About the Book
Release date: September 30th 2013
Publisher: AltWit Press
Purchase: Amazon
In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be.
Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?
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About the Author
In simple language, Pauline Creeden breaks down Biblical stories and applies them to real life in new ways. Her methods of teaching have brought new light to old scriptures. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.
EM's Review
Sanctuary is not your ordinary end of the world novel. Ms. Creeden realistically combines Biblical end times prophecy, with other popular apocalyptic themes including zombies AND aliens. You might think all that is a little too much, but it does work! I loved the Biblical quotes from Revelations at the beginning of many of the chapters. It's an imaginative take on old tired theories.
This book is an action packed emotional ride. Ms. Creeden doesn't hold any punches when it comes to danger, loss, faith, and gore. (The gore isn't over the top though.) The book jumps right in on the plot with little lead up and you barely stop to catch a breath. This really adds to the immediacy of what the main characters are facing and I found my self holding my breath and tapping my foot in the most intense scenes. You do get to know the characters along the way though, and they are well drawn out.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this read, I need to mention a couple of things. While the writing, plot, characterization were all good, there were places I felt I was being told how to feel a about a character instead of being able to make up my own mind. The characters are well written so this was unnecessary and distracting. I also found the decay of society unrealistic, like the utilities continuing to work even after two thirds of the population had disappeared. I was also unsatisfied with the ending. It's obvious this book is meant to be the first in a series. I didn't feel that there was significant resolution or forward motion in the plot to consider it a well rounded novel.
I consider the first two points minor distractions. The last, though frustrating, would not deter me from standing in line to get the next book. The creativity and ease of reading more than make up for it!
While the main characters are all in their early to late 20's, and there is a love triangle, the interactions are tame. A younger child that is sensitive to themes of loss and death may need some parental guidance, but it's far less intense than the Hunger Games.
This is an overall great, clean, YA read. You might even say it's inspirational.
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