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The Bottom Rung

(In the Lap of the Gods #1)

Sam Hall (Goodreads Author)

4.07 · Rating details · 74 ratings · 26 reviews

I may have been born in the Quarter, but I refuse to die here.

I live in the Quarter, the societal cage where all of Cremorne’s paranormals have been locked up, but I’m neither vampire, werewolf nor witch. I’m the lowest of the low, doomed to be one of two things: junkie or vampire’s pet.

Desperate to escape, I’ll do whatever it takes to get out, to get all of us out, even i ...more

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Kindle Edition, 242 pages

Published August 31st 2019 by Amazon Digital Services LLC

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Average rating 4.07 ·

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· 74 ratings · 26 reviews

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Sep 05, 2019 Poplora rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, reverse-harem, science-fiction, science-fiction-romance, supernatural-paranormal, hetero-romance

So. I'm super confused. I feel like I missed some major information because by about 60% things became disjointed and left my head reeling trying to keep up with the information overflow.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Daisy Sauceda rated it it was amazing

**** I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy ****

This is a great book to read. This book is a dystopian paranormal romance. It has action, love, betrayal and so unpredictable. You have vamoires, werewolves, witches and down humans who want freedom. Well the ones that are not under any kind of influence. The main character is Lethe, who wants freedom and is wanting freedom. However, because of what she is, she has to figure out how to navigate through the factions to survive. Her ...more

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Sep 01, 2019 Charlotte rated it it was amazing

Amazingly unique.

This book was completely different to anything I've read, probably this year. Yes it's a dystopian novel and also an RH but it's actually so much more than this! The way Sam Hall has written the dystopian genre is gritty and real and doesn't shy away from all the problems such societies may face. The characters were all messed up and the lines between the traditional 'good and 'evil' were constantly blurred. Despite this there's is love and affection and loyalty almost to a faul ...more

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Feb 18, 2020 Myriam rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sam-hall

This is a very interesting and unusual series and I have never read anything like it. It has a quite dark tone, complex plot, interesting characters, story set in a well planned dystopian world based on magic and mythology, and the authors writing is fantastic.
The darkness I mentioned is a result of dystopian society that involves genetic manipulation and mistreatment of certain humanoid species. There is also internal strife among the species isolated in the quarantined Quarter, there is greed ...more

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Dec 23, 2019 Lawanda Gail rated it it was amazing

Paranormal Romance

Well damn , I didnt expect that ending to book 1. I have massive speculations now. After the Terror, All paranormals were placed behind a wall. There are 3 sanctions: wolves Vampires and witches. Low on the life totem pole are the albinos. They are used for blood and sex. A brave albino, Lethe is their only hope of salvation and freedom. Can she do this without self destructing? I want to find out in book 2. Sam Hall has done it again. She captivates her reading audience.

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Sep 07, 2019 Chrissy rated it liked it

Shelves: dystopia, erotica, gods, magic, menage, vampires, urban-fantasy

Didn’t Quite Hit The Spot

Sometimes you can get really excited a book because of the blurb and the really cool cover. Sometimes you can start reading and think ‘ok this is interesting’. Sometimes those books don’t quite deliver and this is the most disappointing thing in the world.

I really *really* wanted to love this book. It has so many of my favourite ingredients for a book; reverse harem, vampires, witches, werewolves, suppressed minority with evil overlord, plucky underpowered MFC and so on. Didn’t Quite Hit The Spot

Sometimes you can get really excited a book because of the blurb and the really cool cover. Sometimes you can start reading and think ‘ok this is interesting’. Sometimes those books don’t quite deliver and this is the most disappointing thing in the world.

I really *really* wanted to love this book. It has so many of my favourite ingredients for a book; reverse harem, vampires, witches, werewolves, suppressed minority with evil overlord, plucky underpowered MFC and so on. The main problem is that ingredients don’t quite mesh properly. The author was concentrating so hard on the world building that she didn’t pay enough attention to the characters.

Lethe is an albino (which is a supernatural race with very few powers). Albinos usually end up as food and sexual slaves for vampires, but she has managed to stay free of that pitfall by becoming a courier. She is also protected somewhat by her childhood friends/first loves, Gavin and Bennett, who were human but decided to become vampires, supposedly to protect Lethe.

Albinos are controlled by the humans with drugs and most are addicts. Lethe managed to get off the drugs but her ‘brother’ Marley did not. She supports him, despite his all consuming addiction. I think we are supposed to see her as self-sacrificing and loyal for this support. She also wants Gavin and Bennett to be human again. She rejects them romantically but still relies on them for their blood to make her strong enough to survive The Quarter.

Essentially, I didn’t like Lethe. It seemed like her feelings were the only important thing to her. She kept jumping into situations without thinking through the consequences, not only for herself, but for everyone around her.

There was plenty of steam in the book, but the romance was lacking. If romance is what you look for in an RH book, this is probably not for you.

I felt like the world building was overwhelming. So much information was thrown at the reader early on, but not really expanded on. This left great big holes in my comprehension. Every time I thought I might get a handle on what was happening, something else was thrown at me and I was left struggling to build something from the strands of spaghetti that was the world building and plot. I felt like the author was trying to create an epic fantasy saga but squash it into a regular sized book.

There is a lot of promise in this author’s work, but I just don’t think that this work lives up to it, and that’s a shame. ...more

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Aug 30, 2019 The Lusty Literarians rated it it was amazing

*ARC Review*

The Bottom Rung is a wonderful combination of two very different things: dystopian societal injustice and paranormal reverse harem. The story is set in the land of Cremorne in which all of the non-human "anomalous" are forced to live in a concentration camp called The Quarter, while the humans are allowed to live outside The Quarter. The two groups are divided by, you guessed it, a wall. We don't learn much about the human side of the wall, mostly we learn about the residents of the ...more

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Sep 09, 2019 Alisha Thompson rated it really liked it

Good start!

Sam Hall is new to me and I enjoyed this book very much.

🖤genre: dystopian fantasy RH
🖤pace: medium
🖤 slow-burn

A good portion of the relationships are already formed. Gavin, Bennett and Lethe have a past, one that Lethe can’t quite rekindle because she feels betrayed by them. Otherwise there are a few that are very interested in Lethe but she is closed off. Now that’s not to say that she doesn’t experience some sexy times on the contrary she has some pretty hot scenes, no I say slow-bur ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Rachel Osborne rated it it was amazing

Omg! What a world to get stuck into. The world we're thrust into has so much adventure, intrigue and hot hot scenes that you'll be thinking about this book for weeks to come. The story is built up beautifully and has so many detailed layers intwined with the pages. The characters have depth and details that make them realistic to the reader and relatable. Lethe is the main heroine and I loved reading her journey. The subject matter expressed in this novel brings upon a whirlwind of emotions. The ...more

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Oct 05, 2019 Autumn rated it really liked it

Different take on a well explored genre

Confession, I read this book, because the cover art reminded me of Caro’s series by Scarlet Dawn. It’s my 1st read from this author.

Honestly most books in this genre or is it “trope”? Bore me to tears. I can’t get past the first few pages by most self published authors. But this was a pleasant surprise. So much so that I put the sequel on my wish list and downloaded another of her novels.

I am an avid reread. I use my kindle unlimited membership take chanc ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Danyelle Williams rated it really liked it

I really loved what the author did with this book. Not to mention the main character. Loved her. As the title suggests she is considered the bottom rung in her society but she doesn't act like it. Even though she was a the lowest position she made her way and stood up for not being what people expected her to be.

I liked the dynamic between the different characters. The relationships between her in the brothers was sweet but also super sad. You wanted the relationship to mend but there was just ...more

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Sep 13, 2019 Louise Williamson rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 30, 2019 Janet Dunbar rated it it was amazing

Okay... soo... Wow!! This is different than other books I’ve read before. I absolutely love that Lethe is so strong and refuses to fall into the “norm” of what her kind is meant to be. She unknowingly captivated many around her just by refusing to give up. Every single twist kept me pushing through the book, as I couldn’t put it down. The authors way of writing just makes you fall into this world and immerses you into a story that you don’t want to end.

**I received this book as an ARC, in exchan ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Annie rated it it was amazing

The Bottom Rung is a really interesting paranormal reverse harem debut. Our fmc finds herself at rock bottom, on the wrong side of the wall and in the sights of a vampire leader who covets her. Through all this she is also working through her feelings for two childhood sweethearts. This book is exciting and refreshing in the saturated vampire-paranormal reverse harem genre. I look forward to the next instalment.

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Oct 16, 2019 Cherie Stauffer rated it it was amazing

Sam has created an amazing new world. Think of every supernatural world you could ever dream of and smash them together into one small area of the world. Not everyone gets along and the Female MC has to navigate through each faction whilst trying to survive and not be found out by the humans who police the Sups.

Mind spinning crazy new world where you are chucked in the deep end from the get go. I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next book. ...more

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Aug 06, 2019 Hannah rated it it was amazing

I received an arc for an honest review, this was hands down the best book I’ve read all year. Sams second book ever is absolute perfection the world she’s created is detailed and you get sucked in and the next thing you know hours have passed and your child wants to be fed haha. Seriously though it’s amazing and your gonna want to read it...

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Sep 01, 2019 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Fantastic book! I’m so happy this is a first in series, because I absolutely cannot wait to read more.
I found that I loved the mix of dystopia and paranormal. It was blended well into this refreshingly original story.
Additionally, I really loved the mix of romance and action. This story was fast paced, so I was entertained and engaged throughout.
All in all, I definitely recommend this book.

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Sep 17, 2019 Samantha rated it it was amazing

Interesting and fresh

It’s a very interesting new world that is very well built and full of intelligent plots and well developed characters. Even beyond the very cool story there is amazing sensuality and well presented sexy times of the 18+ variety. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series

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Aug 31, 2019 Kathryn rated it it was amazing

This is a unique read, it combines a dystopian world and paranormal reverse harem romance. The world building creates a complex world that is easy to escape in. The use of the POVs took some getting use to as first and third person perspectives were used. I cannot wait for book 2. I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased, honest review.

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Sep 05, 2019 Yashira rated it it was amazing

This is a unique read, it combines a dystopian world and paranormal reverse harem romance. The world created made me loose myself in it. The characters are great and it's an amazing and well written story. I cannot wait for book 2 and see what happens next!! I truly recomend this book!! ...more

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Oct 15, 2019 Becca rated it really liked it

Fresh and page turning

I can't believe I hadn't read this sooner! I can't wait to read subsequent books in the series. This will be a series that hard to wait for the next book to come! ...more

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Oct 20, 2019 Robin Dorf rated it it was amazing

Loved this book!!! Dystopian books are my jam!! The world created provides the reader with a Dystopian, Paranormal, RH experience.

Strong characters, great plot with several unexpected twists and turns!!!

I cant wait for book 2!!!

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Oct 15, 2019 Katie rated it it was amazing

This book.... TOTALLY MIND-BLOWING!!! It was intense and gritty and so hot but so deep. Sam Hall is an incredible story teller and I couldn't put this book down!! ...more

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Sep 10, 2019 Nicole rated it it was amazing

A mix of just about everything! Dystopian, with supernatural creatures and a badass MC. This was crazy different than what I read but after starting it I loved it.

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Aug 29, 2019 Bbwolfy rated it really liked it

The book was a good read I enjoyed reading it and hope to read more of the authors work in the future

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Aug 30, 2019 MelissaR rated it really liked it

Loved this book! The beginning was a little hard for me to get into but after I did, I didn't put it down until I finished it. Definitely worth the read! Excited for what’s next! ...more

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