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Scorched
After a solar flare scorched the Earth and incinerated the atmosphere, survivors dug deep beneath the surface, discovering a new means of life where none had ever lived. Spec is an ordinary 16 year old residing underground in the Hive, a modern day colony where he and 73 other human beings survive. Every day is the same for Spec. Wake up. Mine for clay and insects. Sleep. That’s why he has decided to venture outside of the colony with his best friend, Cotta. Spec plans on going where there are no ceilings and no walls, a place where there are no barriers. He plans on going to the mythical surface.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2014
37 people are currently reading
1543 people want to read
About the author
Michael Soll
2 books286 followersMichael Soll was born in Woodland Hills, California. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied Political Science and International Relations.
In addition to writing novels, Michael is also an award-winning screenwriter. His feature If, Then won second prize in the PAGE Contest and was a top ten finalist in Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Contest, beating out thousands of scripts. He is also a finalist in the Austin Film festival and a three-time quarterfinalist in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship held by the Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In addition to writing novels, Michael is also an award-winning screenwriter. His feature If, Then won second prize in the PAGE Contest and was a top ten finalist in Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Contest, beating out thousands of scripts. He is also a finalist in the Austin Film festival and a three-time quarterfinalist in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship held by the Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 19, 2016
(My first ever win from a Goodreads Giveaway!)
*Inhales deeply* Okay, here we go.
Though the cover and title showed promise, I mistakenly gathered that it was for a younger audience. When in actuality it is far more mature in nature, most certainly YA. The description on the back of the book showed potential but fell way short. It had many sexual scenes which was surprising since the writing style and tone of the book seemed juvenile.
The plot of the book is about a boy of 16 who wishes to see the earth's surface, whereas he has lived his whole life underground because of a solar flare that killed everyone and everything many years before he was born. Sounds promising. But the whole book had untapped potential and I felt was underdeveloped.
The characters felt two dimensional as well. I felt like I was simply told who they were and there was no character development. The entire book the main character, Spec, questions everything. What life is about, how one action can destroy everything, what it really means to believe in something. Which is fine, but I felt like he droned on and on about this for the entire book. It got annoying, really.
In the book, there's currently three women in the colony who are "Breeders". A breeder has her period once and since "her body is ready" she is immediately impregnated by a man, never to have a period again, or until she dies. This didn't sit right with me for many reasons. There are 73 people in the Colony, and I don't quite remember the average of how many children each "Breeder" has. But with only so many people in the colony, and most of them having the same mother, would they not eventually inbreed?
Overall, I had to force myself to finish the book. I cannot get past how the book had such mature content. Sex, cannibalism, and murder, and yet the feeling of the book, the tone, the writing style, was the exact opposite.
Rest assured though, that in 2032(?), boys still draw renditions of their genitalia on the walls.
*Inhales deeply* Okay, here we go.
Though the cover and title showed promise, I mistakenly gathered that it was for a younger audience. When in actuality it is far more mature in nature, most certainly YA. The description on the back of the book showed potential but fell way short. It had many sexual scenes which was surprising since the writing style and tone of the book seemed juvenile.
The plot of the book is about a boy of 16 who wishes to see the earth's surface, whereas he has lived his whole life underground because of a solar flare that killed everyone and everything many years before he was born. Sounds promising. But the whole book had untapped potential and I felt was underdeveloped.
The characters felt two dimensional as well. I felt like I was simply told who they were and there was no character development. The entire book the main character, Spec, questions everything. What life is about, how one action can destroy everything, what it really means to believe in something. Which is fine, but I felt like he droned on and on about this for the entire book. It got annoying, really.
In the book, there's currently three women in the colony who are "Breeders". A breeder has her period once and since "her body is ready" she is immediately impregnated by a man, never to have a period again, or until she dies. This didn't sit right with me for many reasons. There are 73 people in the Colony, and I don't quite remember the average of how many children each "Breeder" has. But with only so many people in the colony, and most of them having the same mother, would they not eventually inbreed?
Overall, I had to force myself to finish the book. I cannot get past how the book had such mature content. Sex, cannibalism, and murder, and yet the feeling of the book, the tone, the writing style, was the exact opposite.
Rest assured though, that in 2032(?), boys still draw renditions of their genitalia on the walls.
Read
June 16, 2015Surprisingly good!
I must admit the cover wasn't very appealing to me. (My apologizes to the artist.) So I really did not think the book would be very good. I was pleasantly surprised! Although, some spots where a bit gory for me and the romance did not show up until 80%ish of the book. (And I tend to enjoy Romantic books!) But, the story was so interesting I really didn't miss it. I hope that Michael Soll continues this story I would love to know what happens next. (I don't like to give away anything in the book. I hate when others ruin a book for me. So, I refuse to do that to anyone!) I am very happy I looked beyond the cover!
I must admit the cover wasn't very appealing to me. (My apologizes to the artist.) So I really did not think the book would be very good. I was pleasantly surprised! Although, some spots where a bit gory for me and the romance did not show up until 80%ish of the book. (And I tend to enjoy Romantic books!) But, the story was so interesting I really didn't miss it. I hope that Michael Soll continues this story I would love to know what happens next. (I don't like to give away anything in the book. I hate when others ruin a book for me. So, I refuse to do that to anyone!) I am very happy I looked beyond the cover!
December 24, 2014
As is very often always the case, I received this book free in exchange for a review. Despite the kindness of receiving a free book I'm absolutely candid about the book because I want everyone to know what they're getting as much as I hope to when I'm shopping.
The nutshell of this is fairly straightforward. The Earth has been decimated by a solar flare and all the human world has moved under ground to isolated miniature cities of a few dozen people. All goes on in this vein until one teenage boy decides to explore...
To the positive side, the story is laced with all manner of deep philosophical points. The author clearly has a political and psychological statement to make and he explores the deepest topics of the human condition including religion, moral relativism and how our environment shapes who we are and how we think. Thematically this is science fiction at its most relevant and reminded me a bit of Gulliver's Travels. (Not the Gulliver's Travels you see depicted in movies, the original text of Gulliver's Travels)
To the negative, the book has intense problems with cohesion, believability and even grammar. In the first area of cohesion, the story skips profoundly from section to section and transitions are often erratic or missing entirely. Further, the story is far from believable as everything just comes along much too conveniently. The text reads like something for middle school students until you happen across a reference to sex or gratuitous violence. Lastly, the book needs a sound and thorough editing. Word choices are sometimes clumsy, sometimes just wrong and often words are just omitted altogether. Those who are easily distracted by a book that falls afoul of proper mechanics are warned to stay far away.
In summary, there's a nugget of great apocalypse fiction here but it needs a lot of work. From the textual construction to the ending (it ends in exactly the way you expect after reading the first ten pages so that's not really a spoiler) the book just suffers profoundly. However it's rescued somewhat because it's got a point which it's not afraid to pound home. That point just needs to be a lot more polished.
The nutshell of this is fairly straightforward. The Earth has been decimated by a solar flare and all the human world has moved under ground to isolated miniature cities of a few dozen people. All goes on in this vein until one teenage boy decides to explore...
To the positive side, the story is laced with all manner of deep philosophical points. The author clearly has a political and psychological statement to make and he explores the deepest topics of the human condition including religion, moral relativism and how our environment shapes who we are and how we think. Thematically this is science fiction at its most relevant and reminded me a bit of Gulliver's Travels. (Not the Gulliver's Travels you see depicted in movies, the original text of Gulliver's Travels)
To the negative, the book has intense problems with cohesion, believability and even grammar. In the first area of cohesion, the story skips profoundly from section to section and transitions are often erratic or missing entirely. Further, the story is far from believable as everything just comes along much too conveniently. The text reads like something for middle school students until you happen across a reference to sex or gratuitous violence. Lastly, the book needs a sound and thorough editing. Word choices are sometimes clumsy, sometimes just wrong and often words are just omitted altogether. Those who are easily distracted by a book that falls afoul of proper mechanics are warned to stay far away.
In summary, there's a nugget of great apocalypse fiction here but it needs a lot of work. From the textual construction to the ending (it ends in exactly the way you expect after reading the first ten pages so that's not really a spoiler) the book just suffers profoundly. However it's rescued somewhat because it's got a point which it's not afraid to pound home. That point just needs to be a lot more polished.
October 27, 2016
Enjoyed this..the various strata of tunneled out earth gave the author a new way to explore the various echelons of society. Main character Spec was presented as an astute observer although the author did switch to other character views to tell the story. A fast read.
March 16, 2016
I'm going to cut to the chase here: I love this book. I was going into it expecting one thing and got something (for the most part) else.
The story takes place in the future where humans have moved underground. What caused this you ask? Well you see the sun decided to send a little thing called a solar flare to Earth and scorch everything on it. Not a happy event, is it.
We meet Spec, who is just one individual in a small hive of people. There's only about seventy-two people of this here hive and out of them there is three breeders. Their job? You guessed it: breed.
One of the up and coming breeders is a fourteen year old girl name Kaolin. She seems very interested in watching Spec from a distance while she waits to mature into a breeder. Spec also has a friend name Cotta.
The two friends dig to collect food and supplies for their community. However, for the past year they have been digging slowly but surely a break in a wall that leads to what is known as the old hive (a giant earthquake destroyed it and this group of people built the current hive). The plan (Spec's dream) is to try and get to the surface of Earth.
When they enact their plan, Kaolin follows them and eventually she joins the pair (they don't want her along). Events happen and they are cut off from the hive. When Spec has an accident dealing with water, the story changes perspective.
The book has a lot of themes and ideas running through it. One is love; finding it, possibly losing it and losing it. What intrigued me was the idea of our place in the world (or the universe). Spec spends a great deal of time pondering this (and other characters).
Another thing that was nice was the idea of what is truly right and wrong. From one person's perspective, they are right, but from another person's...well, you get the point. (Also, who the civilized one and who isn't, if there really is one to begin with.)
The author doesn't shy away from using gross descriptions which brings this up to a mature YA. (Can anyone say cannibalism?)
The story shifts perspectives a couple of times and it was a nice touch to the overall narrative. Even so, if there is one complaint I had it would be that some of the characters thinking became a little drawn out (although, it did get a lot deeper as it went along). However, it didn't detract from my experience of reading.
Like I said at the beginning, I loved this book. I had a great time with the ride. It truly did what science fiction is supposed to do and made me wonder about its ideas. I recommend this tale to any one.
The story takes place in the future where humans have moved underground. What caused this you ask? Well you see the sun decided to send a little thing called a solar flare to Earth and scorch everything on it. Not a happy event, is it.
We meet Spec, who is just one individual in a small hive of people. There's only about seventy-two people of this here hive and out of them there is three breeders. Their job? You guessed it: breed.
One of the up and coming breeders is a fourteen year old girl name Kaolin. She seems very interested in watching Spec from a distance while she waits to mature into a breeder. Spec also has a friend name Cotta.
The two friends dig to collect food and supplies for their community. However, for the past year they have been digging slowly but surely a break in a wall that leads to what is known as the old hive (a giant earthquake destroyed it and this group of people built the current hive). The plan (Spec's dream) is to try and get to the surface of Earth.
When they enact their plan, Kaolin follows them and eventually she joins the pair (they don't want her along). Events happen and they are cut off from the hive. When Spec has an accident dealing with water, the story changes perspective.
The book has a lot of themes and ideas running through it. One is love; finding it, possibly losing it and losing it. What intrigued me was the idea of our place in the world (or the universe). Spec spends a great deal of time pondering this (and other characters).
Another thing that was nice was the idea of what is truly right and wrong. From one person's perspective, they are right, but from another person's...well, you get the point. (Also, who the civilized one and who isn't, if there really is one to begin with.)
The author doesn't shy away from using gross descriptions which brings this up to a mature YA. (Can anyone say cannibalism?)
The story shifts perspectives a couple of times and it was a nice touch to the overall narrative. Even so, if there is one complaint I had it would be that some of the characters thinking became a little drawn out (although, it did get a lot deeper as it went along). However, it didn't detract from my experience of reading.
Like I said at the beginning, I loved this book. I had a great time with the ride. It truly did what science fiction is supposed to do and made me wonder about its ideas. I recommend this tale to any one.
November 21, 2014
This book had some interesting ideas, and it did a nice job of world building with contrasting cultures and societies. However, the narrative voice was extremely dry and there was a lot more “telling” rather than “showing” so it was hard for me to really get emotionally invested in the story. The different characters’ voices weren’t distinctive enough to be interesting to me either. I felt fairly detached towards everyone throughout the entire book. If there had been more time spent on the characters interacting and building relationships rather than philosophical internal monologues I probably would have enjoyed it more. I’ll admit that the main reason I chose to read this book is because I found it advertised on a blog with the tag of being ‘queer lit.’ There was a component of the story that did comply with that label, but it was brief and extremely unsatisfying. My interest dropped significantly about halfway through the book when it became clear that an lgbt theme was not the point of the story. In spite of that disappointment it did manage to be interesting enough that I kept reading. Most of the chapters end with cliffhangers so it does a pretty good job keeping the reader engaged.
October 13, 2016
For me a brilliant book. Description of the different societies and how they handle survival conditions. Also how all the colonies have adjusted and their approach to keeping alive.
First deep down in earth in the pods or hives, then the next level but still underground and finally when Spec and Kaolin reach the earths surface. Would love a sequel, but does not seem available as yet.
First deep down in earth in the pods or hives, then the next level but still underground and finally when Spec and Kaolin reach the earths surface. Would love a sequel, but does not seem available as yet.
November 17, 2019
A timeless story
I needed a change and a storyline which caught my attention. This achieved it. Focusing on the three people and how the individuals responded to the differences made this a positive read.
I needed a change and a storyline which caught my attention. This achieved it. Focusing on the three people and how the individuals responded to the differences made this a positive read.
March 25, 2015
"Scorched" by Michael Soll is a gritty dystopian novel that begins with the survival of humanity underground after a solar flare incinerated the atmosphere and baked the Earth, killing all life. In the Hive deep underground Spec and his friend Cotta tunnel through the dirt looking for clay and insects everyday; their lives routine and empty. When the story opens Spec who dreams about exploring beyond the confines of the Hive ventures into an Ancient Tunnel, accompanied by his friend as well as frustrated when Koalin a young breeder tags along. In an adventure that will take them upwards towards the surface, the three will find their life of ignorance transformed, and the changes not always better as they discover other more enlightened colonies.
Michael Soll brings to life three underground civilizations - the Hive, Newbury and the NaNas- all restricted in some way by prejudice, ignorance or a lack of tolerance. In the violence, cannibalism and injustices so prevalent in the three societies the author creatively sends clear philosophical reflections on human beliefs and perceptions. I found the story imaginative, thought-provoking and intriguing, but not very realistic.
Although the events of the story flow quickly, there is a loss of continuity when the narration abruptly changes from Spec to Joey and then to Valasca, although I believe this is to give insight into a Newbury and NaNa viewpoint. The story is action-packed especially with their escape from the Hive as well as the violence and war that breaks out between the NaNas and the Newburyians, but there is a lack in background detail as well as no gradual buildup in tension and suspense. Romance inexplicably blossoms between Spec and Kaolin, and Valasca and Cotta but without any indication why.
Spec is the sixteen year old Hive dweller who wants to escape his mundane and restrictive existence, to explore the tunnels and find a route to the mythical surface. He's determined, a risk-taker who's restless, wanting a change. Cotta, Spec's friend is a follower, easily accepting Spec's decision to search for a way through the tunnels. After meeting Valasca his allegiance changes, adopting the NaNa lifestyle, and their warrior fighting skills. Like Spec, Kaolin feels constrained by the Hive culture and wants the freedom and independence to make her own decisions. She rebels in Newbury and resents the NaNa way of life. Although I found the characters interesting their personalities and motivations were often unclear.
I liked "Scorched" finding it innovative, imaginative and its messages about society very relevant even today. I believe Michael Soll's writing skills will mature with each new novel and that he is a writer to be watched in future. I would rate this book slightly higher than a 3.0 if the scale allowed.
Michael Soll brings to life three underground civilizations - the Hive, Newbury and the NaNas- all restricted in some way by prejudice, ignorance or a lack of tolerance. In the violence, cannibalism and injustices so prevalent in the three societies the author creatively sends clear philosophical reflections on human beliefs and perceptions. I found the story imaginative, thought-provoking and intriguing, but not very realistic.
Although the events of the story flow quickly, there is a loss of continuity when the narration abruptly changes from Spec to Joey and then to Valasca, although I believe this is to give insight into a Newbury and NaNa viewpoint. The story is action-packed especially with their escape from the Hive as well as the violence and war that breaks out between the NaNas and the Newburyians, but there is a lack in background detail as well as no gradual buildup in tension and suspense. Romance inexplicably blossoms between Spec and Kaolin, and Valasca and Cotta but without any indication why.
Spec is the sixteen year old Hive dweller who wants to escape his mundane and restrictive existence, to explore the tunnels and find a route to the mythical surface. He's determined, a risk-taker who's restless, wanting a change. Cotta, Spec's friend is a follower, easily accepting Spec's decision to search for a way through the tunnels. After meeting Valasca his allegiance changes, adopting the NaNa lifestyle, and their warrior fighting skills. Like Spec, Kaolin feels constrained by the Hive culture and wants the freedom and independence to make her own decisions. She rebels in Newbury and resents the NaNa way of life. Although I found the characters interesting their personalities and motivations were often unclear.
I liked "Scorched" finding it innovative, imaginative and its messages about society very relevant even today. I believe Michael Soll's writing skills will mature with each new novel and that he is a writer to be watched in future. I would rate this book slightly higher than a 3.0 if the scale allowed.
August 25, 2015
I really enjoyed this book! I can be so jaded having read so many books over my lifetime so finding this was a great pleasure. It was very different and I loved the descriptions of how people had adapted to life underground. I would have liked deeper and more thorough descriptions because I was never quite able to visualize their surroundings. But Scorched did hold my attention and I wouldn't mind reading a sequel because I enjoyed the characters and want to know how they fared. I'm trying not to put spoilers. It is an inexpensive read so I feel like folk should give it a chance. I did not think of it as a YA book, because some of the subject matter was somewhat delicate in nature. No hard core sex, just ways in which the denizens under the earth now survived. I recommend this book for adults, very different in many ways.
September 27, 2015
I really enjoy post apocalyptic books. While this books focus is on a character named Spec, It also gives the reader various perspectives on the events through two other characters. Three seperate groups of people living in isolated portions of an underground cavern system, evolve three completely different sets of values based on their needs and resources. When thrust into contact with each other these differences lead to conflict, reflecting conflicts that currently take place in todays societies. I hope to see more of the scorched universe in the future.
April 17, 2015
loved it, simply put. deeper and more existential than I expected from this genre. I'm not a professional critic, just a chick who loves to read and I tore through this in one day. Kinda hoping for a follow up, wondering what happens next for Spec and friend :)
June 19, 2017
This book surprised me. Post-apocalyptic, humanity has devolved into tribes living underground. The differences in the societies they build are stark. Three teens find their way through three tribes and try to cope with the differences. Reminds me of the philosophy of Spiral Dynamics.
Want to read
August 2, 2015This books sounds sooooo good. It's unique unlike any other dystopian book I read before and I just..... CANT WAIT TO READ IT!
August 26, 2015
Great story
Loved the characters. Loved the story line. Loved the deep thoughts of Spec. I even liked that the author didn't shy away from the inevitable cannibalism.
Loved the characters. Loved the story line. Loved the deep thoughts of Spec. I even liked that the author didn't shy away from the inevitable cannibalism.
January 17, 2025
I read this book years ago, when the author gave me a copy. Legitimately pleasant dystopian fiction. I read it in my teens so I’m not sure how to properly place on the spectrum of YA fiction vs more general audience fiction, but I remember being pleased with the the way the story moved and developed.
July 6, 2020
Enjoyed this but it is definitely focused for a young adult audience.
December 28, 2015
A post-apocalyptic story that is a tribute to the human capability for survival
The greatest of all natural disasters has taken place on Earth, a massive solar flare erupted and incinerated the entire surface of the planet. Even the atmosphere was almost totally vaporized, there were only a few human survivors, only those protected by being underground lived through it. Many of those people died shortly after that due to lack of food. However, a few people managed to survive by tunneling even deeper and finding unusual food sources.
As is always the case with humans, different colonies arise that are at odds with each other. Each of them developed their own customs and tactics they use for survival. One common characteristic is that all resources are used, for example when someone dies their bodies are dismembered and eaten by the community. Enemies that are killed in battle are also used as food. The story is narrated by several different characters, the first one is a male called Spec. In his colony, he mines for clay that is used in building.
Like human youth everywhere, Spec is unsettled, with a powerful desire to discover what exists outside his small universe. He enlists his male friend Cotta to accompany him in his quest to reach the surface. They depart and are followed by the female Kaolin, she is discovered too late to send her back in the dark. Kaolin is a female designated as a mother, a woman that will be sequentially bred to produce the children of the colony. When she menstruates for the first time during their journey the blood is saved and eaten.
This sets in motion a series of events where Spec, Cotta and Kaolin are exposed to other colonies with different customs and tactics used for survival. Soll does a very good job in developing these different societies, each adapted to take advantage of the resources that exist at their level. There is no reluctance to avoid any survival mechanism, including the keeping of humans in cages as future food. Even placentas are consumed as community food, breast milk is also consumed by the community and is considered one of the best of delicacies.
The story is a combination of dark and hopeful, many people die horrible deaths in the battles between the communities, in many ways these battles to the death of a colony are triggered by the movement of Spec, Cotta and Kaolin out of their community. At the end, there is a point of unresolved hope. It is a story that keeps your interest, even though it is a very dark tale premised on the death of billions.
This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review also appears on Amazon
The greatest of all natural disasters has taken place on Earth, a massive solar flare erupted and incinerated the entire surface of the planet. Even the atmosphere was almost totally vaporized, there were only a few human survivors, only those protected by being underground lived through it. Many of those people died shortly after that due to lack of food. However, a few people managed to survive by tunneling even deeper and finding unusual food sources.
As is always the case with humans, different colonies arise that are at odds with each other. Each of them developed their own customs and tactics they use for survival. One common characteristic is that all resources are used, for example when someone dies their bodies are dismembered and eaten by the community. Enemies that are killed in battle are also used as food. The story is narrated by several different characters, the first one is a male called Spec. In his colony, he mines for clay that is used in building.
Like human youth everywhere, Spec is unsettled, with a powerful desire to discover what exists outside his small universe. He enlists his male friend Cotta to accompany him in his quest to reach the surface. They depart and are followed by the female Kaolin, she is discovered too late to send her back in the dark. Kaolin is a female designated as a mother, a woman that will be sequentially bred to produce the children of the colony. When she menstruates for the first time during their journey the blood is saved and eaten.
This sets in motion a series of events where Spec, Cotta and Kaolin are exposed to other colonies with different customs and tactics used for survival. Soll does a very good job in developing these different societies, each adapted to take advantage of the resources that exist at their level. There is no reluctance to avoid any survival mechanism, including the keeping of humans in cages as future food. Even placentas are consumed as community food, breast milk is also consumed by the community and is considered one of the best of delicacies.
The story is a combination of dark and hopeful, many people die horrible deaths in the battles between the communities, in many ways these battles to the death of a colony are triggered by the movement of Spec, Cotta and Kaolin out of their community. At the end, there is a point of unresolved hope. It is a story that keeps your interest, even though it is a very dark tale premised on the death of billions.
This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review also appears on Amazon
September 8, 2020
This was fabulous!
Great characters, wonderful story and well thought-out ending! I highly recommend this book. It kept me fascinated from page 1 to the end!
Great characters, wonderful story and well thought-out ending! I highly recommend this book. It kept me fascinated from page 1 to the end!
April 23, 2015
So, let me start off by saying I was EXTREMELY excited to start reading this book, I really enjoy post-apocalyptic/dystopian YA books, so when I read the description of Scorched, I immediately moved it up on my To-Read list...
"This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper."- T.S. Elliot. This is a perfect summary of my reaction to this book, I was expecting a bang, but got a whimper.
Though my biggest problem with the book was the cannibalism (be it eating the people or consuming their blood, breast milk or brains. I don't care if you're Hannibal Lecter or eating your dead for survival, that's just gross.) The story was beautiful. I especially loved the Epilogue.
"I want something new. I want something I've never seen or heard or imagined. I want a spark. I want to be ignited. I want my flesh scorched and imagination set ablaze."
Overall, this is the story of a young boy who wants to break his normal routine and see what he's been told is impossible. It's the story of his adventure with his best friend and a young girl as they make their way to the scorched surface of Earth and the obstacles they encounter along the way.
"This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper."- T.S. Elliot. This is a perfect summary of my reaction to this book, I was expecting a bang, but got a whimper.
Though my biggest problem with the book was the cannibalism (be it eating the people or consuming their blood, breast milk or brains. I don't care if you're Hannibal Lecter or eating your dead for survival, that's just gross.) The story was beautiful. I especially loved the Epilogue.
"I want something new. I want something I've never seen or heard or imagined. I want a spark. I want to be ignited. I want my flesh scorched and imagination set ablaze."
Overall, this is the story of a young boy who wants to break his normal routine and see what he's been told is impossible. It's the story of his adventure with his best friend and a young girl as they make their way to the scorched surface of Earth and the obstacles they encounter along the way.
May 10, 2015
I received this book from Goodreads!
Three stars to Scorched by Michael Soll!
Its safe to say I enjoyed the whole book by how fast I devoured it. Once I picked it up there just wasn't any putting it down. The writing is detailed enough to paint the pictures but also simple enough to make the imagination soar. The characters are unique and interesting. The plot fast paced and the action gory. Sometimes I was even pleasantly grossed out.
So why only three stars?
The ending. And most of the last few chapters.
It went from fast and intriguing to slow and drawn out. Right smack in the middle of the action, a three page monolog of inner thoughts appears. This happens more then once and only increases closer to the end of the book.
Besides the previous, my only other qualm is the character development. Spec is obsessive about seeing the surface but that instantly disappears because of Kaolin? It (and others) just popped out of nowhere and didn't seem to fit with the storyline. Not cool. I had super high expectations for Scorched.
Three stars to Scorched by Michael Soll!
Its safe to say I enjoyed the whole book by how fast I devoured it. Once I picked it up there just wasn't any putting it down. The writing is detailed enough to paint the pictures but also simple enough to make the imagination soar. The characters are unique and interesting. The plot fast paced and the action gory. Sometimes I was even pleasantly grossed out.
So why only three stars?
The ending. And most of the last few chapters.
It went from fast and intriguing to slow and drawn out. Right smack in the middle of the action, a three page monolog of inner thoughts appears. This happens more then once and only increases closer to the end of the book.
Besides the previous, my only other qualm is the character development. Spec is obsessive about seeing the surface but that instantly disappears because of Kaolin? It (and others) just popped out of nowhere and didn't seem to fit with the storyline. Not cool. I had super high expectations for Scorched.
January 3, 2015
there is a lot of truly interesting stuff here, especially in terms of how the first of the three societies we encounter has managed to survive. unfortunately there is too much not to like, chief among which is a main character who, apart from a desire to explore that sets him and two others on a journey into the unknown, is largely passive.
also, I am still irritated by the logical inconsistencies of the first colony- such as the fact that there are 75 people and spec has around 20 siblings and there are three "breeders" who would probably give birth at the same rate... surely the population would be larger? and also wow how have they not all died due to inbreeding if only three women are having all the babies? and why is that even the case? logically there should be roughly the same amount of each gender...
still, I liked the initial exploration of the world, and enjoyed specs first experience with water
also, I am still irritated by the logical inconsistencies of the first colony- such as the fact that there are 75 people and spec has around 20 siblings and there are three "breeders" who would probably give birth at the same rate... surely the population would be larger? and also wow how have they not all died due to inbreeding if only three women are having all the babies? and why is that even the case? logically there should be roughly the same amount of each gender...
still, I liked the initial exploration of the world, and enjoyed specs first experience with water
November 1, 2015
I rather liked it. It was deliciously brutal. There were some aspects I did not care for. The writing itself was fine. I didn't find myself taken out of the story from spelling or grammatical errors.
Yes, there is some brutality. Consider the fact that humans have been living underground for some time and must do what they must do to survive.
There were some concepts in this story that really make you think. Smartly written and thought provoking.
I felt the ending was rushed, hence the four, rather than five, stars. I recommend it for postapocalypse fans who like their tales taking place underground.
Yes, there is some brutality. Consider the fact that humans have been living underground for some time and must do what they must do to survive.
There were some concepts in this story that really make you think. Smartly written and thought provoking.
I felt the ending was rushed, hence the four, rather than five, stars. I recommend it for postapocalypse fans who like their tales taking place underground.
January 17, 2016
After buying this book on Kindle I was just going to read the first chapter before I went to sleep. I have to admit that an hour later I was over 60 pages into the book.
I have never been drawn into a book that quickly in a long time. I felt so many of the emotions of the characters and found myself many times nodding my head in agreement and highlighting passages to come back to later.
This is a wonderful book : Well written, with much to think about after reading it for sure.
Thank you for the time you put into writing it, it was well worth the time you took.
I have never been drawn into a book that quickly in a long time. I felt so many of the emotions of the characters and found myself many times nodding my head in agreement and highlighting passages to come back to later.
This is a wonderful book : Well written, with much to think about after reading it for sure.
Thank you for the time you put into writing it, it was well worth the time you took.
November 24, 2014
I loved this book. I was really immersed in the world of these underground societies. I felt like I connected with the main character Spec the most. He's a thinker and he's always looking up. "As they say, the surface is the limit." I enjoyed the love story element and feelings of first falling in love, especially for someone who thinks like Spec. This book kept me reading at the end of each chapter because of the cliff hangers!! Great ending. Will recommend to my friends.
October 28, 2015
This is a philosophical tale all tied up in a post apocalyptic world. Different societies have survived a world ending event only to battle each other. The theme of whose truth is the real truth seems to be a continuous struggle for Spec. How do you reconcile your truth with someone else's truth.
This is a beautifully written story with a definite dark feeling.
This is a beautifully written story with a definite dark feeling.
April 24, 2015
I thought this was a really good book. At the beginning I really didn't like it, but as the book progressed, I got into it. It had a really good ending-though I think the epilogue should have been like 6 months later or something like that. It was gross at the beginning with all the cannibals, but the book was good enough that it fit and I overlooked it. I really enjoyed Scorched.
July 17, 2015
A truly griping novel about civilization and new worlds.....filled with hope and despair...love and hate....Michael Soll masterfully brings several points of view together to show a three hundred and sixty degree view of the world he created. I could not put this book down. I found my self gasping for air and reaching for the surface right alongside spec....just a beautiful piece of work.
November 30, 2015
Great entertainment
I enjoy a good "underground civilization" story. That's what this is. Some people who were innocent & learned & transformed as they grew up & learned customs from different societies. They always had their eyes on their ultimate goal & wondered if they would ever make it.
I enjoy a good "underground civilization" story. That's what this is. Some people who were innocent & learned & transformed as they grew up & learned customs from different societies. They always had their eyes on their ultimate goal & wondered if they would ever make it.
June 27, 2015
This book is a great thrill that will have you turning the pages to read more! A roller coaster of feelings that you will have you loving the outcome. Got this book for free off of Goodreads First Reads.
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