays out (without getting boring or on my nerves anyway!) Interesting new "advancements" appear and grow. Villains come to light that were previously unknown.
This series reminded me a little of the Tomorrow, When the War Began series by John Marsden with the story revolving around teenage survivors, and I really liked the South Dakotan setting a lot.
I look forward to more from Kelly Van Hull!
December 3, 2013
I got a copy of this from Kelly, after reading Tent City. I was thrilled to get a copy and could not wait to read it! Tent City was a great book. At first there was a lot about Tent City that kinda had me on the edge. However, Kelly brought the ideas of plagues in such a light that had me intrigued. This was a great page turner, and I honestly, liked this book better than the first one. The characters are well written and easy to fall in love with. I loved the book and it was a great ending to the series!
April 25, 2015
The 1st book I really liked. I felt it had direction. REd River..ehh, not so much. The idea of the book is there, but the execution is pretty sad. It was pretty choppy and didn't seem to flow. Certain events happened way to fast and without much explanation. It almost seemed like the author became bored and just threw everything together just to get done. This book has some awesome potential, but it really needs some major editing done so that it can really shine the way I see it can.
November 16, 2015
Wow a great duology tent city and red river. This book was a 4 1/2 stars for me. Almost five but just certain parts were a bit meh (don't wanna spoil you!!) but I'm happy I read these amazing books and felt it was a unique approach to an apocalypse story.
Thanks Kelly for your amazing books.
Thanks Kelly for your amazing books.
Want to read
September 19, 2013Saw the synopsis and seriously need to read it soon. Loved the first book.
Oh, just saw the title change...I like it better than before.
Oh, just saw the title change...I like it better than before.
May 8, 2018
Good series
I liked Tent City better. The story got weirder for me in this book and felt rushed at the end.
I liked Tent City better. The story got weirder for me in this book and felt rushed at the end.
December 17, 2013
Red River is the follow up to Tent City and follows the continuing story of Dani, Brody, her parents, Bentley, Jack and others that she's managed to meet and gather together along her adventures.
Red River starts right after Tent City finished with their journey back into the hills to hide from The Council and Burke (who now has Jack). Dani starts to worry about Brody after seeing another 'plague' and starts wondering whether what they've been told in the past is true. She becomes very protective over him, almost to the point of obsession. She even stops her mother from cutting his hair so that his birthmark wouldn't show. In this she becomes more of a mother towards him and if there were ever any issues/questions regarding him people would automatically turn to her first. In this book and in this way you can see her maturing/growing up in a way that is very nicely written.
This book takes you on a journey with Dani, through a roller coaster of emotions ranging from despair to addiction to anger. Each of them is very well written so that you can completely empathize with her and each situation that she finds herself in.
There were several things that I loved about this book. I loved her developing friendship with Hannah, who stepped into the 'Kit' role extremely well. Hannah also seemed to really 'get' Dani and (in my opinion) was drawn to her and not just because of her 'advancement'. Their friendship, for me, was one of my favourite things about this story and showed another side to Dani's character.
I also loved the advancements that started to become more apparent in this book. I thought that fact that each person had an opposite was genius! This part took the story down a more supernatural direction which was unexpected but at the same time it worked.
The main aspect of this story that I loved more than anything else was the triangle between Dani, Bentley and Jack. With most triangles of this kind I always make my mind up straight away who I prefer or 'ship' as most people call it. However, with this one I was so torn over both of them - just like Dani was. It wasn't until she made a decision that I realised I had already made up my own mind as to who she should be with - my reaction took me by surprise as I was totally against what she decided to start with and wanted to yell at her that she'd made the wrong decision. I found that very impressive - how Kelly had drawn me in without knowing what was happening. And to have the reaction that I did completely shocked me - I was obviously more invested in these characters than I initially thought.
As with Tent City I also enjoyed the blurb at the back of the book from Kelly and was really interested to see which music had inspired this book. 30 Lives by Imagine Dragons was the perfect soundtrack to so many points in this book, Little Talks also fit very nicely and who doesn't love Billy Idol!
All in all a very enjoyable book with a satisfying conclusion and plenty of twists along the way to keep you interested and lots of characters to get invested in.
Red River starts right after Tent City finished with their journey back into the hills to hide from The Council and Burke (who now has Jack). Dani starts to worry about Brody after seeing another 'plague' and starts wondering whether what they've been told in the past is true. She becomes very protective over him, almost to the point of obsession. She even stops her mother from cutting his hair so that his birthmark wouldn't show. In this she becomes more of a mother towards him and if there were ever any issues/questions regarding him people would automatically turn to her first. In this book and in this way you can see her maturing/growing up in a way that is very nicely written.
This book takes you on a journey with Dani, through a roller coaster of emotions ranging from despair to addiction to anger. Each of them is very well written so that you can completely empathize with her and each situation that she finds herself in.
There were several things that I loved about this book. I loved her developing friendship with Hannah, who stepped into the 'Kit' role extremely well. Hannah also seemed to really 'get' Dani and (in my opinion) was drawn to her and not just because of her 'advancement'. Their friendship, for me, was one of my favourite things about this story and showed another side to Dani's character.
I also loved the advancements that started to become more apparent in this book. I thought that fact that each person had an opposite was genius! This part took the story down a more supernatural direction which was unexpected but at the same time it worked.
The main aspect of this story that I loved more than anything else was the triangle between Dani, Bentley and Jack. With most triangles of this kind I always make my mind up straight away who I prefer or 'ship' as most people call it. However, with this one I was so torn over both of them - just like Dani was. It wasn't until she made a decision that I realised I had already made up my own mind as to who she should be with - my reaction took me by surprise as I was totally against what she decided to start with and wanted to yell at her that she'd made the wrong decision. I found that very impressive - how Kelly had drawn me in without knowing what was happening. And to have the reaction that I did completely shocked me - I was obviously more invested in these characters than I initially thought.
As with Tent City I also enjoyed the blurb at the back of the book from Kelly and was really interested to see which music had inspired this book. 30 Lives by Imagine Dragons was the perfect soundtrack to so many points in this book, Little Talks also fit very nicely and who doesn't love Billy Idol!
All in all a very enjoyable book with a satisfying conclusion and plenty of twists along the way to keep you interested and lots of characters to get invested in.
January 21, 2015
Red River is an excellent sequel to an amazing first book. It is a much unexpected thriller, that would teach you to believe in the power the lies within you and that love is some truly powerful force.
I’ll have to admit that the first 30% of the book was a little slow paced for me, because we spent too much time inside Dani’s head listening to her ramblings about what to do next. But after that first part, the book really went up and I really loved the ending. It was an excellent ending for this story. So good I want to tell you everything about it, but I won’t, no worries.
I definitely enjoyed that the author kept true to her style; she maintained the suspense and tension throughout the story, and managed to surprise me at every level. I’ve learned that with Kelly, things will never be as they seem, and I love that!
I really took pleasure in learning more about advancements and watching them develop. I think the way they fit into the plot was very cool and very well crafted. You couldn’t have guessed it until right near the end. That’s what I loved the most; the unpredictability of the story. In every sense, not only in the way it unravels or when we discover who actually the bad guy is; but also in which one of the two brothers Dani chooses in the end. Unfortunately, it was not the one I would’ve chosen. But hey, I’m not her.
However, I was sad to realize that some of the characters we had learned to care for in book one, were a bit neglected and left behind. I realize that this happened in order to make some space for some new characters, which I loved, but still I didn’t like how Callie, the sweet caring girl she used to be, was rotting of jealousy and becoming this bitter person; and I also didn’t like what a whinny and annoying girl Kit was becoming. Plus I hated to see Dani and Kit moving apart.
Nevertheless, as I already mentioned, I did love very much the new characters. Hannah was amazing! I truly admired her generosity and greatness of heart. Let’s just say she was a really strong and loving girl. Whilst Milo, even though he doesn’t appear until half way through the book, just makes an excellent addition to the group. He was very observant and smart.
In particular, I want to praise the author, because even if they were several characters to keep up with, she still managed to make each one of them unique, not even similar to one another. They had their own personalities, and they were so well devised they felt real.
Overall, I loved how the story turned out, and I would very much recommend it to any YA and Dystopia lover, also to anyone who appreciates supernatural abilities and excellent plots!
4.5 stars for this one.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
I’ll have to admit that the first 30% of the book was a little slow paced for me, because we spent too much time inside Dani’s head listening to her ramblings about what to do next. But after that first part, the book really went up and I really loved the ending. It was an excellent ending for this story. So good I want to tell you everything about it, but I won’t, no worries.
I definitely enjoyed that the author kept true to her style; she maintained the suspense and tension throughout the story, and managed to surprise me at every level. I’ve learned that with Kelly, things will never be as they seem, and I love that!
I really took pleasure in learning more about advancements and watching them develop. I think the way they fit into the plot was very cool and very well crafted. You couldn’t have guessed it until right near the end. That’s what I loved the most; the unpredictability of the story. In every sense, not only in the way it unravels or when we discover who actually the bad guy is; but also in which one of the two brothers Dani chooses in the end. Unfortunately, it was not the one I would’ve chosen. But hey, I’m not her.
However, I was sad to realize that some of the characters we had learned to care for in book one, were a bit neglected and left behind. I realize that this happened in order to make some space for some new characters, which I loved, but still I didn’t like how Callie, the sweet caring girl she used to be, was rotting of jealousy and becoming this bitter person; and I also didn’t like what a whinny and annoying girl Kit was becoming. Plus I hated to see Dani and Kit moving apart.
Nevertheless, as I already mentioned, I did love very much the new characters. Hannah was amazing! I truly admired her generosity and greatness of heart. Let’s just say she was a really strong and loving girl. Whilst Milo, even though he doesn’t appear until half way through the book, just makes an excellent addition to the group. He was very observant and smart.
In particular, I want to praise the author, because even if they were several characters to keep up with, she still managed to make each one of them unique, not even similar to one another. They had their own personalities, and they were so well devised they felt real.
Overall, I loved how the story turned out, and I would very much recommend it to any YA and Dystopia lover, also to anyone who appreciates supernatural abilities and excellent plots!
4.5 stars for this one.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
March 8, 2014
Red River Runs True to Form
Title: Red River
Author(s): Kelly Van Hull
Publisher: Kelly Van Hull
Copyright: 2013
ASBN: BOOGQLNDOG
Format: market paperback & ebook
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Part of Series: Book Two in the Tent City Series
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Kelly Van Hull continues to keep our attention in the Second Book of the Tent City Series: Red River. Many writers of dystopian fiction can fall out of balance between maintaining realism versus “crossing the line” in the sequel. However, Van Hull maintains a realistic balance in this novel for young adults despite her apocalyptic theme, the Biblical references to end of times plagues and the “advancements” which empower some of the characters. Continuity is maintained between the first and second books with the first-person point of view narration through the eyes of 17-year-old Dani. We learn that Dani’s 5-year-old brother, Brody, is the prophesized “Golden Child”. Dani’s determined to protect Brody by keeping his identity secret, even from their friends in Tent City. Like Van Hull, Dani is doing a balancing act. Dani is still undecided about her feeling for the brothers, Bentley and Jack, but that’s the least of her worries.
The novel opens with Dani discovering that Brody has the mark of the Golden Child as the young people from Tent City, along with Dani’s mother and father are on their way back to Tent City. The second plague occurs as they cross the river, which has turned to blood. This means that Bentley and Jack’s father, General Burke, can no longer be called a religious lunatic, he’s right! They now know they must face the remaining plagues soon. However, even concern about the plagues must be put on the back burner because winter in the Black Hills is approaching and they need a new camp.
The plot pacing is enjoyable, as Dani and Bentley search for a winter camp, but for me it’s just a backdrop for the inner conflict which Dani faces as she wavers between the pouting teenager whose parents are “in charge” and the strong young woman she is becoming. I like that her protectiveness of Brody keeps her firmly rooted in her own strength and that she constantly battles her own temper when she is forced to share the camp with the infamous General Burke. New characters are smoothly introduced into the sequel and flesh it out to create a lively conflict for Dani’s inner conflict. A few surprising twists toward the end makes us wonder what will happen in the third book to this trilogy.
Though I enjoyed Kelly Van Hull’s second book, Red River, it didn’t capture my attention as much as the first book, Tent City, which I gave five stars. It’s still a good read, though, and I highly recommend it for the young people and adults who are following Van Hull’s series.
Reviewed by Rhodes FitzWilliam
Title: Red River
Author(s): Kelly Van Hull
Publisher: Kelly Van Hull
Copyright: 2013
ASBN: BOOGQLNDOG
Format: market paperback & ebook
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Part of Series: Book Two in the Tent City Series
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Kelly Van Hull continues to keep our attention in the Second Book of the Tent City Series: Red River. Many writers of dystopian fiction can fall out of balance between maintaining realism versus “crossing the line” in the sequel. However, Van Hull maintains a realistic balance in this novel for young adults despite her apocalyptic theme, the Biblical references to end of times plagues and the “advancements” which empower some of the characters. Continuity is maintained between the first and second books with the first-person point of view narration through the eyes of 17-year-old Dani. We learn that Dani’s 5-year-old brother, Brody, is the prophesized “Golden Child”. Dani’s determined to protect Brody by keeping his identity secret, even from their friends in Tent City. Like Van Hull, Dani is doing a balancing act. Dani is still undecided about her feeling for the brothers, Bentley and Jack, but that’s the least of her worries.
The novel opens with Dani discovering that Brody has the mark of the Golden Child as the young people from Tent City, along with Dani’s mother and father are on their way back to Tent City. The second plague occurs as they cross the river, which has turned to blood. This means that Bentley and Jack’s father, General Burke, can no longer be called a religious lunatic, he’s right! They now know they must face the remaining plagues soon. However, even concern about the plagues must be put on the back burner because winter in the Black Hills is approaching and they need a new camp.
The plot pacing is enjoyable, as Dani and Bentley search for a winter camp, but for me it’s just a backdrop for the inner conflict which Dani faces as she wavers between the pouting teenager whose parents are “in charge” and the strong young woman she is becoming. I like that her protectiveness of Brody keeps her firmly rooted in her own strength and that she constantly battles her own temper when she is forced to share the camp with the infamous General Burke. New characters are smoothly introduced into the sequel and flesh it out to create a lively conflict for Dani’s inner conflict. A few surprising twists toward the end makes us wonder what will happen in the third book to this trilogy.
Though I enjoyed Kelly Van Hull’s second book, Red River, it didn’t capture my attention as much as the first book, Tent City, which I gave five stars. It’s still a good read, though, and I highly recommend it for the young people and adults who are following Van Hull’s series.
Reviewed by Rhodes FitzWilliam
August 8, 2014
Red River takes off right where Tent City left off. And holy camoli, this thing gets going and never stops. It twists and turns and leaves you guessing and don't even think for one minute, you have figured Dani or this story out! Easily read in one sitting, especially once you fear death is certain for some of your favorite characters! Chapter 10 - Kelly Van Hull, you know what I'm talking about!
Originality: The author did a magnificent job creating an original adventure story that made me a nervous wreck for most of the book! The descriptions were beautifully written, even if the scene itself might have been rancid! Some of the things these poor kids had to deal with! The visuals pulled me into the story, and I felt like I was there with Dani as she navigated through the insane new world she found herself living in.
Characters: I thought the character development was excellent! By the end of the second book, I was as confused as Dani as to who I wanted her to end up with. I missed Jack at first because I was so drawn to him in book 1! Don't be a hater, Bentley fans...wait! But, as I got to know Bentley more in book 2, I really loved him too. He does bring Dani to life when he's near. And then there came Milo... Hannah is so good and you just want everything to turn out good for her. But what about Jack? See what I mean! Loved them all! - even the mysterious wolf, Waite!
Recommendation: This goes well with fireside cooking! A great fire and fantastic story to tell. I highly recommend this series for you YA lovers whether it's dystopian, romance or adventure! This one has it all!
Ginger Gelsheimer
Author of the Aurora Conspiracy Series and The Dark Days series
Originality: The author did a magnificent job creating an original adventure story that made me a nervous wreck for most of the book! The descriptions were beautifully written, even if the scene itself might have been rancid! Some of the things these poor kids had to deal with! The visuals pulled me into the story, and I felt like I was there with Dani as she navigated through the insane new world she found herself living in.
Characters: I thought the character development was excellent! By the end of the second book, I was as confused as Dani as to who I wanted her to end up with. I missed Jack at first because I was so drawn to him in book 1! Don't be a hater, Bentley fans...wait! But, as I got to know Bentley more in book 2, I really loved him too. He does bring Dani to life when he's near. And then there came Milo... Hannah is so good and you just want everything to turn out good for her. But what about Jack? See what I mean! Loved them all! - even the mysterious wolf, Waite!
Recommendation: This goes well with fireside cooking! A great fire and fantastic story to tell. I highly recommend this series for you YA lovers whether it's dystopian, romance or adventure! This one has it all!
Ginger Gelsheimer
Author of the Aurora Conspiracy Series and The Dark Days series
April 16, 2014
Firstly I'd like to thank Kelly Van Hull for giving me this book in exchange for a honest review
After finishing Tent City and loving it I couldn't wait to get my hands on this so I basically begged Kelly to give me the book and although it didn't disappoint it also didn't live up to my (more than likely high) expectation. But I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that when you read a book and it is well written, the characters are great and the storyline keeps you riveted but it is book one, you tend to have a higher expectation for book 2 to follow on that same path of glory. Sometimes however they fall just a little short of that mark.
Now don't get me wrong I still very much enjoyed red river but whether it was the abruptness of the solution or the new issues that seemed to be a little glossed over that had me giving this a 3 1/2 start, I'm not sure.
Dani had a lot more things to deal with in this book. You would think with her parents back that they would help shoulder some of the responsibility but again it seemed to be all on Bentley and Dani. Throughout the whole story I thought I knew exactly who Dani was going to end up with and I have to admit I was very excited because he was my choice since the beginning.
Then there was the scene where she was recovering from the addiction and they went swimming but then from about that point on he kind of drifts out and you barely see him :( but in the end I'm glad she chose who she did so that leaves me with the one I chose :P and I got the feeling that by the end there his feelings weren't as strong as ... the guy who ended up with Dani, he seemed to be constant the whole time. (I'm trying to be spoiler free, sorry if I seem evasive)
Overall I look forward to seeing if the story continues because there were some unanswered questions in the end but it also ended well enough not to continue - if that makes sense. I cant wait to see what else Kelly Van Hull comes up with next as I've found her writing to be very enjoyable :D
After finishing Tent City and loving it I couldn't wait to get my hands on this so I basically begged Kelly to give me the book and although it didn't disappoint it also didn't live up to my (more than likely high) expectation. But I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that when you read a book and it is well written, the characters are great and the storyline keeps you riveted but it is book one, you tend to have a higher expectation for book 2 to follow on that same path of glory. Sometimes however they fall just a little short of that mark.
Now don't get me wrong I still very much enjoyed red river but whether it was the abruptness of the solution or the new issues that seemed to be a little glossed over that had me giving this a 3 1/2 start, I'm not sure.
Dani had a lot more things to deal with in this book. You would think with her parents back that they would help shoulder some of the responsibility but again it seemed to be all on Bentley and Dani. Throughout the whole story I thought I knew exactly who Dani was going to end up with and I have to admit I was very excited because he was my choice since the beginning.
Then there was the scene where she was recovering from the addiction and they went swimming but then from about that point on he kind of drifts out and you barely see him :( but in the end I'm glad she chose who she did so that leaves me with the one I chose :P and I got the feeling that by the end there his feelings weren't as strong as ... the guy who ended up with Dani, he seemed to be constant the whole time. (I'm trying to be spoiler free, sorry if I seem evasive)
Overall I look forward to seeing if the story continues because there were some unanswered questions in the end but it also ended well enough not to continue - if that makes sense. I cant wait to see what else Kelly Van Hull comes up with next as I've found her writing to be very enjoyable :D
December 9, 2013
“Every time I’m with you, I feel alive. You bring something out in me that, I don’t know, feels real.” - Dani
~
Red River is a sequel of Tent City, one of my most favorite dystopian book. Ever since I finished Tent City I honestly can't wait to read the sequel. And I'm so happy that I'm ones of the lucky person who could read the ARC.
So the story is still revolves around Dani. And Brody her little beloved brother and her family. And of course, Jack and Bentley. I love that it's not only focused on romance, it's more how Dani found herself and growing up, but at the same time has the amount of sweetness that makes you swoon over the guys, whoever team you're on.
And when you read this book, I assure you it will blow your mind. Sure I thought all the disaster comes from the bible just like Moses' time. I was so sure but then the story flipped and takes it to the whole new ending. It's unpredictable.
More things I loved about this book is Dani relationship with Bentley, Bonnie and Clyde as Dani said herself was heartwarming. And to be honest in book one I can't barely made up my mind, but in this book I feel myself rooted for Bentley. But then if you wanna know who Dani ends up with, "the mysterious" Jack or "the best friend" Bentley, you gonna read it yourself!
There are also a lot of new characters on this book, my favorite was Hannah, she's like the most kindest person on earth I swear.
And the way Kelly writes the story, still deserves 5 stars in my opinion, it keeps simple, real and easy to understand. I liked how the story still consistently written in Dani's point of view. That's my favorite POV since that makes me feel related with the heroine and to put myself in her shoes.
I went in a roller coaster emotion reading this, sometimes I giggle, sometimes I weep. I enjoyed every second of it and I'm sure you will too.
~
Red River is a sequel of Tent City, one of my most favorite dystopian book. Ever since I finished Tent City I honestly can't wait to read the sequel. And I'm so happy that I'm ones of the lucky person who could read the ARC.
So the story is still revolves around Dani. And Brody her little beloved brother and her family. And of course, Jack and Bentley. I love that it's not only focused on romance, it's more how Dani found herself and growing up, but at the same time has the amount of sweetness that makes you swoon over the guys, whoever team you're on.
And when you read this book, I assure you it will blow your mind. Sure I thought all the disaster comes from the bible just like Moses' time. I was so sure but then the story flipped and takes it to the whole new ending. It's unpredictable.
More things I loved about this book is Dani relationship with Bentley, Bonnie and Clyde as Dani said herself was heartwarming. And to be honest in book one I can't barely made up my mind, but in this book I feel myself rooted for Bentley. But then if you wanna know who Dani ends up with, "the mysterious" Jack or "the best friend" Bentley, you gonna read it yourself!
There are also a lot of new characters on this book, my favorite was Hannah, she's like the most kindest person on earth I swear.
And the way Kelly writes the story, still deserves 5 stars in my opinion, it keeps simple, real and easy to understand. I liked how the story still consistently written in Dani's point of view. That's my favorite POV since that makes me feel related with the heroine and to put myself in her shoes.
I went in a roller coaster emotion reading this, sometimes I giggle, sometimes I weep. I enjoyed every second of it and I'm sure you will too.
May 24, 2014
Happy Camper!
First off, this book goes hand in hand with Tent City and although Red River had been the one that caught my eye, reading them both is a must and I’m glad I that I went for the full story!
Dani is definitely in a predicament and a choice by her and her family, takes her into the unknown wilderness and an unknown future, leaving the story wide open right from the start. She soon finds herself alone with the responsibility of her friend and her younger brother but they are soon to find others in similar situations. Through this, they find strength (and enemies) in numbers. Unlike some stories where you can predict “the big stuff” or figure out “the big fight”, Kelly leads you through this tale keeping your curiosity pleasantly elevated.
The story is easy to follow and full of realistic surprises that you do not expect. It is a fun read that draws you in and makes you want to be a part of it. And in an awesome way, it half leaves you feeling like you are missing out on the big action by being just the reader! Dani has it all though and is a natural leader as she hides from The Council, is the protector of the Golden Child and seeks out hope among struggle, love triangles and the powers of advancements.
I also have to say that outside of the story itself, the author was excellent in her explanations of things, specifically Dani’s views. As Kelly explains some of the character thoughts and things going on throughout the story, she does it with a pure delivery that hits home. It reminds me of things one might think, but often times does not say out loud. Great stuff!
I say, have a read and have some fun! I do recommend this book!
First off, this book goes hand in hand with Tent City and although Red River had been the one that caught my eye, reading them both is a must and I’m glad I that I went for the full story!
Dani is definitely in a predicament and a choice by her and her family, takes her into the unknown wilderness and an unknown future, leaving the story wide open right from the start. She soon finds herself alone with the responsibility of her friend and her younger brother but they are soon to find others in similar situations. Through this, they find strength (and enemies) in numbers. Unlike some stories where you can predict “the big stuff” or figure out “the big fight”, Kelly leads you through this tale keeping your curiosity pleasantly elevated.
The story is easy to follow and full of realistic surprises that you do not expect. It is a fun read that draws you in and makes you want to be a part of it. And in an awesome way, it half leaves you feeling like you are missing out on the big action by being just the reader! Dani has it all though and is a natural leader as she hides from The Council, is the protector of the Golden Child and seeks out hope among struggle, love triangles and the powers of advancements.
I also have to say that outside of the story itself, the author was excellent in her explanations of things, specifically Dani’s views. As Kelly explains some of the character thoughts and things going on throughout the story, she does it with a pure delivery that hits home. It reminds me of things one might think, but often times does not say out loud. Great stuff!
I say, have a read and have some fun! I do recommend this book!
December 10, 2013
A really good read! I enjoyed Tent City immensely, and this sequel did not fail to follow it up :) I could hardly put it down and finished it in about 24 hours.
Dani's character is expanded upon throughout the book and you learn a great deal more about her and her "advancement". You also get to know her parents a little, and both her brother and best friend are expanded upon quite a bit. The reader also learned a great deal more about Jack, Bentley and their history, although there is still enough left unknown that I can't wait for the NEXT book in the series.
I felt this entire book was well thought out and well written, with new characters interwoven into the plot line. I also commend Kelly for NOT leaving us on a giant cliff hanger, as a lot of books in this category often do, and for clearing up that pesky love triangle before it bogged down the next installment. :)
There is a great deal of religious elements to this book, but I felt like it was interesting without being preachy. It was done in a way to not turn the reader off from reading the series.
Overall, a great read! I can't wait until the next book!
EDIT: this IS the last book. Derp. Can't say I'm not disappointed, as I really enjoyed both books in the series. I guess I'm used to all series's coming in groups of 3's...:P
Still a great read, and like I said, no cliffhangers...but I DO wish there was going to be more.
Dani's character is expanded upon throughout the book and you learn a great deal more about her and her "advancement". You also get to know her parents a little, and both her brother and best friend are expanded upon quite a bit. The reader also learned a great deal more about Jack, Bentley and their history, although there is still enough left unknown that I can't wait for the NEXT book in the series.
I felt this entire book was well thought out and well written, with new characters interwoven into the plot line. I also commend Kelly for NOT leaving us on a giant cliff hanger, as a lot of books in this category often do, and for clearing up that pesky love triangle before it bogged down the next installment. :)
There is a great deal of religious elements to this book, but I felt like it was interesting without being preachy. It was done in a way to not turn the reader off from reading the series.
Overall, a great read! I can't wait until the next book!
EDIT: this IS the last book. Derp. Can't say I'm not disappointed, as I really enjoyed both books in the series. I guess I'm used to all series's coming in groups of 3's...:P
Still a great read, and like I said, no cliffhangers...but I DO wish there was going to be more.
January 5, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review and I have read and reviewed the first book in this series, Tent City.
Red River is not as fast-paced action as Tent City. Where the first book dealt with finding a place to avoid The Council and their camps, this book took a more emotional approach with the first half of the story's setting mainly in one location with a more stationary feel to it. There was a lot of waiting-to-see and inner struggles going on with some difficult subjects introduced, such as drug addiction and abortion. It also gets a lot deeper into religion, whereas in book 1, it was more hinted at and less certain.
Another idea only touched upon in book 1, is what the characters are calling 'advancements'. A kind of power or ability that only some people seem to possess. This is explored more openly, as it should be in a second book, with main protagonist Dani trying to come to terms with what may or may not be hers.
Again, we have the love triangle (or is it a foursome, if you include Callie, who pines for one of the twin brothers), but this may too have an explanation, if God does have a hand in it as Jessica believes. So the question arises (and has been debated in a goodreads discussion group) - will it be Bentley or Jack?
And all while Dani tries to keep her little brother safe, because he just might be The Golden Child.
Red River is not as fast-paced action as Tent City. Where the first book dealt with finding a place to avoid The Council and their camps, this book took a more emotional approach with the first half of the story's setting mainly in one location with a more stationary feel to it. There was a lot of waiting-to-see and inner struggles going on with some difficult subjects introduced, such as drug addiction and abortion. It also gets a lot deeper into religion, whereas in book 1, it was more hinted at and less certain.
Another idea only touched upon in book 1, is what the characters are calling 'advancements'. A kind of power or ability that only some people seem to possess. This is explored more openly, as it should be in a second book, with main protagonist Dani trying to come to terms with what may or may not be hers.
Again, we have the love triangle (or is it a foursome, if you include Callie, who pines for one of the twin brothers), but this may too have an explanation, if God does have a hand in it as Jessica believes. So the question arises (and has been debated in a goodreads discussion group) - will it be Bentley or Jack?
And all while Dani tries to keep her little brother safe, because he just might be The Golden Child.
March 5, 2015
Red River was a much faster paced book than tent city, and at times the cast of characters seemed a bit too big. It wasn't hard to keep up with the cast, there were just so many of them, and with the expansion of the supernatural element, there was also more suspension of disbelief.
I won't say much more due to spoilers, but the ending seemed a bit rushed/forced. Mainly because other than some EXTREMELY vague mentions of a prophecy, we are left to our imaginations as to what causes the plagues, the advancements, and most unbelievably, the ending. Because even living in a post disaster America, there doesn't seem to be a solid foundation to make the ending anything more than a gilded sticky note. Honestly, after the climax I was almost expecting another book, not the confusing, lukewarm pseudo-coronation.
I also felt that the way Kit and Callie were treated in this book was careless. Kit becomes a paper thin parody of herself in the last book, and Callie loses any points she got for being talented, sweet, caring and motherly to Brody and Avery, by becoming shallow, jealous, petty and well, she pays for it.
The love dodechahedron is tiresome after awhile, though I guess that could be chalked up to hormones.
This is a good book, and a fun read, but a little less fun than Tent City.
I won't say much more due to spoilers, but the ending seemed a bit rushed/forced. Mainly because other than some EXTREMELY vague mentions of a prophecy, we are left to our imaginations as to what causes the plagues, the advancements, and most unbelievably, the ending. Because even living in a post disaster America, there doesn't seem to be a solid foundation to make the ending anything more than a gilded sticky note. Honestly, after the climax I was almost expecting another book, not the confusing, lukewarm pseudo-coronation.
I also felt that the way Kit and Callie were treated in this book was careless. Kit becomes a paper thin parody of herself in the last book, and Callie loses any points she got for being talented, sweet, caring and motherly to Brody and Avery, by becoming shallow, jealous, petty and well, she pays for it.
The love dodechahedron is tiresome after awhile, though I guess that could be chalked up to hormones.
This is a good book, and a fun read, but a little less fun than Tent City.
August 10, 2016
Young Adult Dystopian Novel of Biblical Proportions
"There’s no way around it. It’s red. Not only is it swirling in blood curdled waves, dead fish are popping up and staring out with menacing eyes. My worst fears are coming true. If the river is red, it’s means Burke is no longer a religious lunatic gone wild on the world. It means he’s right. It means the man who is responsible for my brother’s death will be vindicated and given even more power now that the waters have turned. It’s the first plague in the Bible. And now it’s actually happening. How could I have been so foolish to believe that if the plagues weren’t in the right order, they weren’t really plagues?"
When blood fills the waters, Dani has important decisions to make. She gathers her group, and travels back to Tent City. She also finds her true love. With obstacles to overcome, Dani has to find her own path.
Red River is the second book in the Tent City series. It is a young adult dystopian novel of biblical proportions set in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Kelly Van Hull continues to offer high-quality stories for her audience.
"There’s no way around it. It’s red. Not only is it swirling in blood curdled waves, dead fish are popping up and staring out with menacing eyes. My worst fears are coming true. If the river is red, it’s means Burke is no longer a religious lunatic gone wild on the world. It means he’s right. It means the man who is responsible for my brother’s death will be vindicated and given even more power now that the waters have turned. It’s the first plague in the Bible. And now it’s actually happening. How could I have been so foolish to believe that if the plagues weren’t in the right order, they weren’t really plagues?"
When blood fills the waters, Dani has important decisions to make. She gathers her group, and travels back to Tent City. She also finds her true love. With obstacles to overcome, Dani has to find her own path.
Red River is the second book in the Tent City series. It is a young adult dystopian novel of biblical proportions set in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Kelly Van Hull continues to offer high-quality stories for her audience.
August 2, 2014
A Great Read for Young Adults
I really enjoyed this book. The main characters were well thought out and the love triangle was well played. For all the book was fast paced, the plot lacked direction, there was a lot of talk about the plagues, and a bit about the council, but it was the characters that made this book such an enjoyable read. However, it did cover several hard core topics, drugs, abortion and sex. On this, I think that Kelly tried to pack too much in to a too-short time frame, and the outcomes for me, were unrealistic. Perhaps one topic covered fully and in more detail would have been more beneficial and realistic. It just all seemed too easy and may have underplayed the seriousness of these topics.
This was a good second book and it followed on well from book one, I loved the biblical apocalypse twist, is or isn't it? As the story goes the characters continue to learn more about their advancements and how best to use them.
Overall this was a very enjoyable read and it kept me turning the pages, which is what all good books should do, and left me looking forward to the third in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. The main characters were well thought out and the love triangle was well played. For all the book was fast paced, the plot lacked direction, there was a lot of talk about the plagues, and a bit about the council, but it was the characters that made this book such an enjoyable read. However, it did cover several hard core topics, drugs, abortion and sex. On this, I think that Kelly tried to pack too much in to a too-short time frame, and the outcomes for me, were unrealistic. Perhaps one topic covered fully and in more detail would have been more beneficial and realistic. It just all seemed too easy and may have underplayed the seriousness of these topics.
This was a good second book and it followed on well from book one, I loved the biblical apocalypse twist, is or isn't it? As the story goes the characters continue to learn more about their advancements and how best to use them.
Overall this was a very enjoyable read and it kept me turning the pages, which is what all good books should do, and left me looking forward to the third in the series.
January 15, 2014
Well, I loved Tent City and could not wait for book 2.
Red River is a good read but I found it went too fast sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love when books are packed with action but I found it lacked some ... transitions? I got the feeling some sentences were missing to help transition from one event/scene into the other one and allow me to grasp it properly. It felt abrupt.
And I also had problems with Dani in this book: she is always angry and not always on her best behaviour. But at the same time, it makes her more human, with flaws and all.
What I did find great is the imagination of Mrs Van Hull (there is never a dull moment) and all the characters are well built and lovable.
I even got the end of the love triangle and the end of the story(no never-ending serie YAY!).
So even if it left me perplexed at times, I really enjoyed the read and finished the book within the day. I'll still wait for other books of Kelly Van Hull to read!
Red River is a good read but I found it went too fast sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love when books are packed with action but I found it lacked some ... transitions? I got the feeling some sentences were missing to help transition from one event/scene into the other one and allow me to grasp it properly. It felt abrupt.
And I also had problems with Dani in this book: she is always angry and not always on her best behaviour. But at the same time, it makes her more human, with flaws and all.
What I did find great is the imagination of Mrs Van Hull (there is never a dull moment) and all the characters are well built and lovable.
I even got the end of the love triangle and the end of the story(no never-ending serie YAY!).
So even if it left me perplexed at times, I really enjoyed the read and finished the book within the day. I'll still wait for other books of Kelly Van Hull to read!
July 9, 2014
I was given a copy of "Red River" by the author, Kelly Van Hull, in exchange for an honest review. I have to first say that I love YA dystopian. They don't seem to be quite as dark as adult dystopian, and these books by Kelly do not disappoint. I enjoyed both "Tent City" and this second book as well. I can recommend them for ages Jr. High and up. Good fiction writing, the main characters are teens and Kelly represents them well. The characters are well rounded. The setting is in the Bad Lands. A religious fanatic is in charge of the US and things are going downhill fast. A group of people are trying to stay alive in remote country. There are enough twists in the plot to keep you on your toes. I read this almost straight through. No swearing, the only sexual content is implied, there is fighting. I give it five stars. I loved the series. Red River finishes up (I think), the story line. I am looking forward to what else will be coming from this author.
August 6, 2014
Set in the Black Hills of South Dakota, “Red River” tells the dystopian tale of Dani and Body as they brace themselves for the second cataclysm, following the first plague.
Coming on like the best of Stephen King’s “The Stand”, this is a sweeping tale encompassing everything that makes world building enjoyable; politics, intrigue, splintering factions and a love story that every woman will empathize with.
There is enough adventure to satisfy the adrenaline junkies, and ample intellectual matter to warrant an immediate second read.
As the children face growing up in a society without infrastructure as we would recognize it, the scenes do become heavier and grittier – much more so than the first book. As the rivers begin to flow with blood, there is some great commentary on the nature and worth of spirituality, and some pertinent questions are asked.
This is a deeply immersive book, that will absorb the reader for many hours.
Coming on like the best of Stephen King’s “The Stand”, this is a sweeping tale encompassing everything that makes world building enjoyable; politics, intrigue, splintering factions and a love story that every woman will empathize with.
There is enough adventure to satisfy the adrenaline junkies, and ample intellectual matter to warrant an immediate second read.
As the children face growing up in a society without infrastructure as we would recognize it, the scenes do become heavier and grittier – much more so than the first book. As the rivers begin to flow with blood, there is some great commentary on the nature and worth of spirituality, and some pertinent questions are asked.
This is a deeply immersive book, that will absorb the reader for many hours.
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