Book Review: The Fearless by Emma Pass

There are several songs that share this title. That is a fact

The Fearless. An army, powered by an incredible new serum that makes each soldier stronger, sharper, faster than their enemies. Intended as a force for good, the serum has a terrible side-effect – anyone who takes it is stripped of all humanity, empathy, love. And as the Fearless sweep through the country, forcing the serum on anyone in their path, society becomes a living nightmare.

Cass remembers the night they passed through her village. Her father was Altered. Her mother died soon after. All Cass has left is her little brother – and when Jory is snatched by the Fearless and taken to their hellish lair, Cass must risk everything to get him back.

 The invasion meant to happen roughly now and then 7 years in the future, in Britain.

The world building was interesting. The idea sort has been done a few different ways, but I like the combination of things that joined together.  There are certain minor things left unexplained that I would have liked answer. There are also aspects of the fearless serum I didn’t buy which would be going to spoiler area. There is a level of disbelieve that I had to put up with this novel, it was just minor stuff though. 

The story is told from the point of view of three different characters which I was not expecting. It’s in no proper format and mostly favours Cass’s POV. There is maps and stuff which I know some people love.

I feel like Cass is a tiny bit bland, she not really developed as character as much as she should have been. I also not all the relationships are fleshed out enough. I liked Myo.

I feel like this ends like a start of series, but I’m sure that it is meant to be a stand-alone. All the major things are resolved, but there could be another book though. No idea what would happen in a second book; maybe I read it as that as most YA Dystopia’s tend to be series.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for cloudy eyes. I enjoy this book, it not the best dystopia. I think Pass’s first book is stronger (which my review can be found here), I definitely look out for more Emma Pass in the future. If you like survival and war movements in your dystopia then I would recommend checking this novel out. Also it set in Britain, which is another plus.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s being published by House Children’s Publishers UK on 24^th April 2014.

Book Review: Acid by Emma Pass

The tagline for this book totally should have been "Acid, it'll make you trip".

2113. In Jenna Strong's world, ACID - the most brutal, controlling police force in history - rule supreme. No throwaway comment or muttered dissent goes unnoticed - or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a bloody crime she struggles to remember.
The only female inmate in a violent high-security prison, Jenna has learned to survive by any means necessary. And when a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID - and to uncover the truth about what really happened on that dark night two years ago.

I really liked this books but there is a few problems with it. Mainly that I never brought the premise. I just found the set up too unrealistic. It has Britain basically becoming police state in fifty years time due to the country going bankrupt and Europe kicking us out. That part that really undid the world for me. Britain would have to really piss off Europe (I'm presuming the whole of Europe have joined together at this point and not just the few in the EU) to get kicked out. I mean several country have went bankrupt (or close to it) and the EU help them (though that probably mainly to save the Euro).

I never brought people just being so very happy to let ACID take over in the first place. I know we only ever given the distorted view of this history but there would have been many a riot (even with the anti-ACID groups I just don't this is covered enough). Britain isn't bunch of push overs and we're very ford of alcohol (which banned in the world of ACID). I just don't believe it and unbelievable set up ruins the rest of the book for me in general which sort of did in ACID. I don't maybe if the book was set two hundred years in the future instead of one but with that said this book reminds me a lot of 'Slated' by Terri Terry (which I did a review on), they're not the same but have a few similarities with being British, new police stricture and altering of brains. 'Slated' only set forty years in the future but I bought it more. Pass just could have done a better job with making a more realistic world.

Another thing bug me is that its never explain why the books starts with Jenna being in a fully male prison. Surely there would be high Security prison for females as woman do commit violet crimes. I don't know its meant to be something they did to mess with her. We're just left to ponder where all the female murderers are.

Besides the bad world building, ACID is actually quite good. Jenna is really interesting character and kick arse character (though her actions in the last part of the book do annoy me somewhat, like what hell are you're doing. I suppose it would have been a boring end if she had just left to the others to finish). Also prepare to be confused as Jenna ends up using several different names during the book due to the whole hiding from ACID thing.

Another nice thing about this book is that its stand alone which is so rare in YA and Dystopia. Its all wrapped up nicely at the end of the book.

There is a bit of romance, which is cause the bit that annoyed me at Jenna, but other that I think it was buyable and nice. Yeah, I don't really care about romance parts in books.

Overall, I gave this book 4/5 stars, a few things could have been improved but it was still good book and nice addition to the Dystopia genre.