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Earth (The Invasion Trilogy #1)
Earth is being invaded. There was no warning and no time to stage any kind of defence. Instead countries started to go silent. They were no longer reachable and no one knew what was happening. So when Canada went dark; everyone knew America would be next.
My name is Matilda, but everyone calls me Mattie. I was at college in Oregon when the attack began. By the time Canada went quiet, we’d had enough. So two of my friends and I decided to join the fight in Vancouver and find out what was really happening. That is when everything changed. What we found was death, destruction and machines that were slaughtering humans. There would be no escape for us; no place to go where the machines couldn't reach us. I had no future, but then I met him.
My name is Marduke and I’m part of the reason Earth is being invaded. I’m from a different planet and even though I look human, I’m not. But when Earth was invaded, I began running from my family and running for my life. Then she saved me. She made me feel something I’d never felt before. She saved my life and opened my heart to the possibility of love, she changed me forever.
What are the chances of finding your true love right when the world is ending? What kind of cruel fate places them together under those circumstances? What is she supposed to do when he tells her he is not from Earth? When she finds out that he is one of the invaders?
What does she do when she finds out everything she thought she knew was wrong?
What does he do when he has to make a choice between protecting her and saving himself?
How can they overcome everything standing in their way?
Professionally edited by C&D Editing
NA Science –Fiction Romance
Approx 86,000 words
Recommended for readers 17+ due to adult situations, violence and occasional swearing.
Australian English used throughout story.
Earth is being invaded. There was no warning and no time to stage any kind of defence. Instead countries started to go silent. They were no longer reachable and no one knew what was happening. So when Canada went dark; everyone knew America would be next.
My name is Matilda, but everyone calls me Mattie. I was at college in Oregon when the attack began. By the time Canada went quiet, we’d had enough. So two of my friends and I decided to join the fight in Vancouver and find out what was really happening. That is when everything changed. What we found was death, destruction and machines that were slaughtering humans. There would be no escape for us; no place to go where the machines couldn't reach us. I had no future, but then I met him.
My name is Marduke and I’m part of the reason Earth is being invaded. I’m from a different planet and even though I look human, I’m not. But when Earth was invaded, I began running from my family and running for my life. Then she saved me. She made me feel something I’d never felt before. She saved my life and opened my heart to the possibility of love, she changed me forever.
What are the chances of finding your true love right when the world is ending? What kind of cruel fate places them together under those circumstances? What is she supposed to do when he tells her he is not from Earth? When she finds out that he is one of the invaders?
What does she do when she finds out everything she thought she knew was wrong?
What does he do when he has to make a choice between protecting her and saving himself?
How can they overcome everything standing in their way?
Professionally edited by C&D Editing
NA Science –Fiction Romance
Approx 86,000 words
Recommended for readers 17+ due to adult situations, violence and occasional swearing.
Australian English used throughout story.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2014
23 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Frances
29 books404 followersReader. Author. Book Hoarder. I’m asexual. I believe in human rights. That means BIPOC and LGBT+ people matter and deserve respect and protection. Trans people exist and they deserve every right given to cis people. I believe Palestine should be free and that what is happening to them is genocide. Books are political and if you don’t like hearing that, then you’re likely on the wrong side of history. Sit in your discomfort. Banning books is barbaric and pointless. Strict gun laws save lives. Amplify important and minority voices. Keep reading. Keep learning. Keep trying to do better.
I only have facebook (which I rarely use) and instagram (which I use only slightly more). Any other social media platforms with me on them are impostors.
I only have facebook (which I rarely use) and instagram (which I use only slightly more). Any other social media platforms with me on them are impostors.
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August 21, 2015
Earth is book one in The Invasion Trilogy by Jessica Frances. This book is crazy good and actually scared me a bit. Not because it is frightening but because it made me wonder…what if???
Imagine if you will that there is intelligent life on other planets. And one particular planet has inhabitants that look just like us, breath, eat, reproduce, just like us. The biggest difference is that they don’t know joy, passion or love like we do. But they do feel honor, loyalty, respect, fear and anger.
Marduke is from the planet Oden. He and his older brother, Ival, have been sent to Earth to scope things out before their planet invades. Their father is the leader of Oden and every planet he acquires adds to his power. His latest conquest is Earth. Marduke and Ival are living in Oregon. It is by accident one day that Marduke leaves the apartment and sees the most beautiful girl he has ever seen jogging. He’s not supposed to feel these feelings, especially for a human.
“What is her name? How does her voice sound? What does her smile look like? Does she have a mate? Is she as sweet as she appears? Why is she jogging alone?”
Matilda or Mattie is from Australia and is attending the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship. Little did she know how much her life would change on that day that some of the other countries started going dark. What has happened? Where is everyone? Is her family okay? So she and two of her best friends, Hank and Lisa join a group and travel into Canada to try to find out what is going on. To their horror they find huge machines that are killing everyone, tearing towns apart. But right in the midst of it all she sees an incredible act of kindness, a man that puts himself right in the line of fire to save a little girl. When she asks his name, he says, “Marduke!”
So Marduke joins up with Mattie and her friends, they believing he is human. Mattie is as drawn to Marduke as he is to her and bonds begin to form.
“She is beginning to become everything to me, and I don’t know how to force those feelings away.”
These four are faced with unbelievable horrors in their quest to survive. But the bonds grow stronger and love grows. Marduke, though, struggles with his loyalties. How can he betray his family, throw away everything he was raised to stand for, by loving this one human. But he can’t leave her, can’t not protect her. But what will happen once she realizes who and what he really is? That he is really the enemy? And what his planet is doing to the humans is wrong. He has seen beauty here. Love, families, kindness.
Mattie is so brave. With what she is forced to face each day, she continues to be strong. Inside, though, she is scared. And in the midst of all this horror, how can it be possible that she meets the first man she has ever been attracted to? Talk about bad timing. But they have saved each other’s lives countless times. She can’t imagine not having him with them.
“What will happen to Earth? Will those machines leave once they’ve killed everyone? Or will more come to inhabit the planet? Will Earth be overrun by those things?”
This book is a crazy ride. As I said before, though, I think the thing that is most unnerving is the “what if” factor! How do we know there might not be an Oden out there somewhere with inhabitants that look just like us, just waiting to take over our planet? I can’t wait to continue on with book two, Roth, to see what happens next with Marduke, Mattie, Hank and Lisa.
“Earth WILL BE returned to us no matter the sacrifice we have to make to ensure it happens.
Earth belongs to us.”
Imagine if you will that there is intelligent life on other planets. And one particular planet has inhabitants that look just like us, breath, eat, reproduce, just like us. The biggest difference is that they don’t know joy, passion or love like we do. But they do feel honor, loyalty, respect, fear and anger.
Marduke is from the planet Oden. He and his older brother, Ival, have been sent to Earth to scope things out before their planet invades. Their father is the leader of Oden and every planet he acquires adds to his power. His latest conquest is Earth. Marduke and Ival are living in Oregon. It is by accident one day that Marduke leaves the apartment and sees the most beautiful girl he has ever seen jogging. He’s not supposed to feel these feelings, especially for a human.
“What is her name? How does her voice sound? What does her smile look like? Does she have a mate? Is she as sweet as she appears? Why is she jogging alone?”
Matilda or Mattie is from Australia and is attending the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship. Little did she know how much her life would change on that day that some of the other countries started going dark. What has happened? Where is everyone? Is her family okay? So she and two of her best friends, Hank and Lisa join a group and travel into Canada to try to find out what is going on. To their horror they find huge machines that are killing everyone, tearing towns apart. But right in the midst of it all she sees an incredible act of kindness, a man that puts himself right in the line of fire to save a little girl. When she asks his name, he says, “Marduke!”
So Marduke joins up with Mattie and her friends, they believing he is human. Mattie is as drawn to Marduke as he is to her and bonds begin to form.
“She is beginning to become everything to me, and I don’t know how to force those feelings away.”
These four are faced with unbelievable horrors in their quest to survive. But the bonds grow stronger and love grows. Marduke, though, struggles with his loyalties. How can he betray his family, throw away everything he was raised to stand for, by loving this one human. But he can’t leave her, can’t not protect her. But what will happen once she realizes who and what he really is? That he is really the enemy? And what his planet is doing to the humans is wrong. He has seen beauty here. Love, families, kindness.
Mattie is so brave. With what she is forced to face each day, she continues to be strong. Inside, though, she is scared. And in the midst of all this horror, how can it be possible that she meets the first man she has ever been attracted to? Talk about bad timing. But they have saved each other’s lives countless times. She can’t imagine not having him with them.
“What will happen to Earth? Will those machines leave once they’ve killed everyone? Or will more come to inhabit the planet? Will Earth be overrun by those things?”
This book is a crazy ride. As I said before, though, I think the thing that is most unnerving is the “what if” factor! How do we know there might not be an Oden out there somewhere with inhabitants that look just like us, just waiting to take over our planet? I can’t wait to continue on with book two, Roth, to see what happens next with Marduke, Mattie, Hank and Lisa.
“Earth WILL BE returned to us no matter the sacrifice we have to make to ensure it happens.
Earth belongs to us.”
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October 16, 2015
Underdeveloped is the adjective I finally settled on to describe my impression of Earth by Jessica Frances. A good SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) would have benefited the construction and direction of this book. The bones are good, but the execution was rough. Despite the choppy writing style and slightly wooden dialogue, I kept turning page after page. Maybe this was because Frances very cleverly egged me on with mini cliffhanger teasers at the end of key chapters. Yep, I had to know what was happening next, and that means it was a compelling story.
Though I read a lot of sci-fi romance, I rarely read one that catalogs the annihilation of civilization on Earth. This is usually a zombie trope, so it was refreshing (well, maybe I mean refreshingly awful) to read it in the context of an alien invasion. It was a brave move for this young author. She takes this horrific situation and frames it in the context of three college students. As communication falls and continents go dark, college students are recruited and sent to strategic areas. The trio of Mattie, Hank and Lisa are sent to Canada. We know they are scared and numb and angry. However, the only person we see acting out emotionally is the heroine's friend, Lisa. Acts of bravery and responsibility define the main characters, but there seemed to be a disconnection to the rawness of emotion that should have been present in the loss of family and betrayal suffered by Mattie and Marduke. Losing family makes your heart hurt, but somehow the despair was not encompassing of our leads. Instead we get some warriors, poorly trained as they all appear to be.
There are some remarkable leaps of faith in this book (low-tech, conventional weapons can take out the high-tech invaders' tools of destruction), but at the same time the alien technology was just....cool. How the invasion was handled was alternately precise and messy. Since the invasion was rushed ahead of schedule, this was understandable. It will also clearly create problems for the Odenites down the road. What it means for Mattie, Marduke, Hank and Lisa is there is devastation, but there is also hope. Unfortunately, that hope fades as Marduke's family chases him down, simultaneously placing the humans Marduke has come to care about in peril. Marduke can pass as human, and his failure to inform his companions of his alien origin begins to feel duplicitous. He walks a fine line of treason - but to whom?
The growing attraction between Marduke and Mattie evolves organically. The pacing of it seems practical, especially given their ages and the circumstances. His lack of understanding of the culture influenced the relationship, too. But then there would be an inconsistency, like where he would think about what a "great a**" she had. A colloquial phrase like that would get dropped in and it just seemed weird.
This book had such potential, but it felt like it slightly missed the mark in terms of what the author chose to accentuate. For instance, there was clearly an emphasis on the micro reaction to events, where absence of communication networks meant "everything is local." So a lot of time was passed in a truck, driving from one small town to the next. Were they overlooked because of this? If so, why? And where were the other refugees? The approach to the plot was inconsistent and simply needed a clearer timeline of events. I understand that chaotic might have been the mood, but the progression of events also seemed unrealistic.
Though I read a lot of sci-fi romance, I rarely read one that catalogs the annihilation of civilization on Earth. This is usually a zombie trope, so it was refreshing (well, maybe I mean refreshingly awful) to read it in the context of an alien invasion. It was a brave move for this young author. She takes this horrific situation and frames it in the context of three college students. As communication falls and continents go dark, college students are recruited and sent to strategic areas. The trio of Mattie, Hank and Lisa are sent to Canada. We know they are scared and numb and angry. However, the only person we see acting out emotionally is the heroine's friend, Lisa. Acts of bravery and responsibility define the main characters, but there seemed to be a disconnection to the rawness of emotion that should have been present in the loss of family and betrayal suffered by Mattie and Marduke. Losing family makes your heart hurt, but somehow the despair was not encompassing of our leads. Instead we get some warriors, poorly trained as they all appear to be.
There are some remarkable leaps of faith in this book (low-tech, conventional weapons can take out the high-tech invaders' tools of destruction), but at the same time the alien technology was just....cool. How the invasion was handled was alternately precise and messy. Since the invasion was rushed ahead of schedule, this was understandable. It will also clearly create problems for the Odenites down the road. What it means for Mattie, Marduke, Hank and Lisa is there is devastation, but there is also hope. Unfortunately, that hope fades as Marduke's family chases him down, simultaneously placing the humans Marduke has come to care about in peril. Marduke can pass as human, and his failure to inform his companions of his alien origin begins to feel duplicitous. He walks a fine line of treason - but to whom?
The growing attraction between Marduke and Mattie evolves organically. The pacing of it seems practical, especially given their ages and the circumstances. His lack of understanding of the culture influenced the relationship, too. But then there would be an inconsistency, like where he would think about what a "great a**" she had. A colloquial phrase like that would get dropped in and it just seemed weird.
This book had such potential, but it felt like it slightly missed the mark in terms of what the author chose to accentuate. For instance, there was clearly an emphasis on the micro reaction to events, where absence of communication networks meant "everything is local." So a lot of time was passed in a truck, driving from one small town to the next. Were they overlooked because of this? If so, why? And where were the other refugees? The approach to the plot was inconsistent and simply needed a clearer timeline of events. I understand that chaotic might have been the mood, but the progression of events also seemed unrealistic.
June 11, 2018
Are we really so naïve as to think there couldn’t be intelligent life somewhere out in the galaxy? Why couldn’t they be far superior to us? What if they decided that humanity has done a pretty bad job of being stewards of the earth and they really, really needed to add our planet to their “collection” to save it?
Jessica Frances has done just that, with an evil twist or two, because power and greed would appear to be universal. It would also seem that love knows no bounds as one alien sent to scout the earth discovers love, an emotion foreign to his home world of Oden. Marduke will also learn that just maybe humanity has more to offer the universe than his cold, regimented world ever could. Now he will do everything he can to save the very world he was sent to overtake, even if it means betraying his family, just as they are betraying him.
Mattie is a college student, far from her home in Australia. When the attacks began, she took a stand with two friends, she was going to fight to save her world. Little did she know, the handsome young man with the strange accent would become a part of her very soul, until he betrayed her trust by telling the truth. He was the enemy, yet he was there fighting by her side and protecting her as best he could. Was it a trick?
High energy tension runs razor-taut throughout this scifi/romance. Mattie is a warrior at heart, determined to survive and keep those around her alive. Marduke is not the typical warrior invader from space. The concept of “caring” really does come across as foreign to him and Jessica Frances does a great job developing the changes he undergoes. The romance is more sweet than spicy, the danger is ever-present and supporting characters add a touch of realism, as clearly, not everyone is cut out to be a warrior when the world is shattering around them.
Ending on a HUGE twist, EARTH has it all, action, terror, deceit, a determination to survive and love when it is least expected. A great escape into another reality that will make readers think twice about “what is out there.” Solid reading without over-the-top gore, but heavy on the will to survive with honor in what appears to be a losing battle from the stars.
Trilogy: The Invasion Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: June 16, 2014
Publisher: Jessica Frances
Genre: Post Apocalyptic Science Fiction
Print Length: 407 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Jessica Frances has done just that, with an evil twist or two, because power and greed would appear to be universal. It would also seem that love knows no bounds as one alien sent to scout the earth discovers love, an emotion foreign to his home world of Oden. Marduke will also learn that just maybe humanity has more to offer the universe than his cold, regimented world ever could. Now he will do everything he can to save the very world he was sent to overtake, even if it means betraying his family, just as they are betraying him.
Mattie is a college student, far from her home in Australia. When the attacks began, she took a stand with two friends, she was going to fight to save her world. Little did she know, the handsome young man with the strange accent would become a part of her very soul, until he betrayed her trust by telling the truth. He was the enemy, yet he was there fighting by her side and protecting her as best he could. Was it a trick?
High energy tension runs razor-taut throughout this scifi/romance. Mattie is a warrior at heart, determined to survive and keep those around her alive. Marduke is not the typical warrior invader from space. The concept of “caring” really does come across as foreign to him and Jessica Frances does a great job developing the changes he undergoes. The romance is more sweet than spicy, the danger is ever-present and supporting characters add a touch of realism, as clearly, not everyone is cut out to be a warrior when the world is shattering around them.
Ending on a HUGE twist, EARTH has it all, action, terror, deceit, a determination to survive and love when it is least expected. A great escape into another reality that will make readers think twice about “what is out there.” Solid reading without over-the-top gore, but heavy on the will to survive with honor in what appears to be a losing battle from the stars.
Trilogy: The Invasion Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: June 16, 2014
Publisher: Jessica Frances
Genre: Post Apocalyptic Science Fiction
Print Length: 407 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 30, 2015
Marduke and his older brother Ival are from Oden, their father Sergil is the leader of their planet, they're members of an elite group of twelve families that are able to rule but it's their family that has ruled now for over a century, for four generations and many more if Sergil has his way, he's ambitious and ruthless and three planets have been acquired already under his rule but Earth is set to be the greatest yet, the greatest ever.
Marduke and Ival are sent down to live on earth since humans could pose a problem, firstly there's so many of them plus they're violent and intelligent.
Boredom sets in and eventually Marduke is driven to leave the apartment once out his eyes are opened as he sees not only people who don't deserve the planet they are destroying but people who love life and each other, he also sees the most beautiful woman he's ever seen and he feels things he's never felt before.
There's a lot to like about this book, I liked the idea and most of the characters, Marduke is not exactly the strong alpha type but I suspect that's intentionally done to show how he 'grows' over the trilogy but it was a bit annoying in this one. Also, surprisingly I found it slow in places, hard to imagine I know given the nature of this book but I was skimming at times.
I'd decided about three quarters of the way through that I most likely wouldn't be continuing on but I must admit now I've finished it I'm not so sure, I might just give 'Roth' a try.
July 1, 2014
EARTH is one book that we humans shouldn't miss.
What if aliens suddenly decide to rid us of our planet because we're not taking proper care of it?
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be seen here:
Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.
This is a story of two races that collide and make one hell of a universal mess. It's a story about chances, forgiveness, friendship and survival.
MARDUKE AND MATTIE
Marduke is from planet Oden. He's smart, strong and loyal to his family. Well, he was loyal until he meets Mattie. Mattie is an admirable girl with a strong personality. She's a girl who plays basketball and goes hunting with her dad. Yeah, she's a tomboy and that makes her a great survivor in the tragedy that came to the Earth. She's so strong, but of course there's a softness to all that hardness in her personality. That's where Marduke comes in. However, Marduke is from another planet. A planet that wants to invade Earth. Mattie is from Earth. Needless to say, it poses a big problem. I rooted for their relationship though. I like how their love story wasn't really hurried up. It was gradual (in my opinion). They were so sweet, thinking of each other in each other's POV. I enjoyed reading about how they started caring for each other. It's cute and lovable, though I am also thankful because the story didn't really revolve only on their love story.
LISA AND HANK
Lisa and Hank are good people. They didn't leave Mattie alone and they were there through and through. In a world full of chaos, I want my own Lisa and Hank. It doesn't even matter to me that I could be a third wheel. They are so loyal. :) These two characters make this book more interesting too. Their love story is kinda inspirational. I hope that in the future books, they'll have what they want for their future. :)
THE OTHER CHARACTERS
I must say, the antagonists here have their own unique characteristics. I could almost touch the ummm... robots. I could also almost pull the hair of Marduke's brother.. Well, I want to, that is. LOL. The kids also made the book interesting. Running with another small child is very risky and it upped the danger for these characters, thus making it more thrilling. All of them made the book really exciting and also colorful. I wish to see more characters in the next book.
ACTION PACKED STORY
This book is indeed full of action. It was like watching a movie. There's action at every turn. I wasn't bored, not for even one second! It's a really awesome ride!
WHAT'S MORE EXCITING HERE
THE PROMISE OF TRAVELLING TO OTHER PLANETS. I love the fact that Marduke explains his own heritage. I really like it that he came from another world. I love that this book promises great things. I am so excited to see more planets and more places.
WHAT I LEARNED
APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. Think first before doing things that can destroy not only our environment, but also our own bodies. What struck me most here is the hesitancy of Marduke to do/eat things that he knows are bad for his body or environment. His planet actually has a point in capturing the Earth. I don't have to be an environmentalist or nutritionist to know that we humans are doing more damage than good to the Earth right now. This is why I was kind of ashamed by my own bad habits. I think this book managed to guilt me into lessening (since I'm not sure if I can give it up altogether) some bad stuff that I do to myself and to the environment.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE NEXT
I want to see what they will do to humans and I want to see more of other planets. I also want to see other POVs. This is bizarre because I usually hate having many POVs. I don't know... I just want to see what Hank and Lisa think. :)
When I was reading this, it felt real. I felt as if this could really happen. Now, I kinda don't want to drink soda anymore, or eat junk/ fast foods. It has life lessons for humans. This should really be made into a movie! It deserves all the applause! The author is damn good for making me feel that this book could be true someday.
I am definitely lucky to have read this book in advance. I want to read the next one ASAP.. LIKE NOW!! :)
What if aliens suddenly decide to rid us of our planet because we're not taking proper care of it?
An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be seen here:
Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.
This is a story of two races that collide and make one hell of a universal mess. It's a story about chances, forgiveness, friendship and survival.
MARDUKE AND MATTIE
Marduke is from planet Oden. He's smart, strong and loyal to his family. Well, he was loyal until he meets Mattie. Mattie is an admirable girl with a strong personality. She's a girl who plays basketball and goes hunting with her dad. Yeah, she's a tomboy and that makes her a great survivor in the tragedy that came to the Earth. She's so strong, but of course there's a softness to all that hardness in her personality. That's where Marduke comes in. However, Marduke is from another planet. A planet that wants to invade Earth. Mattie is from Earth. Needless to say, it poses a big problem. I rooted for their relationship though. I like how their love story wasn't really hurried up. It was gradual (in my opinion). They were so sweet, thinking of each other in each other's POV. I enjoyed reading about how they started caring for each other. It's cute and lovable, though I am also thankful because the story didn't really revolve only on their love story.
LISA AND HANK
Lisa and Hank are good people. They didn't leave Mattie alone and they were there through and through. In a world full of chaos, I want my own Lisa and Hank. It doesn't even matter to me that I could be a third wheel. They are so loyal. :) These two characters make this book more interesting too. Their love story is kinda inspirational. I hope that in the future books, they'll have what they want for their future. :)
THE OTHER CHARACTERS
I must say, the antagonists here have their own unique characteristics. I could almost touch the ummm... robots. I could also almost pull the hair of Marduke's brother.. Well, I want to, that is. LOL. The kids also made the book interesting. Running with another small child is very risky and it upped the danger for these characters, thus making it more thrilling. All of them made the book really exciting and also colorful. I wish to see more characters in the next book.
ACTION PACKED STORY
This book is indeed full of action. It was like watching a movie. There's action at every turn. I wasn't bored, not for even one second! It's a really awesome ride!
WHAT'S MORE EXCITING HERE
THE PROMISE OF TRAVELLING TO OTHER PLANETS. I love the fact that Marduke explains his own heritage. I really like it that he came from another world. I love that this book promises great things. I am so excited to see more planets and more places.
WHAT I LEARNED
APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. Think first before doing things that can destroy not only our environment, but also our own bodies. What struck me most here is the hesitancy of Marduke to do/eat things that he knows are bad for his body or environment. His planet actually has a point in capturing the Earth. I don't have to be an environmentalist or nutritionist to know that we humans are doing more damage than good to the Earth right now. This is why I was kind of ashamed by my own bad habits. I think this book managed to guilt me into lessening (since I'm not sure if I can give it up altogether) some bad stuff that I do to myself and to the environment.
WHAT I WANT TO SEE NEXT
I want to see what they will do to humans and I want to see more of other planets. I also want to see other POVs. This is bizarre because I usually hate having many POVs. I don't know... I just want to see what Hank and Lisa think. :)
When I was reading this, it felt real. I felt as if this could really happen. Now, I kinda don't want to drink soda anymore, or eat junk/ fast foods. It has life lessons for humans. This should really be made into a movie! It deserves all the applause! The author is damn good for making me feel that this book could be true someday.
I am definitely lucky to have read this book in advance. I want to read the next one ASAP.. LIKE NOW!! :)
June 29, 2014
This is a quick, enjoyable read that takes the dystopian genre in a refreshing direction. Her descriptions of earth from the views of an outsider were extremely accurate, yet made me giggle. Seeing yourself from the POV of an outsider isn’t always flattering. Frances writes this tale with a haunting voice that will leave you with chills. You can’t escape the impending sense of doom.
Watching these characters come to know one another allows you to get to know them in an intimate yet guarded manner. Also, by telling the story from both characters’ perspectives you get a well-rounded view of themselves and of the situations they find themselves in. Frances also adds an element of realism to these characters by allowing you into their innermost thoughts, as scatterbrained as they may be sometimes it makes them much more approachable. That said, I did find the male lead to be a bit whiny at times, especially for being a warrior prince. Not that he ever voiced this, it was his inner monologue that tipped you off to it, just enough to make you question his character.
Frances definitely things outside the box with this one. She has created an enjoyable read that makes you think.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Watching these characters come to know one another allows you to get to know them in an intimate yet guarded manner. Also, by telling the story from both characters’ perspectives you get a well-rounded view of themselves and of the situations they find themselves in. Frances also adds an element of realism to these characters by allowing you into their innermost thoughts, as scatterbrained as they may be sometimes it makes them much more approachable. That said, I did find the male lead to be a bit whiny at times, especially for being a warrior prince. Not that he ever voiced this, it was his inner monologue that tipped you off to it, just enough to make you question his character.
Frances definitely things outside the box with this one. She has created an enjoyable read that makes you think.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2014
Marduke is an alien. He and his brother Ival are on Earth doing reconnaissance before the people from his planet Oden invade and take over Earth. Marduke spends most of their time in their apartment. On one of his rare outings, he spots Mattie, a University student who is out jogging and finds himself unexpectedly mesmerized by her, so much so that he spends days surreptitiously observing her. Just when he decides he should contact his father and call off the take-over and change it to something more cooperative, he discovers his brother has moved the invasion date up and the invasion has already begun!
Earth is written from two points of view – Marduke’s and Mattie’s, generally alternating by chapter. Each writes from the first person point of view. I liked this as it gave the reader the alien’s outlook on life and the invasion on earth as well as the human outlook on the invasion.
Mattie and Marduke find themselves together running from the machines that are destroying and killing everything in sight. Mattie has no idea that Marduke is an alien. He looks just like any other human. They are together with a couple of Mattie’s friends Hank and Lisa. They think that Marduke’s difficulty with the English language is because he is from France.
Marduke struggles with strange new feelings he’s never experienced before, that humans would consider normal. As he struggles through these, they cause him to struggle with loyalty to his home world and his people.
When Ival gives Marduke some strange news and the hinema or invasion machines don’t behave as they should, Marduke knows he’s in for the fight of his life. If he and Mattie are to survive, it will be up to him.
Earth was an exciting adventure/suspense novel full of action and out-of-the-box thinking. There was never a dull moment.
There is some profanity in this novel and some moderately graphic sexual content as well. Readers who screen their books for these things should take note.
I liked the contrast of the points of view between alien and human. It was a good reminder of how different they really were. I liked that Marduke was so attracted to Mattie and that he couldn’t understand it given that is was not something that was ever experienced among his own people. I’d like to know why it happened. Perhaps we’ll find out in subsequent books.
I liked the changes in plot brought about the challenges that Marduke and Mattie faced. They kept the book flowing smoothly and kept the interest of the reader. The book was well-paced throughout.
It was easy to see the growth in some of the characters during the span of the novel. I think that would be normal in such a tense and life-threatening situation. The most growth can be seen in Marduke. He starts out as such a timid, almost mousy character, but by the end of the novel is nothing like that. Either the change in his character is unrealistic, or he is finally growing up and discovering who he really is. You’ll have to read the book and decide for yourself.
I thought that Earth was an excellent read. I would recommend it to all science fiction fans. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
Earth is written from two points of view – Marduke’s and Mattie’s, generally alternating by chapter. Each writes from the first person point of view. I liked this as it gave the reader the alien’s outlook on life and the invasion on earth as well as the human outlook on the invasion.
Mattie and Marduke find themselves together running from the machines that are destroying and killing everything in sight. Mattie has no idea that Marduke is an alien. He looks just like any other human. They are together with a couple of Mattie’s friends Hank and Lisa. They think that Marduke’s difficulty with the English language is because he is from France.
Marduke struggles with strange new feelings he’s never experienced before, that humans would consider normal. As he struggles through these, they cause him to struggle with loyalty to his home world and his people.
When Ival gives Marduke some strange news and the hinema or invasion machines don’t behave as they should, Marduke knows he’s in for the fight of his life. If he and Mattie are to survive, it will be up to him.
Earth was an exciting adventure/suspense novel full of action and out-of-the-box thinking. There was never a dull moment.
There is some profanity in this novel and some moderately graphic sexual content as well. Readers who screen their books for these things should take note.
I liked the contrast of the points of view between alien and human. It was a good reminder of how different they really were. I liked that Marduke was so attracted to Mattie and that he couldn’t understand it given that is was not something that was ever experienced among his own people. I’d like to know why it happened. Perhaps we’ll find out in subsequent books.
I liked the changes in plot brought about the challenges that Marduke and Mattie faced. They kept the book flowing smoothly and kept the interest of the reader. The book was well-paced throughout.
It was easy to see the growth in some of the characters during the span of the novel. I think that would be normal in such a tense and life-threatening situation. The most growth can be seen in Marduke. He starts out as such a timid, almost mousy character, but by the end of the novel is nothing like that. Either the change in his character is unrealistic, or he is finally growing up and discovering who he really is. You’ll have to read the book and decide for yourself.
I thought that Earth was an excellent read. I would recommend it to all science fiction fans. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
December 18, 2014
This book was given to me for an honest review:
Two brothers from the planet Oden come to Earth to do some scouting before the people of their planet invade and take it over. Marduke is ready to call his father and cancel the invasion because he actually sees kindness and love in humans and thinks we can be taught to take better care of the planet. His brother on the other hand has moved up the invasion date and it has begun. There is black outs in communication all across the world as machines start shooting blasters at humans.
In the beginning Marduke is all holed up in this apartment while his brother goes out and does reconnaissance He gets sick of being inside all day and goes out to a park where he sees Mattie running. He finds her extremely beautiful and from then on starts going to the park more often trying to get a glimpse of her or see if he develops feelings as strong as he had for Mattie towards any other female. Instead he sees a lot of caring, kind, loving humans who are worth saving. Mattie is a girl from a different country going to college in Oregon. She has two close friends who mean the world to her. When the world goes black and the aliens start to attack Mattie joins her friends and other college students to fight these machines. Poorly and quickly trained Mattie, Lisa and Hank set off to head to Canada to see what is going on up there.
In this story we get to watch as Mattie and her friends try to survive and help stop the machines from taking over. They meet up with Marduke and we get to watch as they accept him and his struggle between wanting to be accepted and telling them the truth of who he is. We get to read about Mattie and Mardukes relationship and watch it grow as they learn to trust each other.
The book is told from both Mattie’s and Marduke’s point of view and I enjoyed it . It was nice seeing how they perceived everything and what they were thinking. The action parts were well written and made you want to keep turning the pages to see if the humans can take down the alien machines. I enjoyed reading about Mardukes and Mattie’s relationship. The story is about survival, forgiveness, acceptance, love, and relationships ( not just Mattie’s and Marduke’s but their friendship with the other characters).The ending was heartbreaking but left hope. I look forward to finishing this trilogy and seeing how the people of Earth retaliate and what happens with Mattie, Marduke and the other characters I was introduced to.
To me it seemed like a cross between the TV show Starcrossed and War of the Worlds. I enjoy both of those so this book was great.
This book contains some swearing and light sexual content.
Enjoyable, fun, action filled, sci/fi romance read.
June 25, 2014
I received this book from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors that Rock for an honest review.
Marduke the ruler of Odin youngest son is sent to earth along with his elder brother Ival to learn about them so that they can take over. They look like humans and fit right in. When Marduke finally gets the courage to go out into the world he sees a women jogging and feels an instant attraction to her. He doesn't understand these feeling because it's not the way things are done on Odin. He finds him self unable to get her out of his mind and decides he has to meet her. He follows her and except for 1 meeting at this point Mattie has no idea who he is. He starts to feel that it isn't right for them to take over earth. and has decided to tell his father that but his brother Ival has already set in motion the take over.
When I started reading the book after the first page or two, I thought that this was going to be an alien take over the world with a lot of killing, rip and tear it up. Once I was done the first chapter, I couldn't put the book down. It is so much more. Marduke learns about feelings, what lengths you will go through to protect people you love, be it friends, people you just met or the one you want to be with for all times. He is an awesome character who really grows during the book and together with Mattie they are such a strong couple. Mattie is in collage, a basketball player and just a strong all around wonderful person. With her two best friends Hank and Lisa they have to deal with all that is going on during the invasion. They suck it up and just get on with things. Lisa doesn't deal well, but between Hank and Mattie they keep her going.
This book does have a major cliff hanger at the end. Makes you look forward to book two.
Awesome read for lovers of sci-fi/ romance
Marduke the ruler of Odin youngest son is sent to earth along with his elder brother Ival to learn about them so that they can take over. They look like humans and fit right in. When Marduke finally gets the courage to go out into the world he sees a women jogging and feels an instant attraction to her. He doesn't understand these feeling because it's not the way things are done on Odin. He finds him self unable to get her out of his mind and decides he has to meet her. He follows her and except for 1 meeting at this point Mattie has no idea who he is. He starts to feel that it isn't right for them to take over earth. and has decided to tell his father that but his brother Ival has already set in motion the take over.
When I started reading the book after the first page or two, I thought that this was going to be an alien take over the world with a lot of killing, rip and tear it up. Once I was done the first chapter, I couldn't put the book down. It is so much more. Marduke learns about feelings, what lengths you will go through to protect people you love, be it friends, people you just met or the one you want to be with for all times. He is an awesome character who really grows during the book and together with Mattie they are such a strong couple. Mattie is in collage, a basketball player and just a strong all around wonderful person. With her two best friends Hank and Lisa they have to deal with all that is going on during the invasion. They suck it up and just get on with things. Lisa doesn't deal well, but between Hank and Mattie they keep her going.
This book does have a major cliff hanger at the end. Makes you look forward to book two.
Awesome read for lovers of sci-fi/ romance
June 26, 2014
Earth by Jessica Frances is one of those books that once you start, you will not be able to put it down. No, really! It was completely impossible to even think about stopping to do anything else but read this amazing story!
Ms. Frances has done a magnificent job of describing what it might be like if Earth was taken over by aliens - the destruction, the search for food and water, and the loss of loved ones. In between all the chaos, the reader also gets to see two people, from two totally different worlds fall in love {{sigh}}. The story is told by alternating between Marduke and Mattie’s point of view and I thought it really brought depth to the story, connecting me with the characters almost as if I was right there with them. The world building was absolutely brilliant and was described so perfectly, I could envision the whole thing unfolding before my very eyes - and at times, what I was envisioning was truly horrific. I can't even imagine the despair and anguish the residents of Earth endured during the hostile takeover.
This story has just the right combination of science fiction, action and romance that keeps the reader engaged throughout. My only complaint with this book is that it ended and I have to wait for the second installment of this epic trilogy. Ms. Frances is truly a talented writer and I look forward to reading more from her.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
Ms. Frances has done a magnificent job of describing what it might be like if Earth was taken over by aliens - the destruction, the search for food and water, and the loss of loved ones. In between all the chaos, the reader also gets to see two people, from two totally different worlds fall in love {{sigh}}. The story is told by alternating between Marduke and Mattie’s point of view and I thought it really brought depth to the story, connecting me with the characters almost as if I was right there with them. The world building was absolutely brilliant and was described so perfectly, I could envision the whole thing unfolding before my very eyes - and at times, what I was envisioning was truly horrific. I can't even imagine the despair and anguish the residents of Earth endured during the hostile takeover.
This story has just the right combination of science fiction, action and romance that keeps the reader engaged throughout. My only complaint with this book is that it ended and I have to wait for the second installment of this epic trilogy. Ms. Frances is truly a talented writer and I look forward to reading more from her.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
July 1, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Jessica Frances is a brilliant writer, who keeps her readers on the edge of there seats throughout the entire book! the characters were wonderful and the storyline awesome, I loved the invasion it brought to mind alien movies like incandescence day and such as the battles were just as epic.
I liked that Marduke struggled with his loyalties and didn't just give them up for the girl. This showed he was a well rounded character and it made him appear more human. Mattie was a strong, loyal, independent person but you could see her vulnerable sides at times and I liked that, especially when her friends where in danger or threatened.
Lisa and Hank cracked me up! who hooks up in the middle of the end of the world? they do!...lol...they were so sweet and Hank really liked taking care of Jess as she was a complete pile of tears, but you could see a hidden strength in Lisa that when it came right down to it she could be brave to save her friends and others.
If you haven't read this I highly recommend it! a great read for any Alien fans out there!
I liked that Marduke struggled with his loyalties and didn't just give them up for the girl. This showed he was a well rounded character and it made him appear more human. Mattie was a strong, loyal, independent person but you could see her vulnerable sides at times and I liked that, especially when her friends where in danger or threatened.
Lisa and Hank cracked me up! who hooks up in the middle of the end of the world? they do!...lol...they were so sweet and Hank really liked taking care of Jess as she was a complete pile of tears, but you could see a hidden strength in Lisa that when it came right down to it she could be brave to save her friends and others.
If you haven't read this I highly recommend it! a great read for any Alien fans out there!
September 10, 2016
Earth
was a thrilling and out of the box read!
At first glance of the synopsis I originally thought, “oh, this is Terminator meets War of the Worlds” but this book has its own unique twist.
I appreciated how the author, Jessica Frances, shows us the gritty details of going from one life to be on the edge of survival. It isn't easy. Especially when you’re one of the hunted.
Each chapter was compelling and mind gripping. I was literally on the edge of my seat as you see firsthand the chaos and destruction that takes place while still carrying a figment of hope.
I'm now really curious as to where Ms. Frances where take us next in books two and three. I mean, there's so much possibilities and stakes at risk. I wonder!
Anyways, a great start for the Invasion Trilogy! I can’t wait for more from this trilogy!
*I received an ARC for the upcoming blog tour. Thank you!!*
At first glance of the synopsis I originally thought, “oh, this is Terminator meets War of the Worlds” but this book has its own unique twist.
I appreciated how the author, Jessica Frances, shows us the gritty details of going from one life to be on the edge of survival. It isn't easy. Especially when you’re one of the hunted.
Each chapter was compelling and mind gripping. I was literally on the edge of my seat as you see firsthand the chaos and destruction that takes place while still carrying a figment of hope.
I'm now really curious as to where Ms. Frances where take us next in books two and three. I mean, there's so much possibilities and stakes at risk. I wonder!
Anyways, a great start for the Invasion Trilogy! I can’t wait for more from this trilogy!
*I received an ARC for the upcoming blog tour. Thank you!!*
April 17, 2014
Editorial Review
That was one suspenseful, hold-your-breath read! I absolutely love post-apocalyptic, alien books. Frances did a good job detailing all the troubles of finding food and shelter, running and fighting for your lives, seeing death and destruction from a first-person POV. It was brilliant!
The ending of each chapter gripped you, not letting you want to come to a stopping point; you just wanted to keep on reading. Then, the ending...let's just say that the next book is going to be another roller coaster ride of emotions. I can't believe where she is going with the next book! Gah!
That was one suspenseful, hold-your-breath read! I absolutely love post-apocalyptic, alien books. Frances did a good job detailing all the troubles of finding food and shelter, running and fighting for your lives, seeing death and destruction from a first-person POV. It was brilliant!
The ending of each chapter gripped you, not letting you want to come to a stopping point; you just wanted to keep on reading. Then, the ending...let's just say that the next book is going to be another roller coaster ride of emotions. I can't believe where she is going with the next book! Gah!
October 31, 2014
OMG! what a freaky, scary book. It's so easy how Earth gets invaded in movies and books. If and when (Lol) this takes place, we have no chance.
November 18, 2014
WOW...what a great read!
August 19, 2015
*I received a kindle copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Review is also posted on Let’s Say It’s A Blog.
This book messed with my mind BIG time.
The topic of earth invasion is not unfamiliar for me. I watched a lot of movies about that and even though most of them were pretty vivid and impressive, I admit that I only saw them no more than as entertainment. Never once I thought further about the issue beyond what the movie offered. But this book, though… this book made me thinks about a lot of thing. I mean, I still don’t believe in an existence of alien or them invading the Earth. But the vibes of doom Ms. Frances delivered here were quite strong. I found myself looking at my surrounding, at the daily activities rolling around every day, at the oblivious people. Then my mind wandered what if this very thing happened and none of us were prepared, no goodbyes ever being said. What if I or maybe one of you will become Mattie or Lisa or Hanks, what will you do? What will I do? Really, this book brought up such a real and epic issue!
When the first attack happened, Mattie was in her dorm room at the University of Oregon. Away from her family in Australia. Away from the comfort of home. The news on TV was hectic showing that her hometown was among the first country to go black because of the invasion by some unknown enemy. Her roommate, Lisa, went hysterical while Mattie herself seemed could not wrap her mind around this entire nightmare. No further information other than blackouts happened all around the world just like the movement of constant wave sweeping the surface of the ocean. No one could give them assurance of whether their families in the other side of the world were okay or not. No clue. No nothing.
When the first attack happened, Marduke was in his apartment fighting for his life from his brother’s sharp knife. Even as the part of the invader, Marduke was surprised by the earthquake caused by their people’s attack. The invasion was not supposed to kick in until months later as far as he knew. Being assigned to investigate the Earth pre-invasion, Marduke found a lot of surprising facts about the planet. Raised in Oden, he heard a lot about Earth having the most selfish habitant in the whole galaxy. Humans were all ignorant and were not able to take care of the Earth the way it was supposed to be taken care of. But it was not what he saw here. In Oregon, where he landed for example, he witnessed himself that not entire human beings were selfish and ignorant. Marduke had seen smiles, laughs, kindness, and love for several months. Realizing this newfound fact and the awful chaos they would probably cause, Marduke determined to assure his father and the rest of invader team to cancel the invasion. Only now it seemed that he was way too late for that.
When the invasion finally covered every surface in the world, from separate places, Mattie and Marduke were both on their way to Canada. Marduke was on his escapade from her brother. Mattie together with her best friends, Lisa and Hanks, were on mission to find out the truth about the invasion as the part of emergency volunteer. Barely armed, they finally arrived in Canada only to find out that the country had become even worse than the States they left behind. That’s when their path came across. Mattie and her friends helped Marduke who was left unconscious and badly bruised after his heroic act. From there they began their survival trip back to the States together. Marduke saw how the three of them were the exact proof that not all humans were evil. Only Marduke felt heavier on every step he took knowing that none of them knew his real identity. He could not imagine how these people would look at him when he told them the truth, especially Mattie.
During the days he’d spent with her, Marduke could not help the attraction he felt toward her. How sincere she’d been to him, saving his life, help him with the scar, letting him be the part of the team. Little did he know that Mattie felt the same way. Would it even possible for love to grown in the middle of chaos? Between two very different creatures? Both of them knew the answer was yes but the most important issue was what kind of future would they face later? Or was that even a ‘future’ coming at all?
Okay, before I continue diving deeper into the invasion topic, I’d like to talk about the general points first.
The plot. I actually thought that this book lacked of the background story of main character Mattie. Well, yes I read the blurb saying this book was about earth invasion and all but I did not expect to meet with that kind of invasion. I was hoping that maybe the story could use some prologue or just a warming opening about the life (or maybe the school life) Mattie had before dealing with the invasion. It felt like I just read the peaceful scene of a girl jogging in the park when suddenly I was already in the mid of chaotic Canada with a group of mix humans and alien; leaving me gasping for air yelling, ‘Wait a sec, what the…? Why am I here, people??’ It was as if the author could not wait any longer to pour the scenes of invasion on the next chapters. And well, she should be I guess, because it was seriously… whoa!
The POV here was alternate which I loved! Ms. Frances did a great job writing Marduke’s POV as a foreign creature. It was natural I guess even though I myself seriously had no idea what was ‘natural’ for alien but I did not feel weird about that so I guess it was okay. And more, even if Marduke finally felt attraction for a human girl, but the author didn’t just blindly describing him to continue acting like human. There’s this scene where Marduke was for a second, thought of letting the invasion happened if given the full-right just for the sake of his family’s honor.
I easily liked the character Mattie. She’s independent, determined, strong, and brave. Together with Marduke, they made a unique couple. Marduke was so kind, patient, and full of understanding toward her. They were not that kind of mushy couple but more like a realistic couple. And even though I could feel their chemistry were so strong in the air, but still both of them held on their love and respect for their own planet tightly which I liked.
And talk something about innocent love for people like Marduke who’s never felt one…
I liked the side-characters as well. At first, I just couldn’t like how whiny Lisa was but the appearance of Hanks made her attitude bearable somehow. He’s just so gentle and caring for Lisa. And I actually am looking forward to the continuation of their relationship on the next book.
I read this book in two-sessions. First, I read about 10% of the book and left it because of the rather quick-pace of the plot in the beginning (which I told above). But then I finished the rest 90% in one sitting because apparently after the invasion kicked in, I just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! Seriously. Ms. Frances brought up the invasion as the main topic and she did it awesomely because it’s just so well-built, the invasion, background story of the Oden. They’re all so well-thought. Even me as a romance-sucker ―who’s basically been focusing only on romance side in just every book, this time also felt intrigued by the non-romance part as much as the romance ones.
Invasion and alien were usually two things that easily adopted on fantasy movies. I, myself, never read any fantasy book with this topic before but I could tell that Ms. Frances just brought them in a whole different level. The topic was not original but somehow Ms. Frances’s writing made it look sooo different and nothing at all like the other story ever created. It was epic. It was amazing. I’m curious of what kind of description she’d go with the planet Oden on the next book.
So, yes, people, the book is the part of trilogy so expect a cliffhanger in the end but don’t worry because it’s not a bad cliffhanger or what. Just enough to make you curious but not cruel enough to make you drop your e-reader in frustration ;)
Review is also posted on Let’s Say It’s A Blog.
This book messed with my mind BIG time.
The topic of earth invasion is not unfamiliar for me. I watched a lot of movies about that and even though most of them were pretty vivid and impressive, I admit that I only saw them no more than as entertainment. Never once I thought further about the issue beyond what the movie offered. But this book, though… this book made me thinks about a lot of thing. I mean, I still don’t believe in an existence of alien or them invading the Earth. But the vibes of doom Ms. Frances delivered here were quite strong. I found myself looking at my surrounding, at the daily activities rolling around every day, at the oblivious people. Then my mind wandered what if this very thing happened and none of us were prepared, no goodbyes ever being said. What if I or maybe one of you will become Mattie or Lisa or Hanks, what will you do? What will I do? Really, this book brought up such a real and epic issue!
The world as we know it is ending.
(Mattie; Chapter II, Earth)
When the first attack happened, Mattie was in her dorm room at the University of Oregon. Away from her family in Australia. Away from the comfort of home. The news on TV was hectic showing that her hometown was among the first country to go black because of the invasion by some unknown enemy. Her roommate, Lisa, went hysterical while Mattie herself seemed could not wrap her mind around this entire nightmare. No further information other than blackouts happened all around the world just like the movement of constant wave sweeping the surface of the ocean. No one could give them assurance of whether their families in the other side of the world were okay or not. No clue. No nothing.
When the first attack happened, Marduke was in his apartment fighting for his life from his brother’s sharp knife. Even as the part of the invader, Marduke was surprised by the earthquake caused by their people’s attack. The invasion was not supposed to kick in until months later as far as he knew. Being assigned to investigate the Earth pre-invasion, Marduke found a lot of surprising facts about the planet. Raised in Oden, he heard a lot about Earth having the most selfish habitant in the whole galaxy. Humans were all ignorant and were not able to take care of the Earth the way it was supposed to be taken care of. But it was not what he saw here. In Oregon, where he landed for example, he witnessed himself that not entire human beings were selfish and ignorant. Marduke had seen smiles, laughs, kindness, and love for several months. Realizing this newfound fact and the awful chaos they would probably cause, Marduke determined to assure his father and the rest of invader team to cancel the invasion. Only now it seemed that he was way too late for that.
When the invasion finally covered every surface in the world, from separate places, Mattie and Marduke were both on their way to Canada. Marduke was on his escapade from her brother. Mattie together with her best friends, Lisa and Hanks, were on mission to find out the truth about the invasion as the part of emergency volunteer. Barely armed, they finally arrived in Canada only to find out that the country had become even worse than the States they left behind. That’s when their path came across. Mattie and her friends helped Marduke who was left unconscious and badly bruised after his heroic act. From there they began their survival trip back to the States together. Marduke saw how the three of them were the exact proof that not all humans were evil. Only Marduke felt heavier on every step he took knowing that none of them knew his real identity. He could not imagine how these people would look at him when he told them the truth, especially Mattie.
During the days he’d spent with her, Marduke could not help the attraction he felt toward her. How sincere she’d been to him, saving his life, help him with the scar, letting him be the part of the team. Little did he know that Mattie felt the same way. Would it even possible for love to grown in the middle of chaos? Between two very different creatures? Both of them knew the answer was yes but the most important issue was what kind of future would they face later? Or was that even a ‘future’ coming at all?
Okay, before I continue diving deeper into the invasion topic, I’d like to talk about the general points first.
The plot. I actually thought that this book lacked of the background story of main character Mattie. Well, yes I read the blurb saying this book was about earth invasion and all but I did not expect to meet with that kind of invasion. I was hoping that maybe the story could use some prologue or just a warming opening about the life (or maybe the school life) Mattie had before dealing with the invasion. It felt like I just read the peaceful scene of a girl jogging in the park when suddenly I was already in the mid of chaotic Canada with a group of mix humans and alien; leaving me gasping for air yelling, ‘Wait a sec, what the…? Why am I here, people??’ It was as if the author could not wait any longer to pour the scenes of invasion on the next chapters. And well, she should be I guess, because it was seriously… whoa!
The POV here was alternate which I loved! Ms. Frances did a great job writing Marduke’s POV as a foreign creature. It was natural I guess even though I myself seriously had no idea what was ‘natural’ for alien but I did not feel weird about that so I guess it was okay. And more, even if Marduke finally felt attraction for a human girl, but the author didn’t just blindly describing him to continue acting like human. There’s this scene where Marduke was for a second, thought of letting the invasion happened if given the full-right just for the sake of his family’s honor.
“You know caring about someone isn’t a weakness?”
(Mattie; Chapter XIX, Earth)
I easily liked the character Mattie. She’s independent, determined, strong, and brave. Together with Marduke, they made a unique couple. Marduke was so kind, patient, and full of understanding toward her. They were not that kind of mushy couple but more like a realistic couple. And even though I could feel their chemistry were so strong in the air, but still both of them held on their love and respect for their own planet tightly which I liked.
“I feel disloyal for caring about you. You’re my enemy. You’re part of an alien race that has destroyed everything. But I don’t hate you. […] I don’t understand why you care, but I can’t stop myself caring for you, either.”
(Mattie; Chapter XIX, Earth)
And talk something about innocent love for people like Marduke who’s never felt one…
“You can love someone instantly, but being in love with them is different.”
“So I could love you without being in love with you?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“So how much time has to pass before you’re in love with someone?”
“There isn’t an exact time. You just suddenly realise you are in love with them. You acknowledge their faults and love them anyway. You know them inside and out, and you wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I’d never change a thing about you, Mattie; you’re perfect,” I tell her honestly.
(Chapter XIX, Earth)
I liked the side-characters as well. At first, I just couldn’t like how whiny Lisa was but the appearance of Hanks made her attitude bearable somehow. He’s just so gentle and caring for Lisa. And I actually am looking forward to the continuation of their relationship on the next book.
I read this book in two-sessions. First, I read about 10% of the book and left it because of the rather quick-pace of the plot in the beginning (which I told above). But then I finished the rest 90% in one sitting because apparently after the invasion kicked in, I just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! Seriously. Ms. Frances brought up the invasion as the main topic and she did it awesomely because it’s just so well-built, the invasion, background story of the Oden. They’re all so well-thought. Even me as a romance-sucker ―who’s basically been focusing only on romance side in just every book, this time also felt intrigued by the non-romance part as much as the romance ones.
Invasion and alien were usually two things that easily adopted on fantasy movies. I, myself, never read any fantasy book with this topic before but I could tell that Ms. Frances just brought them in a whole different level. The topic was not original but somehow Ms. Frances’s writing made it look sooo different and nothing at all like the other story ever created. It was epic. It was amazing. I’m curious of what kind of description she’d go with the planet Oden on the next book.
So, yes, people, the book is the part of trilogy so expect a cliffhanger in the end but don’t worry because it’s not a bad cliffhanger or what. Just enough to make you curious but not cruel enough to make you drop your e-reader in frustration ;)
September 23, 2017
Wow! I could hardly put this book down. I almost didn't buy the books because I wasn't impressed at all with the cover but nevermind that!!...I've learned before you can not judge a book by it's cover! It was that exciting although sad in many parts, with the humans dying and all but still very gripping. The POV is told between Mattie and Marduke and was done with great taste. There is some cussing but not heavy and also some intimate moments with Hank/Lisa and at the end of the book between Mattie and Marduke. I like survival books and even though this is about an alien invasion, I still like to read how people survive against the odds. I am looking forward to the humans taking back earth and kicking some ass. I would like to see Marduke somehow take his brother (Ival) down and not be the "weak" guy anymore. This book had Ival evil and downright seemed to be the strongest man alive, so to say I'd like Marduke to learn how to beat the crap out of him is an understatement! I guess that's what I'd like to see in the second book. More of Marduke using the training he was taught and fight! He was always hurt in this book and seemed scared of his brother. Jumping right into the 2nd book, I'm loving it that much!
January 14, 2021
Brilliant Book, now reading Book 2 in The Invasion Trilogy, it really is a great read, emotions up and down. I don't like to give spoilers, I truelly highly recommend this Trilogy.
March 23, 2018
Overall I liked this book. Full review to come.
April 17, 2015
As soon as I read the blurb, I knew I was going to have to read this one. I just can't resist books featuring aliens. As the title mentions, it's about an invasion, so fans of apocalypse should like this one too.
Pros: I love reading stories written in first person POV, and this one offers two: Mattie, a human girl caught in the middle of it, and Marduke, an alien sent to Earth to study it before the invasion. It's well written, the characters in general are strong. There's a real feeling of friendship among the characters (Mattie, Lisa and Hank), which I liked. I wasn't told they were friends, I actually could feel it the way they acted in protecting each other and the way they talked too. I also liked that they did all they could to protect the children they found. It had a natural feel to it and didn't feel forced.
While the idea of the story might not be entirely new, it still brings things not seen in other invasion books I've read. It was an easy read, one I was driven to finish. I wanted to know how it would all end. (It's a series, so while I was satisfied with the way it ended for now, nothing is really resolved.)
Cons: Sorry but the present tense didn't work for me. While it was ok most of the times, other times it felt awkward.
While Mattie was a strong character, she was a bit naïve. How can she not believe him when he tells her he's an alien with everything that proves otherwise. The 'bullet proof' vest was my biggest pet peeve on that side. I mean, it had no seam and no way to open it to remove it unless Marduke did it. Bullets didn't even leave a mark on it. That in itself should have been proof enough Marduke was telling her the truth. Denial? Maybe, if that would have been the only thing that would have stuck out. Proof number two: she saw him stand in front of the machines screaming at them. Yet, she thinks he's French, from France…No but the language isn't so foreign and rare that one could mistake Marduke's home language for it. (But ok… maybe Mattie doesn't have an ear for languages.)
While Mattie shows strength, on the other hand, Marduke comes out weak. What was he doing on Earth exactly? I mean, he was even afraid to get out of his apartment before the attack. That is until one day he tried (after how many months of being stuck inside?). That day, he saw Mattie and without realizing it, he fell desperately in love with her, enough to come out every day and go to the park to see her run.
Neither cons nor pros: The story is about an alien invasion and how the little group is trying to survive; however, at least two third of it is also about how Mattie and Marduke are attracted to each other. I didn't mind the swoonage. In fact, it helped fleshed the characters. However, it may not appeal to all readers.
That said I greatly enjoyed the book. The cons didn't really detract me from reading the story. It was well worth my time and money. Like other books about alien invasions, it left me wondering. After all, who knows, it may happen one day.
I would recommend to both fans of alien and apocalypse stories.
Pros: I love reading stories written in first person POV, and this one offers two: Mattie, a human girl caught in the middle of it, and Marduke, an alien sent to Earth to study it before the invasion. It's well written, the characters in general are strong. There's a real feeling of friendship among the characters (Mattie, Lisa and Hank), which I liked. I wasn't told they were friends, I actually could feel it the way they acted in protecting each other and the way they talked too. I also liked that they did all they could to protect the children they found. It had a natural feel to it and didn't feel forced.
While the idea of the story might not be entirely new, it still brings things not seen in other invasion books I've read. It was an easy read, one I was driven to finish. I wanted to know how it would all end. (It's a series, so while I was satisfied with the way it ended for now, nothing is really resolved.)
Cons: Sorry but the present tense didn't work for me. While it was ok most of the times, other times it felt awkward.
While Mattie was a strong character, she was a bit naïve. How can she not believe him when he tells her he's an alien with everything that proves otherwise. The 'bullet proof' vest was my biggest pet peeve on that side. I mean, it had no seam and no way to open it to remove it unless Marduke did it. Bullets didn't even leave a mark on it. That in itself should have been proof enough Marduke was telling her the truth. Denial? Maybe, if that would have been the only thing that would have stuck out. Proof number two: she saw him stand in front of the machines screaming at them. Yet, she thinks he's French, from France…No but the language isn't so foreign and rare that one could mistake Marduke's home language for it. (But ok… maybe Mattie doesn't have an ear for languages.)
While Mattie shows strength, on the other hand, Marduke comes out weak. What was he doing on Earth exactly? I mean, he was even afraid to get out of his apartment before the attack. That is until one day he tried (after how many months of being stuck inside?). That day, he saw Mattie and without realizing it, he fell desperately in love with her, enough to come out every day and go to the park to see her run.
Neither cons nor pros: The story is about an alien invasion and how the little group is trying to survive; however, at least two third of it is also about how Mattie and Marduke are attracted to each other. I didn't mind the swoonage. In fact, it helped fleshed the characters. However, it may not appeal to all readers.
That said I greatly enjoyed the book. The cons didn't really detract me from reading the story. It was well worth my time and money. Like other books about alien invasions, it left me wondering. After all, who knows, it may happen one day.
I would recommend to both fans of alien and apocalypse stories.
September 7, 2014
Wow!!! What a story!! I am completely blown away! Earth is the first book I've read from this author and it certainly won't be my last. Now, I'm really not into sci fi books but I decided to give this book a shot. And I'm so happy that I did.
What I really loved about the story was the context of words used to describe the atmosphere and environment. The descriptions and details were on point in such a way that I felt like I was there, in the story, experiencing it as a character. The second things I loved was the intensity! From the very first page I was hooked. I even liked the "outsider POV". I thought that was a cool & interesting way to perceive the story. Very original idea from the author.
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters as well. The character development was well done and didn't leave too much or too little. The reader is able to dissect each character and form a bond with them. I really liked Mattie. She is a strong, intelligent woman who never gave up. Marduke is a great hero. He is loyal, caring, sensitive, but yet strong and firm. I loved how both Mattie and Marduke cared for one another and I could feel their connection.
I also liked the story between Lisa and Hank and hope to read more of their story in the next books. Strangely, I also like Marduke's brother, Ival. Overall, this was a great story. The plot was original and the intense action sequences were amazing. So many times I felt I was watching a movie. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. Great job to to the author. I will definitely come back for more!
What I really loved about the story was the context of words used to describe the atmosphere and environment. The descriptions and details were on point in such a way that I felt like I was there, in the story, experiencing it as a character. The second things I loved was the intensity! From the very first page I was hooked. I even liked the "outsider POV". I thought that was a cool & interesting way to perceive the story. Very original idea from the author.
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters as well. The character development was well done and didn't leave too much or too little. The reader is able to dissect each character and form a bond with them. I really liked Mattie. She is a strong, intelligent woman who never gave up. Marduke is a great hero. He is loyal, caring, sensitive, but yet strong and firm. I loved how both Mattie and Marduke cared for one another and I could feel their connection.
I also liked the story between Lisa and Hank and hope to read more of their story in the next books. Strangely, I also like Marduke's brother, Ival. Overall, this was a great story. The plot was original and the intense action sequences were amazing. So many times I felt I was watching a movie. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. Great job to to the author. I will definitely come back for more!
April 8, 2015
I have to say although this book was not out of this world it was pretty good. There where several parts that pissed me off or seemed insignificant but overall I enjoyed reading this novel. It was a fun adventure that so many people could enjoy. Also it was a pretty quick read and that was one of its best features. It's was action packed and had me on the edge of my seat.
My favorite feature of this book was Mattie. She was one of the strongest person I have ever read about. She was one of the only characters I felt that really had some strong common sense. She kept her calm while they had the alien invasion for the sake of her friends and she wasn't a lovesick puppy when it came to Marduke. Although he showed such deep attraction to her, she did what any normal person would do and questioned his sanity considering they had just met.
The biggest downfall was probably the love story was a tab bit cliché. Marduke was so oddly in love but the one thing that didn't make it a complete flop was the fact that Mattie did the normal thing and kept her distance for a little.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this and I give it a 4/5 stars.
My favorite feature of this book was Mattie. She was one of the strongest person I have ever read about. She was one of the only characters I felt that really had some strong common sense. She kept her calm while they had the alien invasion for the sake of her friends and she wasn't a lovesick puppy when it came to Marduke. Although he showed such deep attraction to her, she did what any normal person would do and questioned his sanity considering they had just met.
The biggest downfall was probably the love story was a tab bit cliché. Marduke was so oddly in love but the one thing that didn't make it a complete flop was the fact that Mattie did the normal thing and kept her distance for a little.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this and I give it a 4/5 stars.
April 8, 2015
I'd like to thank Sienna for giving me the opportunity to read such a great book! And to the author, Jessica Frances for giving me a copy of her book to review on it.
First of all, this was a brilliant book! Quoting Lynn Smith's review and Ivy Spencer's review:
'When I started reading the book after the first page or two, I thought that this was going to be an alien take over the world with a lot of killing, rip and tear it up.'
That is exactly what I originally thought as well but when I approached the end, that changed. There was a whole lot more than 'just invading and attacking' and that was great.
The overall book was written really well. I liked it how it was written from two different perspectives, Mattie and Marduke, because in some books there is more than two perspectives and it makes the story confusing. This was fairly simple and easy to understand what is happening.
Once again, thanks Sienna and Jessica Frances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book 'Earth'.
First of all, this was a brilliant book! Quoting Lynn Smith's review and Ivy Spencer's review:
'When I started reading the book after the first page or two, I thought that this was going to be an alien take over the world with a lot of killing, rip and tear it up.'
That is exactly what I originally thought as well but when I approached the end, that changed. There was a whole lot more than 'just invading and attacking' and that was great.
The overall book was written really well. I liked it how it was written from two different perspectives, Mattie and Marduke, because in some books there is more than two perspectives and it makes the story confusing. This was fairly simple and easy to understand what is happening.
Once again, thanks Sienna and Jessica Frances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book 'Earth'.
April 8, 2015
This book was just amazing .
When I started to read that book I was hoping something completely difference.
This book follow two main characters , Mattie a human that has to deal with a invation , and Marduke a alien that is still in the Earth when the invation starts .
The relationship of both it was really credible And I have to confess that I fall in love With Marduke .
At the same time that book scared me a little bit for the fact that who knows if there are some aliens trying to invade the earth .
I really enyoy the book and I can't wait to read the second one .
When I started to read that book I was hoping something completely difference.
This book follow two main characters , Mattie a human that has to deal with a invation , and Marduke a alien that is still in the Earth when the invation starts .
The relationship of both it was really credible And I have to confess that I fall in love With Marduke .
At the same time that book scared me a little bit for the fact that who knows if there are some aliens trying to invade the earth .
I really enyoy the book and I can't wait to read the second one .
October 4, 2015
It was alright
I liked the way the story was, with it's interesting aliens to its action scenes. It wasn't a bad read, but I wish it had been...more. There was a lot of potential for this story, but as is, it isn't bad. The ending is a cliffhanger.
I liked the way the story was, with it's interesting aliens to its action scenes. It wasn't a bad read, but I wish it had been...more. There was a lot of potential for this story, but as is, it isn't bad. The ending is a cliffhanger.
April 19, 2015
i really did like this book alot it was a little scarey but nice job on this book.
September 5, 2022
Wow!!! What a story!! I am completely blown away! Earth is the first book I've read from this author and it certainly won't be my last. Now, I'm really not into sci fi books but I decided to give this book a shot. And I'm so happy that I did.
What I really loved about the story was the context of words used to describe the atmosphere and environment. The descriptions and details were on point in such a way that I felt like I was there, in the story, experiencing it as a character. The second things I loved was the intensity! From the very first page I was hooked. I even liked the "outsider POV". I thought that was a cool & interesting way to perceive the story. Very original idea from the author.
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters as well. The character development was well done and didn't leave too much or too little. The reader is able to dissect each character and form a bond with them. I really liked Mattie. She is a strong, intelligent woman who never gave up. Marduke is a great hero. He is loyal, caring, sensitive, but yet strong and firm. I loved how both Mattie and Marduke cared for one another and I could feel their connection.
I also liked the story between Lisa and Hank and hope to read more of their story in the next books. Strangely, I also like Marduke's brother, Ival. Overall, this was a great story. The plot was original and the intense action sequences were amazing. So many times I felt I was watching a movie. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. Great job to to the author. I will definitely come back for more!
What I really loved about the story was the context of words used to describe the atmosphere and environment. The descriptions and details were on point in such a way that I felt like I was there, in the story, experiencing it as a character. The second things I loved was the intensity! From the very first page I was hooked. I even liked the "outsider POV". I thought that was a cool & interesting way to perceive the story. Very original idea from the author.
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters as well. The character development was well done and didn't leave too much or too little. The reader is able to dissect each character and form a bond with them. I really liked Mattie. She is a strong, intelligent woman who never gave up. Marduke is a great hero. He is loyal, caring, sensitive, but yet strong and firm. I loved how both Mattie and Marduke cared for one another and I could feel their connection.
I also liked the story between Lisa and Hank and hope to read more of their story in the next books. Strangely, I also like Marduke's brother, Ival. Overall, this was a great story. The plot was original and the intense action sequences were amazing. So many times I felt I was watching a movie. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. Great job to to the author. I will definitely come back for more!
January 5, 2019
Earth
Not what I was expecting at all from the synopsis. I was not very impressed with the writing style. This was a strain to get through.
Not what I was expecting at all from the synopsis. I was not very impressed with the writing style. This was a strain to get through.
August 8, 2018
Low rating because it is a cliffie. I just couldn't connect to the story or characters. Because it's a cliffie, won't bother wasting my time.
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