The Sin Soldiers

Fragments #1

by Tracy Auerbach

Red compound makes them angry. Yellow exhausts them. Blue drives them into a state of ravenous addiction. The thief Kai knows about the chemically controlled soldiers of the Eastern forces and their savage, deadly nature. When a robbery attempt at Club Seven goes wrong, Kai is captured by a handler and his bestial soldier-boy. She wakes up inside the military base with no idea what happened to her twin brother, Dex.

Things go from bad to worse when Kai is started on a drug and training regimen, and forced to take injections of blue compound. The scientists in charge plan to make her into a working soldier who will mine the mysterious power crystals beneath the desert. Kai becomes a victim of the bully Finn, a handsome but nasty soldier whose years on red compound seem to have erased his humanity. Still, she begins to pity the Seven Soldiers, including the monstrous boy who tried to rip her to shreds at the club. They appear to be nothing more than genetically enhanced, drug-controlled teenagers.

On the outside, Dex and his tech-savvy boyfriend try to crack the soldiers’ chemical code to find a weakness that will break the system. But Kai has already been drawn deep into her new world. Strong feelings for the soldiers she’s come to know have started to cloud her judgment. Can she escape and find Dex without becoming a monster herself?

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia, Fiction

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2019

About the author

Tracy Auerbach is an author of science fiction and fantasy for teens and adults. As an avid reader with a vivid imagination, she chose to study film, English, and education, and went on to teach and write STEM curriculum for the New York Department of Education. This helped to polish her writing skills and ignite her passion for science fiction and fantasy.

Her first scholarly article, published in Language Magazine, was about the value of active, creative learning in science.
On the fiction side, Tracy’s work has been featured in the online literary journal Micro-horror, The Writing Disorder fiction anthology, and the “(Dis)ability” short story anthology, in addition to her novels, the "Fragments" trilogy, "The Human Cure," and "Sons of Fire."

When she is not teaching or writing, Tracy is usually reading or trying new adventures (escape rooms, axe throwing, etc.). She lives in New York with her family.

Reviews

[Em (Diversify Your Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I chose to read this book because I find that sometimes sci-fi can get rather repetitive and this seemed very different than the usual. I thought it would be a fun read and I was wrong: it was brilliant and completely engrossing.

I try to pay attention to if books include marginalised groups and this had a Black woman as the main character with a gay brother. So the book had lots of diversity without seeming forced (and by forced I mean using stereotypes not when there is more diversity than people tend to expect) and the premise was so interesting.

The book has so many themes such as consent, autonomy, war, war profiteering, and many more. Like Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," "The Sin Soldiers" looks at the effects of when logic is completely distinct from any emotion in such a way as to show the dangers but also to feel sorry for people who are like this. There is also definitely a critique of toxic masculinity and toxic behaviours and I really enjoyed that Kai's love interest didn't necessarily change for her, nor did she rehabilitate him-- but did address his own problematic behaviours and took responsibility for them. Too often in books bad behaviour is written off as attractive and is not totally addressed. "The Sin Soldiers" definitely did not follow that mold.

Kai is a really fun main character and I really appreciate that her relationships with the other primary characters (her brother Dex and the 3 soldiers she ends up living with) are each unique. Sometimes I feel like when one character gets introduced to a group their relationship is shown as the same with each individual and Tracy Auerbach did a fantastic job creating unique relationships.

I read a lot of books and not many of them do I read the last page and feel jolted back to reality. This was one of those books. I was so into it and then when it ended I was momentarily dazed before looking up when the sequel comes out (which tragically I was unable to find).

I totally recommend this!

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by the title and synopsis of this YA sci fi book. The idea is that compounds could induce such strong reactions that actual chemical changes could occur within the brain leading the patient ( victim ?) exhibiting strong behaviours that mimic some of the so called deadly sins . Red for wrath and uncontrollable anger, yellow for sloth which in reality was a truly strong sedative and then there’s blue the truly scary addictive mixture . Set in the future on what appears to be a planet colonised by humans but the sad rub is general population have no idea they originally came from Earth.
Kai and her brother Dex are young thieves trying to stay alive and well out of the reach of the super soldiers known as the Seven. Unfortunately Kai gets caught and wakes up inside the Fortress were she discovers that she too is to be put on the meds . Trapped she can only bide her time whilst searching for an escape but meanwhile she’s starting to realise that the Seven are perhaps not the Monsters she always believed .
This is a fabulous idea and the way these characters are dehumanised is truly chilling. Some like Kai are captured and considered useful so started on the chemicals but there are many more who are lab created. These are not clones per say but have certainly had their DNA altered to help create super soldiers that sadly have quite short shelf lives. What’s even more chilling is the fact that as children they socialise and form attachments only to lose that emotional bond once started on their daily injections. Perhaps even more distasteful is the way they have no control over how they are used and this is something that I feel will divide many readers.
I’ve tried to explain the world without giving away too much of the plot which started with a bang and then seemed to slow down somewhat but I guess the author was trying to flesh out the characters that become so much a part of Kai’s life. It does end in a way that leaves the way clear for a follow up although for this reader the lack of action felt off somewhat considering these are enhanced badass soldiers ! However I was entertained and look forward to more from this author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Tracy Auerbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, obviously biased, as it's my book, but I'm super excited about The Sin Soldiers, and hope that you enjoy jumping into this world as much as I enjoyed creating it!
There are deadly compounds, Soldiers who have been controlled all their lives and have nearly lost sight of the people they might have been, and there is love and friendship. There is action and a slow burn as Kai becomes immersed in the broader world and struggles to figure out who the good guys are. And there is hope, as we get to see the worst of human vice and the best of humanity, sometimes from the same people. Heroes aren’t always what they seem, but neither are villains.

There are a few trigger warnings- the drugs in this book (though fictional), when given in large doses, cause their victims to be in a pliant, blacked-out state, completely susceptible to commands.
Some girls and guys (groupies) throw themselves at Soldiers in a suggestive way.
Lots of mind- control stuff

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the world the author created and the idea of the crystals associated with the 7 deadly sins. Kai was pretty likable, she cared for her brother but also formed attachments with her roommates and would do anything for them. I especially loved the bond between Kai and Finn and the idea that people can undergo a lot of bad things, but remain themselves. The pacing on this was great, we rotated points of view which kept things interesting and events happened at a quick pace, but not too fast as to leave you confused.
The whole idea for this was intriguing and fresh and the ending leaves so many questions and has me wanting more. I definitely recommend this book, even if you don't like sci-fi.

[Kristal (Midwest_Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly unique story. The first two chapters were slow but then it took off and I read til my eyes hurt. The story ended more complicated than the beginning and I can’t wait to see how this plays out! For fans of dystopian societies, enemies to lovers, and super solider programs.

*ARC received by Netgalley

[Atlas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was where all the magic happened; where ordinary people were transformed into slaves and monsters

* *
2 / 5

The Sin Soldiers has a cool concept and it hooked me at the start, but unlikeable characters and a confusing setting left me unsatisfied.

Kai still held out hope somewhere in the back of her mind that some way, somehow, the compound wouldn't work on her. Not her.

In Kai’s world, soldiers are injected with crystal compounds to give them certain traits that are useful in waging war. Captured and imprisoned for the crime of theft, Kai is injected with the blue compound. Red for anger. Blue for addiction. Yellow for sedation. This concept hooked me in right at the start because what a cool idea. And it starts off really well. Kai is surrounded by other drugged teenagers, scared and wondering what happened to her twin brother, Dex, unable to control her growing food addiction that the military is using to manipulate her.

But then it devolved into YA tropes that I had thought (and hoped) had long died. Mostly I’m talking about the hot, brooding, angry guy who is a bit of an enigma and a bully. But oh! It turns out he’s only being a bully because he’s in pain and misunderstood and trying to protect Kai from himself. By being a dick. And apparently that’s very attractive. Yeah no.

It wasn't like she had thought he was a nice guy or anything, but for a little while, he hadn't seemed like the monster he was

Then there was also the fact that the world didn’t really make sense. Who is letting these people take all their children? Why is everyone starving? How do these crystals actually work? The end section only inspired more questions, and I got the impression that certain events were only happening because the author wanted there to be a twist, rather than being a natural product of what had already happened.

The Sin Soldiers had me at the start and then lost me along the way. I felt like this book would have been better received back in 2012, when everyone was eager for bad boy interests and Hunger Games-esque apocalyptic worlds.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of The Sin Soldiers.

Read my reviews on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...

[Alysa H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was somewhat entertaining, though amateurish and a bit nonsensical. I liked the idea of child soldiers being engineered and given different substances for different desired results, but the details as written didn't always make sense. The writing was clunky. The characters were sometimes sympathetic but also thin, their motivations inconsistent. The plot details were by turns simplistic and convoluted. The world-building was quite lacking; e.g., this takes place on a different planet, humans having left old Earth long ago, and yet there is zero comment on how this messed-up society came to be, from its aesthetics (sometimes old-fashioned, sometimes futuristic) to its troubling social and/or power structures.

There was an interesting attempt to explore the causes and affects of substance abuse and addiction, but I think it was too opaque. A well-meaning attempt to include diverse characters also backfires, since there's a sort of accidental conflation of queerness with bad personal qualities.

This book was just okay enough to finish, but in the end, I didn't really care anymore.

** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I was provided an electronic ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

In The Sin Soldiers, author Tracy Auerbach, utilizes her background as a science teacher to bring the dystopian science fiction tale to life.

The world that Auerbach creates is one in which crystals are inherently powerful. Different crystals are used as power sources and others, in the form of compounds, are used to create the Seven Soldiers. Though the basis of the process is left pretty general in the novel, I loved the potential that this system had. I also enjoyed the way that Auerbach was considerate about how the compounds would affect the human body and made the process of chemical dependency to the compounds both believable to those who have scientific background and accessible to those who don't. This is absolutely one of my favorite features of the novel, and sets the groundwork for our characters.

The main character that the reader follows is Kai, a thief who is captured on a job gone wrong. While her twin brother, Dex, works toward finding her and getting her back, Kai is taken into the compound where she lives among three of the Seven Soldiers. I was pleased with the LGBTQ representation in Dex, who expressed a preference for men and had a boyfriend, even though he was a bit of a background character for most of the novel.

Ultimately, the relationships between Kai and the soldiers (Charlie, Tessa, and Finn) seem to be the strength of the story rather than being overly plot-driven. Despite the lack of much depth or multi-faceted approach to the characters, I found each character to be distinct and thoughtfully written.

To me, the pacing toward the end of the novel seemed rather rushed; much of the book was spent relationship-building and a lot of the action occurred in the last 40 or so pages. There is a clear intention for the story to be continued in a sequel or series, which I would definitely be interested in continuing to read.

Overall, I was pleased and entertained by the world Auerbach created. I would recommend The Sin Soldiers to others, particularly to those who enjoy a quick read with novel takes on science fiction.

[Scott Sanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it for anyone interested in a quick read with an interesting premise. The Sin Soldiers does a good job of using its sci-fi roots to explore how addiction and adolescence can be powerful factors in shaping and altering personalities. Because of the well crafted setting, the rapid changes and swings in the characters’ personalities throughout the middle and later stages of the story help to not only advance the plot, but also serves as a unique form of world-building that helps make the in-world science more believable.

Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed is that it tells a good story while avoiding some of the more tiresome tropes of the young adult dystopian future genre. All too often these stories classify their central characters as “special” so that they have a skill or immunity that makes them uniquely equipped to handle the in-world science or magic. Kai was a refreshing protagonist because she does not fall into this trap and, in a sadly realistic metaphor for true addiction, is just as susceptible to the mechanics of the in-world science as everyone else. In fact she isn’t even a particularly good thief. By leaving the central character as more of an “everyman,” it allows the author to demonstrate the off-balance reaction of somebody dealing with people undergoing addiction and personality shifts without taking you out of the story.

Because of all these shifts and changes, the characters and their personalities are still very much in flux as the book concludes, which allows for a satisfying ending while leaving many possibilities open for all the central characters. I am interested in seeing where the story goes from here and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Juri · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, thank you to NetGalley and The Parliament House publishing for providing me an ARC of The Sin Soldiers by Tracy Auerbach. ✨🌸

This took me too long to finish reading but this was a very satisfying read for me! I never expected to like sci-fi books since I never got attached too easily as most tend to dump a lot of info but this was a surprising read!

Now, on to the review! First: the Good.

- World building was so damn atmospheric! Interesting planet with a power system that was fresh and new. Explanation was done nicely without dumping too much info on the reader so it was easily understandable

- Characters were very nicely done! Charlie was a soft boi with a tough exterior, Finn's actually a big softie around his rough edges, Tessa is a genius and fierce momma hen, and Kaia is probs the most normal of all of them, but equally headstrong and tries her best. My fave character is definitely Charlie. My poor boy needs a break from all the trouble he has been through, save him.

- Plot was also nicely paced, with adequate twists scattered nicely in between chapters. Started really nicely and quickly drew me in all the action~ The ending though! It left me hanging and I want book 2 in my hands already!

Now, for the Meh:

- I wanted to see more of Tessa! There weren't enough scenes of her but I am hoping that she makes more appearances in the next book. I want to see her more in action what with her genius honed instincts and all!

- At this point, Aric is kinda a faceless character to me. He is the ever-mysterious scientist who broke them out of the lab but err, I think I needed to get a glimpse of his thoughts from his POV to understand him better.

All in all, The Sin Soldiers is a very nice read. I definitely recommend reading it! ✨✨

[Rigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this book. The concept was interesting and well executed in my opinion. I'm definitely interested in picking up the sequel to see where the story goes.
A couple of caveats to my enjoyment of this book though... one, there wasn't enough worldbuilding and I was often left wanting more. We know that they're on a different planet and it's been 1000 years since their ancestors left Earth, however we aren't given a layout of the planet's geography, the city plan, or the layout of the fort they spent 60% of the book in. Whenever they were talking about going somewhere new I kind of felt disoriented. Second, I'm really sick of the cliché YA love interest. You know the type: hot, dark, brooding, mean, only nice to people he cares about, falls for MC in only a couple of days despite hating her... it's a formula we've seen ad nauseam and it would be refreshing if we got something new. (Also we know that most women, myself included, would steer clear of such an awful person regardless of hotness.)

[C. Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book with the cover in mind. It just drew me in. A book about a compound causing people to embodied the 7 deadly sins!!!! WHAT!!!! But it was so much more. And while it didn't have all seven, it had enough! I loved the characters. Kai and her brother Dex had to be my favorites. Although I was a bit partial to Charlie even when he was (spoiler). What can I say, I like some disturbed men. LOL! The society was something out of a nightmare and I really can't wait to get my hands on the remaining three books in the series so I can binge read the books all at once. I love the touch of romance and can't wait to explore this aspect more. I fear, giving you a list of everything might provide WAY TOO MANY spoilers so I will just say...GET YOURSELF A COPY TODAY!!! 

[Meg Ripley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I enjoyed this book! The high concept premise is what brought me into the book. Then a few chapters deep, I was fully invested in Kai’s story.
Kai is a deeply relatable character. She’s a “wild child” thief locked up by the apparent enemy and condemned to suffer conversion to the “bad” side, the Eastern Forces. As the story spirals and Kai finds the enemy as her new roommates, her sympathy for them grows. Unlikely friendships and new allies are forged en route to Kai discovering a bigger truth.
Anyone who’s into dystopian Sci (the technology is really light but cool) will really, really enjoy this book.
Great writing.
Great storytelling.
Great book.

Can’t wait for the next! I’m a fan.

[noveldoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining introduction to a sci-fi, dystopia series. The book has a very creative approach to the characters, the world etc.
It was slow at first, but it picked up the pace later on. By the time I got to the last few chapters, I was excited to see how it will end.
I'd definitely want to get totally immersed in this world.

*A copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Axel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fresh take on the dystopian genre with interesting psychological aspects. The characters’ motivations were clearly influenced by the chemicals they were forced to take, so it was cool to see changes in their personalities as they occurred.

The book opened as a slow burn, getting to know the daily routines of the soldiers, and the pace picked up toward the end. The book sets the scene nicely for the next two in the trilogy, and I’m excited to see what happens next.

[Chante Jacobs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an arc of The Sin Soldiers by Tracy Auerbach from NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

So the whole concept of this book was so interesting to me and that was the best part of this book to me. The pacing was a little weird and the characters were not that likable. The writing style also through me off a little bit..

[Aliza Atik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great!!! It had compelling characters, a strong plot, and enough narrative tension to keep me up reading past my bedtime - what more can you ask for! I like how some plot points are resolved but with enough tension to have me looking forward to the next book in the series. Definitely recommend!!

[Aslee]

i was told there were hacker gays here

[Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my complete review of The Sin Soldiers here: https://tohscontent.wordpress.com/201....

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Sin Soldiers is a really really difficult book to read. And, I think that’s a really good thing. The Sin Soldiers is a dystopian novel that is frankly scary simply because it’s quite plausible. The story kicks off from 0% and revolves around four characters, Kai, Finn, Charlie and Tessa. These teenagers are imprisoned and under the mercy of their handlers and the injections that they are subjected to.

This book was not dark and gritty in the typical way that dystopian novels can be, but I was more freaked out reading this than I was reading The Hunger Games or Divergent series, and I personally think (as I stated early) it’s because most dystopian books are partially removed from reality, but this book didn’t feel that way. It’s scary how well-explained the effects of these injections and the responses to these injections are. Quite frankly these are some things I’ve read about as a psychology student–except I read it happen to lab rats. The devastating effects of losing control to one’s baser instincts are too…real. What makes it even further horrifying is the detachment with which these events (under influence) occur in book–just as they would if it were to happen in reality. TA has also nailed on the head the apathy with which the handlers control their soldiers–typical behaviour of those conforming to a role they perceive as cruel and controlling. If anyone has read about The Stanford Prison Experiment reading The Sin Soldiers had a similar disturbing effect. *shudders*

The perspectives alter between these four characters and while I haven’t always preferred that in a book, I was able to appreciate seeing the thoughts of all the characters and it was particularly heart-breaking at times how much good and struggle was inside these four characters. The book does portray romance, but it felt like a very small part of the whole story. It appears in hints at the beginning and then suddenly towards the end (reason for which is explained), but there’s hardly any time to focus on it.

There’s loss of control, abandonment, betrayal, loss…It can be a difficult read, so I suggest anyone who wishes to read it, be prepared for it. The Sin Soldiers is available now!

Four and a half stars! Tracy, I’m so utterly lost for words and shaken.

Happy reading.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This genre is completely out-of-character for me, but I’d been trying to branch out and was so glad I did. I couldn’t put Sin Soldiers down. I found Kai’s relationships, both with other characters, and within the various aspects of her world to be so compelling.

[Rach A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic ARC in exhcange for an honest review. This review was originially posted to Anxious Nachos. Actual rating 2.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads.


Content warnings: implication of sexual assault (though never discussed), violence, addiction.

Sadly The Sin Soldiers is another recent read for me that had a very interesting concept but just didn’t quite work. There were lots of inconsistencies and I was just quite bored throughout, and didn’t care much for any of the characters.

Kai has been kidnapped by the Eastern Forces, and taken to a base where they inject teenagers with different compounds (meant to represent three of the seven sins - wrath, gluttony and sloth) in order to train them into soldiers. These compounds are created from crystals found on the planet. The soldiers are used to guard the mines and mine the crystals, which keep the Eastern Forces in power. Kai is brought to the compound and lives with three other characters, each on a different type of compound.

I was quite disappointed by the book. I thought the premise of a sci-fi novel which examined addiction was really quite interesting, but I really just didn’t get into the book at all. All of the characters were just a bit meh. Their emotions and drive just changed constantly from page to page when they weren’t on the compounds. There was no consistency in their motivations at all. This seemed to be the case for the four MCs we’re supposed to root for, as well as the villains of the piece, the Eastern Forces. They’re supposed to be this really evil organisation, forcing drugs into young kids to make them zombie like creatures who’ll fight for them….and yet they let them have loving relationships? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I didn’t really find any of the villains particularly villainous. Kai, the POV we see from for most of the book wasn’t well developed. Her thoughts and feelings made no sense to me (for example, her level of hurt over the ‘betrayal’....by someone she met a day ago.) A lot of the motivations just didn’t really gel.

The characters who came into play closer to the end, Aric and Dex, were equally confusing. Of all, I think Aric has the most potential. He’s characterised as more evil than the Eastern Forces, and this is successful - he comes across as quite creepy (and not inconsistently so!) so he’s definitely one of the better reads. Dex is just a mess who seems to not care at all for the sister he apparently spent a week worrying over and trying to rescue. I literally scoffed out loud when it got to his protective brother ‘stay away from my sister, champ’ speech.

I don’t really have much to say about the plot. The book only lasts a week of time, and that’s just far too rushed for the amount of changes in character motivations. Perhaps the constant changing in motivation would’ve made more sense if it had actually happened over a longer period of time, instead of a day.

I did think the concept and discussions around addiction were interesting, and I enjoyed the idea behind using these different compounds to evoke different responses in the soldiers. One of my favourite scenes was the glass in the tunnel scene, as I felt that really portrayed the evilness of the Eastern Forces as well as the trauma and feelings of addiction. I also thought the concept of the planet itself was great - I really like books based on the human race destroying Earth and embarking on a voyage to a new planet. Unfortunately, that was a very small part of the story and wasn’t mentioned much. I’d hoped we’d find out more about how the society began after escaping the dying Earth, but we didn’t.

I really wanted to like this book. The concept was fantastic, the cover is AMAZING. I really enjoy reading books which have a good portrayal of mental illness. Unfortunately, this wasn’t it. I just didn’t get into this one - the characters really let it down for me.

[Brayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Pros
-The characters were some of the best I have read in a long time and I loved getting to know them. I already want the next book so I can join them again.
-The story was original and I loved the concept and slowly learning about the world and what was going on. It started out slower but built as it went on till close to the end where I was so pumped to be reading the book and wanted to be in the world as much as possible.
Cons
-The writing wasn't perfect but wasn't bad either, I'm hoping it will get better as the series unfolds.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting beginning to a YA Sci-Fi series. Auerbach's story talks about a world where the Eastern Forces soldiers are altered by compounds of different crystals to behave in distinct ways. Kai, the protagonist gets captured and pulled into the world of the Seven Soldiers.

I like the pacing of Auerbach's story, and love the moral ambiguity tied to characters. The leads and supports aren't inherently good or inherently evil, they are products of their decisions and the decisions of others. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the saga plays out.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had great character development. I felt like I knew the characters and I felt myself rooting for or against them. I loved the idea of the crystals and how the whole development of the seven sins plays a role. The author really drew me into the story right from the beginning and had me wanting more. The relationship between the characters was not predictable and their back stories were so interesting and well-developed. I felt like I was watching a movie, and now I can’t wait for the sequel! I would definitely recommend reading this book even if you don’t usually read sci-fi.

[Jamie Coudeville · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts that I liked (characters, possible deeper history) but the politics were really confusing. Which, I guess, was kind of the point. But I like knowing who are the good guys and who the bad. And there were multiple undefined parties here that confused the hell out of me. But I'm intrigued. Hopefully, the wait for book 2 won't be too long.

[Rebecca/Bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theme: A new world Sci-Fi surrounding the forced addiction of soldiers to the deadly sins- mainly glutton, sloth and wrath.
Nature of Review: NetGalley provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Release Date: The Sin Soldiers was released on July 23/2019 and is available for purchase on kindle, as well as in paperback on Amazon and B&N.
Warnings: I found the harshest themes in this story were violence, forced institutionalization and mainly the harsh reality of death, addiction and captivity.

Kai is a thief living on the streets of a post-Earth planet, having to steal in order for her and her orphan brother, Dex, to survive. Their latest robbery of stealing from Club Seven- where the monstrous, genetically enhanced soldiers go to make money for their handlers- should’ve went off without a hitch. But even a human can’t resist the urge of hunger, and Kai gets herself trapped by a Seven Solider and forcefully enlisted into the army herself.

Not giving up hope for her escape, Kai tries to resist the urges that the army chemically force on her, giving her injections of the serums to break her and remake her exactly as they see fit. But as she goes on living with her fellow soldiers, she realizes that escape might not be so possible after all, and that no soldier ever gets their happy ending.

Dex hasn’t given up on his sister though, and he’s working his connections on the outside to find Kai and bring her home safely, even though Kai begins to form real relationships with the soldiers she found so horrifying and refuses to leave them to suffer alone.
A story of monstrous greed and deadly addiction, The Sin Soldiers enters a future world descended from our own, where human’s lack of compassion and hunger for power thrives and threatens to destroy yet another generation.

I haven’t read science fiction novel in ages, so when I saw the promise The Sin Soldiers offered, I was quick to request it, and even happier to have been approved for an ARC!

To start off, I’ll say I was not disappointed with the story as a whole. I was glad the worldbuilding was there since the beginning, and our characters were thrown onto this post-Earth new-world planet that had been corrupted long before they were born. They had to learn to survive this world, this greed, this downfall of the human race. And the story started off right with a bang because there was no going back to explain things- we were already there, waiting and watching along with Kai to find out what happened next.

I also was intrigued by the unique idea of the Seven Soldiers, who are forcefully manipulated and injected with compounds that make them possess qualities such as wrath, glutton and sloth, depending on their purpose in the army. It was so refreshing to read a story that was focused on something other than the destruction of human kind or earth, and to have a story that takes place after the damage is done and these kids have to suffer the consequences.

I find I am having a harder time with certain Young Adult novels these days, and find they are just lacking something that could push them from “good” to “amazing!”. For this story, I feel the plot and worldbuilding had the potential to be something intense and wild and an absolute thriller. While it had it’s moments, where I really felt the terror and disgust the characters felt, other times it just felt so tame compared to the premise. Like if this was real life, it wouldn’t be so easy or so kind to them. But I’m finding this lacking in a lot of YA, ones that don’t particularly push the boundaries to New Adult, so I think my taste is just changing.

Aside from the originality of this story, I enjoyed the different POVs of the characters and how each character was filled with a unique history, a special set of traits, and facing their own tortures in the army. You rooted for every character, even the not so nice ones, and saw dark sides to every hero that made them seem realistic and well-rounded. I loved how no character was perfect, even the genetically enhanced Soldiers. I loved how the relationships slowly developed, even when some of them were started on lies and deception. I loved how heartbreaking and yet so hopeful the stories of each character was. There were no happy endings, but it was set up for a definite sequel.

I do have to point out a quick note about the ending- mainly how I felt it ended at a weird place. There was a fairly good climax, and then the story just continued on for a while after that and ended at a slightly boring point. I felt either it should have ended sooner or continued slightly longer to make the perfect cliffhanger. I’m sure everyone knows a book like this, and it might be personal preference because I love dramatics, but I felt the ending could have left us with a larger bang.

Overall, The Sin Soldiers was a decently interesting and utterly unique Sci-Fi thriller, with slow-burn romance and heartbreaking hardships to make it a well-rounded story. I’d recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys new-world sci-fi and wants a little extra realism. The Sin Soldiers isn’t a story I’m about to forget any time soon, for all the best reasons.

[Caroline (CozyBookTraveller) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very interesting Science fiction world that Auerbach introduces the reader into.

A world where the general public are kept under control by the so-called Seven Soldiers. These "soldiers" are criminals and bad people that embodies the human sins. They are used both as a scare tactic, as well as an amusement for the citizens that can pay for it. But the twist is that the soldiers are drugged into this state by a chemical extracted from crystals and different colored crystals give the user different effects. I actually found this part of the story the most interesting and would love to maybe get a companion story focusing more on the science part of the crystals and how the chemical actually works (alternative the sequel will elaborate more on it).
Another thing is that the whole political aspect felt a bit unclear, and the soldiers themselves. Who initiated them? How long have they been around?
I would have love to get to know more about the world on the outside of the prison that Kai spends most of her time in. All we really get to know about are the clubs where most of the soldier-citizen mingles occurs.

The only character I really cared about was Charlie, but I think it's just a personal thing and not really anything to do with how the other characters where written. As such I had liked to see more point of view from him, get more of a feeling how it is to be in a long-term soldier's shoes. Nothing bad to Kai but she was so new to all of the soldier things that she couldn't give me the answers that I wanted. Personally I think it would have been great to have Kai, the newbie coming in all fresh, on one side telling that story and layering it with Charlies knowledge and changed world view from being an experienced soldier. To get both side of the coin. Also I would have skipped the whole plot with Dex trying to break out his sister until the end, he could still be there just more of a shadow character so that the big break out heist would give the reader more of a "Wow" experience when it happens. As it is now it's just, "Ah, now they're here. Great".

The book has a great strength in the story itself, I just wished it would have capitalized on more aspects of the Soldier life while skipping things, like Dex getting his break out plan, or at least change them so the pace didn't suffer as much. It does suffer a bit from Book One syndrome, where it feels more as a warm-up to the actual story. But this makes me hopeful that the second book will be better and actually really grip my interest while reading it. Because the subject is interesting and the world the story is set in is too, so I wanted to love it but sadly can't give it more than a three stars.

***I got a copy for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feed me! This book made me hungry. Kai spends way too much time hungry in the first place, but once forced into the military drug regimen, her hunger gets ramped up. Now she’ll do nearly anything for some food and she’s not the only one. Other teenagers are in the same boat.

Addiction is the main theme of the story, though it’s limited to food and alcohol for the most part. The soldiers do develop a dependency on the the drugs to feel normal, which makes them more controllable. As believable all that is, I did find it odd that sex is almost completely absent from the story. Teens plus drugs plus stressful situations usually equals lots of questionable decisions, including sex partners. There is one young couple (Charlie & Tessa) who are probably having sex but it happens off stage. Oh, and we need more female characters. It’s pretty much just Tessa and Kai and both are romantic interests and when they do chat together, it’s always about a guy.

Set on a planet far, far away generations after the initial settlers left Earth, many believe Earth to be something out of fables. On this story’s planet, the military runs things with a brutal fist. But a group of thieves-turned-rebels want change and that group includes Kai’s brother Dex. I wish we had more about this, even if it was just in Kai’s reflections, though having a second point of view from Dex would have been interesting. The story spends most of it’s time on teen angst and confusing attraction/revulsion among the drugged teens. I wanted more scifi and pending rebellion and less angst.

Because we spend so much time on the developing relationship between Finn and Kai, there’s not much action in this story. The pacing was therefore a bit slow for me. I wasn’t captivated by the main characters because I didn’t get to see them doing much outside of struggling with their military-enforced drug addictions. This story has a lot of promise but I was left wanting more on many fronts, though Book 2 might feed that need now that the main characters are established. 3.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Rocky Taylor was a good fit for this story making a great Kai. She captured Kai’s young and anxious personality well. I also liked her angry voice for Tessa. While Taylor had a variety of voices for the characters, her male character voices needed a bit more masculinity. I sometimes couldn’t tell it was Finn talking because his soft, nice voice sometimes sounded like Kai. The pacing was good and there were no tech issues with the recording. 4/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Tracy Auerbach. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars, rounded down

So I was actually really intrigued by this when I discovered it months ago! I found it to be really unique, and the synopsis immediately made me want it. When I received an ARC for this book, I was so excited to finally dive in! Unfortunately, I was a bit let down by the book. I found it to give little explanation as to why scientists do certain things, why one character acts one way but another doesn't, and just some pacing issues as well. It just eventually all added up and made me not enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

The story itself is interesting, but it leaves a lot to be desired. We're to take things at face-value, when in reality I wanted to get into the nitty-gritty of the sciences behind the compounds. I'm usually not like this when reading sci-fi, but I was genuinely curious as to why they worked the way they did, and how it affected everyone a bit differently. We get minor explanations, but nowhere near enough to satisfy me. Around the middle, where lines are drawn and some "betrayals" (if you can call them that) happen, I just started to feel the story shift. From there, it became more character focused and moved away from delving into the compounds and what everyone's purpose is. I felt it to downgrade in quality a bit, which I wasn't expecting at all. By the end, I found myself severely disappointed in the outcomes. It was enough to where I physically shook my head.

The characters were mediocre at best, in my personal opinion of course. I found myself interested, detatched, and confused with each of the main 4 characters all the time. There's not one where I could point out and say that I loved them. They were just sort of...there. There wasn't much to them, and they each just seemed to be fullfilling their own roles in the story. I would've loved to see more development from all of them. Characters introduced in the middle-end of the book I didn't even care about. I didn't even bother to remember their names.

Honestly, this was such a unique book but it just fell flat. Story was interesting, but the science aspects could've been delved into further. It left much to be desired. Characters were fairly one-dimensional, but they still had their unique qualities to them. Story starts off well, but it takes a bit of a decline near the middle. If I'm being honest, I don't think I'd come back to this book in the future. Even though I thought it was ok and had some shining moments, it just isn't one I would prefer over other books.

ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know what I expected from this book but this wasn’t it.

“The Sin Soldiers” finds Kai at the hands of those who control the soldiers who fit the titles of long forgotten seven deadly sins with the main focus on gluttony, sloth and wrath. With her future looking more and more grim with each passing day she leans on her bunk mates to survive a world where free will is nonexistent but with her brother looking for her on the outside, she finds that sometimes the biggest threat are the ones closest to home.

This is an interesting premise but that’s about as far as it gets, trigger warning that there is a lot of black outs and mindless states the characters find themselves in where those not under control can do whatever they want to them and though we don’t see anything explicit within the pages we are told it happens as women eagerly present what are known as “backstage passes” to the soldiers and are carted off screen to do what needs little explanation.

I feel like the world and changes amongst the characters happen way too fast especially as they weave in and out of their drugged in states and somehow go from uncaring with no attachments to someone who is willing to risk it all to save someone they just met with very little withdraw or cravings until they need a stumbling block and it happens to hit harder than it did a few pages earlier.

I feel like the biggest theme of this book is addiction and as someone who works with that population there is a lot that is handled wrong apart from what I mentioned above. It’s easy to see their comparisons to Captain America, a weirdly placed pop culture reference that shatters what’s left of this post apocalyptic sci fi story which is centered on biblical mythology, but apart from a cheap copy for that specific character there’s no real attempt at creating something new and by throwing in that reference the door opens for a lot of comparisons between the two and I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a weak attempt to make a Winter Soldier which I might not have caught on to without that little nod.

This might work for some people but honestly this story as been told a couple dozen times and a heck of a lot better and I would hope someone would look to those before wasting an hour and a half of their afternoon like I did.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**