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dissent: RENEGADES
This is a previously-published edition of ASIN: B0768YMCZ8. For all editions see here
What would you sacrifice to protect your secret identity?
"Settle in for daring leads, vicious enemies, and an immersive world. Intriguing twists unfold a well-paced tale of survival and the age-old question, who can you trust?" Emily R. King - Author of The Hundredth Queen Series
The Great Freeze changed everything…
Centuries after an ice age that wiped out most of the human species, only three colonies are known to exist. Four years ago, the people of Scorr Tanta formed an alliance with those in Port Harmony. But not everyone agrees with ‘The Union’, and a group known as the ‘RENEGADES’ has started their own rebellious crusade.
As an apprentice orgo-keeper, Ellie’s only highlight is getting to ride the incredible animals that she cares for. But then, a chance skirmish at the market draws her closer to Haylee and her friends, and everything begins to change. Desperate to join them, Ellie has heard many tales about Haylee and her group of renowned warriors. What she doesn’t know, is how much danger follows them. Ellie is soon tugged into a much different world than she had first assumed...
A world built on dissent, and filled with secrets. A world that forces Ellie to decide where her true loyalties lie!
PERFECT for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES & DIVERGENT
'A thrilling and immersive book that will transport you to a future reminiscent of the Jurassic era, but with more lies, deceit and even murder. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it. It kept me enthralled and brought tears to my eyes at times too. It was so clearly thought out, and I can’t wait to find out more about this world.' Meggan - Between The Pages
‘The story has me gripped and wanting more. I can’t believe I have to wait for the next instalments!’
'Thrilling, enthralling and immersive. Dive into a world you won't want to wake up from.'
What would you sacrifice to protect your secret identity?
"Settle in for daring leads, vicious enemies, and an immersive world. Intriguing twists unfold a well-paced tale of survival and the age-old question, who can you trust?" Emily R. King - Author of The Hundredth Queen Series
The Great Freeze changed everything…
Centuries after an ice age that wiped out most of the human species, only three colonies are known to exist. Four years ago, the people of Scorr Tanta formed an alliance with those in Port Harmony. But not everyone agrees with ‘The Union’, and a group known as the ‘RENEGADES’ has started their own rebellious crusade.
As an apprentice orgo-keeper, Ellie’s only highlight is getting to ride the incredible animals that she cares for. But then, a chance skirmish at the market draws her closer to Haylee and her friends, and everything begins to change. Desperate to join them, Ellie has heard many tales about Haylee and her group of renowned warriors. What she doesn’t know, is how much danger follows them. Ellie is soon tugged into a much different world than she had first assumed...
A world built on dissent, and filled with secrets. A world that forces Ellie to decide where her true loyalties lie!
PERFECT for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES & DIVERGENT
'A thrilling and immersive book that will transport you to a future reminiscent of the Jurassic era, but with more lies, deceit and even murder. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it. It kept me enthralled and brought tears to my eyes at times too. It was so clearly thought out, and I can’t wait to find out more about this world.' Meggan - Between The Pages
‘The story has me gripped and wanting more. I can’t believe I have to wait for the next instalments!’
'Thrilling, enthralling and immersive. Dive into a world you won't want to wake up from.'
316 pages, ebook
First published October 16, 2017
1 person is currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Furness
36 books32 followersR. J. Furness has been passionate about great stories since he was able to read. At an early age, he would frequently create new characters, worlds and creatures, then write crazy tales all about them. However, until now, he has always kept those ideas completely secret. After having a lifelong interest in animals, music and anything spawned from pure imagination, R.J.’s first love are now his wife and children. Over time, he has also developed an overwhelming desire for mugs of tea and good biscuits to dunk. He lives in Southport, England, with his family, a dog and several fish, chickens and quails.
You can find out more about R.J. Furness, and the world of dissent, here…
www.rjfurness.com
or please come and say hello on social media…
Twitter: @rjfurness
Facebook: www.facebook.com/furnesswrites
You can find out more about R.J. Furness, and the world of dissent, here…
www.rjfurness.com
or please come and say hello on social media…
Twitter: @rjfurness
Facebook: www.facebook.com/furnesswrites
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 18, 2018
When I first went into this book I had no idea what to expect. I asked myself, “What is an orgo? Are they dinosaurs?” Looking at the cover I thought maybe I was dealing with some caveman/dinosaur type of story. Based on the name, I knew there was going to be some kind of disagreement and some group considered the renegades. Those were my assumptions. What I got was an awesome story full of action and friendship!
First off, let me tell you what an orgo is. An orgo is not a dinosaur as I thought. It is an animal with thick fur that helps it keep warm in the freezing temperatures. They have a short tail, a long slender neck, and razor sharp claws. They have strong powerful back legs that allow them to run quickly. (The animal on the cover!) They were domesticated by the people of Port Harmony. Orgos are just totally awesome creatures and I really want one!
I was right about the whole caveman thing..kind of. They aren’t cavemen but there was a deep freeze that made the population resort to living in primitive conditions. They wear furs to keep warm and ride orgos for transportation. We didn’t get much on the backstory as to what caused the deep freeze or how the people survived and managed to form these colonies. I’m wondering if maybe we will get a little more on that in the next book.
My favorite chapter was about the elrupe, a species that was cast aside and left for dead by the ruler of Scorr Tanta. It broke my heart that this species was just thrown away like garbage for no reason at all. They posed no threat to anyone. They are such a kind and gentle people and I just wanted to hug them. My heart grew 3 sizes reading about them. I still don’t understand why the ruler wanted them left for dead. I’m hoping we will find out more about why in the second book.
The entire cast of characters in this book was fantastic! They all had different personalities and we got to know quite a few of them. We were made to really hate the bad guys and love the good guys. I love a book where the characters are well-rounded and have their own personalities. My favorite character definitely has to be Haylee. She’s tough, loyal, and protective! I also really liked her brother, Evan. He is kind and caring. I’m not sure how I feel about the main character Ellie just yet. She struck me the wrong way about 3/4 through the book. We will see in the next book if I start to like her more.
Overall, I think this is a fun story for all ages! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Also a plus is that the author, R.J., is a fantastic person! He’s so friendly and I really have enjoyed working with him. I am giving this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to R.J. Furness for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
First off, let me tell you what an orgo is. An orgo is not a dinosaur as I thought. It is an animal with thick fur that helps it keep warm in the freezing temperatures. They have a short tail, a long slender neck, and razor sharp claws. They have strong powerful back legs that allow them to run quickly. (The animal on the cover!) They were domesticated by the people of Port Harmony. Orgos are just totally awesome creatures and I really want one!
I was right about the whole caveman thing..kind of. They aren’t cavemen but there was a deep freeze that made the population resort to living in primitive conditions. They wear furs to keep warm and ride orgos for transportation. We didn’t get much on the backstory as to what caused the deep freeze or how the people survived and managed to form these colonies. I’m wondering if maybe we will get a little more on that in the next book.
My favorite chapter was about the elrupe, a species that was cast aside and left for dead by the ruler of Scorr Tanta. It broke my heart that this species was just thrown away like garbage for no reason at all. They posed no threat to anyone. They are such a kind and gentle people and I just wanted to hug them. My heart grew 3 sizes reading about them. I still don’t understand why the ruler wanted them left for dead. I’m hoping we will find out more about why in the second book.
The entire cast of characters in this book was fantastic! They all had different personalities and we got to know quite a few of them. We were made to really hate the bad guys and love the good guys. I love a book where the characters are well-rounded and have their own personalities. My favorite character definitely has to be Haylee. She’s tough, loyal, and protective! I also really liked her brother, Evan. He is kind and caring. I’m not sure how I feel about the main character Ellie just yet. She struck me the wrong way about 3/4 through the book. We will see in the next book if I start to like her more.
Overall, I think this is a fun story for all ages! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Also a plus is that the author, R.J., is a fantastic person! He’s so friendly and I really have enjoyed working with him. I am giving this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to R.J. Furness for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
October 22, 2017
Hundreds of years in the future, in an ice-age complete with animals and humans alike who have had to evolve over time in order to endure, "The Union' has emerged. A new order in the icy-dystopia, where humans have once again banded together to survive any way possible. But where one would rule, there is always those who will dissent.
Renegades is told from the perspective of many characters, though concentrating on a few central ones for the majority. Changing point of view every chapter revealed each character's motivations, and helped underscore the extent of what was going on.
Furness has done a credible job world-building, and you really get a good sense of the scale his imagination is working on. It was a little disappointing, as a result, not to get more detail on the history of this new world. I wanted to be really immersed in the culture and history, but our characters were frustratingly close-lipped on the topic. It didn't seem to be a case of the writer not knowing the history but, perhaps more frustratingly, it seemed to be well known and mapped out--just not shared with the reader. This may be a tactic to build curiosity and suspense for future novels, but I found it distracting not to fully understand where the characters were really coming from, experience-wise.
Our main character, Ellie, is left as a bit of an enigma for the first 3/4 of the book. When we are introduced to her, she seems to be a flighty young girl, with a crush on an unavailable guy and not much sense. She also has an unhealthy obsession with a group of young people who seem to spell out T-R-O-U-B-L-E in neon flashing lights. It is easy to write this obsession off as a very silly young woman's desire for adventure and well, trouble. Easy, because we are given very little introspection with Ellie, and almost zero background. It is hinted at that she was recently uprooted, and she doesn't have any family around...but her feelings on the topic are a mystery.
I found the creatures populating the book to be fascinating, and would love more detailed breakdown of how (and from what) they evolved. The orgo, featured on the cover and heavily within the novel, seemed to be a mix or horse and ostrich (sans wings, sadly), which you might not think would work...but strangely it did. Furness did a good job of using these creatures to underscore certain elements of the book -especially when using the 'gliders', a bird that gave off a very vulture-like feel, to herald the arrival of one of the antagonists.
Speaking of antagonists, but not that one, let's talk about our big baddie- Rada. Leader (ruler? dictator? queen?) of The Union, Rada is an interesting bag of mixed nuts. She is obsessed with the strength of her reign, and will tolerate no weakness from her subordinates, nor questioning from her subjects. She was actually one of the more compelling characters as, yet again, a very interesting past is hinted at, but not revealed. She seems to have very little humanity in her, yet seems to engender loyalty from her subjects without even trying. And when she does try? Let's just say, watch out Renegades. For an antagonist that sits in her stronghold, far away from the actual conflict, she certainly has her claws dug in to every little thing going on. I liked that she was sharply intelligent, and had back up plans in place constantly. Where is the glory in winning, if your opponent is stupid?
Our other baddie, yes the one with the gliders, had me at once confused and disgusted. Let's call it disgruntled. Kayden was your typical ruthless, violent, easy-target villain. He likes to beat his slaves, kill adorable fluffy creatures and is on a war path to capture and enslave a (relatively) innocent woman. But then there is this one, super awkward, moment when he treats his slave (recovering from his own abuse) with some sort of strange Stockholm Syndrome-esque kindness that has you all confused..until he kills one of the aforementioned fluffy creatures and is back to his normal self. Did I say Rada was nuts? Because Kayden must be from the same bag.
As I mentioned before, 3/4 of the way through the book, we get the big spoiler-ridden reveal, that explains quite a bit. I won't say much more on the topic, so you can be nice and surprised when you read it, but I will say that it really worked well for the story. Also, it very nearly snuck up on me, which is a high compliment indeed. I'm pretty good at following plot points and foreshadowing (I knew who Cedric would turn out to be!) but this one reveal was nearly upon me before I figured it out. (Bad Shannon! *slaps own hand*)
This novel's strengths lie in its action scenes. Suspense was well built, and the action itself was easy to imagine. Scenes of conflict or fleeing had me turning the pages rapidly, totally engrossed in the story. Quiet moments for the characters tended to highlight awkward dialogue, or missing exposition.
Overall, this was an interesting read. I think Furness has created a compelling world, and would really like to know more about how it came to be, and how it operates. This novel felt like a teaser, just the lead in for a much longer series. In that sense, it did its job and made me curious. I think the characters have a lot of developing to do, and plenty of room to open up and bring us deeper into their world. Clearly, a large conflict is brewing in The Union, and I think the dissent will spread rapidly.
Renegades is told from the perspective of many characters, though concentrating on a few central ones for the majority. Changing point of view every chapter revealed each character's motivations, and helped underscore the extent of what was going on.
Furness has done a credible job world-building, and you really get a good sense of the scale his imagination is working on. It was a little disappointing, as a result, not to get more detail on the history of this new world. I wanted to be really immersed in the culture and history, but our characters were frustratingly close-lipped on the topic. It didn't seem to be a case of the writer not knowing the history but, perhaps more frustratingly, it seemed to be well known and mapped out--just not shared with the reader. This may be a tactic to build curiosity and suspense for future novels, but I found it distracting not to fully understand where the characters were really coming from, experience-wise.
Our main character, Ellie, is left as a bit of an enigma for the first 3/4 of the book. When we are introduced to her, she seems to be a flighty young girl, with a crush on an unavailable guy and not much sense. She also has an unhealthy obsession with a group of young people who seem to spell out T-R-O-U-B-L-E in neon flashing lights. It is easy to write this obsession off as a very silly young woman's desire for adventure and well, trouble. Easy, because we are given very little introspection with Ellie, and almost zero background. It is hinted at that she was recently uprooted, and she doesn't have any family around...but her feelings on the topic are a mystery.
I found the creatures populating the book to be fascinating, and would love more detailed breakdown of how (and from what) they evolved. The orgo, featured on the cover and heavily within the novel, seemed to be a mix or horse and ostrich (sans wings, sadly), which you might not think would work...but strangely it did. Furness did a good job of using these creatures to underscore certain elements of the book -especially when using the 'gliders', a bird that gave off a very vulture-like feel, to herald the arrival of one of the antagonists.
Speaking of antagonists, but not that one, let's talk about our big baddie- Rada. Leader (ruler? dictator? queen?) of The Union, Rada is an interesting bag of mixed nuts. She is obsessed with the strength of her reign, and will tolerate no weakness from her subordinates, nor questioning from her subjects. She was actually one of the more compelling characters as, yet again, a very interesting past is hinted at, but not revealed. She seems to have very little humanity in her, yet seems to engender loyalty from her subjects without even trying. And when she does try? Let's just say, watch out Renegades. For an antagonist that sits in her stronghold, far away from the actual conflict, she certainly has her claws dug in to every little thing going on. I liked that she was sharply intelligent, and had back up plans in place constantly. Where is the glory in winning, if your opponent is stupid?
Our other baddie, yes the one with the gliders, had me at once confused and disgusted. Let's call it disgruntled. Kayden was your typical ruthless, violent, easy-target villain. He likes to beat his slaves, kill adorable fluffy creatures and is on a war path to capture and enslave a (relatively) innocent woman. But then there is this one, super awkward, moment when he treats his slave (recovering from his own abuse) with some sort of strange Stockholm Syndrome-esque kindness that has you all confused..until he kills one of the aforementioned fluffy creatures and is back to his normal self. Did I say Rada was nuts? Because Kayden must be from the same bag.
As I mentioned before, 3/4 of the way through the book, we get the big spoiler-ridden reveal, that explains quite a bit. I won't say much more on the topic, so you can be nice and surprised when you read it, but I will say that it really worked well for the story. Also, it very nearly snuck up on me, which is a high compliment indeed. I'm pretty good at following plot points and foreshadowing (I knew who Cedric would turn out to be!) but this one reveal was nearly upon me before I figured it out. (Bad Shannon! *slaps own hand*)
This novel's strengths lie in its action scenes. Suspense was well built, and the action itself was easy to imagine. Scenes of conflict or fleeing had me turning the pages rapidly, totally engrossed in the story. Quiet moments for the characters tended to highlight awkward dialogue, or missing exposition.
Overall, this was an interesting read. I think Furness has created a compelling world, and would really like to know more about how it came to be, and how it operates. This novel felt like a teaser, just the lead in for a much longer series. In that sense, it did its job and made me curious. I think the characters have a lot of developing to do, and plenty of room to open up and bring us deeper into their world. Clearly, a large conflict is brewing in The Union, and I think the dissent will spread rapidly.
August 21, 2018
I Really enjoyed this book !!
The story had me hooked from the start. When I first started the book , I had no idea what sort of characters or plot the book would have, but I can safely say that I cannot wait to read the next book !!! Also.....that unexpected twist.... oh my !
I love how the book was written and am looking forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.
The story had me hooked from the start. When I first started the book , I had no idea what sort of characters or plot the book would have, but I can safely say that I cannot wait to read the next book !!! Also.....that unexpected twist.... oh my !
I love how the book was written and am looking forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.
March 31, 2018
See the original Review here!
Dissent Renegades is a novel by author R. J. Furness. The story takes place on Earth- though many years into the future after most of the planet froze over- and follows Ellie- an undercover warden from Scorr Tanta who poses as a caretaker for Orgos (a large creature that can be ridden like a horse, though reminds me of a smaller version of a long-neck dinosaur). During Ellie’s time as an apprentice for an older gentleman named Cedric, Ellie bonds with one of the orgos named Sage. It is also during this mission in Port Harmony that Ellie meets a young man named Evan, a market trader. And while Evan is easy on the eyes, fair mannered, and steady- his sister Haylee hold all the qualities of a fearless leader- strong, dependable, passionate, and loyal. Her followers- Tik, Ditto, and Morrigan are the perfect reflection of her attributes as a leader with their unwavering faith in her, and steadfast loyalty.
This futuristic, post ice-age world is broken into different colonies- Port Harmony, Scorr Tanta, Eklips, and the caves. Dissent Renegades takes you through most of this terrain- which I absolutely loved, as I enjoy a good story that provides an imaginative setting. These different locations also provided an opportunity to bring different characters into the story. The mix of characters was refreshing- for example, this wasn’t a story that focuses strictly on good vs. evil- one set of “good” guys fighting one set of “bad” guys. We were able to see the good, the bad, and the murkiness in between. Rada- the cold, domineering ruler of Scorr Tanta constantly tries to exercise her power and control over her people. She operates behind this veil of strength and competency- though these machinations are really a bid for complete dominion (which Ellie begins to see beyond, thank goodness). Then there’s Kayden, another ruler with a sick appetite for controlling people by making them slaves- and punishing them severely when he sees fit to do so. Finally, Ermine is a warden operating with fierce indignation, anger, and cruelty.
My favorite part of this story? The fact that there really aren’t too many “damsels in distress” who need the guy to come swooping in to save them. On the contrary, the females in this story hold their own and often do all the saving. Ellie is naturally curious, fearless, and begins to see beyond all the lies she was raised believing. She proves her loyalty to Haylee on more than one occasion by saving her life. Though, I suspect Haylee would have managed to make it through some of those situations had she had more time to think of a plan of escape. Haylee knows how to hold her own in a fight and remains strong and confident even in the face of insurmountable odds. Her desire to care for and protect the Elrupe (a different species of beings) also made her a favorite of mine. Ditto also saves the life of a slave girl named Pandra and pays a price that still makes my heart ache to think of it. Also- Pandra with a mace…eh, not something you’re going to want to be on the receiving end of. And Morrigan is fiery and loyal as well. All things considered, the females of this story really carried the true strength and power needed to succeed (sorry Evan and Tik!). And Widget? This little guy cracked me up (seriously though, I need a widget in my life).
The dash of something brewing sweet and beautiful between Ellie and Evan was the perfect little cherry on top of a story that was brimming with adventure and intrigue! Dissent Renegades was an exciting adventure filled with imaginative creatures, breathtaking settings, nail-biting action, and unforgettable experiences! I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes these characters! And thank goodness for a good story that involves STRONG female protagonists!
FIVE STARS for Dissent Renegades!
Dissent Renegades is a novel by author R. J. Furness. The story takes place on Earth- though many years into the future after most of the planet froze over- and follows Ellie- an undercover warden from Scorr Tanta who poses as a caretaker for Orgos (a large creature that can be ridden like a horse, though reminds me of a smaller version of a long-neck dinosaur). During Ellie’s time as an apprentice for an older gentleman named Cedric, Ellie bonds with one of the orgos named Sage. It is also during this mission in Port Harmony that Ellie meets a young man named Evan, a market trader. And while Evan is easy on the eyes, fair mannered, and steady- his sister Haylee hold all the qualities of a fearless leader- strong, dependable, passionate, and loyal. Her followers- Tik, Ditto, and Morrigan are the perfect reflection of her attributes as a leader with their unwavering faith in her, and steadfast loyalty.
This futuristic, post ice-age world is broken into different colonies- Port Harmony, Scorr Tanta, Eklips, and the caves. Dissent Renegades takes you through most of this terrain- which I absolutely loved, as I enjoy a good story that provides an imaginative setting. These different locations also provided an opportunity to bring different characters into the story. The mix of characters was refreshing- for example, this wasn’t a story that focuses strictly on good vs. evil- one set of “good” guys fighting one set of “bad” guys. We were able to see the good, the bad, and the murkiness in between. Rada- the cold, domineering ruler of Scorr Tanta constantly tries to exercise her power and control over her people. She operates behind this veil of strength and competency- though these machinations are really a bid for complete dominion (which Ellie begins to see beyond, thank goodness). Then there’s Kayden, another ruler with a sick appetite for controlling people by making them slaves- and punishing them severely when he sees fit to do so. Finally, Ermine is a warden operating with fierce indignation, anger, and cruelty.
My favorite part of this story? The fact that there really aren’t too many “damsels in distress” who need the guy to come swooping in to save them. On the contrary, the females in this story hold their own and often do all the saving. Ellie is naturally curious, fearless, and begins to see beyond all the lies she was raised believing. She proves her loyalty to Haylee on more than one occasion by saving her life. Though, I suspect Haylee would have managed to make it through some of those situations had she had more time to think of a plan of escape. Haylee knows how to hold her own in a fight and remains strong and confident even in the face of insurmountable odds. Her desire to care for and protect the Elrupe (a different species of beings) also made her a favorite of mine. Ditto also saves the life of a slave girl named Pandra and pays a price that still makes my heart ache to think of it. Also- Pandra with a mace…eh, not something you’re going to want to be on the receiving end of. And Morrigan is fiery and loyal as well. All things considered, the females of this story really carried the true strength and power needed to succeed (sorry Evan and Tik!). And Widget? This little guy cracked me up (seriously though, I need a widget in my life).
The dash of something brewing sweet and beautiful between Ellie and Evan was the perfect little cherry on top of a story that was brimming with adventure and intrigue! Dissent Renegades was an exciting adventure filled with imaginative creatures, breathtaking settings, nail-biting action, and unforgettable experiences! I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes these characters! And thank goodness for a good story that involves STRONG female protagonists!
FIVE STARS for Dissent Renegades!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
My full review can be found here: http://rachels-readings.blogspot.co.u...
I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this book, but by the end I was sucked in and I loved it. I can't wait for the next book where I have been told there will be a bit more history (the one thing I thought was missing as I love history of people in the books).
I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this book, but by the end I was sucked in and I loved it. I can't wait for the next book where I have been told there will be a bit more history (the one thing I thought was missing as I love history of people in the books).
February 13, 2018
I really loved this book! It was such a fun, and exciting book with an amazing setting. I was hooked completely, and if it wasn't for uni deadlines I'd have devoured it in a couple of days!
FULL REVIEW: https://betweenthepages13.wordpress.c...
FULL REVIEW: https://betweenthepages13.wordpress.c...
October 7, 2018
An ice age destroyed most of the humans. The ones left former into three groups called the union. Some disagree with the union and are rebelling against it. How will they fight? Will they succeed? See how they will get on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 8, 2018
I loved the presentation from many different viewpoints and I loved the idea of the story. As a children's book, it is fabulous and I have recommended this to my students. I can't wait for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews