“Bane, I know it’s risky, but I think I should do this speech. We’ve got to win... If we don’t, we’re all dead...”
A HUSBAND IN DESPAIR... AN ENEMY IN NEED... A LIFE AND DEATH VOTE...
In three months, the citizens of the EuroGov will decide whether or not to abolish Sorting, the grim annual harvesting of “imperfect” teenagers for their organs.
If they vote the wrong way, then Margo and everyone she cares about will die.
While her beloved Bane struggles to cope with the loss of his eyes, the lives of millions of young people and Believers are at stake as Margo embarks on increasingly risky media missions out of the Vatican. Every step she takes is steeped with political consequences.
But threats soon loom from the most unexpected quarters, compromising even the security of the Vatican State, and with the vote hanging in the balance, the media battle threatens to turn into real war. Bane is desperate to join Margo in the fight, but how can he without his eyes?
When reading this series, I and changes in legislation both in Canada and Europe as the series came out I cannot but be a little concerned that this is fiction predicting a likely future. This specific book and to be honest the whole series is very intense. What is at risk, what is true, what is right are all being questioned? I was greatly impressed with Turner's debut I Am Margaret. And I am even more impressed with this final instalment in the quadrilogy or tetralogy depending on your preference. This was an incredible read that I could hardly put down. And if we are lucky there will be a tie in volume released soon called: Margo's (Attempted) Diary & Notebook.
To recap: book 1, I Am Margaret, Bane has freed Margo and Jon and the other ReAssigness from the EuroGov facility. Now they are all on the run. At the end of book two, The Three Most Wanted, the Vatican state has had to evacuate. Margo, Bane, Jon and many other are in hiding but with plans. In book three Liberation, Bane and others from the Vatican Free State team up with the resistance and start liberating other EuroGov Reassignment facilities. But not without great costs. And now book 4 Bane's Eyes.
Some length of time has passed between book 3 and book 4. Bane is slowly adjusting to having lost his eyes to the EuroGov. The Vatican Free State is back in Rome preparing for the EuroGov vote. Margaret is giving speeches, writing here blog and trying to help Bane adjust to being blind. But the EuroGov is not going to go down without a fight. In this book we have a number of assignation attempts. We have mental programming, and we have attempted bribery and more. Of the four books this one starts with a slower pace but it really picks up. We also have the return of a surprise character from book 1.
This book deals with a lot of serious issues. Forgiveness and the process of forgiving. It also has the theme of marriage commitment even when things are not going the way you expect, really not going the way you expect. It has themes of friendship, and most importantly the theme of what is right, true and religious freedoms. The characters in this series are amazing. The themes and issues tackled are moving and in this day ever more important.
This book and this series is incredible. The writing is suspenseful, and at the same time moving. The world building is very well done. How we got from where we are now to this possible future is playing out in governments around the world today. Corinna Turner writes with great depth, especially considering her age. This is a powerful book in an excellent series.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Corinna Turner. As well as an author profile and interview with Corinna.
Liberation, (Book #3) could have, with some adjustments, served as the conclusion to the I Am Margaret series. With that in mind, I wondered where Bane's Eyes would take the story.
Corinna Turner does a great job in bringing the reader into the darkness - both literal and figurative - pervading Margaret and Bane's fledgling marriage. Margaret's growing burdens and increasing isolation are palpable.
Beyond their marriage, the final installment turns every relationship inward as multiple characters wrestle with forgiveness and conversion. From Bane and Margaret to Major Everington, Kyle, and others, they have to learn live with themselves, whatever becomes of the EuroGov.
In addition to the interior struggles, plenty of exterior tension and action move the story forward as the Underground uses both political maneuvers and media savvy to create a groundswell of support for peaceful revolution.
All loose ends are tied up in a satisfying conclusion filled with hope despite those who have been lost and the challenges sure to come.
I Am Margaret is a series I look forward to re-reading. Filled with action, tension, romance, and courage, it's not only a thrilling read, but a profound reflection on the things that matter most - those that are worth dying for.
(The author is a fellow member of the Catholic Writers Guild. I received a complimentary copy for my honest review.)
After reading this book, I’m still unsure if I like it or not. Since, I loved all the strong catholic – Christian themes of love and forgiveness, but found them to be very repetitive by the end of the story, as the characters kept on expressing about them. Also, I didn’t like how this story wrapped up all the storylines, as it felt like a fairy-tale ending, an example was when Margaret’s parents found their way to the Vatican, even when this story belongs to the Dystopian gene. Likewise, I got a little tried of all the murder attempts on Margaret, I know it was an important part in the story, but could of focus on another storyline. Yet, there was still many things I like about the story, the blog’s Margaret wrote, got me thinking and reflecting on many things. Loved the healing of Lucas etc. Yet, this book still annoyed me, but reflecting more it, I’m an adult reading a teen novel, so can reflect a little deeper on issues and life. Hence, to end this review, this book and all the ones in this series, are great for catholic teens, so understand the meaning of life, from a catholic point of view.
(Btw this contains spoilers) Oh my goodness, why did Bane have to lose his eyes?! He is definitely my favorite! What surprised me was that they redeemed the "not major" Lucas Everington. I hated him last book, now I can't see him die. He's turned into one of my favorites. He was such a great when he sacrificed him self for Bane's eyes! Bane is so awesome, but as some points I wanted to punch him, like when he got Margo or when he tried to kill him self multiple times. What made me really want to punch him is what he thought Margo thought, "jon, ' Margo, this big idiot is convinced you're terrified of him and the only reason you haven't kicked him the hell out yet is because you're a too good believer to let him comm it self murder." Oh my goodness bane! And I can't even with father Mark .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I am a fan of dystopian fiction. But when the story contains elements of faith, it is so much more powerful to me! This dystopian series rocks! Bane's Eyes is packed with adventure, challenges, trials, and authentic human emotions. I particularly loved how the underground Catholic Church is shown.
Turner's writing is incredibly strong and visual, perfect for a dystopian story. And the characters are all so well developed, three-dimensional with strengths and flaws, and they each continue to grow.
Oddly, I missed the first book in this series so I have to get my hands on that. But I loved the others!
Each book in this series escalates the conflict and suspense. I'm Bane's Eyes, the stakes get higher, and the characters have to face new challenges, and are tested in ways they haven't experienced before. The characters remain consistent even while they grow and deepen. The plot is coherent, the pacing never lets up. And I always love a happy ending... And this book has a (spoiler alert) very happy ending. I would recommend this book to older teens and adults who enjoyed the first three books. It's a satisfying finish to a satisfying series.
I had taken a break from this series after no 3 as I had had enough (at least for the time being). However, I returned to it and read this one, which I thought a lot stronger than its predecessor. It was more of a complete story in itself, and delivered that rather difficult trick (repeatedly) of setting up expectations, and then delivering them, but not in a way that was foreseeable - though with hindsight was convincingly plausible. Well worth a read.
I laugh and cried a lot in this book. I got so involved with Margo and everything! However, i fell that some things are just too unbelievable, like she going on get own to stop a trained assassin and she managed to do that with the strength of... forgiveness?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have read the other three in the I Am Margaret series, and was for some reason putting off reading the last book, Bane's Eyes. But it's definitely worth the read, for the enjoyable way most of the loose ends are wrapped up. Turner has quite a few unexpected twists and turns, which I greatly enjoyed. There's a lot of Catholic-appreciation in I Am Margaret, but not in a long-winded, sermonizing fashion, thankfully.
Book 1 ("I am Margaret") Book 2 ("The Three Most Wanted") Book 3 ("Liberation") Book 4 (“Bane’s Eyes)
I really enjoyed this series about a dystopian not-too-distant future set in what is currently the European Union (or, as it is called in the books, the Eurobloc). The logical developments of the culture of death* and concomitant rise of a totalitarian government are presented very convincingly, although I’d love to know more of its origin story. The best part of the book, for me, was the portrayal of Catholicism and underground Catholic culture during this very difficult tribulation, including the use of Latin as the code language among believers, the epic Swiss Guard, and the overall struggle between the Faith and the dominant secularist regime.
Great plot twists along the way. And I found myself liking the characters, who had strong and unique personalities, and experienced various levels of growth.
Thank you for the very enjoyable and edifying fiction, Corinna! I look forward to reading your other books.
"Bane's Eyes" is now my favorite in the the I Am Margaret series! Corinna Turner really tied everything up in this last book. While I'm sad to be done with this fantastic dystopian series, I am happy with how the story turned out for the three main characters. I'm also impressed with how themes of suffering, death, and forgiveness were handled in this last book. I can't recommend this series enough! Thanks for the incredible journey, Corinna Turner!
This is the first book in the series to make me cry. This story was heartbreaking and gut wrenching but so so good! This is definitely my favourite of the four. It just kept me on the edge of my seat til the very end!!
I really enjoyed this series. It was one of those I didn't want to end. This book was the best. It is fast paced and it really draws you in. I hope there will be more books at some point.