What happens when you join the resistance during WW2, but develop a friendship with a man from the other side of the war and are forced to choose? That is the question Violet is faced with in Violet Shadows. Read on to find out more.
"Violet, turned Maria, entered Nazi-occupied France in the summer of 1943, seeking only a worthy death in the service of a noble cause. She did not expect that her quest for death would, in the end, teach her how to live."
Praise for Violet Shadows:
"Melanie Rose delivers, once again...and writes prose as if playing classical music." --Katherine Owen, Author of Seeing Julia, Not To Us, and When I See You
Violet Shadows is available now from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
You can win a copy of Violet Shadows this week by entering the Rafflecopter widget below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
GEMs and Blemished aren't meant to be together. Reproduction outside of genetic facilities is forbidden. Blemished genes can never be reproduced, and to make sure of that, Blemished women are subjected to sterilization. But Mina refuses to become one of those women. She yearns to live her life without the government hovering overhead. MIna's father attempts to keep her safe from GEMs and the operation alike, but Mina's special talent and the fact that she has set her mind to change the oppressive and frightening world she lives in pushes her right into the maw of danger.
The interesting thing about this dystopian fantasy is that it isn't that far distant. The main character Mina, is only a few decades late to experience the once beautiful and free England. Many of the older residents remember life before GEM took over and Blemished became segregated. Adding to the closeness of the story is that the idea of genetically enhanced humans is not that fantastical. Dalton did a good job of creating a world that was real enough to be frightening, but fantastical enough to be an enjoyable read.
The idea of how the classes had been segregated was interesting as well. GEM are afforded all the comforts they want while Blemished are trained to serve their betters. The interesting thing about the Blemished was that only the girls went to school. The boys were apprenticed out to learn trades and were not taught to read and write. The feminist slant to this setup was what the author intended, but I was not sure there was any reason behind this decision. With the GEM's fear of the woman's ability to birth children, I wondered why they wouldn't keep the women as ignorant as possible. My other concern about the structure of this society is that if the Blemished weren't allowed to procreate, when the last of them died, who would serve the GEM? There were a few issues with the structure of this society, but overall, it worked to show the vileness of the government and the desperation of Mina's situation.
The characters in The Blemished were very well done. The complexities of each person in the story added layers to every interaction. Dalton did well to show the hidden motives, uncertainty, or falseness of some characters through their words and actions. Murgatroyd was especially well done. This horrible woman clearly had deep seated issues that led to her actions. Readers get hints of what those are, but the majority is left to later books. I was very interested in learning more about her. Each of the characters experience emotional conflicts that tore at them, and their realistic reactions draw the readers in with every stab of pain or promise of happiness.
The romantic side of this story was intriguing. You get introduced to the suave and charming Sebastian right off the bat and know he will be a factor, but then you meet Daniel, a strange yet compelling young man, and know he too will tug at Mina's heart. Add in the fact that Daniel's adoptive sister is also in love with Daniel, but Daniel only views her as family, and things get even more complicated. I was quite drawn in by the romantic elements of this book, however, I did feel the ultimate choice of who Mina would choose was fairly clear from the beginning. Not that Mina does make a choice by the end of the book, per se, but it was obvious who she wanted. What continued to pull me to the love story aspect was that their were still barriers to Mina getting what she wanted. I know who she will choose, but I'm not sure how she will get what she wants.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. I am definitely interesting in continuing the series, however there were a few issues that will hold me back from giving this book my top recommendation. The beginning chapters were rather a rough start for me. There were too many moments were I felt the influences of The Hunger Games and books like Gattica were too strong for this world to stand out on its own. The reason for genetic modification to get rid of pre-dispositions to disease seemed right out of Gattica, while the ghettos divided up into Area 10 and Area 14 were very reminiscent of The Hunger Games. Steering away from such stark comparisons would have helped the first few chapters set this book apart much better.
There were some areas where the explanations of the world were doled out in big chunks rather than spread throughout the chapter that slowed my reading down a bit. At many times there were awkward transitions between scenes and I was left unsure for a few paragraphs of what was going on. Some areas were rushed through with a recap where it would have been more beneficial to experience the moment along with Mina. For example, the first time she witnesses Daniel collapse after a vision. There is also some language used, but it is infrequent. The editing was also in need of improvement. The use of commas between independent and dependent clauses was lacking, and there were multiple missing words. The editing errors did slow down my reading in many places.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. It was an entertaining read with good, deep characters.
Who would I recommend this book to? YA dystopian readers will enjoy this book. YA romance readers will enjoy it as well. This book does have crossover potential to adults, but I do think adults will be more bothered by some of the issues noted above than younger readers.
Find out more about The Blemished by checking out the YouTube book trailer!
The Blemished is available now from Amazon in paperback and ebook.
Something readers don't always get in YA fiction is real depth in the characters. Some writers bank on the love story or the action or the mystery of their book to carry the reader on to the end. It may be a very good story, but there is something missing, and readers know it. They want depth and complication.
Sarah Dalton provided plenty of depth in her characters. The cast of The Blemished held and array of deep backstories, twisted motives, and conflicting emotions. This enhanced the romantic elements of the book, as well as made the "villains" much more realistic.
One of my favorite characters in this book was Murgatroyd. For those that have read The Blemished, that may seem odd since this woman is the bane of Mina's existence. She is a horrible woman, yes, but she has very complicated reasons for her actions and an emotional depth that exceeded any other secondary character. I honestly look forward to reading more about this woman and finding out what turned her into a woman who canes children and hunts them down relentlessly. I'm sure it will be a fascinating story.
Find out more about The Blemished by checking out the YouTube book trailer!
The Blemished is available now from Amazon in paperback and ebook.
Half cloned, half natural human...GEM and Blemished...Let's find out more about this dystopian world created by Sarah Dalton.
1. What was your inspiration for "The Blemished?" I've always been interested in the idea of human cloning and the pros and cons behind it. I was a teenager when scientists cloned Dolly the sheep and I just found it fascinating that humans can do that. I've read a lot of Margaret Atwood, she's a huge influence on my writing, I love her feminist themes and clever twists on a futuristic society. I wanted to write something akin to Atwood but for a younger audience. I want teenagers to have a strongly feminist sci-fi book that maybe makes them think a little more or a little differently about the world. When I read 'The Handmaid's Tale' I had an 'Oh!' moment and I want that for other teenage girls.
2. What were your influences when creating the structure of this dystopian world? One of the biggest themes in the book is about segregation and poverty. I wanted to write a world where the two opposites of the extreme - rich and poor - are shown with a great divide. I want the reader to be able to picture what a ghetto looks like and I want them to picture the 'GEM' district with ease. The structure came out of these ideas.
3. Can you give us a little information on the difference between a clone and a GEM? A GEM is not a replica of another human, they are genetically altered. The idea is that a parent can decide what sort of child they want to have, what they want them to look like and what they want their personality to be. The scientists then splice these genes together to create a perfect child.
4. The main character, Mina, is a Blemished. can you explain a little about what this means? A 'Blemished' person is someone who has been born without any genetic alteration. The Genetic Enhancement Ministry have a law that if a family want to procreate it must be through genetic altering and they must have at least some genetic make-up from the parents. People who have been marked 'Blemished' have genetic history of illnesses, such as a predisposition to cancer or mental illness, and are then banned from having children all together. They are not allowed to share their genes.
The GEM believe this is the way to create a strong, healthy race of human beings, filtering out diseases like cancer. In reality it has become a cruel way of controlling people. Because Mina is Blemished, she is facing the 'Operation' to make her sterile for life.
5. Do to a frightening event, Mina's outlook on the world around her begins to change. Without giving away too much, can you explain how she changes? She realises, deep within herself, that she has to fight back. She also realises that she has the power to do this, that she is stronger than most other people.
6. The two main male characters are quite different. Can you tell us about their differences and how they affect Mina? Mina is drawn to both of them, but it's only as she gets to know them that she realises what she wants. One of the male characters turns out to be quite controlling and intense (due to family problems rather than being a nasty person) whereas the other character lets Mina decide for herself and never takes away her decisions. There's been a fashion for controlling men in fiction for the last few years, girls are being shown to desire these characters who are very intense and often rich and powerful, I wanted to show the teenage girls reading my story that life isn't like that. They aren't the good guys. When you compare the two characters side by side you can see this, but in books where the only option is the intense and controlling man, you don't see this.
7. The effects of this society on the parents greatly affects the young characters. Can you explain more about this? We meet the characters only a few decades after the fighting and the revolution of Britain, called the 'Fracture', first started. The older characters remember the events. They have lived through them, faced all the changes and in some cases been forced into a medical procedure they didn't want. There are many attempts at escapism, especially drinking, but there are also rumours that the medical procedure causes dementia in women. One of the young characters has to get help for her mum, because no one else will help her.
8. Who are your favorite authors? Well, I've mentioned Margaret Atwood, obviously! I love sci-fi by Ray Bradbury and John Wyndham. But I also love American literature, particularly JD Salinger and Richard Yates. I love Victorian literature too, Bram Stoker, Emily Bronte and Oscar Wilde. I read across the board!
9. Do you have any interesting rituals or habits when you write? Not really, unless you count 'TV breaks'. Every so often I break and watch TV on my computer for a while! Most writers hate distractions but I find that they keep me sane.
10. can you tell us about any future projects? Well, I'm putting the finishing touches onto the second book in the series, titled 'The Vanished'. I'm writing a book for nanowrimo which is completely different! Then I'm going to write the third in the series. I'm hoping to write a series of either short stories or novellas for some of the main characters in The Blemished. I'd like to write something for Elena, definitely. Watch this space!
***
For updates and more information follow Sarah on twitter @sarahdalton and Facebook, or visit her blog www.sarahdaltonbooks.com.
Find out more about The Blemished by checking out the YouTube book trailer!
The Blemished is available now from Amazon in paperback and ebook.
It's time to find out more about the created of the world of the GEM. REad on to find out more about Sarah Dalton.
"Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an over-active imagination. She has been an avid reader of most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.
Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in Apex magazine, PANK magazine and the British Fantasy Society publicationDark Horizons. Her short story ‘Vampires Wear Chanel’ is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales available on Amazon.
She has recently published her first novel The Blemished, a dystiopian for young adults, which is set in a fractured Britain controlled by the Genetic Enhancement Ministry."
For updates and more information follow Sarah on twitter @sarahdalton and Facebook, or visit her blog www.sarahdaltonbooks.com.
Find out more about The Blemished by checking out the YouTube book trailer!
The Blemished is available now from Amazon in paperback and ebook.
Genetically modified foods are a hot topic right now, but what about genetically modified humans? What would the world become if babies were designed, modeled after past superstars, treasured for their beauty over everything else? Sarah Dalton attempts to answer that question in The Blemished.
"A beautiful world comes at a price...
In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.
Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…
The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion."
Find out more about The Blemished by checking out the YouTube book trailer!
The Blemished is available now from Amazon in paperback and ebook.
In Fortune's mind, blowing her cover to save another woman's life wasn't a mistake. It was the right thing to do. Her boss doesn't agree. Regardless of who's right and who's wrong, the fact is, Fortune now has a price on her head. Hiding is the last thing she wants to do. Pretending to be an ex-beauty queen turned librarian...Fortune would rather takes her chances with the hitmen. Promises that Sinful, Louisiana will be the perfect place for her to lay low only last until a human bone turns up in her backyard on her first night in town.
The setting for this book is so enjoyable. I loved meeting the people of Sinful and finding out about them and their town. It's such a fun and unique little town with the race to get the world's best banana pudding and the Sinful Ladies Society running pretty much everything. There are laws about everything under the sun, and a story for every one. Nothing about this town was flat.
The characters were just as good. It was hard to say even the secondary characters were really all that secondary. Each person you meet is very realistic and meld's into the overall story seamlessly. DeLeon does a great job of hinting at what some character's story might entail, but leaving you wondering and ready to pick up the next book. Fortune and the Sinful Ladies Society gals are fabulous characters. They had me laughing half the time and kept me curious about what these eccentric older ladies were really hiding. They really kept the story moving well. I was interested in them as characters as well as in the story as a whole.
Fortune, especially is a great character. Her initial reaction to small town life is funny and believable, and watching her try to adjust and not blow her cover for a second time was just too funny. Not only that, but she's a strong female character who is ready to take care of business, but in many situations can't. Her emotion and struggles throughout the book were paired well. She was definitely a character I cared about and would like to read more about.
Deputy Carter LeBlanc was a good character as well. He doesn't play as prominent a role as I was expecting, but DeLeon hinted at a deeper story that will be touched on in later books. He's a complex character, not to mention handsome, and he is someone that catches your attention even though he isn't trying. I look forward to watching his relationship with Fortune develop in later books.
The mystery that the main plot is centered around was well done. DeLeon throws out enough "maybes" to keep you guessing about what really happening, and keeps you entertained up to the end. I thought the mystery was planned out very well and wrapped up nicely at the end. Even though it was the main plot, I felt like Fortune and her new friends were really the main story. Overall, it was a very enjoyable book that I had a difficult time putting down.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. It was funny, entertaining, and interesting. The characters and plot were both very well done.
Who would I recommend this book to? Anyone who enjoys good Southern humor, mystery readers, chick lit readers...it's really a book a lot of people will enjoy. The only thing that might not be what people expect is that the romance is not a strong feature in this book, but it promises to play a more prominent role in late volumes.
Louisiana Longshot is available now from Amazon in paperback and ebook.
You can also enter to win a $25 eGiftcard to Amazon for Barnes and Noble courtesy of Jana DeLeon!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
