Released (Agents of Evil, #1)

Apr 08, 2011 Andrea marked it as to-read · review of another edition

There were so many elements to Realeased that appealed to me. For starters, I love an honest-to-goodness strong heroine. Abby is smart, tough, funny, and takes control of her own destiny. No hand wringing with Abby, only gun slinging. But, really, I liked all of the charcters in the book. Megan Duncan did such a great job of getting you in the characters' head and letting you feel their fear, desperation, and hope.
Another element that I liked was the pace of the story. Released pulls you into...more

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May 06, 2011 Mindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, paranormal-or-urban-fantasy, recommend-to-read, romance

This book totally ROCKED! I knew as soon as I started reading that I would like this book. Abby is a diehard heroine, not by choice but for survival and she is truly a fighter!

Abby, her brother Carter, and Carter’s best friend Max are the only living humans in their town. Max lost both of his parents to the monsters that have taken over the world, and Abby and Carter lost their father when he tried to save Max’s parents. The monsters that killed them left the 3 teenagers to survive on their own....more This book totally ROCKED! I knew as soon as I started reading that I would like this book. Abby is a diehard heroine, not by choice but for survival and she is truly a fighter!

Abby, her brother Carter, and Carter’s best friend Max are the only living humans in their town. Max lost both of his parents to the monsters that have taken over the world, and Abby and Carter lost their father when he tried to save Max’s parents. The monsters that killed them left the 3 teenagers to survive on their own.

Abby, Carter and Max quickly come to realize that it will not be possible to survive by hiding out in their houses forever. Unfortunately, their only hope of survival was a radio transmission telling survivors to seek refuge at an Air Force Base in New Mexico, but the radio message stopped transmitting 2 weeks ago! So, with little hope, they set out on a 1500 mile journey to the Air Force base, praying they can find food, water, shelter and safety.

After the tragic loss of their parents, the three survivors never dreamed they would face even greater challenges and horrors on their journey to New Mexico. But where they ever wrong! Heck, even I didn’t imagine where the book would lead! There were moments while reading that I wanted to yell, “PLEASE! Follow your gut instinct!” And, yet, I too was completely caught off guard in some parts! It came to a point where I finally realized that Abby, Carter and Max will truly do ANYTHING to save each other even if it means doing something they thought they would never have to do.

There is another character named Taya that comes into the mix later, and I love her too! All four of these characters balance each other perfectly. I love how Abby’s security blanket is her shotgun and that Carter uses a bow! Carter is the brain of the group and Abby and Max are the strong fighters. Taya adds more fun to the mix.

There is a part in the book that had me really pondering. I was thinking, “Would this be how I would feel?” Here is what is the discussion…
“So why do you think this all happened?” Taya asked completely out of the blue, directing the question to Carter.
“Huh? You asking me?” She nodded at him. “Well there are lots of theories really. Some people believe God is punishing us, some believe they are aliens taking over our planet, some…”
“What do you believe?” Taya interrupted.
“Honestly I am not concerned about the how or why. I just want them gone.”

I really liked this book and I am really looking forward to see what will happen next.
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May 27, 2011 Marjie Pride rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SO GOOD! SO VERY VERY GOOD! I loved Max and Abby's relationship development during their dangerous journey. Abby is a great heroine tough as nails despite all the hardships she's endured. see more at http://thoughtsofareelfoothoodrat.blo...

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Jun 02, 2011 Avery rated it 4 of 5 stars

***May contain spoilers***

If you are a fan of "Zombieland" and the "Resident Evil" film franchise than you in for a treat with this book! This book combines all of the best elements of both films, plus a few totally swoon-worthy male leads, to make for an enjoyable couple hours of reading (seriously, once you start reading this book you will be unable to put it down until you finish it).

I really, really, really liked Max as a character, he was just such an all around good guy. And I really lik...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Tiffany King rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book!!!!!! I loved the characters and feel like I know each of them. I loved Megan's twist on the Apocalypse angle and felt the demons in it was a genius idea. My only regret with this book is that I waited so long to read it :o)

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May 25, 2011 Missy (Two Readers Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, i-own

I have been so in love with dystopian novels lately. It all started with The Hunger Games last year. Released just made my love for dystopians continue to grow!

Released takes place in a world where demon animals roam the Earth. There are several different types and we learn about them as the story moves along. The most common are the demon hounds. These demon creatures hide everywhere and survive off of eating humans.

Our MC, Abby, is one of the few living humans left. She along with her brother...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Angeline Kace rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a great take on the post-apocalyptic story. There are demons that have ended the world instead of zombies. The characters are fresh and believable. Ms. Duncan does a great job at keeping the story intense and moving forward. There were a couple of times the hubs asked me to do things for him, and I had a hard time pulling myself away. Looking forward to Book #2!

*Disclaimer:
I was a beta reader for Megan Duncan on Released.

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Nov 21, 2012 Jen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dystopian fiction at its finest, and this one seemed aimed at a high school audience. If you aren't familiar with dystopian fiction, by its genre alone, you know there isn't going to be a happy ending.

That said, this is a fantastic novel for character development. In it, you meet Abby (Abs), a young lady with proper gun handling skills, Carter, her older brother and a budding scientist, Max, Carter's playboy best friend, and Taya, who has a mental toughness to be envied. Together, they set off a...more Dystopian fiction at its finest, and this one seemed aimed at a high school audience. If you aren't familiar with dystopian fiction, by its genre alone, you know there isn't going to be a happy ending.

That said, this is a fantastic novel for character development. In it, you meet Abby (Abs), a young lady with proper gun handling skills, Carter, her older brother and a budding scientist, Max, Carter's playboy best friend, and Taya, who has a mental toughness to be envied. Together, they set off across the US on a road trip from (I'm guessing) Washington State to New Mexico in search of shelter in a world being torn apart by the released demons of hell.

The book is gripping, gritty, filled with blood loss and projectiles, and suspenseful from the first word to the last. However, this book is also written in a concise, gritty writing style that leaves a lot to the imagination as it is very poorly described on the page. The action is clinically detailed but the scenery is less so. The demons are only given their animal analogues, and it is up to the reader to imagine the remaining details.

One place where the concise writing style breaks down is in the dialogue. You know how teens use a lot of unnecessary words such as "you know, like"? These teens do, too. I'm going to attribute that to Ms. Duncan being a master of writing teen dialogue, rather than the alternative.

Which is interesting, because the romance that develops between Abby and Max is a very mature, adult type of romance. Usually teens are overcome by hormones and the desire to rub genitals. These guys did not rub genitals, but spent a lot of page-time on emotional support and unconditional love.

For myself, as a high school teacher who is surrounded by teen utterances every day, I don't think I'll be continuing on to the rest of this series as the teen logic and teen utterances were just too much to make me feel that I was having a book-vacation. However, for those who aren't in my position, perhaps this book will be up your alley.

I heard about this book from the "Pixel of Ink" blog. I purchased it, with my own non-money, for $0 when Pixel of Ink alerted me that it was free in the Kindle store.(less)

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Apr 20, 2012 Has rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is more like two and half stars.

I was attracted to this book due to its premise and cover - and I am always up for a good old dystopian with demons or zombies on the rampage and the book started off well, with the heroine, Abigail, her brother Carter and friend Max setting off to New Mexico to find a military outpost which seems to be a safe haven against the apocalypse where demons have arrived to earth.

Although there was nothing that stood out for me with its world-building or setting,...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Patricia (Patricia's Particularity) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, wishlist

The earth no longer belongs to just the humans... demons are having their turn. Humanity is in danger of extinction. Abby, Carter, and Max are a few surviving humans who hold hope of finding safety with a resistance movement in New Mexico. While they know that their journey there will not be easy or simple, they have no idea what they must do, go through and learn before they reach their destination.

I have only read a small number of post apocalyptic novels and I am always very timid about readi...more

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May 27, 2011 Cassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Thank you Megan sending me a copy of your novel for review. I loved Released! I finished the book within 5-6 hours, the quickest I have ever a novel. Released kept me at the edge of my seat for the entire book. Released was also a quick read at only 260 pages of awesomeness.
The way that Megan described the scenery and the events the group had to get over while travelling reminded me of Zombieland which made it super easy for me to visualize post-apocalypse America. I loved the characters they we...more

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May 18, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angels-and-demons, dystopians-end-of-the-world, orphans, roadtrip

Released fits the mold of Stephen King's The Stand meets Angelfall meets the tv show Supernatural.
The world was attacked by demon dogs and demon birds. Now there aren't many people left.
Abby, her brother Carter and his best friend Max are orphans. The plot reminds me a bit of The Stand in that they have a plan to go to New Mexico from radio transmissions. The radio messages claim there is a resistance on an Army base.

The book might have been stronger if the road trip wasn't all that happened...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Gabbicalabrese rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 9th-grade

I have to admit that I've always been extremely wary of self published books. I know that it's wrong, because a lot of self published books are REALLY good. This book, for instance. The only thing is that with a good editor, this book could have literally been perfect. Everything that a person could ask for in a book.

Instead there were some punctuation errors: Periods where there should have been commas, commas where there should have been nothing, nothing where there should have been commas. A...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I felt like there could have been a lot more backstory and fleshing out. The book was extremely short, there wasn't more than a couple paragraphs of backstory and there wasn't much character development, either. In addition to that, everything seemed to easy for the teens as they set out on their journey.

I didn't hate the book, though. For one, Abby was a great protagonist. Instead of being a nervous teenage girl about the end of the world, she picked up her rifle, swore at the demons, and aimed...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian, author-review

http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

4 out of 5 stars

Thank-you kindly to author Megan Duncan for providing me with a copy of ‘Released’, the first book in her ‘Agents of Evil’ series.

Abby Phillips is only one of three survivors left in her hometown and realizes the only hope of survival is to make a trip through what has become the wasteland of America to a military base in New Mexico where radio transmissions have promised safety and assistance.

Abby is an amazing heroine who has strength, cour...more http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

4 out of 5 stars

Thank-you kindly to author Megan Duncan for providing me with a copy of ‘Released’, the first book in her ‘Agents of Evil’ series.

Abby Phillips is only one of three survivors left in her hometown and realizes the only hope of survival is to make a trip through what has become the wasteland of America to a military base in New Mexico where radio transmissions have promised safety and assistance.

Abby is an amazing heroine who has strength, courage and determination and along with her brother, Carter and his friend, Max they overcome a number of obstacles to make the long and dangerous journey in the hopes of finding food, water, shelter and safety.

Along the way they also come across young Taya who I thought was absolutely wonderful – she was fiercely independent and at times annoying but was written perfectly.

The Demons are killing humans’ en-masse and survival becomes the sole focus for everyone and they do it by any means possible, the twists and turns are non-stop and the action fierce, humans are suffering and you are really drawn into the emotions of the story. I couldn’t predict what was going to happen from one page to the next, which for me is the sign of a great book! It was fast paced and filled with kick-butt action. It was clever and original and I loved the dark, gritty writing style.

The romance between Max and Abby was sweet and didn’t overpower the main storyline, it was subtle and more a little sub-story that grew as the story progressed; I am curious to see how their relationship evolves.

I would have liked more information about the reasoning why demons were unleashed into the world in the first place; I am hoping this is touched on more in the sequel, ‘Chaos’. I really liked the idea of a post-apocalyptic world with Demons destroying mankind; it was a nice change to the stereotypical Zombies.

The plot was thought out well and the pacing was spot on, I also enjoyed the first person narration by Abby, each of the characters was well-developed and likeable, I really felt for them as teens and what they had to endure. I also really enjoyed the ending which is the perfect set-up for the next book.

Overall, this was a quick and captivating read for me and I enjoyed every moment of it – a wonderful Dystopian, which is fast becoming one of my favorite genres.(less)

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May 28, 2011 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Demon Apocalypse's aren't usually my sort of thing, but this book sounded really good and something about it drew me in. The cover is amazing and looks really good.
Abby, her brother Carter and their friend Max have so far survived the demon attacks, when they hear a transmission offering help and safety, they decide to risk the journey to New Mexico. The world has been turned upside down, shops have been ransacked, multitudes have been killed, and demons prowl lose. The group must fight hard to...more Demon Apocalypse's aren't usually my sort of thing, but this book sounded really good and something about it drew me in. The cover is amazing and looks really good.
Abby, her brother Carter and their friend Max have so far survived the demon attacks, when they hear a transmission offering help and safety, they decide to risk the journey to New Mexico. The world has been turned upside down, shops have been ransacked, multitudes have been killed, and demons prowl lose. The group must fight hard to survive and do all they can to help each other.
I really liked Abby and felt almost like I knew her straight away, a bit of a tomboy and not afraid to stick up for herself she is a strong character, but also shows she is human like the rest of us in her moments of doubt. Carter was great, a really geek always jotting things down and having to think everything through. He really helped move the story on and keep the group balanced. Max is the teenage heart-throb, in line for a great future before the apocalypse hit, but he's also kind and caring and really looks after the group. I felt like I was almost a part of their little group and I felt myself cheering them on throughout the book.
The idea for the plot was well done and the pacing of the story was great, the words really flowed off the page and I had finished the book in one sitting. For one I couldn't put it down and the other was that I just seemed to be pulled in and time passed without me realising.
There were a few gruesome moments in the book as the group come across dead bodies and other things that I won't mention here, but it all added to the atmosphere and wasn't at all unnecessary. I am really squeamish but I could handle it, so you should be ok.
I liked the characters relationships with each other and the way they grew as the story progressed.
There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book other than it doesn't come to a full conclusion, it is clearly set for a sequel, and the only problem I have with that is that I don't have the next book and I really want it. :D

I got really lucky when Megan sent me a copy of this book. It is great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish her every success with her writing.

My Rating
I would give this book 9.5/10. An excellent read, captivating and exciting this book will keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to the pages. Watch out, the Demons are coming! (less)

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May 10, 2011 Romonina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, you guys know i have a habit of setting my bar pretty high on certain books. & this was one of them...& I LOVED IT. It was action packed & i was on edge the entire time i was reading this book. I loved how Megan created these kick as characters. I love when an author builds a character up through the story then slowly lets you see when their shell is cracking. I mean come on, You`d have to be pretty kickass to be living though a demon apocalypse. But then again it would have to...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Shortlatte rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While Released doesn’t stray too far from the standard young adult paranormal fare, atypical worldbuilding and a frank, capable narrator made this a truly enjoyable read. The opening scenes introduce a situation that we’ve seen time and again in the genre: some terrible supernatural catastrophe has befallen residents of a town where the survivors are left struggling to eke out an existence. Yet the ante is upped a bit when we learn that Abby, her brother Carter, and Carter’s best friend Max are...more While Released doesn’t stray too far from the standard young adult paranormal fare, atypical worldbuilding and a frank, capable narrator made this a truly enjoyable read. The opening scenes introduce a situation that we’ve seen time and again in the genre: some terrible supernatural catastrophe has befallen residents of a town where the survivors are left struggling to eke out an existence. Yet the ante is upped a bit when we learn that Abby, her brother Carter, and Carter’s best friend Max are the only survivors in their small town. The story kicks off after the gang has already become somewhat acclimated to their new, bleak environment, and all three have already experienced the heartache of losing loved ones. I appreciated the fact that Duncan threw readers straight into the story; no time was wasted by characters meandering through the various stages of denial, anger, and helplessness at their plight. No, Abby and the guys have worked out a system for survival, and what’s more, they have a plan to make their way to where they believe there are more survivors.

Duncan’s world, while similar to many that I’ve come across before, nonetheless stands out in her depiction of the supernatural elements. Usually, when we encounter demons in the genre, they are at least somewhat sentient, if not largely anthropomorphic. Yet Duncan’s demons are likened to hounds and birds of prey, larger than their normal counterparts and more deadly, yet altogether more like wild beasts animated by instinct rather than motive. Toward the end of the novel, Duncan alludes to the fact that this might not be a universal trait of all demons, and I have a feeling that Abby and crew will be interacting with the demons through more than just fighting in upcoming installments. Still, this feature really stood out to me while reading, and I hope that Duncan continues to deliver her worldbuilding through similar simple yet effective means.

I also quite enjoyed the romantic aspect of the novel, which, though it took up a significant portion of the book, nonetheless didn’t feel overdone or overdramatized. I’m a sucker for stories where friends acknowledge long-pent-up feelings, and Abby and Max are no exception. Their interactions were sweet, heartfelt, and didn’t incorporate unnecessary drama. More importantly, they actually served to enhance the consequences of their struggle to survive rather than hamper them, as neither falls victim to the stupidity of love-sickness at a crucial survival moment. They are able to keep their heads straight when need be, a trait that unfortunately is a rarity in much of young adult nowadays.

For those who are becoming somewhat tired of supernatural fiction, I suggest giving Released a try. It’s a good quick read that manages to use elements we’ve seen before to great effect, and I’m looking forward to reading its follow-up, Chaos.

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Oct 19, 2012 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, dystopia, paranormal, romance, demons, young-adult, ya

Three teenagers Abby Phillips, her brother Carter and Max, Carters best friend are all that are left alive in their home town. Demon type creatures have been wiping out all the humans they can find. After hearing a radio transmission Carter convinces Abby and Max to travel to New Mexico, where the radio transmission promises a military base filled with other survivors, food and safety.

Their small party quickly discovers that there is more to this demon invasion, that demons aren’t their only ene...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Naj (Unputdownable Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

Damn. That was one hell of a book. I never thought I'd like post apocalyptic plots. I thought it would scare me too much to read or maybe it'd been to negative for me. Well, It didn't scare me much neither did it seem negative. I mean, its not their fault its the end of the world for them. Well, not exactly the end but still.

Anyways, I more than loved this book, it had a firm plot and an awesome heroine. Abby was strong and tough but still mushy on the inside. I had trouble getting my butt of t...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Andrea Heltsley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Megan Duncan is a great writer and her Agents of Evil series is no exception. I wasn't sure if I would like it, as I am not usually a fan of post apocalyptic books. I loved Megan's other series so I gave it a try.

I loved the characters in this book. Max is the sexy boy next store and best friend of Carter. Carter is Abby's older brother. Along the way they meet Taya, a strong teenager who suffered the death of her mother.

With demons after them at every turn, this book is full of action. Although...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Aeicha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Apocalyptic stories are very popular now, in both literature and tv/movies, so providing a fresh take on this idea can be a difficult task, but in Released, author Megan Duncan has done just that. Instead of the very popular zombies or vampires, Duncan has created a new apocalyptic world full of demons. Now, I’m a fan of zombies, vampires, werewolves and the such, but my love for the tv show Supernatural has led to a fascination with demonology; therefore when it comes to using demons in a story...more Apocalyptic stories are very popular now, in both literature and tv/movies, so providing a fresh take on this idea can be a difficult task, but in Released, author Megan Duncan has done just that. Instead of the very popular zombies or vampires, Duncan has created a new apocalyptic world full of demons. Now, I’m a fan of zombies, vampires, werewolves and the such, but my love for the tv show Supernatural has led to a fascination with demonology; therefore when it comes to using demons in a story, I’m not easily impressed. But Released has definitely impressed me with its unique spin on an overly used idea, its likable characters, and its layered story.

Relased, the first book in Duncan’s Agents of Evil Series, introduces us to seventeen year old Abby, her older brother Carter, and his best friend Max. When the novel begins the world has already been overrun by demons and the three teenagers, having lost their parents and friends, are alone and struggling to survive. After hearing radio transmissions offering hope of military protection, the three decide to make their way across the wasteland that the country has become and head to New Mexico and the military base.

The novel is narrated by Abby, providing a very intimate relationship, not just between the reader and Abby, but between the reader and all that happens throughout the novel. While reading I never felt like I was on the outside looking in or like I was merely listening to someone recount events; I felt like I was right in the middle of all the action, like Abby’s journey was my journey too. As the voice of the novel, Abby’s character is integral to the reader’s experience. Connecting with and liking Abby’s character is vital, I think, to whether or not readers will want to continue reading till the very end. But Abby is so beautifully crafted, that it would be hard for anyone to not like or connect with her.

I like the way that Duncan has made Abby a very accessible and relatable character. She isn’t a superhero by any means- she isn’t Buffy- but she isn’t a delicate wallflower either. I find that many YA authors often depict their protagonists, especially female protagonists, as very weak, cautious, and unadventurous in the beginning of their novels, but by the end they somehow transform into these strong, brave, powerful badass characters…but the transformation feels forced and unnatural. With Abby, Duncan has created a very realistic female-she’s smart, funny, and courageous but she has her flaws and insecurities- whose character grows in a very natural, organic way throughout the novel. Carter, the brains, and Max, the brawn, are also both very likable characters. My genuine affection and interest in the trio never wavered or felt forced throughout the novel.

The actual demons are quit different than what I am used to. I’m used to a more humanistic type of demon, whereas the demons in Released are more animalistic. But I really like the different kind of fear and questions that these demons induced in me as the reader, and the obstacles and circumstances that they presented to the characters. I was worried at first that this animalistic nature of the demons would make them mundane, but as the novel progresses the trio, and readers alike, discover that these demons may not be as simple minded as they seem. Duncan throws in some wicked twists and curveballs regarding the demons, their purpose, and where they came from that could set up for a lot of really compelling plotlines in the rest of the series.

The vicious, animalistic nature of the demons does provide for some fast paced, heart stopping action though. The action often left me breathless and captivated. I love the way Duncan writes the action scenes in a very real, gritty way. The characters are in the middle of a demon apocalypse, there’s going to be blood, violence, and death- all things that Duncan isn’t afraid to show in detail. I have issues with YA authors who underestimate their audience and I really appreciate the way that Duncan didn’t even try to sugarcoat anything, showing that she doesn’t underestimate the YA audience’s ability to handle such realistic notions.

Released isn’t just all monsters and action though. There’s a real layered complexity to the novel as well, as Duncan explores our basic human nature. Her characters are just normal people who are faced with extraordinary circumstances and must learn to survive. But what does that mean? How far are people willing to go to survive? It’s easy to call the demons monsters, but are they really the most dangerous thing our main characters have to fear? These are just a few thought provoking questions that Duncan has subtly weaved throughout this novel.

Released is a captivating, action packed, and refreshing take on an old idea. This book is a wonderful blend of the supernatural and the psychological, with a fun bit of humor and romance thrown in. I really enjoyed it and I’m super excited to read the rest of the series.
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May 03, 2011 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, ya, demons, romance

GENRE: Dystopian
THEME: Demons
RECEIVED: From Author
AUTHOR: Megan Duncan
MY BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com

REVIEW:
I really loved the idea of Released by Megan Duncan, a post apocalyptic story with demons destroying human kind. I’m not really a zombie person so I was really looking forward to this nice twist.

Released in the first book in the Agents of Evil series and the debut for Duncan. She really hit the spot in her story, with adding a bit of everything, family survival, growing up, romanc...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Fallon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, first-reads-and-arcs, paranormal, series, young-adult, demons

I loved this book, and I couldn't put it down. It was pretty much non stop during the whole book. This dystopian novel has a very slight Hollowland feel to it, but Hollowland was about zombies and the end of the world. This book was about demons and the end of the world. Which is unique. A lot of demon books humanize them, this took demons to their scary, biblically apocalyptic, face value, they are evil and are here to wreak havoc, death and destruction on humanity. Those suckers are scary and...more

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May 05, 2011 Tristan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm going to start with the things i loved about this book. First off Abby, she's tough and determined, a great protagonist. She is the glue holding their small troupe of survivors together. I'd definitely want her shot gun slinging awesomeness on my side in a post apocalyptic demon infested world. The story kept a good pace and kept me interested.
What I didn't like about the book is I feel like I could've connected better to the characters and their struggle had I been their when the demon a...more

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Mar 24, 2011 Penelope Fletcher rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bought and read in one evening. The book is straightforward and uncomplicated. Humans versus demons, detached limbs, dystopian world, people who go crazy and become dictatorial psychopaths, nasty little pug dog (in my minds they look like pugs) monsters that slobber and are generally disturbing to read about ... I say all this in a good way.

What I loved about Abby (our main character) is that she could handle herself. The fighting was effortless, she was born to kick-demon ass. What I didn't lik...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Michele Tater rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book Title: Released
Author: Megan Duncan
Publisher: Create Space
ISBN: 9781461017721
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

“The human heart dares not stay away too long from that which hurt it most. There is a return journey to anguish that few of us are released from making.” ~Lillian Smith

Imagine our world taken over by strange, evil creatures with no warning and no knowledge of where they came from. Many humans die fights for their lives and the lives of their family and friends. T...more

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May 12, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first began reading this story, I was a little hesitant. I beta read a LOT, and am always editing. I noticed the author put commas in odd places, and every now and then an awkward sentence would slow me down. But, I soon didn’t notice the few errors as I got further into Abby’s story. I like Abby. I like this girl a lot. She’s no Buffy, but then, no one is. She’s tough without the typical sarcasm that usually accompanies the cliché tough girl. Not only is she tough, but I agree with the l...more When I first began reading this story, I was a little hesitant. I beta read a LOT, and am always editing. I noticed the author put commas in odd places, and every now and then an awkward sentence would slow me down. But, I soon didn’t notice the few errors as I got further into Abby’s story. I like Abby. I like this girl a lot. She’s no Buffy, but then, no one is. She’s tough without the typical sarcasm that usually accompanies the cliché tough girl. Not only is she tough, but I agree with the logic of her thought process. She’s rational, as well as deep and caring.

I’d like to have known a little more about how or why the demons were unleashed onto the world in the first place, but I know there’s a second book coming, and the end revealed there’s more to be discovered later in the story. So I’m really looking forward to the next book. As far as a first book goes, I felt the plot was strong. There weren’t any plot holes. I read from the middle to the last page in an hour. I inhaled this story. I didn’t even realize I was doing it, that’s how caught up I was. There is a scene near the end where Abby and her brother Carter, her crush Max, and their newly acquired tag-a=long Taya, stumble upon City Hall in one of the cities they’re driving through. There’s some crazy stuff that happens here and the people are just losing their minds. I got lost in the story, truly believing this is exactly how people would react if all of a sudden the world were under attack by a demon apocalypse. Very well thought out plotting and great pacing.

Abby’s and Max’s relationship was a slow simmer at the beginning, but with all the action and near-death experiences, they quickly threw caution to the wind and clung to one another. I like how their relationship developed and am hoping for some deeper, steamier scenes in the next book. Taya did get on my nerves, but this is her character. I think the author did a wonderful job with her. I liked that she annoyed me lol and she also was necessary to push the plot forward, but not in a noticeable annoying way. Good stuff. My favorite part was how it ended. I don’t do spoilers, but I had such a satisfied feeling at the end. There was despair. There was hope. I felt it had a powerful, thought-provoking ending. I highly recommend this story for anyone who’s looking for a quick, action-packed read with a little romance. It’s a great addition to the YA market.
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Aug 18, 2011 Heather from NightlyReading rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reviewed at http://www.nightlyreading.wordpress.com

I absolutely loved this book! I wasn’t sure about it when I first started reading, but after the first couple of chapters, I was sucked into the storyline and worrying about the characters!

These characters have gone through so much emotionally and still found the strength to keep forging along to find a safer place. I really admired them for that. I cannot say that I have a favorite, I kind of feel for all of them!

The storyline was great and alw...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Shirley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, for-review, i-want-these-smexii-boys

Clarification: 4.5 stars

I first started reading dystopian novels early this year, and every one of the dystopian novels I read were amazing! I was not disappointed with any of them, and I’m happy to say that Released was a magnificent read as well!

Released is set in world where demons are taking over, and Abby, Carter and Max are the only survivors in their town. Abby and her companions flee their town to take refuge in the only place where shelter and safety may be offered - Air Force Base in...more Clarification: 4.5 stars

I first started reading dystopian novels early this year, and every one of the dystopian novels I read were amazing! I was not disappointed with any of them, and I’m happy to say that Released was a magnificent read as well!

Released is set in world where demons are taking over, and Abby, Carter and Max are the only survivors in their town. Abby and her companions flee their town to take refuge in the only place where shelter and safety may be offered - Air Force Base in New Mexico, which they heard through radio transmissions. However, their only hope may be shattered when the radio transmissions suddenly stop broadcasting, and their lives are on the line as they encounter even more demons along the way.

I thought the setting and world-building were both done brilliantly. I was able to envision this isolated and bloody town that’s almost been completely destroyed, with demons lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce when least expected. I also liked how Duncan was able to create such a dark, dangerous and gloomy atmosphere. It was like I was part of the world as well.

I really liked Abby as a character! She was daring and strong – exactly what I look for in a heroine! In fact, I’d say she’s one of my favourite heroines from a YA novel. (I really don’t like weak, and i-need-my-boyfriend-to-protect-me-or-else-I-won’t-survive sorts of characters.) I absolutely loved Max as well! He was caring, protective and I loved how he always teased Abby which lightened up the otherwise dark and forlorn atmosphere. Taya really annoyed me sometimes, but that’s what she’s supposed to be like, and I thought Duncan did a fantastic job capturing her feelings and character.

The overall story was fast-paced, which I liked. However, every so often, there were certain scenes that slowed down the book for me. I thought certain details were unnecessary, but afterwards the pace picked up again when something major began to happen. The action scenes were literally AMAZING. Half the time I felt like I was there fighting off those demons as well with a huge gun and knives slashing back and forth.(I wish!)

All in all, Released was an action-packed, and thrilling read! I cannot wait to read the second book and join Abby, Max, Carter and Taya on their next journey!

Thank you to Megan Duncan for providing me with a copy to review!
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Released (Agents of Evil #1)

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