What do you think?
Rate this book
The Camellia Resistance
2044. Willow Carlyle is the youngest cultural epidemiology research director in the history of the Ministry of Health and is on the fast-track for further promotion until a night of passion shatters her carefully constructed life. Marked and unemployed, Willow falls in with a band of dissidents. Everyone wants something. In the process of discerning friend from foe, Willow begins to unravel secrets that will shake the New Republic of America to its foundation.
For more information about A.R.Williams, visit her blog at entropy.wordpress.com
For more information about A.R.Williams, visit her blog at entropy.wordpress.com
- GenresDystopia
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2013
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
A.R. Williams
5 books1 followerI'm a long-standing DC native that doesn't quite fit in here but doesn't fit in anywhere else either. Basically, it's one big conundrum around here. My favorite things are, in no particular order: my dog, dark chocolate with ginger in it, my sisters, Emeli Sande, silk, my amazing collection of friends, having written (no one enjoys writing), and spending money on makeup at Ulta.
I write compulsively. All my bags are selected for the size of notepad they'll comfortably hold. Since NaNoWriMo 2009, my writing energy has been devoted to The Camellia Resistance, my first (good) novel. It was published in January of 2013 and I'm super proud of it. Basically, my goal for the novel is for it to do for someone what Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" did for me: make it possible for someone to get through a really rotten day.
I write compulsively. All my bags are selected for the size of notepad they'll comfortably hold. Since NaNoWriMo 2009, my writing energy has been devoted to The Camellia Resistance, my first (good) novel. It was published in January of 2013 and I'm super proud of it. Basically, my goal for the novel is for it to do for someone what Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" did for me: make it possible for someone to get through a really rotten day.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 17, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
To be honest, I really wasn't sure about this book when I first started it. It began with a woman who had met a man at a conference and was, within a few hours, in bed with him. It had been a few days and she was "in love," remembering how they first met, and everything was sort of all over the place, a mash up of memories and real life (at least that's how I interpreted it).
BUT … within a few pages I was hooked and couldn't put it down. IT went from "eh" to really impressive and I enjoyed the story – riveted. Every page was interesting and it really made you think, especially since the idea behind it all would make a conspiracy theorist smile big. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
To be honest, I really wasn't sure about this book when I first started it. It began with a woman who had met a man at a conference and was, within a few hours, in bed with him. It had been a few days and she was "in love," remembering how they first met, and everything was sort of all over the place, a mash up of memories and real life (at least that's how I interpreted it).
BUT … within a few pages I was hooked and couldn't put it down. IT went from "eh" to really impressive and I enjoyed the story – riveted. Every page was interesting and it really made you think, especially since the idea behind it all would make a conspiracy theorist smile big. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.
March 8, 2013
A fine dystopian read! After the United States has collapsed from a high mortality rate epidemic, the Ministry of Health has siezed control. They have all the cures and they rule through fear and manipulation of STD's and other communicable diseased.
The Strain is a mutation of Herpes that gets into the spinal cord and alters the infected's nervous system. With this change comes unique, almost superhuman, abilities (they may truly become superhero abilities in later books--but that's just my conjecture). There is still a lot we don't know about how the Strain came to be, and the Ministry of Health's true role in all that has happened.
This is a very adult read, with one graphic sexual scene and many other scenes about sexual situations. I am not an erotica reader, but niether was this erotica through and through. It was a pivotal scene, the likes of which I would not mind seeing more of in the future books.
I had some confusion with the POV switches. Some formatting would help things greatly. One the Kindle version every paragraph is seperated by a single line break and there is nothing to indicate that a POV shift has occured until reading the content of the paragraph.
This is a well thought out and well edited story. Intricate with room to grow as the story unfolds in future books.
The Strain is a mutation of Herpes that gets into the spinal cord and alters the infected's nervous system. With this change comes unique, almost superhuman, abilities (they may truly become superhero abilities in later books--but that's just my conjecture). There is still a lot we don't know about how the Strain came to be, and the Ministry of Health's true role in all that has happened.
This is a very adult read, with one graphic sexual scene and many other scenes about sexual situations. I am not an erotica reader, but niether was this erotica through and through. It was a pivotal scene, the likes of which I would not mind seeing more of in the future books.
I had some confusion with the POV switches. Some formatting would help things greatly. One the Kindle version every paragraph is seperated by a single line break and there is nothing to indicate that a POV shift has occured until reading the content of the paragraph.
This is a well thought out and well edited story. Intricate with room to grow as the story unfolds in future books.
October 8, 2020
The Camellia Resistance by A.R. Williams is a post-disaster novel set is the near future. America has been decimated by a virulent form of herpes that killed off a large portion of the population. The United States government failed and the new government was set up with two important groups taking the lion’s share of power: The Ministry of Security and The Ministry of Health. The real power lies in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Security is essentially their enforcers. America has come back together, united, with a much smaller population. Texas is the exception which remains independent. The Ministry of Health started out as a benevolent organization but as power is concentrated things change.
There are various strains of herpes still in society and a citizen is expected to exercise caution. Full body condoms, keeping one’s hands in latex gloves, avoiding skin to skin contact, and SaniCheck, a universal disinfectant, are all commonplace in society. People who are infected receive magnetic tattoos on their wrists and ever present sensors track their movements. One should always check their partners for the tattoo and take full precautions before any bodily contact is made.
Willow Carlyle is a rising star in the Ministry of Health. Her work in the social aspect of the spread of the virus has lead to the strict, current rules that divide society. Her goal is to stop the spread of the disease. She thinks little of the personal aspects of her work and stays focused on the science and results. Willow’s world is about to change when she meets a man at a convention, a man without a tattoo, and overworked Willow let’s her better judgement lapse. Soon Willow is diagnosed positive, receives her tattoo, loses her job and finds herself in with the people she “persecuted.” From there it is a fast paced story with several twist and turns including motorcycles, trains, and the underground movement, the Camellias, and their secret.
Two important themes play out in the book. First is the view of women. Although the year is 2044 and one would assume progress has been made in the treatment of women in society. Women seem to occupy the same places in society as today and a particularly disturbing trend is played out. Infected women, no matter what their status or position was are considered sluts if they get infected. Men don’t seem to carry any additional negative stigma or shaming if they are infected. Perhaps the most disturbing is the comments from Willow’s boss as she is relieved from her position in the ministry.
The second important theme in the book is the use of fear to change behavior in society. The creation of two groups to play against each other the clean and the diseased. The Camellia Resistance gives the reader a peek into the future where technology and fear-mongering are used by the government to keep people under control and modify behavior.
The Camellia Resistance is a fast moving dystopian novel. The story is well put together and with the exception of a bit of science fiction it is a fairly believable story. The characters are all well developed and their lives are intertwined in sometimes unexpected ways. The Camellia Resistance also carries some social messages that apply to today’s world and perhaps a warning of the future. A very well written novel.
Joseph Spuckler gives The Camellia Resistance 5 Stars
http://www.authoralliance.net/categor...
There are various strains of herpes still in society and a citizen is expected to exercise caution. Full body condoms, keeping one’s hands in latex gloves, avoiding skin to skin contact, and SaniCheck, a universal disinfectant, are all commonplace in society. People who are infected receive magnetic tattoos on their wrists and ever present sensors track their movements. One should always check their partners for the tattoo and take full precautions before any bodily contact is made.
Willow Carlyle is a rising star in the Ministry of Health. Her work in the social aspect of the spread of the virus has lead to the strict, current rules that divide society. Her goal is to stop the spread of the disease. She thinks little of the personal aspects of her work and stays focused on the science and results. Willow’s world is about to change when she meets a man at a convention, a man without a tattoo, and overworked Willow let’s her better judgement lapse. Soon Willow is diagnosed positive, receives her tattoo, loses her job and finds herself in with the people she “persecuted.” From there it is a fast paced story with several twist and turns including motorcycles, trains, and the underground movement, the Camellias, and their secret.
Two important themes play out in the book. First is the view of women. Although the year is 2044 and one would assume progress has been made in the treatment of women in society. Women seem to occupy the same places in society as today and a particularly disturbing trend is played out. Infected women, no matter what their status or position was are considered sluts if they get infected. Men don’t seem to carry any additional negative stigma or shaming if they are infected. Perhaps the most disturbing is the comments from Willow’s boss as she is relieved from her position in the ministry.
The second important theme in the book is the use of fear to change behavior in society. The creation of two groups to play against each other the clean and the diseased. The Camellia Resistance gives the reader a peek into the future where technology and fear-mongering are used by the government to keep people under control and modify behavior.
The Camellia Resistance is a fast moving dystopian novel. The story is well put together and with the exception of a bit of science fiction it is a fairly believable story. The characters are all well developed and their lives are intertwined in sometimes unexpected ways. The Camellia Resistance also carries some social messages that apply to today’s world and perhaps a warning of the future. A very well written novel.
Joseph Spuckler gives The Camellia Resistance 5 Stars
http://www.authoralliance.net/categor...
January 26, 2016
The Camellia Resistance is set in a dystopian future where the USA has become an eroding wasteland after a major pandemic broke out (Herpes) and killed off a large proportion of the population. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Security are the new government and now rule the smaller population, with the exception of Texas, that remains independent. Willow Carlyle, works for the Ministry and is fast becoming a rising star, as she has spent the majority of her adulthood tracking the spread of sexually transmitted viruses and their impact on the population, until a night of passion with a handsome stranger changes the outcome of her future. Willow is diagnosed with Herpes and is instantly dismissed from the Ministry and struggles to make sense of her undoing until an unexpected encounter with a member from a resistance group, The Camellias (who live outside the Ministry and its strict approved health regulations) expose Willow to an alternative way of life she had no idea existed. Along the way Willow discovers her real identity and a secret that will shake the Ministry to its very foundation.
Williams introduces the reader to some memorable characters, all of which are conflicted with their own issues to a certain degree. The narrative is well written and captures the characters hope, fear and anticipation all at the same time, while provoking the reader to finish the first instalment and start the next one immediately. I look forward to the second instalment.
My Ranking: 4.5 Stars
Williams introduces the reader to some memorable characters, all of which are conflicted with their own issues to a certain degree. The narrative is well written and captures the characters hope, fear and anticipation all at the same time, while provoking the reader to finish the first instalment and start the next one immediately. I look forward to the second instalment.
My Ranking: 4.5 Stars
Read
April 30, 2018Originally published at Novel Escapism
In a post-apocalyptic world where everyone is obsessed with hygiene and STDs, Ministry of Health statistician, Willow Carlyle, has just ruined her entire life through a few reckless nights of passion. The premise of “The Camellia Resistance,” the first book in the Camellias Trilogy, was interesting enough, but the execution was not up to par. I feel just “meh” about this one. Some of the characters were sympathetic and the writing was decent. However, some of the scenes were unnecessarily salacious and the idea that herpes gave some of the characters superpowers was strange. I doubt that I will continue reading this trilogy, but other people seem to enjoy it. Ultimately, it was just not my cup of tea.
*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.*
In a post-apocalyptic world where everyone is obsessed with hygiene and STDs, Ministry of Health statistician, Willow Carlyle, has just ruined her entire life through a few reckless nights of passion. The premise of “The Camellia Resistance,” the first book in the Camellias Trilogy, was interesting enough, but the execution was not up to par. I feel just “meh” about this one. Some of the characters were sympathetic and the writing was decent. However, some of the scenes were unnecessarily salacious and the idea that herpes gave some of the characters superpowers was strange. I doubt that I will continue reading this trilogy, but other people seem to enjoy it. Ultimately, it was just not my cup of tea.
*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.*
July 31, 2014
Review: THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE
First of a series, THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE takes a different turn to reach an ugly dystopian society. In this case, the fulcrum is Health: no not plagues which decimates the global population; nor a pandemic which first kills, then revives as zombies. This is a more finely-tuned sociopolitical alteration; not the broadly.drawn disaster of nuclear holocaust or plagues. This dystopianism is very plausible; just hark back to the initial onslaught of AIDS in the U.S.: remember the paranoia, the unfounded ugly assertions, the virulent hate--and you will know that a society founded on "Health" could very well become a dystopia in which the contagious ill are ostracized, made pariah, considered enemies of the state. Here you have it.
First of a series, THE CAMELLIA RESISTANCE takes a different turn to reach an ugly dystopian society. In this case, the fulcrum is Health: no not plagues which decimates the global population; nor a pandemic which first kills, then revives as zombies. This is a more finely-tuned sociopolitical alteration; not the broadly.drawn disaster of nuclear holocaust or plagues. This dystopianism is very plausible; just hark back to the initial onslaught of AIDS in the U.S.: remember the paranoia, the unfounded ugly assertions, the virulent hate--and you will know that a society founded on "Health" could very well become a dystopia in which the contagious ill are ostracized, made pariah, considered enemies of the state. Here you have it.
December 4, 2014
This is definitely a new angle on the flood of dystopian fiction washing through my In basket. Unfortunately A.R. Williams’ world of full-body condoms used to avoid disease, government-issued Kevorkian pills, taxes on environmental comforts such as heat and clean water and restrictions of farming and manufacturing meant to reduce obesity is probably closer to a realistic future than I’m comfortable with. The persecution of the ‘fringe’ of Bible-believers (called the Bretheran) has already begun. Populated with flawed heroes and occasionally misunderstood villains, Williams’ Camellia Resistance is a fast-paced, engaging page-turner and I look forward to next installment of the trilogy, if only to learn more about the (natch) Independent State of Texas.
August 16, 2014
The Camellia Resistance is a fast-paced book in the general theme and thought of George Orwell's 1984. Certain elements of society are tagged and monitored at all times, ridiculed and persecuted, based on some aspect of themselves they cannot help or change. The main character finds herself thrown into chaos, from the life she knew, and into the very people she actively worked against.
While the book is highly synonymous to the Orwell title, there are enough differences to make this book it's own title. From the Resistance to the personalities, this is a thrilling book with enough action to keep you hooked.
4.5/5
While the book is highly synonymous to the Orwell title, there are enough differences to make this book it's own title. From the Resistance to the personalities, this is a thrilling book with enough action to keep you hooked.
4.5/5
November 18, 2014
Read the full review here: http://thereandtheir.wordpress.com/20...
This is an adult dystopian book.
This days people are becoming more and more concerned about the health and hygiene of themselves and of those around them.
But, even this should be done in moderation. The Camellia Resistance is based in a futuristic society, where people have become so fixated on hygiene that they are ready to limit human interactions in order to stay ‘healthy’.
Like all dystopias, the book makes us realize that everything is good only in m
This is an adult dystopian book.
This days people are becoming more and more concerned about the health and hygiene of themselves and of those around them.
But, even this should be done in moderation. The Camellia Resistance is based in a futuristic society, where people have become so fixated on hygiene that they are ready to limit human interactions in order to stay ‘healthy’.
Like all dystopias, the book makes us realize that everything is good only in m
June 23, 2014
First, I would like to thank the author for giving me this book for an honest review. I love fantasy book of all kinds, and of late, Dystopians have become a favorite among them for me. The storyline is good, and different than most since STD's play a major part in this story. The characters are well developed and written. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Read
August 17, 2014DNF - I got to page 155 of 248 but it just wasn't holding my interest. I didn't really buy into the concept and I need more speech/action from books I read to keep me hooked. Don't think this one's for me.
October 9, 2014
The most beautiful authentic book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews