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Last Battle For Earth #1
The Retreat
Earth was ruined. Humankind destroyed. And it’s old news.
Romy’s life is simple—for a genetically enhanced space soldier; pick up space junk with her four friends, and stave off the invaders fixated on stealing Planet Earth.
It isn’t much. But it’s temporary—only another 850 years to go, give or take.
When her crew tangles with a gulp-worthy alien mothership, Romy’s return to Earth is brought forward at hurtling pace.
Strength comes from the unlikeliest of quarters.
As does leadership.
…As does betrayal.
Romy’s life is simple—for a genetically enhanced space soldier; pick up space junk with her four friends, and stave off the invaders fixated on stealing Planet Earth.
It isn’t much. But it’s temporary—only another 850 years to go, give or take.
When her crew tangles with a gulp-worthy alien mothership, Romy’s return to Earth is brought forward at hurtling pace.
Strength comes from the unlikeliest of quarters.
As does leadership.
…As does betrayal.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2016
588 people are currently reading
1692 people want to read
About the author
Kelly St. Clare
66 books3,242 followersWhen USA Today bestselling author, Kelly St Clare is not reading or writing, she is lost in her latest reverie.
Books have always been magical and mysterious to her. One day she decided to start unravelling this mystery and began writing.
The Tainted Accords was her debut series. The After Trilogy is now available.
A New Zealander in origin and in heart, Kelly currently resides in Australia with her soon-to-be husband, a great group of friends, and some huntsman spiders who love to come inside when it rains. Their love is not returned.
Find out more at her website, and claim a free paranormal dystopian short story, coloring book, and free bonus chapters from The Tainted Accords.
http://www.kellystclare.com/free-gift
Books have always been magical and mysterious to her. One day she decided to start unravelling this mystery and began writing.
The Tainted Accords was her debut series. The After Trilogy is now available.
A New Zealander in origin and in heart, Kelly currently resides in Australia with her soon-to-be husband, a great group of friends, and some huntsman spiders who love to come inside when it rains. Their love is not returned.
Find out more at her website, and claim a free paranormal dystopian short story, coloring book, and free bonus chapters from The Tainted Accords.
http://www.kellystclare.com/free-gift
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kts
January 27, 2017FREE ON AMAZON!
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UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01JVN9LC...
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December 16, 2020
The best thing about St Clare is her INSANE level of versatility. So far from her, I've read two YA fantasy series, two adult paranormal series, and one YA sci-fi series (this one). All of them are very different from each other, but they have two things in common:
1) A fabulously satisfying romance with an awesome hero who's an alpha WITHOUT BEING A PRICK.
2) Simple, yet excellent writing that reels me in like I'm a fish on a hook and just does not let me go.
There's a small bit of OW drama here, which is new in my St Clare books. I didn't like it but it wasn't unbearable - I thought Atlas, the hero, made his feelings for Romy clear, even if there was a bit of drama for the sake of the plot.
The plot is alright too, though I'll admit I was way more interested in the dynamics of Romy/Atlas than the whole save-the-planet thing (which is objectively probably quite weak). I LOVE how St Clare heroes always have a special name for the heroine, and it's never the cringy 'princess' or 'cupcake'. Sometimes (as in here) it's as simple as using their full name when everyone else uses a nickname. But it just cements the relationship in a way I didn't even realise I was desperately missing until I found it here.
[Blog]
1) A fabulously satisfying romance with an awesome hero who's an alpha WITHOUT BEING A PRICK.
2) Simple, yet excellent writing that reels me in like I'm a fish on a hook and just does not let me go.
There's a small bit of OW drama here, which is new in my St Clare books. I didn't like it but it wasn't unbearable - I thought Atlas, the hero, made his feelings for Romy clear, even if there was a bit of drama for the sake of the plot.
The plot is alright too, though I'll admit I was way more interested in the dynamics of Romy/Atlas than the whole save-the-planet thing (which is objectively probably quite weak). I LOVE how St Clare heroes always have a special name for the heroine, and it's never the cringy 'princess' or 'cupcake'. Sometimes (as in here) it's as simple as using their full name when everyone else uses a nickname. But it just cements the relationship in a way I didn't even realise I was desperately missing until I found it here.
[Blog]
April 9, 2018
***2.5 Stars***
I really loved the Ms. St. Clare's Tainted Accord series, so when I saw she had written a space/science fiction/dystopian series I knew I had to try it. I mean, I love all of those things when done well.
Boy, was I underwhelmed. I think there is a good idea here, but the writing felt very young and almost amateurish. I mean, the main group, or "knot", are soldiers in space defending Earth from an alien race. Sounds cool, right? Welllll, so far, and I'm 70% done with book 2 mind you, the aliens play almost no role in the story, aside from being a plot device used to create the need for "space soldiers". Yes, the whole world calls them space soldiers. Really? That's the best name you can come up with? And it's not just the term, it's the way they say it. It feels like a 5 y/o being excited about meeting a Navy SEAL and then calling them a "water soldier". There's also a lot of usage of terms like "insane brain" or some shit, that also just sounds like a descriptor a kid would use, not a soldier bred with superior genes and trained to protect Earth. And here's the thing: the main characters are all 24+. They are grown-ups, so crazy me expected them to think and act as such. But they don't. They all act like teens, every last one of them. Now there is a marginal explanation for this, but again, only marginal. If you want to write about teenagers, then by all means go ahead write about teens. Don't write about 20-30 year olds who act like YA characters. That's a tad misleading. Then there's the issue of all the unnecessary secret keeping (a huge pet peeve of mine.) SOOO much. She tries to explain it, but I'm not buying what she's selling here.
Anyway, it's a super easy read. Nothing at all complex here. It also has a slow(ish) building romance. Couple that with the fact that the last 1/4 or so of the book picks up, and you got me reading book #2. So far, it's a little more interesting, but again so many people keeping g** damn secrets. Ugh.
I really loved the Ms. St. Clare's Tainted Accord series, so when I saw she had written a space/science fiction/dystopian series I knew I had to try it. I mean, I love all of those things when done well.
Boy, was I underwhelmed. I think there is a good idea here, but the writing felt very young and almost amateurish. I mean, the main group, or "knot", are soldiers in space defending Earth from an alien race. Sounds cool, right? Welllll, so far, and I'm 70% done with book 2 mind you, the aliens play almost no role in the story, aside from being a plot device used to create the need for "space soldiers". Yes, the whole world calls them space soldiers. Really? That's the best name you can come up with? And it's not just the term, it's the way they say it. It feels like a 5 y/o being excited about meeting a Navy SEAL and then calling them a "water soldier". There's also a lot of usage of terms like "insane brain" or some shit, that also just sounds like a descriptor a kid would use, not a soldier bred with superior genes and trained to protect Earth. And here's the thing: the main characters are all 24+. They are grown-ups, so crazy me expected them to think and act as such. But they don't. They all act like teens, every last one of them. Now there is a marginal explanation for this, but again, only marginal. If you want to write about teenagers, then by all means go ahead write about teens. Don't write about 20-30 year olds who act like YA characters. That's a tad misleading. Then there's the issue of all the unnecessary secret keeping (a huge pet peeve of mine.) SOOO much. She tries to explain it, but I'm not buying what she's selling here.
Anyway, it's a super easy read. Nothing at all complex here. It also has a slow(ish) building romance. Couple that with the fact that the last 1/4 or so of the book picks up, and you got me reading book #2. So far, it's a little more interesting, but again so many people keeping g** damn secrets. Ugh.
July 20, 2016
Having read the books in Kelly St. Clare's stellar Tainted Accords series, I was eager to jump on the first book in her new labor of love, The Retreat. I was honored to receive an ARC in return for an honest review.
Rosemary (nee Romy) was born in, and works in, outer space. She and four comrades, Thrym, Elara, Phobos and Deimos are the misfits of the workforce that cleans up space debris and fights off a vicious enemy known as the Critamal.
After a battle, she and the rest of her little group (who awesomely refer to themselves as a "knot") crash-land on Earth, and surprise surprise, the place is not the uninhabited wasteland they expected. And that's just the FIRST of the many big reveals, all of which will contradict everything Romy and her friends have ever been told.
And that's not all... imagine a group of twenty-somethings, born in space, who were genetically conditioned to never go through puberty. NOW imagine that conditioning suddenly being removed. Ruh-roh. (Hilarious awkwardness ensues.)
As always, Kelly St. Clare has provided for us a wonderful batch of memorable characters, set against a story of intrigue, suspense, romance and kick-ass science fiction action.
Can't wait to see what comes next!
Rosemary (nee Romy) was born in, and works in, outer space. She and four comrades, Thrym, Elara, Phobos and Deimos are the misfits of the workforce that cleans up space debris and fights off a vicious enemy known as the Critamal.
After a battle, she and the rest of her little group (who awesomely refer to themselves as a "knot") crash-land on Earth, and surprise surprise, the place is not the uninhabited wasteland they expected. And that's just the FIRST of the many big reveals, all of which will contradict everything Romy and her friends have ever been told.
And that's not all... imagine a group of twenty-somethings, born in space, who were genetically conditioned to never go through puberty. NOW imagine that conditioning suddenly being removed. Ruh-roh. (Hilarious awkwardness ensues.)
As always, Kelly St. Clare has provided for us a wonderful batch of memorable characters, set against a story of intrigue, suspense, romance and kick-ass science fiction action.
Can't wait to see what comes next!
April 12, 2020
4 Stars!
I'm slowly trying to get through all of Kelly's books, and this one I have been putting off because I'm not a fan of science fiction but I was mildly surprised with how much I liked this book. I knew it would be good because all of Kelly's books are, so I definitely should have trusted I would love it no matter what genre it is, and should have read it sooner.
All of her stories are super unique and so different from each other and Kelly has the best world building. At this beginning, it was a bit harder to get into because of information dump and them being in space, but as soon as the crashed on earth it got so much better and I didn't want to put it down.
I love all the side characters, except Tina, these books would be better without her. I really liked Atlas too. I was a bit iffy about him most of the book because he was a bit cold too her, and I had no no interest in seeing him let an ex constantly touching him when he likes the heroine, but besides that I really liked him. And now we know why his personality is like that too so I'm more interested in getting to know him more. I did think the heroine should have laid off with her interest of him though. Even though I like Atlas, he hasn't really sone anything that makes me love him yet, or even really trust him, and I wish the heroine was a bit more, I guess, hard-hearted or something towards him and let him really work for it instead of her seeking him out all the time. I was hoping what had happened to her would make her colder but I guess not, oh well. Either way I'm looking forward to more development for her and for her to be stronger.
Overall this was a great start to the series, and I'm excited to learn what happens in the next one.
I'm slowly trying to get through all of Kelly's books, and this one I have been putting off because I'm not a fan of science fiction but I was mildly surprised with how much I liked this book. I knew it would be good because all of Kelly's books are, so I definitely should have trusted I would love it no matter what genre it is, and should have read it sooner.
All of her stories are super unique and so different from each other and Kelly has the best world building. At this beginning, it was a bit harder to get into because of information dump and them being in space, but as soon as the crashed on earth it got so much better and I didn't want to put it down.
I love all the side characters, except Tina, these books would be better without her. I really liked Atlas too. I was a bit iffy about him most of the book because he was a bit cold too her, and I had no no interest in seeing him let an ex constantly touching him when he likes the heroine, but besides that I really liked him. And now we know why his personality is like that too so I'm more interested in getting to know him more. I did think the heroine should have laid off with her interest of him though. Even though I like Atlas, he hasn't really sone anything that makes me love him yet, or even really trust him, and I wish the heroine was a bit more, I guess, hard-hearted or something towards him and let him really work for it instead of her seeking him out all the time. I was hoping what had happened to her would make her colder but I guess not, oh well. Either way I'm looking forward to more development for her and for her to be stronger.
Overall this was a great start to the series, and I'm excited to learn what happens in the next one.
June 2, 2020
This one was ok. But I didn't go into this one expecting much so I guess that is a plus.
I personally really liked the characters and the companionship of knot 27. Additionally I really enjoyed the jabs and jokes as knot 27 went through puberty. However with that being said it took me quite a while to get used to the writing style. It had a disconnected feeling to it, and the author would time jump and then refer to what happened during the time jump. This left me sort of discombobulated at times. I feel that if an author is going to refer back to the event they need to explain what happened during this event. The whole premise is quite interesting but I feel that it could've been done so much better. That being said this was just the first book in the trilogy so maybe the author will explore more of what I missed in this first one will be explored in future books. The science element of this was quite interesting in a juvenile way. I hope we get more in depth explanations of the science behind space soldiers in the next books.
Overall entertaining but not my favorite. I am hopeful that book 2 will be better.
I personally really liked the characters and the companionship of knot 27. Additionally I really enjoyed the jabs and jokes as knot 27 went through puberty. However with that being said it took me quite a while to get used to the writing style. It had a disconnected feeling to it, and the author would time jump and then refer to what happened during the time jump. This left me sort of discombobulated at times. I feel that if an author is going to refer back to the event they need to explain what happened during this event. The whole premise is quite interesting but I feel that it could've been done so much better. That being said this was just the first book in the trilogy so maybe the author will explore more of what I missed in this first one will be explored in future books. The science element of this was quite interesting in a juvenile way. I hope we get more in depth explanations of the science behind space soldiers in the next books.
Overall entertaining but not my favorite. I am hopeful that book 2 will be better.
December 8, 2019
This is the first book in The After Trilogy, and I found it original, interesting, unexpected and about the mix I like between sci-fi details and romance. Like the Darkest Drae series that is co-authored by St. Clare, I would peg this series as young adult, but young adult with a bite. There is danger, some of which veers into sexual assault. And intense feelings. And some immaturity, which gets the most interesting sci-fi explanation I've seen yet. So, yes, it is young adult because the sex moves slow, and overly intimate details remain behind closed door. However, as a decidedly older adult, I found the series quite a page turner.
The story takes place in a mix of Earth's orbit, and in a post-apocalyptic, dystopic future, where the world has been ravaged by a combination of global warming, disease and just bad luck between the haves and the have nots. Some of the details for the dystopic society were a little vague, but at no point was I frustrated with not knowing. Frankly, I ate this book up. As in, I downloaded one right after the other.
For me, Atlas was the character I couldn't get a real read on. Perhaps this was because of the first person point of view. I simply wanted to hear from his perspective. However, the other main characters, the members of the knot from the orbiting space station, have a great story arc throughout the series. Romy. Thrym. Ellie. The Twins. Give them time. They mature. They take on more responsibility. They change. Their intertwined emotions and how it is all resolved takes some strategy. It is clear that St. Clare really outlined her plot arc from the beginning. I was certainly riveted.
The story takes place in a mix of Earth's orbit, and in a post-apocalyptic, dystopic future, where the world has been ravaged by a combination of global warming, disease and just bad luck between the haves and the have nots. Some of the details for the dystopic society were a little vague, but at no point was I frustrated with not knowing. Frankly, I ate this book up. As in, I downloaded one right after the other.
For me, Atlas was the character I couldn't get a real read on. Perhaps this was because of the first person point of view. I simply wanted to hear from his perspective. However, the other main characters, the members of the knot from the orbiting space station, have a great story arc throughout the series. Romy. Thrym. Ellie. The Twins. Give them time. They mature. They take on more responsibility. They change. Their intertwined emotions and how it is all resolved takes some strategy. It is clear that St. Clare really outlined her plot arc from the beginning. I was certainly riveted.
August 13, 2016
**I received an arc in exchange for an honest review**
Not being an overly large fan of sci-fi, I didn't really know what to expect while going in. I can honestly say that the sci-fi stuff was explained enough for me to understand but wasn't bogged down with the boring side of sci-fi, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Romy's genetically enhanced life is simple: Protect earth against an alien invasion while it recovers from global warming so humans could possibly reside there once again in the future.
But when her knot (team/troop/family) crash land after a battle, she realises not everything died off when the rest of the world did.
Having a genetically engineered teen navigate her way through human curiosity is not only hilarious but wildly entertaining. Can't wait for the sequel, because in true Kelly St Clare style, we are faced with a cliffy of epic proportions. I wouldn't expect anything less from her.
Not being an overly large fan of sci-fi, I didn't really know what to expect while going in. I can honestly say that the sci-fi stuff was explained enough for me to understand but wasn't bogged down with the boring side of sci-fi, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Romy's genetically enhanced life is simple: Protect earth against an alien invasion while it recovers from global warming so humans could possibly reside there once again in the future.
But when her knot (team/troop/family) crash land after a battle, she realises not everything died off when the rest of the world did.
Having a genetically engineered teen navigate her way through human curiosity is not only hilarious but wildly entertaining. Can't wait for the sequel, because in true Kelly St Clare style, we are faced with a cliffy of epic proportions. I wouldn't expect anything less from her.
February 1, 2018
Definitely young adult - the story concept sounded intriguing but I found myself not overly invested in this story or with the characters. I will likely give book 2 a shot.
July 2, 2017
The Retreat was a great read! If you're looking for a great YA dystopian, that's a touch different from most books in that genre this is a good book to pick up! After I read the first two books in Kelly St. Clare's The Tainted Accords series I decided to give The Retreat a try as I was curious how she wrote the dystopian genre. I have to say that The Retreat is very different from the Tainted Accords series, but I did really enjoy it.
The tone of The Retreat is a bit dark-ish, it does have some typical dystopian features and you're kept wondering who they can trust, who is speaking the truth and what people are hiding. It doesn't have as much a depression feel as some dystopian books are, but more of a suspicious feel. Romy and her knot find out about something really big, something that shakes their belief and changes everything they thought was true and even after that they know people are hiding more things. They don't get straight answers and you just know there's even more they don't know yet.
The beginning and the end of the book are quite fast paced, while the middle felt a bit slower. This isn't a bad thing, but it was very notable. Something big happens at the start and then in the middle it feels a bit as if they are waiting for something else to go wrong, trying to figure out things and prepare for others. And then in the last 10 or percent the pace picks up, big things happen and we learn more about what is really going on. There are some nice twists and reveals. And the ending, wow, I am so curious about book 2 and what will happen next. It is a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but one that worked well in my opinion.
I liked Romy, she's a nice main character. She cares a lot about her Knot and I enjoyed reading about the tight bond their knot had, they really are like a close group of friends that care about each other a lot. I liked reading about the dynamics in their group and I think Kelly St Clare writes these tight groups of friends really well. Romy is pretty sweet and nice and maybe even a bit naive and I felt so bad for her when she finds out what really is going on in the world and betrayal hits her really hard. She also has to deal with something difficult and I felt so bad for her she had to go through that. She also has an inner strength and determination.
From the side characters my favorites were probably her fellow Knot members, but I also liked Houston the quirky doctor. I only wish we got to see more of him. And then there's Atlas, the love interest I think. To be honest I didn't really feel the romance, but I think that's also because of what's going on in this book. With how you never know who is speaking the truth and just like Romy I was never sure if Atlas could be trusted and what he is hiding. The end does shed some more light on him and I am curious to see how things will develop in the next book.
As for the world building. This book takes place in the future, humanity has destroyed Earth with global warming and Romy and the others don't know when they can return or what the conditions on Earth are like. It did feel all pretty realistic and thought out. I loved the scenes when Romy was in a unfamiliar environment and how she described and experienced everything, it was very well written and the author really conveyed well how strange all this was for her. I also liked the part that took place in space and I hope we learn more about the aliens in future books as well and what their motivations are.
To summarize: The retreat was a great read, I liked how it was a bit different from most dystopian reads. It was very well written and kept my attention. The beginning and the ending were pretty fast paced with lots of things happening while the middle was a bit slower and more small events and waiting for things to unfold. Which does fit concerning the story and it's not a bad thing, but it was very notable. There are some nice twists and reveals and the ending really shakes things up and makes me curious what's going to happen next! I liked the main character Romy who could be sweet and caring, but also had an inner strength and determination. I enjoyed reading about her knot, which is a very close group of friends and I liked reading about their dynamics. The world feels real and well thought out. I thought it was nice part took place in space as well. All in all this was a great read and with how the ending leaves things I am so curious about book 2!
The tone of The Retreat is a bit dark-ish, it does have some typical dystopian features and you're kept wondering who they can trust, who is speaking the truth and what people are hiding. It doesn't have as much a depression feel as some dystopian books are, but more of a suspicious feel. Romy and her knot find out about something really big, something that shakes their belief and changes everything they thought was true and even after that they know people are hiding more things. They don't get straight answers and you just know there's even more they don't know yet.
The beginning and the end of the book are quite fast paced, while the middle felt a bit slower. This isn't a bad thing, but it was very notable. Something big happens at the start and then in the middle it feels a bit as if they are waiting for something else to go wrong, trying to figure out things and prepare for others. And then in the last 10 or percent the pace picks up, big things happen and we learn more about what is really going on. There are some nice twists and reveals. And the ending, wow, I am so curious about book 2 and what will happen next. It is a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but one that worked well in my opinion.
I liked Romy, she's a nice main character. She cares a lot about her Knot and I enjoyed reading about the tight bond their knot had, they really are like a close group of friends that care about each other a lot. I liked reading about the dynamics in their group and I think Kelly St Clare writes these tight groups of friends really well. Romy is pretty sweet and nice and maybe even a bit naive and I felt so bad for her when she finds out what really is going on in the world and betrayal hits her really hard. She also has to deal with something difficult and I felt so bad for her she had to go through that. She also has an inner strength and determination.
From the side characters my favorites were probably her fellow Knot members, but I also liked Houston the quirky doctor. I only wish we got to see more of him. And then there's Atlas, the love interest I think. To be honest I didn't really feel the romance, but I think that's also because of what's going on in this book. With how you never know who is speaking the truth and just like Romy I was never sure if Atlas could be trusted and what he is hiding. The end does shed some more light on him and I am curious to see how things will develop in the next book.
As for the world building. This book takes place in the future, humanity has destroyed Earth with global warming and Romy and the others don't know when they can return or what the conditions on Earth are like. It did feel all pretty realistic and thought out. I loved the scenes when Romy was in a unfamiliar environment and how she described and experienced everything, it was very well written and the author really conveyed well how strange all this was for her. I also liked the part that took place in space and I hope we learn more about the aliens in future books as well and what their motivations are.
To summarize: The retreat was a great read, I liked how it was a bit different from most dystopian reads. It was very well written and kept my attention. The beginning and the ending were pretty fast paced with lots of things happening while the middle was a bit slower and more small events and waiting for things to unfold. Which does fit concerning the story and it's not a bad thing, but it was very notable. There are some nice twists and reveals and the ending really shakes things up and makes me curious what's going to happen next! I liked the main character Romy who could be sweet and caring, but also had an inner strength and determination. I enjoyed reading about her knot, which is a very close group of friends and I liked reading about their dynamics. The world feels real and well thought out. I thought it was nice part took place in space as well. All in all this was a great read and with how the ending leaves things I am so curious about book 2!
July 13, 2017
Forgive me for being rude, but this book was the most under-developed sci-fi I ever read. First of all, the prologue had absolutely no function, it could be cut out from the book altogether. The first few chapters were interesting but so illogical. There is an alien species that can travel between planets, and is so stupid that can't cover the fuel cells of their ships properly. Also they design and build a big battleship, and make this very same mistake. Then the main character's spaceship just miraculously malfunctions and crashes into Earth in minutes, while there are practically hundreds of other ships around, and none of them comes to help. Good thing that under the 150 years of wartime the designers of these spaceships never thought about this problem, because of the plot. Than the main character - who is simple as a stick, and naive as a child - falls in love with literally the first man she meets on Earth. Worst of all, we have to suffer trough her inner doubts and illogical problems, while she misses to ask the most obvious questions. It has been 150 years without modern human life, and this guy comes waving a gun. "Hi, miraculously appeared Earth-human, how in hell's name did you acquire a functioning gun in this post-apocalyptic land, 150 years away from civilization?" The rest of the books becomes simply dull. We have to read uninteresting facts about this Australian post-global-warming settlement, and suffer through the protagonist's dumb monologues. This girl is so dumb, that despite being a genetically modified super space soldier, lets herself be physically and sexually abused, almost raped by an ordinary soldier. It was just so illogical, it hurt. The ending is just an uninteresting pile of cliche, the dull and badly written Atlas appears as a bad guy for a short time (because our heroine is dumb again, surprise ), just to turn out he's a good guy after all. Hurray, what a plot twist. During all this time, we learn practically no information about the bad a suppressing Mandate (maybe the only interesting thing after the crash), but the author paints a detailed picture about how post-apocalyptic children pass they free time (driving cars fueled by nuclear power, and shooting guns, obviously). The heroin was just so dull, stupid and lame that I was personally offended in the name of all women. It tells a lot that after the first half, it took a serious effort not to read only the conversations, and pass the insultingly boring inner monologues. Again, I am sorry for being rude, but this was really one of the most boring and self-centered sci-fi's I ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2017
Rating: 4,5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of The Retreat from the Rachel E. Carter YA book club on Goodreads!
This is exactly how I like my sci-fi books to be.
A spunky MC, with an awesome group of friends (I totally got the one for all and all for one vibe, hell yes!!), experiencing dangerous, unknown adventures.
This incredible adventure takes place after Earth's global warming, that has destroyed Earth as we know. Romy, and her knot (her "crew"), Deimos, Phobos, Elara and Thrym, are soldiers in the outerspace. They fight the Critimal, who want to possess the Earth and live in it, the plan however, is for the soldiers like Romy, to come back to live on Earth when Earth has recovered.
After a battle, Romy and her knot crash land on Earth, and find themselves battling with what they have always believed in, with new loyalties forming, and with that, some.. Betrayals?? And of course, while going through all of that, they're still trying to survive.
The Retreat had just the right balance between action, suspense, drama and fun!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of The Retreat from the Rachel E. Carter YA book club on Goodreads!
This is exactly how I like my sci-fi books to be.
A spunky MC, with an awesome group of friends (I totally got the one for all and all for one vibe, hell yes!!), experiencing dangerous, unknown adventures.
This incredible adventure takes place after Earth's global warming, that has destroyed Earth as we know. Romy, and her knot (her "crew"), Deimos, Phobos, Elara and Thrym, are soldiers in the outerspace. They fight the Critimal, who want to possess the Earth and live in it, the plan however, is for the soldiers like Romy, to come back to live on Earth when Earth has recovered.
After a battle, Romy and her knot crash land on Earth, and find themselves battling with what they have always believed in, with new loyalties forming, and with that, some.. Betrayals?? And of course, while going through all of that, they're still trying to survive.
The Retreat had just the right balance between action, suspense, drama and fun!
September 1, 2016
This was a treat. An intriguing premise, lively characters and beautifully assured writing.
I loved the depiction of the relationships between the knot members, a cross between being friends and family ties. The dialogue was an absolute joy – so much said in few words. Other relationships were equally delightful – I was grinning constantly during the target-shooting episode with Romy’s new friends. And all the puberty references were snort-inducingly funny – a piece of total brilliance.
Kelly St Clare has a real gift for the unexpected – nothing in The Retreat pans out as expected, and I loved being taken by surprise. There was a strong sense of intrigue throughout – with a dash of menace which turned out to be entirely justified. And then the ending was eerie and touching. I can’t wait for the next one.
You are in very safe hands here. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
I loved the depiction of the relationships between the knot members, a cross between being friends and family ties. The dialogue was an absolute joy – so much said in few words. Other relationships were equally delightful – I was grinning constantly during the target-shooting episode with Romy’s new friends. And all the puberty references were snort-inducingly funny – a piece of total brilliance.
Kelly St Clare has a real gift for the unexpected – nothing in The Retreat pans out as expected, and I loved being taken by surprise. There was a strong sense of intrigue throughout – with a dash of menace which turned out to be entirely justified. And then the ending was eerie and touching. I can’t wait for the next one.
You are in very safe hands here. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
August 22, 2016
Very interesting start in a sci-fi trilogy full of suspense, drama, romance and heartbreak. At the beginning the world enfolds as it is in the future, after the clima change on earth made living there impossible. A knot of five young space warriors live their life in the orbit around and meet daily challenges and chores and I directly related to them, different as they are. It is much to learn and that might be boring - but it isn't because the author makes all those details interesting and shows them in a thrilling way that only drew me more into the story. And when it really starts - oh wow! I couldn't put the book down anymore and at the end I literally screamed. It's so full of excitement, I really need to read more! Can't wait for the sequel!
August 11, 2016
Already a fan of 'The Tainted Accords', The Retreat by Kelly St Clare held me gripped until the very last page of what promises to be another amazing series. I loved learning through Romy's eyes about this realistic and imaginative version of our future Earth.
This futuristic Sci-Fi fantasy is packed with action, suspense, and the surprises just keep coming! Written in beautiful Kelly St Clare style, I simply can't wait until the next in the series.
This futuristic Sci-Fi fantasy is packed with action, suspense, and the surprises just keep coming! Written in beautiful Kelly St Clare style, I simply can't wait until the next in the series.
December 31, 2019
Probably a 4.5, I really liked this book. It was a quick easy read and original. I found the main character a bit boring, but I suppose that is to be expected based on the circumstances. Definitely reading book 2.
September 14, 2016
***Disclosure: I received a free copy in exchange for a review.***
What's Good: a well-paced read that can keep you turning the pages. The premise is intriguing, even knowing the hammer's gonna fall. Once stranded upon Earth, things change in more ways than Romy and her friends could've imagined. Despite all the teen drama & angst that dominates the book it never gets too bogged down by it.
Dialogue, while usually stilted, is often funny. Houston, a medical doctor, is a walking rifftrack- always with a quip or one-liner, even at the wrong moment. He needs more page time.
The plot, while nothing new, has a few wrinkles to it that'll hold your interest. Threads are woven together pretty nicely and there's not a lot of wasted pages.
What's Bad: the usual. Main character Rosemary, aka Romy, is pretty much the Chosen One, evidenced by her nickname (instead of Rose or Rosie). Except for one or two exceptions nearly every character is straight from Central Casting including Atlas- the mysterious, enigmatic leading man who leads the encampment and, of course, falls completely in love with Romy after about two weeks.
Despite the new wrinkles it's still a YA novel and quickly falls back into the same old same old, so what felt kinda fresh becomes stale.
There's also not enough about the Critamal- the aliens that humanity is fighting. Once the crew is stranded on Earth the focus naturally shifts, but the alien invaders are all but forgotten, and not a whole lot was supplied about them to begin with.
Being a YA novel, there has to be artifical drama that makes no sense. Romy & her crew are super-soldiers: enhanced reflexes & strength, nanobots in their bloodstream, etc. Yet when faced with the threat of sexual assault suddenly Romy has no skills whatsoever, let alone presence of mind to simply punch him in the jaw and let someone know what's happened. Or at least level a few threats of her own. Granted, this scene was groundwork for later developments, but it still didn't make any sense.
What's Left: an interesting arc that needs to get out of its own way. Less reliance on the YA cliches and tropes and tell the story.
What's Good: a well-paced read that can keep you turning the pages. The premise is intriguing, even knowing the hammer's gonna fall. Once stranded upon Earth, things change in more ways than Romy and her friends could've imagined. Despite all the teen drama & angst that dominates the book it never gets too bogged down by it.
Dialogue, while usually stilted, is often funny. Houston, a medical doctor, is a walking rifftrack- always with a quip or one-liner, even at the wrong moment. He needs more page time.
The plot, while nothing new, has a few wrinkles to it that'll hold your interest. Threads are woven together pretty nicely and there's not a lot of wasted pages.
What's Bad: the usual. Main character Rosemary, aka Romy, is pretty much the Chosen One, evidenced by her nickname (instead of Rose or Rosie). Except for one or two exceptions nearly every character is straight from Central Casting including Atlas- the mysterious, enigmatic leading man who leads the encampment and, of course, falls completely in love with Romy after about two weeks.
Despite the new wrinkles it's still a YA novel and quickly falls back into the same old same old, so what felt kinda fresh becomes stale.
There's also not enough about the Critamal- the aliens that humanity is fighting. Once the crew is stranded on Earth the focus naturally shifts, but the alien invaders are all but forgotten, and not a whole lot was supplied about them to begin with.
Being a YA novel, there has to be artifical drama that makes no sense. Romy & her crew are super-soldiers: enhanced reflexes & strength, nanobots in their bloodstream, etc. Yet when faced with the threat of sexual assault suddenly Romy has no skills whatsoever, let alone presence of mind to simply punch him in the jaw and let someone know what's happened. Or at least level a few threats of her own. Granted, this scene was groundwork for later developments, but it still didn't make any sense.
What's Left: an interesting arc that needs to get out of its own way. Less reliance on the YA cliches and tropes and tell the story.
August 11, 2016
You know that feeling when you think you've already seen an author at the best and then you're WRONG?!? I do now. I loved Kelly St. Clare's the Tainted Accords series. As in, I was completely obsessed and am still chomping at the bit to get that fourth book. So I dove into this eagerly, thinking it would at the very least tide me over until then.
Well, it did more than that. It sucked me into yet another world with many more characters to fall in love with.
Romy is our spunky little heroine who starts the book living in space as a soldier many many years after the destruction of earth. When a mission goes horribly wrong, her team find themselves hurtling towards the supposedly unlivable earth.
What they find there blows their minds and makes them question everything they've ever been told. Have their entire lives been lies? What is the point?
There's a certain character I fell for practically on sight, but I won't spoil that. This book brought every emotion to the front, but what surprised me the most was the humor. Reading science fictions, I didn't expect to laugh out loud as many times as I did. It was great. Seeing Romy comes to terms with the new reality is truly something special to watch.
Well, it did more than that. It sucked me into yet another world with many more characters to fall in love with.
Romy is our spunky little heroine who starts the book living in space as a soldier many many years after the destruction of earth. When a mission goes horribly wrong, her team find themselves hurtling towards the supposedly unlivable earth.
What they find there blows their minds and makes them question everything they've ever been told. Have their entire lives been lies? What is the point?
There's a certain character I fell for practically on sight, but I won't spoil that. This book brought every emotion to the front, but what surprised me the most was the humor. Reading science fictions, I didn't expect to laugh out loud as many times as I did. It was great. Seeing Romy comes to terms with the new reality is truly something special to watch.
August 15, 2016
While all of Kelly St. Clare's book aren't without flaws (though what books aren't), all of her books have been perfect fits for me. I can't even tell you how many times I've reread the first three Tainted Accords books, but it's at LEAST four times. I could gush about TA all day.
And now I have another series to be crazy obsessed over, with its sci-fi bad-assery and conspiracies and love-able characters galore! Like, seriously? Houston? Love him.
Though, I still hold the Tainted Accords oh so much closer to my heart, St. Clare still rocked my socks off with this. Definitely among one of my favorite authors.
That being said, though, her endings are cruel. Cruel, goddammit. Beware the dreaded cliffhanger.
3.5/5
And now I have another series to be crazy obsessed over, with its sci-fi bad-assery and conspiracies and love-able characters galore! Like, seriously? Houston? Love him.
Though, I still hold the Tainted Accords oh so much closer to my heart, St. Clare still rocked my socks off with this. Definitely among one of my favorite authors.
That being said, though, her endings are cruel. Cruel, goddammit. Beware the dreaded cliffhanger.
3.5/5
December 16, 2016
I'm sorry but I DNFed 15%. This is a great idea for a book (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), and the premise sounds great, but being a geologist who's done extensive research about global warming, it just sounded hokey to me. I didn't care for just being tossed into the story with lots of slang words being thrown about, only to be explained later. It made reading and concentrating on the story very difficult.
That being said I greatly appreciate receiving a copy from the author and I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club on Goodreads.
I would still recommend friends to try it out, and I might take a stab at it at a later date, but currently, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
That being said I greatly appreciate receiving a copy from the author and I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club on Goodreads.
I would still recommend friends to try it out, and I might take a stab at it at a later date, but currently, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
August 13, 2016
I want more!!!
I am a huge fan of the Tainted Accords series by this author and was excited for this release. Sadly, I read this book so quickly that the wait for the next one will be quite long!!! Highly recommended and anxiously await more of this story. Warning, the cliffhangers are nail-biters!
I am a huge fan of the Tainted Accords series by this author and was excited for this release. Sadly, I read this book so quickly that the wait for the next one will be quite long!!! Highly recommended and anxiously await more of this story. Warning, the cliffhangers are nail-biters!
December 27, 2016
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB" ON GOODREADS.
DNF 38% I just couldn't get into this book at all. I couldn't handle the lingo I found the humor to be annoying and it just didn't do anything for me. The whole knot system and life recycling rasied sooo many questions for me and I honestly just didn't want to push my self through this. Not for me.
DNF 38% I just couldn't get into this book at all. I couldn't handle the lingo I found the humor to be annoying and it just didn't do anything for me. The whole knot system and life recycling rasied sooo many questions for me and I honestly just didn't want to push my self through this. Not for me.
January 30, 2020
Me gustó mucho este libro, la verdad es que me sorprendió gratamente. La historia comienza en el espacio pero continúa en la Tierra, lo cual planteó una trama cambiante en donde se van presentando nuevos escenarios y nuevos eventos constantemente. Una de las cosas que más me gustaron fue toda la intriga en cuanto a los secretos que guarda el gobierno y la forma en que van siendo revelados lentamente. Se fue generando un juego de lealtades genial en donde no sabía en quién podía confiar realmente. Toda la parte científica y futurista me pareció impresionante y realmente original. También me gustaron mucho los personajes, especialmente Houston que lo amé, ¡es tan divertido!
Repleto de acción, aventuras y mucha adrenalina, con toneladas de drama y un romance conflictivo lleno de angustia, The Retreat me gustó mucho. Y me dejó con muchísimas ganas de leer el siguiente libro después de semejante final.
Pronto traigo la reseña.
Repleto de acción, aventuras y mucha adrenalina, con toneladas de drama y un romance conflictivo lleno de angustia, The Retreat me gustó mucho. Y me dejó con muchísimas ganas de leer el siguiente libro después de semejante final.
Pronto traigo la reseña.
February 20, 2019
ah 2.5 to maybe 3 stars. Found it some what predictable at times and nothing really new or ground breaking, just your average book of this type. It did pick up at times and became enjoyable but not enough to put it in a sold 3 stars for me.
March 27, 2020
neat
I liked this book. I'm not sure if I like it enough to read the next one, due to the fact that it dragged in places making me want to skim. How often the word "knot" was used was VERY annoying. There wasn't enough interaction between Atlas and Romy for me to root for their relationship. None of the relationship seemed very substantial besides being told that they were. Except for maybe Phobos and Deimos and then Phobos and Elara. I liked the kooky doctor the most. There was a plot twist, and the ending left me hanging haha. It wasn't bad, just not enough to keep me interested. But I think that's mostly b/c I'm in a funk, so I'll put it in my list and maybe I'll come back to it.
I liked this book. I'm not sure if I like it enough to read the next one, due to the fact that it dragged in places making me want to skim. How often the word "knot" was used was VERY annoying. There wasn't enough interaction between Atlas and Romy for me to root for their relationship. None of the relationship seemed very substantial besides being told that they were. Except for maybe Phobos and Deimos and then Phobos and Elara. I liked the kooky doctor the most. There was a plot twist, and the ending left me hanging haha. It wasn't bad, just not enough to keep me interested. But I think that's mostly b/c I'm in a funk, so I'll put it in my list and maybe I'll come back to it.
September 15, 2016
Wow, wow, wow. What an action-packed adventure this book was! I love sci-fi of all types, whether hard sci-fi, space opera, sci-fi/fantasy mix, soft sci-fi, sci-fi “light,” whatever you call it - if it’s science fiction, I’m in. To be honest, I expected that this book would be more soft or “light” sci-fi, heavy on the romance, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how much actual science fiction there is here. Now, please don’t let that scare you away if you are not typically a sci-fi reader; the way Kelly writes is so accessible and flows so well that you don’t ever feel bogged down in those sci-fi elements which, I understand, can sometimes happen with hard sci-fi. But here, the characters and the story are so good that you will find yourself accepting all of the sci-fi elements as a matter of course. In other words, I don’t think you’ll feel taken out of the story at any point. Everything flows beautifully and the sci-fi aspects are woven throughout, such that you don’t feel a disconnect between those sci-fi elements and, say, the romance.
I loved our main character, Romy, and her team, or “knot.” (I also loved the term “knot” - I am a sucker for authors who can successfully attach new words to old concepts!). The story was fantastic, too; sadly, an uninhabitable Earth brought about through prior human actions and nuclear effects from World War III is all too plausible. Romy and her team, and all of the genetically-enhanced super soldiers like her, are told that Earth’s water is far too acidic and the environment too toxic to sustain human life, but that in about 850 years these humans living out in space will be able to take it back. The intrigue and adventure start when Romy and her team basically fall to Earth during a massive space battle with the alien race that also wants Earth for itself. Can Romy and her knot survive the toxic atmostphere - if they even survive the breakup of their ship and the fall to Earth? What kind of plant and animal life still exists on Earth? Are the stories that Romy and her team have been told even true?
I absolutely loved this book and felt myself wanting to click through the pages as fast as I could, while at the same time wanting to slow down and enjoy the really fantastic writing. It’s one of those kinds of books, where you’re driven forward by the plot but you still want to pause and admire the author’s ability! I HIGHLY recommend The Retreat to anyone and everyone, but especially if you enjoy sci-fi, adventure, and a little romance thrown in. The only problem I have is that now I have to wait for book 2 to be published! I suppose that is a good problem to have, though, as it means book 1 was a great read. For now, I will content myself with bumping up Kelly’s Tainted Accords series on my TBR!
Rating: a wholehearted 5 out-of-this-world stars!
May 6, 2017
I got this book as part of a boxset, 10 YA books for 99 cents. So, I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. I've never read anything by Kelly St Clare before. I rated it 4 stars because although I ended up loving it, for me it started out really slowly. For awhile I actually thought it was going to be a DNF (Did Not Finish). I'm glad that I kept going because it ended up definitely being worth it. The storyline was really interesting and I liked the characters. I particularly liked the part about Romy and her knot (basically crew members). I was all ready to buy and read the second book, only to find out it's not out for another month and a half!! I'm bummed I have to wait, but I have it preordered, and will look forward to reading it once it is out.
December 23, 2016
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB" ON GOODREADS.
Thanks to Kelly and Rachel for giving me this opportunity!
4 Romy Is Perfect Stars/5
Wow this book really surprised me! When I first started it, I’m not going to lie – it was hard for me to get into. There were multiple things that bothered me, such as the lingo that is thrown around straight from the start. It’s hard to get into a book if you have no clue what the author is trying to say. That was quickly resolved though as the reader continues, and everything made sense.
What I really loved about this book were the characters. They were all perfect (except I hated Thyrm… not even gonna go there, but I really dislike him). Romy was amazing. She acted as a normal person would act. Not all badass when she shouldn’t be, and not excessively whiny and wimpy. She was the perfect median between the two.
The twins were also perfection. I loved both Phobos and Deimos. They were hilarious and charming and they were always there for Romy.
Also at the top of my list for loves of this book was the plot. After about 20% of the way in, I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to read more to find out what would happen. There were constant twists and turns that kept me entertained the whole time
Overall, I love it, and I can’t wait until the next one is out so I can see what happens next!
Thanks to Kelly and Rachel for giving me this opportunity!
4 Romy Is Perfect Stars/5
Wow this book really surprised me! When I first started it, I’m not going to lie – it was hard for me to get into. There were multiple things that bothered me, such as the lingo that is thrown around straight from the start. It’s hard to get into a book if you have no clue what the author is trying to say. That was quickly resolved though as the reader continues, and everything made sense.
What I really loved about this book were the characters. They were all perfect (except I hated Thyrm… not even gonna go there, but I really dislike him). Romy was amazing. She acted as a normal person would act. Not all badass when she shouldn’t be, and not excessively whiny and wimpy. She was the perfect median between the two.
The twins were also perfection. I loved both Phobos and Deimos. They were hilarious and charming and they were always there for Romy.
Also at the top of my list for loves of this book was the plot. After about 20% of the way in, I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to read more to find out what would happen. There were constant twists and turns that kept me entertained the whole time
Overall, I love it, and I can’t wait until the next one is out so I can see what happens next!
December 19, 2016
First off just to get it out of the way: "I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club On Goodreads." Which I am grateful to have taken part in :)
I really enjoyed this book, it started out a bit slow for me, but once the action started it was a fast read.
The main character is Rosemary (Romy) who is part of a knot of 5 space soldiers tasked with protecting Earth from an incoming alien race. To make matters interesting, Earth currently uninhabitable due to global warming issues, and the humans on the obitors where the space soldiers, live are grown in tanks until age 12 where they come out as adults and only live until the age of 35 where the recycled back intothe tanks and are later born again....
Romy's knot tends to be the last out to do anything, as one of the members tends to be quite slow and lazy so the knot gets all the worst jobs, mainly picking up space debris left over from the battles. But this time it's all hands on the deck. During the battle their spaceship gets damaged and they end up tumbling to Earth....
And this is when the story truly gets really interesting, as perhaps Earth isn't without humans.
I enjoyed the author's sense of humor as well as her ability to twist the normal YA Sci-Fi into something fresh and new. I also enjoyed the unique love triangles in this book which was a refreshing change from most YA romance.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series, which I wish was already out as we are left a bit hanging at the end.
I really enjoyed this book, it started out a bit slow for me, but once the action started it was a fast read.
The main character is Rosemary (Romy) who is part of a knot of 5 space soldiers tasked with protecting Earth from an incoming alien race. To make matters interesting, Earth currently uninhabitable due to global warming issues, and the humans on the obitors where the space soldiers, live are grown in tanks until age 12 where they come out as adults and only live until the age of 35 where the recycled back intothe tanks and are later born again....
Romy's knot tends to be the last out to do anything, as one of the members tends to be quite slow and lazy so the knot gets all the worst jobs, mainly picking up space debris left over from the battles. But this time it's all hands on the deck. During the battle their spaceship gets damaged and they end up tumbling to Earth....
And this is when the story truly gets really interesting, as perhaps Earth isn't without humans.
I enjoyed the author's sense of humor as well as her ability to twist the normal YA Sci-Fi into something fresh and new. I also enjoyed the unique love triangles in this book which was a refreshing change from most YA romance.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series, which I wish was already out as we are left a bit hanging at the end.
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