Freda

New Eden #3

by Peter J. Dudley

In the aftermath of war, false friendships, failed loyalties, and new alliances make truth difficult to see clearly. The battle for Tawtrukk is over, but the madman that started it all has escaped, and now he has instructions for detonating the nuclear bomb that stood dormant in the Southshaw chapel for thirteen generations. If he can't be stopped in time, Freda will have to find some way to lead the survivors to a new home over the mountains, into a land she'd always been taught was an uninhabitable wasteland of smoldering radiation.

Cryptic clues left by Southshaw's Founders three hundred years ago suggest that the land may not be as desolate as everyone thought, but can those clues be trusted? Can Freda unite the bitter, angry remnants of the Southshaw, Tawtrukk, and Subterra peoples? Can she get them to follow the clues when many think they lead to death instead of to the paradise Freda believes they promise?

Genres: Dystopia

198 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2014

About the author

Peter rarely uses his electrical engineering degree from UC Berkeley these days. Instead, he writes adventure and fantasy fiction, short stories, and poetry for people with a sense of adventure (or a sense of humor). He has a day job as an executive in Corporate Social Responsibility, running a huge corporate volunteer program and the nation's largest employee charitable giving campaign. In his career, he's worked on the first smart phone, the first PDA, and the first stealth bomber. A Connecticut native, he has been in the San Francisco area for most of his life and is the proud father of two fantastic kids: one is an Eagle Scout and the other is a transgender woman.

Reviews

[J.R. Schuyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like “Forsada,” the action in this book picks up directly after the previous installment in the series. “Freda” follows its titular character as she leaves Tawtrukk for the wastelands of the Radiation, in search of a new home.

Although this book is a little slower than the previous ones, I still devoured it in one sitting. The writing style is great, and the ending was very satisfying. The only reason I deducted a star is because I found Freda’s behavior frustrating. She can be so smart in some ways and so naive in others. Don’t get me wrong: everything she does makes complete sense for her character. It’s just a little bit agonizing for me that I can’t reach through the pages and shake some sense into her.

This book introduces a new character, Tynan, and he’s a creep and a half from the moment he walks in. Personally, I don’t understand how anyone could like him after the things he says, but at the same time, I know that people fall for that stuff all the time in real life. So, sadly, what happens is quite realistic. For that reason, I think teenagers would get a lot of value out of this book, as it might give them an opportunity to learn and talk about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships.

“Freda” is a fitting end to a wonderful series, and I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work in the future.

[Darlene Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freda is the third volume in the New Eden series. I think this is Peter Dudley's best work yet. This was a really fast paced book and it kept me guessing right up until the last page. I was like phew!!!! You really know when a story is great when you continue to think about the book and the characters days after finishing the book. Freda has heart! That is what I loved about her. We also have Dane, Lupay and Tom. I just love Tom's character and the way Dane and Tom work together. I think a book about Tom would have been great too but alas.. this is the last one. You need to read Semper, Forsada and then Freda. I wish readers would give new authors a try. These three books were amazing and I am looking forward to whatever Peter has in store for us next!

[Kathy Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prophesy is fulfilled, or is it? Freda, First Wife, so unprepared but with a heart of gold. Others who want to be God. But, is this the end?