What do you think?
Rate this book
Mayake Chronicles #1
Akaela
SPECIAL $0.99 PRE-ORDER PRICE
Fifteen-year-old Akaela doesn't know what fear is. She was built this way. But in a world where survival is no longer of the fittest, being fearless can become a deadly curse.
Proud and steeped in tradition, Akaela's people, the Mayake, are dying. While they carry implanted nanobots and sophisticated chips to compensate for their crippled and diseased bodies, these enhancements come at a price. Aging technology and a lack of resources make the Mayakes vulnerable to their enemies and on the brink of extinction. As the elders cling blindly to the past, the only hope Akaela and her 16-year-old brother Athel have to save their own people is to challenge the system or die trying.
Fifteen-year-old Akaela doesn't know what fear is. She was built this way. But in a world where survival is no longer of the fittest, being fearless can become a deadly curse.
Proud and steeped in tradition, Akaela's people, the Mayake, are dying. While they carry implanted nanobots and sophisticated chips to compensate for their crippled and diseased bodies, these enhancements come at a price. Aging technology and a lack of resources make the Mayakes vulnerable to their enemies and on the brink of extinction. As the elders cling blindly to the past, the only hope Akaela and her 16-year-old brother Athel have to save their own people is to challenge the system or die trying.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2015
About the author
E.E. Giorgi
18 books122 followersE.E. Giorgi is a scientist, an award winning author, and a IPA awarded photographer. She spends her days analyzing genetic data, her evenings chasing sunsets, and her nights pretending she's somebody else. Sign up for my newsletter here.
NEWSLETTER | BOOKS | BLOG | PORTFOLIO | FACEBOOK
NEWSLETTER | BOOKS | BLOG | PORTFOLIO | FACEBOOK
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Read
June 22, 2015*** Sequel coming soon ***
Sign up to my newsletter to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Link to sign up: http://eepurl.com/SPCvT
Sign up to my newsletter to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Link to sign up: http://eepurl.com/SPCvT
April 28, 2015
I received an ARC copy of Akaela in exchange for a unbiased review.
The first story in the "Mayake Chronicles Book 1" is "Akaela" by EE Giorgi is an intriguing story about a young girl, her brother and their friends as they struggle to survive in a world filled with trouble. It is also about love and betrayal, trust and deceit, hope and despair and loss and redemption. The author weaves together a story that lures the reader into being involved with the young people as they struggle against their environment and their desire to rescue their fathers who have gone on a peace mission. The ever present basic fact that these people are a race of cyborgs, humans with electronic enhancements, also adds to the enjoyment factors. When they believe they are betrayed, you also feel their betrayal. When the true betray happens, you are as shocked as they are.
When I reached the end of the story I was happy that there is the promise of more stories to come. I certainly hope to read more about this young lady and her brother and their friends. I also wonder how and when will the two protagonist brothers will return to once again work havoc.
Ms EE Giorgi is a skillful story teller as well as a fantastic photographer - and those are just her other jobs. I have enjoyed reading her other works and this is yet one more to add to the list of good things to read.
The first story in the "Mayake Chronicles Book 1" is "Akaela" by EE Giorgi is an intriguing story about a young girl, her brother and their friends as they struggle to survive in a world filled with trouble. It is also about love and betrayal, trust and deceit, hope and despair and loss and redemption. The author weaves together a story that lures the reader into being involved with the young people as they struggle against their environment and their desire to rescue their fathers who have gone on a peace mission. The ever present basic fact that these people are a race of cyborgs, humans with electronic enhancements, also adds to the enjoyment factors. When they believe they are betrayed, you also feel their betrayal. When the true betray happens, you are as shocked as they are.
When I reached the end of the story I was happy that there is the promise of more stories to come. I certainly hope to read more about this young lady and her brother and their friends. I also wonder how and when will the two protagonist brothers will return to once again work havoc.
Ms EE Giorgi is a skillful story teller as well as a fantastic photographer - and those are just her other jobs. I have enjoyed reading her other works and this is yet one more to add to the list of good things to read.
April 20, 2015
I'm not the biggest fan of YA fiction, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Having said that, knowing that E. E. Giorgi wrote it, I knew that I had to give it a read. After reading 'Apocalypse Weird: Immunity' and 'Gene Cards', I decided that I needed to stash every book by her on my wish list. She does such a wonderful job with story telling and character development and she doesn't shortchange you here. I could feel every emotion, frustration, and even the physical sensation of soaring over the cliffs while being shot at by sniper drones. The story kept building and building and I found it difficult to put down. At no point in time does this book lose momentum and you will be hooked and reeled in by the Prologue. Just be ready for some twists and turns along the way and don't say I didn't warn you.
April 20, 2015
Elena E. Giorgi is one of my favorite authors and it's no surprise that her debut in YA is nothing short of spectacular. Her characters are at once familiar and heroic—tangible, true to life teens, born into a post-apocalyptic environment that even the adult characters find almost overwhelming. Yet the spirit of youth carries the story, reminding the reader that when a generation grows weary of life, it is right of passage that keeps the species alive; and when rules and regulations threaten to stagnate a culture, it is the vernal yearning for freedom that stretches (and sometimes breaks) the bindings, by necessity. Young life always stretches up and out, never accepting the idea of hiding safely away. In this story of hardship in a new harsh world, Giorgi reminds us all that young hearts and minds are our greatest resource, and her tale inspires a new generation to reach out, past whatever challenges might exist in their personal worlds. Well done!
August 5, 2015
Akaela is a relatively short YA novel with a good premise and solid world-building that doesn't quite do it for me.
The Mayake people are cyborgs, of a sort. They are all born with physical deformities and have various machine/nanobot implants to assist them. Those may be bionic eyes or nanobots to help fight infection or whatever. Due to their inherited biological problems, they are one of two peoples who survive the plague that wipes out humanity. It just so happens that the other group, the Gaijins, are meaner, stronger, and more populous (or maybe just have better guns.. it isn't covered much). So there was a war and the Mayake were forced to stay on their tiny tract of land in the middle of nowhere scavenging for parts as their own chips eventually wear out, while the Gaijins' robots strip mine the surrounding land and leave them to hopefully die of mechanical failure.
That is where our story begins.
The actual story is told is first person, flipping between brother/sister combo of Athel and Akaela. The basic plot premise being that three members of the community, including our MCs' father, went on a journey to plead for assistance from the Gaijin. They have been gone long enough that their kids are starting to worry, and feel that they must do something to save the day.
The writing is clean and easy to read. It was a little overly simple imo, but it is YA and I haven't been Y for quite some time, so that may just be me. I did find the jumps between narrators a little confusing, but I mark that up to their names being similar, and their being in the same location much of the time. I'm also not sure what the point of the story being in 1st person was. Third person multiple view may have helped some portions flow better.
The actual "we're going to go do something" takes a tad long to show up, and the resolution comes very quickly. The latter being more of a problem, though I prefer that to drawing it out for no reason. But I did think "How is this 90% over? Is this going to be a cliffhanger?" only to go "Oh, that was quick" shortly thereafter.
The biggest thing about this book for me, is that I am very interested in the Gaijin, and we learn almost nothing about them. There's this build up where we think we might get to see them, and then... nope. To be fair to the book, the point was never actually about the Gaijin, but about finding out why the 3 ambassadors haven't returned. But as I was reading, I was expecting to find out more about them and didn't.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the world being built, but found the story a little weak. How well this one holds up may depend on how later books in the series turn out. By itself, this is a good scifi story, worth the $3 being asked for the ebook, and makes me curious to read other things by the author, but it doesn't stand out much in a crowded field.
The Mayake people are cyborgs, of a sort. They are all born with physical deformities and have various machine/nanobot implants to assist them. Those may be bionic eyes or nanobots to help fight infection or whatever. Due to their inherited biological problems, they are one of two peoples who survive the plague that wipes out humanity. It just so happens that the other group, the Gaijins, are meaner, stronger, and more populous (or maybe just have better guns.. it isn't covered much). So there was a war and the Mayake were forced to stay on their tiny tract of land in the middle of nowhere scavenging for parts as their own chips eventually wear out, while the Gaijins' robots strip mine the surrounding land and leave them to hopefully die of mechanical failure.
That is where our story begins.
The actual story is told is first person, flipping between brother/sister combo of Athel and Akaela. The basic plot premise being that three members of the community, including our MCs' father, went on a journey to plead for assistance from the Gaijin. They have been gone long enough that their kids are starting to worry, and feel that they must do something to save the day.
The writing is clean and easy to read. It was a little overly simple imo, but it is YA and I haven't been Y for quite some time, so that may just be me. I did find the jumps between narrators a little confusing, but I mark that up to their names being similar, and their being in the same location much of the time. I'm also not sure what the point of the story being in 1st person was. Third person multiple view may have helped some portions flow better.
The actual "we're going to go do something" takes a tad long to show up, and the resolution comes very quickly. The latter being more of a problem, though I prefer that to drawing it out for no reason. But I did think "How is this 90% over? Is this going to be a cliffhanger?" only to go "Oh, that was quick" shortly thereafter.
The biggest thing about this book for me, is that I am very interested in the Gaijin, and we learn almost nothing about them. There's this build up where we think we might get to see them, and then... nope. To be fair to the book, the point was never actually about the Gaijin, but about finding out why the 3 ambassadors haven't returned. But as I was reading, I was expecting to find out more about them and didn't.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the world being built, but found the story a little weak. How well this one holds up may depend on how later books in the series turn out. By itself, this is a good scifi story, worth the $3 being asked for the ebook, and makes me curious to read other things by the author, but it doesn't stand out much in a crowded field.
May 3, 2015
I was thrilled to see that E.E. Giorgi has finally made it into the YA genre! This debut, in my opinion, is long overdue. From the first few pages, I found myself attached to the characters and riveted by the action. Giorgi's descriptive prose is simply spine-tingling. This story was something I savored as I experienced things right along with the characters. This is one of those books you feel you need to finish in one sitting because you want to know what happens, but at the same time you don't want to finish, because you don't want the story to end. I always look forward to the next book by Giorgi and each one becomes my new favorite it seems. Akaela was no exception. I await the release of Book Two, wanting more and more of this well-written and amazing new story.
May 20, 2015
Giorgi has a gift for painting prose with visceral imagery to deliver new worlds and vividly express to the reader the presence of her characters. With Akaela she has leveraged that ability to create a future world that has been torn to the past by plague. Akaela and her Mayake friends come to life on page one with 'enhancements' that read as feasible. You can believe that the characters are able to fly and run and see in incredible ways. Though the theme is common to dystopian fiction, routing for the underdogs, thats okay, because Giorgi's underdogs are compelling enough to earn the readers backing. I enjoyed this story, the imagery, both literal and metaphoric, and I recommend this story to any reader of believable science fiction.
May 8, 2015
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
A story a little different from what I read so far but I can say that I really liked it, was amazing.
This story is set in an alternate future in which humans were decimated by plagues and only a few had a gene that allowed them to survive it, on the other hand, those who survive always born with physical disabilities and in need of prostheses.
The Mayake people tried to survive from these prostheses and the materials they had available. This allowed them to increase the ability of their immune system with nanobots inserted in the blood and they became more capable and with characteristics that humans have never had, such as night vision and legs like blades which allow them to run faster.
The problem is when other people, the Gaijins, go to war with them and win, leaving them with a minimum territory and putting their own robots to explore the resources of the land. Thus we have the Mayake people without resources and with obsolete technology and batteries that are deteriorating. In this conditions the Mayakes are risking to die slowly and face extinction.
This is where Akaela and her brother, Athel, appear. They are the two voices of this story. Thus we have two perspectives of what is happening.
Akaela is a very special girl, she doesn't feel fear, which makes her practically able to do whatever she wants. Also she has technology that no Mayake have and that puts her in grave danger. When she was telling her side of the story I got the idea that she and her brother do not get along, but as the story progresses I could see that these two are often linked to each other and they would do everything to keep the other safe. That is precisely what happens sometimes through the book.
Athel is the older brother and sometimes tries to be bossy to Akaela, typical of older siblings I guess. I enjoyed seeing his limitations, the will he has to also not afraid like Akaela and to be able to help more in some situations. I think this part of him being a bit envious and at the same time want to do the best he can, it is a sign that he cares and only thinks about the welfare of his friends. I liked him a lot, as much as I liked Akalea. Sometimes I thought they were the same person. They do think alike.
There were some surprises in between from some characters and I wasn't expecting that. I wish they had found their father and the other ambassadors, I was saddened by the outcome of this part. On the other hand this is the catalyst for what will happen.
The world created by the author is fantastic, I found it quite realistic and can perfectly see this happening in the future. The diseases, the mechanical parts in symbiosis with human body parts. The very culture of Mayake people, always full of fear and with very strict rules, everything was consistent.
In short, I found it a fantastic book, has some flaws but in the end they are not important to the story. I advise this book to those who like futuristic and apocalyptic worlds where the characters have to fight for their survival. I'm looking forward to the next book.
A story a little different from what I read so far but I can say that I really liked it, was amazing.
This story is set in an alternate future in which humans were decimated by plagues and only a few had a gene that allowed them to survive it, on the other hand, those who survive always born with physical disabilities and in need of prostheses.
The Mayake people tried to survive from these prostheses and the materials they had available. This allowed them to increase the ability of their immune system with nanobots inserted in the blood and they became more capable and with characteristics that humans have never had, such as night vision and legs like blades which allow them to run faster.
The problem is when other people, the Gaijins, go to war with them and win, leaving them with a minimum territory and putting their own robots to explore the resources of the land. Thus we have the Mayake people without resources and with obsolete technology and batteries that are deteriorating. In this conditions the Mayakes are risking to die slowly and face extinction.
This is where Akaela and her brother, Athel, appear. They are the two voices of this story. Thus we have two perspectives of what is happening.
Akaela is a very special girl, she doesn't feel fear, which makes her practically able to do whatever she wants. Also she has technology that no Mayake have and that puts her in grave danger. When she was telling her side of the story I got the idea that she and her brother do not get along, but as the story progresses I could see that these two are often linked to each other and they would do everything to keep the other safe. That is precisely what happens sometimes through the book.
Athel is the older brother and sometimes tries to be bossy to Akaela, typical of older siblings I guess. I enjoyed seeing his limitations, the will he has to also not afraid like Akaela and to be able to help more in some situations. I think this part of him being a bit envious and at the same time want to do the best he can, it is a sign that he cares and only thinks about the welfare of his friends. I liked him a lot, as much as I liked Akalea. Sometimes I thought they were the same person. They do think alike.
There were some surprises in between from some characters and I wasn't expecting that. I wish they had found their father and the other ambassadors, I was saddened by the outcome of this part. On the other hand this is the catalyst for what will happen.
The world created by the author is fantastic, I found it quite realistic and can perfectly see this happening in the future. The diseases, the mechanical parts in symbiosis with human body parts. The very culture of Mayake people, always full of fear and with very strict rules, everything was consistent.
In short, I found it a fantastic book, has some flaws but in the end they are not important to the story. I advise this book to those who like futuristic and apocalyptic worlds where the characters have to fight for their survival. I'm looking forward to the next book.
November 16, 2015
Here are some words I never thought I'd say: I actually liked a YA dystopian novel.
The other books in this genre that I've read have left me cold. I often found myself unconvinced by the premise, bored by Mary-Sue characters, and/or underwhelmed by lackluster writing. I found Akaela to be a step up in every respect - a book that kept me up at night with my heart in my mouth and my eyes glued to the page.
In the aftermath of a deadly plague, a group of survivors coalesced into a tribe: the Mayake. To compensate for their severe physical deformities, they implant themselves with powerful robotic prosthetics. They are simultaneously crippled and superhuman. Their society is close-knit and adherent to a rigid moral code. They're resilient, they're resourceful, and they're almost sickeningly deferential to authority.
The story is told from two perspectives. Akaela is a young woman whose fearlessness puts her in danger, both inside and outside the Mayake community. When her father goes missing during a diplomatic mission, Akaela becomes determined to find out what happened to him. Her older brother, Athel, is the other narrator.
The story is fast-paced from the start, and includes some passages of almost unbearable tension. There's a recurring theme of having to question how much you can trust your friends, your abilities, and even your senses. There's a definite feeling of the stakes getting higher and higher as the story goes on. The world-building is mostly pretty balanced, creating a rich portrait of the setting and history without inundating the reading with too much information at once. The cast of characters is well-constructed. I came to love Akaela, but maintained an interesting mix of appreciation and skepticism about the others.
And for all the readers who are tired of the love triangles and other romantic tropes of YA - this book is wonderfully free of all that. But it's full of heart. Akaela's devotion to those close to her, both human and animal, has a good chance of bringing tears to your eyes.
If I were to identify a flaw in the book, it would be that at first, Akaela's and Athel's voices were a little too alike and there was some needless backtracking every time the point of view would switch. I questioned why Athel needed to be a narrator at all, before the contrast between their mentalities became more evident later on. So, maybe my rating is closer to 4.5 stars.
The ending wraps things up almost too quickly. But it's saved from being too neat by a strong undercurrent of doubt about whom to trust, and what the future will be like.
This book shines as a standalone, but I hope it continues into a series. I'm curious about what the characters will do next and how, if at all, their civilization will survive.
[ARC received in exchange for an honest review.]
[Read Harder Challenge: a book published this year]
The other books in this genre that I've read have left me cold. I often found myself unconvinced by the premise, bored by Mary-Sue characters, and/or underwhelmed by lackluster writing. I found Akaela to be a step up in every respect - a book that kept me up at night with my heart in my mouth and my eyes glued to the page.
In the aftermath of a deadly plague, a group of survivors coalesced into a tribe: the Mayake. To compensate for their severe physical deformities, they implant themselves with powerful robotic prosthetics. They are simultaneously crippled and superhuman. Their society is close-knit and adherent to a rigid moral code. They're resilient, they're resourceful, and they're almost sickeningly deferential to authority.
The story is told from two perspectives. Akaela is a young woman whose fearlessness puts her in danger, both inside and outside the Mayake community. When her father goes missing during a diplomatic mission, Akaela becomes determined to find out what happened to him. Her older brother, Athel, is the other narrator.
The story is fast-paced from the start, and includes some passages of almost unbearable tension. There's a recurring theme of having to question how much you can trust your friends, your abilities, and even your senses. There's a definite feeling of the stakes getting higher and higher as the story goes on. The world-building is mostly pretty balanced, creating a rich portrait of the setting and history without inundating the reading with too much information at once. The cast of characters is well-constructed. I came to love Akaela, but maintained an interesting mix of appreciation and skepticism about the others.
And for all the readers who are tired of the love triangles and other romantic tropes of YA - this book is wonderfully free of all that. But it's full of heart. Akaela's devotion to those close to her, both human and animal, has a good chance of bringing tears to your eyes.
If I were to identify a flaw in the book, it would be that at first, Akaela's and Athel's voices were a little too alike and there was some needless backtracking every time the point of view would switch. I questioned why Athel needed to be a narrator at all, before the contrast between their mentalities became more evident later on. So, maybe my rating is closer to 4.5 stars.
The ending wraps things up almost too quickly. But it's saved from being too neat by a strong undercurrent of doubt about whom to trust, and what the future will be like.
This book shines as a standalone, but I hope it continues into a series. I'm curious about what the characters will do next and how, if at all, their civilization will survive.
[ARC received in exchange for an honest review.]
[Read Harder Challenge: a book published this year]
May 12, 2015
“Akaela (Mayake Chronicles Book 1)” by E.E. Giorgi is the successful and hugely enjoyable excursion of a talented science fiction writer into young adult territory.
Set in the post-apocalyptic world of cyborgs, called the Mayake, the book sets a great scene for this futuristic fantasy adventure. Fifteen year old Akaela and her older brother have an encounter with scrap searching droids that seems at first to set off a war between the two people.
The existence of the Mayake is threatened by several things, not least of all the fight over resources and issues with the technology that is part of their non-human parts. Each individual of the Mayake has chip implants that give them certain non-human abilities, but these rely on battery power.
The siblings’ father is missing, having left on a mission to find more resources for the Mayake, which adds a personal component to the survival of the ‘species’.
The narrative alternates in its perspectives but always has an intimate and compelling feel that draws you right into the story and the desperate situation that the Mayakes find themselves in.
Our young heroes are well written as interesting characters and their conflicts feel realistic and urgent. The suspense in the story is constant, whether immediate or looming through anticipation of events to come. Giorgi has explored the concept of cyborgs very well with a complex and intelligent background story.
As first in the series the book ends with an outlook on things to come in Book 2 and beyond. Although written for young adults, older readers will find the story as compelling and gripping as younger ones. A promising start to the series that makes me look forward to the rest.
I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Set in the post-apocalyptic world of cyborgs, called the Mayake, the book sets a great scene for this futuristic fantasy adventure. Fifteen year old Akaela and her older brother have an encounter with scrap searching droids that seems at first to set off a war between the two people.
The existence of the Mayake is threatened by several things, not least of all the fight over resources and issues with the technology that is part of their non-human parts. Each individual of the Mayake has chip implants that give them certain non-human abilities, but these rely on battery power.
The siblings’ father is missing, having left on a mission to find more resources for the Mayake, which adds a personal component to the survival of the ‘species’.
The narrative alternates in its perspectives but always has an intimate and compelling feel that draws you right into the story and the desperate situation that the Mayakes find themselves in.
Our young heroes are well written as interesting characters and their conflicts feel realistic and urgent. The suspense in the story is constant, whether immediate or looming through anticipation of events to come. Giorgi has explored the concept of cyborgs very well with a complex and intelligent background story.
As first in the series the book ends with an outlook on things to come in Book 2 and beyond. Although written for young adults, older readers will find the story as compelling and gripping as younger ones. A promising start to the series that makes me look forward to the rest.
I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 25, 2015
This book had me at implanted nanobots and chips - I'm a total sucker like that for sci-fi. The touch of dystopia thrown in was just a bonus.
The world-building is a strong point in this book - a breed of people with various types of enhancements on the verge of extinction, a plague that has wiped out much of the population, and a controlling, inflexible leadership.
The group of teenagers who hope to change things and help their people, Akaela, her brother, Athel, and friends, Lukas and Wes, were easy to relate to, and I especially enjoyed Lukas and the very literal way he sees the world. Something I really appreciated was the lack of a love interest or triangle to distract the reader from the focus of the story, the teenagers' attempts to find their fathers. The descriptions were very vivid and the writing flowed well, with the end touching on melancholy and setting the stage for the next book in this series.
The only thing I struggled with was the pacing. The first part of the book was a little slow for me, but the climax felt rushed and ended suddenly. With this being a short novel, maybe things could have been evened out a little more.
If YA sci-fi/dystopian/mystery is your thing, this is your book. I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The world-building is a strong point in this book - a breed of people with various types of enhancements on the verge of extinction, a plague that has wiped out much of the population, and a controlling, inflexible leadership.
The group of teenagers who hope to change things and help their people, Akaela, her brother, Athel, and friends, Lukas and Wes, were easy to relate to, and I especially enjoyed Lukas and the very literal way he sees the world. Something I really appreciated was the lack of a love interest or triangle to distract the reader from the focus of the story, the teenagers' attempts to find their fathers. The descriptions were very vivid and the writing flowed well, with the end touching on melancholy and setting the stage for the next book in this series.
The only thing I struggled with was the pacing. The first part of the book was a little slow for me, but the climax felt rushed and ended suddenly. With this being a short novel, maybe things could have been evened out a little more.
If YA sci-fi/dystopian/mystery is your thing, this is your book. I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2015
Giorgi has moved over the line into YA territory--and it's a great move for her fans.
This story, wow...just wow. Action from page one. The descriptions of the technology are outstanding-- and believable. The character development is some of the best I've read in YA. This book is right up there with some of the best of today's YA.
I fell in love with Akaela. I rooted for her. I worried for her. I ran with her, and I cried with her. And I think all of that is because what Giorgi did best in this story was write characters who were wonderfully flawed, and in spite of their implants, so hopelessly human.
And the humans in the story faced the ages old challenge of defending themselves from an enemy who's bigger and stronger, and will take what it wants.
A great read. I couldn't put the book down. Bravo, Elena Giorgi!
This story, wow...just wow. Action from page one. The descriptions of the technology are outstanding-- and believable. The character development is some of the best I've read in YA. This book is right up there with some of the best of today's YA.
I fell in love with Akaela. I rooted for her. I worried for her. I ran with her, and I cried with her. And I think all of that is because what Giorgi did best in this story was write characters who were wonderfully flawed, and in spite of their implants, so hopelessly human.
And the humans in the story faced the ages old challenge of defending themselves from an enemy who's bigger and stronger, and will take what it wants.
A great read. I couldn't put the book down. Bravo, Elena Giorgi!
May 7, 2015
Teen superheroes with unusual powers never go out of style, but many tend to be overdone. Not in E.E. Giorgi's AKAELA, in which the familiar theme of a post-apocalypse, dystopian earth gets a fresh twist. The genetically Unfit, outcasts during earth's better days, survive a plague that wipes out most of earth's "fit." Known as the Mayake, they are resourceful scavengers of technological remnants of the futuristic civilization that fell, and they find ways to compensate (with robotic implants) for their congenital defects.
As with all Giorgi's fiction, the setting is vivid and haunting. The Mayake live in a relic from older times, the Tower, still high and formidable despite centuries of weathering. In 2189, the year our heroine was born, the Gaijins destroyed the north wing, leaving a gaping hole on the sixtieth story, now draped by ivy and mold. In the dark of night, Akaela and Athel crawl up there to watch the light show of an electrical storms that no longer produce rain. (Futuristic, dystopian earths have so many drawbacks!)
The wall that separates the Gaijian from the Mayake is physically huge, something like the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China in how dangerous it would be to attempt crossing it. These kids dare to defy the rules, and that too is huge, given their culture. The wall they are willing to cross is a great metaphor, a great, classic milestone of the coming of age story and the hero's journey.
As for the missing fathers, spoilers keep me from saying anything but WOW. The outcome defies expectations.
I love the fierce pride and patriotism, loyalty and virtues, of the outcasts. "We're the Mayake people. We're cyborgs, the chldren of the Unfit, though nobody uses those names anymore. Because when the Plague came, it changed everything. The Unfit were no longer such. They were resistant to the Plague. That handful of mutations that made our ancestors genetically unfit saved us while the rest of the world collapsed ... Only the Gaijins survived. The Gaijians and us, the Mayake."
The Gaijians unfortunately seem to harbor the same old bad attitude toward their "unfit" neighbors. Still worse, they steal the Mayakes' resources and build a walled city to keep out the still-congenitally unfit, cyborg-enhanced Mayake. I seriously hope that by the end of the series, the Fit recognize the error of their ways and unite with the Unfit to build a better new world. Meanwhile, there are challenges to overcome, walls to scale, fires to put out, villains to identify and defeat, and plenty of adults to trust and obey, or doubt and defy (which is what Akaela does best).
The story centers around a few teenagers, fearless Akaela, fitted with robotic wings that snap out when needed to enable her to fly; her more cautious and obedient brother Athel, whose eyeball contains a camera and other cool surveillance tech, along with the eek!-worthy ability to pop out and dangle (what else would a brother do?). Their two friends, Wes, the blade-legged runner, and Lukas, the brainiac, are vivid and memorable characters. Lukas doesn't have a retractable gliding sail like Akaela's, he can't run, much less run super-fast like Wes, and he can't see in the dark or pop out his eyeball like Athel. He's so skinny and fragile looking, Athel wonders why his parents didn't lobby for more implants.
I love that dry wit - count on finding it along with photo-clear descriptions in every Giorgi story.
And I love/hate the two teenage bullies, one of whom leaves half his face exposed to show off his robotic implants, rather than conceal them under human-looking flesh the way all other Mayake people do. I keep hoping they'll pull a Bigwig (anyone love "Watership Down" by Richard Adams and the classic theme of a bully turned ally?). At the end of Book One, they're a long way from reform, but I'm holding out hope.
I know, I know: this from the same Giorgi fan who hopes Track Presius will undergo freezing (cryogenics?) at the end of the "Chimeras" and "Mosaics" trilogy, and get thawed out in time for the sequels to "Gene Cards," or at least leave a donation in a sperm bank, but if all readers could petition their favorite authors to engage in wish fulfillment, we'd have a thousand versions of every novel.
DISCLAIMER: I'm already a Giorgi fan, but I pre-ordered the novel at the promotional price of 99 cents, so that assures my objectivity as a reviewer, right? I.e., I don't have to "disclose" that I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, but even if that were the case, if an honest review is what readers should give in exchange for getting a free book, why the need for the disclaimer?
As with all Giorgi's fiction, the setting is vivid and haunting. The Mayake live in a relic from older times, the Tower, still high and formidable despite centuries of weathering. In 2189, the year our heroine was born, the Gaijins destroyed the north wing, leaving a gaping hole on the sixtieth story, now draped by ivy and mold. In the dark of night, Akaela and Athel crawl up there to watch the light show of an electrical storms that no longer produce rain. (Futuristic, dystopian earths have so many drawbacks!)
The wall that separates the Gaijian from the Mayake is physically huge, something like the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China in how dangerous it would be to attempt crossing it. These kids dare to defy the rules, and that too is huge, given their culture. The wall they are willing to cross is a great metaphor, a great, classic milestone of the coming of age story and the hero's journey.
As for the missing fathers, spoilers keep me from saying anything but WOW. The outcome defies expectations.
I love the fierce pride and patriotism, loyalty and virtues, of the outcasts. "We're the Mayake people. We're cyborgs, the chldren of the Unfit, though nobody uses those names anymore. Because when the Plague came, it changed everything. The Unfit were no longer such. They were resistant to the Plague. That handful of mutations that made our ancestors genetically unfit saved us while the rest of the world collapsed ... Only the Gaijins survived. The Gaijians and us, the Mayake."
The Gaijians unfortunately seem to harbor the same old bad attitude toward their "unfit" neighbors. Still worse, they steal the Mayakes' resources and build a walled city to keep out the still-congenitally unfit, cyborg-enhanced Mayake. I seriously hope that by the end of the series, the Fit recognize the error of their ways and unite with the Unfit to build a better new world. Meanwhile, there are challenges to overcome, walls to scale, fires to put out, villains to identify and defeat, and plenty of adults to trust and obey, or doubt and defy (which is what Akaela does best).
The story centers around a few teenagers, fearless Akaela, fitted with robotic wings that snap out when needed to enable her to fly; her more cautious and obedient brother Athel, whose eyeball contains a camera and other cool surveillance tech, along with the eek!-worthy ability to pop out and dangle (what else would a brother do?). Their two friends, Wes, the blade-legged runner, and Lukas, the brainiac, are vivid and memorable characters. Lukas doesn't have a retractable gliding sail like Akaela's, he can't run, much less run super-fast like Wes, and he can't see in the dark or pop out his eyeball like Athel. He's so skinny and fragile looking, Athel wonders why his parents didn't lobby for more implants.
I love that dry wit - count on finding it along with photo-clear descriptions in every Giorgi story.
And I love/hate the two teenage bullies, one of whom leaves half his face exposed to show off his robotic implants, rather than conceal them under human-looking flesh the way all other Mayake people do. I keep hoping they'll pull a Bigwig (anyone love "Watership Down" by Richard Adams and the classic theme of a bully turned ally?). At the end of Book One, they're a long way from reform, but I'm holding out hope.
I know, I know: this from the same Giorgi fan who hopes Track Presius will undergo freezing (cryogenics?) at the end of the "Chimeras" and "Mosaics" trilogy, and get thawed out in time for the sequels to "Gene Cards," or at least leave a donation in a sperm bank, but if all readers could petition their favorite authors to engage in wish fulfillment, we'd have a thousand versions of every novel.
DISCLAIMER: I'm already a Giorgi fan, but I pre-ordered the novel at the promotional price of 99 cents, so that assures my objectivity as a reviewer, right? I.e., I don't have to "disclose" that I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, but even if that were the case, if an honest review is what readers should give in exchange for getting a free book, why the need for the disclaimer?
May 29, 2015
Award-winning indie author E.E. Giorgi takes a stab at the YA market with her latest dystopian series The Mayake Chronicles and the first book Akaela sets the stage for a pretty epic adventure.
Far into the future, catastrophic events leave what remains of mankind struggling for survival. The technology once taken for granted now keeps them alive, powered and enhanced by implants and advanced technology it is the only way to survive. However the technology is becoming scarce and Akaela and her people, a group of cyborgs called The Mayake make do with what they can, scavenging and recycling technology wherever they can, often from their enemies the Gaijian, a race with superior power and technology who live behind a huge fortified wall.
When a peace mission led by Akaela’s father fails to return, she and her brother attempt to discover the truth about his disappearance and uncover a conspiracy that will change the lives of the Mayake people forever.
The author does an impressive job of building a believable world with a distinctive cyberpunk/steampunk feel to it. As each Mayake is born with different defects, the technological enhancements given to them take many shapes and forms, largely dependent on the technology available at the time so each have very different attributes. Akaela has wings built into her shoulders that allow her to glide while her brother Athel has advanced eye implants and the others in the group also have their own unique attributes.
As Akaela and Athel begin to unravel the mystery of their father’s disappearance they become much more more interesting and endearing characters and begin to be more than standard YA fare rebellious teenagers, even though they are treated as so by the strict laws of the Mayake people. Both characters share chapters in first person, which is an interesting approach, though at times it can affect the narrative slightly. The plot moves swiftly from the breathtaking opening scene and rarely falters and some surprising twists and turns will keep readers firmly on their teenage toes.
A highly enjoyable start to an entertaining and intelligent series which thankfully does its best to avoid the standard tropes and many pitfalls of writing in what is fast becoming a hugely saturated market.
Far into the future, catastrophic events leave what remains of mankind struggling for survival. The technology once taken for granted now keeps them alive, powered and enhanced by implants and advanced technology it is the only way to survive. However the technology is becoming scarce and Akaela and her people, a group of cyborgs called The Mayake make do with what they can, scavenging and recycling technology wherever they can, often from their enemies the Gaijian, a race with superior power and technology who live behind a huge fortified wall.
When a peace mission led by Akaela’s father fails to return, she and her brother attempt to discover the truth about his disappearance and uncover a conspiracy that will change the lives of the Mayake people forever.
The author does an impressive job of building a believable world with a distinctive cyberpunk/steampunk feel to it. As each Mayake is born with different defects, the technological enhancements given to them take many shapes and forms, largely dependent on the technology available at the time so each have very different attributes. Akaela has wings built into her shoulders that allow her to glide while her brother Athel has advanced eye implants and the others in the group also have their own unique attributes.
As Akaela and Athel begin to unravel the mystery of their father’s disappearance they become much more more interesting and endearing characters and begin to be more than standard YA fare rebellious teenagers, even though they are treated as so by the strict laws of the Mayake people. Both characters share chapters in first person, which is an interesting approach, though at times it can affect the narrative slightly. The plot moves swiftly from the breathtaking opening scene and rarely falters and some surprising twists and turns will keep readers firmly on their teenage toes.
A highly enjoyable start to an entertaining and intelligent series which thankfully does its best to avoid the standard tropes and many pitfalls of writing in what is fast becoming a hugely saturated market.
May 8, 2015
Akaela is the latest offering by this fast rising author, who started her writing career with her popular Track Presius series. This new book however, the first in the Mayake Chronicles, is catered towards the young adult readership.
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopian future where let’s just say that transhumanism got to a whole new level. People are no longer using chips, implants and advanced technology to enhance their body (and brains). They now use it to survive.
However that is becoming increasingly more difficult due to them being surrounded by the Gaijian, who have taken most of their lands and left them only with The Tower, the last place where the Mayake can still live, with an aging technology that does them no favors.
Akaela is a teen who is the typical dystopian novels heroine. First just a rebellious teen who feels no fear (literally), she matures fast and learns to take things into her own hands to try to save her people.
If you peel away the layers of social interaction, you will have at heart a wonderful crime mystery, one that that Akaela with her brother and friends will be able to solve. They are the detectives here and the ingenious way in which they do that left me quite impressed.
Full book review: http://mysterysequels.com/akaela-by-e...
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopian future where let’s just say that transhumanism got to a whole new level. People are no longer using chips, implants and advanced technology to enhance their body (and brains). They now use it to survive.
However that is becoming increasingly more difficult due to them being surrounded by the Gaijian, who have taken most of their lands and left them only with The Tower, the last place where the Mayake can still live, with an aging technology that does them no favors.
Akaela is a teen who is the typical dystopian novels heroine. First just a rebellious teen who feels no fear (literally), she matures fast and learns to take things into her own hands to try to save her people.
If you peel away the layers of social interaction, you will have at heart a wonderful crime mystery, one that that Akaela with her brother and friends will be able to solve. They are the detectives here and the ingenious way in which they do that left me quite impressed.
Full book review: http://mysterysequels.com/akaela-by-e...
June 2, 2015
While the Young Adult genre isn't my usual stomping ground when it comes to reading, I was very interested in seeing what E.E. Giorgi, who I discovered thanks to her book in the Apocalypse Weird bookverse, could bring to the table. To put it mildly, I was none too disappointed!
The central premise revolves around the cybernetic siblings, Akaela and her brother Athel, searching for their missing father. While this is a very simple explanation, I don't want to give away too much of the finer details. The joy in this book comes from Giogri's exquisite world-building and the lived-in history of the Mayake people and their enemies, the Gaijins. And although there's a clear dystopian streak in the setting of the demolished Tower that the nearly-extinct Mayake call home, there is also a refreshing yearning for peace and rebuilding.
That's not to say that it's all cupcakes and roses, though. There's a small, dark vein running through Akaela, but it's far from detracting and the work never feels bleak nor like it's drowning in sorrow. The finale has a note of sadness, which sets a grand stage for future Mayake Chronicles books, but wrapped around it is a promise of hope.
If you're looking for a YA sci-fi adventure-mystery, I'd heartily recommend Akaela for it's strong characters and depth of setting. It's a terrific read.
The central premise revolves around the cybernetic siblings, Akaela and her brother Athel, searching for their missing father. While this is a very simple explanation, I don't want to give away too much of the finer details. The joy in this book comes from Giogri's exquisite world-building and the lived-in history of the Mayake people and their enemies, the Gaijins. And although there's a clear dystopian streak in the setting of the demolished Tower that the nearly-extinct Mayake call home, there is also a refreshing yearning for peace and rebuilding.
That's not to say that it's all cupcakes and roses, though. There's a small, dark vein running through Akaela, but it's far from detracting and the work never feels bleak nor like it's drowning in sorrow. The finale has a note of sadness, which sets a grand stage for future Mayake Chronicles books, but wrapped around it is a promise of hope.
If you're looking for a YA sci-fi adventure-mystery, I'd heartily recommend Akaela for it's strong characters and depth of setting. It's a terrific read.
May 27, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Akaela, and am looking forward to what promises to be a fascinating new young adult series. The Mayake culture is reminiscent of both Native American and Oriental cultures, add a dystopian future and you come up with a very interesting series. There are so many out there and I can hear y'all saying, oh another one. Thing is, this one is different. It hasn't been done before so don't go pigeonholing this story. You will not be sorry.
The story is told from the view point of Akaela and her brother Athel. Akaela lives a life free of fear. I sat back and pondered that several times while reading the book and finding her getting herself in and out of situations. Fear can occasionally be a good healthy thing to have in your life. It does remind you to think instead of always acting on impulse, because that behavior can risk others not just yourself. I am quite interested to see how Akaela's character develops as her character chafes a bit against the culture of her community.
The story is told from the view point of Akaela and her brother Athel. Akaela lives a life free of fear. I sat back and pondered that several times while reading the book and finding her getting herself in and out of situations. Fear can occasionally be a good healthy thing to have in your life. It does remind you to think instead of always acting on impulse, because that behavior can risk others not just yourself. I am quite interested to see how Akaela's character develops as her character chafes a bit against the culture of her community.
August 11, 2015
What is a girl (even a girl with special artificial integrated technology implants) to do when her daddy goes missing? Go find him of course. That it what Akaela, her brother, and two of their friends set out to do after rescuing Akaela's brother from Mayakean incarceration. But will the foursome make it to the Gaijin's factory where the think their dads are being held or will there be other more costly obstacles in their way?
This was a great futuristic, spell weaving, fresh, all round wonderful book. I was really cool with all the artificial integrated technology one can only hope will someday be available to people that need replacement parts. It was kind of sci-fi meets steampunk, one word awesome especially if you like that technical, mechanical, building things, and I do.
This was a great futuristic, spell weaving, fresh, all round wonderful book. I was really cool with all the artificial integrated technology one can only hope will someday be available to people that need replacement parts. It was kind of sci-fi meets steampunk, one word awesome especially if you like that technical, mechanical, building things, and I do.
August 8, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was full of great characters, excitement, drama, action, sadness, and hope. It was well written and easy to follow and get lost in.
I loved the different points of view throughout the story between Akaela and her brother. It gave different perspectives without being confusing.
I fully recommend this book!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was full of great characters, excitement, drama, action, sadness, and hope. It was well written and easy to follow and get lost in.
I loved the different points of view throughout the story between Akaela and her brother. It gave different perspectives without being confusing.
I fully recommend this book!!
June 20, 2015
I really enjoyed this book :D I am so very thankful there is a 2nd book, because I cannot have the book end where it did! I need to know what happens next! I absolutely love this cover! Take the time, and read this. You won't be sorry :)
October 3, 2015
This book sounds great! I hope to win, read it and enjoy the story ... If I win, the review will be updated once I finish the book :)
December 12, 2015
Amazingly refreshing cyberpunk! Strong female (teen) character in a post-apocalypse earth, thrilling action. Must read!
March 23, 2016
*3.5*
The plot twist at the end did it for me.
The plot twist at the end did it for me.
June 30, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review, but not sure that matters because I had pre-ordered it already and never loaded the one the author gave me to my Kindle. Moral of this story: I'm bad at getting to reviews before release day.
ANYWAYS.
What caught my attention was the cover. It is a beautiful and intriguing cover, and the Mayake people did not disappoint. The author crafted an interesting race that hinted at a vast history. Just enough was given so for the plot so it wasn't overloaded with backstory, but I'm sure the author could fill a whole book on the Mayake and their enemy's history.The Gaiins weren't really described though, leaving me to think they are probably similiar to the Mayake people but with better technology. Hopefully future books will get us face to face with them. In this one, they were mainly part of the history and the reason why the Mayake people were slowly dying. They are using old technology and it is starting to fail them, while the Gaijins have better technology and it's assumed they are thriving.
But that's not the story. The story is Akaela and her brother, Athel,want to find their father, who has been sent on a mission of peace to the Gajins, and give the Mayake people a kick because they are sitting around doing nothing instead of being proactive about their future and fate. Character development was good. I really got a nice sense of Akaela and Athel, as well as Lukas. Wes, not so much, but there is room to flesh him out in later books. I enjoyed the swapping narriative and getting into the sibling's heads. The story pace started off leisurely. It wasn't bad, but I was able to read a few chapters then put it down. The last 30% though... oh man, I couldn't stop. The stakes rose and we find out who the bad guy is (not who I expected and I think a little more hints earlier on would have added more tension.) But having a slower beginning wasn't bad. It let us get to know the characters and world they are living in, made you want to know more. Hopefully, future books will deliver on that.
One thing I really enjoyed was the trope that was thrown on it's head. Usually in YAs we have the teens running off to save the world and forget the adults who may be better equipped to do it. Akaela and Athel do run off to save their dad, but things go bad real fast and they realize they're in over their heads and need the adults' help. That's all I can say without giving any spoilers.
Overall, an enjoyable story and a series I'd like to continue.
ANYWAYS.
What caught my attention was the cover. It is a beautiful and intriguing cover, and the Mayake people did not disappoint. The author crafted an interesting race that hinted at a vast history. Just enough was given so for the plot so it wasn't overloaded with backstory, but I'm sure the author could fill a whole book on the Mayake and their enemy's history.The Gaiins weren't really described though, leaving me to think they are probably similiar to the Mayake people but with better technology. Hopefully future books will get us face to face with them. In this one, they were mainly part of the history and the reason why the Mayake people were slowly dying. They are using old technology and it is starting to fail them, while the Gaijins have better technology and it's assumed they are thriving.
But that's not the story. The story is Akaela and her brother, Athel,want to find their father, who has been sent on a mission of peace to the Gajins, and give the Mayake people a kick because they are sitting around doing nothing instead of being proactive about their future and fate. Character development was good. I really got a nice sense of Akaela and Athel, as well as Lukas. Wes, not so much, but there is room to flesh him out in later books. I enjoyed the swapping narriative and getting into the sibling's heads. The story pace started off leisurely. It wasn't bad, but I was able to read a few chapters then put it down. The last 30% though... oh man, I couldn't stop. The stakes rose and we find out who the bad guy is (not who I expected and I think a little more hints earlier on would have added more tension.) But having a slower beginning wasn't bad. It let us get to know the characters and world they are living in, made you want to know more. Hopefully, future books will deliver on that.
One thing I really enjoyed was the trope that was thrown on it's head. Usually in YAs we have the teens running off to save the world and forget the adults who may be better equipped to do it. Akaela and Athel do run off to save their dad, but things go bad real fast and they realize they're in over their heads and need the adults' help. That's all I can say without giving any spoilers.
Overall, an enjoyable story and a series I'd like to continue.
October 17, 2015
This is a story of life, of overcoming, of love and fear and survival told through the narrative of brother and sister, Athel and Akaela who, with two friends, try to solve the mystery of their missing fathers and bring them home. Different chapters recount the extraordinary unfolding events and inner feelings from the alternating viewpoints of the siblings themselves. And they are very different because these are no ordinary teenagers - they are part of a group of survivors all of whose lives have been maintained by replacing defective vital body parts with cybernetics, and all of them are different even from each other.
But although their bodies might be strange, inside they are all human.
The story is unusual, quirky even, and simply written, easy to read. It is very visual, painting dazzling images of an altered world and the characterisations develop effortlessly, bringing the main protagonists vividly to life. The inner tensions felt by both Akaela and her brother feel real, both good and bad, which also makes this a thoughtful story with ideas which will resonate long after the book is finished.
I do have an occasional reservation about this story, not least the almost-innocence of a people so beset with difficulties and their inability to notice extreme bullying in so small a closed community. But these are small objections in what is, otherwise, an exciting, unusual and well written adventure
June 19, 2015
You know the old adage, "there's never anything new under the sun." Most of the time with regard to YA dystopian fiction I would agree with that.
But Akaela is not most YA dystopian fiction.
While Giorgi's writing style is clean and easy to read, what immediately drew me into the story was the intriguing "part human / part cyborg" concept that was enhanced by the author's obvious knowledge of both human and mechanical workings. Akaela and her brother Athel, along with their pet falcon and kitten, are part of the human race 200 years in the future who have now become dependent upon nanotechnology and robotics to survive. If the unrest between Akaela's people and the neighboring civilization wasn't enough, now the batteries they depend upon for survival are dying unexpectedly.
Told from the rotating perspectives of Akaela and Athel, this book is everything dystopian YA should be... well-written with a cast of characters you feel immediately connected to. I can't wait for the next book in this series and am a new E.E. Giorgi fan for life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Divergent, The Hunger Games, or Maze Runner. Five well-deserved stars to a fantastic book.
But Akaela is not most YA dystopian fiction.
While Giorgi's writing style is clean and easy to read, what immediately drew me into the story was the intriguing "part human / part cyborg" concept that was enhanced by the author's obvious knowledge of both human and mechanical workings. Akaela and her brother Athel, along with their pet falcon and kitten, are part of the human race 200 years in the future who have now become dependent upon nanotechnology and robotics to survive. If the unrest between Akaela's people and the neighboring civilization wasn't enough, now the batteries they depend upon for survival are dying unexpectedly.
Told from the rotating perspectives of Akaela and Athel, this book is everything dystopian YA should be... well-written with a cast of characters you feel immediately connected to. I can't wait for the next book in this series and am a new E.E. Giorgi fan for life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Divergent, The Hunger Games, or Maze Runner. Five well-deserved stars to a fantastic book.
May 23, 2015
I'd thoroughly enjoyed E.E. Giorgi's earlier works and looked forward to reading Akaela on the strength of her earlier work. I'd heard something about it being a "YA" read and had no idea what that meant. Turns out it's "Young Adult" and so it's considerably, well, milder in tone than her detective thrillers "Chimeras" and "Mosaics." Even so, this is a great story of a teenage sister and brother getting by in a post-apocalyptic society. Not an exact comparison, but their lives seem to me to be what kids in Berlin during the blockade of '48-'49 must have endured. Shortages of everything, fractured families, broken infrastructure - though Berlin kids didn't have cyber-parts in their bodies - but being smart and creative, Akaela and brother Athel and friends make do and even thrive. They decide to go rescue their father and two other men from their Mayake tribe from the vastly more powerful Gaijin. I'll leave it to you to enjoy the plot and story yourself and I'm sure you'll enjoy it immensely. Great story for all ages but especially for teenagers. They'll empathize with Akaela and Athel in all the teenage ways.
May 22, 2015
This author is a genius with descriptive prose allowing you to feel and see the worlds she creates. The science and technology is always fun and easy to imagine in her worlds. I like the questions of the imagination that are posed, answered and shown like, have you ever wanted to fly and what it feels like. This author lets you experience that with her characters and technology. It is a world with cyborgs, outcast, a genetically unequal people whose world has been destroyed and they exiled from the very technology they need to survive. This is about politics, control and shadow goals that are not obvious to the people. It is about family trying to survive and fighting for the right to live, to exist. It is about doing what needs to be done to save the people you love. It also totally sci-fi fantasy at its best. The world the author paints comes alive. The workings of the world are complex, yet human in the way they play out. The wonderful description makes the world play out like movie in my mind. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series.
August 7, 2015
This is the first book of E.E. Giorgi which I read. It was an amazing visual treat because of her detailing and visualization . The story mainly focuses on the 2 young siblings who are half robots and their struggle to fight with the enemies only for protection of their father. Through out the book, we see the new world unfold by Athel and Akaela's eyes alternatively. Its all about finding the real enemies, about friendship, betrayal and love. Frankly I wished to know more about the story through Lukas ( Athel's friend) point of view. He wasn't just a nerd surely lost in his data feeds. For me, Athel is more of the hero rather Akaela. The ending was rushed to be honest, I was more of lost in the trance, in their struggle and fights earlier.
Waiting for the sequels and more of the nanobots and batteries.
Waiting for the sequels and more of the nanobots and batteries.
May 7, 2015
How do I review this awesome story? I can tell you that the place setting is weird. I can tell you that the people in the story are weird, cyborgs. But, I expect that you got that already 'cause of the cover, and the cover is terrific. I can tell you Akaela can fly, well glide on the thermals anyway.
The story is told through both the eyes of Akaela and her brother Athel. It's about life love, family, loss, and friendship. It's also about trust. I recommend this YA book to anyone who likes to jump in feet first!
The story is told through both the eyes of Akaela and her brother Athel. It's about life love, family, loss, and friendship. It's also about trust. I recommend this YA book to anyone who likes to jump in feet first!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews