Tag Archive for: Dystopian

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Broken Dove

Broken DoveTitle: Broken Dove
Author: Dani Francis
Series: Silver Elite #2
Genre: Dystopian, Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 592
Length: 22h 4m
Narrator: Amanda Dolan, Teddy Hamilton
Rating:

My Thoughts

I adored BROKEN DOVE just as much as SILVER ELITE. I loved being with the mod rebellion and learning more about all the different powers they had. I can see why primes are scared of the modified. Honestly, I would be too, even if I were modified myself.

I missed seeing Wren with Cross. I’m glad we got two chapters from his POV. I wish there had been more, but I understand why Francis did it the way she did. Normally, I hate love triangles. They’re my least favorite trope, but the one in this series doesn’t bother me because I’m constantly second-guessing Grayson’s motives. I don’t think Wren will end up with Grayson in the end (I hope).

I’m still not sure who to trust–the mod rebellion or the company. They both seem to have nefarious intentions. I’m not sure how this series is going to end and when it does, if it’s going to be positive. I’m almost getting the feeling that Wren might be like Tris in DIVERGENT, and I really hope that’s not the case.

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Service Model

Service ModelTitle: Service Model
Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 373
Length: 12h 22m
Narrator: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Rating:

My Thoughts

Although SERVICE MODEL was very slow and sometimes boring, I did like aspects of it. I thought the illogicalness of the robot’s logic was funny and I laughed out loud a few times. I also liked the message that if people with bad motives program robots / AI, then those robots / AI are going go about their programming in a way that’s not helpful to society. I think this message is really important in today’s world because of the reliance we’re starting to put on AI chatbots. Machines cannot act outside their programming. They’re black and white and cannot exist in the gray like humans can, and that absolutism will mostly likely result in chaos and destruction.

The Compound

The CompoundTitle: The Compound
Author: Aisling Rawle
Genre: Dystopian
Format: Audio
Pages: 292
Length: 10h 5m
Narrator: Lucy Boynton
Rating:

My Thoughts

There’s so much to say about THE COMPOUND and I’m not sure where to start. Even though I didn’t really like Lily (I think), the story was so fucking compelling that I had to find out what happened. I kept thinking they were on a show like Squid Game and at some point the shoe was going to drop and they’d all be in danger. I’m a little disappointed that didn’t happen, lol.

Based on what I witnessed and not knowing his thoughts, I liked Sam a lot and I was sad when he left. I was sad Lily hadn’t grown enough to go with him. And, the ambiguous ending is torture. Although, the author could write a follow up to see how Lily’s life changes because of this experience. I’d definitely read it.

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Silver Elite

Silver EliteTitle: Silver Elite
Author: Dani Francis
Series: Silver Elite #1
Genre: Dystopian, Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 528
Length: 19h 12m
Narrator: Amanda Dolan
Rating:

My Thoughts

I adored SILVER ELITE. I was hooked from the get go and I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the setting and the concept of the “modified” and I loved the dystopian aspect of the story. The story felt like THE HUNGER GAMES meets DIVERGENT and GRACELING, with a little bit of FOURTH WING thrown in as well (no dragons, though). It is more of a romantopian than a romantasy, but either way it was awesome.

I thought Wren was a great protagonist and heroine. She reminded me of all my favorite dystopian/fantasy heroines. I loved the chemistry between her and Cross. Their banter was amazing and none of the spicier scenes made me roll my eyes. (Francis really knows how to write good kissing scenes!) The other characters were also fantastic. I kept second guessing their motives and had a hard time deciding which side they were on. I’m really looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out next year.

As far as the controversy, I didn’t feel like SILVER ELITE was written by A.I. The writing may not be the best literature has to offer, but it seemed natural for a story like this.

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Sunrise On The Reaping

Sunrise On The ReapingTitle: Sunrise on the Reaping
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #5
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator: Jefferson White
Rating:

My Thoughts

I’m so glad Collins has decided to write more books in Panem universe. I love deep diving into so many of the secondary characters from the original trilogy. I’ve been looking forward to SUNRISE ON THE REAPING since I heard about it and it did not disappoint.

I knew Haymitch had to have had a rough life, especially in and after the games. I just had no idea how awful it really was. Poor, Haymitch! Despite how gruesome his story was, it was a fantastic edition to the series. I really loved learning more about him. I also loved how Collins interspersed “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe throughout the book and especially during the last chapter. It added a lot of feeling and atmosphere to what happened to Haymitch and the other characters.

It was really fun to see all the character cameos from the original trilogy as well as a few from THE BALLAD ON SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. The characters endeared the book to me more than anything else.

As of the end SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, I still want to know how Snow became president of Panem and what led to that happening between the tenth and 50th Hunger Games. I also still want to know why he and Tigris had a falling out. I also want to know how both Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory died because of something Clerk Carmine or Tam Amber said near the end of this story. I’d love to read Finnick’s story or what happened during the first quarter quell next. And, I think it would be fun to get Mags’, Beatty’s, and Johanna’s stories at some point as well.