It didn’t take long for this story to catch my attention and run with it. And Kelly deVos did an excellent job of introducing the main characters and their relationships and personalities before the fast paced adventure began.

But for me, it soon slowed. Though the details and conversations were good, I started to lose interest in the dire straits the world was in as well as those running around trying to right all wrongs.

Honesty, the writing is excellent and the story is interesting so I kept trying to analyze what was bothered me. I gave it lots of consideration. In the end, I decided that the book felt too long and the topic too deep.

I believe this is one of those books that will probably appeal to most YA readers, but I would recommend reading the synopsis. If the storyline sounds interesting, I wouldn’t hesitate to give it a try. There are lots of good qualities.

What Concerned Me
The book began to slow down due to too much detailed interaction between the characters. I also began to feel that the political theme was wearing.

I probably won’t be reading the second book in this series.

What I Liked Most
You Probably Won’t Go Wrong With This Book
The writing itself was very good. As I said earlier, the beginning of the book was excellent. I was introduced to the characters enough to feel comfortable before the story jumped to a start.

And as the story progressed there were ups and downs of excitement, as expected.

I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to read another book by this author. It would just have to be a different theme.

*Review will be posted to my blog on November 17, 2019**

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC and inviting me to participate in this blog tour.

Jinx is living during the New Depression. An election recently took place and The Opposition leader, Ammon Carver, won the vote for president. It doesn’t seem like many people in Jinx’s life and in society approved of this choice, most were vying for the leader of The Spark, David Rosenthal, and there are rumors that the election was rigged – does that sound strangely familiar? 🤔 But not only that, they say Jinx’s dad is a major part of the chaos taking place. Jinx’s dad is Dr. Doomsday, a computer science professor and hacker who at one time created a worm that took down servers around the world. Her dad is also known for writing a survival guide book, which people laughed it, but maybe he knew something was coming.

When that “something coming” actually happens, and Jinx’s step-dad is accused of being the person behind it she and her family have to use Dr. Doomsday’s Guide to Ultimate Survival to actually survive life on the run. Will they succeed?

What I Liked:
*Everything I liked in this book was mostly in the beginning and the end. I liked the build-up of the story. We get a history lesson about this war brewing between The Opposition and The Spark, which sounds way too familiar to our current events right now. The tension between these two sides is very believable. A bombing event occurs and Jinx’s step-dad is the main suspect so Jinx and her family go on the run.

*Jinx as a character really interesting. She’s a coder and loves video games and that’s all she really wants to do is play her video games. Her family is a bit broken. She has step-siblings, and she’s never on the same page with her step-sister. Jinx’s mother seems…cold. And her dad is nowhere around or not easily found So she is the main caretaker of her diabetic younger brother Charles. She has to do things in this story to keep her whole family alive by using the drills her father made her do from his survival guide. Jinx is a tough, smart girl and she is pushed to do things in this story to survive.
*
If you like dystopian stories, you will definitely like this one. It involves technology and coding. Jinx’s dad, Dr. Marshall, is well known for his computer theories, but he was very mysterious and elusive in this book. Jinx is trying to find him and I was like, what is with this guy? Help your kids! But of course, there’s more to it than that.
There are some twists in this story that was really good and kept me on my toes.

*The world building was good because it’s so close to our own, it’s something I can see happening with the collapse of banks, or how there is a sugar sale permit waiting list…that scares me. 😂 I was like, oh no, how would I get my sugary coffee drink if that happened?! But the whole world hasn’t collapse yet, there are still stores, it was supposed to be a booming town until the New Depression hit, so this world seems like something that could happen to us in the near future! 😱

Things That Made Me Go Hmm:

~I don’t know why but I lost interest in the middle of the story. Maybe it was moving too fast for me? It was definitely my mood though – it was a tiring week for me, so it was just a personal mood of mine and not anything against the story.

~There is a relationship growing between Jinx and Navarro (the guy who was sent by Jinx’s dad to keep an eye on her) but I don’t know if it was needed. It’s not something I would miss if it wasn’t in the story.

~Triggers: violence, bombing

Final Thoughts:

If you like a fast-paced survival, dystopian story, you will like this one! It has lots of action, adventure, a family on the run, and twists that will surprise you.

Title: Day Zero
Author: Kelly deVos
Genre: YA, dystopian
Rating: 3.8 out of 5

Jinx Marshall grew up preparing for the end of the world—because her doomsday-prepper dad made her. Krav Magna, survival skills, and drills filled her days, but she thought all that was over when her parents divorced. Until the end of the world happened, and her father is accused of starting it all.

Now Jinx must take care of her little brother, her opinionated stepsister, and her cute stepbrother as she struggles to locate her vanished father, all while evading the law. But she can’t stay more than half a step ahead of the people after her, and safety seems even farther away with every step she takes.

I’m…undecided about this read. I loved the premise, but a few things were a little hard to believe: the black-and-white nature of the politics (everyone’s either one thing or the other, with no shades of grey), Jinx’s trusting nature (which seems implausible, considering how she was raised), and her propensity to stick to a plan…even if it’s going down in flames. This was intriguing at times, eye-rolling at others, but I’d probably read the second book in the duology.

Kelly deVos is from Gilbert, Arizona. Day Zero is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin TEEN/Inkyard Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

The premise sounded interesting and up my alley, but it just wasn't for me. It read more like a middle grade book in my opinion, and I couldn't get into it.
Sorry..

DAY ZERO is fascinating! I've been devoted to Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic genres since I devoured Philip Wylie's TOMORROW at the age of ten and was rendered permanently terrified. DAY ZERO has been compared to Susan Beth Pfeffer's LIFE AS WE KNOW IT Series, but I am pleasantly reminded of Emmy Laybourne's MONUMENT 14. Two siblings (one diabetic and likely Asperger's) and their stepsister; teacher mom; emotionally distant stepdad; and prepper-survivalist dad--in a world suddenly erupting in inexplicable violence, anarchy, and chaos. Tell me: what is there NOT to love?


Absorbing in-the-midst-of-Apocalypse Dystopiana: find it right here. It is Day Zero, indeed.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not what I expected at ALL! It was completely action packed and that really kept me immersed in the story. There were absolutely no dull moments in this book at all. The plot was insanely good and I was absolutely shocked at that twist. I did feel like it moved a bit fast, and I would have loved for it to be a little bit more drawn out.. It kind of felt like hey here is the back story so lets just jump into the action immediately.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review this title.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Wow this was not what I was expecting based on the synopsis. I pictured actual end of the world like aliens or something lol. I am pleasantly suprised by what I actually read. Knew the mom was a b**tch but a psychopath that was a crazy twist. I absolutely enjoyed this book. The dad's death was so tragic. Can't wait to see whats next for everyone.

Day Zero by Kelly deVos is the first book of the young adult apocalyptic thriller Day Zero Duology. The duology is set in a future version of our world when political parties have divided folks. One side known as the Spark had taken over and tried to make everyone in the world equal, dividing supplies and goods among all citizens. This however had created a depression in society so you also have the Opposition who are opposed to the Spark’s methods.

Jinx Marshall is anything but an average teen no matter how much she wants to be and would love to just bury herself in her video games. Jinx’s father though is famous, and that is not necessarily a good thing as a lot think her father is crazy being an overly zealous doomsday prepper.

After her parents divorce Jinx thought she was going to be that normal teen however one day when out with her stepsister and younger brother she has to rely on those survival skills her father had taught her when a bomb explodes in the building next to them. Once they hear the news that these explosions are world wide and her father is being blamed Jinx and her siblings end up on the run.

Day Zero is one of those young adult novels that take an apocalyptic world and once the story is established the author hits the fast forward button and proceeds into the action and adventure. Sure, even the idea of kids being chased and needing to save the world is far fetched and in turn a lot of the action but it’s still a fun read watching it all happen. With some twists along the way this of course ends a bit up in the air leading into the second book of the duology.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Post-apocalypse/Fall of society is the new survival fiction and I am HERE for it! Thank you NetGalley, Inkyard Press and the author for sharing this work. I did not expect to read this YA in a single day. Should I already know Kelly DeVos? I want to, she writes with such voice!

Jinx and her siblings are on the run after a series of explosions have rocked the foundation of American civilization. Martial law's been declared, society is dividing along political party lines, and all the adults in Jinx's life seem to be involved in some way--but what side are they on? Author DeVos builds her world so carefully showing the dark and light found in people no matter what side of the political divide they land on. Her characters challenge each other to examine the logic and the love behind their beliefs. She is going to make teens THINK.

Every side of every portion of the story is explored so skillfully, even the disdain for "crazy preppers" being turned on it's head to show that sometimes you do have to prepare for the worst. I loved being right about some characters and wrong about others as we neared the end, but there's still room for them to surprise me in Book Two.

I complain a lot about getting sucked into series, but realizing half way through that this is part one of a duology only made me more excited! More time with Jinx and Gus, more time to see what kind of antics Annika is going to pull...when is the second installment?

4.5 stars (I can't notch up to five, just because some of this is too far fetched. But in the good way that classy YA like the Hunger Games is.)

Day Zero started off really strong and had me captivated, but bu the halfway point I found that I dragging myself to the finish line. I like books about drastic changes in societies, the beginnings of apocalypse and thrillers in general so I was really hyped for Day Zero and I am really bummed that I ended up no loving it.



I think me not liking this book was more of a me issue rather then the actual book. I couldn't relate the main character, which does happen. But for me character connection is one of the biggest things when I read. If I can't relate to the main character then the book isn't going to work out for me. I also wasn't a huge fan of the secondary characters. I thought Kelly's plot was awesome but her characters are what did me in.



If anyone is debating on this book I said go for it. It did keep me on the edge of my seat in certain aspects and was thrilling. I know this isn't a dystopian/post apocalyptic novel but it gave me those vibes and I loved that.

The world is ending and teenagers are the only hope to save the world from total collapse in a heavily political divided scenario? Well, the book premise is kind of weird. But if you forget for a while that the main characters are teenagers, it kind of starts making more sense. I thought the political focus would make the book boring, but it turns out it made it more current. Overall, not a bad story, and it keeps you wanting to read on to know what's going to happen. I'm not waiting for Day One to be released to see what's going to happen next!

Absolutely dynamic writing. Speculative fiction if ever I saw it. Will be excited to add to Teen collection!

Jinx is just a typical teenager. She just wants to go home from school, play video games, and indulge in soda and junk food. But unfortunately, Jinx is also the daughter of high-profile Max Marshall, a computer genius and doomsday prepper. A lot of her childhood has been spent running survival drills in the case of a catastrophic event.

What starts out as a normal school day turns out to be the end of the world as they know it, as Jinx and her siblings try to navigate the dangerous political rhetorics, bombings, betrayals, and a Terminator-like government official who will not die, and will not stop his mission to capture Jinx.

I really like dystopian fiction, and I thought the politics were interesting, if not a little confusing. I also really liked many of the characters, particularly Jinx, her younger brother, Charles, and stepsister, MacKenna.

Jinx's father also turned out to be a really interesting character, too. There were also some great twists at the end of the novel, making the second book a compulsory need!

I did have issues with how tied in Jinx's family was with the highest level of officials. It was explained that Jinx's father was instrumental in Ammon Carter's rise to presidency. But some of the other events (no specifics, so I don't spoil anything) seemed almost too convenient, especially for a family not living in DC, with no prior ties to politics. Was it so implausible I didn't enjoy reading this book? No, definitely not. But it was a stumbling block.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Warning:  Only read this book if you have several uninterrupted hours.  Otherwise, you'll forget or ignore everything else requiring your attention.

It all starts out normal enough with Jinx and her stepsister picking up her brother after school and stopping for an errand before going home.  Minutes after, life will never be the same for them.  Political unrest (eerily similar to our current political climate), a rigged election, a country torn apart by differing viewpoints, doomsday prep, twists that jump out of nowhere - I flew through this book in two days.  These characters are on the run almost immediately, and there's rarely any downtime.  Jinx's father, "Dr. Doomsday", had prepared her and Charles (the adorable younger brother you just want to hug) so well, I was tempted to write down and laminate his rules for survival and stick it on my fridge.

Jinx and MacKenna's character arcs are fantastic.  When pushed to unfathomable limits, they discover what they're capable of and the lengths they're willing to go to survive.  The relationships between the siblings and step-siblings is done extremely well.  Something I missed was a bit more explanation on the connection between Navarro and Jinx, but maybe it's something that will be expanded on in the next book.

Day Zero is a thrilling whirlwind of intrigue that grabs hold of you from the first page.  The next book can't be released soon enough for me.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Title :Day Zero

Series:Day Zero Duology #1

Author:Kelly deVos

Gener: Science Fiction YA

Pages : 432

Inkyard Pres

November 12,2019

Rating: 4.5









you're going through hell...keep going.

Seventeen-year-old coder Jinx Marshall grew up spending weekends drilling with her paranoid dad for a doomsday she’s sure will never come. She’s an expert on self-heating meal rations, Krav Maga and extracting water from a barrel cactus. Now that her parents are divorced, she’s ready to relax. Her big plans include making it to level 99 in her favorite MMORPG and spending the weekend with her new hunky stepbrother, Toby.

But all that disaster training comes in handy when an explosion traps her in a burning building. Stuck leading her headstrong stepsister, MacKenna, and her precocious little brother, Charles, to safety, Jinx gets them out alive only to discover the explosion is part of a pattern of violence erupting all over the country. Even worse, Jinx’s dad stands accused of triggering the chaos.

In a desperate attempt to evade paramilitary forces and vigilantes, Jinx and her siblings find Toby and make a break for Mexico. With seemingly the whole world working against them, they’ve got to get along and search for the truth about the attacks—and about each other. But if they can survive, will there be anything left worth surviving for?



My thoughts

Usually the only time I pick up a book that involves politics is when it's a thriller so I was surprised when I decided to give this one a try and I'm glad I did, because it actually had me hooked from the first page to the every end , one of the reasons and I would say the biggest reason was the twist and turns that came with each new page and chapter , and at every turn it made you wounder about which of the characters was trustable or not . As well as non pack action though out the hole book, as for the characters , the only one I had some trouble with was Mackeena, because there was times I just wanted to to tell her to grow up and act her age, but eventually she came to realize that but it took her a long while to do it.other than that I had no other problem with it at all, and can't wait to seen what happens in the next book .With that said I want to thank Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion .

Raised to survive, no matter what, trained to defend herself for Doomsday, Jinx Marshall is ready for something…but what happened is almost too “science fiction suspense” for her to believe, and it started with an explosion her father is blamed for creating.

As the world crumbles all around her, Jinx must lead her siblings on a deadly journey to safety, weaving their way through the clutches of military might, the vigilante opposition and the minefield of deceit from those she should trust the most.

Hang on for a terrifying and twisted tale of oppression, lies, double-crosses and survival against all odds, as Kelly deVos takes us into a world where no one can be trusted in DAY ZERO!

Perfect for young adults who want some larger than life characters, some moments of quirky humor, and proof that teens can be almost totally invincible in an action –packed tale. Jinx is a pretty good teen heroine, her younger brother is an adorable Brainiac and her step-family seems pretty stereo-typical, but the intrigue and political machinations are pretty calculating.

A great read that never takes a straight path to resolution! Well-written reading for all ages!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Inkyard Press. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Susan, aka Jinx, is a coder, daughter of a coder and prepper who has run drills with his two children for as long as they can remember. So when a disaster at a bank ends up with her step-father being taken in, she knows this is not a drill, that under their new president, things just got even more serious.

The opposition has arisen, their leader who cheated his way into office is none other then Ammon Carter, their new president. Is her father, prominent coder and prepper responsible? She would ask him but he's not easy to get ahold of. She must figure out what is going on and who is at the bottom of it, to stop the madness that is descending on their family and the world.

I'm a fan of dystopian, post-apocalyptic type worlds and this really seemed to fit the bill. The political parties were unique, and I liked that neither of them got things quite right (because they never do, do they?). I liked how much the world had changed as far as the technological advances with health care, and yet, the struggle to get meds was still ever-present and very telling of the world we live in now. I appreciated that deVos took real-world issues now and made them relevant in Day Zero.

This was well-written with interesting scenarios, technology, and characters. There was a bit of humor thrown in which helped to ease some of the tension going on in the book. When the action picked up so did the pace, because you just needed to find out what was going to happen. Typical of books in this genre, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I say a bit because some things did get resolved, but not everything. Because of that, I am very anxious for the next book because I want to see this family succeed. Nicely done.

Loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Seemed to be a et a bit into to future just enough to change up the politics but not enough to change anything major. I found the author was good at getting you attached to the characters and offered several surprises. Can’t wait to continue the story when the next book comes out.

This was a fast paced read with unexpected twists and turns. The biggest shock came near the end and I wasn’t prepared. I definitely will be picking up the sequel!

Wow, I couldn't tear myself away from this whirlwind of intrigue and excitement. The pace is FAST, there are unexpected twists and turns, and I was shocked by what happens/is revealed near the end. There's an interesting focus on what motivates people to align themselves with various political movements, and that tension is intense without being overdone or too black-and-white. This ends on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait for the second book!