*FLASH FREEBIES*

 

Duality (EnertiaTrials 3) by J. Kowallis releases on Friday, which is absolutely AMAZING (check out my gushing 5 star review on the blog)!

 

 

If you haven't started this series yet, the time COULD NOT BE BETTER! Afterimage & Encender (books 1&2) are now FREE on Amazon kindle!!  They are only free for a limited time so grab your copies NOW! If you like dystopian, great world building, strong characters and just general awesomeness, then this is the series for you!

 

 

You can also come celebrate the release of Duality tonight on Facebook with a whole lineup of fabulous authors, Lauren Bird Horowitz, E.J. Mellow, Elise Kova, Dela, Jennifer Kay Wilson, and Courtney Ruggles & enter to win some awesome bookish prizes including a $100 Amazon giftcard!

 

 

 

Links:

 

AFTERIMAGE:
https://www.amazon.com/Afterimage-Enertia-Trials-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00VVPZY0O/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1479398726&sr=8-2

 

ENCENDER:
https://www.amazon.com/Encender-Enertia-Trials-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01B5EIV7I/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1479398726&sr=8-3

 

FACEBOOK RELEASE PARTY:
https://m.facebook.com/events/338789266473502

 

 

Wow! Afterimage was a top notch dystopian novel! It has everything you could possibly want, a hostile war ravaged Earth check, a tyrannical pop up government that rules with an iron fist check, groups of survivors hell bent on resisting the government’s shackles check, compelling and engaging multidimensional characters on both sides of the fence check, and freaking super abilities check, check! I was quite honestly blown away with this story!

 

Afterimage, how I love thee, let me count the ways…

 

 

 

 

The Plot. It was original, imaginative, and smart. Just an all around well thought out plot line that isn’t all that far fetched.  In a time of need, after another World War has taken it’s toll on the world, with no real leaders left, The Public was born. The Public wishes to create the perfect society. Think of it as Pleasantville meets The Community (The Giver) but way more cunningly destructive and damaging. The lengths The Public goes to for this idea of a perfect society are horrifying. Perfection comes at a cost and the innocent are paying the price, most without even truly knowing what is really happening. Things start getting even more intense once The Public’s biggest asset is ripped away from their clutches by a group of rebels. Little did these rebels know they would be starting a war. It was non-stop, pulse-pounding goodness! It was not your typical YA dystopian, the characters were older and this tale was much grittier. And that made me love it even more!

 

 

 

 

 

The Characters. Imperfect perfection. Each one was well written, with many layers that I believe we have only just scratched the surface of. There were many point of views in this story and I can’t say that there was even one that I did not enjoy. A big tip of the hat to J. Kowallis for absolutely nailing the POV changes. It was done beautifully, and what’s better is that none of them felt unnecessary. Each one gave you better insight to the character, their role, and motivations. I’m also impressed with the writing of the “villains”. While I loathed Dr. Dryer and Lobb they were still quite fascinating! The way they took this idea of pureness and harmony and manipulated it until it was this hulking beast of hurt, damage, and insidiousness had me enthralled. I was horrified but I couldn’t look away. I was wondering where this all started? Was it one defining moment, one tough call where they decided “the end justified the means” that started them on this slippery slope and ultimately turned them into the monsters they are today? So basically, the good, the bad, and the truly ugly, it was all present here in these various characters and I admired each one of them in different ways.

 

 

 

 

 

I could go on and on, but I don’t want to give anything away. This was a real page turner from start to finish and I can’t wait to continue on with Encender next! I highly recommend this to Dystopian fans, because in my opinion, this is that at it’s very best!

 

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

*** 4 Stars ***






Review to come.

"Love and trust and believing in other people – what was the point when humans were all flawed and fucked up anyway, when they only hurt each other continuously because they were too stupid to do anything else?"

I am sad. So sad.


I finished Afterimage last night and went straight into [b:The Interludes|10506860|The Interludes (In the company of shadows, #3)|Santino Hassell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346175761s/10506860.jpg|15412744]. Last night I was feeling much better about everything that happened in this book. Throughout Afterimage I told myself that everything that was happening was happening for a reason. That both Boyd and Sin needed to work on their inner demons before they could ever hope to have a truly healthy relationship. The pain that they were inflicting on themselves and each other would all be for the greater good. Then this morning I woke up and realised that I’m a fool, a fool who was in denial. Today I can’t stop thinking about everything Sin. I would just like to go sit somewhere quiet and have a little cry.

The pain and loneliness that Sin experiences in this book is just absolutely heart breaking and the more I think about it the more upsetting it becomes.


I love dual POV’s, they are my favourite type of books to read but this book was one of the best dual POV’s I’ve read. I spent most of my time changing my mind about who was doing the right thing. I would read Boyd’s POV and think to myself ‘I can totally see why he is doing that, he needs to look out for himself, he needs to be selfish or he will never be happy.’

Then I would read a Sin POV and everything would go out the window and my heart would break for him and I would find myself so angry with Boyd for how selfish he was being. Sin makes mistakes, really, really big ones but I honestly was never angry with him. He has absolutely no idea how relationships (not just romantic) work. He has never really been treated as a human so how can he possibly know how to navigate his way through all these new feelings? Add to that the fact that he is very unwell and the people that should be helping are either completely unprofessional (Ann) or just have absolutely no idea how to communicate properly with him (Carhart) and we witness him go through terrible bouts of depression, fear and loneliness.

"I only cared about my life after he was in it. Why should I care now that he’s not anymore?"


"Please don’t hate me ever again."

It was so difficult to see him like this. Sin is a lethal weapon and everyone around him seems to think that he is incapable of remorse or empathy. The reality is in fact the opposite.



"I didn't live up to your expectations and you aren't living up to mine."

There are no real answers to anything in Afterimage. At the end there are just more questions but it definitely gives you a much clearer look at the people that inhabit this world. Nothing in the world of ICoS is black and white and not everybody is what they seem. If I had one complaint it would be the length of the book, it is mammoth and there is a lot of repetition. As with Evenfall I understand that the authors are working on editing it. I usually only give books that I would definitely reread 5 stars and when I finished this I did give it 4 stars as I wasn’t sure I could work my way through it a second time but I will definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, be reading the edited version so that’s a reread right? Sin has kind of made me fall in love with him so it feels wrong not giving it all the stars.

Throughout reading this my brain kept throwing the lyrics of one particular song at me, so it has kind of become my soundtrack for this book. I’m pretty sure that every time I hear it from now on Boyd and Sin will come to mind. Part of me thinks it’s because I went to see the band who sing it two weeks ago so their music is banging around inside my head but I also felt the lyrics were very Boyd and Sin.

“And I have seen all that you've seen
And I have been where you've been
No, our hands will never be clean
At least we can hold each other”

“When You Break”
Bear’s Den

I decided to review the series as a whole, because it makes the most sense. So, try to bear with me, since this might get lengthy, and will contain a lot of gushing praise.

First off, this series made me wonder how many amazing books I dismiss on the grounds of them not being 'my type' or being too long. Now, since I like a lot of different genres, I sometimes end up giving a book such as ICoS a chance. I initially thought the dystopian setting wouldn't be my thing–so utterly wrong!–and I was taken aback by the length of the series–imagine my surprise when I wanted it to be even longer!

Frankly, I have to thank my girls with whom I BRed Evenfall in the first place, because if it weren't for them, I'm not sure I would have given in anytime soon–or ever.

I don't even know how to begin to say what this series means to me... It consumed me for a few months, and I became so involved in this incredible world that I put Fade on hold for almost 3 months, because I couldn't bear with the thought of it ending. When I picked it up again, it was like coming home. ICoS has become my absolute favorite series ever, and I'm afraid nothing will top it soon. It was BRILLIANT, undeniably so!!!

Warning: This book demands a lot of feelings!

There are friendships built, as well as destroyed, there are relationships born, there's love, but also heartache, there are misunderstandings, and life-altering experiences. The characters have to deal with abuse–both psychological and physical–pain, manipulation, complete loss of control over their lives, trauma, violence, and a bunch of other things not meant for the weak of heart, or for readers who simply do not enjoy angst. Because, let me tell you, Afterimage was the most angsty book I've EVER read! In spite of all the fucked up things, the series also portrays incredibly strong bonds, loyalty, love, redemption, hope, and a flicker of happiness. Frankly, it's an emotional rollercoaster–it will make you angry, it will rip your heart out and stomp all over it, it will make you cry, but it will also make you snort with laughter, feel for the characters, and you will fight and hope right along with them. Oh, and let's not forget the heat factor, because there are a lot of steamy scenes which will have you hyperventilating. ;-)

The setting

IcoS takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, and revolves around the Agency, a heavily protected organization, which does all the dirty work of the government. They are the very definition of the ends justifying the means, no matter which consequences those who are involved have to suffer from. Needless to say, I was completely fascinated by the dystopian world created by the authors. The details painted such vivid images into my brain, that I couldn't help but feel I was right there all along. I was lost inside this amazing world for months!



The plot

There's an expansive period of time over which ICoS takes place–about 6 years, give or take. Naturally, that means that a LOT of things happen–agent trainings, promotions, missions, relationship changes, near-death experiences, vacations etc. Because of the details, the reader comes to know each and every character quite well, concerning their pasts, hidden desires, fears, dreams, and everything in-between. The Agency is based in Lexington, but there are missions all over the world, including France, Russia, Spain (Monterrey–aka best mission ever), China etc.

The characters

Hsin Liu Vega aka Sin



Sin... Oh, man! How does one even begin to describe him? Sin has been dealt a shitload of crap his whole life, basically. He had a very difficult childhood, having had to put up with a lowlife mom, an absent father, and a life in a brothel in China, where he was abused for years. Eventually, his father came to the rescue, having no clue how to deal with or much less raise a child, so he trained Sin, he turned him into the best assassin, a living weapon. At the age of 14, Sin was recruited by the Agency, and the blows just kept coming from then on out. People called him the Monster, they were afraid of him, and the Agency treated him no better–they only sent him on killing sprees, they locked him up, tortured him, punished him, and worsened his mental illnesses. Along came Boyd, who turned Sin's world around, and who made him feel again. Once he opened up to Boyd and started trusting him, Sin changed for the better–he was passionate, he poured everything into the relationship, learned to communicate, he was protective, and would have died for his partner. Sin is very complex–he's gorgeous, sarcastic, intelligent, perfect at doing his job as an assassin, fearless, quick-witted, and tough. Frankly, I could go on and on, because I am so smitten with him, it's not even funny!

Boyd Beaulieu



Boyd has had his fair share of pain, too. His father died when he was just a kid, and his mother became a key player at the Agency, and later recommended him to be Sin's partner. Boyd is androgynous and openly gay, and that has led to people treating him a certain way and hurting him badly. He is beautiful, and at the beginning, he's just as cold as his mother, having closed off to protect himself because of past trauma. But beneath that, there's an amazing person, who's brave, a talented artist, clever, strong, and a reliable friend. When it came to Sin, Boyd made some mistakes which pissed me off–because how dare he hurt my baby–but then again, their relationship was dysfunctional on both sides for a while. [Warning–for those of you who loathe it: That includes cheating.] Regardless, he loved Sin fiercely, he saved him, he was the first person to fight for his partner, and he never left his side.

Emilio Vega



Emilio fucking Vega is, to sum it up, sex on legs! He lives by his own rules, bows down to no one, is handsome and sexy, fucks both men and women, takes drugs, drinks, doesn't give a shit, and exudes charm, which attracts people. He's also a hilarious mofo, and his banter had me snort-laughing on multiple occasions. He's been through a lot, and managed to rise and make something of his situation every time, for which I admired him, and my heart broke every time he dropped the emotionless asshole act and showed his humanity. That especially applied to his relationship with Carhart, with whom he always let his guard down, and who managed to hurt him more than anyone. Needless to say, I just wanted to hug him at those times. I really adored Emilio!

Zachary Carhart



Zachary aka General Carhart is hard for me to describe, because I loved him, but there were times when I wanted to hurt him real bad. Carhart is like a second father to Sin, but because of his position at the Agency, he has to make a lot of heartless decisions on Sin's account, and that made me angry. On the other hand, he also protected Sin, so I guess I eventually forgave him for the other crap. Another thing which killed me was his whole attitude towards Emilio. Their relationship has always been fucked up, but Carhart was always aware of the fact that Emilio loved him, but he still didn't allow himself to pursue his own feelings, and ended up hurting Emilio too many times to count. The moment when he finally gave in was fantastic.

Kassian Trovosky



Kassian is practically the opposite of Sin in every possible way. He has the same status at the Agency, but while Sin is seen as the Monster, Kass is the Perfect Agent, and everyone looks up to him–Sin gets a kick out of sarcastically calling him Captain America, haha. Well, obviously, he's anything but perfect. He is an alcoholic and has numerous personal demons which make him suffer. I really liked his friendship with Boyd and willingness to stand up and fight for his friends in general.

Ryan



Ryan is just awesome! He is one of Boyd's closest friends, and among the only people who are not afraid of Sin–on the contrary, he admires him greatly. Ryan is clever, friendly, enthusiastic, and an optimist–despite having his own hardships in life. He is also brilliant and warmhearted.

Owen



Owen is pure sunshine, he lights up boring debriefings, he's always hyperactive, because he drinks a gallon of coffee a day to help with his sleep deprivation. In spite of his jokes and games, he's highly intelligent. I loved him!

Vivienne Beaulieu



To say I had conflicted feelings about Vivienne would be an understatement. See, she's a major bitch, fucking ice queen and gets the worst mother of the century award. Still, when she allowed a flicker of her feelings to show, and her mask cracked just a bit, I kind of felt bad for her, and understood the reasons why she had to be who she was. But mostly, I hated her with a passion for everything she put Boyd through. For all that crap, she had no excuse whatsoever.

Other characters

Of course there are many more characters than the ones I mentioned, but I merely listed the most important of them all.

Conclusion

Brilliant series! Almighty authors! Fantastic reading experience!



Important note

The books are free. You can download them here. You're welcome! ;-)