chaptersbyindia's review
4.0
FINALLY! After reading a few chapters here and there from several books during this whole quarantine season, I finally found a book that grasped my attention and kept it! I am so excited to tell you all, spoiler free, about how much I loved this book!
“Words are a powerful weapon and they never die.”
So since I wasn’t having luck finding a story I could get into, I decided to search for my favorite author’s (Colleen Hoover) best friend whom I figured had to of been an intriguing author. That’s when I discovered Terryn ‘s book series with another author and that summary engulfed me!
A world where women are the superior and men are almost non-existence in this unique dystopian world created by two authors together... count me in! I knew it had to hold some steamy romance in which it did. But I also connected with the political drama, which I felt personally related too with everything going on in the real world.
It’s literally a fight for truth and that is a great representation of this book. I felt pulled to Gwen’s character and marveled at her witty personality and how she strived to expose the truth at any cost. I wish I could be as brave as Gwen! Of course I loved Folsom’s character as well and wanted nothing more than for his life to get better.
I’m not a big fan of ranchy talk in books and there definitely was some in this story but I just tried to move past it and the lack of details I wish were added to this story. I’m just someone who bailed lots of juicy details describing everything! The lack of them leaves for more imagination I suppose.
Other than that, it was a wild ride in which I am already ready to dive back into with the second book in this series. Definitely recommend this to my friends!
“It was the truth! For the truth to make a difference, it needs to be said by one person at a time, until there's a noise loud enough to make a difference.”
“Words are a powerful weapon and they never die.”
So since I wasn’t having luck finding a story I could get into, I decided to search for my favorite author’s (Colleen Hoover) best friend whom I figured had to of been an intriguing author. That’s when I discovered Terryn ‘s book series with another author and that summary engulfed me!
A world where women are the superior and men are almost non-existence in this unique dystopian world created by two authors together... count me in! I knew it had to hold some steamy romance in which it did. But I also connected with the political drama, which I felt personally related too with everything going on in the real world.
It’s literally a fight for truth and that is a great representation of this book. I felt pulled to Gwen’s character and marveled at her witty personality and how she strived to expose the truth at any cost. I wish I could be as brave as Gwen! Of course I loved Folsom’s character as well and wanted nothing more than for his life to get better.
I’m not a big fan of ranchy talk in books and there definitely was some in this story but I just tried to move past it and the lack of details I wish were added to this story. I’m just someone who bailed lots of juicy details describing everything! The lack of them leaves for more imagination I suppose.
Other than that, it was a wild ride in which I am already ready to dive back into with the second book in this series. Definitely recommend this to my friends!
“It was the truth! For the truth to make a difference, it needs to be said by one person at a time, until there's a noise loud enough to make a difference.”
bookgirl0925's review
2.0
2.5 Stars
I was expecting so much more from this story but just felt very disappointed in the end. Let me start by saying that I love The Handmaids Tale, so for this story to be very similar only with the reversal of the men being needed for procreation versus the woman piqued my interest. However after reading this story I can tell you there is no way this is even in the same league as THT. This story is all over the place and the reasons why the men have to “perform” vs just using a sperm sample is just ridiculous. I mean seriously, if the average man can produce up to 300 MILLION sperm per ejaculation that would indicate that you have a better chance at repopulating the world by artificial insemination that you would by having him have sex with a couple women everyday.
I don’t know how I feel about Folsom, I have a hard time believing that he is instantly in love with Gwen but I like his softness when he thinks of his life “before”. The way he talks of his mom especially. Gwen on the other hand was not very likable and at times acted like an immature brat. She did redeem herself somewhat when it came to her wanting to protect Laticus and her willingness to be an advocate for The End Men. In the end it seemed like this is a combo of THT and The Hunger Games and it just became too much. So while this story ends in a cliffhanger, I really have no interest in continuing the series.
I was expecting so much more from this story but just felt very disappointed in the end. Let me start by saying that I love The Handmaids Tale, so for this story to be very similar only with the reversal of the men being needed for procreation versus the woman piqued my interest. However after reading this story I can tell you there is no way this is even in the same league as THT. This story is all over the place and the reasons why the men have to “perform” vs just using a sperm sample is just ridiculous. I mean seriously, if the average man can produce up to 300 MILLION sperm per ejaculation that would indicate that you have a better chance at repopulating the world by artificial insemination that you would by having him have sex with a couple women everyday.
I don’t know how I feel about Folsom, I have a hard time believing that he is instantly in love with Gwen but I like his softness when he thinks of his life “before”. The way he talks of his mom especially. Gwen on the other hand was not very likable and at times acted like an immature brat. She did redeem herself somewhat when it came to her wanting to protect Laticus and her willingness to be an advocate for The End Men. In the end it seemed like this is a combo of THT and The Hunger Games and it just became too much. So while this story ends in a cliffhanger, I really have no interest in continuing the series.
amor_fati's review
5.0
This book took me on an adventure I did not expect. I knew where I going with these authors. I knew my heart would not recover. I knew I would love each character. I didn’t know know just how much I needed this book especially right now. They give us a new kind of hero and heroine. And it’s just the beginning.
Gwen is everything a woman needs to be in this age of mankind. Folsom is what every woman wants because he gives them what then need but no one really every thought about what he wanted until her. Until Gwen. Then they meet. A simple moment with shoes and the world is shaken on its axis. Forever. If you ask me. That is the moment it changes.
It’s the little moments Tarryn and Willow writes for that write for us that makes the big moments hits us with a harder. We already have the cracks started with the little ones.
Gwen is everything a woman needs to be in this age of mankind. Folsom is what every woman wants because he gives them what then need but no one really every thought about what he wanted until her. Until Gwen. Then they meet. A simple moment with shoes and the world is shaken on its axis. Forever. If you ask me. That is the moment it changes.
It’s the little moments Tarryn and Willow writes for that write for us that makes the big moments hits us with a harder. We already have the cracks started with the little ones.
nikamajig's review
5.0
I thought I was done with dystopian books, as they all seemed to be the same after a while, and then along came Fisher & Aster. Well done, ladies! I loved this book and would say that it was definitely different than what you might expect in that type of novel; it had so many twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more. It ends in a cliffhanger and I am anxiously awaiting the next book to see just what these amazing writers have in store for these characters that warmed my cold heart. Thank you both for sharing this journey with us!
alexperc_92's review
4.0
That was one hell of a twisted dystopian society. The book surely made me question a lot about rights and humanity.
yaredimpp's review
1.0
Nunca había leído nada de Aster, pero Tarryn Fisher es de las autoras que leo hasta la lista del mercado, me encanta los personajes tan imperfectos y humanos que hace, que no se va por los clichés, pero lamentablemente aquí no vi nada de la escritura de Fisher. Esté libro está lleno de clichés y mal manejados, el amor instantáneo, la chica perfecta, inocente que de repente se vuelve la fuerza y salvadora , etc. No conecte con los protagonistas, Gwen insoportable
Sólo lo acabé por ser de Fisher, sino lo hubiera abandonado al 15%. Mujeres bailando desnudas alrededor de penes gigantes, es enserio?
Definitivamente no pienso continuarlo.
Sólo lo acabé por ser de Fisher, sino lo hubiera abandonado al 15%. Mujeres bailando desnudas alrededor de penes gigantes, es enserio?
Definitivamente no pienso continuarlo.
ohemgitsal's review
2.0
It pains me to rate a TF book so low, but this book is a true disappointment to me.
I loved the idea of the story: a dystopian world of a woman-dominated population, relying on twelve men to repopulate the earth. But the perks of the story are non-existant.
The writing was completely amateur. I was so surprised, because I believe Tarryn Fisher is one of the best writers of our time. I don’t know what happened with this one.
I found many plot holes and inconsistencies with the characters. Personalities and personas changed throughout, seemingly to stay consistent with whatever was taking place. We also don’t get a true, legitimate reasoning for the need of End Men.
The ending felt super rushed. I felt no connection to the characters, who were super one-dimensional. This book was a perfect example of telling, not showing.
I’ll definitely read the next book in hopes that the writing improves, but I cannot emphasize my disappointment enough for this flat story.
I loved the idea of the story: a dystopian world of a woman-dominated population, relying on twelve men to repopulate the earth. But the perks of the story are non-existant.
The writing was completely amateur. I was so surprised, because I believe Tarryn Fisher is one of the best writers of our time. I don’t know what happened with this one.
I found many plot holes and inconsistencies with the characters. Personalities and personas changed throughout, seemingly to stay consistent with whatever was taking place. We also don’t get a true, legitimate reasoning for the need of End Men.
The ending felt super rushed. I felt no connection to the characters, who were super one-dimensional. This book was a perfect example of telling, not showing.
I’ll definitely read the next book in hopes that the writing improves, but I cannot emphasize my disappointment enough for this flat story.
jamietherebelliousreader's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars. Eh. I see what the authors were going for. The vision is definitely there but the execution is so sloppy.
Let me start off with what I did like. I thought the action in the last half of the book was really great. The ending itself was also well done and sets up for the next book really well. Also Jackal. We don’t see much of him here but when we do he was great and I’m glad the next book follows him because he was the only character I was intrigued by.
The world building is murky and the plot makes no sense (especially when you think of how easy it would be for the women to just do IV instead of humping and making babies with the same 12 men) and it really is a read that requires you to throw your suspension of disbelief out of the window. It ain’t welcomed here because then you’ll see all of the flaws and it will make your head spin. Like how are these 12 men having unprotected sex with all of these women with no threat of an STD? There’s no explanation so I’m assuming they don’t exist in this world?? Lord.
The writing was good, not the best I’ve read from Fisher (whom I love so very dearly) it just lacked any depth but her and Aster combined made for a smooth reading. There was no emotional connection though and while I did enjoy the book I was never once invested in the characters which made it hard for me to care about what happened to them in the end.
Gwen was like the Katniss Everdeen of this book and it felt so forced to me. She didn’t give a damn about what the End Men were going through until she met Folsom and got jealous that he was sexing other women and then she wanted to be a revolutionist? It never felt genuine especially with how whiny and sniveling she is. I didn’t see it for her.
Folsom was a bit better than her and I definitely preferred reading from his point of view but he was also not that great of a character. He was very one dimensional and dull. He doesn’t want to be a whore for the government anymore. That’s it. That’s his character in a nutshell.
Overall, I will be continuing on because this series has a lot of potential to be something good but this first book left a lot to be desired.
{Challenges completed:
✔For Love of a Book: Shopping Cart Challenge
✔Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass the Parcel Round 11
✔The Challenge Factory: Hooray for Technology! E-reader Challenge (September)}
Let me start off with what I did like. I thought the action in the last half of the book was really great. The ending itself was also well done and sets up for the next book really well. Also Jackal. We don’t see much of him here but when we do he was great and I’m glad the next book follows him because he was the only character I was intrigued by.
The world building is murky and the plot makes no sense (especially when you think of how easy it would be for the women to just do IV instead of humping and making babies with the same 12 men) and it really is a read that requires you to throw your suspension of disbelief out of the window. It ain’t welcomed here because then you’ll see all of the flaws and it will make your head spin. Like how are these 12 men having unprotected sex with all of these women with no threat of an STD? There’s no explanation so I’m assuming they don’t exist in this world?? Lord.
The writing was good, not the best I’ve read from Fisher (whom I love so very dearly) it just lacked any depth but her and Aster combined made for a smooth reading. There was no emotional connection though and while I did enjoy the book I was never once invested in the characters which made it hard for me to care about what happened to them in the end.
Gwen was like the Katniss Everdeen of this book and it felt so forced to me. She didn’t give a damn about what the End Men were going through until she met Folsom and got jealous that he was sexing other women and then she wanted to be a revolutionist? It never felt genuine especially with how whiny and sniveling she is. I didn’t see it for her.
Folsom was a bit better than her and I definitely preferred reading from his point of view but he was also not that great of a character. He was very one dimensional and dull. He doesn’t want to be a whore for the government anymore. That’s it. That’s his character in a nutshell.
Overall, I will be continuing on because this series has a lot of potential to be something good but this first book left a lot to be desired.
{Challenges completed:
✔For Love of a Book: Shopping Cart Challenge
✔Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass the Parcel Round 11
✔The Challenge Factory: Hooray for Technology! E-reader Challenge (September)}