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The Slip Trilogy Complete Boxed Set
"Someone must die before another can born" in this population control dystopian thriller!
Get the complete trilogy of the Amazon bestselling The Slip Trilogy for more than 20% off the normal price! This boxed set includes Slip, Grip, and Flip; that's 1,200 pages of dystopian action and twists.
As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.
But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone?
And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?
In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.
Get the complete trilogy of the Amazon bestselling The Slip Trilogy for more than 20% off the normal price! This boxed set includes Slip, Grip, and Flip; that's 1,200 pages of dystopian action and twists.
As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.
But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone?
And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?
In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.
1200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2015
163 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
David Estes
81 books2,677 followersGet a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2v6v3
David Estes has written more than 50 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey, Luna, and Ruby, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-The Forsworn Oath- the third series in the Fatemarked/Kingfall world
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
David Estes has written more than 50 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey, Luna, and Ruby, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-The Forsworn Oath- the third series in the Fatemarked/Kingfall world
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 12, 2015
This trilogy is one of the best trilogies I read in 2014, and is my favorite David Estes series! This series is so many things--its gripping, its shocking, its action-packed, its entertaining, and it will have you at the edge of your seat!
This series is some of the best Sci-Fi/Dystopia that I've read yet!
Breaking it down by book:
SLIP
What happens when the government has the authority to choose who can have children? What happens to the value of human life?
Welcome to the future United States of America, now called RUSA (Reorganized United States of America). Rising sea levels have shrunk down our land mass, and there is now a finite number of resources for its citizens. The government solves this problem by controlling the population. To get pregnant (legally), each couple receives what's called a "Death Match", and when that aging or sick person dies, they are allowed to procreate.
To enforce this law, a new government agency called Population Control (Pop Con) was created to round up any UnBees (unregistered children under the age of 2) and Slips (unregistered children over the age of 2)and their parents and terminate them.
While this book is about a futuristic society that values population and government control as its priority, its also mainly a story about a torn apart family.
Michael Kelly is the head of Pop Con. He and his wife have a secret: their son, Benson is actually a Slip. He's been raised separate from his legal brother, Harrison, and neither boy knows about the other. Michael does everything he can to protect Benson, but he knows time is running out. Before long, he must send Benson out on his own or risk him getting caught and killed.
The first part of the book is mainly told from 5 to 8 year old Benson's POV. It does jump around a little to include two other children's POV who become very important to the story: Harrison and Domino Destovan. This part of the book leaves you more questions than answers, but it also provides a much needed understanding of Michael Kelly. I also love how well we get into Benson's head. His descriptions are right in line with a little boy who doesn't understand his world, but trying so hard to make sense of things. Then we jump ahead eight years later, and the story really takes off!
This story was an amazing read! I read it straight through in one day. I was totally sucked in from beginning to end!
Things I loved about Slip:
--Benson and Lucy. The main love interests in this story are so cute together, but also very real and relatable, too. I can't wait to read more about their budding relationship in the next book!
--Check, Rod, and Gonzo. Benson's best friends and gang for survival, along with Lucy and her younger brother. These three characters were loyal friends, but also a much needed comic relief at times.
--Janice. What can I say about Benson and Harrison's eccentric (okay, crazy) mother? I loved her! She provided quite a bit of comic relief, but at the same time, it was a kind of sad feeling, watching her struggle through their family's situation. It really brought to life some of the horrors of this kind of society.
--The Ads and new articles that ended each chapter. These usually related directly to what was currently going on in the story, and were filled with irony and sarcastic dark humor. Some examples:
Ready to start a family? Apply for an instant Death Match today!
Simply speak “Yeah Baby” into your holo-screen to get started. Do pregnancy the right way, the legal way.
Now available, reserve a Death Match up to ten years in advance! Simply speak „early Death Match‟ into your holo-screen, and prepare for your future.
This advertisement paid for by U-Bank, where it’s YOU that matters.
--The World Building. The futuristic technology is awesome, and completely believable. This whole future is easy to believe as being our own. Chilling.
--The Writing Itself. Really beautiful writing. It paints a picture and makes the story come alive. One quote I especially loved:
"...her lips like an artist's brush on canvas as they caress his own."
--The Terminology The words "Life" and "Death" are used quite a bit. "Death Match" is the legal procedure for procreating, while "Lifecard" is what you use to pay with (like a debit card). All the terminology made sense, while poking fun at itself at the same time.
--Well fleshed out characters. With so many characters, this was pulled off really well. Mostly. I'll explain more below.
--The Pacing. This was a very INTENSE read. There was always something going on, with not much time to breathe. A real page-turner!
--The Twist. Totally did not see it coming. I'm betting you won't either!
--The Feels. This book was constantly bringing out some kind of reaction in me, whether it was heart pounding suspense, laughter, chills, and tears. A very emotional read, something that's hard to pull off in a sci-fi dystopian!
The only thing that I found lacking was the character development of two very important characters: Michael Kelly and Harrison Kelly. It was really hard to like Harrison, although I wanted to! Its easier to like Benson in the story, because he's the one who got shafted, and at times you almost feel like telling Harrison, "Oh, grow up!" But that isn't fair, as he's almost completely in the dark to what's really going on. Michael Kelly was just plain elusive at times. I was glad we get a view of him from Benson in the beginning of the book, which really helped that along. I'm hoping we get more in the sequel.
This did not affect the enjoyment of the read at all for me, though. And I can understand the choices the author made, as too much character development on such complex characters may have bogged things down and slowed down the pacing quite a bit. And I really like the pacing the way it is!
Slip is a complete full novel, but there is plenty of story left for its sequel. I can't wait to read it! The very last scene in this book gave me major goosebumps and chills! This was a 5 star read for me, and anyone who is into dystopians and sci-fi thrillers will love this one!
One last quote to leave you with:
“This life is too hard,” he (Benson) says.
Harrison would normally laugh at a comment like that, but he can't manage it because of everything they've been through in the last day and a half. “And made harder because of all the damn idiots running around with guns,” he says.
A few of my BookTube friends and I also did a video review/chat on Slip, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc2pi...
GRIP
Holy Guacamole Batman!
Grip is the gripping (pardon the pun) sequel to Slip, my former favorite book by David Estes. Grip has now taken that honor! This book just STUNNED me! Sequels in general have a top job living up to their predecessors, but Grip achieved this with flying colors!
**I should mention at this point that there will be spoilers for Slip in this review, but none for Grip.**
I was so looking forward to this book! I actually read Slip for the first time as an ARC last June, so I couldn't wait to see Benson and Harrison together in action! What I love so much about this book is it didn't play out like I thought it would have at all. Grip, if possible, is even darker than Slip, with higher stakes and even more twists! It completely exceeded my expectations!
Things I loved about Grip:
Harrison In Slip, Harrison really came across as a brat to me, but in this one, he really steps up to the plate. I didn't agree with all his decisions and choices, but I am loving his evolution. He does remind me a lot of his father, Michael Kelly, but so much smarter in so many ways.
A Family Back Together I really loved seeing Harrison and Benson together for the first time. I myself have identical twin boys that are teens, and the bond between them is so strong. Even though Harrison and Benson have been apart their whole lives, they still have this bond. The scenes with them together were my favorites! Then there's Janice--she has her boys back again. She actually shines in parts of this book, and the scenes with this broken family were done so very well. It was easy to relate to Janice in these! I really got the mom factor here. And her craziness is starting to make more and more sense to me.
Destiny We get a new character in this one, a Slip the same age as our heroes who is also a Slip herself. Destiny takes the cake for creativity and survival technique. One of my favorite characters ever!
The Ads and Articles Throughout the Book As in Slip, Grip is filled with these, and they really help the reader gauge the reaction of the public. There's a lot of brainwashing going on here, and its interesting to me to see the people who get sucked in, and then the ones who don't, whose comments have been deleted. This was my favorite example in this book:
"Do you love dogs but not all the responsibility?
BotPetsTM new line of BotDogs 6.0 is more advanced than ever!
Programmed to perform more than thirty tricks, your pet will keep you
entertained for hours, without ever requiring feeding or exercise.
And like all of our species of BotDogs, there‟s no waste pickup required!
BotPets, we take the poo out of poodle.
Important Disclosures: BotDogs 6.0 were modified from the original design of AttackDogs 6.0
used by Crows in law enforcement endeavors. The “bite” and “attack” commands have been
removed, however, in less than one percent of cases, larger models have been found to be defective. It’s advised that children be supervised around BotDogs 6.0 at all times. BotPets is not
liable for any injury or death resulting from defective products."
The World Building Its again excellent in this book, and we get a much broader scope as well. We learn more about the government, the resistance, and the general public.
The Writing Itself Again, beautiful writing done here! I love seeing a writer grow. One of my favorite quotes:
"Happy moments are like stars. They seem so close you think you can
touch them, but really they’re fleeting and a million miles away. Enjoy them from afar and don’t come to expect them. In your life there will be more cloudy nights than clear ones."
The Twists In Slip, there was one big twist at the end that was MIND BLOWING. In Grip, there are several twists that will blow your mind to a far off galaxy on the other side of the universe!
The Feels Of course. And the best thing about a David Estes book! You will feel EVERYTHING. The anger, the sadness, the despair, the love, the fear, the hope...everything.
Final verdict for this book: 5 very EPIC stars! This sequel is a stunner. If you're going to take the ride that is this series, make sure you hold on tight, don't lose your grip! (I'm sorry, couldn't help it)
FLIP
"Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened." --Dr. Suess
And that's exactly how I feel as I am now at the end of this fantastic story. The Kelly family's journey through this trilogy was just amazing, moving from one extreme to the other. Although I'm sad its over, I'm thrilled I got to experience it!
Flip was all I wanted and then some. Everything that was good about the first two books continues here in the finale. The stakes have been upped, and the read was even more intense, with even better action sequences. But Flip stays true to the basic story of a family trying to be together and free in a terrible world.
**I should mention now that there might be spoilers for Slip and Grip, but none for Flip. **
Things I love about Flip:
The Kelly Family My absolute favorite thing about this trilogy, from beginning to end has been the theme throughout about family. This is such an important theme, and one that is missing a lot in YA. My family is the most important thing in the world to me, and I'm sure is the same with most people. How great to see a series touching on this in such a relevant and realistic way. This family is not perfect. They love each other and drive each other crazy at times. But in the end, it is their loyalty to each other that makes all the difference.
"“Family doesn’t go one way. It goes every way. We help each other, we protect each other, and we die for each other, if that’s what it takes.”
The Characters I'm not going to touch on each one, as they are all really good in this book. I feel that any character development that was lacking in the previous books (especially the first one) all comes together here. These characters are all complex, with moments of both highs and lows. And all of the main characters had a complete story arc that made sense and fit into the story perfectly.
The World Building One of my absolute favorite things in any series is when the world building just builds and builds with each book. The world building in Flip jumps leaps and bounds from the first two books. We get to see a lot more of this crazy world, and most of it is done through the ads and articles in between each chapter. Like before, it really gives us an insight to the public's viewpoint, as most of our characters are in hiding and almost in the dark themselves. Just really brilliantly done.
Comedy Hour Despite this being a very dark, intense story, I was LOLing through a lot of it! I love the humor throughout, and think its a perfect balance with action and suspense. A few of my favorite lines:
"Eventually, Simon shifts his position, grunting lightly, and then says, “Nice makeover.”
“Are you hitting on me?” Harrison jokes.
“All I want is to be your frienemy,” Simon jokes back.
“I’m not ready for commitment,” Harrison says. “Too young for that. "
"Minda says, “Yeah. Just do what Janice does and you’ll be fine.”
“You want us to all wear tiger-striped dresses?” Harrison asks.
“Sure. So long as you laser your legs first,” Minda says."
The Twists Again, lots more of them happening in the finale! I'm not sure I've ever seen a twist written as well as the big one in Slip, but the ones in here I think have topped it! MIND BLOWN!
The Writing Loved it. Just beautiful writing. I'll give you a few examples:
"“Words can split logs and start fires and break stones, but they can also hug you and warm you and fight the wars you don’t have the strength to fight.”
"But then I realized that life is a gift that can’t be replaced. Life is the purpose. Life is always worth it, no matter how terrible you feel, no matter what mistakes you've made, or others have made. This world isn’t for running. It’s for standing. It’s for fighting."
Need I say more?
The Action I mentioned it before, but these were AWESOME action scenes! They went on for pages, were very detailed, and the pacing was perfect. Really made the pages fly!
The Ending One of the best endings to a trilogy EVER. Everything tied together nicely, it all made sense, and we got a wonderful epilogue that tells us what's up with our favorite characters a year after the story. Really loved that!
Flip was an EPIC finale and I loved every minute of this book! After the last page, I was in a book fog, and it took me a bit to come back to the real world. These characters were just so real to me. Slip is one of the best trilogies I have ever read. I will be thinking about it for a long while.
And I'll leave you with another favorite quote:
"It’s not the power of the universe rallying against him, but humans. Just men and women full of hate and evil and ignorance. Nothing more, nothing less. And humans can be defeated, no matter the odds. In the end, good has a chance to prevail if those who wield its mighty sword do not lose hope."
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review**
This series is some of the best Sci-Fi/Dystopia that I've read yet!
Breaking it down by book:
SLIP
What happens when the government has the authority to choose who can have children? What happens to the value of human life?
Welcome to the future United States of America, now called RUSA (Reorganized United States of America). Rising sea levels have shrunk down our land mass, and there is now a finite number of resources for its citizens. The government solves this problem by controlling the population. To get pregnant (legally), each couple receives what's called a "Death Match", and when that aging or sick person dies, they are allowed to procreate.
To enforce this law, a new government agency called Population Control (Pop Con) was created to round up any UnBees (unregistered children under the age of 2) and Slips (unregistered children over the age of 2)and their parents and terminate them.
While this book is about a futuristic society that values population and government control as its priority, its also mainly a story about a torn apart family.
Michael Kelly is the head of Pop Con. He and his wife have a secret: their son, Benson is actually a Slip. He's been raised separate from his legal brother, Harrison, and neither boy knows about the other. Michael does everything he can to protect Benson, but he knows time is running out. Before long, he must send Benson out on his own or risk him getting caught and killed.
The first part of the book is mainly told from 5 to 8 year old Benson's POV. It does jump around a little to include two other children's POV who become very important to the story: Harrison and Domino Destovan. This part of the book leaves you more questions than answers, but it also provides a much needed understanding of Michael Kelly. I also love how well we get into Benson's head. His descriptions are right in line with a little boy who doesn't understand his world, but trying so hard to make sense of things. Then we jump ahead eight years later, and the story really takes off!
This story was an amazing read! I read it straight through in one day. I was totally sucked in from beginning to end!
Things I loved about Slip:
--Benson and Lucy. The main love interests in this story are so cute together, but also very real and relatable, too. I can't wait to read more about their budding relationship in the next book!
--Check, Rod, and Gonzo. Benson's best friends and gang for survival, along with Lucy and her younger brother. These three characters were loyal friends, but also a much needed comic relief at times.
--Janice. What can I say about Benson and Harrison's eccentric (okay, crazy) mother? I loved her! She provided quite a bit of comic relief, but at the same time, it was a kind of sad feeling, watching her struggle through their family's situation. It really brought to life some of the horrors of this kind of society.
--The Ads and new articles that ended each chapter. These usually related directly to what was currently going on in the story, and were filled with irony and sarcastic dark humor. Some examples:
Ready to start a family? Apply for an instant Death Match today!
Simply speak “Yeah Baby” into your holo-screen to get started. Do pregnancy the right way, the legal way.
Now available, reserve a Death Match up to ten years in advance! Simply speak „early Death Match‟ into your holo-screen, and prepare for your future.
This advertisement paid for by U-Bank, where it’s YOU that matters.
--The World Building. The futuristic technology is awesome, and completely believable. This whole future is easy to believe as being our own. Chilling.
--The Writing Itself. Really beautiful writing. It paints a picture and makes the story come alive. One quote I especially loved:
"...her lips like an artist's brush on canvas as they caress his own."
--The Terminology The words "Life" and "Death" are used quite a bit. "Death Match" is the legal procedure for procreating, while "Lifecard" is what you use to pay with (like a debit card). All the terminology made sense, while poking fun at itself at the same time.
--Well fleshed out characters. With so many characters, this was pulled off really well. Mostly. I'll explain more below.
--The Pacing. This was a very INTENSE read. There was always something going on, with not much time to breathe. A real page-turner!
--The Twist. Totally did not see it coming. I'm betting you won't either!
--The Feels. This book was constantly bringing out some kind of reaction in me, whether it was heart pounding suspense, laughter, chills, and tears. A very emotional read, something that's hard to pull off in a sci-fi dystopian!
The only thing that I found lacking was the character development of two very important characters: Michael Kelly and Harrison Kelly. It was really hard to like Harrison, although I wanted to! Its easier to like Benson in the story, because he's the one who got shafted, and at times you almost feel like telling Harrison, "Oh, grow up!" But that isn't fair, as he's almost completely in the dark to what's really going on. Michael Kelly was just plain elusive at times. I was glad we get a view of him from Benson in the beginning of the book, which really helped that along. I'm hoping we get more in the sequel.
This did not affect the enjoyment of the read at all for me, though. And I can understand the choices the author made, as too much character development on such complex characters may have bogged things down and slowed down the pacing quite a bit. And I really like the pacing the way it is!
Slip is a complete full novel, but there is plenty of story left for its sequel. I can't wait to read it! The very last scene in this book gave me major goosebumps and chills! This was a 5 star read for me, and anyone who is into dystopians and sci-fi thrillers will love this one!
One last quote to leave you with:
“This life is too hard,” he (Benson) says.
Harrison would normally laugh at a comment like that, but he can't manage it because of everything they've been through in the last day and a half. “And made harder because of all the damn idiots running around with guns,” he says.
A few of my BookTube friends and I also did a video review/chat on Slip, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc2pi...
GRIP
Holy Guacamole Batman!
Grip is the gripping (pardon the pun) sequel to Slip, my former favorite book by David Estes. Grip has now taken that honor! This book just STUNNED me! Sequels in general have a top job living up to their predecessors, but Grip achieved this with flying colors!
**I should mention at this point that there will be spoilers for Slip in this review, but none for Grip.**
I was so looking forward to this book! I actually read Slip for the first time as an ARC last June, so I couldn't wait to see Benson and Harrison together in action! What I love so much about this book is it didn't play out like I thought it would have at all. Grip, if possible, is even darker than Slip, with higher stakes and even more twists! It completely exceeded my expectations!
Things I loved about Grip:
Harrison In Slip, Harrison really came across as a brat to me, but in this one, he really steps up to the plate. I didn't agree with all his decisions and choices, but I am loving his evolution. He does remind me a lot of his father, Michael Kelly, but so much smarter in so many ways.
A Family Back Together I really loved seeing Harrison and Benson together for the first time. I myself have identical twin boys that are teens, and the bond between them is so strong. Even though Harrison and Benson have been apart their whole lives, they still have this bond. The scenes with them together were my favorites! Then there's Janice--she has her boys back again. She actually shines in parts of this book, and the scenes with this broken family were done so very well. It was easy to relate to Janice in these! I really got the mom factor here. And her craziness is starting to make more and more sense to me.
Destiny We get a new character in this one, a Slip the same age as our heroes who is also a Slip herself. Destiny takes the cake for creativity and survival technique. One of my favorite characters ever!
The Ads and Articles Throughout the Book As in Slip, Grip is filled with these, and they really help the reader gauge the reaction of the public. There's a lot of brainwashing going on here, and its interesting to me to see the people who get sucked in, and then the ones who don't, whose comments have been deleted. This was my favorite example in this book:
"Do you love dogs but not all the responsibility?
BotPetsTM new line of BotDogs 6.0 is more advanced than ever!
Programmed to perform more than thirty tricks, your pet will keep you
entertained for hours, without ever requiring feeding or exercise.
And like all of our species of BotDogs, there‟s no waste pickup required!
BotPets, we take the poo out of poodle.
Important Disclosures: BotDogs 6.0 were modified from the original design of AttackDogs 6.0
used by Crows in law enforcement endeavors. The “bite” and “attack” commands have been
removed, however, in less than one percent of cases, larger models have been found to be defective. It’s advised that children be supervised around BotDogs 6.0 at all times. BotPets is not
liable for any injury or death resulting from defective products."
The World Building Its again excellent in this book, and we get a much broader scope as well. We learn more about the government, the resistance, and the general public.
The Writing Itself Again, beautiful writing done here! I love seeing a writer grow. One of my favorite quotes:
"Happy moments are like stars. They seem so close you think you can
touch them, but really they’re fleeting and a million miles away. Enjoy them from afar and don’t come to expect them. In your life there will be more cloudy nights than clear ones."
The Twists In Slip, there was one big twist at the end that was MIND BLOWING. In Grip, there are several twists that will blow your mind to a far off galaxy on the other side of the universe!
The Feels Of course. And the best thing about a David Estes book! You will feel EVERYTHING. The anger, the sadness, the despair, the love, the fear, the hope...everything.
Final verdict for this book: 5 very EPIC stars! This sequel is a stunner. If you're going to take the ride that is this series, make sure you hold on tight, don't lose your grip! (I'm sorry, couldn't help it)
FLIP
"Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened." --Dr. Suess
And that's exactly how I feel as I am now at the end of this fantastic story. The Kelly family's journey through this trilogy was just amazing, moving from one extreme to the other. Although I'm sad its over, I'm thrilled I got to experience it!
Flip was all I wanted and then some. Everything that was good about the first two books continues here in the finale. The stakes have been upped, and the read was even more intense, with even better action sequences. But Flip stays true to the basic story of a family trying to be together and free in a terrible world.
**I should mention now that there might be spoilers for Slip and Grip, but none for Flip. **
Things I love about Flip:
The Kelly Family My absolute favorite thing about this trilogy, from beginning to end has been the theme throughout about family. This is such an important theme, and one that is missing a lot in YA. My family is the most important thing in the world to me, and I'm sure is the same with most people. How great to see a series touching on this in such a relevant and realistic way. This family is not perfect. They love each other and drive each other crazy at times. But in the end, it is their loyalty to each other that makes all the difference.
"“Family doesn’t go one way. It goes every way. We help each other, we protect each other, and we die for each other, if that’s what it takes.”
The Characters I'm not going to touch on each one, as they are all really good in this book. I feel that any character development that was lacking in the previous books (especially the first one) all comes together here. These characters are all complex, with moments of both highs and lows. And all of the main characters had a complete story arc that made sense and fit into the story perfectly.
The World Building One of my absolute favorite things in any series is when the world building just builds and builds with each book. The world building in Flip jumps leaps and bounds from the first two books. We get to see a lot more of this crazy world, and most of it is done through the ads and articles in between each chapter. Like before, it really gives us an insight to the public's viewpoint, as most of our characters are in hiding and almost in the dark themselves. Just really brilliantly done.
Comedy Hour Despite this being a very dark, intense story, I was LOLing through a lot of it! I love the humor throughout, and think its a perfect balance with action and suspense. A few of my favorite lines:
"Eventually, Simon shifts his position, grunting lightly, and then says, “Nice makeover.”
“Are you hitting on me?” Harrison jokes.
“All I want is to be your frienemy,” Simon jokes back.
“I’m not ready for commitment,” Harrison says. “Too young for that. "
"Minda says, “Yeah. Just do what Janice does and you’ll be fine.”
“You want us to all wear tiger-striped dresses?” Harrison asks.
“Sure. So long as you laser your legs first,” Minda says."
The Twists Again, lots more of them happening in the finale! I'm not sure I've ever seen a twist written as well as the big one in Slip, but the ones in here I think have topped it! MIND BLOWN!
The Writing Loved it. Just beautiful writing. I'll give you a few examples:
"“Words can split logs and start fires and break stones, but they can also hug you and warm you and fight the wars you don’t have the strength to fight.”
"But then I realized that life is a gift that can’t be replaced. Life is the purpose. Life is always worth it, no matter how terrible you feel, no matter what mistakes you've made, or others have made. This world isn’t for running. It’s for standing. It’s for fighting."
Need I say more?
The Action I mentioned it before, but these were AWESOME action scenes! They went on for pages, were very detailed, and the pacing was perfect. Really made the pages fly!
The Ending One of the best endings to a trilogy EVER. Everything tied together nicely, it all made sense, and we got a wonderful epilogue that tells us what's up with our favorite characters a year after the story. Really loved that!
Flip was an EPIC finale and I loved every minute of this book! After the last page, I was in a book fog, and it took me a bit to come back to the real world. These characters were just so real to me. Slip is one of the best trilogies I have ever read. I will be thinking about it for a long while.
And I'll leave you with another favorite quote:
"It’s not the power of the universe rallying against him, but humans. Just men and women full of hate and evil and ignorance. Nothing more, nothing less. And humans can be defeated, no matter the odds. In the end, good has a chance to prevail if those who wield its mighty sword do not lose hope."
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review**
November 24, 2015
In one of his best series to date, Estes has outdone himself and created a chilling futuristic world that I could easily envision happening.
My original reviews of each book of the Slip Boxed Set are below:
Slip
Estes, as usual, has written another amazing tale! This new series is set in a future St. Louis. Because of global catastrophy, the land masses have shrunk and there is only enough room in the Reorganized United States of America for a limited population. Births are regulated and unauthorized humans over the age of two are called Slips. The penalty of illegal Slips and their parents is death.
This chilling future is told from the point of view of a family torn apart. Estes has masterfully weaved together another exciting story full of twists and turns that I never saw coming, as usual for this author. There is happiness, sorrow, pain, laughter, love and evil all interwoven together to give the reader one heck of a ride!
I can't wait to continue on this journey with Estes and see where his imagination takes us next. This is my favorite of all of Estes' books to date!!
Grip
Holy schnikes, I am still REELING from the last sentence in this powerful sequel to Slip!
As Grip opens, we find the gang all together in Lifer headquarters. I can’t seem to get enough of the Kelly family. Benson, Harrison and, especially Janice, are back along with Luce, Check, Rod and Gonzo. New characters are introduced along with thrilling new reveals that absolutely took my breath away. Harrison decides to seek Benson’s Death Match and kill him so that Benson can be free and no longer an illegal “Slip”. In the meantime, the Department of Population Control (Pop Con) is trying to destroy the Lifer’s AND the Kelly family.
As in Slip, I adored any time we get scenes with Janice, Benson and Harrison’s mom. For all of her insanity, she seems to be the one who makes the most sense. Harrison can be a bit of a loose cannon at times, but his love for his family shines through at key moments. And then there’s Benson who has had the hardest life but has come through it all with the biggest heart. There’s just something about this entire family that makes me care so dang much as to what happens to them next.
I have just a few words about evil "Destoyer"... He's one of the scariest psychopaths EVER!! He's what nightmares are made of.
And the writing…! There were many moments that made me pause just to let the words wash over me. “She melts into the flow, feeling like an autumn leaf cast aside by a stiff breeze into a fast-moving river.” Gorgeous!
David Estes has really outdone himself with this book. In every one of his books, he always makes me sit up and gasp with his mind boggling twist and turns. I usually have so many different emotions while reading any of his books and Grip was no exception and probably hit me the most with a full range. There was loud laughter, SHOCK, loud sobs, tears, giggles, more SHOCK, and a couple of sit up and “WHAAATTTT!?!!?!”’s!!!
I need what I know will be an EPIC conclusion to this series, and I need it NOW…! Another WELL DONE from me, David Estes! Grip is easily my favorite of all your books so far!
Flip
Excuse me as I finish wiping the emotional tears from my eyes after reading one of the best endings ever!
This is by far David Estes's best series yet!! I am almost upset that the Kelly family saga is over.
I've been a huge fan of Benson's since the first chapter of Slip. The roller coaster life of having to live in hiding for his entire life and the grief he's suffered never changed who his true self was; just a really good guy!
I love how Estes always find the best in his characters! This is true for Harrison, Destiny, Geoffrey, and especially Janice and Michael. No matter how they started out, they all had amazing character arcs and I loved seeing how they turned out! I will sleep better now knowing this wonderful cast of characters are also sleeping better.
And then there's the wonderful Lola, the botdog. I think she needs her own twitter account and a place where she can receive fan mail. ;)
I can't wait to read Estes's next book because he seriously just keeps getting better and better. I'm not sure how he'll be able to top this one, but you know he will!
My original reviews of each book of the Slip Boxed Set are below:
Slip
Estes, as usual, has written another amazing tale! This new series is set in a future St. Louis. Because of global catastrophy, the land masses have shrunk and there is only enough room in the Reorganized United States of America for a limited population. Births are regulated and unauthorized humans over the age of two are called Slips. The penalty of illegal Slips and their parents is death.
This chilling future is told from the point of view of a family torn apart. Estes has masterfully weaved together another exciting story full of twists and turns that I never saw coming, as usual for this author. There is happiness, sorrow, pain, laughter, love and evil all interwoven together to give the reader one heck of a ride!
I can't wait to continue on this journey with Estes and see where his imagination takes us next. This is my favorite of all of Estes' books to date!!
Grip
Holy schnikes, I am still REELING from the last sentence in this powerful sequel to Slip!
As Grip opens, we find the gang all together in Lifer headquarters. I can’t seem to get enough of the Kelly family. Benson, Harrison and, especially Janice, are back along with Luce, Check, Rod and Gonzo. New characters are introduced along with thrilling new reveals that absolutely took my breath away. Harrison decides to seek Benson’s Death Match and kill him so that Benson can be free and no longer an illegal “Slip”. In the meantime, the Department of Population Control (Pop Con) is trying to destroy the Lifer’s AND the Kelly family.
As in Slip, I adored any time we get scenes with Janice, Benson and Harrison’s mom. For all of her insanity, she seems to be the one who makes the most sense. Harrison can be a bit of a loose cannon at times, but his love for his family shines through at key moments. And then there’s Benson who has had the hardest life but has come through it all with the biggest heart. There’s just something about this entire family that makes me care so dang much as to what happens to them next.
I have just a few words about evil "Destoyer"... He's one of the scariest psychopaths EVER!! He's what nightmares are made of.
And the writing…! There were many moments that made me pause just to let the words wash over me. “She melts into the flow, feeling like an autumn leaf cast aside by a stiff breeze into a fast-moving river.” Gorgeous!
David Estes has really outdone himself with this book. In every one of his books, he always makes me sit up and gasp with his mind boggling twist and turns. I usually have so many different emotions while reading any of his books and Grip was no exception and probably hit me the most with a full range. There was loud laughter, SHOCK, loud sobs, tears, giggles, more SHOCK, and a couple of sit up and “WHAAATTTT!?!!?!”’s!!!
I need what I know will be an EPIC conclusion to this series, and I need it NOW…! Another WELL DONE from me, David Estes! Grip is easily my favorite of all your books so far!
Flip
Excuse me as I finish wiping the emotional tears from my eyes after reading one of the best endings ever!
This is by far David Estes's best series yet!! I am almost upset that the Kelly family saga is over.
I've been a huge fan of Benson's since the first chapter of Slip. The roller coaster life of having to live in hiding for his entire life and the grief he's suffered never changed who his true self was; just a really good guy!
I love how Estes always find the best in his characters! This is true for Harrison, Destiny, Geoffrey, and especially Janice and Michael. No matter how they started out, they all had amazing character arcs and I loved seeing how they turned out! I will sleep better now knowing this wonderful cast of characters are also sleeping better.
And then there's the wonderful Lola, the botdog. I think she needs her own twitter account and a place where she can receive fan mail. ;)
I can't wait to read Estes's next book because he seriously just keeps getting better and better. I'm not sure how he'll be able to top this one, but you know he will!
Read
November 21, 2015The Slip Trilogy now comes in a complete three-book boxed set, and is available on Kindle Unlimited!
January 27, 2018
Good Read
Appreciate having a complete trilogy so I could enjoy the read just like binging on a TV series. Enjoyed the characters, good story telling and moves at a comfortable pace. The wrap up ending left me satisfied.
Appreciate having a complete trilogy so I could enjoy the read just like binging on a TV series. Enjoyed the characters, good story telling and moves at a comfortable pace. The wrap up ending left me satisfied.
January 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this series. I liked the plot and the characters. At times I found it very hard to put down.
I also what to note that by biggest peeve with reading books these days is the amount of grammatical errors. With that said, I want to commend you because I noticed about 3 errors out of the entire series.
I also what to note that by biggest peeve with reading books these days is the amount of grammatical errors. With that said, I want to commend you because I noticed about 3 errors out of the entire series.
December 25, 2016
Best of Estes
If I were in the Texas Board of Education, Slip would be required reading in high schools across the nation.
If I were in the Texas Board of Education, Slip would be required reading in high schools across the nation.
September 29, 2018
Another Great series, again
This author has gone and done it again. I was just sitting here minding my own business ready another trilogy when what did I do? I laughed out loud and then dried up the tears (so no one would see them) then I found myself up till one at night just chomping at the bit to get to the end and see what happens for the family of real characters. Whew! I'm off to see what I can fall into next!
This author has gone and done it again. I was just sitting here minding my own business ready another trilogy when what did I do? I laughed out loud and then dried up the tears (so no one would see them) then I found myself up till one at night just chomping at the bit to get to the end and see what happens for the family of real characters. Whew! I'm off to see what I can fall into next!
October 18, 2019
I enjoyed this series very much. It kept you turning the page to see what is next. The ending was surprising in a good way. It is a good read!
I enjoyed this series very much. It kept you turning the page to see what is next. The ending was surprising in a good way. Very good series!
I enjoyed this series very much. It kept you turning the page to see what is next. The ending was surprising in a good way. Very good series!
May 23, 2018
Great read!
This story is so very engaging that I could not put it down. The characters are wonderful and the premise of the story is extremely interesting and provocative. I loved the Fatemarked series, also! Don’t miss either of them!
This story is so very engaging that I could not put it down. The characters are wonderful and the premise of the story is extremely interesting and provocative. I loved the Fatemarked series, also! Don’t miss either of them!
October 9, 2020
I could not finish the first book in this series, I could not stomach one of the major characters glee at killing many children and babies just because they were “unauthorized”. It was too close to reality and the millions of babies aborted every year in our world today, barbaric,
February 28, 2021
A believable future.
The future written here is a very possible scenario and Estes brings it to life in all its tragedies and triumphs. The character Janice is actually the smartest one in her offbeat way.
The future written here is a very possible scenario and Estes brings it to life in all its tragedies and triumphs. The character Janice is actually the smartest one in her offbeat way.
January 15, 2022
Future fiction at its best!
Edge of your seat writing for sure. Great characters, heroes, villains and robots. Even villainous government policies not to mention psychotic cyborgs all gathered in one great series.
Edge of your seat writing for sure. Great characters, heroes, villains and robots. Even villainous government policies not to mention psychotic cyborgs all gathered in one great series.
February 26, 2018
Grim and Happy Stories
In a world ruled by a government placed above the population by the manipulated citizens, some folks find a way to discard the shackles of servitude.
In a world ruled by a government placed above the population by the manipulated citizens, some folks find a way to discard the shackles of servitude.
October 1, 2018
Better than I expected.
This series was a fun read. I found myself lost in the pages and wanting more. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys original fiction books.
This series was a fun read. I found myself lost in the pages and wanting more. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys original fiction books.
October 28, 2018
WATCH OUT FOR CONTROL
Recommend to all who think of the future and what could happen if we become complacent and let the government "take care" of us.
Recommend to all who think of the future and what could happen if we become complacent and let the government "take care" of us.
December 24, 2018
Ponderous
I got about 15% of the first book read and realized I just didn't care about the characters. So I stopped reading.
I got about 15% of the first book read and realized I just didn't care about the characters. So I stopped reading.
September 23, 2019
Kept me gripped from start to finish. I can see this happening here one day.
June 2, 2020
Realistic. Read
Fast moving and exciting. Many turns and surprises to keep the page's turning well into the night. Great job David!!
Fast moving and exciting. Many turns and surprises to keep the page's turning well into the night. Great job David!!
March 3, 2021
The characters in writing and dialogue in action we’re fine but I just couldn’t get along with a plot.
August 30, 2016
Outstanding dystopian world!
An amazing trilogy about family. When twins are born and you are only permitted to have one child what would you do? Michael Kelly is faced with a tough decision that sets in motion life as Slip for Benson and life without his father for Harrison. As head Pop Con Michael Kelly raised Benson until he was eight and then set him free on the streets of Saint Louis where he meets a crew friends who become his new family. This whole series is heart felt with family being it's main theme. It has horrible villains in Pop Con and the Destroyer along with Jarrod. You will feel a range of emotions while reading this trilogy. This is a great read.
An amazing trilogy about family. When twins are born and you are only permitted to have one child what would you do? Michael Kelly is faced with a tough decision that sets in motion life as Slip for Benson and life without his father for Harrison. As head Pop Con Michael Kelly raised Benson until he was eight and then set him free on the streets of Saint Louis where he meets a crew friends who become his new family. This whole series is heart felt with family being it's main theme. It has horrible villains in Pop Con and the Destroyer along with Jarrod. You will feel a range of emotions while reading this trilogy. This is a great read.
September 6, 2016
Good from the beginning
All three books were great and I loved how they tied together. I would highly recommend this series to everyone
All three books were great and I loved how they tied together. I would highly recommend this series to everyone
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