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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
… I don’t think there was any emotion that I didn’t feel while reading this book. Which in my opinion is a good thing.
The FMC, Dani, is brave, strong and in love with a mute boy, Six, from outside The Wall.
The FMC, Dani, is brave, strong and in love with a mute boy, Six, from outside The Wall.
A post-apocalyptic dystopian that held my heart in its extremely dark hands and refused to let go. This story is horrific. There is graphic rape, physical and mental abuse of children, torture and mutilation. It’s like Frankenstein’s monster married Carmac McCarthy’s [b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600241424l/6288._SY75_.jpg|3355573]
I loved the first half so much. The love between Wren and Six was so innocent and real. The second half was much harder to read. There is an 8 year leap and I missed those sweet characters. Granted, anyone living in this world wouldn’t be able to keep their eyes innocent for long.
This is our fragile dance of understanding and confusion. Pain and lust. Roughness and reverence. This is who we are—two damaged souls trying to figure each other out.It also carries so much love, sweetness, and hope.
“When the world is at its darkest, somehow love still carries the light.”The writing is absolutely glorious if you can get through the horror. It left me feeling utterly emotionally wiped out. I kinda wanted to curl up with a blanket and watch Bob Ross paint for a few hours. The last book I read that left me feeling this way was the Madeline Sheehan [b:Thicker Than Blood|23573808|Thicker Than Blood (Thicker Than Blood, #1)|Madeline Sheehan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416244740l/23573808._SX50_.jpg|43172283].
I loved the first half so much. The love between Wren and Six was so innocent and real. The second half was much harder to read. There is an 8 year leap and I missed those sweet characters. Granted, anyone living in this world wouldn’t be able to keep their eyes innocent for long.
Heartbreaking that part 1 was so beautifully written and then the second part was so disappointing. I felt like we lost Wren and Six at that point, their personalities were nothing like on the first part and everything just felt rushed. Their reunion was shit and not at all emotional like one would expect from soulmates who thought they’d lost one another
The other books in the series were a masterpiece though, I gave those 5 starts so it was worth it
The other books in the series were a masterpiece though, I gave those 5 starts so it was worth it
Full Review posted at Book Lovin' Mamas
Keri Lake did a fantastic job keeping me on the edge of my seat with this book, especially with all the twists and turns in it. I do not want to spoil anything, but be prepared ahead of time that this book is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of violence and challenging moments in this book. The characters are not sweet and adorable, but fighters and survivors. One of the characters has been made to kill, and the other has been made to survive in a cruel world. The villains in the story are hard to forget, especially when the monsters are not the Ragers.
I may end up with nightmares after reading this book, but at least I can say this story has a HEA. (A very disturbed and unforgettable HEA.) Yes, there are some very steamy moments in this book, even with all the crazy moments in a dystopian world, which is why I rated it five stars for the steaminess rating. Keri Lake can write some steamy and action-packed scenes, which is why she’s an auto-buy author.
Story Rating: 5 stars
Steaminess Rating: 5 stars
Standalone or part of series: Standalone
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Tropes/Elements: Dystopian; Dark; Gritty; Violence; Zombies (Called Ragers); Rape
Hero: Alpha; Tortured; Damaged; Anti-Hero
Heroine: Kickbutt; Survivor
Keri Lake did a fantastic job keeping me on the edge of my seat with this book, especially with all the twists and turns in it. I do not want to spoil anything, but be prepared ahead of time that this book is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of violence and challenging moments in this book. The characters are not sweet and adorable, but fighters and survivors. One of the characters has been made to kill, and the other has been made to survive in a cruel world. The villains in the story are hard to forget, especially when the monsters are not the Ragers.
I may end up with nightmares after reading this book, but at least I can say this story has a HEA. (A very disturbed and unforgettable HEA.) Yes, there are some very steamy moments in this book, even with all the crazy moments in a dystopian world, which is why I rated it five stars for the steaminess rating. Keri Lake can write some steamy and action-packed scenes, which is why she’s an auto-buy author.
Story Rating: 5 stars
Steaminess Rating: 5 stars
Standalone or part of series: Standalone
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Tropes/Elements: Dystopian; Dark; Gritty; Violence; Zombies (Called Ragers); Rape
Hero: Alpha; Tortured; Damaged; Anti-Hero
Heroine: Kickbutt; Survivor
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
He wears his words across his skin like braille. A story of pain that I wish I could rewrite for him, and take away the chapters that mark his suffering.
My head is still reeling because there wasn't a moment's rest... like wow... I could not put this book down.
It was utterly gripping and insane.
Juniper Unraveling is a dark romance set in a brutal post-apocalyptic world that sheds off humanity's morality and brings out its most depraved and heinous instincts.
Because I am sick. And so is he. We're the perfect, twisted match, destined for pain like a sad tragedy.
The moth who fell in love with the flame.
He's the reaper, and I'm his disciple.
Keri Lake crafts such a solid story and her writing pulled me right in and although I am not a fan of dystopian books however Lake's take on this genre gave me what I expected and more: a dark, gritty and intense story that kept me restless. She brings out the worst of humanity or let's say the surviving humans whom rose from the ashes of their fallen civilization.
In a reborn world infested with a vicious virus that absorbs the brain and halt its normal functions eventually disconnecting its carrier from their human selves and becoming frenzied individuals with an appetite for human flesh.
In other words, the virus or as the book calls it, the dredge, turns humans into monsters known as Ragers. They are led by three instincts: to survive, to feed and to breed.
As a reader, I always keep my distance from books that include zombies (a cool concept of zombies) and a simple reason for that is:
it's not my cup of tea.
However, I enjoyed Keri Lake's storytelling and writing in Master of Salt and Bones, and I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed.
There were quite a few scenes that made my stomach churn. This book was quite the experience and despite its grittiness, I enjoyed it mainly because the author did not hold back from creating such an intensely dark atmosphere throughout the book because that brings out the horrific reality of how far humanity had fallen.
When you no longer have greed on a leash, it leads you astray, committing the most heinous actions for the sake of power and survival.
What strikes me is the non-existent spectrum of good and evil and I absolutely love that. Every character comes in different shades of grey. While the villains are easy to spot it does not put a damper on the questionable actions the main characters do because even those we are rooting for keep their monsters within.
The little girl who would curl into herself, cursing and shaming her body, is no longer here. In her place is a woman. One who's seen the darker side of man. Who's felt the raw brutality of the world. One who can bathe in the aftermath of her sins.
The story follows two alternating POVS following Dani and Wren. The author ties the threads of their storylines effortlessly in such a clever and effortless way that I was left impressed.
The book shifts halfway through and that helped in igniting my anticipation of what's to come because trust me I gave up on predicting on what happens after it had hit me with plot-twist after plot-twist.
The world-building was nothing short of epic. The author showcases the ugliness of this dystopian world in a way that makes you truly reflect on would humanity ever go that far if they lived in such a horrific reality? And with the world currently living through a pandemic, we most probably do question the fate of humanity.
• There is an empire that seeks to establish a totalitarian rule.
• Small communities of survivors known as The Hives.
• A research facility inhabiting mad scientists subjecting their victims to the most heinous and horrifying experiments.
• An established system of armed forces dividing to: Mediators (men that guard the wall and solar panels) and the Legion (they hunt down Ragers and keep rebels out).
I hope I'm doing a good job at writing this review because I honestly have so much to talk about but I won't bore you with the details because this is a book that should be experienced!
Note that this book is not a book for the faint-hearted, It is intense and disturbing and I will add the trigger warnings at the end of the review but let me tell you that this book will push you out of your comfort zone yet will keep you absorbed and invested in every word and page.
We have covered the dystopian aspect of the book, let's move on to its main theme: Romance
In such a world, the romance sprouted like a single flower in the middle of a wasteland. It was done beautifully and my heart melted for Wren and Six.
Wren is the 17-year-old daughter of a physician and Six is a mysterious 19-year-old mute boy, a prisoner and a victim of mad scientists.
What brings the two together? How do their hearts find the love in one another? My dear reader that is for you to experience, there is so much more to their story.
Let me just say that it is a beautiful and heart-wrenching romance.
This is our fragile dance of understanding and confusion. Pain and lust. Roughness and reverence. This is who we are—two damaged souls trying to figure out each other.
In all honesty, I definitely can say that I haven't read such an amazing dystopian book that combines a heart pounding romance. I'm very glad that I have found this book and I look forward to continue the series even though I think each book is considered a standalone but within the same universe.
Trigger Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual scenes, rape, sexual assault, death, highly disturbing scenes.
He wears his words across his skin like braille. A story of pain that I wish I could rewrite for him, and take away the chapters that mark his suffering.
My head is still reeling because there wasn't a moment's rest... like wow... I could not put this book down.
It was utterly gripping and insane.
Juniper Unraveling is a dark romance set in a brutal post-apocalyptic world that sheds off humanity's morality and brings out its most depraved and heinous instincts.
Because I am sick. And so is he. We're the perfect, twisted match, destined for pain like a sad tragedy.
The moth who fell in love with the flame.
He's the reaper, and I'm his disciple.
Keri Lake crafts such a solid story and her writing pulled me right in and although I am not a fan of dystopian books however Lake's take on this genre gave me what I expected and more: a dark, gritty and intense story that kept me restless. She brings out the worst of humanity or let's say the surviving humans whom rose from the ashes of their fallen civilization.
In a reborn world infested with a vicious virus that absorbs the brain and halt its normal functions eventually disconnecting its carrier from their human selves and becoming frenzied individuals with an appetite for human flesh.
In other words, the virus or as the book calls it, the dredge, turns humans into monsters known as Ragers. They are led by three instincts: to survive, to feed and to breed.
As a reader, I always keep my distance from books that include zombies (a cool concept of zombies) and a simple reason for that is:
it's not my cup of tea.
However, I enjoyed Keri Lake's storytelling and writing in Master of Salt and Bones, and I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed.
There were quite a few scenes that made my stomach churn. This book was quite the experience and despite its grittiness, I enjoyed it mainly because the author did not hold back from creating such an intensely dark atmosphere throughout the book because that brings out the horrific reality of how far humanity had fallen.
When you no longer have greed on a leash, it leads you astray, committing the most heinous actions for the sake of power and survival.
What strikes me is the non-existent spectrum of good and evil and I absolutely love that. Every character comes in different shades of grey. While the villains are easy to spot it does not put a damper on the questionable actions the main characters do because even those we are rooting for keep their monsters within.
The little girl who would curl into herself, cursing and shaming her body, is no longer here. In her place is a woman. One who's seen the darker side of man. Who's felt the raw brutality of the world. One who can bathe in the aftermath of her sins.
The story follows two alternating POVS following Dani and Wren. The author ties the threads of their storylines effortlessly in such a clever and effortless way that I was left impressed.
The book shifts halfway through and that helped in igniting my anticipation of what's to come because trust me I gave up on predicting on what happens after it had hit me with plot-twist after plot-twist.
The world-building was nothing short of epic. The author showcases the ugliness of this dystopian world in a way that makes you truly reflect on would humanity ever go that far if they lived in such a horrific reality? And with the world currently living through a pandemic, we most probably do question the fate of humanity.
• There is an empire that seeks to establish a totalitarian rule.
• Small communities of survivors known as The Hives.
• A research facility inhabiting mad scientists subjecting their victims to the most heinous and horrifying experiments.
• An established system of armed forces dividing to: Mediators (men that guard the wall and solar panels) and the Legion (they hunt down Ragers and keep rebels out).
I hope I'm doing a good job at writing this review because I honestly have so much to talk about but I won't bore you with the details because this is a book that should be experienced!
Note that this book is not a book for the faint-hearted, It is intense and disturbing and I will add the trigger warnings at the end of the review but let me tell you that this book will push you out of your comfort zone yet will keep you absorbed and invested in every word and page.
We have covered the dystopian aspect of the book, let's move on to its main theme: Romance
In such a world, the romance sprouted like a single flower in the middle of a wasteland. It was done beautifully and my heart melted for Wren and Six.
Wren is the 17-year-old daughter of a physician and Six is a mysterious 19-year-old mute boy, a prisoner and a victim of mad scientists.
What brings the two together? How do their hearts find the love in one another? My dear reader that is for you to experience, there is so much more to their story.
Let me just say that it is a beautiful and heart-wrenching romance.
This is our fragile dance of understanding and confusion. Pain and lust. Roughness and reverence. This is who we are—two damaged souls trying to figure out each other.
In all honesty, I definitely can say that I haven't read such an amazing dystopian book that combines a heart pounding romance. I'm very glad that I have found this book and I look forward to continue the series even though I think each book is considered a standalone but within the same universe.
Trigger Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual scenes, rape, sexual assault, death, highly disturbing scenes.
Another five star read from Keri lake! And it did not disappoint like this book is a mix between Divergent and Stranger things with a twist of science fiction and I love it!
This story has you make so many theories and then like two chapters later, it takes your theory throws it out the window and goes “try again.”
This story has you make so many theories and then like two chapters later, it takes your theory throws it out the window and goes “try again.”
This was sooo good. I feel like zombie books are usually YA so it was really interesting to see a more realistic, gritty adult portrayal. especially with women and how they’d be treated in a dystopian environment. anyways wren x six forever.
5 Stars.
Honestly, protagonists in apocalyptic settings are just built different. I know I couldn't survive half the shit they go through. 10/10 to this book for keeping me invested from start to finish, and for Six and Wren's relationship development.
Honestly, protagonists in apocalyptic settings are just built different. I know I couldn't survive half the shit they go through. 10/10 to this book for keeping me invested from start to finish, and for Six and Wren's relationship development.
Bloody hell this book!!
I don't even know where to start with this review all I know is this was just so magnificent from start to finish and words can't do justice to how much this actually managed to impress me.
Everything about this worked for me and I was transfixed from the second I picked this up.
A totally new author for me but one I will definitely be reading again.
So this was set against a dystopian postapocalyptic backdrop and for humans, life has essentially evolved into a battle of daily survival against the Ragers.
Ragers are essentially people infected with a virus called "Dredge" that in stages regresses them back to the basic functions of feeding and breeding.
So in some ways like zombies but unlike the undead, these infected individuals are still very much alive and as the disease progresses they eventually develop a taste for human flesh, there is at this time no cure.
So this is a story of two parts and though this does contain a romance at its centre this is not really all this is.
The romance itself is really just a piece of the bigger picture and there is so much more going on here than what I originally expected.
So as I said two parts or essentially two POV's Wren a girl who lives with her Papa within a community of the Pure safely living behind a wall that separates them all from the Deadlands and the contagion and Dani an infected girl taken from her home by soldiers and thrown into a living nightmare of daily survival.
There's one other major contributor here Six, a mysterious and mute boy from the other side of the wall that Wren encounters and feels an almost bonded sense of solidarity towards.
The atrocities being committing here were both heartbreaking and at times so hard to comprehend.
This is a compelling and hard-hitting rendition of what could happen if you strip back the layers of supposed humanity and expose the underbelly of corruption all in the name of the greater good.
This is also a coming of age story between two young individuals set amid some horrific circumstances, A story of love and surviving against all the odds.
I Loved Wren and my heart hurt for both Dani and Six that fragile organ broke many times over at what these individuals were forced to endure living in such a nightmare.
An incredibly brutal but also a beautiful love story set against a post-apocalyptic landscape.
This story will most certainly wring you out emotionally so don't go expecting to walk away from this unscathed, This will and did leave deep battle scars.
This was hands down one of my favourite books this year but please do be aware that it is also a dark and at times bleak portrayal of human corruption and cruelty and as such contains major triggers throughout, Highly recommend this one.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Juniper Unraveling (Juniper Unraveling, #1)
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
If the Holocaust and walking dead had a baby, it would be this book.
This book is very, very dark; I cried through about half of it. Abel's story was the hardest for me. I enjoyed the book, it is well written and there are no dull moments. I think the love story fit the book and world it was written for well.
This book is very, very dark; I cried through about half of it. Abel's story was the hardest for me. I enjoyed the book, it is well written and there are no dull moments. I think the love story fit the book and world it was written for well.