rjodonnell's review
3.0
3.5/ 5 stars.
Project Dandelion is a nuclear apocalyptic lord of the flies. The idea was intriguing but the story telling fell flat.
I didn’t vibe with the third person POV, I would have preferred first person to understand the main character a bit more. I also wish it was longer and more fleshed out so we could connect with and understand the characters better.
I did like the friendships between Dreya, Jayden, James and Katrina. Especially Katrina and James. This alone makes me want to keep reading the series!
Overall it was a decent story, not perfect or long enough but I am keen to keep reading on!
Project Dandelion is a nuclear apocalyptic lord of the flies. The idea was intriguing but the story telling fell flat.
I didn’t vibe with the third person POV, I would have preferred first person to understand the main character a bit more. I also wish it was longer and more fleshed out so we could connect with and understand the characters better.
I did like the friendships between Dreya, Jayden, James and Katrina. Especially Katrina and James. This alone makes me want to keep reading the series!
Overall it was a decent story, not perfect or long enough but I am keen to keep reading on!
julianaa_xx's review against another edition
2.0
*2.5 to low-ish end of 3 stars
This book is about a group of teens who are in a bunker after a radiation incident makes the country uninhabitable. They’ll be able to leave the bunker if they would like in 2 weeks and in the meantime learn survival skills and improve their fitness.
It was fast paced, short, and easy to read. It gave me The 100 & The Society vibes.
I wish we learnt more about the Dandelion Project program and that the book had some unexpected/shocking parts but maybe that will be expanded on throughout the series.
I also wish that the characters had some more development & depth to them. The writing felt a little juvenile but that’s the book’s audience so it makes sense.
I would continue the series but it’s not available at my library.
This book is about a group of teens who are in a bunker after a radiation incident makes the country uninhabitable. They’ll be able to leave the bunker if they would like in 2 weeks and in the meantime learn survival skills and improve their fitness.
It was fast paced, short, and easy to read. It gave me The 100 & The Society vibes.
I wish we learnt more about the Dandelion Project program and that the book had some unexpected/shocking parts but maybe that will be expanded on throughout the series.
I also wish that the characters had some more development & depth to them. The writing felt a little juvenile but that’s the book’s audience so it makes sense.
I would continue the series but it’s not available at my library.
autismreading_mom's review
5.0
This was the first time that I have read anything written by this author. I’m totally in love with the plot line and love the characters. I will be continuing onto the next book in this series.
travelbossbabe's review
5.0
Need MORE!!!
Okay, so the setting for this world hit super close to home! I mean, there are so many similarities that it makes me want to create my own nuclear fall out shelter!
I love the way the author portrays the different characteristics of group think vs individual mentality. It’s crazy how quickly we allow someone to take control out of fear.
This series is off to a great start and I can’t wait to read more about what happens to my new favorite group of people!!
Okay, so the setting for this world hit super close to home! I mean, there are so many similarities that it makes me want to create my own nuclear fall out shelter!
I love the way the author portrays the different characteristics of group think vs individual mentality. It’s crazy how quickly we allow someone to take control out of fear.
This series is off to a great start and I can’t wait to read more about what happens to my new favorite group of people!!
errmma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I thought this was going to be just another apocalypse story but it was so much more! The characters, while teenagers, weren't all just the stereotypical immature kids. It was refreshing to see the diverse characters and make ups. I'm so excited for the second one!!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
bookschief_managed's review
4.0
First of all, a HUGE thanks to the lovely author, Heather Carson, for sending me a copy of this book! I probably would’ve picked this out based on the cover alone if I’d seen it at a bookstore, I’m honestly in love with it. But, onwards with the review!
Trigger warning for this book: rape. (This scene is addressed in the review, so please be aware!)
Okay, so the storyline behind this book was beyond intriguing. I’m all for post-apocalyptic stories and stories that lean on that Lord of the Flies behavior when it comes to groups of kids trying to hack it on their own. BUT, I feel like there was so much to the world that we didn’t get to learn about. I know that it’s only book one, but I feel like if this had been expanded and was a 300+ page novel, it would probably be one of my favorites. It just felt like it needed that bit of fleshing out to really drive some things home.
There was a lot to this book that I did enjoy very much. I loved the setting, the simple design for their underground bunker and how it functioned for the kids, but again, I feel like there could’ve been some expanding on that as well. This had to have been some long-planned contingency plan, so why were all the kids so out of the loop with any kind of information? I liked that there was legitimate conflict and that things played out in a way that was actually feasible, that’s always one of my biggest pet-peeves when it comes to apocalypse stories, things just play out way too conveniently and that wasn’t the case here.
I honestly liked Katrina as a many character a lot. She stood up for herself and her beliefs and didn’t back down in the face of a bully. The whole group mentality leaning towards those who could make them feel the most secure in the moment really did play out as I would imagine it would, so I definitely appreciated that as well. The side characters were great, but once again, I wanted more from them. Mia and James were probably my favorites after Katrina, but there were several characters I despised and a lot that we really didn’t learn anything about.
The couple things that bugged me: some typos/ misplaced words, which I could get past and I understand, especially with indie books. There was a scene where someone is allegedly accused of attempting to rape a girl. She insists they don’t do anything to the guy, and the guy complains that she was lying, that he went to comfort her, she came onto him, then proceeded to freak out. Either way, it wasn’t really addressed, nothing seemed to come from it, and aside from it causing a fight between two characters, I feel like that could have occurred under different circumstances and that particular part wasn’t needed.
The entirety of this story takes place in only two weeks, and I do feel like some of it was moved a little too quickly, but that just goes back to the fact that I wanted it to be longer. I wanted so much from this book and I feel like I barely got to scrape the surface. I’m fascinated though, and will most definitely be picking up the sequel when it’s released!
Trigger warning for this book: rape. (This scene is addressed in the review, so please be aware!)
Okay, so the storyline behind this book was beyond intriguing. I’m all for post-apocalyptic stories and stories that lean on that Lord of the Flies behavior when it comes to groups of kids trying to hack it on their own. BUT, I feel like there was so much to the world that we didn’t get to learn about. I know that it’s only book one, but I feel like if this had been expanded and was a 300+ page novel, it would probably be one of my favorites. It just felt like it needed that bit of fleshing out to really drive some things home.
There was a lot to this book that I did enjoy very much. I loved the setting, the simple design for their underground bunker and how it functioned for the kids, but again, I feel like there could’ve been some expanding on that as well. This had to have been some long-planned contingency plan, so why were all the kids so out of the loop with any kind of information? I liked that there was legitimate conflict and that things played out in a way that was actually feasible, that’s always one of my biggest pet-peeves when it comes to apocalypse stories, things just play out way too conveniently and that wasn’t the case here.
I honestly liked Katrina as a many character a lot. She stood up for herself and her beliefs and didn’t back down in the face of a bully. The whole group mentality leaning towards those who could make them feel the most secure in the moment really did play out as I would imagine it would, so I definitely appreciated that as well. The side characters were great, but once again, I wanted more from them. Mia and James were probably my favorites after Katrina, but there were several characters I despised and a lot that we really didn’t learn anything about.
The couple things that bugged me: some typos/ misplaced words, which I could get past and I understand, especially with indie books. There was a scene where someone is allegedly accused of attempting to rape a girl. She insists they don’t do anything to the guy, and the guy complains that she was lying, that he went to comfort her, she came onto him, then proceeded to freak out. Either way, it wasn’t really addressed, nothing seemed to come from it, and aside from it causing a fight between two characters, I feel like that could have occurred under different circumstances and that particular part wasn’t needed.
The entirety of this story takes place in only two weeks, and I do feel like some of it was moved a little too quickly, but that just goes back to the fact that I wanted it to be longer. I wanted so much from this book and I feel like I barely got to scrape the surface. I’m fascinated though, and will most definitely be picking up the sequel when it’s released!
looseleafellie's review
3.0
Project Dandelion is about a group of teens who get placed in a nuclear fallout shelter and have to work out how to cooperate to survive. The second I saw the concept, I went, “Muahahahaha, I hope these kids go full Lord of the Flies on me!” I’m pleased to say that they went at least halfway Lord of the Flies on me. Okay, they didn’t murder anyone, but the book only takes place over the span of two weeks so I reckon it was only a matter of time.
I really loved the main character, Katrina — she had a very specific goal that involved getting out of the shelter ASAP, which gave her a delightfully morally gray edge in a group where everyone is expected to cooperate. The contrast between those who wanted to stay and those who wanted to leave got starker and starker throughout the story, but it was never entirely clear who was right. Yes! Give me that sweet moral ambiguity!
There’s one main thing that I unfortunately wasn’t so keen on, and that was the origins of the relationship between Katrina and the love interest, James. My pet peeve in fiction is instalove, and their relationship developed a little too fast for my taste. I mean, I get it — the story only lasts for two weeks — but I like what I like, and what I like is SLOW BURN.
Overall, this was a short, fast read that brought up some really interesting philosophical dilemmas — and got me out of my reading slump!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
I really loved the main character, Katrina — she had a very specific goal that involved getting out of the shelter ASAP, which gave her a delightfully morally gray edge in a group where everyone is expected to cooperate. The contrast between those who wanted to stay and those who wanted to leave got starker and starker throughout the story, but it was never entirely clear who was right. Yes! Give me that sweet moral ambiguity!
There’s one main thing that I unfortunately wasn’t so keen on, and that was the origins of the relationship between Katrina and the love interest, James. My pet peeve in fiction is instalove, and their relationship developed a little too fast for my taste. I mean, I get it — the story only lasts for two weeks — but I like what I like, and what I like is SLOW BURN.
Overall, this was a short, fast read that brought up some really interesting philosophical dilemmas — and got me out of my reading slump!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
hereforindiebooks's review
4.0
Guys. You guys. This entire series is such a good time! When I think Dystopian, this book style comes to mind. End of the world. Government control. Not knowing who to trust and using survival skills to just make it another day. It is *chefs kiss*
I would recommend this for teens and adults. If you grew up reading The Giver, Oryx and Crake, and Hunger Games then this series will definitely check all your boxes for things you love about Dystopian fiction. Let's stick it to the man and survive against all odds!
I would recommend this for teens and adults. If you grew up reading The Giver, Oryx and Crake, and Hunger Games then this series will definitely check all your boxes for things you love about Dystopian fiction. Let's stick it to the man and survive against all odds!