33 Degrees

by Vincent Robert Annunziato

It is said that in the depths of the Underground lies a weapon so powerful it will save the Northern herd from the cruelty slavery has put them under. It is said that anyone who holds the Pulse, holds the power to freedom. It is said… well after so many years, no one really believes it anymore.

18-year-old Javin has grown accustomed to death. His world is surrounded by the ravages of slavery. Burdened by a new ice age, little food and very little fuel for heat, only the strong survive under the threat of nature and the cruelty of the South. There is one hope: a train ride that can’t be missed, because missing it can be deadly. Every day the herd lines up waiting for it to come so that they can feed their families and heat their homes one more day. And somewhere in the Underground lies the weapon that ended all wars. If it is found, the South has promised freedom.

Desperation is the norm and most Northerners would rather die than live. Many say that even the sun has turned its back on them, because it lies somewhere behind the Southern wall. No Northerner will ever see the sun, because no beast is allowed behind the wall the South has built. Javin doesn’t care about the Pulse or the wall. No, his only care is vengeance. He waits for an opportunity to kill so that he can have his life ended and be freed of the torture of this life. That’s the plan until he discovers a new found love and unexpected hope.

As the rage inside his soul cools, Javin finds himself a leader amongst his tribe. He alone must rise from the depths of despair to lead his people and help them find a way back to their rightful place amongst men. A daunting task for anyone living in a world where it is too warm to die, and too cold to live.

33 Degrees will chill you to the bone in this suspenseful new novel by Vincent Robert Annunziato.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult

226 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

When I was in my 20's I dreamed of being a big time Hollywood Director and Writer. Believe it or not I almost hit it big a couple of times. Sony studios called me in for a writer's interview and Charles Dutton's company with Fox almost signed me for a screenplay called Season of Seed. But alas somehow, someway I just never made it even with an agent.

I fell in love, got married and had three kids and realized I needed to get a job to support my family. So I gave up my dreams for practicality. Now I work for the government, modernizing their computer systems. I have no regrets on my decisions, life just worked out that way. But now that I have returned to writing, I can tell you I have done it with a vengeance! LOL

Here's to hoping the dream can still come true!

Stay Strong! Stay Loyal!

Vincent Robert Annunziato
Author

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

33 Degrees by Vincent Robert Annunziato is a world that you can really feel the bleakness. I usually don't like dystonia future books but this one was different and it hooked me right away. Javin is orphaned at an early age but despite the suffering he endures as he grows up, he uses his brain, skill, and planning and just doesn't go crazy. He also keeps some compassion in him. There are great characters in here that make the book have spark. Keeps it from becoming too bleak. It adds hope and love. It is a story about a war against the North and South again but for it is the story of survival. It had me all the way through!

[R.E. Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dystopian thrills at their finest…
33 Degrees by Vincent Robert Annunziato is a chilling, riveting, harrowing tale that sucks you into a dystopian future rife with anger and conflict that has eventually been frozen over into hellish world so bleak that you find yourself rooting for the wild animals to rip the remains of humanity apart. Like the world itself, Annunziato’s protagonist is a young man frozen and stripped of most of his humanity, a feral shell of a boy who has forgotten everything in a desperate plea for survival in a world of insanity and controlled chaos.
This story sinks its teeth in you as ferociously as the wolves that prowl the edges or the Underground, rips at your heart and beats you to the point of wanting to give up, and just when you are at that point of nausea, reeling from the sucker-punch – the author manages to almost magically thaw the tiniest pieces of the world and his protagonist and pull you into the dangerous, heady, intoxicating spell of hope.
When I say I couldn’t put this novel down, I mean it in a terrifying literal sense as I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning clinching my kindle and begging for dear life as the relentless prose pushes you along as relentlessly as the rest of the herd. Do I like 33 Degrees? No, but then again like is a word best used to describe a tasty chicken salad sandwich or an early season rerun of Friends. 33 Degrees is the kind of adrenaline rush that grabs you, refuses to let you go and ultimately leaves you desperate for more.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing dystopian coming of age novel

Extreme climate change and a deadly weapon pit the Northern US against the South in this dystopian coming of age novel. After the South erected The Wall to keep Northerners out, the North set off the Pulse, a mighty weapon which permanently shut down electrical circuitry.

For the remaining Northerners, the only chance of survival in the frigid temperature was to go underground where they become enslaved by brutal Southern soldiers. They must work to get food and shelter and only a limited number of jobs are available. The ensuing free-for-all brings humanity to its knees.

A boy named Javen, orphaned and considered feral by his herd, survives against all odds. Hunger, manual labor in the coal mines, and obeying the rules are constants in his life. Long ago he took a vow of silence, waiting to speak until his parents return. They never come back, and he gradually becomes more aware of others. Intuition, natural fighting skills, and being a quick learner takes his to his 18th birthday, but his empathy for those treated unfairly causes him to break the rules. Change and trouble domino throughout the herd as Javen longs for a normal life with a family and freedom.

What a fantastic book! I was engrossed and couldn’t put it down. This Kindle Scout winner is top notch in my opinion. I’d give it another star if I could.

Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews

[Ryan Drean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not one who writes reviews often (I respect those who do them well I guess) but was compelled to write what I loved about 33 DEGREES. I sort of discovered this book by accident via Scout and knew almost nothing when I decided to vote for it. It turned out to be a GREAT surprise. I'll try to be brief, hit on a few main areas and, show why it earned 5 STARS from me (NO spoilers)

-The characters - I don't like it when the author, in what will obviously be a series, tries to introduce us to too many people at once. Here we have a rather simple to follow hierarchy within a few main clans leaving more time devoted to each individual and what makes them unique. Like most, each are flawed and in this "frozen world" Annunziato creates some very dynamic viewpoints and coping mechanisms. Plus development, maturation and overall relationships were designed very fluidly.

-The world - I am a sucker for a good dystopian story and I really love when you are given some but not all of the background to why the world is as it is. Keep it simple. (I loved The Dog Stars for example) You know it's bad and the general problems that exist but a lot of the "why" is a mystery. But here the cause isn't the central focus (yet?). You don't get muddied in that. There is enough to give you a clear picture but no wasted time.

-The Pace - I hope I don't offend or more likely come off as dense but when I read fiction I prefer it to MOVE ALONG. I don't need to know every detail of every hair on everyone's head. No need to describe every step taken to create the perfect ice cream sundae. You made a sundae, good enough for me. I like action and story and character development and 33 DEGREES has it all.

-The Story/Writing - I won't get into the plot at all. I really won't say too much here except this is extremely well written. I didn't see it as too simple, certainly not too complicated, but I think most age groups would be satisfied. NOT to contradict myself above but I DO like "enough" info. I guess a pet peeve of mine (the dolt that I am) is when an author simply holds back too much of the backstory or is vague in their structure. I don't want to fill in too many gaps. Annunziato certainly provided me with enough, start to finish.

33 DEGREES gives you a unique spin on a familiar genre. It's fast, its characters have heart in spades, there are people you can root for and against and there is this fantastically horrible frightening world you can start to explore. It probably left me with more questions than answers...but I am aware of a Sequel AND Prequel in the works so I'm OK with that!

[T.L. Zalecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! I voted for it on Kindle Scout and was psyched when it won and I got a free copy. It is the second I have read by the author and the first one, Status the Game, was awesome, so expectations were high. I was not disappointed. His writing has a beauty in its simplicity that allows for so much tension on every page. Because of that I read it quite fast (2 days!). I was riveted. The setting is extremely drab, unforgiving and disturbing in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, hoping the characters persevere. The characters, I think, were the strongest part of this book. The main character was someone you really feel for because if his past and his strength in trying to handle a tough life in this apocalyptic world. My favorite was Miesha, a very unique and mysterious character whose evolution throughout the story is beautiful. I just loved her. And Tiny, of course. I just wanted to hug him. I also love reading books where I can find philosophical nuggets of wisdom or just cool quotes buried in the writing. This book had so many that I wanted to underline and save. Anyway, a great read, and unique and tense plot and really wonderful characters. I highly recommend!

[M. R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about survival in a future that is bleak and cold. The train is brutal. Humanity teeters on edge. Conflict is just a page-turn away.

With the fortune of being tossed down a hole to save his life, Javin often reminisces of parents who echo of James and Lily Potter. Having spent the majority of his pre-teen years alone Javin is unrefined and bitter. Throughout the book Javin grows and matures to a man of strength and honor. Readers will enjoy a main character with the strength and grit of Four, a sidekick with the heart and innocence of Rue, a female lead who is tenacious, beautiful, and damaged; young-adult camaraderie and brutality of Ender's Game; a mystical character full of magical realism and totally unique; and, lastly, a Revolution style mystery to the history of the Pulse.

Everything you love about Dystopia wrapped up in a snow cone.

'33 Degrees' is a must read.

See this review of Secret Life of a Townie

[Jennifer Skutelsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as bleak and savage a dystopian world as any I've entered, its cruelty mesmerizing and violence inescapable. Annunziato's novel ferociously takes hold, and once his unflinching prose closes over your head, you realize with both trepidation and delight that the only way out is through the final page. It’s also a love story that adds touching dimensions of warmth to the narrative. The book's strange contrasts are part of what kept me keen and engaged: the landscape, cold and stark, is still vivid; the protagonist, numb, feral, and alienated, is easy to care about. Secondary characters like Tiny bring vibrant color to the story--no matter how small a part these bit characters play, they all leave the reader with a sense of regret or pathos or momentary admiration, unlike the guards, who are largely as featureless as the relentless setting. If you like your pace heady and action hard hitting, this book will keep you riveted.

[Wendy Chatigny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging

Could not put it down started a little rough but then settled into an excellent engaging story. Definitely recommend it

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

33 Degrees tells the story of a divided nation. The climate has become too cold for mankind to live on the surface. Those living in the north of the country attempt to retreat to the south, who have built a wall to keep the northerners out. A war ensues and the north use a weapon known as The Pulse, that they believe will end the war, but will shut down all electricity. Northerners become enslaved by the Southerners, who are now searching for this season to ensure their continued supremacy.

This is where we meet Javin, the story's protagonist. His parents left him to live with "The Undergrounds". This fact, along with his plight of being slave labor for the Southerners leaves him bitter and angry. Along the way, he befriends, and ultimately falls in love. The author is very effective at conveying both his anger and his affection. Javin's emotions serve as the most powerful portion of the book.

The story starts off a little slow but is overall good. The characters are well developed and likeable. It is, however, somewhat predictable and does not contain much in the way of twists. One complaint I have is that there always to be something of a supernatural element associated with some of the characters. It is not overdone, so it would be a nice addition to the story, except that it is never explained. What is this ability that they individuals possess, and his did it come about? There are no answers to this.

In all, a well written, emotionally charged story worth reading.

[☆Joycedale☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mostly well written book. There's a few typos and conflicting sentences. At one point a name is said before we even find out that person's name.
The story was interesting, if not really explained well. The world building was great but from the prologue to the first chapter skips 13-14 yrs and it's never quite explained how they got to the point of technically being slaves.
I enjoyed all of the characters and was a little heartbroken that they didn't all make it. Although at times Javin seemed very mature but then he would become almost childlike. It wasn't his lack of knowledge but how he reacted to things.
The ending was almost predictable but now what happens? A lot if stuff was just left open ended and not explain. I assumed there must be a sequel but accordingly to the info in the back there is no sequel but there will be a prequel. I do look forward to that because maybe it will explain how things became what they were.

This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics.

[Allison Farr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and was excited to read a new dystopian YA novel since so many of my students like that genre. Similar to many dystopian novels, 33 Degrees brings into question mob mentality and when/how society should act as individuals v. a group. I kept finding myself getting distracted as I read this book. Part of the reason could be that I didn't buy in to the characters. The dialogue and interactions between them seemed contrived and the characters themselves tended to have one defining characteristic overpower real dimension. Meisha's insecurities became frustrating and predictable; Javin's naiveté mixed with moments of extreme maturity didn't sell me either.

For younger readers who enjoy dystopian literature, I would still recommend this book. It does consider some important and fascinating questions regarding social hierarchy and morality.

[Chessy The Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The South has the North imprisoned behind a wall in a perpetual ice age. It is rumored that the sun shines in the South on the other side of the wall, but it is all a lie. Death in the North is a daily occurrence with the fight to get on the train in order to work for food and fuel for heat. Javin, an 18 year old who was orphaned at an early age, has survived the servitude under the South’s rule and seeks to kill one of the guards.

Annunziato’s award winning, first novel, 33 Degrees, is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian story of the USA set in the future. The characters were well developed and the world he presented was easily visualized. I was so drawn in by this dark tale that if there were any editing issues I didn’t notice them. The story itself is refreshingly original.

I am so looking forward to both the prequel and the sequel that are promised to be in the works.

[Read Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a GoodReads giveaway win.
It was a captivating story. It was a totally credible new ice age world, struggling after a high tech civil war that has left everyone in the cold. There is a fine line between a complete final ending answering all your questions and endings that conclude a conflict and leave your imagination wondering what future awaits the survivors. This one did not spark my curiosity/imagination regarding possible future stories. I would have appreciated a more definitive ending for this story, rather than the set up for a sequel. Alast, there is too much pressure on authors to write triologies and series, and not enough effort in creating great stand alone stories to start with.
Have a GoodReads.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I was going to like this story at the beginning. It felt like it was just going to be the narrator talking about what happened, and was very impersonal. As it continued, however, it became more story-like with character interaction. There seemed to be a lot of details missing about events leading up to the current situation of the people living underground. (If you read the notes at the end, the author says this is actually the second story, and a prequel and sequel are being considered.) So, although some stories have too much backstory, this one didn't feel like it had enough. The story that was told, however, was engaging, but I would have liked more of it.

[Fawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is well written. What an interesting world Vincent has created. A place where everything is simple. Fight or die. The POV is all from our main characters mind set. We get a vision of someone who is pretty much at the slave level. He has isolated himself for years and in a brief moment lets himself care about someone else. In this world he has seen this lead to death too many times to be worth letting happen. Now everything changes. I am very curious what else we could discover about this setting and story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.This book is amazing.The story centers around Javin who is fighting to survive in a cruel and brutal world.Javin is as cold and bleak as the climate in his country. The author is extremely talented at world building and creating well developed characters.The author created a tension in the story that kept me engrossed in the book.I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I look forward to reading more by this author.I highly recommend this book to any fan of the post apocalyptic and dystopian genres.

[Susan Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a okay book. I wasn't sure when I started to read it, but as I read it did get better. It's funny... as I was reading towards the ending, it definitely brought me back to "The Goonies". Loved that movie! And definitely had a bit of Goonies-esque to it. The description of the world as it was I felt was well done. The character development wasn’t too bad.

I did find the characters to be a bit annoying. They seemed to be childish. I know they were children, but it seemed a bit much. And I thought the ending was terrible. Well, I guess I didn't really like that well did I?

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes you hesitant to get attached to certain characters, you just don't know who will make it at the end. But you won't be able to help it. Great character development! You'll find yourself anxiously rooting for the Northerners (well most of them) and despising the Southerners. It's no wonder sometimes death really does seem to be the best way out.

Suspenseful, funny, charming - what an awesome read! I didn't want it to end.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a page turner.

I enjoyed this book immensely and found myself engrossed enough that I finished it in just two days. I appreciated the unusual use of present tense that Annunziato used to tell the story. It gave this sci-fi thriller coming-of-age story an immediacy I found added potency to the story.

[Bri Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book halfway expecting it to be just another dystopian novel. What I discovered within the pages was a storyline like none other I've ever read. It was incredibly unique and captivating...I didn't want to put it down! I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel and prequel!!!

[Shannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast read with some different twists on a dystopian plot. I always worry when I pick up a new author that it will be more of the same but this novel was different. The characters are interesting and I finished the book and wanted to read more.

[Shari Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as much as I loved his first book. Stayed up way too late because I had to see what happened. My only complaint is that it is the first book in a trilogy - that means I have to wait for the next two books! Please write quickly Mr. Annunziato!!!!

[T. Phelps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty awful

I hate leaving bad reviews but this story was quite awful. Ended up skimming the last 20 pages in case something exciting or interesting happened.

The only good thing that happened was when the story was done.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Scout nomination win.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's winter, so it is fitting that I just read this book :)

Fast-paced, with a dash of Snowpiercer and Wool.

Hope to get sequels/prequels soon!

[SA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing clicked for me here. Pacing, dialogue, plot and character development were all slow.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Strange But Interesting Dystopian Novel

I guess you would call this a dystopian novel, since it takes place in a world that has changed from what we know.

It pits the South against the North, with the northerners as the losers. I would say there is four main characters, the male who becomes known as Javin, Meisha, Tiny and Samantha. The story is from Javin's POV, and do get some of his history of how he came to be part of the Undergrounds.

The novel is pretty well written, with a lot of short sentences. It is fairly easy to follow, especially as there is only one POV. The world building is interesting, one I've not read before. Characters are also well done, I found them easy to relate to.

Overall, not a bad read. I would be interested in reading the next in the series.

[David Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the sun disappears and temperatures drop, the north and south go to war over dwindling resources. The southeners build a wall to keep the northeners out while the northeners go undergound. The northeners build the Pulse, weapon tht can end the war. Years later, the southerners are in charge and the notherners are now the Underground and work in the mines of the southerners.

When i first read the synopsis of this book, it sounded really intriguing. Unfortunately, this book had a lot of problems living up to its potential. The biggest drawback is that there is no science. The Pulse sounds like it was supposed to be an EMP but it was like the author had no real clue of how an EMP works. Also, when they said the sun had gone away, I thought it was supposed to be some kind of ice age but they were actually acting like the sun was gone. (it was supposed to stay behind the wall built by the south. With no sun, all the plants will die and then shortly after animal (including humans) would die as well. But they keep talking about evergreens and animals like wolves, rats and even a bird.

The plot was okay for most of the book. The ending got to be very surreal that really didn't fit well with the rest of the book. I know part of it was just a set up for a sequel, but the ending just wasn't very satisfying for me.

The book needs some definite polishing (edit run through). There is a good handful of small typos. Mainly an extra word thrown into a sentence or something of a similar nature. Worse, there is also a handful of continuity errors. Like one character has an armband ripped off his arm and then a few paragraphs later, the same armband is found (by the same character) in the pocket of the first character. None of these mistakes are that big on an individual basis, but there are enough of them that it does become annoying.

While this book didn't live up to its potential, it wasn't all bad either. I rate it 2.5 stars.

[WildAboutBones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very depressing, dark, post-apocalyptic dystopian story that has no real high points at all; not even the romantic elements are enough to lift the spirits of the characters or readers. I liken this story to car crashes—you can't stop reading to the end because you keep hoping something good, or at least better, will happen for the characters.

It even comes with its own "Roman emperor" and "throwing the Christians to the lions" scenes. And its ending is reminiscent of the original Planet of the Apes movie where Charlton Heston escapes only to see the Statue of Liberty broken, lying on the beach in the sand.

From reading the blurb, I was expecting something much different.

This is a story "told" in first person. We are told the main character does this and that, but we are rarely shown the story. A quote by Anton Chekhov describes what I mean here: "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Also a quote from someone else (I don't remember who): Don't tell me the man is angry; show me his clenched jaw, fisted hands, and vibrating body.

There are also a few proofreading issues that need to be addressed.

I'm giving this two stars instead of one because the main character does "grow" somewhat during the story.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Kindle Scout program.