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The New Agenda #2
The New Agenda
Amazon Best Seller in Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Science Fiction.
A dystopian book series about love and the fight for freedom -- Book 2.
In book two, Ava's journey continues as she searches inside the mainframe to find Chief Morray. She locates his archive files, sending her way back to the early days. Society was collapsing but young, idealistic William Morray had hoped his father’s acclaimed Repatterning Program––a precursor to the brilliant New Agenda––could manage the upheaval and get things back on track. They said the Repatterning was for the greater good, but like most advertising, it was a lie. The horrifying plan entailed eradicating all cities, homes and people outside of the Elite citizenship. William decides to join an underground rebel alliance to end the Repatterning and save what’s left of civilization.
A dystopian book series about love and the fight for freedom -- Book 2.
In book two, Ava's journey continues as she searches inside the mainframe to find Chief Morray. She locates his archive files, sending her way back to the early days. Society was collapsing but young, idealistic William Morray had hoped his father’s acclaimed Repatterning Program––a precursor to the brilliant New Agenda––could manage the upheaval and get things back on track. They said the Repatterning was for the greater good, but like most advertising, it was a lie. The horrifying plan entailed eradicating all cities, homes and people outside of the Elite citizenship. William decides to join an underground rebel alliance to end the Repatterning and save what’s left of civilization.
283 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2014
23 people are currently reading
759 people want to read
About the author
Simone Pond
32 books254 followersAuthor of hard-to-put-down, action-packed dystopian and fantasy. Also known as Simone DeBlasio Stier.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 27, 2015
Wow! This book blew me away! The main character created a paradox because you never quite knew if he was good or evil. One minute you love him, the next you felt empathy toward him, and then you would despise him before repeating the cycle of emotions another ten times. The fact that everything wasn't black and white made the story that much more intriguing. The shades of grey made the readers relate to the characters and their emotions, because life is never black and white either. Overall 4.5/5 stars; can't wait to read the rest of the series!
May 21, 2014
Full disclosure: I received this novel as an e-book from the author.
It is the prequel to The City Center. This novel provides the backstory of Morray, as seen through the eyes of Ava. Going through old data files, Ava discovers how Chief Morray became the way he is. Will this help her in her quest to locate him?
This is a great set-up to the next book in the series. Although it could be read out of order, don't. Enjoy the mystery of The City Center first before delving into the greater mystery of what made Morray, Morray. Further, it allows the reader to speculate what will happen next to Ava, Joseph, and Grace and the newer characters introduced in this segment of the series.
It is the prequel to The City Center. This novel provides the backstory of Morray, as seen through the eyes of Ava. Going through old data files, Ava discovers how Chief Morray became the way he is. Will this help her in her quest to locate him?
This is a great set-up to the next book in the series. Although it could be read out of order, don't. Enjoy the mystery of The City Center first before delving into the greater mystery of what made Morray, Morray. Further, it allows the reader to speculate what will happen next to Ava, Joseph, and Grace and the newer characters introduced in this segment of the series.
June 9, 2014
What a fun book and a unique approach to the prequel format. Rather than simply set the back-story in a boring or traditional way, we learn about what led the City Center to ruin by first meeting Morray as a teenager. The back back-story, if you will.
I won't add any spoilers...I'll just say that it was a well-thought out perspective that was unexpected, exciting and intriguing. Weaving the story of Ava and Joseph into the plot kept us connected with where The City Center had left off.
Looking forward to learning more about these characters!
I won't add any spoilers...I'll just say that it was a well-thought out perspective that was unexpected, exciting and intriguing. Weaving the story of Ava and Joseph into the plot kept us connected with where The City Center had left off.
Looking forward to learning more about these characters!
November 16, 2014
Again, I wrote it, so I better love it! Actually I LOVED writing this book. Morray is my favorite character in the series. He's so dark and tragic. I'm a sucker for the bad ones. :)
November 30, 2014
THE NEW AGENDA
By: Simone Pond
This book is the second written in 'The New Agenda' series and is actually a prequel to 'The City Center'.
In the first book Morray is many centuries old and is called "The Creator. He is the villain of that story. In this second book, readers are taken back to when 'The Creator' was just "Professor Morray," a man with a sixteen year old son that he ignores and a wife who married him, not out of love, but out of familial obligation.
The "Repatterning" has been in the planning stages for years and is now being implemented.
"Start with small things. People don't notice change when you take baby steps, but they'll overreact if you do too much at once. We can rely on humans' ability to adapt to anything over time." This has been Morray's philosophy for The Repatterning and The New Agenda.
This book is told from the perspective of Morray's 16 year old son, William.
William has tried to win his father's approval throughout his entire childhood. However, nothing he does seems to make his father proud.
At the implementation of the Repatterning, William and his mother are sent to live in an underground luxury facility so that they will be safe from the events happening on the earth's surface.
As the true horror of the Repatterning and The New Agenda quickly become apparent, William must decide whether to meekly watch events unfold or whether to find a way to fight back.
Readers who enjoyed 'The City Center' will appreciate this look back to how the world changed and why.
As with Book One, Simone Pond has outdone herself. The characters she writes about are so vivid that the fairly leap off the page. Readers will find themselves choosing a character that they can relate to and cheering him/her on. You can't help but hold out hope that idealistic William will be able to affect some positive change to his world.
There is a twist that will surprise readers which is something I always enjoy when reading.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars and I am very happy to say that Book Three - THE MAINFRAME, is now available. I will be jumping straight into the next book.
I must admit that even though this book is classified as a "Young Adult" read, it is intelligent and compelling enough that readers of all ages will enjoy it as well.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
By: Simone Pond
This book is the second written in 'The New Agenda' series and is actually a prequel to 'The City Center'.
In the first book Morray is many centuries old and is called "The Creator. He is the villain of that story. In this second book, readers are taken back to when 'The Creator' was just "Professor Morray," a man with a sixteen year old son that he ignores and a wife who married him, not out of love, but out of familial obligation.
The "Repatterning" has been in the planning stages for years and is now being implemented.
"Start with small things. People don't notice change when you take baby steps, but they'll overreact if you do too much at once. We can rely on humans' ability to adapt to anything over time." This has been Morray's philosophy for The Repatterning and The New Agenda.
This book is told from the perspective of Morray's 16 year old son, William.
William has tried to win his father's approval throughout his entire childhood. However, nothing he does seems to make his father proud.
At the implementation of the Repatterning, William and his mother are sent to live in an underground luxury facility so that they will be safe from the events happening on the earth's surface.
As the true horror of the Repatterning and The New Agenda quickly become apparent, William must decide whether to meekly watch events unfold or whether to find a way to fight back.
Readers who enjoyed 'The City Center' will appreciate this look back to how the world changed and why.
As with Book One, Simone Pond has outdone herself. The characters she writes about are so vivid that the fairly leap off the page. Readers will find themselves choosing a character that they can relate to and cheering him/her on. You can't help but hold out hope that idealistic William will be able to affect some positive change to his world.
There is a twist that will surprise readers which is something I always enjoy when reading.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars and I am very happy to say that Book Three - THE MAINFRAME, is now available. I will be jumping straight into the next book.
I must admit that even though this book is classified as a "Young Adult" read, it is intelligent and compelling enough that readers of all ages will enjoy it as well.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
November 5, 2014
Being Science Fiction I was excited to read this book, granted most books do get me excited but the Blurbs from a lot of them have them rubbing my hands excitedly waiting to get my hands on them. That being said this one was a bit of a mystery to me. I had won it in a contest and what I remembered reading it about sounded great. However, from the first paragraph I am afraid I was rather confused as to what was going on, but that that was more my fault for not realizing that this book was part of a series rather than a stand-alone title.
So I feel I should let everyone know, this book is Part of a Series and it is the Second book in the series. The book opens with woman named Ava being hooked up to a "mainframe" and this connection allows her to search for trails or clues as to the whereabouts of the baddie, that they, apparently defeated in Book 1.
Only this baddie wasn't born a baddie, due to a string of occurrences, most of which were out of his control, that took places over a few years time, William Morray finds himself slowly becoming the very creature he was trying to destroy when he joined the Resistance to bring his father and his horrible plan to a stop. They do succeed but the price of their success was very high, too high in fact.
Ava the character from the first page is brought in 3 or 4 more times during the story line, educating her husband on what she is learning about "Morray", as William came to be called, while searching for data links that could result in him making a comeback into the world.
Over all the world building was great I didn't find any holes in it all, the characters were well-defined and solidly built, though I wish there would have been more about Ava in this book. I am assuming Ava is more detailed and inclusive in the first book in the series. I did give this book a 4 because of the fact that the first page made feel as though I would be learning more about Ava and her baby and the father of the baby. When the primary focus of the book was in getting to know William Morray. That being said, however, I would gladly and happily recommend this book/series to others!
So I feel I should let everyone know, this book is Part of a Series and it is the Second book in the series. The book opens with woman named Ava being hooked up to a "mainframe" and this connection allows her to search for trails or clues as to the whereabouts of the baddie, that they, apparently defeated in Book 1.
Only this baddie wasn't born a baddie, due to a string of occurrences, most of which were out of his control, that took places over a few years time, William Morray finds himself slowly becoming the very creature he was trying to destroy when he joined the Resistance to bring his father and his horrible plan to a stop. They do succeed but the price of their success was very high, too high in fact.
Ava the character from the first page is brought in 3 or 4 more times during the story line, educating her husband on what she is learning about "Morray", as William came to be called, while searching for data links that could result in him making a comeback into the world.
Over all the world building was great I didn't find any holes in it all, the characters were well-defined and solidly built, though I wish there would have been more about Ava in this book. I am assuming Ava is more detailed and inclusive in the first book in the series. I did give this book a 4 because of the fact that the first page made feel as though I would be learning more about Ava and her baby and the father of the baby. When the primary focus of the book was in getting to know William Morray. That being said, however, I would gladly and happily recommend this book/series to others!
June 6, 2014
Simone Pond’s “The City Center” shifts gears into reverse and checks in on the arch-villain of “The City Center” –– William Morray –– examining his ‘formative’ years where, to our surprise, he is not a fledgling and contemptible sociopath with a penchant for burning bugs. Quite the opposite: he’s just a skater-kid who wants just to impress his genius-level father and have a girlfriend. Told from Morray’s perspective in first person, the story has an immediacy and personality that puts the reader right there, riding shotgun with young Morray as he must navigate his way in a world that is hurling at a breakneck clip through the apocalypse. If we’ve read the City Center, the impending tragedy is palpable: we know what he becomes; but now we see the how and why a “just wanna do the right thing” kid turns into the ice-in-the-veins dictator of tomorrow. Thus Simone Pond’s story is a character sketch of the human condition: every despot, totalitarian regime, dictator, control-freak was a kid once, and quite possibly a normal one at that.
More than a bildungsroman, “The New Agenda” points a lens of scrutiny upon the zeitgeist of the day, calling into question such things as weather modification, war, radical depopulation measures and genocide which many of the ruling-class –– who are becoming ever-increasingly dégagé toward the “rest of the world” –– subscribe to.
“The New Agenda” fuses good ol’ fashion “coming-of-age” storytelling with “poop-hitting-the-fan” sci-fi and healthy sampling of “conspiracy theory” in this charged, thought-provoking and page-turning yarn.
More than a bildungsroman, “The New Agenda” points a lens of scrutiny upon the zeitgeist of the day, calling into question such things as weather modification, war, radical depopulation measures and genocide which many of the ruling-class –– who are becoming ever-increasingly dégagé toward the “rest of the world” –– subscribe to.
“The New Agenda” fuses good ol’ fashion “coming-of-age” storytelling with “poop-hitting-the-fan” sci-fi and healthy sampling of “conspiracy theory” in this charged, thought-provoking and page-turning yarn.
June 9, 2014
Even better than anticipated, and this book was highly anticipated.
I read the City Center when it came out last year and immediately wanted a backstory. The first book gave me the setting of what is to come, but I, like most dystopia nerds, wanted to know how it got that way. The New Agenda gave me that, but in a way that I wasn't expecting. For one, I didn't see the plot twisting the way it did. Never saw that coming. That is big points for me as a reader. And secondly and more importantly, it was told in a way that is not so prequel-y, almost as if the writer decided to think for herself and not simply follow the same formulaic bullshit 2nd book direction that so many other books fall victim to.
I won't give any plot details away (because who wants that from a review?), but I will tell you that I started this book on an afternoon and finished it the following evening. If not for sleep and work getting in the way it'd have been done sooner. Absolute obsession to get to the next page as I read it and already am tweaking for the next book. (when is it coming out?)
If you like good scifi and individual thought from an author that tells a story in a unique and undefined manner, this book is for you. If you like good fiction (I hope this is fiction) that you will dive into, this book is for you. If you geek out on complex characters, this book is for you. If you dig dark angles, this book is for you. If you're an idiot or want the expected bullshit of crappier versions of this genre, this book is one you desperately need.
I read the City Center when it came out last year and immediately wanted a backstory. The first book gave me the setting of what is to come, but I, like most dystopia nerds, wanted to know how it got that way. The New Agenda gave me that, but in a way that I wasn't expecting. For one, I didn't see the plot twisting the way it did. Never saw that coming. That is big points for me as a reader. And secondly and more importantly, it was told in a way that is not so prequel-y, almost as if the writer decided to think for herself and not simply follow the same formulaic bullshit 2nd book direction that so many other books fall victim to.
I won't give any plot details away (because who wants that from a review?), but I will tell you that I started this book on an afternoon and finished it the following evening. If not for sleep and work getting in the way it'd have been done sooner. Absolute obsession to get to the next page as I read it and already am tweaking for the next book. (when is it coming out?)
If you like good scifi and individual thought from an author that tells a story in a unique and undefined manner, this book is for you. If you like good fiction (I hope this is fiction) that you will dive into, this book is for you. If you geek out on complex characters, this book is for you. If you dig dark angles, this book is for you. If you're an idiot or want the expected bullshit of crappier versions of this genre, this book is one you desperately need.
October 30, 2014
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Thanks to Simone Pond for giving me this book to review.
Ava is determined to find Morray, so she looks into his past, but what she discovers is not what she expected. Teenage Morray has always believed in his father, who is the head of the Repatterning program, and all he wants to do is earn his father’s approval. When William and his mother are sent to an underground shelter he discovers the truth about the Repatterning program. William teams up with a rebel group to try and stop his father and save those who are left.
The New Agenda is the OK prequel to The City Center, it has a bit from after the events of the last book but mostly set in the not too distant future. I felt this book would have worked better as a novella as I felt the story had to be dragged out a bit, but that being said it was enjoyable to discover how the apocalypse began.
The main problem I had with this book is that I did not like William, even in the beginning, and I don’t think it is just because my view of him was coloured by from the last book. I was nice to see Ava and Joseph again, even if it was not for much, and what has happened to them after The City Center.
I did not enjoy this book as much as The City Center and I hope next book Pond writes is about either Ava or a more likable character. I would recommend The New Agenda to those who have read The City Center.
Thanks to Simone Pond for giving me this book to review.
Ava is determined to find Morray, so she looks into his past, but what she discovers is not what she expected. Teenage Morray has always believed in his father, who is the head of the Repatterning program, and all he wants to do is earn his father’s approval. When William and his mother are sent to an underground shelter he discovers the truth about the Repatterning program. William teams up with a rebel group to try and stop his father and save those who are left.
The New Agenda is the OK prequel to The City Center, it has a bit from after the events of the last book but mostly set in the not too distant future. I felt this book would have worked better as a novella as I felt the story had to be dragged out a bit, but that being said it was enjoyable to discover how the apocalypse began.
The main problem I had with this book is that I did not like William, even in the beginning, and I don’t think it is just because my view of him was coloured by from the last book. I was nice to see Ava and Joseph again, even if it was not for much, and what has happened to them after The City Center.
I did not enjoy this book as much as The City Center and I hope next book Pond writes is about either Ava or a more likable character. I would recommend The New Agenda to those who have read The City Center.
December 15, 2014
original review @ JC's Book Haven.
"It's not too late to get someone else to do this," Joseph says.
"I told you, I know Morray better than anyone. I've seen into the depths of that man's evil mind. If anyone's going into find him, it's me. I owe it to my people."
"You've done more than your fair share, Ava. You freed them."
"And that's exactly why I want to make sure I find Morray, so they can stay free."
The Good
So after reading the first book in the series, I really enjoyed the chance to see how the world ended up like it was. One person in control of a city sealed off from the rest of the world. I am one who really needs a good villain to draw me into a story and getting to see what created Morray made the first book that much better for me. The concept worked really well in a tin foil hat type way.
The Bad
I have no major complaints, there was a few times I thought the pace was a bit too slow.
The Romance
Morray finds himself smack dab in a love triangle. Love triangles are always fun right?
Conclusion
I really like the fact that Pond used an entire book to let you get to know Morray, and what made him the villain he is. Normally you might get a few chapters and have to fall in hate with the villain based off that. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll enjoy seeing the world developed and become such a messed up Dystopia.
"It's not too late to get someone else to do this," Joseph says.
"I told you, I know Morray better than anyone. I've seen into the depths of that man's evil mind. If anyone's going into find him, it's me. I owe it to my people."
"You've done more than your fair share, Ava. You freed them."
"And that's exactly why I want to make sure I find Morray, so they can stay free."
The Good
So after reading the first book in the series, I really enjoyed the chance to see how the world ended up like it was. One person in control of a city sealed off from the rest of the world. I am one who really needs a good villain to draw me into a story and getting to see what created Morray made the first book that much better for me. The concept worked really well in a tin foil hat type way.
The Bad
I have no major complaints, there was a few times I thought the pace was a bit too slow.
The Romance
Morray finds himself smack dab in a love triangle. Love triangles are always fun right?
Conclusion
I really like the fact that Pond used an entire book to let you get to know Morray, and what made him the villain he is. Normally you might get a few chapters and have to fall in hate with the villain based off that. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll enjoy seeing the world developed and become such a messed up Dystopia.
June 2, 2014
A Very Different Dystopia
While I love dystopia, I'm starting to grow weary. Not of the genre as a whole, but of the fact that I can very seldom read any dystopia without immediately being reminded of at least a dozen other books I've recently read.
This book is different.
In the New Agenda, the author brings us a story that doesn't follow all of the trite plot devices we've seen before. Our hero is extremely flawed. At times, he's selfish and a bit immature, but you still somehow like him and root for him. And the bits the author drops about how our hero will be remembered in the future add a complexity to him.
In addition, the author surprised me time and again. When so many authors take the easy way out with their characters, Simone Pond places her characters in extremely tough situations and then makes them bite and claw their way out of them.
The book is clever, exciting, and takes no prisoners. It's a harsh and fascinating world and I loved it.
* Book provided by author for review purposes and I'm very glad I got a chance to read this one!
July 18, 2014
Although this book reminds me of Divergent and is probably better that doesn't make it five stars (Divergent wasn't good enough to get me to pay for the rest of the series). The story centers on the protagonist and how he goes from being completely against his father and his father's attempts to remake the world in his image to becoming very like his father though his intentions are good (you know what they say about that...). He starts out resisting his father and the elites plan to remake everything because the elites are exterminating any socio-economic undesirables. Most of the story focuses on this struggle and the training it takes to get there. Near the end we see changes in the main character that may cause him to shape the future for worse even though he does it to build a better world.
I would be interested to see where this story goes.. but it's not a top priority book for me
I would be interested to see where this story goes.. but it's not a top priority book for me
November 26, 2014
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Simone!!!
I loved this book, getting to see some history as to what eventually led to the lives being lived in The City Center. I tore through this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down!! It's seriously that good!!!
I was introduced to Simone when she hooked up with me on Goodreads and I am so glad I did. Her books are VERY good and I can't wait for the next one!!!
Thanks again Simone for the entertaining story and for letting me review it for you!!! Good luck and hurry up and write the third one. HA!!!!!
I loved this book, getting to see some history as to what eventually led to the lives being lived in The City Center. I tore through this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down!! It's seriously that good!!!
I was introduced to Simone when she hooked up with me on Goodreads and I am so glad I did. Her books are VERY good and I can't wait for the next one!!!
Thanks again Simone for the entertaining story and for letting me review it for you!!! Good luck and hurry up and write the third one. HA!!!!!
July 13, 2014
Wow, loved The New Agenda! Simone does a great job of developing a fantastic view of a world leading to the possible futuristic life in The City Center. This is a science fiction book that can be enjoyed by all ages. Folks that enjoyed Enders Game and The Hunger Games will enjoy reading the New Agenda and be drawn into a future world of grueling physical survival, leading to new mind altering technology that can only be dreamt of and feared in a world lead by the sadistic minds of our possible future.
June 6, 2014
I was fortunate to be given a copy of The New Agenda for reviewing. The New Agenda is the prequel to The City Center. Both are the type of Sci-Fi stories that I enjoy. There is that little voice in the back of your head telling you it's possible that this could happen in the future. Ms Pond is excellent at putting us in the scene and has quite the imagination on what the future may look like. I am looking forward to the next story in this series.
June 6, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed Simone Pond's, New Agenda. It is a fast-paced easy-to-read dystopian novel, largely set in my home of Los Angeles. Her characters have complex feelings towards family, loved ones. And coming to face what are their values. What is right? What are you willing to sacrifice for your version of a brave new world? And what do we surrender when we "go along." Strongly recommend to read.
June 5, 2014
Great second installment to Pond's series! I was expecting with the New Agenda to jump back into Ava's story, but instead we travel back to Morray's teenage past and the birth of the City Center. Lots of unexpected twists and turns and tons of fun action, intrigue and a love story to boot. Excited for the next one!
August 5, 2016
Another quick and fun read that left me wishing I could start the next book immediately. I loved that The New Agenda allowed us to see where The City Center ultimately came from and I'm anxious to see where it's all going to end up. Definitely read these books in order and enjoy the twists and turns.
November 3, 2014
I obtained this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Review of both book 1 and this book can be found here: http://superbookgrl13.blogspot.com/20...
Review of both book 1 and this book can be found here: http://superbookgrl13.blogspot.com/20...
July 26, 2014
An intriguing back story to The City Center and much more original and engaging than its predecessor as well. Looking forward to reading the next instalment.
February 22, 2016
We get a lot of information of current living, before the City Center and Repatterning, through William in the first chapter. It's a bit of a slow start with this introduction. There was a lot of lead up to when William is shown the truth of the Repatterning. It's in Chapter 6 we learn this, and feels that the story takes off from here. The story drew me in curious to see what happens to William and his friends, and even his father.
****FULL REVIEW****
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.
William is sent with his mother to a subterranea city, to live for three years while the Repatterning is finishing on land. He is determined to get out of this underground city someway. William is sickened by what he learns his father is doing to the world as he creates his new City Center. William decides to take combat training because of the beautiful trainer, and learns the truth of what Professor Morray, his father, is up to. William will train under Zack and Dru, and when he's ready they will break out of the underground city and stop the massacre that is underway on land. Wanting to get out of the subterranea, William agrees to help them though he doesn't know how much help he'll be for ending an apocalypse. But how is he to fight against his father, even if his fathers plans are destroys so much...
A story told 99% of the time from a male POV, so Ryan becomes the voice of William Morray. He does slight personality variations for the different characters. Simone's writing makes it easy to know who's talking and follow the story along as Ryan vocalizes it for us. Ryan's voice is easy to listen to. I didn't hear any slips in the recording or background noise either. All is clean in the recording.
We get a lot of information of current living, before the City Center and Repatterning, through William in the first chapter. It's a bit of a slow start with this introduction. There was a lot of lead up to when William is shown the truth of the Repatterning. It's in Chapter 6 we learn this, and feels that the story takes off from here. The story drew me in curious to see what happens to William and his friends, and even his father. In the end, after what feels as the big show down, it feels as things slow again. As we are getting the description of science that is created and used in City Center and how William comes to be Chief Morray we know. It was so slow I kept looking to see how many more minutes were left as it felt like it should be over.
The beginning doesn't explain well how we get to William's memories. The description tells us that she's searching the mainframe and comes across them. How is Ava searching the mainframe? We learn in a section in chapter 9. But why are William's detailed memories here? We learn by the end of the book how this comes to pass. But I struggle to connect the leaps made by this young man who turns into the Chief Morray we see in the first book. To me it feels like it was told to us in the end rather than feeling the change happen through the book.
The young characters in the story grow into mature characters with the experiences they live through. They fight to survive. There is an intimate moment with two characters. We also learn of abuse another lived through. They are all making the best out of the world and doing a good job of it as they fight against the terrible change that's happening.
That being said, I'm curious about Morray's past and how it will connect to Ava and Joseph's journey to figure out where Morray's essence is in the Mainframe. I'm even left wondering what Ava will really do to make everything safe for her baby. Will she cross the line?
****FULL REVIEW****
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.
William is sent with his mother to a subterranea city, to live for three years while the Repatterning is finishing on land. He is determined to get out of this underground city someway. William is sickened by what he learns his father is doing to the world as he creates his new City Center. William decides to take combat training because of the beautiful trainer, and learns the truth of what Professor Morray, his father, is up to. William will train under Zack and Dru, and when he's ready they will break out of the underground city and stop the massacre that is underway on land. Wanting to get out of the subterranea, William agrees to help them though he doesn't know how much help he'll be for ending an apocalypse. But how is he to fight against his father, even if his fathers plans are destroys so much...
A story told 99% of the time from a male POV, so Ryan becomes the voice of William Morray. He does slight personality variations for the different characters. Simone's writing makes it easy to know who's talking and follow the story along as Ryan vocalizes it for us. Ryan's voice is easy to listen to. I didn't hear any slips in the recording or background noise either. All is clean in the recording.
We get a lot of information of current living, before the City Center and Repatterning, through William in the first chapter. It's a bit of a slow start with this introduction. There was a lot of lead up to when William is shown the truth of the Repatterning. It's in Chapter 6 we learn this, and feels that the story takes off from here. The story drew me in curious to see what happens to William and his friends, and even his father. In the end, after what feels as the big show down, it feels as things slow again. As we are getting the description of science that is created and used in City Center and how William comes to be Chief Morray we know. It was so slow I kept looking to see how many more minutes were left as it felt like it should be over.
The beginning doesn't explain well how we get to William's memories. The description tells us that she's searching the mainframe and comes across them. How is Ava searching the mainframe? We learn in a section in chapter 9. But why are William's detailed memories here? We learn by the end of the book how this comes to pass. But I struggle to connect the leaps made by this young man who turns into the Chief Morray we see in the first book. To me it feels like it was told to us in the end rather than feeling the change happen through the book.
The young characters in the story grow into mature characters with the experiences they live through. They fight to survive. There is an intimate moment with two characters. We also learn of abuse another lived through. They are all making the best out of the world and doing a good job of it as they fight against the terrible change that's happening.
That being said, I'm curious about Morray's past and how it will connect to Ava and Joseph's journey to figure out where Morray's essence is in the Mainframe. I'm even left wondering what Ava will really do to make everything safe for her baby. Will she cross the line?
December 28, 2014
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I picked this one up immediately after I finished the first book in the series (The City Center). I really enjoyed the first installment and I had high hopes for the second ... thank goodness Simone Pond delivered!! I can think of quite a few impossibly popular series where the 2nd book was almost the kiss of death. It seems like authors write a popular novel and then when they get to the next in the series, they just totally crap on the entire thing and it leaves you wondering why you fell in love with the first novel! Anyhow ... authors: Don't do that.
Whew. Now lets get on with things ... I just loved this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit more than the first and I really, really liked that one. The funny thing is that I was speaking to the author about this second book and she said that she loved writing it. Well, you can tell. This book was intricately written with quite a few twists and turns that kept me on my toes from the very first page to the last period.
Thankfully, the characters didn't change one iota - they were still the same as they were I left them in the first book. Although ... I did find myself liking a character that I absolutely abhorred in the last book. I even tried to talk myself out of liking him because of how much I detested him in The City Center but it didn't take. That's okay ... the way this character changed and developed made the story that much better and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Keep in mind, as good as this book was, this is not one of those series where you can just pick up the 2nd book and then jump around. You need to read them in order otherwise you will be totally confused.
I'm super excited to see what the 3rd novel has in store for me!!
February 10, 2016
The New Agenda is treated more like a prequel than a continuation of the story from The City Center. Ava links into the mainframe to try to find Morray, and finds his memory archive - from there we follow William Morray's coming of age story. While this was an interesting way to present a prequel, it really didn't further the story very much as far as what is happening in the "present day" world.
The prequel introduces us to Morray, before he gets to be the evil leader from The City Center. We see him as a compassionate young man, someone who wants to do right in the world and stop his father's terrible plan, saving everyone from the Elites. Unfortunately, this book suffers from a syndrome I call "throw all the awful things together in one book". [Spoilers ahead] This book covers the following trigger topics: rape on minors, suicide attempt, mothers sleeping with boys their son's age, in addition to everything else going on with the battling sides.
The pacing of this book was similar to the first one, where everything happens really quickly and we really don't get an in-depth feel for the characters or their motivation before something else happens. This might work for a movie, but books are different. So I can't say that I cared for anyone in this book very much, and that is too bad.
I did find all the "tech" and the plans to "Dollhouse" people's consciousness interesting. But for the most part, this book didn't really work for me.
The audio narration was good, though. I enjoyed the narrator's voices for all the characters.
I received a copy of this book from Audiobook Blast in exchange for my honest review.
The prequel introduces us to Morray, before he gets to be the evil leader from The City Center. We see him as a compassionate young man, someone who wants to do right in the world and stop his father's terrible plan, saving everyone from the Elites. Unfortunately, this book suffers from a syndrome I call "throw all the awful things together in one book". [Spoilers ahead] This book covers the following trigger topics: rape on minors, suicide attempt, mothers sleeping with boys their son's age, in addition to everything else going on with the battling sides.
The pacing of this book was similar to the first one, where everything happens really quickly and we really don't get an in-depth feel for the characters or their motivation before something else happens. This might work for a movie, but books are different. So I can't say that I cared for anyone in this book very much, and that is too bad.
I did find all the "tech" and the plans to "Dollhouse" people's consciousness interesting. But for the most part, this book didn't really work for me.
The audio narration was good, though. I enjoyed the narrator's voices for all the characters.
I received a copy of this book from Audiobook Blast in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2016
The novel is set in a future Los Angeles that has fallen on hard times. Unemployed people live in camps while the Elite live in walled gated communities. Pollution and environmental hazards affect everything.
Our protagonist, William Morray is a child of an elite scientist. He slips out of the gated community on his skateboard to spend the day hopped up on tablets. He passes out money to people in need whom he meets on the streets. On one of these forays he meets a girl who knows who he is. He tries to give her money and she refuses.
He arrives home where the President is visiting for a dinner party. William's father is an elite scientist whom is working on something called the repatterning to remake society into something more compliant with the wishes of the elite. The repatterning from first description sounds like something the Alliance was doing in the Movie Serenity. William loves his father very much and wants to make him proud.
He is sent off to a shelter in Colorado as the repatterning starts and discovers it is not mind control the elites are after but eradication of the lower classes. William eventually joins an underground movement dedicated to stopping the elites and his transition into adulthood is the basis for the story.
I read this and learned it is a prequel to another story called "The City Center". I'll have to read that to discover what kind of person the later William becomes.
Our protagonist, William Morray is a child of an elite scientist. He slips out of the gated community on his skateboard to spend the day hopped up on tablets. He passes out money to people in need whom he meets on the streets. On one of these forays he meets a girl who knows who he is. He tries to give her money and she refuses.
He arrives home where the President is visiting for a dinner party. William's father is an elite scientist whom is working on something called the repatterning to remake society into something more compliant with the wishes of the elite. The repatterning from first description sounds like something the Alliance was doing in the Movie Serenity. William loves his father very much and wants to make him proud.
He is sent off to a shelter in Colorado as the repatterning starts and discovers it is not mind control the elites are after but eradication of the lower classes. William eventually joins an underground movement dedicated to stopping the elites and his transition into adulthood is the basis for the story.
I read this and learned it is a prequel to another story called "The City Center". I'll have to read that to discover what kind of person the later William becomes.
March 28, 2015
Great second book...
This book is about Creator Morray's childhood while Ava in current time searches for his matrix. Ava sees all his memories and we get a better understanding why and how the apocalypse happened. I enjoyed this book a lot. The 1st book was great and I was upset that Ava got about 3 chapters in the hole book. I was hoping to see more of her and how she feels since she was actually reliving Morray's memories.
I found this book like the first is really easy to read. Everything falls into place with the first book with a few twists. Since this is about the villain of the first book the author does a great job to portray him in a good light and for 99% of the book I actually like him. Do not read this book 1st be for this one.
I rated 4 stars because there was not much mention of Ava. It would of been nice to see how she perceived his life. the only time she was mentioned it basically said that she was neglecting her family...every time. So good read over all and hope this helps! I'm not the best at reviews so xoxox :D
This book is about Creator Morray's childhood while Ava in current time searches for his matrix. Ava sees all his memories and we get a better understanding why and how the apocalypse happened. I enjoyed this book a lot. The 1st book was great and I was upset that Ava got about 3 chapters in the hole book. I was hoping to see more of her and how she feels since she was actually reliving Morray's memories.
I found this book like the first is really easy to read. Everything falls into place with the first book with a few twists. Since this is about the villain of the first book the author does a great job to portray him in a good light and for 99% of the book I actually like him. Do not read this book 1st be for this one.
I rated 4 stars because there was not much mention of Ava. It would of been nice to see how she perceived his life. the only time she was mentioned it basically said that she was neglecting her family...every time. So good read over all and hope this helps! I'm not the best at reviews so xoxox :D
August 3, 2015
his book goes back and explores the Repatterning and how some bored, do nothing rich kid over-threw an evil dictator, who happens to be his dad, only to take his place. I went into this book thinking this was going to be bad. Things like this are usually terrible (ie. Star Wars Ep 1-3), but I really liked the first book so I gave it a go. It humanized a monster, making a tragic figure. I really got into the book, wondering at every turn how this guy hoping to save the world was going to end up destroying it.
William Morray is a likable kid whose parents ignore him. Raised by his family maid and himself, he turned out okay, or as okay as someone can be in that world. When his father sends him off to live for three years in a hole in the ground (mind you, a pretty posh hole in the ground) he turns his resentment into outright rage when he sees what his father really plans. Teamed with some of the staff, he trains to overthrow his father.
The editing could have been a little tighter, but it wasn't terrible, just a few stumbling blocks here and there.
William Morray is a likable kid whose parents ignore him. Raised by his family maid and himself, he turned out okay, or as okay as someone can be in that world. When his father sends him off to live for three years in a hole in the ground (mind you, a pretty posh hole in the ground) he turns his resentment into outright rage when he sees what his father really plans. Teamed with some of the staff, he trains to overthrow his father.
The editing could have been a little tighter, but it wasn't terrible, just a few stumbling blocks here and there.
January 27, 2016
Taking an unusual approach to writing, Book 2 of Simone Pond's The New Agenda series takes you back to the beginning, back to before the City Center is built and the villains of this series are still innocent. Although you know how things turn out in the end--read book 1-- you'll be surprised how it happened.
Narrator Ryan Kennard Buke does well to capture the youthful voice of this book's main character Morray. However, his other character voices are sub-par and blend together. It was difficult to differentiate who was speaking at times which pulled the listener out of the story. It was a smooth read with great timing, I just wish it had more variety.
Overall a wonderful second book that leaves you wanting more. I look forward to finishing this series.
This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Narrator Ryan Kennard Buke does well to capture the youthful voice of this book's main character Morray. However, his other character voices are sub-par and blend together. It was difficult to differentiate who was speaking at times which pulled the listener out of the story. It was a smooth read with great timing, I just wish it had more variety.
Overall a wonderful second book that leaves you wanting more. I look forward to finishing this series.
This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2014
loved it, fast paced, a prequel and a sequel in the series;
and the twist in the tale that happened in the middle of the book had me shouting out loud, trying to explain the whole story so far, the whole story before so far and the whole of the first book (The City Centre) in the middle of the night to my partner....just so she could understand what a mind bender it was.
Simone Pond better be writing the next book in the series or I will be contemplating a process of repatterning my consciousness into a new host body should I die before I get to tell her how disappointed I was/will be if she isn't/hasn't.
and the twist in the tale that happened in the middle of the book had me shouting out loud, trying to explain the whole story so far, the whole story before so far and the whole of the first book (The City Centre) in the middle of the night to my partner....just so she could understand what a mind bender it was.
Simone Pond better be writing the next book in the series or I will be contemplating a process of repatterning my consciousness into a new host body should I die before I get to tell her how disappointed I was/will be if she isn't/hasn't.
January 3, 2016
This book is a prequel to the first book The City Center which I really enjoyed.The story revolves around the events that led to the creation of the city centers dystopian society.The author creates an intriguing insight into the events that led to the world of Morray and his cohorts.The twists and turns of Morrays story show the human side of evil.I loved this book and would absolutely recommend it to any fan of the YA Dystopian genre The narrator did a good job portraying the characters.I received a copy of this audiobook from the author via audiobookBlast.com in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2015
I think I might like this one more than the first book. I LOVED learning about Morray's life before and about how he became the person he is 300 years later. It's like you can't help but feel sorry for him now, because we know so much about his past. The betrayal. The loss. The time he lost! So much pressure put on someone his age. Through the entire book I just keep cheering for Morray and Sarah, because for some reason I couldn't stand Dru (I know why now). I'm so excited to get into the next book. Although now I have this weird thing where I want Ava and Morray to be together, but there's Joseph and their daughter, Grace, in the way of that, so I guess I'll just have to keep reading!
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