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The New Order #1
Dead Girl Running
Eight years ago, Silvia Wood's father died in an industrial accident. After suffering through years of Psychotherapy Services and Mandated Medications dealing with her loss, she longs to work in Botanical Sciences. When the Occupation Exam determines she must work in Mortuary Sciences instead, she wonders if the New Order assigned her to the morgue to push her over the edge.
To appease her disappointed mother, Silvia enters the Race for Citizen Glory, in hopes to stand out in the crowd of Equals. Once she begins training with "golden boy" Liam Harman, she discovers he also lost his father in the same accident that ruined her childhood. Then Silvia meets and falls for Liam's older cousin, whose paranoid intensity makes her question what really happened to her dad. As the race nears, Silvia realizes that she's not only running for glory, she’s also running for her life.
To appease her disappointed mother, Silvia enters the Race for Citizen Glory, in hopes to stand out in the crowd of Equals. Once she begins training with "golden boy" Liam Harman, she discovers he also lost his father in the same accident that ruined her childhood. Then Silvia meets and falls for Liam's older cousin, whose paranoid intensity makes her question what really happened to her dad. As the race nears, Silvia realizes that she's not only running for glory, she’s also running for her life.
296 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2015
About the author
Ann M. Noser
6 books140 followersGrowing up an only child, I learned to entertain myself. During summer vacations, my greatest form of exercise consisted of turning the pages of a book. Now I’m all grown up, and full of stories half-written in my head. I have to write them down so I can find out what happens next.
HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS is my first novel.
When I'm not living in my own created fantasy world, I'm a small animal veterinarian and a mother. My writing career began via monthly Pet Vet columns for the local Post Bulletin newspaper. Next I published non-fiction articles in RunMinnesota, Rochester Women magazine, the DVM360 journal, and The Wagazine.
Book ideas bubble up from the most unexpected places: a sign post, a newspaper article, a radio show. I've got more stories in my head than down on paper.
Just give me time...
HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS is my first novel.
When I'm not living in my own created fantasy world, I'm a small animal veterinarian and a mother. My writing career began via monthly Pet Vet columns for the local Post Bulletin newspaper. Next I published non-fiction articles in RunMinnesota, Rochester Women magazine, the DVM360 journal, and The Wagazine.
Book ideas bubble up from the most unexpected places: a sign post, a newspaper article, a radio show. I've got more stories in my head than down on paper.
Just give me time...
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December 20, 2023
I just reread the newly released, edited version of this book now that the author has a publisher and has also released a sequel (finally, and hooray--I asked her when that would come out back in 2020 so was pleased to hear that it's been published.)
The book is still a 4 star read for me, but the few little things I thought could be improved by a professional editor at a publishing house have been fixed. Because I read a huge number of books during that first big year of covid stuff I had forgotten enough things that much of this was fresh again. I plan to read the sequel I asked about, naturally, because I really want to know what happens after Silvia--you didn't think I was going to tell you how the book ended, did you? No, not even in a spoiler. Not one thing in a spoiler, nor any clues outside of the book blurb.
However, I did say some other things in my first review of the first edition of this book which is below.
Original Review
What a pleasant surprise! I read this for a reading challenge and due to the quarantine had to find something I could get for free on kindle. Yes, I was wary because it seems to be self-published. I was less leery when I saw that the author is a vet, although that's no guarantee that she can write good fiction. When I read what she said at the end, I was pleased with the three novels she said they are similar to because I had already thought of at least one of them and I've read all of them. It is VERY rare I give 4 stars to a self published book since most of the ones I've read are poorly done.
The mistakes that a good copy editor would find are minor ones and didn't affect my rating much at all. Had this been accepted by a good publishing house there is no doubt in my mind that it would have been better.
So, if you like dystopian fiction, then this might be up your alley. Set 40 years after the end of WW III, it is set in one of five cities that have been set up to help the survivors live well and in peace, but given the genre, you know at the outset that things aren't going to actually be good there. I am not going to reiterate the blurb, but I wanted to say that I liked Silvia--she is smart and neither too naive nor too world weary. While there are some predictable things in this dystopia (because there are only so many different types of scenarios you can come up with and I have read MANY dystopian novels) and this is a young adult novel (two of the three novels she said this came from are also y/a) and so I factored that in as well.
Basically, I recommend this for all dystopian fans. Also, for those of you who care about this sort of thing, there are no sex scenes. I just hope Noser writes book 2!
The book is still a 4 star read for me, but the few little things I thought could be improved by a professional editor at a publishing house have been fixed. Because I read a huge number of books during that first big year of covid stuff I had forgotten enough things that much of this was fresh again. I plan to read the sequel I asked about, naturally, because I really want to know what happens after Silvia--you didn't think I was going to tell you how the book ended, did you? No, not even in a spoiler. Not one thing in a spoiler, nor any clues outside of the book blurb.
However, I did say some other things in my first review of the first edition of this book which is below.
Original Review
What a pleasant surprise! I read this for a reading challenge and due to the quarantine had to find something I could get for free on kindle. Yes, I was wary because it seems to be self-published. I was less leery when I saw that the author is a vet, although that's no guarantee that she can write good fiction. When I read what she said at the end, I was pleased with the three novels she said they are similar to because I had already thought of at least one of them and I've read all of them. It is VERY rare I give 4 stars to a self published book since most of the ones I've read are poorly done.
The mistakes that a good copy editor would find are minor ones and didn't affect my rating much at all. Had this been accepted by a good publishing house there is no doubt in my mind that it would have been better.
So, if you like dystopian fiction, then this might be up your alley. Set 40 years after the end of WW III, it is set in one of five cities that have been set up to help the survivors live well and in peace, but given the genre, you know at the outset that things aren't going to actually be good there. I am not going to reiterate the blurb, but I wanted to say that I liked Silvia--she is smart and neither too naive nor too world weary. While there are some predictable things in this dystopia (because there are only so many different types of scenarios you can come up with and I have read MANY dystopian novels) and this is a young adult novel (two of the three novels she said this came from are also y/a) and so I factored that in as well.
Basically, I recommend this for all dystopian fans. Also, for those of you who care about this sort of thing, there are no sex scenes. I just hope Noser writes book 2!
October 26, 2015
Ann Noser wowed me with her debut novel and her very original take on the paranormal world. So when I heard that her new book was going to be a blend of some of my favorite genres, I knew I had to try it.
And I wasn't wrong in thinking that this would be another original take on something done before.
It was imaginative, fun, fast paced and full of surprises. It once again showed that Noser does know how to write and because of it, she can make her characters jump off the pages and come to life, which is exactly what she did in Dead Girl Running.
I loved all the conspiracies and the mystery behind The New Order and of course the death of her father and 52 others. There was so much that was hidden and as it all slowly unraveled, I found that I had a hard time putting this down.
I won't lie, the ending was a killer and now I'm dying to get my hands on book two.
And I wasn't wrong in thinking that this would be another original take on something done before.
It was imaginative, fun, fast paced and full of surprises. It once again showed that Noser does know how to write and because of it, she can make her characters jump off the pages and come to life, which is exactly what she did in Dead Girl Running.
I loved all the conspiracies and the mystery behind The New Order and of course the death of her father and 52 others. There was so much that was hidden and as it all slowly unraveled, I found that I had a hard time putting this down.
I won't lie, the ending was a killer and now I'm dying to get my hands on book two.
February 22, 2016
I first encountered this one through an engaging review posted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reader blog and put it on my list, but then I got the opportunity to snag it up. I've come to enjoy YA Dystopians with government conspiracies, independent characters hunting for the truth, slow build thriller excitement and a dash of character and romance development for good measure. This book had all that in spades. I think I only set the book down once and now I am anxious to findout what happens next.
The story opens with young Sylvia Wood working as a mortuary intern to an excentric man who is her only friend. She is stable and content, but her widowed mother wants more for her. Eight years before, Sylvia's dad died in an industrial fire and Sylvia went to pieces which marked her as unstable so she wasn't assigned to the botany job she wanted and her friends fell away.
After WWIII, a New World Order government took over and regulated everything and watched over everything so that ordinary citizens have no privacy and no say. Most people seem to be content and have drank the Kool-Aid because the government cares for all their needs and protects them from all the scary world outside the safety of the cities. But Sylvia isn't like most. She privately observes and questions. There are things that don't make sense and unlike many, she has been harassed by her so-called protectors as they tried to shake her down for info on her dad after he died.
Sylvia learns of a foot race from a young guy at her gym and the benefits of participating in the race will allow her extra rations, time outside, and potential advancement and glory. While her new running buddy is into the advancement and glory part, Sylvia is only interested in doing something to make her mother proud. Plus, Liam is nice and it gives her contact with his mysterious brooding cousin who warns them that all is not as it seems. Entering this race might be a huge mistake for a girl who doesn't want to draw attention from the government ever again.
Alright, so this one was engaging from page one. I enjoyed the slow introduction to the dystopian world and the colorful deft descriptions of setting and backstory. The main character is Sylvia and she narrates in first person point of view which kept me right in close to her thoughts and the action. She's a great heroine and I enjoyed following along with her story.
The pace is steady and I enjoyed how the author infused a tone that had me as the reader well aware that things are getting more ominous and dangerous by the minute even as Sylvia engages in daily activities and interactions with the people around her. She has to keep up the facade 24/7 and knows that she is always watched. She has had to grow up fast after her dad's death.
The relationships were also a strong element and not just her romance interest. Refreshingly, Sylvia is no lovestruck girl and the focus of the story was broader than that. Sylvia interacts with her mom, her friend at work who is probably my favorite character, her new relationships with Liam and finally with his cousin to whom she is drawn, but also is wary of.
The ending brought answers in a stunning finish, but also did the job of opening up more questions for what is to come. I was left eager to continue on with Sylvia and her quest.
All in all, this was one fantastic read that I can gladly recommend to others who enjoy a blend of thriller and dystopian with their YA and a mild romance.
My thanks to Curiosity Quills for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with young Sylvia Wood working as a mortuary intern to an excentric man who is her only friend. She is stable and content, but her widowed mother wants more for her. Eight years before, Sylvia's dad died in an industrial fire and Sylvia went to pieces which marked her as unstable so she wasn't assigned to the botany job she wanted and her friends fell away.
After WWIII, a New World Order government took over and regulated everything and watched over everything so that ordinary citizens have no privacy and no say. Most people seem to be content and have drank the Kool-Aid because the government cares for all their needs and protects them from all the scary world outside the safety of the cities. But Sylvia isn't like most. She privately observes and questions. There are things that don't make sense and unlike many, she has been harassed by her so-called protectors as they tried to shake her down for info on her dad after he died.
Sylvia learns of a foot race from a young guy at her gym and the benefits of participating in the race will allow her extra rations, time outside, and potential advancement and glory. While her new running buddy is into the advancement and glory part, Sylvia is only interested in doing something to make her mother proud. Plus, Liam is nice and it gives her contact with his mysterious brooding cousin who warns them that all is not as it seems. Entering this race might be a huge mistake for a girl who doesn't want to draw attention from the government ever again.
Alright, so this one was engaging from page one. I enjoyed the slow introduction to the dystopian world and the colorful deft descriptions of setting and backstory. The main character is Sylvia and she narrates in first person point of view which kept me right in close to her thoughts and the action. She's a great heroine and I enjoyed following along with her story.
The pace is steady and I enjoyed how the author infused a tone that had me as the reader well aware that things are getting more ominous and dangerous by the minute even as Sylvia engages in daily activities and interactions with the people around her. She has to keep up the facade 24/7 and knows that she is always watched. She has had to grow up fast after her dad's death.
The relationships were also a strong element and not just her romance interest. Refreshingly, Sylvia is no lovestruck girl and the focus of the story was broader than that. Sylvia interacts with her mom, her friend at work who is probably my favorite character, her new relationships with Liam and finally with his cousin to whom she is drawn, but also is wary of.
The ending brought answers in a stunning finish, but also did the job of opening up more questions for what is to come. I was left eager to continue on with Sylvia and her quest.
All in all, this was one fantastic read that I can gladly recommend to others who enjoy a blend of thriller and dystopian with their YA and a mild romance.
My thanks to Curiosity Quills for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2016
I love young adult books, and if the genre is dystopian, so much the better...
This book started very well, even if doesn't give you much info on what happened before the New Order was in charge.
But then it grew more and more confusing. There seems to be a rebellion, but there's not much background, and there's a race from where the winners are selected to become great citizens (and then disappear), and some event that happened 8 years before and changed the life of Silvia, the main character.
Instead of focusing on these subjects, we get lots of information about yoga and how to train for a race, and some teen romance.
The characters are a mixed lot: Silvia, strong, but not nice and traumatized by her father's death. Yoshe, her mother, who is really unlikable; Gus (Silvia's boss and mentor) adorable. And lastly, the two guys: Franco, who starts out great and ends up being a completely different person, and Liam, who is irrelevant.
But I have to say that I enjoyed the book, even if I'm criticizing it. It's a fast, light read and the events are well written and described (even if more background is needed).
I will surely read Book 2 when it's published.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book started very well, even if doesn't give you much info on what happened before the New Order was in charge.
But then it grew more and more confusing. There seems to be a rebellion, but there's not much background, and there's a race from where the winners are selected to become great citizens (and then disappear), and some event that happened 8 years before and changed the life of Silvia, the main character.
Instead of focusing on these subjects, we get lots of information about yoga and how to train for a race, and some teen romance.
The characters are a mixed lot: Silvia, strong, but not nice and traumatized by her father's death. Yoshe, her mother, who is really unlikable; Gus (Silvia's boss and mentor) adorable. And lastly, the two guys: Franco, who starts out great and ends up being a completely different person, and Liam, who is irrelevant.
But I have to say that I enjoyed the book, even if I'm criticizing it. It's a fast, light read and the events are well written and described (even if more background is needed).
I will surely read Book 2 when it's published.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2015
Five reasons to pick up Dead Girl Running
Noser introduces us to the New Order, a world built out of the rubble of WWIII. Here citizens live within walled cites and are kept safe from the wilds. Each citizen receives free health care, food, and housing. Placement tests assign each citizen with a career/job assignments. They live in a stress free society where crime, war, and hunger have become a thing of the past. Of course with these provisions come a handful of restrictions, and concessions. Noser did an excellent job of fleshing out the world, and sharing life within the city. However, the more she revealed, the more we as the reader could begin to see the cracks.
We meet Silvia Wood who works in Mortuary Sciences. Her mother is disappointed as she hoped Silvia would follow in her father’s field of Botanical Sciences. Silvia has been classified as difficult, after a few failed suicide attempts following the accidental death of her father. I loved the morgue. I know what you are thinking, but I loved spending time in the morgue with Silvia and her boss and friend Gus. In a showing, not telling manner their conversations shed light on the world they live in, the past and more. Gus was cool, and allowed us to see the real Silvia.
The Race for Citizen Glory is a New Order sponsored event that allows citizens to compete in a race. The winner gets privileges for both themselves and their families. While the storyline sounds a little familiar Noser’s story felt fresh and original. To make her mother proud Silvia enters and begins training with Liam Harman. Liam is popular in the community and Silvia soon discovers his father was also killed in the same accident. As they train, Silvia meets Liam’s older cousin and it is his paranoia that makes Silvia begins to question. All of the characters were developed and I quickly became attached.
The romance is clean, sweet and triangle free. Noser shared first love, but kept the thread planted firmly on the side as we along with Silvia begin to question her father’s accident, the race and the New Order.
In Dead Girl Running Noser first shows us the world and then begins to share its flaws as we delve further into current events, deaths, the accident that killed Silvia’s Dad, and more. The story was well paced with twists, turns and reveals that kept me fully engaged. I will warn you though, that the tale escalates and ends with a cliffhanger. While it really was the perfect place to end this chapter, it will certainly leave readers eager for more.
Copy provided by author. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Noser introduces us to the New Order, a world built out of the rubble of WWIII. Here citizens live within walled cites and are kept safe from the wilds. Each citizen receives free health care, food, and housing. Placement tests assign each citizen with a career/job assignments. They live in a stress free society where crime, war, and hunger have become a thing of the past. Of course with these provisions come a handful of restrictions, and concessions. Noser did an excellent job of fleshing out the world, and sharing life within the city. However, the more she revealed, the more we as the reader could begin to see the cracks.
We meet Silvia Wood who works in Mortuary Sciences. Her mother is disappointed as she hoped Silvia would follow in her father’s field of Botanical Sciences. Silvia has been classified as difficult, after a few failed suicide attempts following the accidental death of her father. I loved the morgue. I know what you are thinking, but I loved spending time in the morgue with Silvia and her boss and friend Gus. In a showing, not telling manner their conversations shed light on the world they live in, the past and more. Gus was cool, and allowed us to see the real Silvia.
The Race for Citizen Glory is a New Order sponsored event that allows citizens to compete in a race. The winner gets privileges for both themselves and their families. While the storyline sounds a little familiar Noser’s story felt fresh and original. To make her mother proud Silvia enters and begins training with Liam Harman. Liam is popular in the community and Silvia soon discovers his father was also killed in the same accident. As they train, Silvia meets Liam’s older cousin and it is his paranoia that makes Silvia begins to question. All of the characters were developed and I quickly became attached.
The romance is clean, sweet and triangle free. Noser shared first love, but kept the thread planted firmly on the side as we along with Silvia begin to question her father’s accident, the race and the New Order.
In Dead Girl Running Noser first shows us the world and then begins to share its flaws as we delve further into current events, deaths, the accident that killed Silvia’s Dad, and more. The story was well paced with twists, turns and reveals that kept me fully engaged. I will warn you though, that the tale escalates and ends with a cliffhanger. While it really was the perfect place to end this chapter, it will certainly leave readers eager for more.
Copy provided by author. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
February 17, 2016
Well, hell............... it looks like in the minority on this book - it had such great reviews but I simply was not impressed. Here's my breakdown:
The pros:
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
* the world created does have lots of potential but little to no explanation of this world and government
The cons:
* Nothing memorable about the characters or storyline - it felt similar to numerous other books I've read
* It was lacking details - tons of huge missing pieces - major issues seemed to be skimmed over, whereas events of little subsidence had an abundance of detail.
* The characters felt much younger than they were supposed to be - pretty immature
* The "romance" was non existent
* ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER
Overall, I can see this writer having potential but this particular story wasn’t for me. It's not a series I would recommend or continue. I certainly won't be waiting around for the release of book 2.
The pros:
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
* the world created does have lots of potential but little to no explanation of this world and government
The cons:
* Nothing memorable about the characters or storyline - it felt similar to numerous other books I've read
* It was lacking details - tons of huge missing pieces - major issues seemed to be skimmed over, whereas events of little subsidence had an abundance of detail.
* The characters felt much younger than they were supposed to be - pretty immature
* The "romance" was non existent
* ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER
Overall, I can see this writer having potential but this particular story wasn’t for me. It's not a series I would recommend or continue. I certainly won't be waiting around for the release of book 2.
November 6, 2015
Imagine a world where there’s no war, homelessness or citizen unrest. Welcome to the New Order, a society in the not-too-distant future, where citizens are slotted in appropriate occupations, eat rations and get birth control implants (to prevent unwanted pregnancy). The overseers of the New Order are referred to as Suits (reminds me of The Matrix) and there’s always someone watching (surveillance for society’s protection, of course).
Meet Silvia Wood, an eighteen-year old young woman still grieving the loss of her father eight years ago. After two suicidal attempts and a mother who wants her to “fit in”, she seems a perfect match for mortuary sciences. She finds solace in her job and her boss, Gus, is like a father-figure to her.
One day, at the gym, a handsome guy named Liam Harman asks her to enter the Race for Citizen Glory. She’s wary at first but eventually agrees. The increase in rations, alone, is a definite perk. As she and Liam train, she gets to know him better and finds out he lost his father in the accident, too. They quickly become friends and he introduces her to his older cousin, Franco.
Franco is different from anyone she has ever met. His piercing stare sees right into her soul and she quickly falls for him. It doesn’t matter to her that he’s years older than her but he plays hot and cold so she keeps her feelings for him to herself.
Events start happening that cause Silvia to question the world around her. Soon, the race is here and she’s running not only to make her mother proud of her, but to survive.
I’m not a dystopian fan, as a rule, but the premise intrigued me. Ann’s debut novel, How to Date Dead Guys, is still a personal favorite of mine so I had high expectations going in. I immediately loved Silvia and was drawn into her world. I could relate to her losing her dad and feeling so alone in the world. There were times when I laughed, cried and wanted to hug her.
Ann did a masterful job with a complex plot and a myriad of characters. She gets an A for world-building and an A for creating original characters that jump off the page. I forgot I was reading several times and I could visualize everything that was going on.
I loved the budding romance between Franco and Silvia. It wasn’t obvious and very realistic. Guys are confusing, says Silvia a lot, and it reminded me of all the crushes I had when I was her age, trying to figure out if a guy liked me or not.
The last half of the book is filled with intense scenes, twists and turns I didn’t expect. The ending was a shocker and one that, once it was revealed, caused me to gasp aloud. When I reached the end of the book, I wanted to read the next one to find out what happens. I know, I know, I’ll have to be patient.
While I know this is fiction, there are so many elements of the New Order that are present in our world today. Philosophical questions ran around in my head long after I read the last page of Dead Girl Running. This book will stick with you and is a far cry from the fluff being sold today. It’s a must-read, in my opinion, and one that should be read by all… before it’s too late.
Favorite Quote:
“I spin around, expecting the Handlers. Or maybe the Suits. At least this time I might have a weapon or two I can use.” ~Silvia
My Rating: 5+ stars
Meet Silvia Wood, an eighteen-year old young woman still grieving the loss of her father eight years ago. After two suicidal attempts and a mother who wants her to “fit in”, she seems a perfect match for mortuary sciences. She finds solace in her job and her boss, Gus, is like a father-figure to her.
One day, at the gym, a handsome guy named Liam Harman asks her to enter the Race for Citizen Glory. She’s wary at first but eventually agrees. The increase in rations, alone, is a definite perk. As she and Liam train, she gets to know him better and finds out he lost his father in the accident, too. They quickly become friends and he introduces her to his older cousin, Franco.
Franco is different from anyone she has ever met. His piercing stare sees right into her soul and she quickly falls for him. It doesn’t matter to her that he’s years older than her but he plays hot and cold so she keeps her feelings for him to herself.
Events start happening that cause Silvia to question the world around her. Soon, the race is here and she’s running not only to make her mother proud of her, but to survive.
I’m not a dystopian fan, as a rule, but the premise intrigued me. Ann’s debut novel, How to Date Dead Guys, is still a personal favorite of mine so I had high expectations going in. I immediately loved Silvia and was drawn into her world. I could relate to her losing her dad and feeling so alone in the world. There were times when I laughed, cried and wanted to hug her.
Ann did a masterful job with a complex plot and a myriad of characters. She gets an A for world-building and an A for creating original characters that jump off the page. I forgot I was reading several times and I could visualize everything that was going on.
I loved the budding romance between Franco and Silvia. It wasn’t obvious and very realistic. Guys are confusing, says Silvia a lot, and it reminded me of all the crushes I had when I was her age, trying to figure out if a guy liked me or not.
The last half of the book is filled with intense scenes, twists and turns I didn’t expect. The ending was a shocker and one that, once it was revealed, caused me to gasp aloud. When I reached the end of the book, I wanted to read the next one to find out what happens. I know, I know, I’ll have to be patient.
While I know this is fiction, there are so many elements of the New Order that are present in our world today. Philosophical questions ran around in my head long after I read the last page of Dead Girl Running. This book will stick with you and is a far cry from the fluff being sold today. It’s a must-read, in my opinion, and one that should be read by all… before it’s too late.
Favorite Quote:
“I spin around, expecting the Handlers. Or maybe the Suits. At least this time I might have a weapon or two I can use.” ~Silvia
My Rating: 5+ stars
October 18, 2015
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. So here goes...
So firstly, IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!! I loved it so insanely much, and I will be spending now until the release date (October 26th) sitting in front of my laptop stalking anyone that’s read it for their opinions. I'm not even kidding when I say I'm hooked. As soon as I finished it I jumped straight on Book Depository to get anything else Ann Noser has ever written. (When Australia Post finally gets my crates of books to me I will definitely be reviewing)
"'Think of it as a little vacation. You, me, three dozen dead bodies, and the incinerator'
'I can't wait.' Funny thing is, I mean it."
So, characters!! Ann is incredible at creating these people that I loved and cared so much about. My favorite of which was probably Gus. He is me. If me was a sixty year old man. He's entirely made up of sarcasm and classic rock (something I was very pleased with). He's also a genius, an evil genius when he needs to be...
"He chuckles but only for a short second before his face turns somber. 'Oh, let her wonder what happened. I’m out of here but only for the night. I’ll be back tomorrow with a plan.'"
Silvia, the protagonist, is awesome! Honestly, I love reading books where the main character makes me want to be more like them; Silvia is definitely one of those characters. She is BOLD and intelligent, (another thing I love in YA, intelligent characters).
The whole story line was so thrilling. I started reading thinking, 'how can an entire novel be about the one race?!' Turns out I should stop being such a pessimistic potato. Not only was the whole book constantly moving, I will be waiting patiently restlessly pacing until I hear a sequel announced. One last thing I absolutely adored was how unafraid Ann was in writing these characters that so brashly discuss things like death and suicide. It's uncommon to find that in really good books that aren’t all about it, it's just brought up.
IT WAS AMAZING AND I LOVED IT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TOO!!
So firstly, IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!! I loved it so insanely much, and I will be spending now until the release date (October 26th) sitting in front of my laptop stalking anyone that’s read it for their opinions. I'm not even kidding when I say I'm hooked. As soon as I finished it I jumped straight on Book Depository to get anything else Ann Noser has ever written. (When Australia Post finally gets my crates of books to me I will definitely be reviewing)
"'Think of it as a little vacation. You, me, three dozen dead bodies, and the incinerator'
'I can't wait.' Funny thing is, I mean it."
So, characters!! Ann is incredible at creating these people that I loved and cared so much about. My favorite of which was probably Gus. He is me. If me was a sixty year old man. He's entirely made up of sarcasm and classic rock (something I was very pleased with). He's also a genius, an evil genius when he needs to be...
"He chuckles but only for a short second before his face turns somber. 'Oh, let her wonder what happened. I’m out of here but only for the night. I’ll be back tomorrow with a plan.'"
Silvia, the protagonist, is awesome! Honestly, I love reading books where the main character makes me want to be more like them; Silvia is definitely one of those characters. She is BOLD and intelligent, (another thing I love in YA, intelligent characters).
The whole story line was so thrilling. I started reading thinking, 'how can an entire novel be about the one race?!' Turns out I should stop being such a pessimistic potato. Not only was the whole book constantly moving, I will be waiting patiently restlessly pacing until I hear a sequel announced. One last thing I absolutely adored was how unafraid Ann was in writing these characters that so brashly discuss things like death and suicide. It's uncommon to find that in really good books that aren’t all about it, it's just brought up.
IT WAS AMAZING AND I LOVED IT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TOO!!
December 23, 2015
FYI: Spoiler Alert!
Silvia Wood’s father died in an industrial accident that shattered life as she knew it. Still reeling from his death, she and her mother, the famous violinist, Yoshe Woods, are forced by the New Order from their privileged apartment to the “coach” section of housing where they must live amongst the masses of Panopticus, a highly-restrictive dystopian society reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984. As if that isn’t enough, the government’s mandatory professional exam pigeon-holes Silvia to work in Mortuary Sciences, a dismal position by standards of the society. But Silvia finds an advocate in her new boss, Gus, a crabby rock-n-roll-loving pathologist who teaches her what America was like before WWIII decimated the planet and the New Order came to power.
After having chronically disappointed her mother for years, Silvia joins Panopticus’ Race for Glory, hoping to be Chosen so that she and her mom can receive better food rations and housing options. During training, Silvia joins forces with the golden-boy Liam Harman and thus meets Franco, Liam’s studly (but paranoid) cousin who bucks the New Order at every turn. Franco and Gus beg them to drop out of the race, but Silvia and Liam refuse. They are fast enough to win…but have no idea that the New Order has sinister plans for those who do.
I give Dead Girl Running a solid 4-stars. I enjoyed the fast pace and many twists and turns of this totalitarian YA novel. It’s suspenseful, dark and delightfully devious, yet still age appropriate. And the cast is very likable: Silvia delights readers as the tough female protagonist who asks too many questions; Gus is the cantankerous-but-lovable curmudgeon; Franco plays the raving eccentric who’s crazy like a fox; and Liam, well, he’s just golden…sigh!
I barreled through the powerhouse ending, eager for more. Hats off to Ann Noser for delivering a kickass start to another bold and imaginative series.
November 1, 2015
3.5 Stars
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
It had been a while (perhaps a couple of months) since I last read a typical YA Dystopian novel like this one. And since it's one of my favourite genres, I was really looking forward to it.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of the genre. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner and the likes and if you don't feel overfed by this particular subtype of book, I really think you'll like it. I certainly did.
I was interested to see what would happen with Silvia being a trainee in the mortuary, but I felt like that angle could have been used a bit more to give the story an original twist. Instead there's the generic something that everyone wants (but which might not be so super-awesome as everyone seems to think) which in Dead Girl Running is a race. For reasons that don't seem too clear to me people who win the race are fit for important jobs.
There was an unneeded romantic subplot (at least it wasn't a love triangle), but Silvia was an interesting though quite naive main character. Exactly what the evil government is doing and why remain to be elucidated but I suppose this we will find out in the next book of the series, which I hope will arrive soon!
Dead Girl Running is the first book of The New Order.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an review during this blog tour, thanks!
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
It had been a while (perhaps a couple of months) since I last read a typical YA Dystopian novel like this one. And since it's one of my favourite genres, I was really looking forward to it.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of the genre. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner and the likes and if you don't feel overfed by this particular subtype of book, I really think you'll like it. I certainly did.
I was interested to see what would happen with Silvia being a trainee in the mortuary, but I felt like that angle could have been used a bit more to give the story an original twist. Instead there's the generic something that everyone wants (but which might not be so super-awesome as everyone seems to think) which in Dead Girl Running is a race. For reasons that don't seem too clear to me people who win the race are fit for important jobs.
There was an unneeded romantic subplot (at least it wasn't a love triangle), but Silvia was an interesting though quite naive main character. Exactly what the evil government is doing and why remain to be elucidated but I suppose this we will find out in the next book of the series, which I hope will arrive soon!
Dead Girl Running is the first book of The New Order.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an review during this blog tour, thanks!
January 17, 2016
It's rare that I find a book that has selected such a perfectly appropriate title. Every word in the title has much deeper meaning after reading the book.
There are many unexpected twists in this dystopian thriller. I loved how Ms. Noser combined a love of running, yoga, and dystopian novels into an exciting ride. I found myself deeply engaged with the characters, reading deep into the night. Better yet, the ending leaves me hungry for book two.
I enjoyed Ms. Noser's previous book, How to Date Dead Guys, and she's shown she can put a unique spin on another genre. I highly recommend Dead Girl Running to all lovers of dystopian fiction.
There are many unexpected twists in this dystopian thriller. I loved how Ms. Noser combined a love of running, yoga, and dystopian novels into an exciting ride. I found myself deeply engaged with the characters, reading deep into the night. Better yet, the ending leaves me hungry for book two.
I enjoyed Ms. Noser's previous book, How to Date Dead Guys, and she's shown she can put a unique spin on another genre. I highly recommend Dead Girl Running to all lovers of dystopian fiction.
October 20, 2015
The brilliant title of this novel, DEAD GIRL RUNNING, is definitely appropriate, as I raced through this book. If I had to compare it to some other dystopian thrillers I'd say its as intense as The Maze Runner and with a heroine as complex as Katniss in The Hunger Games. I loved Silvia, the champion of the story. Not only is she relatable to teens who struggle with fitting in, but I really admired how strong and determined she is. I read an early draft of this novel and I cannot wait to see what the talented author Ann Noser has done with it!
March 3, 2019
Good story but Could have been great. Faded in the middle, still a strong story of a women's struggle to overcomestrong obstacles.
October 16, 2015
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cover: The cover is very interesting, except there’s a lot going on. I like everything except for the font that the title and byline is in. It doesn’t really fit the book at all.
Characters: Alright, alright, alright, I kind of like this bunch of characters. They are all pretty cool even though some of them *cough* Liam *cough* are dumb. They are intriguing people and I loved guessing how they were all connected. There were some things that were unbelieveable, like Silvia falling for Franco so quickly.
I did not like Silvia. Her growing as a character wasn’t actually clear to me. She started to hate and not trust the government without really giving a reason why. (SPOILER) At the end she states that she wants to bring the government down, but I wasn’t quite sure how she had gotten their. Why exactly did she hate them so much? I get that they killed a bunch of people and were horrible (like all dystopian novels) but why does Silvia feel as if she has to be the one to bring them down? (END SPOILERS)
Plot: I am a sucker for dystopian novels. They are my one weakness, and I can always be caught reading them. The only thing about the dystopian genre is that each book pretty much has the same plot. The government is in complete control and their is a group of rebels that needs to stop them. It’s the same thing over and over again. You know, I’d really like to read a dystopian book that takes place after a group of rebels have destroyed the damaged government. Because they don’t share how they are going to fix everything, they just bring one ruler down. Instead of doing this here, I’ll do it in a RBL post. Let’s get back to the review.
I felt as if I had read this book before. There were different characters and different events that led up to the big change/decision, but it was the same. There were some different twists added, but it was still the same idea.
I liked it, but I felt as if I was reading it for the second time. It wasn’t exactly original.
Ending: A problem that I had with this novel was that it didn’t do a good job of keeping track of time. Here I was reading it thinking that it was like a day after or something, but weeks had passed. I was so confused.
The ending of Dead Girl Running seemed rushed. I had to go back and re-read a few parts because I became confused. It didn’t really state how the characters had gotten to this point. It was confusing.
Overall: I really hate writing bad reviews. I requested this book being iffy about it. It was a last minute decision that I added to my list because it was dystopian. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, and I normally don’t do that. I don’t read books that I think I’m not going to like. That’s why a lot of my reviews are good.
I was so disappointed in Dead Girl Running. It was captivating but confusing. The characters were good, but the plot was the same. I liked the running parts because you don’t really read about running a lot (well, I don’t cause I hate it), but it was unique. Oh! And there’s a glossary in the back of the book so I learned a lot about running lol.
I didn’t have high hopes for Dead Girl Running, but I wish it had more high points.
Cover: The cover is very interesting, except there’s a lot going on. I like everything except for the font that the title and byline is in. It doesn’t really fit the book at all.
Characters: Alright, alright, alright, I kind of like this bunch of characters. They are all pretty cool even though some of them *cough* Liam *cough* are dumb. They are intriguing people and I loved guessing how they were all connected. There were some things that were unbelieveable, like Silvia falling for Franco so quickly.
I did not like Silvia. Her growing as a character wasn’t actually clear to me. She started to hate and not trust the government without really giving a reason why. (SPOILER) At the end she states that she wants to bring the government down, but I wasn’t quite sure how she had gotten their. Why exactly did she hate them so much? I get that they killed a bunch of people and were horrible (like all dystopian novels) but why does Silvia feel as if she has to be the one to bring them down? (END SPOILERS)
Plot: I am a sucker for dystopian novels. They are my one weakness, and I can always be caught reading them. The only thing about the dystopian genre is that each book pretty much has the same plot. The government is in complete control and their is a group of rebels that needs to stop them. It’s the same thing over and over again. You know, I’d really like to read a dystopian book that takes place after a group of rebels have destroyed the damaged government. Because they don’t share how they are going to fix everything, they just bring one ruler down. Instead of doing this here, I’ll do it in a RBL post. Let’s get back to the review.
I felt as if I had read this book before. There were different characters and different events that led up to the big change/decision, but it was the same. There were some different twists added, but it was still the same idea.
I liked it, but I felt as if I was reading it for the second time. It wasn’t exactly original.
Ending: A problem that I had with this novel was that it didn’t do a good job of keeping track of time. Here I was reading it thinking that it was like a day after or something, but weeks had passed. I was so confused.
The ending of Dead Girl Running seemed rushed. I had to go back and re-read a few parts because I became confused. It didn’t really state how the characters had gotten to this point. It was confusing.
Overall: I really hate writing bad reviews. I requested this book being iffy about it. It was a last minute decision that I added to my list because it was dystopian. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, and I normally don’t do that. I don’t read books that I think I’m not going to like. That’s why a lot of my reviews are good.
I was so disappointed in Dead Girl Running. It was captivating but confusing. The characters were good, but the plot was the same. I liked the running parts because you don’t really read about running a lot (well, I don’t cause I hate it), but it was unique. Oh! And there’s a glossary in the back of the book so I learned a lot about running lol.
I didn’t have high hopes for Dead Girl Running, but I wish it had more high points.
October 30, 2015
This book takes place after WWIII. Things seem to be pretty good but are they really? The creepy thing about this story is that I could see this happening so if you're prone to paranoia you've been warned. It stars eight years after Silvia's father dies.
This world seems to be a lot better but if you dig a little deeper you just know that something's off especially with the way Silvia is treated for her depression and suicide attempts. Things get even stranger when she decides to run in a race.
I really enjoyed this book and I noticed that each of the chapters are also song titles. I'll admit that I kind of reached the point of being burnt out on Dystopian books but this one was different. Sure this is a world where I wouldn't really want to live but it wasn't as gloomy and depressing as the typical Dystopian world is like. Since it is so similar to how things are now it is kinda creepy when you think about it since this book takes place in the later half of this century.
I really like the characters. Silvia is a great character and I love her scenes with Gus. He's like a surrogate father to her. I do like that this world has stamped out all those horrible isms that plague the world today so it isn't all bad and out of the ones I've read about this one would be the top of my list if I was forced to choose a Dystopian world to be sent to. This is a fun read that I was able to just fly through. I think it makes a great read for this time of year although I don't mind being creeped out any day of the year. I look forward to reading more by Ann in the future.
Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.
Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!
http://www.ficgal.com/book-club/dead-...
This world seems to be a lot better but if you dig a little deeper you just know that something's off especially with the way Silvia is treated for her depression and suicide attempts. Things get even stranger when she decides to run in a race.
I really enjoyed this book and I noticed that each of the chapters are also song titles. I'll admit that I kind of reached the point of being burnt out on Dystopian books but this one was different. Sure this is a world where I wouldn't really want to live but it wasn't as gloomy and depressing as the typical Dystopian world is like. Since it is so similar to how things are now it is kinda creepy when you think about it since this book takes place in the later half of this century.
I really like the characters. Silvia is a great character and I love her scenes with Gus. He's like a surrogate father to her. I do like that this world has stamped out all those horrible isms that plague the world today so it isn't all bad and out of the ones I've read about this one would be the top of my list if I was forced to choose a Dystopian world to be sent to. This is a fun read that I was able to just fly through. I think it makes a great read for this time of year although I don't mind being creeped out any day of the year. I look forward to reading more by Ann in the future.
Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.
Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!
http://www.ficgal.com/book-club/dead-...
December 7, 2015
I very much enjoyed Ann M. Noser's "How to Date Dead Guys" so when I saw that she had written a dystopian novel I snapped it up.
Glad I did because "Dead Girl Running" is a really great read with intriguing characters, a world that - though set in the future - mimics our own in many ways, and a well-honed narrative.
In her novel, Noser introduces us to Silvia Wood, a young woman in a post-nuclear-war mega-city where individual freedoms have been sacrificed in the name of security. Ordinary people are, for example, closely monitored, have their food and water rationed, are selected for jobs based on a host of tests, and have their reproductive rights seriously curtailed. It is a city governed by The New Order; a band of oligarchs who dictate almost all facets of life.
There may be a way for Silvia and her widowed mother to live better, however; a way to increase what is a pretty dreary standard of living.
All Silvia has to do is win a race.
If she does, or at least finishes in the Top Ten, she can secure a better future for herself and her widowed mother.
That, at least, is what The New Order promises those who enter.
As Silvia trains for the race - a grueling half marathon - we learn not only about her past and present but also about the inner workings of the city and its dictatorial rulers who, in Orwellian fashion, have convinced the population that only by surrendering their personal freedom can they prevent future wars and all manner of evil events from occurring.
Silvia Wood is a wonderful character: She is beset with memories of her dead father, works in a morgue, is more rebellious than she should be, and is on the verge of discovering what it means to fall in love. Noser has surrounded her heroine with a slew of equally interesting men and women: Her mother, a talented violinist who has gone through a long depression following her husband's death; Liam, Silvia's running partner; Franco, Liam's older cousin and a man with secrets; Gus, her boss at the morgue and Liam's mother Linda, who seems to dislike Silvia intensely for reasons that are not exactly clear.
The point is that Noser's ability to create not only a heroine that is fully realized but also secondary characters who are not simply one-dimensional is the hallmark of a great writer.
I won't spoil it by revealing the ending of this novel - the first in a series - but I will say that it is chilling.
So chilling that I can't wait for the next Silvia Wood novel to come out.
Glad I did because "Dead Girl Running" is a really great read with intriguing characters, a world that - though set in the future - mimics our own in many ways, and a well-honed narrative.
In her novel, Noser introduces us to Silvia Wood, a young woman in a post-nuclear-war mega-city where individual freedoms have been sacrificed in the name of security. Ordinary people are, for example, closely monitored, have their food and water rationed, are selected for jobs based on a host of tests, and have their reproductive rights seriously curtailed. It is a city governed by The New Order; a band of oligarchs who dictate almost all facets of life.
There may be a way for Silvia and her widowed mother to live better, however; a way to increase what is a pretty dreary standard of living.
All Silvia has to do is win a race.
If she does, or at least finishes in the Top Ten, she can secure a better future for herself and her widowed mother.
That, at least, is what The New Order promises those who enter.
As Silvia trains for the race - a grueling half marathon - we learn not only about her past and present but also about the inner workings of the city and its dictatorial rulers who, in Orwellian fashion, have convinced the population that only by surrendering their personal freedom can they prevent future wars and all manner of evil events from occurring.
Silvia Wood is a wonderful character: She is beset with memories of her dead father, works in a morgue, is more rebellious than she should be, and is on the verge of discovering what it means to fall in love. Noser has surrounded her heroine with a slew of equally interesting men and women: Her mother, a talented violinist who has gone through a long depression following her husband's death; Liam, Silvia's running partner; Franco, Liam's older cousin and a man with secrets; Gus, her boss at the morgue and Liam's mother Linda, who seems to dislike Silvia intensely for reasons that are not exactly clear.
The point is that Noser's ability to create not only a heroine that is fully realized but also secondary characters who are not simply one-dimensional is the hallmark of a great writer.
I won't spoil it by revealing the ending of this novel - the first in a series - but I will say that it is chilling.
So chilling that I can't wait for the next Silvia Wood novel to come out.
October 26, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I thought the concept of this book was a really interesting one. Although the world did seem to come across as perfect to begin with, as the book progressed, it became quite clear that the world wasn’t anything like as good as it was implied to be.
I liked Silvia’s character. It was interesting to see her relationship with her mother and I felt a lot of sympathy for her during the course of the book, especially with the glimpses I got of her past and how her father’s death had affected her.
It was interesting to see Silvia interacting with Liam. I did think there were some interesting aspects to the society they lived in, such as the fact that there were different types of jobs. I would have liked to see more of the different types of work people could do, but I did find it intriguing to see how Silvia fit in with her job. I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Gus and even though I felt the romance could have easily been taken out of the book, it was good to see her acknowledge her feelings for Franco as being a crush.
It was good to be able to learn about the past and how people were still affected by the nuclear war. I did figure out some of the twists fairly early on, but it was interesting to see how Silvia reacted when she began putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
It was nice to see how Liam and Silvia were supporting each other. I did spend a lot of the book confused about why Liam switched constantly between different mood swings… but as the book went on, that did make a bit more sense.
Parts of this book did put me in mind of a film called The Island, but there were only a few similarities. I found it really easy to be drawn into this book and I felt there were some good elements of tension. I also cared about Silvia’s safety and although she wasn’t in a lot of danger in the present, it was good to learn more about her through learning about her past.
In the future, I would be interested in reading a sequel to this book and seeing what will happen to Silvia next.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I thought the concept of this book was a really interesting one. Although the world did seem to come across as perfect to begin with, as the book progressed, it became quite clear that the world wasn’t anything like as good as it was implied to be.
I liked Silvia’s character. It was interesting to see her relationship with her mother and I felt a lot of sympathy for her during the course of the book, especially with the glimpses I got of her past and how her father’s death had affected her.
It was interesting to see Silvia interacting with Liam. I did think there were some interesting aspects to the society they lived in, such as the fact that there were different types of jobs. I would have liked to see more of the different types of work people could do, but I did find it intriguing to see how Silvia fit in with her job. I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Gus and even though I felt the romance could have easily been taken out of the book, it was good to see her acknowledge her feelings for Franco as being a crush.
It was good to be able to learn about the past and how people were still affected by the nuclear war. I did figure out some of the twists fairly early on, but it was interesting to see how Silvia reacted when she began putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
It was nice to see how Liam and Silvia were supporting each other. I did spend a lot of the book confused about why Liam switched constantly between different mood swings… but as the book went on, that did make a bit more sense.
Parts of this book did put me in mind of a film called The Island, but there were only a few similarities. I found it really easy to be drawn into this book and I felt there were some good elements of tension. I also cared about Silvia’s safety and although she wasn’t in a lot of danger in the present, it was good to learn more about her through learning about her past.
In the future, I would be interested in reading a sequel to this book and seeing what will happen to Silvia next.
November 17, 2015
action packed, addictive, keep you on your toes literally I want more!!
I absolutely loved Silva from the beginning, her attitude is kick ass, she won't back down without a fight and she's a very clever young woman.
can't help but feel sorry for her but at the same time admire her.
I wasn't keen on Silva mum, I understand that it was hard for her losing her husband but I found her mum very naive and selfish, believe me I get the whole wanting the best for your kids but I just felt like she never listened to Silva, never stopped to think that the questions Silva asked should be answered.
I was glad at the end when she blamed herself for it all happening but then at the same time she annoyed me when she went blank and into herds when she grasped what Silva was saying, it took something so big and dangerous to happen before the situation sunk in.
Gus I loved him, really loved him, he is definitely a male older version of Silva. they both have a beautiful relationship that they have built up over the years. I especially loved the parts with Edwina, brilliant!
liam you poor sweet, charming, cocky fool! how I do love you. I was never routing for Silva and Liam because you could see that sort of relationship was never about to develop instead a friendship did and I was so glad that he asked her to train cause we got to see Silva act her age with people her age and also she finally had a friend.
Franco oh dear typical older bad boy who is most definitely hiding something, and I tell you this I bet what he's hiding is going to make us love him even more.
I loved Silvas reactions to him, so cringe worthy and funny.
I cannot wait for the next book as the fun has only just begun, I can't wait to see what is in store for Silva and the gang, what happens to the people left behind? who will Silva meet? what will happen to the new order? there's so much.
I absolutely loved Silva from the beginning, her attitude is kick ass, she won't back down without a fight and she's a very clever young woman.
can't help but feel sorry for her but at the same time admire her.
I wasn't keen on Silva mum, I understand that it was hard for her losing her husband but I found her mum very naive and selfish, believe me I get the whole wanting the best for your kids but I just felt like she never listened to Silva, never stopped to think that the questions Silva asked should be answered.
I was glad at the end when she blamed herself for it all happening but then at the same time she annoyed me when she went blank and into herds when she grasped what Silva was saying, it took something so big and dangerous to happen before the situation sunk in.
Gus I loved him, really loved him, he is definitely a male older version of Silva. they both have a beautiful relationship that they have built up over the years. I especially loved the parts with Edwina, brilliant!
liam you poor sweet, charming, cocky fool! how I do love you. I was never routing for Silva and Liam because you could see that sort of relationship was never about to develop instead a friendship did and I was so glad that he asked her to train cause we got to see Silva act her age with people her age and also she finally had a friend.
Franco oh dear typical older bad boy who is most definitely hiding something, and I tell you this I bet what he's hiding is going to make us love him even more.
I loved Silvas reactions to him, so cringe worthy and funny.
I cannot wait for the next book as the fun has only just begun, I can't wait to see what is in store for Silva and the gang, what happens to the people left behind? who will Silva meet? what will happen to the new order? there's so much.
April 13, 2017
I read and LOVE Noser's first novel; How to Date Dead Guys, so I just had to get my hands on this when it became available.
Dead Girl Running follows Silvia, who lives in a dystopian city in the not so distant future, post WWIII. After an explosion took her father from her and her mother, both have battled depression, but are ready to move on with their lives. When a peer at the gym, Liam, talks her into the Race for Citizen Glory, she uses it as an opportunity to please her mother.
I have to say, although I shouldn't compare, I did prefer Dead Guys to this. The writing was stronger and the characters more developed. But this novel is more plot based I believe.
When I first picked up the book, I thought I'd be spending most of the time in this big elaborate race. This isn't so. Most of the book is in training for the race, the race itself is about one chapter long. As a result, it kind of comes off as a runner's training log at times.
The first third or so felt pretty slow, but I stayed with it because I had a feeling Noser was going somewhere. And I was right! Once I got through the slow start, I was enthralled. The ending I was in shock, and a little heartbroken.
This is a clean read.
I'll definitely be continuing this series to see where it goes.
Dead Girl Running follows Silvia, who lives in a dystopian city in the not so distant future, post WWIII. After an explosion took her father from her and her mother, both have battled depression, but are ready to move on with their lives. When a peer at the gym, Liam, talks her into the Race for Citizen Glory, she uses it as an opportunity to please her mother.
I have to say, although I shouldn't compare, I did prefer Dead Guys to this. The writing was stronger and the characters more developed. But this novel is more plot based I believe.
When I first picked up the book, I thought I'd be spending most of the time in this big elaborate race. This isn't so. Most of the book is in training for the race, the race itself is about one chapter long. As a result, it kind of comes off as a runner's training log at times.
The first third or so felt pretty slow, but I stayed with it because I had a feeling Noser was going somewhere. And I was right! Once I got through the slow start, I was enthralled. The ending I was in shock, and a little heartbroken.
This is a clean read.
I'll definitely be continuing this series to see where it goes.
November 11, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This book seemed a cross between The Giver and the Divergent series, with a bit of 1984 thrown in.
With cameras watching your every move and The New Order making people feel like they should be grateful for what little they had was typical dystopian, but the twist with the Chosen was clever.
I really enjoyed this book, at times sad, happy and suspenseful. I am definitely going to be finding out when I can get the next book so I can find out what happens.
This book seemed a cross between The Giver and the Divergent series, with a bit of 1984 thrown in.
With cameras watching your every move and The New Order making people feel like they should be grateful for what little they had was typical dystopian, but the twist with the Chosen was clever.
I really enjoyed this book, at times sad, happy and suspenseful. I am definitely going to be finding out when I can get the next book so I can find out what happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2015
(I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.) There are a lot of dystopian novels on store shelves, but the combination of having the main character work in a morgue and be a runner makes this book stand out. The author does a very good job of setting up a world where you know something is wrong beneath the surface, but you just can't figure it out until the last couple of chapters. This is a riveting start to a series that I am officially hooked on.
Read
October 28, 2023After a long delay due to too many reasons to list here, Book 2 in the series has been finished. The duo will be released (re-release for book 1 and new release for book 2) November 2023 through Immortal Works Press. Just polishing up Book 1 - it's almost ready to go!
posting October 5th, 2023:
- one more read through before re-publication next month - revisions complete! Book 2 to be published the same day by Immortal Press - November 9th, 2023!
posting October 5th, 2023:
- one more read through before re-publication next month - revisions complete! Book 2 to be published the same day by Immortal Press - November 9th, 2023!
February 15, 2017
This was an OK book. Full review over here: https://rickusbookshelf.wordpress.com...
August 23, 2017
This novel was entertaining from the first page. I found myself thoroughly engaged by the unique approach to a genre that can be grossly overdone and cliche. This is definitely worth a read.
March 28, 2016
As a “Hunger Games” fan, the YA dystopian aspect of this novel enticed me. But since I am definitely not a runner, I did not expect to find it more than mildly amusing. I am happy to admit how wrong I was! The author’s style was incredible, drawing you into the story from the very beginning, and forcing on the reader an emotional connection with the characters.
I absolutely adored Silva! But then I generally do admire strong female protagonists (à la Katniss). It is only as the story progresses and we learn more about her that we come to realize just how amazingly tough Silva really is.
Gus was another clever personality who I really enjoyed getting to know. I was a bit confused by the entire fireworks scene; at first I thought they were trying to blow up the incinerator or something. And I was also somewhat thrown by the entire episode with Edwina. Other than exposing just how important it was that Gus keep his job and showcasing his inordinate skill at gaming the system, the entire incident seemed nothing more than a brief, unnecessary distraction from the real plots that were unfolding.
I totally loved Franco! He was perhaps the most intriguing character of the entire book because we learn so little about him as the story progresses, and don’t really come to know him at all until he is basically out of the picture. His feelings for Silva are so obvious to everyone but her, which makes them seem even more profound. Their all-too-brief interlude of shared emotions is far too short, and made me want to see more of them together; especially when the very last scene begins to unfold and we learn the extent of Franco’s feelings for Silva. I did find it hard to believe, however, that he would let her go off alone, to go home and be captured by the bad guys so easily.
I even came to like Liam. Once a true friendship developed between him and Silva, he became much more of a real person and not just a cliché. His reaction at the race celebration, while perfectly ordinary for the person we originally meet, seemed very much out of character for the individual that he had come to be.
I had, at least by the end, guessed at the motivations behind all of the pregnancy tests; I clearly figured it out before Silva did anyway. But I was truly taken by surprise by the reasons for it, not to mention the connection to the red-haired girl. That Silva ran into her as the story begins becomes very auspicious. I was completely astonished by what becomes of Liam. Even seeing the old geezer hacking away on television, I did not see that one coming. It was pretty apparent early on that Gus was hiding something, and Franco as well; although I hadn’t quite figured out how they fit together. Nor did I anticipate the info we discover about Silva’s father. Basically, the author was just full of unexpected plot twists and entertaining surprises.
I was so happy to hear that this is the first of a series, not just a stand-alone book. Because although there were so many questions answered by the end, there were still so many left unanswered; not to mention the fact that the action just did not seem in anyway complete! I definitely recommend this book, and I personally can’t wait for the sequel!
I received a copy of this book free from Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely adored Silva! But then I generally do admire strong female protagonists (à la Katniss). It is only as the story progresses and we learn more about her that we come to realize just how amazingly tough Silva really is.
Gus was another clever personality who I really enjoyed getting to know. I was a bit confused by the entire fireworks scene; at first I thought they were trying to blow up the incinerator or something. And I was also somewhat thrown by the entire episode with Edwina. Other than exposing just how important it was that Gus keep his job and showcasing his inordinate skill at gaming the system, the entire incident seemed nothing more than a brief, unnecessary distraction from the real plots that were unfolding.
I totally loved Franco! He was perhaps the most intriguing character of the entire book because we learn so little about him as the story progresses, and don’t really come to know him at all until he is basically out of the picture. His feelings for Silva are so obvious to everyone but her, which makes them seem even more profound. Their all-too-brief interlude of shared emotions is far too short, and made me want to see more of them together; especially when the very last scene begins to unfold and we learn the extent of Franco’s feelings for Silva. I did find it hard to believe, however, that he would let her go off alone, to go home and be captured by the bad guys so easily.
I even came to like Liam. Once a true friendship developed between him and Silva, he became much more of a real person and not just a cliché. His reaction at the race celebration, while perfectly ordinary for the person we originally meet, seemed very much out of character for the individual that he had come to be.
I had, at least by the end, guessed at the motivations behind all of the pregnancy tests; I clearly figured it out before Silva did anyway. But I was truly taken by surprise by the reasons for it, not to mention the connection to the red-haired girl. That Silva ran into her as the story begins becomes very auspicious. I was completely astonished by what becomes of Liam. Even seeing the old geezer hacking away on television, I did not see that one coming. It was pretty apparent early on that Gus was hiding something, and Franco as well; although I hadn’t quite figured out how they fit together. Nor did I anticipate the info we discover about Silva’s father. Basically, the author was just full of unexpected plot twists and entertaining surprises.
I was so happy to hear that this is the first of a series, not just a stand-alone book. Because although there were so many questions answered by the end, there were still so many left unanswered; not to mention the fact that the action just did not seem in anyway complete! I definitely recommend this book, and I personally can’t wait for the sequel!
I received a copy of this book free from Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2017
I received this story from Ann Noser after winning a contest from Jordan Meirek's release party for "Gears of Brass Anthology".
This was a fast read and I really liked this story a lot! While it made me think of the Divergent series, it had its own unique traits that made it its own story. I was definitely sad when it ended.
I couldn’t stand Silvia’s mother AT ALL. She was so annoying. She closes down mentally after her husband supposedly dies and that’s understandable. Then she’s like a psycho when she finally becomes aware of her surroundings (her daughter) and is constantly questioning why Silvia doesn’t want a different job. Her daughter is obviously happy with her situation, yet her mother still seems to be in some weird bubble. Either she doesn’t really care about Silvia and her personal feelings about her station or she’s simply clueless. I’m going with the clueless. Maybe she’s just a really stupid person. I mean if you take into account how excited she was when she learned that if Silvia won the race, she would be moved to first chair. Although that example makes her seem like the she doesn’t really care about Silvia. So I don’t know.
Questions/Comments:
What do old handkerchiefs smell like?
When Silvia goes home after seeing Liam’s dead body, the Suits are there for her. Her mother is clueless as to why Silvia is upset. Silvia says: “I know what happens to those who get Chosen. I work in the Mortuary.” That’s when her mother seems to close down mentally. Why?
How did Gus get Silvia away from the Suits after they knocked her out and she woke up in the Mortuary?
When Mrs. Noser gets around to writing Book 2 for this series, if she hasn't already, I'd be curious to find out more history regarding the government and why they're doing the things they do. For example, transplanting Liam's lungs into an old government man.
This was a fast read and I really liked this story a lot! While it made me think of the Divergent series, it had its own unique traits that made it its own story. I was definitely sad when it ended.
I couldn’t stand Silvia’s mother AT ALL. She was so annoying. She closes down mentally after her husband supposedly dies and that’s understandable. Then she’s like a psycho when she finally becomes aware of her surroundings (her daughter) and is constantly questioning why Silvia doesn’t want a different job. Her daughter is obviously happy with her situation, yet her mother still seems to be in some weird bubble. Either she doesn’t really care about Silvia and her personal feelings about her station or she’s simply clueless. I’m going with the clueless. Maybe she’s just a really stupid person. I mean if you take into account how excited she was when she learned that if Silvia won the race, she would be moved to first chair. Although that example makes her seem like the she doesn’t really care about Silvia. So I don’t know.
Questions/Comments:
What do old handkerchiefs smell like?
When Silvia goes home after seeing Liam’s dead body, the Suits are there for her. Her mother is clueless as to why Silvia is upset. Silvia says: “I know what happens to those who get Chosen. I work in the Mortuary.” That’s when her mother seems to close down mentally. Why?
How did Gus get Silvia away from the Suits after they knocked her out and she woke up in the Mortuary?
When Mrs. Noser gets around to writing Book 2 for this series, if she hasn't already, I'd be curious to find out more history regarding the government and why they're doing the things they do. For example, transplanting Liam's lungs into an old government man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2015
First off I need to mention that the target audience for this book is the Young Adult readership. With that being said, I will be rating this book with that age group in mind (age 13-17).
Silvia is the main character of this book and she is definitely not your average eighteen year old. Silvia loves her job in the hospital morgue and tries not care what other people think of her and he chosen profession.
At first I thought that Silvia was going to be one of those perfect book heroines that just happen to have all the right character traits and is a paragon of virtue. This turns out not to be the case at all (thankfully). She is flawed and although there were quite a few things about her that bothered me, she comes across as plausible.
Of course, the world that Silvia lives in has helped to shape her, as has the tragedy of losing her father at the young age of ten years old. Readers who have experienced the loss of a parent might be able to relate. This book might even inadvertently help them to deal with their grief.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the story. The world Silvia lives in could actually become our own reality if the world and it's inhabitants do not make some drastic changes in the way things are done. (Read the book - you'll see what I mean.)
Some of the plot was easy to guess, and at times I wanted to smack Silvia, but that just means that I was "into" the story.
I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To read my full review visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Silvia is the main character of this book and she is definitely not your average eighteen year old. Silvia loves her job in the hospital morgue and tries not care what other people think of her and he chosen profession.
At first I thought that Silvia was going to be one of those perfect book heroines that just happen to have all the right character traits and is a paragon of virtue. This turns out not to be the case at all (thankfully). She is flawed and although there were quite a few things about her that bothered me, she comes across as plausible.
Of course, the world that Silvia lives in has helped to shape her, as has the tragedy of losing her father at the young age of ten years old. Readers who have experienced the loss of a parent might be able to relate. This book might even inadvertently help them to deal with their grief.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the story. The world Silvia lives in could actually become our own reality if the world and it's inhabitants do not make some drastic changes in the way things are done. (Read the book - you'll see what I mean.)
Some of the plot was easy to guess, and at times I wanted to smack Silvia, but that just means that I was "into" the story.
I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To read my full review visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
December 15, 2015
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Always a fan of dystopian young adult novels, I requested this book. For the most part I was not disappointed.
My only complaint is that there wasn't enough advancement in the plot in the middle. At times I felt like the author needed filler and foisted 100+ pages discussing Sylvia and Liam's training plan. However, Sylvia's interactions with Franco were a nice way to break up the monotony. She was very much your typical girl liking a bit for the first time.
Other than a few areas with a stagnant pace the story was very entertaining. The characters were very dynamic and Sylvia displayed the greatest transformation from cover to cover. I suspected there would be a great secret that would propel the reader into the next book but I honestly had not figured it out for myself by the time it was revealed. The ending was a decent way to segue into the next part of the story.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
5 stars.
Always a fan of dystopian young adult novels, I requested this book. For the most part I was not disappointed.
My only complaint is that there wasn't enough advancement in the plot in the middle. At times I felt like the author needed filler and foisted 100+ pages discussing Sylvia and Liam's training plan. However, Sylvia's interactions with Franco were a nice way to break up the monotony. She was very much your typical girl liking a bit for the first time.
Other than a few areas with a stagnant pace the story was very entertaining. The characters were very dynamic and Sylvia displayed the greatest transformation from cover to cover. I suspected there would be a great secret that would propel the reader into the next book but I honestly had not figured it out for myself by the time it was revealed. The ending was a decent way to segue into the next part of the story.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
5 stars.
November 18, 2015
I received this novel from NetGalley.
This novel is a rush! I couldn't put it down! The politics, the charaters, the heroism and the originality of the plot all make this novel amazing!
This novel is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is so often made cliche, it is inventive, clever and thoroughly enjoyable!
Great read! Can't wait to read more about this amazing world!
This novel is a rush! I couldn't put it down! The politics, the charaters, the heroism and the originality of the plot all make this novel amazing!
This novel is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is so often made cliche, it is inventive, clever and thoroughly enjoyable!
Great read! Can't wait to read more about this amazing world!
December 23, 2015
I'd rate this somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. Another good book from Curiosity Quills! I have TONS of questions upon finishing, which makes me anxious for book 2. I hope it's not too much longer before we get to find out what happens next for Silvia! And Franco... who is swoon-worthy even if he is a bit wacko... ;)
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