What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gliding Lands #1
Ending Fear
Fourteen-year-old Fear learns she was a parachute baby, dumped over the edge of the Gliding Lands as an infant. Fascinated by the floating cities in the sky before, now she's desperate for answers.
But a slave isn't likely to get those answers.
When her abusive Downer family throws her from their hovel, Fear takes refuge with a family who shows her love for the first time. Surely they can't be trusted. Years of abuse and molestation has taught her that.
Then her brother discovers where she's hiding and tries to kidnap her. Fear will never let him touch her again. Her new family conceals her at the Fallen, a ranch that hides parachute babies from the Uppers who discarded them.
Just as she's beginning to embrace yet another home, Fear's new little sister, Happy, is kidnapped and taken to the Uppers' temple harem. Fear must go against her namesake, find a working hoverpod, and journey to the dreaded Gliding Lands before the little girl's innocence is ripped from her forever.
Can she save Happy in time?
And will she find answers to the burning question of why anyone would throw her away?
But a slave isn't likely to get those answers.
When her abusive Downer family throws her from their hovel, Fear takes refuge with a family who shows her love for the first time. Surely they can't be trusted. Years of abuse and molestation has taught her that.
Then her brother discovers where she's hiding and tries to kidnap her. Fear will never let him touch her again. Her new family conceals her at the Fallen, a ranch that hides parachute babies from the Uppers who discarded them.
Just as she's beginning to embrace yet another home, Fear's new little sister, Happy, is kidnapped and taken to the Uppers' temple harem. Fear must go against her namesake, find a working hoverpod, and journey to the dreaded Gliding Lands before the little girl's innocence is ripped from her forever.
Can she save Happy in time?
And will she find answers to the burning question of why anyone would throw her away?
- GenresYoung Adult
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2017
5 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Fugett
5 books37 followersWhile Deanna Fugett isn’t writing or connecting with others via social media, she can be found dancing around the kitchen with her four kids. She has a dog named Westley, a cat named Buttercup, some rabbits, two rats, a parakeet, and some newly acquired chickens. She resides in the Denver area with her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifteen years, who thinks they live on a farm. (They don’t.)
She secretly enjoys writing more than reading. (Author blasphemy!) Deanna has an endless TBR list, and has numerous books she’s started reading lying around the house, none of which she can find time to finish. (Four kids and constant chaos will do that to you.)
Deanna is off-the-wall excited about her debut novel coming out with Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing on July 18th 2017, a YA Dystopian novel called Ending Fear. It’s the first novel in the Gliding Lands series. She really hopes you will enjoy every second of it.
She secretly enjoys writing more than reading. (Author blasphemy!) Deanna has an endless TBR list, and has numerous books she’s started reading lying around the house, none of which she can find time to finish. (Four kids and constant chaos will do that to you.)
Deanna is off-the-wall excited about her debut novel coming out with Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing on July 18th 2017, a YA Dystopian novel called Ending Fear. It’s the first novel in the Gliding Lands series. She really hopes you will enjoy every second of it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 30, 2017
I heard about this book before it was released and I loved the premise, so I was excited to read it when it came out.
Fear must flee for her life when her abusive brother is challenged to a fight in the "pen", and her distant mother reveals Fear is not her child at all, but a parachute baby sent from one of the floating cities were the "Uppers" live.
The first chapters were fast-paced and interesting. I do think Fear stumbled into a safe situation a little too quickly, but although the reader realizes she is in a good place, Fear isn't so sure, so there is some conflict for her. I will admit I was a little creeped out by the almost-romance between a 14 year old and a 19 year old. I totally get that someone 14 might crush on an older guy, but that the older guy would reciprocate that interest, no matter how gentlemanly, is weird. And yes, the story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where things like this happen, but 14 year olds in this world will be reading it, and I would hate for them to think it's normal for a 19 year old to show romantic interest in a 14 year old. It isn't, so depending on the age of your reader, you may want to discuss this with them after they have finished the book.
The middle lagged a little bit, but don't give up. The ending was a page-turning race to the finish.
There is significant Christian content, so readers who like that will appreciate it and readers who don't will find it irritating. The religious element was not at all heavy-handed and fit organically with the story.
Mature issues like rape, drug use, and prostitution (including the selling of an eight year old into sex slavery) are mentioned, although not in graphic detail, however, this is still a book you may want to keep away from younger kids.
Recommended for more mature tweens and teens (and older!) who enjoy dystopian books.
Fear must flee for her life when her abusive brother is challenged to a fight in the "pen", and her distant mother reveals Fear is not her child at all, but a parachute baby sent from one of the floating cities were the "Uppers" live.
The first chapters were fast-paced and interesting. I do think Fear stumbled into a safe situation a little too quickly, but although the reader realizes she is in a good place, Fear isn't so sure, so there is some conflict for her. I will admit I was a little creeped out by the almost-romance between a 14 year old and a 19 year old. I totally get that someone 14 might crush on an older guy, but that the older guy would reciprocate that interest, no matter how gentlemanly, is weird. And yes, the story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where things like this happen, but 14 year olds in this world will be reading it, and I would hate for them to think it's normal for a 19 year old to show romantic interest in a 14 year old. It isn't, so depending on the age of your reader, you may want to discuss this with them after they have finished the book.
The middle lagged a little bit, but don't give up. The ending was a page-turning race to the finish.
There is significant Christian content, so readers who like that will appreciate it and readers who don't will find it irritating. The religious element was not at all heavy-handed and fit organically with the story.
Mature issues like rape, drug use, and prostitution (including the selling of an eight year old into sex slavery) are mentioned, although not in graphic detail, however, this is still a book you may want to keep away from younger kids.
Recommended for more mature tweens and teens (and older!) who enjoy dystopian books.
July 25, 2018
Update after reading second time (July 2018):
This book was just as amazing as the first time! I absolutely LOVE Fear’s journey of overcoming and growth. Plus, the worldbuilding is still super engaging and hope we have a chance to see more of the Uppers’ world.
Totally can’t wait to read Living Brave and a must read for dystopian readers!
..............................……………….........................
Original review (Sept. 2017):
I just can't even!!!!!!
How does one write a review after this kind of adventure? My emotions are still reeling from that VERY unexpected ending!
And oh my goodness, let's NOT forget to talk about that bad guy who totally PLAYED MY FACE!!!! Say what?!
Oh yeah, what about a certain HANDSOME man who just happens to flip the script ON ME!!! What is happening in The Gliding Lands?!
Again, I just can't even with this book, but it was sooooo good! Engaging from the beginning and only increasing where I wanted to refuse to go to bed, but my body said otherwise.
I don't even know what to say because my heart is filled with fuzzier, but they are mix fuzzies and NEEDDDDDD book two right now. Everything was just awesome and loved how it all came together so flawlessly (but maybe a little too flawed for certain said characters).
One thing stands out the most (beside absolutely loving that the names are emotions because how did the author know this is what I was missing in my book reading life) is the total transformation of Fear. I absolutely love her story and felt she was so real as a main character. My heart grew right along with her.
I hope you pick up this dystopian book. It's different, unique, and a must read.
This book was just as amazing as the first time! I absolutely LOVE Fear’s journey of overcoming and growth. Plus, the worldbuilding is still super engaging and hope we have a chance to see more of the Uppers’ world.
Totally can’t wait to read Living Brave and a must read for dystopian readers!
..............................……………….........................
Original review (Sept. 2017):
I just can't even!!!!!!
How does one write a review after this kind of adventure? My emotions are still reeling from that VERY unexpected ending!
And oh my goodness, let's NOT forget to talk about that bad guy who totally PLAYED MY FACE!!!! Say what?!
Oh yeah, what about a certain HANDSOME man who just happens to flip the script ON ME!!! What is happening in The Gliding Lands?!
Again, I just can't even with this book, but it was sooooo good! Engaging from the beginning and only increasing where I wanted to refuse to go to bed, but my body said otherwise.
I don't even know what to say because my heart is filled with fuzzier, but they are mix fuzzies and NEEDDDDDD book two right now. Everything was just awesome and loved how it all came together so flawlessly (but maybe a little too flawed for certain said characters).
One thing stands out the most (beside absolutely loving that the names are emotions because how did the author know this is what I was missing in my book reading life) is the total transformation of Fear. I absolutely love her story and felt she was so real as a main character. My heart grew right along with her.
I hope you pick up this dystopian book. It's different, unique, and a must read.
July 12, 2017
4.5 stars
Deannaaaaaa, THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!! o.O
Deannaaaaaa, THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!! o.O
September 5, 2017
I enjoyed reading book one in The Gliding Lands series. I think what I enjoyed the most was watching Fear discover God and how He has the power to not only change your name, but your being. This was the heart of the story and a lesson we all need to know. We don't have to be who are parents deem we are. We don't have to be pinned in by our circumstances. We can rise above. Ms. Fugett made that perfectly clear while giving readers a great view of a dystopian society. I look forward to reading book 2.
July 12, 2017
Ending Fear is a great YA dystopian read! It's filled with great world building, memorable characters, and a continuous build-up of tension & excitement. Grab a copy because Deanna Fugett is a bold new voice in YA speculative fiction!
July 16, 2017
When Fear is your name, how can you be anything but fearful?
With a world divided in two, Uppers and Downers, Fear has all the luck of being thrown from the sky and landing in the barren world of the Downers, where abuse and starvation are the new norm. When Fear gathers the courage to escape from her adopted family once and for all, she runs into a family who is filled with love and joy, an unusual thing to find in the Downer world. Traits that come from this Abba they so constantly talk about. But who is Abba? And when a friend of Fear’s is taken as a slave in the Upper world, can Abba and his angels help Fear and her new family of parachute children find their friend?
Deanna Fugett writes an interesting tale on a dystopian Earth where everything but Godliness runs rampant across two worlds. This YA adult read is a fairly clean read; but there are mentions of abuse, kidnapping, and slavery. What I really found interesting is how Fugett named her characters after the traits they most possess: Fear, Courage, Trouble, Charity, Melody, Happy, Manly (the handsome hunk in the story), and more. It was interesting to see these characteristic traits become humanized. Ending Fear leaves off on a cliffhanger, which will have readers, YA and adult alike, ready for the sequel novel, Living Brave.
I was graciously provided a free copy of this novel from L2RL2W Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
With a world divided in two, Uppers and Downers, Fear has all the luck of being thrown from the sky and landing in the barren world of the Downers, where abuse and starvation are the new norm. When Fear gathers the courage to escape from her adopted family once and for all, she runs into a family who is filled with love and joy, an unusual thing to find in the Downer world. Traits that come from this Abba they so constantly talk about. But who is Abba? And when a friend of Fear’s is taken as a slave in the Upper world, can Abba and his angels help Fear and her new family of parachute children find their friend?
Deanna Fugett writes an interesting tale on a dystopian Earth where everything but Godliness runs rampant across two worlds. This YA adult read is a fairly clean read; but there are mentions of abuse, kidnapping, and slavery. What I really found interesting is how Fugett named her characters after the traits they most possess: Fear, Courage, Trouble, Charity, Melody, Happy, Manly (the handsome hunk in the story), and more. It was interesting to see these characteristic traits become humanized. Ending Fear leaves off on a cliffhanger, which will have readers, YA and adult alike, ready for the sequel novel, Living Brave.
I was graciously provided a free copy of this novel from L2RL2W Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Read
August 21, 2017Wow! This book was one of my favorite with the YA Dystopian genre. I had a really hard time putting it down. The story is very symbolic of our culture today, even though the story takes places in a different reality or world as ours, technically speaking. I loved getting to know Fear and watch her change and mature, especially the moment when she realized how much she needed Abba in her life to make her complete. I loved how much she changed from the character at the beginning of the story to the end of the story. Deanna Fugett may be a new author, but she did a good job capturing my attention. The item that brought the rating down was the images when Fear and Courage wander around Gilding Lands. They are pretty graphic and scary for a teenager to read. While Fugett did a good representation of what the world really glorifies, I don't know how I feel about my fifteen year old reading that stuff. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I can't wait to read book number two.
I received a complimentary copy of Ending Fear from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
I received a complimentary copy of Ending Fear from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
September 10, 2017
For Fans of Dystopian Fiction
There was so much I loved about Ending Fear. The clever names based on personality traits. The strong faith message. The emphasis placed on life.
Aside from the hopeful message, Ending Fear is a well-paced story with engaging characters and an intriguing story world. While there are some dystopian tropes (dysfunctional and immoral upper society, gritty lower society, cute and awkward girl with a love triangle), they don't take way from the story but fit it organically. If I hadn't already read a lot of dystopians, I never would have noticed them Ending Fear. The parachute babies thread is my favorite aspect of this book (and I assume, series).
I'm looking forward to reading the entire series.
And buy the cool companion coloring book!!
There was so much I loved about Ending Fear. The clever names based on personality traits. The strong faith message. The emphasis placed on life.
Aside from the hopeful message, Ending Fear is a well-paced story with engaging characters and an intriguing story world. While there are some dystopian tropes (dysfunctional and immoral upper society, gritty lower society, cute and awkward girl with a love triangle), they don't take way from the story but fit it organically. If I hadn't already read a lot of dystopians, I never would have noticed them Ending Fear. The parachute babies thread is my favorite aspect of this book (and I assume, series).
I'm looking forward to reading the entire series.
And buy the cool companion coloring book!!
May 22, 2018
Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett is a YA dystopian novel.
This book hit all of the dystopian keystones and followed them perfectly:
Morally depraved upper class--check
Lack of Technology for regular folks--check
Love triangle--check
Arena where children fight to the death--check
Ending where main character realizes that her world sucks and if it's going to change then she has to be the one to do it.--check.
Now what made it different:
--A group of Christians, who not only survive amidst the persecution and the depravity of the world; they thrive somehow.
--A future that didn't burst forth from the ruins of war, but grew naturally out of the dangerous trends of our own modern culture.
--A heroine who learns that love is possible, and not just romantic love either.
Long story short the first book of a dystopian series is always the worst because it focuses on what is wrong with society.
The good stuff, the really good stuff is in the sequels. Because now the characters can start changing things. And learning that the bad things can be changed is really what Dystopian fiction is all about.
This book hit all of the dystopian keystones and followed them perfectly:
Morally depraved upper class--check
Lack of Technology for regular folks--check
Love triangle--check
Arena where children fight to the death--check
Ending where main character realizes that her world sucks and if it's going to change then she has to be the one to do it.--check.
Now what made it different:
--A group of Christians, who not only survive amidst the persecution and the depravity of the world; they thrive somehow.
--A future that didn't burst forth from the ruins of war, but grew naturally out of the dangerous trends of our own modern culture.
--A heroine who learns that love is possible, and not just romantic love either.
Long story short the first book of a dystopian series is always the worst because it focuses on what is wrong with society.
The good stuff, the really good stuff is in the sequels. Because now the characters can start changing things. And learning that the bad things can be changed is really what Dystopian fiction is all about.
July 19, 2017
There is so much to like about Deanna Fugett’s debut novel! First, I love how she used her characters’ predominant trait as their name (Fear, Hate, Courage…) — so creative and unique. And yet, her characters are so much more than just their dominant trait; she’s crafted a collection of characters with depth and fullness that can both frustrate you and tug at your heart.
And she uses the dystopian genre so fantastically. Her futuristic societies of Uppers (who live in floating cities and are slaves to popularity and pleasure) and Downers (who live on terra firma and are enslaved by poverty and propaganda) are an insightful commentary on our own society and what could happen if attitudes don’t soon change. Yikes!
Ending Fear was a fun read: one that kept me up at night, turning the pages, and wondering how Fear would overcome her namesake and glorify Abba. I highly recommend you snag your own copy of Ending Fear and settle in for a great ride.
Many thanks to Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing for the advance copy of the novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!
And she uses the dystopian genre so fantastically. Her futuristic societies of Uppers (who live in floating cities and are slaves to popularity and pleasure) and Downers (who live on terra firma and are enslaved by poverty and propaganda) are an insightful commentary on our own society and what could happen if attitudes don’t soon change. Yikes!
Ending Fear was a fun read: one that kept me up at night, turning the pages, and wondering how Fear would overcome her namesake and glorify Abba. I highly recommend you snag your own copy of Ending Fear and settle in for a great ride.
Many thanks to Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing for the advance copy of the novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!
July 24, 2017
The first thing that struck me about this dystopian novel is that it's so different! I feel like so many dystopians almost have a formulaic setting that gets old after a while, but Ending Fear did not fit that mold at all, making it fresh and unpredictable. I'll be honest that I found Fear hard to relate to at times, but I couldn't help sympathizing with her as it became more and more clear how much her perspective was distorted by the evils of her childhood. I loved how the underlying darkness in the story was balanced with moments of humor, sweet romance, and growing friendships. Most of all, I appreciated the hope that gave meaning to the tragic events of the book, and the genuine growth in Fear's character through her journey. But I should warn you, Fugett's emotional, gripping narrative is hard to put down!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
August 2, 2017
A positive and intriguing story of a young girl confronting and addressing her past hurts, habits and hang-ups in a journey to find herself as well as a new family, friends, truth, faith, and bravery. I love the heart behind the words and the spiritual awakening behind the story. The story keeps you wanting to read more until the very end, and even then you ask yourself "Why isn't there more?!?!" Definitely looking forward to seeing where the rest of this series goes, and any other works this talented author creates!
December 2, 2021
3.5 stars
Writing Christian YA dystopian fiction is complicated. It has to have a faith-filled message without being too in your face. It has to appeal to a younger audience. It has to have a believable dystopian world and storyline. I believe the author accomplishes all this in her book “Ending Fear.”
What I liked:
1) The descriptions were grippingly good. I didn’t realize there were so many ways to describe falling asleep!
2) Fear’s character arc is easy to follow and inspiring. I’ve read Christian books before where the character’s faith feels forced and unrealistic. This book does an excellent job of taking a character who has never heard of God and growing her faith in an appropriate amount of time.
3) The theme is abundantly clear, that Abba makes us brave. I also personally love the concept that God is clearly present in hopeless, dark situations. Some of the situations where God shows up in this book may feel a little too good to be true, but they happened for people in the Bible, so they could happen to Fear, too.
4) I love the concept of parents naming their kids based on their attributes. It gives them a backstory without going too deep into every character.
5) I liked the author’s translation of the Bible when Fear reads it.
What felt off to me (disclaimer: I’m not a huge fan of YA in general, so some of these issues below may be common in YA fiction):
1) The pacing was very confusing. It starts off with a bang, then gets slow for the next 65% of the book, then takes off like a rocket, to the point where it was hard to keep up.
2) I wish I knew more about the Uppers and the Gliding Lands. There’s a lot of info dumping toward the end, and it was difficult to have sympathy for certain events that take place.
3) There is a conflicting message of sexual purity. Again, writing clean dystopian fiction is difficult. I can imagine that in a dystopian world, sex and rape are common. But she’s wrestling with her own sexual purity, and there are explicit descriptions about prostitution and rape. I felt like the descriptions were a little too much sometimes.
4) Along those same lines, Fear seems to have a pretty clean mouth after what happened to her. She’s been raped and has become jaded to the world because of her family, but she says things like “schnitzel fritz” and “gambits!” Not that I want her to curse, but those substitute curse words kind of distract from Fear’s rough exterior.
Writing Christian YA dystopian fiction is complicated. It has to have a faith-filled message without being too in your face. It has to appeal to a younger audience. It has to have a believable dystopian world and storyline. I believe the author accomplishes all this in her book “Ending Fear.”
What I liked:
1) The descriptions were grippingly good. I didn’t realize there were so many ways to describe falling asleep!
2) Fear’s character arc is easy to follow and inspiring. I’ve read Christian books before where the character’s faith feels forced and unrealistic. This book does an excellent job of taking a character who has never heard of God and growing her faith in an appropriate amount of time.
3) The theme is abundantly clear, that Abba makes us brave. I also personally love the concept that God is clearly present in hopeless, dark situations. Some of the situations where God shows up in this book may feel a little too good to be true, but they happened for people in the Bible, so they could happen to Fear, too.
4) I love the concept of parents naming their kids based on their attributes. It gives them a backstory without going too deep into every character.
5) I liked the author’s translation of the Bible when Fear reads it.
What felt off to me (disclaimer: I’m not a huge fan of YA in general, so some of these issues below may be common in YA fiction):
1) The pacing was very confusing. It starts off with a bang, then gets slow for the next 65% of the book, then takes off like a rocket, to the point where it was hard to keep up.
2) I wish I knew more about the Uppers and the Gliding Lands. There’s a lot of info dumping toward the end, and it was difficult to have sympathy for certain events that take place.
3) There is a conflicting message of sexual purity. Again, writing clean dystopian fiction is difficult. I can imagine that in a dystopian world, sex and rape are common. But she’s wrestling with her own sexual purity, and there are explicit descriptions about prostitution and rape. I felt like the descriptions were a little too much sometimes.
4) Along those same lines, Fear seems to have a pretty clean mouth after what happened to her. She’s been raped and has become jaded to the world because of her family, but she says things like “schnitzel fritz” and “gambits!” Not that I want her to curse, but those substitute curse words kind of distract from Fear’s rough exterior.
February 26, 2018
A fantastic YA dystopian story full of gritty themes and unforgettable characters! Right before bursting into tears there's always the feeling that your throat is tightening and this book was moving enough that often I felt those emotions tangling at the back of my throat. And it was through these powerful characters that gave such impactful scenes. I love how emotions always transitioned and in the beginning I went from feeling boiling anger towards Fear's disgusting parents to absolute admiration and love toward her new family. When brought into her new home I couldn't help feel joy and found myself cheering her on. And then new favorite characters such as Manly and Happy were introduced that I also couldn’t stop admiring. Others I could not stand, but this is why they made great villains. The author did such a good job on the entire cast. Hopefully not spoiling too much, but this crazy adventure led up to an ending that nearly had me tossing my kindle across the room because it was so unexpected and shocking!
I feel like there are only a handful of books I've enjoyed where I felt were strong enough to resemble a mirror that can help you reflect, and on today's society. This is that book for sure, and all while giving a satisfying dose of hope and love. Can't recommend this book enough! Looking forward to book two! 10/10
I feel like there are only a handful of books I've enjoyed where I felt were strong enough to resemble a mirror that can help you reflect, and on today's society. This is that book for sure, and all while giving a satisfying dose of hope and love. Can't recommend this book enough! Looking forward to book two! 10/10
June 18, 2018
There is so much to love about this book. For one, the world is fantastic. There are uppers who live in the sky and downers who live on earth. The downers serve the uppers who periodically throw babies over the edge, hopefully with a parachute.
The MC, Fear, is one of these "parachute" babies. She was raised by a horrible family. Pretty much every group of people in this story is severely messed up with the exception of those who follow Abba. Fear finds such people and becomes a believer as well.
I would have given this story 5 stars, but there were some parts that I thought were a bit too explicit. The violence and sexual aspects of this story were mostly handled well, but there were times I found it to be a bit too much. That said, I'm sure this story would be fine for most readers in high school or above. There are some good lessons. None of these things are glorified in any way. But a younger audience or someone who has experienced abuse might be disturbed.
Despite the minor issues I had with the story, I highly recommend it. It's rare that I find a story that I can't put down. This was one. I read it in a week. So, unless you're in one of those groups mentioned above, if you like dystopian stories, I'm sure you'll enjoy "Ending Fear".
The MC, Fear, is one of these "parachute" babies. She was raised by a horrible family. Pretty much every group of people in this story is severely messed up with the exception of those who follow Abba. Fear finds such people and becomes a believer as well.
I would have given this story 5 stars, but there were some parts that I thought were a bit too explicit. The violence and sexual aspects of this story were mostly handled well, but there were times I found it to be a bit too much. That said, I'm sure this story would be fine for most readers in high school or above. There are some good lessons. None of these things are glorified in any way. But a younger audience or someone who has experienced abuse might be disturbed.
Despite the minor issues I had with the story, I highly recommend it. It's rare that I find a story that I can't put down. This was one. I read it in a week. So, unless you're in one of those groups mentioned above, if you like dystopian stories, I'm sure you'll enjoy "Ending Fear".
June 29, 2020
A future where your name defines your character, can you change your destiny?
What I liked:
The concepts and moral themes discussed in a fictional setting, with clean yet challenging and realistic scenarios. The general plot is what drew me in - uppers and downers living in a dystopia. Fear's coming of age tale in a harsh world is paired well with the love she later finds.
What didn't work for me: The middle of this book dragged a bit, and felt like the author was pushing an agenda too heavy. Readers will pick up on these tactics, and possibly be turned off by the preaching. I would like to see more action and world building in the next book, and a more subtle message. Show, don't tell!
Overall, interesting idea and a lot to work with for a series. If you're a dystopian fiction fan looking for a clean read, check it out!
What I liked:
The concepts and moral themes discussed in a fictional setting, with clean yet challenging and realistic scenarios. The general plot is what drew me in - uppers and downers living in a dystopia. Fear's coming of age tale in a harsh world is paired well with the love she later finds.
What didn't work for me: The middle of this book dragged a bit, and felt like the author was pushing an agenda too heavy. Readers will pick up on these tactics, and possibly be turned off by the preaching. I would like to see more action and world building in the next book, and a more subtle message. Show, don't tell!
Overall, interesting idea and a lot to work with for a series. If you're a dystopian fiction fan looking for a clean read, check it out!
May 25, 2018
Ending Fear was a very impactful read. It has a unique premise and takes place in a frightening dystopian future that might not be too far off from becoming reality. It was fast paced and had me zooming through the pages as quickly as possible.
Fear went from an absolutely horrible home situation to finding herself in a loving and wonderful environment. It was completely foreign to her which was so heartbreaking. It was amazing to watch her discover God and His love. So powerful!
Ending Fear is the perfect read for fans of dystopian fiction. I can't wait for book two!
I won this book in a giveaway and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
Fear went from an absolutely horrible home situation to finding herself in a loving and wonderful environment. It was completely foreign to her which was so heartbreaking. It was amazing to watch her discover God and His love. So powerful!
Ending Fear is the perfect read for fans of dystopian fiction. I can't wait for book two!
I won this book in a giveaway and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
May 27, 2018
Ending Fear is a touching dystopian novel. I have to admit I almost gave up on it at first because the beginning was not at all what I normally like. Luckily though I did not give up on it and found a wonderful story about believing in something bigger than you and realizing that you can survive by having faith. Poor Fear is abused, living in poverty, and living up to her name. Then one day she finds out the truth of her existence. She runs and finds a new family and a new way of living. Her belief does not mean her life is now perfect but it does give her a better way of dealing with the ups and downs. I am voluntarily leaving this review after getting a free copy of the book.
August 27, 2017
Deanna Fugett creates a believable future earth. Downers on the ground live in poverty and work hard to survive. Uppers live in cloud cities where they are pampered and self-centered. Babies are destroyed at a whim, some saved by a parachute drop to the ground below. Fugett’s main character, a teen named Fear, is forced to flee an abusive family and finds safety and love under the care of what few Christians survive in her version of a dystopian world. Well written and a page turner for YA and adult readers.
November 29, 2017
This book renewed my beliefs. This takes place in a world that i can see in the future, where the upper class moves to live in the sky and leaves the lower class to slave away and have outlawed all things that would bring hope. The main character Fear lives without hope until one day she leave all she knows and takes shelter away from the wild things that are all around. That shelter ends up becoming her hope and leads her on a journey to find her true self. I loved this book and can not wait to see if there is a sequel.
April 25, 2018
an emotional and gripping story that will take you on a journey through what you believe and challenge everything. This story has aspects that a teenage girl should never have to deal or any for that matter. Molestation is a hard subject for a lot of people and especially facing your attacker and having the strength to fight back and stand up to them. Our MC puts everything on hold to rescue this small girl because she knows whats up there. She knows what its like and she wants to protect her. I loved this story and that the author dared to take on this subject.
July 31, 2017
Review first published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2017/07/2...
Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett brings readers to a new world. Fear is a 14-year-old girl who learns she was a parachute baby, dumped over the edge of the Gliding Lands as an infant. Since then, Fear has lived a hard life under the hands of her adopted “family”. Just as she is about to find happiness for the second time, her life is thrown into turmoil again when 8-year-old Happy is kidnapped by the Uppers and Fear vows to rescue her.
Even though it immediately opens with tension and hatred, this is overwhelmingly a story of hope. This is mostly presented through the strong presence of religion. Although religion is forbidden by the Uppers, many Downers still continue to believe in Abba and practice his ways. I have to admit that there is a lot of religious reference in this story and at times it feels like the author is laying it on a bit too think. However, it also made me reflect on my own Catholic upbringing and reminded me to embrace more the positive sides of religion, like forgiveness and kindness, and I guess that can’t be a bad thing.
The inclusion of religion will certainly be a breath of fresh air for younger readers who may have lived a similar life to Fear. We learn early on in the story that Fear was physically, mentally and sexually abused by her adopted family, which led her to believe she was worthless and any kindness must be repaid by unsavoury acts. But as the story goes on, we see her accepting genuine love and friendships and she is able to live her life more as the child she is than an adult and this is wonderful.
The theme of oppression also features in Ending Fear, with the Downers just living to serve the Uppers and becoming more and more void of any individuality or independent thought. Yet, we meet characters who rise above this in non-violent ways and win; another good message set forward by Fugett.
In the next books, I would like to learn more about the Uppers; I am quite curious to see how they will be developed. I would also like to have a more steadily paced read as I felt nothing happened in the first 60% of the book and then the story was just rushed. Anyway, I do recommend this book to anyone in search of hope – Ending Fear will certainly give it to you.
Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett brings readers to a new world. Fear is a 14-year-old girl who learns she was a parachute baby, dumped over the edge of the Gliding Lands as an infant. Since then, Fear has lived a hard life under the hands of her adopted “family”. Just as she is about to find happiness for the second time, her life is thrown into turmoil again when 8-year-old Happy is kidnapped by the Uppers and Fear vows to rescue her.
Even though it immediately opens with tension and hatred, this is overwhelmingly a story of hope. This is mostly presented through the strong presence of religion. Although religion is forbidden by the Uppers, many Downers still continue to believe in Abba and practice his ways. I have to admit that there is a lot of religious reference in this story and at times it feels like the author is laying it on a bit too think. However, it also made me reflect on my own Catholic upbringing and reminded me to embrace more the positive sides of religion, like forgiveness and kindness, and I guess that can’t be a bad thing.
The inclusion of religion will certainly be a breath of fresh air for younger readers who may have lived a similar life to Fear. We learn early on in the story that Fear was physically, mentally and sexually abused by her adopted family, which led her to believe she was worthless and any kindness must be repaid by unsavoury acts. But as the story goes on, we see her accepting genuine love and friendships and she is able to live her life more as the child she is than an adult and this is wonderful.
The theme of oppression also features in Ending Fear, with the Downers just living to serve the Uppers and becoming more and more void of any individuality or independent thought. Yet, we meet characters who rise above this in non-violent ways and win; another good message set forward by Fugett.
In the next books, I would like to learn more about the Uppers; I am quite curious to see how they will be developed. I would also like to have a more steadily paced read as I felt nothing happened in the first 60% of the book and then the story was just rushed. Anyway, I do recommend this book to anyone in search of hope – Ending Fear will certainly give it to you.
April 4, 2018
At first, I was a little frustrated with Fear. I had to remind myself that she’s really only a kid that was forced to grow up way too fast. It was really awesome to see her blossom and grow into this super strong individual. I also liked how religion was incorporated into this book. It was very inspiring to see such a troubled young woman grow into her faith. I just loved this book, I would definitely recommend!
September 26, 2017
Fantastic read! I was swept away by the depth of characters and the very real challenges Fear faced. This story peels away those onion layers and touches on topics deep within the soul. Great tension throughout with a surprise ending that will leave you in tears. Definitely add this to your reading list!
June 2, 2018
Okay, I just finished this novel and I need more! "Ending Fear" grabbed me from the start and it was hard to put down. I liked the character development, Christian themes, the setting, and it got really intense! The ending felt abrupt, but I'm glad this is called "Book One" of the series and I hope the author is hurrying to publish book 2!
August 3, 2018
A dystopian tale, Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett features a powerful message of faith and love. Sensitive elements are revealed through humble prose with a gentle authenticity. Readers are left with a sense of hope and empowerment.
dnf
November 14, 2022This story may go amazing places, but it starts with so much abuse and ickiness I can’t take the process of finding out.
December 8, 2017
An enjoyable dystooian story with great life lessons and hope packed into every page. This book was full of quirky characters who were able to hold their own throughout. I did like the fact that the characters were all named after personality traits. It made this book different from other stories in this genre. And the cliffhanger ending set this story up to intrigue readers into wanting to read the sequel.
My only problem with this story is that the world that Fear lives in is not described enough. Also, Fear's backstory is touched upon, but never fully explained. A little more description of her upbringing and the setting for this story would enhance the reader's experience.
I am however looking forward to see where the author takes this story with the sequel.
My only problem with this story is that the world that Fear lives in is not described enough. Also, Fear's backstory is touched upon, but never fully explained. A little more description of her upbringing and the setting for this story would enhance the reader's experience.
I am however looking forward to see where the author takes this story with the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews