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The Books of Ezekiel #1
The Given
WELCOME TO THE ALCHEMIC APARTHEID...
For over one hundred years the Civic Order and the Alchemic Order have held a shaky truce, peppered by violence and mistrust. But when Koa, a Civilian-born insurgency, bombs an Alchemist summit, the truce is shattered. Now, Koa is rising. War is coming. And all sixteen-year-old Zeika Anon can do is keep moving as she watches the lords of alchemy slowly overtake her home.
But when clashes between Koa and the Alchemic Order put a final, deadly squeeze on the remaining Civilian territories, Zeika finds herself in the crosshairs of fate. She must walk the line between survival and rebellion against the Alchemists. On one side of the line awaits death. On the other, the betrayal of her civilization, her loyalties, and herself.
--
The first volume in THE BOOKS OF EZEKIEL series, THE GIVEN is a fast-paced, post-apocalyptic survival tale, set in the streets of a dying city that has been crushed by alchemic law. Layered with the elements of gritty crime drama, dark urban fantasy, hard sci-fi, and horror, THE GIVEN is a wild ride to the end of a young girl’s sanity as she struggles with an impossible choice: to keep one step ahead of a war… or to be consumed by it.
CONTENT WARNING - Contains coarse language, intense violence, adult / suggestive themes, and aberrant behavior. Reader discretion is advised.
For over one hundred years the Civic Order and the Alchemic Order have held a shaky truce, peppered by violence and mistrust. But when Koa, a Civilian-born insurgency, bombs an Alchemist summit, the truce is shattered. Now, Koa is rising. War is coming. And all sixteen-year-old Zeika Anon can do is keep moving as she watches the lords of alchemy slowly overtake her home.
But when clashes between Koa and the Alchemic Order put a final, deadly squeeze on the remaining Civilian territories, Zeika finds herself in the crosshairs of fate. She must walk the line between survival and rebellion against the Alchemists. On one side of the line awaits death. On the other, the betrayal of her civilization, her loyalties, and herself.
--
The first volume in THE BOOKS OF EZEKIEL series, THE GIVEN is a fast-paced, post-apocalyptic survival tale, set in the streets of a dying city that has been crushed by alchemic law. Layered with the elements of gritty crime drama, dark urban fantasy, hard sci-fi, and horror, THE GIVEN is a wild ride to the end of a young girl’s sanity as she struggles with an impossible choice: to keep one step ahead of a war… or to be consumed by it.
CONTENT WARNING - Contains coarse language, intense violence, adult / suggestive themes, and aberrant behavior. Reader discretion is advised.
244 pages, ebook
First published May 31, 2013
46 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Colby R. Rice
27 books71 followersLet's start this party off right... I'd love to send you a free starter set of my books! Just click the link to grab your free novels: http://colbyrrice.com
Now an intro! ;-)
Sci-fi, Fantasy, & Thriller Novelist. Screenwriter. Film Producer. Globetrotter. Action Junkie. Rebel Ragdoll.
A shameless nerd and bookworm since the age of five, Colby R Rice is the author of Ghosts of Koa, the first novel in The Books of Ezekiel, a dystopian-urban fantasy decalogy. She was an Air Force BRAT born in Bitburg Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and came to the States at the age of one. Colby bounced around a lot, but finally settled in Los Angeles, where she could at last deal with her addictions to creative entrepreneurship, motorcycles, and traveling.
Now, armed with a mound of animal crackers and gallons of Coca-Cola, Colby takes on fiction writing in a fight to the death!
Current projects include: the second novel in the Books of Ezekiel series, the first novel in a middle grade SFF detective series, the first novel in an adult sci-fi thriller series, development of her first sci-fi thriller film, and the growth of her production house, Rebel Ragdoll. Stay tuned at colbyrrice.com!
Now an intro! ;-)
Sci-fi, Fantasy, & Thriller Novelist. Screenwriter. Film Producer. Globetrotter. Action Junkie. Rebel Ragdoll.
A shameless nerd and bookworm since the age of five, Colby R Rice is the author of Ghosts of Koa, the first novel in The Books of Ezekiel, a dystopian-urban fantasy decalogy. She was an Air Force BRAT born in Bitburg Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and came to the States at the age of one. Colby bounced around a lot, but finally settled in Los Angeles, where she could at last deal with her addictions to creative entrepreneurship, motorcycles, and traveling.
Now, armed with a mound of animal crackers and gallons of Coca-Cola, Colby takes on fiction writing in a fight to the death!
Current projects include: the second novel in the Books of Ezekiel series, the first novel in a middle grade SFF detective series, the first novel in an adult sci-fi thriller series, development of her first sci-fi thriller film, and the growth of her production house, Rebel Ragdoll. Stay tuned at colbyrrice.com!
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 3, 2019
THE GIVEN-1
COLBY R.RICE.
Book of Ezequiel Saga
I was completely drawn into the story, layered with elements of a post apocalyptic background, drama, science fiction, peppered with dark urban fantasy and horror, this story is a provocative and explosive cocktail of genres. A gruesome, gritty and gripping life of Ezequiel in a tough world, trying to survive in a dark and perilous surroundings. I’m totally captivated, the author has drawn me into the characters’ lives with a realistic facility! Onto book 2, The Taken!
COLBY R.RICE.
Book of Ezequiel Saga
I was completely drawn into the story, layered with elements of a post apocalyptic background, drama, science fiction, peppered with dark urban fantasy and horror, this story is a provocative and explosive cocktail of genres. A gruesome, gritty and gripping life of Ezequiel in a tough world, trying to survive in a dark and perilous surroundings. I’m totally captivated, the author has drawn me into the characters’ lives with a realistic facility! Onto book 2, The Taken!
July 3, 2022
3,5 stars
I quite enjoyed the main character, and her family dynamics. Loving father, who's rarely there as he is working his feet off trying to earn money. A mom who has a drug problem, but tries to do the best for her family, even if it means sacrificing principles and dignity. A young woman trying to care for her sister. A family just trying to get through life in a world that has broken down and war and violence are ever closing in on the few civilian territories.
I liked how real and three dimensional people felt and how they just did what needed doing. I also quite enjoyed the mix of post apocalyptic world, fantasy aspects, police procedural, survival, family, trust, betrayal and mystery.
The dystopian story features a lot of societal topics like oppression, racism, abuse of power, ... And I thought they were handled rather well!
I would have wished for a bit more explanation, or clearer settings here and there. We get thrown right in the middle of teh story, and I had to track back every so often, thinking I missed something, when it just wasn't actually there. It wasn't so much it really threw me off, but I felt a bit lost at times.
I also miss a bit of overarching plot, as it seems like a random string of things happening, without much forward progress.
As this does fit in with just trying to keep your head above the water I didn't mind the meandering too much, and still quite liked the story overall!
I quite enjoyed the main character, and her family dynamics. Loving father, who's rarely there as he is working his feet off trying to earn money. A mom who has a drug problem, but tries to do the best for her family, even if it means sacrificing principles and dignity. A young woman trying to care for her sister. A family just trying to get through life in a world that has broken down and war and violence are ever closing in on the few civilian territories.
I liked how real and three dimensional people felt and how they just did what needed doing. I also quite enjoyed the mix of post apocalyptic world, fantasy aspects, police procedural, survival, family, trust, betrayal and mystery.
The dystopian story features a lot of societal topics like oppression, racism, abuse of power, ... And I thought they were handled rather well!
I would have wished for a bit more explanation, or clearer settings here and there. We get thrown right in the middle of teh story, and I had to track back every so often, thinking I missed something, when it just wasn't actually there. It wasn't so much it really threw me off, but I felt a bit lost at times.
I also miss a bit of overarching plot, as it seems like a random string of things happening, without much forward progress.
As this does fit in with just trying to keep your head above the water I didn't mind the meandering too much, and still quite liked the story overall!
July 13, 2017
Awesome dystopian story, the first in a series, that pulled me into a world that is so detailed that I almost instantly bonded with the protagonist and her little sister. I love them both now and hurt when they do. Which is a lot!
Don't waste your time on this review. Go get the book. It and book 2 are incredible.
Don't waste your time on this review. Go get the book. It and book 2 are incredible.
May 24, 2018
Imaginative apocalyptic story, with some real twists in the usual 'survival' part of such a tale. Thoroughly enjoyable.
July 29, 2017
When I first started reading this book I felt as though I'd been thrown into the middle of the story and had no idea what was going on. I even stopped to make sure that this was, in fact, the first book in the series. After a chapter or two, it all started to make sense.
The Books of Ezekiel is a dystopian fantasy. There are points of reference that let the reader know that the Earth as we know it has been destroyed, and the characters are living in a possible future. There are at least two warring factions, the Koa and that Alchemists, who are supposed to leave Civilian territories alone. Naturally, their conflict begins to encroach onto territories that don't belong to either of them. Which is where the protagonist, Zeika and her little sister, Manja, come in.
Zeika, Manja, and their family are just trying to keep their heads above water in a world that is coming apart at the seams. When they become separated, Zeika, has to do whatever she can to keep her sister alive even if it means accepting help from Caleb, an Azure cop, and alchemist. She doesn't want his help and she certainly doesn't want to trust him because surely he wants something she isn't willing to give in return.
I am interested to see what happens in the second part of Zeika's story which continues in The Taken.
The Books of Ezekiel is a dystopian fantasy. There are points of reference that let the reader know that the Earth as we know it has been destroyed, and the characters are living in a possible future. There are at least two warring factions, the Koa and that Alchemists, who are supposed to leave Civilian territories alone. Naturally, their conflict begins to encroach onto territories that don't belong to either of them. Which is where the protagonist, Zeika and her little sister, Manja, come in.
Zeika, Manja, and their family are just trying to keep their heads above water in a world that is coming apart at the seams. When they become separated, Zeika, has to do whatever she can to keep her sister alive even if it means accepting help from Caleb, an Azure cop, and alchemist. She doesn't want his help and she certainly doesn't want to trust him because surely he wants something she isn't willing to give in return.
I am interested to see what happens in the second part of Zeika's story which continues in The Taken.
April 10, 2019
Wow, that was intense.
The book begins with a car chase trying to retrieve the 'Final Page', which has been stolen, but then jumps 2 months forward into the story proper giving no explanation of what the 'Final Page' is, who the people were, or what events preceded it. I believe this is called foreshadowing -- someone please correct me if i'm mistaken. But, whatever the literary device is called it's certainly done with great effect. It throws you, head first, straight into the non stop action of this relentless book, which isn't going to let you off its hook until you get to the end, and even then, it'll leave you hooked on the next book in the series.
As we leave the enigmatic first chapter and begin to move through the book, more and more is slowly revealed. The various characters appear, which Colby does a wonderful job bringing to life, and it feels as much a character driven story as a plot driven one. All the characters are really good and well written.
And as the characters are revealed so is each of the various groups that they belong to within the world of the story. And then, within each group, sub-groups begin to appear, each with their own rivalries and agendas.
Thrown into the middle all of this is our protagonist, Ezekiel, who, along with her little sister, are simply trying to survive. But you really get the feeling that the only way of surviving the future that is coming to them is to join one of the many groups.
Getting to the end of the book and looking back: the whole book is mostly setting the stage and introducing the various characters and groups that i presume will be the basis of the story going forward, but it wouldn't surprise me if there's more to be added. It really is an incredibly complex and diverse dystopian future humanity has found itself in, but's it's never too complex to leave you confused -- a very fine line that Colby walks incredibly well.
Final thoughts... i'm very much left looking forward to reading The Taken, but i just have a quick novella i pre-ordered and have been eagerly waiting to read to whizz through first. So yeah, i'll definitely be back very soon with more of Ezekiel's world.
Awesome!
The book begins with a car chase trying to retrieve the 'Final Page', which has been stolen, but then jumps 2 months forward into the story proper giving no explanation of what the 'Final Page' is, who the people were, or what events preceded it. I believe this is called foreshadowing -- someone please correct me if i'm mistaken. But, whatever the literary device is called it's certainly done with great effect. It throws you, head first, straight into the non stop action of this relentless book, which isn't going to let you off its hook until you get to the end, and even then, it'll leave you hooked on the next book in the series.
As we leave the enigmatic first chapter and begin to move through the book, more and more is slowly revealed. The various characters appear, which Colby does a wonderful job bringing to life, and it feels as much a character driven story as a plot driven one. All the characters are really good and well written.
And as the characters are revealed so is each of the various groups that they belong to within the world of the story. And then, within each group, sub-groups begin to appear, each with their own rivalries and agendas.
Thrown into the middle all of this is our protagonist, Ezekiel, who, along with her little sister, are simply trying to survive. But you really get the feeling that the only way of surviving the future that is coming to them is to join one of the many groups.
Getting to the end of the book and looking back: the whole book is mostly setting the stage and introducing the various characters and groups that i presume will be the basis of the story going forward, but it wouldn't surprise me if there's more to be added. It really is an incredibly complex and diverse dystopian future humanity has found itself in, but's it's never too complex to leave you confused -- a very fine line that Colby walks incredibly well.
Final thoughts... i'm very much left looking forward to reading The Taken, but i just have a quick novella i pre-ordered and have been eagerly waiting to read to whizz through first. So yeah, i'll definitely be back very soon with more of Ezekiel's world.
Awesome!
May 25, 2017
This is a Cannonball read! Excellent and intricate almost perfected in its descrition; The whole world that is featured is painted up, in such a way it goes without the reader noticing it, the characters are in depth and becomes vivid in the readers mind. You love some and you loath some, but few leaves you untouched. When entering this dystopian-like other world that is skillfully portrayed you really feel the story, so in that capacity its magnificent. My only complaint, I got frustrated for not being able to give a hand to Zeika and her little sister (cant help who I am). But in a most define way it should tell you that this is a awesome book, that triggers such a response...
*Cannonball read= when it is full speed ahead, starts with a boom, thrilling ride but you dont want/fear when it comes to an end..
*Cannonball read= when it is full speed ahead, starts with a boom, thrilling ride but you dont want/fear when it comes to an end..
September 7, 2017
A dystopian novel if ever i read one, a society so messed up no one could trust anyone else. It was cruel and horribly graphic at some points but it keeps the reader hooked and on their toes. Mainly due to the fact that the story revolves around Zeika and her young sister Manja who she defends with her very life in a world that has gone completely wrong. Yet even in a society where all hell is let loose there is a good guy, Caleb, an azure, an alchemical proficient, a detective and now it seems also a protector, though his past is still very secret! Ezekial/Zeika is a real female kick ass hero, yet in the same read the detective's jibes at one another are very misogynistic and deprecating to women, and the way they talk to people like Zeika is very belittling and insulting! However saying this i think i would still like to read the next book in this series.
April 14, 2022
The dystopian world created in this novel is a very unusual concept. So, it is not a run-of-the-mill kind of book, and once you get your head around the way this society works, you realise you are in the middle of a very clever story. It is well-written and very interesting, and gets you rooting for the two girls from very early on.
It is certainly not a world I would wish to live in!
It is certainly not a world I would wish to live in!
November 9, 2017
Late getting this review in here...not sure when I started it. Thank you Instafreebie for another great introduction to a new author ! Sometimes a Random Dystopian Future Location can be a problem with enjoying a story: not this time! The lack of introductory information became a strength of the story. I read with Expectations...and as a long time sci-fi & fantasy reader I should Know Better. I am amazed at the subtle way the author dropped small hints like bread crumbs...blending diverse elements into a unique mix of dystopia, fantasy, and kick-ass characters. Zeika & Manja are sisters , trying to survive a rough existence with their addict mom & overworked father. The authoritarian government has shut down their home business, The Forge, which provided a way for Civilians to protect their Demesne with sales & repair of all equipment including guns. Now Zeika has to hide the black market business with sales from their vegetable garden in barter for other supplies. The Azure Alchemic Order brutally enforces their laws ; Zeika & her sister are protected by the Articles39 for now, but proof that they are collaborating with the rebel anarchist KOA would strip that protection from them. During an investigation into a local bombing, Zeika & her family cone to the attention of an Azure Task Leader who has been reassigned to a police depot on the edge of the Protected Demesne. Caleb offers help in exchange for information, but Zeika has to decide if he is trustworthy or just another cog in the Alchemical Order.
February 1, 2019
There are moments when one finds an author and knows they stumbled onto something truly uncommon. If this first work in this series is any indication Colby R. Rice will be a name to look out for.
I’d like to think I’m fairly well read in science fiction of multiple sub-genres , dystopian fiction, and wide swaths of fantasy including urban fantasy. I found this world unquestionably original, beautifuly constructed, and somehow haunting while maintaining a truth that was immersive.
I tend to like my sci-fi on the hard side of the spectrum, and while this did have some fantasy elements where the alchemists were concerned their acts were portrayed as a result of scientific mastery. The use of magic, or alchemy as described in this world was present yet in no way overbearing.
The characters, even those with minor parts to play, all felt genuine. I felt their struggles, held hope for their triumphs, and was pained at their losses. By the end of the book I was completely invested in our protagonists’ well being, itching with curiosity over enigmatic players who seemed to straddle sides, and even felt understanding for some of our antagonists.
I wasn’t distracted by faults I’ve found common in new authors, didn’t find the story predictable or leading, the content all seemed well researched and portrayed with an honesty and realism that combined to make this book an escapist pleasure.
I hope Colby continues to build this world for us to relish. I’m in for the long haul.
I’d like to think I’m fairly well read in science fiction of multiple sub-genres , dystopian fiction, and wide swaths of fantasy including urban fantasy. I found this world unquestionably original, beautifuly constructed, and somehow haunting while maintaining a truth that was immersive.
I tend to like my sci-fi on the hard side of the spectrum, and while this did have some fantasy elements where the alchemists were concerned their acts were portrayed as a result of scientific mastery. The use of magic, or alchemy as described in this world was present yet in no way overbearing.
The characters, even those with minor parts to play, all felt genuine. I felt their struggles, held hope for their triumphs, and was pained at their losses. By the end of the book I was completely invested in our protagonists’ well being, itching with curiosity over enigmatic players who seemed to straddle sides, and even felt understanding for some of our antagonists.
I wasn’t distracted by faults I’ve found common in new authors, didn’t find the story predictable or leading, the content all seemed well researched and portrayed with an honesty and realism that combined to make this book an escapist pleasure.
I hope Colby continues to build this world for us to relish. I’m in for the long haul.
February 13, 2018
A lot of people don't like glossaries in books. I do - I like to read them before the book just so I have a bit of a sense of the world before I start exploring it. The Given is a perfect example of why I do this - it had no glossary so I constantly felt like I was just one step behind understanding.
Another issue I had with it was that it had a weak throughline - the ending was OK but I'm left confused as to what the point of the narrative was.
So why such a high rating? Well, the writing was excellent and there was plenty of action to keep me hooked. The worldbuilding was interesting and let me wanting to know more about how alchemy works and the alchemical schools and creatures...
It deals with things like systemic poverty and race/classism. The main character is female and Rice writes her perspective very, very well - "Zeeky" is neither a Mary Sue nor a man with breasts, which is still lamentably rare.
My favourite part was where Rice was describing how Zeika's father is Muslim and her mother is Catholic, and the answer to the question "How do they deal with religious conflict?" is just "They dealt with the apocalypse, compared to that religion is easy." If only that "Does it matter?" attitude was more common.
Another issue I had with it was that it had a weak throughline - the ending was OK but I'm left confused as to what the point of the narrative was.
So why such a high rating? Well, the writing was excellent and there was plenty of action to keep me hooked. The worldbuilding was interesting and let me wanting to know more about how alchemy works and the alchemical schools and creatures...
It deals with things like systemic poverty and race/classism. The main character is female and Rice writes her perspective very, very well - "Zeeky" is neither a Mary Sue nor a man with breasts, which is still lamentably rare.
My favourite part was where Rice was describing how Zeika's father is Muslim and her mother is Catholic, and the answer to the question "How do they deal with religious conflict?" is just "They dealt with the apocalypse, compared to that religion is easy." If only that "Does it matter?" attitude was more common.
June 26, 2023
The Given is a dystopian story featuring a young woman and her little sister. The dismal reality of their lives really resonated with me, and I kept wishing someone would help them. That someone did come along, but his story is yet to be told. I found myself a bit confused at times. The worldbuilding hints were a bit too vague for me. For example, are the MC's Muslim or ? Where and why did the distinct districts and cultures or whatever they are, e.g. Azures, come from? I need more background, and I think Colby Rice has the makings of a great prequel to fill in these gaps. For those who enjoy reading the dystopian genre, this is a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 17, 2018
This was an interesting read. I thought it was wonderful how Z went to extreme lengths to take care of her sister. It was awful that her father wasn't in the story more and quite frankly her mother was atrocious. Scary but plausible storyline.
I wish there was more information about the different groups, ex. Ninkashi. There were a lot of terms in the story that I am just not familiar with. A glossary or something would be great.
I was gifted an ARC (in a boxed set) in return of an honest review.
I wish there was more information about the different groups, ex. Ninkashi. There were a lot of terms in the story that I am just not familiar with. A glossary or something would be great.
I was gifted an ARC (in a boxed set) in return of an honest review.
October 26, 2018
In war, it's usually the innocents who suffer most, and that's definitely the case in this story about a family caught in a near future, Dystopian world where a civil war has broken out between the haves and the have-nots.
Well written with a spunky, determined and not completely powerless heroine and her adorable little sister, this one's another Book 1, so fair warning, you're not going to find one of those HEA endings ... at least not yet, but if you're looking for a series to keep you reading this winter, it's well worth the read.
Well written with a spunky, determined and not completely powerless heroine and her adorable little sister, this one's another Book 1, so fair warning, you're not going to find one of those HEA endings ... at least not yet, but if you're looking for a series to keep you reading this winter, it's well worth the read.
October 7, 2018
3.5 stars. The Given is the first book in The Books of Ezekiel series. This can be read as standalone, but it is clear from the ending that there is more to the story. There is violence and use of magic. This is an interesting story of the haves and the have nots. Of those with magic and those that don't. Of the ruling class and the rebels. This is not your typical story but it is worth reading.
June 29, 2017
Fast paced, bloody and violent well worth the read I would recommend this author great book
March 17, 2018
Terrible read
I made it about two chapters. Its overall just boring and I have no idea what's happening. I'm not sure who to focus on. Its like descriptive rambling.
I made it about two chapters. Its overall just boring and I have no idea what's happening. I'm not sure who to focus on. Its like descriptive rambling.
April 30, 2018
A fascinating look at a future dystopian world, with intriguing characters and an obscure and complex social structure. I think there's a lot more to learn - and not just from the second volume.
June 5, 2018
Loved this story! Looking forward to reading more!!
January 31, 2019
Brilliant first book in the series! Good ideas, characters & well written! Glad I found this writer!
February 3, 2020
Good read
I enjoyed this book. My second time reading it. Players seem authentic and believable. If you like dystopian books.. try this one.
I enjoyed this book. My second time reading it. Players seem authentic and believable. If you like dystopian books.. try this one.
January 17, 2021
Excellent! Grips you right from the first page and keeps on going.
October 23, 2023
It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked! I look forward to reading more!
January 23, 2019
I'm about 60% done and am really into it. Read most of it in just a couple of sittings. Think I will be finishing it today.
Finished! Good book! If you like well written books with three dimensional charters this is a book well worth reading.
Finished! Good book! If you like well written books with three dimensional charters this is a book well worth reading.
February 29, 2016
Not a fan of authors who will introduce something (like the "Azures") without explaining what the heck in means. Very hard to follow, poorly written, with little explinations.
April 2, 2017
Not Kindle Unlimited, seems to be permafree, and for some reason had the audio even though it's asking me if want to add audio and even though the audible rating links right back to here, so trying not to get more aggravated, because took forever the way it was labeled to even figure out what book it went to, and then if it was just part 1 or both parts. At least the audible app wasn't akin to a farm dog gone bad and sucking eggs, for a change, but the continued need to have to click on each part, and there were many many parts, was aggravating to say the least. {There are 0 - 18 parts}. The book, with repeated distractions and cuts to the flow didn't seem to make sense in a few places, and that was probably half or more at fault.Seemed like a decent enough book just tried to be too many things, all at the same time.Reading the book didn't clear much more up, though that very well could have been because after spending half an our or more tracking down just what book it was then having to fight, less than usual but still, with the audio and then find ebook and pull it up...was too aggravated and tired to really care much.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews