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The Rule of One #3
The Rule of All
As America’s twenty-first-century revolution reaches its endgame, twin sisters must outrun, and outlive, the Common enemy. Outlaw twin sisters Ava and Mira Goodwin were born to defy Texas’s tyrannical and oppressive Governor Roth. They inspired millions across the country to liberate themselves and fight to live free under the new Common rule. But an enemy still endangers their fragile vision for the future. Ava and Mira’s hunt the man down. The once-mighty Governor Roth has fled Dallas. Holding a hostage beloved by Ava and Mira, Roth has a mission, regroup his Loyalists, wreak vengeance, and reclaim his power. With the help of a savvy programmer turned rebel warrior, Ava and Mira brave a journey more uncertain than they’ve ever attempted before. As they forge southward into foreign territory―against a ruthless cartel, Roth’s aggressive Texas Guard, and a formidable new foe―courage, alliances, and trust will be tested. Now, in the most unlikely and treacherous of places, the sisters must finish what they started. Before they―and the Common―are erased from history forever.
348 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
306 people are currently reading
2278 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Saunders
8 books431 followersTwin sisters Ashley Saunders and Leslie Saunders are the authors of The Rule of One dystopian series and the forthcoming Exiles duology. The sisters honed their love of storytelling in film school at the University of Texas at Austin. After just under a decade penning screenplays and directing commercials, the sisters deliberately stumbled into the world of novel writing. They vow to never leave it. The duo can be found with their Boston terriers in sunny Los Angeles, exploring hiking trails and drinking entirely too much yerba maté.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
October 29, 2020
Sigh. Trilogies always fail to live up to the hype I want them to live up to. Rule of One was fantastic and was a lot to put up against. I felt like this one was rushed. I also didn’t like adding Theo and Owen’s perspectives. It felt like adding them was unnecessary - if we kept it more from Mira and Ava’s perspectives, I think the novel would have more depth. 2.5 stars.
October 15, 2020
Great finish to the series!
April 20, 2020
I have been anxiously awaiting this final installment for what feels like eternity! The first two books were un-put-down-able, and Rule Of All maintained the fast pace and tense action. As the situation in Texas moves toward extreme circumstances, Mira and Ava continue to pursue Roth and work with the Common to save the US from the rule of tyrannical governors. This action-packed story follows the twins on yet another journey to fight for the freedom of all children, not just the first born.
As much as I enjoyed this book, my only complaint is that the narrative voices don't always sound distinctive. In the first book and even the second, I could forgive this from Ava and Mira since they have been raised to be not only identical, but the actual same person. But as their paths diverged through the first and second books, those voices didn't gain much distinction. Again, I could maybe overlook that some, but in the third book, we have two additional narrators—Owen and Theo. Owen's voice is definitely distinctive, with his snarky wit and cyber-perspective. But Theo's voice felt too similar to the twins' voices at many times. It's a difficult task to write from so many perspectives and make the all voices distinct, and with this as the series debut of the Saunders sisters, I'm willing to tolerate it.
Overall, I consider this a compelling, exciting conclusion to the series, and I look forward to future works by the Saunders sisters.
As much as I enjoyed this book, my only complaint is that the narrative voices don't always sound distinctive. In the first book and even the second, I could forgive this from Ava and Mira since they have been raised to be not only identical, but the actual same person. But as their paths diverged through the first and second books, those voices didn't gain much distinction. Again, I could maybe overlook that some, but in the third book, we have two additional narrators—Owen and Theo. Owen's voice is definitely distinctive, with his snarky wit and cyber-perspective. But Theo's voice felt too similar to the twins' voices at many times. It's a difficult task to write from so many perspectives and make the all voices distinct, and with this as the series debut of the Saunders sisters, I'm willing to tolerate it.
Overall, I consider this a compelling, exciting conclusion to the series, and I look forward to future works by the Saunders sisters.
December 5, 2021
This Triolgy was fantastic, such a good story. You fall in love with the characters and you really end up going on the journey with them. It will make you smile, make you cry and ultimately has a wonderful soul touching ending. I loved it. 10/10 would recommend.
April 20, 2020
I have been anxiously awaiting this final installment for what feels like eternity! The first two books were un-put-down-able, and Rule Of All maintained the fast pace and tense action. As the situation in Texas moves toward extreme circumstances, Mira and Ava continue to pursue Roth and work with the Common to save the US from the rule of tyrannical governors. This action-packed story follows the twins on yet another journey to fight for the freedom of all children, not just the first born.
As much as I enjoyed this book, my only complaint is that the narrative voices don't always sound distinctive. In the first book and even the second, I could forgive this from Ava and Mira since they have been raised to be not only identical, but the actual same person. But as their paths diverged through the first and second books, those voices didn't gain much distinction. Again, I could maybe overlook that some, but in the third book, we have two additional narrators—Owen and Theo. Owen's voice is definitely distinctive, with his snarky wit and cyber-perspective. But Theo's voice felt too similar to the twins' voices at many times. It's a difficult task to write from so many perspectives and make the all voices distinct, and with this as the series debut of the Saunders sisters, I'm willing to tolerate it.
Overall, I consider this a compelling, exciting conclusion to the series, and I look forward to future works by the Saunders sisters.
As much as I enjoyed this book, my only complaint is that the narrative voices don't always sound distinctive. In the first book and even the second, I could forgive this from Ava and Mira since they have been raised to be not only identical, but the actual same person. But as their paths diverged through the first and second books, those voices didn't gain much distinction. Again, I could maybe overlook that some, but in the third book, we have two additional narrators—Owen and Theo. Owen's voice is definitely distinctive, with his snarky wit and cyber-perspective. But Theo's voice felt too similar to the twins' voices at many times. It's a difficult task to write from so many perspectives and make the all voices distinct, and with this as the series debut of the Saunders sisters, I'm willing to tolerate it.
Overall, I consider this a compelling, exciting conclusion to the series, and I look forward to future works by the Saunders sisters.
March 6, 2021
maybe like a 2.25
so if you've been following along and reading my updates, you'll know that not much happened at the first half of this book lol
and by not much i mean that there was somehow very little recap of the first two books but also explaining the characters' current predicaments and what they were doing at the same time
but then things actually started happening at the later half or third of the book? wait i would say things started picking up and getting interesting in the second half, but the actual action was like the last quarter lol
was the action parts good? not particularly lol but was it relatively good comparing to the first half of the book? absolutely. not much competition there though so ://
anyway if im referring to my usual remarks and guidelines for a book:
- did this book make me feel? not really lol and when it did, it was very very shortlived and mild
- did this book make me feel lonely? no. romance was not a big part of this which i kinda appreciated? bc if it was then the plot would be so bad
- thoughts on the conclusion? anticlimactic for the book and especially for the series. wished it was more heartwarming and anxious page-turning inducing but alas
- why did i read this book? i felt compelled to finish the series even though i did not particularly enjoy the first two books
- would i recommend this book? no oop
- additional comments? ok i feel like the pacing was lowkey like the hunger games, where the first half is all talk no action and then the second half is when things actually happen and people start running. but i also didn't like the hunger games bc the first half was so boring and the second half was so gory that it wasnt redeeming. this was less gory but still not Fresh ya feel? not that redeeming but more so than the hunger games
so if you've been following along and reading my updates, you'll know that not much happened at the first half of this book lol
and by not much i mean that there was somehow very little recap of the first two books but also explaining the characters' current predicaments and what they were doing at the same time
but then things actually started happening at the later half or third of the book? wait i would say things started picking up and getting interesting in the second half, but the actual action was like the last quarter lol
was the action parts good? not particularly lol but was it relatively good comparing to the first half of the book? absolutely. not much competition there though so ://
anyway if im referring to my usual remarks and guidelines for a book:
- did this book make me feel? not really lol and when it did, it was very very shortlived and mild
- did this book make me feel lonely? no. romance was not a big part of this which i kinda appreciated? bc if it was then the plot would be so bad
- thoughts on the conclusion? anticlimactic for the book and especially for the series. wished it was more heartwarming and anxious page-turning inducing but alas
- why did i read this book? i felt compelled to finish the series even though i did not particularly enjoy the first two books
- would i recommend this book? no oop
- additional comments? ok i feel like the pacing was lowkey like the hunger games, where the first half is all talk no action and then the second half is when things actually happen and people start running. but i also didn't like the hunger games bc the first half was so boring and the second half was so gory that it wasnt redeeming. this was less gory but still not Fresh ya feel? not that redeeming but more so than the hunger games
October 14, 2020
This is the last book from The Rule of One trilogy. I didn't read the first two book so you guys better check it out! I keep requesting random books that sounds fun so I keep forgetting to see whether the book is a duology, trilogy or even series lol
This story follows the twins journey to fight for a freedom. The are multiple point of view which is from the twins, Ava and Mira, Owen and Theo. All the characters are likeable. Btw it was a slow paced story and the actions start around 85-90% of the story.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for The Rule of All ARC!
This story follows the twins journey to fight for a freedom. The are multiple point of view which is from the twins, Ava and Mira, Owen and Theo. All the characters are likeable. Btw it was a slow paced story and the actions start around 85-90% of the story.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for The Rule of All ARC!
June 13, 2024
The final book in the Rule of One trilogy- it did not disappoint!
Ava and Mira’s fight alongside the Common to bring freedom for all children reaches a crescendo in this final instalment.
Action ✔️
Suspense ✔️
Drama ✔️
Plot twists ✔️
Romance ✔️
Again the POV’s of several characters was well written. I didn’t put this one down until the end 📚
Ava and Mira’s fight alongside the Common to bring freedom for all children reaches a crescendo in this final instalment.
Action ✔️
Suspense ✔️
Drama ✔️
Plot twists ✔️
Romance ✔️
Again the POV’s of several characters was well written. I didn’t put this one down until the end 📚
January 27, 2022
Book 21 of 2022! 3/5 stars for this dystopian finale! Not my favorite series ender, but still a good read! This series is full of action! Love the multi-POVs and multiple cast for the audiobook! A great series about family, found family, and survival! Highly recommend!
April 7, 2024
Great series! Great characters. Great story. Second book is the best one but it’s close across the three books and this one was a satisfying end to the trilogy.
July 9, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was way slower than the previous books, but I still enjoyed it. It was a good read, enjoyable one.
This was way slower than the previous books, but I still enjoyed it. It was a good read, enjoyable one.
February 1, 2021
How can something so amazing exist?? Someone explain this to me.
Ava and Owen are officially my OTP.
I have like eight song ideas because of this book.
I screamed.
I cried.
Just. Read. It.
Spoilers! You've been warned
From the start, I saw that fire was going to be a recurring metaphor in this book and it both excited and scared me! As I neared the climax I started to get the feeling that fire wasn't going to just be a metaphor anymore. When Ava saw Theo and started thinking he had betrayed Mira, I was like "No no no Ava! Stop taking things out of context!" I mean, then again, I can't really blame her, Theo did amazing convincing Roth that he was on their side. That moment when they realized what he'd done was incredible. Owen is my favorite character in the whole series. I love him and Ava so much and I couldn't stop smiling (sometimes screaming and crying) whenever it was about them. I knew from the start that Mira would be the one to take Roth down, at least I hoped that would happen, and I was not disappointed. That entire scene was so quick and it didn't drag out like a lot of villain deaths. I loved that everyone else recognized that it should be Mira who ended it. I was slightly confused as it was all happening because it said Mira was taking too long and then Haven grabbed her gun and pulled the trigger? Either way, having both of the secondborns kill Roth together was just perfect. I adore Haven and I wish there had been more of her in general (one of my eight song ideas might be about her...who knows). The second Skye and Lucia met I just knew and I was so relieved when Kano was revealed to be ok. When Owen saw him and was like his eyes would never open again I had to contain my screams, so I was really glad he survived. One thing I did have a small problem with was Alexander's plotline. I could tell from the start that he was pushing all the blame on Mira and as it went on he got more and more angry, asking for someone to hit him, and when it finally happened, I thought there would be some kind of big moment for him to come to his senses a bit, and I guess it is implied that he did behind the scenes but it just didn't wrap up as well as it could have. The same goes for a lot of things in the last two chapters that just didn't get fully explained...it makes me think that there could almost be a spin off series or standalone novel about all the things left unanswered like Valeria's code language, the genome therapy, how the rest of the country is doing during this time of recovery, etc. Overall it was a great finish to this series and it made my favorites shelf so that's gotta say something.
Resist much, obey little.
Justice by our own hand.
It's over.
Ava and Owen are officially my OTP.
I have like eight song ideas because of this book.
I screamed.
I cried.
Just. Read. It.
Spoilers! You've been warned
From the start, I saw that fire was going to be a recurring metaphor in this book and it both excited and scared me! As I neared the climax I started to get the feeling that fire wasn't going to just be a metaphor anymore. When Ava saw Theo and started thinking he had betrayed Mira, I was like "No no no Ava! Stop taking things out of context!" I mean, then again, I can't really blame her, Theo did amazing convincing Roth that he was on their side. That moment when they realized what he'd done was incredible. Owen is my favorite character in the whole series. I love him and Ava so much and I couldn't stop smiling (sometimes screaming and crying) whenever it was about them. I knew from the start that Mira would be the one to take Roth down, at least I hoped that would happen, and I was not disappointed. That entire scene was so quick and it didn't drag out like a lot of villain deaths. I loved that everyone else recognized that it should be Mira who ended it. I was slightly confused as it was all happening because it said Mira was taking too long and then Haven grabbed her gun and pulled the trigger? Either way, having both of the secondborns kill Roth together was just perfect. I adore Haven and I wish there had been more of her in general (one of my eight song ideas might be about her...who knows). The second Skye and Lucia met I just knew and I was so relieved when Kano was revealed to be ok. When Owen saw him and was like his eyes would never open again I had to contain my screams, so I was really glad he survived. One thing I did have a small problem with was Alexander's plotline. I could tell from the start that he was pushing all the blame on Mira and as it went on he got more and more angry, asking for someone to hit him, and when it finally happened, I thought there would be some kind of big moment for him to come to his senses a bit, and I guess it is implied that he did behind the scenes but it just didn't wrap up as well as it could have. The same goes for a lot of things in the last two chapters that just didn't get fully explained...it makes me think that there could almost be a spin off series or standalone novel about all the things left unanswered like Valeria's code language, the genome therapy, how the rest of the country is doing during this time of recovery, etc. Overall it was a great finish to this series and it made my favorites shelf so that's gotta say something.
Resist much, obey little.
Justice by our own hand.
It's over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2020
I really liked the conclusion to this trilogy. I'm glad the sisters got some resolution, and that the society has a chance going forward. I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2020
#readingchallenge2020 (extra books!)
I felt meh about book one, due to the lack of world-building atmosphere. Then more meh from book two, due to lack of character cohesion. And finally, a quick fast read of book three, nothing redeemed itself. I wondered, maybe if there was a strong rebellious ending would it all come together. But it was all rushed. The authors added in extra perspectives, taking away from their heroines.
Everything seemed chaotic, like they focused more on action-to become a screen play-then on story-telling to truly develop their characters. Just didn’t work, you don’t really bond with the girls-everything happens at this quick brushed off pace.
I felt meh about book one, due to the lack of world-building atmosphere. Then more meh from book two, due to lack of character cohesion. And finally, a quick fast read of book three, nothing redeemed itself. I wondered, maybe if there was a strong rebellious ending would it all come together. But it was all rushed. The authors added in extra perspectives, taking away from their heroines.
Everything seemed chaotic, like they focused more on action-to become a screen play-then on story-telling to truly develop their characters. Just didn’t work, you don’t really bond with the girls-everything happens at this quick brushed off pace.
October 23, 2021
Dull writing and unexplainable character “development”
I finished reading this series because I enjoyed the first book but the next two in the series amplified the small flaws I found in the original. The character make inexplicably brash decisions and everyone around them magically falls in line. Plot lines are left unaddressed and the quality of the writing plainly degrades as the story goes along.
It’s not to say that it’s not a fun read but if you have another book you’d like to read, your time might be better spent there.
I finished reading this series because I enjoyed the first book but the next two in the series amplified the small flaws I found in the original. The character make inexplicably brash decisions and everyone around them magically falls in line. Plot lines are left unaddressed and the quality of the writing plainly degrades as the story goes along.
It’s not to say that it’s not a fun read but if you have another book you’d like to read, your time might be better spent there.
May 6, 2020
I had been anxiously awaiting the final installment ever since I finished the second one and "The Rule of All" did not let me down. I was excited to see some old characters reappear for the takedown of Governor Roth. This book is action packed and was hard for me to put down at times. I also enjoyed watching Ava and Miras relationships bloom with their love interested, showing them that they can have it all if they want it. Overall, I was very pleased with this book!
July 23, 2022
The post apocalyptic water wars are scary, considering what’s going on with Lake Mead, and seem a more reasonable projection for the future than a lot of this genre. Throughout the series, the authors assert they fell in love with the western National Parks while researching for the novels, but I saw no positive depictions or even mentions of the parks.
September 21, 2022
Twins,Basil, Twins.
It's been a long road. And the bad guys lose. The people seem to reconcile to the new state of affairs pretty well. I would expect the losing factions to be disloyal for life?
It's been a long road. And the bad guys lose. The people seem to reconcile to the new state of affairs pretty well. I would expect the losing factions to be disloyal for life?
October 21, 2020
RTC having a wrist issue that makes it hard to type. This text is courtesy of the slide predictive text function.
***
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. The views and opinions in this review are mine alone and may not reflect the views of the authors, publisher, or distributor.
Beware of spoilers.
Guys. I wanted to sing this book's praises. I can, however, only say, "Meh."
Why did I give it four stars? Because I liked the story. There were just some parts of it that needed to be worked out. For instance, the code language the cartel speaks in. What does it sound like? How did Valeria develop it? She doesn't seem particularly smart.
Speaking of Valeria, why was she a trump card for Roth? That whole plotline went nowhere and...
Okay. I'm getting ahead of myself.
The Characters were all right...I wish they'd grown more in this arc. Owen, to me, had the most development. Ava too. But Mira and Theo and everyone else stayed pretty much the same. I think that's largely in part to the plot going nowhere. Speaking of.
The Plot was my biggest issue here. The chase for Roth should have been the key component that set all the other dominos scattering. But the chase was the only solid point that panned out. Project Albatross? Nope. The biological weapon that was in the briefcases? Briefly mentioned and then dismissed at the end. What Canada's "president" planned to do with it? Doesn't matter. The people who were attacking downtown Dallas with homemade bombs? Forget them, they don't matter. Why Roth had Valeria in the first place? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you wanted answers. There were so many threads left hanging that all I could do was shake my head and stammer, "But but but...!"
So many aspects of this book worked, but so many of them fell flat. I'm keeping my rating at 4/5 stars because I know this is the authors' first real go-around with publishing novels, so it's to be expected that things are rough. If I hadn't liked the characters, the stars would drop to 2/5. But I did. So there.
***
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. The views and opinions in this review are mine alone and may not reflect the views of the authors, publisher, or distributor.
Beware of spoilers.
Guys. I wanted to sing this book's praises. I can, however, only say, "Meh."
Why did I give it four stars? Because I liked the story. There were just some parts of it that needed to be worked out. For instance, the code language the cartel speaks in. What does it sound like? How did Valeria develop it? She doesn't seem particularly smart.
Speaking of Valeria, why was she a trump card for Roth? That whole plotline went nowhere and...
Okay. I'm getting ahead of myself.
The Characters were all right...I wish they'd grown more in this arc. Owen, to me, had the most development. Ava too. But Mira and Theo and everyone else stayed pretty much the same. I think that's largely in part to the plot going nowhere. Speaking of.
The Plot was my biggest issue here. The chase for Roth should have been the key component that set all the other dominos scattering. But the chase was the only solid point that panned out. Project Albatross? Nope. The biological weapon that was in the briefcases? Briefly mentioned and then dismissed at the end. What Canada's "president" planned to do with it? Doesn't matter. The people who were attacking downtown Dallas with homemade bombs? Forget them, they don't matter. Why Roth had Valeria in the first place? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you wanted answers. There were so many threads left hanging that all I could do was shake my head and stammer, "But but but...!"
So many aspects of this book worked, but so many of them fell flat. I'm keeping my rating at 4/5 stars because I know this is the authors' first real go-around with publishing novels, so it's to be expected that things are rough. If I hadn't liked the characters, the stars would drop to 2/5. But I did. So there.
January 12, 2021
Relentlessly captivating and compelling!
One would perhaps not expect a 50+ year old dude to be into YA dystopia with female teenage protagonists. One would be mistaken. I was captivated from the beginning, and read the second and third as soon as each became available. I recommend these books to anyone who may be the slightest bit inclined, and even those who don't know. If you are unsure, go with me on this.
(NO spoilers follow.)
Character development is exquisite. Key roles are full and distinct. Everyone is true to his or her own character all the way through, even if it is not immediately apparent. You will love the ones you love, and despise those who are despicable.
The first book is told through the voices only of Ava and Mira, two identical twin sisters living in a world with such draconian laws as The Rule of One. No family is permitted to have more than a single child, on penalty of imprisonment and worse -- especially for any "extra" children. The urgency of the plot is, thus, immediate and obvious.
The second volume introduces many new major characters, including two additional first-person narrators. The series finale adds yet another narrator, and features a very happy reunion.
I won't go into the plot other than to say that it just keeps building. Each book has its own climax and (if temporary) resolution, but the one following does not take time to rest before jumping off from there.
Let me just add that I found few if any typos or grammatical missteps anywhere, and there are no irresolvable inconsistencies in the plot or characters. That's important, at least to me, because I have read otherwise compelling books and authors whose work suffers from lack of editing or even proof-reading. Every writer with a compelling story deserves, and almost always needs, a competent editor. The Rule of One books are high quality writing.
Read this series. It is amazing.
One would perhaps not expect a 50+ year old dude to be into YA dystopia with female teenage protagonists. One would be mistaken. I was captivated from the beginning, and read the second and third as soon as each became available. I recommend these books to anyone who may be the slightest bit inclined, and even those who don't know. If you are unsure, go with me on this.
(NO spoilers follow.)
Character development is exquisite. Key roles are full and distinct. Everyone is true to his or her own character all the way through, even if it is not immediately apparent. You will love the ones you love, and despise those who are despicable.
The first book is told through the voices only of Ava and Mira, two identical twin sisters living in a world with such draconian laws as The Rule of One. No family is permitted to have more than a single child, on penalty of imprisonment and worse -- especially for any "extra" children. The urgency of the plot is, thus, immediate and obvious.
The second volume introduces many new major characters, including two additional first-person narrators. The series finale adds yet another narrator, and features a very happy reunion.
I won't go into the plot other than to say that it just keeps building. Each book has its own climax and (if temporary) resolution, but the one following does not take time to rest before jumping off from there.
Let me just add that I found few if any typos or grammatical missteps anywhere, and there are no irresolvable inconsistencies in the plot or characters. That's important, at least to me, because I have read otherwise compelling books and authors whose work suffers from lack of editing or even proof-reading. Every writer with a compelling story deserves, and almost always needs, a competent editor. The Rule of One books are high quality writing.
Read this series. It is amazing.
November 21, 2020
I liked this conclusion to the series. I probably should have waited and not started the series until it was complete. It was a little too hard to remember with months/a year and hundreds of other books between the installments. In fact, as I borrowed this on KU (audio included, I listened to the audiobook), I also went ahead and borrowed the 2nd book, as I really only had vague memories of the first book. I didn't fell like a re-read, but figured I could refer to it if needed. Then, I accidentally pressed play on book 2 instead of book 3 ... and I didn't even realize it until I was done! I guess that goes to show I did NOT remember book 2, as it didn't even sound that familiar to me! But at least then it was fresh in my mind as I moved to this final, 3rd book. This had a ton of action. We are in Theo's head now (introduced in book 2) as well as the twins and Owen. Haven is still an important character, but there are no chapters with her POV.
I had an "oops" with my audiobook, and I was pretty far into it, when it went back to chapter 2 (could have been user error, although I'm not sure how, or maybe one of my kids thought that would be a funny joke). I had SUCH a hard time finding my place again, even with the kindle copy as reference. I was a bit annoyed that the audio is listed as chapters, but the book/kindle doesn't have any chapter numbers. It has four parts, and then the chapters are just listed by POV. But even when I could find where I was in the text, that wouldn't correspond to anything in the audiobook chapters to line myself up.
Borrowed with KindleUnlimited. Text and audio.
I had an "oops" with my audiobook, and I was pretty far into it, when it went back to chapter 2 (could have been user error, although I'm not sure how, or maybe one of my kids thought that would be a funny joke). I had SUCH a hard time finding my place again, even with the kindle copy as reference. I was a bit annoyed that the audio is listed as chapters, but the book/kindle doesn't have any chapter numbers. It has four parts, and then the chapters are just listed by POV. But even when I could find where I was in the text, that wouldn't correspond to anything in the audiobook chapters to line myself up.
Borrowed with KindleUnlimited. Text and audio.
October 11, 2020
Epic Conclusion - Ripped From The Headlines. I've had this book for almost exactly 6 months before publication. (Yes, that means it was an Advanced Reader Copy, with all that that entails.) Finally read it (hello, 180+ books this year, all ARCs), and y'all... dayum. This book was written no later than 2019 ish, *well* before the Summer of 2020 that saw massive riots all across the US, many of which seemed to be sparked by outside agitators. And guess what plays into the plot here? Overall the Saunders Sisters do an excellent job of focusing on four key perspectives - the Traitorous Twins, The Hacker, and The Dictator's Grandson - and yet managing to make the battles *feel* far larger than just those four people. (Much as many films - including Lord of the Rings and the Avengers movies - do with similar character sets.) Fans of the series will enjoy many callbacks to the previous two books, and newbies to the series should absolutely start with Book 1 - The Rule Of One - as each book very much builds on the previous. A truly satisfying conclusion, and yet also one that allows them to come back to this world, should they so choose. Very much recommended.
September 13, 2020
The third and final book in the Rule of One trilogy. Governer Roth is on the run and it seems like he has some sinister intentions, but the sisters are determined to find him and stop him from putting his plans into action.
This is a book I've been highly anticipating. I've recently reread the first two and was really looking forward to finding out how Ava and Mira's journey ends.
I must say that the story did take an unexpected direction, and it was a bit slow to start, but once it got going, it kept me gripped.
However, the ending left me a bit unsatisfied, and I'm torn about the rating. I found it better than the first book but not as engaging as the second and after some deliberation, I decided on 3.5 stars ( rounded down to 3 as Goodreads doesn't allow half ratings ).
The series, on the whole, gets 3 stars from me. It offers a great premise, but in my opinion, it doesn't stand out enough.
However, if you are a dystopian fiction fan, this is definitely a series you should check out.
This is a book I've been highly anticipating. I've recently reread the first two and was really looking forward to finding out how Ava and Mira's journey ends.
I must say that the story did take an unexpected direction, and it was a bit slow to start, but once it got going, it kept me gripped.
However, the ending left me a bit unsatisfied, and I'm torn about the rating. I found it better than the first book but not as engaging as the second and after some deliberation, I decided on 3.5 stars ( rounded down to 3 as Goodreads doesn't allow half ratings ).
The series, on the whole, gets 3 stars from me. It offers a great premise, but in my opinion, it doesn't stand out enough.
However, if you are a dystopian fiction fan, this is definitely a series you should check out.
November 13, 2020
Great conclusion to the trilogy. It was better than the first book but not quite as good as the second. Everything fit well together to tie up the series but there were a few things that stood out to me. First, Owen came across differently in this book. There were some weird mental conversations he had that definitely didn't sound like a male perspective. I liked the struggle to find the Governor and Theo, and Theo's struggle to maintain his self within his new extremely dangerous role but found the ultimate fight too easy for the good guys. There weren't any serious consequences to their plan and it was a little too happy ending to be realistic. I also found the last section of the book too normal for what these people have gone through. Mira and Ava have learned so much about themselves that to go back to the life they had before is just a slap in the face to the whole story. I would like to see this as a television series.
I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions are my own.
I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions are my own.
February 4, 2021
South meets south of the border
The conclusion to the trilogy is here. I enjoyed following the Goodwin twins on their journey from hiding in the basement to liberating a portion of the US. This trilogy honestly reads almost like a documentary of events that have already taken place.
As they say, reality is stranger than fiction but the elements in this story make this fiction almost seem like reality. While the topic may be out there, it’s not all that far fetched.
What lacks in this trilogy, is the growth of each character or simply the main characters, the twins. While people around them seemed to have evolved, they remained the same with only focus, revenge. When they finally reached the point of exacting that revenge, they couldn’t follow through. Maybe that was their only development, understanding that what motivated them, wasn’t actually who they were. In the end, despite the fact that the twins could live their lives as individuals and essentially saved the country, they still seemed lost and empty.
The conclusion to the trilogy is here. I enjoyed following the Goodwin twins on their journey from hiding in the basement to liberating a portion of the US. This trilogy honestly reads almost like a documentary of events that have already taken place.
As they say, reality is stranger than fiction but the elements in this story make this fiction almost seem like reality. While the topic may be out there, it’s not all that far fetched.
What lacks in this trilogy, is the growth of each character or simply the main characters, the twins. While people around them seemed to have evolved, they remained the same with only focus, revenge. When they finally reached the point of exacting that revenge, they couldn’t follow through. Maybe that was their only development, understanding that what motivated them, wasn’t actually who they were. In the end, despite the fact that the twins could live their lives as individuals and essentially saved the country, they still seemed lost and empty.
July 30, 2020
I read the first book and really enjoyed it. The second book was just ok in my opinion. I was nervous to start this book because I was afraid it would follow the trend of enjoying it less than the last but I was pleasantly surprised. This book, while much slower than the others, moves along so well that you don't really mind the slower pace. It seems to only take place over a few days and you really get into what's happening with the different groups. I enjoyed reading the intricacies of each character and how the relationships developed over time. The end also jumps ahead into the future so the reader gets a nice ending thats wrapped up. I really appreciate when authors decide to end their books on a good note and before they get really bad and predictable. All in all I would recommend this series for anyone that likes dystopian novels. (Reading it in 2020 also adds a nice sense of realism to it too!)
October 27, 2020
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It has been almost a year and a half since I read the first two books in this series. I probably should have re-read them before starting this book.
I remember being sucked in by the first book and immediately speeding through the second book after finishing the first. It took me longer to get into this one. However, once I started getting back into the story, I sped through it, just like I did the first two books.
The beginning of this story is a little slower, but about 1/3 of the way through the book, the action picks up, and it is just as action-packed as the first two books.
I think this was a great wrap up to the series! I was really impressed with the twists the authors threw into this book and the new characters.
I would love to read another book or perhaps a book set after this one from someone else's POV. There are some questions they did not answer with the ending that could lead to another book! I would definitely read it!
Thank you to the authors, publishers, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.
It has been almost a year and a half since I read the first two books in this series. I probably should have re-read them before starting this book.
I remember being sucked in by the first book and immediately speeding through the second book after finishing the first. It took me longer to get into this one. However, once I started getting back into the story, I sped through it, just like I did the first two books.
The beginning of this story is a little slower, but about 1/3 of the way through the book, the action picks up, and it is just as action-packed as the first two books.
I think this was a great wrap up to the series! I was really impressed with the twists the authors threw into this book and the new characters.
I would love to read another book or perhaps a book set after this one from someone else's POV. There are some questions they did not answer with the ending that could lead to another book! I would definitely read it!
Thank you to the authors, publishers, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.
October 11, 2020
Sadly, this book wasn't as good as the second in my opinon. It had everything there, but some of it just didn't flow right... I kept on getting the POVs mixed up-- except Owen since he's iconic.
May I just say how much I love Owen again? I was sad there wasn't more Blaise and Owen moments. They were so great together.
I felt that the romances between the two sisters and Theo and Owen were unneeded. I wish that it would've just been a good sister bonding time instead of both of them getting other people... I also felt like Ava moved on really quickly considering what had just happened.
Other than that, I loved this book still. The cover is gorgeous, and the writing is phenomenal. I hope that the Saunders sisters release more books soon.
May I just say how much I love Owen again? I was sad there wasn't more Blaise and Owen moments. They were so great together.
I felt that the romances between the two sisters and Theo and Owen were unneeded. I wish that it would've just been a good sister bonding time instead of both of them getting other people... I also felt like Ava moved on really quickly considering what had just happened.
Other than that, I loved this book still. The cover is gorgeous, and the writing is phenomenal. I hope that the Saunders sisters release more books soon.
October 1, 2022
As always, whenever possible, I review series as a whole.
The Rule Of series is set in a dystopian future where extreme climate change has led to strict population control laws. The stories center around a set of twins. For 18 years they lived on be life, alternating who was "Ava". Then, of course, they get discovered and plot ensues.
I read the original a few years ago and found it to be an enjoyable read. While the plot is s predictable in parts, it presents likeable characters and a plausible, well thought out future. I circled back to the remaining two parts in 2022, when the dystopian settling is now looking more and more inevitable.
Overall, it is a satisfying read with few nice twists.
The Rule Of series is set in a dystopian future where extreme climate change has led to strict population control laws. The stories center around a set of twins. For 18 years they lived on be life, alternating who was "Ava". Then, of course, they get discovered and plot ensues.
I read the original a few years ago and found it to be an enjoyable read. While the plot is s predictable in parts, it presents likeable characters and a plausible, well thought out future. I circled back to the remaining two parts in 2022, when the dystopian settling is now looking more and more inevitable.
Overall, it is a satisfying read with few nice twists.
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