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The Boundless Trilogy #1
Follow Me Through Darkness
The truth won't always set you free.
Less than a year ago, Neely Ambrose's biggest worry was having the freedom to follow a path that wasn't chosen for her. Less than a year ago, she believed she could trust the Elders who said they had everyone's best interest at heart and who said they were keeping them safe from the outside. Sixty days ago she discovered what they had planned for everyone she loved-and that all of it centered around her.
Now she's on the run through a dangerous wasteland full of killing machines, secret organizations, and people who want to sell her back to the Elders for their own safety. The whole world outside the Compound is living proof that everything in Neely's life was a lie manufactured by the Elders, which may even include the boy she loves.
All Neely wants is the truth, but each new piece of it drives her further from what she thought she knew. With only forty days until everyone she loves falls under the Elders' mind control, Neely must decipher who to trust, what questions to ask, and how to get one step ahead of the Elders, who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.
Less than a year ago, Neely Ambrose's biggest worry was having the freedom to follow a path that wasn't chosen for her. Less than a year ago, she believed she could trust the Elders who said they had everyone's best interest at heart and who said they were keeping them safe from the outside. Sixty days ago she discovered what they had planned for everyone she loved-and that all of it centered around her.
Now she's on the run through a dangerous wasteland full of killing machines, secret organizations, and people who want to sell her back to the Elders for their own safety. The whole world outside the Compound is living proof that everything in Neely's life was a lie manufactured by the Elders, which may even include the boy she loves.
All Neely wants is the truth, but each new piece of it drives her further from what she thought she knew. With only forty days until everyone she loves falls under the Elders' mind control, Neely must decipher who to trust, what questions to ask, and how to get one step ahead of the Elders, who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
8 people are currently reading
1172 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Ellison
7 books173 followersDanielle Ellison is a nomad, always on the lookout for an adventure and the next story. In addition to writing, she’s the founder and coordinator of the NoVa TEEN Book Festival. When she’s not busy with books, she’s probably watching her favorite shows, drinking coffee, or fighting her nomadic urges. She is newly settled in Oklahoma (for now) with her cat, Simon, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 7, 2014
3.5 stars
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley.)
This was an interesting dystopian story, and I was intrigued by what was going on.
Cornelia and Thorne were good characters, and I liked both of them. I understood how Cornelia felt with regards to what she was being asked to do, as it really was quite a major task she was set, but I also wasn’t 100% happy with the way she treated Thorne at times.
The storyline in this was good, although I did feel like the world-building was maybe a little lacking. I knew enough to enjoy the story though, and more was explained as the story went along.
There was a love triangle in this story, and I felt Cornelia’s indecision. I also felt really sorry for both boys involved though, as she really was stringing them both along and hurting both of them, even if she didn’t mean to.
The ending to this was a big cliff-hanger, and I’m definitely interested to see what happens in the next book in the series.
Overall; good YA dystopian,
7 out of 10.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley.)
This was an interesting dystopian story, and I was intrigued by what was going on.
Cornelia and Thorne were good characters, and I liked both of them. I understood how Cornelia felt with regards to what she was being asked to do, as it really was quite a major task she was set, but I also wasn’t 100% happy with the way she treated Thorne at times.
The storyline in this was good, although I did feel like the world-building was maybe a little lacking. I knew enough to enjoy the story though, and more was explained as the story went along.
There was a love triangle in this story, and I felt Cornelia’s indecision. I also felt really sorry for both boys involved though, as she really was stringing them both along and hurting both of them, even if she didn’t mean to.
The ending to this was a big cliff-hanger, and I’m definitely interested to see what happens in the next book in the series.
Overall; good YA dystopian,
7 out of 10.
February 19, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for giving me this book to review.
Less than a year ago Neely Ambrose believed in the elders and her only worry was that she does not have the freedom to do want she wants. Then she discovers the elders plans and that her whole life has been manufactured. Now Neely is on the run in the dangerous wasteland and has 40 days to find out the truth and to save everyone she knows and loves.
Follow me Through Darkness is a young adult dystopia but I could not get into it. I was confused all the time during this book, as the main character already knew what was happening but us, the readers, were not told and I did not like it so I stopped reading it.
I could not connect with Neely but she seemed a nice enough character. Thorne did not interest me much especially as I was really confused by the twin thing. The only person who truly interested me was Xenith but he was not in it that much.
Unfortunately I could not get into Follow me Through Darkness.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Less than a year ago Neely Ambrose believed in the elders and her only worry was that she does not have the freedom to do want she wants. Then she discovers the elders plans and that her whole life has been manufactured. Now Neely is on the run in the dangerous wasteland and has 40 days to find out the truth and to save everyone she knows and loves.
Follow me Through Darkness is a young adult dystopia but I could not get into it. I was confused all the time during this book, as the main character already knew what was happening but us, the readers, were not told and I did not like it so I stopped reading it.
I could not connect with Neely but she seemed a nice enough character. Thorne did not interest me much especially as I was really confused by the twin thing. The only person who truly interested me was Xenith but he was not in it that much.
Unfortunately I could not get into Follow me Through Darkness.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
December 17, 2014
3.5 stars
ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
I think this is an interesting story and can be a really good one, though I have to say that I also was so confused in first couple chapters. Not because it's told in flashback but because there are so many questions in my head.
The story. I liked it. Somehow I often try to relate and/or connect dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories with our present time/history. If it doesn't make sense and unbelievable then I mostly won't buy it. It isn't the case here. The idea is good and quite makes sense for me. So yeah I believe why Neely's world become a dystopia world and why she wants to save it. In the other hand, I felt the story is a bit drag on in the middle of the book. While it was so engaging in the beginning, I lost my interest at around 55% and was bored with it.
The setting. As a dystopian story, I think it doesn't have vivid setting. Reader knows it's in the US, but it's basically just that. There aren't much description about how different her world compare to Old World, our world now, is or what Compound, a place where Neely lives, looks like, or even what the Barrow and Above look like.
The characters. I liked Neely and other characters. But along the way I think there are too many characters that don't have big role and are easy to forget. It might be because Neely has to take a long journey she meets a lot of characters, but I felt like they are there mostly to make her journey easier. Thus she seems often be in the right place at the right time. And there are things that feel too coincidence for her own convenience.
The romance. As for the romance, I must say that it's been awhile since I read a good love triangle romance. Thorne-Neely-Xenith relationship is really good I kept guessing who is the one Neely really love. The author surely knows how to make reader, me at least, wondering about it as the two boys have their own vices and virtues and Neely seems cannot decide it yet either. But the more I read, I think I know who she will choose. It's different from what I prefer, though. But anyway it doesn't matter who will be her true love in the end, what matter now is how long till I can read its sequel.
ARC was provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
I think this is an interesting story and can be a really good one, though I have to say that I also was so confused in first couple chapters. Not because it's told in flashback but because there are so many questions in my head.
The story. I liked it. Somehow I often try to relate and/or connect dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories with our present time/history. If it doesn't make sense and unbelievable then I mostly won't buy it. It isn't the case here. The idea is good and quite makes sense for me. So yeah I believe why Neely's world become a dystopia world and why she wants to save it. In the other hand, I felt the story is a bit drag on in the middle of the book. While it was so engaging in the beginning, I lost my interest at around 55% and was bored with it.
The setting. As a dystopian story, I think it doesn't have vivid setting. Reader knows it's in the US, but it's basically just that. There aren't much description about how different her world compare to Old World, our world now, is or what Compound, a place where Neely lives, looks like, or even what the Barrow and Above look like.
The characters. I liked Neely and other characters. But along the way I think there are too many characters that don't have big role and are easy to forget. It might be because Neely has to take a long journey she meets a lot of characters, but I felt like they are there mostly to make her journey easier. Thus she seems often be in the right place at the right time. And there are things that feel too coincidence for her own convenience.
The romance. As for the romance, I must say that it's been awhile since I read a good love triangle romance. Thorne-Neely-Xenith relationship is really good I kept guessing who is the one Neely really love. The author surely knows how to make reader, me at least, wondering about it as the two boys have their own vices and virtues and Neely seems cannot decide it yet either. But the more I read, I think I know who she will choose. It's different from what I prefer, though. But anyway it doesn't matter who will be her true love in the end, what matter now is how long till I can read its sequel.
November 19, 2014
Follow Me Through Darkness is an interesting mix of Dystopia, Action, thriller, little bit of romance, and a whole lot of confusion.
The story itself is very interesting. Neely is a part of a world that's build to maintain perfection so that the human race won't end like it did previously. She lived under the rule of Embers' that have been telling everyone lies about people that are still out there, behind the walls. But when she finds documents that say they have a plan for her, she fakes her death and runs away in hopes of saving everyone.
*sigh*...
Where do I start. The story itself was very mesmerizing but the way it was formatted is what I found to be very irritable. There is no order in which the book is written so you either have the present time in which Neely is traveling to find her answers or you have different fragments of her past. I like to see the difference in the time frames but not when they go randomly from 4 years in the past to ten days and everything in between...
Neely is weird. She has a "twin" who she loves (yes, in that sense. & no, they're not actually related to each other) who she's obsessed with. So she basically travels all over the country to try to save him and then BAM! Ha you're just gonna have to read it to find out ;)
My final thought? Meh, it's alright. Could have been better but if you have time to waste, check it out.
The story itself is very interesting. Neely is a part of a world that's build to maintain perfection so that the human race won't end like it did previously. She lived under the rule of Embers' that have been telling everyone lies about people that are still out there, behind the walls. But when she finds documents that say they have a plan for her, she fakes her death and runs away in hopes of saving everyone.
*sigh*...
Where do I start. The story itself was very mesmerizing but the way it was formatted is what I found to be very irritable. There is no order in which the book is written so you either have the present time in which Neely is traveling to find her answers or you have different fragments of her past. I like to see the difference in the time frames but not when they go randomly from 4 years in the past to ten days and everything in between...
Neely is weird. She has a "twin" who she loves (yes, in that sense. & no, they're not actually related to each other) who she's obsessed with. So she basically travels all over the country to try to save him and then BAM! Ha you're just gonna have to read it to find out ;)
My final thought? Meh, it's alright. Could have been better but if you have time to waste, check it out.
October 31, 2014
Engrossing, thought provoking, action packed.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I was looking forward to another dystopian book, as they are my favourite and I have been indulging myself by reading quite a few of them in a row!
MY REVIEW
I received an e-copy of this one from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The cover actually depicts a moon cut in half which I guess depicts the branding on the back of twins necks such as Neely and Thorne have. I love the rich blue cover as it emphasizes the bright white of the moon, which in turn makes the book cover quite attractive.
Would the cover make me pick it up from a book store shelf? Yes, the cover also was what first caught my attention to the e-copy on Netgalley.
So whats happened in the dystopian society that this book is set in? A virus has killed off the world as we know it. A community is formed with The Elders being in charge. There is a director too, he is the father of Cornelia Ambrose. (Neely) . Neely's identity has been altered for her own safety. Her undercover identity is that she is Thornes twin...When the Preservation happened the "chosen" were branded. Those left behind who did not go into the newly formed communities under the rule of The Elders, are known as The Remnants. The Remnants live mostly underground in an old derelict train way. The Remnants scavenge for anything and everything they need and have to avoid capture/death by "The Cleaners" who are a force ruled by The Elders. Then the other sort of people are The Mavericks, they are against the Elders and try their to help The Remnants by bringing them food and drink when they can. they also try to help anyone that escapes The Elders and their rule. They give escapee's a new identity and help them re-locate.
The Elders are a scary almost faceless rulers that are experimenting on people and soon there will be another big change. The Elders have already done something to test what they are about to do. (I know that may not make much sense but it will when you read the book. You know I hate spoilers!). They have used the director/Neel's father to experiment on. This has made Neely's father cold and dispassionate almost robotic. Neely's father is also now hurting Neely' branded twin, Thorne. Neely thinks she loves Thorne but in the back of her mind theres a niggling doubt that maybe her feelings are only there because of their brand link. Neely's dad has Thorne taken to a lab to be tortured, and uses this as a method to keep his daughter in line by hurting someone she cares deeply about. Neely also feels Thorne's pain and emotions through their brand\bond, so in turn her father is actually experimenting on her and causing her pain too. One night Neely has a glimpse at some paperwork her father has left lying around. What she see's in those papers makes her mind up, she must get out, and get help for everyone she will have to leave behind.
Neely asks the only person that she thinks can or will help, and thats the solitary, odd ball young man, Xenith if he can help. They discuss the plans that the Elders have. Xenith is the latest generation descended from the Mavericks. Xenith helps Neely fake her own death and helps her set off to get to the old world above ground. Neely has to travel underground through old railway tunnels to get to San Fransisco. She narrowly escapes death, because her guide Bayard gets her out of the tunnel just in the nick of time. It seems as if The Elders are following her closely, so closely that they attack and usually kill anyone that has helped Neely on her journey.
This book is told from the POV of Neely, whom I consider the main character of the book. The book begins at the point where she is travelling within The Burrows. The chapters are headed in numbers, the days, hours, and minutes counting down to when the Elders will begin transporting people to be altered and changed so they are totally under the Elders power and basically totally robotic. The book is fairly slow going to begin with as Neely makes her way through The Burrows, but I think it is that way to represent and reflects how Neely is feeling during that part of her journey. She is anxious to get on with her journey and get back up to the surface. The community has different levels of hierarchy, The Elders, The Director, those chosen branded that live in the Compound, then the Mavericks and finally the lowest on the hierarchy ladder the poorest inhabitant The Remnants.
There's a lot of action, drama, betrayal, a little confusion and a potential love triangle too.
The book is told and seen through the eyes of Neely the whole way through. Though it is recounted to the reader in the "present time" as it is happening and flashback chapters also told from Neely's point of view.
There are many obstacles and also some shocks and surprises along the journey that Neely has to make.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, once the pace picked up a little I was hooked. It's a real cliff hanger at the end too, which makes you want the next book straight away!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I'd go so far to say it's a MUST read for all dystopian fans.
Would I want to read another book in this series? Yes I really want to read the next book! I'd read it right now if it was available! I really want to learn more about Neely and Thorne and see how their relationship developes, as well as wanting to know more about Xenith, his family, and his possible relationship with Neely.
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I think I would take a look at any title by this author quite closer after having read this book and enjoying it so much.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I was looking forward to another dystopian book, as they are my favourite and I have been indulging myself by reading quite a few of them in a row!
MY REVIEW
I received an e-copy of this one from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The cover actually depicts a moon cut in half which I guess depicts the branding on the back of twins necks such as Neely and Thorne have. I love the rich blue cover as it emphasizes the bright white of the moon, which in turn makes the book cover quite attractive.
Would the cover make me pick it up from a book store shelf? Yes, the cover also was what first caught my attention to the e-copy on Netgalley.
So whats happened in the dystopian society that this book is set in? A virus has killed off the world as we know it. A community is formed with The Elders being in charge. There is a director too, he is the father of Cornelia Ambrose. (Neely) . Neely's identity has been altered for her own safety. Her undercover identity is that she is Thornes twin...When the Preservation happened the "chosen" were branded. Those left behind who did not go into the newly formed communities under the rule of The Elders, are known as The Remnants. The Remnants live mostly underground in an old derelict train way. The Remnants scavenge for anything and everything they need and have to avoid capture/death by "The Cleaners" who are a force ruled by The Elders. Then the other sort of people are The Mavericks, they are against the Elders and try their to help The Remnants by bringing them food and drink when they can. they also try to help anyone that escapes The Elders and their rule. They give escapee's a new identity and help them re-locate.
The Elders are a scary almost faceless rulers that are experimenting on people and soon there will be another big change. The Elders have already done something to test what they are about to do. (I know that may not make much sense but it will when you read the book. You know I hate spoilers!). They have used the director/Neel's father to experiment on. This has made Neely's father cold and dispassionate almost robotic. Neely's father is also now hurting Neely' branded twin, Thorne. Neely thinks she loves Thorne but in the back of her mind theres a niggling doubt that maybe her feelings are only there because of their brand link. Neely's dad has Thorne taken to a lab to be tortured, and uses this as a method to keep his daughter in line by hurting someone she cares deeply about. Neely also feels Thorne's pain and emotions through their brand\bond, so in turn her father is actually experimenting on her and causing her pain too. One night Neely has a glimpse at some paperwork her father has left lying around. What she see's in those papers makes her mind up, she must get out, and get help for everyone she will have to leave behind.
Neely asks the only person that she thinks can or will help, and thats the solitary, odd ball young man, Xenith if he can help. They discuss the plans that the Elders have. Xenith is the latest generation descended from the Mavericks. Xenith helps Neely fake her own death and helps her set off to get to the old world above ground. Neely has to travel underground through old railway tunnels to get to San Fransisco. She narrowly escapes death, because her guide Bayard gets her out of the tunnel just in the nick of time. It seems as if The Elders are following her closely, so closely that they attack and usually kill anyone that has helped Neely on her journey.
This book is told from the POV of Neely, whom I consider the main character of the book. The book begins at the point where she is travelling within The Burrows. The chapters are headed in numbers, the days, hours, and minutes counting down to when the Elders will begin transporting people to be altered and changed so they are totally under the Elders power and basically totally robotic. The book is fairly slow going to begin with as Neely makes her way through The Burrows, but I think it is that way to represent and reflects how Neely is feeling during that part of her journey. She is anxious to get on with her journey and get back up to the surface. The community has different levels of hierarchy, The Elders, The Director, those chosen branded that live in the Compound, then the Mavericks and finally the lowest on the hierarchy ladder the poorest inhabitant The Remnants.
There's a lot of action, drama, betrayal, a little confusion and a potential love triangle too.
The book is told and seen through the eyes of Neely the whole way through. Though it is recounted to the reader in the "present time" as it is happening and flashback chapters also told from Neely's point of view.
There are many obstacles and also some shocks and surprises along the journey that Neely has to make.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, once the pace picked up a little I was hooked. It's a real cliff hanger at the end too, which makes you want the next book straight away!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I'd go so far to say it's a MUST read for all dystopian fans.
Would I want to read another book in this series? Yes I really want to read the next book! I'd read it right now if it was available! I really want to learn more about Neely and Thorne and see how their relationship developes, as well as wanting to know more about Xenith, his family, and his possible relationship with Neely.
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I think I would take a look at any title by this author quite closer after having read this book and enjoying it so much.
October 25, 2014
One of my favourite things to do is start a new YA series – and “Follow me through Darkness” by Danielle Ellison turned out to be one of the best for me of the last year, extremely readable, very well constructed and some great characters to follow along with.
When we first meet Neely she is on a journey through a dark underground tunnel and the story immediately draws you in, making you eager to find out what she is doing there and why. Using present time and flashback to various times in her life a picture slowly starts to build of life in a compound, protected from the outside ravaged world, yet hinting that the greatest danger may well lie within…
There are various levels to the tale, it is definitely an adventure, kind of a YA Road movie in novel form, as we follow Neely on her travels – there is also romance and intrigue and some particularly excellent world building that will keep you turning the pages, indeed I read the first half of this in one sitting.
The tension slowly building, as the clock counts down (you’ll have to read to find out why), it flows along at a pitch perfect pace giving you hints of what is to come – and the ending will leave you wanting more immediately.
One thing I did REALLY like about this one was the romance angle, which can be fairly generic in tales of this kind. In this case however, whilst Danielle Ellison has given us the YA “love triangle” in one sense, she has put a little twist on it that gave it a definite edge for me and made it much more engaging and fascinating overall.
Well written and addictive, I would definitely highly recommend this for fans of the YA Dystopia genre.
Happy Reading Folks!
When we first meet Neely she is on a journey through a dark underground tunnel and the story immediately draws you in, making you eager to find out what she is doing there and why. Using present time and flashback to various times in her life a picture slowly starts to build of life in a compound, protected from the outside ravaged world, yet hinting that the greatest danger may well lie within…
There are various levels to the tale, it is definitely an adventure, kind of a YA Road movie in novel form, as we follow Neely on her travels – there is also romance and intrigue and some particularly excellent world building that will keep you turning the pages, indeed I read the first half of this in one sitting.
The tension slowly building, as the clock counts down (you’ll have to read to find out why), it flows along at a pitch perfect pace giving you hints of what is to come – and the ending will leave you wanting more immediately.
One thing I did REALLY like about this one was the romance angle, which can be fairly generic in tales of this kind. In this case however, whilst Danielle Ellison has given us the YA “love triangle” in one sense, she has put a little twist on it that gave it a definite edge for me and made it much more engaging and fascinating overall.
Well written and addictive, I would definitely highly recommend this for fans of the YA Dystopia genre.
Happy Reading Folks!
Read
December 30, 2014Danielle Ellison did an incredible job of juggling the past and the present as she tells the story of Neely and Thorne the Elders who control people's lives in ways that they don't even realize. As Neely becomes more and more aware of what is really going on, she goes on a quest to put a stop to the Elders' power. It's a dangerous mission. As readers go on the journey with Neely, they also learn what happened in the past. Readers discover Neely's connection with Thorne, and end up questioning whether it's real or something that's been fabricated by an artificial act. The reader will have to find out.
The writing style was so cool. I am amazed at how one chapter ends with a key word in a sentence, and then the next chapter starts with a sentence with the key word. Very cool.
This has a dark, dystopian feel. Incredible world building, clever plot, and swoony romance. I look forward to the next book in the series. I really want to find out what happens between Thorne and Neely.
The writing style was so cool. I am amazed at how one chapter ends with a key word in a sentence, and then the next chapter starts with a sentence with the key word. Very cool.
This has a dark, dystopian feel. Incredible world building, clever plot, and swoony romance. I look forward to the next book in the series. I really want to find out what happens between Thorne and Neely.
Read
October 9, 2019A dystopian story with a vivid setting and a big pack of characters... That's what comes to my mind when I think about this book.
The story itself is very interesting, the world created has bits from what I've read before but it still picked my interest and I wanted to know more, to discover something new. The writing style was also nice, with the flashbacks, even though I found myself confused in the beginning.
The romantic aspect is something that I did not appreciate, but that is something that it's happening more often lately; the thing is I like my books to have romance in them, but I feel less and less satisfied, more so when there is one element I truly dislike (and I will leave it at that).
The story itself is very interesting, the world created has bits from what I've read before but it still picked my interest and I wanted to know more, to discover something new. The writing style was also nice, with the flashbacks, even though I found myself confused in the beginning.
The romantic aspect is something that I did not appreciate, but that is something that it's happening more often lately; the thing is I like my books to have romance in them, but I feel less and less satisfied, more so when there is one element I truly dislike (and I will leave it at that).
October 16, 2014
'Follow Me Through Darkness' is an intriguing first book in a new YA dystopian trilogy. It follows main character, Neely, as she learns the awful plan the Elders have in store for everyone living inside the Compound - with her at the very center of it all. Everyone at the Compound has been taught that the land outside their walls was destroyed and dangerous. Neely's eyes have been opened and she realizes that the Elders have been lying to everyone for their own benefit. When she reads their plan for total mind control of the Compound residents, Neely knows that she must escape the Compound and face the dangers of the outside if there's any hope of saving everyone she loves. She's under a strict countdown - 40 days until the Elder's plan goes into effect - and she has to figure out who to trust, where to go for answers, and how to stop the Elders before it's too late.
The plot of the book was relatively original, which is difficult to accomplish within the science fiction/dystopian genre. I found the world building to be fascinating and wanted to learn as much as I could about everything - the (true) history of Neely's world, what the Compound is and what happens there, the kind of lives the various types of people throughout Neely's world lived - anything that could give me insight and information about the setting, characters, and the intricacies of the plot. The author did a great job with providing me with this information and I'm hoping that we'll get to learn even more in the next book. It did take the story a little while to get going - it was a bit slow at first - but once the action started happening, it didn't stop until the end. One thing that was a bit confusing at first and may have had a negative effect on my experience with the book was the extreme amount of jumping around in time. The story is split up into small sections - almost like journal entries - that begin with the countdown until the Elder's plan goes into effect. The story jumps from the present to months and even years before Neely leaving the compound, which had me confused and trying to remember the order things happened in. Because I was confused about the time frame and what was happening when, I found that I couldn't immerse myself into the book like I normally can. If it wasn't for that bit of confusion on my part, I believe I would have had an even better reading experience than I did. The characters, especially Neely, were all well written and had realistic flaws and strengths. It was easy for me to identify with Neely and root for her throughout the story. There's so much potential for this series and I'm really hoping that the jumping around in time will be less confusing for me or just in general during the book. I'll definitely be reading the next book to see what happens next and to see how the various aspects of the story are written. Definitely recommended for fans of science fiction and dystopian novels, along with those who enjoy fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The plot of the book was relatively original, which is difficult to accomplish within the science fiction/dystopian genre. I found the world building to be fascinating and wanted to learn as much as I could about everything - the (true) history of Neely's world, what the Compound is and what happens there, the kind of lives the various types of people throughout Neely's world lived - anything that could give me insight and information about the setting, characters, and the intricacies of the plot. The author did a great job with providing me with this information and I'm hoping that we'll get to learn even more in the next book. It did take the story a little while to get going - it was a bit slow at first - but once the action started happening, it didn't stop until the end. One thing that was a bit confusing at first and may have had a negative effect on my experience with the book was the extreme amount of jumping around in time. The story is split up into small sections - almost like journal entries - that begin with the countdown until the Elder's plan goes into effect. The story jumps from the present to months and even years before Neely leaving the compound, which had me confused and trying to remember the order things happened in. Because I was confused about the time frame and what was happening when, I found that I couldn't immerse myself into the book like I normally can. If it wasn't for that bit of confusion on my part, I believe I would have had an even better reading experience than I did. The characters, especially Neely, were all well written and had realistic flaws and strengths. It was easy for me to identify with Neely and root for her throughout the story. There's so much potential for this series and I'm really hoping that the jumping around in time will be less confusing for me or just in general during the book. I'll definitely be reading the next book to see what happens next and to see how the various aspects of the story are written. Definitely recommended for fans of science fiction and dystopian novels, along with those who enjoy fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2014
Okay, so I admit it; I thought this book was contemporary when I started it. I didn't read the blurb, so sue me :D Although I am SUPER glad that I didn't because diving into this book blindly was the best thing I did.
Neely is on the way to the Old World. She has left everything she knew and loved behind to pursue something that's gonna save everyone she loves. She has been trusting the Elders for too long but now she knows what they are really after, and what plans they had for her.
This book is YA dystopia and a great one at that. It's a futuristic world where the United States has been destroyed and some of the elite and rich people live in Compounds (kinda like closed domes) thinking that there is no life left outside their city. The plot was a bit slow at the beginning but that was needed to get the story started. But when it picked up, there was no slow moments. Everything was fast-paced and exhilarating and i loved it.
I loved the way the author told her story. We get the book in first person POV from Neely, our protagonist, but some of the chapters are flashbacks and the flashbacks are absolutely MY favorite part of this book. I feel like they were essential to the story and leaving ONE of the flashbacks out would have ruined it.
I love Neely. She's kick-ass, brave, kind, selfless, forgiving, and loving. I just adored her. She is everything girls wish they could be. But she wasn't without flaws. She made mistakes and did wrong things and she recovered from them. IN a nutshell, she was real. The other secondary characters also made this story come alive. Although they were constantly changing, most of the secondary characters were only there for a couple of chapters, they still left a huge impression.
Then, we have the love interest(s). I just simply fell in love with two different guys at once. I am not going to give anything away but guys, this is not the kind of love triangle that you can hate. Because you fall in love with the three main characters and I rooted for both of the guys. Though I kinda do have a favorite that I hope Neely ends up with. They're both so brave and so loving and caring and just SO swoon-worthy. Oh, Danielle Ellison, you broke my heart so!
The ending was PHENOMENAL, to put it mildly. I fell in love with everything this author has written and i literally cannot believe that this is her debut novel. She is already a pro. I cannot wait to read more and I am impatiently waiting for the second book in the series and to dive more into Neely's world.
Neely is on the way to the Old World. She has left everything she knew and loved behind to pursue something that's gonna save everyone she loves. She has been trusting the Elders for too long but now she knows what they are really after, and what plans they had for her.
This book is YA dystopia and a great one at that. It's a futuristic world where the United States has been destroyed and some of the elite and rich people live in Compounds (kinda like closed domes) thinking that there is no life left outside their city. The plot was a bit slow at the beginning but that was needed to get the story started. But when it picked up, there was no slow moments. Everything was fast-paced and exhilarating and i loved it.
I loved the way the author told her story. We get the book in first person POV from Neely, our protagonist, but some of the chapters are flashbacks and the flashbacks are absolutely MY favorite part of this book. I feel like they were essential to the story and leaving ONE of the flashbacks out would have ruined it.
I love Neely. She's kick-ass, brave, kind, selfless, forgiving, and loving. I just adored her. She is everything girls wish they could be. But she wasn't without flaws. She made mistakes and did wrong things and she recovered from them. IN a nutshell, she was real. The other secondary characters also made this story come alive. Although they were constantly changing, most of the secondary characters were only there for a couple of chapters, they still left a huge impression.
Then, we have the love interest(s). I just simply fell in love with two different guys at once. I am not going to give anything away but guys, this is not the kind of love triangle that you can hate. Because you fall in love with the three main characters and I rooted for both of the guys. Though I kinda do have a favorite that I hope Neely ends up with. They're both so brave and so loving and caring and just SO swoon-worthy. Oh, Danielle Ellison, you broke my heart so!
The ending was PHENOMENAL, to put it mildly. I fell in love with everything this author has written and i literally cannot believe that this is her debut novel. She is already a pro. I cannot wait to read more and I am impatiently waiting for the second book in the series and to dive more into Neely's world.
October 20, 2014
3.5 - 4 Stars in my Sky!
Follow Me Through the Darkness is the first instalment in Danielle Ellison's intriguing YA dystopian series focusing on Cornelia 'Neely' as she tries to save society from corruption and evil.
This is a difficult book to review without giving away any of the plot. This is because a lot happens and the reader gets to know Neely in both the present and via flashbacks. Neely is fed up of being lied to and is after answers. She has become disillusioned with society and isn't prepared to accept things at face value anymore.
I liked both Neely and Thorne (it's a bit spoilery so I'll let you read about who he is) because the dynamic between them is extremely interesting and unusual. I understood some of Neely's questions surrounding them but got a bit annoyed with her lack of sensitivity at times. But for the most part I felt she handled things well and could understand her POV.
The plot is intriguing although I would have appreciated a little more description or time to get to know Neely's world a little more. I wasn't expecting to but I liked Xenith and wanted to see more of him. As with Thorne I felt like Neely was a bit unfair to him but again I could understand why.
There is the potential for a love triangle and I kept chaining my mind about which way I wanted Neely to go. I do think she needs to find her answers before she can pick either boy or maybe even somebody else entirely. I did appreciate that the love triangle wasn't the main part of the story and it was nice to meet the many different characters along the way.
There is a cliffy so be warned, but it's done in a way that's more dramatic and intriguing rather than annoying. I really wanted to know what happens next...
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Also reviewed on my blog Zili in the Sky
Follow Me Through the Darkness is the first instalment in Danielle Ellison's intriguing YA dystopian series focusing on Cornelia 'Neely' as she tries to save society from corruption and evil.
This is a difficult book to review without giving away any of the plot. This is because a lot happens and the reader gets to know Neely in both the present and via flashbacks. Neely is fed up of being lied to and is after answers. She has become disillusioned with society and isn't prepared to accept things at face value anymore.
I liked both Neely and Thorne (it's a bit spoilery so I'll let you read about who he is) because the dynamic between them is extremely interesting and unusual. I understood some of Neely's questions surrounding them but got a bit annoyed with her lack of sensitivity at times. But for the most part I felt she handled things well and could understand her POV.
The plot is intriguing although I would have appreciated a little more description or time to get to know Neely's world a little more. I wasn't expecting to but I liked Xenith and wanted to see more of him. As with Thorne I felt like Neely was a bit unfair to him but again I could understand why.
There is the potential for a love triangle and I kept chaining my mind about which way I wanted Neely to go. I do think she needs to find her answers before she can pick either boy or maybe even somebody else entirely. I did appreciate that the love triangle wasn't the main part of the story and it was nice to meet the many different characters along the way.
There is a cliffy so be warned, but it's done in a way that's more dramatic and intriguing rather than annoying. I really wanted to know what happens next...
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Also reviewed on my blog Zili in the Sky
February 19, 2016
First of all, I want to say thank you to Danielle Ellison for providing me with an ARC!
Now…onto my review:
If you didn’t know, I am a speed reader. I don’t say this as a way of bragging, so please don’t interpret it that way. My reason for telling you that fact is because I read this book differently than I normally read books. Since I’m a speed reader, I normally start a book and finish it in the same day. After all, it normally only takes me 2-3hours to read an average 300-400 page book, so it isn’t too hard for me to read a book in its entirety in only one day. Unfortunately, I’ve been very busy recently and have not had the time to read for long periods. I have actually been reading this ARC on and off for a couple of weeks. There is a reason behind me telling you this! When I read a book over a couple of days I sometimes have difficulty remembering specific details of the story. To my delight, I did not have that problem while reading this book.
Follow Me Through Darkness is about a girl named Neely who lived in a dystopian society. Her father was the director of the Compound which meant that he was the man in charge. Well, not exactly. The real government was composed of the Elders, mysterious people who every so often visited the Compound to see how everyone was doing.
Now…onto my review:
If you didn’t know, I am a speed reader. I don’t say this as a way of bragging, so please don’t interpret it that way. My reason for telling you that fact is because I read this book differently than I normally read books. Since I’m a speed reader, I normally start a book and finish it in the same day. After all, it normally only takes me 2-3hours to read an average 300-400 page book, so it isn’t too hard for me to read a book in its entirety in only one day. Unfortunately, I’ve been very busy recently and have not had the time to read for long periods. I have actually been reading this ARC on and off for a couple of weeks. There is a reason behind me telling you this! When I read a book over a couple of days I sometimes have difficulty remembering specific details of the story. To my delight, I did not have that problem while reading this book.
Follow Me Through Darkness is about a girl named Neely who lived in a dystopian society. Her father was the director of the Compound which meant that he was the man in charge. Well, not exactly. The real government was composed of the Elders, mysterious people who every so often visited the Compound to see how everyone was doing.
September 13, 2015
First off let me just say it took me way too long to realize that there are actually faces in the moon. xD
Sadly I have to say that somehow this book and it's story just fell flat for me.
I couldn't really get into the story or connect with the characters ( I really don't want to say it but I hated Thorne, he annoyed me to no end) maybe part of this is because the world building is lacking (almost non-existend, except some mentions here and there).
Even though we have a tight time schedule to the story because Neely is racing against the clock there never is a feeling of urgency or any suspense. A great example therefor is after the book ends on a cliff hanger and we get a sneak peek at book 2 where it starts
Although we finally find out at the end of the book how Neely is really connected to the plan of the Elders there still are some questions to the story that did not get answered like:
2 stars for a great and new idea but none for it's execution.
Maybe I had too high expectations....
Sadly I have to say that somehow this book and it's story just fell flat for me.
I couldn't really get into the story or connect with the characters ( I really don't want to say it but I hated Thorne, he annoyed me to no end) maybe part of this is because the world building is lacking (almost non-existend, except some mentions here and there).
Even though we have a tight time schedule to the story because Neely is racing against the clock there never is a feeling of urgency or any suspense. A great example therefor is after the book ends on a cliff hanger and we get a sneak peek at book 2 where it starts
Although we finally find out at the end of the book how Neely is really connected to the plan of the Elders there still are some questions to the story that did not get answered like:
2 stars for a great and new idea but none for it's execution.
Maybe I had too high expectations....
October 12, 2014
Thank you to Spencer Hill Press for the e-arc.
Follow Me Through Darkness is the first book in the Boundless trilogy by Danielle Ellison. I really loved this story from the start. Neely is such a strong character to read about. She does what she feels she has to do to save those that mean the most for her. Even if it means putting her own life at risk to do so. Even if it means leaving them behind. Neely’s that type of character who doesn’t do what she’s told, she seeks the truth no matter the cost.
I loved the writing on this one and I really enjoyed how the chapters bounced back and forth between her “deadline” times and her “before escape” times, revealing bits and pieces of the puzzle that she’s trying to put together as you read. She has very different relationships with Thorne and Xenith. And while at times it seems like it could be a love triangle at others it really doesn’t feel that way.
I can’t wait for the second book, which comes out in a year, which is too long of a wait. *sigh*
Follow Me Through Darkness is the first book in the Boundless trilogy by Danielle Ellison. I really loved this story from the start. Neely is such a strong character to read about. She does what she feels she has to do to save those that mean the most for her. Even if it means putting her own life at risk to do so. Even if it means leaving them behind. Neely’s that type of character who doesn’t do what she’s told, she seeks the truth no matter the cost.
I loved the writing on this one and I really enjoyed how the chapters bounced back and forth between her “deadline” times and her “before escape” times, revealing bits and pieces of the puzzle that she’s trying to put together as you read. She has very different relationships with Thorne and Xenith. And while at times it seems like it could be a love triangle at others it really doesn’t feel that way.
I can’t wait for the second book, which comes out in a year, which is too long of a wait. *sigh*
July 23, 2014
When Neely Ambrose discovers a nefarious plot by the ruling Elders of the Compound, she is determined to stop them from implementing their mind-control on the entire population. Her plan to save her people involves faking her own death, leaving behind her loved ones, and escaping the Compound to brave the world outside, all in an effort to uncover the truth. This fast-paced dystopian thriller shoots off like a rocket from the first chapter and doesn't stop until the the final page. While Neely's plan unfolds at breakneck speed, Ellison seamlessly weaves in flashbacks of Neely's past--including the boy she loves. Follow Me Through Darkness delivers one jaw-dropping twist after another, and the pace is so fast, your page-flipping fingers will hardly be able to keep up.
October 1, 2014
I was right there with Neely from the get-go and I jumped into this story with both feet.
Neely's bravery was not only admirable but so real. I can't remember the last time I read a book where there was there was such believable human strength, and more importantly fear, woven into the MC's courage. And the romantic elements are equally nuanced. You can really feel how torn she is between loyalty and curiosity, between the comfort of a familiar love and the of the lure of the unknown. It's not just a plot device thrown in to create complications. I think it's a completely accurate reflection of how anyone -- especially a teen -- experiences his/her choices about who to be with and why.
Really loved this one! So, so well-written. Beautiful, emotional, thrilling.
Neely's bravery was not only admirable but so real. I can't remember the last time I read a book where there was there was such believable human strength, and more importantly fear, woven into the MC's courage. And the romantic elements are equally nuanced. You can really feel how torn she is between loyalty and curiosity, between the comfort of a familiar love and the of the lure of the unknown. It's not just a plot device thrown in to create complications. I think it's a completely accurate reflection of how anyone -- especially a teen -- experiences his/her choices about who to be with and why.
Really loved this one! So, so well-written. Beautiful, emotional, thrilling.
July 29, 2014
Danielle Ellison has a romantic soul and it shines through the tension in FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS. Such an incredible story about a journey in search of truth and the fight for justice. I wish I were as brave as MC Neely. Can't wait for book 2!!
Want to read
July 8, 2014Why don't I have this yet. -___-
October 31, 2014
Review to follow
November 21, 2014
Just couldn't get into this book. I read about a third way through and gave up. The 2 stars are based on the snooze factor.
April 24, 2015
dnf. I keep thinking I will pick it back up but I'm just not.
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