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Freedom or Death
A highly addictive Young Adult Dystopian Survival Saga that will keep you glued to the pages.
Areum and Nari are arrested and face imminent doom, but are saved at the last minute by an unexpected and unspeakable betrayal.
Still, they are far from being out of the woods. As they are reassigned to food gathering duty in the mountains, they must continue their fight for survival under the constant threat of daily executions and the rampant starvation sweeping through the prison camp. And with time running out for Nari, Areum is more desperate than ever to find a way to escape, making her forge risky new alliances that until now would have been unthinkable.
As the situation in the camp deteriorates further, their survival comes down to their ability to work as a team. But dark secrets and lies continue to be revealed, sending the fragile coalition to the verge of collapse at an alarming speed.
Will they make it out in time?
Areum and Nari are arrested and face imminent doom, but are saved at the last minute by an unexpected and unspeakable betrayal.
Still, they are far from being out of the woods. As they are reassigned to food gathering duty in the mountains, they must continue their fight for survival under the constant threat of daily executions and the rampant starvation sweeping through the prison camp. And with time running out for Nari, Areum is more desperate than ever to find a way to escape, making her forge risky new alliances that until now would have been unthinkable.
As the situation in the camp deteriorates further, their survival comes down to their ability to work as a team. But dark secrets and lies continue to be revealed, sending the fragile coalition to the verge of collapse at an alarming speed.
Will they make it out in time?
- GenresDystopia
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2022
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Adria Carmichael
9 books171 followersAdria Carmichael is a writer of Young Adult Dystopian fiction with a twist. When she is not devouring dystopian and post-apocalyptic content in any format - books, movies, TV-series and PlayStation games - she is crafting the epic and highly-addictive Juche saga, her 2020 debut novel series that takes place in the brutal, totalitarian nation of Choson. When the limit of doom and gloom is reached, a 10K run on a sunny day or binging a silly sitcom on a rainy day is her go-to way to unwind.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 22, 2022
I LOVE this series and have been trying to make room in my reading schedule to read part four. I was not disappointed. I’m not sure how Adria Carmichael does it, but I keep loving each book more than the last, and every time I think it can’t get any better, it does.
The world building is impeccable. One thing I need in a dystopian novel is a well-developed world. I love to feel and see the things the characters are experiencing and Adria Carmichael does that with her writing. It’s poetic and descriptive without info dumping. Once I started reading, it was almost impossible to put this down.
Areum and Nari are put in a very dangerous situation in this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat, reading as quickly as I could to see how they’d fair in their predicament. At this point, I feel like I know these characters and I love how real they feel.
Honestly, this review doesn’t do it justice. If you haven’t started this series, you’re missing out! I highly, highly recommend checking the entire series out and experiencing a series that just gets better and better with every installment.
Thank you to the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The world building is impeccable. One thing I need in a dystopian novel is a well-developed world. I love to feel and see the things the characters are experiencing and Adria Carmichael does that with her writing. It’s poetic and descriptive without info dumping. Once I started reading, it was almost impossible to put this down.
Areum and Nari are put in a very dangerous situation in this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat, reading as quickly as I could to see how they’d fair in their predicament. At this point, I feel like I know these characters and I love how real they feel.
Honestly, this review doesn’t do it justice. If you haven’t started this series, you’re missing out! I highly, highly recommend checking the entire series out and experiencing a series that just gets better and better with every installment.
Thank you to the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
July 11, 2022
Once again, this was a rollercoaster experience that kept me on the precipice!!! I still have so many questions, but small nuggets of information are fed to the reader a morsel at a time. The extreme conditions, the sheer bravery and the unwavering hope guides the reader to not only love the main characters, but also root for their safety!! Cruelty and starvation do not keep these women down for long, and even secondary characters become important to us and the story. I can’t wait for the next installment!!!
May 27, 2022
Adria Carmichael allowed me to beta test this copy because i was such a huge fan of Juche I-III. Number four did not disappoint. I love the realistic world of life inside a labor camp. Some parts so descriptive even i cringed, a testament to Adria’s writing, i have a soul of steel for dystopians. She’s also not afraid to kill off important characters (the walking dead fan in me loves this!).
July 6, 2022
I started reading the Juche series not knowing how long it would be, but with this fourth installment the author did not disappoint when she took us along to see how the heroine would manage through her hellish ordeal in Choson.
Adria Carmichael is a talented writer with excellent character and plot development skills, and this fourth Juche installment does not disappoint. Areum, the heroine who began as a fully indoctrinated believer in the regime is gradually seeing through the crumbling façade of lies, corruption and brutality imposed by the rulers of the Yodok concentration camp. Some of what she and her small band of family members and followers have to endure to try to survive and escape do not make for easy reading. But one must keep in mind that even a dystopian novel cannot describe the full extent of the deprivation and suffering that has been going on in the infamous North Korean concentration camps.
Adria Carmichael is a talented writer with excellent character and plot development skills, and this fourth Juche installment does not disappoint. Areum, the heroine who began as a fully indoctrinated believer in the regime is gradually seeing through the crumbling façade of lies, corruption and brutality imposed by the rulers of the Yodok concentration camp. Some of what she and her small band of family members and followers have to endure to try to survive and escape do not make for easy reading. But one must keep in mind that even a dystopian novel cannot describe the full extent of the deprivation and suffering that has been going on in the infamous North Korean concentration camps.
April 14, 2022
This was an intense read!
This book takes place right after the previous book. I will say this is probably the darkest out of the other books. There’s torture scenes that were a bit hard for me to read, but overall, the book is an intense ride. This book mainly focuses on Areum and crew figuring out another way to escape, and whether they make it this time or not. They’re assigned to food duty, and Areum is once again assigned to be an informant. While trying to come up with a plan, many secrets and lies are revealed that cause the team to start to dwindle as a team. It’s not only about survival and their plan to escape, but also about trust, love, and family and how far you would go to protect those you love. Would you become a monster to stop or escape a monster?
I enjoyed this read the most out of this series so far. If you enjoy dark, and intense dystopian books, I recommend this one! I received a free digital copy to read, all thoughts are my own. Thank you Adria!
This book takes place right after the previous book. I will say this is probably the darkest out of the other books. There’s torture scenes that were a bit hard for me to read, but overall, the book is an intense ride. This book mainly focuses on Areum and crew figuring out another way to escape, and whether they make it this time or not. They’re assigned to food duty, and Areum is once again assigned to be an informant. While trying to come up with a plan, many secrets and lies are revealed that cause the team to start to dwindle as a team. It’s not only about survival and their plan to escape, but also about trust, love, and family and how far you would go to protect those you love. Would you become a monster to stop or escape a monster?
I enjoyed this read the most out of this series so far. If you enjoy dark, and intense dystopian books, I recommend this one! I received a free digital copy to read, all thoughts are my own. Thank you Adria!
May 17, 2022
This is the fourth book in the Juche series, which I would recommend reading in order. For quite a while now, Areum and her family have been in a concentration camp in the land of Choson, which is instantly recognizable as North Korea. Threatened daily with death and on the brink of starvation, Areum is more desperate than ever to find a way out for herself and her sister Nari. As she struggles to stay alive and plot her escape, she finds an ally she would have never expected.
I have enjoyed this series since the beginning, although the setting in a concentration camp is a hard one to read about. It is great to see the growth of Areum from a completely brainwashed teenager to someone who is very slowly beginning to see the light. The dynamic of a group of people who are in a life or death situation and are forced to turn on each other is sad and difficult to watch, and the way Areum navigates that is intriguing and often heartbreaking. There are moments of realization for Areum that are very powerful, especially one in particular that might cause you to shed some tears. . The combination of action and intrigue will keep you turning the page. This is a story about a concentration camp, but it’s also about the truth and how it can be shaped and manipulated. And it’s about the coming of age of a young girl forced into a terrible situation.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I have enjoyed this series since the beginning, although the setting in a concentration camp is a hard one to read about. It is great to see the growth of Areum from a completely brainwashed teenager to someone who is very slowly beginning to see the light. The dynamic of a group of people who are in a life or death situation and are forced to turn on each other is sad and difficult to watch, and the way Areum navigates that is intriguing and often heartbreaking. There are moments of realization for Areum that are very powerful, especially one in particular that might cause you to shed some tears. . The combination of action and intrigue will keep you turning the page. This is a story about a concentration camp, but it’s also about the truth and how it can be shaped and manipulated. And it’s about the coming of age of a young girl forced into a terrible situation.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
June 3, 2022
🌿 Book Review 🌿
#juchefreedomordeath
#adriacarmichael
#yadystopian
🌿🌿🌿🌿🌱/5 (rounding up for ratings)
The continuation of the saga of the Kim twin sisters. The prison camp is running out of food. They manage to get reassigned to a better work detail. Since the cabbage fields have been destroyed in the Storm of Storms, they will need to pick wild roots and plants up in the mountains. This makes it much easier to plan their escape. Will they make it out?
Will Areum be able to get her pregnant sister to safety before the pregnancy is discovered? Will she do all that is necessary to get her to safety? Do we finally find out what Areum did to Mina that was so bad? Will Areum finally start growing up? And maybe out of the brainwashing that is the Great General? How many of them will make it out? And are they the same people they started out with?
#dystopianseries
#yabookseries
#ya
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #bookrecommendation #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish #booknerdbookreviews #bookaddict #bookaholic #booklover #booknerd #readingaddiction #readingaddict #readingforpleasure #read #readingheals
#juchefreedomordeath
#adriacarmichael
#yadystopian
🌿🌿🌿🌿🌱/5 (rounding up for ratings)
The continuation of the saga of the Kim twin sisters. The prison camp is running out of food. They manage to get reassigned to a better work detail. Since the cabbage fields have been destroyed in the Storm of Storms, they will need to pick wild roots and plants up in the mountains. This makes it much easier to plan their escape. Will they make it out?
Will Areum be able to get her pregnant sister to safety before the pregnancy is discovered? Will she do all that is necessary to get her to safety? Do we finally find out what Areum did to Mina that was so bad? Will Areum finally start growing up? And maybe out of the brainwashing that is the Great General? How many of them will make it out? And are they the same people they started out with?
#dystopianseries
#yabookseries
#ya
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #bookrecommendation #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish #booknerdbookreviews #bookaddict #bookaholic #booklover #booknerd #readingaddiction #readingaddict #readingforpleasure #read #readingheals
October 6, 2023
Highly recommended!
An exhilarating dystopian survival saga that had me hooked from start to finish. Areum and Nari's journey is filled with unexpected twists, betrayals, and a constant battle for survival.
The narrative begins with an unexpected and unspeakable betrayal that sets the stage for a relentless battle for survival. As the protagonists are reassigned to food gathering duty in the unforgiving mountains, you can feel the constant tension of daily executions and the desperate struggle for sustenance in the prison camp.
The constant revelation of dark secrets and lies keeps the story on a knife's edge, driving the fragile coalition to the brink of collapse.
The author's skillful storytelling creates an immersive and heart-pounding experience. You'll find yourself emotionally invested in Areum and Nari's journey, cheering for their triumphs and holding your breath during their darkest moments
A must-read for fans of the genre!
An exhilarating dystopian survival saga that had me hooked from start to finish. Areum and Nari's journey is filled with unexpected twists, betrayals, and a constant battle for survival.
The narrative begins with an unexpected and unspeakable betrayal that sets the stage for a relentless battle for survival. As the protagonists are reassigned to food gathering duty in the unforgiving mountains, you can feel the constant tension of daily executions and the desperate struggle for sustenance in the prison camp.
The constant revelation of dark secrets and lies keeps the story on a knife's edge, driving the fragile coalition to the brink of collapse.
The author's skillful storytelling creates an immersive and heart-pounding experience. You'll find yourself emotionally invested in Areum and Nari's journey, cheering for their triumphs and holding your breath during their darkest moments
A must-read for fans of the genre!
July 11, 2024
"Freedom or Death" by Adria Carmichael is a gripping Young Adult dystopian survival saga that captivates readers with its intense plot and complex characters. Areum and Nari, facing imminent doom, are saved by a shocking betrayal but remain in peril. Reassigned to food gathering in the mountains, they struggle against daily executions and starvation in their prison camp. Desperation drives Areum to form risky alliances in a bid for escape. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, their survival hinges on their ability to work together. This addictive tale of resilience and hope keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
May 15, 2022
I am fortunate enough to be the editor for these books and I am privileged to be able to read Adria's books through all the processes. This book is my favourite due to the action, angst, and drama involved. This book is non-stop from the first chapter and I found myself needing to read on to find out what happened with the characters. There is definitely drama within this book, and I have held my breath at times hoping that the worst doesn't happen. I am eagerly awaiting the next book to see where Adria takes the characters and what other drama and angst she can provide.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews