(7 book series)
REVIEWS BY SAHARA FOLEY
The Burning Tree: Book 1: Salvation
Compelling Story
This is the first book by this author I’ve read and it was recommended to me by a friend.
The story doesn’t take place on some far-off -planet but it might as well have with all the world building needed. Artinan’s description of the bunker with the different levels and living conditions makes the reader feel like they’re right there. He also has a grasp of human nature and the human condition. How most people are so willing to follow anyone that makes choices for them so they’re not responsible for their own actions. Sounds like our society today.
I felt the first part of the book was slow as there was excessive repeating of the same events as new characters got involved. And too much describing of ordinary routines, like making tea or getting ready in the morning. Not necessary and just makes the reader want to skip over those parts. The author also had a tendency to get on a Liberal/socialist soap box and those parts did get flipped over.
Then everything went to hell in a handbag. From that point on pages were turned faster and the tension built. I found myself holding my breath, waiting to see what happened. Please don’t let them die. There were a few characters I related to more than others. One is Michelle ad the other Susan. I can’t wait to see what happens to them in book two. Which I will be reading. As for Greenslade, not sure how I feel about him. Is he good or bad? Did he get his just desserts? We shall see.
If you’re a fan of dystopian YA novels like Hunger Games, action and adventure, and family drama, you’ll enjoy this story. I give it 4 stars.
This is the first book by this author I’ve read and it was recommended to me by a friend.
The story doesn’t take place on some far-off -planet but it might as well have with all the world building needed. Artinan’s description of the bunker with the different levels and living conditions makes the reader feel like they’re right there. He also has a grasp of human nature and the human condition. How most people are so willing to follow anyone that makes choices for them so they’re not responsible for their own actions. Sounds like our society today.
I felt the first part of the book was slow as there was excessive repeating of the same events as new characters got involved. And too much describing of ordinary routines, like making tea or getting ready in the morning. Not necessary and just makes the reader want to skip over those parts. The author also had a tendency to get on a Liberal/socialist soap box and those parts did get flipped over.
Then everything went to hell in a handbag. From that point on pages were turned faster and the tension built. I found myself holding my breath, waiting to see what happened. Please don’t let them die. There were a few characters I related to more than others. One is Michelle ad the other Susan. I can’t wait to see what happens to them in book two. Which I will be reading. As for Greenslade, not sure how I feel about him. Is he good or bad? Did he get his just desserts? We shall see.
If you’re a fan of dystopian YA novels like Hunger Games, action and adventure, and family drama, you’ll enjoy this story. I give it 4 stars.
The Burning Tree: Book 2: Rebirth
Action-packed, nail-biting story
This series keeps getting better as it goes along. The writing is tighter in book 2 vs book 1; not as much rehashing of events we already know about, though there still are some soapbox moments.
A lot of research has gone into Phil’s character/background, and being a semi-herbalist myself, I find all the references to the flora quite interesting. I wasn’t too keen on Callie in book 1 as I felt her character was a bit over the top, but I’ve grown to understand her motives. I thought for as much as she moaned about Si missing, her priority would be searching for him once they were topside. But it seemed she just didn’t care. Then it dawned on me, even though it felt like days had passed because of all the action and drama, it was only 24 hours. So, duh, she didn’t have the time.
Talk about drama. What they found topside wasn’t anything they could’ve been prepared for. It was dark and nasty and makes you wonder how far would you go to keep your children and family from starving to death. A situation we might be facing in the near future with the world-wide food shortages looming this fall.
There were a lot of nail-biting moments. Greenslade had his own moral road to cross and, unfortunately, some of the escapees didn’t get the chance. Like poor Chad. At least he didn’t end up seeing the Wizard.
I’ve already started book 3 and it’s proving to be just as action packed and nerve-racking If you love a combination of dystopian and post apocalyptic stories, you’ll love this book. I highly recommend the series and give Rebirth 5 stars.
This series keeps getting better as it goes along. The writing is tighter in book 2 vs book 1; not as much rehashing of events we already know about, though there still are some soapbox moments.
A lot of research has gone into Phil’s character/background, and being a semi-herbalist myself, I find all the references to the flora quite interesting. I wasn’t too keen on Callie in book 1 as I felt her character was a bit over the top, but I’ve grown to understand her motives. I thought for as much as she moaned about Si missing, her priority would be searching for him once they were topside. But it seemed she just didn’t care. Then it dawned on me, even though it felt like days had passed because of all the action and drama, it was only 24 hours. So, duh, she didn’t have the time.
Talk about drama. What they found topside wasn’t anything they could’ve been prepared for. It was dark and nasty and makes you wonder how far would you go to keep your children and family from starving to death. A situation we might be facing in the near future with the world-wide food shortages looming this fall.
There were a lot of nail-biting moments. Greenslade had his own moral road to cross and, unfortunately, some of the escapees didn’t get the chance. Like poor Chad. At least he didn’t end up seeing the Wizard.
I’ve already started book 3 and it’s proving to be just as action packed and nerve-racking If you love a combination of dystopian and post apocalyptic stories, you’ll love this book. I highly recommend the series and give Rebirth 5 stars.
The Burning Tree: Book 3: Infinity
Heart Pounding and a Nail Biter
This is the 3rd book in the series and starts with heart-pounding action. You’ll have to hold onto your hats as it zips along from one encounter to the next. It can be a nail-biter. We’re introduced to some old and new characters, as well as new and old enemies. This book does not finish up the series and there are tons of unanswered questions and events that need resolved. So, if you’re the type of reader that doesn’t want to wait for the next book to be come out, you may want to stay away from it. However, it’s well worth the wait.
What I liked was the world-building. Yes, it takes place on Earth, but the planet has changed. So has the social structures. And, again, I could see the research needed for Phil and his tribe to learn to live off what has started to grow after the cataclysmic event. It still got a bit preachy, but it didn’t distract from the story.
I do have some characters I love and I NEED to know what happened to Greenslade. As for Infinity, that’s an awesome concept but will it last? You know how us humans roll. And I’m curious about the Ferals. I think they might surprise us all.
What I didn’t like – Callie. The more I know her, the less I like her. She’s so self-righteous it grates on my nerves. She’s only 15 yeas old, has made some horrible decisions, and yet everyone follows her like she’s some sort of saint. Nope. Also, everyone is so conscious of their limited resources, yet they use their guns like they have an endless supply of bullets.
I’m very much looking forward to what happens next in the Burning Tree saga. I highly recommend the series to fans who love YA, action adventure, and dystopian tales. I give it 5 stars.
This is the 3rd book in the series and starts with heart-pounding action. You’ll have to hold onto your hats as it zips along from one encounter to the next. It can be a nail-biter. We’re introduced to some old and new characters, as well as new and old enemies. This book does not finish up the series and there are tons of unanswered questions and events that need resolved. So, if you’re the type of reader that doesn’t want to wait for the next book to be come out, you may want to stay away from it. However, it’s well worth the wait.
What I liked was the world-building. Yes, it takes place on Earth, but the planet has changed. So has the social structures. And, again, I could see the research needed for Phil and his tribe to learn to live off what has started to grow after the cataclysmic event. It still got a bit preachy, but it didn’t distract from the story.
I do have some characters I love and I NEED to know what happened to Greenslade. As for Infinity, that’s an awesome concept but will it last? You know how us humans roll. And I’m curious about the Ferals. I think they might surprise us all.
What I didn’t like – Callie. The more I know her, the less I like her. She’s so self-righteous it grates on my nerves. She’s only 15 yeas old, has made some horrible decisions, and yet everyone follows her like she’s some sort of saint. Nope. Also, everyone is so conscious of their limited resources, yet they use their guns like they have an endless supply of bullets.
I’m very much looking forward to what happens next in the Burning Tree saga. I highly recommend the series to fans who love YA, action adventure, and dystopian tales. I give it 5 stars.
The Burning Tree: Book 4: Anarchy
All I can say is this series keeps on getting better. I was fortunate enough to start it when the 4th book was set for pre-order, so I didn’t have to wait long. But now I will for the next one. Nooooo!
I’ve always had my issues with Callie as she’s only 16, but they treat her like she’s so special. Maybe she is, but it’s also everyone else around her that makes the difference. And Christopher is starting to develop the supporting characters more. Like her mom, Susan. Kudos to her for getting over her self-pity and addiction, and leading the group in areas they hadn’t thought of.
Phil is another character I have a strong attachment to. But what he and his wife endured at the end, how much will that change him? Will his rediscovered dark nature effect the group? I want to know!
Christopher has a handle on the nastier side of human nature. It broke my heart, but I could see it happening, when certain factions just didn’t want to change for the betterment of everyone. They could only see how they had been mistreated and refused to accept how they had been brainwashed by the ruling class of Salvation.
When I think back to the other books in the series, it’s hard to imagine that they have all taken place within a matter of a month or two. This is an action-packed, fast-paced series and it’s hard to put them down until the very end. However, they are not standalones. If you don’t start with Salvation, you’d be hard pressed to see the full dynamics of the story. If you love coming-of-age, dystopian/post-apocalyptic tales, you need to read this series. I give Anarchy 5-stars.
I’ve always had my issues with Callie as she’s only 16, but they treat her like she’s so special. Maybe she is, but it’s also everyone else around her that makes the difference. And Christopher is starting to develop the supporting characters more. Like her mom, Susan. Kudos to her for getting over her self-pity and addiction, and leading the group in areas they hadn’t thought of.
Phil is another character I have a strong attachment to. But what he and his wife endured at the end, how much will that change him? Will his rediscovered dark nature effect the group? I want to know!
Christopher has a handle on the nastier side of human nature. It broke my heart, but I could see it happening, when certain factions just didn’t want to change for the betterment of everyone. They could only see how they had been mistreated and refused to accept how they had been brainwashed by the ruling class of Salvation.
When I think back to the other books in the series, it’s hard to imagine that they have all taken place within a matter of a month or two. This is an action-packed, fast-paced series and it’s hard to put them down until the very end. However, they are not standalones. If you don’t start with Salvation, you’d be hard pressed to see the full dynamics of the story. If you love coming-of-age, dystopian/post-apocalyptic tales, you need to read this series. I give Anarchy 5-stars.
The Burning Tree: Book 5: Redemption
As soon as I heard the 5th book had been released, I rushed to download it through KU.
A friend started reading it before me and she complained that it was really slow and she was ready to DNF. Once I got into it, I knew what she meant. However, I understood why it was slower at the beginning than the other 4 books.
The author was trying to show us how much the settlement had grown. What they’d accomplished and what still needed to be done before the dreaded winter hit. Some readers will find the details a bit tedious, but I enjoyed them. Guess I’m just a nerd that way.
But once I hit chapter 5, it took off like a Q-Thirteen bullet. I couldn’t put the darn book down. It even interfered with my naps.
Once again, we have a host of different characters. Cassie is still somewhat the main one, but others, like Susan and Nicola, have been given bigger roles. So, there is a lot of character development. With so many people in the book, there tends to be a bunch of head hopping but it hasn’t been confusing.
I am really enjoying how the settlement has learned how to mesh and get along, even with all their differences. And then there’s the Wanderer’s and Infinity. Once Cassie convinced the committee they needed to step in and help Eric, the action kept building and building until the calamitic end. Now, they have a new threat to deal with. I can’t wait for more.
My only complaint is the editing got sloppy towards the end, which is pretty common, actually. There were times when two different people were taking in the same paragraph, or the subject had changed but a new paragraph hadn’t been started.
The characters have become very real to me and I would love, love, love to see this as a TV series. If you can’t enough of dystopian / post-apocalyptic stories with girt, you need to start this series. I give this book 5 stars.
A friend started reading it before me and she complained that it was really slow and she was ready to DNF. Once I got into it, I knew what she meant. However, I understood why it was slower at the beginning than the other 4 books.
The author was trying to show us how much the settlement had grown. What they’d accomplished and what still needed to be done before the dreaded winter hit. Some readers will find the details a bit tedious, but I enjoyed them. Guess I’m just a nerd that way.
But once I hit chapter 5, it took off like a Q-Thirteen bullet. I couldn’t put the darn book down. It even interfered with my naps.
Once again, we have a host of different characters. Cassie is still somewhat the main one, but others, like Susan and Nicola, have been given bigger roles. So, there is a lot of character development. With so many people in the book, there tends to be a bunch of head hopping but it hasn’t been confusing.
I am really enjoying how the settlement has learned how to mesh and get along, even with all their differences. And then there’s the Wanderer’s and Infinity. Once Cassie convinced the committee they needed to step in and help Eric, the action kept building and building until the calamitic end. Now, they have a new threat to deal with. I can’t wait for more.
My only complaint is the editing got sloppy towards the end, which is pretty common, actually. There were times when two different people were taking in the same paragraph, or the subject had changed but a new paragraph hadn’t been started.
The characters have become very real to me and I would love, love, love to see this as a TV series. If you can’t enough of dystopian / post-apocalyptic stories with girt, you need to start this series. I give this book 5 stars.
The Burning Tree: Book 6: Power (Part 1)
As soon as I saw this title had been released, I rushed to download it via Kindle Unlimited. So far, I’ve enjoyed every book in this series. This one was no exception.
The people from Salvation now face the worst winter they’ve ever seen. As they are recovering from the brutality of a blizzard, bad news arrives at their doorstep.
As with the other books, there are a myriad of characters, and new ones are added into the mix. Which can be a bad thing, because it’s hard to remember who everyone is, and they start losing their individuality. Which means they all start talking the same.
However, it was nice to see Callie have doubts about herself and the role she plays in Redemption. She’s actually taken a back-step to give her mother more control, though it’s more for show then anything else.
But an enemy they knew they’d have to face, eventually, rears it’s ugly head and totally disrupts the world the people of Redemption have been striving for. Some of them are forced to turn back into the people they were in Salvation to try and get an upper hand.
As with book 5 of this series, this one isn’t as action-packed at the beginning, but once it starts ramping up, you won’t be able to put it down. After the ending of this book, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
If you love dystopian novels with underdogs and villains, you’ll want to read this series. I give it 4 stars.
The people from Salvation now face the worst winter they’ve ever seen. As they are recovering from the brutality of a blizzard, bad news arrives at their doorstep.
As with the other books, there are a myriad of characters, and new ones are added into the mix. Which can be a bad thing, because it’s hard to remember who everyone is, and they start losing their individuality. Which means they all start talking the same.
However, it was nice to see Callie have doubts about herself and the role she plays in Redemption. She’s actually taken a back-step to give her mother more control, though it’s more for show then anything else.
But an enemy they knew they’d have to face, eventually, rears it’s ugly head and totally disrupts the world the people of Redemption have been striving for. Some of them are forced to turn back into the people they were in Salvation to try and get an upper hand.
As with book 5 of this series, this one isn’t as action-packed at the beginning, but once it starts ramping up, you won’t be able to put it down. After the ending of this book, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
If you love dystopian novels with underdogs and villains, you’ll want to read this series. I give it 4 stars.
The Burning Tree: Book 7: Power (Part 2)
Wow, what a way to end a series. Or is it? There are some threads left at the end that makes me think, hmmm. Maybe not? 🤔🤔 Guess I’ll have to see.
There wasn’t too much about book 7 that I didn’t like. It has plenty of action as we bounce between Redemption, Infinity, and Salvation. People who we thought might have turned their backs on the freedom fighters didn’t. Of course, how could you see all the horror going on around you and not want to change it. Salvation is a nightmare.
There were also a lot of heart-wrenching moments and I had tears in my eyes several times as I read along. Some were tears for people we knew who ended up dying, and some were happy tears for the people who found their way to a better life.
What I didn’t like was mostly editing issues. Like not knowing when the subject matter changed and it should have been a new paragraph. There’s a lot of that in this book. I don’t remember it being this bad in the other ones. There isn’t mention of an editor inside the book, so I think it’s self-edited. Maybe he needs to get a proper one next time.
If you love dystopian stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat with heart in your throat, you need to read this series. I give it 5 stars.
There wasn’t too much about book 7 that I didn’t like. It has plenty of action as we bounce between Redemption, Infinity, and Salvation. People who we thought might have turned their backs on the freedom fighters didn’t. Of course, how could you see all the horror going on around you and not want to change it. Salvation is a nightmare.
There were also a lot of heart-wrenching moments and I had tears in my eyes several times as I read along. Some were tears for people we knew who ended up dying, and some were happy tears for the people who found their way to a better life.
What I didn’t like was mostly editing issues. Like not knowing when the subject matter changed and it should have been a new paragraph. There’s a lot of that in this book. I don’t remember it being this bad in the other ones. There isn’t mention of an editor inside the book, so I think it’s self-edited. Maybe he needs to get a proper one next time.
If you love dystopian stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat with heart in your throat, you need to read this series. I give it 5 stars.
J.M. NORTHUP 