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Dystopia #2
Tempered Steel
Like steel, an individual’s strength is forged by fire.
Exiled from Dystopia, Dana is forced to wander in the barren wasteland until she chances upon a small settlement. There she meets a man named Sampson who introduces her to a new way of life; one that involves independent achievement. Learning the value of living independently, for the first time Dana is able to decide her own fate and manages to create a new life for herself.
Then Kenny shows up, lost and confused like she was. Unable to leave him in the desert, Dana takes him in, but Kenny misses Dystopia and attempts to bring it there. Soon trouble arises and everything Dana has worked hard to achieve is in peril.
Back home, riots plague Dystopia, resources are more limited, and the resistance is gaining strength fueled by Dana’s courage. Furious at her escape and what she has started, President Klens orders Dana to be found at all costs and puts Colonel Fernau in charge. Obsessed with finding her himself, he will stop at nothing to get revenge.
Exiled from Dystopia, Dana is forced to wander in the barren wasteland until she chances upon a small settlement. There she meets a man named Sampson who introduces her to a new way of life; one that involves independent achievement. Learning the value of living independently, for the first time Dana is able to decide her own fate and manages to create a new life for herself.
Then Kenny shows up, lost and confused like she was. Unable to leave him in the desert, Dana takes him in, but Kenny misses Dystopia and attempts to bring it there. Soon trouble arises and everything Dana has worked hard to achieve is in peril.
Back home, riots plague Dystopia, resources are more limited, and the resistance is gaining strength fueled by Dana’s courage. Furious at her escape and what she has started, President Klens orders Dana to be found at all costs and puts Colonel Fernau in charge. Obsessed with finding her himself, he will stop at nothing to get revenge.
- GenresDystopiaScience Fiction
205 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Janet McNulty
75 books92 followersMs. McNulty has published in a variety of genres, not wanting to be tied down to just one thing. She began her writing career with her fantasy series entitled Legends Lost. Since then, she has gone on to publish in the popular dystopian genre with her Dystopia Trilogy and has even published a cozy mystery series entitled Mellow Summers. Her most recent work is her space opera, science fiction adventure series: the Solaris Saga.
In addition to writing for young adults and adults, Ms. McNulty has also published several picture books for children.
In addition to writing for young adults and adults, Ms. McNulty has also published several picture books for children.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 23, 2014
*I RECEIVED A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
Originally seen at The Bookish Owl
I have this long standing theory that every author in the world has some kind of animosity towards me. There was James Patterson and Iggy, Lauren Oliver and Alex, Rick Riordan and Nico…then we come to Janet and Mad Dog. Seriously. WHY WHY WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE??? I was at the top of the Dana/Mad Dog ship but then the other half of that ship had to cease to exist.
Okay, rant over.
Tempered Steel was a lot better than Dystopia but I found that I quite enjoyed Kenny’s point of view more than Dana’s, which truthfully, wasn’t all that interesting. Dana had a lot of character development but unfortunately; her experiences just came across as tedious. Kenny, however, showed us a glimpse into the life of Dystopia’s elite. He was a really fascinating character because he was the embodiment of Dystopia itself; persuasive, eloquent and knew how to target and manipulate the weaknesses of the people.
Tempered Steel had a plethora of engrossing characters. We have President Klens, a cold, cunning and calculating woman. Think President Snow from The Hunger Games, only more fashionable. She was more terrifying because unlike Snow, who was merely an omnipresent villain, there were chapters from Klens’ point of view, which won her the scariest antagonist award.
Apart from President Klens, we also have Colonel Feranu but let’s not dwell on him because, honestly? He scares the bejeezus out of me.
Although the character development was commendable, Tempered Steel lacked the action that would have pumped my blood. It just needed the intensity that would have otherwise made it a great dystopian sequel. Better than Dystopia but not that great.
The editing of Tempered Steel was a little mediocre. There were a lot of typos and grammatical errors that I think it could use another read through.
There were some parts of Tempered Steel that felt like it suffered from second book syndrome, but when looking at the bigger picture, it was much more compelling than Dystopia. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Originally seen at The Bookish Owl
I have this long standing theory that every author in the world has some kind of animosity towards me. There was James Patterson and Iggy, Lauren Oliver and Alex, Rick Riordan and Nico…then we come to Janet and Mad Dog. Seriously. WHY WHY WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE??? I was at the top of the Dana/Mad Dog ship but then the other half of that ship had to cease to exist.
Okay, rant over.
Tempered Steel was a lot better than Dystopia but I found that I quite enjoyed Kenny’s point of view more than Dana’s, which truthfully, wasn’t all that interesting. Dana had a lot of character development but unfortunately; her experiences just came across as tedious. Kenny, however, showed us a glimpse into the life of Dystopia’s elite. He was a really fascinating character because he was the embodiment of Dystopia itself; persuasive, eloquent and knew how to target and manipulate the weaknesses of the people.
Tempered Steel had a plethora of engrossing characters. We have President Klens, a cold, cunning and calculating woman. Think President Snow from The Hunger Games, only more fashionable. She was more terrifying because unlike Snow, who was merely an omnipresent villain, there were chapters from Klens’ point of view, which won her the scariest antagonist award.
Apart from President Klens, we also have Colonel Feranu but let’s not dwell on him because, honestly? He scares the bejeezus out of me.
Although the character development was commendable, Tempered Steel lacked the action that would have pumped my blood. It just needed the intensity that would have otherwise made it a great dystopian sequel. Better than Dystopia but not that great.
The editing of Tempered Steel was a little mediocre. There were a lot of typos and grammatical errors that I think it could use another read through.
There were some parts of Tempered Steel that felt like it suffered from second book syndrome, but when looking at the bigger picture, it was much more compelling than Dystopia. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
March 17, 2014
Once again we are with Dana. She has discovered the truth of her government and freed the rebellion but at great cost to herself. With no family left and running for her life she jumps a train to the wild lands. Though she wanders for a couple of days fate blesses Dana with Sampson and his little town of Libre, here things are ran very differently then what she grow up believing.
Dana grows in this book. As she see how her hardwork pays off and makes new friends she is happy and building a life for herself. I was happy to see her growth and that she even grieve for those she lost and left behind. I was heartsick by the end of this book however. Kenny was saved from certain death by Dana and he repays her but enraging her little town so much that it implodes on itself. Kenny is a character that I found myself wishing he would dead and in a long horrible drawn out way. I happy that Dana dose not fall back in line with the utter bs of her former life and makes her stand. I think book 3 will be great can't wait to start.
Dana grows in this book. As she see how her hardwork pays off and makes new friends she is happy and building a life for herself. I was happy to see her growth and that she even grieve for those she lost and left behind. I was heartsick by the end of this book however. Kenny was saved from certain death by Dana and he repays her but enraging her little town so much that it implodes on itself. Kenny is a character that I found myself wishing he would dead and in a long horrible drawn out way. I happy that Dana dose not fall back in line with the utter bs of her former life and makes her stand. I think book 3 will be great can't wait to start.
September 20, 2013
Rating: 8.0/10.0
Review: The first chapter of the book immediately hooks you in. It grabs your attention so hard that you’re not going to want to put it down. Though this is the 2nd book of a trilogy, don’t let that dissuade you from picking this up. It could very well be a stand-alone without a hitch of knowledge of the first book (which I have none, yet ;-) ). The book was well written, and the characters were full of depth. I’d recommend this book to any dystopian fans out there.
Reviewed by IABookReviews.com
Review: The first chapter of the book immediately hooks you in. It grabs your attention so hard that you’re not going to want to put it down. Though this is the 2nd book of a trilogy, don’t let that dissuade you from picking this up. It could very well be a stand-alone without a hitch of knowledge of the first book (which I have none, yet ;-) ). The book was well written, and the characters were full of depth. I’d recommend this book to any dystopian fans out there.
Reviewed by IABookReviews.com
December 31, 2015
Better than the first book!
Amazed that the 2nd book was better than the 1st. Captivating story that makes you think of the ways of the world. Capitalism, democracy, socialism...what really works? Time for book 3!
Amazed that the 2nd book was better than the 1st. Captivating story that makes you think of the ways of the world. Capitalism, democracy, socialism...what really works? Time for book 3!
August 8, 2016
Oh wow
This second book is so emotional, I couldn't put it down. Poor Dana, finally able to start a life her way, then disaster in the name of Kenny comes to town. So much heartache, am starting the next right away.
This second book is so emotional, I couldn't put it down. Poor Dana, finally able to start a life her way, then disaster in the name of Kenny comes to town. So much heartache, am starting the next right away.
August 16, 2014
Tempered steel
Good book. Well written and it was full of suspense and many twists and turns. I hope Dana can achieve from for everybody.
Good book. Well written and it was full of suspense and many twists and turns. I hope Dana can achieve from for everybody.
April 25, 2015
I liked the first one better, but I'm still intrigued enough to read the third. Looking forward to it.
January 15, 2015
Fantastic Story. Could not put it down.
October 26, 2015
Although quite a short book, this is worth the read. Quite a few disturbing bits in this book, and a few sad bits. I liked it enough to buy the next (and last) in the trilogy!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews