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Untamed #1
Untamed
As one of the last Untamed humans left in the world, Seven’s life has always been controlled by tight rules. Stay away from the Enhanced. Don’t question your leader. And, most importantly, never switch sides--because once you’re Enhanced there’s no going back. Even if you have become the perfect human being.
But after a disastrous raid on an Enhanced city, Seven soon finds herself in her enemy’s power. Realizing it’s only a matter of time before she too develops a taste for the chemical augmenters responsible for the erosion of humanity, Seven knows she must act quickly if she’s to escape and save her family from the same fate.
Yet, as one of the most powerful Seers that the Untamed and Enhanced have ever known, Seven quickly discovers that she alone holds the key to the survival of only one race. But things aren’t clear-cut anymore, and with Seven now questioning the very beliefs she was raised on, she knows she has an important choice to make. One that has two very different outcomes.
Seven must choose wisely whose side she joins, for the War of Humanity is underway, and Death never takes kindly to traitors.
But after a disastrous raid on an Enhanced city, Seven soon finds herself in her enemy’s power. Realizing it’s only a matter of time before she too develops a taste for the chemical augmenters responsible for the erosion of humanity, Seven knows she must act quickly if she’s to escape and save her family from the same fate.
Yet, as one of the most powerful Seers that the Untamed and Enhanced have ever known, Seven quickly discovers that she alone holds the key to the survival of only one race. But things aren’t clear-cut anymore, and with Seven now questioning the very beliefs she was raised on, she knows she has an important choice to make. One that has two very different outcomes.
Seven must choose wisely whose side she joins, for the War of Humanity is underway, and Death never takes kindly to traitors.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2015
185 people are currently reading
3788 people want to read
About the author
Madeline Dyer
32 books265 followersMadeline Dyer is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. A novelist, poet, and anthologist, she is drawn to all things dark, spooky, and scary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
November 6, 2015
I connected with UNTAMED in a slightly different way than most of the reviewers. Like them, I was really excited by this new dystopian series. I love a good dystopian! But as I read it, I couldn't help but see the connection between the escapism found in consuming augmenters and the current heroine crisis in many many schools, particularly in my own community. Additionally, the Enhanced in Dryer's book, use the augmenters as a way to also avoid feeling unpleasant of difficult emotions. It's also an opportunity to circumvent physical "imperfections." This is a relatable concept in a world where photoshop messes with the minds and often the health of a great portion of the population. Dyer does a great job touching on these challenging issues without ever speaking of them directly or being preachy. I'm interested to see what happens in book two.
June 22, 2015
From the first line, Untamed pulled me in. This is the sort of book that is incredibly difficult to put down, the kind of book you can fall into and forget the world, forget you’re reading words on a page. Our narrator is a true heroine in a tumultuous futuristic world in which the Enhanced Ones are “better, faster and stronger than you.” The premise is unique and engrossing, and by the end of the book I was left wanting more (good thing – it’s a series). As a person who rarely reads fantasy/sci-fi but grew up with it always on the nightstand, Dyer’s book reawakened in me a buried love for the genre.
May 20, 2015
'Untamed' is a wonderful amalgamation of genres; dystopian fiction and futuristic sci-fi and revitalized with a strong female protagonist whose loyalty to her family makes her universally relatable. A must-read! :)
July 17, 2015
I read UNTAMED in order to review it, and was very much looking forward to it from the start. YA dystopian is a favourite of mine, so I was excited to see what Madeline Dyer would put into this to make it stand out from the flooded dystopian market. And I think she did very well!
In the spirit of many dystopian reads, we don't know a lot about why things are in such a state of chaos, and in fact, Dyer doesn't give us a lot in the way of world-building even from the beginning. We have to read in order to find out more about the world, people, and their problems. I liked this, in fact, rather than a chapter with a lot of info-dumping, this draws out the story, so that the reader can figure it out over the course of the book. I'm guessing there will be more information to fill in a lot of the gaps as the series goes on, but we learn enough to figure out what's happening, and that's all that matters.
The main character, Seven, is a strong girl, although with many flaws that allow the reader to identify with her on some level. I think this is important in a book where the world is so distraught and the story so far from our own. Seven takes us on her journey, searching for answers, searching for herself, and discovering what her world is really all about.
This was not always an easy read, although that had nothing to do with Dyer's writing abilities. The story is dark, fast-paced, and takes the reader through many uncomfortable turns. If you're interested in dystopian fiction and want a series that will draw you in, UNTAMED is a great start. It will grab you from the first line and force you to read to the end because you have to know what happens. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
In the spirit of many dystopian reads, we don't know a lot about why things are in such a state of chaos, and in fact, Dyer doesn't give us a lot in the way of world-building even from the beginning. We have to read in order to find out more about the world, people, and their problems. I liked this, in fact, rather than a chapter with a lot of info-dumping, this draws out the story, so that the reader can figure it out over the course of the book. I'm guessing there will be more information to fill in a lot of the gaps as the series goes on, but we learn enough to figure out what's happening, and that's all that matters.
The main character, Seven, is a strong girl, although with many flaws that allow the reader to identify with her on some level. I think this is important in a book where the world is so distraught and the story so far from our own. Seven takes us on her journey, searching for answers, searching for herself, and discovering what her world is really all about.
This was not always an easy read, although that had nothing to do with Dyer's writing abilities. The story is dark, fast-paced, and takes the reader through many uncomfortable turns. If you're interested in dystopian fiction and want a series that will draw you in, UNTAMED is a great start. It will grab you from the first line and force you to read to the end because you have to know what happens. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 8, 2016
Untamed stood out to me in the swarm of dystopian novels in that it was more intimate in scale. Most dystopian novels I've read have been epic in scale, huge for the sake of being huge, but this book does a magnificent job of remaining small, focused on the core of Seven and her internal struggle between being Untamed or Enhanced.
Just enough nuggets are strewn throughout to paint the picture of just how bleak Seven's world is, but the narrative itself never loses sight of her. Her journey is our journey, and it is a satisfying, fast-paced romp -- satisfying in spite of the ending being a clear set-up for the next book.
Many in this genre stuff their pages to the proverbial gills, so busy trying to be grand and epic that stories lose focus and things that are supposed to resonate emotionally with readers fall flat. Untamed does not suffer from that lack of focus or over-saturation, and it's a credit to Madeline Dyer that this story never loses sight of what it is or where it's going.
If you're a fan of the genre, you'd be doing yourself a favor in reading Untamed. If not, give it a try anyway. You might find yourself as engrossed in the story as I did.
Just enough nuggets are strewn throughout to paint the picture of just how bleak Seven's world is, but the narrative itself never loses sight of her. Her journey is our journey, and it is a satisfying, fast-paced romp -- satisfying in spite of the ending being a clear set-up for the next book.
Many in this genre stuff their pages to the proverbial gills, so busy trying to be grand and epic that stories lose focus and things that are supposed to resonate emotionally with readers fall flat. Untamed does not suffer from that lack of focus or over-saturation, and it's a credit to Madeline Dyer that this story never loses sight of what it is or where it's going.
If you're a fan of the genre, you'd be doing yourself a favor in reading Untamed. If not, give it a try anyway. You might find yourself as engrossed in the story as I did.
August 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this gripping, dark, fast-paced novel by Madeline Dyer. The author is really good at creating characters with a lot of depth. I connected with Seven, the MC, right from the start. I felt her urgency, her fear, her desire to do what's right. The opening pulled me in and propelled me through the story. I had to see where she went and how things turned out.
Seven is fighting to survive in a dystopian world that's divided between two groups: people living as normal humans, and people who are enhanced via mind/body/soul altering substances. There is a war going on between them, and Seven finds herself caught in the middle.
From start to finish, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. There was rarely a calm moment as each scene seemed to catapult Seven into ever deeper danger. I was completely fascinated by the portrayal of addiction to substances that don't exist now, but very well could one day.
The romance in this novel begins as understated, and its subtle development is very well done.
If you're looking for a suspenseful dystopian read that's full of surprises, check it out!
Seven is fighting to survive in a dystopian world that's divided between two groups: people living as normal humans, and people who are enhanced via mind/body/soul altering substances. There is a war going on between them, and Seven finds herself caught in the middle.
From start to finish, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. There was rarely a calm moment as each scene seemed to catapult Seven into ever deeper danger. I was completely fascinated by the portrayal of addiction to substances that don't exist now, but very well could one day.
The romance in this novel begins as understated, and its subtle development is very well done.
If you're looking for a suspenseful dystopian read that's full of surprises, check it out!
August 23, 2015
This book proves Dystopian is not dead. Not dead at all. Seven is a rock solid, super cool female heroine that I could root for. Dyer creates a captivating dystopian world that I can't wait to dive into again when the series continues in book two. Supporting characters were richly drawn and the pacing was spot on. Loved it! Bring on the sequel!
January 21, 2016
UNTAMED
by Madeline Dyer, UK author
for Young Adult
Released on May 20, 2015 from Prizm Books
This fast paced dystopian novel chronicles the emergence of powerful Seer named Seven, who is caught between the advancement of the Enhanced, who believe they are Chosen Ones, and the Untamed, who are the remnants of humanity.
Who wouldn't like to be perfect? Who wouldn't like to have a life of comfort, ease and calmness? And if all of these were bottled up into fast-acting augmenter supplements in perfect packaging and pretty colors, the choice may seem too tantalizing to contemplate. But, the Untamed understand that there is a price to be paid for such a choice. The battle between the two sides becomes fierce and although rules have been formulated, they are not always followed. Seven, as one of the last Untamed humans left in the world, has to rely on her powerful gift as a Seer. She gradually comes to understand that she is the key to a greater destiny playing out on an epic scale.
I normally do not read dystopian novels, but I'm excited that I made this exception. This novel swept me in from the beginning. The story flows with energy at every turn of the page. The scenes draw the reader into a conflicted, complex world which creates the stage for captivating twists and meaningful surprises. From the beginning, there are secrets begging to unfold.
UNTAMED is told from the main character, Seven's, perspective. Seven is a seventeen-year-old who struggles with incredible loss and the growing awareness that she has an innate power to help the last of her race. Still, her self-loathing about her weaknesses sometimes overshadows her judgment at the beginning of the novel. Throughout the chapters, we watch her grow in confidence as she learns to trust herself and the knowledge she has gained. This is a painful journey for Seven, but the torture she endures is necessary for her transition and for her to understand the meaning of her dreams. This journey makes Seven real for me. She comes alive through her struggles, her insecurities, her willfulness and finally her courage.
And do dreams accurately foretell what is going to happen? Once something is seen, does it mean she will not have the power to change the outcome? What is the point of dreaming if we do not have the power within us to help ourselves, help others - even help humanity?
While the first novel is complete, the premise has been set - a promise of so much more to come.
Untamed is the first book in a trilogy, with the second book, Fragmented, due to be released by Prizm Books on September 7, 2016. I will definitely be on the lookout for this second book in the trilogy.
by Madeline Dyer, UK author
for Young Adult
Released on May 20, 2015 from Prizm Books
This fast paced dystopian novel chronicles the emergence of powerful Seer named Seven, who is caught between the advancement of the Enhanced, who believe they are Chosen Ones, and the Untamed, who are the remnants of humanity.
Who wouldn't like to be perfect? Who wouldn't like to have a life of comfort, ease and calmness? And if all of these were bottled up into fast-acting augmenter supplements in perfect packaging and pretty colors, the choice may seem too tantalizing to contemplate. But, the Untamed understand that there is a price to be paid for such a choice. The battle between the two sides becomes fierce and although rules have been formulated, they are not always followed. Seven, as one of the last Untamed humans left in the world, has to rely on her powerful gift as a Seer. She gradually comes to understand that she is the key to a greater destiny playing out on an epic scale.
I normally do not read dystopian novels, but I'm excited that I made this exception. This novel swept me in from the beginning. The story flows with energy at every turn of the page. The scenes draw the reader into a conflicted, complex world which creates the stage for captivating twists and meaningful surprises. From the beginning, there are secrets begging to unfold.
UNTAMED is told from the main character, Seven's, perspective. Seven is a seventeen-year-old who struggles with incredible loss and the growing awareness that she has an innate power to help the last of her race. Still, her self-loathing about her weaknesses sometimes overshadows her judgment at the beginning of the novel. Throughout the chapters, we watch her grow in confidence as she learns to trust herself and the knowledge she has gained. This is a painful journey for Seven, but the torture she endures is necessary for her transition and for her to understand the meaning of her dreams. This journey makes Seven real for me. She comes alive through her struggles, her insecurities, her willfulness and finally her courage.
And do dreams accurately foretell what is going to happen? Once something is seen, does it mean she will not have the power to change the outcome? What is the point of dreaming if we do not have the power within us to help ourselves, help others - even help humanity?
While the first novel is complete, the premise has been set - a promise of so much more to come.
Untamed is the first book in a trilogy, with the second book, Fragmented, due to be released by Prizm Books on September 7, 2016. I will definitely be on the lookout for this second book in the trilogy.
September 23, 2015
Every so often, a book comes along that beautifully, powerfully reminds you of humanity. One such book is the first in a series (YAY!), entitled Untamed. Written by Madeline Dyer, this YA novel takes a look at a world that is changed - and who the changemakers are. This is one of the rare books that doesn't gloss over the different aspects of being human - of succeeding, failing, wanting things, struggling, and trying your best - and is why it is such a stellar read. I fell into Seven's world, and was right there with her the entirety of the book (and then I started it again, because I didn't want it to end!). Highly recommended.
Read our author interview here: https://www.wanderingeducators.com/be...
Read our author interview here: https://www.wanderingeducators.com/be...
July 24, 2015
This is a good solid dystopian. I think the thing that made me give it 5 instead of four stars, is that it doesn't give you everything upfront. You have to read to get a sense of the book, to find out why the enhanced ones are indeed better and stronger.
I haven't read a dystopian in a while, and this refreshed the love of that genre. I never write reviews to give away what happens in them. If you're looking for a well paced story, flawed characters, are fine with violence that's well grounded in the world, as well as science that feels like it's a real part of this new world? Then this sometimes dark book will serve you well.
I haven't read a dystopian in a while, and this refreshed the love of that genre. I never write reviews to give away what happens in them. If you're looking for a well paced story, flawed characters, are fine with violence that's well grounded in the world, as well as science that feels like it's a real part of this new world? Then this sometimes dark book will serve you well.
January 25, 2016
What a great story. The prose is sharp, and the characters are compelling. I especially adored the heroine, Seven. She is at once strong, determined, loyal, and loving. She sucked me in from the beginning, and I was cheering her on from ever page until the end. The secondary characters were great, as well. Loved the brother, Three. Also loved Corin, the love interest. Corin and Seven try to hide their interest in each other for a long time, but I could feel the sparks between them from their very first interaction. It was really fun to watch their romance play out!
Although, to be fair, as much fun as this book is was for me to read, the characters are in pretty dire circumstances. The premise and world of this book is one of the most powerful things about it, and I was endlessly fascinated by the Enhanced and the overarching question: is it better to live a real and natural life untamed, or to live a perfect life albeit with chemically induced emotions? I kept wondering what I would do if I were in Seven's position, and Madeline Dyer does such an amazing job with her description that I could just see these brightly colored bottles of formula in every shade of the rainbow and then some.
All in all, a fantastic dystopian tale, and I recommend it to anyone who likes super cool sci fi worlds and strong heroines.
Although, to be fair, as much fun as this book is was for me to read, the characters are in pretty dire circumstances. The premise and world of this book is one of the most powerful things about it, and I was endlessly fascinated by the Enhanced and the overarching question: is it better to live a real and natural life untamed, or to live a perfect life albeit with chemically induced emotions? I kept wondering what I would do if I were in Seven's position, and Madeline Dyer does such an amazing job with her description that I could just see these brightly colored bottles of formula in every shade of the rainbow and then some.
All in all, a fantastic dystopian tale, and I recommend it to anyone who likes super cool sci fi worlds and strong heroines.
February 21, 2016
It took me a while to add a review thanks to... life, but here you go!
Madeline Dyer has a way with imagery. From the first sentence to the last, you see everything exactly as she wanted you to, but it's never too much and it's unique in it's verbiage. The story was original too, and really, aren't we looking for that? Her dystopian world feels like it could be happening around the corner right now, or in two hundred years. I never felt bogged down with the science, but it felt explained enough that I believed it. This book is definitely worth a read. I can't wait for book two!
Madeline Dyer has a way with imagery. From the first sentence to the last, you see everything exactly as she wanted you to, but it's never too much and it's unique in it's verbiage. The story was original too, and really, aren't we looking for that? Her dystopian world feels like it could be happening around the corner right now, or in two hundred years. I never felt bogged down with the science, but it felt explained enough that I believed it. This book is definitely worth a read. I can't wait for book two!
June 13, 2015
An excellent debut novel from a very promising writer. The gripping storyline features many well written and developed characters including a strong female lead. Well worth a read and can't wait for the next book in the series to see how the story and characters are developed from here.
October 20, 2015
Okay, this book was crazy good. I'm a sucker for a good dystopian and I felt like the world-building here was incredibly well-thought out and inventive. I loved Seven and her struggle to remain an Untamed even while she was being transformed into an Enhanced. But my favorite parts were the sweet, believable romantic ones, something that's difficult to write considering their world is falling apart. The twist at the end left me speechless! I'm psyched to read book two.
January 10, 2019
“Never let yourself be Enhanced. Once it’s done, there’s no going back.”
So, I’ve already read book one and, technically, I was only requested to read and review book two. But, it’s been over two years since I read Untamed so I read it again — and this time I feel like a proper review is necessary.
The first time I read Untamed, I found it good enough to rate 4 stars, but I didn’t really find myself truly immersed in the plot. The first time I read it, I felt a sort of... detachment from the characters. However, I am quite glad that I ended up reading this book again after a couple years because this time things truly clicked. I found that thing in the plot that I couldn’t seem to find before, and this time I was able to truly appreciate Seven’s story.
Untamed, I feel, is a true dystopian story. There’s a *very* slight romance, but it doesn’t overtake the plot — and there’s no love triangle! And, Seven’s world was truly in disarray. A lot of dystopian stories start off with an ideal-sounding environment, an ideal-sounding government, and then the main character usually ends up joining some sort of rebellion group that tries to overthrow the government. However, Seven lives in disarray right from the get go, which was a refreshing change of pace in the genre. There’s not a whoole lot of background information on how her world came to be that way, but I actually found to really like that. Seven doesn’t know a whole lot about how the world came to be that way or why. She only knows one thing. She must survive the Enhanced no matter what the cost.
The thing I found most interesting about Seven’s character was that she’s flawed right from the get go. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t read it yet, but something happens almost right at the very beginning of the book that immediately sets her off from the rest of the Untamed and she spends the entire book trying to overcome that. She’s s fantastic example of a flawed character whose flaws don’t seem forced just to be “unique.”
There are one or two plot points that I felt like might have been a little underdeveloped — one of those plot points being a dream about another character — but after thinking that over before writing this review, I’ve decided to go with the benefit of the doubt and chalk that up as being something that must happen later on in the series. I found myself kind of teetering between two different star ratings because of that, buuut I think, because of the benefit of the doubt, I’m going to go with the higher rating.
Overall, I think Untamed is a fantastic start to a very promising dystopian series, and I highly recommend that any dystopian lover picks it up!
So, I’ve already read book one and, technically, I was only requested to read and review book two. But, it’s been over two years since I read Untamed so I read it again — and this time I feel like a proper review is necessary.
The first time I read Untamed, I found it good enough to rate 4 stars, but I didn’t really find myself truly immersed in the plot. The first time I read it, I felt a sort of... detachment from the characters. However, I am quite glad that I ended up reading this book again after a couple years because this time things truly clicked. I found that thing in the plot that I couldn’t seem to find before, and this time I was able to truly appreciate Seven’s story.
Untamed, I feel, is a true dystopian story. There’s a *very* slight romance, but it doesn’t overtake the plot — and there’s no love triangle! And, Seven’s world was truly in disarray. A lot of dystopian stories start off with an ideal-sounding environment, an ideal-sounding government, and then the main character usually ends up joining some sort of rebellion group that tries to overthrow the government. However, Seven lives in disarray right from the get go, which was a refreshing change of pace in the genre. There’s not a whoole lot of background information on how her world came to be that way, but I actually found to really like that. Seven doesn’t know a whole lot about how the world came to be that way or why. She only knows one thing. She must survive the Enhanced no matter what the cost.
The thing I found most interesting about Seven’s character was that she’s flawed right from the get go. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t read it yet, but something happens almost right at the very beginning of the book that immediately sets her off from the rest of the Untamed and she spends the entire book trying to overcome that. She’s s fantastic example of a flawed character whose flaws don’t seem forced just to be “unique.”
There are one or two plot points that I felt like might have been a little underdeveloped — one of those plot points being a dream about another character — but after thinking that over before writing this review, I’ve decided to go with the benefit of the doubt and chalk that up as being something that must happen later on in the series. I found myself kind of teetering between two different star ratings because of that, buuut I think, because of the benefit of the doubt, I’m going to go with the higher rating.
Overall, I think Untamed is a fantastic start to a very promising dystopian series, and I highly recommend that any dystopian lover picks it up!
June 13, 2015
Let's be clear from the outset, I don't read a lot of YA dystopian fiction, so I can't really compare 'Untamed' to anything else that's out there. It's fair to say that if Madeline hadn't kindly given me a copy in return for a fair and honest review, I probably wouldn't have come across the book. Nevertheless, as I'm finding a lot recently, good writing is enjoyable regardless of genre and, although I'm hardly the target demographic (I left my teens a little under two decades ago, damn you Time), I found this an extremely entertaining and thought provoking read.
The story opens with the main character, Seven, receiving something of a personal shock, and the action keeps rolling from there. One of the features of the book that grabbed me was that the world in which it exists is not doled out to the reader in chunks of exposition; aside from a few explanatory passages, you just have to follow the characters and learn as you go. This keeps the pace up, and also provides a lot to think about.
The society, or rather societies, in which the action takes place, are pleasingly ambiguous. Seven starts out as part of a dwindling group of humans, attempting to avoid and at the same time scavenge from the majority of would-be posthumans who modify their physical and mental selves with the aid of (presumably) nanobiotechnological 'augmentors'. From the off, it's dramatically unclear which of these groups can claim the moral high ground. The few 'pure' humans increasingly show themselves to be weak and untrustworthy, not to mention being the ones to sometimes give numbers to their children rather than names. The 'Enhanced', on the other hand, claim to have eradicated negative emotions, do not kill, and seem to live peacefully - apart from a desire to convert, forcibly if necessary, all remaining 'Untamed'. Moreover, the separation between Untamed and Enhanced is not necessarily as clear-cut as it would seem.
We are given little idea as to how the world ended up like this, which all adds to the sense of displacement the fleeing, fragmenting 'Untamed' feel. It seems the action takes place in the not-too-distant future given the presence of recognisable firearms and motor vehicles. However, the world is given a mystical slant, reminiscent of Native American belief systems, by the apparently very real presence of spirits, the ability of some to experience prophetic visions, and the unexplained but terrifying 'Turning' that happens every so often. I don't know if these factors will be explored more in future novels in the series, but it's an intriguing twist to the scenario.
Seven is a satisfyingly human main character, whose strength arises not from athleticism or fighting prowess, but loyalty and tenacity, in the face of wobbly self-confidence and the powerful attraction of a superficially attractive lifestyle that's there for the taking. The other characters are recognisable and individual in their particular failings and weaknesses, and occasional redeeming strengths. The action is plentiful and the pace high as the Enhanced close in - there's not a lot of stopping to smell the roses. The ending managed to twist and turn left me with no idea of how things might pan out, so I look forward to future instalments in Seven's journey.
The story opens with the main character, Seven, receiving something of a personal shock, and the action keeps rolling from there. One of the features of the book that grabbed me was that the world in which it exists is not doled out to the reader in chunks of exposition; aside from a few explanatory passages, you just have to follow the characters and learn as you go. This keeps the pace up, and also provides a lot to think about.
The society, or rather societies, in which the action takes place, are pleasingly ambiguous. Seven starts out as part of a dwindling group of humans, attempting to avoid and at the same time scavenge from the majority of would-be posthumans who modify their physical and mental selves with the aid of (presumably) nanobiotechnological 'augmentors'. From the off, it's dramatically unclear which of these groups can claim the moral high ground. The few 'pure' humans increasingly show themselves to be weak and untrustworthy, not to mention being the ones to sometimes give numbers to their children rather than names. The 'Enhanced', on the other hand, claim to have eradicated negative emotions, do not kill, and seem to live peacefully - apart from a desire to convert, forcibly if necessary, all remaining 'Untamed'. Moreover, the separation between Untamed and Enhanced is not necessarily as clear-cut as it would seem.
We are given little idea as to how the world ended up like this, which all adds to the sense of displacement the fleeing, fragmenting 'Untamed' feel. It seems the action takes place in the not-too-distant future given the presence of recognisable firearms and motor vehicles. However, the world is given a mystical slant, reminiscent of Native American belief systems, by the apparently very real presence of spirits, the ability of some to experience prophetic visions, and the unexplained but terrifying 'Turning' that happens every so often. I don't know if these factors will be explored more in future novels in the series, but it's an intriguing twist to the scenario.
Seven is a satisfyingly human main character, whose strength arises not from athleticism or fighting prowess, but loyalty and tenacity, in the face of wobbly self-confidence and the powerful attraction of a superficially attractive lifestyle that's there for the taking. The other characters are recognisable and individual in their particular failings and weaknesses, and occasional redeeming strengths. The action is plentiful and the pace high as the Enhanced close in - there's not a lot of stopping to smell the roses. The ending managed to twist and turn left me with no idea of how things might pan out, so I look forward to future instalments in Seven's journey.
August 30, 2015
Sci-Fi isn’t usually my genre, but I received a free copy of Untamed in exchange for an honest review. So I read it, and it wasn’t half bad. Personally I couldn’t really get into the story, but that is more of a reflection on my personal preference than the author. I really couldn’t fault Madeline Dyer. I could see the care that had been taken with the writing and the story. As a writer myself, I recognise how hard she must have worked on this novel.
Seven was quite a complex and interesting character. She was kidnapped by the Enhanced, forcibly changed into one of them, then rescued and changed back to an Untamed. The kind of trauma she suffered at the hands of her captors left their scars, and throughout the book she had to deal with the scars. She struggled with self-identity. One minute she’s a pure Untamed, then she’s an Enhanced called Shania, then she becomes Untamed again, this time tainted by the Enhanced augmenters. As she struggles with addiction to augmenters, she questions herself. Who is she really? Is she still Seven? Or is she the Enhanced woman known as Shania? For anyone struggling with identity issues themselves, Seven will more than likely be their favourite character.
Untamed is a fantastic dystopian survival story, filled with twists. One of them I managed to guess, but the final twist with Rahn had me speechless.
On the other hand, though, there were times when I was bored with the story. These times were very few and far between, and often they occurred when I didn’t have very long to read.
Seven was quite a complex and interesting character. She was kidnapped by the Enhanced, forcibly changed into one of them, then rescued and changed back to an Untamed. The kind of trauma she suffered at the hands of her captors left their scars, and throughout the book she had to deal with the scars. She struggled with self-identity. One minute she’s a pure Untamed, then she’s an Enhanced called Shania, then she becomes Untamed again, this time tainted by the Enhanced augmenters. As she struggles with addiction to augmenters, she questions herself. Who is she really? Is she still Seven? Or is she the Enhanced woman known as Shania? For anyone struggling with identity issues themselves, Seven will more than likely be their favourite character.
Untamed is a fantastic dystopian survival story, filled with twists. One of them I managed to guess, but the final twist with Rahn had me speechless.
On the other hand, though, there were times when I was bored with the story. These times were very few and far between, and often they occurred when I didn’t have very long to read.
March 15, 2016
This is a hard driving, non-stop y/a dystopian novel. Seven is a heroine you can root for as she struggles to develop and maintain her identity while also struggling for survival. Her world is grindingly difficult in every way: finding food and shelter, who to trust, loneliness and much much more. If you like hardcore, post-apocalyptic dystopia - this is for you!
October 14, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
So… the first thing I should probably say is that I picked up this book on Sunday evening, intending to start reading it… but then I was pulled into the world so quickly and easily, I ended up reading the whole book faster than I’d been expecting.
I found Seven to be a really intriguing character. I thought it was interesting to see how she was constantly struggling with being forced into the Enhanced way of life and how she had to deal with how the other Untamed saw her. I had a really strong dislike for Rahn’s character. While I think that, at first, he was trying to save the people he was in charge of, I think he lost sight of that after quite a while.
It was really easy to empathise with Seven and to see the world through her eyes. There were clear differences between the Untamed and the Enhanced and I found the Enhanced to be especially creepy, even while I could understand why the Enhanced had come into existence in the first place.
For a lot of the book, I couldn’t decide if I liked Corin or not. He seemed to switch moods almost constantly and I had no idea if he cared about Seven or not. At the same time, I loved Seven’s relationship with Three. There was a good amount of brother/sister banter going on and I thought it was obvious how much the two of them cared about each other.
It was interesting to get bits and pieces of the culture as the book progressed. I liked the opportunity to see how the two different cultures contrasted… though I was confused about how the spirits thing. Seven’s visions were creepy and succeeded in drawing me in, making me curious about how they worked and how Seers might be chosen.
I felt the author portrayed Seven’s struggle really well and it really endeared her character to me. In the future, I would definitely be interested in reading the next book/s in this series and seeing what journey the characters will take next. Although it doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, there is clearly still a lot more of the story to be told.
(This review may contain spoilers).
So… the first thing I should probably say is that I picked up this book on Sunday evening, intending to start reading it… but then I was pulled into the world so quickly and easily, I ended up reading the whole book faster than I’d been expecting.
I found Seven to be a really intriguing character. I thought it was interesting to see how she was constantly struggling with being forced into the Enhanced way of life and how she had to deal with how the other Untamed saw her. I had a really strong dislike for Rahn’s character. While I think that, at first, he was trying to save the people he was in charge of, I think he lost sight of that after quite a while.
It was really easy to empathise with Seven and to see the world through her eyes. There were clear differences between the Untamed and the Enhanced and I found the Enhanced to be especially creepy, even while I could understand why the Enhanced had come into existence in the first place.
For a lot of the book, I couldn’t decide if I liked Corin or not. He seemed to switch moods almost constantly and I had no idea if he cared about Seven or not. At the same time, I loved Seven’s relationship with Three. There was a good amount of brother/sister banter going on and I thought it was obvious how much the two of them cared about each other.
It was interesting to get bits and pieces of the culture as the book progressed. I liked the opportunity to see how the two different cultures contrasted… though I was confused about how the spirits thing. Seven’s visions were creepy and succeeded in drawing me in, making me curious about how they worked and how Seers might be chosen.
I felt the author portrayed Seven’s struggle really well and it really endeared her character to me. In the future, I would definitely be interested in reading the next book/s in this series and seeing what journey the characters will take next. Although it doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, there is clearly still a lot more of the story to be told.
June 16, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
In this story we follow Seven, a girl in a dystopian world where there are two groups- one like her normal and human, the other addicted to a drug that gives people supernatural strengths like speed and strength.
Seven wished to stay human and find her family but she is captured by a group which one of the boys are very attractive.
So I really liked this story, I found it entertaining and enjoyable. The characters were very interesting and I liked learning about them as individuals.
The romance was excellent, I found myself shipping them so much and that was great.
This book is out and you can go and pick it up now, you do that while I read the sequels.
In this story we follow Seven, a girl in a dystopian world where there are two groups- one like her normal and human, the other addicted to a drug that gives people supernatural strengths like speed and strength.
Seven wished to stay human and find her family but she is captured by a group which one of the boys are very attractive.
So I really liked this story, I found it entertaining and enjoyable. The characters were very interesting and I liked learning about them as individuals.
The romance was excellent, I found myself shipping them so much and that was great.
This book is out and you can go and pick it up now, you do that while I read the sequels.
dnf
February 14, 2016DNF at 25%
There's a lot of potential here, but it is in need of a good editor. Besides that, it's also not completely for me, unfortunately. :(
There's a lot of potential here, but it is in need of a good editor. Besides that, it's also not completely for me, unfortunately. :(
Want to read
April 16, 2020🎁 Free on Amazon today (4/16/2020)! 🎁
June 6, 2018
(I thank Netgalley and Ineja Press for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
A solid read with numerous good points, some just so-so world-building et some writing tic that nearly drove me crazy!
The very strong aspect of this book is clearly the atmosphere and the pleasurable read: this book was easy to read, quite a page-turner. The characters' personalities are really credible, which is rather rare in YA science-fi / fantasy / dystopia: most of the times, to charm the reader, the written gives modern thoughts and behaviour to their characters, for an indifferent result, usually poor in my point of view. In "Untamed" the reader feels the alternative reality, there are no convenient extrapolations. The romance (no spoil, see the cover) is well done, suiting the dire situation. I like the likeable characters and disliked the others ones, who were cleverly exposed. The mysteries, for which the reader receive many tips, were interesting and arresting.
But if read this book easily, I wasn't so much convinced by the back-ground, outlined much too quickly, without much - if any - thought about global coherence. It seems to me that the author was impatient to write her story and satisfied herself with a rapid sketch, and handy explantions, even absurd sometimes. All in all the story was much more fantasy than science-fi, and perhaps would been more convincing, at least for me, told in a fantasy world. Some books manage to hold the two vibes (for instance the superb "Dreamsnake" by Vonda N. McIntyre), but it's difficult and dicey.
The story is supposed to happen in our world (or not?) in two centuries, but the cars, the clothes seem to be the same, etc. In fact the main difference was in the existence of augmented humans (the Enhanced) who are transformed, and immediately so, by drinking some potions; er... chemical augmenters. I would much have concur with some injectable drugs, but well. The worst (the point I couldn't accept at all) what the immediate (and very convenient) transformation that happened on the person just after having drinking some augmenter. But as it was a sensitive point of the story, I admit that it couldn't be altered. But still. So un-scientific!
There were also some bizarre situations: for instance the Untamed raid the Enhanced's cities, just walking in, masking their main difference (no spoil, so vague, I know) and nobody notice them. The Enhanced are perfectly groomed, tall, beautiful and the Untamed are filthy, ragged, having living in the wild with no bathroom (in the desert) and nobody notice them? Smell them? (sorry to be crass!)
Another example: the Untamed are kind of nomads, living of robbery, with no structure, in tiny groups, and have lived so for centuries, but they know how to read and write. Well, it's not impossible, just improbable.
To finish with my petty recriminations: the writing. The style is simple and direct, in the present tense, first person, and suits the narrator, a young girl, afraid, incertain and living drastic times. But... who reread this book? How could they not notice the so numerous repetitions, used to express anxiety, by deglutition? I was so obsessed by two specific sentences that I had to count - to ask my Kindle to count. The poor dyspeptic girl "swallowed hard" 26 times in the book and "gulped" 56 times. Passing the half of the book I was cringing like mad at each "I gulp", seeing turkeys everywhere "gobble, gobble, gobble"... Sorry to be so mean, but seriously? (as would say my daughters) To begin with, expressing anxiety by swallowing is rather weird and poor; and to finish, "I gulp" is such an ugly sentence... cringeable; or cringe-making maybe.
To conclude an intense story, with authentic characters and a very good reading addictivity, and nice mysteries, but nor completely appropriate for quibblers as I, and a book in which repetitions should have been cut out.
A solid read with numerous good points, some just so-so world-building et some writing tic that nearly drove me crazy!
The very strong aspect of this book is clearly the atmosphere and the pleasurable read: this book was easy to read, quite a page-turner. The characters' personalities are really credible, which is rather rare in YA science-fi / fantasy / dystopia: most of the times, to charm the reader, the written gives modern thoughts and behaviour to their characters, for an indifferent result, usually poor in my point of view. In "Untamed" the reader feels the alternative reality, there are no convenient extrapolations. The romance (no spoil, see the cover) is well done, suiting the dire situation. I like the likeable characters and disliked the others ones, who were cleverly exposed. The mysteries, for which the reader receive many tips, were interesting and arresting.
But if read this book easily, I wasn't so much convinced by the back-ground, outlined much too quickly, without much - if any - thought about global coherence. It seems to me that the author was impatient to write her story and satisfied herself with a rapid sketch, and handy explantions, even absurd sometimes. All in all the story was much more fantasy than science-fi, and perhaps would been more convincing, at least for me, told in a fantasy world. Some books manage to hold the two vibes (for instance the superb "Dreamsnake" by Vonda N. McIntyre), but it's difficult and dicey.
The story is supposed to happen in our world (or not?) in two centuries, but the cars, the clothes seem to be the same, etc. In fact the main difference was in the existence of augmented humans (the Enhanced) who are transformed, and immediately so, by drinking some potions; er... chemical augmenters. I would much have concur with some injectable drugs, but well. The worst (the point I couldn't accept at all) what the immediate (and very convenient) transformation that happened on the person just after having drinking some augmenter. But as it was a sensitive point of the story, I admit that it couldn't be altered. But still. So un-scientific!
There were also some bizarre situations: for instance the Untamed raid the Enhanced's cities, just walking in, masking their main difference (no spoil, so vague, I know) and nobody notice them. The Enhanced are perfectly groomed, tall, beautiful and the Untamed are filthy, ragged, having living in the wild with no bathroom (in the desert) and nobody notice them? Smell them? (sorry to be crass!)
Another example: the Untamed are kind of nomads, living of robbery, with no structure, in tiny groups, and have lived so for centuries, but they know how to read and write. Well, it's not impossible, just improbable.
To finish with my petty recriminations: the writing. The style is simple and direct, in the present tense, first person, and suits the narrator, a young girl, afraid, incertain and living drastic times. But... who reread this book? How could they not notice the so numerous repetitions, used to express anxiety, by deglutition? I was so obsessed by two specific sentences that I had to count - to ask my Kindle to count. The poor dyspeptic girl "swallowed hard" 26 times in the book and "gulped" 56 times. Passing the half of the book I was cringing like mad at each "I gulp", seeing turkeys everywhere "gobble, gobble, gobble"... Sorry to be so mean, but seriously? (as would say my daughters) To begin with, expressing anxiety by swallowing is rather weird and poor; and to finish, "I gulp" is such an ugly sentence... cringeable; or cringe-making maybe.
To conclude an intense story, with authentic characters and a very good reading addictivity, and nice mysteries, but nor completely appropriate for quibblers as I, and a book in which repetitions should have been cut out.
September 26, 2018
Untamed was a great genre crossing blend of dystopian and science fiction. A great YA read that is fast paced and a bit noire. The world is divided up between The Untamed and The Enhanced. Seven, our protagonist, is a strong survivor and wonderful to follow as the chapters fly past.
The subject of addiction was very well done, with the right amount of time spent covering and properly handling the issue. I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the others. The world was not completely explained, mystery’s were not all revealed in this, the first book, but the building of the atmosphere, surroundings, and fully fleshed out characters never left me wanting.
This was eminently captivating and I absolutely recommend it!
The subject of addiction was very well done, with the right amount of time spent covering and properly handling the issue. I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the others. The world was not completely explained, mystery’s were not all revealed in this, the first book, but the building of the atmosphere, surroundings, and fully fleshed out characters never left me wanting.
This was eminently captivating and I absolutely recommend it!
September 15, 2015
This book was fascinating. I have to give Madeline Dyer a hand on creating such an intriguing story. She captured what it would be like to live moment from moment when you’re forced to live by strict rules. She also captured what it would be like to have a constant desire for a drug you can’t quite shake from your system. For once you’re Enhanced, there’s no way back.
However, there is something about the way the book is written that might throw people. Rarely is a book written in active present tense because it can be difficult to pull off. However, Ms. Dyer does a magnificent job of it. It did leave the book feeling a little jumpy and jerky since we see everything through Seven’s eyes and through her thoughts and actions. While I find myself wishing it had been written in a different style, I can’t say how it would have been. It definitely presented a powerful story written the way it was and it might not have had the power or the urgency had it been written any other way.
If you decide to give it a try, just remember it won’t be like any other book you’ve read. Or if you do have experience with active present tense, you’re in for a treat if you like the style. I know that I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it. It held my attention from beginning to end. It will be interesting to see the other books in this series and if she continues with active present tense voice and how the story ends.
However, there is something about the way the book is written that might throw people. Rarely is a book written in active present tense because it can be difficult to pull off. However, Ms. Dyer does a magnificent job of it. It did leave the book feeling a little jumpy and jerky since we see everything through Seven’s eyes and through her thoughts and actions. While I find myself wishing it had been written in a different style, I can’t say how it would have been. It definitely presented a powerful story written the way it was and it might not have had the power or the urgency had it been written any other way.
If you decide to give it a try, just remember it won’t be like any other book you’ve read. Or if you do have experience with active present tense, you’re in for a treat if you like the style. I know that I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it. It held my attention from beginning to end. It will be interesting to see the other books in this series and if she continues with active present tense voice and how the story ends.
September 27, 2015
(Taken from my blog www.asecretbooklover.blogspot.com)
I'll have to say that I am quite conflicted about this book. On the one hand, Untamed is very captivating and I found myself racing through it. On the other hand, there is so. much. violence. I'm pretty sure there was some sort of fight every five pages. I guess it's necessary for the story, but it did feel a bit repetitive. I also noticed a few spelling mistakes (e.g. 'volunatarily' and 'stomarch'). If you know me well, you would be aware that I am a bit of a grammar Nazi, so this did infuriate me. Though I guess I didn't have a final draft of the book so I cant really complain?
With all these negatives aside, I think the author did a fantastic job with this novel. Although we don't find out much about Seven's world and why it is in the state it is, the imagery Madeline has created is brilliant. I had a vivid picture in my head of the characters and their surroundings. While Seven, the protagonist, is quite conflicted - she spends most of the book deciding whether to become 'Enhanced' or stay 'Untamed' - she did become more likeable as the story progressed, and I'm eager to find out what happens to her in the sequel.
Taking all the positives and negatives about this book into account, I would recommend it. Untamed is a decent book for anyone who enjoys Dystopian and doesn't mind violence.
June 6, 2016
Untamed is the first book in the Untamed series by Madeline Dyer and it is a rather refreshing dystopia. Which sounds weird and ironic when I word it like that...
Many of the dystopias focus on the over powerful governments and systematic groupings of people into groups (districts, factions, etc). Untamed deals with people who become Enhanced by taking augmenters that were created to make people "better". Three hundred years later and the Enhanced are trying to take over the last of the Untamed humans in order to "save" them.
A bad raid ends with Seven's mother joining the Enhanced and Seven herself gets captured. After her group gets her back, their group is dwindled down by an attack. The Enhanced now want Sev back. Not only is she a part of the last Untamed humans left, she is also a Seer. An incredibly powerful one.
The dynamics of the characters and the world are well worth it and the struggles that Sev has to battle through are incredibly relatable. Even if I'm not out in the desert on the run, I can still feel her struggle as she tries to figure out which way she needs to go and who she can really trust.
Many of the dystopias focus on the over powerful governments and systematic groupings of people into groups (districts, factions, etc). Untamed deals with people who become Enhanced by taking augmenters that were created to make people "better". Three hundred years later and the Enhanced are trying to take over the last of the Untamed humans in order to "save" them.
A bad raid ends with Seven's mother joining the Enhanced and Seven herself gets captured. After her group gets her back, their group is dwindled down by an attack. The Enhanced now want Sev back. Not only is she a part of the last Untamed humans left, she is also a Seer. An incredibly powerful one.
The dynamics of the characters and the world are well worth it and the struggles that Sev has to battle through are incredibly relatable. Even if I'm not out in the desert on the run, I can still feel her struggle as she tries to figure out which way she needs to go and who she can really trust.
June 11, 2015
Couldn't put it down
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest of the series.
Seven was really a heroine I could root for - she was imperfect, conflicted, and real. I could identify with her struggle to choose the easy way versus the way that meant more work and pain. Something almost everyone struggles with at one point or another.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes young adult sci-fi/dystopia.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest of the series.
Seven was really a heroine I could root for - she was imperfect, conflicted, and real. I could identify with her struggle to choose the easy way versus the way that meant more work and pain. Something almost everyone struggles with at one point or another.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes young adult sci-fi/dystopia.
May 30, 2016
This story jumps down your throat at the first line and doesn't let go till the very end!! I loved the concept of the Untamed versus the Enhanced; it sounds like an Uglies rip-off but the characters in Untamed are far more realistic and distinct! I loved the profound development all the characters go through; the dynamic at the beginning is much different than the dynamic at the end. It thrilled me, kept me guessing, and I can't wait for the sequel!!
October 23, 2016
What a fantastic dystopian premise! I love the whole set-up and the protagonist's personal struggle is portrayed brilliantly. I had a sudden shocking realisation about halfway through and from then on I couldn't put it down and I spent the rest of the book adding up the clues and evidence. It was very satisfying when the truth was finally revealed. I immediately bought the second book in the series!
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