I admit it – I’m a Dystopian/Fantasy/Sci-Fi addict. Is there a group for this? Because I need some help! Needless to say, I was psyched to get in touch with author Lisa Stasse and read her new novel, The Forsaken. Yup – dystopian!
As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up. The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
I fell into this story right from page one where we learn how Alenna becomes an orphan in the UNA. As with all dystopian novels, there’s a lot to learn…new society, new rules, and more. And as the story takes us to Alenna taking her GPPT – a test to see if she could possibly be a future psychopath – we all know what’s going to happen. But why? What is the GPPT, really? Alenna is confused and distraught as she finds herself on “The Wheel” at Prison Island Alpha. She really believes it’s all a mistake…yup, she’s completely naive. Her mysterious arrival is paired with someone else’s – a boy named David. But is he really who he says he is? From here on out this novel is non-stop action and craziness – the drones, the mysterious Monk, the gray zone, and the super creepy feelers – I couldn’t put it down! And no spoilers here – but when they get to the gray zone, it only gets MORE creepy! Were there some unanswered questions? Yes – hopefully author Lisa Stasse will reveal more answers in Book 2! Overall – it’s a definite read for all you dystopian fans!
Visit author Lisa Stasse’s website at www.lisamstasse.com
Or follow her on Twitter @lisamstasse
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/lisamstasse
Jen L., EMS Blogger
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I’m reading this at the moment and it is just getting good! If you find a support group for people who love distopians you had better refer me, I think I need to join it too!
I just finished this book. I am a big fan of dystopian novels. The Forsaken is especially exciting and thrilling. There are so many suprises, dips and peaks in this book. Lissa M Stasse crafted this book so well adding in unexpected things like first of all Alenna ending up on the wheel! And that’s just the start of her adventure! I was glued to the book and never wanted to put it down. I was mostly suprised on how civilized the wheel was. I think no one would expect there to be actual tribes of teenagers there. I most definetly thought they wouldn’t be in the middle of a war. It was right before their eyes what the main problem was. It was the society. Also since no one knew who the Monk was (until the end). They didn’t know 4 things. 1. How to survive in these high end tempuratures. 2. Who the Monk was. 3. What was going on in society. 4. Why were they here. Some may be on the Wheel because they are a threat to society yet others may be just as innocent as Alenna. It’s not their fault they got zapped with electroshock therapy. There is obviously something here the Society isn’t revealing.I cannot wait for the second book to come out and i’m dying to read it!
-Megan Knowling