All Caroline Mathers wanted was a chance to make her own way. War will force her to make history.
In this post apocalyptic landscape marred by never-ending rain, life is calm, sometimes even okay, as long as you can find food to eat, have a roof over your head, and steer clear of the roving bands of marauders and thieves.
But what Caroline and her people don't realize is that across a distant mountain, a bigger problem arises, a sinister plot is forming, and an army grows in strength.
They'll need a hero... One that doesn't know just how strong she really is.
*** INCLUDES ***
Pawn
Don't ask me how or why the world ended, because I can't tell you.
Society collapsed long before Caroline Mathers was born.
As an enlisted army scout, her duty is to patrol the surrounding forests and warn the citizens of her tiny outpost if danger is near. It's usually a quiet life...
... until the day she hears the terrifying beat of distant war drums echoing throughout their valley.
Something long suspected, but never believed, is finally happening. An invasion is coming.
Nothing less than the power of a timeworn legend can save Caroline's people now. Or so she thinks, because there are whispers of an ancient prophecy...
"And a girl shall lead them."
***ALSO INCLUDES***
Judas | Spirit
*** *** ***
As a quarter-finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest, Lindsey's start to the series, Pawn, is a "A fine, durable, inaugural volume brimming with imagination and sparkling, inventive characters." --Publishers Weekly
"Caroline [is a] strong yet vulnerable heroine who isn't afraid to do what must be done." -- Rysa Walker, author of Timebound and winner of the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Grand Prize.
Ernie Lindsey grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, working on the family farm and reading, and has spent his life telling stories to anyone that will listen. He currently works as a freelance writer and is the author of five Mystery & Suspense novels and numerous short stories. When he's not writing, you can find him tackling the gigantic To Be Read list on his Kindle or the never-ending stack of books in his office.
Ernie and his family live in Oregon, along with a multi-fingered Hemingway cat named Luna.
Warning: you will come under the spell of a great storyteller..
He throws in twists and transformations. He can make you swallow sudden improbability and save them away with a wisp of an explanation. No one is as they appear to be except Caroline, whose primitive village in the post-Apocalyptic Virginia forest is swept away by much more advanced -- and merciless -- enemies. I fear that I can't tell you much more without getting into long spoikers. Suffice it tho say that she becomes the leader of her refugee people, gains and losses f friend, enemies, poses... You have to read this! a
I was looking for brain candy and a bridge book and came this. Decided to do a quick read and move on.
This book seems to a tool for political propaganda. Something that would be handed out at the GOP convention to young kids.
The use of Republicons as outside saviors. Saving the republic and on and on and on. It was a chore to read and it was very clear the message that the author was delivering.
His book and his POV and I’m not upset by that fact. Just disappointed.
I really enjoyed this trilogy. It's a storyline that will appeal to more than just young adults. If you enjoy post apocolyptic stories, than please read this. The author really does draw you in.
2.5 Stars If you're looking for an HEA, this is NOT the series for you!!! While it wasn't really bad, per se, I wanted this series to be better than it was. I saw reviews likening "Warchild" to Hunger Games and Divergent and became very excited, but frankly it just fell short- I would describe it more like "Hunger Games Lite."
Everything about it was just a little too far fetched and even the characters seemed very on the nose and obvious; there was a feeling that the author wanted to evoke, but it read more like they were trying too hard. It's like the difference between soap opera acting and Oscar winning performances- everything here was just a little too much, a little too over acted instead of subtle, which was the beauty of books like Hunger Games and Divergent. I guess my biggest problem was that I couldn't "sink in" to the story, since the entire time I was reading I just kept pointing out character and plot flaws.
There were several situations that seemed like fillers and extraneous- the Republicons, for instance. Honestly, they didn't serve much of a purpose overall and in the end ... what was the point?! Also, Theresa, Brandon and his cousin- they served no purpose, really. Everything that these characters were involved in could have been solved by other means... honestly, they read as plot devices. The author needed her heroine to get from point A to B, but didn't know how to do that; so, he invented these characters and threw them in there to help the heroine, but when they had served their purpose he got rid of them.
Also, all the double crossing... why!? Almost literally, everyone she thought was on her side abandoned or betrayed her, from her parents to the boy she thought she loved. It was ridiculous and in the end, I wasn't even surprised anymore. As far as the characters go, there were only two people that I liked in this story: James and Blotter. One died and the other we never heard from again...
Caroline was this 14/15-year old girl who took it upon herself to free the masses. It's one thing entirely to travel hundreds of miles to warn of an invasion and even to lead a revolution, but it's another thing entirely to claim that all those who were taken as slaves were "her people;" you are 14, you have no people! Their whole plan was half-assed, made up on the fly and it just didn't work in any way. She was all strong leader one moment, then insecure girl the next who had complete breakdowns; as a rebel leader, you can break down, but you sure as shit don't let anyone see you do so!
Finn... I can't say much about him, because his character makes no sense to me and I'm still a little confused and pissed off. I really liked him to begin with and looked forward to seeing more of him... but then the end of "Judas" happened and I was done. Talk about coming completely out of left field!?! I had hopes, briefly, towards the end of "Spirit," but then those were completely dashed. I guess, really though, that the DAV was asking for it when they
Oh, and the reunion with her parents... EVERYTHING about that was completely unbelievable! Abandon your daughter and then 2 mins after reuniting, everything is right as rain again. The fact that she actually found her parents is a miracle and that they all come out of this alive is even more so. This little sliver of an HEA doesn't count, though, since it doesn't make up for the rest of the nonsense throughout the rest of the series.
I will say that the series kept my attention- most of the way through; it got to be that towards the end, I just wanted it to be over. Once Finn happened, I lost any interest in continuing the series, but really that was just a personal preference that I won't hold against the author (too much); I just really like an HEA and when that was stolen- yes, stolen- from me, I lost any interest in continuing and I only finished because I hoped that would change. This story had some great potential, it just fell really short, in my opinion.
If you are someone looking for a fairytale HEA in every story you read don't read this series.
After getting to the end of Spirit my first thought was "What!That's how it ends?" And wanting to give a low star review and warn others away. But after contemplating it a bit I changed my mind. Yes, I still would have liked a happier alternate ending because I'm the kind of person that likes that kind of thing but that doesn't mean this deserved a bad review.
I was taken in with each building step in this trilogy. It was a story that gripped me and I couldn't put it down. The ending, after all the struggles and grief Caroline went through, was very anti-climatic but sometimes that's life and the author does a great job portraying that. It leaves you thinking about it and contemplating alternate endings or even thinking that could happen one day.
The ending reminds me of the movie The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. As a young teen my siblings and I complained about the ending. "That's it!?" We cried to my mom "where's the ending?" She just grinned at us and laughed saying that's how a great movie should end, leaving you thinking about it.
El primer libro me atrapó, el segundo se me hizo predecible y me costó un poco de trabajo leerlo, el tercero todavía no sé si me gustó o no.
Lo que más me gustó de la serie es cómo describe el mundo post apocalíptico, cómo me hizo sentir envuelta por el bosque y la lluvia, las ciudades incomunicadas, vivir con apenas lo necesario, la supervivencia cazando ardillas, las historias de un pasado que es nuestro futuro, los lujos que para nosotros son algo completamente normal. Mientras lo leía, varias veces me descubrí viendo el mundo cotidiano como algo extraordinario, preguntándome cómo sería no conocer la electricidad, cómo sería que un costal de azúcar sea lo más difícil de conseguir y se vuelva un tesoro, notando la locura de nuestros lujos y excesos.
Great characterization, very imaginative world building and powerful scenes. Intelligently written, with reasonable actions and responses from characters that stay true throughout the entire series. A riveting story, hard to put down with vivid descriptions and portrayals of the lives of those who exist on the outer edges of acceptable society, compared to those who live within the regimented confines. I'm pleased that I was able to get the series together, rather than having to wait for the next book. Fantastic read.
Caroline is a heroine in the mold of Hunger Games' Katness, but faces so much more and feels so real you'll know her by the end. You'll care for the characters and feel each loss and betrayal. That this isn't a movie yet is a tragedy, but only if it's done right. Better than Divergent or the Maze Runner, but clearly sharing the same roots. If you like the dystopian genre, you need to add this to your collection.
I finished this entire trilogy in about four days. I found the story interesting and the main character engaging. The author did a good job of describing the locations, and even though the plot contained several of the classic tropes of the genre, I found that it avoided being too cliche. Good for a quick read. I enjoyed the themes of the ramifications of power and leadership.
Caroline grows up in humble, backwoods surroundings in Virginia raised by her grandparents. When she gets to be in her early teenage years, she is promoted to being a scout watching for threats. Her little village is being threatened by an invading army from the North. What follows next is the plot of this trilogy.
A YA story of the future where the government has broken down and States are like broken kingdoms.
A first book into an interesting series. The characters are well developed and I developed an attachment to them at once. The story is written well and was a quick read for me. The story moves at a fast pace as the main characters continue to develop.
For those who enjoyed books like the Divergent series
I had been looking for another interesting series after I finished the Divergent books, and Warchild was a very good choice. Plenty of action. Perhaps a tad predictable in some places, but well written. Once I got started, I could barely put it down. For me, that means it was a good read.