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Dust Chronicles #1
Deviants
From Book 1:
In Glory's world, different means deviant—and dead.
In a post-apocalyptic world, where the earth is buried by asteroid dust that’s mutated the DNA of some humans, an orphaned sixteen-year-old, Glory, must hide and protect her younger brother. If their Deviant abilities are discovered, they’ll be expunged—kicked out of the dome to be tortured and killed by the Shredders. Glory would give anything to get rid of her unique ability to kill with her emotions, especially when Cal, the boy she’s always liked, becomes a spy for the authorities. But when her brother is discovered, and she learns their father, who was expunged for killing their mother, is still alive, she must escape the domed city that’s been her entire world.
Outside in the ruins, they’re pursued by the authorities and by sadistic, scab-covered Shredders who are addicted to the lethal-to-humans dust now covering the planet. Glory’s quests to transport herself and her brother to safety make up the thrilling and fascinating first volume of The Dust Chronicles.
The author of Deviants has donated this book to the Worldreader program.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
325 people are currently reading
3148 people want to read
About the author
Maureen McGowan
10 books284 followersMaureen has always been making up stories, but side-tracked by a persistent practical side, it took her a few years to channel her energy into writing novels. After escaping a previous career in finance and accounting, she hasn't looked back.
Aside from her love of books, she's passionate about films, fine handcrafted objects and shoes.
She lives and writes in Toronto, Canada.
Aside from her love of books, she's passionate about films, fine handcrafted objects and shoes.
She lives and writes in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
October 31, 2012
My review can also be found on my blog Collections.
3.5 stars
Three years ago Glory's father murdered her mother and paralyzed her younger brother Drake. Her father turned out to be a Deviant, which are humans with powerful and usually dangerous abilities. He was thrown out of the domed city of Haven and perished in the hands of the Shredders, psychotic creatures that enjoy torturing and killing humans. Since then, Glory has been taking care of her brother in secret. Because after the death of their parents, Glory and Drake have discovered that they are Deviants as well. And Deviants aren't welcomed in Haven.
With its fast pace and intriguing setting, Deviants was a book I found myself easily getting sucked into. The story was unique, yet familiar at the same time. For instance, the people in charge of Haven aren't that different from other authority figures found in most post-apocalyptic novels. They are strict, controlling, and keeping many secrets from the citizens. But I think that's to be expected in a world that was nearly destroyed. What stood out for me in this book was the world outside Haven. The Deviants and Shredders and how they came to be. I can't get into much detail, otherwise it would be a spoiler, but I wasn't expecting some of the things that happened and were revealed in this book. It made some moments pretty shocking and exciting.
Then there's the main character Glory. She's a determined girl who basically had to grow up quickly and become the parent to her younger brother. I like that she loves Drake and will do anything and everything to protect him. I did get frustrated with her a lot though. She had a tendency to not trust people and jump to conclusions quickly. It made sense that she would be that way, considering the betrayal she felt after what her father did, but there were instances where I felt she could have sought out answers first. There's also some romance in this book, a bit of a love-triangle involving Glory and two very different guys. I'm normally not a fan of love-triangles; however, while I think it's obvious who Glory will end up with, it doesn't seem like it's going to be easy. I'm actually really curious how this one is going to work out.
Deviants was an adventurous and thrilling start to a new series. As I mentioned before, it was a fast-paced read and very easy to become pulled into the story. I recommend it to those who can't get enough of the post-apocalyptic and dystopia genres.
June 26, 2012
I loved this book!!! I took every stolen moment that I could to continue reading. The story is dystopian, but doesn't feel too dark or depressing. The characters have great relationships that felt genuine. Thier journey was incredible, sooo much happens and you watch them grow and learn to love and trust each other. They question not only themselves, but their world views. There is romance that is believable,it will leave you rooting for these characters ,and feel for them when things seem impossible. Send the next installment...I can't wait to find out what happens next :)
December 25, 2014
"Deviants" by Maureen McGowan is not my cup of tea, but it wasn't horrible. Not the best way to start a review but I like to be upfront, I didn't like the book for the first half of it. It is a teen girl scifi dystopia novel similar to "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi. It is about the same level in terms of writing skills. The story itself will probably appeal to teenage girls who are boy crazy but for an old guy like me, the main character "Glory" reminded me of every whiny ex-girlfriend I every had who wouldn't listen to a darn thing I had to say...so the first half of this novel was painful.
The Story: The Earth has been hit by several asteroids leaving choking dust everywhere. Most people die or become mutants but a few "normals" have survived under domes. Years pass.
Haven is a domed city run by an evil corporation that promises to keep the workers safe if you follow the rules. Otherwise you get expunged: choked to death on dust or skinned alive by mutants. Also if you exhibit ANY abnormal powers, you are a Deviant and cast out. Glory has the power to kill just by looking at you so the authorities will kill her if they find out and then who will care for her mutilated brother? So... Glory is... oh... forget it.
Girls are going to swoon all over this stuff but the story has problems.
1. Glory whines too much.
2. She doesn't trust anyone... not even the guy she loves.
3. Why in Heaven's name do we have to talk about a guy's exposed butt and rippling muscles? Does that really have to be in there? Honestly!
4. I'm not sure teen girls are going to catch this but there is an allusion to cocaine in this book. The "dust" that covers the Earth actually "energizes" Deviants and Mutants. It has healing powers but it is also addictive. The one adult "Deviant" named Gage is clearly exhibiting withdrawal symptoms and craving. (second half of book).
5. The military are portrayed as nuts, cannibals and sex addicts.
6. The good guys are not that good. They have issues.
7. Lots of violence... not too detailed but it happens.
Over all... for a dystopian novel... it's not that terrible. I've seen worse... a lot worse. Nevertheless, if you want to raise prim and proper girls, I'd probably skip this. Honestly on the scale of "Oh my G-d this is bad for little girls!" it's not that bad but there has to be something better out there than this. Hope this helps.
I read this because the cover looked interesting and was on sale on Amazon, but I was unsure so at the library I saw the same book in the kids section of the library and check it out.
Hmmm... is that a good thing or a bad thing?
The Story: The Earth has been hit by several asteroids leaving choking dust everywhere. Most people die or become mutants but a few "normals" have survived under domes. Years pass.
Haven is a domed city run by an evil corporation that promises to keep the workers safe if you follow the rules. Otherwise you get expunged: choked to death on dust or skinned alive by mutants. Also if you exhibit ANY abnormal powers, you are a Deviant and cast out. Glory has the power to kill just by looking at you so the authorities will kill her if they find out and then who will care for her mutilated brother? So... Glory is... oh... forget it.
Girls are going to swoon all over this stuff but the story has problems.
1. Glory whines too much.
2. She doesn't trust anyone... not even the guy she loves.
3. Why in Heaven's name do we have to talk about a guy's exposed butt and rippling muscles? Does that really have to be in there? Honestly!
4. I'm not sure teen girls are going to catch this but there is an allusion to cocaine in this book. The "dust" that covers the Earth actually "energizes" Deviants and Mutants. It has healing powers but it is also addictive. The one adult "Deviant" named Gage is clearly exhibiting withdrawal symptoms and craving. (second half of book).
5. The military are portrayed as nuts, cannibals and sex addicts.
6. The good guys are not that good. They have issues.
7. Lots of violence... not too detailed but it happens.
Over all... for a dystopian novel... it's not that terrible. I've seen worse... a lot worse. Nevertheless, if you want to raise prim and proper girls, I'd probably skip this. Honestly on the scale of "Oh my G-d this is bad for little girls!" it's not that bad but there has to be something better out there than this. Hope this helps.
I read this because the cover looked interesting and was on sale on Amazon, but I was unsure so at the library I saw the same book in the kids section of the library and check it out.
Hmmm... is that a good thing or a bad thing?
August 12, 2018
4.5
Q:
I feel so safe, so warm, and the sensation of being held is at once familiar and foreign. Like I’ve come home to a place I’d forgotten. (c)
Q:
Air rushes past my ears, cooling my skin against the sun that’s transformed the sky from pale gray to pink and now blue, like some kind of miracle Burn called a sunrise. After he explained the whole earth/sun/moon thing again, I think I understand.(c)
Q:
A girl whose emotions kill isn’t meant to have love.
But in spite of that, I smile. I’m the luckiest girl alive. (c)
Q:
I feel so safe, so warm, and the sensation of being held is at once familiar and foreign. Like I’ve come home to a place I’d forgotten. (c)
Q:
Air rushes past my ears, cooling my skin against the sun that’s transformed the sky from pale gray to pink and now blue, like some kind of miracle Burn called a sunrise. After he explained the whole earth/sun/moon thing again, I think I understand.(c)
Q:
A girl whose emotions kill isn’t meant to have love.
But in spite of that, I smile. I’m the luckiest girl alive. (c)
February 18, 2013
Compelling, believable characters, rich descriptions and imaginative world building, and most important -really good storytelling. This book is going on my keeper shelf. Can't wait for the movie!!
September 1, 2019
Basic dystopian, and too similar to Divergent, Deviants struggles to stand out in the crowd. Unbalanced, implausible, riddled with pacing issues and filler action. The writing was mediocre. Overall average, my rating is 2.5 but rounded up to 3.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway years ago but recently found it buried in my bookshelf.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway years ago but recently found it buried in my bookshelf.
January 9, 2013
I started this awhile ago, read about half, and then got annoyed, so I just stopped. Glory is kind of an annoying character. Her emotions are all over the place, which is kind of weird, because she's supposed to have a firm control over them. She's supposed to come across as tough, but she often comes across as the stereotypical "melodramatic, irrational, female" - a trope that I completely loathe.
Glory has been hiding her paralyzed brother and protecting him from the Comps (police) for three years. She has her own secret, though, she's a Deviant - a person with a supernatural ability, spurred on by the dust that coats the entire earth. When Burn arrives, saying that he's going to save her and her brother and get them out of Haven, the city they live in, she doesn't want to trust him. Matters soon spiral out of control (as they always do) and she finds herself on the run with Burn - facing Shredders and a dangerous world she never knew existed. She discovers that the people in Haven have been lying to her and she wants to know why.
I'm undecided if I'll keep reading. I thought I would when I finished, but now that I've thought more about the story, I realize that I don't really care, because I don't really like Glory and I don't care what happens to her. Hmmm. I'll revisit later and see what I think.
Glory has been hiding her paralyzed brother and protecting him from the Comps (police) for three years. She has her own secret, though, she's a Deviant - a person with a supernatural ability, spurred on by the dust that coats the entire earth. When Burn arrives, saying that he's going to save her and her brother and get them out of Haven, the city they live in, she doesn't want to trust him. Matters soon spiral out of control (as they always do) and she finds herself on the run with Burn - facing Shredders and a dangerous world she never knew existed. She discovers that the people in Haven have been lying to her and she wants to know why.
I'm undecided if I'll keep reading. I thought I would when I finished, but now that I've thought more about the story, I realize that I don't really care, because I don't really like Glory and I don't care what happens to her. Hmmm. I'll revisit later and see what I think.
May 5, 2015
Deviants is probably the most scientifically sound dystopian-type novel I have read in a while. The premise is simple: Earth has undergone an environmental catastrophe, so society has walled itself in a Dome to protect themselves from the Dust outside. Our protagonist, Glory, is a Deviant, someone who shares DNA with a beast called a Shredder. While she might not be agreeable or she might not make the brightest decisions, she is fiercely loyal to her family and herself. All her decisions seem to come from a self-actualized center. She is also 16, so maturity might not be her strong point, but that is the purpose: She's not supposed to be a hero or a chosen one. She is different, even among her own, but her story is not a savior story. It's about a girl who wants to protect those she loves, and comes to love. Which I think might be a breath of fresh air among all these chosen-one-type story dominating not only the YA scene, but also the cinemas.
April 13, 2013
La verdad es que a mi me ha gustado bastante. Quizá porque iba sin expectativas lo he disfrutado bastante más y me he llevado alguna que otra sorpresilla por el camino. Ha tenido acción, ha sido algo crudo a ratos y me ha sorprendido. A ver qué tal seguirá la segunda parte, porque promete después de ese final :).
March 31, 2017
DNF 42%
This review is going to be a long ranty type review because I hated this book.
At the same time I am glad I read it because it helps me as a writer to know what I don't want to do.
I went into this book in the dark (I hadn't read the blurb, just downloaded it to my kindle and started reading). I left the book feeling just as confused and uninformed.
So let's take a step back and let me tell you a little about this book.
Our MC is named Glory and she lives in a dystopian world where everything outside of her city Haven has been destroyed. It's all dust. The only things that can survive in the dust are creatures called Shredders, who may or may not have been human once, and rats. Lots of rats which are the only source of food, besides cucumbers I guess.
Haven is a dome like city in the middle of the dust controlled by The Mangement. Everyone has to work for their living except for The Management. The Management hates everything pretty much like Parasites, people who don't work, and Deviants, people who are part Shredder, have special powers, and want to kill all the Normals. If Deviants or Parasites are found they are kicked out of Haven and the people of Haven find pleasure in watching Shredders rip them apart for fun.
Glory is an orphan who is the sole provider for her brother Drake. He is paralyzed from the waist down, and because of this is a Parasite since he can't work and everyone is terrified of The Hospital. They live in a closet in the Pentz and Drake has never left their 'apartment'. Glory has a best friend named Jayma who is the only one that knows about Drake. Oh, besides Cal, the super hot love interest who works for the Jecs and suddenly loves Glory and promises to protect Drake because he and Glory are going to get married. Glory and her brother are also Deviants Glory can kill people by using her emotions to squish their organs and Drake's skin turns into armor that hurts other people?
In comes love interest #2 a muscly guy named Burn who is so large that Glory cannot wrap her arms around his chest. He says that Glory and Drakes father is alive and suddenly everyone knows about Drake and Burn has to whisk them both away to save their lives. Glory and people from Haven know next to nothing about BTD (which I'm assuming means Before the Dust?) Things like garbage, personal space, nature are completely foreign to the point that they have to ask Burn what they are.
Are you thoroughly confused yet? Yeah, me too and I have at least read the book.
The author created the world for the book and it probably makes a ton of sense to her. What she didn't do was take in to consideration that her readers don't know what the world looks like in her head. She didn't explain anything and without the explanations of things sentences like...
...feel completely out of context even when they kind of are?
Glory spends 99% of the book oogling about her instaloves. Cal, the crush who is now head over heals in love with her but betrays her to the Jecs(Which you never find out what the Jecs are really other than a police force? Maybe? But the Comps are the police force so what the fuck are the Jecs?), and Burn the uber muscly mysterious guy who has rock hard arms who was sent by Glory's murderous father to save them. He also cuts through bedroom walls with a knife.
Normally I don't like reviewing bad books because I don't like being so negative. Or if I do review it I include things I did like but I don't think I can list a single good thing about this book. I mean, I guess I'm glad it was free?
This review is going to be a long ranty type review because I hated this book.
At the same time I am glad I read it because it helps me as a writer to know what I don't want to do.
I went into this book in the dark (I hadn't read the blurb, just downloaded it to my kindle and started reading). I left the book feeling just as confused and uninformed.
So let's take a step back and let me tell you a little about this book.
Our MC is named Glory and she lives in a dystopian world where everything outside of her city Haven has been destroyed. It's all dust. The only things that can survive in the dust are creatures called Shredders, who may or may not have been human once, and rats. Lots of rats which are the only source of food, besides cucumbers I guess.
Haven is a dome like city in the middle of the dust controlled by The Mangement. Everyone has to work for their living except for The Management. The Management hates everything pretty much like Parasites, people who don't work, and Deviants, people who are part Shredder, have special powers, and want to kill all the Normals. If Deviants or Parasites are found they are kicked out of Haven and the people of Haven find pleasure in watching Shredders rip them apart for fun.
Glory is an orphan who is the sole provider for her brother Drake. He is paralyzed from the waist down, and because of this is a Parasite since he can't work and everyone is terrified of The Hospital. They live in a closet in the Pentz and Drake has never left their 'apartment'. Glory has a best friend named Jayma who is the only one that knows about Drake. Oh, besides Cal, the super hot love interest who works for the Jecs and suddenly loves Glory and promises to protect Drake because he and Glory are going to get married. Glory and her brother are also Deviants Glory can kill people by using her emotions to squish their organs and Drake's skin turns into armor that hurts other people?
In comes love interest #2 a muscly guy named Burn who is so large that Glory cannot wrap her arms around his chest. He says that Glory and Drakes father is alive and suddenly everyone knows about Drake and Burn has to whisk them both away to save their lives. Glory and people from Haven know next to nothing about BTD (which I'm assuming means Before the Dust?) Things like garbage, personal space, nature are completely foreign to the point that they have to ask Burn what they are.
Are you thoroughly confused yet? Yeah, me too and I have at least read the book.
The author created the world for the book and it probably makes a ton of sense to her. What she didn't do was take in to consideration that her readers don't know what the world looks like in her head. She didn't explain anything and without the explanations of things sentences like...
I straighten and my head bangs the sky.
...feel completely out of context even when they kind of are?
Glory spends 99% of the book oogling about her instaloves. Cal, the crush who is now head over heals in love with her but betrays her to the Jecs(Which you never find out what the Jecs are really other than a police force? Maybe? But the Comps are the police force so what the fuck are the Jecs?), and Burn the uber muscly mysterious guy who has rock hard arms who was sent by Glory's murderous father to save them. He also cuts through bedroom walls with a knife.
Normally I don't like reviewing bad books because I don't like being so negative. Or if I do review it I include things I did like but I don't think I can list a single good thing about this book. I mean, I guess I'm glad it was free?
September 17, 2016
Este libro fue una gran sorpresa, no había escuchado hablar de él y no tenía idea de qué trataba, pero a pesar de seguir los patrones básicos de una distopía, un mundo post apocalíptico, una ciudad separada por clases, hambre, miedo, hacinamiento, poca información sobre lo que pasa en realidad, tiene la particularidad de que muchos de sus habitantes mutaron a causa del polvo generado por el asteroide que impactó con la Tierra.
Glory, la protagonista, obviamente es mutante y en Haven cazan a los mutantes, por esto ella oculta su condición, su hermano Drake tambien es mutante, pero además esta paralitico, por lo cual Glory lo tiene encerrado en su casa, porque en Haven si no podes presentarte a trabajar te llevan al hospital y por lo que se dice por ahí, porque no hay nada certero, una vez que entras en el hospital podes darte por muerto.
Los que cazan a los mutantes y a los parásitos (las personas que están incapacitadas para trabajar) son los ejecutores, un escuadrón conformados prácticamente por adolescentes. Tambien hacen las veces de "policías" ya que son la única fuerza de Haven y se ocupan de patrullar las calles y de la seguridad del resto de ciudadanos.
El libro tiene un par de situaciones muy interesantes y ya desde el principio me enganchó muchísimo y como siempre la trama se va complicando cada vez más, no hubo grandes plot twist, pero tampoco hubo momentos en los que me haya aburrido o en que la historia fuera plana, este es uno de los casos en que si hubiera juzgado el libro por su portada, que me perdone el que la diseñó, pero no me atrae para nada, me hubiera perdido una buen historia, si me preguntan está por momentos hasta más interesante que Divergente, pero creo que yo tengo un problema personal con esa saga.
Les recomiendo este libro, a mi me enganchó muchísimo, pero me encantan las distopías, asi que es muy difícil que no les recomiende alguna!.
Ya tengo la segunda parte, Los ejecutores y creo que ya voy a empezar a leerla, porque quiero saber como va a salir Glory del problema que se metio al final de este libro.
ww.locaxlibros.blogspot.com.ar
Glory, la protagonista, obviamente es mutante y en Haven cazan a los mutantes, por esto ella oculta su condición, su hermano Drake tambien es mutante, pero además esta paralitico, por lo cual Glory lo tiene encerrado en su casa, porque en Haven si no podes presentarte a trabajar te llevan al hospital y por lo que se dice por ahí, porque no hay nada certero, una vez que entras en el hospital podes darte por muerto.
Los que cazan a los mutantes y a los parásitos (las personas que están incapacitadas para trabajar) son los ejecutores, un escuadrón conformados prácticamente por adolescentes. Tambien hacen las veces de "policías" ya que son la única fuerza de Haven y se ocupan de patrullar las calles y de la seguridad del resto de ciudadanos.
El libro tiene un par de situaciones muy interesantes y ya desde el principio me enganchó muchísimo y como siempre la trama se va complicando cada vez más, no hubo grandes plot twist, pero tampoco hubo momentos en los que me haya aburrido o en que la historia fuera plana, este es uno de los casos en que si hubiera juzgado el libro por su portada, que me perdone el que la diseñó, pero no me atrae para nada, me hubiera perdido una buen historia, si me preguntan está por momentos hasta más interesante que Divergente, pero creo que yo tengo un problema personal con esa saga.
Les recomiendo este libro, a mi me enganchó muchísimo, pero me encantan las distopías, asi que es muy difícil que no les recomiende alguna!.
Ya tengo la segunda parte, Los ejecutores y creo que ya voy a empezar a leerla, porque quiero saber como va a salir Glory del problema que se metio al final de este libro.
ww.locaxlibros.blogspot.com.ar
August 2, 2014
A dystopian novel with a little bit of everything
This story was a delightful read from start to finish. Glory is just trying to get by on what little she has and protect her brother while keeping secrets from her friends. She has these special powers which at first when we're introduced to them takes a bit of a back seat to the much larger revelation that her father might be alive. What follows is a journey that takes the reader on an adventure after the world's has gone to hell.
There's something for everyone here and nothing gets mundane or feels forced. Glory is a character just about anyone could relate to. There were even a couple of unexpected twists. Although it led to a bit of a predictable ending despite it being a series there weren't any unresolved cliffhangers which is rare in trilogies. I'm eager to see Glory's story continue not because anything was left unresolved but because I have a vested interest in seeing her redemption. For anyone skeptical it's light on the teenage angst and romance scale.
This story was a delightful read from start to finish. Glory is just trying to get by on what little she has and protect her brother while keeping secrets from her friends. She has these special powers which at first when we're introduced to them takes a bit of a back seat to the much larger revelation that her father might be alive. What follows is a journey that takes the reader on an adventure after the world's has gone to hell.
There's something for everyone here and nothing gets mundane or feels forced. Glory is a character just about anyone could relate to. There were even a couple of unexpected twists. Although it led to a bit of a predictable ending despite it being a series there weren't any unresolved cliffhangers which is rare in trilogies. I'm eager to see Glory's story continue not because anything was left unresolved but because I have a vested interest in seeing her redemption. For anyone skeptical it's light on the teenage angst and romance scale.
December 3, 2012
This book really surprised me. I was expecting to like or rather, I was hoping to like it but I didn't realize I would enjoy it as much as I did. I absolutely fell in to this world and this story. I love post-apocalyptic & dystopian stories as much as I love my paranormal/fantasy novels. This book is as addicting as it is intriguing. The characters are awesome, especially Burn, the world is fantastic and horrible at the same time and the possibilities to where this story could take is us endless.
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
August 18, 2012
I read this book in early draft form - it's so exciting, super emotional. A young girl who can kill with her eyes - trying to keep her secrets, her brother safe, the boy she likes from finding out the truth. It's all so good. The first in a great series!!
November 2, 2020
This is book #1 of The Dust Chronicles. This series was recommended by a friend, who has good taste in adventure/sci-fi/fantasy books. I have to say that I really enjoyed Deviants. It was hard to put down. It is a post-apocalyptic tale that describes a city that keeps it's citizens safely under a dome and away from an earth full of deadly dust. Corrupt leaders, an elite hierarchy, and squalor make up this dystopian world. Haven is the name of the community, under this dome. The powers that be, in Haven, do not like "Deviants" - people who have mutated DNA which gives them special skills/powers. The main character, Glory, happens to be a Deviant and she is focused on keeping herself and her brother alive and safe from being executed, all the while appearing to blend in with "Normals".
December 22, 2019
I liked this a lot. Got this (audio and kindle) on KindleUnlimited and I'm happy the sequels are on there so I can continue on with the story. I've read a lot of post-apocalyptic, and I can't say this is anything ground breaking, but it also had its own approach. Our "normal" life is BTD ... Before The Dust. Most of the population has been wiped out, those remaining live in Haven, in a protective dome, away from the dangerous dust. The dust will kill or make one a deviant or shredder.
Glory is the MC ... although her name was said I'd be more than halfway through the book and if you'd asked me her name, I don't know that I would have remembered it. I liked her character, her younger brother. This was definitely being setup as a love triangle between Cal and Burn. I wasn't positive where the story was heading, no for sure "I called that" moments, but nothing that felt super surprising either.
Narrator is good. I enjoyed this audio.
Glory is the MC ... although her name was said I'd be more than halfway through the book and if you'd asked me her name, I don't know that I would have remembered it. I liked her character, her younger brother. This was definitely being setup as a love triangle between Cal and Burn. I wasn't positive where the story was heading, no for sure "I called that" moments, but nothing that felt super surprising either.
Narrator is good. I enjoyed this audio.
to-read-own
March 24, 20173/24/17 $.99 for Kindle.
September 19, 2012
It would be an insult to the author to suggest that Deviants is a copy-cat story. I'm not above doing that. I just don't particularly feel like that's what's going on here. Especially with just one book in the Dust Chronicles series. That aside it is clear that Deviants succeeds for exactly the reasons that The Hunger Games and Uglies succeeds.
On one hand the similarities in themes are hard not to notice. On the other hand these are hardly unique themes (as anyone whose even heard of Battle Royale will tell you, when talking about The Hunger Games). I'm never against a female protagonist I think that perspective still remains novel in the type of fiction these three series all encompass. Deviants shares tropes like "spectacle used to control the dumb-masses" with The Hunger Games and "I'm was out but I'm going back in" with Uglies. It shares the trope of "Two boys: one from the old life, one from the new life" with both series, though again it's possible to make an argument to support the idea that the last trope in particular extends to Twilight as well.
What's left is to look at what the book brings to the table that might be considered new or unique. The protagonist whose name I first recognized 2 chapters into the book can kill with her eyes. She's a "Deviant" or someone who has powers that trigger as an emotional response. Again it could be argued that most of X-Men covers this, but regardless I liked the mythos. It's my favorite part of the story. Finding out about the world and how it works. The author has crafted an interesting world. A world in which a small city-state has survived a catastrophic event and the surviving organization has now grown to totalitarian power levels (See Also The Hunger Games) but with a twist about said event and surviving organization (See Also The Hunger Games, Uglies). Our Hero is uniquely gifted (See Also Uglies) and will as the series progresses be placed in positions that enable her to affect great change to her world.
Eve and Adam was flawed but I rated it positively. Partially I think this is because of "first book bump" where a book at the start of a series is most interesting because it is where you're being introduced to a new world and learning how the systems interact with each other. I think I can rate Deviants positively even without the "first book bump". Now that I've had time to think about the book I've read it's not the greatest plot I've ever read. But it was told effectively. I care about Glory and I care about her family and friends. I want to see what happens to her next. I think that's the basic goal of the book so mission accomplished. The fact that, in spite of writing semi-frequently about both Hunger Games and Uglies, I didn't realize how similar it was to the previous series until the back half of the book deserves mention and is reflected in my rating.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
On one hand the similarities in themes are hard not to notice. On the other hand these are hardly unique themes (as anyone whose even heard of Battle Royale will tell you, when talking about The Hunger Games). I'm never against a female protagonist I think that perspective still remains novel in the type of fiction these three series all encompass. Deviants shares tropes like "spectacle used to control the dumb-masses" with The Hunger Games and "I'm was out but I'm going back in" with Uglies. It shares the trope of "Two boys: one from the old life, one from the new life" with both series, though again it's possible to make an argument to support the idea that the last trope in particular extends to Twilight as well.
What's left is to look at what the book brings to the table that might be considered new or unique. The protagonist whose name I first recognized 2 chapters into the book can kill with her eyes. She's a "Deviant" or someone who has powers that trigger as an emotional response. Again it could be argued that most of X-Men covers this, but regardless I liked the mythos. It's my favorite part of the story. Finding out about the world and how it works. The author has crafted an interesting world. A world in which a small city-state has survived a catastrophic event and the surviving organization has now grown to totalitarian power levels (See Also The Hunger Games) but with a twist about said event and surviving organization (See Also The Hunger Games, Uglies). Our Hero is uniquely gifted (See Also Uglies) and will as the series progresses be placed in positions that enable her to affect great change to her world.
Eve and Adam was flawed but I rated it positively. Partially I think this is because of "first book bump" where a book at the start of a series is most interesting because it is where you're being introduced to a new world and learning how the systems interact with each other. I think I can rate Deviants positively even without the "first book bump". Now that I've had time to think about the book I've read it's not the greatest plot I've ever read. But it was told effectively. I care about Glory and I care about her family and friends. I want to see what happens to her next. I think that's the basic goal of the book so mission accomplished. The fact that, in spite of writing semi-frequently about both Hunger Games and Uglies, I didn't realize how similar it was to the previous series until the back half of the book deserves mention and is reflected in my rating.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 26, 2012
Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction
This book really surprised me. I was expecting to like or rather, I was hoping to like it but I didn't realize I would enjoy it as much as I did. I absolutely fell in to this world and this story. I would like to thank the author, Maureen McGowan and Deborah from Amazon for sending me a copy of this ARC to read & review.
I love post-apocalyptic & dystopian stories as much as I love my paranormal/fantasy novels. This book is as addicting as it is intriguing. The characters are awesome, especially Burn, the world is fantastic and horrible at the same time and the possibilities to where this story could take is us endless.
Glory was dealt a crappy hand from a young age. Not only did she find out her father was a Deviant but also that he murdered her mother, knocked her out and paralyzed her younger brother, Drake. To top that off, she finds out that both her brother and herself are also Deviants, which is a big no-no to be inside this domed city. She must do everything she can to control her emotions so she is never found out while also trying to hide her brother away from the government forever. I admire her strength and her courage. To be that young and to be responsible for so much...I couldn't even imagine.
One of the things I found really interesting in this story, well, one of the small details was the fact that you cannot walk around anywhere with the opposite sex alone without a dating bracelet. You cannot apply for a dating bracelet until you are sixteen years old. Could you imagine having to apply to date someone? Insane. After you reach eighteen you could then apply for marriage and they would run DNA tests to make sure you were compatible for reproducing. I couldn't even imagine going through all that just to date someone, let alone marry them. However, I found it really interesting because it's so different from the way things are in the world we live in now.
Burn, oh Burn...how I love thee. This guy is huge. I mean, like a beast...and yet, he has sex appeal written all over him. He's got an attitude, he's extremely mysterious and not to mention good looking. Plus, he's out to protect Glory and he works for her father, in a sense. Glory can't trust him because her father is dead and he's a murderer. Yet he keeps coming back to remind her and tell her he's there to protect her and Drake. One thing she's learned...trust no one.
She trusted her boyfriend and long time crush, Cal and feels like he's betrayed her. Glory's journey takes her outside of her domed city and in to the dust lands where other, scaries enemies lay, waiting...
This book is packed with action, suspense and struggles. Not as much romance as I usually like but I also don't feel like I was missing out too much, either. Adding romance in there would've felt wrong and it was a gradual build up...
I definitely recommend this book to any post-apocalyptic/dysptopian fans - it's right up your alley and like I said, it surprised me. I absolutely loved it! I think you could, too!
This book really surprised me. I was expecting to like or rather, I was hoping to like it but I didn't realize I would enjoy it as much as I did. I absolutely fell in to this world and this story. I would like to thank the author, Maureen McGowan and Deborah from Amazon for sending me a copy of this ARC to read & review.
I love post-apocalyptic & dystopian stories as much as I love my paranormal/fantasy novels. This book is as addicting as it is intriguing. The characters are awesome, especially Burn, the world is fantastic and horrible at the same time and the possibilities to where this story could take is us endless.
Glory was dealt a crappy hand from a young age. Not only did she find out her father was a Deviant but also that he murdered her mother, knocked her out and paralyzed her younger brother, Drake. To top that off, she finds out that both her brother and herself are also Deviants, which is a big no-no to be inside this domed city. She must do everything she can to control her emotions so she is never found out while also trying to hide her brother away from the government forever. I admire her strength and her courage. To be that young and to be responsible for so much...I couldn't even imagine.
One of the things I found really interesting in this story, well, one of the small details was the fact that you cannot walk around anywhere with the opposite sex alone without a dating bracelet. You cannot apply for a dating bracelet until you are sixteen years old. Could you imagine having to apply to date someone? Insane. After you reach eighteen you could then apply for marriage and they would run DNA tests to make sure you were compatible for reproducing. I couldn't even imagine going through all that just to date someone, let alone marry them. However, I found it really interesting because it's so different from the way things are in the world we live in now.
Burn, oh Burn...how I love thee. This guy is huge. I mean, like a beast...and yet, he has sex appeal written all over him. He's got an attitude, he's extremely mysterious and not to mention good looking. Plus, he's out to protect Glory and he works for her father, in a sense. Glory can't trust him because her father is dead and he's a murderer. Yet he keeps coming back to remind her and tell her he's there to protect her and Drake. One thing she's learned...trust no one.
She trusted her boyfriend and long time crush, Cal and feels like he's betrayed her. Glory's journey takes her outside of her domed city and in to the dust lands where other, scaries enemies lay, waiting...
This book is packed with action, suspense and struggles. Not as much romance as I usually like but I also don't feel like I was missing out too much, either. Adding romance in there would've felt wrong and it was a gradual build up...
I definitely recommend this book to any post-apocalyptic/dysptopian fans - it's right up your alley and like I said, it surprised me. I absolutely loved it! I think you could, too!
August 21, 2012
The Dome is the last community of human survivors on an asteroid-devastated Earth, which is now the province of savage Shredders and lethal Dust. Or so say the privileged elite who run the Dome. But when orphaned, 16-year-old Glory--whose power to kill with a glance makes her one of the Deviants who are feared and hated by the Dome's inhabitants--is forced to run for her life to protect her crippled brother, she discovers that the world, and the Dome, are nothing like she has been taught to believe.
The repressive society that brainwashes its members in order to perpetuate its survival is a familiar dystopian trope. Familiar also is Glory's first-person present-tense narrative voice, and the love triangle that presents her with two toothsome potential boyfriends (each, of course, with a dark side). DEVIANTS doesn't feel derivative, however, due to McGowan's solid writing, well-drawn characters, and clever worldbuilding. The deteriorating Dome--where the bulk of the population ekes out a hardscrabble existence, with all the necessities of life in short supply, while the elites live in secret luxury--is vividly portrayed; its terminology and organization subtly reveal its origins as some kind of end-of-the-world corporate refuge, though so much time has passed since the original disaster that none of its inhabitants remember this (except maybe the privileged few who run things). Glory is brave, resourceful, and believably conflicted, making hard decisions because there's no one else to make them, risking everything to protect and care for her brother and to hide her own secret Deviancy.
There's plenty of action, mystery, and suspense, but also quieter moments for reflection and insight--a nice contrast to some other dystopians, where non-stop action eventually exhausts the reader's attention (not to mention his/her suspension of disbelief).
DEVIANTS finishes on a satisfying note. But it's the first of a trilogy, and the conclusion leaves many mysteries unresolved, and Glory poised at the edge of a new and dangerous quest. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this promising series.
The repressive society that brainwashes its members in order to perpetuate its survival is a familiar dystopian trope. Familiar also is Glory's first-person present-tense narrative voice, and the love triangle that presents her with two toothsome potential boyfriends (each, of course, with a dark side). DEVIANTS doesn't feel derivative, however, due to McGowan's solid writing, well-drawn characters, and clever worldbuilding. The deteriorating Dome--where the bulk of the population ekes out a hardscrabble existence, with all the necessities of life in short supply, while the elites live in secret luxury--is vividly portrayed; its terminology and organization subtly reveal its origins as some kind of end-of-the-world corporate refuge, though so much time has passed since the original disaster that none of its inhabitants remember this (except maybe the privileged few who run things). Glory is brave, resourceful, and believably conflicted, making hard decisions because there's no one else to make them, risking everything to protect and care for her brother and to hide her own secret Deviancy.
There's plenty of action, mystery, and suspense, but also quieter moments for reflection and insight--a nice contrast to some other dystopians, where non-stop action eventually exhausts the reader's attention (not to mention his/her suspension of disbelief).
DEVIANTS finishes on a satisfying note. But it's the first of a trilogy, and the conclusion leaves many mysteries unresolved, and Glory poised at the edge of a new and dangerous quest. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this promising series.
June 21, 2014
If you're familiar with Amazon, you know it's always recommending books it thinks you'll like. This one has been popping up for a while but frankly I hated the cover so I passed it over. Anyone who thinks covers aren't important is crazy. It's the cover that draws your attention and this book has a new cover...and it drew me in.
This is a young adult, post-apocalyptic story. The Earth was bombarded with asteroids carrying some type of dust. Even if you survived the initial impact, the dust could kill you like it did most to most of the animals. Glory is living in Haven. It an extremely cramped community in a domed area run by a corporation rather than the Government. Where a lot of dust can kill you, a little can give you special powers and Glory has one. The corporation considers people with these special powers deviants and they actively seek them out to kill them.
While I didn't feel this story was overly original, it was written well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like the X-Men living in an enclosure like in Wool Omnibus or The City of Ember with a society with the mentality of The Chrysalids. I liked all of those so I enjoyed this too.
This is a young adult, post-apocalyptic story. The Earth was bombarded with asteroids carrying some type of dust. Even if you survived the initial impact, the dust could kill you like it did most to most of the animals. Glory is living in Haven. It an extremely cramped community in a domed area run by a corporation rather than the Government. Where a lot of dust can kill you, a little can give you special powers and Glory has one. The corporation considers people with these special powers deviants and they actively seek them out to kill them.
While I didn't feel this story was overly original, it was written well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like the X-Men living in an enclosure like in Wool Omnibus or The City of Ember with a society with the mentality of The Chrysalids. I liked all of those so I enjoyed this too.
September 7, 2016
Deviants by Maureen McGowen
Young adult novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. I was hooked and enthralled from the first page. Catching and eating rats! Ugh, but that's the world. Glory and brother Drake live in a walk-in closet and can't imagine more space.
Yes, we've read about enclosed worlds with painted ceilings and a fake sun before but this book includes shaky bridges between high rises and stair landings where families live. The heroine travels through windows, on ledges, up and down ropes and it's all just routine for her.
Without spoiling it too much, I enjoyed Glory's response to carrots, soup, sunrise and sunsets. Nice imagery.
I definitely will read the rest of this trilogy.
Young adult novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. I was hooked and enthralled from the first page. Catching and eating rats! Ugh, but that's the world. Glory and brother Drake live in a walk-in closet and can't imagine more space.
Yes, we've read about enclosed worlds with painted ceilings and a fake sun before but this book includes shaky bridges between high rises and stair landings where families live. The heroine travels through windows, on ledges, up and down ropes and it's all just routine for her.
Without spoiling it too much, I enjoyed Glory's response to carrots, soup, sunrise and sunsets. Nice imagery.
I definitely will read the rest of this trilogy.
May 3, 2014
Read in one day. The stakes are high as Glory seeks to conceal her own 'deviant' power and provide for her younger brother in a dystopian future where discovery will mean death. Strong conflict and good pacing pulled me rapidly through the story. Both Glory and Burn fear their own powers, which provided lots of tension, and put an interesting twist on their attraction to each other. The ending left us well set up for more high stakes and danger in book two.
Quibble: I'm feeling a bit jaded about dystopian worlds. Dome, check. Mutants, check. Though the dust and Management made for a few new twists.
Quibble: I'm feeling a bit jaded about dystopian worlds. Dome, check. Mutants, check. Though the dust and Management made for a few new twists.
October 18, 2012
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I really liked this book! It sucked me in right away and I finished it in two days. If you like Dystopian or young adult books, pick this up! I really liked the science fiction aspect of the book even though I normally don't read sci-fi. I can't wait to read others in the series when they are released :)
Highly recommend it!
I really liked this book! It sucked me in right away and I finished it in two days. If you like Dystopian or young adult books, pick this up! I really liked the science fiction aspect of the book even though I normally don't read sci-fi. I can't wait to read others in the series when they are released :)
Highly recommend it!
May 31, 2013
I was surprised how VERY MUCH I enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful read, and Glory is a great leading lady/girl. Yes it is in the dystopian future, the lead is a teen girl, and there is a love triangle, but no it is not trying to be Hunger Games. I can't wait for the release of the 2nd Dust Chronicles book.
May 23, 2013
I was immediately caught up in the believable and richly detailed world that McGowan has created. Glory is a strong protagonist whose merits go far beyond her super-human ability. She is a young woman going to great lengths to keep her younger brother safe in a dystopian world. What a great role model for girls and what a great story!
January 13, 2015
I read a couple of chapters in early December and then laid the book aside as it wasn't holding my attention.
Picked it back up last night and read until I couldn't force my eyes open any longer.
Once I focused on the story, it sucked me right into it.
Pure escapism and I'll be starting the next book soon, as I can't wait to see what happens next.
Picked it back up last night and read until I couldn't force my eyes open any longer.
Once I focused on the story, it sucked me right into it.
Pure escapism and I'll be starting the next book soon, as I can't wait to see what happens next.
October 30, 2012
For lovers of Post-Apocolyptic YA, this book really delivers. A strong, sympathetic heroine, a dark futuristic world and a doomed love, plus teenagers with X-men-like powers that they need to hide if they want to survive. I can't wait for the next one!
May 22, 2013
Wow que final. Me ha gustado mucho. Ritmo trepidante, mucha acción, personajes guays, protagonistas fuertes y una historia de amor que encaja. Muy bueno y recomendable. A ver qué sucede con Glory en el siguiente...
August 8, 2012
hands. down. awesome.
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