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The Change #2
Hostage
Welcome back to Las Anclas, a frontier town in the post-apocalyptic Wild West. In Las Anclas, the skull-faced sheriff possesses superhuman strength, the doctor can speed up time, and the squirrels can teleport sandwiches out of your hands.
In book one, Stranger, teenage prospector Ross Juarez stumbled into town half-dead, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble— including an invasion by Voske, the king of Gold Point. The town defeated Voske’s army, with the deciding blow struck by Ross, but at a great cost.
In Hostage, a team sent by King Voske captures Ross and takes him to Gold Point. There he meets Kerry, Voske’s teenage daughter, who has been trained to be as ruthless as her father. While his friends in Las Anclas desperately try to rescue him, Ross is forced to engage in a battle of wills with the king himself.
In book one, Stranger, teenage prospector Ross Juarez stumbled into town half-dead, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble— including an invasion by Voske, the king of Gold Point. The town defeated Voske’s army, with the deciding blow struck by Ross, but at a great cost.
In Hostage, a team sent by King Voske captures Ross and takes him to Gold Point. There he meets Kerry, Voske’s teenage daughter, who has been trained to be as ruthless as her father. While his friends in Las Anclas desperately try to rescue him, Ross is forced to engage in a battle of wills with the king himself.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2015
18 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Manija Brown
12 books171 followersRachel Manija Brown lives in a cabin in the woods with two cats and six chickens. She has published more than thirty books and owns the independent bookshop Paper & Clay in Crestline, CA.
Book four (Traitor) of The Change series is available now!
https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-Rachel...
She also writes paranormal romance for adults under the pen names of Lia Silver and Zoe Chant.
Book four (Traitor) of The Change series is available now!
https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-Rachel...
She also writes paranormal romance for adults under the pen names of Lia Silver and Zoe Chant.
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January 20, 2015The first image I ever had for this story was Ross, an escaped prisoner, running blind through the desert.
By the time Rachel and I had combined our images, we had not one but two hostages, which torqued everyone's emotional reactions--personal, political, etc. Because there are big political ramifications.
We not only wanted to write a high-octane action story, but get into the equally high emotional and psychological consequences.
And also to have fun with the teleporting squirrels and other weird flora and fauna--and mutant powers--of course! We also tried to make it stand alone, but hopefully leading readers to want to go back to book one.
By the time Rachel and I had combined our images, we had not one but two hostages, which torqued everyone's emotional reactions--personal, political, etc. Because there are big political ramifications.
We not only wanted to write a high-octane action story, but get into the equally high emotional and psychological consequences.
And also to have fun with the teleporting squirrels and other weird flora and fauna--and mutant powers--of course! We also tried to make it stand alone, but hopefully leading readers to want to go back to book one.
February 25, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not change my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.
My opinion of Stranger was that, despite some issues in the plot, the characters and worldbuilding were strong enough to make for a solid YA story. Here, I'm finding myself with basically the same opinion - Brith have proven that they can write characters and worlds complex enough to carry their story, despite some flaws.
The one major exception to the strong characterization is this book's introduction of Kerry. Felicité, probably the most compelling narrator from Stranger, doesn't narrate here. I wasn't totally clear on why Brith chose to give her such a minor role in this novel. Her arc didn't feel at all complete after Stranger - in fact, the thing I was looking forward to most in this novel was seeing her deal with the ramifications of the big reveal at the end of Stranger regarding her character. But much more problematic was that Kerry was a blatant expy of Felicité - she's basically the same character, with a different role in the story. Both characters do whatever they have to do for power, both of them see the world in a cold and objective light, and both aren't really that evil at heart. This meant that even though Kerry's chapters were the most compelling and complex in the novel (she and Ross largely carried the middle act of the story), it was always slightly dampened whenever I remembered that I was basically reading more of Felicité's narration. This might've worked better if Felicité had narrated in this novel - that way, Brith could've juxtaposed the two personalities. But instead, Brith awkwardly drops Felicité from the story, and hopes that we won't notice.
Other than that, though, the characterization was just as strong as in Stranger. Ross, Mia, and Jeannie all continued their arcs from Stranger, and it was just as interesting to watch as ever. Yuki's arc didn't progress nearly as much, making its supposed conclusion at the end a little awkward. Still, Brith continue to show that their characterization abilities are mostly impeccable. It's pretty impressive that the five different narrators in the novel - along with a bunch of side characters - are all so distinct from each other. Many authors can't even pull off one, let alone five.
The plot was a lot tighter here than it was in Stranger. My biggest issue with Stranger was that the plot felt thrown together and indistinct - I never knew exactly what it was supposed to be about. That's not the case here: the plot has a much more definite form, around Ross's kidnapping (and the subsequent kidnapping of Kerry). It's not exactly going to keep you on the edge of your seat - it still moves fairly slowly. But while it could've moved a bit faster, the focus was more on the characterization than anything else. I only occasionally wanted Brith to pick things up. It's nice to see them write about a more memorable and coherent story, because this one serves as a more effective vector for the characterization than Stranger's story did.
And, of course, the worldbuilding was strong as ever. We didn't get a whole lot of new perspective on Las Anclas, the setting of Stranger, although we did get a little more depth on its justice system. But the real setting of this novel was Gold Point, Voske's city. It wasn't quite as developed as Las Anclas, but we still got to see a lot of cool perspective on just what Voske's rule is really like. He was largely a Saturday Morning Cartoon villain in Stranger, but he's a lot more fleshed out here, and a lot of that characterization comes in how he runs his city. It was interesting to watch.
Overall, if you liked Stranger, there's absolutely no reason not to read this. But if you didn't like Stranger, you probably won't find much improvement here - Brith continue to use most of the same tropes. But I like how they use and subvert dystopia tropes, and for that reason, I'd recommend that if you haven't read Stranger yet, you should, immediately. This series is one of the stronger YA dystopias, in a genre that mostly leans on cliche and imitation of the classics.
My opinion of Stranger was that, despite some issues in the plot, the characters and worldbuilding were strong enough to make for a solid YA story. Here, I'm finding myself with basically the same opinion - Brith have proven that they can write characters and worlds complex enough to carry their story, despite some flaws.
The one major exception to the strong characterization is this book's introduction of Kerry. Felicité, probably the most compelling narrator from Stranger, doesn't narrate here. I wasn't totally clear on why Brith chose to give her such a minor role in this novel. Her arc didn't feel at all complete after Stranger - in fact, the thing I was looking forward to most in this novel was seeing her deal with the ramifications of the big reveal at the end of Stranger regarding her character. But much more problematic was that Kerry was a blatant expy of Felicité - she's basically the same character, with a different role in the story. Both characters do whatever they have to do for power, both of them see the world in a cold and objective light, and both aren't really that evil at heart. This meant that even though Kerry's chapters were the most compelling and complex in the novel (she and Ross largely carried the middle act of the story), it was always slightly dampened whenever I remembered that I was basically reading more of Felicité's narration. This might've worked better if Felicité had narrated in this novel - that way, Brith could've juxtaposed the two personalities. But instead, Brith awkwardly drops Felicité from the story, and hopes that we won't notice.
Other than that, though, the characterization was just as strong as in Stranger. Ross, Mia, and Jeannie all continued their arcs from Stranger, and it was just as interesting to watch as ever. Yuki's arc didn't progress nearly as much, making its supposed conclusion at the end a little awkward. Still, Brith continue to show that their characterization abilities are mostly impeccable. It's pretty impressive that the five different narrators in the novel - along with a bunch of side characters - are all so distinct from each other. Many authors can't even pull off one, let alone five.
The plot was a lot tighter here than it was in Stranger. My biggest issue with Stranger was that the plot felt thrown together and indistinct - I never knew exactly what it was supposed to be about. That's not the case here: the plot has a much more definite form, around Ross's kidnapping (and the subsequent kidnapping of Kerry). It's not exactly going to keep you on the edge of your seat - it still moves fairly slowly. But while it could've moved a bit faster, the focus was more on the characterization than anything else. I only occasionally wanted Brith to pick things up. It's nice to see them write about a more memorable and coherent story, because this one serves as a more effective vector for the characterization than Stranger's story did.
And, of course, the worldbuilding was strong as ever. We didn't get a whole lot of new perspective on Las Anclas, the setting of Stranger, although we did get a little more depth on its justice system. But the real setting of this novel was Gold Point, Voske's city. It wasn't quite as developed as Las Anclas, but we still got to see a lot of cool perspective on just what Voske's rule is really like. He was largely a Saturday Morning Cartoon villain in Stranger, but he's a lot more fleshed out here, and a lot of that characterization comes in how he runs his city. It was interesting to watch.
Overall, if you liked Stranger, there's absolutely no reason not to read this. But if you didn't like Stranger, you probably won't find much improvement here - Brith continue to use most of the same tropes. But I like how they use and subvert dystopia tropes, and for that reason, I'd recommend that if you haven't read Stranger yet, you should, immediately. This series is one of the stronger YA dystopias, in a genre that mostly leans on cliche and imitation of the classics.
February 6, 2017
The town of Las Anclas won a battle, but they're still in danger of being conquered by the king of Gold Point, Voske. Voske is smart and ruthless, and he kidnaps the one person who turned the tide of battle the last time: teenaged orphan prospector Ross Juarez. He's sure that through bribery, threats, or torture, he can convince Ross to use his Change power for Gold Point instead of Las Anclas. In response to Ross's dire situation, his friends kidnap Voske's eldest daughter in hopes of a prisoner exchange. But of course Voske has no interest in negotiation, and so Ross is stuck in Gold Point, and Kerry stuck in Las Anclas.
I am in love with the concepts of this novel. I love the post-apocaplyptic desert setting, I love the thoughtfulness that clearly went into the logistics of food, defense, waste management, etc for the towns, I love the character concepts, I love the variety of characters' backgrounds and motives. If I were much younger, I would adore these books. But perhaps because I am well past the target audience, I was mostly endlessly annoyed by how stupid many of the Las Anclas characters were, and how unlikely I thought the happy ending was.
I like the characters and setting a lot. But I think this series is not to my taste, for no problem of its own.
I am in love with the concepts of this novel. I love the post-apocaplyptic desert setting, I love the thoughtfulness that clearly went into the logistics of food, defense, waste management, etc for the towns, I love the character concepts, I love the variety of characters' backgrounds and motives. If I were much younger, I would adore these books. But perhaps because I am well past the target audience, I was mostly endlessly annoyed by how stupid many of the Las Anclas characters were, and how unlikely I thought the happy ending was.
I like the characters and setting a lot. But I think this series is not to my taste, for no problem of its own.
Read
January 6, 2015A compulsively readable volume, building on the world-building and character set-up of the first volume and adding a fascinating tale of two cities (or towns). To go into the enemy town, in the viewpoints of prisoner and captor, sets up a really tense and interesting story. One town, prejudiced against the Changed but trying to be good people. The other welcoming and accepting of the Changed, but hopelessly distorted around the Macchiavellian centre that is Voske.
One of those books where I really wanted to know what happened next, and was satisfied when I found out.
One of those books where I really wanted to know what happened next, and was satisfied when I found out.
July 22, 2021
Although the title is Hostage, there are actually two in this story. Ross is kidnapped to help King Voske to find weapons in a ruined city while Kerry is kidnapped to get Ross back. This is a fast read which kept me interested. I did get sidetracked where a character is "he" in one chapter and "she" in. another. A horse is named Sally in several chapters and Silver in another. These could have been proofreading errors but it did stop my progress which is why I downgraded to 3 stars. I hope Yuki's rat gets more action in the next book.
January 4, 2015
After tearing through Stranger, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Hostage. Just like the first book of this series, it kept me up reading far too late. The plot moves quickly and the worldbuilding delivers cool surprises, but it's the characters who keep me engaged.
I absolutely love that so many of the adults of Las Anclas are determined to include and support the children and teenagers. The society is one where the young people are included as equals-who-are-learning rather than excluded as too-young-to-know-better, and the result is fully realized throughout the story.
And all those young people are clear and distinct people, which makes it easy for the reader to move between multiple viewpoints. I'm used to reading multiple-viewpoint novels, but usually find there's at least one character whose viewpoint I want to skim. Not in this novel!
I do admit a special place in my heart for Jennie, who must face the emotional wounds she endured in Stranger. Her journey is portrayed with amazing empathy and realism that never slips into convenient resolutions. And she isn't the only one struggling to figure out who she is in the aftermath of one battle while preparing to fight another.
Most of the major plot threads left open in Stranger are taken up and resolved in Hostage, but there is one notable exception left hanging. That exception is teased out now and then, so I expect it'll entwine with the new threads that'll carry forward into the next novel.
I don't know how many novels are have planned, but do hope the series continues for some time. They've established plenty of unknowns to explore, and fantastic characters to do the exploring.
I absolutely love that so many of the adults of Las Anclas are determined to include and support the children and teenagers. The society is one where the young people are included as equals-who-are-learning rather than excluded as too-young-to-know-better, and the result is fully realized throughout the story.
And all those young people are clear and distinct people, which makes it easy for the reader to move between multiple viewpoints. I'm used to reading multiple-viewpoint novels, but usually find there's at least one character whose viewpoint I want to skim. Not in this novel!
I do admit a special place in my heart for Jennie, who must face the emotional wounds she endured in Stranger. Her journey is portrayed with amazing empathy and realism that never slips into convenient resolutions. And she isn't the only one struggling to figure out who she is in the aftermath of one battle while preparing to fight another.
Most of the major plot threads left open in Stranger are taken up and resolved in Hostage, but there is one notable exception left hanging. That exception is teased out now and then, so I expect it'll entwine with the new threads that'll carry forward into the next novel.
I don't know how many novels are have planned, but do hope the series continues for some time. They've established plenty of unknowns to explore, and fantastic characters to do the exploring.
May 23, 2023
Oh, I think four and half for this one - even better than Stranger, had me on the edge of my seat and determined to finish it. When is next one coming out???
September 19, 2017
4.5
This one had all the good parts of the first book, with characters I already liked and more h/c and additional worldbuilding. The villain became a lot scarier, and at times I was very glad that I knew it didn't have a sad ending. The character development following the climax from the first book worked well, and the themes too. I look forward to more.
This one had all the good parts of the first book, with characters I already liked and more h/c and additional worldbuilding. The villain became a lot scarier, and at times I was very glad that I knew it didn't have a sad ending. The character development following the climax from the first book worked well, and the themes too. I look forward to more.
January 8, 2015
Hostage picks up after the events of Stranger with the town of Las Anclas still dealing with he aftermath of the attack. Ross, Yuki, and Mia go out on an expedition trip when they are attacked by Vosges' elite force. Ross is kidnapped and Yuki and Mia flee. The rest of the book follows Ross' kidnapping and what some people are willing to do to save him.
When I read the first book, Stranger, I was impressed with the character development, wording building, and writing style. The authors' writing styles blended beautifully together and have honed in on who their characters are. This is no different in the sequel, Hostage.
The character development in Hostage is handled beautifully. The reader sees a new side to each of the characters because they have been pushed to their limits with the events of the first novel. Jennie, Mia, Ross, and Yuki are pushed even further in this book. The characters learn some important things about themselves that will be important in the upcoming novels.
Hostage also introduces some new characters. More specifically a new perspective, Kerry. I think my favourite part of this book is the new perspective. I loved her inner monologue. She's incredibly cunning and calculating so it was great to see the thought process behind her actions.
The world in this book widens immensely. The reader sees the town Gold Point, which belongs to the infamous Voske. The town is the absolute opposite of Las Anclas so it was great to see how other people survive in this world and get a look into the enemy town. We this new town the reader also sees a lot of new Change powers and how Change people are treated.
There are many moments during this book that the pace slows down. During these slower pace parts the reader is seeing different parts of the world and different aspects of the characters we haven't seen before. Despite the slowing of the pace, as you're reading it it doesn't feel slow. It almost feels like a pause where we get to live with the characters before the bigger plot points happen
Overall, Hostage is an amazing sequel that is just as good if not better than the first. The characters and the plot will keep you entertained from the first page to the last. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, adventurous story about the x-men in the wild west! Go pick this up because you will not be disappointed!
When I read the first book, Stranger, I was impressed with the character development, wording building, and writing style. The authors' writing styles blended beautifully together and have honed in on who their characters are. This is no different in the sequel, Hostage.
The character development in Hostage is handled beautifully. The reader sees a new side to each of the characters because they have been pushed to their limits with the events of the first novel. Jennie, Mia, Ross, and Yuki are pushed even further in this book. The characters learn some important things about themselves that will be important in the upcoming novels.
Hostage also introduces some new characters. More specifically a new perspective, Kerry. I think my favourite part of this book is the new perspective. I loved her inner monologue. She's incredibly cunning and calculating so it was great to see the thought process behind her actions.
The world in this book widens immensely. The reader sees the town Gold Point, which belongs to the infamous Voske. The town is the absolute opposite of Las Anclas so it was great to see how other people survive in this world and get a look into the enemy town. We this new town the reader also sees a lot of new Change powers and how Change people are treated.
There are many moments during this book that the pace slows down. During these slower pace parts the reader is seeing different parts of the world and different aspects of the characters we haven't seen before. Despite the slowing of the pace, as you're reading it it doesn't feel slow. It almost feels like a pause where we get to live with the characters before the bigger plot points happen
Overall, Hostage is an amazing sequel that is just as good if not better than the first. The characters and the plot will keep you entertained from the first page to the last. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, adventurous story about the x-men in the wild west! Go pick this up because you will not be disappointed!
June 4, 2017
Once again I have been blown away by the absolutely stunning writing and storytelling, and transported back into the wonderful and terrifying world of Las Anclas.
If I could, I would do nothing but sit here and sing praises for this series. About the characters who have wormed their way into my heart and become as familiar and important as friends and family. About the breathtaking world and heart-wrenching conflicts. Unfortunately, try as I might the words just refuse to come.
This book is possibly the best thing to happen to me this year and I am beyond excited for the next ones in the series.
If I could, I would do nothing but sit here and sing praises for this series. About the characters who have wormed their way into my heart and become as familiar and important as friends and family. About the breathtaking world and heart-wrenching conflicts. Unfortunately, try as I might the words just refuse to come.
This book is possibly the best thing to happen to me this year and I am beyond excited for the next ones in the series.
February 27, 2016
Hostage is the second book in the Change Quartet and I was very excited to return to Las Anclas! The characters are all so dynamic and complex, realistic and just fantastic that it's impossible not to become attached to them. This was just as good as - if not better than - the first in the series. With memorable characters and a captivating plot, I think everyone should be reading this! I LOVE this series!
February 29, 2016
I just love this series! It's a unique take on the post-apocalyptic world. This could almost be in the regular Children's section, though there is some graphic violence, and the characters are all late-teens, so I think YA is a good choice.
January 10, 2021
There will be spoilers for book one in this review!
This book upped the stakes so much, and I was so here for it.
Hostage started slow and quiet, but with the warmth and thoughtfulness that characterized the previous book. The town of Las Anclas emerged from the battle against King Voske battered and bruised, but hopeful-and after all, life must go on. It's so wonderful to see the characters supporting each other and reaching out to the future despite everything that's happened. But, unfortunately, the past isn't letting go that easily.
Jennie is locked into constant repeats of the battle, ringing through her head until she can't think and can't breathe and wants nothing more to get away. She isolates herself from her friends and forces herself through each day, hoping that the memories will fade with time-except they only seem to become more vivid.
Kerry is the princess of Gold Point, daughter of King Voske. She has everything she could ever want-the finest clothes, maids and servants, a boyfriend she loves, and, best of all, a father who pushes her to her limits and forces her to find her inner strength. She's happy . . . right?
Ross has finally found a home. Although he still hates enclosed spaces, and retains his connection to the singing trees, he's finally at peace in a place and with people he loves. For now . . .
Because shortly after the book begins, a party from King Voske launches a surprise attack on a small group of Las Anclas citizens, capturing Ross and letting the others go. King Voske has learned of Ross's power to connect to the singing trees, and he wants to recruit him.
I loved this book even more than the previous book, Stranger. Stranger was lovely, but at times the pacing dragged because of the detail character interactions were given. Not here.> I was on the edge of my seat from the moment Ross was captured, desperate to know what would happen next, praying that these characters that I had come to love would emerge unharmed-and knowing that they'd still bear the scars from these experiences no matter how things turned out.
The world also expanded so much. In Hostage, we're introduced to Gold Point, the capital of King Voske's empire, and it gets more than its due. I could feel the fear and tension in the air as the citizens tiptoed around the king, paranoid and longing for safety and peace. It's painted with the same care and detail as the rest of this incredible story.
I did, however, have one disappointment in this book. Felicite was one of my favorite characters in Stranger, and sadly she doesn't have povs in Hostage. I understand this decision-with Kerry added as a main character, as well as the rest of our familiar cast from Stranger, there simply isn't enough room. She'll get her turn in the final book, Rebel.
This book built on its predecessor brilliantly, weaving a tapestry of story threads that transcended my expectations and glued my eyes to the page. 5/5 stars.
This book upped the stakes so much, and I was so here for it.
Hostage started slow and quiet, but with the warmth and thoughtfulness that characterized the previous book. The town of Las Anclas emerged from the battle against King Voske battered and bruised, but hopeful-and after all, life must go on. It's so wonderful to see the characters supporting each other and reaching out to the future despite everything that's happened. But, unfortunately, the past isn't letting go that easily.
Jennie is locked into constant repeats of the battle, ringing through her head until she can't think and can't breathe and wants nothing more to get away. She isolates herself from her friends and forces herself through each day, hoping that the memories will fade with time-except they only seem to become more vivid.
Kerry is the princess of Gold Point, daughter of King Voske. She has everything she could ever want-the finest clothes, maids and servants, a boyfriend she loves, and, best of all, a father who pushes her to her limits and forces her to find her inner strength. She's happy . . . right?
Ross has finally found a home. Although he still hates enclosed spaces, and retains his connection to the singing trees, he's finally at peace in a place and with people he loves. For now . . .
Because shortly after the book begins, a party from King Voske launches a surprise attack on a small group of Las Anclas citizens, capturing Ross and letting the others go. King Voske has learned of Ross's power to connect to the singing trees, and he wants to recruit him.
I loved this book even more than the previous book, Stranger. Stranger was lovely, but at times the pacing dragged because of the detail character interactions were given. Not here.> I was on the edge of my seat from the moment Ross was captured, desperate to know what would happen next, praying that these characters that I had come to love would emerge unharmed-and knowing that they'd still bear the scars from these experiences no matter how things turned out.
The world also expanded so much. In Hostage, we're introduced to Gold Point, the capital of King Voske's empire, and it gets more than its due. I could feel the fear and tension in the air as the citizens tiptoed around the king, paranoid and longing for safety and peace. It's painted with the same care and detail as the rest of this incredible story.
I did, however, have one disappointment in this book. Felicite was one of my favorite characters in Stranger, and sadly she doesn't have povs in Hostage. I understand this decision-with Kerry added as a main character, as well as the rest of our familiar cast from Stranger, there simply isn't enough room. She'll get her turn in the final book, Rebel.
This book built on its predecessor brilliantly, weaving a tapestry of story threads that transcended my expectations and glued my eyes to the page. 5/5 stars.
September 13, 2017
Sometime last week I came across the concept of "hopepunk". I just saw it in passing - the idea of a genre of post-apocalyptic type fiction but instead of everything being grimdark it celebrated human resilience and kindness in the face of adversity and danger. This is exactly what The Change books feel like to me, and I love it! The world isn't an utopia, but even in the most dangerous and dystopian corners there is still compassion and bravery. And in the less dystopian, people not only survive but thrive through cooperation and community-building, and it's so incredibly lovely to be shown a world where everything an apocalypse has happened without it being the end of good.
These books are a pure delight to me - the complicated, lovable characters; beautiful and dangerous world and thrilling plot are the perfect mix of adventure and emotion and excitement at all the amazing details the writers let you explore in their rich world. Raccoons that build cities, adorable messenger rats, rabbits that cast really bad illusions and squirrels that can snatch food from humans using teleportation make up just a fraction of the vivid backdrop to the characters' adventures, and I love them all.
These books are a pure delight to me - the complicated, lovable characters; beautiful and dangerous world and thrilling plot are the perfect mix of adventure and emotion and excitement at all the amazing details the writers let you explore in their rich world. Raccoons that build cities, adorable messenger rats, rabbits that cast really bad illusions and squirrels that can snatch food from humans using teleportation make up just a fraction of the vivid backdrop to the characters' adventures, and I love them all.
December 26, 2024
Although the title is Hostage, there are actually two in this story. Ross is kidnapped to help King Voske to find weapons in a ruined city while Kerry is kidnapped to get Ross back. This is a fast read which kept me interested. I did get sidetracked where a character is "he" in one chapter and "she" in. another. A horse is named Sally in several chapters and Silver in another. These could have been proofreading errors but it did stop my progress which is why I downgraded to 3 stars. I hope Yuki's rat gets more action in the next book.
July 21, 2017
kjfaksdjfakldjfalks
So the that was started in Stranger got stronger in this one, we got a new POV character that I FUCKING LOVE ♥ &Kerry; ♥, and more character development. Like, it's possible that I enjoyed this book even more than the first one.
I love this series so much. Like, I have no idea where I heard about it or who recced it to me, but I am so grateful that it's in my library now.
So the that was started in Stranger got stronger in this one, we got a new POV character that I FUCKING LOVE ♥ &Kerry; ♥, and more character development. Like, it's possible that I enjoyed this book even more than the first one.
I love this series so much. Like, I have no idea where I heard about it or who recced it to me, but I am so grateful that it's in my library now.
February 13, 2018
Oh man, this was so good! It took me a little while to get into because it's been so long since I read the first book and I couldn't remember who people were or what had happened, but once I got into it I really got sucked in. I loved the new characters, especially Kerry, and the chance to see what Gold Point is like. And as always, all the little details about this world are so cool. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
October 29, 2017
The cast was a bit sprawling, but the authors thought about each character, giving them their own arcs and background. Even the people we didn't see much of gave the impression of living full lives on the other side of the page. I'm glad I'm catching up with this series.
September 9, 2022
Contains: kisses and some violence. I’ve been loving these books. I think the pacing and story telling is great. In this one instead of following Felicite we follow Kerry (along with the other four).
January 14, 2023
Series gets better and better.
The characters develop in ways you don't expect. The crystal trees are fascinating. Like the Inda series, this is complex and appeals to many ages, including a 68 year old.
The characters develop in ways you don't expect. The crystal trees are fascinating. Like the Inda series, this is complex and appeals to many ages, including a 68 year old.
August 16, 2022
It was very different than the first book and the people of Las Anclas had less screen time, which was a bummer. I liked this story as a standalone though.
February 7, 2015
With
Stranger
, Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith introduced a cool post-apocalyptic world with carnivorous plants, mutant creatures, superpowered teenagers, and a diverse population reflective of the actual world. Despite the apparent focus of the ending, this book does not, in fact, delve more into the mysteries of the past revealed by the book Ross brought to Las Anclas. It's barely mentioned. Instead—after a slow start that establishes the new status quo (everyone's got new trauma!)—this book gives us a better look at the series' main antagonist, King Voske, as Ross becomes the titular hostage.
While Las Anclas was notable for being a fairly utopian society where people had learned to work together and rebuild, Gold Point is more what we're used to seeing in these sort of books: an oppressed city ruled by a tyrannical despot. But Gold Point hardly feels stereotypical, and I loved getting to see what Voske was really like: he rules because he understands human behavior and how to manipulate it. Better yet, we meet his (half-Korean) daughter, Kerry, who is my favorite character in the book because she's like a mini-Voske (with an awesome Change power) but she's also never known anything but the Gold Point way of life. In the same way Ross's arrival to Las Anclas changed that town, Ross's arrival to Gold Point (unwilling though it may be) will change Kerry's outlook on things. (Kerry also functions as Felicité methadone, since she doesn't get a POV in this book. I missed her, but Kerry is so great.)
Much like Stranger, Hostage isn't particularly built on rising tension: although clearly we're fearful for Ross's safety, he's in no immediate danger since Voske is trying to recruit him, so mostly he's just chilling and trying to figure out how to escape (while his friends are trying to figure out how to rescue him). Switching between so many POVs also dilutes that tension. But, as before, I didn't care because the book is so well written and easy to read—this sounds like a weird compliment, but Brown and Smith effortlessly describe strange creatures, mutant powers, mechanical objects, dangerous ruins in ways my brain can process—and I liked all the characters. Yuki remains the one I'm least connected to, though, despite his intriguing "I was a prince" backstory...maybe because the most interesting thing about him is all in his backstory.
(Kerry Kerry Kerry Kerry Kerryyyyyyyyy.)
Hostage is a very different book from Stranger but equally as good. I enjoy these characters and this world, and the titles of the last two books in the quarter, Rebel and Traitor, have me very excited for where the story is going.
While Las Anclas was notable for being a fairly utopian society where people had learned to work together and rebuild, Gold Point is more what we're used to seeing in these sort of books: an oppressed city ruled by a tyrannical despot. But Gold Point hardly feels stereotypical, and I loved getting to see what Voske was really like: he rules because he understands human behavior and how to manipulate it. Better yet, we meet his (half-Korean) daughter, Kerry, who is my favorite character in the book because she's like a mini-Voske (with an awesome Change power) but she's also never known anything but the Gold Point way of life. In the same way Ross's arrival to Las Anclas changed that town, Ross's arrival to Gold Point (unwilling though it may be) will change Kerry's outlook on things. (Kerry also functions as Felicité methadone, since she doesn't get a POV in this book. I missed her, but Kerry is so great.)
Much like Stranger, Hostage isn't particularly built on rising tension: although clearly we're fearful for Ross's safety, he's in no immediate danger since Voske is trying to recruit him, so mostly he's just chilling and trying to figure out how to escape (while his friends are trying to figure out how to rescue him). Switching between so many POVs also dilutes that tension. But, as before, I didn't care because the book is so well written and easy to read—this sounds like a weird compliment, but Brown and Smith effortlessly describe strange creatures, mutant powers, mechanical objects, dangerous ruins in ways my brain can process—and I liked all the characters. Yuki remains the one I'm least connected to, though, despite his intriguing "I was a prince" backstory...maybe because the most interesting thing about him is all in his backstory.
(Kerry Kerry Kerry Kerry Kerryyyyyyyyy.)
Hostage is a very different book from Stranger but equally as good. I enjoy these characters and this world, and the titles of the last two books in the quarter, Rebel and Traitor, have me very excited for where the story is going.
August 8, 2017
Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith have done it again.
Once again, I cannot think of a single thing about this book I didn't like. Most of my gushing about the worldbuilding and the characters is covered in my review of the first book, so I won't rehash it here. Instead I'm going to focus on the new things we saw in this story.
The highlight of this book, of course, was getting a view of Gold Point and its differences from Las Anclas. Especially poignant were the tradeoffs that were shown: a more luxurious lifestyle in exchange for living in constant fear, security in exchange for privacy, acceptance as a Changed person in exchange for one's freedom.
Voske worked well as a villain. The most chilling aspect of his character was how affable he could be when it suited him, knowing all along that any kindness and generosity he showed was inevitably all part of some larger mind game.
The new character, Kerry, was also compelling and well-placed. Again, I know her arc isn't going to appeal to everybody, but for me, it worked, not least because of the story's well-spent effort to portray her as a product of her upbringing and to spend a sufficient amount of time with her that her development felt believable. Also, just as it was great to finally get a look at Gold Point from Ross's point of view, seeing Las Anclas through Kerry's fresh eyes offered a new and interesting perspective on an already well-established setting.
Other things I liked about this book were Jennie's decision to make some hard choices in order to do the right thing, the tension between Paco and Kerry when they learned of each other's identity, Kerry's fraught relationship and eventual reconciliation with her mother (which, unlike many parent-child reconciliations in fiction, actually felt well-earned), and the long-term consequences of Ross's choice at the Change ceremony.
I've ordered the next book post haste and am looking forward to where it will take us next. I'd especially like to see some of Felicite's problems come to a head, where Jennie's choices are going to take her next, how Kerry's going to settle into her new life, and what the fallout is going to look like at Gold Point.
Once again, I cannot think of a single thing about this book I didn't like. Most of my gushing about the worldbuilding and the characters is covered in my review of the first book, so I won't rehash it here. Instead I'm going to focus on the new things we saw in this story.
The highlight of this book, of course, was getting a view of Gold Point and its differences from Las Anclas. Especially poignant were the tradeoffs that were shown: a more luxurious lifestyle in exchange for living in constant fear, security in exchange for privacy, acceptance as a Changed person in exchange for one's freedom.
Voske worked well as a villain. The most chilling aspect of his character was how affable he could be when it suited him, knowing all along that any kindness and generosity he showed was inevitably all part of some larger mind game.
The new character, Kerry, was also compelling and well-placed. Again, I know her arc isn't going to appeal to everybody, but for me, it worked, not least because of the story's well-spent effort to portray her as a product of her upbringing and to spend a sufficient amount of time with her that her development felt believable. Also, just as it was great to finally get a look at Gold Point from Ross's point of view, seeing Las Anclas through Kerry's fresh eyes offered a new and interesting perspective on an already well-established setting.
Other things I liked about this book were Jennie's decision to make some hard choices in order to do the right thing, the tension between Paco and Kerry when they learned of each other's identity, Kerry's fraught relationship and eventual reconciliation with her mother (which, unlike many parent-child reconciliations in fiction, actually felt well-earned), and the long-term consequences of Ross's choice at the Change ceremony.
I've ordered the next book post haste and am looking forward to where it will take us next. I'd especially like to see some of Felicite's problems come to a head, where Jennie's choices are going to take her next, how Kerry's going to settle into her new life, and what the fallout is going to look like at Gold Point.
July 21, 2016
This book is the second in The Change series. If you haven't heard of this series before, it's post-apocalyptic YA. Several generations after civilization collapsed, humanity has recovered enough to rebuild towns and some sort of economy, but separate towns tend to go to war with one another. Genetic mutations turn up frequently but unpredictably, giving some people superpowers and killing or injuring others. The world is incredibly diverse, with main characters of multiple races, sexualities, disabilities, and neurodiversity.
So on to Hostage! The people of Las Anclas are still dealing with the repercussions of the big final battle of Stranger (book #1), particularly PTSD and grief. Jennie, Ross, and Paco have been hit especially hard, causing damage their relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. This all takes a turn for the worse when, on a trip outside the town walls, Ross is kidnapped by Voske's soldiers. Having learned about Ross's Change power and wanting its benefits for himself, Voske is determined to Stockholm Syndrome, manipulate, or outright force Ross into working for him. A team of Las Anclas people attempt to come to Ross's rescue, but when that seems impossible, they resort to kidnapping Kerry, Voske's daughter and the Crown Princess of the Gold Point Empire.
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS THIS WAS SO GOOD. I loved the setup of dueling hostages, and it provided a really interesting opportunity for the characters to deal with genuine moral questions: how to treat prisoners, how to gain power, how to deal with political differences, the responsibility of choices made during combat, the ethics of execution, freedom vs constraint, and so on. There's a lot of very tense, very well-done action scenes, and the suspense ramps up excellently over the novel as a whole.
I loved this even more than the first book, which was already pretty great. But this one was even more of a page-turner, and I read it straight through, always wanting to find out what happened next. I did miss Felicite, who appears in the story but isn't a POV character this time, but on the other hand, Kerry's a wonderful introduction, and I loved her slow growth from arrogant and coddled heir to someone with responsibility and honor, as she struggles to figure out what she wants out of life.
Anyway, everyone should read this, it's fantastic.
So on to Hostage! The people of Las Anclas are still dealing with the repercussions of the big final battle of Stranger (book #1), particularly PTSD and grief. Jennie, Ross, and Paco have been hit especially hard, causing damage their relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. This all takes a turn for the worse when, on a trip outside the town walls, Ross is kidnapped by Voske's soldiers. Having learned about Ross's Change power and wanting its benefits for himself, Voske is determined to Stockholm Syndrome, manipulate, or outright force Ross into working for him. A team of Las Anclas people attempt to come to Ross's rescue, but when that seems impossible, they resort to kidnapping Kerry, Voske's daughter and the Crown Princess of the Gold Point Empire.
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS THIS WAS SO GOOD. I loved the setup of dueling hostages, and it provided a really interesting opportunity for the characters to deal with genuine moral questions: how to treat prisoners, how to gain power, how to deal with political differences, the responsibility of choices made during combat, the ethics of execution, freedom vs constraint, and so on. There's a lot of very tense, very well-done action scenes, and the suspense ramps up excellently over the novel as a whole.
I loved this even more than the first book, which was already pretty great. But this one was even more of a page-turner, and I read it straight through, always wanting to find out what happened next. I did miss Felicite, who appears in the story but isn't a POV character this time, but on the other hand, Kerry's a wonderful introduction, and I loved her slow growth from arrogant and coddled heir to someone with responsibility and honor, as she struggles to figure out what she wants out of life.
Anyway, everyone should read this, it's fantastic.
January 9, 2015
I liked Stranger, but this book really kicked things up a notch. The pace was quicker, and we're introduced to a new character, Voske's daughter, Kerry, who I really enjoyed reading about. We've still got Mia, Jennie, Yuki, and Ross as central characters, but for most of the book the group is split. Ross is a prisoner in Voske's territory of Gold Point while Kerry is being held hostage in Las Anclas. Will Ross escape? Will Kerry betray the people of Las Anclas for her father?
I definitely appreciate the diversity of the characters, and I think it's interesting to see an openly polyamorous relationship depicted in a young adult book. I was wondering in the last book if they were going to go there, and there's no question about it by the end of this book, they went there. I don't relate to that kind of relationship, but I find it kind of refreshing that Ross can be open about the fact that he likes both Mia and Jennie, and they both like him, and it's not a love triangle. Mia and Jennie are both OK with Ross liking/dating both of them. I can see this relationship being a turn off for some readers, but they probably aren't the right readers for the book anyway. They'd probably have been turned off by all the gay characters long before either of Ross's relationships could get off the ground.
I'm (selfishly) glad the authors decided to self-publish the second book in the series because it means I got to read it very shortly after finishing the first book. I hope this means I don't have to wait too long for next two books in the series. I also love that they kept the feel in the cover of the traditionally published first book.
Note: I received this book as a free ARC from one of the authors
I definitely appreciate the diversity of the characters, and I think it's interesting to see an openly polyamorous relationship depicted in a young adult book. I was wondering in the last book if they were going to go there, and there's no question about it by the end of this book, they went there. I don't relate to that kind of relationship, but I find it kind of refreshing that Ross can be open about the fact that he likes both Mia and Jennie, and they both like him, and it's not a love triangle. Mia and Jennie are both OK with Ross liking/dating both of them. I can see this relationship being a turn off for some readers, but they probably aren't the right readers for the book anyway. They'd probably have been turned off by all the gay characters long before either of Ross's relationships could get off the ground.
I'm (selfishly) glad the authors decided to self-publish the second book in the series because it means I got to read it very shortly after finishing the first book. I hope this means I don't have to wait too long for next two books in the series. I also love that they kept the feel in the cover of the traditionally published first book.
Note: I received this book as a free ARC from one of the authors
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2015
On the label it's not the kind of book I mostly read, but I didn't let that stop me and I'm glad. Like "Stranger", the first in the series, "Hostage" is kinda like a magical Western. I did very much like the "people band together against a difficult world" theme, and how to find kindness and community in adversity without being overrun by jerks. The rotating point of view between several characters works pretty well, and I particularly enjoyed the exploration of a world where the axes of discrimination that people worried about were along superpowers lines rather than racial or religious ones. Also, I should eat so well in the postapocalypse! [grin] Somewhere out there is a fan cook trying to make all of the failed kitchen experiment dishes as well as the successful ones, haha. It's a vividly created world in general -- gyaaaah, the pit mouths are a seriously creepy predator. The series decidedly isn't over... I spent all of book two wanting to know what happens to Felicité. I hope I find out in book three! [grin] I sent a copy of the first book to my sister, who likes YA particularly as a genre, and also is collecting books with multiracial casts and diverse female characters with different skillsets to read to my niece when she gets a little older. (My niece could have worse role models than a telekinetic Ranger leader or a whiz mechanic!) I particularly liked Kerry's thought process; seeing the difference between her take on leadership versus Felicité's versus Jenny's was an interesting contrast and the kind of thing I bet kids and teenagers are working on figuring out at that age. I bet this will be useful for young folks getting their feet wet there, as well as being a great read.
March 28, 2015
I don't know why on earth I took so long to get to this book when I liked book I quite a bit. "Hostage" adds depth to the relationships and characters of "Stranger" without skimming at all in the plot department. In fact, it's quite a page turner, the alternating POVs serving to both give a wide perspective but never give enough away that the events to come are easy to prevent.
I decided to read this after having left it to languish for a while after a heartbreaking disappointment with the treatment of the romantic triad in another fantasy novel (It has amazing dragons and it proposes an unusual romantic configuration for the main characters... then rapidly ties it up in a paragraph instead of giving it the attention it was set up to get). "Hostage" is not a romance but it handles romances well, as if (gasp!) they are just another facet of human relationships and lives. I was uneasy about but ended up happy with the way the triad here girl/boy/girl (girls are best friends) did not make any effort to keep things 'equal' in both fronts.
Other than that, there was a mention of a character needing to see another's lips, which I thought was a coded reference to someone being deaf/hard of hearing which never got followed up on. Of course, there's 2 more books to go and disability is hardly underrepresented when one of the main character has only partial use of his hand but it would have been interesting to see what adaptive techniques existed in the highly original fantasy world.
I decided to read this after having left it to languish for a while after a heartbreaking disappointment with the treatment of the romantic triad in another fantasy novel (It has amazing dragons and it proposes an unusual romantic configuration for the main characters... then rapidly ties it up in a paragraph instead of giving it the attention it was set up to get). "Hostage" is not a romance but it handles romances well, as if (gasp!) they are just another facet of human relationships and lives. I was uneasy about but ended up happy with the way the triad here girl/boy/girl (girls are best friends) did not make any effort to keep things 'equal' in both fronts.
Other than that, there was a mention of a character needing to see another's lips, which I thought was a coded reference to someone being deaf/hard of hearing which never got followed up on. Of course, there's 2 more books to go and disability is hardly underrepresented when one of the main character has only partial use of his hand but it would have been interesting to see what adaptive techniques existed in the highly original fantasy world.
July 25, 2017
The second book in The Change quartet, after Stranger, does a lot of things the second book in the series should: opening the world further, adding some new and interesting characters, and raising the stakes to a whole new level that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The sheltered town of Las Anclas is still licking its many wounds from the attack by King Voske of Gold Point. They expect another possible attack but have no idea when, but as Ross Juarez is out on a routine mission with some friends, a team has been sent out by Voske and captures him. He is brought back to Gold Point and shown a world where the changed are respected and at times revered. But this is also a harsh place run by the iron first of Voske; for those who do not follow these ways, they are crushed and ended without question. Las Anclas returns the favor by kidnapping the Voske’s daughter, Kerry, who learns of the very different world and place that is Las Anclas.
Will either side be willing to make an even exchange for the two? Not likely. So the hostage situation will have to be resolved in some other way, that will likely involve bloodshed. But each side has their own people with their own special powers that can be put to use. The final decision will ultimately rest on Kerry’s shoulders: after seeing the good and bad in both Las Anclas and Gold Point, she will have to make her choice and choose a side.
Originally written on March 25th, 2015 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
The sheltered town of Las Anclas is still licking its many wounds from the attack by King Voske of Gold Point. They expect another possible attack but have no idea when, but as Ross Juarez is out on a routine mission with some friends, a team has been sent out by Voske and captures him. He is brought back to Gold Point and shown a world where the changed are respected and at times revered. But this is also a harsh place run by the iron first of Voske; for those who do not follow these ways, they are crushed and ended without question. Las Anclas returns the favor by kidnapping the Voske’s daughter, Kerry, who learns of the very different world and place that is Las Anclas.
Will either side be willing to make an even exchange for the two? Not likely. So the hostage situation will have to be resolved in some other way, that will likely involve bloodshed. But each side has their own people with their own special powers that can be put to use. The final decision will ultimately rest on Kerry’s shoulders: after seeing the good and bad in both Las Anclas and Gold Point, she will have to make her choice and choose a side.
Originally written on March 25th, 2015 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
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