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DNF Series Review: The Outlands Pentalogy by Rebecca Crunden

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for A Touch of Death (from Goodreads):

A thousand years in the future, the last of humanity live inside the walls of the totalitarian Kingdom of Cutta. The rich live in Anais, the capital city of Cutta, sheltered from the famine and disease which ravage the rest of the Kingdom. Yet riches and power only go so far, and even Anaitians can be executed. It is only by the will of the King that Nate Anteros, son of the King’s favourite, is spared from the gallows after openly dissenting. But when he’s released from prison, Nate disappears.

A stark contrast, Catherine Taenia has spent her entire life comfortable and content. The daughter of the King’s Hangman and in love with Thom, Nate’s younger brother, her life has always been easy, ordered and comfortable. That is, where it doesn’t concern Nate. His actions sullied not only his future, but theirs. And unlike Thom, Catherine has never forgiven him.

Two years pass without a word, and then one night Nate returns. But things with Nate are never simple, and when one wrong move turns their lives upside down, the only thing left to do is run where the King’s guards cannot find them – the Outlands. Those wild, untamed lands which stretch around the great walls of the Kingdom, filled with mutants and rabids.

Series: Outlands Pentalogy
Author: Rebecca Crunden
# of Books: 5 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person, Multiple
Publication Dates: February 2017 – July 2019
Source & Format: Author–eARC

Disclaimer: I stopped reading A Touch of Death (#1) at 21%. Find out why below…

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

When Rebecca reached out and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her series, I was definitely interested. I love a good dystopian novel and after reading the synopsis, I was intrigued by the many layers it promised.

What I Liked:

–The Action Starts Immediately–

We literally hit the ground running with two characters and are thrust into the crux of issue: the need to escape to the Outlands.

And I think some readers with find it suspenseful that we get into the thick of things quickly without much preamble, but for me…

What I Didn’t Like:

–I Felt Like I Started 5 Chapters In–

The problem I had with the fast start is that I felt like I was immediately behind. In the prologue, we see Nate in jail and then at the start of the first “chapter” (there aren’t really chapters), he’s running with Catherine through the fields.

What? Why? Who are these people?!

It was almost like the synopsis served as the exposition for this series and that in order to understand the background, you need to read it first. And I don’t like that in my books. I want a little more foreplay before we get into the crux of the issues.

In some ways, it felt like the worldbuilding wasn’t there at all and then other times, I felt like I was getting dumped on with info. It was just overwhelming for me.

Will I Finish It?

Unfortunately, this just wasn’t for me so I will be finishing my time with this series here.

My Rating: DNF

As a reader who needs that foundation and worldbuilding early on, this just didn’t work for me. But others who like long worded prose and the suspense of slowly putting the pieces together might enjoy this.

Read if You Like: dystopian, fast-paced plots
Avoid if You: need strong worldbuilding from the start

Powerful by S N Lemoing (The Realm of Harcilor Series #1)
Order of Darkness by Phillipa Gregory (Order of Darkness Series #1)

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Spin-off Saturdays: Lorien Legacies Reborn Series by Pittacus Lore

Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:

Lorien Legacies Reborn Series is a spin-off of the Lorien Legacies Series

SERIESous’ Top Picks: 2019 Fave
Series: The Lorien Legacies Reborn

This is a spinoff of the Lorien Legacies Series.

Author: Pittacus Lore
# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Action
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person, Multiple
Publication Date: June 2017 – June 2019
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook

WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!

My Expectations?

I’m always happy to return the world of Lorien so when this spin-off series was announced, I was stoked. I couldn’t wait to see old friends and maybe get some of those lingering questions answered.

How Does It Compare To The Original?

You can read all about my experience with the first book of the original series, I am Number Four, here — but the short version is that the first book didn’t impress me all that much. It was slow and not as action packed as I wanted but by the end, I could see the bigger picture and I was willing to give the sequel a shot. And I’m so glad I did!

This spin-off series doesn’t start slow at all. It dives into the action and sets the stakes high pretty quickly. Perhaps that’s because most readers are going in already knowing how the world works and what state it is in since they read the original series. You don’t have to spend so much time establishing everything; I’m not sure what it would be like if you’ve never read the original series but I feel like there is enough world-building that you’d get up to speed quickly.

But this had everything you like in a solid spin-off. A new set of characters that captivate you; the return of old favourites; action; romance; and the resolutions to some of those open-ended questions from the original series.

Anything I Didn’t Like?

Truthfully, the final book (Return to Zero) in the series wasn’t my favourite. The book spent so much time building up that the climax seemed a little lacklustre given how it resolves itself. And while I appreciate the extended epilogues, I found myself wanting a little more than I got. I could have used a fourth book.

My Audiobook Experience:

While the original series was one of the first novels I ever read as an eBook, I wanted to try the audiobook version this time around.

It was a great choice! Despite only having one narrator for a multiple POV story, everyone had their own distinct voice. I also think it allowed me to get a deeper understanding of the new cast of characters because of how their reactions and emotions were conveyed through voice. The series has great character growth despite the numerous new characters we are introduced to in such a short span (3 novels compared to the original series’ 7) and I think the audio version helped me connect with them better.

Series Rating: 4.5/5

Generation One 5/5 | Fugitive Six 4.5/5 | Return to Zero 4/5

It was great to return to one of my all-time favourite worlds. This was a solid spin-off that had its own voice all the while echoing and honouring its source material perfectly.

Read if You Like: world-building, aliens, YA Science Fiction
Avoid if You: want more romance, dislike science fiction

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux Series #1)
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey Series #1)
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments Series #1)
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (Elemental Series #1)

Synopsis for Generation One (from Goodreads):

The first book in a pulse-pounding new series that’s set in the world of the #1 New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four series. The war may be over—but for the next generation, the battle has just begun!

It has been over a year since the invasion of Earth was thwarted in Pittacus Lore’s United as One. But in order to win, our alien allies known as the Garde unleashed their Loric energy that spread throughout the globe. Now human teenagers have begun to develop incredible powers of their own, known as Legacies.

To help these incredible and potentially dangerous individuals—and put the world at ease—the Garde have created an academy where they can train this new generation to control their powers and hopefully one day help mankind. But not everyone thinks that’s the best use of their talents. And the teens may need to use their Legacies sooner than they ever imagined.

Perfect for fans of Marvel’s X-Men and Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave, this epic new series follows a diverse cast of teens as they struggle to hone their abilities and decide what, if anything, they should do with them. As a spin-off of the bestselling I Am Number Four series, those familiar with the original books and newcomers alike will devour this fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi adventure.

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Single Sundays: The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:

Synopsis for The Game of Love and Death (from Goodreads):

Antony and Cleopatra. Helen of Troy and Paris. Romeo and Juliet. And now . . . Henry and Flora.

For centuries Love and Death have chosen their players. They have set the rules, rolled the dice, and kept close, ready to influence, angling for supremacy. And Death has always won. Always.

Could there ever be one time, one place, one pair whose love would truly tip the balance?

Meet Flora Saudade, an African-American girl who dreams of becoming the next Amelia Earhart by day and sings in the smoky jazz clubs of Seattle by night. Meet Henry Bishop, born a few blocks and a million worlds away, a white boy with his future assured — a wealthy adoptive family in the midst of the Great Depression, a college scholarship, and all the opportunities in the world seemingly available to him.

The players have been chosen. The dice have been rolled. But when human beings make moves of their own, what happens next is anyone’s guess.

Achingly romantic and brilliantly imagined, The Game of Love and Death is a love story you will never forget.

Author: Martha Brockenbrough
Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person, Multiple
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook (via Hoopla)