The Ganga Shift

by Mary Bernsen

Life hasn't been easy for Isabella. She spent most of her childhood in the foster care system, and now at twenty-two she has landed herself in prison on drug charges. Her troubled past is what makes her a perfect candidate for the government's latest scientific endeavor, Operation Gene Re-sequencing. No one will miss her. No one will question her absence. But, when it's discovered Isabella is immune to their DNA-changing drugs, she is selected to be used as prey for those who aren't. Chase and Brayden couldn't be more opposite; Chase is calm, reserved, and completely insistent that he will control the changes the virus is causing in his body. Brayden, on the other hand, has always been wild and uninhibited. He welcomes the new animalistic nature coming over him. The one thing they have in common? They both have a taste for the cute little inmate who is now sharing their cell.

300 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2018

About the author

Mary Bernsen is a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child that she affectionately calls husband. She is the Amazon Best Selling Author of Healing The Bayou, The Ganga Shift, and Beyond the Gods series.

She also writes young adult romances under her pseudonym, M.E. Rhines.

Reviews

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟STARS
ARC REVIEW COPY
Release Date-10/4/18

I really loved the Ganga Shift, it was so different and such a unique read.
I really don't know why I had it in my head that this was some sort of menage story, maybe the blurb.
Just goes to show you shouldn't make assumptions.
If I was to describe this to someone I'd say it was a menagerie of crossed genres that shouldn't work but they just do.
The Ganga Shift in execution was bloody brilliant and I was glued to my kindle from the moment I started.
What I especially enjoyed was the inclusion of Hinduism.
I am not a religious person but if I were to identify with any faith at all it would probably be this as I just find the belief system so fascinating.
Don't misunderstand me this book isn't overly religious or preachy.
The Ganga Shift manages to intertwine the concepts and beliefs of Hinduism with a background stealth that welds it into the overall story so naturally.
Our tale is told from numerous POV.
Chase, Brayden, Isabella and the occasional viewpoint of Shannon a nurse overseeing treatment.
So you get a really well-rounded picture of what is occurring.
There are also a few other memorable characters that show there face as well some definitely a lot nicer than others.
All in all, this was such a fascinating experience and I am happy to recommend this.
It was well written overall and had no problem keeping my attention.
This story is a distinctly different read than the norm and I am ever so glad I have given it a chance.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of (The Ganga Shift) of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Rachael Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please tell me there is another book!! I need more of this world! Ganga Shift was absolutely amazing! I loved this book so much! It was very intriguing and kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next. I couldn't put this book down! I love the relationship between Isabelle, Chase and Brayden. Don't worry there's no love triangles in this book. I really love the idea of the Gene Re-sequencing and the shifting into animals!! I think it would be pretty cool to be able to shift!
Ganga Shift is the ultimate game of cat and mouse as Isabelle is tossed into the pod! This need to be on your tbr list! You won't be disappointed!

[Debbie Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was unlike any other I've ever read. It has elements of romance, shifter paranormal, alternative sci-fi universe, dystopian and medical thriller. But the real surprise was how elements of the Hindu religion played a central role in this story.

The imaginative Mary Bernsen has written another unique tale that makes her a memorable author to watch . . . and to read, of course!

[Sarah Calaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

really enjoyed this book. First off, the only negative I have is how the romance seemed to happen rather fast, but maybe thats just my taste. Still, I found myself enjoying the romance, and I found the love triangle to be done well. I also loved how the book included a religion different from my own that I don't hear much about. I feel like I learned a lot from this, and it was fun to read. It was like the Hunger Games mixed with genetic resequencing and great plot twists. I also liked how Isabella could think for herself, even if she did need some help, because there's no shame in help.

[Sophie Koufes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ganga Shift is like nothing I have read before. Told in multi-pov which gives you a better picture of the characters personalties. Character's are complex & keen. Concepts & beliefs of Hinduism are embodied into the story & play a key to the story. This author has a unparalleled writing style that articulates the blending of different genres together well. A intermingle of elements including romance, paranormal, sci-fi, dystopian, & medical thriller creates a unrivaled novel. Overall a meritable read.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

-I received a free E-arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-

The Ganga Shift was a novel set in a genre I never reach for, so I thought it might be good to just expand my library for a change. Sorry to say I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have, but it still was a very interesting read.

For starters, I loved the writing style and voice in this! Isabella's thoughts were realistic and flowed well with the rest of the story without chopping up the main prose too much. [Note; coarse language throughout, but it was lifelike to the characters and their backgrounds as mostly all had been to prison, and it fit the adult themes.] The descriptions were vivid and some intriguing visuals made it a smooth read and something easy to get into and like.

Another thing I liked was that it was set in Colorado! I rarely find books set within my home state, so props! XD

And now for some of the downsides that made The Ganga Shift a two star read for me.

-I loved the writing, but not the story. I knew it was a romance going in, but I had been expecting a little less insta-love and a little more suspense. Also, one of my least favourite tropes in romance is when the strong, tough-as-nails 'don't touch me or I'll bite your head off' female character falls instantly for the love interest because he has rock hard abs and she instantly trusts him because of feelings and soul mate and all that. I just feel like the love triangle happened too quickly without any buffer or warning for my taste.

-The plot twists weren't very twisty. I could see a few of them coming from chapters ahead, and sometimes they were poorly concealed.

-Deus ex machina. Although I really liked how the topic of religion was dealt with here, it went a little over the top at the end for my perceived expectations of how I thought the story would go. Isabella is the Hindu goddess Ganga, sent to earth to help everyone in the compound escape from their oppressors in order that they can properly die and ascend into the next plane [that's what I got from what I understood]. It felt like a total shift in tone and genre, as Hindu mythology had only been mentioned briefly from Chase beforehand. I generally don't like deus ex machina in any form, so finding out she was a goddess lowered my standards further. I could get behind the auras and Chase having healing energy but having actual gods step into a contemporary novel threw me off.


-Lack of suspense. There was a bit of a 'Hunger Games'-esque bit that made up the greater part of the story, but it was filled with a lot less suspense than I was hoping for. It is established that Isabella knows next to nothing about surviving in a wilderness, but actively seeking out her trackers and then having a grand old time taking drugs with them before chilling in her cave didn't make me love her. It is established that she was addicted to cocaine and that she knew the pack leader had it, but please, don't make me think she's utterly dumb. Isabella was simply hanging out, finding food for her vegetarian diet (sometimes in the middle of winter), sleeping with no worries at all, and sometimes running into the pack that was trying to hunt her down at night and having a casual chat with them. The suspense was pretty much dead for me.

-Romance. Like I stated earlier, insta-love, love-triangle, overprotective boyfriend because of reasons. It was over the top for me, especially considering these people are adults.

-The situational writing was lacking. I like my books describing where people are in relation to others, what time of day it is. I just found myself wondering these things as I read, especially in relation to time.

Overall, it was an intriguing and interesting read with a good pace and writing. I would recommend if you are looking for a light romance with a dystopian type feel to it.

[Rune Divina · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’re not a damsel. You’re not a stupid dragonet. You’re a fucking Ice Queen. Act like it.
- Tha Ganga Shift, Mary Bernsen.
•
I loove this quote that Isabelle told to herself. She's a fucking Ice Queen. Indeed she is, with sparks of flame every now and then. If you love THE HUNGER GAMES + GENETIC REARRANGEMENT + a little bit of HINDUISM GODS = read this book!
•
Full review on my blog and Goodreads ❤.
•
STORY 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Set in Colorado, US, Isabella Baker is a japannese girl who has had life at its lowest. Only for her, it gets lower still. With no one to care about her existence, she was put into a genetic rearrangement facility. All experimented inmates shift into dangerous beasts. All, except Isabella. Because of this, dr. Conley, the head of the experiment, Isabella threatens his research. And he is not one to let his years of efforts down. Every day she was put in that facility, Isabella's life became closer and closer to death. With the help of her cellmates, Breydan and Chase, can she survived? On top of that, readers will discover that there is more to this research than meets the eye. The story started as sci-fy but ended as fantasy, as the research is intertwined with Hinduism beliefs. Isabella would found out her true origin and why she hasn't shifted like the others.
.
I think the story is brilliant at the beginning when I thought the genre is only science fiction. But at the end, the fantasy kicked in. To be honest, I was expecting this story would just stay as science fiction. The transition into fantasy seemes a teeny bit forced to me. But hey, I still like it! And the diversity in this story ❤❤❤ seemed natural. Many stories put diversity only for the sake of popularity and those usually seemed unnatural. In this story, however, the diversity really feels natural.
•
WRITING 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
YOU ARE AMAZING MARY BERNSEN! I love her writing style. She used 3rd person perspective but I can still relate well with the characters. The characters she created were distinct and I enjoy reading through each one. The world building was also quite detailed and vivid.

[Aileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

**DISCLAIMER: This e-ARC was sent to me for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but this has not affected this review in any way.

This kind of book is definitely well outside of my comfort zone and I didn't know much about it before jumping in. Upon reading, I was surprised with an easy-to-digest book more focused on hunting each other (kind of giving me Hunger Games vibes) rather than a prison story that the book initially seems to set up for.

My favourite part of this book by far was the characters. I enjoyed how they all felt unique both from each other and from characters in other books. From the stubborn Isabella to the secretly caring Shannon to the mysterious Chase, everyone contrasted each other and no one felt flat to me, making the story more interesting.

I think one of the things that I didn't enjoy about this book is that it never felt suspenseful and I didn't really feel compelled to keep reading to see what happened to Isabella until the very end. This may just be me, though, and the fact that, in general, I find it hard to get swept away by thriller novels.

While I enjoyed the addition of multiculturalism through talking about various aspects of Hinduism and making the main character East Asian, some of the ways that Isabella was talked about made me feel really uncomfortable and borderline exotic fetish-y, such as the way the blurb says that Chase and Brayden 'both have a taste for the cute little Asian inmate' (although this seems to only be in the Amazon description, not the Goodreads one.

On the note of Chase and Brayden, I found their romances with Isabella to feel very superficial. Even when it was explained at the end, the romance aspect felt like it moved too fast and it didn't really have a basis other than pure attraction.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I am sure that fans of thrillers/suspense/survival novels would enjoy it much more than I did.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I WAS GIVEN AN E-ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

3.5 out of 5

This was one of the most unique books I've read so far this year. From the very first page you're thrown into the meat of this story and kept moving through it with fast paced storytelling. I was constantly kept wondering on what made each prisoner shift to their animal counter parts, and when the reason was revealed it was a unique twist for sure.

The main thing that bothered me throughout the novel was that the relationships between Isabella, Chase & Brayden seemed forced into a sexual realm too fast. Luckily, by the end of the book, everything came together in a way that explained their fast moving connections and eased that annoyance for me. For the most part, anyway, because I'm stubborn and still feel like it happened a little too fast.

I very much enjoyed this read and the way it kept me guessing all throughout. Though it ended in a cliffhanger of sorts, it did feel a little flat to me in comparison to the rest of the novel. With a climax late in the book, I wish a little more had happened before we were left with an uncertain future for the NORAD prisoners.

With that said, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in a unique twist on the tale of super soldier experiments. It definitely took a plot that we're familiar with and went in a direction that no one could've seen coming.

[Katja | Cherryblossomreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW COPY

The Ganga Shift is a story about human lab rats, who are turned into shifters, meaning they can shift form between human and animal. Isabella, however, is an anomaly and doesn't shift. The doctor believes that this is Isabella's own fault and that she just needs the proper motivation to shift. She is therefore forced to fight for her own survival as she is locked up with a group of shifters whose only goal is to get her to shift - even if they kill her in the process.

I loved this book! The Ganga Shift was such an easy and enthralling read.
This was also a very refreshing read, since it took some turns that I wasn't used to in this genre, but it was never a bad thing that it did. I loved that Hinduism plays a role in this and I loved Isabella as a main character (for the most parts). She has her annoying moments, but she is also very unlike anyone I have met (read about) before. She is very genuine and I like her fierce and self-controlling personality. And I especially love how she can definitely fend for herself as long as she understands the rules of the game.

[KD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kinda went in a different direction then i thought it would which was a good thing! Our main female character Isabella has had a hard life and is serving time in prision for drug offenses, she has no living family or friends which makes her the perfect candidate for the goverments latest scientific endeavor Gene Re-sequencing! But.Isabella is apparently immune to the drugs!! And heres where our story really starts....I did enjoy this book! Isabella was a great character shes tough, independent, strong and doesnt take crap from anyone our two main male characters Chase and Brayden are like chalk and cheese.. Chase is smart, quiet, strong and in control where's Brayden is wild, agressive, impulsive and a little bit of an idiot lol..but both of these men care for Isabella and her relationship/friendship with both of these guys works! When i got to the end i was a little dissapointed cause i kinda wanted a bit more!! Lol .....I won't say too much more because of spoilers but if you like stories with shifters,romance,fruitcake evil geniuses, a bit of si-fi and a hunger games type challenge then deff check this book out.

[Energy Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

After many years living a rough life, Isabella lands in prison. But it's when she's moved to a lab and experimented on that things get weird. She's given injections and deemed defective as they aren't doing what they're supposed to. She's thrown into a cell with Chase and Brayden, hoping to stir things up, because the head of Operation Gene Re-sequencing is not a good guy.

Chase is a Hindi healer, he's calm, and he's drawn to Isabella's aura. Brayden is more high energy, but he's also drawn to Isabella. Despite the fact these men now turn into animals, literal animals, they both want to protect her at all costs. So when the head decides to throw them into a pit, in a Hunger Games shifter style situation, Isabella's only goal is to survive.

Isabella is something special, and the more we spend time with her, the more we realize it. I was drawn to Chase from the beginning and have grown fond of this unlikely trio. From start to finish, this book was hard to put down. It's well-written with such fun elements that the author leaves you wanting more, and I feel there are more books about this trio just waiting to be written.

[Beaird Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ganga is the nickname a girl’s mother gave her, and much, much more. Shift—as in from human to beast. The change in this case is not a woman to wolf, but the deepening of her spiritual focus. “A swirling vortex inside her mind … deep in your heart, in the darkest part of your subconscious, your soul remembers … Inside you, inside me lies the remnants of the animals we once were … I found a way to unlock that piece of subconscious and awaken the part of an individual they had long forgotten.”

Those on the furthest fringes of society are forced to participate in a life-changing experiment, but Ganga does not respond like all the rest. And because it doesn’t work on her, she must either assimilate or be hunted like an animal, by animals.

Ms. Bernsen presents a world of human nature colliding with animal nature. At its heart, this is the unique merger of shape-shifters with reincarnation, a brilliant concept and deep innovation in the genre. This is a singular and ingenious melding of Eastern philosophy and Western entertainment that resonates like a mantra.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Parliament House Publishing for this free e-copy of The Ganga Shift!

I really enjoyed this book and was sucked in from the beginning! When I read the synopsis of this book I was very intrigued and knew that I had to read this and see what it was all about. It was interesting to see what would happen to Isabella since she was not reacting to the DNA-changing drugs, and the whole situation that she was placed in was crazy. Her whole life seemed so sad and unfair and I was immediately rooting for her to get out and have a safe life! I liked learning more about her background as the story progressed and grew to really like her the more I read. The romance aspect of the book read a little cheesy and cliche to me, but I did enjoy it being thrown in there! This book really made me think of The Hunger Games and Divergent series and I enjoyed it a lot! I gave this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars, and I really enjoyed this fast paced and exciting book! Glad I was given the opportunity to read this one!

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure what I actually expected with this book but was pleasantly surprised and it starts of with a bang and keeps going from there. Isabella is being used as a test subject for a crazed scientist to create hybrid humans that have an animalistic side, unfortunately for Isabella her stubborn side is also causing there to be no apparent effect to the serum. That leaves her stuck in the pod (a man made island) sent there by Dr Conley to force her to show her new self along with having to survive by hiding from a pack of guys who have completed the experiment and become less than human at night.
Who does she trust to keep her safe, Hayden who ca get her stuff to ease the pain of whats going on and leader of the pack, Chase the cool, calm and level headed guy who is always there to help or just rely on herself as thats what she has had to do for so long.
There are plenty of surprises, twists and an ending that you are like "what!" I really hope there is going to be a book 2 in this series as I would love to know what happens next.

[Gerardo Delgadillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

4.5 out of 5 stars.

THE GANGA SHIFT is about DNA-altering experimentation on humans, mainly outcasts in their early twenties. Sounds super-interesting, right? The story is told in multiple points of view–two are from the main characters: Isabella and Chase. The other ones are intriguing, too!

What I liked about this book is the non-linear story telling, jumping back and forth from the past and the present. It kept me wondering what would happen next in both story lines. I also loved the mysticism and the metaphysical aspects of it.

As the synopsis points out, Isabella is immune to the DNA-altering drugs. Why? You won’t believe it–read the novel!

Overall, THE GANGA SHIFT is a twisty, excellent read with a strong female lead.

More at my blog: https://gerardowrites.wordpress.com/2...

[Philly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of the book certainly did not prepare me for its ending, which I won't share so that you can be as amazed and excited as I was by it. The book encompassed one of the common issues some children face as it relates to neglectful/disconnected parenting and allowed some insight into the ramifications of a child's growing up with such parenting. The inclusion and timing of flashbacks within the book were appropriate and helpful in understanding the protagonist's plight and the shape of her personality. The later chapters highlight the author's thorough research and cognizance of Hinduism which is indicative of her sedulousness when it comes to writing. Plaudits for her for keeping her plot twist unorthodox, which I'm sure is a struggle for authors.

[Neelam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an eARC from Parliament Publishing House of The Ganga Shift by Mary Bernson in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

So this book isn’t something I normally read so I was unsure what to expect but I actually really enjoyed it!
There’s action and suspense and I love the Hindu mythology that was woven into the story.
This book had an interesting concept. Which made it quite different from other books. The story involves shifters. These people are experimented on and caused to shift into animals.
There was also The Hunger Games vibes where they are put in a pod and have to hunt the main character, Isabella. These parts were really intense and it made me want to keep reading late into the night.
I think the only thing I didn’t like was the insta-love. I felt it happened too fast and without much development between the characters.
Overall i really enjoyed the book and i would definitely recommend it.
You can find my full, spoiler free review on my blog.

https://thetsundokuchronicles.wordpre...

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Ganga Shift is about a government organisation which is using prisoners to test gene re-sequencing, with unexpected results. This book was such a good read! Isabella, our main character, is strong, independent and smart. She handles everything thrown at her with ease and comes back fighting better than ever. Of course we have two gentlemen who vie for Isabella’s love throughout the novel but who are both very different and equally interesting characters. From the start I was hooked on this book and the intrigue of science meets religion created an interesting plot.

[Stephen F Natali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

A truly engaging story. This is well written, bringing the characters to life in a world that I could believe. I am usually pretty good figuring out the general direction but this one kept me hooked and on edge until the end. Well worth the time , truly entertaining.

[Marwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I am happy to have received an electronic copy of the Ganga Shift by Mary Bernsen from the Parliament House Press. This has not affected my review in any way.

The premise of this book has been great. It has a hunger games survivalist elements mixed with science. What's better than that?


The things I loved about the book is that it talks about addiction, Indian mythology (which I haven't read anything about before, so thanks!), and the survivalist game which happens in the book.


I was kind of dreading reviewing this book because I hate giving bad reviews to books. However, I need to share my honest opinion, this book wasn't for me. There were many elements in the book which I disliked, and the main reason for this is that I may have received an uncorrected proof. You can find what I didn't like below:

- First of all, it took me a while to get into the book.
I couldn't connect with the main character or the romance scenes even after reaching a third of the book. Isabella wasn't likable and didn't seem to know where the sun rises. I didn't feel like it was believable.

- Brayden says something offensive about religion (which happens to be mine) in chapter 9 even though it doesn't relate in any way to the main religion talked about in the book. Note: the text doesn't specify my religion but the text was offensive nonetheless.

- There were many mistakes throughout the book (but this could be because I have received the book prior to publishing).


- I kind of expected the main character to be East Asian after seeing the cover (which is why I was hyped up for the book). However, that wasn't the case and the book talked about Indian mythology which kind of disappointed me since I had different expectations. This is why I feel that others should know what this book is about so that they do not have completely different expectations and might end up enjoying the book even more.


I don't know if it was the writing style, the fact that I was too hyped up for the book, or if I wasn't in the mood for reading the book at the time. I feel like it could have been better. Especially since I was sold on the book idea as soon as I read the synopsis.


I think the mistakes in the book may have been edited by now, so I believe this would be a great book for anyone who wants to read a unique book. I may recommend it to a slightly younger audience (YA range) who loved the idea behind the hunger games.