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Shades of Chaos
Dare yourself to enter into post-apocalyptic future with this gritty collection of first-in-a-series books by six bestselling authors! Discover unique worlds packed with non-stop action, adventure, and suspense set against a gritty, futuristic backdrop.
NOTE: Together, these books have over 320 5-star reviews on Amazon! Over 1400 pages of stories, with *exclusive* content from Alexia Purdy, Katie Salidas, and Chrystalla Thoma!
Best for ages 16 and up~
I AM Alive (Cameron Jace): I am not my heart rate. I am not my skills. I am not how I look like. My name is Decca Tenderstone. I live in a future America where teenagers are ranked on a scale from 1 to 10 on graduation day. There has never been a 10. Those below the rank of 5 are considered Monsters, a liability to society. The system says I am a Monster. I will not let them kill me. I will survive.
Initiation (Katie Salidas): Being a Vampire is a crime punishable by eternal servitude in the arena as a Gladiator of the Iron Gate. Mira, a newly turned vampire, must prove she has what it takes to survive in the human's world. It's kill or be killed. Immortality is not guaranteed.
Dissension (Katie Salidas): In the aftermath of the great cataclysm, vampires are enslaved by humans and used for blood sport as gladiators in the arena. Mira is undefeated, uncompromising, and unbreakable, but when an escape attempt leads her into the path of the city’s Regent, her destiny is changed forever.
Finding Hope (Chrystalla Thoma): After the death of the one person he called mother, Elei leaves the Trashlands of Ost for the city – looking for other people and for answers. But he soon finds out that people are complicated and answers hard to come by...
Rex Rising (Chrystalla Thoma): In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life as aircar driver — until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side and the fleet at his heels.
Resonant (Alexia Purdy): As the first days of the end of humanity tumble across the City of Las Vegas, turning everyone into vampire-like creatures, April Tate will find out what it really means to survive.
Reign of Blood (Alexia Purdy): April Tate is a seventeen-year-old ferocious vampire killer who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after a viral epidemic has left the world decimated. After her family is abducted, her world tilts when she discovers they're not truly alone.
Released (Megan Duncan): After a demon apocalypse kills everyone they know, 17-year old Abby Phillips, her brother and her friend Max flee their home to travel through the wastelands of America, chasing a radio transmissions of a resistance offering shelter. But soon enough Abby and her companions discover what awaits them is much worse they could have ever imagined.
Burning Bridges (Nadège K. Richards): In a world divided between Hunters and Warriors, where prisoners are forced to fight in the arena until death, young Princess Echo must fight to find out who she really is and to put a world that has been swallowed by lies back together again
NOTE: Together, these books have over 320 5-star reviews on Amazon! Over 1400 pages of stories, with *exclusive* content from Alexia Purdy, Katie Salidas, and Chrystalla Thoma!
Best for ages 16 and up~
I AM Alive (Cameron Jace): I am not my heart rate. I am not my skills. I am not how I look like. My name is Decca Tenderstone. I live in a future America where teenagers are ranked on a scale from 1 to 10 on graduation day. There has never been a 10. Those below the rank of 5 are considered Monsters, a liability to society. The system says I am a Monster. I will not let them kill me. I will survive.
Initiation (Katie Salidas): Being a Vampire is a crime punishable by eternal servitude in the arena as a Gladiator of the Iron Gate. Mira, a newly turned vampire, must prove she has what it takes to survive in the human's world. It's kill or be killed. Immortality is not guaranteed.
Dissension (Katie Salidas): In the aftermath of the great cataclysm, vampires are enslaved by humans and used for blood sport as gladiators in the arena. Mira is undefeated, uncompromising, and unbreakable, but when an escape attempt leads her into the path of the city’s Regent, her destiny is changed forever.
Finding Hope (Chrystalla Thoma): After the death of the one person he called mother, Elei leaves the Trashlands of Ost for the city – looking for other people and for answers. But he soon finds out that people are complicated and answers hard to come by...
Rex Rising (Chrystalla Thoma): In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life as aircar driver — until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side and the fleet at his heels.
Resonant (Alexia Purdy): As the first days of the end of humanity tumble across the City of Las Vegas, turning everyone into vampire-like creatures, April Tate will find out what it really means to survive.
Reign of Blood (Alexia Purdy): April Tate is a seventeen-year-old ferocious vampire killer who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after a viral epidemic has left the world decimated. After her family is abducted, her world tilts when she discovers they're not truly alone.
Released (Megan Duncan): After a demon apocalypse kills everyone they know, 17-year old Abby Phillips, her brother and her friend Max flee their home to travel through the wastelands of America, chasing a radio transmissions of a resistance offering shelter. But soon enough Abby and her companions discover what awaits them is much worse they could have ever imagined.
Burning Bridges (Nadège K. Richards): In a world divided between Hunters and Warriors, where prisoners are forced to fight in the arena until death, young Princess Echo must fight to find out who she really is and to put a world that has been swallowed by lies back together again
- GenresDystopia
Unknown Binding
First published June 11, 2014
4 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Chrystalla Thoma
47 books211 followersAuthor with a penchant for dark myths and good food. I have proven my tendency to settle down anywhere but at home.
I like to write about fantastical creatures, crazy adventures, and family bonds. I write fantasy and science fiction.
I like to write about fantastical creatures, crazy adventures, and family bonds. I write fantasy and science fiction.
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August 4, 2016 Book Releases June 13th, 2014!!
Excerpt from Resonant (Reign of Blood Series)included in 'Shades of Chaos Dystopian Boxed Set'
I push off and spin as the other feral comes hurtling in our direction. She hits the other on the pillar, and they both turn toward me as they find their balance. I pull back the blade for another swing at the other side of the man and run toward him, hoping the woman feral goes flying to the ground when I slam into him. He’s between me and her, and I can use him as a shield after I get his head removed from his body.
I swing as he comes at me, roaring like a beast as his dirtied hands reach out toward me, aching to taste my blood, just a little sip….
The machete hacks at his neck and slips though the remaining bone and tendons holding his head on. His head goes spinning to the ground as his body crumbles. I barely have time to swing about again as the woman makes it to me, and I slam into her side. The momentum throws her off balance, and she trips over the body of the fallen feral. I pull out my hunting knife, jump onto her writhing body, and plunge it into her heart.
Her body twitches, but she’s still alive. Blood is pouring from each wound, which gives me enough time to yank the crucifix from my belt to press it to her chest. It sizzles, and I have to yank back as another finger burns from the flames erupting at the contact point. The cross clanks to the ground, but the flames leave behind a very specific charred outline of it. I smile at knowing this, but I’m not sure how it will help me much since I have to get right up close onto a feral to use it. My jeans are getting spotted with the sticky mess pooling under her, especially after I pull out my hunting blade and grip it tightly. Stuck, I can’t move off her yet because she’s still squirming, so I slam the blade straight into her right eye socket.
She jerks, sputters and gags on the blood streaming from her mouth before going still. Only a small exhale lets me hear the residual life leave her. Blood is all over the place, leaving me smeared in her black and red blood. It’s darker than normal, and I use her thin sweater to wipe it off.
She begins to twitch again, causing me to jump to my feet, grab her arms and yank her toward the sun, a few feet away. If they don’t die from stabs to the head, I’m going to have to remove a lot of heads if I can’t incinerate them first. The thought makes me want to puke as the sunlight sparks on her flesh, setting fire to her soft, pink sweater. I stumble away from the flames, land on my hands, and finally lose my lunch.
Excerpt from Resonant (Reign of Blood Series)included in 'Shades of Chaos Dystopian Boxed Set'
I push off and spin as the other feral comes hurtling in our direction. She hits the other on the pillar, and they both turn toward me as they find their balance. I pull back the blade for another swing at the other side of the man and run toward him, hoping the woman feral goes flying to the ground when I slam into him. He’s between me and her, and I can use him as a shield after I get his head removed from his body.
I swing as he comes at me, roaring like a beast as his dirtied hands reach out toward me, aching to taste my blood, just a little sip….
The machete hacks at his neck and slips though the remaining bone and tendons holding his head on. His head goes spinning to the ground as his body crumbles. I barely have time to swing about again as the woman makes it to me, and I slam into her side. The momentum throws her off balance, and she trips over the body of the fallen feral. I pull out my hunting knife, jump onto her writhing body, and plunge it into her heart.
Her body twitches, but she’s still alive. Blood is pouring from each wound, which gives me enough time to yank the crucifix from my belt to press it to her chest. It sizzles, and I have to yank back as another finger burns from the flames erupting at the contact point. The cross clanks to the ground, but the flames leave behind a very specific charred outline of it. I smile at knowing this, but I’m not sure how it will help me much since I have to get right up close onto a feral to use it. My jeans are getting spotted with the sticky mess pooling under her, especially after I pull out my hunting blade and grip it tightly. Stuck, I can’t move off her yet because she’s still squirming, so I slam the blade straight into her right eye socket.
She jerks, sputters and gags on the blood streaming from her mouth before going still. Only a small exhale lets me hear the residual life leave her. Blood is all over the place, leaving me smeared in her black and red blood. It’s darker than normal, and I use her thin sweater to wipe it off.
She begins to twitch again, causing me to jump to my feet, grab her arms and yank her toward the sun, a few feet away. If they don’t die from stabs to the head, I’m going to have to remove a lot of heads if I can’t incinerate them first. The thought makes me want to puke as the sunlight sparks on her flesh, setting fire to her soft, pink sweater. I stumble away from the flames, land on my hands, and finally lose my lunch.
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June 7, 2014Excerpts from the six novels composing Shades Of Chaos:
From “Released” (by Megan Duncan):
“Carter!” I grabbed him on the shoulder, and waved my other hand in front of his face to get his attention.
“What, Abby?” he said annoyed, but when he saw my reaction he immediately softened.
“Tell me what you see inside that van.”
Carter leaned over the front seat, resting his hands on the dashboard. He squinted hard and I silently watched as a drop of sweat rolled slowly down his temple.
“Holy shit,” he blurted out as his mouth dropped.
“What?” Max questioned. “What do you see?”
“There is someone inside of that van,” I announced. When his face still looked confused I added “alive.” Max’s eyes opened wide, and he quickly pushed Carter aside to have a look for himself.
“Well, we gotta get them,” Max insisted.
That being his first reaction made my feelings for him grow. He was so much like my father. Everything I respected in a man; brave, honorable and selfless. He always wanted to play the hero no matter what the risk.
“What, are you crazy?” Carter questioned. “That might not even be a person, it could be a demon bird inside that van, or it could be something else. You really want to take that risk?”
“Carter, you said yourself that the whole point of this trip was to kill every damn demon we saw. I see three right there!” Max barked, pointing his finger out the windshield.
“So do I,” I added for good measure.
After a short pause Carter gave in to our reasoning. “You’re right,” he admitted while dropping back into the seat. “What do you think we should do?”
I watched him sit there for a moment, all our minds reeling, trying to figure out what to do. My brother picked at the frayed little crocodile emblem on his polo shirt, while Max rifled through what weapons we had and mumbled angrily about how much ammo was left.
“I think we should stick with Max’s idea,” I said trying to convey as much confidence as I could even though I was starting to feel the fear creep in. “I say we haul ass to that van, and we each unload on a bird. There are three of us and three of them. Sounds pretty damn even to me. If there really is someone inside that van, we take them with us.”
From “Dissension” (Katie Salidas):
Dragged back down to the dank, dark prison wing, Mira was in no mood to antagonize her handlers or even attempt to decipher the code to her cell. She wanted nothing more than to just lie down on her mattress and sleep. She didn’t even rise to their taunting comments or the hard jab in the back from a UV torch. She simply stepped forward into her cell and held out her hands to be unshackled. “Finally broke her,” the male handler taunted. Mira shrugged and dropped to her mattress. Let them think she was broken, if it meant they would leave her to rest. The handlers laughed as they walked away. As soon as they were out of earshot, George appeared at the cell bars. “Mira, baby. I thought I’d never see you again!” The relief in George’s voice was apparent, but Mira could barely lift her head to acknowledge him. “You okay?” George asked. “Yeah. I’m good. Just tired. Really, really tired.” “I can see that. What did they do to you after the fight?” Where should she begin? “We’ve got to get the hell out of here!” “You say that on a daily basis, babe,” George laughed. “Can’t be hurt all that bad if you’re still plotting your escape.” “I’m serious, George. Bad things are happening. We need to get the hell out of here… all of us.” “Whoa. Calm yourself. Keep your voice down. What happened?” “I think they figured it out.” “Figured what?” “George, they took my blood. All of it.” George’s jaw dropped. He let out a small noise, not quite an “oh,” but close enough that Mira knew he understood. “Maybe… maybe they just know of our healing properties. You know, topical uses.” “No… The way they were talking, it sounded like a transfusion. One to one. They took ten pints from me over the last… however long I was there.” “About two days total.” “It felt longer. I was drugged for most of it. Kept me still, but conscious.” “Poor thing.” Horrorstruck, George looked as if his eyes were about to pop from their sockets. They gave you rations, right?” “Some… yeah. Lucian brought them, but not nearly enough.” She hoped he would keep his word and send her more rations. As much as she wanted to tell all, her conversation with George was already taking more energy than she had. Mira needed rest and blood, in whatever order they came. She wasn’t going to remain conscious much longer. “That man is really looking out for you. Did you see the way he stepped in at the games and stayed your execution?” She remembered his swift work staying the Magistrate’s order for her execution, but she’d have much rather he’d let it be done. The alternative was a fate worse than a quick death would have been. “Yeah,” she scoffed. “So he could use me as his blood bag.”
From “Rex Rising” (Chrystalla Thoma):
“Your gun and your money, boy,” a male voice grated behind him, and Elei whipped around so fast the world pitched. Colors jumped and flashed as he raised his gun. But the man was faster. He closed in and pressed a blade to Elei’s neck, at the juncture where it met his shoulder. Red pulsed rapidly in the man’s chest.
“Drop the gun,” he said. “Now.”
Elei set his jaw, teeth grinding together. If he did, he’d stand no chance in the five hells of getting out of this alive. The blade scraped soft skin, but only a little farther down it would encounter the light gray snakeskin covering his back; a veritable armor. Elei knew from experience that if he turned, the blade would glance off.
The man bared his teeth, showing dark gaps and bloody gums, and pressed the blade till it bit into Elei’s flesh. “I don’t have all day.”
Biting back a retort, Elei took a deep breath and twisted from the knees, turning against the blade, cursing as pain exploded in his wounded side. The knife screeched against the hard skin covering his shoulder blade and upper back.
“Hey, what’s this new trick?” The man moved in, just as Elei expected, to see better. Elei elbowed him in the stomach and then lurched sideways until his shoulder hit the door of a store. It opened with his shove and he stumbled into a warm, brightly-lit room with a long counter.
A diner. Turning about, Elei raised his gun and aimed at the door.
The man followed him in, lips twisted in a sneer and a revolver in his hand, trained on Elei. “Where do you think you’re going?” He clucked his tongue.
A shriek pierced the air and they both jumped. They whirled toward its source. A tiny, dark-haired woman scowled at them from behind the counter. She held a machine-gun pointed at them.
Oh great, more guns.
“Get out of my diner.” Her voice was clipped and high-pitched. Elei took a step back and she spared him a stern look. “Not you, boy. Stay put.” She motioned with her gun at the man. “You there. If I ever see you again in the neighborhood, I’ll tell Aji.”
The man glared, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “Damn you, Dima. Stop interfering, or you’ll get hurt.”
She just pointed and squinted over the gun barrel. The man held her gaze for a long moment. Then, tipping up his gun, he threw Elei one last angry glance and left, slamming the door behind him.
Relief weakened Elei’s knees. He glanced around and saw no other customers. “Listen—“
“How about you leave as well.” She swung her weapon on him. “I want no shooting in my diner.”
From “I Am Alive” (Cameron Jace):
I am going to surprise you. You have no idea… Every time the bus hits a patch of uneven pavement, it jostles me from side to side. I am holding on to the overhead railing while on my tiptoes, trying my best to keep my balance. Faustina, the school’s queen bee, laughs at me, checking out her fingernails. She must be calling me a dork under her breath. She is predicted to become a Nine today, and Nines are always mean to me. I live in a world where every teen is ranked on a scale from five to nine. Nines are the luckiest and highest rank in our nation, and Fives are the lowest rank allowed. I’ve been told that I would make a perfect Seven. The bus stops in front of my school, Cubberley High. I wait for the Nines and Eights to get out first. Nines are usually the most beautiful. Eights are the most elegant. Predicted Sevens like me have to wait in line. At least I get to get up before the Sixes and the Fives.
From “Reign of Blood” (Alexia Purdy):
I rounded the corner and came to dead stop. Before me stood a woman, dirtied and with wild hair. Her face was streaked with grime and rips ran through her clothing. Blood had dried in dark red and brown splats on her shirt and pants and the large Rambo-like knife that she fingered in front of me. She was ready to pounce, slowly shifting on her legs as she narrowed her eyes at me. Sucking in my breath, I instinctively reached for one of the machetes strapped to my side.
I was too slow.
The woman moved inhumanely fast, faster than even Miranda. She snatched my arm and twisted it behind me, forcing my fingers to lose their grip on my weapon as she pushed me to my knees and held the knife to my throat. The machete clanked onto the ground, far from my sight. Her breath felt hot on my neck as I struggled against her. She was incredibly strong, like there was a powerful beast inside her. My eyes bulged wildly, unable to pull my arm away from her as it burned in pain. I tried to claw at her with my free arm but she shoved me down to the floor, smashing my cheek against the rough concrete slab.
“Get off me!” I grunted, bucking as much as I could as she dug her knees into my back, making me groan instead. She was a bit smaller than me but she had me pinned pretty well. I stopped squirming as she brought the knife back to my neck, snickering as she whispered into my ear.
“Stupid fool, I could slice your throat like nothing.” She pressed the blade against my skin, slightly dragging it along the surface. The sting of the blade on my skin made me gasp as my crimson blood slowly dripped down to the ground. She stopped suddenly, sniffing at the air and shifting her weight but still pressing down on my back painfully.
“You don’t smell right.” She stated. Her voice was now cracking and uncertain. She pushed off me and stood up, letting me catch my breath as I scrambled off the floor, turning to face her as my hand flew to my throat. It was just a scratch but my fear welled up in me like an overwhelming flood, my eyes wild as I stared at the filthy creature before me.
“What’s going on here?” Blaze came storming down the hall, followed by Miranda and Rye as he pushed the woman out of the way. “What do you think you’re doing?” He yelled at her as he pulled my hand from my bleeding throat. He let go and nodded, relieved to see that it was just a superficial wound.
From “Burning Bridges” (Nadège K. Richards):
I was to die this night.
There was no escaping it or any way around it. I couldn’t run from my destiny this time; I couldn’t hide. No, tonight I faced my fate in the chambers of death.
The screams of the crowd in the arena filled my ears, the shouts of excitement and laughter boiling my heart down to nothing but untainted sorrow. I refused to open my eyes, but I could sense where I was by that rusty smell of metal and dried blood Father brought home with him every day. The shackles that bound my ankles and wrists to the wall confirmed it. I was a prisoner in my own home, my own Haven. I couldn’t fathom how in forty-eight hours my life had taken a one-eighty spin, but here I was, locked in the dungeon of my father’s kingdom, hidden from the world until it was my time to surface.
“Echo . . . Can you hear me? Echo?” The voice’s intensity made me stir. I ignored it at first, but it just grew louder and more insistent. “Echo!”
As I moved to sit up, the cold cement scrapped against my bare body, causing my scabbed wounds to bleed. My head felt heavier on one side than it did the other, and my torso seemed as flimsy as flax. I searched for the calling in the obscurity of the sector and found him chained to the opposite wall. It took me a second to orient his face from the rest of his body, but when I met those otherworldly, violet irises, reality struck me hard and cold.
“You’re alive,” Ayden sighed. “Are you all right?”
“Barely,” I croaked.
Silence filled us as we stared at each other for what felt like forever. I wanted to touch him, to hold him again, but I knew there was no way. The chains on my wrists held me in place with barely a foot’s room to move. It was cruel.
“Ayden, I—”
“Don’t say it,” he interrupted.
I frowned. “How do you mean?”
“Don’t try to dissuade me from my decision, Echo. I don’t regret anything, nor did I ever.”
I felt my knees begin to tremble as tears welled in my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re going to go through with this? Ayden, that’s ludicrous. You can die out there!”
He wouldn’t look at me and for a while he said nothing. “Do you remember the question you asked me that one day at the river? Do you remember what I said?”
I nodded slowly. “I asked you if you believed in second chances and you said—”
“Not until I met you,” he finished, his expression solemn.
Not wanting him to see the tears that had come to my eyes, I glanced out the small crack in the ceiling. Very little light shone through, but it provided a sense of security that the dungeon surely could not.
As the screams grew louder above our heads, Ayden and I listened to the Announcer call in the prisoners one by one. The horn was soon blown and I heard the clanging of swords and the sputtering of death threats as the two prisoners fought for their right to live.
It frightened me to think only one person would come out alive; only one person had that second chance. When the crowd exploded in what could only be bloody exhilaration, I knew that one person was chosen. Blood seeped through the crack and dripped onto the ground beside me, its descent like a wakeup call for the both of us. Knowing that Ayden’s blood or mine was next to be splattered against the sands of the arena made me suddenly feel ill.
From “Released” (by Megan Duncan):
“Carter!” I grabbed him on the shoulder, and waved my other hand in front of his face to get his attention.
“What, Abby?” he said annoyed, but when he saw my reaction he immediately softened.
“Tell me what you see inside that van.”
Carter leaned over the front seat, resting his hands on the dashboard. He squinted hard and I silently watched as a drop of sweat rolled slowly down his temple.
“Holy shit,” he blurted out as his mouth dropped.
“What?” Max questioned. “What do you see?”
“There is someone inside of that van,” I announced. When his face still looked confused I added “alive.” Max’s eyes opened wide, and he quickly pushed Carter aside to have a look for himself.
“Well, we gotta get them,” Max insisted.
That being his first reaction made my feelings for him grow. He was so much like my father. Everything I respected in a man; brave, honorable and selfless. He always wanted to play the hero no matter what the risk.
“What, are you crazy?” Carter questioned. “That might not even be a person, it could be a demon bird inside that van, or it could be something else. You really want to take that risk?”
“Carter, you said yourself that the whole point of this trip was to kill every damn demon we saw. I see three right there!” Max barked, pointing his finger out the windshield.
“So do I,” I added for good measure.
After a short pause Carter gave in to our reasoning. “You’re right,” he admitted while dropping back into the seat. “What do you think we should do?”
I watched him sit there for a moment, all our minds reeling, trying to figure out what to do. My brother picked at the frayed little crocodile emblem on his polo shirt, while Max rifled through what weapons we had and mumbled angrily about how much ammo was left.
“I think we should stick with Max’s idea,” I said trying to convey as much confidence as I could even though I was starting to feel the fear creep in. “I say we haul ass to that van, and we each unload on a bird. There are three of us and three of them. Sounds pretty damn even to me. If there really is someone inside that van, we take them with us.”
From “Dissension” (Katie Salidas):
Dragged back down to the dank, dark prison wing, Mira was in no mood to antagonize her handlers or even attempt to decipher the code to her cell. She wanted nothing more than to just lie down on her mattress and sleep. She didn’t even rise to their taunting comments or the hard jab in the back from a UV torch. She simply stepped forward into her cell and held out her hands to be unshackled. “Finally broke her,” the male handler taunted. Mira shrugged and dropped to her mattress. Let them think she was broken, if it meant they would leave her to rest. The handlers laughed as they walked away. As soon as they were out of earshot, George appeared at the cell bars. “Mira, baby. I thought I’d never see you again!” The relief in George’s voice was apparent, but Mira could barely lift her head to acknowledge him. “You okay?” George asked. “Yeah. I’m good. Just tired. Really, really tired.” “I can see that. What did they do to you after the fight?” Where should she begin? “We’ve got to get the hell out of here!” “You say that on a daily basis, babe,” George laughed. “Can’t be hurt all that bad if you’re still plotting your escape.” “I’m serious, George. Bad things are happening. We need to get the hell out of here… all of us.” “Whoa. Calm yourself. Keep your voice down. What happened?” “I think they figured it out.” “Figured what?” “George, they took my blood. All of it.” George’s jaw dropped. He let out a small noise, not quite an “oh,” but close enough that Mira knew he understood. “Maybe… maybe they just know of our healing properties. You know, topical uses.” “No… The way they were talking, it sounded like a transfusion. One to one. They took ten pints from me over the last… however long I was there.” “About two days total.” “It felt longer. I was drugged for most of it. Kept me still, but conscious.” “Poor thing.” Horrorstruck, George looked as if his eyes were about to pop from their sockets. They gave you rations, right?” “Some… yeah. Lucian brought them, but not nearly enough.” She hoped he would keep his word and send her more rations. As much as she wanted to tell all, her conversation with George was already taking more energy than she had. Mira needed rest and blood, in whatever order they came. She wasn’t going to remain conscious much longer. “That man is really looking out for you. Did you see the way he stepped in at the games and stayed your execution?” She remembered his swift work staying the Magistrate’s order for her execution, but she’d have much rather he’d let it be done. The alternative was a fate worse than a quick death would have been. “Yeah,” she scoffed. “So he could use me as his blood bag.”
From “Rex Rising” (Chrystalla Thoma):
“Your gun and your money, boy,” a male voice grated behind him, and Elei whipped around so fast the world pitched. Colors jumped and flashed as he raised his gun. But the man was faster. He closed in and pressed a blade to Elei’s neck, at the juncture where it met his shoulder. Red pulsed rapidly in the man’s chest.
“Drop the gun,” he said. “Now.”
Elei set his jaw, teeth grinding together. If he did, he’d stand no chance in the five hells of getting out of this alive. The blade scraped soft skin, but only a little farther down it would encounter the light gray snakeskin covering his back; a veritable armor. Elei knew from experience that if he turned, the blade would glance off.
The man bared his teeth, showing dark gaps and bloody gums, and pressed the blade till it bit into Elei’s flesh. “I don’t have all day.”
Biting back a retort, Elei took a deep breath and twisted from the knees, turning against the blade, cursing as pain exploded in his wounded side. The knife screeched against the hard skin covering his shoulder blade and upper back.
“Hey, what’s this new trick?” The man moved in, just as Elei expected, to see better. Elei elbowed him in the stomach and then lurched sideways until his shoulder hit the door of a store. It opened with his shove and he stumbled into a warm, brightly-lit room with a long counter.
A diner. Turning about, Elei raised his gun and aimed at the door.
The man followed him in, lips twisted in a sneer and a revolver in his hand, trained on Elei. “Where do you think you’re going?” He clucked his tongue.
A shriek pierced the air and they both jumped. They whirled toward its source. A tiny, dark-haired woman scowled at them from behind the counter. She held a machine-gun pointed at them.
Oh great, more guns.
“Get out of my diner.” Her voice was clipped and high-pitched. Elei took a step back and she spared him a stern look. “Not you, boy. Stay put.” She motioned with her gun at the man. “You there. If I ever see you again in the neighborhood, I’ll tell Aji.”
The man glared, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “Damn you, Dima. Stop interfering, or you’ll get hurt.”
She just pointed and squinted over the gun barrel. The man held her gaze for a long moment. Then, tipping up his gun, he threw Elei one last angry glance and left, slamming the door behind him.
Relief weakened Elei’s knees. He glanced around and saw no other customers. “Listen—“
“How about you leave as well.” She swung her weapon on him. “I want no shooting in my diner.”
From “I Am Alive” (Cameron Jace):
I am going to surprise you. You have no idea… Every time the bus hits a patch of uneven pavement, it jostles me from side to side. I am holding on to the overhead railing while on my tiptoes, trying my best to keep my balance. Faustina, the school’s queen bee, laughs at me, checking out her fingernails. She must be calling me a dork under her breath. She is predicted to become a Nine today, and Nines are always mean to me. I live in a world where every teen is ranked on a scale from five to nine. Nines are the luckiest and highest rank in our nation, and Fives are the lowest rank allowed. I’ve been told that I would make a perfect Seven. The bus stops in front of my school, Cubberley High. I wait for the Nines and Eights to get out first. Nines are usually the most beautiful. Eights are the most elegant. Predicted Sevens like me have to wait in line. At least I get to get up before the Sixes and the Fives.
From “Reign of Blood” (Alexia Purdy):
I rounded the corner and came to dead stop. Before me stood a woman, dirtied and with wild hair. Her face was streaked with grime and rips ran through her clothing. Blood had dried in dark red and brown splats on her shirt and pants and the large Rambo-like knife that she fingered in front of me. She was ready to pounce, slowly shifting on her legs as she narrowed her eyes at me. Sucking in my breath, I instinctively reached for one of the machetes strapped to my side.
I was too slow.
The woman moved inhumanely fast, faster than even Miranda. She snatched my arm and twisted it behind me, forcing my fingers to lose their grip on my weapon as she pushed me to my knees and held the knife to my throat. The machete clanked onto the ground, far from my sight. Her breath felt hot on my neck as I struggled against her. She was incredibly strong, like there was a powerful beast inside her. My eyes bulged wildly, unable to pull my arm away from her as it burned in pain. I tried to claw at her with my free arm but she shoved me down to the floor, smashing my cheek against the rough concrete slab.
“Get off me!” I grunted, bucking as much as I could as she dug her knees into my back, making me groan instead. She was a bit smaller than me but she had me pinned pretty well. I stopped squirming as she brought the knife back to my neck, snickering as she whispered into my ear.
“Stupid fool, I could slice your throat like nothing.” She pressed the blade against my skin, slightly dragging it along the surface. The sting of the blade on my skin made me gasp as my crimson blood slowly dripped down to the ground. She stopped suddenly, sniffing at the air and shifting her weight but still pressing down on my back painfully.
“You don’t smell right.” She stated. Her voice was now cracking and uncertain. She pushed off me and stood up, letting me catch my breath as I scrambled off the floor, turning to face her as my hand flew to my throat. It was just a scratch but my fear welled up in me like an overwhelming flood, my eyes wild as I stared at the filthy creature before me.
“What’s going on here?” Blaze came storming down the hall, followed by Miranda and Rye as he pushed the woman out of the way. “What do you think you’re doing?” He yelled at her as he pulled my hand from my bleeding throat. He let go and nodded, relieved to see that it was just a superficial wound.
From “Burning Bridges” (Nadège K. Richards):
I was to die this night.
There was no escaping it or any way around it. I couldn’t run from my destiny this time; I couldn’t hide. No, tonight I faced my fate in the chambers of death.
The screams of the crowd in the arena filled my ears, the shouts of excitement and laughter boiling my heart down to nothing but untainted sorrow. I refused to open my eyes, but I could sense where I was by that rusty smell of metal and dried blood Father brought home with him every day. The shackles that bound my ankles and wrists to the wall confirmed it. I was a prisoner in my own home, my own Haven. I couldn’t fathom how in forty-eight hours my life had taken a one-eighty spin, but here I was, locked in the dungeon of my father’s kingdom, hidden from the world until it was my time to surface.
“Echo . . . Can you hear me? Echo?” The voice’s intensity made me stir. I ignored it at first, but it just grew louder and more insistent. “Echo!”
As I moved to sit up, the cold cement scrapped against my bare body, causing my scabbed wounds to bleed. My head felt heavier on one side than it did the other, and my torso seemed as flimsy as flax. I searched for the calling in the obscurity of the sector and found him chained to the opposite wall. It took me a second to orient his face from the rest of his body, but when I met those otherworldly, violet irises, reality struck me hard and cold.
“You’re alive,” Ayden sighed. “Are you all right?”
“Barely,” I croaked.
Silence filled us as we stared at each other for what felt like forever. I wanted to touch him, to hold him again, but I knew there was no way. The chains on my wrists held me in place with barely a foot’s room to move. It was cruel.
“Ayden, I—”
“Don’t say it,” he interrupted.
I frowned. “How do you mean?”
“Don’t try to dissuade me from my decision, Echo. I don’t regret anything, nor did I ever.”
I felt my knees begin to tremble as tears welled in my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re going to go through with this? Ayden, that’s ludicrous. You can die out there!”
He wouldn’t look at me and for a while he said nothing. “Do you remember the question you asked me that one day at the river? Do you remember what I said?”
I nodded slowly. “I asked you if you believed in second chances and you said—”
“Not until I met you,” he finished, his expression solemn.
Not wanting him to see the tears that had come to my eyes, I glanced out the small crack in the ceiling. Very little light shone through, but it provided a sense of security that the dungeon surely could not.
As the screams grew louder above our heads, Ayden and I listened to the Announcer call in the prisoners one by one. The horn was soon blown and I heard the clanging of swords and the sputtering of death threats as the two prisoners fought for their right to live.
It frightened me to think only one person would come out alive; only one person had that second chance. When the crowd exploded in what could only be bloody exhilaration, I knew that one person was chosen. Blood seeped through the crack and dripped onto the ground beside me, its descent like a wakeup call for the both of us. Knowing that Ayden’s blood or mine was next to be splattered against the sands of the arena made me suddenly feel ill.
July 10, 2014
This is a wonderful set of books. Each author brings their own original book in the set and each has their own 'voice'. I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of these books. From fighting to stay alive and scream as a Monster to Vampires fighting for their lives. Each of them has plenty of action and adventure. Mostly characters trying to stay alive and sometimes falling in love. I honestly can't say enough good about these books. I thoroughly enjoyed them and will write individual reviews for each book. My suggestion is to get this set and enjoy! I know I certainly did.
I rate this a 5/5. This group of books is great, but if one doesn't suit you, there are still five others that you will likely enjoy!
Thank you to the authors for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
I rate this a 5/5. This group of books is great, but if one doesn't suit you, there are still five others that you will likely enjoy!
Thank you to the authors for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
July 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasn't sure due to it was a little slow moving in the beginning but very quickly it picked up. There were a lot of twists I wasn't expecting and I loved the mystery of it all. I loved the writing and characters and I felt for the "vampires" along with the main character and her family. Overall I enjoyed this story and will be reading the 2nd one very soon :)
I loved all of the books in this box set. they are amazing and very welll written.. some i liked more then others obviously but overall it made me find new authors and series to read. very good for a very good price. :)
I loved all of the books in this box set. they are amazing and very welll written.. some i liked more then others obviously but overall it made me find new authors and series to read. very good for a very good price. :)
July 9, 2014
This is a fantastic set for such a great price, you have six amazing authors in one each with a store that you haven't read before. This set is filled with 9 great stories that will keep you enthralled from the very beginning. There is one that has a Hunger Games feel to it but is unique in it's own way, a start to two great series (both of which I have read and book 1 of both is included). If you are looking for some great stories and don't want to pay a lot then this set is for you!
July 11, 2014
*I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have to be honest, this is a fantastic deal for the price!! I would have paid the same amount for just one of these!!
I was so excited to get my hands on it and read it!
It's full of 10 excited and deep stories all set in a dystopian future, and we are having to fight for our right to live!
Be prepared to sit down and read in one sitting, you wont want to stop!!!
~Dowie
I have to be honest, this is a fantastic deal for the price!! I would have paid the same amount for just one of these!!
I was so excited to get my hands on it and read it!
It's full of 10 excited and deep stories all set in a dystopian future, and we are having to fight for our right to live!
Be prepared to sit down and read in one sitting, you wont want to stop!!!
~Dowie
March 13, 2020
Lots of good reads!
All of these authors are very talented and enjoyable to read. A variety of styles and subjects, there is definitely something for everyone here! Fabulous and re-readable for fans of the dystopian genre!
All of these authors are very talented and enjoyable to read. A variety of styles and subjects, there is definitely something for everyone here! Fabulous and re-readable for fans of the dystopian genre!
June 20, 2014
shades of chaos arc
I AM ALIVE BY CAMERON JACE
Decca who befriend Woo someone with a goal and someone who Decca trusts and wants to find but there is more to Woo .. later she meets Leo a rebel who was a rock star but since he rebelled he became a moster who needed forgiveness due to a song about monsters .. this story reminds me of the hunger games in a way there is also friendship , love in the most unlikely of people and a revelation to find out on these and more read I AM ALIVE as well as read the box set of Shades of Chaos which has 6 authors with some as most as 2 each stories some only one but so far i love what i have read can't wait to see what next adventure awaits me until next read and review read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R268N9U1...
CHRONICLES OF THE UPRISING
BY KATIE SALIDAS
DISSENSION
Mira a vampire and a slave Lucian an Elite who has some power but has an eye for Mira Lucian is also human .. in this story there is betrayal , fighting , bloodshed and well to find out what else buy the book then read then review and then read on .... until next read and review ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KA2CPM...
Finding hope Elei's Prequel and story ,
by Chrstalla Thoma
, Rex Rising book 1 Elei someone who has different parasites in his body one who can identify people who to not trust and others to trust the other is a protection against being hurt in certain ways then well there will be another one but to find this out you will need to buy the book and read it .. also he meets Maera , Hera and Kalaes together they must stay alive to do that they must trust each other .. now in the midst of the survival to survive there is a traitor among them .. its kinda instering cause my gut told me who before i found out wonder if you will anyways there is some interesting scenes in this as well as fight scenes and some blood so if you do not like blood being spilled well then this book is not for you i read it due to the storyline not so much on the blood but because what i read on what the book was about that piqued my interest now all i need to do is read the other books i plan to get the 1 -3 trilogy come july 1st but will have to wait til august to sadly get book 4 sighs which i so want to get but have to hold off anyways until next read and review .. read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/RGX01O8H...
Reign of Blood (Reign of Blood #1) by Alexia Purdy
April a normal teenager and loves her family one problem the world has changed and now all humans are all but extinct .. April learns her mother and brother are taken by vampires she searches but to no avail she don't find them .. one day a woman named Miranda meets April though she is not human she takes April to her people there she meets Blaze and Rye .. now i will say this April finds love but as to whom you will have to read to find this out .. also there is bloodshed but what you expect when vampires and survival are a must . to find this and if she finds her family out til next read and review .. read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1P3OYXJ...
Released by Megan Duncan
Abby , Carter and Max Abby and Carter are siblings and Max is Carters best friend .. they go out to try to make it to a military base due to monsters who are killing humans which makes the road hard for them .. along the way they meet people and save some but they form friendships some may be more than that but to find out if they make it to the military post base or who may be more than just friends and see the blood and gore well you'll have to buy the book to find this out .. until next read and review read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/RW35HQ66...
Burning Bridges (The Bleeding Heart Trilogy)
by Nadege Richards
Ayden and Echo a couple who go through a lot of trials to be together .. Ayden someone who cares for his family and works to do a debt to the King that his father should do but is a drunk and his mother ill he has two siblings who are in his care as well and wish to learn but cannot afford it so he takes it upon himself to try .. along the way he meets Echo a princess and royal and someone who keeps him on his toes as well as he does the same for her .. both may be different but something draws them together intwines each other together as one ... though Echo is betrothed to a prince who is arrongant and not her type but she longs to be with Ayden . to find out if she marries the prince or if she follows her heart to be with Ayden .. also there is war , blood , tears , happiness and love to find out there is also a secret that Echo's mother has kept from her that soon reveals what it is to find this and more out buy then read then review and read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R56WJIBD...
I AM ALIVE BY CAMERON JACE
Decca who befriend Woo someone with a goal and someone who Decca trusts and wants to find but there is more to Woo .. later she meets Leo a rebel who was a rock star but since he rebelled he became a moster who needed forgiveness due to a song about monsters .. this story reminds me of the hunger games in a way there is also friendship , love in the most unlikely of people and a revelation to find out on these and more read I AM ALIVE as well as read the box set of Shades of Chaos which has 6 authors with some as most as 2 each stories some only one but so far i love what i have read can't wait to see what next adventure awaits me until next read and review read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R268N9U1...
CHRONICLES OF THE UPRISING
BY KATIE SALIDAS
DISSENSION
Mira a vampire and a slave Lucian an Elite who has some power but has an eye for Mira Lucian is also human .. in this story there is betrayal , fighting , bloodshed and well to find out what else buy the book then read then review and then read on .... until next read and review ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KA2CPM...
Finding hope Elei's Prequel and story ,
by Chrstalla Thoma
, Rex Rising book 1 Elei someone who has different parasites in his body one who can identify people who to not trust and others to trust the other is a protection against being hurt in certain ways then well there will be another one but to find this out you will need to buy the book and read it .. also he meets Maera , Hera and Kalaes together they must stay alive to do that they must trust each other .. now in the midst of the survival to survive there is a traitor among them .. its kinda instering cause my gut told me who before i found out wonder if you will anyways there is some interesting scenes in this as well as fight scenes and some blood so if you do not like blood being spilled well then this book is not for you i read it due to the storyline not so much on the blood but because what i read on what the book was about that piqued my interest now all i need to do is read the other books i plan to get the 1 -3 trilogy come july 1st but will have to wait til august to sadly get book 4 sighs which i so want to get but have to hold off anyways until next read and review .. read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/RGX01O8H...
Reign of Blood (Reign of Blood #1) by Alexia Purdy
April a normal teenager and loves her family one problem the world has changed and now all humans are all but extinct .. April learns her mother and brother are taken by vampires she searches but to no avail she don't find them .. one day a woman named Miranda meets April though she is not human she takes April to her people there she meets Blaze and Rye .. now i will say this April finds love but as to whom you will have to read to find this out .. also there is bloodshed but what you expect when vampires and survival are a must . to find this and if she finds her family out til next read and review .. read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1P3OYXJ...
Released by Megan Duncan
Abby , Carter and Max Abby and Carter are siblings and Max is Carters best friend .. they go out to try to make it to a military base due to monsters who are killing humans which makes the road hard for them .. along the way they meet people and save some but they form friendships some may be more than that but to find out if they make it to the military post base or who may be more than just friends and see the blood and gore well you'll have to buy the book to find this out .. until next read and review read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/RW35HQ66...
Burning Bridges (The Bleeding Heart Trilogy)
by Nadege Richards
Ayden and Echo a couple who go through a lot of trials to be together .. Ayden someone who cares for his family and works to do a debt to the King that his father should do but is a drunk and his mother ill he has two siblings who are in his care as well and wish to learn but cannot afford it so he takes it upon himself to try .. along the way he meets Echo a princess and royal and someone who keeps him on his toes as well as he does the same for her .. both may be different but something draws them together intwines each other together as one ... though Echo is betrothed to a prince who is arrongant and not her type but she longs to be with Ayden . to find out if she marries the prince or if she follows her heart to be with Ayden .. also there is war , blood , tears , happiness and love to find out there is also a secret that Echo's mother has kept from her that soon reveals what it is to find this and more out buy then read then review and read on ..
http://www.amazon.com/review/R56WJIBD...
November 6, 2014
I Am Alive
By: Cameron Jace
This book combines elements of two very popular dystopian novels The Hunger Games and Divergent to create a world where you are evaluated at age 16 and if you receive a score under 5 you are forced to compete in the Monster Show in order to earn a spot in society again.
This book focuses on the disparity between classes and what makes a perfect human being. The Summit, the government, uses technology to monitor their citizens from birth and then uses that same technology to eventually make sure they are killed if they are deemed unsatisfactory. It was fascinating to me to see what the author views as a possible future if we continue to idolize technology the way we do. Overall this is a very good book that leaves you looking for the next book in the series to continue the story.
Initiation and Dissension
By: K.A. Salidas
Wow this world is amazing and Mira is an amazing heroine. She is smart, strong and refuses to let anyone crush her spirit. She may be owned, kept in captivity and forced to fight to the death routinely but she will never give in.
It was fascinating to see a world where even with all of their longevity and strength the vampires were kept as slaves used strictly for entertainment and hunted to near extinction. Both the prequel and novel are amazing and while the main conflict in both books is solved in the end the overarching storyline is just beginning so you are still left with questions at the end. I am very interested in reading the next book in the series so I can find out what happens to these fascinating characters.
Finding Hope and Rex Rising
By: Chrystalla Thoma
This world is simply amazing it is every sci-fi and fantasy lover’s dream. I loved how the author developed and used her own mythology to drive the plot it really adds to the story and helps the reader sink into the world
I was very intrigued by the most powerful race in this world, the Gultur, they are female humans that possess and are influenced by a fully matured parasite called Regina. In fact most of the plot lines in this story revolve around the various parasites you can contract in this world. The character development and the ending to this book were both done very well and while leaving plenty of room for more books we were not left on a cliffhanger which is nice. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
Resonant and Reign of Blood
By: Alexia Purdy
This book world is just plain fascinating. A virus that can turn humans into feral vampires has taken over Las Vegas and it doesn’t seem like anyone but April and her family is immune.
April is a true heroine she is strong, smart and determined to live in a world that seems to be crumbling around her. However, she is also stubborn, impulsive and immature in some of the situations. As the story progresses we get to see April begin to mature emotionally and want to be a part of something instead of just being a renegade. There are some revelations at the end of the book that make me very anxious to read the next book and see how everything turns out.
Released
By: Megan Duncan
I have read many apocalypse books but I had never read a demon apocalypse book so this was a first for me. I was not sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the characters and the premise of demons randomly attacking in hordes is very interesting but I was unsatisfied with the ending.
I felt like I read an entire book to almost have it negated in the end. I was left feeling bereft and wondering what was going to happen to the characters. I was given no closure and while I am interested in finding out what will happen next I am almost wary. This was a very dark and violent book and while that is to be expected in this genre there is usually a ray of hope that makes it worth it all in the end and I did not feel that was delivered in this book.
By: Cameron Jace
This book combines elements of two very popular dystopian novels The Hunger Games and Divergent to create a world where you are evaluated at age 16 and if you receive a score under 5 you are forced to compete in the Monster Show in order to earn a spot in society again.
This book focuses on the disparity between classes and what makes a perfect human being. The Summit, the government, uses technology to monitor their citizens from birth and then uses that same technology to eventually make sure they are killed if they are deemed unsatisfactory. It was fascinating to me to see what the author views as a possible future if we continue to idolize technology the way we do. Overall this is a very good book that leaves you looking for the next book in the series to continue the story.
Initiation and Dissension
By: K.A. Salidas
Wow this world is amazing and Mira is an amazing heroine. She is smart, strong and refuses to let anyone crush her spirit. She may be owned, kept in captivity and forced to fight to the death routinely but she will never give in.
It was fascinating to see a world where even with all of their longevity and strength the vampires were kept as slaves used strictly for entertainment and hunted to near extinction. Both the prequel and novel are amazing and while the main conflict in both books is solved in the end the overarching storyline is just beginning so you are still left with questions at the end. I am very interested in reading the next book in the series so I can find out what happens to these fascinating characters.
Finding Hope and Rex Rising
By: Chrystalla Thoma
This world is simply amazing it is every sci-fi and fantasy lover’s dream. I loved how the author developed and used her own mythology to drive the plot it really adds to the story and helps the reader sink into the world
I was very intrigued by the most powerful race in this world, the Gultur, they are female humans that possess and are influenced by a fully matured parasite called Regina. In fact most of the plot lines in this story revolve around the various parasites you can contract in this world. The character development and the ending to this book were both done very well and while leaving plenty of room for more books we were not left on a cliffhanger which is nice. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
Resonant and Reign of Blood
By: Alexia Purdy
This book world is just plain fascinating. A virus that can turn humans into feral vampires has taken over Las Vegas and it doesn’t seem like anyone but April and her family is immune.
April is a true heroine she is strong, smart and determined to live in a world that seems to be crumbling around her. However, she is also stubborn, impulsive and immature in some of the situations. As the story progresses we get to see April begin to mature emotionally and want to be a part of something instead of just being a renegade. There are some revelations at the end of the book that make me very anxious to read the next book and see how everything turns out.
Released
By: Megan Duncan
I have read many apocalypse books but I had never read a demon apocalypse book so this was a first for me. I was not sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the characters and the premise of demons randomly attacking in hordes is very interesting but I was unsatisfied with the ending.
I felt like I read an entire book to almost have it negated in the end. I was left feeling bereft and wondering what was going to happen to the characters. I was given no closure and while I am interested in finding out what will happen next I am almost wary. This was a very dark and violent book and while that is to be expected in this genre there is usually a ray of hope that makes it worth it all in the end and I did not feel that was delivered in this book.
June 24, 2014
It took me over a week, but I FINALLY finished this box set. I'm telling you it was sooo hard to keep going through with these books, without having to stop to finish each series of the first books. This will be my review for each book:
I AM ALIVE: From beginning to end, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! i loved the characters and the pace of the book. I love Leo and Decca characters. Especially Leo. I like the bad boy montage. I gave 5 star for this. And yes it did have a hunger games/divergent feel to it, but yet it was in a different class. If that makes sense.
DISSENSION/INITIATION: I absolutely loved these books as well. I liked the gladiator feel to it as well as vampires being involved. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book in the series. And just like I AM ALIVE I definitely would encourage anyone to read this book. The action and HOPEFULLY love story would peek your interests as much as it did mine!! Even though its about vampires, it is nothing like Twilight.
FINDING HOPE/ REX RISING: I gave these books 3 stars. I didn't really get into it (maybe because it was hard for me to start a new series, I'm telling you IT IS SOO HARD). I think I couldn't get a connection because I really didn't understand the wholes gods/diseases thing. The author really didn't give enough words to explain them. I, myself, was hoping for more of Elei being an unbeatable being and awesome fighter! Maybe the next books will enlighten me better. But even tho I did give it 3 stars, I will still read the whole series.
RESONANT/REIGN OF BLOOD: I have to admit, at the beginning, I really was bored. There was a part of the book that had no dialogue whatsoever. I STILL gave it a 5 stars because towards the end I finally got what I wanted, dialogue and a love story. It's about vampires, but I loved the characters in the book. I LOVED the heroine and the action in this book. The main character, I BELIEVE, is gonna be pretty freaking awesome in the next two books. I CAN'T WAIT to see what will enfold! I encourage anyone to read through it because you won't be disappointed in the end (well maybe you will be since you'll be dying for the next book :-))
RELEASED: I gave this book 5 stars. I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the next book in the series. I LOVED the characters and the pace of the book. I read this book in a day and I enjoyed every single word. I enjoyed the action and the romance. I encourage anyone to read this series because it was soo friggin awesome. I loved the manly man, nerdy brain, overdramatic teenager, and the main character Abby.
BURNING BRIDGES: I gave this book 3 stars. I loved the love story, but I thought Echo and Ayden characters were rather annoying especially Echo. I was hoping for more action out of this book especially when the Gladiator feel at the beginning of the book came into play. EVEN THO I gave 3 stars, I will read the others in the series hoping it was pique my interest of more action and have ECHO be an awesome heroine.
WELP, THAT'S IT! I have to admit I am proud of myself for this since this is my first review on Good reads ever. Just know that these are based on MY OPINION, your opinion will probably be different, I JUST HOPE IT HELPS YOU PICK WHICH BOOK TO READ NEXT! But I encourage anyone to read this box set! I GAVE THIS BOXSET 4 STARS!!!
I AM ALIVE: From beginning to end, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! i loved the characters and the pace of the book. I love Leo and Decca characters. Especially Leo. I like the bad boy montage. I gave 5 star for this. And yes it did have a hunger games/divergent feel to it, but yet it was in a different class. If that makes sense.
DISSENSION/INITIATION: I absolutely loved these books as well. I liked the gladiator feel to it as well as vampires being involved. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book in the series. And just like I AM ALIVE I definitely would encourage anyone to read this book. The action and HOPEFULLY love story would peek your interests as much as it did mine!! Even though its about vampires, it is nothing like Twilight.
FINDING HOPE/ REX RISING: I gave these books 3 stars. I didn't really get into it (maybe because it was hard for me to start a new series, I'm telling you IT IS SOO HARD). I think I couldn't get a connection because I really didn't understand the wholes gods/diseases thing. The author really didn't give enough words to explain them. I, myself, was hoping for more of Elei being an unbeatable being and awesome fighter! Maybe the next books will enlighten me better. But even tho I did give it 3 stars, I will still read the whole series.
RESONANT/REIGN OF BLOOD: I have to admit, at the beginning, I really was bored. There was a part of the book that had no dialogue whatsoever. I STILL gave it a 5 stars because towards the end I finally got what I wanted, dialogue and a love story. It's about vampires, but I loved the characters in the book. I LOVED the heroine and the action in this book. The main character, I BELIEVE, is gonna be pretty freaking awesome in the next two books. I CAN'T WAIT to see what will enfold! I encourage anyone to read through it because you won't be disappointed in the end (well maybe you will be since you'll be dying for the next book :-))
RELEASED: I gave this book 5 stars. I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the next book in the series. I LOVED the characters and the pace of the book. I read this book in a day and I enjoyed every single word. I enjoyed the action and the romance. I encourage anyone to read this series because it was soo friggin awesome. I loved the manly man, nerdy brain, overdramatic teenager, and the main character Abby.
BURNING BRIDGES: I gave this book 3 stars. I loved the love story, but I thought Echo and Ayden characters were rather annoying especially Echo. I was hoping for more action out of this book especially when the Gladiator feel at the beginning of the book came into play. EVEN THO I gave 3 stars, I will read the others in the series hoping it was pique my interest of more action and have ECHO be an awesome heroine.
WELP, THAT'S IT! I have to admit I am proud of myself for this since this is my first review on Good reads ever. Just know that these are based on MY OPINION, your opinion will probably be different, I JUST HOPE IT HELPS YOU PICK WHICH BOOK TO READ NEXT! But I encourage anyone to read this box set! I GAVE THIS BOXSET 4 STARS!!!
November 11, 2014
I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
I don't normally read box sets but when I saw Shades of Chaos I knew I had to read this one. It has a book in a lot of deferent genres that I love. It has Dystopian, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic, Aliens, Vampires, Demons and Monsters. Most of the characters are fighting to stay alive or survive in one way or another.
In I Am Alive teenagers are rated on a scale from 1 - 10. Everybody wants to be a 10 and is raised from birth to be the best that they can be and hopefully they will be a 10. When it is time for Decca to be rated the system says she is a monster and monsters are considered a nuisance and a burden to society and will always be below their standard of expectations and must fight for their right to live.
Initiation and Dissension are about vampires becoming slaves to humans. The humans keep the vampires locked up in a dungeon like place. If the vampires don't do what they are told or don't follow the rules then they are punished in a horrible way. Each human that owns a vampire fight them against other vampires. They are trained to fight to the death. Poor Mira hates being a slave and being locked up all the time. She is a very head strong woman and will never stop trying to get away.
Finding Hope and Rex Rising is about Elei who was infected with two parasites when he was a little boy. He grew up with these two parasites fighting each other inside of him each wanting to control the other. Elei is a very lucky person to have survived the parasites inside of him because to most they are deadly. After the rough life that he has lived Elei finally got him a break. He got a job driving an aircar. Elei was happy with his new job and his boss for a while until one day his boss is killed and after witnessing her death Elei flees the scene with a bullet in his side, running for his life. Whoever killed his boss is now chasing after Elei. They want something from Elei that he knows nothing about. He has no clue what it is they want.
I didn't read Resonant or Reign of Blood and it wasn't because I didn't want to. It was only because I read and reviewed them a few months ago. I loved reading about the vampires in April Tate's world and about her little brother and all of her new friends that she met while living in Las Vegas before and after the apocalypse. April was a very strong girl who knew how to fight the zompires and was always or at least most of the time aware of what was going on around her which helped her a lot in beating the zompires.
In Released Abby, her brother, Carter and their friend Max all leave their home on a journey across the wastelands of America after demons have taken over their world and have killed their families and all of their friends; so after hearing on the radio about a group of people that are offering a safe place to stay so they head out on their journey and run into all kinds of dangerous things along the way.
I have truly enjoyed reading all of the books in Shades of Chaos and am very grateful that I had this opportunity to read them. I love dystopia and apocalyptic books with vampires, zombies or zompires in them. If you love reading them too then this box set is for you. I highly recommend each and every book in the set. I plan on writing reviews for each book separately at a later date.
I don't normally read box sets but when I saw Shades of Chaos I knew I had to read this one. It has a book in a lot of deferent genres that I love. It has Dystopian, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic, Aliens, Vampires, Demons and Monsters. Most of the characters are fighting to stay alive or survive in one way or another.
In I Am Alive teenagers are rated on a scale from 1 - 10. Everybody wants to be a 10 and is raised from birth to be the best that they can be and hopefully they will be a 10. When it is time for Decca to be rated the system says she is a monster and monsters are considered a nuisance and a burden to society and will always be below their standard of expectations and must fight for their right to live.
Initiation and Dissension are about vampires becoming slaves to humans. The humans keep the vampires locked up in a dungeon like place. If the vampires don't do what they are told or don't follow the rules then they are punished in a horrible way. Each human that owns a vampire fight them against other vampires. They are trained to fight to the death. Poor Mira hates being a slave and being locked up all the time. She is a very head strong woman and will never stop trying to get away.
Finding Hope and Rex Rising is about Elei who was infected with two parasites when he was a little boy. He grew up with these two parasites fighting each other inside of him each wanting to control the other. Elei is a very lucky person to have survived the parasites inside of him because to most they are deadly. After the rough life that he has lived Elei finally got him a break. He got a job driving an aircar. Elei was happy with his new job and his boss for a while until one day his boss is killed and after witnessing her death Elei flees the scene with a bullet in his side, running for his life. Whoever killed his boss is now chasing after Elei. They want something from Elei that he knows nothing about. He has no clue what it is they want.
I didn't read Resonant or Reign of Blood and it wasn't because I didn't want to. It was only because I read and reviewed them a few months ago. I loved reading about the vampires in April Tate's world and about her little brother and all of her new friends that she met while living in Las Vegas before and after the apocalypse. April was a very strong girl who knew how to fight the zompires and was always or at least most of the time aware of what was going on around her which helped her a lot in beating the zompires.
In Released Abby, her brother, Carter and their friend Max all leave their home on a journey across the wastelands of America after demons have taken over their world and have killed their families and all of their friends; so after hearing on the radio about a group of people that are offering a safe place to stay so they head out on their journey and run into all kinds of dangerous things along the way.
I have truly enjoyed reading all of the books in Shades of Chaos and am very grateful that I had this opportunity to read them. I love dystopia and apocalyptic books with vampires, zombies or zompires in them. If you love reading them too then this box set is for you. I highly recommend each and every book in the set. I plan on writing reviews for each book separately at a later date.
November 4, 2014
I received a review copy of this set of books for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
REIGN OF BLOOD
by Alexia Purdy
I'll always be ready to dive into a post-apocalyptic story and have been wanting to read Reign of Blood for a long time, just haven't had a chance until now. If you find yourself in a vampire rut, then I recommend reading this novel - Alexia Purdy gives a fresh new take on vampires in a lonely and vicious new world where survival is the name of the game.
Reign of Blood begins one year after a virus decimated the world's population - people either died right away, or they turned into vampires that reminded me much of zombies except for their fangs and thirst for blood rather than hunger for brains. At the heart of the tale is April, a seventeen-year-old girl who's become a kick ass vampire killer. While on a supply run into Vegas with her mom and younger brother, they don't make it to their meeting place causing April to go searching for them.
I really liked Alexia Purdy's new take on vampires. They were truly terrifying, and the fact that April is so adept at killing them is nothing short of amazing!! With Las Vegas as the setting, Reign of Blood becomes even more unsettling - after thousands and thousands have succumbed to the virus either by death or turning into bloodsucking creatures, there is utter silence in Sin City. No lights, no noise, no people. Just bloodthirsty eyes watching your every move, waiting for you to slip up.
A huge revelation occurs just when April thought she knew all there was to know about the vamps - that they're unable to speak, only have basic functioning, and crave blood - and this new knowledge might just be the key to finding her mom and brother. Between the time her mom and brother go missing until this revelation comes about was slow for me, but then the story picked up speed again and had me riveted until the very end.
I couldn't believe April trained herself - how amazing is that?? What I love most about her is that she's tough but also has those moments of vulnerability with missing her family and adjusting to the new world she lives in where things are often out of her control. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a fresh spin on the vampire genre as well as those who love post-apocalyptic stories with kick ass heroines. I'm definitely reading the next book in this series, and I'm a new Alexia Purdy fan!
REIGN OF BLOOD
by Alexia Purdy
I'll always be ready to dive into a post-apocalyptic story and have been wanting to read Reign of Blood for a long time, just haven't had a chance until now. If you find yourself in a vampire rut, then I recommend reading this novel - Alexia Purdy gives a fresh new take on vampires in a lonely and vicious new world where survival is the name of the game.
Reign of Blood begins one year after a virus decimated the world's population - people either died right away, or they turned into vampires that reminded me much of zombies except for their fangs and thirst for blood rather than hunger for brains. At the heart of the tale is April, a seventeen-year-old girl who's become a kick ass vampire killer. While on a supply run into Vegas with her mom and younger brother, they don't make it to their meeting place causing April to go searching for them.
I really liked Alexia Purdy's new take on vampires. They were truly terrifying, and the fact that April is so adept at killing them is nothing short of amazing!! With Las Vegas as the setting, Reign of Blood becomes even more unsettling - after thousands and thousands have succumbed to the virus either by death or turning into bloodsucking creatures, there is utter silence in Sin City. No lights, no noise, no people. Just bloodthirsty eyes watching your every move, waiting for you to slip up.
A huge revelation occurs just when April thought she knew all there was to know about the vamps - that they're unable to speak, only have basic functioning, and crave blood - and this new knowledge might just be the key to finding her mom and brother. Between the time her mom and brother go missing until this revelation comes about was slow for me, but then the story picked up speed again and had me riveted until the very end.
I couldn't believe April trained herself - how amazing is that?? What I love most about her is that she's tough but also has those moments of vulnerability with missing her family and adjusting to the new world she lives in where things are often out of her control. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a fresh spin on the vampire genre as well as those who love post-apocalyptic stories with kick ass heroines. I'm definitely reading the next book in this series, and I'm a new Alexia Purdy fan!
July 7, 2014
This review is from: Reign of Blood (Reign of Blood #1) out of this anthology.
I love apocalyptic stories, and these did not disappoint.
In Reign of Blood, April, her mother Helen, and her younger brother are surviving in a bunker below a cabin in the mountains outside of what used to be Las Vegas. They've been hiding and scrounging for food, making trips into what's left of the city to stock up on needed supplies, and try to clear out nests of nasty feral vampires without being eaten.
Everyone they know is either dead or turned now, and it's just them as far as they know. On one of their trips into the city, April's family is abducted, leaving her alone to survive and hopefully find them. She searches for clues tries to find where they have been taken, all but giving up before she starts blowing up casinos to clear out the ferals. She's trapped inside one as it blows, when she's rescued by one that isn't feral, but isn't human either. This new friend, Miranda, leads April to a whole new world she had no idea existed where she finds help and the promise to find her mom and brother.
I love apocalyptic stories, and these did not disappoint.
In Reign of Blood, April, her mother Helen, and her younger brother are surviving in a bunker below a cabin in the mountains outside of what used to be Las Vegas. They've been hiding and scrounging for food, making trips into what's left of the city to stock up on needed supplies, and try to clear out nests of nasty feral vampires without being eaten.
Everyone they know is either dead or turned now, and it's just them as far as they know. On one of their trips into the city, April's family is abducted, leaving her alone to survive and hopefully find them. She searches for clues tries to find where they have been taken, all but giving up before she starts blowing up casinos to clear out the ferals. She's trapped inside one as it blows, when she's rescued by one that isn't feral, but isn't human either. This new friend, Miranda, leads April to a whole new world she had no idea existed where she finds help and the promise to find her mom and brother.
July 11, 2014
*I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have to be honest, this is a fantastic deal for the price!! I would have paid the same amount for just one of these!!
I was so excited to get my hands on it and read it!
It's full of 10 excited and deep stories all set in a dystopian future, and we are having to fight for our right to live!
Be prepared to sit down and read in one sitting, you wont want to stop!!!
~Dowie
I have to be honest, this is a fantastic deal for the price!! I would have paid the same amount for just one of these!!
I was so excited to get my hands on it and read it!
It's full of 10 excited and deep stories all set in a dystopian future, and we are having to fight for our right to live!
Be prepared to sit down and read in one sitting, you wont want to stop!!!
~Dowie
July 8, 2014
This box set has a little bit of everything a dystopian lover wants: mayhem, mystery, action, blood, and the unknown. Shades of Chaos gifts the readers with works from different authors, allowing them to sample different worlds. With six incredible storytellers and nine action packed books, Shades of Chaos gives you more than you asked for and definitely worth buying.
July 10, 2014
I picked this up because I read very quickly and box sets usually keep me stocked on books for a bit....this was not the case. Once I started I had to finish each book rather quickly just to find out what happened! So many talented authors in one set. If you like post apocalyptic this is the set for u!
June 12, 2014
This was a really good book . the first book in the box set had a Hunger games feel to it . The characters were amazing . The world she makes is unbelievable . I couldn't put this down ,that I read this in one setting . Love a good Dystopian !!! Way to go . I would read this again and again !!!!
Want to read
June 9, 2014I can not wait !!!! Come on 6/13
February 15, 2015
I liked the first couple of stories but then found the other ones boring and hard to get into
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