What do you think?
Rate this book
Ripped Ties #1
Beacon
Tsunamis reduced the USA into a shell of itself, called The Fold. Surviving humans and vampires joined forces to form The Colony, where registered citizens do as they're told.
They donate blood quarterly and dream of being chosen as Attendees for the Jubilee celebrations, that is, everyone except Macie Breen. With high school graduation near, she’s anxious to ditch the rules in hopes of starting a new life with Thane, an unregistered and also her best friend.
Her hopes fizzle when Macie is selected as an Attendee, forever registered. Any future with Thane…impossible. Being chosen comes with another unexpected price.
Truths about The Colony blaze into ashes and lies when she discovers the vampires haven't kept their part of the bargain. Worst still, Macie’s life unravels as her stint in the city of Bliss forces her to face daunting truths about who, and what, she really is.
14+ due to violence and adult situations
They donate blood quarterly and dream of being chosen as Attendees for the Jubilee celebrations, that is, everyone except Macie Breen. With high school graduation near, she’s anxious to ditch the rules in hopes of starting a new life with Thane, an unregistered and also her best friend.
Her hopes fizzle when Macie is selected as an Attendee, forever registered. Any future with Thane…impossible. Being chosen comes with another unexpected price.
Truths about The Colony blaze into ashes and lies when she discovers the vampires haven't kept their part of the bargain. Worst still, Macie’s life unravels as her stint in the city of Bliss forces her to face daunting truths about who, and what, she really is.
14+ due to violence and adult situations
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2014
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Angela Brown
12 books274 followersBorn and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home.
Reading and writing have been lifelong passions. It was around the time she gave birth to her forever-love, nicknamed Chipmunk, that she really took writing seriously. After all, how could she teach her child to follow her dreams if she hadn't tried herself?
As a YA fantasy/sci-fi reader and author, she favors the magical, mysterious, the darker side of life...even harbors a secret fright for things that go bump in the night.
Reading and writing have been lifelong passions. It was around the time she gave birth to her forever-love, nicknamed Chipmunk, that she really took writing seriously. After all, how could she teach her child to follow her dreams if she hadn't tried herself?
As a YA fantasy/sci-fi reader and author, she favors the magical, mysterious, the darker side of life...even harbors a secret fright for things that go bump in the night.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 24, 2016
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.co...
2.5 stars -- I probably should have DNF'd this one. I could tell fairly early on that it probably wasn't my kind of book, but I'd won it in a contest so I kind of felt like I should give it a better chance. (Also, it's Black History Month, and this was the one book in my TBR that appeared to have a POC in it, so I was striving for diversity) But it just never got better for me.
The writing starts out very descriptive...I'm not a literary kind of girl, but it felt like taking the whole "show, don't tell" thing to another level. It just didn't flow naturally for me. Might be a personal taste thing. If you're like me, you would totally notice it in the first few pages, so you could always sample it and see... Strangely enough that sort of petered out as the story went on, so it was really only predominant in the first third of the book. What's really strange is that for all of the description that was given, I had a hard time picturing things -- like the devil spawn...it didn't really incite fear in me. It more made me think of a Star Trek The Original Series creature. Maybe it was the furriness? Maybe it was just me....
I never became all that attached to the characters...there just wasn't enough connection for me. Some really horrible/terrifying things happen in this book, and quite honestly I NEVER felt enough emotion from our heroine, Macie. Seriously. People die. She's forced to *kill* people. She learns all sorts of lies and about all sorts of new creatures (including things about herself). And through it all she just sort of dealt with it. Not that she had *no* reaction, it just felt like a blip and then it was over and it was on to the next crisis.
The pacing also felt weird to me. There was a LOT that happens, but it was never a big buildup, mostly just these little hills and then we would move on to the next hill and the next. Even the climax didn't feel all that big to me, just felt like yet another hill. I guess I was just never really that engaged with what was going on.
I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry with Thane either. I almost felt more for Rig, and that went in a completely different direction than I was expecting.
It's funny, b/c it almost felt like there was too much going on that it was hard to keep track of, but at the same time I felt kind of bored. *sigh* I don't know. :( I hate writing reviews for books I don't enjoy.
2.5 stars -- I probably should have DNF'd this one. I could tell fairly early on that it probably wasn't my kind of book, but I'd won it in a contest so I kind of felt like I should give it a better chance. (Also, it's Black History Month, and this was the one book in my TBR that appeared to have a POC in it, so I was striving for diversity) But it just never got better for me.
The writing starts out very descriptive...I'm not a literary kind of girl, but it felt like taking the whole "show, don't tell" thing to another level. It just didn't flow naturally for me. Might be a personal taste thing. If you're like me, you would totally notice it in the first few pages, so you could always sample it and see... Strangely enough that sort of petered out as the story went on, so it was really only predominant in the first third of the book. What's really strange is that for all of the description that was given, I had a hard time picturing things -- like the devil spawn...it didn't really incite fear in me. It more made me think of a Star Trek The Original Series creature. Maybe it was the furriness? Maybe it was just me....
I never became all that attached to the characters...there just wasn't enough connection for me. Some really horrible/terrifying things happen in this book, and quite honestly I NEVER felt enough emotion from our heroine, Macie. Seriously. People die. She's forced to *kill* people. She learns all sorts of lies and about all sorts of new creatures (including things about herself). And through it all she just sort of dealt with it. Not that she had *no* reaction, it just felt like a blip and then it was over and it was on to the next crisis.
The pacing also felt weird to me. There was a LOT that happens, but it was never a big buildup, mostly just these little hills and then we would move on to the next hill and the next. Even the climax didn't feel all that big to me, just felt like yet another hill. I guess I was just never really that engaged with what was going on.
I didn't really feel a lot of chemistry with Thane either. I almost felt more for Rig, and that went in a completely different direction than I was expecting.
It's funny, b/c it almost felt like there was too much going on that it was hard to keep track of, but at the same time I felt kind of bored. *sigh* I don't know. :( I hate writing reviews for books I don't enjoy.
January 21, 2015
With the USA just a shadow of its former self, humans and vampires must join together to survive. In The Colony, registered citizens do as they're told and supply their vampire protectors with donations of blood. Macie Breen is a ward of the state and hopes to start a new life after high school with her best friend Thane as an unregistered. Her future is snatched away from her when she's chosen as an Attendee in the Jubilee Celebration and taken to the big city of Bliss. There she discovers lie after lie about The Colony. Macie can no longer tell who is friend or foe. Worse yet, she realizes she doesn't know herself, and what she uncovers could mean the end of her world.
An incredible start to this YA dystopian series. The first thing that captured me was the phenomenal world building. What happened to the continent itself, the virus, and the supernatural aspects. A new culture rose with promises of a bright future, but there is corruption within. Everything is wrapped up so wonderfully in one grand picture.
Macie is a strong and likable heroine. She's had a hard life and the weight placed upon her gets heavier with each chapter. Never mind being a teenager just trying to figure out your life, hers becomes so much bigger than that but she doesn't crumble beneath the weight. Thane is the sweet best friend grown into something more. His own secrets are astounding. The whole cast of characters add to help create this fantastic world and story. A story that will take you places you least expect.
I highly recommend BEACON. It's my favorite book by Angela Brown yet!
An incredible start to this YA dystopian series. The first thing that captured me was the phenomenal world building. What happened to the continent itself, the virus, and the supernatural aspects. A new culture rose with promises of a bright future, but there is corruption within. Everything is wrapped up so wonderfully in one grand picture.
Macie is a strong and likable heroine. She's had a hard life and the weight placed upon her gets heavier with each chapter. Never mind being a teenager just trying to figure out your life, hers becomes so much bigger than that but she doesn't crumble beneath the weight. Thane is the sweet best friend grown into something more. His own secrets are astounding. The whole cast of characters add to help create this fantastic world and story. A story that will take you places you least expect.
I highly recommend BEACON. It's my favorite book by Angela Brown yet!
December 2, 2015
***Actual Rating 2.5 Stars***
I want to say thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review. Yes I know this will be another short review. I'm whooped and I will explain more of that. If your reading this on Goodreads please check out my blog for updates about this and such. Besides this lets get our review on. First off can I say I that I had high hopes for this book. Like I wanted this book to be good. I was so excited to read this book. I was so happy when I got approved of it. Then I started to read the book and boy did I get bored of it. Did I drop? No I didn't though the fact is I could have just dropped and not thought twice about it. It wasn't bad like awful. For me there was no action at all. More of a description and look on the future country of the United States. I think this book was also a little too short for everything the author wanted to do with 222 pages isn't a lot to get a really good idea and plot lines in one. This idea is amazing. Truth is I wasn't worried about the fact that it was a vampire book though there was some places where I was thinking House of Night but this is more of a dystopian side of things. Yes it has vampires but this story could survive without vampires which is nice. Another thing about it was that it had too many stories that it reminded me of. When I'm reading a book I want to be able to tell apart that story. I want something that will make me know hey this book is cool for what it is. There was nothing that made it stood it out. I wish there was more too it. So I could grasp the story more. I probably won't continue this series sadly. It had tons of potential but it didn't happen. I will rate this book 2.5 stars just for the fact that I loved the idea and the concept.
I want to say thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review. Yes I know this will be another short review. I'm whooped and I will explain more of that. If your reading this on Goodreads please check out my blog for updates about this and such. Besides this lets get our review on. First off can I say I that I had high hopes for this book. Like I wanted this book to be good. I was so excited to read this book. I was so happy when I got approved of it. Then I started to read the book and boy did I get bored of it. Did I drop? No I didn't though the fact is I could have just dropped and not thought twice about it. It wasn't bad like awful. For me there was no action at all. More of a description and look on the future country of the United States. I think this book was also a little too short for everything the author wanted to do with 222 pages isn't a lot to get a really good idea and plot lines in one. This idea is amazing. Truth is I wasn't worried about the fact that it was a vampire book though there was some places where I was thinking House of Night but this is more of a dystopian side of things. Yes it has vampires but this story could survive without vampires which is nice. Another thing about it was that it had too many stories that it reminded me of. When I'm reading a book I want to be able to tell apart that story. I want something that will make me know hey this book is cool for what it is. There was nothing that made it stood it out. I wish there was more too it. So I could grasp the story more. I probably won't continue this series sadly. It had tons of potential but it didn't happen. I will rate this book 2.5 stars just for the fact that I loved the idea and the concept.
November 28, 2014
***When ignorance is bliss, Bliss is power.***
That's something to really make you stop and think.
Beacon isn't just a story, it's a sort of exploration. Readers are pulled into the MC's mind from the beginning, getting her POV on life, living and the seemingly perfect state of affairs. But perfection is such a difficult thing to maintain unless...well, it's worth checking out to discover more about a piece of America-after that recovered, but at a price.
That's something to really make you stop and think.
Beacon isn't just a story, it's a sort of exploration. Readers are pulled into the MC's mind from the beginning, getting her POV on life, living and the seemingly perfect state of affairs. But perfection is such a difficult thing to maintain unless...well, it's worth checking out to discover more about a piece of America-after that recovered, but at a price.
February 25, 2015
I received this book from the author, Angela Brown, and from Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock. The story starts out with Macie stating that she does not believe her mother and father are dead. Macie’s parents have been missing, or dead according to the Colony, for eight years now. This gives the reader a kind of quick snapshot into the society that Macie is living in here. This story starts off with Macie over sleeping and having to hurry to get to school and the Jubilee Assembly so she doesn’t get into trouble. After getting ready Macie is on her way to school when she is further slowed down helping an elderly lady, and this gives the reader a first glimpse that maybe Macie is not a normal girl. Macie gets knocked down by a boy who is unregistered, since he is described as unregistered due to his clothing and not being tattooed on his ear. This further gives the reader an idea that this society that Macie is living in may have some problems. The Colony that Macie is living in has registered and unregistered citizens. Registered citizens get housing and jobs and other things to help their lives and in exchange they agree to give a gift of blood on a regular basis to the Vampire overlords. The unregistered citizens do not want to give this gift of blood and as such do not have access to the luxuries, education and jobs that the registered citizens do. Macie plans to stop being a registered citizen after she becomes eighteen and can receive her parents’ belongings, but something happens before she can get to that point. Macie is chosen to go to Bliss, and this is what happened to her parents right before they disappeared.
This book was really interesting and a very different way to do a paranormal story. While there is some romance in this, there is adventure as well. I found it hard to put this book down. I would read this book again.
I’m giving this book 5 fangs.
This book was really interesting and a very different way to do a paranormal story. While there is some romance in this, there is adventure as well. I found it hard to put this book down. I would read this book again.
I’m giving this book 5 fangs.
March 26, 2015
My Thoughts:
A dystopian world with vampires and treachery…what wouldn’t I love about this book?!
I loved that the start jumped straight into the story, with us finding out that the parents of our main character were called away, in the same way she just has been, but they never came back. She isn’t willing to go, and soon she’ll find out more about both herself and the broken promises of the vampires, but is she ready?
The dystopian wasteland the author created was excellent. She really brought to life – or death – the world around them, so that I felt as though I was standing in the wasted shell of the states. I could see and completely understand why there had to be a pact made with the vampires. It truly was the only hope for survival, in a world that is completely dead, or so they thought.
The characters were brilliant, as they were filled with depth, character and passion. Our main character was excellent. She was smart, intuitive, strong and able to see through the veil. Angela wrote her with layers of both emotion and intellect, as she seemed to always be in the right head and every time we turned around she had seen through lies, worked her way through something or found the truth. I like that it also involved her finding herself, and getting to know who she really is.
From the beginning, I found this book to be engaging and completely consuming. I struggled to put it down and often found myself staying up way to late to read just one more chapter. I highly recommend reading this book if you are a fan of fantasy, paranormal or dystopian reads, as I can imagine you’ll like it just as much as I did!
A dystopian world with vampires and treachery…what wouldn’t I love about this book?!
I loved that the start jumped straight into the story, with us finding out that the parents of our main character were called away, in the same way she just has been, but they never came back. She isn’t willing to go, and soon she’ll find out more about both herself and the broken promises of the vampires, but is she ready?
The dystopian wasteland the author created was excellent. She really brought to life – or death – the world around them, so that I felt as though I was standing in the wasted shell of the states. I could see and completely understand why there had to be a pact made with the vampires. It truly was the only hope for survival, in a world that is completely dead, or so they thought.
The characters were brilliant, as they were filled with depth, character and passion. Our main character was excellent. She was smart, intuitive, strong and able to see through the veil. Angela wrote her with layers of both emotion and intellect, as she seemed to always be in the right head and every time we turned around she had seen through lies, worked her way through something or found the truth. I like that it also involved her finding herself, and getting to know who she really is.
From the beginning, I found this book to be engaging and completely consuming. I struggled to put it down and often found myself staying up way to late to read just one more chapter. I highly recommend reading this book if you are a fan of fantasy, paranormal or dystopian reads, as I can imagine you’ll like it just as much as I did!
April 7, 2015
3.5 stars
"Beacon" by Angela Brown is Book 1 of the 'Ripped Ties' young adult dystopian series that features Macie Breen, an unusual young girl whose parents disappeared during a Jubilee celebration eight years prior. Her only friend, Thane, has made her promise not to give her blood, despite the requirements for donations to the vampeers who keep them all safe. There is a marked division between those who donate, known as the registered, and those who don't, the unregistered, but it turns out that this is a small sample of the issues that divide Macie's world. There are plenty of things that Macie is going to need to learn in order to survive, and one of the most important things to discover is whether Thane is going to help educate her or prevent her from ever learning anything else.
There are a myriad of inventive details in this story that gives a frightening look at a highly regimented society. For me, there was initially a bit too much similarity to a popular young adult series that features a dystopic society, but the action continues to intensify and there are plenty of unexpected twists to hold one's attention. I enjoyed learning about the different relationships that form in this harsh society and the unusual ties that some of the individuals have to each other. It would be nice to have greater information about the different factions which are gradually revealed, but there are plenty of threads to make one curious about further developments whet one's appetite for many more stories in this intriguing world.
A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review
"Beacon" by Angela Brown is Book 1 of the 'Ripped Ties' young adult dystopian series that features Macie Breen, an unusual young girl whose parents disappeared during a Jubilee celebration eight years prior. Her only friend, Thane, has made her promise not to give her blood, despite the requirements for donations to the vampeers who keep them all safe. There is a marked division between those who donate, known as the registered, and those who don't, the unregistered, but it turns out that this is a small sample of the issues that divide Macie's world. There are plenty of things that Macie is going to need to learn in order to survive, and one of the most important things to discover is whether Thane is going to help educate her or prevent her from ever learning anything else.
There are a myriad of inventive details in this story that gives a frightening look at a highly regimented society. For me, there was initially a bit too much similarity to a popular young adult series that features a dystopic society, but the action continues to intensify and there are plenty of unexpected twists to hold one's attention. I enjoyed learning about the different relationships that form in this harsh society and the unusual ties that some of the individuals have to each other. It would be nice to have greater information about the different factions which are gradually revealed, but there are plenty of threads to make one curious about further developments whet one's appetite for many more stories in this intriguing world.
A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review
April 15, 2015
I really wanted to love this story. It's not a surprise I'm a huge young adult fan. The story had imagination and creativity. I just think there was so much going on. You have Devil Spawn, Wights (Undead), you have Vampeers (Vampires), Humans, Angels, and Fae. All in just one book. I like when a writer makes their own spin on different mythical creatures, but I just didn't get into it.
The story follows Macie. Her parents had gone missing or dead after they became a Jubilee Attendee. Their in a Colony and have to follow all these rules. They also give blood to the Vampeers. She has her best friend Thane, who she loves.
She gets chosen to attend the same thing that her parents went to. She freaks out and doesn't want to go. But has no choice. She then learns that there's more to her, then she actually knows.
Macie does grow throughout the story. The characters are well developed.
I gave this book a three but more of 2.5 stars. The idea is good and it was written well. I just think it was too much for just one story....Lissa
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
The story follows Macie. Her parents had gone missing or dead after they became a Jubilee Attendee. Their in a Colony and have to follow all these rules. They also give blood to the Vampeers. She has her best friend Thane, who she loves.
She gets chosen to attend the same thing that her parents went to. She freaks out and doesn't want to go. But has no choice. She then learns that there's more to her, then she actually knows.
Macie does grow throughout the story. The characters are well developed.
I gave this book a three but more of 2.5 stars. The idea is good and it was written well. I just think it was too much for just one story....Lissa
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
April 12, 2015
Get prepared to take a trip to the Colony and celebrate The Jubilee. However things go very wrong from the beginning and the celebration takes a turn for the worst.
In the beginning we meet Macie who parents were chosen for the Jubilee years prior and never returned. This year Macie is chosen and she does not want to go.
This story is non stop action. Macie is wanted for her blood. Along the way she learns who she really is. Vampires, Demons, Angels, and Fae will greet you throughout the story. Macie learns a lot of information about The Colony in a short amount of time. She is made out to be the bad person and must clear her name. Also can she find her parents.
Friendships will be tested. Truths will be unveiled. Lies will unravel.
This is a great dystopian story with action that never stops. There are some questions that are answered but many more questions that are not. I can't wait to see what book 2 brings.
I received a gift copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and Reviewed for Kylie's Fiction Addiction.
In the beginning we meet Macie who parents were chosen for the Jubilee years prior and never returned. This year Macie is chosen and she does not want to go.
This story is non stop action. Macie is wanted for her blood. Along the way she learns who she really is. Vampires, Demons, Angels, and Fae will greet you throughout the story. Macie learns a lot of information about The Colony in a short amount of time. She is made out to be the bad person and must clear her name. Also can she find her parents.
Friendships will be tested. Truths will be unveiled. Lies will unravel.
This is a great dystopian story with action that never stops. There are some questions that are answered but many more questions that are not. I can't wait to see what book 2 brings.
I received a gift copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and Reviewed for Kylie's Fiction Addiction.
March 3, 2015
Wow! What a delightful and imaginative book! I had no idea how Brown would write vampires whenever I began this book. Sometimes I really love how vampires are portrayed, other times not so much. But I loved the way that Brown wrote hers! There is so much mystery shrouding this story, and I was unable to look away for even a moment!
Beacon is filled with action. There's never a boring moment in this book! So many elements are streamlined into this story and work so well with the world that the author has created. The world building is absolutely awe-inspiring. I enjoyed Macie so much. She was a great character that I loved reading about.
I can't wait to tune in for the next book in this series! Angela Brown has started her YA dystopian series in an explosive way with Beacon. I have no double that the rest of this series will be just as incredible!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
Beacon is filled with action. There's never a boring moment in this book! So many elements are streamlined into this story and work so well with the world that the author has created. The world building is absolutely awe-inspiring. I enjoyed Macie so much. She was a great character that I loved reading about.
I can't wait to tune in for the next book in this series! Angela Brown has started her YA dystopian series in an explosive way with Beacon. I have no double that the rest of this series will be just as incredible!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
January 25, 2015
What an imagination Angela Brown has! As the book progresses we are treated to continual mystery and surprise and the constant unveiling of an amazing dystopian future. Not content with vampires, this world has all manner of creatures, some working for humanity, some against but I never quite trusted anyone.
What a ride! The poor heroine faces an endless stream of adventures during which she discovers the reality of the fake world in which she grew up, and learns who (or what?) she really is. I'm not a fast reader but I read the last third of this book in one night because the action wouldn't stop and I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to stop.
First of a series, and I can't wait to find out more about this fascinating world. Very refreshing to find something deeper and more complex than your average paranormal. Great read.
What a ride! The poor heroine faces an endless stream of adventures during which she discovers the reality of the fake world in which she grew up, and learns who (or what?) she really is. I'm not a fast reader but I read the last third of this book in one night because the action wouldn't stop and I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to stop.
First of a series, and I can't wait to find out more about this fascinating world. Very refreshing to find something deeper and more complex than your average paranormal. Great read.
December 22, 2014
In this dystopian novel, humans and vampires are living together in what was formerly the USA. Macie is struggling against the rigid rules, so she can live life on her own with her friend Thane. When she’s chosen to be in the Jubilee, she’s crestfallen and discovers things about people, creatures, surroundings, and herself that she never knew before. There’s also the mystery of her missing parents on her mind.
I liked the world building—the slang, the glimmer and the glamour, the monsters and the winged. You’ll have to read the book to relish the setting. There’s also a lot of suspense and action. I enjoyed all the surprises Macie had in her path.
I liked the world building—the slang, the glimmer and the glamour, the monsters and the winged. You’ll have to read the book to relish the setting. There’s also a lot of suspense and action. I enjoyed all the surprises Macie had in her path.
Read
February 14, 2016**3 Stars** Review up on Boundless Book Reviews.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews