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Resistant: A World Divided
Set in the not-too-distant future, Resistant is an end-of-an-era, edgy and often dark story of desperation, greed, and betrayal so crippling it leaves one protagonist on the brink of unraveling.
A scientists’ worst fears has been antibiotics have become obsolete, and a pandemic virus nearly wipes out all of humanity. What’s left of the world has been divided between those selected to live illness-free within a man-made community quarantine and the outcasts abandoned outside to face uncertain survival. In the wake of an unraveling society, four teens struggle to determine their place in a world that has become warped by the decisions of the previous generation.
Cat, who has grown up privileged within the walls of The Community; Wren, a rebellious survivor on the outside; and Abel and Ryder, the two orphan boys who love them. As their paths intersect, the shocking truth surrounding the so-called vaccine that made initial survival possible is revealed, and these four teens must face the moral How far would you go to save the ones you hold most dear?
A scientists’ worst fears has been antibiotics have become obsolete, and a pandemic virus nearly wipes out all of humanity. What’s left of the world has been divided between those selected to live illness-free within a man-made community quarantine and the outcasts abandoned outside to face uncertain survival. In the wake of an unraveling society, four teens struggle to determine their place in a world that has become warped by the decisions of the previous generation.
Cat, who has grown up privileged within the walls of The Community; Wren, a rebellious survivor on the outside; and Abel and Ryder, the two orphan boys who love them. As their paths intersect, the shocking truth surrounding the so-called vaccine that made initial survival possible is revealed, and these four teens must face the moral How far would you go to save the ones you hold most dear?
- GenresScience Fiction
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2019
20 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Erika Modrak
1 book15 followersErika Modrak graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English literature. Her debut novel, Resistant, was written while teaching English and creative writing to middle-school teens, many of whom she credits for the novel’s completion. She lives with her husband and three children in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 26, 2022
It is pertinent to preface this review by sharing my wish-list for turning A Book into The Best Book.
1. Characters I attach to like Velcro. The kind that pop into my head, even when it isn’t buried in the pages, and evoke a wide range of emotions.
2. So well written that I simply slide along the sentences. But not smoothly.
3. Must have razor-sharp turns, tummy-flipping twists and a reveal so shocking, it hits like a giant wave of ice-cold water— from out of nowhere.
4. The story itself must be its own kind of special. Something shiny-new, but with a pseudo-nostalgic, familiar feel. A couple of chuckle-worthy lines, a few to bring tears.
Resistant by Erika Modrak, doesn’t stop at checking each box; it fades my Kodachrome-color fantasy into a sad little stick-figure drawing.
Set in two drastically different worlds, separated by only miles and an impenetrable wall, this Young Adult dystopian marvel unfurls from different viewpoints, each providing a part of the big picture.
Cat and Abel are both fortunate—albeit the reasons are not the same—to live in the Dome. The great Dr. Grayson heads up and cares for The Community. He oversees order and all efforts to find a cure for the Virus. He generously provides basic essentials—beyond the vaccination—for this elite group. Protection, too. Under his watch, they are safe from the few survivors on the outside who have most certainly become criminals, quite possibly cannibals.
Wren and Ryder reside in a comfortable, if rough-around-the edges, camp with other folks that have somehow avoided the Virus. Not absolutely isolated, though. Ryder has managed to make a connection with someone inside the walled city, and periodically speeds away on his motor-bike for supplies. Sometimes, he allows Wren to join him.
And that is how Ryder and Wren learn that each camp rule was written for a reason. If broken, consequences are exponentially more severe than parental punishment.
They’ve caused worlds to collide. Secrets spill and cast a shadow of doubt over everything believed to be true. Wary partnerships are formed to ferret out the truth as those with the most to lose frantically try to maintain their malicious cover.
I’ll be happily handing out copies of Resistant as soon as it hits my hot little hands. It would just be wrong to keep it to myself.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to the author for the sweet sneak-peek!
1. Characters I attach to like Velcro. The kind that pop into my head, even when it isn’t buried in the pages, and evoke a wide range of emotions.
2. So well written that I simply slide along the sentences. But not smoothly.
3. Must have razor-sharp turns, tummy-flipping twists and a reveal so shocking, it hits like a giant wave of ice-cold water— from out of nowhere.
4. The story itself must be its own kind of special. Something shiny-new, but with a pseudo-nostalgic, familiar feel. A couple of chuckle-worthy lines, a few to bring tears.
Resistant by Erika Modrak, doesn’t stop at checking each box; it fades my Kodachrome-color fantasy into a sad little stick-figure drawing.
Set in two drastically different worlds, separated by only miles and an impenetrable wall, this Young Adult dystopian marvel unfurls from different viewpoints, each providing a part of the big picture.
Cat and Abel are both fortunate—albeit the reasons are not the same—to live in the Dome. The great Dr. Grayson heads up and cares for The Community. He oversees order and all efforts to find a cure for the Virus. He generously provides basic essentials—beyond the vaccination—for this elite group. Protection, too. Under his watch, they are safe from the few survivors on the outside who have most certainly become criminals, quite possibly cannibals.
Wren and Ryder reside in a comfortable, if rough-around-the edges, camp with other folks that have somehow avoided the Virus. Not absolutely isolated, though. Ryder has managed to make a connection with someone inside the walled city, and periodically speeds away on his motor-bike for supplies. Sometimes, he allows Wren to join him.
And that is how Ryder and Wren learn that each camp rule was written for a reason. If broken, consequences are exponentially more severe than parental punishment.
They’ve caused worlds to collide. Secrets spill and cast a shadow of doubt over everything believed to be true. Wary partnerships are formed to ferret out the truth as those with the most to lose frantically try to maintain their malicious cover.
I’ll be happily handing out copies of Resistant as soon as it hits my hot little hands. It would just be wrong to keep it to myself.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to the author for the sweet sneak-peek!
July 10, 2021
Imagine you are a teenager in a world that has been overtaken by a viral plague. The scientific community works endlessly to find a vaccine that will stop the endless deaths that are a result of the outbreak. This story does not take place in the present, but in the not-so-distant future. To stem the wave after wave of infections, adults decide to build a “bubble” in which only those that have the monetary resources can live inside. Those outside the bubble are left to their own devices.
This is the very simplistic background in which the teenage protagonist duo, Cat and Wren, find themselves. Cat is a member of The Community; Wren belongs to a group of campers who live in the woods outside of the bubble. Within The Community each person’s sole existence is related to finding a cure which is lead by Scott Grayson, The Community leader and head scientist. “Outsiders” are looked upon as disease-ridden carriers not deserving of compassion or help of any kind. Events which take place separately to Cat and Wren set them both on an intersecting path to discovering their truths.
RESISTANT: A World Divided is a hang-on-by-the seat-of-your-pants thriller that Modrak begins as a slow burn. Each character is expertly developed in such a way that causes the reader to become totally invested in asking “what is going to happen next?”. To read this book is to feel like riding a roller-coaster with many twists and turns. Are you up for this adventure?
I rate this read as 5-star. If life had not interrupted, I would have easily read this in one sitting. All of the characters had me interested and the plot kept me intrigued. I was disappointed when the story ended. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.
Many thanks to my Goodreads friend, JV Poore whose review piqued my interest and whose kindness in sharing the book with me allowed me to enjoy this read “pdq”! Thank you, JV! 😊
This is the very simplistic background in which the teenage protagonist duo, Cat and Wren, find themselves. Cat is a member of The Community; Wren belongs to a group of campers who live in the woods outside of the bubble. Within The Community each person’s sole existence is related to finding a cure which is lead by Scott Grayson, The Community leader and head scientist. “Outsiders” are looked upon as disease-ridden carriers not deserving of compassion or help of any kind. Events which take place separately to Cat and Wren set them both on an intersecting path to discovering their truths.
RESISTANT: A World Divided is a hang-on-by-the seat-of-your-pants thriller that Modrak begins as a slow burn. Each character is expertly developed in such a way that causes the reader to become totally invested in asking “what is going to happen next?”. To read this book is to feel like riding a roller-coaster with many twists and turns. Are you up for this adventure?
I rate this read as 5-star. If life had not interrupted, I would have easily read this in one sitting. All of the characters had me interested and the plot kept me intrigued. I was disappointed when the story ended. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.
Many thanks to my Goodreads friend, JV Poore whose review piqued my interest and whose kindness in sharing the book with me allowed me to enjoy this read “pdq”! Thank you, JV! 😊
March 4, 2021
If you've been following me, you've noticed that I've been reading a lot of lighter material lately to escape from reality and the ugliness of this world. So, what part of my brain thought it was a good idea to request this book, clearly very close to our current reality, on Netgalley? Good question! I assume it's the science nerd in me, quite curious to see what the author would do with an issue like this and where this story would go.
At first this story seems a little slow. We're introduced to the main characters in this story and through very lengthy chapters we're also introduced to this world. We get a clear impression of the protected people living inside the dome and we also get a very clear view of the world outside the safe walls surrounding the town. And most of it is quite ugly, to be honest. If this is the future of our world, I'm not that excited anymore to be there for it to happen.
However, once we are familiar with everyone and everything and once characters from different worlds start to meet each other, each holding a pieces of the puzzle, it gets more and more interesting. The last quarter of the book was an exciting sequence of release after release and interesting discovery after interesting discovery. Once all the pieces of the puzzle clicked an exciting, intriguing and also slightly scary scenario unfolded. And now I really long for more!
I also long for more because of these characters. Due to the heavy circumstances we really got to know all of these people quite well. And not all of it was pretty. And not all of it was kind. They made hard choices, they made violent choices, they made painful choices. And yet, yet it was hard to blame them for it. Especially because their emotions were described quite vividly and therefore we could understand quite well WHY they did what they did.
I hope there will be a sequel, because this story totally deserves one.
At first this story seems a little slow. We're introduced to the main characters in this story and through very lengthy chapters we're also introduced to this world. We get a clear impression of the protected people living inside the dome and we also get a very clear view of the world outside the safe walls surrounding the town. And most of it is quite ugly, to be honest. If this is the future of our world, I'm not that excited anymore to be there for it to happen.
However, once we are familiar with everyone and everything and once characters from different worlds start to meet each other, each holding a pieces of the puzzle, it gets more and more interesting. The last quarter of the book was an exciting sequence of release after release and interesting discovery after interesting discovery. Once all the pieces of the puzzle clicked an exciting, intriguing and also slightly scary scenario unfolded. And now I really long for more!
I also long for more because of these characters. Due to the heavy circumstances we really got to know all of these people quite well. And not all of it was pretty. And not all of it was kind. They made hard choices, they made violent choices, they made painful choices. And yet, yet it was hard to blame them for it. Especially because their emotions were described quite vividly and therefore we could understand quite well WHY they did what they did.
I hope there will be a sequel, because this story totally deserves one.
October 16, 2019
I can't think of anything else to say but this - what an amazing book that gave me all the feels. All. the. feels. I laughed, I cried, I yelled at the characters, I had the chills - it took me on an emotional roller coaster that not many books before have done. I fell in love with all the main characters instantly, and found that I could connect with each of them in a different way. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I know it is geared toward YA readers, but I know many adults that will love this book. It reminds me so much of The Hunger Games series...so I'm hoping for a sequel!!! I plan on buying several copies for family members for Christmas.
April 16, 2020
Impressive piece of writing! Interesting story plot. It's cool that it is kinda like the pandemic we are going through now. The book has some great action and some curve balls that will keep you reading. I highly suggest this book!!! Can't wait to see what else she will write!!
May 26, 2021
Resistant was everything I've come to expect and love in a YA post apocalyptic / dystopian novel. We have a 'Community' of chosen ( read wealthy enough to buy a place) healthy individuals who are living a relatively normal life free from the deadly virus that wiped out thousands. On the outside of their walls are the survivors, people who survived the virus but couldn't get a place in the community. Inside we have Cat, the head honcho's daughter, who spends every day with a team of other scientists trying to work out a cure but discovers some secrets that show her things might not be what they seem in her protected community. Outside we have Wren, a fiercely independant and curious young girl who is desperate to find her Mother who has been kidnapped and possibly taken to the Community. So yep.... not one chosen one but TWO! Double the fun!
This was such an easy, enjoyable read. There was the usual angsty teenage relationships, both girls were hot and didn't know it, their best friends were boys who secretly loved them..... so basically.... all the cheese! But I didn't care. I loved it!! I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the twists, I loved the relationships, I loved the ravaged world setting, I loved the danger... Have I mentioned that I loved it? It was exactly what I needed and wanted. Erika, if you're reading this, please can we have another one? Soon? Pretty please?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
This was such an easy, enjoyable read. There was the usual angsty teenage relationships, both girls were hot and didn't know it, their best friends were boys who secretly loved them..... so basically.... all the cheese! But I didn't care. I loved it!! I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the twists, I loved the relationships, I loved the ravaged world setting, I loved the danger... Have I mentioned that I loved it? It was exactly what I needed and wanted. Erika, if you're reading this, please can we have another one? Soon? Pretty please?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
February 12, 2020
In un futuro non troppo lontano, è stata realizzata una delle peggiori paure degli scienziati: gli antibiotici sono diventati obsoleti e un virus pandemico sta quasi spazzando via tutta l'umanità. Ciò che è rimasto del mondo è stato diviso tra quelli selezionati per vivere liberi da malattie all'interno di una quarantena di comunità creata dall'uomo e gli emarginati abbandonati all'esterno per affrontare una sopravvivenza incerta. Sulla scia di una società disfatta, quattro ragazzi fanno fatica a determinare il loro posto in un mondo che è stato deformato dalle decisioni della generazione precedente ....
Cat, che è cresciuto privilegiato tra le mura di The Community; Wren, un sopravvissuto ribelle all'esterno; e Abel e Ryder, i due ragazzi orfani che li adorano. Mentre i loro percorsi si intersecano, viene rivelata la sconvolgente verità che circonda il cosiddetto vaccino che ha reso possibile la sopravvivenza iniziale e questi quattro ragazzi devono affrontare il dilemma morale: quanto saresti portato a fare per salvare quelli che ti stanno più a cuore? ....
Come finirà? Potete leggerlo sui giornali di oggi ...
Cat, che è cresciuto privilegiato tra le mura di The Community; Wren, un sopravvissuto ribelle all'esterno; e Abel e Ryder, i due ragazzi orfani che li adorano. Mentre i loro percorsi si intersecano, viene rivelata la sconvolgente verità che circonda il cosiddetto vaccino che ha reso possibile la sopravvivenza iniziale e questi quattro ragazzi devono affrontare il dilemma morale: quanto saresti portato a fare per salvare quelli che ti stanno più a cuore? ....
Come finirà? Potete leggerlo sui giornali di oggi ...
July 25, 2020
A pandemic virus leaves the world divided between a quarantined community of people and the remaining survivors outside the walls of the quarantined community. During all this, four teens struggle to with the lies they were told and the need to find answers.
I loved this book. It is told from four different first-person point of views. Each personality and motivation was different and engaging. Cat is the prodigy who is pushed into her work by her cold father, Dr. Grayson. Wren is the strong willed teen that will do anything to find her mother. Abel is the boy that is still trying to find himself and his place in the community while being in love with Cat. Ryder is the orphaned boy who had been forced to survive, which leads him into learning how to shoot, fight, and ride a motorcycle. When Ryder's love interest, Wren, leaves the camp, he has to make a decision of whether he should follow her or stay behind to help protect the people within the camp.
This story is an emotional, twisting, roller coaster ride that starts out with many questions that get answered towards the end in a dramatic reveal that will leave you wanting to immediately read the second book in this series!
I loved this book. It is told from four different first-person point of views. Each personality and motivation was different and engaging. Cat is the prodigy who is pushed into her work by her cold father, Dr. Grayson. Wren is the strong willed teen that will do anything to find her mother. Abel is the boy that is still trying to find himself and his place in the community while being in love with Cat. Ryder is the orphaned boy who had been forced to survive, which leads him into learning how to shoot, fight, and ride a motorcycle. When Ryder's love interest, Wren, leaves the camp, he has to make a decision of whether he should follow her or stay behind to help protect the people within the camp.
This story is an emotional, twisting, roller coaster ride that starts out with many questions that get answered towards the end in a dramatic reveal that will leave you wanting to immediately read the second book in this series!
January 29, 2020
(Give-a-way from Librarything)
Het is dan eindelijk gebeurt. Door het overmatig gebruik van anti-biotica is er nu een virus op de Aarde die bestand is tegen alle vormen van anti-biotica. Een groep mensen leeft afgesloten van de rest van de wereld in een soort koepel. Een ander deel woont daar buiten. Mogelijk zijn er nog meer groepen, maar daar hebben we niets van vernomen.
Cat en Wren zijn een tweeling, maar zij zijn zich niet bewust van het bestaan van de ander. Een leven is een chaos, veroorzaakt door het Virus. De ene zus woont in 'The Community', de andere daarbuiten.
Het boek bestaat uit diverse delen, maar waarom dit zo is, is mij niet duidelijk. Ieder hoofdstuk beziet het gebeuren vanuit de perspectief van weer een ander hoofdrolspeler.
Het verhaal is goed geschreven, en smaakte naar meer. Ik hoop dan ook op een vervolg.
Aanrader!
Het is dan eindelijk gebeurt. Door het overmatig gebruik van anti-biotica is er nu een virus op de Aarde die bestand is tegen alle vormen van anti-biotica. Een groep mensen leeft afgesloten van de rest van de wereld in een soort koepel. Een ander deel woont daar buiten. Mogelijk zijn er nog meer groepen, maar daar hebben we niets van vernomen.
Cat en Wren zijn een tweeling, maar zij zijn zich niet bewust van het bestaan van de ander. Een leven is een chaos, veroorzaakt door het Virus. De ene zus woont in 'The Community', de andere daarbuiten.
Het boek bestaat uit diverse delen, maar waarom dit zo is, is mij niet duidelijk. Ieder hoofdstuk beziet het gebeuren vanuit de perspectief van weer een ander hoofdrolspeler.
Het verhaal is goed geschreven, en smaakte naar meer. Ik hoop dan ook op een vervolg.
Aanrader!
February 5, 2021
The story starts with The Community, created to protect healthy people from the virus. Caused by antibiotic resistance, the virus is an incurable infections. Cat, while taking care of her ailing mother, is part of a group of people expected to find the miracle cure.
Everything changes when her best friend, Abel, shows her that things might not be what they seem. There are survivors.
Then we get to see Wren, a survivor outside of the walls. A small group of survivors just trying to make it everyday.
Everything changes when her mother is taken.
I immediately became entranced in this book, I could hardly put it down.
*This eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Everything changes when her best friend, Abel, shows her that things might not be what they seem. There are survivors.
Then we get to see Wren, a survivor outside of the walls. A small group of survivors just trying to make it everyday.
Everything changes when her mother is taken.
I immediately became entranced in this book, I could hardly put it down.
*This eARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2021
Many thanks to Erika Modrak and Black Rose Writing for an advanced readers copy of this book.
I always find myself pleasantly surprised by the books I receive from Black Rose and this one was no exception. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
After a slower start, you are very quickly grabbed by not only the storyline but the well developed and liable characters. It was definitely hard to put this one down! So prepare to lose an hour or two of sleep. Erika wasn't an author who was on my radar before now but she is definitely one i will start following. Her skill with storytelling and quirky humour is definitely something i clicked really well with.
Geared to a YA audience, but without the usual troupes.
I always find myself pleasantly surprised by the books I receive from Black Rose and this one was no exception. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
After a slower start, you are very quickly grabbed by not only the storyline but the well developed and liable characters. It was definitely hard to put this one down! So prepare to lose an hour or two of sleep. Erika wasn't an author who was on my radar before now but she is definitely one i will start following. Her skill with storytelling and quirky humour is definitely something i clicked really well with.
Geared to a YA audience, but without the usual troupes.
November 30, 2019
Such a great read! Once I got into the book, I had a hard time putting it down when I was supposed to be doing other (more productive) things.
Great storytelling, well-developed characters, and even though it's a captivating story in itself, it would make a great series!
Edited to add: even the next day (and I expect it will continue) I find myself thinking about the characters and wondering about what's next. I hope Erika Modrak is working on a sequel!
Great storytelling, well-developed characters, and even though it's a captivating story in itself, it would make a great series!
Edited to add: even the next day (and I expect it will continue) I find myself thinking about the characters and wondering about what's next. I hope Erika Modrak is working on a sequel!
November 22, 2019
Yet another YA dystopian novel? Nope. This story throws some punches. The author's note says she neglected her family while she wrote it; I neglected mine while I read it. I couldn't put it down. I'm ready for a sequel and have a hard time believing this is the first novel written by Erika Modrak.
January 11, 2020
Resistant: A World Divided is an engaging YA novel. Sure, it takes some scientific liberties, but the characters draw you in and the twists and turns keep you entertained throughout the novel. The characters all tie together well and it's a satisfying conclusion.
March 14, 2021
3.5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: dystopia, multiple POVs, mystery, viral apocalypse
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
TW rape, kidnapping
This book was a bit of a mixed bag. I really liked the beginning, but then it got dark in a way I don't think was necessary and also added in some new POVs halfway through. It was also extremely predictable and written in an early-YA style, which I'm not sure I like.
To begin, I think the concept was an interesting one, even if the 'inside community' vs. 'outside ravaged wasteland' is fairly commonplace. I liked Cat more than Wren in the beginning, but both of them offered up interesting POVs and had their own, albeit similar, mysteries. I liked that the mystery of the virus--sorry, Virus...why doesn't this thing have a name?--was carried through the entire book rather than dropped in favor of the personal mysteries the characters dealt with.
However, as mentioned, the book reads like an early-YA novel (and not The Hunger Games type of early either). For one, both Cat and Wren have a boy from their community, Abel and Ryder, respectively, who is madly in love with them and who they're madly in love with as well. Abel makes sense, but I never really got on to liking Ryder, who kind of falls into the stereotypical hotshot asshole (though at least he's never an ass to Wren). Both Cat and Wren have fairly immature voices, though Cat's is a little better than Wren's. Their voices are also pretty similar as well and there were times, even at the very end of the book, where I wasn't sure whose perspective I was reading in. Also, about 1/3 of the way through the book, Modrak introduces Ryder's and Abel's POVs, first by going back in the narrative timeline a bit, then going forward. I did like the addition of their perspectives to the story, but I think it should've been done from the very beginning and that the narrative timeline should not have backtracked in order for their POVs to be included.
As for the characters...why are both the main girls named after animals? Wren and Cat, really?!
I digress, Cat, properly Catherine, was the first POV in the book and she introduces us to a world inside the Community/Dome, which is focused on looking forward and finding a cure to the Virus that wiped most of the world out. Cat reads younger than she actually is. She's definitely written as an older teen, but her voice just does not convey that, particularly at the beginning, though she does get better as the book goes on. She's also just straight up willfully naive, choosing the Community and her self-admitted terrifying father over the potential uncertainty of being free...as if her father wouldn't do terrible things just because she's his daughter. That being said, I liked how Cat evolved during the book and became someone who subtly fought back and investigated what was going on behind the scenes of the Community. She clearly has a big heart and is actually pretty good with other people, be it calming them down and being kind or manipulating them to helping her out.
Wren comes next and also comes across as super immature at first, though like Cat her voice gets stronger and older as the book goes on. More so than Cat, Wren seems like someone who was naive about the world and preferred to look at the sunny side of things...though that switches around fairly quickly. Props to her, Wren takes action almost immediately and isn't afraid of sticking up for herself or others. Wren definitely gets the short end of the stick in this book and a lot of it just feels icky. .
Abel comes across as pretty pushy at first, pressuring Cat to leave the Community even though her mother is dying, but he relaxes about it a lot and it's clear he just wants what's best for Cat and for her to be safe from her psycho father. He's a fairly pacifist character and, like Cat, cares for and wants to help other people. He's definitely more open to the sinister nature of the Community, though he also doesn't quite grasp the depth of what's going on until much later in the book. Interestingly, despite Abel's fire in the beginning of the book, I feel he then later on comes off as almost too passive later on, though admittedly he can hold his own against Ryder.
As for Ryder, he also comes off as pushy in the beginning of the book but clearly cares for Wren. He's about the polar opposite of Abel in that he's far more of a hotshot and tends to be more aggressive. I'm not sure how much I like Ryder's character. When I'm reading his POV I think he's fine, just like how I like him if I'm reading him from Wren's POV, but if I see him from anyone else's viewpoint I don't like him as much. He's impulsive, led by his emotions, doesn't seem to care much for others aside from Wren and maybe Claire, and is very conflict-oriented. It's just not a good look on a character. However, I do appreciate how the difference between his and Wren's POVs vs Abel and Cat's POVs allow you to see narrative bias.
In terms of other characters, Dr. Grayson, Cat's father and the leader of the Community/Dome, is an absolute psychopath. He's kind of predictable in some ways, but not nearly as much as the plot is. I do genuinely wonder how anyone could ever like him enough to create kids (or simply to work with him) is beyond me. Claire, who is Wren's mother, obviously loves her daughter very much...but I also don't think she's winning any parent of the year awards. She's not a psychopath, at least, but she does hide a lot from the people around her even when they have a right to know the things she's hiding. Sienne, Cat's mother, actually might win that parent the year award, particularly if she's only competing against the other two parents. That being said, she's only in the book for a small period of time but seems like a decent enough person. Alice, a friend of Wren's, is... also a psychopath and I feel is going to continue to be a major problem. Bob, Claire's boyfriend, is 'eh.' I can't really get a good feel for him since his character seems to vacillate wildly between different things. Don is also 'eh.' He does the right thing when it comes down to it and he's consistently good to Cat and her mom throughout the book. However, I wouldn't say he was a good guy either.
Major character spoilers! (involves both major characters and major spoilers)
Overall, I liked a lot of aspects of the book but there were some things that annoyed me, such as the immature voices from Cat and Wren, and there were a couple of major things that I straight up did not like, so 3.5 stars seems appropriate.
Recommended for people who like: dystopia, multiple POVs, mystery, viral apocalypse
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
TW rape, kidnapping
This book was a bit of a mixed bag. I really liked the beginning, but then it got dark in a way I don't think was necessary and also added in some new POVs halfway through. It was also extremely predictable and written in an early-YA style, which I'm not sure I like.
To begin, I think the concept was an interesting one, even if the 'inside community' vs. 'outside ravaged wasteland' is fairly commonplace. I liked Cat more than Wren in the beginning, but both of them offered up interesting POVs and had their own, albeit similar, mysteries. I liked that the mystery of the virus--sorry, Virus...why doesn't this thing have a name?--was carried through the entire book rather than dropped in favor of the personal mysteries the characters dealt with.
However, as mentioned, the book reads like an early-YA novel (and not The Hunger Games type of early either). For one, both Cat and Wren have a boy from their community, Abel and Ryder, respectively, who is madly in love with them and who they're madly in love with as well. Abel makes sense, but I never really got on to liking Ryder, who kind of falls into the stereotypical hotshot asshole (though at least he's never an ass to Wren). Both Cat and Wren have fairly immature voices, though Cat's is a little better than Wren's. Their voices are also pretty similar as well and there were times, even at the very end of the book, where I wasn't sure whose perspective I was reading in. Also, about 1/3 of the way through the book, Modrak introduces Ryder's and Abel's POVs, first by going back in the narrative timeline a bit, then going forward. I did like the addition of their perspectives to the story, but I think it should've been done from the very beginning and that the narrative timeline should not have backtracked in order for their POVs to be included.
As for the characters...why are both the main girls named after animals? Wren and Cat, really?!
I digress, Cat, properly Catherine, was the first POV in the book and she introduces us to a world inside the Community/Dome, which is focused on looking forward and finding a cure to the Virus that wiped most of the world out. Cat reads younger than she actually is. She's definitely written as an older teen, but her voice just does not convey that, particularly at the beginning, though she does get better as the book goes on. She's also just straight up willfully naive, choosing the Community and her self-admitted terrifying father over the potential uncertainty of being free...as if her father wouldn't do terrible things just because she's his daughter. That being said, I liked how Cat evolved during the book and became someone who subtly fought back and investigated what was going on behind the scenes of the Community. She clearly has a big heart and is actually pretty good with other people, be it calming them down and being kind or manipulating them to helping her out.
Wren comes next and also comes across as super immature at first, though like Cat her voice gets stronger and older as the book goes on. More so than Cat, Wren seems like someone who was naive about the world and preferred to look at the sunny side of things...though that switches around fairly quickly. Props to her, Wren takes action almost immediately and isn't afraid of sticking up for herself or others. Wren definitely gets the short end of the stick in this book and a lot of it just feels icky. .
Abel comes across as pretty pushy at first, pressuring Cat to leave the Community even though her mother is dying, but he relaxes about it a lot and it's clear he just wants what's best for Cat and for her to be safe from her psycho father. He's a fairly pacifist character and, like Cat, cares for and wants to help other people. He's definitely more open to the sinister nature of the Community, though he also doesn't quite grasp the depth of what's going on until much later in the book. Interestingly, despite Abel's fire in the beginning of the book, I feel he then later on comes off as almost too passive later on, though admittedly he can hold his own against Ryder.
As for Ryder, he also comes off as pushy in the beginning of the book but clearly cares for Wren. He's about the polar opposite of Abel in that he's far more of a hotshot and tends to be more aggressive. I'm not sure how much I like Ryder's character. When I'm reading his POV I think he's fine, just like how I like him if I'm reading him from Wren's POV, but if I see him from anyone else's viewpoint I don't like him as much. He's impulsive, led by his emotions, doesn't seem to care much for others aside from Wren and maybe Claire, and is very conflict-oriented. It's just not a good look on a character. However, I do appreciate how the difference between his and Wren's POVs vs Abel and Cat's POVs allow you to see narrative bias.
In terms of other characters, Dr. Grayson, Cat's father and the leader of the Community/Dome, is an absolute psychopath. He's kind of predictable in some ways, but not nearly as much as the plot is. I do genuinely wonder how anyone could ever like him enough to create kids (or simply to work with him) is beyond me. Claire, who is Wren's mother, obviously loves her daughter very much...but I also don't think she's winning any parent of the year awards. She's not a psychopath, at least, but she does hide a lot from the people around her even when they have a right to know the things she's hiding. Sienne, Cat's mother, actually might win that parent the year award, particularly if she's only competing against the other two parents. That being said, she's only in the book for a small period of time but seems like a decent enough person. Alice, a friend of Wren's, is... also a psychopath and I feel is going to continue to be a major problem. Bob, Claire's boyfriend, is 'eh.' I can't really get a good feel for him since his character seems to vacillate wildly between different things. Don is also 'eh.' He does the right thing when it comes down to it and he's consistently good to Cat and her mom throughout the book. However, I wouldn't say he was a good guy either.
Major character spoilers! (involves both major characters and major spoilers)
Overall, I liked a lot of aspects of the book but there were some things that annoyed me, such as the immature voices from Cat and Wren, and there were a couple of major things that I straight up did not like, so 3.5 stars seems appropriate.
April 7, 2021
If you’re craving the world of young adult dystopias, then Resistant will sweep you into a ravaged near future where a pandemic virus has wiped out much of humanity and four resilient idealistic teens have to rise up in order to set things right.
Two teens, Cat and Abel, have grown up in the walled, domed, quarantined, and heavily guarded enclave of The Community. They spend their days focused on school and research to discover a working cure. Cat’s beloved Mom is slowly dying from some vague illness, not the virus, that’s sweeping through the community with deadly aftermath. Cat’s father is the formidable, intimidating, cold founding Scientist leading both The Community and its scientific efforts. Abel is a refugee orphan taken in at The Community’s founding, and on to something being terribly wrong in The Community. He’s searching for a possible way to escape and wants to enlist his best friend Cat alongside him.
Meanwhile, in a forest “camp” comprised of long abandoned homes on the outside, a group of healthy survivors fend for a precarious survival. Part of this depends on secretly picking up key items such as fuel delivered at a bridge pick-up adjacent to The Community. Wren, a rebellious teen is the daughter of the leader of the outcasts, a doctor who keeps her own closely held secrets. Ryder, an orphan, adores her and holds out the allure of trips outside the camp on his motorcycle. In a bridge pick-up of supplies, things turn dangerous, shots get fired, and Wren barely escapes with her life.
What follows is adventure, life-threatening dangers, teaming up to overcome seemingly unsurmountable hurdles, and a quest for the truth. True to the best of dystopian tales, teens not fully indoctrinated into their society’s ideology become painfully aware of the deep fault lines in their parents’ generation decisions. They get thrust into heroism as they spring into action to actualize a better future. What follows involves overcoming self-doubt, working towards ever increasing clarity as to what’s going on, finding their own moral centers, defending against danger from all sides, and rooting out of tyranny.
Best of all, Book 2 is coming!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
Two teens, Cat and Abel, have grown up in the walled, domed, quarantined, and heavily guarded enclave of The Community. They spend their days focused on school and research to discover a working cure. Cat’s beloved Mom is slowly dying from some vague illness, not the virus, that’s sweeping through the community with deadly aftermath. Cat’s father is the formidable, intimidating, cold founding Scientist leading both The Community and its scientific efforts. Abel is a refugee orphan taken in at The Community’s founding, and on to something being terribly wrong in The Community. He’s searching for a possible way to escape and wants to enlist his best friend Cat alongside him.
Meanwhile, in a forest “camp” comprised of long abandoned homes on the outside, a group of healthy survivors fend for a precarious survival. Part of this depends on secretly picking up key items such as fuel delivered at a bridge pick-up adjacent to The Community. Wren, a rebellious teen is the daughter of the leader of the outcasts, a doctor who keeps her own closely held secrets. Ryder, an orphan, adores her and holds out the allure of trips outside the camp on his motorcycle. In a bridge pick-up of supplies, things turn dangerous, shots get fired, and Wren barely escapes with her life.
What follows is adventure, life-threatening dangers, teaming up to overcome seemingly unsurmountable hurdles, and a quest for the truth. True to the best of dystopian tales, teens not fully indoctrinated into their society’s ideology become painfully aware of the deep fault lines in their parents’ generation decisions. They get thrust into heroism as they spring into action to actualize a better future. What follows involves overcoming self-doubt, working towards ever increasing clarity as to what’s going on, finding their own moral centers, defending against danger from all sides, and rooting out of tyranny.
Best of all, Book 2 is coming!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
July 24, 2020
Imagine that the only world you’ve ever known has been depopulated by an incurable pathogen. That’s the premise of Erika Modrak’s “Resistant,” a story of survival and loss as seen through the eyes of four sixteen year olds: Cat, Abel, Wren and Ryder. Each chapter shows us their world from the point of view of one of these young people, ratcheting up the suspense, as they try, in their own ways, to make sense of what’s been done to them, and what they must do to survive. Four story lines that converge at the end of the novel as the secrets that connect them to one another are finally revealed.
Each one of them must come to terms with their own traumas and fears as they seek to save each other from the adults who control the dystopian world in which they are trapped, one where cannibalism, death by raiding scavengers are common occurrences. Two reside in the Community, supposedly safe from the pandemic, but in reality a dictatorship controlled by one obsessed power mad man where people are still dying from the plague that killed billions. Two live outside its walls, but when a crisis hits the isolated group where they live, their decisions place them on a collision course with the other protagonists inside the Community, facing their own difficult choices. And none of them can be certain whether those choices will lead to hope or disaster.
Masterfully written, with a plot full of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. The dangers these young people confront are made all too real. “Resistant” is a must read for anyone who enjoys authentic characters coming of age in one of the worst possible futures one can imagine as they struggle to find a path through to a better world. The ending left me wanting more. Highly recommended.
Each one of them must come to terms with their own traumas and fears as they seek to save each other from the adults who control the dystopian world in which they are trapped, one where cannibalism, death by raiding scavengers are common occurrences. Two reside in the Community, supposedly safe from the pandemic, but in reality a dictatorship controlled by one obsessed power mad man where people are still dying from the plague that killed billions. Two live outside its walls, but when a crisis hits the isolated group where they live, their decisions place them on a collision course with the other protagonists inside the Community, facing their own difficult choices. And none of them can be certain whether those choices will lead to hope or disaster.
Masterfully written, with a plot full of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. The dangers these young people confront are made all too real. “Resistant” is a must read for anyone who enjoys authentic characters coming of age in one of the worst possible futures one can imagine as they struggle to find a path through to a better world. The ending left me wanting more. Highly recommended.
March 30, 2021
It has been said that the current pandemic may be a dress rehearsal. Something much worse could occur on the near future. In this novel, this much worse has arrived, and life as we have l own before has caesed to exist. In decaying suburbia feral groups of humans struggle to survive. In a sealed domed city the new agie had been vanquished - yet hasn't been. People are still dying.
So for those who wonder if things will ever be back to normal, this world is an extrapolation of how a Virus-free world will seem like a golden age, forever lost.
Against this background four young people tell their side of what it means to to be living in this new dystopia. First Cat, the daughter of a doctor whose motives. appear forever more murky, and Abel, the suitor who is sent to his certain death in helping to defend the Dome from Outside. Outside the Dome, there is Wren and her boy, Rider, negotiating goods from the Dome to keep her community alive, until her appearance changes this balance for good. What is the doctor's kee. I retest in Wren about?
The writer is skilled in maintaining suspense as various mysteries deepen within this damaged and dysfunctional world. It is perceived from a deeply subjective lens from the eyes of all four teens: the illness remains mysterious and nebulous, but the real question remains on what secrets and hidden misuses of power have been kept from these children, and how these might define the fate of all of them in the future.
The ending brings an interesting enough revelation, this is a small world in the end. A post-pandemic scenario may well mean that the flow of information will narrow, creating the return to the more primitive and feudalistic world depicted here.
So for those who wonder if things will ever be back to normal, this world is an extrapolation of how a Virus-free world will seem like a golden age, forever lost.
Against this background four young people tell their side of what it means to to be living in this new dystopia. First Cat, the daughter of a doctor whose motives. appear forever more murky, and Abel, the suitor who is sent to his certain death in helping to defend the Dome from Outside. Outside the Dome, there is Wren and her boy, Rider, negotiating goods from the Dome to keep her community alive, until her appearance changes this balance for good. What is the doctor's kee. I retest in Wren about?
The writer is skilled in maintaining suspense as various mysteries deepen within this damaged and dysfunctional world. It is perceived from a deeply subjective lens from the eyes of all four teens: the illness remains mysterious and nebulous, but the real question remains on what secrets and hidden misuses of power have been kept from these children, and how these might define the fate of all of them in the future.
The ending brings an interesting enough revelation, this is a small world in the end. A post-pandemic scenario may well mean that the flow of information will narrow, creating the return to the more primitive and feudalistic world depicted here.
December 18, 2019
Young adults and not-so-young adults will eat this book right up! It offers drama, action, suspense, and LOVE. In a world full of so many YA dystopian novels, it is very difficult to satisfy my need for an original plot. Resistant: A World Divided does just that! Not only is the storyline creative but the characters are well-developed. The first-person perspective gives the reader insight into all four main characters beginning in Part II, which I loved. If that’s not enough to make you want to read this book, I’ll add that the writing is beautiful. Being a middle-school teacher, I’ve read my fair share of YA dystopian novels and found that in many the writing was just too simple to hold my attention. That’s certainly not the case in this book. Every word in every sentence creates vivid images. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read the sequel. Forge ahead! And write the next one, please!
July 26, 2020
Erika Modrak's YA Dystopian Thriller does not disappoint! The story of plague, lies, privilege, secrets, and survival will keep you riveted. Modrak uses a multi-point of view platform to spin this adventure through the eyes of four 16 year protagonists. These young lives that seem completely separated by the Dom quickly clash as shocking truths are revealed about the research and "cure" of a deadly plague that has wiped out a large portion of humanity.
Modrak masters the art of character development and pace making readers of all ages become invested in the outcome of the protagonists. Great book! I look forward to the next in the Resistant series.
Modrak masters the art of character development and pace making readers of all ages become invested in the outcome of the protagonists. Great book! I look forward to the next in the Resistant series.
November 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! This was a great YA dystopian! The story incorporates four main characters and I was impressed that the author managed to make their voices unique enough for them not to blend together. I have noticed the latter happen in a lot of books that include so many perspectives. Each of the characters are memorable, relatable, and enjoyable to read from their perspective. I thought the story had great twists and the pacing was great and kept my attention throughout. I'm really hoping that Erika comes out with another book in the series as the ending definitely left it open for the possibility of a continuation!
June 3, 2020
This book was amazing. The writing style was so easy to get wrapped up in, Erika simply pulls you in with the first chapter and it is nearly impossible to put the book down once you've begun. The twists and turns are exciting and keep you on your toes, but the underlying theme is what really keeps you going. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I hope there is a sequel of some sort later on! Kudos to you Erika, and great job releasing a book that these days surrounds a VERY hot topic of antibiotic resistance and a global pandemic in need of a cure. Would HIGHLY recommend buying this book.
February 25, 2021
Loved the story, the pace and the twists of this novel! Feels especially relevant in our Covid-19 world too.
Cat and Wren. Two headstrong girls both yearning for more and prepared to run headlong into the action with little thought or planning. Mysterious adults with secrets about the past. Perfect YA material so far!
If you are a fan of Divergent and Unwind you will enjoy this very much.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this is my honest review.
Cat and Wren. Two headstrong girls both yearning for more and prepared to run headlong into the action with little thought or planning. Mysterious adults with secrets about the past. Perfect YA material so far!
If you are a fan of Divergent and Unwind you will enjoy this very much.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this is my honest review.
June 16, 2021
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.
This was better than I was expecting! Some good plot twists that, while not completely unexcepted, kept it interesting. Some heavier topics hinted at, and while it is not graphic and is completely behind the scenes, there is rape involved. I don't usually like switching POV's but it worked in this. I really hope there is a sequel because I want to know what happens next!
This was better than I was expecting! Some good plot twists that, while not completely unexcepted, kept it interesting. Some heavier topics hinted at, and while it is not graphic and is completely behind the scenes, there is rape involved. I don't usually like switching POV's but it worked in this. I really hope there is a sequel because I want to know what happens next!
June 23, 2021
For anyone that enjoys a good fiction read with wild twists, gut wrenching narratives, and a storyline that hits dangerously close to home... this book is all that and more!! Based on a dystopian future, the characters absolutely encapsulated me and its one of the few books I've read that was near impossible to put down. Very well written, the author provides just the right amount of detail, adventure, and humor... Five stars all around : D
December 7, 2019
What a fantastic read! Absolutely thrilling! The characters are beautifully written. A thought-provoking, chilling tale of a dystopian future. This novel had me turning the pages and stealing away to get a few more pages in. You need this book on your shelf! I cannot wait for more from this talented author!
July 16, 2020
Could not put down
I don't usually read dystopian sci fi, but my reading club chose this book. I was blown away by the amazing writing skills of the author and found it hard to lay the book down. I highly recommend this book!
I don't usually read dystopian sci fi, but my reading club chose this book. I was blown away by the amazing writing skills of the author and found it hard to lay the book down. I highly recommend this book!
August 9, 2020
What an incredible novel! I did not want to put this book down, but when I had to, I could not wait to pick it back up. I would recommend this book to anyone. Go ahead and add a book to your cart. Even better, go ahead and add two and gift a copy to a friend. It's that good!
February 26, 2021
Solid sci-fi somewhat relevant to the times we live-in. It has all the elements of a good story -- well written characters, engaging plot, good writing, surprises, etc. This will probably appeal to a lot of sci-fi fans, not just YA. Recommended.
I really appreciate the review copy!!
I really appreciate the review copy!!
June 20, 2021
Very interesting story and imaginative plot. It isn't something a reader will guess right away. However, you must read the series to find out what happens. The end of the first book gives hope but not the answer to the story problem.
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