lsoccer12's review
3.0
This book started out very strong and very engaging.
The MC was awesome, but it was a bit unbelievable that she was only 14.
As the novel progressed, I began to lose interest as the overall pace began to slow.
The end was not not as good as the the beginning had me believing it would be. haha Does that sentence work?
A lot of random stuff started getting thrown in, civilizations, unimportant characters, magical abilities that our heroine just happens to have, etc.
Overall, a decent read.
The MC was awesome, but it was a bit unbelievable that she was only 14.
As the novel progressed, I began to lose interest as the overall pace began to slow.
The end was not not as good as the the beginning had me believing it would be. haha Does that sentence work?
A lot of random stuff started getting thrown in, civilizations, unimportant characters, magical abilities that our heroine just happens to have, etc.
Overall, a decent read.
deecolfs's review
5.0
This is the story of Caroline, a fourteen-year-old girl who's leading a large group of people away from the soldiers who want to take them and make them their slaves. She's a natural-born leader. In fact, Caroline was one of the scouts trained to be on the lookout for enemies and to fight them if necessary before they reached the town she lived in. Kudos to you, Mr. Lindsey. I don't know how you do it, but I always end up loving your characters.
It's set in Virginia, in a sort of pseudo-future, so it's also funny to read when she talks about what her grandfather used to tell her about the "old times", when people used to drive cars around, which is a weird concept to her. Her scenes with her grandfather are very emotional and made me feel all sorts of things.
The Kinders are an interesting concept and their backstory makes sense, in a hypothetical way, I mean, which pleases me greatly. I'm looking forward to learning more about them and their powers.
I really enjoyed that last fight scene with Caroline and Finn. The fact that she focused on that little boy and his father to give her strength and a purpose to win against the DAV (Democratic Alliance of Virginia) brought tears to my eyes.
Of course, because this is only the first part, we're left with a cliffhanger. No worries. I'm ready for the next part.
Awesome story and amazing characters. What else could I ask for?
It's set in Virginia, in a sort of pseudo-future, so it's also funny to read when she talks about what her grandfather used to tell her about the "old times", when people used to drive cars around, which is a weird concept to her. Her scenes with her grandfather are very emotional and made me feel all sorts of things.
The Kinders are an interesting concept and their backstory makes sense, in a hypothetical way, I mean, which pleases me greatly. I'm looking forward to learning more about them and their powers.
I really enjoyed that last fight scene with Caroline and Finn. The fact that she focused on that little boy and his father to give her strength and a purpose to win against the DAV (Democratic Alliance of Virginia) brought tears to my eyes.
Of course, because this is only the first part, we're left with a cliffhanger. No worries. I'm ready for the next part.
Awesome story and amazing characters. What else could I ask for?
linzbassett's review
1.0
I was really disappointed in this book. There was no real character development, and none of the characters had any personality what so ever. The story is rushed and tries way too hard. Caroline is portrayed as a strong female leader, but she's really not. She's a scared fourteen year old girl who's in the middle of a war. Instead of leading James and Finn end up making a lot of the decisions. It also seems like it is trying to be political, which just feels out of place. I would not recommend this to anyone.
tekvet's review
3.0
Interesting dystopian novel
A fun look at a fairly standard scenario. Nothing completely mind blowing but the characters are well crafted, the pacing works well, and I've just downloaded book 2.
A fun look at a fairly standard scenario. Nothing completely mind blowing but the characters are well crafted, the pacing works well, and I've just downloaded book 2.
jamiebooksandladders's review
2.0
I was initially really excited to read this novel. It had good reviews on here and it had an interesting premise. I was disappointed though. The whole novel didn't feel like it had much plot to it, especially the first 15-20% of it that was about . Honestly, there didn't seem to even be a story there until Caroline and Finn, along with their merry bunch of looters, started to run.
Most of the issues I had with the book derive from the world building and the general mythology of the novel, but I also had an issue with some of the aspects of Caroline.
World Building/Kinder Mythology
The "introduction" to the novel, which I am assuming was meant to be world building, was sloppy. There were some inconsistencies in Caroline's narrative of where the world is now and the surrounding area. Also, considering that Caroline said that not even the Elders were aware of why the world ended, it doesn't seem right for her to have some intimate knowledge and details about weapons and their uses. For example, guns. Caroline seemed to be aware of handguns at the beginning of the story however she didn't seem to know what they were when, knew what a "sniper" was, but didn't know the term "scope".
There was such a random introduction to the "mythical"/superhuman people in this novel that I almost thought it was a completely different novel than the one I started. It seemed like there was an actual divide in the beginning of the novel between the "introduction" of the world and the issue and where the story actually began. And it started when Ellery was murdered. There was some mentions about the Kinders prior to Ellery saying that there were, but it wasn't until she died that the "real story" started to happen.
There also seems to be a disconnect between what Caroline can do and what the mythology surrounding the Kinders is. Caroline mentions that they are immortal, can fly, are "squirrel-like", and can see into the past, present, and future, etc. That is what the stories from the Elders say. However, when Finn describes the history of the land to Caroline (because they apparently have history textbooks in the DAV), he say that each Kinder has different abilities?? Which is fine, like that could make sense, except Ellery was one of the Elders in Caroline's village and also a confirmed Kinder. It doesn't make sense that Caroline would learn one thing from her Elders and a Kinder, but Finn would tell her something different and that is what we are to believe to be the truth. It was all unbelievable.
Caroline
I did actually like Caroline. She was tough and emotional and generally well-written. But it still will never make sense to me that this 14 year old girl would command a large group of people. Whether or not she is this mystical Kinder person, there is still no way that people would listen to her before she.
This next part is going to focus on her Kinder abilities so I am going to put it all under a spoiler, even though it really isn't.
She was also so ... trusting. For being the leader of this group of people, she was way too quick to trust people. Finn, for example, an enemy deserter who just. I hope this is part of her characterization for now because she is still "young" and that it will change in the next part of the series, but honestly it was really not a good trait for her to have.
On a positive note, I think Caroline was interesting and well thought out. I would have liked more from the minor characters, who at first seemed as if they were going to be a major part of the storyline. I hope that there is more Finn and James and that Crockett makes her way back into the story because I liked her. However, I am not sure if I want to continue with the rest of the series.
Overall: 1.5/5 stars but rounded up for the star counter. This one has an interesting concept that wasn't extremely well executed in my opinion.
Spoiler
Brandon dying and Caroline's village being captured and burntMost of the issues I had with the book derive from the world building and the general mythology of the novel, but I also had an issue with some of the aspects of Caroline.
World Building/Kinder Mythology
The "introduction" to the novel, which I am assuming was meant to be world building, was sloppy. There were some inconsistencies in Caroline's narrative of where the world is now and the surrounding area. Also, considering that Caroline said that not even the Elders were aware of why the world ended, it doesn't seem right for her to have some intimate knowledge and details about weapons and their uses. For example, guns. Caroline seemed to be aware of handguns at the beginning of the story however she didn't seem to know what they were when
Spoiler
she was trying to reach Teresa at the top of the hillThere was such a random introduction to the "mythical"/superhuman people in this novel that I almost thought it was a completely different novel than the one I started. It seemed like there was an actual divide in the beginning of the novel between the "introduction" of the world and the issue and where the story actually began. And it started when Ellery was murdered. There was some mentions about the Kinders prior to Ellery saying that there were
Spoiler
two more Kinders near her, meaning Caroline and Finn, which was super obvious anywayThere also seems to be a disconnect between what Caroline
Spoiler
and FinnCaroline
I did actually like Caroline. She was tough and emotional and generally well-written. But it still will never make sense to me that this 14 year old girl would command a large group of people. Whether or not she is this mystical Kinder person, there is still no way that people would listen to her before she
Spoiler
floats off the ground. That is the kind of stuff people generally follow, but until that point her being fast and strong would not created the atmosphere for people to follow herThis next part is going to focus on her Kinder abilities so I am going to put it all under a spoiler, even though it really isn't.
Spoiler
I didn't think Caroline would have been able to master her Kinder abilities so quickly. It seemed to me that because Ellery said "Remember the name Caroline and she is a Kinder" that Caroline just magically had control over her powers. But this didn't seem to happen for Finn, so why Caroline. It doesn't make sense that she would be the anomaly because there are only two of them left. It made sense at first for her to be using them when she felt overpowering emotions, such as moving the soldier from her Grandfather's cabin, but it didn't make sense that at the end she hadn't reached 15 but was able to completely control her abilities. Even if she was a Kinder from birth, then Finn should have been one as well.She was also so ... trusting. For being the leader of this group of people, she was way too quick to trust people. Finn, for example, an enemy deserter who just
Spoiler
happens to be a Kinder like her, so they are obviously going to be bffsOn a positive note, I think Caroline was interesting and well thought out. I would have liked more from the minor characters, who at first seemed as if they were going to be a major part of the storyline. I hope that there is more Finn and James and that Crockett makes her way back into the story because I liked her. However, I am not sure if I want to continue with the rest of the series.
Overall: 1.5/5 stars but rounded up for the star counter. This one has an interesting concept that wasn't extremely well executed in my opinion.
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