Gauntlet Fall

by Maddy Edwards

Samantha Berry lives in world devastated by war. A fragile peace has allowed hopes for rebuilding to blossom, but they rest on the shoulders of those who run the Gauntlet, the lethal trail to the stronghold of the man whose strange creatures started the war many years ago. The stronghold lies deep in Torrent’s Valley, protected by deadly weapons that defeat every attempt to penetrate it, and it holds information crucial to the survival of Samantha’s world.

Samantha wants to go to Harknell School, where Gauntlet Runners are trained. The only trouble is, she's the wrong gender. Determined not to let a little thing like that stand in her way, she disguises herself, calls herself "Sam," and risks everything to learn the skills she needs.
Fraught with unimagined dangers, Harknell shows Sam a whole new world and forces her to keep a cool head as she fights to maintain her place and become a Runner. Along the way she'll make lifelong friends, watch loyalties crumble, and learn what it is to love.

In this scorching world that no one saw coming, . . .until it arrived.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 12, 2017

About the author

Maddy Edwards is the author of the Paranormal Public and One Black Rose and Spiral series!

If you want to keep up with new info from me, including sales, new releases, and giveaways, sign up for my Newsletter here!! http://maddyedwards.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Giselle]

YA Dystopian fans: review copies are available for request here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that at the beginning they don't specify the gender of the main character. I thought the main character was a boy at the beginning. I didn't like that almost immediately after her gender was revealed, it is emphasized how much weaker females are than males. However, the author proves that point incorrect throughout the rest of the book.

Sam(antha) is stuck in Salt Landing with her cousin's family who treat her like crap. Her mother left her with her cousin when she went to look for her brother, after he left for Harknell Hall to try to run the Gauntlet. Six years later, Sam goes herself, to try to train to run the Gauntlet and find her brother, even though only males are allowed at Harknell Hall.

I was impressed by this book! It sucked me in immediately, and I would have finished it in one night, if I didn't have to make myself go to bed at a (somewhat) decent hour so that I could go to work early the next day. Adulting sucks!

I will say that I figured out one of the twists at the end, but all of the other twists and turns thorughout the book, and especially the ending, I could have NEVER guessed any of that was going to happen!

The author did an excellent job at world building and character development. Her character development was also very well timed, leaving some characters' mysteries a secret until the most powerful moment to reveal them.

I absolutely ♥ed Sam! She was fearless and was hardly ever afraid of being found out as a girl, except in obvious situations. I think it would have taken away from the story if she was constantly worrying about it.

This book was awesome! I'm just super upset that I don't have the next book in the series to keep reading! I can't wait to see what happens next!

I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review*

3-3.5 stars. I really quite enjoyed this. The first 1/3rd of the book really drew me into it and I kept finding myself thinking that I couldnt wait to get back to reading a bit more of it. The rest of the story seemed to not hold my attention quite so well but it was still enjoyable. The whole 'boy-is-really-a-girl' thing, made it more interesting. This felt like it had a touch of harry potter and hunger games to it, just a touch, but it was there.

Im really looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry Potter wannabe book.

Not very descriptive about anything or anyone. Characters were not memorable.

The main character's reactions to her new life were not even mentioned and should have been. For example the new, richer diet.

Toby being a girl was predictable.

Using a feather as a weapon would be far more awkward than the book made it sound, and using one as a thrown weapon would be downright impossible.

I don't plan on continuing the series.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a young adult fantasy/science fiction. It's set in the future but reads like a fantasy. It was interesting enough that I read to the very end, but the world-building had some problems. For example, we're told that the mythical creates (unicorns, griffins, etc.) were created and only the griffins were allies, yet the whole story has things like a creature being used to move the ferry boat across the water. The griffins played very little role beyond providing a magic feather (which, unexpectedly, did not behave like a bird feather). There were other things, like we're told the world has a food shortage and even a broken egg deserved major punishment, and yet they never ran out of perfectly ripe cherries, which they fed to dogs and dumped on each other by the bucket full. And they had cherries all year round, not just in spring.

That said, Sam's a good heroine because she inspired others to look for their strengths, work together, and approach problems in new ways. She wasn't just out to discover what happened to her brother or get ahead, she lead even if she was always under threat of being kicked out as not physically strong enough to be a hero. Go, girl. There was no sex. I don't recall any bad language.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an electronic copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours. I really enjoyed this book and the main character, Sam. Sam lives in a dystopian future world in which an evil man has allowed strange monsters to devastate the earth. Sam wants to go to Harknell School , where she would be trained to run the "Gauntlet", a dangerous trail to the evil man's stronghold. Unfortunately, only boys and men are allowed to partake in this training, so she must go undercover as a boy. The book has some shades of Harry Potter but Harknell School is neither kind nor comfortable. The first day involved a freezing swim in monster infested water which was fatal for some of the students. I thought that the characters and interpersonal dynamics at the school were portrayed exceedingly well. There were some excellent plot twists. Gauntlet Fall was very difficult to put down and I am hungry for the next book. I would have liked to know more about the history of Sam's world and to have a map (perhaps the print book has a map).

[Dana Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Left me wanting to know more. Sam leaves her home to go find her brother and join an academy that trains up young men to run into a dangerous landscape that has been left by an enemy to discover his secrets and stop his destruction he has left behind. Sam has to pretend she is a guy and seems to get away with it. The author really should have explained how Sam hid her period. Because. I just don't see in this environment how she could have. It's not very modern. And I wish she didn't make an issue about hiding her eye color with contacts in a world that doesn't have a lot of modern amenities. That being said the story of the underdogs against a system that celebrates brawn and muscle over cunning and strategy was pretty well done. Yes there is similarities between this story and Harry Potter. But it is still a good story.

[Kimberly Vanderbloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hidden gem!

I wanna spend in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

This book and on the elements that I desire. It had fantastic world building, friendship, budding romance and highly developed characters. It also helps that it is full of mythical creatures. There was only one problem with the book I want more and I want it now. I fell deeply in love with the characters in the story line and I need to know what happens next. It is not just don’t want it is a need. I’m thrilled that I won this and I’m dying for the next one. My favorite relationship was between Arthur and Craig. It was hilarious and natural. I also fell in love with Sam, she is such a badass. I have many questions that need answers so I can’t wait for the next book. I will recommending it to everyone.

[Mrs LIR Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally do not read books with mythological animals but I was offered this book and really enjoyed the story of an abandoned girl pretending to be a boy to gain access to a ruthless training military school so that she can find her lost brother.
She struggles during the training but by brainwork she and her fellow weaker students .... survive. This is their story and a very entertaining story it is.
Thank you you Book Bub for suggesting I may like it. I did.

[Deb Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Gauntlet Fall by Maddy Edwards....Great story . I liked the way she develops her characters. I read this book in 13 hours ( obviously nixed the housework ), and now can't wait for the next book to find out how Sam,Toby, Craig & Arthur do in running the Gauntlet.

[Deborah Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is part two?

I have to admit, when I started this book, I really wasn't sure if i wanted to continue reading. About 4-5 pages in i was hooked. Great read! I sure hope part 2 is in the works......SOON PLEASS!!

[Savannah Keaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need the sequel

I’m giving this four stars because I’m dying to read the sequel, but.... there isn’t one. When there’s a sequel, I’ll give it five stars, which it deserves. When there’s a sequel...

[Glenda Dykstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

Sam (girl) wants into what is basically a warrior school for boys. She has to hide she is a girl. Guess what, she isn't prefect and she stays on the lowest rung of the ladder. But surprises are there.

[Kittie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is poorly written and full of unimaginative characters who lay flat on the page. The main character is supposed to be sixteen but reads as if she’s twelve. Everything about this book made me want to put it down, but I persisted. I shouldn’t have.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing read!

I think my teens will love this, and I look forward to reading the next in the series. Please hurry!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please hurry with #2!

Couldn't put it down. A new twist on girl pretends to be boy story. Great character development. Plain enjoyable. Well done!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of a world where humans are trying to survive attacks of mythical beasts that were created by a madman bent on taking over the world.

[Dave Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Reading

Good storyline reminiscent of other school based coming of age stories. This one kept its own identity and the story had good and unexpected twists and turns.

[Tracy Ruetterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action-packed and Exciting

What an exciting read! Our main character Samantha, or Sam as we know her for most of the book, encounters many obstacles. She is determined to make it to the Gauntlet training hall called H