The Dissent

by Leah Vernon

From author Leah Vernon comes the action-packed second installment in the Union series about a young woman’s battle for power in a racially divided futuristic world.

A thousand years into the future, a Black elite class reigns while the underclass toils at their feet. With her society’s future hanging in the balance, young Avi Jore enters into an arranged marriage. But the ceremony turns violent when the servants rebel and kill Avi’s father.

In the aftermath of General Jore’s death, Avi and her sister Jade vie for power in a vicious contest. As the rightful heir, Avi has no choice but to defend what’s hers—at any cost. With her loyalties tested and her enemies closing in, Avi must rely on her sister Saige, who searches for allies outside the Union’s walls.

As Avi and Saige navigate threats and betrayals in the wake of worsening unrest, they forge a path forward that could forever change their turbulent world.

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

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Leah Vernon is a plus-size Hijabi model, social media influencer, public speaker, and freelance writer. She’s been featured by Buzzfeed, Yahoo, CBS, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Seventeen, and The New York Times, and worked with brands like Adidas and Lululemon. She grew up in Detroit, but currently resides in New York City. Connect with her on Instagram (@Lvernon2000) and on her website (Leahvernon.com).

Reviews

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I wanted to love this book, I couldn’t connect to the story and found the pacing and character growth disjointed. At times, it felt as if the writing style suddenly changed and it seemed abrupt. There’s a lot to discuss about the themes, but I found myself so frustrated with the writing that I just wanted to get through it.

[Carlos R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. While I wasn't overly impressed with the first book in the series (The Union), I really liked the idea behind it and decided to press on with the second. I figured the writing would get better, and the characters further developed. I wanted more genuine interaction between the characters. I wanted the characters and relationships to develop organically. Instead, I got pieces of the story told from each character's point of view without anybody ever really knowing anybody else's truth.

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to both books. This rating 3.5....THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS!! Why can't people of the world share? Why are there always individuals with so much and others with nothing?!! The seven deadly sins are prevalent in this world(EARTH...HERE)!! With GREED, PRIDE, and WRATH at the top!! It always has been, but somehow, it feels worse!!

[Ebony Essence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Food for thought.

This book was cool. Their three main povs: Saige, Liyo and Avi. I believe Jade has one chapter for her pov. Basically if you ever want to know what it would possibly be like if black people/poc actually came together and do you white people what has been done to us then this is your series. Only difference this is based in the future. I’m not the only one that has ever thought this because some people need a taste of their own medicine.

-The book was way longer than it needed to be.
-Found myself not focusing sometimes.
-Wish there was better character development.
-There is action and backstabbing.
-Saige was my favorite character and should have been the one at the end. It truly would have made more sense.
-Avi gets a point for wanting unity but girl get some strength or something about yourself. It would of been nice to see her really blossom.
-Jade stood on business whether you liked her character or not.
-Liyo really my boy?? Fake.

[Mrs Jennifer Ann Shoesmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

F A B U L O U S

This book has taken hold of my life for over a week, and refused to let it go.
I hate dystopian novels, but this one was so well written that I couldn't put it down.
I hate violence, blood, guts and gore, but this was so well written that I couldn't put it down.
Like films, second novels are never as good as first, but this one was so well written that I couldn't put it down.
I can't stand bad language and grammar, but this one was so well written that it fitted the storyline and I couldn't have cared less.
As with most ebooks, the proof reading and editing could have been a little better. but this one was so well written that I couldn't have cared less.
Not my type of book at all, but I was rivetted, couldn't put it down, and will remember it for life.

[Christine H Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

much better than the first one

I didn’t care much for The Union until nearly the end, then it was hard to put down. The Dissent picks up where The Union left off and it is hard to put down! You know all the characters, already feel for them, and get to watch them grow into their best selves. There are some minor plot holes that make you wonder about believability, and good and evil are extreme, but overall a great read!

[Donnakay'sBookWorld · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 🌟 This was an okay continuation of the story we got in book 1. We got to see an evolution of the relationship between Saige and Avi, which was enjoyable to read. Thankfully, the pacing also kept a similar beat as the first book. In a surprising turn of events, Saige evolved into a very likable character, and I found myself rooting for her throughout this installment. I just wanted her to gain her freedom, move to the north, and get away from all these selfish, entitled, lunatics. I wished I could have felt the same about Avi, but unfortunately, she wasn't developed as much as i had hoped.

There's something that happens around 70% into this book, the absence of which could have impacted the story so much better.

I really hoped some of the plot holes would have been filled in this book. Throughout the series, we're told that Avi was her father's favorite and that Jade was overlooked by both parents even though she was clearly the more physically and politically skilled and seemed more like her father. But we're never told or shown how or why the parents felt that way about her.

The love relationships in this series all kinda happened out of nowhere. The story already had so many plots going that we did not need Avi, a woman with the world at her fingertips, to be desperate for an emotionally unstable man whose real preference was her sister.

If you like action-packed dystopian Society's that are divided by race and class, then consider giving this one a try.

Thanks to Netgalley and 47North for gifting me this this e-Arc!!!!

[J C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story didn't end the way I expected, but it did have closure in a way. It reminded me that if we don't learn to respect and value others this could happen in todays society. The characters were believable and the story was easy to read.

[Jesica Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Union Duet. Set about 1000 years in the future, the Black Elites rule over the Europa (white) slaves and are preparing to end them once and for all.
Avi is next in line to be the General of the Elites. And she wants to find a way to equality. To live together as one. Saige is her Impure (mixed race) sister and together they must fight.
This one was hard to read without thinking about what's happening in the world today. There is just so much "us against them". And so little understanding that we are all humans. There are so many fights for power. So much demoralizing. So much propaganda. Each side truly believes that they're right and that the other side must be exterminated. It's easy to see how people can become radicalized. But even amidst all of the hatred in greed, there is always someone with hope for a better future.
It started out a little bit hard for me to follow but it turned in to a gripping read. I would definitely recommend this Duet.

[Marion Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

WE CAN

I see so much of real life in both installments of this book. Set in futurist environment, there is the struggle of the haves, the have not, and those trying to blend in. The unexpected twists and turns kept me flipping pages until the end. This story though gory and treacherous at times, shows WE CAN all live together peacefully when we demonstrate compassion for one another, using our gifts, skills and abilities for our own as well as others welfare.

[mandi welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like "The Union," this sequel was thrilling, heartbreaking and such a great read. Vernon has created a truly horrifying vision of a future of humanity where the people are again divided by skin color. After the first book, I couldn't wait to return to these characters to see how everything played out. I was not disappointed.

[Emily spratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this. I enjoyed the growth of the characters. There is a lot of violence. But over all this book is good. Really good continuation from the first one. I enjoy the authors writing it’s easy to to get sucked in and addicted. Really easy to read and understand

[Blair Gormley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dissent

A very good ending to the series as Avid fights with her half sister Sage against her younger sister Jade who killed their father. It is intriguing how Mama Seaya twists the people against the rich. I would be interested in reading more about the survivors

[Peter Duckie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing follow-up to The Union

It felt like the author was rushing to wrap up this story. This read like a bad B-movie, with corny dialogue and naive decisions by the protagonists. So much promise wasted.

[Juanita Draime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good 2nd edition…hope there is more to see how things continue to turn out

[The Geeky Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel starts off after the first book. It felt repetitive in most parts of the book but I enjoyed this read.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more!

I loved this installment so much!! I hope that this is not the end of the series. Honestly, I could read 30 more books centered around this world. Great job, Leah!!!

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would make great action/sf movie. This one and the first one.

[Erika Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The Union and picks up slightly in the future from where the first book left off. I have mixed feelings about this book. What I enjoyed: Jade and Head Gardner are perfect villains. They’re easy to hate and foil Avi and Saige well. I didn’t want them to succeed in any way, so I was rooting for Avi and Saige despite not loving their characters. Avi grew a lot in her beliefs and was less passive so I enjoyed her character more this book, but she was way too idealistic. Saige shows a softer side, but she is still stubborn and selfish. I didn’t feel she grew as much.

What I didn’t enjoy: Liyo’s perspective because it was unnecessary. Jade even had one chapter which was also totally unnecessary. This book should have stuck with Avi and Saige’s perspectives because they tell 80% of the book anyway. There are a lot of fight scenes and action, but other times the pacing dragged. I think the book could have been much shorter which would have made it more engaging. I also felt the writing was lazy at times. For instance, Avi and Saige frequently pass out when there is danger then the plot jumps to them waking up. The ending was predictable but not bad. This feels very YA, so I think teens would particularly enjoy this. Thanks to NetGalley, 47North, and Leah Vernon for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zeila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to share the same opinion as some reviews I saw. The concept of the series was interesting, so I continued to read despite not being that impressed by the first book. I wasn't alone in thinking that the pacing is a bit weird and disjointed- and the characters needed a LOT more development. The romantic pairings didn't really have chemistry and were unnecessary. I didn't even know one of the pairs even HAD "a thing" with each other during the short time they spent together in the later part of the book- up until one of the characters straight out admitted they loved them.

I don't know, I just feel like I'd like these books a lot better if more time was spent fleshing them out more.

[Whatcha Reading Heather? · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely would have preferred that this duology to have been a trilogy, as I would have liked a little more time with a few of the new characters that appeared in this book. However, Vernon did a really great job with not only continuing on the the character development for Avi and Saige from the first book, she did a fantastic job with creating this dark world that makes the reader really think about where we currently are in modern society and what we can do to not end up in a world being portrayed in these books. This sequel wasn’t perfect, but the high action and constant twists and turns elevated the reading experience. I can’t wait to see what Vernon does next.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like a lot of others when it comes to The Dissent - I wanted to love it. I loved The Union. The Dissent however just didn’t live up to expectations.

There’s a great story in there but it got muddied along the way. I don’t know if it would have been better served by being three books or by editing this one down. There’s definitely a place for a third book though given the ending.

I would absolutely love to see this series on screen in some format because it’s a perspective that hasn’t really been explored.

Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

The Dissent - This is not one of my typical genres, but I found The Dissent interesting and well written. Good characters with interesting story lines set at a good pace. Source: Won a GoodReads giveaway. 4*

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in the series but this one has a lot more violence and seemed to drag a bit. A lot of secrets from book one got resolved but one main character from book one in my opinion wasn't dealt with as expected.

[Tyeisha Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the concept

The second book in the series continues the story started in the first book, with a focus on the wars and character development. While some parts may feel forced, it is an enjoyable read.

[angellia pai · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a fan of the ending

But the book was good. It kept me interested and had great transitions. I wished more for Saige and Avi but can appreciate what Leah gave us.

[cortez jelks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the read!

This was an excellent book if you like action or sci-fi. It is a sequel and a little lengthy. But well worth the time.

[Lottie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

This book really makes you think and ponder. I thouroghly enjoyed this thought provoking book! I was invested in so many of the characters.

[cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This book is a real page turner. The author did so well with setting the scene and giving life to the characters. Absolutely loved it!