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The Wilds #1
The Wilds
My name is Dahlia but I’m called a Plaguer, a person who survived the Bloody Death. When the virus first hit the world, it ravaged the human race. I thought I was lucky to survive it but survival comes at a cost. Ever since the sickness, I see things and I’m hunted for these visions.
Some seek me out because they want to keep their secrets safe. They don’t want the world to know the truth of what they are. Others, like Dax, want my knowledge. Dax has secrets of his own but as long as he helps me evade the Dark Walkers, he can keep them.
This book is for all the Plaguers, the truth sayers branded and marked as liars, often hunted and sometimes forgotten. This book is for the girl who was right.
Some seek me out because they want to keep their secrets safe. They don’t want the world to know the truth of what they are. Others, like Dax, want my knowledge. Dax has secrets of his own but as long as he helps me evade the Dark Walkers, he can keep them.
This book is for all the Plaguers, the truth sayers branded and marked as liars, often hunted and sometimes forgotten. This book is for the girl who was right.
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First published August 29, 2015
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July 12, 2016
3.5 stars
I didn't want to put this down although there were things about it I didn't like. The setting was original. A plague had swept across the world and killed most of the population. Most of civilization had collapsed. Society was divided into smaller countries, and most of the USA was a massive forest called the Wilds. Strange beasts and dangerous people lived in there.
Dahlia was a plaguer, which meant she was one of the few who had the plague and survived it. Plaguers had some special abilities. Because of that, they were either killed or locked up. Dahlia had been locked up for most of her life. She adjusted to life on the outside too well. I would have expected her to be slightly shell shocked since she was experiencing a bunch of new things at once. Her spunky and defiant behavior was irritating sometimes. It wasn't bad enough that she was TSTL, but sometimes she just wasn't smart enough to realize other people knew way more about the world than she did.
The character development was poor. Dahlia and Dax were the only characters with any level of depth. The other characters didn't have much in the way of personality. None of the side characters had any background information revealed about them. Although I did like Dax, he was too distant. A little mystery is entertaining but too much is aggravating. He finally opened up at the very end of the book, but it felt like too little too late.
I am interested in learning more about the world. Only some info was divulged about the beasts. What the Dark Walkers are and their goals are unknown. They seemed creepy, but I want to know what the hell they can actually do. Although this took place in the Wilds, there are countries with governments. How the new governments operate in the post-plague world is a mystery. I want to read the next book to find some of this out.
I didn't want to put this down although there were things about it I didn't like. The setting was original. A plague had swept across the world and killed most of the population. Most of civilization had collapsed. Society was divided into smaller countries, and most of the USA was a massive forest called the Wilds. Strange beasts and dangerous people lived in there.
Dahlia was a plaguer, which meant she was one of the few who had the plague and survived it. Plaguers had some special abilities. Because of that, they were either killed or locked up. Dahlia had been locked up for most of her life. She adjusted to life on the outside too well. I would have expected her to be slightly shell shocked since she was experiencing a bunch of new things at once. Her spunky and defiant behavior was irritating sometimes. It wasn't bad enough that she was TSTL, but sometimes she just wasn't smart enough to realize other people knew way more about the world than she did.
The character development was poor. Dahlia and Dax were the only characters with any level of depth. The other characters didn't have much in the way of personality. None of the side characters had any background information revealed about them. Although I did like Dax, he was too distant. A little mystery is entertaining but too much is aggravating. He finally opened up at the very end of the book, but it felt like too little too late.
I am interested in learning more about the world. Only some info was divulged about the beasts. What the Dark Walkers are and their goals are unknown. They seemed creepy, but I want to know what the hell they can actually do. Although this took place in the Wilds, there are countries with governments. How the new governments operate in the post-plague world is a mystery. I want to read the next book to find some of this out.
did-not-finish
March 15, 2017DNF at 35% - I want to smack the heroine so badly that carrying on any longer is sure to send me into hulk mode.
September 2, 2015
What an addicting read. This is an urban fantasy that will have you chewing through the pages. I picked (figuratively) up the book up and couldn't put it down. This book was better than the blurb makes it out to be. The female protagonist, Dahlia, is a plaguer the has been trapped inside a facility since she was 4 years old. Plaguers are people who have survived the black death and are pariahs of society, deemed crazy and locked up away from normal humans. They're tortured, abused and treated like dirt. Nobody ever taught Dal things but she learned. She is both innocent and world wise at the same time. She is determined to escape her prison and come back to free her friends, she is just waiting until the opportunity presents itself.
However before she has the chance she is rescued by the mysterious Dax. A man from the wilds. He is her chance to enact her rescue plan for her friends. But Dax needs her for his own agenda. Hes exceptionally tight lipped about what exactly that is. They will use each other and Dal thinks that's just fine.
The characters in this book have depth. We watch Dal grow, come into her own and as she does we watch her crack Dax's cold concrete exterior. She chips away at him, too stubborn to let him keep his secrets for long. Donna has built a unique world, setting up mysteries that will have you begging to read the next book in order to have them solved. She writes well and the story flows. She drip feeds you information that is just enough to satisfy you (so you dont feel the need to hunt her down and demand answers) and keeps you craving more. I now find myself itching to read book two and wanting to shout from the roof tops to everyone that they should read it too.
However before she has the chance she is rescued by the mysterious Dax. A man from the wilds. He is her chance to enact her rescue plan for her friends. But Dax needs her for his own agenda. Hes exceptionally tight lipped about what exactly that is. They will use each other and Dal thinks that's just fine.
The characters in this book have depth. We watch Dal grow, come into her own and as she does we watch her crack Dax's cold concrete exterior. She chips away at him, too stubborn to let him keep his secrets for long. Donna has built a unique world, setting up mysteries that will have you begging to read the next book in order to have them solved. She writes well and the story flows. She drip feeds you information that is just enough to satisfy you (so you dont feel the need to hunt her down and demand answers) and keeps you craving more. I now find myself itching to read book two and wanting to shout from the roof tops to everyone that they should read it too.
January 11, 2016
Donna Augustine’s dark, in the not too distant post apocalyptic future debut to her new series is a fantastic fast paced urban fantasy/thriller with a bit of a coming of age/loss of innocence storyline added for good measure. Her excellent world building sets the perfect stage for not only this installment but for future books as well. Her dialogue is the ideal match for the tenaciousness of her amazing ever evolving, well-developed stars and sensational co-stars, and her timely, quick shots of humor helps defuse the intenseness of the nail biting read. Donna thanks for this extreme rollercoaster ride, can’t wait for the next one!
Brava!
One Hundred and Fifty years ago 95% of the population was annihilated by a devastating plague called The Bloody Death. After the initial outbreak, the disease would reemerge every decade or so and wipeout more of an already dwindling population leaving a world in ruins. After a while there were rumors that a tiny number of those inflicted survived only to suffer from psychotic delusions. But the survivors (Plaguers) knew the darkness they saw in those they called Dark Walkers was the truth.
At the age of four one such survivor, Dahlia Franks was left at an asylum for the criminally insane by her parents. Now at eighteen she just wants to survive until she finds a way to free herself and those inmates she considers friends from the Dark Walker fiends at the facility. Then one-day her savior comes in the guise of a government inspector and suddenly she’s free for the first time in fourteen years. She knows he’s hiding something, but freedom is worth any secrets he’s keeping, even though she can’t help wondering what he ultimately wants and can she afford to give it?
Brava!
One Hundred and Fifty years ago 95% of the population was annihilated by a devastating plague called The Bloody Death. After the initial outbreak, the disease would reemerge every decade or so and wipeout more of an already dwindling population leaving a world in ruins. After a while there were rumors that a tiny number of those inflicted survived only to suffer from psychotic delusions. But the survivors (Plaguers) knew the darkness they saw in those they called Dark Walkers was the truth.
At the age of four one such survivor, Dahlia Franks was left at an asylum for the criminally insane by her parents. Now at eighteen she just wants to survive until she finds a way to free herself and those inmates she considers friends from the Dark Walker fiends at the facility. Then one-day her savior comes in the guise of a government inspector and suddenly she’s free for the first time in fourteen years. She knows he’s hiding something, but freedom is worth any secrets he’s keeping, even though she can’t help wondering what he ultimately wants and can she afford to give it?
February 23, 2016
I'm not usually a big fan of apocalypse dystopia type reads but this one had impressive overall reviews so I decided to give it a shot. Here's my breakdown:
Pros:
* Amazing character depth - even the secondary characters were solid
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
* It never had an overly juvenile feel to it which is all too common in the YA genre
* Beautiful book cover
Cons:
* I really could have gone without Dax being intimate with Becca (even though he and the heroine aren’t involved romantically in this book). Thankfully, even though he was with another woman, it was executed well. No slut shaming. In fact, she was portrayed as a nice girl that even the heroine liked. Plus, Dax let her know it was only sex for him and that was all he was willing to offer. They did end this relationship though.
* I was left wanting a bit of romance, but that was basically non-existent in this read - perhaps in future books
* Too many secrets - I wanted more disclosure - I felt as if too many aspects were skimmed over - I guess that’s to be expected in a series, and I'm ok with a few unanswered questions, but there were an abundance of issues never addressed in this read.
Overall, I was impressed with this book. This was my first time to read this writers work, but certainly not my last. I look forward to checking out the next book in this series.
Pros:
* Amazing character depth - even the secondary characters were solid
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
* It never had an overly juvenile feel to it which is all too common in the YA genre
* Beautiful book cover
Cons:
* I really could have gone without Dax being intimate with Becca (even though he and the heroine aren’t involved romantically in this book). Thankfully, even though he was with another woman, it was executed well. No slut shaming. In fact, she was portrayed as a nice girl that even the heroine liked. Plus, Dax let her know it was only sex for him and that was all he was willing to offer. They did end this relationship though.
* I was left wanting a bit of romance, but that was basically non-existent in this read - perhaps in future books
* Too many secrets - I wanted more disclosure - I felt as if too many aspects were skimmed over - I guess that’s to be expected in a series, and I'm ok with a few unanswered questions, but there were an abundance of issues never addressed in this read.
Overall, I was impressed with this book. This was my first time to read this writers work, but certainly not my last. I look forward to checking out the next book in this series.
January 2, 2016
I'm disappointed that I wasted my money buying this and in myself for believing those wonderful reviews about this book. At first, I liked how tough the character was but then she became annoying. She was the stereotypical, " I'm an independent woman but wait I still need help from the brooding guy." Also, how does she seem to know everything? Yeah she read Moobie's books but that doesn't mean she should know things like what a ranch house looks like right off the bat. Also, the story was lacking depth and history. Who is Tank and Lucy and why are they friends with Dax? Why is Dax the way he is? Etc... There were also many grammatical errors. Overall, this book just didn't do it for me.
May 23, 2016
In a post apocalypse America, Dahlia is a rarity. She's one of the few (possibly the last) who survived the plague.
The plague left her with the ability to see into people, to know their darkest secret. It's both a gift and a curse. The Dark Walkers want her for their sadistic experiments, Dax wants her for his own mysterious agenda. All she wants is to live free.
It's basically a zombie book without the zombies. It's OK though not all that original and maybe just a little childish.
The plague left her with the ability to see into people, to know their darkest secret. It's both a gift and a curse. The Dark Walkers want her for their sadistic experiments, Dax wants her for his own mysterious agenda. All she wants is to live free.
It's basically a zombie book without the zombies. It's OK though not all that original and maybe just a little childish.
January 10, 2016
Such a great book!
Loved both Dal and Dax - brave, stubborn, determined, funny (ok, at list Dal is) heroes.
The story is great and I just can't wait to start the next book - in fact, I'm going to do it right now!
Highly recommended for fantasy lovers.
Loved both Dal and Dax - brave, stubborn, determined, funny (ok, at list Dal is) heroes.
The story is great and I just can't wait to start the next book - in fact, I'm going to do it right now!
Highly recommended for fantasy lovers.
June 21, 2018
I went into this suspicious (because of the mysterious synopsis) but still super excited!
After my friend praised this book sky high I received a review copy from the author.
I was instantly sucked into the book. The story was amazing! I got worked up after every chapter and couldn't turn the page fast enough.
You have no idea how fun the protagonist is. I loved her! She's badass and doesn't take crap from anyone when she is in the right position. I do have to confess that she was quite naive, but considering where she was most of her life and in the beginning of the book, I don't blame her too much. There was this one season where I couldn't take the embarrassment and almost choked on my drink, but yeah...
The end left me broken. I am so pumped with adrenaline and that ending didn't leave me crying... *waves hand up and down* noooo of course it didn't!
I can't wait to read the second and see how the story plays out!
(I'll write a better review soon ;) )
After my friend praised this book sky high I received a review copy from the author.
I was instantly sucked into the book. The story was amazing! I got worked up after every chapter and couldn't turn the page fast enough.
You have no idea how fun the protagonist is. I loved her! She's badass and doesn't take crap from anyone when she is in the right position. I do have to confess that she was quite naive, but considering where she was most of her life and in the beginning of the book, I don't blame her too much. There was this one season where I couldn't take the embarrassment and almost choked on my drink, but yeah...
The end left me broken. I am so pumped with adrenaline and that ending didn't leave me crying... *waves hand up and down* noooo of course it didn't!
I can't wait to read the second and see how the story plays out!
(I'll write a better review soon ;) )
June 24, 2018
This book was in my recommendations for a long long time!!
Kicking myself for not reading this sooner! But kinda happy, because I got to devour the first three books, one right after another.
This world building - loved it.
I liked Dal a lot. She was funny and giving her circumstances I really loved her world view.
Dax - yum.
Kicking myself for not reading this sooner! But kinda happy, because I got to devour the first three books, one right after another.
This world building - loved it.
I liked Dal a lot. She was funny and giving her circumstances I really loved her world view.
Dax - yum.
September 30, 2015
I really was excited to pick up this book and burned through it in a day. I've read another series by the author and I've got to say I like this one even better. If you liked Anne Bishop's The Others series, you would probably also enjoy this book. There is more snark and humor compared to Anne Bishop's series. In the Wilds, I really enjoyed the Dahlia character and her decision to take life by the throat. The writer's treatment of her discovery of the world and how it operates was humorous and sometimes humorously embarrassing. It was a fun read.
May 19, 2017
Ergens in de toekomst. De wereldbevolking is getroffen door een Plaag, en bijna iedereen die ziek werd, stierf. Sommigen werden niet ziek, en er waren er enkelen die genazen. Deze genezenen hadden nadien bijzondere krachten, en de mensen waren bang van hen en wilden hen uitroeien of toch tenminste opsluiten. Dahlia is zo iemand. Ze zit opgesloten in een betonnen gevangenis, krijgt amper genoeg voedsel om net in leven te blijven en wordt zeer slecht behandeld. Ze droomt ervan te ontsnappen. Op een dag gebeurt het dan. Dax, een man van buiten, komt haar redden. Dahlia kent hem niet en weet niet waarom hij haar wil redden. Hij neemt haar mee naar een schuilplaats in de Wildernis, waar nog enkele andere mensen wonen, en het blijkt dat hij gebruik wil maken van haar vermogen om vreemde schepsels, die er uit zien als mensen, te onderscheiden.
Het eerste deel van een reeks
Het eerste deel van een reeks
February 1, 2019
I really... really wanted to like this book.
It has a strong premise with an interesting start. It hooked me and I was eager to see where it went.
But the prose is the most repetitive I've ever seen in a novel in my life.
I noticed the author would say something, then repeat it in different words in the next sentence, then the next page again, then reiterate it again in the next couple pages, and it would keep getting mentioned for the next chapter and just when you thought it was over, there it'd be again.
I've never had an author regurgitate the same thing to me that many times.
And I wish it was just one topic, but it was happening repeatedly.
In short, I wish I could like this book. But I couldn't.
Read on for the longer review with mild spoilers.
I have a few good things to say about it.
1. The author knows how to put sentences together, uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and I don't think I've seen a single typo so far, so it's well-edited.
2. The premise is INTERESTING.
3. The author has done enough research to know the setting in the beginning of the story, really, really well. (It's an asylum for the criminally insane in a fantasy-post-apocalytic United States after the government totally falls apart and is rebuilt... maybe rebuilt... poorly if that.) Which is more like a prison with delusions... more like illusions since they know exactly what they're doing.
4. She knows how to write this character. The character got a plague known as the Bloody Death when she was a babu. It kills almost EVERYONE who gets it. She is one of the few survivors, called Plaguers. They SEE things. (Gives them a second sight) which everyone assumes are delusions. But what they all see... are people who aren't "really people". They call them Dark Walkers. And they are EVIL and OUT TO DO SOMETHING BAD. The way it's written... I had a really, really hard time telling if that was the truth, or if she was actually insane. Because it was really fucking well done. "I was pretty sure he wasn't one of their spies. They'd sent spies before, and they always tried to get me to admit I saw them, but I wouldn't. I would never tell them." That kind of thing (paraphrased). Enough of it done right enough that I go "OMG I can't fucking tell. She could ACTUALLY be schizophrenic or have delusions or something. Fuck."
So, well fucking done.
5. The character is pretty believable, and so far, the rest of the cast is too. Te world lore so far is handled well.
NOW the cons.
And there's only one
but I'm going to talk about it a bit.
This author.... is the most long-winded, exposition-dumpy, repetitive author I've ever read.
Like...
if any of the above point's weren't so stellar, I would probably have dropped this book.
Because. O. m. G.
How do you say something 6 times and not realize You've said it 5 times too many?
I mean not like the same word or sentence.
Repetition of concept.
Like.. paraphrasing, not quoting:
I was going to get free if it killed me.
This was my chance. I didn't care what it took, I was going to get free.
I pulled at the straps. I was willing to sacrifice a few layers of skin if it meant getting free.
I didn't care if I ripped off my thumb. As far as I could tell, you could run without thumbs.
If I had to tear off my wrist to get out of those straps, it was worth it to get free.
I didn't care what the guy helping me wanted, all I cared about was that he was helping me get closer to freedom.
I turned and darted for the window, grabbed the waist high sill and lept six feet to the ground. My knees groaned in complaint at the fall, but I didn't care. I WAS FREE.
I ran through the dark into the forest with the stranger, but I didn't care what he wanted with me. I was FREE!
Running free felt so good I couldn't...
I was free so...
If I had to run on a broken ankle, I would, because I was NOT going back to that place now that I was free.
If I died one foot outside the compound it'd be worth it to die free.
Now that I was out, I wanted more than to die free. Goddamnit, I wanted to LIVE.
I'm... not even telling all of them....
....
I guess what I must say is that I wish so much this author had a solid editor who could help work out these issues instead of just a really good proofreader. This book had such potential.
But I guess now I know why it was "Free".
It has a strong premise with an interesting start. It hooked me and I was eager to see where it went.
But the prose is the most repetitive I've ever seen in a novel in my life.
I noticed the author would say something, then repeat it in different words in the next sentence, then the next page again, then reiterate it again in the next couple pages, and it would keep getting mentioned for the next chapter and just when you thought it was over, there it'd be again.
I've never had an author regurgitate the same thing to me that many times.
And I wish it was just one topic, but it was happening repeatedly.
In short, I wish I could like this book. But I couldn't.
Read on for the longer review with mild spoilers.
I have a few good things to say about it.
1. The author knows how to put sentences together, uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and I don't think I've seen a single typo so far, so it's well-edited.
2. The premise is INTERESTING.
3. The author has done enough research to know the setting in the beginning of the story, really, really well. (It's an asylum for the criminally insane in a fantasy-post-apocalytic United States after the government totally falls apart and is rebuilt... maybe rebuilt... poorly if that.) Which is more like a prison with delusions... more like illusions since they know exactly what they're doing.
4. She knows how to write this character. The character got a plague known as the Bloody Death when she was a babu. It kills almost EVERYONE who gets it. She is one of the few survivors, called Plaguers. They SEE things. (Gives them a second sight) which everyone assumes are delusions. But what they all see... are people who aren't "really people". They call them Dark Walkers. And they are EVIL and OUT TO DO SOMETHING BAD. The way it's written... I had a really, really hard time telling if that was the truth, or if she was actually insane. Because it was really fucking well done. "I was pretty sure he wasn't one of their spies. They'd sent spies before, and they always tried to get me to admit I saw them, but I wouldn't. I would never tell them." That kind of thing (paraphrased). Enough of it done right enough that I go "OMG I can't fucking tell. She could ACTUALLY be schizophrenic or have delusions or something. Fuck."
So, well fucking done.
5. The character is pretty believable, and so far, the rest of the cast is too. Te world lore so far is handled well.
NOW the cons.
And there's only one
but I'm going to talk about it a bit.
This author.... is the most long-winded, exposition-dumpy, repetitive author I've ever read.
Like...
if any of the above point's weren't so stellar, I would probably have dropped this book.
Because. O. m. G.
How do you say something 6 times and not realize You've said it 5 times too many?
I mean not like the same word or sentence.
Repetition of concept.
Like.. paraphrasing, not quoting:
I was going to get free if it killed me.
This was my chance. I didn't care what it took, I was going to get free.
I pulled at the straps. I was willing to sacrifice a few layers of skin if it meant getting free.
I didn't care if I ripped off my thumb. As far as I could tell, you could run without thumbs.
If I had to tear off my wrist to get out of those straps, it was worth it to get free.
I didn't care what the guy helping me wanted, all I cared about was that he was helping me get closer to freedom.
I turned and darted for the window, grabbed the waist high sill and lept six feet to the ground. My knees groaned in complaint at the fall, but I didn't care. I WAS FREE.
I ran through the dark into the forest with the stranger, but I didn't care what he wanted with me. I was FREE!
Running free felt so good I couldn't...
I was free so...
If I had to run on a broken ankle, I would, because I was NOT going back to that place now that I was free.
If I died one foot outside the compound it'd be worth it to die free.
Now that I was out, I wanted more than to die free. Goddamnit, I wanted to LIVE.
I'm... not even telling all of them....
....
I guess what I must say is that I wish so much this author had a solid editor who could help work out these issues instead of just a really good proofreader. This book had such potential.
But I guess now I know why it was "Free".
February 15, 2016
3,7/5
About century and a half ago, a destructive disease called Bloodfever decimated human kind, leaving behind few lucky ones who didn’t get infected, and the ones who survived the sickness, but their survival was anything but a happy circumstance. Dal is one of the survivors, called Plaguers, and the fact she managed to survive this horrifying illness earned her a one way ticket to an insane asylum at the age of 4, because an aftereffect of the illness is an ability to see things that are not supposed to be there, and events and secrets that would best be left hidden. Fourteen years later, Dal gets a chance to escape the terrors of asylum but who is to say what lies behind the walls is better?
Overall, the book was a good one. No it didn’t rock my world, but I was pleasantly surprised at some things, especially the character building for Dal, the main female character. She is a blend of naivety and some dose if innocence, due to her life isolated from the “normal” world, and wisdom and strength, which she was force to gain to be able to survive in the asylum. Especially adorable part is how those two sides of the character collide in her understanding of the world that she gets from the books she read, using the information on life she got from books in her naïve, utterly misplaced manner.
What I liked is that the characters didn’t seem forced and too unnatural, as is often the case with YA books. Yes, the guy (Dax) was a distant badass, but it wasn’t overdone, and the fact that author didn’t try so bad to emphasize it, made it that much more believable and realistic. Even the romance bit, which really wasn’t overwhelming, was realistic, as in- she was attracted to him, even though she couldn’t really find a way to channel it properly, but it wasn’t an over-the-top feral attraction of star-crossed lovers which I see in books much more than I would like.
I think this book was just meant to get us hooked, so I don’t mind the fact that many of the main questions are unanswered and that the answers we have may be a bit blurry, because that is a great thing when you know that there is going to be another book, so there’s no need for rush, and the first book should be about getting to know the world and the main characters, while leaving something for the sequels, like further development of other characters, their background stories, and finding out the more about a world that is seemingly a mystery even to the characters living in it.
The part that was a thumbs down moment for me was at the very end, when we find out that *MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD*, which is a scenario so overused and, frankly, in this setting- very unnecessary, but, even though I did roll my eyes at that bit, I’m still intrigued by further development of this story in the sequel.
About century and a half ago, a destructive disease called Bloodfever decimated human kind, leaving behind few lucky ones who didn’t get infected, and the ones who survived the sickness, but their survival was anything but a happy circumstance. Dal is one of the survivors, called Plaguers, and the fact she managed to survive this horrifying illness earned her a one way ticket to an insane asylum at the age of 4, because an aftereffect of the illness is an ability to see things that are not supposed to be there, and events and secrets that would best be left hidden. Fourteen years later, Dal gets a chance to escape the terrors of asylum but who is to say what lies behind the walls is better?
Overall, the book was a good one. No it didn’t rock my world, but I was pleasantly surprised at some things, especially the character building for Dal, the main female character. She is a blend of naivety and some dose if innocence, due to her life isolated from the “normal” world, and wisdom and strength, which she was force to gain to be able to survive in the asylum. Especially adorable part is how those two sides of the character collide in her understanding of the world that she gets from the books she read, using the information on life she got from books in her naïve, utterly misplaced manner.
What I liked is that the characters didn’t seem forced and too unnatural, as is often the case with YA books. Yes, the guy (Dax) was a distant badass, but it wasn’t overdone, and the fact that author didn’t try so bad to emphasize it, made it that much more believable and realistic. Even the romance bit, which really wasn’t overwhelming, was realistic, as in- she was attracted to him, even though she couldn’t really find a way to channel it properly, but it wasn’t an over-the-top feral attraction of star-crossed lovers which I see in books much more than I would like.
I think this book was just meant to get us hooked, so I don’t mind the fact that many of the main questions are unanswered and that the answers we have may be a bit blurry, because that is a great thing when you know that there is going to be another book, so there’s no need for rush, and the first book should be about getting to know the world and the main characters, while leaving something for the sequels, like further development of other characters, their background stories, and finding out the more about a world that is seemingly a mystery even to the characters living in it.
The part that was a thumbs down moment for me was at the very end, when we find out that *MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD*, which is a scenario so overused and, frankly, in this setting- very unnecessary, but, even though I did roll my eyes at that bit, I’m still intrigued by further development of this story in the sequel.
September 3, 2015
The Wilds is turkey one of my new favorite series to come. In this first book we find out about the Bloody death. , plagues who see these bad people if they are people. The plungers are the ones who survive the bloody death but then are deemed crazy and locked up in mental institutes. This is where we meet Dal. she's a plague. locked up since age 4 . abused by theses dark things. always coming to her in different form trying to know what she sees but she learned very young to say nothing act crazy. then one day revisited by this man who she knows is just different but can't place how.when she's being tortured the early in the am that following morning to see what she told him or what he wanted the so. Allegheny Dr that runs the place is called off, yeah she's bad,very bad. Dal wants to kill her. anyways as she's thinking of a escape here comes this man whom she comes to find out is Dax. all he wants is for her to point out the dark walkers in exchange for her freedom. which isn't going to be so easy for so many reasons.
This Urban fantasy book is just great. it stars how any series should. getting you to know the characters, relating to then. not just jumping in and the story begins with a bunch of chaos you don't understand and leaves you with a million questions. well yea I have a million questions anyways but I'm sure in the next book more will be revealed and so on.
so I've met Dal watched her grow in this book already and watch the power she has over Fax get deeper , he lets no one control him or get very close but Dal seems to be chipping at that wall piece by piece until she cracks it and gets just a but more closer to him. be sounds hot. the strong make type we usually see in Ms Augustine's books and she doesn't think she's pretty but I think she is and just has no clue sin e she's been mistreated in every way starved to skin and bone and just has no self worth yet.but it's slowly coming. she's adapting to freedom and life and now making a family it seems .
there's also a few more characters in this book I can't wait to get to know. it's just one of those books that draws you in keeps you submerged like you can't come up for air til it ends then you want to drowned in the next one.
I see this being one of my favorite series it's different. New and fresh.
I recommend it to anyone good-looking for that and the world being destroyed from what it was to people living in the wilds to survive , staying safe at night from the beasts that lurk at dark, the dark walkers who are in humAn firm, a girl growing not it into herself but powers that are yet to be 're sealed , a hot sexy guy with a attitude and big secret.
read it. you'll it.
I was given this book for a honest 'review.
This Urban fantasy book is just great. it stars how any series should. getting you to know the characters, relating to then. not just jumping in and the story begins with a bunch of chaos you don't understand and leaves you with a million questions. well yea I have a million questions anyways but I'm sure in the next book more will be revealed and so on.
so I've met Dal watched her grow in this book already and watch the power she has over Fax get deeper , he lets no one control him or get very close but Dal seems to be chipping at that wall piece by piece until she cracks it and gets just a but more closer to him. be sounds hot. the strong make type we usually see in Ms Augustine's books and she doesn't think she's pretty but I think she is and just has no clue sin e she's been mistreated in every way starved to skin and bone and just has no self worth yet.but it's slowly coming. she's adapting to freedom and life and now making a family it seems .
there's also a few more characters in this book I can't wait to get to know. it's just one of those books that draws you in keeps you submerged like you can't come up for air til it ends then you want to drowned in the next one.
I see this being one of my favorite series it's different. New and fresh.
I recommend it to anyone good-looking for that and the world being destroyed from what it was to people living in the wilds to survive , staying safe at night from the beasts that lurk at dark, the dark walkers who are in humAn firm, a girl growing not it into herself but powers that are yet to be 're sealed , a hot sexy guy with a attitude and big secret.
read it. you'll it.
I was given this book for a honest 'review.
December 10, 2015
The Wilds – Donna Augustine
This is a great start to a very good series. The wilds is about a virus that changed the world called the Bloody Death, it killed a lot of people and nature took over the land and the virus seemed to raise its ugly head every 25 years. Though some people started surviving the virus, but were locked up in fear of spreading the disease further. These survivors are known as Plaguers and they seem to have a gift of seeing what people have done in the past through their emotions and spotting non humans who integrate into the human race, these are known as Dark Walkers and are not very nice at all.
Dal is a plaguer; she has been locked up since she was 4 years old. Rejected by her parents and anyone she comes into contact with, she is surviving in a prison run by a few Dark Walkers who will torture her at any excuse. With only a few friends brave enough to be near her and her spy books, Dal makes it her mission to escape with her friends and live a normal happy life, whatever that may be.
When Dals meets Sam she breaks out of Prison and her life takes on a new twist. Trying to learn how to integrate with the human race and learn social etiquette whilst putting up a hard exterior against those who still holds prejudice against plaguers, her new life outside the cement walls is certainly a huge challenge.
Dal’s life in the Wilds is not without its problems, especially as she finds herself still hunted by the prison guards and bounty hunters to drag her back as well as having mixed feelings about boys to add to the mix.
This book is full of attitude, humour, sadness and mystery. The book certainly hooks you in as you learnt more about how the world has changed after the Bloody death hit the population and what is it about Dal that the Dark Walkers want so badly. The book ends with many unanswered questions and with a promise for another book, which I certainly hope so as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This is a great start to a very good series. The wilds is about a virus that changed the world called the Bloody Death, it killed a lot of people and nature took over the land and the virus seemed to raise its ugly head every 25 years. Though some people started surviving the virus, but were locked up in fear of spreading the disease further. These survivors are known as Plaguers and they seem to have a gift of seeing what people have done in the past through their emotions and spotting non humans who integrate into the human race, these are known as Dark Walkers and are not very nice at all.
Dal is a plaguer; she has been locked up since she was 4 years old. Rejected by her parents and anyone she comes into contact with, she is surviving in a prison run by a few Dark Walkers who will torture her at any excuse. With only a few friends brave enough to be near her and her spy books, Dal makes it her mission to escape with her friends and live a normal happy life, whatever that may be.
When Dals meets Sam she breaks out of Prison and her life takes on a new twist. Trying to learn how to integrate with the human race and learn social etiquette whilst putting up a hard exterior against those who still holds prejudice against plaguers, her new life outside the cement walls is certainly a huge challenge.
Dal’s life in the Wilds is not without its problems, especially as she finds herself still hunted by the prison guards and bounty hunters to drag her back as well as having mixed feelings about boys to add to the mix.
This book is full of attitude, humour, sadness and mystery. The book certainly hooks you in as you learnt more about how the world has changed after the Bloody death hit the population and what is it about Dal that the Dark Walkers want so badly. The book ends with many unanswered questions and with a promise for another book, which I certainly hope so as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 5, 2020
Not enough breadcrumbs for me to follow
This book is so vague. I dislike how she never asks Dax about his plans, and how they never discuss ANYTHING. Like Dax is always expecting her to do specific things, without actually explaining things to her.
Then there’s all this vagueness surrounding why Dax needs her to tell him where the Dark Walkers were. Then we had an explanation all at the end that I still don’t quite understand.
Not truly. I will give book 2 a try, but if it’s as sparse with its crumbs as this book, I probably will not finish. I don’t need deep details but yeesh he was hash.
This book is so vague. I dislike how she never asks Dax about his plans, and how they never discuss ANYTHING. Like Dax is always expecting her to do specific things, without actually explaining things to her.
Then there’s all this vagueness surrounding why Dax needs her to tell him where the Dark Walkers were. Then we had an explanation all at the end that I still don’t quite understand.
Not truly. I will give book 2 a try, but if it’s as sparse with its crumbs as this book, I probably will not finish. I don’t need deep details but yeesh he was hash.
October 15, 2015
I'm torn, because though this is a great story, the gratuitous profanity (including f-bombs) nearly killed it for me. I find it highly unlikely that all the characters, despite being from different countries and widely divergent backgrounds, would all use the same two swear words constantly. Also, the heroine's inner dialogue was awash in the same. If you're going to world build a dystopian future (and she does it well), your dialogue shouldn't be straight out of the boorish vocabulary of today's modern teenager.
d-n-f
March 28, 2016DNF @ 41%
I thought the premise sounded interesting and the sample was pretty good, but then it went swiftly downhill after the sample finished I'm afriad. The main protagonist was just incredibly juvenile as the story progresses, which is a real shame, as I thought this had promise and one of the reasons I picked this up was because it seemed the main character DIDN'T act like a child in what I'd read of the sample! Frustrating.
This started 4 star but swiftly dropped to 2 stars.
I thought the premise sounded interesting and the sample was pretty good, but then it went swiftly downhill after the sample finished I'm afriad. The main protagonist was just incredibly juvenile as the story progresses, which is a real shame, as I thought this had promise and one of the reasons I picked this up was because it seemed the main character DIDN'T act like a child in what I'd read of the sample! Frustrating.
This started 4 star but swiftly dropped to 2 stars.
September 29, 2015
This is id hands down the best book I read this year. love this author so much.
Read
October 23, 2015DFN 65%
I was so excited about this one, and i really tried but this is just not my cuppa...
February 24, 2016
Lovedddd it!
February 13, 2016
3/5 Stars
A different but intriguing read.
A different but intriguing read.
October 10, 2019
3.75
Okay so in this book we have our main character, Dahlia, who is a Plaguer- someone who has survived a virus that comes around every 20 years and kills off a majority of the population. However, those that do survive are not only ostracized and killed in society, but they end up having some form of magic when the fever subsides.
So we kind of have a speshul girl trope going on...but in this case I didn't mind it because Dahlia was her own person with her own set of morals, and didn't give a crap about what other people thought or if they liked her. She has been sheltered and tortured almost her whole life by beings called Gray Walkers, but she's not timid or TSTL most of the time.
Thank you. I hate when characters meet the main H and all they can think is 'oh sexy, let all of my rational thought just fly out the window' Now that being said...Dax... I really didn't like him as a character. At least in the terms of romantic potential. But that just may be me. I don't think stubborn, emotionally vacant, bossy, and overbearing guys are particularly attractive, and thats all he was to me. Also he's what 30? And the h is 18? Not crazy age difference but I don't want a love interest to treat me like a kid.
Anyhoo, I really like the dystopian world building and magic system going on. I'm also interested to see how Dahlia grows now that she's free, and to learn more about the Grey Walkers.
"I realized that this was it, the only life I was going to get. I could either let myself rot here in misery or I could find a way out."
Okay so in this book we have our main character, Dahlia, who is a Plaguer- someone who has survived a virus that comes around every 20 years and kills off a majority of the population. However, those that do survive are not only ostracized and killed in society, but they end up having some form of magic when the fever subsides.
So we kind of have a speshul girl trope going on...but in this case I didn't mind it because Dahlia was her own person with her own set of morals, and didn't give a crap about what other people thought or if they liked her. She has been sheltered and tortured almost her whole life by beings called Gray Walkers, but she's not timid or TSTL most of the time.
"He nodded an approval I didn’t need or care about."
Thank you. I hate when characters meet the main H and all they can think is 'oh sexy, let all of my rational thought just fly out the window' Now that being said...Dax... I really didn't like him as a character. At least in the terms of romantic potential. But that just may be me. I don't think stubborn, emotionally vacant, bossy, and overbearing guys are particularly attractive, and thats all he was to me. Also he's what 30? And the h is 18? Not crazy age difference but I don't want a love interest to treat me like a kid.
Anyhoo, I really like the dystopian world building and magic system going on. I'm also interested to see how Dahlia grows now that she's free, and to learn more about the Grey Walkers.
May 25, 2017
1. This is a medical epidemic novel. Dahlia is a Plaguer, having survived a contagious infection known as the Bloody Death during childhood. Now a teenager, Dahlia has been committed to the Holy Sanctuary for the Criminally Insane. Because a rare individual, immune to a fatal disease of unknown origin (that continues to resurface and decimate the remaining population) would naturally be confined to a mental institution for the criminally insane.
So, no one was interested in studying the survivors and trying to create an antidote? No? Okay, enjoy being stupid! (And if this is supposed to be an indicator that something more nefarious is afoot, well... duh. Everyone is a moron, moving on...)
They say all Plaguers are psychotic, contaminated and ruined, need to be locked away to protect society from the evil they spew about monsters.
2. This is a mental health novel. Complete with clichéd representations of mental health. People hallucinate monsters and are violent. Yup, that sure is how psychosis works.
While the monster was eating his sandwich, I snuck up behind him and stabbed the monster in the neck repeatedly with my pencil until there was nothing but gurgling noises.
Dahlia. Age four. Stabbed her teacher in the neck with a pencil. Like a psychopath.
Surprise! The Wilds offers nothing substantial regarding mental health, and it's because of this that we, the reader, know the monsters are real. They have to be, because the alternative explanation is so underwhelming. And this little revelation doesn't actually benefit Dahlia in the slightest. Since she still opted to commit murder as oppose to reacting like a normal four-year-old child when confronted with something scary i.e. telling their parents.
3. This is a paranormal novel. The monsters are real. Spoilers! If you’re expecting Augustine to describe in detail what the monsters look like, where they come from, why they’re impersonating humanity, whether they’re behind the Bloody Death, how only Plaguers can see through their disguise, or why they want to wipe out humanity, prepare to be disappointed. The author does not care to explain any of this, in favor of the developing following subplot.
4. This is a post-apocalypse survival novel. With the assistance of a dashing, young hero, Dahlia escapes the mental institution and re-enters society for the first time in over decade. In a predictably dull turn of events, Dahlia is introduced to an established community and spends her time in a cushy, rustic setting, discovering alcohol and throwing herself at the aforementioned hero. Riveting.
This is the bulk of the novel. Not the monsters, or the contagion returning, or even the struggle for basic survival, absolutely none of that is important or relevant. What is relevant is an asinine teenage girl getting wasted and being rejected by a boy. So original!
In summary: The Wilds is several story lines muddled into one bland mishmash. Each as incomplete and incompetent as the last. I don’t get it. Any one of these plots would have been sufficient for a single story, not to mention, would have allowed the author to strengthen her premise. Instead, we have this half-hearted, confusing collision of subplots. It's major problem is the utter fail at creating suspense. The monsters are real. We know this. But it takes a absurd amount of time for the characters to come to this conclusion. So, we're left waiting for our blithering, ditzy protagonist to catch up and It. Is. Boring.
So, no one was interested in studying the survivors and trying to create an antidote? No? Okay, enjoy being stupid! (And if this is supposed to be an indicator that something more nefarious is afoot, well... duh. Everyone is a moron, moving on...)
They say all Plaguers are psychotic, contaminated and ruined, need to be locked away to protect society from the evil they spew about monsters.
2. This is a mental health novel. Complete with clichéd representations of mental health. People hallucinate monsters and are violent. Yup, that sure is how psychosis works.
While the monster was eating his sandwich, I snuck up behind him and stabbed the monster in the neck repeatedly with my pencil until there was nothing but gurgling noises.
Dahlia. Age four. Stabbed her teacher in the neck with a pencil. Like a psychopath.
Surprise! The Wilds offers nothing substantial regarding mental health, and it's because of this that we, the reader, know the monsters are real. They have to be, because the alternative explanation is so underwhelming. And this little revelation doesn't actually benefit Dahlia in the slightest. Since she still opted to commit murder as oppose to reacting like a normal four-year-old child when confronted with something scary i.e. telling their parents.
3. This is a paranormal novel. The monsters are real. Spoilers! If you’re expecting Augustine to describe in detail what the monsters look like, where they come from, why they’re impersonating humanity, whether they’re behind the Bloody Death, how only Plaguers can see through their disguise, or why they want to wipe out humanity, prepare to be disappointed. The author does not care to explain any of this, in favor of the developing following subplot.
4. This is a post-apocalypse survival novel. With the assistance of a dashing, young hero, Dahlia escapes the mental institution and re-enters society for the first time in over decade. In a predictably dull turn of events, Dahlia is introduced to an established community and spends her time in a cushy, rustic setting, discovering alcohol and throwing herself at the aforementioned hero. Riveting.
This is the bulk of the novel. Not the monsters, or the contagion returning, or even the struggle for basic survival, absolutely none of that is important or relevant. What is relevant is an asinine teenage girl getting wasted and being rejected by a boy. So original!
In summary: The Wilds is several story lines muddled into one bland mishmash. Each as incomplete and incompetent as the last. I don’t get it. Any one of these plots would have been sufficient for a single story, not to mention, would have allowed the author to strengthen her premise. Instead, we have this half-hearted, confusing collision of subplots. It's major problem is the utter fail at creating suspense. The monsters are real. We know this. But it takes a absurd amount of time for the characters to come to this conclusion. So, we're left waiting for our blithering, ditzy protagonist to catch up and It. Is. Boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2016
I saw this book reviewed by Debbie @ The Reading Frenzy blog and it sounded fantastic. Imagine my thrill when I won an audio copy of this intense and intriguing YA Dystopian.
The world of this story is in our future after a plague hits the world and decimates the population only to return every twenty years or so. Old government and society falls only for new city-state governments to take over in certain parts of the world and the rest left to become The Wilds where might tends to make right. The plague kills most of those infected, but a rare few survived and are known as Plaguers. These people are reviled and thought to be carriers and lose their minds. But unknown to most, plaguers are no longer infectious and are not crazy. Plaguers gain some psychic skills and have the ability to see another kind of non-human that looks human and walks among them- the Dark Walkers.
The story opens with Dahlia an eighteen year old girl who was institutionalized at four years old by her own parents. Inside the institution built to contain plaguers and others with mental issues, she grows up learning to be tough physically and mentally because a dark walker is in charge there and Dahlia is subject to her psychotic and sadistic whims. Dahlia must hold strong and never crack under the pressure. She has made her plans of escape for her and her friends, but it will not be easy and she must wait her chance for the conditions to be right.
But suddenly out of the blue a stranger breaks in and whisks her away. Dahlia does not trust this Dak and his other companions who take her into the Wilds. Dak has an agenda and apparently he needs a plaguer to accomplish it. Dahlia goes along with his plans because it is where she wants to be until he reveals that he wants her to identify Dark Walkers. That's when a new game of mental tug of war begins and Dahlia must get back to her own plans to rescue her friends while keeping from fulfilling her part of the bargain to Dak. Something is up with him. She is intrigued, but he is a tough one to get around. He is cold and determined on his path and she must learn to have that sort of strength to survive in the Wilds.
Alright, this was an exciting blend of dystopian, intrigue, and the whiff of a romance starting up. I loved how the world is built and the characters are set up. Dak is a mystery all of his own as is what is so special about Dahlia's plaguer abilities. Even by the end of this first book, not everything is out in the open though good gravy that big reveal right at the end was a huge tease if not an actual cliff hanger.
I got vested in Dahlia's story early on. She has suffered and survived a great deal, but once she is free, she still has a whole lot to learn. She is arrogant and gutsy. She is so excited to be free and determined to really live that she makes impetuous decisions that aren't very bright, but come from a good place. Slowly she learns from her mistakes and as she trusts Dak and the others to teach her. Dak is such an enigma, but he tends to keep too much to himself and that is what drives Dahlia crazy. He expects trust and her to share, but doesn't reciprocate.
I found the tension and pacing worked well keeping me right in this story. I didn't want to stop listening.
And yes, it was well narrated by Angel Clark. Her Dahlia voice was spot on. I liked how she told the story and infused emotion without overdoing it. She did pacing and tone so well that I was seeing this story well.
All in all this was great and I can't wait to continue on to see what comes next for Dahlia and the rest of the survivors there in the Wilds.
The world of this story is in our future after a plague hits the world and decimates the population only to return every twenty years or so. Old government and society falls only for new city-state governments to take over in certain parts of the world and the rest left to become The Wilds where might tends to make right. The plague kills most of those infected, but a rare few survived and are known as Plaguers. These people are reviled and thought to be carriers and lose their minds. But unknown to most, plaguers are no longer infectious and are not crazy. Plaguers gain some psychic skills and have the ability to see another kind of non-human that looks human and walks among them- the Dark Walkers.
The story opens with Dahlia an eighteen year old girl who was institutionalized at four years old by her own parents. Inside the institution built to contain plaguers and others with mental issues, she grows up learning to be tough physically and mentally because a dark walker is in charge there and Dahlia is subject to her psychotic and sadistic whims. Dahlia must hold strong and never crack under the pressure. She has made her plans of escape for her and her friends, but it will not be easy and she must wait her chance for the conditions to be right.
But suddenly out of the blue a stranger breaks in and whisks her away. Dahlia does not trust this Dak and his other companions who take her into the Wilds. Dak has an agenda and apparently he needs a plaguer to accomplish it. Dahlia goes along with his plans because it is where she wants to be until he reveals that he wants her to identify Dark Walkers. That's when a new game of mental tug of war begins and Dahlia must get back to her own plans to rescue her friends while keeping from fulfilling her part of the bargain to Dak. Something is up with him. She is intrigued, but he is a tough one to get around. He is cold and determined on his path and she must learn to have that sort of strength to survive in the Wilds.
Alright, this was an exciting blend of dystopian, intrigue, and the whiff of a romance starting up. I loved how the world is built and the characters are set up. Dak is a mystery all of his own as is what is so special about Dahlia's plaguer abilities. Even by the end of this first book, not everything is out in the open though good gravy that big reveal right at the end was a huge tease if not an actual cliff hanger.
I got vested in Dahlia's story early on. She has suffered and survived a great deal, but once she is free, she still has a whole lot to learn. She is arrogant and gutsy. She is so excited to be free and determined to really live that she makes impetuous decisions that aren't very bright, but come from a good place. Slowly she learns from her mistakes and as she trusts Dak and the others to teach her. Dak is such an enigma, but he tends to keep too much to himself and that is what drives Dahlia crazy. He expects trust and her to share, but doesn't reciprocate.
I found the tension and pacing worked well keeping me right in this story. I didn't want to stop listening.
And yes, it was well narrated by Angel Clark. Her Dahlia voice was spot on. I liked how she told the story and infused emotion without overdoing it. She did pacing and tone so well that I was seeing this story well.
All in all this was great and I can't wait to continue on to see what comes next for Dahlia and the rest of the survivors there in the Wilds.
July 28, 2017
I've read 320 books this year and this might be the worse. It's unbelievably hard to read and finish a book when you hate the lead and the storyline is flatter than Texas. Dal was stupid, reckless, and really annoying. I literally despise this genre of "making your female lead stupid". It makes the book a hard read instead of a good read. The whole time I waited for Dax to kick her lying annoying problematic ass out of the compound and when that didn't happen I waited for the book to end.
Also, the storyline was truly unremarkable. Nothing happened. No action, no love, no real sadness, or anything. The only emotion I felt was pissed that it's 2017 and stupid female leads are still being published and pissed that I even started reading this. The most excitement happened when Dax revealed why he wanted the Dark Walkers and that happened on the last page. It's almost like you had nothing to write so you dragged out the one exciting plot twist for the very end. The only thing I liked ones the full description of Dal. I hate when the male lead gets a physical description but not his counterpart.
Also, the storyline was truly unremarkable. Nothing happened. No action, no love, no real sadness, or anything. The only emotion I felt was pissed that it's 2017 and stupid female leads are still being published and pissed that I even started reading this. The most excitement happened when Dax revealed why he wanted the Dark Walkers and that happened on the last page. It's almost like you had nothing to write so you dragged out the one exciting plot twist for the very end. The only thing I liked ones the full description of Dal. I hate when the male lead gets a physical description but not his counterpart.
July 19, 2019
The Wilds begins with Dal living in a compound for 14 years. This is all she's known for so long, and she knows this is not what she wants for the rest of her life, she plans to get it. But, one night Dax ends up breaking her out of there, however, she will do everything she can to go back and save her friends as well. But, Dax also wants to use her and she can't make it out in the Wilds alone.
So, Dal does what she can to help Dax, while he helps her learn how to use her magic, and fight. But, these two have a lot more problems to deal with especially when Dal doesn't understand the most basic social aspects, and she doesn't understand Dax at all.
This book was pretty good. I really enjoyed the whole plot line, and I loved learning about Dal's abilities, and how she handled things. I thought that was really awesome.
This was a great start to this series, and I can't wait to read more. It had a lot of suspenseful moments, and of course, a lot of chemistry between Dax and Dal, and it also had some action too.
So, Dal does what she can to help Dax, while he helps her learn how to use her magic, and fight. But, these two have a lot more problems to deal with especially when Dal doesn't understand the most basic social aspects, and she doesn't understand Dax at all.
This book was pretty good. I really enjoyed the whole plot line, and I loved learning about Dal's abilities, and how she handled things. I thought that was really awesome.
This was a great start to this series, and I can't wait to read more. It had a lot of suspenseful moments, and of course, a lot of chemistry between Dax and Dal, and it also had some action too.
December 3, 2016
The book had an interesting concept and the potential to be a dark and gritty portrayal of a post apocalyptic dystopian world ravaged by disease and inhuman creatures, but instead it took two steps, fell flat, and went for zero plot progression and all the shallow character depth of the Twilight saga. Deciding part way in she really wants to be in a young-adult romance instead of a dark urban fantasy, the protagonist spends most of the book making cringeworthy sexual advances and fantasizing about the stereotypical tall, dark, and handsome Dax, who can't stop brooding long enough to build more character depth than a cardboard cutout of some teenage drama star. By the end of the story we've done nothing, gone nowhere, and developed character relations from awkward to impending sexual harassment lawsuit.
April 25, 2019
I devoured this book in less than a day. It was such a good read! The Wilds lays out an interesting world and a fascinating story. I can’t wait to dive into the next book and learn more.
The characters are fairly interesting, though only Dahlia and Dax get much fleshing out. My main issue with the book (and the reason I didn’t give it 5 stars) was Dahlia’s attitude. She’s pretty standoff-ish and rude for someone that doesn’t actually know a thing about the outside world. Dax is being tight lipped and a jerk at times but being this level of rude to someone that could abandon you in the wilds might not be the smartest idea.
Overall I liked The Wilds and would definitely recommend it. I would just like to see Dahlia tone it down a tiny bit.
The characters are fairly interesting, though only Dahlia and Dax get much fleshing out. My main issue with the book (and the reason I didn’t give it 5 stars) was Dahlia’s attitude. She’s pretty standoff-ish and rude for someone that doesn’t actually know a thing about the outside world. Dax is being tight lipped and a jerk at times but being this level of rude to someone that could abandon you in the wilds might not be the smartest idea.
Overall I liked The Wilds and would definitely recommend it. I would just like to see Dahlia tone it down a tiny bit.
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