The Elder Race was a story told around campfires. Aliens, monsters, mad men. Those who believed were called insane, but they were right. They came from space, the seas, and below the earth. Turns out they were waiting, patiently waiting all this time. For what, no one knew, until now. They’re coming for what they think is rightfully theirs, the half-breeds that are part human, part Elder.
Once The Rising began, those who were different were gathered. Separated from the life they knew, those they loved, and moved into camps where they were tested and given the choice. But for Elizabeth, there was no choice at all. They meant to make super soldiers out of them. What they discovered instead was something that no one ever expected.
Sometimes monsters aren’t the things you can’t see, but rather, they’re the weapons of your own creation. When you’re part Elder, and part human, it’s hard to see which side of you is the true hero, and which side is the monster. Everything Elizabeth thought she knew about herself and the world around her is changing, but will she be able to get through The Rising alive? Or will she become what the Government wants her to be: The ultimate weapon.
Desiree DeOrto is a mother of four adorable little hellions. When she's not busy wiping noses, stopping toddler WWIII, cooking, or cleaning she can be found creating complex characters in believable worlds, throwing confetti, or causing general mayhem. Desiree believes in the power of words, and works hard to create an escape from reality through her stories. She loves to hear from readers so don't hesitate to contact her by email (lemuriangoddess1115@yahoo.com) or through Facebook (http://facebook.com/AuthorDesireeDeOrto)
And endings like that is how author's get kidnapped and forced to write the next one ;)
WARNING: I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, honesty is what I do Kay? Kay.
Song Choice: "Ill With Want" by the Avett Brothers, "White Blank Page" by Mumford and Sons, "Hold On To What You Believe" by Mumford and Sons, "Drunk Again" by Reel Big Fish
First thoughts: So this was my first Desiree DeOrto book....it will not be my last
I was in awe when I started this, not only is the writing immersive, but the story is unique, engaging and heart-stopping good. The twist and turns you are sure she wouldn't do to us, will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, and practically ripping your hair out when you have 10% left in the book and you have to leave for work...yeah totally didn't happen.....nope....not at all. Anyhoops. I encourage any sci-fi enthusiast, nah, any reader who loves a little suspense (okay alot), a little bit of romance, a little bit (okay...a ton) of action - combat style kiddios, and not your cookie-cutter book, here you go.
Thoughts on Plot: So this I think while many Alien books have to deal with the government i think this was a book that wasn't afraid to go real dark, and real fast. I loved the movement of the book in general, it starts out fast and when we have two different groups coming after one "Race" its automatically set up for who is going to get them first and when we move in this book, we move fast. I don't think there was a point in this book I was thinking to myself, "Get on with it" it just moved at the speed I like. I didn't feel overwhelmed with new information i think it was given at an even pace. The writing itself as i mentioned was immersive, I think I saw another review on how it felt like it was a movie, and I totally agree with that. I think that we are given enough descriptions that its easy to build but its not overly descriptive where you are just like..okay, okay i get it the floor has white tiles, that are made out of some type of tile ......awkward.... I enjoyed the entire book itself. It was just an overall great, fantastic read that will make you feel the feels and hope that things couldn't get any worse then they already are....but they do. They so do. I really respect the hell out of the decisions that Desiree makes, but this isn't a cookie-cutter book that is going to make you feel like nothing bad can never happen.
Characters:
Elizabeth: She...wow. She was kinda all sorts of awesome. I liked that this wasn't a kinda of character that wasn't real....does that make sense? She is handed this crazy amount of responsibility, she is young, and most of all she feels the feels. She is loyal to a fault but she loves who she loves and she will not betray them. In fact she will do almost - well no will do anything for the people she loves. And this gets her into a sticky situation. I like that she did break, we could see it, totally understand it and sympathize with her, while she broke she didn't give up she kept going, and I think that was totally awesome. I love that she wasn't this character that was hard as stone, just shoved everything down and would deal with it later, no that isn't how it worked and i found it incredibly refreshing.
Micah: So I have this theory, when a book is told in third point of view, or even first and there is alternating POVs that is the guy that the girl is going to end up with, is this the most scientific/accurate theory, hell to the no. this being one of those cases. Micah was the star football player that all the girls wanted, but was friends with Lizzie first. He was sweet but I feel he is slippery. I don't know how loyal he would remain if he loses all hope of ever getting the girl he has loved for years.
Brian: aka Brain too smart, and detached. Again he is another character that i feel is just a little to slippery for me. I think that he could go either way, which every way he deems the safest and more probable. Though i know he has emotions i think it comes down to what is safest.
Zander: oooh, when we first meet him i feel the heat, instantly. I wish that this was explored a little more, I wish that his and Liz's relationship was expanded on, obviously i realize there is more than love at first sight, but I want to know more about it. I am curious and I am dying to know what happens. I am not sure whether to trust this kiddie cat or not. Originally I didn't. Then I did. Now...I honestly don't know.
The Doctor: FUCKING GOD, I wanted to murder him myself O.O evil evil bastard So if you want to check out more Becca-ness check me out here: http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
Ever have your heart completely obliterated by a book? Yeah…that’s me right now. I literally can’t even. It’s not often that I get to read an alien book, and when I do I usually love it. This is tied for 1st place with Broken Skies by Theresa Kay. They are so different yet so utterly perfect. HOLY CRAP! It just dawned on me that there was no sex in this book. None, and yet I’m left swooning over a fictional character. For a while I was only reading the schmexy ones. I’m still sitting here saying “WOW” over and over again. This book had it all…love, hate, friendship, and heartbreak. I can’t stand it but would do it over in a heartbeat. I fell in love with an Elder! I just want to scream it from the rooftops. I’m sitting here devastated over a book that hasn’t even been released yet! I’m in trouble… How can I make the wait until the next one comes out? WHAT IS THIS LIFE?! I feel honored to have read this book.
I got the honor of getting an advanced copy for a honest review. And WOW ! I couldn't put it down. This was a fantastic ride from page 1. It is different. Most alien books go along the same lines. Land, attack, destroy. This doesn't do that..... yet. This is told from multiple POVs. Mostly from the pov of our MC, Elizabeth. There really isn't a way to tell you much without major spoilers. So let's just say she is a kick ass STRONG female. She has 2 best friends, Micah and Brian. They left her for her own protection a few years prior to the start of the story. Come to find out they are the ones who need the protection. The government does what it always does and that is step in and take over things they have no business taking over. Experiments. Training. Assholes. Just a few things that happen. Elizabeth has been having dreams about a stranger with compelling green eyes. Turns out his name is Zander and he is HOT. Alien hot. It is just one action packed scene after the other. You won't be disappointed! WARNING: MAJOR CLIFFY.
"She could picture it, almost taste it as her power surged. She would destroy him, use all his training against him and tear him apart."
Wow, this is the first book I've read by Desiree DeOrto and it was a wild ride. It was very fast paced and action packed. I liked how it wasn't overly descriptive, so the reader is able to set the scene. It played out very much like a movie in that regard.
First we meet Elizabeth, who keeps dreaming of this strange man. She doesn't know who he is, but she's drawn to him. Then we are introduced to her two best friends, Micah and Brian. However, they haven't spoken to her in several years and she has no idea why. Micah is the star football player, handsome, and charming. Brian is the brain. Very smart and almost robotic, but his emotions do show through some times.
Then disaster strikes their town, and their world. Elizabeth begins to realize there is something different about her and her friends. As the answers reveal themselves, her world is turned upside down, and nothing will ever be the same again. Loyalties are tested, and love can be found in even the darkest of places.
This book is not for the faint of heart. I realized that Desiree loves to torture her characters and doesn't let them be happy for very long. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they did, and I wondered if the book would have a happy ending- which it did, but it didn't. Like I said, no one is allowed to be happy for long.
This was a great first installment to a new series and I can't wait to read what's in store for these characters.
"I promise you, by the time it's all done, you'll have your revenge."... Not mine, she thought to herself. Never my revenge. It's theirs, all of theirs.
When I began reading this, I had to switch into Young Adult reading mode. I don't read a lot of young adult or new adult, and I don't particularly care for love-triangle books, which seem to be the norm in YA/NA books these days. If this had been an adult-oriented book, it would have been three stars, However, I recognize I'm not the target audience for this book, so I am going to give it four stars because I think the target audience will enjoy it.
The story centers around three teenagers who develop special powers because they are half-breeds between humans and an alien invasion species who call themselves the Elder Race. Events unfold rather quickly in this book, which at times left me grasping for cohesion and impact. When all the world events happened, I hadn't yet developed enough of a connection to the world or characters to really care that the world was being destroyed or to have empathy for these characters. I think a slower introduction before all the crap hit the fan would have helped this, but I also think this is a YA pacing issue for my adult-book mind. YA readers will probably appreciate the book wasting no time with getting into the thick of things.
Some of the explanations felt a bit stilted, especially from the father. It required me to suspend my belief in how a real father would react to what happened to his wife and having a stranger come and dump all that info on his shoulders. My analytical mind says he wouldn't just be like 'Okay, sure...', but it worked for the story.
The characters are what saved the plot-points I couldn't swallow. I liked all three of them, and I normally hate trio's/triangles. Both boys are unique and fun to read for their own reasons, and the female protag (which in YA usually makes me want to gag) was awesome. I liked her attitude about some things, her lack of maturity on others which reflected her age, and her own struggles to come to terms with what was going on around her.
As stated, the story builds quickly and doesn't have any lulls in the ramp-up that leads towards an ending that leads into a second book. There is some mystery included with the plotline that will keep you guessing about some things, and some of those will carry over into the next book, I think. All in all, I would recommend this book for YA science fiction / urban fantasy or even super-hero type genre readers.
Note: I received an ARC from the author. There were a high number of grammatical errors, which were not included as part of this rating because I assume they will be fixed before final release.
I am not an avid reader of Sci-fi but I thought I loved all of Desiree DeOrto's other books so this one has to be just as good and... I was right. It was better than that it made me want more of not just her books but of the genre as well.
From the moment the book opens until you reach the lead in to the next book you become part of the story. I can't say this was a cliff hanger all though it does leave us wanting more, because to me a cliffhanger is a book that leaves you hanging but doesn't give you any answers in that installment. This is genuinely not like that. This book allows us to get to know the characters and understand the changes in their lives. It opens a door to the next book but satisfies just enough of our thirst for the story without quenching or drowning us.
I have said this before and I will say it repeatedly Desiree DeOrto is an amazing author. She doesn't just write a story she leads you into it. Her words demand your attention, her characters will make you laugh, cry and hope, but the love you have for them will pollinate your need for more. I cannot wait until this flower blooms in the next book.
I encourage you to read all of this artists books. Join in on the journeys in each of them that made me feel alive. You know that feeling you get when you watch a really great movie? Well that is the feeling you will get after reading this authors novels. That excitement you get when you watch a very powerful and inspiring movie. The one that makes you jump up from your seat, yeah that's the feeling you will get from this book and her other series as well.
Awesome! Amazingly good!
Now about the next book..... I can't wait. Please start writing it now or I shall shrivel up and die with want!
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
The Elder Race are aliens and they’ve been waiting hundreds of years to take over Earth. There are no females, so they’ve been mating with human women and now they’ve Risen, come to claim the half-breeds. Elizabeth is the only female half-breed and that makes her special. Not the kind of special she ever hoped to be. Now, she needs to embrace her power to save those she loves before her own government turns her into a monster she despises or The Elders claim her as their very own special weapon.
This started out with a great premise. Half-breed humans with special powers just like the X-men universe except evolution wasn’t the springboard for those powers. It was aliens. And they’ve been hidden for a long time. But no longer! They want what they’ve been cultivating, but so does the government. Eep! Rock meet hard place especially for Elizabeth because she’s the only female born as a half-breed. That’s about it for the cool factor though. The characters are shallow and Elizabeth is spineless. She spends more than half her time crying, whining, pouting and catatonic. Blerg. Her friends are asshats. Zane is a mystery, but nothing is revealed about him or why he’s so attached to Elizabeth. In addition, the whole plot seems shaky and the writing is mediocre. Maybe it picks up in book 2, but I’m not interested enough to keep going.
Move over, Katniss Everdeen! A new heroine is here to save the world - from aliens!
This ain’t a dystopian novel (yet) but I already loved the premise and the promise of exciting alien invasion with Generation X: The Rising. Elizabeth is a powerful daughter of an alien race. the only existing woman of her kind, and the Elders would do everything to reclaim her. And knowing of her full capability, the government also wants her, so they can turn her into a weapon that will destroy the invaders.
Micah and Brian are brothers who also have powers, but not as superior as Elizabeth ‘s. Together, against their own will, they train and harness their abilities, proving their worth to mankind. Zander, an Elder who helps Elizabeth while they were captured by the government, must choose in the end – claim her or destroy her.
My mind was blown away with this book. It is gripping and heart-racing and has full of potential to be a movie. I couldn’t move away from the scenes that took place, from the characters who exudes angst and courage, and from the captivating world Miss DeOrtos had created. Elizabeth sacrificed a lot for the sake of her friends and for benefit of mankind. I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes, but I sure admire her fearlessness and devotion.
Generation X is Desiree DeOrto’s fantastic debut, but she already writes like pro! She kept me entertained and gasping as the action scenes unfolded. and I look forward to reading more of her masterpieces.
Generation X: The Rising by Desiree DeOrto is an action packed YA sci-fi adventure. The story follows Elizabeth, who finds out that she is half-alien and the only female of her kind. With her friends she is taken to a prison camp and forced to undergo torturous tests. The story was fast paced and well-written with a unique plot. The characters were interesting and well developed. The book definitely kept my interest and the ending left me wanting for more. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
Wow! This book was amazing! While reading this it was as if I was watching a movie in my head. Desiree captures the emotions of her characters in a way that pulls you in and takes you for a ride. I will admit I was an emotional wreck after this book and begging for the next. As I have discovered, you can't go wrong reading something written by Desiree DeOrto!
Love Desiree and all of her books! Edge of your seat greatness! This is a great beginning to a series, seriously if this book is this good, the next one is already making me stress. Give it a whirl! You won't regret it.
I moved this book so much and I if I could rate this book with more stars I would. I wish there were books in this series. I'm dying to know what comes next for everyone of the characters in this book.