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Divided States #2
North
Guardian's Book of the Month, 2018
'[With] echoes of Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Stephen King's The Stand...' Guardian on South
If a virus doesn't kill you, the South will...
The USA has been ravaged by Civil War. It's been thirty years since the first wind-borne viruses ended the war between North and South. While the South has been devastated by disease - the North has emerged victorious, but terrified of reprisals. Both territories remain at the mercy of the vicious Northern dictator, Renard.
Two survivors, Dyce and Vida, journeyed deep into the Southern terrains in search of a Cure for Renard's chemical warfare. Now they find themselves scouring the Northern territories on a new and far deadlier pursuit; to eliminate Renard himself. Could Dyce and Vida unite a fractured America - and at what cost?
This is the story of Dyce and Vida.
This is the story of the Resistance and its last, desperate, stand.
This is the story of North.
'[With] echoes of Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Stephen King's The Stand...' Guardian on South
If a virus doesn't kill you, the South will...
The USA has been ravaged by Civil War. It's been thirty years since the first wind-borne viruses ended the war between North and South. While the South has been devastated by disease - the North has emerged victorious, but terrified of reprisals. Both territories remain at the mercy of the vicious Northern dictator, Renard.
Two survivors, Dyce and Vida, journeyed deep into the Southern terrains in search of a Cure for Renard's chemical warfare. Now they find themselves scouring the Northern territories on a new and far deadlier pursuit; to eliminate Renard himself. Could Dyce and Vida unite a fractured America - and at what cost?
This is the story of Dyce and Vida.
This is the story of the Resistance and its last, desperate, stand.
This is the story of North.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2018
8 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 6, 2018
North, part of the Divided States series, had so much promise with its post-apocalyptic setting, but, unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype and excitement I'd created in my mind. First things first, it's essential to have read the first book in the series, South, before this one as very little will make sense otherwise. Right, my initial issue with this novel was being unable to connect and thereby invest in the characters, and this is quite a substantial problem given that we are meant to be able to sympathise with them and the situation they find themselves in. There was also rather a lot of characters to keep tabs on, and I found the plot was often confusing and convoluted. Despite finishing it, it left me feeling deflated and disappointed that a fantastic concept has gone to waste.
Many thanks to Corvus for an ARC.
Many thanks to Corvus for an ARC.
May 23, 2020
North is the second and last book in the Divided States duology. The South is ravaged by fatal diseases that ride the winds, after our protagonists, Vida and Dice, survive the peril of the South we join then where we left them, breaching the Wall into the North.
This was such a fantastic sequel. I loved the first book with all the strange situations Vida and Dyce got into but this book ramped up the danger and the fight for survival. I adored how they recapped what happened in the first book with Vida writing a letter to her unborn baby so the child knew where it came from and the people it came from. It was a nice way to remind the reader what happened while also having an air of sorrow to it as it foreshadows what's yet to comes.
You don't know who or what to trust, all you know is that Vida and Dyce have to survive and in doing so they'll come up against untrustworthy people and tricky situations. Even the good guys are shifty, no one is to be trusted, the only people they can trust are themselves. It brings a new sense of tension. With wanting to try and find a way to stop the horror in the South, our protagonists are trying to survive in a world that doesn't want them too. It's stressful and tense situation and you can't help but feel sorry for the doomed lovers.
If you like dystopians reads I'd definitely recommend the Divided States duology to you!
Rated: 4/5 Stars
This was such a fantastic sequel. I loved the first book with all the strange situations Vida and Dyce got into but this book ramped up the danger and the fight for survival. I adored how they recapped what happened in the first book with Vida writing a letter to her unborn baby so the child knew where it came from and the people it came from. It was a nice way to remind the reader what happened while also having an air of sorrow to it as it foreshadows what's yet to comes.
You don't know who or what to trust, all you know is that Vida and Dyce have to survive and in doing so they'll come up against untrustworthy people and tricky situations. Even the good guys are shifty, no one is to be trusted, the only people they can trust are themselves. It brings a new sense of tension. With wanting to try and find a way to stop the horror in the South, our protagonists are trying to survive in a world that doesn't want them too. It's stressful and tense situation and you can't help but feel sorry for the doomed lovers.
If you like dystopians reads I'd definitely recommend the Divided States duology to you!
Rated: 4/5 Stars
January 8, 2019
I was intrigued by the cover claim on North – that it’s a post-apocalyptic game changer. That’s a pretty big call in this genre. Not a lot changes, really. There’s an apocalypse, and then people have to survive afterwards. Normally there are the ‘good’ people who try to survive while keeping their humanity intact. Then there are the ‘bad’ people who either just don’t cope or see the end of the world as an excuse to shed the last of their civility. And, of course the ‘big bad’ is whatever caused the apocalypse – rising seas, toxicity, meteor crashing into the earth etc.
North is different. The lines are blurred. It’s sometimes hard to tell who is ‘good’ and who is ‘bad’. It feels confusing. But when you’ve lived for decades fearing each new wave of viruses carried on the winds from Renard’s death lab in the North, survival must be the sole concern. There’s little room for morality, as the Southerners have found.
So what would happen if you found a way to finally make it over Renard’s wall, during a 100-year storm, into the North? What would the desire to seek revenge for the deaths of almost everyone you know drive you to do?
This is what North is about.
Be warned – this is a sequel. There’s actually a first book, called South. I didn’t realise this (it’s not clear in the blurb) until I headed over to Goodreads to mark it as ‘Currently reading’. There are a few complaints by readers over there who also didn’t realise this and were extra confused and found it difficult to connect with the characters.
I suspect North would be far less confusing if I’d read South first. I felt like there was enough detail at the start of North for me to understand what was going on in a broad sense. It took a while, however, for me to really understand the relationships between the characters, what made them tick and – most importantly – why they’d decided to come over the wall when they did.
I spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out who was a good guy and who was a bad guy. Just when I thought I had a handle on it, a good guy would do a fairly bad thing; or a bad guy would show compassion and empathy.
There’s a lot to like in North, if you’re willing to suspend disbelief. I had a few “Really?” moments. The cure-all mushrooms seemed to push the bounds of plausibility. I’m also not sure the manufacture of viruses plus the distribution of anti-virals in the North via the drinking water really rang true for me. Then again, my mother is a biologist so I’m coming at this with a lifetime of secondhand knowledge on the subject.
I can say that I liked North enough to buy the ebook of South! I’ll let you know how I go…
This review originally appeared on Story Addict.
North is different. The lines are blurred. It’s sometimes hard to tell who is ‘good’ and who is ‘bad’. It feels confusing. But when you’ve lived for decades fearing each new wave of viruses carried on the winds from Renard’s death lab in the North, survival must be the sole concern. There’s little room for morality, as the Southerners have found.
So what would happen if you found a way to finally make it over Renard’s wall, during a 100-year storm, into the North? What would the desire to seek revenge for the deaths of almost everyone you know drive you to do?
This is what North is about.
Be warned – this is a sequel. There’s actually a first book, called South. I didn’t realise this (it’s not clear in the blurb) until I headed over to Goodreads to mark it as ‘Currently reading’. There are a few complaints by readers over there who also didn’t realise this and were extra confused and found it difficult to connect with the characters.
I suspect North would be far less confusing if I’d read South first. I felt like there was enough detail at the start of North for me to understand what was going on in a broad sense. It took a while, however, for me to really understand the relationships between the characters, what made them tick and – most importantly – why they’d decided to come over the wall when they did.
I spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out who was a good guy and who was a bad guy. Just when I thought I had a handle on it, a good guy would do a fairly bad thing; or a bad guy would show compassion and empathy.
There’s a lot to like in North, if you’re willing to suspend disbelief. I had a few “Really?” moments. The cure-all mushrooms seemed to push the bounds of plausibility. I’m also not sure the manufacture of viruses plus the distribution of anti-virals in the North via the drinking water really rang true for me. Then again, my mother is a biologist so I’m coming at this with a lifetime of secondhand knowledge on the subject.
I can say that I liked North enough to buy the ebook of South! I’ll let you know how I go…
This review originally appeared on Story Addict.
December 4, 2018
Great take on a post apocalyptic world, that DOES NOT involve zombies for once! Although viruses are unleashed into the atmosphere, it is killing people on the spot rather than turning them. Some die, some suffer side affects, but there are no zombies, yay!
So North is the sequel to South, which I haven't read, and although it would have been nice to have the background story, if you are reading North first, you get enough of the back story to not feel out of touch. Dyce, Ruth and Vida have survived and managed to overcome the deadly viruses and are now based in a secret location North of the border, plotting to kill the culprit who released the viruses, Vida's father! Amongst them are other survivors from the South who have also managed to make it to the secret location, however their intentions may or may not be the same as everyone else's.....
Great take on a post apocalyptic world, that DOES NOT involve zombies for once! Although viruses are unleashed into the atmosphere, it is killing people on the spot rather than turning them. Some die, some suffer side affects, but there are no zombies, yay!
So North is the sequel to South, which I haven't read, and although it would have been nice to have the background story, if you are reading North first, you get enough of the back story to not feel out of touch. Dyce, Ruth and Vida have survived and managed to overcome the deadly viruses and are now based in a secret location North of the border, plotting to kill the culprit who released the viruses, Vida's father! Amongst them are other survivors from the South who have also managed to make it to the secret location, however their intentions may or may not be the same as everyone else's.....
So North is the sequel to South, which I haven't read, and although it would have been nice to have the background story, if you are reading North first, you get enough of the back story to not feel out of touch. Dyce, Ruth and Vida have survived and managed to overcome the deadly viruses and are now based in a secret location North of the border, plotting to kill the culprit who released the viruses, Vida's father! Amongst them are other survivors from the South who have also managed to make it to the secret location, however their intentions may or may not be the same as everyone else's.....
Great take on a post apocalyptic world, that DOES NOT involve zombies for once! Although viruses are unleashed into the atmosphere, it is killing people on the spot rather than turning them. Some die, some suffer side affects, but there are no zombies, yay!
So North is the sequel to South, which I haven't read, and although it would have been nice to have the background story, if you are reading North first, you get enough of the back story to not feel out of touch. Dyce, Ruth and Vida have survived and managed to overcome the deadly viruses and are now based in a secret location North of the border, plotting to kill the culprit who released the viruses, Vida's father! Amongst them are other survivors from the South who have also managed to make it to the secret location, however their intentions may or may not be the same as everyone else's.....
January 3, 2019
3.5 Stars
There is a strong attempt to make this book accessible to those who have not read the first in the saga, South, but I feel that without having read that one much of this book will make little to no sense (fortunately I have read the first one). Throughout you need knowledge of the backstory of the main protagonists - Vida, Dyce and Felix - without it I suspect they would seem rather odd people on the page. It is also hard to get a sense of the privations in the South from this book and how the people were living so their actions in the North make little sense. In short read these books in order people.
The progression of the story takes up exactly where we left them, this little pocket of survivors, washed up on the banks of the North Platte and trying to get through the wall. Some make it, some don't but of those that do they all seem inexplicably drawn to Des Moines and the headquarters of the Northern Resistance. Much of the book is set in the Capitol building and around the rather unsettling Adams, leader of the resistance and quasi-preacher who is very, very good at stirring the populace to his bidding.
There are reveals within the book that are pretty obvious by the time they are spelled out to the reader so there is little in the way of suspense from a plot point of view. What there is, is tension in abundance and a terrifying sense of claustrophobia within the Capitol Building. The building of a society within a society is well explored and the final denouement is quite shocking in it's intensity.
I found this to be a good, tense read but not quite up to the standard set by the first in the series.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
There is a strong attempt to make this book accessible to those who have not read the first in the saga, South, but I feel that without having read that one much of this book will make little to no sense (fortunately I have read the first one). Throughout you need knowledge of the backstory of the main protagonists - Vida, Dyce and Felix - without it I suspect they would seem rather odd people on the page. It is also hard to get a sense of the privations in the South from this book and how the people were living so their actions in the North make little sense. In short read these books in order people.
The progression of the story takes up exactly where we left them, this little pocket of survivors, washed up on the banks of the North Platte and trying to get through the wall. Some make it, some don't but of those that do they all seem inexplicably drawn to Des Moines and the headquarters of the Northern Resistance. Much of the book is set in the Capitol building and around the rather unsettling Adams, leader of the resistance and quasi-preacher who is very, very good at stirring the populace to his bidding.
There are reveals within the book that are pretty obvious by the time they are spelled out to the reader so there is little in the way of suspense from a plot point of view. What there is, is tension in abundance and a terrifying sense of claustrophobia within the Capitol Building. The building of a society within a society is well explored and the final denouement is quite shocking in it's intensity.
I found this to be a good, tense read but not quite up to the standard set by the first in the series.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
November 29, 2018
I haven't read South and suspect this might have helped in the enjoyment of North. Ultimately though, as a stand alone book, this didn't really work for me.
I found it impossible to connect with any of the characters and when you're reading a novel about the apocalyptic end of the world it would be helpful to have some empathy/feeling for the people involved.
The trouble was that it just felt really disjointed with characters dropping in from all directions kind of converging towards Des Moines and a resistance "hideout" in the Capitol building. There was a lot of gratuitous violence (particularly from Kurt) which felt a bit unnecessary. I also found it quite difficult to keep up with who was who and how characters were related (though again reading "South" would probably have helped with this).
In truth I struggled to finish this and almost gave up several times. Ultimately it wasn't for me but that's not to say that it's not an interesting concept but the books definitely need to be read in order!
I found it impossible to connect with any of the characters and when you're reading a novel about the apocalyptic end of the world it would be helpful to have some empathy/feeling for the people involved.
The trouble was that it just felt really disjointed with characters dropping in from all directions kind of converging towards Des Moines and a resistance "hideout" in the Capitol building. There was a lot of gratuitous violence (particularly from Kurt) which felt a bit unnecessary. I also found it quite difficult to keep up with who was who and how characters were related (though again reading "South" would probably have helped with this).
In truth I struggled to finish this and almost gave up several times. Ultimately it wasn't for me but that's not to say that it's not an interesting concept but the books definitely need to be read in order!
January 21, 2019
It's my own fault I didn't enjoy this story more. It's packed full of action, tense throughout and set in a truly frightening dystopia of rampant viral infections in a future depleted America locked in a no-holds-barred bio war between the North and the South. Whew!
I would have understood the scenario better and been familiar with the characters if only I'd realised I should read South before this later volume. As I'm sure you will be more sensible, I imagine you will find North builds upon the South story and takes it in some unexpected directions.
There is a strong literary tradition of characters in extreme situations dropping facades of moral behaviour, revealing themselves to be variously heroic, generous, murderous, cruel, ingenious, barbaric, loyal, unprincipled...
North is no exception so we get to play that 'what would I do in this bizarre dilemma?' game. Well worth a read.
I would have understood the scenario better and been familiar with the characters if only I'd realised I should read South before this later volume. As I'm sure you will be more sensible, I imagine you will find North builds upon the South story and takes it in some unexpected directions.
There is a strong literary tradition of characters in extreme situations dropping facades of moral behaviour, revealing themselves to be variously heroic, generous, murderous, cruel, ingenious, barbaric, loyal, unprincipled...
North is no exception so we get to play that 'what would I do in this bizarre dilemma?' game. Well worth a read.
Read
March 28, 2021I like this book because it has a very interesting start it’s like they are waiting for us to go on a journey with the two main characters which i think it’s exciting because we get to feel and see what the characters see. The write has payed a lot of attention into making the reader part of the book aswell which i love. As i was reading through it i couldn’t be excited to read more and more jusf because their journey seems so realistic. When taking the reader thought the journey of the characters it makes them feel welcomed and comfortable is not just “ oh i’m just reading this book” it’s like “ im part of this book”. It also gives us the idea that the writer , the characters and the readers don’t know what’s going to happen next it’s a life or death type of feeling. I think this book deserves more audience than it already has. I feel like it will have a lot of tension and moments where there would be a life or death situation which i can’t wait for !
November 18, 2018
I feel so bad giving this book a bad review because I haven’t read South which I assume is the prequel. But I felt like the first 60 percent of the book was the in between the original and North and I had no idea what was going on. Usually in sequels you could still pick the book up in the middle of the series and get an idea of what was going on but I never got that... the book got slightly interesting about half way through but then I was bored quite quickly. After finishing the book I realised that the start of the book where they are all on their journey was more fun than the later part which shouldn’t normally be the case. After reading this book I don’t think I’ll go onto read the first book and I don’t think I could recommend this to anyone.
this book was sent to me by readers first in exchange for an honest review.
this book was sent to me by readers first in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2019
It seems unusual to find an apocalyptic story without zombies and/ or magic these days, but I think this does it well. Instead we have the power-hungry madness of a politician-cum-scientist to contend with.
This is actually the second book in the Divided States series. You don’t need to have read the first novel, South, but it WILL make it easier to understand what’s going on in this book! The privations of the South can’t really be fully comprehended if you’ve only read this book.
I really liked this book: the descriptions of the landscapes (the North doesn’t seem to have escaped from the viruses and the aftermath of the civil war), the people and the madness of those in power, virus inflicted or not, was really well portrayed.
The ending was somewhat satisfying, and reassuringly open ended. I’m looking forward to the possibility of another book in the series!
This is actually the second book in the Divided States series. You don’t need to have read the first novel, South, but it WILL make it easier to understand what’s going on in this book! The privations of the South can’t really be fully comprehended if you’ve only read this book.
I really liked this book: the descriptions of the landscapes (the North doesn’t seem to have escaped from the viruses and the aftermath of the civil war), the people and the madness of those in power, virus inflicted or not, was really well portrayed.
The ending was somewhat satisfying, and reassuringly open ended. I’m looking forward to the possibility of another book in the series!
September 18, 2022
It seems unusual to find an apocalyptic story without zombies and/ or magic these days, but I think this does it well. Instead we have the power-hungry madness of a politician-cum-scientist to contend with.
This is actually the second book in the Divided States series. You don’t need to have read the first novel, South, but it WILL make it easier to understand what’s going on in this book! The privations of the South can’t really be fully comprehended if you’ve only read this book.
I really liked this book: the descriptions of the landscapes (the North doesn’t seem to have escaped from the viruses and the aftermath of the civil war), the people and the madness of those in power, virus inflicted or not, was really well portrayed.
The ending was somewhat satisfying, and reassuringly open ended. I’m looking forward to the possibility of another book in the series
This is actually the second book in the Divided States series. You don’t need to have read the first novel, South, but it WILL make it easier to understand what’s going on in this book! The privations of the South can’t really be fully comprehended if you’ve only read this book.
I really liked this book: the descriptions of the landscapes (the North doesn’t seem to have escaped from the viruses and the aftermath of the civil war), the people and the madness of those in power, virus inflicted or not, was really well portrayed.
The ending was somewhat satisfying, and reassuringly open ended. I’m looking forward to the possibility of another book in the series
December 9, 2018
Being that I haven’t read the first of these books — South — I wasn’t sure whether or not I’d get completely lost with the story.
I actually didn’t get lost at all.
I thought there was enough backstory and references to what had happened to understand why the country was as it was and it was fairly easy to keep up with the storyline and the characters but I am going to have to get South now!
In the beginning I had to keep reminding myself of who’s perspective the chapter was written in but that got easier to differentiate as the book went on. More so when certain characters met up and they were in the same place, experiencing the same situations.
As far as dystopians go, it was quite good and I’m glad I read it.
I actually didn’t get lost at all.
I thought there was enough backstory and references to what had happened to understand why the country was as it was and it was fairly easy to keep up with the storyline and the characters but I am going to have to get South now!
In the beginning I had to keep reminding myself of who’s perspective the chapter was written in but that got easier to differentiate as the book went on. More so when certain characters met up and they were in the same place, experiencing the same situations.
As far as dystopians go, it was quite good and I’m glad I read it.
December 9, 2022
“If a virus doesn't kill you, the South will...
The USA has been ravaged by Civil War. It's been thirty years since the first wind-borne viruses ended the war between North and South. While the South has been devastated by disease - the North has emerged victorious, but terrified of reprisals. Both territories remain at the mercy of the vicious Northern dictator, Renard.
This is the story of the Resistance and its last, desperate, stand.
This is the story of North.”
This is the sequel to “South (Divided States, #1) and it’s a worthy ending to the story. Darkness and love, death and new life….this is a tale of contrasts. Enthralling and exciting with an ending that I did not see coming. Top book!
The USA has been ravaged by Civil War. It's been thirty years since the first wind-borne viruses ended the war between North and South. While the South has been devastated by disease - the North has emerged victorious, but terrified of reprisals. Both territories remain at the mercy of the vicious Northern dictator, Renard.
This is the story of the Resistance and its last, desperate, stand.
This is the story of North.”
This is the sequel to “South (Divided States, #1) and it’s a worthy ending to the story. Darkness and love, death and new life….this is a tale of contrasts. Enthralling and exciting with an ending that I did not see coming. Top book!
March 20, 2022
We follow Vida and Dyce in the North and the South is washed away. The Civil war may have been thirty years ago, but it still rages strong in the minds and hearts of the Resistance and the flame of war is sparked alive once again as southerners come across the border wall. We meet the President of the North, Renard, face to face and get to experience what the man who ruled the world thought and how he operated. Let the war rage on; and as we all know, all’s fair in love and war.
February 25, 2019
Decent dystopian fiction. It’s a really quick read, quite a lot happens and the pace really works well. I didn’t connect with the characters 100%, but I didn’t read Soutb so I’m lacking some necessary background. Still, it was interesting and tried some interesting things. Not a must read, but better than a lot of dystopian fiction I’ve suffered through, and good enough for a fair recommendation.
February 17, 2020
I found this novel way too violent to be comfortable with it. When one of the characters kills 5 people in 24 hours (including women and children), I draw the line. I couldn't get past halfway, even though there were some interesting scenarios that got my attention. So I will certainly skip South, expecting similar.
June 12, 2020
What a wonderful story
I read both these books....and have to say the story was the best ever..even tho I loved wool,this outdoes it as my favourite book,
Every character was so believable and it was a story that kept you wanting to keep reading.....full marks to a very talented author.
I read both these books....and have to say the story was the best ever..even tho I loved wool,this outdoes it as my favourite book,
Every character was so believable and it was a story that kept you wanting to keep reading.....full marks to a very talented author.
December 26, 2018
Great to see the story continued!
November 9, 2019
A terrific dystopia novel!
May 1, 2023
Worse than the first one!! And EVERYONE DIES. WHO WRITES BOOKS LIKE THIS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2019
I am a huge dystopian fan. I was looking forward to the South/North duology and ultimately ended up being disappointed by them both.
I thoroughly enjoyed the concept.... America split into two halves. The losing side ravaged by virus and illness and the winning side tormented by dictatorship. However the execution was not what I expected. I found the writing to be very convoluted and long winded.
The characters were strong, brave and clever, the series just fell short for me due to its general execution, however I think this book would be a massive hit for fans of The Wind Up Girl and The Water Knife
I thoroughly enjoyed the concept.... America split into two halves. The losing side ravaged by virus and illness and the winning side tormented by dictatorship. However the execution was not what I expected. I found the writing to be very convoluted and long winded.
The characters were strong, brave and clever, the series just fell short for me due to its general execution, however I think this book would be a massive hit for fans of The Wind Up Girl and The Water Knife
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews