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The Corrupted SUN Script, Book #1
Compile: Quest
Centuries after the day solar storms ravaged the earth, the world lies divided: one half a Utopian prison, the other a ruthless military dictatorship. Two women from disparate halves of this frightening future earth become entangled in an archaic conspiracy that threatens the existence of all of mankind.
Peppermint is just like every other Denizen trapped inside the Utopian splendour of the Dome: hedonistic, self-centered, and utterly naive. But when she discovers she's a psi with prophetic abilities, her perfect world collapses. She's imprisoned and forced into endless, nightmarish sessions with a merciless scientist. Peppermint must learn to control her power - or risk becoming a slave to the elite.
Living under a harsh military dictatorship deep in the African savanna, life is a constant struggle for Jinx. But revenge fills this volatile soldier's mind. When the search for her mother's killer takes her into the center of a rival colony of Diggers, Jinx is faced with a terrifying decision. Her choice reins in the truth about her past and the depraved nightmare she’s unwittingly plunged herself into.
While both women struggle with their new realities, Peppermint and Jinx must remain true to themselves while battling for mankind’s most valued human right: freedom.
Peppermint is just like every other Denizen trapped inside the Utopian splendour of the Dome: hedonistic, self-centered, and utterly naive. But when she discovers she's a psi with prophetic abilities, her perfect world collapses. She's imprisoned and forced into endless, nightmarish sessions with a merciless scientist. Peppermint must learn to control her power - or risk becoming a slave to the elite.
Living under a harsh military dictatorship deep in the African savanna, life is a constant struggle for Jinx. But revenge fills this volatile soldier's mind. When the search for her mother's killer takes her into the center of a rival colony of Diggers, Jinx is faced with a terrifying decision. Her choice reins in the truth about her past and the depraved nightmare she’s unwittingly plunged herself into.
While both women struggle with their new realities, Peppermint and Jinx must remain true to themselves while battling for mankind’s most valued human right: freedom.
- GenresScience Fiction
583 pages, ebook
First published October 13, 2014
10 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Ronel van Tonder
6 books91 followersRonel is a brand-spanking new indie author. She loves creating fantastical worlds set in the future, the mythical, and the horrific. Translate: She writes science-fiction, fantasy and horror novels.
Her life story is not particularly fascinating, but her love of technology, PC games and writing is. Beside writing, she spends her time slaying rendered baddies in the form of robots, gangsters and aliens - with any weapon that happens to be at hand.
Ronel has published her first science-fiction trilogy, the Corrupted SUN Script and is hard at work on her next sci-fi novel, The Seventh Glitch.
When she's not writing, she's gaming, and when she's not gaming she's either sleeping or eating, as these are prerequisites for a continued life on planet Earth.
Her life story is not particularly fascinating, but her love of technology, PC games and writing is. Beside writing, she spends her time slaying rendered baddies in the form of robots, gangsters and aliens - with any weapon that happens to be at hand.
Ronel has published her first science-fiction trilogy, the Corrupted SUN Script and is hard at work on her next sci-fi novel, The Seventh Glitch.
When she's not writing, she's gaming, and when she's not gaming she's either sleeping or eating, as these are prerequisites for a continued life on planet Earth.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 10, 2016
3.5 stars
In 2036, on a day known to posterity as Black Sunday, the Earth was completely ravaged by solar storms and humanity reduced to a shadow of its former self. Those who survived the cataclysm shut themselves inside huge domes constructed on all continents, under the watchful eye of the SUN council. But unbeknownst to the denizens of the domes, there are still survivors in the wasteland outside, desperately clinging to life by staying underground...
Compile: Quest is mostly split into two parts, or settings. Inside the African dome, where denizens have all they need and live under the illusion of freedom. And outside the dome, where the diggers of the lost colonies struggle to get by every single day. One is a utopian prison, the other a ruthless military dictatorship. That these two settings were different in almost every way gave the book and its storyline a considerable advantage.
The book is also made unique by the fact that it is set in a post-apocalyptic South Africa. With a few notable exceptions, all the works of postapocalyptic fiction I have experienced have been set in North America. And while this setting isn't really that different (everything lies in ruins after all), getting a new perspective on the world after the apocalypse is interesting.
The characters were unfortunately a downside for me. I failed to connect to any of them, and I have to admit I looked upon most of them as vile and depraved. The interestingly named protagonist Peppermint was not my kind of character, and while there were a few interesting ones, that is also true about most of the others. I wouldn't say that they were badly written, but my enjoyment of the book suffered since I didn't like them much.
That said, reading this book was mostly an enjoyable experience. I had issues with several aspects of it, but that might be attributed to my personal opinion of dystopian and postapocalyptic fiction, and does not necessarily indicate flaws with the book itself. And l would say that this book, a debut novel, is every bit as good as some of the most famous series written in the mentioned genres, if not even better. So if you think you're a bigger fan of dystopia or postapocalyptic fiction than I am, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book.
In 2036, on a day known to posterity as Black Sunday, the Earth was completely ravaged by solar storms and humanity reduced to a shadow of its former self. Those who survived the cataclysm shut themselves inside huge domes constructed on all continents, under the watchful eye of the SUN council. But unbeknownst to the denizens of the domes, there are still survivors in the wasteland outside, desperately clinging to life by staying underground...
Compile: Quest is mostly split into two parts, or settings. Inside the African dome, where denizens have all they need and live under the illusion of freedom. And outside the dome, where the diggers of the lost colonies struggle to get by every single day. One is a utopian prison, the other a ruthless military dictatorship. That these two settings were different in almost every way gave the book and its storyline a considerable advantage.
The book is also made unique by the fact that it is set in a post-apocalyptic South Africa. With a few notable exceptions, all the works of postapocalyptic fiction I have experienced have been set in North America. And while this setting isn't really that different (everything lies in ruins after all), getting a new perspective on the world after the apocalypse is interesting.
The characters were unfortunately a downside for me. I failed to connect to any of them, and I have to admit I looked upon most of them as vile and depraved. The interestingly named protagonist Peppermint was not my kind of character, and while there were a few interesting ones, that is also true about most of the others. I wouldn't say that they were badly written, but my enjoyment of the book suffered since I didn't like them much.
That said, reading this book was mostly an enjoyable experience. I had issues with several aspects of it, but that might be attributed to my personal opinion of dystopian and postapocalyptic fiction, and does not necessarily indicate flaws with the book itself. And l would say that this book, a debut novel, is every bit as good as some of the most famous series written in the mentioned genres, if not even better. So if you think you're a bigger fan of dystopia or postapocalyptic fiction than I am, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book.
February 6, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
I was initially mainly interested in the cover, believe it or not. I judged a book by its cover. I love computer fiction. What can I say? Was I disappointed when it didn't quite turn out the way I thought it would?
Hell, no. First impressions aren't everything or even most of a thing when it comes to books. We look at how it makes us feel and whether it impresses the hell out of us... and I was very impressed.
First of all, this is a dual-character novel and neither have much or anything to do with one another, but don't let that dissuade you. Both give us a hell of a story about South Africa three hundred years in the future under a dome and on the other side of it. Both leave our main characters, Peppermint and Jinx, severely limited in options and personal freedom. It's dark and claustrophobic even if the walls aren't exactly falling in upon them.
The world-building is as much a main character as these two women. Peppermint should really be part of the inside utopia, but she's soon kidnapped, plugged into a massive AI, is put through massive tests and is generally turned into a performing animal for the gifts she seems to possess.
Getting there is just as interesting as the conflict, and there's a wide and oddly familiar world for us to explore.
On the outside, we're left with dictatorships and hardship and military life. Jinx must deal with many losses and burning hatred and the desire for revenge so strong that she voluntarily goes through a particularly female type of hell to get it.
The two women couldn't be more different, but the drive for freedom and agency is always burning strong.
One thing that really stands out for me is the fact that this is one of quite a few new authors coming out of South Africa that all deal with social media, SF, and interesting fantasy overtones. I'd definitely recommend this for any fans of Lauren Beukes or a darker SF with undertones of YA that still remains quite adult and disturbing.
I'm happy to be surprised! Neither the title nor the cover really does it justice. :)
I was initially mainly interested in the cover, believe it or not. I judged a book by its cover. I love computer fiction. What can I say? Was I disappointed when it didn't quite turn out the way I thought it would?
Hell, no. First impressions aren't everything or even most of a thing when it comes to books. We look at how it makes us feel and whether it impresses the hell out of us... and I was very impressed.
First of all, this is a dual-character novel and neither have much or anything to do with one another, but don't let that dissuade you. Both give us a hell of a story about South Africa three hundred years in the future under a dome and on the other side of it. Both leave our main characters, Peppermint and Jinx, severely limited in options and personal freedom. It's dark and claustrophobic even if the walls aren't exactly falling in upon them.
The world-building is as much a main character as these two women. Peppermint should really be part of the inside utopia, but she's soon kidnapped, plugged into a massive AI, is put through massive tests and is generally turned into a performing animal for the gifts she seems to possess.
Getting there is just as interesting as the conflict, and there's a wide and oddly familiar world for us to explore.
On the outside, we're left with dictatorships and hardship and military life. Jinx must deal with many losses and burning hatred and the desire for revenge so strong that she voluntarily goes through a particularly female type of hell to get it.
The two women couldn't be more different, but the drive for freedom and agency is always burning strong.
One thing that really stands out for me is the fact that this is one of quite a few new authors coming out of South Africa that all deal with social media, SF, and interesting fantasy overtones. I'd definitely recommend this for any fans of Lauren Beukes or a darker SF with undertones of YA that still remains quite adult and disturbing.
I'm happy to be surprised! Neither the title nor the cover really does it justice. :)
March 5, 2016
Disclaimer: I agreed to become a beta-reader of this book, and I don't regret this decision at all. Reading Compile:Quest was one of the most pleasant surprises in my 2014 reading year.
The story takes place in the year 2311, roughly 275 years after the sun decided to yield sky-high prominences. The resulting radiation from those solar flares has made life on Earth almost impossible. The survivors of mankind have partially gone underground, and live now in gloomy systems of tunnels and caves. Another part has gone into the arms of the almighty SUN Council, which has built and operates huge domes on all continents to protect its people. While the so-called diggers suffer from a cruel dictatorship, the dome-people, simply called denizens, indulge themselves in technological abundance. Problems, if any, are entrusted to Phoenix, an omniscient and omnipresent artificial intelligence, who knows what you're doing and where you are at all times. I guess the inclined Sci-Fi reader should know by now that both of these worlds are not exactly brilliant to live in.
For the most part the story is set in South Africa, where the author comes from. So maybe one can assume that this story is dealing with an allegory on the problems of this country. We might compare, for example, the previous homelands with the digger colonies, or today's suburban compounds with the domes. But I think that would be taken too short. I would see the problem much more global, and of course every reader should find her own interpretation. However, one thing is clear to me: This book is no easy and lightweight reading (although there's a character named Peppermint with magenta hair). It certainly doesn't belong on some YA-shelf, like, you know, for example, books with the word Hunger in their title. I would say this book is quite dark. Not totally black, yet, but it's getting there. It's dystopian Sci-Fi, alright, and it has quite some eschatological and apocalyptic overtones along with a paranormal/fantasy-ish bouquet. The author added a remarkable short note at the beginning of the book which emphasizes its seriousness. I whole heartily agree.
There are many great characters in this book, and I had a hard time picking my favorite one (and it's not the one with the magenta hair). In a novel with almost 800 pages I would expect some long drawn-out parts, but I didn't find any. This is probably because that there was not one, but two future worlds created, which cannot be more different. The story lines switch back and forth between these worlds and the chapters are short enough, to keep the reading pace and the reader's interest up high. In the prose some expressions from South African English and Afrikaans are used, which add some extra nice spice.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in this genre. So, mark your calendars. Last I heard, this book is going to come out on Dec 13th, and I'm positive the story is going to get a lot of fans.
Have a sunny day!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The story takes place in the year 2311, roughly 275 years after the sun decided to yield sky-high prominences. The resulting radiation from those solar flares has made life on Earth almost impossible. The survivors of mankind have partially gone underground, and live now in gloomy systems of tunnels and caves. Another part has gone into the arms of the almighty SUN Council, which has built and operates huge domes on all continents to protect its people. While the so-called diggers suffer from a cruel dictatorship, the dome-people, simply called denizens, indulge themselves in technological abundance. Problems, if any, are entrusted to Phoenix, an omniscient and omnipresent artificial intelligence, who knows what you're doing and where you are at all times. I guess the inclined Sci-Fi reader should know by now that both of these worlds are not exactly brilliant to live in.
For the most part the story is set in South Africa, where the author comes from. So maybe one can assume that this story is dealing with an allegory on the problems of this country. We might compare, for example, the previous homelands with the digger colonies, or today's suburban compounds with the domes. But I think that would be taken too short. I would see the problem much more global, and of course every reader should find her own interpretation. However, one thing is clear to me: This book is no easy and lightweight reading (although there's a character named Peppermint with magenta hair). It certainly doesn't belong on some YA-shelf, like, you know, for example, books with the word Hunger in their title. I would say this book is quite dark. Not totally black, yet, but it's getting there. It's dystopian Sci-Fi, alright, and it has quite some eschatological and apocalyptic overtones along with a paranormal/fantasy-ish bouquet. The author added a remarkable short note at the beginning of the book which emphasizes its seriousness. I whole heartily agree.
There are many great characters in this book, and I had a hard time picking my favorite one (and it's not the one with the magenta hair). In a novel with almost 800 pages I would expect some long drawn-out parts, but I didn't find any. This is probably because that there was not one, but two future worlds created, which cannot be more different. The story lines switch back and forth between these worlds and the chapters are short enough, to keep the reading pace and the reader's interest up high. In the prose some expressions from South African English and Afrikaans are used, which add some extra nice spice.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in this genre. So, mark your calendars. Last I heard, this book is going to come out on Dec 13th, and I'm positive the story is going to get a lot of fans.
Have a sunny day!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
October 28, 2014
“Compile:Quest”, the first book in author Ronel Van Tonder’s “The Corrupted SUN Script” series, is an intricate dystopian tale of a possible future on our home planet. It is a multi-stream novel that follows a distinct group of characters as their tales come together in an explosive finale which in turn leaves hooks for the next book in the series. In essence the novel takes the premise that solar flares destroy the society we know, with some saved from their ravages in artificially constructed domed cities, and others surviving in underground burrows. As time elapses, these groups have evolved into two very different societies; one ruled by an apparently benevolent corporation, SUN, living a utopian life coddled in technology; the other existing under a harsh dictatorship and in constant conflict with other factions.
This contrast allows the writer to develop some exceptional characters, some the reader will root for, others displaying a callous evil that quickly defines our relationship to them. All are deeply drawn and unique and have important roles in the twists and turns encountered throughout the tale.
I was particularly impressed with the subtle way the author used the Internet-based technology of today to create a firm base for the utopian world, making it both strange and familiar at the same time. This allows the reader to relate to this place, three-hundred years into our future, without needing long explanations as to why each aspect of this society exists. The author then twists our understanding of this world through insightful scene-building into an acid critique of our current society’s addiction to social media. I will not cite any spoilers but Maple’s story is the culmination of this masterful exposition.
The two contrasting societies are superbly defined and highly believable and the tale is complex and entertaining, reminding me of Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ series or the classic ‘Foundation’ trilogy by Asimov.
A must-read for lovers of quality sci-fi.
This contrast allows the writer to develop some exceptional characters, some the reader will root for, others displaying a callous evil that quickly defines our relationship to them. All are deeply drawn and unique and have important roles in the twists and turns encountered throughout the tale.
I was particularly impressed with the subtle way the author used the Internet-based technology of today to create a firm base for the utopian world, making it both strange and familiar at the same time. This allows the reader to relate to this place, three-hundred years into our future, without needing long explanations as to why each aspect of this society exists. The author then twists our understanding of this world through insightful scene-building into an acid critique of our current society’s addiction to social media. I will not cite any spoilers but Maple’s story is the culmination of this masterful exposition.
The two contrasting societies are superbly defined and highly believable and the tale is complex and entertaining, reminding me of Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’ series or the classic ‘Foundation’ trilogy by Asimov.
A must-read for lovers of quality sci-fi.
July 4, 2015
I was immediately on board with Tonder's debut dystopian after reading the preamble, in which she says that unless you are rich or powerful, life pretty much sucks for everyone in the world, regardless of which political party is in power. Way to get the reader's attention.
And to think I was originally hesitant to read this after noting the page count. It is, however, an extremely quick read and feels much more like a 300 page book than a 550 page book. Don't be like me and put off reading it because of the page length.
Tonder's writing is raw and straight-forward. There is sex, profanity, and a creepy computer. She takes time in building her world and her characters rather than rushing out of the gates and racing through the story. You get to know the main characters and even some of the minor characters, giving the story an epic quality.
If I had to do an A + B = C equation for this book, I'd say that
'Heroes' (the TV show) + Wool = Compile: Quest
I would have liked to see the plot focus more on the inequality and dystopian aspect of the story rather than on the every day life of the two main characters, but that's only because of how much I liked the statement at the beginning of the book. This didn't take anything away from the book, though. And it's very likely that the next two books focus more on the apocalyptic world.
After being hesitant to read this first one (i.e., page length), I'll gladly add the other two books in the trilogy to my to-read list.
And to think I was originally hesitant to read this after noting the page count. It is, however, an extremely quick read and feels much more like a 300 page book than a 550 page book. Don't be like me and put off reading it because of the page length.
Tonder's writing is raw and straight-forward. There is sex, profanity, and a creepy computer. She takes time in building her world and her characters rather than rushing out of the gates and racing through the story. You get to know the main characters and even some of the minor characters, giving the story an epic quality.
If I had to do an A + B = C equation for this book, I'd say that
'Heroes' (the TV show) + Wool = Compile: Quest
I would have liked to see the plot focus more on the inequality and dystopian aspect of the story rather than on the every day life of the two main characters, but that's only because of how much I liked the statement at the beginning of the book. This didn't take anything away from the book, though. And it's very likely that the next two books focus more on the apocalyptic world.
After being hesitant to read this first one (i.e., page length), I'll gladly add the other two books in the trilogy to my to-read list.
February 6, 2017
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/02/0...
Publishing Date: October 2014
ISBN: 4479836144008
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.4/5
Publishers Description: The omnipotent Phoenix was left in charge of running the domes and seeing to the needs of all the denizens residing within. And after everything that it has witnessed, after everything it has been tasked to do… it has become unstable. Hope takes the form of two women from disparate halves of this terrifying future Earth, each with their own personal vendettas and agendas. But how can such fragile creatures defy their adversaries?
Review: Well no one is speshul, so that’s a relief, although Peppermint flits around it’s edges. Yeah, Peppermint. Who the fuck is named Peppermint, or Maple. How about Onyx, Topaz, Aluminum (Alum) and Jasper? I guess 300 years into the future, naming conventions are standardized to represent a Logan’s Run type civilization, sheltered from the hideousness of reality.
Anywaaaay, this was pretty good writing coupled with a ho-hum storyline a dismal plot, average character development (that failed with the movement) and great world building. We have an encore appearance of Humongous from Mad Max playing the part of a God like leader in a stinky city. The issue I had with the storyline was that at times, it seemed formulaic. Almost like the author was relying on an often tried and true movie scene. The angry blaming Father, resentful son, mediator mom shtick wore thin as did Humongous/Bartertown. The plot goes nowhere. Attempting to hide the plot for the entirety of the novel does not increase the impact of the finale. As the ending was abrupt, so the plot was rendered non-consequential.
The fails on firearms function and shooting were numerous. Take for instance the Glock handgun. You don’t oil a Glock, period. You don’t cup the hand holding the gun while bending the elbow to reduce recoil. In fact, this promotes uncontrolled recoil. At one point Pearce is ordered to look in the scree for the spent cases and ends up looking for rubber bullets. So……which is it? I know that if I tried to look for bullets of either the lead or rubber kind, that it would be impossible and non-profitable.
I liked the insulated future city and it’s vacuous inhabitants looking for the next rage. The evil underbelly of the city and the crazy AI complemented the characters and extended my interest while the desert dwellers (outside) lacked any formative development. The movement was not constrained on the outside, it just failed to provide the oft used vehicle to enhance and grow the characters. Jinx never really changed even though her circumstances were in constant motion.
This received fairly good reviews across the board and one reviewer likened van Tonder to Isaac Asimov, “re-inventing the genre”. I just can’t hop on the sycophantic van Tonder train as I just don’t see a 5 star work here. What I got was Mad Max’s uninteresting Bartertown + Logan’s porn Run= Compile: Quest with some rapey scenes thrown in.
Publishing Date: October 2014
ISBN: 4479836144008
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.4/5
Publishers Description: The omnipotent Phoenix was left in charge of running the domes and seeing to the needs of all the denizens residing within. And after everything that it has witnessed, after everything it has been tasked to do… it has become unstable. Hope takes the form of two women from disparate halves of this terrifying future Earth, each with their own personal vendettas and agendas. But how can such fragile creatures defy their adversaries?
Review: Well no one is speshul, so that’s a relief, although Peppermint flits around it’s edges. Yeah, Peppermint. Who the fuck is named Peppermint, or Maple. How about Onyx, Topaz, Aluminum (Alum) and Jasper? I guess 300 years into the future, naming conventions are standardized to represent a Logan’s Run type civilization, sheltered from the hideousness of reality.
Anywaaaay, this was pretty good writing coupled with a ho-hum storyline a dismal plot, average character development (that failed with the movement) and great world building. We have an encore appearance of Humongous from Mad Max playing the part of a God like leader in a stinky city. The issue I had with the storyline was that at times, it seemed formulaic. Almost like the author was relying on an often tried and true movie scene. The angry blaming Father, resentful son, mediator mom shtick wore thin as did Humongous/Bartertown. The plot goes nowhere. Attempting to hide the plot for the entirety of the novel does not increase the impact of the finale. As the ending was abrupt, so the plot was rendered non-consequential.
The fails on firearms function and shooting were numerous. Take for instance the Glock handgun. You don’t oil a Glock, period. You don’t cup the hand holding the gun while bending the elbow to reduce recoil. In fact, this promotes uncontrolled recoil. At one point Pearce is ordered to look in the scree for the spent cases and ends up looking for rubber bullets. So……which is it? I know that if I tried to look for bullets of either the lead or rubber kind, that it would be impossible and non-profitable.
I liked the insulated future city and it’s vacuous inhabitants looking for the next rage. The evil underbelly of the city and the crazy AI complemented the characters and extended my interest while the desert dwellers (outside) lacked any formative development. The movement was not constrained on the outside, it just failed to provide the oft used vehicle to enhance and grow the characters. Jinx never really changed even though her circumstances were in constant motion.
This received fairly good reviews across the board and one reviewer likened van Tonder to Isaac Asimov, “re-inventing the genre”. I just can’t hop on the sycophantic van Tonder train as I just don’t see a 5 star work here. What I got was Mad Max’s uninteresting Bartertown + Logan’s porn Run= Compile: Quest with some rapey scenes thrown in.
March 12, 2015
First, I loved that the story was set in South Africa. That made it interesting to me from the start.
Second, I loved that solar flares was the cause of destroying civilization, as we know it. Now this was believable as solar flares do disturb our daily communication today. I hate when SiFi novels are so out there it takes hours before you can get into the story. This was not the case with Compile:Quest. I was into it from the get-go.
Right away, the survivors run through a selection procedure, who will live and who might die outside the domed cities. Those who were not selection were to be deleted (very Nazi like thinking) but few escape to group together in caves and underground burrows like prairie dogs.
Centuries go up and the story tells of the evolution of new and very different societies; much like “Mad Max” and “The Time Machine” combined. One group lives hand to mouth. They must continually fight to survive and the strongest, most violent are the rulers. The other group have no worries, everything is given to them to survive. Life is just one party after another. A corporation runs their lives from creation to death.
The author speaks in “new age technology lingo” but I could understand what the items were and what their functions were. Great!
The well-developed characters have believable emotions and relationships to others. You start to care about one or two of them and hate the others :o)
I found it confusing a bit at times as the author jumps from one group to the other but that was most likely my fault and not the author’s.
I didn’t want the story to end so quickly … I will be picking up the next book in the series.
Second, I loved that solar flares was the cause of destroying civilization, as we know it. Now this was believable as solar flares do disturb our daily communication today. I hate when SiFi novels are so out there it takes hours before you can get into the story. This was not the case with Compile:Quest. I was into it from the get-go.
Right away, the survivors run through a selection procedure, who will live and who might die outside the domed cities. Those who were not selection were to be deleted (very Nazi like thinking) but few escape to group together in caves and underground burrows like prairie dogs.
Centuries go up and the story tells of the evolution of new and very different societies; much like “Mad Max” and “The Time Machine” combined. One group lives hand to mouth. They must continually fight to survive and the strongest, most violent are the rulers. The other group have no worries, everything is given to them to survive. Life is just one party after another. A corporation runs their lives from creation to death.
The author speaks in “new age technology lingo” but I could understand what the items were and what their functions were. Great!
The well-developed characters have believable emotions and relationships to others. You start to care about one or two of them and hate the others :o)
I found it confusing a bit at times as the author jumps from one group to the other but that was most likely my fault and not the author’s.
I didn’t want the story to end so quickly … I will be picking up the next book in the series.
July 25, 2016
Two women from two different parts of the African Continent. One of them, Peppermint, lives in the utopian dome that is controlled by the SUN Council. The other, Jinx, lives outside in the dystopian world. Through choices, and twists of fate, they find themselves tangled in a mess of insane change, brutality and obscenity, where everyone around them can be counted as an enemy.
I think the line between a 4-star and a 5 depends on the reader, and not the author. While this book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, that does not necessarily mean that there won't be those who love this.
I can't say I like the social structure that was displayed in the story. But in all honesty, the society the story is talking about isn't what most of us would consider idealistic, so that's a job-well-done to the author.
But the story was really good, the setting and location even better. I think this is one of the few (if not the only) science fictions that takes place in South Africa. That is a welcomed change, considering how every other science fictions, with the exception of the Ender's Shadow series, takes place in America. Ronel Van Tonder can write very detailed descriptions, and her story doesn't allow you to leave the book just because you don't like things here and there. Which is excellent, since I'm yearning to find out how the story unfolds in the next books.
I think the line between a 4-star and a 5 depends on the reader, and not the author. While this book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, that does not necessarily mean that there won't be those who love this.
I can't say I like the social structure that was displayed in the story. But in all honesty, the society the story is talking about isn't what most of us would consider idealistic, so that's a job-well-done to the author.
But the story was really good, the setting and location even better. I think this is one of the few (if not the only) science fictions that takes place in South Africa. That is a welcomed change, considering how every other science fictions, with the exception of the Ender's Shadow series, takes place in America. Ronel Van Tonder can write very detailed descriptions, and her story doesn't allow you to leave the book just because you don't like things here and there. Which is excellent, since I'm yearning to find out how the story unfolds in the next books.
June 13, 2016
There are several things that I really enjoyed about this book. I admit I saw the author posting about this on facebook and I was due to go on holiday, that meant I could read a book instead of an audiobook. :) so I purchased all three.
What I found in this book was a wonderful fully fleshed out world in a setting that I hadn't expected. South Africa for the most part. My cousins moved to SA when I was young and only recently came back to the UK so this held a lot of memories from their early years, which made this dystopian world seem all the more real.
It was a lot to read, but there were only a few spots that I thought the politics and scene settings got heavy. The characters were really fun, and from two very different sides of this world. They'd flawed, they have goals and the journey facing them even after this book I can see being very tough.
Both the MC's in here are wonderful. They both have distinct personalities and meld together bit like chalk and cheese would, but however they do unite for the greater good and it creates such a believable relationship that you can't help but adore the both of them, and of course want to kill the others.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope I can squeeze the second one in before I go back to work. :) many thanks and glad I saw this.
What I found in this book was a wonderful fully fleshed out world in a setting that I hadn't expected. South Africa for the most part. My cousins moved to SA when I was young and only recently came back to the UK so this held a lot of memories from their early years, which made this dystopian world seem all the more real.
It was a lot to read, but there were only a few spots that I thought the politics and scene settings got heavy. The characters were really fun, and from two very different sides of this world. They'd flawed, they have goals and the journey facing them even after this book I can see being very tough.
Both the MC's in here are wonderful. They both have distinct personalities and meld together bit like chalk and cheese would, but however they do unite for the greater good and it creates such a believable relationship that you can't help but adore the both of them, and of course want to kill the others.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope I can squeeze the second one in before I go back to work. :) many thanks and glad I saw this.
October 24, 2014
Compile Quest is a can't put down book that I loved reading. The characters are described in a way that makes them come alive in my mind.
The South African setting is done in a way that all SA citizens can relate to.
The story build up keeps you on the edge of your seat. I love the description of the futuristic technology. I cannot wait for the second and third book.
The South African setting is done in a way that all SA citizens can relate to.
The story build up keeps you on the edge of your seat. I love the description of the futuristic technology. I cannot wait for the second and third book.
December 29, 2014
When we think of the greats of the science fiction genre, the first name that comes to mind is Issac Asmiov. He reinvented the genre and gave us a lot of information to process.
When we find ourselves thinking of the greats in the next decade, we will inevitably mention Ronel van Tonder, whose debut novel Compile: Quest is a feast for the imagination.
The story centers around a world in turmoil, even though some of the inhabitants have no idea that things were not always this way.
You have your typical elements, like a corporation trying to control everyone, robots as personal assistants and vicious war raging behind the scenes. But you have your unique points, particularly that the hero isn't a hero: it's a heroine. Two of them, actually. The two women chosen by the author to stop the SUN Council and end the war are as different as night and day, yet offset each other perfectly.
This world she created is frightening and somehow beautiful in its strange, cybernetic way. I love the lifestyles with robots and medical pods, all the strange things that, in 2014, don't seem to be that fictional.
Reading this is like going into a virtual reality machine, actually, and you won't want to leave once you've entered.
5/5--a new age of sci-fi.
When we find ourselves thinking of the greats in the next decade, we will inevitably mention Ronel van Tonder, whose debut novel Compile: Quest is a feast for the imagination.
The story centers around a world in turmoil, even though some of the inhabitants have no idea that things were not always this way.
You have your typical elements, like a corporation trying to control everyone, robots as personal assistants and vicious war raging behind the scenes. But you have your unique points, particularly that the hero isn't a hero: it's a heroine. Two of them, actually. The two women chosen by the author to stop the SUN Council and end the war are as different as night and day, yet offset each other perfectly.
This world she created is frightening and somehow beautiful in its strange, cybernetic way. I love the lifestyles with robots and medical pods, all the strange things that, in 2014, don't seem to be that fictional.
Reading this is like going into a virtual reality machine, actually, and you won't want to leave once you've entered.
5/5--a new age of sci-fi.
July 21, 2016
Utopia and dystopia mixed together. We are invited to follow along the lives of inhabitants of the domes, who live in an utopian world; and the lives of the outsiders who live a dystopian lifestyle. The book is quite long, but I never got bored reading it. There's always some action going on. I always enjoy seeing how others envision the future. With the story continuing into book 2, we are left to wonder what happens next. A well written, fast paced book, that I highly recommend.
To point out the issues I had: there is a scene in the book that is in there twice. At first I thought I was hallucinating, but nope, it's in there twice. Later there is a reference to that very scene, so I don't know if it's intentional or not. I couldn't figure this out even when I finished the book. My second issue is... I read the description. But... that's not what the book is about... :) It may be what the trilogy is about, but the first book is about the last paragraph of the description. I was waiting for the first 3 paragraphs to at least be mentioned, but not a word about them.
These do not make the book any less enjoyable. So on a scale of 1 to 5, I give this book 4 and a half points. Great work!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
To point out the issues I had: there is a scene in the book that is in there twice. At first I thought I was hallucinating, but nope, it's in there twice. Later there is a reference to that very scene, so I don't know if it's intentional or not. I couldn't figure this out even when I finished the book. My second issue is... I read the description. But... that's not what the book is about... :) It may be what the trilogy is about, but the first book is about the last paragraph of the description. I was waiting for the first 3 paragraphs to at least be mentioned, but not a word about them.
These do not make the book any less enjoyable. So on a scale of 1 to 5, I give this book 4 and a half points. Great work!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2014
Well, this is something different! A dystopian / post-apocalyptic tale set in South Africa. I ate up the unusual setting, and I wish even more had been made of it.
In other ways, too, Compile:Quest differs from the common run of dystopian SF. It is ambitiously constructed, with a sprawling narrative driven by at least three main characters. That "at least" hints at my major nit with this novel: it was difficult to tell whose story this was, or in fact, *what* the story was, for the first 30%-40% of the book.
I stayed hooked, however, thanks to the delightfully annoying character of Peppermint, and the aforementioned unique setting. While the tropes of the domed city run by an almighty AI, and the neo-feudal survivors scratching out a meager subsistence on the outside, are well-worn in this genre, Ronel van Tonder gives them a richly detailed treatment that lifts Compile-Quest above the competition.
Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, the attention to detail overwhelmed the story at times. All in all, I think this would have been a better book if it were about 200 pages shorter, and had fewer viewpoint characters.
In other ways, too, Compile:Quest differs from the common run of dystopian SF. It is ambitiously constructed, with a sprawling narrative driven by at least three main characters. That "at least" hints at my major nit with this novel: it was difficult to tell whose story this was, or in fact, *what* the story was, for the first 30%-40% of the book.
I stayed hooked, however, thanks to the delightfully annoying character of Peppermint, and the aforementioned unique setting. While the tropes of the domed city run by an almighty AI, and the neo-feudal survivors scratching out a meager subsistence on the outside, are well-worn in this genre, Ronel van Tonder gives them a richly detailed treatment that lifts Compile-Quest above the competition.
Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, the attention to detail overwhelmed the story at times. All in all, I think this would have been a better book if it were about 200 pages shorter, and had fewer viewpoint characters.
October 23, 2014
I'm not usually a big fan of sci-fi novels or science fiction novels in general but I really enjoyed this book. I prefer stuff like Mass Effect which is faster and punchier - which this definitely is
I think it's because too often sci-fi novels are drawn into the epic scope of things but you lose the people in the process. This novel puts it's characters front and centre, introducing them from their humble beginnings all the way to their eventual confrontation.
I loved the setting a realistic futuristic world that wasn't too shiny or new, but really felt lived in. The opening sets the scene with a thundering disco and the heroine Peppermint. I immediately liked her (even though I was a little iffy on the name at first) who is a little down on her luck, but likeable and grows into her character as the story progresses.
A great first novel, though a little long, losing some of its momentum in the middle portion. The ending was fittingly epic.
Recommended for fans of sci-fi, for people who love to get sucked into a fully realized world.
I think it's because too often sci-fi novels are drawn into the epic scope of things but you lose the people in the process. This novel puts it's characters front and centre, introducing them from their humble beginnings all the way to their eventual confrontation.
I loved the setting a realistic futuristic world that wasn't too shiny or new, but really felt lived in. The opening sets the scene with a thundering disco and the heroine Peppermint. I immediately liked her (even though I was a little iffy on the name at first) who is a little down on her luck, but likeable and grows into her character as the story progresses.
A great first novel, though a little long, losing some of its momentum in the middle portion. The ending was fittingly epic.
Recommended for fans of sci-fi, for people who love to get sucked into a fully realized world.
October 13, 2015
The writing is competent. Unfortunately, even as the first act, or part of a first act, it's full of uninteresting, annoying characters all racing towards a boring, predictable plotline. The author also tries a little to hard to incorporate current trends into a cyberpunk framework, but fails to take into account that they are *trends*. And current. There is no real effort to extrapolate what they might seem like nearly 300 years in the future.
While the characters are dull and lifeless, I will give credit for the world-building itself; the setting seems primed for development and I could easily see it being a sourcebook for a post-apocalyptic RPG. But moderately interesting world-building isn't enough to hook me if I literally think every character would be better served being consumed by dingoes.
I wish the author well, and I'm sure this series is excellent for some readers. It just failed for me.
While the characters are dull and lifeless, I will give credit for the world-building itself; the setting seems primed for development and I could easily see it being a sourcebook for a post-apocalyptic RPG. But moderately interesting world-building isn't enough to hook me if I literally think every character would be better served being consumed by dingoes.
I wish the author well, and I'm sure this series is excellent for some readers. It just failed for me.
June 1, 2015
Those that like Dune, Hunger games and shows like Battlestar Galactica, Stargate and Haven... basically sci-fi lovers will enjoy this :D
Extremely vivid world and character building, i really felt like i was there with the characters watching them (like a psi ;)).
The book grabs you from the very first page (the afrikaans!) and i found it difficult to put it down and go to sleep.
So much detail but all written in a way that never feels like filler; i love it.
The story follows different groups and alternates between them, without being confusing.
The commentary on society (thoughts that many of us have) never feels heavy handed.
I don't want to spoil it for anyone so i'll just say that its a clever, witty and a VERY compelling read.
So looking forward to the next instalment.
I liked it so much that its now one of my favourite books!
Extremely vivid world and character building, i really felt like i was there with the characters watching them (like a psi ;)).
The book grabs you from the very first page (the afrikaans!) and i found it difficult to put it down and go to sleep.
So much detail but all written in a way that never feels like filler; i love it.
The story follows different groups and alternates between them, without being confusing.
The commentary on society (thoughts that many of us have) never feels heavy handed.
I don't want to spoil it for anyone so i'll just say that its a clever, witty and a VERY compelling read.
So looking forward to the next instalment.
I liked it so much that its now one of my favourite books!
February 15, 2015
I got a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Usually I don't read Science fiction and I'm not a great fan of book series where the story is continued endlessly and at the end of one book you don't get the satisfaction to have at least some answers to the main questions.
But this book was nethertheless surprisingly pleasant with it's vivid description of a future world devided in different societies, one quite archaic and the other seemingly democratic and futuristic.
All characters besides Peppermint and Jinx are ambiguous.
Although it is sci-fi there are no dreadful explanations, everything explains itself by their actions and the reader can easily imagine this not so unlikely future world.
I like this book and if the second one was published I would like to read it right now. But unfortunately I'll have to wait for the answers.
Usually I don't read Science fiction and I'm not a great fan of book series where the story is continued endlessly and at the end of one book you don't get the satisfaction to have at least some answers to the main questions.
But this book was nethertheless surprisingly pleasant with it's vivid description of a future world devided in different societies, one quite archaic and the other seemingly democratic and futuristic.
All characters besides Peppermint and Jinx are ambiguous.
Although it is sci-fi there are no dreadful explanations, everything explains itself by their actions and the reader can easily imagine this not so unlikely future world.
I like this book and if the second one was published I would like to read it right now. But unfortunately I'll have to wait for the answers.
December 11, 2014
I was provided a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Compile: Quest (#1 in The Corrupted SUN Script series) by Ronel van Tonder: This futuristic Sci-Fi tale allows you to follow along with several individuals and their lives in the year 2311 on the African Continent and their journey through the labyrinth of society to the kernel of truth. Tonder spins this amazing story filled with space-aged gadgets, mysteries and conspiracies.
In my humble opinion, I really liked this book. It is long, but well worth it. The characters were so varied and wonderful, each with their own backstories, and issues. The story moved at a nice pace and didn’t lag much. I would and have suggested this book to others.
Compile: Quest (#1 in The Corrupted SUN Script series) by Ronel van Tonder: This futuristic Sci-Fi tale allows you to follow along with several individuals and their lives in the year 2311 on the African Continent and their journey through the labyrinth of society to the kernel of truth. Tonder spins this amazing story filled with space-aged gadgets, mysteries and conspiracies.
In my humble opinion, I really liked this book. It is long, but well worth it. The characters were so varied and wonderful, each with their own backstories, and issues. The story moved at a nice pace and didn’t lag much. I would and have suggested this book to others.
December 4, 2014
Book was well written, organized, and imaginative. I liked that the author advanced the use of social media to a believable possibility. I liked the author’s development of futuristic technologies used by the characters in the story they are believable and recognizable by the reader. I liked that the author developed the possible advancement of the language so that it suited the storyline, for example, amazical, inception day, clustermates etc. It showed a natural development of the English language in the futuristic world. The plot was a little hard to follow and it lacks what I consider a viable conclusion or climax. Having said that, the book has a good story with lots of ‘getting even with the man’ action. It brings out the rebel in you.
May 26, 2015
As soon as the book started, I was in it.
And I do mean In. It.
I could not put it down.
Van Tonder is a phenomenal writer, crafting a story that causes the reader to not only ask questions as they following along on a journey of words that excites and thrills but also question their own questions.
From the first sentence, where the author writes of what looks to be a standard hostage situation, you want to keep reading even throughout the wee hours of the morning.
Trust me, I know.
I got no sleep until I hit the end which, by the way…Wow!
I don’t want to give away anything but I will say this: Normally, futuristic settings aren’t my first books of choice, but Ronel has not only opened me up to a whole new world of characters but a whole new genre.
And I do mean In. It.
I could not put it down.
Van Tonder is a phenomenal writer, crafting a story that causes the reader to not only ask questions as they following along on a journey of words that excites and thrills but also question their own questions.
From the first sentence, where the author writes of what looks to be a standard hostage situation, you want to keep reading even throughout the wee hours of the morning.
Trust me, I know.
I got no sleep until I hit the end which, by the way…Wow!
I don’t want to give away anything but I will say this: Normally, futuristic settings aren’t my first books of choice, but Ronel has not only opened me up to a whole new world of characters but a whole new genre.
October 12, 2016
Not a genre I am fond of reading I was still surprised and entertained by this world and the characters they inhabit.
Being a South African myself the beginning of the book with a few sentences in Afrikaans delighted me and at the same time I was impressed with the authors ability to seamlessly translate the few words so that not a single reader would be left in doubt as to what is happening.
I was also impressed by the sheer scope of this book, more in the tradition of a fantasy novel than a sci-fi and still the flow is such that the reader does not notice the lenght until near some of the major reveals.
Good talent and a fresh voice. If you like this genre then I would say go for it. It is well worth the read.
Being a South African myself the beginning of the book with a few sentences in Afrikaans delighted me and at the same time I was impressed with the authors ability to seamlessly translate the few words so that not a single reader would be left in doubt as to what is happening.
I was also impressed by the sheer scope of this book, more in the tradition of a fantasy novel than a sci-fi and still the flow is such that the reader does not notice the lenght until near some of the major reveals.
Good talent and a fresh voice. If you like this genre then I would say go for it. It is well worth the read.
February 17, 2015
#1 I loved the setting for this novel. AFRICA. This was very refreshing!
#2 Life inside the Dome and its dependence on the internet and social media was fascinating. #GLITCHES
I would have rated this 4 stars but I must confess Military sci-fi themes are not my cup of tea. I loved that our female outside the Dome was bad-ass. She could definitely give any of those guys a run for their money. But, I couldn't get into her story line no matter how hard I tried. I literally just wanted to get back to Peppermint, life inside the Dome, and exploring how oppressed this Utopian society really was. Definitely looking forward to exploring more from Ronel van Tonder.
#2 Life inside the Dome and its dependence on the internet and social media was fascinating. #GLITCHES
I would have rated this 4 stars but I must confess Military sci-fi themes are not my cup of tea. I loved that our female outside the Dome was bad-ass. She could definitely give any of those guys a run for their money. But, I couldn't get into her story line no matter how hard I tried. I literally just wanted to get back to Peppermint, life inside the Dome, and exploring how oppressed this Utopian society really was. Definitely looking forward to exploring more from Ronel van Tonder.
October 27, 2014
A fantastic read that kept me engrossed from start to finish. The outcomes of the various plots in the story are unpredictable and draw you in with your own assumptions making this an extremely interesting read.
Being the first part of a trilogy, I cannot wait for the remaining 2 books to be published.
I firmly believe that this story can form the basis for a good movie or television series script.
Being the first part of a trilogy, I cannot wait for the remaining 2 books to be published.
I firmly believe that this story can form the basis for a good movie or television series script.
January 5, 2015
Two female leads in a dystopian world whose hastily plastered utopian wallpaper is showing cracks.
What's not to love?
This book has shown me that there are authors outside of the USA and UK (my usual reading circles) that have the clear talent to write a story that can grip the imagination.
What's not to love?
This book has shown me that there are authors outside of the USA and UK (my usual reading circles) that have the clear talent to write a story that can grip the imagination.
April 19, 2016
It’s easy to become jaded with the plethora of Dystopian fiction knocking about right now. It feels like everything’s been done before, and a lot of newer authors seem reluctant to break the mould.
Enter South African author Ronel Van Tonder. Her novel Compile:Quest came across my desk recently, and having been hugely impressed with recent efforts from her fellow South Africans Lauren Beukes and Charlie Human, I was tempted to give this one a go.
Set in the distant future, Compile:Quest introduces a dystopian world where large numbers of the remaining population live in domed cities, segregated from those outside, largely controlled and manipulated by advanced technology and social media, seamlessly linking each “denizen” to each other, as well as the network owned by the mysterious SUN corporation.
When Peppermint, a denizen of the dome is called for what seems to be a routine medical exam, she is quickly ripped from her everyday life and subjected to testing in a secret facility. As she learns the reasons why, she makes a discovery that changes her life and unveils SUN's dark plans.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dome in a harsh wasteland where solar flares have forced survivors to live in squalor underground, Jinx, a soldier in the Rooivaik embarks on a mission to find the truth about her parents, while engaging in negotiations with another dangerous militia group.
The strength of Compile:Quest is in Van Tonder's prolific prose, each carefully constructed set piece expertly described in impressive detail. The technological elements are both believable and practical, and the narrative is gently peppered with South African colloquialisms, giving it an authentic voice and feel throughout, without being too obvious, and although there is a glossary provided at the end, most readers should be able to figure them out by the time they reach the conclusion.
Compile:Quest's combination of great storyline, edgy attitude and strong characterisations make for a riveting read, and will have the reader reaching straight for the next book in the series.
Enter South African author Ronel Van Tonder. Her novel Compile:Quest came across my desk recently, and having been hugely impressed with recent efforts from her fellow South Africans Lauren Beukes and Charlie Human, I was tempted to give this one a go.
Set in the distant future, Compile:Quest introduces a dystopian world where large numbers of the remaining population live in domed cities, segregated from those outside, largely controlled and manipulated by advanced technology and social media, seamlessly linking each “denizen” to each other, as well as the network owned by the mysterious SUN corporation.
When Peppermint, a denizen of the dome is called for what seems to be a routine medical exam, she is quickly ripped from her everyday life and subjected to testing in a secret facility. As she learns the reasons why, she makes a discovery that changes her life and unveils SUN's dark plans.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dome in a harsh wasteland where solar flares have forced survivors to live in squalor underground, Jinx, a soldier in the Rooivaik embarks on a mission to find the truth about her parents, while engaging in negotiations with another dangerous militia group.
The strength of Compile:Quest is in Van Tonder's prolific prose, each carefully constructed set piece expertly described in impressive detail. The technological elements are both believable and practical, and the narrative is gently peppered with South African colloquialisms, giving it an authentic voice and feel throughout, without being too obvious, and although there is a glossary provided at the end, most readers should be able to figure them out by the time they reach the conclusion.
Compile:Quest's combination of great storyline, edgy attitude and strong characterisations make for a riveting read, and will have the reader reaching straight for the next book in the series.
July 6, 2016
I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Compile Quest is a unique and interesting take on science fiction with a good mix of a Dystopian setting but also thrills and surprise throughout. Three hundred years after the world nearly ended it's on the verge of collapsing again. It's not like any other book I've read in the genre and it kept me entertained throughout.
The story immerses you into several different worlds with intriguing characters who have a different take on the world around them. Both women have different goals and backgrounds. They are very different characters but are both relatable and very well developed. I found myself intrigued by both Jinx and Peppermint's stories.
The SUN Corporation as well as the groups residing outside the domes protection add depth to the plot and further enhance the world building. There are many twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
Like many books that are a part of series there are still many questions that need to be answered. Lucky for me the next two books in the series are already out and will be added to my to-be-read list.
Compile Quest is a unique and interesting take on science fiction with a good mix of a Dystopian setting but also thrills and surprise throughout. Three hundred years after the world nearly ended it's on the verge of collapsing again. It's not like any other book I've read in the genre and it kept me entertained throughout.
The story immerses you into several different worlds with intriguing characters who have a different take on the world around them. Both women have different goals and backgrounds. They are very different characters but are both relatable and very well developed. I found myself intrigued by both Jinx and Peppermint's stories.
The SUN Corporation as well as the groups residing outside the domes protection add depth to the plot and further enhance the world building. There are many twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
Like many books that are a part of series there are still many questions that need to be answered. Lucky for me the next two books in the series are already out and will be added to my to-be-read list.
July 13, 2016
If Goodreads allowed me to give a book 5+ stars, then this would be the one. It is by far my favourite book in 2016. It has the delectable dichotomy of wanting to finish reading the book - to find out what happens - and not wanting to finish the book - due to not wanting it to end. My two favourite characters were Peppermint and Jinx but there are so many other wonderful characters, all struggling to exist in the imagination of the author. Alll I can say is Ronel Van Tonder STANDING O!
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