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The Seven Cities #1
Veracity
Librarian Notes: this is an alternate cover edition for ASIN: B00KYJI3YW.
Katherine is alone in a decaying world, abandoned by the man who stole her memories, yet claimed to love her.
She will journey through the darkest parts of the old world, facing horror and death along the way. A soldier will save her, bringing her to the great walled city of Veracity. She is drawn to him, but he harbors secrets that will change her life.
Relearning the strict rules of the world she was born into will be the easy part. Figuring out she is more than just a pawn, in a game she can't remember, will be a matter of life and death.
Katherine is alone in a decaying world, abandoned by the man who stole her memories, yet claimed to love her.
She will journey through the darkest parts of the old world, facing horror and death along the way. A soldier will save her, bringing her to the great walled city of Veracity. She is drawn to him, but he harbors secrets that will change her life.
Relearning the strict rules of the world she was born into will be the easy part. Figuring out she is more than just a pawn, in a game she can't remember, will be a matter of life and death.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2014
5 people are currently reading
955 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Stell
1 book20 followersLife has been crazy these last few years (see most recent blog post for more info). I am moving to a new account to reflect a name change ---->
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 27, 2014
I received a copy from the author personally in exchange for a fair and honest review.
What I like: This story is very compelling, with much of its careful worldbuilding revealed later in the story with small hints at the beginning at what kind of world we have been dropped into. With an unconventional opening to the story with our main character Katherine having no previous memories of the world she had been raised in and a strange man named Jack who has wiped her memories. A strange way to start the story, and some can say an easy way into introducing the worldbuilding, but nevertheless it was very interesting to read and see how everything was built up. The rules we learn about this new society make for an interesting discussion, especially on the morality of some of the things you learn in the later part of the second half of the book. I thought the color coding of the different social classes was neat, and in a way threw back to old world society where certain colors were only wore by people of certain social standings, such as how purple was reserved specifically for the royal family in certain countries. Kat’s brother was also interesting to meet, but it was rather quickly established that he’s probably crazy and drunk with power considering he declares himself King of the Seven Cities all because his father called him and his sister his prince and princess. Felt like more of a plot device and I wasn’t allowed to decide if I was going to like his character since it was shoved onto the reader so quickly, which was something I did not like in the least.
What I didn’t like: The history to how the society came about seemed a bit rushed, despite the impact its apparently had on the entire population of Earth and how few people there seem to be. It just felt glossed over and I felt it could have been expanded upon for a greater effect on those who read it, because it seemed really insignificant. Also, the whole generations thing bothered me because I think it mentioned there were at least six generations between Kat’s generation (or maybe it was Max’s generation? If it’s Max’s generation, add two more generations to get to Kat’s bringing it up to at least eight generations) and the generation when the Cleanse happened. A generation is anywhere between 20 and 25 years long . Taking that into account and we use the six generations and twenty years thing the Cleanse happened over one hundred and twenty years ago . At the most using the eight generations and twenty-five year thing the Cleanse happened over two hundred years ago . Now, why am I bothered by this? The abandoned buildings Kat finds throughout the first part of the book. They should be gone, rotted, nothing should remain of those buildings, not unless someone took the time to keep them in a half-way respectable state. I doubt this though. This is a huge flaw to me because I was thinking that the world as we know it hadn’t ended too long ago, at least in Kat’s grandparents time things were like we know it until we learn the history from Max. I will cite Chernobyl because that happened in the late eighties, not even forty years ago and the land that was abandoned by many people has already overgrown with vegetation and humanities presence has disappeared rather rapidly. It was a glaring error and it bothers me greatly and had a huge impact on the scoring for the book. A bit of an end to tack on, Grayson’s dad at the end? Like, that just seemed really out of characteristic for his dad from everything we had seen thus far. It didn’t make sense in the slightest to me really.
Overall review: Despite some rather obvious (to me) flaws and some things that seemed out of characteristic and a few decisions that I wanted to make taken away from me I thought it was a rather enjoyable read. The interesting worldbuilding, the new social rules, and even the dressing customs were interesting. While it did take me a while to get through it was rather hard to put down when I had to and easy to pick back up when I got my next chance to read it. The characters were well rounded in most areas that I looked for and their motivations for the most part made sense when their actions were made. Although while I was originally rooting for that Jack character to rescue her later on when we meet him again I found that I didn’t like how he acts towards her. It struck me as really odd. Nevertheless, I will definitely look into reading the rest of the series if given the chance to. The romance is sort of also a big focus in this book once she reaches Veracity, but it’s not overwhelming usually which I liked. She also wasn’t liked by everyone but those who didn’t like her didn’t have happy ends it seems. Not sure how to feel about that really.
Recommend?: I would, because it was an interesting sci-fi story, one of the more interesting ones I’ve read but it could do with some improvements like any story can.
What I like: This story is very compelling, with much of its careful worldbuilding revealed later in the story with small hints at the beginning at what kind of world we have been dropped into. With an unconventional opening to the story with our main character Katherine having no previous memories of the world she had been raised in and a strange man named Jack who has wiped her memories. A strange way to start the story, and some can say an easy way into introducing the worldbuilding, but nevertheless it was very interesting to read and see how everything was built up. The rules we learn about this new society make for an interesting discussion, especially on the morality of some of the things you learn in the later part of the second half of the book. I thought the color coding of the different social classes was neat, and in a way threw back to old world society where certain colors were only wore by people of certain social standings, such as how purple was reserved specifically for the royal family in certain countries. Kat’s brother was also interesting to meet, but it was rather quickly established that he’s probably crazy and drunk with power considering he declares himself King of the Seven Cities all because his father called him and his sister his prince and princess. Felt like more of a plot device and I wasn’t allowed to decide if I was going to like his character since it was shoved onto the reader so quickly, which was something I did not like in the least.
What I didn’t like: The history to how the society came about seemed a bit rushed, despite the impact its apparently had on the entire population of Earth and how few people there seem to be. It just felt glossed over and I felt it could have been expanded upon for a greater effect on those who read it, because it seemed really insignificant. Also, the whole generations thing bothered me because I think it mentioned there were at least six generations between Kat’s generation (or maybe it was Max’s generation? If it’s Max’s generation, add two more generations to get to Kat’s bringing it up to at least eight generations) and the generation when the Cleanse happened. A generation is anywhere between 20 and 25 years long . Taking that into account and we use the six generations and twenty years thing the Cleanse happened over one hundred and twenty years ago . At the most using the eight generations and twenty-five year thing the Cleanse happened over two hundred years ago . Now, why am I bothered by this? The abandoned buildings Kat finds throughout the first part of the book. They should be gone, rotted, nothing should remain of those buildings, not unless someone took the time to keep them in a half-way respectable state. I doubt this though. This is a huge flaw to me because I was thinking that the world as we know it hadn’t ended too long ago, at least in Kat’s grandparents time things were like we know it until we learn the history from Max. I will cite Chernobyl because that happened in the late eighties, not even forty years ago and the land that was abandoned by many people has already overgrown with vegetation and humanities presence has disappeared rather rapidly. It was a glaring error and it bothers me greatly and had a huge impact on the scoring for the book. A bit of an end to tack on, Grayson’s dad at the end? Like, that just seemed really out of characteristic for his dad from everything we had seen thus far. It didn’t make sense in the slightest to me really.
Overall review: Despite some rather obvious (to me) flaws and some things that seemed out of characteristic and a few decisions that I wanted to make taken away from me I thought it was a rather enjoyable read. The interesting worldbuilding, the new social rules, and even the dressing customs were interesting. While it did take me a while to get through it was rather hard to put down when I had to and easy to pick back up when I got my next chance to read it. The characters were well rounded in most areas that I looked for and their motivations for the most part made sense when their actions were made. Although while I was originally rooting for that Jack character to rescue her later on when we meet him again I found that I didn’t like how he acts towards her. It struck me as really odd. Nevertheless, I will definitely look into reading the rest of the series if given the chance to. The romance is sort of also a big focus in this book once she reaches Veracity, but it’s not overwhelming usually which I liked. She also wasn’t liked by everyone but those who didn’t like her didn’t have happy ends it seems. Not sure how to feel about that really.
Recommend?: I would, because it was an interesting sci-fi story, one of the more interesting ones I’ve read but it could do with some improvements like any story can.
July 27, 2015
Graceling meets Hunger Games!
Review coming soon...
Review coming soon...
January 21, 2015
This book had me intrigued from the first page. Kat wakes up to having her memory wiped clean.
It wraps around my mind like a dark cloud, choking off my ability to think, and threatening to consume me. Dragging me down into the darkest parts of myself, it forces me to abandon my attempt to remember. The pain subsides instantly, and I am left with nothing.
I had to imagine how I would feel or react if I woke up tomorrow and didn't know who I was, who I could trust, or what my place in the world was.
Jack told me I was beautiful, but what if I'm not? Would that really matter? Should it matter? Would seeing my appearance really change what little concept I have of myself?.
The book follows Kat through her trip to a safe house once her captor (Jack) has left her, her unexplainable feelings for Grayson (her fiancé's brother), and the difficulties adjusting to a world and culture that follows a set of rules for a reason, even if she can stop from questioning it. All she has to cling on to is what others reveal to her in the present and the vivid dreams she has each night that seem like real memories.
No one wants to take a journey alone.
The beginning was a bit slow for me, but I was hooked once Grayson walked into the safe house to rescue Kat. It was very tough to put the book down then because all I wanted to do was find out the who-done-it answers. For a world where lies and secrets won't be tolerated, these characters sure have a whole lot of them.
They say a part of you dies when you lose a loved one, but when Katherine was taken, only a small part remained alive.
The author did a fantastic job eliciting the right emotion at the right time, scattering the crumbs of the puzzle well enough to give the reader a good hunt to solve it, and wrote the characters through their growth and development so that we believe in their struggle and need to survive.
Avoiding the pain I have learned to associate with remembering.
She also does a great job at truly making the reader think about Kat's experience and the environment.
In this world without lies, I wonder just what people would get away with if they truly believe what they've done is right.
Although tattered and torn now, it's obvious they were a work of art and must have taken forever to create. What is the point of such fragile currency? What would happen if your money was destroyed? It doesn't look like it is that hard to do.
"You talk like our lives are nothing more than dreams and death is waking up."
I definitely recommend reading this book and I look forward to enjoying the other books in this series as they become available.
Please note: I was given this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
It wraps around my mind like a dark cloud, choking off my ability to think, and threatening to consume me. Dragging me down into the darkest parts of myself, it forces me to abandon my attempt to remember. The pain subsides instantly, and I am left with nothing.
I had to imagine how I would feel or react if I woke up tomorrow and didn't know who I was, who I could trust, or what my place in the world was.
Jack told me I was beautiful, but what if I'm not? Would that really matter? Should it matter? Would seeing my appearance really change what little concept I have of myself?.
The book follows Kat through her trip to a safe house once her captor (Jack) has left her, her unexplainable feelings for Grayson (her fiancé's brother), and the difficulties adjusting to a world and culture that follows a set of rules for a reason, even if she can stop from questioning it. All she has to cling on to is what others reveal to her in the present and the vivid dreams she has each night that seem like real memories.
No one wants to take a journey alone.
The beginning was a bit slow for me, but I was hooked once Grayson walked into the safe house to rescue Kat. It was very tough to put the book down then because all I wanted to do was find out the who-done-it answers. For a world where lies and secrets won't be tolerated, these characters sure have a whole lot of them.
They say a part of you dies when you lose a loved one, but when Katherine was taken, only a small part remained alive.
The author did a fantastic job eliciting the right emotion at the right time, scattering the crumbs of the puzzle well enough to give the reader a good hunt to solve it, and wrote the characters through their growth and development so that we believe in their struggle and need to survive.
Avoiding the pain I have learned to associate with remembering.
She also does a great job at truly making the reader think about Kat's experience and the environment.
In this world without lies, I wonder just what people would get away with if they truly believe what they've done is right.
Although tattered and torn now, it's obvious they were a work of art and must have taken forever to create. What is the point of such fragile currency? What would happen if your money was destroyed? It doesn't look like it is that hard to do.
"You talk like our lives are nothing more than dreams and death is waking up."
I definitely recommend reading this book and I look forward to enjoying the other books in this series as they become available.
Please note: I was given this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2014
I received this book as a gift from Lindsey in exchange for a unbiased, honest review.
Actual rating 4.5 stars
Veracity is a book full of questions and intrigue and will keep you enthralled from the very beginning. Ms. Stell's writing is very good and is extremely impressive for a first time author. She writes with a seasoned grace that few authors have. While the description is a bit vague, I don't want to give away too much. This book follows Katherine, a girl who wakes up with no knowledge of who she is, what her life entails, or who is laying beside her. One of the things that I loved about this book was that we learned information along with Katherine. The information was never just thrown at us; instead it was given to us in pieces, and we were left to put the pieces together ourselves...much like Kat was forced to as well. The writing is poetic in a way, and Kat is a strong lead.
The reason I couldn't give this a full 5 stars is because of Katherine. On one hand, I loved her character. By the end, she is a strong character, and truly comes into herself. However, there were times throughout the novel (mainly when she gets to Veracity) in which she just excepts how things are and doesn't question much. She just goes along with everything. While I understood that she was scared, and who wouldn't be when your memories have been erased, I felt she should have pushed more for information. However, over the course of the book, she slowly starts taking some risks, and realizes that she shouldn't be completely honest with everyone. Katherine becomes a stronger main character, one that it sure to be even stronger in the next book.
While we, along with Katherine, are forced to question everyone and everything throughout the book, we do get glimpses into the truth by way of Grayson. I am definitely rooting for him that's all I going to say ;) I also liked that Jack, the guy that Kat wakes up to in the beginning of the book, didn't just disappear after the first chapter. He comes back, and major events ensue. Let's just say, he doesn't go quietly.
The ending of this novel really stands out. Once a certain character's death occurs (and it is truly sad), everything goes down and the truth comes out. I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next, and learn more about the different cities and how the events of the end will affect the characters in the future. I highly recommend checking this book out if you like the dystopian genre. Veracity is a unique, creative adventure that will leave you longing for the book 2! Happy reading :)
Actual rating 4.5 stars
Veracity is a book full of questions and intrigue and will keep you enthralled from the very beginning. Ms. Stell's writing is very good and is extremely impressive for a first time author. She writes with a seasoned grace that few authors have. While the description is a bit vague, I don't want to give away too much. This book follows Katherine, a girl who wakes up with no knowledge of who she is, what her life entails, or who is laying beside her. One of the things that I loved about this book was that we learned information along with Katherine. The information was never just thrown at us; instead it was given to us in pieces, and we were left to put the pieces together ourselves...much like Kat was forced to as well. The writing is poetic in a way, and Kat is a strong lead.
The reason I couldn't give this a full 5 stars is because of Katherine. On one hand, I loved her character. By the end, she is a strong character, and truly comes into herself. However, there were times throughout the novel (mainly when she gets to Veracity) in which she just excepts how things are and doesn't question much. She just goes along with everything. While I understood that she was scared, and who wouldn't be when your memories have been erased, I felt she should have pushed more for information. However, over the course of the book, she slowly starts taking some risks, and realizes that she shouldn't be completely honest with everyone. Katherine becomes a stronger main character, one that it sure to be even stronger in the next book.
While we, along with Katherine, are forced to question everyone and everything throughout the book, we do get glimpses into the truth by way of Grayson. I am definitely rooting for him that's all I going to say ;) I also liked that Jack, the guy that Kat wakes up to in the beginning of the book, didn't just disappear after the first chapter. He comes back, and major events ensue. Let's just say, he doesn't go quietly.
The ending of this novel really stands out. Once a certain character's death occurs (and it is truly sad), everything goes down and the truth comes out. I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next, and learn more about the different cities and how the events of the end will affect the characters in the future. I highly recommend checking this book out if you like the dystopian genre. Veracity is a unique, creative adventure that will leave you longing for the book 2! Happy reading :)
January 10, 2015
This was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This had an Interesting premise. Kat's mind is wiped and she wakes up in a whole new world searching for who she is. I was really pulled into the first few chapters of the story. That began to change as she went to Veracity.
Overall I liked Kat, even with no memory of who she was, she had a certain strength about her. As story progressed she recognized that things in society were segregated, she didn't like it, but she accepted automatically that this is how she should live. She accepted old accounts of her life rather than finding the person she was meant to become. She was wishy-washy with her beliefs and feelings. I felt that she magically seemed to love Jack when it suited her plans.
Jack was the same throughout the book. He never wavered in his feelings toward Kat. His only goal was to protect her, love her and stand by her. He was a solid character, he always had her back.
Grayson was a case, of wanting what you can't have. He wanted her more because she was no longer his. In the end he dropped her like a hot stone to be General.
I liked this book overall. It was nicely written with a good solid story. Other than some minor editing, it flowed nicely with a good pace.
August 11, 2014
I was gifted this book by the author Lindsey Stell. This book was on my to read list before I was ever contacted by the author, and this review is in no way biased simply because I was gifted the book.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had a slow start which was a bit confusing, but by the end I was really attached to the main character Kat and can't wait to see what happens to her in the next book. The premise of the book was sound, and the author was very detailed in the descriptions of the city. I wanted more information about her history, I think that would have made things a bit clearer, but as the reader we only know as much about Kat as she remembers. I was disappointed that we were introduced to "outsiders" of the city and then they fizzle out, I hope we have more contact with them in the future. I also wanted more information about Kat's brother and why he seems to be totally crazy.
I look forward to reading more books by this author, and more books in this series.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had a slow start which was a bit confusing, but by the end I was really attached to the main character Kat and can't wait to see what happens to her in the next book. The premise of the book was sound, and the author was very detailed in the descriptions of the city. I wanted more information about her history, I think that would have made things a bit clearer, but as the reader we only know as much about Kat as she remembers. I was disappointed that we were introduced to "outsiders" of the city and then they fizzle out, I hope we have more contact with them in the future. I also wanted more information about Kat's brother and why he seems to be totally crazy.
I look forward to reading more books by this author, and more books in this series.
July 27, 2014
I loved this book! I was drawn in from the beginning and Lindsey Stell's writing creates a vivid picture of Katherine's world. Katherine wakes up and has no idea who she is or where she is. She ends up with two guys who love her, but she can't remember loving them except in her dreams. You learn about Veracity and what happened to the world through Katherine's eyes. My only want is to know more about little Ruth and the village hidden in the forest she took Kat to. Maybe in the next book Kat, Grayson, and Jack will get to visit the hidden village again.
I will be buying the next books in the series as soon as they are done. You will love Veracity if you enjoyed The Hunger Games series and the Divergent series. My disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for a review, but the thoughts and enjoyment of reading Lindsey Stell's book are all mine. :)
I will be buying the next books in the series as soon as they are done. You will love Veracity if you enjoyed The Hunger Games series and the Divergent series. My disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for a review, but the thoughts and enjoyment of reading Lindsey Stell's book are all mine. :)
September 3, 2014
Really glad to have read this. This was a dystopian setting but most definitely a story about humanity, which was totally able to hold my attention. The first person narrative from the main character was a great choice. From the outset we know she has lost her memory, so the story telling from her voice keeps us just as confused and in the dark as she is. I use the word "confused" in a good way - with all the same sights and clues as the main character - figuring everything out right along with her. I look forward to reading another in the series.
February 2, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Katherine wakes with no memory of who she is and what's happened to her. She's alone. Then she arrives at a place called Veracity. There she sees and discovers shocking things about what happened to the world.
This was a very exciting book! So much mystery surrounded Kat that I found myself not being able to put the book down until I was finished. I really liked all the characters....
Thank you for letting us read and review
Katherine wakes with no memory of who she is and what's happened to her. She's alone. Then she arrives at a place called Veracity. There she sees and discovers shocking things about what happened to the world.
This was a very exciting book! So much mystery surrounded Kat that I found myself not being able to put the book down until I was finished. I really liked all the characters....
Thank you for letting us read and review
July 19, 2014
I genuinely loved this book, I could not put it down. The book is set during a time after "our civilization" has been ruined by greed, lies, and people's bad qualities. In an attempt to rebuild without corruption veracity is established and ran by the general. Citizens are unable to lie and must learn to live a lifestyle which is extremely controlled or face death. This book is a perfect balance of romance, suspense and secrets, making it a great read for all.
July 24, 2014
An astounding novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more. This book is truly the work of a master storyteller. Katherine an abandoned woman by a man who stole her memories has to rediscover the strict rules of a declining world. The story was full of emotions with a delightful twist in the end. It was a pleasure to read this - not to mention at its fantastic price! I recommend this book to anybody in search of a good read.
May 8, 2014
5 stars for a reason, Veracity is a beautifully written (and best of all free!) story on Wattpad. The chapters and short, sweet, and filled with poetic descriptions of a woman dealing with the loss of her memory and more. Though fiction the story is realistic and believable making Veracity a goodread for sure.
July 20, 2014
I really wish I had the cash to buy Ms.Stell's books because they are just amazing. Veracity is one of the best books I've ever read.I'm really looking forward to the completion of duplicity, and all the great books to come by this author. Veracity has surely made me a fan and is a book i could read over and over and never become sick of it. I have and will continue to recommend this book. (:
July 19, 2014
Veracity is one of the best books i've read. Lindsey had added great detail into the chapters which makes it more thrilling and exciting to read. I was always on my toes when I read this book, and I wish Lindsey nothing but the best for her future in writing.
April 19, 2018
Any news on this? I read this on Wattpad way back 2014 and I'm hooked. It's 2018 now but still waiting for a sequel. But seems there won't be?
June 18, 2014
This book was the best one I have read on Wattpad. It always had me wanting more!! I cannot wait for the sequel.
June 25, 2014
Lindsey Stell has a great flow and I love the reading her stories. This one is no exception!
July 17, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! It's amazing literally read it for 3 days straight C: its that good! :D Can't wait for the other book/books
August 8, 2022
Amazing Story!👏
But, wow, I didn't like the ending! It ended in a dream. Not that it left any part of the story hanging. Every problem in the story that could be resolved was; but Ms. Stell made it travel back on itself to another time at a different place in the book. I didn't want it to end so abruptly, I guess.
The story is an inventive dystopian future. Ms. Stell did a wonderful job creating an entirely new cultural, political and economic system for her new world. I really enjoyed trying to wrap my head around this world's way of thinking.
One of the other reviewers I read spent quite a bit of time putting down Ms. Stell's conceptualization of the characters. I think her criticisms are far off base. Every character acted in line with how they should have, with some shocking moments occurring during an execution sequence. This was the climax of the story but not the beginning of the end. No, there were more secrets that had to unfold before we could reach the conclusion.
This is the first installment in a series, so I will be acquiring the next book. I need to see what happens to Lucas, whether Greyson gets his way. You should read the series, too. It's well worth your time.
But, wow, I didn't like the ending! It ended in a dream. Not that it left any part of the story hanging. Every problem in the story that could be resolved was; but Ms. Stell made it travel back on itself to another time at a different place in the book. I didn't want it to end so abruptly, I guess.
The story is an inventive dystopian future. Ms. Stell did a wonderful job creating an entirely new cultural, political and economic system for her new world. I really enjoyed trying to wrap my head around this world's way of thinking.
One of the other reviewers I read spent quite a bit of time putting down Ms. Stell's conceptualization of the characters. I think her criticisms are far off base. Every character acted in line with how they should have, with some shocking moments occurring during an execution sequence. This was the climax of the story but not the beginning of the end. No, there were more secrets that had to unfold before we could reach the conclusion.
This is the first installment in a series, so I will be acquiring the next book. I need to see what happens to Lucas, whether Greyson gets his way. You should read the series, too. It's well worth your time.
January 2, 2015
*I was kindly gifted a copy of the newest edition of 'Veracity' to read in exchange for an honest review.*
A girl wakes up in the woods with no memories of what has happened or who she is. The man she is with tells her to walk north until she reaches a city. She learns her name is Kat and his name is Jack. Before Jack leaves, he tells Kat that he loves her, she loves him, and that he took her memories to keep her safe in order to, hopefully, keep her alive.
As she ventures north, she eventually is picked up by soldiers at a safe house to bring her to the city. But get this, the leader of the group, Grayson, not only knows her, but has known her for her entire life--they were in love before she was kidnapped.
Due to circumstances placed upon him by Kat's brother and his father, Grayson must keep everything he knows a secret to ensure the safety of her as well as his city. Their interactions are tense with unspoken emotions, his from following orders against his will, hers from memories she can't quite grasp.
As Kat re-learns the way of city life, we learn of her world along with her. As the tension between Kat and Grayson continue to grow, Jack returns telling her to leave with him as she is in danger. Kat's emotions are torn between the two and she must figure it out. Before this can happen an unexpected event befalls a main character and begins a series of events which could change everyone's fate. It turns out Kat may not be the only one who doesn't know what is happening in their world.
My review - 2.5/5 Stars:
I was very interested in the synopsis and intrigued by the unique circumstances the heroine finds herself in at the beginning. While I enjoyed learning about this new post-apocalyptic world created by the author, parts were predictable and I felt the story fell a bit flat due to a disjointed story flow and the main characters showing a lack of dimension or growth by the end.
Some of the events in the book only seemed to happen to move the story forward and they lacked a seamless connection. At one point early on in the story, Kat comes across a small village and interacts with the inhabitants, and in particular an independent and feisty 9-year-old, learning through their eyes what life in the city is like. I found this part interesting and looked forward to how this would be used later to compare, and potentially conflict, with her way of life in the city--but it was never mentioned again in the book. This was a disappointment as a theme while in the city is the constraints placed on women and how Kat does not like it, but she does not question it or try to make her own way. I believe this could have lead to a lot of growth for the character as she rebuilt herself and her beliefs.
The other area that created some confusion was how the characters did not always act according to a believable pattern based on their attitudes and beliefs portrayed through the novel. And sometimes their stances changed unexpectedly, aiding to the confusion.
Kat has no previous knowledge of who she was. Everything she learns about herself is from other people. After progressing through the story experiencing life firsthand and forming knew impressions of the people and environment that surround her, I felt that she too often defined herself based on other people's take on her past self rather than building herself anew based on how she currently thinks of herself and what she wants to have happen for her.
At one point in the story when Grayson and Jack interact, their dialogue with each other does not fit the circumstances that they are in or the competitive connection they share in both caring for and wanting to be with Kat. Love triangles in any novel can get a bit tricky and messy at times, but when the characters get wishy-washy over their stance it's hard for me to root for one team to succeed over the other.
In addition, something is revealed towards the end of the book that I did not see coming, but not in the good "wow, that was so well written I didn't even notice it until all the pieces were together!" way, but more in the "wow, this is completely out of character for the involved parties as there was nothing in the book before this moment that they have said or done that hinted at any small amount of possibility that this could occur" way. A lot of assumptions have to be made in order to tie this in, and unfortunately I didn't feel like these were well founded assumptions that could be made by a reader based on the information previously provided. This became another instance in which I felt an event happened disjointedly and only to move the story in a specific direction.
Overall, I thought this book was alright, but I was really hoping for a bit more from the premise presented. I am going to keep an eye on this author though as I would like to see what she comes up with next!
A girl wakes up in the woods with no memories of what has happened or who she is. The man she is with tells her to walk north until she reaches a city. She learns her name is Kat and his name is Jack. Before Jack leaves, he tells Kat that he loves her, she loves him, and that he took her memories to keep her safe in order to, hopefully, keep her alive.
As she ventures north, she eventually is picked up by soldiers at a safe house to bring her to the city. But get this, the leader of the group, Grayson, not only knows her, but has known her for her entire life--they were in love before she was kidnapped.
Due to circumstances placed upon him by Kat's brother and his father, Grayson must keep everything he knows a secret to ensure the safety of her as well as his city. Their interactions are tense with unspoken emotions, his from following orders against his will, hers from memories she can't quite grasp.
As Kat re-learns the way of city life, we learn of her world along with her. As the tension between Kat and Grayson continue to grow, Jack returns telling her to leave with him as she is in danger. Kat's emotions are torn between the two and she must figure it out. Before this can happen an unexpected event befalls a main character and begins a series of events which could change everyone's fate. It turns out Kat may not be the only one who doesn't know what is happening in their world.
My review - 2.5/5 Stars:
I was very interested in the synopsis and intrigued by the unique circumstances the heroine finds herself in at the beginning. While I enjoyed learning about this new post-apocalyptic world created by the author, parts were predictable and I felt the story fell a bit flat due to a disjointed story flow and the main characters showing a lack of dimension or growth by the end.
Some of the events in the book only seemed to happen to move the story forward and they lacked a seamless connection. At one point early on in the story, Kat comes across a small village and interacts with the inhabitants, and in particular an independent and feisty 9-year-old, learning through their eyes what life in the city is like. I found this part interesting and looked forward to how this would be used later to compare, and potentially conflict, with her way of life in the city--but it was never mentioned again in the book. This was a disappointment as a theme while in the city is the constraints placed on women and how Kat does not like it, but she does not question it or try to make her own way. I believe this could have lead to a lot of growth for the character as she rebuilt herself and her beliefs.
The other area that created some confusion was how the characters did not always act according to a believable pattern based on their attitudes and beliefs portrayed through the novel. And sometimes their stances changed unexpectedly, aiding to the confusion.
Kat has no previous knowledge of who she was. Everything she learns about herself is from other people. After progressing through the story experiencing life firsthand and forming knew impressions of the people and environment that surround her, I felt that she too often defined herself based on other people's take on her past self rather than building herself anew based on how she currently thinks of herself and what she wants to have happen for her.
At one point in the story when Grayson and Jack interact, their dialogue with each other does not fit the circumstances that they are in or the competitive connection they share in both caring for and wanting to be with Kat. Love triangles in any novel can get a bit tricky and messy at times, but when the characters get wishy-washy over their stance it's hard for me to root for one team to succeed over the other.
In addition, something is revealed towards the end of the book that I did not see coming, but not in the good "wow, that was so well written I didn't even notice it until all the pieces were together!" way, but more in the "wow, this is completely out of character for the involved parties as there was nothing in the book before this moment that they have said or done that hinted at any small amount of possibility that this could occur" way. A lot of assumptions have to be made in order to tie this in, and unfortunately I didn't feel like these were well founded assumptions that could be made by a reader based on the information previously provided. This became another instance in which I felt an event happened disjointedly and only to move the story in a specific direction.
Overall, I thought this book was alright, but I was really hoping for a bit more from the premise presented. I am going to keep an eye on this author though as I would like to see what she comes up with next!
September 1, 2014
I was gifted this book from the author in exchange for a review. This book was already added to my "to reads" list before the author contacted me.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The story and the dystopian world of the Seven Cities were very intriguing and well built. Stell does a good job at integrating the history of Veracity and how the Seven Cities began into the plot of the story instead of just adding some background info randomly into the book. The mysterious plot, I think, was what made this book a real page turner. The fact that, like Katherine, you have no clue what is going on makes you want to keep reading.
The characters were all very likeable well give or take a couple, when you read it you'll know who I'm talking about. Sadly, my favorite character, Ruth, showed up in the beginning but hopefully we see her in the future books?? Katherine is a strong, smart, character who doesn't hesitate to call someone out and speak her mind or climb out of the window. The boys in this book are just loveable! Can we talk about Grayson for a bit. What is it about broody guys that make them so irresistible. However, Grayson's reasons for being broody is actually understandable and when he's being his regular self he is just perfection! I couldn't help myself from smiling every time he was in the book.
Now the things I didn't like which isn't really much. First was some of the dialogue. I felt that it some of the dialogue between some characters were too nice and understanding. I kept wondering whether some people actually talk like that to people because I don't know anyone who does. However, I was wondering maybe it's because they live in a world where no one lies so maybe this affects the way they communicate?? The other thing I didn't like is about the end but that's too spoilery!
Looking forward to see what's going to happen in the next book!
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The story and the dystopian world of the Seven Cities were very intriguing and well built. Stell does a good job at integrating the history of Veracity and how the Seven Cities began into the plot of the story instead of just adding some background info randomly into the book. The mysterious plot, I think, was what made this book a real page turner. The fact that, like Katherine, you have no clue what is going on makes you want to keep reading.
The characters were all very likeable well give or take a couple, when you read it you'll know who I'm talking about. Sadly, my favorite character, Ruth, showed up in the beginning but hopefully we see her in the future books?? Katherine is a strong, smart, character who doesn't hesitate to call someone out and speak her mind or climb out of the window. The boys in this book are just loveable! Can we talk about Grayson for a bit. What is it about broody guys that make them so irresistible. However, Grayson's reasons for being broody is actually understandable and when he's being his regular self he is just perfection! I couldn't help myself from smiling every time he was in the book.
Now the things I didn't like which isn't really much. First was some of the dialogue. I felt that it some of the dialogue between some characters were too nice and understanding. I kept wondering whether some people actually talk like that to people because I don't know anyone who does. However, I was wondering maybe it's because they live in a world where no one lies so maybe this affects the way they communicate?? The other thing I didn't like is about the end but that's too spoilery!
Looking forward to see what's going to happen in the next book!
January 2, 2015
I received a copy off this book for an honest review.
Katherine just woke up, her memories stolen by Jack who claims he loves her and this is the only way to keep her safe. Katherine has to set out alone to find a safe house to return to the city. She is found by Greyson and for reasons she doesn't understand she feel an instant connection to him.
But life is the city is complicated especially is you don't know your past and everyone is lying in your face.
I liked the first 20% of this story the writing was not bad but it just went downhill after that.
The main character turned this story to sh#t. She is a dumb pushover. Her memories were stolen but she doesn't have any own will, nor does she have a drive, or a skill, there's nothing to her character, she is as flat as a piece off paper. I feel like she was changing dresses the whole story. Katherine is a meek sheep , when everyone is keeping secrets a normal person would ask important questions but when they tell her no she accept it. I hate weak female leads and she is just that.
Greyson started out a a nice guy but changed overnight.
The only characters that I did like were Saddie and Jack.
World building not so great
love building horrible
Please don't compare this book to the hungergames
Katherine just woke up, her memories stolen by Jack who claims he loves her and this is the only way to keep her safe. Katherine has to set out alone to find a safe house to return to the city. She is found by Greyson and for reasons she doesn't understand she feel an instant connection to him.
But life is the city is complicated especially is you don't know your past and everyone is lying in your face.
I liked the first 20% of this story the writing was not bad but it just went downhill after that.
The main character turned this story to sh#t. She is a dumb pushover. Her memories were stolen but she doesn't have any own will, nor does she have a drive, or a skill, there's nothing to her character, she is as flat as a piece off paper. I feel like she was changing dresses the whole story. Katherine is a meek sheep , when everyone is keeping secrets a normal person would ask important questions but when they tell her no she accept it. I hate weak female leads and she is just that.
Greyson started out a a nice guy but changed overnight.
The only characters that I did like were Saddie and Jack.
World building not so great
love building horrible
Please don't compare this book to the hungergames
January 12, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Katherine wakes with no memory of who she is and what's happened to her. She's alone. Then she arrives at a place called Veracity. There she sees and discovers shocking things about what happened to the world.
This was a very exciting book! So much mystery surrounded Kat that I found myself not be story. ing able to put the book down until I was finished. This is Lindsey Stells debut novel. She did a fantastic job world building. I really liked all the characters....especially Grayson. Yum. I'm extremely happy to hear there will be a sequel. I will be one of the first to buy it! A wonderful story.
Katherine wakes with no memory of who she is and what's happened to her. She's alone. Then she arrives at a place called Veracity. There she sees and discovers shocking things about what happened to the world.
This was a very exciting book! So much mystery surrounded Kat that I found myself not be story. ing able to put the book down until I was finished. This is Lindsey Stells debut novel. She did a fantastic job world building. I really liked all the characters....especially Grayson. Yum. I'm extremely happy to hear there will be a sequel. I will be one of the first to buy it! A wonderful story.
Want to read
February 17, 2019https://www.wattpad.com/597095023-ver... to be on wattpad soon
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