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In opstand
Wat doe je als je hele leven gebaseerd lijkt op leugens? Als de samenleving waarin je leeft helemaal niet zo goed en groots is als iedereen je wil doen geloven? Voor Emma, Leia en Justa is er maar een manier om te overleven: door in opstand te komen.
- GenresDystopiaYoung Adult
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 7, 2015
Okay, before anyone accuses me of being a self-serving, self-rating author: the five stars are for the two stories in this collection that were NOT written by me!
Geweldig boek met drie boeiende dystopische verhalen van eigen bodem. Iedereen die van dit genre houdt en meer wil lezen van Nederlandse auteurs zou dit boek eens moeten lezen. Lis Lucassen en Marieke Veringa gaan het nog ver schoppen! (en ikzelf hopelijk ook ;)
Geweldig boek met drie boeiende dystopische verhalen van eigen bodem. Iedereen die van dit genre houdt en meer wil lezen van Nederlandse auteurs zou dit boek eens moeten lezen. Lis Lucassen en Marieke Veringa gaan het nog ver schoppen! (en ikzelf hopelijk ook ;)
August 10, 2016
De rode boodschapper: 2 sterren
Het eiland: 4 sterren
Het tribunaal: 3 sterren
Als ik de drie verhalen met elkaar vergelijk, dan vind ik het eiland het beste verhaal. Hier zat de meeste verhaallijn in, de meeste diepgang en ik vond hem simpelweg het leukste. Alleen de verwijzing naar Star Wars vind ik jammer, daar hou ik niet zo van. Het eerste verhaal was niet mijn smaak en het derde verhaal vond ik in eerste instantie een beetje vaag. De proloog vind ik verwarrend en verder gaat het hele verhaal over 1 ding, en ontsnappen ze binnen 3 pagina's.
Het eiland: 4 sterren
Het tribunaal: 3 sterren
Als ik de drie verhalen met elkaar vergelijk, dan vind ik het eiland het beste verhaal. Hier zat de meeste verhaallijn in, de meeste diepgang en ik vond hem simpelweg het leukste. Alleen de verwijzing naar Star Wars vind ik jammer, daar hou ik niet zo van. Het eerste verhaal was niet mijn smaak en het derde verhaal vond ik in eerste instantie een beetje vaag. De proloog vind ik verwarrend en verder gaat het hele verhaal over 1 ding, en ontsnappen ze binnen 3 pagina's.
March 11, 2015
Three brilliant dystopian short stories. Loved all three and would love to read more by these authors too. Highly recommend reading this dystopian delight.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I heard about this collection via Jen Minkman whose books I have read before. I had already read and reviewed The Island but was instantly interested in reading the other two books in this collection. Jen Minkman has actually translated the other two titles in this collection into English. I also love the dystopian genre so reading this collection was a must!
MY REVIEW
I received a free e-copy of this book from Jen Minkman in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a collection of three short story/novella books. The cover depicts harsh looking terrain with barbed wire representing being caged or imprisoned, with the brightly coloured butterfly representing hope and the possibility of freedom. Would the cover make me notice the book on a bookstore shelf enough to make me pick it up and want to learn more? Yes, the cover immediately interests me and gives the impression of the dystopian genre, which I am a fan of.
The Red Messenger
So the first book in the collection is The Red Messenger by Mari Li. This story is set in the Germany, around the time the Aryan race were deemed the superior race, and the Jewish people were persecuted. The main character is Emma Petrova, we meet Emma as she is seriously considering throwing herself from an upstairs window so she can be with her sister who died in an accident recently. Sophia was Emma's twin sister, they live with their guardian and Uncle Peter Petrova and his own daughter, their cousin Lorelei. When Emma is going through her sister Sophia's clothes and belongings she holds up the bright red coat that Sophia was wearing when her "accident" happened. Emma discovers a scrap of paper with a name and an address on it, of someone she doesn't know. How did Sophia know this person and not her? Intrigued about who the mysterious person is and why her sister was visiting or planning to visit her? In an attempt to feel closer to her recently departed sister Emma decides to go to the address.
Emma discovers a secret side of Sophia that she herself had not even glimpsed. As Emma becomes embroiled in seeing through her sisters last "mission" she desperately needs someone to confide in. Sadly she chooses to trust someone that doesn't deserve her trust. Emma is devastatingly betrayed by the very person that did the same to her sister. Emma is taken along with her new Jewish friends to a work camp. She undergoes the harsh realities of being Jewish or being a Jewish collaborator. The Red Messenger tells a little of the different stories of the Jewish citizens that have bee incarcerated in the camp at the same time as Emma. Will Emma live or perish in the camp as many around her are doing. How can she survive such harsh conditions when she was brought up in another world, of privilege and plenty. I also want to add that the title of the novella fits it perfectly. The writing style of the book and content reminded me a little of Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman.
So did I enjoy the first book in this collection? I really did, I was immediately pulled right into this book within the very first paragraph. Would I want to read more about the characters in this book? I would love to know more abut the journey that Emma and Uriah undertake near the end of the novella. Having said the story does have a natural end as you finish it so I am doubtful that this story is or may become part of a series.
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I enjoyed the quite fast pace of this book and the descriptions and writing style, so I would take a look at any book written by this author.
The Island
The next book in this collection is The Island by Jen Minkman. As I said I have read this novella which is the first in a series of novella's that make up a trilogy written by Jen Minkman.
(Since first reading this book some character names have been changed so my review has been adjusted/updates with the new character names)
This book has been a really difficult one to review for me, as I loved Jen's other book Shadow's Of Time so had high expectations of this book The Island.
The blurb gives a great description of the book, and would further entice me into wanting to read the book. This is the Author's first attempt at the dystopian genre and I have to say on the whole I did enjoy it. I loved the setting and basis of the story. The only thing I didn't like was the Star Wars references . .. I don't think they were really needed. To me they took the genre in a more quirky direction. I love the characters of Leia and Colin and the basic plot. the pace and writing style is great. The book really didn't need the quirkiness of the star wars references in any way. It was a much better book without those. The book in the story which connected the Star Wars references could have just been an ancient book with its own rules. The whole parents and virus theme was strong enough to stand alone without any of the Star Wars references. Had I known about the Star Wars references, I admit, I would have been put off reading it.
So did I enjoy the novella? On the whole yes, I just think it could have been even better without certain references. Would I recommend the novella? Yes but more in a quirky dystopian genre than a recommendation to a straight dystopian fan. Would I read more dystopian by Jen Minkman? Definitely the roots of a fantastic story are there and I did enjoy the book. I do enjoy Jen's writing a lot. Would I want to read more about the characters in this novella? Yes I would. Would I read other work by Jen Minkman? Definitely, I would give anything Jen has written a go! I hope I have not offended her in my honest appraisal of her book,. I do not mean to be negative, I just felt the book could have been even better.
The Tribunal
This the final novella in the dystopian collection, The Tribunal by Lis Lucassen. This book is set in a typical dystopian society, with the "haves" and "have nots" in this case the "haves" are "Sectorials" and the "have nots" are called "Stateless". Apparently it is necessary to segregate the Stateless away and maintain order for the sectorial citizens.
The main character in this book is a female named Justa. Justa has the regularity hair cut of a straight blonde bob, green eyes and freckles. Justa also has her number branded on the inner part of her right wrist. Just is quite simply like every other girl in the sector. Justa is sitting on her first "Tribunal", it is the trial for the murderer of Justa's best friend Irina. Irina was stabbed three times by a stateless male named Aron. Justa sits on the Tribunal with her friend Ernst and another female from the community by the name of Myrthe. It is automatically thought that the stateless male Aron is guilty as the "stateless" of limited intelligence and are known to behave like animals. So the trial should be straight forward right? Well no because Justa has an inner instinct that is telling her something is not right, that Aron did not kill her best friend Irina. Ernst and her guardian Marcus alsothe Arbiter (the one who questions the accused in the court) are quite patronising towards Justa asking if she can cope with her first "Tribunal", can she cope with the trial as it is the person that murdered her best friend. Justa insists she can manage but the more the trial goes on the more she feels that maybe Aron didn't murder Irina at all? Justa goes against what is expected of her from her fellow citizens and her guardian Marcus and genuinely attempts to give Aron an honest and fair hearing. Aron must sense this and manages to confide in Justa. . . .and that's all I am going to say about this one. I throughly enjoyed this novella too!
So did I enjoy the last book in this collection? I really did, I was immediately pulled right into the dystopic society, and the biased tribunal that Aron is having. Would I want to read more about the characters in this book? I would love to know more about the society and characters featured in this book. I think it could be the introduction to a fantastic series! So yes I'd love more. Would I want to read other titles by this author? I enjoyed the society, setting and writing style, so I would certainly take a close at any book written by this author.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All three books are well written, well translated and well thought out, and delivered brilliantly. On the whole I totally loved this dystopian collection, all three novella's left me wanting even more. Though all the books are dystopian, the societies featured in each of the books is quite different but each as enjoyable as each other.There is no weak book in this three they are all three fantastic books. I will be checking out the authors, and keeping my eyes open for any upcoming titles by any of these authors. Reading this collection was a dream collection to me as I do love the dystopian genre.
So would I recommend this collection? YES!.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I heard about this collection via Jen Minkman whose books I have read before. I had already read and reviewed The Island but was instantly interested in reading the other two books in this collection. Jen Minkman has actually translated the other two titles in this collection into English. I also love the dystopian genre so reading this collection was a must!
MY REVIEW
I received a free e-copy of this book from Jen Minkman in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a collection of three short story/novella books. The cover depicts harsh looking terrain with barbed wire representing being caged or imprisoned, with the brightly coloured butterfly representing hope and the possibility of freedom. Would the cover make me notice the book on a bookstore shelf enough to make me pick it up and want to learn more? Yes, the cover immediately interests me and gives the impression of the dystopian genre, which I am a fan of.
The Red Messenger
So the first book in the collection is The Red Messenger by Mari Li. This story is set in the Germany, around the time the Aryan race were deemed the superior race, and the Jewish people were persecuted. The main character is Emma Petrova, we meet Emma as she is seriously considering throwing herself from an upstairs window so she can be with her sister who died in an accident recently. Sophia was Emma's twin sister, they live with their guardian and Uncle Peter Petrova and his own daughter, their cousin Lorelei. When Emma is going through her sister Sophia's clothes and belongings she holds up the bright red coat that Sophia was wearing when her "accident" happened. Emma discovers a scrap of paper with a name and an address on it, of someone she doesn't know. How did Sophia know this person and not her? Intrigued about who the mysterious person is and why her sister was visiting or planning to visit her? In an attempt to feel closer to her recently departed sister Emma decides to go to the address.
Emma discovers a secret side of Sophia that she herself had not even glimpsed. As Emma becomes embroiled in seeing through her sisters last "mission" she desperately needs someone to confide in. Sadly she chooses to trust someone that doesn't deserve her trust. Emma is devastatingly betrayed by the very person that did the same to her sister. Emma is taken along with her new Jewish friends to a work camp. She undergoes the harsh realities of being Jewish or being a Jewish collaborator. The Red Messenger tells a little of the different stories of the Jewish citizens that have bee incarcerated in the camp at the same time as Emma. Will Emma live or perish in the camp as many around her are doing. How can she survive such harsh conditions when she was brought up in another world, of privilege and plenty. I also want to add that the title of the novella fits it perfectly. The writing style of the book and content reminded me a little of Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman.
So did I enjoy the first book in this collection? I really did, I was immediately pulled right into this book within the very first paragraph. Would I want to read more about the characters in this book? I would love to know more abut the journey that Emma and Uriah undertake near the end of the novella. Having said the story does have a natural end as you finish it so I am doubtful that this story is or may become part of a series.
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I enjoyed the quite fast pace of this book and the descriptions and writing style, so I would take a look at any book written by this author.
The Island
The next book in this collection is The Island by Jen Minkman. As I said I have read this novella which is the first in a series of novella's that make up a trilogy written by Jen Minkman.
(Since first reading this book some character names have been changed so my review has been adjusted/updates with the new character names)
This book has been a really difficult one to review for me, as I loved Jen's other book Shadow's Of Time so had high expectations of this book The Island.
The blurb gives a great description of the book, and would further entice me into wanting to read the book. This is the Author's first attempt at the dystopian genre and I have to say on the whole I did enjoy it. I loved the setting and basis of the story. The only thing I didn't like was the Star Wars references . .. I don't think they were really needed. To me they took the genre in a more quirky direction. I love the characters of Leia and Colin and the basic plot. the pace and writing style is great. The book really didn't need the quirkiness of the star wars references in any way. It was a much better book without those. The book in the story which connected the Star Wars references could have just been an ancient book with its own rules. The whole parents and virus theme was strong enough to stand alone without any of the Star Wars references. Had I known about the Star Wars references, I admit, I would have been put off reading it.
So did I enjoy the novella? On the whole yes, I just think it could have been even better without certain references. Would I recommend the novella? Yes but more in a quirky dystopian genre than a recommendation to a straight dystopian fan. Would I read more dystopian by Jen Minkman? Definitely the roots of a fantastic story are there and I did enjoy the book. I do enjoy Jen's writing a lot. Would I want to read more about the characters in this novella? Yes I would. Would I read other work by Jen Minkman? Definitely, I would give anything Jen has written a go! I hope I have not offended her in my honest appraisal of her book,. I do not mean to be negative, I just felt the book could have been even better.
The Tribunal
This the final novella in the dystopian collection, The Tribunal by Lis Lucassen. This book is set in a typical dystopian society, with the "haves" and "have nots" in this case the "haves" are "Sectorials" and the "have nots" are called "Stateless". Apparently it is necessary to segregate the Stateless away and maintain order for the sectorial citizens.
The main character in this book is a female named Justa. Justa has the regularity hair cut of a straight blonde bob, green eyes and freckles. Justa also has her number branded on the inner part of her right wrist. Just is quite simply like every other girl in the sector. Justa is sitting on her first "Tribunal", it is the trial for the murderer of Justa's best friend Irina. Irina was stabbed three times by a stateless male named Aron. Justa sits on the Tribunal with her friend Ernst and another female from the community by the name of Myrthe. It is automatically thought that the stateless male Aron is guilty as the "stateless" of limited intelligence and are known to behave like animals. So the trial should be straight forward right? Well no because Justa has an inner instinct that is telling her something is not right, that Aron did not kill her best friend Irina. Ernst and her guardian Marcus alsothe Arbiter (the one who questions the accused in the court) are quite patronising towards Justa asking if she can cope with her first "Tribunal", can she cope with the trial as it is the person that murdered her best friend. Justa insists she can manage but the more the trial goes on the more she feels that maybe Aron didn't murder Irina at all? Justa goes against what is expected of her from her fellow citizens and her guardian Marcus and genuinely attempts to give Aron an honest and fair hearing. Aron must sense this and manages to confide in Justa. . . .and that's all I am going to say about this one. I throughly enjoyed this novella too!
So did I enjoy the last book in this collection? I really did, I was immediately pulled right into the dystopic society, and the biased tribunal that Aron is having. Would I want to read more about the characters in this book? I would love to know more about the society and characters featured in this book. I think it could be the introduction to a fantastic series! So yes I'd love more. Would I want to read other titles by this author? I enjoyed the society, setting and writing style, so I would certainly take a close at any book written by this author.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All three books are well written, well translated and well thought out, and delivered brilliantly. On the whole I totally loved this dystopian collection, all three novella's left me wanting even more. Though all the books are dystopian, the societies featured in each of the books is quite different but each as enjoyable as each other.There is no weak book in this three they are all three fantastic books. I will be checking out the authors, and keeping my eyes open for any upcoming titles by any of these authors. Reading this collection was a dream collection to me as I do love the dystopian genre.
So would I recommend this collection? YES!.
February 14, 2016
Received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
I already reviewed The Island, so I won't read that. See my review for that book here: The Island #1
The Red Messenger
Wow, this was one hell of an interesting story. What would have happened if Hitler had won the WW II? Well, we kind of find out in this book. I won't spoil anything, let's just say I had my suspicions when they mentioned ghettoes and angels and Jews, and then it was confirmed later. Wow, what a twist. It is nice/interesting to see someone tackle this subject. It is not the first time I believe (I know I saw an English book somewhere that was kind of about the same thing, just set somewhere else), but still it is interesting.
We have 2 POVs. Emma and Uriah. Emma was a really nice character, though I didn't particularly like her in the beginning. She was weak, spoilt and a bit weird. But later on I started really liking her. Still her decision was a stupid one. Didn't they tell her the number one rule of being a spy? Never tell anyone. No matter how close that person is!
I felt sorry for her, that she had to lose her sister and her parents.
Uriah was a great character and I really liked him, I wish he had gotten more time to talk, tell us his story. He only had a few chapters, Emma got the most of it.
The book starts off at an already grim part, but the middle and latter part of the story are absolutely dark and grim. The camps are horrific, there is rape, hunger, murder, sickness and a whole lot more. Even with all this happening we got a strong cast of characters who will fight, who will keep going. Even though you can also clearly see that they are human. They are afraid, they worry, they ponder if it is a good idea to go with the plan, to fight, to try to get out. It was all really realistic.
The only thing that was a shame was the ending. I know, it is a short story, but still I wanted more closure. Did Uriah and Emma survive? Did the baby? Or any of the other people? How will the world go, did they do anything to beat the horrible situation that still persists in their world? I am so curious and I felt sad that we will never know, unless of course the writer makes a complete book about it.
All in all, I will be giving this story 3.5 stars.
The Tribunal
The third and last story in this book. I am not sure what to think of it. Frankly, I didn't particularly like it.
The world-building lacked a lot. So we have 2 sides. Stateless and Sectorates/Sectorials.... but why? What happened? Why did the world/city/whatever the place is, split up? How do you become a Stateless? Is it based on colour? Based on Race? On something else?
Most of the book took place in some courthouse/tribunal, and it was just so utterly boring to hear the court stuff, to see our main character fail in a lot of stuff.
Justa and Aron were interesting characters (well especially Aron) and maybe I would have liked them more, had the situation been different. If the world had been build more, if they had seen each other outside of that boring tribunal.
Justa was just an idiot and a brainwashed person. OMG, there is a witness, OMG Aron must have lied! Let me not think for myself just for a moment, or think about the magical coincidences. *rolls eyes*
It was disgusting what they did to Aaron, and as there was practically no world-building it was disturbing. Why did he get abused so much? Just because he was Stateless? Or do they treat all their prisoners as shitty as him?
And then we have the sudden truth about Justa's family near the end. Sorry, but I think this would have been better had it been done earlier. Now it felt weird. Oh hey, the book is ending, let's just quickly solve this little issue about Justa and give her a little bit of backstory.
Near the end we really get a whole information dump, but sorry by then I couldn't even care any more. Give that information at the beginning or spread it out. Don't just dump a whole bunch of information when your story is ending.
The ending was interesting, but I am not a big fan of open endings like this. Will there be more? Is there a story with more world-building, a better ending and better crafted characters?
All in all, I can sadly not give this story more than 1 star.
This book was a mixed bag. There was an awesome story (The Island), a good story (Red Messenger) and one (sadly) bad story (The Tribunal). While they were written by different stories they all feature dystopias and romance.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I already reviewed The Island, so I won't read that. See my review for that book here: The Island #1
The Red Messenger
Wow, this was one hell of an interesting story. What would have happened if Hitler had won the WW II? Well, we kind of find out in this book. I won't spoil anything, let's just say I had my suspicions when they mentioned ghettoes and angels and Jews, and then it was confirmed later. Wow, what a twist. It is nice/interesting to see someone tackle this subject. It is not the first time I believe (I know I saw an English book somewhere that was kind of about the same thing, just set somewhere else), but still it is interesting.
We have 2 POVs. Emma and Uriah. Emma was a really nice character, though I didn't particularly like her in the beginning. She was weak, spoilt and a bit weird. But later on I started really liking her. Still her decision was a stupid one. Didn't they tell her the number one rule of being a spy? Never tell anyone. No matter how close that person is!
I felt sorry for her, that she had to lose her sister and her parents.
Uriah was a great character and I really liked him, I wish he had gotten more time to talk, tell us his story. He only had a few chapters, Emma got the most of it.
The book starts off at an already grim part, but the middle and latter part of the story are absolutely dark and grim. The camps are horrific, there is rape, hunger, murder, sickness and a whole lot more. Even with all this happening we got a strong cast of characters who will fight, who will keep going. Even though you can also clearly see that they are human. They are afraid, they worry, they ponder if it is a good idea to go with the plan, to fight, to try to get out. It was all really realistic.
The only thing that was a shame was the ending. I know, it is a short story, but still I wanted more closure. Did Uriah and Emma survive? Did the baby? Or any of the other people? How will the world go, did they do anything to beat the horrible situation that still persists in their world? I am so curious and I felt sad that we will never know, unless of course the writer makes a complete book about it.
All in all, I will be giving this story 3.5 stars.
The Tribunal
The third and last story in this book. I am not sure what to think of it. Frankly, I didn't particularly like it.
The world-building lacked a lot. So we have 2 sides. Stateless and Sectorates/Sectorials.... but why? What happened? Why did the world/city/whatever the place is, split up? How do you become a Stateless? Is it based on colour? Based on Race? On something else?
Most of the book took place in some courthouse/tribunal, and it was just so utterly boring to hear the court stuff, to see our main character fail in a lot of stuff.
Justa and Aron were interesting characters (well especially Aron) and maybe I would have liked them more, had the situation been different. If the world had been build more, if they had seen each other outside of that boring tribunal.
Justa was just an idiot and a brainwashed person. OMG, there is a witness, OMG Aron must have lied! Let me not think for myself just for a moment, or think about the magical coincidences. *rolls eyes*
It was disgusting what they did to Aaron, and as there was practically no world-building it was disturbing. Why did he get abused so much? Just because he was Stateless? Or do they treat all their prisoners as shitty as him?
And then we have the sudden truth about Justa's family near the end. Sorry, but I think this would have been better had it been done earlier. Now it felt weird. Oh hey, the book is ending, let's just quickly solve this little issue about Justa and give her a little bit of backstory.
Near the end we really get a whole information dump, but sorry by then I couldn't even care any more. Give that information at the beginning or spread it out. Don't just dump a whole bunch of information when your story is ending.
The ending was interesting, but I am not a big fan of open endings like this. Will there be more? Is there a story with more world-building, a better ending and better crafted characters?
All in all, I can sadly not give this story more than 1 star.
This book was a mixed bag. There was an awesome story (The Island), a good story (Red Messenger) and one (sadly) bad story (The Tribunal). While they were written by different stories they all feature dystopias and romance.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 19, 2015
It is always difficult to review a collection of short stories: usually some are better than others, but after all you are reviewing them all together. So the final result is the media of all of them. Not this time: the subject of all of them is very similar, but treated in a different manner. Each story has its own unique style. How is the dystopian society of each? Without any doubt discovering the truth of how it really functions is disappointing for their characters!
Some spoilers ahead!!!
RED MESSANGER by Mara Li
Mara Li explores the results of alternative history. What would have happened if Nazis won the war? The world separated by a huge wall, Siberian camps, people disappearing without any trace.
If I had to complain about something it would be the lack of psychological depth: some of the characters were to easy to convince to act, to trusting. I seriously doubt that in a society where you don't know who is an enemy and who is a friend, that would be much more difficult to achieve.
THE ISLAND by Jen Minkman
An isolated society divided into two groups that don't want to have nothing in common with each other. Children fighting to survive away from their parents. A mysterious history that lead to these strange habits. What really happened in past? What do the Book and the Force really mean? One could not be more surprised by finding first the bases of the strange religion they live by and then finding the REAL reasons for it. I definitely want to know what happens next!
THE TRIBUNAL by Lis Lucassen
In a perfect society there are only perfect citizens: blond, tall with blue or green eyes. There is no room for anyone different. The gates separate the sectors from the Stateless. And the Tribunal takes care of maintaining the order. Or... does it? Justa is about to discover how far her world is from being perfect. When the time comes, will she know what to choose?
I couldn't be more impressed. All the stories fit in together perfectly. The reader feels the stress of the main characters, their desperation, their hope. The authors paint pictures of dystopian world that we can only pray never to experience!
Some spoilers ahead!!!
RED MESSANGER by Mara Li
Mara Li explores the results of alternative history. What would have happened if Nazis won the war? The world separated by a huge wall, Siberian camps, people disappearing without any trace.
If I had to complain about something it would be the lack of psychological depth: some of the characters were to easy to convince to act, to trusting. I seriously doubt that in a society where you don't know who is an enemy and who is a friend, that would be much more difficult to achieve.
THE ISLAND by Jen Minkman
An isolated society divided into two groups that don't want to have nothing in common with each other. Children fighting to survive away from their parents. A mysterious history that lead to these strange habits. What really happened in past? What do the Book and the Force really mean? One could not be more surprised by finding first the bases of the strange religion they live by and then finding the REAL reasons for it. I definitely want to know what happens next!
THE TRIBUNAL by Lis Lucassen
In a perfect society there are only perfect citizens: blond, tall with blue or green eyes. There is no room for anyone different. The gates separate the sectors from the Stateless. And the Tribunal takes care of maintaining the order. Or... does it? Justa is about to discover how far her world is from being perfect. When the time comes, will she know what to choose?
I couldn't be more impressed. All the stories fit in together perfectly. The reader feels the stress of the main characters, their desperation, their hope. The authors paint pictures of dystopian world that we can only pray never to experience!
May 21, 2015
It was a pretty good book actually.. I personally never read short stories but it was truly a great experience. The stories were very well written, beautiful and ...simply perfect. No unnecessary sentences, no lengthy descriptions, perfect amount of emotions and events taking place.
I would rate all three stories individually with a perfect 5 stars :)
It is the first time i read a book by Mara Li and Lis Lucassen. Both the stories by these authors were very interesting. I have read Jen Minkman before. And i would really appreciate the efforts of Author Jen Minkman who translated these beautiful stories in English and provided us to read :) I really like this author for her writing skills and now for this new translation skill is like an extra gem in her :)
Great efforts by Jen Minkman.
I would rate all three stories individually with a perfect 5 stars :)
It is the first time i read a book by Mara Li and Lis Lucassen. Both the stories by these authors were very interesting. I have read Jen Minkman before. And i would really appreciate the efforts of Author Jen Minkman who translated these beautiful stories in English and provided us to read :) I really like this author for her writing skills and now for this new translation skill is like an extra gem in her :)
Great efforts by Jen Minkman.
August 5, 2016
Ik heb het tweede verhaal niet gelezen (omdat dat een verkorte versie is van Het boek van voorheen van Jen Minkman, wat ik al ken) maar het eerste en derde verhaal vond ik echt steengoed. Heel diepgaand geschreven, veel vaart en intensiteit en echt goed uitgewerkte werelden. Jammer dat sommige dingen wat voorspelbaar zijn en dat ik echt nog véél meer informatie had willen hebben, maar ik heb echt bewondering voor de auteurs. Uitgebreide recensie: http://thebookreview.nl/recensies/dys...
August 5, 2017
De Rode Boodschapper (The Red Messanger) - Marieke Veringa 3/5
I couldn't really get into this short at first. It's set in a dystopian world where Germany won the Second World War. Emma is one of the lucky ones who belong to the Arian people. Her sister dies and Emma finds a note which she investigates and ends up in her sisters mess.
I feel like the way it was written, her use of the language, didn't really appeal to me or draw me in. Maybe that was her plan from the start but it didn't really work for me. Despite this, I did enjoy the story, which is the most important part, however, it did confuse me at times.
Overall, nicely told.
Het Eiland (The Island) - Jen Minkman 5/5
This exciting tale had everything!! A great main character, a fantastic storyline and an amazing plot twist! I read this short without putting it down.
The story follows Leia as she becomes an adult and the age of 10, and is sent away to an island to age and find a husband. Here she finds out all strange things about her ancestors, who wrote about their lives in a book, Luke, Leia and Han. Sound familiar?
When she meets a 'Dwaas' she finds the truth and is determined to take down their leader.
A great story filled with action! I cannot wait to read Jen's other books!
Her Tribunaal (The Tribunal) - Liz Lucassen 4/5
Starting with a flash forward was the perfect way to start this short. It gives the reader something to look forward to. Justa's story was unlike any other I've read and I really enjoyed it. The world is definitely not one to aspire to but it was very interesting!
Justa's friend has been murdered and Justa has been appointed as one of the tribunal members to convict the murderer. However, upon start of the trial, complications arise and Justa is doing everything she can to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, she is confronted with her own past.
Great story but I'm missing an ending for some of the characters. What happens to Bartho? Marcus? Ernst? It's lacking in that area...
I couldn't really get into this short at first. It's set in a dystopian world where Germany won the Second World War. Emma is one of the lucky ones who belong to the Arian people. Her sister dies and Emma finds a note which she investigates and ends up in her sisters mess.
I feel like the way it was written, her use of the language, didn't really appeal to me or draw me in. Maybe that was her plan from the start but it didn't really work for me. Despite this, I did enjoy the story, which is the most important part, however, it did confuse me at times.
Overall, nicely told.
Het Eiland (The Island) - Jen Minkman 5/5
This exciting tale had everything!! A great main character, a fantastic storyline and an amazing plot twist! I read this short without putting it down.
The story follows Leia as she becomes an adult and the age of 10, and is sent away to an island to age and find a husband. Here she finds out all strange things about her ancestors, who wrote about their lives in a book, Luke, Leia and Han. Sound familiar?
When she meets a 'Dwaas' she finds the truth and is determined to take down their leader.
A great story filled with action! I cannot wait to read Jen's other books!
Her Tribunaal (The Tribunal) - Liz Lucassen 4/5
Starting with a flash forward was the perfect way to start this short. It gives the reader something to look forward to. Justa's story was unlike any other I've read and I really enjoyed it. The world is definitely not one to aspire to but it was very interesting!
Justa's friend has been murdered and Justa has been appointed as one of the tribunal members to convict the murderer. However, upon start of the trial, complications arise and Justa is doing everything she can to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, she is confronted with her own past.
Great story but I'm missing an ending for some of the characters. What happens to Bartho? Marcus? Ernst? It's lacking in that area...
April 8, 2017
NB: I did not read Jen Minkman"s The Island as part of this collection as I had read it previously. It is, however, a good story and I would recommend it. You can find my review for it here (link to follow).
Of the two stories I did read, The Red Messenger is definitely the shining star. It's an alternative history tale in which the Nazis won the war and is very thought provoking. See my more thorough review here (link to follow).
The Tribunal is a courtroom drama of sorts - looking at the justice system in a dystopian society. It's decent and worth a read but not something that stood out for me amongst the mountains of other dystopian literature available. It simply tries to fit too big a story into too short a space and unsurprisingly lacks depth.
Nevertheless I feel no qualms about recommending Defiant . It's reasonably priced - I think I paid a pound or two for it - and definitely worth a dabble.
Of the two stories I did read, The Red Messenger is definitely the shining star. It's an alternative history tale in which the Nazis won the war and is very thought provoking. See my more thorough review here (link to follow).
The Tribunal is a courtroom drama of sorts - looking at the justice system in a dystopian society. It's decent and worth a read but not something that stood out for me amongst the mountains of other dystopian literature available. It simply tries to fit too big a story into too short a space and unsurprisingly lacks depth.
Nevertheless I feel no qualms about recommending Defiant . It's reasonably priced - I think I paid a pound or two for it - and definitely worth a dabble.
August 6, 2018
4,5 :)
March 26, 2015
What is a normal rite of passage for most young adults becomes a huge leap into the unknown for three teens. Living in dystopian worlds where the truth is not easily sorted from the lies they have been told, they becomes Defiant and dare to stand up to those around them. Authors, Mara Li, Jen Minkman and Lis Lucassen each have a tale to tell about the strength of the youthful spirit as the battle between what they have been told and what they see collide within their hearts and minds.
Mara Li’s tale, The Red Messenger is the story of one girl, reeling from her twin’s death who discovers the secret life her sister led with a group of rebels fighting religious and human tyranny. In a world defined by walls and having the correct physical traits, where the Third Reich and Hitler were victorious and the genocide of undesirables has run unchecked, a teen picks up the cause for her sister risking capture, discovery and even death.
Jen Minkman’s The Island is the story of a teen forced out of her family home by an age-old tradition, who discovers that the stories she was told about other lands, and peoples were untrue and created to instill fear in the hearts of her people and maintain control. Only a chance encounter with a boy from another tribe turns her flickering flame of curiosity for the truth into a raging inferno of doubt.
Lis Lucassen’s The Tribunal portrays a skewed “justice” system where the uninformed and emotionally immature are forced to sit in judgment of accused criminals, under the guise of just punishment when in truth this sham is far more sinister. Even those closest to her have dark and heinous secrets to hide, and the accused is the man who holds the truth. In a leap of faith, our heroine must decide to continue to follow blindly or to finally open her eyes to the bitter truth.
All three tales uncover the strength of youth, the courage of defiance against the powers that twist their control and the curiosity to ask the painful questions. Each tale is complete, well-written and the words of the authors provide an atmosphere that feels dark and veiled, much like the truths that have been uncovered! Great writing, wonderful world-building and characters who give new meaning to the word Hero.
I received an ARC edition from Jen Minkman in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 26, 2015
Publisher: Storm Publishers
ISBN-13: 9781625178152
Genre: YA Dystopian Anthology
Print Length: 223 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Mara Li’s tale, The Red Messenger is the story of one girl, reeling from her twin’s death who discovers the secret life her sister led with a group of rebels fighting religious and human tyranny. In a world defined by walls and having the correct physical traits, where the Third Reich and Hitler were victorious and the genocide of undesirables has run unchecked, a teen picks up the cause for her sister risking capture, discovery and even death.
Jen Minkman’s The Island is the story of a teen forced out of her family home by an age-old tradition, who discovers that the stories she was told about other lands, and peoples were untrue and created to instill fear in the hearts of her people and maintain control. Only a chance encounter with a boy from another tribe turns her flickering flame of curiosity for the truth into a raging inferno of doubt.
Lis Lucassen’s The Tribunal portrays a skewed “justice” system where the uninformed and emotionally immature are forced to sit in judgment of accused criminals, under the guise of just punishment when in truth this sham is far more sinister. Even those closest to her have dark and heinous secrets to hide, and the accused is the man who holds the truth. In a leap of faith, our heroine must decide to continue to follow blindly or to finally open her eyes to the bitter truth.
All three tales uncover the strength of youth, the courage of defiance against the powers that twist their control and the curiosity to ask the painful questions. Each tale is complete, well-written and the words of the authors provide an atmosphere that feels dark and veiled, much like the truths that have been uncovered! Great writing, wonderful world-building and characters who give new meaning to the word Hero.
I received an ARC edition from Jen Minkman in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: March 26, 2015
Publisher: Storm Publishers
ISBN-13: 9781625178152
Genre: YA Dystopian Anthology
Print Length: 223 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 7, 2015
3.5 stars
Happy Release Day!
This is one book, filled with three short stories. One of these short stories just happens to be one of my favourite short novels. So I may be just a *tad* bias towards the second novella story ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Red Messenger: 2 stars
Now now, settle petal. I didn't like this first novella much. The storyline wasn't actually bad. It was extremely well written, and I did enjoy the parts I could concentrate on, but I found myself skipping full paragraphs, and getting distracted. The story wasn't long enough for me to be able to connect with Emma, which was a downer. She has potential.
The story was arace sprint to the finish line. It was plot point after plot point, and then an abrupt finish. It was hard for me to keep up, and I needed to go back a couple of pages to understand what I had just read.
The Island: 4 stars
Another home run by Jen Minkman. I have read a few pieces by Minkman, and she continues to impress me. There was just so much going on, I got lost in the story, and then it ended all too soon. I want more... Hopefully *fingers crossed* we will get more in the near future!
I am a sucker for Star Wars, and the references were too much to handle!My house keys even have C3PO and R2-D2 on it...! Leia (the heroine) and her brother Colin, moved out of home at 10 years old, as that was the cultural belief of the town.
Although the pacing issue came up again in this story, it was a much more enjoyable read.
The Tribunal: 4 stars
The fire between Justa and Aron and all of the plot twists just kept the pages turning. I didn't want this to end, and I still wanted more. I honestly don't have much to say, other than I didn't like the ending. The story was fantastic, but the ending ruined the chance of a five star worthy rating. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints!
It can be fairly hard to review short stories sometimes, because they can be completely different, and one can ruin it for the book as a whole. Each unique story was a different experience to read, and although I wasn't particularly a fan of certain aspects of the novellas, I enjoyed reading them.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Release date: March 26 2015
Happy Release Day!
This is one book, filled with three short stories. One of these short stories just happens to be one of my favourite short novels. So I may be just a *tad* bias towards the second novella story ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Red Messenger: 2 stars
Now now, settle petal. I didn't like this first novella much. The storyline wasn't actually bad. It was extremely well written, and I did enjoy the parts I could concentrate on, but I found myself skipping full paragraphs, and getting distracted. The story wasn't long enough for me to be able to connect with Emma, which was a downer. She has potential.
The story was a
The Island: 4 stars
Another home run by Jen Minkman. I have read a few pieces by Minkman, and she continues to impress me. There was just so much going on, I got lost in the story, and then it ended all too soon. I want more... Hopefully *fingers crossed* we will get more in the near future!
I am a sucker for Star Wars, and the references were too much to handle!
Although the pacing issue came up again in this story, it was a much more enjoyable read.
The Tribunal: 4 stars
The fire between Justa and Aron and all of the plot twists just kept the pages turning. I didn't want this to end, and I still wanted more. I honestly don't have much to say, other than I didn't like the ending. The story was fantastic, but the ending ruined the chance of a five star worthy rating. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints!
It can be fairly hard to review short stories sometimes, because they can be completely different, and one can ruin it for the book as a whole. Each unique story was a different experience to read, and although I wasn't particularly a fan of certain aspects of the novellas, I enjoyed reading them.
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Release date: March 26 2015
March 25, 2015
The dystopian stories in this volume are set in a future in which life is dominated by rules and restrictions. The main characters have had enough of this and do what the title suggests: they revolt.
This book was created through a writing contest by Storm Publishers, the publishing house which also published one of my stories ‘Droomliefde’. Because of that, I know the writers personally, but I tried to let it not influence my opinion on the stories.
'The Red Messenger' by Mara Li should have been an entire book, if you ask me. The story about a world in which World War II ended different, with all the consequences, was so well put together that I was sorry when it was off. A girl loses her twin sister and goes out to investigate. She ends up with the resistance, with a perilous adventure as a result. There was a constant menace, exactly that what makes a dystopian story good.
In 'The Island' by Jen Minkman people follow rules which they do not even know who ever invented them, but they do not know better. Children are leaving the house when they become ten years old. When people actually get a chance to take a look at "The Book" and there is contact with the people on the other side of the mysterious Wall, the Islanders begin to understand something of their history. A bizarre plot twist follows, but the story remained very credible because it is so well constructed.
‘The tribunal’ by Lis Lucassen was strict, cold and ominous. In the sector of society everything is controlled to perfection. If Justa has to appear for the Tribunal to judge in a court case, she has difficulty putting her personal feelings aside. With the murderer of her best friend in front of her, it’s impossible to remain objective. Eventually things change completely and her whole world is upside down.
This book did not fail to fascinate me until the very end, every story was exciting in its own way. Although I am not very familiar with this genre, I absolutely liked this book. Highly recommended!
This book was created through a writing contest by Storm Publishers, the publishing house which also published one of my stories ‘Droomliefde’. Because of that, I know the writers personally, but I tried to let it not influence my opinion on the stories.
'The Red Messenger' by Mara Li should have been an entire book, if you ask me. The story about a world in which World War II ended different, with all the consequences, was so well put together that I was sorry when it was off. A girl loses her twin sister and goes out to investigate. She ends up with the resistance, with a perilous adventure as a result. There was a constant menace, exactly that what makes a dystopian story good.
In 'The Island' by Jen Minkman people follow rules which they do not even know who ever invented them, but they do not know better. Children are leaving the house when they become ten years old. When people actually get a chance to take a look at "The Book" and there is contact with the people on the other side of the mysterious Wall, the Islanders begin to understand something of their history. A bizarre plot twist follows, but the story remained very credible because it is so well constructed.
‘The tribunal’ by Lis Lucassen was strict, cold and ominous. In the sector of society everything is controlled to perfection. If Justa has to appear for the Tribunal to judge in a court case, she has difficulty putting her personal feelings aside. With the murderer of her best friend in front of her, it’s impossible to remain objective. Eventually things change completely and her whole world is upside down.
This book did not fail to fascinate me until the very end, every story was exciting in its own way. Although I am not very familiar with this genre, I absolutely liked this book. Highly recommended!
March 9, 2015
This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.
3 stories, all show escape from corrupt authority in dystopian worlds.
All stories are similar in the fact there are the privileged and the ghetto dwellers/fools and Stateless. Society leads the privileged to believe that the other side a are wild lawless and low class. Truth be known they are free from dictatorship. The first story, would be the only exception to this.
The red messenger, shows of uprising and rebellion against the privileged.
The island, can you imagine a world where you are forced to become an adult and leave your parents at age 10? A very story that very much shows a cult like existence. The Star Wars references are fantastic, especially since our family are very much 'geeks'
The tribunal, a corrupt society where the stateless are considered guilty for simply breeching the wall. First time on the tribunal teaches Justa much more about her past than she expects and that the Stateless are not all what she has been lead to believe.
3 great stories. Thanks for the opportunity.
3 stories, all show escape from corrupt authority in dystopian worlds.
All stories are similar in the fact there are the privileged and the ghetto dwellers/fools and Stateless. Society leads the privileged to believe that the other side a are wild lawless and low class. Truth be known they are free from dictatorship. The first story, would be the only exception to this.
The red messenger, shows of uprising and rebellion against the privileged.
The island, can you imagine a world where you are forced to become an adult and leave your parents at age 10? A very story that very much shows a cult like existence. The Star Wars references are fantastic, especially since our family are very much 'geeks'
The tribunal, a corrupt society where the stateless are considered guilty for simply breeching the wall. First time on the tribunal teaches Justa much more about her past than she expects and that the Stateless are not all what she has been lead to believe.
3 great stories. Thanks for the opportunity.
October 28, 2014
One of the things I liked most about the bundle is that, despite the fact that they are three stories by three (very different) writers, it's very coherent. The stories really fit together; in style, in make-up - all three stories consist of short chapters, keeping a very steady rhythm throughout the book - and especially in theme. Obviously, they are all dystopian tales - the cover announces that - but the type of dystopia is very similar as well: they all concern segregated micro-societies that are weighed down by power-hungry leaders. In each story, sexual and physical violence, death and suppression are all but shunned, and still the stories end with a positive note. Thankfully, otherwise the horror of these societies would make the reader want to crawl under the seat and weep.
Interesting to see how three different female writers of between 25-35 years old have created three stories of so similar a theme within a theme. Fine read, and a read that keeps you thinking long after you've finished the bundle.
Interesting to see how three different female writers of between 25-35 years old have created three stories of so similar a theme within a theme. Fine read, and a read that keeps you thinking long after you've finished the bundle.
April 8, 2015
I received this dystopian collection as an ARC from Jen Minkman. This has three dystopian stories by three different authors to delve into. One, is the Island by Jen Minkman which I've read...which is a winner. I'm so glad I've gotten to read something by Mara Li & Lis Lucassan, new to me authors to add to my list! Thank you so much for the opportunity and I look forward in reading more from all three of these ladies.
September 24, 2015
'Je hoeft niet van dystopie te houden om In Opstand leuk te vinden, het zijn veelzijdige verhalen met voor ieder wat wils!'
Lees mijn recensie hier: http://wp.me/p53Esr-BF
Lees mijn recensie hier: http://wp.me/p53Esr-BF
March 26, 2015
Goodreads | Amazon
Defiant. When the civilization you live in turns out to be a giant, messed-up deception, what do you do? Each of the teens in these three novellas (translated by Jen Minkman) rises up to defy the rigid social order of their worlds.
The Defiant collection of three dystopian novellas comes out today on March 26, 2015! Woot!
Genre(s):
Young Adult / Dystopian / Action / Racism / Historical
Meet the Defiant
Meet Emma in The Red Messenger by Mara Li, whose twin sister Sophie recently died in a mysterious accident. She lives in an alternate reality in which the Nazis took over Germany. Think: a world with email, internet, and electricity coexisting with the continued torture of Jews tucked away in concentration camps and ghettos. Emma finds out that there was more to Sophie than she'd previously known...
Meet Leia in The Island by Jen Minkman, a strong-willed teenager who grows up in an isolated island society with rules and traditions based on one pre-apocalyptic book (Star Wars) that preached about the Force. An aggressive young leader named Saul holds his power over the children using the doctrines of the Force. Leia must uncover the mystery behind that holy book...
Meet Justa in The Tribunal by Lis Lucassen, who lives in a post-World War IV society torn into two classes: Sectorals (the blond and light-colored ruling class) and Stateless (folks with more melanin, apparently). "Segregation is needed to maintain the established order. The Sectorate therefore upholds Inequality in order to prevent future uprisings...One exception only to Sectorial Segregation is acknowledged - before the Tribunal, all are equal."
My Thoughts & Comments About Each Defiant Novella
The Red Messenger by Mara Li
I had learned about World War II concentration camps while I was in middle school, but I never imagined a dystopian world in which similar racism-induced horrors take place, but with modern and digital technology. This is a great concept, and I think it was well executed overall, with the exception of a few instances of plot-induced stupidity on the part of Emma that were used to push the story forward. The issues of racism and state-enforced athiesm are covered in this book.
As an American, I was surprised at first about how directly this novella tackled the issue of the Jewish concentration camps, but then I realized that the Netherlands were deeply affected by the existence of Jewish death camps during the Second World War. 75% of the Jewish population was deported from the Netherlands to these concentration camps, and many Dutch authorities collaborated with the Nazis to achieve this. This is a painful part of the Netherlands' history, and I think this novel draws very well from the horrors of that era. The last part of the novella felt like it was straight from the 1940s.
The Island by Jen Minkman
A wall divides the island, and there are rumors of the Other society living in it, called the Fools. When a mysterious guy washes up ashore one day, Leia's world is totally rocked as she comes to understand the truth behind her society. This is a civilization built by children after an epidemic wiped out most, if not all of the adults in the world. I didn't like the idea of a society built around a Star Wars book for kiddos, but I liked the novella explores how a society built by children would be like after a few generations.
The Tribunal by Lis Lucassen
This one reads like a good courtroom drama. In light of Trayvon Martin's death and the 2014 Ferguson unrest in the United States, the theme of a lower-classed person being screwed over by a law system purports to be fair corresponds strongly with both historical and current events. The Tribunal explores the issues of racism, bias, and corruption in a law-based society which is segregated by color.
Overall Rating for Defiant: 4/5
Find out more about Defiant, a collection of three novellas by Netherlands authors Mara Li, Jen Minkman, and Lis Lucassen:
Goodreads | Amazon
Glam Book Lounge
November 25, 2016
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm going to review these stories separately and then give a brief overview of my thoughts on the collection as a whole. I thought it was easier than doing three separate ones :) Defiant contains three short stories written by three different authors, they are all quite unique and different from each other.
Why I read it: I have read a few novels by Jen Minkman now, and the opportunity came up to review this new collection which contains one of her works. So of course I had to read it!
The Red Messenger: The first story is written by Mara Li. Emma has lost her sister Sophia to an accident. Or was it? This story is her journey to answers. Set in a not-quite-Germany that is re-imagined as if Hitler's forces had been successful in World War II, the backdrop is a bleak place, with undesirables kept out of Aryan lands by a large fence, a cage if you will.
I think if this story had been longer that it would have been more effective. Because of the length, it had to move very fast and there were many things glossed over. Everything just happened. Plot point, plot point, plot point - and while I liked Emma, I never connected with her.
It ends very abruptly and I honestly felt quite bewildered by it. I think the author will be one for me to keep an eye on (I may have just gone looking for another book to read by her - damn book buying ban *bookmarks*), but there was just too much plot for such a short story. What is there is written quite well, but what should have been a marathon, was a sprint.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Island: The second story is written by Jen Minkman. It felt much more cohesive than the first, though the pacing issue came up again. There was a lot of plot, and a lot happening, and it was all so interesting! I had to laugh in parts (once the cultural connections pinged for me, I was just SO amused!)
Leia (there's a hint for you) and her brother Colin leave home at the age of ten (TEN!) They move into the manor house that is controlled by Saul, an older...young adult (he's 21). Here they find their life partners and move out by the time they are 19, while their parents have nothing to do with them once they hit double digits.
The plot was very creative I thought, and it made me wonder about our cultural beliefs and how they come about...and even how we might be seen by outsiders. Again, being a short story, there was a lot that happened in a few pages and it just...ends. I wanted so much more if it!
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
The Tribunal: The third story is written by Lis Lucassen. Justa belongs to a strict community where order is key (it reminded me of a cult). She is sitting on a small jury which is overseeing a murder trial. The victim was her best friend - but all is not as it seems. Aron is the accused, and he protests his innocence which leads to a story of betrayal, lies and secrets.
I really liked this one as well. But again, so much plot in such a short amount of time. The writing was great, and I really wanted to spend more time in this world. There's a couple of twists to keep you guessing (always a good thing) and I enjoyed the ride!
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Pros: All the stories were good, but they also all would have benefited from being much longer. Particularly the first story by Mara Li, that needs to be a 400 page novel, I reckon it would be awesome. What we get is a good snippet of what these authors and their imaginations are capable of.
Cons: It wasn't enough! I wanted more of all of those worlds!
In Brief: A decent collection by three authors who obviously have some talent. I will be keeping a lookout for more works by all three!
I'm going to review these stories separately and then give a brief overview of my thoughts on the collection as a whole. I thought it was easier than doing three separate ones :) Defiant contains three short stories written by three different authors, they are all quite unique and different from each other.
Why I read it: I have read a few novels by Jen Minkman now, and the opportunity came up to review this new collection which contains one of her works. So of course I had to read it!
The Red Messenger: The first story is written by Mara Li. Emma has lost her sister Sophia to an accident. Or was it? This story is her journey to answers. Set in a not-quite-Germany that is re-imagined as if Hitler's forces had been successful in World War II, the backdrop is a bleak place, with undesirables kept out of Aryan lands by a large fence, a cage if you will.
I think if this story had been longer that it would have been more effective. Because of the length, it had to move very fast and there were many things glossed over. Everything just happened. Plot point, plot point, plot point - and while I liked Emma, I never connected with her.
It ends very abruptly and I honestly felt quite bewildered by it. I think the author will be one for me to keep an eye on (I may have just gone looking for another book to read by her - damn book buying ban *bookmarks*), but there was just too much plot for such a short story. What is there is written quite well, but what should have been a marathon, was a sprint.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
The Island: The second story is written by Jen Minkman. It felt much more cohesive than the first, though the pacing issue came up again. There was a lot of plot, and a lot happening, and it was all so interesting! I had to laugh in parts (once the cultural connections pinged for me, I was just SO amused!)
Leia (there's a hint for you) and her brother Colin leave home at the age of ten (TEN!) They move into the manor house that is controlled by Saul, an older...young adult (he's 21). Here they find their life partners and move out by the time they are 19, while their parents have nothing to do with them once they hit double digits.
The plot was very creative I thought, and it made me wonder about our cultural beliefs and how they come about...and even how we might be seen by outsiders. Again, being a short story, there was a lot that happened in a few pages and it just...ends. I wanted so much more if it!
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
The Tribunal: The third story is written by Lis Lucassen. Justa belongs to a strict community where order is key (it reminded me of a cult). She is sitting on a small jury which is overseeing a murder trial. The victim was her best friend - but all is not as it seems. Aron is the accused, and he protests his innocence which leads to a story of betrayal, lies and secrets.
I really liked this one as well. But again, so much plot in such a short amount of time. The writing was great, and I really wanted to spend more time in this world. There's a couple of twists to keep you guessing (always a good thing) and I enjoyed the ride!
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Pros: All the stories were good, but they also all would have benefited from being much longer. Particularly the first story by Mara Li, that needs to be a 400 page novel, I reckon it would be awesome. What we get is a good snippet of what these authors and their imaginations are capable of.
Cons: It wasn't enough! I wanted more of all of those worlds!
In Brief: A decent collection by three authors who obviously have some talent. I will be keeping a lookout for more works by all three!
March 29, 2015
Defiant is a collection of three short stories, and each of them are really different. Overall, I liked all three stories, and I honestly can't pick a favorite. Each is about a girl, who is in for a big change. Honestly each was really good, and I wish there were more stories so I could find out what happens to them! I'll start with The Red Messenger. This was the first short story, and was really intriguing. The idea of the red coat and it's secret between the sisters was something I enjoyed, and each character was very well written. Uriah and Emma were a cute pair, but I was somewhat hoping for Emma to be a really spunky fight for herself kind of girl. Either way, I liked the story. The Island, the second story, is a bit more confusing. It's pretty obvious that it has to do with Star Wars, and that bugged me a bit, just because the concept of it confuses me. As much as it did boggle me, the story was interesting. I loved the idea of the 'Fools' and how she and Walt met. They're really cute together! Next, and finally, The Tribunal. This story was one of the ones that really intrigued me, as Justa's inner struggle was really interesting to watch. I definitely had to think about if I was in her place, and I was convicting a criminal, much less a criminal who killed my best friend. This definitely made me wonder if our court systems are biased, and yes, I know we swear an oath to no be biased, but what if we still are? Definitely a story that made me think. Overall, I liked all of these stories, and definitely recommend them!
See my full review here: http://www.natashaslittleworld.blogsp...
See my full review here: http://www.natashaslittleworld.blogsp...
March 26, 2015
I really enjoyed these three dystopian novella and was excited to read a collection
including Jen Minkman's novella : The Island. I had read her book series and was happy to
get to know new authors who write dystopian stories too.
I was given an Arc and so this is my honnest review :
Defiant is a MUST READ of the dystopian genre !
It's exactly the kind of book that gathers the best ingredients of a perfect dystopian novella.
The themes are brilliant and well developed through the chapters. The three novellas have endearing, unforgettable and tough characters, beautiful, very smart and inspiring topics.
The main characters and their stories are going to leave a mark on your mind and heart.
You read about the meaning of freedom, the power of love and bravery, and the importance of believing you're capable of the best.
These are short reads but it's filled up with intensity and thought provoking moments. Definitly a pager turner !
This is exactly the kind of YA book you want your children to read and it's also great for adults who love History and dystopian universe as unique as it can be. It's beautifully written : intelligent, easy to understand but complex too.
I loved them all, and would love to read more of Mara Li and Lis Lucassen' stories.
Congratulations Jen for translating and thank you for giving me and everyone the chance to read Defiant in English.
including Jen Minkman's novella : The Island. I had read her book series and was happy to
get to know new authors who write dystopian stories too.
I was given an Arc and so this is my honnest review :
Defiant is a MUST READ of the dystopian genre !
It's exactly the kind of book that gathers the best ingredients of a perfect dystopian novella.
The themes are brilliant and well developed through the chapters. The three novellas have endearing, unforgettable and tough characters, beautiful, very smart and inspiring topics.
The main characters and their stories are going to leave a mark on your mind and heart.
You read about the meaning of freedom, the power of love and bravery, and the importance of believing you're capable of the best.
These are short reads but it's filled up with intensity and thought provoking moments. Definitly a pager turner !
This is exactly the kind of YA book you want your children to read and it's also great for adults who love History and dystopian universe as unique as it can be. It's beautifully written : intelligent, easy to understand but complex too.
I loved them all, and would love to read more of Mara Li and Lis Lucassen' stories.
Congratulations Jen for translating and thank you for giving me and everyone the chance to read Defiant in English.
April 19, 2015
When I was offered the opportunity to read Defiant, a collection of three Dutch author's young adult work, I was thrilled to do so. I have been enamoured with the thoughtful approach Jen Minkman takes in her writing and I was hungry to try some other Dutch authors as well. I was not disappointed in any of the stories in this collection.
All three stories had one thing in common and that was the beliefs that their lives were as they were meant to be. They believed in their governments and societys' propaganda and had no idea, there were other ways to live or believe...until they were startled into realizing another perspective existed. At that point the main characters were faced with decisions. Would they remain loyal to their way of life or would they challenge themselves for more?
All three writer's presented unique stories and characters...characters who were very easy to empathize with and root for their success.
If you like a read that makes you think and invites you into it, this anthology may be just what you need to read.
All three stories had one thing in common and that was the beliefs that their lives were as they were meant to be. They believed in their governments and societys' propaganda and had no idea, there were other ways to live or believe...until they were startled into realizing another perspective existed. At that point the main characters were faced with decisions. Would they remain loyal to their way of life or would they challenge themselves for more?
All three writer's presented unique stories and characters...characters who were very easy to empathize with and root for their success.
If you like a read that makes you think and invites you into it, this anthology may be just what you need to read.
October 2, 2014
Dit is zoals elk dystopisch verhaal zou moeten zijn.
Veringa is erin geslaagd om met het eerste verhaal in deze bundel direct kippenvel op mijn armen te toveren. De rode boodschapper is ontzettend realistisch geschreven en doordat iedereen wel iets weet over de tweede wereld oorlog is het griezelig herkenbaar.
Waar het eerste verhaal me zo nu en dan de koude rillingen bezorgde, zorgde het tweede verhaal van Minkman ervoor dat ik op het puntje van mijn stoel kwam te zitten. Om vervolgens stijl achterover te slaan van verbazing.
Als je van verrassende plotwendingen houdt is Het eiland echt iets voor jou.
De hele bundel weet de spanning goed vast te houden, want ook het laatste verhaal van Lucassen is van begin tot eind aangrijpend. Het tribunaal heeft bovendien genoeg mysterie en een scheutje chemie om het hart van iedere romanticus sneller te doen slaan.
Veringa is erin geslaagd om met het eerste verhaal in deze bundel direct kippenvel op mijn armen te toveren. De rode boodschapper is ontzettend realistisch geschreven en doordat iedereen wel iets weet over de tweede wereld oorlog is het griezelig herkenbaar.
Waar het eerste verhaal me zo nu en dan de koude rillingen bezorgde, zorgde het tweede verhaal van Minkman ervoor dat ik op het puntje van mijn stoel kwam te zitten. Om vervolgens stijl achterover te slaan van verbazing.
Als je van verrassende plotwendingen houdt is Het eiland echt iets voor jou.
De hele bundel weet de spanning goed vast te houden, want ook het laatste verhaal van Lucassen is van begin tot eind aangrijpend. Het tribunaal heeft bovendien genoeg mysterie en een scheutje chemie om het hart van iedere romanticus sneller te doen slaan.
Read
February 23, 2015(No rating since two out of three writers are friends...)
August 22, 2021
Ik durf niet te zeggen hoelang deze verhalenbundel al in mijn kast staat. Volgens mij heb ik hem ooit ergens voor 5 euro gekocht en hem daarna bij de rest van de ongelezen boeken gezet. Af en toe liep ik er weer langs of kwam ik het boek weer tegen, maar ik pakte het eigenlijk nooit op. Vandaag zag ik het boek ineens weer staan en ik kon er een heel mooi plekje voor vinden in mijn reading challenge. Ik was heel benieuwd wat me te wachten stond!
Bij veel verhalenbundels is het vervolgens altijd lastig om een recensie te schrijven. Vaak spreekt het ene verhaal wel aan en het andere niet. Maar in dit geval zijn de drie verhalen eigenlijk heel erg aan elkaar gewaagd. Natuurlijk hebben ze allemaal hun eigen setting, hun eigen karakters en hun eigen insteek, maar ze zijn in dezelfde stijl en als je het mij vraagt ook van dezelfde hoge kwaliteit. De verhalen zijn goed geschreven, de karakters interessant en de werelden heel verrassend.
Op hun eigen manier maken alle verhalen ook wel echt indruk. Zoals je van een dystopie mag verwachten, zijn de verhalen geen van allen echt gezellig. Met al deze werelden is overduidelijk iets goed mis en we zien het uit de hand lopen of al volledig ontspoort zijn. De auteurs hebben het echter voor elkaar gekregen de vrijheidsstrijd heel natuurlijk te laten verlopen, zonder dat het allemaal wel erg makkelijk aanvoelt.
Daarnaast kwamen alledrie de verhalen ook wel echt bij me binnen. Het eerste verhaal natuurlijk omdat we allemaal de beelden en verhalen van de tweede wereld oorlog kennen, waardoor die wereld het makkelijkst was om voor me te zien, maar ook de andere twee werelden werden heel duidelijk en levendig neergezet, waardoor wel echt heel goed te zien was hoe het allemaal zo mis heeft kunnen gaan en verschrikkelijk, soms zelfs misselijkmakend, de omstandigheden waren.
Ik had eigenlijk van alledrie de verhalen nog wel meer gewild!
Bij veel verhalenbundels is het vervolgens altijd lastig om een recensie te schrijven. Vaak spreekt het ene verhaal wel aan en het andere niet. Maar in dit geval zijn de drie verhalen eigenlijk heel erg aan elkaar gewaagd. Natuurlijk hebben ze allemaal hun eigen setting, hun eigen karakters en hun eigen insteek, maar ze zijn in dezelfde stijl en als je het mij vraagt ook van dezelfde hoge kwaliteit. De verhalen zijn goed geschreven, de karakters interessant en de werelden heel verrassend.
Op hun eigen manier maken alle verhalen ook wel echt indruk. Zoals je van een dystopie mag verwachten, zijn de verhalen geen van allen echt gezellig. Met al deze werelden is overduidelijk iets goed mis en we zien het uit de hand lopen of al volledig ontspoort zijn. De auteurs hebben het echter voor elkaar gekregen de vrijheidsstrijd heel natuurlijk te laten verlopen, zonder dat het allemaal wel erg makkelijk aanvoelt.
Daarnaast kwamen alledrie de verhalen ook wel echt bij me binnen. Het eerste verhaal natuurlijk omdat we allemaal de beelden en verhalen van de tweede wereld oorlog kennen, waardoor die wereld het makkelijkst was om voor me te zien, maar ook de andere twee werelden werden heel duidelijk en levendig neergezet, waardoor wel echt heel goed te zien was hoe het allemaal zo mis heeft kunnen gaan en verschrikkelijk, soms zelfs misselijkmakend, de omstandigheden waren.
Ik had eigenlijk van alledrie de verhalen nog wel meer gewild!
September 22, 2018
Ik vond het eerste verhaal het beste geschreven en het tweede verhaal het leukste. Erg fijn om ook eens korte verhalen te lezen, ga ik zeker vaker doen.
September 27, 2015
Ik heb ontzettend genoten van de verhalenbundel In Opstand, bestaande uit drie korte verhalen die, mijns inziens, alle drie een eigen boek verdienen! Heerlijk om te zien dat er ook goede dystopia van eigen bodem bestaat :)
De Rode Boodschapper
In het eerste verhaal maken we kennis met Emma, die net haar tweelingzus Sophie verloren heeft. Maar was haar zusje wel wie Emma dacht dat ze was? Dit verhaal van Marieke Veringa is heel verrassend en speelt in een interessante wereld - een wereld waarin de Duitsers de Tweede Wereldoorlog hebben gewonnen. Hoewel de identiteit van de verrader er ietwat te dik bovenop lag, wist dit verhaal me van begin tot eind te boeien. Het eindigde helaas wel met een heel erg open einde en ik hoop dan ook dat er ooit nog eens een vervolg of een full-length story van verschijnt!
Het Eiland
Op het eiland gaan kinderen op 10-jarige leeftijd uit huis en zijn ze niet langer afhankelijk van hun ouders. Ze komen terecht in een huis vol kinderen en jongeren waar ze op zoek gaan naar een partner om het leven mee te delen. Persoonlijk trok dit verhaal van Jen Minkman me het minste aan van de hele bundel. Hoewel ik het idee achter het verhaal heel grappig en origineel vond, had ik het idee dat 'de ware aard' van Het Boek al iets te snel onthuld werd. Ook vond ik dat het idee van al die kinderen in één huis op zoek naar een partner verder uitgewerkt had kunnen worden. Daarnaast vond ik dat aan het einde alles misschien iets te gemakkelijk en te snel werd opgelost. Ik denk dat dit verhaal veel beter tot uiting zou komen, wanneer het een compleet boek was. Het idee is er; de uitwerking mist hier en daar gewoon nog iets..
Het Tribunaal
In het derde en laatste verhaal van de hand van Lis Lucassen maken we kennis met Justa, die aan de beurt is om haar plaats te nemen in het Tribunaal en recht te spreken over een crimineel. Ook dit verhaal zou ik graag als full-length story zien, omdat de details dan allemaal nog net iets verder uitgewerkt kunnen worden. De wereld waarin Het Tribunaal zich afspeelt vond ik alleszins zeer tof en origineel. De verschillende personages - zowel Justa, als Aron en Ernst - spraken me erg aan en voor mij was het onmogelijk om te pauzeren tijdens dit verhaal.
Al met al is In Opstand een toffe bundel met dystopia van eigen bodem. Van mij hadden deze verhalen veel langer mogen duren; de werelden en hun toekomstvisies wisten me mee te slepen en ik wil gewoonweg meer!
_________________________
Deze review verscheen op Met het Oog op de Toekomst!
De Rode Boodschapper
In het eerste verhaal maken we kennis met Emma, die net haar tweelingzus Sophie verloren heeft. Maar was haar zusje wel wie Emma dacht dat ze was? Dit verhaal van Marieke Veringa is heel verrassend en speelt in een interessante wereld - een wereld waarin de Duitsers de Tweede Wereldoorlog hebben gewonnen. Hoewel de identiteit van de verrader er ietwat te dik bovenop lag, wist dit verhaal me van begin tot eind te boeien. Het eindigde helaas wel met een heel erg open einde en ik hoop dan ook dat er ooit nog eens een vervolg of een full-length story van verschijnt!
Het Eiland
Op het eiland gaan kinderen op 10-jarige leeftijd uit huis en zijn ze niet langer afhankelijk van hun ouders. Ze komen terecht in een huis vol kinderen en jongeren waar ze op zoek gaan naar een partner om het leven mee te delen. Persoonlijk trok dit verhaal van Jen Minkman me het minste aan van de hele bundel. Hoewel ik het idee achter het verhaal heel grappig en origineel vond, had ik het idee dat 'de ware aard' van Het Boek al iets te snel onthuld werd. Ook vond ik dat het idee van al die kinderen in één huis op zoek naar een partner verder uitgewerkt had kunnen worden. Daarnaast vond ik dat aan het einde alles misschien iets te gemakkelijk en te snel werd opgelost. Ik denk dat dit verhaal veel beter tot uiting zou komen, wanneer het een compleet boek was. Het idee is er; de uitwerking mist hier en daar gewoon nog iets..
Het Tribunaal
In het derde en laatste verhaal van de hand van Lis Lucassen maken we kennis met Justa, die aan de beurt is om haar plaats te nemen in het Tribunaal en recht te spreken over een crimineel. Ook dit verhaal zou ik graag als full-length story zien, omdat de details dan allemaal nog net iets verder uitgewerkt kunnen worden. De wereld waarin Het Tribunaal zich afspeelt vond ik alleszins zeer tof en origineel. De verschillende personages - zowel Justa, als Aron en Ernst - spraken me erg aan en voor mij was het onmogelijk om te pauzeren tijdens dit verhaal.
Al met al is In Opstand een toffe bundel met dystopia van eigen bodem. Van mij hadden deze verhalen veel langer mogen duren; de werelden en hun toekomstvisies wisten me mee te slepen en ik wil gewoonweg meer!
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Deze review verscheen op Met het Oog op de Toekomst!
October 31, 2016
3,33 sterren - had het graag naar boven afgerond, maar in dit geval zou dat niet helemaal kloppen.
De Rode Boodschapper: 3 sterren
Het Eiland: 3 sterren
Het Tribunaal: 4 sterren
De Rode Boodschapper
De schrijfstijl was fijn, maar hier en daar een beetje langdradig. Normaal gesproken stoor ik me daar niet aan bij een normaal boek, maar bij een kortverhaal toch weer wel. Het verhaal zelf vond ik leuk, alleen merk ik nu al dat ik de personages aan het vergeten ben en dat is meestal niet zo'n goed teken.
Het Eiland
Schrijfstijl las vlot en het begin was heel sterk. Het ging bij mij vooral bergafwaarts toen ik merkte dat de groep in het boek haar samenleving baseerde op een Star Wars boek? Op de één of andere manier werkte dat niet in mijn hoofd. Ik vind Star Wars leuk, maar dit vond ik gewoon gek. Daarnaast vond ik wel dat Leia - inderdaad, vernoemd naar Leia uit Star Wars - Walt zo snel vertrouwde. Ze gaf hem zonder al te veel na te denken het belangrijkste boek van haar samenleving mee. Hmm.
Het Tribunaal
YES, mijn favoriet. Van alle kortverhalen, las deze voor mij het fijnst. Ik vond Justa en Aron ook leuke personages. Soms dacht ik wel van: 'uh, wat, zo werkt het niet in de rechtszaal?' Maar dan herinnerde ik me weer dat dit een dystopian verhaal was en dat het dus wél zo kan werken in de rechtszaal. (En om eerlijk te zijn, zou de manipulatie en leugens die gebruikt werden ook in real life gebruikt kunnen worden?). In elk geval, dit was het enige verhaal dat me vanaf het begin in zijn greep had en me niet meer losliet.
De Rode Boodschapper: 3 sterren
Het Eiland: 3 sterren
Het Tribunaal: 4 sterren
De Rode Boodschapper
De schrijfstijl was fijn, maar hier en daar een beetje langdradig. Normaal gesproken stoor ik me daar niet aan bij een normaal boek, maar bij een kortverhaal toch weer wel. Het verhaal zelf vond ik leuk, alleen merk ik nu al dat ik de personages aan het vergeten ben en dat is meestal niet zo'n goed teken.
Het Eiland
Schrijfstijl las vlot en het begin was heel sterk. Het ging bij mij vooral bergafwaarts toen ik merkte dat de groep in het boek haar samenleving baseerde op een Star Wars boek? Op de één of andere manier werkte dat niet in mijn hoofd. Ik vind Star Wars leuk, maar dit vond ik gewoon gek. Daarnaast vond ik wel dat Leia - inderdaad, vernoemd naar Leia uit Star Wars - Walt zo snel vertrouwde. Ze gaf hem zonder al te veel na te denken het belangrijkste boek van haar samenleving mee. Hmm.
Het Tribunaal
YES, mijn favoriet. Van alle kortverhalen, las deze voor mij het fijnst. Ik vond Justa en Aron ook leuke personages. Soms dacht ik wel van: 'uh, wat, zo werkt het niet in de rechtszaal?' Maar dan herinnerde ik me weer dat dit een dystopian verhaal was en dat het dus wél zo kan werken in de rechtszaal. (En om eerlijk te zijn, zou de manipulatie en leugens die gebruikt werden ook in real life gebruikt kunnen worden?). In elk geval, dit was het enige verhaal dat me vanaf het begin in zijn greep had en me niet meer losliet.
October 7, 2022
Aquí se compilan tres historias que funcionan como introducción a tres escritoras neerlandesas. Podría decirse que las historias entran dentro de la categoría de literatura juvenil, pero estoy segura de que también las pueden disfrutar los adultos sin ningún problema.
En cada una de las historias el mundo terminó llendose al caño y se organizaron distintas sociedades. Los tres relatos están bastante decentes, pero al ser su extensión tan corta cada uno quedó con cabos sueltos que en una extensión mayor bien se podrían resolver.
Pero reitero que no son historias malas, cada autora procuró que sus sociedades distópicas quedarán lo más sólidas posibles, así que si son fanáticos de este género literario, son duda alguna no querrán perderse este libro.
En cada una de las historias el mundo terminó llendose al caño y se organizaron distintas sociedades. Los tres relatos están bastante decentes, pero al ser su extensión tan corta cada uno quedó con cabos sueltos que en una extensión mayor bien se podrían resolver.
Pero reitero que no son historias malas, cada autora procuró que sus sociedades distópicas quedarán lo más sólidas posibles, así que si son fanáticos de este género literario, son duda alguna no querrán perderse este libro.
December 27, 2016
In opstand is een gebundelde boek van 3 dystopische verhalen. 3 verhalen die zeer prachtig waren, en waarvan ik tot de laatste seconden van genoten heb. Het Eiland van Jen Minkman had ik dit jaar al eens gelezen, maar dan uitgebreider, dus heb ik dit stukje even overgeslagen. Stiekem hoop ik dat er van de overige twee verhalen, ook nog uitgebreider wordt. Was zeer geweldig om te lezen en mijn hart was op een slag betoverd.
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