year one is a hard book to have read coming at the (hopeful) end of a global pandemic where my life, and the lives of so many fell apart. I decided to take the risk on something dystopian, I was in the mood for it, but year one isn't the book I expected it to be. It went rather quickly from dystopian to standard urban fiction quite quickly. The other disappointing thing for me, is this is the first in a trilogy and now I almost feel obligated to read the other two books. Thanks for approving this title for me and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to review.

In a world decimated by a plague that gives magical powers to those that survive, Nora Roberts paints a dystopian fantasy filled with characters to care about and to root for (or against). A very enjoyable first book that promises much more to come in the sequels.

This new book is such a great read. It had me from the first chapter. It is like it was a gripping read .I didn't know what to expect but this book exceeded all expectations as not my normal bookchoice I cannot wait to read more about Fallon and Lana and Simon. This book was gripping so good i recommend to you all

This is a bit of an odd one for me. Some times I thought I really loved it and other times I didn't like it at all. Year One reminded me of a more magical version of The Stand. There are quite a few parallels between the two books but they couldn't be more different in terms of tone. The Stand is dark and desperately horrifying, Year One has its moments but it's a bit more...cuddly.

So a magic virus known as the Doom hits the human race and kills 80% of humanity. Those who are left are a mixture of lucky immune humans and the 'Uncanny' a mix of various supernatural peoples including witches, elves, fae and shape shifters. Some Uncanny are good and some are dark Uncanny.

The first chapters of this book with the virus spreading and chaos ruling was pretty great. After that it got a little dull until the end which was also pretty great. The middle was just loads of semi annoying people thinking they are amazing growing vegetables and stuff. In short it was dull.

One of the reasons that I found the middle of this book boring was the magic. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy, epic Fantasy and Science Fiction, I have no issue with magic folk but they had a lot of 'feelings' about things which took away from the world & character building. So, there is a lot of violence in this world. Murder, rape. etc. When ever our main characters meet someone new they can feel if they are good or not. This leads to a moment of the reader thinking 'can I trust this guy?' before someone says 'it's ok, he is good, I can feel it.' The same applies to directions, 'this is the right way I feel it,' and fears of someone being infected, 'I can see their light it's ok'. This comes across as pretty lazy writing to be honest. For a book essentially about death and tolerance there is a real lack of tension. Even the big show down in the end is ruined because one of them has visions of darkness coming.

All that being said there are some true flashes of brilliance in this book. There is a particular moment when two of the characters have to travel through tunnels to get out of New York which is spectacular and some of the best horror writing I've read in some time. If only there was more of that in this book.

I so enjoyed this book, I always like Nora Roberts magical books but this one stepped up a level. The book flowed beautifully and seemed to pack a lot in but was never rushed. The magical element was crucial to the story but obviously not true to life as we know it, however it was included seamlessly. There were quite a few crossroads within the story some expected, some surprising. I had to wait a while to read this book but that has worked out well for me because I can go straight on to book two! If I’d had the time I would have read this book in one sitting, it was unusual and fabulous.

Not your typical Nora Roberts story, at least not what I’m used to. I reached out to very different genre here, probably as different as it can be as I don’t remember reading apocalyptic story yet. I absolutely loved it! Not only it was refreshing to read something completely out of my comfort zone, but characters made it so realistic, I was worried to look out of the window at one point.

Blurb really says it all. Terrible outbreak of unknown virus kills most of the population and pretty much messes up everyone else. Can they fight it, can they rebuild what they lost?

Now I’m not sure how it would rate on apocalyptic/dystopian book scale but for me it would be easy 5 stars. I literally can’t wait to pick up the second book of the series which came out this year. Might leave it as a read after Christmas though, it’s not really a book that would bring you into festive spirits.

Whether you are Nora Roberts fan or not, whether you enjoy this type of books, I definitely think you should give it a go! It really surprised me and it might do just that for you too.

One of my all-time favorite authors.

This was a great addition to the series and does not disappoint.

Realistic characters, action-packed and keeps you wanting more

This book was very different to what I expected. Following different groups of people as they begin to find their way during a worldwide disaster.
I am a huge huge fan of the apocalyptic genre, and this is very different to any I have read before as it begins the book before the virus has struck, during and the aftermath. The elements of magic and special powers really enhanced and added the storyline and set this apart from the many other apocalyptic books out there at the moment. The writing was very simple (maybe too so) and easy to follow.
The downsides... some of the interactions between Lana and Max were shockingly cringy and I did have to skip those parts. and I did struggle with the pacing in some parts. But over all, I did really enjoy the read

So here's a strange story....actually not strange, probably just daft. Discussing that I was about to read this with a friend she was a. convinced I had the wrong writer - Nora Roberts doesn't do books like this b. I was crazy never to have read any of her books and c. I was even crazier to somehow get Nora Roberts and JD Robb mixed up. Well I was glad to prove her wrong on two points....I have been crazy not to have read her books!

This is a dark apocalyptic tale of a virus called The Doom that systematically works it's was through the world's population, killing a large percentage of every race. There is no cure, no hope.....unless you're one of the "lucky" ones with a natural immunity. Some of the the immune find they have strange new supernatural talents which help in the new world. But some do not want to use their new found talents, no they have much more nefarious plans. In the midst of the chaos that ensues a few survivors try to build a new better life, but jealous evil eyes are watching....

This was a highly enjoyable read. Yes it's a dark story but Roberts writing is very accessible - she doesn't have the usual style of writing in these types of books which makes for an interesting read. She has crafted a excellent cast of characters that I warmed to straight away. There are a few signposts to the plot which don't really point the way - its more like you're been bashed around the head with a sign saying "PLOT TWIST AHEAD". As one character asks one of the main protagonists when she wonders how they knew what was happening, how could she not know? It was pretty obvious but I can only deduct one star for that....the rest is just too good.

I did want to enjoy this book but I just couldn’t get into it at all.

A mixture of fantasy and an apocalypse . Not sure that this really works but it did get my mind buzzing so if you want something different and are happy to be taken into an unrealistic world, then give it a go!

I didn't finish this one, I'm afraid. Maybe will try another time but I just couldn't get into it. Thanks for allowing me to review though, much appreciated as always :)

First book I have read by Nora Roberts and I enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more in this series. Some of the characters I really liked, others not so much. Overall its an enjoyable read and a good start to a series. Cant wait to read more about Lana and Fallon.

Nora Roberts always has something up her sleeve, and this gem did not disappoint. She still got it

The beginning of this with the world going to shit and everyone dying was amazing. I just love a good dystopian book, it really gets my brain revving

Sadly that aspect got overtaken by a mound of different magical characters. I didn't actually mind all the different POVs, I still got to know a bit about everyone and I liked the New Hope set up but the fantasy side just didn't work for me. The two sides were too mashed together and things felt forced and predictable because of that.

Very well written, this dystopian story is different from Roberts' previous books. Unfortunately I don't know how to write a review without giving too much away, so I'll just say this... if you go into this story with an open mind then I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
*ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher*

Having read mixed reviews from other readers I was dubious when I started this book. I guess people don't like change from an author there was no need to be nervous! This is Nora Roberts after all. It's an amazing story about human character and how that is tested when the world crumbles around you. This is done realistically, there's no moments of 'oh yeah, that's soooooo believable' In fact I think that if anything was to happen Roberts has done her crystal ball act and this would be it. It's quite bloody scary actually! (She's been right in her In Death series, all that tech is coming to life!)

In her usual fashion, Roberts create characters that you fall in love with, that you root for when times are hard. Everyone seems connected in some way and you want them to get through to the end of the book, not a chance when you have Raiders and Warriors killing people for sport. A world without law is no good. But the characters band together, survive (mostly) what needs to be survived. Move over zombies because the Doom is bigger and better than The Walking Dead!! I can't wait for the story to continue, a very brilliant and bold move from Nora Roberts!

So it's safe to say Year One (Chronicles of The One #1) by Nora Roberts was one I was really looking forward to I was really excited when I got the ARC of this, like jumping up and down excited.
That is until I started and realised what a slog this was going to be for me.
Not because this was awful, it so wasn't, It was just I couldn't gel and was actually finding reading this a chore.
Anyone who knows's me knows I devour books in one sitting and this took me eleven days to get finished which is a lot for me.
So Year one is a post-apocalyptic supernatural exstravaganza.
And this may have been my issue I would have prefered one or the other, for me, the two together didn't quite work.
"Year one" shows the breakdown in society when a virus labelled DOOM! decimates the worldwide population.
As the world, as we know it, starts to disintegrate new factions spring up clawing there way out of the resulting chaos.
Of the five million dead, Mankind and the newly emerged magic kind, regroup into factions of light versus dark.
The wickedness of mankind, that has previously hidden behind a persona, soon becomes apparent in the decimated population left behind.
And It's also a new world filled with all sorts of magical creatures both light and dark.
"Year One" itself follows different cloisters of individuals, analysing their daily struggles as they ultimately all eventually convene in the collective effort of the town they have aptly named "New Hope".
I'm not entirely sure why I struggled so much with this as Year One was very well written and I have also enjoyed various Nora Roberts works before.
analysing it I think it may have been the hopping between characters that was an issue for me. although I do understand why it was done this way, Pieces of a puzzle all eventually connecting.
All roads ultimately leading to New Hope.
But I found this style of writing had me ultimately failing to connect with the characters.
As soon as I had sat down and got comfy things were changing directions for me it was making me giddy all the swift changes involved here.
I also found the many different individuals introduces somewhat confusing to behold, I would have to stop and think or check back pages to work out who they were.
I found this aspect very distracting indeed.
But despite my gripes, I did finish this I'm just not yet sure if I'm invested enough to continue on to the next book in this series.
On the one hand, I would really like to see what happens next in regards to Lana, but I'm just not sure that I'm invested enough to keep me going. I will have to decide nearer to the time.
Year One, I imagine will be a solid hit with many, for me, it just failed to live up to my expectations.
Thank You to NetGalley for proving me with an ARC of Year One by Nora Roberts of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

Having never read anything by Nora Roberts before, I didn’t know what to expect from this, the first of a trilogy. But wow, bring on book 2. Nora has crafted an apocalyptic fantasy world reminiscent of Joe Hills The Fireman or Stephen Kings The Stand. An beautifully realised book that will introduce Nora Roberts to a whole new readership.

I found this to be a great example of a book that is compelling despite some issues with dialogue and characterisation. It tells the story of a plague that wipes out 80% of the world population, those who are left and how they survive in the new world with powerful forces afoot. The novel is very much in the same vein as many post-plague books (think 'The Stand') in that we follow a small group of individuals as they try to cope with the devastation and with their own burgeoning powers. The narrative moves at a good pace and the plot is straightforward, which ensures you keep turning the pages. I enjoyed the book a lot. However, there are some glaring problems, particularly with dialogue. The speech of some of the characters is really wooden and completely unbelievable given the circumstances and I found that a lot of the action was unrealistic. Many characters make choices that seemed troubling to me and I thought that there was a lot of reliance from women on men to get them through, which honestly left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. So, definitely read it for the excitement and the familiarity of concept, but just don't expect anything too much from it.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.