Michelle Lynn

This is a great story which will surely be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
I should begin by stating that I received a free copy in return for a honest review.
The first thing to catch my attention was the title; very evocative and a promise of thrilling entertainment which thankfully materialised.
The apocalypse has come and gone, and the USA is the new Botany Bay where two sisters, Dawn and Gabby, must find each other and battle to survive. A story of twists and turns is told from several viewpoints, but it is all penned beautifully by the author and keeps the novel fresh and entertaining. The pace is good and the characters engaging and realistic. You can't help but root for them. There's a cliffhanger ending which certainly leaves the reader wanting more, but this is only the first instalment I'm told so fear not. If you're looking for a good read to get your teeth into, something original and thought provoking, this novel might just be for you.… (mer)

Gabby and dawn is a story full of action. They are different from each other.

Gabby is surely lively and easily breaks the rules. She gets into real trouble trying to get her little sister’s a birthday present, by stealing – action that Dawn would not approve. Gabby is sent to the colonies, a harsh punishment for thieves and other people who disagree with the law.
They’ve been living alone in a dangerous and violent world, watching each other’s back. The incident separates the two sisters and Dawn is forced to fight her shy and sweet personality to save her sister.

They travel to another world and their lives will never be the same.

This is a dystopian book with a very fast pace, sometimes too fast. I would have liked to read more description of the characters, of their actions and places in some parts of the stories, so I could feel I was in their world.

The author attributes a character to each chapter, which is nice. It gives us their point of view and distinct personality.

The story continues with more action and tension in Day of Reckoning.… (mer)

There are plenty of story summaries already written so I will go ahead with my review. I read this book from the viewpoint of an editor. I think the overall story idea is a good one. However, there are some flaws in execution which I will outline here.

- lack of character development. I made no real connection to the girls, Gabby & Dawn. An emotional connection must be set early and strong if a reader is to truly bond with the main characters. In my opinion, the author spent too little time developing Gabby & Dawn's character early in the novel. E.G. in paranormal fiction an author must "establish the normal" before "violating the normal." In the case of Dawn of Rebellion I felt little empathy for the main characters before the action & plot move forward.
- Backstory was implemented in the wrong places making the story unbelievable and superficial at times
- The pacing was too fast. A novel should be teased out like a marathon not thrust into a sprint from start to finish.
- The author too often breaks with dialect
- The character evolution/arc needs to be "sold" not told. A reader must witness these changes otherwise it feels merely contrived. Subtlety, done well, often hits the target more accurately than direct telling.

I still believe the author has a good story idea. Other than issues with dialect, her technical skills are solid. She also ups the stakes at appropriate times/intervals and allows the reader to get inside the characters' heads, not always in the right place at the right time but it is there. With some wide-angle, big-picture changes & the addition of teases at appropriate intervals this could be a good story.… (mer)