First impressions: As I’ve said before, I love the cover. It conveys the dystopian feel of the novel perfectly. The white, embossed font is a great contrast against the gritty earth colors. Here’s the cover copy:
When Ransom Lawe, a recycler in the Pacific Northwest, finds out his wife is pregnant with their third—-and therefore illegal—-child, he’s forced to choose between the government who proclaims a desire to save the planet and his hope for a place where his family can live in freedom. But with the Census Bureau Sentinels closing in on his wife and unborn child, Ransom’s choice will either save his family or tear them apart forever.
My thoughts:
I love a good dystopian novel, but to be honest, they’re all starting to read alike. The Third is completely different. First, the main character is male, married, and mid-thirtiesish. No love triangles. No hiding secrets from mom. Honestly, it was a refreshing change.
My favorite character was Esperanza. I like characters that are a bit of a juxtaposition. Esperanza is a little Hispanic woman with a baby–totally helpless, right?
Nope. Esperanza runs an underground operation to smuggle women pregnant with illegal thirds out of the city. She also carries a little dart tipped with a powerful sedative which she uses to knock out men twice her size.
As tough as she is, she’s also compassionate and full of confidence. In all honestly, I wouldn’t mind a whole book centering around Esperanza and how she got her start in the baby/momma smuggling business.
If you’d like an adult dystopian, I think you’ll enjoy it. Check out Abel Keogh’s website to read the first chapter.
OR you could win your very own signed, numbered (#57) copy. All you have to do is read and share your thoughts on the first chapter of WITCH SONG <–this is a link, click on it to read the first chapter.
- 1 point for sharing a quick thought on Facebook or Twitter (2 pts for sharing on both) with a link to the first chapter: http://bit.ly/kpXDzf
- 5 pts for blogging about the first chapter, make sure you include the link: http://bit.ly/kpXDzf
- 5 pts for mentioning it in on forum/website/anywhere else.
- Leave me all appropriate links.
Have fun!
Also, don’t forget to enter to win a signed hardcopy of MATCHED by Allie Condie.
Author
Ooooo … sound intriguing! Another to be added to my to read list.
Did I miss the first chapter of Witch Song? Or do I need to wait for the book to come out, buy it, and then comment on it. Sorry…just a little confused. I'd like to win the book cause I like winning stuff 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it, Amber. As for Esperanza, you'll learn a lot more about Esperanza in the sequel including her background. 🙂
Donna: Thanks for stopping by.
Michael: The red "first chapter of WITCH SONG" is actually a link that will take you there. Or you can just click on the WITCH SONG tab at the top of my blog. OR you can click on this link: http://amberargyle.blogspot.com/p/witch-song.html
THere. No need for thanks. I know you already think I'm awesome sandwiched between fabulous (or something like that). 🙂
Abel: Yay for Esperanza!
I'm completely colorblind to red and couldn't see the link at all because it looks black like the other letters.
Michael: Wow. Never even crossed my mind that someone might not be able to see it. So, can you see that the berries are red on Witch Song's cover?
I'm in the middle of reading this one now! It really is a good read 🙂
Good review.
Jules
http://slckismet.blogspot.com/2011/05/chapter-one-review-of-witch-song-by.html
I reviewed Chapter One today 🙂 please add me to the contest list.
Oh I just saw your earlier response on the red berries. The answer is no. I'm completely red/green colorblind. This means that red on green completely disappears and green on red completely disappears. It also means that red becomes essentially a shade of gray or black and green (depending on the shade) is usually a light gray or white color to me. So I guess the full majesty of your cover will always be lost on me. But I see the important stuff (the girl's face).
Michael: makes me wonder if I need to change some of the colors on my blog. It's all black, green, and dark red. :/
Esperanza sounds like a great character, I like the stronger ones. I tweeted and left a blog link =) http://twitter.com/#!/Icecream1891 http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/2011/05/giveaway_9470.html
ever since seeing this book on Good Reads I thought the concept was terrific and innovative and have it on my to-reads list since December oO edysicecreamlover18@gmail.com
Hope it's not too late to enter! (Turns out I blogged about it yesterday! :))
+5 blog post at Kris Writes
http://writekris.blogspot.com/2011/05/witch-song-by-amber-argyle.html
+5 Blog post at Imaginary Reads
http://imaginaryreads.blogspot.com/2011/05/witch-song-by-amber-argyle.html
+5 mentioned it on the "Books I Love" under Books I'm Anticipating section at Kris Writes
http://writekris.blogspot.com/p/books-i-love.html
+5 Mentioned at "Anticipated Reads" page at Imaginary Reads
http://imaginaryreads.blogspot.com/p/anticipated-reads.html
+1 Imaginary Reads tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/ImaginaryReads/status/75690756454621185
+1 Facebooked at Imaginary Reads Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/ImaginaryReads/posts/157413054325972
+1 Kris's Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/SummersKris/status/75691199268257793
+1 Kris Writes Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=186372181411942&id=118674174884388
Kris
elfdrop AT gmail DOT com