The Initiation

The Initiation #1

by Chris Babu

“ The Initiation is a hell of a ride...” —MIT's The Tech

Think. Solve. Survive.

The Confluence destroyed the world as we know it. Manhattan is now New America, a walled-off society whose citizens live on diminishing shares of supplies, food, and hope. The government says everyone is equal but rules with an iron fist, banishing whomever it deems a threat, including Drayden’s mother. Drayden, a timid but gifted teen has only one choice if he wants to save his family and discover the dark secret behind his mother’s enter The Initiation, a series of perilous puzzles and deadly physical trials in the city’s abandoned subway system. Drayden has the brains, but can he summon the bravery necessary to prevail?

“If you like books like Hunger Games and The Maze Runner you will love this one!” —BookedLQ

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Teen

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2018

About the author

Chris Babu grew up in North Haven, CT, playing soccer and the violin in his free time. After devouring The Shining under the covers with a flashlight when he was eight, Chris was hooked on fiction. He's always had a thing for young adult books. But he's also a major science and math nerd—physics being his favorite—and he has a math degree from MIT.

For nineteen years, he worked as a bond trader on Wall Street, riding the subway to and from work every day. He traded mortgage-backed securities for Bank of America and then Deutsche Bank, where he eventually ran the MBS trading desk. Now Chris writes full-time, always with his trusted assistant Buddy, a 130-pound Great Dane, who can usually be found on his lap. They split their time between New York City and the east end of Long Island. Their omnipresence at home drives his wife Michelle and daughter Lily crazy. He can be found at chrisbabu.com. The Initiation is his first novel.

Reviews

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a huge fan of YA dystopian novels, I was very excited to check out The Initiation. This story left me feeling like I had read this before, similar plot...teens having to pass a test to save themselves, the inevitable love interest, blah blah blah. I enjoyed the first third of the book, leading up to the initiation, but then I was so let down with the initiation itself. Way too much dialogue, I mean you would never guess these kids are facing death with how they acted. Then the love triangle. Really? I did enjoy the writing style, an easy and quick read. And on the bright side, the way the story ended gives me hope for an interesting second book.


I was provided an ARC of this book by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A great start to a promising series! It has a little bit of it all with it's fun blend of genres and fans of dystopians will really love this one. I look forward to reading the next!

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this is one I've been meaning to get around to for quite a while: the entire concept here: a dystopian oppressed walled-in world supposedly based on equality divided into separate zones really appealed to my sense of imagination and while this was well written and ingenious it still didn't quite manage to capture my fancy: actually falling quite far from that mark.
So briefly as I said above this is New America: carved out of the former Manhatten, this is now home to Draven and his family.
Draven lives in the Dorms the lowest zone placement in New America: there are three other zones, The precinct: where the guardians reside: they are the police force of this new dystopian future: The labs where anyone intellectual resides: so the teachers, scientists and doctors and lastly the Palace where the bureau are: these are the leaders and government of New America.
You are locked to your zone placement and supposedly everyone has equal status and privilege no matter your zone or job.
The only way to supposedly raise your status for yourself and your immediate family is to enter the initiation upon graduating school: this is apparently a test of intelligence and bravery played out in the abandoned underground subways beneath the city.
It's like a very deadly game of crystal maze where failure means exile or even death and its quite apparent that the ruling class definitely has a hidden agenda here.
So, after his mother is exiled without due cause Draven with some slight outside persuasion decides to compete: alongside him are several of his former classmates.
Told entirely from Dravens POV these teenagers (sixteen-year-olds) are at loggerheads from the start and with conflicts arising constantly I did want to bang their heads together slightly and scream behave, children at there immature antics.



I mostly put aside their immaturity on account of there young age, but I was still a trifle bemused at the constant concern over there love lives and who they all liked: it just didn't seem authentic to the storyline or even important when they were in an actual fight for there very existence: personally I would think it would be the last thing on their minds at this time.
They also seemed to brush aside and recover from some very hard-hitting events with such apparent ease when I think they would have been much more affected overall.
So there were times when The Initiation really shone for me, but it was then let down by its slightly repetitive nature and it did actually get quite monotonous at times.
It also really took me a while to get into the story here with me stopping and starting this quite a few times before sticking around for the long haul.
In itself 'The Initiation' is a clean YA dystopian read that also manages to deal with some quite harsh situations throughout: and though on paper this did seem a great fit for me in actuality I just didn't fully connect here and wasn't ultimately invested in the eventual outcome.
That's not to say it won't be your bag: this is still an extremely imaginative endeavour just not really for me.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of The Initiation.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



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

[Jody McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! I really enjoyed it!

Drayden was a character I could totally relate to. He was very smart, but struggled with confrontation. He always froze up and let people push him around or let others stand up for him. I could completely identify with him. I loved watching him grow throughout the book.

The backstory was a told in full, although a little suspension of disbelief had to be inacted to believe their world setup, but I feel this way about most dystopian novels. I mean, look at the wonderful Hunger Games. That is downright crazy!

Without spoilers I just have to say that one part of the book sucked. I saw it coming; I understand why it happened, blah, blah, character growth, blah, blah. It still sucked!

I would recommend this book to all fans of dystopian novels and sci-fi books. Or if you enjoyed books like the Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, or Divergent. I can't wait for the next in the series!!!

*I asked for a copy of this book from Netgalley and have given an honest and unbiased review *

[Larissa (Book Bosomed Blonde) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Highly action-packed, brain teasers and full of drama, that’s what you get if you open up this book and i personally thoroughly enjoyed it. Probably one of the best Sci-Fi, Dystopians of the year.

It started out kind of slow, with the first 20% of the book being world-building, in a world that i found pretty dull. New America is a closed in society with different levels of rank, separated by walls that preaches equality. We follow the main character in the lowest part of the society called “the dorms” and it’s pretty much as bland as you can get. After all the world building is done and we actually get to the Initiation part of it, i couldn’t put it down.

The writing style is incredibly creative and captures the situation the kids find themselves in perfectly! All the challenges they have to go through, to try and reach the end are really fun and i found myself trying to solve the intellectual trials with them. Chris also does intense scenes really well. Whenever they were put through a bravery challenge you could almost feel the vigour and adrenaline in the air, because some of it was pretty scary!

Although i really enjoyed the writing of the setting and challenges i found the characters lacking in depth. Don’t get me wrong, i did like most of them but i don’t think a lot of emphases was put on the people, for the story focuses more on the setting. The main character Simon is supposed to be some skinny nerd, who doesn’t have many friends and wants a better life for himself. So when all the females showed attraction to him i was kind of confused a bit because it just didn’t mesh with his character description at all.

We have quite a few secondary characters with all different personalities from different backgrounds and it almost gave me a “Breakfast club” feel. Although, the secondary characters were all different it felt more like they were just put there for the dialogue bits. However we definitely get an antagonist in Alex, who i totally hated and trust me, you’re supposed to!

Oh, and before I forget, Charlie with the one-liners… that got old real fast!

So even though i think the book slumped on the character portion a little bit, i really really enjoyed it because the writing style and story just completely made up for it. I had trouble putting the book down for wanting to know what was going to happen next and what it would all lead to in the end.

I think it was wrapped up really well and it definitely has the feel of another more epic story to come, so I am really excited to continue on in this story with another book and hopefully, character developments will be expanded on.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, mind blowing, brilliant book that makes you think while at the same time delivering a fantastic story. I stayed up late to finish the book- it gripped me from the explosive first chapter and it wouldn't let go - I was with Drayden and the gang every desperate minute. Wow! What a book and what a tense, spine thrilling, nail biting climax. I am not ashamed to say I cried several times in the book, alongside laughing out loud, the author being particularly skilful at lightening an almost unbearably tense moment - and there are many in the book - with humour. I truly admire not only the author's brilliant writing, which is above par, but also his skill in putting us so completely in the minds of the teenage protagonists facing life and death tests. All the characters are realistic, their reactions believable and true to form, so much so that you feel you know them all, that they are your friends. I LOVED this line near the end 'The ones you love never truly leave you.'
Another thing I really loved were the tests which the contestants were put through and the puzzles they had to solve, racing against time, faced with potential death! Wow! They were amazing and I was almost as keyed up and nervous as the contestants themselves as the clock kept ticking relentlessly. What a great build up of tension! Also the reasons which caused the confluence - ended the world as we know it and caused the one Drayden and his friends are living in - are as believable as they are foreboding: they've all been in the news recently. The confluence could happen if we are not careful, and this made the book all the more real. Absolutely brilliant story. So suspenseful and atmospheric. I cannot wait for the next book in this brilliant series from this amazing author who, in my opinion, effortlessly tops the list of dystopian/science fiction writers.

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Nerd Daily + Interview with Chris Babu | Review by Ryan Jones

The Initiation by Chris Babu is a young adult dystopian novel full of challenge and danger. Set in futuristic Manhattan, New America is divided into zones by job description. The government is known as The Bureau, residing in The Palace, the most plentiful of sectors. As The Bureau finds pressing difficulties in supporting the population, they have begun taking matters into their own hands, innocent lives paying their expenses.

When a group of five teenagers muster the courage to enter The Initiation in hopes to earn a spot in the Bureau, they are not only faced with life or death challenges, but they each have different motivating factors pushing themselves into reckless dangers.

Drayden’s motivation? Overthrowing The Bureau.

The factor I like most about Babu’s writing is the flow. He writes in a way that the reader can breeze through the pages even though the chapters are longer in length. I appreciate how he would break up chapters with a dividing line in transition moments, as this allowed the reader to stop and take in prior events.

My favourite character is Drayden, because even though he possesses bravery and courage, he’s also selfless. During the challenges he helps out the other characters, sometimes putting his life in danger, even if he isn’t particularly fond of someone. Sometimes the greatest bravery is choking down pride and helping those who are weaker than you in certain areas.

This book taught me that teamwork is essential, even in life. Lean on your friends and family. They have much to teach you and you have much to learn from them.

The only thing I didn’t particularly like about this book is that Babu tends to use the character’s names too much when they aren’t needed. If we already know who a character is talking to, that character doesn’t need to say the person’s name.

I recommend this novel to dystopian readers ages 13 and up, and be prepared to feel like an initiate yourself.

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah, Woah, Woah!! All I can say is that this book was a thrill a minute!

The story takes place in New York City in the future after basically a post apocalypse of some sort. The city is sectioned out and walls put up but you can only stay in your specific section. Drayden lives in the lowest section called the dorms. Everyone is supposedly treated equal by receiving all the same pay for jobs, food and essentials, no matter which section they live in... but are they?

The story starts off when Drayden's Mom is exiled outside the city walls. The government states that she has committed treason but Drayden doesn't believe it. His Mom was the greatest and would never betray her people. He makes it his mission to find out why his Mom was sent away to her death by entering The Initiation.

The Initiation is a test of intellect & bravery. Drayden is one of the smartest kids in his school but does not fair so well on the brave part. Can he complete a test that no one has entered in 2 years? If he does, he gets to move himself and his family to the highest section called The Palace, where they could get better jobs and maybe find out what happened to his Mom.

I really liked Drayden and felt that he was written so well that I felt that I could see a change in him over the course of the testing. I saw him go in a kid and actually come out a man. The cast of characters was an interesting mix. I secretly adored Charlie because he was an absolute hoot and was quick with the one liners which gave a good mix of humor to the story.

Though I felt that the story did move a little slow at times, I still had a very hard time putting it down. The ending was a big shocker and I see another story *crosses fingers* in our future from Mr. Babu. I loved the world these characters were created in and can't wait to see where they go from here!

"Bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing to overcome it."

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for this copy in exchange of an honest review.

[ShannonXO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when books turn out better than you expected, and The Initiation was one of those wonderful books.

This was such fun to read. It was hard to stop and put down, which is a great testament to the story. And while it started like the typical dystopian, with the world breaking down due to disease and warfare and class inequality as the central driving plot force, Babu took it in a direction I really enjoyed. First, I loved the world-building. New York City always seems to be the centre of the world with these kind of stories, but I liked how it was laid out. Self-sufficiency in energy and food production, and with a sense of normalcy with school for all, movies in the park and teenagers being teenagers—albeit in a limited world.

The Initiation really put me in mind of The Hunger Games with a dash of The Maze Runner. The event itself is a challenge that will either end in your imminent death or an upgrade in your social status. But the journey to get there was a lot of fun. I was such a fan of the fact the whole thing took place in the abandoned subway tunnels. I wasn't sure what to expect of the Initiation, but the intelligence and bravery tests were so engaging and exciting. Particularly the intelligence ones. For instance, one was that puzzle where you have two different sized cylinders and need to find a certain amount of liquid that is neither of the marked sizes. I was racking my brains trying to remember how to do it, and I was impressed with how the characters handled it. In particular, I really liked how Drayden worked through the puzzles, bringing me along to the conclusion without confusion. And the best part about all these riddles and athletic challenges? None of them were predictable, which I wholeheartedly expected to happen.

The cast of characters was great. Considering there were six main characters, each one stood out on their own and brought their own element to the Initiation challenge. The bully is a character you love to hate. The love triangle between Drayden and the two girls was surprisingly enjoyable. Normally I dislike books with love triangles because it always seems to take over the story, but that wasn't the case here. It was always there, but it was subtle and brought up in a reasonable and believable way. You're fighting for your life, not pining after the only girls in the challenge with you. Somethings need to take precedence, and Babu did it right! Finally—and I won't give anything away—but what happens with best friend angle ... colour me shook. I was stunned, and I live for that as a reader.

The only thing I struggled with is it did get a little repetitive at times. There's only so many intelligence and bravery challenges you can go through before you need to take a step back. It's unavoidable with this kind of plot and the setting of the story, but still. Another thing was sometimes the tasks dragged on because they went into a bit too much detail. I was lost until they actually put their game plan into action.

Overall, this is a fantastic entry into what I'm sure will be a promising series. The ending threw me for a loop with a twist I certainly hadn't expected. To be fair, I expected what transpired to happen at the end of book 2—I'm assuming this will be a trilogy—and in a different circumstance. The surprise I got instead was refreshing, and I can't wait to read what happens next.

4/5

[Mariah Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, what just happened to my heart? I cannot get enough of Drayden! The author does a superb job with developing an engaging and interesting character, and the supporting characters are equally fascinating. I admit that it took me about seventy pages to get into the faster paced content, but the world was being built in those pages. It's a difficult task to create a post-apocolyptic style world with new rules and places, but it was pulled off seamlessly. I usually find myself able to solve riddles that I find in books, but I admit that I was stumped on the complex riddles laid out in the Initiation!

The plot was absolutely amazing, creating several facets of views depending on which character you chose to focus on. With Drayden, family was the biggest reason while others wanted to escape their family. I find myself wishing I could find out what happens next already! I don't believe I have a single negative thing to say about this book. This was an amazing work that I never wanted to put down.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a page-turner!
Set against a dystopian backdrop, the complex storyline takes you on a suspenseful ride where danger lurks around every corner. The plot is intense and intelligent with events that are strikingly relevant to the modern society.
I especially enjoyed being able to figure out the challenges that the characters are faced with – which further invites you into the characters’ world.
This series may just become the next big thing – now I’ll wait patiently for the sequel!

[Sabrina Kaye Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Initiation follows a group of teenagers who enter a competition to better the lives of themselves and potentially their families by moving out of the Dorms.
They all have to band together to pass tests any normal person wouldn't be able to pass. In order to advance they use their wit and their strengths.
We encounter brain-teasers and heart-pumping, action-packed bravery challenges that would make even the cockiest person whimper in fear.

It is very The Hunger Games-esque but Babu writes in a way that is a refreshing take on the trope. My only problem was the fact that is was super slow in the beginning but it sped along when the teenagers finally got to start the Initiation. The last 100 pages I sped through because I absolutely had to know what was happening.

Two rather sad things happen within these pages and one event had me fist-pumping the air screaming, "FINALLYYYYYYYY."

The Initiation is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book #1 of what will surely be a fantastic trilogy!

Awesome premise, excellent writing, and wonderfully developed characters. Some you will love and some you will love to hate.

One of my favourite things about this book is the setting. Imagine bustling NYC reduced to segregated ‘zones’ and the rest of it in ruins, with the actual initiation taking place beneath the streets in what is now the abandoned subways tunnels and stations of Manhattan. How cool is that?

I really enjoyed this one. It is a little bit “Hunger Games”, with an Orwellian flavour which I think Dystopian readers will love. It is packed with intense action but there are also unexpected alliances, even budding romance that also makes this an appealing story for readers new to the genre.

Guys, this one is a must read!

Rating… A
*Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jensen Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part HUNGER GAMES with a dash of MAZE RUNNER and some sprinkles of a very terrible dystopian future. I enjoyed this book from the very beginning even though it starts with quite a kicker. The world that Chris Babu built pulled me in probably because it freaking terrified me. It's something that I could actually see happening to our world. The main character, Drayden, is an intelligent and somewhat nerdy kid who enters a test that could (and tries to) kill him in order to better his family. Honorable, right? It's easy to cheer him on throughout the crazy trials that he has to go through because his motives are pure. It helps that he's super freaking smart. I promise, you won't be able to put this book down!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down, was a great entertaining read - stayed up extra late to finish. Can’t wait for the next chapter!

[Annie Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!!!
I absolutely love this book. Preordered and finished it in one day, the same day it was delivered to my account (bought the kindle version). A must read.

[Teenreadsdotcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a superbug, overpopulation, inequality and cyberterrorism destroyed the world as we know it in an event known as the Confluence, a New America arose. In what was formerly known as Manhattan, the quarantined New America is run on the fundamental idea of equality, separated by walls from the rest of the world. Yet beneath the veneer of equality, New America is hiding something dark behind its walls.

When Drayden’s mother is exiled from New America to face the destruction outside its walls, he is determined to find out the truth behind her exile. As a math geek about to graduate from the lowly Zone D known as the Dorms, Drayden tries to find out more about the secret that could destroy the society as they know it the only way he can --- by entering the Initiation.

A challenge of bravery, intelligence and teamwork, the Initiation could lead Drayden to a better life outside of the Dorms. And if he succeeds, it could guide him to discovering the truth about what really happened to his mother, and what’s really going on in New America.

Fans of Joelle Charbonneau’s THE TESTING will love THE INITIATION. From the first page, Babu writes with action-packed ferocity, never stopping for a second. Despite a few simple analogies and clichés, I could not stop turning the page. Everybody wonders what an “equal” society would look like and THE INITIATION gives us the right idea of the grim future that would be.

Without fail, Drayden is a geek. His brains have carried him this far in life, and he doesn’t stop throughout the whole novel. Despite his true fear throughout the Initiation, he never stops moving. His compassion for others and determination to keep going even when his terror seemed unbeatable made him impossible to not love. Accompanying Drayden is his best friend TIm. With undying loyalty, an easy going manner and a flirty aura, Tim is the perfect companion to Drayden’s clumsy and nerdy self. The pair and the rest of the group in the Initiation provide a chemistry that sometimes works wonderfully, but sometimes throws off crazy sparks, in the way all groups do.

My favorite part about THE INITIATION was The Initiation itself. While a set of challenges in a time limit can seem like a cliché part of a dystopian novel, Babu consistently adds a twist, always keeping me on my toes. Each new challenge is more creative, terrifying and grotesque than the last, until I could not put it down.

In a series of challenges meant to break them, Drayden and his team must go through the most trying time of their lives, if they want to survive. Even when their bodies fail, and their minds start to unravel, they cannot stop for anything. Imagine trying to find a better life for yourself, and facing death as a penalty. Welcome to The Initiation.

Reviewed by Caitlyn K., Teen Board Member

[Beef · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I loved this book! I could not put it down, and it had me gnawing at my nails the whole time. It occurred to me that this book would make an amazing movie. It's not your standard YA dystopian adventure. The setting is terrifyingly realistic, as the events that lead to the apocalypse (inequality, cyberterrorism, superbugs, and overpopulation) exist - and some could argue are rampant - in our world today. It is further realistic because the world building is thorough and scientific (but is approachable to non-science people, such as myself). You never find yourself asking, "Wait, how do they have electricity?". In fact, I don't think that I found any item or technology in the book that doesn't currently exist. The fact that I live in NYC made it even more realistic for me because all the locations throughout the book are real. You get to know the main character, Drayden, well because you spend a good amount of time in his head, and see him changing throughout the story. The story really takes off after The Initiation begins, and by the last few pages you are sweating and holding your breath. Also, I liked trying to solve the challenges the characters face myself, which made the book kind of interactive. This was the first in a series, and the ending left my dying to read the sequel!

[Alex C · Rating 5 out of 5]

When was the last time a book made you think? Was it a fiction novel? Not likely?

The Initiation must be commended for its adventure style and post apocalyptic themes - both are well crafted. What captured my notice, however, was how there is much more going on in the novel than the struggles on the surface. The novel's themes and contemplations on equality surpass every other fiction novel I have encountered. (Not to mention the refreshing abundance of high stress puzzles that take place throughout the hero's adventures, which are also uncommon.)

I enjoyed reading the Initiation a great deal, and have high expectations for the two future books. :)

[Maggie Poulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Being a New Yorker, it was so cool to have familiar locations and landmarks featured in the story and the fact that The Initiation itself takes place in the subways definitely put it over the top for me in the best way possible. I enjoyed trying to solve the puzzles in real time and loved that the main character is biracial. I can't wait for the next book and think this would make an amazing movie.

[Rebecca Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Initiation: Review

I enjoyed this book. It includes romance, danger, suspense, death, friendship, loss, and high stakes, all packed into a single book. A very creative Dystopian novel, it displays a post-apocalyptic Manhattan and the unfortunate consequences of the “separate but equal” doctrine. I will be sure to read it again and excitedly anticipate a sequel!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dystopian. This title was a donation to my library so I decided to read it before adding it to the shelves. It started a little slow but soon became a book all consuming! It reminded me of the Hunger Games, New York City style.

[Francesca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really can't go over 2.5 for this one.

This book follows a young tribute initiate named Drayden(???) who has to travel to the Capitol Palace through the sewers of Panem New America with his fellow tributes pledges while competing in a series of games tests.

Let me start this off by saying "Drayden" most definitely has mommy issues.

The Dumont Hotel was special, known to teenagers by another name: the hookup house.
...He'd only been here once, and it was with his mom, not a girl.

Umm...? Excuse me while I throw up in my mouth. Drayden spends a lot of the book thinking about his mum. So she got taken away by the government, yeah it's sad. But some of the wording used by the author to reflect Drayden's private thoughts about his mum is... an interesting choice.

Basically the whole book is quite clumsily written, there is a lot of "tee-hee let's perv on these girls while we all run for our lives", he spends SO MUCH time trying to choose which girl he likes while THEY'RE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES, there's petty boy drama à la "I can't believe what you did!" (Spoiler alert: no one did anything to anyone), and there was no intrigue, surprise or mystery to the plot whatsoever.

I did like that some of the tests were logic puzzles. It was fun trying to figure them out before reading ahead, that was definitely a point to Mr Babu. There were some other exciting moments and it was a very fast, easy read, but it just got bogged down in the endless paragraphs of thinking about girls and cringey dialogue.

Overall the book was just fine. It was absolutely not original in any way. The writing was not great. No one could possibly care about Dray's mum as much as he does. And I really don't care about what happens next.

I actually got this book as an unexpected freebie with another order and now I kind of see why.

[Sayantoni Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drayden is a citizen of New America, now run strictly by the Bureau. With his mother exiled for a crime he believes she didn't commit, he decides to participate in the Initiation where the price of defeat is death. Starting from the characters, I think they were all well sketched with enough shades to them. Deciding whether a person is actually bad or good (apparently) was an ordeal hard enough to surpass.
And then there's this world of New America which is kind of a living nightmare I guess. I mean who can live without eggs? 😭
Also chicken is a delicacy one can only devour in his wildest dream. And that deadly strain of virus who are more hungry than you could ever be! 😳
So I guess in the front of a futuristic world, the author could successfully paint a dystopian legacy. Also, the spirit of friendship, facing cruel bullies, and the power of unity have all been beautifully portrayed throughout the story.
Lastly, I think the book ended on quite an interesting note which makes me want to read the next one in the series right away! (and guess what, the author was kind enough to send the next one too 😍)
My rating : 4 🌟

If you are a digger for dystopian fiction and loved Hunger Games for that matter, feel free to pick this up as well!

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wavered between two and three stars. Overall it was ok but I was annoyed that they said that the one of the reasons America collapsed was lack of equality and then New America was basically a caste system.

Then at the end, after all they went though it turns out that they’re picked to be the scouts to see if there is other civilization. They were basically tortured just to see if they could hack it outside? That these teenagers are you’re best hope? That they’re going to lead a bunch of adults out there and find help?

Yeah.... no.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a young-adult story of a dystopian world brought about by disease, hackers and a revolution. New York is reduced to four connected but walled off quadrants where it came as no surprise to me that one of these quadrants was doing well but the one where our protagonist lives is poor and hungry. At the age of 18 kids can sign up for the Initiation to move to another quadrant. A series of tests that lead to glory or banishment (assuming they live through it)

This was kind of like The Running Man and The Testing but not quite as good as either. The kids were a bit odd at first which I have to attribute to the writing but I think the author worked that out by about the midway point. This is not a stand-alone story but it does end at a good point. It was good enough that I’d be interested in seeing where the next story in the series goes.

Recommended but only if you like post-apocalyptic ‘contest for a better life’ type of stories.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the world building, Chris Babu develops the world surpberly and in-depth. Making you believe that you are there as well; experiencing the disgusting smells and wandering in total silence. A virus, called the Confluence, has supposedly wiped out most of humanity. In order for the people of ‘New America’ to survive and to rebuild, the Bureau ultimately decides that everyone shall live “equally.” Well, so they say…

The first part of this Dystopian story takes place in ‘The Dorms’. There are several zones in ‘New America’, these are the ‘Meadow’, ‘Lab’, ‘Precint’ and the ‘Palace’. By far the ‘Dorms’ are in the worst conditions imaginable. Drayden lives in the ‘Dorms’ with his mother, father and older brother, so we get to learn a lot about the conditions. For instance kids in the ‘Dorms’ have never known what it is like to use a computer, watch t.v., use the internet or even a ballpoint pen.

Food is also sparse with poor living conditions which are cramped and undesirable.

Which brings me now to our main character, Drayden. He’s a sweet kid, but a complete wuss, you really want to slap him in the face a few times. His story is naturally heartbreaking; his mother is exiled at the very start of the book and he is left feeling distraught, angry and alone. I liked that this was how Chris Babu starts the story, diving straight into the action – no messing around.

Drayden decides, from the support of his older brother and his teacher, that he will enter the Initiation in order to find out what really happened to his mother and discover the mystery of the Bureau.

….and that’s where I was let down. I did enjoy reading about the different tasks and the conflict between Drayden and two other pledges (standard). It then became boring; pretty fast actually. I felt that I was reading the same thing over and over again for pretty much the rest of the book. I struggled to keep going.

There was a lack of detail during the actual Initiation and too much dialogue. Most of the dialogue was repetitive making no sense to the actual story so, I kinda gave up the will to live.

The final straw was the romance. I have no problem with romance in a story; it can add a bit of spice and be entertaining. This romance took over the whole damn initiation. A life-risking task would have just taken place and all Drayden can think about is what girl does he like more, do they like him and who will he end up with. LIKE WHAT IN THE HELL.

What made it worse was it became a love triangle. I actually wanted to puke. It happened. It can never be taken back.

Drayden spends a huge amount of time worrying that he is not brave enough which will result in everyone failing the initiation, I can appreciate the message behind it. That anyone can be brave; it’s deep down inside of you-you just have to believe in yourself.

I have a terrible feeling that I would probably read the next book. I didn’t hate this book because it had such a strong promising start. I liked some of the other pledges though it felt that others needed to be developed more. Perhaps we will see this in the next instalment. Overall, focus less on the romance and more on the action!

I would like to thank Permuted Press and Chris Babu for sending me this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine living in a city with walls around it then imagine the city sectioned off into different zones with walls around each zone. No one is allowed to go from zone to zone unless they work in another zone. If you break the rules or the law then you will be exiled and put outside the city walls with death as a certain possibility.

Well, sixteen-year-old Drayden lives in a place just like that. He lives in the city of Manhattan; now known as New America. Where food is monitored and rationed out to the people. The power outages are being to happen more and more. There are a higher number of people being exiled.

When Drayden’s mom is exiled he knows something is going on and has every intention of finding out what it is. His mom is one of the kindest, dearest, sweetest persons you would ever meet. She will risk her own life to help someone else. So why was his mom exiled? Well, that is one question Drayden is going to find the answer to whatever the cost may be.

With his mom being yanked out of his life like that it has left Drayden devastated. His mom was practically his whole world. He has his dad and his brother Wes but they are not his mother. But he wants to take care of them and make their life better and the only way he knows to do that is to join the Initiation.

The Initiation is a contest that consists of acts of bravery and intelligent. The Initiation is held in the subway tunnels that are no longer in use and are forbidden for anyone to enter. If he can pass the Initiation he can move up in life. He can get a better job. Move his family into a better apartment with a better lifestyle and hopefully, it will lead him to the answers that he is seeking as to why his mother was exiled.

Wow! The Initiation has got to be one of the best books I think I have ever read. To describe it in only a few words would be like The Hunger Games meets Saw. It is so intense and intriguing oh and the anticipation of waiting to see what was around the next corner was like a fire burning through my veins that kept me on the edge of my seat literally. I didn’t want to put it down for one second but at the same time, I didn’t want to see it end either. The characters are all amazing people that work so well together; well with the exception of at least one person or two maybe. This is definitely one book that I would love to see on the big screen with surround sound. If this is Chris Babu’s first novel then I can’t wait to read more of his work.

I would recommend The Initiation to anyone who loves books, movies like The Hunger Games and Saw or just a very intense, intriguing and epic dystopian, post-apocalyptic type books.

[Jeffrey Wasserman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action-packed coming-of-age story in post-apocalyptic Manhattan, Chris Babu’s debut novel is a YA dystopian page turner. Think Hunger Games meets Saw, with a dash of Goonies.

In the near future, a confluence of factors led to the blighting of the world, with survivors grouped into Manhattan and possibly other cities. Manhattan itself is partitioned into caste-like zones, where lawbreakers are exiled, and exile means certain death.

Everyone had viewed PreCon photos of Times Square, with its glittering lights and colossal billboards, brimming with energy. This was the zombie version. Generations-old dark screens, faded billboards, broken windows, crumbling buildings, and jagged roads all painted a grim picture. It was utterly silent.

The only way one can improve one's lot in life is through the Initiation, an exhausting mental and physical challenge for high school graduates, throughout the abandoned NYC subway tunnels. Where failure results in exile, or immediate death.

Our protagonist Drayden undergoes the challenge with some of his friends, love interests, and less-friendly fellow classmates. One of the characters has a never-ending supply of one-liners, eg :

"Man, I'm happier than a camel on Wednesday."
or
"This thing's redder than a nun's cheeks at a peepshow"

The novel had a slow start with world building, but the pace really picks up. I plowed through the second half after work one day, unable to stop until the end.

I have a PhD in physics, so I thought some of the brain-teaser challenges were a bit easy, and a couple I’ve heard before. But I bet most of the target YA audience will enjoy the level of difficulty. But you don't have to actively solve them, you can sit back and relax, letting the smart people in the story solve them for you :-D

What’s nice about the novel, unlike Hunger Games, is that the group’s fate is tied together. So while still dystopian and perhaps gruesome, there’s an element of teamwork.

Babu built an interesting world in post-apocalyptic Manhattan, with its own accompanying set of economics. And of course custom slang.

I assume there will be a sequel, given the ending, and I am heartily looking forward to it.

So don’t be a wetchop (no idea what it is, but apparently it’s not nice), go out and read this book!

[Adithya S. 8B]

Really good book but where is my sequel?