The Fountain of the Earth

The Fountain of the Earth #1

by H.L. LeRoy

Terra Vonn is fighting to survive in a destroyed world,
surrounded by unspeakable horror . . .
and things are about to get much worse.

After witnessing the horrific murder of her mother, fifteen-year-old Terra Vonn has a singular focus—exacting revenge on the killers. But before she can complete her plan, savagery intervenes, and she is cast alone into a brutal post-apocalyptic world. As she trails the murderers south—through a land filled with cannibalistic criminals, slave traders, and lunatics—the hunter becomes the hunted. Terra quickly learns that she is not as tough or as brave as she thought she was. Worse, she may be the only one who stands between what little remains of civilization and destruction.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Award winning author, H. L. Le Roy, lives in the California Sierra Mountains. His first book, STREET CRIMES short story collection, was published in 2012. His medal winning dystopian young adult adventure, THE FOUNTAIN OF THE EARTH, introducing Terra Vonn, was released in 2013. In 2015 he released SUDDEN END, a prequel to THE FOUNTAIN OF THE EARTH series, ONE EIGHT SEVEN, REMEMBER THE DEAD, and POOLED BLOOD, and JACK ON THE ROCKS thrillers in Lt. Jack Daniels' world. Coming soon, YOU KILL ME, a new Lt. Jack Daniels novel.

Reviews

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

An explosive, action-packed post-apocalyptic tale with a fantastic female protagonist!

I am so pleased to have won a copy of this dramatic debut as it certainly exceeded all expectations, as an unforgettable Young Adult/ {verging on the borderline of Middle-grade} story.
With a cast of colourful characters that are each distinctly individualistic and interesting, it is so incredibly easy to loose yourself within this darkly magnetic tale. The main character Terra is a gutsy, likeable teenager whom I admired and really connected with and who many readers of this age group will look to as a spectacular role model within fiction! Her character was spot-on; with not even a hint of any kind of feebleness of character or common cliché that one typically sees in the female lead within a YA book. This is a YA story with not only a brilliant heroine but also a substantial storyline of epic scope and containing within thought-provoking poignancy and evocative richness. The harshness of the new world is so gritty and raw that it chills you to the bone, almost reminiscent of ’City of Ember’ does when you dwell on such stark realities.

The Fountain of the Earth by H L LeRoy focuses on the fight for survival in a world ripped apart by a savage cataclysm, where only the strongest live on in the mist of brutal murder and selfish drive. Terra’s quest for revenge is understandable given the nature of her mother’s murder, {emphasised more so by the prior death of her father and the unethical ‘marriage ceremony’}. This barren wasteland filled with cannibalistic criminals, slave traders and lunatics is as far-removed as you could possibly imagine from our own world and yet in Terra one can glimpse how quintessentially humanity hasn’t evolved nor changed internally ~ we all have emotional weaknesses and independent thoughts. Loosing everything is the greatest possible loss for anyone and so I couldn’t help but really feel inwardly touched by Terra’s story.

This gripping, addictive read is such a strong and assured piece of fiction. Guilt and grief are such effecting emotional ties on us all and so I was empowered by how Terra fought on and remained so strong and resolute in her personal journey for justice. She may win the battle in the end but the greatest battle of all is the one of the heart, hence it was her inner struggles that I identified with most.

If I could give this sensational story more than a 5 star rating I would without a doubt!!

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe 4.5 stars

http://badbirdreads.com/review-founta...

At A Glance

The book got better and better with each page.

The Good

Now this is a nice change up in the dystopian genre. I can’t believe how much happens in just under 3oo pages. This author made sure to pack a punch with each page. The action was non-stop, in a good way, and the threats just kept on coming. I know some of you feel a bit tired of dystopia, but this book will leave you refreshed and raring to read more.

Terra was an amazing character. I have never seen a character grow so much in one book. She starts out a girl, and ends up a warrior. The things she goes through are unimaginable. After losing both her parents, she leaves her horrible tribe to hunt down her mother’s murderers. But there are so many obstacles in her way. People try to hurt her, kidnap her, rape her, and kill her. I just don’t know how Terra made it through it all, and I read the damn book!

Terra picks up some friends and enemies along the way. I loved the group she had near the end. Ormek was so sweet and protective. Beth changed the most. I didn’t think she was going to last long in the beginning, but she became a fierce warrior in the end.

I loved the concept of the world now consisting of tribes. There was a fair amount of worldbuilding. The plot was great, it held my attention the whole time. The action was plentiful and brutal, and the characters really made me feel all the feels! I am so happy I got to read Fountain of the Earth.

The Bad

The action was often very fast, leaving me a bit whiplashed. Even though there was a lot of action, which I loved, I would have liked to savor it more.

I wish there were more actual conversations and less being told that they just occurred. I missed the nuances and character growth that often comes out of more dialogue.

The Snuggly

This is not a romance book, which was fine with me. It worked for this book, but we do see some blooming romances from secondary characters and near the end, even the heroine gets her chance. There is no sex in this book, so it’s YA friendly, however, there is some sexual assault which isn’t described thankfully.

Final Thoughts

I almost gave Fountain of the Earth 4.5 stars because I enjoyed the story that much, but the few bad points held me back. However, I think anyone, even those who are tried of dystopia, could love this book. Very recommended.


Quotes

He looked as shocked to see me as I of him. “I know who you are, little girl.”

“I know you too. You’re wearing my mother’s necklace.”

He kept the knife moving as if it were a snake’s head, trying to hold my attention while he ran his tongue across the snags of his teeth, revealing his anxiety, or maybe, his fear. “Put the spear down, I won’t hurt you.”

“You won’t hurt me. But I’m going to kill you.”

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Today I will be reviewing a book called The Fountain of the Earth by H. L. Le Roy. I read this on request but do remember all my reviews are my own honest and truthful opinions.


This book follows Terra Vonn who lives in a destroyed earth after it has been plagues and ruined by illness. Horrors occur all over nowadays, and for Terra, things are about to get much worse. After the horrific murder of her mother Terra Vonn decided to get revenge on her mother’s murders herself. But along the way she encounters savage strangers, lunatics, cannibals and many other dangers in this post-apocalyptic world. Terra quickly realizes she is not cut out for this life, and yet learns she is the little that stands between civilization and destruction.


I thought the plot for this story was great. We get to see this new world where things are different than I’ve seen in any book. I liked the idea of their being clans where people lived together. What I also think this book did so well was show us some of the clan life before Terra goes off on her adventure, which means we really get to see the scene set. Also, the manner in which this is done keeps the book interesting, so it isn’t like you’re pawing through a whole lot of boring information.


I have to say my favourite character in this book turned out to be Ormek. He was always loyal, strong and trustworthy, no matter the consequences. He was someone who tried to do things for the greater good. Beth was also a good character, and shares much of the same traits that Ormek had – yet they come across as completely different characters.


I think the writing style for this book was a bit too simplistic for my liking. It was very simplistic mostly in the middle of this book and bothered me a little, but when it came to the end of the book, like the beginning, the style improved and I was able to enjoy it more.


Overall, I would rate this book a three stars out of five. I recommend it to people who enjoy reading YA, and don’t mind a little bit of gore in there too.

http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was not expecting to be taken on such an amazing journey whenever I started this book. Even though this book is classified as a dystopian, I feel like it was an epic fantasy dystopian. I loved it!

Terra was such an amazing character. The growth she displays throughout this book is incredible. I cannot wait to read more books in this series to follow her journeys. There are plenty of other characters in this book, but they are all so well thought out. I enjoyed reading about them. Terra's parents gave me a case of the feels.

Mr. LeRoy is an incredible writer. This story honestly feels like it takes off from the first page. I was so drawn into this world that I read it in one sitting. I didn't even have time to update my Goodreads, I blew through it so fast. There are a lot of lows and highs in this story, and I felt like they were paced at just the right speed to keep the momentum going.

I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books in this series and by H.L. LeRoy. This book was so enjoyable. Dystopian fans will surely love it!

**I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to RBTL Book Tours and H.L. Le Roy.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, this books jumps right into the story. It feels like there is no before thought, but I am grateful for once. I am usually all about the back story how did we get here sort of thing, but with this on it doesn't have that and I didn't miss it.
Second, this poor Terra has rough life, all the character do but considering it revolves around Terra I have to say it's bad. Losing everyone and everything you have is a hard way to go and then have to trudge on with the guilt, grief and regret pouring over you everyday, I would have probably fallen into a hole and covered myself with dirt. She is strong, stronger then she knows. She fights a battle that one would think is an ever losing battle, and wins over and over.
The writer has created a strong story and an adventure that makes you want to be a fighter. A great story line and wonderful characters make this book one to grab.
I think the ending surprised even me. And that is something that is hard to do. I hope to read more by Mr. LeRoy.

My rating:
5 Stars

[Puscas Mircea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really surprised me. The action continued to invite me to read more.

I liked the characters very much, especially Beth. The battles impressed me, how they developed and how they were described. I liked how the journey evolved , without unnecessary detail, especially as journey was very long.

The world the author created is different from what I've read , but It was very interesting. The big cities are ruined . People live in clans , mostly poor .

Terra seeks revenge after her mother was killed. Looking for the killers , she meets many dangers in her way . During the journey she makes some friends , even if she doesn't trust some of them at first . It all turns out more complicated toward the end of the book .

I would recommend it to any YA reader anytime . Toward the end , I really started to wish it was longer .
I want to thank Olivia Roach and H.L. LeRoy for the giveaway and for the book . This is my honest review of the book .

[Anncleire · Rating 5 out of 5]

BELLISSIMOOOOOOOOO!!
Voglio il sequel ora!

Recensione sul mio blog:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...

“The Fountain of the Earth” è stato un regalo molto molto bello da parte del suo autore, che si è auto pubblicato e mi ha dato questa fantastica possibilità. E vi ricordate avevo rivelato in esclusiva la cover, insieme a @ilovereading_ del blog Petrichor, qui sul blog e posso dire che avrei dovuto leggere il libro molto molto prima perché è assolutamente una bomba, straordinario. Uno di quei libri che inizi, arrivi alla fine e non sai neanche come ci sei arrivato e sicuramente… ne vuoi di più… e chiedo il secondo volume ora. Non sono tantissimi quei libri che mi entusiasmano a tal punto da abbandonare tutto, ma quando li trovo me li tengo stretti e questo è uno di quelli che ricorderò per sempre.


Il primo volume di una serie, The Fountain of the Earth è ambientato nella costa occidentale Americana a seguito di una catastrofica tempesta solare che ha distrutto la civiltà, lasciando solo poche persone a lottare per sopravvivere. Dopo aver visto con i suoi occhi l’omicidio della madre, la quindicenne Terra Vonn ha solo un obiettivo – avere la sua vendetta con gli assassini. Ma prima di poter portare a termine il suo piano, il dramma accade e viene scaraventata da sola in un brutale mondo post-apocalittico. Mentre segue le tracce degli uomini verso sud attraverso una terra piena di criminali cannibali, venditori di schiavi, e lunatici, il cacciatore diventa il cacciato. Terra impara velocemente che non è così forte o così coraggiosa come pensava di essere. Peggio, potrebbe essere l’unica che può salvarli tra quel poco che rimane della civilizzazione e la distruzione.


Dimenticatevi qualsiasi preconcetto e se iniziate a leggere armatevi di tanto coraggio e sangue freddo. Leggere questo libro non è facile, ci sono scene violente, colpi di lancia, scene di caccia e una vera lotta per la sopravvivenza che non risparmia nessuno, né uomini né donne, né tanto meno bambini. Le Roy è straordinariamente bravo nel creare un’atmosfera post apocalittica massacrata dal terrore e dalla guerre, dove ogni giorno bisogna sudare per conquistarsi un posto sicuro. È tutto difficile, complicato e assurdo. La protagonista della storia, che racconta la vicenda in prima persona e non risparmia al lettore nessun dettaglio, né tanto meno nessun dolore, è Terra Vonn, una ragazzina che inizialmente sembra vivere una vita serena, per quanto dura e faticosa. Vive con i genitori in un villaggio del nord, stanziato in mezzo ad un bosco, dove non c’è spazio per i deboli, le donne vengono viste come oggetti da usare e ciò che conta è saper cacciare. Una serie di tragici eventi lascia Terra da sola, e con un solo obiettivo: la vendetta. Per salvarsi e per raggiungere il suo scopo inizia un viaggio verso sud, in cui i pericoli si moltiplicano ad ogni chilometro. Terra è coraggiosa, intraprendente, sicura di sé e nasconde la paura e l’incertezza sotto una facciata spigolosa e scorbutica, che la rendono temibile da tutti, anche da uomini forti e inarrestabili. Vestita con la sua tenuta da caccia non si fa scrupoli a sporcarsi le mani e a mettersi in prima fila per salvare i più deboli. Terra non è una delle solite eroine. È sola, e da sola guida una spedizione a cui si aggiungono nuovi membri ad ogni passo. Non è perfetta, non è una principessa, non è debole. Terra ha la capacità decisionale di un uomo e il cuore delicato di una donna, e in definitiva ha in mano il destino dell’intero gruppo di sopravvissuti. Non si tira indietro né di fronte ad un duello né di fronte allo scuoiare un maiale e ha l’animo premuroso, prendendosi cura di chiunque gli capiti a tiro e abbia bisogno del suo aiuto. È una ragazza forte, che cresce troppo in fretta e che non dimentica mai da dove viene e di chi è figlia. E questo sarà molto importante.
Il viaggio è infido e pericoloso e mieterà le sue vittime. Terra incontrerà diverse persone lungo il cammino e la cosa che più mi è piaciuta è il realismo di certe situazioni e il fatto che Terra solo perché è la protagonista non resta illesa, anzi resta ferita dagli eventi. Bellissima anche l’evoluzione emotiva-psicologica della ragazza. Quello che compie Terra non è solo un viaggio fisico ma è anche mentale. Ogni tappa toglie un pezzo di innocenza alla ragazza per scaraventarla in un luogo oscuro dove niente è statico, o in pace o al sicuro. Tutti sono in pericolo, tutti corrono rischi mai neanche preventivati. C’è una situazione di stallo, una guerra pericolosa e un gruppo di nemici senza scrupoli pronti a buttare tutti per aria. E Terra dovrà dimostrare che ha tutte le carte in regola per essere un leader eroico.
In mezzo allo scatafascio di un mondo in bilico, Terra riesce a costruire rapporti veri e leali che la aiuteranno immensamente durante il cammino. Da Becca la sua amica d’infanzia a Beth uno degli incontri lungo il cammino e che l’accompagneranno fino all’arrivo ad Aurora. Beth è un’altra vittima degli eventi e della crudeltà dei maschi e dei nemici della civiltà, ma allo stesso tempo impara, grazie alla nostra eroina sia a proteggersi che ad attaccare non risparmiando nessun colpo e prendendo in mano la sua vita anche quando incontra Ormek altro personaggio meraviglioso, visto con sospetto inizialmente pure si riscatterà rivelandosi fondamentale.
Ma il lungo viaggio di Terra si conclude o meglio si ferma per poi riprendere un’altra piega, ad Aurora, la città del sud, vicino al mare, la sorgente della vita. O così appare. Industriosa, ricca, accogliente e popolosa, è il sogno per tutti, una sorta di paradiso soprattutto per Terra e Beth che hanno sempre vissuto nelle ristrettezze restano meravigliate e incredule ma si adattano presto, scoprendo le magagne che si nascondono alle basi… e poi nella libreria di Aurora (doppio wow per questa scelta di LeRoy) Terra incontra Ethan. La romance è di scarsa rilevanza rispetto alla storia che è piena di azione, di battaglie all’ultimo sangue e velocità, ma non manca la nota dolce amara, la consapevolezza di Terra e scene molto struggenti e malinconiche. LeRoy è stato meravigliosamente bravo nell’equilibrare i vari elementi creando una storia veloce, che non lascia tregua e imprevedibile. Le descrizioni dei luoghi sono bellissime, il viaggio di un realismo impressionante, e l’ambientazione, quella di una America sconvolta da un tempesta solare, dove tutto è stato distrutto e la vita è tornata alle origini o quasi, è ben congeniata e regge la pressione.

Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un ciondolo a forma di cavallo.

Io mi sono totalmente innamorata di questa storia, Terra è un’eroina che si distingue dalla massa, che non ha bisogno di un uomo per farsi largo nella vita, e che anzi ha tutte le capacità per farsi largo e dimostrare quanto vale. Una distopia sconvolgente, uno young adult profondo e imprevedibile, un libro imperdibile per gli amanti del genere. Guerra, passioni, sopravvivenza, amore, amicizia condiscono una trama unica che non lascia spazio a respiro ma che va vissuta dall’inizio alla fine come una lunga corsa.
Io aspetto ansiosamente il secondo volume della serie, che LeRoy sta scrivendo al momento e che è intitolato provvisoriamente “The Heralds of Juno” e che non vedo l’ora di averlo per le mani *___*
Non lasciatevi scappare questo libro.
Buona lettura guys!

Ringrazio immensamente LeRoy per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di leggere questo libro in anteprima e soprattutto per avermi inviato il cartaceo! *___________*

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating 4/5 stars (Kindle version)

Le Roy's Fountain of the Earth follows the adventures of Terra, a young woman seeking revenge in a barbarous and primitive post-apocalyptic world where people live together as clans in settlements. She is orphaned after her father dies in an "accident," and her mother is killed in a brutal manner, and sticking around her clan isn't what she thinks is the best choice.

Terra sets off to avenge the death of her mother, but in the unprotected wilderness, her experiences often involve saving herself, her sister, or other women from vicious men who, more often than not, seem intent on rape and murder, especially the Ghóraz, who are a bit like the Reapers in Firefly, but without the spaceships.

Terra basically, in a rather bloody way, kills her way to Aurora, a protected settlement to the South from which all the other clans originally came, and she is almost killed in the process, several times. After her recovery, she becomes involved in uncovering a conspiracy that involves the Ghóraz, which leads to an all-out war between Aurora and the Ghóraz, where she, once again, is almost killed. She does exact her revenge, but the main thread of the story ends on the survival of Aurora and Terra's newfound role in life.

1. Creativity 5/5 stars
Dystopian futures are common in novels these days, but what is uncommon in this book is the way Le Roy focuses on very rudimentary survival instincts like the need for food, shelter and protection, as well as the way in which these driving needs create a primitive and dangerous landscape and culture through which Terra must navigate, as a female. Any semblance of gender equality that may have been in place prior to the fall of civilization in this book seems to have been erased, but this creates an environment that allows Terra's strength and determination to be unique as many of the other women in the book seem content to accept their lots in life.

2. Craft 3.5/5 stars
This book is written in first person, which Le Roy does well as he follows Terra's threads of thought and experience. This point of view is not my personal favorite because it tends to sound a bit self-absorbed, especially when the protagonists are teens. But it is true to life, since teens are pretty self-absorbed, especially if they have to bash, shoot and maim people left and right to survive.

The amount of detail Le Roy includes is all-inclusive, from how fires are made to how Terra feels when she is eating to how the Ghóraz decorate their conquered settlements with the body parts of those they killed. However, Le Roy does spare the reader some details. The book is bloody, not gory, and thankfully Le Roy's attention to detail did not extend to rape scenes as most of those are glossed over. In general, the amount of nitty-gritty is a testament to how carefully Le Roy has thought out each scene. However, told from a first-person point of view, knowing every little thing and every little thought of Terra's could get a bit tiresome for some readers.

3. Characters 4/5 stars
Terra starts out a strong character, and she ends a strong character. She survives some pretty horrible things again and again, and you get a sense that she's nearly invincible. You root for her in struggles, and you hope she comes out well in the end because, despite her stubbornness, she's likable. However, I didn't really see any incredible transformation in her as a result of enacting her revenge or going through all of the trials and tribulations she encountered. She seems a bit wiser at the end, but she already started out with plenty of inner resources, so her development seemed a bit stilted in some ways.

However, two of the minor characters, Beth, a woman who escaped a Ghóraz attack and who Terra befriends, and Becca, Terra's sister, grow from timid women intent on staying with whatever man that will have and protect them into self-assured, strong women who can take care of themselves and choose worthy partners. Beth, in particular, is a rather compelling character. Much of the transformations these women go through are largely due to Terra's tutelage, but Terra seems a bit ignorant of her effect on them, which is typical of a teen, perhaps.

4. Plot 3.5/5 stars
The plot centers around Terra's thirst for revenge and her distrust and hatred of the Ghóraz. While action driven, it is also character driven as we see everything from Terra's point of view. There's a subplot of Beth's new love-interest, and another involving Becca's violent spouse, and there's a bit of a love story for Terra as well in the end, which didn't completely seem to fit her personality or her perspective at the beginning of the book, but which does offer some nice resolution to the overall story arc.

My one issue is that there are almost too many trials and tribulations in the course of Terra's adventure. If she's not having trouble finding water, she's being pursued by a Ghóraz. If she's not nearly blind from being slashed over the eye in a fight, she's hanging in some clan leader's tent being tortured. If she's not being pursued by wolves, she's being shot at by arrows. And the list goes on. It makes for an exciting page turner, but the time span of the novel is a bit unclear ( I think it was a year), and I, at least, began to wonder how one person really could endure so much in the allotted time. Nevertheless, it was a pretty exciting read overall.

5. Organization 4/5
One nice thing about detail-oriented writing is that it's really hard to lose track of the plot. We follow Terra from encounter to encounter, and they all followed one another logically. I never had to re-read a section because I missed something that wasn't there or stop and ask the question, "Wait, what the heck is going on?"

6. Technicalities 5/5
Kudos for some very good proofing of this book! I may have found one period missing, but otherwise there are no glaring grammatical or technical issues. It was a pleasure to read such solid writing.

And my final comment is on the portrayal of the men in this book. Most of them are idiots. They are either bloodthirsty rapists, perpetrators of domestic violence, possessive jerks who only know how to eye women and not talk with them, love-struck puppy dog types, or conspirators. There are a few men characters, like Terra's father and Ethan, Terra's love interest, who have some integrity, but, for the most part, this book doesn't paint them well. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, since most women have run into more than their share of men who lack integrity, and it's not really written for a male audience anyway.

When 1 out of 4 women are survivors of some kind of sexual assault, and you have an interweb culture full of things like GamerGate, #YesAllWomen and the constant online harassment of women who speak their mind, the portrayal of men in this book makes perfect sense. It will appeal greatly to the angry girls in most of us who are so very weary of continual onslaughts of unwanted male attention. Terra's vengeance is ours, and her collection of scalps is a talisman we can all hang on our figurative trophy walls.

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[Morphys Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terra Vonn witnesses her mothers murder and promises revenge on the killers. She sets out alone on her journey that proves to be dangerous and difficult. Going out on her own was way harder than she thought it’d be. Along the way Terra learns how to make it on her own, surviving on instinct and sheer will. On a path of destruction Terra must make her own choices and live with the consequences of her actions.

Wow, OMG, holy hell! I started The Fountain of the Earth this morning and now that I’ve finished it I want to start from the beginning all over again. What a story it is. I was so excited I found myself having to re-read parts as I was skimming ahead (something I rarely do) because I couldn’t wait to see what was coming!

The world Terra lives in is so different from ours. Her world is bleak, boring and dangerous. I couldn’t imagine living the way they do. Being bid on to become someone’s wife, second, or third wife! Really? That so wouldn’t sit well with me, I’d kick up a right fuss. Living in camps in huts, scrounging for food and fighting to survive. Women being the lesser of the pair, it just saddens me so much to think of what the women had to go through even as they made the most of it.

Terra Vonn is such a strong character. Having lost both her parents, witnessing the brutal murder of her mother she promises revenge and sticks to her guns. She doesn’t shy at the path she’s chosen but jumps in with both feet. She knows it’s going to be dangerous and could get her killed but is determined to do it anyway. She’s brave, passionate, courageous, thinks well under pressure, strong willed and a good hunter/fighter (in the end). I admired Terra a helluva lot, she fell down a few times but picked herself up and came back stronger than ever.

There was so many characters introduced to go into detail or I’d be here for hours but wow, I loved so many of them. Carson for teaching Terra how to hunt properly, Beth because she comes such along way and turns out to be a fine warrior, and a great friend. Ormek for helping Beth and later helping Aurora. AND Scott Stevens, I can’t forget Scott! He was amazing, you don’t see much of him but what you do see will pull at your heartstrings! There’s so many more but I’ll leave it there.

The ending, just Jesus! I cried like a baby. I never saw it coming! Really? I thought I’d misread it and backtracked but no, my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, it was really there in front of me. What a great ending to an amazing story.

I am so freaking excited for book 2! Gimme gimme! If your a fan of Dystopian I highly suggest you give the Fountain of Earth a go, you won’t be disappointed, I sure wasn’t! I’ve found me a new book to add to my favourites shelf!

**A copy was provided for review purposes**

You can find my original review at: http://morphybooksblog.wordpress.com/...

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike many dystopian tales, this one doesn't start with a blaring 'society as we know it has been destroyed and now, we live under terrible circumstances', but rather introduces us to a fairly primitive settlement of wood/grass houses with a simple people, who like our ancestors, struggle to survive but make by. So where's the problem? There's a wedding ceremony--one of forced marriages--and 15-year-old Terra doesn't want to simply give her life to whatever man pays the most goats and chickens to have her.

Probably the strongest point of this book is the character development. We follow Terra closely from one soul shattering and life threatening situation into another. During the first chunk of chapters, Terra struggles alone to survive in a very dangerous and harsh world as she travels in hopes of finding a safe settlement after her own is completely destroyed. These chapters take us deep into Terra's soul, while delivering a very detailed account of her difficult journey. While I really enjoyed getting to know Terra better than my best friend, I did find myself skimming through some of the descriptions--but then, anyone who reads my reviews knows I tend to be easily distracted and like a little more action. But don't think there isn't any action because there's tons!

Terra learns to be an amazing warrior, mostly because she has no other choice. Every time she turns around, danger lurks--wild animals, fierce storms and more often than not, blood-thirsty and lust-filled barbarians. Even her friends are or must quickly learn to fight well in order to survive their long journey to the most peaceful settlement of all--Aurora.

Summed up: This is a well-written story which holds the dystopian elements a little more in the background. It's fast-paced and action packed, and at the same time, manages to deliver a great feel for the characters. The scenes are vivid, and the world is so clear that one has no problem picturing the trees and fire as if they were there in your room. I would, however, not necessarily recommend this for younger YA readers. The fight scenes are gruesome--lots of blood, scalping and brutal deaths--and although it's not closely depicted, rape scenes (and attempted ones) are part of the normal obstacles the characters must face. I wouldn't want my 14-year-old to read this yet, but I definitely can recommend it to the older YA audience.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is girl power at its core. The Fountain of the Earth provides readers with an action-packed deliverance of justice in less than 300 pages.

I knew this book was going to be good going in. Why? Well, one, because I’d read the synopsis, and it sounded brutal, thrilling, and right up my alley all at the same time. And two, because of its super amazing cover art. Seriously, any book with a cover that cool has to have some sweet stuff located between its cover.

It starts out in a village run entirely by men, and Terra’s expected to be sold into marriage to one of them. And of course, since this is a YA book, Terra’s not going to let that happen. Let me tell you, this character has a lot of determination in her. She doesn’t let all of the threats and stupid people stop her from being self-sufficient. It was fantastic.

Later on in the story, things get a little repetitive, but still good. There’s a lot of information on how Terra’s journey is going, and how well she’s hunting. To me, some of those scenes could have been cut back a little bit. There could have also been a wee bit more detail throughout the book. It was still completely enjoyable, though. If I hadn’t have had class, I would have flown through this thing in a day. Stupid tech writing classes. Always ruining my fun.

The plot of the book was very action-packed. It also wasn’t a clear cut path. I had no idea what was going to happen to Terra and when. However, sometimes some things that happened to her and her friends were a little too convenient. But man, did she manage to seriously kick some booty.

The other characters in the book were just as enjoyable as Terra. Excluding the bad guys. Those idiots just needed to have happen what happened to them at the end of this book. Becca made me want to cry, but she stayed strong. Beth was like an Amazon warrior princess. And the boys of the story were all like, “Heck yes, that’s my woman saving my butt.” And I loved it.

All in all, The Fountain of the Earth is a solidly good read. It’s quick, fun and has some majorly kick-ass female characters. If you’re looking for a new Katniss or Tris, Terra might just be the girl for you.

3.5/5 stars

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way altered my opinion/review.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rant: The Fountain of the Earth was earth shattering. I could not believe that this book packed a huge punch and then some. Once you read the first page you are hooked on the story and you can’t seem to let it go. This high intensity story ravaged my emotions; I had no control over what I was feeling because this story rocks you to the core. The main character Terra Vonn completely captured me. In this book she endures so much, even I couldn’t imagine how I would have handled her life. She is a brave girl. You couldn’t ask for a better heroine. Her struggles begin and they never stop and that is why I idolized her perseverance. The authors writing style was smooth, he brought the characters to life and made me care for them in ways that are unspeakable. Once you begin to read the fountain of the Earth you cannot stop. It is an addictive rush of action that never waivers. The author's spins this plot uniquely; he grips you and keeps you focused on the events that transpire in the book and before you know it you’re done. I laughed; I cried and baste in the glory of revenge. Hands down this is one of the best YA stories I have read in a long time. Now as you all know I don’t read a lot of YA but dam it, this book takes you there and then some. I am so glad I was on a book tour for this book, if I wasn’t I would have missed out on a real treat. This is the first time I have read work from this author and I will tell you it won’t be my last. The fountain of the earth is riveting and that is why I am putting this book on my top 2014 list. If you don’t believe me grab a copy for yourself and hit me up online so we can chat about it. I can guarantee you will feel the same way I do about this book.

My Recommendation:

I rated this book 5 out of 5 Purple Rant Hearts and would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys an action packed YA story.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author, editor, publisher, or Promo Host. This is my honest opinion about this book and I did not receive any monetary compensation for writing this review nor was I obligated to write a positive one.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the world H.L. LeRoy created. I got a bit lost at first because he gave me an overview and like the usual lazy me, I failed to read it. I wasn't familiar with the setting and kept asking when exactly was the story taking place. It was right there on the email, it really sucks to be me sometimes. But being able to receive stories like this from authors like him, makes it really worthwhile. It felt really awesome when I received a book review request from him. I have to tell you, it kind of scared me a bit. This is the first time I received a request directly from the author. I have all these misgivings, "what if I didn't like it?" But of course, they were misplaced and I was so thrilled to be given this opportunity.

I won't go into the specifics of the story. But it was set in the time after "catastrophic solar flare destroys civilization". This is different from the usual dystopian genre we've gotten used to. I was surprised to read that instead of us moving forward, the change inflicted on Earth made us go backwards. Meaning no technology. Yup, that's right. We're given a preview as to what it'll be like if technology got wiped out. The way he described this new Earth is something really worth noting.

Oh, and don't get me started on Terra Vonn. If you're looking for a strong female that literally kicks ass, then Terra is for you. She's courageous, loyal, and just downright amazing. She's the poster girl for kickassery. The other characters in the story also went through some major overhaul that I really enjoyed. Beth is also someone to watch out for. This book is just brimming with cool characters waiting for you to love and care for.

It really is such an adventure. I recommend this to girls looking for a new protagonist to rah-rah over. For dystopian lovers out there who's looking for something new to grace their favorite lists. The Fountain of the Earth will make you feel grateful for the life we're living right now. But please let H.L. LeRoy tell you Terra Vonn's courageous story, it really is a treat.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. In a post apocalyptic world Terra Vonn and her family struggle to survive. No longer is there electricity, supermarkets or department stores. Everything has to be done the old fashion way. Wives are chosen at a "Wedding Party", where the men bid for the women and the highest bidder wins the bride. There are no longer states, everyone lives in a clan. The day of Terra' s wedding party, her father was tragically killed while hunting. This does not bode well for Terra, as she didn't want to marry but now her family needs a man to look after them. Unfortunately, no one chooses Terra, now she and her mother must struggle to survive. Until one night her life is forever changed. Men from another clan appear visiting with their clan chief. They are pushy and obnoxious and when night comes, they break into Terra' s hut, attack and murder her mother. When the clan chief doesn't seem interested in avenging her mother's death, Terra takes off on a life changing voyage bent on revenge. Will Terra ever find Aurora, or is it a city of myths and legends? Can she trust the people she's met along the way?

The Fountain of the Earth is a wonderful dystopian novel. It reminded me of the television series Revolution, but with just one really bad group. I felt really bad for Terra, losing everyone she loved so young and quickly learning how to defend herself and kill others. I was completely giddy when she met Ethan, they had so much in common, you just wanted him to hurry up and say something! I also loved how her group of travelers became like family to her. She loved them as much as they loved her. I loved this book, it took me on an amazing adventure, one I'm sure not to forget. If Dystopian reads are what you enjoy, be sure to check out this one!

[Kayti Raet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fountain of the Earth starts off on the day Terra Vonn is about to get married. Seems like a good thing, right?
Wrong.
In H. L. Le Roy's post-apocalyptic coming of age tale humanity had reverted back to the Dark Ages of Europe and once a girl turns fifteen she's auctioned off for a couple of chickens, often becoming a man's second, or even third wife.
Luckily, Terra manages to escape being 'chosen' but life isn't easy and soon her mother is killed when a band of lawless marauders raid the town.
Vowing revenge Terra tracks them all the way to Aurora, one of the last outposts of civilization. Glittering, peaceful, and productive, Terra soon discovers all is not as it seems and the town leaders are hiding a terrible secret that could destroy them all.
The Fountain of the Earth H. L. Le Roy was enjoyable and Terra definitely joins the ranks of kick-butt females.
There was a romance but it was very low key and only really built up towards the end. It didn't take away from the main focus of the novel, which was Terra and how she cared about those really close to her. Sometimes I felt she was a little one-track minded but then I guess if I was focused on revenge I would be too.
The Fountain of the Earth H. L. Le Roy is a great read for anyone looking for a fast-paced book featuring a kick-butt heroine who willing to protect what she loves at all cost.

[Claire Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA adventure, with a subtle hint of dystopian, this book was slightly outside my normal genres but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it from start to finish. At the start, all 15 year old Terra has to worry about is who might bid on her at her clan’s wedding party, but soon her whole world is ripped apart following the death of her dad and watching her mum being murdered. By the end of the story, she has grown into a strong female leader that would do anything for the friends she has met along her travels, and will fight to ensure their survival.

This book has a bit of everything including action, adventure, love, loyalty, friends and family. There is plenty of death and destruction, but it’s written in such a way that it wasn’t gruesome or disturbing to read and would be perfect for younger readers as well as adults. The best part for me was watching the various relationships grow and seeing Terra find her true self. There is so much more to come from this story, and I can’t wait to see where events are going to lead Terra to next.

I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy D. Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*

I think books like this one are my favorite type to read. Terra was a great character to follow and I loved seeing her stay strong no matter what was happening to her (which was quite a lot!!). At first I thought this would be a fantasy novel, and while it had that sort of feel to it, it's not. Set in a post-apocalyptic world brings the story even closer to home.

I read this book in about two sittings! It was so hard to put down. I was able to get drawn into the story very quickly and stayed that way until it was over. I would gladly read another book by H. L. Le Roy.

This story had some common themes you find in novels, revenge, love, rising hero; but it took these themes you see over and over again and wove them in a way that made it fun to read. I was able to get attached to the characters and want to see things work out for them.

Definitely add this book to your reading list!!

[Jesse Kimmel-Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

HL has done a fabulous job at doing something that truly respect as an art form all by itself- character development! The main character, Terra, is freaking awesome. This is the kind of female main characters we need in literature. She's a good role model. This isn't your cliché weak female that needs to be saved.

But it isn't just Terra that you fall in love with. Every thing about the story draws you in and makes you want to know more about the world and everything that has happened there. You want to know the backstory. You want to know if everything is going to turn out okay.

This isn't an easy story either. Things are hard. The fan has been hit... and keeps getting hit. But that just adds to the story.

This is a great read and I highly recommend it for those that love YA dystopian fantasy reads. Check it out!

[Steven D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book The Fountain of the Earth by H.L. Le Roy going through the experience of following the paths of young Terra Vonn on her path to enact revenge on her mothers murderers' with the old saying, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong," comes to my mind in the case of Terra with trouble always seeming to find her from nowhere. This book is full of detail and action packed fight scenes that really had me held to the book from the start. Unfortunately I have to wait for the second book in the series to find out where Terra's path may lead in Aurora.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read!
Terra lives in a dystopian world, an America where people live in clans in poor conditions and where the roles of men and woman have returned to the caveman days. When Terra’s family is murdered, she sets out on a mission to find the killers. Throughout the book, she refuses to play the role of victim and discovers that she is a natural leader. This book is both fast paced and thick with plot. I enjoyed watching Terra (and many of the other characters) grow throughout the story. This was a fantastic read with an ending that left me ready for more!

[Dalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank the author H.L. LeRoy for giving me this book for an honest review. I loved reading this book, Terra loses her family and sets out for revenge. Along the way she meets people that become family to her. The characters were well written. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Orchid · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did have some problems with this book, it was an overall interesting read and one that I'm curious to see where the story will go in the next installment.

You can see all of my thoughts on The Fountain of the Earth on my blog.

[Jessica Buike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has all the right components - post-apocalyptic landscape, strong female heroine, and interesting characters. I really enjoyed it!

[Ellie Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

review coming soon!