I really enjoyed this story! I love the idea of a bunch of kids trying to strike out into the world. The bond they created throughout the story was wonderful to watch unfold. Great book for high school age! ( )

Also on my blog over here --->https://thesebooksaremyfriends.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-raging-ones-by-krista-and-becca-ritchie/

Krista and Becca Ritchie are identical twins who happen to be the authors of one of my favorite on-going family sagas so when I saw that they had branched out to try fantasy, I was all YES PLEASE THANK YOU! The book was published in August and I've had an advance copy for a while but honestly, I was scared to read it. I love these two so much (I get to meet them in March 2019 and I'm already fangirling like woah) and I didn't want to read the book and be underwhelmed.

First line of the synopsis: In a freezing world, where everyone knows the day they will die, three teens break all odds. I was pretty much sold right there.

I won't say much more about the plot but I will warn you the book ends on a cliff and we don't pick back up until August. OF 2019. Not that I'm mad or anything. Cliffhanger aside, this book has everything. There's drama, action, mystery, a tiny bit of romance and a whole lot of nail biting as Court, Franny and Mykal navigate their life in what is basically astronaut school. Oh and there are a few surprise guests along the way just for extra suspense. See, suspense too! This book has it all.

There was a huge sigh of relief once I finished because I wasn't disappointed. It'd be super cool if they could just give me book two now but a year isn't that long in the grand scheme of next fantasy books in a series (I'm looking at you George, Jim and Patrick). Four out of five stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. ( )

I enjoyed this so much more than I expected I would, I was happily surprised.

Though the writing wasn't anything amazing (sometimes it made me cringe a little, not gonna lie), the characters were instantly love-able and the friendships/connections between the main three was everything I was hoping for from these authors, especially between Court and Mykal. I loved that the main two male characters didn't shy away from physical affection between them, not only as romantic interests, but also as friends. They cried and would hold each other and felt comfort in each others' presence. Toxic masculinity where??? And by the end of the novel, we are given a whole group of misfit characters thrown together to love and root for which is pretty much my favourite trope ever.

The world the authors built is this super neat blend of a high fantasy feeling world (reminisicent of the grishaverse's Fjerda), and science fiction. With its freezing temperatures, constant world of ice and snow, and the sky always densely covered in purple smoke from the fires used to keep everyone warm it felt like an atmospheric fantasy, but then it had the class systems, the Death Days, the space program and science fiction elements that played a huge role in the second half of the novel. I've never read anything that mixed the two quite like it and I definitely enjoyed it. I desperately need more blends of fantasy and science fiction now. ( )

[lily calloway voice] thankyouthankyouthankyou netgalley for this opportunity. I loved this book. So. Much. I am a huge fan of Krista and Becca's books and writing style and I have to say THEY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT ME. I couldn't put it down. I was absolutely hooked. A plot I've never read before. I AM SO CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW. I want the second book!!!!
The main reason i love KB's books are the characters. The deep connection you feel with them. And speaking of connection, THE BOND BETWEEN FRANNY, COURT AND MYKAL WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS BOOK. I didn't know what to expect from this book, but it was so so so much more.

FRANNY.

"I'm just the girl the banker shuts the blinds on. The girl people piss on in an alleyway. The girl most ignore while she drives them around the city. I'm just Franny and all I've ever counted toward was this."

https://78.media.tumblr.com/860b3dab5bdbf6535c7fb230a7b13eff/tumblr_p4iyw4kkze1s...
She was absolutely ICONIC. She lived her life knowing she would die. She lived fast. Like she promised her mother she would. She is strong, brave, fragile, human. She is a volcano of emotions. I love her so much. She is my favorite character.

COURT.

"Court Icecastle, never failing at predictability."

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Court has so many layers. You don't really know him, not until the end of this book. Maybe never. He went through hell and survived it. He is smart, tenacious, a Leader.
He loves Mykal and Franny so much. He would die for them. But he is also broken in some ways. You can see his internal battles. He cares but doesn't want to. He loves but he's afraid. A fantastic complex character.

MYKAL.

"Mykal Kickfall, twice as predictable as me." "And twice as ruthless."

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FINALLY A CANONICALLY DEMISEXUAL CHARACTER. He loves and protects at all costs. He may not be the smartest person, but his heart and personality are so wonderful.
Love Love Love him!

Mykal and Court are the other part I LOVED THE MOST. Their scenes were so BEAUTIFUL.

"name this feeling," he whispers, our lips a breath apart. A feeling that overpowers me up warmly in the coldest hours. Through ice, through snow. A feeling that has never let go. "Love," I breathe deeply.

I loved the second characters. Especially Zimmer. He's so interesting.

AND WHAT A CLIFFHANGER. THEY'RE FROM EARTH. THIS IS WHY THEY DIDN'T DIE.
THANK YOU KB FOR AN AMAZING BOOK AND THANK YOU NETGALLEY AGAIN FOR THIS OPPURNITY.

( )

When I was invited to read The Raging Ones by Krista and Becca Ritchie, I was reeled in by the synopsis alone as the cover wasn't that inspiring. That said, I am REALLY happy to have had a chance to read because I have never had so many emotions at once, which is apropos considering the conundrum the characters experience.

The prologue written from Court's, one of the three narrators, point-of-view, absolutely stole my breath away. It was just such a well written beginning that perfectly depicted the urgency of Court's situation, and states clearly he is not a Good Guy and is most definitely a Villain. I, a lover of all things villainous in fiction, fell in love. But then something curious happened the further I read. I believed him. I believed Court and I didn't fall in love, at least not with him. And this is a major credit to how the author's wrote the other two protagonists whom I absolutely did fall in love with. The characters are absolutely what carry and make this novel so powerful.

Franny, the light of my life whom I love and cherish, is a Fast-Tracker whom we first meet on her Death-Day. All inhabitants of this world are born with a death-day, the date they will each die. No matter what happens, if it isn't your date, you cannot die. You also can't live past that date. It lends to a certain efficiency and confidence in this world. And it just so happens to be the one comforting fact Franny has held onto her entire life. So, when she wakes up the day after her Death-Day, still alive and a bit worse for wear, it's not a miracle but a curse. Then, to find herself forcibly linked to someone she vehemently disagrees with? Worse.

There is romance in the book, but it's done well and it's so sweet I keep hoping it will work out because I just want Mykal to be happy and loved because he too is the light of my life whom I love and cherish. He and Franny are entirely the reason why my initial plan to fall in love with Court failed. They are too wonderful for me to root for the self-proclaimed villain.

Aside from the characters (whom I mentioned before carry this story forward), the writing is well done enough so that any surprise that happens in the book (and boy are there a few!), they genuinely do come as a surprise. However, the twists don't feel unmerited. They leave hints and inklings that you never realized were hints and inklings. There's only problem with this and that is pacing. The very start, after that impactful prologue, I felt... bored. There wasn't really that sense of desperation or any of the strong personality I expected. I almost felt like closing the book and picking something else up. However, once certain things begin to happen (I think Mykal getting the bills needed iirc), everything changes and the pace picks up and steadily increases along with the action.

Worldbuilding was interesting. I'd love to know more than the small tidbits we're thrown. What's going on with the sun and heat and animals? Will we learn more in the conclusion that is scheduled to be released next year? I hope so!

A sci-fi lite YA book that is character driven, The Raging Ones by Krista and Becca Ritchie is a fantastic starter/gateway novel for anyone looking to take a break from fantasy and hop into the stars.

// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. // ( )