REVIEW: Warriors by Sarah Noffke

Series: The Reverians #3
Pages: 226, Kindle
Publisher: One-Twenty-Six Press
Release Date: October 15th 2015
Buy The Book: Amazon - Amazon UK

Austin Valley appears as it always has, but Em Fuller knows that appearances aren’t what they seem. She knows under the surface, that cracks are starting to form in this seemingly well-manicured society. She’s responsible for creating these cracks and for planting a slow dissension among many of the residents of this once happy city. Broken in a way Em never thought possible, she turns into a well-calculated, strategic leader. With the help of the brightest minds in Austin Valley, Em begins building an army whose only purpose is to protect the population of Austin Valley from their President, Victor Vider. Em firmly believes the success of her army is inevitable, that is until a new blow strikes her heart and she questions whether she has the tenacity to go on.

*WARNING* This review will contain spoilers from the previous books in the series.

My Thoughts:

Warriors picks up a few months after Rebels. Em is still trying to lead the rebellion whilst coming to terms with Rogue’s death. Things are moving along quickly. Working with the trusted doctor, Parker,  her uncle, Ren, Nona, and Zack, Em is convincing as many kids as possible to avoid conversion to Middlings. If they choose to remain Rebels, Parker will inject them with a harmless fluid, and eventually they will finally receive their gift. 

Em is working non-stop, forcing herself to her very limit. Zack and Nona are concerned with how much she is taking upon herself, but she is determined to fight the battle herself and Rogue started, and finally win this war. 

This is the final book in The Reverians series, so I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed. Em was on strong form throughout this story, doing everything within her power to bring Vider down. I love how much she has developed over the series, and you get to really see how far she’s come in this final instalment. 

I’m not going to lie, I desperately missed Rogue. He was such a huge part of the first two books that I got so used to him being there, with all his wit and charm. It made me resent Zack a little when he had to step up and do more, because even though he wasn’t, I felt like he was replacing Rogue. 

However, this book did change my opinion on Zack. He got himself into a serious situation with 

Em’s sister, Dee, and how he dealt with it and resolved it made me admire his character. He proved how much he truly cares for Em, and was willing to do anything whilst fighting at her side. 

The final few chapters had me on edge, desperate to know how things would play out. Em’s final showdown with Vider did not disappoint, and I adored the comeuppance that Em had in store for him. It was perfectly genius. 

The epilogue for this story was beautiful, wrapping up the series brilliantly. There is a scene with a tree (and that’s all I’ll say, because spoilers), that was seriously emotional, and a perfect goodbye to the characters. They’ve offered me a little bit of everything; heart-stopping action, a gripping rebellion, and breath-taking romance. I’ve loved joining them on their journey for justice. I’m so thankful to Sarah for once again sharing her awesome stories with me! 

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REVIEW: Rebels by Sarah Noffke

Series: The Reverians #2
Pages: 225, Kindle
Publisher: One-Twenty-Six Press
Release Date: September 15th 2015
Buy it From: Amazon - Amazon UK

Em returns to Austin Valley, but there are many things that don’t add up about her homecoming. She’s left Rogue behind and is adamant that Dr. Parker must leave the Valley with her. Zack agrees to help her, but soon learns she’s not telling the whole truth when Rogue comes storming back. With the threesome reunited, they work on a plan to stop the Defect crisis. Their plan places all of them at risk, but Em knows they have no other choice. Hundreds of kids are being injected with poison every day and Nona, her sister, is one of them. Em Fuller has one mission and will stop at nothing to achieve it: Bring the government of Austin Valley down.

My Thoughts:

Rebels picks up a few months after the end of Defects. Rogue and Em are free from Austin Valley, but they both know that their peace is only temporary. They must continue the rebellion against the evil President Vider.

When Em realises that Rogue’s health is deteriorating, she goes back to Austin Valley in search of a solution. When Rogue follows her, they find themselves muddled up in even more secrets and lies surrounding Vider and his quest for ultimate power. 

The two of them team up with Zack and Nona in order to take away some of Vider’s control over the Valley. I loved Em being reunited with Nona. The relationship between the two sisters is wonderful to read, and I think Nona is a key part in the rebellion. What I also found interesting was Em’s discovery of her true name, and what it means. There is definitely more to the story of her, Nona, and the third sister, Dee. I’m excited to further explore the connection between them and their names.

Ren was back in Rebels, and he was just as fabulous as ever. Although he acts constantly irritated by Em and her questions, I think he is secretly growing fond of her. If anyone can help her figure out the path to getting justice for the Valley, it’s Ren. Even if he insists he doesn’t care! 

I adored the relationship between Em and Rogue. They work as a team, always looking out for one another. I found their relationship to be different to what I usually read in YA, simply because it was a healthy relationship. They were genuinely good for each other. It wasn’t some whirlwind romance that had occurred over the space of a week. Theirs was a relationship built upon friendship and years of history together. 

Although I knew Rogue was hiding something throughout the story, I was in no way prepared for what it turned out to be. It hit me like a train. I had my heart shattered by the ending of this book. I was actually on a train whilst I was reading the final few chapters, and once I figured out what was going to happen, I had to put my Kindle away until I got home because there was no way I was going to subject myself to that emotional torture whilst on public transport! 

The one character I have mixed emotions about in this book is Zack. I don’t know whether it’s because we don’t really know too much about him, or whether it’s just that he pales in comparison to Rogue’s vibrant personality, but I’m torn on whether I like him or not. With the ending of Rebels in mind, I’m certain we’ll be seeing more of Zack in the final book, Warriors, so I’m hoping he will get his chance to shine and my opinions will be changed. 

As heart-breaking as I found the ending, the one positive I can take away from it is that I know it’s going to make Em ruthless. She was determined to end Vider before, but now she will be completely cutthroat. I’m excited to see her strength grow.

As exciting as ever, Rebels is another fantastic edition to The Reverians series. Sarah Noffke always delivers a gripping plot and well-developed characters. I’m beyond ready to read the final book. 

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REVIEW: Defects by Sarah Noffke

Bookish Details:
Series: The Reverians #1
Pages: 227 eBook
Publisher: One-Twenty-Six Press
Release Date: August 15th 2015
Buy it From: Amazon - Amazon UK

Synopsis:
In the happy, clean community of Austin Valley, everything appears to be perfect. Seventeen-year-old Em Fuller, however, fears something is askew. Em is one of the new generation of Dream Travelers. For some reason, the gods have not seen fit to gift all of them with their expected special abilities. 

Em is a Defect—one of the unfortunate Dream Travelers not gifted with a psychic power. Desperate to do whatever it takes to earn her gift, she endures painful daily injections along with commands from her overbearing, loveless father. One of the few bright spots in her life is the return of a friend she had thought dead—but with his return comes the knowledge of a shocking, unforgivable truth. The society Em thought was protecting her has actually been betraying her, but she has no idea how to break away from its authority without hurting everyone she loves. 

My Review: 

I completely adored Sarah’s first series, The Lucidites, so I had high expectations for this first instalment in The Reverians. Still set within the Dream Traveling world, Defects follows Em as she discovers not all is as it seems within her cosy little hometown of Austin Valley.

On the outside, Austin Valley seems to have the perfect set-up. Secluded from the outside world, everyone is cared for and treated well, given a profession and a purpose. At least, that is what the citizens believe. Underneath the ‘fair’ rule of President Vider, there is something much more sinister at work.

Em is a Defect, a Dream Traveler who, for some unknown reason, has yet to discover her gift. Every day of her life, she must receive an injection that she hopes will allow her gift to surface. Without it, she feels held back and not able to fulfill her true purpose, which isn’t helped by her older sister’s constant taunts, and her parent’s disappointment. 

If I expected The Reverians to be anything like The Lucidites, then I was extremely mistaken. Although this series still focuses on the Dream Traveling ability, that is where the similarities end. Austin Valley is like a completely different world, one that is a lot darker than anything in The Lucidites series. 

There is always something creepy about towns and societies that shut themselves out from the rest of the world, and this town is no exception. The President is a terrifying character, especially with the influence he has on most of the people around him. 

The pacing of this novel is perfect. At first, we get hints here and there that something isn’t quite right, but then as the plot unfolds, we start to realise just how wrong the situation in Austin Valley really is. 

I can’t begin to describe how well written the more sinister characters in this novel are. Em’s father made my skin crawl with how vile he was. He’s one of those characters that remains eerily calm as creates chaos. I really couldn’t decide who I hated worse, him or the President.

Em is a wonderfully developed protagonist. When the events start to unfold and she begins to realise how much her father has deceived her, she takes on a whole new and feisty personality, one that is strong and determined to seek justice for the poor people of Austin Valley who have no idea what is happening around them. 

The rest of the characters are all fantastically written. Rogue is the President’s son, and Em’s best friend whom she believed to be dead. He returns to Austin Valley and tells her and their friend Zack the secrets that his father has been hiding. Secrets that were awful enough to make him run away and allow his friends to think him dead. I fell a little bit in love with Rogue from the moment he was introduced. He’s witty, but serious when he needs to be. I can’t wait to discover more about him in the series. 

I liked how Em wasn’t completely alone within her family. She had support from her younger sister Nona, and her grandma, Tutu. They’re both hugely important to Em, and I’m hoping to see more of the bond between the three of them in the future.

There was one other thing that tied this series to The Lucidties: Ren. He was one of my favourite characters in the previous series, so I was thrilled to see him and his sharp, sarcastic commentary once again. He is brought to Austin Valley by the President to record any changes in the Defects’ lack of abilities, and he also happens to be Em’s uncle. I’m excited to see what part he’ll play throughout the story.

This is a strong start to what I predict will be a thrilling series. Eerie from the very start, every chapter has a new revelation that keeps the reader hooked. It’s dark, it’s twisted, it’s full of surprises, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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