Title: The 13th Continuum
Author: Jennifer Brody
Series: The Continuum Trilogy
Publisher: Turner Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Expected Release Date: 19th April 2016
BLURB from Goodreads
One thousand years after a cataclysmic event leaves humanity on the brink of extinction, the survivors take refuge in continuums designed to sustain the human race until re population of Earth becomes possible. Against this backdrop, a group of young friends in the underwater Thirteenth Continuum dream about life outside their totalitarian existence, an idea that has been outlawed for centuries. When a shocking discovery turns the dream into a reality, they must decide if they will risk their own extinction to experience something no one has for generations, the Surface.
Title: Return Of The Continuums
Author: Jennifer
Brody
Series: The Continuum Trilogy
Publisher: Turner
Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi,
Dystopian
Expected
Release Date: 1st
November 2016
BLURB
from Amazon
Reaching the surface was just
the beginning. As Myra and her friends set out to find the First
Continuum, they must navigate a hostile landscape and even more hostile
inhabitants of other continuums with their own ideas about the future of human
race. In the pulse-quickening sequel to "The 13th Continuum," the
young heroes must make an unlikely ally if they are to survive long enough to
reach their destination and learn the secret behind humanity's destruction and
the hope for its survival.
Goodreads Link (not yet available)
REVIEW
Author: Jennifer Brody
Series: The Continuum Trilogy
Publisher: Turner Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Expected Release Date: 19th April 2016
BLURB from Goodreads
One thousand years after a cataclysmic event leaves humanity on the brink of extinction, the survivors take refuge in continuum's designed to sustain the human race until re population of Earth becomes possible. Against this backdrop, a group of young friends in the underwater Thirteenth Continuum dream about life outside their totalitarian existence, an idea that has been outlawed for centuries. When a shocking discovery turns the dream into a reality, they must decide if they will risk their own extinction to experience something no one has for generations, the Surface.
Goodreads Link
Amazon US
Amazon UK
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I first saw this book via an email from the publishers, and I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it or not, then I kept hearing more and reading more about the book and it wasn't long before I felt I had to read the book.
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
At 44% "Can the beacon ever be found? Will Myra's father be the next one to be arrested and abandoned in the same way, to drown?"
REVIEW
I received a download widget from Turner Publishing to download a free ecopy from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
The cover has a part that is circular and blue which depicts the ocean. Whilst at the same time the circular shape could also be represent earth. The rest of the cover is orange and has an aged effect to it. The title of the book follows the curve of the circular shape too, which I think is quite eye catching.
Would the cover make me pick this one up from a book store shelf? Being totally honest here, I did not fall in love with this cover immediately. I do sincerely think I would pick the book up whilst browsing though as the cover is really unique in comparison to other covers around at the moment.
This book begins being told from the point of view of ten year old Sari. Sari has being woken by a loud warning siren. Initially she wanders around amidst the chaos, then is found and taken into a waiting helicopter with her mother, fifteen year old sister Elianna and their father, who is the President. Though at first relieved to be with her family, Sari soon becomes inconsolable when she realises the grandmother that has always lived wit them will not be going with them because she isn't one of the "chosen". The President and his family were of course "chosen" to be given a place in the underwater Continuum - (a Continuum is a "sanctuary" away from the destruction and devastation of "the Doom"). One person needs to be the "Carrier" and wear the "Beacon". The Beacon is a wrist bracelet that once put on a person cannot be removed from that person until their death. The beacon is what will ensure that the surviving civilizations from the different Continuums can be guided back to earth and each other.
In this book we follow two Continuums, one far under the sea and the main character is a young teen girl Myra Jackson. The other Continuum we follow in this book far up in the sky in outer space, and the main character we follow is a young military man, Aero Wright.
Myra Jackson is in the Continuum that houses religion and situated deep under the sea, and is a strong feisty kind of character who doesn't give up when faced with obstacles. Myra lives in her small apartment with her father and her younger brother, Tinker. Myra has been expelled from school, cut off from her friends, but has been allowed to "pledge" to the Engineers - which is not a bad thing for her really, as its the career choice she would have decided on herself anyway. Being an engineer places Myra in the class of "Factum".
There are three classes in this Continuum, the lowest is "Hockers" and consists of those with no trade or for some reason have done something bad and being placed in this section of people as a punishment. To be honest being made to live as a "Hocker" is better than the other form of punishment doled out to people, which is being cast out of the Continuum and "sacrificed" to the sea (and certain death). The mid level class is called the "Factum" and the highest level class is "Plenus" who are the more priviliged people. The rulers of the Continuum are those that sit on the Synod. Those who are in the Synod are the ones that preach religion. They took over from President Wade. The Synod may be religious but the things they consider to be a crime are becoming more and more trivial, and the punishment for almost any indiscretion is that the "criminal" be sacrificed to the sea. The Synod has ruled that all books from "before the doom" should be destroyed and any talk about the time before life in the Continuum is considered blasphemy and punishable by being sacrificed to the sea.
Myra is a resourceful type of character who has found ways around the Continuum in old abandoned pipes and passageways. It's whilst on one of these excursions that she overhears her father and some of his friends discussing some very important information....It's not long until Kaleb, Paige, Rickard and Tinker are helping Myra hunt for the Beacon. It's both a race against time and a race against the Synod, as they too want to find the Beacon to destroy it! During this search we learn more about Myra and her ancestry as well as more about her friends.
Aero Wright is in the Continuum that is based in a ship that is in outer space. This Continuum is full of military personnel and those in military training too. This group of survivors is more scientifically led. A woman has a child, which stays with her until the child is 5 years old and then the mother takes her child male or female) to the military academy and never sees or communicates with the child again. The child is trained and is paired with another to procreate with when they reach adulthood. To train for different fighting circumstances that may occur. To train the cadets go into a simulation chamber, they then fight in different scenarios using their special weapons that are called Falchions.
This is the way of life that Aero has been living by and knows no other way of life. Aero is a well thought of leader, finishing top of his class in the Military Academy. Aero Wright is the son of the present ship commander though is never shown any sort of favouritism at all, though after him and his team are chosen to be the first to step on earth and have a look around. Everything seems pretty simple until during a simulation the scenario and the injury level are changed. . . .I could go on and on, so many things to try and explain and things I want to share without giving too much away! Its so difficult to decide what and where to include things without over sharing and spoiling the book.
My favourite character from the under the ocean Continuum is Tinker. He is Myra's younger brother and is quieter, more reserved than his sister and her friends. He may not speak very much, but he takes in everything that is going on around him, and when he is really needed he thinks quickly and acts immediately. I also like Maude, a Hocker, thought of as poor and not very intelligent, which is quite amusing as she is quite the opposite! I also love Myra's friend Rickard. . . his sense of loyalty and protectiveness over those he loves, you'll know what I mean when you read the book.
For the Military Conrinuum, I'd say my favourite characters are Aero and Wren. I think Aero was a great mixture of duty, loyalty, honour as well as being forward thinking and having a sense of adventure for what he may be going to witness on earth. I also think Wren would be a perfect match for him rather than the scientifically chosen betrothed he has been allocated.
Both Continuums have their own ruling systems that also control their population. The simplest example of this is that Myra's Continuum is heavily led by religion, whereas Aero's Continuum is a Military based one. Both Continuums have elements of survival, elements of ancestry and traditions passed down. Of course as in any type of population there is fighting, class bickering, adventure, mystery, betrayal and sacrifice. When I first began reading this book I was enthralled in the story of the Wade family but the book quickly switches over to the present day of the two different colonies. I felt a little disappointed to not have had more of the Wade family and how the colonies first worked together and managed to survive. Then on the other hand, there were occasions where I felt the pace slowed too much and I was being given to much detail and information. At times I was irritated with jumping from Myra's colony at a really interesting point, to read what I considered at the time to be insignificant points about Aero's colony. At one point in the book I actually resented having Aero's colony in the book at all. I was thinking: why can't we just follow Myra? Though I must say that from about two thirds into the book, Aero's colony becomes much more interesting and as enjoyable to read about as Myra's colony is.
So Did I enjoy the book? I was initially a little undecided but there was something that just made me want to read that "just a bit more". Then before I knew it I was engrossed firstly in Myra's colony life and then a little after I also became engaged by Aero's colony, the whole military science and their scientific pro creation system. The main/central thread in the book that grabbed my attention and held it throughout the whole book was the beacon.
Would I recommend the book? Yes, especially to sci-fi/dystopian/post apocalyptic fans as this has both the complex societies and the "Doom" back story with the futuristic and sci-fi elements too.
Would I want to read another book in this series? Yes, I'd sign up right now if I could to read Return Of The Continuums, I'm glad its due out later this year. It's on my must read list.
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I would certainly pay close attention to anything written by this author.
FINAL THOUGHTS
After my initial doubts about the pace of the book it soon became addictive reading! Definitely recommend reading this one, Already counting the days to the next book in the Continuum Trilogy. Roll on November 2016!
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