Starburst

The Women of The Grey #1

by Carol James Marshall

An alternate cover exists here.

The women of the Grey are an alien race of female clones that have come to earth under the orders of their leader Superior Mother. The Women of the Grey are not wicked, or very nice. They live in between the two, not black or white but grey. The Women of the Grey live hidden among humans and die by their motto “We are all the same and none different.” In Starburst we meet our anti-hero Lisa. Lisa only wants to follow orders and get back to the Grey, until she is sent on her first mission with human marks. On her first mission Lisa starts to question everything she knows about the grey and everything she doesn’t. In Starburst we also meet the human “marks.” Marks are humans that the Women of the Grey target on their missions. Each Mark is very different from the other. Some Marks live and some well, some might live. The reader will also meet Superior Mother, ruler of the Grey keeper of all their secrets with many secrets of her own.
Starburst 1# Women of the Grey is a mysterious and fascinatingly creepy coming-of-age tale for one young woman of The Grey. Starburst will make you question everything—your sanity, the people you interact with (or don’t), why we do the things we do, and the tremendous weight of our emotions. It is intriguing, poetic, and spine-tingling all at once.

Genres: Science Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2016

About the author

Carol James Marshall is an author who specializes in horror stories, combining comedy, paranormal, sci-fi and suspenseful elements. She has 7 books and 4 short stories already out in the world and is currently working on Santa Muerte, a Latino-influenced series about witches that will be released in 2023.
Marshall is a low vision author who uses technology and large fonts to write her books.
When she isn't writing or enjoying audiobooks, Carol works as a translator. With her background in both Los Angeles, California and Mexicali, Mexico, she now lives in Georgia along with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book One in "The Women of the Grey" series is a treasure trove of plot threads that extend way past the origin; of mysterious characters, alliances, novelistic themes. It ends & the writer knows that it is not enough, hence Book Two (which I cannot wait to read; does it have as many red herrings as one might expect?) I personally appreciate all the dialogue in Spanish which, oftentimes unitalicized, is natural, confident, and ultimately rewarding. It is wondrously and confidently, devoid any obvious form of classification ("Coming-of-age" this isn't.) PLUS: it's unexpectedly gory, violent, & un-PC.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleared this confusing little beauty off my "Putting Down For Now" list, so another of this year's Goals met!

[Þórey Jónsdóttir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting with unexpected twists and turns. Look forward to read the next one!

[Carissa Hudgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Thank you to the author for reaching out to me for this.
Lisa may look like a normal person, but we soon find out she is not of this world. She is from a world known as ‘the Grey’, and is on a mission to become one of the ‘Mothers’, or ‘Women of the Grey.’ The women are known to be a breed of superior female species, not human, and all look identical to one another. When Lisa is sent to Feline Street, a small miserable neighborhood located in California, she has been given a task to gather four different individuals, knowns as her ‘marks’ to await the endpoint. Lisa has not been told why she is to find these particular people, nor what the endpoint means, but this mission needs to be completed in order for her to be accepted into the Women of the Grey. The endpoint might mean death for her marks, but Lisa does not want to find out what happens to the girls of the Grey who are unable to complete their mission. Craig, Maggie, Iggy, and Rafael are all those identified as Lisa’s marks, and Lisa soon realizes that she needs to build relationships with these people in order to gain their trust to gather them all together for what is to come at the endpoint. She soon finds out that this is no easy task. Lisa does not know how to act like a proper human, except for what she has seen on TV, and her marks show no little to no interest in her from the start.

Find out my thoughts at carissareadsitall.wordpress.com

[E.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operating somewhere on the border between horror, suspense, and sci-fi, "Starburst: Women of the Grey" is deceptively simple and yet creepily riveting.

The narrative alternates between Lisa, Craig, Maggie, Rafael, and Iggy. We gradually learn that Lisa belongs to a non-human (but humanoid in appearance) all-female group called the Grey, and has been released into a not-very-nice part of Los Angeles on a mission to find a group of marks (the other characters) and bring them to a rendezvous point at a certain date. If she succeeds, she will become a Mother and gain power in the Grey; if she fails, she will...she doesn't know, but it won't be good. She also doesn't know what will happen to her marks if she succeeds, but she suspects that won't be good, either.

Despite being victims, both of life and of Lisa's schemes, the other characters are more fascinating than sympathetic. In fact, the entire book is essentially a study in autism, depression, and mental illness, as all the characters feel unable to connect to anyone around them, and suffer from visions and confusion. The "horror" of the book is more about disengagement from society, and even from reality, than it is about more traditional monsters, but is all the more horrific for that.

The alternating narrative viewpoints builds and builds the tension, as we learn more and more about the characters and their interlocking lives, even as no one, not even the orchestrators of the event, knows how things are going to end. I didn't exactly "like" the characters, but I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen to them, and I flew through the book, even though horror is not normally a genre I enjoy. As it's only about 230 pages, it was a very quick read, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for some gripping psychological horror that's not too long.

[Misty Riggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it. It builds up slowly at first, but then picks up speed and doesn't disappoint during the climax. A bit creepy with some wtf moments! Can't wait to read the next one.

[Carole P. Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about a young woman who is on a mission that involves four diverse people that seem not to have any relevance to either her or each other. Told in alternating points of view, we see each perspecitve of the characters and how they feel about the other people in the story. With a clear, crisp voice, Marshall is able to create credible characters that are damaged, some on the outside, others on the inside. Lisa has been given these "marks" that are somehow all connected. Together they are propelled to an shattering destiny and a whopper of a cliffhanger ending.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol James Marshall brings a very unique style to her debut novel, Starburst (book 1 in the Women of the Grey series). She bring us into this strange place called Feline Street. A strange place inhabited by even stranger people.We are immediately introduced to Lisa and her four human targets: Craig, Maggie, Iggy, and Rafael. Getting to know these characters one-by-one is intriguing, curious, and (against your best judgement) you will become attached to every single one of them. The one thing to keep in mind from the moment you open the book...nothing is as it seems.

Lisa was raised by her Mothers in The Grey. Marking her right of passage in becoming a Mother herself, Lisa is sent to the human world to complete a mission. She must identify her four marks by the trademark icy itch of her race, then find a way to get them all to End Point. What will happen at End Point? Why these four people? Why this place? How is she supposed to get them there? And, what will happen to her if she doesn't? She has no idea, and she isn't allowed to ask. She was sure she was on the right track by how quickly she was able to identify these four unusual specimens. One thing was for sure, they weren't going to make this easy on her--not one bit. Craig is abrasive and anti-social. Maggie has an innate distaste for people and life in general. Iggy talks to sidewalks and worships apples. And the boy, Rafael, he didn't do much of anything besides spin in circles and follow sidewalk guy around. How did the Mothers expect her to accomplish anything with such a group!

This book is clever, oozes sarcastic humor, and is pleasantly creepy. Marshall creates a wonderful atmosphere of intrigue and keeps you wondering which way the story will turn next. All of these characters are rough around the edges and you really learn to love that about them. Starburst is perfect for readers who aren't bothered by strong language, who look forward to a little gore and crude humor, and who enjoy the suspense of a series where the questions answered only leave you with more questions. This book is highly entertaining, and I anticipate nothing less from the sequel. Anyone needing a good paranormal fiction series to curl up with this fall will not be disappointed by what Carol James Marshall has to offer.

https://readingonrepeat.blogspot.com/

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Starburst in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Starburst is the first novel in the Women of the Grey series by Carol James Marshall. It’s a twisted sort of coming of age story. The novel is one part science fiction and one part a study on human nature. Overlaying all of that is a sense of foreboding and an eerie feeling of what is to come.
The world of the Grey is not a place a human has ever had the luxury of seeing, and that’s probably for the best. Especially when one considers the women it sends out…



Warning: This novel follows several characters through the course of their lives while dealing with the introduction of something unknown and traumatic. (Again, serious spoiler warning here) One of the characters has a mental break, of sorts, and ends up raping and killing somebody during the course of the novel. It isn’t really detailed, but there’s also no doubt to be had about what he’s doing. You can see the scene coming, and can skip it if you need to (you should only have to go forward a page or two at most). What happens does come up again though, so be aware.
Starbust was a unique and truly eerie experience. Even when nothing was really happening, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. I never felt like there was a point where things were safe or calm. It always felt like something big was about to happen. I imagine that’s how many of the characters in the novel felt, so that truly added in the disturbing sensation of the novel.
I mentioned earlier that the novel was a bit of a coming of age story, and that’s true. Lisa, one of the Women of the Grey, is in many ways an adolescent trying to find their way in life. Lisa doesn’t understand her mission, which means metaphorically and literally that she doesn’t understand her place in life. This novel is all about her trying to understand all of that, while also rebelling a bit against the parts she didn’t like so much.
There are other characters in this novel as well. In total there are five main perspectives we see from frequently, with a few others scattered throughout. The other main ones we see are all humans, and they’re all connected to Lisa in some manner. They don’t know this, and Lisa doesn’t understand the how or why of it, but it doesn’t change what’s going on.
All the humans seem…broken in some way. That’s why I said it felt like it was a study on human nature. At first, I thought Lisa was supposed to study the people that weren’t functioning the same way, and then later I thought maybe she was supposed to help them. Now I’m certain that the mission was significantly less clear than that.
This was a strong start to the series. I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen in the next two novels. Even though I have to admit that I’m also dreading it in some ways as well (in a good way that is). I know that they’re going to be just as eerie and disturbing as Starburst, if not more so.


For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was interesting with chatacters that are very unique. I was a little shocked at how violent the book got at the end. full rebiew will be on my blog

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starburst is the beginning of a hauntingly unique series. Not at all predictable plotline, from the beginning curiosity for what happens next keeps you turning pages until the conclusion. Totally intriguing storyline.

Lisa is a woman of The Grey on her first mission. Failure could easily result in her death, success a step higher in her society. She should be well prepared. After all she isn’t the first to undertake a mission. Lisa has been taught to obey her orders without question.

All she has to do is identify her marks, and guarantee that they are where they should be on a specific date. Simple, right? Except the only society Lisa has ever known is that of The Grey. Everything here is new and strange. There is so much that she doesn’t understand.

Most of all Lisa doesn’t really understand emotions. It isn’t something ever dealt with in The Grey. She needs to just let it go and follow orders, but she is starting to question. That isn’t allowed. Will Lisa be able to throw off the influences of this strange place in order to succeed?

Kindle Unlimited edition

[Becky Muth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The non-traditional format of this book takes you through the story of five people - Lisa and her four "marks". Lisa is from a place where everyone is the same, and none are different. Different is bad. The more Lisa gets to know her marks, however, the more different she feels until the end of the book when she is confronted by Mother Superior's henchwomen.

Before I was halfway through this book, I knew I'd be committed to reading the entire series. I'm familiar with the author's work and this story lived up to the other works I'd read by the author in terms of creepiness. If you like books like Stephen King's THE STAND that shift points of view, and near-future thrillers like THE STEPFORD WIVES, then you'll love this series!

[Jennifer Tooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure, I was provided a copy of this book by the author, but have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.

All the same and none different

Lisa comes from a mysterious place known as “The Grey.” In this ordered and rigid society the inhabitants are reared on a strict regimen of demeanor, diet, thought and action. The Mothers of The Grey teach the girls from a very early age that only obedience and conformity matters in preparation for their missions into society. Lisa has recently left The Grey to begin her mission on Feline Street, where the residents are as bereft as the buildings they inhabit. Armed with knowledge of their faces only, Lisa has a relatively short time to locate her four “marks” and guide them to the “end point” of the mission. She sets about her Mission with determination, but the more time Lisa spends with her marks on Feline Street and the closer the end point gets, the more Lisa wonders what her Mission truly is and what the outcome will be.

Starburst is a written primarily from the point of view of Lisa and her four marks; with each section or piece of the action being seen through their eyes. The story was not hard to get into and the writing style was perfect for the tale being told. As we learn more about Lisa and her “Marks” the more we see that each one, Lisa included, is damaged in their own way. For some, it’s a self-imposed exile due to previous life events or tragedy. With others, it’s an illness so bizarre that they cannot be reached by normal means. As the author weaves these lives together with their mutual acquaintance with Lisa, we discover that there is more that they have in common that the dirty, run down street where they exist.

Starburst can be classified loosely as a “coming of age” tale because it chronicles Lisa’s journey of self-discovery while navigating the odd world outside of The Grey. As she encounters new people and experiences, an inner struggle starts to develop between what she has always known and what may be. There is also a bit of dystopia tossed into the mix. On one side, there is The Grey, with its rigid rules and regulations and noncompliance is dealt with swiftly and efficiently. The other side of that coin is Feline Street which is the polar opposite of The Grey. On Feline Street there isn’t much order, everyone has their own demons to battle and many of them are not faring well. In the midst of it all is Lisa who attempts to reconcile what she knows with this new experience. There is also a bit of a Sci Fi element as the entire notion of “The Grey”, the female dominated totalitarian world of Lisa’s birth has an otherworldly feel to it as if the Women of The Grey are on this planet, but are not from this planet. This alone coupled with the missions that Lisa and others before her have been send on create a sinister vibe that runs through the Mothers.
Starburst is a fabulous read from start to cliffhanger finish. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Sci Fi, Distopia, Horror or things with an underlying creepy vibe.

[Em Frappier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was quickly engaged in the story and the various characters. The story is told through five perspectives, and each character is well-developed and interesting. The plot is dark, mysterious, and paced well. I'm a lover of all things horror, and this was a good read!

[Rachel Thijssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 (Goodreads still doesn't do half stars...)

*I made the new cover for this book!*

As someone who reads lots of YA I come across pretty much the same things in books; love triangles, girl-faces-society, chosen one... But this debut novel was original and refreshing.
We've got a mysterious main character from an even more mysterious society of The Women of the Grey. The many questions I had kept me reading, as well as the writing style. The author has a voice of her own that's honest and even funny at times.
You'll find that the characters in this book seem very real and they're not the usual characters we're used to either; a skinny blonde, an elderly latina, a young boy, a hobo and a middle-aged man (and the other Women of the Grey, of course). These people are so diverse and realistic it was truly nice to read their stories and the way their stories intertwine with that of Lisa, our main character.
As for genre, I'd say this is a New Adult scifi/horror novel, but it's hard to give one genre to this book. There's some mature content, but it wasn't bothersome and you'll find some light scifi- and horror aspects.
The only problem I had was getting into this book. Like I said, it's different. It's told from several perspectives and that makes it a little hard to get into. But once you know all of the characters, you'll fully enjoy this story.

Now I just need the next book because that ending was kind of evil...

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite interesting. It was different from the books I typically read, but it was still enjoyable.

*I received this book for free in a giveaway*

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it on my blog
I really didn't know what to expect from this book and, true to form, it wasn't like anything else I'd ever read. The reader is introduced to five characters and the story is told from each person's perspective. It was a little difficult to get into at first but on reflection it's a very original and well-written novel. If you're looking for something creepy, dark and disparate; this could be for you.

Thanks to author Carol James Marshall for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Oisin Muldowney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four misfits are visited by Lisa, a woman of the Grey. In an absorbing story that owes as much to the horror genre as that of Sci-Fi, we grow increasingly anxious about what Lisa's visit means for the characters and, indeed, for Lisa herself.

[Colleen Busse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through this mixed genre world that Carol James Marshall has created you are introduced to a mixed bag of characters. Each chapter is told through multiple perspectives which can pull you out of some stories but this one seems to avoid that issue. The author's unique writing style makes for a raw and gritty look at the characters varied lives, filtered through many eyes. Question after question draws you in and begs you to read just one more page of this dark and, at times, crude tale searching for answers.

[Jessica Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa is a woman of the Grey. They are all the same and nothing more. But what is confusing is the mission. She has her four marks, and knows who each one is by face if not by name. But what will happen on end day? Will she live or die? What about her marks? Why does she feel different?
This book will go back and forth between different people. Very different from what I'm use to reading.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was going to be reading when I started this.. but I quickly knew I would enjoy it. It was really interesting and you get to see different points of view of different characters and that was fun also. I am very glad I got to review this one

[Debbie Aruta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The imagination put into this book is tremendous ! A world made up! Characters who you like and/or hate at the same time. It's a book on a journey and it takes you with it for quiet a thrill ride!! Enjoy it!! Go read it now!!!

[Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get used the writing style. The switching pov back and forth. But I got used to it and really enjoyed the story. I want to know more about the women of the grey.... so can't wait to read the 2nd book. I have so many questions. I hope the 2nd book answers some.

[Nicole Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it.

[Kimber Buelow- 561 Bookgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this from the author as a box set of the trilogy, in exchange for an honest review.

The premise is an interesting one, and the story has a great deal of potential, but there are so many issues that I had that keep me from enjoying this further.

At the beginning of the story, it is absolutely necessary to introduce the characters, but the descriptions are clunky and many don't even utilize full sentence structure as they are presented. It is perfectly appropriate to jump from character to character, but labelling each one comes off as sophomoric; by the end of the book the labels were genuinely ticking me off and making it very hard for me to stay with the story.

The characters are, by design, nobodies, but by miring them in the minutiae, it also mires the reader. There are better and more vibrant examples that could be used to get the point across, and help invest the reader more and more in the characters.

The grammatical issues in my copy were a real problem for me, as well. I am an English major, and when I see too used for to or passed used for past, or I see run-on sentences more than once, it really pulls me out of the story and puts me on notice to keep consciously and subconsciously look for even more mistakes. I want a book that takes me out of my mind, not one that makes me feel like I should proofreading.

I am intrigued by the story, and am willing to read the next two books, but it is going to take something spectacular for me to get out of teacher mode, and simply allow me to be in the moment.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original and Unpredictable

Wow! So different and completely unpredictable

An original story told through the thoughts and experiences of characters when they encounter a strange, creepy young woman, Lisa, in their dreary, hopeless neighborhood on Feline street. Lisa is on a mission that even she is uncertain of what to do or expect. The other four characters are her 'marks'.

As Lisa progresses through the milestones of her blurry mission, she and the marks are affected in unexpected ways. Lisa is often baffled by the humans, while they are creeped out by her (sometimes, even Lisa seems to creep herself out). She is one of "The Grey" women, none different and all the same - A weird female species who are bizarre and unsettling - and, at times had me chuckling.

Things become increasingly intense and suspenseful - and kept me intrigued throughout. The story is well told and the characters are well defined - all a bit quirky and appealing in some ways, yet repulsive as well. I don't know Spanish, so the burst of Spanish chatter left me a little lost with many of the comments, but I got the gist of what the characters probably meant.

The end had me saying "Wait! I have to know more!" And I do, so, will be moving onto to book two to find out what happens next! Check out Starburst for an interesting mix of drama, suspense, horror and scifi - where it is impossible to predict what will happen next!!

[Lanetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this in a boxed set for review. I'm not sure about it. I think that since it was all together the books didn't separate as if I'd got them separate. I had to double check the menu to notice that I'd gotten to the second book already. Once I noticed that, everything started mami more sense to me and the story wasn't as confusing. Knowing that I can say that these books have kept me intrigued about what's going to happen next through the whole thing so far.

[Amber Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read but u really have to like sifi

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me say first off that this is not a book for someone who likes things all wrapped up in a neat little bow, in fact I think it may be fair to say that as a reader I had more questions at the end of this than I did when I read the first page. It is a testament to an original concept and great execution, that I found myself thinking about the world of this series at odd moments throughout the day ,even when the book was not at hand.
The mysterious and murderous Women of the Grey are both chilling and strangely compelling. A race of clone like women, living apart in an attempt to hide their alien origin, they are occasionally sent forth into the world on mysterious missions. We follow Lisa, one such woman, in this book, and see how she very literally touches the lives of others, while she also learns what life outside the Grey is truly like. It is a coming of age story like no other, as she struggles to understand human nature while fighting her own, and this journey is truly a compelling one.
I read a review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Audio Audits · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

This audiobook has a little bit of everything, part horror and science fiction, with a dab of mystery added in. I liked the premise of the story more than the actual follow through and I’m not sure why. Trying to put my finger on the problem has been difficult. I found the story engaging at times and then it seemed to drift. I think it has more to do with the narrator than the writing.

Molly King narrates this fully voiced production. I found some of her character voices jarring and an uncomfortable listen. Other characters were voiced quite well and there’s no doubt Molly has talent. Perhaps it’s a case of trying too hard to differentiate the characters, I just prefer a more subtle distinction.

I am curious to see where this story goes, but I think I’ll read the book next go round.

This audiobook was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review!