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The Scarlet Harvest
"Welcome to Ovation where your genes are your greatest gift to humanity."
Wren Weiss, daughter of Reproduction Enforcers, lives on genetically segregated Genova Island. Her hopes and dreams hinge on one test, the Assessment, administered to girls when they become fertile.
Wren is determined to beat the test, but her worldview is shattered when a mysterious boy exposes her darkest secret and convinces her that something sinister lies beneath the polished surface of Genova Island.
Before Wren can get the answers she desperately seeks, government officials barge into her home, rip her away from her family, and transport her to a top-secret location called Ovation where egg harvesting is a sport and, to her devastation, she is the newest competitor.
As violence mounts in Ovation, Wren learns of a nefarious plot that endangers her family. She must unravel government conspiracies to discover her true identity and leverage the secrets hidden in her DNA to protect those she loves before it's too late.
An action-packed dystopian thriller with unpredictable twists, breathtaking confessions, and gut-wrenching betrayals. The Handmaid's Tale meets Divergent.
Wren Weiss, daughter of Reproduction Enforcers, lives on genetically segregated Genova Island. Her hopes and dreams hinge on one test, the Assessment, administered to girls when they become fertile.
Wren is determined to beat the test, but her worldview is shattered when a mysterious boy exposes her darkest secret and convinces her that something sinister lies beneath the polished surface of Genova Island.
Before Wren can get the answers she desperately seeks, government officials barge into her home, rip her away from her family, and transport her to a top-secret location called Ovation where egg harvesting is a sport and, to her devastation, she is the newest competitor.
As violence mounts in Ovation, Wren learns of a nefarious plot that endangers her family. She must unravel government conspiracies to discover her true identity and leverage the secrets hidden in her DNA to protect those she loves before it's too late.
An action-packed dystopian thriller with unpredictable twists, breathtaking confessions, and gut-wrenching betrayals. The Handmaid's Tale meets Divergent.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2021
13 people are currently reading
3821 people want to read
About the author
Kate Ashbrook
3 books75 followersKate works as a technical writer. When she's not writing for work or fun, you can find her learning a new language, volunteering in the community, or traveling to new locations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 26, 2021
I was excited to win the Goodreads Giveaway for the Scarlet Harvest. I taught English for over 20 years and had stopped reading debut authors and heavily discounted books years ago due to poor quality. This debut novel is well-written with good pacing and a solid understanding of the three-act plot structure. The characters are well-rounded with believable backstories that provide appropriate motivation for their goals.
The story takes place on an island where people are segregated based on genetic profiles. Upon taking the Assessment as teenagers, they are assigned to The Valley, Hillcrest, or Clairemont. Residents are not allowed to travel freely between communities. Those with less desirable genes are allowed to have only one-child, similar to China’s former one-child policy, and those with more desirable genes are allowed to have more children.
The parents of the main character, Wren, enforce Family Planning laws on the island. They want her to follow in their footsteps, but she has higher career aspirations. Wren gets the shock of her life when her Assessment results come back and she learns she will spend her fertile years as an egg donor to help the government reach their goal of eliminating natural childbirth and creating a lab-grown, genetically-engineered population.
Wren starts out as a typical teenager who doesn't break rules. When external circumstances force her to react, she does so with strength and resilience. There is a romantic subplot that develops very slowly. Wren and Fritz are first drawn to each other because they share a common trait and have never met others like them. They get to know each other, experience a dangerous situation together, and develop a romantic connection in the second half of the book.
While this is an entertaining action-adventure, the underlying theme is political and asks readers to contemplate the historical government and church control of women’s bodies via forced sterilization, forced births, motherhood incentives, and lack of access to basic reproductive healthcare. I can see how the theme would go over the heads of some readers because it is subtly woven into the story. The author doesn’t beat you over the head with a soapbox.
Symbols: eggs/ova, moon, the red pill, the color white, pigs, rabbits, white owl, church
Those with an interest in history, science, and politics will fully appreciate this book. Those who are just looking for an entertaining read filled with likable main characters, interesting subplots, and morally grey antagonists will also enjoy this book.
The story takes place on an island where people are segregated based on genetic profiles. Upon taking the Assessment as teenagers, they are assigned to The Valley, Hillcrest, or Clairemont. Residents are not allowed to travel freely between communities. Those with less desirable genes are allowed to have only one-child, similar to China’s former one-child policy, and those with more desirable genes are allowed to have more children.
The parents of the main character, Wren, enforce Family Planning laws on the island. They want her to follow in their footsteps, but she has higher career aspirations. Wren gets the shock of her life when her Assessment results come back and she learns she will spend her fertile years as an egg donor to help the government reach their goal of eliminating natural childbirth and creating a lab-grown, genetically-engineered population.
Wren starts out as a typical teenager who doesn't break rules. When external circumstances force her to react, she does so with strength and resilience. There is a romantic subplot that develops very slowly. Wren and Fritz are first drawn to each other because they share a common trait and have never met others like them. They get to know each other, experience a dangerous situation together, and develop a romantic connection in the second half of the book.
While this is an entertaining action-adventure, the underlying theme is political and asks readers to contemplate the historical government and church control of women’s bodies via forced sterilization, forced births, motherhood incentives, and lack of access to basic reproductive healthcare. I can see how the theme would go over the heads of some readers because it is subtly woven into the story. The author doesn’t beat you over the head with a soapbox.
Symbols: eggs/ova, moon, the red pill, the color white, pigs, rabbits, white owl, church
Those with an interest in history, science, and politics will fully appreciate this book. Those who are just looking for an entertaining read filled with likable main characters, interesting subplots, and morally grey antagonists will also enjoy this book.
March 4, 2021
World War III has occurred and the only known living survivors are on the island of Cuba, now known as Genova Island. A team of scientists who were on an exploration to Mars at the time of the War now form the government. The year is 2072 and while many of the inhabitants of the island are products of natural reproduction, the government has taken an active role in ensuring the health and continuation of the species through genetic modification. This book is a very eye opening account of what happens when governments are allowed to rule unchecked.
The lead character in this book is a very strong teenage female. She is portrayed as a caring young woman who wants to do the right thing and that fiercely craves the independence to make her own decisions. The support character is a teenage male who has many of the same qualities. This is their story of love and their fight to right the wrongs within their world.
I really like to read books that make me think. This book most assuredly did just that. While we have seen government intervention into reproduction in our times, such as China limiting each family to one child, this story shows how that can rapidly get out of hand. It portrays how something seemingly good, such as genetic modification for eliminating disease, can become overwhelmingly bad.
The only issues I had with the book were that some of it was unbelievable to me and there were a few scenes that were placed for what seemed to me as purely a thriller factor.
As an alert to the potential reader, the author does use some profanity, but it is not abundant. The violence in the book is strong and a bit graphic at times. Though there are a few adult situations, there are no graphic sex scenes in the book.
I would recommend this book to the mature reader who enjoys dystopian novels.
The lead character in this book is a very strong teenage female. She is portrayed as a caring young woman who wants to do the right thing and that fiercely craves the independence to make her own decisions. The support character is a teenage male who has many of the same qualities. This is their story of love and their fight to right the wrongs within their world.
I really like to read books that make me think. This book most assuredly did just that. While we have seen government intervention into reproduction in our times, such as China limiting each family to one child, this story shows how that can rapidly get out of hand. It portrays how something seemingly good, such as genetic modification for eliminating disease, can become overwhelmingly bad.
The only issues I had with the book were that some of it was unbelievable to me and there were a few scenes that were placed for what seemed to me as purely a thriller factor.
As an alert to the potential reader, the author does use some profanity, but it is not abundant. The violence in the book is strong and a bit graphic at times. Though there are a few adult situations, there are no graphic sex scenes in the book.
I would recommend this book to the mature reader who enjoys dystopian novels.
February 22, 2021
“I have to find happiness here. But how can I find happiness when the path chosen for me is not a path I would have chosen for myself?”
Set in a time post WWIII, Wren is a strong minded and driven teenager that doesn’t want to follow in her parent’s footsteps. In a world of strict pregnancy regulations, class systems, and a controlling government, known as the Nuclei, Wren is determined to score high on The Assessment and become a doctor. Little does she know that everything is not as it seems…
When Wren meets Fritz, her small little world suddenly becomes very large and an impossible mission leads to quite the discovery. When the time comes for Wren to take The Assessment, her world is further thrown into chaos and the story really begins.
Filled with endless plot twists, I couldn’t put this book down. I was constantly on edge waiting to see what happens next. A definite mix of Divergent and The Handmaid’s Tale but with many more elements mixed in. I felt that the characters were so well written and dynamic. I did feel that at times the plot moved along a little too quickly and left me feeling like I might have missed something, but it quickly would begin to all make sense again. There was just SO much happening. The book ended perfectly to set it up for the next installment, which I will definitely be picking up when it is released!
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Set in a time post WWIII, Wren is a strong minded and driven teenager that doesn’t want to follow in her parent’s footsteps. In a world of strict pregnancy regulations, class systems, and a controlling government, known as the Nuclei, Wren is determined to score high on The Assessment and become a doctor. Little does she know that everything is not as it seems…
When Wren meets Fritz, her small little world suddenly becomes very large and an impossible mission leads to quite the discovery. When the time comes for Wren to take The Assessment, her world is further thrown into chaos and the story really begins.
Filled with endless plot twists, I couldn’t put this book down. I was constantly on edge waiting to see what happens next. A definite mix of Divergent and The Handmaid’s Tale but with many more elements mixed in. I felt that the characters were so well written and dynamic. I did feel that at times the plot moved along a little too quickly and left me feeling like I might have missed something, but it quickly would begin to all make sense again. There was just SO much happening. The book ended perfectly to set it up for the next installment, which I will definitely be picking up when it is released!
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
March 1, 2021
"WHAT?!?!"
That's the reaction I had at nearly midnight, after not being able to put the book down for several hours. And now I am, of course, annoyed that I have to wait for the second book to be released.
I was super interested in reading that this book was similar to the Handmaid's Tale. I love dystopian books, and the fact that there is a little romance certainly doesn't hurt. I felt that the characters were really well-developed, I could easily picture them as I read. I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book, not knowing who to trust or what would happen next.
I have so many unanswered questions...and now I have to wait for the next book!! I would highly recommend this. Excellent storytelling. I can't wait to see what the next book holds.
That's the reaction I had at nearly midnight, after not being able to put the book down for several hours. And now I am, of course, annoyed that I have to wait for the second book to be released.
I was super interested in reading that this book was similar to the Handmaid's Tale. I love dystopian books, and the fact that there is a little romance certainly doesn't hurt. I felt that the characters were really well-developed, I could easily picture them as I read. I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book, not knowing who to trust or what would happen next.
I have so many unanswered questions...and now I have to wait for the next book!! I would highly recommend this. Excellent storytelling. I can't wait to see what the next book holds.
February 9, 2021
I started reading The Scarlet Harvest on a flight and couldn’t put it down! Wren, is a high achiever who ends up in this crazy place where girls are forced to go through fertility rituals and egg harvests. The scene at the Fall Harvest made me cringe and wonder how the author came up with this crazy story!
I liked seeing the relationships develop between Wren and the other girls. Everly was one of my favorite characters. She starts out snarky, but has a chance to redeem herself. There were a lot of twists I didn’t see coming related to Dr. Hahn and his son, but once you learn their backstories everything starts making sense.
This was a fun, fast-paced read. My only complaint is that I wish the ending had more closure. How do you end a book and not tell us what happened to one of the main characters?! Can’t wait for the next book! I thought this was a really good debut.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my first ARC.
I liked seeing the relationships develop between Wren and the other girls. Everly was one of my favorite characters. She starts out snarky, but has a chance to redeem herself. There were a lot of twists I didn’t see coming related to Dr. Hahn and his son, but once you learn their backstories everything starts making sense.
This was a fun, fast-paced read. My only complaint is that I wish the ending had more closure. How do you end a book and not tell us what happened to one of the main characters?! Can’t wait for the next book! I thought this was a really good debut.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my first ARC.
February 3, 2021
Wow. I could not put this book down. I was intrigued when I saw that it was similar to The Handmaids Tale mixed with the Divergent series. It's that and more. While it has the feel of those two it is unique and original at the same time. The premise is so disturbing and the author does such an amazing job of showing you the world and the history without boring or lecturing you.
This book takes place after ww3 and similar to The Giver maturity is met with suppression. Mass sterilizations and the government surveillance of women's cycles are the norm. It touches on themes of classism and sexism and how notions of how poor people as seen now could become such an extreme.
The relationship between Wren and Fritz is so genuine and fun. The action is fast-paced and the setting is forever shifting and evolving as new developments take place.
This book takes place after ww3 and similar to The Giver maturity is met with suppression. Mass sterilizations and the government surveillance of women's cycles are the norm. It touches on themes of classism and sexism and how notions of how poor people as seen now could become such an extreme.
The relationship between Wren and Fritz is so genuine and fun. The action is fast-paced and the setting is forever shifting and evolving as new developments take place.
September 8, 2021
Thanks to those who have taken the time to read and review The Scarlet Harvest. I appreciate your support💛
April 20, 2021
A young-adult thriller where the future of humanity is at stake and egg-harvesting is a sport. The Scarlet Harvest is an original, creative twist on a dystrophic-future novel. The narrative voice pulled me along and I loved the strong, caring protagonist. This is the first in a series, and I cannot wait to see where it will go next!
February 5, 2021
This book is the pro-birthers worst nightmare in book form.
*May Contain Spoilers
The Scarlet Harvest jumps right into the action. It's after World War III, The Nuclei controls everything, including family planning. Nobody is allowed to own guns. How many children you have depends on which cell you test into after the assessment, and there is no traveling between cells. Unauthorized pregnancies come with harsh consequences.
Wren comes from a family of enforcers, the people who make sure no one falls out of line. Wren doesn't want to be an enforcer though, she wants to experience more out of life. She hopes to test out of her cell and become a doctor.
When she meets Fritz she realizes things may not be as they seem. Why is there a building full of babies in what's supposed to be a barren wasteland outside of their society? Why do the guards there have guns?
First, these two characters put far too much trust in each other immediately after meeting. Like why would you tell someone about the weird secret building you found while you were illegally crossing borders after you met them once and know nothing about them?
Other than that, this story did not go in the direction I though it would go in. Wren ends up in place she had never expected.
I really enjoyed this book, it I kept going any longer I wouldn't be able to keep from spilling the entire plot. The characters are relatable and enjoyable to read about. The story was well written, fast paced and definitely worth the read.
*May Contain Spoilers
The Scarlet Harvest jumps right into the action. It's after World War III, The Nuclei controls everything, including family planning. Nobody is allowed to own guns. How many children you have depends on which cell you test into after the assessment, and there is no traveling between cells. Unauthorized pregnancies come with harsh consequences.
Wren comes from a family of enforcers, the people who make sure no one falls out of line. Wren doesn't want to be an enforcer though, she wants to experience more out of life. She hopes to test out of her cell and become a doctor.
When she meets Fritz she realizes things may not be as they seem. Why is there a building full of babies in what's supposed to be a barren wasteland outside of their society? Why do the guards there have guns?
First, these two characters put far too much trust in each other immediately after meeting. Like why would you tell someone about the weird secret building you found while you were illegally crossing borders after you met them once and know nothing about them?
Other than that, this story did not go in the direction I though it would go in. Wren ends up in place she had never expected.
I really enjoyed this book, it I kept going any longer I wouldn't be able to keep from spilling the entire plot. The characters are relatable and enjoyable to read about. The story was well written, fast paced and definitely worth the read.
April 26, 2021
This is a free book I got from goodreads. In this dystopian thriller, Cuba has become Genova Island, a genetically segregated society where many aspects of life are controlled by the government unbeknownst to most of general population.
Wren Weiss wants a different life from her parents. Everything hinges on the results on how she performs on the Assessment. Shortly before the test, she meets a boy from a different community on the island who opens her eyes to secret activities occurring on the island.
Wren is further disillusioned when she arrives at her placement, only to discover she was expected there prior to her testing date and it's not her dream placement of medical school. Instead she's going to be an egg factory. Things go from bad to worse and even the government becomes unstable.
Every twist and turn the story takes reveals more unexpected situations and jaw dropping answers. It's a wild ride, so hang on tight. It's definitely worth the journey!
Wren Weiss wants a different life from her parents. Everything hinges on the results on how she performs on the Assessment. Shortly before the test, she meets a boy from a different community on the island who opens her eyes to secret activities occurring on the island.
Wren is further disillusioned when she arrives at her placement, only to discover she was expected there prior to her testing date and it's not her dream placement of medical school. Instead she's going to be an egg factory. Things go from bad to worse and even the government becomes unstable.
Every twist and turn the story takes reveals more unexpected situations and jaw dropping answers. It's a wild ride, so hang on tight. It's definitely worth the journey!
February 10, 2021
Wow. I could not put this book down. I was intrigued when I saw that it was a similar to The Handmaids Tale mixed with the Divergent series. It's that and more. While it has the feel of those two it is unique and original at the same time. The premise is so disturbing and the author does such an amazing job of showing you the world and the history without boring or lecturing.
This book takes place after ww3 and similar to The Giver maturity is met with suppression. Mass sterilizations and the government surveillance of women's cycles are the norm. It touches on themes of classism and sexism and how notions of how poor people as seen now could become such an extreme.
The relationship between Wren and Fritz is so genuine and fun. The action is fast-paced and the setting is forever shifting and evolving as new developments take place.
This book takes place after ww3 and similar to The Giver maturity is met with suppression. Mass sterilizations and the government surveillance of women's cycles are the norm. It touches on themes of classism and sexism and how notions of how poor people as seen now could become such an extreme.
The relationship between Wren and Fritz is so genuine and fun. The action is fast-paced and the setting is forever shifting and evolving as new developments take place.
February 15, 2021
The Scarlet Harvest is described as “The Handmaid's Tale meets Divergent,” but I liked it as much as The Handmaid’s Tale and far more than Divergent. Wren Weiss is living after World War III in a segregated world. She’s the daughter of Reproductive Enforcers, and while her parents want her to follow in their footsteps, she wishes to be assigned to a new home area and become a doctor. But that is not to be. Just after she reaches physical maturity, government officials take her to a secret place (Ovation), where “egg harvesting is a sport and, to her devastation, she is the newest competitor.” Ashbrook keeps the reader engaged from the outset with a fast-paced plotline that touches on so many themes: freedom and choice, classism, individual and society, obedience and more. The Scarlet Harvest is the first in the Ovation series, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
February 23, 2021
The Scarlet Harvest is Book 1 in Ovation. Kate Ashbrook has written an exciting futuristic book set in 2072. Wren Weiss is the 16 year old daughter of Reproductive Enforcers. While Wren is waiting for her assessment, she is forcefully taken from her parents. She is now in the “egg harvesting”. The Scarlet Harvest has so many twists and turns and I couldn’t put the book down. Book 1 was do thrilling that I can hardly wait for book 2. Kate Ashbrook wrote exciting characters and a fast paced story. Come on board for this exciting thriller. I received an arc for my honest review.
May 21, 2021
This book really was extremely enjoyable. I truly didn't want to put it down!
I love dystopian novels because they always make me think of our world in a different light and question the ways our society operates. As a woman, reproduction and reproductive rights hit especially close to home because they impact me directly. This book gave me more to think about on all sides of the reproductive discussion and I am thankful for that. It also was just a really good book! Definitely a must read!!
I love dystopian novels because they always make me think of our world in a different light and question the ways our society operates. As a woman, reproduction and reproductive rights hit especially close to home because they impact me directly. This book gave me more to think about on all sides of the reproductive discussion and I am thankful for that. It also was just a really good book! Definitely a must read!!
April 8, 2021
An action-packed dystopian thriller with elements of both The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games, this book follows the adventures of sixteen-year-old Wren Weiss as she is taken from her family to be part of an “egg harvesting” program to build the future of the human race. As this is the first book in a series, there are a lot of unanswered questions, but I am already looking forward to the second book in what will surely be an original, thought-provoking series. Warning - there's an implied forced pregnancy termination quite near the beginning.
March 24, 2021
The Scarlet Harvest is the first book in the Ovation series. It is post World War III, and The Nuclei are in control. Wren, her siblings, and parents live in Hillcrest. All of the houses are the same and government flags hang from every house measuring genetic traits. Here in Hillcrest there is a two-child policy. In the Valley, it’s a one child policy. The Valley houses what are referred to as the genetically inferior. People are segregated based on their Assessment results.
Now imagine war zones, raids, and “illegal pregnancies”. Wren’s parents are Enforcers for The Nuclei, conducting raids in the Valley. If an illegal pregnancy occurs, and the child policy is broken, then The Nuclei determines what happens. They are essentially in control of women, their bodies and babies. Wren knows she doesn’t want to be an Enforcer, she wants to be a doctor. She meets Fritz, a teenage boy her age, who lives in the Valley. Fritz wants to show Wren a facility he discovered that he thinks he hears the cries of babies from inside. They both have these unexplained heightened senses and are on the cusp of taking their own Assessment.
The two of them place trust in one another to try and uncover the secrets of a government that neither of them wants to conform too. They both want to be more than what they are destined for. The book takes all sorts of plot twists and turns and the storyline moves quickly. It does give me a bit of an uneasy feeling with all of the “government control” over people, but overall it was a great book! It wrapped up nicely to lend itself into the next book in the series!
A special thank you to Kate Ashbrook, NetGalley, and Kincardin Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now imagine war zones, raids, and “illegal pregnancies”. Wren’s parents are Enforcers for The Nuclei, conducting raids in the Valley. If an illegal pregnancy occurs, and the child policy is broken, then The Nuclei determines what happens. They are essentially in control of women, their bodies and babies. Wren knows she doesn’t want to be an Enforcer, she wants to be a doctor. She meets Fritz, a teenage boy her age, who lives in the Valley. Fritz wants to show Wren a facility he discovered that he thinks he hears the cries of babies from inside. They both have these unexplained heightened senses and are on the cusp of taking their own Assessment.
The two of them place trust in one another to try and uncover the secrets of a government that neither of them wants to conform too. They both want to be more than what they are destined for. The book takes all sorts of plot twists and turns and the storyline moves quickly. It does give me a bit of an uneasy feeling with all of the “government control” over people, but overall it was a great book! It wrapped up nicely to lend itself into the next book in the series!
A special thank you to Kate Ashbrook, NetGalley, and Kincardin Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2021
Goodreads giveaway
The cover is a little deceiving you would guess it is a different story. We follow our character in a future world where modifying DNA is the goal of those in charge. Everyone is controlled until things get out of control.
The cover is a little deceiving you would guess it is a different story. We follow our character in a future world where modifying DNA is the goal of those in charge. Everyone is controlled until things get out of control.
February 23, 2021
The Scarlet Harvest is the first book in the Ovation series. It is post World War III, and The Nuclei are in control. Wren, her siblings, and parents live in Hillcrest. All of the houses are the same and government flags hang from every house measuring genetic traits. Here in Hillcrest there is a two-child policy. In the Valley, it’s a one child policy. The Valley houses what are referred to as the genetically inferior. People are segregated based on their Assessment results.
Now imagine war zones, raids, and “illegal pregnancies”. Wren’s parents are Enforcers for The Nuclei, conducting raids in the Valley. If an illegal pregnancy occurs, and the child policy is broken, then The Nuclei determines what happens. They are essentially in control of women, their bodies and babies. Wren knows she doesn’t want to be an Enforcer, she wants to be a doctor. She meets Fritz, a teenage boy her age, who lives in the Valley. Fritz wants to show Wren a facility he discovered that he thinks he hears the cries of babies from inside. They both have these unexplained heightened senses and are on the cusp of taking their own Assessment.
The two of them place trust in one another to try and uncover the secrets of a government that neither of them wants to conform too. They both want to be more than what they are destined for. The book takes all sorts of plot twists and turns and the storyline moves quickly. It does give me a bit of an uneasy feeling with all of the “government control” over people, but overall it was a great book! It wrapped up nicely to lend itself into the next book in the series!
A special thank you to Kate Ashbrook, NetGalley, and Kincardin Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now imagine war zones, raids, and “illegal pregnancies”. Wren’s parents are Enforcers for The Nuclei, conducting raids in the Valley. If an illegal pregnancy occurs, and the child policy is broken, then The Nuclei determines what happens. They are essentially in control of women, their bodies and babies. Wren knows she doesn’t want to be an Enforcer, she wants to be a doctor. She meets Fritz, a teenage boy her age, who lives in the Valley. Fritz wants to show Wren a facility he discovered that he thinks he hears the cries of babies from inside. They both have these unexplained heightened senses and are on the cusp of taking their own Assessment.
The two of them place trust in one another to try and uncover the secrets of a government that neither of them wants to conform too. They both want to be more than what they are destined for. The book takes all sorts of plot twists and turns and the storyline moves quickly. It does give me a bit of an uneasy feeling with all of the “government control” over people, but overall it was a great book! It wrapped up nicely to lend itself into the next book in the series!
A special thank you to Kate Ashbrook, NetGalley, and Kincardin Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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March 21, 2021The Scarlet Harvest is the first book in the Ovation series by Kate Ashbrook. It is an action-packed story full of unexpected twists and turns, gut-wrenching betrayals, and lots of drama. The characters are well-written with captivating backstories that create a roller coaster of emotions for the reader with each page they read.
March 6, 2021
I loved the idea of this novel, but I felt that the execution left something to be desired.
It managed to give too much and too little information at the same time. For instance, I'm still not sure how the towns are arranged - I think Clairemont is better than Hillcrest is better than the Valley, but I'm not certain? - but I know every detail of how Wren feels about Fritz. There's a point quite late on where she lists all the things she's scared of, but apart from one I had never noticed any of those things in the story. There are a lot of coincidences driving the plot, and things happen very quickly, with some periods of time skipped over. And, of course, there's an instalove plot, which is practically required nowadays for YA fic. The novel is set on Cuba, or rather future Cuba, and there's a point where a character says they've travelled hundreds of miles for answers. Ok, Cuba is big enough for that. But they've travelled all that distance on ziplines. Ziplines that have presumably not been maintained, because people aren't supposed to be able to leave their districts. They zipline for more than an hour. Plus, the ziplines run in both directions, so I don't understand what's propelling them. Ziplines tilt down, that's how you travel on them. It's a really clever, inventive way of getting around, but it just didn't make much sense to me.
I was also a little surprised when Dr Hahn announced his plan to wipe out men, in a room full of men including his three sons, and expected no resistance. A spectacular blind spot from a very smart man.
However, I did think the story was really clever, and there were some good twists, especially at the end. There were some really good call backs to things that happened early in the novel and plenty of foreshadowing for the ending. I'm interested to see what happens in the next volume and I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It managed to give too much and too little information at the same time. For instance, I'm still not sure how the towns are arranged - I think Clairemont is better than Hillcrest is better than the Valley, but I'm not certain? - but I know every detail of how Wren feels about Fritz. There's a point quite late on where she lists all the things she's scared of, but apart from one I had never noticed any of those things in the story. There are a lot of coincidences driving the plot, and things happen very quickly, with some periods of time skipped over. And, of course, there's an instalove plot, which is practically required nowadays for YA fic. The novel is set on Cuba, or rather future Cuba, and there's a point where a character says they've travelled hundreds of miles for answers. Ok, Cuba is big enough for that. But they've travelled all that distance on ziplines. Ziplines that have presumably not been maintained, because people aren't supposed to be able to leave their districts. They zipline for more than an hour. Plus, the ziplines run in both directions, so I don't understand what's propelling them. Ziplines tilt down, that's how you travel on them. It's a really clever, inventive way of getting around, but it just didn't make much sense to me.
I was also a little surprised when Dr Hahn announced his plan to wipe out men, in a room full of men including his three sons, and expected no resistance. A spectacular blind spot from a very smart man.
However, I did think the story was really clever, and there were some good twists, especially at the end. There were some really good call backs to things that happened early in the novel and plenty of foreshadowing for the ending. I'm interested to see what happens in the next volume and I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 28, 2021
The story does indeed resemble a cross between The Handmaiden’s Tale and Divergence but does have a very juvenile presentation of situations. I appreciate that the book is fast-paced and has an interesting premise, but I found it could use some more polishing.
The characters all seem to be very single-minded and come off as flat. Any problems that arise always seem to have ‘back of the book’ answer where there is always some secret entrance or tunnel to get them where they need to go or the villains writing our heroes off as unimportant to allow them to plan.
Overall, the novel has potential but could do with some editing and polishing to make the characters and situations more pulpable.
The characters all seem to be very single-minded and come off as flat. Any problems that arise always seem to have ‘back of the book’ answer where there is always some secret entrance or tunnel to get them where they need to go or the villains writing our heroes off as unimportant to allow them to plan.
Overall, the novel has potential but could do with some editing and polishing to make the characters and situations more pulpable.
March 4, 2022
The YA pace and adventure of Divergent meets the dark dystopia of Handmaid's Tale.
The story follows Wren as she learns the truth about her origins and the world she lives in (the remains of society following WWIII). In addition to the action and mystery of the plot, I found myself drawn in by the idea of what could become of society with faith/morals/humanity removed from the natural gift of procreation. While dark, disturbing, and violent at times, there's a lot to unpack and discuss!
The author does a great job wordsmithing her story; her use of strong language and unique similes provide a distinctive voice and a clear picture of the action. Eager to see what happens in the next book!
The story follows Wren as she learns the truth about her origins and the world she lives in (the remains of society following WWIII). In addition to the action and mystery of the plot, I found myself drawn in by the idea of what could become of society with faith/morals/humanity removed from the natural gift of procreation. While dark, disturbing, and violent at times, there's a lot to unpack and discuss!
The author does a great job wordsmithing her story; her use of strong language and unique similes provide a distinctive voice and a clear picture of the action. Eager to see what happens in the next book!
January 17, 2022
Where to begin?
The writing is superb, some of the best I've read in a long time. The storyline is horrifying and more because as far-fetched as it is–it's not. The way Kate Ashbrook nails the class system, the misguided reactions of humans when traumatized, and the herd mentality is stunning. The plot twists kept me dying to know what would happen next. It was a shocking read and SO good.
Things to know:
This book is filled with graphic violence and other "things." If you are sensitive, this may not be for you. The mood in one of the "worlds" (1st chapter was tough) feels like war-time and the end of the book is a bizarre labyrinth of dark curiosities. The premise of the government controlling female reproduction and then weeding out...well, I don't want to say too much. It ends on a BIT of a cliffhanger. If you're looking for an EXCELLENT dystopian thriller, read The Scarlet Harvest today!
The writing is superb, some of the best I've read in a long time. The storyline is horrifying and more because as far-fetched as it is–it's not. The way Kate Ashbrook nails the class system, the misguided reactions of humans when traumatized, and the herd mentality is stunning. The plot twists kept me dying to know what would happen next. It was a shocking read and SO good.
Things to know:
This book is filled with graphic violence and other "things." If you are sensitive, this may not be for you. The mood in one of the "worlds" (1st chapter was tough) feels like war-time and the end of the book is a bizarre labyrinth of dark curiosities. The premise of the government controlling female reproduction and then weeding out...well, I don't want to say too much. It ends on a BIT of a cliffhanger. If you're looking for an EXCELLENT dystopian thriller, read The Scarlet Harvest today!
May 22, 2021
If you like a dystopian story that seems not that far off from where we actually are now... this is it. It was fast paced, engaging, and full of twists and turns. I can't wait to read the next one and would love to see this on the screen someday. Loved it! Highly recommend!
May 25, 2021
If you like a dystopian story that seems not that far off from where we actually are now... this is it. It was fast paced, engaging, and full of twists and turns. I can't wait to read the next one and would love to see this on the screen someday. Loved it! Highly recommend!
December 28, 2023
3.75 stars - it was good, interesting and a little weird! Lots of similarities to a combination of various shows, orphan black, 3% and even a handmaids tale. I will be reading the second half though!
March 11, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an early e-arc of this book to read and review!
While I believe the premise of this book has potential, I sincerely hope that more edits are completed before allowing this to be published.
My main issue with the book is the main character, Wren. Her inner dialogue demonstrates a strength that fails to actually show up until very late in the game. She also talks about how she is not very trusting of those that live in the valley but within a few chapters, she randomly meets a boy, shares deep secrets with him, takes a very dangerous journey with him and has what felt like ista-love from the start with him... and this all happened prior to their 3rd meeting. Once we get further in the book, she doesn’t even question the role she is placed in. Just accepts it... until she is placed in actual peril herself. I honestly felt that the book would have been better off narrated by another character or perhaps multiple POV.
I did find the plot to be interesting. The structure of the society and how it has evolved into the mess that it is, is explained well. Although, I’m sure we will still learn more along the way. The last 25% of the book, I highly enjoyed. There was action, the main character finally stepped up and was more consistent in her actions. Questions were answered. More questions were introduced. And this book does end on a cliffhanger.
The Scarlet Harvest also leans heavily on issues that we are currently seeing take place. So if you are triggered by anything to do with Covid 19, I would avoid this one.
While I believe the premise of this book has potential, I sincerely hope that more edits are completed before allowing this to be published.
My main issue with the book is the main character, Wren. Her inner dialogue demonstrates a strength that fails to actually show up until very late in the game. She also talks about how she is not very trusting of those that live in the valley but within a few chapters, she randomly meets a boy, shares deep secrets with him, takes a very dangerous journey with him and has what felt like ista-love from the start with him... and this all happened prior to their 3rd meeting. Once we get further in the book, she doesn’t even question the role she is placed in. Just accepts it... until she is placed in actual peril herself. I honestly felt that the book would have been better off narrated by another character or perhaps multiple POV.
I did find the plot to be interesting. The structure of the society and how it has evolved into the mess that it is, is explained well. Although, I’m sure we will still learn more along the way. The last 25% of the book, I highly enjoyed. There was action, the main character finally stepped up and was more consistent in her actions. Questions were answered. More questions were introduced. And this book does end on a cliffhanger.
The Scarlet Harvest also leans heavily on issues that we are currently seeing take place. So if you are triggered by anything to do with Covid 19, I would avoid this one.
March 16, 2021
The Scarlet Harvest is a book with a very interesting concept : What if people were divided depending on their genes. How would we have become that society?
We have Wren, this teenager who will soon have to take a test to know where her genes will take her on the Island. If her gene production is good enough, she might be able to keep her life as it is, but what it isn't? However, when a strange boy appears in her life, and reveals that nothing is as it seems on the island, Wren sets her mind on finding out the truth.
First of all, I thought it was a very fast paced book. You need to be aware of this before going in this read. If not, you might make my mistake and read more or less fast, which ultimately made my reading experience a bit disappointing. I couldn't keep up with all the action. There was something happening in almost every page, be it physical action or plan making. I often had to go back and check again something I had just read. My brain wasn't wired for this haha
I think this fast pace led me to not understand everything. I kept on reading, but inside, my brain was on full speed to try to catch up with the events. But on the bright side, it kept me engaged and entertained.
I also was very entertained by the theme itself. I thought it was pretty original, and I don't think I have read a similar dystopia. The plot construction was also well-thought. Of course, the main plot is more or less foreseeable, but the details around it were really good, and I didn't see everything coming. In some ways, it reminded me of Divergent (and I loooooooved Divergent). I was glad to find the littles things I loved in Divergent in The Scarlet Harvest (Union of a group against a big entity, strong bonds, a war-ish atmosphere sometimes,etc.)
As for the characters, I can say I'm very pleased with Wren's development. She goes from a smart, but obedient girl (due to her family background) to a leader in a time of crisis, and it was an enjoyable growth to follow. I couldn't care much about her love interest, whose name I have already forgotten, but I adored the little sorority we discover at some point in the book.
Wren managed to find friend of infortune, who later became true friends. I especially enjoyed Everly, this seemingly mean girl, who we actually discover a bit more through the book, and in the end, I just loved her evolution. I just have a thing for this type of arcs.
Finally, I would have loved to read more about Wren's family. Since her parents are Reproduction enforcers, whose job is to check whether people have the right amount of kids depending on their genes or not, which is something Wren grows to despise, it could have been interesting to learn more about them. We do get some kind of confrontation towards the end, but it wasn't much, and I didn't really understand the parents views of their work etc.
In the end, it was an entertaining book, but VERY fast-paced, with a somewhat predictable main plot (even if some subplots were fairly good).
We have Wren, this teenager who will soon have to take a test to know where her genes will take her on the Island. If her gene production is good enough, she might be able to keep her life as it is, but what it isn't? However, when a strange boy appears in her life, and reveals that nothing is as it seems on the island, Wren sets her mind on finding out the truth.
First of all, I thought it was a very fast paced book. You need to be aware of this before going in this read. If not, you might make my mistake and read more or less fast, which ultimately made my reading experience a bit disappointing. I couldn't keep up with all the action. There was something happening in almost every page, be it physical action or plan making. I often had to go back and check again something I had just read. My brain wasn't wired for this haha
I think this fast pace led me to not understand everything. I kept on reading, but inside, my brain was on full speed to try to catch up with the events. But on the bright side, it kept me engaged and entertained.
I also was very entertained by the theme itself. I thought it was pretty original, and I don't think I have read a similar dystopia. The plot construction was also well-thought. Of course, the main plot is more or less foreseeable, but the details around it were really good, and I didn't see everything coming. In some ways, it reminded me of Divergent (and I loooooooved Divergent). I was glad to find the littles things I loved in Divergent in The Scarlet Harvest (Union of a group against a big entity, strong bonds, a war-ish atmosphere sometimes,etc.)
As for the characters, I can say I'm very pleased with Wren's development. She goes from a smart, but obedient girl (due to her family background) to a leader in a time of crisis, and it was an enjoyable growth to follow. I couldn't care much about her love interest, whose name I have already forgotten, but I adored the little sorority we discover at some point in the book.
Wren managed to find friend of infortune, who later became true friends. I especially enjoyed Everly, this seemingly mean girl, who we actually discover a bit more through the book, and in the end, I just loved her evolution. I just have a thing for this type of arcs.
Finally, I would have loved to read more about Wren's family. Since her parents are Reproduction enforcers, whose job is to check whether people have the right amount of kids depending on their genes or not, which is something Wren grows to despise, it could have been interesting to learn more about them. We do get some kind of confrontation towards the end, but it wasn't much, and I didn't really understand the parents views of their work etc.
In the end, it was an entertaining book, but VERY fast-paced, with a somewhat predictable main plot (even if some subplots were fairly good).
January 1, 2024
I couldn't put it down!
Reading The Scarlet Harvest reminded me of several incredible books, from Aldous Huxley's Brave New World to Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale and Philip Kong's Man in the High Castle, plus other dystopian and sci-fi novels.
I love the character development and level of detail in this futuristic world.
I look forward to reading more by Kate Ashbrook!
Reading The Scarlet Harvest reminded me of several incredible books, from Aldous Huxley's Brave New World to Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale and Philip Kong's Man in the High Castle, plus other dystopian and sci-fi novels.
I love the character development and level of detail in this futuristic world.
I look forward to reading more by Kate Ashbrook!
November 23, 2021
This is not usually the type of book I go for in that it is futuristic but to be honest I really enjoyed it.
It has characters and the storyline was excellent.
This is an ongoing story and I can't wait for the next book.
It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!
It has characters and the storyline was excellent.
This is an ongoing story and I can't wait for the next book.
It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!
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