Fighting Back

Battle Ground #4

by Rachel Churcher

Bex Ellman and her friends are in hiding, sheltered by the resistance. With her family threatened and her friendships challenged, she's looking for a way to fight back.

Ketty Smith is in London, supporting a government she no longer trusts. With her support network crumbling, Ketty must decide who she is fighting for – and what she is willing risk to uncover the truth.

The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence.

Genres: Young Adult

346 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2019

About the author

My new standalone UKYA novel is here, and gathering five-star reviews and award nominations! Angels is the LGBTQ+ YA story you've been waiting for: friendship, identity, attraction, disasters ... and finding your wings.

Available now!

All seven books of my near-future #UKYA dystopia series are available now on Amazon! Download Book One, Battle Ground , Book Two, False Flag , Book Three, Darkest Hour , Book Four, Fighting Back , Book Five, Victory Day , Book Six, Balancing Act , and Book Seven, Finding Fire and Other Stories for Kindle. Paperbacks are also available, and you'll find all seven books on Kindle Unlimited. For help with international downloads, visit the Taller Books website.

For a FREE tie-in novella, Making Trouble, and bonus short story, Lost Cause , visit freebook.tallerbooks.com.

Award-winning YA author and passionate YA reader. Always looking for the next great YA novel, whether it's a dystopia with an awesome female lead, a historical adventure, or a contemporary High School drama.

SF and dystopia are my comfort zones, but I'll step outside my happy place in pursuit of a good story. I have a book-buying habit, and a large library at home (I think of it as a portal to other worlds). I love physical books, and curling up in front of the fire to read. I firmly believe that there is no such thing as too many books - just not enough book shelves.

Reviews

[Paperbacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Whilst I have tried to keep this review spoiler free there will be many spoilers for earlier books in the series**

I’m going to start by saying that Fighting Back is the stand out novel of the series so far for me. It has a different feel to the first three, almost a calm before the storm or a chance to take a breath assess the gravity of everything that is happening. I have to admit I felt the lines blurring between the government and resistance and may actually be finding something to like in Ketty.

To the story though, having settled in Edinburgh, Bex and her friends are still dealing with the fall out of Jake’s decision, but despite her treatment by him, Bex continues to be the parent figure of the group trying to problem solve as best she can. Her problem solving on this occasion however, leads to an unexpected opportunity which creates a real shift in her. In short, Bex has to grow up, fast. I found myself very much liking this more measured Bex, her time spent not running for her life allows her to settle more in herself and her monologues are thoughtful rather than the rash decisions of circumstance.

Ketty shone for me this time, it’s a big ask for me to change my tune about her and I went into this book expecting the loss of Jackson to have been her driving force for ill, but in fact her ability to maintain business as usual showed a real fortitude. In many ways Ketty is an incredibly complex character, yet actually when you bring it down to the baseline there is a simplicity in what makes her tick, she has a strong moral compass and she is all or nothing in her feelings of right and wrong. I love how she is 100% unshakeable until she is presented with fact but then, to her credit, is able to step back and think about that fact in a rational way, which is a skill lacking in many who are so firmly entrenched in their beliefs.

What is clear from both women is that the manipulations being woven around them are so beautifully subtle it’s hard to know where it does indeed begin. Both are being used in different ways and the correlation of deceit and realisation between them made me feel that they weren’t so far apart after all. The way their actions and reactions feed into one another is really quite masterful and demonstrates great thought and skill from the author. The locations are fairly static but the book benefits from this as it is the most character driven book of the series, but the London location leads to the availability of iconic landmarks. These really brings home the ability to fully visualise the closing stages as even those who have never visited the city will know exactly what to imagine. What a closing stage as well, just wow, I was totally on the edge of my seat as things played out, a trigger for the resistance was needed and that is a trigger and then some.

I started by saying that this was a stand out book in the series and I have to give it 5 very well deserved stars!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fighting Back is book four in the Battle Ground series, and in this one, everything is coming to a head. It's the penultimate before the explosive end.

Bex is getting restless and anxious, wanting to do more than just train and practice and wait for the OIE to be ready to fight back against the government. She's determined to save her mom and Margie, and she'll fight with anyone to try and get her way.

Ketty is still reveling in her power, abusing prisoners and working to get them to incriminate themselves on public TV. But she's a powder keg waiting to explode.

Power plays and corruption abound, and Ketty and Bex are slowly realizing how little control they really have.

What happens when the hard truths hit them both? Will either of them be able to do the right thing before it's too late?

I absolutely adores Fighting Back. It's a slow burn that builds up to a wild ending, and I can only imagine how this series is going to end in book five. Ketty is still an awful person, although she's starting to realize the strain of keeping up that attitude. Is beating up prisoners and supporting the government really worth it?

Bex is also feeling the strain. She wants to do something, but she's still being used and treated like "just a face" instead of a person. But she's determined to get the OIE to listen to her, no matter what.

There's a lot of stuff going on. Not a ton of action, but tensions are escalating, and when that ending hits... wow!

I'm a huge fan of this series, and I can't wait to see how it's all going to end.

4.5 stars from me!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ketty and Bex are once again engaging the battle between England's dictatorship and the Opposition In Exile. At the same time, they're both realising that the sides they've ended up on don't necessarily have their own best interests at heart. While each sees the other as her antagonist, the bigger pictures of how the various sides are fighting the war are coming clearer and clearer. Highly recommended.

Note: I received an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Home School Mum 3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

This series is so fantastic, I have really enjoyed reading them. I love how the storyline continues in each book and love how we get to know each character as the story progresses. Read this series you won't be disappointed

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension continues to build for both Bex and Kitty, two very different characters whose lives have become intricately connected. I can't wait to read the finale to this series when Book 5 is published.

[Lucy-May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fighting Back is the penultimate instalment in the Battle Ground series; in this book we follow Bex as she continues to struggle with the consequences of her actions & what she feels she should do next. Fighting Back was definitely a slow burner, similarly to book three, but things got more intense toward the end of the story giving a good lead up to the fifth & final book in the series... I can’t wait!

⚠️ Violence, terrorism, ableism & threats made toward a disabled person ⚠️

I was sent a copy of this book to review as part of a blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.

Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-31N

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good series and I have loved every book I have read. I will say that to get the full benefit of the characters and the story-lines, you really should read in order.

Fighting Back continues the story of Bex and her friends as they are now refugees. While they are safe, there are those that are not. Her mum and friends who were left behind are now being used in a propaganda crusade by the Government.

Ketty is still in the thick of things in London as she helps work the propaganda machine. She is discovering that life in the machine is not quite as she expects. Propaganda is something that is lies and deceit and it has a knock-on effect and so she finds she is having to watch her back.

I really enjoyed this book as the author delves into various aspects of corruption, deceit, lies, conspiracy. Once again she pulls on the emotions of the reader as I got to see another side of Ketty. This character I keep changing my mind about so much and this is all credit to the authors writing, if you are up to date with the series then you will know what I mean about Ketty.

Bex is a character I have always liked, but the author again has worked her magic with this character. While Bex wants to do more and help in the fight against the government, she is starting to become more aware of her limitations. When she decides to do something about it I was so pleased for her, but there is a big downside for her. There is a subtle shift in Bex and I do worry that she is losing a little piece of herself to do what is right! Oh my goodness, Rachel, you are really putting your characters and me through the mill!!!!

This is such a well-written series that I know is aimed at a Young Adult but works so well for an older reader. Anyway, who says you have to be a certain age to be young! The series is one that has a relevance to a possible future and it is so well-timed with Brexit and all the political shenanigans at the moment.

It is balanced so well and at times questions the readers' loyalty to the characters and the situations they find themselves in. This series would be absolutely brilliant for classroom/ group discussion as it explores dilemmas and problems.

This is a fabulous series and Fighting Back is another step up in the intensity of the ongoing story. I think I may have mentioned how much I like this series a time or two already, so it may come as no surprise when I say that I Absolutely Recommend this book.

[Ian Hornett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a year or so since I was immersed in the Battleground Series but I was quickly back into the swing of things as the author picked up where she left off and got me hooked again.

Bex Ellman and her friends are safely with the Resistance which has the protection of the Scottish government. She is the ‘Face of The Resistance’, a title that bears much responsibility and has connotations Bex does not like. But, with her friends, she is getting her head down and doing the training, itching to save her mum and others who have been captured by an English government that says it is fighting terrorists. Bex knows better, but she is increasingly frustrated by a perceived lack of action where she is.
Meanwhile, in London, her adversary, Ketty Smith, is doing all she can to make life as uncomfortable as possible for Bex by haranguing and torturing Bex’s loved ones. Life isn’t going well for her either as she starts to finds out that the government she represents is not as perfect as she thought it was. Politics isn’t straightforward for either of them, especially when it is mixed with strong emotions.

Fighting Back is the fourth in a cracking dystopian YA series. The author knows how to speak to a YA audience while keeping adults like me well-satisfied too. There is pace, drama and conflict, and in Fighting Back we really get under the skin of our two main characters. It’s all set up beautifully for the rest of this compelling series.

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four of the Battleground series, and it continues to go from strength to strength. In exile in Scotland and wanted by the British government as terrorists, Bex and her friends struggle to come to terms with the reality of their lives now. Chafing at her role as the “Face of the Resistance” Bex realises she has no choice but to comply – not if she wants the Resistance to help her free her mother and friends.

A tense, and well-written story, it is very fast-paced and examines the multi-faceted and complex issues involved in wanting to do the right thing but knowing that in war there are no easy choices. With the chapters alternating between the viewpoint of Bex and that of her adversary, Ketty, I especially liked the development of Ketty as a character. Desperately trying to keep her life and career on track, as everything falls apart around her, Ketty is forced to the realisation that she may not be on the side of the good guys after all.

Scarily plausible, this series examines how it would take very little to tip a society over the edge into accepting martial law as the cost of safety – without understanding how steep a price tag it is paying.

A thoroughly enjoyable series, Battleground is a fantastic YA read for boys and girls alike, and its lack of a love interest makes it a refreshing change.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to review this book right now because this series is just THAT good and it keeps getting better. Just when I thought we’d seen how incredible Rachel Churcher’s writing is, she comes out with Fighting Back and blows me away again.

Fighting Back is what YA Dystopian should aim to be. Fast-paced, brilliant characters, tension, drama, captivating writing…I can keep going! I can’t get enough of this series and I just want to keep reading.

If you’re looking for a Dystopian that is actually worth reading, stop right now and go get these books. You won’t be disappointed. Rachel Churcher is a writer you want to have on your auto buy list. She’s certainly on mine!

*Book received from Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fighting Back is the penultimate book of the five book Battle Ground Series. The story continues on from book three and once again we get alternating chapters from Bex and Ketty.

Both girls are still struggling to come to terms with their losses, and trying to do the right thing, while realising that they have no control of the events or their part in them.

This series goes from strength to strength as the story reaches its climax. While, once again being well-written and steadily paced, this book had a feel of being the lull before the storm and I'm looking forward to reading the final instalment.