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Tier Trilogy #1
Tier 1
Recipient of the 1st Place in Science Fiction CIPA EVVY award 2021
"A gripping story, thoughtfully written and very much character-led. A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended." --The Wishing Shelf Awards
A virus nearly wiped out the human race. But is controlled survival a future worth living?
The post-apocalyptic routine couldn't be better for Kate. Doing her part to rebuild the world's population, her pair Eric and their genetically privileged children are her pride and joy. But as her spouse becomes distant, she fears her flawless family is on the brink of collapse.
Confused and distraught as he continues to withdraw, Kate finds comfort in a handsome younger man who mentors her son. But just as she begins to make peace with the drastic shift in her life's trajectory, Eric suddenly reasserts his claim. And giving in to his renewed loyalty could set their carefully ordered society ablaze.
Will Kate build the life she dares desire or sacrifice everything for the greater good?
Tier 1 is the first book in the thrilling Tier science fiction trilogy. If you like heartfelt characters, clean romance, and thought-provoking takes on dystopia, then you'll adore Cindy Gunderson's binge-worthy tale.
"A gripping story, thoughtfully written and very much character-led. A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended." --The Wishing Shelf Awards
A virus nearly wiped out the human race. But is controlled survival a future worth living?
The post-apocalyptic routine couldn't be better for Kate. Doing her part to rebuild the world's population, her pair Eric and their genetically privileged children are her pride and joy. But as her spouse becomes distant, she fears her flawless family is on the brink of collapse.
Confused and distraught as he continues to withdraw, Kate finds comfort in a handsome younger man who mentors her son. But just as she begins to make peace with the drastic shift in her life's trajectory, Eric suddenly reasserts his claim. And giving in to his renewed loyalty could set their carefully ordered society ablaze.
Will Kate build the life she dares desire or sacrifice everything for the greater good?
Tier 1 is the first book in the thrilling Tier science fiction trilogy. If you like heartfelt characters, clean romance, and thought-provoking takes on dystopia, then you'll adore Cindy Gunderson's binge-worthy tale.
340 pages, Hardcover
Published November 12, 2021
431 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 5, 2020
Realistic and Thrilling
Gunderson does a great job of building a futuristic society based on three tiers. I could actually visualize this happening one day, which was eerie in some ways. Kate is a solid protagonist and it was very enjoyable to watch her try and balance her duties with her own wishes in a seemingly impossible system.
I really liked that the main characters in this series are adults with families, as it gave more credibility to a believable reality. There is also a slight edginess to this tale, with love and passion, loyalties and friendships, and secrets and betrayal, with a healthy dose of mystery. I loved the characters, but honestly--I'm not sure who to really trust, and just when I think I knew what was up, I was surprised.
This world is built slow and steadily, but by the end, it was quite thrilling, and has me desperate to clear my reading schedule and finish out the series.
Content: moderate romance (innuendo, implications of intimacy with very mild descriptions leading up to fade-to-black)
Gunderson does a great job of building a futuristic society based on three tiers. I could actually visualize this happening one day, which was eerie in some ways. Kate is a solid protagonist and it was very enjoyable to watch her try and balance her duties with her own wishes in a seemingly impossible system.
I really liked that the main characters in this series are adults with families, as it gave more credibility to a believable reality. There is also a slight edginess to this tale, with love and passion, loyalties and friendships, and secrets and betrayal, with a healthy dose of mystery. I loved the characters, but honestly--I'm not sure who to really trust, and just when I think I knew what was up, I was surprised.
This world is built slow and steadily, but by the end, it was quite thrilling, and has me desperate to clear my reading schedule and finish out the series.
Content: moderate romance (innuendo, implications of intimacy with very mild descriptions leading up to fade-to-black)
March 12, 2025
What an intriguing and fascinating idea—a dystopian society where citizens are ranked by genetic purity. I enjoyed reading a dystopian novel where the main characters are more mature adults. I’m also NOT a romance fan, like at all, but I liked the romance in this novel. It was clean, with fade to black scenes, but the relationships and characters didn’t feel cheesy, which is my main gripe with romance.
There is a lot of plausible science-speak regarding genetics and it all comes together nicely! Kate was an enjoyable narrator and the decision she faced felt impossible. The climax happened quickly and with a twist! I’ve already picked up the second book in the series to continue the story!
There is a lot of plausible science-speak regarding genetics and it all comes together nicely! Kate was an enjoyable narrator and the decision she faced felt impossible. The climax happened quickly and with a twist! I’ve already picked up the second book in the series to continue the story!
October 15, 2022
Reread OCT 2022 To continue my read of the series.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." -Mr. Spock
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𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝟏: 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏𝐛𝐲 @𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬
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𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧! 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.
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𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠! 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟! 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬.
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Thank You Cindy for sending me a copy of TIER 1. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
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Book Synopsis "𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘹, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥."
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." -Mr. Spock
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝟏: 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏𝐛𝐲 @𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬
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𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧! 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.
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𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠! 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟! 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬.
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Thank You Cindy for sending me a copy of TIER 1. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
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Book Synopsis "𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘹, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥."
July 1, 2020
This book felt like a grown up version of 1984, The Giver and Matched. It's not often that these kinds of stories cast a married or "paired" woman who has kids and a job as the MC! As a self-proclaimed romance addict, I thought I might miss the teen-girl-love-triangle trope, but I actually liked reading about a more mature woman.
We find ourselves in a post disaster earth, with a society highly controlled by a small few. It's chock full of science speak pertaining to genetics and it took me a while to grasp the purpose of such detail. (It all comes together, so be patient!) If you liked the Punnett square unit in biology class, you will dig the heck out of the science in this book! ;) Think Dr. Ian Malcom on Jurassic Park, explaining the hard things for us non science-y folk. It felt legit and believable.
What I noticed right away is that the author writes with an elegant economy of words. Every line is super clean and pared down, which is hard to do! It makes for easy reading. I also noticed the dialogue has an almost robotic or formal sound to it (very little contractions) ...which actually adds to the world building because everyone in the book is conditioned (or brainwashed - depending on how you look at it) from birth to not question the "government." It felt like their speech and thoughts were in some way controlled. It's very easy to believe that these characters don't fully think for themselves, so when the conflict does begin to arise, I got the emotional impact of how hard it must be for the MC to question authority.
Gunderson took her time building this world for us. Though, I didn't catch a specific geographical location or date, I had a definite sense of time and place. She has a subtle style that floats gently along until the conflict rears its head and bites you in the behind! I wasn't expecting the tension to snowball so quickly but I was excited when it did! Lots of impossible choices, suspense and wondering what the characters will do! I love a twist!
The values of this society definitely brought up a LOT of interesting questions for me. I'd love to sit with the author and pick her brain as to how she came up with this value system! Really interesting. I did wonder if these values could be touchy for younger readers who have a chronic illness or a disability. (Discomfort with these values is the point of the book, but I'd just make sure the reader is mature enough to grasp that.) I'd definitely recommend this book to teens on up.
Content: Respectfully handled fade to black love scenes. No language.
The ending really threw me for a loop and I will be reading the next book in the series to find out what happens! She hooked me!
We find ourselves in a post disaster earth, with a society highly controlled by a small few. It's chock full of science speak pertaining to genetics and it took me a while to grasp the purpose of such detail. (It all comes together, so be patient!) If you liked the Punnett square unit in biology class, you will dig the heck out of the science in this book! ;) Think Dr. Ian Malcom on Jurassic Park, explaining the hard things for us non science-y folk. It felt legit and believable.
What I noticed right away is that the author writes with an elegant economy of words. Every line is super clean and pared down, which is hard to do! It makes for easy reading. I also noticed the dialogue has an almost robotic or formal sound to it (very little contractions) ...which actually adds to the world building because everyone in the book is conditioned (or brainwashed - depending on how you look at it) from birth to not question the "government." It felt like their speech and thoughts were in some way controlled. It's very easy to believe that these characters don't fully think for themselves, so when the conflict does begin to arise, I got the emotional impact of how hard it must be for the MC to question authority.
Gunderson took her time building this world for us. Though, I didn't catch a specific geographical location or date, I had a definite sense of time and place. She has a subtle style that floats gently along until the conflict rears its head and bites you in the behind! I wasn't expecting the tension to snowball so quickly but I was excited when it did! Lots of impossible choices, suspense and wondering what the characters will do! I love a twist!
The values of this society definitely brought up a LOT of interesting questions for me. I'd love to sit with the author and pick her brain as to how she came up with this value system! Really interesting. I did wonder if these values could be touchy for younger readers who have a chronic illness or a disability. (Discomfort with these values is the point of the book, but I'd just make sure the reader is mature enough to grasp that.) I'd definitely recommend this book to teens on up.
Content: Respectfully handled fade to black love scenes. No language.
The ending really threw me for a loop and I will be reading the next book in the series to find out what happens! She hooked me!
June 30, 2020
Check out my blog, One Man Book Club
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Well now, here’s an unexpectedly unique take on dystopian future scyfy—and oddly (unintentionally) timely for this crazy year of 2020.
The set up: The world wasn’t ready when the virus came. Our selfish, me-first culture left the survivors with limited resources and a polluted world. There was one blessing the technology of the past left behind: DNA. Those companies that collect your DNA to reveal your heritage? That data all stuck around. In the new-post virus world of limited resources, it was decided that since we could determine who was most viable based on their DNA—who was least likely to get sick, who was most likely to be able to manage through change, stuff like that—we could then allocate resources to those who would be most likely to benefit first, then pass the excess down the line. All in the name of giving humans the best chance to survive.
Tier 1, you got what you needed because you were the best hope for survival. Your job is to mate with the optimal DNA match to strengthen our gene pool. How very Nazi-ish.
Tier 2, you got whatever Tier 1 didn’t need, and your job was to provide for Tier 1.
Tier 3, you are the least viable. You get the leftovers.
Sounds bleak, right?
Yep.
This certainly isn’t a future I want to be a part of, and that made the Tier Trilogy a terrific cautionary tale!
This is a series driven by its story. I found the foundational premise of a society built on fact-based science fascinating—and honestly all too plausible. So much of it was uncomfortable to read because I could see flashes of thought that exists in our world, and as much as I hated what the main characters had to go through, the story demanded I keep reading to discover the resolution. The unsatisfying and heart-breaking endings of books one and two promised a satisfying resolution that finally came, but not until the very end of book three.
I appreciated that there was no violence or language. The husband and wife were, um…very, in love. All the time. But everything stayed PG, and I can recommend the Tier Trilogy for ages 12 and up content-wise, but likely best for advanced 14 and up considering topics and pacing.
Happy Reading!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Well now, here’s an unexpectedly unique take on dystopian future scyfy—and oddly (unintentionally) timely for this crazy year of 2020.
The set up: The world wasn’t ready when the virus came. Our selfish, me-first culture left the survivors with limited resources and a polluted world. There was one blessing the technology of the past left behind: DNA. Those companies that collect your DNA to reveal your heritage? That data all stuck around. In the new-post virus world of limited resources, it was decided that since we could determine who was most viable based on their DNA—who was least likely to get sick, who was most likely to be able to manage through change, stuff like that—we could then allocate resources to those who would be most likely to benefit first, then pass the excess down the line. All in the name of giving humans the best chance to survive.
Tier 1, you got what you needed because you were the best hope for survival. Your job is to mate with the optimal DNA match to strengthen our gene pool. How very Nazi-ish.
Tier 2, you got whatever Tier 1 didn’t need, and your job was to provide for Tier 1.
Tier 3, you are the least viable. You get the leftovers.
Sounds bleak, right?
Yep.
This certainly isn’t a future I want to be a part of, and that made the Tier Trilogy a terrific cautionary tale!
This is a series driven by its story. I found the foundational premise of a society built on fact-based science fascinating—and honestly all too plausible. So much of it was uncomfortable to read because I could see flashes of thought that exists in our world, and as much as I hated what the main characters had to go through, the story demanded I keep reading to discover the resolution. The unsatisfying and heart-breaking endings of books one and two promised a satisfying resolution that finally came, but not until the very end of book three.
I appreciated that there was no violence or language. The husband and wife were, um…very, in love. All the time. But everything stayed PG, and I can recommend the Tier Trilogy for ages 12 and up content-wise, but likely best for advanced 14 and up considering topics and pacing.
Happy Reading!
December 7, 2020
This was a good book, but at times it was difficult to be supportive of the main character, Kate, as she tried to live a life wherein she was in love with one man and falling for another. The book did a good job of keeping the suspense up and only carefully revealing parts of the society that has split given people value in society based on their genetic purity.
It was also a chilling look into the overreaching arm of the government and how through conditioning we as a society can be taught not to take on any actions which are contrary to the conditioning we receive. In this book, the tier system has been designed so that the people in tier one, who are genetically the purest, are conditioned to always put the needs of society above their own needs, but what happens when their own desires are contrary to what they have been taught. Kate is then forced to decide if she will keep doing as she has been taught, or if she is willing to risk everything to get what she knows is right.
It was also a chilling look into the overreaching arm of the government and how through conditioning we as a society can be taught not to take on any actions which are contrary to the conditioning we receive. In this book, the tier system has been designed so that the people in tier one, who are genetically the purest, are conditioned to always put the needs of society above their own needs, but what happens when their own desires are contrary to what they have been taught. Kate is then forced to decide if she will keep doing as she has been taught, or if she is willing to risk everything to get what she knows is right.
April 8, 2020
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Tier 1
Author: Cindy Gunderson
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 17 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A family drama with a dystopian feel to it. I enjoyed it.’ Male reader, aged 18
‘Plenty of suspense and drama. It’s not your typical dystopian thriller. It’s not all thrills and spills. But it’s a strong emotional journey that thoughtful readers will enjoy.’ Female reader, aged 45
‘A character-led story with a powerful and emotive ending. A little slow here and there, pacing not the best, but it’s still gripping. Very much a thought-provoking book for older YA and adults, I think this could be a very popular set of books. Kate is by far the most interesting and developed character. I felt for her.’ Female reader, aged 17
‘Loved it! I will be reading all of them.’ Female reader, aged 22
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping story, thoughtfully written and very much character-led. A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Tier 1
Author: Cindy Gunderson
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 17 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A family drama with a dystopian feel to it. I enjoyed it.’ Male reader, aged 18
‘Plenty of suspense and drama. It’s not your typical dystopian thriller. It’s not all thrills and spills. But it’s a strong emotional journey that thoughtful readers will enjoy.’ Female reader, aged 45
‘A character-led story with a powerful and emotive ending. A little slow here and there, pacing not the best, but it’s still gripping. Very much a thought-provoking book for older YA and adults, I think this could be a very popular set of books. Kate is by far the most interesting and developed character. I felt for her.’ Female reader, aged 17
‘Loved it! I will be reading all of them.’ Female reader, aged 22
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping story, thoughtfully written and very much character-led. A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
August 21, 2019
This is the kind of book I always imagined I'd write when I was young and thought I could be a writer. My stories always had a bizarre twist (in my 12 year old mind) at the end that let you know you'd been deceived as to what was REALLY going on.
This book had plenty of hints, but I still felt sucker-punched at the end. I am dying to know what happens next!
It is not an action/adventure story, but is more of a psychological study and ethics discussion supported by a "simple" plot of husband, wife, and two kids living in a future where their societal roles are determined by their genetics, where no one is punished because they can't be blamed for their choices ... their genetics made them do it. They are rehabilitated and "reconditioned." They are "paired" with someone according to how their genetic markers compare.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and as I said, can't wait for the next installment!
This book had plenty of hints, but I still felt sucker-punched at the end. I am dying to know what happens next!
It is not an action/adventure story, but is more of a psychological study and ethics discussion supported by a "simple" plot of husband, wife, and two kids living in a future where their societal roles are determined by their genetics, where no one is punished because they can't be blamed for their choices ... their genetics made them do it. They are rehabilitated and "reconditioned." They are "paired" with someone according to how their genetic markers compare.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and as I said, can't wait for the next installment!
June 27, 2020
I enjoyed most of this book, but the end really bothers me, probably because I can see it happening one day... I don’t read books like this one very often. This story is fun and even flirty, but all romance is clean. The author has done an admirable job of making the tier system seem like a good option for maintaining a well organized society. I like the examples of positive parenting that are shown through Eric and Kate and their two boys. There is a lot of positive interaction between them all and the parents take time to really parent their children, something that seems to lack in much of today’s society.
August 31, 2019
A fun futuristic story about a virus that wipes out most of the human race after global warming forces us into very small land masses. The Tier refers to the allocation of resources in a triaged system to those who will be most likely to have progeny to save the human race.
I wanted more surprises or twists; I guessed them all which is rare for me.
Clean. No swearing. No sex--some flirtatious talk.
Lots to think about and talk about.
Good summer read.
I wanted more surprises or twists; I guessed them all which is rare for me.
Clean. No swearing. No sex--some flirtatious talk.
Lots to think about and talk about.
Good summer read.
January 15, 2020
This book had some surprising twists and turns and was a quick read. My only complaint is that it didn’t end!! Ah! Time to get book 2!!
June 20, 2020
Good plot. Interesting take on a possible future.
January 18, 2021
I read it and overall enjoyed some aspects of the book. It has the world described well and I could really believe in the tier systems.
I totally understood who the main character was and why she was like she was in her thinking, etc. I felt all the characters were memorable and depicted well.
It had twists and quite interesting things come up that I enjoyed but I didn't go on to read the entire series.
It didn't pull me in so much that I loved it and wanted it to go on forever and ever...-I didn't find myself wanting to overwhelmingly tell others about the latest book I'm reading....-it was "good" and " fine", nothing wrong but I finished it and didn't desire to read a lot more about it by reading several more books in the series. ( even though it wasn't totally ended, you could tell that it would need more books to be completely done).
I went to Amazon and read the blurbs on the next books in the series and I felt like that was complete enough for me to where I can feel like it's ended and I didn't really have to read all the other books in the series.
I honestly prefer standalone stories and for me to continue with a series or even start them in the first place, I really need to have a deep strong desire to want to know more, to want deeper connection, and to just be fully immersed and saturated by the story. So, in this case, this first story was simply enough for me. It has nothing necessarily adverse about it but I felt I knew enough and was done finding out more. ( Except for what I said about me reading the blurbs on the next books).
And I do actually judge books (a lot) by the covers, I liked this cover, it's what made me ever see the book in the first place.
As I mentioned earlier about having twists, I will mention here again, that a certain twist in this book really sets it apart and that's what I will take away in my memory of having read this book, that's also why I gave it a good review ( in my way of seeing the star system 1,2,3 is mediocre/fine/ good, and 4,5 is really good/exceptionally amazingly over the top blown away forever changed by...etc ( lol) ). So 4 is a high review, and I recommend people read it who like the genre.
I totally understood who the main character was and why she was like she was in her thinking, etc. I felt all the characters were memorable and depicted well.
It had twists and quite interesting things come up that I enjoyed but I didn't go on to read the entire series.
It didn't pull me in so much that I loved it and wanted it to go on forever and ever...-I didn't find myself wanting to overwhelmingly tell others about the latest book I'm reading....-it was "good" and " fine", nothing wrong but I finished it and didn't desire to read a lot more about it by reading several more books in the series. ( even though it wasn't totally ended, you could tell that it would need more books to be completely done).
I went to Amazon and read the blurbs on the next books in the series and I felt like that was complete enough for me to where I can feel like it's ended and I didn't really have to read all the other books in the series.
I honestly prefer standalone stories and for me to continue with a series or even start them in the first place, I really need to have a deep strong desire to want to know more, to want deeper connection, and to just be fully immersed and saturated by the story. So, in this case, this first story was simply enough for me. It has nothing necessarily adverse about it but I felt I knew enough and was done finding out more. ( Except for what I said about me reading the blurbs on the next books).
And I do actually judge books (a lot) by the covers, I liked this cover, it's what made me ever see the book in the first place.
As I mentioned earlier about having twists, I will mention here again, that a certain twist in this book really sets it apart and that's what I will take away in my memory of having read this book, that's also why I gave it a good review ( in my way of seeing the star system 1,2,3 is mediocre/fine/ good, and 4,5 is really good/exceptionally amazingly over the top blown away forever changed by...etc ( lol) ). So 4 is a high review, and I recommend people read it who like the genre.
June 6, 2021
I listened to the audiobook, so full disclosure. :)
Kate and Eric... Wow... Great couple, great parents, so relatable. They want to do the best for society and they are going to be thrown a curveball that will test everything they know.
This book was awesome. It introduces us to a society where over 200 years after a virus kills many on Earth, people are now put into 'tiers' and their genetics play a big part to where they are placed. Each tier has responsibilities and goals that are specific to them assigned by 'BERG' (sorry if I spelled it wrong, once again Audio Version).
This book is recommended for anyone that loves a good dystopian novel, young or old. It's clean for the young adult scene and engaging for the adults.
Kate and Eric... Wow... Great couple, great parents, so relatable. They want to do the best for society and they are going to be thrown a curveball that will test everything they know.
This book was awesome. It introduces us to a society where over 200 years after a virus kills many on Earth, people are now put into 'tiers' and their genetics play a big part to where they are placed. Each tier has responsibilities and goals that are specific to them assigned by 'BERG' (sorry if I spelled it wrong, once again Audio Version).
This book is recommended for anyone that loves a good dystopian novel, young or old. It's clean for the young adult scene and engaging for the adults.
July 23, 2021
Cindy Gunderson’s “Tier 1” matches an intricately-built world with engaging characters and a fascinating plot. In the future, a virus threatens humanity and the post-apocalyptic world is one where controlled survival rules. In this context, Kate will have to go through complicated relationships and she will have to decide between her desires and the ordered society and family she lives with.
The plot and worldbuilding are terrific here, and the setting is also a critical part of the way the characters live and interact. The author lets both plot and characterization unfold slowly. It is quite pleasant to read how characters connect and relate, especially given that they must overcome emotional and physical obstacles.
This is the first book in the Tier Trilogy and I can’t wait for what is to come. I strongly recommend it
The plot and worldbuilding are terrific here, and the setting is also a critical part of the way the characters live and interact. The author lets both plot and characterization unfold slowly. It is quite pleasant to read how characters connect and relate, especially given that they must overcome emotional and physical obstacles.
This is the first book in the Tier Trilogy and I can’t wait for what is to come. I strongly recommend it
March 25, 2020
My teenager read this before me and I found her one day sobbing on the couch with the book in her hand. Yes, it made me want to read it even more. I love the unique story line...and getting to know each character. I kept thinking ‘what if’ we were really in a situation as the book’s society....awesome book!
June 10, 2020
What a good read
I love the fact you are a Canadian author . This books characters are very engaging . The story line draws you in. I was crying at the end so I definitely will be reading the next book . The state of the world today makes this story quite believable . Thank you author I am impressed.
I love the fact you are a Canadian author . This books characters are very engaging . The story line draws you in. I was crying at the end so I definitely will be reading the next book . The state of the world today makes this story quite believable . Thank you author I am impressed.
September 30, 2020
I just finished listening to this book today, and it's quite good. There are plenty of twists and turns and an ending that I could never have guessed! I can't wait to start listening to Tier 2 and then move on to Tier 3 of this trilogy. The ONLY possible spoiler that I will give is that it's futuristic and WELL worth reading or listening to.
July 22, 2021
Tier 1 is the first installment in a promising, thrilling and captivating science fiction trilogy thoughtfully written by Cindy Gunderson. Its main theme is connected to our present reality and to a topic as catchy as romance is.
The author’s way of writing is just on point; she doesn’t overuse flowery vocabulary, but she rather prefers employing a gentle way of putting words together, something I believe brings the narrative closer to the readers.
The main character, Kate, has been crafted in such a masterfully way that
I almost felt as if I was part of her life.
I really loved Gunderson's way with words, she has successfully been able to play with my mind and I definitely didn’t see the end of this first book coming.
Needless to say, I can’t wait to read the following books in the series.
The author’s way of writing is just on point; she doesn’t overuse flowery vocabulary, but she rather prefers employing a gentle way of putting words together, something I believe brings the narrative closer to the readers.
The main character, Kate, has been crafted in such a masterfully way that
I almost felt as if I was part of her life.
I really loved Gunderson's way with words, she has successfully been able to play with my mind and I definitely didn’t see the end of this first book coming.
Needless to say, I can’t wait to read the following books in the series.
July 24, 2021
Tier 1 is the first book in a very interesting and captivating series. Let me start with one of the most important points in my opinion; this collection features a great set of characters and villains. The struggles and sacrifices that these people have to face is truly heart breaking. The story itself is so absorbing that just kept me turning the pages with intense action and intrigue.
Cindy Gunderson is an outstanding author and I like and enjoy all of her books. She has a good writing style and practical experience to bring the story alive. It is the great detail that she writes with as well as the ability to imagine all of the possibilities of such a war that make these stories great, but this one in particular is more than engaging!
I highly recommend this piece of work.
Cindy Gunderson is an outstanding author and I like and enjoy all of her books. She has a good writing style and practical experience to bring the story alive. It is the great detail that she writes with as well as the ability to imagine all of the possibilities of such a war that make these stories great, but this one in particular is more than engaging!
I highly recommend this piece of work.
August 31, 2020
I really enjoyed the story, especially in light of the Cover-19 pandemic. Some aspects of the story line seemed a little too close to a possible reality. Cindy Gunderson spins an interesting tapestry of characters and plots, with unexpected twists to keep me interested. I enjoyed it so much that I also read Tier 2 and Tier 3. I just had to see how the whole story concluded!
February 19, 2021
Tier 1 is not the usual dystopian book. it is a clean read, for one thing, and it is a lot more complex than many in the genre.
It took me a bit more to get into it, as there is a lot about genetics, but once I did, I was totally hooked.
Well-intentioned, caring people stuck in a gut-wrenchingly impossible situation make for a riveting read.
I am eager to read Book 2 in the series now.
It took me a bit more to get into it, as there is a lot about genetics, but once I did, I was totally hooked.
Well-intentioned, caring people stuck in a gut-wrenchingly impossible situation make for a riveting read.
I am eager to read Book 2 in the series now.
July 13, 2023
The future with Class Systems.
February 13, 2021
Really interesting concept on humanity’s future. I was totally enthralled!!
July 28, 2021
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” - Mr. Spock
The unfinished corollary is, “That decision is to be made by the few, or the one.” There is nothing noble about the many forcing the few, or the one, to sacrifice for, “The Greater Good.” That is the excuse used by every totalitarian government in human history.
Like “Diary of a Mad Housewife,” we see the dystopian socialist utopia through the distorted eyes of a true acolyte. Kate believes in the system and truly believes she has dedicated her life to advancing humanity, over even her own well being. But like Neo in the Matrix, she knows there is something fundamentally wrong with her world.
Author Gunderson has a unique style in the way she presents her argument. I’d characterize it as “Damning with faint praise.” The prose is First Person Singular, Presence Tense in what I’ve come to think of as Young Adult style. It makes the action more compelling as we are in the moment, feeling what our protagonist feels. I didn’t realize it was a trilogy and was a bit disappointed to not have full closure. But the good news is, there are two more book in the series.
I highly recommend this book.
The unfinished corollary is, “That decision is to be made by the few, or the one.” There is nothing noble about the many forcing the few, or the one, to sacrifice for, “The Greater Good.” That is the excuse used by every totalitarian government in human history.
Like “Diary of a Mad Housewife,” we see the dystopian socialist utopia through the distorted eyes of a true acolyte. Kate believes in the system and truly believes she has dedicated her life to advancing humanity, over even her own well being. But like Neo in the Matrix, she knows there is something fundamentally wrong with her world.
Author Gunderson has a unique style in the way she presents her argument. I’d characterize it as “Damning with faint praise.” The prose is First Person Singular, Presence Tense in what I’ve come to think of as Young Adult style. It makes the action more compelling as we are in the moment, feeling what our protagonist feels. I didn’t realize it was a trilogy and was a bit disappointed to not have full closure. But the good news is, there are two more book in the series.
I highly recommend this book.
July 7, 2020
Read de Tier 1 and it's a verry interesting book makes you think about life. At the same time it's a bit scary to realize that te word could become like that.
July 21, 2021
"Tier 1" is the first book in the exciting Tier trilogy. It tells the story of Kate and her family who seem to have it all in their post-apocalyptic life. But after a while, her husband begins to distance himself and she little by little finds comfort in her son's mentor. This new romance could set the carefully ordered society on fire.
The writer of this science fiction, Cindy Gunderson, created an extraordinary work. With an extremely compelling plot and vivid descriptions, this story was able to catch me from the beginning. Without a doubt, I am planning to stick with the whole series.
The writer of this science fiction, Cindy Gunderson, created an extraordinary work. With an extremely compelling plot and vivid descriptions, this story was able to catch me from the beginning. Without a doubt, I am planning to stick with the whole series.
February 3, 2022
Kate and Eric live in a world controlled by a machine. Previously when the world was in crisis , the machine was allowed to take control and decide a 3 tier system.
Tier 3 was the top tier where people were allowed to bond together and have children. Tier 2 had a better life but were not allowed to breed or hold good jobs, but they could work towards improving their lot, and possibly move upwards to tier 1. Tier 3 had no rights or freedom, were totally controlled and given minimum food to survive.
Kate and Eric had a good live, though they were unaware of the control of their lives. Eric was an amazing scientist and had found out that a few rare people could move the world forward, according to berg, the computer. Unfortunately, Kate was one of the unique people and it needs her to breed with another (Nick)
Eric is persuaded to give Kate up but at the last moment, he can’t and begs Kate to stay with him and they will run.
Unfortunately big brother is aware of the plans, and they are caught. A machine that takes away their memories is used, and Kate believes Eric has died and she is now paired with her ideal partner, nick, and is pregnant.
Will she ever remember the truth.
Tier 3 was the top tier where people were allowed to bond together and have children. Tier 2 had a better life but were not allowed to breed or hold good jobs, but they could work towards improving their lot, and possibly move upwards to tier 1. Tier 3 had no rights or freedom, were totally controlled and given minimum food to survive.
Kate and Eric had a good live, though they were unaware of the control of their lives. Eric was an amazing scientist and had found out that a few rare people could move the world forward, according to berg, the computer. Unfortunately, Kate was one of the unique people and it needs her to breed with another (Nick)
Eric is persuaded to give Kate up but at the last moment, he can’t and begs Kate to stay with him and they will run.
Unfortunately big brother is aware of the plans, and they are caught. A machine that takes away their memories is used, and Kate believes Eric has died and she is now paired with her ideal partner, nick, and is pregnant.
Will she ever remember the truth.
January 26, 2025
Suprisingly realistic for the notion of such a dystopian world
As an avid reader who has a certain soft spot for dystopian novels and SciFi, it surprised me the way the author took a relatively often-used trope and changed it up i.e. making the main character an adult instead of a teenager which makes it more believable considering the way the story took turn.
Certainly interested in the way the next books in the series will go after the ending.
As an avid reader who has a certain soft spot for dystopian novels and SciFi, it surprised me the way the author took a relatively often-used trope and changed it up i.e. making the main character an adult instead of a teenager which makes it more believable considering the way the story took turn.
Certainly interested in the way the next books in the series will go after the ending.
August 15, 2021
Excellent, page-turning story! With the feeling of books like The Giver and 1984, the author weaves an amazing story with an ending that will leave you anxious to read the next book in the series. A few typos, but they didn't get in the way of the story. Definitely worth the read!
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