Thunder

Stone Braide Chronicles #1

by Bonnie S. Calhoun

In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah's really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers--and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of scientific advances, political intrigue, and wilderness survival, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a world more like our own than we may want to admit.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia, Christian Fiction, Science Fiction, Christian, Fiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I love action adventure but it doesn't make me happy unless there are...body count, blood, and blowing things up. I play with mad skills at coding HTML and website design and live in a log cabin in the woods with fifteen acres, an old apple orchard, and a pond full of bass though I'd rather buy fish at the grocery store. I share my domain with a husband, and two cats who think I'm the waitstaff!

Reviews

[Alisha L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review is hard for me to write as there are extremely few books I’ve read that I would completely not recommend, and I dislike writing negative reviews. Honestly, I didn’t even finish this book and I can’t remember a time when I’ve done so purposefully, instead of not finishing a book due to lack of time. I tried to read the whole book, I truly did, but gave up about 268 pages into it.

I enjoy reading some dystopian books and when I saw a new book fitting that genre being published by Revell, I was excited to read it. That excitement was short lived.

My first problem with the book is that the summaries I’ve read about what the book is about didn’t disclose what Selah and the Landers are. When it comes to books dealing with the spiritual world or paranormal like themes, I am extremely picky and discerning with what I choose to read. While not officially stated that the characters are such by the point in the book that I read up to, it seems that Selah is basically some kind of a half angel (the angels being the Landers) and half human hybrid. One indication of this is that the Landers’ mark is wing shaped. If even that bit of information had been disclosed in the book’s summaries it would have been helpful as I could have figured out what this book was most likely about. Even if I’m wrong and the Landers aren’t supposed to be angels, and Selah a half angel and half human hybrid, they are definitely some type of supernatural beings. Had I known that I would have passed on reading this book. I know there are differing opinions on reading books that deal with descendents of angels and humans, but I personally choose not to read books that deal with that subject. I think writing about half angel/half human hybrids or hybrids similar to such in fiction is messing with the spiritual world in a way it shouldn’t be.

Needless to say, once I figured this out early on in the story I wasn’t enthusiastic about reading this book. But I received a review copy of this book and felt like I should still continue to read it to give a proper review. I thought I could at least read it and review other aspects of it. But the more I read, the less I cared about the book and eventually gave up reading it.

My biggest concern and what caused me to give up on the book is that the Landers started mentioning auras and channeling and such a few times. While really not detailed, I just don’t think that this stuff belongs in a book marketed as a Christian book the same way I wouldn't want the Christian characters, or if not Christian characters, the "good guys" of the story to be involved with witchcraft or something similar as it makes those things look harmless or good. It just really bothers me when this stuff is put in "Christian" books.

As for the supposed romance between Selah and Bodhi, it seemed to be based on nothing more than physical/sexual attraction and felt more like lust for each other than anything else. By the time the story got to the part that was supposed to be romantic the part where they kissed, I was basically rolling my eyes because the characters really didn’t even like each other. All they seemed to care about was how good the other looked (ex. How good Bodhi looked with his shirt off) or how they felt when they saw how good the other looked or were near/touching each other, such as Bohdi giving Selah “shivers” or how "adrenaline freshened her nerves, and sent electricity up her arm" at a point when their fingers touch and stuff like that. To me, nothing but sexual tension and I would like there to be more to a relationship than that. Let’s just say I could really care less about their romantic relationship up to the point I read.

As for other sexual references, Selah is assaulted/attacked by guys twice, the first time being in the first chapter. One part says that one guy is looking her up and down and she felt like he was groping her. They hit her more than once and hold her down in the sand to the point where she almost passes out. A man also did something to a girl that is a character in the story at one time, but no details about this had been given by the point I read up to. It was mentioned a couple times though, and I assume he abused her.

These are my main dissatisfactions with the book. There are more, but I won’t continue with other things that may be considered spoilers.

As for the storyline or plot itself, it was okay, but not great. The parts relating to the Mountain got to be boring. Ultimately, for a book in the dystopia genre, the world the characters live in just didn’t draw me into the story like it normally would. I guess it’s because I was expecting a more realistic "what might happen in the future United States after a catastrophe occurred" type of world, but instead got some kind of paranormal fantasy world I wasn’t expecting that was supposed to take place in the United States’ future 150 years after a nuclear attack. It didn’t even feel like the story took place in the United States to me, but in some fantasy world instead. It’s as though the author couldn’t decide what type of story to write or what genre to base their story on. The end result is a book combining several genres in a confusing mix that really doesn’t make sense.

The only thing I can actually think of that I somewhat liked about the story was the sisterly bond that Selah had with her siblings and others in the story and how she thought better of some characters than they deserved.

Will there eventually be some kind of allegorical message to this series by the time it is finished? Will Selah’s and Bodhi’s relationship be about more than physical/sexual attraction to each other? Will there be some kind of clear reference to Christianity which I have yet to see at some point in this series? Maybe is my answer to all of these questions, but I have no interest in finishing this book or reading the next installments in the series to find out.

* I received this book for free from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.

[Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5 stars~

Okay, so I‘m going to do this review a little differently than I normally do because this book was kind of hard for me to rate…

Characters: One of my favorites from the whole book was Amaryllis ^_^ I know, not who you would probably think, but I just really liked her. She definitely reminded me of Rue from the Hunger Games…#1) They are about the same age of course-I think they were both 12-years-old #2) They both were sneaky and good at hiding from bad guys in the forest and trees #3) Kind of a spoiler so skip over the rest of this paragraph if you want… (They both got injured-it was in different ways, but I had a feeling that Amaryllis was going to die like Rue...Thankfully that wasn’t the case though, because I really liked her! ^_^)

I really did not like any of the characters that were up in the mountain :/ I mean…I guess Stemple was better than Everling and Bethany, but something didn’t feel right about him. And Everling—I knew I wouldn’t like him—He was a wacko pretty much through the whole book. He was literally a mad scientist lol XD So, yes, I definitely didn’t care for his character. Out of the people in the mountain, I guess I did like Treva. Ganston was okay, I suppose. I had a feeling early on about something that would happen later to Treva, but I won’t spoil it ;) Some other characters that I liked were Cleon, Bodhi, and Selah. I actually think I would have liked this book a little more if Selah and Bodhi were just friends instead of there being a romance with them :/ I felt like it wasn’t necessarily needed in the story at that moment. That is probably the first time you have ever heard me say that lol because anyone that knows me, knows I like at least a little romance in a story, but I don’t think it was needed in this book. Just my opinion though :)

Plot: It definitely was giving me some Hunger Games and Divergent feels in the beginning…the government being corrupted and all and how Selah and her brothers had to go out and hunt in the forest so that their family would not starve. Also, like I said earlier, Amaryllis reminded me of Rue a lot!

Thunder was very fast-paced and action-packed to me! Dystopian definitely fits this genre better than Christian Fiction in my opinion. It seemed like all it really talked about was quick, brushed-over mentions of the Landers not feeling the “Presence” anymore, and things like that, but hopefully, if I continue on to read the second book, it will improve in that area.

It did feel like I went through this pretty quickly though. (Even though it says it took me a week, it was more like 2-3 days…which is very quick for me. I just was busy trying to figure out college stuff and did not have as much time to read as I would have liked, but I’m sure we have all been there lol)

Some things I did not like in the book were the scenes when they’re in the mountain. A lot of the things Everling did just grossed me out and made me queasy, and other times, it was simply just boring…I know that is pretty mean to say, but I am just being honest :P I also was so scared during a scene that happened near the beginning…when there was a huge python…I won’t say what happened exactly, but let’s just say that I was really creeped out! lol I have mentioned before in other reviews that I love animals, but snakes are definitely an exception…Ick! I really despise those things! I remember stepping on one of them in my backyard before with just flip-flops on and it was squirming around everywhere and whew, boy that sure scared me to death! I’m so surprised it didn’t bite me O.O I screamed so loudly my neighbors probably thought I was crazy! XD (Sorry, I know I went waaaay off topic :P lol)

All in all, I would say this was a pretty average read. Although, I did enjoy it, it was not amazing or anything…but I really hate giving books low ratings lol So, I’ll stick with 4 stars since Goodreads doesn’t do half stars, but probably more of a 3.25-3.5 read for me.


*I received a copy from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review

[gabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure of my thoughts on this one. I really loved the characters and the premise, but there were some writing inconsistencies with it that bothered me.

Selah Rishon Chavez is almost eighteen and hiding, waiting for a boat to crash ashore with a Lander. These Landers come from across the ocean, no one really knows where. They were sold for a great price, if they kept their markings on their foreheads. Everything falls apart after Selah’s brothers take the Lander she caught. The next morning she find the marking of a Lander on herself. Now she is one of the hunted. She must leave everything she knows behind and go after her brothers who took her Lander. Just maybe the Lander will have the answers to questions about herself.

So the plot was great. It was very intense and exciting. There was plenty of action and fighting scenes. I felt like I flew through this book in no time. It was very fast paced and rushed at a few points. There are still so many secrets to uncover. So much that I still don’t understand.

I liked the characters pretty well. Selah, Bodhi, Glade, Treva, and Cheon were some of my favorites. Selah was a strong character, but she had some very realistic fears that I think I would have if I was in her situation. Kind, protective, and sometimes funny fits Bodhi description. He became caring as time went on. Glade I didn’t see much of, but hopefully the next book will be filled with him. He wasn’t much of an open book. Treva was smart, very smart. I really liked her person. At times she felt like an undercover agent. Cheon seems very nice, I need to read more of him. Dr. Everling I liked at the beginning, but I’m definitely not sure of that now. There were many other characters, but I think these are some of the more prominent ones.

The problems I had with this was there wasn’t enough character development, except for Selah. One decision made by Selah I thought was very dumb and put there just to help the plot. It could have been done another way though. Another reason was a character felt just thrown in and very convenient for a certain predicament, though it ended up working out. The dialogue was at times really choppy. Sometimes I was thinking, “What? That person wasn’t given a very good explanation and now he seems to know all the ends and outs of the situation.” The worst thing was when a group of people were given a ride on a wagon from a kind man. All of the sudden the man is gone and it seems the people own the wagon. What happened? I don’t know.

The religion was interesting. I don’t think I really liked it. It didn’t feel very Christian like I think it was supposed to. God was called “the Presence”. I don’t really understand it now, but it seemed you could somehow lose “the Presence” for wrong deeds. Then there were these humans that were immortal. I’m assuming the later books will explain it more.

All things considered, this was a good book. I hope to read the next one soon and hopefully some of the writing issues will smooth out with the rest of the series.

I’m recommending this to anyone who would love to read an unique dystopian book. It was good and different.

You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!

[Melanie Kilsby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I like the writing style and plot, this book doesn't do it for me. I love Selah - somewhat - and the little girl. But the other characters just fall flat for me. I also don't like some of the relationship aspects or views on relationships that are displayed here without a proper balance. The whole thing kinda felt directionless and that was a big problem for me. I wasn't compelled to pick up the next books, though a part of me was so hoping to like it more because again, I loved the concept and plot ideas. :( Unfortunately, this was a hard one for me to like and rate well in the end.

2.75 Stars

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I saw that Revell had a dystopian coming out, I was really excited. I love speculative fiction and thought that the premise sounded interesting. While I am still glad that Revell has branched out into this speculative genre, I am rather disappointed with Thunder.

Selah is a girl who demands to be treated like an adult. However, she doesn't act like one. What might have been a great character development just made her unlikeable when she never even tried to behave as an adult and take responsibility for her childish behavior. I'll give her that her mother hardly prepared her for adulthood. I would say that her mother downright made Selah a spoiled and out of touch person. It is the only way one can explain that Selah describes her brother as looking at her with hate and then saying that he loves her... because he's her brother.

I can see where plans for future books would give a better character arc to Brodhi, however he is a jerk who cares for no one but himself. He very nearly leaves a kid to drown, would have left another to die if not for Selah, and only stays with Selah because he "needs her for information". Which he never gets. But by the time he figures out that she is useless in that regard, he learns he is destined to protect her and suddenly starts caring about what happens to her.

A lot of the secondary characters seemed unnecessary and likely could have been combined to make a far more coherent story line. As it was, they all had different agendas, some of which I am not sure I even figured out because they kept making veiled references to their "plans". One guy is certainly never going to be able to clue anyone in on his plans now.

Some scenes felt like they were only there to make the book longer, not because we needed to read them. One stands out where she is surrounded by boars, which she is afraid of because she heard a story of pigs eating a farmer (did I mention the graphic way in which many people die?). She escapes by jumping in a stream and then the boars do not appear again.

I give Calhoun props for trying her hand at dystopian. I looked at her goodreads profile and noticed that her other books were mystery and romance. Hopefully she is able to do better in the next book of the series.

I received this book from Revell Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Autumn Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was rare find. Enjoying yet not to complex. Easy read but not boring. Romance but nothing sexual. It’s a great book for all ages my mom also feel in love with this series. #xmasgifts. I got a little jumbled up with the plot sometimes but other then that it was a satisfying read. The main character is a strong, brave, and true hearted heroine and a good female role model for younger teens. She goes to “the mountain” in search for her dad after she finds out she is one of the hunted landers. She picks up a hot guy along the way. And storms the castle. *mountain

[Bonnie Calhoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration came from several current events...but I can’t tell you which ones...because it’s the secret to the series. In the first book, Thunder, you will get the set-up and flavor of this society, and the mystery will start to unwind. You meet the main players and a few of the despicable characters that send the story forward opening up a Pandora’s box of questions and causes.

The challenging aspects of writing futuristic...is the future. You’re basically second guessing time. How will things look? How will people act, or speak? What technological advances or retreats? Society as a whole...what will it be like? And when you add into that several natural disasters to change the ecological landscape...well it winds up being a lot of what if’s. An interesting way to start is go back to the 40’s or 50’s and look at the stuff that they predicted would happen or the modern conveniences that they touted as the wave of the future.

Imagination is the key necessary aspect and challenge to writing something futuristic and in this case I started the background of the story with original “can happen” events...3 nuclear suitcase bombs blow up Washington DC causing an earthquake in the Canary Islands, causing the left flank of LaPalma Island (a dormant volcano) to slip into the ocean, causing a tsunami that wipes out the East Coast of the United States, causing another earthquake that finally slides California into the ocean, causing the Super Volcano in Yellowstone to blow and take out four states.

*rubbing hands together* Thus we have The Sorrows...and now the stage is set for the world of Stone Braide Chronicles.

By getting right into the action of the story I had to skip over the actual reason for the first scene of Thunder, but I offer that to you as the FREE prequel called Tremors. It’s available at most online retailers and if you read carefully, it will give you the background to help understand secrets you will find in books one, two and three.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smashing plot: fast paced and complex with rising tempo toward a satisfying climax. Post-apocalyptic future based on realistic projections of both disasters and saved, renewed technologies from an American culture plausibly in our near future. A flawed main character who the reader comes to care about. Good character development through the first and second tiers of the cast. Ambiguous and conflicting motives. Interesting genetic variations among human groups. She brings the first volume to a satisfying conclusion while setting hooks to draw the reader into the next installation.

Why only three stars? The writing was so mediocre that only a commitment to read the whole thing kept me going. For example, one paragraph on the second page contains the following three clichés: “she’d show them”, speaking of odds as “slim to none”, and “one last act of defiance.” Several “as you know, Bob” conversations to relate back story to the reader.

Many hits against verisimilitude: A nine-year-old with “stubby little fingers”? A hundred and fifty years after a major city is destroyed, people know exactly what caused it, despite that technology no longer existing in their world? Norfolk, Virginia facing the Atlantic Ocean? Just a face mask and “quarantine labcoat” to protect against biohazard exposure? Heading “due north” from Norfolk, Virginia (without a boat) to a site forty miles west of Washington, D. C.? A team of people wear “form fitting” black suits and hoods, and the main character can’t make out which are men and which women? A “locked-on” “laser cannon” is fired, then an airship maneuvers out of the way of the incoming laser bolt?

Nice cover art.

A really good story idea crippled by inadequate research and editing. This is not Calhoun's first novel. She should know better.

The setup and plot is good enough to merit risking the second in the series.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One hundred fifty years have passed since the Sorrows, and Selah Rishon Chavez is hunting. She's hunting rabbits that her father and brothers refuse to eat due to mutations caused from the fallout of the Sorrows and which she and her mother enjoy. But she's really hunting Landers, the mysterious people that arrive on the shore in small boats and have distinctive markings on their faces. Selah knows that if a Lander keeps the mark, then the bounty is worth more. On this day before her 18th Birth Remembrance, she has disobeyed her mother by being on the beach. But Selah hopes to capture a Lander. When she does, and he ends up saving her life, her brothers steal her catch. But the damage has been done. She awakens the next morning to discover that the Lander's distinctive marking has appeared on her own flesh. Now hunted instead of being the hunter, Selah is forced to run, with the secrets her mother has held for several years. Her only hope lies in seeking the help of the Lander her brothers stole from her - Bodhi Locke.

With debut authors or for authors debuting in a different genre, I'm never really sure what to expect. So I always try to read an author's debut with a little more leeway than I would give an established author. The genre of speculative fiction or dystopian societies is really popular right now ever since the Hunger Games came on the scene a few years ago. Adding a Christian element to this dystopian fiction is also touch and go. Some books I've read from Christian authors did an excellent job. Others not so much. For me at least, Thunder falls in the first category.

I was drawn into the story immediately. And I had questions as things were uncovered. Questions like what exactly is a Lander? What makes them so different? Why do some of them see their marks disappear? Part of those questions were answered to an extent as the book progressed. But I still don't know exactly what Lander is. But that's ok. I'm sure it'll be revealed more fully as the series progresses.

I'll admit to be completely engrossed in one particular story line then Wham! the chapter ends on a cliffhanger and the next chapter is a different plot line. So I'd have to wait. But that's a good thing. It means it held my interest and forced me to keep reading. I've read some authors who switch from point of view to point of view, but those switches are clearly noted by either the chapter icon (I'm thinking Wheel of Time here) of the character's name across the top (Song of Ice and Fire, Heroes of Olympus and a couple of others) so I can easily skip to the chapter with the same character's point of view just to find out what happened with that cliffhanger. But in this book, I was kept interested and guessing.

While the book did start off slowly, once the momentum was picked up, it was like a hang on to the edge of your seat kind of speed. When that happened and I knew I needed to be someplace a little later that evening, I very reluctantly put it down until I got home where I found myself staying up entirely too late to finish despite having to wake up early for work the next morning. But I was determined to finish. I wouldn't be able to sleep until I'd finished. So I stayed up. And finish it I did! In the early hours of the morning, but even that left me with a hunger for the next one.

Now onto a little more specifics in this review. :) First, while Bodhi came across a little selfish at first, my heart went out to him too. Here he is, a stranger in a strange land trying to find others like him. And him discovering Selah and figuring out their connection was fun to watch. In some ways, his character reminded me a little of Brennen Caldwell from the Firebird books by Kathy Tyers. I wanted to see him accept his fate. By far my favorite character is the little girl that basically adopts Selah and Bodhi. I found her to be delightful and so resourceful.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of dystopian fiction, Hunger Games, Divergent Series, Lunar Chronicles, Anomaly Series, young adult.

Rating - 5 stars

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
ugh, this book could have been so great, and it was at times, but Selah, SELAH, STAND UP AND WOMAN UP!OH MY GOSH, SHE JUST UUUGHHH, Throughout the book I was hoping she would start to be stronger but noooo, she remained a weak girl who relies on her Bodie(or how ever u spell it) and then we have the violence, *Bonnie S Calhoun casually writes a child's head getting split open* like ew, towards the end it was getting pretty violent, and it was pointless! like whyyyyyyy?? and then the romance...just, ugh, I mean bohdi is okay, but I remember this thing he said and it really caused me to dislike him, so Treva was freaking out about something (can't remeber what) and she was like 'I'm sorry! I didn't think!" And Bodih then said "just like a woman to not think." and I'm just like 'BOYYYYY, NO YOU DI INT!' JUST UGHHHH, and these where my very organized thoughts on this book! #justughhh

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got off to a rough start with this book, because it wasn't very many pages in before the insta love/attraction trope made an appearance. If you enjoy that trope, or don't mind it, I mean no offense whatsoever, but it happens to be one of my least favorites.
As for the story itself, there was enough happening to keep me reading, but the choppy writing style wasn't my taste, and I never could connect to any of the characters. Some elements of the worldbuilding were really interesting, however. I would have enjoyed seeing more focus on that world and less on a large cast of characters that didn't always have a strong purpose.

[Barb Shuler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for supplying me a copy of this book in return for an honest review of my thoughts. At first glance I was apprehensive. This is a stretch for me. When I say that I mean, it's not a normal read for me. Sci-fi stretches into worlds that are just not for me... but after reading the Novella, Tremors, I was a little more excited to step into Selah's world. it didn't seem to be that big of a stretch as I thought it would be. It actually made me want to dive right on into it.

I did enjoy this book. There were a few parts where I felt it could have been... better isn't the right word. Maybe more descriptive. There were spelling errors, lots of them but then I have an ARC copy so that is to be expected. (I'm dyslexic so I missed lots of them. And the ones I did spot didn't keep me from getting what I was reading. lol) But in all it was good. I will definitely be reading more of this series!!

Now, onto the review!


~Selah~

Selah decides to defy her father and gets around her 'babysitters' and stalks the beach. She waits for a Lander. She is determined to prove she is a hunter and just as able as her brothers. The moment a lander hits the beach though things go from "I can do this" to "What do I do now?". She was ready for this but not prepared as she should have been. Go figure. The lander however isn't like she expected. Then, to make matters worse two boys from another borough show up and attack her. Bodhi (her captured Lander) came to her rescue and wiped the floor with them. Her brothers, Cleon and Raza, had been stalking and watching her. I guess she wasn't so good at playing keep away as she thought. Raza threw his boom and whacked Bodhi in the head after he had saved Selah.

When Selah stalks back home and into the house she is met by her mother. The love and concern shown helps her to calm momentarily and she tells her mother of the day's events. Her mother freaks out a bit. Asking if Selah touched the lander. Selah says no but in reality she had. Well he touched her but same diff, right? The evening carries on and when Selah wakes.. its her remembrance day. The 'birth remembrance day' she has been waiting on. She is 18, an adult. she can now prove to her father she can be a hunter. There will be no stopping her. Until she looks in the mirror. Selah has the wing shaded tattoo on her body, right below her collar bone. She of course thinks it is a trick of her brothers'. But once she tries to wipe it off and it fails to be removed she runs to her mother. In that split second decision changes her life as she knows it.

Her mother heart broken that this has happened, she had tried so hard to keep it from becoming an issue tells Selah that her birth father, Glade Rishon is a lander. Back before they started to enslave the landers they lived free along side everyone else. When her mother was pregnant with her that changed. The minute they started to offer money for landers Glade left for her safety. Her marriage to him was dissolved. She was alone. Her mother had followed him as far as they were living now. By this time she was 9 months pregnant, no husband in sight and about to give birth on the side of the road. This was when and where she met her step father. He himself was a lander who's mark had faded. He wasn't 'noticeably' a lander. He has Raze (age 3) and Cleon who was an infant. Their mother died in child birth with Cleon. they were both not from here, no one knew them so they paid to be married and to keep it quiet that she had been single with a new baby. (I don't know how this was kept from her for so long.. I mean damn..)

Selah was obviously upset. She was handed all of the paperwork her mother had from her birth father and was told she had to leave. Her stepfather would turn her in and her mother wanted to save her life. She couldn't risk her. As Selah prepared to leave she thought of Bodhi. She couldn't leave him to be sold off, she owed him as it was for saving her life. Selah stalked the barn where she watched Raza and Clean load him into a wagon to head towards the mountain. She would rescue him from them. She was determined to. (Gotta give her credit the girl is not to be deterred from a task she is ready and willing to accept! She is a girl after my own heart. lol)

[At the Mountain]

There are things amiss in the people of the Mountain. This is the place where the landers are sold and where they are imprisoned. Yeah, imprisoned to be experimented with like they are lab rats. (Shakes My Head) we meet Dr. Everling. Head honcho, the big cheese if you will. His wife Bethany (a scientist) is dying of cancer. He is working with some type of serum, in which he is experimenting on himself and Bethany as she lay in a coma. After months of experimenting he has managed to merge lander DNA with his DNA. His wife awakes and they decide to get rid of the Landers they have in the prison pods. They are no longer needed. Glade Rishon is one of those prisoners. A willing participant as it is. He did this to keep his child, aka Selah from them. They know and who she is.. but do they know she has run off and actually headed their way? Hmm.. interesting I think.

But the Doctor doesn't know that right under his nose there are people (His lab assistant, Treva and his personal assistant, Stemple and Charles Ganston, among others) planning and scheming to overthrow him and move out of the mountain. Also, his assistant and new lab tech are plotting something of their own. See what happens when you wield all the power and fail to actually listen to your people. The defect. They will do all they can to get free and live their own lives.

~Selah~

As Selah wakes she realizes she has let herself fall asleep and her brothers had already set up a camp, right where she thought they would. It's now dark. She waits until she knows they are asleep and sneaks into the camp to release Bodhi but is stopped. The small girl, looked to be 9 told her the brothers had made a deal with four men who were in the trees to keep watch half the night. The girl, Amaryllis pulls her away. Selah will have to try and get him tomorrow night. The girl takes Selah to a hiding place of hers. It turns out to be an old library. this is where she spends the night and the next morning she sets out to catch up to her brothers. The girl who is actually 12 at her side. Selah couldn't leave her alone to fend for herself any longer.

Selah and Amaryllis set up a camp and the girl goes hunting for birds. After a half hour she still isn't back. Selah goes looking for her worry creeping into her that the girl is hurt or someone has taken her. She finds her coiled up by a Burmese Python. (shudders) Selah kills the snake and rescues the girl. Later that night Selah 'breaks' Bodhi free. Well he does it himself but none the less she held true to getting him away. They leave the camp in a hurry. Bodhi carrying the girl as Selah leads the way back towards the South. Why go the way they expect you too? Amaryllis needed to heal before they headed North. They make there way back to the house where Amaryllis lived with her mother before she died.

This is where, while the girl slept, Selah told Bodhi about her mark and the letter her father had left her mother. Seems Selah is a novarium. Her father's legacy it seems was to bring the 'new change' into the world. And her father, Glade, loved her and her mother more than himself. As the information sinks in Bodhi freaks out. Since he was the one that caused her change, by touching her the day before her birth remembrance, he would be her protector. he was now responsible to keep her safe and alive. He wasn't ready for that. He had a mental melt down thinking he wasn't the right person for the job. They decide to move on and the girls take Bodhi to the library where they settle in for the night.

The next day was travel as usual. They got a ride on a wagon of a man who was passing their way. As they got closer to the 'Mountain' Selah came face to face with her brothers. Raza and Cleon. Raza had made them lay in wait knowing she would have to pass them here. As Selah, Bodhi and Amaryllis approached them, Raza pulled a gun on them. He wouldn't listen to Cleon to drop the weapon. Raza basically went loco. That is the only way to describe it. Raza lets it spill that she is a 'half breed'. Seems her step father told him years ago. It's one of the reasons he treated her so badly. He also knew what would happen that day at the beach adn her let it. It was the easy way to get rid of her. Raza even turned on Cleon. Told him that he and father both hated him for taking mother from them. Raza was just ll out to be mean. When he insulted Selah's mother she charged him, he went to fire the gun but Cleon tackled him to the ground. With a sickening 'crunch' Raza went limp. He hit his head on a rock as he fell. It was an accident but now Cleon would never be able to go home. Father would know. No, he must stay with their group and get into the mountain to find her father Glade.

The next morning the 'adults', Bodhi, Cleon and Selah head towards the mountains main gate. They left Amaryllis behind, Selah made her promise to stay behind and stay safe. As the group tried to figure out how to get into the mountain Amaryllis showed up, slipped through the bars of the fence and opened the main gate. At the same time the gates' opening a hovercraft comes in for a crash landing of sorts. As soon as it pulls off they all run for the entrance, only to be stopped by the Mountain police in the hovercraft. (Just their luck. It was too easy, even Bodhi told them that. lol Poor man, no one pays him any attention.) So they got into the mountain.. and are being held in the security bays or whatever they call them to be questioned. They only think they are rogue merchants trying to sneak in. (If they only knew who and what Selah and Bodhi were they'd be having a hissy and calling Everling.. the crazy rat bastard.)

Dr. Everling's lab assistant Treva has been setting her little plan in order to help the Landers. (We still don't know what is going on with her but the more she does the more you want more.) Glade is the only one she seems to have bonded with while working the short time she has in Everling's private labs. They bond as she starts a treatment on all of the landers to wake them out of their drug induced fog. When Glade has a meltdown in his pod Treva is there to try and calm him down. He tells her Everling has broken their deal, he can feel his daughter is in the mountain. He can see her in a pod room. Treva has him focus n Selah to see if she is scared. She isn't. She knows her father's in here, she wants to get to him. Treva makes a promise to go and get Selah and her group.

Treva does make it to the holding cells of the main part of the mountain after a run in with her uncle Ganston which didn't hold her up too much... but Stemple, the weasle is also watching her interaction with her uncle. He approaches her after Ganston walks away and gets aggressive. She gets away from him. She is on a mission after all. Ganston watched how Stemple is with his niece and confronts him. Not so nicely, which he deserved worse. (Maybe a swift kick in the nads.) Well seems Dr. Everling was doing some spying of his own and saw Semple talking to Ganston. He is a little on the mental side at the moment due to all the drugs he keeps giving himself. So, he thinks they are conspiring against him. (Laughs) He gets Stemple back to the labs, somewhat feigning to be in bad shape, though its not too much of an act. He locks Stemple in Glade's now empty pod (cell) and sets the kid ablaze. (I'm sorry but I lol'd at that. The dude is ten shades of wacko. It's amazing how a few drugs, an unstable mind and a conspiracy theory can cause. I mean I know a dude died but.. yeah he shoulda seen that coming.)

Meanwhile, Treva has the group (Bodhi, Cleon and Selah) follow her back to the lab. She is taking them to Glade so they can all get out. But.. when they get back into the lab there is only a burned body left in the cell.. and no it's not Glade. We know that but they don't. (laughs.. you have to love a great plot twist that makes your characters flip out.) Ganston barges into the lab, he had followed them from the containment area to find out what is going on. Treva has to tell him a few details of what she does for Everling.. trick is Everling is passed out cold in a containment pod in the lab and Ganston knows what Everling does. Its one of the reasons his is revolting and getting people ready to leave the mountain.. and all under everling's nose. Ganston takes they back to his office and calls his head of security. Mojica. An amazon beauty who has the skills of any military person comes in and they tell her what's happened. They make a plan to get the other Lander's and themselves, minus Ganston out of the mountain.

Once everything is in place, Bodhi uses his telepathy to try and calm the prisoners down so they can be rescued. There is a massive firefight once they reach the holding area. Th landers were set free and the four (Bodhi, Cleon, Selah and Treva) along with the landers were led out of the area to a hall that was to lead to a hidden back door. The door had been walled over but Cleon was able to burst through it with a little work. Once they hit the outside an airtrans shows up and they all scatter. But the airtrans is a good guy. It's Mojica. Bodhi manages to get most of the landers inside as she goes to take off. Selah has run out of the fence to find Amaryllis who was still in the woods. She was not leaving without the girl.

As the airtrans takes off the guard that had been assigned to help keep the four civilians safe ran to the back of the ship, flung a door open and tossed out a rope. When he pulled it up he had Selah and Amaryllis and helped them onto the ship. They were all transported to the new location fro the Stone Braide Colony that Ganston was setting up. They'd be safe there for now. The Landers decided o move onto other Lander colonies up North. They didn't want to stay. Glade wanted to head back to his original colony, the place he was before he headed South and met her mother. They would come back down here once the colony is set up. For now they are off on their next adventure.

I am anxious for Lightening to be released. According to the exert in Thunder it is to be released in the Fall of 2015... not sure how I can wait that long. (laughs) I have no patience at all.

Until next time.

[quiltingbeautyandbooks ~ Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book..4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Selah is about to turn 18 and wants more than anything to impress her father or at least capture his love.

It is about 150 years after a life changing and altering event. People are trying to live and survive among the remaining wreckage. Every so often a boat will come in and have people who look like them, but have these strange marks. Some marks fade and some remain. The ones with the remaining mark have a bounty on their heads.

Bodhi, lands on this deserted island away from the Presence. He can feel others like him and they are in trouble. He must find them and rescue them.

Turning 18, was not what Selah thought it would be, especially since secrets kept in the dark, always find themselves coming to the light.

[Kate (The Shelf Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when a new dystopian book captures my attention. I heard about Thunder a couple of months ago and waited till I could request a copy from the publisher. When I got it, I dove into it pretty quickly. I haven't gotten around to reading Tremors (the free prequel novella) yet, but I hope to soon.

Selah is a teenager, desperate to be considered a woman and an adult to everyone around her. She also does not want to get married to man from a neighboring village her step-father has picked out for her. All she wants to do s to join her step-father and step-brothers and join in on the hunt that has been very profitable for their family. From the information that she has been fed, Selah has no problem with what her family hunts...people who wash up on their shores. She just knows in the last 18 years, these people with strange markings offer a good price. She has been taught they are not good, they are dangerous, and the company can put them to good use and rehabilitate them. That all changes when Bodhi saves her from an attack on her beach....her confusion is intensified when her step-brothers come and take Bodhi as their prize and haul him off. Selah doesn't harm to come to this guy, and the fact he wasn't dangerous to her has her questioning many things she has been taught.

Here is where the story gets interesting and where a few of my questions pop up...I will get to those in a bit. On Selah's Birth Remembrance day, she wakes up to a shocking surprise and her mother telling her she needs to run. With a few things and packet of letters to help explain things, Selah flees toward the Mountain to help Bodhi and get answers.

The Mountain is an interesting place. It is a home for many who fled there when the world started to follow apart. Scientist live there and plot and plan and it is run by the Company. The Company in turn is lead by Dr. Noah Everling and he has many colleagues in his science division and some enemies, namely, Charles Ganston. I have to say, when reading about these two, I couldn't tell who was going to be the "bad guy", but is soon became clear and my goodness...he had the crazy, sociopath down to an art! The other, I'm still wondering about. I still have an iffy feeling.

This was an interesting world that Bonnie has created. It was unique and a bit rough...which we see through Amaryllis, she is a young girl who latches on to Selah. It is a hard terrain that is a mix of old world living (horses and wagons) and futuristic travel (hover crafts). The world building was fantastic. I enjoyed that a lot.

The questions I had, had more to do with the Landers past. There is much we don't know...we are able to get glimpses, but it causes more questions. What we discover of the Landers is through Selah and the letters she has. We are able to find out some info, but just enough to keep up searching for more. It has definitely made me want to keep reading the series to gain more answers.

Selah and Bodhi were good leads. I thought Bodhi was the strongest personality of the two however. He has a very take charge kind of attitude. Selah reminds me of a teenager who is desperate to be considered a grownup, but when the time comes, has issues dealing with the decisions that need to be made. Thankfully though, her attitude morphs and she is able to listen and take advice from others as the story progresses.

All in all, it was a fun story to read.


Thank you to Revell Reads Blog Tour, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.


This review was originally posted @ http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot....

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah’s really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.
Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers–and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander’s distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her–Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.



About the Author:

I love to write, but it doesn't make me happy unless there are the three B's...body count, blood, and blowing things up. I also have mad skills at coding HTML, and website design. I live in a log cabin in the woods with fifteen acres and a pond full of bass, though I'd rather buy fish at the grocery store. I share my domain with a husband, a dog, and two cats, all of whom think I'm waitstaff!



My Review:

Selah Rishon Chavez has finally done it, she has captured a Lander---although she is quite proud of herself, her brother has presented her with a problem. He decides to take her prize catch and get the bio-coin for himself. As her brothers leave her to go sell the Lander, Selah finds herself in a bit of a pickle. She finds out that she herself is now marked, the only one that can come to her aide is Bohdi Locke. Bohdi Locke is the Lander that her brothers just took from her. With her things packed and a lot of knowledge that came in the form of told secrets Selah starts in their direction.

The Company has a secret deep within it's doors. With Landers being of good use to them, especially one's that carry a mark on their face. The Company will give a good amount of bio-coin to the lucky hunters that bring the Landers in. Selah continues on her brothers' path in the hopes to retrieve the prisoner back. But she gets more than she has bargained for when she gets an extra tag a long.

The author was able to create a great start to this series. She was able to describe a believable plot and gave a strong character line. She is very good with her structured writing and full of life characters! She could most definitely get a movie deal for this story!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell.

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This dystopian book will keep you turning page after page as you read about all the mysteries it holds inside! I'm going to start with Selah's name, I really like that. I know this word, from the Bible. I was taught the meaning of that name was like saying Amen or So Be It. I had to look it up though, and I found that it has been said that selah is a pause to praise, to praise and lift up, and or to be valued. The greatest feed back on it seems to be to seriously consider the important of what was said. That has bearing because in this book Selah is uplifting and she is definitely of great, great value. Also, the Celtic trinity knot image that is the emblem, it is fantastic how it is worked into the covers! The Trinity Knot speaks of Christianity right from the cover forward.

Now - more about this book!

On Selah's 18th Birth Remembrance day, her entire life changed. Nothing will ever be the same again for her. Something she can't get rid of, something she had to hide has changed her, and her life. She is now marked. Marked as one of the hunted - the Landers. In short, Selah isn't at all who she thought she was. Now she is on the run, headed to the Mountain, focused on catching the Lander who triggered the rest of this huge change in her. The things that are happening in there are page turning. Experiments with laminin and trimeric protein changes are just the start of questions we have with slowly unfolding answers, including what exactly is the Stone Braide?

As Selah finds out that she has abilities she never knew about, she is still struggling to figure out who she is, and what she can do, and why. Each new mystery leads to some answers, and each new answers, more questions. I am looking forward to the day I get to read the second book in this series. I came away from the first half of this book thinking... "His strength is make perfect when I am weak.:" I'm waiting for the next installment of this series thinking..... what if, and what comes next for these characters that are so brave and have so much to learn, to forgive and to grow through.

Please don't keep us waiting tooooo long for the second book. I have so much more I want to learn. So many questions waiting to be answered as the many mysteries of this series unfold like a flower blooming.

My copy of this book came from Revell books in exchange for my honest review, and nothing more.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R108YOGI...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

After reading Tremors, the free prequel story, I was curious to see what was going to happen next in Selah's journey. I have mixed feelings about Thunder; it was really good for the most part, but I'm not sure how I feel about some things in the story. For instance, if the Landers end up being what I think they are ***possible spoiler*** (angels) ***end of possible spoiler***, then I will not be a fan of that aspect. Also, the romance happened a little fast, in my opinion.



I did like the setting and all of the cool futuristic things. I also liked the characters and surprises in the story. Thunder was also very easy to read and the pages flew by when I was reading it -- which was great. =)



All in all, a good dystopian novel. Because of the thing stated above, I'm unsure if I'll read the next book, but I might, just to see if I'm wrong about the Landers.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Kristinia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel in an all new series by Bonnie S. Calhoun. "Thunder: is considered a dystopian novel. What does dystopia mean? Here's what I found from Wikipedia on the subject:
A dystopia (from the Greek δυσ- and τόπος, alternatively, cacotopia, kakotopia, or anti-utopia) is a community or society that is in some important way undesirable or frightening. It is literally translated as "not-good place", an antonym of utopia.

Think more end of the world, the end of time and a story unraveling from a tragedy. This type of literature may not be for everyone but it did perk my interest and I'm here to tell you my thoughts on this novel!

When first reading you learn a lot about the main characters Selah and Bodhi. You will enjoy following them along their journey in this book, its a hard one to put down! Has the feel of a lot of the Young Adult fiction that is out now, think Hunger Games and Divergent. We are 150 years after the "Time of Sorrows" on the East Coast in the United States. The earth was attacked by nuclear war which resulted in major weather implications of catastrophic measures (volcanoes/tsunamis).

Selah is almost an adult and will have to find her mission in life, is it to be married to one she does not wish to be with or set forth on another mission? When she discovers a "Lander" named Bodhi everything changes, her life is thrown into chaos upon her discovery and her journey begins. You will be enthralled by Thunder and craving for more as do I! I can't wait for the next book in the series, I'm hoping for all of my unaswered questions to be revealed. Who are the Landers? We will hopefully find out much more in the 2nd Stone Braid Chronicles Book "Lightining", later on Fall of 2015! You can purchase this great new book at Family Christian.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is also posted on Book by Book.

I am a big fan of young adult dystopian novels. I just love reading books that present new societies full of unique quirks and problems, so I was glad to pick up Bonnie S. Calhoun’s Thunder. What an adventure. On the day she becomes an adult, Selah Chavez’s life experiences a major unexpected change and she quickly finds herself on an intriguing coming-of-age journey. Calhoun constructs her story well and I couldn’t put it down – I had to keep reading in hopes of finding the answers to my many questions regarding the workings of Selah’s world. Though the many changes in perspectives had me confused and overwhelmed at times, Thunder is an overall wonderful, engaging read with fascinating characters and a riveting plot. I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of Thunder and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Calhoun's foray into dystopian/speculative fiction. She's created an interesting world that reminded me a lot of Lisa T. Bergren's novel Remnants. I always love these YA heroines who discover secrets about themselves and go on great quests. In fact, I wish Selah had been even more independent. She had some weak moments in the story (part of her arc no doubt) where she relied on others when it might've been nice to see her gather up some more courage. But that's a small quibble. Calhoun has resolved many things but left us hanging in others. Book 2 should be interesting as hopefully it'll answer those questions. Just who are the Landers exactly? What will become of those in the Mountain?

[Katie Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE :)

-4.7 STAR-

so first of all, i don’t usually write reviews, but i was reading through some of the other reviews on Thunder and couldn’t help but notice that for some reason this wasn’t a lot of people’s cup of tea, so to speak. this to say, it was mine. i’ve never read a book by Calhoun, so i was a little hesitant to get it at a used bookstore, but it was a low price and if i didn’t like it then it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

all that worrying just to love it :)

it’s a dystopian book, based in post apocalyptic america. i haven’t read one of these in a while so i’m pretty happy that i decided to read this one. i am well aware that a lot of people aren’t big post apocalyptic book fans, and i’m not either unless the world is built well and the plot is well thought out.

it’s based around a girl named Selah and her constant battle to make her father proud and ‘join the hunt.’ she’s very smart and cunning, constantly pushing herself to be braver and braver. eventually she finds that nothing was as it seems and her whole world gets turned upside down, partially because of a ‘Lander’ named Bodhi and also in part of her real father and true lineage.


the ONLY, and i mean only, reason i wouldn’t give this a complete five stars is that some of the characters background’s weren’t really discussed enough, especially that of Bodhi and Rylla, among others were Raza, Cleon, and their parents. Selah herself, your main character, is quite well developed, in my opinion.

anyway, other than that, this book has just really hit the right spot, and as soon as i started reading i was pretty hooked. there were some plot twists that really got me, but i wasn’t very interested in bits and chapters with the lab in the Mountain. this just really felt like filler at times, or even just annoying (so ngl i skipped some of the stuff in the Mountain, don’t hate on me)

but i really think that if you’re hesitant to read this you should. the book is filled with a great story, and makes me super excited to try and find a place to buy the second one and the third. thank yall for reading…. i also hope ya decide to read the book :)

[Avery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Response: Thunder , by Bonnie S. Calhoun, has a very unique feel to its read. The book is in a third person perspective, which is a nice way to make the book feel more like a movie than a book.

Plot Summary: Many years into the future an abundance of different disasters take place leaving Earth in ruins of scrap. Selah, being the only girl in her family, finds herself wanting to be like her brothers, and tries becoming a hunter. She lands her first catch, but is soon disappointed as her brothers take all the credit. On Selah’s eighteenth birthday, she notices a mark on her skin, which happens to be the mark of a Lander. After rubbing, scratching, and picking at the tattoo like mark, it does not smear. Selah believes it to be a birthday prank, because her brothers play one every year, so she tells her mother. Her mother tells Selah her real father is a Lander, which means the mark is real. Selah is now one of the hunted, that being because Landers are thought to have powers in which normal humans want. On her journey to find her father, she encounters obstacles: becoming a role model for Amaryllis, a young girl with no family, and she becomes friends with a Lander, Bodhi. Her oldest brothers, Raza and Cleon, cross paths with Selah when she steals their Lander catch back for herself. Raza gets killed by a marauder while hunting for his sister, and Cleon joins Selah's group. They infiltrate The Mountain and rescue Selah's father. With the help from inside forces, they find land to start a new life.

Characterization: Selah is the only girl sibling in her family and she feels left out. Later, she finds out she has the right to be left out because she is a Lander. Cleon is skeptical of Landers, but realizes his sister has been one this whole time. Bodhi is determined that Selah is his enemy, but then he is grateful for her friendship. Amaryllis is a young girl with no family, but she becomes part of a new one. Glade has been locked up for years being a human-test subject, but is freed by his long-lost daughter.

Setting: Thunder takes place in modern day Virginia, many years into the future during a post apocalyptic era. This is relevant to the book because the author is allowed to make references to advanced technology and the global disasters that take place. Taking place in about present day Virginia is relevant because Virginia is close to the Atlantic Ocean, which plays an important role in the story.

Theme: The book’s main concepts for themes are the use of technology to further society’s advancement, and that good will conquer evil. Technology is something that is growing throughout time, and the book takes advantage of that. The people of The Mountain want to use their advancement in technology to make people immortal. In order to do this, they killed many innocent people; one of them was going to be Selah’s father. In the story, good people escaped from the bad and created a new life.

Recommendation: Thunder , by Bonnie S. Calhoun, has a very unique feel to its read. Men will enjoy the action and the adventure of the story, and women are more likely to enjoy the hidden romance between the characters. The vocabulary is not difficult, but the names of some of the characters are unpleasant. I rated this book only three out of five because I found parts of the book to be unnecessary, but that didn’t mean the book is not appealing.

[Penny Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I'd like this one, and I wanted to like it, but somehow that didn't happen. The characters started out so promising, but stayed rather hollow and flat. I wanted to care about them, but I didn't really ever get to that point.

Since Revell is the publisher, I was expecting Christian themes, but that wasn't the case. This is just straight-up sci-fi. To be fair, it was stated twice that it was so weird to be in this land where one couldn't feel "the Presence", unlike in the place the character was previously from.

The descriptions of death were over the top and gratuitous. I'm no stranger to violence or war on screen or in books, but this was really over done and unnecessarily descriptive. I won't elaborate. Some of the deaths in the book seemed pointless, like they were just there because why not kill off more characters? It didn't work for me.

I did find the plot itself intriguing and novel. The book also has a great cover. I wish I could have enjoyed the characters too.

[Joy Kieffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two reviews for the price of one. ( A mother/daughter review)

Thanks, Bonnie, for sending me an ARC and asking for my honest review. Bonnie and I are two of the most blatantly honest people either of us know, I'm fairly sure. That, and she knows of my teen daughter (from a conference we all attended) whose opinion she also wanted.

Mom's Review: (Four and one-half stars.) After reading Tremours, the prequel, I was dying to find out what was in store for Selah, and what in the world she would do with Bodhi Locke. I mean, what would you do with a young man/thing you have just captured--especially when you can't take him home with you? Then it turns out that this dilemma magnifies at the same time that Selah's world falls apart. Nothing in her world is something she can count on, other than her own intelligence to survive. It is that intelligence, along with her sense of humor/ire that pull this story along. None of that "oh, that's too convenient" stuff I've seen too often in teen novels.

Amarylis - oh, love that little girl! I couldn't help but wonder if Selah would have given up if it weren't for her influence. The intensity and pace keep escalating, and the plot twists keep you guessing--my definition of a good read. I loved that Selah stayed independent throughout.

The characters are strong, evoking an emotional response, the scenes sensory without an overload of description. In several places I went back a page to analyze exactly why I had smelled the grasses, or seen the heat waves, when I didn't recall such a description. And it wasn't there. What was there was just a hint, enough to carry my imagination along. But all of that was secondary to plot. Bonnie understands plot, and sub-plot.

The only downside for me was that the motivating factors of one "group" (trying not to spoil things here) were too normal, therefore predictable, in a world that has such unpredictable elements. I would have liked to see something more bizarre. The end winds down after a panicky race to the finish in what at first seems like a recap, but turns into the promise of a future world and further adventures to come in the sequel. I found myself re-reading the ending, deciding on the second run-through that I was satisfied and had read the ending at the same break-neck speed as the prior pages, so wasn't grasping everything being said.

I just hope the sequel comes out in the summer so I don't have to wear an extra set of clothes to survive the read.

As you can see by my daughter's review below, Selah goes through quite the emotional journey, one that helped me empathize with my own daughter's path that has not been easy. I admire the courage of both girls.

Daughter's (age17) Review: "Thunder is a riveting, dystopian coming of age journey. The challenges Selah face are not simple, she must face an unwelcome journey as many often do. This book teaches lessons of forgiveness, and compassion. I feel anyone experiencing change in their life would benefit greatly from reading this book. As a child of adoption I understand the journey Selah takes, there is much fear and anger. But love and forgiveness can conquer any trials. This book is a must read, I couldn't stress the love I have for this story."

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh, exciting, and exhilarating are just a few ways to describe this story. It is a fast-paced, heart-wrenching story that will grab your heart and take you on a huge thrill ride with many twists and turns along the way. With the very first word, you are whisked away to a thrilling new world where danger and adventure awaits just around the corner. This is a no-holds barred quest that has the possibility of not only stealing your heart but also your time and attention.

What would you do if your whole life turned out to be a lie? What if you weren’t who you thought you were? Would you lash out in pain at those who lied to you all these years in order to seek retribution, or would you run away in desperation hoping to find some peace and clarity? These are the questions that Selah finds herself being forced to answer. Her once quiet, predictable life is ripped from her once she reaches her eighteenth Birth Remembrance. It is a day that she will never forget as her mother tells her that she has turned into something that most people hate and she now needs to run away in order to survive. In a haze of confusion and desperation, she does the only thing she can think of. She goes in search of someone just like her and begs them for their help. Bodhi Locke is an outcast in her society because he is a Lander. He is someone that is different from them and because of those differences he is captured and will be traded for much needed resources for her family. These two form an unlikely alliance and set off to find the only family Selah has left – her real father.

The world you find yourself in is the end result of many natural and man-made disasters. The groups of people that you discover along the way are used to a hard life. They are a mix of helpful and understanding along with skeptical and cruel. Friends and family are not who they seem to be and these two quickly find out that their quest will take all of their determination and more heart than they might be willing to sacrifice. Along the way they find out what they are made of and who they really are. This is a time of self-discovery and reflection where two people are being pushed to their limits and forced to recognize who they are and what their life really means to them.

Bonnie S. Calhoun has created an incredible world filled with amazing characters that will challenge and prod your heart while you follow them on their harsh and dangerous journey. This was a beautiful exploration of one woman’s personal quest that showed her that all life matters no matter how different we are. All life is precious, priceless, and worth all of our respect, care, and dedication. I am truly impressed by this amazing story that was created with such loving creativity that will resound with you long after it has ended. It was created and perfected by a tender soul who sees more than just what is right in front of her. I greatly anticipate more wonderful adventures from this author, and I can’t wait to find out what’s next in this exciting series!

[Rissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

STORY: In the whisper of a prequel, Tremors this world of heroine Selah Chavez was set up in an unusual dystopian world that is full of secrets and heroes in the making. One in which Seleh’s 18th Birth Remembrance changes her life forever. On the eve of her 18th year, Selah captures a Lander – the forbidden race that her kind are not to associate with, only to have her catch claimed by her brothers, who take the stranger – Bohdi, away from her so they can impress their father.

Determined to prove her worth as a viable member of her family business, Selah tries to learn why the importance of her arranged marriage to a boy she doesn’t know. But then on her birthday, she awakes to more pressing matters: the mark of a Lander is imprinted on her collarbone. Her mother, with hurried instructions and explanations, sends Selah on her way, afraid of what Selah’s father will do when he finds out his daughter is now one of the hunted. This puts Selah on a crash course that leaves her fighting for her survival – and those who haven’t been able to stand up for themselves in a very long time.

Thunder, by Bonnie Calhoun | Book Review

Without hesitation I can say this is one of the more interesting books I’ve read this past year. As a story the premise is nothing if not a fascinating origin kind of novel and even more prominently important (particularly for anyone who likes strong characters), an interesting group of characters whom I enjoyed reading about very much. It’s fantastic to meet a cast of “good guy” characters that we cheer on and also to see them grow in knowledge (and numbers!). Unfortunately, it takes me a little while to actually fully invest in the story; the opening doesn’t really organize well. There’s also portions early on that are a little boring because of the hop scotch game it plays. We jump from Selah then Bodhi, then those with some power (and thus the doors open to the politics of the story) to lab assistants and the perspective of someone I cannot talk about (spoilers!). Thunder does find its footing quick enough and once a pattern takes shape, it’s entertaining.

There is something eerily reminiscent to The Hunger Games about this, though it’s ten times better than the aforementioned bestseller. There’s scientific projects, which are explained as a direct result of the otherworldly events that shape the post-apocalyptic world. Fortunately, here there’s nothing else resembling the “games” that shape Suzanne Collins works. Plus, these characters have the potential to be so much more entertaining than those in The Hunger Games.

If you’re a fan of the dystopian era, then do pick up Thunder. It’s an interesting world with a whole lot of room to grow – in the best kind of way.

Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it – in exchange for an honest review.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first young adult novel by accomplished writer Bonnie S. Calhoun, "Thunder" is great!

As an avid reader of fantasy, science, fiction, and young adult novels, when I heard about the book "Thunder," I knew it would be right up my alley. Set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian society, the descendants of those who survived The Time of Sorrows either live off the land in a somewhat primitive way, while trying to determine what is still “safe” to eat, or they are part of the self-contained Mountain people (aka The Company) who carry out mysterious scientific experiments with the benefit of technologically advanced equipment.

I would describe the overall story as a combination of action, adventure, young romance, and science fiction. It is also a bit of a coming of age book where the teens within (Selah and Bodhi as well as others) are learning about themselves and the world around them, as they strive to not only make the right decisions but to survive. As you meet the various characters and follow along on the journey/quest with them, you will enjoy a tale (told from various points of view) full of secrets, lies, danger, corruption, friendship, betrayal, hope, and love, while all along a battle between good and evil simmers below the surface.

While I understand that some readers felt that the book did not have a deep enough spiritual tone (coming from a Christian publisher) or that it lacked any mention of faith or spiritual content, I felt like the spiritual references were subtle and intriguing (e.g., the Kingdom, the Presence, and a reference to one of the experiments being an “abomination” to name a few). However, I admit that there were a lot of things that were not explained in this book that I would hope are either covered in the free e-book prequel—"Tremors" (which is now available online) or that things will become clearer in book two: "Lightning." Perhaps the Landers, who are referred to as Immortals, are angels or some other type of spiritual being; I don’t really know at this point. The good thing about this subtleness, in my opinion, is that those who are not familiar with Revell as a publisher of Christian books will enjoy the adventure, action, and mysteries contained within the story without realizing that there is an underlying message of hope and redemption. A message that will, hopefully, become clearer later on in this series.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to more to come.

Thank you to the publisher, Revell, for providing me with an advance copy for my personal review and my honest opinion of the book.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Stupid actions have consequences.’

In a post-apocalyptic America, on a shore littered with rusty metal remnants of the city that once stood there, Selah Chavez is hunting. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and while Selah knows that many refuse to eat animal flesh because of contamination by radiation, she’s really hoping to capture a Lander. Landers are mysterious people from across the sea, much prized by the Company if they keep the markings they arrive with. Selah catches a Lander, but he’s stolen by her brothers. And when she wakes up on the day of her eighteenth Born Remembrance she finds that the Lander’s distinctive mark has appeared on her own flesh. What does this mean? Selah’s world is turned upside down: the mark makes her an outcast from her own people. Can she track down her brothers to find – Bohdi Locke - the Lander she originally captured before they sell him? Selah hopes that he will be able to provide the answers she is after.

‘Promises don’t mean anything in this world. All are lies.’

A century has passed since the Time of Sorrows. During that time few outside the Mountain have had dealings with those of the Company hidden within it. But the Company wants Landers, and they are willing to pay for them. Now that she has a Lander mark Selah knows that she too will be hunted down and sold, even though she has no Lander memories.

And so, after some explanations and hurried instructions from her mother, Selah sets off on a dangerous journey. She hopes to overtake her brothers before they reach the Mountain but knows that there are as many dangers outside the Mountain as are rumoured to be within it.

It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this novel and to appreciate some of the aspects of the dystopian world in which it is set. I had to keep rereading some aspects to make sense of the story, but as the story moved into its second half I found it easier going. Which was just as well, because the pace of the story picked up as well. I understand that this is the first novel in a series. I’ll be looking out for the second: I’m very keen to know what happens next.

If you are interested in YA dystopian fiction, this may well be a novel you’d enjoy. The main characters are interesting, and while took a while to gain momentum, I found it hard to put down once it did.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thunder is a teen dystopian novel in the vein of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy and Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy. It also bears similarities to Krista McGee's excellent Christian trilogy, the Anomaly series (which is probably my favorite YA dystopian series).

I really enjoyed the main plot of Thunder—Selah trying to find her father and learn who she really is. Her relationship with a young girl she meets on her way to the mountain is really endearing, and I appreciated the growth in her from beginning to end.

I did feel that a few too many characters were focused on throughout the novel: Selah, Bodhi, Selah's brother Cleon, the leader of the Company (the Mountain's "government"), his wife, a rival scientist, a lab assistant, the head of security, etc. I had no trouble keeping these people straight as Calhoun did an excellent job of character development, but I did feel overwhelmed with information. I think if Calhoun had focused on just two characters (Selah and Treva, the lab assistant) and let the events unfold from their perspectives, I would have stayed more engaged with the story throughout the novel.

I also think it's worth mentioning that, while Thunder is published by Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Group, it doesn't really have any spiritual content. I don't think that's a bad thing, but someone who purchases a book from a Christian publisher will probably expect it to have a Christian message. I have no idea what's in store for the rest of the Stone Braide Chronicles, and I wouldn't be surprised if Calhoun brings in spiritual content along the way. Even if she doesn't, there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't want you to purchase the book expecting one thing and finding another. (Isn't that the worst?)

I really did enjoy Thunder, and I'd love to continue the series. Teens (and adults) who enjoy dystopian novels should definitely check it out. 3-1/2 stars.

Content note: This novel is action-packed and violent ... probably on par with The Hunger Games. Again, not a bad thing, as long as you know what you're getting into. I would have no qualms giving an older teen this book, but I probably wouldn't give it to a 7th grader. Think PG-13.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading Thunder, the first book in the Stone Braide Chronicles, I read the introductory short story, Tremors, offered free (as of this date) on Amazon. Though it isn't essential, I would recommend you do the same. It provides a little more of the background/family life of the main character.

At seventeen, Selah wants to be a hunter like her older brothers. She wants to earn her harsh father's respect. So when a Lander floats up on the beach, she's ready to capture him for the reward paid by the Company, the elite mountain-dwellers. Unfortunately, her brothers steal him away from her.

Bodhi Locke, like all Landers (or Immortals), displays a strange tattoo on his forehead. When Selah's contact with him brands her, her world turns upside-down. She learns she's not at all who she thought she was, which could get her killed. She "rescues" Bodhi and leads them to the mountain, determined to find the connection to her heritage.

The Company is rife with corruption, intrigue, medical experimentation, and plain ol' crazy people. In some ways, this is a complicated story with various points-of-view, but it reads quickly with a lot of action and characters drawn in a way that leaves the reader unsure of who to trust.

Maybe I need things pointed out, but I never did see the spiritual connection that made this book different from a secular YA novel. For a while I thought Bodhi and his people were a representation of fallen angels, but I don't think so. I feel the answer is coming in a sequel, but couldn't pinpoint it here.

I loved The Hunger Games series and saw a few similarities between this story and that, but Ms. Calhoun adds a different twist to a post-apocalyptic tale. This is NOT a stand alone novel, so if you start it, plan to read the series.

While it wasn't my favorite in this genre, I'll give Thunder four stars simply because it held my interest. I thought about it from the standpoint of whether or not I wanted to read the next book and discovered I did. It left me curious as to what happens next.


Disclosure of Material Connection: This book came to me free from the publisher, Revell, with the hope that I would mention it on this blog. There was no requirement for me to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.