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Wolfegang #1
My Delicate Destruction
Kat is a genetic fugitive on the run from the Federation.
She was just a normal college girl in L.A. hanging out with her friends. Well, not completely normal. Kat raced cars and lived in the underworld of Los Angeles to escape the pain of her twin brother's cancer. When her own cancer manifested the two of them were approached for a study. They both signed their lives over for a chance to survive.
The program put them in cryostasis and when Kat woke up 500 years later, she was alone and afraid in the dark of a ruined hospital. Her twin, Kris left a note for her to find him. Somehow they'd both survived. Whatever the doctors did changed her, and Kat finds herself on the run, seeking refuge with a crew of smugglers. Capt. Wolfe agrees to fly her across the galaxy in hopes of finding her brother - with the government hot on their tail.
She was just a normal college girl in L.A. hanging out with her friends. Well, not completely normal. Kat raced cars and lived in the underworld of Los Angeles to escape the pain of her twin brother's cancer. When her own cancer manifested the two of them were approached for a study. They both signed their lives over for a chance to survive.
The program put them in cryostasis and when Kat woke up 500 years later, she was alone and afraid in the dark of a ruined hospital. Her twin, Kris left a note for her to find him. Somehow they'd both survived. Whatever the doctors did changed her, and Kat finds herself on the run, seeking refuge with a crew of smugglers. Capt. Wolfe agrees to fly her across the galaxy in hopes of finding her brother - with the government hot on their tail.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2013
122 people are currently reading
1197 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Gibson
1 bookHello,
I am Jillian Gibson, a newly, self-published author. I love science-fiction in all forms. Deadly Cure is part of a series I've been working on called the Wolfegang Series. I am currently in progress on the second one and hope to have it up here by the end of Summer 2013.
I am currently studying in college at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
I am married to my wonderful husband who is also a writer as well as an EMT.
Writing as a career has always been my dream.
I am Jillian Gibson, a newly, self-published author. I love science-fiction in all forms. Deadly Cure is part of a series I've been working on called the Wolfegang Series. I am currently in progress on the second one and hope to have it up here by the end of Summer 2013.
I am currently studying in college at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
I am married to my wonderful husband who is also a writer as well as an EMT.
Writing as a career has always been my dream.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 10, 2017
In 2016, a drug called Hope was created and administered during suspended animation to Kat and her twin brother to cure their cancer but when an earthquake leveled Los Angeles, they were presumed dead. Forgotten, they slept for 500 years. After waking up Kat books a passage on the Wolfegang spaceship to go look for her brother who woke up a couple years before her. With a vastely different world will Kat be able to blend in long enough to find him and get some anwsers.
The main character Kat is a great street racer and I really enjoyed reading from her point of view. I liked how we get to see before and after the suspended animation. It really gives us a chance to connect to her and everythings shes lost. This book gave me so many feels. We get to see the family and friend dynamics and meet her boyfriend who is just the sweetest thing. I didnt connect to her brother as much in this book and I think that might be because he left her behind when he woke up.
I loved that her best friend Victoria was bisexual but with all the negative stereotype about bisexual sleeping around I was disapointed that Victoria was represented this way. However I appreciated how the author didnt describe sleeping with multiple partners as a bad thing. I also loved Ricky from the Wolfegang crew but they were all interesting in their own way. Most of the characters were well developped but I wish we got to know the captain better. This book was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
I enjoyed visiting the different planets and I cant wait to see more of them in the sequel. I enjoyed how earth was described 500 years in the future. Most people are now mixed race and the main language is Japenese. I thought the technology was facinating and I enjoyed the history. The writing was really easy to get into and the pace was great. It was a quick read but we also get a lot of depth. I really enjoyed the ending and want to pick up the sequel very soon.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
The main character Kat is a great street racer and I really enjoyed reading from her point of view. I liked how we get to see before and after the suspended animation. It really gives us a chance to connect to her and everythings shes lost. This book gave me so many feels. We get to see the family and friend dynamics and meet her boyfriend who is just the sweetest thing. I didnt connect to her brother as much in this book and I think that might be because he left her behind when he woke up.
I loved that her best friend Victoria was bisexual but with all the negative stereotype about bisexual sleeping around I was disapointed that Victoria was represented this way. However I appreciated how the author didnt describe sleeping with multiple partners as a bad thing. I also loved Ricky from the Wolfegang crew but they were all interesting in their own way. Most of the characters were well developped but I wish we got to know the captain better. This book was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
I enjoyed visiting the different planets and I cant wait to see more of them in the sequel. I enjoyed how earth was described 500 years in the future. Most people are now mixed race and the main language is Japenese. I thought the technology was facinating and I enjoyed the history. The writing was really easy to get into and the pace was great. It was a quick read but we also get a lot of depth. I really enjoyed the ending and want to pick up the sequel very soon.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
April 17, 2017
Katerina and her twin brother, Kris, both have a fatal type of cancer. With a new drug called Hope, they just might have found the cure. Only drawback, they will have to sleep, frozen, for two years. They jump at the chance. The year is 2016.
Over 500 years later, Kat awakens to a strange new world. It appears they were assumed dead after a great earthquake, but signs show Kris awoke and was now gone. As she navigates the new world, she discovers Kris made some enemies and fled to another planet. Hiding her past, she manages to get a ride on a ship and sets off to find him.
I was surprised how quickly I fell into this story. Kat won me over with her sense of adventure and her fierce dedication to finding her brother. As I learned more about why her brother fled, the story deepened.
While categorized as science fiction, the world building isn’t bogged down in detail. You easily get the picture. The pace is fast. The characters drive the story and those that enter the story as Kat finds her way are varied and interesting. And there’s secrets demanding answers that keep you anticipating what comes next.
I should warn you though. The ending is rather abrupt and it’s obvious you’ll have to read more of the series to wrap things up. I look forward to that.
I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
Over 500 years later, Kat awakens to a strange new world. It appears they were assumed dead after a great earthquake, but signs show Kris awoke and was now gone. As she navigates the new world, she discovers Kris made some enemies and fled to another planet. Hiding her past, she manages to get a ride on a ship and sets off to find him.
I was surprised how quickly I fell into this story. Kat won me over with her sense of adventure and her fierce dedication to finding her brother. As I learned more about why her brother fled, the story deepened.
While categorized as science fiction, the world building isn’t bogged down in detail. You easily get the picture. The pace is fast. The characters drive the story and those that enter the story as Kat finds her way are varied and interesting. And there’s secrets demanding answers that keep you anticipating what comes next.
I should warn you though. The ending is rather abrupt and it’s obvious you’ll have to read more of the series to wrap things up. I look forward to that.
I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
July 23, 2016
I read half of the description and I was sold on the story idea.
(I didn't read the whole thing just in case it might have what I consider to be a spoiler. Have you ever read the back of a book or movie where it says something like, "After his wife and child are murdered, John is determined to seek revenge." But they don't die till a quarter of the way into the story. I hate that! So if I like the way a description starts, I stop reading it.)
I love the idea of a story where a person wakes up in the future. So I bought the book. The prologue starts off when the main character wakes up, but then chapter one goes back to before the long sleep and why it occurred.
I love the narrator voice and the fact that she's intelligent and funny. It's refreshing to have a Young Adult apocalypse/dystopian kind of story with a smart lead character. The book is also well-written and edited, which is another nice thing to see in a debut novel.
The only reason I couldn't give it five stars was because of the lack of futuristic technology. I was expecting a bit more. That still may come as the story continues, but from the part that takes place after Katarina wakes up... well, let's just say that envisioning futuristic technology may not be this author's strong point.
What she does well is the type of writing I really enjoy and appreciate. No time is wasted describing shrubbery and furniture and other crap no one cares to read about. You won't find yourself skipping paragraphs to get the good stuff. Plenty of action and dialogue, the way a story should be. It keeps you turning pages to see what's going to happen next. But at the same time, the narrative is flavored with the main character's thoughts, so you get to see what kind of person she is on the inside.
Overall, great story and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope it comes out soon.
I'd recommend this book to people who people who like young adult characters in futuristic settings; especially if you like a strong (and sexy) female lead character.
(I didn't read the whole thing just in case it might have what I consider to be a spoiler. Have you ever read the back of a book or movie where it says something like, "After his wife and child are murdered, John is determined to seek revenge." But they don't die till a quarter of the way into the story. I hate that! So if I like the way a description starts, I stop reading it.)
I love the idea of a story where a person wakes up in the future. So I bought the book. The prologue starts off when the main character wakes up, but then chapter one goes back to before the long sleep and why it occurred.
I love the narrator voice and the fact that she's intelligent and funny. It's refreshing to have a Young Adult apocalypse/dystopian kind of story with a smart lead character. The book is also well-written and edited, which is another nice thing to see in a debut novel.
The only reason I couldn't give it five stars was because of the lack of futuristic technology. I was expecting a bit more. That still may come as the story continues, but from the part that takes place after Katarina wakes up... well, let's just say that envisioning futuristic technology may not be this author's strong point.
What she does well is the type of writing I really enjoy and appreciate. No time is wasted describing shrubbery and furniture and other crap no one cares to read about. You won't find yourself skipping paragraphs to get the good stuff. Plenty of action and dialogue, the way a story should be. It keeps you turning pages to see what's going to happen next. But at the same time, the narrative is flavored with the main character's thoughts, so you get to see what kind of person she is on the inside.
Overall, great story and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope it comes out soon.
I'd recommend this book to people who people who like young adult characters in futuristic settings; especially if you like a strong (and sexy) female lead character.
December 8, 2016
This sounded like a great read. And I really did like it.
Katerina has just been diagnosed with cancer. After reuniting with her ex. Having been through this with her twin brother Kris when offered a chance at a cure they jump on it. The catch is they'll be asleep for 2 yrs.
When Katerina wakes up it has been hundreds of yrs and Kris is gone.
After trying to navigate the new world she finds out there was a massive earthquake and they were considered dead after the hospital they were in collapsed.
She finds out Kris has been making waves and ran off to another planet.
This is what I didn't believe. Why wouldn't her mother and boyfriend push until it was confirmed? Why didn't Kris come back immediately to check on her? Did he even try to wake her up?
With the help of a odd crew of a ship Katerina sets out to see if she can find Kris.
Katerina has just been diagnosed with cancer. After reuniting with her ex. Having been through this with her twin brother Kris when offered a chance at a cure they jump on it. The catch is they'll be asleep for 2 yrs.
When Katerina wakes up it has been hundreds of yrs and Kris is gone.
After trying to navigate the new world she finds out there was a massive earthquake and they were considered dead after the hospital they were in collapsed.
She finds out Kris has been making waves and ran off to another planet.
This is what I didn't believe. Why wouldn't her mother and boyfriend push until it was confirmed? Why didn't Kris come back immediately to check on her? Did he even try to wake her up?
With the help of a odd crew of a ship Katerina sets out to see if she can find Kris.
July 20, 2019
I enjoyed reading it! The story and characters are interesting (I only skimmed very few parts), the romance ist slow-burn and the writing is great. Sadly it seems that the series is not available on amazon anymore
March 18, 2016
Dividing the narrative between risk-taking and devotion to family, Ashe paints an accessible portrait of a teenager unconsciously choosing danger as a rejection of the loss of control cancer brings.
Katerina Anderson splits her time between racing cars and trying to give her twin brother, Kris, a pleasant last years as a rare form of cancer eats him away. Then she is diagnosed with a more acute infestation of the same cancer. An experimental drug offers a cure, but with one catch: purging the cancer will take longer than it will take the cancer to kill her – unless she is also placed in a cutting-edge suspended animation pod for several years.
The novella opens with a prologue of Kris clambering from the wreckage of the suspended animation facility, to discover that – instead of a few years – he and his sister have been frozen for a century. While this does leave the reader with the questions “why were they frozen?” and “why weren’t they woken when expected?”, it does also confirm that they were frozen and weren’t awakened on time; as such, when the first chapters cut back to Kat living her life in 2016, the section from her only having a short time to live to finally deciding to accept the treatment lacks a sense of uncertainty.
Were this book mostly concerned with events in the future, this lack of both threat and uncertainty might – by contrast – increase the sense of both in the future; however, the majority of the story covers events leading up to Kat entering suspended animation. Therefore – although Kat does face other problems – the book fails to offer the tension that the opening suggests.
Even the reason for the twins sleeping longer than planned is explained before Kat’s narrative reaches the future, removing a large source of tension from what little of her time there is told.
Where the novella does shine is in the portrayal of a teenager facing her brother having cancer. Half-daredevil and half-carer, Kat shows both her love for her brother and the fear of death that his cancer brings without being aware that her risk taking is a symptom. Kat is a similarly classic yet interesting protagonist when dealing with issues unrelated to cancer.
While the supporting cast are neither stereotypes nor two-dimensional, they are overshadowed by the reader’s knowledge that the story will pick up after they are dead.
When the time-line does finally catch up to the future, it is only for a chapter; a chapter that raises a series of questions unrelated to the preceding narrative. As such, readers might be left with the feeling the story ends just as it is becoming interesting.
Overall, I found this book interesting as a picture of a teenager but not the science-fiction tale the blurb suggested . I recommend it to readers looking for a character-piece or insight into whether they like the author’s style before purchasing the next volume.
Katerina Anderson splits her time between racing cars and trying to give her twin brother, Kris, a pleasant last years as a rare form of cancer eats him away. Then she is diagnosed with a more acute infestation of the same cancer. An experimental drug offers a cure, but with one catch: purging the cancer will take longer than it will take the cancer to kill her – unless she is also placed in a cutting-edge suspended animation pod for several years.
The novella opens with a prologue of Kris clambering from the wreckage of the suspended animation facility, to discover that – instead of a few years – he and his sister have been frozen for a century. While this does leave the reader with the questions “why were they frozen?” and “why weren’t they woken when expected?”, it does also confirm that they were frozen and weren’t awakened on time; as such, when the first chapters cut back to Kat living her life in 2016, the section from her only having a short time to live to finally deciding to accept the treatment lacks a sense of uncertainty.
Were this book mostly concerned with events in the future, this lack of both threat and uncertainty might – by contrast – increase the sense of both in the future; however, the majority of the story covers events leading up to Kat entering suspended animation. Therefore – although Kat does face other problems – the book fails to offer the tension that the opening suggests.
Even the reason for the twins sleeping longer than planned is explained before Kat’s narrative reaches the future, removing a large source of tension from what little of her time there is told.
Where the novella does shine is in the portrayal of a teenager facing her brother having cancer. Half-daredevil and half-carer, Kat shows both her love for her brother and the fear of death that his cancer brings without being aware that her risk taking is a symptom. Kat is a similarly classic yet interesting protagonist when dealing with issues unrelated to cancer.
While the supporting cast are neither stereotypes nor two-dimensional, they are overshadowed by the reader’s knowledge that the story will pick up after they are dead.
When the time-line does finally catch up to the future, it is only for a chapter; a chapter that raises a series of questions unrelated to the preceding narrative. As such, readers might be left with the feeling the story ends just as it is becoming interesting.
Overall, I found this book interesting as a picture of a teenager but not the science-fiction tale the blurb suggested . I recommend it to readers looking for a character-piece or insight into whether they like the author’s style before purchasing the next volume.
August 22, 2016
I read this book in two separate parts (like I would have before when it was actually two separate books, My Delicate Destruction and Shadows in Darkness), so I wrote two separate reviews that I'm going to smash together here into one single, disjointed review. I was hired to proofread this book, and I believe the author is aware that I review books after I proofread them, but a review was not part of our agreement. If you feel that my connection to the book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review.
This is the first book in the series, but it's not the first one I've read. I started with the prequel novella, which is barely related to this book and should really probably be read afterwards (although that's not really necessary because they don't really connect) and then read book #5 (now 4), so now I'm going back to get the detailed backstory. I already knew the basic highlights of this book because of my personal approach to the series.
One of my favorite parts of this book is how the author separated the two timelines in the main character's life. It is a very quick, but very clear delineation without flat out stating how much time passes, which allows you to discover that information at the same time she does.
I felt a deep connection with Kat, but some of that might be because I've already read book 5 (now 4) in the series. I didn't feel much of a connection to Kris, but that didn't really bother me.
The second half of the book picked up right where My Delicate Destruction had previously ended (you know, like you expect the second half of a book to do after the first half. There may have been a slight change from before since they have now been combined into one book though.) We see even less of Kris in this part of the book than we saw in the first half, and I still felt next to no connection with him. My connection with Kat continued to grow deeper, and there were a few times where I got super happy excited for her. I also got to witness an event that was talked about in book 4 of the series.
Overall I give this 5 out of 5 stars.
Review posted on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...
This is the first book in the series, but it's not the first one I've read. I started with the prequel novella, which is barely related to this book and should really probably be read afterwards (although that's not really necessary because they don't really connect) and then read book #5 (now 4), so now I'm going back to get the detailed backstory. I already knew the basic highlights of this book because of my personal approach to the series.
One of my favorite parts of this book is how the author separated the two timelines in the main character's life. It is a very quick, but very clear delineation without flat out stating how much time passes, which allows you to discover that information at the same time she does.
I felt a deep connection with Kat, but some of that might be because I've already read book 5 (now 4) in the series. I didn't feel much of a connection to Kris, but that didn't really bother me.
The second half of the book picked up right where My Delicate Destruction had previously ended (you know, like you expect the second half of a book to do after the first half. There may have been a slight change from before since they have now been combined into one book though.) We see even less of Kris in this part of the book than we saw in the first half, and I still felt next to no connection with him. My connection with Kat continued to grow deeper, and there were a few times where I got super happy excited for her. I also got to witness an event that was talked about in book 4 of the series.
Overall I give this 5 out of 5 stars.
Review posted on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...
December 23, 2014
“He's awake.”
The Good
This is a novella setting up the characters and the world. I knew that going in so I also knew that it would be a short read to wet my appetite for the next full-length book in the series. Ashe sets up the characters of Katerina and Kris who are twins in their teenage bubble of friends and hobbies. The writing is delivered in a way that all the important information is provided, and not a lot of unneccessary detail. You can tell where the story is going just by reading the blurb, but I was surprised at everything that happened before the big life-changing moment.
There is a lot of room for potential in this series. Kat gets thrust ahead to the year 2518 due to what happens in this novella, and while I'm given a glimpse of what things are like in that year, I'm very excited to further explore what's going on around her in this new environment.
The Bad
Obviously it's very short, but I already knew that. I have the second one to dive into now so that's not a problem. I'm a very open-minded person so how technology and the 'how's' and 'why's' are handled in books have never bothered me. I've never had an issue with how it's done because it's all up to the author's imagination...futuristic sci-fi worlds are the construct of the one writing since no one can truly tell them that they are wrong. If you are a big stickler for how it's all done in a sci-fi book, I honestly can't tell you whether you'd be ok with it or not since I don't dive deep into those areas.
The Romance
There actually is a bit of romance in My Delicate Destruction. Kat has an on and off again boyfriend that she's really enamored with. It makes for a few bittersweet moments that tug at the heart a little bit.
Conclusion
Short but good introduction into the Wolfegang Series. It leaves me thrilled about all the room this series has to play with and grow. Recommended for those who enjoy YA, don't mind novellas, and like a good sci-fi read now and then.
The Good
This is a novella setting up the characters and the world. I knew that going in so I also knew that it would be a short read to wet my appetite for the next full-length book in the series. Ashe sets up the characters of Katerina and Kris who are twins in their teenage bubble of friends and hobbies. The writing is delivered in a way that all the important information is provided, and not a lot of unneccessary detail. You can tell where the story is going just by reading the blurb, but I was surprised at everything that happened before the big life-changing moment.
There is a lot of room for potential in this series. Kat gets thrust ahead to the year 2518 due to what happens in this novella, and while I'm given a glimpse of what things are like in that year, I'm very excited to further explore what's going on around her in this new environment.
The Bad
Obviously it's very short, but I already knew that. I have the second one to dive into now so that's not a problem. I'm a very open-minded person so how technology and the 'how's' and 'why's' are handled in books have never bothered me. I've never had an issue with how it's done because it's all up to the author's imagination...futuristic sci-fi worlds are the construct of the one writing since no one can truly tell them that they are wrong. If you are a big stickler for how it's all done in a sci-fi book, I honestly can't tell you whether you'd be ok with it or not since I don't dive deep into those areas.
The Romance
There actually is a bit of romance in My Delicate Destruction. Kat has an on and off again boyfriend that she's really enamored with. It makes for a few bittersweet moments that tug at the heart a little bit.
Conclusion
Short but good introduction into the Wolfegang Series. It leaves me thrilled about all the room this series has to play with and grow. Recommended for those who enjoy YA, don't mind novellas, and like a good sci-fi read now and then.
April 15, 2016
Alisha recommended this book to me awhile back, since I have a reading list a mile long. It takes me a while to read books that are not on my requested review list. But yesterday, I thought I would read and review this book this week. I love the cover to this book. If that is suppose to be Kat then she is uber pretty.
Have you ever been torn by book?
Well that is how I am feeling about this one. I love the story, character, plot, the main idea of the whole thing. I wasn't really on the edge of my seat with this book, I think it could have been dramatic if it started where she was waking up in the bod. But the way the author wrote it was great too, so really I am torn about that.
This is one of those books you can read in one sitting and be done in a hour. At least for me, that was the case. Its super short and is kinda like a pilot (you know the pilot episode they do in tv shows). It gives you the background information of the main character and what happened before she woke up. I am looking forward to reading what is going to happen next.
I really hope she finds her brother, the bond between them kinda hit me in the heart. I have always wanted to be close like that to my sisters. We had a bond a long time ago but as we got older it didn't work out. So reading how they were able to communicate without words kind made me have mixed feelings
I hope this review did this book justice and if it didn't then all you need to know is that I liked this book. If you you like the type of books where a character is frozen in time and wakes years later to find out the world she knew no longer exist. Then you will like this book too! Oh and if you do end up reading this book, leave a review and send me the link on facebook. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Have you ever been torn by book?
Well that is how I am feeling about this one. I love the story, character, plot, the main idea of the whole thing. I wasn't really on the edge of my seat with this book, I think it could have been dramatic if it started where she was waking up in the bod. But the way the author wrote it was great too, so really I am torn about that.
This is one of those books you can read in one sitting and be done in a hour. At least for me, that was the case. Its super short and is kinda like a pilot (you know the pilot episode they do in tv shows). It gives you the background information of the main character and what happened before she woke up. I am looking forward to reading what is going to happen next.
I really hope she finds her brother, the bond between them kinda hit me in the heart. I have always wanted to be close like that to my sisters. We had a bond a long time ago but as we got older it didn't work out. So reading how they were able to communicate without words kind made me have mixed feelings
I hope this review did this book justice and if it didn't then all you need to know is that I liked this book. If you you like the type of books where a character is frozen in time and wakes years later to find out the world she knew no longer exist. Then you will like this book too! Oh and if you do end up reading this book, leave a review and send me the link on facebook. I would love to hear your thoughts.
September 16, 2016
Jillian Ashe books are always fun to read and this is no exception. It's a quick read leaving you wanting more. It leads into a series. I like the twists and turns. The captivating storyline draws you in and holds your attention. The charters are well defined and intriguing to follow their adventures.
November 17, 2017
How does this have such a high rating. This is so ... weird.
July 15, 2015
My Delicate Destruction is a novella about twins who both get diagnosed with Leukemia. As Katerina's is more aggressive, they both opt to be frozen so that they can be cured. Something goes wrong whilst they're asleep and they wake up at different points in the future. Katerina goes looking for her brother.
Okay, this was a novella, so it was a slim and quick read. Unfortunately this is the text's biggest drawback. We're introduced to street smart Katerina and her brother, but before we can care about either of them or their relationships, cancer hits and they get frozen. The story doesn't really progress once Katerina wakes up. Effectively we spend a small amount of time on her discovering that she's in the future before the book ends.
This is not to say that this is a bad book. It isn't, there is a great plot and some interesting characters in there, struggling to be told, but the book is far too short, the exposition far too heavy and the relationships far too shallow in order to for me to want to invest further. It could do with a lot of expansion as the ideas are there and I would love see this as a novel.
In short I would have enjoyed this more as a longer and better edited read.
Okay, this was a novella, so it was a slim and quick read. Unfortunately this is the text's biggest drawback. We're introduced to street smart Katerina and her brother, but before we can care about either of them or their relationships, cancer hits and they get frozen. The story doesn't really progress once Katerina wakes up. Effectively we spend a small amount of time on her discovering that she's in the future before the book ends.
This is not to say that this is a bad book. It isn't, there is a great plot and some interesting characters in there, struggling to be told, but the book is far too short, the exposition far too heavy and the relationships far too shallow in order to for me to want to invest further. It could do with a lot of expansion as the ideas are there and I would love see this as a novel.
In short I would have enjoyed this more as a longer and better edited read.
September 20, 2014
I like the concept of this story, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done to make it a really successful read that would make me want to keep reading.
First of all there was a LOT of exposition. A book should SHOW us, not TELL us things. It might mean taking out some chapters and skipping chunks of time, but it would help the flow.
Time moves un-realistically. 2 days to prepare for something THIS major? Never going to happen....
All in all I think the book needs more editing. The concept was there, just not the execution. This book should make me want to read the next book in the series, but instead I will be jumping ship and moving on....
First of all there was a LOT of exposition. A book should SHOW us, not TELL us things. It might mean taking out some chapters and skipping chunks of time, but it would help the flow.
Time moves un-realistically. 2 days to prepare for something THIS major? Never going to happen....
All in all I think the book needs more editing. The concept was there, just not the execution. This book should make me want to read the next book in the series, but instead I will be jumping ship and moving on....
June 1, 2018
***note: the author is re-editing and re-releasing. This is a review of the original version***
Well that was fun as hell - I started reading after finishing the current Emma Dean Draga series and needed something to deal with the book hangover. Luckily Jillian Ashe has written more and I can see some more awesome space stuff. I guess I'm just in a sci fi mood.
We have a normal human waking up 500 years later, she finds herself genetically modified after an experimental procedure and cryogenic freezing goes...not wrong, but life happens and she and her brother get forgotten. I definitely enjoyed the "learning to live in the what the hell is going on" future. We didn't see a WHOLE lot of it, but it's the first book and Kat just doesn't understand what's going on yet.
Let's put it this way - I am already halfway through the next book. It's hitting the "I wanna read something in space" spot, not overly drenched in science jargon, but still just...good.
Well that was fun as hell - I started reading after finishing the current Emma Dean Draga series and needed something to deal with the book hangover. Luckily Jillian Ashe has written more and I can see some more awesome space stuff. I guess I'm just in a sci fi mood.
We have a normal human waking up 500 years later, she finds herself genetically modified after an experimental procedure and cryogenic freezing goes...not wrong, but life happens and she and her brother get forgotten. I definitely enjoyed the "learning to live in the what the hell is going on" future. We didn't see a WHOLE lot of it, but it's the first book and Kat just doesn't understand what's going on yet.
Let's put it this way - I am already halfway through the next book. It's hitting the "I wanna read something in space" spot, not overly drenched in science jargon, but still just...good.
July 22, 2014
This is the first book by a new young author. Some of that rawness shows through in the book. However I think that this is a very nice start to what appears to be an extended series.
Like many science fiction stories it is hard to get all the details 'right' about future tech when we are all just guessing. I disagree with some of the actions in the latter half of the story based on my own beliefs of where the tech is headed. However it does stay with the theme of the book and one of the central character traits of the protagonist.
It is a short book, barely over novella length. The ending feels much more like the ending of a section of a book rather than the end of a book. I would have picked up book two to start reading right away if that was available yet.
Overall this is a very nice start for the author.
Like many science fiction stories it is hard to get all the details 'right' about future tech when we are all just guessing. I disagree with some of the actions in the latter half of the story based on my own beliefs of where the tech is headed. However it does stay with the theme of the book and one of the central character traits of the protagonist.
It is a short book, barely over novella length. The ending feels much more like the ending of a section of a book rather than the end of a book. I would have picked up book two to start reading right away if that was available yet.
Overall this is a very nice start for the author.
December 11, 2015
Throughout the novel, the first in the Wolfegang Series, Ashe portrays a young woman struggling with the hand fate has dealt her. She and her brother have always been close, and she is wracked with guilt over his illness, wishing he were well. She feels overwhelmed by his constant bitterness at his situation. Once he was athletic and confident; now he is run down and haggard. In order to deal with her emotions, she turns to the dangerous occupation of street racing. The challenges give her a feeling of power over her life. She likes to win and makes risky moves to do so.
Told from first person through the main portion of the book, the reader is immersed in Kat's perceptions of her world and the people she loves and hates. Making the decision to place her life on hold for years is heart-wrenching.
Told from first person through the main portion of the book, the reader is immersed in Kat's perceptions of her world and the people she loves and hates. Making the decision to place her life on hold for years is heart-wrenching.
October 18, 2014
My Delicate Destruction is the first book in a new series by Ashe. I typically read only paranormal romance, but after reading the synopsis of the book on Goodreads, I entered a contest to receive a copy and won. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at this little book. I was hooked instantly. The main character is introduced well and I felt kindred to her. Great detaling by the author, but not so much that you skip parts just to get past the tedious development. The only fault I have to this book is the length. The book is 109 pages long and stops right at the point when you are so hooked, that you'd stay up all night reading if there was more to read. That's the only reason I gave it 4 stars. I will definitely be buying the rest of the series and any other books she writes.
December 2, 2014
Kat pretends to be dauntless. Though quite a lot scares her. After she finally feels like everything in her life is falling into place a life changing event happens. Though she is not alone. She has her brother Kris and her friends/love interest by her side. Kat chooses to take an evasive action to solve her problem despite the outcomes probably being the same either way. Due to an incident completely out of her control, she is transplanted 500 years into the future. My Delicate Destruction is book one in the series. It takes you through Kat journey to 2518. The story has very believable characters and is very well written. 4/5
June 26, 2014
This is Jillian Ashe's first release and I am really impressed. With My Delicate Destruction, she reminds me of Louis L'Amour because of the POV writing style and the strong main character. I'm really looking forward to the next installment, and think Ms. Ashe has a great future ahead of her.
While I am not normally a YA reader, this quick introduction to the series gives readers a taste of the author's writing style, and a little glimpse into the personality of a young woman facing tough odds as she jumps across time and space to find her own future.
While I am not normally a YA reader, this quick introduction to the series gives readers a taste of the author's writing style, and a little glimpse into the personality of a young woman facing tough odds as she jumps across time and space to find her own future.
May 19, 2014
This is a great debut novel by indie author Jillian Ashe. I really enjoyed reading her story about Kat and the unexpected turn that her life takes just when she thinks she has it all together. The characters are great - just complex enough to keep me interested but they didn't have any back story info dumps that are so tedious to get through. All in all it's a great little beginning to a new series, and I look forward to reading the rest. I highly recommend it.
February 27, 2015
Too many unexplained developments. LA is destroyed by an earthquake and 500 years later nobody has even bothered to remove the bodies from the ruble! The heroine is able to quickly " hot- wire" a car 500 years into the future and then drive it like a pro. All science fiction is built on the author's imagination, but it requires some type of explanation to at least make it seem plausible. Those explanations were missing in the book.
February 6, 2017
I think I picked it up because Amazon recommended it to me! BTW, Amazon, can you stop being evil so I can read my delicious kindleunlimited (tm) books without moral discomfort?!? XD
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!!! Single quibble: I don't understand the title. BUT IT WAS SO GREAT! I loved the characters, the world-building was awesome, the plot was RIVETING, the emotions were extremely real, and I AM DYING FOR MORE!
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!!! Single quibble: I don't understand the title. BUT IT WAS SO GREAT! I loved the characters, the world-building was awesome, the plot was RIVETING, the emotions were extremely real, and I AM DYING FOR MORE!
July 17, 2014
Jillian Ashe has a writing style that I found very enjoyable. Her characters are well developed as is the future she has envisioned. I loved the beginning of the story - the author did a great job not only capturing my attention but setting and maintaining the tone of the story.
Looking forward to Book 2.
Looking forward to Book 2.
August 28, 2014
I sometimes enjoy indie novels because you never know what you are going to get. My Delicate Destruction is an interesting start. I like authors that love their subject matter, and it looks like Jillian Ashe does. I do agree that a more scifi start would be good, and I prefer full books rather than series, but if the same mood is continued, this should be an interesting story.
March 14, 2015
This is a science fiction book well worth the read! It has a good pace to it and the characters are interesting. I enjoyed the plot and look forward to reading more books in the series by author Jillian Ashe. I am now wondering more about the world that we get a glimpse of near the end of the book - so I will have to read book 2 to find out more!
July 27, 2014
It reads like a really big prologue, but it's definitely effective as one. It serves as an excellent introduction to the two main characters thus far, raises a lot of interesting questions, and builds suspense for the series to come.
June 19, 2014
A great start to a series
Though you know where the story is headed by the preface, it still was very well written. As a reader, I became vested in the main characters and journeyed with them as they progressed through their adventure.
Though you know where the story is headed by the preface, it still was very well written. As a reader, I became vested in the main characters and journeyed with them as they progressed through their adventure.
December 30, 2014
Good, but too short. Way too short.
March 18, 2015
Second book please? Like right now?
June 2, 2015
I wasn't expecting to find a new series, but I did. This was a short read and I can't wait to read the sequel.
Nice cover.
Nice cover.
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