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The Earth-X Trilogy #1
The Proving
The Earth that man once knew is long since gone. Gone are the days of human dominance - For over one hundred years now, Earth has been overrun by Specters, terrifying ghost-like aliens that have forced the remaining humans to take refuge inside protected cities. These Xenoshields may protect, but they also cage. Humanity yearns for freedom. Tensions run high between the clans.
Today is the day of The Proving, the day when clan children of a certain age and training venture beyond the protection of the city shields into the wilds where Specters haunt the ancient ruins of man. Tasked with a routine maintenance mission, the clan children venture deep inside Specter territory and quickly find a secret so shocking that it challenges everything they've learned.
Poignant, thrilling, and deeply atmospheric The Proving is a non-stop thrill ride you can't help but sink your teeth into. This coming-of-age tale is a vividly detailed testament to the realities of social pressure and resilience of the human spirit in the shadow of Armageddon. Journey forth into the breach as the last of the human race balances on the precipice of Earth's final hours.
Today is the day of The Proving, the day when clan children of a certain age and training venture beyond the protection of the city shields into the wilds where Specters haunt the ancient ruins of man. Tasked with a routine maintenance mission, the clan children venture deep inside Specter territory and quickly find a secret so shocking that it challenges everything they've learned.
Poignant, thrilling, and deeply atmospheric The Proving is a non-stop thrill ride you can't help but sink your teeth into. This coming-of-age tale is a vividly detailed testament to the realities of social pressure and resilience of the human spirit in the shadow of Armageddon. Journey forth into the breach as the last of the human race balances on the precipice of Earth's final hours.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
70 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 11, 2016
After a comet enters the Earth’s atmosphere and nearly crashes into it, it leaves in it’s trail, a ring of ice covering the planet. Not only does it leave the ring, but it also brings with it, deadly Specters.
Specters are creatures capable of killing anything, including humans. To help save the people of Earth, cities were formed surrounded by protective energy barriers, so that they could keep the Specters out, and the people safe.
The unfortunate thing is though, that the machinery keeping the energy shields running are outside the barriers, and needs to be kept maintained.
It is up to the local teenagers to venture outside the safety of the barrier, and go on what will become their first ‘Proving’, to maintain and repair the energy shield.
For nine teenagers, this day has arrived. They must work together if they are to fulfil their jobs and return safely inside the energy shield.
The Proving is a dystopian, sci-fi cross book, set in a hard-going futuristic world. Like in most dystopian novels that I have read, it always seem to be up to the teens/young adults to be the ones to put themselves in danger, and this book is no different.
It may have the undertones of every dystopian novel, but the core of the book is anything but. The teens are all superbly written, and each of them brings that added depth to the story.
The plot itself is pretty unique, in terms of the comet, ring of ice and Specters. It is a fast-paced, engaging and engrossing book, something that a young adult will love.
Fluently written, it will capture the imagination, and have you breathing a sigh of relief that you don’t live in a world surrounded by human-killing creatures.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
Specters are creatures capable of killing anything, including humans. To help save the people of Earth, cities were formed surrounded by protective energy barriers, so that they could keep the Specters out, and the people safe.
The unfortunate thing is though, that the machinery keeping the energy shields running are outside the barriers, and needs to be kept maintained.
It is up to the local teenagers to venture outside the safety of the barrier, and go on what will become their first ‘Proving’, to maintain and repair the energy shield.
For nine teenagers, this day has arrived. They must work together if they are to fulfil their jobs and return safely inside the energy shield.
The Proving is a dystopian, sci-fi cross book, set in a hard-going futuristic world. Like in most dystopian novels that I have read, it always seem to be up to the teens/young adults to be the ones to put themselves in danger, and this book is no different.
It may have the undertones of every dystopian novel, but the core of the book is anything but. The teens are all superbly written, and each of them brings that added depth to the story.
The plot itself is pretty unique, in terms of the comet, ring of ice and Specters. It is a fast-paced, engaging and engrossing book, something that a young adult will love.
Fluently written, it will capture the imagination, and have you breathing a sigh of relief that you don’t live in a world surrounded by human-killing creatures.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
December 18, 2016
The Proving is a teen fantasy book about Specters that invaded Earth. They are similar to ghosts in ways but can kill you if they pass through you. Each clan on Earth has their own customs, values, ways, and strengths. When a child gets to a certain age they go out to hunt a Specter with a group, a Proving. This is about a group of these kids and what they find. Very creative and imaginative. Plot is well developed as well as the characters. Nice new approach to aliens! Well done.
March 26, 2016
Characters
There are 5 characters this books follows and rotates between them to create an amazing panel of characters. Skye tries to embody everything Spartan but isn't 100% there. She is tough and was one of my favorite characters throughout the book. She is the most self aware even if it takes some time to get there. Cleo is hilarious. She is sharp-tongued and overconfident at times but she has mostly good intentions. Curiosity rules Cleo's actions and the will to prove she can indeed hack anything with enough time. Ben is the epitome of a teenage boy. He is awkward at times and can't help his raging hormones at times. Yet when it comes down to it he is every bit the budding doctor - cool under pressure when it counts. Gabriel is in denial. He has such confidence and natural leadership tendencies that are overruled by a bit of an identity crisis. The Historian, Seamus, is the most difficult to put your thumb on. Of the New Adults, he is the one that is just there to 'observe.' However, by the end of the book you'll get a peek into Seamus and his inner struggles.
All of the New Adults are accompanied by Young Adults (with the exception of Seamus who is technically not truly part of the group). They are either younger brothers or sisters. Because of birthing rules I assume that each New Adult male has a younger sister because each family could only get 2 children and it was standard to have one girl and one boy. You'll understand when you read. So each older sibling has a younger sibling of the opposite gender. Which makes for an interesting dynamic of equal amount of girls and boys, with the exception of the male historian.
Plot
The Specters beyond the shields are a threat during the two 'Provings' each citizen partakes in. It seems the clans (Athens, Persian, Spartan) and free citizens are the usual the participates. Here there is already a bit of mystery as why the free citizen is swapped out of a member of parliament's son (Gabriel). There are a lot of mysteries this story introduces and most of them have enough hints dropped that when the reveal happens you've already got a pretty good idea or figured it out.
The action scenes and the way the characters move through the world is very well detailed. You can easily imagine what is happening with very little ease. Not to mention the Specters are terrifying! It is like a ghost story but the aliens are the ghosts.
Overall
The characters make this book. They are fascinating and each unique. The author made it easy by creating the division between each character's upbringing. Their decisions and inner dialogues in a very stressful situations was what kept me engaged.
You can tell the author did his research. He goes into detail about everything from medical advancements and procedures to robotics. It is all across the board and detailed in such a way that a very convincing world is constructed. It was an excellent read from beginning to end.
The plot was interesting and seemed to feel something like an origin story. For me it felt a little predictable at times but the action, and twists and turns of the characters' choices kept it very interesting! I wasn't really surprised by anything that happened, it all felt like it was supposed to happen exactly as it did. The predictability of the book didn't at all take away from my enjoyment of it. Which is hard to do and was expertly executed!
Rating
5 Stars
Although the book does cover 'The Proving' and that part of it is wrapped up, it leaves the reader with a nice cliffhanger for the overall story arc (unless you're like me and are 95% sure you know exactly what happened and expect what is coming next or at least have a few theories). Again the characters have depth and believable uniqueness. Their flaws make them feel like real characters.
All I know is the author better get busy writing because I want to read the next one!
Where did I get it?
The author sent me a copy in exchange of an honest review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.com.
There are 5 characters this books follows and rotates between them to create an amazing panel of characters. Skye tries to embody everything Spartan but isn't 100% there. She is tough and was one of my favorite characters throughout the book. She is the most self aware even if it takes some time to get there. Cleo is hilarious. She is sharp-tongued and overconfident at times but she has mostly good intentions. Curiosity rules Cleo's actions and the will to prove she can indeed hack anything with enough time. Ben is the epitome of a teenage boy. He is awkward at times and can't help his raging hormones at times. Yet when it comes down to it he is every bit the budding doctor - cool under pressure when it counts. Gabriel is in denial. He has such confidence and natural leadership tendencies that are overruled by a bit of an identity crisis. The Historian, Seamus, is the most difficult to put your thumb on. Of the New Adults, he is the one that is just there to 'observe.' However, by the end of the book you'll get a peek into Seamus and his inner struggles.
All of the New Adults are accompanied by Young Adults (with the exception of Seamus who is technically not truly part of the group). They are either younger brothers or sisters. Because of birthing rules I assume that each New Adult male has a younger sister because each family could only get 2 children and it was standard to have one girl and one boy. You'll understand when you read. So each older sibling has a younger sibling of the opposite gender. Which makes for an interesting dynamic of equal amount of girls and boys, with the exception of the male historian.
Plot
The Specters beyond the shields are a threat during the two 'Provings' each citizen partakes in. It seems the clans (Athens, Persian, Spartan) and free citizens are the usual the participates. Here there is already a bit of mystery as why the free citizen is swapped out of a member of parliament's son (Gabriel). There are a lot of mysteries this story introduces and most of them have enough hints dropped that when the reveal happens you've already got a pretty good idea or figured it out.
The action scenes and the way the characters move through the world is very well detailed. You can easily imagine what is happening with very little ease. Not to mention the Specters are terrifying! It is like a ghost story but the aliens are the ghosts.
Overall
The characters make this book. They are fascinating and each unique. The author made it easy by creating the division between each character's upbringing. Their decisions and inner dialogues in a very stressful situations was what kept me engaged.
You can tell the author did his research. He goes into detail about everything from medical advancements and procedures to robotics. It is all across the board and detailed in such a way that a very convincing world is constructed. It was an excellent read from beginning to end.
The plot was interesting and seemed to feel something like an origin story. For me it felt a little predictable at times but the action, and twists and turns of the characters' choices kept it very interesting! I wasn't really surprised by anything that happened, it all felt like it was supposed to happen exactly as it did. The predictability of the book didn't at all take away from my enjoyment of it. Which is hard to do and was expertly executed!
Rating
5 Stars
Although the book does cover 'The Proving' and that part of it is wrapped up, it leaves the reader with a nice cliffhanger for the overall story arc (unless you're like me and are 95% sure you know exactly what happened and expect what is coming next or at least have a few theories). Again the characters have depth and believable uniqueness. Their flaws make them feel like real characters.
All I know is the author better get busy writing because I want to read the next one!
Where did I get it?
The author sent me a copy in exchange of an honest review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.com.
June 9, 2016
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It's a shame that this writer and title is not well known because this series hold a ton of potential. Without a doubt, this is one of the better dystopian/sci-fi books I've read recently.
The planet Earth is now surrounded by a ring of ice, from which falls ghost-like creatures of energy called Specters, capable of killing a person upon contact. While many of Earth's inhabitants where initially killed, the population now lives in safe cities protected by energy shields, only venturing outside when necessary, such as during The Proving. The Proving takes place for every citizen twice at ages 13 and 18 in small groups that leave the shield's protection to see what Earth used to be like and gain a grasp of the reality of Earth's predicament. These missions are typically low risk, usually involving maintenance on an outpost.
For Skye, Ben, Cleo, and Gabriel, this is their 2nd and final Proving. Gabriel is the son of a prominent Parliament member. Thus the group is given the safe assignment of fixing the power of a nearby emergency depot outside of Neo Berlin. However, when they find the body of a prominent scientist at the depot's site, the mission takes a turn nobody could've predicted.
I felt that the plot was fairly original. The Specters are not aliens, but corporal forms of energy. The world building was detailed and vivid, with its own set of rules and mythology. I appreciate a well-built and concise world. Brosky creates a whole system of government, a few unique subcultures and social constructs as well as infinite amounts of sci-fi technology.
I found the Clan concept of the book particularly interesting and helpful; every person is a member of Clan Sparta, Clan Persia, Clan Athens, or a Free Citizen. Each has their own function and benefits. The Clan concept particularly informed the personalities and actions of each character. Since the book is character driven and has quite a few characters, I thought it was a smart technique and plot device on Brosky's part in order to understand who everyone was and why the made the choices they did. Because despite the initially overwhelming amount of characters, each is developed and has their own individual personality and function in the story.
I only really have two grievances with the book. The first was the amount of perspectives used to narrate the story. Each chapter is a new perspective and there are five alternating perspectives in total. I found this to be disorienting. One or two, three at the maximum, would've been sufficient in telling the story. The most interesting perspectives to me were Skye's, Ben's, and Seamus's. Cleo's was too chaotic, just like her personality, and Gabriel's was unnecessary in my opinion. Or at least, his story easily could've been told through the eyes of another.
My second issue was that in the middle of the book, the characters decide to respond to a distress signal they're receiving at the Emergency Depot. Without spoiling the story for you, I simply felt that the decision didn't fully make sense in light of the situation and didn't match what I understood about the characters so far. Unfortunately, this decision is pretty crucial to the storyline. Perhaps there could've been a better way to drive the plot in that direction.
Overall, The Proving is smart, enjoyable, and finishes on a high note, keeping me in anticipation for its sequel.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
It's a shame that this writer and title is not well known because this series hold a ton of potential. Without a doubt, this is one of the better dystopian/sci-fi books I've read recently.
The planet Earth is now surrounded by a ring of ice, from which falls ghost-like creatures of energy called Specters, capable of killing a person upon contact. While many of Earth's inhabitants where initially killed, the population now lives in safe cities protected by energy shields, only venturing outside when necessary, such as during The Proving. The Proving takes place for every citizen twice at ages 13 and 18 in small groups that leave the shield's protection to see what Earth used to be like and gain a grasp of the reality of Earth's predicament. These missions are typically low risk, usually involving maintenance on an outpost.
For Skye, Ben, Cleo, and Gabriel, this is their 2nd and final Proving. Gabriel is the son of a prominent Parliament member. Thus the group is given the safe assignment of fixing the power of a nearby emergency depot outside of Neo Berlin. However, when they find the body of a prominent scientist at the depot's site, the mission takes a turn nobody could've predicted.
I felt that the plot was fairly original. The Specters are not aliens, but corporal forms of energy. The world building was detailed and vivid, with its own set of rules and mythology. I appreciate a well-built and concise world. Brosky creates a whole system of government, a few unique subcultures and social constructs as well as infinite amounts of sci-fi technology.
I found the Clan concept of the book particularly interesting and helpful; every person is a member of Clan Sparta, Clan Persia, Clan Athens, or a Free Citizen. Each has their own function and benefits. The Clan concept particularly informed the personalities and actions of each character. Since the book is character driven and has quite a few characters, I thought it was a smart technique and plot device on Brosky's part in order to understand who everyone was and why the made the choices they did. Because despite the initially overwhelming amount of characters, each is developed and has their own individual personality and function in the story.
I only really have two grievances with the book. The first was the amount of perspectives used to narrate the story. Each chapter is a new perspective and there are five alternating perspectives in total. I found this to be disorienting. One or two, three at the maximum, would've been sufficient in telling the story. The most interesting perspectives to me were Skye's, Ben's, and Seamus's. Cleo's was too chaotic, just like her personality, and Gabriel's was unnecessary in my opinion. Or at least, his story easily could've been told through the eyes of another.
My second issue was that in the middle of the book, the characters decide to respond to a distress signal they're receiving at the Emergency Depot. Without spoiling the story for you, I simply felt that the decision didn't fully make sense in light of the situation and didn't match what I understood about the characters so far. Unfortunately, this decision is pretty crucial to the storyline. Perhaps there could've been a better way to drive the plot in that direction.
Overall, The Proving is smart, enjoyable, and finishes on a high note, keeping me in anticipation for its sequel.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
January 26, 2016
“This . . . this isn’t New Earth. The topography is all wrong. The size is different. The gravity is weaker. The solar system is bigger. It . . . it has cities.”
“What do you mean, cities?” Skye asked.
Ben turned to her, wide eyed. “Cities. This planet is already inhabited.”
They all looked at Seamus. He cleared his throat. On their consoles, red warning lights
continued to blink.
There would be no more hiding the truth.
Based in the future, there are about a 100 different groups of kids that go through the "Proving" at the same time in different areas of the earth in order to make up a Coterie. This Coterie is made up of New Adults (18yrs old) and Young Adults (13) from Clan Athens, Clan Sparta, Clan Persia, Parliament, and a Historian (to record everything that happens during the proving). Earth had the misfortune of having attracted a comet in orbit that created the "ring" around the earth where specters were both trapped and released into earth. The specters (2 different breeds) as one looking like a humanoid crocodile with a long snout and tail while the other one looks like a flying bug. During this Proving a group is sent out on a mission that should be cut and dry but some problems arise and the group is finding out more about these specters than what they were taught in school while trying to save themselves. The only person who knows the whole truth is the Historian but he is not at liberty to discuss any of it. With chaos breaking out between humans and specters this group of Young Adults and New Adults are commanded to board a ship and report to the Ark that was built to take most of humanity to New Earth. The plan was that the New Adults were going to drop off their smaller passengers and go back to earth to help fight the specters but their idea didn't work out for them and they find themselves on the Ark and sent through a wormhole to what they thought was New Earth.
The only let down for me was not knowing how these people from the clans were chosen to be Coteries in the first place. I thought the book flowed well, had decent characters, great suspense and the curiosity to want to read the next book.
“What do you mean, cities?” Skye asked.
Ben turned to her, wide eyed. “Cities. This planet is already inhabited.”
They all looked at Seamus. He cleared his throat. On their consoles, red warning lights
continued to blink.
There would be no more hiding the truth.
Based in the future, there are about a 100 different groups of kids that go through the "Proving" at the same time in different areas of the earth in order to make up a Coterie. This Coterie is made up of New Adults (18yrs old) and Young Adults (13) from Clan Athens, Clan Sparta, Clan Persia, Parliament, and a Historian (to record everything that happens during the proving). Earth had the misfortune of having attracted a comet in orbit that created the "ring" around the earth where specters were both trapped and released into earth. The specters (2 different breeds) as one looking like a humanoid crocodile with a long snout and tail while the other one looks like a flying bug. During this Proving a group is sent out on a mission that should be cut and dry but some problems arise and the group is finding out more about these specters than what they were taught in school while trying to save themselves. The only person who knows the whole truth is the Historian but he is not at liberty to discuss any of it. With chaos breaking out between humans and specters this group of Young Adults and New Adults are commanded to board a ship and report to the Ark that was built to take most of humanity to New Earth. The plan was that the New Adults were going to drop off their smaller passengers and go back to earth to help fight the specters but their idea didn't work out for them and they find themselves on the Ark and sent through a wormhole to what they thought was New Earth.
The only let down for me was not knowing how these people from the clans were chosen to be Coteries in the first place. I thought the book flowed well, had decent characters, great suspense and the curiosity to want to read the next book.
February 18, 2016
The Proving is set in the future where earth is basically perfect: perfect air, democracy, etc. 9 teens must go through the proving together, on what is supposed to be a simple mission. But, it ends up being much more complicated than they anticipated. This was a great read. I loved all the characters in this book. Even though there were a lot of main characters, each was developed very well and they all contributed greatly to the story. This book only takes place over the course of a couple days, but it didn’t seem dragged out. Each chapter gave the reader new insight and Brosky did a great job at pacing the book and switching between character perspectives. This book was super action packed and perfect for anyone looking for an adventure/action/sci-fi read. I am definitely looking forward to the next book!
January 9, 2016
Author Ken Brosky crafted a wonderful, daring and scary world in The Proving. An intriguing story about children coming of age to venture out of the safety of their city. Little did they know, the trip would change their lives, maybe forever.
June 17, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed this indie gem. With strong sci-fi themes that hit just the right level of scientific explanation but remained graspable to non-technical folk, it will allow most readers to engage with it.
A little bit like a mix of The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game, the mixed group of kids (13 and 18yrs of age) get thrust into the deep end of things. The political intrigue aspects reminded me of Snow, while the alien race/fights and missions made me think of Ender’s story.
The alien race was suitably sinister without being overly scary. Plenty of unanswered questions about them brimming in my mind. Lots of twists and turns in terms of secrets and lies.
The overall tone of the book read a little YA, even though it had NA characters and they were in very adult situations. This felt a little conflicting to me.
The characters are varied and interesting with full and vivid histories that came into play during the story. This was partially helped out by a bit of an info dump at the beginning mixed in with a hefty chunk of world building.
I quite liked Cleo and Ben and I’m curious about where things will progress in the series for the whole group.
Will I read book #2, yup!
*Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author.*
A little bit like a mix of The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game, the mixed group of kids (13 and 18yrs of age) get thrust into the deep end of things. The political intrigue aspects reminded me of Snow, while the alien race/fights and missions made me think of Ender’s story.
The alien race was suitably sinister without being overly scary. Plenty of unanswered questions about them brimming in my mind. Lots of twists and turns in terms of secrets and lies.
The overall tone of the book read a little YA, even though it had NA characters and they were in very adult situations. This felt a little conflicting to me.
The characters are varied and interesting with full and vivid histories that came into play during the story. This was partially helped out by a bit of an info dump at the beginning mixed in with a hefty chunk of world building.
I quite liked Cleo and Ben and I’m curious about where things will progress in the series for the whole group.
Will I read book #2, yup!
*Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from the author.*
February 23, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
This book is a great young adult sci fi book. It has a lot of the standard tropes, like the trial-by-fire coming-of-age, dystopia with rigid social heirarchy, love interests, daddy issues and 'hacking'. But nothing about this story feels tired or contrived. I really enjoyed the world building and the friction between all the different groups. I enjoyed the sci fi, the tech and the monsters. I even enjoyed the love interest bits, but mostly because they were short and sparse. I thought the characters were written really well, and age appropriate most of the time.
I would prefer to give this book 4.5 stars, because there are a few editing errors and a few continuity glitches. But only really things that a nitpicker like me would notice.
Overall, a really fun read with great pacing and plot, interesting storyline and characters and a cliffhanger ending that definitely makes me want to pick up the next book in the series.
This book is a great young adult sci fi book. It has a lot of the standard tropes, like the trial-by-fire coming-of-age, dystopia with rigid social heirarchy, love interests, daddy issues and 'hacking'. But nothing about this story feels tired or contrived. I really enjoyed the world building and the friction between all the different groups. I enjoyed the sci fi, the tech and the monsters. I even enjoyed the love interest bits, but mostly because they were short and sparse. I thought the characters were written really well, and age appropriate most of the time.
I would prefer to give this book 4.5 stars, because there are a few editing errors and a few continuity glitches. But only really things that a nitpicker like me would notice.
Overall, a really fun read with great pacing and plot, interesting storyline and characters and a cliffhanger ending that definitely makes me want to pick up the next book in the series.
February 20, 2018
A unique take on a dystopian novel with the ghost-like creatures wreaking havoc on the world. The world itself is well-defined, and the characters are easy to distinguish from one another. The story is told from the perspectives of five different groups, all who have different roles in the society, but they come together to form a cohesive group both for the Proving, and also in the future. It kept me interested from start to finish.
One thing I found odd and was hoping would be explained (but it wasn't) was why each family in the selected Proving had a 13 year old and 18 year old. It was understandable that the 18 year olds who had done the previous proving together when they were 13 would be paired up again at 18. But that doesn't explain why each family happened to have siblings who were 5 years younger. Nothing wrong with that, but it seemed too much of a coincidence without having any sort of explanation.
One thing I found odd and was hoping would be explained (but it wasn't) was why each family in the selected Proving had a 13 year old and 18 year old. It was understandable that the 18 year olds who had done the previous proving together when they were 13 would be paired up again at 18. But that doesn't explain why each family happened to have siblings who were 5 years younger. Nothing wrong with that, but it seemed too much of a coincidence without having any sort of explanation.
September 21, 2018
This is a story about the future. A future that involves the planet Earth involved in a struggle for survival against enemies that are only beginning to be understood. This is the official doctrine, but something goes seriously wrong and these enemies attack, official doctrine goes out the window, and it's an all out fight for survival. The story ends on a cliff hanger with a bare minimum of the human population escaping through a wormhole, which was a failsafe plan to begin with, but instead if solving the problem, it only creates more. The story starts off slow, to me, but gradually increases in action, depth, and complexity where the reader is wondering what the hell is going on with this society. It is as if the Earth has devolved almost back to feudal times as far as society goes. The characters are interesting, unique, and in most cases three dimensional. The action kind of sneaks up on you because it's not constantly in your face.
September 21, 2017
So surprised how much I liked this book! The beginning was slow, but about 1/2 way through I could not put it down! I need the 2nd book to this series ASAP!
May 20, 2016
You can find this review and more on my blog.
A few hundred years ago, a comet came too close to the Earth and when it collided with our atmosphere, it broke into a ring of ice that circles around most of our planet, hiding away the stars. That alone would be a disaster, but ice wasn’t the only thing that came with the comet. Every time a few of those chunks collide up there, they release Specters, strange beings that fall down to the Earth bellow. Problem is, those Specters are incompatible with Earth life. In fact, everything they touch dies, because they vibrate on a different frequency than all the other living creatures on Earth…
How can you fight an immaterial enemy who can phase through walls and can kill you by mere touch? What follows is a near annihilation of mankind. What's left is holed up in a few cities protected by energy barriers that Specters can't cross. Problem is, most of the infrastructures needed for those cities to function lay outside of the barriers and need to be repaired from time to time. That's the job of the Cotteries - groups of people from all the clans who work together as one combat unit. Cotteries are formed first at the age of 18 when they go through their first Proving, which also serves as a rite of passage into adulthood.
All in all, I really liked this book. The premise reminded me of the movie Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, which I really loved back when it came out in 2001. Same idea of an untouchable enemy that could kill you just by passing through your body. Same small human enclaves hiding behind energy shields.
But The Proving is in no way a retelling of that movie. This is a standalone story with a distinctly different world and interesting structure. The worldbuilding is what I enjoyed the most in this book. The world feels complex and well thought of and I would really like to know more about the clan system and technologies mentioned in this book.
I liked the pacing as well and the different POVs we had which put the same events in different, but complementary perspectives.
My problem with this book and the reason I only gave this book 3.5 stars is the characters. Most of them are supposed to be 18 year olds, but they behave like they are 14-15 at the most. My second problem is that they are supposed to be a Cotterie - a group that will be working together their whole life and performing tasks in a dangerous and deadly environment. Yet they don't even try to get to know each other and try to cooperate. In fact, they so obviously distrust each other and even look down on each other that I'm amazed they even survived until the end of the book.
This also made me think, are all the Cotteries like this? From what is described in this book, the members have virtually no interaction with each other apart from when they go on missions. No training together, nothing. That's… a serious lapse in logic in my opinion.
I wasn't really thrilled by the ending either. I understand that this is the first book in the series and that the author needed to hook the reader into picking up the next one, but end it in a cliffhanger like that? Not cool man, not cool. I would have been okay with the ending if at least some of the questions raised throughout the book had been answered. But as it stands now, there is no resolution in this book. I felt like the characters accomplished nothing. And they didn't really grow as people either, or learned to cooperate and trust each other. The whole story felt kinda… pointless. We got no answer as to what that secret research facility was working on and what the repercussions for the characters and the mankind would be from discovering that. We got no answer as to what was in those containers they found in the facility. We got no answer as to why the Specters chose that precise moment to change their behavior.
In fact, if the story is headed where I think it's headed, all those answers will be irrelevant because the characters will have a bunch of new problems to face. That's disappointing. I felt like the story was building to this big climax, a huge reveal that would shatter everybody's view of the world… only to fizzle out like a wet firecracker.
Nevertheless, I will probably check out the next book because I liked the world and I want answers. But I will be upset if once again, I don’t get any.
A few hundred years ago, a comet came too close to the Earth and when it collided with our atmosphere, it broke into a ring of ice that circles around most of our planet, hiding away the stars. That alone would be a disaster, but ice wasn’t the only thing that came with the comet. Every time a few of those chunks collide up there, they release Specters, strange beings that fall down to the Earth bellow. Problem is, those Specters are incompatible with Earth life. In fact, everything they touch dies, because they vibrate on a different frequency than all the other living creatures on Earth…
How can you fight an immaterial enemy who can phase through walls and can kill you by mere touch? What follows is a near annihilation of mankind. What's left is holed up in a few cities protected by energy barriers that Specters can't cross. Problem is, most of the infrastructures needed for those cities to function lay outside of the barriers and need to be repaired from time to time. That's the job of the Cotteries - groups of people from all the clans who work together as one combat unit. Cotteries are formed first at the age of 18 when they go through their first Proving, which also serves as a rite of passage into adulthood.
All in all, I really liked this book. The premise reminded me of the movie Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, which I really loved back when it came out in 2001. Same idea of an untouchable enemy that could kill you just by passing through your body. Same small human enclaves hiding behind energy shields.
But The Proving is in no way a retelling of that movie. This is a standalone story with a distinctly different world and interesting structure. The worldbuilding is what I enjoyed the most in this book. The world feels complex and well thought of and I would really like to know more about the clan system and technologies mentioned in this book.
I liked the pacing as well and the different POVs we had which put the same events in different, but complementary perspectives.
My problem with this book and the reason I only gave this book 3.5 stars is the characters. Most of them are supposed to be 18 year olds, but they behave like they are 14-15 at the most. My second problem is that they are supposed to be a Cotterie - a group that will be working together their whole life and performing tasks in a dangerous and deadly environment. Yet they don't even try to get to know each other and try to cooperate. In fact, they so obviously distrust each other and even look down on each other that I'm amazed they even survived until the end of the book.
This also made me think, are all the Cotteries like this? From what is described in this book, the members have virtually no interaction with each other apart from when they go on missions. No training together, nothing. That's… a serious lapse in logic in my opinion.
I wasn't really thrilled by the ending either. I understand that this is the first book in the series and that the author needed to hook the reader into picking up the next one, but end it in a cliffhanger like that? Not cool man, not cool. I would have been okay with the ending if at least some of the questions raised throughout the book had been answered. But as it stands now, there is no resolution in this book. I felt like the characters accomplished nothing. And they didn't really grow as people either, or learned to cooperate and trust each other. The whole story felt kinda… pointless. We got no answer as to what that secret research facility was working on and what the repercussions for the characters and the mankind would be from discovering that. We got no answer as to what was in those containers they found in the facility. We got no answer as to why the Specters chose that precise moment to change their behavior.
In fact, if the story is headed where I think it's headed, all those answers will be irrelevant because the characters will have a bunch of new problems to face. That's disappointing. I felt like the story was building to this big climax, a huge reveal that would shatter everybody's view of the world… only to fizzle out like a wet firecracker.
Nevertheless, I will probably check out the next book because I liked the world and I want answers. But I will be upset if once again, I don’t get any.
October 3, 2018
“Trust the Historians least of all.”
The Proving by Ken Brosky is the first book in the Earth X Trilogy. It is set on future Earth, where a comet has collided with the atmosphere and brought with it specters, who invade the planet.
The surviving humans live in xeno shield safe zones. Each year there is the `Proving', where groups that consist of 4 new adults(18yrs), 4 young adults(13yrs) and 1 Historian are sent outside the shields to do what is meant to be a routine mission, to test their training and get them acquainted with their coterie.
I really loved this book, I've never read anything like it! I adore books that have unpredictable plot twist and surprises and this book was full of them, just when I thought I had it all figured out, bam a new twist! This book literally had me on the edge of my seat until the very last page!
The only issue I had was that there were 5 main characters and the books is written in all of their POVs, which did take a little getting used to. But once I got the characters down it was awesome!
As soon as I finished this book this afternoon I purchased the next one! I have to know what happens next!😱😍
The Proving by Ken Brosky is the first book in the Earth X Trilogy. It is set on future Earth, where a comet has collided with the atmosphere and brought with it specters, who invade the planet.
The surviving humans live in xeno shield safe zones. Each year there is the `Proving', where groups that consist of 4 new adults(18yrs), 4 young adults(13yrs) and 1 Historian are sent outside the shields to do what is meant to be a routine mission, to test their training and get them acquainted with their coterie.
I really loved this book, I've never read anything like it! I adore books that have unpredictable plot twist and surprises and this book was full of them, just when I thought I had it all figured out, bam a new twist! This book literally had me on the edge of my seat until the very last page!
The only issue I had was that there were 5 main characters and the books is written in all of their POVs, which did take a little getting used to. But once I got the characters down it was awesome!
As soon as I finished this book this afternoon I purchased the next one! I have to know what happens next!😱😍
January 10, 2016
I received this book prerelease and was told to write a review so here's my take.
This is a science fiction young adult book taking place in the distant future after an alien invasion threatens earths species into a near extinction.
It's written in multiple points of view, which can become confusing, having you flip back pages to figure what the narrative is in the moment. I've read several other books that follow this style and didn't mind too much. Sometimes it's nice to see things from another view point. However, it seems as though the narrative was confused as to if it was telling the story as each character or as a separate narrative altogether commentating on the events taking place for each individual character.
The 5 characters followed each have a different career and they all tend to speak heavy jargon regarding their particular career. I don't mind jargon. It's realistic to use it in certain situations and shows the author did his homework. In this case it was over used. In thought and when speaking to others in like career it makes sense but they tend to use their specific jargon out of turn when talking to someone who is not in the same career and most likely has no idea what they are saying. Actually several times other characters spell this out saying they're lost as to what the other is talking about. It seems overkill. They also like to explain what they are doing in detail which seems contradictory to the heavy jargon, you'd think if one understands the one it's safe to say they would understand the other. If I know what a, insert jargon here, is then I probably know what it does. Seems condescending to use such language then spell out the purpose.
Some things advance heavily while many other items in the story seem to be very sluggish in advancement which I found slightly unrealistic, but I need not be so picky.
I was annoyed by all the main characters, the only character I can say I enjoyed was Cassidy. I read a review that praised the author for not having typical whiney young adult characters and I thought to myself was he reading the same book?! One of the guys breaks down and cries he's so whiney! Their arguments were ridiculous and they whined about Everything. They did not act their age. They are meant to be 18 but they seemed to project 15/16 instead. While 18 is still quite young and immature they are specifically trained to be in these situations at least that's what I got from the story and if they weren't then that makes it even worse.
There were other holes I saw in the story but overall it was an interesting concept and the scenes are painted so richly you feel you are there. It wasn't horrible but I did feel sometimes like someone picked up a scientific journal and tried to turn it into a young adult book but kept a lot of the original text. I won't be rushing out to get the sequel but I am glad the story wasn't entirely predictable and in that regard I wouldn't be apposed to reading the continuation.
This is a science fiction young adult book taking place in the distant future after an alien invasion threatens earths species into a near extinction.
It's written in multiple points of view, which can become confusing, having you flip back pages to figure what the narrative is in the moment. I've read several other books that follow this style and didn't mind too much. Sometimes it's nice to see things from another view point. However, it seems as though the narrative was confused as to if it was telling the story as each character or as a separate narrative altogether commentating on the events taking place for each individual character.
The 5 characters followed each have a different career and they all tend to speak heavy jargon regarding their particular career. I don't mind jargon. It's realistic to use it in certain situations and shows the author did his homework. In this case it was over used. In thought and when speaking to others in like career it makes sense but they tend to use their specific jargon out of turn when talking to someone who is not in the same career and most likely has no idea what they are saying. Actually several times other characters spell this out saying they're lost as to what the other is talking about. It seems overkill. They also like to explain what they are doing in detail which seems contradictory to the heavy jargon, you'd think if one understands the one it's safe to say they would understand the other. If I know what a, insert jargon here, is then I probably know what it does. Seems condescending to use such language then spell out the purpose.
Some things advance heavily while many other items in the story seem to be very sluggish in advancement which I found slightly unrealistic, but I need not be so picky.
I was annoyed by all the main characters, the only character I can say I enjoyed was Cassidy. I read a review that praised the author for not having typical whiney young adult characters and I thought to myself was he reading the same book?! One of the guys breaks down and cries he's so whiney! Their arguments were ridiculous and they whined about Everything. They did not act their age. They are meant to be 18 but they seemed to project 15/16 instead. While 18 is still quite young and immature they are specifically trained to be in these situations at least that's what I got from the story and if they weren't then that makes it even worse.
There were other holes I saw in the story but overall it was an interesting concept and the scenes are painted so richly you feel you are there. It wasn't horrible but I did feel sometimes like someone picked up a scientific journal and tried to turn it into a young adult book but kept a lot of the original text. I won't be rushing out to get the sequel but I am glad the story wasn't entirely predictable and in that regard I wouldn't be apposed to reading the continuation.
August 10, 2016
If you like Marko Kloos’ military dystopian series, you will like Ken Brosky’s The Proving. The specters which resemble dinosaurs, both the flying and the earth-bound kind, haunt the survivors of the Earth. The specters seek out and destroy the survivors who have fought a war against the specters. The survivors live beneath a shield which keeps the specters at bay during the daytime. At night, the specters come out. It is a continual fight for survival. The specters live in a fiery ring that encircles the Earth. The shield is between the survivors and the ring.
As usual with dystopians, society has advanced. Most of humankind’s ways have been replaced by the world resembling that in Star Trek and Star Wars. There is a world outside the shield but life is precarious. It is not a place you would want to be found after dark.
There are four clans, each with their own specializations. There are also free-born citizens. Finally there is a governing body and a collective memory in the form of Historians.
The Proving revolves around what is known as a proving in which a group of New Adults show that they are ready to assume the responsibilities of being a productive member of society. Think of the proving as like an initiation or boot camp. The New Adults, along with some Young Adults, and a Historian are group into a coterie and sent out.
From what I was able to gather most provings are rather routine matters. Threats to life and limb are minimized and the tasks the New Adults are sent out to perform some tasks and if they successfully perform (everything is recorded for later review and for history), the New Adults transition into a life either in service of a clan, the government, or for themselves. I was never clear what happens to unsuccessful coteries.
This coterie’s proving proves to be the unusual. They encounter specters, risk their lives, and find that not all is as they have been taught. At the end, society breaks down in the face of an all-out specter war.
Ken Brosky has a good series started. The writing was a bit awkward at times, and at times the story is hard to follow. As to the characters, there were a few that stood out, though not always for the good. Cleo grated on my nerves. She reminded me of the 80’s California girls. Ben, the med student was a fascinating character. Gabriel needs to grow up. He was a bit too whiny for me. Wei, Gabriel’s sister, called Little Bug, was absolutely adorable. Skye, the Spartan, I could take or leave. The female character in Kloos’ novels was better drawn. Seamus, the Historian, reminded me of a absent-minded professor that could really grow in future novels into an interesting character. The graphics are excellent. More please!
I look forward to seeing how the series plays out.
*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
As usual with dystopians, society has advanced. Most of humankind’s ways have been replaced by the world resembling that in Star Trek and Star Wars. There is a world outside the shield but life is precarious. It is not a place you would want to be found after dark.
There are four clans, each with their own specializations. There are also free-born citizens. Finally there is a governing body and a collective memory in the form of Historians.
The Proving revolves around what is known as a proving in which a group of New Adults show that they are ready to assume the responsibilities of being a productive member of society. Think of the proving as like an initiation or boot camp. The New Adults, along with some Young Adults, and a Historian are group into a coterie and sent out.
From what I was able to gather most provings are rather routine matters. Threats to life and limb are minimized and the tasks the New Adults are sent out to perform some tasks and if they successfully perform (everything is recorded for later review and for history), the New Adults transition into a life either in service of a clan, the government, or for themselves. I was never clear what happens to unsuccessful coteries.
This coterie’s proving proves to be the unusual. They encounter specters, risk their lives, and find that not all is as they have been taught. At the end, society breaks down in the face of an all-out specter war.
Ken Brosky has a good series started. The writing was a bit awkward at times, and at times the story is hard to follow. As to the characters, there were a few that stood out, though not always for the good. Cleo grated on my nerves. She reminded me of the 80’s California girls. Ben, the med student was a fascinating character. Gabriel needs to grow up. He was a bit too whiny for me. Wei, Gabriel’s sister, called Little Bug, was absolutely adorable. Skye, the Spartan, I could take or leave. The female character in Kloos’ novels was better drawn. Seamus, the Historian, reminded me of a absent-minded professor that could really grow in future novels into an interesting character. The graphics are excellent. More please!
I look forward to seeing how the series plays out.
*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book by Xpresso Book Tours for participating in the Blog Tour.
Even though it took me more than a month to finish it--thanks to the PDF format--, I found the story and the characters that come to life around these pages very intriguing, original and fairly surprising.
At first, I felt like the pace of the story wasn't working out with me, but once things started getting interesting around the proving with Skye, Ben, Cleo, Gabriel, Seamus and the young adults, I couldn't stop myself. I needed answers! And after that? Well, what can I say? I enjoyed everything that happened! The action was great thanks to the Specters. The mystery and the secrets they get to uncover throughout their mission--thanks to Cleo's magic hacking abilities--had me almost falling off my chair and screaming: "I knew it!" And the way the author managed to catch and keep your attention on whatever was happening was great. But, what I really liked about this story was. . .the ending! Now I can't wait to know what will happen next!
Now, taking some time to talk about the characters, I think I'm able to say that I had no problems with any of them. I mean, yes, of course, I felt like punching them at least once, but that happens all the time so, that one doesn't count. I found that they were all very well introduced and executed throughout the story, especially Seamus. But besides him, I also loved how the young adults, who were going through their first proving, took great part of this story. Who are the young adults? Well, the young adults are the new adults younger siblings. In other words: Ben's younger sister: Tahlia, Skye's younger brother: Cassidy (Cassy), Cleo's younger brother: Reza, and Gabriel's younger sister: Wei. They all helped the story on their own way and, in case you're thinking this story only shows these kids fighting ghostly and deadly aliens and discovering secrets, you're 50% right and 50% wrong. Throughout the multiple POV's of the new adults, we get to meet the world they live in, how things have changed since the specters arrived, we get to see how they live divided into clans who try and do their best to protect and help humanity, and last but not least, we see through their eyes how everything they've been thought was either a lie or. . .not the whole truth.
In the end, I'm really sorry that it took me sooo long to finish and review this book, but I am sooo glad I managed to do it! I really enjoyed this alien invaded world Ken Brosky created and the secrets that lay within. If you guys are looking for a good sci-fi, action-packed book full of deathly aliens and secrets where humanity still tries to fight back, you should definitely give this one a try!
Even though it took me more than a month to finish it--thanks to the PDF format--, I found the story and the characters that come to life around these pages very intriguing, original and fairly surprising.
At first, I felt like the pace of the story wasn't working out with me, but once things started getting interesting around the proving with Skye, Ben, Cleo, Gabriel, Seamus and the young adults, I couldn't stop myself. I needed answers! And after that? Well, what can I say? I enjoyed everything that happened! The action was great thanks to the Specters. The mystery and the secrets they get to uncover throughout their mission--thanks to Cleo's magic hacking abilities--had me almost falling off my chair and screaming: "I knew it!" And the way the author managed to catch and keep your attention on whatever was happening was great. But, what I really liked about this story was. . .the ending! Now I can't wait to know what will happen next!
Now, taking some time to talk about the characters, I think I'm able to say that I had no problems with any of them. I mean, yes, of course, I felt like punching them at least once, but that happens all the time so, that one doesn't count. I found that they were all very well introduced and executed throughout the story, especially Seamus. But besides him, I also loved how the young adults, who were going through their first proving, took great part of this story. Who are the young adults? Well, the young adults are the new adults younger siblings. In other words: Ben's younger sister: Tahlia, Skye's younger brother: Cassidy (Cassy), Cleo's younger brother: Reza, and Gabriel's younger sister: Wei. They all helped the story on their own way and, in case you're thinking this story only shows these kids fighting ghostly and deadly aliens and discovering secrets, you're 50% right and 50% wrong. Throughout the multiple POV's of the new adults, we get to meet the world they live in, how things have changed since the specters arrived, we get to see how they live divided into clans who try and do their best to protect and help humanity, and last but not least, we see through their eyes how everything they've been thought was either a lie or. . .not the whole truth.
In the end, I'm really sorry that it took me sooo long to finish and review this book, but I am sooo glad I managed to do it! I really enjoyed this alien invaded world Ken Brosky created and the secrets that lay within. If you guys are looking for a good sci-fi, action-packed book full of deathly aliens and secrets where humanity still tries to fight back, you should definitely give this one a try!
April 18, 2016
I love dystopian books, and recently I have been downloading and skimming stories left and right to no avail. I was asked to check out this book, and I am impressed. It was referred to me due to my interest and enjoyment of divergent, and although I can see the slight, very thin, similarities in a society split into multiple factions, this book did nothing else that I expected. The story follows five main characters. This was daunting at first, as it takes a bit to learn the different people you are seeing the world between.
There is a lot to explain about the world, and I will let the book do that for you, as it ended up being almost three paragraphs when I tried to write it out. The future world has passed wars and people are separated into groups based upon abilities and perfections of the group. The three original groups are the Athens, Spartans, and Persians. They used to be at war until a fourth group of people rose up and implemented a peace treaty, the free people or Parliament. There is a small faction of Historians that use a mix of natural photographic memory and observation along with technology to properly record and document the world around them. A 13 year old and 18 year old for each group, minus the Historians that only send an 18 year old, go on a “proving” when they reach that age. It is a small task outside of the protection of the city. This story is about a very specific Coteria and what happens to them on their proving. The future world is orbited by a red ring of ice caused by an incident with an asteroid years before, that contains electrical molecular based things that on occasion get knocked to Earth when the chunks collide. These things have the ability to kill humans by just moving through them. So the future world is based around electro-force fields and proton guns that are used to kill and destroy the creatures.
This book is really amazing. The story begins at a decent pace, fast enough not to bore you but slow enough for you to learn and absorb the world the Author has created. As it picks up, it becomes very absorbing. The use of his words to convey feelings, expressions, the characters personal stances on things, and what is going on is amazing. I do not want to give spoilers but I must say the scene from the Historians perspective towards the end of the book while they are traveling up is gripping. The characters are believable and relatable. The ending was a shock to the system and I am on pins and needles about having to wait for the next book. Bravo, Ken Brosky!
There is a lot to explain about the world, and I will let the book do that for you, as it ended up being almost three paragraphs when I tried to write it out. The future world has passed wars and people are separated into groups based upon abilities and perfections of the group. The three original groups are the Athens, Spartans, and Persians. They used to be at war until a fourth group of people rose up and implemented a peace treaty, the free people or Parliament. There is a small faction of Historians that use a mix of natural photographic memory and observation along with technology to properly record and document the world around them. A 13 year old and 18 year old for each group, minus the Historians that only send an 18 year old, go on a “proving” when they reach that age. It is a small task outside of the protection of the city. This story is about a very specific Coteria and what happens to them on their proving. The future world is orbited by a red ring of ice caused by an incident with an asteroid years before, that contains electrical molecular based things that on occasion get knocked to Earth when the chunks collide. These things have the ability to kill humans by just moving through them. So the future world is based around electro-force fields and proton guns that are used to kill and destroy the creatures.
This book is really amazing. The story begins at a decent pace, fast enough not to bore you but slow enough for you to learn and absorb the world the Author has created. As it picks up, it becomes very absorbing. The use of his words to convey feelings, expressions, the characters personal stances on things, and what is going on is amazing. I do not want to give spoilers but I must say the scene from the Historians perspective towards the end of the book while they are traveling up is gripping. The characters are believable and relatable. The ending was a shock to the system and I am on pins and needles about having to wait for the next book. Bravo, Ken Brosky!
January 4, 2016
Set far into the future “The Proving” deals with an Earth that has been overrun by aliens. Forced to live in safety shields each child has to go through a proving, once when they are 13 and again at 18. They have to leave the safety of the shields and experience the post-apocalyptic world. This book follows four “new adults” the 18 year olds, and their younger siblings the “young adults” (13 year olds) on their proving. Joined by a young “Historian” the group go out for a mundane trip and find themselves on a crazy adventure.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The editing in the book was very good, there were only four mistakes that I found.
I’ll start with the aspects of the book that I wasn’t a fan of. First the jargon. There are three clans in the book and two of them consist of scientific/medical and technological expertise. Because of this there are times when the characters dialogue is heavy with technical terms that take away from the story. If this is something that would bother you, then the story may seem to drag a bit. Second was the constant changing of P.O.V. We are told the story by each of the five 18y/o characters. At first this bothered me as I found it confusing. Near the end of book I actually appreciated it a bit, but I still found it hard to keep track of who was narrating.
Now to the parts of the book I enjoyed. The detail, at times it was too much, but overall it was just right. I like when an author really takes the time to paint the picture and Ken Brosky doesn’t disappoint. I also enjoy the characters, they are well written and developed throughout the story. None of the characters are overly emotional or whiny like you sometimes find in YA novels. And they behave how you would expect them to based on how the author portrayed them. My favorite is Skye. She is so strong and level-headed. Most importantly I like the story! The base of the story is not unfamiliar, but the approach to an alien-invaded Earth, and how the remaining people deal with it is. I was left with questions, but since this is only the first in a series of books to come I am not surprised by that.
I’m giving “The Proving” a 4.5 out of 5 and looking forward to the next book!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The editing in the book was very good, there were only four mistakes that I found.
I’ll start with the aspects of the book that I wasn’t a fan of. First the jargon. There are three clans in the book and two of them consist of scientific/medical and technological expertise. Because of this there are times when the characters dialogue is heavy with technical terms that take away from the story. If this is something that would bother you, then the story may seem to drag a bit. Second was the constant changing of P.O.V. We are told the story by each of the five 18y/o characters. At first this bothered me as I found it confusing. Near the end of book I actually appreciated it a bit, but I still found it hard to keep track of who was narrating.
Now to the parts of the book I enjoyed. The detail, at times it was too much, but overall it was just right. I like when an author really takes the time to paint the picture and Ken Brosky doesn’t disappoint. I also enjoy the characters, they are well written and developed throughout the story. None of the characters are overly emotional or whiny like you sometimes find in YA novels. And they behave how you would expect them to based on how the author portrayed them. My favorite is Skye. She is so strong and level-headed. Most importantly I like the story! The base of the story is not unfamiliar, but the approach to an alien-invaded Earth, and how the remaining people deal with it is. I was left with questions, but since this is only the first in a series of books to come I am not surprised by that.
I’m giving “The Proving” a 4.5 out of 5 and looking forward to the next book!
April 20, 2016
Okay so I got the book in exchange for a review - here it is
First I want to mention that my native language is not English (why do I mention this? because at times I felt there may have been something wrong with the grammar or writing style, but this can just be me)
The book takes place in the future, where there are aliens, called specters, that look like some kind of ghosts and can kill you by walking through you. Humanity is living in differnt clans, every clan is specialised in something. The plan is to evacuate to New Earth.
Okay so I really loved the prologue, but then it got confusing for me. That is not because I'm bad at English, but there were too many POV shifts, and I felt like in the beginning there was not enough explained. I wanted to know who the clans were, or how they developed instead of people talking about them as if I should know. I also had a hard time with the jargon.
I also had some minor problems with the story- while I do like this kind of books, I don't understand why it has to be kids (calling them young adults does not change the fact that they are kids, and 18-year olds may not be ideal as supervisors). There are deadly aliens, that can kill you just by walking through you- let's send kids- sounds like a good plan.
Finally( I am so sorry) the book reminded me of Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, which I could not stop thinking about.
That does not mean I did not like it. In fact it was quite interesting to read and I'd like to know how the story progresses.
First I want to mention that my native language is not English (why do I mention this? because at times I felt there may have been something wrong with the grammar or writing style, but this can just be me)
The book takes place in the future, where there are aliens, called specters, that look like some kind of ghosts and can kill you by walking through you. Humanity is living in differnt clans, every clan is specialised in something. The plan is to evacuate to New Earth.
Okay so I really loved the prologue, but then it got confusing for me. That is not because I'm bad at English, but there were too many POV shifts, and I felt like in the beginning there was not enough explained. I wanted to know who the clans were, or how they developed instead of people talking about them as if I should know. I also had a hard time with the jargon.
I also had some minor problems with the story- while I do like this kind of books, I don't understand why it has to be kids (calling them young adults does not change the fact that they are kids, and 18-year olds may not be ideal as supervisors). There are deadly aliens, that can kill you just by walking through you- let's send kids- sounds like a good plan.
Finally( I am so sorry) the book reminded me of Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, which I could not stop thinking about.
That does not mean I did not like it. In fact it was quite interesting to read and I'd like to know how the story progresses.
Want to read
April 8, 2016Earth as it was once known has been infiltrated by these ghost- like creatures called Spectres. People are only safe within the premises of the ‘borders’ that have been invented to keep the Spectres out. During the ‘Proving’, teams of 6 kids go out into the world where the Spectres live.
I personally loved this book! Ken Brosky portrayed an interesting world with a new approach to the concept of aliens that are well- known to the world of literature. The characters that Brosky has created were excellent and the relationships between these characters were complex and different from the relationships you mostly read about, which is what makes it interesting to figure out how these relationships are built exactly. The constant change in POV between these characters annoyed and confused me at first, but later on I actually looked forward to finding out whose POV I would be getting in the next chapter. Every character has a different view on things, which is fun to read.
The whole book was filled with excitement and adventure, which is why it was almost never boring to read. In my opinion, there were certain parts were a little too many details were written down, but at most parts the amount of details Brosky put into his story perfectly fit in.
Overall, this book was a great one, with a good plot and excellent writing. I can’t wait to read the next books in this series!
I personally loved this book! Ken Brosky portrayed an interesting world with a new approach to the concept of aliens that are well- known to the world of literature. The characters that Brosky has created were excellent and the relationships between these characters were complex and different from the relationships you mostly read about, which is what makes it interesting to figure out how these relationships are built exactly. The constant change in POV between these characters annoyed and confused me at first, but later on I actually looked forward to finding out whose POV I would be getting in the next chapter. Every character has a different view on things, which is fun to read.
The whole book was filled with excitement and adventure, which is why it was almost never boring to read. In my opinion, there were certain parts were a little too many details were written down, but at most parts the amount of details Brosky put into his story perfectly fit in.
Overall, this book was a great one, with a good plot and excellent writing. I can’t wait to read the next books in this series!
February 10, 2016
The only thing wrong with this book is i need the next one like right know !, this book left me wanting to know What happened next which is ALWAYS a good thing !
Over all it was a really good book i enjoyed reading it and thats alot coming from some one who hates Anything related to alianes. The author did a really good job in Drawing this complete world that sucked me in I felt like I was with the characters , the characters were developed well , the book had a couble of main characters and at the end of the book you'll feel that u got to know each and every one of them . The book May start slow which is understandable but i promise you won't be Abel to stop reading from chapter six ! Its a sci fi novel that follows a groub of kids who lifes in an earth thats invaded by specters(aliens) And while they live in the secured citys they have to go through the "proving" which basickly sending them on a mission outside the secured areas ! Clan sparta is the worriers ,clan athenas are the healera/medicts , clan persia are the tec queniuses and there are free citasens who are basically the government . 2 teens from every type of clan have to go thro the proving together with the others 18 year olds new adults and 13 year olds young adults .. So it is a good book and I would definitely read the next one .
Over all it was a really good book i enjoyed reading it and thats alot coming from some one who hates Anything related to alianes. The author did a really good job in Drawing this complete world that sucked me in I felt like I was with the characters , the characters were developed well , the book had a couble of main characters and at the end of the book you'll feel that u got to know each and every one of them . The book May start slow which is understandable but i promise you won't be Abel to stop reading from chapter six ! Its a sci fi novel that follows a groub of kids who lifes in an earth thats invaded by specters(aliens) And while they live in the secured citys they have to go through the "proving" which basickly sending them on a mission outside the secured areas ! Clan sparta is the worriers ,clan athenas are the healera/medicts , clan persia are the tec queniuses and there are free citasens who are basically the government . 2 teens from every type of clan have to go thro the proving together with the others 18 year olds new adults and 13 year olds young adults .. So it is a good book and I would definitely read the next one .
February 12, 2016
This review first appeared on my blog, Christy's Cozy Corners.
I seriously loved this book! I know I like Ken Brosky’s writing because I’ve read the Grimm Chronicles which he co-wrote. I had no idea that I’d like this one so much. The cover sort of freaks me out :) But, it’s all good. Not all sci-fi is created equal…thank goodness. This is awesome sci-fi/dystopian. The premise is so different from other books in the genre. The clan thing (Sparta, Athens, Persia) was an excellent idea and the specters are just freakishly cool.
The characters in this story are great. Each of them is so unique and well-developed. With the amount of world-building the author has done, you will definitely get the feeling that you’ve been to the places in this book…maybe you have. The Proving is a little bit Hunger Games “ish” in that the kids have to prove themselves. Most of the provings aren’t too extremely dangerous, but this proving proves to be more dangerous than anyone could have imagined.
I don’t want to give too much away! Just read it! Even if you don’t like sci-fi all that much, this book has action and adventure that you’re sure to love.
I seriously loved this book! I know I like Ken Brosky’s writing because I’ve read the Grimm Chronicles which he co-wrote. I had no idea that I’d like this one so much. The cover sort of freaks me out :) But, it’s all good. Not all sci-fi is created equal…thank goodness. This is awesome sci-fi/dystopian. The premise is so different from other books in the genre. The clan thing (Sparta, Athens, Persia) was an excellent idea and the specters are just freakishly cool.
The characters in this story are great. Each of them is so unique and well-developed. With the amount of world-building the author has done, you will definitely get the feeling that you’ve been to the places in this book…maybe you have. The Proving is a little bit Hunger Games “ish” in that the kids have to prove themselves. Most of the provings aren’t too extremely dangerous, but this proving proves to be more dangerous than anyone could have imagined.
I don’t want to give too much away! Just read it! Even if you don’t like sci-fi all that much, this book has action and adventure that you’re sure to love.
January 25, 2016
A propulsive start to a new series. Brosky's novel features young adults, but does not follow the conventional "talk down to the reader" approach that many YA books seem to take. Similarly, TP is also very comfortable taking on the speculative/science fiction genre. It's easy to see the seeds of the future that Brosky creates in what's happening in our world now. What I liked the most about TP, and really about all of Brosky's previous novels, is the way that each character has her/his own personality and struggles. They not only have to try to overcome individual challenges, but also mesh together as a group. What was interesting for me was how much I identified and preferred certain characters (Skye!) over others. I think each reader will have their own reaction to the characters and the decisions they make throughout the novel. Brosky definitely ended the novel perfectly too. There are so many questions to answer and so many places this series can go. The only downside? Now I have to wait until the next installment gets written.
March 9, 2016
**I received this book in exchange for an honest review, any and all opinions are mine and mine alone.**
The Proving isn't your typical Sci-fi, YA, Dystopian novel. Set in the far off future, where Aliens known as "Spectres" have destroyed most of humanity, the story follows a group of 18 year old "New Adults" and their 13 year old sibling "Young Adults" teaming together from different clans and participating in what every 18 and 13 year old does, The Proving. Aptly named, the Proving puts them outside the shelter of the shields, the only thing that protects the remnants of humanity from the ghostly invaders. What was meant to be an in-and-out repair job soon turns into more, landing the group face-to-face with their worst fear.
The story is seen through the eyes of each of the "New Adults", alternating each chapter. Each chapter brings you a new outlook, seeing each character through the others' eyes. A wonderfully written book great for anyone who loves Science-fiction or Young Adult.
The Proving isn't your typical Sci-fi, YA, Dystopian novel. Set in the far off future, where Aliens known as "Spectres" have destroyed most of humanity, the story follows a group of 18 year old "New Adults" and their 13 year old sibling "Young Adults" teaming together from different clans and participating in what every 18 and 13 year old does, The Proving. Aptly named, the Proving puts them outside the shelter of the shields, the only thing that protects the remnants of humanity from the ghostly invaders. What was meant to be an in-and-out repair job soon turns into more, landing the group face-to-face with their worst fear.
The story is seen through the eyes of each of the "New Adults", alternating each chapter. Each chapter brings you a new outlook, seeing each character through the others' eyes. A wonderfully written book great for anyone who loves Science-fiction or Young Adult.
April 14, 2016
To be honest, it was a struggle to read the first few chapters of the book, especially since I'm not a fan of prologues and mostly because I get disoriented by the constant shifts in POV (there are five character POVs in the novel). Also I felt like in the beginning chapters, I was bombarded with too much information (some of the scientific terms and explanations seem legit though sometimes unnecessary). Some chapters are to me a bit dragging, especially those with Cleo's POV (maybe I just don't like her character or maybe there are too many characters/voices vying for my attention so I didn't really get attached to any of them). And yet for some reason, the various POVs and the vivid descriptions worked in the end. I like the world building (somehow reading the book's like solving a giant puzzle piece... definitely requires effort but if you finally get the hang of it, you'll actually enjoy it). The plot has some really good action scenes, too. I liked the background story/retelling of how they defeated the specters. The ending is intriguing enough for me to read the next book.
May 12, 2016
What an excellent start to a very unique and exciting series. This is definitely Botha book and author that I will be suggesting to all those in the sci-if and dystopian groups I am in. I feel this author is set to be a very big, well-known name to both YA and adults.
I loved the completely unique and detailed world, that Ken Brosky created. He had a way with showing us the world they were, helping us to become a part of the story. With it being so visual, I really think YA readers would enjoy the journey.
I really liked that there where multiple perspectives,throughout the read. Each character had a distinct personality and they really brought something to the story. By having all the varying perspectives, we got the feel that we were seeing the tale from a whole population, learning from them and their choices.
Overall,Mathis was a good read and a fab start to a new series. I am very interested in seeing where the author takes it next.
**I received this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved the completely unique and detailed world, that Ken Brosky created. He had a way with showing us the world they were, helping us to become a part of the story. With it being so visual, I really think YA readers would enjoy the journey.
I really liked that there where multiple perspectives,throughout the read. Each character had a distinct personality and they really brought something to the story. By having all the varying perspectives, we got the feel that we were seeing the tale from a whole population, learning from them and their choices.
Overall,Mathis was a good read and a fab start to a new series. I am very interested in seeing where the author takes it next.
**I received this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
June 19, 2016
The Proving
By Ken Browsky
4.5
I was given a book in exchange for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
In the future, Earth is overpowered by Specters. Forced to live behind shields, New adults 18 year olds including Skye and young adults 13-17 year olds including Skye's brother Cassy going on their proving trip. Skye was taught not to trust anyone, especially someone outside her Spartan clan. Once the journey begins, it soon becomes apparent that they were not told everything.
This is a highly entertaining YA post apocalyptic sci fi book. The world is described vividly. The characters are well developed, and the book transitions smoothly between them. It is a fascinating adventure that is well paced. It keeps you interested and wanting to know what happens next. I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book I've read by this author, but it will not be the last.
By Ken Browsky
4.5
I was given a book in exchange for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
In the future, Earth is overpowered by Specters. Forced to live behind shields, New adults 18 year olds including Skye and young adults 13-17 year olds including Skye's brother Cassy going on their proving trip. Skye was taught not to trust anyone, especially someone outside her Spartan clan. Once the journey begins, it soon becomes apparent that they were not told everything.
This is a highly entertaining YA post apocalyptic sci fi book. The world is described vividly. The characters are well developed, and the book transitions smoothly between them. It is a fascinating adventure that is well paced. It keeps you interested and wanting to know what happens next. I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book I've read by this author, but it will not be the last.
July 15, 2022
First off, this was one of the better new science fiction books I have read in awhile. It was nice to be able to read a book about kids actually acting like kids. So many book series take 14 year olds and make “fall completely in love with each other” or other ridiculous nonsense. The characters in this book while in mortal danger for most of the book still think, talk, and act like kids. My one major critique is that there were many, many grammar mistakes. The mistakes made reading the book sometimes difficult. I would love to read further books in this series. I could hardly put this first book down and was really frustrated each time I had to put the book down and attend to responsibilities. So, I LOVED this book but the grammar issues were enough to make me hesitate actually buying copies of future books in this series.
April 12, 2016
This review is from: The Proving (Kindle Edition)
It took me a month to get past the first few chapters. The description of the Spectres was off putting to the point I struggled to finish the book. Why? I couldn't take it seriously & it wasn't like the aliens had any real cool abilities. Yes, sucking the life out of you is a serious thing, but, I prefer more impressive & believable aliens. I don't read just any sci-fi book I find. I have standards. Read it to give an honest review. The ending was intriguing but I won't buy this book. I might even read the next thanks to this book's ending, but I won't buy the second book either. I like to read it first & then if it's great, I buy it. This book doesn't make that cut.
It took me a month to get past the first few chapters. The description of the Spectres was off putting to the point I struggled to finish the book. Why? I couldn't take it seriously & it wasn't like the aliens had any real cool abilities. Yes, sucking the life out of you is a serious thing, but, I prefer more impressive & believable aliens. I don't read just any sci-fi book I find. I have standards. Read it to give an honest review. The ending was intriguing but I won't buy this book. I might even read the next thanks to this book's ending, but I won't buy the second book either. I like to read it first & then if it's great, I buy it. This book doesn't make that cut.
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