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Altered #1
Altered
A new adult romance from Entangled's Embrace imprint...
When "normal" ends, survival begins...
The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it was done, waitress Blue Michaels was different in a really strange way. And the entire town of Glory was dead...except for her.
Only that's not exactly true. A handful of people made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who was caught in the wrong town at the worst time. He's fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. As much as they need a leader—as much as Blue wants to trust him—there are too many questions and not enough time for answers. Now they are hunted. But what their pursuers don't know is each of them has strange new powers. And they'll use their "gifts" to survive...no matter who stands in their way.
When "normal" ends, survival begins...
The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it was done, waitress Blue Michaels was different in a really strange way. And the entire town of Glory was dead...except for her.
Only that's not exactly true. A handful of people made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who was caught in the wrong town at the worst time. He's fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. As much as they need a leader—as much as Blue wants to trust him—there are too many questions and not enough time for answers. Now they are hunted. But what their pursuers don't know is each of them has strange new powers. And they'll use their "gifts" to survive...no matter who stands in their way.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2015
12 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Marnee Blake
7 books213 followersSign up for news and giveaways! http://www.subscribepage.com/marneeblake
Award-winning author and RITA® finalist Marnee Blake used to teach high school students but these days she only has to wrangle her own children. Originally from a small town in western Pennsylvania, she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with her hero husband and their happily-ever-after: two very energetic boys. When she isn't writing, she can be found refereeing disputes between her children, cooking up something sweet, or hiding from encroaching dust bunnies with a book.
Find Marnee on the web at www.marneeblake.com, on Twitter @marneeblake, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorMarneeBlake/
Award-winning author and RITA® finalist Marnee Blake used to teach high school students but these days she only has to wrangle her own children. Originally from a small town in western Pennsylvania, she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with her hero husband and their happily-ever-after: two very energetic boys. When she isn't writing, she can be found refereeing disputes between her children, cooking up something sweet, or hiding from encroaching dust bunnies with a book.
Find Marnee on the web at www.marneeblake.com, on Twitter @marneeblake, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorMarneeBlake/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 12, 2016
I received a copy via netgalley and the publisher.
Excuse any graphic language I may use in this review.
Holy shit! This was seriously intense and filled with action. The pace of it was so amped up that I felt like I had a action movie in my head on fastforward.
It was exciting, the whole powers thing that the characters got from this drug. Truthfully though this story reminded me of the movie Push, the tv show Misfits, and the movie Chronicle all rolled into one. Which is pretty epic since I found them all to be awesome in their own ways. I kinda wish everyone had their own powers but I guess it was ok that two groups had double ups with the how mind control and super strengthen. I still found the coolest to be Kitty's mind reading, but the side effects seemed horrid for them all with the nose bleeds and headaches. Blue and Seth had a insta love it was more like a heat of the danger zone you cling to someone deal and I think I was put off by it so I didn't care to read about it but maybe overtime it might grow on my more. They're both super spunky attitude wise so the commentary is rather fun to read. The other two boys aren't really a big deal but I won't go into spoilers for it. Can't wait for the sequel kinda felt like a massive cliff hanger with a decent amount of closure just enough to leave you wanting more. Solid 3.5-4 action packed read.
Excuse any graphic language I may use in this review.
Holy shit! This was seriously intense and filled with action. The pace of it was so amped up that I felt like I had a action movie in my head on fastforward.
It was exciting, the whole powers thing that the characters got from this drug. Truthfully though this story reminded me of the movie Push, the tv show Misfits, and the movie Chronicle all rolled into one. Which is pretty epic since I found them all to be awesome in their own ways. I kinda wish everyone had their own powers but I guess it was ok that two groups had double ups with the how mind control and super strengthen. I still found the coolest to be Kitty's mind reading, but the side effects seemed horrid for them all with the nose bleeds and headaches. Blue and Seth had a insta love it was more like a heat of the danger zone you cling to someone deal and I think I was put off by it so I didn't care to read about it but maybe overtime it might grow on my more. They're both super spunky attitude wise so the commentary is rather fun to read. The other two boys aren't really a big deal but I won't go into spoilers for it. Can't wait for the sequel kinda felt like a massive cliff hanger with a decent amount of closure just enough to leave you wanting more. Solid 3.5-4 action packed read.
December 28, 2015
Blue is a small town waitress who takes care of her ailing grandmother. She has dreams of escaping the town and leaving her life behind, but she never imagined it would happen like this. After yet another predictable day, she goes home and eats her dinner. She suddenly spikes a fever and becomes deathly ill. When the haze fades she discovers the grizzly body of her grandmother and rushed to town to seek out help, only to find more dead bodies. Her help comes in the form of Seth, an army soldier who stopped over in the town on his way to Special Forces training.
Together they uncover the deadly aftermath that seems to have hit the entire town and left the few survivors with lasting side effects- special super powers. The survivors soon form a rag-tag team of misfits and we’re sent on a heart-stopping race to find answers while running from a mysterious government agency intent on capturing them. It’s difficult to know who is friend or enemy or who can be trusted in this fast paced book.
I loved all the characters and their peculiar quirks but none more so that Blue and Seth. Seth was the typical army alpha with an intense need to protect the others, a feeling fuelled by his own guilt and pain from his past. He wants to keep everyone safe, but especially Blue – if only she’d listen to his orders. Blue was a surprisingly strong character that took all the confusion in stride and never backed down or cowered in a corner and challenged Seth at every turn, making the connection between her and the sullen alpha that much more exciting. Amongst everything that is happening around them there was no denying the strong attraction they felt towards each other.
I loved the way the book was written. From the start you’re thrown right into all the confusion and you’re left to figure out everything along with the survivors as they piece together all the clues, making you feel as though you were right there with them. The action never lets up and I was breathless by the end of this book. It ends on a bit of a cliffy and I can’t wait to see what happens next. A brilliant debut by Marnee Blake.
(ARC provided by author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
Together they uncover the deadly aftermath that seems to have hit the entire town and left the few survivors with lasting side effects- special super powers. The survivors soon form a rag-tag team of misfits and we’re sent on a heart-stopping race to find answers while running from a mysterious government agency intent on capturing them. It’s difficult to know who is friend or enemy or who can be trusted in this fast paced book.
I loved all the characters and their peculiar quirks but none more so that Blue and Seth. Seth was the typical army alpha with an intense need to protect the others, a feeling fuelled by his own guilt and pain from his past. He wants to keep everyone safe, but especially Blue – if only she’d listen to his orders. Blue was a surprisingly strong character that took all the confusion in stride and never backed down or cowered in a corner and challenged Seth at every turn, making the connection between her and the sullen alpha that much more exciting. Amongst everything that is happening around them there was no denying the strong attraction they felt towards each other.
I loved the way the book was written. From the start you’re thrown right into all the confusion and you’re left to figure out everything along with the survivors as they piece together all the clues, making you feel as though you were right there with them. The action never lets up and I was breathless by the end of this book. It ends on a bit of a cliffy and I can’t wait to see what happens next. A brilliant debut by Marnee Blake.
(ARC provided by author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
June 12, 2016
That fateful night she went to bed, a member of a small town community, violently ill and raging with fever. When she awoke, most of the town was dead and a stranger stands before her, a soldier, big, brawny and just as bewildered as she. Their first meeting was terrifying, but U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell has no more idea of what is going on than Blue does. So begins their journey into a world that has been Altered by Marnee Blake.
Finding only a few survivors, they discover they are being hunted. Is it because they survived or is there more to whatever happened in the town? Determined to get to the safety of Seth’s Army base, this group sets off on a journey to stay alive when they discover they have been Altered and now possess gifts of great powers. Can their powers keep them safe from capture? Will they be able to work together in spite of raging tempers, unsettling hormones and the fear of the unknown?
Sometimes there is nothing better than a Science Fiction/Romance that spotlights the Sci-Fi and only teases at anything else. We have left the realm of fantasy and have entered into the realm of “just maybe” this could be a reality one day? Who is the villain, a secret entity or the government? Flawed characters, gruesome deaths and bad choices in friends all make this a terrifying journey to stay one step ahead of the guys with the big guns.
I received this copy from Entangled Publishing, LLC-Embrace in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace (December 28, 2015)
Publication Date: December 28, 2015
ISBN 9781633754829
Genre: N/A Romance
Print Length: 221 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Finding only a few survivors, they discover they are being hunted. Is it because they survived or is there more to whatever happened in the town? Determined to get to the safety of Seth’s Army base, this group sets off on a journey to stay alive when they discover they have been Altered and now possess gifts of great powers. Can their powers keep them safe from capture? Will they be able to work together in spite of raging tempers, unsettling hormones and the fear of the unknown?
Sometimes there is nothing better than a Science Fiction/Romance that spotlights the Sci-Fi and only teases at anything else. We have left the realm of fantasy and have entered into the realm of “just maybe” this could be a reality one day? Who is the villain, a secret entity or the government? Flawed characters, gruesome deaths and bad choices in friends all make this a terrifying journey to stay one step ahead of the guys with the big guns.
I received this copy from Entangled Publishing, LLC-Embrace in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace (December 28, 2015)
Publication Date: December 28, 2015
ISBN 9781633754829
Genre: N/A Romance
Print Length: 221 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 15, 2016
Blue Michaels came home from work one night and became violently ill. Thinking she had the flu Blue went to bed trying not to awaken her grandmother and give her the germs. The next morning Blue finds that her grandmother must have been sick too and has passed away. Going for help she finds that everywhere she looks in her small town it seems they've all been hit with the illness and died.
Blue finally finds another person that seems to have survived the night, U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell who had stopped in town for the night while traveling. The pair see a military chopper heading over the town and immediately run to hide thinking the worst. Soon they find a other survivors but all of them quickly learn that they seem to have developed special powers.
Altered was an action packed ride from start to finish. This story is a new adult mix of suspense, fantasy and a bit of romance all rolled into one. When government experiments go awry the characters that survive develop super powers and go on the run before they become human guinea pigs and get taken off to a lab to be experimented on.
I enjoyed the relationship that formed between Seth and Blue over the course of the read. An intense situation that brought them together needing to protect each other and their group. It was also fun watching and learning right along with the group just what powers each would have and learning how to use them.
Overall, a great start to this series will look forward to seeing where the characters end up in the next installment.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Blue finally finds another person that seems to have survived the night, U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell who had stopped in town for the night while traveling. The pair see a military chopper heading over the town and immediately run to hide thinking the worst. Soon they find a other survivors but all of them quickly learn that they seem to have developed special powers.
Altered was an action packed ride from start to finish. This story is a new adult mix of suspense, fantasy and a bit of romance all rolled into one. When government experiments go awry the characters that survive develop super powers and go on the run before they become human guinea pigs and get taken off to a lab to be experimented on.
I enjoyed the relationship that formed between Seth and Blue over the course of the read. An intense situation that brought them together needing to protect each other and their group. It was also fun watching and learning right along with the group just what powers each would have and learning how to use them.
Overall, a great start to this series will look forward to seeing where the characters end up in the next installment.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 28, 2015
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Seth is an army soldier on his way to Special Ops training when he pulls into a small town to spend the night. Blue is a young bartender in the same small town working long hours to take care of her grandmother. All of a sudden, both Blue and Seth become violently ill. When they wake up the next morning, the illness is magically gone - but everyone else in the town is dead. And that's how this creepy story begins.
Blue and Seth team up and search for more survivors, only to learn that they each now possess a super power. Seth has super speed and strength, and Blue can use telekinesis. Not only that, but a top secret organization is now hunting them. Blue and Seth set off on a high speed game of cat and mouse avoiding their would-be captors, along with other survivors Jack, Kitty, and Luke, who have newfound abilities of their own. They must find the truth behind what happened to them, while running from the people who would rather lock them up than have the secret get out.
I loved this debut from author Marnee Blake! ALTERED was a fast-paced contemporary sci-fi full of romance, betrayals, and complex characters. I read it in two days. It almost has a similar feel to post-apocalyptic stories, despite not being post-apoc; I think it will appeal to fans of post-apoc, dystopian, and zombie books in addition to fans of contemporary sci-fi. There's also enough romance (with the heat commonly associated with the New Adult genre) that I don't think fans of traditional NA romance will be disappointed.
I personally love the New Adult age group, but mostly read science fiction and fantasy, so I'm thrilled to see speculative NA becoming more of a "thing." Blake is a fresh new voice in this developing genre, and I'm eager to read the sequel (ALTERED ends on a cliffhanger). Also, I may ship Nick and Kitty, so I hope they get together in the next book!
Five stars!
Seth is an army soldier on his way to Special Ops training when he pulls into a small town to spend the night. Blue is a young bartender in the same small town working long hours to take care of her grandmother. All of a sudden, both Blue and Seth become violently ill. When they wake up the next morning, the illness is magically gone - but everyone else in the town is dead. And that's how this creepy story begins.
Blue and Seth team up and search for more survivors, only to learn that they each now possess a super power. Seth has super speed and strength, and Blue can use telekinesis. Not only that, but a top secret organization is now hunting them. Blue and Seth set off on a high speed game of cat and mouse avoiding their would-be captors, along with other survivors Jack, Kitty, and Luke, who have newfound abilities of their own. They must find the truth behind what happened to them, while running from the people who would rather lock them up than have the secret get out.
I loved this debut from author Marnee Blake! ALTERED was a fast-paced contemporary sci-fi full of romance, betrayals, and complex characters. I read it in two days. It almost has a similar feel to post-apocalyptic stories, despite not being post-apoc; I think it will appeal to fans of post-apoc, dystopian, and zombie books in addition to fans of contemporary sci-fi. There's also enough romance (with the heat commonly associated with the New Adult genre) that I don't think fans of traditional NA romance will be disappointed.
I personally love the New Adult age group, but mostly read science fiction and fantasy, so I'm thrilled to see speculative NA becoming more of a "thing." Blake is a fresh new voice in this developing genre, and I'm eager to read the sequel (ALTERED ends on a cliffhanger). Also, I may ship Nick and Kitty, so I hope they get together in the next book!
Five stars!
March 23, 2017
If I was only allowed one word to describe Altered it would be WOW! This debut book by author Marnee Blake has completely blown me away. Action, adventure and mystery are always a plus in my book. However, when you toss it in a SciFi romance genre, heck yeah! I am one very happy camper.
After a night of suddenly and inexplicably being violently ill, Blue wakes up to find everybody in her small town dead. Searching to find answers, she comes across a stranger in her town. Is he the reason everyone is dead or is he a survivor just like her? Seth is a soldier on his way to meet up with friends to continue on to Special Ops training. Tired he decides to stop for the night. Both have unanswered questions and together they go hunting for other survivors. Thankfully, they find three others only those still alive are not quite the same anymore. Nothing will ever be the same for the
Altered was a complete surprise for me. I liked the blurb and expected a certain level of mystery but WOW! I didn’t expect to get blown away. For starters, the characters were top notice. You have four townies and one stranger all waking up to find everybody dead, and now they have these new insane abilities. They weren’t perfect, their emotions were running high and they all were reacting like, well how I would. Confused, scared, and yes discovering what they could do was kinda cool. That is except for Kitty. I would not want the ability to hear people’s thoughts. Then you have the bad guys. I’m putting them into two categories. The first are the grunts or soldiers. I didn’t necessarily think them bad just more of poor shlubs following orders. Then there are the ones who you smile nervously at them and back away slowly. I’m still trying to figure them out, mean are all the bad guys bad? I do love a good mystery!
I’m really starting to get into this new SciFi romance genre that seems to have popped up over-night. I still like the fur and fang world but stories that have a ‘it could happen’ vibe, yeah I’m enjoying them. The possibility of a small town poisoned, survivors hunted, the whole why/what/why puzzle, so many twisting turns with just a taste of romance - it was a great balance. A moment on the romance, because I can see people crying there was a insta-love connection here. There’s nothing wrong with feeling attraction and in a heighten emotional situation, ones feelings are in over-drive. It’s when people are in a life or death situation on the run then suddenly stop to get jiggy with it, that’s when the unrealistic sex ruins the story for me. Ms. Blake kept it real here with Blue and Seth, scared and on the run, sticking together and keeping the heat to only a kiss. That I can believe. You want to call that a NA romance, go right ahead. I’m calling it a realistic display of emotion.
There’s quite a few unanswered questions when I finished Altered. It’s fairly safe to say this is going to be a series and what an awesome one it’s shaping up to be. I am definitely stalking this new author waiting for the next book to come out. The SciFi romance genre has a new author, her name is Marnee Blake and she is certainly one to watch!
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars - 5, Flames - 1
After a night of suddenly and inexplicably being violently ill, Blue wakes up to find everybody in her small town dead. Searching to find answers, she comes across a stranger in her town. Is he the reason everyone is dead or is he a survivor just like her? Seth is a soldier on his way to meet up with friends to continue on to Special Ops training. Tired he decides to stop for the night. Both have unanswered questions and together they go hunting for other survivors. Thankfully, they find three others only those still alive are not quite the same anymore. Nothing will ever be the same for the
Altered was a complete surprise for me. I liked the blurb and expected a certain level of mystery but WOW! I didn’t expect to get blown away. For starters, the characters were top notice. You have four townies and one stranger all waking up to find everybody dead, and now they have these new insane abilities. They weren’t perfect, their emotions were running high and they all were reacting like, well how I would. Confused, scared, and yes discovering what they could do was kinda cool. That is except for Kitty. I would not want the ability to hear people’s thoughts. Then you have the bad guys. I’m putting them into two categories. The first are the grunts or soldiers. I didn’t necessarily think them bad just more of poor shlubs following orders. Then there are the ones who you smile nervously at them and back away slowly. I’m still trying to figure them out, mean are all the bad guys bad? I do love a good mystery!
I’m really starting to get into this new SciFi romance genre that seems to have popped up over-night. I still like the fur and fang world but stories that have a ‘it could happen’ vibe, yeah I’m enjoying them. The possibility of a small town poisoned, survivors hunted, the whole why/what/why puzzle, so many twisting turns with just a taste of romance - it was a great balance. A moment on the romance, because I can see people crying there was a insta-love connection here. There’s nothing wrong with feeling attraction and in a heighten emotional situation, ones feelings are in over-drive. It’s when people are in a life or death situation on the run then suddenly stop to get jiggy with it, that’s when the unrealistic sex ruins the story for me. Ms. Blake kept it real here with Blue and Seth, scared and on the run, sticking together and keeping the heat to only a kiss. That I can believe. You want to call that a NA romance, go right ahead. I’m calling it a realistic display of emotion.
There’s quite a few unanswered questions when I finished Altered. It’s fairly safe to say this is going to be a series and what an awesome one it’s shaping up to be. I am definitely stalking this new author waiting for the next book to come out. The SciFi romance genre has a new author, her name is Marnee Blake and she is certainly one to watch!
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars - 5, Flames - 1
January 8, 2016
Damn. So different than what I expected, but in a very good way.
Mysterious illness. Military contractors. Super powers. Romance. Basically, this book has everything a sci-fi romance lover could want. And then some. It moves fast and hits hard. Almost a week later, and I'm still thinking about this story. If you've been searching for New Adult stories outside the confines of contemporary romance, I highly suggest Altered.
Mysterious illness. Military contractors. Super powers. Romance. Basically, this book has everything a sci-fi romance lover could want. And then some. It moves fast and hits hard. Almost a week later, and I'm still thinking about this story. If you've been searching for New Adult stories outside the confines of contemporary romance, I highly suggest Altered.
December 21, 2015
Altered was not at all what I was expecting based of the synopsis, which can be a good thing if it surprises you and you end up enjoying it more however in this case it just didn’t work for me. The plot was too fast paced, I know, I know what your thinking… Too fast-paced? Is there such a thing? Yes.
When authors don’t give at least a little birth to develop the setting/characters I just end up disconnected. The book practically opened with them getting powers, this can work on occasion if the rest of the book spends the time developing them, it just didn’t feel like that to me. They had pretty good control of their powers instantly even though they found new ways to use them later on it was all too sudden.
I didn’t connect with our two main protagonists, Blue and Seth, it was another one of those underdeveloped couples that take a week to spill all their secrets and can’t live without each other, even though the book hasn’t really gave us reason for why they feel like that. I don’t know, that is just how I felt it went.
It was like a LQ version of The Young Elites.
I hate, HATE, giving bad reviews. It makes me feel awful inside, taking something someone put a lot of work and love into and picking it apart? I hate it. But I promised myself I would always be honest when reviewing books, and since I am reviewing this on for feedback this is it, I have to say it. I didn’t hate the book but I didn’t like it.
I did actually like Kitty and , they made the book so much more enjoyable and I really want to know that they will be okay. I loved her "power” and the side effects of it. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns like you’d expect have superpowers to be. It was definitely one of those books that got better towards the very end, I was actually enjoying the last 35% which is what bumped the rating from a 2 star to a 3 star.
This title was generously provided by Entangled Publishing, LCC via NetGalley for a honest review!
When authors don’t give at least a little birth to develop the setting/characters I just end up disconnected. The book practically opened with them getting powers, this can work on occasion if the rest of the book spends the time developing them, it just didn’t feel like that to me. They had pretty good control of their powers instantly even though they found new ways to use them later on it was all too sudden.
I didn’t connect with our two main protagonists, Blue and Seth, it was another one of those underdeveloped couples that take a week to spill all their secrets and can’t live without each other, even though the book hasn’t really gave us reason for why they feel like that. I don’t know, that is just how I felt it went.
It was like a LQ version of The Young Elites.
I hate, HATE, giving bad reviews. It makes me feel awful inside, taking something someone put a lot of work and love into and picking it apart? I hate it. But I promised myself I would always be honest when reviewing books, and since I am reviewing this on for feedback this is it, I have to say it. I didn’t hate the book but I didn’t like it.
I did actually like Kitty and , they made the book so much more enjoyable and I really want to know that they will be okay. I loved her "power” and the side effects of it. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns like you’d expect have superpowers to be. It was definitely one of those books that got better towards the very end, I was actually enjoying the last 35% which is what bumped the rating from a 2 star to a 3 star.
This title was generously provided by Entangled Publishing, LCC via NetGalley for a honest review!
December 27, 2015
Well, that was one heck of a surprise! This is an enthralling, all action, riveting and brilliantly written story - superb!
The relationships between the survivors, how they relate, their worries, fears and expectations are portrayed in an easy to relate to manner, helping readers understand the turmoil and shock they’re feeling as well. As they continue to be hunted down, they explore their new capabilities and develop their relationships with each other. They are somewhat reminiscent of very human X-men, normal folk who have unexpectedly developed super human powers and are now being sought by government and military scientists to be experimented on like lab rats . . . but are determined to escape.
The plot is well thought out, interesting and plausible - well probably more plausible than many other stories concerning paranormal powers can be. The ‘victims’ reactions to the dangers, intrigue, threats and experiences are well developed, making it a fantastic dystopian scenario, with elements of science fiction and fantasy as well as romance skilfully interwoven into an engaging tale.
My only complaint about this is it ends on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next! I suspect the romance in that will concern Kitty and Nick but I also want to know what happened to a couple of other characters who were going to Mexico. I understand this is a debut novel but find that incredible. The author has brilliant word craft skills and the plot is awesome. I’ll certainly be looking out for the sequel to this - and any other work by this author.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
The relationships between the survivors, how they relate, their worries, fears and expectations are portrayed in an easy to relate to manner, helping readers understand the turmoil and shock they’re feeling as well. As they continue to be hunted down, they explore their new capabilities and develop their relationships with each other. They are somewhat reminiscent of very human X-men, normal folk who have unexpectedly developed super human powers and are now being sought by government and military scientists to be experimented on like lab rats . . . but are determined to escape.
The plot is well thought out, interesting and plausible - well probably more plausible than many other stories concerning paranormal powers can be. The ‘victims’ reactions to the dangers, intrigue, threats and experiences are well developed, making it a fantastic dystopian scenario, with elements of science fiction and fantasy as well as romance skilfully interwoven into an engaging tale.
My only complaint about this is it ends on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next! I suspect the romance in that will concern Kitty and Nick but I also want to know what happened to a couple of other characters who were going to Mexico. I understand this is a debut novel but find that incredible. The author has brilliant word craft skills and the plot is awesome. I’ll certainly be looking out for the sequel to this - and any other work by this author.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
December 1, 2015
I think this book (or at least - this series, when the story is actually concluded) would make a kick-ass movie. A small town becomes ill suddenly and catastrophically. The only survivors are five young adults, who each find that they now have powers they didn't before. Thankfully, one of those five is soldier Seth, because pretty soon, people want to kill them. They don't know why, but it's his training and abilities that help them get out of there. They each have serious trust issues and of course are emotionally reeling from the fact that their families have just died horribly, but Seth and Blue are instantly attracted to each other. Can they overcome their trust issues and work together to figure out what the hell happened to them? Time is ticking as they are pursued by trained soldiers.
So why did I give it four stars? Firstly, the good. Interesting premise, realistic (well as realistic as super hero powers can be) plot, good writing, intriguing characters with depth who are struggling with an insane situation, and lots of action. It all meshed together really well. I was hooked on this weird blend of paranormal, action and romance. Like I said, perfect movie material right there.
It didn't get a five from me because I was disappointed in the sudden ending that really comes half way through the story, with many questions - pretty much ALL the questions in fact - left outstanding. It's a great start, and a great idea - but it's very hard to judge a story that I feel was barely getting going. I do still intend to read the next instalment for sure, hope it isn't too long to wait though!
So why did I give it four stars? Firstly, the good. Interesting premise, realistic (well as realistic as super hero powers can be) plot, good writing, intriguing characters with depth who are struggling with an insane situation, and lots of action. It all meshed together really well. I was hooked on this weird blend of paranormal, action and romance. Like I said, perfect movie material right there.
It didn't get a five from me because I was disappointed in the sudden ending that really comes half way through the story, with many questions - pretty much ALL the questions in fact - left outstanding. It's a great start, and a great idea - but it's very hard to judge a story that I feel was barely getting going. I do still intend to read the next instalment for sure, hope it isn't too long to wait though!
February 19, 2016
The tagline of this novel is: When “normal” ends, survival begins.” Yeah, no s*&t!!
ALTERED was an intense book with action and twists around every corner. We're dropped into the action immediately - which I LOVE, because I'm bored my pages and pages of backstory set up. The eerie tone hooked me from the start, as I love a great sci-fi book, especially one with an apocalyptic vibe.
I loved Seth and Blue. I loved their chemistry. I’m usually a skim-over-sex-scenes kind of reader, so I wasn’t disappointed in **spoiler*** no sex. It would have had to be slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am to fit the fast pace of this book. And that’s only sexy in certain situations, not budding love. And Seth, come on. A dude who stops in a town on his way back Special Ops training? That spells bad ass hottie in my language.
Overall I was surprised by how different this book was from what I was expecting. The blurb pulled me in, but didn’t set me up for what the story really was. I liked that surprise. I read it in one night because there is nowhere to stop. Although, maybe I say that about all books I love! :) But seriously. It flies by.
My only “complaint”…not having book 2!!! I NEED IT. :)
I received and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
ALTERED was an intense book with action and twists around every corner. We're dropped into the action immediately - which I LOVE, because I'm bored my pages and pages of backstory set up. The eerie tone hooked me from the start, as I love a great sci-fi book, especially one with an apocalyptic vibe.
I loved Seth and Blue. I loved their chemistry. I’m usually a skim-over-sex-scenes kind of reader, so I wasn’t disappointed in **spoiler*** no sex. It would have had to be slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am to fit the fast pace of this book. And that’s only sexy in certain situations, not budding love. And Seth, come on. A dude who stops in a town on his way back Special Ops training? That spells bad ass hottie in my language.
Overall I was surprised by how different this book was from what I was expecting. The blurb pulled me in, but didn’t set me up for what the story really was. I liked that surprise. I read it in one night because there is nowhere to stop. Although, maybe I say that about all books I love! :) But seriously. It flies by.
My only “complaint”…not having book 2!!! I NEED IT. :)
I received and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2015
Blue woke up one morning in her small town to find that almost everyone in it was dead. Seth was a stranger in town but also survived. The two of them met while searching for survivors and discovered they had developed superpowers. Someone was after them and didn't want them to be found.
The romance was the best part of the story, which was a huge part of it. Seth and Blue developed feelings quickly but didn't trust each other right away. It had an instalove vibe but it didn't bother me much. They took more time getting to know each other than in other novels like this.
I had expected there to be more in terms of plot. The majority of the book they were on the run and it got slightly repetitive. I hadn't realized until the book was over that this is the first in a series because there wasn't really a resolution at the end. All of the character's fates were left unexplained. I wouldn't say it ended with a cliffhanger. It's more like the story ended at a random point half way through.
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The romance was the best part of the story, which was a huge part of it. Seth and Blue developed feelings quickly but didn't trust each other right away. It had an instalove vibe but it didn't bother me much. They took more time getting to know each other than in other novels like this.
I had expected there to be more in terms of plot. The majority of the book they were on the run and it got slightly repetitive. I hadn't realized until the book was over that this is the first in a series because there wasn't really a resolution at the end. All of the character's fates were left unexplained. I wouldn't say it ended with a cliffhanger. It's more like the story ended at a random point half way through.
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2016
This book took me completely by surprise with how much I actually enjoyed it.
Right from the start it was fast paced, action packed and the characters were likeable. I kind of expected this to be a bit of a fluff read but it was so much more than that.
It reminded me of the film Chronicle a little bit, with the new powers, the nosebleeds etc.
I wasn't even bothered that there was NO SEX and that is saying something for me. There was enough chemistry and romance along with all the suspense.
This has set everything up nicely for the next book and I can't wait for it.
Right from the start it was fast paced, action packed and the characters were likeable. I kind of expected this to be a bit of a fluff read but it was so much more than that.
It reminded me of the film Chronicle a little bit, with the new powers, the nosebleeds etc.
I wasn't even bothered that there was NO SEX and that is saying something for me. There was enough chemistry and romance along with all the suspense.
This has set everything up nicely for the next book and I can't wait for it.
May 8, 2016
A small town and one stranger are encounter something beyond imagining. Those who survived the illness are changed and now on the run. If they hope to survive, they must master and used their new gifts, but they must also learn to trust each other.
Blue Michaels thought she would always live in Glory though she dreamed of more. She was the small town girl with the notorious dad who committed suicide and the flaky mom who lived off grid. Now she must put her trust in a stranger. Losing everything else was hard, but trust doesn't come easy.
Army specialist, Seth Campbell, has known hard all his life. Losing his friend and feeling responsible has been eating him alive. Now, a small band of survivors is looking to him for leadership. Their unwanted gifts have put them on the run and he's their biggest chance for survival.
While on the run, Seth and Blue share an attraction that only grows tighter, but they can't let it distract them. Each avenue of escape is blocked, even friends and family are suspect either because they are under surveillance or they can't be trusted. They need answers and they need help, but who and where?
This one was exciting. I enjoyed the way the author built suspense by trickling out the answers and the band of gifted survivors being forced to figure things out and keep moving. The gifts were X-Men type things and watching the group learn what they could do and use them as they fought to stay ahead of the organization out to capture or kill them.
The group dynamics was well written, too. Each character was defined with a strong backstory and presence. Not all the secrets are in the open, but enough is know to make things interesting. Each member of this put together rag tag team have strengths and weaknesses and come together and pull apart as a result. Seth, the soldier, and Jack, the athlete, tend to be alpha dogs with Blue the emotional drive, Luke the analytical computer nerd type and Kitty the one keeping watch over them all. Their emergent gifts reflect their strengths and what drives them.
Seth and Blue are the romantic pair in this one. They both struggle with trust issues for their own reasons. They are on the run, but there is still time for the sexual tension to mount even as their relationship connection slowly strengthens. They both pull back a lot, but are never quite able to abandon their feelings. Seth may be a natural leader, but Blue is stubborn and likes to go her own way particularly when Seth is in danger. I liked that little something I saw as a possibility for Kitty, and I wonder what is in store for the others, as well.
This is a new adult story and definitely has that feel with the characters, but its not high-angst. These guys are on the run and fighting for their freedom and lives plus there is a lot they don't understand so that occupies a great deal of the story. I liked the feel of it all, the pace, and where things seem to be headed. As the pages started running out, I realized that this was just the opening gambit. It does end on a few cliffies, but there was an intense big-money scene near the end with a little denouement. Things are in a bad way for all involved and got even more complicated near the end.
So, all in all, this was a great start to a series. It's New Adult, but it has a broader feel so that it would appeal to those who don't normally pick up new adult books, but love X-men style sci-fi worldbuilding and slow burn romance.
I received this book on Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Blue Michaels thought she would always live in Glory though she dreamed of more. She was the small town girl with the notorious dad who committed suicide and the flaky mom who lived off grid. Now she must put her trust in a stranger. Losing everything else was hard, but trust doesn't come easy.
Army specialist, Seth Campbell, has known hard all his life. Losing his friend and feeling responsible has been eating him alive. Now, a small band of survivors is looking to him for leadership. Their unwanted gifts have put them on the run and he's their biggest chance for survival.
While on the run, Seth and Blue share an attraction that only grows tighter, but they can't let it distract them. Each avenue of escape is blocked, even friends and family are suspect either because they are under surveillance or they can't be trusted. They need answers and they need help, but who and where?
This one was exciting. I enjoyed the way the author built suspense by trickling out the answers and the band of gifted survivors being forced to figure things out and keep moving. The gifts were X-Men type things and watching the group learn what they could do and use them as they fought to stay ahead of the organization out to capture or kill them.
The group dynamics was well written, too. Each character was defined with a strong backstory and presence. Not all the secrets are in the open, but enough is know to make things interesting. Each member of this put together rag tag team have strengths and weaknesses and come together and pull apart as a result. Seth, the soldier, and Jack, the athlete, tend to be alpha dogs with Blue the emotional drive, Luke the analytical computer nerd type and Kitty the one keeping watch over them all. Their emergent gifts reflect their strengths and what drives them.
Seth and Blue are the romantic pair in this one. They both struggle with trust issues for their own reasons. They are on the run, but there is still time for the sexual tension to mount even as their relationship connection slowly strengthens. They both pull back a lot, but are never quite able to abandon their feelings. Seth may be a natural leader, but Blue is stubborn and likes to go her own way particularly when Seth is in danger. I liked that little something I saw as a possibility for Kitty, and I wonder what is in store for the others, as well.
This is a new adult story and definitely has that feel with the characters, but its not high-angst. These guys are on the run and fighting for their freedom and lives plus there is a lot they don't understand so that occupies a great deal of the story. I liked the feel of it all, the pace, and where things seem to be headed. As the pages started running out, I realized that this was just the opening gambit. It does end on a few cliffies, but there was an intense big-money scene near the end with a little denouement. Things are in a bad way for all involved and got even more complicated near the end.
So, all in all, this was a great start to a series. It's New Adult, but it has a broader feel so that it would appeal to those who don't normally pick up new adult books, but love X-men style sci-fi worldbuilding and slow burn romance.
I received this book on Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2015
Seth is a Special Ops soldier, just passing through the tiny town of Glory (population: 23). The night he rolls into town, the entire town becomes violently ill. When they wake the next day, almost everyone is dead and the survivors, including Seth, have all developed super human powers.
Seth meets Blue in the aftermath, while they’re both discovering the horror of what has happened—and the two connect quickly. Together they find a handful other survivors—all with newly developed powers of their own—and then realize that they are being hunted. Whoever is responsible for what happened in Glory knows that they're out there, and are determined to get to them. Now, this eclectic group of "gifted" outlaws needs to stay on the move in order to survive.
Oh man, the blurb on this book sold me, so fast. A little creepy, a little X-men, and I needed to check it out. And it is creepy as Seth and Blue discover that nearly the entire town is gone—the setting and imagery are gruesome and eerie. Then, when they discover their new powers and learn how to use them, it's interesting and intense and a little exciting.
Unfortunately, the story kind of fell flat for me after that. The small gang of survivors is being hunted, but I felt kind of disconnected from that storyline. I think I wanted more action/adventure X-men shit and less "running from 'the man'". I also wanted more information on the doctor responsible for what happened in Glory—he seemed delightfully twisted and evil.
I also never really connected to the romance—it happened too quickly and then wasn't really developed. The push/pull didn't ring true to me, because I wasn't invested enough in Blue or Seth, and I was frequently frustrated by that. I needed more chemistry, more connection, and generally for things to go a little deeper with them.
Strangely, I was fascinated by Kitty and Nick—two side characters who may have left me with a sort-of massive side character crush. In parts, I felt more connected to them than I did Blue and Seth. Kitty's power was the most fascinating to me, so I'd definitely be willing to read more about them—which means that this book did its job. It set up a foundation for a series that I'm interested in exploring.
In all, it was an entertaining read. A fantastic premise and I think the series shows promise! I'm dangling on the edge of a cliffhanger and my curiosity is piqued just enough that I need to know what happens next! ~ Shelly, 3 stars
Seth meets Blue in the aftermath, while they’re both discovering the horror of what has happened—and the two connect quickly. Together they find a handful other survivors—all with newly developed powers of their own—and then realize that they are being hunted. Whoever is responsible for what happened in Glory knows that they're out there, and are determined to get to them. Now, this eclectic group of "gifted" outlaws needs to stay on the move in order to survive.
Oh man, the blurb on this book sold me, so fast. A little creepy, a little X-men, and I needed to check it out. And it is creepy as Seth and Blue discover that nearly the entire town is gone—the setting and imagery are gruesome and eerie. Then, when they discover their new powers and learn how to use them, it's interesting and intense and a little exciting.
Unfortunately, the story kind of fell flat for me after that. The small gang of survivors is being hunted, but I felt kind of disconnected from that storyline. I think I wanted more action/adventure X-men shit and less "running from 'the man'". I also wanted more information on the doctor responsible for what happened in Glory—he seemed delightfully twisted and evil.
I also never really connected to the romance—it happened too quickly and then wasn't really developed. The push/pull didn't ring true to me, because I wasn't invested enough in Blue or Seth, and I was frequently frustrated by that. I needed more chemistry, more connection, and generally for things to go a little deeper with them.
Strangely, I was fascinated by Kitty and Nick—two side characters who may have left me with a sort-of massive side character crush. In parts, I felt more connected to them than I did Blue and Seth. Kitty's power was the most fascinating to me, so I'd definitely be willing to read more about them—which means that this book did its job. It set up a foundation for a series that I'm interested in exploring.
In all, it was an entertaining read. A fantastic premise and I think the series shows promise! I'm dangling on the edge of a cliffhanger and my curiosity is piqued just enough that I need to know what happens next! ~ Shelly, 3 stars
September 3, 2016
Beware, unless you enjoy books that leave you with cliffhanger type endings.
This was a decent story, people who have been altered by a drug and have to learn to cope. Sadly the writing just kept me mad most of the time and the lack of revenge on people who needed it badly was even worse.
The fact that the author leads you on a merry chase and frustrating scenes and boring repetitive looks into the minds of our 2 main characters just means that I read a really good story with no ending about people that were so messed up in their heads and then leave me with a dang nothing ending (not even a cliffhanger really, more of a "the book just stopped".
I am going to have a hard time deciding if I should read the next one since I hate being cheated like this and fear the next one would end again on some cliffhanger.
Bottom Line: If you can't finish your story then write a LONGER book (or in this case maybe remove a few pages of angst/misplaced guilt/scenes that did nothing to advance a plot/etc, cliffhangers suck! The book does not totally suck only because the plot was good even if it was told poorly but maybe the next book will see some better writing and story progression since they seem to be getting out of the rainbows and unicorn mindset (GOD, I hope so) - 3 Stars for what could have been a 5 star novel with a better editor and a complete story (or at least a decent ending)
This was a decent story, people who have been altered by a drug and have to learn to cope. Sadly the writing just kept me mad most of the time and the lack of revenge on people who needed it badly was even worse.
The fact that the author leads you on a merry chase and frustrating scenes and boring repetitive looks into the minds of our 2 main characters just means that I read a really good story with no ending about people that were so messed up in their heads and then leave me with a dang nothing ending (not even a cliffhanger really, more of a "the book just stopped".
I am going to have a hard time deciding if I should read the next one since I hate being cheated like this and fear the next one would end again on some cliffhanger.
Bottom Line: If you can't finish your story then write a LONGER book (or in this case maybe remove a few pages of angst/misplaced guilt/scenes that did nothing to advance a plot/etc, cliffhangers suck! The book does not totally suck only because the plot was good even if it was told poorly but maybe the next book will see some better writing and story progression since they seem to be getting out of the rainbows and unicorn mindset (GOD, I hope so) - 3 Stars for what could have been a 5 star novel with a better editor and a complete story (or at least a decent ending)
January 9, 2016
A strong debut novel by an author whose next book I eagerly await. A group of twenty-somethings survive a violent illness, only to find themselves in possession of strange new powers. Fortunately, one of the survivors is a tough (and sexy!) soldier who helps the group dodge the mercenaries trying to round them up. The characters are all interesting and well-drawn; the dynamics of the group make for lots of great drama. Uncovering the mystery of how they acquired their powers while learning to use those powers to evade capture combine for a compelling plot. I zipped right through this book.
January 12, 2016
I like the premise of this book, but it didn't work for me. I needed a lot more detail about things. And the romance fell flat.
Review to come
Review to come
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December 28, 2015
My Review:
This was a book I picked up for review when my schedule was already packed simply because I could not resist the story description. It sounded so good. Luckily I was not disappointed. This book was really good.
At first glance, this looks like a typical dystopian story, but it isn't. In fact it's more of a military suspense because everything that happened in this story only happened to one small town, Glory Colorado...Blue's home. Seth just happened to be passing through before heading to his elite spec ops training in NC. But Blue and Seth aren't the only ones who survived. No, this story is about the ragtag group of five who made it out of this little town, not only alive, but ALTERED. (you can just hear the dum-dum-dum music, right?)
And the book is just that good. Once it begins, it's non-stop action and adventure. Something went very very wrong in this town and now someone is determined to cover it up...which means capturing the five who've been changed. The issue with that is that they all have super-power-like powers now...which doesn't make their capture easy.
It's a really great and creative setup. I loved this first book and yes, it is a first. The story was left VERY open-ended...not to the point where it's a heart wrenching cliffhanger, but the stories are certainly not over or resolved. I'm ready...bring on book #2.
I loved Blue and her wariness of everything to do with the situation until someone threatens someone from their tight group and then she's balls to the wall. Seth is steadfast and used to high stress situations, but that doesn't make his responsibility for this ragtag group of untrained non-soldiers any easier. He's terrified a decision he'll make will get someone killed. There's Kitty who's experiencing life for the first time ever but can't even enjoy it because of her new skills that are driving her batshit crazy. Jack with his over the top reactions and Luke who is simply overwhelmed and trying to survive. I liked them all in their own way. They all had their moments (even Jack) when their terror shown through. None of them asked for this, but I applauded them every step of the way as they learned how to work as a team and are just trying to survive.
It's going to be interesting to see where this author takes their story. I can't wait!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This was a book I picked up for review when my schedule was already packed simply because I could not resist the story description. It sounded so good. Luckily I was not disappointed. This book was really good.
At first glance, this looks like a typical dystopian story, but it isn't. In fact it's more of a military suspense because everything that happened in this story only happened to one small town, Glory Colorado...Blue's home. Seth just happened to be passing through before heading to his elite spec ops training in NC. But Blue and Seth aren't the only ones who survived. No, this story is about the ragtag group of five who made it out of this little town, not only alive, but ALTERED. (you can just hear the dum-dum-dum music, right?)
And the book is just that good. Once it begins, it's non-stop action and adventure. Something went very very wrong in this town and now someone is determined to cover it up...which means capturing the five who've been changed. The issue with that is that they all have super-power-like powers now...which doesn't make their capture easy.
It's a really great and creative setup. I loved this first book and yes, it is a first. The story was left VERY open-ended...not to the point where it's a heart wrenching cliffhanger, but the stories are certainly not over or resolved. I'm ready...bring on book #2.
I loved Blue and her wariness of everything to do with the situation until someone threatens someone from their tight group and then she's balls to the wall. Seth is steadfast and used to high stress situations, but that doesn't make his responsibility for this ragtag group of untrained non-soldiers any easier. He's terrified a decision he'll make will get someone killed. There's Kitty who's experiencing life for the first time ever but can't even enjoy it because of her new skills that are driving her batshit crazy. Jack with his over the top reactions and Luke who is simply overwhelmed and trying to survive. I liked them all in their own way. They all had their moments (even Jack) when their terror shown through. None of them asked for this, but I applauded them every step of the way as they learned how to work as a team and are just trying to survive.
It's going to be interesting to see where this author takes their story. I can't wait!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
December 28, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from the Publisher, via Netgalley, this does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.
Post-apocalyptic dystopian is my catnip, and it didn’t look like a series, and I figured with one U.S. Army Specialist Set Campbell-how YA/NA could it actually be? But yeah, turns out I read the blurb poorly and this only affects one town, and it is indeed a series, and the answer to that last question is VERY.
But once I got over my misconceptions, I enjoyed it for what it was. We’ve got a group of late teen/early 20’s kids basically who are on the run after some sort of government conspiracy unleashes a plague that kills most of the town and leaves them with superpowers.
Fortunately for me our two main characters are the grown ups of the bunch. They each have their own hangups for sure, but they aren’t quite as young as the other 3 feel, so once we settled down to the Seth and Blue’s story it didn’t really have a strong NA vibe if you see what I mean.
There is some, but not a ton, of character growth, and the relationship between the two main characters relies more on chemistry and longing than development until the very end. What this book is, is an interesting premise, a government conspiracy, and practically non-stop action.
And those elements were fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the characters quite well, but the mystery and government conspiracy is the part that really shined for me and I am kind of hooked. It kind of, in a way reminded me of Rebecca Zannetti’s Sin Brother’s series. It is hard to describe, because they aren’t really that similar, but that is what it made me think of, and I think people who enjoyed that series will enjoy this one too.
The story also ends on something of a cliffhanger, not for our main characters, but for one of the side characters who I assume will be featured in the next book. Just fair warning if that sort of thing bothers you. Personally, while it isn’t my favorite trope, I am looking forward to the next book.
3.5 stars
https://wordpress.com/post/burnsthrou...
Post-apocalyptic dystopian is my catnip, and it didn’t look like a series, and I figured with one U.S. Army Specialist Set Campbell-how YA/NA could it actually be? But yeah, turns out I read the blurb poorly and this only affects one town, and it is indeed a series, and the answer to that last question is VERY.
But once I got over my misconceptions, I enjoyed it for what it was. We’ve got a group of late teen/early 20’s kids basically who are on the run after some sort of government conspiracy unleashes a plague that kills most of the town and leaves them with superpowers.
Fortunately for me our two main characters are the grown ups of the bunch. They each have their own hangups for sure, but they aren’t quite as young as the other 3 feel, so once we settled down to the Seth and Blue’s story it didn’t really have a strong NA vibe if you see what I mean.
There is some, but not a ton, of character growth, and the relationship between the two main characters relies more on chemistry and longing than development until the very end. What this book is, is an interesting premise, a government conspiracy, and practically non-stop action.
And those elements were fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the characters quite well, but the mystery and government conspiracy is the part that really shined for me and I am kind of hooked. It kind of, in a way reminded me of Rebecca Zannetti’s Sin Brother’s series. It is hard to describe, because they aren’t really that similar, but that is what it made me think of, and I think people who enjoyed that series will enjoy this one too.
The story also ends on something of a cliffhanger, not for our main characters, but for one of the side characters who I assume will be featured in the next book. Just fair warning if that sort of thing bothers you. Personally, while it isn’t my favorite trope, I am looking forward to the next book.
3.5 stars
https://wordpress.com/post/burnsthrou...
January 2, 2016
Charming. Not the word I'd usually associate with NA, but this book was charming.
Blue and Seth are tough and honest and face incredible challenges. Good thing they're practically super heroes.
I loved the sci/fi aspects of this book and can't wait for the next installment.
Blue and Seth are tough and honest and face incredible challenges. Good thing they're practically super heroes.
I loved the sci/fi aspects of this book and can't wait for the next installment.
February 5, 2016
Totally awesome! Review to come!
June 27, 2016
This was my first book by Marnee and the premise completely intrigued me. I knew I had to read it and am very glad I did. The premise, while frightening because we all know shady things happen all the time, was very unique. Yes, I was sad so many had to die due to one person's evilness and eagerness to play with people's lives, yet, with everything they experienced and will continue to experience, you have to wonder which group of people were the luckiest.
Blueberry, aka Blue (yes, her nickname quickly grew on me), has not had an easy life, has always felt different than everyone else (and others were all too happy to make sure she knew that), and is continuing to struggle as she's constantly working to help support herself and her Grandma. But she doesn't once bemoan the fact that she lives with and cares for her Grandma. She loves her unconditionally and knows that her Grandma saved her when she took her away from her Mom. See, Blue's Dad committed suicide as he was essentially in the wrong place at the wrong time and betrayed by his business partner, and her Mom went off the rails into hippie-land.
Then we have Seth, who is enjoying his last days before starting Special Ops training, by taking a solo bike ride to meet up with his friend, Nick, as they're both joining the same team. Seth stops over in Glory, Blue's hometown, and questions that decision as he gets violently ill. The illness stops just as suddenly as it started though, and as he's walking around, he can't help but stumble upon the dead bodies of the townspeople. It seems like not everyone survived the illness, yet he doesn't put the pieces together until he sees Blue and learns they were both sick the night before. Blue also experiences some abilities that she didn't have before and they will definitely have to work to trust each other.
As Seth and Blue start working together and slowly start trusting one another, and both feel the attraction between them, they find three more survivors, people Blue has known her whole life, Kitty, Luke, and Jack. The thing is they're all experiencing some abilities that they didn't have before, Seth included.
Now this group of altered humans needs to escape from Glory, learn to control their abilities, work together to find out what happened, deal with a betrayal that has far reaching consequences for one of their group, Seth and Blue need to figure out what they mean to each other, and Seth needs to learn that he doesn't have to control everything. He needs to trust in Blue and her abilities. Thankfully, they also have Seth's friend, Nick, who is all in and has Seth's back in whatever he needs. Psst...Nick also seems to have the feels for Kitty. Yes, this book does end in a cliffhanger, though we do learn that Seth and Blue are now a couple. I'm eagerly anticipating book two and have a feeling that story will involve Nick and Kitty more, as they explore their feelings for each other. But first, they need to rescue Kitty from the evil genius responsible for their alterations. What, wait? Ha, that's all I'm saying. You want to know more? Read the book, you'll like it and become just as invested in their story as I have.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Blueberry, aka Blue (yes, her nickname quickly grew on me), has not had an easy life, has always felt different than everyone else (and others were all too happy to make sure she knew that), and is continuing to struggle as she's constantly working to help support herself and her Grandma. But she doesn't once bemoan the fact that she lives with and cares for her Grandma. She loves her unconditionally and knows that her Grandma saved her when she took her away from her Mom. See, Blue's Dad committed suicide as he was essentially in the wrong place at the wrong time and betrayed by his business partner, and her Mom went off the rails into hippie-land.
Then we have Seth, who is enjoying his last days before starting Special Ops training, by taking a solo bike ride to meet up with his friend, Nick, as they're both joining the same team. Seth stops over in Glory, Blue's hometown, and questions that decision as he gets violently ill. The illness stops just as suddenly as it started though, and as he's walking around, he can't help but stumble upon the dead bodies of the townspeople. It seems like not everyone survived the illness, yet he doesn't put the pieces together until he sees Blue and learns they were both sick the night before. Blue also experiences some abilities that she didn't have before and they will definitely have to work to trust each other.
As Seth and Blue start working together and slowly start trusting one another, and both feel the attraction between them, they find three more survivors, people Blue has known her whole life, Kitty, Luke, and Jack. The thing is they're all experiencing some abilities that they didn't have before, Seth included.
Now this group of altered humans needs to escape from Glory, learn to control their abilities, work together to find out what happened, deal with a betrayal that has far reaching consequences for one of their group, Seth and Blue need to figure out what they mean to each other, and Seth needs to learn that he doesn't have to control everything. He needs to trust in Blue and her abilities. Thankfully, they also have Seth's friend, Nick, who is all in and has Seth's back in whatever he needs. Psst...Nick also seems to have the feels for Kitty. Yes, this book does end in a cliffhanger, though we do learn that Seth and Blue are now a couple. I'm eagerly anticipating book two and have a feeling that story will involve Nick and Kitty more, as they explore their feelings for each other. But first, they need to rescue Kitty from the evil genius responsible for their alterations. What, wait? Ha, that's all I'm saying. You want to know more? Read the book, you'll like it and become just as invested in their story as I have.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
January 2, 2016
3 I'm still not sure Stars
Well, this was one of those books that you can’t quite decide if you liked it or not. I found the basic plotline interesting with a bunch of people being affected by a strange virus and when they’re done puking their guts out they have super powers, I mean, that would totally rock… minus the puking of course.
But the thing is, this was a very young New Adult book, as in Blue our heroine is 19 and Seth the hot military guy is 23. Putting that aside, the story centered primarily around the action that stems from how the virus affects them and not around Blue and Seth’s romantic relationship. I’ve realized that finding the balance between action vs. romance is not the easiest thing to accomplish.
So, the story goes like this: there’s this tiny town in the middle of nowhere. And one night everyone goes to sleep, get sick like dogs and then most of the population dies horribly. The very few that do survive the illness, wake up with new powers. We get to meet five of these survivors, and they turn out to be two with telekinetic powers (one of them is Blue), a telepath and two guys who get super analytic minds and super physical dexterity (Seth gets this power).
The morning after the illness takes the town down Seth finds Blue on the street. Their first encounter could have gone better but when military type helicopters show up supposedly looking for survivors, Blue and Seth don’t understand what is happening. Deciding that armed men coming after you really doesn’t bode well they decide to stick together and they go on the run. Blue wants to go check out the house of an old school mate who lives mostly out of town, and there they find Kitty, the one who can now read minds.
Soon they’re on the run from this security firm that seems to be one of those mercenary/paramilitary type with governments contracts to do the things the military can’t really do that we read so much about, and they meet up with two more kids the same age as Blue and Kitty.
So basically the story is about a bunch of kids scared shitless and doing stupid stuff because they don’t want to listen to Seth who’s the only one with a bit of training to survive on the run.
As I’ve mentioned I picked up this story knowing that it has an ongoing plotline (meaning that by the end we have a barely there HFN) but what bothered me was that it had a lot, and I mean a lot, of loose ends, and most of them was because of TSTL decisions . I was also kind of confused by the fact that we have a bit of Kitty’s PoV thrown in. At first, I did think this was going to be a multiple PoV book and then it wasn’t, but we just get a glimpse at what Kitty goes through.
Yes, I liked the idea of this book, it’s not a bad book at all. It was just a bit disappointing in the romance department and I wish the characters would’ve been a bit older and mature and, you know…, a bit smarter; and while I found Altered interesting and even entertaining I’m not sure I care enough about the characters to pick up the next installment. We’ll see.
Well, this was one of those books that you can’t quite decide if you liked it or not. I found the basic plotline interesting with a bunch of people being affected by a strange virus and when they’re done puking their guts out they have super powers, I mean, that would totally rock… minus the puking of course.
But the thing is, this was a very young New Adult book, as in Blue our heroine is 19 and Seth the hot military guy is 23. Putting that aside, the story centered primarily around the action that stems from how the virus affects them and not around Blue and Seth’s romantic relationship. I’ve realized that finding the balance between action vs. romance is not the easiest thing to accomplish.
So, the story goes like this: there’s this tiny town in the middle of nowhere. And one night everyone goes to sleep, get sick like dogs and then most of the population dies horribly. The very few that do survive the illness, wake up with new powers. We get to meet five of these survivors, and they turn out to be two with telekinetic powers (one of them is Blue), a telepath and two guys who get super analytic minds and super physical dexterity (Seth gets this power).
The morning after the illness takes the town down Seth finds Blue on the street. Their first encounter could have gone better but when military type helicopters show up supposedly looking for survivors, Blue and Seth don’t understand what is happening. Deciding that armed men coming after you really doesn’t bode well they decide to stick together and they go on the run. Blue wants to go check out the house of an old school mate who lives mostly out of town, and there they find Kitty, the one who can now read minds.
Soon they’re on the run from this security firm that seems to be one of those mercenary/paramilitary type with governments contracts to do the things the military can’t really do that we read so much about, and they meet up with two more kids the same age as Blue and Kitty.
So basically the story is about a bunch of kids scared shitless and doing stupid stuff because they don’t want to listen to Seth who’s the only one with a bit of training to survive on the run.
As I’ve mentioned I picked up this story knowing that it has an ongoing plotline (meaning that by the end we have a barely there HFN) but what bothered me was that it had a lot, and I mean a lot, of loose ends, and most of them was because of TSTL decisions . I was also kind of confused by the fact that we have a bit of Kitty’s PoV thrown in. At first, I did think this was going to be a multiple PoV book and then it wasn’t, but we just get a glimpse at what Kitty goes through.
Yes, I liked the idea of this book, it’s not a bad book at all. It was just a bit disappointing in the romance department and I wish the characters would’ve been a bit older and mature and, you know…, a bit smarter; and while I found Altered interesting and even entertaining I’m not sure I care enough about the characters to pick up the next installment. We’ll see.
January 19, 2016
For this review and more check out my blog
I am a big fan of the Science Fiction genre so when I was offered the chance to read Marnee Blake's New Adult Sci-Fi book, Altered, I jumped at the chance. I dived straight in and things started out well. A deadly virus sweeps through a small American town leaving the inhabitants dead. Only a handful of people who catch the virus survive. After hours of pain and suffering, they wake up to find that they are not only alive but have developed superhuman powers. The first chapter brought all of this to life in a very cool and vivid way but it was not to last. The more I got into this book the more my original excitement about it fizzled away.
I really wanted to like this one, I truly did, but, in the end, I didn't like it at all. I had several fairly substantial problems with it. Firstly, I couldn't shake the feeling that the author didn't really know what she wanted this book to be. It jumps between action, Science Fiction, emotional drama and romance at a dizzying speed. I do not believe that books should be put in one genre, sometimes blurred lines are good but there has to be some kind of flow and that was distinctly lacking in Altered. This jumping around led to me feeling like there was no substance to either the characters or the plot. There are a fair few characters in this book and I felt like I knew none of them. They felt more like shadowy stereotypes than real fleshy characters. There was no personality, no individuality and nothing for me to relate to in any of them.
I wasn't particularly fond of the writing either. It is fine to have unrealistic aspects of your book, it is Science Fiction after all, but for it to work the creator has to be able to sell it. They have to find a way to make their audience suspend belief. Marnee Blake couldn't do that for me. The descriptions of the powers and the action sequences did not work at all. I found them awkward and at times bizarre.
There were some good ideas here and I do admire Marnee Black for taking a massive swing at it, but something was lost in translation and it fell short of my expectations.
(A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review)
December 28, 2015
This story took me by surprise. I was not expecting it to turn out to be as good as it did and I am so glad I read this one!! Once I started it, I did not want to put it down until I was done. Great read and so well written!!
Blue is a young lady that is a waitress and is living with her grandmother in order to be able to take care of her. One night when Blue gets off work she is suddenly taken ill and tries to stay away from her grandmother in order to not get her sick with what Blue thinks is a virus. The next day when Blue is feeling a little better, she goes to check on her grandmother and finds her dead in her bed. Blue sees blood coming from her nose and eyes and wonders what could have happened. When Blue goes to a neighbors house and finds that they too are dead and in the same manner as her grandmother, she begins to wonder what is going on. Is she the only one left alive in her town??
When Blue gets to a local motel in the town, she finally runs into someone else that is alive. His name is Seth and he is in the Army on his way to some training. Blue and Seth link up and set out on a mission to find out what has happened. They go to Blue's friends house, Kitty to see if she is still alive. When Blue walks in and sees that Kitty's parents are dead, she looses hole pretty fast but eventually find her friends alive. Now the three of them are on a mission to find out what is going on. They soon realize that they are being followed and device a plan to split up. Seth wants to get to the military installation he was originally headed to so that he can report on the craziness going on. Blue decides to go with him.
The action and adventure in this story keep you turning the pages and wondering if Blue, Seth and their other friends are going to escape capture and get away alive. The little bit of romance thrown into the story makes for a great mixture all around. This story flows smoothly and will keep you guessing!! Such a great read!!
Blue is a young lady that is a waitress and is living with her grandmother in order to be able to take care of her. One night when Blue gets off work she is suddenly taken ill and tries to stay away from her grandmother in order to not get her sick with what Blue thinks is a virus. The next day when Blue is feeling a little better, she goes to check on her grandmother and finds her dead in her bed. Blue sees blood coming from her nose and eyes and wonders what could have happened. When Blue goes to a neighbors house and finds that they too are dead and in the same manner as her grandmother, she begins to wonder what is going on. Is she the only one left alive in her town??
When Blue gets to a local motel in the town, she finally runs into someone else that is alive. His name is Seth and he is in the Army on his way to some training. Blue and Seth link up and set out on a mission to find out what has happened. They go to Blue's friends house, Kitty to see if she is still alive. When Blue walks in and sees that Kitty's parents are dead, she looses hole pretty fast but eventually find her friends alive. Now the three of them are on a mission to find out what is going on. They soon realize that they are being followed and device a plan to split up. Seth wants to get to the military installation he was originally headed to so that he can report on the craziness going on. Blue decides to go with him.
The action and adventure in this story keep you turning the pages and wondering if Blue, Seth and their other friends are going to escape capture and get away alive. The little bit of romance thrown into the story makes for a great mixture all around. This story flows smoothly and will keep you guessing!! Such a great read!!
Read
January 8, 2016ARC generously provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.0 Stars
Blue grew up in the small town of Glory, raised by her grandmother and always somewhat of an outsider in the little town. Her life was always pretty much the same get up, take care of her grandmother, and then go to work. She never would have guessed her entire world was about to end as she knew it.
Seth Campbell was an Army specialist. He was good at his job and it was his life. He never expected that decided to stop in Glory for the night while heading to training would completely change his life.
After a horrible sickness, Blue awakes to find her grandmother dead and everyone in the small town of Glory dead, that is everyone but one stranger, Seth. Soon Seth and Blue discover that there are only a few that survived the sickness and now they all have special "gifts". They also know someone is after them and there only hope is to stay together and try to find help.
Soon Seth and Blue find themselves depending on each other more and more and meaning more to each other then either would have guessed, but learning who they can trust and where to go is a hard lesson, one that leaves casualties in its wake.
My only major disappointment about this book is that it was not a stand alone, I really thought when I started it, it was but guess what it is not, now I have to try to remember for when the next one comes out because I do want to find out what happens to these characters and see where the story line goes. This is a great storyline and is filled with action and excitement.
4.0 Stars
Blue grew up in the small town of Glory, raised by her grandmother and always somewhat of an outsider in the little town. Her life was always pretty much the same get up, take care of her grandmother, and then go to work. She never would have guessed her entire world was about to end as she knew it.
Seth Campbell was an Army specialist. He was good at his job and it was his life. He never expected that decided to stop in Glory for the night while heading to training would completely change his life.
After a horrible sickness, Blue awakes to find her grandmother dead and everyone in the small town of Glory dead, that is everyone but one stranger, Seth. Soon Seth and Blue discover that there are only a few that survived the sickness and now they all have special "gifts". They also know someone is after them and there only hope is to stay together and try to find help.
Soon Seth and Blue find themselves depending on each other more and more and meaning more to each other then either would have guessed, but learning who they can trust and where to go is a hard lesson, one that leaves casualties in its wake.
My only major disappointment about this book is that it was not a stand alone, I really thought when I started it, it was but guess what it is not, now I have to try to remember for when the next one comes out because I do want to find out what happens to these characters and see where the story line goes. This is a great storyline and is filled with action and excitement.
Read
January 17, 2016In a small town called Glory everyone got violently sick some thought it was with the flu or food poisoning but it wasn't that at all.
Blue goes to bed after being sick herself and when she wakes up everything changes for her. She finds her Gran dead in her bed going for help she discovers that the entire town is dead as well. Desperate to find anyone she starts screaming for help when someone calls out to her and that is when she meets Seth. Seth is a military man that was passing through her town to go to Special Ops training he stopped for the night and ended up deathly sick. What neither realizes is not only are they the only survivors but that they have special abilities they didn't have before. Hearing a helicopter Seth pulls Blue down to hide from it thinking that whoever it is they're not there to help them.
Blue and Seth end up running and along the way the find a few more survivors from her town. Each person has their own unique ability that they woke up with. Not knowing where to go or who to turn to everyone looks to Seth to lead them to safety. Trusting the wrong person leads to a betrayal that costs them one of their friends. This book is an amazing read once I started it I couldn't stop I was up really late because I couldn't go to sleep without knowing what happens. This book draws you in with each page that you read. Strong amazing characters, a story that you will want to never end this is a book for any book lover. This is a 5 star read for me can't wait for the next installment.
Blue goes to bed after being sick herself and when she wakes up everything changes for her. She finds her Gran dead in her bed going for help she discovers that the entire town is dead as well. Desperate to find anyone she starts screaming for help when someone calls out to her and that is when she meets Seth. Seth is a military man that was passing through her town to go to Special Ops training he stopped for the night and ended up deathly sick. What neither realizes is not only are they the only survivors but that they have special abilities they didn't have before. Hearing a helicopter Seth pulls Blue down to hide from it thinking that whoever it is they're not there to help them.
Blue and Seth end up running and along the way the find a few more survivors from her town. Each person has their own unique ability that they woke up with. Not knowing where to go or who to turn to everyone looks to Seth to lead them to safety. Trusting the wrong person leads to a betrayal that costs them one of their friends. This book is an amazing read once I started it I couldn't stop I was up really late because I couldn't go to sleep without knowing what happens. This book draws you in with each page that you read. Strong amazing characters, a story that you will want to never end this is a book for any book lover. This is a 5 star read for me can't wait for the next installment.
August 13, 2016
"I was on my way to pick up Specialist Degrassi before heading to training at Fort Bragg. I stopped in Glory, Colorado, for the night and woke up as strong as an ox and as fast as a train.” - Seth Campbell
When a small town gets poisoned because of a rogue scientist's actions, whose who didn't succumb to the life-altering changes of the drug find themselves irrevocably changed - with powers that they don't understand - and targeted by a private security company desperate to erase all evidence of this screw-up. Like a cross between X-men and Heroes, the story is a fast-paced, cinematic adventure of a group of people - whose personal allegiances are yet unclear - on the run while dealing with their own superhuman abilities that seem to have ominous consequences on their physical selves.
Marnee Blake's skilful, assured writing has a mesmeric quality to it and turns what would be a tried-and-tested plot into an engaging read that is hard to put down. All too often, we're thrust straight into the thick of a dystopic/post-apocalyptic world as the details slowly flesh out, but this story takes a different and brave path straddling the 'normal' world and the world for the 'altered' ones, consequently maintaining that connection to the reality as we know it. It all ends abruptly on a cliffhanger without a clear resolution however, but at least it leaves me fairly convinced that Ms. Blake still has a story worth telling.
*ARC by netgalley
(So very grateful)
When a small town gets poisoned because of a rogue scientist's actions, whose who didn't succumb to the life-altering changes of the drug find themselves irrevocably changed - with powers that they don't understand - and targeted by a private security company desperate to erase all evidence of this screw-up. Like a cross between X-men and Heroes, the story is a fast-paced, cinematic adventure of a group of people - whose personal allegiances are yet unclear - on the run while dealing with their own superhuman abilities that seem to have ominous consequences on their physical selves.
Marnee Blake's skilful, assured writing has a mesmeric quality to it and turns what would be a tried-and-tested plot into an engaging read that is hard to put down. All too often, we're thrust straight into the thick of a dystopic/post-apocalyptic world as the details slowly flesh out, but this story takes a different and brave path straddling the 'normal' world and the world for the 'altered' ones, consequently maintaining that connection to the reality as we know it. It all ends abruptly on a cliffhanger without a clear resolution however, but at least it leaves me fairly convinced that Ms. Blake still has a story worth telling.
*ARC by netgalley
(So very grateful)
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