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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This book was published in 2017. According to Goodreads it’s been on my to read list since fall 2019.
I have to say, reading about a global (fantastical) pandemic written only a few years before COVID started, that came on my radar only a few months before COVID started was eerie. A lot of the early parts of the book were me nodding along like, “yeah, sounds familiar.” Our planet had had a global pandemic in the works for a while, but having seen it happen then reading it in fantasy form was fascinating. Of course, there is PLENTY that doesn’t evoke “that was COVID!” at all, seeing as it’s about magic suddenly manifesting itself globally as something smashes through the human population.
What I love about this book is how there is a huge cast of characters (written in the third person!!!!!) that come from all walks of life. New characters surprise you with their entrance as well as their departure. Several of them have POV time, and there’s a rotation of groups that the narration returns to, but it takes a while to settle in on who the main characters really are, and I thought that was great. That being said, there’s a whole ton of recurring characters who have the most common 1-2 syllable names ever, to the point where I lost track of who was who for a bit. Rachel. Eddie. Katie. Joe. Bill. Will. Fred. Max. More haha. There’s a couple less common names: Poe, Arlys. I think only 3 characters are established as BIPOC. So while I say there’s all kinds of people in the book, I would have appreciated more diversity shown through names, culture, etc.
There is a recurring theme of destiny as a plot mover, which isn’t my all-time favorite of themes, but this book is about apocalypse bringing out the best and worst of any one person and, what is the value of community? What would magic look like if it suddenly appeared in the world? Fascinating.
Parting words: this book has lasted on my to-read list this long mostly because of the Urban Fantasy genre tag. I’m not sure this book makes the cut, considering how much of the story takes place in wilderness/on homesteads or farms. That itch was not scratched, but it was an engrossing read nonetheless.
I have to say, reading about a global (fantastical) pandemic written only a few years before COVID started, that came on my radar only a few months before COVID started was eerie. A lot of the early parts of the book were me nodding along like, “yeah, sounds familiar.” Our planet had had a global pandemic in the works for a while, but having seen it happen then reading it in fantasy form was fascinating. Of course, there is PLENTY that doesn’t evoke “that was COVID!” at all, seeing as it’s about magic suddenly manifesting itself globally as something smashes through the human population.
What I love about this book is how there is a huge cast of characters (written in the third person!!!!!) that come from all walks of life. New characters surprise you with their entrance as well as their departure. Several of them have POV time, and there’s a rotation of groups that the narration returns to, but it takes a while to settle in on who the main characters really are, and I thought that was great. That being said, there’s a whole ton of recurring characters who have the most common 1-2 syllable names ever, to the point where I lost track of who was who for a bit. Rachel. Eddie. Katie. Joe. Bill. Will. Fred. Max. More haha. There’s a couple less common names: Poe, Arlys. I think only 3 characters are established as BIPOC. So while I say there’s all kinds of people in the book, I would have appreciated more diversity shown through names, culture, etc.
There is a recurring theme of destiny as a plot mover, which isn’t my all-time favorite of themes, but this book is about apocalypse bringing out the best and worst of any one person and, what is the value of community? What would magic look like if it suddenly appeared in the world? Fascinating.
Parting words: this book has lasted on my to-read list this long mostly because of the Urban Fantasy genre tag. I’m not sure this book makes the cut, considering how much of the story takes place in wilderness/on homesteads or farms. That itch was not scratched, but it was an engrossing read nonetheless.
This book is amazing! It is somehow completely different and yet quintessentially Nora Roberts. The story- without spoilers- is dystopian, and the romances are nowhere near as defined as they are in a typical Roberts trilogy, but I resented it each time I had to put the book down last night and this morning. I have no idea where this is going, and I could not be more excited to take the journey!!!
Post-apocalyptic novel from Nora Roberts. A pandemic kills billions of people, but some are immune and some of the immune develop supernatural powers which were attributed to witches and elves in ancient times.
Some of these people stick together and start colonies with the hope that they could restart civilization as the pandemic passes, but some of the immune have developed darker magical skills and they are determined to kill the others. At the same time, some of the regular humans are weary of the "uncanny" and think they are demons.
In this complicated environment, Lana is pregnant and several indicators are showing that the baby she has might be "The One".
Not very original but is a flowing narrative. This book is the first one of a series and you can easily see that from the events and how they lead to the end of the book and the future books.
Some of these people stick together and start colonies with the hope that they could restart civilization as the pandemic passes, but some of the immune have developed darker magical skills and they are determined to kill the others. At the same time, some of the regular humans are weary of the "uncanny" and think they are demons.
In this complicated environment, Lana is pregnant and several indicators are showing that the baby she has might be "The One".
Not very original but is a flowing narrative. This book is the first one of a series and you can easily see that from the events and how they lead to the end of the book and the future books.
I’ve always associated Nora Roberts with romance novels so I’ve never been interested in reading her books. This one popped up when I was searching my library for available ebooks and it’s mention of magic piqued my interest. I tried it and I’m glad I did. It’s a good, albeit not necessarily strongly compelling, story. I’m going to try the second book in the series to see if it grabs me a bit more.
I didn't have high hopes for Year One. I like Nora Roberts as an author, but her trilogies have a definite formula. After reading the jacket description, I assumed that I would be reading a cute little romance set against the end of the world. I would be reading about the burgeoning romances between the six characters mentioned on the jacket (Max and Lana, Arlys and Chuck, Rachel and Jonah). And while there was some romance and some falling in love, it definitely took a back seat to the plot and the action going on in the novel.
Roberts presents an almost Stephen King-like version of the end of the world as we know it. A disease called the Doom wipes out most of the human population and people struggle to survive. Some of the people who survive have strange abilities -- they are called the Uncanny. What develops from there is good versus evil, a saviour promised, and the beginnings of a new utopia with all the typical dystopian elements.
An excellent and fast read. Great characters without too many of the tropes I've come to expect from a Nora Roberts novel.
Roberts presents an almost Stephen King-like version of the end of the world as we know it. A disease called the Doom wipes out most of the human population and people struggle to survive. Some of the people who survive have strange abilities -- they are called the Uncanny. What develops from there is good versus evil, a saviour promised, and the beginnings of a new utopia with all the typical dystopian elements.
An excellent and fast read. Great characters without too many of the tropes I've come to expect from a Nora Roberts novel.
The Narrator did a fantastic job with multiple voices for multiple characters. This novel has several storylines and numerous characters. A plague is decimating the world population. The story begins with patient zero. Then it proceeds to several storylines with various survivors. Among the survivors, many people now have supernatural powers. Some use their unique talents for good, but too many are using it for evil. There are romantic elements to this story, but it isn't a romance. In fact, one of my only criticism is a character who after losing the love of her life, finds a new love just months later. Too soon, Nora, too soon. Otherwise, I was engrossed by the various storylines. At one point, the multiple storylines merged, only to separate again. I hope to all the characters in the next book, which I will be reading. This book was an excellent read.
This book has been on kindle for ages, and keeping my 2021 resolution, I’m trying to read books I own. That being said, this book, no…
It started relatively promising, with a pandemic hitting the world (cue COVID nostalgia), then took a very weird turn when those immune start developing power turning into just about every fanastical creature you can think of; faeries, elves, sorcerers, seers, witches. It continued following several character throughout their process of getting to some sort of safety, where the events are very segmented, random, and it sometimes feels like large segments of the story are missing.
More and more characters are brought into the plot, few of which I become connected to. Then when dark magic comes hunting, all of the characters except two are completely gone from the book..?
While I did not really enjoy this novel, I did keep reading as I was hoping it would make sense in the end. While things came together a bit, I’m not sure I will be reading anymore of this series. Has anyone else read the other books, and if so, is it worth continuing?
It started relatively promising, with a pandemic hitting the world (cue COVID nostalgia), then took a very weird turn when those immune start developing power turning into just about every fanastical creature you can think of; faeries, elves, sorcerers, seers, witches. It continued following several character throughout their process of getting to some sort of safety, where the events are very segmented, random, and it sometimes feels like large segments of the story are missing.
More and more characters are brought into the plot, few of which I become connected to. Then when dark magic comes hunting, all of the characters except two are completely gone from the book..?
While I did not really enjoy this novel, I did keep reading as I was hoping it would make sense in the end. While things came together a bit, I’m not sure I will be reading anymore of this series. Has anyone else read the other books, and if so, is it worth continuing?
Fast-paced and thrilling, this book takes off pretty quickly and doesn't let up! I'm glad I didn't get around to reading it until after the second book was released, because I am going to need to pick it up ASAP!
I can't wait for the next book in this series! I enjoy the strong female characters, each one has their own distinct personality. The story is so intriguing, I have no idea where it'll take me so I'm drawn right in. I'm kinda over the whole supernatural genre but this book isn't a cliche, it isn't overdone. I'm glad I read this one!
I bought this at the airport and, after so many novels, I really though Roberts was going to become a better writer. She endlessly recycled the same sexist tropes and plot elements. Here she is basically throwing the shambles of her romance fiction onto the tired genre of dystopia.
I just don’t care enough to read the second book.
I just don’t care enough to read the second book.