Age Range: 14 and up
Series: Atlanteans #2
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (August 26, 2014)
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Source: Won
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
About the Book:
The Dark Shore, the second novel in Kevin Emerson’s Atlanteans series, continues the story of Owen Parker, one of the powerful descendants of the highly advanced Atlantean race.
Owen, Lilly and Leech have escaped Camp Eden, but the next step on their journey to find Atlantis and protect it from Paul and Project Elysium involves crossing the perilous wastelands of a wrecked planet. And unlike in EdenWest, where bloody truths were kept hidden beneath the surface, out here, the horrors live bright beneath the poisonous sun.
With treachery at every turn, Owen has no choice but to bring his wounded clan to the dark shores of Desenna, the city built from the ashes of EdenSouth, where the followers of Heliad-7 dwell. Desenna’s blood-soaked walls may hold the key to Owen’s journey in the form of the third Atlantean, as well as a deeper understanding of the true purpose of the Three, but there are also secrets lurking in the shadows, waiting to be unleashed, and once they rise, there may be no escape.
The Dark Shore combines sizzling romance, action, adventure, and powerful scenes of physical and emotional sacrifice in a way that is sure to satisfy lovers of dystopian fiction in the vein of The Maze Runner trilogy.
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About the Author:
Kevin is the author of the OLIVER NOCTURNE series and CARLOS IS GONNA GET IT. His newest novel for teens is THE LOST CODE, from Katherine Tegen Books. His next middle grade novel, THE FELLOWSHIP FOR ALIEN DETECTION, comes out in January 2013 with Walden Pond Press.
Kevin is also a musician. His current project is the brainiac kids' music band THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, where he writes imaginative, poppy songs about elementary school and life (and Star Wars) in the spirit of Schoolhouse Rock.
A former science teacher, Kevin continues to work with teens at 826 Seattle, Richard Hugo House, and with the Writers in the Schools program of Seattle Arts and Lectures.
Kevin grew up in Cheshire, CT, where he wrote stories all the time, played in the marching and jazz bands, and ran track. One time, he won a spelling bee, prevailing over his ex-girlfriend in the final round. The word that launched him to victory was 'vague.' Another time, as a contestant in the Mr. Cheshire pageant (a benefit: not a real pageant), Kevin chose to wear an actual suit of armor as his 'formal wear.' He also dressed up as Ethel Merman for the musical number. He didn't win.
Kevin went to Colby College in Waterville, ME. As a sophomore, he was excited to begin the creative writing program, but instead was given his alternate class: Painting. He ended up loving painting and kept writing stories on his own. He also played in the jazz ensemble, and sang in the Chorale, and ended up majoring in Biology. He spent a semester in Kenya studying wildlife conservation.
Kevin moved to Boston after college, where he briefly worked as a bank teller, and then as a camp counselor, before getting a job as an elementary school science teacher. He found that he loved teaching, and was good at making messes with kids. Teaching got him excited about books for young readers, and so he set out to write his own. He had two near-misses, and his third manuscript, CARLOS IS GONNA GET IT, landed him his first book deal.
Kevin now lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. He prefers omelettes to scrambles, and in the great debate between the taco truck and the crepe truck, Kevin is team taco truck, always.
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My Thoughts:
I won an ARC from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I was so excited when it arrived that I bought the first book in the series so I could read them in order. I liked the first book quite a bit (my review). The first book was a lot less violent than most science fiction books I'd read. This book picks up where the first left off. The first half is action packed, violent, and disturbing, but very engaging.
About half way through the book, there is an "event" that takes place. It bothered me quite a bit (I take things WAY too literally in books) and I put the book down. I didn't pick it back up for months. I had planned on doing a release day review (back in August), but I couldn't bring myself to pick the book up again.
I can't really say why I decided to continue with this book after that shocker in the middle, but I did eventually come back to it. The second half of the book is not violent, shocking, or horrific (until the final pages, of course). We got back to more of Owen and his story, of him trying to figure things out and his relationships with other people. I really liked the second half of the book. Kevin Emerson is a fantastic writer that can suck you in and keep you in the crazy world he concocted. I am planning on reading book 3 when it comes out.
Content: violence, disturbing scenes, heated kissing only partially dressed
Hmmm. Now I am really curious about what happened to throw you in the middle. Was it a content thing or just a twist thing?
ReplyDeleteIt was a human sacrifice—Mayan style. I couldn't stomach it. It still makes me queasy and it's been SO long since I read that part!
DeleteThe first half of the book had been so violent and gory that by the time I got to the sacrifice, it was just too much.
DeleteUgh. I don't like that stuff either. Maybe I'll read the first and third book and just skim the second until after half-way through. Thanks, Dena!
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