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Book & Author details:
Title and Author: Ratgirl: Song of the Viper
by Gayle C. Krause
by Gayle C. Krause
Publication date: January, 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old streetwise orphan, Jax Stone is an expert at surviving in a dangerous city, where rats rival the homeless for food and shelter, but she’s an amateur at fighting the immoral mayor when he kidnaps her little brother. Desperation demands she quickly master the role of courageous opponent. She uses her hypnotic singing voice to lead rats to their death, and all the children to safety, in a dying city cursed by the deadly sun.
I am new to the Dystopia genre and so when I took up this book, I was a bit skeptical whether I would like it or not. But once I started reading I could not stop till I had finished the book.
The whole futuristic world where the sun has gone deadly and where people come out only at night was something that was totally new and very admirably brought to life by Gayle in the book. Not once does the setup look fake or unrealistic.
Gayle has succeeded in convincing the reader that with the speed with which the present generation is consuming resources and polluting the environment, the future can be like the one in the book.
The characters are beautifully sketched and well connected to the situations in the book. Jax is strong, protective of her younger brother, Andy and determined to keep him safe from the deteriorating conditions of her city and from the evil mayor. Andy is sweet and totally endearing with his innocence and childish actions. Astoria, although forced by circumstances to become a nightwalker still dreams of love like any normal person. I loved Alder, who is loyal, protective of the people he loves and hopelessly in love with Astoria. Although they know that they can never be together, still they hope and this is what appealed to me most. A hope for a better life. This made me realize that one should never lose hope. We don’t know when our hope leads us to the things we only dream about! Just like in the book. 🙂
The writing style of Gayle is simple and yet captivating. She pulls a reader totally in the story and makes him feel as if he is part of the story. The sequences are spine chilling and leave the reader with a pounding heart. The scenes are almost raw and the author has succeeded in making the reader feel the do or die situation of the characters. Striving to survive, the urgency, panic, fear but also a determination to do their best or try dying, is beautifully portrayed by Gayle in the book.
Packed with a great plot, expertly sketched characters and a villain so vile that he makes us hate him with all our heart, I was completely entertained during the time I spent reading this book.
A 4 out of 5 to Ratgirl: Song of the Viper and kudos to Gayle for taking up an idea from “The Pied Piper” and building an entirely new and a splendid story on it. A must read for all dystopia fans.
I received the book from the author and the tour organizer (Xpresso Book Tours) to read and review and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle Edition
| Kindle Edition
AUTHOR BIO:
Gayle C. Krause is a member of SCBWI, YALITCHAT and The Cliffhouse YA Wonderwriters.She writes across the genres. Her first publication credit was a short story in Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul 2 (2006). The Storyteller’s Daughter, her YA historical short story, was featured in Timeless, A YA Historical Romance anthology from Pugalicious Press (2012).Her new YA novel, RATGIRL: Song of the Viper was published in February 2013 (Noble Young Adult).
During the course of her writing career Ms. Krause has served as assistant editor for Underneath the Juniper Tree, a dark fantasy online magazine developed for young teens, a children’s book reviewer for Children’s Literature .com and she offers a critique service for children’s writers at First Peek Critique. (www.gayleckrause.com)
She also runs a blog that encourages new children’s writers through contests, book reviews and author interviews. http://thestorytellersscroll.blogspot.com.
During the course of her writing career Ms. Krause has served as assistant editor for Underneath the Juniper Tree, a dark fantasy online magazine developed for young teens, a children’s book reviewer for Children’s Literature .com and she offers a critique service for children’s writers at First Peek Critique. (www.gayleckrause.com)
She also runs a blog that encourages new children’s writers through contests, book reviews and author interviews. http://thestorytellersscroll.blogspot.com.
Author links:
I thoroughly enjoyed the book..I hope you all do to..:)
Will read this book now..:)
Thank you so much, Nikita, for hosting Jax Stone and her unique story. I'm glad to have introduced both you and your followers to RATGIRL: Song of the Viper.
I'll have to get busy on the sequel. 🙂