Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hope and Lies: The Abredea Series Book One by C.H. Lyn
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Definitely a great book for anyone who likes dystopian worlds. This book will take you out on a journey with multiple storylines. I was fascinated by the details of this world. I am excited to see what’s next in this series. C.H. Lyn did a great job with this book.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A dystopian world full of strife. Pangaea maintains its “order” through an outdated caste system, which has led may to rebel. This intricate story moves between the past and the current times, simultaneously telling us multiple stories. One of a woman from the highest ranking caste who’s whole life is changed when she is caught by rebels, another of a young 20 year old girl who for some reason ends up in a different caste from her friends and family, and finally an empath named Chogan. This mesmerizingly woven tapestry is an absolute must read. I’ve told all my friends to read it and I’m telling you as well. It is a chunky book, but it is absolutely worth every moment!
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Seen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This.is a great sci-fi Book that is well written and unique. When I First read the description of this book I found it a little confusing. But I had heard good things about the story so decided to give it a try and I am glad I did. The booknwas exciting and fast paced from the moment you start reading. The characters were engaging and really added to the overall story.
This is the first book that I have read by this author but it won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it right from the start.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122848309-hope-and-lies” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Hope and Lies” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1678122038l/122848309._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122848309-hope-and-lies”>Hope and Lies</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19774502.C_H_Lyn”>C.H. Lyn</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5586297876″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
What can I say except if you like your books dystopian in nature but with added paranormal tendencies, and you like to disappear into a story then this is certainly the book for you. <br /><br />This is the first book I have delved into by this author, and I can tell you it will not be the last, I am defiantly going to hunt down book 2 as I need to know what happens. <br /><br />In this book we follow a few distinct groups of people, some are in the past, which I found a little tricky to follow to begin with, some with special powers, some with and some without gemstones. <br /><br />Country is brought back together after a plague, and managed in a strict caste system, each has its own place in society, and from here we follow Maybelle and Kate, Juliana who meets Anthony, and Cho, Ichi, and the children. Each group has a profound impact on the story, and each interacts with the other. Towards the end it becomes clear as to how they interlink. <br /><br />I found this book all encompassing, certainly one hard to put down. The world building paints a very vivid picture, and the character development is smooth and interesting.
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Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book could occupy me for a long dang time. Where past and present flip back and forth but not in a confusing way. I really enjoyed the interesting style of the author and how well thought out her characters were. Getting to follow the different storylines was so exciting and I honestly just felt like the book gave more bang for its buck. I have never read from this author before and while the dystopian-esque style isn’t my first grab I’m learning it definitely can be. This book will capture your attention and hold it all the way through!
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Told from multiple points of view the past and present mix to make an incredible picture of this dystopian world. I enjoyed the complexities of the story and the way the author presented the information about it to the readers. The story flowed in such a way that you get pieces of the larger puzzle slowly and keeps you intrigued throughout. I found that I didn’t immediately love each of the characters, for various reasons, but came to understand their circumstances. The idea of a caste system and fantastical elements of powers gave more to the story than I’d originally hoped and definitely held my attention and kept me engaged in the story.
Seen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Seen by Lori Nelson is the first book that I have read by this author, so I really didn’t know what to expect from one of her stories. But the cover intrigued me, and then the blurb sealed the deal, promising an original sci-fi adventure I could really sink my teeth into. So, I let my one-click finger loose and dove right in as soon as it hit my Kindle.
What I found was a raw and gritty dystopian adventure with plenty of mystery, sci-fi elements, intriguing cybernetics, action, violence, murder, gory details, bloody brutality, futuristic technology & setting, politics, plots, agendas, greed, investigation, suspense, family, friendship, kidnapping, torture, a frontier-like justice system, emotion, drama, danger, betrayal, and much more.
The author did a fantastic job crafting a vividly detailed world in which to set her story. Her descriptions, originality, and other clever touches brought the story to life right before my eyes. I could see this making a great movie, or mini-TV series.
Mouse Mouzer isn’t your typical (almost) sixteen-year-old. She has ambitions to become a hard-hitting journalist just like her mentor. So, to accomplish that she’s on the hunt for a career-making story that will ignite her dreams. Going out with her crow shaped drone, Gossip, Mouse scours the dark alleys and violent hot spots for anything that she could use in a hard-hitting expose. The adventure begins when Mouse captures more than she bargained for with her drone camera. But to use the footage would bring life-changing consequences for her entire family, destroying her beloved family unit- so she is torn with what to do. Things soon take a dangerous turn, and Mouse finds herself in a deadly game of cat and mouse. What happens makes for a gripping read.
There is more going on than first meets the eye that adds an extra element of suspense to the whole story. Ms. Nelson doesn’t let off the intensity accelerator the entire time- making for an adrenaline-fuelled read. The hits just kept coming, really putting her character/s (and me) through the wringer- I was exhausted and completely emotionally drained just reading everything they went through. I felt like I was right there, going through the wringer with them. I was completely invested in them and the outcome of the story- and couldn’t put the book down for a minute just in case I missed something.
The characters were all really well-developed individuals with their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. I enjoyed watching them develop and grow over the course of the story as they handled all the challenges that came their way. There were the endearing characters that I loved, but there were an awful lot of horrid characters, who I detested and really wanted to see get their ‘karma’. Some did, but others, like Timothy and co, didn’t get their ‘just-desserts’!! There were also some developments that broke my heart that I really can’t get into here without giving away spoilers- but suffice to say that I was yelling at my Kindle, cursing at the author (sorry-not sorry, Ms Nelson) for doing what she did. She knows what she did!!! She toyed with my heart and made me cry!!!
I loved the story, and how original and gritty it was- but there are some sensitive topics that occur throughout the story- so if you have any triggers you might want to keep this in mind- subjects such as abuse, graphic violence, gore, murder, emotional abuse, manipulation, assault, attempted rape, betrayal (and more).
So, if I loved the story, then why 4 stars instead of 5- well, I was really torn by what I should rate this, but ultimately even though the book had a gripping storyline and great characters, some of the dialogue didn’t feel quite authentic, and there were a few (minor) editing issues (but not enough to really detract from my over-all enjoyment of the story)- but my main issue was that I was left with a slew of unanswered questions and a loose threads. I am hoping that means that there will be another adventure coming with Mouse, Meph, and co- that might bring the answers I am looking for. I will have to wait and see (hint, hint Ms. Nelson 😊)…
I will definitely be going on a one-click spree to snap up any of Ms. Nelson’s other works to explore in the meantime.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Lori Nelson!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Seen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great Sci-Fi book. So well written, good world building and fantastic unique characters. I loved the bond between Mouse and her brother Meph. It’s perfectly paced and kept me engaged right from the start. Full of action, suspense, murder, kidnapping and more. I highly recommend this book.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found this book to be unique and interesting. This author is new to me and I found the writing to be very detailed and descriptive. I was taken on an adventure in this dystopian world and the author pulled into the story and kept me reading. There is quite a bit going on in this story with many different characters and going back and forth in the timeline but don’t let that deter you because it isn’t hard to follow. There is great character growth and action, family, friends and so much more in this book. This isn’t my usual genre but I’m glad I decided to pick it up and read it because I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I have some favorite characters and when you read this you will find which ones are yours. I look forward to reading what the next book will have in store for us. I felt this was a very good read.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Hope and Lies (The Abredea Series Book 1) by C.H. Lyn
Hope and Lies is the first book in The Abredea Series and is a Dystopian Fantasy that will pull you into their world and makes it hard to put down. I did nothing for a day and a half but read this book. I had to know what was going to happen next. This is a new author to me and I’m definitely going to check out what other books they have written. This authors style of writing and attention to detail along with fully developed characters make for a epic ride. Get ready for quite the ride that is emotional at times in this book about finding yourself and how far one will go to make new friends while looking for family. I highly recommend reading this to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a new series and a new author to me. The author does a wonderful job of world building this dystopian novel that pulls you into the world of Pangaea. Living in a caste society to keep everyone in peace and order. The story takes place in two different eras, one from 70 years ago and now, helping us understand how the characters feel, what they are trying to change and so much more. The story line is woven in such a way to keep us reading and wanting to know more. The fact that we see these characters grow and strengthen within the book helped keep my attention too.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, what a book this was. I knew from the description that I was going to enjoy this book but I was surprised by how much the story pulled me in. I loved the world that it was based in. It was imaginative and so interesting. The combination of characters the author introduced fit perfectly. I could easily visualise what was going on from the writing.
This is a new author to me and I have to say I enjoyed everything about this book. The writing drew me in and the story and the characters kept my attention. This book also has one of my favourite covers that I have seen this year. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
Hope and Lies is the first book in the Abredea series. C.H. Lyn carefully intertwines three compelling storylines in this dystopian fantasy. It is told through multiple POV’s and different timelines.
With destruction, secret rebellions, politics, caste systems, kidnappings, supernatural powers, traitors, sacrifices, domination and control and family there is something for all lovers of dystopian tales.
There is desperation, grief, pain, hope, love and wonder. I was so immersed in the story that the pages just flew by.
A cleverly crafted tale where the worldbuilding is spot on, a well-written storyline and has three wonderfully intriguing plots. The diverse cast of characters are well written and interesting, and you become invested in them.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series. Dystopian fans will love it.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Seen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Seen is an original sci fi tale set in a dystopian world. This is the first time I have read this author’s work and it is an interesting and intriguing tale.
The story starts off with a bang from the get-go and that sets the tone of the story. It’s full of drama, action, suspense, revenge, and lots more. With betrayal, danger, corruption, kidnappings, schemes, vengeance, ransom and murder you are drawn into the story.
I enjoyed the bond between Mouse and Meph and their easy banter with each other and Tate.
In a world gone crazy with darkness looming on street corners, looking for the right story to tell could be deadly.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to what comes next from Lori. It would be good if Mouse and the gang get more stories.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Seen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mouse is a brave young lady. She’s out there with a drone hunting for the next best news story. Be careful what you wish for. You might find something you wish you hadn’t. She experiences the worst betrayal. I found the story exciting. It’s full of drama, action, unpredictableness and lots of unique characters. It’s a dystopian world I don’t want to be in. I couldn’t put it down. A fascinating read, that’s for sure. A definite must for the TBR stack.
Seen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed from beginning to end. An engaging story where the author used details to give the story a realistic feel. This is a well written story that has twists and turns that you won’t see coming. A story full of suspense and action. A fast paced story about Mouse. She discovers that a family member has murdered someone but as she investigates this for a story, she is kidnapped. This is where the story picks up and is hard to put down. I had to know what happened to Mouse and if she survived. I enjoyed her character and what she added to the story made it that more entertaining to read. There is great growth of the plot throughout. The characters pull you into their world of suspense and murder. I really enjoyed reading this book and easy it was to read. I highly recommend this book.
Review by @bjwagner
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༻• BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ༺•༻•
Mouse is three months from her 16th birthday, a legal adult, and she still has an idealistic belief about family. Working as an intern at a local newspaper with her older brother Meph, to drive her around and protect her, she wants to write a news article that will get her hired when she graduates high school in the spring. She thinks she found the perfect story until it leads her to a dark alley where she records a member of her beloved family murdering a young girl. Unwilling to believe that her own beloved family member could commit such a crime in cold blood she hides the recording, especially when she learns that victims of crimes must pay for the help received down to the cost of bullets used. Before she can figure out what to do, she is kidnapped.
The captors let it slip that her father arranged Mouse’s abduction for a kidnap and ransom insurance scheme that he’s been running, and he doesn’t want her back, leaving her feeling like she can trust no one.
Rescued from the kidnappers Mouse must figure out how to get evidence of the story to her mentor at the news firm. Meanwhile her father hasn’t given up on the ransom scheme. At the family residence, the kidnappers find other victims and now Mouse’s older brother, Meph, must decide between protecting Mouse from his father’s vengeance or rescuing his young daughter. Their father is narrowing in on Mouse’s location to kill her before she can release the video and ruin him.
Lori Nelson was born and raised in California but was drawn to a small-town in MN where she met her best friend who later became her husband. Lori currently works in the financial department of a vendor that partners with a major tech company that is in everyone’s household. She spends all her free time writing or coming up with new character ideas and plots when she doesn’t have one of her three furbabies (cats) sitting on her keyboard.
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a new author for me which I enjoyed reading their fantasy story. I look forward to seeing what is next for them. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. The author used details to make the story come to life on each page. This is a story that is full of action and engaging. A story about finding yourself, family and how far do you go for new friends. The characters pull you into their world from the first word. They are strong and supportive of each other. There is a little bit of an emotional side to this story as well which made it entertaining to read. There is great growth throughout the story which makes it easy to read. There is alot going on in this story, the author did a great job of keeping me coming back for more. This is a great story that I highly recommend.
Review by @bjwagner
Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this story to be amazing. The writing is such that I dove in. My family wondered if I was ever going to put my phone down. I love dystopian fiction and have since Hunger Games came out. The characters are all so beautifully written. They all have such unique personalities and just mesh so nicely into the story. The length of the book just didn’t matter to me. I devoured it in no time at all. I found it just sneaks a hand right out at the beginning and grabs you right in from the start. I would love to give you a favorite part but this is one book that I truly loved it all. A definite 5 star. If you love dystopian fiction, this is a must read.
•°• •°• BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE •°• •°• 
A secret rebellion rages.
Generations ago a plague ravaged the world. Grey-Stars rose from the ruins, formed the country of Pangaea, and created a society of peace and order. The caste system maintains this peace, and the Grey-Stars maintain the castes.
Now, the lower castes fight against their subjugation. A small portion of the population begins to discover rare abilities, supernatural powers that aid in the battle for equality and justice, but the Grey-Stars won’t let go of their supremacy without a fight.
A Grey-Star turns traitor, serving as a rebel captain and using her alter ability to get revenge against her own people for the atrocities they’ve committed. Despite her skill as a soldier and her power as an alter, desperation grows. What will it take to turn the tide? Her efforts never seem like enough, and war demands sacrifice.
A young woman goes through the Coding and is plunged to the lowest caste of society. While navigating a world entirely new to her, she discovers the reality of Pangaea is not what she was taught. Finding a family, and finding herself, she realizes just how far she will go to keep her new friends safe.
A runaway is cursed by his own gift. Drowning in a sea of emotion. When hope is lost, can he be the leader his brother always thought he was… or will he succumb to his grief and lose his way?
C.H. Lyn is a vivacious writer, reader, wife, and mother of two. She loves travel.
Spending her free time hiking, reading, writing, eating, cooking, and trying – in vain – to teach the dog how to play fetch, she also enjoys those cozy nights on the couch with a cup of tea and a great show to binge-watch. In her mind cliches happen for a reason, overuse of alliteration is often hilarious, and the best way to decompress is to get the characters rattling around in her brain out and onto the paper.
To check out more about C.H. Lyn, follow her on Facebook, tiktok, and Instagram @chlyn.author. Sign up for her newsletter at chlyn.com, and find a multitude of her short stories on Kindle Vella.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50722653-destiny-of-light” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny, #3)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601379148l/50722653._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50722653-destiny-of-light”>Destiny of Light</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044828.Catherine_Greenall”>Catherine Greenall</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5453747172″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
In the third and final installment of the Quirk of Destiny Trilogy the reader is immediately clued in on the protagonist, Calum, potentially loosing someone he loves dearly. Not just Calum, but the rest of the world loosing someone they love due to these environmental anomalies. This is a multiple point-of-view read as well, which did busy up the read a bit for me. Overall I enjoyed the concepts and themes that the author incorporated; the elite with their power, genetically modified foods to control the population, and what happens to humans when the world is ending.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/44107748-emily”>View all my reviews</a>
A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A highly detailed return book that makes reality and fantasy blend ! A ton of detail for world building that reached a plateau. Shifting gears introducing the mysterious ways of this newly found life. How realistically written I was questioning myself through out the book if it truly was fantasy! I enjoyed the plot twists and turns. A slow but good strong finish.
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Quirk of destiny is a fascinating read; mysterious and engorging. I’ll admit the beginning feels slow with the mass of information to build a good platform of understanding. It’s not my usual type of genre. But I was pleasantly l surprised by chapter 14. So hang in there if you’re like me ! It really gets going with the twists and turns. Surprises increase as does the mystery! I found myself asking is it the end of the world ? Or are you just apart of an experiment ?
I definitely recommend for those who love mystery and don’t mind a very detailed almost realistic build up to get there.
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great series! I really enjoyed the science behind the story and was not expecting the plot twist this third book took. You definitely need to read the first books in the series to follow the story and get the full picture. You get to learn the full story behind the Genies and the Elite in the book and it will really make you think. I love that the story actually ended and does not leave you hanging like some stories do. And as always the science that is included by the author really does make you wonder. I really enjoyed reading from Calum’s point of view. He’s a character I really like and could get behind. I definitely recommend this series if you are in the mood for an apocalyptic science type read!
Destiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny Trilogy by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a brilliant end to a magnificent trilogy! I enjoyed each book, but this finale was absolutely wonderful. Catherine Greenall continues to build this apocalyptic world with paranormal and sci-fi themes throughout the series. Calum is trying his hardest to keep his friends alive while fighting their enemies, but does he have what it takes? Everything took a turn for the worse when genetically modified foods were introduced to the general population, creating the paranormal Genies. Everyone now believes Calum, but unfortunately there may be too much destruction to make a difference. Will Calum and his group be able to survive or this truly the end of the world? I highly recommend this series if you enjoy dystopian sci-fi! I enjoyed all of the political elements in it as well. The author did a remarkable job with this entire trilogy!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Greenall has done it again! This series finale was amazing! It is highly recommended to read the previous two books in the series before venturing into the last one. The experience of this epic, post apocalyptic, dystopian mixed in with great characters is worth the previous reads to get the full experience and get insight where the story has been. One thing I did enjoy throughout the series are the parallels of environmentalism and politics within our modern world and how the scope of things in their eyes. As Calum and his allies keep fighting for the chance to decide their own fate and live in the self-sustained, people centered future. “Genies” are ones who want to enforce their perspective of change and have others follow their path. Many societies face the struggle of sustainability and power/wealth. Although this novel has elements of genies having special abilities, the fundamentalisms of their struggle is brought to light.
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3DNW53FLG4L5X/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Destiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny Trilogy by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Destiny of light had an amazing world building. I felt the book was slow and it was hard for me to get into it. After half way in the book, I was able to get into the book and it was a page turner for me. I would say it’s slow at first but it does pick up after several chapters. It was a great read otherwise.
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https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/510233519
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! The author does not disappoint as she wraps up this series! Sci-fi meets religion. The characters are engaging, and the storyline moves at a believable pace. Who knows? Perhaps these events could really happen, and maybe they have already begun. I am sad to leave behind these characters- some of whom I had started to think of as my friends.
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Destiny of Light is the last installment in the Quirk of Destiny Trilogy! This is one of those series that needs to be read in order to know the who’s and what’s of the series. This was a sci-fi story that was fast paced and full of twists and turns. I enjoyed the characters as the story unfolded and didn’t want their story to end. I am looking forward to more by this author in the future!
Happy Reading!
Destiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny Trilogy by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Calum O’Connell is back again, they are getting back to something like normal in Gallanvaig, they are back to their sustainable and simple way of life and thankful that they are still all together after having just overcome the last lot of hurdles which changed life as they knew it all over again, when the “Genies” came and caused havoc for their friends and families. This was as well as trying to keep out of harms way thanks to a dissonance in their lifestyles and those of others living in this apocalyptic world, where barriers were erected and had to be overcome by the small group.
While they were fighting for their lives, the “Genies” were growing in both strength and numbers, their powers increasing and becoming more and more deadly with each passing day as they continue to eat the genetically modified foods and recruit others to do the same and join their evil ranks. Another group were also fighting against them from the shadows, wanting to eliminate anyone standing in the way of their new world order, be they survivors or “Genies” and causing a restrictive way of life to be adopted by forcing everyone to obey.
Between the “Genies” and the shadowy Elite, Calum and his group are struggling to survive and avoid the pitfalls and hurdles placed into their path by those around them, but they still have hope that they can prevail with the help of others around the world, but with death and destruction all around them, can they really stop the forces of evil and convince everyone else to re-adopt their way of life, or will evil triumph after all and create a new world order thriving on violence and mistreatment? This is another informative and well researched glimpse into a possible future with apocalyptic consequences to current issues, written in a way which provokes conversations and debates while coupling it with a dystopian race against time, which is fraught with danger from everywhere all at once which you will not want to miss out on.
Reviewed by @roxsannel