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Torn Love #1
Torn: True Love
Everyone has a choice. Abide by the government’s rules and regulations and you may live the average life. Or you can become a Sweeper. Krissa Channing’s destination was clear until Braiden entered her life and clouded her future.
Krissa’s future, which once seemed so promising, is compromised when her relationship with Braiden is forced by the hands of the government. The pressure of an automatic pairing pushes them both down a path they never dreamed they’d travel.
While Krissa accepts the change, Braiden revolts against the government leaving Krissa alone, her heart torn. Should she follow the rules and regulations and continue down the road mapped out for her? Or should she go against everything she’s been taught and follow after her true love?
Krissa’s future, which once seemed so promising, is compromised when her relationship with Braiden is forced by the hands of the government. The pressure of an automatic pairing pushes them both down a path they never dreamed they’d travel.
While Krissa accepts the change, Braiden revolts against the government leaving Krissa alone, her heart torn. Should she follow the rules and regulations and continue down the road mapped out for her? Or should she go against everything she’s been taught and follow after her true love?
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2013
2 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 18, 2013
I was lucky enough to meet the author at YallFest 2013 and she was nice enough to send over a copy of her novel for me to review!
This is a dystopian novel about a 17 year old girl name Krissa Channing. She is an only child that lives with her mother and father in the textiles district. There are seven other districts that are each assigned a job by the government. The other districts surround the big city named Headquarters. It has always been Krissa’s dream to move to the big city when it came time for her picking and pairing. The pairing is the government’s version of marriage so they have some control over it. She has just gotten out of a rocky relationship with her first “real” boyfriend Chance. She is trying to find a new guy for her pairing all while finishing her senior year at high school. She soon finds herself in a relationship with Braiden, Chance’s best friend. Let’s just say it doesn’t go so well.
Braiden is draped in mystery. We don’t know what has happened to his real father. When Braiden and Krissa break the rules, Krissa’s whole future suddenly is compromised. Braiden’s father has had a very big impact on how he looks at the pairing, having kids, and the government in general, and because of this I’m not sure why he chose to be in a relationship to begin with. He really doesn’t show any affection towards Krissa although she is madly in love with him. He is pretty much a big jerk to Krissa and I can never relate to people who put up with that stuff.
I just found myself getting mad at Krissa. She was a weak character that let this borderline abusive relationship continue on. She seemed to know it wasn’t right but swore up and down that she loved him and that her future couldn’t go on without him. Thankfully the frustration was also included in the characters of the story, such as her mom and her friends.
I liked all the other characters in the book, especially Krissa’s mom. There is a certain scene where Krissa could be in a lot of trouble with her parents but I really liked how her mother handled the situation. Her father comes off as sort of mean when we are first introduced to him but he is a good character too. Krissa had some good friends although I wasn’t sure I how I felt about her ex, Chance.
I would have to say this is one of the more believable dystopian worlds. In this book you pretty much have a choice on everything you do and the government gets the final say. I could totally see that happening. Some of these dystopian books are way to government controlled and I have a hard time believing people would let that happen. If that is the type of book you are looking for then this isn’t it. We had a small backstory on how the world became what it was but there was still a lot of questions I had about the government. The ending was a “to be continued” so I hope the next book goes into more detail on that and what is outside of the city.
I didn’t have any problem with the writing style and I liked the idea of the book. Just a warning though... There is quite a bit of sex in this book. Along with drinking and marijuana. They seemed to get drunk quite a few times, they would also rent out hotel rooms for before dance parties. Because the story would jump forward in time quite a bit I couldn’t tell if they really got drunk that much or if it just seemed that way because of the timing.
I still would like to read the next book so I can find out what has happened. I hope Krissa gains some strength in the next book also and learns to stand up for herself.
If you would like a quick easy read then I recommend this book!
*This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a dystopian novel about a 17 year old girl name Krissa Channing. She is an only child that lives with her mother and father in the textiles district. There are seven other districts that are each assigned a job by the government. The other districts surround the big city named Headquarters. It has always been Krissa’s dream to move to the big city when it came time for her picking and pairing. The pairing is the government’s version of marriage so they have some control over it. She has just gotten out of a rocky relationship with her first “real” boyfriend Chance. She is trying to find a new guy for her pairing all while finishing her senior year at high school. She soon finds herself in a relationship with Braiden, Chance’s best friend. Let’s just say it doesn’t go so well.
Braiden is draped in mystery. We don’t know what has happened to his real father. When Braiden and Krissa break the rules, Krissa’s whole future suddenly is compromised. Braiden’s father has had a very big impact on how he looks at the pairing, having kids, and the government in general, and because of this I’m not sure why he chose to be in a relationship to begin with. He really doesn’t show any affection towards Krissa although she is madly in love with him. He is pretty much a big jerk to Krissa and I can never relate to people who put up with that stuff.
I just found myself getting mad at Krissa. She was a weak character that let this borderline abusive relationship continue on. She seemed to know it wasn’t right but swore up and down that she loved him and that her future couldn’t go on without him. Thankfully the frustration was also included in the characters of the story, such as her mom and her friends.
I liked all the other characters in the book, especially Krissa’s mom. There is a certain scene where Krissa could be in a lot of trouble with her parents but I really liked how her mother handled the situation. Her father comes off as sort of mean when we are first introduced to him but he is a good character too. Krissa had some good friends although I wasn’t sure I how I felt about her ex, Chance.
I would have to say this is one of the more believable dystopian worlds. In this book you pretty much have a choice on everything you do and the government gets the final say. I could totally see that happening. Some of these dystopian books are way to government controlled and I have a hard time believing people would let that happen. If that is the type of book you are looking for then this isn’t it. We had a small backstory on how the world became what it was but there was still a lot of questions I had about the government. The ending was a “to be continued” so I hope the next book goes into more detail on that and what is outside of the city.
I didn’t have any problem with the writing style and I liked the idea of the book. Just a warning though... There is quite a bit of sex in this book. Along with drinking and marijuana. They seemed to get drunk quite a few times, they would also rent out hotel rooms for before dance parties. Because the story would jump forward in time quite a bit I couldn’t tell if they really got drunk that much or if it just seemed that way because of the timing.
I still would like to read the next book so I can find out what has happened. I hope Krissa gains some strength in the next book also and learns to stand up for herself.
If you would like a quick easy read then I recommend this book!
*This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2014
Not my typical read, although I do love dystopian and a little romance. but I really enjoyed it, and it is a truly unique story. It's kind of a blend of a love story in a dystopian society that's not all that terrible....BUT! I loved it. I found myself engrossed in Krissa's story and the tragic turn her life takes in her her final year before becoming an adult. A strange world indeed after WWIII, but again doesn't seem to terrible...yet. I can't wait to see if it takes on a more sinister twist and the cliff hanger at the end has me anxious for book 2!!
August 31, 2014
This book is so different in every way I imagined and it's really unique! I felt myself being in a conflicted situation so often during reading because of everything the main character, Krissa, had to go through.
The dystopian society in this book consists of the government (which is located at Headquarters) and several units (which are located in a circle around HQ). Each unit specializes in a certain task and each citizen is able to lead a normal and healthy life with everything that's important except for people from one unit who are called the Sweepers. These have either resisted the government or weren't able to find a partner. A sweeper is considered a low-life and leads a life that has neither anything luxurious nor jobs with good reputation. Each person has to choose both a unit and a person he/she wants to be paired with permanently at a certain age and the government then makes the final decision.The story however focuses much more on the characters and their lives than on the system and each unit which was really unexpected!
In the beginning of the book, Krissa mentions several times that she is ready for something new, a change, more excitement. I think this and the fact that her ex-boyfriend cheated on her TWICE are both reasons why she fell in love with Braiden who she actually barely knew. From the very beginning she had this urge to impress Braiden, and although she didn't know anything about him, she had a strange fascination about him. Basically, without really knowing it, Krissa found herself in a relationship with someone who's hurting her feelings. But she couldn't let it go.
I had a lot of trouble with Braiden because, just like Krissa, I could not figure him out. He is described as someone who is hard to read and complicated, but I couldn't decide what to think of him.
"I wasn't used to chasing after love"
The relationship the both characters had wasn't healthy from the very beginning. Both characters had very different ideas of which paths they want to take, but they kept on pushing back the problems to the very end. Krissa often did things only for Braiden's liking and she often chose him before anything she wants (e.g. the lasermarking she didn't get because he doesn't like it). But she still believed she could have the perfect life with Braiden and that he is 100%ly the perfect pairing. There were so many situations where I was just mad at her for not letting him go.
Braiden was sceptical towards the relationship from the start, he didn't believe in their relationship, nor did he ever believe in the concept of pairing. He even often mentioned this, but Krissa just didn't asked him why or what that meant for them both(why, I don't know!). When Krissa told him she loved him, he answered "I know", and he did this several times in the book. However, there were moments where both Krissa and me as a reader were really suprised, because Braiden DID SHOW AFFECTION from time to time, like when he gave her presents (he knew exactly what she likes) and the teddy bear, or when he complimented her and after some time even told her that he loved her and that she was his life.These moments just didn't last very long but Krissa was too confused to actually realize this. She even said she believed she dated two different Braidens! She held on to their relationship and kept telling herself that one day he will finally love her.
I often asked myself why the heck she couldn't let him go or why she fell in love with him in the first place, but I think Krissa herself doesn't know. Braiden is perfect for her, that's a fact to her. He gives her something no one else can give her, even though she doesn't seem to know herself what this something is.
They had so many up and downs in their relationship, I thought I was going crazy!!
Braiden began to hurt her even more.. He started to get angry with her for nothing, and even though he never abused or hurt her physically, he was really aggressive verbally. Even Krissa's parents and her friends noticed this. It took a long time until Krissa first doubted him and their relationship. Too often she was uncertain of how to react or what to say to him. these are indications that this relationship can not work, but she just couldn't see it.
"I would accept the blame as long as it kept him in my life"
She always thought that she wasn't enough for him and she took the blame on herself whenever something happened Braiden wasn't happy with. She was so afraid to lose him, she apologized for everything! and now comes the most important part: she was aware of the fact THAT IT IS WRONG! She knew she was apologizing for something she didn't do, she knew she was suffering! But this is the problem of abusive relationships/ love believed to be true. Krissa even came to the point where she asked herself how and why she deserved to be treated like this, once she even said the hated Braiden and lost respect for him, she told herself the only reason to not leave him was because it was too late to choose someone else, but STILL she would do anything to keep him in her life
She often kept the truth from him just to keep him calm and to make everything perfect for him, regardless of how much she was suffering.
"I could see the silver lining, there was finally a light at the end of the dark tunnel I'd been trapped in"
I found myself thinking "It is YOUR OWN FAULT to be so miserable!" so often, and I wanted to believe Krissa is a weak character for not being able to 'just' let go, but then, I just couldn't blame her. The relationship with Braiden destroyed her, Krissa changed into a sad girl with a broken heart. She had false hopes the entire time and SO DESPERATELY wanted to believe in Braiden. But all he wanted was freedom. And somehow, I can't really blame him either because he so often told her that he was unsure of what he wants, he never guaranteed to stay with her, and he often mentioned that his plans for the future are different. Of course it was wrong of him to lead her on and to tell her he loved her, but again, she chose to believe him every time, even after he insulted her.
And although "it's only a book that takes place in the future"(blaa!!), these things happen IN REAL LIFE TOO!
I felt both sorry for Krissa AND wanted to kick her ass, wake her up and scream at her to leave Braiden.
I both hated Braiden for how the treated her most of the time BUT also had hopes for their relationship whenever he showed affection!
I waited for an explanation for Braiden's strange behaviour to occur somewhere in the book (yes, I even thought he has a twin brother or is scezophrenic the way he acted!), but so far, there hasn't been one.
The only thing that was a little bit troubling is the fact that there are a lot of back and fourths in the story, some of it didn't seem so neccessary to me.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Summing up: this book is very captivating! The author did a great job creating this world! And I was confused, troubled, both angry and sad at the same time. This book definitely leaves you thinking about relationships and why it is so hard for people to realize that their relationship is just hurting them and why they're still not able to let go. I loved the fact that the story focuses a lot more on the characters than on the society itself (because it's so uncommon!!)
Also, the book ends with a big cliff hanger no one can ignore!
Last but not least,I'd like to thank the author K.D. Ferguson for sending me this book to review!
The dystopian society in this book consists of the government (which is located at Headquarters) and several units (which are located in a circle around HQ). Each unit specializes in a certain task and each citizen is able to lead a normal and healthy life with everything that's important except for people from one unit who are called the Sweepers. These have either resisted the government or weren't able to find a partner. A sweeper is considered a low-life and leads a life that has neither anything luxurious nor jobs with good reputation. Each person has to choose both a unit and a person he/she wants to be paired with permanently at a certain age and the government then makes the final decision.The story however focuses much more on the characters and their lives than on the system and each unit which was really unexpected!
In the beginning of the book, Krissa mentions several times that she is ready for something new, a change, more excitement. I think this and the fact that her ex-boyfriend cheated on her TWICE are both reasons why she fell in love with Braiden who she actually barely knew. From the very beginning she had this urge to impress Braiden, and although she didn't know anything about him, she had a strange fascination about him. Basically, without really knowing it, Krissa found herself in a relationship with someone who's hurting her feelings. But she couldn't let it go.
I had a lot of trouble with Braiden because, just like Krissa, I could not figure him out. He is described as someone who is hard to read and complicated, but I couldn't decide what to think of him.
"I wasn't used to chasing after love"
The relationship the both characters had wasn't healthy from the very beginning. Both characters had very different ideas of which paths they want to take, but they kept on pushing back the problems to the very end. Krissa often did things only for Braiden's liking and she often chose him before anything she wants (e.g. the lasermarking she didn't get because he doesn't like it). But she still believed she could have the perfect life with Braiden and that he is 100%ly the perfect pairing. There were so many situations where I was just mad at her for not letting him go.
Braiden was sceptical towards the relationship from the start, he didn't believe in their relationship, nor did he ever believe in the concept of pairing. He even often mentioned this, but Krissa just didn't asked him why or what that meant for them both(why, I don't know!). When Krissa told him she loved him, he answered "I know", and he did this several times in the book. However, there were moments where both Krissa and me as a reader were really suprised, because Braiden DID SHOW AFFECTION from time to time, like when he gave her presents (he knew exactly what she likes) and the teddy bear, or when he complimented her and after some time even told her that he loved her and that she was his life.These moments just didn't last very long but Krissa was too confused to actually realize this. She even said she believed she dated two different Braidens! She held on to their relationship and kept telling herself that one day he will finally love her.
I often asked myself why the heck she couldn't let him go or why she fell in love with him in the first place, but I think Krissa herself doesn't know. Braiden is perfect for her, that's a fact to her. He gives her something no one else can give her, even though she doesn't seem to know herself what this something is.
They had so many up and downs in their relationship, I thought I was going crazy!!
Braiden began to hurt her even more.. He started to get angry with her for nothing, and even though he never abused or hurt her physically, he was really aggressive verbally. Even Krissa's parents and her friends noticed this. It took a long time until Krissa first doubted him and their relationship. Too often she was uncertain of how to react or what to say to him. these are indications that this relationship can not work, but she just couldn't see it.
"I would accept the blame as long as it kept him in my life"
She always thought that she wasn't enough for him and she took the blame on herself whenever something happened Braiden wasn't happy with. She was so afraid to lose him, she apologized for everything! and now comes the most important part: she was aware of the fact THAT IT IS WRONG! She knew she was apologizing for something she didn't do, she knew she was suffering! But this is the problem of abusive relationships/ love believed to be true. Krissa even came to the point where she asked herself how and why she deserved to be treated like this, once she even said the hated Braiden and lost respect for him, she told herself the only reason to not leave him was because it was too late to choose someone else, but STILL she would do anything to keep him in her life
She often kept the truth from him just to keep him calm and to make everything perfect for him, regardless of how much she was suffering.
"I could see the silver lining, there was finally a light at the end of the dark tunnel I'd been trapped in"
I found myself thinking "It is YOUR OWN FAULT to be so miserable!" so often, and I wanted to believe Krissa is a weak character for not being able to 'just' let go, but then, I just couldn't blame her. The relationship with Braiden destroyed her, Krissa changed into a sad girl with a broken heart. She had false hopes the entire time and SO DESPERATELY wanted to believe in Braiden. But all he wanted was freedom. And somehow, I can't really blame him either because he so often told her that he was unsure of what he wants, he never guaranteed to stay with her, and he often mentioned that his plans for the future are different. Of course it was wrong of him to lead her on and to tell her he loved her, but again, she chose to believe him every time, even after he insulted her.
And although "it's only a book that takes place in the future"(blaa!!), these things happen IN REAL LIFE TOO!
I felt both sorry for Krissa AND wanted to kick her ass, wake her up and scream at her to leave Braiden.
I both hated Braiden for how the treated her most of the time BUT also had hopes for their relationship whenever he showed affection!
I waited for an explanation for Braiden's strange behaviour to occur somewhere in the book (yes, I even thought he has a twin brother or is scezophrenic the way he acted!), but so far, there hasn't been one.
The only thing that was a little bit troubling is the fact that there are a lot of back and fourths in the story, some of it didn't seem so neccessary to me.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Summing up: this book is very captivating! The author did a great job creating this world! And I was confused, troubled, both angry and sad at the same time. This book definitely leaves you thinking about relationships and why it is so hard for people to realize that their relationship is just hurting them and why they're still not able to let go. I loved the fact that the story focuses a lot more on the characters than on the society itself (because it's so uncommon!!)
Also, the book ends with a big cliff hanger no one can ignore!
Last but not least,I'd like to thank the author K.D. Ferguson for sending me this book to review!
December 9, 2013
Stars:4
Summary: In a time where the government is in complete control, an 18 year old girl named Krissa has to plan out her life before she has to be paired. It was either be paired or being a single. Going against the government or being sweeper. To be paired you have the option of putting in your top choices of who to be paired with and the government takes that under consideration and pairs you. But when Krissa falls in love with Braiden Connor she never expected to question the government and its system until him. She was not against it, but he was. After heart wrenching arguments and professions of love from her cheating ex boyfriend (also the one she had all her firsts with) she has to choose. She knows her love for Braiden is strong and she could not see herself paired with anyone else. But can he? Can she convince Braiden that being paired with her is the right choice? Or is she just trying to convince herself? Is Chance (her ex) the right one? Find out in Torn True Love by the lovely K.D. Ferguson
Review: This was a very interesting take on the dystopian genre but what i liked best and thought was very well done was how this novel was both a mix of the contemporary romance genre and the dystopian novel. I was not expecting that but i was pleasantly pleased by the turn out of this book. In the beginning of the novel i was not quite into it but as i read on and grew closer to the character i was fully engrossed by page 20. I was impressed on how the author made a dystopian novels character that is actually for the system (which is a good change) is relatable to some teenagers today. Although the main character Krissa was very well developed and her thoughts and actions were well explained i did not think that of Braiden. I assumed this was intentional on the authors part but i had no idea on whether i should love him or hate him. I feel as if he has an over baring amount of bad qualities and rudeness throughout the book that i had come to then end and decided that i didn't like him. I felt as if Krissa was stupid in some moments when she let him treat her the way she was treated but in a way that is good because today teenagers all around the world are going through this exact same situation (minus the pairing and government thing) which is what i found so relatable not to me personally because i have not yet come to that but i know quite well for others that it is true. What i didn't like about this was only that i didn't quite like either Chance (because he cheated) or Braiden (because various reasons) so throughout the book i felt as if either decision would not be fully beneficial for Krissa. But on the other hand i did get butterflies whenever an intimate scene between Krissa and Braiden came because i felt all the emotions Krissa did at that time which is very impressive on the author's part. I enjoyed the ending which i am not going to spoil but i thought was good decisions for Krissa and i enjoyed the passing of this book. It was not one that you got bored with or one that had many dull moments but a book that caught my attention and drew me in with the characters. Being that this is a debut novel i am thoroughly impressed. This book had many ups for me but has a few downs which is why is lost a star for me.
My Favorite Part: My favorite part in the book was the whole section she was pregnant. I thought it was very well written and very intriguing and suuuuch a different turn in the cliche dystopian genre.
Over all: Over all viewers i think you should read it not because i was sent it for a review but because i honestly loved it. For those who have been with me for a while you know if i didn't enjoy it i would not give it 4 stars ;) So go pick it up on ebook! Its well worth it!
-Love BlondeGirlsBooks!!!!
Summary: In a time where the government is in complete control, an 18 year old girl named Krissa has to plan out her life before she has to be paired. It was either be paired or being a single. Going against the government or being sweeper. To be paired you have the option of putting in your top choices of who to be paired with and the government takes that under consideration and pairs you. But when Krissa falls in love with Braiden Connor she never expected to question the government and its system until him. She was not against it, but he was. After heart wrenching arguments and professions of love from her cheating ex boyfriend (also the one she had all her firsts with) she has to choose. She knows her love for Braiden is strong and she could not see herself paired with anyone else. But can he? Can she convince Braiden that being paired with her is the right choice? Or is she just trying to convince herself? Is Chance (her ex) the right one? Find out in Torn True Love by the lovely K.D. Ferguson
Review: This was a very interesting take on the dystopian genre but what i liked best and thought was very well done was how this novel was both a mix of the contemporary romance genre and the dystopian novel. I was not expecting that but i was pleasantly pleased by the turn out of this book. In the beginning of the novel i was not quite into it but as i read on and grew closer to the character i was fully engrossed by page 20. I was impressed on how the author made a dystopian novels character that is actually for the system (which is a good change) is relatable to some teenagers today. Although the main character Krissa was very well developed and her thoughts and actions were well explained i did not think that of Braiden. I assumed this was intentional on the authors part but i had no idea on whether i should love him or hate him. I feel as if he has an over baring amount of bad qualities and rudeness throughout the book that i had come to then end and decided that i didn't like him. I felt as if Krissa was stupid in some moments when she let him treat her the way she was treated but in a way that is good because today teenagers all around the world are going through this exact same situation (minus the pairing and government thing) which is what i found so relatable not to me personally because i have not yet come to that but i know quite well for others that it is true. What i didn't like about this was only that i didn't quite like either Chance (because he cheated) or Braiden (because various reasons) so throughout the book i felt as if either decision would not be fully beneficial for Krissa. But on the other hand i did get butterflies whenever an intimate scene between Krissa and Braiden came because i felt all the emotions Krissa did at that time which is very impressive on the author's part. I enjoyed the ending which i am not going to spoil but i thought was good decisions for Krissa and i enjoyed the passing of this book. It was not one that you got bored with or one that had many dull moments but a book that caught my attention and drew me in with the characters. Being that this is a debut novel i am thoroughly impressed. This book had many ups for me but has a few downs which is why is lost a star for me.
My Favorite Part: My favorite part in the book was the whole section she was pregnant. I thought it was very well written and very intriguing and suuuuch a different turn in the cliche dystopian genre.
Over all: Over all viewers i think you should read it not because i was sent it for a review but because i honestly loved it. For those who have been with me for a while you know if i didn't enjoy it i would not give it 4 stars ;) So go pick it up on ebook! Its well worth it!
-Love BlondeGirlsBooks!!!!
December 28, 2014
Could you imagine having the government decide who you are paired with for your entire life and also what job you will spend your days carrying out?
This is the world Krissa lives in and this is the world that decides her fate.
This novel was given to me by the Author to read and provide an honest review.
I was immediately sucked in by the drama surrounding Krissa, she is such an intriguing character and seems so at ease with her future – that is until she meets Braiden.
Braiden is her everything, but he seems completely wrong for her. You see the connection where it is an epic love, unfathomable in its complexity and unrelenting in its power but their love seems to only be leading to disastrous consequences.
Teenage heartache, pregnancy, rebellious antics – they all play a huge part of this novel.
I really did enjoy how the story was told and I was really captivated by the unravelling that became Krissa’s future, as bad as that may sound you just couldn’t stop reading and holding onto hope that everything would work out.
The relationship between Krissa and Braiden is a bit toxic, add in their dysfunctional nature and Braiden’s stubborn/arrogant side and you don’t want them to be anywhere near each other.
You understand Krissa’s need for Braiden but you really have this love/hate relationship with his character. You just want to understand him but as a reader, it feels as though he is also pushing you away.
I do wish that more time was spent delving into the workings of the world these characters exist in. I think that this was something fascinating which could have been explored in more depth.
Apart from that, I think the struggles and teenage rebellion were portrayed fantastically and this novel really focused on those areas. The strong message I got from this novel is how one mistake can change the entire course of your future.
Overall I did enjoy this novel and it had me hooked. It won’t be for everyone as the drama and anguish can be a bit tedious. If this is not your type of genre or you don’t enjoy the gossip and drama sparks in a young adult novel like I do then you may not enjoy this book as much as others.
I have also received a copy of the sequel, Tore Divided Love. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Krissa and Braiden.
This is the world Krissa lives in and this is the world that decides her fate.
This novel was given to me by the Author to read and provide an honest review.
I was immediately sucked in by the drama surrounding Krissa, she is such an intriguing character and seems so at ease with her future – that is until she meets Braiden.
Braiden is her everything, but he seems completely wrong for her. You see the connection where it is an epic love, unfathomable in its complexity and unrelenting in its power but their love seems to only be leading to disastrous consequences.
Teenage heartache, pregnancy, rebellious antics – they all play a huge part of this novel.
I really did enjoy how the story was told and I was really captivated by the unravelling that became Krissa’s future, as bad as that may sound you just couldn’t stop reading and holding onto hope that everything would work out.
The relationship between Krissa and Braiden is a bit toxic, add in their dysfunctional nature and Braiden’s stubborn/arrogant side and you don’t want them to be anywhere near each other.
You understand Krissa’s need for Braiden but you really have this love/hate relationship with his character. You just want to understand him but as a reader, it feels as though he is also pushing you away.
I do wish that more time was spent delving into the workings of the world these characters exist in. I think that this was something fascinating which could have been explored in more depth.
Apart from that, I think the struggles and teenage rebellion were portrayed fantastically and this novel really focused on those areas. The strong message I got from this novel is how one mistake can change the entire course of your future.
Overall I did enjoy this novel and it had me hooked. It won’t be for everyone as the drama and anguish can be a bit tedious. If this is not your type of genre or you don’t enjoy the gossip and drama sparks in a young adult novel like I do then you may not enjoy this book as much as others.
I have also received a copy of the sequel, Tore Divided Love. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Krissa and Braiden.
October 23, 2013
Wow. Excellent concept on so many levels. You've got a dystopian government theme running in the background with a class of high schoolers getting ready to graduate and needing to decide their top three picks to be "paired" (married) to for the rest of their lives as well as pick which "unit" (production center or state) they want to make a living in. (If they aren't paired for reproducing (the government's highest favored choice), they run the risk of staying single and becoming "sweepers", the lowest in society). The focus is on the protagonist, Krissa, and the pressure she feels to have three names to put as choices for her pairing. She has everything going for her, is intelligent, pretty, popular, active in school activities, knows what unit she wants to live in and has a steady boyfriend, Chance ... until he cheats on her, more than once. Her security of having a pairing is lost. She rebounds and starts dating his best friend, Braiden, who does not treat her well, but she hides it from her family and friends. I felt I could easily identify with her passiveness in tolerating manipulative and verbally abusive relationships because she is feeling so much pressure, both peer and parental, for the pairing. I don't condone it, but I can understand it. As graduation approaches, her friends and classmates have their choices made but Braiden is dragging his feet and now Chance is having second thoughts! The ending is a cliffhanger and really leaves things at a pivitol point. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of it. This was a very good first book by a new author and, even though the dystopian theme is getting a bit tired, she puts a new twist on it and adds elements of teen pregnancy, abusive relationships and dependency issues. It will be interesting to see how everything comes together. Would definitely recommend for the young adult group. I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you.
August 24, 2013
Futuristic Romance or Tragedy? I enjoyed reading this story. It was hard to put down and read very quickly. It covered a years time, so not too specific or detailed on all events. The ending did sneak up on me though, and now I can't wait to read the next one. A bit about the story ...
The setting is the textile unit post World War III. The country is run by the government and basic necessities are provided, while you have to work extra to have extra. There are several units (textile, educators, agricultural, etc) and the headquarters. Upon graduation you must pick your top 3 people to be "paired" with (ie marriage) and your top 3 places to live. Our leading lady, Krissa starts the story just before her senior year. She has just broken up with Chance who has cheated on her multiple times. In the fall her and Braiden start going out - all is well until she gets pregnant. Braiden isn't too sure about becoming a father or the governments rules - he wonders what is outside of the units and struggles to fit into the plan. His father left after he was born to explore what was outside of government living. Krissa believes they can make it work, while Braiden isn't too sure. His feelings run warm and cold. Will Krissa and Braiden make it or will he follow in his father's footsteps? What does their future hold?
Favorite passage: While he kicked me down a few notches, I accepted his words. I would accept the blame as long as it kept him in my life. I was so desperate not to lead a sweeper life that I was willing to give up on myself. Being paired was more important to me than being alone.
The setting is the textile unit post World War III. The country is run by the government and basic necessities are provided, while you have to work extra to have extra. There are several units (textile, educators, agricultural, etc) and the headquarters. Upon graduation you must pick your top 3 people to be "paired" with (ie marriage) and your top 3 places to live. Our leading lady, Krissa starts the story just before her senior year. She has just broken up with Chance who has cheated on her multiple times. In the fall her and Braiden start going out - all is well until she gets pregnant. Braiden isn't too sure about becoming a father or the governments rules - he wonders what is outside of the units and struggles to fit into the plan. His father left after he was born to explore what was outside of government living. Krissa believes they can make it work, while Braiden isn't too sure. His feelings run warm and cold. Will Krissa and Braiden make it or will he follow in his father's footsteps? What does their future hold?
Favorite passage: While he kicked me down a few notches, I accepted his words. I would accept the blame as long as it kept him in my life. I was so desperate not to lead a sweeper life that I was willing to give up on myself. Being paired was more important to me than being alone.
September 4, 2015
Imagine choosing your mate and your occupation before you graduate high school. This is the choice Krissa Channing faces. She had dreams of living in the Headquarters and being paired with someone similar to her. All this changes when she meets and falls in love with Braiden.
Braiden is aloof, moody and the best friend of her ex-boyfriend (Chance). Krissa mistakenly thinks she can change him. The more she tries to change him, the more he withdraws. His mood-swings and emotional abuse of Krissa got on my last nerve. He’s a total jerk and we’re left to wonder what his deal is.
Circumstances occur which happen to teens and Krissa’s future is in jeopardy. The worst part, Braiden freaks out and leaves her to pick up the pieces.
The author takes us on an emotional roller coaster filled with drama and teenage angst. Questions are left unanswered and I had to read the next book to find out what happens next.
Krissa is a not your typical heroine. Where I am normally drawn to the “kick-butt” type of gal like Buffy from BtVS, I did like her growth in this book. She finally grew a pair and made some decisions on her own.
If you like dystopian romance, this is a good start to a series.
My Rating: 3 stars
Braiden is aloof, moody and the best friend of her ex-boyfriend (Chance). Krissa mistakenly thinks she can change him. The more she tries to change him, the more he withdraws. His mood-swings and emotional abuse of Krissa got on my last nerve. He’s a total jerk and we’re left to wonder what his deal is.
Circumstances occur which happen to teens and Krissa’s future is in jeopardy. The worst part, Braiden freaks out and leaves her to pick up the pieces.
The author takes us on an emotional roller coaster filled with drama and teenage angst. Questions are left unanswered and I had to read the next book to find out what happens next.
Krissa is a not your typical heroine. Where I am normally drawn to the “kick-butt” type of gal like Buffy from BtVS, I did like her growth in this book. She finally grew a pair and made some decisions on her own.
If you like dystopian romance, this is a good start to a series.
My Rating: 3 stars
October 22, 2014
Torn True Love? I received this book from the author at Yall Fest in SC. She is a very talented writer. Her debut book , which is in the dystopian genre, is truly contemporary or NA in my opinion. The love story between Krissa and Braiden wasn't true love. Braiden's character had many flaws. I felt like Krissa was way too strong to be paired with him. I think she knows that as well. "How was I to be paired with someone I hated so much?" I hope for Krissa, that she finds someone to truly fall in love with in the sequel. Her options are slim, pretty much. Most of the men in her life were not strong enough for her character. Some were actual slimeballs. K.D wove an intricate love story that is very true to todays realistic relationships.
December 13, 2015
This book was an excellent beginner to a series. It set the stage and got me interested in what could/will/won't/might happen next and that is really what a first book needs to do. I feel like this book may be the weaker of the three but that is ok. It is strong enough to keep me reading on through the next and that is what really matters.
The characters really begin to flesh out in the last half of the book and the story continues with its' twists and turns.
I recommend this book and I highly recommend hanging in there with it, you won't regret it.
The characters really begin to flesh out in the last half of the book and the story continues with its' twists and turns.
I recommend this book and I highly recommend hanging in there with it, you won't regret it.
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January 2, 2016
K.D's writing style seemed to flow nicely in this book. I didn't always agree with Krissa's decisions, however, I can see that they are based on the the modern notion of how teenagers think. I felt bad for Krissa, seeing her make those common mistakes that most girls make. I'm intrigued to read the next book because I want her to find "true" happiness and be able to see her character grow.
August 5, 2014
Can I give negative stars? Please? This book was TERRIBLE. Kris was in a verbally abusive relationship but she still loved him?!?!?!?! WHAT?!?!?! I HATED THIS BOOK WITH A PASSION! The author ALSO had awkward time jumps and changes in tense. DON'T READ!
April 8, 2013
I wrote it.... so I think it's pretty awesome :-)
Torn True Love
Torn True Love
June 13, 2017
I love the idea of the world that is created — there were several districts that were specialized in something, and then there was the Headquarters. To a sense, there is some sort of a “freedom” where you can request for a district you want to work in, and to be forever paired with someone you choose.
However, I think the development fell short. For me, there was a lack of world-building. I started the book with the thought that this is a dystopian one (well, it is), but it felt more of like a contemporary one. It was more of how Krissa struggled with the relationships around her than it is about the world. This may be because of the length. It’s very short, and it felt rushed. There was little dialogue or interaction between the characters, and it was more of a narrative. It made it hard for me to connect with the story and the characters, especially when Krissa would encounter a problem, and dwells about it for a few minutes, then BAM. She just pushes it to the back of her mind, and for me, it felt like the problems were left unresolved. By this I mean, even though the problems were resolved, but there were little interactions and only explanations, which made me feel detached from the situations.
With this, I was sad that I didn’t get to connect with the characters at all. It felt like I had to sympathize with Krissa’s situation, but I couldn’t. I kept on wishing that Krissa would come to her senses and realize how borderline abusive Braiden is with her, but she didn’t. She just keeps on hoping that Braiden and their relationship would get better, and I found it annoying on how she realizes at some point that the relationship is of no good, but doesn’t break it off anyway. I also was surprised at how fast they got together, and how much in love Krissa felt with Braiden because the romance seemed to developed very fast and felt one-sided.
I hate that this didn’t work out for me, especially with characters that refused to grow and continuously trying to make good of a situation that obviously will not change. It was different to focus more on the characters rather than the society itself, and how contemporary and dystopian were mixed together, but sadly, it didn’t just had me invested. Although, I like how this book definitely leaves you thinking on how relationships like Krissa and Braiden’s may be very much happening in the real world as well, on how difficult it is to let go, and most of all, to realize on how much the relationship is already hurting oneself.
However, I think the development fell short. For me, there was a lack of world-building. I started the book with the thought that this is a dystopian one (well, it is), but it felt more of like a contemporary one. It was more of how Krissa struggled with the relationships around her than it is about the world. This may be because of the length. It’s very short, and it felt rushed. There was little dialogue or interaction between the characters, and it was more of a narrative. It made it hard for me to connect with the story and the characters, especially when Krissa would encounter a problem, and dwells about it for a few minutes, then BAM. She just pushes it to the back of her mind, and for me, it felt like the problems were left unresolved. By this I mean, even though the problems were resolved, but there were little interactions and only explanations, which made me feel detached from the situations.
With this, I was sad that I didn’t get to connect with the characters at all. It felt like I had to sympathize with Krissa’s situation, but I couldn’t. I kept on wishing that Krissa would come to her senses and realize how borderline abusive Braiden is with her, but she didn’t. She just keeps on hoping that Braiden and their relationship would get better, and I found it annoying on how she realizes at some point that the relationship is of no good, but doesn’t break it off anyway. I also was surprised at how fast they got together, and how much in love Krissa felt with Braiden because the romance seemed to developed very fast and felt one-sided.
I hate that this didn’t work out for me, especially with characters that refused to grow and continuously trying to make good of a situation that obviously will not change. It was different to focus more on the characters rather than the society itself, and how contemporary and dystopian were mixed together, but sadly, it didn’t just had me invested. Although, I like how this book definitely leaves you thinking on how relationships like Krissa and Braiden’s may be very much happening in the real world as well, on how difficult it is to let go, and most of all, to realize on how much the relationship is already hurting oneself.
May 14, 2019
Even in the distopian future teenagers have the same emotions
Even with all the government control teens still do stuff they shouldn't, with all the same emotional baggage. The main girl character tries to change her boyfriend even though she can tell her doesn't want to. Enough said.
Even with all the government control teens still do stuff they shouldn't, with all the same emotional baggage. The main girl character tries to change her boyfriend even though she can tell her doesn't want to. Enough said.
February 3, 2014
This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
Krissa Channing's never had any problems abiding by the governments rules. Then she meets Braiden and things change some. He rebels against their governments pairing rules and the need to allow them to govern their positions in life. Suddenly she is pushed down a path she never thought she'd have to travel and her once bright future is looking dimmer by the minute.
I've kinda been avoiding reviewing this. I hate writing negative reviews for books that I got from the author. I know logically (and statistically) that I'm not going to love every book that I'm given the opportunity to read, but that doesn't make writing the negative ones easier. I hate taking something I know the author worked hard on and writing less than positive things, even if the negative criticism helps them improve the novel. Who am I to say what is really bad? Who appointed me the knower of all great things literary? I guess I did since I'm the one who started reviewing books in my spare time, but I digress.
I had many issues with this short novel, this biggest one being it's length. It's very short, 150 pages, and it felt very rushed. Every interaction between the characters is quick and to the point, with very little dialogue or interaction. They meet for dinner, eat, say a handful of words to each other, and then leave. Bam, scene over. It's really that way with everything. All of the scenes or situations we see Krissa in, she dwells on the problem for a minute or two and then pushes it to the back of her mind to focus on whatever is directly in front of her, but then we don't really see that either. That's my number one comment is that we need more. More interactions and more emotions, maybe smoothing things out that were a bit too choppy.
My other big issue is that I didn't care for any of the characters. As much as Krissa is put into a situation I should be able to sympathize with, I just can't. Braiden is an asshole, with a capital A, and all of her problems stem from that relationship. If she'd stop being an idiot and get away from him, her life would improve, but she doesn't. She keeps trekking through, hoping he'll get better. I hate (hate hate hate) relationships like that. Maybe it hits too close to home because my best friend is in the exact same position (well, add in a few years and a few kids) and it drives me fucking nuts. Why do you stay with this jackass? Why do you love him when he's borderline abusive towards you? And the way he treats the unexpected surprise had me immediately wishing Krissa would come to her senses. She never does.
Another problem is the lack of world-building. This is presented as a dystopian, but really it's contemporary. This is much more about Krissa's relationship struggles than it is about the world it takes place in. And only a few minor things have really changed, with the government being involved in pairing (aka marriage) and where you live. I think it's trying to straddle the line between the two and it doesn't work well.
I hate that I didn't love this, but it just didn't work for me. Characters I couldn't stand that don't really grow or evolve, just dither about trying to make the same bad situation work even though it's obvious it never will. It's ending leaves something to be desired, simply leaving us with "To be continued" but none of the outlets show a sequel. If you are gonna leave us hanging, at least give us an idea of when we'll get the sequel. (EDIT: Per the author the sequel will be released in June of this year, so we do know now when we can get the next installment, should we be so inclined.) Sadly, I don't have the slightest desire to read any more of this series because it just didn't work for me. I'm all about the characters and since I couldn't stand either of the main two here, I just can't recommend it.
****Thank you to K D Ferguson for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review****
Krissa Channing's never had any problems abiding by the governments rules. Then she meets Braiden and things change some. He rebels against their governments pairing rules and the need to allow them to govern their positions in life. Suddenly she is pushed down a path she never thought she'd have to travel and her once bright future is looking dimmer by the minute.
I've kinda been avoiding reviewing this. I hate writing negative reviews for books that I got from the author. I know logically (and statistically) that I'm not going to love every book that I'm given the opportunity to read, but that doesn't make writing the negative ones easier. I hate taking something I know the author worked hard on and writing less than positive things, even if the negative criticism helps them improve the novel. Who am I to say what is really bad? Who appointed me the knower of all great things literary? I guess I did since I'm the one who started reviewing books in my spare time, but I digress.
I had many issues with this short novel, this biggest one being it's length. It's very short, 150 pages, and it felt very rushed. Every interaction between the characters is quick and to the point, with very little dialogue or interaction. They meet for dinner, eat, say a handful of words to each other, and then leave. Bam, scene over. It's really that way with everything. All of the scenes or situations we see Krissa in, she dwells on the problem for a minute or two and then pushes it to the back of her mind to focus on whatever is directly in front of her, but then we don't really see that either. That's my number one comment is that we need more. More interactions and more emotions, maybe smoothing things out that were a bit too choppy.
My other big issue is that I didn't care for any of the characters. As much as Krissa is put into a situation I should be able to sympathize with, I just can't. Braiden is an asshole, with a capital A, and all of her problems stem from that relationship. If she'd stop being an idiot and get away from him, her life would improve, but she doesn't. She keeps trekking through, hoping he'll get better. I hate (hate hate hate) relationships like that. Maybe it hits too close to home because my best friend is in the exact same position (well, add in a few years and a few kids) and it drives me fucking nuts. Why do you stay with this jackass? Why do you love him when he's borderline abusive towards you? And the way he treats the unexpected surprise had me immediately wishing Krissa would come to her senses. She never does.
Another problem is the lack of world-building. This is presented as a dystopian, but really it's contemporary. This is much more about Krissa's relationship struggles than it is about the world it takes place in. And only a few minor things have really changed, with the government being involved in pairing (aka marriage) and where you live. I think it's trying to straddle the line between the two and it doesn't work well.
I hate that I didn't love this, but it just didn't work for me. Characters I couldn't stand that don't really grow or evolve, just dither about trying to make the same bad situation work even though it's obvious it never will. It's ending leaves something to be desired, simply leaving us with "To be continued" but none of the outlets show a sequel. If you are gonna leave us hanging, at least give us an idea of when we'll get the sequel. (EDIT: Per the author the sequel will be released in June of this year, so we do know now when we can get the next installment, should we be so inclined.) Sadly, I don't have the slightest desire to read any more of this series because it just didn't work for me. I'm all about the characters and since I couldn't stand either of the main two here, I just can't recommend it.
****Thank you to K D Ferguson for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review****
November 26, 2014
Read more of my reviews at My Full Bookshelf Reviews
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from the poem at the beginning of the book, there were absolutely no redeeming factors in Torn True Love. I did not know how much hate I could have for a love triangle--or a love interest--until I read this. That wasn't only problem, though; it seemed like I was constantly rolling my eyes while reading this.
However, the main problem was the love triangle. Braiden is straight up verbally abusive to Krissa. And Krissa could not see it whatsoever, but instead, hung on to him and refused to face up to the fact that he was the most horrible boyfriend ever. Chance, who, God help me, I wanted to physically hurt throughout the course of the book seemed to a) be just thrown in the plot for the sake of some more drama. b) was almost as douschey as Braiden and c) was a creep extraordinaire (though, to be fair, so was Braiden.) If a boy cheats on you, breaking your heart, and then wants to get back together, I really don't think that it's a good idea to even consider it. Plus, Krissa kept saying she was over Chance, so why was he even an option?
Krissa was a very weak heroine. This whole book revolved around her love life, and it was a pretty horrible love life. I wanted more substance than that. She does pretty non-dystopian things like go to parties and be a cheerleader. Quite honestly, if it hadn't been for the fact that this was dystopian, that probably wouldn't have bothered me too much, though I may have labeled it as a tad stereotypical. But the thing is--this is dystopian.
Practically none of the book felt like a dystopian novel, in fact. If it had not been for the infrequent mention of the 'sweeper unit', and the fact that society now 'pairs' instead of marries, I probably would have forgotten that Torn True Love was not a realistic teen drama.
The large amount of 'mature' content in this book really did not sit well with me; it had more than any of the adult books I've read. I didn't take off stars due to this because I think that's more personal, but honestly, I think that even someone who is usually fine with mature content might start to get annoyed as well because it seemed to get in the way of the actual plot a few times.
The end was...oh dear. All it did for me was reinforce that makes terrible choices when it comes to men. I was actually somewhat relieved that the book was over.
I am not recommending this book. Not even for dystopian fans, because it really was not a 'true' dystopian. It was rather painful for me to read, and had I not needed to read the sequel for a blog tour, I definitely would have stopped very soon into the story.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from the poem at the beginning of the book, there were absolutely no redeeming factors in Torn True Love. I did not know how much hate I could have for a love triangle--or a love interest--until I read this. That wasn't only problem, though; it seemed like I was constantly rolling my eyes while reading this.
However, the main problem was the love triangle. Braiden is straight up verbally abusive to Krissa. And Krissa could not see it whatsoever, but instead, hung on to him and refused to face up to the fact that he was the most horrible boyfriend ever. Chance, who, God help me, I wanted to physically hurt throughout the course of the book seemed to a) be just thrown in the plot for the sake of some more drama. b) was almost as douschey as Braiden and c) was a creep extraordinaire (though, to be fair, so was Braiden.) If a boy cheats on you, breaking your heart, and then wants to get back together, I really don't think that it's a good idea to even consider it. Plus, Krissa kept saying she was over Chance, so why was he even an option?
Krissa was a very weak heroine. This whole book revolved around her love life, and it was a pretty horrible love life. I wanted more substance than that. She does pretty non-dystopian things like go to parties and be a cheerleader. Quite honestly, if it hadn't been for the fact that this was dystopian, that probably wouldn't have bothered me too much, though I may have labeled it as a tad stereotypical. But the thing is--this is dystopian.
Practically none of the book felt like a dystopian novel, in fact. If it had not been for the infrequent mention of the 'sweeper unit', and the fact that society now 'pairs' instead of marries, I probably would have forgotten that Torn True Love was not a realistic teen drama.
The large amount of 'mature' content in this book really did not sit well with me; it had more than any of the adult books I've read. I didn't take off stars due to this because I think that's more personal, but honestly, I think that even someone who is usually fine with mature content might start to get annoyed as well because it seemed to get in the way of the actual plot a few times.
The end was...oh dear. All it did for me was reinforce that makes terrible choices when it comes to men. I was actually somewhat relieved that the book was over.
I am not recommending this book. Not even for dystopian fans, because it really was not a 'true' dystopian. It was rather painful for me to read, and had I not needed to read the sequel for a blog tour, I definitely would have stopped very soon into the story.
September 5, 2014
I received a copy from the author in exchange for a review.
I want to start off saying a huge thank you to K.D. Ferguson for considering me to review this for her, and of course giving me a copy.
I enjoyed her idea for this world that the main character Krissa lives in. Several districts and Headquarters at the center of it all. You abide by the government’s rules, you can be placed in the district you request and are forever paired with whom you choose.
If you do not abide, or you choose to stay single you enter the dreaded Sweeper's district.
I LOVED that concept.
But....
The book disappointed me on many levels.
There wasn't much detail on this 'dystopian' world. A lot of now a day things came up (shopping, partying, proms, pizza delivery, etc…), and I didn't think I’d ever see that stuff in a dystopian following a World War III. Every now and then something would be said about the new government, and our current world’s everyday items just had a different name. But it wasn't enough to make this book feel as if it is not just a dark contemporary.
The main character was so WEAK and frustrating, she made it hard for me to even want to continue this book. The relationship was clearly BAD BAD NEWS, and it was so back and forth. I think the only thing motivating me to continue, was to find out if she every came to her senses and dropped this boy.
A lot of dialogue was lacking. Problems would come up (and I mean LOTS of problems), and they would somehow become resolved. You’d get a bit of explanation as to how it was resolved, but dialogue was not a factor.
It was here’s a problem, here’s a few words, then here is the character jumping to a new day as good as new.
As I said I loved the IDEA of this book, but I don’t think it was followed through, or had enough to back it up.
The author was kind enough to send me copies of both her books. I'll get to the sequel some day because I am curious as to what happens next, but right now would just be really difficult for me to want to.
-Thereadingdahlia.
I want to start off saying a huge thank you to K.D. Ferguson for considering me to review this for her, and of course giving me a copy.
I enjoyed her idea for this world that the main character Krissa lives in. Several districts and Headquarters at the center of it all. You abide by the government’s rules, you can be placed in the district you request and are forever paired with whom you choose.
If you do not abide, or you choose to stay single you enter the dreaded Sweeper's district.
I LOVED that concept.
But....
The book disappointed me on many levels.
There wasn't much detail on this 'dystopian' world. A lot of now a day things came up (shopping, partying, proms, pizza delivery, etc…), and I didn't think I’d ever see that stuff in a dystopian following a World War III. Every now and then something would be said about the new government, and our current world’s everyday items just had a different name. But it wasn't enough to make this book feel as if it is not just a dark contemporary.
The main character was so WEAK and frustrating, she made it hard for me to even want to continue this book. The relationship was clearly BAD BAD NEWS, and it was so back and forth. I think the only thing motivating me to continue, was to find out if she every came to her senses and dropped this boy.
A lot of dialogue was lacking. Problems would come up (and I mean LOTS of problems), and they would somehow become resolved. You’d get a bit of explanation as to how it was resolved, but dialogue was not a factor.
It was here’s a problem, here’s a few words, then here is the character jumping to a new day as good as new.
As I said I loved the IDEA of this book, but I don’t think it was followed through, or had enough to back it up.
The author was kind enough to send me copies of both her books. I'll get to the sequel some day because I am curious as to what happens next, but right now would just be really difficult for me to want to.
-Thereadingdahlia.
September 19, 2014
My summary:
After World War 3, Headquarters is created as a new 'government' to lead the people still living. There are eight districts that surround HQ. They are: Resource, Education, Agriculture, Textile, Construction, Care, Finance, and Sweeper. (Sweepers are the low-life people that are put together because they have been viewed as unable or unwilling to cooperate with Headquarters.) Each district has their own jobs to do to keep each other alive.
The book follows a girl named Krissa who has lived in the Textile District her whole life. Because of all the divorce and unhappiness before the war; In their senior year of high school, HQ now match the grads with a district, job, and spouse. To give these graduating individuals some say in their matches, they are to fill out their top choices in each category. Coming out of a bad break- up, Krissa has a lot of decisions to make. While reading this book you get to follow Krissa struggle through many different relationships and hardships.
I thought this book was very interesting. I expected to be really confused with the world but the author wrote it in a way that was really amazing and easy to understand. I liked that Krissa's situation always kept me on my feet wanting to know what happened next. I think I would like to see Krissa ending up in HQ. The districts were similar to those in The Hunger Games or Divergent but I think that the way Ferguson wrote hers made them unique. I can't wait to read the next book because ohh the ending! whoa. what? I need to know what happens next!
I gave this book a 4/5 because I really did like it, I just wish it were longer.
After World War 3, Headquarters is created as a new 'government' to lead the people still living. There are eight districts that surround HQ. They are: Resource, Education, Agriculture, Textile, Construction, Care, Finance, and Sweeper. (Sweepers are the low-life people that are put together because they have been viewed as unable or unwilling to cooperate with Headquarters.) Each district has their own jobs to do to keep each other alive.
The book follows a girl named Krissa who has lived in the Textile District her whole life. Because of all the divorce and unhappiness before the war; In their senior year of high school, HQ now match the grads with a district, job, and spouse. To give these graduating individuals some say in their matches, they are to fill out their top choices in each category. Coming out of a bad break- up, Krissa has a lot of decisions to make. While reading this book you get to follow Krissa struggle through many different relationships and hardships.
I thought this book was very interesting. I expected to be really confused with the world but the author wrote it in a way that was really amazing and easy to understand. I liked that Krissa's situation always kept me on my feet wanting to know what happened next. I think I would like to see Krissa ending up in HQ. The districts were similar to those in The Hunger Games or Divergent but I think that the way Ferguson wrote hers made them unique. I can't wait to read the next book because ohh the ending! whoa. what? I need to know what happens next!
I gave this book a 4/5 because I really did like it, I just wish it were longer.
August 18, 2014
I was really intrigued by the life that was portrayed. I really like the whole dystopian futuristic stuff, alot. I like the entire society description and the choosing I think. I immediately had a love hate relationship with the MC, Krissa but only because she seemed a bit fickle and maybe a tad easy.
She was definitely a girl transitioning to woman and searching for her match to be paired with so it made sense to me. I like her family dynamic and the group of friends along for the ride. Most assuredly a good cast of characters in this series.
Braiden pissed me off with his cavalier manner and the inability for Krissa to get a good grip on his true feelings. I felt bad for the girl more than once. I was sad a little that she couldn't work things out with her ex, Chance but then I reminded myself everything he had done to her and that ship sailed.
And oh my gawd after everything went down I was floored and pretty pissed at Braiden.
The plot has a steady pace and it is a unique take on a futuristic society. The focus on the pairing made it a smashup of Matched and Divergent but totally different from the two. If that even makes sense to you LOL!
I definitely recommend it for Upper YA, the storyline was great and it did keep me guessing. So all in all a great read.
She was definitely a girl transitioning to woman and searching for her match to be paired with so it made sense to me. I like her family dynamic and the group of friends along for the ride. Most assuredly a good cast of characters in this series.
Braiden pissed me off with his cavalier manner and the inability for Krissa to get a good grip on his true feelings. I felt bad for the girl more than once. I was sad a little that she couldn't work things out with her ex, Chance but then I reminded myself everything he had done to her and that ship sailed.
And oh my gawd after everything went down I was floored and pretty pissed at Braiden.
The plot has a steady pace and it is a unique take on a futuristic society. The focus on the pairing made it a smashup of Matched and Divergent but totally different from the two. If that even makes sense to you LOL!
I definitely recommend it for Upper YA, the storyline was great and it did keep me guessing. So all in all a great read.
October 19, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept of this book but it had disappointed me on so many levels.
First, the main character, Krissa, didn't work for me. I think she's weak, frustrating and she makes stupid decisions. I feel like she keeps everything to herself. And Braiden. He's mean and disrespectful. I hated him so much. Second, everything seemed so rushed. The characters get together, talk for a minute or two, and then the scene's over. Third, the lack of world-building. To honest, the only reason why I kept on reading was because I wanted to know more about the government. I wanted to know how the government affects the lives of the characters.
But like what I've said, I loved the concept but I just needed more. More character development, more character interaction, more world-building.
The author was kind enough to send me a copy of this book and its sequel, Tore Divided Love. I don't think I would be reading the sequel anytime soon... but eventually, I will because I'm curious of what's going to happen next.
(this review is also posted on my blog: http://dannathebibliophile.blogspot.com/)
I loved the concept of this book but it had disappointed me on so many levels.
First, the main character, Krissa, didn't work for me. I think she's weak, frustrating and she makes stupid decisions. I feel like she keeps everything to herself. And Braiden. He's mean and disrespectful. I hated him so much. Second, everything seemed so rushed. The characters get together, talk for a minute or two, and then the scene's over. Third, the lack of world-building. To honest, the only reason why I kept on reading was because I wanted to know more about the government. I wanted to know how the government affects the lives of the characters.
But like what I've said, I loved the concept but I just needed more. More character development, more character interaction, more world-building.
The author was kind enough to send me a copy of this book and its sequel, Tore Divided Love. I don't think I would be reading the sequel anytime soon... but eventually, I will because I'm curious of what's going to happen next.
(this review is also posted on my blog: http://dannathebibliophile.blogspot.com/)
October 7, 2014
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
This book was really different from what I'm used to reading and I enjoyed it.
Torn True Love is about a girl named Krissa Channing who lives in a dystopian world. The country is sorted into different units. In Krissa's final year of high school she starts dating a boy named Braiden. At first Krissa and Braiden are a great couple but then things start to change. Braiden starts becoming distant but Krissa is determined to keep their relationship together. During students last year of high school they must start to think about what unit they want to live in when they're older and who they want to be paired with. Krissa is sure she wants to be paired with Braiden but he has other ideas.
There were definitely things that I didn't like about this book but the main thing was that I thought Krissa and Braidens relationship was unhealthy and kind of abusive. I feel like Krissa made really poor choices when it came to boys.
But other than that I enjoyed this book and recommend that you read it!
This book was really different from what I'm used to reading and I enjoyed it.
Torn True Love is about a girl named Krissa Channing who lives in a dystopian world. The country is sorted into different units. In Krissa's final year of high school she starts dating a boy named Braiden. At first Krissa and Braiden are a great couple but then things start to change. Braiden starts becoming distant but Krissa is determined to keep their relationship together. During students last year of high school they must start to think about what unit they want to live in when they're older and who they want to be paired with. Krissa is sure she wants to be paired with Braiden but he has other ideas.
There were definitely things that I didn't like about this book but the main thing was that I thought Krissa and Braidens relationship was unhealthy and kind of abusive. I feel like Krissa made really poor choices when it came to boys.
But other than that I enjoyed this book and recommend that you read it!
August 15, 2014
First, I would like to thank the author K.D. Ferguson for giving me this book for an honest review. I enjoyed the story, but I felt it could have been better. What is lacking for me is the world building for a dystopian novel. As it is it feels like just a romance book, fix the world building and give us more on the dystopian aspect of the novel and it would be so much better. The characters are well developed and written, as for the abusive Braiden, I know it makes some people mad and they see Krissa as weak, but it happens in everyday life all the time, so I can see it and feel it. The story-line is good, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 21, 2015
A love story based in a dystopian world.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I was unable to read and review by the agreed date, so I purchased a copy.
Torn: True Love is a love story based in a dystopian world.
Floating or forced, Krissa has a plan but no control. Change, confusion, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, and love, Krissa feels it all--but how can love make a person filter out all the negative, and only see the positive? This book is a high emotional roller coaster, but what is coming next? My interest has been perked, I have 1-clicked book 2, and can't wait to start reading!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I was unable to read and review by the agreed date, so I purchased a copy.
Torn: True Love is a love story based in a dystopian world.
Floating or forced, Krissa has a plan but no control. Change, confusion, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, and love, Krissa feels it all--but how can love make a person filter out all the negative, and only see the positive? This book is a high emotional roller coaster, but what is coming next? My interest has been perked, I have 1-clicked book 2, and can't wait to start reading!
March 9, 2016
When reading this dystopian I had a weird sense of deja vu that I've read so many elements of this story, so many times before.
I have to say I wasn’t overly convinced of the love-story and for the majority of this book I disliked the main love interest, the romance seems to develop at lightning-speed and is very one-sided.
I received this book as part of the blog tour for the second book in the series, Tore Divided Love.
I have to say I wasn’t overly convinced of the love-story and for the majority of this book I disliked the main love interest, the romance seems to develop at lightning-speed and is very one-sided.
I received this book as part of the blog tour for the second book in the series, Tore Divided Love.
July 14, 2014
Great book! Wasn't sure what to expect since this was her first book. I loved it. Could not put it down.
August 8, 2014
Like the concept, but the main characters didn't do it for me. Krissa, I can't believe what you did to yourself. You don't know what love is.
Will review fully later.
Will review fully later.
August 18, 2017
Check out my review here: http://thepaigeturnerblog.wordpress.c...
January 18, 2016
this book is very interesting
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