Here Lies Love

by Dan C. Thompson (Brand)

Would death be less painful than life?

When she is sold by her father, Abbey discovers that nightmares can occur when you’re awake. Trapped inside a wooden cage, Abbey is forced to listen to the horrors and atrocities above; time ticking down until it is her turn. But Abbey isn’t prepared to become a victim; she will escape.

Although, what Abbey isn’t prepared for, is how harsh and unfair the world can be. With the sun turning its back on humanity long ago, life gives no opportunity. The only thing Abbey can do is learn to survive. To exist. And that means stealing any opportunity that comes her way. Haunted by the unpleasant memories bestowed upon her only nurtures Abbey’s paranoia, until she realises that to truly live in the world, she must confront the person who was responsible for her misfortune – her father.

Here Lies Love is a New Adult tale of actuality, of facing up to the fact that love comes in many guises. Can Abbey find the one glimmer of hope or will she be overcome with the darkness of revenge?

Genres: Romance

ebook

First published June 10, 2014

Reviews

[Caroline Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! There are some very dark topics in this New Adult dystopian, Here Lies Love, and it is definitely not for the faint hearted! Not only is it one of the darkest novels I have read for some time, being set in an end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it survival narrative but it also deals with captivity, violence and sexual abuse, where the victim considers suicide as it may be preferable to carrying on. There is also the presence of betrayal and loneliness surrounding the main character, Abbey. Be prepared for an intense, emotive adventure, where the reader truly cannot predict what will happen on the following page, let alone at the end of the story!!!

The reader is introduced to Abbey at a time when the sun hasn’t shone in the sky for many years. The human race is barely surviving and Abbey has been sent away by her father to live with Stefan, a man who offered Abbey a chance of minor housework to earn her keep and food. Little did Abbey know that she would be under lock and key and only taken out when Stefan, the monster, wanted to play. Abbey not only has to live with the fear of what this guy will do to her, but she can hear the screams of other girls. She cannot let him carry on doing this to her.

The reader feels every sense of terror, anxiety and tension, longing for Abbey and the others to escape. This story takes you places that you would not really want to venture to from the beginning. However, by doing this the reader is hooked on hoping for Abbey to make it out. For a New Adult novel, Dan Thompson writes so carefully, explaining the depths of desperation that Abbey is at, allowing every moment to be clear to the reader without being completely graphic as a more mature read could be. This shows a level of sensitivity and the author helps create the horrific scene with atmospheric descriptions just as much as the abusive situation in which Abbey is in.

Abbey’s emotions towards her father are mixed. She was close to him and her gran when she was younger but she cannot understand how her father could just give her away to a monster like Stefan. Abbey feels angry and betrayed by her father. She wants answers and he is the only one that holds them. Her father and her home at the lighthouse are all she knows and so her objective is to face her father to find his truth and possibly seek revenge.

Here Lies Love also keeps the reader on their toes just as much as Abbey is. I find dystopians in general are dark reads and concentrate on surviving, and this is no different in many ways. There is a lack of trust in people, the need for food and warmth, etc, but Abbey is also struggling with the coming of age at the same time as having her innocence robbed and then to top it all off she falls for another survivor of the apocalypse in Tristan.

Meeting Tristan, although careful and cautious of him at first, provides Abbey with a certain feeling of affection that she has long forgotten. She has only had to think and care for herself, and now meeting Tristan and his best friend, Ryan, she begins to feel connected with people again, if just a little. However, due to her young age and trying to deal with what has happened to her makes it very easy for Abbey to become paranoid and concerned about the true intentions of Tristan and Ryan. The reader does question, ‘Is there hope for Abbey’s future?’

Towards the end of the novel the answer to that question is still one for the reader to possibly judge for themselves. And where does it leave Tristan? I want to know so much more about these characters and, although the story is pretty well wrapped, I would still like to follow these characters into a sequel to find out exactly what becomes of both of them and whether or not they are together? Despite the seriousness, darkness and sheer desperation that Abbey felt, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. If you are a dystopian fan and enjoy a dark read this is definitely one for you!!

A copy of Here Lies Love was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is set in a time unnamed after the sun has died and civilization has all but perished. The story is a heart wrenching, and at times hard to read story of a young girl’s survival in the very worst situation. Years after she lost her mother, after her grandmother died, her father her only living relative in the world sells her to the most evil man there is too meet. A man who collects teenage girls as his pets, locks them in cages, and then abuses them in the most vial ways possible, until they no longer entertain him at which time he simply kills and buries them. That is, until Abbey. Abbey has spirit and fight in here that defies his logic, and she fights not to win, but to survive. This is just the beginning of the story, but perhaps the most important part of it. Because for the rest of her story, Abbey has to deal with the demons that not only the man who enslaved her brought down upon her, but also the reality that her father could simply discard her for a few tokens.
During the story she meets two boys, Tristan and Ryan who help her and welcome her into their circle, but after being abused for so long, Abbey trusts no one and soon leaves them to seek justice from the man that started it all…her father.
But finding her father just may be the undoing of Abbey. I believe this is a turning point for her in the story. A very cruel hard lesson for sure; but in the world that is Abbey crucial to her survival.
This book was one of my first in this dystopia genre, and although some graphic in some details it was a very good read. The author really brought me into the story and made me a part of this strange world of Abbeys.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a coming of age story about a naive young girl,brought up in isolation and unaware of the ways of the world.  She has to learn to adapt to the truly dreadful situation she finds herself in and decide whether the struggle to live and live decently is worth the effort or if death and an end to pain is preferable to continued suffering.

The story itself quickly had me in its grip.  The characters are strong, well drawn and compelling.  Abbey is an interesting character whose fate I quickly became concerned about and wanted a happy ending for her. However the writing style of the author was not to my taste and I often found myself being pulled out of the story in order to look up the definition of some esoteric word choice.  This broke  the flow of the story and therefore diminished the book as a whole.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this book had a slow start. Which in a way is good, because it guarantees I'm going to finish it. (I hated the first chapter of American Psycho, because I literally had no idea what was going on or who was the heck was who).

Speaking of American Psycho; this book has very dark - and mature - themes. Whilst it is not as graphic as Ellis's work, I would still hesitate to recommend this to somebody young or who has a frail stomach.

During the course, Abbey's thought process reminded me a little of Rapunzel- you know, that scene in Tangled, where one moment she's loving being out of the tower, and the next she's hating herself for disobeying her mother. It was kind of like that, which I felt accurately portrayed the situation- obviously, this was new, unfamiliar territory for Abbey and no one could possibly think straight when dealing with it.

The whole situation was brilliantly handled by Thompson, even if at times it seemed a little whiplash-like.

Now, when Ryan and Tristan were introduced (I'm not included spoilers, don't worry!) I couldn't help but laugh- it was so undeniably British. I haven't read a proper British book in ages- I am confident that even the Harry Potter books I own use American English. At first, I thought it was a problem with the editing- missing words, weird speech- but then I realised.

These are British teenagers. This is literally how we talk when we're with our mates- we miss out words, speak in an grammatically incorrect fashion. I do it all the time, and I don't think I've come across a book that accurately portrays that before. Like, usually, even with TV shows, people speech is immaculate. That's not the case with this book, which is why maybe it just seems so realistic.

I do not feel as though I can reveal much more of this book without delving into spoiler territory, so I'm afraid that I'm going to have to end it here.

But over all, Here Lies Love was a great read for me, and I can honestly say I'm looking forward to exploring some of Thompson's new work, and watch as he grows as an author and how that shapes his future expeditions.

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For more reviews like this, visit my blog: http://thebookcarousel.blogspot.co.uk

[Levian · Rating 4 out of 5]

in a ruined world where people struggled to survive, Abbey was sold to a dying man called Stefan. he imprisoned plenty of girls, leaving Abbey to the last. hating her father for giving her up, Abbey held onto every little hope of getting out of the torturous place. after a success escape, Abbey was thrown into the unknown until she came across Tristan and Ryan, two boys who lived in the rundown building that used to be a school. ever since she was sold, she looked for a chance to take out her father, confront him of the reason she was abandoned. now that the chance had come, she wasn’t going to let it slipped.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchange for a review. the book was very detailed visually. though it helped me to have a clear mental image of the situation Abbey was in down to its backdrop, i found myself skipping lines at times just to get to the actions. the story followed Abbey in three situations, each pairing her up with different males that was either good or bad towards her. despite the lengthy descriptions, which turned out to be the only downside for me, the story was truly captivating. it wasn’t until the point where she refused to believe Tristan that I realized that I secretly wanted a happy ending for her. fortunately, her self-defined happy ending was equally satisfying.

my link: here

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different kind of book to my normal reads. In my opinion different is good. I love when I come across a book that pushes my boundaries. I don't normally read books set in the future so this was quite a surprise for me. Surprise in that I enjoyed it.

This is a really dark read. With scenes of rape and violence this book is not for the faint hearted. The story is about Abbey who is sold by her father to a man who buys, keeps and abuses teenage girls.

This is a really brilliantly well written story. Although in a genre I don't normally read I was gripped.

[Mihran Kalaydjian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, whenever writers opted to pen about the future earth, they love to make it an Utopian land. A place technologically far ahead of our times, people have anything and everything for their physical comfort, the political turmoil has gone southward giving rise to peace everywhere and there is no scarcity at least for food,cloth and shelter. There are Dystopian exceptions and Here Lies Love falls in that genre.

[Ale Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A scar is nothing but a battle wound to remind you that you were stronger and greater than your assailant”

In Here Lies Love by Dan. C Thompsonthere are lots of scars involved, physical and psychological. We are introduced at the very beginning and during the whole book to very deep and strong moments: violation, physical aggression, death, suicide and much more; happy moments are counted with a hand.

“Would death be less painful that life?”

This book tells the story of a girl named Abbey, whose father sold her to a stranger [Stefan] in exchange for some money. She goes through many adversities and horrible situations while being captive in this stranger’s house (that seemed more like a labyrinth/prison). And even when she runs away, the shadow of that man, of the other girls that were captive too, the shadow of her own guilt and sins, is following her all the time.

However, not everything is bad for Abbey, at least it didn’t seem when she met Ryan and Tristan. These two boys, who Abbey couldn’t seem to trust at first, soon become the friends that she had always been waiting for.
Abbey is starting to finally accept that things can get better, when stuff happens and she realizes she has been losing time. Revenge must be completed, and what a better solution than taking revenge on the man that caused all her misfortunes? Yes, I’m talking of the same man that sold her: Abbey’s father.

You may be wondering: how can she think of killing her own dad? and so did I when I read this book; at least at the beginning. The question I did to myself then was: How can I really say it’s incorrect of her to do so? As Abbey tells, it was him who sold her, it was him that could’ve stopped all her suffering, all the atrocities she had to bear. And after all she had to live, I doubt she was completely rational. Abbey gets darker as every chapter passes. But was she really going to kill his father? I wasn’t very sure about that. I mean, Abbey seemed to be convinced most of the time, but her determination sometimes faltered and that made me question her real intentions. To me, she was just a girl who wanted hope in her life again, something, a reason to continue living, to find happiness once more.

All in all, I enjoyed this book enormously! I was intrigued instantly as I began reading the first chapter. The cruelty of the situation in which Abbey was found, gripped me and made me want to read more and more. I also found the “ending-world” scenario utterly fascinating; it gave the story more material to work with, and made things more dramatic. And what to say about Abbey? In my point of view, she turns into a fighter; goodbye delicate and innocent girl, here comes a fierce woman who’s ready to fight.
I only have one negative comment: everything happened too fast. Even if the plot, characters and setting were so delightful to read, it all occurred so rapidly that it made it difficult for me to believe what was going on. Nevertheless, I still loved this book, it was just a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

I really recommend this book to people who enjoy a little “dark-themed” story. Here Lies Love by Dan Thompson not only has a futuristic/catastrophic setting, a compelling protagonist, but also suspense that will make readers be intrigued all the time.

[Kristyna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of Dan Thompson's Here Lies Love in exchange for an honest review. I was honored to be part of his cover reveal back in January, so I was excited to get a chance to read it!

This is going to be a tough review to write. I was really excited to read this story once I read the synopsis but I feel like my expectations were too high.

This is the story of Abbey, her escape from confinement, a pit stop sleepover with two boys and a revenge-filled adventure back to her father. This is a controversial story; it covers some sensitive subjects, such as rape and suicide. The writing was great and the plot was brilliant, but something just didn't connect.

I couldn't relate to Abbey. Her emotions were all over the place and there were wild swings in her personality. She went from survivor to suicidal, from shy to vengeful. I couldn't figure out who she was. I really enjoyed Tristan and Ryan. I felt their voices were genuine and their characters were a bit better fleshed out. They showed a better range of human emotion, and compared to Abbey, they didn't carry the same kind of madness inside them. I found both men rather intriguing and wanted to know more about them and their survival, more so than continuing Abbey's story.

I feel like this story was two books in one. In the beginning, she is trying to escape and undergoes unspeakable torment, but the story doesn't take off until Abbey meets Tristan and Ryan. I feel like her time in captivity could have been better explained through flashbacks, similar to the story of how she was sold by her father. Even though there was a lot of action in the beginning, there was a noticeable shift once she gets free, like an entirely new story with an entirely new set of characters. There was a disconnect there. I wanted it to be one cohesive story, where it was either the first part or the second half, but not both.

The world-building was well done and I loved the science behind what caused the sun to go away. Plus, the writing was great, but it didn't fit the story. The main character can't read; she's uneducated and because the world had gone to pot, a lot of history was lost. With this characteristic, it made no sense that she used words such as "callous" and "uncouth" in conversation. The whole narrative around her was well-worded and what I'd call "literary," but it didn't fit the descriptions of the main character. In this case, the author overwrote this story and for whatever reason, I couldn't get past it. The writing distracted me from the story to the point that I didn't want to read it, no matter how exciting the plot.

In the end, there were some parts I really enjoyed but I kept getting distracted by things that caused me to disconnect from the story, whether it was the writing style or the main character's personality. Here Lies Love came out on June 28, 2014.

STARS: 2 out of 5

Thanks to Dan Thompson for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sold by her father, seventeen-year-old Abbey finds herself trapped in a strange, dark house. Her jailor, the vile and pitiless Stefan, collects girls as though they were objects, caging them in order to use and abuse them later. Here Lies Love contains some deeply distressing scenes from the off, and the first thing to note is that this is a new-adult story – not suitable for a younger readers.

However, the darker scenes in this book, which include violence and rape, do focus more on Abbey’s inner-most thoughts rather than the actual act. Abbey obviously feels violated, humiliated and sickened by Stefan’s advances, and Thompson makes sure that your hatred for the man is superseded only by your compassion for Abbey herself; a warm, intelligent girl who has found herself in an intensely traumatic position.

The world outside of Stefan’s prison is pretty wretched as well. The sun’s light having failed, the sky is filled by the ‘Blue Haze’ – a kind of lacklustre substitute for our star’s life-giving rays. This is an excellent metaphor for all that is lacking in Abbey’s life, but it also creates an interesting dystopian world. Food is hard to come by, crime is rife and a foul wind threatens to suck the very breath from anyone who loiters outside for too long. In a world like that, will Abbey seek some kind of life, or simply pursue cold, calculated vengeance?

Overall, a truly harrowing tale made worthwhile by a beautifully compelling protagonist. Read in paperback for some enlightening extras.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Thompson's Here Lies Love is a compelling and dark piece of dystopic fiction about a young girl sold into sexual slavery by her father. Life is hard as people eek out a meager living after the sun has died. The plotting is fast paced with gorgeous detailed settings.

He deals with Abbey's paranoia and post traumatic stress in a realistic way.

I have only one minor complaint. Abbey seems a bit too naive for what has happened to her--especially when we find out why Dad sold her. I don't want to go into details about this, because I don't want to give a spoiler.

She grew up in the world, but she doesn't seem to understand the way the world works. Now I could deal with that she is naive, except she has a fantastic vocabulary. Now she was educated somewhat by her grandmother, but words during her point of view chapters like egress (rather than exit, escape, or whatever) seem out of character for a naive seventeen year old who is trying to escape her captor. And when I saw certain words, I thought, huh? However Thompson is an English author, not an American author, so perhaps egress is more commonly used in the UK, then it is in America.

Overall, terrific novel.

I also read and enjoyed Thompson'sThe Caseworker's Memoirs which is a completely different genre, but also quite good.

[Samie Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here Lies Love is a book that I unexpectedly fell in love with as I had no idea what to expect. I’d read the blurb of course, but still what I actually read astounded me. It starts in a dark place, and deals with some very difficult subjects, but seen through the eyes of the main character Abbey, you can’t help but absolutely need to know where the plot is going to take her. It’s a book unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and for and avid reader like myself, that is really hard to do! The language is superb and the storyline is utterly compelling. I would recommend this to fans of horror, psychological thrillers and to anyone looking for a book that stands out from the crowd – absolutely brilliant!

[Rae Quigley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't badly written, but the plot became ridiculous and lost my interest. I skimmed through the end to see what came of the characters and was thoroughly unimpressed. Had a lot of potential, but I couldn't keep with it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it kept me riveted until the end. It's strange to imagine a world like they were living in but am sure it will come oneday.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been a book that I’ve had to let sit with me for a couple of days to try to figure out how I feel about it.

Here Lies Love takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting in which the characters are forced to try to survive in a world without the sun. As I didn’t research much about this book before I started reading it, I was surprised and confused by this aspect at first. Dan Thompson truly created a dark and ominous new world in which basic needs can’t be met and everyone has to scavenge and suffer because the sun was destroyed as a result of global warming. Knowing this point ahead of time will definitely help the story connect and make more sense for you right away.

The main focus of Here Lies Love is of Abbey, a 17-year-old girl who was sold into slavery by her father, and how she has to exist in a place of torture, grief, and pain. The story begins with Abbey being kept prisoner in the house of her perverted and sick captor, Stefan. I was intrigued from the get-go but also disturbed as the scenes are described in detail and really allow you to feel the fear and pain that Abbey does. I knew this was going to be a dark book from the beginning but was curious about the rest of the story as I knew this author had written something that not many others have dared to broach before. Abbey sets out to seek revenge on those who have hurt her.

Throughout the story, Abbey meets two young men, Ryan and Tristan, who want to open their home to her and become her friend. She is dealing with obvious trust issues and grief in which she doesn’t know if she can be apart of their world or if she needs to finish her mission on her own. She continues to struggle with post-traumatic stress and troubling thoughts and has to try to heal all on her own.

The reason I had to sit for a couple of days before I could write this review was the fact that this was a very dark novel with a lot of disturbing subject matter and situations. While I did read the book and appreciate the writing, I can’t say that I really enjoyed reading it. How can you when you are dealing with these disconcerting scenes? This is definitely a book that I would say is not for all readers and one needs to be fully aware that there are graphic scenes about murder, violence, rape, and abuse.

I did enjoy seeing the transformation that Abbey made and how she did it basically all on her own despite the horrible things she had gone through. I felt like her character really evolved throughout the story and came out stronger in the end. I gave this book a rating of 3 out of 5 because of this reason.

If you are looking for a dystopian book in a futuristic setting in which a strong character works through traumatic situations, then this book is definitely for you. Thompson has a catchy writing style that will suck you in. He created a place that will bring you into the story and take you on an adventure into the strange world of Abbey.

[Sandy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2014

Would death be less painful than life?

When she is sold by her father, Abbey discovers that nightmares can occur when you’re awake. Trapped inside a wooden cage, Abbey is forced to listen to the horrors and atrocities above; time ticking down until it is her turn. But Abbey isn’t prepared to become a victim; she will escape.

Although, what Abbey isn’t prepared for, is how harsh and unfair the world can be. With the sun turning its back on humanity long ago, life gives no opportunity. The only thing Abbey can do is learn to survive. To exist. And that means stealing any opportunity that comes her way. Haunted by the unpleasant memories bestowed upon her only nurtures Abbey’s paranoia, until she realises that to truly live in the world, she must confront the person who was responsible for her misfortune – her father.

Here Lies Love is a New Adult tale of actuality, of facing up to the fact that love comes in many guises. Can Abbey find the one glimmer of hope or will she be overcome with the darkness of revenge?

~~~~~

REVIEW: HERE LIES LOVE is a new adult, post apocalyptic/dystopian storyline written by author Dan Thompson. It is a dark and ominous story of survival in a world destroyed by global warming but also a story of survival in a world gone mad.

The focus of the story is Abbey-sold into slavery by her father- Abbey survives to exist in a world of torture, grief and pain. So destroyed by the actions of her captor and her father, Abbey sets out to seek revenge against the man who should have loved and protected her. Along the way, Abbey will meet two young men, Ryan and Tristan, who will open their hearts and their ‘home’ to Abbey but in the end, Abbey’s issues of trust will push her over the edge and back into the arms of madness leaving unanswered questions and troubling thoughts.

HER LIES LOVE is a dark and deeply disturbing storyline that may not be suitable for all readers. It is a story that will leave the reader depressed, remote and weary. There are graphic scenes of violence, murder, rape and abuse. It is not a story of hearts and flowers-it is a story about survival of the fittest. At times the imagery was disconcerting and troubling. Abbey may no longer be held prisoner in a cage but she is still a prisoner of her own mind.

copy supplied by the author

[Jane Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Here Lies Love by Dan Thompson A Masterpiece from cover to end. Here is one of those rare books, which is constantly brilliant throughout. Each character is carefully described and very lifelike. The plot, which is macabre in places, moves at a pleasing pace too. The story starts with Abbey, the heroine, who is a feisty redhead, who along with other girls has been trapped and caged by a monster, Stefan. You hear her inner thoughts and fears as she waits her impending doom. She shudders at the sounds in the house; her captor’s perverse games which only aim is to thrill himself. She is very brave for such a young age of seventeen and this is her story of self-discovery and growth. Later in the book she meets characters her own age, Tristian and Ryan, both very lifelike in there description. Ryan, is tenderly described, he is the gentlest character in the book. His friendship with Tristian paramount in his life, and who I strongly suspect of being gay. Tristian, a strong and beautiful man, is exquisitely described, and probably the best hero I have every read. He is everything and more you would hope for Abbey. Abbey clings to life, almost faltering at one point, but her will to survive and seek the revenge against her father that she feels she need to move on with her life and find peace, drives her on. Her Father is a difficult character to understand at first, but the author writes him with all clarity, so you are left with no doubt at the end of the story. Dan Thompson is a poet and quite breath-taking in the way that he describes the planet and how the sun as escaped from the sky and the beauty of the moon and the stars. I could not put this book down; the story, both gripping and chilling. In between reading the chapters, I would think about the story and wonder what the next chapter would be. The story ends well; Abbey’s final fate is open and wholly her own choice, which leaves it open for a next book, which I will surely hope is one.

[Estibaliz · Rating 2 out of 5]

So yeah, I finished this book... and so very happy I'm done.

It's quite sad for me having to write this review, but I got this book through one of the wonderful Goodreads Giveaways, so it's just fair I give my honest opinion about it... and no, it's not good, because I didn't like the story at all.

I had problems with about every part of it, from the language (so poetic it turned out being plain pompous and fussy) to the characters (impossible to relate to any of them, too vacuous where they were supposed to be deep in their growing up) or the situations and harships they, and specially Abbie, go through. All of it was supposed to be necessary and very delicately treated, but no... The contrast between the silly scenes like the crush related ones, and the violent ones, like the rape scene, are completely out of order. It doesn't make sense at all, sorry... it's not reliable or relatable, it seemed mostly a nonsense for me.

Maybe one should read the additional materials at the end of the book first, at least to understand the author's vision about his own story and what he tried to made... I don't think he accomplished it, but at least things make a tad bit more sense.

Anyway, I don't agree either with all the considerations about the NA category. I don't even think that new category is necessary. And I don't think there should be taboo themes in the YA novels either. The important thing is how you treat every theme and issue, you don't need a label for that. Teenagers are not stupid, and I feel by creating such a thing as NA, what the media or editors are doing is call them immature and try to (over)protect them.

I'm really sorry, but I think I'm leaving it here. I simply don't relate with the style or the plot or the characters or the whole story. Period. :(

[Kristie Layne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received/won this novel as a first-read in exchange for an honest review. I am honored that I was selected. This novel is about a young lady who goes through many struggles that include mental and sexual abuse, rape, kidnap, and suicide along with living in a dystopian world. I enjoyed most of the story, especially when the main character, Abbey, was with Tristan and Ryan. I was able to get into the story during those times. When Abbey was by herself, and we were led through her personal feelings and thoughts, I found myself drifting and losing interest. Those parts seemed to have been hastily written, only the surface touched on. The topics are so deep and intricate that it needed to be delved deeper. It was like Abbey was going through all her struggles and steps quickly to get through the novel.

[Monica Hills · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I wanted to keep reading. Abby faced many dangers and challenges. I also liked the dystopian feel. I am not a huge fan of young adult novels and didn't realize that this one was at first. If I was a teenager, I would have had a difficult time with this book. The author used some very obscure words. Without giving away too much there were just some parts that were not explained enough and just left me wanting more explanation. I felt very frustrated at the end. I don't know if I will read the next novel or not.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didnt really get this. Yes its a insight into what could be the future and is also a survival story but I found it to be a little pointless. Had a few issues with the writing style, characters and things not being developed but its not the worse book ive ever read and does have some thought provoking topics.

[Majka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Książka mocna. Postapokaliptyczna. Ale moim zdaniem dosyć liniowa. Wątek jest jeden, a autor nie pokusił się o rozwinięcie żadnego wątku pobocznego. Poza tym książka trochę dziwna, a zachowanie bohaterów nierealne. A najzabawniejsze jest to, że ostatnie 30 stron to "dodatki", które stanowią autopromocję autora.