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Lying Beneath
Underneath the city lies an advanced society, and its dark secrets could bury her alive.
Ayla worries she'll be stuck waitressing for pennies until she dies. She longs for adventure, for something to save her from the paycheck-to-paycheck life she lives with her long-time boyfriend, Derek, who plays it safe and only half-tolerates her thirst for exploration.
With her trusty camera in tow, she explores abandoned buildings, searching for something—anything—interesting. One night, she finds a mysterious trapdoor in an old warehouse which leads to a futuristic society right beneath her feet.
This is the adventure she's been looking for, but the people underground don't appreciate her intrusion and she quickly finds herself locked up and questioned. They think she's a spy, their questions are getting more intrusive, and Derek has no idea where she is.
Ayla must find a way out of this underground world that's not at all the adventure she thought she wanted, or she may never see Derek again...
Ayla worries she'll be stuck waitressing for pennies until she dies. She longs for adventure, for something to save her from the paycheck-to-paycheck life she lives with her long-time boyfriend, Derek, who plays it safe and only half-tolerates her thirst for exploration.
With her trusty camera in tow, she explores abandoned buildings, searching for something—anything—interesting. One night, she finds a mysterious trapdoor in an old warehouse which leads to a futuristic society right beneath her feet.
This is the adventure she's been looking for, but the people underground don't appreciate her intrusion and she quickly finds herself locked up and questioned. They think she's a spy, their questions are getting more intrusive, and Derek has no idea where she is.
Ayla must find a way out of this underground world that's not at all the adventure she thought she wanted, or she may never see Derek again...
- GenresScience Fiction
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2020
3 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Moran
5 books82 followersKevin Moran has been writing books since he first learned what a book was. His early drafts were held together with pins, staples, glue and string. His process has since improved and he now publishes with An Ink Mover, LLC. He currently has four works available for purchase.
"Stirring Within," Book 2 of the AURA Operation series, is his latest release, and is available now through most online retailers. "Lying Beneath" is the first book in the series.
"Sabotage", Kevin's debut novel, is an action/adventure about corporate saboteurs and the lengths that some companies will go to get an advantage.
"40 Winks: Stories from Slumberland" is Kevin's second work. The book is a collection of 40 works of fiction based on the theme of sleeping. The stories dive into the psychology of sleep, the world of imagination when you are asleep, and beyond.
"Faith in Santa" is his third book, and first children's book. The imaginative, light-hearted story is about how Jesus traveled to the North Pole to become Santa Claus.
"Stirring Within," Book 2 of the AURA Operation series, is his latest release, and is available now through most online retailers. "Lying Beneath" is the first book in the series.
"Sabotage", Kevin's debut novel, is an action/adventure about corporate saboteurs and the lengths that some companies will go to get an advantage.
"40 Winks: Stories from Slumberland" is Kevin's second work. The book is a collection of 40 works of fiction based on the theme of sleeping. The stories dive into the psychology of sleep, the world of imagination when you are asleep, and beyond.
"Faith in Santa" is his third book, and first children's book. The imaginative, light-hearted story is about how Jesus traveled to the North Pole to become Santa Claus.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 27, 2020
Ayla has been living a boring and uneventful life and also working two jobs with her boyfriend, Derek. She wanted a change. Any change at all. She longed for an adventure. One day, while hiding from an armed guard in an abandoned warehouse, they both stumble on a trap door bearing the seal of the ‘Aura Operation’. Curiosity gets a hold of her imaginative mind and she sneaks out of the house with the hope of starting a new and exciting adventure of discovering what was underground, lying beneath the trap door she found. What began as an adventure quickly turns out to be a matter of life and death. But will she make it out alive?
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To read the complete book review kindly visit my book blog 👇
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September 11, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A young woman who is an urban explorer finds a door to another world, one that leads to sort of sub-dimension created to invent technology to win a war on our world. Possibly WWII, or even WWI, nobody seems to know how long they've been down there.
Not too bad. Not quite a Lost Race novel, but pretty close.
A young woman who is an urban explorer finds a door to another world, one that leads to sort of sub-dimension created to invent technology to win a war on our world. Possibly WWII, or even WWI, nobody seems to know how long they've been down there.
Not too bad. Not quite a Lost Race novel, but pretty close.
September 8, 2020
~About
Bored of her mundane everyday life, young Ayla (a curious photographer) seeks adventure. When she investigates a peculiar hatch in an abandoned building, she finally finds the adventure she seeks, but it isn’t what she hoped for.
Trapped below ground and thought of as a spy by a strange group of people, Ayla must find a way to escape back to the world above.
~Characters
While each character was easy to identify, I don’t feel as though I was given much of a glimpse below the surface of their being.
Ayla, a spontaneous photographer appeared determined and mentally strong. Her boyfriend Derek, an ex-military man, appeared brave and stubborn, content with their more mundane existence, however I didn’t get to know much more about him.
The other characters felt intriguing at first, however again, I don’t feel as though they were particularly well developed.
~Likes and Dislikes
The story itself had several aspects that drew me in. I liked the way the point of view switched from Ayla, to Katherine (an underground doctor), showing how each of them perceived the strange world below ground. The contrast between their views provided some additional depth that made it easier to root for these two characters, even though they started off on separate sides.
The slow revelation of information kept me hooked as I waited to uncover new secrets regarding the below ground environment Ayla stumbles across.
My only dislikes were the characters appearing a little less developed than expected and the conflicts not feeling as though they were explored in much depth. Any obstacle felt as though it was easily brushed aside, instead of there being any real risk/effort in overcoming it. Sadly, this left a shallow impression of the events in my mind and nothing more.
~Memorable Quotes
Two particular quotes stood out to me throughout the story.
1) ‘She didn’t want to turn back and face reality. She didn’t want to turn back to the comfortable and known.’
This quote highlighted a contrast in human nature, how we often (especially in modern society) do not wish the face the hardships of our own reality, often preferring the comfortable and known. The contrast comes with the fact that Ayla’s reality was the comfortable and known and as a strong individual, she craved more and was willing to take the risks that many in life don’t, in order to realize that further potential.
2) ‘I’m not convinced we ever know anybody quite the way we think we do.’
This quote really struck me. Whenever I’m out for a walk with my dog, I have the habit of people-watching, observing others and what they do, in order to learn more about them. As humans, we often make snap judgements about people based on what we see, however this quote makes me wonder- how much do people’s actions really tell us about them if we don’t know the motivations behind those actions.
~Overview
Overall, reading Lying Beneath was an enjoyable experience and gave me some things to ponder over, however I didn’t feel as though the characters or plot were as developed as they could have been.
My Rating: 3 stars.
Recommended to those who enjoy mysterious, short sci-fi reads.
May 27, 2020
Lying beneath is an "Alice in Wonderland" set in a futuristic underworld set. Ayla is in a constant search for new adventures, to escape the everyday routine of her boring job. she enjoys exploring abanded buildings with her boyfriend Derek, who unlike her is more skeptic and cautious.
one night, she stumbles upon a trapdoor leading to an underground city.
soon her adventure is taking a nightmarish turn, when she is accused of being a spy. and the worst of all no one knows where she is, including her live-in boyfriend Derek.
I was immediately sucked into Ayla's world. her backstory is definitely engaging.
Additionally to the interesting adventure. I really liked the 80's sci-fi movies decor, with the portals and the gooey walls.
The plot is definitely interesting and fast pacing, and the writing is excellent.
The story ends with a cliffhanger, but not an entirely frustrating one. definitely will be checking out the second book.
My thanks are due to Booksirens, the publishers and the author for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
one night, she stumbles upon a trapdoor leading to an underground city.
soon her adventure is taking a nightmarish turn, when she is accused of being a spy. and the worst of all no one knows where she is, including her live-in boyfriend Derek.
I was immediately sucked into Ayla's world. her backstory is definitely engaging.
Additionally to the interesting adventure. I really liked the 80's sci-fi movies decor, with the portals and the gooey walls.
The plot is definitely interesting and fast pacing, and the writing is excellent.
The story ends with a cliffhanger, but not an entirely frustrating one. definitely will be checking out the second book.
My thanks are due to Booksirens, the publishers and the author for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2020
This sci-fi mystery thriller from Kevin Moran has all the feel of a Young Adult book about it, though I suspect the main characters are slightly older than that, primarily because of the nature of their relationship, and the fact that one of them has a military background. It is pretty interesting and entertaining book, and though not particularly outstanding in any way, I do like this author’s articulate and engaging writing style; he had me hooked, and I read the whole thing over the space of one generally well-spent evening.
Ultimately, though, it did leave me a little unsatisfied, I suppose; there were a couple of plot gaps which weren’t really addressed the way I assumed they could be – no less so than how events all came about right from the outset. Additionally, in true YA style, there is the typically frustrating ending, intended more for the benefit of the sequel than the reader. The story is a simple one, and in fact a pretty good one, bringing to mind Total Recall and even perhaps some of those beneath the earth Doug McClure movies of the 70s; there is also the slightest hint at Crichton’s influence, in that the single sci-fi aspect is subtly underplayed, yet simultaneously a vital part of the storyline. It would be interesting to see what comes next for the characters, and I think will make for a good deal more excitement. As far as Lying Beneath goes, it was a nice way to spend a few short hours, if in a formulaic fashion – don’t expect too much to be revealed though; it simply is what it is within these few pages.
The truly encouraging aspect of this book is Moran himself. I like his writing – found it to be pretty faultless, in fact – and it would be very interesting to see what his future work holds in store. I would hope, perhaps, that he can really open the floodgates to his own creativity, and resist the temptation toward formula. Lying Beneath is a good book – not requiring immense concentration – perhaps worth a read on a long train journey or the like. Kevin Moran is certainly one to watch.
Ultimately, though, it did leave me a little unsatisfied, I suppose; there were a couple of plot gaps which weren’t really addressed the way I assumed they could be – no less so than how events all came about right from the outset. Additionally, in true YA style, there is the typically frustrating ending, intended more for the benefit of the sequel than the reader. The story is a simple one, and in fact a pretty good one, bringing to mind Total Recall and even perhaps some of those beneath the earth Doug McClure movies of the 70s; there is also the slightest hint at Crichton’s influence, in that the single sci-fi aspect is subtly underplayed, yet simultaneously a vital part of the storyline. It would be interesting to see what comes next for the characters, and I think will make for a good deal more excitement. As far as Lying Beneath goes, it was a nice way to spend a few short hours, if in a formulaic fashion – don’t expect too much to be revealed though; it simply is what it is within these few pages.
The truly encouraging aspect of this book is Moran himself. I like his writing – found it to be pretty faultless, in fact – and it would be very interesting to see what his future work holds in store. I would hope, perhaps, that he can really open the floodgates to his own creativity, and resist the temptation toward formula. Lying Beneath is a good book – not requiring immense concentration – perhaps worth a read on a long train journey or the like. Kevin Moran is certainly one to watch.
May 9, 2020
Lying Beneath is based on the premise that a secret society had been living beneath a presumably American city for around a century. The hidden city beneath the city controls its population by telling them that there is major war going on in the world above them and that they are enjoying a relatively prosperous life in their hidden home because they are conducting vital research for their war effort developing new weapons and equipment. When Ayla, a struggling waitress, stumbled upon the hidden civilization, the basic lie that has sustained this society for a hundred years is in danger of being exposed for the fraud it is.
So there are three stories wrapping around each other in this novel. First, there is Ayla who is trying to figure out how to get free and escape back to her own world. Second, there is a totalitarian government with apparently very limited means of enforcing its will, struggling to control Ayla and access to her. And finally you have two groups—some scientists and some revolutionaries—trying to find out what’s really going on in the world above them.
Over all I enjoyed the story, but there are some major weaknesses which troubled me right through to the end. First, I never understood why the government didn’t just take possession of Ayla as soon as she appeared. There were some efforts to explain this through established rules and procedures, but they just weren’t convincing. This is why I described the totalitarian government as having “very limited means of enforcing its will.” Controlling access to someone they describe as an enemy spy would seem to be the bare minimum necessary to maintain their fraud—and they do know it’s a fraud because they later go to the surface to capture Ayla’s boyfriend.
Of much greater concern to me was the questions that didn’t get asked by either side. Ayla is constantly interrogated about “the war.” Why did she never say, “Which war? Where was it being fought? Who was the enemy?” I could never tell for certain what war started the whole mess that is the premise of the story. It might even have been the U.S. Civil War. If I was Ayla, I’d have started listing every war we’d fought right back to the Revolutionary War and pointing out that none of these lasted very long and we kept winning them and we were now the major military power in the world and that no one could truly threaten us. And if I had been one of the scientists questioning her, I would have asked a lot of questions not only about the wars, but about the equipment they had produced over a hundred years to help wage it. There are dozens of questions that could have been asked, all of which would suggest that the scientists weren’t getting accurate information from their government.
So this is the sort of book that’s an enjoyable read, but you can’t think about it too much. And I found that to be a particular shame, because this novel could have supported some very big ideas.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilberstack.com/reviews.
So there are three stories wrapping around each other in this novel. First, there is Ayla who is trying to figure out how to get free and escape back to her own world. Second, there is a totalitarian government with apparently very limited means of enforcing its will, struggling to control Ayla and access to her. And finally you have two groups—some scientists and some revolutionaries—trying to find out what’s really going on in the world above them.
Over all I enjoyed the story, but there are some major weaknesses which troubled me right through to the end. First, I never understood why the government didn’t just take possession of Ayla as soon as she appeared. There were some efforts to explain this through established rules and procedures, but they just weren’t convincing. This is why I described the totalitarian government as having “very limited means of enforcing its will.” Controlling access to someone they describe as an enemy spy would seem to be the bare minimum necessary to maintain their fraud—and they do know it’s a fraud because they later go to the surface to capture Ayla’s boyfriend.
Of much greater concern to me was the questions that didn’t get asked by either side. Ayla is constantly interrogated about “the war.” Why did she never say, “Which war? Where was it being fought? Who was the enemy?” I could never tell for certain what war started the whole mess that is the premise of the story. It might even have been the U.S. Civil War. If I was Ayla, I’d have started listing every war we’d fought right back to the Revolutionary War and pointing out that none of these lasted very long and we kept winning them and we were now the major military power in the world and that no one could truly threaten us. And if I had been one of the scientists questioning her, I would have asked a lot of questions not only about the wars, but about the equipment they had produced over a hundred years to help wage it. There are dozens of questions that could have been asked, all of which would suggest that the scientists weren’t getting accurate information from their government.
So this is the sort of book that’s an enjoyable read, but you can’t think about it too much. And I found that to be a particular shame, because this novel could have supported some very big ideas.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilberstack.com/reviews.
June 11, 2020
After the death of her mother, Ayla was in an emotionally dark place, sinking deeper and deeper into a hopeless depression, without a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. Her life had become an endless loop of working two low-paying jobs, a crummy, dinky apartment with old, second-hand furnishings she shared with her long-standing boyfriend, Derek, and looking out for her younger brother, Jake. Not much of a life and little hope for a better future. Except for her growing interest in exploring and photographing old, abandoned, and forgotten buildings.
One night during one of their urban forays, she and Derek stumble onto an old, decrepit, and long-deserted warehouse, the outside inexplicably patrolled by a well-armed security guard. Hiding from the guard just inside the loading dock’s doors, they find a mysterious three-ringed symbol and the word “AURA” on the floor marking the location of a trapdoor. Wary of the guard’s return, they leave its further examination for another visit.
Against Derek’s better judgment, Ayla returns one night without him to continue her exploration and ends up below ground-level in what appears to be an underground research facility. She’s injured when she blunders into the middle of an ongoing experiment and winds up in the facility’s hospital, recuperating but now under lock and key and questioned endlessly about where she came from and why she’s there.I liked the premise of this story very much – a secret underground facility housing hundreds of people and in existence for over 100 years! I initially thought Ayla was pretty immature, frankly, and treated her boyfriend quite disrespectfully. He seemed like a decent guy going on these expeditions around the city at night when it was apparent he didn’t share in her enjoyment of the trips but only went because she liked them. However, as the story progressed, the reasons for her behavior came out, and she does reflect on her treatment of Derek and tries to do right by him.
Readers are introduced to the leaders of the underground community and a few residents. Still, we really only get to know Katherine, the facility’s lead doctor, and Ellen, the head of research before the cliffhanger ending suddenly arrives. But as this is the first book in a series, I look forward to more about each of the players.The story is quick-paced and relatively short, but it grabbed my attention from the start with Ayla and Derek hiding from the mysterious and menacing armed guard and held it throughout Ayla’s struggle to escape the underground facility and get back to Derek. As mentioned, there is a cliffhanger ending, and we are left with ALL the questions!
I recommend this book to fans of the Book of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau, although there is some violence that may be too much for very young readers.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery.
May 13, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a copy of Lying Beneath book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are, of course, my own.
To be quite honest, Ayla sounds a bit like me. I definitely felt myself relating to her and if you’ll notice my favorite quotes that I highlighted below, they literally sound like something that could have come out of my own mouth.
Ayla has been living an uneventful life (at least in her eyes) and she is eager for adventure to the point that it is disruptive to her life. She loved her boyfriend, their dog, and their life together, but past that, she craved change.
Same, girl.
Well, she definitely got her wish after stumbling across a trap door in an abandoned building found while doing some good ole urban exploring – something I also do.
Favorite things: the world-building, a female protagonist, and (for aesthetic reasons) I really like the cover.
I didn’t really dislike anything about this book, but since I always try to find something constructive, I’d have to say: I would have liked to see more backstory on Ayla.
Read my full review here: https://booksbeansandbotany.com/lying...
To be quite honest, Ayla sounds a bit like me. I definitely felt myself relating to her and if you’ll notice my favorite quotes that I highlighted below, they literally sound like something that could have come out of my own mouth.
Ayla has been living an uneventful life (at least in her eyes) and she is eager for adventure to the point that it is disruptive to her life. She loved her boyfriend, their dog, and their life together, but past that, she craved change.
Same, girl.
Well, she definitely got her wish after stumbling across a trap door in an abandoned building found while doing some good ole urban exploring – something I also do.
Favorite things: the world-building, a female protagonist, and (for aesthetic reasons) I really like the cover.
I didn’t really dislike anything about this book, but since I always try to find something constructive, I’d have to say: I would have liked to see more backstory on Ayla.
Read my full review here: https://booksbeansandbotany.com/lying...
May 4, 2020
Received as an ARC copy, this is an honest review. Alice in Wonderland in a science fiction world. Ayla enjoys exploring the mysteries of abandoned buildings, but it's what she and her brother Derek discover thst will plunge both into an unknown, bizarre... an unexpected ways. Curious about the odd carvings and symbols Ayla journeys deeper into the abandoned building, accidentally discovering a world beneath the building and becomes trapped in an odd hospital that she can't easily escape. Everyone there doesn't believe the the world that Ayla knows doesn't exist and see her as a spy for powerful organization; forcing her to endure bizarre conversations and procedures... leaving her frightened and confused. When a mysterious stranger helps Ayla flee her confinement... the bizarre world she's in keeps getting weirder than what she's already encountered. All Ayla wants is to get home but not sure if she can accomplish it surrounded by very odd people. Fun, fast and totally crazy... a brilliant journey to read; highly recommended.
July 29, 2020
What would you do if you found an unusual trapdoor in an abandoned building, would curiosity get the better of you or would you disregard it and get on with your day. Me? I’d be curious.
Whilst doing a bit of urban exploration with her boyfriend Derek, Ayla stumbles across an abandoned, heavily guarded building, an unusual trapdoor is hidden within it. Curiosity does get the better of her and despite her boyfriends concerns she wants to see what this strange building is hiding within its depths.
Sneaking out one night, she leaves her sleeping boyfriend and descends through the trapdoor in to an underground world stranger than anything she could imagine where people believe the world above is at war and she is thought to be a spy. Held against her will, will she get out and will she find out what this community are hiding? More importantly why are they hiding underground?
Lying Beneath is a great sci fi read, its quick paced heading straight underground within the first few chapters. Underground sci fi has been done before but its always a delight to see how each author imagines a world underground and this book brings a fresh new look at it.
Thanks to Book Sirens for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Whilst doing a bit of urban exploration with her boyfriend Derek, Ayla stumbles across an abandoned, heavily guarded building, an unusual trapdoor is hidden within it. Curiosity does get the better of her and despite her boyfriends concerns she wants to see what this strange building is hiding within its depths.
Sneaking out one night, she leaves her sleeping boyfriend and descends through the trapdoor in to an underground world stranger than anything she could imagine where people believe the world above is at war and she is thought to be a spy. Held against her will, will she get out and will she find out what this community are hiding? More importantly why are they hiding underground?
Lying Beneath is a great sci fi read, its quick paced heading straight underground within the first few chapters. Underground sci fi has been done before but its always a delight to see how each author imagines a world underground and this book brings a fresh new look at it.
Thanks to Book Sirens for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2020
This book was made temporarily available upon request in exchange for an honest review on #NetGalley.
An enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns and a world that will spark your curiosity.
If the book summary appeals to you, you are likely to enjoy this book.
The writing is fantastic and is written by a very talented author. The creativity and ideas is this book ( and it's not a far stretch to say the series ) is wonderfully illustrated to keep the readers engaged in this new world and coming back for more.
For the technicalities: the characters are fair- they show growth and development and certain aspects of their personality come to light but they just fall a tiny bit short of being truly memorable in my opinion however others may like them so don't let that stop you.
The end of this one definitely leaves you wanting for more. Will be keeping a lookout for the second book.
An enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns and a world that will spark your curiosity.
If the book summary appeals to you, you are likely to enjoy this book.
The writing is fantastic and is written by a very talented author. The creativity and ideas is this book ( and it's not a far stretch to say the series ) is wonderfully illustrated to keep the readers engaged in this new world and coming back for more.
For the technicalities: the characters are fair- they show growth and development and certain aspects of their personality come to light but they just fall a tiny bit short of being truly memorable in my opinion however others may like them so don't let that stop you.
The end of this one definitely leaves you wanting for more. Will be keeping a lookout for the second book.
May 6, 2020
Lying beneath was an enjoyable read. Ayla is a reckless adventure seeker as she wants to get away from her boring job and life. Once while exploring old abandoned buildings she and her boyfriend Derek stumble upon a trapdoor. Derek cautions her but her curiosity gets the better of her and she decides to explore what's beneath the trapdoor. Beneath it is a hidden facitily of a futuristic society (AURA). There she encounters the biggest adventure of her life, though not the kind of adventure she was seeking, but the one which jeopardizes her, Derek's and some of the facility members' lives.
The pace of the book is good and all the characters have been developed well. Aura's facility has been created and described well by the author. The concept of the facility is new and quite interesting. The end would definitely leave you wanting for more. I am looking forward to the second book.
The pace of the book is good and all the characters have been developed well. Aura's facility has been created and described well by the author. The concept of the facility is new and quite interesting. The end would definitely leave you wanting for more. I am looking forward to the second book.
August 4, 2020
I thought this book had a very interesting premise with a lot of potential, but it didn't really achieve what it could've. I liked the idea of a secret society living underground, as well as some of the futuristic elements on display. The mystery of why these people were living underground and what was really going on kept me invested. The book is very easy to digest and the author clearly has a lot of talent. At the same time, I didn't have a chance to get to know any of the characters, including the main character, because the plot doesn't really leave time for much characterization. The plot needed a little more development as well. This is a book that would've benefitted from having another 20-50 pages to develop certain things more fully. Additionally, so many events revolve around plot convenience that it was difficult to become invested.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2020
Outer world vs. inner world. Heroine is an urban explorer and stumbles upon an "underworld" who doesn't trust her. Is she a spy? And her boyfriend gets caught in the act because "they" think she knows more... does she? Will they be able to get out? And how? Who will be with them.... The start was rather slow... but once halfway speed is picking up and at the end one has the feeling of: is this really the end.. what will happen next?
April 28, 2020
I enjoyed the book. It had a fascinating plot and kept me interested.
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.
June 1, 2020
Excellent book!!!
May 6, 2020
A good well written novel with good characters and good plot development
May 22, 2020
Very enjoyable. Loved the concept and the book ending leaves me looking forward to the next one. Well done!
July 10, 2020
Ayla runs off without thinking and trouble ensues. While easy to read and pleasant, the plot of this book is underdeveloped. There are multiple plot aspects hinted at and danced around, but never developed. There is a secret society underground from the late 19th century hiding from the war. What war? Members of the society are tired of hiding under ground and want to escape, but they are prevented from leaving by a security team personified by one person. Lots of hints at an attempted escape before that has everyone scared, but the evil security agency and leader and what they have done before is under-developed. Ayla and her boyfriend live in a city with lots of downtown abandoned structures. Why? Why is her world full of abandoned infrastructure but also full of low end service jobs for her to work two jobs? Ayla is bored, so she runs off and gets into trouble and needs rescuing. When she is trying to escape, she runs off and needs rescuing. Then she runs off from her rescuers and needs rescuing. Then she tries to rescue her boyfriend, and again needs rescuing. Good thing there were lots of rescuers living underground and around the corner for when Ayla runs off. Again, the plot needs more development. It is good that the book is written well and easy to consume, but there was not enough substance and plot development in this first book to make me want to read the sequels. I received a copy of this book from the Goodreads giveaway program.
June 25, 2020
Sorry Kevin, but I just didn’t love this book. I think it was that I spent a good 25% of it trying to decide when and where the story was occurring; it would have been great to have a year, country and perhaps city in the first chapter. Without a frame of reference I wasn’t sure if it was current, future, post-apocalyptic, or even on another planet! So by the time I felt secure in my when and where knowledge, I was still struggling to believe that the story was “real”... I wasn’t particularly drawn into any of the characters either, as I felt the character development was shallow. The ending was also frustrating, as there wasn’t anything more than a hint of resolution. I apologize for all of the criticism! On the positive side, it’s an interesting concept, and I think could be a good story, but honestly I’d like to see this book be more polished before I could recommend it. Keep trying, though; I think you have promise!
I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews