Robin Crabb Gonzales

Hold on to your seats!

Revisado: 05-28-21

My goodness! Just when I thought things couldn't get anymore exciting or dramatic, Ms. Colbert went and cranked it up another 10 notches. 😱


We meet and lose people. Those we thought were traitor turned out to be on Claren's side and then we discover a massive mole in the midst!


I'm very frustrated with the ending. Because… sooo much. Very happy to have book #4 on hand because I MUST start it right after writing this!!


As before, world building & narration is excellent.


Ta ta friends 🙂


My star ratings include these 5 elements:

1★ story line

1★ engaging characters

1★ use of world building/descriptions

1★ narration or editing

1★ the ending


"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Great Continuation

Revisado: 05-14-21

We picked up right where book 1 ended. Be aware that these are not stand alone books. Often the 2nd book in a series tends to be a bridge and a tad slow. This book is not that!


New characters are introduced, relationships are developed and deepened, plus Claren begins to truly mature.


Heartache and yelling at Claren, no no no don't do it frequently left my mouth. Lol, as a mom of a 24yr old girl I can't help it. :-P


Claren is very bright but still quite young and naive of the world around her. She's kinda "drunk the koolaide" you could say. I adore Rafe and their empathic connection. Annnddd I like Felix nearly as well. I think of him as the hottie played on The Hunger Games, Finnick Odair ;-) and Rafe looking like Gale. So, there's certainly a triangle but even I don't know who I think she's best suited to.


So, I think I can visualize the outside of the center & the Outsiders camps better than inside the Capital itself. Which is fine with me. Everything else has enough detail, descriptions & world building to satisfy me. :-)


Narrator and how she reads as if the book has absolutely no errors is awesome. :-D


Also, started book #3 immediately. Yup, I used an Audible credit and am excited to get into it! =)


My star ratings include these 5 elements:

1★ story line

1★ engaging characters

1★ use of world building/descriptions

1★ narration or editing

1★ the ending


"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Great Beginning

Revisado: 05-14-21

I love a great Dystopian book, especially, when it's a reformat of America.


We start of with a young Claren who has a sharp mind & a great love for her brother. She does have a bit of a complex view of her brother not being intelligent and of needing her to save him. But that's very common of girl siblings in her situation. :-)


She was totally sabotaged by the system, so it seems. Buuttt, that's where the excitement begins. Poor girl, didn't know what hit & it throws here in to a tizzy. Remember, she's only 17!


World building is great and it's easy to visualize all that happens and where at. I kinda think of it as Washington D.C. and the suburbs/cities surrounding with the wilds encircling all of it. But that's just me. ;-)


I'm "reading" via the Audible book. The narrator is great and reads as if their are no editing issues at all which is great!


As for the ending, well, I started book 2 right away but it was after 3am & I fell asleep. Couldn't wait to pick it up the next day. :-D


My star ratings include these 5 elements:

1★ story line

1★ engaging characters

1★ use of world building/descriptions

1★ narration or editing

1★ the ending


"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Great Continuation! <3

Revisado: 04-23-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I love when we get to meet and get to know more characters than just the main ones from prior books. This time we get to know Zeisha. She's a sweet but broken girl. 😞 What she was forded against her will to do was appalling (think mind rape). 😡

We, also, learn more about the Trogs and get to be flies on the walls of each life, battle plan and external happenings. 🙂 As Zeisha's life unfolds, we are by no means left in the dark with Nora's (& Ovrun's 🥰).

I'd love for this book/series to be made into a movie! The imagery is amazing. We're never left wondering where we are nor about the surroundings. Each scene draws us deeper in with heart & mind. 😊

The only thing that frustrated me and that I had to mindfully not allow to distract me from the story was the excessive crying. 😱 But, like I said our main character is lost & broken.

Great editing. As for the end, I'm ready for the next book 📗 now!!

My star ratings include these 5 elements:
1★ story line
1★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
1★ narration or editing
1★ the ending

"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review."

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The PERFECT Sci Fi Rom Mix

Revisado: 03-09-21

Absolutely loved it! I love sci & not only was this a great space opera it was fun and with no messy sex scenes! Bonus stars for that. :-D

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5★s Space Opera, Action & a Smidge of Romance

Revisado: 03-18-20

Love, love , loved this❣❣ Great space opera, military action, humanitarianism, second chances, redemption and a side of romance. :-D

I just adore Kael, the guy has been through horrible things and still has a deep conscience for justice, liberty & what is right. =) Ahhh, Ellen, she has an amazing story. She's been put through awful things at the hand of a power hungry selfish man child. She carries so much undereserved guilt. They are hot messes, lol, it's like they are in their late teens still in the area of does she/he like me? Should I kiss her? They find great healing, peace and love through this journey.

Great world building, I don't ever wanna come face to face with the white furry tentacle 4 legged tarantula looking aliens! *shivers* :-o Satisfying ending. :-)

Okay I have to give huge kudos to the narrator!! Although, her voice may at first seem off/different, I was absolutely perfect for the characters! She made the ladies characters come alive and made me giggle frequently because their voice & inflection where true to character. =)


My star ratings include these 5 elements:
1★ story line
1★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
1★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review."

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

5 Solid ★s!!

Revisado: 03-05-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Not a 2nd book bridge by any means! The books starts with action which carries right through to the last word. :-D

Ian & Julia are people who to be a part of your circle. =) They are totally real to their characters and I'm loving them more with each page. Delaware & Alex are awesome as well. :-)

The growing world building is nice & scary. I've walked on ice that's been thin before & my heart felt all the doubt and fear with them. :-o

The narrator is a perfect fit for the story. Ahhh, the ending… let me put it this way, ya better have book 3 ready to hand!! Huge awesome clìff hanger. :-D So if you don't mind, I'm opening my book right now cause I just can't wait. 8-)


My star ratings include these 5 elements:
1★ story line
1★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
1★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review."

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2.5 Generous Stars!

Revisado: 03-04-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I wish I could have listened to the entire story. It had a somewhat confusing start but was still intriguing. Frustratingly, I had to stop at the middle of Chapter 7 when the narrator LITERALLY started screaming & yelling!!! Instead of narrating, "she screamed" or "he shouted", the narrator actually did just that.

I physically cannot listen to this book anymore. I'm even know gritting my teeth & in the throes of a massive headache. If you do give it a listen, PLEASE, do not listen via headphones or buds when he starts screaming!

My star ratings include these 5 elements:

.5★ story line (promising)
.5★ engaging characters (interesting)
1★ use of world building (good from start)
.5★ the ending (because I can't say)
0★ narration or editing (see above)

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Solid 5★s

Revisado: 02-27-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I greatly enjoyed listening to Turbulent! Awesome start to what I believe will be a great series. =) I'm always up for a good post apocalyptic story with a small amount of prepper ideas stirred in. The balance was perfect & the action wasn't overdone (ie, gory).

Maddie's little charge was a true trooper. I was very happy to see how mature Maddie is & especially with a child to protect. Her families stories were okay asides but her story was the one I really got into. :-)

Descriptions of scenes was great and world building was excellent. :-D The ending was very satisfying but I want the 2nd book in my hands quickly. Finally, the narrator was spot on for this story.

Happy reading everyone! 8-)


My star ratings include these 5 elements:
1★ story line
1★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
1★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review."

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3.75★s It’s very important to read Book 3!!!

Revisado: 02-24-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

*Sigh* Being this is a "bridge" series I feel it need to give some leeway in my frustration. I'm truly not certain at this point where the series is going. I think we're getting disjointed stories. There is no strong connection between Thomas & Xavier really.

For all intents and purposes he has been totally abandoned and left to fly on the memories of his dad's shirt tails.

I'm hoping the next book brings the first two books together! I feel like the story after plooding through 4½ hours just abruptly ended. And it was NOT a good ending. With no cliff hanger either.

The narrator was okay but he didn't feel invested in the story...just my opinion.

My star ratings include these 5 elements:
.5★ story line
.5★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
.75★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

*→Update after reading book 3: you HAVE to read all of the book for the ending here to make sense!!

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona