The Wall

An interesting sci-fi dystopian adventure with echoes of the movie Jupiter Ascending. The regen technology was an interesting premise, and that’s what really reminded me of the movie. However, it would have been simpler to stick to clones like the human form Cylons or stem cell grafting. I find it hard to believe that someone could die and medically retain all their memories after resurrection.

This was a brilliantly executed dystopian novel that was well-developed and deeply layer. The pacing itself was slightly off towards the end but this is a great read for fans of these types of novels.

The Wall is a young adult dystopian Christian fiction novel. Yes, you read that right--this is a Christian fiction for young adults. and if you have someone who loves books like The Hunger Games and Divergent--well, this is going to be a great book for them to explore.

It takes place in the future. Around the year 2099 I believe. Bibles have been banned. Guns have been banned. Religion has been banned--the leader (the sultan) wanting all to believe he has taken the place of God because of the creation of second life. He will take care of everyone now.

You feel the factions aspect from Divergent-- especially with the wall. And it's Hunger Games oriented as the rich are doing it to protect everyone from themselves. And Middle Americas screams District 12.

This is a tale of sacrifice. How far will you go to do what is right? do you trust in yourself or in God and His power? As I said earlier, it is unmistakably Christian fiction and this is really needed for the young adult genre. There is enough excitement to enjoy a rousing adventure. I also enjoyed the nods to the 1980s.

I felt there were a few inconsistencies but considering it's young adult fiction I don't think it's that big of a deal.

4 stars for the genre.

*I was given a copy of this as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. i was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

Striving for excellency and yet the establishment of the steps to obtain the success of those measure speak gratitude of greatness!

Thanks to NetGalley and booksgosocial for my first read of the year. This dystopian science fiction is based in the year 2099 when the technology has been invented so that people get a second chance at life - if they die, they can be brought back to life. But this technology is available to only the privileged. The rest of the populace are made to live like vermins and kept alive only to serve the needs of the rich. They are caged within an electric wall with no ocean borders. In such a world, a boy from the downtrodden falls in love with any elite girl. Will their love survive? Will they be able to fight the system in order to claim their life together, and more importantly, the lives of the downtrodden?

This book got me hooked from the very first page. It is written in a simple way which is easy to read, and so can be completed fast. The book is medium paced, just the way I like it. The main characters are lovable, and the author was able to get me involved in their cause. I also liked the supporting set of characters, especially Cephas and Kenan. I especially liked there portrayal of the leader of the elites, the villain. The author added enough grey to his character to make him more human, and to show that no man is all evil, but his misplaced purposes can make him so. The conversations throughout the book were poignant. The world building was well thought out and adequate.

I was a bit put off by the Christian themes in the story, though. Moreover, many of the achievements of the main characters seemed just to easy. I felt some parts could have been described in more details, like the canonization trials. I also wasn't a fan of the ending. I realise it was supposed to make the story more poignant, but for me it ended up reading a bit hollow.

With all these pros and cons, I still liked the story and will recommend it to all fans of Dystopian novels.

What’s not to love? If has all of the ingredients for a great story: dystopian coming of age, an unlikely underdog, forbidden love, a dastardly charming villain and a God, who overcomes odds. I might have a bone to pick with the author about his chosen ending. I can’t say I liked it. He did say in his author’s notes that it should be a trilogy, so I might forgive him, might. This is a great action adventure that should appeal to guys and gals alike. Definitely has some good kernels of truth that might cause you to ponder more than the average fiction.

I really enjoyed the futuristic elements to this book, it had a great overall feel to it and worked with story being told. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the adventure elements going on through this story. I enjoyed the way Brian Penn wrote this and can’t wait for more.

This is a dystopian Christian novel and I was very interested in reading this when I was provided with a free download by NetGalley.

Overall, it's an interesting take and I did enjoy reading it. It has a lot of great potential, but I had a few concerns.

First, I think the book would have done better as a trilogy and with a lot more development of the characters and the world they lived in. I think the author tried to tell the entire story in one go and events and the world really just needed more room to breathe--and I would have read the whole trilogy to see what happened to this world and the love story!

Second, it needed editing. I found myself irritated as I constantly stumbled across errors that seemed as though the story had been dictated and the typist or computer chose the wrong word (breaks/brakes, vile/vial, hostile/hostel, who's/whose, feint/faint, ladder/latter, shutters/shudders, sowing/sewing...I could go on.).

I did like the story and I hope that this book gets a good round of editing prior to print because it was a good story and interesting world and I think Christian fans of dystopian novels would enjoy this read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a digital copy of this story for an honest review.

A novel that is following America having been divided with one section of society behind a wall. One boy, Asher,who is stuck behind the wall is determined on finding a way out so he can be with his fiancée who is on the other side.

Asher's uncle offers him an opportunity to cross the wall if he impersonates a Zion soldier and risks his life in the Canonization, a brutal gladiator fight against a champion who has never lost. But defeating an unbeatable opponent and reuniting with his one true love is only the beginning. Can Asher defeat this foe along with convincing everyone else is a Zion solider to gain the hand of his love?

A rather good dystopian story but it needs some editing as was at times more a tell not show story, with a number spelling mistakes too. Also there was a hint once of something coming undone with a name being used but nothing came of it, or revelation later going 'ah ha l knew'.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

I enjoyed this book.

I really like the dystopian aspect, with Christian morals mixed within.

It reminded me of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

I would recommend this book to any fans of those two series.