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The Awakened #2
Archon's Queen
Secrets, guilt, and shame―Annabelle Morgan has them all in droves. Fortunately, only one can kill her.
Anna’s gift, psionic control over electricity, tends to go haywire in moments of high emotion. One such episode leaves her homeless after her father’s “accidental” death. She ekes out a modest life as a thief and freelance enforcer until a close call with a murderous government agency makes her turn to Zoom―a powerful hallucinogenic street drug that numbs her mind so the monster cannot get out.
Her safety blanket becomes a devouring pit.
In 2413 London, Anna lives in the gutter, unable to even keep work as an exotic dancer and prostitute. After ignoring her only friend’s pleas for years, it takes a pimp telling her she is too addicted to be useful to realize just how lost she is.
When a young addition to her circle of vagrants attaches to her, Anna attempts to turn away from Zoom. A job from her old handler ends on shaky ground, but introduces her to Doctor James Mardling, a university professor looking for people just like her. He offers the one thing she has always longed for: dignity.
His price, however, may just be too much to pay.
Anna’s gift, psionic control over electricity, tends to go haywire in moments of high emotion. One such episode leaves her homeless after her father’s “accidental” death. She ekes out a modest life as a thief and freelance enforcer until a close call with a murderous government agency makes her turn to Zoom―a powerful hallucinogenic street drug that numbs her mind so the monster cannot get out.
Her safety blanket becomes a devouring pit.
In 2413 London, Anna lives in the gutter, unable to even keep work as an exotic dancer and prostitute. After ignoring her only friend’s pleas for years, it takes a pimp telling her she is too addicted to be useful to realize just how lost she is.
When a young addition to her circle of vagrants attaches to her, Anna attempts to turn away from Zoom. A job from her old handler ends on shaky ground, but introduces her to Doctor James Mardling, a university professor looking for people just like her. He offers the one thing she has always longed for: dignity.
His price, however, may just be too much to pay.
300 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
27 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
192 books266 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 12, 2015
And Matthew Cox does it again!
Wow this book is such a revelation!
I'm a big fan of the first book, Prophet of the Badlands, so because of that, I had high expectations for this book. I'm happy to report though, that my expectations were surpassed!
Whoo.. Okay.. So I think I should begin with the review...
This book had a really slow start for my taste. It detailed the sufferings of our main character, Anna. She was in a perpetual state of doom and gloom in the first part of this book. She has powers, but she doesn't use them for a reason. She's terrified. Completely terrified of what she can do and what it did to someone she knows. She has friends, sure, but she's all closed off about her past that they don't even know half of it.
It was certainly a hard life for her...
Until she snaps.
All I can say about that "snap" is that she's definitely one of a kind. She's... ELECTRIC! Gosh! I can't even begin describing what she could do to you! It's badass!
She goes through so many complications after that, but she continues on being the poweful self that she trul is. Honestly, that's way better than the gloom and doom. Without so many friends, she finds an ally on a very unusual doctor. In a way, I'm glad because she found a person who will take care of her in times of great need.
This book is so full of twists that I almost fell of my chair with the ending. I don't want to give out spoilers, but I just have to say this: Be careful with who you trust. That's all.
Action, adventure and mystery packed! This book beats the odds! Well, Anna did! Such a fighter! You'll love her!
Wow this book is such a revelation!
I'm a big fan of the first book, Prophet of the Badlands, so because of that, I had high expectations for this book. I'm happy to report though, that my expectations were surpassed!
Whoo.. Okay.. So I think I should begin with the review...
This book had a really slow start for my taste. It detailed the sufferings of our main character, Anna. She was in a perpetual state of doom and gloom in the first part of this book. She has powers, but she doesn't use them for a reason. She's terrified. Completely terrified of what she can do and what it did to someone she knows. She has friends, sure, but she's all closed off about her past that they don't even know half of it.
It was certainly a hard life for her...
Until she snaps.
All I can say about that "snap" is that she's definitely one of a kind. She's... ELECTRIC! Gosh! I can't even begin describing what she could do to you! It's badass!
She goes through so many complications after that, but she continues on being the poweful self that she trul is. Honestly, that's way better than the gloom and doom. Without so many friends, she finds an ally on a very unusual doctor. In a way, I'm glad because she found a person who will take care of her in times of great need.
This book is so full of twists that I almost fell of my chair with the ending. I don't want to give out spoilers, but I just have to say this: Be careful with who you trust. That's all.
Action, adventure and mystery packed! This book beats the odds! Well, Anna did! Such a fighter! You'll love her!
March 25, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author, Matthew S. Cox, for an honest review.
This was a great book 2 in a series. Although this book does not directly cross paths with book 1 it is a nice continuation of the story.
Annabelle Morgan spends her days stoned out of her mind. She is trying to run away from her abilities, the ability to control electricity from electronics.
In a world where have "abilities" can get you hurt or arrested she is trying to hide, but not doing it very well.
I found myself almost begging Anna to get off the drugs and embrace her power. To save herself from the poverty she is living in and just live. This was another hard to put down book.
This was a great book 2 in a series. Although this book does not directly cross paths with book 1 it is a nice continuation of the story.
Annabelle Morgan spends her days stoned out of her mind. She is trying to run away from her abilities, the ability to control electricity from electronics.
In a world where have "abilities" can get you hurt or arrested she is trying to hide, but not doing it very well.
I found myself almost begging Anna to get off the drugs and embrace her power. To save herself from the poverty she is living in and just live. This was another hard to put down book.
November 5, 2015
Annabelle “Pixie” Morgan is psionic in 2413 London. She is electrokinetic – has the ability to control electricity – and is unregistered, having spent her entire life trying to hide her powers since her father tried to beat them out of her. If the Clandestine Services Bureau (CSB) got her they’d turn her into another government dog with a bomb in her head to keep her leashed. She can’t let that happen, so she stays hidden. Her powers ensure electronic devices don’t work for long so she’s off the grid already, but Zoomers (a drug that keeps her nice and foggy) keep her power dormant and undetectable. She lives in a bombed out apartment complex outside the city proper and is on government welfare, earning money for her habit as an exotic dancer and prostitute. It’s not glamorous, but she’s alive. Then she’s fired from her job for being too much of an addict, and literally thrown out with the garbage. Pixie doesn’t know what to do, or where to go, but a chance encounter with an old underworld boss sends her on a trip that changes her life – and could change the world.
Rather than a sequel to book one, which follows the young healer Althea in the Badlands outside the walled West City, book two acts as a prequel, taking place approximately five years before Althea was kidnapped. It follows Pixie and Dr. James Mardling as they meet and Archon’s Awakened is formed, moving from London to West City, and Aurora foresees Althea being kidnapped for the very first time.
Archon’s Queen covers some dark topics. Pixie is a prostitute and a drug addict, she lives in an extremely unsavory neighborhood and is put in physical danger multiple times – including casual rape by thugs and police. This is compounded by the fact many people think she is a pre-teen. While she isn’t, the fact remains that not everyone assaulting her – either as a beating or rape – knows they are doing so to an adult.
A running theme through this book is Pixie being convinced that she is worthless. She believes because of her status socioeconomically, her history as a prostitute, her addiction, her psionic abilities, and her lack of education that she is not a Proper person – with an uppercase “P”. While she has some friends, she doesn’t begin trying to change until she meets Dr. Mardling – who she doesn’t immediately recognize as another psionic, an Awakened, whose telepathic abilities allow him a widespread ability to manipulate her life. While he builds up her self-esteem, he also isolates her from her friends and attempts to ingrain a superiority into her, teaching her that as a psionic she is better than normal people, and as an Awakened she is perfection. She leaves her unhealthy relationship with addiction and her pimp to fall into yet another one.
While I had hoped to read more about Althea after the first book, this was incredibly enlightening. It brought a lot of humanity into situations from the first book that weren’t there before, and explained both the physical and political environment – and provided a year, which nobody in the Badlands seems to know. It almost seems like books one and two were switched.
This is definitely an adult book. There is language, violence, sex, rape – lots of everything. Even so, it reads a lot like a classic sci-fi novel. If you’re a fan of traditional adventure sci-fi you would probably enjoy Archon’s Queen, and don’t forget to check out book one – Prophet of the Badlands, by Matthew Cox.
**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. My review first appeared on my blog on 9/19/15**
Rather than a sequel to book one, which follows the young healer Althea in the Badlands outside the walled West City, book two acts as a prequel, taking place approximately five years before Althea was kidnapped. It follows Pixie and Dr. James Mardling as they meet and Archon’s Awakened is formed, moving from London to West City, and Aurora foresees Althea being kidnapped for the very first time.
Archon’s Queen covers some dark topics. Pixie is a prostitute and a drug addict, she lives in an extremely unsavory neighborhood and is put in physical danger multiple times – including casual rape by thugs and police. This is compounded by the fact many people think she is a pre-teen. While she isn’t, the fact remains that not everyone assaulting her – either as a beating or rape – knows they are doing so to an adult.
A running theme through this book is Pixie being convinced that she is worthless. She believes because of her status socioeconomically, her history as a prostitute, her addiction, her psionic abilities, and her lack of education that she is not a Proper person – with an uppercase “P”. While she has some friends, she doesn’t begin trying to change until she meets Dr. Mardling – who she doesn’t immediately recognize as another psionic, an Awakened, whose telepathic abilities allow him a widespread ability to manipulate her life. While he builds up her self-esteem, he also isolates her from her friends and attempts to ingrain a superiority into her, teaching her that as a psionic she is better than normal people, and as an Awakened she is perfection. She leaves her unhealthy relationship with addiction and her pimp to fall into yet another one.
While I had hoped to read more about Althea after the first book, this was incredibly enlightening. It brought a lot of humanity into situations from the first book that weren’t there before, and explained both the physical and political environment – and provided a year, which nobody in the Badlands seems to know. It almost seems like books one and two were switched.
This is definitely an adult book. There is language, violence, sex, rape – lots of everything. Even so, it reads a lot like a classic sci-fi novel. If you’re a fan of traditional adventure sci-fi you would probably enjoy Archon’s Queen, and don’t forget to check out book one – Prophet of the Badlands, by Matthew Cox.
**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. My review first appeared on my blog on 9/19/15**
August 13, 2015
Archon's Queen takes the reader further into the world of the Awakened, begun in Prophet of the Badlands. This time, we leave the wastelands for a future London, where Anna finds herself wallowing in poverty and despair at a tower complex called the Coventry. A tiny woman with huge power, Anna is her own worst enemy. Addicted to drugs, tragedy and bad decisions have pushed her into a life as a prostitute and erotic dancer.
Her power attracts a lot of attention, all with their own agendas, but one, Dr. James Mardling seems genuinely to care about her welfare. A wild ride ensues where trust is a rare commodity, hope elusive, and the stakes high.
In Archon's Queen, Cox continues to build on this fascinating and exciting world. Another piece of the Awakened puzzle falls into place and new hints at what’s to come are revealed. The characters are vivid and well-rounded, the action intense. Like all, Matthew Cox works, the emotional journeys of his main character is the heart of the story. His characters never end up where they started, and their paths to find themselves and their purposes lie riddled with danger and sacrifice.
If you’ve read any novel by this author, you know what to expect—high quality writing, great characters and action, and emotional attachment that remains with you long after then last page. If you’re new to Matthew Cox, the Awakened series is a fantastic place to start.
Her power attracts a lot of attention, all with their own agendas, but one, Dr. James Mardling seems genuinely to care about her welfare. A wild ride ensues where trust is a rare commodity, hope elusive, and the stakes high.
In Archon's Queen, Cox continues to build on this fascinating and exciting world. Another piece of the Awakened puzzle falls into place and new hints at what’s to come are revealed. The characters are vivid and well-rounded, the action intense. Like all, Matthew Cox works, the emotional journeys of his main character is the heart of the story. His characters never end up where they started, and their paths to find themselves and their purposes lie riddled with danger and sacrifice.
If you’ve read any novel by this author, you know what to expect—high quality writing, great characters and action, and emotional attachment that remains with you long after then last page. If you’re new to Matthew Cox, the Awakened series is a fantastic place to start.
August 10, 2016
In 2413 London, Anna Morgan aka Pixie is an unregistered psionic who controls electricity or if she gets highly emotional loses control. Living in the gutter, hooked on Zoom because of an accidental death caused by her gift or curse depending on how you see it, she gets by stripping, thieving and doing other things that leads to more lowering of her self-esteem.
An evil murderous government agency have set their sights on her and others like her and when they threaten her friends, all hell breaks loose. What follows is a nonstop action filled story of Anna with the help of Dr. James Mardling and others fighting for survival and working to bring this agency down. Lots of violence,gore and death follow. If you enjoy the dystopian apocalypse genre this is a must read. This is the second book in The Awakenings series, the first is The Badlands and the third is Grey Ronin which I'll be reading next.
An evil murderous government agency have set their sights on her and others like her and when they threaten her friends, all hell breaks loose. What follows is a nonstop action filled story of Anna with the help of Dr. James Mardling and others fighting for survival and working to bring this agency down. Lots of violence,gore and death follow. If you enjoy the dystopian apocalypse genre this is a must read. This is the second book in The Awakenings series, the first is The Badlands and the third is Grey Ronin which I'll be reading next.
August 27, 2015
I loved this book. it is an excellent sequel to Prophet of The Badlands. They are both in the Awakened series by Matthew Cox who's is a fantastic author. if you have never read any of his books, now is a good time!
Want to read
January 25, 2016WTF?? I really expected book 2 to be a continuation of Altheas story???? I don't give a shit about Anna - I want more on Althea at an older age :( So disappointed. I may check out Annas story at a later date, but I was so eager to continue on with Altheas story.
December 30, 2015
So glad I read this book. Can't wait to read the next one!
April 23, 2018
Welcome to book two in the awakened series . In this book we meet Annabelle aka as Pixie . She is a cov in London and is addicted to zoom to hid her pain of her past . She is abused and used and the only thing that gets her through is her friends that have saved her and her addiction. But things change for her and her powers . She has a tendency of setting off electrical charges when frightened. Her life is about to change but will it change for the better .
The characters are well written and you really want to hug Annabelle and keep her safe . She is hurting from her past and being on the drugs to hide what she is . She does come around with the help of a doctor and her friends . She ends up a tough as cookies character who will kick some butt . We actually find her back story in this book and all that she has gone through and how she turns out in the first book . I actually carried for her in this one and you will too .
This book started out a little slower then the first book but when it takes off it really takes off . I am truly in awe of this author's writing style . He takes us on a journey that will take you on so many twists and turns . You will be on the edge of your seat all the way through this book . The characters are well written and the story is fresh and such a great twist . You can feel the difference in the classes and how it is a dystopian world . So if you want a great series that will take you on a journey .
The characters are well written and you really want to hug Annabelle and keep her safe . She is hurting from her past and being on the drugs to hide what she is . She does come around with the help of a doctor and her friends . She ends up a tough as cookies character who will kick some butt . We actually find her back story in this book and all that she has gone through and how she turns out in the first book . I actually carried for her in this one and you will too .
This book started out a little slower then the first book but when it takes off it really takes off . I am truly in awe of this author's writing style . He takes us on a journey that will take you on so many twists and turns . You will be on the edge of your seat all the way through this book . The characters are well written and the story is fresh and such a great twist . You can feel the difference in the classes and how it is a dystopian world . So if you want a great series that will take you on a journey .
April 26, 2018
This is such an addicting series. In this one, we meet Pixie, during high levels of emotion she can't control her electrical charges. She's been living a pretty tough life but has a wake up call. I love post apocalyptic world and Matthew S. Cox really knows how to make his stories unique and interesting. I couldn't put it down and am ready for the next in the series.
December 11, 2015
I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for granting me a copy of this e-book to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.
Goodreads Teaser: Secrets, guilt, and shame―Annabelle Morgan has them all in droves. Fortunately, only one can kill her.
Anna’s gift, psionic control over electricity, tends to go haywire in moments of high emotion. One such episode leaves her homeless after her father’s “accidental” death. She ekes out a modest life as a thief and freelance enforcer until a close call with a murderous government agency makes her turn to Zoom―a powerful hallucinogenic street drug that numbs her mind so the monster cannot get out.
Her safety blanket becomes a devouring pit.
In 2413 London, Anna lives in the gutter, unable to even keep work as an exotic dancer and prostitute. After ignoring her only friend’s pleas for years, it takes a pimp telling her she is too addicted to be useful to realize just how lost she is.
When a young addition to her circle of vagrants attaches to her, Anna attempts to turn away from Zoom. A job from her old handler ends on shaky ground, but introduces her to Doctor James Mardling, a university professor looking for people just like her. He offers the one thing she has always longed for: dignity.
His price, however, may just be too much to pay.
As a sequel I must admit this is not at all what I was expecting. Prophet of the Badlands was all about Althea, so I was anticipating that this story would be a continuation of the first. Instead this story is about Anna, a secondary character from book one. It was also a tad confusing as it took some time to figure out if this was the story of Anna's past or present life.
In the Prophet of the Badlands Anna is a strong, powerful woman, almost the polar opposite of the woman we meet in this book. Anna is a woman beaten down by life, so far down she can't even see a sliver of light at the other end of the tunnel. Her life spiraled out of control long before she had the experience and ability to make the correct decisions for herself. By the time she was in her early teens she's living on the streets; a lifestyle that rapidly leads to worse and worse degradation. It isn't long before she is addicted to a psychotropic drug called Zoom. The addiction has nothing to do with getting high and everything to do with suppressing the monster in her head; the one that killed her father. Not that anyone would care that it had been an accident.
While I felt for Anna it seemed to me that the book could have focused on some other issues and less on pounding Anna's addiction into our minds. It didn't take to long to get it that Anna is a hot mess, so I'd have enjoyed more details about Aurora and Doctor Mardling, a.k.a Archon. I did enjoy the glimpses into the nefariously twisted workings of Archon and his cronies, and am looking forward to learning what will happen when his bill comes due with Anna and others. As it is I think this book could have easily told both Anna's and Mardling's stories with room to spare, but then I'm saying that without knowing just where the overall tale is going.
Anna's attachment to Twee was sweet, and a nice sidebar and method for helping her back away from the edge. The way situations were manipulated was an interesting twist and helped keep me attached to this story and all its characters. The fact that many characters had already been introduced in the first book piqued my interest and left me wondering what had happened to them and what will happen.
Overall the arc of the story was smooth and engaging, keeping my attention throughout. Although I felt that Anna's pathetic life and behavior was overdone, there were some moments that were crucial to the story as well as their role in moving this tale forward toward its ultimate conclusion. Given the flexibility of each of the main characters it stands to reason that the grande finale could be a total surprise; the unknown ending a rarity in books these days.
Goodreads Teaser: Secrets, guilt, and shame―Annabelle Morgan has them all in droves. Fortunately, only one can kill her.
Anna’s gift, psionic control over electricity, tends to go haywire in moments of high emotion. One such episode leaves her homeless after her father’s “accidental” death. She ekes out a modest life as a thief and freelance enforcer until a close call with a murderous government agency makes her turn to Zoom―a powerful hallucinogenic street drug that numbs her mind so the monster cannot get out.
Her safety blanket becomes a devouring pit.
In 2413 London, Anna lives in the gutter, unable to even keep work as an exotic dancer and prostitute. After ignoring her only friend’s pleas for years, it takes a pimp telling her she is too addicted to be useful to realize just how lost she is.
When a young addition to her circle of vagrants attaches to her, Anna attempts to turn away from Zoom. A job from her old handler ends on shaky ground, but introduces her to Doctor James Mardling, a university professor looking for people just like her. He offers the one thing she has always longed for: dignity.
His price, however, may just be too much to pay.
As a sequel I must admit this is not at all what I was expecting. Prophet of the Badlands was all about Althea, so I was anticipating that this story would be a continuation of the first. Instead this story is about Anna, a secondary character from book one. It was also a tad confusing as it took some time to figure out if this was the story of Anna's past or present life.
In the Prophet of the Badlands Anna is a strong, powerful woman, almost the polar opposite of the woman we meet in this book. Anna is a woman beaten down by life, so far down she can't even see a sliver of light at the other end of the tunnel. Her life spiraled out of control long before she had the experience and ability to make the correct decisions for herself. By the time she was in her early teens she's living on the streets; a lifestyle that rapidly leads to worse and worse degradation. It isn't long before she is addicted to a psychotropic drug called Zoom. The addiction has nothing to do with getting high and everything to do with suppressing the monster in her head; the one that killed her father. Not that anyone would care that it had been an accident.
While I felt for Anna it seemed to me that the book could have focused on some other issues and less on pounding Anna's addiction into our minds. It didn't take to long to get it that Anna is a hot mess, so I'd have enjoyed more details about Aurora and Doctor Mardling, a.k.a Archon. I did enjoy the glimpses into the nefariously twisted workings of Archon and his cronies, and am looking forward to learning what will happen when his bill comes due with Anna and others. As it is I think this book could have easily told both Anna's and Mardling's stories with room to spare, but then I'm saying that without knowing just where the overall tale is going.
Anna's attachment to Twee was sweet, and a nice sidebar and method for helping her back away from the edge. The way situations were manipulated was an interesting twist and helped keep me attached to this story and all its characters. The fact that many characters had already been introduced in the first book piqued my interest and left me wondering what had happened to them and what will happen.
Overall the arc of the story was smooth and engaging, keeping my attention throughout. Although I felt that Anna's pathetic life and behavior was overdone, there were some moments that were crucial to the story as well as their role in moving this tale forward toward its ultimate conclusion. Given the flexibility of each of the main characters it stands to reason that the grande finale could be a total surprise; the unknown ending a rarity in books these days.
December 11, 2015
I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for granting me a copy of this e-book to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.
Goodreads Teaser:
As a sequel I must admit this is not at all what I was expecting. Prophet of the Badlands was all about Althea, so I was anticipating that this story would be a continuation of the first. Instead this story is about Anna, a secondary character from book one. It was also a tad confusing as it took some time to figure out if this was the story of Anna's past or present life.
In the Prophet of the Badlands Anna is a strong, powerful woman, almost the polar opposite of the woman we meet in this book. Anna is a woman beaten down by life, so far down she can't even see a sliver of light at the other end of the tunnel. Her life spiraled out of control long before she had the experience and ability to make the correct decisions for herself. By the time she was in her early teens she's living on the streets; a lifestyle that rapidly leads to worse and worse degradation. It isn't long before she is addicted to a psychotropic drug called Zoom. The addiction has nothing to do with getting high and everything to do with suppressing the monster in her head; the one that killed her father. Not that anyone would care that it had been an accident.
While I felt for Anna it seemed to me that the book could have focused on some other issues and less on pounding Anna's addiction into our minds. It didn't take to long to get it that Anna is a hot mess, so I'd have enjoyed more details about Aurora and Doctor Mardling, a.k.a Archon. I did enjoy the glimpses into the nefariously twisted workings of Archon and his cronies, and am looking forward to learning what will happen when his bill comes due with Anna and others. As it is I think this book could have easily told both Anna's and Mardling's stories with room to spare, but then I'm saying that without knowing just where the overall tale is going.
Anna's attachment to Twee was sweet, and a nice sidebar and method for helping her back away from the edge. The way situations were manipulated was an interesting twist and helped keep me attached to this story and all its characters. The fact that many characters had already been introduced in the first book piqued my interest and left me wondering what had happened to them and what will happen.
Overall the arc of the story was smooth and engaging, keeping my attention throughout. Although I felt that Anna's pathetic life and behavior was overdone, there were some moments that were crucial to the story as well as their role in moving this tale forward toward its ultimate conclusion. Given the flexibility of each of the main characters it stands to reason that the grande finale could be a total surprise; the unknown ending a rarity in books these days.
Goodreads Teaser:
Secrets, guilt, and shame―Annabelle Morgan has them all in droves. Fortunately, only one can kill her.
Anna’s gift, psionic control over electricity, tends to go haywire in moments of high emotion. One such episode leaves her homeless after her father’s “accidental” death. She ekes out a modest life as a thief and freelance enforcer until a close call with a murderous government agency makes her turn to Zoom―a powerful hallucinogenic street drug that numbs her mind so the monster cannot get out.
Her safety blanket becomes a devouring pit.
In 2413 London, Anna lives in the gutter, unable to even keep work as an exotic dancer and prostitute. After ignoring her only friend’s pleas for years, it takes a pimp telling her she is too addicted to be useful to realize just how lost she is.
When a young addition to her circle of vagrants attaches to her, Anna attempts to turn away from Zoom. A job from her old handler ends on shaky ground, but introduces her to Doctor James Mardling, a university professor looking for people just like her. He offers the one thing she has always longed for: dignity.
His price, however, may just be too much to pay.
As a sequel I must admit this is not at all what I was expecting. Prophet of the Badlands was all about Althea, so I was anticipating that this story would be a continuation of the first. Instead this story is about Anna, a secondary character from book one. It was also a tad confusing as it took some time to figure out if this was the story of Anna's past or present life.
In the Prophet of the Badlands Anna is a strong, powerful woman, almost the polar opposite of the woman we meet in this book. Anna is a woman beaten down by life, so far down she can't even see a sliver of light at the other end of the tunnel. Her life spiraled out of control long before she had the experience and ability to make the correct decisions for herself. By the time she was in her early teens she's living on the streets; a lifestyle that rapidly leads to worse and worse degradation. It isn't long before she is addicted to a psychotropic drug called Zoom. The addiction has nothing to do with getting high and everything to do with suppressing the monster in her head; the one that killed her father. Not that anyone would care that it had been an accident.
While I felt for Anna it seemed to me that the book could have focused on some other issues and less on pounding Anna's addiction into our minds. It didn't take to long to get it that Anna is a hot mess, so I'd have enjoyed more details about Aurora and Doctor Mardling, a.k.a Archon. I did enjoy the glimpses into the nefariously twisted workings of Archon and his cronies, and am looking forward to learning what will happen when his bill comes due with Anna and others. As it is I think this book could have easily told both Anna's and Mardling's stories with room to spare, but then I'm saying that without knowing just where the overall tale is going.
Anna's attachment to Twee was sweet, and a nice sidebar and method for helping her back away from the edge. The way situations were manipulated was an interesting twist and helped keep me attached to this story and all its characters. The fact that many characters had already been introduced in the first book piqued my interest and left me wondering what had happened to them and what will happen.
Overall the arc of the story was smooth and engaging, keeping my attention throughout. Although I felt that Anna's pathetic life and behavior was overdone, there were some moments that were crucial to the story as well as their role in moving this tale forward toward its ultimate conclusion. Given the flexibility of each of the main characters it stands to reason that the grande finale could be a total surprise; the unknown ending a rarity in books these days.
May 11, 2021
Brutal
Pixie has a rough life. Penniless, drug addicted, and selling herself to support her habit. If her emotions get away from her, anything electrical is at risk. Still, she has a lot of heart and I found myself rooting for her. Good story!
Pixie has a rough life. Penniless, drug addicted, and selling herself to support her habit. If her emotions get away from her, anything electrical is at risk. Still, she has a lot of heart and I found myself rooting for her. Good story!
Read
August 30, 2015Fantastic Book - holds you from the
First word to the last. The story of Anna, an Awakened psionic is a sad one thru much of the book. She lives in an era of Great Britain where psionics are feared and required to be registered and have a bomb planted into their brains in case they become uncontrollable or too dangerous. This way the government can kill them at the flip of a switch and kidnapping psionic children from their parents at a very young age and throwing them into hidden prisons the general public know nothing about is commonplace. Anna however is special, she has the power of electrokinesis and unknown to her, the CSB, the police/military force that keep track of and control psionics, has had her in it's sights for most of her life. She grows up being severely abused by the man she thinks is her father and the time comes when she is just a tween where she feels during the last beating it is her life or his so her power, which she cannot control when her emotions run high, kills him. From that point on Anna lives on the street, meets a friend who helps keep a roof over their heads, even if it is in the worst part of London. Anna is so afraid of her power that she becomes addicted to zoom, a drug that keeps the monster in her head buried and makes working in a strip/sex club bearable. Anna doesn't just have low self esteem, she has no self esteem and believes the life she lives is her just due for killing her father. Until circumstances come about to where she meets Dr. James Mardling, another Awakened psionic who helps her kick zoom and tries to convince Anna that she has earned her place in the world, that she doesn't deserve to live as she has been. It's a rough ride for Anna and she falls in love with the man she thinks of as her saviour. He tries to protect her from a rogue sect of the CSB and eventually Anna, James, and another Awakened psionic, Lauren, make their way to the UCF, or as we know it, North America. But that doesn't stop the rogue CSB agent who is convinced Anna is too dangerous to live. Just when Anna believes her life has finally stabilized, James asks Anna and Lauren to infiltrate a company who is building the biggest starship as yet known to man. James has Anna and Lauren convinced he is trying to find a place where psionics can live as themselves, even if that takes them off-world. Anna and Lauren manage to get the information on the starship but a huge battle keeps them from making a clean get away and brings Dr. Mardlings real ambitions into question. Once again they move from the east coast to the west coast on the edge of the badlands. During the trip, Lauren, whose power is clairvoyance and the ability of astral projection, has a vision of a young child in a small cage in the back of a wagon where a man is selling her healing abilities for 10 coins (read Prophet of the Badlands (The Awakened Book 1)). Now we are waiting til May 2016 for The Awakened Book 3 and the story of the next important Awakened psionic in this series that grabs you and leaves you wanting for more NOW
First word to the last. The story of Anna, an Awakened psionic is a sad one thru much of the book. She lives in an era of Great Britain where psionics are feared and required to be registered and have a bomb planted into their brains in case they become uncontrollable or too dangerous. This way the government can kill them at the flip of a switch and kidnapping psionic children from their parents at a very young age and throwing them into hidden prisons the general public know nothing about is commonplace. Anna however is special, she has the power of electrokinesis and unknown to her, the CSB, the police/military force that keep track of and control psionics, has had her in it's sights for most of her life. She grows up being severely abused by the man she thinks is her father and the time comes when she is just a tween where she feels during the last beating it is her life or his so her power, which she cannot control when her emotions run high, kills him. From that point on Anna lives on the street, meets a friend who helps keep a roof over their heads, even if it is in the worst part of London. Anna is so afraid of her power that she becomes addicted to zoom, a drug that keeps the monster in her head buried and makes working in a strip/sex club bearable. Anna doesn't just have low self esteem, she has no self esteem and believes the life she lives is her just due for killing her father. Until circumstances come about to where she meets Dr. James Mardling, another Awakened psionic who helps her kick zoom and tries to convince Anna that she has earned her place in the world, that she doesn't deserve to live as she has been. It's a rough ride for Anna and she falls in love with the man she thinks of as her saviour. He tries to protect her from a rogue sect of the CSB and eventually Anna, James, and another Awakened psionic, Lauren, make their way to the UCF, or as we know it, North America. But that doesn't stop the rogue CSB agent who is convinced Anna is too dangerous to live. Just when Anna believes her life has finally stabilized, James asks Anna and Lauren to infiltrate a company who is building the biggest starship as yet known to man. James has Anna and Lauren convinced he is trying to find a place where psionics can live as themselves, even if that takes them off-world. Anna and Lauren manage to get the information on the starship but a huge battle keeps them from making a clean get away and brings Dr. Mardlings real ambitions into question. Once again they move from the east coast to the west coast on the edge of the badlands. During the trip, Lauren, whose power is clairvoyance and the ability of astral projection, has a vision of a young child in a small cage in the back of a wagon where a man is selling her healing abilities for 10 coins (read Prophet of the Badlands (The Awakened Book 1)). Now we are waiting til May 2016 for The Awakened Book 3 and the story of the next important Awakened psionic in this series that grabs you and leaves you wanting for more NOW
Read
October 18, 2016Matthew S. Cox Nails It Again with an Electrifying Story
Though we share a surname, Matt and I are in no way related. Unlike many of Mr. Cox’s books that I have reviewed in the past, I did not receive this one for free.
Pixies are a great description of most of Matt’s heroines/protagonists. And it is the nick-name given to Archon’s Queens main character. As seen in so many of his books, Matt likes his lead characters small, cute and vulnerable, though in the end, they are as tough as nails. Since being introduced to Kristin in the first Division Zero book, I’ve come to appreciate the diminutive stars of Matt’s many series’. Though the characters may have a similar physical appearance, the individuals themselves, their personalities, backgrounds and even their “powers” are completely different. It is like taking a standard cookie mold and making chocolate-macadamia nut, sugar and peanut butter cookies; even though they have the same shape, they all have distinctly different flavors.
Again, in Archon’s Queen, Matt has molded a book with a fascinating, cohesive story line and interesting, complex (one could say electrifying) characters who deliver credible dialogue, even if it is often delivered in a Cockney accent. His version of the 25th Century is far different than Buck Rogers’, and far more believable. Though there have been numerous technological advances in the four centuries between now and this often dystopian future, the people themselves have not changed much. They have the same characteristics, both good and bad, that we see today. It is good to read science fiction where you don’t have to suspend disbelief so often it detracts from the story the author is trying to tell.
Coming from Curiosity Quills Press, you can be assured the book is well edited and carefully proofed. Nothing can destroy my enjoyment in reading a story as much as one that the author considers edited by passing it through MS Words’ Spelling and Grammar Checker. As any good author (or publisher) will tell you, an editor smooths the rough edges, moves the author back on point when they drift away and makes the suggestions that improve the book, even though the author thought no improvement could be made.
When is a series not really a series? When the books that make up the series have little to do with each other. Unlike most series, “The Awakened” books are not really a serial. Book Two has no real connection to The Awakened Book 1, The Prophet of the Badlands (except for one teaser at the end of Book 2). Unlike some of the books is Matt’s other serials, Archon’s Queen is truly a stand-alone novel. According to the author, the different characters will come together in a later book(s) and the divergent story lines are brought together. After the second iteration, I can see where the stories are possibly heading, and I am looking forward to reading Grey Ronin, (The Awakened Book 3) to be introduced to the next “Awakened” character.
Though we share a surname, Matt and I are in no way related. Unlike many of Mr. Cox’s books that I have reviewed in the past, I did not receive this one for free.
Pixies are a great description of most of Matt’s heroines/protagonists. And it is the nick-name given to Archon’s Queens main character. As seen in so many of his books, Matt likes his lead characters small, cute and vulnerable, though in the end, they are as tough as nails. Since being introduced to Kristin in the first Division Zero book, I’ve come to appreciate the diminutive stars of Matt’s many series’. Though the characters may have a similar physical appearance, the individuals themselves, their personalities, backgrounds and even their “powers” are completely different. It is like taking a standard cookie mold and making chocolate-macadamia nut, sugar and peanut butter cookies; even though they have the same shape, they all have distinctly different flavors.
Again, in Archon’s Queen, Matt has molded a book with a fascinating, cohesive story line and interesting, complex (one could say electrifying) characters who deliver credible dialogue, even if it is often delivered in a Cockney accent. His version of the 25th Century is far different than Buck Rogers’, and far more believable. Though there have been numerous technological advances in the four centuries between now and this often dystopian future, the people themselves have not changed much. They have the same characteristics, both good and bad, that we see today. It is good to read science fiction where you don’t have to suspend disbelief so often it detracts from the story the author is trying to tell.
Coming from Curiosity Quills Press, you can be assured the book is well edited and carefully proofed. Nothing can destroy my enjoyment in reading a story as much as one that the author considers edited by passing it through MS Words’ Spelling and Grammar Checker. As any good author (or publisher) will tell you, an editor smooths the rough edges, moves the author back on point when they drift away and makes the suggestions that improve the book, even though the author thought no improvement could be made.
When is a series not really a series? When the books that make up the series have little to do with each other. Unlike most series, “The Awakened” books are not really a serial. Book Two has no real connection to The Awakened Book 1, The Prophet of the Badlands (except for one teaser at the end of Book 2). Unlike some of the books is Matt’s other serials, Archon’s Queen is truly a stand-alone novel. According to the author, the different characters will come together in a later book(s) and the divergent story lines are brought together. After the second iteration, I can see where the stories are possibly heading, and I am looking forward to reading Grey Ronin, (The Awakened Book 3) to be introduced to the next “Awakened” character.
August 15, 2017
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Archon's Queen is the sequel to The Awakened series by Matthew Cox. I had read the first book, Prophet of the Badlands, recently and I was instantly sucked into Cox's science fiction world. The first book dealt with the life of a young girl in a Mad Max like setting. In that book, she met the characters that appear in Archon's Queen.
Archon's Queen is set chronologically before Prophet of the Badlands. However, I would recommend sticking to the way Matthew Cox has the series laid out. The first book is thriving with emotional turmoil and sets the tone for the series. The second book deals with the young woman known as Pixie, who you only see for a short bit in the first book.
What I love about Cox is that he writes strong female leads. He puts them through the ringer, but even though they are battered, these women come out stronger. Anna, or Pixie, is no different. I was rooting for her to pull through with her addiction and fear of the government. I wanted her to succeed. She is a smartass and could seem jaded, but there's a piece of innocence still there. That is a very difficult thing to write. I felt Pixie was a complex character and it made me love her more.
The book deals with various problems with Anna's addiction being the main driving force. It is her desire to clean up that sets her up for the events in the end of the book as well as her position in the first book. This book gave me an insight to Anna's motives in the first book.
What is great about this book is that you see another piece of Cox's world. This time the reader is sent to England and witnesses what the United Kingdom's stance on psionics is. Note, it isn't fun. Psionics who are registered are given a bomb in their head. One wrong move, look, or just because a person didn't like them, the bomb could go off. It was that touch that made the world even more interesting. Not every country will have the same views on something and Cox presents that in a vivid manner.
Once again, I am wanting more of Matthew Cox's Awakened world. I want to see what happens next, but I will have to wait.
Archon's Queen is the sequel to The Awakened series by Matthew Cox. I had read the first book, Prophet of the Badlands, recently and I was instantly sucked into Cox's science fiction world. The first book dealt with the life of a young girl in a Mad Max like setting. In that book, she met the characters that appear in Archon's Queen.
Archon's Queen is set chronologically before Prophet of the Badlands. However, I would recommend sticking to the way Matthew Cox has the series laid out. The first book is thriving with emotional turmoil and sets the tone for the series. The second book deals with the young woman known as Pixie, who you only see for a short bit in the first book.
What I love about Cox is that he writes strong female leads. He puts them through the ringer, but even though they are battered, these women come out stronger. Anna, or Pixie, is no different. I was rooting for her to pull through with her addiction and fear of the government. I wanted her to succeed. She is a smartass and could seem jaded, but there's a piece of innocence still there. That is a very difficult thing to write. I felt Pixie was a complex character and it made me love her more.
The book deals with various problems with Anna's addiction being the main driving force. It is her desire to clean up that sets her up for the events in the end of the book as well as her position in the first book. This book gave me an insight to Anna's motives in the first book.
What is great about this book is that you see another piece of Cox's world. This time the reader is sent to England and witnesses what the United Kingdom's stance on psionics is. Note, it isn't fun. Psionics who are registered are given a bomb in their head. One wrong move, look, or just because a person didn't like them, the bomb could go off. It was that touch that made the world even more interesting. Not every country will have the same views on something and Cox presents that in a vivid manner.
Once again, I am wanting more of Matthew Cox's Awakened world. I want to see what happens next, but I will have to wait.
September 23, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review over on my blog -- Pretty Little Book Blog.
Another intriguing and fantastic book by Matthew! Going in I thought this was going to be a direct sequel to Prophet of The Badlands in truth I would describe it as a prequel instead. We are taken to London in a future time and there these beings who have special abilities like those we have seen in book 1 are supposed to register and the fear of what they may be capable of is leading to a culture of fear and misunderstanding.
We being this journey with a girl named Anna and we are gradually introduced to other characters along the way.
As a warning like in Prophet of the Badlands there are some dark moments which lends to the hopeless almost desperate tone of the characters just trying to improve their lives and fight for the right to be who they are without fear. It doesn't help that during these moments the villains think they are doing abusive acts to a child when actually a lot of the characters are older than they appear. It is still horrible no matter
the age but if you are sensitive to these matters you might want to flip past them. It is not gratitious violence though, and I don't think Matthew added these scenes just for shock value. It's just being truthful to this dystopian world, that humanity has fallen to deplorable levels that this type of thing is common place and things are tough all over. Just surviving is a continual fight.
As the story progresses we get glimpses of events to come later in Prophet of the Badlands and all of the puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place! Not all of them yet but a good portion. Matthew continues to develop his expanding world with adding a different country into the mix. It was interesting to see the differences between London and the Badlands as far as their society responses to those with special abilities. I do hope we get at least one more book in this series just to wrap up all the loose ends.
Another intriguing and fantastic book by Matthew! Going in I thought this was going to be a direct sequel to Prophet of The Badlands in truth I would describe it as a prequel instead. We are taken to London in a future time and there these beings who have special abilities like those we have seen in book 1 are supposed to register and the fear of what they may be capable of is leading to a culture of fear and misunderstanding.
We being this journey with a girl named Anna and we are gradually introduced to other characters along the way.
As a warning like in Prophet of the Badlands there are some dark moments which lends to the hopeless almost desperate tone of the characters just trying to improve their lives and fight for the right to be who they are without fear. It doesn't help that during these moments the villains think they are doing abusive acts to a child when actually a lot of the characters are older than they appear. It is still horrible no matter
the age but if you are sensitive to these matters you might want to flip past them. It is not gratitious violence though, and I don't think Matthew added these scenes just for shock value. It's just being truthful to this dystopian world, that humanity has fallen to deplorable levels that this type of thing is common place and things are tough all over. Just surviving is a continual fight.
As the story progresses we get glimpses of events to come later in Prophet of the Badlands and all of the puzzle pieces are beginning to fall into place! Not all of them yet but a good portion. Matthew continues to develop his expanding world with adding a different country into the mix. It was interesting to see the differences between London and the Badlands as far as their society responses to those with special abilities. I do hope we get at least one more book in this series just to wrap up all the loose ends.
June 9, 2016
The Past Will Not Set You Free
This series must be read in order. The first book is Prophet Of The Badlands. This is the second book. I can't wait to read Grey Ronin!
While set within the same world as Virtual Immortality and the Division Zero series there is no crossover of characters or storylines as of yet but if you enjoy this world reading these books will just enrich the experience! I highly recommend reading all the books in this world :)
Great Britain is no place to be Psionic. Being "Registered" comes with a remote control bomb planted in your body and either death, prison or forced Government work. Anna was forced to kill her father in self defense and then live on the streets to escape becoming Registered. Fear and degradation are her constant companions. Penny is her best friend and adopted sister but Anna can't risk letting even her know of her true nature. It is mostly because she fears rejection... But also to keep Penny safe. If anyone found out... And if Penny knew and didn't report it... She could end up paying for her silence with her life. The price of hiding from the CSB is living in a drugged out haze. When Spawny brings home Faye, Anna realizes something has got to give! She can't let the girl end up like she has after all. Can she change? How much lower can Anna possibly fall? Will she ever be able to actually get clean? Or will she die a pathetic drugged out whore? Can she live with herself if she continues on the path she has been on?
***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy futuristic sci-fi action adventure set in a post postapocalyptic dystopian world filled with superstitions and prejudices where paranormal elements fight with elements of the government and society over the fate of anyone with paranormal powers :)
This series must be read in order. The first book is Prophet Of The Badlands. This is the second book. I can't wait to read Grey Ronin!
While set within the same world as Virtual Immortality and the Division Zero series there is no crossover of characters or storylines as of yet but if you enjoy this world reading these books will just enrich the experience! I highly recommend reading all the books in this world :)
Great Britain is no place to be Psionic. Being "Registered" comes with a remote control bomb planted in your body and either death, prison or forced Government work. Anna was forced to kill her father in self defense and then live on the streets to escape becoming Registered. Fear and degradation are her constant companions. Penny is her best friend and adopted sister but Anna can't risk letting even her know of her true nature. It is mostly because she fears rejection... But also to keep Penny safe. If anyone found out... And if Penny knew and didn't report it... She could end up paying for her silence with her life. The price of hiding from the CSB is living in a drugged out haze. When Spawny brings home Faye, Anna realizes something has got to give! She can't let the girl end up like she has after all. Can she change? How much lower can Anna possibly fall? Will she ever be able to actually get clean? Or will she die a pathetic drugged out whore? Can she live with herself if she continues on the path she has been on?
***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy futuristic sci-fi action adventure set in a post postapocalyptic dystopian world filled with superstitions and prejudices where paranormal elements fight with elements of the government and society over the fate of anyone with paranormal powers :)
May 4, 2018
This series has kept me guessing.
Great characters and world building. Heartbreaking conditions for so many. Enthralled with it though. Excited to start next in series!
Great characters and world building. Heartbreaking conditions for so many. Enthralled with it though. Excited to start next in series!
May 3, 2018
Didnt enjoy as much as the first. It was a very slow start for me. However, once it got started and to some more exciting parts I started to like it more. This is kind of a prequel to Badlands before Althea is taken.
Anna is bad*ss. She's got some electric powers on her. I can understand why she doesnt use them. London is different and this author is brilliant in his descriptions and world building. Anna doesnt have many close people that she trusts anyways she's had to hide herself. She's a drug addict and prostitute and I do want to say she isnt a child she is older. This is an adult book and has some darker elements in it. So, some readers might have some triggers because it does have rape in it. I had to gloss over those because I am sensitive to it. She is befriended by a doctor who takes care of her and has some special things about him as well. I dont want to spoil for anyone but I might have a little. Sorry. I think I would have rated this higher if it had the warnings in it though.
Anna is bad*ss. She's got some electric powers on her. I can understand why she doesnt use them. London is different and this author is brilliant in his descriptions and world building. Anna doesnt have many close people that she trusts anyways she's had to hide herself. She's a drug addict and prostitute and I do want to say she isnt a child she is older. This is an adult book and has some darker elements in it. So, some readers might have some triggers because it does have rape in it. I had to gloss over those because I am sensitive to it. She is befriended by a doctor who takes care of her and has some special things about him as well. I dont want to spoil for anyone but I might have a little. Sorry. I think I would have rated this higher if it had the warnings in it though.
June 3, 2016
***This is a copy of the review I posted on Amazon****
I am always amazed at the skills of this author, Matthew Cox. He creates a world within a world. Take for instance The Badlands and the differences between the way people live and act compared to those in a post-apocalyptic London and other cities. He describes the surroundings in a smooth detail that does not overwhelm the reader. And his characters can be easily seen in the mind including cloths, hair, action, and emotions.
Also, Mr. Cox's love for dystopian worlds clearly shows in this book.
In this book, Archon's Queen, we are taken back to the years before the time of Prophet of the Badlands and what happened to our star, Anna. Anna has the power to control electricity. This can be a good thing for Anna except when she really needs it, it goes all crazy. And I find myself feeling bad for her and her life.
A little more about Anna. She is in hiding due to her powers. People like her must be registered with the government; they fear any person with paranormal abilities. She lives on the streets and trusts no one. She does have a group she hangs with but stays on the outside of the outsiders. She is also hooked on a drug named Zoom. She is also a failed prostitute among other jobs. To make it worse, she is her own worse enemy.
I could go on and on but I would give away too much. I will say there are several people who want to help her. And the sheer number of twists is enough to mess with your mind; pay attention.
This is a tangle story where the reader must pay attention. I recommend you read it
I am always amazed at the skills of this author, Matthew Cox. He creates a world within a world. Take for instance The Badlands and the differences between the way people live and act compared to those in a post-apocalyptic London and other cities. He describes the surroundings in a smooth detail that does not overwhelm the reader. And his characters can be easily seen in the mind including cloths, hair, action, and emotions.
Also, Mr. Cox's love for dystopian worlds clearly shows in this book.
In this book, Archon's Queen, we are taken back to the years before the time of Prophet of the Badlands and what happened to our star, Anna. Anna has the power to control electricity. This can be a good thing for Anna except when she really needs it, it goes all crazy. And I find myself feeling bad for her and her life.
A little more about Anna. She is in hiding due to her powers. People like her must be registered with the government; they fear any person with paranormal abilities. She lives on the streets and trusts no one. She does have a group she hangs with but stays on the outside of the outsiders. She is also hooked on a drug named Zoom. She is also a failed prostitute among other jobs. To make it worse, she is her own worse enemy.
I could go on and on but I would give away too much. I will say there are several people who want to help her. And the sheer number of twists is enough to mess with your mind; pay attention.
This is a tangle story where the reader must pay attention. I recommend you read it
January 15, 2016
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
After reading Prophet of the Badlands, the first book of the Awakened series, I actually expected the story to just continue. But silly me, I couldn't have been more wrong.
The Badlands are changed for a futuristic London in ruins with a lot of observation and different social classes. Annabella 'Pixie' Morgan has a terrible life, she's also one of the Awakened, able to manipulate electricity.
I took me very long to get into the story. It might have been because I was expected the same characters/setting as in the first book, but also because the first part was quite slow. Add to that the constant reminders of how awful Annabella's life is, and it doesn't make for an easy read. It's not like Prophet of the Badlands portrayed such a nice life, but this felt much worse. Really, the book was hard to read because of all the hardships Annabella endures. She's constantly being used by everyone and as a heavy drug addict, she keeps returning to dreadful situations.
The second half was better as in some things actually started happening and the connection to the series started to become more and more clear. Annabella still made some very stupid decisions but at least it looks like she's learning. Although certainly not an easy read, I'm curious as to where the story is going in the next book.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
After reading Prophet of the Badlands, the first book of the Awakened series, I actually expected the story to just continue. But silly me, I couldn't have been more wrong.
The Badlands are changed for a futuristic London in ruins with a lot of observation and different social classes. Annabella 'Pixie' Morgan has a terrible life, she's also one of the Awakened, able to manipulate electricity.
I took me very long to get into the story. It might have been because I was expected the same characters/setting as in the first book, but also because the first part was quite slow. Add to that the constant reminders of how awful Annabella's life is, and it doesn't make for an easy read. It's not like Prophet of the Badlands portrayed such a nice life, but this felt much worse. Really, the book was hard to read because of all the hardships Annabella endures. She's constantly being used by everyone and as a heavy drug addict, she keeps returning to dreadful situations.
The second half was better as in some things actually started happening and the connection to the series started to become more and more clear. Annabella still made some very stupid decisions but at least it looks like she's learning. Although certainly not an easy read, I'm curious as to where the story is going in the next book.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
did-not-finish
April 8, 2017Thanks to Curiosity Quills Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNFed at 3%.
I may return to finish this series with more distance or I may forget about it entirely!
**I didn't rate it as I literally didn't read enough to really gauge whether this gets better or goes all to hell.
This is second in The Awakened series. It follows Anna whom we met in the first book as the lackey of one of the minor villains.
I finished book #4 and am now un-interested in going backwards. I was leery about this book anyway. I wasn't really interested in learning what the deal was with Anna unless it mean she left Archon. I can't even say her ability is even all that interesting though it may be awesome.
At 3% I thought: The start of this was not nearly as good as the first book. The language is more tangled and harder to understand. Not a fan of a druggie, I don't care what abilities scare her. Nothing would be worth someone pawing me... this may be a slogfest!
I decided to let this go for the time being. The problem with the books in this series is they are very long and when you mix that with inconsistent it becomes a waste of my time to try to slog through them. The first one was awesome - the best - I loved it! The 4th one was not nearly so good. In fact when we run into Althea again we don't even learn what happened with Den! I mean come on...that is the point of series!
BOTTOM LINE: Too much wrong with the protagonist's background.
DNFed at 3%.
I may return to finish this series with more distance or I may forget about it entirely!
**I didn't rate it as I literally didn't read enough to really gauge whether this gets better or goes all to hell.
This is second in The Awakened series. It follows Anna whom we met in the first book as the lackey of one of the minor villains.
I finished book #4 and am now un-interested in going backwards. I was leery about this book anyway. I wasn't really interested in learning what the deal was with Anna unless it mean she left Archon. I can't even say her ability is even all that interesting though it may be awesome.
At 3% I thought: The start of this was not nearly as good as the first book. The language is more tangled and harder to understand. Not a fan of a druggie, I don't care what abilities scare her. Nothing would be worth someone pawing me... this may be a slogfest!
I decided to let this go for the time being. The problem with the books in this series is they are very long and when you mix that with inconsistent it becomes a waste of my time to try to slog through them. The first one was awesome - the best - I loved it! The 4th one was not nearly so good. In fact when we run into Althea again we don't even learn what happened with Den! I mean come on...that is the point of series!
BOTTOM LINE: Too much wrong with the protagonist's background.
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