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Breeders #2
The Believers
They’ve escaped the Breeders, yet their journey has just begun.
Riley and Clay are once again on the run from the Breeders. The group may have escaped the deranged experiments at the hospital, but as one of the world's last free women, Riley can never be safe. On the road back home, Riley and her crew are captured by a band of savage men. Their destination: the Citadel, run by a bizarre religious prophet named the Messiah. Somehow he knows their secrets. He wants them to join his group of Believers, but only if they’ll drink the baptismal water and swear allegiance.
The problem is there’s something wrong with the water. Something wrong with the people. And there’s human moaning coming from the bottom of a dark crevasse that no one wants to talk about. If they can’t figure out what’s going on, Riley and everyone she loves could become a Believer forever.
Riley and Clay are once again on the run from the Breeders. The group may have escaped the deranged experiments at the hospital, but as one of the world's last free women, Riley can never be safe. On the road back home, Riley and her crew are captured by a band of savage men. Their destination: the Citadel, run by a bizarre religious prophet named the Messiah. Somehow he knows their secrets. He wants them to join his group of Believers, but only if they’ll drink the baptismal water and swear allegiance.
The problem is there’s something wrong with the water. Something wrong with the people. And there’s human moaning coming from the bottom of a dark crevasse that no one wants to talk about. If they can’t figure out what’s going on, Riley and everyone she loves could become a Believer forever.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2013
153 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Katie French
62 books411 followersKatie French is an Amazon best-selling author in Young Adult dystopian romance. Her book, The Breeders, has had nearly 50,000 downloads and counting and was a semi-finalist in the 2014 Kindle Book Awards. It's currently free on Amazon. She also has a kids series starting with Portia Parrott and the Great Kitten Rescue for ages 5-9.
She works as a high school English teacher, a job that she loves even when it exhausts her. In her free time she writes manically, reads great books, and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She aspires to spend as much time in yoga pants as possible. You can join her mailing list at www.katiefrenchbooks.com and receive two free full-length novels. Contact her at katie@katiefrenchbooks.com.
She works as a high school English teacher, a job that she loves even when it exhausts her. In her free time she writes manically, reads great books, and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She aspires to spend as much time in yoga pants as possible. You can join her mailing list at www.katiefrenchbooks.com and receive two free full-length novels. Contact her at katie@katiefrenchbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 5, 2020
Book two in the Breeders six book series.
In a world where nine out of ten births are male, females are a rarity. And to be entirely honest if all females are like the main character Riley, thank God for that! As a female I feel im allowed to say that!
I enjoy the concept of this series, that females are rare, that there is a breeding program, there are tribes, and battles, and principles and above all else I do like a dystopian world.
I dont love that characters, they are pretty immature and shallow but for trashy poolside reading this ticks the boxes.
I'll definitely continue with the series between heavier books.
Three stars.
In a world where nine out of ten births are male, females are a rarity. And to be entirely honest if all females are like the main character Riley, thank God for that! As a female I feel im allowed to say that!
I enjoy the concept of this series, that females are rare, that there is a breeding program, there are tribes, and battles, and principles and above all else I do like a dystopian world.
I dont love that characters, they are pretty immature and shallow but for trashy poolside reading this ticks the boxes.
I'll definitely continue with the series between heavier books.
Three stars.
November 29, 2013
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I had been looking forward to reading this one ever since I finished BK#1 The Breeders. I did have fairly high expectations for this one. I really enjoyed the fact Katie started off with a recap of Bk#1. I had remembered most of what was recapped but it helped to get me super engrossed back into the series.
MY REVIEW
I received an e-arc of this directly from the Author Katie French in exchange for my honest review.
The cover is a dark bleak looking thing which kind of suits the situation that Riley & Clay and their family find themselves in. The cover is also a scene from within the book as I'd say it is the entrance/tunnel way down to the water source that The Brotherhood drink from and cavort in before becoming "beasts".
So the group is captured and taken back to an old mall. To begin with things look pretty good there's food, electricity and some comfort with quite a large amount of survivors, some of which are woman and children too. The people of the mall are "governed"by a man whom they call their "Messiah" who preaches a mixture of religions and says he has sight. the sight that the Gods tall him how things should be. Riley soon becomes suspicious and wants to leave but the Messiah has other ideas. Then when Riley's pregnant mum is taken ill Riley finds herself bargaining with the Messiah for medicines for her mother.
As part of the bargain for medicines for Rileys mum Clay has to be initiated into The Brotherhood and drink the potentially contaminated water. Riley knows there is soething drastically wrong with the water as all the men that drink it develop awful ugly sores on their bodies and face. This water and initiation also change Clay into something and someone that Riley almost doesn't recognise, as well as the inevitable sores appearing on his skin. As Riley is so suspicious and has been befriended by the Messiahs daughter Mage she does get some information but searches the mall and finds tunnels down to the lake the men drink from she hears a low moaning that scares her so much she runs. Later in the book the Messiah's right hand man Andrew shackles Riley down the dark tunnels as a punishment. One of the tunnel creatures who we later find out call themselves "The Forgotten" releases Riley and asks she deliver a message to "those above" that "they are still here". Riley also discovers that the Messiah talks about "Revelations" and "The End" so its not such a leap to learn he intends to have the people of the mall commit a mass suicide so they can "go home" To get her family out and escape Riley must prevent this happening. Sacrifices have to be made, not everyone will get out, or even live.
I wont say anymore about the book as to do so would reveal too much, I feel I've revealed so much already.
The pace of the book is medium to fast pace. I really enjoy reading Katie's writing style. You do get attached to the characters. In this book we meet many new characters, one of my new favourites is Mage, the Messiahs young daughter who seems wise beyond her years and perhaps more capable of running the mall and its people than her father the messiah. I love the way she latches onto Riley. There's also a spark of a relationship between Ethan and Mage.
So did I enjoy the book? Loved it! Would I recommend the book? Definitely, I'd say read The Breeders, then Nessa's Story and then this one. Would I read another book in this series? Yes please! Would I read other books by this Author? I would yes.
I had been looking forward to reading this one ever since I finished BK#1 The Breeders. I did have fairly high expectations for this one. I really enjoyed the fact Katie started off with a recap of Bk#1. I had remembered most of what was recapped but it helped to get me super engrossed back into the series.
MY REVIEW
I received an e-arc of this directly from the Author Katie French in exchange for my honest review.
The cover is a dark bleak looking thing which kind of suits the situation that Riley & Clay and their family find themselves in. The cover is also a scene from within the book as I'd say it is the entrance/tunnel way down to the water source that The Brotherhood drink from and cavort in before becoming "beasts".
So the group is captured and taken back to an old mall. To begin with things look pretty good there's food, electricity and some comfort with quite a large amount of survivors, some of which are woman and children too. The people of the mall are "governed"by a man whom they call their "Messiah" who preaches a mixture of religions and says he has sight. the sight that the Gods tall him how things should be. Riley soon becomes suspicious and wants to leave but the Messiah has other ideas. Then when Riley's pregnant mum is taken ill Riley finds herself bargaining with the Messiah for medicines for her mother.
As part of the bargain for medicines for Rileys mum Clay has to be initiated into The Brotherhood and drink the potentially contaminated water. Riley knows there is soething drastically wrong with the water as all the men that drink it develop awful ugly sores on their bodies and face. This water and initiation also change Clay into something and someone that Riley almost doesn't recognise, as well as the inevitable sores appearing on his skin. As Riley is so suspicious and has been befriended by the Messiahs daughter Mage she does get some information but searches the mall and finds tunnels down to the lake the men drink from she hears a low moaning that scares her so much she runs. Later in the book the Messiah's right hand man Andrew shackles Riley down the dark tunnels as a punishment. One of the tunnel creatures who we later find out call themselves "The Forgotten" releases Riley and asks she deliver a message to "those above" that "they are still here". Riley also discovers that the Messiah talks about "Revelations" and "The End" so its not such a leap to learn he intends to have the people of the mall commit a mass suicide so they can "go home" To get her family out and escape Riley must prevent this happening. Sacrifices have to be made, not everyone will get out, or even live.
I wont say anymore about the book as to do so would reveal too much, I feel I've revealed so much already.
The pace of the book is medium to fast pace. I really enjoy reading Katie's writing style. You do get attached to the characters. In this book we meet many new characters, one of my new favourites is Mage, the Messiahs young daughter who seems wise beyond her years and perhaps more capable of running the mall and its people than her father the messiah. I love the way she latches onto Riley. There's also a spark of a relationship between Ethan and Mage.
So did I enjoy the book? Loved it! Would I recommend the book? Definitely, I'd say read The Breeders, then Nessa's Story and then this one. Would I read another book in this series? Yes please! Would I read other books by this Author? I would yes.
November 9, 2020
I finished this book a couple of days ago. Snow, elections, NaNoWriMo, and other distractions got in the way of my review. Sorry.
This is the second book of the Breeder series. The story of the girl looking for her mother and aunt continues. It is far from an easy feat. But Riley and her boyfriend and her brother try to find a way to them.
The story kept me interested. Often I found it nauseating. I think that was the author's intent. Still, I couldn't put it down. Maybe it was the train accident effect? You can't just let it go. You have to look. That is the very reason I just ordered the Kindle Unlimited version. I think the first and second are KU also. So what is there to lose? Find Aunty and Mom!
This is the second book of the Breeder series. The story of the girl looking for her mother and aunt continues. It is far from an easy feat. But Riley and her boyfriend and her brother try to find a way to them.
The story kept me interested. Often I found it nauseating. I think that was the author's intent. Still, I couldn't put it down. Maybe it was the train accident effect? You can't just let it go. You have to look. That is the very reason I just ordered the Kindle Unlimited version. I think the first and second are KU also. So what is there to lose? Find Aunty and Mom!
October 6, 2018
Riley Meemick has successfully rescued her mother from The Breeders. But, not before they implanted one of their experimental fetuses into her. The road is hard on Riley’s mother as the baby is growing at an accelerated rate. A group of mutants capture Riley and her group and take them to the self-proclaimed Messiah at the Citadel. Their intent is for the group to join the believers and consume the tainted holy water as a display of faith. All Riley wants to do is to escape and find her Auntie.
French’s second novel in The Breeders series, The Believers is a dystopian romance. It’s an easy read and is paced well. The editing is much better than the first book. The story is sad and at times heartbreaking.
The Breeders are relentless in the pursuit of any free female. They will not give up their search for Riley. Hopefully, with Clay’s help, she can stay hidden.
4 out of 5 stars.
French’s second novel in The Breeders series, The Believers is a dystopian romance. It’s an easy read and is paced well. The editing is much better than the first book. The story is sad and at times heartbreaking.
The Breeders are relentless in the pursuit of any free female. They will not give up their search for Riley. Hopefully, with Clay’s help, she can stay hidden.
4 out of 5 stars.
February 24, 2014
The Believers is the second book in the Breeders series, about a family surviving in a post-apocalyptic world where women are very rarely born and society has broken down.
In this second novel, Riley, Clay, and crew set off to rescue Riley’s auntie. Along the way, they stop and are dumb enough to leave Riley as the night watch. They are captured by some religious wackos and taken to their society in an abandoned mall. The entire novel takes place here while they try to unravel the mysteries of what this society is, how they survive, and what they want with Clay and Riley.
This book is somewhat different from the first one. As I said, everything takes place within a shopping mall. There is no road travel, etc. Riley must fight against trying to escape and trying to get help for her mother. All the while, they are trying to figure out what the people want with Riley and Clay, who this mysterious prophet really is, how they manage to survive so well (with air conditioning, etc.), and what connection the Breeders have with all of this.
In the series, this really feels like some what of a detour. There isn’t much development with the battle against the Breeders, with any resolution to this horrible world, to finding Auntie, to seeing what happened to Clay’s town. But character development does continue and we get to know our beloved characters even better.
The action is mostly non-stop here and very interesting. There is an underlying mystery about this place, and it is interesting to slow find out what is happening. Riley continues to be challenged in may ways, requiring her to mature even more throughout the book. The stakes are very high here and character deaths aren’t out of the question. Two of the characters (the prophet and his daughter) are very intriguing and add some nice spice to the story.
The ending is really well done and really moves forward the relationship between Clay and Riley. Plus several other characters get good closure in the best way possible.
Overall, a nice change of pace and I’m looking forward to book three when things get back on the road.
NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
In this second novel, Riley, Clay, and crew set off to rescue Riley’s auntie. Along the way, they stop and are dumb enough to leave Riley as the night watch. They are captured by some religious wackos and taken to their society in an abandoned mall. The entire novel takes place here while they try to unravel the mysteries of what this society is, how they survive, and what they want with Clay and Riley.
This book is somewhat different from the first one. As I said, everything takes place within a shopping mall. There is no road travel, etc. Riley must fight against trying to escape and trying to get help for her mother. All the while, they are trying to figure out what the people want with Riley and Clay, who this mysterious prophet really is, how they manage to survive so well (with air conditioning, etc.), and what connection the Breeders have with all of this.
In the series, this really feels like some what of a detour. There isn’t much development with the battle against the Breeders, with any resolution to this horrible world, to finding Auntie, to seeing what happened to Clay’s town. But character development does continue and we get to know our beloved characters even better.
The action is mostly non-stop here and very interesting. There is an underlying mystery about this place, and it is interesting to slow find out what is happening. Riley continues to be challenged in may ways, requiring her to mature even more throughout the book. The stakes are very high here and character deaths aren’t out of the question. Two of the characters (the prophet and his daughter) are very intriguing and add some nice spice to the story.
The ending is really well done and really moves forward the relationship between Clay and Riley. Plus several other characters get good closure in the best way possible.
Overall, a nice change of pace and I’m looking forward to book three when things get back on the road.
NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2018
I pushed through this book because I like the concept of the series and I want to see what direction it takes. The book itself was average and far less interesting than book 1.
I felt like there was so many questions unanswered. What was the magical/poison water they were drinking? Why did it make the guys sore covered with milky eyes but turned women into zombies? Where were the forgotten hiding whenever Clay and the brotherhood were partying in the lake?
The question that bothers me the most, and I can’t seem to find any other reviews that ask this question, but.. what about the baby? So this baby is growing at an obscenely rapid rate and can be seen twisting and turning inside the mother. When the mom falls to her death, nobody thought “hmm.. there’s a full grown human inside this woman.. what of that?”
I felt like there was so many questions unanswered. What was the magical/poison water they were drinking? Why did it make the guys sore covered with milky eyes but turned women into zombies? Where were the forgotten hiding whenever Clay and the brotherhood were partying in the lake?
The question that bothers me the most, and I can’t seem to find any other reviews that ask this question, but.. what about the baby? So this baby is growing at an obscenely rapid rate and can be seen twisting and turning inside the mother. When the mom falls to her death, nobody thought “hmm.. there’s a full grown human inside this woman.. what of that?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2021
“The Believers” is the second instalment in “Breeders”, Katie French’s YA/NA dystopian series, which is set in a future version of the US at the end of the twenty first century, in world where women account just for 10% of the total population. The main character (Riley Meemick) is one of the last free surviving females, as her own mother escaped the Breeders, the group of scientist intended on ‘fixing’ the male/female ration discordance and repopulate society by very unethical and cruel methods.
After Riley was shot and forced into the Breeder’s spital, learning the horrible truth behind her mother’s fate in the process, she and Clay succeeded in fleeing the hospital and avoid being experimented at. But the truth is that Riley, being female, is constant danger of capture. And as they fall into the hand of a group of men, intending in sell them to the Citadel, Riley’s worst fears become very real. In order to survive they have to join the religious fanatics (Believers) living in the Citadel, but becoming a Believer could be a fate even worse that fall into the hands of the Breeders.
This is a very well-written series, with credible and relatable characters, and an exceptionally complex, realistic dystopian world, that is nevertheless easy to follow. The arc-story is action-packed in fast-paced, with very interesting plots and subplots, unexpected twist and turns, and good balanced mix between character development, action, dystopia, and romance. An interesting read for all fans of “The Hunger Games”, “Divergent”, “The Gender Game” and “The Thaw Series”.
After Riley was shot and forced into the Breeder’s spital, learning the horrible truth behind her mother’s fate in the process, she and Clay succeeded in fleeing the hospital and avoid being experimented at. But the truth is that Riley, being female, is constant danger of capture. And as they fall into the hand of a group of men, intending in sell them to the Citadel, Riley’s worst fears become very real. In order to survive they have to join the religious fanatics (Believers) living in the Citadel, but becoming a Believer could be a fate even worse that fall into the hands of the Breeders.
This is a very well-written series, with credible and relatable characters, and an exceptionally complex, realistic dystopian world, that is nevertheless easy to follow. The arc-story is action-packed in fast-paced, with very interesting plots and subplots, unexpected twist and turns, and good balanced mix between character development, action, dystopia, and romance. An interesting read for all fans of “The Hunger Games”, “Divergent”, “The Gender Game” and “The Thaw Series”.
June 12, 2017
French delivers again for another romp into the dusty world of the Breeders. I usually shy away from novels/tv/movies with a religious cult depicted. Yes, they do exist. Yes, they are preying on the emotionally vulnerable, but in recent years there's been an unconvincing portrayal of mainstream faiths being dangerously radical. French handles this subject exceptionally well. Plus, Riley is unshakable in her faith in her family, which makes me believe in her. I won't give anything away other than my thanks to the author. And my money too because I'm continuing on with the series.
There were a couple things I was looking for that didn't happen. Ri, Clay got off easy. I wanted a stronger confrontation about his goings-on while inside the mall. Two, Riley had a concern about her and Clay's deepening relationship that I wanted acknowledged between them by the end of the novel. That's okay. There's still several more books to go and I believe French is very capable author. Can't wait to read to find out what's going to happen with Riley and the gang.
There were a couple things I was looking for that didn't happen. Ri, Clay got off easy. I wanted a stronger confrontation about his goings-on while inside the mall. Two, Riley had a concern about her and Clay's deepening relationship that I wanted acknowledged between them by the end of the novel. That's okay. There's still several more books to go and I believe French is very capable author. Can't wait to read to find out what's going to happen with Riley and the gang.
December 22, 2021
Believers and Breeders
In this dust bowl of a planet, not many people are free. Nearly all women were captured by the Breeders. They want to repopulate this place in their image, which includes experiments on the women that usually results in miscarriage, death of the mother, or both. On the other hand, the Believers follow their "Messiah" and recruit anyone they can. The men there are wrong, many looking as though they are diseased. But the women are spared, or would be if a few Believers weren't working with the Breeders, supplying them with women to act as human incubators for monsters. Fast paced action with twists, great read.
In this dust bowl of a planet, not many people are free. Nearly all women were captured by the Breeders. They want to repopulate this place in their image, which includes experiments on the women that usually results in miscarriage, death of the mother, or both. On the other hand, the Believers follow their "Messiah" and recruit anyone they can. The men there are wrong, many looking as though they are diseased. But the women are spared, or would be if a few Believers weren't working with the Breeders, supplying them with women to act as human incubators for monsters. Fast paced action with twists, great read.
August 11, 2023
It's been a long time since I read book one (3 years ago), so I wonder if that's it - but I could just not get on board with this. I found the romance particularly strained and difficult. Riley, our protagonist, is hot headed and it often ends in strife. There was some good moments towards the climax of the story, but it wasn't enough to sustain the book. (I think part of my problem is that I enjoy stories around reproductive rights and freedoms, and that whole thing mostly slips away to different problems faced in this novel.)
May 14, 2020
Katie French is a really good writer. She makes you feel the characters and their surroundings.
This is not full of fighting, well, there is some. It is mostly just a wonderful book that takes a look at what life in the Apocalypse could be like. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Now I am just hoping there will be more in this series. Katie's writing style is the key to her books.
This is not full of fighting, well, there is some. It is mostly just a wonderful book that takes a look at what life in the Apocalypse could be like. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Now I am just hoping there will be more in this series. Katie's writing style is the key to her books.
March 23, 2017
Great and bloody installment
The protagonists are captured by the fanatical cult and have to deal with disgusting sickness, secrets, and growing rift between the lovers. Through cunning, curiosity and unexpected help they fight to survive the ordeal and emerge with stronger spirit, heart and commitment.
The protagonists are captured by the fanatical cult and have to deal with disgusting sickness, secrets, and growing rift between the lovers. Through cunning, curiosity and unexpected help they fight to survive the ordeal and emerge with stronger spirit, heart and commitment.
June 3, 2023
SECRETS & ADVENTURE!!!:-)
ADORED this book just as much as the first and I am SOOO EXCITED to read more of this series!!!:-). The writing is FANTASTIC and the characters just keep getting better and better and even more complex in the BEST of ways!!!:-). LOVED IT!!:-)
ADORED this book just as much as the first and I am SOOO EXCITED to read more of this series!!!:-). The writing is FANTASTIC and the characters just keep getting better and better and even more complex in the BEST of ways!!!:-). LOVED IT!!:-)
December 8, 2017
yep........ another one that i apparently put to the side (I think book 1 was enough for me) and can't even remember if I finished it or not........... sighhhhhhhhhhhh
January 4, 2018
Ok book
Couldn’t finish to sad so much doom and gloom . They get through one thing and another thing pops up it just became tiresome.
Couldn’t finish to sad so much doom and gloom . They get through one thing and another thing pops up it just became tiresome.
April 27, 2018
Wow!!! Wow!!!! Wow!!! I loved it. I was hooked after the first sentence.
Kept me turning through the pages to see what happened next. One of my all time favorites.
Kept me turning through the pages to see what happened next. One of my all time favorites.
December 5, 2018
Decent sequel
Not quite as good as the first book, but was exciting and kept me turning the pages. Looking forward to the next one.
Not quite as good as the first book, but was exciting and kept me turning the pages. Looking forward to the next one.
January 18, 2019
Oh and how could she... I won’t spoil it but... damn it - a great - but horrifying end! Loved it!
May 24, 2019
Great book
Fast moving and hard to guess what was going to happen next. Good descriptive words that made you were there and feeling their feelings.
Fast moving and hard to guess what was going to happen next. Good descriptive words that made you were there and feeling their feelings.
June 5, 2022
I've loved listening to the first two books in this series, but the rest of the books I'll have to read I guess cause I can't find them narrated. But overall I love how this series is progressing.
June 5, 2020
I'm still enjoying the journey that these characters are taking me on.
September 25, 2018
I loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time
March 8, 2017
I love it!
Katie does it again! I couldn't put this book down. Matter of fact, I'm rereading the whole series! Give her and this series a try.
Katie does it again! I couldn't put this book down. Matter of fact, I'm rereading the whole series! Give her and this series a try.
January 12, 2014
I was a little torn when trying to decide how to rate this one. I knew it would be a high rating, but I was waffling between four and five stars. I feel like I have been giving too many five stars as of late, and don't want to arbitrarily give them out. So I devised a system, and needed a few days to think how this book fits. Basically, in order to receive a 5-star, the book needs to do the following:
1. Be enjoyable. This is a given, but important.
2. Be emotive. I want to have some feelings when I read. I feel like that is a sign of a good book.
3. Make me think about it after I am finished reading.
So with that in mind, after a couple days' pondering, The Believers earned its five stars. The reason I was unsure at first is that this is a very dark book. I generally enjoy a few moments of lightheartedness in my books, a few moments to take my mind of the terrible things happening to the characters and world around them. But after thinking about it, it works in this book. Because the plot is always moving, always evolving, you don't really have time to dwell on the darkness. Obviously, you realize that this world sucks, but you are too busy caring about the characters and what happens next to focus on that.
I really liked the first book, but this is one of those rare books that is better than its predecessor. The characters become more developed, and the plot goes places that I never imagined. I love that it wasn't in any way predictable. There were insanely sad moments, but they had purpose, not just shock value.
So I think it goes without saying that I would recommend this book, especially to those who enjoyed the first. And I will be most definitely be reading any other books in this series.
1. Be enjoyable. This is a given, but important.
2. Be emotive. I want to have some feelings when I read. I feel like that is a sign of a good book.
3. Make me think about it after I am finished reading.
So with that in mind, after a couple days' pondering, The Believers earned its five stars. The reason I was unsure at first is that this is a very dark book. I generally enjoy a few moments of lightheartedness in my books, a few moments to take my mind of the terrible things happening to the characters and world around them. But after thinking about it, it works in this book. Because the plot is always moving, always evolving, you don't really have time to dwell on the darkness. Obviously, you realize that this world sucks, but you are too busy caring about the characters and what happens next to focus on that.
I really liked the first book, but this is one of those rare books that is better than its predecessor. The characters become more developed, and the plot goes places that I never imagined. I love that it wasn't in any way predictable. There were insanely sad moments, but they had purpose, not just shock value.
So I think it goes without saying that I would recommend this book, especially to those who enjoyed the first. And I will be most definitely be reading any other books in this series.
December 27, 2019
#poppyreads2018
December 31, 2013
I wondered where Katie French might take this concept after reading her debut novel, The Breeders. This is what I found when I cracked open The Believers...action, and lots of it. My hunch was correct with the first novel – Katie French’s YA dystopian books are more like futuristic westerns, with clearly defined good and evil, dust and blood, and a little romance thrown in between the bullets.
The Believers picks right up where The Breeders left off – on the road and on the run in post-apocalypse New Mexico. Riley and her band of survivors are captured by a cult living in the remnants of an old mall. Riley and her companions must choose between the cult’s dark unknowns (which include food and security), or the dangers of the open road, (which includes starvation, brutal gangs, and the Breeders.) French breaks out of the normal YA dystopian tropes not only with her unique angle regarding a future with few fertile women, but her bad guy, the cult’s powerfully charismatic and creepy leader, the Messiah, who cherry picks about every bad element of every world religion to build his following.
Riley, our hero, is caught between one bad situation and the next. She’s trying to save her mother, who is suffering the effects of the Breeder’s dark experiments, her little brother, who wants a home, and her boyfriend, Clay, who is unwittingly entangled in the Messiah’s murky plans. Riley has so many responsibilities, so many people counting on her, and few friends in a world of wolves and more wolves, where weakness is death. This time, she can only count on herself.
I can't wait to see where Riley and her band of rag tag survivors end up next.
The Believers picks right up where The Breeders left off – on the road and on the run in post-apocalypse New Mexico. Riley and her band of survivors are captured by a cult living in the remnants of an old mall. Riley and her companions must choose between the cult’s dark unknowns (which include food and security), or the dangers of the open road, (which includes starvation, brutal gangs, and the Breeders.) French breaks out of the normal YA dystopian tropes not only with her unique angle regarding a future with few fertile women, but her bad guy, the cult’s powerfully charismatic and creepy leader, the Messiah, who cherry picks about every bad element of every world religion to build his following.
Riley, our hero, is caught between one bad situation and the next. She’s trying to save her mother, who is suffering the effects of the Breeder’s dark experiments, her little brother, who wants a home, and her boyfriend, Clay, who is unwittingly entangled in the Messiah’s murky plans. Riley has so many responsibilities, so many people counting on her, and few friends in a world of wolves and more wolves, where weakness is death. This time, she can only count on herself.
I can't wait to see where Riley and her band of rag tag survivors end up next.
February 23, 2015
I may never know what possessed me to read this book, because I absolutely loathed the first one.
Maybe I wanted to believe it could get better, but alas.
Where to begin...
Riley was just so pathetic to me. She's grown up in a would where women are "nonexistent" (excluding her mother and aunt, of course) yet she's acutely aware of her own girlhood. I still don't understand why she wasn't raised to be a boy, especially considering how dangerous being who she is actually was. Everyone in her family should have instilled in her from birth that she was a boy just for the sake of saving herself from danger.
Then there's Clay, who never should have had physical contact with women of any kind, and spends the first part of his relationship with Riley believing she is a boy. I've always thought there was a huge untapped wealth of emotional contact in that alone that was never even explored.
Things that really bothered me here:
*Clay guilt tripping Riley into having sex with him when they were hiding in the dinner. Or really how Clay guilt tripped her most of the novel about his feelings, his needs, etc. And how Riley let him.
*Mage and her "Pork makes you a dork" one liners.
*The zombies. WTF.
February 24, 2014
For the author worried about 'sequels' this one was awfully damned good.. LOTS of action... and 'holy shit moments' A bit to.. 'sequential event plot driven' would be one of my only two negative complaints. AWESOME plot.. with cult's... and screwed up religious leaders.
I do wish the author did a bit more research into the effects of
Taken from http://www2.binghamton.edu/ehs/lab-sa...
I wonder if thats what was in 'the lake' that caused all the sores?? Why then did it cause delerium in the men?? Yes I know its fiction.. but c'mon!!
I do wish the author did a bit more research into the effects of
Taken from http://www2.binghamton.edu/ehs/lab-sa...
I wonder if thats what was in 'the lake' that caused all the sores?? Why then did it cause delerium in the men?? Yes I know its fiction.. but c'mon!!
August 10, 2016
Katie French's The Breeders was one of my top ten reads of 2013, so I eagerly awaited the release of its sequel. The Believers picks up where The Breeders ends, and from the opening pages, you know what you're going to get with this book: an exciting, well-written story that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. The novel is fast-paced, and there's never a dull moment. I had a hard time putting it down to do something else because I kept wanting to see what would happen next.
Although the tone of The Believers is similar to that found in The Breeders, the plot is different and there's a new set of characters involved. Nevertheless, it was as enjoyable as the first book. I find it refreshing for an author to come up with an original story instead of rehashing the same scenes from book 1, and it is a testament to Katie French's writing skills that she can deliver a new story with new characters that is as enjoyable as its predecessor.
I recommend this book and the series to all readers, especially fans of YA dystopians. I can't wait for book 3!
Although the tone of The Believers is similar to that found in The Breeders, the plot is different and there's a new set of characters involved. Nevertheless, it was as enjoyable as the first book. I find it refreshing for an author to come up with an original story instead of rehashing the same scenes from book 1, and it is a testament to Katie French's writing skills that she can deliver a new story with new characters that is as enjoyable as its predecessor.
I recommend this book and the series to all readers, especially fans of YA dystopians. I can't wait for book 3!
December 9, 2013
After the success of The Breeders, Katie French could have easily reused the same plot and theme elements in her sequel, The Believers. Instead, she brought new life into the story by adding unexpected characters and plot twists. The Believers is more than just a love story set in a dystopian future where women are bought and sold, it is a deep, dark exploration of human nature during desperate times.
Riley Meemick is one of my favorite fictional characters, imperfect and human with a powerful will to survive and an undying love for her family. When Riley and her family are forcefully taken in by the Messiah and his strange community of Believers, it seems like they might be able to make the place home, if they can just learn to get along. But the more Riley peeks behind the facade of a working society, the more the place seems like a twisted, dangerous prison. If you love Riley as much as me, pick up The Believers. This book will be loved by adults young and old.
Riley Meemick is one of my favorite fictional characters, imperfect and human with a powerful will to survive and an undying love for her family. When Riley and her family are forcefully taken in by the Messiah and his strange community of Believers, it seems like they might be able to make the place home, if they can just learn to get along. But the more Riley peeks behind the facade of a working society, the more the place seems like a twisted, dangerous prison. If you love Riley as much as me, pick up The Believers. This book will be loved by adults young and old.
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