Born: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (The Born Series Book 1)

Since I enjoy dystopian fiction, this "YA" title landed on some to-read lists. Are there elements of this book that are young adult? Yes - especially Emma's naivete and reactions to encountering the first young men of her life. Plus, most of the main characters are in the 15-25 age range and there is an animal sidekick. Emma is 19. However, there are decidedly adult themes, including sexual assaults - in a variety of forms for a variety of characters - that should give pause to some readers/parents believing this is as sexually tame as the Hunger Games trilogy.That said, Tara Brown crafts a good story around a unique heroine. Emma has been alone in survival mode since the age of nine when the world changed. Prompted by her survivalist father, she escaped to the edge of civilization. Very early in the book she encounters 15-year-old Anna and her older brother Jake. Emma feels a kinship with Anna, which is one of the strongest and most interesting relationships developed by Brown. Clearly Em does not understand how to deal with Jake and her emerging attraction. I thought more could have been done with Em's reaction to her re-entry to society. Em's anger about having the two around is shown, but she probably would have been edgier about the company, especially once she arrived at the rebel camp. At one point Jake and Will describe Emma as a female Terminator, and that one word went a long way to describing the lack of surface, visible emotion that we see from Em. Is makes sense, too. She is a deadly shot with her arrow, silent and lethal in the woods, plus ten years of solitude would not encourage emotional displays of any kind. Without the long-term nuances of interactions with other people, she also tends to see things in black and white. For Em, actions speak louder than words.Zombies make an appearance too, but as the plot develops, they are not the scariest population in the story. That honor goes to the racists running the breeder farms. There is a lot of violent action in Born, due mainly to the fragments of society left scrambling for supremecy.Overall, this was an interesting entry into the dystopian trope. If you like a story about a loner turned hero, you might also try Hunter-After the Fall by John Phillip Backus.

I just finished reading Born five minutes ago and my heart is still pounding wildly in my chest - the cliff hanger is making my insides twist! I certainly hope the next book is out very, very soon (a less than subtle hint to the author!).This is a fantastic book, but it is extremely harsh and frighteningly realistic in many respects. The story is set in the near future in the aftermath of a lethal virus that killed billions of people or worse yet, did not kill them but left them with only the most basic of instincts - to kill and consume. The original virus mutated and that was not a part of "their" plan. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely not a book about "zombies" - they are just one of the many dangers that exist in this new world. There are breeder camps where women are taken against their will by hunters and trackers who don't seem to have a shred of humanity left in them and we as readers are made well aware of that. This story is not for the faint of heart.Emma has been alone since she was 9 years old and her only companion is a timber wolf named Leo. Now, 19 she thinks she is a coward but she has learned how to survive, how to hunt and how to kill. She has witnessed horrific acts perpetrated by men who prey on the weak, especially young women and take what they want in all respects. She has a certain naivety about life having had no social interaction with other people in a decade so when Anna comes to her door for help, she almost turns her away and/or kills her. But Anna is determined to get help for her injured brother and suddenly Emma's world is turned upside down and inside out. Jake, Anna and Emma go through hell together but when they are separated and Anna is captured and taken to a breeder camp, Emma puts her life on the line to get her back. After learning what really happens to the women once they are no longer needed for breeding, Emma pledges to take the camp down.Emma goes through an incredible transformation from a lone and lonely survivor to a strong, determined and vivacious young woman who stops turning her back on the wrongs she witnesses and decides to do something about it. She learns to love and hate with a passion, tests loyalties, survives one betrayal but will she fall victim to another? She becomes a rebel, a warrior and a leader...but what will it cost her?There are so many amazing characters in this story that make up Emma's new family - Jake, who is cute, funny and has loads of anti-survivor instincts and who may or may not be in love with Emma; Anna who is brave, fearless and loyal; Will who toys with Emma's heart but always has her back; Meg, who talks tough and spits venom but who is really just a kid looking for a place to belong; Sarah, who at 11, is quietly brave for one who has seen and heard too much and Leo, the beautiful and loyal wolf who has a bond with Emma that no one could ever sever.The book has some familiar themes, I agree, but it is incredibly well written and the story dips and flows like a roller coaster that never stops. It has an amazing energy that is second to none and I loved it. It is definitely one of the best books that I've read in a long time - it left me breathless. One warning - the story contains some mature themes and things get pretty nasty at times so be prepared for that - it is all an intregal part of the story though and necessary for the reader to understand just how bad things are.Five Stars Plus! An excellent read and I highly recommend it. Well done!

This story had so much potential and I feel like half the book was wasted on this 'romance' between Will and Emma. They're toxic to one another, they bring out the worst in each other and in real life these two characters wouldn't end up together. I have nothing against romance, but does every book have to have some form of love triangle? (and if your going to create a love triangle, at least give both guys the same amount of time with the girl. Don't just give one a few scenes and act like they're in love with the MC just for the sake of a love triangle. We know the girl won't end up with the nice guy, so why even bother?) and why can't the heroine, for just once, fall for the nice guy who wouldn't do anything to harm her...and why does romance have to dominate every dystopian novel with potential? It kind of ruins the book and makes the romance feel kind of forced if they fall for each other too fast without getting to know one another. This is where the last two stars are dropped for me.The book is well written and I didn't see many mistakes like you normal do with e-books, but the romance is a major flaw to me. I started to get annoyed with the MC slightly when she kept dwindling on about how she likes him, the love interest, even though he keeps hurting her, physically and emotionally. Though the rest of the time I can relate to her, because even though she is pretty, she isn't some empty shell. She has her flaws and embraces them, it makes her human and easier to connect with. Regardless of the romance this book is pretty good. It has actions scenes, some light humour thrown in there and yes, even the love triangle to draw in those twilight fans. Though I'm not a lover of that particular part of the book, I will be reading the next in the series because this does end in a cliff hanger, and I hate those because you feel obliged to find out what happens next. Plus, this whole United nations and breeder farms is actually interesting and I want to see where the author is going with this. HOPEFULLY, in the next book the romance is at least side lined to the rest of the plot.

I love the heroine. She has lived 10 of her 19 years surviving on her own by being alone. Not needing people, rarely seeing them. Just her pet wolf who is a loyal friend and protector. Characters are deep and colourful and you feel that they matter. I couldn't put the book down the whole time I was on vacation in London. I was so happy when a rainy day came! Sick right? But I love GOOD books.The only thing I have to warn you about is something I read when reading these ratings to warn me: some of the story is ruined by this relationship she's in with a control freak I can't see her with anyway. I wish they had just dropped that and gone on with the story itself, which doesn't even really need a love element, or go back to the one who was good to her.

this book certainly is action packed with something happening at every turn of the page. It certainly is not a boring read and will keep you on your toes. However, I found this book to be more you the younger reader rather than a mature adult. I also found it a bit like watching an American Movie were the hero's get constantly injured but still manage to pull off lots and plans whilst escaping impossible traps. I don't think I will be reading the other three books following on from Born simple because I do t think I can stand anymore of Anna's unbelievable bravery coupled with the unrealistic, and some would say - unnatural, relationship she has with her pet wolf Leoif you're looking for a 1984 or Brave New World, don't look for it here!

A dystopian future, checkHero girl with a loner mentality and top notch survival skills, checkInfected zombies roaming the streets, checkThere a million books of this type around at the moment but this one shines. The theme is much more adult, the scenario behind the dystopian world is believable and the plot is fast paced and exciting.I read a large amount of gendres ranging from George RR Martin to Martina Cole but this is one of my favourites so far this year. And a steal at only just over a pound a book. Great read.

An amazing start to the trilogy, right from the beginning it was easy to read and get lost in.It kicks off with an insight into Emma's life alone, and gradually introduces in Anna and jake, then will, who I thought I hated to start with but I couldn't resist the bad boy charm of.It gives all the small pieces of what life is like for the remaining survivors of the post apocalyptic world, with safe camps, and breeder farms, and leaves on a cliffhanger that makes you want to scream!