The life William knew was gone. His world had been left devastated by the Fossil War. All major governments had been wiped out and the land is now under the control of the company Terrafall. Although Terrafall's intentions seem honest, William wonders if the company will live up to its promises and stop the tremors, which have been plaguing the Earth since the end of the war. And can Terrafall really find out who is behind the recent wave of abductions?
When someone close to William disappears, he decides it's time to take matters into his own hands. But in a land that is on the verge of tearing itself apart, is it a life worth fighting for?
If your world was falling apart, how far would you go to save it?
Buy this book here - USA
Buy this book here - UK
Follow Ryan Mark on Twitter here and Facebook here
Find Tremor on Goodreads here
When someone close to William disappears, he decides it's time to take matters into his own hands. But in a land that is on the verge of tearing itself apart, is it a life worth fighting for?
If your world was falling apart, how far would you go to save it?
Buy this book here - USA
Buy this book here - UK
Follow Ryan Mark on Twitter here and Facebook here
Find Tremor on Goodreads here
Tremor is a dystopian novel written by Ryan Mark, also the first in the series of 'The Tremor Cycle'. It starts off by telling us about William's - the main character - parents and how they were alive during the Fossil War. The Fossil War is exactly what the title says, a situation where all the fossil fuels in the Earth have been used up. Within the first couple pages, William's father dies and his mother is told that the baby won't live - which, retrospectively, he did. Throughout the book we jump between point of views of William and his mother. As the blurb suggests, William loses a loved one, leading him and his best friend, Althea going to discover the secret behind Terrafall.
Mark Ryan has such a powerful writing style. It is complex but not too difficult to read. I tabbed the book originally for plot twists and moments I wanted to refer back to, but it has turned into about 40 quotes I would happily have pinned on my wall to read every day when I wake up.
The entire book is action-packed and doesn't stop for a second. The plot and the world we are based in as the reader is so realistic that I have already managed to relate more than a couple real-life instances to something that lead onto another thing in the book. I haven't read many dystopian books but this will easily be at the top of my list for a while. Not only have I fell in love with William as the main character but I felt very attached to Ori who you'll meet as you read. Younger than William and Althea, he is vulnerable but also a hero. Hopefully, Ryan Mark will show him growing up throughout the trilogy.
I loved the way that the emotional scenes were written in comparison to the action scenes. Anything with feeling was slowed down so we could get a grip on the characters feelings, and brought tears to my eyes more than once. The action scenes were written well, but I would have managed to understand them better if they were written a bit slower. That way, you really have time to get an image in your head of what is going on.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I definitely want to continue the series despite the plot becoming slightly confusing at times. I love Ryan Mark's writing style and encourage him to keep writing, even if he is only a small author now!
Star Rating: 3.5/5
A very good book - I have high standards, so it didn't quite make it to 4, but that in no way means you shouldn't read it, especially if you love complex dystopian novels!
Book Quotes
"Her hope used to be high, but now it melts with the land, crumbling down into the greyness of the water. And yet she knows that soon will steam into the sky too. There's nothing left, not anymore."
"She tries again. She won't give up. She won't let this journey be her last."
"This is what war does. Now, you can truly see it with your own eyes, see what those terrible weapons are capable of."
"William watched as the scenery as they sped past, merging into a blurry mix of colour. The intangible shapes made a welcome change to the bleak realities they disguised"
"This was it. William's shoulders shook. He steadied his breathing and focused his eyes forward, because forward was the only direction he was going"
"He wasn't going to die on this night, not if desire had anything to do with it. He'd fight an army to save his wife"
"This place wasn't as big as the Hollow, but like it, made the destruction beyond its boundaries seem so far away. William let the green pull him further in."
"The keys sank comfortably under his fingers as he applied pressure, and the quiet melodic beat of hammers on string provided a satisfying melancholia. This could be the last song on Earth, and he the last composer. He never thought music could disappear, but with no one to make it and no one to listen, it really could be forgotten."
"Never give up. Be strong. In the end there is always peace. Wait for it. Giving up will only bring darkness. I will wait for you."
"William finally allowed himself to break down. He cried and cried, tears helping to push the pain out of his system."
What did you think? Have you read? What is your favourite dystopian novel?
- Nell @ UntoldNovels
Mark Ryan has such a powerful writing style. It is complex but not too difficult to read. I tabbed the book originally for plot twists and moments I wanted to refer back to, but it has turned into about 40 quotes I would happily have pinned on my wall to read every day when I wake up.
The entire book is action-packed and doesn't stop for a second. The plot and the world we are based in as the reader is so realistic that I have already managed to relate more than a couple real-life instances to something that lead onto another thing in the book. I haven't read many dystopian books but this will easily be at the top of my list for a while. Not only have I fell in love with William as the main character but I felt very attached to Ori who you'll meet as you read. Younger than William and Althea, he is vulnerable but also a hero. Hopefully, Ryan Mark will show him growing up throughout the trilogy.
I loved the way that the emotional scenes were written in comparison to the action scenes. Anything with feeling was slowed down so we could get a grip on the characters feelings, and brought tears to my eyes more than once. The action scenes were written well, but I would have managed to understand them better if they were written a bit slower. That way, you really have time to get an image in your head of what is going on.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I definitely want to continue the series despite the plot becoming slightly confusing at times. I love Ryan Mark's writing style and encourage him to keep writing, even if he is only a small author now!
Star Rating: 3.5/5
A very good book - I have high standards, so it didn't quite make it to 4, but that in no way means you shouldn't read it, especially if you love complex dystopian novels!
Book Quotes
"Her hope used to be high, but now it melts with the land, crumbling down into the greyness of the water. And yet she knows that soon will steam into the sky too. There's nothing left, not anymore."
"She tries again. She won't give up. She won't let this journey be her last."
"This is what war does. Now, you can truly see it with your own eyes, see what those terrible weapons are capable of."
"William watched as the scenery as they sped past, merging into a blurry mix of colour. The intangible shapes made a welcome change to the bleak realities they disguised"
"This was it. William's shoulders shook. He steadied his breathing and focused his eyes forward, because forward was the only direction he was going"
"He wasn't going to die on this night, not if desire had anything to do with it. He'd fight an army to save his wife"
"This place wasn't as big as the Hollow, but like it, made the destruction beyond its boundaries seem so far away. William let the green pull him further in."
"The keys sank comfortably under his fingers as he applied pressure, and the quiet melodic beat of hammers on string provided a satisfying melancholia. This could be the last song on Earth, and he the last composer. He never thought music could disappear, but with no one to make it and no one to listen, it really could be forgotten."
"Never give up. Be strong. In the end there is always peace. Wait for it. Giving up will only bring darkness. I will wait for you."
"William finally allowed himself to break down. He cried and cried, tears helping to push the pain out of his system."
What did you think? Have you read? What is your favourite dystopian novel?
- Nell @ UntoldNovels