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Kiera #1
Kiera
Kiera is looking forward to her eighteenth birthday. The official end of school, a party with her best friend, and chocolate cake. A sudden military draft, no possible exemptions, had never crossed her mind.
Kiera is terrified! Getting drafted would mean leaving her family, her little friend Jade—life as she knows it.
A surprising offer from Brennan Stewart just might be the answer to her prayers, but an even worse trial leaves her with one question…
If God truly loves her, why did this tragedy happen?
Kiera is terrified! Getting drafted would mean leaving her family, her little friend Jade—life as she knows it.
A surprising offer from Brennan Stewart just might be the answer to her prayers, but an even worse trial leaves her with one question…
If God truly loves her, why did this tragedy happen?
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2018
11 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Kate Willis
23 books570 followersKate (Willis) Hoppman is a follower of Jesus and lover of words. She enjoys quiet afternoons reading or watching movies with her nerdy husband, baking tall cakes, and cuddling her dogs.
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Read
May 11, 2022IT'S HERE! 💙💙 I hope you all enjoy this book of my heart.
Ahhhhhhhh!!! It's COVER REVEAL DAY!!! (Thanks to whichever Goodreads librarian friend successfully got the cover on here.)
Releasing 5/11/2022. Pre-orders for limited edition hardcover are now open here: https://forms.gle/VXaz7CSSG9EiD7nz5
2022 Update: New edition, who's this? Brand new cover and more exciting details coming soon! 😍😍
Original Updates
Aaaaaand it's a wrap! The book is born! *collapses in a pile of confetti*
Do you see what I see? A COVER!!! <3 <3
This book of my heart is scheduled to come out mid- to late-June. I can't wait to share it with you! <3
Suggested age 16+
Content advisory:
Brief mentions of abortion, embryo storage and adoption
"Off-screen" death
Brief mentions of a hard childhood including physical abuse
Light romance (message for more details) ;)
(For a more detailed content advisory, check out this review: https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...)
Ahhhhhhhh!!! It's COVER REVEAL DAY!!! (Thanks to whichever Goodreads librarian friend successfully got the cover on here.)
Releasing 5/11/2022. Pre-orders for limited edition hardcover are now open here: https://forms.gle/VXaz7CSSG9EiD7nz5
2022 Update: New edition, who's this? Brand new cover and more exciting details coming soon! 😍😍
Original Updates
Aaaaaand it's a wrap! The book is born! *collapses in a pile of confetti*
Do you see what I see? A COVER!!! <3 <3
This book of my heart is scheduled to come out mid- to late-June. I can't wait to share it with you! <3
Suggested age 16+
Content advisory:
Brief mentions of abortion, embryo storage and adoption
"Off-screen" death
Brief mentions of a hard childhood including physical abuse
Light romance (message for more details) ;)
(For a more detailed content advisory, check out this review: https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...)
May 3, 2019
3.5 stars!
Kiera is a well-woven coming of age story about a young woman who chooses family instead of war--a much-loved twist on most YA dystopian novels! I'm tired of dysto's having females who MUST FIGHT! This was a great twist in the market and written fabulously.
The lack of stars comes from world-building. The family relationships, character arcs, storyline--it was all executed satisfyingly, but there was a lack of backstory as far as 'how did the world become like this?' etc etc that occasionally became distracting. When you love a book, you wanna know more about it, and this was one of those cases.
Kiera is a well-woven coming of age story about a young woman who chooses family instead of war--a much-loved twist on most YA dystopian novels! I'm tired of dysto's having females who MUST FIGHT! This was a great twist in the market and written fabulously.
The lack of stars comes from world-building. The family relationships, character arcs, storyline--it was all executed satisfyingly, but there was a lack of backstory as far as 'how did the world become like this?' etc etc that occasionally became distracting. When you love a book, you wanna know more about it, and this was one of those cases.
Read
June 3, 2018Me: Oh, I want to read that book!
Other Me: *slaps Me* YOU DID READ THAT BOOK! You were a beta-reader.
Me: OH! I guess the cover just threw me off. *nods*
If the final draft is as good as the beta-reader draft, well, this is going to be amazing! xD ;P Review to come when it's published, and I get a final copy!
Other Me: *slaps Me* YOU DID READ THAT BOOK! You were a beta-reader.
Me: OH! I guess the cover just threw me off. *nods*
If the final draft is as good as the beta-reader draft, well, this is going to be amazing! xD ;P Review to come when it's published, and I get a final copy!
July 12, 2018
4.5 stars.
Okay, wow. So I knew I was going to love this from way back when before it was even completely written. But Kate Willis definitely blew it out of the water! *slow clap*
First off, this book is so unique. A dystopian marriage of convenience? I would never have thought it, and I'm not sure anybody else has either because I've never heard of anything similar. *mind blow* Oftentimes, marriages of convenience can get a bit iffy and tend to fall into the "too much information" category for me. There are very few I like. But Kiera was fabulous. Willis handles a very hard situation with such tact and grace.
The characters. While at first Kiera seemed a little lackluster, layers kept unwrapping as the story unfolded, and our MC turns into an incredibly realistic and relatable human being with her own struggles and issues and quirks that are so real.
Jade was definitely one of my favorite characters! There are authors who write little child characters, and then there are authors who WRITE little child characters, and Kate is definitely in the second category. Jade's voice, actions, and interactions were so realistic and utterly adorable!
And then there's Brennan . . . He wins the favorite character award! Just wow! Such an amazing character. I loved his tender heart and how real (I feel like I'm using that word a lot?) he was. Definitely not your cookie-cutter stereotypical perfect male protagonist.
The plot, while definitely not as action-filled as you might expect a dystopian book to be, was still very engaging and kept me turning pages. The themes (faith, martyrs, abortion, adoption, etc) were so well done. Another wow. Definitely some tears spilled.
Probably the main reason I docked a half-star-ish is that I felt the writing style\voice could have used a little improvement. Or maybe it's just not my personal preference in style. But regardless, that did not detract much from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, another wow! A fabulous debut novel from this talented author! I can't wait to read more!
*Small Fangirl Review:*
Okay, wow. So I knew I was going to love this from way back when before it was even completely written. But Kate Willis definitely blew it out of the water! *slow clap*
First off, this book is so unique. A dystopian marriage of convenience? I would never have thought it, and I'm not sure anybody else has either because I've never heard of anything similar. *mind blow* Oftentimes, marriages of convenience can get a bit iffy and tend to fall into the "too much information" category for me. There are very few I like. But Kiera was fabulous. Willis handles a very hard situation with such tact and grace.
The characters. While at first Kiera seemed a little lackluster, layers kept unwrapping as the story unfolded, and our MC turns into an incredibly realistic and relatable human being with her own struggles and issues and quirks that are so real.
Jade was definitely one of my favorite characters! There are authors who write little child characters, and then there are authors who WRITE little child characters, and Kate is definitely in the second category. Jade's voice, actions, and interactions were so realistic and utterly adorable!
And then there's Brennan . . . He wins the favorite character award! Just wow! Such an amazing character. I loved his tender heart and how real (I feel like I'm using that word a lot?) he was. Definitely not your cookie-cutter stereotypical perfect male protagonist.
The plot, while definitely not as action-filled as you might expect a dystopian book to be, was still very engaging and kept me turning pages. The themes (faith, martyrs, abortion, adoption, etc) were so well done. Another wow. Definitely some tears spilled.
Probably the main reason I docked a half-star-ish is that I felt the writing style\voice could have used a little improvement. Or maybe it's just not my personal preference in style. But regardless, that did not detract much from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, another wow! A fabulous debut novel from this talented author! I can't wait to read more!
*Small Fangirl Review:*
November 22, 2020
*gawks*
*gawks more*
*keeps gawking*
*screams*
*calms down*
Ok, now let's try for a review maybe- *screams*
Ok, ok. Ok.
Ok.
Umm. Like folks. This book. Umm. A bajillion stars? More then that? All the stars ever? The universe?
I can't even believe this. I love it so much. And it's mine to keep forever and ever because I bought a signed copy.
And... y'all. You have to read it.
Do you hear me? I can't even think straight! I'm just insanely in love with this book.
Maybe I will make more sense tomorrow. *blubbers*
RTC?
*gawks more*
*keeps gawking*
*screams*
*calms down*
Ok, now let's try for a review maybe- *screams*
Ok, ok. Ok.
Ok.
Umm. Like folks. This book. Umm. A bajillion stars? More then that? All the stars ever? The universe?
I can't even believe this. I love it so much. And it's mine to keep forever and ever because I bought a signed copy.
And... y'all. You have to read it.
Do you hear me? I can't even think straight! I'm just insanely in love with this book.
Maybe I will make more sense tomorrow. *blubbers*
RTC?
January 25, 2021
I wish I could give this book ten stars. It. was. so. good.
I'm a very biased reader. I've known this author for almost two years and I've been hearing little snatches of this book for almost a year. I'd already fallen in love with the characters before I started the book.
First off, let's talk about the characters, shall we? Kiera is an extremely relatable young adult. She deals with a lot of real issues, and you've just got to love her for her wanting to get better at things. And goodness this girl is like a bundle of hope. <3 The way she handled Jade was so sweet and firm, and everything it should be. I want to be a babysitter like that. Like the cake scene!!
Brennan. He was awesome. Sometimes his faults grated on my nerves, but then he was so nice afterward I always found myself loving him again. His compassion was so compelling it made me want to work more on being compassionate.
Jade!!! *Happy sigh* *Little kid sequel* She was so... huggable. Yes, she is a two-year-old kid but I love her, 'kay? And when she Yeah, I could keep going. I really loved Jade.
Destiny; I love friends like this. Friends that don't mind serious conversations, but are also a joyful influence. She was great.
Keira's parents. Can we hear a cheer that there are finally parents in a YA? Good parents. It was incredible!
The story was amazing. I don't say this about every book guys. I love character driven story's (Which this was) but the plot was woven in perfectly. The setting was clear and made me feel like I was actually there. Little things like the way the tablets work, and how they had to conduct the pro-life rally gave a perfect backdrop to the book.
The theme. Guys, this made the book. The characters were my favorite, all building towards the incredible theme of the book. Maybe love isn't what you thought it was. Maybe trust can be built fasted than you believed. Maybe even the smallest life's can make a huge difference. Maybe hope comes when you don't expect it. Maybe God's way is different than ours. That is the best I can do to describe the beautiful theme.
And the ending was amazing. I cannot wait to have this on my shelf. It was Kate's best book yet!
I highly recommend this book to anyone over 14 due to very mild romance, off-screen death, and mentions of abortions.
>I just finished reading this for the second time. Wow, it was amazing. The characters, the theme, the subtle encouragement to do what is right. This whole book is just great. My only complaint is that, even after reading it twice, I'm still unsure where all the radiation came from. It's never really explained.
I was part of the beta reading team for this book. I was not required to leave a review, but goodness, when a book sparkles, you've just got to tell people about it!
I'm a very biased reader. I've known this author for almost two years and I've been hearing little snatches of this book for almost a year. I'd already fallen in love with the characters before I started the book.
First off, let's talk about the characters, shall we? Kiera is an extremely relatable young adult. She deals with a lot of real issues, and you've just got to love her for her wanting to get better at things. And goodness this girl is like a bundle of hope. <3 The way she handled Jade was so sweet and firm, and everything it should be. I want to be a babysitter like that. Like the cake scene!!
Brennan. He was awesome. Sometimes his faults grated on my nerves, but then he was so nice afterward I always found myself loving him again. His compassion was so compelling it made me want to work more on being compassionate.
Jade!!! *Happy sigh* *Little kid sequel* She was so... huggable. Yes, she is a two-year-old kid but I love her, 'kay? And when she Yeah, I could keep going. I really loved Jade.
Destiny; I love friends like this. Friends that don't mind serious conversations, but are also a joyful influence. She was great.
Keira's parents. Can we hear a cheer that there are finally parents in a YA? Good parents. It was incredible!
The story was amazing. I don't say this about every book guys. I love character driven story's (Which this was) but the plot was woven in perfectly. The setting was clear and made me feel like I was actually there. Little things like the way the tablets work, and how they had to conduct the pro-life rally gave a perfect backdrop to the book.
The theme. Guys, this made the book. The characters were my favorite, all building towards the incredible theme of the book. Maybe love isn't what you thought it was. Maybe trust can be built fasted than you believed. Maybe even the smallest life's can make a huge difference. Maybe hope comes when you don't expect it. Maybe God's way is different than ours. That is the best I can do to describe the beautiful theme.
And the ending was amazing. I cannot wait to have this on my shelf. It was Kate's best book yet!
I highly recommend this book to anyone over 14 due to very mild romance, off-screen death, and mentions of abortions.
>I just finished reading this for the second time. Wow, it was amazing. The characters, the theme, the subtle encouragement to do what is right. This whole book is just great. My only complaint is that, even after reading it twice, I'm still unsure where all the radiation came from. It's never really explained.
I was part of the beta reading team for this book. I was not required to leave a review, but goodness, when a book sparkles, you've just got to tell people about it!
April 3, 2022
Oh! This book! Just--yes, yes, yes!
I went into this almost blind--beta-reading with no reviews and no synopsis--so I had no idea what I was getting in for. I had to put it down a few chapters in to get sleep before Sunday morning, and it's not an exaggeration to say that I not only thought about it but dreamed about it almost incessantly the rest of the night.
This story just completely blew me away! The writing was so good--it totally sucked me in from the very first scene. The near-future setting felt both comfortably familiar and frighteningly realistic. There wasn't a lot of time wasted on detailing the "how we got here," and it wasn't needed. It's hard to explain, but somehow the tiny details of Kiera's life managed to give a perfect "the same but different" feel to the whole atmosphere.
And the characters! Especially the dialogue! Oh, my word! So perfect. So real. So completely natural without being in any way "on the nose." Kiera was so sweet, but still completely relatable. Destiny was hilarious and amazing. Thorne tugged at my heartstrings so hard. And Brennan--how can I describe Brennan? Just absolutely gorgeous, and I'm not talking about his looks.
Jade. Just wow! I've read several books lately where the kids didn't strike me quite right--didn't act their age or talk their age or were missing some intangible something that I couldn't put my finger on. To be honest, I've had this problem with kids in my own writing. Not Jade! Spot on, every time. Absolutely perfect.
I was literally pouring tears at a couple points in the story, and usually books that make me cry sad tears are not candidates for five-star ratings. Does that tell you anything about how good this is or how well the subject was handled? It should.
This book deals with some tough themes--issues that are already in today's headlines or are inching their way closer and closer--but it handles them very gently and carefully. There are some frightening aspects to this near-future world, but God is given His proper place as Sovereign of everything, and the characters model perfectly how a Christian should act in overwhelming and difficult circumstances. While the (very sweet) romance is a large part of the story, there was nothing in it to make me feel the least bit uncomfortable.
This was just such an amazing story all around! Five solid stars, and as many thumbs up as I can manage!
I received a free copy of this book from the author. No review was required. All opinions are my own.
-----
Oh, this was so amazing! Breathtaking. Heart-wrenching. Beautiful.
Better review to come after publication. :)
I went into this almost blind--beta-reading with no reviews and no synopsis--so I had no idea what I was getting in for. I had to put it down a few chapters in to get sleep before Sunday morning, and it's not an exaggeration to say that I not only thought about it but dreamed about it almost incessantly the rest of the night.
This story just completely blew me away! The writing was so good--it totally sucked me in from the very first scene. The near-future setting felt both comfortably familiar and frighteningly realistic. There wasn't a lot of time wasted on detailing the "how we got here," and it wasn't needed. It's hard to explain, but somehow the tiny details of Kiera's life managed to give a perfect "the same but different" feel to the whole atmosphere.
And the characters! Especially the dialogue! Oh, my word! So perfect. So real. So completely natural without being in any way "on the nose." Kiera was so sweet, but still completely relatable. Destiny was hilarious and amazing. Thorne tugged at my heartstrings so hard. And Brennan--how can I describe Brennan? Just absolutely gorgeous, and I'm not talking about his looks.
Jade. Just wow! I've read several books lately where the kids didn't strike me quite right--didn't act their age or talk their age or were missing some intangible something that I couldn't put my finger on. To be honest, I've had this problem with kids in my own writing. Not Jade! Spot on, every time. Absolutely perfect.
I was literally pouring tears at a couple points in the story, and usually books that make me cry sad tears are not candidates for five-star ratings. Does that tell you anything about how good this is or how well the subject was handled? It should.
This book deals with some tough themes--issues that are already in today's headlines or are inching their way closer and closer--but it handles them very gently and carefully. There are some frightening aspects to this near-future world, but God is given His proper place as Sovereign of everything, and the characters model perfectly how a Christian should act in overwhelming and difficult circumstances. While the (very sweet) romance is a large part of the story, there was nothing in it to make me feel the least bit uncomfortable.
This was just such an amazing story all around! Five solid stars, and as many thumbs up as I can manage!
I received a free copy of this book from the author. No review was required. All opinions are my own.
-----
Oh, this was so amazing! Breathtaking. Heart-wrenching. Beautiful.
Better review to come after publication. :)
September 5, 2024
2.5 stars & 3/10 hearts. Okay, I wanted to love this… I really did. But it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It could (and is!) totally other people’s type, but I just didn’t jive with it. So take this all with a pinch of salt as my personal opinion.
First off, I haven’t read much dystopian, but what really confused me was that it was a sort of contemporary dystopian? Most things were totally contemporary, and then there was all this stuff that wasn’t, and I got dreadfully confused trying to figure out if it was code words for things we actually have, or if it was totally made up. (For example, Kiera had a “public journal” which I finally understood to be a blog or social media account… but at the beginning I was so confused why the girl was sharing her diary publicly, haha! And the radiation completely blew my mind. I could not figure out what was going on with the food and thunderstorms). Personally, I struggled with feeling everything was negative and fear-ridden. I just don’t handle books where the government and everything connected to it (courts, police, army, restaurants) is this BIG BAD MONSTER. It wears me out and depresses me. And the church issue really made me personally uncomfortable. However, the setting was a good warning of what our world may come to, with the truth being suppressed and monitored—and a warning to hypocritical Christians and complacent churches!
The draft rather bugged me. I didn’t get why it was such a big deal? First off, no one ever explained really why they were so against it. And then no one else was drafted, or really in danger… it just disappeared and I felt like it was purely added to create the marriage of convenience situation. I was also really confused how she got away by “becoming the mother” of a toddler, while options for terminating pregnancies were given so being a mother wasn’t an excuse. Perhaps I read over that too quickly, and it’s on me, but it never made any sense to me. I also thought she made the skip from babysitter to mommy way too fast (and I speak here as a big sister who had to play mother to kids for a couple days all alone… it’s not easy). But she was a great babysitter and a really cute mother and wife, and I did feel for her with her confusion and fear and desire to be perfect… <3
I felt that the big climax came out of nowhere, and really seemed to have no reason except to make life harder for Kiera. And it made no sense to me… it was such a flagrant piece of injustice and lying that I had a hard time swallowing it, even in the setting. It felt like it was just added on to force Brennan and Kiera into loving each other? I don’t know. I felt like the story had 3 different climaxes and none of them were connected, just added and then disappearing—and for no reason except drama. I felt like all the emotion was shown instead of felt, and I wasn’t able to feel with the characters… except in anxiety, haha. And the story didn’t feel resolved to me. On the other hand, I appreciated seeing Thorne’s good testimony, and how his story helped bring people (back) to Christ. And the thread about the sparrows was very sweet. I adored the poem at the end! The sudden insertion of embryo adoption surprised me, but kudos to the author for tackling the topic, and she piqued my interest into checking this out. Sounds like it’s an unknown that really ought to be heard of more!
The characters didn’t really grab me, but Jade was cute, and I loved Kiera’s sweet relationship with her parents. And Destiny’s friendship was adorable! Kent was fascinating, Aric was pretty cute, and I enjoyed the moments of everyday banter.
Unfortunately, as I said before, this just didn’t turn out to be my type of book, but I’ve read and loved the author’s other books and totally plan to again. I look forwards to her next novel with anticipation. And maybe I’ll try this one again in a year or two and see if I can appreciate it more!
Content: a lot of talk about embryo storage and embryo adoption. Mention it can affect a mother’s fertility. A certain woman has two children out of wedlock. Mention of women soldiers. Anti-abortion marching. Mention that embryos are killed after 2 years of waiting.
A Favourite Quote: “I just hate that the sparrows still fall, you know? … But I keep reminding myself that, whatever happens, He is still good.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: Rain streaked her window, and lightning angled across the sky in a fierce storm. A raindrop rolled down the window, and she traced its path with her finger. So many tears.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Oh my goodness, dear! You nearly gave me a heart attack when I recognized the truck. What are you all doing out this way?” ....
“The farms we usually go to are having the blight, so we went to Tatler today instead; but they didn’t have good eggs, so here we are,” Kiera explained with a wide smile.
“And anyway, we like giving out heart attacks to people who run with pitchforks,” Brennan said from next to Kiera.
First off, I haven’t read much dystopian, but what really confused me was that it was a sort of contemporary dystopian? Most things were totally contemporary, and then there was all this stuff that wasn’t, and I got dreadfully confused trying to figure out if it was code words for things we actually have, or if it was totally made up. (For example, Kiera had a “public journal” which I finally understood to be a blog or social media account… but at the beginning I was so confused why the girl was sharing her diary publicly, haha! And the radiation completely blew my mind. I could not figure out what was going on with the food and thunderstorms). Personally, I struggled with feeling everything was negative and fear-ridden. I just don’t handle books where the government and everything connected to it (courts, police, army, restaurants) is this BIG BAD MONSTER. It wears me out and depresses me. And the church issue really made me personally uncomfortable. However, the setting was a good warning of what our world may come to, with the truth being suppressed and monitored—and a warning to hypocritical Christians and complacent churches!
The draft rather bugged me. I didn’t get why it was such a big deal? First off, no one ever explained really why they were so against it. And then no one else was drafted, or really in danger… it just disappeared and I felt like it was purely added to create the marriage of convenience situation. I was also really confused how she got away by “becoming the mother” of a toddler, while options for terminating pregnancies were given so being a mother wasn’t an excuse. Perhaps I read over that too quickly, and it’s on me, but it never made any sense to me. I also thought she made the skip from babysitter to mommy way too fast (and I speak here as a big sister who had to play mother to kids for a couple days all alone… it’s not easy). But she was a great babysitter and a really cute mother and wife, and I did feel for her with her confusion and fear and desire to be perfect… <3
I felt that the big climax came out of nowhere, and really seemed to have no reason except to make life harder for Kiera. And it made no sense to me… it was such a flagrant piece of injustice and lying that I had a hard time swallowing it, even in the setting. It felt like it was just added on to force Brennan and Kiera into loving each other? I don’t know. I felt like the story had 3 different climaxes and none of them were connected, just added and then disappearing—and for no reason except drama. I felt like all the emotion was shown instead of felt, and I wasn’t able to feel with the characters… except in anxiety, haha. And the story didn’t feel resolved to me. On the other hand, I appreciated seeing Thorne’s good testimony, and how his story helped bring people (back) to Christ. And the thread about the sparrows was very sweet. I adored the poem at the end! The sudden insertion of embryo adoption surprised me, but kudos to the author for tackling the topic, and she piqued my interest into checking this out. Sounds like it’s an unknown that really ought to be heard of more!
The characters didn’t really grab me, but Jade was cute, and I loved Kiera’s sweet relationship with her parents. And Destiny’s friendship was adorable! Kent was fascinating, Aric was pretty cute, and I enjoyed the moments of everyday banter.
Unfortunately, as I said before, this just didn’t turn out to be my type of book, but I’ve read and loved the author’s other books and totally plan to again. I look forwards to her next novel with anticipation. And maybe I’ll try this one again in a year or two and see if I can appreciate it more!
Content: a lot of talk about embryo storage and embryo adoption. Mention it can affect a mother’s fertility. A certain woman has two children out of wedlock. Mention of women soldiers. Anti-abortion marching. Mention that embryos are killed after 2 years of waiting.
A Favourite Quote: “I just hate that the sparrows still fall, you know? … But I keep reminding myself that, whatever happens, He is still good.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: Rain streaked her window, and lightning angled across the sky in a fierce storm. A raindrop rolled down the window, and she traced its path with her finger. So many tears.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Oh my goodness, dear! You nearly gave me a heart attack when I recognized the truck. What are you all doing out this way?” ....
“The farms we usually go to are having the blight, so we went to Tatler today instead; but they didn’t have good eggs, so here we are,” Kiera explained with a wide smile.
“And anyway, we like giving out heart attacks to people who run with pitchforks,” Brennan said from next to Kiera.
June 22, 2018
Even though I’m not a romantic, marriage-of-convenience stories have always intrigued me. This one being a futuristic story just added to that intrigue.
As far as the romance goes, it definitely was clean, without an intense focus on the emotions or “special touches.” I did find some details slightly confusing, as Keira supposedly struggled with knowing the balance of being just friends and not flirty with guys (which is a good message!), but it wasn’t expounded on. Though this was squeaky-clean, at the same time, were I a teen girl, this probably would have fueled a lot of daydreams, even more so than some more romantic stories; I can’t pinpoint why, it just would have (maybe because “this is the type of scenario I could see really taking place in a conservative Christian’s life” would them become daydream material?).
The spiritual content was solid and well-woven throughout the entire book. Kiera grew as a Christian and there were many moments of her pointing her attention back to Christ, which I feel is a good message as dark days loom ahead for believers.
I’m not a big futuristic reader, so may not be qualified here, but it just didn’t FEEL futuristic. There were a few mentions of devices, radiation, self-driving cars, modern persecution, etc. but every time it almost jolted me out of, “Oh yeah, this isn’t just modern fiction.” I guess it’s because the lifestyle of the families made me think of the 90’s yet it was supposed to be futuristic.
Younger readers might need to be warned about discussion with embryo implants.
I’ve watched this author grow in her writing and she has a lot of potential for her age!
*I received this book from the author and happily provided my honest review*
As far as the romance goes, it definitely was clean, without an intense focus on the emotions or “special touches.” I did find some details slightly confusing, as Keira supposedly struggled with knowing the balance of being just friends and not flirty with guys (which is a good message!), but it wasn’t expounded on. Though this was squeaky-clean, at the same time, were I a teen girl, this probably would have fueled a lot of daydreams, even more so than some more romantic stories; I can’t pinpoint why, it just would have (maybe because “this is the type of scenario I could see really taking place in a conservative Christian’s life” would them become daydream material?).
The spiritual content was solid and well-woven throughout the entire book. Kiera grew as a Christian and there were many moments of her pointing her attention back to Christ, which I feel is a good message as dark days loom ahead for believers.
I’m not a big futuristic reader, so may not be qualified here, but it just didn’t FEEL futuristic. There were a few mentions of devices, radiation, self-driving cars, modern persecution, etc. but every time it almost jolted me out of, “Oh yeah, this isn’t just modern fiction.” I guess it’s because the lifestyle of the families made me think of the 90’s yet it was supposed to be futuristic.
Younger readers might need to be warned about discussion with embryo implants.
I’ve watched this author grow in her writing and she has a lot of potential for her age!
*I received this book from the author and happily provided my honest review*
June 22, 2018
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Oh my, that was really good! Kind of surprised me how everything went about!
The characters were amazing! I felt so drawn to each of them! Brennan, Jade, and Keira were so nice! Jade's baby-talk is so cute - I could totally picture her doing it! Keira's friend was hilarious! And Thorne was so sweet … <3 <3 I just loved them all!
This book has some hints of futuristic stuff, but it definitely didn't feel like that when I read it! Obviously there was some things mentioned that were things we don't exactly have. :)
Anyway, I really enjoyed this read - it was very simple and easy to read! Thanks, Kate, for letting me be an advanced reader!
Oh my, that was really good! Kind of surprised me how everything went about!
The characters were amazing! I felt so drawn to each of them! Brennan, Jade, and Keira were so nice! Jade's baby-talk is so cute - I could totally picture her doing it! Keira's friend was hilarious! And Thorne was so sweet … <3 <3 I just loved them all!
This book has some hints of futuristic stuff, but it definitely didn't feel like that when I read it! Obviously there was some things mentioned that were things we don't exactly have. :)
Anyway, I really enjoyed this read - it was very simple and easy to read! Thanks, Kate, for letting me be an advanced reader!
April 6, 2022
Characters: Kiera was a well-developed character, but I didn't connect to her that much. I know it sounds kind of heartless, but I would've liked to see her struggle a little more as she was thrown into being a wife and mother without much warning.
Language: Clean.
Moral: This novel included themes of love, marriage, and persecution.
Plot: This book was more character-driven than plot-driven. The majority of the book followed Kiera's day-to-day life as she adapted to being a wife to Brennan and a mother to Brennan's adopted daughter. This wasn't one of those really gritty dystopians, so readers looking to avoid that will be pleased.
Romance: Clean. Just a kiss near the end. Okay, you all are going to think I'm going insane because most of the time I complain about there being too much romance in books, but I would've liked to see a little more romance in this novel. I know that's shocking :) Even though Kiera and Brennan had a marriage of convenience, I would've liked to see them sit down, actually talk things through, and figure out how to make their marriage work instead of basically ignoring their marriage for a lot of the book. I do appreciate how clean everything was (because a lot of marriage of convenience books can get sketchy), but I think some attraction between Brennan and Kiera could've been shown in a perfectly clean way as well.
Writing: Kate Willis's writing worked well for this book. I could picture what was going on, and everything flowed.
Overall: Kiera was an interesting book, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and light dystopian books.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Language: Clean.
Moral: This novel included themes of love, marriage, and persecution.
Plot: This book was more character-driven than plot-driven. The majority of the book followed Kiera's day-to-day life as she adapted to being a wife to Brennan and a mother to Brennan's adopted daughter. This wasn't one of those really gritty dystopians, so readers looking to avoid that will be pleased.
Romance: Clean. Just a kiss near the end. Okay, you all are going to think I'm going insane because most of the time I complain about there being too much romance in books, but I would've liked to see a little more romance in this novel. I know that's shocking :) Even though Kiera and Brennan had a marriage of convenience, I would've liked to see them sit down, actually talk things through, and figure out how to make their marriage work instead of basically ignoring their marriage for a lot of the book. I do appreciate how clean everything was (because a lot of marriage of convenience books can get sketchy), but I think some attraction between Brennan and Kiera could've been shown in a perfectly clean way as well.
Writing: Kate Willis's writing worked well for this book. I could picture what was going on, and everything flowed.
Overall: Kiera was an interesting book, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and light dystopian books.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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July 29, 2018This book is so beautiful!!! I picked this as part of my birthday gifts and it's wonderful. <3
Kiera definitely kept my attention all the way through--I finished this book in two days! Some things I loved about this book was 1) Jade!!! She's so sweet and adorable, and I loved her and Kiera's relationship. 2) Destiny. 'Nuff said. ;) 3) Kiera's deep love for others, despite her struggles. She is a fantastic example of Christ's love.
Some things I didn't like so much: 1) I didn't understand the huge reason why being drafted was such a big deal. I mean--of course no one wants to be drafted, but it would have been nice to know why avoiding the draft was enough to make Kiera do what she did. 2) More worldbuilding would have been lovely! The story didn't feel super dystopian and I would have loved to see more of the world Kiera lived in. 3) While I SO appreciated that there weren't any massive info dumps, I spent a lot of time wondering who was who, how people were connected, where Jade came from (still not 100% sure on that), how old Brennan was. Now, I'm famous for reading over important things so I very well could have missed the answers to those questions. :)
Kiera is a great book and I'm looking forward to see Kate's future as an author!
Kiera definitely kept my attention all the way through--I finished this book in two days! Some things I loved about this book was 1) Jade!!! She's so sweet and adorable, and I loved her and Kiera's relationship. 2) Destiny. 'Nuff said. ;) 3) Kiera's deep love for others, despite her struggles. She is a fantastic example of Christ's love.
Some things I didn't like so much: 1) I didn't understand the huge reason why being drafted was such a big deal. I mean--of course no one wants to be drafted, but it would have been nice to know why avoiding the draft was enough to make Kiera do what she did. 2) More worldbuilding would have been lovely! The story didn't feel super dystopian and I would have loved to see more of the world Kiera lived in. 3) While I SO appreciated that there weren't any massive info dumps, I spent a lot of time wondering who was who, how people were connected, where Jade came from (still not 100% sure on that), how old Brennan was. Now, I'm famous for reading over important things so I very well could have missed the answers to those questions. :)
Kiera is a great book and I'm looking forward to see Kate's future as an author!
May 9, 2022
3.5 stars
What an interesting premise! Dystopian books are always intriguing (sometimes in the most terrifying of ways), but this was a different take on the genre.
CHARACTERS: Kiera seemed like a pretty normal eighteen-year-old, and I could understand her fear and apprehension about the future, especially with the draft. Like wow, what a way to ruin a birthday! Her love for Jade was really sweet, though I will say that it's a big jump from babysitter to mom in the blink of an eye. I would've liked to see a bit more of that transition on both Kiera's and Jade's part. As for Brennan ... I never really got a good read on him. He seemed like a nice guy, but there were a few times when he just didn't make a ton of sense. I think it didn't help that he didn't have his own POV, and again the transition from the father of the kid Kiera babysitters to Kiera's husband needed to be fleshed out a bit more. (More on this later.) And the rest of the characters ... Thorne was cool, and Destiny was a fun friend. I always really enjoyed Kiera's parents and how much they prayed for Kiera. Definitely a very nice thing there, and a wonderful example for family.
SETTING/WRITING STYLE/PLOT: For a dystopian book, this setting didn't seem especially dystopian. I guess I'm just used to the really terrifying dystopians? I wish there had been more details on the draft, because it was never really clear why Kiera had to marry Brennan to avoid the draft, and that presented a few plot inconsistencies. I guess I'd just like more details on the dystopian world. The writing style was nice - very few, if any, typos, and it was super easy to read. This is definitely a book that flows well! And for the plot ... it wasn't suspenseful, really, more of Kiera's day-to-day life for the most part. The final part about Thorne kind of came out of nowhere, though, and I felt like it wasn't completely necessary. But overall, this book kept my attention and made me continue flipping the pages (kindle pages, that is)!
ROMANCE Okay, this is where I was a little confused. Let me say this first: I love clean books, and I love it when authors seek to write books without inappropriate detail. And marriage of convenience books can be entirely too detailed, in my opinion. (Why marriage of convenience tends to be a little scary for me.) But this book ... it's like it was almost too clean. I know, I sound ridiculous, don't I? But Kiera and Brennan kinda treated each like strangers, and they were married. Like, vowed to each other for a lifetime, and they never really talked about it. It was a big deal for them to sit on the opposite sides of the couch and talk about a book series - and this was weeks into their marriage? I just found it a little frustrating because they were hardly even friends. I'm so thankful there were no inappropriate details - and no way do those need to be in here - but I would've loved to see at least a tiny bit of attraction to each other. Attraction to your spouse is not inappropriate. The whole deal just struck me as a little strange. Maybe it also had something to do with the age gap, too? But yeah, the romance was not for me.
MORAL/THEME: A big part of this book was a definition of love pulled from a C. S. Lewis quote, basically saying that love is wishing someone the best. (Not a direct quote.) That definitely seems like a part of love, but not in its entirety. Just wishing someone the best is not a full expression of love - especially not the type of love a husband is to have for his wife, etc. Love isn't just wishing someone the best - it's acting and laying down your life for them (like Jesus did). So while the quote talked about a facet of love, it definitely left a lot out. The other part of the moral was God's care for Kiera - and the part about the sparrows and how that all came together was sweet. Definitely a good reminder that the Lord cares for His children! Also, I really enjoyed how much the characters prayed for each other.
Overall, this book was well-written, but the plot just wasn't my favorite. However, if you enjoy clean, contemporary romance-style books, this one might be for you!
What an interesting premise! Dystopian books are always intriguing (sometimes in the most terrifying of ways), but this was a different take on the genre.
CHARACTERS: Kiera seemed like a pretty normal eighteen-year-old, and I could understand her fear and apprehension about the future, especially with the draft. Like wow, what a way to ruin a birthday! Her love for Jade was really sweet, though I will say that it's a big jump from babysitter to mom in the blink of an eye. I would've liked to see a bit more of that transition on both Kiera's and Jade's part. As for Brennan ... I never really got a good read on him. He seemed like a nice guy, but there were a few times when he just didn't make a ton of sense. I think it didn't help that he didn't have his own POV, and again the transition from the father of the kid Kiera babysitters to Kiera's husband needed to be fleshed out a bit more. (More on this later.) And the rest of the characters ... Thorne was cool, and Destiny was a fun friend. I always really enjoyed Kiera's parents and how much they prayed for Kiera. Definitely a very nice thing there, and a wonderful example for family.
SETTING/WRITING STYLE/PLOT: For a dystopian book, this setting didn't seem especially dystopian. I guess I'm just used to the really terrifying dystopians? I wish there had been more details on the draft, because it was never really clear why Kiera had to marry Brennan to avoid the draft, and that presented a few plot inconsistencies. I guess I'd just like more details on the dystopian world. The writing style was nice - very few, if any, typos, and it was super easy to read. This is definitely a book that flows well! And for the plot ... it wasn't suspenseful, really, more of Kiera's day-to-day life for the most part. The final part about Thorne kind of came out of nowhere, though, and I felt like it wasn't completely necessary. But overall, this book kept my attention and made me continue flipping the pages (kindle pages, that is)!
ROMANCE Okay, this is where I was a little confused. Let me say this first: I love clean books, and I love it when authors seek to write books without inappropriate detail. And marriage of convenience books can be entirely too detailed, in my opinion. (Why marriage of convenience tends to be a little scary for me.) But this book ... it's like it was almost too clean. I know, I sound ridiculous, don't I? But Kiera and Brennan kinda treated each like strangers, and they were married. Like, vowed to each other for a lifetime, and they never really talked about it. It was a big deal for them to sit on the opposite sides of the couch and talk about a book series - and this was weeks into their marriage? I just found it a little frustrating because they were hardly even friends. I'm so thankful there were no inappropriate details - and no way do those need to be in here - but I would've loved to see at least a tiny bit of attraction to each other. Attraction to your spouse is not inappropriate. The whole deal just struck me as a little strange. Maybe it also had something to do with the age gap, too? But yeah, the romance was not for me.
MORAL/THEME: A big part of this book was a definition of love pulled from a C. S. Lewis quote, basically saying that love is wishing someone the best. (Not a direct quote.) That definitely seems like a part of love, but not in its entirety. Just wishing someone the best is not a full expression of love - especially not the type of love a husband is to have for his wife, etc. Love isn't just wishing someone the best - it's acting and laying down your life for them (like Jesus did). So while the quote talked about a facet of love, it definitely left a lot out. The other part of the moral was God's care for Kiera - and the part about the sparrows and how that all came together was sweet. Definitely a good reminder that the Lord cares for His children! Also, I really enjoyed how much the characters prayed for each other.
Overall, this book was well-written, but the plot just wasn't my favorite. However, if you enjoy clean, contemporary romance-style books, this one might be for you!
September 18, 2018
About this book:
“Kiera is looking forward to her eighteenth birthday. The official end of school, a party with her best friend, and chocolate cake. A sudden military draft, no possible exemptions, had never crossed her mind.
Kiera is terrified! Getting drafted would mean leaving her family, her little friend Jade—life as she knows it.
A surprising offer from Brennan Stewart just might be the answer to her prayers, but an even worse trial leaves her with one question…
If God truly loves her, why did this tragedy happen?”
Series: There is possibly another book that will be connected to this one.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, read, remembering, & discussed; Many Prayers, Thanking God, & Blessings over food; Church going & sermons; Talks about God & peace; Wondering why God allowed something bad to happen; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God; Many mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of time alone with God; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, services, & Bible studies; Mentions of Easter & hymns; Mentions of head coverings & married women wearing them; Mentions of pro-life ministries; Mentions of a Christian singer & songs; A few mentions of a martyr; A few mentions of devotions; A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of blessings & being blessed;
*Note: A few mentions of a Muslim neighborhood & Kiera wears a hijab; A mention of people with stories as wicked as the devil.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’; A few mentions of curses & foul language (said, not written); Spanking a child (lightly, twice); Mentions of a death sentence & death; Mentions of a husband drinking & fighting (physically) with his wife and son; Mentions of an arrest, jail, & inmates/criminals; Mentions of vomiting & a concussion; A few mentions of treason; A few mentions of a gangsters & guns; A couple mentions of injuries & bleeding; A couple mentions of envy; A couple mentions of nightmares;
*Note: A mention of a man wearing an earring.
Sexual Content- A few forehead kisses, and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; A bit of Nearness, Hand Holding, & Embraces; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of a paper only marriage & not expecting anything; A mention of a perverted relationship; A very small amount of love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of embryo being donated/stored & embryo adoption; A couple mentions of a government offering mothers abortions or embryo storage.
-Kiera, age 17-18
P.O.V. of Kiera
Set in the future
283 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I was interested in reading this one due to friends mentioning it often because they really enjoyed it. While I may not have enjoyed it the same amount they did, it was an interesting read. I am familiar with embryo adoptions, so it was nice to see that topic touched upon in this book. I had many questions when starting this book and they started to get answered around half-way. There are some parts that could have been expanded on for clarifying better and some loose-ends in this story, though, but the ending made it sound like there will be another book, possibly.
While set in a futuristic time period, different mentions reminded you while reading that this story wasn’t set in the present day. The romance was very light and clean. Overall, it was a different type of read that had good Spiritual Content that was nice to see in a Futuristic YA.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“Kiera is looking forward to her eighteenth birthday. The official end of school, a party with her best friend, and chocolate cake. A sudden military draft, no possible exemptions, had never crossed her mind.
Kiera is terrified! Getting drafted would mean leaving her family, her little friend Jade—life as she knows it.
A surprising offer from Brennan Stewart just might be the answer to her prayers, but an even worse trial leaves her with one question…
If God truly loves her, why did this tragedy happen?”
Series: There is possibly another book that will be connected to this one.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, read, remembering, & discussed; Many Prayers, Thanking God, & Blessings over food; Church going & sermons; Talks about God & peace; Wondering why God allowed something bad to happen; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God; Many mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of time alone with God; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, services, & Bible studies; Mentions of Easter & hymns; Mentions of head coverings & married women wearing them; Mentions of pro-life ministries; Mentions of a Christian singer & songs; A few mentions of a martyr; A few mentions of devotions; A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of blessings & being blessed;
*Note: A few mentions of a Muslim neighborhood & Kiera wears a hijab; A mention of people with stories as wicked as the devil.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’; A few mentions of curses & foul language (said, not written); Spanking a child (lightly, twice); Mentions of a death sentence & death; Mentions of a husband drinking & fighting (physically) with his wife and son; Mentions of an arrest, jail, & inmates/criminals; Mentions of vomiting & a concussion; A few mentions of treason; A few mentions of a gangsters & guns; A couple mentions of injuries & bleeding; A couple mentions of envy; A couple mentions of nightmares;
*Note: A mention of a man wearing an earring.
Sexual Content- A few forehead kisses, and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; A bit of Nearness, Hand Holding, & Embraces; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of a paper only marriage & not expecting anything; A mention of a perverted relationship; A very small amount of love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of embryo being donated/stored & embryo adoption; A couple mentions of a government offering mothers abortions or embryo storage.
-Kiera, age 17-18
P.O.V. of Kiera
Set in the future
283 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I was interested in reading this one due to friends mentioning it often because they really enjoyed it. While I may not have enjoyed it the same amount they did, it was an interesting read. I am familiar with embryo adoptions, so it was nice to see that topic touched upon in this book. I had many questions when starting this book and they started to get answered around half-way. There are some parts that could have been expanded on for clarifying better and some loose-ends in this story, though, but the ending made it sound like there will be another book, possibly.
While set in a futuristic time period, different mentions reminded you while reading that this story wasn’t set in the present day. The romance was very light and clean. Overall, it was a different type of read that had good Spiritual Content that was nice to see in a Futuristic YA.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
February 28, 2019
2.5 stars
Things I liked:
-The cover!!! ;)
-I absolutely LOVED little Jade! I love that name, btw... She was so adorable and cute! And the way she was written in the book portrayed her age wonderfully!
-I really liked Kiera's best friend, Destiny. Destiny's personality was just so bright and cheery! I thought she was really fun! Especially the way they signed off on texts, "Fist bumps and firecrackers."
-I like the length of this novel! As a writer, I take note to these things... :)
-I really liked the writing style!
Things I disliked:
-This book is not the typical genre I read in (Dystopian). I am used to Contemporary Fiction and Historical Fiction. Speculative genres are not my cup of tea, and that explains part of my lower star rating...
-I did not know what kind of genre this book was until I was reading it, and therefore at first, I thought it was weird to see any electronics (phones, computers, etc.) being called "devices" or "machines." Also, the cars drove themselves.
-I felt like Keira would go in and out of being mature and immature. On one hand, she was getting married and becoming a mother to Jade/ running the household. But then again, she had only just turned 18... and sometimes acted younger.
-Towards the end of the book, I got confused. Her brother was a pastor, but he did (or rather preached) something that got him put in jail. I think that he was set up by half of his congregation or something. Some church people liked him, but it sounded like most didn’t like what he was preaching and was trying to get him out of their church. Then instead of putting him in prison for religious reasons, it became more political reasoning. I was rather confused at the end.
-***Spoiler*** Her brother was prosecuted. This was terribly sad to me! Especially when I didn't understand why...
-In his letter that he wrote to Kiera it said, "I get to be a martyr. I just found out today, and to tell the truth, I'm excited. Don't think me perfect-I didn't like the idea originally-but God and I have been talking, and I'm good with it now." Um, I was disturbed by this. The fact that he was excited. There has got to be another adjective that could describe the way someone might feel in that situation. Just my thoughts.
-There were quite a few other instances in this book that differed from my personal beliefs.
I really wanted to like this book, but overall, this book wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sure those who are more used to this genre would love it.
Thanks for reading this review. These are my own thoughts and feelings about Keira. I hope my honest opinion helped you decide whether or not you would like to read this book!
Things I liked:
-The cover!!! ;)
-I absolutely LOVED little Jade! I love that name, btw... She was so adorable and cute! And the way she was written in the book portrayed her age wonderfully!
-I really liked Kiera's best friend, Destiny. Destiny's personality was just so bright and cheery! I thought she was really fun! Especially the way they signed off on texts, "Fist bumps and firecrackers."
-I like the length of this novel! As a writer, I take note to these things... :)
-I really liked the writing style!
Things I disliked:
-This book is not the typical genre I read in (Dystopian). I am used to Contemporary Fiction and Historical Fiction. Speculative genres are not my cup of tea, and that explains part of my lower star rating...
-I did not know what kind of genre this book was until I was reading it, and therefore at first, I thought it was weird to see any electronics (phones, computers, etc.) being called "devices" or "machines." Also, the cars drove themselves.
-I felt like Keira would go in and out of being mature and immature. On one hand, she was getting married and becoming a mother to Jade/ running the household. But then again, she had only just turned 18... and sometimes acted younger.
-Towards the end of the book, I got confused. Her brother was a pastor, but he did (or rather preached) something that got him put in jail. I think that he was set up by half of his congregation or something. Some church people liked him, but it sounded like most didn’t like what he was preaching and was trying to get him out of their church. Then instead of putting him in prison for religious reasons, it became more political reasoning. I was rather confused at the end.
-***Spoiler*** Her brother was prosecuted. This was terribly sad to me! Especially when I didn't understand why...
-In his letter that he wrote to Kiera it said, "I get to be a martyr. I just found out today, and to tell the truth, I'm excited. Don't think me perfect-I didn't like the idea originally-but God and I have been talking, and I'm good with it now." Um, I was disturbed by this. The fact that he was excited. There has got to be another adjective that could describe the way someone might feel in that situation. Just my thoughts.
-There were quite a few other instances in this book that differed from my personal beliefs.
I really wanted to like this book, but overall, this book wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sure those who are more used to this genre would love it.
Thanks for reading this review. These are my own thoughts and feelings about Keira. I hope my honest opinion helped you decide whether or not you would like to read this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2019
OHHH MY GOODNESS. This book was AMAZING. I really don't know where to start, but I loved it. The characters were very real and loveable, and the RELATIONSHIP between Kiera and Brennan! I AM SHIPPING THEM HARD. It was exactly the type of romance I love to read - slow but steady, growing in true love. I was a little surprised that Kiera was so capable - I think it would have been more realistic if she struggled a bit more with being a housewife and a mom all of the sudden, but all in all, it was a wonderful book, and very clean.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2019
Okay, we definitely need more of this sort of story, about choosing Christ in a totalitarian regime. It's a dystopian setting in a future America, where Christians have been deemed dangerous if they take the Bible seriously in certain areas.
This is also a great story about a marriage of convenience, sweet and chaste throughout. Kiera is a lovable character and so is Brennan. It was fun to see the part about daily life and which things are imagined to be the same and which to be different.
Personal preference would have been to have a bit more backstory and a bit more detail about the devices and the things they did on them; it seemed a bit vague in that particular, and while it's great to start the action up-front, in some ways I felt tossed into the middle of an active family group I knew nothing about. I adjusted after about three chapters and was able to read with much more confidence.
Thanks to the author for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
This is also a great story about a marriage of convenience, sweet and chaste throughout. Kiera is a lovable character and so is Brennan. It was fun to see the part about daily life and which things are imagined to be the same and which to be different.
Personal preference would have been to have a bit more backstory and a bit more detail about the devices and the things they did on them; it seemed a bit vague in that particular, and while it's great to start the action up-front, in some ways I felt tossed into the middle of an active family group I knew nothing about. I adjusted after about three chapters and was able to read with much more confidence.
Thanks to the author for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
August 25, 2018
I opened Kiera last night before sleeping, intending to read a chapter or two... well, four hours later I had finished the book. XD That's the second night I've done that. I need to catch up on sleep sometime.
Anyway, this book was fun! Most of the dystopian books I've read were set in the middle of a war, with lots of action, violence, etc.. Kiera was different in a good way. A war was going on, sure, but this wasn't set on the frontline. This was the home front. Keira wasn't a stereotypical strong "special" female heroine with strange political influence. Keira was strong but in an entirely different way.
Also, romance isn't my thing usually, but this romance was so sweet and innocent and beautiful. <3 Brennan was the perfect prince charming... not that he was perfect, but because he was strong, and gentle, and had flaws. I think he was my favorite character. (Although Destiny is a close second.)
Even though they were married most of the book, Kiera and Brennan were technically married for most of the book, I loved getting to see their relationship grow from a casual friendship to a close friendship to more. It was so pure and it moved along just right. I also really appreciated Kiera's family relationships.
Also, Jade.
This book made me beam like a crazy fangirl and also made me want to cry. The pacing of the book was great, the characters were each unique, it was very clean, and the ending was satisfying. My biggest question at the end of the book was "What series were Brennan and Kiera reading???" :)
Fist bumps and firecrackers.
Anyway, this book was fun! Most of the dystopian books I've read were set in the middle of a war, with lots of action, violence, etc.. Kiera was different in a good way. A war was going on, sure, but this wasn't set on the frontline. This was the home front. Keira wasn't a stereotypical strong "special" female heroine with strange political influence. Keira was strong but in an entirely different way.
Also, romance isn't my thing usually, but this romance was so sweet and innocent and beautiful. <3 Brennan was the perfect prince charming... not that he was perfect, but because he was strong, and gentle, and had flaws. I think he was my favorite character. (Although Destiny is a close second.)
Even though they were married most of the book, Kiera and Brennan were technically married for most of the book, I loved getting to see their relationship grow from a casual friendship to a close friendship to more. It was so pure and it moved along just right. I also really appreciated Kiera's family relationships.
Also, Jade.
This book made me beam like a crazy fangirl and also made me want to cry. The pacing of the book was great, the characters were each unique, it was very clean, and the ending was satisfying. My biggest question at the end of the book was "What series were Brennan and Kiera reading???" :)
Fist bumps and firecrackers.
March 23, 2023
Age Appropriate For: 15 and up for thematic elements.
Best for Ages: 15 and up
I love this book so much!
Okay, I have a confession. I really like marriage-of-connivance books. However, I don’t often read them because I fell like most of them aren’t very God-honoring in their content. This book was nothing like those books. This book was sweet, clean, and god-honoring in so many ways.
The setting is the near future where the world is at war and hostility toward Christianity increased. This was done very well. I think my favorite aspect was how well the Christians handle the increased hostility.
There are few books, especially with a futuristic/dystopian bent that have such a wonderful view of daily Christianity. Persecution and suppression are shown as very real, yet the Christian’s in this book try to respect the authorities while still standing up for what is right. They try to give love and forgiveness when it is hard.
Kiera was a very sweet, lovable character. I love her mixture of young hopefulness, strong faith, and maturity. I think especially a lot of homeschooled young ladies will be able to relate to her. She is one of my favorite book characters ever.
Brennan was realistic. By that, I mean he was not one of those typical book heroes who always seems to know exactly what a girl needs. He was a great guy but *gasp* made some mistakes.
Oddly enough, this book was not really heavy on the romance. While Kiera is trying to figure out how to keep a home and what not. The main focus really felt it was about living out your faith in a difficult time.
I highly recommend this book for those who like books that have a sweet and realistic feel to them, for homeschool students and graduates, and those who enjoy futuristic stories.
Best for Ages: 15 and up
I love this book so much!
Okay, I have a confession. I really like marriage-of-connivance books. However, I don’t often read them because I fell like most of them aren’t very God-honoring in their content. This book was nothing like those books. This book was sweet, clean, and god-honoring in so many ways.
The setting is the near future where the world is at war and hostility toward Christianity increased. This was done very well. I think my favorite aspect was how well the Christians handle the increased hostility.
There are few books, especially with a futuristic/dystopian bent that have such a wonderful view of daily Christianity. Persecution and suppression are shown as very real, yet the Christian’s in this book try to respect the authorities while still standing up for what is right. They try to give love and forgiveness when it is hard.
Kiera was a very sweet, lovable character. I love her mixture of young hopefulness, strong faith, and maturity. I think especially a lot of homeschooled young ladies will be able to relate to her. She is one of my favorite book characters ever.
Brennan was realistic. By that, I mean he was not one of those typical book heroes who always seems to know exactly what a girl needs. He was a great guy but *gasp* made some mistakes.
Oddly enough, this book was not really heavy on the romance. While Kiera is trying to figure out how to keep a home and what not. The main focus really felt it was about living out your faith in a difficult time.
I highly recommend this book for those who like books that have a sweet and realistic feel to them, for homeschool students and graduates, and those who enjoy futuristic stories.
March 12, 2019
For me this book was like a staunch coffee drinker suddenly realizing he had just thoroughly enjoyed a cup of tea. It definitely wasn't my usual genre, and had no camouflage, sabotage, or espionage, yet I found myself enjoying it through and through. Although the basic concept of the plot may not have been the most original, certain aspects of it were really innovative and awesome. The characters were really the best part of the book, in my opinion. Especially Jade. And Brennan. And I never knew I could end up relating with a female MC the way I did with Kiera. Okay, I liked all the characters. Kent was an interesting character, and I think he was good for what he was meant to be, but I don't think I liked his personality much, and there were some aspects of him and his family that were confusing to me. Thorne was pretty awesome and I'll stop right there before major spoilers come out. His middle name was another plus to this book for me personally :P
The last scene was just a bit vague and left me wondering if there is supposed to be a sequel to this book, but from what I've heard it actually relates to a character in Paul Willis' book Crossroads. I'm not quite sure what to think. *shrugs*
In summary, Kate is a really good author and this book is worth the read.
P.S. My little sister who never reads was totally enraptured by this book. It's actually gotten her to start reading.
The last scene was just a bit vague and left me wondering if there is supposed to be a sequel to this book, but from what I've heard it actually relates to a character in Paul Willis' book Crossroads. I'm not quite sure what to think. *shrugs*
In summary, Kate is a really good author and this book is worth the read.
P.S. My little sister who never reads was totally enraptured by this book. It's actually gotten her to start reading.
February 20, 2019
So, I read Kate Willis’ brother’s dystopian Crossroads and thought it was cool that not only was his sister also publishing a dystopia, but the two books were actually set in the same universe. Kiera is a very different book than Crossroads, which I expected. There’s even been some debate as to what genre this novel truly is, which I intend to address under “Things I Thought Were Weird” at the bottom of this review, so stay tuned.
Things I Liked:
• Normal people with normal lives populate this book. We’re not focusing on anyone with special abilities or training or influence. Kiera and her family are just some fairly normal people who are just living their lives. Their lives are disrupted by the trouble in their world and the shifting attitudes of their society, and they’re just trying to trust God and ride it out like any of us would. This makes them sympathetic characters.
• Destiny is my favorite character. I tend to be attracted to high-energy sidekicks who take everything in stride. Destiny has a great sense of fun and loves to laugh, making a good supporting character for Kiera who’s…a bit of a worrier. I liked Destiny’s free spirit which wasn’t broken in spite of her bad family situation. She seemed strong and resilient.
• The recognition that married life is unromantic was good sentiment. This reality hits Kiera at what’s potentially the most starry-eyed point in her life and hits hard. Any illusions are quite shattered by her new and all too real life of mundane household tasks, occasionally bratty toddlers and rough adjustments to abrupt adulthood.
• The message, of course, is good. Trusting God and keeping on keeping on in wild uncertain times while acknowledging that none of it comes easy is the main theme.
Things I Didn’t Like:
• Plot issues. I’ve got to admit the plot was kind of…rough as far as I understood it. It started out with the draft being the conflict. Her life was in upheaval over it. Then, via her marriage of convenience that would make her the mother of a small child, she was suddenly exempt, and that was all over. From then throughout the second act, her main troubles were adjusting to her very uncomfortable new life as a young wife and mother. Then in the third act, there was suddenly an entirely new conflict, which escalated from almost nothing and hit Kiera’s life like a sack of rocks…all while not really involving her.
• The characters seem to overreact by default. Kiera in particular seemed to cry about pretty much everything that came up. I understand that it’s hard for readers to sympathize with an emotionless character. Maybe it’s my Vulcan side that’s saying I personally understand someone who restrains themselves a bit more often than not, though.
• The marriage, which I was expecting from what I had read about this book, ended up freaking me out way more than I had expected. And it was jarring how quickly Kiera and her family agreed that it was the right decision—literally overnight, I think. And she’s marrying a nine-years-older guy she wasn’t even interested in the next morning in the living-room. I have had dreams like that. They were not good.
It would have been easier to swallow if it had seemed a bit more necessary. Nowhere in the story did we hear anything that made it sound like the draft was statistically more likely than it ever has been—that is, except the characters’ reactions. Kiera might never have been drafted at all.
Another issue was how the whole scenario reflected on Kiera’s character, for me. She was never presented as a conscientious objector for wanting to dodge the draft. It just sort of appeared that she was terrified at the thought of taking the risk. It might have been better for the theme if she had trusted God to not allow her to be drafted if it wasn’t his will, instead of doing something drastic and life-altering to make sure there was no chance. But then it would have been a completely different story.
• I read a lot of small talk in this story. I know people actually talk like that in real life (and I can hardly stand it even then) but it’s just a lot of fluff in a book.
Things I Thought Were Weird:
• Genre classification. Okay, I said I would get to this, so here we go. How would I classify the genre of this novel? I don’t think I can give a straight answer, either, unfortunately. It’s only mildly dystopian. Aside from the nuclear “radiation storms” that feature briefly and the slightly increased disapproval of Christianity, at least in its true sense, this isn’t a strongly dystopian novel. Neither could it really be called a romance. It’s almost an anti-romance. 😊 Futuristic inspirational? But wait, is it actually futuristic? Somebody help me out, here. This book is set a generation before Crossroads, approximately. And…correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that Crossroads was 2040’s, like Dronefall. But then that would make Kiera…contemporary with a nuclear war in the background and broadly-integrated self-driving cars. Am I right? Am I crazy?
I recommend this book for Christian teen girls who need to face the hard facts of what comes after “Happily Ever After.” Just kidding. I think this book actually has a lot of appeal for a certain demographic. I’m probably not the ideal reader, but I’m also weird, so if you’re curious, you should try it.
Things I Liked:
• Normal people with normal lives populate this book. We’re not focusing on anyone with special abilities or training or influence. Kiera and her family are just some fairly normal people who are just living their lives. Their lives are disrupted by the trouble in their world and the shifting attitudes of their society, and they’re just trying to trust God and ride it out like any of us would. This makes them sympathetic characters.
• Destiny is my favorite character. I tend to be attracted to high-energy sidekicks who take everything in stride. Destiny has a great sense of fun and loves to laugh, making a good supporting character for Kiera who’s…a bit of a worrier. I liked Destiny’s free spirit which wasn’t broken in spite of her bad family situation. She seemed strong and resilient.
• The recognition that married life is unromantic was good sentiment. This reality hits Kiera at what’s potentially the most starry-eyed point in her life and hits hard. Any illusions are quite shattered by her new and all too real life of mundane household tasks, occasionally bratty toddlers and rough adjustments to abrupt adulthood.
• The message, of course, is good. Trusting God and keeping on keeping on in wild uncertain times while acknowledging that none of it comes easy is the main theme.
Things I Didn’t Like:
• Plot issues. I’ve got to admit the plot was kind of…rough as far as I understood it. It started out with the draft being the conflict. Her life was in upheaval over it. Then, via her marriage of convenience that would make her the mother of a small child, she was suddenly exempt, and that was all over. From then throughout the second act, her main troubles were adjusting to her very uncomfortable new life as a young wife and mother. Then in the third act, there was suddenly an entirely new conflict, which escalated from almost nothing and hit Kiera’s life like a sack of rocks…all while not really involving her.
• The characters seem to overreact by default. Kiera in particular seemed to cry about pretty much everything that came up. I understand that it’s hard for readers to sympathize with an emotionless character. Maybe it’s my Vulcan side that’s saying I personally understand someone who restrains themselves a bit more often than not, though.
• The marriage, which I was expecting from what I had read about this book, ended up freaking me out way more than I had expected. And it was jarring how quickly Kiera and her family agreed that it was the right decision—literally overnight, I think. And she’s marrying a nine-years-older guy she wasn’t even interested in the next morning in the living-room. I have had dreams like that. They were not good.
It would have been easier to swallow if it had seemed a bit more necessary. Nowhere in the story did we hear anything that made it sound like the draft was statistically more likely than it ever has been—that is, except the characters’ reactions. Kiera might never have been drafted at all.
Another issue was how the whole scenario reflected on Kiera’s character, for me. She was never presented as a conscientious objector for wanting to dodge the draft. It just sort of appeared that she was terrified at the thought of taking the risk. It might have been better for the theme if she had trusted God to not allow her to be drafted if it wasn’t his will, instead of doing something drastic and life-altering to make sure there was no chance. But then it would have been a completely different story.
• I read a lot of small talk in this story. I know people actually talk like that in real life (and I can hardly stand it even then) but it’s just a lot of fluff in a book.
Things I Thought Were Weird:
• Genre classification. Okay, I said I would get to this, so here we go. How would I classify the genre of this novel? I don’t think I can give a straight answer, either, unfortunately. It’s only mildly dystopian. Aside from the nuclear “radiation storms” that feature briefly and the slightly increased disapproval of Christianity, at least in its true sense, this isn’t a strongly dystopian novel. Neither could it really be called a romance. It’s almost an anti-romance. 😊 Futuristic inspirational? But wait, is it actually futuristic? Somebody help me out, here. This book is set a generation before Crossroads, approximately. And…correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that Crossroads was 2040’s, like Dronefall. But then that would make Kiera…contemporary with a nuclear war in the background and broadly-integrated self-driving cars. Am I right? Am I crazy?
I recommend this book for Christian teen girls who need to face the hard facts of what comes after “Happily Ever After.” Just kidding. I think this book actually has a lot of appeal for a certain demographic. I’m probably not the ideal reader, but I’m also weird, so if you’re curious, you should try it.
June 17, 2018
**FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions. **
I was so excited when I found out Kate had written another book. I've read several of her short stories, and have loved reading her talented works. This one took me a few pages to get into it, but once I was in, I couldn't stop reading.
Kiera was an extremely relatable character, and all the side characters were as equally intriguing (although at times I got a bit confused with who-was-who). Jade was an absolute doll!! Brennan had my thumbs-up from the starts, and seriously, he's the type of guy any girl should look for ;) I love the focus of true-love in this book...it's SO much more than feelings! The romance is sweet and progresses really well!
The spiritual content was superb and there were so many amazing reminders of serving the Lord at all costs, staying faithful, not being a hypocrite, and praying fervently. Not only did the spiritual content encourage, but the every day life that Kiera led did as well. She met the day-to-day tasks with the right focus!
The setting was interesting...I felt like I was looking at a modern day tomorrow. The constant app devices mentioned is definitely accurate to our world today and
This is a sweet read, mixed with some sad moments, and is truly an unforgettable book! I'm excited to read more by this author in the near future!
I was so excited when I found out Kate had written another book. I've read several of her short stories, and have loved reading her talented works. This one took me a few pages to get into it, but once I was in, I couldn't stop reading.
Kiera was an extremely relatable character, and all the side characters were as equally intriguing (although at times I got a bit confused with who-was-who). Jade was an absolute doll!! Brennan had my thumbs-up from the starts, and seriously, he's the type of guy any girl should look for ;) I love the focus of true-love in this book...it's SO much more than feelings! The romance is sweet and progresses really well!
The spiritual content was superb and there were so many amazing reminders of serving the Lord at all costs, staying faithful, not being a hypocrite, and praying fervently. Not only did the spiritual content encourage, but the every day life that Kiera led did as well. She met the day-to-day tasks with the right focus!
The setting was interesting...I felt like I was looking at a modern day tomorrow. The constant app devices mentioned is definitely accurate to our world today and
This is a sweet read, mixed with some sad moments, and is truly an unforgettable book! I'm excited to read more by this author in the near future!
December 26, 2018
Wow!! This book was amazing!!
First off, the characters were amazing!! I mean, Kiera held my interest, Brennan was really neat, Destiny always had me smiling, and Jade and the kids were the cutest!! (Those children were written so perfectly real to children, it made me smile so big every time I read about them.) I didn't like Jessica at first until a certain happening that I won't mention because it's a spoiler. (Spoiling's a book sin.) Plus, they were all unique.
Oh, and Ian was really, really neat! ;)
Then the plot was also amazing! Wow! I never knew this could actually be done in a book, yet Kate has found a way. The plot was very engaging and captured my attention when I first read it.
I never thought that as a guy, I would find myself relating to Kiera or thoroughly enjoying a book without action. But I did. I LOVED IT!!!!
I loved the writing style and word choice.
YOU NEED TO READ THIS FOR YOURSELF!!!!!!
And then for Kate, I DEMAND A SEQUEL BECAUSE I LOVED THE STORY LINE AND CHARACTERS WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!
First off, the characters were amazing!! I mean, Kiera held my interest, Brennan was really neat, Destiny always had me smiling, and Jade and the kids were the cutest!! (Those children were written so perfectly real to children, it made me smile so big every time I read about them.) I didn't like Jessica at first until a certain happening that I won't mention because it's a spoiler. (Spoiling's a book sin.) Plus, they were all unique.
Oh, and Ian was really, really neat! ;)
Then the plot was also amazing! Wow! I never knew this could actually be done in a book, yet Kate has found a way. The plot was very engaging and captured my attention when I first read it.
I never thought that as a guy, I would find myself relating to Kiera or thoroughly enjoying a book without action. But I did. I LOVED IT!!!!
I loved the writing style and word choice.
YOU NEED TO READ THIS FOR YOURSELF!!!!!!
And then for Kate, I DEMAND A SEQUEL BECAUSE I LOVED THE STORY LINE AND CHARACTERS WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!
June 15, 2019
This novel is amazing! It immediately became one of my favorites, which is not a small success.
“Kiera” is a dystopian novel and Kate Willis touches on what persecution could look like in western countries only a few years down the road. The book is set in a changing world, where living out a Christian lifestyle is forbidden.
For me, Kiera is a very relatable character. She is practical and emotional at the same time. She loves children, but sometimes gets impatient. She is realistically written with both strengths and weaknesses. If she lived in my neighborhood, we would be friends! :)
The link that was made to sparrows throughout the book made me look at Matthew 6 in a new way. The main character has to remind herself again and again that the God she trusts in is good and will never forget her.
There’s much more that I loved, and this is a book I will reread often and can most definitely recommend.
5 stars from 5
“Kiera” is a dystopian novel and Kate Willis touches on what persecution could look like in western countries only a few years down the road. The book is set in a changing world, where living out a Christian lifestyle is forbidden.
For me, Kiera is a very relatable character. She is practical and emotional at the same time. She loves children, but sometimes gets impatient. She is realistically written with both strengths and weaknesses. If she lived in my neighborhood, we would be friends! :)
The link that was made to sparrows throughout the book made me look at Matthew 6 in a new way. The main character has to remind herself again and again that the God she trusts in is good and will never forget her.
There’s much more that I loved, and this is a book I will reread often and can most definitely recommend.
5 stars from 5
June 18, 2018
This was an intriguing twist to the marriage of convenience trope, set in a slightly dystopian, near future America. I really felt for the family and the hard decisions they faced in light of new laws- and the decisions that were out of their hands. I really liked the makeshift family and slow pace of watching them getting used to each other. I didn't so much like the family's tragedies and how fast it all seemed to happen. All in all, though, it was a fresh twist to one of my favorite tropes and genres alike.
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 17, 2018
4.5 stars.
Okay, wow. So I knew I was going to love this from way back when before it was even completely written. But Kate Willis definitely blew it out of the water! *slow clap*
First off, this book is so unique. A dystopian marriage of convenience? I would never have thought it, and I'm not sure anybody else has either because I've never heard of anything similar. *mind blow* Oftentimes, marriages of convenience can get a bit iffy and tend to fall into the "too much information" category for me. There are very few I like. But Kiera was fabulous. Willis handles a very hard situation with such tact and grace.
The characters. While at first Kiera seemed a little lackluster, layers kept unwrapping as the story unfolded, and our MC turns into an incredibly realistic and relatable human being with her own struggles and issues and quirks that are so real.
Jade was definitely one of my favorite characters! There are authors who write little child characters, and then there are authors who WRITE little child characters, and Kate is definitely in the second category. Jade's voice, actions, and interactions were so realistic and utterly adorable!
And then there's Brennan . . . He wins the favorite character award! Just wow! Such an amazing character. I loved his tender heart and how real (I feel like I'm using that word a lot?) he was. Definitely not your cookie-cutter stereotypical perfect male protagonist.
The plot, while definitely not as action-filled as you might expect a dystopian book to be, was still very engaging and kept me turning pages. The themes (faith, martyrs, abortion, adoption, etc) were so well done. Another wow. Definitely some tears spilled.
Probably the main reason I docked a half-star-ish is that I felt the writing style\voice could have used a little improvement. Or maybe it's just not my personal preference in style. But regardless, that did not detract much from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, another wow! A fabulous debut novel from this talented author! I can't wait to read more!
*Small Fangirl Review:*
Okay, wow. So I knew I was going to love this from way back when before it was even completely written. But Kate Willis definitely blew it out of the water! *slow clap*
First off, this book is so unique. A dystopian marriage of convenience? I would never have thought it, and I'm not sure anybody else has either because I've never heard of anything similar. *mind blow* Oftentimes, marriages of convenience can get a bit iffy and tend to fall into the "too much information" category for me. There are very few I like. But Kiera was fabulous. Willis handles a very hard situation with such tact and grace.
The characters. While at first Kiera seemed a little lackluster, layers kept unwrapping as the story unfolded, and our MC turns into an incredibly realistic and relatable human being with her own struggles and issues and quirks that are so real.
Jade was definitely one of my favorite characters! There are authors who write little child characters, and then there are authors who WRITE little child characters, and Kate is definitely in the second category. Jade's voice, actions, and interactions were so realistic and utterly adorable!
And then there's Brennan . . . He wins the favorite character award! Just wow! Such an amazing character. I loved his tender heart and how real (I feel like I'm using that word a lot?) he was. Definitely not your cookie-cutter stereotypical perfect male protagonist.
The plot, while definitely not as action-filled as you might expect a dystopian book to be, was still very engaging and kept me turning pages. The themes (faith, martyrs, abortion, adoption, etc) were so well done. Another wow. Definitely some tears spilled.
Probably the main reason I docked a half-star-ish is that I felt the writing style\voice could have used a little improvement. Or maybe it's just not my personal preference in style. But regardless, that did not detract much from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, another wow! A fabulous debut novel from this talented author! I can't wait to read more!
*Small Fangirl Review:*
March 8, 2019
So, I finally got around to reading this book... and I do not regret it! Kate Willis is an amazing writer, and this book certainly displays that quite clearly. Reading it was a joy! A clean Christian convenience-marriage story set in a dystopian future... wow. It is such a unique and interesting new idea, and we definitely need more of these kinds of books in our times.
First of all, may I just applaud Kate on the awesome worldbuilding job? Dystopian worlds always feel way too similar in most of the books I've read, but of course Kiera was a happy exception. The futurized (is that a word? xD) America was realistically explained and vividly detailed, including all the right elements to make it feel like a setting you could get used to. I'm happy to say that the issues in this government had, for once, nothing to do with your typical plague-and-antidote problems; but rather it was in the lack of spirituality. This kind of world, rare as it is in fiction, touches my heart because of how big of a possibility it can be for any country in the world and is for many. Yet Kate did a phenomenal job spreading the light in this book with the light of Jesus Christ and His effect on the people who are forced to hide.
The characters? Amazingness. Kiera was a lovely protagonist even if I think she could have had a little more personality. Brennan was a sweetheart. Then there's Jade, sweet sweet Jade-- anyone up for the cutest little darling ever to appear in YA dystopian fiction? Um... yesh!
The side characters... Destiny, the entire Clark family, and Thorne... oh Thorne. I could go on and on about how personally special his place in the book was, not only to me but probably to plenty of other people out there, but I don't need to. Let's just say that OH MY GOODNESS and there goes my heart.
What else? This was such a sweet and touching story. I'd definitely recommend it-- in fact, I can think of several people at whom I should like to shove this book. (But first I'd have to get myself a print copy, of course.) All I can say for now is-- READ THIS. It is a total gem.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all views and opinions expressed are my own.*
First of all, may I just applaud Kate on the awesome worldbuilding job? Dystopian worlds always feel way too similar in most of the books I've read, but of course Kiera was a happy exception. The futurized (is that a word? xD) America was realistically explained and vividly detailed, including all the right elements to make it feel like a setting you could get used to. I'm happy to say that the issues in this government had, for once, nothing to do with your typical plague-and-antidote problems; but rather it was in the lack of spirituality. This kind of world, rare as it is in fiction, touches my heart because of how big of a possibility it can be for any country in the world and is for many. Yet Kate did a phenomenal job spreading the light in this book with the light of Jesus Christ and His effect on the people who are forced to hide.
The characters? Amazingness. Kiera was a lovely protagonist even if I think she could have had a little more personality. Brennan was a sweetheart. Then there's Jade, sweet sweet Jade-- anyone up for the cutest little darling ever to appear in YA dystopian fiction? Um... yesh!
The side characters... Destiny, the entire Clark family, and Thorne... oh Thorne. I could go on and on about how personally special his place in the book was, not only to me but probably to plenty of other people out there, but I don't need to. Let's just say that OH MY GOODNESS and there goes my heart.
What else? This was such a sweet and touching story. I'd definitely recommend it-- in fact, I can think of several people at whom I should like to shove this book. (But first I'd have to get myself a print copy, of course.) All I can say for now is-- READ THIS. It is a total gem.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all views and opinions expressed are my own.*
January 26, 2019
GUYS WHOAAA *is shook*
First off-powerful Christian themes. Yass.
Secondly, *sort of not really a spoiler cause it happens right at the beginning* PLATONIC MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP...LIKE WHAT HOW DID SHE PULL THAT OFF (talk about love redefined-thank you Kate)
This book talks about a ton of heavy topics, like female drafting, abortion and embryo freezing/termination, persecution in the church, and young parenting. However, I think Kate talked about all of these topics with grace and with power and represented them in the correct light. This book was recommended for like 16+ but I read it anyway because I've already been exposed all of this stuff (participating in pro-life events, reading about Christian persecution, etc.) Anyways, you can use your own discretion when reading.
Overall, a really beautiful book that was deep and tragic but also had some cuteness and sweet friend and family relationships built in. Might be a good one to get as a gift for people in the future.
First off-powerful Christian themes. Yass.
Secondly, *sort of not really a spoiler cause it happens right at the beginning* PLATONIC MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP...LIKE WHAT HOW DID SHE PULL THAT OFF (talk about love redefined-thank you Kate)
This book talks about a ton of heavy topics, like female drafting, abortion and embryo freezing/termination, persecution in the church, and young parenting. However, I think Kate talked about all of these topics with grace and with power and represented them in the correct light. This book was recommended for like 16+ but I read it anyway because I've already been exposed all of this stuff (participating in pro-life events, reading about Christian persecution, etc.) Anyways, you can use your own discretion when reading.
Overall, a really beautiful book that was deep and tragic but also had some cuteness and sweet friend and family relationships built in. Might be a good one to get as a gift for people in the future.
February 26, 2024
Kiera by Kate Willis is a perfect blend of a dystopian novel that still brings hope within its pages. It is cozy, while still having suspense and danger. Overall, just an enjoyable read that I found to be worth a re-read.
If you enjoy this book, then it's sequel Operation Robin is definitely worth reading, as well.
If you enjoy this book, then it's sequel Operation Robin is definitely worth reading, as well.
June 19, 2018
Why I Choose This Book:
Kate Willis has long been one of my favorite bloggers. Her blogging style is so easy to fall into and she writes with the perfect combination of heart and details. Her books are the same way, and I was happy to get to review her short book "Twin Arrows" a year or so ago and was excited at the chance to read and review "Kiera", too.
What I Thought of This Book:
Can we just start out by saying I was blown away? I'd heard various things over the last year or two about this book from the author, and so I guess I had formed certain expectations in my mind. But then I started the book and everything I had thought I knew kinda tumbled away and I was like "Wait, what's going on here?"
I started the book on a hot afternoon while I was taking a little break from cutting grass so the sun could wan a bit. But as the sun went down and the day started cooling off, I didn't want to stop reading. The story felt so real and the characters - especially Kiera, the main one - so relatable.
It's still kinda confusing to me how it happened, but Kate took some plot points that I think are way overdone (and not done well) and turned it into a great story. When I realized what one of the main plot points were I was like "Wait, what? How is Kate going to keep me liking this story?" But then she did. And not only that, but she kept me reading (with a break to cut grass) until I finally finished the story at 1:00 a.m.
The story is set about twenty years in the future and I was intrigued to see how Kate imagined the world would be in two short decades. In some ways the book felt "old-fashioned" to me - the main character grew a small garden and sewed her own clothes, they went directly to farms to get food sometimes, etc... And yet in other ways, it felt like it was set very much in the future. The combo worked well and showed clearly that it wasn't set in 2018.
Characters. Goodness, Kate has a way of making characters come right off the page and dance their way into your life. The way Kiera interacted with the girls in her life felt so real - it truly made me look like I was seeing real day-to-day friendships taking place and reminded me of me with my friends.
Jade is a two-year-old and one of the main characters and showed clearly that Kate spends a lot of time with children. She was written in a spot-on way and made me think of the little kids in my life. She was adorable and exasperating at the same time.
Kiera and her parents. It was delightful to me seeing how she interacted with her parents. I love it when families are close in books, and this book did a good job of showing how special and important they were to each other. So props to Kate for that.
Romance. What can I say? If I was telling you the plot to the story it would sound like it had to be a romance, and yet I wouldn't call it that at all. Sure, the book had romance in it, but it was written in a way that felt like it could be very true to life. Plus, it was sweet, and what I would consider to be God-honoring. (More about that below in a spoiler.)
On the downside, there were a few things that I disliked. The main one being that I was quite confused for a long time with trying to figure out who all was in Kiera's family. I'm still not entirely sure I got it down, but I think it's Kiera and her three older brothers. Another thing I found confusing was the draft. The whole war and draft played such a big part in making the plot happen, and yet it really wasn't a part of the book. Even though we were given slight explanations as to why certain people weren't drafted, it still felt like we were slightly cheated as the readers to have it be such a big deal, and then have so many exemptions.
Conclusion:
This book might not be suitable for young kids because of:
*Brief mentions of abortion, embryo storage and adoption
*"Off-screen" death
*Brief mentions of a hard childhood including physical abuse
*Light romance
But overall it was really clean and a book that I enjoyed and recommend to teen girls looking for a sweet, clean read.
Rating:
Four Stars
*FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Kate Willis has long been one of my favorite bloggers. Her blogging style is so easy to fall into and she writes with the perfect combination of heart and details. Her books are the same way, and I was happy to get to review her short book "Twin Arrows" a year or so ago and was excited at the chance to read and review "Kiera", too.
What I Thought of This Book:
Can we just start out by saying I was blown away? I'd heard various things over the last year or two about this book from the author, and so I guess I had formed certain expectations in my mind. But then I started the book and everything I had thought I knew kinda tumbled away and I was like "Wait, what's going on here?"
I started the book on a hot afternoon while I was taking a little break from cutting grass so the sun could wan a bit. But as the sun went down and the day started cooling off, I didn't want to stop reading. The story felt so real and the characters - especially Kiera, the main one - so relatable.
It's still kinda confusing to me how it happened, but Kate took some plot points that I think are way overdone (and not done well) and turned it into a great story. When I realized what one of the main plot points were I was like "Wait, what? How is Kate going to keep me liking this story?" But then she did. And not only that, but she kept me reading (with a break to cut grass) until I finally finished the story at 1:00 a.m.
The story is set about twenty years in the future and I was intrigued to see how Kate imagined the world would be in two short decades. In some ways the book felt "old-fashioned" to me - the main character grew a small garden and sewed her own clothes, they went directly to farms to get food sometimes, etc... And yet in other ways, it felt like it was set very much in the future. The combo worked well and showed clearly that it wasn't set in 2018.
Characters. Goodness, Kate has a way of making characters come right off the page and dance their way into your life. The way Kiera interacted with the girls in her life felt so real - it truly made me look like I was seeing real day-to-day friendships taking place and reminded me of me with my friends.
Jade is a two-year-old and one of the main characters and showed clearly that Kate spends a lot of time with children. She was written in a spot-on way and made me think of the little kids in my life. She was adorable and exasperating at the same time.
Kiera and her parents. It was delightful to me seeing how she interacted with her parents. I love it when families are close in books, and this book did a good job of showing how special and important they were to each other. So props to Kate for that.
Romance. What can I say? If I was telling you the plot to the story it would sound like it had to be a romance, and yet I wouldn't call it that at all. Sure, the book had romance in it, but it was written in a way that felt like it could be very true to life. Plus, it was sweet, and what I would consider to be God-honoring. (More about that below in a spoiler.)
On the downside, there were a few things that I disliked. The main one being that I was quite confused for a long time with trying to figure out who all was in Kiera's family. I'm still not entirely sure I got it down, but I think it's Kiera and her three older brothers. Another thing I found confusing was the draft. The whole war and draft played such a big part in making the plot happen, and yet it really wasn't a part of the book. Even though we were given slight explanations as to why certain people weren't drafted, it still felt like we were slightly cheated as the readers to have it be such a big deal, and then have so many exemptions.
Conclusion:
This book might not be suitable for young kids because of:
*Brief mentions of abortion, embryo storage and adoption
*"Off-screen" death
*Brief mentions of a hard childhood including physical abuse
*Light romance
But overall it was really clean and a book that I enjoyed and recommend to teen girls looking for a sweet, clean read.
Rating:
Four Stars
*FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
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