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DiaZem Trilogy #1
Apparent Power
A dormant gene awakens in a quarter of the world's population and the effects are apocalyptic. With an even rarer gene, the life of Valerie Russell turns into a shocking race against time.
When the human body begins to require more electricity than needed to keep a heart beating, cars lose power, phones no longer function, and planes fall from the sky.
Stranded in southern Colorado, a hundred miles from home--and from her two-year-old son-- Valerie must find it within herself to trek the distance with the help of a questionable assembly of ex-military friends of the family.
But the awakening has a different effect on Valerie. While others absorb electricity, Valerie's abilities are not as limited, making her the key to unlocking a worldwide genocide of those who were not affected.
As she evades the rising totalitarian government, Valerie is also faced with a moral risk failure and attempt to save the masses from the regime's deadly plot or run and preserve only the lives of her family.
How does a mother make such an impossible choice?
When the human body begins to require more electricity than needed to keep a heart beating, cars lose power, phones no longer function, and planes fall from the sky.
Stranded in southern Colorado, a hundred miles from home--and from her two-year-old son-- Valerie must find it within herself to trek the distance with the help of a questionable assembly of ex-military friends of the family.
But the awakening has a different effect on Valerie. While others absorb electricity, Valerie's abilities are not as limited, making her the key to unlocking a worldwide genocide of those who were not affected.
As she evades the rising totalitarian government, Valerie is also faced with a moral risk failure and attempt to save the masses from the regime's deadly plot or run and preserve only the lives of her family.
How does a mother make such an impossible choice?
- GenresDystopiaScience Fiction
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2018
6 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Dacia M. Arnold
3 books40 followersDacia M Arnold is an author of adult dystopian and dark fiction. She enjoys writing main characters who are otherwise normal people with extraordinary abilities.
To say Dacia is an author and a mother would only be scratching the surface. She is an avid karaoke singer, master crafter and a thrift-ster. She is also a ten-year Army veteran and served two tours of combat as a medic.
From a young age, her imagination lent itself to short stories and poems. Like most girls, her father is her hero. Dacia moved every three years since she was born, as with most military families, which allowed her to reinvent herself with new friends. Later in life, she followed her father’s boot prints by joining the military. Dacia spent fifteen months working in Baghdad Emergency room. There she lay witness to both horrors and miracles.
While she was away for her second deployment, Dacia lost her best friend to domestic violence. After her friend’s passing, Dacia served as a victim advocate until her time in the military ended. Now, to help others, she speaks out often in social media platforms to encourage victims of their own strength and informs them of options to get help.
Dacia blogs about being a writer, a mom of two and the struggles therein. She sometimes incorporates life with her railroad conductor husband in Denver, Colorado and a few diy projects. When in rare form, she will share stories about her time in the military, her medical experiences, short fiction stories, and very rarely a poem.
Dacia’s first full length novel incorporates almost every aspect of her life. APPARENT POWER is an award-winning story following a mother on a journey to find her son before a rising, post-apocalyptic government does. The main character will stop at nothing to ensure her son’s safety. Apparent Power is due to be released by Immortal Works Press on December 11th, 2018.
SHIFTING POWER, the sequel, is in the works to be released in the fall of 2019.
To say Dacia is an author and a mother would only be scratching the surface. She is an avid karaoke singer, master crafter and a thrift-ster. She is also a ten-year Army veteran and served two tours of combat as a medic.
From a young age, her imagination lent itself to short stories and poems. Like most girls, her father is her hero. Dacia moved every three years since she was born, as with most military families, which allowed her to reinvent herself with new friends. Later in life, she followed her father’s boot prints by joining the military. Dacia spent fifteen months working in Baghdad Emergency room. There she lay witness to both horrors and miracles.
While she was away for her second deployment, Dacia lost her best friend to domestic violence. After her friend’s passing, Dacia served as a victim advocate until her time in the military ended. Now, to help others, she speaks out often in social media platforms to encourage victims of their own strength and informs them of options to get help.
Dacia blogs about being a writer, a mom of two and the struggles therein. She sometimes incorporates life with her railroad conductor husband in Denver, Colorado and a few diy projects. When in rare form, she will share stories about her time in the military, her medical experiences, short fiction stories, and very rarely a poem.
Dacia’s first full length novel incorporates almost every aspect of her life. APPARENT POWER is an award-winning story following a mother on a journey to find her son before a rising, post-apocalyptic government does. The main character will stop at nothing to ensure her son’s safety. Apparent Power is due to be released by Immortal Works Press on December 11th, 2018.
SHIFTING POWER, the sequel, is in the works to be released in the fall of 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 14, 2019
The author's experience and training really showed through in this one. And it's always fun to read a story set in my own backyard. Had to drive to the airport while in the middle of reading the book, and there is a pivotal scene at the beginning that had me second-guessing my flight plans for the day.
December 11, 2018
I was contacted by the author and given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dacia Arnold takes us into a dystopian world where a quarter of the world’s population has awaken with the ability to conduct and control electricity through their bodies. For most of the population, including Valerie Russell, this is unexpected news. However, the government seems to have known for a long time that this could happen and have been preparing their own facility to accommodate and take control of the new world.
The main character, Valerie Russell, is a DiaZem which means that she is not only a conductor of electricity but she can also control it to extreme extents. Separated from her husband and son when the event occurs, she will have to trek a hundred miles with a group of strangers in order to be reunited with her family, all the while trying to stay away from the government’s grasp.
I really enjoyed this novel. The whole dormant gene storyline reminded me of X-men, especially in the fact that the main villain, also a DiaZem, plans to eradicate “regular” people and create a new world order where only conductors reign. In this way, he could be compared to Magneto. Valerie on the other hand, whose husband and friends are regular people doesn’t want anyone to die and wants to find a way for everyone to live in harmony, and therefore she is much closer to Charles Xavier’s views.
I’m not usually a big fan of sci-fi but I do love a good dystopian book, and this was it. The story is original, the characters are well developed (even though there are a lot of them to start with and it can be confusing) and I loved the ending. It was really intense and climactic and as I got closer and closer to the end, I kept asking myself “how is this going to be resolved?!”
Valerie and Hyka were my favourite characters, but while I do appreciate them being two strong female characters, they do overshadow the rest of the primarily male group.
The writing was effortless and easy to read, and even without having much scientific knowledge I could make sense of what was going on. With this book being the first of a trilogy, I am looking forward to the next one as I would very much like to know what happens next in this new world.
Quick note though, there were once again quite a few typos and missing words in the text, not enough to hinder reading but enough to seek out further editing.
Dacia Arnold takes us into a dystopian world where a quarter of the world’s population has awaken with the ability to conduct and control electricity through their bodies. For most of the population, including Valerie Russell, this is unexpected news. However, the government seems to have known for a long time that this could happen and have been preparing their own facility to accommodate and take control of the new world.
The main character, Valerie Russell, is a DiaZem which means that she is not only a conductor of electricity but she can also control it to extreme extents. Separated from her husband and son when the event occurs, she will have to trek a hundred miles with a group of strangers in order to be reunited with her family, all the while trying to stay away from the government’s grasp.
I really enjoyed this novel. The whole dormant gene storyline reminded me of X-men, especially in the fact that the main villain, also a DiaZem, plans to eradicate “regular” people and create a new world order where only conductors reign. In this way, he could be compared to Magneto. Valerie on the other hand, whose husband and friends are regular people doesn’t want anyone to die and wants to find a way for everyone to live in harmony, and therefore she is much closer to Charles Xavier’s views.
I’m not usually a big fan of sci-fi but I do love a good dystopian book, and this was it. The story is original, the characters are well developed (even though there are a lot of them to start with and it can be confusing) and I loved the ending. It was really intense and climactic and as I got closer and closer to the end, I kept asking myself “how is this going to be resolved?!”
Valerie and Hyka were my favourite characters, but while I do appreciate them being two strong female characters, they do overshadow the rest of the primarily male group.
The writing was effortless and easy to read, and even without having much scientific knowledge I could make sense of what was going on. With this book being the first of a trilogy, I am looking forward to the next one as I would very much like to know what happens next in this new world.
Quick note though, there were once again quite a few typos and missing words in the text, not enough to hinder reading but enough to seek out further editing.
June 1, 2019
This is a different book than I normally read and I am so glad that I read it because it was very surprising and I need book two like ASAP! This is set up in a dystopian world where you get so lost in it it feels so real.
Valerie is in a fight for her life. She must stay out of the governments view because they want her and are coming for her. She is miles away from home when she realizes she is going to have to depend on others that will help her get home safe to her husband and son. See Valerie is special because she is what is considered a conduit and she can control the electricity flowing through her body. But there is only one problem she can't control it and she is going to have to learn how to control it before the government gets her. She knows a secret that will change the world.
Can she make it home in time? Or will the government get her and she lose it all?
Valerie is in a fight for her life. She must stay out of the governments view because they want her and are coming for her. She is miles away from home when she realizes she is going to have to depend on others that will help her get home safe to her husband and son. See Valerie is special because she is what is considered a conduit and she can control the electricity flowing through her body. But there is only one problem she can't control it and she is going to have to learn how to control it before the government gets her. She knows a secret that will change the world.
Can she make it home in time? Or will the government get her and she lose it all?
January 24, 2020
5 stars!
Apparent Power by Dacia M Arnold
This book is absolutely amazing! Arnold does a brilliant job creating the setting, the unique plot line and likable, relatable characters. The characters were so well-developed that I knew exactly who was speaking in the dialogue, before the dialogue tag.
I loved the strong, female lead and I related to her throughout the entire book as she fought to get to her son and keep him safe. As a mother, this hit home for me.
I loved the fast-paced suspense that kept me guessing throughout the entire story. There was action, romance, and twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I also loved the book setting, as I live just 30 minutes from Denver. I will probably never look at that city and airport the same way. lol
The story flowed flawlessly and if it weren't for my kids and life that I had to tend to, I could have read this in one sitting.
Loved, loved, loved it!
#bookblogger #bookreview #bookrecommendations #goodbooks
Apparent Power by Dacia M Arnold
This book is absolutely amazing! Arnold does a brilliant job creating the setting, the unique plot line and likable, relatable characters. The characters were so well-developed that I knew exactly who was speaking in the dialogue, before the dialogue tag.
I loved the strong, female lead and I related to her throughout the entire book as she fought to get to her son and keep him safe. As a mother, this hit home for me.
I loved the fast-paced suspense that kept me guessing throughout the entire story. There was action, romance, and twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I also loved the book setting, as I live just 30 minutes from Denver. I will probably never look at that city and airport the same way. lol
The story flowed flawlessly and if it weren't for my kids and life that I had to tend to, I could have read this in one sitting.
Loved, loved, loved it!
#bookblogger #bookreview #bookrecommendations #goodbooks
May 21, 2019
This was a pretty good but it just didn't shine as well as I was hoping it was going to. This one is totally for those who love X-Men and shows/movies like that. If you enjoy stories about good vs. evil and want to read about book about people with powers then this one might be right up your ally.
I loved the start of this one even though the writing seemed a little choppy. I mean who wouldn't want to have their body from when they were 20 again? I know I would!! The characters were great and I can't wait for book two.
I loved the use of electricity as a power it was really interesting and I really hope to see this book do well in the world of reading.
Go Into This One Knowing: Powers, Good vs. Evil, Family
I loved the start of this one even though the writing seemed a little choppy. I mean who wouldn't want to have their body from when they were 20 again? I know I would!! The characters were great and I can't wait for book two.
I loved the use of electricity as a power it was really interesting and I really hope to see this book do well in the world of reading.
Go Into This One Knowing: Powers, Good vs. Evil, Family
October 25, 2018
Wow. This is one of the few books within the adult genre that I truly connected to. Can I take a moment to celebrate that the female protagonist is a MOM?!?! I loved how Valerie interacted with her son and how the author portrayed that relationship so realistically. Having a toddler tag along during such an epic adventure was such a joy for me to read.
Dacia's characterization was wonderful. The dialogue, voices, and personalities were all so distinctive and real. This book beautifully explored the lines between healthy and toxic relationships. Valerie's interactions with her son and husband were supportive, realistic, and loving (It was so nice to see a functional family). Toward the end, there were some absolutely despicable interactions between Valerie and the villain. I was blown away by how real the sexual harassment felt. Dacia made me feel for Valerie in my core. However, I didn't feel like she toyed with my emotions for the sake of dramatic effect. While there were definitely shining heroes and some seriously evil villains, there were also so many wonderful characters with justifiable motivations, walking that middle ground.
Since Valerie is the daughter of a soldier and a nurse herself, Dacia did a beautiful job taking me (a civilian and non-medical professional) into their worlds. I loved how natural all the jargon flowed and I never once felt confused or lost. I felt like I got a peek into two foreign lifestyles and fell into them naturally. It was wonderful.
I genuinely enjoyed my time with this book and can't wait to read the next one!
Dacia's characterization was wonderful. The dialogue, voices, and personalities were all so distinctive and real. This book beautifully explored the lines between healthy and toxic relationships. Valerie's interactions with her son and husband were supportive, realistic, and loving (It was so nice to see a functional family). Toward the end, there were some absolutely despicable interactions between Valerie and the villain. I was blown away by how real the sexual harassment felt. Dacia made me feel for Valerie in my core. However, I didn't feel like she toyed with my emotions for the sake of dramatic effect. While there were definitely shining heroes and some seriously evil villains, there were also so many wonderful characters with justifiable motivations, walking that middle ground.
Since Valerie is the daughter of a soldier and a nurse herself, Dacia did a beautiful job taking me (a civilian and non-medical professional) into their worlds. I loved how natural all the jargon flowed and I never once felt confused or lost. I felt like I got a peek into two foreign lifestyles and fell into them naturally. It was wonderful.
I genuinely enjoyed my time with this book and can't wait to read the next one!
July 9, 2020
DNF - Quit at 28%
This book just wasn't to my tastes. It moves very slowly, & by 28% it seemed like there should have been more going on than there was. I wasn't pulled into the story enough to want to see where it was heading. I didn't feel the writing was balanced in order to keep me caring about the character or the plot. There really isn't a lot of information being filtered in for world building, but it's kind of a given, as an event that triggers an apocalypse sort of a situation happening as the book starts, which really won't be filled with a ton of info for the characters to know about what's going on. I just really didn't like the main character, Valerie, she was sort of off putting for me.
At my age (approaching 60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
This book just wasn't to my tastes. It moves very slowly, & by 28% it seemed like there should have been more going on than there was. I wasn't pulled into the story enough to want to see where it was heading. I didn't feel the writing was balanced in order to keep me caring about the character or the plot. There really isn't a lot of information being filtered in for world building, but it's kind of a given, as an event that triggers an apocalypse sort of a situation happening as the book starts, which really won't be filled with a ton of info for the characters to know about what's going on. I just really didn't like the main character, Valerie, she was sort of off putting for me.
At my age (approaching 60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
May 19, 2019
After reading this, I'll never see the Denver airport as anything other than creepy :) LOL! Okay, really, that's not a spoiler. But I did really enjoy being able to picture this setting so well after all the time I've been stuck in that giant labyrinth. And since my brother used to live in Colorado Springs, I instantly felt like I could put myself into the setting of this novel. Not that Arnold leaves you any time to get too comfortable with anything--this is one fast-paced novel with all kinds of twists and turns that kept me up reading way too late. Not only is the insanity that results from the situation unfolding in the novel totally believable (totalitarian gov't--totally see it!), the emotions Valerie feels ring so true. She has to face some crazy stuff, but I really liked her fortitude. Overall, a really interesting and fun read, and I'm looking forward to the next!
April 20, 2020
I didn't realize I never reviewed this and am now setting the record straight! I really enjoyed this book! It's not my usual genre, as I'm more hardcore horror, but this was a good breath of fresh air. The writing is spot on for the characters voice as you follow her through this whole new kind of post-apocalyptic world. Dacia never shows her cards and keeps the stories perspective very narrow, which allowed me to come up with my own thoughts and conspiracy theories about what's going to happen next. this was a great introduction to the characters and the world you'll be diving into. I don't wanna give too much away as this is a short book, but it was a lot of fun. i wish we could have gotten more nitty gritty details but that's just be being a avid horror fan. It's not a horror story, but has a few bleak moments and horrifically bad villains.
July 14, 2020
I would recommend this book to others. I would read the rest of the books in this series.
Main character development, pacing, and plot were good. Odd habit of the main character never using contractions (did not, can not, would not, etc) was distracting (minor issue). Look forward to seeing more from this writer.
Main character development, pacing, and plot were good. Odd habit of the main character never using contractions (did not, can not, would not, etc) was distracting (minor issue). Look forward to seeing more from this writer.
September 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Very different look at Apocalyptic type future. I liked the characters so I will definitely be looking to getting the other books in the series. I was lucky enough to meet the author at a convention, and she sold me by telling me it was a kick a** mom type book. That’s my cup of tea for sure.
January 15, 2019
A quick read. Started out loving it. Got a little bored towards the end but ended up liking the ending. Cannot wait to read what happens next.
August 9, 2019
Fun book that celebrates a literal super mom...also fun that it's set in Colorado
July 24, 2024
The book was great. The story line is new and exciting. The character development was very good. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series.
August 18, 2024
Really good read but the climax felt a little rushed in comparison to the rest of the story. Will definitely find the next book to add to my TBR pile though
March 6, 2019
This was an excellent page turner. The writing style just kept me absorbed in the story the whole time. Valerie is a very believable protagonist and her journey is a wild ride.
I normally don’t deal with adult fiction because I find the heavy amounts of sex and gore unnecessary but Dacia manages to make it balance completely. I was irked a little by certain points of attempted rape and certain viewpoints of the characters. I also wasn’t a big fan of the royalty/forced marriage components. It just seemed a little weird but in the end worked out for the story itself.
Definitely a read I will be recommending
I normally don’t deal with adult fiction because I find the heavy amounts of sex and gore unnecessary but Dacia manages to make it balance completely. I was irked a little by certain points of attempted rape and certain viewpoints of the characters. I also wasn’t a big fan of the royalty/forced marriage components. It just seemed a little weird but in the end worked out for the story itself.
Definitely a read I will be recommending
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews