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Scavenger Exodus #1
Scavenger Alliance
2408. Humanity has travelled to the stars through interstellar portals, but the rebels and criminals were left behind on a ruined Earth. Eighteen-year-old Blaze is one of the last seven hundred people scavenging a living in an increasingly lethal New York. Her mother died six years ago. Her brother turned traitor. She believes her father is Donnell, the leader of the uneasy alliance between the remnants of the Earth Resistance and the old criminal gangs. She’s not sure what Donnell believes because he’s barely spoken to her since her brother betrayed him.
Blaze has survived this long by being too unimportant to kill, but now the alliance is on the brink of starvation, and an old enemy is trying to seize power. When an aircraft carrying three privileged off-worlders crashes in New York, it adds more fuel to an already explosive situation, and Blaze is forced to step into the spotlight. Can the traitor’s sister convince Donnell, the warring divisions, and the off-worlders to work together to leave the death trap of New York? Blaze thinks that failure will mean the death of everyone she knows, but then she discovers the off-worlders’ secret. The stakes here are far higher than just seven hundred lives.
Scavenger Alliance is set in the same future timeline as the Earth Girl trilogy, but takes place several centuries earlier, and features an ancestor of the trilogy’s main character, Jarra.
Blaze has survived this long by being too unimportant to kill, but now the alliance is on the brink of starvation, and an old enemy is trying to seize power. When an aircraft carrying three privileged off-worlders crashes in New York, it adds more fuel to an already explosive situation, and Blaze is forced to step into the spotlight. Can the traitor’s sister convince Donnell, the warring divisions, and the off-worlders to work together to leave the death trap of New York? Blaze thinks that failure will mean the death of everyone she knows, but then she discovers the off-worlders’ secret. The stakes here are far higher than just seven hundred lives.
Scavenger Alliance is set in the same future timeline as the Earth Girl trilogy, but takes place several centuries earlier, and features an ancestor of the trilogy’s main character, Jarra.
342 pages, ebook
First published April 8, 2017
35 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Janet Edwards
32 books494 followersLatest release:- Adversary, the fifth book in the Hive Mind series.
Please visit Janet's website to get more information, and sign up for her newsletter if you'd like to be kept informed of future releases.SET IN THE HIVE FUTURE
PERILOUS: Hive Mind A Prequel Novella
TELEPATH
DEFENDER
HURRICANE
BORDERLINE
ADVERSARY
SET IN THE 25th CENTURY PORTAL FUTURE
SCAVENGER ALLIANCE
SCAVENGER BLOOD
SET IN THE 28th CENTURY PORTAL FUTURE
Set in 2781
HERA 2781: A Drago Short Story
HESTIA 2781: A Drago Novel
ARRAY 2781: A Drago Novel
SOL 2781: A Drago novel
Set in 2788, the year before the Earth Girl Trilogy
EARTH 2788: The Earth Girl Short Stories
EARTH AND FIRE: An Earth Girl Novella 1
EARTH AND AIR: An Earth Girl Novella 2
FRONTIER: An Epsilon Sector Novella
Set in 2789, the Main Earth Girl Trilogy
EARTH GIRL
EARTH STAR
EARTH FLIGHT
Set in 2789 directly after the Earth Girl Trilogy
EARTH PRIME: The Earth Girl Aftermath Stories 1
SET IN THE GAME FUTURE
REAPER
EARTH GIRL:-
◾Voted an American Library Association YALSA Teens' Top Ten title for 2014.
◾A Tayshas 2014 choice.
◾Kirkus starred review for a book of exceptional merit.
◾A Kirkus best book of 2013.
◾Booklist starred review for being outstanding in its genre.
◾Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2013.
◾An Amazon.co.uk best Young Adult book of 2012.
◾A Kobobooks.com best Young Adult book of 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 8, 2017
Итак, долгожданный приквел к серии "Девушка с планеты Земля".
Век Исхода - настоящий постап, потому как массовый отток людей с планеты фактически стал концом света. Города рушатся, люди гибнут в пожарах, от голода и болезней. Проблемы с порталами, потому что изобретение Уоллама-Крейна несовершенно, уйти удается далеко не всем. Земное Сопротивление создается, чтобы помешать уничтожению родной Земли, чтобы сохранить хоть что-то. Но создается оно слишком поздно, так что в итоге члены сопротивления становятся просто неугодными бунтарями, террористами, преступниками. Их точно не примут во внеземных колониях, и в новых поселениях на Земле они не нужны. В конце концов образуется некий альянс из разных групп, о котором и пойдет речь в истории. Эти люди живут в заброшенных городах. Точнее - выживают.
Блейз - дочь лидера альянса. С отцом у них непростые отношения, кто-то даже сомневается в их родстве. К тому же, брат Блейз предал и отца и альянс, устроив взрыв и уничтожив нью-йоркскую сеть порталов в обмен на возможность перебраться в один из других миров.
Так что героиня у нас еще и сестра предателя, чего ей многие не могут простить. Она не мечтает о власти и даже о мало-мальски важной роли в альянсе. Она просто живет, работает и с тоской поглядывает на отца, который с ней не общается.
Все меняется в восемнадцатый день рождения Блейз. Во-первых, Доннелл объявляет, что им нужно поговорить о ее дальнейшей судьбе. Во-вторых, в Нью-Йорке приземляется самолет с тремя людьми с других планет. В-третьих, один не самый приятный тип собирается жениться на Блейз, чтобы заполучить должность при ее отце.
И заверте...
На самом деле, повествование не очень активное, декорации почти не меняются, но событий происходит масса. Пересказать все просто невозможно, нужно читать. Эдвардс как всегда мастерски передает атмосферу заброшенного города, лютой зимы, быта людей, когда у них нет ни света, ни отопления. И герои теперь совершенно другие, непохожие на Джарру с Фианом, Эмбер с Лукасом или Джекс с Майклом.
Блейз очень... спокойная. Уравновешенная. Выросшая в тяжелейших условиях, вынужденная ежедневно терпеть боль из-за неправильно сросшегося перелома, ибо суперсовременные мед. технологии им недоступны. Она очень умная, всегда мыслит логически, умеет делать правильные выводы и находить верные пути.
Тэд - один из прилетевших внеземных - сразу же получает прозвище "Рот", потому что тот самый рот у него не закрывается. Он сначала говорит, потом думает, вечно задает неуместные вопросы, не понимает, когда кому-то досаждает, и во многих вещах очень наивен. Но постепенно все странности его поведения проясняются. На самом деле на плечи Тэда взвалили огромную ношу, и он просто не знает, как с этим справиться.
Сюжет вертится вокруг борьбы за власть в альянсе, и Блейз с Тэдом сыграют здесь ключевые роли.
Из минусов: есть у автора привычка передавать читателю инфу через диалоги. Но если в случае с Джаррой и ее любовью читать лекции это смотрелось нормально, то тут несколько режет глаз. Один разговор Блейз с подругой Ханной в самом начале - особенно. Ханна зачем-то рассказывает Блейз, как они обе тут оказались, хотя та вроде как тоже в этом участвовала и все прекрасно знает. В такие моменты читатель чувствует себя идиотом.
И все же стиль Эдвардс я люблю, так что удовольствия получила массу. История напряженная, яркая, мрачноватая, но жутко интересная.
А теперь главное, ибо нимагумалчать. Было сказано, что эта книга о ком-то из предков Джарры. И теперь я умираю от любопытства. Прячу под спойлер, т.к. там реально спойлер, даже, наверное, не один:
Век Исхода - настоящий постап, потому как массовый отток людей с планеты фактически стал концом света. Города рушатся, люди гибнут в пожарах, от голода и болезней. Проблемы с порталами, потому что изобретение Уоллама-Крейна несовершенно, уйти удается далеко не всем. Земное Сопротивление создается, чтобы помешать уничтожению родной Земли, чтобы сохранить хоть что-то. Но создается оно слишком поздно, так что в итоге члены сопротивления становятся просто неугодными бунтарями, террористами, преступниками. Их точно не примут во внеземных колониях, и в новых поселениях на Земле они не нужны. В конце концов образуется некий альянс из разных групп, о котором и пойдет речь в истории. Эти люди живут в заброшенных городах. Точнее - выживают.
Блейз - дочь лидера альянса. С отцом у них непростые отношения, кто-то даже сомневается в их родстве. К тому же, брат Блейз предал и отца и альянс, устроив взрыв и уничтожив нью-йоркскую сеть порталов в обмен на возможность перебраться в один из других миров.
Так что героиня у нас еще и сестра предателя, чего ей многие не могут простить. Она не мечтает о власти и даже о мало-мальски важной роли в альянсе. Она просто живет, работает и с тоской поглядывает на отца, который с ней не общается.
Все меняется в восемнадцатый день рождения Блейз. Во-первых, Доннелл объявляет, что им нужно поговорить о ее дальнейшей судьбе. Во-вторых, в Нью-Йорке приземляется самолет с тремя людьми с других планет. В-третьих, один не самый приятный тип собирается жениться на Блейз, чтобы заполучить должность при ее отце.
И заверте...
На самом деле, повествование не очень активное, декорации почти не меняются, но событий происходит масса. Пересказать все просто невозможно, нужно читать. Эдвардс как всегда мастерски передает атмосферу заброшенного города, лютой зимы, быта людей, когда у них нет ни света, ни отопления. И герои теперь совершенно другие, непохожие на Джарру с Фианом, Эмбер с Лукасом или Джекс с Майклом.
Блейз очень... спокойная. Уравновешенная. Выросшая в тяжелейших условиях, вынужденная ежедневно терпеть боль из-за неправильно сросшегося перелома, ибо суперсовременные мед. технологии им недоступны. Она очень умная, всегда мыслит логически, умеет делать правильные выводы и находить верные пути.
Тэд - один из прилетевших внеземных - сразу же получает прозвище "Рот", потому что тот самый рот у него не закрывается. Он сначала говорит, потом думает, вечно задает неуместные вопросы, не понимает, когда кому-то досаждает, и во многих вещах очень наивен. Но постепенно все странности его поведения проясняются. На самом деле на плечи Тэда взвалили огромную ношу, и он просто не знает, как с этим справиться.
Сюжет вертится вокруг борьбы за власть в альянсе, и Блейз с Тэдом сыграют здесь ключевые роли.
Из минусов: есть у автора привычка передавать читателю инфу через диалоги. Но если в случае с Джаррой и ее любовью читать лекции это смотрелось нормально, то тут несколько режет глаз. Один разговор Блейз с подругой Ханной в самом начале - особенно. Ханна зачем-то рассказывает Блейз, как они обе тут оказались, хотя та вроде как тоже в этом участвовала и все прекрасно знает. В такие моменты читатель чувствует себя идиотом.
И все же стиль Эдвардс я люблю, так что удовольствия получила массу. История напряженная, яркая, мрачноватая, но жутко интересная.
А теперь главное, ибо нимагумалчать. Было сказано, что эта книга о ком-то из предков Джарры. И теперь я умираю от любопытства. Прячу под спойлер, т.к. там реально спойлер, даже, наверное, не один:
April 14, 2017
I kept losing myself in this book and having to hurry out of the train to my connection several times yesterday. The day before, I was eating dinner with some friends and missed most of their conversations because this story was that much more engrossing.
It wasn't like this when I started reading Scavenger Alliance. It starts off really slow and takes it sweet time to get going (like Earth Girl) but make no mistake: this book keeps ramping up until the last page. Once the pace starts picking up in the second third, things keeps escalating, the scope keeps getting bigger and we keep zooming back to the bigger picture of humanity hanging by a very thin thread .
It took me a while to warm up to Blaze and get to know her because her background is only revealed slowly and at the beginning we just don't know her very well, nor is she doing anything remarkable. But the more the shit hits the fan, the more she steps up, takes huge risks and puts herself on the line, the more I trusted her judgement.
This is by far the harshest, grittiest book Janet Edwards has written so far. Even Miranda in the Frontier novella is a much more safe and cozy place. Just like the chimera, Exodus century brought human civilization to the brink . The villain of this story is the scariest in any of her books and a textbook example of psychopathy.
This story is truly about survival. The rebel alliance, a few hundred people, forbidden from ever leaving Earth for the colonies for fighting the irresponsible haste of colonization and the unethical total power the corporation making the portals rose to, loses dozens of people to illness over the winter. Food reserves are depleted and on top of that the psychopath Cage wants to dethrone the reasonable alliance leader Donnell (Blaze's father) and replace his government of fair, if harsh, laws with outright authoritarian dictatorship.
At the same time, the colonies have their own existential threat to grapple with. Everything is on the line for both.
Those two crises collide head on when three off-worlders plead the Alliance for shelter and food after their aircraft breaks down. Blaze is put in charge of spying on them and making sure no one kills them. One thing is for sure: they are hiding something. But their knowledge, connections and abilities could also be crucial for the survival the alliance.
Can't wait for the second book.
It wasn't like this when I started reading Scavenger Alliance. It starts off really slow and takes it sweet time to get going (like Earth Girl) but make no mistake: this book keeps ramping up until the last page. Once the pace starts picking up in the second third, things keeps escalating, the scope keeps getting bigger and we keep zooming back to the bigger picture of humanity hanging by a very thin thread .
It took me a while to warm up to Blaze and get to know her because her background is only revealed slowly and at the beginning we just don't know her very well, nor is she doing anything remarkable. But the more the shit hits the fan, the more she steps up, takes huge risks and puts herself on the line, the more I trusted her judgement.
This is by far the harshest, grittiest book Janet Edwards has written so far. Even Miranda in the Frontier novella is a much more safe and cozy place. Just like the chimera, Exodus century brought human civilization to the brink . The villain of this story is the scariest in any of her books and a textbook example of psychopathy.
This story is truly about survival. The rebel alliance, a few hundred people, forbidden from ever leaving Earth for the colonies for fighting the irresponsible haste of colonization and the unethical total power the corporation making the portals rose to, loses dozens of people to illness over the winter. Food reserves are depleted and on top of that the psychopath Cage wants to dethrone the reasonable alliance leader Donnell (Blaze's father) and replace his government of fair, if harsh, laws with outright authoritarian dictatorship.
At the same time, the colonies have their own existential threat to grapple with. Everything is on the line for both.
Those two crises collide head on when three off-worlders plead the Alliance for shelter and food after their aircraft breaks down. Blaze is put in charge of spying on them and making sure no one kills them. One thing is for sure: they are hiding something. But their knowledge, connections and abilities could also be crucial for the survival the alliance.
Can't wait for the second book.
May 10, 2017
This post-apocalyptic science fiction adventure is set in the same world as the popular Earthgirl series but earlier when Earth is still reeling from the Exodus. There is still a group of people eking out a living in the ruins of New York and we follow the fortunes of one of the teenage girls, Blaze. Once again, Edwards has depicted a sympathetic, readable protagonist so we get a ringside seat in her gritted existence as the group battle horrible alien creatures, the constant threat of starvation and illness. However, most of the time Blaze is more taken up with the tensions within the group as some dangerous people are unwilling allies and want to take over the group. And right in the midst of this, three off-worlders turn up, completely ignorant of their way of life.
It’s a nifty plot device as Blaze is regularly having to explain to the clueless bunch what is going on, allowing the equally ignorant reader to glean important details about their everyday life without it turning into an info dump. Particularly as one of the group, Tad, is a real motor-mouth who seems to expect everyone else to wait with baited breath as he asks a constant stream of questions. And a fair number of them are really stupid – while others display a disquieting amount of knowledge about Earth that he shouldn’t have…
As a YA book there is a romance, but as ever with Edwards, it doesn’t hi-jack the story which suits me just fine. In fact, while I always enjoy Edwards’ books, this one nocked up the action and tension such that I didn’t put it down until I’d finished it. If you like your science fiction with a gritty edge, plenty of action and a readable protagonist then go searching for this one. It’s one of the best science fiction adventure tales I’ve read this year.
10/10
It’s a nifty plot device as Blaze is regularly having to explain to the clueless bunch what is going on, allowing the equally ignorant reader to glean important details about their everyday life without it turning into an info dump. Particularly as one of the group, Tad, is a real motor-mouth who seems to expect everyone else to wait with baited breath as he asks a constant stream of questions. And a fair number of them are really stupid – while others display a disquieting amount of knowledge about Earth that he shouldn’t have…
As a YA book there is a romance, but as ever with Edwards, it doesn’t hi-jack the story which suits me just fine. In fact, while I always enjoy Edwards’ books, this one nocked up the action and tension such that I didn’t put it down until I’d finished it. If you like your science fiction with a gritty edge, plenty of action and a readable protagonist then go searching for this one. It’s one of the best science fiction adventure tales I’ve read this year.
10/10
March 3, 2020
As I read this book I kept thinking I should like this, but I don’t and I wasn’t sure why. There were a few little things e.g.
I wasn’t happy with Blaze, she just seemed fairly inconsequential. Her solution to living in an intimidating world is to hide in the background. I suppose this is reasonable, but would have liked her to have been more forceful.
Then there is the environment the author has created, more I read, the more I didn’t like reading about this broken, medieval misogynistic world.
I was about halfway through the book when I finally decided it wasn’t going to improve and I really didn’t like it. It’s a pity as I really like the author’s Hive books.
I wasn’t happy with Blaze, she just seemed fairly inconsequential. Her solution to living in an intimidating world is to hide in the background. I suppose this is reasonable, but would have liked her to have been more forceful.
Then there is the environment the author has created, more I read, the more I didn’t like reading about this broken, medieval misogynistic world.
I was about halfway through the book when I finally decided it wasn’t going to improve and I really didn’t like it. It’s a pity as I really like the author’s Hive books.
April 11, 2017
Another highly enjoyable 'Portal-verse' story
I really enjoy J.E's Portal stories. I also enjoy re-reading them. I used to re-read them every time I recommended the books, but now it's eased back to every 3rd or 4th recc. - and when a new story is released!
I really enjoy J.E's Portal stories. I also enjoy re-reading them. I used to re-read them every time I recommended the books, but now it's eased back to every 3rd or 4th recc. - and when a new story is released!
July 24, 2021
Overview: A well written dramatic tale with strong characters based in a fascinating depopulated future New York. Moral questions, character growth, action and a seasoning of humour make this well worth reading.
After 1st Reading: Janet Edwards is an excellent writer. This is an exciting story with great characters that pull you in from the first page - leading you on a wild ride while driving home important issues of gender equality, tribalism and environmental issues in a powerful but non-preachy way. I shot through the book and hit the last sentence with a mixture of joy at a great story well told and a feeling of “Gah! But I want to know what happens next!”. I’ll just have to put up with the pain of waiting for book 2 to come out.
A few years ago Anne McCaffrey passed away and I was sad. Not only was I upset because an amazing talented and imaginative human being had passed from this mortal coil, but also because I did not know of another writer who could produce a very special type of story.
It’s as if you knew someone who could bake the perfect cake using a secret recipe - and then the recipe was gone.
The key ingredients were as follows:
* A main character you cared about.
* A story that sucked you in from page one.
* A setting that was as much a character as any of the people.
* A cast of supporting characters that felt rounded and real, and who you cared about - even the “bad guys” (who could be really twisted) still felt like people with reasons for being as they were.
* A dash of romance to spice things up.
* A sense that, no matter how dark the setting, how dangerous the situation, in the end things would turn out more or less OK - so you could relax and enjoy the thrills.
So I was sad that that recipe was lost.
I searched high and low and discovered many great authors - but none that filled that void. Then one fateful day I decided to read a bit of fluff. I picked up what looked like a cheesy book for kids called “Earth Girl” (I mean, what kind of a silly title is that?).
Bam! I was sucked right into an amazing and complex plot/setting that just kept revealing layer after layer - led all the way by a character that I got to care about so deeply that when she was in danger I practically went blue from holding my breath.
This was top notch stuff, and felt very much like the perfect recipe...but was it a fluke, or was Ms Edwards a master word-chef?
Well her next full novel came out: “Telepath” and I wasn't exactly grabbed by the cover, but I really liked her other work, so I thought I'd give it a go... A minute after opening the book and I was grinning ear-to ear at the brilliant take on a classic SF scenario. A few minutes after that I was starting to realise that there was a lot more to it than I thought. Half way through I’d decided this was just brilliant. Three quarters through I was gasping at how epic everything had got, and by the end I was imploring the gods of reading for a sequel.
Oh, and there was no love-triangle, but there was a well written and non-soppy romance which I thoroughly enjoyed - no cheese involved.
Now after reading Scavenger Alliance I have decided that Ms Edwards is the bee’s-knees.
Some of her book covers look like they are aimed at younger adults (and I would seriously recommend them to anyone in that age range) but I would say anyone with an ounce of imagination and soul should find something to enjoy here.
On 2nd Reading: I remembered that I loved this book. On second reading I realised that it was better than I remembered. There were so many subtle character details that added depth. Ms Edwards seems to have an abhorrence of 2D characters - somehow she manages to let you know that everyone has a reason for the way they are, even minor characters have details that make you feel that there is a fully rounded person there even if we don't have the opportunity to discover their whole backstory.
I'm just itching to explore this world again and find out what happens to Blaze and her friends
On 3rd Reading: Even though I'd read this book two times before, I was still sucked right in and found myself trying to find spare moments to jump back into the story - and very reluctant to put the book down. I guess this is what they mean when they call a book captivating. I'm going straight into book 2 and really hoping for a book three sometime.
After 1st Reading: Janet Edwards is an excellent writer. This is an exciting story with great characters that pull you in from the first page - leading you on a wild ride while driving home important issues of gender equality, tribalism and environmental issues in a powerful but non-preachy way. I shot through the book and hit the last sentence with a mixture of joy at a great story well told and a feeling of “Gah! But I want to know what happens next!”. I’ll just have to put up with the pain of waiting for book 2 to come out.
A few years ago Anne McCaffrey passed away and I was sad. Not only was I upset because an amazing talented and imaginative human being had passed from this mortal coil, but also because I did not know of another writer who could produce a very special type of story.
It’s as if you knew someone who could bake the perfect cake using a secret recipe - and then the recipe was gone.
The key ingredients were as follows:
* A main character you cared about.
* A story that sucked you in from page one.
* A setting that was as much a character as any of the people.
* A cast of supporting characters that felt rounded and real, and who you cared about - even the “bad guys” (who could be really twisted) still felt like people with reasons for being as they were.
* A dash of romance to spice things up.
* A sense that, no matter how dark the setting, how dangerous the situation, in the end things would turn out more or less OK - so you could relax and enjoy the thrills.
So I was sad that that recipe was lost.
I searched high and low and discovered many great authors - but none that filled that void. Then one fateful day I decided to read a bit of fluff. I picked up what looked like a cheesy book for kids called “Earth Girl” (I mean, what kind of a silly title is that?).
Bam! I was sucked right into an amazing and complex plot/setting that just kept revealing layer after layer - led all the way by a character that I got to care about so deeply that when she was in danger I practically went blue from holding my breath.
This was top notch stuff, and felt very much like the perfect recipe...but was it a fluke, or was Ms Edwards a master word-chef?
Well her next full novel came out: “Telepath” and I wasn't exactly grabbed by the cover, but I really liked her other work, so I thought I'd give it a go... A minute after opening the book and I was grinning ear-to ear at the brilliant take on a classic SF scenario. A few minutes after that I was starting to realise that there was a lot more to it than I thought. Half way through I’d decided this was just brilliant. Three quarters through I was gasping at how epic everything had got, and by the end I was imploring the gods of reading for a sequel.
Oh, and there was no love-triangle, but there was a well written and non-soppy romance which I thoroughly enjoyed - no cheese involved.
Now after reading Scavenger Alliance I have decided that Ms Edwards is the bee’s-knees.
Some of her book covers look like they are aimed at younger adults (and I would seriously recommend them to anyone in that age range) but I would say anyone with an ounce of imagination and soul should find something to enjoy here.
On 2nd Reading: I remembered that I loved this book. On second reading I realised that it was better than I remembered. There were so many subtle character details that added depth. Ms Edwards seems to have an abhorrence of 2D characters - somehow she manages to let you know that everyone has a reason for the way they are, even minor characters have details that make you feel that there is a fully rounded person there even if we don't have the opportunity to discover their whole backstory.
I'm just itching to explore this world again and find out what happens to Blaze and her friends
On 3rd Reading: Even though I'd read this book two times before, I was still sucked right in and found myself trying to find spare moments to jump back into the story - and very reluctant to put the book down. I guess this is what they mean when they call a book captivating. I'm going straight into book 2 and really hoping for a book three sometime.
Read
December 24, 2023Funny that I bounced off this series when I first tried it (last year?) as I liked it just fine this time around.
June 4, 2018
Blaze is a young woman, just turning 18 (this is the popular age in Edwards' fiction), who is living on a future earth in a largely deserted New York City where the portal transportation was destroyed some years earlier by her older brother and you can read more in the book description. It is set several hundred years before the Earth Girl Trilogy.
It took me a while to get into this, thus the four stars, but I still find Edwards a very strong y/a scifi writer.
It took me a while to get into this, thus the four stars, but I still find Edwards a very strong y/a scifi writer.
March 5, 2020
This is my least favorite of the Janet Edwards books that I've read thus far, and the first that I didn't completely devour. I had a hard time getting into it, and it took me almost 2 months to finish.
I think fans of the authors other books are more likely to enjoy this, but for those new to Edwards' work, I would recommend starting with the Earth Girl or Hive Mind series'.
I think fans of the authors other books are more likely to enjoy this, but for those new to Edwards' work, I would recommend starting with the Earth Girl or Hive Mind series'.
June 23, 2022
I’ll start with the negative and work my way to the positive.
This book contains my biggest writing pet peeve ever: exposition through dialogue in a bad way. For example, one character tells another character information they both know perfectly well and they are only speaking the way they are for the reader’s benefit. It makes the dialogue clunky and unnatural and makes me groan out loud. This book is written in this way, with all of the characters info-dumping paragraphs when a single sentence or even one word would suffice. The dialogue replaces a narration explaining aspects about the world. It’s extremely irritating.
However, I recognize that one of the characters, Tad, is written to be this way. He is a mouthy character and this character trait is foreshadowing to one of the plot twists of the book. This I understand and find inventive. What I don’t understand is why all the other characters talk just as much as Tad, and the only reason the reader knows Tad is mouthy is because all of the other characters tell him that he is. Incessantly.
The age old “show don’t tell” comes into play all throughout this book in the sense that Edwards tells 90% of the time and shows the remaining 10%. It becomes irritating as a reader to be told how the characters and plot dynamics are rather than to intuit them myself. Also, the readers are told the same information over and over again through the dialogue, so that is feels as if everything is spelled out for me, and that’s no fun to read. I want the pieces to click together organically so I can have that gasp out loud “oh my goodness!” moment.
So, if I couldn’t stand how this book was written, why did I keep reading? Because Edwards has a fantastic imagination and I am willing to wade through the poorly written words to learn as much as I can about this wonderful future world she has created. Her work covers the mundane aspects of life and, therefore, is realistic and believable. The society she writes of is also structured, and I find it all extremely interesting how this society functions and how the characters have power over one another.
TLDR; 3/5 stars for imagination and world building, telling instead of showing and a constant stream of ‘mansplaining’ dialogue
This book contains my biggest writing pet peeve ever: exposition through dialogue in a bad way. For example, one character tells another character information they both know perfectly well and they are only speaking the way they are for the reader’s benefit. It makes the dialogue clunky and unnatural and makes me groan out loud. This book is written in this way, with all of the characters info-dumping paragraphs when a single sentence or even one word would suffice. The dialogue replaces a narration explaining aspects about the world. It’s extremely irritating.
However, I recognize that one of the characters, Tad, is written to be this way. He is a mouthy character and this character trait is foreshadowing to one of the plot twists of the book. This I understand and find inventive. What I don’t understand is why all the other characters talk just as much as Tad, and the only reason the reader knows Tad is mouthy is because all of the other characters tell him that he is. Incessantly.
The age old “show don’t tell” comes into play all throughout this book in the sense that Edwards tells 90% of the time and shows the remaining 10%. It becomes irritating as a reader to be told how the characters and plot dynamics are rather than to intuit them myself. Also, the readers are told the same information over and over again through the dialogue, so that is feels as if everything is spelled out for me, and that’s no fun to read. I want the pieces to click together organically so I can have that gasp out loud “oh my goodness!” moment.
So, if I couldn’t stand how this book was written, why did I keep reading? Because Edwards has a fantastic imagination and I am willing to wade through the poorly written words to learn as much as I can about this wonderful future world she has created. Her work covers the mundane aspects of life and, therefore, is realistic and believable. The society she writes of is also structured, and I find it all extremely interesting how this society functions and how the characters have power over one another.
TLDR; 3/5 stars for imagination and world building, telling instead of showing and a constant stream of ‘mansplaining’ dialogue
March 12, 2020
Я вообще любитель данного автора и под настроение мне идет очень хорошо все, что Джанет пишет. Под настроение, потому как читать на языке оригинала мне в целом довольно лениво и не так, чтобы сильно легко. Но тут надо отдать автору должное - при всем многообразии ее миров и любви ввернуть какой-нибудь придуманный термин, читать ее действительно очень легко и приятно.
Еще меня конечно подкупает богатая авторская фантазия и то, что ее понимание янг адалта очень уж мне по душе. При том, что зачастую проблемы автор ставит совсем непростые, а текущие реалии героев и окружающая среда далеки от райских кущ, автор не скатывается в страдашки, надуманные треугольники и высосанные из пальца отборы ради хлеба и зрелищ.
Нет, иногда конечно можно и вот это вот все, но порой дюже устаешь от одних и тех же декораций под типа разными соусами.
Что же до этой книги, то автор окунает нас в события на пару-тройку веков до событий книги «Девушка с планеты Земля». И сейчас мы наблюдаем как собственно протекает эра так называемого Исхода, когда большинство землян уже покинули планету в поисках лучшей жизни в других мирах, оставив свои мегаполисы медленно умирать. И пока еще не наступила эра, когда Землю начнут поднимать из руин, строя новые города и восстанавливая хоть какие-то стабильно-работающие учреждения. А наблюдаем мы это все глазами девушки Блейз, живущей на руинах Нью-Йорка вместе с другими участниками движения так называемого Земного Сопротивления. Где тоже все мягко говоря не сладко и не гладко и каждый день ведется борьба с погодными условиями, голодом и между участниками этого альянса.
Еще меня конечно подкупает богатая авторская фантазия и то, что ее понимание янг адалта очень уж мне по душе. При том, что зачастую проблемы автор ставит совсем непростые, а текущие реалии героев и окружающая среда далеки от райских кущ, автор не скатывается в страдашки, надуманные треугольники и высосанные из пальца отборы ради хлеба и зрелищ.
Нет, иногда конечно можно и вот это вот все, но порой дюже устаешь от одних и тех же декораций под типа разными соусами.
Что же до этой книги, то автор окунает нас в события на пару-тройку веков до событий книги «Девушка с планеты Земля». И сейчас мы наблюдаем как собственно протекает эра так называемого Исхода, когда большинство землян уже покинули планету в поисках лучшей жизни в других мирах, оставив свои мегаполисы медленно умирать. И пока еще не наступила эра, когда Землю начнут поднимать из руин, строя новые города и восстанавливая хоть какие-то стабильно-работающие учреждения. А наблюдаем мы это все глазами девушки Блейз, живущей на руинах Нью-Йорка вместе с другими участниками движения так называемого Земного Сопротивления. Где тоже все мягко говоря не сладко и не гладко и каждый день ведется борьба с погодными условиями, голодом и между участниками этого альянса.
August 14, 2017
Edwards nailed it with this entry into the "Portal Future" universe. There is no way you'd confuse this with high literature, but there is something to be said for just a really well crafted YA adventure. Blaze is a fantastic new heroine and the situations that have been created for this story are fascinating and engaging. Reading this book was simply fun and I couldn't wait to carve out a half-hour here and there to sink into it. I very much look forward to Exodus #2!
February 21, 2019
This was very entertaining, interesting future and I was quite taken with our lead heroine. The dialogue was a little stilted as we are given a lot of information and world building through it. I am pretty sure not all characters tell you the life story of the city as they are chatting with each other, especially when they both know said history. But I was merely amused by this and it didn't ruin my enjoyment. Looking forward to book two as quite a lot needs to happen!
September 6, 2021
This was a fun read. It has so many great things going for it. There’s a strong female lead who is coming into her own and finding her strength, cunning and despicable bad guys, strangers who show up and give a reason for the characters to give their back story, and a civilization in need of saving. I’ll definitely put the next book in this series in my library queue.
May 7, 2017
Another fantastic book by Janet Edwards. I really wish they never ended and can't wait to read more. I really enjoy her strong female lead characters and the challenges they face in the portal worlds of this series. Great science fiction that isn't too far from reality.
December 2, 2019
The ancestors of Jarra Tell Morath living in NY.
This is a much darker version of the future than Earth Girl and I am excited to see the ending of this trilogy.
I am also really excited for the Chimeara wars.
This is a much darker version of the future than Earth Girl and I am excited to see the ending of this trilogy.
I am also really excited for the Chimeara wars.
January 30, 2021
This series hasn’t quite captured the imagination like Earth Girl. I like finding out more about the future the author has created but this opening book in the trilogy is a little slow to deliver. Hopefully book two will pick up the pace.
June 9, 2017
Insight into Portal Earth
Another great story by Janet Edwards! I'm ready for the 2nd book in the Exodus series. I enjoyed learning more about the Portal Earth universe.
Another great story by Janet Edwards! I'm ready for the 2nd book in the Exodus series. I enjoyed learning more about the Portal Earth universe.
January 28, 2018
World & portals destroyed, new species emerged to Earth but humans left, but still key is how to manage 'life' with the other humans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 25, 2020DNF @ 34%
March 2, 2022
Really enjoyable reading. I like this writer’s other books too.
September 28, 2022
Amaz book!
March 22, 2020
Oh my god this book!!
It ate me whole and spit me out again - It was so good, I couldn't put it down. It was so fast paced and when you lost your focus only for a split second while reading it could happen, that you'd miss something really important.
This ist going to be an obvious 5 out of 5 stars!!
I was so happy being back in the portal future - and note this read the Earth Girl Series before you read this. It is set lots and lots of years apart, but it will help understanding some of the said plot points (etc). Tho, going in this book knowing the Earth Girl series was slightly confusing at some points , but most of the confusion will be lifted when you reach the end of the book! (at least that was the case for me^^)
In this book (and upcoming series) we follow Blaze a young member of the Earth Resistance - a party which doesn't want the Earth to be left in pieces and been left to die. On thr morning of Blazes 18th birthday a ship with three off-worlders strands in the ruins of New York. Not knowing in what danger they are they seek shelter with the Scavenger Alliance (aka the gangs of New York and the Resistance). And shit starts to happen...
A lot happens - and with a lot I mean A LOT! - I won't tell, because it would be to spoilery, but be prepared that this book is way darker than the rest of Janet Edwards books (Reaper had its moments, tho, but that's nothing compared to this)
I cannot wait for the next book. But I have my theories where this is leading to.
It ate me whole and spit me out again - It was so good, I couldn't put it down. It was so fast paced and when you lost your focus only for a split second while reading it could happen, that you'd miss something really important.
This ist going to be an obvious 5 out of 5 stars!!
I was so happy being back in the portal future - and note this read the Earth Girl Series before you read this. It is set lots and lots of years apart, but it will help understanding some of the said plot points (etc). Tho, going in this book knowing the Earth Girl series was slightly confusing at some points , but most of the confusion will be lifted when you reach the end of the book! (at least that was the case for me^^)
In this book (and upcoming series) we follow Blaze a young member of the Earth Resistance - a party which doesn't want the Earth to be left in pieces and been left to die. On thr morning of Blazes 18th birthday a ship with three off-worlders strands in the ruins of New York. Not knowing in what danger they are they seek shelter with the Scavenger Alliance (aka the gangs of New York and the Resistance). And shit starts to happen...
A lot happens - and with a lot I mean A LOT! - I won't tell, because it would be to spoilery, but be prepared that this book is way darker than the rest of Janet Edwards books (Reaper had its moments, tho, but that's nothing compared to this)
I cannot wait for the next book. But I have my theories where this is leading to.
February 28, 2025
First time ive stayed up reading till 5 am in a while! Good to be back. Okay the only fault i will say in this book is that the romance was not developed properly. That confession was so out of nowhere. But other than that its perfection. I mean ofc its the detail queen janet edwards, everything will be very meticulously thought out. definitely better than drago's books 2 and 3 in terms of info dump and pacing. There weren't any action scenes of note in this book, a pity because janet is a hell of a action sequence writer, one of the best in the game imo. Hopefully we will see more in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
Excellent Earth Girl prequel.
Good world building, excellent characters, strong plot.
J Edwards delivers another excellent dystopian future which is surprisingly strongly flavoured with hope.
Looking forward to Exodus 2!
Good world building, excellent characters, strong plot.
J Edwards delivers another excellent dystopian future which is surprisingly strongly flavoured with hope.
Looking forward to Exodus 2!
January 21, 2024
Простенько, но душевно.
April 12, 2017
Another amazing, addicting story with turbulent ups and downs that had me undeniably hooked throughout the entire thing. Even if you are like me and don't really like books that go backwards in a story you will want to read this one once again Janet Edwards creates great characters and stories.This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
April 15, 2017
what a treat! A new series in the Earth Girl universe. It had all the hallmarks of a Janet Edwards book (which isn't a bad thing) and we get to learn more about what people were doing on Earth shortly after portal travel was discovered.
I'm so glad that we get an entire second series in this universe (at least!) and I love how many new books Edwards is giving us now she is self-pubing her work. It's amazing not waiting a year between releases by an author and in this case I don't think it is leading to any sort of lose in quality overall or editing.
I'm so glad that we get an entire second series in this universe (at least!) and I love how many new books Edwards is giving us now she is self-pubing her work. It's amazing not waiting a year between releases by an author and in this case I don't think it is leading to any sort of lose in quality overall or editing.
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