What do you think?
Rate this book
The New Agenda #1
The City Center
Embark on an electrifying odyssey into the shadowy heart of Los Angeles City Center, where the facade of utopia hides sinister secrets. Ava Rhodes is about to shatter the illusion and plunge into a world of darkness and revelation. As she unearths the chilling destiny that awaits her and her fellow inhabitants, Ava's desperate flight to the Outside begins. But in the relentless pursuit that follows, Ava faces an agonizing self-preservation or the salvation of her people.In a relentless battle against the iron grip of control and oppression, Ava's journey becomes a symphony of rebellion, danger, and self-discovery.The electrifying saga unfolds across four heart-pounding volumes, each a riveting chapter in Ava's quest for truth and freedom. Join her as she navigates the treacherous depths of a dystopian realm, where the line between hero and villain blurs, and the fate of an entire city rests in her hands. Will Ava rise to the challenge, or will she succumb to the darkness that lurks within? The answers await in this pulse-pounding, suspense-laden series that will leave you breathless and begging for more.Author Simone Pond is also known as Simone DeBlasio.This story is decorated with familiar things, and at its heart contains thrilling characters and heroic journeys. - Revolution SFThe power of this novel actually comes from the world building and the action." - Smart Girls Love Sci-fiThe revelations before the conclusion are properly shocking and quite insidious. - SF Crowsnest˃˃˃ Here's what readers are Looking for a new page turner? My eyes are burning because I couldn't put it down. I skipped meals, sleep, yoga, I HAD to finish it.- A friend turned me on to this book, and I couldn't be happier she did. I usually take a long time to finish a book, but blew through The City Center in 2 days. Great story with really good writing. I highly recommend this book.
- Fantastic first book in what I hope is a long series. I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative journey. Ms. Pond struck a great balance between story and character development. Can't wait for more!
- You had me up reading much later than I wanted to stay up last night.
- You will whip through this book, it is a fast and easy read, and Ava and other characters are fully imagined and instantly enthralling. Can't wait for the next one (there HAS to be a next one, right?!?).
- I just finished 'The City Center' and I loved it. I started it on Sunday, brought it to work with me on Monday to read during my lunch hour and finished it Monday night. I was quickly caught up in the characters and had a hard time putting it down until I knew how everything played out. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!THE CITY CENTER IS A GOLD MEDAL WINNER OF DYSTOPIAN FICTION
- Fantastic first book in what I hope is a long series. I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative journey. Ms. Pond struck a great balance between story and character development. Can't wait for more!
- You had me up reading much later than I wanted to stay up last night.
- You will whip through this book, it is a fast and easy read, and Ava and other characters are fully imagined and instantly enthralling. Can't wait for the next one (there HAS to be a next one, right?!?).
- I just finished 'The City Center' and I loved it. I started it on Sunday, brought it to work with me on Monday to read during my lunch hour and finished it Monday night. I was quickly caught up in the characters and had a hard time putting it down until I knew how everything played out. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!THE CITY CENTER IS A GOLD MEDAL WINNER OF DYSTOPIAN FICTION
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2013
69 people are currently reading
2550 people want to read
About the author
Simone Pond
32 books254 followersAuthor of hard-to-put-down, action-packed dystopian and fantasy. Also known as Simone DeBlasio Stier.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
December 10, 2014
The City Center by Simone Pond was gifted to me by the author for my honest review. This book touched the fundamental freedom for humanity. Just who are prisoners and who is truly free. This book starts with Ava Rhodes, one of the candidates for the royal court. Ava is friends with Delilah. Delilah is a lower ranking citizec. Friendships are frowned upon. While talking with Delilah, Ava hears the intruder alert siren. Everyone is told to go to their rooms and lock themselves in. Delilah leaves but Ava lingers. She is approached by the intruder. An outsider named Joseph. He gives her a book to read, a journal. She flees and the outsider is captured. The vidcast say he killed seven people and held hostages. Ava knew it was a lie. She saw him get arrested. She wondered why they would lie about something like that. She contacts Delilah and asks her to get a reading program. Books don't exist in her world. She reads the beginning of Lillian's journal.Morray suspects Ava met the intruder. He orders his men to bring her to the castle.
December 3, 2015
The City Center!!!
First things first, I received the whole book series in ebook format from the author in exchange for a review.I finally finished the first book today.
I read this on my laptop and no matter how good the story is, reading on my laptop is always tricky for me, cause I always get distracted by all the shiny things on the internet. But I really enjoyed this book.
I love the writing, it's really easy to read and to understand. The world building is wonderful. The book is also really faced paced, there is a lot happening on these pages.
The characters are really great. I really loved Ava right from the beginning. The same goes for Joseph. I really enjoyed the connection these two had right from the beginning and that it didn't feel forced at all. Also Ava's friendship with Delilah, I hope that in the upcoming books I get a little bit more of that.
I'm certain we haven't seen the last of Morray. And I'm just really intrigued about Ava/Joseph after reading the last chapter. So I'm really excited to start the next book and see what's going to happen.
First things first, I received the whole book series in ebook format from the author in exchange for a review.I finally finished the first book today.
I read this on my laptop and no matter how good the story is, reading on my laptop is always tricky for me, cause I always get distracted by all the shiny things on the internet. But I really enjoyed this book.
I love the writing, it's really easy to read and to understand. The world building is wonderful. The book is also really faced paced, there is a lot happening on these pages.
The characters are really great. I really loved Ava right from the beginning. The same goes for Joseph. I really enjoyed the connection these two had right from the beginning and that it didn't feel forced at all. Also Ava's friendship with Delilah, I hope that in the upcoming books I get a little bit more of that.
I'm certain we haven't seen the last of Morray. And I'm just really intrigued about Ava/Joseph after reading the last chapter. So I'm really excited to start the next book and see what's going to happen.
October 9, 2015
I seriously could not put this book down! I am really glad I read The New Agenda before picking up The City Center because it made me understand Morray and his motivation so much better. It crazy to say, but each book in this series can stand alone, but still leaves you aching for the next! Overall 4.5/5 stars; add this series to your To-Read list now!
November 24, 2013
*Won in a goodreads giveaway.
Ava is just reaching her 18th birthday and is set to become the next queen of City Center Los Angeles. Having competed all her life, she is the front runner to take over this valued position, a position she isn't sure she wants, until a chance encounter with an outsider leaves her questioning all she believes about her city and the life "outside." Think Logan's Run meets The Hunger Games but with some interesting social class stratification thrown in for flavor.
I received a signed copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway along with a lovely thank you note for the future review from the author. All that along with how much I enjoy dystopian fiction set me up to greatly enjoy this book. I didn't. I really wanted to...but no. The plot premise is a good one and unique enough to carry a series. Yet, this book would have greatly benefited from at least 50 more pages - pages that were needed to better describe the world, provide a better timeline for events, and develop characters. Except for Ava and her other competitors who are all 18, I wasn't even sure of the ages of any of the secondary characters much less good descriptions of what they look like. There is an interesting faith element that is introduced early in the story, but then it is just never mentioned again - dropped completely from the plot or characters actions or motivations. The stilted language also made parts difficult to read. Take this passage for example,"Ava limped behind and stood close to Joseph. Other men in the cabin came to greet Joseph. They noticed Ava." (pg. 141)
Great premise but I don't think I'll read the next one due to come out next year.
Ava is just reaching her 18th birthday and is set to become the next queen of City Center Los Angeles. Having competed all her life, she is the front runner to take over this valued position, a position she isn't sure she wants, until a chance encounter with an outsider leaves her questioning all she believes about her city and the life "outside." Think Logan's Run meets The Hunger Games but with some interesting social class stratification thrown in for flavor.
I received a signed copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway along with a lovely thank you note for the future review from the author. All that along with how much I enjoy dystopian fiction set me up to greatly enjoy this book. I didn't. I really wanted to...but no. The plot premise is a good one and unique enough to carry a series. Yet, this book would have greatly benefited from at least 50 more pages - pages that were needed to better describe the world, provide a better timeline for events, and develop characters. Except for Ava and her other competitors who are all 18, I wasn't even sure of the ages of any of the secondary characters much less good descriptions of what they look like. There is an interesting faith element that is introduced early in the story, but then it is just never mentioned again - dropped completely from the plot or characters actions or motivations. The stilted language also made parts difficult to read. Take this passage for example,"Ava limped behind and stood close to Joseph. Other men in the cabin came to greet Joseph. They noticed Ava." (pg. 141)
Great premise but I don't think I'll read the next one due to come out next year.
March 26, 2015
The City Center by Simone Pond is in the year 2310 where the elite have desecrated 90% of the population and have built this world of perfect people who live in the City Center of Los Angeles in an enclosed “city” away from the outsiders. Every 18 years the Royal Court is retired and replaced by a new group of young Successor Candidates, each of which competes in a series of competitions to determine which role they will play in the new Court. At age 36, retired citizens are sent to Ret-Hav (Retirement Haven), an island where they will live out their lives in pampered luxury. Ava Rhodes is one of the Successor Candidates and she is paired with James who doesn’t really like Ava and she doesn’t think she will be able to live with him for 18 years.
Days before graduation day, while Ava is visiting her friend Delilah who lives in the lower ranking citizec, an alarm goes off and Ava meets outsider Joseph who gives her a book to read, a journal by Lillian from when the desecration happened. Chief Morray who is the leader and creator spread lies that Joseph has attacked and killed seven people and held hostages when in fact he and Ava have escaped to the outside world.
Several people are comparing this to the Hunger Games but I disagree. They aren’t going into battle to the death. They are peacefully replacing the current royal court and everyone is living peacefully without much feeling. This is an interesting take on what is happening in society with all the increase in violence around the world, greed, selfishness, and politicians who don’t listen to their constituents and seem to not know how to play fair instead of being school yard bullies. I really enjoy dystopian stories and I like the take on this one. The manipulation of one set of people, of one man and the technology to be able to have things like a mist you can spray that reduces your stress. I did think some of the dialogue was very basic but I think as a YA book it was really good.
I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to see what happens next with Ava and Joseph. I received this book from the author for my honest opinion.
Days before graduation day, while Ava is visiting her friend Delilah who lives in the lower ranking citizec, an alarm goes off and Ava meets outsider Joseph who gives her a book to read, a journal by Lillian from when the desecration happened. Chief Morray who is the leader and creator spread lies that Joseph has attacked and killed seven people and held hostages when in fact he and Ava have escaped to the outside world.
Several people are comparing this to the Hunger Games but I disagree. They aren’t going into battle to the death. They are peacefully replacing the current royal court and everyone is living peacefully without much feeling. This is an interesting take on what is happening in society with all the increase in violence around the world, greed, selfishness, and politicians who don’t listen to their constituents and seem to not know how to play fair instead of being school yard bullies. I really enjoy dystopian stories and I like the take on this one. The manipulation of one set of people, of one man and the technology to be able to have things like a mist you can spray that reduces your stress. I did think some of the dialogue was very basic but I think as a YA book it was really good.
I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to see what happens next with Ava and Joseph. I received this book from the author for my honest opinion.
October 25, 2013
Let me first start by explaining that I read this book in a matter of a day and a half. Once you pick it up, clear your schedule for a day or so because you'll find yourself flying through it and not wanting to turn away.
I love dystopian books and movies, but many either fall flat or are too similar to other stories. This book is neither. When you think it may be beginning to head towards a place of familiarity, the author shocks you with the direction taken. I know a good book when I can see more books coming in this series even before I finish reading it. I am clamoring for more information on Lillian and her story, which would be a bit of a prequel to The City Center. I dont know what the author has planned next, but I will be keeping an eye out for that next book in the series.
I love dystopian books and movies, but many either fall flat or are too similar to other stories. This book is neither. When you think it may be beginning to head towards a place of familiarity, the author shocks you with the direction taken. I know a good book when I can see more books coming in this series even before I finish reading it. I am clamoring for more information on Lillian and her story, which would be a bit of a prequel to The City Center. I dont know what the author has planned next, but I will be keeping an eye out for that next book in the series.
October 24, 2013
Simone Pond’s CITY CENTER is a gripping Young Adult novel set three hundred years in the future. The world as we know it no longer exists – it has been replaced by the domed City Center in the Kingdom of Los Angeles, which is ruled by Chief Morray and the ten-member Royal Court. All residents of the City Center are bred artificially to fulfill specific roles – from “Info-tainers” to manual laborers to security forces to members of the Royal Court itself. Every eighteen years the Royal Court is retired and replaced by a new group of young Successor Candidates, each of which competes in a series of competitions to determine which role they will play in the new Court (which includes a King and Queen, as well as Dukes, Duchesses, and other lower positions). At age thirty-six, retired citizens (whether from the Royal Court or from other positions in the City Center) are sent to the idyllic “Ret-Hav” (i.e. “Retirement Haven”), an island where they will live out their lives in pampered luxury.
This is an intriguing premise for a novel, reminding me of Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD, as well as more recent post-apocalyptic novels like LOGAN’S RUN, UGLIES, and THE HUNGER GAMES. The people living in the City Center are told that the world beyond their protected environment is dangerous, full of disease, harmful radiation, and gangs of evil terrorist Outsiders. But have they been told the truth? And is Chief Morray really the benevolent dictator he pretends to be, or is something more going on in the City Center and the world beyond?
The biggest problem with CITY CENTER is actually its protagonist, eighteen-year-old Ava Rhodes, who is a Successor Candidate preparing to take her place in the new Royal Court. Ava has been training for her role as a member of the Court all her life, but something in her has always wondered if there might not be more to life. She’s been hanging out with Delilah, a lower ranking “entertainer,” something frowned upon by the elite. She also loves old movies, which she and Delilah obtain from the “dark-market.” Pond seems to want Ava to be a bit of a rebel, and if that were the case, I’d be right there with her. A story like this needs a rebel. Unfortunately, Ava is a pretty weak sister. When she meets Outsider Joseph, she is instantly drawn to him, and she does break a few rules to read the journal he gives her. But her attraction to Joseph seems more romantic than political, and her desire to help him is all wrapped up in how the touch of his fingers makes her tingle. This is “insta-love” at its finest!
Additionally, Ava is too often cast as the victim in this story – she’s either stumbling around on wounded feet (so Joseph has to carry her) or getting herself attacked by drunken soldiers (so Joseph has to rescue her) or attracting the unwanted attentions of creepy Morray (so Joseph has to rescue her yet again). In the end, she does come into her own, but I never felt that she was a particularly strong character, much less the kind of heroine we can root for over a series of books yet to come. She is no Katniss Everdeen!
That said, I did enjoy reading CITY CENTER. Pond has created a believable world here that will surprise readers as the truth is slowly revealed. I thought I had it all figured out from the start (I’ve read a lot of these books, after all), but I was wrong – and that was a very nice surprise. This may remind you of a lot of other post-apocalyptic novels, but it holds its own and has an original story to tell.
Bottom line, CITY CENTER is definitely worth a read. Just be prepared for the “insta-love” stuff (I so wanted Ava to exert her independence before going all gooey-eyed over Joseph, but no luck there!) and a rather rushed ending (in which a whole lot happens very quickly, in summary) – I do wish Pond had slowed things down and let her story develop over the next few novels. CITY CENTER is well-written, exciting, and hard to put down, which makes it a solid choice for YA readers. Parents, be advised that there is very little here to be concerned about for teens – a few obscenities, some harmless romance, and some non-graphic violence. It would be a good choice for readers ages 14 and up.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
This is an intriguing premise for a novel, reminding me of Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD, as well as more recent post-apocalyptic novels like LOGAN’S RUN, UGLIES, and THE HUNGER GAMES. The people living in the City Center are told that the world beyond their protected environment is dangerous, full of disease, harmful radiation, and gangs of evil terrorist Outsiders. But have they been told the truth? And is Chief Morray really the benevolent dictator he pretends to be, or is something more going on in the City Center and the world beyond?
The biggest problem with CITY CENTER is actually its protagonist, eighteen-year-old Ava Rhodes, who is a Successor Candidate preparing to take her place in the new Royal Court. Ava has been training for her role as a member of the Court all her life, but something in her has always wondered if there might not be more to life. She’s been hanging out with Delilah, a lower ranking “entertainer,” something frowned upon by the elite. She also loves old movies, which she and Delilah obtain from the “dark-market.” Pond seems to want Ava to be a bit of a rebel, and if that were the case, I’d be right there with her. A story like this needs a rebel. Unfortunately, Ava is a pretty weak sister. When she meets Outsider Joseph, she is instantly drawn to him, and she does break a few rules to read the journal he gives her. But her attraction to Joseph seems more romantic than political, and her desire to help him is all wrapped up in how the touch of his fingers makes her tingle. This is “insta-love” at its finest!
Additionally, Ava is too often cast as the victim in this story – she’s either stumbling around on wounded feet (so Joseph has to carry her) or getting herself attacked by drunken soldiers (so Joseph has to rescue her) or attracting the unwanted attentions of creepy Morray (so Joseph has to rescue her yet again). In the end, she does come into her own, but I never felt that she was a particularly strong character, much less the kind of heroine we can root for over a series of books yet to come. She is no Katniss Everdeen!
That said, I did enjoy reading CITY CENTER. Pond has created a believable world here that will surprise readers as the truth is slowly revealed. I thought I had it all figured out from the start (I’ve read a lot of these books, after all), but I was wrong – and that was a very nice surprise. This may remind you of a lot of other post-apocalyptic novels, but it holds its own and has an original story to tell.
Bottom line, CITY CENTER is definitely worth a read. Just be prepared for the “insta-love” stuff (I so wanted Ava to exert her independence before going all gooey-eyed over Joseph, but no luck there!) and a rather rushed ending (in which a whole lot happens very quickly, in summary) – I do wish Pond had slowed things down and let her story develop over the next few novels. CITY CENTER is well-written, exciting, and hard to put down, which makes it a solid choice for YA readers. Parents, be advised that there is very little here to be concerned about for teens – a few obscenities, some harmless romance, and some non-graphic violence. It would be a good choice for readers ages 14 and up.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
February 9, 2015
Check out my other reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!
I recently just started reading dystopian novels again. For quite a while it felt like every young adult novel that came out had some sort of dystopian angle to it. The young adult genre just felt saturated with them. I had read so many good ones that I just couldn't stop myself from picking up a new one every other day. But then I started to get a little burned by them. They were coming out so fast from so many authors that they just didn't have that something special and unfortunately, a bunch were just a waste of my time to read. So I put the whole genre down. I haven't read one in more than a year, I think. Anywho ... it was a big deal for me to pick this up. It was an even bigger deal to love it as much as I did!
This is one of those futuristic novels that has a whole butt load of technology that we don't have but Simone Pond explains each thing pretty well and I didn't find myself wondering about how anything works with the exception of two things. There were two things that I just really didn't understand and were glossed over a bit, I felt.
As a reader, I'm greedy. I'm greedy as hell. I want ever morsel of information that the author is willing to give PLUS a handful of things that they aren't. Now, were these two items a big deal? Not really. It didn't change my reading experience when I didn't really understand them and to be honest, there's a chance that I skipped over the part where it was explained. I kind of devoured The City Center and found myself having to reread paragraphs because I was just going way too fast. You know how that is.
I really liked the main characters and I became Ava's cheerleader pretty quickly. She's a smart and spunky character that you can't help but root for. I was excited to see what she was up to with each chapter and Pond really kept me on my toes with her. Just when I thought that Ava was in a situation that she couldn't handle, she did. Don't read that as me saying that Ava was written conveniently ... she didn't get out of impossible situations because she found (conveniently) the exact item that she needed or coincidentally something fell from the sky at exactly the right moment ... no. Ava used her wits and training at surprising moments that really boosted the story to a whole new level within the young adult genre. She was just a really well written character that I enjoyed thoroughly.
But. (Come on, you had to know it was coming since I didn't give this book that I really enjoyed 5 stars). Okay... here it is ... the problem was the end. I just didn't like it. Like I said, I'm a greedy reader. I want to know EVERYTHING. Up until the last 15%, the book was moving at a perfect pace - quickly, but not so fast that things were missed but not so slow as to make me want to throw my Kindle out the window. But then that last bit of the book came along and it seemed like things started happening at this break-neck speed. I felt a bit robbed. I want to know the nitty-gritty details. Make the book a little longer, I don't care or make it shorter and pop that last part into a new novel or a novella even. ANYTHING but rushing through. Le sigh.
All in all, this was such a good book that I really enjoyed. I'm excited to jump into the next novel and see what Ava is up to now!
February 10, 2015
This review can originally be found at Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
This was a good dystopian with an interesting story and a pretty nice plot as well. It was something I enjoyed reading even though I couldn’t quite love it as much as I wanted to. I believe that it was because this was somewhat a ‘typical’ dystopian of sorts, and I have read a lot of those. Nonetheless it was still a quick and enjoyable read.
Ava is the main character of novel and someone I really liked. She wasn’t necessarily a strong character, but someone who questioned the rules. She didn’t break them because she liked to rebel, but because she couldn’t see a reason for them to stand. She also have a very logical thinking mind. Ava did what was needed to get out of her situations, and embraced every day like she was learning something new. I loved it about her and I saw her as a nice character. Someone who had been bred for perfection but wanted something else instead.
The world building was good. I liked the advanced technology they had and how the system of living was different from most dystopian books. But when I heard the word ‘Beautifier’ I couldn’t help my mind zooming towards Hunger Games thoughts. And there were a few other things, like the need for revolution and the wall separating the sheltered and manipulated people within while there are the people outside live freely – those kind of things that made this book somewhat blend into all the others.
The romance was simply that – a romance. It was straight forward. No silly love triangles or anything, and no insta-love although the romance did go quickly. However, I find that this whole book was fairly fast paced and there was never anything that dragged. In fact, it was the perfect pace – I was always interested in turning to the next page.
I do think the emotions or some things mentioned could’ve been further developed in this novel. There are two books to come though, so maybe I will see some of those things come through then!
The villain, Morray, was also a character I loved. He was pretty much completely off his rocker and when you learn of all the things he had been doing to the people and the whole system in general it was a bit weird and kind of disturbing. But in terms of villains, that’s what made him perfect.
Looking forward to the next book!
This was a good dystopian with an interesting story and a pretty nice plot as well. It was something I enjoyed reading even though I couldn’t quite love it as much as I wanted to. I believe that it was because this was somewhat a ‘typical’ dystopian of sorts, and I have read a lot of those. Nonetheless it was still a quick and enjoyable read.
Ava is the main character of novel and someone I really liked. She wasn’t necessarily a strong character, but someone who questioned the rules. She didn’t break them because she liked to rebel, but because she couldn’t see a reason for them to stand. She also have a very logical thinking mind. Ava did what was needed to get out of her situations, and embraced every day like she was learning something new. I loved it about her and I saw her as a nice character. Someone who had been bred for perfection but wanted something else instead.
The world building was good. I liked the advanced technology they had and how the system of living was different from most dystopian books. But when I heard the word ‘Beautifier’ I couldn’t help my mind zooming towards Hunger Games thoughts. And there were a few other things, like the need for revolution and the wall separating the sheltered and manipulated people within while there are the people outside live freely – those kind of things that made this book somewhat blend into all the others.
The romance was simply that – a romance. It was straight forward. No silly love triangles or anything, and no insta-love although the romance did go quickly. However, I find that this whole book was fairly fast paced and there was never anything that dragged. In fact, it was the perfect pace – I was always interested in turning to the next page.
I do think the emotions or some things mentioned could’ve been further developed in this novel. There are two books to come though, so maybe I will see some of those things come through then!
The villain, Morray, was also a character I loved. He was pretty much completely off his rocker and when you learn of all the things he had been doing to the people and the whole system in general it was a bit weird and kind of disturbing. But in terms of villains, that’s what made him perfect.
Looking forward to the next book!
October 27, 2014
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Thanks to Simone Pond for giving me this book to review.
In the 21st century the Elites created a man-made apocalypse which killed almost everyone, and those who survived either live in the Los Angeles City Center or are rebels who live on the Outside. Centuries later Ava Rhones is one of the potential successors to the Queen but she has always felt different from almost everyone else. A week before it is decided who becomes the Queen, she meets a rebel, Joseph, and discovers that her utopian home is not all that is seems. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside leading the City Center leader Chief Morray to obsessively hunt for her. With Ava falling for Joseph she has to decide whether to stay on the Outside or save her people in the City Center.
The City Center is an enjoyable YA dystopian novel with an interesting premise, action and romance. I felt it was too fast paced as I found it hard to connect to the characters or the story and I would have preferred more world building.
Ava is nice and adventurous and I think people can relate to her as she felt different from everyone else and wants to escape. Joseph is a normal YA hero, brave, loyal and kind but did not stand out, however, one thing I got annoyed at in this book is that it had insta-love.
This book has an interesting concept which I wish had been fleshed out a bit more but I am still looking forward to the next book The New Agenda. I would recommend The City Center to fans of Under the Never Sky or Fireblood.
Thanks to Simone Pond for giving me this book to review.
In the 21st century the Elites created a man-made apocalypse which killed almost everyone, and those who survived either live in the Los Angeles City Center or are rebels who live on the Outside. Centuries later Ava Rhones is one of the potential successors to the Queen but she has always felt different from almost everyone else. A week before it is decided who becomes the Queen, she meets a rebel, Joseph, and discovers that her utopian home is not all that is seems. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside leading the City Center leader Chief Morray to obsessively hunt for her. With Ava falling for Joseph she has to decide whether to stay on the Outside or save her people in the City Center.
The City Center is an enjoyable YA dystopian novel with an interesting premise, action and romance. I felt it was too fast paced as I found it hard to connect to the characters or the story and I would have preferred more world building.
Ava is nice and adventurous and I think people can relate to her as she felt different from everyone else and wants to escape. Joseph is a normal YA hero, brave, loyal and kind but did not stand out, however, one thing I got annoyed at in this book is that it had insta-love.
This book has an interesting concept which I wish had been fleshed out a bit more but I am still looking forward to the next book The New Agenda. I would recommend The City Center to fans of Under the Never Sky or Fireblood.
November 16, 2013
I quite enjoyed this book.
Pond creates an extraordinary world that is at once futuristic-cool and menacing. It is a forward thinking tale and sweeping epic that ignites the imagination from the get-go. She contrasts the inner world of the City Center with the outer brilliantly as her central character, Ava, traverses a new frontier. I was enthusiastically drawn in to the twists and turns of the story because of Ava, whose innate character evokes emotion and sympathy.
Pond’s descriptive writing style lends itself to the “you just know” scenario of love at first sight. Ava is tethered to the good old-fashioned strengths and values that we associate with all of our great heroes. The story is structurally sound throughout and the twists and turns keep you leaning forward. Pond does not disappoint and, although I wanted more, this is surely to become a series in the vein of The Hunger Games.
I could totally see this as a movie, video game, and/or ride at a theme park and cannot wait to see what comes next from Pond.
Pond creates an extraordinary world that is at once futuristic-cool and menacing. It is a forward thinking tale and sweeping epic that ignites the imagination from the get-go. She contrasts the inner world of the City Center with the outer brilliantly as her central character, Ava, traverses a new frontier. I was enthusiastically drawn in to the twists and turns of the story because of Ava, whose innate character evokes emotion and sympathy.
Pond’s descriptive writing style lends itself to the “you just know” scenario of love at first sight. Ava is tethered to the good old-fashioned strengths and values that we associate with all of our great heroes. The story is structurally sound throughout and the twists and turns keep you leaning forward. Pond does not disappoint and, although I wanted more, this is surely to become a series in the vein of The Hunger Games.
I could totally see this as a movie, video game, and/or ride at a theme park and cannot wait to see what comes next from Pond.
April 28, 2014
Full disclosure:I received this book as a Shelf Awareness giveaway directly from the author. Thanks Simone.
This is a dystopian novel that leaves the reader thinking how possible it could be. Designer people? People without emotions or thoughts of their own? Controlling people in charge?
Yet Ava Rhodes doesn't quite fit into the mold she has been created for, and one Outsider may just open her eyes to what her utopian City Center really is.
Can she escape her destiny as the next Queen or will she continue the life she is expected to lead for the next eighteen years?
This novel is a thoughtful look at what it means to be fully human. Moreover, it is not a typical dystopian story.
This is a dystopian novel that leaves the reader thinking how possible it could be. Designer people? People without emotions or thoughts of their own? Controlling people in charge?
Yet Ava Rhodes doesn't quite fit into the mold she has been created for, and one Outsider may just open her eyes to what her utopian City Center really is.
Can she escape her destiny as the next Queen or will she continue the life she is expected to lead for the next eighteen years?
This novel is a thoughtful look at what it means to be fully human. Moreover, it is not a typical dystopian story.
November 11, 2013
The beauty of this work of sci-fi is that it takes Plato's "allegory of the cave" and sets it in the future -- adding a dash of "love story" along with cautionary themes of transhumanism, elitist plans run amock, and the nature of freedom -- without a hint of pretension. Readers of various tastes can get into this yarn because it is good storytelling. My only problem with the book: it was hard to put down, so I lost a few hours of sleep on a few nights.
October 28, 2013
The City Center is a great sci-fi novel along the lines of the Hunger Games and Total Recall. Ms. Pond draws a unique vision of the future with and populates it with real, compelling characters. The plot moves along swiftly and deftly, and the ending is excellent. One only hopes that this will become a series and we can get deeper into the worlds of Ava and Joseph in future installments.
November 16, 2013
Definitely a page-turner, and reminded me of Marge Piercy's "He, She and It".
My favorite part of this book is how much the author shines though. Rags, (who the whole time while reading I envisioned Simone's dog), the references to Ojai… I appreciated how much she allows her personality to seep into her fiction.
My favorite part of this book is how much the author shines though. Rags, (who the whole time while reading I envisioned Simone's dog), the references to Ojai… I appreciated how much she allows her personality to seep into her fiction.
December 7, 2013
An amazing book, Simone can really take you to the place and time the book is set on, a super addictive read, you better be comfortable because it is really hard to put down, the way she narrates and the way she writes is just amazing, good job Simone, I hope to see more of you on the future!:)
October 25, 2013
Awesome, intelligent, fast-paced read. Incredibly imaginative yet relatable. I loved every second. Can't wait for the next novel in the series!
January 7, 2015
Great story. I love every tiny detail that makes up Pond's creative world.
September 23, 2015
ABR's original The City Center audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Several hundred years in the future, an elite group of humans live in a sheltered and controlled society. Protected by a dome from the outside poisonous air and toxic radiation from the sun, the inhabitants live out their 36 years in the rolls they were engineered for. At the end of this brief period of labor, they retire to “Red Haven” a paradise of leisure.
Ava, along with a handful of others, have been bred to live at the top of society called the royal court. At 18, as the most beautiful and perfect of all engineered beings, she will be queen. But she suspects something is wrong with society and with their creator, Chief Morray.
City Center often follows the classic, “Brave New World,” with its story of an engineered working class and its bred-to-perfection ruling class. Though it eventually departs, the parallel is obvious and perhaps meant to be a nod to Huxley’s masterpiece. There is also the feeling of the perfect society on the surface, but something terribly wrong brewing underneath.
Pond has beautifully crafted a bleak future, the toxic landscape spreading across the earth, with only the protection of the City Center dome for those lucky few born into its cocoon. The mood is established immediately and well.
The protagonist Ava starts off promisingly enough, a strong female character, who at only 18 takes incredible risks with her life to save those around her; but later seems to devolve into a victim, dependent on the stronger males around her. This was somewhat disappointing, and an opportunity missed in this reviewer’s opinion. You may decide otherwise. It is a detail and the book is enjoyable, none-the-less.
The story is read beautifully by Sarah Zimmerman. She has a clear strong voice that conveys the mood and dystopian landscape, author Simone Pond has so lovingly crafted.
Pond has taken the idea of genetic manipulation to organize society, now nearly 100 years old, and made it her own. As we move into real genetic engineering of human beings, the idea can and should be continually explored; especially for its moral implications as Pond has done. City Center is part of a series, but wraps up nicely, feeling like a completed novel with just a bare hint of what may come next. It is a thoroughly entertaining book that deserves a listen.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
Several hundred years in the future, an elite group of humans live in a sheltered and controlled society. Protected by a dome from the outside poisonous air and toxic radiation from the sun, the inhabitants live out their 36 years in the rolls they were engineered for. At the end of this brief period of labor, they retire to “Red Haven” a paradise of leisure.
Ava, along with a handful of others, have been bred to live at the top of society called the royal court. At 18, as the most beautiful and perfect of all engineered beings, she will be queen. But she suspects something is wrong with society and with their creator, Chief Morray.
City Center often follows the classic, “Brave New World,” with its story of an engineered working class and its bred-to-perfection ruling class. Though it eventually departs, the parallel is obvious and perhaps meant to be a nod to Huxley’s masterpiece. There is also the feeling of the perfect society on the surface, but something terribly wrong brewing underneath.
Pond has beautifully crafted a bleak future, the toxic landscape spreading across the earth, with only the protection of the City Center dome for those lucky few born into its cocoon. The mood is established immediately and well.
The protagonist Ava starts off promisingly enough, a strong female character, who at only 18 takes incredible risks with her life to save those around her; but later seems to devolve into a victim, dependent on the stronger males around her. This was somewhat disappointing, and an opportunity missed in this reviewer’s opinion. You may decide otherwise. It is a detail and the book is enjoyable, none-the-less.
The story is read beautifully by Sarah Zimmerman. She has a clear strong voice that conveys the mood and dystopian landscape, author Simone Pond has so lovingly crafted.
Pond has taken the idea of genetic manipulation to organize society, now nearly 100 years old, and made it her own. As we move into real genetic engineering of human beings, the idea can and should be continually explored; especially for its moral implications as Pond has done. City Center is part of a series, but wraps up nicely, feeling like a completed novel with just a bare hint of what may come next. It is a thoroughly entertaining book that deserves a listen.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
November 26, 2013
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Take a splash of Hunger Games and a pinch of Elizabethan England and mix it in a technologically-advanced society, and you’ll have an interesting recipe for a YA/NA dystopian. The societal set up was complex but intriguing. Set three hundred years in the future, this novel shows some very real, very frightening possibilities for America’s future. It truly isn’t difficult it to imagine DNA modifications, mood modifiers pumped into public facilities, and governmental monitoring even in private homes, and let’s face it, most people already believe the powerful elite control everything from elected officials to media streaming. So, at times, I felt a chill at seeing a glimpse of a conceivable 24th century LA. However, it was difficult to get past the similarities between what has quickly become a mainstay in dystopian fiction. The pageantry of the City Center citizens, the outrageous beautification procedures, the populace vote in a competition (though not for life or death), the handlers of the candidates—all of these have that formulaic feel which Katniss fans will see immediately.
I also had some problems with Ava’s character. Sometimes, she seems strong and intelligent, like when she recues Joseph from execution or when she escapes David’s nefarious clutches, but at other times, she’s weak, easily malleable, like whenever James yells at her. She relies on others to take care of her, too, literally slipping in and out of consciousness multiple times in the novel in situations requiring her full attention and mobility. This combat-trained girl, semi-devoid of human emotion can’t seem to stay awake when her life depends on it, and at the moment she builds a fire, caveman style, I began to lose interest.
The novel’s crescendo coup d'état was just too easy and borderline cheesy, explaining everything away in half of a chapter. The end also becomes didactic with a great deal of social commentary at the expense of the plot.
Great beginning but a bit rushed at the end
3 stars
Take a splash of Hunger Games and a pinch of Elizabethan England and mix it in a technologically-advanced society, and you’ll have an interesting recipe for a YA/NA dystopian. The societal set up was complex but intriguing. Set three hundred years in the future, this novel shows some very real, very frightening possibilities for America’s future. It truly isn’t difficult it to imagine DNA modifications, mood modifiers pumped into public facilities, and governmental monitoring even in private homes, and let’s face it, most people already believe the powerful elite control everything from elected officials to media streaming. So, at times, I felt a chill at seeing a glimpse of a conceivable 24th century LA. However, it was difficult to get past the similarities between what has quickly become a mainstay in dystopian fiction. The pageantry of the City Center citizens, the outrageous beautification procedures, the populace vote in a competition (though not for life or death), the handlers of the candidates—all of these have that formulaic feel which Katniss fans will see immediately.
I also had some problems with Ava’s character. Sometimes, she seems strong and intelligent, like when she recues Joseph from execution or when she escapes David’s nefarious clutches, but at other times, she’s weak, easily malleable, like whenever James yells at her. She relies on others to take care of her, too, literally slipping in and out of consciousness multiple times in the novel in situations requiring her full attention and mobility. This combat-trained girl, semi-devoid of human emotion can’t seem to stay awake when her life depends on it, and at the moment she builds a fire, caveman style, I began to lose interest.
The novel’s crescendo coup d'état was just too easy and borderline cheesy, explaining everything away in half of a chapter. The end also becomes didactic with a great deal of social commentary at the expense of the plot.
Great beginning but a bit rushed at the end
3 stars
March 26, 2014
The book for review is “The City Center” by Simone Pond. The book falls in the genre of Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction.
The book is set in the 21st century in City Center which is located in Los Angeles. Our world is no longer as we know it. Humans have destroyed our world and way of life. A group of elites saves the day. But at what cost? Ninety percent of the population have been killed off. It is now between the haves and have-nots. City Center houses the privilege while those outside the walls suffer. The outsiders are considered terrorists and unworthy, all lies by the elites that run City Center.
Our main character, Ava Rhodes, is one of the potential successors to becoming the Queen, her partner, James, the next King.
To decide among the contestants who will rule at what level involves competition. One these young adults have been training for their whole lives. At 18 it is time to determine who will be come the next King and Queen. Where they will reign for 18 years after which they will retire to a land of luxury.
A week before graduation, a terrorist, Joseph, from the outside breaks into City Center. His goal is to let the people know the real truth of what is truly going on outside and inside the walls. He comes across Ava who happens to be visiting her friend. Things take a turn when Ava decides to escape with Joseph back to his home. Something that could potentially could cost her life and disrupt all that she knows of her home.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it within two days. The pace was amazing, the characters were wonderful as you were able to bond with them in the book. The book did in the beginning remind me of the “Hunger Games.” Just a bit mind you as the book took off in a direction all on its own. This is a great read.
I received this book for free in exchanged for an honest review
The book is set in the 21st century in City Center which is located in Los Angeles. Our world is no longer as we know it. Humans have destroyed our world and way of life. A group of elites saves the day. But at what cost? Ninety percent of the population have been killed off. It is now between the haves and have-nots. City Center houses the privilege while those outside the walls suffer. The outsiders are considered terrorists and unworthy, all lies by the elites that run City Center.
Our main character, Ava Rhodes, is one of the potential successors to becoming the Queen, her partner, James, the next King.
To decide among the contestants who will rule at what level involves competition. One these young adults have been training for their whole lives. At 18 it is time to determine who will be come the next King and Queen. Where they will reign for 18 years after which they will retire to a land of luxury.
A week before graduation, a terrorist, Joseph, from the outside breaks into City Center. His goal is to let the people know the real truth of what is truly going on outside and inside the walls. He comes across Ava who happens to be visiting her friend. Things take a turn when Ava decides to escape with Joseph back to his home. Something that could potentially could cost her life and disrupt all that she knows of her home.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it within two days. The pace was amazing, the characters were wonderful as you were able to bond with them in the book. The book did in the beginning remind me of the “Hunger Games.” Just a bit mind you as the book took off in a direction all on its own. This is a great read.
I received this book for free in exchanged for an honest review
February 10, 2016
The City Center is an interesting futuristic dystopia with sci-fi elements that I found very interesting. The people living in the City Center are genetically engineered to be a certain way, and only later do we realize the true sinister purpose for this. I thought the overall premise was great, the main character Ava is pretty dang awesome, and the villain is kind of a mad genius. I liked how Ava was already different and after reading the journal given to her by the Outsider and using her wit, she starts to see how things are not what she has been brainwashed to believe. However, I think this book is a little on the short side and honestly would make a better movie than it does a book. There is a ton of action and a lot of dialogue, but I don’t feel there is enough of a descriptive nature that I have come to expect in novels. It felt rushed and was more “tell” than “show”. Even though this is a series book, everything you expect to be in a dystopian trilogy happens here – from the world introduction and the conflict, to the escape, the capture, and finally the overthrowing of the current system (though there is an unresolved issue that can be continued in further books). That is just too much for one short book, and so most of it felt like I was reading a summary rather than the unfolding events leading up to the finale. Sure, I don’t like when a story drags out over books just to sell more books, but this one has the opposite problem. (After reading the blurbs for the other books in the series this kind of makes sense, as each subsequent book follows a different character in a different timeline in the New Agenda world.)
I was provided this audio book in exchange for my honest review from AudioBook Blast.
I was provided this audio book in exchange for my honest review from AudioBook Blast.
March 17, 2014
At first I was worried that this story would be too much like the Hunger Games. I even read through a few of the reviews with all of them saying the same thing. It concerned me even more and I considered putting the book down and not reviewing it. I'm okay with similar concepts as long as the story itself is different and for the first few chapters, there was no hint at an original idea. Then it picked up pace unexpectedly and I found myself getting deeper into the story. Then the story became predictable, no thanks to the author calling out the hints before hand, and I found myself reading just to see how the story would actually come to close. I feel like the story moved too quick in some areas, making too much happen in too short of a time. It was almost overload. I feel like the story would've been much stronger had the author taken her time to explain these parts better or show the unique world building that needed much more attention. The last chapter was just a gigantic information dump that could've gone over better or removed completely as there is obviously a continuation coming out this year. All in all I did enjoy the book as it was exciting, fast-paced, and unique in its own right. Taking everything into consideration, I recommend this book to readers who enjoy such books that feature advanced technologies and Hunger Game-esque feel.
This review was requested by the author. A copy of this review will be posted on my site and on Amazon.com.
This review was requested by the author. A copy of this review will be posted on my site and on Amazon.com.
February 1, 2015
I have to say, this book is very nearly perfect. Perfect in that it has all the elements that make me love a book. Namely competition or testing and royalty. It's also part of a larger series, which means more of a good thing.
This is a post-apocalypse story wherein civilization exists in a walled off community where every 18 years its rulers retire and a new crop takes their place. The heroine is 18, nearly ready to take place in the succession where her place in the royal court will be determined. At the age of 36, she (and everyone else who's 36) will retire to an island paradise. Life is overcontrolled by the planners and minders, but it's generally good.
Then an outsider gets inside the city center and suddenly everything the heroine knows is a lie. The action adventure portion of the book starts there.
There's a solid bit of dressing up and preparing for their graduation that reminds me of similar scenes from The One. I would have liked to see more of that kind of pageantry. I'm also intrigued by the notion that they've developed a way to upload and download people to and from their bodies.
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a post-apocalypse story wherein civilization exists in a walled off community where every 18 years its rulers retire and a new crop takes their place. The heroine is 18, nearly ready to take place in the succession where her place in the royal court will be determined. At the age of 36, she (and everyone else who's 36) will retire to an island paradise. Life is overcontrolled by the planners and minders, but it's generally good.
Then an outsider gets inside the city center and suddenly everything the heroine knows is a lie. The action adventure portion of the book starts there.
There's a solid bit of dressing up and preparing for their graduation that reminds me of similar scenes from The One. I would have liked to see more of that kind of pageantry. I'm also intrigued by the notion that they've developed a way to upload and download people to and from their bodies.
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2013
I was fortunate to be offered a copy of Simone’s novel and I am happy to say that it was a very pleasant surprise!
I grew up in Los Angeles and it was the perfect setting for the story!
The characters were very well developed and evoked either an emotional attachment or likely a very tangible aversion from the reader.
The Creator of this Utopian Dysfunctional Society, Morray, is quite easy to dislike. What he has created is sort of an orderly chaos that is fueled by misinformation spewed randomly by programed info-tainers to the micro-chipped citizens of the Center.
Ava Rhodes, the main protagonist, is seemingly perfection at its finest…beautiful, graceful, talented, smart, and the fore-runner to become the Center’s next Queen. But even after 300 years of altering human genes and programming behaviors, it appears that Ava has a “glitch”…she is a sentient human being!
Her moral compass is “off center” so to speak. As the story moves forward, Ava becomes aware that all is not what she has been programmed to embrace and the City Center is about to implode when the truth is exposed!
A clever, entertaining read from start to finish!
The ending leaves just the right amount of curiosity as to what will follow in her next book in this series.
April 17, 2015
I received this book as an ecopy via the YA Spring Fling along with a few others, however I decided to pick this one first because it seemed short and interesting. I was hooked from the beginning. The main character, Ava, lives in a world where everything is controlled by a Royal Court, where she is training for. Every 18 years, a new group of people take the place of the old Royal Court and those at the age of 36 go to a secluded paradise for their retirement. Ava always knew she was different, but everything changes when an Outsider breaks into the City Center.The Ousider, Joseph, gives Ava a book before he is captured that reveals that the City Center isn't what she thought it was. After Ava cleverly breaks Joseph out of the City Center, she journeys with him to the last known survivors of what humanity used to be like. You'll just have to read it to know what happens next, because I don't want to spoil anything! I really liked this book, except for a few things that I wasn't 100% on, such as Joseph and Ava's relationship moving as fast as it did, but they're cute together, so I'll make an exception. The ending left me curious to see what happens to Morray, so I'm really glad I'll be reading the second book soon!
June 16, 2017
about the author:
Award-winning author of dystopian fiction. Pond's current series includes The City Center, The New Agenda, The Mainframe, and The Torrent. She also has a short story series called Voices of the Apocalypse.
Pond currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier. Be sure to join the mailing list for updates on new book releases. simonepond.com
book synopsis
A dystopian book series about love and the fight for freedom -- Book 1.
Ava didn't want to be right. Not about her city. Not about their leader, Chief Morray. But when Joseph gives her a secret journal from the past, the truth is revealed. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside, sending Chief Morray on an obsessive pursuit to retrieve his property. Ava has to decide if she should keep running, or return to the city center to save her people
what sis I think of the book:
I heat to say this but this is the first book of 2016 that will be getting a 1 star from me, I've been trying to read it since 2:00 am and I just can't get in to it at all, which for me is a let down, because form the book synopsis it sounded like it would be a really great book series, sorry to say its not for me.
Award-winning author of dystopian fiction. Pond's current series includes The City Center, The New Agenda, The Mainframe, and The Torrent. She also has a short story series called Voices of the Apocalypse.
Pond currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier. Be sure to join the mailing list for updates on new book releases. simonepond.com
book synopsis
A dystopian book series about love and the fight for freedom -- Book 1.
Ava didn't want to be right. Not about her city. Not about their leader, Chief Morray. But when Joseph gives her a secret journal from the past, the truth is revealed. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside, sending Chief Morray on an obsessive pursuit to retrieve his property. Ava has to decide if she should keep running, or return to the city center to save her people
what sis I think of the book:
I heat to say this but this is the first book of 2016 that will be getting a 1 star from me, I've been trying to read it since 2:00 am and I just can't get in to it at all, which for me is a let down, because form the book synopsis it sounded like it would be a really great book series, sorry to say its not for me.
December 11, 2013
First of all - I received this book for free.
Now, on to the review. I receive a lot of books for free. Some of them I like, some of them I respect, some of them I find it hard to read at all. This one I liked a lot (obviously, since I gave it 5 stars). This is not great literature, and it's not cutting edge science fiction. What it is, is a great read that takes me back to why I began reading science fiction. I read all the greats when many of them were still fresh. My parents gave me a subscription to Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine when I was 12, about 1959, and I never stopped loving that stuff. Well - Ms Pond has taken me back to those days where there was a single idea that provided the science part and then a whole lot of story, which over the years I've come to realize was the important part. She gets this. A lot of modern SF writers don't. Thanks for taking me back to the joy of the SF of my youth, Simone. I look forward to more trips there. Great read. Highly recommended.
Now, on to the review. I receive a lot of books for free. Some of them I like, some of them I respect, some of them I find it hard to read at all. This one I liked a lot (obviously, since I gave it 5 stars). This is not great literature, and it's not cutting edge science fiction. What it is, is a great read that takes me back to why I began reading science fiction. I read all the greats when many of them were still fresh. My parents gave me a subscription to Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine when I was 12, about 1959, and I never stopped loving that stuff. Well - Ms Pond has taken me back to those days where there was a single idea that provided the science part and then a whole lot of story, which over the years I've come to realize was the important part. She gets this. A lot of modern SF writers don't. Thanks for taking me back to the joy of the SF of my youth, Simone. I look forward to more trips there. Great read. Highly recommended.
October 24, 2015
Book review: The City Center
Simone Pond brings the reader into a world of corruption, entitlement and power-hungry elitists. The city center seems to be a perfect utopia, protecting its inhabitants from the danger beyond the walls. But the ruling class, as they have always done, have kept a secret to themselves while controlling the populace with chemical and technological distractions.
If a secret group ever planned the demise of the the world for their benefit, I can't imagine how "The New Agenda" series isn't anything but prophetic.
What I liked: engaging story, fascinating futuristic technology, and compelling characters.
What I didn't like: the ending seemed anticlimactic, after the big reveal and the hero triumphs, the wrap-up was much more "tell" than "show". Perhaps it would have worked better as a prologue... But that's just my opinion.
I would have given 4.5 stars, but the rating system only works in whole numbers... Sorry! However, if it means anything, I will be continuing the series.
Simone Pond brings the reader into a world of corruption, entitlement and power-hungry elitists. The city center seems to be a perfect utopia, protecting its inhabitants from the danger beyond the walls. But the ruling class, as they have always done, have kept a secret to themselves while controlling the populace with chemical and technological distractions.
If a secret group ever planned the demise of the the world for their benefit, I can't imagine how "The New Agenda" series isn't anything but prophetic.
What I liked: engaging story, fascinating futuristic technology, and compelling characters.
What I didn't like: the ending seemed anticlimactic, after the big reveal and the hero triumphs, the wrap-up was much more "tell" than "show". Perhaps it would have worked better as a prologue... But that's just my opinion.
I would have given 4.5 stars, but the rating system only works in whole numbers... Sorry! However, if it means anything, I will be continuing the series.
December 6, 2013
This is a great book and I look forward to reading the second part when it comes out next year. Take a dystopian society, add some genetic manipulation and throw in some good old fashioned morals.
You have a group of people living in what they think is paradise worshiping "the creator" who provides for their every need with no real worries. Even though some of those people have an idea that all is not what it seems, they follow along blindly until a visit from an outsider.
Young Ana soon finds out there is a real creator and that life on the outside is nothing like what she had always been led to believe it was.
This was a fun ride and I very much enjoyed the journey. I am looking forward to reading Simone's next book when it comes out. I have some ideas about some things and I can't wait to find out if i am anywhere close to the mark on them!
You have a group of people living in what they think is paradise worshiping "the creator" who provides for their every need with no real worries. Even though some of those people have an idea that all is not what it seems, they follow along blindly until a visit from an outsider.
Young Ana soon finds out there is a real creator and that life on the outside is nothing like what she had always been led to believe it was.
This was a fun ride and I very much enjoyed the journey. I am looking forward to reading Simone's next book when it comes out. I have some ideas about some things and I can't wait to find out if i am anywhere close to the mark on them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews