What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ongoing Pursuit #2
Zillow Stone and the Unholy One
NOTE: This edition is out of print. It has been retired for revision/relaunch and is no longer available for purchase.
- GenresDystopiaYoung Adult
First published December 22, 2014
71 people want to read
About the author
Brindi Quinn
24 books227 followers☆Magical books for magical people!☆
Brindi Quinn is a Minnesota-based author best known as “the genie author” behind the wildly swoony Come True series—and for weaving sparkly worlds where romance, banter, and reluctant attraction collide. Since 2011 she’s penned 20+ YA and NA novels, blurring fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, and comedy into page-turning mashups filled with morally-gray protectors, forced proximity, and plenty of swoon.
When she’s not plotting meet-cute mayhem, Brindi can be found biking with her soulmate, gaming with her dog, or chatting all things bookish online. She’s also a co-founder of Never and Ever Publishing and is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary.
Follow the magic on Goodreads, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Facebook @Brindiful.
Brindi Quinn is a Minnesota-based author best known as “the genie author” behind the wildly swoony Come True series—and for weaving sparkly worlds where romance, banter, and reluctant attraction collide. Since 2011 she’s penned 20+ YA and NA novels, blurring fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, and comedy into page-turning mashups filled with morally-gray protectors, forced proximity, and plenty of swoon.
When she’s not plotting meet-cute mayhem, Brindi can be found biking with her soulmate, gaming with her dog, or chatting all things bookish online. She’s also a co-founder of Never and Ever Publishing and is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary.
Follow the magic on Goodreads, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Facebook @Brindiful.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 11, 2016
There are markers and there prags. When a prag turns twenty, the marker marks the prag and the chase begins. So if you are a marker, you'll mark me and I'll run away from you because you are going to kill me.
Now you have the story.
The concept of this so unique, fresh and a tiny bit absurd (yes, because those markers are kind of psychotic . .chasing poor prags so they could kill them) but I am not ashamed to admit that I really enjoyed this book. Even though it took me almost half of the book to actually get into the story (there like 150 pages) It was definitely a fun read. Brindi has a good writing style. Our main protagonist, Zillow stone, is very snarky and strong, and I adore Theo. Heart eyes. Heat eyes.
If you are looking for a quick, and different-from-others kind of story, I reccomend you to pick this book up :)
Now you have the story.
The concept of this so unique, fresh and a tiny bit absurd (yes, because those markers are kind of psychotic . .chasing poor prags so they could kill them) but I am not ashamed to admit that I really enjoyed this book. Even though it took me almost half of the book to actually get into the story (there like 150 pages) It was definitely a fun read. Brindi has a good writing style. Our main protagonist, Zillow stone, is very snarky and strong, and I adore Theo. Heart eyes. Heat eyes.
If you are looking for a quick, and different-from-others kind of story, I reccomend you to pick this book up :)
May 12, 2018
DISCLAIMER: I WAS SENT THIS BOOK BY THE AUTHOR AND THIS IN NO WAY INFLUENCES MY OPINION AS IT WAS FOR AN HOEST REVIEW.
Thank you so much for this review copy! I loved this book so much, I was hooked from the first page, and completely unable to put it down from then on! I was pretty blind going into this book, and I don’t evened that much dystopian, BUT OH MATE, WAS I IN FOR A SURPRISE OVER HOW MUCH I WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK.
Things that I loved:
> fast pace. BUT LIKE I STILL GOT EVERYTHING.
In so many books I find that with the fast pace, so many things get lost / missed out. . . but this book. . . IT WAS ACTION PACKED, FAST, AND UNDERSTANDABLE. Literally, the fast pace was brilliant. MY HEART was pounding throughout the entire book. LIKE I’M PRETTY SURE MY HEART WENT THROGH HYPERTROPHY* WHILE READING. ]
Honestly. I felt like I WAS the one running for my life, fighting a mammoth and trying to kill someone at the same time**.
*Hypertrophy = muscles growing / becoming stronger. JUST FYI. ** I mean nooo. . . IM NOT THAT DANGEROUS. . .
> SUPER INTREGUING —> Brilliant world building / development.
URGH. Honestly. THIS PLACE HAS A 34532% probability of being a real place, IM SURE. It was that well developed. Like I said above, everything was SO clear and polished and nothing was left out (apart from what was purposely left out to interest you and MAKE YOU READ ON which was brilliant and ANNOYING at the same time BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FFS!!)
> Reminded me of The Hunger Games a bit. . . BUT MORE WILDERNESSY. . .??? If that’s even possible. . .
Like, running through the woods. . . feeling the air in your hair. . . AND THE SCREAMS OF OTHER HUMANS AS THEY TRY TO KILL EACH OTHER. . .
Really wish stakes, LIKE MATE I HELD MY BREATH FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK.
> DID I MENTION IT WAS GRIPPING???
> REALLY COOL MC —>SO KICK-ASS. like I’m not super super attached to her IM MORE ATTATCHED TO CASH (ANOTHER CHARACTER NOT MONEY. . . ) because he’s like oooohhhh mysterious. . . AND HIS HAIR SOUNDS AMAZING. I got literally 0% from him at first and was literally TERRIFIED and yeah , . . . . WELL JUSST GO READ IT.
> Side characters were developed too!! I think that it’s really hard sometimes to find a book with A DEVELOPED MC and DEVELOPED SIDE CHARACTERS. . . but. . . THIS BOOK HAD IT ALL.
I loved THEO, he was an idiot, BUT FUNNY AND LIAD BACK and CASH. . . well I’ve already spoken about him. . . CHLOE was like. . . lethal but SWEET?? like KICK-ASS hacker, but then this little thing that would probably try enter a duel with a stick because they wouldn’t want to harm anyone. #LoveHer.
> SLOW BURN ROMANCES #THANK YOU
LITERALLY THANK YOU.
at times I thought “ohGodohGodohGod. . . I HOPE THIS ISN'T INSTALOVE. . .” And then it wasn’t!! AND I WAS SO HAPPY. I SHIP IT ALL.
*worships the 45632485 additions to my ARMADA!!*
Little quibbles:
> Love to hate trope, TBH I didn’t really mind it here??
> the “males” thing. Sometimes, I felt like the “males” were a little dominating?? Like they were in charge because they were “men” BUT THIS WAS LIKE 3%. AND TBH this is me nitpicking, because it only happened like TWICE because. . WELL I CANT SAY BUT GO READ IT AND WITNESS THE BRILLIANT BOOK OKAY?
I WANT THE NEXT ONE OKAY??? LIKE NOW PLEASE.
Thank you so much for this review copy! I loved this book so much, I was hooked from the first page, and completely unable to put it down from then on! I was pretty blind going into this book, and I don’t evened that much dystopian, BUT OH MATE, WAS I IN FOR A SURPRISE OVER HOW MUCH I WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK.
Things that I loved:
> fast pace. BUT LIKE I STILL GOT EVERYTHING.
In so many books I find that with the fast pace, so many things get lost / missed out. . . but this book. . . IT WAS ACTION PACKED, FAST, AND UNDERSTANDABLE. Literally, the fast pace was brilliant. MY HEART was pounding throughout the entire book. LIKE I’M PRETTY SURE MY HEART WENT THROGH HYPERTROPHY* WHILE READING. ]
Honestly. I felt like I WAS the one running for my life, fighting a mammoth and trying to kill someone at the same time**.
*Hypertrophy = muscles growing / becoming stronger. JUST FYI. ** I mean nooo. . . IM NOT THAT DANGEROUS. . .
> SUPER INTREGUING —> Brilliant world building / development.
URGH. Honestly. THIS PLACE HAS A 34532% probability of being a real place, IM SURE. It was that well developed. Like I said above, everything was SO clear and polished and nothing was left out (apart from what was purposely left out to interest you and MAKE YOU READ ON which was brilliant and ANNOYING at the same time BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FFS!!)
> Reminded me of The Hunger Games a bit. . . BUT MORE WILDERNESSY. . .??? If that’s even possible. . .
Like, running through the woods. . . feeling the air in your hair. . . AND THE SCREAMS OF OTHER HUMANS AS THEY TRY TO KILL EACH OTHER. . .
Really wish stakes, LIKE MATE I HELD MY BREATH FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK.
> DID I MENTION IT WAS GRIPPING???
> REALLY COOL MC —>SO KICK-ASS. like I’m not super super attached to her IM MORE ATTATCHED TO CASH (ANOTHER CHARACTER NOT MONEY. . . ) because he’s like oooohhhh mysterious. . . AND HIS HAIR SOUNDS AMAZING. I got literally 0% from him at first and was literally TERRIFIED and yeah , . . . . WELL JUSST GO READ IT.
> Side characters were developed too!! I think that it’s really hard sometimes to find a book with A DEVELOPED MC and DEVELOPED SIDE CHARACTERS. . . but. . . THIS BOOK HAD IT ALL.
I loved THEO, he was an idiot, BUT FUNNY AND LIAD BACK and CASH. . . well I’ve already spoken about him. . . CHLOE was like. . . lethal but SWEET?? like KICK-ASS hacker, but then this little thing that would probably try enter a duel with a stick because they wouldn’t want to harm anyone. #LoveHer.
> SLOW BURN ROMANCES #THANK YOU
LITERALLY THANK YOU.
at times I thought “ohGodohGodohGod. . . I HOPE THIS ISN'T INSTALOVE. . .” And then it wasn’t!! AND I WAS SO HAPPY. I SHIP IT ALL.
*worships the 45632485 additions to my ARMADA!!*
Little quibbles:
> Love to hate trope, TBH I didn’t really mind it here??
> the “males” thing. Sometimes, I felt like the “males” were a little dominating?? Like they were in charge because they were “men” BUT THIS WAS LIKE 3%. AND TBH this is me nitpicking, because it only happened like TWICE because. . WELL I CANT SAY BUT GO READ IT AND WITNESS THE BRILLIANT BOOK OKAY?
I WANT THE NEXT ONE OKAY??? LIKE NOW PLEASE.
December 21, 2017
Rate: 3.7.
I received this book from the Autor in exchange of an honest review. So lets dive in 😁🔎
~~~~~
Dying Planet , two cities remaining The East and The West and a deadly game between them . There is the Markers who are the hunters and the Marked who are the preys .
Zillow Stone was chosen to be the prey . But Zillow is not just a girl . She is trained . She is the fastest , the strongest and she know how to survive and fight her way to the end..
~~~~~
The world building in this book was handled very well I enjoyed it very much.
The characters were enjoyable too but I wished to see more of their past / background, know them a bit more.
~~~~~
I initially gave the book solid 4 stars . So why I changed that?.
Zillow was very annoying sometimes , specially every time she mentions her pride. girl , you’re in the middle of the desert , you need every bit of information you can get. You can’t say my pride kept me from this or that in this situation!!.
Oh and I liked Theo and didn’t enjoy everyone underestimating him like that.
This book is around a game where people are hunting each other. There must be casualties here . When a book involves war or any deadly situation and everyone survive , that doesn’t sound real.
~~~~~
But in the end , this book IS good ..the writing style is nice and even If your not a native english speaker/reader , you’ll will not find this book hard at all..
I received this book from the Autor in exchange of an honest review. So lets dive in 😁🔎
~~~~~
Dying Planet , two cities remaining The East and The West and a deadly game between them . There is the Markers who are the hunters and the Marked who are the preys .
Zillow Stone was chosen to be the prey . But Zillow is not just a girl . She is trained . She is the fastest , the strongest and she know how to survive and fight her way to the end..
~~~~~
The world building in this book was handled very well I enjoyed it very much.
The characters were enjoyable too but I wished to see more of their past / background, know them a bit more.
~~~~~
I initially gave the book solid 4 stars . So why I changed that?.
Zillow was very annoying sometimes , specially every time she mentions her pride. girl , you’re in the middle of the desert , you need every bit of information you can get. You can’t say my pride kept me from this or that in this situation!!.
Oh and I liked Theo and didn’t enjoy everyone underestimating him like that.
This book is around a game where people are hunting each other. There must be casualties here . When a book involves war or any deadly situation and everyone survive , that doesn’t sound real.
~~~~~
But in the end , this book IS good ..the writing style is nice and even If your not a native english speaker/reader , you’ll will not find this book hard at all..
December 29, 2017
First of all, thank you Brindi for sending me a copy to review. I have never read any YA dystopian before, and I don't count the Hunger Games as one cause they are kinda not that gore. Anyways, I loved the book and the writing and the flow of the actions. It wasn't slow or taking pace as you read, but it was fast and thrilling from the first pages.
Zillow was a badass and though it took me a lot of time to like her cause I found her a bit proud of herself. I mean I like when female characters are the lead and are sure of themselves, but sometimes she says something like I needed to bite my pride. Girl! You need every bit of help and information if you wanna survive.
Otherwise, the fightings were intense and I felt like I was the one running and fighting for my life.
Zillow was a badass and though it took me a lot of time to like her cause I found her a bit proud of herself. I mean I like when female characters are the lead and are sure of themselves, but sometimes she says something like I needed to bite my pride. Girl! You need every bit of help and information if you wanna survive.
Otherwise, the fightings were intense and I felt like I was the one running and fighting for my life.
December 22, 2017
Disclaimer: I've been given a copy of this book to review from Brindi Quinn herself, for an honest review, and I couldn't be more grateful! And given how this one turned out, I believe it won't be the last book I read by her. So let's get on with it, shall we?
This is a dystopian novel about a girl named Zillow Stone, scarred by destiny to leave her 'Eastern City' to pursue her eventful fate. That being killing her Marker and returning victorious, or facing her own death by her 'Western Demon'. But is that all the pursuit entails?
"Darkness hindered perception, and perception was one of the most important skills for those of us destined to be hunted".
To be honest, I thought that this would be another Hunger Games-inspired story, but DAMN was I wrong!!! Even though the initial setting of the story may share some similarities, but it's SOO different in SOOO many ways!!!
I loved how each act focused on a specific dimension of the story, not to mention how each chapter was PERFECTLY tailored to fit the course (short and precise chapters, which were lovely to say the least). The classification of the 4 acts made it easier to read, visualise, and to smoothly transition from one eventful piece to the next.
What I also loved were the bits and pieces of history inserted to complement the storyline in a way that reflects the overall picture/context. It was definitely not another boring History class, so hats off for that!
In regards to characterisation, you know how authors tend to influence you in a way to love their lead character? Well, I was pretty amused that Brindi did not force that upon the reader at all! Like seriously, at various occasions I would just feel like, God, Zillow! Take a chill pill or something!! But I definitely admired how her character developed along the pursuit, and how Zillow herself took note of that change.
That being said, the amount of work put in Theo's character (and the never-ending nicknames he came up with) is admirable! He's my absolute fav! And speaking of Crash, well, you had me at scarlet hair and icy blue eyes.
I promise I won't spoil anything, but the relationships formed in this novel, wow, those were quite unpredictable! Hey, don't even get me started on Othello OR THE PLOT TWISTS!! Okay, okay, imma take that chill pill alright...
Alas, the ending of this novel will forever be one of my favourites because not only was it unprecedented for, but it was unexplainably soothing. I guess you'll have to read it yourself to know!
Rating: 4.5
This is a dystopian novel about a girl named Zillow Stone, scarred by destiny to leave her 'Eastern City' to pursue her eventful fate. That being killing her Marker and returning victorious, or facing her own death by her 'Western Demon'. But is that all the pursuit entails?
"Darkness hindered perception, and perception was one of the most important skills for those of us destined to be hunted".
To be honest, I thought that this would be another Hunger Games-inspired story, but DAMN was I wrong!!! Even though the initial setting of the story may share some similarities, but it's SOO different in SOOO many ways!!!
I loved how each act focused on a specific dimension of the story, not to mention how each chapter was PERFECTLY tailored to fit the course (short and precise chapters, which were lovely to say the least). The classification of the 4 acts made it easier to read, visualise, and to smoothly transition from one eventful piece to the next.
What I also loved were the bits and pieces of history inserted to complement the storyline in a way that reflects the overall picture/context. It was definitely not another boring History class, so hats off for that!
In regards to characterisation, you know how authors tend to influence you in a way to love their lead character? Well, I was pretty amused that Brindi did not force that upon the reader at all! Like seriously, at various occasions I would just feel like, God, Zillow! Take a chill pill or something!! But I definitely admired how her character developed along the pursuit, and how Zillow herself took note of that change.
That being said, the amount of work put in Theo's character (and the never-ending nicknames he came up with) is admirable! He's my absolute fav! And speaking of Crash, well, you had me at scarlet hair and icy blue eyes.
I promise I won't spoil anything, but the relationships formed in this novel, wow, those were quite unpredictable! Hey, don't even get me started on Othello OR THE PLOT TWISTS!! Okay, okay, imma take that chill pill alright...
Alas, the ending of this novel will forever be one of my favourites because not only was it unprecedented for, but it was unexplainably soothing. I guess you'll have to read it yourself to know!
Rating: 4.5
January 17, 2018
This book is divided into 4 parts and I thought that the best way to review it is to talk about each part individually 🙌🏻
So be ready for a pretty long review 🤷🏻♀️:
.
.
⚜️ part one : Zillow Stone and the Unholy One ⚜️
.
“You are like that pink flower, Zillow,” my grandfather told me. “And one day, the black rose will come for you.”
.
From the first few chapters you can already tell that this book gonna be fast paced and full of action.
I liked Zillow ( I’m always here for a strong female protagonist 💪🏻) .
And I LOVED Theo ! I enjoyed reading about him . Man ! He can make anything sounds funny 😆 🖤
Which leads us to the next point ; it was the first time when I actually read a dystopian novel without being depressed !
The only thing that irritated me in this part was the hunger games element, which made me afraid that maybe the rest will be similar to the hunger games ( but thank god it wasn’t) .
.
⚜️part two : Zillow Stone in Paradise⚜️
.
“ mankind is a tragedy “.
.
This part was the real start for me , I got so invested in the story and I start thinking about it all the time ( literally ALL the time ) .
We got to meet a new characters , A LOT of action and fights . And the world building became more complex ( not confusing tho ) .
.
.
.
⚜️part three : Zillow Stone must die⚜️
.
“This is what our journey had come to: a nameless quest led by a faceless person, in search of an invisible something.”
.
From this part i can say that i really liked this book !
The writing style was really good , we got to know more about each character and the romance was really Cute 💗 .
.
.
.
⚜️part four: Zillow Stone’s new world⚜️
.
“ it is important to think about your marker” .
.
This phrase drove me crazy actually 😂
It was everywhere ! and I cannot imagine how would it feel like if someone kept saying it inside my mind !
Anyway , as we go throw the last part everything starts to unravel and the questions We’ve been asking form the very beginning are finally answered.
I should feel satisfied but , man !
i want more of this world !
I would really like if there’s a sequel 🙏🏻🙏🏻 .
So be ready for a pretty long review 🤷🏻♀️:
.
.
⚜️ part one : Zillow Stone and the Unholy One ⚜️
.
“You are like that pink flower, Zillow,” my grandfather told me. “And one day, the black rose will come for you.”
.
From the first few chapters you can already tell that this book gonna be fast paced and full of action.
I liked Zillow ( I’m always here for a strong female protagonist 💪🏻) .
And I LOVED Theo ! I enjoyed reading about him . Man ! He can make anything sounds funny 😆 🖤
Which leads us to the next point ; it was the first time when I actually read a dystopian novel without being depressed !
The only thing that irritated me in this part was the hunger games element, which made me afraid that maybe the rest will be similar to the hunger games ( but thank god it wasn’t) .
.
⚜️part two : Zillow Stone in Paradise⚜️
.
“ mankind is a tragedy “.
.
This part was the real start for me , I got so invested in the story and I start thinking about it all the time ( literally ALL the time ) .
We got to meet a new characters , A LOT of action and fights . And the world building became more complex ( not confusing tho ) .
.
.
.
⚜️part three : Zillow Stone must die⚜️
.
“This is what our journey had come to: a nameless quest led by a faceless person, in search of an invisible something.”
.
From this part i can say that i really liked this book !
The writing style was really good , we got to know more about each character and the romance was really Cute 💗 .
.
.
.
⚜️part four: Zillow Stone’s new world⚜️
.
“ it is important to think about your marker” .
.
This phrase drove me crazy actually 😂
It was everywhere ! and I cannot imagine how would it feel like if someone kept saying it inside my mind !
Anyway , as we go throw the last part everything starts to unravel and the questions We’ve been asking form the very beginning are finally answered.
I should feel satisfied but , man !
i want more of this world !
I would really like if there’s a sequel 🙏🏻🙏🏻 .
November 16, 2017
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA/New Adult Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, language)
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.
Beneath the boy’s thumb, my blood bubbled in reaction to the implant. Hot stinging moved through my flesh for a helping of seconds before subsiding. The boy felt it too, for when it was done, he removed his thumb and inspected my hand. Beneath my skin was a green glow, roughly the size of a coin. It was done. Their people were born with extreme lust for ours, and just as my grandfather had warned all those years ago, one of them had come for me. I, Zillow Stone, had been marked by an unholy one. While I digested the truth of it, the boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, “Run.”
At the end of time, the world is divided. In the west reside the Markers, in the east, the Marked.
On a massive gameboard, scattered with discotheques and giant mechbeasts, Zillow Stone’s sole purpose is to serve as prey. But she is fastest, strongest, smartest . . . and she won’t go down without a fight.
Who will win in a death game to survive? And when it’s every player for herself, who can Zillow trust?
In the wasteland, where the Markers play with their prey like it's food, not everything is as it seems.
Includes all four thrilling acts for the first time in one volume. Discover the truth of the desert. Order now to start the chase. - Amazon.com
I can never get enough dystopians. Never. Ever. But I do have favorites and ones I like less than others. This one? I love better than all the others. This was a mix between The Hunger Games and The Walk (written under Stephen King's pen name. You should really check it out). The thing I loved about it was that it was fast paced, but it didn't skip on any of the important world building details or anything like that. This was one of the better built worlds I've read this year! I could picture everything clearly and I could see the actions of the characters. All of the characters were believable and acted more human than some characters I've read. All very well developed as well and they each have a distinct voice. The plot developed phenominally well. I thought that because the book was fast paced that the book's plot would not be fully developed, but I was so so wrong. I also thought the writing was phenominal and very easy to read. Perfect for young reads and old.
The only thing I didn't like was that the fighting did get repeatitive after awhile, but this is a book where characters are fighting to the death so it's a necessary evil. Zillow is also a very closed off character for the first parts of the book and as the book develops she opens up. Some readers might find her hard to love at first but I promise the more you stay with her the better it gets!
Verdict: If you are a dystopian lover this is a book you NEED to read! Wonderful, fast paced, quick read that will leave you wanting more in the end. Check this book out today!
Genre: YA/New Adult Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, language)
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.
Beneath the boy’s thumb, my blood bubbled in reaction to the implant. Hot stinging moved through my flesh for a helping of seconds before subsiding. The boy felt it too, for when it was done, he removed his thumb and inspected my hand. Beneath my skin was a green glow, roughly the size of a coin. It was done. Their people were born with extreme lust for ours, and just as my grandfather had warned all those years ago, one of them had come for me. I, Zillow Stone, had been marked by an unholy one. While I digested the truth of it, the boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, “Run.”
At the end of time, the world is divided. In the west reside the Markers, in the east, the Marked.
On a massive gameboard, scattered with discotheques and giant mechbeasts, Zillow Stone’s sole purpose is to serve as prey. But she is fastest, strongest, smartest . . . and she won’t go down without a fight.
Who will win in a death game to survive? And when it’s every player for herself, who can Zillow trust?
In the wasteland, where the Markers play with their prey like it's food, not everything is as it seems.
Includes all four thrilling acts for the first time in one volume. Discover the truth of the desert. Order now to start the chase. - Amazon.com
I can never get enough dystopians. Never. Ever. But I do have favorites and ones I like less than others. This one? I love better than all the others. This was a mix between The Hunger Games and The Walk (written under Stephen King's pen name. You should really check it out). The thing I loved about it was that it was fast paced, but it didn't skip on any of the important world building details or anything like that. This was one of the better built worlds I've read this year! I could picture everything clearly and I could see the actions of the characters. All of the characters were believable and acted more human than some characters I've read. All very well developed as well and they each have a distinct voice. The plot developed phenominally well. I thought that because the book was fast paced that the book's plot would not be fully developed, but I was so so wrong. I also thought the writing was phenominal and very easy to read. Perfect for young reads and old.
The only thing I didn't like was that the fighting did get repeatitive after awhile, but this is a book where characters are fighting to the death so it's a necessary evil. Zillow is also a very closed off character for the first parts of the book and as the book develops she opens up. Some readers might find her hard to love at first but I promise the more you stay with her the better it gets!
Verdict: If you are a dystopian lover this is a book you NEED to read! Wonderful, fast paced, quick read that will leave you wanting more in the end. Check this book out today!
November 20, 2017
You know that feeling when you've come across a gem of a BOOK? This was that gem! I was fortunate enough to receive review copy from the author (THANK YOU SO MUCH BRINDI!!!) And I was just BLOWN AWAY! This is a hardcore dystopian novel with a fast paced plot. At first I was worried that the world building was going to suffer from the instant action, but I was SO WRONG! This book was detailed without being suffocating and NEVER boring.
I loved how Zillow was a flawed character, stubborn till the end😂 I loved how this was a YA novel without romance being shoved down tour throat. There was no instant love, no love triangle (It is a miracle I know!) The land was merciless. I'd say this is a mix between the hunger games and the maze runner, while being it's own story.
I simply couldn't put this book down! I've read plenty of books from well known authors and let me just say that this book was written better than alot of NYT best sellers (in my opinion)
Now excuse me while I curl up into a ball and sob because I finished this beautiful masterpiece😭😭😭
I loved how Zillow was a flawed character, stubborn till the end😂 I loved how this was a YA novel without romance being shoved down tour throat. There was no instant love, no love triangle (It is a miracle I know!) The land was merciless. I'd say this is a mix between the hunger games and the maze runner, while being it's own story.
I simply couldn't put this book down! I've read plenty of books from well known authors and let me just say that this book was written better than alot of NYT best sellers (in my opinion)
Now excuse me while I curl up into a ball and sob because I finished this beautiful masterpiece😭😭😭
November 4, 2017
Thanks Brindi for the review copy.
This is a dystopian fantasy novel , the world is divided in 9 cities : East , West, North,South, Central, NorthEast, NorthWest, SouthEast and SouthWest. Only East, West remained now. In the East lives the Marked and in the West Markers. In exchange for the solar energy from West, the East provide them their young. When someone from the east turns 20 either they are lucky and get skipped being marked or they get hunted by their Marker. This is the story of Zillow Stone who gets marked, the story entails what happens later. Will Zillow get killed at the hand of her Marker or will she be able to kill. Read to find out
I couldn't stop reading this one, a very fast paced novel. I loved the world and the characters. The book cover is beautiful, and the character name are unique. I love female badass characters and Zillow Stone was right up my alley. A must read for Hunger Games fans. I have just joined Brindi 's review team and this was the first book I got to read, looking forward to read more of her works
November 5, 2017
Thanks to Brundi Quinn for a review copy :)
In a world were only 2 lands are left at the age of 20 it is decided if you are a marked one who will fight for survival against your marker.. Zillow stone is a marked one and this is the story of what happens once she is marked!
I absolutely loved this book.. The world building was incredible and the story line was very unique to anything I've read before..
I loved the characters throughout the story and the dynamics between fact person. The story was well paced and captivating. I enjoyed the mystery side of the 'game' and the way the story unfolded.
Amazingly done and enjoyed every moment!
In a world were only 2 lands are left at the age of 20 it is decided if you are a marked one who will fight for survival against your marker.. Zillow stone is a marked one and this is the story of what happens once she is marked!
I absolutely loved this book.. The world building was incredible and the story line was very unique to anything I've read before..
I loved the characters throughout the story and the dynamics between fact person. The story was well paced and captivating. I enjoyed the mystery side of the 'game' and the way the story unfolded.
Amazingly done and enjoyed every moment!
April 10, 2017
Thank you so much Brindi for sending me your book! :)
"You are that pink flower, Zillow," my grandfather told me. "And one day, the black rose will come for you."
Trough this book, Brindi takes us to a different society where exists Markers and Prags.
When a person turns twenty, she can be marked by a marker and becoming a prag. If this happens, the prag has to run for his life since, if his marker catch him, he will die.
Markers are born with extreme lust for prags, they chase them like a game and they kill them just for fun.
In this book, we met Zillow Stone, she is marked by an Unholy one (a marker) and now she has to run for her life.
I confess that I was a little hesitant with this book since I didn't like the cover. It seems that the book is a children book or something like that! But oh man, I was so wrong. And this is the true meaning of the quote: "Don't judge a book by its cover" as I hated the cover but loved the book!!!
I am found of this amazing world that Brindi created! It is so good: it is unique, distinct and powerful.
The chapters are short, there is n a lot of action and tension!!!
I loved how determined and powerful Zillow is. C'mon, she is being hunted but she isn't crying or making a scene! She is fighting ( in this case, running) and she is positive!!
"I, Zillow Stone, was a marked one, and I was going to win."
However, I didn't liked that fact that everyone was always saying how good she was. Compared with others, she was always better what did things a little bit unrealistic.
Overall I really liked this book, and I am so anxious for the next one!! I NEED MORE!!
Of course I advise you all to read this book! :)
With love,
-Banal Girl
December 19, 2017
:REVIEW:
Book Title: The Pursuit of Zillow Stone
Author: Brindi Quinn
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 457
Binding: Paperback
Source: Review Copy
:Main Characters:
1. Zillow Stone
2. Crasstofer Rade [a.k.a. Crash]
3. Theodorius Biggsburg [a.k.a. Theo]
4. Chloe Lock
:Blurb:
In Eastern City, metropolis of wind and rain, a deadly game is about to begin . . . Beneath the boy's thumb, my blood bubbled in reaction to the implant. Hot stinging moved through my flesh for a helping of seconds before subsiding. The boy felt it too, for when it was done, he removed his thumb and inspected my hand. Beneath my skin was a green glow, roughly the size of a coin. It was done. Their people were born with extreme lust for ours, and just as my grandfather had warned all those years ago, one of them had come for me. I, Zillow Stone, had been marked by an unholy one. While I digested the truth of it, the boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, "Run."
At the end of time, the world is divided. In the west reside the Markers, in the east, the Marked.
On a massive gameboard, scattered with discotheques and giant mechbeasts, Zillow Stone's sole purpose is to serve as prey. But she is fastest, strongest, smartest . . . and she won't go down without a fight.
Who will win in a death game to survive? And when it's every player for herself, who can Zillow trust?
In the wasteland, where the Markers play with their prey like it's food, not everything is as it seems.
Includes all four thrilling acts for the first time in one volume. Discover the truth of the desert. Order now to start the chase.
Recommended for ages 16]
:My Review:
Let's talk about the plot and the characters first and then I'll tell you my view on them separately.
It is a YA Dystopian. So, the first thought that comes to mind is that there must be a government which is exercising power on the weak and someone will try to overthrow the government. But let me burst that bubble because this book is much more than that.
The plot is set in a world much ahead of our time and the Earth is not even close to what it used to be like. It has been divided into 9 cities.They are
Central City
Northern City
North Easthern City
Eastern City
North Western City
Western City
Southern City
South Eastern City
South Western City
All the cities live together in harmony and trade with one another to maintain a balance. But due to war, epidemic and famine, they turned against each another and in the end only two are left:
Eastern City
Western City
The two cities thought that it was in everyone's favour that they stop the fight and device a way to adjust. As a result, they come to a conclusion that Western City would supply energy source to the Eastern City for their plants to grow and in return the Eastern City would provide the youth for a deadly game.
Hence the game of Marking originated.
In this game, whenever a person in Eastern City turns 20, a Marker is sent from the Western City who has to put a mark on the other one's hand and hence that person becomes the Marked. It is not necessary that one will be marked as he/she turns 20. After they are marked, they have to run from their marker and the game will end until one of them kills the other.
Zillow Stone has been waiting for this day and she is sure she will get marked as it is her 20th birthday. She has been preparing from a very young age and if she is marked, then she doesn't want her partner to have an edge over her.
Little does she know that all they have been told so far was a lie. The game is not as simple as she thinks it is.
Crash is Zillow's Marker.
She meets Theo in the desert and they become partners as that is the best way to survive.
This is what the plot is and now let's come to the characters.
Zillow Stone is strong, independent, fierce and all that you can ask in a protagonist. I liked her a lot as she is the kind of main character that I have wanted to read about. I could relate to her and she never made any stupid decisions that would land her in any unexpected or dangerous situations. She kept her senses under control and stayed calm even in adverse situations. But there wasn't much she had to do in the whole plot. It was more like the others did all the work and she was used to just convey all that from her perspective. I wanted her to act more than think. But most of the time she was just thinking and judging people around her. And one more thing, all the time she was in the field, not even once was there any mention of how she felt about her city. She never missed anyone, not even her best friend. That was not realistic.
Next we come to Crash. He is smart, intelligent and strong. But he is also rude and very much like any other dark sided badass we read in most of the YA novels. There wasn't any strong back up story to justify his harshness towards people. He was often referred to as dangerous in the book but never a reason was mentioned as to why everyone thought he was dangerous. So, lack of character development there. Hence, that was an off point for me in the book.
Theo and Chloe are marked and marker respectively. They have been in the game for much longer than Zillow and Crash. I loved both of them. Theo is just adorable and I’d feel lucky to have a friend like him in such situation. He helps Zillow as much as he can, even though Zillow had nothing to offer in return. That was really nice to read and their friendship was one of the best things.
The End was nothing I expected.
So, let's sum up now.
SUM UP: I would recommend this book to everyone who loves dystopian and wants to read a different kind of dystopian. The end was shocking and interesting too. Also the characters were nice. I think the plot had a lot of potential but it's not bad either. The author Brindi Quinn did a great job and I am surely going to pick up more of her books in future.
That's all.
Let me know your thoughts on the book if you have read it.
Happy Reading Guys♥
About the Author: "Not just another vampire romance." - Amazon Reviewer
Brindi Quinn is a young adult / teen author from Minnesota, speaking "quirky" in a variety of genres, from paranormal to sci-fi to fantasy.
Quinn has published a plethora of highly-rated works, including novels, compilations and miniseries, all geared toward a young adult audience. Her series have been hailed as addictive, unique reads within the genre, by reviewers across platforms.
Her dystopian action hit, ZILLOW STONE AND THE UNHOLY ONE, made it to #12 in the sci-fi romance category on Amazon.
Book Title: The Pursuit of Zillow Stone
Author: Brindi Quinn
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 457
Binding: Paperback
Source: Review Copy
:Main Characters:
1. Zillow Stone
2. Crasstofer Rade [a.k.a. Crash]
3. Theodorius Biggsburg [a.k.a. Theo]
4. Chloe Lock
:Blurb:
In Eastern City, metropolis of wind and rain, a deadly game is about to begin . . . Beneath the boy's thumb, my blood bubbled in reaction to the implant. Hot stinging moved through my flesh for a helping of seconds before subsiding. The boy felt it too, for when it was done, he removed his thumb and inspected my hand. Beneath my skin was a green glow, roughly the size of a coin. It was done. Their people were born with extreme lust for ours, and just as my grandfather had warned all those years ago, one of them had come for me. I, Zillow Stone, had been marked by an unholy one. While I digested the truth of it, the boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, "Run."
At the end of time, the world is divided. In the west reside the Markers, in the east, the Marked.
On a massive gameboard, scattered with discotheques and giant mechbeasts, Zillow Stone's sole purpose is to serve as prey. But she is fastest, strongest, smartest . . . and she won't go down without a fight.
Who will win in a death game to survive? And when it's every player for herself, who can Zillow trust?
In the wasteland, where the Markers play with their prey like it's food, not everything is as it seems.
Includes all four thrilling acts for the first time in one volume. Discover the truth of the desert. Order now to start the chase.
Recommended for ages 16]
:My Review:
Let's talk about the plot and the characters first and then I'll tell you my view on them separately.
It is a YA Dystopian. So, the first thought that comes to mind is that there must be a government which is exercising power on the weak and someone will try to overthrow the government. But let me burst that bubble because this book is much more than that.
The plot is set in a world much ahead of our time and the Earth is not even close to what it used to be like. It has been divided into 9 cities.They are
Central City
Northern City
North Easthern City
Eastern City
North Western City
Western City
Southern City
South Eastern City
South Western City
All the cities live together in harmony and trade with one another to maintain a balance. But due to war, epidemic and famine, they turned against each another and in the end only two are left:
Eastern City
Western City
The two cities thought that it was in everyone's favour that they stop the fight and device a way to adjust. As a result, they come to a conclusion that Western City would supply energy source to the Eastern City for their plants to grow and in return the Eastern City would provide the youth for a deadly game.
Hence the game of Marking originated.
In this game, whenever a person in Eastern City turns 20, a Marker is sent from the Western City who has to put a mark on the other one's hand and hence that person becomes the Marked. It is not necessary that one will be marked as he/she turns 20. After they are marked, they have to run from their marker and the game will end until one of them kills the other.
Zillow Stone has been waiting for this day and she is sure she will get marked as it is her 20th birthday. She has been preparing from a very young age and if she is marked, then she doesn't want her partner to have an edge over her.
Little does she know that all they have been told so far was a lie. The game is not as simple as she thinks it is.
Crash is Zillow's Marker.
She meets Theo in the desert and they become partners as that is the best way to survive.
This is what the plot is and now let's come to the characters.
Zillow Stone is strong, independent, fierce and all that you can ask in a protagonist. I liked her a lot as she is the kind of main character that I have wanted to read about. I could relate to her and she never made any stupid decisions that would land her in any unexpected or dangerous situations. She kept her senses under control and stayed calm even in adverse situations. But there wasn't much she had to do in the whole plot. It was more like the others did all the work and she was used to just convey all that from her perspective. I wanted her to act more than think. But most of the time she was just thinking and judging people around her. And one more thing, all the time she was in the field, not even once was there any mention of how she felt about her city. She never missed anyone, not even her best friend. That was not realistic.
Next we come to Crash. He is smart, intelligent and strong. But he is also rude and very much like any other dark sided badass we read in most of the YA novels. There wasn't any strong back up story to justify his harshness towards people. He was often referred to as dangerous in the book but never a reason was mentioned as to why everyone thought he was dangerous. So, lack of character development there. Hence, that was an off point for me in the book.
Theo and Chloe are marked and marker respectively. They have been in the game for much longer than Zillow and Crash. I loved both of them. Theo is just adorable and I’d feel lucky to have a friend like him in such situation. He helps Zillow as much as he can, even though Zillow had nothing to offer in return. That was really nice to read and their friendship was one of the best things.
The End was nothing I expected.
So, let's sum up now.
SUM UP: I would recommend this book to everyone who loves dystopian and wants to read a different kind of dystopian. The end was shocking and interesting too. Also the characters were nice. I think the plot had a lot of potential but it's not bad either. The author Brindi Quinn did a great job and I am surely going to pick up more of her books in future.
That's all.
Let me know your thoughts on the book if you have read it.
Happy Reading Guys♥
About the Author: "Not just another vampire romance." - Amazon Reviewer
Brindi Quinn is a young adult / teen author from Minnesota, speaking "quirky" in a variety of genres, from paranormal to sci-fi to fantasy.
Quinn has published a plethora of highly-rated works, including novels, compilations and miniseries, all geared toward a young adult audience. Her series have been hailed as addictive, unique reads within the genre, by reviewers across platforms.
Her dystopian action hit, ZILLOW STONE AND THE UNHOLY ONE, made it to #12 in the sci-fi romance category on Amazon.
May 28, 2016
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Holy crap!! I just finished reading this and it was amazing! I rarely give a 5-star rating, but this book totally deserved it!!
Zillow Stone ad the Unholy One was a fun and enjoyable read. I loved every single minute of it. It made me realize how much I love discovering new authors and books! If you're an avid reader and you're hesitant to read Indie books well you're certainly missing out!
Reasons Why I Love This Book
1. The Characters- This book contains very few characters considering it's only 155 pages long, but all the characters are well developed. My favorite among them is Zillow, she's strong and determined and I loved her!
2. The Worldbuilding- The worldbuilding is on point! I loved the concept and setting! This is a very good example of a dystopian read. It reminded of the hunger games (which I loved) although it is similar to it in the 'killing aspect' it is also different in many ways.
3. The Cliffhanger- The cliffhanger killed me! I cannot wait to read the second book in this series!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! If you're looking for a fun and thrilling read, then you should definitely pick this book up.
Holy crap!! I just finished reading this and it was amazing! I rarely give a 5-star rating, but this book totally deserved it!!
Zillow Stone ad the Unholy One was a fun and enjoyable read. I loved every single minute of it. It made me realize how much I love discovering new authors and books! If you're an avid reader and you're hesitant to read Indie books well you're certainly missing out!
Reasons Why I Love This Book
1. The Characters- This book contains very few characters considering it's only 155 pages long, but all the characters are well developed. My favorite among them is Zillow, she's strong and determined and I loved her!
2. The Worldbuilding- The worldbuilding is on point! I loved the concept and setting! This is a very good example of a dystopian read. It reminded of the hunger games (which I loved) although it is similar to it in the 'killing aspect' it is also different in many ways.
3. The Cliffhanger- The cliffhanger killed me! I cannot wait to read the second book in this series!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! If you're looking for a fun and thrilling read, then you should definitely pick this book up.
December 17, 2017
Just finished this and wow...that's the first thing to come out of my head. Lemme tell you a little about this story...
So in this world there are Markers and Prags. On their twentieth birthday, there is the possibility for the to be marked by a Marker, which will lead into a chase. Zillow just hit her twentieth birthday and was one of those to get marked, and now she is on the run from her Marker. He can only track her for a little bit a day, so for her, she just plans on running as far as she can from him. Because when he catches her, they will fight, leading to the death of one of them. So for now it is best to get distance.
Along the way, Zillow meets Theo who introduces her to the whole outside world on the run. He's been running for months, so how long will she last? We can only hope to find out.
I was captivated from the get go into this dystopian world and every chapter I just kept wanting more and more. Brindi has a way with words that makes me just want to eat this up. Going to start the second part now. So chao!
So in this world there are Markers and Prags. On their twentieth birthday, there is the possibility for the to be marked by a Marker, which will lead into a chase. Zillow just hit her twentieth birthday and was one of those to get marked, and now she is on the run from her Marker. He can only track her for a little bit a day, so for her, she just plans on running as far as she can from him. Because when he catches her, they will fight, leading to the death of one of them. So for now it is best to get distance.
Along the way, Zillow meets Theo who introduces her to the whole outside world on the run. He's been running for months, so how long will she last? We can only hope to find out.
I was captivated from the get go into this dystopian world and every chapter I just kept wanting more and more. Brindi has a way with words that makes me just want to eat this up. Going to start the second part now. So chao!
February 1, 2020
I was sent this book for review and I loved every minute of it. Would definitely recommend for people who love high action books. There was no dull moment reading this book and it didn't me long to read at all.
Zillow was such a strong and sassy female character which made this book so much more fun to read! I finally found a YA book without an annoying, stupid main character. The plot of this book had no flaws, bringing so much action and enjoyment for the reader. I need to read the next book!
Thank you so much for letting me read it Brindi!!
Zillow was such a strong and sassy female character which made this book so much more fun to read! I finally found a YA book without an annoying, stupid main character. The plot of this book had no flaws, bringing so much action and enjoyment for the reader. I need to read the next book!
Thank you so much for letting me read it Brindi!!
October 26, 2017
Yeah. This is a good, easy YA read. Once I got used to Brindi's style of writing, and turn of phrase, I couldn't wait to get straight into Book #2. For a $1 ebook from Amazon, you can't go wrong.
October 29, 2017
I'm enjoying this light fantasy series.
It's no literary masterpiece, but a different, interesting and entertaining take on YA dystopia.
It's no literary masterpiece, but a different, interesting and entertaining take on YA dystopia.
December 7, 2017
I received a copy of The Pursuit of Zillow Stone from Brindi Quinn in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I got my copy of The Pursuit of Zillow Stone. I knew the basic premise thanks to the description, but that in no way prepared me for the world I was about to dive into. The world is just so expansive and detailed, as are all of the characters introduced. It certainly explains the size of this book!
The Pursuit of Zillow Stone is an interesting read; and while it reminded me of many books, it never ended up feeling derivative of any of them. Therefore I think fans of the Hunger Games series would enjoy it, as would Divergent fans. There’s a little bit of something for everyone; a touch of dystopian, a little bit of science fiction, a dash of romance, mix them all together and you get an expansive world to read about.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I got my copy of The Pursuit of Zillow Stone. I knew the basic premise thanks to the description, but that in no way prepared me for the world I was about to dive into. The world is just so expansive and detailed, as are all of the characters introduced. It certainly explains the size of this book!
The Pursuit of Zillow Stone is an interesting read; and while it reminded me of many books, it never ended up feeling derivative of any of them. Therefore I think fans of the Hunger Games series would enjoy it, as would Divergent fans. There’s a little bit of something for everyone; a touch of dystopian, a little bit of science fiction, a dash of romance, mix them all together and you get an expansive world to read about.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
May 8, 2018
The Pursuit of Zillow Stone
Author: Brindi Quinn
Pages: 457
Synopsis:
Planet Earth is dying and all that remains is the East and the West and a deadly game between them. Unlucky for Zillow she is chosen to participate in this fatal game on her twentieth birthday. Zillow is fast and she is strong but the only problem is Crash, her marker, the man sent to hunt and kill her shares the same traits, they are compatible. Zillow's only chance is to keep moving until the time comes where she kills her marker before he kills her. In this deadly game of cat and mouse we follow Zillow on her fight for survival, but all is not what it seems in the land between the East and West.
Review:
If you love the Hunger Games series and The Maze Runner series then can I just say that the Pursuit of Zillow Stone is the perfect book for you!
Before beginning to read this book, I knew it would be right up by my street because the synopsis teased me and captured my attention with the little sneaky extract from the book! This good looking book pulled me in straight away and I was eager to get stuck in.
After reading the first couple of chapters my excitement from the book only increased more- I knew from that moment I was hooked and this book would be one of them that you struggle to put down and I was right. There was plenty of action throughout and I felt that I was on this journey with the characters myself. I was eager to reveal the books secrets but at the same time I really didn't want the book to end!
Despite being wary for the character Theo at first, I found all the characters likeable and bonded with them all. I loved Theo's cheeky and mischievous side, his parts in the book lightened the tone and made everything feel less intense despite the situation the characters were in.
As for Zillow, I loved how she wasn't the typical damsel in distress. She knew she was in danger and she relied on herself to get herself out of it- even carrying Theo along the way. She was strong, witty, independent and clever but she had a soft side and was very likable.
Despite the fact that Crash had been sent to hunt and kill Zillow, I knew he wasn't all bad and I'm glad this was proven to be right. There was definatley more to him that what was expected and I loved feeling the chemistry between him and Zillow grow.
I enjoyed that the twists and turns that caught me off guard and I really couldn't call the ending! The plot was easy to follow and Brindi Quinn did a fantastic job at creating this imaginary game board. The Pursuit of Zillow Stone had the perfect amount of tension, humour and adventure and it's clear to me that Brindi is a very talented author. I cannot wait to read more of her work and would highly recommend this read!
Author: Brindi Quinn
Pages: 457
Synopsis:
Planet Earth is dying and all that remains is the East and the West and a deadly game between them. Unlucky for Zillow she is chosen to participate in this fatal game on her twentieth birthday. Zillow is fast and she is strong but the only problem is Crash, her marker, the man sent to hunt and kill her shares the same traits, they are compatible. Zillow's only chance is to keep moving until the time comes where she kills her marker before he kills her. In this deadly game of cat and mouse we follow Zillow on her fight for survival, but all is not what it seems in the land between the East and West.
Review:
If you love the Hunger Games series and The Maze Runner series then can I just say that the Pursuit of Zillow Stone is the perfect book for you!
Before beginning to read this book, I knew it would be right up by my street because the synopsis teased me and captured my attention with the little sneaky extract from the book! This good looking book pulled me in straight away and I was eager to get stuck in.
After reading the first couple of chapters my excitement from the book only increased more- I knew from that moment I was hooked and this book would be one of them that you struggle to put down and I was right. There was plenty of action throughout and I felt that I was on this journey with the characters myself. I was eager to reveal the books secrets but at the same time I really didn't want the book to end!
Despite being wary for the character Theo at first, I found all the characters likeable and bonded with them all. I loved Theo's cheeky and mischievous side, his parts in the book lightened the tone and made everything feel less intense despite the situation the characters were in.
As for Zillow, I loved how she wasn't the typical damsel in distress. She knew she was in danger and she relied on herself to get herself out of it- even carrying Theo along the way. She was strong, witty, independent and clever but she had a soft side and was very likable.
Despite the fact that Crash had been sent to hunt and kill Zillow, I knew he wasn't all bad and I'm glad this was proven to be right. There was definatley more to him that what was expected and I loved feeling the chemistry between him and Zillow grow.
I enjoyed that the twists and turns that caught me off guard and I really couldn't call the ending! The plot was easy to follow and Brindi Quinn did a fantastic job at creating this imaginary game board. The Pursuit of Zillow Stone had the perfect amount of tension, humour and adventure and it's clear to me that Brindi is a very talented author. I cannot wait to read more of her work and would highly recommend this read!
November 10, 2017
Recommend for: Dystopian, sci-fi, and slow burn romance lovers. Fans of The Hunger Games and Legend.
Disclaimer: I was given an electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *Spoiler free*
The Pursuit of Zillow Stone by Brindi Quinn hooked me right from the start. A young adult dystopian novel with a fresh take on a destroyed future, it introduces the heroine, Zillow Stone, as one of the unlucky Marked. What does this mean? That she now must endure the desert wilds and fight to the death with her Marker in an enormous game of cat and mouse. But this hardy, determined girl won't go down without a fight. Having trained all her life, Zillow is well prepared to survive and return as one of the rare winners. However, her Marker is just as suited to emerge the champion. And so the hunt begins.
The plot took me through a roller coaster of intrigue with a variety of characters both lovable and deplorable, a unique concept for a future society, and stellar character development. It hooked me from the start and refused to let me go. This book is so phenomenally unlike anything else I've ever read.
Now, I hesitate to give a book a five star rating, particularly when I've been given this book to review. I don't just hand out five stars, holding them to a very high standard. But, The Pursuit of Zillow Stone completely and utterly blew me away with the world building, lore, and character development and interactions. It took unexpected twists and turns and overall, everything was executed extremely well in terms of reasonable progression. The novel had me clinging to it, desperate to get home from work and return to it, and in the end left me both satisfied yet yearning for more. And to me, that is the mark of a truly memorable and enjoyable story.
I damn well hope that there will be at least another book to follow this. I'm not ready to leave the fantastic characters and plot, and what may lay beyond, behind. I just need more!!
Disclaimer: I was given an electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *Spoiler free*
The Pursuit of Zillow Stone by Brindi Quinn hooked me right from the start. A young adult dystopian novel with a fresh take on a destroyed future, it introduces the heroine, Zillow Stone, as one of the unlucky Marked. What does this mean? That she now must endure the desert wilds and fight to the death with her Marker in an enormous game of cat and mouse. But this hardy, determined girl won't go down without a fight. Having trained all her life, Zillow is well prepared to survive and return as one of the rare winners. However, her Marker is just as suited to emerge the champion. And so the hunt begins.
The plot took me through a roller coaster of intrigue with a variety of characters both lovable and deplorable, a unique concept for a future society, and stellar character development. It hooked me from the start and refused to let me go. This book is so phenomenally unlike anything else I've ever read.
Now, I hesitate to give a book a five star rating, particularly when I've been given this book to review. I don't just hand out five stars, holding them to a very high standard. But, The Pursuit of Zillow Stone completely and utterly blew me away with the world building, lore, and character development and interactions. It took unexpected twists and turns and overall, everything was executed extremely well in terms of reasonable progression. The novel had me clinging to it, desperate to get home from work and return to it, and in the end left me both satisfied yet yearning for more. And to me, that is the mark of a truly memorable and enjoyable story.
I damn well hope that there will be at least another book to follow this. I'm not ready to leave the fantastic characters and plot, and what may lay beyond, behind. I just need more!!
November 14, 2017
What can I write about this book. I mean Brindi Quinn, the author of the book has taken me on a quiet of adventure. I felt that, I was literally with the main character, Zillow Stone the whole time. Their world is divided into two, the Markers, who are from the West City and the Marked (or Pregs as they are known to the Markers.) from the East City. When you turn the age of 20, a blood test is done to decide whether you are the marked one or not. If you are, the game of chase begins This is a game of cat and mouse, where in Zillow is being chased by her Marker. We don’t know the name of the Marker until in the second act. But we do meet Theo, the other marked one just like Zillow. I love his character, he was an idiot, funny but a good partner and friend. Zillow is smart, fast and strong a total badass girl, who is determined to fight till the end.
The plot setting was well executed, it had action also signs of instan-love but then it wasn’t. Every thing you thought should be in a dystopian setting, you got it, deserted wasteland, mech beast among other things. But I would have loved if we got to know more of Zillow. The chapters were short, it didn’t drag which I liked too. I didn’t want the book to end, but alas it had to.
Overall this was good read, and those who liked dystopian settings should read it.
Disclaimer : I was sent this ebook in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are purely mine and are not influenced by the author.
The plot setting was well executed, it had action also signs of instan-love but then it wasn’t. Every thing you thought should be in a dystopian setting, you got it, deserted wasteland, mech beast among other things. But I would have loved if we got to know more of Zillow. The chapters were short, it didn’t drag which I liked too. I didn’t want the book to end, but alas it had to.
Overall this was good read, and those who liked dystopian settings should read it.
Disclaimer : I was sent this ebook in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are purely mine and are not influenced by the author.
November 14, 2017
Truly remarkable storytelling. As I finished the story I knew that my life will not be the same again. I have fallen for this author's writing and cannot wait to devour the next book. The characters were truly inspirational and the storyline was compelling.
It is amazingly intense and the author prepares you for the journey for you to take alongside the characters really well. The characters and story development were perfectly done. This book was extremely well written and has fast become one of my favourites of all time. This book was full of many twists and turns that will keep you guessing what is going to happen until the very end. I devoured it in one sitting. Incredible work!! I absolutely adored reading this book and will be one clicking the rest of this authors work.
It is amazingly intense and the author prepares you for the journey for you to take alongside the characters really well. The characters and story development were perfectly done. This book was extremely well written and has fast become one of my favourites of all time. This book was full of many twists and turns that will keep you guessing what is going to happen until the very end. I devoured it in one sitting. Incredible work!! I absolutely adored reading this book and will be one clicking the rest of this authors work.
November 30, 2017
high-action dystopian, fast-paced, unique storyline
October 29, 2016
I've been craving for this book by the time I finished the Act 1, and now that I have read it, it was really great! The plot has gotten better and it became more interesting. There are more and more questions forming in my head as I was reading it, and that is one of the things that I love about this book. It makes me wonder and curious that I can't put the book down. Like the first book, reading this is like a roller coaster ride. Lots of emotions and they are unexplainable.
Even the start is never boring and dull. It started right and it hooked me up in an instant. It is written perfectly! The action scenes are astounding and it has effect on the reader. It gives thrill, suspense and there are scenes that really made my heart beat fast. The plot is very unpredictable and what happened in this book is quite far from what I thought it would be. I thought I fell in love with Theo, but I fell harder with Crash. He's very mysterious and has many secrets. I'm actually trying to figure out things about him by myself, but I just can't. He's too hard to predict. Also, I'm starting to ship him and Zillow! I think they would make a good couple, and it's not impossible because there are other pairs who seem to be lovers.
After writing this review, I'm going to immediately read Act 3. There are still lots of things that I want to know. I want to know why Crash is doing what he's doing, what's with Theo and his marker, the mystery of the "Paradise," and why is the game started in the first place. I want to know everything. Reading this book made me feel like I'm in there, too, and that's amazing. All in all, I give this book 5 stars, for it gave me a great experience of being in the world of prags and markers, who can hopefully find their path to all the answers they are all hoping for.
Even the start is never boring and dull. It started right and it hooked me up in an instant. It is written perfectly! The action scenes are astounding and it has effect on the reader. It gives thrill, suspense and there are scenes that really made my heart beat fast. The plot is very unpredictable and what happened in this book is quite far from what I thought it would be. I thought I fell in love with Theo, but I fell harder with Crash. He's very mysterious and has many secrets. I'm actually trying to figure out things about him by myself, but I just can't. He's too hard to predict. Also, I'm starting to ship him and Zillow! I think they would make a good couple, and it's not impossible because there are other pairs who seem to be lovers.
After writing this review, I'm going to immediately read Act 3. There are still lots of things that I want to know. I want to know why Crash is doing what he's doing, what's with Theo and his marker, the mystery of the "Paradise," and why is the game started in the first place. I want to know everything. Reading this book made me feel like I'm in there, too, and that's amazing. All in all, I give this book 5 stars, for it gave me a great experience of being in the world of prags and markers, who can hopefully find their path to all the answers they are all hoping for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2016
"You are that pink flower, Zillow," my grandfather told me. "And one day, the black rose will come for you."
Zillow and the Unholy one by Brindi Quinn is a super fun, exciting read! As I was reading it gave me a Hunger Games feel. If you are a fan of The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games, these books are for you!
Zillow, "a mondo badass loner", is a 19 year old girl who fears turning 20. Where Zillow is from, when a person turns 20 they have the possibility of becoming a prag. Being a prag means that you were marked, and the chase is now in motion. Prags spend every hour of every day running from their markers/the unholy ones. Many never return. It's a game.
"Catch me if you can, away I'll run, run,run. You'll never lay a haaand, the chase is so much fun!"
To Zillow's surprise there are safe houses and people willing to help prags. But how do you know where to go and who to trust? All that is for certain is that once the mark on your hand turns red, the unholy knows exactly where you are. How are you supposed to run when you're being tracked? How are you supposed to run when the tracker is inside your own hand?
I didn't know what to expect when reading this book. I knew it would be a quick read because the book comes in 3 separate acts. It is very fast paced and left me wanting more. The author wasted no time in getting the story started. There was nothing but action and excitement from the very first word to the very last. I am really looking forward to the next books. Brindi Quinn makes you love the chase.
"I, Zillow Stone, was a marked one, and I was going to win."
Zillow and the Unholy one by Brindi Quinn is a super fun, exciting read! As I was reading it gave me a Hunger Games feel. If you are a fan of The Maze Runner or The Hunger Games, these books are for you!
Zillow, "a mondo badass loner", is a 19 year old girl who fears turning 20. Where Zillow is from, when a person turns 20 they have the possibility of becoming a prag. Being a prag means that you were marked, and the chase is now in motion. Prags spend every hour of every day running from their markers/the unholy ones. Many never return. It's a game.
"Catch me if you can, away I'll run, run,run. You'll never lay a haaand, the chase is so much fun!"
To Zillow's surprise there are safe houses and people willing to help prags. But how do you know where to go and who to trust? All that is for certain is that once the mark on your hand turns red, the unholy knows exactly where you are. How are you supposed to run when you're being tracked? How are you supposed to run when the tracker is inside your own hand?
I didn't know what to expect when reading this book. I knew it would be a quick read because the book comes in 3 separate acts. It is very fast paced and left me wanting more. The author wasted no time in getting the story started. There was nothing but action and excitement from the very first word to the very last. I am really looking forward to the next books. Brindi Quinn makes you love the chase.
"I, Zillow Stone, was a marked one, and I was going to win."
July 19, 2018
"Mankind is a tragedy."
From the start, the storyline is very intriguing. Bit by bit, the setting is unraveled and you start to put the story together. The story itself is fast-paced, and things would always happen that would make you guess at what would happen next. It's a dystopian, but not one which is upsetting because there's really no time for that between everything that is taking place.
My three favorite characters were Crash, Theo, and Zillow. I loved how Zillow's character was portrayed. Like we would get to know her, then we'd see the internal struggle she was having and how in denial she was. Theo is just this light at the end of the tunnel, like the comic relief of everything that is going on. His personality is just so bright and I love it. What I liked about Crash was how mysterious he was, and how you would not be able to guess his intentions, but the tension and teasing between him and Zillow was just great!
What I loved about this book was that it would always make me want to continue. Like I would have a final exam the next day, but I would stay up until 4 am, refusing to put it down. Even as I entered the exam room, I was thinking about how I would continue reading it once I was done. And honestly, one of the best things as well, is that it's a standalone as I am in a mood where I'm always very hesitant and picky about which sequels to read. So getting to know what happens in the end and receiving answers in just one book was perfect!
From the start, the storyline is very intriguing. Bit by bit, the setting is unraveled and you start to put the story together. The story itself is fast-paced, and things would always happen that would make you guess at what would happen next. It's a dystopian, but not one which is upsetting because there's really no time for that between everything that is taking place.
My three favorite characters were Crash, Theo, and Zillow. I loved how Zillow's character was portrayed. Like we would get to know her, then we'd see the internal struggle she was having and how in denial she was. Theo is just this light at the end of the tunnel, like the comic relief of everything that is going on. His personality is just so bright and I love it. What I liked about Crash was how mysterious he was, and how you would not be able to guess his intentions, but the tension and teasing between him and Zillow was just great!
What I loved about this book was that it would always make me want to continue. Like I would have a final exam the next day, but I would stay up until 4 am, refusing to put it down. Even as I entered the exam room, I was thinking about how I would continue reading it once I was done. And honestly, one of the best things as well, is that it's a standalone as I am in a mood where I'm always very hesitant and picky about which sequels to read. So getting to know what happens in the end and receiving answers in just one book was perfect!
November 2, 2016
Just finished reading this book and now I'm all hyped! Out of the three books, this book made me laugh the most. I've said this in my reviews for the first two books but still, I can't help say that the plot is great! It's very unpredictable and it's getting better and better. Reading this book is being hooked in the life of Zillow Stone. I feel like I'm involved in her life, now.
Here, I loved Zillow Stone more. Bravery and wit has really been shown, and I admire her a lot. Zillow Stone is so cute whenever she acts strangely with Crash, especially after the "mishap." Crash, on the other hand, had finally shown his softer side that I've been wanting to see. Now, I can't help but ship the two. They seem to be so cute together. Also, their partnership is so great that I think they can do all things if they're together.
I love how action-packed this book is. There was never a dull moment from start to finish. Now, I'm close to crying because of the cliffhanger. I really want to know what happens next! There are clues, now. And I'm so eager to know every truth that's being covered. My mind is full of "why's," "how's" and "who's." Even though, it seems like we're close to the ending, I'm still not sure. That's because Brindi Quinn is always full of surprises. She has never disappointed her readers. For the third time, I'm rating her work 5/5. I think I'm marked. I'm a prag like Zillow. I have a mark in my heart and Brindi Quinn is my marker.
Here, I loved Zillow Stone more. Bravery and wit has really been shown, and I admire her a lot. Zillow Stone is so cute whenever she acts strangely with Crash, especially after the "mishap." Crash, on the other hand, had finally shown his softer side that I've been wanting to see. Now, I can't help but ship the two. They seem to be so cute together. Also, their partnership is so great that I think they can do all things if they're together.
I love how action-packed this book is. There was never a dull moment from start to finish. Now, I'm close to crying because of the cliffhanger. I really want to know what happens next! There are clues, now. And I'm so eager to know every truth that's being covered. My mind is full of "why's," "how's" and "who's." Even though, it seems like we're close to the ending, I'm still not sure. That's because Brindi Quinn is always full of surprises. She has never disappointed her readers. For the third time, I'm rating her work 5/5. I think I'm marked. I'm a prag like Zillow. I have a mark in my heart and Brindi Quinn is my marker.
August 22, 2016
I found this to be a well put together and interesting story. The backstory is not overwhelming, yet it provides all of the necessary information. The chapters are short and I am a big fan of a short chapter. Each and every one is created in a way that continually keeps one’s attention.
I love the tension breaking quirks in the books like funny nicknames and a balance of humor. I hate that the other characters keep casually dropping lines about how smart the female lead is. I get it, she is extraordinarily intelligent.
I am intrigued with the idea of a leading character who is rarely physically present. I don’t see this happen often and when done well it adds depth and drama to a tale. I find it is done well in this story.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and frankly, I am a little on the disappointed side about that, but the very title makes it very clear that we are getting into a series and the logical assumption is that cliffhangers will be the reality.
The cover is a little misleading in that I expected a book geared towards young teens but in reality, it is much better suited for adults and older teens because of some strong profanity sprinkled throughout the story.
Overall I was happy with the level of quality and entertainment that this story provides and I find myself looking forward to getting the next copy.
I love the tension breaking quirks in the books like funny nicknames and a balance of humor. I hate that the other characters keep casually dropping lines about how smart the female lead is. I get it, she is extraordinarily intelligent.
I am intrigued with the idea of a leading character who is rarely physically present. I don’t see this happen often and when done well it adds depth and drama to a tale. I find it is done well in this story.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and frankly, I am a little on the disappointed side about that, but the very title makes it very clear that we are getting into a series and the logical assumption is that cliffhangers will be the reality.
The cover is a little misleading in that I expected a book geared towards young teens but in reality, it is much better suited for adults and older teens because of some strong profanity sprinkled throughout the story.
Overall I was happy with the level of quality and entertainment that this story provides and I find myself looking forward to getting the next copy.
October 28, 2016
Zillow Stone & The Unholy One has been sent to me in exchange of an honest review, and honestly, by the time I read the synopsis, it hooked me instantly. But, as I am in the midst of reading it, I never thought it would be that good! Everything about the book is, for me, intact and astounding. I have felt many different emotions just by reading the book.
At first, it was somehow confusing, yet interesting. And then it turned into suspense and some parts even caused me to shiver. I loved it more when there came Theo, a funny guy that I actually found slightly mysterious. I want to know about him more and his life before meeting Zillow. Now, speaking of Zillow, she is the girl I want myself to be, and I know it's impossible because I'm a weakling. Zillow is an epitome of bravery and wit, with a touch of delicacy. Every character that this story holds, especially Zillow and Theo, has left something within me that I think I can never eradicate.
Now that I finished reading the book, with a cliffhanger, I am very eager to read the act 2. I badly want every question formed in my head to be answered. If you're a fan of Hunger Games, you will definitely love this book. No doubt. As a lover of dystopian novels, I rate this book 5/5. Why? Because it is a book that leaves a mark, not in the back of your palm, but in your heart.
At first, it was somehow confusing, yet interesting. And then it turned into suspense and some parts even caused me to shiver. I loved it more when there came Theo, a funny guy that I actually found slightly mysterious. I want to know about him more and his life before meeting Zillow. Now, speaking of Zillow, she is the girl I want myself to be, and I know it's impossible because I'm a weakling. Zillow is an epitome of bravery and wit, with a touch of delicacy. Every character that this story holds, especially Zillow and Theo, has left something within me that I think I can never eradicate.
Now that I finished reading the book, with a cliffhanger, I am very eager to read the act 2. I badly want every question formed in my head to be answered. If you're a fan of Hunger Games, you will definitely love this book. No doubt. As a lover of dystopian novels, I rate this book 5/5. Why? Because it is a book that leaves a mark, not in the back of your palm, but in your heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2015
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
"The boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, 'Run.'"
This was the first book I read by Brindi and I enjoyed it quite a lot. It has one of the most unique concepts I have read about to date and it was greatly refreshing. This is a Dystopian and I love how I was learning at the same pace that the main character was. The things I learned from this world were addicting. I kept wishing this could be turned into an anime/game. I would definitely love to see that play out.
Due to the short length of the book, I wasn't able to form a connection with any of the characters but I didn't mind. I enjoyed them nonetheless. I wasn't expecting to build strong connections since this felt more like an episode. I will say though, that one of the guys, Theo, is hilarious! I would love to see more of him on books to come.
The cliffhanger was predictable from the very beginning for me, which is the reason I didn't give this 4 stars. I still would love to know what happens next in this series. I feel like it could become a next favorite of mine once I explore more of it.
Random fact: I kept getting distracted by the smell of the book...lol.
3.5 stars
"The boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, 'Run.'"
This was the first book I read by Brindi and I enjoyed it quite a lot. It has one of the most unique concepts I have read about to date and it was greatly refreshing. This is a Dystopian and I love how I was learning at the same pace that the main character was. The things I learned from this world were addicting. I kept wishing this could be turned into an anime/game. I would definitely love to see that play out.
Due to the short length of the book, I wasn't able to form a connection with any of the characters but I didn't mind. I enjoyed them nonetheless. I wasn't expecting to build strong connections since this felt more like an episode. I will say though, that one of the guys, Theo, is hilarious! I would love to see more of him on books to come.
The cliffhanger was predictable from the very beginning for me, which is the reason I didn't give this 4 stars. I still would love to know what happens next in this series. I feel like it could become a next favorite of mine once I explore more of it.
Random fact: I kept getting distracted by the smell of the book...lol.
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews