What do you think?
Rate this book
A Lost Tribe #1
Descent
Seventeen year old Ollie Miller is ready to leave all of her hurt feelings behind, but moving on seems impossible while living next door to her ex-best friend, Mateo. When curious earthquakes begin to shake and rip open the foundation of her small town, the ground becomes as unsteady as her feelings for him. When they fall, they fall hard…
Ollie’s disastrous attempt to save Mateo’s brother from falling into a curious chasm results in their descent into a cavernous wonderland. Ollie, Mateo, Jesse, and Alexis search for a way back home, and encounter a mysterious tribe of natives. Gabriel, the next in line to lead his people, is granted permission to guide them to the surface. On their treacherous journey, an overzealous elder threatens all of their lives, because he can’t risk them exposing his people, or the power he wields. The group discovers ancient secrets, unexpected truths, and uncharted feelings. Ollie must find a way out or risk being stuck in the caves forever—or worse, dead.
Ollie’s disastrous attempt to save Mateo’s brother from falling into a curious chasm results in their descent into a cavernous wonderland. Ollie, Mateo, Jesse, and Alexis search for a way back home, and encounter a mysterious tribe of natives. Gabriel, the next in line to lead his people, is granted permission to guide them to the surface. On their treacherous journey, an overzealous elder threatens all of their lives, because he can’t risk them exposing his people, or the power he wields. The group discovers ancient secrets, unexpected truths, and uncharted feelings. Ollie must find a way out or risk being stuck in the caves forever—or worse, dead.
ebook
First published June 3, 2014
16 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Kallie Ross
26 books99 followers
Writing unique adventures with heart.
Kallie Ross has a passion for writing that has become an adventure in itself. She desires to create unique young adult fiction that incorporates legend, conjecture, fantasy, and conviction.
In addition to loving her life as a writer, Kallie adores being a wife, mother, friend, and teacher. She began her creative journey with books, a blog, podcast, and lots of caffeine. Ross never imagined her own adventure would be filled with so many wonderful people or words!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 22, 2014
I read a lot. A whole lot. And I mean A LOT. Time after time I start a novel with excitement, only to be completely disappointed by the lack of action, the absence of emotion, and the feeling that the author is unconnected with their targeted reader. Thankfully, Descent gave me NONE of those feelings. Kallie Ross has given us one of the most original and unique young adult novels I have read in quite some time. For some time now it seems readers have only had paranormal books centered around vampires, witches, and aliens (which finally seem to be making a comeback) to pick from. While these categories entertain the masses, there are always those of us who simply want more (or less, depending on how you look at it). What I always enjoy is a story I can relate to. A story that doesn't constantly scream "this is not real". Descent is not something you will be screaming about (except that it's awesome). With some mystical and supernatural elements, Descent reads well and easy, without being overbearing and too fantastical in nature.
The novel has a great cast of characters. Plain, everyday, run of the mill teenagers with real problems and real emotions. Ollie, our main character has just returned home after studying away in Uruguay only to discover that her social life is a mess. Her best friend, next door neighbor, and love interest Mateo didn't take her departure well and their friendship is on the rocks. Mateo's younger brother Jesse along with Alexis (another couple with a past) are pulled along on Ollie and Mateo's unexpected journey deep below the Earth's surface. Upon meeting the underground race and the society of people who live there, we are introduced to our last MC's, siblings Keren and Gabriel (not Gabe, Gabriel).
At it's core Descent is so much more than just a young adult fantasy novel. I would place it under Adventure Fantasy, the very best kind. Like any good adventure novel, Descent is full of action! From giant dinosaur-like lizards to the mysteries of the "noor", Kallie Ross keeps the reader pulled in and begging for more!
The only negative thing I can say for this novel is that it was a little hard for me to get into at the beginning, but clocking in at just shy of 200 pages, I caught on quick. The beginnings of novels are always both the hardest to write (so I've heard) and to read, but you have to have them!
I recommend Descent to any readers, particularly those with interests in paranormal fiction, adventure novels, fantasy, and even YA romance! While the story in Descent does not focus around Ollie's romance life, it does play an interesting role in the story. As you guys have all heard before, I'm not the biggest romance fan, but I'm totally okay with there being A ROMANCE as long as it helps to build up the story!
All-in-all a highly recommended quick read!
Read more at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...
The novel has a great cast of characters. Plain, everyday, run of the mill teenagers with real problems and real emotions. Ollie, our main character has just returned home after studying away in Uruguay only to discover that her social life is a mess. Her best friend, next door neighbor, and love interest Mateo didn't take her departure well and their friendship is on the rocks. Mateo's younger brother Jesse along with Alexis (another couple with a past) are pulled along on Ollie and Mateo's unexpected journey deep below the Earth's surface. Upon meeting the underground race and the society of people who live there, we are introduced to our last MC's, siblings Keren and Gabriel (not Gabe, Gabriel).
At it's core Descent is so much more than just a young adult fantasy novel. I would place it under Adventure Fantasy, the very best kind. Like any good adventure novel, Descent is full of action! From giant dinosaur-like lizards to the mysteries of the "noor", Kallie Ross keeps the reader pulled in and begging for more!
The only negative thing I can say for this novel is that it was a little hard for me to get into at the beginning, but clocking in at just shy of 200 pages, I caught on quick. The beginnings of novels are always both the hardest to write (so I've heard) and to read, but you have to have them!
I recommend Descent to any readers, particularly those with interests in paranormal fiction, adventure novels, fantasy, and even YA romance! While the story in Descent does not focus around Ollie's romance life, it does play an interesting role in the story. As you guys have all heard before, I'm not the biggest romance fan, but I'm totally okay with there being A ROMANCE as long as it helps to build up the story!
All-in-all a highly recommended quick read!
Read more at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...
June 10, 2014
Enter to win $50 or $25 Amazon Gift Cards
Ends June 12, 2014
Get ready to follow four teens on an incredible journey as one disastrous earthquake opens a gaping hole that plunges them into an underground world and a secret tribe of people who live there. Olivia Miller has just come home after several months, estranged from her best friend and next door neighbor, Mateo, stinging from the loss of his friendship and unable to makes amends. Everything changes the day of the earthquake, when Ollie, Mateo, Jesse and Alexis, Ollie’s other best friend become the guests of Gabriel, son of the tribe’s leader and his sister, Karen, a girl who has more curiosity about the ways of the upper world than is proper for a young girl. Gabriel is granted permission to return everyone to the surface, so feisty Karen follows along, undiscovered until danger and a huge lizard-like beast confronts them. Now a party of six, their journey continues and Ollie begins to notice things about herself that seem different than her friends and more like Gabriel’s people. There are romantic feelings in the air, but will there be a love triangle? Discoveries are made, horrors are witnessed, getting to the surface is a matter of life and death. Will they make it, if so, what will they discover on the surface?
Kallie Ross’s Descent was like falling down the Rabbit Hole into an adventure into the unknown! Sparing the major teen angst, Ms. Ross has “dug deep” and pulled out a winner of a tale. Yes, it’s fresh, yes, it’s creative, and yes there is tension, dark foreboding and some deep secrets to be revealed. I was so happy to find teens that were teens, real, live teens with their bravado, insecurities and sense of adventure and acceptance of the new reality they were facing. She writes with a sense of pacing that moves along with the story perfectly as each scene is drawn with clarity and depth. Toss Descent into the Hidden Gem pile, Kallie Ross deserves it! Looking forward to book two!
I received this copy as part of the Descent Release Day Launch and Giveaway.
Series: A Lost Tribe - Book 1
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Kallie Ross
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 190 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Ends June 12, 2014
Get ready to follow four teens on an incredible journey as one disastrous earthquake opens a gaping hole that plunges them into an underground world and a secret tribe of people who live there. Olivia Miller has just come home after several months, estranged from her best friend and next door neighbor, Mateo, stinging from the loss of his friendship and unable to makes amends. Everything changes the day of the earthquake, when Ollie, Mateo, Jesse and Alexis, Ollie’s other best friend become the guests of Gabriel, son of the tribe’s leader and his sister, Karen, a girl who has more curiosity about the ways of the upper world than is proper for a young girl. Gabriel is granted permission to return everyone to the surface, so feisty Karen follows along, undiscovered until danger and a huge lizard-like beast confronts them. Now a party of six, their journey continues and Ollie begins to notice things about herself that seem different than her friends and more like Gabriel’s people. There are romantic feelings in the air, but will there be a love triangle? Discoveries are made, horrors are witnessed, getting to the surface is a matter of life and death. Will they make it, if so, what will they discover on the surface?
Kallie Ross’s Descent was like falling down the Rabbit Hole into an adventure into the unknown! Sparing the major teen angst, Ms. Ross has “dug deep” and pulled out a winner of a tale. Yes, it’s fresh, yes, it’s creative, and yes there is tension, dark foreboding and some deep secrets to be revealed. I was so happy to find teens that were teens, real, live teens with their bravado, insecurities and sense of adventure and acceptance of the new reality they were facing. She writes with a sense of pacing that moves along with the story perfectly as each scene is drawn with clarity and depth. Toss Descent into the Hidden Gem pile, Kallie Ross deserves it! Looking forward to book two!
I received this copy as part of the Descent Release Day Launch and Giveaway.
Series: A Lost Tribe - Book 1
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Kallie Ross
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 190 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
June 9, 2014
Awesome adventure!
Grand start for a series!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be frank. I read this book firstly because the cover is intriguing and awesome and secondly because the blurb sounded the the movie "Journey to the center of the world". I like.. no, I LOVE adventure books. I like reading about new places, new creatures and new types of people. Falling from the face of the Earth and ending up meeting people who are living underground without all the modern stuff that we're enjoying right now? THAT definitely fits the bill.
Our characters are typical teens who are undecided in their lives. Ollie just came back from a far off place and had just finished licking her wounded heart. Mateo is her best friend who hasn't been talking to her since she got back. Jesse is Mateo's jokester of a brother and lastly, Alexis who's Ollie's friend and Jesse's kind of ex girlfriend.
This is the story of these four friends who suddenly find themselves in an entirely different environment. I lower, deeper and far off place. They encounter tribal people who are not all that welcoming. Well, one is very welcoming.. Gabriel (the hot dude). He accompanies them into their journey back to the "surface". They get to see many new things, like floating lights above their heads, plants that poison people, goats who don't look exactly like goats, very big scorpions and people who eat bats! It's all very bizarre and very exciting. The author is very good at making people imagine what she wants them to see. The descriptions are vivid that it's as if I'm really in THAT place. It's surreal.
They get to meet other tribe members and needless to say, their interaction is interesting because of the conflict that occurs between modern people and historic ones. You can just imagine the adjustment for both parties. The story gradually unfolds and in the end, we are left with more mysteries and a promise of more adventures to come.
I guess I also have to point out that I liked everything in this book except for the love triangle thingy. I haven't been into that for a long time and it didn't change in this book. However, don't be deterred because in all fairness, the main story pretty much swallows the love triangle, so it's all good.
All in all, this is a grand start of a promising series. It's unique and enticing. I recommend this to those who love adventure books. :)
Grand start for a series!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be frank. I read this book firstly because the cover is intriguing and awesome and secondly because the blurb sounded the the movie "Journey to the center of the world". I like.. no, I LOVE adventure books. I like reading about new places, new creatures and new types of people. Falling from the face of the Earth and ending up meeting people who are living underground without all the modern stuff that we're enjoying right now? THAT definitely fits the bill.
Our characters are typical teens who are undecided in their lives. Ollie just came back from a far off place and had just finished licking her wounded heart. Mateo is her best friend who hasn't been talking to her since she got back. Jesse is Mateo's jokester of a brother and lastly, Alexis who's Ollie's friend and Jesse's kind of ex girlfriend.
This is the story of these four friends who suddenly find themselves in an entirely different environment. I lower, deeper and far off place. They encounter tribal people who are not all that welcoming. Well, one is very welcoming.. Gabriel (the hot dude). He accompanies them into their journey back to the "surface". They get to see many new things, like floating lights above their heads, plants that poison people, goats who don't look exactly like goats, very big scorpions and people who eat bats! It's all very bizarre and very exciting. The author is very good at making people imagine what she wants them to see. The descriptions are vivid that it's as if I'm really in THAT place. It's surreal.
They get to meet other tribe members and needless to say, their interaction is interesting because of the conflict that occurs between modern people and historic ones. You can just imagine the adjustment for both parties. The story gradually unfolds and in the end, we are left with more mysteries and a promise of more adventures to come.
I guess I also have to point out that I liked everything in this book except for the love triangle thingy. I haven't been into that for a long time and it didn't change in this book. However, don't be deterred because in all fairness, the main story pretty much swallows the love triangle, so it's all good.
All in all, this is a grand start of a promising series. It's unique and enticing. I recommend this to those who love adventure books. :)
June 1, 2015
***I received a copy of Descent by Kallie Ross and Inkslinger PR for an honest review***
Review
Want to go to Texas? Watch out for the earthquakes and the giant bottomless pits that appear in your backyard and take you to a civilization within our own. Well that is exactly what happens one morning to Ollie, Olivia, and her friends Alexis, Jesse and ex-best friend Mateo. After the shock of finding that the people they thought fell into the hole with him were actually a native tribe living beneath the earth, Ollie and her friends discover secrets, problems and make friends among the tribe as well as they come to realize how they feel about one another.
As a clean, teen read I really enjoyed the story. The characters, though confusing at times, were strong in development so that you could picture them in your mind. The world beneath our own is filled with creatures that are as deadly as they are monstrous. The native people are fearful of strangers and live in a restrictive, medieval, feudal society where men rule and women are property more or less. They are very superstitious and believe their leaders hear the Voice of God to keep their people safe. Each tribal member has a portion of ‘noor’, gift of God that protects them.
The cast of characters, Ollie, Alexis, Jesse, Mateo, Gaberiel and Keren are well thought out and likeable. This was a good read and one I had to find out what happened next in the story.
Review
Want to go to Texas? Watch out for the earthquakes and the giant bottomless pits that appear in your backyard and take you to a civilization within our own. Well that is exactly what happens one morning to Ollie, Olivia, and her friends Alexis, Jesse and ex-best friend Mateo. After the shock of finding that the people they thought fell into the hole with him were actually a native tribe living beneath the earth, Ollie and her friends discover secrets, problems and make friends among the tribe as well as they come to realize how they feel about one another.
As a clean, teen read I really enjoyed the story. The characters, though confusing at times, were strong in development so that you could picture them in your mind. The world beneath our own is filled with creatures that are as deadly as they are monstrous. The native people are fearful of strangers and live in a restrictive, medieval, feudal society where men rule and women are property more or less. They are very superstitious and believe their leaders hear the Voice of God to keep their people safe. Each tribal member has a portion of ‘noor’, gift of God that protects them.
The cast of characters, Ollie, Alexis, Jesse, Mateo, Gaberiel and Keren are well thought out and likeable. This was a good read and one I had to find out what happened next in the story.
March 24, 2016
My Thoughts...
June 11, 2014
*I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.
*sigh* Where do I start with this novel? And no, that sigh isn't a good one. In fact, it's bad. Very bad. This book was vague, vague, vague. The characters were one-dimensional, and there weren't enough details about them or about the tribe. And I was so bored I wanted to stop reading numerous times.
Rating: 2 Stars!
I was so disappointed that I didn't like this book. Like I said, I wanted to stop reading so many times. But I knew this had to be read and reviewed. It was entertaining, but not much happened. Not even the characters' sometimes funny dialogue was enough to make it better.
I had a problem with the main character, Ollie. She didn't have much of a personality. In fact, I know next-to-nothing about her. The book starts off when Ollie has just come home from a long trip in South America. What was she doing there to begin with? I have no clue. She's seemingly still depressed about her ex-boyfriend cheating on her, though you wouldn't know it by how she describes it. She didn't have much introspection, which I think was needed. And when she described things, especially when it came to her ex, Mateo, and her parents, I didn't feel anything from her character. How does she feel about her parents? Was she angry about the cheating? Was she still bitter and sad about her dad leaving them? Was she nervous about seeing Mateo again? Was she worried about never making it home? Was she excited about the underground tribe and what it meant for her? Was she happy with her life? There was no feeling to the way she described her life and her relationships with everyone. And there weren't many details given about her character.
Things I know about Olive:
The relationships between her and the secondary characters didn't have depth either. Maybe except for the one with Mateo, because it was the most important to her. There was no background on the secondary characters, either. It, along with the lack of depth in the story-line, gave them a one-dimensional feeling. Alexis was my favorite. She seemed genuine, real, incredibly funny, even if a little superficial. But she was also just made out to be a stereotypical blonde cheerleader who loves boys, fashion, and texting. A girl no one takes seriously. I hated how Ollie treated her and how she described her. I mean, this is even how Ollie responds when Alexis truly needs her:
Also. When did she meet Alexis and why are they best friends? How did growing up next to the Vargas brothers change into lifelong friendships? What did they do as friends? How did they feel toward each other? When did Ollie start falling in love with Mateo? What was life like growing up with separated parents? What's her mom like, besides just telling the readers her job? What are Ollie's hobbies and interests, besides the environment? Lack of details and background really aggravated me. Like I said, this never went deep. It was all surface information.
And all surface feelings. Like the fucking "love triangle." Gabriel is so entranced with Ollie when he meets her (why, I have no clue, since she's nothing more than her appearance and her take-charge attitude, which I did like about her). I like Mateo, and I like Gabriel. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses (and actual personalities). However, I don't think this was needed. If anything, it just made Ollie seem even more shallow as a character. Because it's all she could focus on, and she ignored the most obvious clues ever when it came to her ancestry. And, um hello, survival instincts? They flew out the fucking window. Because Gabriel is hot and kind, and obviously he wouldn't harm her or her friends.
And the plot was vague, vague, vague! The author skirted around the history of this tribe living underground. All I know is that this dude named Dan "traveled into a cave to protect his family." That's the tribe's history?! Aside from that, all we learn is that they believe it's God's will that they remain separate from the surface people. How the hell did these people move underground in the first place? Was it magic? I know that in one scene of the book, it alluded to some magic and sorcery. But that's it. There was a lot of telling and not enough showing when it came to these people and their history. Sure, it was detailed. Colors, surfaces, how the people dressed and how they spoke. BUT THE CHARACTERS DIDN'T QUESTION ANYTHING! Yes, let's just follow this random fucking stranger to his underground village and bathe with them! UM, WHAT?! At least Mateo had the good sense to ask questions when they first met Gabriel, but other than that, these characters went along with everything like it was all normal!
The writing was simple and underwhelming, the dialogue a little funny but most often just annoying fodder to fill in the time they spent underground. The pacing was soooo slooooow that I felt like I was just dragged along. Nothing exciting happened. Other than a hilarious scene where Mateo and Jesse got high, and a death, nothing else happened that blew me away. Nothing that made my heart race with dread and anticipation.
Descent sounded amazing, if a little weird. That synopsis is so vague and unassuming. I just wish the actual book had been exciting.
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.
*sigh* Where do I start with this novel? And no, that sigh isn't a good one. In fact, it's bad. Very bad. This book was vague, vague, vague. The characters were one-dimensional, and there weren't enough details about them or about the tribe. And I was so bored I wanted to stop reading numerous times.
Rating: 2 Stars!
I was so disappointed that I didn't like this book. Like I said, I wanted to stop reading so many times. But I knew this had to be read and reviewed. It was entertaining, but not much happened. Not even the characters' sometimes funny dialogue was enough to make it better.
I had a problem with the main character, Ollie. She didn't have much of a personality. In fact, I know next-to-nothing about her. The book starts off when Ollie has just come home from a long trip in South America. What was she doing there to begin with? I have no clue. She's seemingly still depressed about her ex-boyfriend cheating on her, though you wouldn't know it by how she describes it. She didn't have much introspection, which I think was needed. And when she described things, especially when it came to her ex, Mateo, and her parents, I didn't feel anything from her character. How does she feel about her parents? Was she angry about the cheating? Was she still bitter and sad about her dad leaving them? Was she nervous about seeing Mateo again? Was she worried about never making it home? Was she excited about the underground tribe and what it meant for her? Was she happy with her life? There was no feeling to the way she described her life and her relationships with everyone. And there weren't many details given about her character.
Things I know about Olive:
1. Her dad left her and her mom.Ollie just had no real depth as a character, no true personality. All she thought about was Mateo and Gabriel and how she wanted to go home. Her voice lacked an emotional quality. I couldn't connect with her at all.
2. She wants to go to college to be an Environmental Specialist.
3. She doesn't know what she should feel toward Mateo and Gabriel. Love triangle, yo.
4. She thinks her best friend is stupid, air-headed, and only thinks about guys. Because, obviously, Alexis is shallow and has no deeper thoughts and feelings. (that's only what I got out of the way Ollie talked to and about her).
5. She eludes to feeling like this place underground is familiar to her but has no clue why. She doesn't even try to figure it out.
6. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her. And she shut everyone out of her life when she was in South America.
7. She's a terrible friend.
The relationships between her and the secondary characters didn't have depth either. Maybe except for the one with Mateo, because it was the most important to her. There was no background on the secondary characters, either. It, along with the lack of depth in the story-line, gave them a one-dimensional feeling. Alexis was my favorite. She seemed genuine, real, incredibly funny, even if a little superficial. But she was also just made out to be a stereotypical blonde cheerleader who loves boys, fashion, and texting. A girl no one takes seriously. I hated how Ollie treated her and how she described her. I mean, this is even how Ollie responds when Alexis truly needs her:
When did I turn into a priest? The last thing I need is for Alexis to confess all her deep, dark secrets to me.What the fuck? Your best friend is leaning on you for support, and this is how you really feel? Ollie wasn't just a poor friend to Alexis, but also Mateo too. She dropped all of her friends off the face of the earth when she found out her boyfriend cheated on her. And then she comes back home, never truly understanding how deeply they were affected by her decision to cut them out of her life. She doesn't understand why Mateo is so angry at her, but I would be too! I've actually had this happen to me before, where friends stop talking to me, so I get where he's coming from in all of this. It doesn't take him long to forgive her, of course, but Ollie didn't seem truly that sorry about all of it.
Also. When did she meet Alexis and why are they best friends? How did growing up next to the Vargas brothers change into lifelong friendships? What did they do as friends? How did they feel toward each other? When did Ollie start falling in love with Mateo? What was life like growing up with separated parents? What's her mom like, besides just telling the readers her job? What are Ollie's hobbies and interests, besides the environment? Lack of details and background really aggravated me. Like I said, this never went deep. It was all surface information.
And all surface feelings. Like the fucking "love triangle." Gabriel is so entranced with Ollie when he meets her (why, I have no clue, since she's nothing more than her appearance and her take-charge attitude, which I did like about her). I like Mateo, and I like Gabriel. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses (and actual personalities). However, I don't think this was needed. If anything, it just made Ollie seem even more shallow as a character. Because it's all she could focus on, and she ignored the most obvious clues ever when it came to her ancestry. And, um hello, survival instincts? They flew out the fucking window. Because Gabriel is hot and kind, and obviously he wouldn't harm her or her friends.
And the plot was vague, vague, vague! The author skirted around the history of this tribe living underground. All I know is that this dude named Dan "traveled into a cave to protect his family." That's the tribe's history?! Aside from that, all we learn is that they believe it's God's will that they remain separate from the surface people. How the hell did these people move underground in the first place? Was it magic? I know that in one scene of the book, it alluded to some magic and sorcery. But that's it. There was a lot of telling and not enough showing when it came to these people and their history. Sure, it was detailed. Colors, surfaces, how the people dressed and how they spoke. BUT THE CHARACTERS DIDN'T QUESTION ANYTHING! Yes, let's just follow this random fucking stranger to his underground village and bathe with them! UM, WHAT?! At least Mateo had the good sense to ask questions when they first met Gabriel, but other than that, these characters went along with everything like it was all normal!
The writing was simple and underwhelming, the dialogue a little funny but most often just annoying fodder to fill in the time they spent underground. The pacing was soooo slooooow that I felt like I was just dragged along. Nothing exciting happened. Other than a hilarious scene where Mateo and Jesse got high, and a death, nothing else happened that blew me away. Nothing that made my heart race with dread and anticipation.
Descent sounded amazing, if a little weird. That synopsis is so vague and unassuming. I just wish the actual book had been exciting.
October 21, 2020
Great book
This book was an interesting story about a group of people who live below the surface of the earth and four teens who fall into their lives because of an earthquake. They discover this group of people who live below the surface of the earth and convince the son of one of the tribe elders to help them get back home.
This book was an interesting story about a group of people who live below the surface of the earth and four teens who fall into their lives because of an earthquake. They discover this group of people who live below the surface of the earth and convince the son of one of the tribe elders to help them get back home.
January 11, 2018
Wow
This is a really good book. They get lost by falling into a magical cave and finds hot Gabriel.. Ollie and Mateo doesn't belong tg. He was a jerk and then because what they go through he wants her.. I think she should be with Gabriel.. Wow on the ending.
This is a really good book. They get lost by falling into a magical cave and finds hot Gabriel.. Ollie and Mateo doesn't belong tg. He was a jerk and then because what they go through he wants her.. I think she should be with Gabriel.. Wow on the ending.
July 28, 2017
What an amazing story. Ollie, Mateo and the other characters are superb. Just couldn't get enough of the story. Definitely ready for the next one. Grateful I discovered this book and author.
April 10, 2017
*FULL REVIEW AT kaitlanolivia.blogspot.com *
I am a huge fan of Sci-Fi paranormal. In this, her debut novel Kallie Ross does not dissapoint. I've read a lot of books but this one really surprised me. I had no idea what to expect when I was asked to read and review this novel. And this post is a long time coming, but I am so glad that I read this novel. Which is actually going to be a series! Eep!
You are first introduced to the heroine of the story Ollie at her texas home. She has just come back from a trip to Uraguay. Only to find that her social life has pretty much deteriorated while she was away. While trying to deal with everything an earthquake hits and Ollie along with 3 of her friends, Jesse, Mateo, and Alexis are suddenly no longer in texas anymore. But, an entirely new underground world. Filled with so much mystery from the legendary "noor" to huge lizard beats, and scorpions that glow. Along with the tribe of people who live in this underground world hidden beneath the surface.
Characters: What I loved most about them, was the fact that they were just your regular run of the mill kids. Dealing with "normal" kid stuff. Well I should say teen stuff because they are all in high school. At least Ollie, Alexis, Mateo are. Keren and Gabriel I assume if they had not grown up in the underground they would have been in High School as well. And it was not like in some novels where the kids act older than they are are so you forget how old they really are. They act the same way that any other group of kids who had fallen into a chasm, and stumbled into a mysterious underground world would act. They were curious and all they wanted to do was get back home. Also another feature of this book that I enjoyed. I had read the whole book and not once did I question "where is all the sex?" Do not get me wrong I appreciate a good love story and some sexy time in a book. Ya'll know that I love me my romance novels. But this novel had the romance, but you did not need anymore than what was given. By the ending of the book all I wanted was book 2! Which I can not wait to read!
The quarky, whitty, amusing banter going back and forth between the characters. It felt so easy to read and did not feel forced. It wasn't like in some books, where things are said for the sake of being said for the sake of being said. It felt like these characters had been friends and known each other for years. You could tell that author really took the time to develop these relationships.
Setting: I thought that the setting for this story was very unique. It made this story definitely stand out from others for me. I enjoyed the journey of watching the underground world unfold for Ollie and her friends.
Plot: a group of teens fall into this underground world due to an earthquake. It follows them meeting a goup of people who live in this underground world. It follows Ollie's journy with her friends, as well as their guides Keren and Gabriel. What they go through and run into while they try to make it to the surface.
The question is what is this underground world? Who and what I'd this mysterious goup of people living in this underground world? Nothing is what it seems, and how are Ollie and her group of friends connected to this world? Will they get back to the surface unharmed? This is my interpretation of the plot and some of the questions that ran through my head.
I absolutel LOVED this story and can not wait to read book 2. Great job Ms. Kallie Ross! I give this story a 4.5 out 5!
Make sure you go and grab your copy today!
I am a huge fan of Sci-Fi paranormal. In this, her debut novel Kallie Ross does not dissapoint. I've read a lot of books but this one really surprised me. I had no idea what to expect when I was asked to read and review this novel. And this post is a long time coming, but I am so glad that I read this novel. Which is actually going to be a series! Eep!
You are first introduced to the heroine of the story Ollie at her texas home. She has just come back from a trip to Uraguay. Only to find that her social life has pretty much deteriorated while she was away. While trying to deal with everything an earthquake hits and Ollie along with 3 of her friends, Jesse, Mateo, and Alexis are suddenly no longer in texas anymore. But, an entirely new underground world. Filled with so much mystery from the legendary "noor" to huge lizard beats, and scorpions that glow. Along with the tribe of people who live in this underground world hidden beneath the surface.
Characters: What I loved most about them, was the fact that they were just your regular run of the mill kids. Dealing with "normal" kid stuff. Well I should say teen stuff because they are all in high school. At least Ollie, Alexis, Mateo are. Keren and Gabriel I assume if they had not grown up in the underground they would have been in High School as well. And it was not like in some novels where the kids act older than they are are so you forget how old they really are. They act the same way that any other group of kids who had fallen into a chasm, and stumbled into a mysterious underground world would act. They were curious and all they wanted to do was get back home. Also another feature of this book that I enjoyed. I had read the whole book and not once did I question "where is all the sex?" Do not get me wrong I appreciate a good love story and some sexy time in a book. Ya'll know that I love me my romance novels. But this novel had the romance, but you did not need anymore than what was given. By the ending of the book all I wanted was book 2! Which I can not wait to read!
The quarky, whitty, amusing banter going back and forth between the characters. It felt so easy to read and did not feel forced. It wasn't like in some books, where things are said for the sake of being said for the sake of being said. It felt like these characters had been friends and known each other for years. You could tell that author really took the time to develop these relationships.
Setting: I thought that the setting for this story was very unique. It made this story definitely stand out from others for me. I enjoyed the journey of watching the underground world unfold for Ollie and her friends.
Plot: a group of teens fall into this underground world due to an earthquake. It follows them meeting a goup of people who live in this underground world. It follows Ollie's journy with her friends, as well as their guides Keren and Gabriel. What they go through and run into while they try to make it to the surface.
The question is what is this underground world? Who and what I'd this mysterious goup of people living in this underground world? Nothing is what it seems, and how are Ollie and her group of friends connected to this world? Will they get back to the surface unharmed? This is my interpretation of the plot and some of the questions that ran through my head.
I absolutel LOVED this story and can not wait to read book 2. Great job Ms. Kallie Ross! I give this story a 4.5 out 5!
Make sure you go and grab your copy today!
June 10, 2014
Awesome adventure!
Grand start for a series!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be frank. I read this book firstly because the cover is intriguing and awesome and secondly because the blurb sounded the the movie "Journey to the center of the world". I like.. no, I LOVE adventure books. I like reading about new places, new creatures and new types of people. Falling from the face of the Earth and ending up meeting people who are living underground without all the modern stuff that we're enjoying right now? THAT definitely fits the bill.
Our characters are typical teens who are undecided in their lives. Ollie just came back from a far off place and had just finished licking her wounded heart. Mateo is her best friend who hasn't been talking to her since she got back. Jesse is Mateo's jokester of a brother and lastly, Alexis who's Ollie's friend and Jesse's kind of ex girlfriend.
This is the story of these four friends who suddenly find themselves in an entirely different environment. I lower, deeper and far off place. They encounter tribal people who are not all that welcoming. Well, one is very welcoming.. Gabriel (the hot dude). He accompanies them into their journey back to the "surface". They get to see many new things, like floating lights above their heads, plants that poison people, goats who don't look exactly like goats, very big scorpions and people who eat bats! It's all very bizarre and very exciting. The author is very good at making people imagine what she wants them to see. The descriptions are vivid that it's as if I'm really in THAT place. It's surreal.
They get to meet other tribe members and needless to say, their interaction is interesting because of the conflict that occurs between modern people and historic ones. You can just imagine the adjustment for both parties. The story gradually unfolds and in the end, we are left with more mysteries and a promise of more adventures to come.
I guess I also have to point out that I liked everything in this book except for the love triangle thingy. I haven't been into that for a long time and it didn't change in this book. However, don't be deterred because in all fairness, the main story pretty much swallows the love triangle, so it's all good.
All in all, this is a grand start of a promising series. It's unique and enticing. I recommend this to those who love adventure books. :)
MY RATING: 4 FAIRY WINGS
~~Rock Chick Fairy
Grand start for a series!
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be frank. I read this book firstly because the cover is intriguing and awesome and secondly because the blurb sounded the the movie "Journey to the center of the world". I like.. no, I LOVE adventure books. I like reading about new places, new creatures and new types of people. Falling from the face of the Earth and ending up meeting people who are living underground without all the modern stuff that we're enjoying right now? THAT definitely fits the bill.
Our characters are typical teens who are undecided in their lives. Ollie just came back from a far off place and had just finished licking her wounded heart. Mateo is her best friend who hasn't been talking to her since she got back. Jesse is Mateo's jokester of a brother and lastly, Alexis who's Ollie's friend and Jesse's kind of ex girlfriend.
This is the story of these four friends who suddenly find themselves in an entirely different environment. I lower, deeper and far off place. They encounter tribal people who are not all that welcoming. Well, one is very welcoming.. Gabriel (the hot dude). He accompanies them into their journey back to the "surface". They get to see many new things, like floating lights above their heads, plants that poison people, goats who don't look exactly like goats, very big scorpions and people who eat bats! It's all very bizarre and very exciting. The author is very good at making people imagine what she wants them to see. The descriptions are vivid that it's as if I'm really in THAT place. It's surreal.
They get to meet other tribe members and needless to say, their interaction is interesting because of the conflict that occurs between modern people and historic ones. You can just imagine the adjustment for both parties. The story gradually unfolds and in the end, we are left with more mysteries and a promise of more adventures to come.
I guess I also have to point out that I liked everything in this book except for the love triangle thingy. I haven't been into that for a long time and it didn't change in this book. However, don't be deterred because in all fairness, the main story pretty much swallows the love triangle, so it's all good.
All in all, this is a grand start of a promising series. It's unique and enticing. I recommend this to those who love adventure books. :)
MY RATING: 4 FAIRY WINGS
~~Rock Chick Fairy
Read
July 30, 2014I'm going to choose not to rate this review. I love Kallie and I'm a huge fan of hers so I was thrilled when I won this book. That being said, I'm not sure if I just didn't like the story or I'm a little too old and shouldn't have read this in the first place. I didn't connect with any of the characters and there were a lot of moments that I rolled my eyes. It seemed like it was trying too hard for pop culture references. The interactions between the surface characters vs. the cave people just seemed way too forced and I struggled to really care about anyone.
I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat for me. The characters were so unlikable, the story seemed forced, and the writing was less show and more tell. I felt like the story was something I would've written in high school, detailing every single thing instead of giving some details and letting the reader fill in the blank. There was a line in the book that I think adequately explains what I'm trying to say: "I let the darkness, found behind my eyelids, welcome me into unconsciousness." For where that was in the story, I knew that the author was trying to say that Ollie was falling fast asleep but I didn't really need to be told that the darkness was behind her lids...that seems like a duh moment to me. This story was riddled with simple things like that which made me feel like maybe the author thought I wasn't smart enough to figure it out.
Either way, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I hope Kallie continues to write and grow. I will still pick up a book she's authored, just hoping that she develops over time. I've been spoiled with some truly great writing that fits my brain (Sarah Dessen, Richelle Mead, Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost) so when I get to books like these from a first time author...I try to be gentle.
I really wanted to love this book but it just fell flat for me. The characters were so unlikable, the story seemed forced, and the writing was less show and more tell. I felt like the story was something I would've written in high school, detailing every single thing instead of giving some details and letting the reader fill in the blank. There was a line in the book that I think adequately explains what I'm trying to say: "I let the darkness, found behind my eyelids, welcome me into unconsciousness." For where that was in the story, I knew that the author was trying to say that Ollie was falling fast asleep but I didn't really need to be told that the darkness was behind her lids...that seems like a duh moment to me. This story was riddled with simple things like that which made me feel like maybe the author thought I wasn't smart enough to figure it out.
Either way, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I hope Kallie continues to write and grow. I will still pick up a book she's authored, just hoping that she develops over time. I've been spoiled with some truly great writing that fits my brain (Sarah Dessen, Richelle Mead, Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost) so when I get to books like these from a first time author...I try to be gentle.
July 27, 2014
First Impressions: I had a hard time starting. I was confused about Mateo and Olivia. I didn’t get what they were worried about. But, I let it go and moved forward. Then I really got into the story. It was unique and a whole other adventure unfolded. It kept me going.
When Olivia comes back from Uruguay, her relationship with her neighbor and best friend Mateo Vargas is strained and uncertain. Her friend, Alexis, spends the night at Ollie's house. When Alexis wakes up the next morning, still in her pj's and right after Ollie has just come back from a run they come outside when they feel an earthquake and hear the other Vargas brother, Jesse, screaming just past the back yard. Mateo is mowing the lawn and they all go investigate only to fall into a chasm.
This becomes a whole new world of people who live underground. There is evil lurking there. A different lifestyle, proper etiquette and stations and lifestyle. The four of them find themselves trying to get back home. They find some adventure, some large scorpions and beasts. They also find the light below is something otherworld that exists above the people's heads there, called the noor. This light keeps them from being in the dark. Later they realize that Olivia has the same light above her head.
There is a race to get home fought with danger and hints of romance and two bickering ex teenagers. They kept me entertained. The world described below is beautiful with amazing waterfalls, caves, and creatures. I could easily imagine this world.
When they do get home, you realize there will be another book to fix these growing earthquakes that the evil below is unleashing. But it isn’t a cliffhanger. Just a nice ending promising more to come.
When Olivia comes back from Uruguay, her relationship with her neighbor and best friend Mateo Vargas is strained and uncertain. Her friend, Alexis, spends the night at Ollie's house. When Alexis wakes up the next morning, still in her pj's and right after Ollie has just come back from a run they come outside when they feel an earthquake and hear the other Vargas brother, Jesse, screaming just past the back yard. Mateo is mowing the lawn and they all go investigate only to fall into a chasm.
This becomes a whole new world of people who live underground. There is evil lurking there. A different lifestyle, proper etiquette and stations and lifestyle. The four of them find themselves trying to get back home. They find some adventure, some large scorpions and beasts. They also find the light below is something otherworld that exists above the people's heads there, called the noor. This light keeps them from being in the dark. Later they realize that Olivia has the same light above her head.
There is a race to get home fought with danger and hints of romance and two bickering ex teenagers. They kept me entertained. The world described below is beautiful with amazing waterfalls, caves, and creatures. I could easily imagine this world.
When they do get home, you realize there will be another book to fix these growing earthquakes that the evil below is unleashing. But it isn’t a cliffhanger. Just a nice ending promising more to come.
October 2, 2015
I was given an ARC book for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This book was amazing! This was a fabulous debut novel for this author. I was enthralled the entire time I was reading this book. This is an Alice in Wonderland type of book, but with enough reality to seem real. This book will leave you wondering if people really do live below the surface of the earth.
Ollie (short for Olivia) has just gotten back from her summer abroad. She is working on reconnecting with her friends and repairing her relationship with her best friend Mateo. Suddenly earthquakes start tearing up their neighborhood. When Ollie attempts to save Mateo's brother Jesse from falling into a chasm that has opened up in her back yard, she finds herself falling in. The fall knocks out Ollie and when she comes to, Mateo, Jesse, Alexis, and Ollie find themselves in a cavern below the earth's surface. Looking up, Ollie doesn't see the chasm they have fallen into, but the roof of the cavern. As the four of them are trying to figure out how to get home, a male figure comes up to them. He introduces himself as Gabriel. Gabriel is a member of a tribe that lives in the caverns below the earth's surface. Gabriel takes the four friends back to his tribe to obtain permission from his father and elder of the tribe to take them back to the surface. As with any fantasy story of this magnitude, there will be trials for this group to overcome. What will happen to them? Do the friends make it back home?
I immensely enjoyed this book. When I got finished reading it, I logged on to amazon and got it for my 13 year old daughter. I look forward to book two in this series!
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This book was amazing! This was a fabulous debut novel for this author. I was enthralled the entire time I was reading this book. This is an Alice in Wonderland type of book, but with enough reality to seem real. This book will leave you wondering if people really do live below the surface of the earth.
Ollie (short for Olivia) has just gotten back from her summer abroad. She is working on reconnecting with her friends and repairing her relationship with her best friend Mateo. Suddenly earthquakes start tearing up their neighborhood. When Ollie attempts to save Mateo's brother Jesse from falling into a chasm that has opened up in her back yard, she finds herself falling in. The fall knocks out Ollie and when she comes to, Mateo, Jesse, Alexis, and Ollie find themselves in a cavern below the earth's surface. Looking up, Ollie doesn't see the chasm they have fallen into, but the roof of the cavern. As the four of them are trying to figure out how to get home, a male figure comes up to them. He introduces himself as Gabriel. Gabriel is a member of a tribe that lives in the caverns below the earth's surface. Gabriel takes the four friends back to his tribe to obtain permission from his father and elder of the tribe to take them back to the surface. As with any fantasy story of this magnitude, there will be trials for this group to overcome. What will happen to them? Do the friends make it back home?
I immensely enjoyed this book. When I got finished reading it, I logged on to amazon and got it for my 13 year old daughter. I look forward to book two in this series!
June 16, 2015
I love the mythology and world building of Descent. I love the idea of a secret group or civilization living underground hidden for centuries. Throughout the course of the journey back to the surface, Olivia and her friends, encounter many unbelievable things from the legends of the people who live below ground. I loved this aspect also.
This is not a simple story of falling underground during an earthquake. This society has its own customs, and people who feel that outsides should not be welcome. As Ollie and her friends accept the help of Gabriel to lead them back to the surface, they begin to discover not all is right above or below the surface.
Ollie is smart and intuitive; these qualities help her understand what is going on and helps her survive some of the dangers along her journey. Jesse and Alex antics tend to be the comic relief during the story, and it is obvious they are not over each other. Mateo is kind and protective, which is why I rooted for him in the romance department through most of the book.
The Descent has originally and magic that really drew me in. The ending left an opening for future adventures from Ollie and her friends. I can only hope Kallie Ross decides to give us more. I really enjoyed getting to know Ollie, Jesse, Mateo, and Alex and watch them form new friendship with the teenagers from underground. I really want to see what is going to happen next with everything that happened in Descent.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**
This is not a simple story of falling underground during an earthquake. This society has its own customs, and people who feel that outsides should not be welcome. As Ollie and her friends accept the help of Gabriel to lead them back to the surface, they begin to discover not all is right above or below the surface.
Ollie is smart and intuitive; these qualities help her understand what is going on and helps her survive some of the dangers along her journey. Jesse and Alex antics tend to be the comic relief during the story, and it is obvious they are not over each other. Mateo is kind and protective, which is why I rooted for him in the romance department through most of the book.
The Descent has originally and magic that really drew me in. The ending left an opening for future adventures from Ollie and her friends. I can only hope Kallie Ross decides to give us more. I really enjoyed getting to know Ollie, Jesse, Mateo, and Alex and watch them form new friendship with the teenagers from underground. I really want to see what is going to happen next with everything that happened in Descent.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**
June 7, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Descent is a wonderful beginning to a promising series. I can't wait to see how Ross writes the next book. Earthquakes are common in California, but you don't expect them as often in Texas. They are becoming more and more frequent around Ollie's home. One earthquake opened up a huge crevice in the field behind Ollie's house and her neighbor falls into the abyss. Ollie, her best friend Alexis, and her neighbor Mateo rush to try and save Jesse (Mateo's brother). They all four wind up falling into the chasm and into a world they never knew existed. Way under the surface of the Earth is an amazing discovery, another world, another way of life. Gabriel and his sister, Keren meet Ollie and her friends and promise to help them return back to the surface. As they spend more time underground Ollie begins to question her relationship with Mateo and begins to be drawn to Gabriel as well. They must depend upon one another to successfully make it back home. However, as time goes by Ollie realizes she may have more in common with the people of the underground than she ever imagined. This young adult novel keeps the reader's interest and makes them eager to find out what will happen next. There are a few grammatical issues, but not enough to distract from the story. I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone who likes the possibility of things not being exactly as we believe.
June 13, 2014
DESCENT is a bit of a departure from the books we normally review. It is a YA Fantasy with a little bit of romance thrown in. I have a thing for YA and Dystopian books, but normally those are reserved for my "fun" reads and I don't review them for the blog. I was so impressed by this debut novel from Author Kallie Ross that I wanted to spread the word on this one instead of keeping it to myself!
Olivia "Ollie" Miller has just returned home from mending her heart while studying abroad. She isn't quite sure where things stand with some of her friends, but when an earthquake strikes they find themselves in a completely different world underground. Ollie and her friends must navigate this new terrain while adapting to a new society they stumble upon. Gabriel and his sister work with the intruders to uncover tribal secrets as they make their way back to the surface.
Kallie Ross has created an alternate universe right in our own society. DESCENT is a compelling read, with details that have you eager to discover this new society right along with the characters. It is well written, with details that easily give readers the ability to visualize this alternate world. There is a bit of a love triangle developing between Mateo, Ollie, and Gabriel, and Kallie did an excellent job of building the tension and attraction with these characters. This book is the start of a series, and I am already waiting impatiently for book two!
Olivia "Ollie" Miller has just returned home from mending her heart while studying abroad. She isn't quite sure where things stand with some of her friends, but when an earthquake strikes they find themselves in a completely different world underground. Ollie and her friends must navigate this new terrain while adapting to a new society they stumble upon. Gabriel and his sister work with the intruders to uncover tribal secrets as they make their way back to the surface.
Kallie Ross has created an alternate universe right in our own society. DESCENT is a compelling read, with details that have you eager to discover this new society right along with the characters. It is well written, with details that easily give readers the ability to visualize this alternate world. There is a bit of a love triangle developing between Mateo, Ollie, and Gabriel, and Kallie did an excellent job of building the tension and attraction with these characters. This book is the start of a series, and I am already waiting impatiently for book two!
July 15, 2014
I really wanted to love this book, but I have to be honest and say that I got a bit bored with it. I expected an exciting adventure-filled read, but it kind of fell flat.
This story started off well and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, but as soon as Ollie and her friends found themselves deep underground, in an unknown world with strange people, I felt a little lost. I did enjoy exploring this new world and its weird inhabitants, and it was enlightening to see the difference between the underground world and that which Ollie and them came from. Life was simple, but with strict rules that made things just as complicated, and maybe even a little harsher that the surface world. Each world had its own set on pros and cons.
When Ollie and her friends started on their journey back to the surface I was expecting a little more action, or more hurdles blocking their path. And when they were faced with problems, they seemed to get over them quickly without too much turmoil. There was a little mystery to this book, with Ollie having her own noor and the realization that she may have more of a connection with the underground people than she thought, but it didn't hold my attention enough to keep me hooked.
The ending also felt a little too abrupt. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger, and I was expecting Ollie to want to find out more about her heritage, but I didn't expect the story to end the way it did. It felt unfinished.
This story started off well and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, but as soon as Ollie and her friends found themselves deep underground, in an unknown world with strange people, I felt a little lost. I did enjoy exploring this new world and its weird inhabitants, and it was enlightening to see the difference between the underground world and that which Ollie and them came from. Life was simple, but with strict rules that made things just as complicated, and maybe even a little harsher that the surface world. Each world had its own set on pros and cons.
When Ollie and her friends started on their journey back to the surface I was expecting a little more action, or more hurdles blocking their path. And when they were faced with problems, they seemed to get over them quickly without too much turmoil. There was a little mystery to this book, with Ollie having her own noor and the realization that she may have more of a connection with the underground people than she thought, but it didn't hold my attention enough to keep me hooked.
The ending also felt a little too abrupt. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger, and I was expecting Ollie to want to find out more about her heritage, but I didn't expect the story to end the way it did. It felt unfinished.
June 9, 2014
Descent is a great start for this YA fantasy/adventure series. Kallie Ross has introduced a unique storyline with interesting characters that will keep your attention and have you watching for the next book. The story is well written, flowing nicely while keeping you immersed in the underground world and its wonders. This world that quietly coexists with our own gives the surface-dwelling characters a glimpse at a type of society they are not used to, which adds to the conflict in the plot.
In between the adventures you also get the taste of teen romance with the main female character, Ollie, capturing the attention of her friend Mateo and her new acquaintance from the underground dwellers, Gabriel. Mateo is the sweet boy next door, while Gabriel is a strong, quiet protector expected to become a leader among his people. Me personally? I preferred Gabriel's character since I'm a sucker for those protector types. But I can definitely see where Ollie would have a hard time choosing between them :-)
This is a nice, clean YA read that I would recommend for ages 14+, and be prepared for an ending that will leave you expectant for the next book. A solid 4-star read for me, and I'll definitely be checking out what comes next!
In between the adventures you also get the taste of teen romance with the main female character, Ollie, capturing the attention of her friend Mateo and her new acquaintance from the underground dwellers, Gabriel. Mateo is the sweet boy next door, while Gabriel is a strong, quiet protector expected to become a leader among his people. Me personally? I preferred Gabriel's character since I'm a sucker for those protector types. But I can definitely see where Ollie would have a hard time choosing between them :-)
This is a nice, clean YA read that I would recommend for ages 14+, and be prepared for an ending that will leave you expectant for the next book. A solid 4-star read for me, and I'll definitely be checking out what comes next!
June 23, 2014
Olivia (Ollie) Miller is a seventeen year old that goes on an adventure of a lifetime. Earthquakes in her hometown begin and an epic journey happens. With her best friend and the Vargas brothers in tow, Ollie finds a world underground with dangers and beautiful scenery.
Mateo is the eldest Vargas brother and in the beginning, I couldn’t quite understand why he was upset with Ollie. But as the story continued I could see the chemistry between the two. But don’t be fooled, there is a new guy that tries to wedge his way through to Ollie. But Ollie has to get through the foggy teenage hormones and focus on getting home with her friends.
I was drawn into this fantasy underground world. The creatures were very different. The noor was a great mystery also. Descent has great potential for a great series. The ending was abrupt and I am curious to see what happens next with these characters. There are still questions that need answered! Anxiously waiting for book 2 :) 4 smooches for Descent by Kallie Ross.
Sarah
Mateo is the eldest Vargas brother and in the beginning, I couldn’t quite understand why he was upset with Ollie. But as the story continued I could see the chemistry between the two. But don’t be fooled, there is a new guy that tries to wedge his way through to Ollie. But Ollie has to get through the foggy teenage hormones and focus on getting home with her friends.
I was drawn into this fantasy underground world. The creatures were very different. The noor was a great mystery also. Descent has great potential for a great series. The ending was abrupt and I am curious to see what happens next with these characters. There are still questions that need answered! Anxiously waiting for book 2 :) 4 smooches for Descent by Kallie Ross.
Sarah
June 9, 2014
ARC received for honest review
What an amazing start to a new series, I was surprised in every page. I actually never expected this to be so damn good.
Ollie finds herself in a rescue mission for Mateo's brother Jesse, with Alexis her best friend and Mateo his neighbor. But this is not a regular mission as they go inside a huge crevice that was formed after an earthquake, where they also discovered an entire different world, so interesting that you just need to keep reading to find out more.
But that's not the entire story, Ollie has begun to have feelings for Mateo, when she meets Gabriel and his sister Karen, whom both wanted to help them.
I'm so looking forward to find what comes next.
What an amazing start to a new series, I was surprised in every page. I actually never expected this to be so damn good.
Ollie finds herself in a rescue mission for Mateo's brother Jesse, with Alexis her best friend and Mateo his neighbor. But this is not a regular mission as they go inside a huge crevice that was formed after an earthquake, where they also discovered an entire different world, so interesting that you just need to keep reading to find out more.
But that's not the entire story, Ollie has begun to have feelings for Mateo, when she meets Gabriel and his sister Karen, whom both wanted to help them.
I'm so looking forward to find what comes next.
July 2, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A fun YA Adventure and an excellent debut from Kallie Ross. This story was filled with adventure and rich with descriptions. I was able to experience this new world with Ollie and her friends from the picture the author painted. She sketched the characters with her words as beautifully as an artist could draw them.
This was a great first effort and a great Young Adult story. I recommend this book to YA lovers, starting with my 15 year old son.
A fun YA Adventure and an excellent debut from Kallie Ross. This story was filled with adventure and rich with descriptions. I was able to experience this new world with Ollie and her friends from the picture the author painted. She sketched the characters with her words as beautifully as an artist could draw them.
This was a great first effort and a great Young Adult story. I recommend this book to YA lovers, starting with my 15 year old son.
August 30, 2014
Read this while on the cruise. It was an easy read and the detail describing the cave dwellings and creatures was in pretty good. would like better explanation of how they got to live down there and acquired that mystical noor, but maybe its better explained in the next book. I liked the characters but am not excited about yet another love triangle. I think Ollie's choice is obvious!
June 2, 2014
DESCENT is a mad plunge into the underground world that you'd never expect and a fresh new story that will have readers raving! I fell in love with the characters and rooted for Ollie as she tried to decipher her feelings for her BFF, Mateo, and their mysterious underground traveling guide Gabriel. I am already excited for whatever sequel Kallie does for this.
August 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I got it for free and was not really sure what to expect. It flowed really well and kept me interested through out. characters were really developed and kept me guessing without feeling like the author was stretching to get certain events to take place. overall I liked it and am interested to see what happens next.
Read
November 8, 2016Cave Dwellers
This was quite a different type of book for me, and I really enjoyed it. I received this book free, with the promise to give an honest review. The characters in the story are great, the flow is great the twists and turns of the story keeps you tuned in. The whole ideal of the story is unique to me and it is very well written.
This was quite a different type of book for me, and I really enjoyed it. I received this book free, with the promise to give an honest review. The characters in the story are great, the flow is great the twists and turns of the story keeps you tuned in. The whole ideal of the story is unique to me and it is very well written.
July 15, 2014
Loved the book, the characters and the subject matter. This is a great start for Kallie Ross and I look forward to reading her future books! I would refer this book to anyone that loves adventure, creativity and a little bit of a love story.
December 22, 2016
Fun and exciting
Great story, love the concept and characters. Sometimes just frustrated that the characters weren't asking the questions that I was asking! A lot unanswered, but that's why there is a second book! Look forward to the conclusion with part 2!
Great story, love the concept and characters. Sometimes just frustrated that the characters weren't asking the questions that I was asking! A lot unanswered, but that's why there is a second book! Look forward to the conclusion with part 2!
February 26, 2017
Good book, kept me guessing and up half of the night reading. This book is for young adults.
January 10, 2017
I am hooked!
Every time I put this book down, I couldn't wait until I had the time to get back to it to see where and what happens next. Now I can't wait to get the next book!
Every time I put this book down, I couldn't wait until I had the time to get back to it to see where and what happens next. Now I can't wait to get the next book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews