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The Colony #1
Subject A36
If genetic engineering could guarantee you and your family perfect health and unparalleled beauty, would you pay top dollar for it? Would you kill for it?
Residents of the Colony would. And do.
Only the Insurgents can stop them.
Seventeen-year-old Asher Solomon is a premier operative with the Insurgents. He and his team have rescued countless hostages, saving them from painful deaths in Colony labs as desirable genetic traits are stripped from their bodies.
He's also suffered more losses than anyone should have to.
Then Asher gets intel that might give his people the upper hand. The Colony is searching for Subject A36. If the Insurgents determine the subject's identity first, they might be able to turn the tide of the war.
Asher and his team embark on their riskiest mission ever, and the stakes have never been higher. But even if he survives the physical dangers, the devastating secrets he uncovers might destroy him.
Residents of the Colony would. And do.
Only the Insurgents can stop them.
Seventeen-year-old Asher Solomon is a premier operative with the Insurgents. He and his team have rescued countless hostages, saving them from painful deaths in Colony labs as desirable genetic traits are stripped from their bodies.
He's also suffered more losses than anyone should have to.
Then Asher gets intel that might give his people the upper hand. The Colony is searching for Subject A36. If the Insurgents determine the subject's identity first, they might be able to turn the tide of the war.
Asher and his team embark on their riskiest mission ever, and the stakes have never been higher. But even if he survives the physical dangers, the devastating secrets he uncovers might destroy him.
198 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2020
About the author
Teri Polen
33 books190 followersTeri Polen is the author of young adult horror, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Sarah, her debut novel, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. ReadFREE.ly named Subject A36 one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020. An avid reader, movie watcher, and chocolate lover, Teri lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband and Feline Overlord, Bond. Visit her at TeriPolen.com or on Instagram @Tpolen6
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
February 11, 2020
I was eagerly anticipating this book, having thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous books, and was a little worried my hopes for it were so high I'd end up disappointed. I needn't have worried; I was not disappointed. This is a gripping read, with wonderful world building, a great cast of realistic and relatable characters, and an action-packed plot full of surprises. It had me hooked from the start, and took me on an emotional rollercoaster throughout, leaving me breathless at the end, but eager for another wild ride. The ending is tied up enough to leave a cliffhanger hater like me satisfied, while remaining open enough that I'd have immediately reached for the next book had it been out and available to read, because I'm desperate to know what happens next.
*NOTE: I was given a free advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of this book, or the contents of my review. All opinions given here are my own.
*NOTE: I was given a free advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of this book, or the contents of my review. All opinions given here are my own.
February 8, 2020
This was a reread for me in anticipation of the release of the second book The Insurgent which you can read my review for here. When I originally read this, I never shared a review for it, so I thought it was about time I did. I loved this book both times I read it. This book was action packed, had great world building and amazing characters (of course some were better than others). There's a cliffhanger which I typically don't like unless I am able to read the next book immediately. I wasn't able to read the next book immediately and I didn't hate the cliffhanger. The story for book one was wrapped up well enough that the cliffhanger just sets it up perfectly for the next book. If you haven't read this duology, I highly recommend you do.
February 12, 2020
Ash has spent years fighting against the Colony, the ruling class, who steal second class citizens with desirable genetic traits. A secret buried in his past will upend his world and send him spinning into the hands of the Colony.
I have to warn you first of all, the blurb is not exactly accurate, so don't expect it to be.
I enjoyed this read, but it's not amazing. It's almost like a book of two halves; the first part is a standard resist-the-evil-with-an-attractive-group-of-teens story, and the second half becomes something else that I won't spoil, but you can probably see coming if you read this type of story at all. It's an enjoyable read, with quick action scenes and good character building; I liked Paige the best, but everyone was good.
The central conflict, however, doesn't make sense to me. I'm not any kind of medical professional, but I'm pretty sure you don't need to kill someone to take part of their genetic code; you can get DNA from blood, after all, and you wouldn't need much. If they were physically taking organs and so on, it would make much more sense to me.
But if you can ignore that, this is a great, action packed read and I recommend it to everyone.
I have to warn you first of all, the blurb is not exactly accurate, so don't expect it to be.
I enjoyed this read, but it's not amazing. It's almost like a book of two halves; the first part is a standard resist-the-evil-with-an-attractive-group-of-teens story, and the second half becomes something else that I won't spoil, but you can probably see coming if you read this type of story at all. It's an enjoyable read, with quick action scenes and good character building; I liked Paige the best, but everyone was good.
The central conflict, however, doesn't make sense to me. I'm not any kind of medical professional, but I'm pretty sure you don't need to kill someone to take part of their genetic code; you can get DNA from blood, after all, and you wouldn't need much. If they were physically taking organs and so on, it would make much more sense to me.
But if you can ignore that, this is a great, action packed read and I recommend it to everyone.
May 16, 2022
I enjoy reading dystopian books. They are a nice transition from sci-fi to dystopian. Plus, I can really image dystopian books as being like the future; thus, the reason I enjoy these types of stories. If done right they can be very believable.
Asher, Alpha team leader. He is joined by Noah, his best friend and Brynn, Noah's sister and Asher's girlfriend. There is also Luciana, Beta team leader and others. They are fighting to save humanity from those who are seeking great power.
This story moves as a really good pace with plenty of action to keep my attention. While, Asher may be the Alpha leader, Brynn is a strong female lead character as well. The bond that Asher and Noah share is wonderful. The further I got into the story the more intrigued I became. As if my enjoyment did not already make me want to read book two, the cliffhanger did it for me.
Asher, Alpha team leader. He is joined by Noah, his best friend and Brynn, Noah's sister and Asher's girlfriend. There is also Luciana, Beta team leader and others. They are fighting to save humanity from those who are seeking great power.
This story moves as a really good pace with plenty of action to keep my attention. While, Asher may be the Alpha leader, Brynn is a strong female lead character as well. The bond that Asher and Noah share is wonderful. The further I got into the story the more intrigued I became. As if my enjoyment did not already make me want to read book two, the cliffhanger did it for me.
March 13, 2020
This is a debut novel in a series that is a dystopian tale. The premise of the novel is intriguing and grabs you. But, overall, it was just okay for me. I think some of the pacing or flow of the story was too clunky for my taste.
It’s an interesting idea and the following books may provide a more flowing narrative.
I will continue to keep my eye on this writer.
Thanks to #Netgalley #BlackRoseWriting
It’s an interesting idea and the following books may provide a more flowing narrative.
I will continue to keep my eye on this writer.
Thanks to #Netgalley #BlackRoseWriting
February 10, 2020
Subject A36 is an engaging story that pulls you in from the start. A terrifying dystopian future, where the rich harvest the poor for desirable traits, and the resistance operates under a constant threat to their lives. Full of high tension action and suspense driven secrets, once you start you won't be able to put this down.
February 14, 2020
Subject A36 by Teri Polen is the first book in The Colony series. Asher and his family live in a dystopic world where human beings who do not belong to the Colony are hunted down and 'harvested' for their desirable DNA traits. The excuse for this inhumane treatment is that it controls the population (a necessary concern when disease has been pretty much eradicated, leading to longer lifespans). Asher and his adoptive family are part of the Insurgents, who work to free prisoners before they can have their DNA stripped. When accidental transfer leaves behind genetic material from Ash, the Colony begins hunting him in earnest. For Asher Solomon is more than he ever knew, far more valuable than those gathered for 'harvesting'.
First off, dang! I love dystopias, and this was no exception. For some reason, it hit me even harder than say, Hunger Games, or others. I think it's because we are still relatively close in time to the Holocaust, where people were gathered together to be slain, and many died in genetics experiments. With certain people and groups in positions of power, and other groups of people threatened with greater marginalisation, this just feels frighteningly plausible.
Well, the gathering and imprisonment of certain groups anyway. The gene-stripping confused me. Our cells contain our entire DNA blueprint. DNA can be gleaned by blood drawn from a donor, with no need to kill them. I would have liked more exploration of this process, and the process to implant harvested genes into recipients. I'm having a hard time imagining how it might feasibly work.
I really liked all of the main characters. Ash and Noah were my favourites. The loyalty between the two adoptive brothers warms my heart. And Brynn! She's so fierce. I imagine she could put Subject A36 in his place quite easily, no matter what the genetic enhancements. I also get easily attached to the genetically enhanced thanks to Khan Noonien Singh and Julian Bashir. And now I've dated myself 🤣
Some things felt very repetitive though, like Ash mentioning several times that rescued children taken to Insurgent facilities may be adopted by others or form their own families if theirs couldn't be located. Also, how he didn't want to see Oz hurt because his interest in Paige wasn't reciprocated. I got it after the second and third mentions. I didn't need to read it several times more. It's something that could be removed to tighten the story.
I feel it would have flowed better removing the chapters not from Asher's POV. Those few scattered chapters felt like unnecessary over-explaining of things that might work better more succinctly woven into Asher's POV as showing, or as a dialogue exchange. Overall, I did enjoy the story and look forward to seeing the author grow as a writer, and where this story goes.
***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Black Rose Writing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for R&R Blog Tours
First off, dang! I love dystopias, and this was no exception. For some reason, it hit me even harder than say, Hunger Games, or others. I think it's because we are still relatively close in time to the Holocaust, where people were gathered together to be slain, and many died in genetics experiments. With certain people and groups in positions of power, and other groups of people threatened with greater marginalisation, this just feels frighteningly plausible.
Well, the gathering and imprisonment of certain groups anyway. The gene-stripping confused me. Our cells contain our entire DNA blueprint. DNA can be gleaned by blood drawn from a donor, with no need to kill them. I would have liked more exploration of this process, and the process to implant harvested genes into recipients. I'm having a hard time imagining how it might feasibly work.
I really liked all of the main characters. Ash and Noah were my favourites. The loyalty between the two adoptive brothers warms my heart. And Brynn! She's so fierce. I imagine she could put Subject A36 in his place quite easily, no matter what the genetic enhancements. I also get easily attached to the genetically enhanced thanks to Khan Noonien Singh and Julian Bashir. And now I've dated myself 🤣
Some things felt very repetitive though, like Ash mentioning several times that rescued children taken to Insurgent facilities may be adopted by others or form their own families if theirs couldn't be located. Also, how he didn't want to see Oz hurt because his interest in Paige wasn't reciprocated. I got it after the second and third mentions. I didn't need to read it several times more. It's something that could be removed to tighten the story.
I feel it would have flowed better removing the chapters not from Asher's POV. Those few scattered chapters felt like unnecessary over-explaining of things that might work better more succinctly woven into Asher's POV as showing, or as a dialogue exchange. Overall, I did enjoy the story and look forward to seeing the author grow as a writer, and where this story goes.
***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Black Rose Writing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for R&R Blog Tours
February 13, 2020
Disclaimer - I was sent a free copy of this book in return for a fair and unbiased review
There are a lot of teen dystopias out there where the ‘big city’ is using the outsiders or for gain but I’ve not seen any where the outsiders are literally being stripped and dumped. Because that’s what the colony is doing, stripping outsiders down for parts. You have a pretty eye colour – yoink ours now, you’re good at sports – now I am.
It’s a great concept and easy to see how genetic experimenting would reach this point. Getting rid of any genetic diseases is one thing, and then any imperfections, but then there are other options and choices available; being a bit taller, being better at sports, or being emotional, or academics. It’s one thing changing embryos and modifying them but what about the people who are already alive? What if they want that too? So you learn how to modify living DNA but you need to implement the trait that you like. And if you’ve got outsiders and people who don’t take part in your society? Why wouldn’t you use them? It’s not going to hurt your society, it’s only going to help.
I mean if you’re part of the outsiders that sucks but thank you for donating…
One of the things I found reading this is that it’s a really slow start, a really slow start.
It starts with Asher as a kid and his sisters, it’s a great way of introducing this world as one of his sisters has to paint her hair when they leave the house as it’s too nice and people will want it. And hair colour is such a minor thing, because we know that hair dye is available but it’s not enough. It’s a great way of showing just how warped this society is. Then they are discovered and Asher has to run for fear of them finding him and stripping him down to his genetic components – which is a big fear for an 8 year old. And when he’s unable to run with his sisters and have to leave them behind that’s one hell of childhood trauma and something that is not going to leave you.
There’s a lot of world building but once it picks up pace it doesn’t stop. It just keeps going, and the action scenes are insane and feel like they belong in a film. It’s not quite Captain America pulling at a helicopter but it’s close.
Throughout this book the main theme for me is one of relationships being what makes us who we are; friendships, family, romance. All of it together makes us human and more than just our DNA. The relationship between Asher and Brynn is the most obvious one she pulls him back from the brink multiple time and is a touchstone for him, keeping him on the track that he wants to be on and he does the same for her. There’s so much pressure on them to try and rescue people from the donation centres and to try and stop the colony as much as possible. They go through a lot and having someone they can lean on and give them strength when needed.
There are a lot of teen dystopias out there where the ‘big city’ is using the outsiders or for gain but I’ve not seen any where the outsiders are literally being stripped and dumped. Because that’s what the colony is doing, stripping outsiders down for parts. You have a pretty eye colour – yoink ours now, you’re good at sports – now I am.
It’s a great concept and easy to see how genetic experimenting would reach this point. Getting rid of any genetic diseases is one thing, and then any imperfections, but then there are other options and choices available; being a bit taller, being better at sports, or being emotional, or academics. It’s one thing changing embryos and modifying them but what about the people who are already alive? What if they want that too? So you learn how to modify living DNA but you need to implement the trait that you like. And if you’ve got outsiders and people who don’t take part in your society? Why wouldn’t you use them? It’s not going to hurt your society, it’s only going to help.
I mean if you’re part of the outsiders that sucks but thank you for donating…
One of the things I found reading this is that it’s a really slow start, a really slow start.
It starts with Asher as a kid and his sisters, it’s a great way of introducing this world as one of his sisters has to paint her hair when they leave the house as it’s too nice and people will want it. And hair colour is such a minor thing, because we know that hair dye is available but it’s not enough. It’s a great way of showing just how warped this society is. Then they are discovered and Asher has to run for fear of them finding him and stripping him down to his genetic components – which is a big fear for an 8 year old. And when he’s unable to run with his sisters and have to leave them behind that’s one hell of childhood trauma and something that is not going to leave you.
There’s a lot of world building but once it picks up pace it doesn’t stop. It just keeps going, and the action scenes are insane and feel like they belong in a film. It’s not quite Captain America pulling at a helicopter but it’s close.
Throughout this book the main theme for me is one of relationships being what makes us who we are; friendships, family, romance. All of it together makes us human and more than just our DNA. The relationship between Asher and Brynn is the most obvious one she pulls him back from the brink multiple time and is a touchstone for him, keeping him on the track that he wants to be on and he does the same for her. There’s so much pressure on them to try and rescue people from the donation centres and to try and stop the colony as much as possible. They go through a lot and having someone they can lean on and give them strength when needed.
May 15, 2022
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
Outlier Asher Soloman’s life and family is torn apart the day that soldiers from the Colony come to his home. The only survivor, he joins the Insurgents, a group of rebels intent on saving the lives of the people captured for genetic harvesting and putting an end to the Colony’s brutal practice. Yet his past continues to haunt him. Why did his father order him to abandon his sisters if they slowed his escape? The guilt at following through with this request still haunts him. When the Insurgents learn that the Colony is searching for the mysterious subject A36, it gives them to chance of a real shot at winning the war. But only if they can find subject A36 first. However, for Asher the truth may prove to be more devastating than what happened to his family on that terrible day.
I absolutely loved this first novel in The Colony series. The author has crafted a chilling future with underlying warnings for today’s genetic advances and how they might be used for the wrong reasons.
The characters were well developed and continued to evolve further as the novel progressed. With the loss of his family, Asher could have gone down a different path but instead he fights to help people and ensure that children don’t have to go through the same ordeal that he did. I loved his relationships with Brynn and Noah, and these serve very much to keep him grounded and remind him of who he is.
The novel was written mostly from Asher’s POV but with some chapters from a couple of other characters when it was key to plot development. I liked this approach as it gave you a lot of insight into his character, but the addition of the others where needed ensured that events did not happen without the groundwork being laid for them.
The Colony promises to be an excellent dystopian series and I cannot wait to read the second book in the series!
Outlier Asher Soloman’s life and family is torn apart the day that soldiers from the Colony come to his home. The only survivor, he joins the Insurgents, a group of rebels intent on saving the lives of the people captured for genetic harvesting and putting an end to the Colony’s brutal practice. Yet his past continues to haunt him. Why did his father order him to abandon his sisters if they slowed his escape? The guilt at following through with this request still haunts him. When the Insurgents learn that the Colony is searching for the mysterious subject A36, it gives them to chance of a real shot at winning the war. But only if they can find subject A36 first. However, for Asher the truth may prove to be more devastating than what happened to his family on that terrible day.
I absolutely loved this first novel in The Colony series. The author has crafted a chilling future with underlying warnings for today’s genetic advances and how they might be used for the wrong reasons.
The characters were well developed and continued to evolve further as the novel progressed. With the loss of his family, Asher could have gone down a different path but instead he fights to help people and ensure that children don’t have to go through the same ordeal that he did. I loved his relationships with Brynn and Noah, and these serve very much to keep him grounded and remind him of who he is.
The novel was written mostly from Asher’s POV but with some chapters from a couple of other characters when it was key to plot development. I liked this approach as it gave you a lot of insight into his character, but the addition of the others where needed ensured that events did not happen without the groundwork being laid for them.
The Colony promises to be an excellent dystopian series and I cannot wait to read the second book in the series!
February 11, 2020
Wow, Teri Polen has given us an absolute gem with Subject A36! This is one Sci-Fi you won’t want to miss. It is also a quick read.
The characters in this book are young, but they are living in an adult dystopian world. For me, it makes the kids more relatable on a lot of levels. I loved every second of getting to know Asher and the gang.
There are so many surprises, twists, and turns throughout this novel that it was a bit hard to keep up sometimes. Of course, this could be related to the fact that I couldn’t get through the words fast enough in my attempt to find out the next part!
The action sequences are something right out of a movie. They were crystal clear and exciting as well. The beginning was the typical get to know the characters trope, but by the latter part of the middle, I was so engrossed that I couldn’t concentrate on anything else around me.
When the backstory started to emerge, I was blown away. This series is going to be incredible, and I will definitely be along for the ride. I must know what happens next in this saga.
I am happy to award Subject A36 4 stars out of 5, but only because the beginning drug just a bit and I had a hard time keeping myself engaged. Though after the first few chapters, I was hooked and couldn’t get enough.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Shannon of R&R Book Tours for providing me with a copy of Subject A36 in exchange for an honest review.
The characters in this book are young, but they are living in an adult dystopian world. For me, it makes the kids more relatable on a lot of levels. I loved every second of getting to know Asher and the gang.
There are so many surprises, twists, and turns throughout this novel that it was a bit hard to keep up sometimes. Of course, this could be related to the fact that I couldn’t get through the words fast enough in my attempt to find out the next part!
The action sequences are something right out of a movie. They were crystal clear and exciting as well. The beginning was the typical get to know the characters trope, but by the latter part of the middle, I was so engrossed that I couldn’t concentrate on anything else around me.
When the backstory started to emerge, I was blown away. This series is going to be incredible, and I will definitely be along for the ride. I must know what happens next in this saga.
I am happy to award Subject A36 4 stars out of 5, but only because the beginning drug just a bit and I had a hard time keeping myself engaged. Though after the first few chapters, I was hooked and couldn’t get enough.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Shannon of R&R Book Tours for providing me with a copy of Subject A36 in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2020
While the beginning of Subject A36 was a bit slow, it was still enjoyable because of the backstory and the introduction of some of the characters and their feelings and actions.
And while the premise isn't that new to dystopian YA, it's the characters and how they think about their situation that makes the story great.
I really loved the strong bond between Asher and Brynn. For me, strong, calm Noah, Brynn's brother, stole the show in some scenes.
And the cliffhanger makes me longing for the second book.
Overall, I think that while Teri Polen has not written a big game changer of YA dystopian fiction, she wrote a wonderful story full of hope, loss, trauma, cruelty, strong bonds and cinematic action scenes. I truly enjoyed this book and am excited for the next.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
And while the premise isn't that new to dystopian YA, it's the characters and how they think about their situation that makes the story great.
I really loved the strong bond between Asher and Brynn. For me, strong, calm Noah, Brynn's brother, stole the show in some scenes.
And the cliffhanger makes me longing for the second book.
Overall, I think that while Teri Polen has not written a big game changer of YA dystopian fiction, she wrote a wonderful story full of hope, loss, trauma, cruelty, strong bonds and cinematic action scenes. I truly enjoyed this book and am excited for the next.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 18, 2020
Subject A36 is a terrifying story that takes place in a horrible dystopian future. The book begins with a flashback to introduce the MC but you won’t know anything about the Colony and the world the characters live in. You will then slowly get new information and understand how terrifying it is. I loved that there is no world-building and you are directly thrown into this universe. It was fast-paced (sometimes a little bit too fast in my opinion) and some events were predictable, but others I did not see coming at all! I love when a book surprises me like that!
It was a short book, a great introduction to the series in my opinion, and I will read what is next because I need more.
Subject A36 is a story about survival, betrayal, love and friendship! I definitely recommend it!
It was a short book, a great introduction to the series in my opinion, and I will read what is next because I need more.
Subject A36 is a story about survival, betrayal, love and friendship! I definitely recommend it!
April 24, 2020
Set in a dystopian future, Asher and his team live in a world where children with desirable traits (specific hair or eye color, physical strength, agility, etc), are captured and harvested for “gene stripping” so the wealthy can purchase coveted qualities like selecting from an a la carte menu. After seeing the destruction of his family, seventeen-year-old Asher has found a new family with his team, including, Brynn, who he has come to love and Noah, who is like a brother. But doing what they do comes with excessive risk and plenty of danger.
From the start, there is barely time to catch your breath. The reader is given detailed insight into Asher’s character as well as multiple members of his team. Each are unique and fully fleshed out individuals, the good and the bad.
The Colony—which orchestrates gene stripping—is set on finding and capturing Subject A36, a genetically altered individual designed as the perfect killing machine.
This novel is packed with non-stop action, and shocking revelation piled upon revelation. The writing is smooth and snappy, scenes plunging like a roller coaster from one into the next. I devoured this book in two sittings and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction, great YA characters, and pulse-pounding action.
February 14, 2020
Original review at Jaunts & Haunts
4/5
I gave this novel four rebellious stars!
I love my dystopian novels, and this one was a lot of great fun!
We join Asher and the rebellion he works with called the Insurgents. A community named The Colony has figured out a way to eradicate disease, but they have darker intentions. The residents of The Colony have found a way to strip desirable traits from others and apply it to themselves. Sounds pretty cool, huh? Well, it kills the person whose genes are stripped. Yeah, not so cool anymore.
Asher and his closest friends run one of the Insurgent locations, rescuing bands of kidnapped free people, risking their lives every mission. Can they thwart The Colony's evil plans, or do they have an even darker fate prepared for the Insurgents?
I'm a big fan of Teri Polen's work and have read every novel she's written to date. While I didn't give this five stars, I still had a ton of fun, and realistically, not every book can be a five-star.
So first things first, I really liked the characters. Asher, Oz, Brynn, Paige, etc. They were all great.
Each character has a troubled past, courtesy of the greedy Colony. Their awful pasts make their actions make a lot of sense. Heck, I'd be an Insurgent if my family was taken away from me and stripped of their genes just so some rich dude can have blue eyes or athletic ability.
That's the monsters these characters are battling day in and day out, so I found this aspect of the book particularly strong.
The plot was really interesting. At first we follow along several raids of Colony holding locations, and I really loved the action there. Teri Polen never bores me. As the novel progresses, things get more interesting and we learn there is a lot more to things than meets the eye (not spoiling it!).
Of course, the concept was truly there too. As I said before, I love dystopians. This wasn't your perfect future dystopian, well maybe for the Colony residents it is. But we spend most of our time on the other side, of the unfortunate victims and that was unique and entertaining.
As I mentioned before, this book wasn't perfect for me. If I had to pick at anything, I would say the main things that could've been just a tad better were the flashbacks and pacing.
There is a good amount of flashbacks in this novel, and sometimes, I feel like it could've been better placed at a time when the action isn't happening. It's just personal preference. I actually have no problem with flashbacks in books, and I felt that what we were given was crucial to understand the characters more. This tied into the pacing of things. Honestly that's really my only big irk.
By the end of the book, I couldn't wait to see what happens next. So excited for the next one!
Ultimately, Subject A36 was a fun, action-packed dystopian that explores what could happen when we covet other's naturally-given traits. Definitely worth a read!
4/5
I gave this novel four rebellious stars!
I love my dystopian novels, and this one was a lot of great fun!
We join Asher and the rebellion he works with called the Insurgents. A community named The Colony has figured out a way to eradicate disease, but they have darker intentions. The residents of The Colony have found a way to strip desirable traits from others and apply it to themselves. Sounds pretty cool, huh? Well, it kills the person whose genes are stripped. Yeah, not so cool anymore.
Asher and his closest friends run one of the Insurgent locations, rescuing bands of kidnapped free people, risking their lives every mission. Can they thwart The Colony's evil plans, or do they have an even darker fate prepared for the Insurgents?
I'm a big fan of Teri Polen's work and have read every novel she's written to date. While I didn't give this five stars, I still had a ton of fun, and realistically, not every book can be a five-star.
So first things first, I really liked the characters. Asher, Oz, Brynn, Paige, etc. They were all great.
Each character has a troubled past, courtesy of the greedy Colony. Their awful pasts make their actions make a lot of sense. Heck, I'd be an Insurgent if my family was taken away from me and stripped of their genes just so some rich dude can have blue eyes or athletic ability.
That's the monsters these characters are battling day in and day out, so I found this aspect of the book particularly strong.
The plot was really interesting. At first we follow along several raids of Colony holding locations, and I really loved the action there. Teri Polen never bores me. As the novel progresses, things get more interesting and we learn there is a lot more to things than meets the eye (not spoiling it!).
Of course, the concept was truly there too. As I said before, I love dystopians. This wasn't your perfect future dystopian, well maybe for the Colony residents it is. But we spend most of our time on the other side, of the unfortunate victims and that was unique and entertaining.
As I mentioned before, this book wasn't perfect for me. If I had to pick at anything, I would say the main things that could've been just a tad better were the flashbacks and pacing.
There is a good amount of flashbacks in this novel, and sometimes, I feel like it could've been better placed at a time when the action isn't happening. It's just personal preference. I actually have no problem with flashbacks in books, and I felt that what we were given was crucial to understand the characters more. This tied into the pacing of things. Honestly that's really my only big irk.
By the end of the book, I couldn't wait to see what happens next. So excited for the next one!
Ultimately, Subject A36 was a fun, action-packed dystopian that explores what could happen when we covet other's naturally-given traits. Definitely worth a read!
February 24, 2020
I have been testing the waters with different dystopian books in the past couple of years. Each brings something different to the table. The strongest foundation of a dystopian situation for me (I have come to realise) is if the plot based on current trends and some facts related to those trends. In the world we are to enter gene modification for health has extended itself to something a lot more superficial. The explanations are part of the narrative, so I will refrain from revealing anything further.
We have viewpoints of many people in the story, both good and bad but our main voice is Asher. He is the boy/man of the moment, he lives with insurgents who regularly try to prevent 'The Colony' from abducting more people for their nefarious purposes. I have to admit the secret reveal was pretty evident from the beginning, given the numerous hints we are provided but the writing was good, and I was caught up with the people enough to want the best for them regardless. One reveal did take me by surprise, and it did add a whole other layer to the story. There is a lot of descriptions of the emotional bonds between people and how they function. It is a very vivid portrayal and gives the necessary depth to (still) teenagers who had to grow up before their time. This was one of those books where the age and the actions of the people did not bother me much given the hardships of the world they live in.
With regards to the world-building itself, we are given the barest of glimpses. The rest is hopefully to be revealed in the following books. The glimpses we are given only show us how the scientific side is assembled and their priorities but not the Government and what that might look like. The ending is a cliffhanger, and that is an important thing to note for those who may not like such a state without the next instalment in hand.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based solely on my own reading experience.
We have viewpoints of many people in the story, both good and bad but our main voice is Asher. He is the boy/man of the moment, he lives with insurgents who regularly try to prevent 'The Colony' from abducting more people for their nefarious purposes. I have to admit the secret reveal was pretty evident from the beginning, given the numerous hints we are provided but the writing was good, and I was caught up with the people enough to want the best for them regardless. One reveal did take me by surprise, and it did add a whole other layer to the story. There is a lot of descriptions of the emotional bonds between people and how they function. It is a very vivid portrayal and gives the necessary depth to (still) teenagers who had to grow up before their time. This was one of those books where the age and the actions of the people did not bother me much given the hardships of the world they live in.
With regards to the world-building itself, we are given the barest of glimpses. The rest is hopefully to be revealed in the following books. The glimpses we are given only show us how the scientific side is assembled and their priorities but not the Government and what that might look like. The ending is a cliffhanger, and that is an important thing to note for those who may not like such a state without the next instalment in hand.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based solely on my own reading experience.
April 2, 2020
In this world we have a group known as The Colony, people who are prepared to harvest anyone for positive genetic features. We don’t know why, or how, this world came about - and I was rather surprised by the lack of information about the bigger world picture created in this debut dystopian novel. That lack of detail possibly comes as we’re focused on quite a small segment of the world - a being identified as A36 and a group of Insurgents trying to rescue those at risk of genetic harvesting.
Our story opens with a dramatic escape by an eight year old boy. He has been briefed by his parents about what to do if soldiers ever arrive at their home. We have no idea why he’s told this, or what could happen, but it certainly gives an engaging opening.
The focus then shifts in time to some years later. The boy, Ash, made it to his safe place where he was taken in. We learn he’s spent years being trained as an Insurgent and is pretty efficient. A substantial period is spent establishing the character of Ash and the dynamics of his relationships. It’s evident that this is to explain his actions later on. Things start to go wrong, and we learn that the group has been compromised. It’s part of an attempt to get back subject A36...and it doesn’t take us long to work out this is Ash.
What we then follow is the betrayal of Ash’s team, the capture of someone important to him and Ash’s plan to help those he loves. Along the way we learn a little more of just what has been done to Ash, and further details to hint at the bigger picture to this experiment.
While there are parts of this that jar a little, it is an interesting idea with characters you quickly become invested in. There’s enough of a suggestion of what’s to come to make me keen to read book two. Thanks to NetGalley for the entertainment, allowing me to read this prior to publication in exchange for my review.
Our story opens with a dramatic escape by an eight year old boy. He has been briefed by his parents about what to do if soldiers ever arrive at their home. We have no idea why he’s told this, or what could happen, but it certainly gives an engaging opening.
The focus then shifts in time to some years later. The boy, Ash, made it to his safe place where he was taken in. We learn he’s spent years being trained as an Insurgent and is pretty efficient. A substantial period is spent establishing the character of Ash and the dynamics of his relationships. It’s evident that this is to explain his actions later on. Things start to go wrong, and we learn that the group has been compromised. It’s part of an attempt to get back subject A36...and it doesn’t take us long to work out this is Ash.
What we then follow is the betrayal of Ash’s team, the capture of someone important to him and Ash’s plan to help those he loves. Along the way we learn a little more of just what has been done to Ash, and further details to hint at the bigger picture to this experiment.
While there are parts of this that jar a little, it is an interesting idea with characters you quickly become invested in. There’s enough of a suggestion of what’s to come to make me keen to read book two. Thanks to NetGalley for the entertainment, allowing me to read this prior to publication in exchange for my review.
February 24, 2021
When young Asher Solomon is forced to take his two sisters and run for their lives from soldiers of The Colony, he knows inside he’ll likely never see his parents again. And then his sister falls, injuring her ankle, and he knows all their lives are about to change forever.
Years later, Asher is an operative with the insurgents, fighting to protect civilians from The Colony.
Now that scientists have figured out a way to rid the population of diseases and therefore lengthen lives, the echelons of society pay them to strip the desirable genes such as favored eye or hair color, intelligence, or strength from captured civilians, leaving the hostages to die horrible deaths.
Twenty years ago, a few years before my birth, scientists developed and perfected the process of gene editing in embryos, which changed the futures of the unborn population. Genomes that carried both life-threatening and non-life-threatening diseases could be altered before a fetus was born. Changing the DNA of an embryo, or germline engineering, meant genes for that disease would never be passed down to any subsequent offspring.
Subject A36- Teri Polin
Ash and his team work hard, and often endangering their lives, to protect the outliers and their families. When a terrible secret comes to light, Asher is tested in ways he never could have expected.
I’d learned that promises were like a beacon in a storm—things to cling to and place our hopes in
Subject A36- Teri Polin
There are so many layers to this story, it gripped my attention from the start and kept my interest to the end. The author created a believable- though horrifying- concept for the future of mankind. I can only hope there are brave heroes like Asher ready to save the day should this come to pass!
A must-read, I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Years later, Asher is an operative with the insurgents, fighting to protect civilians from The Colony.
Now that scientists have figured out a way to rid the population of diseases and therefore lengthen lives, the echelons of society pay them to strip the desirable genes such as favored eye or hair color, intelligence, or strength from captured civilians, leaving the hostages to die horrible deaths.
Twenty years ago, a few years before my birth, scientists developed and perfected the process of gene editing in embryos, which changed the futures of the unborn population. Genomes that carried both life-threatening and non-life-threatening diseases could be altered before a fetus was born. Changing the DNA of an embryo, or germline engineering, meant genes for that disease would never be passed down to any subsequent offspring.
Subject A36- Teri Polin
Ash and his team work hard, and often endangering their lives, to protect the outliers and their families. When a terrible secret comes to light, Asher is tested in ways he never could have expected.
I’d learned that promises were like a beacon in a storm—things to cling to and place our hopes in
Subject A36- Teri Polin
There are so many layers to this story, it gripped my attention from the start and kept my interest to the end. The author created a believable- though horrifying- concept for the future of mankind. I can only hope there are brave heroes like Asher ready to save the day should this come to pass!
A must-read, I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
November 6, 2020
“Subject A36” is a YA story set in the future. There is a divide in how people are treated. The Colony contains the people who have all the money and power. They harvest good genetic traits from the insurgents or the have-nots, a process that kills the donor. The insurgents rescue those who are picked up to do the harvests. It’s a time where having a certain color of eyes or being intelligent means death to those who don’t live in the Colony. Seventeen-year-old Asher lost his family to this horrible practice and found his place on missions to release people from certain deaths. I love his relationship with his team, especially Brynn, the one who holds his heart. The connections feel very real to me and all the complications that go with hidden truths. This is a fast-paced story told in first-person through different points of view, which added to understanding the complicated world in which Asher exists. There are a lot of twists and surprises for Asher and his team. A couple of times, I was so invested in what was happening, sleep became unimportant. Although this is a YA read, it’s a story for adults too. I can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next. I highly recommend this.
August 25, 2022
This YA Dystopian book gripped me from the beginning to the end. As a young boy, Asher Solomon has to run with his two sisters to escape being taken by The Colony soldiers. At first, he is sure it's only a drill. After all, their father has insisted they be prepared for the one unavoidable time it would be real. And that time arrives at the start of the story. But when Asher's sister is injured while escaping, he's forced to leave them in a cave, promising to return for them.
The world-building in this story is phenomenal. The author did a fabulous job of creating believable characters in nail-biting situations of survival. Oh, and they are all teenagers.
The Colony has figured out a way to harvest highly sought-after, desirable genes from children in order to create a perfect society of beautiful people free of all disease. Of course, that kind of perfection comes at a price. The price of human life.
Children, referred to as outliers, are ripped from their families and taken to harvesting centers.
Asher joins a group of teenagers, Insurgents, whose mission is to rescue these children.
While Asher and his group may be young, they are wise and capable way beyond their years. There are a lot of characters in this story, but besides Asher, I loved Noah, Brynn, and Paige. They are the backbone and strength of the Insurgents.
But there are secrets. And when they are revealed, change everything Asher ever believed about his parents and his life, and have the potential to destroy everyone he loves.
This story concludes with somewhat of a happy ending mixed with a cliffhanger. I could see this entire story unfold as a movie and would be thrilled for the author if it were to be developed as a major film. If you are a fan of gripping dystopian stories where survival is tenuous, you will love this book.
The world-building in this story is phenomenal. The author did a fabulous job of creating believable characters in nail-biting situations of survival. Oh, and they are all teenagers.
The Colony has figured out a way to harvest highly sought-after, desirable genes from children in order to create a perfect society of beautiful people free of all disease. Of course, that kind of perfection comes at a price. The price of human life.
Children, referred to as outliers, are ripped from their families and taken to harvesting centers.
Asher joins a group of teenagers, Insurgents, whose mission is to rescue these children.
While Asher and his group may be young, they are wise and capable way beyond their years. There are a lot of characters in this story, but besides Asher, I loved Noah, Brynn, and Paige. They are the backbone and strength of the Insurgents.
But there are secrets. And when they are revealed, change everything Asher ever believed about his parents and his life, and have the potential to destroy everyone he loves.
This story concludes with somewhat of a happy ending mixed with a cliffhanger. I could see this entire story unfold as a movie and would be thrilled for the author if it were to be developed as a major film. If you are a fan of gripping dystopian stories where survival is tenuous, you will love this book.
April 6, 2020
In a dystopian future the world is divided in The Colony and the Outliers where people from the colony "harvest" the desirable traits from outliers by extracting genes and basically treat them like cows. The Insurgents are a group who try to fight back and free people from certain and that's where we meet Asher. He a well trained and competent soldier from the Insurgents who has lost his parents and sisters when he was younger after a raid by the Colony. Now he is in the rebel group together with his best friend Noah and girlfriend Brynn.
The plot will not be real surprising if you have read books like this before, but the writer does a good job with the twists and turns, action, establishing characters and setting up the beginnings of a serie. In the end it got a little bit too repetitive for me in regards to certain plans and outcomes, but overall it was a book that I very much enjoyed reading and had me turning the pages fast.
*** An ARC was provided to me in exchange for a honest review ***
The plot will not be real surprising if you have read books like this before, but the writer does a good job with the twists and turns, action, establishing characters and setting up the beginnings of a serie. In the end it got a little bit too repetitive for me in regards to certain plans and outcomes, but overall it was a book that I very much enjoyed reading and had me turning the pages fast.
*** An ARC was provided to me in exchange for a honest review ***
July 21, 2022
This is one of the most exciting sci-fi thrillers I have read for some time. Action packed from beginning to end with fascinating and complex characters that pull you into, and along with the story.
Set in the future when those with money and power only want more of the same. To ensure those living in The Colony have health and wealth at their disposal, those outside the walls, particularly the children must pay the price.
There are secrets that have been kept for over ten years and Asher finds himself on the run with insurgents unaware that he knows more than his parents have told him. Given safe haven with and adoptive family he forms bonds that he will fight to the death to protect.
The Colony soldiers widen the net to bring in more test subjects and as the insurgents fight day and night to rescue those trapped, they find themselves embroiled in treachery and deceit. With the lives at risk of those Asher loves most at the hands of an evil scientist intent on revenge, the world becomes an even more dangerous place.
The plot is brilliant as is the writing which evokes an emotional response from the reader, as they connect to the lead characters and share their love and pain, to a feeling of loss as this first book in the series comes to an end.
I can highly recommend, and suggest as I have done, that you buy the second book The Insurgent, as soon as possible so you can discover how the story and its wonderful characters unfolds.
Set in the future when those with money and power only want more of the same. To ensure those living in The Colony have health and wealth at their disposal, those outside the walls, particularly the children must pay the price.
There are secrets that have been kept for over ten years and Asher finds himself on the run with insurgents unaware that he knows more than his parents have told him. Given safe haven with and adoptive family he forms bonds that he will fight to the death to protect.
The Colony soldiers widen the net to bring in more test subjects and as the insurgents fight day and night to rescue those trapped, they find themselves embroiled in treachery and deceit. With the lives at risk of those Asher loves most at the hands of an evil scientist intent on revenge, the world becomes an even more dangerous place.
The plot is brilliant as is the writing which evokes an emotional response from the reader, as they connect to the lead characters and share their love and pain, to a feeling of loss as this first book in the series comes to an end.
I can highly recommend, and suggest as I have done, that you buy the second book The Insurgent, as soon as possible so you can discover how the story and its wonderful characters unfolds.
February 23, 2020
Subject A36 is set in a dystopian world where desirable genetic traits are stripped from people, without their consent and resulting in their deaths...
I found this to be a surprisingly compelling read. The plot skipped along quickly, and I really liked the whole premise of gene stripping. There were a lot of integrated flashbacks which worked really well to give context without feeling like they were holding the story up at all.
The protagonist, Ash, is a strong lead with a good level of vulnerability and compassion that make him easy to relate to. And it was refreshing to have a male MC, something that is somewhat rare in YA novels. I loved the cast of supporting characters though too, especially where we were given enough background to really come to understand them.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I found this to be a surprisingly compelling read. The plot skipped along quickly, and I really liked the whole premise of gene stripping. There were a lot of integrated flashbacks which worked really well to give context without feeling like they were holding the story up at all.
The protagonist, Ash, is a strong lead with a good level of vulnerability and compassion that make him easy to relate to. And it was refreshing to have a male MC, something that is somewhat rare in YA novels. I loved the cast of supporting characters though too, especially where we were given enough background to really come to understand them.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2020
Wow! What a great read! The characters are well-developed, the plot is intriguing and the writing flows well! Asher is an engaging main character who deals with heartbreak, dangerous circumstances and demonstrates loyalty as well as determination. His journey is fraught with obstacles that he overcomes, but can be overcome the threat to his loved ones or will it be his undoing? The story continues after this book ends and I cannot wait to read the sequel to this book!
February 4, 2020
Honestly not worth it. A writing that isn't good, nothing horrible, but just a lack of style. The story and the characters are generic, flat and unoriginal. I know i sound probably a bit hard here, but it is what it is and this book is just doing what had been done over and over again, even more in the YA indie writing community. Playing safe and commercial.
May 2, 2020
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for a free copy of this book!
My opinion of this book changed a few times while reading, but ended on a good note overall! I always enjoy stories like this where I feel this could actually come to be in our world, and a future where people's "good" genes are harvested wouldn't surprise me. I was a little confused at the beginning when, after a few chapters, I realized the main character was male- I feel as if it changed my perspective on the story line completely when that was made clear. Other than that I look forward to see where this series goes!
My opinion of this book changed a few times while reading, but ended on a good note overall! I always enjoy stories like this where I feel this could actually come to be in our world, and a future where people's "good" genes are harvested wouldn't surprise me. I was a little confused at the beginning when, after a few chapters, I realized the main character was male- I feel as if it changed my perspective on the story line completely when that was made clear. Other than that I look forward to see where this series goes!
March 1, 2020
I should never have read this book, because now I have to wait for the next one in the series, and that’s going to be torture! This read is sooo good.
Asher, the first-person protagonist, is a 17-year-old member of a resistance group fighting the Colony. The Colony steals attractive children (and adults) from outlying communities and kills them by stripping their DNA to serve the vanity of its citizens. Asher’s group is part of a larger network focused on freeing Colony captives before their DNA is harvested.
The plot moves along quickly and requires some suspension of belief as these teens have exceptional skills. There are twists and turns and secrets that I didn’t see coming and thoroughly enjoyed. This isn’t a story that gets bogged down with description. The science and technology is developed just enough to be believable.
The characters are beautifully crafted, and there’s none of the annoying teen angst and dumb choices that I find in many YA stories. These characters are in dangerous situations and maturity is a matter of survival. I enjoyed the authenticity. The somewhat heavy backstory in the beginning pays off as the characters develop and the events become more and more emotionally charged. Asher, his friend Noah, and lover Brynn make up the three main characters. I liked all three but was particularly enamored with Asher. I thoroughly believed his inner world, emotions, and choices. He’s a noble character, faced with tough decisions. I was hooked.
Then the book ended with a cliff-hanger, and I had a literary heart attack. Highly recommended to YA and adult readers of sci-fi. Get ready for an intense adventure.
Asher, the first-person protagonist, is a 17-year-old member of a resistance group fighting the Colony. The Colony steals attractive children (and adults) from outlying communities and kills them by stripping their DNA to serve the vanity of its citizens. Asher’s group is part of a larger network focused on freeing Colony captives before their DNA is harvested.
The plot moves along quickly and requires some suspension of belief as these teens have exceptional skills. There are twists and turns and secrets that I didn’t see coming and thoroughly enjoyed. This isn’t a story that gets bogged down with description. The science and technology is developed just enough to be believable.
The characters are beautifully crafted, and there’s none of the annoying teen angst and dumb choices that I find in many YA stories. These characters are in dangerous situations and maturity is a matter of survival. I enjoyed the authenticity. The somewhat heavy backstory in the beginning pays off as the characters develop and the events become more and more emotionally charged. Asher, his friend Noah, and lover Brynn make up the three main characters. I liked all three but was particularly enamored with Asher. I thoroughly believed his inner world, emotions, and choices. He’s a noble character, faced with tough decisions. I was hooked.
Then the book ended with a cliff-hanger, and I had a literary heart attack. Highly recommended to YA and adult readers of sci-fi. Get ready for an intense adventure.
October 24, 2020
My favorite way to enjoy a series is to wait until all the books are out, then start at the beginning and binge read straight through. But when I read the premise of Subject A36, I couldn’t wait, and grabbed Book 1 immediately. It was even better than I imagined, and now I’m in agony! How am I going to wait to find out what happens to Asher, a character I enjoyed tremendously? I just can’t get that last scene in the book out of my mind!
This dystopian novel presents a grim future wherein genes are stripped from children in order to provide the wealthy with good looks, brains, or athletic prowess. Like in any good story, there are those who fight against such terrible injustice, and Asher is a young man who is the very definition of a brave insurgent as he tries desperately to rescue as many hostages being held by the “Colony” as possible. And doing so against nearly insurmountable odds, of course, which adds to the overall excitement and action.
Subject A36 may be geared toward Young Adults, which I am anything but, however, the story is compelling enough, and well-written enough to appeal to readers of every age. There is nothing here but excellent character development, a tightly woven plot, and a ton and a half of nail-biting drama. I’ll be reading Book 2 the very day it is published, I’m sure, and I highly recommend Subject A36 to anyone who loves a wonderfully told tale.
This dystopian novel presents a grim future wherein genes are stripped from children in order to provide the wealthy with good looks, brains, or athletic prowess. Like in any good story, there are those who fight against such terrible injustice, and Asher is a young man who is the very definition of a brave insurgent as he tries desperately to rescue as many hostages being held by the “Colony” as possible. And doing so against nearly insurmountable odds, of course, which adds to the overall excitement and action.
Subject A36 may be geared toward Young Adults, which I am anything but, however, the story is compelling enough, and well-written enough to appeal to readers of every age. There is nothing here but excellent character development, a tightly woven plot, and a ton and a half of nail-biting drama. I’ll be reading Book 2 the very day it is published, I’m sure, and I highly recommend Subject A36 to anyone who loves a wonderfully told tale.
August 29, 2021
It’s been a long time since I could say, “I couldn’t put it down.” Reading time is at a premium for me, but I read the last half of this in one sitting. It took a bit to set everything in motion, but once it was this thing moves like a freight train.
This one has great characters, a wonderful foil, and intriguing plot. Five stars from me.
This one has great characters, a wonderful foil, and intriguing plot. Five stars from me.
August 11, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing with providing me what an ARC for this book!
In a dystopian future, Ash and the rest of the Insurgents fight against the Colony, a corporation that serve the elite by murdering civilians in their "harvest sites." This is a story about hope, fighting for what you believe in, staying true to yourself and essentially, what it means to be human.
I highly recommend not judging this book by it's cover, synopsis or first 50 pages (I'll get back to that later). It took me a long time to read this book, but I regret putting it down for so long, because I read the last half in a day. I just HAD to know what happened next!
The thing that hooked me most to this book were the fully fleshed out characters. I loved Ash, Noah, Brynn and even Oz (though I do have some comments on his character development). Usually in these type of YA novels, characters form a relationship through the books and you go along with them. But I absolutely loved reading about a group of people that already shared such a deep connection. It helped the plot immensely to have these characters already so deeply rooted in each other's lives.
Another thing I loved about how these characters were written was the fact that they were so true to each other and their own values. For the sake of spoilers, I'll just say that some classic YA tropes were handled a lot better than they usually are in these type of novels, because it felt like the characters (especially Ash) actually contemplated what to do first, before acting recklessly. Nothing annoys me more than teenage angst in YA novels that could be solved by talking about it or taking a few seconds to think. A lot of my frustrations were spared in this novel and I was very pleasantly surprised.
A point of criticism I do have regarding the character development, was that of Oz. I understand how he's important to the arc of the main plot (and Ash's character arc), but I felt like his character was kind of all over the place. I really hope he comes back in the sequel and we get to see some more of his motives and personality (because I feel like there's a lot of potential there).
Another thing that bothered me, though it might be a personal taste, is the writing style. This is the main reason why I wasn't too crazy about this book at first (and why I'm not giving it 5 stars). Besides the fact that I don't like first person past tense (which is just a preference), some parts of the book read a little too much like a first draft to me and I found myself being endlessly annoyed by characters saying "Ooooooh" in their internal dialogue.
In the end, Polen has managed to write a novel that portrays deep emotion (even despite the slightly annoying internal dialogue at times), gives a thrilling plot that I couldn't put down and set up a great start for a book series, leaving the reader desperate for more (I can't believe I have to wait forever to read the next book).
So, if dystopian YA science fiction is your thing, but you're kind of sick of the constant angst, pining and characters making stupid decisions, this is 100% a book you'll love.
In a dystopian future, Ash and the rest of the Insurgents fight against the Colony, a corporation that serve the elite by murdering civilians in their "harvest sites." This is a story about hope, fighting for what you believe in, staying true to yourself and essentially, what it means to be human.
I highly recommend not judging this book by it's cover, synopsis or first 50 pages (I'll get back to that later). It took me a long time to read this book, but I regret putting it down for so long, because I read the last half in a day. I just HAD to know what happened next!
The thing that hooked me most to this book were the fully fleshed out characters. I loved Ash, Noah, Brynn and even Oz (though I do have some comments on his character development). Usually in these type of YA novels, characters form a relationship through the books and you go along with them. But I absolutely loved reading about a group of people that already shared such a deep connection. It helped the plot immensely to have these characters already so deeply rooted in each other's lives.
Another thing I loved about how these characters were written was the fact that they were so true to each other and their own values. For the sake of spoilers, I'll just say that some classic YA tropes were handled a lot better than they usually are in these type of novels, because it felt like the characters (especially Ash) actually contemplated what to do first, before acting recklessly. Nothing annoys me more than teenage angst in YA novels that could be solved by talking about it or taking a few seconds to think. A lot of my frustrations were spared in this novel and I was very pleasantly surprised.
A point of criticism I do have regarding the character development, was that of Oz. I understand how he's important to the arc of the main plot (and Ash's character arc), but I felt like his character was kind of all over the place. I really hope he comes back in the sequel and we get to see some more of his motives and personality (because I feel like there's a lot of potential there).
Another thing that bothered me, though it might be a personal taste, is the writing style. This is the main reason why I wasn't too crazy about this book at first (and why I'm not giving it 5 stars). Besides the fact that I don't like first person past tense (which is just a preference), some parts of the book read a little too much like a first draft to me and I found myself being endlessly annoyed by characters saying "Ooooooh" in their internal dialogue.
In the end, Polen has managed to write a novel that portrays deep emotion (even despite the slightly annoying internal dialogue at times), gives a thrilling plot that I couldn't put down and set up a great start for a book series, leaving the reader desperate for more (I can't believe I have to wait forever to read the next book).
So, if dystopian YA science fiction is your thing, but you're kind of sick of the constant angst, pining and characters making stupid decisions, this is 100% a book you'll love.
August 12, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing with providing me what an ARC for this book!
In a dystopian future, Ash and the rest of the Insurgents fight against the Colony, a corporation that serve the elite by murdering civilians in their "harvest sites." This is a story about hope, fighting for what you believe in, staying true to yourself and essentially, what it means to be human.
I highly recommend not judging this book by it's cover, synopsis or first 50 pages (I'll get back to that later). It took me a long time to read this book, but I regret putting it down for so long, because I read the last half in a day. I just HAD to know what happened next!
The thing that hooked me most to this book were the fully fleshed out characters. I loved Ash, Noah, Brynn and even Oz (though I do have some comments on his character development). Usually in these type of YA novels, characters form a relationship through the books and you go along with them. But I absolutely loved reading about a group of people that already shared such a deep connection. It helped the plot immensely to have these characters already so deeply rooted in each other's lives.
Another thing I loved about how these characters were written was the fact that they were so true to each other and their own values. For the sake of spoilers, I'll just say that some classic YA tropes were handled a lot better than they usually are in these type of novels, because it felt like the characters (especially Ash) actually contemplated what to do first, before acting recklessly. Nothing annoys me more than teenage angst in YA novels that could be solved by talking about it or taking a few seconds to think. A lot of my frustrations were spared in this novel and I was very pleasantly surprised.
A point of criticism I do have regarding the character development, was that of Oz. I understand how he's important to the arc of the main plot (and Ash's character arc), but I felt like his character was kind of all over the place. I really hope he comes back in the sequel and we get to see some more of his motives and personality (because I feel like there's a lot of potential there).
Another thing that bothered me, though it might be a personal taste, is the writing style. This is the main reason why I wasn't too crazy about this book at first (and why I'm not giving it 5 stars). Besides the fact that I don't like first person past tense (which is just a preference), some parts of the book read a little too much like a first draft to me and I found myself being endlessly annoyed by characters saying "Ooooooh" in their internal dialogue.
In the end, Polen has managed to write a novel that portrays deep emotion (even despite the slightly annoying internal dialogue at times), gives a thrilling plot that I couldn't put down and set up a great start for a book series, leaving the reader desperate for more (I can't believe I have to wait forever to read the next book).
So, if dystopian YA science fiction is your thing, but you're kind of sick of the constant angst, pining and characters making stupid decisions, this is 100% a book you'll love.
In a dystopian future, Ash and the rest of the Insurgents fight against the Colony, a corporation that serve the elite by murdering civilians in their "harvest sites." This is a story about hope, fighting for what you believe in, staying true to yourself and essentially, what it means to be human.
I highly recommend not judging this book by it's cover, synopsis or first 50 pages (I'll get back to that later). It took me a long time to read this book, but I regret putting it down for so long, because I read the last half in a day. I just HAD to know what happened next!
The thing that hooked me most to this book were the fully fleshed out characters. I loved Ash, Noah, Brynn and even Oz (though I do have some comments on his character development). Usually in these type of YA novels, characters form a relationship through the books and you go along with them. But I absolutely loved reading about a group of people that already shared such a deep connection. It helped the plot immensely to have these characters already so deeply rooted in each other's lives.
Another thing I loved about how these characters were written was the fact that they were so true to each other and their own values. For the sake of spoilers, I'll just say that some classic YA tropes were handled a lot better than they usually are in these type of novels, because it felt like the characters (especially Ash) actually contemplated what to do first, before acting recklessly. Nothing annoys me more than teenage angst in YA novels that could be solved by talking about it or taking a few seconds to think. A lot of my frustrations were spared in this novel and I was very pleasantly surprised.
A point of criticism I do have regarding the character development, was that of Oz. I understand how he's important to the arc of the main plot (and Ash's character arc), but I felt like his character was kind of all over the place. I really hope he comes back in the sequel and we get to see some more of his motives and personality (because I feel like there's a lot of potential there).
Another thing that bothered me, though it might be a personal taste, is the writing style. This is the main reason why I wasn't too crazy about this book at first (and why I'm not giving it 5 stars). Besides the fact that I don't like first person past tense (which is just a preference), some parts of the book read a little too much like a first draft to me and I found myself being endlessly annoyed by characters saying "Ooooooh" in their internal dialogue.
In the end, Polen has managed to write a novel that portrays deep emotion (even despite the slightly annoying internal dialogue at times), gives a thrilling plot that I couldn't put down and set up a great start for a book series, leaving the reader desperate for more (I can't believe I have to wait forever to read the next book).
So, if dystopian YA science fiction is your thing, but you're kind of sick of the constant angst, pining and characters making stupid decisions, this is 100% a book you'll love.
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