Title: The Legacy
Series: The Legacy Series
Author: Melissa Delport
Publisher: Tracy McDonald Publishing
Release Date: 15th June 2014
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One man obsessed with power.
One woman prepared to sacrifice everything to stop him.
One war that changed the world.
“Eric Dane has segregated the wealth and resources that remain, giving a select few the highest chance of survival and leaving the rest to starve!”
World War 3 lasted twelve days and almost eradicated the human species. Growing up in post nuclear America, Rebecca Davis remained blissfully ignorant of the despotic leadership that had seized what was previously the most powerful nation in the world. When the truth is revealed and Rebecca discovers that everything she has been taught is a lie, she is determined to fight for the life that she has not been allowed to live.
One woman prepared to sacrifice everything to stop him.
One war that changed the world.
“Eric Dane has segregated the wealth and resources that remain, giving a select few the highest chance of survival and leaving the rest to starve!”
World War 3 lasted twelve days and almost eradicated the human species. Growing up in post nuclear America, Rebecca Davis remained blissfully ignorant of the despotic leadership that had seized what was previously the most powerful nation in the world. When the truth is revealed and Rebecca discovers that everything she has been taught is a lie, she is determined to fight for the life that she has not been allowed to live.
In order to do this, Rebecca has to cross the boundary fences and venture out of the safety of the New United States, into the barren wastelands. It is there that she finds allies she never dreamed existed.
In Rebecca, the Resistance has finally found the ultimate weapon.
PURCHASE LINK
Series: The Legacy Series
Author: Melissa Delport
Publisher: Tracy McDonald Publishing
Release Date: 15th June 2014
BLURB from Goodreads
In defeating Eric Dane, Rebecca believed that the war would be over. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Now Rebecca faces a new enemy, one far more dangerous than Eric ever was. A faceless adversary, lurking in the shadows and pulling all the strings.
With her father missing and the man she loves believed dead, Rebecca has to look inside herself and find the will to go on, to fight another day. She begins to explore her relationship with Reed, until a shocking discovery threatens to destroy her strongest alliance.
With her Legion growing ever stronger, Rebecca travels to new frontiers and finds allies in the most unlikely group of heroes. But when she discovers a NUSA convoy let loose in the Rebeldom hunting her down, Rebecca has to make the ultimate sacrifice, in order to save the people that she loves.
The Legion is the gripping sequel to The Legacy, with more twists and turns than ever before, and an ending that cries out for the final chapter.
Goodreads Link
PURCHASE LINKS
MY REVIEW
Series: The Legacy Series
Author: Melissa Delport
Publisher: Tracy McDonald Publishing
Release Date: 15th June 2014
BLURB from Goodreads
One man obsessed with power.
One woman prepared to sacrifice everything to stop him.
One war that changed the world.
“Eric Dane has segregated the wealth and resources that remain, giving a select few the highest chance of survival and leaving the rest to starve!”
World War 3 lasted twelve days and almost eradicated the human species. Growing up in post nuclear America, Rebecca Davis remained blissfully ignorant of the despotic leadership that had seized what was previously the most powerful nation in the world. When the truth is revealed and Rebecca discovers that everything she has been taught is a lie, she is determined to fight for the life that she has not been allowed to live.
In order to do this, Rebecca has to cross the boundary fences and venture out of the safety of the New United States, into the barren wastelands. It is there that she finds allies she never dreamed existed.
In Rebecca, the Resistance has finally found the ultimate weapon.
Goodreads Link
INITIAL THOUGHTS
So this book is set more in the latter aftermath of the apocalypse, rather than during with all the looting and raiding . . . I'm thinking the apocalyptic and initial aftermath is usually the best bit so will this one still deliver?
MY REVIEW
I was offered an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review and posting that review during the blog tour.
The genre of this book on Goodreads is classified as Dystopian, which I'd agree with to an extent. I'd be more tempted to say Post Apocalyptic, but this book stands head and shoulders above most in that character, there is nothing run of the mill about this book!
The cover is very dark, a female with a hood on, pulled around the head and face, perhaps as a disguise. I'd say the female on the cover is Rebecca, the main character in the book. I love a good byline and the one on this cover is a great example of a good one. "One Man, One Woman, One War" really fits the characters and what happens in this book.
As I said in "INITIAL THOUGHTS" this book is set after the actual apocalypse, and the whole initial looting and fighting that goes on after the apocalypse.
The who has risen to the top of the post apocalyptic pile is Eric Danes. He has created a "new" America and everyone does as he says or they are cast into the "wilderness" outside the boundary fences. Eric Dane has made it known that only the "insane savages" live in the wilderness making being banished to it a death sentence.
However what isn't commonly known is that there is life outside the border fences that Eric Dane has erected. The fences are in fact there to prevent the rebels that live in the Rebelldom out.
The main character Rebecca's father and the Rebelldom have found out that Eric Dane is using a scientific procedure to create super soldiers. There are three types of procedure, strength, speed and healing. The rebels need someone to get as close to Eric Dane as possible to try and get vital information to bring the man and his army down.
After the apocalypse Rebecca has made a life for herself with her mother, her aunt and fellow survivors, Jonathan and his son Aidan. Aidan and Rebecca have become very close, so it is a shock when Rebecca undergoes the procedure three times to have all the resulting abilities of strength, speed and healing. Rebecca leaves the life she had mapped out for her to help the greater cause. Rebecca ends up marrying Eric Dane, and continues her life of pretense to gather vital information for the rebels.
Without giving away too many spoilers, it becomes Rebecca's task, with the help of a southerner Reed to find those with special abilities before Eric and his team do, to prevent Eric building his army. It soon becomes apparent that by finding those with special abilities the rebels are building their own "army". Rebecca also visits the rebel camps in the rebelldom and is soon made the leader of "the Legion". "The Legion" is the rebel army, that has Rebecca at the helm. When Rebecca left her old pre-Eric life she stopped contact and kept secrets to herself so that is ever found out Eric could never use any of her former family & friends to get to her. Unfortunately not everything goes the way Rebecca wishes and her old life and new life soon collide with disastrous consequences. Rebecca also discovers that Eric is not as trusting of her as she thinks. Then their are betrayals and spies and wow so much more! Can Rebecca take on Eric and win? is one of the questions I found myself asking as I read the book. I mean she is living with the man as husband & wife, when and if it comes to it can Rebecca defeat Eric?
Is Eric responsible for all of the negative things in New America? Could someone be working with or perhaps above Eric? Will Rebecca ever get to have a life of her own? Who is Rebecca destined to be with in her life? Can she ever get over the losses she has endured? Were just a few of the questions that were still whizzing around in my head as I was reading the last chapter. Without giving anything away . . .I absolutely have to say wow what a twist in that final chapter!
The character's I love in this book are, of course Rebecca, a super kick butt strong female lead, then Aidan, Reed and Kwan, the main guys in the book, ranging from Aidan the "normal" guy, Reed the male version of Rebecca and Kwan the brilliant Korean who fights like a whirlwind! In those with special abilities I love the characters and the emotional interactions with Rellis and Morgan. And isn't Quinn a surprise (you'll know what I mean when you read the book). It really is a war that the Legion are preparing for. Of course as with most wars there are casualties on both sides. I honestly found my eyes brimming with tears in a few areas of this book. One of which when Rebecca is checking out who the legion had lost, I had a real lump in my throat.
I totally admit to be one of the hardest reviews I have had to write, the temptation to give away spoilers was immense. I really can't say enough great things to describe this unique book.
I enjoyed the relationship between Reed and Rebecca. Rebecca doesn't trust easily so Reed has to earn the trust from Rebecca. When they become partners in their quest to find those with super abilities before Eric does and their quest to take Eric down. I love how close they become, the various nicknames Reed has for Rebecca, "Tiny" "Sexy Bex" and "Bex". I totally understand Rebecca's irritation when one of the major planners in the Legion insists on calling Rebecca Mrs Dane, even though Rebecca has by this point in the book left Eric, in fact she's actively planning to kill him. This one old army gentlemen stubbornly refuses to recognise that fact by calling her Ms Davis or Rebecca.
So did I enjoy the book? Absolutely loved it! Would I recommend the book ?Definitely Would I want to read more of this series? Ooo yesss please x Would I read other titles by this author? Again, yesss please x
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon UK
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born
and where do you live now?
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born
and where do you live now?
My name is Melissa
Delport and I was born in sunny Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. I reside with my husband and 3
children in Gillitts.
Did you always want to be a writer? If
not what did you want to be?
I initially wanted to
be a forensic psychologist, but I have always loved writing, so I did a degree
in English and psychology and a year each of post grad study, and then I got
into the transport industry. I recently sold out of my logistics business to
write full-time.
When did you first consider yourself as
a "writer"?
The day I held my first
printed book in my hand. It was surreal and suddenly tangible – I could touch
it, hold it, and smell it!
Did it take a long time to get your
first book published?
It took me just shy of two
years to get offered a publishing deal. It seemed like a very long time, but I
still count myself lucky.
Do you work another job as well as your
writing work?
I did, up until November last year.
Now, I am a full-time writer, and full-time mom to three children.
What is the name of your latest book,
and if you had to summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
The Legend. the final book in The Legacy Trilogy. It’s a
fast-paced dystopian action-adventure with something for everyone.
Who is your publisher or do you self
publish?
My publisher is Tracey McDonald
Publishers, but I do still indie publish certain titles, so I guess you could
call me a “hybrid”.
Do you have a "lucky charm" or
"lucky routine" you follow when waiting for your book to be accepted
by a publisher?
No, although luck certainly has a
lot to do with it. There are plenty of books rejected by publishers that
deserve a place on the bestseller shelves. There is nothing that we can do to
tip the odds in our favor. I got lucky, pure and simple, but no charms ;) I
simply put my head down and kept writing. I had released my fourth book by the
time my first was picked up by a publisher.
How long does it usually take you to
write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
Six months, give or take.
Which of your books were easier/harder
to write than the others?
The Legion, the second
book in my Legacy Trilogy was the easiest. Most of the back story was there
already in the first book, and I picked up where I had left off. Ironically, I
think it is the best book I’ve ever written.
What can we expect from you in the
future? ie More books of the same genre?
Books of a different genre?
I am currently working
on the final book in The Legacy Trilogy, which I have to complete by September.
I am also mapping out a new fantasy series.
What genre would you place your books
into?
I write mostly dystopian, sci-fi romance and
contemporary romance.
What made you decide to write that genre
of book?
I don’t specifically select a genre and
then write in that frame. When a story grips me enough to write about it, I do,
and let it fall where it may. I do prefer SFF and romance, though, so I will
probably write in those genres for some time to come.
Do you have a favourite out of the books
you have written? If so why is it your favourite?
The
Legion, which is book 2 in The Legacy Trilogy. It’s my personal favourite, for
a number of reasons. I feel very connected with The Legacy characters because I
have invested so much into them, and of course it was this trilogy that landed
me a publishing deal.
Do you have a favourite character from
your books? and why are they your favourite?
Reed
from The Legacy Trilogy. Reed is
confident, cocky and sexy as hell, I love writing his character.
If you had to choose to be one of your
characters in your book/books which would you be, and why?
Rebecca Davis of The Legacy Trilogy. She is strong, sexy,
and the leader of an army! Not to mention she has the adoration of two
incredibly gorgeous men. I love a good love triangle.
How long have you been writing, and who
or what inspired you to write? I have been writing
professionally for over two years. My stories inspire me to write. A story will
burn a hole in a writer’s head until they get it down on paper.
Do you have a certain routine you have
for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I usually write on my bed or the couch. My
physiotherapist would be horrified – she insists I sit bolt upright at a desk,
in the ergonomically correct position. That’s never going to happen. Although I
do have grand ideas for a “writer’s cave”….one day.
Do you have anybody read your books and
give you reviews before you officially release them? ie. Your partner,
children, friends, reviewers you know?
One of my
closest friends is a very outspoken person. She holds no punches, so I give her
the raw manuscript first, before I send it off for editing. I’ve also become
friendly with a blogger who reads voraciously, and I value her opinion, so she
is one of the first people to read the finished product.
Do you read all the reviews of your
book/books?
Yes (cringe). I know I shouldn’t, but
your natural curiosity gets the better of you. A book is like your baby – you
want to show it off! I have gotten a lot better though - when I first started
out I would check three times a day. Now, I check only a couple of times a
month and I don’t over-analyze like I used to. I read any new reviews for
curiosity’s sake and move on. I am a lot busier now, so that helps! Authors are
advised to never comment on reviews, so we seldom thank readers for glowing
reviews, but we value each and every one.
What was the toughest/best review you
have ever had?
The best review I ever had was from
a few bloggers who got hold of one of my books (Rainfall) and voted it their
TOP read of 2013. It was humbling and the biggest compliment I have ever been
paid. Fortunately, I haven’t had too many bad reviews, but one reviewer did
claim that the same book (Rainfall) left her feeling empty and hollow inside
and that she wished she had never read it. The story is sad, so I didn’t take
it to heart.
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change
their review if it was not all positive about your book/books?
No. That is an absolute law. Readers are entitled to
their opinion, that’s all there is to it. Even the bestsellers get bad reviews
– it’s an occupational hazard.
How do you come up with the Title and
Cover Designs for your book/books? Who designed the Cover of your books?
The title comes to me at the same time or soon after the
story does. My covers are designed by a company called Apple Pie Graphics. I
usually have a very good idea of what I want, but sometimes it can’t be done.
We work well together and I am always delighted by the end result.
Do you decide on character traits (ie
shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
My main characters are well-plotted in advance, although
they may develop other personality traits as I go along. Secondary characters
crop up along the way.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book,
before you actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and
see where it takes the story?
I have a very basic
plot and the main scenes before I start writing. Then I sit down and see where
the book takes me. I think too much planning can hinder your natural
creativity. Too little planning results in a weak plot that is not well thought
out. I try to find a balance.
How do you market/promote your books?
Book tours, social media, the press, making use of
Amazon’s promotional tools. I am fortunate enough that my publisher does a lot
of the marketing for me, but I still have to promote my indie titles. The first
lesson you learn in book marketing is that there is no greater promotion than
word of mouth. Write a good book – if people like it, they’ll talk about it. If
they don’t – throw it in the bin and start again.
What do you think makes a book a really
good/bestseller ?
A whole lot of talent and a
little bit of luck.
Have you ever suffered from a
"writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?
I don’t believe in writers block. No matter my mood, if you told me to sit down
and write a thousand words, I could. It’s the quality of the writing that
differs, depending on your state of mind. If a writer spends an hour writing
and feels that what he/she has written is not up to his/her own standard, this
is what I would call “writers block”. Writers are their own worst critics. In
any book, you have strokes of genius, and moments of weakness. My advice to get
through the “weaker” moments (writer’s block) is simple. If you don’t feel like
writing for a day, or a week: don’t. It won’t last long – writing is a calling.
What do you do to unwind and relax? Do
you have a hobby?
Before I sold my business I was
writing part-time and had little time for anything else. Now that I have my
evenings back, I have discovered that I love television series! The Walking
Dead, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Arrow, Blacklist, Beauty and the
Beast….its become a bit of an obsession!
Have you ever based characters on people
you know or based events on things that have happened to you?
I use quite a few of my family and friends names, and
certain aspects of their characters. Very seldom will this be obvious to anyone
but me. The character of Darren in the Traveler, for example, is based on my very
clever, very talented cousin, although I have used artistic license and given
him a fictional “make-over”.
Are there any hidden messages or morals
contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The
moral of this story is..")
All of my books
feature a very strong female lead. I guess there is a message in there
somewhere.
Is there a certain Author that
influenced you in writing?
Just the opposite.
Originality is very important to me, so I will go out of my way to avoid
“mimicking” other authors.
Which format of book do you prefer,
ebook,hardback, or paperback?
I will read paperback
or Kindle, but I don’t have a preference. My Kindle is easier on the pocket and
a huge space-saver for an avid reader like myself.
What is your favourite book and
Why? Have you read it more than once?
That is such a hard question! I don’t have a favourite,
but I have read a few books more than once: The Twilight Saga, The Harry Potter
Series, Me Before You by JoJo Moyes & a few of Sophie Kinsella’s books.
Do you think books transfer to movies
well? Which is you favourite/worst book
to movie transfer?
I didn’t think the Harry Potter
movies did the books enough justice, although they were good movies. The books
are just better. I did enjoy ‘The Hunger Games’ movie adaptations.
What are you currently reading? Are you
enjoying it? What format is it?( ebook, hardback or paperback)
Sadly I can’t read fiction while I am writing. I cannot
wait to finish this book so that I can spend a week or two devouring a few good
books before I move on to my next project.
Do you think ebooks will ever totally
replace printed books?
Not for a very long time. We
are moving into a paperless society, but for the time being there is still a
huge market for printed books. I hope it stays that way. I can’t imagine my
children one day reading their children bedtime stories only on an electronic
device.
Do you think children at schools these
days are encouraged enough to read? and/or do Imaginative writing?
Speaking as a mom of a seven-year-old in Grade 1, I would
say yes. It takes us an hour to get through her homework, which is primarily
reading. I think, sadly, the problem lies at home. Too many Playstations,
X-Boxes, Wii’s. I read a quote the other day that said: “There is no such thing
as children who don’t like to read, there are only children who are reading the
wrong books”. I wholeheartedly agree.
Did you read a lot at school and write
lots of stories or is being a writer something newer in your life?
I read like a child possessed. I still have the Bookworm
awards to prove it! I also wrote stories which my teacher would print on the
old school typewriter for me. I always knew one day I would write books, but I
had a lot to do before I was ready to dedicate myself solely to writing.
Did you have a favourite author as a
child?
Enid Blyton. I must have read The Magic
Faraway Tree a hundred times.
Do you have a treasured book from your
childhood? If yes, what is it?
The Magic Faraway
Tree. I read it to my daughter now and it brings up such happy memories. I also
have a faded, beautiful edition of Little Women that my mother bought me when I
was eleven. I look forward to reading it to my own daughters.
Do you have a favourite genre of book?
I love fantasy, dystopias, light sci-fi and paranormal
romance.
Is there a book you know you will never
read? Or one you tried to read but just couldn't finish?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Despite
all the brilliant reviews, I can’t get past the Swedish names and haven’t
progressed past chapter 3. If I can’t connect with the characters, I can’t get
into the book. It’s not like me – I have very few DNF’s in my reading list!
Is there anything in your book/books you
would change now if you could and what would it be?
You
will always look back and think “If I wrote that book now, I would change this,
or do that…” It’s part of growing older. Your own preferences change. That is
why you should keep writing – you cannot go back, all you can do is move
forward. Fiction has a shelf-life. A book that is popular now will not be in a
year or two, so there is no point changing anything later.
What do you think about book trailers?
I think they are a valuable marketing tool, and having a
visual is fantastic. That being said, I don’t like seeing an actual face in a
trailer before I have read the book, because it gives me a preconceived notion
and I like to picture characters in my head. I will always read the book before
I watch the movie, for this reason.
What piece of advice would you give to a
new writer?
Don’t quit your day job just yet!!
Write because you love it, and keep going. To use a quote I love: Writing is a
marathon, not a sprint. It takes time. The only guarantee of failure is giving
up.
Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
No, and no. Not unless I was specifically asked to
by my publisher. I know that it is sometimes beneficial if you write in
different genres. Nora Roberts, for example, writes her “In Death” series under
the pseudonym J.D Robb, as she is known for romance. A lot of men, funnily
enough, prefer not to buy books written by women.
If you could invite three favourite
writers to dinner, who would you invite and enjoy chatting with?
Sophie Kinsella because she must be hilarious, Stephenie
Meyer because she knows Edward Cullen better than I do, and E.L James, because
who wouldn’t want to meet the woman who wrote “those” books!
Where can readers follow you?
Your blog details? http://melissadelport.com
Your web site ? http://melissadelport.com
Your facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/TheMelissaDelportBookClub
Your Goodreads author page? https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7034215.Melissa_Delport
Your Twitter details? https://twitter.com/melissadelport
Publishers Website: http://www.traceymcdonaldpublishers.com/
The Legacy Trilogy Website: http://www.thelegacytrilogy.com/
DREAM MOVIE CAST
By Melissa
Delport, author of The Legacy
Sadly, authors have very little
say in the casting of movie adaptations of their books. In fact, they have very
little say over anything to do with the movie version. I think this is a
tragedy of epic proportion, given that we created the characters being brought
to life on the big screen.
I am struggling to come to terms
with this fact, because there are a few cast members in my Dream Movie cast
that I really wouldn’t mind meeting. (Are you paying attention,
Mr Spielberg?)
When I started writing The Legacy,
I had images in my mind that I used to describe my characters. I actually find
this the easiest way to remember all the details about them (hair colour, eye
colour, etc) because otherwise halfway though I have forgotten.
So, without any further ado, here
is my DREAM MOVIE CAST
(drum roll, please!)
Rebecca
Davis – played by Ashley Greene
Rebecca is the feisty heroine of The Legacy Trilogy. I love writing this
character - I love that she's strong yet vulnerable... and she collects
soldiers like other women collect shoes! She is the ultimate weapon, and
prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause she believes in.
Aidan
Moore – played by Justin Hartley
This fine specimen has long been a
firm favourite of mine - ever since he first wore those "toit" green
tights as the Green Arrow on the CW series, Smallville. I even sat through the
entire first (and thankfully last) season of Emily Owens MD, just to witness
this eye candy every Wednesday night. The CW axed the show and my withdrawals
began...so imagine my delight when he showed up in the third season of
Revenge!!! And he is just SO Aidan.... handsome, clean-cut, wholesome. Yum!
Reed
McCoy – played by Chris Hemsworth
Aidan's nemesis comes in the form
of our Sexy Southern Bad Boy, Reed, and who better than Chris Hemsworth to play
the role of Rebecca’s equal? He is rugged, handsome, tough, and can pull off
Reed’s longer hair. Purists would argue that there are a few tiny points of
contention in this casting, but I have addressed each and come up with a
solution:
1. Reed
has green eyes: Nothing some contacts couldn’t fix (and besides, LOOK at that
face!)
2. Reed
has a southern accent, whereas Chris is an Aussie native: Who cares... LOOK at
that face!
Eric
Dane – played by Ian Somerhalder
In my opinion, every single movie
ever made should feature Ian “Smoulder”-halder, or, as I like to call him: “sex
on legs”. Eric Dane is a narcissistic, cruel megalomaniac. Ian Somerhalder is a
compassionate philanthropist...but I hardly see the problem. Ian is an actor –
ie: he can play any role. And I would so love for him to play the part of
Eric.
Kwan
Lee
played by an attractive 40-year-old Korean actor
?
Try as I might, I could not think
of a single Korean actor off the top of my head. Coming up short, I took to
Google with the single-minded determination of a Hollywood casting agent.
Sadly, I couldn’t pronounce any of the Korean names, and I still didn’t find my
“Kwan”. So I will let you use your imaginations, and picture him as you will.
Morgan
Kelly - played by Teresa Palmer
Morgan is the girl we love to
hate. She is reckless, stubborn and sassy, and the mother in all of us would
like nothing better than to throw her
over our lap and give her the hiding of her life for behaving like a petulant
child. In casting Teresa Palmer, I’m certain male viewers will want to spank
her for a whole other reason!
Michael Kelly – played by Alex Pettyfer
Michael Kelly is Morgan’s cute
younger brother. With his boy-next-door looks and mischievous smile, Alex
Pettyfer’s got my vote to play the quirky lovable character of Michael.
Now that our cast is all taken care of,
there really are only three words left to say:
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
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